Buttercup is aone-year-old, golden Lionhead rabbit looking for her fur-ever home!This young lady is known for her sweet and friendly nature. She’s always readytogreet visitors with asoft nuzzle,a trait that endears her to everyone.
To meet Buttercup or anyofthe other wonderful pets at the LASPCA, visit 1700 Mardi Gras Blvd.,from 12 PM-5PM, Monday-Saturday,orcall (504) 368-5191. She can’twait to meet her future paw-rent(s)!
Kennel #A0057327001
Mash is aone-year-old blackand grey tabbylooking for her fur-everhome! Although she loves her friends at the LASPCA, she’sreadyfor anew adventure.She is always eager to makenew friends and loves the little things in life likethe rustling of a paper bag or agood behind-the-ear scratch.
To meetMash or anyofthe other wonderful petsatthe LASPCA, visit455 FEdwardHebert Blvd. (Belle Chasse), 10 AM -5 PM, Tuesday-Saturday,orcall (504) 934-6931. She can’twait to meet her future paw-rent(s)!
Allstate Sugar Bowl New Year’sParade • Dec. 31,2 p.m.
Theofficial Allstate SugarBowlNew Year's Parade presentedby LouisianaTourism, aMardi Gras-style parade with floats,bands and other participants, entertains fans of allagesprior to theAllstate SugarBowl. Theparade, whichisscheduled forthe afternoon of December 31,2024(scheduledfor a2 p.m. start), will beginatthe intersection of ElysianFieldsAvenue andDecatur Street.Itwill travel through theFrenchQuarter up DecaturStreetalong the Mississippi River, passingiconiclandmarkssuchasThe OldUSMint, theFrenchMarket, Cafe du Monde andJackson Square.The Parade
will wrap up at CanalStreet.Check www.AllstateSugarBowl.org forfinal routedetails andtimes.
TheAllstate SugarBowlNew Year’s Parade presentedbyLouisiana Tourismwill be broadcastliveonNola38CW(WNOL-TV) in New Orleans.The official broadcast, presentedbySunshineQuality Solutions,will include aliveonlinebroadcastthat can be foundby visiting wgno.com.Inaddition, theparade will be rebroadcaston WGNO-TV ABC26onNew Year’s Daystarting at 9a.m.
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Local classics
People Museum opensLPO Market Nights
WHEN THELOUISIANA PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRASTARTED ITSMUSIC AT THE MUSEUM seriesin2020, theorganization wastryingtoconfrontthe challenges of performing live musicduring theheightofsocialdistancing.
Butinthe four or so yearssince those small, 50-personconcerts, theseries hasgrown into an engaging outlet for theLPO to collaboratewitha rangeof NewOrleans musicians, includingDawn Richard, ÌFÉand Alfred Banks.
TheLPO’s newMarket Nights series, whichlaunchesSaturday, Jan. 4, with acollaboration with synth-popband People Museum,isthe latestevolution of that series,saysAnwar Nasir, the orchestra’sexecutive director
“It’sinteresting to seethe orchestra in differentways, playingdifferent styles of musicwithdifferent artists,” Nasirsays. “It’stapping into themusical styles that make ourcitygreat.That’s what makesmeexcited,tosee the evolutionfromwhereitcamefromand whereit’sgoing now, andtoshowthe diversityin[LPO] musiciansand what they canplay.”
TheLPO Market Nights serieswill be anchored at theNew OrleansJazz Market andwillinclude an ensemble of LPOmusicians backingaNew Orleans band or artist.Ahappy hour featuring alocal DJ also will open each event, andgroovemaster Antwigadee will play aheadofthe People Museum-LPO performanceonJan.4
Theseriescontinues Feb. 19 with future funk band WaterSeed; folk musician LeylaMcCalla on March15; andZackFeinberg, lead guitarist for TheRevivalists,onApril 9.
“It’sbecomingamuchmoreholistic eveningasopposed to just come in,take your seat,havethe concertand then go,” Nasirsays. “We’re wantingpeople to come,mix,mingleand talk with each other.The Jazz Market really lendsitself well to that.”
TheLPO star tedits Musicatthe Museum seriesin2020withsmall concer ts at outdoorspacesatvenues like theHermann-Grima House, the BotanicalGardenand theSydney andWalda Besthoff SculptureGarden. With alimit of 50 people andthe requirement forreservations, theLPO couldhelpkeepsocial distancing regulations
As live musicrestrictionsstarted to relax, pianist andcomposerCourtney Bryan, whowas namedthe LPO’s firstcreativepartner in early2021,
by Jake Clapp |
to itsMusic at theMuseum series. Popartist Dawn Richard andcontemporary composer SpencerZahn joined theLPO last December at theNew Orleans Museum of Ar t to performsongs from theiralbum “Pigments.”(The duoreleased afollow-up, “Quiet in aWorld Full of Noise,”earlierthisyear.)
NewOrleans Eve
ThefreeNew Year’s Evecelebration at JacksonSquare features performances by Tank andthe Bangas,Bonerama andDJRQAway. Themusic starts at 9p.m., andthere will be acountdown to midnight andthe annual fireworks show.The eventisorganized by New Orleans&Co. andFrenchQuarter Festivals, Inc. Find more informationat fqfi.org /holidays.
suggestedthe orchestrashouldbegin featuringNew Orleans- andLouisianabasedcomposers during theMusic at theMuseumconcerts. “Itfeltenergizing, becausewe’re helpingtoplatform living composersright here in our community,”Nasir says.
Around that time,the LPOalsowas beginningtoplanlargerconcertswith NewOrleansmusicians,hopingto reachnew audiences—apersistent challengefor classicalmusic organizations, whichoften canbeseenas disconnected from thewider public —and better root itself in thelocal community. Theorchestra in thepast hadfeaturedlocal ar tistsbut mostly as guests on aprogram.Theywantedto trybig gercollaborationsbyadapting an ar tist’s musicfor theorchestra.
In early2021, theLPO filmed a performanceofTankand theBangas with an ensemble forits pandemic-era digital“OrpheumSessions” series,and ayearlater,backedthe dynamicband at theOrpheum Theateritselfinfront of afullhouse
TheLPO in 2023 then performed at theOrpheum Theaterwithbounce icon BigFreedia andwiththe Lost BayouRamblers— therecording of whichlandedthe LPOits firstGrammy Award. Theorchestra this year again performedwithBig Freedia, Lost BayouRamblersand SweetCrude as well as played concer ts with vocalist KristinChenoweth andthe Grateful Dead’s BobWeir.
Thesuccess of thoseOrpheum Theaterper formancesled theLPO to beginincluding NewOrleans musicians
ÌFÉ, theelectronicmusic projectby producer andpercussionist OturaMun, wasfeaturedatthe Ashe CulturalArts Center.And rapper Alfred Banksalsohit anew career milestoneatAsheinMay “I thinkthe LPOisontosomething powerful by bridging this gap, especially in NewOrleans,withall of thetalent that’s here in theindie or popularmusic scene,”saysPeopleMuseumdrummer AaronBoudreaux.Acomposerand producer, Boudreaux wrotethe arrangementsofthe band’s musicfor their Jan. 4performance.
People Museum —vocalistClaire Givens,trombonistJeremyPhipps, bassistCharles LumarIIand Boudreaux —and theLPO will play asix-songset that pullsfromdifferent eras of the band’s catalogue. Theconcert also will includethe LPO, conductedbyKalena Bovell,performingworks by contemporary composersHannahKendall,Bryce Dessnerand Jessie Montgomery.
Earlierthisyear,the LPOgavethe localpremiereofLumar’s work “Elaine Sun,”created in partnershipwiththe KennedyCenter.It meansalot for People Museum to play with theLPO, Boudreaux says.The concer talsois akindoffullcirclemomentfor Givens, whostudied opera, jazz andmusical theaterincollege.She decidedto pursue original electronic popmusic, so to be invitedbackintothe classical worldaspar tofPeopleMuseum is meaningful.
“Weall have seen theLPO performa bunch, andwehavefriends in theLPO whoare some of themosttalented people Iknow,”Boudreaux says.“So that feelsreallygood.”
SugarBowl
TheSEC champion GeorgiaBulldogs face theNotre Dame Fighting Irish in theSugar Bowl,which is part of theCollege Football Playof f. Tailgate Town pregamefestivities areinChampions Square at 4-7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 1( game ticket requiredfor entry).The game star ts at 7:45 p.m. at theCaesars Superdome. Find ticketsvia ticketmaster.com
BigNight NewOrleans
TheNew Year’s Eveparty will feature performances by Trina, Yung Joc, Brass-A-Holics andInferno Burlesque. DJsKelly Greenand Rozayalsowill be spinning,and former NewOrleans Saints player Robert Meachem will lead themidnightcountdown.Big Night NewOrleans opensat9p.m.Tuesday, Dec. 31,atThe Fillmore.Tickets start at $59.99 forgeneral admissionvia bignightneworleans.com.
Galactic
Funk band Galactic ringsinthe NewYear with vocalist Anjelika “Jelly”Josephand BigChiefJuan Pardoat9p.m.Tuesday,Dec.31, at Tipitina’s.General admissionis$81 viatipitinas.com.
King Cake Pageant
King Cake Hubpreparesfor the season with itsKingCakeMonarch Pageant.Thisyear’s contestants includeDahliaBlue, Jeez Loueez, Coni Chiwaand AidenAbette. The evening’stheme is sports ball,and therewillbedancing krewes,a glitter buffet from ElektraCosmetics and
People Museum performs with theLPO on Jan. 4.
NOLA Grown,agroup connectingNew Orleansyouth through esportsand videogames,recently collectedmorethan40guns during an exchange eventand gaming tournament at theRockof Ages BaptistChurch. NOLAGrown traded PlayStation5and Xbox consoles forthe guns brought in.Itwas NOLA Grown’ssecond exchange eventin2024.
OP EN IN G GA MB IT
THENUMBEROFYEARS THAT HAVE PASSED SINCE CLANCY DUBOSHAD HIS FIRSTPROFESSIONALBYLINE.
As an 18-yearold intern at theTimesPicayuneduringthe summer of 1973,DuBos starteda life long career in journalism.Over theyears he served in differentcapacities, includingasGambit’seditor, owner, chairman anda longtime politicalcolumnist.Heisretiringfromprint journalism afterthisissue
LouisianaDepartment of Health leaders in Octoberand November told public health workersthey cannot advertiseorpromote the flu, COVIDormpoxvaccines, WWNO firstreported. Thespoken butunwrittenpolicychangemeant LDHemployees couldnot encouragepeopletoget thevaccinesvia pressreleases, vaccineevents, interviews or socialmedia.The policy followsadisturbingtrend from right-wing politiciansspreadingmisinformationabout vaccines. Take it from theNew Orleans HealthDepartment: Vaccines are important, so go getaflu shot
THENEW ORLEANSREGIONAL TRANSIT
AUTHORITYISSUEDNEARLY$85,000 in severancepaymentslastyearto twoterminatedemployees fortime they didn’t work,potentially violating thestate constitution,accordingto an auditpublished Monday by the LouisianaLegislativeAuditor.
Theaudit doesn’tnamethe employeesbut says thepaymentswereissued on May1,2023—the same daythat RTACEO Lona EdwardsHankins sent four topofficials packingaspartofa leadershipshakeup just twomonths into her tenure as theagency’spermanent chief.
Auditors also foundthatthe RTA ledger that tracks howfederal grants arespent containedinaccurate entries, andthe RTAdid nothave adequate internal controls over its accounts payable. Auditors said a $1.2 millioninvoice that wasreceived in Aug. 2023 wasn’t paid until2024.
Aseparatereviewofthe RTA’s majorfederal grants with theFederal TransitAdministrationfound no complianceissues, auditors said.
LilWayne,allegedlymisused millions of federaldollars on luxury travel,designerclothes and nightclubappearances, Business Insider reported.The funds were meanttohelpstrug gling independentvenuesduringthe pandemic.Other high-profile pop stars, includingChris Brownand Marshmello,receivedShuttered VenueOperators Grants andalso allegedlyusedthose pandemic-relief fundsonluxurypurchases and personal expenses,according to Business Insider.
In theirreport, auditors with Carr, Riggs&Ingrahamsaidthe payments couldviolate aprovision of the LouisianaConstitutionthatprohibits public entities from issuingbonuses or anyother gratuitous unearned payments to employees.
Auditors said that theOrleans Parish District Attorney’s Office was notified of themisappropriation, as required by statelaw.Its unclearif theRTA will attempttorecoupthe funds. An RTAspokespersondidn’t respondtoa requestfor comment.
In aresponseattachedtothe audit, RTAChief FinancialOfficer Gizelle Johnson-Bankssaidthe agency will make “appropriatechanges”to improveinternalcontrols“to ensure that terminationpay foremployees is appropriate” andadheres to applicableLouisiana statutes
Johnson-Bankssaidthe authority’s accounting team wasnavigating betweentwo financialsystems last year during theagency’stransitionfrom athree-decade-oldsoftwaretoOracle Enterprise Resource Planning software,and said theproblemsshouldbe resolved goingforward.She also said theRTA hadhired agrantsdirector.
Auditors also foundthatthe RTA didnot have adequate controls over self-insurance case reserves and structured settlements. JohnsonBanksnoted that theRTA in July hireda newChief LegalOfficer,Tracy Tyler, to manage legalmatters and associated processes.
Theaudit didn’t touchonthe RTA’scontractwithBRC ConstructionGroup,which balloonedinvalue over thecourse of 2023 andisnow underinvestigation by theFBI andthe subject of an ongoinglegal battle.
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On Clancy DuBosand hislasting legacy on Gambit andNew Orleans
by John Stanton
IT’S HARD FORMETO
BELIEVE that Ididn’t meet Clancy DuBos untilI star tedat Gambit in thesummer of 2020 –which,I’m fairly certain, makes me oneofprobably threepeoplewho’ve spentmorethan 5minutes in New Orleans without meetinghim. Af ter four andhalfyears, it’s easier to believe I’ve knownhim my entire life,given the ef fect he’s hadonme.
I’dactuallylong been fanofClancy’s work.In2005, Iwas covering Congress in D.C.,and that fall whatwould happeninNew Orleans af terKatrina wasa much-discussed issue on CapitolHill.
Oneafternoon in late November or earlyDecember, I foundacopyofGambit’sfirst issue sincethe storm, in theSenatepress gallery. This is before Ilived here, andthe firsttimeI’d seen thepaper In themidst of so much chaos, uncertaintyand tragedy, Clancy and hisstaff did what journalistsare called to do:theystood as both witnessand abeaconofhopefor theircommunity Irememberthinkingthiswas exactlythe sort of journalism we should allhopetopractice.
As ourreporterSarah Ravits learned writingthisweek’scover storyonClancy, it’s impossible to sumupwhathehas meantnot only forour paperbut NewOrleans That’s especially true givenhow loathe Clancy is to take credit for much of anything when it comesto hiswork.
For50years,he’sbeenaconstant presence,coveringeverythingfrom theUpStairsLoungearson attack to Gov. Jeff Landry’s plan to rewritethe state’sconstitution. Hiscoveragehas helped better inform voters when they cast theirballots
Hisencyclopedicknowledge of city andstate politics –and arolodex of sourcestobackitup– gave himthe abilitytounderstand, andexplain,
thehow andwhy of elections, and themessy business of legislating.
It’s made himuniquelyqualified to call outleaders on theirnonsense andshedlight on thedoubledealing andcorruptionofpoliticians,lobbyists andinterestgroups. Butitalso hasgiven Clancy theability to see thegoodand thereforecelebrate cultural andpolitical figuresinour communitywho have helped bringabout positive change in NewOrleans.
As an editor,hestareddown more than oneangry politician and helped bringGambitintoits own as news organization dedicated to both celebratingNew Orleans’ cultureand communitywhile also acting as avoice forit. Hisreporting andcolumns have empoweredNew Orleanians andchanged thecourseof both electionsand policy making at thecityand statelevel
This is notsoeasyofa feat as you mightthink.Successfullymarrying coverage of culture, community, politics andpeopleconsistently(andover decades) is ararething,especiallyin today’smedia world.
It takesnot only dedication,but also alot of love –bothofwhich,it turnsout,Clancyhas anearendless supply of
Clancy’s impact on journalism, meanwhile, hasbeenenormous. Over theyears,he’smentoredand taught by exampleliteral generations of reporters, notonlyat Gambit butatother print, TV and radiooutlets in NewOrleans and thestate.Clancyinstilled in them notonlyareverence forthe standardsofour profession,but also theimpor tant role journalistsplay in holdingpower to account. And he taught them to do theirwork with empathy, understandingand aboveall,passion Many of them,inturn, have also become mentorsintheir ownright both hereinNew Orleansaswellas other partsofthe country. Clancy,onbehalfofthe entire Gambit family,thank youfor all you’ve done forthe paperand ourcity. We areall thebetterfor your work andlove, andforever in your debt.
Staffers in 2010:Fromleft to right, standing:Kandace PowerGraves, Missy Wilkinson, Clancy DuBos, Alex Woodward andLauren LaBorde. Seated:Will Coviello andKevin Allman
@GambitBlake |askblake@gambitweekly.com
Hey Blake, Google Maps showa neighborhood called HoffmanTrianglenear CentralCity. That’s a newone on me.What do youknowabout thename?
Dear reader,
HOFFMANTRIANGLEISTHE NAMEDEVELOPERSGAVE the neighborhood borderedbySouth ClaiborneAvenue, Martin Luther King Jr.Boulevard andToledanoStreet, whichformthe triangle in itsname. Theareatakes itsnamefromthe John W. Hoffmanschool, whichwas alandmark therefor more than 80 years.
Theschoolwas at varioustimes an elementary,juniorhighand high school.Originallyopenedin1923as theWillowStreetSchool, it eventually relocatedtoSouth Prieur Street.In 1927,itwas namedfor Hoffman, a longtime teacherand principalatmany schools, includingMcDonogh35. The school closed in 2005,justmonths before thebuildingwas destroyed by Hurricane Katrina’sfederal levee failures.Ten yearslater,JohnW HoffmanCollege Prep school opened on thesite. It is nowthe HoffmanEarly Learning Center. In 2004,developerscut theribbon on thefirst threehomes in thedevelopment that they called Hoffman Triangle.“Imadeitup,”Rosalind Peychaud told TheTimes-Picayune
Taylor Playground in theHoffman Triangle communityneighborhood
when askedabout thearea’sname.
“We’re building aneighborhood around aschool. We’recreating avillage.” Peychaud,a former state representative,isa longtime leader of theNeighborhoodDevelopment Foundation in NewOrleans, whichassembled privateand governmentalfunding to rehabilitate the blighted neighborhood
“AsPeychaud toured theonceblighted area on arecentafternoon,Hoffman Triangle hada slight skip in itsstep: Beauty shopsand othersmall businesses were open Construction workerstoiledonthe newest homesinsteamyheat. South Prieur Street is flankedbypristinenew sidewalks. There’soff-streetparking, floweringcrape myrtle trees, abus stop shelterand,mostimportant,first-time homeowners,” wroteT-P reporter Gwen Filosa in July 2005.
WE CAN’TCLOSE THEBOOKS ON 2024 WITHOUTACKNOWLEDGING THE75TH ANNIVERSARY this year of aplace forbooks andbooklovers— theJef ferson Parish Library.
On Nov. 30,1949, aceremonyatthe Gretna High School auditorium officially openedthe parish’s librarysystem. AccordingtoThe Times-Picayune,the event included remarksfromMrs.GeorgeT.Heebe Jr., chairman of theparishlibrary controlboard,and Bertha Hellum,parish librarian.The firstlibrary branch was locatedatHueyP.LongAvenueand Fourth Street in Gretna,withadditional branches opened in Metairie,Marrero,Kenner, Jeffersonand GrandIsle, as well as amobileunit to serveother areas. “Thisisa bigday in JeffersonParish anditis hopedtobethe beginningofapermanent librarysystem,”Hellumsaidatthe dedication ceremony.The librarysystemopenedwithapproximately 16,500 books. Other librariesopenedinthe decade that followed,including anew headquarters on Causeway BoulevardinMetairie, whichopenedin1967. More modern library headquarters opened on both theeastand west banksinthe 1990s. Since1985, thenonprofit Friendsofthe JeffersonParish Libraryhas provided financialand volunteersupport.There arenow 16 librarybranchesonbothsides of theMississippi River, with anew oneinAvondaleset to open in thecomingyear. Recent events to mark theanniversary included theburialofatimecapsule containing an item contributedfromeachbranch. Librarystaff membersalso compiled “75Reads for75Years,” alistofsomeoftheir favorite bookspublished since1949. Youcan find thelistatjplibrary.net/75reads
BL AK E VI EW
Notgoodbye, just a heartfelt‘thankyou’ to my many mentors
THIS IS MY LAST WEEKLY COLUMN FOR GAMBIT,but I’mnot saying goodbye. I’mjustmarking theend of my Long StrangeTripinprint journalism.Iain’t dead,but Iamseriously grateful Having been blessedto spend more than 51 yearsasarepor ter, editor andnewspaper co-owner,I must give thanks andcreditwhere it’s due: to my parents, my teachers andmycolleagues.
My parentspersistentlyencouraged my eightsiblingsand me to pursue ourdreams. Ioften needed an occasional push.I’m forevergratefulto them forgivingmeboth.
My career path startedwitha schoolboycrush Ihad on my thirdgradeteacher,Mrs.Kay Lyons, who oneday said Iwas goingtobeawriter. That wasit. No voicefromthe clouds. No call from NewYork. Just the powerofakindwordfromabeloved teacher.Fromthatmoment, Iwas drawntostorytelling.
In my freshman year at Holy CrossHighSchool, I appliedtojointhe school’s award-winningnewspaper, TheBulletin. That’s how Imet KenHechler,who taught theonlyjournalism course Ievertook. Ken’s former students includetwo Pulitzer Prize-winningjournalists—Rene Sanchez, editorofThe Times-Picayune, andAlexMartin, an editor at TheWallStreetJournal
Thanks to Ken, Iexperiencedthe thrill of seeing my name atop anewspaper storyfor thefirst time at theage of 13.Iwas hooked. Kenand Holy Crossgaveme asafeplace to startwriting.Ken’s gentle butmeticuloustutelagealso made it fun.
from high school.Istill can’tbelieve I wassolucky
Sincethe dayIfirst walked into the cacophonousTPnewsroom—we wroteontypewriters back then —I’ve hadink in my veins. I’ve seen alot of changes(today’shushednewspaper officesare likelibraries compared to old-school newsrooms),but onething hasn’t changed: journalists’ missionis to speaktruth to powerand raisehell when necessary.
Ican’t imaginea better waytoearn aliving, or to spenda life.
Icontinued to work at The Times-Picayune whileincollege, andIquickly gota tasteofmajor news stories. Icovered theUpStairs Lounge arsoninJune1973, just six weeksintomyinternship. Thefire killed 32 people,almostall of them gaymen wholed closeted lives. The fire andits aftermathinspiredthe gay rights movement in NewOrleans, but progress exacteda heavytoll.
Icaughtmybig breakthanksto photographer RalphRomaguera, whohired me during my collegefreshmanyearand then pushed me (see the patternhere?)toapply fora summer internship at TheTimes-Picayune. I was18years oldand scared stiff, but Idid as Ralphinstructed. Igot acall thenextday asking if Icould start immediately— ayearafter Igraduated
Iwitnessed bigpolitical stories earlyon. Thecitywideelections in 1973 broughtmajorchanges to New Orleanspolitics. The1974campaignto adoptanew stateconstitution, ledby Gov. EdwinEdwards,likewisechanged Louisiana’spolitical landscape. In theensuing half-century,I coveredthe 1982 crashofPan Am Flight 759, the1984World’s Fair,the
continuedrise— andtectonicfall— of Edwardsand countlessother politicians, alongwithelections,disasters (Katrina wasThe BigOne), triumphs andtragedies,and,ofcourse, Winnas andLoozas. Afterlunch with his family at theGovernor’sMansion one dayduringhis historic fourth term as governor,Edwards pulled me aside andasked me howI thoughthistory wouldtreat him. Thequestionsurprised me,but it showed howheavily hislegacyweighed on him, even then “That’suptoyou,” Isaid. Therestis, well,history.
Speaking of history, Iwas blessed to work with olderreporters whohad coveredlegendary politicalfigures Oneofthemwas JamesH.Gillis(not to be confused with my friend and colleagueJames Gill),anelderly TP politicalcolumnist whohad covered Huey Long in hisown youngerdays. My youthful colleagues look at me as if Ihavea portrait in my atticwhen ItellthemI once worked with aguy whocovered TheKingfish. Igot to know severalthousand politicosand some of themostcolorful politicaloperativesinAmerica.Their passionfor powerand politics fed my owndrive to untangle ourstate’s complexpolitical machinations
Imajored in historyatUNO,but I gotmymaster’sinLouisiana politics on thejob.History wasthe perfect
majorfor me —professorsStephen Ambroseand JoeLogsdon taught me that journalism is thefront linesof history. My other mentorsincluded allmycolleaguesand editorsaswell as some of thebestpolitical consultantsinthe business —pollsters Joe Walker andEdRenwick,and media gurusJames Carville,Ray Strother andJim Carvin
Ialsogot schooled by twoof NewOrleans’bestmayors. Moon Landrieu in 1977 dubbed me “Boy Reporter”because Ihad theboyish audacity to askhim foraninterview withoutgoing throughhis press of fice.Henever stoppedcalling me that,but he generouslysharedwith me hisvastreservoir of politicaland worldlywisdom. DutchMorialtaughtmemore than anypoliticianI’veknown, butI didn’t realizehow much he mentored me untilafter he died suddenly in 1989.Dutch lovedto pick fights with thepress,but when theT Vcameras shut down,he’dcall me over andwhisper,“What you hearing?” We shared apassion for what Dutchcalled“thechess board
KenBodeand Clancy DuBosshare alaugh at the 1988 Democratic National Convention in Atlanta.
Clancy DuBoswithformer Gov. EdwinEdwards
PR OV ID ED PH OT O
aspect”ofpolitics. Iwishhecould have stayed with us longer
My favoritepolitical character— andaterrificbourrée player —was Maurice“Hippo” Katz.Aconfidant of DutchMorial, Hippouttered one of thegreatestlines I’ve heardin51 yearsofpolitical reportage. In 1985, IintroducedHippo to NBCpolitical correspondentKen Bode.At the time,Morialwas trying to convince voters to change theCityCharter so he couldseekanadditionalmayoral term.When Bode askedHippo what jobhewantedinDutch’s thirdterm, Hippoanswered, “I don’twantajob Iwantaposition!”
Ican’t make this stuf fup.
My association with Gambit has been themostenduringpar tofmy career.Ibegan as afreelance political columnistinDecember1981, ayearafter Gambit wasfounded, andI’veloved everyminuteofmy 43 yearsasacolumnist,editorand co-owner.MywifeMargo,who served as Gambit’s publisherfor threedecades andmadeitthe most successful alt-weekly of itssizein thecountry,remains my best editor. Shesaved me from myself more timesthanIcan count; I’mforever grateful to her forthatand so much more John andDathelGeorges bought Gambit in 2018and kept it going throughCOVID andother challenges In an agewhen newspapers were
SybilMorial,ClancyDuBos andLeahChase
dyingacrossAmerica,Johnand Dathel enabledgreat journalism to thrive across Louisiana. In doingso, they have givenall Louisianansaccess to governmental transparency and accountability —the pillarsofmodern democracy. They deserveall our thanks fortheir unwavering commitment to localjournalism.
Finally, my deepestthanksgoto you, my readers—including my many critics. Iespeciallyappreciatethose whotookthe time to pointout where Ididn’tget it quiteright,orwhenI wasjustflat-outwrong.You were my mentors, too. Thanks forpushing me
Like most of you, dear readers, Ilovemycityand statewithall my heart. Thanks forjoining me on this Long StrangeTrip.
Andfinally,acorrection— It’s ironic yetfitting,considering how many politicosI’veblasted,thatI must endmy last weekly column by owning amistake.Inlastweek’s “Top 10 PoliticalStories of 2024,” I misstatedbusinessman Troy Henry’s (and hiscompany’s)experience in thesanitation business.Henry Consulting hasprovidedsanitation services at theSuperdome andLouis Armstrongairport forfiveyears andinthe Downtown Development District forthe past year.I sincerely apologizefor theerror
SI GN IN G OFF
Af te rm or etha n5 0yea rs in pr in t, Clancy DuBos turn sthe page on as to ri ed ca re er
BY SA RA HR AV IT S
MANYOFBRANDIN DUBOS’S earliest childhood memories involvesitting at Bud’sBroiler on Saturday afternoons with hisfatherClancy.
It wasthe early1980s,and they wouldheadoverto theMid-Cityburgerjoint forsomefather-sonbonding time.But it wasnever just thetwo of them
Instead,Brandin says,therewas always an endless stream of friendly facesfromall walksof life eagerto introducethemselves to hisfather.
“Itwas,‘What’s up?’ ‘Keepitup, man’ —from across thestreet, or whileopening up thedoorfor him,”Brandin says.“People always recognized him.”
Afterthey’dleave,Brandin,who was3or 4atthe time,would look at hisfatherquizzically andask him whoall thesepeoplewere.
“I didn’tpickuponthe fact that he wasonTV,”he says with alaugh.“So therewerea wholebunch of people whoknewhis face andknewhis name.”
WhetherClancyDuBos,who wasa single dadatthe time workingatWDSU, hadmet thesefolks before or notdidn’treallymatter. He treatedeveryonewith respect, Brandinsays.
That’s been aconstantthroughouthis career. Over theyears,thatsense of respectcombined with curiosityand adesiretoconnect with othershas helped DuBoscover thousandsof stories, documentingNew Orleansatsomeofits highestand lowest points,startingbackinthe early1970s when he wasa teenageinternatThe Times-Picayune
In more recent decades, DuBoshas cemented his legacy in theworld of NewOrleans andLouisiana politicaljournalism, knownbestfor hissharp commentaryinGambit, TheTimes-Picayuneand on local TV stations.
As KandacePower Graves,formerGambiteditorin chief, puts it,“Clancy’s trustworthybecause he’lltell youwhat’sright or wrong. Andyou candisagreeand stilltotally respectwhere he’s coming from,and that is arealgiftfor areporterorapolitical commentator.”
CLANCYDUBOS wasbornand raised in NewOrleans in what he callsa “typical NewOrleans Catholic family”toDorothy and Clarence DuBosII. He wasthe fourth of nine children andthe oldest boy.
He jokesthathewas notanearly fanofdemocracy because “I wasalwaysoutvotedbymy oldersisters.”
Clarence DuBosIII wasimmediatelygiven thenicknameClancy by adeliverynurse to differentiate himselffromhis father.
As ayoung boy, he hung outat Digbyplaygroundnearhis housein theEast. It wasa gatheringspotfor both public andprivate school kids in theneighborhoodand wherehe developedaloveofsports— and sportsmanship. Learning howto handle wins andlosseswithgrace helped himlater when it came to covering politics,hesays. Earlyon, histhird-gradeteacher at Immaculate HeartofMary, Kay Lyons, noticedhehad aknack for writing, andDuBos likestojoke
thatitdidn’thurtthathesecretly hadacrush on her
“She told me Iwas goingtobe writer,and Ithought,well, that’s what Igotta do,” he told Gambit “I startedreallypayingattention.”
He creditsmuchofhis discipline andworkethic to histimeatthe Holy Cross, whichheattended from 7thto12thgrade. It wouldbea trulyformative time of hislife, wherehewas mentored by strict butcaring teachers whohelpedhim develop hisultimatepassion forjournalism.
Clancy DuBosisretiringfroma long career in printjournalism.
SI GN IN G OF F
Brandin, Margo andClancyDuBos during aBastilleDay celebrationinNew Orleansinthe 1990s
At theall-boysHolyCross,hesays, therewas also astrongsense of kinshipamong hisschoolmates
LSUNO, nowthe University of New Orleans, to earn adegreeinhistory
“Therewas no bullying,” he says “The school hadalot of traditions handed down by olderstudents, and theolder guys looked outfor us.They didn’t push us around or bullyus.”
Aftergetting afootballinjuryin9th gradethatlandedhim in afullbody cast,hewas stuckathomefor weeks on end.
Aphotographerfriend, RalphRomaguera, helped 18-year-oldDuBos line up an internship at TheTimes-Picayune thesummerafter hisfirst year of college, andhewas hooked forlife. In just thefirst week on the jobin1973, he coveredmajor breaking news includingthe drowningofateenageratthe Audubon Zoointhe flamingo pond
Aclassmate came by everyday to drop offnotes,while ateacher stoppedinweeklytogivehome school lessons. To this dayheisstill touchedbythisgenerosity, andis stillgoodfriends with theclassmate, GlennGomes.
“That’sa very Holy Crossstory,” he says DuBosdiscoveredatHolyCross that he didn’t just like writing, he liked journalism in particular.But funnily enough,his high school journalism classeswerethe only journalism classes he ever took Yearslater,DuBos wouldjointhe school’s boardofdirectors,and become oneofthe school’s staunchestadvocates in theaftermath of Hurricane Katrina, helpingits recovery andrelocationtoanew campus after it wasdestroyed by thelevee failures
“Thiswas before Audubonhad sort of been rebuilt,”DuBos says.“Back then,itwas aterriblezoo.Itwas a national disgrace.”
He stillremembers sittingthere watching thebodybeing retrieved.
“I’m thinking,thiskid’s only acouple yearsyounger than Iam. andIhad to listen to thecop andthe coroner,” he says.“It wasone of thosethings that drovethe movement to improve thezoo.”
DuBossoakedupadvicefrom mentorsinthe newsroom,including Ed Anderson andFrank Martin,who helped himdevelop writingand journalism skills.
DuBoswas in theearly days of his summer internship when another majortragedy struck NewOrleans:the Up Stairs Lounge fire,when32men were killed by an arsonattackatthe French Quartergay bar.
That incident wouldeventually change thearc of gayrightsinNew
Clancy as ayoung father with hisson,Brandin
Orleans, butnot soonenough. For DuBos, it remains alingering source of trauma as he witnessedthe aftermath firsthand.
“The rush to getabig storyintoprint forces reporterstodetachfromthe emotionalimmediacy of theevent itself,” he wrotein2013looking back on theevent.“In most casesit’seasy. When thestory involves death, especially thedeath of achild or multiple deaths,not so much.”
“I don’tthink I’ve ever been able to detach from it,” he wrote.
Thoseearlybreakingnewsstories also solidified himasa capablereporter whocould puthis emotions aside, at leasttemporarily,and accurately gather factsand eyewitness accounts to convey storiestoeditors andreaders
At theend of that summer when it wastimetogobacktocollege,he askedAndersonifhecould stay on staffduringthe school year
“Backthen, it wasloosey-goosey,” he says of thehiringand paperwork process. Anderson sent himtosee FritzHarsdorff,then thepaper’s associate editor.DuBos remembers “shaking like aleaf.”
“Hesaid, ‘I don’tknow, summer’s over,we’re supposed to fire you,’” he says.“Iwas like,‘Fire me?’ ”
Seeing howmuchDuBos wanted to stay on thepaper,Harsdorff gave him theunconventionaladvicetojustkeep showingup.
So DuBosjustkeptshowing up.In 1976,withgraduation looming, he decidedtomakethe relationship with thepaper more formal andapplied for afull-time position
When he went in foranother interview, editor Ed Tunstall pulled up hisinternshipapplication from years before andnoticed he’d neverbeen officially hiredatthe paper.
DuBosreplied,“Yeah,but youkeep paying me,soIkeepshowing up He said,‘Youknowwhat? You’re officially hired.’”
Over thenextfew years, he would covereducation,general news and eventually find aniche in politics
As DuBoswrote in 2023,“Ilived for theadrenalinerushofa bigstory.”
IN 1981 DUBOSVENTURED INTO TV JOURNALISM AT WDSU. Hisfirst son, Brandin, wasalsobornthatyear. He’d also startedfreelancing at Gambit,which wasnew on theNew Orleansjournalismscene.Picking up freelanceworkatthe alt-weekly was afateful decision forDuBos —and not just becausehe’dend up owning the paper. Gambit is wherehemet MargoJackson,ayoung salesrep forthe paperwho’d DuBoswould end up marrying.
DuBoshad also become close friendswithLilyJackson,asociety columnistfor TheTimes-Picayuneand Margo’smother “Theywould betonhorse racing together,” says Margoofher mother’s friendship with Clancy.“Shetoldhim, ‘I want youtomeetmydaughter. But Idon’t want youtogoout with her; Ijustwantyou to help herwithher career.’ Iwas actually horrifiedthat shehad said that.”
Jacksonkeptpressinghim as the months went on:“Do youknow her yet?”
Margoand Clancy eventually metat TheBeachcorner baronCanal Street, whereClancywas aregular
“I went thereall thetimebecause I knew allthe bartenders,” he says.“I used to joke that Igot my mail there.”
Margowas therewithher boss at Gambit,and Clancy spottedher on the other side of thebar.But then shedid theunexpected: Shegot up andasked hisfriendtodance.
DutchMorial,ClancyDuBos and former police chiefand city councilmemberJoe GiarrussoSr.,circa 1984.
ww w.nolagift sanddecoronline.com @nolagif tsanddecor Mon- Fri1 0am- 6pm| Sat1 0am- 4pm Curbside &DeliveryStill Available! 30 01 ORMOND BLVD.• 985.603. 40 11 at entrance to Ormond Es tates• Dest rehan
meeting, DuBossays“we hititoff and it wasgreat.”
DuBoswas dueatthe airportthe next dayat7a.m., destined forPanama on anewsassignmentwithWDSU. Buttheystayedupall nightatthe bar anyway,drinking, dancingand getting to know each otherintothe bleary hoursofthe morning.
“I triedtoget her to come to Panama with me,and shesaidno,”DuBos says. “I waslike, ‘All right, this is thekindof girl Icould marry.’Itwas pretty much love at firstsight.”
Thefeeling wasmutual.
“When he gotback, we gottogether again, andwe’ve been together ever since,”Margo says Much of theirromance developed againstthe backdrop of the1984 World’sFairinNew Orleans.
Oneofits main attractionswas a gondolaoverthe MississippiRiver, andMargo says they wouldtimetheir ridestocoincidewiththe evening fireworksshow.
“Itwas amagical time to be in New Orleans,”she says They marriedonMay 24,1984. Margobecameastepmom to Brandin, aroleshe relished,and sheand Clancy hadanother son, Will,in1993.
DUBOSBECAMEPUB-
LISHER
of Gambit in 1987,and the
DuBoseseventuallyboughtthe paper in 1991.Fromthere, they helped further steeritasa go-topublication forall things NewOrleans.
Undertheir leadership,the paper developedareputationasa “take no prisonersobserveroflocal news andpolitics,”asClancyput it in 2018.
When they sold Gambit in 2018 to John Georges, theDuBoses wrote abouthow thepaper hadoverthe yearscovered “the rise andfallof DavidDukeand EdwinEdwards,the onsetofcasinogaming, Hurricane Katrinaand itsaftermath,too many politicalscandalstocount,the BP oil disaster,New Orleans’ ongoingstruggles to create asafeand sustainable city .and everyaspectoflocal arts, entertainmentand culture.”
WhileMargo handledthe day-todayoperationsfromGambit’sformer headquarters in Mid-City,Clancy chartedamorecircuitouspath, serving at timesasthe editor of thepaper whilecontinuingtoworkasa reporter covering politics andpolicy. He even spentnearly threeyearsasa lawyer, aftercompletingnight school at Loyola LawSchoolin1993.
“Theycreated an atmosphere where they worked really hard,sopeople wanted to work hard,” says Jeanne Exnicios,who worked at thepaper for more than twodecades,startingoff
MARGO
thesales department before eventually rising throughthe rankstobecome Gambit’s publisherfrom2015to2023.
Exnicios says oneofthe things that struck her most abouthow Clancy and MargoDuBos ranthe paperwas how they treatedtheir employeeslikefamily, somethingthatcan also be seen in howthey, andthe paper, viewed the broadercommunity.
Forinstance, Margolaunchedthe Big Easy EntertainmentAwardsin1988 as away to recognizethe accomplishments of localmusicians,actors andother artists. Thepaper also held huge dinnersand otherevents, both forthe staffand thepublic, andthey made supporting localculture bearers andother creativesacoreaspectof Gambit’s identity
Meanwhile, Clancy —and by extension Gambit —cementedhimself as oneofthe leadingpolitical reporters andcommentatorsinthe state.
Exnicios says that becauseofhis more public role Clancy wasoften viewed as thevoice of thepublication —thoughhewas always quicktogive credit forthe newspaper’ssuccess to Margo.
“Peoplewould thinkthatClancywas theone whomadeeverythinghappen, buthealwaysmadesurepeopleknew Margowas areallybig part of it,” Exnicios says Together,Exniciossays, “theyreally epitomizedwhatGambitwas.”
MichaelTisserand,aformereditor of Gambit,saysthe couple’s underlyingaffection wasalwayspresent, even during heated discussionsinthe conference room.
“Itis obviouslya very functional marriage, so it worked as thefoundationof afamilybusiness,”Tisserand says “Growing up,Gambitwas like my sister.Wetalkedabout it at thedinner table,”saysBrandin.
BUTIN2005, HURRICANE KA-
TRINA nearlyrippedthe Gambit family apart.
Thepaper,which hadsentthe annual Best of NewOrleans issueto theprintersa fewdaysbeforeKatrina, went dark formonths. Like therestof NewOrleans,mostofthe Gambit staff hadeither evacuatedbeforethe storm or left in theweeks afterand were scatteredaroundthe country.
With aflooded office andnomoney initiallycomingin, it couldhavebeen theend of Gambit.Thankfully, as the dust begantosettle, Clancy andMargo gathered askeletoncrewofstaffers, securedsomefunding to keep them going, andagainst alloddsstarted publishingagain in November of that year
It wasapivotal moment forthe paperand thecity. With much of the city’s population gone andthe enormity of therebuildingproject facing New Orleans, nobody really knew what
wouldhappeninthe storm’saftermath.Somewereopenly wondering whether thecitywould survive. New Orleanians were lookingfor asign, any sign, of normalcy.
GettingGambitbackonthe streets wasthatsign, sendingaclear signal to residentsthattheyweren’t alone andthatthere wouldbeacitytocome home to.
Post-Katrina,the DuBoseshelped revive Gambit as it became aleading voicecalling forchangeand rebirthin thecityand uncovering politicalscandals in thewakeofthe storm.
ful CEOs to the working class custodians who clean their buildings.
If there’s anyone who can form a long-lasting genuine relationship, it’s DuBos.
His longtime friend, attorney Joe Raspanti, says wherever he goes people want to talk to him.
“Clancy knows everyone from paupers to princes, and they all love Clancy just the same,” he says. “He can talk to anybody. When you go out in the city of New Orleans, they’re all going to come up and talk to him.”
That’s in part because of DuBos’ long career in the public eye, but also because he’s friendly and loves chatting with new people
“When he gets into an Uber, all of a sudden the driver is his best friend,” Margo says “He enjoys meeting people and learning about them He just loves hearing their stories.”
His son, Will, adds, “He shows everyone respect. He could be talking to a senator or a councilman, but there’s a million little guys to every one of them, and the real measure of a man is how you treat the average person.”
Those connections helped DuBos develop his ability to understand and report on the “inside baseball” of politics and policymaking, without losing sight of what those decisions would mean for his readers.
It’s an uncommon trait in the modern media environment where “access” journalism and “service” journalism are often viewed as being in competition with each other or somehow serving distinctly separate purposes
Former Gambit editor Kevin Allman, who worked with DuBos from 2008 to 2019, says, “He not only knows all the trees in the political forest but also the root systems that connect them in ways others don’t see.”
By the time DuBos started doing more political punditry at Gambit, he had built up a solid foundation as a reporter who had made a lot of connections with people from all walks of life
Initially “it was much more analysis and less of my opinion, because I felt like I had to earn the right to give people my opinion,” DuBos says “And I had to earn their trust by just analyzing things.”
AS WITH ANY POLITICAL PUNDIT, readers or viewers don’t always love what DuBos has to say.
But they have to at least acknowledge that his takes are informed by thoughtful analysis and examining issues from all angles
“Clancy is diplomatic in a quiet way,” says Graves, who retired from Gambit in 2020 “He is listening, and even if you don’t agree with him politically, you have to respect how he got there. It’s always a reasonable path that he takes.”
Plus, she says, he always backs up his beliefs with evidence. In today’s political climate, Graves says DuBos stands out because “he never comes across as a wingnut.”
DuBos says his gift for analytical writing was honed when he went to law school at Loyola University While he only practiced law for just under three years, the experience helped shape him further as a journalist, especially when covering legislation
Politicians as much as readers take note of what he has to say.
“I’ve read Clancy’s columns since before I ran for office,” says New Orleans City Council Member Lesli Harris. “I read them every time they come out.”
So strong is DuBos’ pulse on city and state politics that she says sometimes elected officials are even surprised by news.
“He will break news that I don’t even know about,” Harris says “It can certainly sway the way that I view a particular issue. I appreciate his commitment and his advocacy of New Orleans.”
Graves says, “He’s not only a political reporter who can tell you what’s happening, but he can put it into context of what that means to readers.”
His contributions to the city, and to the city’s community of journalists, helped him rake in numerous awards over the years, from the Louisiana Press Association, the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies and the Associated Press Association of Louisiana and Mississippi. He also was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the New Orleans Press Club in 2018.
MANY
JOURNALISTS WITH TIES TO NEW ORLEANS credit DuBos as a mentor.
That includes Allman, who took an interest in politics when he first joined Gambit’s staff. But reporters can be territorial, and impeding on a coworker’s beat could have ruffled some feathers Instead, DuBos embraced Allman’s interest.
“He could have easily told me that was his beat and to stick to my own lane, but instead he welcomed me to do so and educated me at every step,” Allman says.
After 11 years working with him, Allman felt like he practically had a degree in Louisiana history.
When Alex Woodward, a former staff writer at Gambit, was hired, DuBos owned the paper and wrote columns, but he wasn’t spending a whole lot of time at the office.
Woodward says it always seemed like a big “event” when he would show up, usually with a new brainstorm or to offer some encouragement to the staff. Woodward, who now lives in New York and is a senior reporter at The In-
dependent, says DuBos would promote the stories other Gambit staffers would write and help get them in front of the right people.
“He would always make a point of talking about the work we were doing,” he says “He was a huge champion for a series we developed on domestic violence, and he managed to get it in front of state lawmakers.”
News anchor and reporter Travers Mackel, who is 20 years younger than DuBos, remembers working with him at WDSU during the earlier days of his own
career and soaking up his knowledge and advice
“You just watch him, and you know he has a great understanding because he does his homework,” Mackel says. “But a lot of it is institutional knowledge that he’s just gained from covering this for decades, and decades, and you can’t put a price tag on that.”
A lesson he took away from working with DuBos is that “covering politics is very relationship driven ... Sometimes (the news) is good, sometimes it’s bad. But as long as you’re fair and honest
Clancy DuBos’ 70th birthday party with family
PH OT O PR OV ID ED BY MAR GO DU BO S
Clancy DuBos, Karen Swenson and Ron Faucheux
PH
MAR GO DU BO S
SI GN IN G OF F
DINING GU IDE DI
with people,you’regoing to keep those relationshipsgoing.”
Allman says oneofDuBos’most admirablequalities is thejoy he got from workingwithand mentoring youngreporters
“I don’tthink he ever forgot thefeelingofbeing awide-eyed 18-year-old cubreporteratThe Times-Picayune,” he says.
AS CLANCY DUBOSPREPARESTO
RETIRE AT 70, he’llstill make appearancesonWWL-TV, whereheservesasa politicalcommentator during elections.
He’s thrilled to be able to spendtime with hisgranddaughter,Ava, andasa longtime,avidsportsman,he’ll have much more time to go huntingand fishing, both in Louisianaand in Montana,where he hasa vacation home.
Hisrestlessnaturemight compel himtowrite fiction, he says,and he’s alreadyconsidering workingonaseries of storiesinspiredbyall thepolitical characters he’s metoverthe years.
Afterreceiving adiagnosis of ADHD, DuBosalsowants to be an advocate for people with ADHD
Gettingthe diagnosishelpedexplainedmuchofhis life.Overthe years, he frequently “got down”on himselffor notbeing as organizedashe wouldhaveliked,orfor stressingout on deadlines.
He wantstoshowothershow the abilitytohyperfocus, asymptom of ADHD,can be a“superpower,” he says That cancomeinhandy in journalism, he says
Margosaysshe’s curioushow he’s goingtohandleretired life
“Writing canbestressful,” shesays. “And he’s livedalifeondeadline, so to wake up onemorning andnot have a deadline?Idon’t know what’s goingto happen to him!”
Thereisone thingshe knowsfor certain though.He'sstill goingtobetalking to allsorts of people
“Heisn’t goingtostoppicking up the phone,”she says.
Funfact: Clancy DuBosloves baking
John andDathel Georgeswith Margoand
Clancy DuBos
FI LE PH OT O
EA T+D RI NK
Cajun spark
Anew Cajun-inspired spot opensinthe French Quarter by Beth D’Addono |
ASKCHEFSARTHAK “SHAN”
SAMANTRAYWHATHIS FAVORITE FOOD IS,and he doesn’tmissabeat. Despitebeing originally from Bhubaneswar, southofKolkata in India, hisanswerisan American burger
“Wewereall raised eating Indian food,” Samantraysays. “Wecook Indian food,sowhen we areoff,we eatAmericanfood.”
Samantrayand partnersAman Kota andSachinDaradeopenedtheir firstrestaurant, LUFU NOL A, on St CharlesAvenueinthe CBDin2023. They openedtheir second spot, CajunFlames, in October, and it reflects theirloveofAmerican food,especiallyCajun food and Louisianaseafood.And yes, there’s agreat burger on themenu, hickory smoked with freshcut frieson theside.
“Louisiana is oursecondhome,” says Darade,who spends most of his time in theFrenchQuarter at thenew place. “Wetraveledaroundthe state —LakeCharles,Lafayette,Baton Rouge. We have friendswho like to hunt,and we’llall cook together.We wanted to bringlocal seafoodand Cajunflavors to theneighborhood.”
The120-seatrestauranthas the same bonesasthe previous occupant, therestaurantSaint John.There’s a long barinfront,anopenkitchen and booths in back,plusa second dining room upstairs with balconyseating andaFrenchQuarter view.
Butnow there’seye-popping murals againstwhitewalls,starting with alarger-than-lifepop portrait of abeautywithoctopus tentacles forhair, by localartistKyleJay Johnson, (@imkylejayonInstagram). He also paintedascene of bead throwers andbeadcatchersinthe back dining room.
Theoctopus is areference to oneofthe nontraditional dishes on themenu. Chef de cuisineCarlos Gutierrezoffersa cousin to adish from hisnativePeru, tender,grilled octopusservedwithherbaceous chimichurri.Itisservedon“Cajunhash
browns,” whichare roastedand then friedspicedpotatoes.
Then there’sLouisiana seafood. The char-grilled oyster trio is oneofthe best treatments of localoysters in town, with twoplump andjuicy oysterseach in Rockefeller, spicyCajun andgarlic, herband Parmesan preparations.The bivalves areharvested in St.Bernard Parish,and they also areavailable raw.
Thereisa popularCajun seafoodpasta, oyster crab dip anda whole butterflied localpompano. Appetizers includefriedfrog legs andfried alligatorbites, andpo-boys arestuffed with catfish, shrimp or chicken.
Themenu also hasveg gie burgersand steamed mussels in garlicky wine sauce.
Allthree of the partners came to town rightafter college. They spentalmostfive yearscooking Creole dishes at restaurants includingthe RibRoomand Jack Rose before openingthe Indian restaurant LUFU,first as a popup, then in PythianMarket andfinally as a full restaurant.
“Weplanto open anotherLUFUconcept soon,” Darade says.“Butfor oursecond restaurant,wewantedthe twolocationstobeclose,sowecould manage them well.”
Fornow,Kotaismanagingdayto-day operations at LUFU,and Samantrayishandlingcateringjobs andfloatingbetween both places.
“WefellinlovewithLouisiana food rightaway,”Samantray says.“We wanted to bringthe freshest seafood andour take on Cajunfoodtoour adoptedhometown.”
Creole Cuisinechangeover
APRESENCEINTHE DOWNTOWN
DINING SCENEFOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS,Tommy’s Cuisineclosedin November,along with theattached loungeN.O.S.H.(previously Tommy’s WineBar).
Tommy’swillbecomeLeMoyne Bistro,a modern French restaurant, andthe lounge will become Marie’s Oyster Bar.
Both arefromchefFarrellHarrison andmanager BrianWeisnicht, wholastyearopenedthe tapas-inspired restaurant plates (1051 Annunciation St.) nearby in the Cotton Mill building
Theoysterbar is slated to open first, likely in late Januar y, with a focusonnatural winesand Gulf seafood. Thebistrowillfollow in February
Tommy’swas firstopenedat 746Tchoupitoulas St.in2003by namesake TommyAndrade,serving acombination of Italianand French Creole cuisine. He lateropened Tommy’sWineBar next door, andthe twobusinessesare connected by apassage.You could star tyourevening at thebar or return af terdinner
In 2016,Andrade sold both the restaurant andwinebar to Creole CuisineRestaurantConcepts, along with athird restaurant,Tomas Bistro, just across TchoupitoulasStreet(now an eventspace called theGallery, whichisnot part of this newdeal) Thewinebar changedtoN.O.S.H., an upscalelounge, in 2017. With Creole Cuisinefocused on itsnew brandBoulevard American Bistro (another location of which openednearbyrecently),the company turned over theTchoupitoulas spotstonew operators.
Therestaurantplatesopenedin thefallof2023. It serves amenu focusedontapas-style dining,and has alarge barwithalongand generous dailyhappy hour at 5-7p.m.Monday throughThursdayand 4-7p.m.Friday throughSunday. —Ian McNulty/ TheTimes-Picayune
ChefsSarthak Samantray (left) andSachinDarade opened CajunFlamesinthe French Quarter.
OpenNewYear
NewOrleans City Council UtilityDocketUD-23-01
EntergyNew Orleans2024IntegratedResourcePlan
Everythree yearsanEntergy NewOrleans(ENO) Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) is produced.Thisisthe planning processbywhich Entergyassesses theresources availabletoittomeet thepower supply needsofNew Orleans. TheIRP is produced following an open,transparent planning processthrough whichall relevant resourcesare investigated.Resources considered includesupply-side (suchaspower plants)and demand-side (programstomodifycustomerloads to reduce or shiftloads from hours with high electricitycosts or reliabilityconstraints to otherhours). Thefactors infuencing choice amongthese resourcesare considered in theplanning process. Thegoalistoidentifythe optimalset of resourcestomeet currentand future electric serviceneedsatthe lowest totalcosttocustomers andENO in amannerconsistentwiththe long-run public interest.The expected combinationofcosts, reliability, risksand uncertainty areconsidered. Theplanning processtodevelop the2024IRP is underway.Tofacilitatethisprocess, asecondpublic meetingwillbeheld:
Tuesday, January21, 2025 from 10:00a.m.to1:00p.m NewOrleansCityCouncil Chamber, City Hall, 1300 PerdidoSt.,Room 1E07,New Orleans.
Thepublic is invitedand encouraged to attend/viewthismeetingtohearENO’s presentation of theIRP Filing andsubmit public comment ENOshouldhaveaportalonits websitefor questions andcomments to be submittedovera 15-day period.ENO must respondtoeachquestionona rolling 10-day basis.
TheCouncil’s UtilitiesRegulatoryOfcewillmaintaina sign-upsheet forInterestedPersons whowish to receivecopiesofall flings,issuances, andnotices occurring in theproceeding. If youwishtobe includedonthislist, pleasecontact CURO by emailtoBobbieMason at bfmason1@nola.gov. Youare also welcometowatch themeeting, either as it is live-streamed or once it is archived at:
PublicationDates:December23and 30,2024and January 6and 13,2025 NOCP 8085
Jeb Wartelle, Mollie Wartelle &Jake Sharpless
Chefs
by Will Coviello
JEBWARTELLE,MOLLIE WARTELLE ANDJAKESHARPLESSCREATED THE POP-UP Goldie last year as acreative outlet outsideCrepe Nanou, where Jebisthe executivechefand they have allworkedattimes.SiblingsJeb andMolliegrewupinthe NewOrleans area.Sharpless is from NewEngland, andbothheand Mollie have also worked extensivelyinthe film industry. With Goldie,theyrun monthly pop-upsatTellMeBar andother locations. On Monday,Jan.6,Goldie is doingapop-upnight at Mister Mao, adding dishes to themenu there. Formoreinformation,visit @goldie_ popuponInstagram.
Howdid youall getintocooking?
JEBWARTELLE: Istarted cooking earlyincollege,off andon. Ididn’ttake it seriouslyuntil Iwas in my early20s Iworkedatplacesaroundhereand in BatonRouge.IworkedinPortland, Oregon.Idid sushiatMike’sonthe Avenue.I worked at Marcello’s MOLLIE WARTELLE: Ourfamilyis French.Our grandmother is proudwe work at aFrenchrestaurant.
Ourgrandma cooked alot.Mydad cooked aton.Foodwas thecenterof everything in thefamily. Iwas aline cook (atCrepe Nanou) forabit JAKE SHARPLESS: Igrewupin Massachusetts. My family didn’t cook so much.Ididn’tlearn in thehouse My cousin gets credit.Hecould reach into thepantry andrefrigeratorand come up with ameal. Iasked himhow to do it andhesaidcooking showsand Food Network. Istarted watching Julia Child. Iworkedinfilmproductionand that’s whereImet Mollie.I wasworking as aproducer.
Foryears,Iwantedtogivecooking a try. Mollie pushed me andconnected Jeband I. Istarted helpinginthe kitchen doingprep. This came out of alot of days prepping andtalking aboutthingsthatwouldn’tfit the menu here.
JW: Ihavebeenthe chef at Crepe Nanoufor 11 years. They came back to thecityafter beinginCapeCod and theBostonarea. Jake startedhelping me in therestaurantand we spenta lotoftimecooking together.Wewere
WI NE OF TH E WEEK
like,weshoulddosomething.He’sa biginfluence with quahogs(clams) and lobsterand East Coaststuff.Wegrew up fishingand crabbing anda mixofthe twoisthe Goldie idea
What do youlike to serveatthe pop-up?
JW: We’reseafood heavy, butwelike alot of Thai andVietnameseflavors We have done rawoysters with afrozenTabasco.It’slikea snowball
JS: We didcobia crudowithacitrus dressing.Wetry to sticktolocal stuff, so cobiawelove. Andsatsumasand what we have here.
Fordessert,wedid aduckmousse. At therestaurant, we hadduckand oneday we were messingaroundwith thelivers. We endedupcooking them down andpureeingthem. We served them on afried crepe.
JW: Idid that duck mousse at another restaurant.Our original idea wasto putitinanice creamcone. We used afried crepeand we hadthe mousse andcandied orange andchocolate.We gotgoodreviews.Ifyou cook that liver down with cognac andcream,italmost tastes likeice cream.
JS: We were holdingour breath when thefirst person orderedit. Then we got athumbsupacrossthe bar. That’s why we do this.You gettosee people react to your food in real time.Pop-ups give youachancetogauge it
JW: We do it once amonth at Tell Me Bar. We’realwaysatthisrestaurant, so it’s hard to juggle theschedule. We didaprivate dinner at an artgallery.A sit-down,coursed outdinnerfor the artist andbuyers. We trying to start branching outmore.
MW: We like goingtodifferent places Thegallery dinner wasa completely differentset-up.
JW: At Tell Me Bar, they don’treally have akitchen.Weprephere, but everytime, we have to thinkabout how we’regoing to do it.Wehavea little outdoorpizza oven.Wedid pizzaone night. We hadanoctopus pizzaand a chorizoand fig.
JS: It expandsour creativity,being able to have an ever-changingmenu andtry newthings. We candopizza onenight,and then ramenand then tostadas.
MW: Theweather candictate what we’regoing to do.We’re workingwith what’s in season.Likeifit’sNovember, we canuse thepizza oven,and these mushroomsare in season
We have also done lobsterand scallops acoupletimes as anod to Cape Cod. We dida lobsterramen.Wedid a chilledlobster noodle salad.
What areyou going to do at Mister Mao?
JW: We will probably do acured fish appetizer. Probably with satsuma. JS: We maydoascallop dish because that hasbeenpopular
Layerednotes of ripe blackberry,darkplum, and boysenberry are complementedbyhints of dark chocolate,baking spices and toastyoak. Rich dark fruitonthe palate is balancedbyfresh acidity and finely-knit tannins,
Ex tend your st ay on theMuseumcampus with specialPapaNoelrates andholiday Réveillondinners at TheHig gins Hotel& Conf erence Center. Vi sithigginshotelnola.com.
Gifs
Find theper fect
on
Out to EatisanindexofGambit contractadvertisers. Unlessnoted,addressesare forNew Orleans and all accept credit cards. Updates:Email willc@gambitweekly.com or call (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; 8140 OakSt.,(504) 897-4800;juansflyingburrito.com The FlyingBurritoincludessteak,shrimp, chicken, cheddarjackcheese, blackbeans, rice,guacamole andsalsa.The menu also includes tacos, quesadillas, enchiladas, fajitas, nachos,saladsand more.Outdoor seatingavailable.Noreservations. Lunch anddinner Thu.-Tue $$
Tito’s Ceviche& Pisco— 1433 St.Charles Ave.,(504) 354-1342;titoscevichepisco com— The Peruvian menu includes several typesofceviche,aswellassteak andseafood dishes.Traditional lomo saltadofeaturessauteed beef tenderloin tips,onions, tomatoes,soy sauceand pisco, served with potatoes andrice. Delivery available. Reservations accepted.Lunch anddinner Mon.-Sat., brunch Sun. $$$
TheVintage — 3121 Magazine St., (504) 324-7144;thevintagenola.com There’s afullcof feedrinksmenuand bakedgoods andbeignets, as well as afullbar.The menu hasflatbreads, cheese boards,small plates andapressed veggie sandwich with avocado, onions,arugula,red pepper andpepperjackcheese. No reservations Delivery andoutdoor seatingavailable. Breakfast, lunchand dinner daily. $$
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some previewsamples of theyear’sking cakes. King Cake Hubopens on Jan. 6. At 3-6p.m.Sunday, Jan. 5, at Zony Mash Beer Project. Find informationon Instagram:@kingcakehub.
ANitewith‘Beowulf’
Hwaet! Agroup of “linguists,language activists,peoplewho are really into oldstories, andpeople whowanttobelessalone in thedark times” will gettogether on Monday, Dec. 30,atThe Domino fora public readingof“Beowulf,”the epic poem aboutthe hero of theGeats.The group will read from theoriginalOld English andtranslationsbyJ.R.R.Tolkien, Seamus Heaney andMaria Dahvana Headley, whosecontemporaryinterpretationopens with “Bro!” Thereading begins at 7p.m.and is free to attend. Therealsowillbea potluck. Find more detailsathalidardar.substack.com
SugarBowl
NewYear’sParade
TheMardi Gras-style parade features floats, marching bands andother
marching groups.The routestartson ElysianFieldsAvenueand crossesthe French Quarter. At 2p.m.Tuesday, Dec. 31.See allstatesugarbowl.org forupdates.
Juvenile &MannieFresh
Freshoff of asecondHot Boys reunion show,New OrleansrapperJuvenileis back home forNew Year’s Eveatthe SaengerTheatre.He’ll be joined by Mannie Freshand The400 Degreez Band,and HotBoy Turk,UNLVand New Groove BrassBandalsowillperform Theshowbeginsat9p.m., andtickets startat$59 viasaengernola.com
BillyStrings
BluegrassvirtuosoBilly Strings releasedhis latest studio album, “Highway Prayers,”thisfalland “Live Vol. 1,”a collection of live recordings, earlierin2024. Stringscompletes a three-nightstand in NewOrleanson NewYear’sEve at theUNO Lakefront Arena. Theperformance is at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31.Findtickets at ticketmaster.com.
TheRumble
TheBlack MaskingIndian-frontedfunk band released itsfirst studio album, “Storiesfromthe Battlefield,”earlier this year andnotched asecondGrammy Awardnomination.The Rumble now closes out2024atthe MapleLeafwith ashowat11p.m.Tuesday,Dec.31. Ticketsare $35via mapleleafbar.com and$40 at thedoor.
Daikaiju
Themaskedsurfpunkpyromaniacs of Daikaiju arebackinNew Orleans forashowat9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 4, at Saturn Bar. Ticketsare $24.80 viathesaturnbar.com.
STS9
Jamtronica band SoundTribe Sector 9(STS9) earlierthisyear released its latestalbum,“Chromalight,”acolor-influenced production recorded live at RedRocks in Colorado.While driven by electronic music, STS9 blends together funk,jazzand jamelements, andturn things up live with an impressive light show.Theystart athree-night stintin
Singer-songwriterAnders Osbornehas been aNew Orleansstaple forgoing on 40 years. He caps abusy2024, which sawthe releaseofhis 17th album, the great“Picasso’sVilla,” at 9p.m.Tuesday, Dec. 31,atChickie WahWah.Osborne will be joined by hisband, andthe Dave Jordan Trio also will perform. Ticketsare $60advance viachikiewahwah.com.
‘Injun Practice’
Spyboy Irving “Honey”Banisterofthe Golden SiouxMardi Gras Indian Tribe leadsaweeklyIndianpracticeatZony Mash Beer Projectthat’sopentothe public to observeand learnmoreabout theBlack maskingtradition.The next practice is at 8:30 p.m. Sunday,Jan.5. Donationsacceptedatthe door.Find more info at zonymashbeer.com.
FO RC OMPLETE MUSI CL IS TIN GS AND MOR EE VEN TS TA KING PL AC E IN THE NE WO RLE ANS ARE A, VISIT
CA LEN DA R. GA MBIT WEEKL Y. CO M
To learn moreabout addingyour event to the music calendar, please email listingsedit@gambitweekly.com
MONDAY30
21ST AMENDMENT — SamPrice& Friends, 8pm
APPLE BARREL — Mark Appleford, 6 pm; Decaturadio, 10:30 pm
BOURBONO BAR— Marc Stone, 4pm; KennyBrown &the KB Express, 8pm
JAZZ PLAYHOUSE— Richard“Piano” Scott, 7:30 pm
PRESERVATION HALL LeroyJones &The Preservation JazzMasters, 2:30&3:45 pm
what to do where to go
Crying Woolf
by Will Coviello
AS MARTHA,ELIZABETH TAYLOR IS ASHARPTONGUED, UNRELENTING FORCE in the1966film adaptation of Edward Albee’s“Who’sAfraidof Virginia Woolf?”
That’s whatthe script callsfor,but Taylor didit surrounded by astar-studdedcastincluding Richard Burton,GeorgeSegal and SandyDavis,all of whom were nominatedfor best actororsupportingactor AcademyAwards.
Thedrama wasasinfluential as it wasscandalous, bringing squabblingand foul-mouthed domestic tensions to thestage front andcenter. Theplaywas selected forthe 1963 Pulitzer Prize, butobjectionstothe play’s profanitycausedthe committee to make no awardthatyear.
“The movieisiconicinits ownway,” says Jaclyn BethanyofThe Fire Weeds. “But theplaychanged American theaterin theway themovie changedAmericancinema.Nobodyhad seen amarried couple portrayedinthislight on stagebefore.”
TheFireWeeds arestaging thedrama in theintimatespace at BigCouch New OrleansinBywater on Jan. 5-14.While Martha wasalwaysmeant to have aforcefulpresence, thecompany is re-examiningthe play andits portrayalofwomen
“We’re exploringthispiece from a female-drivengazeinaway that hasn’t been seen before,” Bethanyadds.
“WithMarthaand Honey, we thought therewas arealopportunity to do that Thetitle itself is acomment on who’s afraidoffeminism.”
In thedrama,Georgeisa professorat asmall NewEngland college. Hiswife Martha is thedaughterofthe college president. Shewants himtosomeday succeed herfather, butGeorge’sefforts fall farshort of what shethinksisnecessary.Those tensions spillout on alate nightofdrinkingafter afaculty party.
George andMarthaopenuptheir liquor cabinetastheywaitfor Nick and Honeytoarriveattheir home.Nickisa newmemberofthe faculty, andheand Honeyhavenoideawhatthey’re in for.
Martha hasthe vigorand determination to take herfather’splace,but the timesweredifferent.Bethany notes that womencouldn’tget acreditcardin theirown name,let aloneanexecutive leveljob,inthe early’60s, when the
play is set. Butthe wayAlbee treated Martha andGeorgeisn’t dated, as they speaktheir minds, oftenbitingly, and theirbattles areonlevel ground.
TheFireWeeds areproducing the play in aroughly 30-seatspace.The audience will almost sharethe living room with thetwo couples. Theset is filled with mid-centurymodernfurniture They’vede-emphasizedGeorge’sstudy, andthe setallowsmoreofaviewofthe womencharacters’ spaces in theplay.
Thetextofthe play is unalteredfrom Albee’sfinal version. It touchesona varietyofthemes,including whether thecouples arepursuingorhavemissed outonthe American dream, Bethany says.There also areissuesaroundtraditional rolesand motherhood
Theplayhas atouch of Albee’s absurdism, andhis characters aretaken by illusionsofthemselves.
Bethanydirects andalsoplays Honey. She’sjoinedbyCasey Groves as George, LinGathright as Martha andLogan Macrae as Nick.
TheFireWeeds debutedtheir first worksearlythisyear,producing a couple of TennesseeWilliams oneactplays.The show went from New Orleansperformancestoashort runin NewYork, andthey’ll remountthem thereagain in spring
“Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”isat 7:30 p.m. Jan. 5, 7-12 &14atBig Couch NewOrleans (1045DesireSt.). Tickets $12-$45via thefireweeds.org.
