Colby is aseven-month-old, blackand tan, Border Collie puppywho is looking forhis fur-ever home! When he isn’tsmiling from ear to ear,heissharing all thelovehecan with everyone he meets. His joyful natureiscontiguous and trustevery adventurewith him by your side is sure to be an exhilarating one To meet Colby,orany of the other wonderful pets at the LASPCA, visit 455 FEdward Hebert Blvd. (Belle Chasse), 10 AM -5 PM,Tuesday-Saturday, or call (504) 934-6931. He can’t wait to meet his future paw-rent(s)!
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Calcifer is aone-year-old, blackand tan, German Shepherdpup whoislooking forhis fur-ever home! When not mastering thelatesttricks, he spends his time zooming intothe heartsof ever yone he meets. If his super sweet and respectfulpersonalitydoesn’t have youenthralled on frst meet,then his adorable puppyeyeswill. To meet Calcifer,orany of the other wonderful pets at the LASPCA, visit 1700 Mardi Gras Blvd.,12PM-7PM, Monday-Saturday, or call(504) 368-5191. He can’t wait to meet his future paw-rent(s)!
From indictmentstoshort-term rentals, 2024 wasa messyyear in NewOrleans 16 In 2024,the Louisianapolitical news cyclewas relentless 17 Bartenders,bookwormsand otherunsungheroesgaveusa little hope in 2024 21 NewOrleans year in dining:new restaurants, bigawardsand getting back to theroots 25 Updates on NewOrleans culinary newsmakers in 2024 27 NewOrleans’era:citysaw bigconcertsin2024. 35 Last call:revisitingfve albums from 2024 37 GoingOut:Inthe spotlight. 38
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KITTEN LARUE, HALF OF THE PERFORMING DUOKITTENN’LOU, lovesthe holidays
“I love tinsel,the lights,the music, eg gnog,” Laruesays. “I love allofthe trappingsofchristmas.”
Butevenshe canget tiredof some of it
“Withchristmas music, some of it is so oversaturated,”she says.“Mariah carey’s‘AllIWantfor christmasisYou’ used to drivemeinsane. Youcould not escape it.I dealt with my Mariah carey dramabymakinganact in theshow. We usethatsongwith10tap dancingreindeer,and it turnsintoa giant striptease pillow fight. Ireclaimed it.”
That actisn’t in this year’s show,but there’splentyofsaucy holidayfun in Kitten N’ Lou’s“Jingle Allthe Gay,” whichrunsDec.21-22 at theNew MarignyTheatre
Theholiday show changesevery year, butit’salwaysfullofmusic,comedy, dancing, drag,burlesque andmore. Thepremise is that Kitten N’ Louare celebratingthe holidays,and acastof recurringand newcharacterspop in to visit, akin to “Pee-wee’s Playhouse.”
This year,KittenN’Lou arecelebratingathomewiththeir childLittleLord Leroy, whoisplayedbylocal burlesque star Jeez Loueez.Someofthe regular guests includeJesus,who is played by IlvesStrauss.
“Our Jesusisgay andveryfunny and charming,” Laruesays. In oneofthe show’s topicalnods, he hasaphone conversation with hisfatherabout currentevents, like therecentelection, Laruesays.
Newtothe show this year arethe neighbors, theKarens: Karen, played by NewOrleansburlesque dancer Lola vanella, andcaren,playedby Victoria DeVille, asinger, actorand drag performerfromMinneapolis.The duosay they arejustroommates,but they’velived together for32years Andtheybring aHanukkahnumberto theshow.
Theproduction features performers from across thecountry.Mr. Gorgeous is aper former andcostume designer from NewYork. He playsthe notso Little DrummerBoy.Los Angeles’ Tito Bonito, theself-described “cuban Missilecrisisofburlesque,” playsFruitcake
There is aNativityscene in the “Jingle” show,and it’s setto“TheDevil Went Down to Georgia.”
TheSkivvies
Duelingglockenspielsenhance the holidaysound,but TheSkivvies’ “SleighMyName” is ahilarious mash-upofholiday songsand pop hits,including Destinychild’s “Say My Name,” thedreidel song,Quadcity DJs’ “c’Mon N’ ride It (The Train)” andLionelrichie’s“SayYou,Say Me.” Mash-ups andoriginaltunes drive theSkivviescatalog,but performing in theirunderwear helped propel theircareerinNew York clubsand online videos.The duoofactorsNick cearley andLaurenMolinareturns to NewOrleans with theirholiday show, “StockingStuffers.”Theyplayukelele, cello, variouspercussioninstruments andare backed by adrummer in a show featuringscheduled localguests includingWhitney Mixon, Greg Kata, Geneva Joy, KimberleyKayeand more.At7:30p.m.Tuesday,Dec.17, andWednesday,Dec.18, at Le Petit Theatre. Tickets$15-$50 vialepetittheatre.com.
redBone, aSan Francisco-based burlesque dancer,plays,Gloria, “The AngelWeHaveHeard Is High.”
Theshowwas star tedinSeattle, whereLarue andLou HenryHoover used to live andper form theirburlesque anddragact.Ithad different names, includingastint as “Homo forthe Holidays,” in yearswhen BenDeLacreme from “ruPaul’sDrag race”was aregular cast member
Kitten N’ Louwerealwaysco-producers,but in 2018,theybecamesole producersand rebrandeditas“Jingle Allthe Gay.”It’sgrown in popularity, andlastyeartheyhad arun of 22 soldoutshows in Seattle, La ruesays. This year,they’re moving to a700-seat theaterthere, andalsobringingthe show to NewOrleans.The bigger venuesmeantheycan bringinthe large cast of performers from elsewhere. Next year,theyplantoadd showsin NewYorkand Houston.
During thepandemic, Kitten N’ Lou hosted aNativityshowintheir backyard in Bywater. That production featured burlesque performerJeezLoueezas baby Jesus. She’sinthisyear’sshow as Little Lord Leroy, who’shavinga fit aboutdesired christmasgifts.Local singer,actress andsingerAngie Zmakes her debutinthe show as Kitten’s little sister Bunny.
Much of themusic is traditional, and Laruesaysthatbythe end, everyone will be able to sing along. There’salsoa “Nutcracker”number.
“Thisyearwehavea little ‘hanging thestockings by thechimney with care’duetwithFruitcake andMr. Package, played by Keyes(Wiley) and Tito,” shesays. “Theydoaduetto ‘Sugar Plum Fairy.’”
Allalong theshowhas been steeped in christmastraditions, though often subverted, anditwas always forpeople whomight be spending theholidays with chosen families,Larue says.
“A lotofpeoplefeellonelyduring christmas, or estrangedfromtheir families,” Laruesays. “The aimofour show wastobring allthose people in andhelpthemfeellikethere’s aplace forthematthe holidays as well.The show titleischeeky, butit’sfor people whohatechristmas andfor people wholovechristmas.Who doesn’tlove lights andtrees andcandy andall that stuf f? Some people come with their real families.It’sabout beingwiththe people youloveina fabulously tacky, deliciousdisplay.”
HarryShearer and Judith Owen’s Christmas WithoutTears
Comedian HarryShearer andsinger Judith Owen lead ahost of musicians andactorsintheir annual holidayconcert of traditionaland irreverent songs andhumor.Proceedsbenefit Innocence ProjectNew Orleans. At 8p.m Tuesday, Dec. 17,atOrpheum Theater. Find ticketsonticketmaster.com.
NOLA ChristmasFest
Theholiday festival andattraction at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center createsa winter wonderland with iceskating,ice slides,a carousel, amusementrides,a boccecourt,sleigh rides, photos with Santaand more Therealsoisaholiday tree,minigolf, akids’ zone anda playground.The
LouHenry Hoover (left) andKittenLaRue star in ‘JingleAll theGay.’
TheNew OrleansCityCouncil steppedupin2024asMayor LaToya cantrell steppedout. Thecouncil this year passed key measures that will improvecity services,including onethatdirects theSewerage& WaterBoard to hire an outsidefirmtotakeover theagency’spainfully slow appeals processfor billingdisputes. Others includenew measures aimedat curbingillegal short-term rentals andrules to hold badactors accountableduringcarnival.
Helena Moreno makesfrstNew Orleans mayorcampaignappearanceat Uptown wine bar
NewOrleans sawa steepdecline in violentcrime in 2024.While FBIdatainOctober showed a nationwide 10%decreasein violentcrime anda 23%decrease in murder,New Orleanshad a 39%fallinmurders and46% fornon-fatal shootings. By the endofNovember, police had investigated 111 murdersin2024, compared to 180bythatpoint in 2023
Louisianavoter turnout continuestobea real probleminoff-cycleelections.While November’s presidential election sawa 66% statewideturnout,justlessthan 11%showeduptovoteonDec.7 election days in Marchand April also sawturnoutsinthe 10%to 20%range. 51
THEPERCENTAGEOF WORKING-AGEADULTS IN LOUISIANAWITHA POSTHIGHSCHOOL CREDENTIAL OR DEGREE.
That’s ajumpof4 percentage points comparedto2021, accordingtothe stateBoard of regents, whichoverseeshigher public education. TheTimes-Picayunerepor ts that by theend of 2023-2024academic year,morethan73,000adultsaged25-64 have apostsecondary credential such as an associateorbachelor’sdegree, atechnical diplomaoranindustry-basedcer tification
CITY COUNCILPRESIDENT HELENA
MORENO LAUNCHED HERCAMPAIGN
formayor of NewOrleans at wine bar Oak&Ale Wednesdayevening,officially markingthe startofthe 2025 citywide campaign season.
“Weare at apoint in ourcityright nowwherepeopleItalkto. take a look at this mayor’srace, andthey say, ‘Thisisreallygoing to be the determiningfactoronwhetheror notweare able to stay in this city,’ ” Moreno told reportersather launch party.
Moreno,aDemocrat, is thefirst majornametoannounceinthe mayor’sraceand says she’srunning on aplatformofchange. In both campaign materialsather launch party, shevowed to be a“24/7 mayor,”seemingly ajab at Mayor LaToya cantrell andher busy travel schedule.
“Tobeagoodmayor meansthat youhavetobea 24/7 mayor,” Moreno told reporters. “Thatmeans that youmustalwaysprioritizethe people of NewOrleans,and they have to come first. So that’s obviouslya bigsacrifice on apersonand a bigsacrifice on afamily.”
Shealready hassomeinfluential folksonher side.clerk of First city cour tDonna Glapionand longtime progressiveorganizer LyndaWoolard areco-chairing her campaign,named Helena Moreno forOur Future.She also hasthe backingofsomeculturalheavy hitters,including localhip-hop legends Partners-n-crime
Former WDSUchief meteorologist Margaret Orr, Nonno’sowner chef Shermond esteen Jr., former Gordon PlazaresidentLydwina Hurst, and domestic violence victimsadvocate MarieclaireLandryalsoall appeared in hercampaignvideo.
Oak&Ale waspackedfor Moreno’s launch party, with Orr, Hurst, state rep. JasonHughes, former interim police chiefMichelleWoodfork, membersofthe NewOrleans Baby Doll Ladies andevenBelden“Noonie Man” Batisteinattendance. She walked into thebar to LilWayne’s “right AboveIt” to greetthem.
“It’syou,the people of New Orleans, whomakeour city extraordinary,” Moreno said in an introduction videoher campaign released Wednesdaymorning.
WhichNew Orleansstory will you remember most from 2024?
THESAGAOFSCRIM
THEEND OF THE DENNIS ALLENERA
Helena Moreno talkstoreportersat hercampaignlaunchparty.
PH OT OBYM AD DI ES PI NNE R/ GA MB IT
Awell-knownfgure in NewOrleans Moreno,who wasborninMexico andlived thereuntil shewas eight, star tedher career as aT Vjournalist in NewOrleans at WDSU.“No one outworks you,”Orr told Moreno in thecampaignvideo.
Butshe said it wasHurricane Katrinaand reportingonpolitical problems that motivatedher to switch gearsand runfor office.
Moreno ranfor congress in 2008 but lost to thelongtimeincumbent William Jefferson. Shefound successin 2010 when shewon aseatinthe statelegislature representing District 93,which she held until2018. As astate legislator,she made anamefor herselfasachampion fordomesticviolencevictims,passing apackage of billsmeant to give victims more protections.
In 2018,she left thelegislature to take acitywideseatonthe New Orleanscitycouncil,which she’s held ever since.
UnderMoreno’sleadership, the councilset aside$24 milliontoredevelopLincoln Beachand relocated residentsofGordon Plazawho had
been living on toxicsoil. Heroffice also createdapathway forfoodpopupsto operatelegally by partnering with ahostkitchen such as in abar or restaurant
Shecited theGordonPlaza relocation andmanagingtokeepentergy NewOrleans from jackingupbills to payfor HurricaneIda damage as her proudestaccomplishments.
“Thereweresomethingsthatpeople said wouldnever getdoneorwould neverbeaccomplished,”she said.
As acouncil member,Morenooften votesagainstcantrell’spreferences buthasn’tbeenher loudestcritic on thecouncil.characterized by a polished public presence,she tendsto stay outofcontroversy
As mayor, Moreno said she’dwork with councilmembers to help them work on theissuestheyare most passionate about.
“Not only does it make us as a counciland administration look good, it makesthe city look good,” shesaid. Focuson‘rebuilding government ’ Moreno startedoff hercampaign videododging sidewalk obstaclesin
blackheels andbellbottomslacks.
“Weall know NewOrleans hasthe potentialtobeextraordinary,but right noweventhe ordinarytrips us up,” shequipped
Shesaidasmayor shewants to “rebuild government from the ground up.”
Accordingtocampaignmaterial, hercampaignwillfocus on making NewOrleans more af fordable for itsresidents,creating“asafer NewOrleansfor families in every neighborhood,” improvinginfrastructureand building a“government that gets services right, removes roadblocks andempowers ourpeople.”
Moreno told reportersthe city needsto“move in anew direction when it comestorecruiting” police officers,but said herpublicsafety plan wouldbeabout more than just adding more officers
“There aresomenew things that you’re goingtosee in my public safety plan that youprobablyhaven’t read before butare some things that other cities aredoing that couldtakeusina
positive direction,”she said Herteamispreparing to release afullcampaignplatforminthe spring —KayleePoche
NewOrleans makes movestodemolishPlaza Tower, thecity’s‘most wanted’ eyesore
AFTERTHREATENING ACTION ON THE PLAZATOWER FORYEARS,Mayor LaToya cantrell’s administration has wonapprovalofamultimillion dollar plan that wouldfirst secure andthen potentiallydemolishthe blighted New Orleansskyscraper.
During aGovernmentalAffairs committeemeeting on Wednesday, city councilmembers voted3-0 to approvea contract with renascent Inc.,anIndianapolis-baseddemolition firm.Ifthe contract is approved by the full council, as expected,renascent wouldconducta floor-by-floor assessment of thebuildingand undertake a$2.75 millionplantomakethe half-century-old structuresafe.
You’re free to live your Becauseyou’vegot the the cross, the security andthe comfort ofBlu
rlifeout loud! compassion of of the shield, ebehind you.
renascentwould also be in position to demolish it,atanestimated cost of $28million,ifsoordered, accordingtoAustinWilty,a city attorney whooutlinedthe contracttothe councilonbehalfofthe cantrell administration committeechairperson JP Morrell, in teeing up thevoteonthe two-part plan,saiditwas somethingthat“the people of NewOrleans have been waitingfor foryears.”
“Itisone of thosethingswhere everybodyisinagreement that this is necessary,”Morrell added. “Ifthere was, like,anFBI Most Wanted list of blighted structures in thecityofNew Orleans, this wouldbenumberone.”
However, theowner of the building slammedthe decision and said he wouldseeklegal advice to determinewhether thecitywas overstepping itsauthority
randyWaesche,the executor of theestateofthe late JoeJaeger, the developerwho ownedthe building foradecadebeforehis deathina caraccidentlastJune, said he had signed atentative agreementon Wednesdaywithapotential buyerof PlazaTower
We’vemadeefforts to wrap the building andalready hadour people look at it from astructuralpoint of
view andwe’ve hadongoing discussionswiththe city”about additional measures to make it safe.
“I will be gettingadviceinglobo engineering, legaland politicaladvice —and plan to continue to work cooperativelywiththe city to resolve thesituation,” Waeschesaid PlazaTower,which wasone of thecity’sfirst skyscraperswhenit wascompleted in 1969,has been deterioratingsince it wasabandoned by itslasttenants in 2002 following chronicproblemswithmold,faulty elevatorsand otherdeficiencies.
councilmemberLesli Harris, whoseDistrictBincludesthe Plaza Tower, said time hadrun outfor thebuilding, whichhas been cited fordozensofcodeviolationsover theyears.
“We’ve done thecarrotthing,now it’s time forastick to getthe ownership to do somethingwiththisbuilding,”Harrissaid. “Ifthey’re notgoing to do anything with it,thenI thinkit absolutely hastobedemolished.”
Shenoted that despitemeasures by theowner to putupadditional safety fencingand ametallic“hairnet”coveringthe topfloors, debris continuedtofalloff thebuildingas recently as last month.
That hasrequiredstreets near the building to be closed to thepublic yetagain. —Anthony McAuley/ TheTimes-Picayune
YOUWANTPROOF THAT EVERYVOTE COUNTS,check out theresults of the JeffersonParish School Board’sproperty taxproposition on Dec. 7. Thenew 10.89-mill taxwould have givenpublic school teachersa significant payraise, butparish voters rejected it by ascant 319votes,according to complete but unofficial returns.
That’s just over 1 vote perprecinct.
Thedifference betweenpassage andfailure came down to election Dayturnout anda lack of supportfromthe Jefferson business community.
Haditpassed, thenew millagewould have increasedpay forcertified public school teachersinJefferson by $8,300 andallowed theschoolboard to offer thehighest starting salary forteachers in thehighly competitiveNew Orleans area.That’smorethanenoughfodder forasuccessfulcampaign.
Moreover,earlyvotersinJefferson supportedthe propositionbya comfortable 1,308-vote margin.Inmost elections, theearlyvotetelegraphs what to expect on election Day. Notthistime.
Whatwentwrong?
To putitbluntly,supportersofthe propositionfailedtoturnout theirvotersinsufficientnumbers in precincts wherethe taxpassedonelectionDay Alookatprecinct-by-precinctreturns drives home that pointinstark terms. Overallturnout wasapaltry12.8%, butthatdoesn’t tell thewhole story.
Theaverage turnoutinprecincts that rejected themillage wasroughly 14%. In precinctsthatsupported thetax, turnoutaveragedaround7%—and in some of them,itwas less than 5%. That’s pathetic
Geographically,the millagepassed on theWestBankwithalmost53% of thevote, butitfailedonthe more populous east Bank,where more than 56%voted againstit.
Theeasiest thingtodoinpolitics is kill atax proposal.Passing a tax, especially anew one, is always
difficult. Withoutsignificant support from alarge coalitionofbusiness, labor andcommunityinterests,evenscant opposition canbeenoughtoderaila taxproposition
Timing is also an important factor,because it candramatically af fect turnout.
Severalofthose factorssealedthe fate of theschoolboard’s proposition. Thetimingwas dicey, becauseturnout is always lowinDecemberelections
Theproposition also failed to garner supportfromthe parish’s twomain business groups —the Jefferson chamberofcommerceand the JeffersonBusinesscouncil,bothof whichtookno position
Thenonpartisan Bureau of Governmental research supportedthe proposition, butBGr’s supportdoesn’t come with money. Jefferson’stwo business groups have politicalaction committees that couldhaveprovided crucialfinancial backing.
TheJefferson Federation of Teachers didits part by leadingthe effort to convince voters to supportthe tax. Unionmembers distributedflyers in carpoollanes andcanvassed doorto-door— butitwasn’tenough.
Severalboard membershave acknowledged theirfailure to make the case amongvotersaswellasbusiness leaders. They vowtotry again. They should.And next time, they’llknowexactly wherethey need to do better
2024 election stickers
2024 once againshowed theneed forafreeand independentpress
IT HASBEEN ABUSYYEARINTHE NEWS BUSINESS HERE IN NEWORLEANS and indeed around thecountry andthe world. Whilethe pernicious effect of venturecapitalismhas sadlyturned many communitiesinthe United States into news desertsoverthe last decade,New Orleanscontinues to have astrongmedia environment— andaparticularlyrobustalternative news space.
Thenewsbusinesscan be cutthroat,and thecompetition for scoops andexclusivescan oftenpit reportersand outletsagainst each other.But if we’velearned anything from thedecadelongcollapseoflocal news in other partsofthe country, it’s that avibrant,independent news ecosystemiscritical,not only forthe communitiesweserve butfor ourown institutionsaswell.
forprint andweb publishing,outlets like Antigravity, Verite News,The LouisianaIlluminator andThe Lens have allcontinued to work tirelessly to inform ourcommunity,highlight injustices,exposecorruptionand uplift localmusicians andartists
That’s especially true when faced with institutions that arehostile to theoperation of afreeand open press. Forinstance, MayorLaToya cantrell’s administration essentially shut itsdoors to thepress this year They refuse to respondtorequests forcomment,the mayornolonger conducts open pressconferences, andthey’ve begunslow-walkingpublicrecordsrequests. Theadministration hasevenstarted ef fortstocreate propaganda outletsassubstitutes for actual news organizations.
That hasmadethe work of independentmedia,and in particular alternative outlets, allthe more critical. Despitedifficult economic times
In thelasttwo months alone, Antigravityhas produced itsvenerable voterguidesnot once buttwice; produced acrucial step-by-step guidereaders canuse to report illegal shor t-term rentals;and writtenabout theFredHampton Free Store, a Lower9th Ward communal shop in aformerDollarTreebuildingthat also acts as afreecommunity events space.Over at TheLens, MartaJewsoncontinues to be the dean of educationrepor ting in New Orleans. Herrepor ting successfully pullsbackthe too-of tenopaque curtainofschool fundingand administration, providing thecommunity with invaluable,easyto understand insights into this crucialgovernmentfunction. Although most of theirworktechnicallytakes place in Batonrouge, theIlluminator’s JulieO’Donoghue andPiper Hutchinson also deservespecial mention. The duoanchorthe Illuminator’sstate capitolcoverage—and they had theirhands full in 2024.Fromtheir coverage of thevariousspecial and jam-packed regularsessionsofthe legislaturetoGov.Jef fLandry’s firstyearinoffice, Hutchinson and O’Donoghue worked tirelessly this year.Their work wasinstrumental in informingthe public aboutthe monumental changestowomen’s health, reproductive rights and criminal justicepolicy, to name butafew areas.
Sadly, 2024 wasnot withoutits losses to thelocal medialandscape. We lost Smiley Anders,whose uniquely Louisianan column graced thepages of TheAdvocateand Times-Picayune formostofhis more than five-decadecareerinjournalism. Gordon russell, whospent 25 years
at TheTimes-Picayuneand Advocate andoversaw thepaper’s 2019 Pulitzer Prize-winningnon-unanimous jury series,departedthisfallfor the Boston Globe. In ablowtoour cultural community, OffBeatMagazine’s publisherannounced it wouldbe shutting down NewOrleans Patron Saintof MeteorologyMargaretOrr hung up herDoppler spursafter 45 years on theair.And of course,our own clancy DuBosannounced he wouldbe retiring from theink-stained wretch racket at theend of theyear.Despite thoselosses, we enter2025ona hopefulnote. TheT-P’s newcityHall reporter,James Finn,hit theground runningin2024and hasbeenmaking waves, includingwithhis deep dive into thecollapseinMayor cantrell’s suppor tnetwork.The paper’s newinvestigative editor,Andrea Gallo, remains oneofthe very best journalistsinthe state, andher team hascontinued to do incredible work, includingthisyear’s deep dive into thecity’sinfrastructureproblems. With what’s expected to be ahardfought mayoralelectionkicking off, thepotential forindictments being filedagainst themayor andher continued indifference to city operations,
Aclassicprintingpress once used by theTimes-Picayune.
it’s good to know thecity’sdaily is preparedfor what will be abusyyear. Meanwhile, theGuardian’sramon Vargas (a T-Palum) continuesto shine abrightand unyielding lighton sexual abuseand assaultwithinthe catholic church.
Finally, anoteofthankstoour team hereatGambit. Over thelast year,theyhavedoneyeoman’swork in covering everyaspectofour community.Ashas long been ourmission, Gambit continuedtocover ourvibrant localmusic andfoodscenes, exposed problems in city government and highlightedthe people andpersonalitiesthatmakeour city so amazing (and oftenslightlyweird).
This work hasn’t just been done by ourwriters:It’sbeenateam ef fort whichcould only happen with thetirelessworkofour production team,sales staf fand distributor. Withoutall of them,Gambitwould notbepossible.
As we enterthe finalweeks of theyear, we look forwardtocontinuingthattradition in 2025 andwish ourreaders ahappy andhealthy NewYear.
Margaret Orrinher garden in NewOrleans
PH OT OBYS AR AH RAVI TS /G AM BI T
Holiday Entertainment
Getyourtickets nowto ourpopul ar holiday programs including thenew Victor yBelles Ring in theSea sonshow.
Extendyourstayonthe Museum campus with special Papa Noel ratesand holiday Reveillondinners at TheHig gins Hotel&ConferenceCenter. Vi sithigginshotelnola.com.
@GambitBlake |askblake@gambitweekly.com
Hey Blake,
Whileatthe Saenger Theatrerecently, I told afriendabout theSaenger Orleans, aseparatemovie theaterthere that I remember goingto in the1970s.What wasthe firstmovie that showedthere andwhendid the theaterclose?
Dear reader,
THESAENGER THEATREOPENEDONFEB. 4, 1927 as a4,000-seatmovie theater andvaudevillehouse.For thefirst threedecades of itshistory,movies were shownonjustone largescreenat thecanal Street theater.
In 1964,Paramount Gulf Theaters, whichowned theSaenger,announced aplantocreateasecondtheater in the mezzanine, offering limited showings of wide-screenmovies(at higher ticket prices). The700-seattheater was createdbybuildinga wall in frontofthe balconytodividethe larger spaceinto twosmaller theaters.
“Picturesofspecial distinctionand long-run possibilitiesare earmarked forthislimited-seatauditorium,” explainedTimes-Picayuneartscritic FrankGagnard in aMay 7, 1964 article. “The ‘downstairsSaenger’willcontinuewithproductsofgeneral nature.”
TheSaengerOrleans opened July 22, 1964 with “Becket,”starring richard Burton andPeter O’Toole. On opening night“Klieglightsand asold-out audience greetedthe openingofthe mezzanine area theater,”according to TheTimes-Picayune, whichreported that MayorVic Schiro “pressed the button on an electric transmitterthat startedthe mechanicaloperation of thehandsomenew theater.”
Astringof1960s and‘70smovie musicals played there, including“My Fair Lady,” “The SoundofMusic,” “camelot,” “Sweet charity,”“Hello, Dolly!”and “cabaret.”
Undernew owners,the Saenger closed in 1978 forrenovations.The SaengerOrleans didnot return andthe wall that separatedthe twotheaters waseliminated when thebuilding reopened in 1980.
JAMESBOOKERISKNOWN AS THEBAYOU MAHARAJAH,the PianoPrinceand the BlackLiberace, whom Dr.Johnfamouslycalledthe “bestBlack,gay,one-eyed junkie pianogeniusNew Orleanshas ever produced.” Thelate, greatmusic legend wasbornonDec.17, 1939 —85 yearsago this week
Achild prodigy, Jamescarroll Booker IIIbegan training on theclassical pianoat agesix andplayedthe organinchurch, wherehis father wasaBaptist minister.He andhis sister spentsometimeinBay St.Louis during theirchildhood,but Booker returned to NewOrleans at theage of eight.
HishighschoolbanddirectoratXavierPrepSchoolwas none otherthanellis Marsalis,who watchedhim developaplaying styleinfluencednot just by theclassics butalsoProfessor Longhair,ray charles,FatsDominoand other musicgreats. Booker made hisrecording debutatage 14 andwas soon performing with local bandsand recordingwithmusic greats such as LloydPrice,SmileyLewis,Dave Bartholomew, earl King andothers. He wouldalsodevelop theeccentric and flamboyant stagepersona forwhich he wouldbecomefamous.
Booker toured theworld andrecordedsoloalbums, though only oneofhis songs, the1960instrumental“Gonzo,”saw anysignificant sales. He wasaddictedto heroinand plaguedbybouts of mental illness. Drug arrestsbrought himincontact with OrleansDistrictAttorneyHarryconnick andthe D.A.’s sonHarry Jr., whom Booker tutoredonpiano andmentored.
When Booker died in 1983 at theage of 43,tributespouredinfromthroughoutthe musicworld.Thirtyyears later, thepiano virtuoso wasthe subjectofthe acclaimed 2013 documentaryfilm, “Bayou Maharajah: TheTragicGeniusofJames Booker.”
BL AK E VI EW
TheSaenger Theatre
FleurdeLea f: Rooted in NOLA , BranchingOut South
This ar ti cl ei sb ro ught to yo ub yF le ur de Leaf
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R U NNI N ’
WIL D
From Scrim to MayorCantrell, NewOrleans wasonthe move in 2024
BY
IT’S HARDTOBELIEVE that just 12 months ago, Louisiana’scriminal justicesystemwasn’tstuck in the19th century, womencould stillsafelyaccess certaintypes of life-savingmedications, indictmentsrelated to Mayor LaToya Cantrell were butaglimmer in federalprosecutors’eyesand nobody hadheard of adog namedScrim. 2024 trulyfeltlikeitwas several decadeslong.
Theyearstarted offwellenough. Ashort Carnivalseasonmeant New OrleansjumpedstraightfromNew Year’s EvetoTwelfth Nighttodancing in thestreets.The Saints clobbered theFalcons in theirlastgameofthe 2023 season,and thePelicanslooked like they mightactuallydosomething with themselves
Butthe worm quicklyturned. In January,newly electedGov.JeffLandry convenedaspecial legislativesession ostensibly to addressviolent crimein thestate.But rather than push through education, economicand mental
Turk,B.G., LilWayne andJuvenileperform during LilWeezyana Fest Saturday,November2,atthe Smoothie King Center.
healthcarereforms to help alleviate therootcausesof crimeand violence, theClownfish andhis GOPmajorities in thestate Houseand Senate looked backward,eliminating ahostof bipartisan criminal justicereforms putinplace underformerGov.John BelEdwards
TheghostsofMardi Gras past also made an appearance when theKrewe of Thothshotoff paperstreamers—and knockedout poweralong St.Charles Avenue.And theKrewe of Chad decidedtotakethingstoa newlevel of obnoxiousnesswiththe appearance of “disposable” portalets. It gottothe pointthatthe NewOrleans City Councilwould laterstepinand pass newordinancestoaddress these andother problems associatedwith Carnivalparades.
In thespring, MayorCantrelland her allegedparamourformerNOPD officerJeffrey Vappie were caught on film during an intimate dinner —which prompted themayor to file aspurious restrainingorder againstthe amateur paparazzithatsnapped thepics. That, in turn,led to acounter suit andfresh corruption allegationsthatCantrellor Vappie illegallyusedtheir positionsto identify andtargetthe woman.
Speaking of Vappie,bythe summerhe’dbeindictedbythe feds for corruption,aswould acontractorwith ties to Cantrell.Althoughthe mayor herself has(as of presstime, at any rate)not been indicted, shewas clearly identified in both thosecourt filingsas beinginvolved.
On theculture side of things,itwas abig,busyyearfor NewOrleans.The
RollingStonesfinally came to town to headline Jazz Fest,the Hot Boys hadtheir long-awaited reunion at LilWeezyanaFestand thereigning monarchofpop,TaylorSwift, came to town foranhistoricthreenightstand at theSuperdome that pumped more than half abillion into thelocal economy.
Andofcoursethere wasScrim, thescrappy poochwho captured the hearts andminds of NewOrleans as he defiantlywalkedthe earthlike some sort of canine Cainefrom “Kung Fu.”
Whileall of that wouldbeenough foraneventfulyear, it barely scratches thesurface of this year’s highlights andlowlights.Luckily,thisweekwe presentyou with thegood, thebad and theweird that was2024.
JO HN ST AN TO N| GA MB IT ED IT OR
FLIGHT RISK?
2024 City Politics Year in Review
BY KA YL EE PO CH E
IF NEW ORLEANS POLITICAL NEWS IN 2024 could be distilled down to one word, it would simply be: messy.
It’s a word that definitely applies to Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s year, with legal investigations surrounding her administration at every turn
In June, the city’s former 911 director Tyrell Morris was formally charged after he did not take a drug and alcohol test after allegedly wrecking a public vehicle and then attempting to cover it up The following month, New Orleans Police Officer Jeffrey Vappie, and Cantrell’s former bodyguard, was charged with wire fraud and allegedly lying to the FBI about having a romantic relationship with the mayor. The trial is set for July 2025.
In September, businessman Randy Farrell was formally charged with fraud and conspiracy to commit fraud, including buying Cantrell thousands worth of gifts allegedly to get the mayor to fire a city official who was investigating Farrell. Several staffers also left the administration this year, including Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Thomas Mulligan and the city’s first ever Night Mayor, Howie Kaplan. Meanwhile, Cantrell, who is also under federal investigation, has largely avoided taking questions from the news media, instead trying out her own city-controlled channels, launching an infrequent podcast earlier this year and recently announcing a “news” show her office is planning to create
She’s also maintained a busy travel schedule that would make even your rich acquaintance who’s always posting their trips on Instagram jealous, venturing this year to places like Rio de Janeiro, Spain, Mexico City, Qatar, Montreal and Beverly Hills to name a few.
Shor t-term rentals and Super Gras prep
A FEDERAL JUDGE FINALLY RULED at the end of February that the STR rules the city council passed in 2023 were constitutional and could take effect, including rules capping STRs to one per block but letting the council approve up to two exemptions on a case-by-case basis.
However, the rollout of that exemption process didn’t go too well, overwhelming some council offices with the sheer number of applications and inaccurate recommendations from the City Planning Commission on whether to approve each one. This eventually led the council to stop accepting new applications.
To nobody’s surprise, the city has been having trouble enforcing the new STR rules and getting illegal listings taken down permanently. So the council passed a law in October making STR platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo responsible for checking if a rental is licensed with the city before letting someone list and rent it out on their site.
But it won’t take effect until March, which is after New Orleans hosts the
Super Bowl and much of Carnival, which ends with Mardi Gras on March 4. That means, conveniently for illegal operators, there won’t be much teeth to enforcement until after another tourist-heavy season.
Speaking of, the city has been busy gearing up for what they’re dubbing Super Gras, aka the ambitious task of hosting the 2025 Super Bowl in the middle of Carnival season. That means construction and roadwork projects downtown, and perhaps just as importantly, attempts to clamp down on the infamous Krewe of Chad and their obnoxious Carnival time behaviors.
In July, the council passed a ban on all tents, tarps, couches, portable toilets, scaffolding and viewing platforms, gas generators and charcoal and gas grills along parade routes. They did, however, stop short of implementing “Chadcatchers” on streetcars, a device
modeled off the cowcatchers on the front of trains that push obstacles off the tracks.
Much to the delight of news headline writers everywhere, the council also nixed the Krewe of Nyx, taking away its Wednesday parade permit due to low attendance and giving it to the Krewe of ALLA instead.
War on small businesses?
THIS YEAR WAS ALSO A CLOSE CALL for the city’s art markets, which were in jeopardy after Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s administration this spring decided to start applying a 1956 law, seemingly intended for car shows, to them. The administration was telling organizers they’d now need to start buying a bond for each market, which they could lose part of if every vendor at their market didn’t pay city sales tax
New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell in August
on time, making what’s already a labor of love for many untenable.
Vice President JP Morrell’s solution, which the council passed in August, was to let events with less than 35 vendors happen without a bond, as long as the event is admission free and has two or less vendors that accept cash That still didn’t help larger art markets like Freret Street Market, however.
Between that and the city threatening unlicensed street vendors in the French Quarter with jail time, the city seemed to be especially targeting small and micro businesses while letting others with more money and resources off the hook, as our editor John Stanton wrote.
Up to the voters
NEW ORLEANS’ FRAGILE INFRASTRUCTURE continued to cause quality of life problems, including during the sweltering month of August when there were seven “fair weather” power outages in three weeks. During one incident, a Sewerage & Water Board worker suffered a serious injury trying to restore pumps after a Mylar (foil) balloon caused a power outage resulting in a citywide boil advisory In November, the council banned the release of foil balloons, which are flammable and can react with power lines and cause outages.
Meanwhile, the S&WB was on the hunt for an additional $29 million to complete an important new power station. After the state didn’t give them the money they needed to match a federal grant, council members found city money in September to cover it, and it’s expected to finally be ready by the middle of next year State and city mandated changes to the billing process have already improved the S&WB’s problematic billing system. Next year will be telling for the agency as it tries to regain enough public confidence to get voters to agree to keep funding it in 2026.
But coming up even sooner is the 2025 mayoral race, which is already starting to take shape. Council President Helena Moreno announced her run Dec. 11 Others who may jump in the race are state Sen. Royce Duplessis and Council Member Oliver Thomas, who both also could run for an at-large council seat instead. Council Member Joe Giarrusso announced in November he wouldn’t run for office again in 2025, choosing to work for a private law firm.
2025 left us with a lot of questions. Can the council get rid of the Krewe of Chad? Will the new STR law actually prevent illegal listings? Will the new power station come online in time for hurricane season? How will these corruption trials play out? Who will become the next mayor? All eyes are on 2025 for some answers.
THE NEVERENDING ST O RY
2024 State
Politics Year in Review
BY KA YL EE PO CH E
THIS YEAR the Louisiana state political news started early, and it didn’t stop coming, and it didn’t stop coming and it didn’t stop coming, like one of those horrifying troll edits of Smash Mouth’s “All Star.”
State legislators started making laws early in the year and ended late, with new Gov. Jeff Landry calling them to Baton Rouge for a whopping three special sessions
The first session was because a federal court ordered state lawmakers to redraw the congressional voting districts they drew in 2022 At that time, they swore up and down that the map was legal despite only making one of the six districts majority Black when Black people make up a third of Louisiana’s population.
The federal district court agreed the math wasn’t mathing and ordered lawmakers to draw another majority-Black district They did, only to have a three-judge panel throw out the new map. The Supreme Court let the state use the new map for the 2024 elections, and Louisiana elected a second Black U.S. representative, Cleo Fields, in November
But he may not want to get too comfortable. The Supreme Court will have the final say over whether the new district stands when they take up the case next year, with a decision expected by next summer
Round Two
THEN IN FEBRUARY, there was a second special session in which Republicans used fear surrounding crime as an opportunity to reverse bipartisan reforms to the criminal legal system They blamed the reforms for crime rising in Louisiana during the pandemic, even though spikes happened across the country during that time. In fact, by the time the special session started, crime rates were already declining. They easily passed laws to put people behind bars longer and give them fewer second chances for good behavior, which will cost the state more money.
The new laws also require the system to treat all 17-year-olds as adults, even though few are accused of violent crimes This means longer sentences and all of their arrests being made public, which makes it harder for them to reenter society, as Richard Webster reported in a partnership between Verite News and ProPublica
Dissatisfied with the paper-bag-over-the-head worthy results for Democrats in the 2023 fall elections, a wave of new and veteran faces alike teamed up to oust controversial party head Katie Bernhardt. Several considered running to replace Bernhardt, but ultimately, in typical dysfunctional fashion, she
New Orleans City Council President Helena Moreno is running for mayor.
on Dec. 5, 2024
couldn’t even getsomeone to nominate her to keep thejob at theparty meeting —resulting in former statelegislator Randal Gaines winningbydefault,asthe LouisianaIlluminator’s PiperHutchinson reported in April.
Round Three
MEANWHILE, STATELAWMAKERS
GAVELEDTHEMSELVES back in session starting in March, this time to take care of theirregular business.Though abortion is alreadybannedinLouisiana in almost allcases,theydecided they hadn’t quitetiedabow on restrictingwomen’s health care.Sodespite public opposition from more than 200 doctors, they passed alaw that classifies mifepristone andmisoprostol as “controlleddangerous substances,” making it illegaltopossess them withouta prescription, unless you’re adoctorora pregnant person intendingtouse them Thetwo drugsare used to causea medicallyinduced abortion,but they’re also commonly used foravarietyof medical purposes includingmanaging miscarriages andstoppingbleeding afterabirth.Hospitals will nowhaveto storethem underlockand keyinstead of having them readilyavailableata bedsidetable in case of emergency. Reproductive rights groups,women and some medical professionalsare suing thestate over thelaw.
Speaking of regularbusiness, legislators doubleddownonanti-LGBTQ measures that former Gov. John Bel Edwards, aDemocrat, hadvetoedwhile he wasin hisoffice, includinga“Don’t SayGay”billbanning K-12 public school employeesand presenters from discussing“sexual orientation” or “gender identity”and onemakingitharderfor transgenderand non-binary students to go by theirchosennames andpronouns at school.Theyalsovoted to force transmen andboystouse women’s restroomsand transwomen andgirls to usemen’s restroomsinschools and other public facilities
Lawmakersalsobrought aslewof anti-unionproposals,but laborunions defeated many of them.Still,lawmakers endedmandatory lunchbreaksfor teen workersand cutthe state’salreadylow unemployment payments.Similarly,
they pulled theplugonmeasuresthat wouldhaveguttedthe statepublic recordslaw butstill passed laws weakeningit.
AfteraccidentallylegalizingTHC products like THCseltzersand edibles, state lawmakersstill couldn’t seem to putthat catbackinthe bag. Localbusinesses whosellthe products fought againstan outright ban, andultimately, legislators settledona compromise tightening restrictions on them,including banning gasstationsfromsellingthem.
Facing an insurancecrisis, legislators also rolled back property insurance protectionsfor homeowners,which InsuranceCommissioner (and former insurancecompany executive)
TimTemplesaidwould make the market more competitiveand lower rates. Housingadvocates worrythe changescould make an alreadybleak situationworse,asTerry Jonesreported forFloodlight.
RoundFour
FORTHEIR GRANDFINALEOFTHE YEAR, statelegislators metinNovemberinthe name of “tax reform.” Alas, theirversion of “reform” meantraising salestaxes in astate that alreadyhas the highestsales taxesinthe nation when combined with localrates in orderto payfor property andincometax cuts forthe wealthyand corporations.These changeswillhit poor people thehardest, butnot to fear,the wealthiest 1% of the statewillsaveanaverage of more than $15,000intaxes
Notsatisfied with treating 17-yearolds as adults in thelegal system, lawmakersare also trying to get permission from voters to expand the list of crimes forwhich they cangive14-, 15-and 16-year-olds adultsentences Andthere’snotelling whereitwillend, with onelegislatorgivingthe terrible twos awhole newmeaning.“Some of thesekidsare alreadylostwhen they’re 2years old,”saidRep.TonyBacala, aPrairievilleRepublican, in aHouse committeemeeting
Thereisa chance forvotersto reject that change,along with partsof Landry’s taxoverhaul, this spring Here’s to hoping 2025 hasfewer than four lawmakingsessions, as alittletreat.
Gov. Jeff Landry andState Rep. Tony Bacala, R-Prairieville,during thebillsigning forthe tax packageatthe StateCapitol
ONE FOR THE
BOOKS
Bartenders
, bookworms and other unsung heroes gave us a little hope in 2024
BY SARAH RAVITS
RETIRED LT. GEN. RUSSEL HONORE once famously told a reporter, “Don’t get stuck on stupid.”
The longtime environmental advocate, former military leader and Hurricane Katrina folk hero’s words still hold weight, nearly 20 years later.
Gambit spent some quality time in Baton Rouge with The General — and his horses — for our first cover story of 2024.
We delved into his ongoing efforts to mitigate climate change and push back against the proliferation of deadly petrochemical plants that are harming and killing Louisiana’s most vulnerable Black residents.
A dedicated family man with an ever-present cigar, Honore also shared how his commitment to his own education as a teenager during the Jim Crow era helped shape him as a leader and inform his worldviews.
As Honore continues to stick up for Louisiana’s poor and sick residents, we also saw efforts by activists on a host of other problems plaguing our state this past year. Louisianans organized to push back against proposed laws that roll back civil rights and attack education, among others. While many efforts didn’t succeed, there were some small wins and further momentum gained.
One important issue in Louisiana and across the country is the uncertain future of public libraries.
During the spring legislative session, Gambit covered how the authoritarian-leaning Louisiana Republicans were echoing their national counterparts in attempts to undermine librarians, in both public libraries and schools.
One bill that passed struck down a longstanding, common-sense requirement that public library directors hold higher education degrees in the library sciences.
Stripping this requirement ushers in opportunities for unqualified people to take leadership roles in libraries, including supporters of book bans, which is essentially what many Republicans want.
Most of these bills ultimately seek to erode librarians’ credibility and undermine trust in public institutions, and there are plenty of people — even those who don’t consider themselves to be political — who will stand up for them.
Removing or relocating certain books could be “extremely harmful to our most vulnerable — our children,” longtime school librarian Amanda Jones of Livingston Parish said at a public library meeting in 2022. “Just because you don’t want to read it or see it does not give you the right to deny [it to] others.”
Jones immediately experienced the dangers of extreme rhetoric against her profession, soon finding herself at the center of a vicious cyber-bullying campaign that carried over to real life.
She received death threats after far-right trolls online shared personal information and damaged her reputation, simply for sticking up for kids’ rights to read.
While other librarians spoke of a chilling effect on their work, Jones decided to face it head on, bolstered by nationwide support from everyday library users, free speech advocates, and others in the profession.
She did it the best way she knew how: by writing her own book, “That Librarian.” She stopped in at New Orleans’ own Garden District Books in September to discuss her plight to a crowd of galvanized library enthusiasts.
With the stress of hurricane season and hot AF weather keeping us inside, Gambit reached out for reading recs from prominent locals, including musicians, artists, politicians and pro athletes. Even Mannie Fresh weighed in!
Throughout the year, we heard from local authors including Alison Fensterstock, Maurice Carlos Ruffin and Jami Attenberg on their new works.
We also checked in with some of our favorite independent book shops. These shop owners and book enthusiasts helped highlight how bookstores can help anchor our communities.
At Baldwin & Co., for example, owner DJ Johnson hopes to drive change for the Black community. The shop is named for civil rights activist James Baldwin, and Johnson hopes to honor him by hosting literacy events, book giveaways and even tutoring sessions for people who are struggling with reading.
Meanwhile, Mik Grantham of Lowpoint in Bywater has been growing her coffee and book shop. An independent publisher and poet herself, Grantham has been hosting wine tastings, author events and live music, curating a distinct vibe that you can’t find at Barnes & Noble or on Amazon.
“It’s really important for us to have human connection,” she told us. “Reading is a solitary act, but it’s all about connecting with people.”
This past year we entered our first hurricane season without Margaret Orr on TV advising us what to do.
Queen Margaret retired at the end of March. Ahead of her final broadcast, we spoke to her and her colleagues about her incredible, trailblazing career and learned that she is as genuinely kind and caring off-screen as she is on TV. Luckily, hurricane season this year mostly just brought anxiety to
New Orleans instead of the devastation it has brought in the past.
Not all heroes wear capes, write books or go on TV.
Throughout 2024, we checked in with some of the city’s most unsung heroes: bartenders. We got to know the people behind the drinks and shared some of their recipes for tailgating, holiday parties and more.
During Mardi Gras, we checked in with an anonymous vigilante dad who was fed-up with the greed associated with the celebration. “Dadio on the Patio” as he is known online, will long be celebrated for taking matters into his own hands and confiscating tarps along the parade route. He’s a figure who reminded us that Mardi Gras is for everyone, not just the territorial Chads.
One of our favorite sources this year was Superfan Steph, a queer icon whose diehard Saints fandom is so profound it helped land her a spot on “Queer Eye” in 2023. Steph is a quintessential New Orleanian who sticks up for others and never gives up even when The Saints — and other conditions — are terrible.
All these unsung heroes help give us all hope going forward into 2025.
Amanda Jones
PHOTO BY KATHRYN & TRAVEIS
PHOTOGRAPHY / PROVIDED BY AMANDA JONES
Baldwin & Co. coffee and bookstore
PHOTO BY MATTHEW PERSCHALL / THE TIMES - PICAYUNE
GI FTI NGLocal
This holidayseason,spend your moneywhere yourhome is .
4-POINT FREEFORM
IN MATTE WHITE
$145 from Potsalot Pottery (3818 Magazine Street, NewOrleans, LA,potsalot.com 504-899-1705).
PHO
CHEF BRYON’S HABANERO FIRE SAUCE 5FL. OZ
$8 from Elizabeth’s Restaurant (601 Gallier Street,New Orleans,LA 70117,504-944-9272, elizabethsrestaurantnola.com
PHO TO PRO VIDED BY ELIZABETH ’S RES
WWII CLUE
$44.99 from WWII Museum Store (945 MagazineStreet, New Orleans, 504-528-1944, store.nationalww2museum.org).
WARM ME UP HOT CHOCOLATE MUG SET
$12.99 from Southern Charm (West Metairie,PlazaShopping Center,5928 W. Metairie Avenue #11 504-655-0178)
$48.99 from NOLA Gifts &Decor (5101 West Esplanade Avenue, Suite#1Metairie,LA, nolagiftsanddecoronline com504-407-3532).
PH OT OP RO VIDED BY NO LA GIFT S& DE CO R
NEWPORTSOFT
QUILT PULLOVER
$148 from Tasc Performance (3913 MagazineStreet, NewOrleans, 504-304-5030, tascperformance.com)
PHO
JOTBLOCK
MOTHER SHUCKER HAND TOWEL
$15 from Aliceand Amelia (4432 Magazine Street,New Orleans, 504-502-6206, shopaliceandamelia.com)
PHO
SWIG MY MARDI ERAMEGAMUG 40OZ
NEWORLEANS IS MY HAPPYPLACE PILLOW
$38 from Aliceand Amelia (4432 MagazineStreet, NewOrleans, 504-502-6206, shopaliceandamelia.com) PHO TO PRO VIDED BY
$49.99 from NOLA Boo (517 Metairie Road #200, Metairie,504-510-4655, nolaboo com)
The Year in Dining
Newrestaurants,big awards andgetting back to theroots by Beth D’Addono |
WHEN IT COMESTOTHE NEWORLEANS
RESTAURANT SCENE,2024was a year wherelarge restaurant groups gotlarger, localbrandsdug in and operatorssmall andlarge continuedto struggle with rising food costs.
Andthrough it all, we stillhad to deal with therestaurantInstagram wall. Askmostchefs,and they are beyond tiredofperformativedining over substance.
Nina compton, JamesBeard award-winningchefand ownerof compareLapin andBABs, is in that number.“I’msooversoullessfood that is pretty forInstagram buttastes likenothing.”
chefspushing over thetop plating is nothingnew –rememberthe architectural stacks of towering food that definedthe1990s? Butsending bacon outhanging by clothespins?
“Wecan’t prioritize styleover substance,”sayschef JulioMachado, whoopenedhis Venezuelanbistro Origen in Bywaterthisyear. “Let’s move away from gimmicks andfocus on flavor.”
restaurateur Dana Honn andhis wife,chefcristinadocarmo Honn,are closingcarmo in theWarehouse District on Dec. 21.Heseesafundamental shift in dining.“Ifeelthat‘cheffiness’got thebetteroffoodand ourfoodsystem this year,” he says.“So much of dining becomesabout ego. Whilesomeofthat is necessary, it shouldn’tbethe point. I just don’tknowifhigh-endgastronomic cuisineissustainable.”
Honn,who is knownfor hisfocus on localseafood andenvironmentally sustainablefarming, believes that this matterstodiners. “I believethatpeoplewantsomereasonintheir food,a reason foreatingwhattheyeat and an actual connection to what they’re eating.But they don’talwaysknow howtoget it.”
Localsourcingshouldn’t be a fashionstatement,headds. “The real thingisabout relationships,”hesays. “I am just goingtokeepmynoseto thegrindstoneand move forward. Instagram andTikTokaren’tgoing away.It’sagamewehavetoplay. But Iwishthere wasmorefocus on the people whoproduce ourfoodand the cultures it comesfrom.” comptonhopes forkinder, more understandingdinersinthe months ahead. “Our industry is stillhealing from covidand allthe changesofhow dining hasevolved,” shesays.
EffieRichardsonand chef SerigneMbaye’s DakarNOLA wonthe JamesBeard award forBestNew Restaurant.
Rooted dining
chefsgetting backtotheir roots, whether that meansfamily, their ethnicityorculinary, is what Machado hopestosee more of in 2025.“Ihope diners aremorecurious andopento authenticflavors,valuingquality over quantityand understandingthe effort behind everydish.”
He longsfor areturntosimplicity andemotional connection through food.Thatmeans things like smaller, focusedmenus with real identity anda genuinecommitmenttosustainability.
“Mypersonalfoodresolutionfor thecomingyearistocookmoreofmy grandmother’srecipes,” says chef eric cook,who closed hiscreole-focused French QuarterrestaurantSaint John andreopeneditonSt. charlesAvenue in theformerLechatNoirspace in September. “can we forget about trends andfocus on tradition?”
chef AomSrisuk, whoexpanded from onerestaurant, Pomelo,totwo with the2024opening of Good catch Thai UrbanBistro, hopesthatdiners bringtheir curiosityalong when they dine with her. “Our food is notdefined by spring rollsand padthai,”she says “I want my guests to trynew exotic
flavors, andspecialsI putonthe menu.”
Machadoplans to keep hisfocus on suppor ting staf fand building honest relationshipswithcustomers.“Simplicity andauthenticity should lead,” he says.“Iwantto keep perfecting my craf t, exploring localingredients and mergingcultures respectfully.”
Openings andClosings
Most of therestaurant closings New Orleanssaw in 2024 were small, momand-pop operations. Tommy’s, an Italian spot ownedbythe growingrestaurant groupcreolecuisine restaurant concepts,isone exception. And in thecaseofTonyMandina’s,the family-owned Sicilian eatery that feddinersinGretnafor 42 years, the owners retired. Thegoodnewsisthat they sold therestauranttoanother localname, Venezia, whichopenedits second location thereinAugust. Many shutteredplaceswerefamily or chef owned, like Mae’sBakeshop, pastry chef Jeremy Fogg’s odetothe Southern bakery.ItopenedinJanuary andclosedlastmonth
Tatianaand Juan Lock’s Tito’s cevicheand Piscoclosedits Magazine Street location.Junctionstopped servingburgers andfries,and rosalita’s is finished with california-styletacos in theBywater,dealing ablowtoaffordable dining in theneighborhood. Also lost were By waterBrewPub andBakeryBar in theLower Garden District.Mukbang on OakStreet called it quits, with theowners choosing to focusonthe smaller MagasinonMagazine.
Aguasanta, acontemporaryrestaurant with Mexicanroots andglobal curiosity, jumped into Mukbang’s space. It’s thesecondrestaurantfrom thefolks behind La TiainMetairie, partners Luis Nava,Leo Vazquezand Ulyssescampos.
Severalhigh-endrestaurants opened,including Nobu at caesars.
emeril Lagasse’slatestproject,34 restaurant &Bar,serveshis version of traditionalPortuguesedishes. Ana castro,along with sister Lydiacastro, openedAcamaya in Bywater. carmoclosing is ablowtoits many fans.Fortunately,the Honnsare busy with other ventures,including the newlyopenedeatWell Kitchen for fresh, fast casual food in Metairie, andNikkei, acreoleizakaya that just openedinthe Broadsideentertainment venueinMid-city.
Shiningstars
Acoupleofrelativelynew spots earned tophonorsatthe JamesBeard FoundationAwards. chef Serigne Mbayeand hisbusinesspartner effie richardson andtheir team earned the Best NewrestaurantinAmerica award fortheir Senegalese tastingmenu restaurant DakarNOLA. Andchris Hannah’s French Quartercocktailbar Jewelofthe Southwon theaward for OutstandingBar.Hannahearned the same awardfor Arnaud’s French 75 whereheworkedfor 14 years.
Lookingahead
ForMisterMao chef/owner Sophina Uong,the incoming administration in Washington,withits focusontariffs andimmigration,isawakeupcall to paymoreattention than ever to producersand suppliers. “Wehaveto become educated aboutfarming and farm workersacrossthe country,”she says.“I’mlooking to spendmoney with more immigrantbusinessesinor outsideofOrleansParish.”
Uong,the queenofthe culinary hustle,isabig believer in collaboration betweenchefs.She will continue to host chefsonher dayoff at Mister Maoasaway to supportand deepen thenetwork.She’s also openingLittle Miss Maoinsidethe east Nashville outpostofthe Brooklyn-based saloon Skinny Dennis in February 2025
TheBottomLine
As operatorscontinuetostrug gle with higher prices,PikeHoward, who owns multiple locationsofFelipe’s Taqueria, sees only oneway clear to success. “Ifpricing remainshigh, hospitalitywillbethe valueadd,” he says.“It will make or breakyourability to compete.”
Warm andgenuine hospitalityhas long been ahallmarkofNew Orleans dining.It’snever mattered more.
Threepeat
Updatesondining newsmakers in 2024
by Will Coviello
GAMBIT RUNS WEEKLY Q&AS with chefs, cookbook authors, spirits-makersand other people in theculinary world. Many have shared some of the influences that gottheminterested in food andfilledinbackgroundon what they’redoing in thefoodscene In recent yearsthathas included many pop-up operatorsastheytry outnew ideas. Here aresomeupdates on afew of thesubjectswho Gambit spoketo this year as well as people from past yearswho have been in thenews. Lobsterrolls areariteofsummerin Maine, andplentyoflobster shacks aremodeststandssurroundedby picnic tables.Inrecentyears, several pop-upsspecializinginlobster rolls openedinNew Orleans. In August, Gambit spoketothe Nell Shell, which offers versions of Maine’stwo most common rolls: lobstermeattossed with mayonnaise andlobster meat poachedinbutter. TheNellShell is a pop-up andcateringoperation during summer,but in winter,itoccupiesa standat3511MagazineSt.,a couple blocks from LouisianaAvenue. The menu also includes crab rolls, smoked tuna dipand more,and it runs through Feb. 27,2025. Therealsoare picnic tables around spaceheaters forthose whowanttodinethere. Find information at thenellshell.com.
Adam Mayeralsolikes to do seasonalpop-ups.Heoriginallytalked to Gambit abouthis Spanish food pop-up Txow Txow Modern Pintxos. Thechefalsolaunchedthe Latke Daddypop-up, whichisactiveduring theholiday season.Its firstevent of theseasonisWednesday,Dec.18, at BayouWineGarden. andhehas events on Dec. 20 and30atMiel Brewery&Taproom,and Dec. 28 at Parleaux Beer Lab. Therealsowillbe some events in January, andhe’ll also be focusing on hisDonastiaSupper club events at privatelocations and as restaurant takeovers. check @txowtxowpintxos on Instagram fordetails
During summer,Mayer andpastry chef JillianDuran,the founderof rahm Haus Icecream,collaboratedonasummer-long pop-up called Staycation at theMargaret Placehotel.Theyhostedmusic and entertainmentinthe cour tyard, and TurningTablesprovidedthe bar.
DuranisspendingDecemberfocusingonbaking, andshe’s organized pop-up marketsfor cookiesand bakedgoods.The firstone on Dec. 15 at el cucuyfeaturesroughly 20 pop-upsofferingbaked goods andmore.
At Mister Mao, chef andco-owner SophinaUong’smenudraws influences from tropical cuisines across theglobe.She runs occasional Monday nightpop-ups andtakeovers, sometimesofferinga setmenu, and sometimesaddinganadditionalmenu of dishes.The series hasfocused on differentapproaches to barbecue during summer andvisitingchefs throughthe year
Many of thevisitingchefs offer foodsnot easily foundlocally.Uong did anight featuringdishesfromher native cambodia.SamanthaFore, whorunsTuk TukSri Lankan Bites in Lexington, Kentucky,serveda Sri Lankan menu.Other visiting chefs included eric See, whoserveda menu of dishes from NewMexico. In fall of 2023,MisterMao hosted Minneapolis chef YiaVang. His familyisHmong,and he wasbornin arefugee camp in Thailand following theVietnam War. Vang spoketo Gambit aboutthe newrestauranthe wasplanningtoopeninMinneapolis It’s called Vinaiand is namedfor the refugeecamp. Therestaurantopened in 2024,and it wasrecentlynamed to esquire magazine’slistofthe nation’s best newrestaurants,aswellasthe NewYorkTimes’2024listofits 50 favoriterestaurants.
Gambit spoke to self-taughtchef charles Jonesjustbeforethe pandemic. He went from doinga regular
NOL Achuck Wagonpop-uponSt. claude Avenue to apick-up food operationinNew Orleanseastduring thepandemictoa full-fledged cateringoperation.Thisyear, NOL Achuck Wagonwon Best Friedchicken at the Friedchicken Festival anditwon the gumbocook-of fatthe NOL AZydeco Festival.Healsorecentlybecamean approved SuperBowlLIX vendor.For more information, seethenolachuckwagon.com.
Gambit originally spoketoPey ton Barrellabout hischarcuterie pop-up Gourmand during thepandemic.
Af terHurricane Idadealt adevastating blow to thebusiness, he and partnerKatie Grabachrelocated to Asheville, Northcarolina, and opened afoodstall.Theywereabout to open arestaurantinthe city’s riverArtsDistrictwhenHurricane Helene floodedit. Barrellreturned to NewOrleans as part of acooks Forcarolinareliefeffor t. So far, theseriesofdinners featuringguest chefsfromwestern carolina has raised more than $130,000 (see cooksforcarolina.com).
As therestaurantindustryrecovered from thepandemic, part of reopeninghas been arecognition of thedemands andsacrifices of working in thehospitality industry.The ranks of pop-upsswelled with chefswho decidedtoworkfor themselves and on theirown terms.
Many chefs, both restaurateursand pop-up operators, shed theirchef coatsfor aproject raisingfunds for WeHelp NOLA,which provides mentalhealthcareservicestohospitality workers. TheresultisJig glyBits: The NewOrleansNaked chefscalendar. Photographer KatKimball captured thediscreetlybared participants, many posing in theirown restaurants. They includeNinacompton,Sophina Uong,Mason Hereford andAmarys Koenig Herndon, amongothers. Therealsoweremanyofthe pop-up chefswho Gambit spoketothis year —AdamMayer,Shondacross (chefshondanola.com),Owenryan (@catawampus _cookonInstagram) —and in recent years, like Justin Bruhl(@matchbookkitchen)and Gretareid(@gretassushi). The2025 calendar is availablefromDir ty coast (dir tycoast.com)
Also lookingforward to 2025, Jennifer SamuelswillopenKingcake HubatZonyMashBeerProject,with aparty andKingcakePageant on Jan. 5, andkingcakes on Jan. 6. It’s atasty kickofftothe NewYear.
WI NE OF TH E WEEK
St.Francis
Cabernet Sauvignon
This Cabernetoffers flavors of crushed wild blackberries, dark redfruits, cassis and milk chocolate followedbynotes of black oliveand sage with ahintofallspice.
DI ST RIB UTED BY
SophinaUong
PH OT OP ROVI DE D BY SO PH IN AU ON G
NOLA Bliss Voted#1Place to Geta Massage forthe Third Consecutive Year
BY GAMBIT STAFF
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Out to eatisanindex of Gambit contract advertisers. Unless noted, addressesare forNew Orleans and all accept credit cards. Updates:email willc@gambitweekly.comorcall (504)483-3106
Broussard’s— 819Conti St., (504)5813866;broussards.com— rainbowtrout amandine is served with tassoand corn macque chouxand creole meuniere sauce. Brunch includes Benedicts,chicken and wafflesand more.reservationsrecommended.Outdoor seatingavailable. Dinner Wed.-Sat., brunch Sun. $$$ Cafe Normandie— HigginsHotel,480 Andrew HigginsBlvd.,(504) 528-1941;higginshotelnola.com/dining The menu combinesclassic French dishes andLouisiana itemslikecrabbeignetswithherbaioli Sandwiches includepo-boys,amuffuletta on flatbreadand aburger. No reservations. Breakfastand lunchMon.-Sat.,dinner Fri.-Mon $$ TheCommissary— 634OrangeSt.,(504) 274-1850;thecommissarynola.com— A smoked turkey sandwich is served with bacon,tomatojam,herbedcream cheese, arugulaand herbvinaigrette on honeyoat bread. The menu includes dips,salads, sandwiches,boudinballs,fried oystersand more.Noreservations. Outdoorseating available. LunchTue.-Sat. $$ Curio— 301Royal St., (504)717-4198; curionola.com— The creative creole menu includes blackenedGulfshrimpservedwith chickenand andouille jambalaya. Therealso arecrabcakes,shrimpand grits, crawfish etouffee,po-boys andmore. reservations accepted.Lunch anddinner daily. $$ Dahla— 611O’Keefe Ave.,(504) 7666602;dahlarestaurant.com— Themenu includes popularThaidisheslikepad thai, drunkennoodles,curries andfried rice crispy skinnedduckbasil is prepared with
Desire Oyster Bar— RoyalSonesta New Orleans, 300Bourbon St., (504)5860300;sonesta.com/desireoysterbar A menu full of Gulf seafoodincludeschargrilledoysters topped with Parmesan and herbs.The menu also includes po-boys, po-boys, gumbo, blackenedfish, fried seafoodplatters andmore. reservations recommended. Breakfast, lunchand dinner daily. $$
Dickie Brennan’sBourbon House— 144 BourbonSt.,(504) 522-0111;bourbonhouse.com— There’sa seafoodraw bar with rawand char-broiled oysters, fish dip, crab fingers, shrimp andmore. redfishon theHalf-shell is cooked skin-onand served with crab-boiledpotatoes, frisee andlemon buerre blanc. reservations accepted.Lunch anddinner daily. $$$
Dickie Brennan’sSteakhouse 716Iberville St., (504)522-2467; dickiebrennanssteakhouse.com— The menu includes avariety of steaks,plussearedGulffish, lobsterpasta, barbecue shrimp andmore. A6-ounce filetmignonisservedwithfried oysters, creamed spinach, potatoes andbearnaise. reservations recommended. Dinner Mon.-Sat $$$
El Pavo Real 4401 S. BroadAve., (504) 266-2022;elpavorealnola.com— Themenu includes tacos, enchiladas,quesadillas, ceviche. tamalesand more.Pescado Vera cruz features sauteedGulffishtoppedwith tomatoes,olives, onionand capers,served with rice andstringbeans.Outdoor seating available. No reservations.Lunch andearly dinner Tue.-Sat $$
Juan’s Flying Burrito— 515Baronne St., (504)529-5825; 2018 Magazine St., (504) 569-0000;4724S.CarrolltonAve., (504) 486-9950;8140Oak St., (504)897-4800; juansflyingburrito.com TheFlyingBurrito includes steak, shrimp,chicken,cheddar jack cheese,black beans, rice,guacamole andsalsa.The menu also includes tacos, quesadillas, enchiladas,fajitas,nachos, saladsand more.Outdoor seatingavailable. No reservations.Lunch anddinner Thu.-Tue $$ Katie’sRestaurant— 3701 IbervilleSt., (504)488-6582; katiesinmidcity.com— Thecajun cubanwithroasted pork,ham, cheese andpickles.The eclectic menu also includeschar-grilledoysters,sandwiches, burgers, pizza, friedseafood platters, pasta, salads andmore. Delivery available. reservations accepted forlarge parties. Lunchand dinner daily. $$
Kilroy’s Bar— HigginsHotel,480 Andrew HigginsBlvd.,(504) 528-1941;hig ginshotelnola.com/dining— The barmenu includes sandwiches,saladsand flatbreads,including onetoppedwithpeach, prosciutto,stracciatella cheese,arugula andpecans. No reservations.Lunch Fri.Mon.,dinnerdaily $$ Legacy Kitchen’sCraft Tavern 700 Tchoupitoulas St., (504)613-2350; legacykitchen.com Themenuincludes oysters, flatbreads,burgers,sandwiches, salads anda NOL AStyle GritsBowltopped with bacon, cheddarand apoached eg g.
Mother’s Restaurant 401Poydras St., (504)523-9656; mothersrestaurant.net— This counter-servicespotservespo-boys dressedwithslicedcabbage andcreole favoriteslikejambalaya,crawfishetouf fee, redbeans andriceand more.Breakfast is availableall day. Delivery available. No reservations.Breakfast,lunch and dinner daily. $$
Neyow’sCreoleCafe— 3332Bienville St., (504)827-5 474; neyows.com The menu includes redbeans andricewith friedchicken or pork chops, as well as shrimp creole,seafood platters,po-boys, char-grilled andraw oysters, salads and more.Sideitems includecarrotsouffle, mac andcheese, cornbreaddressing, sweetpotatototsand more.Noreservations. Lunchdaily,dinnerMon.-Sat., brunch Sun. $$
Tito’s Ceviche& Pisco— 1433 St.Charles Ave.,(504) 354-1342;titoscevichepisco com— The Peruvian menu includes several typesofceviche,aswellassteak andseafood dishes.Traditional lomo saltadofeaturessauteed beef tenderloin tips,onions, tomatoes,soy sauceand pisco, served with potatoes andrice. Delivery available. reservations accepted.Lunch anddinner Mon.-Sat., brunch Sun. $$$
TheVintage — 3121 Magazine St., (504) 324-7144;thevintagenola.com— There’sa full coffee drinks menu andbaked goodsand beignets,aswellasafullbar.The menu has flatbreads,cheeseboards, smallplatesand apressed veggie sandwich with avocado, onions,arugula,red pepper andpepper jack cheese.Noreservations. Delivery and outdoorseating available. Breakfast, lunch anddinner daily. $$
Meet Dr.Busenlener
Iwas bor na nd ra is ed in NewO rl ea ns. Af te rg ra du atin gf ro mthe LS US ch oo l of Med ic in e, Iwen to n to co mp lete my in te rn sh ip an dres id en cy at Ba yl or Co ll eg eofM ed ic in ei n Ho us to n. Ia m bo ardc er ti fie di np ed ia tr ic sa nd ha ve prac ti ce di nthe NewO rl ea ns area fo r th el as t27yea rs
Fo ra sl on ga sIc an re me mb er,Ih ave al wa ys wa nted to be ad oc to r. My moth er is ad oc to r, wh ic hwas un us ual in he rd ay.B ut it wa sn’t un ti lmythi rd ye ar of me di ca ls ch oo l, wh en Iwas do in gmy pe di atri crotatio ntha tIf el tIh ad tr ul y fo un dmyc al lin g. Wa tc hi ng my pa ti en ts prog re ss from in fa nc ytoa du ltho od an dh el pi ng to ke ep th em ha ppya nd he al thya lon gthe wa yi stru ly an ho no r. My pa ti en ts ca na lway sc ou nt on me to prov id eextra ordi na ry ca re be ca us e th ey kn ow Id eep ly ca re ab ou te ac h an deve ry on eofthe m.
Ch il dren’s Ho spi ta lN ew Or le an sh as se rved th is co mm un it yf or 69 ye ar sa nd re al ly ca re sa bo ut crea ti ng th er ig ht envi ro nm en tf or pa ti en ts an dp ri or itizin g th erel atio ns hi ps th at pa ti en ts ha ve wi th th ei rp hy si ci an sa nd ca re te ams .H av in g se rved th ef am il ie softhi sc om mu ni ty fo r th el as tt wo de ca de s, Ia mexc ited to be pa rt of th ei rtea m!
Tell us aboutChildren’sHospital’s PediatricPrimary Care Department. On healthydaysand sick days –and forany health needsinbetween -the pediatriciansatChildren’sHospitalare here foryou andyourfamily,providing ex traordinar ycarejustfor kids!With locations throughoutSoutheast Louisiana, ourteamofpediatricians areheretohold your hand ever ystepofthe way.
By ch oo si ng aC hi ldren’s Ho sp ital pe di atri ci an ,you ha ve ac ce ss to an ex te nd ed networ kofextra ordi na ry ca re wi th Lo ui si an a’stop p ed ia tr ic sp ec ia li st s. As th eh ea lthexp er ts fo rk ids ,we’re prou d to prov id ec om preh en si ve pe di atri cc are fo ryou rc hi ld ,w heth er it be arou ti ne ch ec k-up or sp ec ia lize dc aref or an on go in gh ea lthc on di ti on
Meet Ou rKrewe Children’s Hospital NewO rleans
DR .TANAYA BU SE NLEN ER
PE DIATRICPRI MARY CARE
Questions&Answers
What ’s your favorite holidaytradition?
Ever yChris tm as Eve, af te rM as sa nd di nn er, we al lp ut on ou rChris tm as pjs, li ghtafi re in th e firep lace, ma ke hotc ho co late,a nd settle down to geth er to watc h“ It ’s aWon der fu lLife.” Th is movie is ever yo ne’s fa vo rite.For me it se nd sa wo nd er fu lm es sa ge:eve ry life to uch es so ma ny othe rs,a nd th ei mp or ta nceofl iv in ga gen erou sl ife.
Where’syourfavoriteplace to shop forholiday gifts?
Il ov eg oi ng to th ev ar io us Ch ri st ma sm ar ke ts th at pop up ab ou tt ow nd ur in gt he ho li da y se as on .T he re ar es om an yw on der fu l ha nd ma de pr od uc ts an du ni qu ei te ms to be fo un d.
Tell us one funfactabout you?
Ia ma na rtis t. Ih aveb ee nd oi ng so me ty pe of ar ts in ce Iwas ac hi ld ,b ut mo st re ce ntly Ia m en joyi ng pa in ti ng .W he nIh aveap ai ntbr us h in my ha nd ever ythi ng el se di sa ppe ar s, an d su dd en ly it is twoo rthree ho ur sl ater.I ti sa grea tway fo rm etorel ax an df orgeta bo ut th e ca re softhe da y.
Tell us aboutyourfamily!
We ha ve th re ewon der fu la du lt ch il dren:A sh ley, An drew,a nd Matthew. Th ey an dmyh us ba nd, Ji m, arethe greatest bl es si ng sofmyl ife,a nd I am in cred ib ly prou dofthe m. Ifeel th at be in g am om ha srea ll yh el pe dm eb eam uch better pe di atri ci an .Theyh avee ac htau ghtm esom uch ab outb ei ng ap arent.
What ’s one memory of your time as apediatricianthatstandsout?
On eofthe greatthi ng sa bo ut bei ng a pe di atri ci an is th at yo ug et to we ar fu nl it tl e ba dge ho ld ers. On ce Ih ad an Ol af on my badg eh old er an dh eh ad be en th erefor awhi le
On eofmya dorab le little pati ents sa id,“ Dr B, whyd oyou still ha ve Ol af on th ere? Yo un ee da newo ne.” So,Ih ad he rcom ea nd he lp me pi ck outan ew on e. Sh ewas ve ry excite dtog et to ch oose th eo ne Iwore. Th ethi ng ab outb ei ng a pe di atri ci an is th at ki ds arefanta stic an da lways ma na ge to brin gas mi le to my fa ce ever yd ay.It is notj us taj ob;itisaj oy an dap ri vil eg e.
Whyare annual well visits important?
We ll visits ares up er im por ta nt an da re th e ma in oppor tu nity fo rp arents,p atie ntsa nd pe di atri ci an stoexp lorea ll as pe ctsofthe ir grow th,h ea ltha nd deve lop me nt.These visits re al ly he lp to bu il dtru st an drap por tb et we en fa mi li es an dthe ir doc to rs
What ’s one thingyou wish the communityknewabout pediatricprimarycareat Children’s Hospital?
Th em os ti mp or ta nt jo bofthe prim ar ycare pe di atri ci an is to ac ta sthe co ordi nato rfor yo ur ch il d’scare. It is re al ly he lpfu lifac hi ld ha sa doc to rwho kn owsthe mwel l. Th is re lati on sh ip he lpsu si de ntif yp ro bl em sa stheyo cc ur.Itb ui ld s tr us t, wh ic hh el ps fa mi li es fe el co mfor ta bl e with th ecarethatisrecom me nd ed an dthu s im proves th ec hi ld ’s he alth .I ha ve al so fo un d th at th is re lati on sh ip is es se ntia lwhe nc hi ldren geti ntoa do lescen ce.Myp atie ntswho Ih ave kn ownfor th ei rwho le life tr us tm ea nd fe el co mfor ta bl eo pe ni ng up to me ab outthe ir co ncerns,a nd th at is re al ly critical to th ei rcare.
Thealt rock andpower popbandBen FoldsFiveemerged from chapel Hill, Northcarolinainthe 1990s. Oneofits populartunes,“Brick,”isabout being lonely at christmasafter abreakup. Acoupledecades later, Foldsjust released aholiday album, with originals andhis take on classics.His Paper Airplane requestsolotourcomes to NewOrleans, andit’sa request-driven show.At8p.m.Tuesday,Dec.17, at TheFillmore. Tickets$72 andupvia livenation.com
CarolinginJackson Square
Theannualholiday sing-along in JacksonSquare is 7-8p.m.Sunday, Dec. 22,inJackson Square.Patio Planters provides free song sheets and candles. Formoreinformation visit patioplanters.net
LouisMichot
Lost BayouRamblers fiddlerand vocalist LouisMichot celebrates a year of hisfirst solo album, “revedu Troubadour,” with twonightsofshows at thecontemporaryArtscenter. Michot andhis band will be joined by accordionist coreyLedet forthe shows. At 7:30 p.m. Friday,Dec.20, andSaturday, Dec. 21.Tickets startat $38.55via cacno.org.
BigFreedia
It’s no secret that BigFreedia lovesthe holidays —she’s released twoass-shakingePs of bounce tracks dedicated to theseason. TheQueen Diva now throws achristmas partywithAnjelika “Jelly”Josephat9p.m.Saturday, Dec. 21,atTipitina’s. Ticketsare $30general admissionand $100 with ameetand greetvia tipitinas.com.
LPO’sHoliday Spectacular
TheLouisiana Philharmonic Orchestraplays classicaland pop holidayfavorites during theirannual HolidaySpectacular.Thisyear’s programwillinclude selections from Tchaikovsky’s“Nutcracker” suite, amedleyofchristmas movie tunes, robert Wellsand MelTorme’s
“christmas Song”and more.Vocalist robinBarnes, clarinetist Doreen Ketchens andNew Orleans&co.’s Mark romigasanarratorwilljointhe LPOthroughoutthe concert. Theconcert is at 7:30 p.m. Thursday,Dec.19, at theOrpheum Theater. Ticketsstart at $40via lpomusic.com
Maggie Koerner’s Holiday Showcase
NewOrleans singer-songwriter
Maggie Koerner is gatheringtogether her musicalfriends fora holidayshowcase on Wednesday, Dec. 18,atthe MarignyOpera House. JoiningKoerner will be Gabriellecavassa,Sam Doores, Gina Leslie,HansWilliams, Lyla George andA.J.Haynes, allperforming solo andinduosthroughoutthe program.The show starts at 7:30 p.m. and ticketsare $40generaland $60-$75 VIPvia marignyoperahouse.org.
‘SilentNight,DeadlyNight’
The1984holiday slasherflick drew acultfollowing aftersomeoutrage over Santaclaus beingdepictedasa serial killer.A boywitnesses hisparents murdersonchristmas by aman in a Santasuitand windsupinanabusive orphanage.Heemerges forevertraumatizedand triggeredbythe holidays.The film starsveteran scream queenLinnea Quigley, whowillparticipate in avirtual Q&Afollowing this screeningonits 40th anniversary. Therealsoare giveaways andtriviawithprizesfromScreamfeast NOLA andTimecode. At 7:30 p.m. Monday,Dec.16, at theBroad Theater. Tickets$12 at thebroadtheater.com.
‘The Nutcracker’
DeltaFestivalBallet’sproduction features SarahLane,known forher work with American Ballet Theatre, andchunWai chan of NewYorkcity Ballet,aswellasyoung dancersfrom thegreater NewOrleansareas.The LPOperformsTchaikovsky’s score. At 6p.m.Saturday, Dec. 21,and 2p.m Sunday,Dec.22, at MahaliaJackson Theater. Tickets$35-$85 viamahaliajacksontheater.com.
‘The Cher Show’ Take abreak from theholidays by swapping lights andtinsel for sequins, rhinestonesand glam looks.
“The cher Show”isa musicalbiopic, followingthe diva’s life andcareerfrom meetingformerpartner SonnyBono to theenduringpop star.Itfeatures more than 30 songsfromacrossher career.Dec.17-22 at SaengerTheatre Showtimesvary. Tickets$35-$119at saengernola.com.
Are A, VISIT CA LEND AR .G AMBIT WEEKL Y. CO M
To learn moreabout adding your event to the music calendar, please email listingsedit@gambitweekly.com
MONDAY16
ALLWAYS LOUNGE Betsy Propane, 7pm
APPLE BARREL — Mark Appleford,6 pm; Decaturadio,10:30 pm
THE MAISON— MattBell, 3pm; Jenavieve &The Winding Boys, 6pm; Higher Heights, 9pm
MONKEY HILL — Let’sGet Blitzened! Achristmas cabaret,7pm 9
New Orleans Era
City saw big concerts in 2024
by Jake Clapp
IF NOTHING ELSE, 2024 IN NEW ORLEANS WILL BE REMEMBERED as the year The Rolling Stones and Taylor Swift came to town and the Hot Boys reunited. For those weeks this year, all anyone talked about were these concerts — and for good reason.
After a string of bad luck, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival finally got The Rolling Stones to the Fair Grounds and added an eighth day to the festival’s schedule — an addition that looks to be permanent — to accommodate the British rockers. Tickets for Stones Day on the Fair Grounds quickly sold out. And the rest of the Fair Grounds stages went quiet for the band’s two-hour set, which included appearances by living legend Irma Thomas and zydeco musician Dwayne Dopsie. It was a masterful set that vindicated all the hype.
Just shy of six months later, New Orleans rolled out the red carpet for Swift and her three-night “Eras Tour” stop at the Caesars Superdome. Hundreds of thousands of people flooded into the city, most hotels sold out, restaurants and bars overhauled their menus
Equally momentous, though, especially for New Orleanians, was this year’s Lil Weezyana Fest. For the first time in nearly 20 years, Lil Wayne, Juvenile, B.G. and Turk reunited on stage as the Hot Boys in front of a sold-out, roaring Smoothie King Center crowd. It was a significant moment: Those four rappers, along with Mannie Fresh, Bryan “Birdman” Williams and Ronald “Slim” Williams, were at the center of Cash Money Records’ national dominance in the late-’90s and early-2000s, an era that put New Orleans in the middle of the national hip-hop conversation.
The concert ultimately turned into a celebration of Lil Wayne himself as Mayor LaToya Cantrell and Percy “Master P” Miller presented Wayne with a key to the city and announced plans to include him in the upcoming New Orleans Walk of Fame. Wayne has often been called the greatest rapper alive — and Master P confirmed it while on stage.
New Orleans musicians notched a victory for better pay when the city council passed a guaranteed minimum pay rate for city-funded events — although the scope of the measure is relatively narrow and a lot more work is needed to boost musician pay. The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra landed its first Grammy Award for its live album with the Lost Bayou Ramblers. The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation named Blake-Anthony Johnson as its new CEO. And the St. Augustine High School Marching 100 visited France to march in D-Day commemorations. Music publication OffBeat has published its last issue after 37 years unless it can secure a new owner as founders Jan Ramsey and Joseph Irrera have decided to step away from the business. And this year also saw the closure of the Palm Court Jazz Café after 35 years.
and décor, clubs planned a weekend of themed events — and Gov. Jeff Landry shamefully broke up an unhoused encampment.
New Orleans welcomed Swift, and she returned the love with big, satisfying spectacles that broke several Superdome attendance records and brought hundreds of millions of dollars into the city. And along with a surprise on-stage appearance by Sabrina Carpenter, a number of celebrities could be seen in the Dome, including Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds.
But the Stones and Swift only top a long list of big concerts that stopped in New Orleans this year. Over the summer, the Superdome also hosted country musicians Zach Bryan and Jason Isbell, while the Smoothie King Center had everyone from Stevie Nicks and The Eagles on their farewell tour to Chappell Roan opening for Olivia Rodrigo, J. Cole, Nicki Minaj, Megan Thee Stallion, Childish Gambino and Maxwell. New Orleans also got a Drake concert just before Kendrick Lamar decided to bury the Canadian rapper with “Not Like Us,” arguably the biggest song of the year.
Earlier this year, Birdman and Slim also received official recognition when they were awarded keys to the city and had a streetcorner renamed in their honor. Just a few months before Lil Weezyana Fest, Birdman staged his own celebration of Cash Money Records during the Essence Festival of Culture — which also featured performances by Janet Jackson, Usher, Maze featuring Frankie Beverly and many others during the annual celebration of Black women and Black culture. But while the Cash Money set included Juvenile, B.G., Mannie Fresh, The Lox, Bun B and other friends of the label, it didn’t deliver on the Cash Money Millionaires reunion people had hoped for.
One last Weezyana note: New Orleans-born rapper Rob49, who opened the fest, himself hit a milestone when he sold out the Smoothie King Center for the first time earlier this year.
2024 included countless notable moments: Oak Street club Maple Leaf celebrated its 50th anniversary, as did Sweet Lorraine’s Jazz Club on St. Claude Avenue. King of bounce HaSizzle marked 20 years in music — and released the great compilation “It’s Only Ya Booty.” Funk rock band Flow Tribe also hit its 20th anniversary. Cajun-rooted rock band Lost Bayou Ramblers hit 25 years. And trumpeter Kermit Ruffins partied at the House of Blues on his 60th birthday.
But the historic Dew Drop Inn re-opened in 2024 and is now regularly hosting live music. Hi-Ho Lounge on St. Claude was recently sold and has re-opened as No Dice. And bounce icon Katey Red realized a long-held dream when she opened her new bar Club Switch in Treme.
Along with Jazz Fest’s added day, French Quarter Fest also saw a significant expansion in 2024. The annual, free fest extended its footprint to include Spanish Plaza and added a DJ stage for the first time.
There was a ton of new music in 2024. Hurray for the Riff Raff’s “The Past Is Still Alive” is now ending the year on Best Of lists by the New York Times, Pitchfork and Rolling Stone. Thou dug into its punk nature — and turned a critical eye inward — on its sixth full-length, “Umbilical.” The Rumble notched another Grammy Award nomination with its first studio album, “Stories from the Battlefield.” And Ani DiFranco, PJ Morton, Leyla McCalla, Pell, Loose Cattle, The Headhunters, Dawn Richard, Claire Givens, Lynn Drury and many, many others had great new releases this year.
Finally, we remember the irreplaceable New Orleans musicians lost this year, including Clarence “Frogman” Henry; Kerry “Fatman” Hunter; Nick Daniels III; George French; Robert Lyall; and Lionel Batiste Jr. This year also saw the deaths of Lafayette musician Brother Dege, Cajun music great Jo-El Sonnier, WWOZ’s Valerie Kacprzak and David Freedman, and WWL-TV’s Eric Paulsen, a beloved champion of New Orleans culture.
Keith Richards plays as Mick Jagger dances in front of the stage during The Rolling Stones performance at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on May 2.
PHOTO BY CHRIS GRANGER / THE TIMES- PICAYUNE
Last Call
by JakeClapp
IT WASAGREAT YEAR FORNEW MUSIC by NewOrleans-based artists. Thelast12 months sawfantastic full-length albums andePs by AniDiFranco, Hurray for theriffraff, LeylaMccalla,PJMorton, Tank andthe Bangas,AuroraNealand, rockin’DopsieJr.,The rumble,cyrille Aimee, La reezy, QweenQweezy, FlagboyGiz andmanyothers.
Oneofmyfavoriteparts of this job is talkingwithmusicians andbands abouttheir music. AndI’m grateful for insightful conversationsthisyearwith Thou,Joy clark, ByronAsher,Anna Moss,cimafunk, Silver Godling, Dog Park Dissidents andnumerousothers diggingintotheir latest projects.But thereweremorealbumsreleasedthanI wasabletocover
So before we dive into thenew year, hereare five albums andePs from 2024 that deserverecognition Kaye theBeast —“ILikeYou … IThink We ShouldGoTogether” It’s high praise when NewOrleans rapper Alfred Banksintroducesyou as oneofhis favorite rappersinthe city.Banks hasbeenrocking with Kaye theBeast forawhile,and forgood reason:Kayeisatalentedlyricistand producer,and he just keepsraising the barfor himself. That’s on full display on thefive-track“ILikeYou …I think We Should Go Together.” TheeP floats betweenloveand lust above abackgroundofinteresting,mellow production,but it’s Kaye’s dynamic flow andcleverlyricismthatkeptme coming back over themonths.
Little FreddieKing—
“ThingsIUsedtoDo”
Little FreddieKingisone of thelastofa generationofSouthernbluesmen, and “ThingsIUsedtoDo” appropriately castsKinginthatlight as alivinglegend. It’s abarebones record —justKingwith hisvoice andguitarand theoccasional accompaniment by bassistPaulDeFiglia andharmonica player robert DiTullio —asKingperformsclassicsbyLightin’ Hopkins,Sisterrosetta Tharpe, Muddy Waters andothers. Theeffectislike stumblingacrossthe elderbluesmanon hisporch as he digs into oldmemories fornoone buthimself andpassersby.
Brat —“ Social Grace” NewOrleans metalbandBrathad a big2024. Since2021, thegroup has toured consistently andreleaseda fewePs,but af terreleasing itsfirst full-length,“Social Grace,”inMarch, Brat went on tour with GWAr andhas
MusicianMahmoud Chouki released thealbum ‘Caravan: From MarrakechtoNew Orleans’ in 2024
hitbig gerand bigger stages.Bratplays in an intersection of grindcore, thrash anddeath metalbut injectsapink, femmeaesthetic —and some brutal high-kicks from vocalist LizSelfish forastyle they call “bimboviolence.”
That’s allonfiercedisplay on “Social Grace,”arecordthrowinga middle finger at both societal demandsand toxicmetal scenes
MahmoudChouki—“Caravan: From MarrakechtoNew Orleans” Mahmoudchoukiisamasteratthe guitar, theoud,lute, banjoand seemingly anything else with stringsthatyou could putintohis hands. He’s an in-demand player in theNew Orleansjazzcommunity, andon“caravan: From Marrakech to NewOrleans”heisjoinedbyHerlin riley, JasonMarsalis, MichaelWhite, John Boutte andother greatmusicians Born in Morocco, chouki founda new home in NewOrleans eightyears ago, and“caravan,”which is produced by Jamisonross, is alovelettertohis adoptedhomeaswellasthe journey that broughthim here.
Trendaflka—“Forthe Olives”
“For theOlives” is unlike anything Iheard from aNew Orleansgroup this year.That’sprobablybecause therearen’ttoo many groups like Trendafilka, an 11-piecevocal ensemble performing folk musicfrom theBalkans,the caucasus andother easterneuropeanregions.On“Forthe Olives,” theensembledug into spring callingsongs,summersolsticesongs, harvestsongs andwinterritualmusic forarecordthatloosely tracks theyear in traditionalmusic.The performances arebeautiful,texturedand sometimes intriguingly dissonant.It’sguaranteed to give yougoosebumps.
In the spotlight
by Will Coviello
ON THEOPENING WEEKENDOFNEW ORLEANS’ ARTTRIENNIALPROSPECT.6, theart expo held aceremonyatHarmony circle.ArtistrauldeNieveshad topped thepedestalwithagiant redheart,and he createdcarnivalesque figuresfrom MardiGrasbeads forthe four urns at itsbase. TheednaKarrHighSchool marching band thunderedthrough two loopsaroundthe circle before climbing itssteps.ThenLaveaucontraire and thedragwrestling troupe chokeHole ascended to thepillarfor some of their owntheatrics,and localwriter Antonio Garza, as thefigureLoveBird, claimed thespace as anew vision of hope,unity andlovefor thedurationofthe expo
It wasquite aspectacle,tying together andsaluting variousstrains of New Orleansart andculture
It wasa year of giantspectacle in entertainment in NewOrleans, especially for music, with therolling Stones andTaylor Swiftbringingacoupleofthe biggestacts in theworld to NewOrleans (see theYear in Music, page 35). Butitwas abusyyear on stages of allsizes in thecity, andthere wasmuchtobuild on.Hereisalookback at some of thespecial events,developing trends andchanges in theculturallandscapein2024.
Prospect NewOrleans wasfounded in 2007 as aresponsetothe wreckage of HurricaneKatrina andthe leveefailures, anditfeaturedinstallations likeMark Bradford’s giantark-like“Mithra” in a flood-demolished blockinthe Lower NinthWard. It’s achallenge to matchthe scopeofthatexpo’s81artists andthe timeliness of itscontent.But Prospect.6 gotoff to agreat start.
Prospect is nowa triennial, anddespite thegap in iterations,itarrives in grand fashion.Prospect.6curatorsMiranda Lash andebony G. Pattersonlaidout an expansiveexpothatreflectsthe ambitionsofthe event’sfirst iteration. Public installations arespacedfromthe Batture, alongthe riverfront aboveAudubon Park, to theFordMotor PlantinArabi.The plant hasbeenusedfor movieset storage, but nowit’shometothe “MexicaFalcon,”a fusing of thecosmologies of theAztecs andthe Star Wars universe,featuring a rune-carvedMillennium Falcon constructed onsite from adobe.
Theexpofills museum andart spaces, like theOgden Museum of SouthernArt andcAc,aswellassmaller galleriesand venues.Participating artistshavecome from places linked to NewOrleans, from thecaribbean to Vietnamand elsewhere. Of theroughly 50 artists,
42 produced newworkfor theexpo, andmanywerechosenfor howtheir work wouldresonatewiththe triennial’s themes andsouth Louisianahistory Titled “The Future is Present, the HarbingerisHome,”itdigsintothemesof immigration, colonialismand more.Much of this reflects thegreater contemporary artworld’s currentfocuses.The world’s senior biennial in Venice recently closed, andBraziliancurator AdrianoPedrosa explored immigrationand perceptions of the“global south” with thetheme “Foreignerseverywhere.”Lashand Pattersonpreferthe term “global majority”toglobalsouth,and theirexpo of mostly youngerartists brings Prospect into theart world’sglobalconversation. Prospect is relativelyyoung comparedtoVenice’s130-year-old tradition, butit’sthe most senior multivenuebiennialortriennial in theU.S. It’s open throughFeb.2,2025, and therewillbemoreper formancesand events on theclosing weekend.
NewOrleans’ artworld also marked a biganniversary.The Sydney andWalda Besthoff SculptureGardenhas been celebratingits 20th anniversaryall this year.Therewas afestivaland gala in November,and therewereadditions of newworks,including sculptureby Wangechi Mutu,who is basedout of Brooklyn andNairobi,Kenya.NOMA also hosted alarge solo exhibition of her work this year
Thelocal performing arts scenesaw some changesinvenues.
TheNew MarignyTheatre officially openedthisyear. Thebuildingisyet anotherformerchurchthathas been transformedintoa performing arts space, joiningthe MarignyOpera Houseand the Andrecaillouxcenterfor Performing Arts andJustice.New MarignyTheatre hashostedplays andmusicalsaswell as chambermusic andclassical music performances.The theateralsoisused as arehearsal spacebythe Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra. This week,local drag andburlesque duoKittenN’Lou bringtheir touring“Jingle Allthe Gay” holidayshowtothe theater(seepage5). TheDew Drop Innwas reborn,as ahotel,bar andperformingspace DevelopercurtisDoucetteJr. renovatedthe landmark musicspot, which hosted andfeaturedtouring artistslike raycharles andLittlerichard andlocal musicianslikeAllen Toussaintand Irma Thomas when segregationand Jimcrow denied Blackperformersaccesstoother hotels andvenues. Thenew DewDrop
hostsmusic andentertainment andhas been astopfor some Social Aidand Pleasure club second lines.
TheBroadside continuestoevolve. BrianKnightenopenedthe adjoining BroadTheater in 2016.Duringthe pandemic, he pivotedtoopenanoutdoor theater, in thestyle of an olddrive-in theater. In recent years, it’s become more of amusic venue, andhe’sbuilt out thespace with abar andcovered areas. Theamenities make it apopular spot for smallfestivals.Astand-alone restaurant just opened there. NamedNikkei, it’s a Japanese tavern from thepeoplebehind carmointhe WarehouseDistrict(see Year in Dining,page25).
Sports Drinkhas become atinybut mighty comedy venue, with room for two-to-three dozenpatrons.Thisyear, it hosted former “SaturdayNight Live” cast member Luke Null,“AllFantasy everything”podcaster DavidGborieand recently ahomecomingshowfor Mark Normand. Itssignature wall of orange coolersalsowillbethe backdrop forafew comedy specials recorded there.
Thecomedyscene hasgrown in fits and starts in NewOrleans,withopenmics at musicvenuesand bars stillpartofthe mix.The Mid-city BayouBoogaloofestivaladded acomedytentlastyear, and this year gotabiggertentand expanded itsofferings to cabaretacts. Thecomedy club comedy Househas been home to many localcomics, andanimportant venuetofestivals like thenew LGBTLOL comedy festival,which debutedlastyear. Butthe WarehouseDistrictclubquietly closed notlongafter November’s Hell Yes Fest.It’sunclear whetheritwillproduce showsorrelaunchelsewhere.
Theburlesque anddragscene continues to grow.The AllWaysLounge &Theatre is theepicenter of thetwo, oftenwithtwo differentshows anight, andvariety from nerdlesque to operathemed burlesque, as well as variety showswithcircusartsand more
Butthe popularity of burlesque and varietyshows hasgrown to larger
which featured thedragwrestling groupChoke
venues.Performersand producersLadyBeAST andVivacious Miss Audaciousbothproduced multiple polished,large-scale,themedshows at theJoy Theater. Thespectaclesinclude burlesqueartists,aerialists, acrobats andother circus arts performers carnivalhad anotherbusyyear,and oneofthe continuing trends is the growth of smallerdowntownparades With thegrowthofthe Intergalactic Kreweofchewbacchus,krewedelusion andKrewe Boheme,new smallkrewes crop up with ease,and that seemsto demand newparades.Thisyear, Krewe Mosaique debuted, featuringalmost adozen krewes,manyofwhich also participated in other parades, like the Kreweofconus andDarth AF.While the parade calendar used to be relatively sparse betweenJan.6and thefinal threeweekendsprior to FatTuesday, nowthere’splentyofroomonthe calendar andinterestfrommakersand viewersofDIY parades.
Butsomeofthe biggestcarnivalnews came afterAsh Wednesday, as theNew Orleanscitycouncil examined some lingeringissues. TheKrewe of Nyxballooned to superkrewe size andshrunk to ashadowofitselfafter an exodus of membership,due to internal disagreementsoversupport forthe BlackLives Matter movement.Nyx won’tget a parade permit for2025. Instead,the KreweofALLAwillmoveintothe Wednesdaynight slot.And whilecrowds aresuretolinethe parade routes,we’ll seeifthe city reinsinKrewe of chad behavior,likeclaimingpublicspace or continuing to improviseneutral ground toilets, or if parade-goers sharespace more equitably.
Prospect.6 opened with events like‘Love Burst’ at HarmonyCircle,
Hole,the Edna Karr High School marching band andmore.
TheyearinNew Orleansartsand entertainment
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PREMIER CROSSWORD PUZZLE
GOING GREEN
By Frank A. Longo
75 River in a Stephen Foster tune
77 Kid of the 1960s or ‘70s 78 Styled like
Time period
80 Kittens’ cries
20 “Doesn’t
21 Stack messily
22 Indigenous Alaskan
Existence fraught with injuries? 25 Direction in a play script? 27 Slight in build
They’re used with brooms
“Goodness!” 31 See 45-Across
dixit (unproven assertion)
Singer Diana inspects?
Forty winks
Certain youth support group
Decided
things 53 St. Francis of
Candy heart message about a hug
Golf ball prop
Fairness and impartiality 58 Dollar divs.
59 One listening to something 62 Numbered hwy.
63 Bygone telecom co. 64 -- Bay (Jamaican resort port) 65 11-time NBA All-Star Allen 66 Antique Chryslers
69 Former jet to the U.K.
Singer Ocasek
Chapel seats
82 Might be able to do it 83 Defeat in a “don’t-blink” contest 84 More likely to wear polo shirts, maybe 85 Certain mature tadpole 86 Apiary insect 90 Comforts 91 Nouveau riche 92 NYC bus org. 93 Aspires to
