Gambit: March 7,2023

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ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

PropsforWilliams

ApairofTennessee Williams classics open in advance of annual literary festival

WRITERSOFTENBORROWFROMTHEIR OWNLIVESINWORKSOFFICTION

Tennessee Williamshad adifferenttitle in mind before he hearda streetcarrumble past hisFrench Quarterapartment, andthe radio Stanleythrowsout of theKowalskis’ apartmentwas allegedlyinspired by hisown typewriter beingtossed outa window

In “Night of theIguana,”the setting wasafamiliar spot

“Thishotel is aplace he stayed at in Mexico on theeve of World WarII,”saysAugustinJ.Correro, co-artisticdirectorofthe Tennessee WilliamsTheatre CompanyofNew Orleans. “Therewas aGerman family therelistening to theradio and cheering on theblitz.Thisis amomentWilliams stolestraight from hislifeand putitinaplay.”

Theplaycenters on Lawrence Shannon,aformer ministerwho has plentyofhis ownproblems,and in theoriginal script,a German family at thehotel sings German songsand cheer on thenation’srising power. It’s an ominoussign, andararemoment when Williams refers to actual events outsidehis characters’ lives

TheTennessee WilliamsTheatre Companyiskeeping thehotel in itsversion of “Night of theIguana,” opening March10atLoyola University’s LowerDepthsTheatre, butit’supdatingthe time period. Along with Le PetitTheatre’s“Caton aHot TinRoof,”with apreview startingMarch 9, they’refresh looksat twoofWilliams’classics.Both have concluding weekends coinciding withthe TennesseeWilliamsNew OrleansLiteraryFestival(March 22-26),but localaudiences canget a look before festivalgoersarrive.

Thefullversion of “Night of the Iguana”hit Broadway in 1961 and wasWilliams’ last major financial success there. An Oscar-winning film versionstarringRichardBurton and AvaGardner followedin1964.

Shannon is an almost comically harried man. He’s been pushed outofhis church formaking sacrilegious claimsinhis sermons, and he’sleadinga tour in Mexico, although he’s been inappropriately involved with oneofthe minors He had hopedtoseeksolace from afriend, butthe manhas died Theman’s spouse Maxine is very friendly with Shannon, although Shannon develops an interest in ahotel guest who’scaringfor her elderly father.

“It’sa mystical play becauseit takesplace on amountaintop and there’sasacrifice,” Carrero says.“There’sall this imageryof religion, storms and thunder.It’s about consequences and desperationand what happens when thehens come home to roost.”

Thecharacters have timeless problems,and that allows thecompany to adjust thetimeperiod.

“Atits base, this play is extremely relatable, whether youcan see yourself in Shannonornot,” Correro says.“Yousee theseperennial themesthatWilliamswas so great at identifying, whether they’rein 1930swhenthe original scripttakes place, or the1960s when it wasfirst beingperformed,ortoday.”

They’veset theshowin2021, and it doesn’thave Nazis, whohave beena replacedwitha recognizable groupthatdoesn’tsinginGerman, Correro says At Le Petit, director Salvatore Manninomay be afamiliar face. He performed at thetheater when he wasyoung andfirst considering acareer in performance.Helater returned from NewYorktostar in “The WeddingSinger” and act in “Hairsprayand “SoulDoctor.”

He recently movedhome to New Orleans and is teaching and producing at Loyola University.Now, he is directing “Cat on aHot Tin Roof”and re-examining it

Theworkmay be best knownfor the1958filmversion starring Paul Newman as Brick and Elizabeth Taylor as hiswifeMaggie.Brick is drinkinghimself into oblivion followingthe deathofhis friend Skipper,and Maggieistryingtoget himbackintotheir relationship,at theleast becauseshe wantsthem to inherit theestateofBrick’s sick father,Big DaddyPollitt

Manninonotes that thefilm helped setanimage of theSouth.

At Le Petit, they’reusing theoriginal 1950sscript, rather than therewrite witha substantially changedthird actWilliamsfinished in 1975

by Will Coviello |

IrishChannelParade

THEIRISHCHANNELST.PATRICK’SDAY PARADEROLLS at 1p.m.Saturday, March11. Marchers will pass out flowers andriderswill toss beads and some producefromfloats. Theroute headsupMagazine Street and turnsontoJackson Avenue, St.CharlesAvenue, Louisiana Avenue and back down Magazine to Jackson.Therealso areblock parties at IrishChannel bars.Visit stpatricksdayneworleans.comfor details.

JakeWynne-Wilsonplays

LawrenceShannonand LaurenWellsisMaxinein ‘NightoftheIguana.’

Maggie andBrick arestill battling, and thestory comesmorefromthe perspective of Dixie, agranddaughterofBig Daddy. Manninonotes that alot of thestory andthe tensionsbetween thevarious couples unfoldsoutside of dialog.

Also, although BigDaddywas a very successful cotton planter, the house is crumbling and thefortune is dwindling, Manninosays.

“I am playingwiththisidea, ‘What happens when there’snothingleft to pass down?Whathappenswhen there’snothinglefttofight for?’”

he says

Some of thesesubjectswill be exploredatthe Tennessee Williamsfestival.Correro wrote “Tennessee Williams 101” about hisworkand plays. He’lllead atalk aboutWilliams at 10 a.m. Friday, March24.

TheTennessee WilliamsTheatre CompanyofNew Orleans also is developinga newwalking tour of theFrenchQuarter called “From theStreettothe Stage.”Itfocuses on theplacesWilliamslived or frequentedthatappear in oneway or another in hiswork. Thereare tours at 5:30 p.m. Friday,March 24,and Saturday,March 25

“Night of theIguana” runs March 10-26. Forinformation andtickets, visittwtheatrenola.com. “Catona HotTin Roof”runsMarch 9-26.For information and tickets, visitlepetittheatre.com.

St.Patrick’sDay Parade on Metairie Road

STPADDY’SDAYFESTIVITIESCONTINUE WITHAPARADE of floats,trucks andbands in OldMetairieatnoon

Sunday, March12. Theparade starts on Severn Avenue near West Napoleon Avenue and turnsonto Metairie Road and proceeds to the Orleans Parish line. Visitstpatricksdaymetairie.comfor details.

NewOrleans Book Festival at Tulane

THEFESTIVALISHIGHLIGHTEDBYBILL GATESANDFORMERU.S.ATTORNEY

GeneralEricHolder speaking on Thursday, March9,and events continue throughSunday, March 12.The slateofspeakersincludes Malcolm Gladwell,JamesCarville, Nick Spitzer, SarahBroom,Michael Lewis, DougBrinkley, Maggie Haberman, Carl Bernstein, Nikole Hannah-Jones,NatashaTrethewey, Maureen Dowd,Richard Ford, Gen. StanleyMcChrystal,Dean Baquet,April Ryan and manymore Events arefree, andseating is on afirst-come, first-servedbasis Visitbookfest.tulane.edu forafull schedule,rosterand locations.

Momix

THEMODERNDANCECOMPANYPRESENTS“ALICE,” aseriesofvignettes inspired by LewisCarroll’s “Alice in Wonderland.” Choreographer

PROVIDEDPHOTO BY JAMESKELLEY

PHOTO BY SCOTTTHRELKELD /THE TIMES-PICAYUNE

THUMBS UP/ THUMBS DOWN

NickSpitzertheproducerand host of “American Routes,” has beennamed by theNational Endowmentfor theArtsa 2023 NationalHeritageFellowbythe NationalEndowmentfor the Arts,the country’shighest honor recognizingfolkand traditionalarts. Spitzer, whoteaches at Tulane University,specifically received the$25,000 Bess LomaxHawesNational Heritage Fellowship,given in recognition of “anindividual whohas made asignificant contribution to the preservation and awareness of culturalheritage.

WithloomingMarch31deadline, NewOrleansCityCouncilstarts rewritingshort-termrentalrules

LaissezBoys,thesharply dressed krewethatlongago realized rolling aparade route in amotorized recliner beats walking, recently held itsannual post-Mardi Gras clean-upday. Thegroup wasseen on Feb. 25 pickinguptrash and pulling beadsand throws outofthe trees alongthe NapoleonAvenueneutral ground.The Laissez Boys said it clearedseven blocks betweenSt. Charles and Magazine, andtheywill be back at it on Feb. 17,2024.

THENEWORLEANSCITYCOUNCIL

THURSDAYPASSEDTHEFIRSTMEASURE in in aseriesofreforms to thecity’sresidential short-term rental rulesasitrushestomeet acourt-imposeddeadlineset for theend of themonth

Thecouncil passeda zoning motion,which is thefirst step toward gettingrid of city regulationsdeemed unconstitutional and replacingthem with newones.

to pick winners and losers and resultinsomebody being on the losing endofthisconversation.”

THE COUNT #

44,000

That’s an increase from previous years, and amainreason whyridershave been banned from throwing potatoes into crowdsthisyear. Theparade’scaptain said premiums go up with everyclaim against thegroup,a common one being injuriescausedbypotatoesand other palm-sizedproduce.Leaders of the IrishChannel parade and theGretna Italian-Irishparade have also banned riders from tossingpotatoesand onions, though they will still be allowedtogently hand outother produce

Louisiana’sBoardofCommerce andIndustry hasoverruled city officials and grantedtax breaks to FolgersCoffeeCo. Local officials haddeniedFolgers six taxexemption requests, putting thecompanyonthe hook for$5.1million in localtaxes Folgersappealedtothe state board, which overseesthe Industrial TaxExemption Program.The boardruled Folgers doesnot have to pay80% of its localpropertytaxes fortwo of itsprojects.

Last August, theFifth Circuit CourtofAppealsstruckdowna key part of theshort-termrental rules thecitypassedin2019. The courtsaida provisionrequiring property owners in residential areas to live full-timeona lotin ordertooperateashort-term rental wasunconstitutional becauseitdiscriminated against out-of-state property owners.

That’s left thecouncil with a limitedamountoftimetocome up with newrules on ahot-button issuethatsignificantly impacts thecity’shousing market and residents’ qualityoflife.

“Thereisabsolutely no wayto solvethisissue in light of theFifth Circuit decisionthat’snot going to result in painfor somebody,”

Council PresidentJPMorrell said “Thereisnosolutionthatthiscouncil candolegally that is notgoing

ThemotionpassedThursday wouldlet an operator live on-site at apropertywithashort-term rental in lieu of an owner.An amendmentbyCouncil Members Eugene Green, Oliver Thomas and JoeGiarrussowould capthe number of short-term rentalsat oneper square block,astricter limitthan theCityPlanning Commission’srecommendation of oneper block face.Bed and breakfastswould alsocount toward theshort-termrentalcap

Thecouncil wasdivided on theamendment, butultimately passed it 4-3, with Morrell, Vice PresidentHelenaMorenoand Council Member Freddie King voting against it

Morrellsaidatthe meeting that he was“very conflicted”on cappingthe number of shortterm rentalsbut ultimately said he wouldn’tsupportthe measure withoutatrial-run to seeifthe city hasthe capacity to even enforcingthose caps.

“Itwould notbeappropriate to consider it in avacuum,”hesaid.

Though in recent monthsthe city hasrampedupits staffto crackdownonillegal operators,

What name will appearonthe recall petition most often?

20.4%

35.2% IGNATIUS

5.5%

7.4%

PANTS

PHOTO BY CHRISGRANGER/THE TIMES-PICAYUNE

THECOSTOFINSURANCE, IN DOLLARS, FORTHE UPCOMING METAIRIE ROAD ST.PATRICK’S DAYPARADE.

thereare still asignificant numberof illegal short-termrentals in thecity.

“Almostevery single emailI’ve gotten is: Enforcementhas to be better,morecomprehensive,”

Giarrusso said

Morrellsaidthe councilwould discuss moredetails aboutnew penalties forshort-termrentalsand howthe city will enforcethem in theother twomeetings it will have on theissue laterthismonth

That could includea “three strikes” system whererepeat offending properties would geta four-yearban.Ifthatoffense was apartial home short-term illegally operating awhole-homeshortterm rental,they’dget aban on the first strike

Moreno also said she’dbeopen to possible exceptions to having a maxofone short-term rental per square blockshould apotential short-term rental operator have the supportofneighbors.

Morrellwithdrewanamendment that would have required shortterm rental ownersand operators to post atwo foot by twofootsign in theiryards with theircontact information. Many short-term rental

Generationsofcare

owners voiced privacy and safety concerns with that provision.

Morrellsaid he’dlook into alternatives, like having asignwitha QR code insteadthatwould link to apublic dashboardofshort-term rentalsinthe city.“TheQRcode languageiscertainlysomething that canbea greatcompromise,” he said

Though thecouncil passed a motion Thursday, nothing is setin stone. Thenextstepistopasstwo ordinances,which will be discussed on Tuesday, March14, andneed to be passedatthe Thursday, March 23 meeting.The councilcan amend both ordinances along theway

ForNew Orleans residents, many whoare at riskofbeing unable to afford to live in thecity, thestakes arehigh. Thomas said he worries that if thecitydoesn’tsolve its affordable housing crisis,its population will continue to decline

“The only waytostabilize this city is to getitwherepeople want to stay here, work here and be able to afford to live here,”Thomassaid “Thisisour greatest test moving forward.”—

KAYLEE POCHE

CityCouncillaunchesinvestigationintoCantrellmailer

NEWORLEANSCITYCOUNCILPRESIDENT

JPMORRELLANDBUDGETCHAIRMAN

JOEGIARRUSSO have launched an investigationintowhether Mayor LaToya Cantrell inappropriately used tens of thousands of dollars in city fundstodefend herselffrom theongoingrecallcampaign. Thedecisiontolauncha formal investigationfollows therefusal by printing and direct mail company MPress to turn overdocumentsrelated to amailerfromthe mayor’soffice, which wassentto some residentsinlateJanuary. In atersely worded March 2letterto thecompany,Morrell and Giarrusso note that “the Councilisunable to issueasubpoenawithoutopening an investigation.”

As aresult, thecouncil members added,“theCouncil will open an investigationintothismater,and youwill be served with asubpoena shortlythereafter.” MPress is used by ahostofpoliticiansinNew Orleans and across thestate for printing anddirectmailservices.

Cantrell,Morell, Giarrussoand LieutenantGov.Billy Nungesser

have allusedthe company, accordingtocampaign financereports

Themailerwas sent to some residentsinJanuaryand February as therecallcampaign wasnearing itsdeadlinetocollect signatures. Although sent from thecity, the mailer hasall thehallmarks of campaign literature,including the slogan “StrongLeadershipfor a ResilientCity.”

Underthe law, thecityisallowed to communicatewithresidents aboutits activities,but thereare specific rules which govern those sortsofmailers.Asfirst reported by Gambit last month,state lawnot onlybarsthe useofcityfunds to promotethe mayor, it specifically prohibitsusing anyelected officials nameinmass mailers. Statelaw also prohibitsusing thelikeness of state employees in campaignliterature

ThemailerCantrellsentout,however,includesher name in apparent contraventionofstate law, as well as numerous photosofCantrell. It also includesphotosofother city employees,including members of theNOPD. —JOHNSTANTON

We’reherefor youand your family through the stages of life, with the strength of the cross, the protection of the shield.The RightCard. The Right Care.

It’shightimeforLouisiana tolegalize—andtax— recreationalcannabis

THISWEEK’SCOVERSTORY BYKAYLEEPOCHEASKS

ANIMPORTANTQUESTION:

When will Louisiana finally,and fully,legalizecannabis?While the future of legal recreational cannabis may appear grim in light of conservatives’ hold on statepolitics, moreand moreRepublicans— includingsomeGOP lawmakers—are realizing prohibition doesn’twork. In fact, it hurtsusall by unnecessarily criminalizingpeople whilerobbingthe stateofmuch needed revenue.

As Louisiana Progress’Peter Robins-Brown told Poche, the winds have shifted enough that it is no longer aquestionofif, butwhen, cannabis will be legalized here.

Legalizationislongoverdue.

Drug laws have disproportionately affected theBlack community, subjectingBlack men in particular to lengthy— in some cases lifelong —prisonterms.Meanwhile, that hasrobbed Blackfamilies of theability to buildand maintain generationalwealth, oneofthe key components to breakingthe cycle of crushing poverty.

Criminalizationalso hasabetted theillegal cannabis trade,which doubtlesshas contributedto chronicviolenceinour communities.Ithas cloggedour criminal courts,pointlesslyswelled state and federal prisonpopulations, and cruelly inflictedwidespreadpain and suffering forgenerations

Sheriffsand many otherprohibitionists prefertocouch their opposition to legalizationinthe languageofpublic health and safety.Truth is America’sdrugwar hasnever really been aboutsafety, at least as appliedtocannabis

As theWu-Tang Clan’sMethod Mannoted 30 yearsago,“Cash ruleseverything around me.” It doesn’tmatterifyou’reselling it, buying it or policing it,the drug warisbig business.Money has always been itsheartbeat.

Everyyear, thefederal government pours tens of millions of dollarsintothe coffersofLouisiana sheriffs andcitypoliceforces. Sheriffstie theirbudgets to the number of prisonbedstheycan

keep filled,creatinga perverse incentive to seek andjailpeople whootherwise do no harm and need treatment, notincarceration.

Meanwhile, according to a report by theconservativePelican Institute, between2000 and 2020, lawenforcement in Louisiana seized $186 million worthofproperty underasset forfeiture laws

Themajorityofthatcame from drugcases.Unsurprisingly,mostof that money wasfunneled back into localcriminaljusticeagencies cops,jails andcourts.

Legalizingcannabis would cost sheriffs some federalgrantstied to itscriminalization andeliminate theirauthority to seizecars, homes and other valuableassetsafter cannabis busts. However,they likely would offset much if notall that federal funding by receiving ashareofthe taxproceedsfrom legalcannabis

Thebottomlineisclear:

Louisiana should join the21other states that have alreadylegalized recreational cannabis.That includesMissouriand Montana, neither of which rank among America’sprogressive bastions Legalizationisn’tanissue of liberals versus conservatives.

Louisianansofevery political persuasionalready usecannabis, either forits medicalbenefits (which thestate,thankfully,now fully recognizes)orrecreationally

It’s high time Louisiana allows everyone overage 21 to usecannabis safely and withouthavingto worryaboutbreakingthe law.

by Jeffrey Campbell

Cannabisplantsgrowingunder specialgrowlightsatGBSciences LouisianainBatonRouge.

PHOTO BY GERALD HERBERT/ ASSOCIATED PRESS l

$60

kelly fuschia sea salt black

BobTuckerwasan impactfulstatesman, networkerandmentor

NEWORLEANSLOSTONEOFITSLEGENDARYPOLITICALINSIDERS when businessman andconsultant Bob Tucker diedMarch 1ofa heart complication at age82. Formore than 50 years, Bobwas aconsummate networkerina town where whoyou knowmatters as much as what youknow.

Iwas fortunate to have known Bobasa trusted source,mentor and friend whogenerouslyshared hishard-earned wisdom and insights. Ican’t recall an election season that didn’tinclude long conversations with Bob.

Aconfidant of many elected and appointedofficials,Bob’s keen politicalskillsmade him ago-to guyfor theup-andcoming as well as thepowerfully entrenched.

“Hehad an incredible feel for the politicalfabricofthe city,” said former MayorMarcMorial, whonow leads the National Urban League.“Amonghis greatest work was mentoring aspiring electedleaders. He chairedbothofmy mayoralcampaigns and advisedmy father DutchMorial, Moon Landrieu,Mary Landrieu andLaToya Cantrell,among manyothers.”

“Heusedhis undeniable charmand relentless spirit to fighthard fordecades to make NewOrleans abetter place,”Cantrellsaid in astatement.Tucker backed Cantrell in her first mayoralcampaignin2017. They fell outlater butnever lost respectfor oneanother

Always snazzily dressed andnever withouta readysmile,Bob oftenservedas abridgebetween feuding political interestsand headstrong personalities. He made everyone around himfeelcomfortable,particularly during stressful times.

“Bob wasa statesman,” said JacquesMorial, DutchMorial’s

sonand another behind-thescenespoliticowho worked often with Bob. “Hethoughtindecision trees. He hadthe foresight to imagine what theoutcomes couldbe, andheguided people to sounddecisions by helpingthem thinkthingsthrough.”

Oneofthe toughest testsof Bob’sstatesmanship came in the late 1980s. No twopoliticians had stronger personalities at that time than former mayors Moon Landrieu and DutchMorial. Thetwo men had at best atestyrelationship, at worst along-simmeringfeud, since Morial’s first mayoralwin in 1977

Theirrelationship gotworsein 1982 when Landrieu’s daughter, then-state Rep. Mary Landrieu, endorsed fellow state Rep. Ron Faucheuxfor mayoragainst Morialduringhis bitter fight forreelection.

elected,”Jacques Morial said.“Our generation —Marcand Mary,Mitch and me —wedidn’twanttoprolong thefeuds of ourfathers.Bob could talktoboth fathersinways that we couldn’tatthattime. Bob made that healinghappen.”

“His wasalways thecoolest head in theroom,always thinking aheadaboutthe future possibilities,” he added

Thenow-grown childrenofboth menremain friendsand allies,and NewOrleans hasbenefitted enormously as aresult.

Bobagainhelpedthe Morial family afterDutch Morial died suddenlyinlate1989.

“Hewas like abig brother,godfather,mentorand uncle,” Jacques said.“Aftermydad passed,he wrapped hisarmsaroundme. He wasgenerouswithhis wisdom,and he wasone of thetoughest men I’ve ever met.”

That toughnesscame from a lifetime of maintaining hiscoolin themidst of astorm —and always thinkingahead

TuckeralsoadvisedthenNOPDRichardPennington, whowasappointedin 1994.Thisphotocaptures Tuckerperfectly—he’sinthe backgroundofaroomwhere majordecisionsweremade, workingthephonestohelpa powerfulleadersucceed.

JacquesMorialremembers Bob referringtothatletterduringa heated campaign strategy meetinginthe 1990s. Themeeting was called to determinehow,and even whether,torespond to race baiting. “Somewerearguingwehad reacheda post-racialperiod, but Bobknewotherwise,” Jacques Morial said.“Hispointwas that race-baiting wasa long-festering woundinthe Blackcommunity, and thecampaign hadtorespond to it.Hewas right.”

Thecandidate, Marc Morial, responded— and won.

Years later, thechildrenofthe twomayors still felt thewounds, buttheydidn’tknowhow to heal them.Tuckerstepped in

“WhenMaryLandrieu ranfor stateTreasurer in 1987,Bob helped us bury thehatchet andget Mary

As acollege student,hejoined Atlanta’sfirst lunch countersit-in on March15, 1960.Heand more than80other students were arrested on variousJim Crow-era charges. Thenight before that life-changingevent,Bob composeda typewritten letter to his parentstelling them he mightbe arrested or even killed,but he felt compelled to actinthathistoric moment.His father,aminister, proudlycarried that letter in his wallet therest of hislife.

Ilastsaw Bobless than five weeks before hisdeath.Agroup of about50ofusgray-hairs who’ve been around politics sincethe 1970sgathered forour annual MardiGrasluncheon.Bob worked theroom like a35-yearoldcandidate.

It’s hard to imaginenot havingBob aroundduringthis epoch-makingtimeinNew Orleans. He’s probably working amuchbigger room now, hopefully seeing some of thefolks he advisedinhis impactfullife.

Eternal rest, my friend.You’ve earned it

BobTucker

PHOTO BY MAXBECHERER/ THETIMES-PICAYUNE

PHOTO BY ELLISLUCIA / THETIMES-PICAYUNE

BLAKEPONTCHARTRAIN™

@GambitBlake |askblake@gambitweekly.com

HeyBlake, I’mcuriousabouttwo ofthebest-known namesinFrenchbread: Leidenheimerand Reising.Iseebothonthe grocerystoreshelves. Whichisolder?

Dearreader, OFTHOSETWOVENERABLE

NAMESKNOWNFORFRENCH

BREAD and po-boyloaves, Reising’s is theolder,with rootsina bakery founded in 1888 by German immigrantJoseph Reuther.His partner in thebusiness wasnoneother than George H. Leidenheimer,who laterlefttostart hisown bakery

TheReising name enteredthe picturewhen Reuther sold hisbusiness,originally locatedatOrleans and NorthRobertson,toJoseph Reising in 1938.Reising hadbeen Reuther’sbookkeeper

Joseph Reising’sson,Andreas “Andy” Reising, operated the business formanyyears before sellingittoother ownersin1982. By that point, it hadmovedtoa plantat6117St. Claude Avenue. Over theyears,Reising’s also operated under thenamesSunrise Bakery,SunshineBakeryand Reising’s SunriseBakery. Thebakeryfiled Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1989 andwas purchasedby

BLAKEVIEW

Leidenheimer BakingCompany thefollowing year.

Leidenheimer,founded in New Orleans by German immigrant George H. Leidenheimer in 1896,still producesand sellsbread under the Reisingbrand name,aswellasunder theLeidenheimer andZip brands

Afteryears spentworkingwith Reuther andother relativeson DryadesStreet,Leidenheimer opened hisown bakery on Simon BolivarAvenue in 1904.Fourthand fifthgenerationmembersofhis familystill ownand operatethe business.Itturns outthousandsofloaves of French bread, muffuletta bread and other breadproductsfrom thesame location whereGeorge Leidenheimer first setupshop at the turn of the20thcentury

THISWEEKWEREMEMBERCHART-TOPPINGSINGER,Rockand Roll Hall of Famer and Kenner native Lloyd Price, born90years ago this week

Born March9,1933, Pricewas one of 11 children andbegan singingin thegospelchoir at hisfamily’s church as ayoung boy. He also learned the trumpetand piano

In 1952,Price,then19, wasworking outanew song on thepiano at the Kenner restauranthis family owned,when he caught theear of producer and talent scoutDave Bartholomew. Pricesoonfound himselfrecording hissong“LawdyMissClawdy” in Cosimo Matassa’sJ&M Studios on North RampartStreet

Featuring an uncreditedFatsDominoonpiano andEarlPalmeron drums,the song would becomeaninstant hitamongboth Blackand whiteaudiences,selling amillion copies and spendingseven weeksatop Billboard’sR&B charts.Itwas laterrecordedbymanyother artists, includingElvisPresley andPaulMcCartney.

Afterserving in theArmyinthe Korean War, Pricereturnedhomeand foundsuccess in 1958 with hisrendition of “StaggerLee,”which reached No.1 on theBillboardpop andR&B charts.Hefollowedthatupwith another smash,“Personality,”asinglethatreached No.2 on thecharts and earned himthe nickname“Mr.Personality.”

In addition to hissinging and recordingcareer, Pricewas also an entrepreneur. He founded hisown record label, owned nightclubs, managed other performers and even promotedboxingmatches featuring Muhammad Aliand other heavyweights

In recent years, Pricewas honored by hishometownofKenner,which named LloydPrice Avenue forhim.Hediedin2021.

Leidenheimer’sbread

PHOTO BY DAVIDGRUNFELD / THETIMES-PICAYUNE

PUFF,PUFF, PASS

WhenwillLouisianafinally legalizerecreationalcannabis?

BY KAYLEE POCHE

WHEN COLORADO ANDWASHINGTONFIRST PASSED LEGISLATION legalizing recreationalcannabis in 2012,theywere anomaliesina countrythatatthe federal levelputsthe plantinthe same category as heroin

At thetime, conventionalwisdom heldthatlegal recreational cannabis would neverspread muchbeyonda handfulofstates. ButwithRhode Island,Marylandand Missouri becomingthe most recent of 21 states to legalizerecreationalcannabis,nearly half of Americansnow liveinastate whereit’slegal

Yetdespite thegrowing momentumand severallawmakers’ attempts overthe years, Louisiana hasn’tfollowedsuit—and advocates and politicalobserversagree it almost certainly won’thappen before Democratic Gov. John BelEdwards leavesoffice.

This year marks thelast year of Edwards’ term as governor,and it’s unclearifhe’dvetolegalizationor regulation legislationshould it make it to hisdesk.But it looks unlikely that such legislation will even make it to that pointthisregularsession, whichbeginsApril 10

“I thinkitwill be very tough—I don’t ever want to sayimpossible to getlegalizationthrough this year,” says PeterRobins-Brown, executive directorofLouisiana Progress, an advocacy groupthatsupports legalization. “But Idothink it’s inevitable, and probablyinevitablewithinthe next fewyears.”

Forstarters, thebiggest Republicansupporteroflegalization,

Mandeville’sfreshman legislator Rep. RichardNelson, isn’tplanning to bringforth anybillsonthe issue this year as he runs forgovernor AndEdwards hasrepeatedlysaidhe doesn’tsupportlegalization

Plus,ontop of theopposition from theLouisiana Sheriffs’Association and Louisiana DistrictAttorneys Association in yearspast, 2023 also is an election year

It’s lessclear what will happenwith anew Louisiana governor,and there couldbehopefor coming yearseven if thestate Republican Party’scandidate of choice,AttorneyGeneral Jeff Landry,endsupinoffice. Arecent opinionfromLandry’sofficecould be evidence that he maynot be as stridentlyopposedtorecreational cannabis as one would expectfrom someone with hisbrand of politics

If alegalizationbill were to reach anew governor’s desk,though, it would likely have thesupportof aconservativelegislature and other stakeholders

“Especially withpublic opinion beingsopositive,I thinkit’shard forevenJeffLandry or [other announced Republican candidateSen.] Sharon Hewitt to veto alegalization bill if it makes it throughaconservative legislature,” Robins-Brownsays.

WHILETHE LEGISLATURE HASBEEN HESITANT to legalizerecreational cannabis,the statealready has amedical cannabis program and polling consistently showsLouisiana voters nowsupport

legalizingitfor recreational use, too.

TheUniversityofNew Orleans Research Centerconducted asurveyof Louisiana registered voters last year and foundthat58% of them favored legalizing recreational marijuana Thirty percent said they opposed it,while theother 12%reportednot having an opiniononthe matter

Supportfor legalization has only increased in recent years. UNOpolls foundthatuntil 2021,the majority of registered voters did notsupport legalizingcannabis.But in recent years, thetides turned —54% opposedthe idea in 2020,while 55% supporteditjust oneyearlater.

Another 2021 survey by JMCAnalytics even foundstrongsupportfor

legalizationinninedistricts —mostly in South Louisiana —thatTrump carriedhandedly.

Rep. Kyle Green, aMarrero Democrat whohas broughtforth alegalizationbill before,saysthat matches up withwhathe’snoticed in hisdistrict.

“I have constituents of mine who I’ve talked to,who would be classified as Republican Trumpvoters, and many of them areinfavorof legalization,” Greensays. “Manyof them useit.”

Butjust because apolicyisfavored by thepublic doesn’tnecessarily mean it will be easy to pass.For instance, a2019LSU survey found81% of Louisiana residentsfavor raising

PHOTO BY TRAVIS SPRADLING/ THEADVOCATE Spectatorsapplaudaspeakerata 2014LegalizeLouisianaRally

PHOTO BY TRAVIS SPRADLING/ THEADVOCATE Thecultivationandmanufacturing facilityforWellcanaGroup,LSU’s medicalcannabismakerin2020

theminimum wage butnoproposal to do so hasgainedtractionin theLegislature

“Just because youcan walk up and show alegislatorapollthat showsthe public is in supportof oneissue or another doesnot mean that politicianisgoingto vote with thepublic,and marijuana is no exception,”saysJeremyAlford,editorand publisher of trade publicationLaPoliticsWeekly.

Thereare other factors at play, particularly reelection concerns in an election year

Forone,just because apolicyis popularstatewide doesn’tmean it’s popularinevery voting district.

“I understand thesituation they’reput in,” says Rep. Candace Newell,a first-termNew OrleansDemocrat whobrings forth cannabis legislationyearly.“Their citizens have to vote forthem,and so they’renot goingtorisknot beingreelected because they voted forsomething that waspopular amongthe state butjust mightnot be popularinthatdistrict.”

Additionally,manylegislators in conservative districtswantto frame themselves as acandidate that’s “tough on crime” andfear avotefor recreational cannabis could ruin that image. Plus,they don’t want to be at oddswiththeir sheriffordistrictattorney, who oftenhavea lotofswaylocally

“Manyconservativesbelieve that supporting recreational marijuana usewould translateinto asoft-on-crime stance, which is adeath knellfor anyreelection attempt,”Alfordsays.

Andevenregardless of their stanceonthe issue, legislators typically strayawayfrompassingany majorpolicychangesinanelection year —oratleast those that have thepublic’s attention.

“One thing youhave to remember aboutthisyearthattrumps everything is that it’s an election year,” Alford says.“Thethings that lawmakersmight be more open to at thebeginning of theterm, they mightshy away from at atime like this when they areliterally just monthsawayfromasking voters to allowthem to keep theirjobs.”

WHILEMOSTDEMOCRATS IN THE LEGISLATURE AREONBOARD with legalization, Republicansare divided on theissue

Inadditiontothe conservatives worriedaboutsoiling “a toughon crime” image, thereare also more libertarianlegislators whosupport legalization, whileothersare opposedonmoral grounds.

Newell says shetries to tell those morallyopposed that plentyof people arealready usingcanna-

PHOTO BY SARAH GAMARD / LSUMANSHIP NEWS SERVICE StateSen.SharonHewitt, aSlidellRepublican,is runningforgovernor.

PHOTO BY HILARYSCHEINUK/ THEADVOCATE AttorneyGeneralJeff LandryistheLouisiana RepublicanParty’s endorsedcandidate forgovernor.

bis anyway and regulating it can ensure safer products and more money for the state.

“Folks are always saying, ‘Well, they shouldn’t do this They shouldn’t do that.’ You have some people that say you shouldn’t drink,” Newell says “But you put regulations on it, you tax it and you make sure that people who are selling it are selling it properly.”

Newell says that she has found that many of her fellow legislators are uneducated about cannabis

“I had a conversation this week with a very conservative Republican and an extremely conservative Democrat, and it was like I got exhausted just talking to them because they just didn’t want to understand regulating,” she told Gambit last month.

Meanwhile, some prohibitionist legislators have trafficked in outright misinformation For instance, in 2018 Rep. Dodie Horton, a North Louisiana Republican, cited a false claim from a satirical publication about people overdosing on cannabis during committee debate on a medical cannabis bill.

And although many legislators acknowledge that legalization is “inevitable,” some still don’t want their names attached to it

“It is interesting that almost all of the legislators who have been involved with the birth of the medical marijuana program and the

decriminalization, the lion’s share, they don’t want to be ‘the weed person,’” Alford says “They don’t want their policy legacy to be defined by that crop Others don’t mind at all. I think they’re a little more visionary when it comes to what lies ahead for this issue.”

THIS YEAR NEWELL IS BRINGING FORTH A BILL once again that would legalize recreational cannabis and set up state regulations for it, starting with a limited number of licenses for facilities. A second bill would remove existing legal penalties for possessing cannabis but only if the Legislature were to create a system for regulating and taxing it Newell’s legalization bill would also establish a program that would provide financial assistance and license application benefits to “individuals most directly and adversely impacted by the enforcement of cannabis-related law who are interested in starting cannabis business establishments.” Though the war on drugs has disproportionately impacted people of color, the vast majority of people profiting off cannabis legalization are white.

Robins-Brown says that Louisiana Progress supports the language but that he thinks it’s a tough sell in the state. In 2021,

when Newell’s legalization bill made it to the floor, even though it was late in the evening, several legislators voiced their concern with that piece of the bill, which then failed 34-62.

Robins-Brown says Louisiana Progress is also working with a legislator on a bill that wouldn’t outright legalize recreational cannabis but would set up a system for taxing it should it become legal.

“We think we’ve developed a tax proposal that incorporates those best practices, and tailors this proposal to the needs and the political realities of Louisiana,” he says Nelson had arguably the most successful attempt at legalization when he tried back in 2021 His taxation bill made it out of committee onto the House floor but failed 47-49, well short of the two-thirds vote needed to pass a tax measure It would have given some part of the taxes collected to local law enforcement.

Ultimately, opposition from the state’s sheriffs and district attorneys associations helped kill the bill, as has been the case with previous attempts.

Given the power sheriffs and district attorneys yield, Robins-Brown says, for legalization to pass this year, they’d need “the acquiescence” of both groups And so far, they haven’t publicly announced a change in their stance

Those odds are why in January, Nelson told Gambit it was unlikely he’d bring a legalization bill this year because “it’s an election year and there’s not that much hope in getting it through the Legislature.”

Green says he wouldn’t bring a legalization bill this year either for the same reason but adds he’d be open to bringing one next year if reelected.

“The votes aren’t there in the House of Representatives,” he says “If you can’t get it out of House, it really doesn’t matter.”

Robins-Brown, who has also followed cannabis bills in the Legislature over the years, agrees with their assessment.

“There’s too many factors against it this year,” he says. “It’s an election year. You’ve got a governor who is a Democrat yet has stated that he’s against it The law enforcement stakeholders haven’t changed their position in any meaningful way in terms of being more open to it.”

IF LEGISLATORS DON’T LEGALIZE RECREATIONAL CANNABIS this year, the dynamics could change once the state gets a new governor Nelson is the only announced candidate for Louisiana governor who has come out in support of legalization thus far, touting the

PHOTO BY HILARY SCHEINUK / THE ADVOCATE Rep.RichardNelson,R-Mandeville, speakswithRep.CandaceNewell, D-NewOrleans,attheStateCapitol in2021.

PHOTO BY HILARY SCHEINUK / THE ADVOCATE Medicalcannabisgrowsinside IleraHolisticHealthcare’sfacility inBaker,Louisiana

revenue that taxing cannabis could bring to the state.

“Another state legalizes it everyday You read about all the tax revenue that they’re getting,” he says “That money would go a long way to paying our police, fixing our roads, fixing our schools, doing all these things.”

Sen Sharon Hewitt, a Slidell Republican, told Gambit in a statement that she does not support legalization Republicans Landry and Treasurer John Schroder, a former narcotics officer, did not provide Gambit with official statements but both seem unlikely to support legalization given their backgrounds in law enforcement.

While Landry will likely not be spearheading a push for legalization, he’s also not toed a strictly prohibitionist line, including a decision in January to sign off on the public’s ability to use telehealth appointments to obtain cannabis prescriptions.

Nelson is a bit of a longshot candidate. He has less name recognition than Landry and Schroder who both hold statewide office, and he’s also only in his first term in the Legislature compared to Hewitt who took office in 2016.

But legalizing recreational cannabis would create a massive industry in the state, meaning there are going to be political donors eyeing that potential market.

“If I’ve learned anything about Louisiana politics and this issue, I can tell you with absolute confidence, that it’s not red and it is not blue. It is green, and I ain’t talking about weed,” Alford says Already, shipbuilding magnate Boysie Bollinger, a huge political donor in the state, owns a large interest in Good Day Farm, LSU AgCenter’s medical cannabis partner. Robins-Brown describes Bollinger as “one of the most powerful people in the state, probably more powerful than some governors have been.”

“When something like that happens there’s almost like a permission system that kicks into place in politics,” Alford says “Boysie Bollinger investing in this company and getting into the marijuana business gives politicians and other donors permission to do the same.”

“I do think that pro-marijuana forces will have more influence over this statewide election than any other previously because we do have an industry now and people know that there’s money to be made for this,” Alford adds.

Robins-Brown says he thinks legalization will depend on

stakeholders and business owners and will happen no matter who the next governor is But he also thinks the election could impact how soon that happens

“I think if a Republican governor came into office and said, ‘This is something that I am very much in favor of I’m committed to getting this done while I’m in office, working with an overwhelmingly Republican legislature,’ I think that certainly makes it easier,” he says

But ultimately, according to Robins-Brown, if a legalization bill did have the support of the Louisiana Legislature (which means it would likely have the support of the sheriffs or DAs), it would be politically difficult for a governor to veto, especially given strong public support for it

That includes Edwards, should the Legislature end up sending a legalization bill to his desk this year

“I think that would be a tough veto for any governor, no matter how hostile they might be personally,” Robins-Brown says

THERE ARE OTHER WAYS RECREATIONAL CANNABIS COULD BECOME LEGAL in Louisiana If legislators don’t want to legalize it outright, they could create a constitutional amendment to put the issue to the voters

But, again, the public being overwhelmingly in support of legalization is no guarantee the constitutional amendment would pass.

Voters in Maryland and Missouri passed ballot measures last year but voters in North Dakota, South Dakota and Arkansas rejected them While North Dakota’s measure failed by a 10-point margin, that was a significant change from 2018 when it failed by a margin nearly double that Alford says the results of a ballot measure in Louisiana would really depend on who turns out to vote

“If you got a ballot with a bunch of conservative races on it, faithbased maybe, it’s gonna be kind of tough,” he says “But if you got a bunch of heavy races like New Orleans and Baton Rouge and Shreveport and strong Democrat statewide, it might. It just depends, and it depends what kind of argument you can present to the public.”

There’s also a chance the federal government could legalize cannabis, although Robins-Brown

says that he doesn’t believe that’s likely, given the fact that so many states have already legalized cannabis on their own.

“I think what we’ve seen with these kinds of things is that the federal government whether it’s through its own action or inaction, or Supreme Court rulings leading to action or inaction that it seems to work out better on a state-by-state basis, by the government, federal government leaving it up to the states,” he says Robins-Brown says he thinks it’s more likely that the federal government will change its classification of cannabis as a Schedule I drug. The classification labels “drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse,” which is particularly ironic given medical cannabis is now legal in some form in 39 states, including Louisiana

Instead, Robins-Brown thinks it’s more likely Louisiana will get there first, given its track record on medical cannabis and, most recently, decriminalization of small amounts of cannabis Edwards signed both into law in recent years, putting Louisiana ahead of its neighbors in the Deep South on both issues

“If you look at other states on their path to legalization, those are kind of the two tracks that take place,” he says. “The medical program expands sort of year by year. That helps people get more comfortable with it, like the general public gets more comfortable with it as well as legislators And then you see some of that roll back in terms of how heavily we criminalize people for using marijuana.”

“Barring something totally unforeseen, I do think we’re on our way there.”

PHOTOS BY GERALD HERBERT / ASSOCIATED PRESS CannabisplantsgrowatGBSciences LouisianainBatonRouge.

NewOrleansmaynameparkafter Walter‘Wolfman’Washington

by Gabrielle Korein

THENEWORLEANSCITYCOUNCILNEXTMONTH will consider a plan to rename a park after Walter “Wolfman” Washington, the legendary blues musician who died last December

Washington’s widow Michelle Bushey Washington told Gambit she approached Budget Chairman Joe Giarrusso about the idea after meeting with local community leaders and getting their blessing to rename Fortier Park after Washington.

Giarrusso, who is expected to introduce the measure at the council’s April 20 meeting, said Washington’s position in the community makes him the sort of renaming candidate city leaders often look for when choosing someone to honor

“When you have somebody like Mr Washington who lived in this area for 25 years, and played concerts there and had a connection with the people, I think both of those things together has this make a lot of common sense,” he said The park is currently named after Alcée Fortier Fortier’s family owned slaves, and he participated in the so-called “Battle of Liberty Place” terrorist attack by white supremacists in 1874

A Tulane professor, Fortier also promoted public education explicitly as a way to ensure the dominance of white people over Black people His name is one of several the New Orleans Public School system included in its 2021 list of racists and others as part of its facilities renaming effort

“Removing people who I think are antithetical to what the city’s true beliefs and core values are is important,” Giarrusso said Bushey Washington told Gambit the idea first occurred to her during her initial grieving

process following Washington’s passing.

“I spent the last month and a half since he passed contemplating where my life was going to go from here and how I was going to get over this and get on with things,” Bushey Washington said “I was driving down the neighborhood and saw the little park where he often played music. I started thinking of some way to memorialize him, to have him remain a part of his neighborhood.”

Bushey Washington’s effort to rename the park started with a Facebook post in late January. Since she began the campaign, she has gathered support from the local community, neighborhood associations and city council.

His former drummer and current Loyola music professor, Wayne Maureau, shared stories of Walter Washington’s kindness, generosity, and commitment to this city.

“The thing about Walter is he was a true New Orleanian,” Maureau said “What he loved was being a New Orleans musician. He would rather play clubs around town four or five nights a week than be on tour It was great to travel the world with him and do all the big festivals, but in his heart, he just wanted to play music in New Orleans.”

Bushey Washington said the outpouring of support from community members has been heartening

“The thing that struck me is that everybody has a Walter story,” she said “Everyone that met him took a little piece of him with them I am so impressed with how many people he touched and how many people still have this little place in their hearts that makes them smile when they think of him. That’s probably one of the best legacies, and I’m sure the one he is most proud of.”

PHOTO BY GABRIELLE KOREIN / GAMBIT FortierParkcouldsoonbecomeWalter “Wolfman”WashingtonPark.

PROVIDED PHOTO BY GREG MILES Walter‘Wolfman’Washington

PHOTO BY GARIELLE KOREIN / GAMBIT AlceeFortierPark

Animal of theMonth: Vibranttocotoucans soar at Wingsofthe World, newbirds exhibitatAudubon Zoo

By Amanda McElfresh amcelfresh@theadvocate.com

With itslongand colorfulbeak, black body andwhite throat,the toco toucan is oneofthe most recognizable tropicalbirds in theworld.Beyondtheir strikingbeauty, toco toucansare alsoknownfor beingactive andfriendly, whichhas madethemfavorites amongvisitorstoAudubon Zoo. We spoke to Mike Houlihan,curator of birdsatthe Zoo, to learnmoreabout this speciesand wheretheyare locatedatAudubon Zoo.

Howmanytocotoucans live at AudubonZoo?

We have threetoco toucans– onemale andtwo females. Themaleand oneofthe femalesare abouteight yearsold andare a breeding pair that live in thenewly opened Wingsofthe World exhibitatAudubon Zoo. Whilethey’ve beenapairfor awhile,they have not yethad chicks.Animal staff are hopefulthatthe move to Wingsofthe World with itshigherceilingswillencourage them to builda nest andbreed.Our single female livesinthe aviary

What is thepersonality of the toco toucans?

They arequite intelligent, highly curious, sometimesmischievous andbold. Particularly in theWingsofthe World habitat,theyhave heightened interested in people andarequicktocomenearandcheck outany visitors. When newbirds areadded to theexhibit,theyare always amongthe

first to checkthem out! They have favorites amongtheir animal care team

Tell us abit about thetocotoucan diet. Toucansare mostly frugivores,which meanstheyeat fruit. They foragefor figs, guavaand peppers. They arealsoknown to eat insectsand smallvertebrates, especially during thebreedingseason.

What is being done to protecttoco toucansinthe wild?

Rightnow,toucans areclassifiedasa “least concernspecies.” This meansthat theirnumbers aresustainable andthey arenot facedwithimmediate threats of extinction.However,being from the rainforestsofSouth America, they arefaced with problemsofdeforestation like so many other species. Having abreedingpairat AudubonZoo makesitpart of theSpecies

Survival Programthatthe Associationof Zoos andAquariums oversees

Besides the toco toucans, what other types of tropical birdsliveat the Wingsofthe Worldhabitat in AudubonZoo?

Wingsofthe Worldishometomore than 60 individual birdsfromlocations around theworld. Some of theseare the Nicobarpigeons,the arguspheasant, the white-crested turacos, Bali myna,and curl-crested aracari. Visitthem at theZoo to learnmore.

What canvisitorsexpectat Au dub on Zo o’sW ings of th e Worldexhibit?

Wingsofthe Worldallowsvisitorsto be immersed in theworld of birdsand get afirsthandglimpse into thelives of these

extraordinaryanimals. Guests canobserve thearray of behaviorsfromour diverse population.Thesightsandsoundstransport visitors to tropical rainforests wherethese birdslive, eat, thrive andraise theiryoung At theend of theirvisit,wehopeguestsgain an appreciation forthe amazingworld of birdsalongwithvaluableinformation on things they candointheir ownbackyards to help birds thrive.Werecommendyou take your time throughthe environment to getthe full experience by avoidingany stirring of thebirds,and to trulyenjoy the full encounter

Want to visit?

Thespringisagreat time of year to visit thetoco toucansand othertropicalbirds

at Audubon Zoo. TheZoo is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5p.m.fromnow through LaborDay.Check audubonzoo.com for information on tickets, free parkingand planningyourZoo trip.

Thebestvalue if youplanonvisiting theZoo more than once or areplanningon visiting AudubonAquariumand Audubon Insectarium laterthisyear, is purchasing an AudubonMembership. In additionto unlimited visits,Members enjoydiscounts at Audubongiftshops,concessions,special events such as Zoo-To-Doand Zoo-To-Do for Kids,Zoo Camps, andmuchmore. Forafulllist of benefitsand to findout howyou canbecome amember, visit audubonmembership.com andsave.

Thisarticle is brought to youby Audubon Nature Institute

Goodstart

THEFIRSTTIMECHEFFARIZ CHOUMALIVISITEDNEW ORLEANS with hiswife Adrienne, aNew Orleanian he’dmet whileworkingin LosAngelesin2014, he felt an uncannysense of familiarity with thecity.

“Beirut, whereI’m from, shares aFrenchculture and vibrancywithNew Orleans,” he says.“Thefirst time I went to theFrenchQuarter, withits architecture, music and culture,I felt at home People come from allover theworld to eatfood here.I knew this city wasfor me.”

Choumalihas worked for BRGHospitality(formerly Besh RestaurantGroup) forfiveyears,startingat Shaya, wherehemoved up to executivechef. He’s nowthe executivechefat Tavi,which openedJan.5 in Covington. Conceivedas asisterrestaurant to Shaya, Tavi shares asensibility and some dishes,but the chef is introducingafew Lebanese street dishes to the Northshoremenu andplans to add seasonal specials as well.“Here we have so many regulars,” he says “Peoplewerewaiting forthisfood Covingtondoesn’t have apacelike NewOrleans,soour openingwas a bigdealtothe community.”

Theformer barbershop has been transformed into anew spacewith broadwindows offering copious naturallight and aserene blue and whitecolor schemeexuding awelcoming,Mediterranean vibe There’sa comfy10-seat barand awood-fired ovenworking in one corner of thespace.Taviisnamed forpartner OctavioMantilla’s grandson, Tavi,fromthe Hebrew word forgood.

It’s adefinitionthatalso fits the arrayand depth of flavors thechef creates. Themezze,orstarters, include serioushummusupgrades Onepopularadditionisatopping of buttermilk-soaked friedchicken thighspicedwith turmeric and

ExecutiveChefFariz ChoumaliatTavi

coriander. Then there’satrioof wild mushrooms sauteedinsage brownbutterand spiked with za’atar-spicedhazelnuts atop the creamy base. Accompanying the starters arepitas that emergefrom thewood-fired ovenasirresistible fragrantpuffs of bread. Aplate of house pickled vegetables offers a gluten-free alternative.

During arecentMondaylunch, the85-seat restaurantwas packed. Unfortunately, thecrowd produces adin,but that is beingaddressed, thechefsays. Sound baffling is in Tavi’s near future.The restaurant also is opening abackpatio garden witha barcircling themature cypresstreethatcastswelcome shadeoverthe courtyard.

OnepopularLebanese street dish is arayes,agrilled pita sandwich stuffedwithgroundkafta,or

seasoned lamb,and served with an herbaceous tzatziki

Thesujukflatbread tops a housemade long roll with crumbledbitsofArmenian sausage, made with cayenne, cuminand sumac,held together withmeltedcheese and adrizzle of tangypomegranatemolasses

Confitchicken,cooked in duck fat, is afavoredentree because of itscrispskin,tender meat and foundation of basmati rice served with tzatziki and pistachios.There’sa farm freshfattoush saladtossed withsumacdatevinaigrette and topped with shinypomegranate seeds. Otheroptions includea lamb burger served withsumacpickledonionsand halloumi cheese,and theshakshukaskillet of poached eggs in aspiced tomato,onion and bell peppersaucetoppedwith crumbledfeta.

Fordessert, tahini chocolate mousse tempts,but theghazel banatisthe clear frontrunner, featuringorangeblossom gelato topped with anestofghazalbanat, acottoncandytreat that disappearsonthe tongue andcarries theearthycrunch of pistachio and halva. Aspritzofrosewater completeswhatmustbeone of the most intriguingrecentdessertson either side of theCauseway.

Thebar offers some interesting cocktails,likethe Road to Kfar, madewithsumac-infused tequila, pomliqueur,limejuiceand hibiscussyrup.There areCalifornian, Lebanese,Frenchand Israeliwines available by theglass,along with beersbothlocal and imported from Greece and Lebanon

Choumaliwantedtobeachef sincehewas aboy,watchinghis mother fill everyavailable surface in her kitchen withsavorymezze both hotand cold.She’s still inspiringhim at Tavi.

“I still call my mom with questions about recipes,”hesays. “She can cook everything.”

FORK +CENTER

Emaildining@gambitweekly.com

Pitcrew

AMERICANBARBECUEHASDEEPROOTS

INTHESOUTH,and scholars have documentedthe pivotal role that Blackcooks playedinits formative traditions andculture

Makingsurethey’re better represented in that culture todayisthe goalofanongoingprogram from charcoal makerKingsford.

In 2021,Kingsfordstarted its Preserve thePit initiative,which offers fellowships to aspiring Black barbecue pros.The program providesmentoring,networkingand business developmentgrants. It’s back this year,and theapplication process recently opened Theprogram is aimed at giving participants hands-on training,

forgingrelationshipsinthe industryand building up finances for theirbusinesses

Oneofthe mentors Kingsford tapped to guidethe program is New Orleans-based pitmaster andbarbecue educator Howard Conyers, whoseworkhas focusedonBlack culturaltraditionsinbarbecue.

“The rootsofbarbecue arebased in communityand culture,and are at thecoreofPreservethe Pit,” Conyers said in apress release.“As my work in barbecue evolves, Iam proudtocontinueworking with Kingsfordtoprovide aplace to

PHOTO BY CHERYL GERBER

GeraldVinnettJr.,ownerof BigPapi’sSmokehouse PHOTOPROVIDED

Tavi serves Israeli and Lebanese dishes in Covington by Beth D’Addono |

honorthese individualswho are doingamazing work and to help them flourishand create generational businesses.”

In itsfirst year,one of thefellowshipswenttoGeraldVinnett Jr., creatorofthe Destrehan-based catering and barbecue events business BigPapi’sSmokehouse

This year,Kingsfordplans to awardsix fellowships,withapplicationsopen throughMarch 31

Thecompany is “lookingfor applications whoare inspired by anyaspectofbarbecue from growingand raising ingredients to stokingthe pitand committed tocontributingtothe legacy of theBlack barbecue community.” It identified sixentry categories: Farming/Agriculture, Catering,Restaurant, Producer/ Packaging, Butcheryand Content Creator.

Applicationsand program details areavailable onlineatpreservethepit.com.—IAN McNULTY / THETIMES-PICAYUNE

PaulieGee’scloses

PAULIEGEE’SCRESCENTCITYSLICE SHOPOPENEDINDOWNTOWN New Orleans nearly twoyears ago as aclose replicatothe original pizzeria that hasprovena hitin Brooklyn, from thestyle of piesto theretro paneling on thewall.

Now, Paulie Gee’swants to re-createitselfsomewhereelse in thecity.

Thepizzeriaat726 JuliaSt. closed down afterMardi Gras Itsfounder,Paul“PaulieGee” Giannone, says therewas not enoughfoottraffic inthe area to supportthe business model.He says he’s eagertoreopen in adifferent location in New Orleansand is searchingfor a newspot.

“The pizzaiscoming back soon, it just hastotakea walk,” he says Wherever Paulie Gee’slands next in NewOrleans it will include localownership,hesays. He is bringing in alocal partnerto run thenextedition througha licensingdeal,though he says he isn’t readytonamethatpartner

Paulie Gee’smakes pizzathat hasall thehallmarks of theclassic NewYorkstyle —thin, pliant, fold-able,edged with bubbles and topped with sauce and cheese that meldtogether.Italso makes athick-crusted rectangularSicilianstyle pie.

As aslice shop,itoffersboth in aquick-serve format,witha counterlined withready-made piesavailable by theslice.

Paulie Gee’sgot itsstart in Brooklyn, whereitisfrequently mentionedamongthe best pizzeriasina city that sets the standardfor them

Giannone recently embarked on an expansion, openingslice shopsinChicago,Baltimore, Philadelphia and Columbus, Ohio

TheNew Orleans location was thefirst outsideofBrooklyn. It opened in May2021inanaddress that had ashortrun as averydifferent kind of pizzeria.Thatwas Bonci, which wasthe expansion of apizzeriainRomeknown for thick crust pizzacut to orderwith scissors.ThisBonciclosedearly in thepandemic. —IAN McNULTY/ THETIMES-PICAYUNE

‘Tacomakase’

MISTERMAOOFFERSANECLECTIC MENUCOMBININGDISHES from variouscuisines,fromMexico to India.It’shosting aspecial taco tasting dinner,dubbed a “Tacomakase,”withReave Bell, founderofthe pop-up TacosPara la Vida,onWednesday,March 15 Inspirationfor thename comes fromomakase, theJapanese term forletting achefchoose thedishes. TheTacomakasefeaturesanarray of dishes in four courses, starting witha trio of seafoodpreparations,including aversion of shrimp cocktail,a crab and seaurchin tostada and Baja-style snapper.The second coursefeatureschicken mole, migas poblano andacactus and mushroom dish.The main coursebrings wagyuasada and lamb birria.Food is served family style, andthere’sa mezcal cocktail. Ticketsare $70per person,and don’t include taxortip

Mister Maoalso hasrevived its“ChuckWagon”diningroom cartsofferingcreativedim-sumlike dishes.The cartscarry small appetizers from achanging menu.Sample dishes include porksiu maiwithleek andginger, shrimp dumplings withtamari andchili oilvinaigrette,hulihuli meatballs, sugarsnap peas with sesameyum yum sauce,and chicken lumpia, thethinFilipino spring rolls, served withsweet and sour sauce. Dishes range from $8-$12.Cartservice is available 5-7p.m.Thursdaythrough Monday and11a.m.to2 p.m. Sunday.For moreinformation, visitmistermaonola.com

JohnDeMers

Author by Will Coviello

NATIVENEWORLEANIANJOHNDEMERS

HASWRITTENNEARLY60BOOKS, including cookbooksand barbecuetitles.In2001, he washired by theHouston Chronicleto coverfoodand spentalmosttwo decades exploring Texasfoodways.Healso ranhis Delicious Mischiefradio show,which he createdinNew Orleans. He’s now aspecialeducation teacher in Virginia, buthis 59th book is “The VieuxCarre,” thelatest edition inaseriesaboutfamousNew OrleansdrinksfromLSU Press. Invented by Walter Bergeron at theMonteleoneHotel in the early1930s,the drinkcombines French cognacand Benedictine, Italianvermouth, American rye whiskey and twotypes of bitters, Angosturaand locallyinvented Peychaud’s.For moreaboutthe book,visit lsupress.org.

booze-forward.Noneof thosedrinkshave alot of fruit juice or lime juice. It wasall: We’llput in some booze and putinsomebooze andput in some booze,and foralittle tastedifference, we’llput in somedifferent booze.That’s thestyle of theVieux Carre, theSazerac,the Negroniand theManhattan.Those drinks were born of thesame alcoholicimpulse

Iamnot convincedWalter createdthese elements of thecocktailintentionally.We know that afterthe drinkwas successful, he spokewitha writernamedStanleyClisby Arthur.Bythattime, he had hisstory straight.Hesaid, “You know, Ihave brandy, cognac, andBenedictine for theFrench. Ihave vermouth forthe Italians and Sicilians, and Ihave ryewhiskey for theAmerican coming down the river,and then twokinds of bitters, Angosturaand Peychaud’s,from theCaribbean.”

WINE OF THE WEEK

JOHNDEMERS: OutsideofNew Orleans,I am sure it’s notwell known.But outsideofthe Carousel Baratthe Monteleone, it’s also not so well known.The Sazeraciswhat people go forwhen they arevisiting NewOrleans.Theythink,rightly, that it’s themothership of New Orleans cocktails. It wasthe trendsetter in thebeginning of thestory Ithink theVieux Carreand many other iconic NewOrleans cocktails were inspired by theSazerac in some way, shape or form

Alot of people in thecurrent cocktailrevival movement like what they call pre-Prohibition cocktails.Itwas agolden agefor cocktails.Prohibition destroyedthe alcoholindustry in America—so manyplacesshutdown, recipes were forgottenand lost.The SazeracpredatedProhibition by 50 or 60 years. TheVieux Carre wasinvented afterProhibition in the1930s,but it’s apre-Prohibition-style cocktail.

Thecreator,WalterBergeron, is afigureofconsiderable mystery.Wedon’t knowa lotabout him. Ibelieve he wasinspired by thecocktails he made when he startedin1918atthe Monteleone. He wasofthe schoolofpre-Prohibition.Inthose days,drinks were

Iwouldn’tbesurprisedifthatmix wasless intentionalthanitseems, and thestory came later. Bartenders need thosestories.TohearWalter from theLower9th Ward talking to some salesman from Cleveland,it wasprobablylike, “Wellyou know, we’vegot alot of culture here We’vegot this strong French thing, so we’vegot cognac. And thehotel is owned by an Italianfamily, so we’vegot vermouth.”

Whatdidyoulearn aboutBergeron?

D Thewhole search forWalter Bergeron wasthe most memorable part of thebook. It waseasytofind that Bergeron invented thedrink Butafter that,thereisn’tmuch. Clisby said he talked to Bergeron in person.Afew other researchers talkedtohis children, butthey didn’tknowmuchabouthim

To be clear, Bergeron never worked at theCarouselBar.It opened afterhedied. He worked at theLobbyBar,which wasthere at thehotel’s beginning. Iwould notbesurprisedifhehad away toserve drinks somehow, somewhere(during Prohibition).But we don’thave anyrecordofhim beingarrested.Count Arnaud of Arnaud’s Restaurantwas arrested during Prohibition forillegally sellingalcohol.I am pretty sure alot of people didit. Butmyresearch didn’tturnhim up as beingpubliclycaughtserving alcohol.The Monteleonewas alaw-biding business.The family would not have riskedit.

Ithink Walter wasagood guy. He went to work everyday,hedidn’t seem to have anyproblems.But hisfamily did notknowhecreated theVieux Carre. Thekidsdidn’t know he wassemi-famous. They also didn’tliketalking abouthim Nobodyknows whyheleftthe profession. Walter diedyoung in 1947.

Whydidyouinclude therecipesyouchose?

D Iincludedthe modernVieux Carredrink with rum because it’s different. Ifigured that one of thethingsthatgoesoninthe cocktail renaissance is homaging, wherepeople embracethe past Lots of bartenders make avery traditionalVieux Carre, andthat’s my favorite one.But thereare always bartenders whowantto be more creative.SoI looked for amodernVieux Carrethathas a creatorand aplace it wasborn. Iwantedtoreflect that modern excitementwithvariations. Idon’t thinkBergeronwas ahugeexperimenter.Hewas notgoingtomake thecucumber version, buttoday people do that

What’scoolaboutthe series is theemphasisonstories.This is awriter’sseries, notamixologist’s series.You canfindrecipes forany cocktaileasilyonline. If people want to understand New Orleansand theSicilianpopulation that gave us theMonteleone, and people of Thibodauxwho went to NewOrleans forbetter jobs like Walter Bergeron,the entirehistory of alcoholina city reputedtoadorealcohol,then this is agreat series

MatuaLighter hasthatclassic NewZealand Sauvignon Blancflavor youlove, butwith less of thecaloriesyou don’t Thenoseismouth-wateringly vibrant with grilledpineapple andpassionfruitcharacters. Thepalate doesn’tskimp on flavoreither, bursting with zestycitrusand natural acidity.This is alighter Sauvignon Blancwithonly80 calories per5oz.serving.

DISTRIBUTED BY

Givenhowsimilaritisto manyclassiccocktails,are yousurprisedtheVieuxCarre isn’tbetterknown?

PHOTO PROVIDED BY JOHN DEMERS

Matua Lighter Sauvignon Blanc

Out 2Eat is an indexofGambit contract advertisers. Unlessnoted, addresses arefor NewOrleans and all accept credit cards. Updates: Email willc@gambitweekly.com or call (504) 483-3106.

8FreshFoodAssassin 1900 N. Claiborne Ave.,(504) 224-2628; Instagram, @8freshfoodassassin

Chef MannyJanuary’smenuincludes grilledlambchops,T-bone steaks, salmon,crabcakes,deepfried ribs, friedchicken andchar-grilled or seafood-loadedoysters,aswellassides like collardgreensand mac andcheese. No reservations.Deliveryavailable

Lunchand dinner Tue.-Sun $$

Acorn— 12 HenryThomas Drive, (504) 218-5413;acornnola.com— Thecafe at theLouisiana Children’s Museum haskid-and adult-friendly menu

Blackenedshrimpfill atriooftacos topped with arugula,radish, pineapple-mango salsa andcilantro-lime sauce.Noreservations. breakfastand

lunch Wed.-Sun $$

AngeloBrocato’s— 214N.Carrollton Ave.,(504) 486-1465;angelobrocatoicecream.com This sweetshop serves itsown gelato, spumoni, Italianice, cannolis,biscotti,fig cookies, tiramisu, macaroonsand othertreats. Lunchand

dinner Tue.-Sun $

Annunciation— 1016 Annunciation St., (504) 568-0245;annunciationrestaurant.com ThemenuhighlightsGulf seafoodinCreole,Cajun and Southern dishes.GulfDrum Yvonne is served with brownbuttersauce with mushrooms andartichoke hearts.Reservations recommended.DinnerThu.-Mon. $$$

Banana Blossom— 5009th St.,Gretna, (504)500-0997; 504bananablossom com JimmyCho’s restaurantserves classic andcreativeThaidishes

Smoked pork belly and pork meatballs areservedina lemongrass brothwith egg,green onion,cilantroand crispy garlic.Reservations accepted forlarge parties except Friday and Saturday nights.Deliveryavailable.Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sat $$

TheBlueCrabRestaurant andOyster Bar— 118Harbor View Court, Slidell, (985)315-7001; 7900 Lakeshore Drive, (504)284-2898;thebluecrabnola. com Themenuincludessandwiches, friedand boiled seafood andmore. Basinbarbecue shrimp areserved overcheesegrits withacheesebiscuit. Outdoor seatingavailable.Noreservations.Lakeview: lunch anddinner

Tue.-Sun.Slidell: lunch Fri.-Sat., dinner

Wed.-Sun $$

Broussard’s— 819Conti St.,(504) 581-3866;broussards.com Themenu includesCreole andcreativecontemporary dishes.Rainbowtrout amandine is served with tassoand corn macque chouxand Creole meunieresauce Reservations recommended.Outdoor seatingavailable.Dinner Wed.-Sat., brunch Sun. $$$

Cafe Normandie— HigginsHotel,480 Andrew HigginsBlvd.,(504) 528-1941; higginshotelnola.com/dining The menu combines classicFrenchdishes and Louisiana itemslikecrabbeignets with herb aioli. No reservations

Breakfastand lunch daily $$

TheCommissary — 634OrangeSt., (504)274-1850; thecommissarynola.

com Thecentral kitchenfor Dickie

Brennan restaurants offers graband-godishes and adine-in menu of sandwiches,saladsand shareable

$ —average dinner entrée under $10 $$ —$11-$20 $$$ —$20-up

plates.Ahouse-smoked turkey breast sandwichhas bacon,tomatojam, herbed creamcheese, arugulaand herb vinaigretteonBellegarde honeyoat bread. No reservations.Outdoor seatingavailable.LunchTue.-Sat. $$

Curio— 301Royal St.,(504) 717-4198; curionola.com ThecreativeCreole menu includes blackened Gulf shrimp served with chicken andandouillejambalaya.Reservations accepted.Lunch and dinner daily $$

Desire Oyster Bar— RoyalSonesta NewOrleans,300 Bourbon St.,(504) 586-0300; sonesta.com/desireoysterbar

ThemenuhighlightsGulfseafood in Creole dishes.Char-grilled oysters aretopped withParmesan and herbs Reservations recommended.Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily $$

Dickie Brennan’sBourbon House — 144 BourbonSt.,(504) 522-0111;bourbonhouse.com Theseafood restaurant hasaraw bar andalarge selectionof bourbon.Redfish is served withlemon buerreblanc.Reservations accepted

Lunchand dinner daily $$$

DragonflyCafe— 530Jackson Ave., (504)544-9530; dragonflynola.com— Thecasual cafe offers breakfastplates, waffles,salads, coffee drinks and more.Braised ribisservedongreens withcornbread.Deliveryavailable Reservations accepted.Breakfast and lunch Wed.-Sat $$

El Pavo Real 4401 S. BroadAve., (504)266-2022;elpavorealnola.com—

Pescado Vera Cruzisasauteed Gulf fish toppedwith asauceoftomatoes,olives, onionand capers and served withsteamed rice and string beans. Themenu also includes tacos, quesadillas,enchiladas, carnitas and more. Outdoorseating available. No reservations.Lunch and early dinner Tue.-Sat $$

Felix’s Restaurant &OysterBar — 739 Iberville St.,(504) 522-4440;7400 Lakeshore Drive, (504) 304-4125;felixs. com Louisiana oysters areservedraw or char-grilled withgarlic,Parmesan andbreadcrumbs.The menu includes seafood platters,crawfishetouffee, po-boys andmore. No reservations

Lunchand dinner daily $$

Frey Smoked Meat Co.— 4141 Bienville St.,Suite 110, (504) 488-7427;freysmokedmeat.com— The barbecue spot serves pulled pork,ribs, brisket, sausages and more. Friedporkbelly poppers aretossedinpepperjelly glaze.Noreservations.Lunch and dinner daily $$

FrootOrleans — 2438 Bell St.,Suite B, (504)233-3346;frootorleans.com

Thereare freshfruit platters and smoothie bowlssuchasa strawberry shortcakeand more usingpineapple, berries,citrus and more.Noreservations.Outdoor seatingavailable

Breakfastand lunch daily $$

Juan’s FlyingBurrito — 515Baronne St.,(504) 529-5825; 2018 Magazine St., (504)569-0000;4724S.Carrollton Ave.,(504) 486-9950;8140Oak St., (504)897-4800;juansflyingburrito.com

TheFlying Burritoincludessteak, shrimp,chicken,cheddar jack cheese, blackbeans,rice, guacamoleand salsa Themenualso has tacos,quesadillas

and nachos. Outdoorseating available No reservations.Lunch and dinner

Thu.-Tue $$

Katie’sRestaurant 3701 Iberville St., (504)488-6582;katiesinmidcity.com—

ACajun Cubanhas roasted pork,ham, cheese and pickles on buttered bread. TheBoudreauxpizza is topped with cochon de lait,spinach, onions and garlic. Deliveryavailable.Reservations accepted forlarge parties. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sun $$

Kilroy’s Bar— Higgins Hotel, 480 Andrew Higgins Blvd., (504)528-1941; higginshotelnola.com/dining Thebar menu includessandwiches, flatbreads, salads andmore. ALouisiana peach flatbreadhas prosciutto, stracciatella cheese,arugula and pecans. No reservations.DinnerWed.-Sat. $$

LegacyKitchen’sCraft Tavern 700 Tchoupitoulas St.,(504) 613-2350; legacykitchen.com— The menu includesoysters,flatbreads, burgers, sandwiches,saladsand more.A NOLAStyle GritsBowlistopped with bacon,cheddar anda poachedegg Reservations accepted.Breakfast, lunch anddinner daily. $$

Legacy Kitchen Steak& Chop 91 Westbank Expressway,Gretna, (504) 5132606;legacykitchen.com— Themenu includes filets mignons, bone-in rib-eyes and topsirloins, as well as burgers, salads and seafood dishes.Reservations accepted.Outdoorseating available.

Lunchand dinner Mon.-Sat $$

MartinWineCellar— 714Elmeer Ave., Metairie,(504) 896-7350;3827Baronne St., (504)894-7444;martinwine. com Thespirits shop’s deli serves sandwiches,saladsand more.The Sena saladincludeschicken,raisins, bluecheese, pecansand greens with Tabasco pepperjelly vinaigrette. No reservations.Lunchdaily $$

Mikimoto 3301 S. Carrollton Ave., (504)488-1881; mikimotosushi.com

TheSouth Carrollton roll includes tuna tataki,avocado and snow crab.The menu also has sushi, sashimi,noodle dishes,teriyakiand more.Reservations accepted.Deliveryavailable.Lunch

Sun.-Fri., dinner daily $$

Mosca’s— 4137 Highway90West, Westwego,(504) 436-8950;moscasrestaurant.com This family-style eatery serves Italiandishesand specialtiesincluding chickena la grande. Bakedoysters Moscaismadewith breadcrumbsand Italianseasonings. Reservations accepted.DinnerWed.Sat. Cash only. $$$

Mother’s Restaurant— 401Poydras St., (504)523-9656; mothersrestaurant.net

This counter-servicespotisknown forpo-boys and Creole favoritessuch as jambalaya, crawfish etouffee and redbeans and rice.Deliveryavailable No reservations.Breakfast, lunchand dinnerdaily $$

Neyow’sCreole Cafe — 3332Bienville St.,(504) 827-5474;neyows.com— The menu includes redbeans with fried chicken or porkchops, as well as seafoodplatters, po-boys, char-grilled oysters, pasta,saladsand more.Noreservations.Lunch daily,dinnerMon.-Sat., brunch Sun. $$

Nice Guys Bar&Grill — 7910 Earhart Blvd., (504)302-2404;niceguysbarandgrillnola.com Char-grilled oystersare toppedwith cheese.The menu also includes wings,quesadillas,burgers, sandwiches, salads,seafood pasta and more.Noreservations.Lunchdaily, dinner Mon.-Sat $$$

Orleans GrapevineWineBar &Bistro — 720Orleans Ave.,(504) 523-1930; orleansgrapevine.com

Thewinebar hascheeseand charcuterie boards, shareable plates andafullmenu. Creole pasta features shrimp and andouille tossed withpappardelle in tomato creamsauce.Reservations accepted for largeparties.Outdoorseating available Dinner Thu.-Sun $$

Peacock Room— KimptonHotel Fontenot,501 Tchoupitoulas St., (504) 324-3073;peacockroomnola.com

Blacklentilvadouvancurry comes withroasted tomatoes,mushrooms and basmati rice.The menu includes smallplates, aburger, salads andmore. Reservations accepted.Dinner Wed.Mon.,brunchSun $$

Rosie’sonthe Roof— HigginsHotel, 480AndrewHiggins Blvd., (504)5281941;higginshotelnola.com/dining The rooftopbar has amenuofsandwiches, burgersand smallplates. No reservations.Dinnerdaily $$

Tacklebox 817Common St.,(504) 827-1651;legacykitchen.com— The seafood restaurantservesoysters, seafood, burgers, salads and more. RedfishSt. Charles is served with garlic-herb butter,asparagus, mushrooms and crawfish cornbread. Reservations accepted.Breakfast, lunch anddinner daily. $$

Tavolino Pizza&Lounge — 141 Delaronde St., (504)605-3365;tavolinonola.com

The menu features thin-crust pizzas,salads, meatballs and more. ABehrman Hwy. pizzaistopped withporkbelly,caramel,carrots,radishes, jalapenos andherbs

No reservations.Outdoor seatingavailable.DinnerTue.-Sat. $$

Theo’s Neighborhood Pizza— 1212 S. ClearviewParkway,Elmwood,(504) 733-3803; 2125 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie,(504) 510-4282; 4024 Canal St.,(504) 302-1133;4218 Magazine St., (504) 894-8554; 70488 Highway21, Covington, (985)2349420;theospizza.com— AMarilynn

Pota Supremepie is topped with mozzarella,pepperoni,sausage, hamburger,mushrooms, bell peppers and onions.There also aresalads, sandwiches andmore. Deliveryavailable

Lunchand dinner Tue.-Sat $ Tito’sCeviche &Pisco — 1433 St. CharlesAve., (504)354-1342; 5015 Magazine St.,(504) 267-7612;titoscevichepisco.com Peruvian lomo saltado features beefsauteed withonions, tomatoes,cilantro, soysauce and pisco, served withfried potatoes andrice. Outdoor seatingavailable on Magazine Street. Deliveryavailable.Reservations accepted.Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat., brunch Sun. $$$

TheVintage 3121 Magazine St., (504)324-7144; thevintagenola.com

Themenu includes beignets, small plates,sandwiches and flatbreads Theveggie pressedsandwich has avocado,onions,arugula,red pepper, pepper jack cheese and lemon. No reservations.Deliveryand outdoor seatingavailable.Breakfast, lunch and dinnerdaily $$

Zhang Bistro — 1141 DecaturSt.,(504) 826-8888;zhangbistronola.com

Themenu includes Chinese and Thai dishes.The Szechuan HotWok offers a choiceofchicken,beef, shrimp or tofu withonions, bell peppers, cauliflower, jalapenosand spicySichuan sauce. Reservations accepted.Lunch and dinner Thu.-Tue. $$

MosesPendleton’s acrobatic work of illusionincorporates ropes, props, costumes,projections and more in itsconjuring of thefantastic worldofAlice,Mad Hatters, queens andrabbits.At 7:30 p.m. Saturday,March 11,atthe Mahalia Jackson Theaterfor the Performing Arts.Tickets $35-$169 vianobadance.com.

BirdfootFestival

THECHAMBERMUSICFESTIVALPRESENTSASERIESOF“PILGRIMAGES” in this year’s event, running March10-19. Audiences canlistentochamber ensemblesinvarious indoor andoutdoor locationssuitable forparticular themes,includingseveral reflecting thesouth Louisianaenvironment.There’s also afamily-friendlyevent at the LouisianaChildren’sMuseumand late-night events.Visitingperformersinclude Seattle-based violinist RoseHashimoto, violin soloist Ade Williamsand LincolnCenterGreat Performances veteranclarinetist CarolMcGonnelland more.Find ascheduleand information at birdfootfestival.org.

Lost BayouRamblers

IT’SADOUBLEBILLOFCAJUNBANDS

WITHTHELOSTBAYOURAMBLERS

ANDTHEEVANGELINEPLAYBOYS at theBroadside at 7p.m.Saturday, March11. ThePlayboysare releasing“ATribute to Austin Pitre” on March10onNouveau Electric, thelabel ownedbythe Ramblers’ LouisMichot.The albumisa recordingofa1999 live tributeto accordionist andbandleader Pitre, and it features BobbyMichot on guitar and vocals.Tickets$20 viabroadsidenola.com

Indigo De Souza

WITHHERBREAKTHROUGH2021ALBUM

“ANYSHAPEYOUTAKE,” Asheville singer IndigoDeSouza expanded her rangeofgrungepop and emotionally intensesometimes howlinglove songs. With thesingle “Younger &Dumber,” apreview to theApril release “All of This Will End,”she delves into personal territoryona song that’s raw, confessional and cathartic. Astoria opensat8p.m.Sunday, March12, at ToulouseTheatre.Tickets $18$20via toulousetheatre.com

DannyBarkerBanjo and Guitar Festival

LIVEMUSICONTWOSTAGES,INTERVIEWS ANDPANELDISCUSSIONSAT theNew Orleans Jazz Museum from Friday, March10, throughSunday, March12, highlight thefestivaldedicated to jazz musician,educatorand preservationistDanny Barker.Performers

include Kermit Ruffinsand the Barbecue Swingers,HerlinRiley Quartet, Chris Thomas King,Don Vappie’s grioTrio,Detroit Brooks and theSyncopatedPercolators and more.DonaldHarrisonJr. andDr. MichaelWhite perform themusic of George Lewisand Sidney Bechet at theGeorgeand JoyceWeinCenter at 7p.m.Wednesday,March 8. The festival runs March7-12and also includesmusic clinics.Visit dannybarkerfestival.com forfullschedule and details.

Protomartyr

THERE’SOFTENNOTALOTOFLIGHT INDETROITPOST-PUNKBAND

Protomartyr’s music. Anchored by singer JoeCasey —withthe look of aburnedout professor coming offa weekendbender —and his baritone, Protomartyrmuses about thegrimrealitiesaroundus: greed, war, racism and asystemslowly marchingusintothe abyss. Rather than depressing,though,it’scatharticand areminderwe’re in theboat together.Protomartyrplays Gasa Gasa at 9p.m.Monday, March13, withTruth Club. Tickets are$18 via ticketweb.com

‘The Play That Goes Wrong’ INTHEBRITISHCOMEDY,AHAPLESS

CASTTRIESTOSTAGE “The Murder at HavershamManor,”a murder mystery setinthe 1920s. Buta stream of prop disasters, mistakesand bad choicesdoom theirefforts in the play within aplay. RickyGraham directs theshowatRivertown

Theaters forthe Performing Arts

Showsare at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March10, andSaturday,March 11, and 2p.m.Sunday, March12. It also runs March17-26.Tickets $38-$52 viarivertowntheaters.com.

Chickasaw Mudd Puppies

EMERGINGINTHEATHENS,GEORGIA

MUSICSCENEINTHELATE1980S,with alittlehelpfromR.E.M.’sMichael Stipe, theChickasaw Mudd Puppies releaseda couple of raucousalbums mixing Southernrock, hillbillyand blues, andfeaturing improvised percussioninstruments.The duoof BrantSlayand BenReynoldsthen went theirseparateways. Three decadeslater,they’re joined by fellowAthensveteran AlanCowarton anew albumand ahandful of shows in theSouth.At8 p.m. Monday, March13, at Chickie WahWah

Tickets $15inadvance, $22day of theshow. Visitchickiewahwah.com fordetails

Brad Walker

SAXOPHONISTBRADWALKERSTAYS

BUSY.The NewOrleans musician canbeseenplaying with everyonefromRobin Barnes and Mia

BorderstoDumpstaphunkand Extended Trio.Atthe Broadside on Wednesday, March8, he’llplay auniquesolo show accompanied by visualscreated by OpticTempo. OscarRossignoli, Rick Trolsenand Marcello Benettialso will perform as atriointhisScatterjazz concert. Theshowstartsat7 p.m.,and ticketsare $12advance via broadsidenola.com and$15 at thedoor.

Future

RAPPERFUTUREWONHISSECOND GRAMMYAWARD earlier this year for hisworkwith DJ Khaled and SZA on thesong“Beautiful.”And whileit didn’twin,his latest album, “I Never LikedYou,” wasnominated forBest RapAlbum.The high-profile rapper is currentlyontourand plays the Smoothie King Centerat7 p.m. Thursday, March9,with Mariahthe Scientist, GHerbo,Don Toliverand Dess Dior.Ticketsstart at $77via smoothiekingcenter.com.

‘Murderonthe

Orient Express’

DETECTIVEHERCULEPOIROTINVESTIGATESAGRUESOMEMURDERand acast of eccentricsuspects alltrapped aboardthe Orient Express.Ken Ludwigadopted Agatha Christie’s belovedmurder mysteryfor the stage.Janet Sheadirects thecomedyfor JeffersonPerformingArts Society at JeffersonPerformingArts Center March10-19.Shows areat 7:30 p.m. Fridaysand Saturdays, and 2p.m.Sundays.Tickets$23-$78 viajpas.org.

Gov’tMajik

THE10-MEMBERAFRO-BEATBANDGOV’T MAJIKWILLDEBUT newsongs from itsupcomingalbum and highlight longtimesaxophonistKahriAllen

Leeatits Saturday,March 11,showat Maple Leaf.The band will be joined by NewOrleans emceeInfiniteI.The show starts at 10:30 p.m. and tickets are$20 via mapleleafbar.com and $25atthe door

Pres Hall celebrates

Allanand Sandra Jaffe

PRESERVATIONHALLWILLCELEBRATETHE LIVESOFFOUNDERS Allanand Sandra Jaffewith threesetsofconcerts on Friday,March 10,and Saturday, March11, at theSt. PeterStreet venue. Friday featurestrumpeter Mark Braud and thePreservation AllStars,and trumpeterWendell Brunious and thePresHallLegacy Band and drummer Shannon Powell and thePresHallAll Starswill perform Saturday.Thereare multiple showtimes eachday,and tickets start at $25generaladmission viapreservationhall.com

WITH

2SIDES + MARTINI

REYKAVODKAOR HENDRICKSGIN Steak AND Martini

3701 IBERVILLE ST•504.488.6582 katiesinmidcity.com

MON-THURS11AM-9PM•FRI &SAT 11AM-10PM SUNBRUNCH9AM-3PM

March 9

The Clean As F**K Show: Featuring Kymbra Li, FOLLOWED BY Swamp City-NOLA’s BEST Improv Comedy Show (Every Thursday)

March 10

NOLA’s Best Comedy Hour (Every Friday)

March 11

C-BAZZ FOLLOWED BY Open Mic from Hell

March 12

Mario Tory FOLLOWED BY House Party Open Mic Night

MUSIC

FOR COMPLETE MUSIC LISTINGS AND MORE EVENTS TAKING PLACEIN THE NEW ORLEANS AREA, VISIT CALENDAR.GAMBITWEEKLY.COM

To learn moreabout adding your event to the music calendar,please email listingsedit@gambitweekly.com

Note:DuetoCOVID-19,eventsmayhavecertainrestrictionsormaybepostponed;werecommendchecking outavenuessocialmediasitesorcallbeforeyougoforthemostuptodateinformation

TUESDAY7

BAMBOULAS —Amber and theSweet Potatoes,1:15pm; Mike Clementorgan trio, 5:30 pm;AndyJ.Forest BluesBand, 9pm

D.B.A. NEW ORLEANS —DinosAurchestra, 6pm; Soul Brass Band,9 pm

DOSJEFES —Tom Hook,8:30pm

ELLISMARSALIS CENTERFOR MUSIC John Boutté,6:30 pm

FRITZEL'SEUROPEAN JAZZ CLUB

Richard"Piano"Scott, 12:30 pm;Colin MyersBand,5 pm;Fritzel’s AllStar Band,8 pm

GASA GASA —Razor Braids with 26 Bats! and lauraJinn, 9pm

THERABBITHOLE —Rebirth Band,10pm

WEDNESDAY8

BAMBOULAS —The Rugcutters,1:15pm; Swingin'with John Saavedra, 5:30 pm; Roule andthe Queen, 9pm

BLUE NILE —New BreedBrass Band,9 pm

D.B.A. NEW ORLEANS —Tin Men, 6pm; JoyClark,9 pm

DOSJEFES —Joe Krown, 8:30pm

FRITZEL'SEUROPEAN JAZZ CLUB

Richard"Piano"Scott, 12:30 pm; Bourbon StreetStars,5 pm;Fritzel's AllStar Band,8 pm

GASA GASA —HappyLandingwith Watson,9 pm

HOTELMONTELEONE —JamesMartin Band,8pm

MADAMEVIC'S —LalaSol,Midnight Magnolias,Missy Meatlocker,8 pm

SANTOS —Swamp Moveswith Russell Welch,9 pm

THEBOMBAYCLUB —Harry Mayronne and NanciZee,8 pm

THEBROADSIDE —BradWalker, Rossignoli-Trolsen-BenettiTrio, 7pm

THEJAZZPLAYHOUSE —Funkin' It Up withBig Sam, 7:30 pm

THESAENGER THEATRE —Joe Bonamassa,8 pm

THURSDAY9

BAMBOULAS —Joe Gelini, 1:15 pm;Cristina Kaminisand theMix,5:30 pm;Wolfe John'sBlues Band,9pm

BLUE NILE —WhereY'atBrass Band,9pm

D.B.A. NEW ORLEANS —WashboardChaz BluesTrio, 7pm; Marina Orchestra,10pm

DOSJEFES —Ben FoxBand,8:30pm

FRITZEL'SEUROPEAN JAZZ CLUB Richard “Piano”Scott, 12:30 pm;Doyle Cooper Band,2:30 pm;John Saavedra Trio, 6pm; Fritzel'sAll Star Band,8 pm

GASA GASA —Ethanol Merman withPost Lunch, GoatmanExpress,9pm

LE BON TEMPSROULE —SoulRebels, 11 pm

MADAMEVIC'S —ValerieSassyfras, 8pm

NEUTRAL GROUND COFFEE HOUSE

Loyola MusiciansKrewe,9 pm

PAVILION OF THETWO SISTERS —Don Vappie and Jazz Creole,6 pm

PEACOCKROOM, HOTELFONTENOT

—DaLovebirds with Robin Barnes and PatCasey ,8pm

THEJAZZPLAYHOUSE —Brass-AHolics,7:30 pm

FRIDAY10

BAMBOULAS —Fully Dressed Po'Boys, 2:15 pm;Les GetrexNCreole Cooking, 6:30 pm;Bettis+3rdDegreeBrass Band,10pm

BLUE NILE —The CaesarBrothers, 7 pm;KermitRuffins andthe Barbecue Swingers,11pm

BLUE NILE BALCONY ROOM —Trumpet Slim &Brass Flavor,10pm

BYWATERBREW PUB —SecretBandwagon,5 pm

D.B.A. NEW ORLEANS —Charlie and theTropicales,5 pm;Dinolaand Malevitus, 10 pm

DOSJEFES —Joe KrownAll-Starsfeat. John Fohl,9 pm

FRITZEL'SEUROPEAN JAZZ CLUB Richard"Piano"Scott, 12:30pm; Sam Friend Band,2:30pm; LeeFloyd and Thunderbolt Trio, 6pm; Fritzel'sAll Star Band,9 pm

GASA GASA —Trash Pandawith Planet of theLittleGreen Men, 9pm

GEORGE ANDJOYCEWEINJAZZ&

HERITAGE CENTER —The Nayo Jones Experience, 8pm

KERRYIRISH PUB —Patrick Cooper,5 pm

MADAMEVIC'S —Mia Borders, 8pm

NEUTRAL GROUND COFFEEHOUSE

JayWalkers,7:30 pm;Frenchie Moe and Family,9 pm

NEW ORLEANSJAZZMUSEUM —Sonny Landreth,7 pm

NOLABREWING TAPROOM —Bogue Chitto,6 pm;DoctorLoFaber, 6pm

PUBLIC BELTATHILTONRIVERSIDE

PhilMelancon, 8pm

SANTOS —Tormenta Rey, Barstool Brown, Gabriel&The Archangels,8pm

SIBERIA —HIDE/Harpy/Torture Garden/ Plomo,9 pm

SIDNEY'S SALOON —DarkLounge Ministries,7 pm

TIPITINA'S —The Dip, Juice, 9pm

SATURDAY11

BAMBOULAS —Johnny Mastro Blues, 6:30 pm;New Orleans SwingingGypsies, 2:15 pm;PaggyPrine, 10 pm

BLUE NILE —George BrownBand,7 pm;Ari Teitel,Nigel Hall,JohnMichael Bradford,AlfredJordan,TJNorris, Brad Walker,11pm

BLUE NILE BALCONY ROOM —The MarignyStreetBrass Band,10pm

D.B.A. NEW ORLEANS —RussellWelch’s Wood FloorTrio, 3pm; TheOriginal PinettesBrass Band ,10pm

DEWDROPSOCIAL&BENEVOLENTHALL

—New Orleans Jazz Vipers,6:30pm

DOSJEFES —Sunpie &The Louisiana Sunspots,9 pm

FRITZEL'SEUROPEAN JAZZ CLUB

Richard"Piano"Scott, 12:30 pm;Steve Detroy Band,2:30 pm;Lee Floydand Thunderbolt Trio, 6pm; Fritzel’sAll Star Band,9 pm

GASA GASA —Mikaela Davis,9 pm

GEORGEAND JOYCEWEINJAZZ&HERITAGECENTER —SharonMartin, 8pm LOUISJ.ROUSSEL PERFORMANCE

HALLATLOYOLA UNIVERSITY

Concerto ShowcaseXI,7:30 pm

LOYOLA UNIVERSITY NUNEMAKER AU-

DITORIUM (MONROEHALL) —Danny O'Flaherty St.Patrick's Concert, 7pm

MAPLE LEAF BAR —Gov't Majik, 10 pm

NEUTRAL GROUND COFFEEHOUSE

VoxRea,7:30pm; Wild RootsRising, 9pm

NOLA BREWING TAPROOM —The Crescent and CloverCelticBand,4 pm

PUBLIC BELTATHILTONRIVERSIDE

PhilMelancon, 8pm

SANTOS —Coral Moonswith Juno Dunes and Lisbon Girls, 8:30 pm

SIBERIA —Bella's Bartok w/ Pastel Panties&Big Leather,9pm

SIDNEY'S SALOON —Lex,9pm

THEJAZZPLAYHOUSE —The Nayo JonesExperience, 7:30 &9pm

TIPITINA'S —Tab Benoit,JDSimo, 9pm

SUNDAY12

BAMBOULAS —SecretSix Jazz Band, 1:15 pm;MidnightBrawlers, 5:30 pm;Ed WillsBlues 4Sale, 9pm

BJ'S —Christina Kamini, Amigos Do Samba,YusaDuo,ConjuntaTierraLinda, Felipe K-RReraLatin Group, LosGuiros, Goez Malari,2 pm

BLUE NILE —The BakedPotatoes, 7pm; StreetLegends Brass Band,10pm

D.B.A. NEW ORLEANS —AuroraNealand's Wood FloorTrio, 5pm; Palmetto BugStompers,6pm

DOSJEFES —AndyPianovich,8 pm

FRITZEL'SEUROPEAN JAZZ CLUB —Banjo on Bourbon withSevaVenet, 12 pm; JoeKennedyBand,2pm; MarlaDixon Band,5 pm;Fritzel's AllStarBand,8 pm

GASA GASA —Snooperwith Spllit,Night Shift, 9pm

HIDEAWAY DEN&ARCADE —Chris Billiot &Random Access w/ MAGDOZ,4pm

MUSICBOX VILLAGE —Café des Exilés,5pm

SANTOS —Someday River, TimothyEerie, Bipolaroid and My Neptune, 8pm

SIBERIA —ANTiSEEN withThe Guillotinesand ThePallbearers,9pm

TIPITINA'S —BruceDaigrepont Cajun Band,5:15pm

MONDAY13

BAMBOULAS —Jon Roniger,1:15pm; The Melatuan’s,5:30pm; Crawdaddy T's Cajun/Zydeo Review, 9pm

D.B.A. NEWORLEANS —SecretSix Jazz Band,6pm; Meschiya Lake andthe Machetes,9pm

DOSJEFES —JohnFohl,8:30pm

FRITZEL'SEUROPEAN JAZZ CLUB

MondayAfternoonAll Stars, 12:30pm; LeeFloyd and Thunderbolt Trio,5pm; Richard"Piano"Scottand Friends, 8pm

GASA GASA —Protomartyrwith Truth Club, 9pm

SIBERIA —Closebye, TheConvenience, BurntSugar, FoyerRed,9 pm

SIDNEY'S SALOON —The Amazing Henrietta, 6:30 pm

Trumpetcall

by JakeClapp

BACKIN2019,TRUMPETER EMILYMIKESELLWAS

OFFEREDAGIG to play a three-hour slot with her ownband at Siberia

Amember of Trumpet Mafia, Mikesell had writtenher ownmusic off and on forafew years and hadbeenlearning music-makingsoftware, so theSiberia giggave hera challenge.

“I basically hadone month to writeawhole setofmusic and learn howtouse Ableton,” Mikesell says with alaugh.She ultimately only needed to play an hour,but manyofthe songs Mikesell wroteended up on the genre-blending“Kaleidoscape” by hersoloproject Smiloh.

Released in February, theseventrack“Kaleidoscape”isa lush mix of dreampop,stringarrangements, electronica, soul groovesand experimentation.Mikesell’strumpetisa centralaspecttothe record along withher voice, which hasacelestial qualityvia useofeffects.

“I’vealwayshad this desire to figure outhow to bridge my love for popand indie musicwithjust being atrumpetplayer,”Mikesellsays. “I picked thetrumpetbeforeIrealized it wasn’t themostpractical instrument forbeing asongwriter.”

Mikesell grew up in Orlando, Florida, with parentswho areboth musicians—her dadisatrombone player andher mom,apianist —who took her to alot of classical music concerts.At11, shejoined theschool band and went forthe trumpet.

“I had decidedI didn’twantto playa traditional ‘girl’ instrument, like aclarinetorflute,and my brother alreadyplayedtrombone,” Mikesell says.“Ipickedthe trumpet anda fewweeks before sixthgrade started, my dadfound acornetin an antique store.”

Mikesell playedclassical music throughouthighschool, with alittle bitofjazz, andwentontostudy musicatFlorida StateUniversity. Herolder brother,though,had yearsbeforestarted introducing hertoawiderange of indiemusic, and Mikesell foundinfluencesin performerslikeBjork —aninspiration listenerscan hear in thegrand, openingtrack,“IAmHere.”

“It’s my first time singingina band,too,soit’sveryvulnerable and scary,”Mikesellsays. “It’sjust funny

because when you’re awoman trumpetplayer—orany woman instrumentalist— youkindofget used to beinglike, ‘No, I’mnot thesinger in theband,’ because people just assume. IfeltlikeI had to be theone singing.It’scomingfromme, andit’s themostauthenticexpression.”

Mikesell movedtoNew Orleans in 2016 to be with her husband, bassistRobin Sherman,who at the time wasstudyingatthe University of NewOrleans.Sherman regularly plays with Lilli Lewisand leads the Saturn Quartet.

Mikesell startedplaying with Ashlin Parker andbecame part of TrumpetMafia,joiningthe band at Jazz Fest in 2017.Overthe years shehas performedwithJesse McBride, theDee Dee Bridgewater BigBand,the NewOrleans Jazz Orchestra and other localmusicians as well as severalensembles at theMusic BoxVillage. Mikesell also recently co-curated thelocal Progression MusicSeriesatChickie WahWah,which startsits spring series on March7

Alot of her songwriting startsat thepiano,Mikesellsays. It’s justa loteasiertowrite songsusing the guitar,piano or avoice, insteadof atrumpet.But her first instrument will soon follow

“I feel like Ihear[thetrumpet] in indie pop or even more experimental things,and I’mlike‘OK, that’s really cool.’ It addssomething special,”she says.“So I’mjust trying to figure outhow Ican add that uniqueangle to it.”

Find ‘Kaleidoscape’ at smiloh. bandcamp.com.

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TrumpeterandsingerEmily Mikesellrecentlyreleasedthefirst Smilohalbum,‘Kaleidoscape’

PROVIDEDPHOTO BY CAMILLE LENAIN

“Dazzling in depth and breadth, this booksings with the voices of those who have been moved to create artabout New Orleans”

two-time winner

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Frenchconnection

by WillCoviello

THENEWORLEANSFILMSOCIETY’S FRENCHFILMFESTIVALusually includesfilms made in the Francophoneworld and not just France.Thisyear includes “Tambou,” aFrenchCreole languageshort film shot in Louisiana Thelineupalso includes recent dramas, comedies anddocumentaries,aclassic from theFrench NewWave andmore. Screenings areatThe Prytania Theatrein Uptown and at CanalPlace from March9-13, andsomefilms also are available onlinethrough March19.

“Final Cut” is from directorMichel Hazanavicius,who directedthe Best Picture Oscar-winning, black-andwhite, part-talkiefilm“TheArtist.”

He’s createdsomespy movie parodies, andthishorrorfarce is a remake of aJapanesefilm, “One Cut of theDead,”thatrevelsincheap genrefilmtropes. In thestory,the cast andcrewofalow-budget zombie film one-by-one become zombies themselves.Itoriginally was slated to openthe 2022 Sundance FilmFestival, buta Covidsurge scuttledthatand insteaditpremiered at theCannes FilmFestival.

In directorSebastienMarnier’s 2022 thriller “The Origin of Evil,” Stephane attempts to connect withher estranged father,who has becomeincrediblywealthy. His home,located on an island,isn’tso much lavishly decorated as overflowingwithabsurdcollections of taxidermiedrareanimals,weapons and moreexotica.Stephane works in aseafood cannery, butimplies sheownsthe business.Infact, she’s struggling,and her girlfriendisin jail.Everyoneinthe family assumes Stephane is only therefor money, and even themaidresents her.But there’splentytoberevealedabout everyone’sprivatelives

MauriziusStaerkle Drux’s documentary “The ArtofSilence” profiles legendary mime Marcel Marceau. Inspired by Charlie Chaplin andknown forhis whitefaced characterBip theClown, Marceauwas amasterofpantomime and tragicomedy. Thefilm delvesintohis background,and howhewas apartofthe resistance to theNazis.Hewas born to Polish and UkrainianJewishparents,and hisfatherwas killed at Auschwitz. Thefilmalso focusesona grandson whoisdevelopingtalentstofollow in hisgrandfather’s footsteps.

“CleoFrom5to7” is thesecond featurefilmfromlegendaryFrench

NewWave filmmakerAgnes Varda. In the1962film, Cleo is apop singer whohas twohours to wait forthe resultsofabiopsy, and shemeanders on thestreetsofParis,asshe visits friendsand seekssupport whileawaitingthe news.Varda juxtaposesher contemplation of mortality with thetrappings of Cleo’s beauty and fame LanceNicholsstars in theNew Orleans-shot “Tambou.”Struggling financially,Emmanueltakes to busking in thestreetstomakeends meet,and he brings hisgrandson along as he tries to recovera more secure life forboth of them Belgian-born, nowFrenchactress Virginie Efirahas wonawardsfor her recent work,including aCesar (France’sequivalent of theOscars) forbest actressin“Paris Memories.” Afterbeing injuredinaterrorist bombingata cafe,she struggles to puther life back together and remember theevent itself.

Thefestivalscreens that and two of Elfira’s other recent films. In the psychologicaldrama “Madeleine Collins,” sheplays awomanwho maintains dual lives, maintaining oneglamorouspublic marriageand arelationshiponthe side,both with children.“Other People’s Children” is aboutgetting into arelationship witha manwitha daughter and struggling with thegirl’s mother In theromanticcomedy“Three Nights aWeek,”Baptisteisa photographerinarelationship with Samia. He embarksona project focusedonthe drag performer Cookie and becomesinfatuated withbothCookie and theperson behindthe persona

Most filmsare in French with Englishsubtitles.Visitneworleansfilmsociety.orgfor theschedule anddetails. Tickets$13-$16;festival passes available.

‘FinalCut’

PHOTO PROVIDED BY KINO LORBER

PREMIER CROSSWORD

ADDED WEIGHT

By Frank A. Longo

ACROSS

1Posh parties

6Lumberyard tool

12Rd. crossers

15Quick bite

19Japanese film genre

20Mob code of silence

21 au vin (chicken dish)

22Qualified

23Milk or egg container in a precinct refrigerator?

25Volcanic event

27BiblebookafterGenesis

28Strike zones, to pitcher Kershaw?

30Hefty slice

32White-coated Scottish terrier, for short

33Ohio city whose residents all have messy mop tops?

41It merged with Exxon in 1999

45Studio alert

46Off-course

47Dalai

50Brian of electronica

51Play spiritedly

52People evaluating a central California city?

55Wedding vow

56Seder bread

57Makes public

58Suffix with million

59Has a feeling

61Shepherd of “Mr Iglesias”

64Conjunction with a slash

65Appliance invented by the first U.S. president?

70“A Bell for —” (novel)

72Caged (up)

73“24” actress Cuthbert

76William who played Hopalong Cassidy

77T. Rex, e.g.

78 fatuus (delusion)

81Longtime “Conan” airer

82Rocker known for the loud crashing noises in his songs?

87Flapjack chain, in brief

117 Father

118 Songlike

119 Cleo of song

120 U. of Maryland athlete

121 Born, in Lyon

122 Gave lip to 123 Actor Murphy

DOWN

1Stare in awe

2Strong as

3“— & Stitch”

4In the center of a vessel

5Not religious

6Mythical bird

7Apple line

8Alternative to JavaScript

9Madrid Mlle.

10“This is not —” (warning to kids)

11Desire

12Act segment

13Legal wrongs

14Crouch down

15“StarTalk” cable chan.

16NYC theater award

17ATM hole

18Egg sources

24Actor Morales

26Fundamental

29Have title to

31Film director Ratner

33Johnson of Britain

34Battery pole

35“Mo’ Money” star

36Health expert on TV

37Former BP gas chain

38Shaggy ox

39Blowup stuff

40Ear-related prefix

42Else

43Opening lines

44Aesop’s hare, notably

47Actress Dern

48Playful trick

49Mothers

52An obi is one

53Standard

54One-named New Ager

56Prefix with -dermal or American

60Wall St.’s “500” index

61Big name in fuel additives

62Weeding tool

63Bring to a halt

64Brings pain to

66Cake coating

67Taboo things

68Mess up

69Prince, e.g.

70First five of 26 letters

71Gold-medal swimmer Tom

74Cable streaming app until 2020

75With 116-Across, it has trembling leaves

77Scooby-

78With a sharp image, briefly

79Aussie “Hi!”

80Abbr. on a food package

83“— the rub!”

84“General” on Chinese menus

85Core

86Half