Gambit Digital Edition: January 1, 2024 by Gambit New Orleans

January 1-7 2024 Volume 45 Number 1

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CONTENTS

NEWS

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Opening Gambit ............... 7 Commentary ................... 8 Clancy DuBos .................. 9 Blake Pontchartrain......... 10

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EDITORIAL

Book The Amazing Henrietta, who can perform for any age group and any genre — from classic standards to current Top 40. Email: henrietta.alves@gmail.com for more information. See Henrietta perform weekly at Holy Diver, Tuesdays at 6:30

(504) 483-3105 // response@gambitweekly.com Editor | JOHn STAnTOn Political Editor | CLAnCy DuBOS Arts & Entertainment Editor |

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GAMBIT (ISSN 1089-3520) IS PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY CAPITAL CITY PRESS, LLC, 840 ST. CHARLES AVE., NEW ORLEANS, LA 70130. (504) 486-5900. WE CANNOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RETURN OF UNSOLICITED MANUSCRIPTS EVEN IF ACCOMPANIED BY A SASE. ALL MATERIAL PUBLISHED IN GAMBIT IS COPYRIGHTED: COPYRIGHT 2024 CAPITAL CITY PRESS, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Fandom of the Ring

Joan of Arc parade

The Krewe de Jeanne d’Arc celebrates its patron saint and the beginning of Carnival with a parade through the French Quarter. The procession of knights, angels, monks, and others illustrates the life and times of Joan of Arc. There also is a rolling notre Dame cathedral and a dragon puppet. Marley Marsalis rides as Joan. The procession begins at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 6, at Bienville and n. Peters streets, and the route goes by the St. Louis Cathedral and the golden statue of Joan. Visit joanofarcparade.org for details.

Dominic Monaghan and other ‘Hobbits’ | by Will Coviello

Dominic Monaghan has been to New Orleans before. In 2004, he reigned as the monarch of the Orpheus parade (the same year Elijah Wood reigned over Bacchus). But this weekend, he’s coming not for the beginning of Carnival but for Fan Expo. At the convention for fans of sci-fi and adventure films, comics and more, Monaghan will reunite with Wood, Sean Astin (who reigned over Bacchus in 2005) and Billy Boyd, the actors who played the other main Hobbit characters in director Peter Jackson’s “The Lord of the rings” trilogy. In addition to doing individual and group photo sessions with fans, the four will participate on a panel discussion at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 6, at the Ernest n. Morial Convention Center. Fan Expo events run Jan. 5-7. Monaghan was cast as Merry early in his acting career, and it took him from England to new Zealand for almost two solid years of six-day work weeks, he says. He bonded with the other three as they shared considerable time on screen together, and they enjoyed the spotlight of awards and Carnival celebrity in the years following the movies’ successive releases (2001-2003). The iconic role opened the door to many more opportunities, but Monaghan has long been associated with the franchise. He narrated a documentary about the trilogy, “ringers: Lord of the Fans,” and in 2021 he and Boyd started a podcast in which they reminisce about filming the trilogy. They also recently began a new food and travel TV show called “Billy and Dom Eat the World.” Monaghan and several other “rings” veterans also sport a tattoo written in one of the languages Tolkien dreamt up for Middle Earth. Asked about details of that world, he’s on top of some of the more arcane elements, such as the longbottom leaf preferred by Hobbits. “There are a few lines in the book and in the movie where Saruman says to Gandalf that he thinks that he smokes too much of the Hobbits’ weed,” Monaghan says. “It’s addled his brain.” While Monaghan is known for his role as Merry, he’s been in many franchises that likely draw fans to events like Fan Expo. He starred as Charlie Pace in the TV series “Lost.” He played Beaumont Kin in the final part of the original nine-episode Star Wars saga, “The rise of Skywalker.” He also starred in an X-Men film.

Despite the roles, he prefers to talk about his own life at fan events. “I think these conventions are great opportunities to meet people behind the roles,” he says. “I like meeting young people the best. Anyone under the age of 10 that’s new to something that’s been around for a while. They may have just watched ‘rings’ or ‘Star Wars’. They’re the most fun and in the moment.” He notes that he’s open about his many interests. He writes a column about his favorite soccer club, Manchester united. He’s interested in animals and particularly insects. That translated into a show traveling the world to film exotic animals. “I just got back from Costa rica,” he says. “I saw a couple of eyelash vipers — highly venomous — and some sloths and coatimundis.” At Fan Expo, there are many worlds to explore, and many celebrity guests and panels. “Terminator” franchise veterans include Linda Hamilton, Edward Furlong, robert Patrick, Michael Biehn and Lance Henriksen, who speak on a panel at 4:45 p.m. Saturday, and do various photo ops starting early Saturday afternoon. “Charmed” stars rose McGowan and Holly Marie Combs talk about bewitching roles in a panel at 5:45 p.m. Friday. “Vacation” star randy Quaid will be interviewed at 2 p.m. Saturday. A panel on women in sci-fi features Felicia Day (“The Guild”), Michelle Hurd (“Star Trek: Picard”) and Sonequa Martin-Green (“Star Trek: Discovery”), at 11:45 a.m. Saturday. After a career filled with hundreds of roles, Danny Trejo entered the Star Wars universe in the TV series “The Book of Boba Fett.” He speaks at 11:45 a.m. Sunday. Cosplay competitions and costume red carpets are popular attractions for expo participants and fans. There

Sean Astin (left), Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan and Elijah Wood reunite at Fan Expo. PHOTO PROVIDED BY FAN EXPO

are featured professional cosplayer guests, as well as a kids cosplay contest Sunday morning. There also are panels on how to slip some cosplay into everyday dress, as well as sessions for cosplay beginners. Many animation voice actors will appear at Fan Expo, and there’s a panel discussion featuring performers behind “The Teenage Mutant ninja Turtles,” including rob Paulson, Cam Clarke, Townsend Coleman and Barry Gordon, at 6:45 p.m. Friday. Expo guests also come from the worlds of comics creators, with more than 50 featured artists from superhero titles to “The Simpsons.” There also are anime and video gaming guests. Community groups and fan meetups include a session on the local May the 4th Be With you Star Wars group. “Doctor Who” fans will celebrate the franchise’s 60th anniversary. There are multiple workshops on how to make a mini lightsaber. Fan Expo has an official afterparty at 9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 6, at Tipitina’s featuring PuriKura Panic, Candy Mix Maids, The Suzaku 7 and DJ Deshimo. Fan Expo also has tabletop gaming, video game competitions, escape rooms, short films from the Overlook Film Festival, a K-Pop dance challenge, a performance by new Orleans’ Aerial Space Squad, an area for family activities, and a vendor area with everything from comics to video games and more. For a schedule and tickets to Fan Expo, visit fanexpohq.com/ fanexponeworleans.

PHOTO BY CHRIS GRANGER / THE TIMES-PICAYUNE

Sugar Bowl

The Washington Huskies battle the Texas Longhorns in the Allstate Sugar Bowl on new year’s Day. It’s also a playoff for the College Football Playoff, with the winner moving on to face either Michigan or Alabama in the championship game on Jan. 8. Sugar Bowl events preceding the game include a Mardi Gras-style parade through the French Quarter on Dec. 31, and festivities with the school bands and more, starting at 4 p.m. Monday, Jan. 1, in Champions Square (game ticket required for entry). The game is at 7:45 p.m. Monday. Visit allstatesugarbowl.org for details.

Funky Uptown Krewe

Mannie Fresh DJs aboard a streetcar for the Funky Uptown Krewe’s kick-off to the Carnival season. The krewe is celebrating and costuming in disco style for its “Saturday night Fever” inspiration. The group hands out bedazzled records and krewe items for throws. The procession begins at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 6, on S. Carrollton Avenue near the Willow Street PAGE 19

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NEW ORLEANS NEWS + VIEWS

Happy New Year New Orleans!

# TC OH EU N T

T H U M B S U P/ THUMBS DOWN

THE NUMBER OF HURRICANES GOV. JOHN BEL EDWARDS FACED DURING HIS EIGHT YEARS AS GOVERNOR.

Jessica Brandt, the CEO of ray Brandt Auto Group, recently gave $1.5 million to Children’s Hospital new Orleans to expand services for children who are victims of abuse and human trafficking. The gift will be used to create the Morgan rae Center for Hope, which will house the hospital’s Audrey Hepburn Children at risk Evaluation Center as well as other child advocate organizations. Barry Kern, CEO of Mardi Gras design company Kern Studios, and developer Joe Jaeger had hoped to turn the old Iberville Housing Project building into a $10 million attraction.

Edwards also guided Louisiana through a pandemic, several floods, a state budget shortfall, multiple police brutality controversies, any number of tornadoes, a university sexual misconduct scandal, drought, wildfires, super fog and even a saltwater intrusion. As the Louisiana Illuminator points out, few weeks went by without Edwards needing to respond to an existing or looming crisis. Jeff Landry will be inaugurated as the 57th governor Jan. 8.

PHOTO BY DAVID GRUNFELD / THE TIMES-PICAYUNE

Mount Carmel Academy has received an award for its nearly three-decade partnership with the new Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity (nOAHH). The Outstanding youth in Philanthropy Award was given by the Association of Fundraising Professionals to recognize more than 4,350 Mount Carmel students who have put in more than 30,000 hours of work with nOAHH since 1996.

Entergy Louisiana & Entergy New Orleans ranked last in class among utilities in the South in a survey conducted by J.D. Power. Entergy Louisiana trailed all large utilities in the survey, and Entergy new Orleans ranked last among smaller utilities for the third year in a row. The survey of more than 100,000 respondents across the country asked questions about their utility’s power quality and reliability, price, billing and payment and other factors.

‘City of the Dead’ attraction on life support following state concerns THE DEVELOPERS BEHIND THE CITY OF THE DEAD, A PLANNED THEMEPARK STYLE attraction and museum

on the edge of the French Quarter exploring new Orleans’ unique burial traditions, are putting the project on hold after city and state agencies raised concerns about its proximity to historic burial grounds. The three-story red brick building that would house the attraction was once part of the old Iberville public housing project. It is across Basin Street from the historic St. Louis Cemetery no. 1 and is believed to have been built atop human remains from a section of the cemetery. Developer Joe Jaeger and Barry Kern, CEO of Mardi Gras design company Kern Studios, said through their attorney last week that the City of the Dead is not completely dead — at least not yet. But concerns they’ve heard from the Louisiana Attorney General’s office and the Housing Authority of new Orleans, which owns the building and has leased it to them for 99 years, is troubling, coming months after the project was permitted and approved.

“We have invested over a million dollars in architectural, engineering, modeling, and programming activities for the project,” said Jaeger and Kern in a prepared statement. “Based upon the concerns raised about human burial grounds, combined with the already difficult development climate, we have chosen to put the project on hold.” The estimated $10 million project got under way earlier this year, after Jaeger and Kern spent more than three years designing the concept, securing permits from the city, and finalizing a long-term lease for the building with HAnO. Construction began on the roof of the building in mid-summer. But the project came to a halt in September when an attorney representing the state archaeologist and state attorney general’s office sent a letter to HAnO taking issue that the building would be repurposed as a tourist attraction. The attorney general’s office oversees historic cemeteries and unmarked burial sites. — Stephanie Riegel / The Times-Picayune

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with a new governor taking office and new Orleanians dialing up the party to “11” in a truncated Carnival season. Here’s what to expect from Gambit in the new year. We’ll continue to cover the good, the bad and the confounding in local and state affairs. Whether it’s the latest scandal at City Hall or highlighting the good works of community members, we’ll keep doing it with a mix of investigative reporting, profiles and humor. Or, as our Cajun friends would say, a mo’ betta Gambit. We’ll start with expanded coverage of Mardi Gras, focusing on walking parades, queer krewes, DIy celebrations and other “non-traditional” events. Parades and balls put on by groups from the Lords of Leather to Krewe du Vieux have become mainstays on the annual Carnival calendar. They’ve also changed the larger Mardi Gras community. Thanks to the efforts of walking krewes, like Krewe Boheme, to use upcycled and recycled throws, old-line krewes like rex are limiting their use of plastic beads and throws. On the music front, Gambit will continue its series on the history of hiphop in new Orleans. Originally started as a way to celebrate this world-changing culture’s 50th anniversary last year, we quickly realized there were too many stories worth telling to limit the project to a few months. We’ll also continue covering Louisiana’s longest-burning dumpster fire — aka the state Democratic Party. Progressives hope to oust party leadership after Dems’ embarrassing showing in the fall 2023 elections. Speaking of the elections, we’re getting a new governor in GOP firebrand Jeff Landry on Jan. 8. Landry clearly

Louisiana Governorelect Jeff Landry and his wife Sharon PHOTO BY DAVID GRUNFELD / THE TIMES-PICAYUNE

has new Orleans in his sights. Whether it’s bringing in State Police to patrol the interstate and possibly the French Quarter, or picking fights with city leaders over spending, abortion and social justice issues, Landry’s first year is sure to be full of outrage and intrigue — and will likely set the stage for the next four (or even eight) years. Gambit will launch a new series later this year exploring overlooked communities that have shaped new Orleans. From ancient Jewish and Latinx communities to disabled new Orleanians, this series will celebrate vital contributors to our culture. And we’ll continue to cover emerging chefs, local theater, festivals, restaurants, music and more — as you expect from new Orleans’ best alt-weekly. To do all this, we need your continued support. Luckily, there are two great ways to help. The first is easy and fun: Spend your hard-earned money at the locally owned businesses that comprise most of our advertisers. Shopping and eating locally helps your favorite local businesses — and your favorite newspaper! The second way is to become a Gambit member. you’ll get great swag, tickets to our movie nights and other events, and you’ll help keep independent journalism alive in new Orleans. It’s super easy — just use the Qr code below to sign up today. And have a safe and happy 2024!

New Year

new you

Wacky Predictions for 2024 — pray they don’t come to pass!

U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING NEW YEAR’S PREDICTIONS ABOUT LOUISIANA POLITICS, it’s safer to conjure the most

nonsensical scenarios you can imagine and pray they don’t come to pass, particularly in a state with elected officials right out of central casting. That’s why I forgo any attempt at seriousness this time of year. I instead offer the following wacky predictions for 2024.

Globetrotting New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell will announce that she is “retiring” from city government to open a travel agency specializing in quick getaways to nations that do not have extradition treaties with the u.S. Her announcement will come amid a widening federal investigation, which Cantrell will finally acknowledge as she begins a whirlwind trip to St. Maarten, Morocco, Indonesia and The Maldives. “yes, I got a target letter,” she will post on social media, with a middle-finger emoji, adding, “recall me now, if you can find me!” Former President Donald Trump will attend new Gov. Jeff Landry’s inaugural ball in Baton rouge and announce that he will name Landry “as my attorney general to lock up all my enemies” once he retakes the White House. Landry’s aides will scramble to try to contain the news, and in the ensuing mayhem Eric and Donald Trump Jr. will leave with all gala ticket proceeds, claiming the money is actually the former president’s fee for attending the event. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and Speaker Mike Johnson will praise Trump effusively for appointing Landry but claim no knowledge of any missing gala proceeds.

PHOTO BY BRAD BOWIE / THE ACADIANA ADVOCATE

U.S. Sen. John Neely Kennedy will be sued for $30 million by Warner Bros. Entertainment for repeatedly stealing copyrighted material first used by the studio’s Foghorn Leghorn character years ago — claiming it as his own brand of homespun wisdom. Kennedy will take to Fox news to decry, I say decry, Warner Bros. for having “more nerve than a bum tooth” and adding that the suit is “bare as a cooch dancer’s midriff” and “subtle as a hand grenade in a barrel of oatmeal.” U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins will reprise his “Cajun John Wayne” bad-ass lawman videos by releasing a new volume called “Ghost Bus Busters.” The videos will depict Higgins single-handedly foiling a vast left-wing conspiracy by the FBI to steal the 2024 election by sending white busloads of undercover agents to cast more than 10 million votes across all 50 states — on the same day — to keep Donald Trump from being elected president in november. When asked by reporters how that could even be physically possible, Higgins will body-slam a cameraman and yell, “Duh! Why do you think we call ’em GHOST buses?” The Louisiana Democratic Party will officially disband in the spring after no one bothers to show up to vote for anyone running for the party’s State Central Committee. Party chair Katie Bernhardt will form a circular firing squad to mark the occasion, declaring, “Don’t worry, after Mandie Landry kicked our butts, we know we’re incapable of harming our own, even when we’re trying.”

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all our resources behind this newest coffee, bringing selected coffees of Central and South America here for one superb coffee blend.” General manager Charles nehlig claimed that it was the result of 1,167 taste experiments by new Orleans housewives. “The tests were made in every section of the city, before a pound of coffee was sold, in an attempt to arrive at a roast and blend to please the palate of the typical Orleanian,” he said. In 1974, Blue Plate was purchased by the locally owned Wm. B. reily and Company Inc., now known as reily Foods Company. Blue Plate Coffee was phased out a short time later. reily continues to produce the coffee and tea brands Luzianne, French Market and CDM, among others.

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PHOTO BY IAN MCNULTY / THE TIMES-PICAYUNE

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locally by a subsidiary of Wesson Oil and Snowdrift, makers of salad oil and shortening. It was originally manufactured at a factory in Gretna, until production moved in 1943 to a factory at norman C. Francis Parkway and Earhart Boulevard, now the Blue Plate Artist Lofts. As it became popular locally, Blue Plate expanded into several southern states and added to its product line. That included peanut butter, jelly, margarine and coffee. Blue Plate Coffee, the company’s 16th product, was introduced in 1940. “The new Blue Plate coffee was announced to the public Friday and by Saturday morning was on sale in the city’s 2,000 food stores,” reported the nov. 10, 1940 new Orleans Item-Tribune. “Blue Plate mayonnaise and other Blue Plate salad dressings and sauces are top favorites here,” boasted a fullpage newspaper ad. “now we have put

Vintage packages and labels for Blue Plate Mayonnaise and other brands form dioramalike displays at Luzianne Cafe.

Contact Sales and Marketing Manager Abigail Scorsone Bordelon 504.483.3150 or abigail.scorsone@gambitweekly.com

THIS WEEK MARKS 65 YEARS SINCE THE FIRST TELEVISED EXPERIMENTS of Dr. Momus Alexander Morgus, the fictional scientist and Crescent City icon whose work has entertained generations of TV viewers. Morgus the Magnificent, as he is known, was created and performed by new Orleans actor and radio star Sidney noel rideau, known by the stage name Sid noel. Morgus made his debut on WWL-TV on Jan. 3, 1959. His late-night program, called “House of Shock,” was said to have originated from his lab above the old city icehouse and featured experiments wrapped around segments of horror movies. Morgus, whose disheveled and gruesome appearance would not befit most TV stars, became an instant hit for the station. Assisted by his hulking and silent henchman, Chopsley, and the preserved talking skull of his former assistant, Eric, Dr. Morgus’ exploits aimed to carry out the mission of what he called the Higher Order. This secret society was dedicated to elevating society through science. In true Don Quixote fashion, however, Morgus’ experiments and inventions always seemed to backfire by the end of each episode. Morgus starred in a 1962 feature film, “The Wacky World of Dr. Morgus,” was featured on t-shirts and merchandise sold at the city’s department stores and drew huge crowds at personal appearances. In 1964, noel relocated to Detroit, taking the Morgus character with him. He returned to new Orleans and WDSu in the 1970s. In 1987, the character was revived again on WGnO, with “Morgus Presents” episodes that were also nationally syndicated. Later those same shows aired on Cox Cable, WVuE and in recent years WyES. rideau died in 2020 but his iconic character lives on.

HONORE IS STILL

TRYING TO

SAVE US BY S A R A H R AV I T S

JO AND JOY BANNER will never forget the first time they met Russel Honore. It was July 2021, and the twin activists, who run the nonprofit The Descendants Project, were in the midst of protesting a planned industrial complex on their ancestral land in Wallace, Louisiana. The planned grain export terminal had widespread support from parish and state officials. But much of this historically Black community is vehemently opposed to yet another industrial facility being built in their midst. They are especially concerned about the potentially severe public health risks and irreparable environmental harm the project could cause. A community meeting on the project had been called, not that the Banners or other opponents were optimistic it would matter much: The stretch of the Mississippi they lived on is known as “Cancer Alley” for a reason, after all, and the people of Wallace were used to having their concerns about pollution ignored. But then Honore showed up at the outdoor community meeting, and suddenly the Banners felt an unfamiliar sensation: hope. “I was like, ‘Oh my God, it’s The General,” says Joy Banner. In the years since the 76-year-old retired Army general first rose to international prominence for his post-Katrina efforts, Honore has become an authoritative leader in the environmental justice movement and a loud, blunt voice for suffering communities. “People respect the general,” Jo Banner adds. “It was a sign that we have someone who cares about people and has the power to help us.” At the meeting, Honore listened to the people’s worries and offered them practical advice on logistical issues, like evacuating in the wake of an industrial accident.

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Lt. General Russel Honore in a helicopter in 2005 P H O T O B Y S U S A N P O A G / T H E T I M E S - P I C AY U N E

In the aftermath of Katrina, President George W. Bush was greeted by Lt. Gen. Russel Honore, Gov. Kathleen Blanco, Michael Chertoff, secretary of homeland security and Major General Bennett Landreneau P H O T O B Y PAT R I C K D E N N I S / T H E T I M E S - P I C AY U N E

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Honore leaps out of a humvee in 2005 while visiting Erath, Louisiana, which sustained bad flooding.

The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 P H O T O B Y D AV I D G R U N F E L D / T H E T I M E S - P I C AY U N E

He also rattled off symptoms of health problems linked to petrochemical plants. The Banner sisters cautiously celebrated a victory in November when a judge stopped the parish from rezoning the land to allow the out-of-state company to set up shop. The fight is far from over, but having Honore on their side gives the residents a sense of validation. “He brings a sense of authority and control,” Jo Banner says. “When we feel like everything is up in the air and going crazy, he brings a voice of stability.” As climate change accelerates, putting environmental concerns at the forefront of Louisianans’ minds, Honore has been a fixture at meetings and on TV, listening to people’s concerns and calling out politicians and other officials who are beholden to the petrochemical industry. He’s leading a fight for things that he considers to be human rights, such as access to safe drinking water. “The next war we have to fight is to save the planet,” Honore told Gambit. “The war is about: How do we save the climate from man-made pollution? People here don’t even have confidence that the drinking water is safe. That’s bullshit that people in Louisiana are drinking brown water.” Honore wasn’t always entrenched in activism, but perhaps it was his fate. Honore was born to a Creole family in the middle of a hurricane in 1947 — during the Jim Crow era. He grew up on his family’s farm in

Lakeland as one of 12 children. The Honores were subsistence farmers, essentially consuming everything they produced on the farm. They didn’t have much money, but he says he never felt poor because all their needs were met. It was a tough, if common, life in south Louisiana, and Honore learned to work hard and the importance of communal effort from an early age. “It was a lesson in teamwork,” he says. “Everyone had something to do. I was the outside guy, taking care of the pigs and the cows.” Honore came of age during segregation. Although it ended during his senior year in high school, it left an indelible mark on him. Honore remembers there was a school a mile away from the farm, but he couldn’t attend because of his skin color. Instead, he rode the bus at 6:15 every morning to get to another school 15 miles away. “Our books were used from the white high school, it was somewhat degrading, but the content was generally the same, and our teachers reminded us no one can take our education from us,” he says. He also was involved in the 4H club, which gave him opportunities to travel and learn about agriculture. In the evenings, he worked on a dairy farm with aspirations to either become a veterinarian or a county agent. “I learned a lot of lessons from the dairy farmer, about the goodness of work and about doing things right the first time,” he says. “And I learned about having an appreciation for the animals and to treat them with dignity. If something

P H O T O B Y S U S A N P O A G / T H E T I M E S - P I C AY U N E

We walked through the crowd and engaged in normal New Orleans exchanges, ‘How y’all doing,’ ‘How you doin’, brah,’ ‘You here to get us out?’ (I said), ‘We’re here to get you out.’ — GEN. HONORE

irritated me or I was angry, the cows could sense that.” After graduating high school he went on to study agriculture at Southern University where he was required to take ROTC classes. That’s where “the Army bug bit me,” Honore says. Following graduation, Honore entered the Army, where for the next 37 years he worked his way up through the ranks, serving overseas and around the country. He earned a number of awards and accolades, including the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal. But a degree in vocational agriculture and a calling to serve in the Army aren’t the only things a young Honore found while attending Southern University. It’s also where he met the woman who would become his wife, Beverly, during a cousin’s wedding reception. “We started talking and lightning struck,” he says. Even their marriage proposal showcased Honore’s work ethic. After a few years of dating, Honore decided to pop the question. But before he could do that, he needed a ring — which was no small feat for a Creole kid from rural Louisiana. The electrician at Southern’s football stadium “needed some young person who’s not scared of heights to go and change the lights on the football stadium,” he recalls, jokingly adding, “I met no OSHA requirements. There was no safety personnel on the ground, I just changed all those lights.”

After about a week of changing every bulb in the stadium, “I picked her up and we went to the jewelry store, and I said, ‘Pick out any ring you want as long as it’s under $800.’ It was a two-piece ring. You could hardly see (the diamond),” he says with a laugh. “But it was pretty in her eyes and in my eyes, and we’re still married.” Over the course of his career, the Honores moved 25 times and raised four now-grown children. Honore also earned a master’s degree in human resources, and his military service would take him all over the globe, as he served in a variety of leadership roles and ascended the ranks. Among his positions were commander of the First Army in Fort Gillem, Georgia; and as a commanding general in South Korea, where he learned to manage flood risks during monsoon season. He also helped coordinate flood relief efforts in Venezuela and Mozambique. His collective experiences made him the right man for the job after Hurricane Katrina, when he was chosen as the leader of the Joint Task Force Katrina. He gained national acclaim for overseeing the troops’ response and coordinating logistics to help people across the Gulf Coast who were impacted by the storm. Honore is known for stepping in when he’s most needed, a reputation he especially earned in the aftermath of Katrina. Then-mayor of New Orleans Ray Nagin famously called Honore a “John Wayne type of dude … he came off the doggone chopper,

RUSSEL HONORE

Honore checks on his horse in Baton Rouge

P H O T O B Y B R A D B O W I E / T H E T I M E S - P I C AY U N E

P H O T O B Y S A R A H R AV I T S / G A M B I T

and he started cussing and people started moving.” In a 2011 interview with Louisiana Public Broadcasting, Honore reflected on his leadership post-Katrina. “I knew the priority was, this is a logistics issue ... Food, water, transportation. Let’s not make it anything but that; let’s focus on getting people out of here,” he said. “A lot of people were frustrated and emotionally charged, and if you were standing at the Superdome, you would be, too.” The strong military presence in the city following the hurricane was an unfamiliar site to many New Orleanians, but Honore wanted to reassure people they were there to help, not intimidate people. He was famously captured on film telling officers to “put the damn weapons down” and brushed off concerns that he would need extra security. “I told several soldiers from the Louisiana National Guard, we need to go see the mayor, and the quickest way is to walk through the crowd. They said, ‘Wait a minute, General, we need to get some more guards.’ I said, ‘We don’t need guards. These are my people. We won’t have any problems.’” And he was right. “We walked through the crowd and engaged in normal New Orleans exchanges, ‘How y’all doing,’ ‘How you doin’, brah,’ ‘You here to get us out?’ (I said), ‘We’re here to get you out.’” Although he technically retired from the military in 2008, Honore has showed no signs of slowing down. In fact, his activism has only ramped up in recent years.

In the years since Katrina he’s remained not only active but loudly so on environmental issues, particularly those that effect poor and minority communities, commanding what he refers to as a “guerilla army” on the frontlines of the battle to reclaim Louisiana from petrochemical companies. Honore travels all over the state to meet with people in at-risk communities and makes frequent national media appearances to discuss the impacts of climate change and pollution. More than a decade ago, he founded The GreenARMY, a nonprofit made of community members and environmental advocates and scientists. At the time, Honore was four years into his so-called retirement. But a Texas-based company drilled too close to the edge of a salt dome in Bayou Corne and opened a sinkhole. Toxic chemical leaks drove out the residents of the small community. And that pissed off Honore. “They were saying, ‘The government is not paying attention to us, the legislature is not paying attention to us, regulators are ignoring us,’” Honore says. “And when I heard those people’s stories, it just broke my heart to hear it from their perspective.” Within two weeks, Honore says, the group of concerned residents and environmental activists held a news conference in Baton Rouge and the story made national headlines. “We got attention from CNN and Mother Jones, they all wrote

He’s reclaiming our power. He’s saying, ‘it’s serious, you need to wake up.’ It shows bravery. He’s not afraid to go over the line when it comes to the safety of people. — JO BANNER

articles about what was happening in Bayou Corne ... We talked to the EPA, we got very little out of them. But what we did was raise the profile.” Eventually the residents brought a suit against the company, which gave them some reprieve. But Honore is sick of stories like these playing out across the state. The GreenARMY also is trying to guide a shift away from the state’s reliance on the fossil fuel industry and is fighting for the region’s most vulnerable people, like the residents of Wallace. Honore’s “five point plan” includes protecting drinking water from lead contamination, cleaning up abandoned oil wells, removing fenceline petrochemical plants, ending poisonous plastic plants, and stopping Styrofoam production. Of course, it’s an uphill battle, as many of Louisiana’s most powerful officials don’t believe in climate change and its proven link to the petrochemical industries that dominate the South Louisiana skyline. “They either don’t believe in it, or they just don’t give a fuck,” says Honore. “You’d think (elected officials) would look out for the people. But they look out for industry.” But that doesn’t mean he’s going to give up. Far from it. Honore has been pushing for reasonable measures, ones he hopes could get bipartisan support. For one, he’s interested in making air quality monitors mandatory. It’s an effort that failed in the last legislative session, but he’s trying again in 2024.

Plus, as he is quick to point out, the effects of the petrochemical industry impact everyone, regardless of political parties. Alex Kolker, a climate scientist who specializes in coastal issues, says Honore has a clear understanding of the real-world effects. He appreciates Honore shining a spotlight on these environmental problems. “There are issues that cross political boundaries,” Kolker says. “We’re all impacted by flood risk, flood control and insurance rates. He is a committed guy, he’s a thoughtful voice, and he’s willing to reach out to different people about these issues.” Jo Banner, meanwhile, says she appreciates how blunt Honore can be. He is famously foul-mouthed; his national press appearances often have to be bleeped. But his outspoken nature makes his messaging more effective. “I appreciate that he can’t just tiptoe around what’s happening,” she says. “You need to have that kind of energy to put your message across. With Black people, (language) can be used against us. But I appreciate how he’s reclaiming our power. He’s saying, ‘It’s serious, you need to wake up.’ It shows bravery. He’s not afraid to go over the line when it comes to the safety of people.” As her sister Joy Banner puts it, “He shoots from the hip.” Anne Rolfes, executive director of the environmental watchdog group Louisiana Bucket Brigade, says Honore’s advocacy is especially important in a state like Louisiana, where poor, Black comPAGE 14

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Honore greets supporters before a speech on holding oil companies accountable for abandoned wells.

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munities often suffer the worst impacts of the petrochemical industry. “I would say he’s filling a gap, a chasm, a black hole, whatever big vacuous thing you can think of — that man is filling it,” Rolfes says. “In absence of our state and government truly helping and protecting us, the general is here on the job.” Since leaving the military, Honore hasn’t just been busy defending communities from environmental harm. He’s written several books, toured the state and the country giving motivational speeches and sits on several boards. He also founded The Honore Center for Undergraduate Student Achievement at Southern University, which helps young Black men in Louisiana get scholarships and other resources so they can pursue teaching. He’s known as a leading expert in disaster response, and in 2021 he flew to Washington, D.C., to lead a review of the Capitol’s security infrastructure, following the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection. And when he isn’t helping out communities or cursing out oil companies and corrupt lawmakers, the decorated veteran is perfectly content to get back in touch with his humble roots. In Baton Rouge, he spends his limited spare time with his horses,

the longtime companion Big Red and Pillage Da Village, a retired racehorse Honore is nursing back to health after a career-ending injury. Had the general not intervened in his care, PDV would have likely been euthanized. But Honore is known as much for his empathy for vulnerable beings as he is for his nationally acclaimed leadership. In the 2011 interview with Louisiana Public Broadcasting, his wife Beverly explained, “There was always a strong sense of compassion” calling her husband, a mentor and a teacher. And Bucket Brigade’s Rolfes says that type of outreach is what makes Honore so special. “He’s a country person,” she says. “He loves the little guy. He loves his horses. He’s one of the very few public figures who is standing up for the little guy ... His allegiance to the vulnerable is profound and important.” She adds, “He has shown up to any community, anywhere in the state that has called him. It doesn’t matter how big or how small or how far it is, he will drive there and do what he can to shine a spotlight on people ... He keeps his eyes on Louisiana. He could be running all around the country, but he’s very focused on Louisiana.”

Environmental activists and sisters Jo and Joy Banner in Wallace, Louisiana P H O T O B Y S O P H I A G E R M E R / T H E T I M E S - P I C AY U N E

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Turning over a new leaf

FORK + CENTER

Rosella is a new neighborhood spot in Mid-City | by Beth D’Addono THANK GOODNESS FOR THE SCREEN ACTORS GUILD STRIKE.

If it wasn’t for the 118-day-long work stoppage that brought movie making to a screeching halt, rosella wouldn’t be a thing. The low-key neighborhood restaurant in MidCity opened around Thanksgiving, offering partners Alix Petrovich and Paul McCaige a career shift that came about providentially. Both had careers in filmmaking, Petrovich in the art department and McCaige in lighting design. They met on the set of “Quiz Lady” starring Sandra Oh. “Between the pandemic, the year that (Gov. Bobby) Jindal took away the tax incentives for filmmakers and then the strike, the instability of the business just got to me,” Petrovich says. “After more than 20 years of working in film, I wasn’t able to earn a living.” Petrovich grew up in the neighborhood, next door to the restaurant, which back then was a corner store called Tony’s. Her mom bought the building after Hurricane Katrina. “We got eight feet of water here,” she says. “Everyone told my mom she was an idiot to stay, let alone invest in property.” Past tenants included the original location of ruby Slipper and most recently Fullblast Brunch. When that chef/operator decided to go in another direction at the end of summer, the stars aligned. “My mom had other people interested in opening, but she asked us if we were interested and to come up with a business plan,” Petrovich says. They’d both worked restaurant jobs to make ends meet over the years, but opening their own place was something new. After canvassing friends and neighbors for market research, they knew what the block didn’t need. “There are plenty of great spots for breakfast and good restaurants cooking traditional new Orleans food,” McCaige says. “We wanted a bar with good food. And we kept hearing people say they wanted a place to drink good, affordable wine. neither one of us

really knew much about wine.” And while they had both worked back of the house kitchen jobs, the notion of conceiving a menu for rosella, named for Petrovich’s grandmother, seemed ambitious. Enter consultants richard Horner, the former chef and co-owner of the now-shuttered Blue Giant, and James Moises, who owns the eclectic Bizou Wines, a small distributor on the nearby Lafitte Greenway. “We talked to richard about what we were thinking, and he got it right away,” McCaige says. “He said, ‘right, you want drinking food.’ Which was perfect.” Take his andouille corn dog, for example. “So many people are admitting how much they love corn dogs,” Petrovich says. “We’re taking the shame away.” It is thick and juicy, with a perfectly crispy cornmeal coating, served sliced with Creole mustard and house made pickles. The kid’s menu includes a hot dog corn dog as well. Horner’s original menu, executed by chef Jacob Zambarano, includes charcuterie and more snacks, like croquettes oozing house-made pimiento cheese, mushrooms in sherry cream sauce on toast, and shrimp remoulade lettuce wraps. There’s a terrific cold fried chicken Waldorf salad and a chilled red bean salad that might be the only rendition of red beans and rice that is both cold and light. The potato gnocchi arrive in a creamy bacon-studded sauce reminiscent of a loaded baked potato. There’s a vegetarian three-cheese manicotti, a pork chop with sweet potato puree and Brussels sprouts and meatloaf with onion gravy. For dessert, a fried Hubig’s pie is served with a scoop of Angelo Brocato gelato. Although there currently are no sandwiches, that will change soon

Email dining@gambitweekly.com

Vintage shop

START TALKING ABOUT WINE AND THE STORIES CAN KEEP FLOWING about

Alix Petrovich and Paul McCaige at Rosella in Mid-City PHOTO BY CHERYL GERBER / GAMBIT

when rosella opens for lunch in mid-January. “We’ll do some cold Italian sandwiches and incorporate some dinner items, like a meatloaf sandwich with tomato jam and a pork belly and pimiento cheese sandwich,” McCaige says. Moise supports Horner’s menu with an interesting selection of affordable boutique wines ($26-$56) that run the gamut from a French viognier to a Chilean cabernet sauvignon. There’s a creative $10-$12 cocktail menu as well, with a drink called Mr. Tony in honor of the former corner store. It combines Flora de Cana rum, lemon, Curacao, orgeat and orange bitters. The restaurant is charming, full of plants and funky art, painted to look like a mottled terracotta with spring green booths and tables and seating along the bar. There’s a vintage jukebox loaded with tunes like “Some Kind of Wonderful” by the Drifters, so it’s quite possible that dancing will commence. The space already radiates fun, warmth and community. Add in the creative menu and affordable wine and rosella has found its niche.

? WHAT

WHERE

WHEN

HOW

CHECK IT OUT

rosella

139 S. Cortez St., (504) 766-6642; rosellamidcity.com

Dinner Wed.-Mon.

Dine-in

A new casual restaurant in Mid-City

the style of wine or the maker or the region of origin or maybe just the ideal food pairing. It’s all the better when you can actually open and sip that wine as you go. This is the versatile flex of wine shops that double as wine bars. That’s a niche that’s been growing both in number and variety in new Orleans. It’s carving a third space in the city’s hospitality spectrum as specialty retail shops with a social side. The latest example is Patron Saint, which opened around Thanksgiving at 1152 Magazine St. in the Lower Garden District. The couple behind it, Leslie Pariseau and Tony Biancosino, also have a new Italian tavern and pizzeria coming soon just next door called St. Pizza. Biancosino describes it as a “red sauce Italian joint.”

Leslie Pariseau runs Patron Saint, a wine shop that doubles as a wine bar on Magazine Street. PHOTO BY IAN MCNULTY / THE TIMES-PICAYUNE

Patron Saint is in the same complex as the Merchant House furniture and decor store. It’s easy to miss as you whoosh by on Magazine Street, but it makes an immediate impression as you walk in. This is a stylishly designed reuse of an old industrial space, with an airy roominess that feels calming and inviting. The long marble bar is the centerpiece to Patron Saint, with a few tables set around the room, too. Pariseau has focused the selection on low intervention wines (aka natural wines) and from small producers around the world. Hard cider is another specialty here, represented in a wide variety. A line-up of a half-dozen or so wines by the glass (and often a cider) is at the ready. PAGE 16

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FORK & CENTER PAGE 15

Relax on our

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OPEN THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY 4PM - 10PM 720 ORLEANS AVE. • 504.523.1930 • WWW.ORLEANSGRAPEVINE.COM

What’s on rotation changes almost daily. What’s constant is the easy interplay with staff who have been tasting their way through the shop’s selection, too, and offer insight over the bar. Patrons can get plates of cheese or salami or tinned imported seafood to enjoy with their wine, or to take home, with a selection of breads and a small range specialty foods as well. Pariseau and Biancosino created Patron Saint during the pandemic, initially as a collaboration with Coquette and Lucy Boone Ice Cream in the restaurant space that has been occupied by Lengua Madre. That collaboration was a temporary one as the tides of the pandemic shifted, but the response from the neighborhood inspired the couple to develop the wine shop/wine bar further. Pariseau is a writer and producer. She co-founded PunCH, a media brand around drinks and drinking culture. Descriptions of particular wines attached to the racks are fun and illuminating and leave no doubt the resident wine buyer is also a writer. “Wine is deep and never-ending and a lens through which to see nature and people and climate change and agriculture and capitalism — and we can get as deep into that as anyone wants to — but it’s just a beginning point,” Pariseau says. “It would be nothing without the people drinking it and the conversation around it.” Biancosino, who works in TV and film, grew up in new Jersey in a family that ran restaurants outside Philadelphia. He’s been pining for the type of casual Italian restaurants he remembers from back home, and that’s the intent behind St. Pizza. Located two doors down from the wine shop, St. Pizza has its pizza oven right up front, with a counter for slices and also a takeout window for service from the sidewalk.

Patron Saint opened on Magazine Street. PHOTO BY IAN MCNULTY / THE TIMES-PICAYUNE

Beyond this counter, diners will pass through a curtain to find a small dining room trimmed in dark wood and a bar for dishes like Italian subs and meatballs and spaghetti. St. Pizza is nearing the end of construction, with an opening slated for January. Patron Saint joins a growing roster of spots in the wine bar/wine shop niche, which adds to the warmth and personality of neighborhood shops, qualities that make local businesses like these the antidote to the blank coldness of big box retail and e-commerce. Just this year, Algiers Point welcomed the Little House at 640 Bounty St., with its big patio outside. really really nice Wines is a couple of miles up the road from Patron Saint at 3500 Magazine St. They join places like Swirl Wine Bar & Market at 3143 Ponce de Leon St. in Mid-City with its hidden patio and Italian wine focus. Faubourg Wines is at 2805 St. Claude Ave., and depending on the time of day, the Press Street train crossing may block you in and you’ll just have to stay for another. The Independent Caveau is at 1228 S. White St., a true find tucked away behind the restaurant Depot. It has a first-class deli case. There’s a deeply hidden gem at next to nothing Wines at 3928 Euphrosine St., located on the loading dock of the Art Egg Building off Earhart Boulevard. The concept isn’t new in new Orleans. Martin Wine & Spirits has long offered wine by the glass between the racks, as well as the delis at some locations. But now the idea is blooming in different ways, and I’ll drink to that. — Ian McNulty / The Times-Picayune

Jennifer Samuels

King cake purveyor by Will Coviello JENNIFER SAMUELS AND HER LATE HUSBAND WILL SAMUELS started a gelato

shop and a pizza parlor in Lakeview before pivoting to focus on king cake. They opened the original King Cake Hub in 2019. now, Jennifer runs the Hub at Zony Mash Beer Project, where patrons can find 50 to 60 types of king cakes from more than 15 vendors from Jan. 6 through Lundi Gras (delivery is available after the first weekend via dlivery.live). The season opens with a King Cake Pageant on Jan. 5. For more information, visit kingcakehub.com.

How did you get into the king cake business?

JENNIFER SAMUELS: We got started at the gelato shop. We opened in november-December. We were doing some baking there. We were like, Carnival is coming, we need a king cake. We got started with that and had a following. It was a simple brioche, not a real sweet cake. We had local fillings, like a local strawberry, a Meyer lemon curd. We did a cream cheese one. It morphed from that La Dolce nOLA king cake. After we closed the shop, we kept doing it at the pizza place for a while. We couldn’t cook it in the pizza place, so we rented a commissary kitchen. But then that kitchen closed. So then we started selling someone else’s brand. But then uberEats and delivery killed local pizza. But it was such a fun thing that Will thought, “What if there was one place to get king cakes?” The first year, we only had maybe 20 different cakes from five or six vendors. But people gravitated toward the one-stop shop. That’s now how people buy king cakes. you don’t have to drive all around. Our house was like that. If someone was driving to Bywater, they had to go by this place and get a cake. And it’s not that much farther to Chalmette. But people come to us now. There’s less driving around.

You started a drag King Cake Pageant to open the season. How is that going?

S: With the craziness of opening the hub it was a lot to manage, so we moved it to the night before. It was a blast last year. We had a really good turnout. We set it up in the style of a

traditional pageant, but with a Carnival slant. Instead of a swimsuit competition, it’s Carnival costumes. Who’s got the best costume? Can you put together something that will last all day? We did a race where we gave the drag queens a beer and set up a bunch of Mardi Gras obstacles, like dancing groups and people with chairs and ladders, areas roped off. They had to grab their beer and get to the other end of Zony Mash and get their king cake and make it back with their beer and king cake. We had Aiden Abette, Debbie with a D and Katrina Waters, our reigning monarch. She came back the next morning to open the doors to the Hub and greet people. This year, we’ll have the ones we had last year, and we’ll have some new people.

What else will people find at the Hub this year?

S: We have one of the house float companies coming in to work on the decor. It’s crazy how much comes together at the last minute. On the day it opens, we’ll have Josh Paxton playing in the beer garden, and we’ll have Hey! Cafe offering coffee and Paw Paw’s Donuts. It’s a festive atmosphere but not a full-on party. Since it’s on a Saturday, I think we’ll have a lot of people hanging out. All my vendors from last year will be back. I am working on adding a couple more, and we’ll bring in some special things throughout the season. We have a lot of traditionalists. I sell far more traditional king cakes than anything else. Caluda’s, Caywoodrandazzo’s and Gambino’s cakes are always in the tops with traditionalists. We have the Epiphany cake from Gambino’s. They make it just for us. It’s a little different than their traditional cake, which has a little more of an almond scent to it, and it’s like a birthday cake. Epiphany is more buttery brioche style and has a cream cheese and buttercream icing instead of the standard sugar. There are people who are always looking for something new and

OF THE

WEEK

PHOTO PROVIDED BY JENNIFER SAMUELS

something different. We have some exclusive cakes. I think we’re going to have a crawfish king cake this year. Last year was the first year we had a savory king cake. I had a team from Hogs for the Cause make a boudin king cake. It was really good, and all the money went back to Hogs.They’re volunteers, so we won’t have that one all the time, but we hope to see it a few times. We’ve got king cake ice cream, king cake macaroons, candles and SugarLove Bakery makes king cake on a stick. I’ve got king cake nuggets. They come in a little clamshell with four nuggets and a dipping sauce. We’ll have anything king cake. We started several years ago trying to bring in some cool stuff from local vendors who were doing things with sustainable Mardi Gras. That has always been a big interest — to highlight the things new Orleans is doing and get away from the beads. I don’t think anybody really wants those things once they get them in their hands. Then it’s how fast can I get rid of them? So we have some vendors who are doing some cool stuff that is reusable. We’ll have that and we’ve added some candles, the electric glitters and edible glitters. It’s cool to work with all the local companies and keep local dollars here.

Daou Pessimist

An intensely aromatic nose begins with fragrances of blueberry, boysenberry and black plum. Deeper layers reveal lavender, truffle, cocoa and tamarind spice with hints of cherry pipe tobacco, leather, mint and smoked meats. A bright, vibrant palate offers generous flavors of black cherry, cranberry, crème de cassis and pomegranate. Notes of lilac, anise and black olive complement the rich fruit while the mouth is flooded with lush, silky textures. Lingering accents of blueberry and raspberry round out this elegantly balanced wine. DISTRIBUTED BY

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Out 2 Eat is an index of Gambit contract advertisers. unless noted, addresses are for new Orleans and all accept credit cards. updates: Email willc@gambitweekly.com or call (504) 483-3106. 8 Fresh Food Assassin — 1900 N. Claiborne Ave., (504) 224-2628; Instagram, @8freshfoodassassin — Chef Manny January’s serves lamb chops, T-bone steaks, salmon, crab cakes, deep fried ribs, fried chicken and seafood-loaded oysters. no reservations. Delivery available. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sun. $$ Acorn — Louisiana Children’s Museum, 12 Henry Thomas Drive, (504) 218-5413; acornnola.com — Blackened shrimp tacos are topped with arugula, radish, pineapple-mango salsa and cilantro-lime sauce. no reservations. Breakfast and lunch Wed.-Sun. $$ Angelo Brocato’s — 214 N. Carrollton Ave., (504) 486-1465; angelobrocatoicecream. com — This sweet shop serves its own gelato, spumoni, Italian ice, cannolis, biscotti, fig cookies, tiramisu, macaroons and more. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sun. $ Annunciation — 1016 Annunciation St., (504) 568-0245; annunciationrestaurant.com — Gulf Drum yvonne is served with brown butter sauce with mushrooms and artichoke hearts. reservations recommended. Dinner Thu.-Mon. $$$ Banana Blossom — 500 9th St., Gretna, (504) 500-0997; 504bananablossom.com — Jimmy Cho’s Thai dishes include smoked pork belly and pork meatballs in lemon grass broth with egg, green onion, cilantro and garlic. reservations accepted for large parties except weekends. Delivery available. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sat. $$ Bamboula’s — 514 Frenchmen St.; bamboulasmusic.com — The live music venue’s kitchen offers a menu of traditional and creative Creole dishes, such as Creole crawfish crepes with goat cheese and chardonnay sauce. reservations accepted. Lunch, dinner and late-night daily. $$ The Blue Crab Restaurant and Oyster Bar — 118 Harbor View Court, Slidell, (985) 315-7001; 7900 Lakeshore Drive, (504) 284-2898; thebluecrabnola.com — Basin barbecue shrimp are served over cheese grits with a cheese biscuit. Outdoor seating available. no reservations. Lakeview: Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sun. Slidell: Lunch Wed.-Fri., dinner Wed.-Sun., brunch Sat.-Sun. $$ Broussard’s — 819 Conti St., (504) 581-3866; broussards.com — rainbow trout amandine is served with tasso and corn macque choux and Creole meuniere sauce. reservations recommended. Outdoor seating available. Dinner Wed.-Sat., brunch Sun. $$$ Cafe Normandie — Higgins Hotel, 480 Andrew Higgins Blvd., (504) 528-1941; higginshotelnola.com/dining — The menu combines classic French dishes and Louisiana items like crab beignets with herb aioli. no reservations. Breakfast and lunch daily. $$ The Commissary — 634 Orange St., (504) 274-1850; thecommissarynola.com — A smoked turkey sandwich is served with bacon, tomato jam, herbed cream cheese, arugula and herb vinaigrette on honey oat bread. no reservations. Outdoor seating available. Lunch Tue.-Sat. $$ Curio — 301 Royal St., (504) 717-4198; curionola.com — The creative Creole menu includes blackened Gulf shrimp served with chicken and andouille jambalaya. reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner daily. $$

$ — average dinner entrée under $10 $$ — $11-$20 $$$ — $20-up Desire Oyster Bar — Royal Sonesta New Orleans, 300 Bourbon St., (504) 586-0300; sonesta.com/desireoysterbar — A menu full of Gulf seafood includes char-grilled oysters topped with Parmesan and herbs. reservations recommended. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. $$ Dickie Brennan’s Bourbon House — 144 Bourbon St., (504) 522-0111; bourbonhouse. com — There’s a seafood raw bar and dishes like redfish with lemon buerre blanc. reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner daily. $$$ Dickie Brennan’s Steakhouse — 716 Iberville St., (504) 522-2467; dickiebrennanssteakhouse.com — A 6-ounce filet mignon is served with fried oysters, creamed spinach, potatoes and bearnaise. reservations recommended. Dinner Mon.-Sat. $$$ Down the Hatch — 817 St. Louis St., (504) 766-6007; 1921 Sophie Wright Place, (504) 220-7071; downthehatchnola.com — The Texan burger features a half-pound patty topped with caramelized onions, smoked bacon, cheddar cheese and a fried egg. no reservations. Lunch, dinner and late-night daily. $$ Dragonfly Cafe — 530 Jackson Ave., (504) 544-9530; dragonflynola.com — The casual cafe offers breakfast plates, waffles, salads, coffee drinks and more. Delivery available. reservations accepted. Breakfast and lunch Wed.-Sat. $$ El Pavo Real — 4401 S. Broad Ave., (504) 266-2022; elpavorealnola.com — The menu includes tacos, enchiladas and sauteed Gulf fish topped with tomatoes, olives, onion and capers, served with rice and string beans. Outdoor seating available. no reservations. Lunch and early dinner Tue.-Sat. $$ Felix’s Restaurant & Oyster Bar — 739 Iberville St., (504) 522-4440; 7400 Lakeshore Drive, (504) 304-4125; felixs.com — The menu includes raw and char-grilled oysters, seafood platters, po-boys and more. no reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. $$ Frey Smoked Meat Co. — 4141 Bienville St., Suite 110, (504) 488-7427; freysmokedmeat. com — The barbecue spot serves pulled pork, ribs, brisket, sausages and and items like fried pork belly tossed in pepperjelly glaze. no reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. $$ Froot Orleans — 2438 Bell St., Suite B, (504) 233-3346; frootorleans.com — There are fresh fruit platters and smoothie bowls such as a strawberry shortcake and more using pineapple, berries, citrus and more. no reservations. Outdoor seating available. Breakfast and lunch daily. $$ Juan’s Flying Burrito — 515 Baronne St., (504) 529-5825; 2018 Magazine St., (504) 569-0000; 4724 S. Carrollton Ave., (504) 486-9950; 8140 Oak St., (504) 897-4800; juansflyingburrito.com — The Flying Burrito includes steak, shrimp, chicken, cheddar jack cheese, black beans, rice, guacamole and salsa. Outdoor seating available. no reservations. Lunch and dinner Thu.-Tue. $$ Katie’s Restaurant — 3701 Iberville St., (504) 488-6582; katiesinmidcity.com — The eclectic menu includes a Cajun Cuban with roasted pork, ham, cheese and pickles. Delivery available. reservations accepted for large parties. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sun. $$

Kilroy’s Bar — Higgins Hotel, 480 Andrew Higgins Blvd., (504) 528-1941; higginshotelnola.com/dining — The bar menu includes sandwiches, salads and flatbreads, including one topped with peach, prosciutto, stracciatella cheese, arugula and pecans. no reservations. Dinner Wed.-Sat. $$ Legacy Kitchen’s Craft Tavern — 700 Tchoupitoulas St., (504) 613-2350; legacykitchen.com — The menu includes oysters, flatbreads, burgers, sandwiches, salads and a nOLA Style Grits Bowl topped with bacon, cheddar and a poached egg. reservations accepted. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. $$ Legacy Kitchen Steak & Chop — 91 Westbank Expressway, Gretna, (504) 513-2606; legacykitchen.com — The menu includes filets mignons and bone-in rib-eyes, as well as burgers, salads and seafood dishes. reservations accepted. Outdoor seating available. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat. $$ Luzianne Cafe — 481 Girod St., (504) 2651972; luziannecafe.com — Cajun Sunshine Beignets are stuffed with eggs, bacon, cheese and hot sauce. no reservations. Delivery available. Breakfast and lunch Wed.-Sun. $$ Martin Wine & Spirits — 714 Elmeer Ave., Metairie, (504) 896-7350; 3827 Baronne St., (504) 894-7444; martinwine.com — The deli serves sandwiches and salads such as the Sena, with chicken, raisins, blue cheese, pecans and Tabasco pepperjelly vinaigrette. no reservations. Lunch daily. $$ Mikimoto — 3301 S. Carrollton Ave., (504) 488-1881; mikimotosushi.com — The South Carrollton roll includes tuna tataki, avocado and snow crab. The menu also has noodle dishes, teriyaki and more. reservations accepted. Delivery available. Lunch Sun.Fri., dinner daily. $$ Mosca’s — 4137 Highway 90 West, Westwego, (504) 436-8950; moscasrestaurant.com — This family-style eatery serves Italian dishes and specialties including chicken a la grande and baked oysters Mosca. reservations accepted. Dinner Wed.-Sat. Cash only. $$$ Mother’s Restaurant — 401 Poydras St., (504) 523-9656; mothersrestaurant.net — This counter-service spot serves po-boys, jambalaya, crawfish etouffee, red beans and rice and more. Delivery available. no reservations. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. $$ Neyow’s Creole Cafe — 3332 Bienville St., (504) 827-5474; neyows.com — The menu includes red beans with fried chicken or pork chops, as well as seafood platters, po-boys, grilled oysters, salads and more. no reservations. Lunch daily, dinner Mon.-Sat., brunch Sun. $$ Nice Guys Bar & Grill — 7910 Earhart Blvd., (504) 302-2404; niceguysbarandgrillnola. com — Char-grilled oysters are topped with cheese. The menu also includes wings, quesadillas, burgers, salads, seafood pasta and more. no reservations. Lunch daily, dinner Mon.-Sat. $$$ The Original Italian Pie — 3629 Prytania St., (504) 766-8912; theoriginalitalianpieuptown.com — The Italian Pie combo includes pepperoni, Italian sausage, ground beef, mushrooms, onions, bell pepper, black olives, mozzarella and house-made tomato sauce. no reservations. Dinner and latenight Tue.-Sat. $$ Orleans Grapevine Wine Bar & Bistro — 720 Orleans Ave., (504) 523-1930; orleansgrapevine.com — The wine bar’s menu includes Creole pasta with shrimp and andouille in tomato cream sauce. reservations accepted

for large parties. Outdoor seating available. Dinner Thu.-Sun. $$ Palace Cafe — 605 Canal St., (504) 523-1661; palacecafe.com — The contemporary Creole menu includes crabmeat cheesecake with mushrooms and Creole meuniere sauce. Outdoor seating available. reservations recommended. Breakfast and lunch Wed.-Fri., dinner Wed.-Sun., brunch Sat.-Sun. $$$ Parish Grill — 4650 W. Esplanade Ave., Suite 100, Metairie, (504) 345-2878; parishgrill. com — The menu includes burgers, sandwiches, pizza and sauteed andouille with fig dip, blue cheese and toast points. reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat. $$ Peacock Room — Kimpton Hotel Fontenot, 501 Tchoupitoulas St., (504) 324-3073; peacockroomnola.com — Black lentil vadouvan curry comes with roasted tomatoes, mushrooms and basmati rice. reservations accepted. Dinner Wed.-Mon., brunch Sun. $$ PrimoHoagies — 8228 Oak St., (504) 3151335; primohoagies.com — The menu of hot and cold sandwiches includes a classic Italian hoagie with prosciutto, salami, hot capicola, provolone, lettuce, tomato and onion. Delivery available. Lunch and dinner daily. $$ Rosie’s on the Roof — Higgins Hotel, 480 Andrew Higgins Blvd., (504) 528-1941; higginshotelnola.com/dining — The rooftop bar has a menu of sandwiches, burgers and small plates. no reservations. Dinner daily. $$ Tableau — 616 St. Peter St., (504) 934-3463; tableaufrenchquarter.com — Pasta bouillabaisse features squid ink mafaldine, littleneck clams, Gulf shrimp, squid, seafood broth, rouille and herbed breadcrumbs. Outdoor seating available. reservations recommended. Dinner Wed.-Sun., brunch Thu.-Sun. $$$ Tacklebox — 817 Common St., (504) 8271651; legacykitchen.com — The menu includes oysters, and dishes like redfish St. Charles with garlic-herb butter, asparagus, mushrooms and crawfish cornbread. reservations accepted. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. $$ Theo’s Neighborhood Pizza — 1212 S. Clearview Parkway, Elmwood, (504) 733-3803; 2125 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, (504) 5104282; 4024 Canal St., (504) 302-1133; 4218 Magazine St., (504) 894-8554; 70488 Highway 21, Covington, (985) 234-9420; theospizza.com — A Marilynn Pota Supreme pie is topped with mozzarella, pepperoni, sausage, hamburger, mushrooms, bell peppers and onions. There also are salads, sandwiches and more. Delivery available. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sat. $ Tito’s Ceviche & Pisco — 1433 St. Charles Ave., (504) 354-1342; 5015 Magazine St., (504) 267-7612; titoscevichepisco.com — Peruvian lomo saltado features sauteed beef, onions, tomatoes, soy sauce and pisco, served with potatoes and rice. Outdoor seating available on Magazine Street. Delivery available. reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat., brunch Sun. $$$ The Vintage — 3121 Magazine St., (504) 324-7144; thevintagenola.com — The menu includes beignets, flatbreads and a veggie sandwich with avocado, onions, arugula, red pepper and pepper jack cheese. no reservations. Delivery and outdoor seating available. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. $$ Zhang Bistro — 1141 Decatur St., (504) 8268888; zhangbistronola.com — The menu of Chinese and Thai dishes includes a Szechuan Hot Wok with a choice of chicken, beef, shrimp or tofu with onions, peppers, cauliflower, jalapenos and spicy sauce. reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner Thu.-Tue. $$

PAGE 5

streetcar barn, and the car heads to Harmony Circle and then heads back uptown to Fat Harry’s. For information, visit funkyuptownkrewe.com.

Phunny Phorty Phellows

The costumed krewe celebrates the beginning of the Carnival season with a streetcar ride on St. Charles Avenue. The krewe departs the Willow Street streetcar barn at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 6. Visit phunnyphortyphellows.com.

50 First Jokes

Fifty New Orleans-based comics will ring in the New Year by telling one joke apiece: the first joke they wrote in 2024. Comedian John F. O’Donnell developed 50 First Jokes in new york City, and now cities around the country put their own spin on it. Produced by Jade Bronte and Jon reynolds, new Orleans’ 50 First Jokes of 2024 will feature Laura Sanders, nkechi Chibueze, Alex Jennings, Geneva Joy, Amanda G, Lee Glass and more. The show starts at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 1, at Big Couch in Bywater. Tickets are $15 advance via eventbrite.com and $20 at the door.

George Porter Jr. & The Runnin’ Pardners

George Porter Jr. & the Runnin’ Pardners lead a funky kick-off to the Carnival season at the rabbit Hole at 9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 6. Find tickets $20 in advance via rabbitholenola.com.

Jimbo Mathus

Though Jimbo Mathus is known for his tenure with the swing revival project the Squirrel nut Zippers, the Oxford, Mississippi native is more of a bluesman and idiosyncratic rocker in his other work. He performs solo at 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 5, at Le Bon Temps roule. Find information on therealjimbomathus.com.

Mike Dillon’s Thirteenth Night

Prolific percussionist and vibraphonist Mike Dillon is joined by Chris Senac in his band, The new Fuck yeahs, to headline a Thirteenth night (aka Epiphany, Kings’ Day, the start of Carnival) party with Hollyrock and saxophonist Jeff Coffin is joined by Johnny Vidacovich, guitarist nir Felder and Helen Gillet. At 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 6, at the Broadside. Tickets $20 in advance, $25 on the day of the show. Visit broadsidenola. com for information.

Bach at New Marigny

The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra hosts a neighborhood concert at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 4, at the new Marigny Theatre. The program includes Bach’s third Brandenburg Concerto, “Muse” by American composer Christopher Theofanidis, new Orleans-based composer Tucker Fuller’s “Orfeo & Eurydice” as well as pieces by Alexandre Tansman and Georg Philipp Telemann. Tickets are $28 general and $10 for students via lpomusic.com.

Gladney

New Orleans-born multi-instrumentalist Gladney has toured with the Jake Shears band and performed with Jon Batiste, Solange and Ellis Marsalis. He now leads his own eponymous band and often brings up special new Orleans guests. Catch Gladney next at 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 5, at the George and Joyce Wein Jazz & Heritage Center. Tickets are $10 via gladney2024.eventbrite.com.

Queen’s Balls

Johnny Sketch & The Dirty Notes throw their annual pre-Carnival party, the Queen’s Balls, on the night before King’s Day. The rockers headline the show and host a best-dressed costume contest. At 10 p.m. Friday, Jan. 5, at the Maple Leaf. Tickets are $15 advance via mapleleafbar.com and $20 at the door.

! !

101 Runners with Monk Boudreaux

Big Chief Monk Boudreaux joins New Orleans funk band 101 Runners for their 17th annual Carnival kickoff party at 9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 6, at the Maple Leaf. Tickets are $20 advance via mapleleafbar.com and $25 at the door.

Countdown to Carnival

The King Cake Hub reopens at Zony Mash on Saturday, Jan. 6. But first they host a countdown to Carnival party to kick off the season, with a drag queen pageant to crown the 2024 King Cake Monarch, who will cut the season’s first slice (see 3-course interview, page 17). There are also music and food vendors. The free party starts at 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 5. Find more information at kingcakehub.com.

Jenn Howard

New Orleans roots rock vocalist Jenn Howard returns to Chickie Wah Wah at 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 5, for a show with Daphne Parker Powell. Tickets are $20 advance via chickiewahwah.com and $25 at the door.

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Our Community-Police Mediation Program is seeking community members to become mediators Mediators will receive free training and a $75 stipend per mediation.

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MUSIC FO r CO M P L E T E M u S I C L I ST I n G S A n D M O r E E V E n T S TA K I n G P L A C E In THE nEW OrLEAnS ArEA, VISIT C A L E N D A R . G A M B I T W E E K LY. C O M

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MONDAY 1 BOURBON STREET HONKY TONK — The Bad Sandys , 8 pm D.B.A. NEW ORLEANS — Jelly roll Stompers, 3 pm; Sierra Green and the Giants, 6 pm; James Martin Band, 10 pm MAPLE LEAF — George Porter Trio, 7 & 10 pm SANTOS — Karaoke w/ Sunshine Edae, 10 pm SATURN BAR — 12th Annual nola Dunk! Join Saturn for the yearly “yearly Polar Plunge to Purify Ourselves in the Waters of Lake Ponchartrain” featuring hangover cures, international soccer on the tv, Jameson and 90s jams. Doors at 11 am, free bus to the lake leaves at 1 pm.

TUESDAY 2 THE HIDEAWAY — Juvie Tuesdays, 8 pm HI HO — Sporty’s Brass Band, 10 pm HOLY DIVER – Piano Happy Hour with Henrietta, 6:30 pm MAPLE LEAF – TCB Brass Band, 9 pm THE RABBIT HOLE — rebirth Brass Band, 10 pm

WEDNESDAY 3 BLUE NILE — new Breed Brass Band, 10:30 pm

THURSDAY 4 HOLY DIVER — Don Wayne the rockaway Beach Madman!, 9 pm MAPLE LEAF — Jeremy Habegger: Booker Piano Sessions, 6 pm; Johnny Vidacovich Trio, 8 pm SANTOS — Tainted Love 80s Dance nite, 10 pm VAUGHN’S — Corey Henry, 11:30 pm

FRIDAY 5 BLUE NILE — Kermit ruffins and the Barbecue Swingers, 11 pm CHICKIE WAH WAH — Jen Howard, 8 pm GEORGE AND JOYCE WEIN JAZZ & HERITAGE CENTER — Gladney, 8 pm

HOLY DIVER — Darklounge Ministries w/ rik Slave, 8 pm MAPLE LEAF — Doug Belote Band feat. nir Felder, Jeff Coffin, Larry Sieberth & Brian Quezergue, 8 pm; Queens Balls 2024 with Johnny Sketch & The Dirty notes, 10 pm NOLA BREWING TAPROOM — Zen Cowboys: Jamie Bernstein & Dave Easley, 7 pm SAENGER THEATRE — Leanne Morgan, 7 pm SIBERIA — Lilli Lewis with Sweet Magnolia, 9 pm SANTOS— resurrection Goth night, 10 pm

SATURDAY 6 BJ’S LOUNGE BYWATER — Greazy Alice, JJ Adams, 9 pm BLUE NILE — The Marigny Street Brass Band, 10 pm

CHICKIE WAH WAH — Creole String Beans, 8 pm GEORGE AND JOYCE WEIN JAZZ & HERITAGE CENTER — Stephen Lands, 8 pm JAEGER’S SEAFOOD AND OYSTER HOUSE — The Fabulous Von Zippers, 7 pm LAFON PERFORMING ARTS CENTER — An Evening with Megan Hilty, 7:30 pm MAPLE LEAF — 101 runners: 12th night w/Big Chief Monk Boudreaux, 9 pm NOLA BREWING TAPROOM — Space & Harmony, 7 pm TIPITINA’S — Fan Expo Offical Anime night After Party, featuring Purikura Panic, Candy Mix Maids, Suzaku 7 and DJ Deshiimo, 8 pm

12th Annual Nola Dunk! plunge in Lake Pontchartrain is Monday, Jan. 1, beginning at Saturn Bar at 11 am PHOTO BY DOUG MACCASH / THE TIMES-PICAYUNE

SUNDAY 7 BJ’S LOUNGE BYWATER — Big Jon and the Excellos, 8 pm JAEGER’S SEAFOOD AND OYSTER HOUSE — Cold Shot, 4 pm MAPLE LEAF — Joe Krown w/ Papa Mali, Casandra Faulconer and Eric Bolivar, 8 pm TIPITINA’S — JFais Do-Do With Bruce Daigrepont Cajun Band, 5:15 pm

SCAN FOR THE COMPLETE GAMBIT CALENDAR

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THE HOLLYGROVE CREEPERS ON DANCING IN NEW ORLEANS BY JAKE CLAPP AS HIP-HOP CULTURE STARTED TO TAKE HOLD IN NEW ORLEANS IN THE EARLY 1980S , it wasn’t just

the new music that was influencing locals. A number of young Black new Orleanians started adapting the dance styles that are integral to hip-hop history, forming crews, challenging each other and entering talent shows around the city. The Hollygrove Creepers, formed by a group of teens living in and near the uptown neighborhood, was one of the most active dance crews of the era. From the early-’80s to about 1990, The Hollygrove Creepers could be seen dancing at school events and concerts by early new Orleans hip-hop groups like the ninja Crew, and they opened for touring acts, like Doug E. Fresh and Salt-n-Pepa. The group danced a style they called Bebopping, an uprock-type of dance influenced by new Orleans traditions including second-line footwork. As slightly older kids in Hollygrove, members randy Harrell, Andre Carter, reginald Saulny, reuben Turner, Terrence McKenzie — who performed in ninja Crew as DJ Baby T — reginald Spurlock, Calvin Johnson, Damien White and Willie Smith preceded a lot of early new Orleans hip-hop groups. They acted like big brothers to a number of up-and-coming artists from the area, like Dion “Devious D” norman, DJ Precise and Fiend. Gambit spoke with Harrell and Carter about the Hollygrove Creepers and early hip-hop dance in New Orleans. This interview is part of a series reflecting on New Orleans’ role in hiphop culture as it turns 50. Read more at gambitweekly.com.

What was your introduction to hip-hop? Randy Harrell: Definitely hearing the music on the radio. That’s what introduced me to it. And after that, we kind of took off into the rapping, we took off into dancing in that era. We all grew up in the same neighborhood,

so we kind of all knew each other and we would go to the high school dances and talent shows, and we got together as a group at an early age. We were doing shows at 13, 14 years old, even performing with big name artists, like 2 Live Crew, Salt-n-Pepa, Doug E. Fresh, LL Cool J. We did a lot of shows when we were young. We had a rap group out of our neighborhood that cut their first record back when they were just 15 called the ninja Crew, which was Sporty T, Gregory D and Baby T. And Baby T also was a Hollygrove Creeper before he got into DJing. We won numerous high school talent shows and the WyLD (98.5 FM) talent show. It actually got to the point where we won so many high school talent shows they just started featuring us in the shows. We had to be special guests. Were y’all already dancers beforehand? Harrell: yeah, we were dancing, just doing regular hip-hop dancing before breakdancing came up. We were a group before [breakdancing]. We did this dance in new Orleans called the Bebop. That was the popular dance in our era. We’d go to different high school dances, and you know, just like they’re challenging in breakdancing, we were challenging Beboppin’. Could you tell me about how the group came together? Harrell: We all just had a knack of dancing, a talent. We always danced, even before we met. We’d hear the records playing on the radio, and we would dance no matter what for — at the high school dances, in the neighborhood, in the backyard, house parties, anything. So I got introduced to the Hollygrove Creepers, I wanna say I was in the 7th grade. I already knew all these guys, and we happened to be at a middle school dance one night, and they were out dancing and they knew me and we started talking. Then I was dancing and they were doing the Bebop, so they asked me if I wanted to join the

Dancers show off their footwork during the 2015 Original Men Pigeon Town Steppers and The Lady Pigeon Town Steppers second line. In the ‘80s, the Hollygrove Creepers incorporated the second line footwork they saw in their neighborhoods. PHOTO BY JULIA KUMARI DRAPKIN / THE TIMES-PICAYUNE

group, and I was like, “Of course. That’s my neighborhood.” Andre Carter: I came in, I think my 8th grade year. reginald Spurlock was my cousin, and I had moved over [to Hollygrove] from the East. When I moved there, we’d go to the dances and I’d see him dance all the time. So I started participating and took a liking to it and joined the crew. My cousin lived on the corner of Apple and Monroe (streets), across from E&C (Lounge). The whole group lived less than a block away from each other. Toot (reuben Turner) lived across the street. randy lived on the street behind us. And Terrence lived on the other corner. reginald (Saulny) lived on the other side of Earhart (Expressway), and Calvin lived in Pigeon Town. Harrell: yeah, most of us were basically just one block apart, just going in different directions. Could you tell me more about the style that y’all were dancing at the time? Harrell: The Bebop was basically a lot of footwork. Carter: We did a lot with hands and feet … you know at second lines, how they’re buckjumping? That second-line buckjumping, we were doing that kind of dancing. Harrell: yeah, it’s very similar to what they’re doing. Only we were a little more of the hip-hop side of it.

They’re dancing to the brass band, we were doing it with hip-hop beats. Where did y’all go on tour? Harrell: We went to Jackson, Mississippi, for a show with Doug E. Fresh. Shreveport with 2 Live Crew. Carter: We had one with Salt-nPepa, too. Who was one of the ﬁrst New Orleans hip-hop artists you admired? Harrell: That would be Sporty T and Gregory D, the ninja Crew. They had their first record deal when they were just 15, 16 years old, but they had been rapping since they were 12. Carter: yeah, they were some of the first from new Orleans at that time. Those artists, like Bustdown, Tim Smooth, Precise, Mannie Fresh, all those people came after ninja Crew. Think about it now, Mannie Fresh got with Gregory D after Greg left the ninja Crew. But the ninja Crew (came about) after Terrance (McKenzie aka Baby T) left the Hollygrove Creepers. If you had to say, “OK, where did everything start in new Orleans? How did hip-hop originate?” They’ll tell you it started with the Hollygrove Creepers and dancing. We were like a village. Everybody was always there — but not everybody danced. We danced and then you got all these other rappers, like Gregory D, Sporty T, they were all there with us.

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