1/2BLOCK TO MAGAZINE 1& 2bedroomsavailableinideal location andROOMSBYTHE MONTHwithPRIVATE BATH.All utilitiesincludedmonthly.Call 504-202-0381 forappointment
EMPLOYMENT Computer System andNetwork Engineer (New Or‐leans, LA)Req.: B.S.deg (orforeign equiv) in Comp Sci, Comp Engg or arltd fieldofstudy; 2yrs of jobrltd exp(anytitle); Exptoinclworking w/ Windows Server 2019, 2016/2012 R2,Windows10/11,CISCO Network,TCP/IP, DNS.Resume: Marine Supplyand Services Inc. dba GlobalShipServices,9139 Wal‐lisvilleRd,Houston,TX77029.Refer:GSSD24
NOTICES ‘MySweetBoy
WasGone’ In“TheTunnel,”Tripp Friedlerrecountshisson’s fightwithbipolardisorder,andtheirfamily’s strugglesafterhissuicide
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ARTS +ENTERTAINMENT Beingseen BlackAmericanaFesthoststwostagesofmusicatBroadside ACAROLINACHOCOLATEDROPSSHOW
CONVINCEDDUSKYWATERStopickup thebanjowhenshewas20yearsold.
Watershadalwaysbeencurious abouttheinstrument,andshewas alreadyaguitaristandpianist.ButseeingtheNorthCarolinastringbandplay andhearingmemberrhiannonGiddens talkabouttheBlackhistoryofthebanjo “changedmylife,”shesays.
“Iwentoutandboughtabanjothe nextweek,”shesays.
Thebanjoisnowago-toinstrument intheNewOrleans-basedsinger-songwriter’sdynamicAmericana,alongwith theaccordionandguitar.Butlikemany Blackmusiciansplayingcountryand folk—genresrootedinBlackmusical traditions—shehasfeltout-of-place andunwelcomeinascenedominated bywhitemusicians.SoitwaspowerfultoseeotherBlackmusicians,like GiddensandtheCarolinaChocolate Drops,performandtalkaboutthe heritageoftheirmusic.
representationisamajorreason Watersandsinger-songwriterTeena MayorganizedtheBlackAmericanaFest takingplace2p.m.to11p.m.Saturday, Sept.28,attheBroadside
“Ourtaglineis‘There’spowerin knowingwhereyoucomefrom,’” Waterssays.“Myhopeisthatmore Blackartistswouldfeelasenseof belongingandfeelapartoftheheritage andthelineagethatwecomefrom.This isourancestralmusic.Thebanjoisour ancestralinstrument.”
TheBlackAmericanaFestisfree andwillfeaturetwostagesofmusic TheSisterrosettaTharpemainstage willhaveperformancesbyJoyClark, LeylaMcCalla,NikkiHill,MiaBorders, LilliLewis,JefferyBroussard&The NighttimeSyndicate,DuskyWatersand TeenaMay.Meanwhile,theelizabeth Cottensongwriterstagewillfeature “intheround”sessionshostedby ArséneDeLayandincludingKirkland Green,Shawanrice,BenHunter,Micah McKee,AmethystStarrandChloé Marie.KellyLoveJoneswillheadline thestage
Therealsowillbeanemergingsongwritershowcase,andMichaelWhite willleadapanelwithFreddiWilliams evans,MonaLisaSaloyandLilliLewis aboutthehistoryofAmericanamusic. Andtherewillbeanartistmarketplace,foodvendors,tarotreadings byVoodooQueenKalindahLaveaux andartsandcraftactivitiesledby ArtCamp504.
byJakeClapp |
BlackAmericanaFest organizers,fromleft, MarkT.WilliamsII,Teena MayandDuskyWaters
PROVIDED PHOTOBY ANALIESEDESAW
“Wereallystackedthisdayasifwe crammedathree-dayfestivalintoone day,”Maysayswithalaugh. WatersgrewupinLittlerock andworkedasaneducatorinnorth LouisiananeartheMississippiDelta regionbeforemovingtoNewOrleans about10yearsago.She’dbeenthinking aboutalargereventfocusedonthe BlackmusiciansinNewOrleansworking inAmericana.
OneofWaters’NewOrleansmentors, shesays,hasbeenvocalist-pianistLilli Lewis,whohasworkedthroughout hercareerforBlackequitywithin Americanaand“helpedshapemy conceptionofwhat’spossible”when planninganevent.
Shealsowantedtoeducatemusic loversabouttheexpansiveumbrella coveringfolk,country,blues,gospel andothergenres.Thosemusicalstyles werebornfromtraditionsbroughtto theSouthbyenslavedAfricanpeople anddevelopedbytheirdescendants, butascountry,folkandbluesstarted tobecomecommercializedinthe20th century,Blackmusicianswereerased fromtherecordingindustryandthe genrestheycreated.
“TheindustryisnotgoodtoBlackartistsandhashistoricallyexcludedBlack artists.YoucanlooktoNashvilleand thestrugglestherearoundrepresentation,”Waterssays.“SoanytimeI’ve metsomeoneelsewho’smaking[music]
inthisspace,it’s beensopowerful I’vewonderedwhat itwouldbeliketo haveaspacelike this,wherewecan cometogetherand celebratethismusic. Andhowdowedo thatspecificallyhere inNewOrleans?” Ayearandahalf ago,Watersmet Mayand,alongwith educatorMarkT. WilliamsII,they decidedtopursue theidea.They originallypictured asmallerevent,but supportcamequicklythroughorganizationslikeTheMusic&CultureCoalition ofNewOrleansandtheLouisianaMusic &Heritageexperienceaswellasgrants bytheNewOrleansJazz&Heritage FoundationandtheTourismand CulturalFund.
Aguitaristandsinger,Mayhas writtenmorethan200songs,mostlyin country,folkandpop.Whenshemoved fromNewYorkCitytoNewOrleans threeyearsago,shestartedgoingto songwriternightsaroundthecityand begantomeetmusicianslikeWaters andMicahMcKee.
“Goingtothesesongwriternights andseeingtheoneotherBlackperson that’sthereandsaying,‘Hey,let’sdo somethingtogether,’reallyisthedriving forceofthisfestival,”Maysays.“We’re heretogether,creatingsongs,creating thismusic.Let’scelebrateeachother andshoweveryonethatwe’rehere.”
Maysaysthefestivalisgoing“where the‘enthusiasticyes’is.”Theyhaven’t settledona2025festival,butifthere isinterestinasecondedition,they’ll keepgoing.
Shealsowouldliketoseethefestival leadanetworkofBlackAmericana groupswhereorganizations,festivals andartistscouldsupportoneanother outsideoftheNashvillesystem.
“Connectivity,accessibilityisthe heartbeatofwhatwe’redoing,”May says.“Ithinkthatwouldbethefuture thatIwouldlovetosee.”
Findthescheduleandmoreinfo atblackamericanafest.com.
DavidHindsandSteel Pulsewillperformatthe InternationalArtsFestival.
PHOTOBYCHRIS GRANGER/ THETIMES-PICAYUNE
InternationalArtsFestival Rootsreggaedrivesthelineupof thetwo-daymusicfestival,with BritishstalwartsSteelpulseandBob Marley’sgrandchildrenYohanMarley andMysticMarleyperforming.The lineupalsofeaturesearlyjazzfusion bandSpyroGyraandfunkandr&B groupAverageWhiteBand.Saturday alsobringsBigChiefDonaldHarrison andtheICONS,AfrikoolAllstars,DJ rayandmore.OnSunday,there’s AlexeyMarti,CoreyHenry&the TremeFunktetandmore.InLouis Armstrongpark.Findinformation atiafnola.com.Tickets$50-$100 viaeventbrite.com.
JoKoy ComedianJoKoyisagingconfidently inhislatestNetflixspecial“Live fromBrooklyn,”inwhichhemakes thecaseforhisownzaddiehood.It’s hissixthcomedyspecial,andhewas aregularpaneliston“ChelseaLately” aswellasappearinginnumerous filmandTVprojects.Heperforms at8p.m.Saturday,Sept.28,at SaengerTheatre.Findtickets viasaengernola.com.
OktoberfestatUrbanSouth UrbanSouthBrewerycelebratesthe Germanfallfestivalwithablockparty withGermanstylebeersandfood, polkamusic,gamesandmore.There arestein-holdingandbootchugging competitions.Brewsincludeamarzen, dunkel,hefeweizen,festbier,helles andadoppelbock.Forfood,thereare giantpretzels,brats,schnitzeland more.Fromnoonto9p.m.Saturday, Sept.28,atthebreweryat1645 TchoupitoulasSt.Findinformation aturbansouth.com.
Meet toptravelexperts offering exclusivepackages, unbeatabledeals,and more. Whether you’re dreaming of a Caribbeangetaway,anAlaskan cruise,oranexoticvacation, the Expo hassomething forevery traveler!
OPENING GAMBIT THUMBS UP/ THUMBS DOWN
MilesCrawford,anernurseat UniversityMedicalCenter,took actionduringHurricaneFrancine andsavedamotoristwhosetruck hadstalledinrisingwatersunder therailroadunderpassonCanal Boulevard.Crawfordlivesnearthe underpass,andwhenamanand histruckgotstuckintheflooding, Crawfordgrabbedascrewdriver, alertednearbypoliceandwaded intothewatertobreakopenthe backpassengerwindowandhelp thedriverout.WDSUcapturedthe rescueoncamera
SouthArts,anorganizationsupportingartistsandmusiciansinthe Souththroughgrants,hasselected theAminaScottQuintetandthe SashaMasakowskiSextetaspart ofitsSummer2024Jazzroad Artists.ThetwoNewOrleansbasedgroupsareamong11ensemblestoreceivegrantsupportto coverpromotion,management costsandotherheftyexpenses thatcomefromgoingontour.
NewOrleansCityCouncilsetsdeadlinefor SewerageandWaterBoardpowercomplex
NEWORLEANSCITYCOUNCILVICE
PRESIDENTJPMORRELLMONDAY
calledoncityandstateleadersto meetandcomeupwiththerestof thefundingforanewSewerageand WaterBoardpowercomplexinthe nexttwoweeks
effortstoget$29millioninstate fundingfortheplantduringthelegislativesessionfellapartearlierthis year,leadinggovernmentleadersto searchforfundingelsewhere.
HurricaneFrancine,Morrellsaidhe didnotthinkthestatewouldcover thefullcost.
“Thestate’snotgivingus$17 million,”hesaid.“That’snotgoing tohappen.”
Morrellsaidhebelievedthestate wouldlikelyprovide$9-10million, andthatthecouncilandMayor LaToyaCantrell’sadministration wouldneedtofindcitymoneyto makeuptherestassoonaspossible.
Ratesofsexualharassment havenotdeclinedsincethe #MeToomovementtookoffin 2017,accordingtoanewreport bytheNewcombInstituteat TulaneUniversity.Init,82%of womenand42%ofmenreported experiencingsexualharassmentor assault.Whiletherehasbeenmore visibilityfollowingthe#MeToo movement,thosenumbersare similartowhattheNewcomb Institutefoundina2018study.
TheS&WBisapplyingfora$34 millionfederalgranttopayforthe complex.Underthegrant,thefeds willprovide$17millioniflocalgovernmentcoverstheother$17million.
Butleadersstillhaven’tfigured outwherethan$17millionwillcome from:thestate,thecity,S&WB fundingoramix
Thenewpowercomplex,whichis supposedtodramaticallyimprove theS&WB’sreliabilityandkeep itfromrelyingonturbinesbuiltin 1915and1958,wasprojectedto befinishedinsummer2025.Butit couldtakelongerifthemoneyisnot foundquickly.
Atajointcommitteemeeting Mondayonthecity’sresponseto
Morrellsaidheworriedthat politicalfightsbetweencityand stateleadersoverfundingcould furtherdelaytheproject,which hasalreadybeenpushedbackover fundingsquabbles
In2021,theCantrelladministrationsaidentergyNewOrleanswould loanS&WB$30milliontobuild thecomplex.AfterHurricaneIda, entergysaidthatwouldnolonger behappening.
“Ifwewastetimeposturing,it isverylikelywecouldseeallof thesewonderfulthingshappening in2026,endof2026.That’stwo years,”Morrellsaid.“Wecan’trisk
1.5
THENUMBER,INBILLIONS OFDOLLARS,THATINSURERS WILLLIKELYOWETHEIRPOLICYHOLDERSINTHEWAKE OFHURRICANEFRANCINE, ACCORDINGTOTHEINSURANCE INFORMATIONINSTITUTE.
TheCategory2storm,whichsweptthrough LouisianaonSept.11,wasconsidereda “welcome”changefromothermajorstorms thathavecausedbillionsofdollarsindamage andpromptedcompaniestovacateLouisiana entirely.Bycomparison,insuredlossesfrom 2021’sHurricaneIdaexceeded$36billion
C’EST September20-22
Braisedporkshank
Cheeseburger friedricelunch
Seafoodstuffedredfish toppedwithcreolecreamsauce
Pork elephante with caperbuttersauce overpenne
Seafood
Seafoodlasagna Seafoodstuffedpasta
Poundedporkribeyesandwich
Boudinempanadas appetizer
ourcommunityfora politicalpoint.”
S&WBexecutive DirectorGhassan Korbansaidhewas meetingwiththemayor followingthecommitteemeetingtodiscuss fundingpossibilities.
“Wecannothavethat memeofSpider-Man pointbothfingersat eachotherwhilethis projectcontinuesto languish,”Morrellsaid.
MEANWHILE,THE COUNCILPRESSED ENTERGYNEW ORLEANSANDS&WB ontheircommunicationsaroundHurricane Francinelastweek
Councilpresident HelenaMorenosaid entergycommunicated wellwiththecouncil butcouldhavedonea betterjobofinforming customersaboutpoweroutages andwhentheycouldexpecttohave powerback.Customerscomplained aboutseeingconflictinginformation onentergy’swebsiteandtextalerts.
NykaScott,entergyNewOrleans’ vicepresidentofcustomerservice, acknowledgedtherewasalagon entergy’soutagemapandsaidtheir textsandrobocallsarethemost accuratesourcesofinformation. However,shesaidtheoutagemap “isalwaysgoingtolag.”
Somecustomersexperiencedtemporaryoutagesinthedaysafterthe storm,asentergyworkedtorestore powertoothers.CouncilMember JoeGiarrussosuggestedinthefuture alertingcustomersthattheirpower couldgooutagain.
Councilmembersalsosaidthey wouldlookintochangingtherules abouthowclosetopowerequipmententergycantrimtreestogive themmoreleeway,astreelimbs causedmanyofthepoweroutages duringFrancine.
MorrelltoldS&WBthatJefferson parishcommunicatedbetterthan theydidduringFrancine,eventhough theywerealsodealingwithflooding andoverwhelmedresources.
OnThursdayafternoon,NOLA readysentoutanalertthatread “SWBNOasksresidentsandbusinessestocontinuetoconserve wateratthistimetopreventseweragebackup.”
Morrellsaidthatshouldhavebeen clearer.Hesaidbusinessesreached
outtohim,askingiftheyshouldopen, andhewasn’tsurewhattotellthem Jeffersonparish’salert,which camefourhoursearlier,wasmore specific:“Limitnon-essentialwater use(dishes&laundry)toprevent seweragebackup.”
Councilmemberssaidtheutility shouldtellpeoplewhenpumpsfail, whichareasareaffectedandinwhat specificwaysresidentsshouldlimit waterusage,suchasiftheycanflush theirtoiletsorshower.
“Ifapumpfails,obviously,it’s embarrassingforautilitywhenyou gointoastormsituation,aminor situation,youhaveallyourstuff positionedproperly,andyouthink thingsaregoingtogoacertainway, andthingsdon’t,”Morrellsaid.“It isimportanttoownthatassoon aspossible.”
Korbansaidinthecaseofthe SewerpumpStationDfailure,which lastedaboutadayandahalf,they werehopingitwouldn’tlastlongand didn’twanttopanicpeople.
“Oneofourconcernsisthecity isgoingthroughamajorevent. There’ssomefloodinghereandthere throughoutthecity.Somepeople arealreadyinthedark,andthenwe don’twanttotackonanotherundue burden,”hesaid
Morrellsaidresidentswerealready stressedout,andtheutilityshould begivingthemasmuchinformation aspossible
“Atthispoint,ifthememohad notbeenreceivedthatwithholding
TwovehiclesonOlive Streetfloodedduring HurricaneFrancine.
PHOTOBYDAVID GRUNFELD / THETIMES-PICAYUNE
informationtolowerourstresslevels somehowwillmakeuslessstressed,I couldsayfromthiscouncilandforthe public,thathasfailedbothtimes,”he said.“Ihavenotseenanyinstance withanyofourutilitiesoranyofour partners,howsharingmoreinformationhurtthem.”
—KayleePoche
NewOrleanschefstakeit alloffforanakedcalendar andagoodcause
PHOTOGRAPHERKATKIMBALLHAS BUILTANICHEINFOOD,working closelywithmanyNewOrleanschefs toshowtheirdishesandthevibeof theirrestaurantsinjusttherightlight. Overthesummer,though,shetook onanewprojectthatshowsmore muchmore
“JigglyBits:theNewOrleansNaked ChefsCalendar”isa2025calendar withportraitsofNewOrleanschefsin theirrestaurants,andallinthebuff SometwodozenNewOrleans chefsbaredallfortheproject,includingsomewithnationalfollowings, locallegendsofthebusinessand up-and-comingtalent.
Kimballsaidthechefsdidn’tneed muchconvincingtotakepart,andone reasonisthecausebehindtheproject Kimballdeveloped“JigglyBits”in collaborationwiththelocalcreative
DanStein,ofStein’sDeli, isoneofthechefsfeatures inJigglyBits,the NewOrleansnaked chefcalendar.
agencyGanzatosupportWeHelp NOLA,anonprofitthatworkswith restaurantsandbarstoprovide theiremployeeswithfreemental healthservices.Theirgoalistoraise $100,000throughcalendarsales
“Whenyouworkcloselywith peopleinthisindustry,youseethe tollittakes,sotohavethatresource andsupportissonecessary,and Iwantedtomakeadifference,” Kimballsaid.“Wehadtodoit.” CONCEALORREVEAL
Thechefsstrippeddownfortheir shoots,thoughthephotosinthe calendardonotshowfullnudity(“it’s tasteful,nobits,”Kimballsaid).
Instead,partoftheplayfulartof theprojectishowKimballandher subjectsmanagetobothconceal andreveal.Thewaystheystaged theshotsandcoveredthecrucial “bits”bringsthechefs’personalities tolife.
AnouttakefromNinaCompton’s portraitsessionshowsthechef beamingwithamischievousgrinand deploysastrategicallyplacedcopper bunnystatue,asymbolfromherfirst restaurant,CompereLapin.
Motoristspassingby TurkeyandTheWolf onedaylastsummer mayhavegottenan eyefulofthebare backsideofMason Herefordgrillinghotdogsoutsideforhis close-up.You’llseea differentangleon thecalendar.
AtStein’sDeli, weseefounderDan Steintakingphone orders,wearing nothingbuthisusual deadpanexpression, evenasbagelsare beingflungthrough theairaroundhim.
“There’sDanStein, drowninginbagels butnakedwiththat sameexpressionhe alwayshas,”Kimball laughedwhile recountingtheshoot Individualchefs holddownsomeof themonthswhileothersaregroupshots, includingcongregationsofpop-up operatorsgatheredfortheproject.
Designelementsdrawinspiration fromvintageplayboymagazinecoversandKimball’sownobsessionwith thecookbooksofbygoneeras(Jell-O figuresprominently,includingonthe cover).Thephotoshereareamixof outtakesandsneakpeeksofwhat’s betweenthepages. presaleordersfor“JigglyBits”are nowopen,atadiscountedpriceof $35,whilecopiesareexpectedtobe onhandatDirtyCoastretaillocations inmid-October.—IanMcNulty
Louisianavoterregistration endssoon.Whattoknow inordertocastyourvote inNovember.
THENOVEMBERELECTIONISQUICKLY APPROACHING,andsoisLouisiana’s deadlinetogetregisteredtovote. Ontheballotthisfallisthe presidentialracebetweenformer presidentDonaldTrumpandVice presidentKamalaHarris,alongwith dozensofotherlocalandstatewide races,includingoneforanopen congressionalseat.
Inordertobeeligibletovoteinan electioninLouisiana,stateresidents mustberegistered30dayspriorto electionDayifregisteringinpersonor bymail,or20dayspriorifregistering
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online.FortheNov.5election,that meansyou’llneedtoberegisteredby Oct.7orOct.15,respectively.
TobeeligibletovoteinLouisiana, youhavetobe18yearsorolder,a U.S.citizenandaresidentoftheparishofwhereyouwillcastyourvote. Thosewhohavebeenconvictedof afelonycannotvotewhileinprison, whileonprobation,orwhileonparole forfiveyearsaftertheirrelease.
TheearlyvotingperiodfortheNov. 5electionwillstartonOct.18
REGISTERINGONLINE Louisianavoterscanregisteronthe SecretaryofState’swebsiteusingan onlineapplication.
residentswillneedtofilloutthe form’squestionsandhavetheir Louisianadriver’slicenseorspecialID handytoverifytheiridentity
REGISTERINGBYMAILORIN-PERSON Louisiananscanregistertovoteat anyregistrarofVotersOfficeorat anyofthelocationsofthefollowing listofagencies:theOfficeofMotor Vehicles,theDepartmentofChildren andFamilyServices,WICoffices, foodstampoffices,Medicaidoffices, officesservingpersonswithdisabilities andArmedForcesrecruitmentoffices
Whenregisteringinperson,potentialvotersneedtoprovetheirage, residencyandidentityusingeithera
currentLouisianadriver’slicense,a passport,abirthcertificate,aspecial IDoranotherdocumentthatproves youridentityandaddress
Startingin2025,peopleregisteringtovoteinLouisianawillneedto presentproofofcitizenshipundera newly-passedlaw,thoughofficials havenotyetdeterminedwhat, exactly,thisproofwillentail.The changewillnotbeineffectaheadof theNovemberelection.
Toregisterbymail,prospective voterswillneedtodownloadand printaformfromtheSecretaryof State’swebsiteandmailittheirlocal registrarofVotersOffice.
Ifyouneedaforminalanguage otherthanenglish,youcanprint outanduseaNationalMailVoter registrationForm,whichisoffered onlinein21differentlanguages. Theregistrar’sofficewillmaila verificationmailingcardtoverifythe addressyouhaveprovidedonyour mail-inform,accordingtotheSOS.
HOWTOCHECKIFYOU’RE ALREADYREGISTERED Louisianavoterscanchecktheir registrationandseetheirvotinglocationusingSOS’sGeauxVotevoter portal,voterportal.sos.la.gov/.To findyourinformation,select“Search byVoter.”—JuliaGuilbeau
FrancesBruton,right,explainsthevoterregistrationformtoRodney Breaux,left,duringaJuneteenthdayofserviceeventatPotBellyNola.
Inmemoryof HenryFriedler OURCOVERSTORYTHISWEEK TELLSTHETRAGICTALEOF HENRYFRIEDLER,ayoungNew Orleanianwholosthislifeto suicidein2020.Ourcoverage includesaninterviewwith Henry’sfather,TrippFriedler, aswellasexcerptsofTripp’s newbook,“TheTunnel.”The bookchroniclesHenry’slong battlewithbipolardisorder andhisfamily’sstruggleto cometotermswithhisdeath.
TheFriedlerfamily’sstory isalltoofamiliarinmodern America.“TheTunnel” presentsanunflinchinglook atthementalhealthcrisis ravagingcommunitieseverywhere,especiallyinmetro NewOrleans.
AccordingtotheNational InstitutesofHealth,anestimated4.4%ofadultsinthe U.S.—morethan11.5million people,basedon2023data —haveatsomepointsuffered frombipolardisorder.rates fordepression,anxietyand otherdebilitatingillnessesare significantlyhigher.
Sadly,mentalhealthcareintheU.S isadisgrace.Longstandingshortagesoftrainedprofessionalstohelp peopleincrisisandresearcherstofind newtreatmentslimitbasiccapacity. Meanwhile,Americansrefusaltoconfrontandopenlydiscussmentalhealth issues,evenwithfamilymembers,has forcedmillionstosuffersilently.Our nationdesperatelyneedstoshedits taboosassociatedwithmentalillness
Theseproblemsareevenworse incommunitiesofcolor,theLGBTQ communityandruralareaswhere basichealthcareisalreadywoefully inadequate.BlackNewOrleanians, forinstance,oftenwaitmonthsbefore seeingamentalhealthcareprofessionalequippedtohelpaddressunique issuesconfrontingtheircommunity. Forsomeoneincrisis,waitingeven afewhourscanbethedifference betweenlifeanddeath.
Toooften,“treatment”fallstolaw enforcementofficerswhoseonly availablerecourseistoputpeoplein crisisinjailforafewdays,wherethey mayormaynotreceivemedication, andthenreleasethembackontothe street.Manyhavenoplacetogonor anysupportnetworktocallon.
Mentalillnessesdon’tdiscriminate. eventhewealthiestamongstus
struggle—andjustasoftenfail—to findtreatmentthatcanprovidemeaningful,long-termsolutions.
Somelocalleaders,likeCityCouncil MemberJoeGiarrusso—wholosthis fathertodepression-relatedsuicide —areworkingtoincreaseaccessto care,butfartoomanypoliticians(and theentireinsuranceindustry)seem contenttoignoreit.
Americansmustdemandchange atthelocal,stateandnationallevels. ratherthanavoidit,wehaveto embracefrankdiscussionsofmentalillnesswithempathy,understandingand adeterminationtochangeoutcomes
Thatkindofdeterminationrequires morethantalk.Asasociety,wemust investinresearchandtreatmentsthat giveallAmericansaccesstothecare theyneed,whenevertheyneedit.
WehighlyrecommendTripp Frielder’sbook.It’sagut-wrenching tale,but,ashenotesinourinterview, weallmust“learntobecomfortable withbeinguncomfortable”ifyoureally wanttohelp
Aboveall,ifyouorsomeoneyou knowisincrisis,wepleadwithyouto callortext988tospeakwithsomeone whocanhelp.
HenryFriedler PROVIDED PHOTO
@GambitBlake|askblake@gambitweekly.com
HeyBlake, WhowasCollins Diboll?Afoundation withhisnamesupportslotsofcharities, andtherearestreets namedforhiminCity ParkandoffRiver RoadnearOchsner. Whatcanyoutellme abouthim?
Dearreader, COLLINSCERREDIBOLLJR. WASBORNINNEWORLEANS in1904.Hisfather,CollinsDiboll Sr.,wasapartnerinoneofthecity’s leadingarchitecturalfirms,Diboll, OwenandGoldstein.Notableprojects includedNotreDameSeminary,the AcademyoftheSacredHeartand theformerNewOrleanspublic Librarymainbranchatwhatistoday HarmonyCircle. Accordingtoabiographyprepared byhisfoundation,CollinsDiboll Jr.studiedarchitectureatTulane University(wherehewasclass president)andgraduatedin1926.He wenttoworkforhisfather’sfirmbut leftduringWorldWarIItoserveasa captainintheU.S.Army
Whenhereturned,herejoinedthe firmwhichdesignedmanyModernist buildingsinthecity,includingparking
BLAKEVIEW garages,manyOchsnermedical facilitiesandtheSharpandMonroe residencehallsonTulane’scampus ThefirmalsodesignedtheWWL-TV studiosonN.rampartStreet,the formerHowardJohnson’sMotorLodge onLoyolaAvenue(nowtheHoliday Inn)andtheformerHolidayInnFrench QuarteronroyalStreet.Dibolllived inapenthouseapartmentabovethat hotelformanyyears.Inlateryears, thearchitecturalfirmaddedthename Kessels,forpartnerJackKesselsand hissonpiet.
Dibolldiedin1987.Heleftthe bulkofhisestatetoformtheCollins C.DibollprivateFoundation.Inthe decadessince,ithasgivenmorethan $13milliontocharities.
TRUMANSTRECKFUSPERSONSWASBORNINNEWORLEANS100YEARSAGO thismonth.TheworldwouldcometoknowhimasTrumanCapote,thescreenwriter,playwrightandauthorof“BreakfastatTiffany’s”and“InColdBlood.”
Capote(lateradoptedbyhismother’ssecondhusband,JoseCapote)wasborn Sept.30,1924inTouroInfirmary.HismiddlenamewasatributetotheStreckfus familywhooperatedtheriverboatsCapitolandpresident(whichoperatedonthe Mississippiriver)andwhoemployedTruman’sfather,Archuluspersons.Atthe timeofTruman’sbirth,hisfatherandmother,LillieMaeFaulk,werelivinginthe HotelMonteleone.
YoungTruman’sparentsdivorcedwhenhewastwo,andhisversionofhis childhoodisbleakandlonely,withhimlaterrecallinghismother’sneglect.Healso recountedbeinglostatMardiGraswhenhewasfiveyearsoldandspendingthe nightatthepolicestation.
Soonafter,CapotewassenttolivewithrelativesinMonroeville,Alabama,where healsometHarperLee,wholaterwrote“ToKillaMockingbird.”
HereturnedtoNewOrleansasaprofessionalwriterinthe1940s,rentingan apartmentonroyalStreet,wherehewrotepartsofhisfirstnovel“OtherVoices, Otherrooms,”whichispartiallysethereandwaspublishedin1948
Laterinhislife,CapotewouldreturntoNewOrleanstovisit.Ina1981interview withpeoplemagazine,hesaid,“IgetseizedbyamoodandIgo.Istayafewweeks, andIreadandwriteandwalkaround.It’slikeahometowntome.”
Duringtheinterview,CapotementionedfavoritespotsincludingSt.Louis Cathedral,theCaribbeanroomatthepontchartrainHotelandtheBourbonStreet clubGungaDen.
mY was sweet boy GONE GONE’ Inhisnewbook‘TheTunnel,’ TrippFriedlerrecountshisson’s fightwithbipolardisorder—and hisfamily’sstruggletohealafter hissuicide.
BY CLANCYDUBOS
PHOTOSPROVIDEDBYTRIPP FRIEDLER
TheauthorandhissonHenry
IN2020, HenryFriedlerdiedbyaself-inflictedgunshot.Hewasjust 27yearsold.Hisdeathculminatedalong,heart-wrenchingbattle withbipolardisorder.
Henry’sparents,HeidiandTrippFriedler,hadspentdecadesdesperatelytryingtogettheirsonthecareheneeded.Theycouldafford thebestcareavailable,butnoamountofmoneycouldchangethe wayoursocietyandourlegalsystemdealwithpeoplebattlingsevere mentalillness.
Aspartofhisgrievingprocess,Trippbeganwritingamemoirthat becameHenry’sstory.Hereachedouttoseveralnationalnonprofits foradviceonhowbesttolettheworldknowjusthowoff-the-rails ournation’smedicalandlegalsystemsarewhenitcomestodealing withmentalillness.Theytoldhimjusttotellthestoryasheknewit
andlivedit.Letitbepersonal,anddon’tholdback. “WhatstartedasHenry’sstorysoonbecameour story,”Trippsays.“Alovestoryofahusbandandwife aswellasafracturedlovestoryofafatherandson.”
Hecallsit“TheTunnel.”
“TheTunnel”isastoryoffrustrationandresilience, ofunconditionalloveandinexplicableheartache,ofa family,amanandamarriage.
“It’sastoryabouttakingthatgaspofairattheend ofatunnel,”Trippsays.“Adeep,affirmingbreath thatsays,‘Youarealive.Youmadeitthroughyour owndarktunnel,andyouwillfindhappinessonthe otherside.’”
Friedlerself-publishedthebookandisdonatingall proceedstomentalhealthcharitiesinHenry’smemory.Intheinterviewandexcerptsbelow,heopensa windowintohisson’sandhisfamily’sstruggles.
CLANCYDUBOS: Thetitleofyour memoirhasalotofsignificancetoyour
son’sbattleagainstbipolardisorder. Howdidyoucomeuponthatmetaphor?
TRIPPFRIEDLER: Igrewuptakingfamily vacationstoDestin,andasIchildIwastoldthatifI couldholdmybreathintheMobileTunnel,Iwouldget awish,likeblowingoutcandlesonabirthdaycake. OncewerealizedthatHenrywassick,Iwouldholdmy breatheverytimewewentthroughtheMobileTunnel andwishthatHenrywouldgetbetter.Itbecamethe perfectmetaphorfortellingHenry’sstory.Ultimately, werealizedthathistunnel,thetunnelofhisillness, wasjusttoolong.Histunnelwashisillness,andthere wasnolightattheendofit
CD: Thisisaverypersonalstory,and yourevealalotofthingsthateven someofyourclosestfriendsdidn’t knowaboutHenry’sstruggleaswellas
yourownbattles.Howdifficultwasthat foryou—andforyourwifeHeidiand yourdaughters?
TF: HeidiandmydaughterswereeagertoseeHenry’sstoryoutthere,butnotsoeagerforthewindowit openedintoourfamily.Theproblemisyoucan’topen awindowandonlyletsomeofthelightin,especially wheneveryoneisintheroom.Forme,writingHenry’s storywascathartic.Thiswasmywayofmakingsense of,orgivingreasonto,somethingthatmakesnosense andisearthshattering.Thiswasnotthepathmyfamilywouldhavechosen,buttheyweresupportiveofthe paththatIchose.AndtheywantHenry’sstorytobe told.Thisisourfamily’swayofputtingHenryintothe worldsothathe’snotforgotten.
CD: Youpullnopunchesonyourself andyour ownlimited notionsas
Fromleft:Tripp,Kate,Henry,Patti andHeidiFriedler
aparent.Whathaswritingthis memoirtaughtyou,andhowhasit changedyou?
TF: Thatprocessbeganwellbeforewritingthe memoir.Iwentbacktoschooltogetamaster’sin counselingaround2000.Ididitslowly.Ifinishedall mycourseworkbutdidn’tgetmypracticumdonebecauseofKatrina.However,IdiddiveintoDr.Murray Bowen’sfamilysystemstheory,whichexplainshow thedynamicsoffamilyrelationshipsshapeus.That wasthebeginningofmyprocessofexploringwhat ourfamilysystemdidtoHenryandtome.Writingthis bookwasallaboutunderstandingHenry,butabigside benefitwasgainingabetterunderstandingofmyself Also,youcan’tlietoyourselfifyouwanttotellan honeststory.Beinghonestwithyourselfisthefirst step.Ifyou’rehonestwithyourself,it’seasiertoputit outthereintheworld.Thatpartwasliberatingforme. Plus,ifyou’renothonest,peoplewillknowit.
CD: Youalsopullnopunchesabout howoursocietyandourlegalsystem dealwithpeoplefightingmental illness.Whatdoyouhopeyourstory willchange?
TF: Alot.First,thisnotionthatonceachildhits18a parenthasnorightstobepartoftheirhealthcaredecisions—thatisterriblywrong.Second,Iunderstand thatsystemscanbeabused,butthevastmajorityof
parentswhofindthemselvesinthissituation wanttobepartofthesolution,butthelaws don’tallowit.I’dliketoseethatchange.And third,thewaywecriminalizementalhealthisso wrong.It’sbadforpolice,badforpatients,bad forlovedones.Therearenowinnersinthat.We justthrowitonthepoliceandthepenalsystem. That’swrong.
CD: Youpublishedthisbookyourself,andyou’redonatingallproceedstolocalandnationalmental illnessnonprofits.Havethoseorganizationscommentedonhowyou havetoldHenry’sstory?
TF: Yes.Infact,Ihopethethreebooksignings I’mdoinginNewOrleanswillhelphighlightthree mentalhealthorganizationsinourarea.Oneis JewishFamilyServices’suicidehotline.Another isthelocalbranchofNAMI—theNationalAssociation[on]MentalIllness.ThethirdisTulane’s EPICprogram—EarlyPsychosisIntervention Clinic,whoseadvocacygroupiscalledCALM NOLA,whichstandsforClearAnswersto LouisianaMentalHealth.They’vegivenme wonderfulfeedback.
CD: Whatadvicedoyouhavefor familieswhohavelovedoneswith seriousmentalillnesses?
TF: Findacommunity.Don’tfeelanyshame. Mentalillnessisnodifferentfromanyother disease.Shameshouldnotbepartofyour decision-makingmatrix,sotakeitoutofthe equation.It’sadiseaselikeanyotherdisease, onlyitattacksthebraininaveryinsidiousway. Findsimilarlysituatedpeoplehoweveryoucan, becauseitdoestakeavillage.It’saslog,and you’renotgonnamakeitalone.It’ssometimes difficulttofindthatcommunity,butitexists Keepaskingandkeeplookingforit.Hopealone isnotagoodplanfordealingwithmentalillness.
CD: Whatadvicedoyouhavefor peoplewhodon’tknowhowto consoleorhelpfriendswhohave eitherlostlovedonestosuicideor whoselovedonesaredealingwith mentalillness?
TF: Therearenowordstomakesomeonefeel better.Whatpeoplewhoareexperiencingtragedywantisjusttobecaredfor.Theyjustwantto knowthatyou’rethereforthem.Iftheywanna cry,let‘emcry.Iftheywantahug,hug‘em.And iftheyjustwantyoutosittherewiththemand bequiet,thendothat.Don’ttrytofixanything, becauseit’sunfixable Aboveall,don’tleavethemalone.It’s hard,becausesometimestheymaypushyou away.Don’tbediscouraged.Youhavetolearnto becomfortablewithbeinguncomfortableifyou reallywannahelp.Andfrankly,that’sthebigger lessonthatAmericansocietyneedstolearn aboutdealingwithmentalillness:Weallneedto getcomfortablewithbeinguncomfortable.
Excerpts from ‘The Tunnel’ by Tripp Friedler
MARCH 2014: 'Dad, I’m scared.' IWILLNEVERFORGET thenight HenrycalledfromtheMississippiRiver Bridge.Hewastwentyyearsold,and hewascrying.ItwasaSaturdayeveninginNewOrleansaround6:30p.m. onMarch15,2014.Iwasgettingready togotoabusinessdinner.Mywife, Heidi,wasnexttomeinthebedroom.
“Dad,”hesaidinasmallvoicewhenI answeredhiscall,“I’mscared.”
“Whereareyou,Henry?”Ireplied, rattledbyhistone.
“I’mparkedonthesideoftheMississippiRiver Bridge.Igotoutofmycarandlookedover.Iwas goingtojump.Ijustcouldn’tdoit.Igotbackinthe car.Idon’twanttodie.”Hisvoicewasshaking.
“You’reinthecarnow?”Iasked,equallyshaken. AllIcouldthinkaboutwasthatenormousbridge andmylittleboyonit,lookingoveritsedge.That sweetkidandhishugesmile.Theten-year-old Henry,runningaroundouryardwithoutacarein theworld.Notmytroubledtwenty-year-old,two hundredfeetaboveadarkandmurkyriver.Cars flyingpast.Allthesethoughtsandmoreraced throughmelikeanelectricjolt.
“Yeah.I’mscared.Iwanttocomehome,”Henry said,hisvoicealmostawhisper.“Itookabunchof KlonopinandthoughtIwouldjump,but,whenI gottothetopandlookedover,Icouldn’tdoit.”
WehadinstalledatrackeronHenry’sphoneafew monthsearlier,whenhisdepressionhadworsened.Icheckedthemaponmyphone,hopingthat hewasn’tonthebridge.Hopingsomehowthat thiswasjustsomeweirdgamehewasplaying.It wasn’t.Isawtheflashingbluedotinthemiddleof thebridge,asitblinkedoverthewater,acruelreminderthatthiswasnogame.AllIcouldhearwas thesoundofmyhearttryingtoescapemychest “Startthecarandcomehome,”Ibeggedhim. “I’mgoingtostaywithyouuntilyougethome.”
“I’mfacingawayfromhome,”hesaid,hisvoice soundingalittlelesspanicked.
“Driveoverthebridge,getoffattheMcArthur exit,andmakeaturntocomehome,”Isaid
likeahumanMapQuest,exceptthatmy voicewasnotsweetandcalm.“Haveyou startedmoving?”
“Yeah,I’macrossthebridgenowandmakingthe turntocomeback,”herepliedsoftly.
ButIwasstillwithhimonthatbridge.Andall Icouldseewasmyson,alone,scared,staring twentystoriesdown,thinkingaboutendinghislife Wouldhehavepanickedifapolicemanorsome passerbyhadseenhiscarparkedinthemiddle ofthebridge?Thingscouldhaveturnedoutvery differently.Instead,Iwastellinghimtogetoffon Tchoupitoulas.Tostayonituntilhegothome. Whiletheeasiestroutehome,theironywasnot lostonme:Tchoupitoulasrunsalongthevery riverhehadalmostjumpedinto.Insteadof floatingdownriver,hewasnowtravelingupriver, towardhome
AlthoughIknewexactlywherehewasbecause ofmytracker,Iwouldstillaskjusttohearhisvoice. Ineededtoknowhewasstillwithme.Otherthan answeringmyquestionsastohislocation,hewas silent.Itwasafifteen-minuteridehomebutfelt alotlonger.Iheardthecarpullintothedriveway, andHeidiandIwentdownstairstothedoor,our livesupendedyetagain
Henrywasagood-lookingkid.Hewasjust undersixfeettall,withlongandthickchestnut brownhair,handsomebrowneyes,andanathletic buildwithwideshoulders.Yet,whenhewalked throughthedoorthatSaturdayevening,hewas different.Hewaswearinganoldt-shirtandbaggy
shorts,bothofwhichlookedtwosizestoobigon him.Hiseyeswereredandbloodshot.Hishair wasuncombedandunkempt,shootingoutinall differentdirectionsasiftryingtocomeoffhishead. Hecamestraightuptomeandhuggedme,thenhis mom,cryingandshaking.Thenhesaidhewanted togouptohisroomtosleep.HeaskedifIwould comewithhim.ItoldhimIwould.SeeingHeidi’s expression,Iknewweneededtotalk.ItoldHenry Iwouldberightup.Ashetrudgedupthestairs, Heidi’seyesfollowedhim,thenlookedbackatme. Shehadthousandsofquestions.Ihadnoanswers. IhadabrokenHenrywaitingformeinhisroom. IknewHeidiandIneededtotalk,butweboth agreedHenrycamefirst.Shewenttoourbedroom towait.Iimaginedhowconfusedshefeltandhow harditwastoletmegotendtoHenry.Shewashis mother,andtheyhadacloserelationship.Those thirtyminuteswhenIwaswithHenryinhisroom musthavefeltlikedays.Butsheletmego,atribute toherpatience,hertrustinme,andherlovefor herson.
WhenIcameintoHenry’sroom,thelightswere off.Henrywasfullydressedandunderthecovers Itookoffmyshoesandcrawledinbedwithhim whereIheldhimtightly.Ihadneverimaginedthat hewouldattemptsuicide.Thiswasawholenew setofcircumstances,andIhadtroubleprocessing it.IjustheldHenry,asifthatalonecouldprotect himfromaworldthatwasoverwhelminghim.And IheldhimbecauseIneededit.Ineededthatold connection.IneededtoholdhimlikeIhadwhen hewasachild.Ineededtolovehimwithallmy soul,thinkingthatmighttakeawayhispain.We didn’ttalk.Welaidthereinsilenceintertwinedlike thebranchesofatree.Afterabouttenminutes, Henry’sbreathbecameshallower,andhedrifted offtosleep.AsIlookedatHenry,atpeaceand asleep,Ifeltsmallandinsignificant.Seeinghimso peacefulonlymadehispainhardertobear.Iwas wideawake.Mysonhadalmostdied.Abarrier andmomentsawayfromjumpingintoacoldand muddyriver.WhyhadInotnoticedthepainhewas in?HowcouldIbesodense?HowwasIgoingtofix thisone?WhataboutHeidi?Aloneinourbedroom, worriedsickaboutherbabyboy.Ihadnoanswers Iwasinwayovermyhead.
Afterabouttenminutes,Imovedhisheadgently frommyarmandquietlygotup.IknewHeidi andabatteryofquestionsawaitedme.Ileft Henry’sroom,closingthedoorquietlysoasnotto wakehim,andheadedtoourbedroomtotalkto Heidi,wonderingwhatIwouldsaytoher.What couldIsay?Howdoyoutellyourwifeshealmost lostherson?
APRIL 2016: Whole Foods THENEXTFEWWEEKSWEREBAD.Henry quitshoweringandworethesameclothesfordays onend.Hesmelledbadandwouldn’tlookyouin theeye.Wewouldlaterunderstandthesesigns asthebeginningofamanicphase.Overthenext week,hismaniamorphedintopsychosis.Hehad nocar,sohewouldwalkeverywhere.Itwasthe
middleofApril2016,andthetemperaturewas overninetydegrees—atypicalhot,humiddayin NewOrleans—yetHenrywaswearingsweatpants andasweatshirt.Hishairwaslongandunkempt, andhehadascragglybeard.IwasonMagazine Street,grabbingsomelunchnearmyoffice,when Ispottedhimacrossthestreet.Hedidn’tseeme, soIfollowed,hangingbackliketheCIAagentsyou seeinthemovies.Helookedlikeanynondescript homelessguyonthestreet,andIalmostwouldn’t haverecognizedhim.Excepthewasmyson. ItwasaconfusingtimeforHeidiandme.Ourson wasdrowning,andwefelthelpless.Wewerestuck betweenabunchofbadchoices.AsHenryhad continuedtogetworse,wetriedtopersuadehim togethelp,toseeapsychiatrist,butherefused, saying,“I’mnotsick,youare.”Sincehewasover eighteen,wehadnosayinthematter.American healthcarelawsaresoprotectiveofthepatient,it leaveslittleroomforsituationssuchasours.His doctorwouldn’thavebeenallowedtotalktous evenifhehadone.Whichhedidn’t Wewereunsureofwhattodo,notleastbecause Henrywasyettobediagnosed.Iwasstillunwilling toaccepttheonethatkeptpresentingitselfto us:bipolardisorder.Heidisuspecteditandbegan readinganythingandeverything,tirelessinher abilitytoresearchthedisease.Shewenttoclasses heldbytheNationalAssociationofMentalIllness (NAMI).Shebeggedmetoreadthebooksshe ordered,butIrefused.Inmymind,Henrywas notbipolar.Andevenifhewas,howcouldbooks help?IwasSuperman,afterall.Icouldfixthis.ButI wasn’t,andIcouldn’t.
In2000,whenIwasforty,Idecidedtogeta master’sincounselingfromLoyolaUniversityin NewOrleans.Aspartofthecurriculum,theygave usathickbookcalledtheDSM.TheDSMstandsfor DiagnosticandStatisticalManualofMentalDisorders.Itisareferenceguideforeveryconceivable formofmentalillness.Inevergotmymasters,but Istillhadmytextbook.IpulledoutmyDSMand readthroughvariousdiagnoses.Henrycertainly fitthedefinitionofbipolartoaT.Depression, check.Boutsofmania,check.Maniamorphinginto psychosis,check.Itwasimpossibleformetokeep myheadinthesandanylonger ItrailedHenrydownMagazineStreetashe ambledalong.Hewassmilingandsingingloudly,
oblivioustothescenehewascreating.Ashe reachedthecornerofMagazineandJoseph,he wanderedintotheWholeFoods.TheWholeFoods inUptownNewOrleansisimpressive.It’sanold, convertedbusbarnwithenormousglasswindows inthefront,allowingthestoretobefloodedwith light.ThroughthesewindowsIwatchedtheshow thatwasonfulldisplayinside.ItwasasifIwas watchingtelevision.
Orahorrormovie.Henrymarchedupanddown theaisles,talkingtoanybodyandnobody.Ashe wandereddeeperintothestore,Ilostsightofhim onlytoseehimreappearinadifferentaisle.Icould seehismouthmoving,oftenaimedatthefoodalong theshelves.Occasionally,apersonwouldgetclose enoughtogethisattention.WhileIcouldn’thear him,Iknewwhathewassaying.Ihadheardplenty ofit—endlessrantsaboutgovernmentoverreach andtheillsofbigbusiness—andnoneofitmadea tonofsense.
Fedbyhisrecentconversiontoveganism,inanattempttoregainhisfootingwithouttheuseofdrugs, Henryalwaysfeltsafe—unjudged—inaWhole Foods.Asifthewholenessofthefoodtransferred tothestoreitself.Akindoftempleofthesoul.But onthisparticulardayandinthisparticularstore,he wasindeedbeingjudged.Andtheverdictwasnot good.Theyaskedhimtoleave.Askbeinganiceway ofsayingthesecurityguardescortedhimout.Heleft peacefully,amazedthatnoonehadbeeninterested inhisdiatribe,likeasmallchildunsureofwhathe haddonewrongbutcertainthathewasnolonger wanted—arecurringmotifinhislife.
Lately,mypresenceseemedtosethimoff,soI avoidedbeingseen.WatchingHenrybeingescorted out,unabletohelp,hurtmetomycore.Hisnaïveté atwhathehaddonewrongmadeitevenmorepainful.Agrownman,actinglikeachild,beingtreated asaproblem.Iwantedtoexplaintotheguardthat hewasagoodkidhavingabadtime.Thatnoneof thiswashisfault.Thathewassick.Butinstead,Ijust watchedasHenryleftthestore,hisheadbowed. Iimaginedwhathemusthavebeenfeeling.How harshtheworldmustseem.Ifollowedhimfora distance,curiouswhathewoulddonext.Hoping thatnothingbadwouldhappen.
Andsoon,hisheadpoppedupandhissmile returned.Thewondersofamanicmoment.
THANKSGIVING 2020: TheMobileTunnel ITISAFOUR-AND-A-HALF-HOUR DRIVEfromNewOrleanstoSantaRosaBeach, Florida,andthemidwaypointisthetunnelin Mobile,Alabama.
Growingupwewerealwaystaughtthatifyouhold yourbreathasyougothroughatunnel,youcan makeawish,anditwillcometrue.Sometunnelsare justtoodamnlong.Sometunnelsaretooshort,and itseemslikeyou’recheatingtogetawishsoeasily granted.ButthattunnelinMobileisjustright.It’s hardtodowithnotraffic.Downrightimpossiblewith traffic.Atrafficjam,don’teventry. Usuallyyoucanmakeit,thoughattheendyouare prayingforthecarstogofaster,unsurehowmuch longeryoucanholdyourbreath.Thesoundofa longbreathoutassoonasyourwindshieldtouches
skyisloud.Anditfeelssogood.Iloveallmykids, butImustconfessthatforthelasttenyears,asIgo throughvarioustunnels,Ihavehadthesamewish aboutonlyoneofthem:ahealthyandhappyHenry.
DECEMBER 2020: HouseCall IHADBEENUPSTAIRSforaboutfifteen minuteswhenKatecameuptotellmethepolice wereonthefrontporch.AsIwalkeddownthestairs, myfirstthoughtwasthatHenryhadbeenarrested again.Howniceofthemtomakeahousecall. Yet,inthebackofmymind,ofcourse,Iknewthat copsdidn’tmakehousecallstotellyouyourson hasbeenarrested.Igottothefrontdoortoseetwo plainclothespoliceofficersdressedinblackpants andblackpoloshirtsstandingthere.Onewasat thedoor,andtheotherwasacoupleofstepsback, lookingdownasiftoavoidanyeyecontact.They didn’thavetosayanything.Iknew.Ijustknewthat mydearHenry,mysweetboy,wasgone “Mr.Friedler,I’msorrytosaythis.Henry Friedlerwasfounddeceasedinhiscarat11:30 thismorning.”
OneYearLater THATFIRSTTHANKSGIVINGafterHenry’s deathwastough.Myfavoriteholidaywas
quicklyturningintomyleastfavorite.Ican’t envisionaThanksgivingwhenHenrywillnotbe myfirstthought.
Ihaveaclientwhohasafamilyretreatonthe WednesdaybeforeThanksgivinginSeaIsland, Georgia,andIwantedtobeatthatmeeting.Heidi agreedtohaveThanksgivinginFloridatoaccommodateme.It’sonlyasix-hourdrivetoSeaIslandfrom SantaRosaBeach,andIdidn’twanttodealwith airportsontheWednesdaybeforeThanksgiving So,IdrovealonetoFloridatheFridaybefore, givingmeafewdaysatthebeachbeforemydriveto SeaIsland.
AsIapproachedtheMobiletunnel,mythoughts turnedtoHenry,astheydoeverytimeIgothrougha tunnel.Thiswouldbemyfirsttimedrivingthroughit sinceHenry’sdeath.Mywishwouldhavetochange. Iheldmybreathunabletocomeupwithanother one.Whatelsemattered?Mysonwasdead,andI feltIhadnothinglefttowishfor.Yet,Icontinuedto holdmybreathoutofrespectforHenry. Therewastraffic,anditwashard.Ineededto breathebutrefusedtoquit.DoitforHenry,Ikept saying.WhenIreachedtheend,Iexhaledloudly, suckinginbreathsliketheywerevaluable.
AtthatmomentIrealizedthatHenry’stunnelhad beentoolongforhim.Hehadn’tbeenabletomake it.Idrovetherestofthewaywithwateryeyes,feelingguiltythatmywisheshadnotworked.
HenrywithhiscousinBeck
EAT+DRINK SouthernSeoulfood CHEFADOLFO“FITO”GARCIAAND HISFIANCÉESOPHIAPETROUjust openedChiChi’sChicken&Beerat 4147FreretSt.,andKorean-style double-friedchickenisattheheartof themenu.
“FriedchickenisSouthern;itstarted intheAmericanSouth,”saysGarcia, 31,theonlysonofhiswell-known, namesakecheffather.“Duringthe KoreanWar,guysfromtheSouth broughttheideaoffryingchicken toKorea,whereitwasadaptedwith localflavorsandingredients.”
ChiChi’sservesboththeKorean friedchickenthighsandwich,dressed withslawonatoastedpotatoroll,and aSouthernfriedchickensandwich sportingaLouisianaspiceruband dressedwithbuttermilkranch,lettuce andpickles
Garciacameupwashingdishes andpolishingsilverwareinhisdad’s WarehouseDistrictrestaurantsrio MarandLaBoca.TheelderGarcia, whoseparentsarefrompanama, grewupinNewOrleansandopened AManoandHighHatCafe.
“Mydadtaughtmetoworkhard,to haveastrongworkethic,”FitoGarcia says.“Iremembersettingsmalltiles onthebaratrioMar,becausewedid thingsourselves.Wedidn’thavethe moneytohirepeoplebackthen.I learnedfromthat.”
Likehisdad,hewenttotheCulinary InstituteofAmericainHydepark, NewYork.Hethenspent10years workinginrestaurantsinpanama, parisandManhattan,includingDavid Chang’sMomofuku.
“IwantedtogobeyondNew Orleans,”hesays.
Althoughhedidworkinahigh-end Koreanrestaurant,itwasNewYork’s latenighteatingculturethatinspired ChiChi’sChicken&Beer.
InKorea,popularstreetfoodcafes arecalledchimaek,whichcombines thewordsforfriedchickenandbeer. It’saconceptthatalsodefinesthe NewYorkCitylatenightdiningscene
SophiaPetrouand Adolfo“Fito”Garciaopened ChiChi’sChicken&Beer. PHOTOBYCHERYLGERBER/ GAMBIT
fromNewOrleans,itwasastaple thateverybodyloved,kindoflike ourcrawfishboils.Yes,it’saboutthe crawfish,butit’saboutgettingpeople togetherforagreattime.That’swhat chimaekis.”
FORK +CENTER Emaildining@gambitweekly.com
metandwillwed inJanuary.The responsetothe eventhelped themdecideto comehome
Theyfound theFreretStreet spacethatformerlywashome toWindowsill piesandthought itwouldbe perfectforthe Koreanfried chickenidea. Theyopened onSept.7 petrouhandles thefrontof thehouseand Garciaruns thekitchen
Thecompact menuincludes marinated wings,swabbed witheithersoy andgarlicor spicygochujang fermentedred chilipaste,ora comboofboth.
Anotherfavoritesnackthecouple addedtothemenuareonigirazu AversionofJapaneseonigiririce balls,thesesushi“sandwiches”are noriseaweedwrappedaroundrice withfillingssuchasspicytunawith cucumber,salmon-jalapeno,a seasonalvegetarianversionand Koreanfriedchicken.
Makingheadlines HUNGRYEYESISADELICIOUSNEW
ORLEANSRESTAURANTthatmayalso beoneofthecity’sfunniest.The‘80s themerunningthroughthedesignand décorisasflagrantasapuffy-shouldered promdress,parachutepantsandaperm. Asenseofhumorfortheretrovibeisas integraltotheplaceasitsmartinis.
Nowithaspickedupanationalaccolade,namedtotheannuallistof20best newrestaurantsfromBonAppetit. Hungryeyeswasopenedlastyearat 4206MagazineSt.byMasonHereford andLaurenAgudo,foundersofthemodernsandwichshopTurkeyandtheWolf, joinedbypartnerphilCenac,whowas previouslychefatTurkeyandtheWolf Inpractice,itsplitsthedifference betweenrestaurantandbar,witha menudesignedforcasualoutingswhere “justdrinks”feelasrightasfullmeals Theroomisdecoratedinthemovie setdetailofaJohnHughesfilm,with neonfixtures,apastelcolorpaletteand vintagefinds.
MasonHereford,LaurenAgudoandchef PhilCenacarepartnersinHungryEyes.
“It’sabouteatingspicychicken, butit’salsoasocialthing,”Garcia says.“Wheneverwehadfriendsvisit
ThecouplelovedNewYork’seast Village,andtheywerelearningalot. petrouworkedinthefrontofthe houseforhermentor,ArielArce,at NicheNichewinebarandroscioli,the Italianconcept.petroualsogrewupin thebusiness,workingatherfamily’s russell’sMarinaGrillinWestend Garcia’sgoalwastoopenawoodfiredSpanishrestaurantinNew Orleans,andhetrieditoutinapop-up attheColumns,wherethecouple
Atthebar,thereiswine,canned beerandAsahiorSkaterAidondraft, includingin100-ouncechilledbeer towers.Soju,aKoreanspiritsimilarto sake,ispouredsoloandincocktails.
Thecouple’sartistfriendshelped decorateanddesignthefunky, 30-seatspace.Theyalsohadplenty ofprofessionalguidance,including fromGarcia’sdad.
“everybodyfeelsliketheyarea partofthis,”petrousays.“That’svery NewOrleans.” ChiChi’sbringsKorean-stylefriedchickenandmoretoFreretStreet
ThefoodatHungryeyesismuch moremodern.Disheslikeartichoke hearts“onthehalfshell,”grilled pastramiskewers,calamaricurry andcrudoaremainstaysofCenac’s ever-changingmenu.
BonAppetithashaditseyeon Herefordandhisteam’sworkfromthe start.ItseditorsnamedTurkeyandthe WolfitstopnewrestaurantinAmerica in2017.Manyweresurprisedthatsuch acasualconceptwouldgetthatbilling. ThesameteamopenedtheirbreakfastrestaurantMolly’sriseandShine nearbyonMagazineStreetin2018. Theirlatest,a“meat-and-three” (platelunch)restaurantcalledHot Stuff,openedonMapleStreetearlier thisyear.
PHOTOBYIAN MCNULTY /THE TIMES-PICAYUNE
Lastyear,theFrenchQuarterbistro MaMou(942N.rampartSt.)and DakarNOLA(3814MagazineSt.), theUptownrestaurantformodern Senegalesecuisine,madethebestnew restaurantslistfromBonAppétit.—Ian McNulty/TheTimes-Picayune
BurgersbackinLakeview BrunchatMother’s THEREDBIRDFRIEDCHICKENLOCATION AT911HARRISONAVE.HASCLOSED. TakingitsplacewillbeDesiVega’s primeBurgers&Shakes,asecond locationforthatHarahanrestaurant (640HickoryAve.).It’sslatedtoopen inearlyOctober.
“We’rereallyexcitedaboutthelocation,”sayspartnerandnamesakeDesi Vega,bestknownforhisDesiVega’s Steakhouselocationsaroundthearea. “We’vebeenlookingtoexpand,and thisisideal.”
Thespaceisafamiliarlocationfor burgeroutingstoo.For25years,the addresswashometoLakeviewHarbor, afamily-friendlytavernknownforits burgers.Afterlosingitsleasein2018, LakeviewHarborrelocatedtotheWest says,withfulltableserviceandan emphasisonthelargebaralreadyin placefrompreviousconceptshere. Itwillservesomespecialtydrinks fromhissteakhousemenus,andsome dishesfromthosemoreupscalemenus. redBirdisanewbrand,founded in2023,andit’sgrowing.redBird’s originallocationisinCovington (70437Hwy.21),andwasdeveloped bythebrothersBlakeandBrandon BennettandtheircousinJayMorris. TheLakeviewlocationfollowedafew monthslater,andthisyearredBird hasexpandedinGretna(145Lapalco Blvd.)andDenhamSprings(2660Sac auLaitLane).
RedBirdhasclosed itsLakeviewlocation.
BY IANMCNULTY / THETIMES-PICAYUNE
endat8550pontchartrainBlvd.Last summer,LakeviewHarboropeneda secondlocationat8201OakSt.,butit closedduringthesummer. BeforeredBird,itwasarestaurant calledThreeB’sBurger&WineBar.The ownersofthatrestaurantlatercreated redBirdandlastyearturnedThreeB’s intoanotherredBirdlocation. VegasaystheLakeviewlocationof DesiVega’sprimeBurgers&Shakes willevolvetheconcept,withan expandedmenuandaddedfeatures Itwillbemorethanaburgerjoint,he
ThetwonewerredBirdoutpostsare smallerandhavedrive-thruwindows. That’sprovenabetterformulafor expansion,saysBrandonBennett,so theydecidedtocloseLakeviewandlook forfuturelocationsthatfittheirmodel. “Weweretryingtofitaroundpegin asquarehole,”Bennettsays.“Butit’sa greatlocation.Ithink(DesiVega’s)will begreatthere.”—IanMcNulty/The Times-Picayune
Tappedout BEFOREBREWERYTAPROOMSPROLIFERATEDANEWacrossthelocal beerdrinkinglandscape,brewpubs combiningfull-servicerestaurants andin-housebrewerieswereallthe rage.Soitwasasignificantaddition forbeerloversin2004whenthe nationalchainGordonBierschopened inNewOrleans.
InAugust,however,thelocaloutpostofthebrewpubquietlyclosed, endinga20-yearrunamidother closuresoftheGordonBierschbrand aroundthecountry
Thebrewpub,at200poydrasSt., isinaprominentlocationfrontingthe FultonStreetpedestrianmall.The propertyisrunbyCaesarsCasino(asit takesovertheformerHarrah’s).
ACaesarsspokesmansaysthere’s nowordyetonwhatcouldcomenext inthespace,butaddedthecompanyis indiscussionwithsomeofitsnational partnersaboutit.
TheGordonBierschbrandwasborn inthe1990swhenthebrewpubmodel washot.ItbroughtarangeofGermanstylebrewsinafamily-friendlysetting toacitywherecraftbrewingwasonly juststartingitsrevival.
GordonBierschhad25locations nationwidewhenitopenedinNew Orleans,butinmorerecentyearsthe brewpubshavebeenclosing.Today therearejustthreestand-alone locationsleft,inadditiontoanumber inairportconcourses.—IanMcNulty/ TheTimesPicayune
Melissa Martin Chef byWillCoviello
CHEFMELISSAMARTINGOTAGREAT
RESPONSETOHERFIRSTCOOKBOOK, “MosquitoSupperClub:Cajunrecipes fromaDisappearingBayou,”which referencesherrestaurantbutfocuses ontheCajunfoodwaysofherlifegrowingupinSouthLouisiana.Thebook wonaJamesBeardFoundationaward, aswellastwoIACp(International AssociationofCulinaryprofessionals) awards,includingbestAmerican cookbook.Nowshe’sreleasingher follow-up,“Bayou:FeastingThrough theSeasonsofaCajunLife.”Shehasa booklauncheventat6p.m.Thursday, Sept.26,atGardenDistrictBook Shop.Formoreinformationabout Martin,visitmosquitosupperclub.com
Whatdidyouwanttodo withthenewcookbook?
MELISSAMARTIN: IknewIwanted todoanotherbook.Iwasn’tsurewhich directionitwouldgo.Ifelttherewas alotofstuffIcouldn’tputinthefirst book,likeafeelingIwantedtoinvoke. Atfirst,Iwantedtodoamenubook becauseIspendallmytimeasachef makingmenus.ButthenIsettledon themesthatrunthroughouttheyear, fromJanuarytoDecember.Thefirst chapteris“Abundance,”andthat actuallystartsontheepiphany.We havethisreallyabundantMardiGras season.FromtherewemovetoLent, whichisaseasonofsimplicity.Thenwe getintosummertime.Ihaveachapter called“Warmth.”Thenwegetintotraditions,whichisthetimeofyearwe’re atrightnow.Thenfortheholidays,the themeislove.Andthatbringsyouback aroundtoJanuary.Iwantedtoevoke thefeelingofwhatitislikeformetogo throughayearinSouthLouisiana.
Thebookisdoubletested,soit’s testedbytwodifferentrecipetesters whohelpedmedevelopit.Wewanted tomakeituser-friendly.Wewantto makeitashome-cook-friendly aspossible.
Whattypeofrecipes didyouinclude?
M: Therearealotoftraditionalthings. Wehaverecipesformoregumbosand jambalayaandthingslikethat
Thereisarecipeforboudin.Wetell themtogetthecasingandsprayitout withthehose.Wealsogivethemthe
optiontomakeboudinpattiesorboudinballsiftheywant.Wemadeboudin growingupinmymom’skitchen.That onewaseasy.Wealsohaveasausage recipe.Wehaverecipesthatweknow somepeoplewon’ttry.Butwewanted tohaveabasicrecipethatpeople canworkwithiftheywanttotryit, andtheycanmaketheirownsmoked sausageorgumbo.
Youcanfindnontraditionalstuffthat usestheingredientsthatIhadgrowing upinSouthLouisiana.Theyjust evolvedintomoremoderntakes Ihaveshrimpandwatermelonsalad. Wealwaysateshrimp.Wealwaysate watermelon.Wejustdidn’tcombine themtogether.IcookedinNapa, andwemadeasaladwithtunaand watermelon.Ithadthisdeliciouschililimevinaigrettewhichremindedme ofVietnamesefood.Soit’smytakeon thesaladIlearnedinCalifornia Thebookfollowsmyevolutionasa chef.Inthefirstbook,Ikeptitastraditionalaspossible.Withthenewbook, it’salittlemorepersonalformeasa chef.Itsays,hey,thisistheevolutionof whereIhavebeenandwhatIlearned Here’ssometraditionalstuffandsome stuffthatIwouldnotcallCajun.
Whataresomeofthe recipeslinkingCajunfood andculture?
M: Iincludedafriedturkey.Iwas tryingtoexplainthatallthesemen
whonevercooked adayintheirlifein thekitchenwere standingarounda vatofboilingoil, drinkingabeerand tryingtofigureout howtofrythisturkey withuskidsanddogs runningaround.I don’tknowhowwe stillhavelimbs. WehadafriedturkeyeveryNewYear’s eve.Wewouldgoto mycousin’shouse, andshewoulddoa hugefireworkdisplay, andtherewouldbe allthisfoodfrom Chineserestaurants thatboughtshrimp fromthem.And therewouldbeallthis Cajunfood,andfried turkeywouldalways beonthemenu. Italkabouta boucheriefromthe standpointofmy father’sstories.Hegrewupnexttohis uncle’smeatmarket.Mydadusedto goonthemeatdeliverieswithhimin Cocodrie.They’ddelivermeattopeople’sdoors.Boucherieswereareally bigeventforhim.
Ihavebeentoboucheriesasan adult,butformetogettothegritofit, therealstuff,it’salwaysthisnostalgia.It’sthroughmyparents’eyes, becauseCajunlifehasevolvedso drastically.ThisisbeforetheoilindustryhadtakenoverSouthLouisiana. Theyrememberwhenoilrigsstarted appearinginCocodrie,wheretheyare from.Ialwaysminedforstoriesfrom mymother.
Theytellthesestoriesaboutboiling seafood.They’dgetthesestainless steeltubsandmakeafireunderit.You neverseesomeonemakeafirefora seafoodboil.They’lltakemetoagrove oftreesandsaythisiswherepeople wouldgoforeaster.They’dboiltheir seafoodhere.Itwouldbeunderneath theseoaktrees.It’ssobeautifulto imagine.Idoalotofhistoricaldiving throughbothmyparents’andmy uncles’lenses.
Attheendofthebook,Italkalot aboutmydadandmyunclesandhow Iwishwecouldgobackintime.Their storiesandtheirinnateknowledgeof theplaceandwhatitwas,wherethe bayouswereandwherethehunting was—Iappreciatehavingaccesstoall thesepeoplethatcanrecountthese storiesofSouthLouisiana.
WINE OF TH E WEEK SanAntonio Cardinale RedWine Asweet redblend with aromas of ripe berries and arefreshing grape flavor. Enjoythis classic blend at barbeques, dinner parties or family nights at home. Serve slightly chilled forthe mostrefreshing taste.
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PROVIDED PHOTO BY DENNYCULBERT
OuttoeatisanindexofGambitcontractadvertisers.Unlessnoted,addressesareforNewOrleans andallacceptcreditcards.Updates:email willc@gambitweekly.comorcall(504)483-3106
AngeloBrocato’s 214N.CarrolltonAve., (504)486-1465;angelobrocatoicecream. com—ThisMid-Citysweetshopserves itsowngelato,spumoni,Italianices, cannolis,biscotti,figcookies,tiramisu, macaroonsandmore.Therealsoarecoffee drinks.Noreservations.Lunchanddinner Tue.-Sun $
Annunciation 1016AnnunciationSt., (504)568-0245;annunciationrestaurant com—GulfDrumYvonneisservedwith brownbuttersaucewithmushroomsand artichokehearts.Therealsoareseafood pastadishes,steaks,lambchopsandmore. reservationsrecommended.Dinner Thu.-Mon.$$$
Bamboula’s 514FrenchmenSt.;bamboulasmusic.com—Thelivemusicvenue’s kitchenoffersamenuoftraditionalandcreativeCreoledishes,suchasCreolecrawfish crepeswithgoatcheeseandchardonnay sauce.reservationsaccepted.Lunch, dinnerandlate-nightdaily $$
TheBlueCrabRestaurantandOyster Bar—118HarborViewCourt,Slidell,(985) 315-7001;7900LakeshoreDrive,(504) 284-2898;thebluecrabnola.com Basin barbecueshrimpareservedwithrosemary garlicbuttersauceovercheesegritswitha cheesebiscuit.Themenuincludespo-poys, friedseafoodplatters,rawandchar-grilled oysters,boiledseafoodinseason,andmore. Outdoorseatingavailable.Noreservations Lakeview:LunchanddinnerTue.-Sun.
Slidell:LunchWed.-Fri.,dinnerWed.-Sun., brunchSat.-Sun $$
Broussard’s—819ContiSt.,(504)5813866;broussards.com—rainbowtrout amandineisservedwithtassoandcorn macquechouxandCreolemeunieresauce. BrunchincludesBenedicts,chickenand wafflesandmore.reservationsrecommended.Outdoorseatingavailable.Dinner Wed.-Sat.,brunchSun.$$$ CafeNormandie—HigginsHotel,480 AndrewHigginsBlvd.,(504)528-1941;higginshotelnola.com/dining ThemenucombinesclassicFrenchdishesandLouisiana itemslikecrabbeignetswithherbaioli Sandwichesincludepo-boys,amuffuletta onflatbreadandaburger.Noreservations Breakfastandlunchdaily.$$ TheCommissary—634OrangeSt.,(504) 274-1850;thecommissarynola.com—A smokedturkeysandwichisservedwith bacon,tomatojam,herbedcreamcheese, arugulaandherbvinaigretteonhoneyoat bread.Themenuincludesdips,salads, sandwiches,boudinballs,friedoystersand more.Noreservations.Outdoorseating available.LunchTue.-Sat.$$ Curio—301RoyalSt.,(504)717-4198; curionola.com—ThecreativeCreolemenu includesblackenedGulfshrimpservedwith chickenandandouillejambalaya.Therealso arecrabcakes,shrimpandgrits,crawfish etouffee,po-boysandmore.reservations accepted.Lunchanddinnerdaily.$$ Dahla—611O’KeefeAve.,(504)766-6602; dahlarestaurant.com—Themenuincludes popularThaidisheslikepadthai,drunken noodles,curriesandfriedrice.Crispy skinnedduckbasilispreparedwithvegetablesandThaibasil.Deliveryavailable.
$—averagedinnerentréeunder$10
$$—$11-$20
$$$—$20-up
reservationsaccepted.Lunchanddinner Mon.-Sat $$
DesireOysterBar—RoyalSonestaNew Orleans,300BourbonSt.,(504)586-0300; sonesta.com/desireoysterbar—Amenufull ofGulfseafoodincludeschar-grilledoysters toppedwithparmesanandherbs.Themenu alsoincludespo-boys,po-boys,gumbo, blackenedfish,friedseafoodplatters andmore.reservationsrecommended. Breakfast,lunchanddinnerdaily.$$
DickieBrennan’sBourbonHouse—144 BourbonSt.,(504)522-0111;bourbonhouse.com—There’saseafoodrawbar withrawandchar-broiledoysters,fishdip, crabfingers,shrimpandmore.redfish ontheHalf-shelliscookedskin-onand servedwithcrab-boiledpotatoes,frisee andlemonbuerreblanc.reservations accepted.Lunchanddinnerdaily $$$ DickieBrennan’sSteakhouse—716 IbervilleSt.,(504)522-2467;dickiebrennanssteakhouse.com Themenuincludes avarietyofsteaks,plussearedGulffish, lobsterpasta,barbecueshrimpandmore A6-ouncefiletmignonisservedwithfried oysters,creamedspinach,potatoesand bearnaise.reservationsrecommended DinnerMon.-Sat $$$ ElPavoReal—4401S.BroadAve.,(504) 266-2022;elpavorealnola.com—Themenu includestacos,enchiladas,quesadillas, ceviche.tamalesandmore.pescadoVera CruzfeaturessauteedGulffishtoppedwith tomatoes,olives,onionandcapers,served withriceandstringbeans.Outdoorseating available.Noreservations.Lunchandearly dinnerTue.-Sat $$
Juan’sFlyingBurrito—515BaronneSt., (504)529-5825;2018MagazineSt., (504)569-0000;4724S.CarrolltonAve., (504)486-9950;8140OakSt.,(504) 897-4800;juansflyingburrito.com The FlyingBurritoincludessteak,shrimp, chicken,cheddarjackcheese,blackbeans, rice,guacamoleandsalsa.Themenualso includestacos,quesadillas,enchiladas, fajitas,nachos,saladsandmore.Outdoor seatingavailable.Noreservations.Lunch anddinnerThu.-Tue $$
Katie’sRestaurant—3701IbervilleSt., (504)488-6582;katiesinmidcity.com—The CajunCubanwithroastedpork,ham,cheese andpickles.Theeclecticmenualsoincludes char-grilledoysters,sandwiches,burgers, pizza,friedseafoodplatters,pasta,salads andmore.Deliveryavailable.reservations acceptedforlargeparties.Lunchanddinner Tue.-Sun $$
Kilroy’sBar—HigginsHotel,480Andrew HigginsBlvd.,(504)528-1941;higginshotelnola.com/dining Thebarmenuincludes sandwiches,saladsandflatbreads,including onetoppedwithpeach,prosciutto,stracciatellacheese,arugulaandpecans.No reservations.DinnerWed.-Sat.$$ LegacyKitchen’sCraftTavern 700 TchoupitoulasSt.,(504)613-2350; legacykitchen.com Themenuincludes oysters,flatbreads,burgers,sandwiches, saladsandaNOLAStyleGritsBowltopped withbacon,cheddarandapoachedegg. reservationsaccepted.Breakfast,lunch anddinnerdaily $$
LegacyKitchenSteak&Chop—91 WestbankExpressway,Gretna,(504) 513-2606;legacykitchen.com Themenu includesfiletsmignonsandbone-inribeyes,aswellasburgers,saladsandseafood dishes.reservationsaccepted.Outdoor seatingavailable.Lunchanddinner Mon.-Sat $$ LuzianneCafe—481GirodSt.,(504)2651972;luziannecafe.com—BoudinBenedict featurestwopoachedeggsoverboudinand anenglishmuffin,servedwithgreentomato chowchowandhollandaise.Noreservations.Deliveryavailable.Breakfastand lunchWed.-Sun.$$ Mikimoto—3301S.CarrolltonAve.,(504) 488-1881;mikimotosushi.com TheSouth Carrolltonrollincludestunatataki,avocado andsnowcrab.Themenualsohasnoodle dishes,teriyakiandmore.reservations accepted.Deliveryavailable.LunchSun.Fri.,dinnerdaily $$
Mosca’s—4137Highway90West, Westwego,(504)436-8950;moscasrestaurant.com Thisfamily-styleeateryserves Italiandishesandspecialtiesincluding chickenalagrande,shrimpMosca,baked oystersMoscaandchickencacciatore reservationsaccepted.DinnerWed.-Sat Cashonly $$$
Mother’sRestaurant 401PoydrasSt., (504)523-9656;mothersrestaurant.net— Thiscounter-servicespotservespo-boys dressedwithslicedcabbageandCreole favoriteslikejambalaya,crawfishetouffee, redbeansandriceandmore.Breakfast isavailableallday.Deliveryavailable. Noreservations.Breakfast,lunchand dinnerdaily.$$
Neyow’sCreoleCafe—3332BienvilleSt., (504)827-5474;neyows.com Themenu includesredbeansandricewithfried chickenorporkchops,aswellasshrimp Creole,seafoodplatters,po-boys,chargrilledandrawoysters,saladsandmore Sideitemsincludecarrotsouffle,macand cheese,cornbreaddressing,sweetpotato totsandmore.Noreservations.Lunchdaily, dinnerMon.-Sat.,brunchSun.$$ NiceGuysBar&Grill—7910EarhartBlvd., (504)302-2404;niceguysbarandgrillnola. com—Char-grilledoystersaretopped withcheeseandgarlicbutter,andother optionsincludeoystersrockefellerand loadedoysters.Thecreativemenualso includesseafoodbread,aCajun-lobster potato,wings,quesadillas,burgers,salads, sandwiches,seafoodpasta,loadedfries andmore.Noreservations.Lunchdaily, dinnerMon.-Sat $$$
OrleansGrapevineWineBar&Bistro 720OrleansAve.,(504)523-1930;orleansgrapevine.com—Thewinebaroffers cheeseboardsandappetizerstonoshwith wines.ThemenuincludesCreolepasta withshrimpandandouilleintomatocream sauce.reservationsacceptedforlarge parties.Outdoorseatingavailable.Dinner Thu.-Sun $$ PalaceCafe 605CanalSt.,(504) 523-1661;palacecafe.com—ThecontemporaryCreolemenuincludescrabmeat cheesecakewithmushroomsandCreole meunieresauce.Outdoorseatingavailable. reservationsrecommended.Breakfastand lunchWed.-Fri.,dinnerWed.-Sun.,brunch Sat.-Sun $$$
ParishGrill—4650W.EsplanadeAve.,Suite 100,Metairie,(504)345-2878;parishgrill
com—Themenuincludesburgers,sandwiches,pizzaandsauteedandouillewith figdip,bluecheeseandtoastpoints. reservationsaccepted.Lunchanddinner Mon.-Sat $$
PeacockRoom—KimptonHotelFontenot, 501TchoupitoulasSt.,(504)324-3073; peacockroomnola.com—Atbrunch,braised shortribgrilladesareservedovergritswith mushrooms,apoachedeggandshaved truffle.reservationsaccepted.Dinner Wed.-Mon.,brunchSun.$$ Rosie’sontheRoof HigginsHotel,480 AndrewHigginsBlvd.,(504)528-1941; higginshotelnola.com/dining—Therooftop barhasamenuofsandwiches,burgersand smallplates.Crabbeignetsaremade withGulfcrabmeatandmascarponeand servedwithherbaioli.Noreservations Dinnerdaily.$$
Tableau 616St.PeterSt.,(504)9343463;tableaufrenchquarter.com—The menufeaturestraditionalandcreative Creoledishes.pastabouillabaissefeatures squidinkmafaldine,littleneckclams,Gulf shrimp,squid,seafoodbroth,rouilleand herbedbreadcrumbs.Outdoorseating availableonthebalcony.reservations recommended.DinnerWed.-Sun.,brunch Thu.-Sun $$$ Tacklebox—817CommonSt.,(504) 827-1651;legacykitchen.com Themenu includesrawandchar-broiledoysters, seafoodplatters,po-boys,friedchicken, crabandcornbisqueandmore.redfishSt. Charlesisservedwithgarlic-herbbutter, asparagus,mushroomsandcrawfishcornbread.reservationsaccepted.Breakfast, lunchanddinnerdaily.$$
Theo’sNeighborhoodPizza—1212S. ClearviewParkway,Elmwood,(504) 733-3803;2125VeteransMemorial Blvd.,Metairie,(504)510-4282;4024 CanalSt.,(504)302-1133;4218Magazine St.,(504)894-8554;70488Highway21, Covington,(985)234-9420;theospizza. com—AMarilynnpotaSupremepieis toppedwithmozzarella,pepperoni, sausage,hamburger,mushrooms,bell peppersandonions.Therealsoaresalads, sandwiches,wings,breadsticksandmore. Deliveryavailable.Lunchanddinner Tue.-Sat $
Tito’sCeviche&Pisco—1433St.Charles Ave.,(504)354-1342;5015MagazineSt., (504)267-7612;titoscevichepisco.com— Theperuvianmenuincludesseveraltypesof ceviche,aswellassteakandseafooddishes. Traditionallomosaltadofeaturessauteed beeftenderlointips,onions,tomatoes,soy sauceandpisco,servedwithpotatoesand rice.OutdoorseatingavailableonMagazine Street.Deliveryavailable.reservations accepted.LunchanddinnerMon.-Sat., brunchSun.$$$
TheVintage 3121MagazineSt.,(504) 324-7144;thevintagenola.com—There’sa fullcoffeedrinksmenuandbakedgoodsand beignets,aswellasafullbar.Themenuhas flatbreads,cheeseboards,smallplatesand apressedveggiesandwichwithavocado, onions,arugula,redpepperandpepper jackcheese.Noreservations.Deliveryand outdoorseatingavailable.Breakfast,lunch anddinnerdaily.$$
‘Tosca’
GiacomoPuccini’sclassicoperais astoryoflove,jealousy,betrayal andmurderinromeastheFrench revolutionfuelsstrifeinItaly.The painterCavaradossilovesthesinger FloriaTosca,andBaronScarpia,the chiefofthesecretpolice,entraps theartistandtriestoextortTosca overheraffections.TheNewOrleans OperaAssociationpresentstheopera at7:30p.m.Friday,Sept.27,and 2:30p.m.Sunday,Sept.29,atthe MahaliaJacksonTheater.Tickets $10-$235vianeworleansopera.org
DinosaurJr.
Theloudalt-rockersputthemselveson themapinthelate1980swith thealbum“You’reLivingAllOver Me,”andsincethenhavedisbandedand reunitedacoupleoftimes.Despitethe gaps,thebandcontinuedtoimprove withnewalbums.Thatmayhave madethepandemicinterruptionof therecordingof2021’s“SweepItinto Space,”seemlikethenormalprocess. LafayetteshoegazersCashieropens
at8:30p.m.Wednesday,Sept.25,at Tipitina’s.Tickets$37attipitinas.com
CubaNOLApresentsPiaNOLA CubanpianistVictorCampbellkicks offthisshowcaseofLatinpianoplayers. ThelineupalsoincludesOscarrossignoli (Honduras),eduardoTozzato(Brazil), ronaldrodriguez(Colombia)and Yenimarojas(Cuba).Admissionisfree, first-come-first-served.From2-5p.m Sunday,Sept.29,atSnugHarbor.For moreinformation,visitsnugjazz.com.
CaliforniaHoneydrops
ThoughfoundedinOakland,the CaliforniaHoneydropschannelNew Orleansinfluencesintheirmellowmix ofblues,r&B,soulandmore.The bandjustreleaseditslatestalbum “KeeponDiggin’”onSept.13.At9 p.m.Friday,Sept.27,atTipitina’s. Tickets$35viatipitinas.com
Old97’s
Thelong-runningDallasbandreleased “AmericanPrimitive”earlierthis year,onthe30thanniversaryofits
debut,“Hitchhiketorhome.”The band’sblendofAmericanacombines alt-country,indierockandpowerpop ThrowbackcountrysingerKimmiBitter opensat8p.m.Sunday,Sept.29,at Tipitina’s.Tickets$27viatipitinas.com.
SelwynBirchwood AfanofthemusicofJimiHendrix andBuddyGuy,Selwynplaysaraucousstyleofelectricblues.He’swon bluesawardsandtouredtheblues festivalcircuit,buthismostrecent album,2023’s“exorcist,”showshis senseofhumorinsongslike“Florida Man,”riffingonthememeofabsurd newsstoriesfromhishomestate.He performsat8p.m.Thursday,Sept 26,atChickieWahWah.Ticketsare $15inadvanceviachickiewahwah com,and$20atthedoor.
BigFreedia,AniDiFranco andLeylaMcCalla NewOrleans’QueenDivaBigFreedia willbejoinedbyspecialguestsAni DiFrancoandLeylaMcCallaforafree concertorganizedbyenvironmental
justiceorganizationTheDescendants projectandBlanchardHouse Institute,whichworksinpublicpolicy tosupportunderinvestedcommunities.At8p.m.Friday,Sept.27,at SaengerTheatre.Toclaimaticket,go totradesforce.org/events/nola.
JohnnySansone’s birthdaybash BluesmanJohnnySansonecelebrates hisbirthdaywithfrequentcollaboratorJohnFohlandspecialguests At8p.m.Friday,Sept.27,atMaple LeafBar.Tickets$20inadvancevia mapleleafbar.com.
LaTran-KBand TheMetairie-basedLaTran-K BandplaysavarietyofLatingenres, includingsalsa,merengue,cumbia andbachata.Theyperformat5p.m Tuesday,Sept.24,ontheNewOrleans JazzMuseum’sbalconyaspartofthe museum’sHispanicHeritageMonth concertseries.Admissionisfree,and theshowwillbelivestreamedatfacebook.com/nolajazzmuseum.
MUSIC FOrCOMpLeTe MUSIC LISTINGS AND MOre eVeNTSTAKING pLACe IN THe NeWOrLeANS AreA, VISIT CALENDAR.GAMBITWEEKLY.COM
Tolearnmoreaboutaddingyourevent tothemusiccalendar,pleaseemail listingsedit@gambitweekly.com
MONDAY23
30/90—Margieperez,6pm;pianoMan ‘G’,9pm
BAMBOULAS—TheNewOrleansrug Cutters,1:15pm;JonronierBand,5:30 pm;LesGetrexandCreoleCooking,9pm BJs—redBeansandBluesw/Alex McMurrayandGlenHartman,9pm
CAPULET—TiffanyHall,6:30pm
FRITZEL’SEUROPEANJAZZCLUB
MatineeAllStarBand,1pm;TinMen, 5pm;richard“piano”Scottand Friends,8pm
HI-HOLOUNGE—St.Claude Serenaders,10pm
ST.ROCHTAVERN—AzadSafviNever endOldTimeJam,7pm
TIPITINA’S Judah&TheLionand Stratejacket,8pm
TUESDAY24
30/90—HigherHeightsreggae,9pm
BAMBOULAS—TheVillians,1:15pm; GiselleAnguizolaQuartet,5:30pm; CaitieB.andTheHandMe Downs,9pm
FRITZEL'SEUROPEANJAZZCLUB—
richard“piano”Scott,1pm;ColinMyers Band,5pm;FritzelsAllStarBandw/Jamil Sharif,8pm
FILLMORE Kehlani:CrASHWOrLD TOUr,8pm;Kehlani,12am
HOLYDIVER—TheAmazing Henrietta,6:30pm
HOTELPETERANDPAUL—Claire Givens,7pm
MOTHER-IN-LAWLOUNGE—Kermit ruffins,IrvinMayfield,JBatiste,6pm NEWORLEANSJAZZMUSEUM
HispanicHeritageMonthCelebration:La Tran-KBand,5pm
SIBERIA UnlikelyCandidatesand NeutralSnap,9pm
WEDNESDAY25
BAMBOULAS J.J.andtheA-OKs, 1:15pm;Boardwalkerandthe3Finger Swingers,5:30pm;TheQueenand Friendz,9pm
BLUENILE NewBreedBrass Band,9:30pm
CHICKIEWAHWAH Shannon McNally,8pm
FRITZEL'SEUROPEANJAZZCLUB— richard"piano"Scott,1pm;Bourbon
StreetStars,5pm;FritzelsAllStarBand w/KevinrayClark,8pm
LONGUEVUEHOUSE&GARDENS
TwilightatLongueVue,5pm
MAPLELEAF AriTeitelBand,10pm
TIPITINA’S DinosaurJr.and Cashier,8:30pm
VAUGHAN’S—robinrapuzzi’sGloWorm Trio,8pm
THURSDAY26
BAMBOULAS—MissSigridandtheZigZags, 1:15pm;ChristinaKaminisandTheMix, 5:30pm;WolfeJohn'sBluesBand,9pm BJs—WoodsonFireHonkeyTonkDance party,9pm
BLUENILE—IrvinMayfield,Kermit ruffins,CyrilNeville,J.Batiste,Glen DavidAndrews,BigChiefDonald Harrison,AlexiMarti,9pm
CAPULET—MiaBorders,6:30pm
CHICKIEWAHWAH—Selwyn Birchwood,8pm
FRITZEL'SEUROPEANJAZZCLUB
MatineeAllStars,12:30pm;Doyle CooperBand,2:30pm;JohnSaavedra Band,6pm;FritzelsAllStarBandw/ KevinrayClark,8pm
PEACOCKROOM,HOTELFONTENOT— DaLovebirdswithrobinBarnesandpat Casey,8pm
ROCK'N'BOWL—CurleyTaylor& ZydecoTrouble,8pm
SATURNBAR—riverGlenwithTrash MagnoliaandNaughtypalace,9pm
VAUGHAN’S—CoreyHenryandthe TremeFunktet,10:30pm
ZONYMASH—Louisianaphilharmonic Orchestra,6pm
FRIDAY27
ANNA’S Heelturn,Softserve, Madspinnz,9pm
BAMBOULAS—TheNewOrleansrug Cutters,11am;FelipeAntonioQuinteto, 2:15pm;LesGetrexandCreoleCooking, 6:30pm;Bettisand3rdDegreeBrass Band,10pm
THEBARNETT—Brass-a-holics,9pm; Brass-A-Holics,9pm,DJrajSmoove, 10:30pm
BJs—ChloeMarieandrosemary Wells,9pm
BLUENILE TheCaesarBrothers’ FunkBox,8pm;Kermitruffinsandthe BarbecueSwingers,11pm
BMC-BALCONYMUSICCLUB—Kyanté& theKrü,10pm
BOURBONSTREETHONKYTONK —The BadSandys,8pm
BUFFA’S—WashboardChaz,8pm
CARROLLTONSTATION—NOLAXNOLA: GoldConnections,SleepHabitsand FormerChildAthletes,9pm
CHICKIEWAHWAH—NOLAXNOLA: JakeXerxesFussell,9pm
FRITZEL'SEUROPEANJAZZCLUB—
SazeracJazzBand,12:30pm;SamFriend JazzBand,2:30pm;SazaracAllStars,6 pm;FritzelsAllStarBandw/Kevinray Clark,9pm
THEGOAT Mortiis,Malfet,Seregost, Mehenet,9pmMApLeLeAF—Johnny Sansone’sBirthdayDanceparty,8pm NOLABREWING—Charlie&The Tropicales,7pm
OKAYBAR—NOLAXNOLA:DJOtto, LordChilla,Carminep.Filthy,10pm
ROCK‘N’BOWL—BrW:TheSoundsof Motown,8:30pm
SATURNBAR—ThirtyDegreeDisco,9pm TIPITINA’S TheCalifornia Honeydrops,9pm
SATURDAY28
BAMBOULAS—TheJaywalkers,11am; Boardwalkerandthe3FingerSwingers, 2:15pm;JohnnyMastroBlues,6:30pm; paggyprineandSouthernSoul,10pm BJs—CubanHeat,9pm BLUENILE—GeorgeBrownBand,12am &8pm;AfrobeatNOLA,10:30pm BLUENILEBALCONYROOM—Khris royalOrgan4tetfeat.JoeAshlar,Danny Abel,DarrylStaves,10pm BROADSIDE—BlackAmericana Fest,2pm BYWATERBAKERY—Therumble,12pm COURTYARDBREWERY—Sariyah Idan,7pm
D.B.A.—TubaSkinny,6pm FRITZEL'SEUROPEANJAZZCLUB— richard“piano”Scott,12:30pm;Steve DetroyBand,2:30pm;BourbonMatinee AllStarBandw/ChuckBrackman,6pm; FritzelsAllStarBandw/JamilSharif,9pm MAPLELEAF—CalebTokarska,11pm
JoyClarkheadlinesBlack AmericanaFestatTheBroadside onSaturday,Sept.28.
CHRISGRANGER /THE TIMES-PICAYUNE
NOLABREWING—LutherDickinson& JohnnyVidacovich,7pm ROCK'N'BOWL—Yacht-Sea,TheGood Dudes,8:30pm SATURNBAR—Taschedelarocha, Mango,rydertheeagle,9pm THERABBITHOLE—Kendoll,10pm
SUNDAY29
BAMBOULAS AaronLevinsonand Friends,10:30am;Youse,1:15pm; MidnightBrawlers,5:30pm;edWills Blues4Sale,9pm
BJs—JamesMcClaskeyandthe rhythmBand,9pm
BLUENILE—StreetLegendsBrassBand, 10:30pm BOURBONSTREETHONKYTONK —The BadSandys,8pm CHAMPIONSSQUARE—Sexxyred,7pm CLESI'SSEAFOODRESTAURANT—ron Jones,12pm
D.B.A.—VegasColaBand,9pm FRITZEL'SEUROPEANJAZZCLUB— DoyleCooperBand,12:30pm;Sazerac JazzBandw/rossHoppe,Dwayne Burnes,5pm;FritzelsAllStarBandw/ MikeFulton,8pm JOYTHEATRE FutureIslands,8pm NOLABREWING—TalkingGrass,6pm SANTOS—NOLAXNOLA:Suplecs andSupagrouprockandroll Matinee,5pm
Come to beautiful Biloxi,Mississippi forour
classicalmusic +dinnerseries! Performances by NewOrleans’s most belovedhosts andconcert pianists, MichaelFurlong & QuinnPeeper, authorsof “Classical Shindig”
This programwas created in partnershipwith Saturday October 26 5:30 - 8PM
GOINGOUT Apoolofblood byWillCoviello
ANYONEWHOISAFRAID TOGETTHEIRHEAD Catering by Salute ItalianRestaurant $65 perticket
UNDERWATERmay notneedanyhelp fromAquaMob,New Orleans’swaterballet andtheatertroupe.In thelasttwoyears,the companyhasmadethe poolprettyscary. Twoyearsago, AquaMobadaptedthe sci-fithriller“Alien,” unleashinganamphibiousreptilianmonsteron theunsuspectingcrew ofastronauts.
Lastyear,thetroupe wentbacktoschool withafieryandbloodyversionof “Carrie,”StephenKing’shorrorstoryof teenangst,religiousrepressionanda highschoolpromgonehorriblywrong.
Thisyearpromisesanevenmore bloodyhorrorcomedyadaptationwith “evilDead2:DrownedbyDawn,”which runsSept.26throughOct.12atthe MidtownHotel
“Wehaveabigbloodbudgetthisyear,” saysAquaMobfounderAlayneGobeille TheshowbundlesAquaMob’smix ofsynchronizedswimming,aerialists, livemusic,specialeffectsandmorein astorybasedmostlyon“evilDead2: DeadbyDawn.”Thecultclassic1980s horrorcomedywasn’tthefirstmovie inthefranchise,butithelpedinspire severalsubsequentfilms.AquaMob’s storyisbasedmostlyin“evilDead2” butwrapsinsomeelementsfroman earliermovie.
Knowledgeofthefilmsisn’tnecessary,butfanswillnoticethecondensed buteasilyrecognizableplot.Ashworks atS-Mart,buthe’sonaquickgetaway withhisgirlfriendLindaandtheystop atacabininthewoods.Insidethe desertedspacetheydiscoveranancient book,whichcontainsspellsandthelore ofancientdemons.It’snotlongbefore AshandLindaunwittinglysummonthe demons,andtroublebubblesupfrom thedepthsofHell.
WhileAshandLindabattlefortheir lives,Annie,whosefatherdiscovered theBookoftheDead,comestothe cabintovisithim.
Thestoryisnonstopaction,asvarioustypesofhorrifyingdemonsemerge andsometimespossessthebodiesof thehumans.
“evilDead2”goesoverthetopwith horrormoviecliches,includingthe isolatedcabininthewoods,chainsaw fightsandgushingblood.
WilliamHudsonwrotethescript forAquaMob,andheleanedintothe gratuitousaction
“Hewantedtoexploresomeofthe slapstickcomedyviolenceaspectsof it,”Gobeillesays.“It’smakingfunof thesurvivalnarrative.It’simpossibleto surviveagainsttheseodds.”
AquaMob’sactiontakesplaceinthe poolandarounditonthedeck.There’s alsoactionabove,assomepartsofthe storyinvolveacrobaticaerialists.
Theshowfeatureslivemusicby thenowavepunkbandBombpulse There’sagiantpuppetfrompandora Gastelum,founderoftheMudlark puppeteersandNewOrleansGiant puppetFestival.
Theproductionshavealsoincluded specialeffects,andtheyworktokeep themfresh.
“Wecouldn’tsetsomebodyonfiretwo yearsinarow,”Gobeillesays,referring tooneoftheflourishesin“Carrie.”
Butthecompanyhasbeenworkingon stagefightingandmore.
Thenewvenuealsohasmorespace. AfteryearsattheDrifterHotel,the companyismovingupthestreetto theMidtownHotel,whichhasalarger, deeperpool.Thespacealsoallows themtodotheshowalmostcompletelyintheround,andtherewillbe balconyseating
Also,theDrifterwasnotanall-ages venue.TheMidtowndoesn’thave agerestrictions,andwhiletheshow isbloodyandnotfor4-year-olds, Gobeillesays,parentscanusetheir owndiscretion.
Ticketsfor“EvilDead2:Drownedby Dawn”are$20viaeventbrite.com.For information,visitaquamobnola.com.
PROVIDED PHOTOBYJAVIERHERNANDEZ
Boiladvisory byWillCoviello
IT’SNOTUNCOMMONTOHEARNEW ORLEANIANSDESCRIBEthefrustrationof tryingtosolvelocalproblemsas“crabs inabucket.”Justwhenonecrablooks likeit’smanagedtoclimboutofthe bucket,theothercrabswanttograb onandgetouttoo.Buttheyendup draggingeverybodybackdown.
That’soneofthechallengesin“Out oftheBoil:AClimateChangeMusical,” amusicaldebutingattheNewMarigny TheatreSept.26-Oct.6
Thestoryismoreaboutcrawfish, andplaywrightrelFarrarsaysthat’sa betterfitforthecity.
“ThecityofNewOrleansisabowl,” Farrarsays.“It’slikewe’rebeingboiled inthepotofNewOrleans.”
Muchofthemusicaltakesplaceina localbar,wheresomeoftheregularsare tryingtocooloff.Buttheselocalsare crawfish,clumsilygrabbingtheirdrinks withgiantpincers.Otherthanthat,it’s likeanylocalbar.Somepatronsgatherto craftsomethrowsforMardiGras.Others hitthebarafterwork,andthere’splenty ofcornerbarcamaraderie.
Whilesomeofthepatronsaredrinkingtoforgettheirproblems,othersare readytosolvethem.It’sabreezybattle ofbarroomwisdom,volleyingbackand forthbetweenskepticsandidealists. Thestakesareraisedwhenoneofthe world’scelebritybillionairesdanglesa prizeforideastofixthings.Iftheyput theirmindstogether,theymightcome upwithabigidea.
Thebar,namedtheLivingThing Lounge,hasaflyingpigforalogo.
“Flyingpigsareoneofthethemesin theshow,”saysFarrar,whohasatattoo ofaflyingpig.“It’saboutbelievingin impossiblethings.Youhavetobelieve inthingsforthemtohappen.”
Theshow’soriginalinspirationcomes fromthemusic.Manyofthesongsare
snippetsofelectricLightOrchestra classicswithnewlyrics.
“IhadscoredabunchofeLOvinyl atastreetsale,”Farrarsays.“Ilistened tothemoverandover.Thereisnot anoteoutofplace.JeffLynneisa musicalgenius.”
Thealbumandsongtitlesalsogot herthinking.
“Insteadofthe‘OutoftheBlue’ album,it’s‘OutoftheBoil’,”Farrar says.“Thesongsaretheheartofthe showbecausethey’resofun.”
WordplayandliteratureareFarrar’s full-timeoccupations.Shehasworked fortheNewOrleanspublicLibraryfor 14yearsandhandlesacquisitionsfor allbranches.
She’salsowrittenandreadwork foryearsforthebiweeklyesoterotica seriesatAllWaysLounge&Theatre SheorganizestheLateSeasonreading SeriesatBarreduxinBywater.Herfirst theatricalpiecewasaone-womanshow thatranatBarreduxin2019.
For“OutoftheBoil,”sheenlisted DanielleSmalltodirect.Smallwrote andproduced“Waterworld—The Musical,”anadaptationofthedystopianmoviethatshestagedinpools inBywater.
“OutoftheBoil”featureslivemusic frompianistNealTodten,who’llplay thegrandpianoplacedintheNew MarignyTheatreforLpOrehearsals Whiletheshowleansintoclowning withitscrawfishpincersandprops,the jokeisn’taboutNewOrleansbeingbackward.It’saboutclawingthewayforward.
“NewOrleansisthecanaryinthecoal mineofclimatechange,”Farrarsays. “NewOrleansisthecityofthefuture.”
“OutoftheBoil”runsSept.26Oct.6.Tickets$30vianewmarignytheatre.com.
PHOTOBYWILLCOVIELLO/ GAMBIT
NoteworthyWomen AlisonFensterstock’snew bookwithNPRisacelebrationofwomenthroughout modernmusichistory
bySarahRavits
INTHENEWBOOK“HOWWOMENMADE MUSIC:AREVOLUTIONARYHISTORY FROMNPRMUSIC,”editorandlongtime musicjournalist(andGambitveteran) AlisonFensterstockdugdeepinto thepublicradioarchivesforacurated anthologythatexplorestheimpactsof womenandnon-binarymusicians.
Fensterstockdrewalotofthebook’s materialfromessayspreviouslypublishedonNpr’s“TurningTheTables” series,whichaimstochallengesexismin themusicindustrywithdeepdives,criticismandcandidinterviewswithartists. Butshealsocommissionednew worksbycontemporarywritersand musiciansandsourcedmaterialfrom otherNprplatforms.Npr’sAnn powerswrotetheintro.
Fensterstockshortenedand reformattedmanyofthepreviously publishedessaysandincludedshorter snippetsfrominterviewsandother blurbsinthebook.Andit’sallcomplementedvisuallybyoriginalillustrations, graphicsandphotographs.
Shelikensittothezinesshemadein highschoolinthe’90s.
“Igotallthesedifferentillustrations fromverydifferentartistsindifferent styles,”shesays.“ItlookskindoflikeI wenttoKinko’satmidnightandgotmy X-actoknifeout,butinagoodway.”
Theaestheticisalsowhathelps makethebook,whichcomesoutOct 1throughHarperOne,easilydigestible anduser-friendlyforreadersandmusic fanswhowanttojumparound.Flipping throughitspagesisreminiscentof skippingaheadonaplaylisttohearyour favoritesong,andthengoingbackto seewhatelseisinthere
“HowWomenMadeMusic”is thought-provokingonarangeoftopics, likerace,gender,politics,fashion, reproductivejusticeandtheemotions thatgointobothmakingmusicand consumingitasafan
Someessaysarewistful,likecountry singerMargoprice’sodetoJanisJoplin, whodiedbeforepricewasevenborn butnonethelesshadahugeinfluence onhercareer.
Otherpiecesareaboutfightingfor equality,likea2005Odettainterview addressingthefuryandfrustration sheexperiencedwhilegrowingup duringsegregation,andhowhermusic representsherdeterminationtopush throughracialbarriers.
FolksingerJoanBaezweighsin aboutnonviolenceasaguiding musicalprinciple
Andthereareplentyoftributesabout thesheerjoythatmusicbrings,aswell asstoriesaboutthosewhohavebroken barriers,fromartistslikeMahalia JacksontoMadonna,WhitneyHouston, TaylorSwiftandBeyonce.
Aparticularhighlightisacollection fromlongtimemusicproducerJill Sternheimer,co-founderof“Turning theTables,”anddirectorofpublicprogrammingattheLincolnCenter. Sternheimerreflectsonhertopfive favoritemomentsinlivemusichistory, andspoileralert:Oneofthemhappens
tobethe2012Hurrayfortheriffraff performanceatJazzFest.
OtherNewOrleansartistsandvoices alsoarerepresentedinthebook. There’sacontributionbyMelissa Weber,akaDJSoulSister,onherlove ofMalliaFranklinandthewomenof parliament-Funkadelic.Georgetown scholarZandriaF.robinsonwrites atributetoMiaX.WWNO’sGwen ThompkinswritesaboutMahalia Jackson’slegacy.AndNewOrleans residentandlongtimefeministiconAni DiFranco’sinterviewwithFensterstock aboutabortionandreproductivejustice isparticularlytimely.
GambitspokewithFensterstock aheadofherbookrelease,andan excerptfromthebookappearsafter theinterview.
Note:Thisinterviewhasbeenedited forclarityandbrevity
Thebookisbrokenupinto chapters:“Storytellers,” “LiveMusic,”“Tradition BearersandBreakers,” “Warriors,”“Empaths”and more.Howdidyoucomeup withawaytoorganizeand structurethebook?
ALISONFENSTERSTOCK: (Npr) sentmeamemoandtheywerelike, weshouldn’torganizeitbygenreor chronology,butbytheme.Itwasn’t reallyamarchingorder,butitwasa goodidea.It’slikehowalist[ofgreatest albums]works .They’reallthrownin together,andthenyoucanexpandon thatandmakethechaptersthematic
There’sachapteraboutlivemusic, andwe’rethrowinginstorieswith Sleater-Kinney,ettaJames,Whitney Houston’s1991SuperBowlNational Anthem,andanarticlebyMargoprice onJanisJoplin.
Ilovethatchapter.Itwasawayto integratealltheseexperiencesabout livemusic.Itcanbepoliticallymeaningful,likeMarianAnderson’sconcert onthestepsoftheLincolnMemorial (duringsegregation).
AndthenweputitnexttoaJanet Weiss(fromSleater-Kinney)piece, whohadgreatquotesinanNpr interviewabouthowthere’snothing likeplayingaliveshow.AndIthinkJill (Sternheimer’s)essaygotthatacross, too.Sheknowslivemusicisatotally differentexperienceandanexperience thatcanbereallytranscendent
Therewereconnectionswewere tryingtomakeineachchapter.Maybe
youlikeJoniMitchell,who’sina coupledifferentchapters.She’sinthe “Storyteller”section,andthenyouhave MiaXandMaryJ.Blige.They’redoing similarconfessional,soul-baringthings. Ithink(breakingitupintothemes)is aninterestingwaytothinkaboutmusic. It’saboutallthedifferentwayspeople expressthemselves,andalltheways itimpactstheworldweliveinandthe relationshipswehave.
There’salsoachapteraboutmusic andactivism.Wehadanarticleabout someonewhowenttoperformat Standingrock.AndAniDiFranco,who wroteaboutabortionwhenshewas18 andthenagainwhenshewas50.It’sa waytoexpressthechangingworld
Speakingofabortion andwomen’srights,you’re releasingthisbooknow, in2024,aswomenare nowfacingregressivelaws andlosingreproductive rights.Howdoesthatplay intothispublication?
F: Inthemiddleofworkingonit,(the SupremeCourt)overturnedroev. Wade.Forwomenmyage,wehadthe firstpartofouradulthoodassumingwe hadrights,andnowwedon’t.There areabout20newessaysthatwerenew commissions,likeoneonAniDiFranco writingabortionsongs.
Wewereseeingmusiciansrespond to(theSupremeCourtdecision)inreal time,andwewerelike,thathastogo inthere.
Forsomeoftheotherneweressays, wewantedtogetsomewritersinthere
Bookcoverfor“How WomenMadeMusic”
PROVIDED BY HARPERONE | HARPERCOLLINS
AlisonFensterstock
PHOTOPROVIDEDBY ALISONFENSTERSTOCK
who’veneverdoneanythingwith “TurningtheTables”orwewanted apieceonartistswhohadn’tbeen featuredbefore.
Inallyouryearsof coveringthemusicindustry,broadlyspeaking, whataresomeofthe biggestchangesyouhave seenforwomeninmusic?
F: Whenwewerestartingtheprojectbackin2019and2020,oneof thepointswewerelookingatitisthat popmusicisruledbywomen,like BeyonceandTaylorSwiftandOlivia rodrigoandBillieeilish.
IgotpattiSmith’sinterviewfrom around1976,andthat’sexcerpted. She’stalkingaboutperforminglive, sowhenyoulistentotheaudiobook, you’llgetthatheavyNewJersey accent,andit’sbabypattiSmith, whohadjustputout“Horses,” talkingtoyou
SuzanneCiani
PHOTOBYLLOYD WILLIAMS/
COURTESYALISONFENSTERSTOCK
eveninthetimethisbookhasbeen finishedandintoproduction,wehave seentheriseofartistslikeSabrina CarpenterandChappellroan.There’s femalechartdomination.Buttheflip sideis,it’sstillhardtospeaktohowthe industryisactuallytreatingwomen.I don’tknowifit’sreallygettingbetter Definitely,unquestionably,women aredominatingthe(charts).ButIcan’t sayweareinthemagicalsaladdays ofwomeninmusicjustbecausethey havethetophits,becauseIthinkit’s stillamess,andit’sstillasfraughtas everbehindthescenes.
Canyoutellusabout theaudiobookversion? F: It’sgoingtobeverycool.Of course,Nprisabroadcastmedium, sowhenyouheartheaudiobook, you’llhearallthesevoices,including theartistswhohavebeenonthepast 52yearsofNpr. IgottogointotheNprarchives, andthearchivistswereamazing. Theyhadeverything.
WehaveNinaSimonetalkingto NickSpitzerandKathleenHanna (ofBikiniKillandLeTigre)talkingto Annpowersin2019.Ilovetheold ones,likeTammyWynettebeing interviewedintheearly’70sonher tourbus,andettaJamesbeinginterviewed.Wealsohavethreeorfour voiceactorsreading,soyou’llhear verydifferentkinds ofvoices,which iswhatthewhole projectisabout There’sahuge amountofpeople whomadethisall happen.Idon’t listentoaudiobooksmuch,but beingabletohear themintheirown voicesisamazing. Andit’sreallycool tocelebrateall thesewomenwho havebeenpartof Nprovertheyears.
Anyupcominglocal eventsyouhaveplanned forthebooktour?
F: I’mhavingonewith(localauthor) JamiAttenbergatOctaviaBooks Oct.24.Jamihasanewnovel (“AreasonToSeeYouAgain”) comingoutSept.24.Wehangout allthetime,andwetalkalotwhile we’reworkingontheseprojects.
Whoareyournew favoritewomenor non-binaryartists?
F: Ihaven’tbeenonthenewmusic bandwagonmuch,because(my husbandLeftyparkerandI)havea usedrecordstore(euclidrecords inBywater),andIdon’tworkatthe newspaperwritingaboutcontemporarystuff.SoIlistentoalotofold music.Butinthisweirdpantheon offemalepopstars,I’mreallyinto ChappellroanandOliviarodrigo IlistentoChappellroan,andI’mlike, thisishowIfeltasakidwhenIused tolistentoCyndiLauper.
THEFOLLOWINGISANEXCERPTFROMFENSTERSTOCK’SNEWBOOK. NEWORLEANSSOULSINGERIRMATHOMASCUTSTONECLASSICAFTERCLASSICinthe early1960sonthelegendaryMinitrecords,AllenToussaint’sfirsthomebaseasa producer.Thesinglessherecordedthere,balladslike“rulerofMyHeart”andsassy stomperslike“Hittin’onNothing,”arestillhermostwell-lovedsongs;maybethat’s becausetheachinglovesongsanddancefloorfillershadtoughnessandemotional depththatbeliedheryears.
HercontractwithMinit,inkedatagenineteen,hadledtoafruitfulpartnership withToussaint,whowrote,arranged,orproducedherrunofsidesthatremaincatniptosoulcollectorsandrecordnerds,nottomentionpartofthecoresoundtrack ofNewOrleans.(“Irma’svoicestayedinmyheadallthetime,”Toussainttoldme duringa2007interview.“Anditstilldoes.”)In1963,notlongafterToussaintleftfor thearmy,Minitwassoldtoitsdistributor,andtheyflewThomasouttoLosAngeles torecord1964’sWishSomeoneWouldCare,herfirstlong-player.
Thecenterpieceisthetitletrack,Thomas’sfirstcompositionofherownthat shehadeverrecorded.It’sasongaboutayearningthat’sdeeperthanromance orphysicalwant—apurelyexistentialdesireforthereliefofbeingseen.Atthe timesherecordedit,Thomaswastwenty-two,themotheroflittlekidsandinthe middleofherseconddivorce.Shewasangryandtired,andshewishedsomeone wouldcare.Theslow-burningtrackwasasdevastatingasahurricane,andit scooteduptoNo.2onther&BchartandNo.17ontheHot100—stillherhighest-chartinghittodate.
Nowseventy-six,thewomanwho’sbeenworkingovertimesinceadolescence showslittlesignofslowingdown:ifanything,afterherfirstGrammywinin 2006,herstarhastakenonevenmoresparkle.ButtogettotheessenceofIrma Thomas,there’snobetterkeythan“WishSomeoneWouldCare”—asongthat, withitsagonyandhonesty,drawsheart’sblood —AlisonFensterstock,Turningthe Tables,Season1,“ShockingOmissions,”2017(excerpt)
ExcerptedfromHOWWOMENMADEMUSIC,ARevolutionaryHistoryfromNPR Music,reprintedwithpermissionfromHarperOne,animprintofHarperCollins Publishers.Copyright2024.
IrmaThomasattheNewOrleansJazz&HeritageFestivalin2019 PHOTOBYSCOTT THRELKELD/ THETIMES-PICAYUNE
PREMIER CROSSWORD PUZZLE RAISING A RACKET By Frank A. Longo
ACROSS
1Streisand of “Nuts”
7President after Bush
12Japanese soup
16Beaker locale
19Fanatic
20Boo-boo
21State of mind
23“Can this be?!”
25Color close to aqua
26Leave shore
27“I’m to blame for everything”
29Mil. address
32Nada
34“-- see!” (“Evidently!”)
35Events that break ground
36Like K-Cup coffee pods
42Two-word conjunction
44Sol’s Greek counterpart
45Bangor locale
47Built
522011 Steve Carell film
56Puppeteer Lewis
57Opera song
58Gallery work
59Fox hangouts
61Nest eggs for srs.
62Flanders on “The Simpsons”
63Quick, sharp punches
65Cocktail of bourbon, lemon and mint
68Purse
69Ross who ran against Clinton
70 in the bud
71It might consist of a dictionary, thesaurus and atlas
76Pouches
78Tic- -toe
81“You wish!”
82They may get slammed
83Dad on “Rugrats”
84For takeout
85Fail to remain calm
87AnnualmailingtotheIRS
92Baskers’ goals, often
94Birth-related
95Home for French presidents
2BR,1.5BACondos JustRenovated!Open FloorPlanw/LrgLiving Room&UpscaleKit. SSAppls,GasRange& QuartzCounters.Half Bathroom&Laundryw/ StackedW&D.Beautiful Tilefloorson1stFloor. LuxuryVinylTileon2ndFlr.2Bdrmson2ndFlrw/Tastefully AppointedJack&JillBathroom.ConvenientLocation2Blocks fromStCharlesAve&Streetcar.EasilyaccessibletoUptown, Downtown,FrenchQuarter&Interstate $225,000EACH
96Lerner’s musical collaborator
99Kind of salute performed at military funerals
101 Cherubs, e.g.
105 Smartphone buy
107 Emulate Picabo Street
108 Mag bigwigs
109 Heroic fighter pilot of the 1940s
114 Sinister
117 Studios with easels
118 Question you might feel like asking after seeing nine key words in this puzzle?
123 Yellow turnip
124 Roast beef fast-food chain
125 Big brand of cosmetics
126 Water quality org.
127 Pack neatly
128 L.A.’s region
129 Pitfalls
DOWN
1German auto
2Spa sigh
3Material in viral genes
4Tiny pieces
5Pro -- (in proportion)
6Post-workout feeling
7Multivolume Brit. lexicon
8Matzo -- (Passover breakfast option)
9In (stuck)
10Soft shoes, for short
11Locations
12Actress Marlee
13Agenda unit
14Stick around to see
15Rig accidents
16Doozies
17Fully grown
18Borscht base
22Kind of lift for downhillers
24Yalies
28Mauna
29Waste barrel
30Capital of South Dakota
31Mounted to a backing for decoration
33Big-eyed primates
37Egyptian city with pyramids
38Myrna of old movies
2117ROUSSEAUSTREET•LOWERGARDENDIST LiveinanArtPiece!! ThisEntertainer’s 3BD,2.5BAHomeis Craftedfrom8Welded Containersw/aSteel L-beamFraming.Bright Foyerw/Floor-to-Ceilg GlassWindows& PorcelainFlrs.Open ConceptLivgArea, meticulouslydesignedcustomKitw/waterfallSinkerCypress Island,LGAppls,QuartzCounters,&MapleCabinets.LivRm w/PlentyofNat’lLight,SlidingDoorsAlongBothSidesthat opentoanEntertainer’sBkyd….EnjoytheCustomSwinging Pergola&theLow-MaintenanceCompositeDecking.$549,000
&2022
39Spellbound
40Roman 7
41Finale
43Plow pioneer John
46“Mama” Cass
48Orang cousin
49Figure skater Lipinski
50Epochs
51Plate
53Key near Q
54Brewery kiln
55Actor Sahay who played Lester Patel on “Chuck”
60Lip- (mouth the words)
63Pantry container
64Got older
65Alternative to Mazola or Crisco
66Charlemagne ruled it: Abbr.
67Bro’s sibling
68Suit well
69Orch. section with timpani, cymbals, etc.
71Performs like Drake
72Jacob’s twin
73Twain’s Huck
74Clamor
75Hoodwink
76Gets trite
77“La Cage Folles”
78Muss, as hair
79“I concur”
80Chili dogs
83Headliner
84“Ciao 4 now”
86Beat others in claiming something
88Dojo surface
89Old verb suffix
90Remade musicals, e.g. 91“Showdown” rock gp. 93“Easy-peasy”
97Polish capital
98Start for Pen or dermis
100 Barely earns, with “out”
101 Informed (of)
102 Still in bed
103 Garbo of old movies
104 Singer Fitzgerald
106 Gyro wraps
110 Ship of myth
111 Sleek, in brief
112 “Fast Money” network
113 “Watermark” singer
115 A party to
116 Constellation next to Hercules
119 Oahu, e.g.: Abbr
120 Atop, in odes
121 Scot’s dissent
122 Raised trains
