Januar y 6 -12
SE LL YO UR VA LU ABLE S
3D AY SO NLY |J ANU ARY 7- 9
Tuesday -W ednes da y1 0a m-6 pm |T hu rsday 10am -5 pm
91 We stbank Ex pw,S ui te 530 ,G re tna, LA 70 053 Ca ll fo rd ir ec tions: (504) 391 -018 3
free ev aluation will be prov ided,but thereisnoobligationtopurchas eyouritems.E xclusionsA pply
NOTICE OF SECOND PUBLIC MEETING2024INTEGRATED RESOURCE PLAN
NewOrleans City Council Utility Docket UD-23-01
Entergy NewOrleans 2024 Integrated Resource Plan
Every three years an EntergyNew Orleans (ENO) Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) is produced.This is the planningprocess by which Entergy assessesthe resources available to it to meetthe powersupply needs of NewOrleans. TheIRP is produced following an open, transparent planning process through which all relevant resourcesare investigated. Resources considered include supply-side (suchaspower plants) and demand-side (programs to modify customer loads to reduce or shiftloads from hours withhigh electricitycosts or reliability constraints to otherhours). Thefactors infuencing choice among these resources areconsidered in the planning process. The goal is to identify the optimal set of resources to meet current and futureelectric service needsatthe lowest totalcosttocustomers and ENO in amannerconsistent with the long-run public interest. The expected combination of costs, reliability,risks anduncertainty areconsidered.The planning process to develop the 2024IRP is underway.Tofacilitate this process, asecond public meeting will be held:
Tuesday, January21, 2025 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m NewOrleans City Council Chamber, City Hall, 1300 Perdido St., Room 1E07,New Orleans.
Thepublic is invited and encouragedtoattend/viewthismeetingto hear ENO’spresentation of the IRP Filing and submit public comment. ENO should have aportal on its website forquestions and comments to be submittedovera15-dayperiod. ENOmust respond to each question on arolling 10-daybasis.
The Council’sUtilities Regulatory Ofce will maintain asign-up sheet forInterested Persons who wish toreceivecopies of allflings, issuances, and notices occurring in the proceeding. If youwish to be includedonthislist, please contact CURObyemail to Bobbie Mason at bfmason1@nola.gov. Youare also welcome to watch the meeting, either as it is live-streamed or once it is archived at:
http://www.nolacitycouncil.com/video/video_legislative.asp.
Publication Dates: December 23 and 30, 2024and January 6and 13, 2025 NOCP 8085
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Back in time
FanExpofeatures‘Back to theFuture’ panels,celebrities,comicsand more
by Jake Clapp |
Krewede
Jeanne d’Arcparade
CLAUDIAWELLS’FIRST FILM ROLE WAS IN “BACKTOTHE FUTURE” as Jennifer Parker,Marty McFly’spatient,encouraginggirlfriend. Wellshad been acting on television forseveral yearsbefore the1985film, andshe landed the role as Jennifer aftera long audition in frontofwriterBob Gale,director robert Zemeckis andproducers Steven Spielbergand Kathleen Kennedy.
Filming“Back to theFuture” wasa greatexperience, Wellssays. Butafter her mother wasdiagnosed with cancer, Wellsdecided to retire from acting and passed on returningfor “Backtothe Future Part II”in1989. ActorElisabeth Shue wascastasJenniferfor theseries’ second andthird films.
Wellswentontoopenamen’s clothingstore,and her shop,ArmaniWells, recently marked its34thanniversary As for“Back to theFuture,”itwas afun moment that sheleftinthe past —until around 2012 when shewas invited to attend areunion at acomic conin Burbank, California.
“‘Back to theFuture’ hadstarted to become such abig deal,and Iwould getfanscomingin[to thestore]from alloverthe world,”Wells says.“you’d seepeoplewithacameraaround theirneck. Ihad people from the netherlandsand Australiaand Japan andeverywhere.”
Over thelastdecade, Wellshas frequently participated in “Backto theFuture” panels at fanconventions around theworld.She’llnextbeat FanExponew Orleansthisweekend forapanel andtosignautographsand take photos.
Thereare anumberofeventscelebratingthe 40th anniversaryof“Back to theFuture” at this year’s FanExpo newOrleans, whichtakes placeFriday, Jan. 10,through Sunday,Jan.12, at the Ernest n. Morial Convention Center Theannualfan convention celebrates allthingscomics, sci-fi,fantasy,horror, anime andgaming, andwillfeature celebritymeet-and-greets,panels, workshops, cosplaycompetitions, comicbooksales andartists displaying theirworks.
MichaelJ.Fox —who hasdonefewer public appearancesinthe last decade duetoParkinson’s disease—and Christopher Lloydare amongthe 11 Fan Expo guests whotookpartin“Back to theFuture.”They’ll join actors Lea Thompson andTom Wilson andmusician Huey LewisonFriday, Jan. 10,for apanel sharing storiesand answeringquestions
aboutthe film.ComicswriterVictor Dandridgewillmoderatethe panel. Wellswilltakepartinapanel on Sunday,Jan.12, with more members of thefilm’scast, includingCharlie Croughwell,James Tolkan,Harry Waters Jr., FrancesLee McCain and JeffreyWeissman. FanExpowillscreen“Back to the Future”onSunday, andthere will be an Enchantmentunder theSea danceon Saturday. newOrleans Burlesque performersramonaroseand FoxMonroe host a“Back to theFuture” themed trivia also on Saturday, andtherewill be photoops with theDeLorean, scavengerhunts,film-specific cosplay meetupsand othereventsthroughout theweekend.
There’salsoplentyhappening outside of “Backto theFuture.”Thisyear’sFan Expo —organized by agroup producing fanconventions across thecountry —willfeature interviewsessionswith Andy Serkis,William Shatner, Heather Locklear andGiancarlo Esposito. Actors TomWelling andMichael rosenbaumwillreadscenesand tell storiesfromthe TV show “Smallville.” TylerHoechlin andBitsieTulloch will talk abouttheir titularroles in “Superman &Lois.”Plus, actors Brandonrouth andDeanCain, whobothalsoplayed Superman,willbeatthe convention “HazbinHotel”creator Vivienne Medranoand voiceactorsfromthe
adultanimated comedy will take part in panels,and othereventswill featureactorsfrom theDragonBall animeseries, “One Piece” and“My Hero Academia.” Therealsowillbe panels andworkshopsfocused on accessibility at fan conventions, the film industry in new Orleans, thehistory of horror comics andmore.
Cosplayworkshopsand meet-ups runthroughoutthe convention.The weekendincludespodcast recordings, karaokesessions, videogametournaments, aComicsand Cocktailshappy hour,dragbingo,foamsword fighting, artist competitions,table topgaming andmore.
Severalnew Orleansfandomorganizationsalsowill be present, including thelocal Star Wars-themed501st garrison, theLouisiana Ghostbusters andthe KreweofJapan.Two post-expoparties also areplanned:The groupAnime Soireewill host theDimensional Dance Partyat8p.m.Friday, Jan. 10,atthe Howlin’Wolf, andthere is thePurikura PanicAfter Partyat7p.m.Saturday, Jan. 11,atthe rabbit Hole.
ForWells,par ticipating in thesefan events hasbeenrewarding.She says sheloves hearingabout what “Backto theFuture” hasmeant to people who grew up with thefilm, butithas also givenher achancetobecomecloser with fellow starsChristopher Lloyd, JamesTolkan, Donald Fulliloveand LeaThompson.
“We’re abit of crew,a bitofa family, andthey’re very specialpeopletome,” Wellssays. “Weshare this camaraderie of having alltaken part in this amazing experience.Asfun as it wastodothe movie, forme, themostfun is what themovie hasprovidedaspar tofmy life today.”
FanExpotickets are$39-$60 per dayand $89for 3-daypasses. Find more info at fanexpohq.com/ fanexponeworleans.
TheKrewe de Jeanne d’Archas altered itstimeand route for2025. Theprocessionfeaturing amounted Joan of Arcand legionsofangels, hereticsand followerswillparade throughthe French Quar terbeginning at 8p.m.Monday, Jan. 6.,the martyr’s birthday.The routestarts near thenew OrleansJazzMuseum, paradesdownDecatur Street to the statue of Joan,heads to Char tres Street to pass in frontofthe St.Louis Cathedral, turnsonBienville Street andreturns on Decatur. Thereisa king cake ceremony at theamphitheater across from JacksonSquare. Formore information, visitjoanfarcparade.org.
Very Good MondaysNOLA
Forthe last fewyears, musician Alex Wasily,who canbeseenontrombone with Dumpstapunk, hascurated a funkyimprovisedmusic nightinLos Angeles. TheVeryGoodMondays series hasfeaturedtonsofworldclassmusicians,fromTonyHalland Ivan nevilletoCoryHenry andJulian “J3PO” Pollack. Stevie Wonder satin during aMondayinSeptember.now, Wasily andguitarist AriTeitelare launchingVeryGoodMondays nOLA at therabbitHole. Each week will featureacurated groupofmusicians performing improvised funk,soul, r&B andwhateverelsewithonlyone rule: no covers.The series gets startedat8 p.m. Monday,Jan.6.Tickets are$10 viarabbitholenola.com.
FunkyUptownKrewe
Mannie Freshisnot knownfor spinning disco,but he’s theDJfor theFunky uptown Krewe, whose 2025 themeisStudio504.The Kings of Brassalsoper form as thekrewe launches itsstreetcar ride on the 1500 blockofS.CarrolltonAvenue. Thekrewe throws vinylrecords
PH OT OBYM IC HA EL DE MO CK ER / TH ET IM ES-P IC AY UN E
Camren Elliott, dressed as Spider-Man,looks through action figuresduringFan Expo NewOrleans.
PH
OP EN IN G GA MB IT
Ourheartsgoout to thevictims andfamilies of theNew Year’s Dayterrorattack
Impact 59 Powered by Entergy, agrant programorganized by the nFL Foundation andlocal partners aheadofSuper Bowl LIX,has awardedmorethan$3.5 millionto 65 nonprofits across theGreater newOrleans region.The program is meanttoprovide supportfor organizationsinthe SuperBowl host city workingoneconomic development, health andwellness, equity andother issues.Xavier university,Louisiana Children’s Museum,The Descendants Project, Second Harvest, ubuntu Villageand Covenant Housewere amongthe recipients
GNO, GoFundMe setupwaystosupport
NewYears Dayterrorattackvictims andfamilies
TheEmeril LagasseFoundation gave more than $650,000 in grantsthisfalltononprofits connecting youthtoculinaryskills, nutritioninformation andarts education. Grants went to new OrleansorganizationsCovenant House, thenew OrleansCulinary &Hospitality Institute,Son of a Saint, theyouth Empowerment Project, Café Hope andthe Trombone Shorty Foundation.
THEGREATER NEWORLEANS FOUNDATION HASSET UP ASPECIAL FUND to supportthe families of victimsofthe newyear’sDay terror attack,one of severalwaysbeing created to help thosedirectlyaffected by thebombing
TheattackonBourbon Street left at least15deadand 30 people injured.
Accordingtoapress release, thefundwas createdatthe request of MayorLaToyaCantrell. “Intimes like thesewhen ourcommunity needsusmost, generouspeople always step up to do theirpar t, for whichweare so grateful,” GnOsaid in thepress release.
Thefundhas alreadybegun taking donations– includinga $25,000 gift from Saints defensiveend CamJordan.Todonateorfind more information, go to linktr.ee/ gnofoundation.
To donate to thesefundraisers, checkgofundme.com/c/act/howto-help-attack-in-new-orleans. united WayofSoutheast Louisianahas also setupa relief fund whichsupportsvictims, families andorganizations providing critical assistance.100%offunds raised will go toward thoseimpacted andhelpoffsetmedical costs, funeralexpensesand mental health help.Check unitedwaysela.org/ unitedfornOLAfor details. Southern Smoke, aTexas-based nonprofitthathelps serviceindustryworkers during timesofcrisisis also acceptingdonations that will go toward financialand mental health supportfor BourbonStreetworkers whowereimpactedbythe tragedy. Serviceindustryworkers canapply for assistance heresouthernsmoke.org/ emergency-relief/.—JohnStanton
THELENGTH, IN DAYS,OF CARNIVAL SEASON 2025.
Theofficialseasonkicks of fJan.6 and concludesonFat Tuesday, whichfalls on March4.Thisisa longer Carnival season than usual, andnew Orleanswillhaveits handsfullnot just with paradesand parties, butalsothe SuperBowl, whichisscheduled forFeb.9.remember: it’s amarathon, nota sprint
MacKenzieScott, thenovelistand philanthropist,recentlygave$19 milliontothe LouisiananonprofitsTruFund FinancialServices, CommuniHealthServices, Arbor Family Health andCaféreconcile Since2020, Scotthas donated more than $201 millionto54 Louisianagroups.
Meanwhile, GoFundMe hasset up aspecial hubfor verified fundraisersfor individual families.Asof presstime, thesitehad listed three fundraisersfor MatthewTenedorio of Slidell, reggie Hunter of roseland andryanQuigley of Pittsburgh,Pa. AccordingtoGoFundMe, thesitewill continue to update thehub with new fundraisersastheir Trustand Safety team verif ythe accounts
Victims of BourbonStreet attack
begintobeidentified
AT LEAST15PEOPLEWEREKILLED ANDDOZENSINJURED in asuspected terroristattackonBourbon Street as crowdsgatheredtocelebrate the newyearand theSugar Bowl in new Orleans. Here is alistofsomeofthe victimswho hadbeenidentifiedas of presstime.
76.5% OF COURSE NOT!
NewOrleans police andfederal agents investigatea suspectedterrorist attack on BourbonStreet.
PH OT OBYC HR IS GR AN GE R/T HE TI ME S- PI CAYU NE
Amongthem were aBaton rouge father of twoand member of Zulu, aformerfootballplayerfrom Lafayette, andateenwho traveled to newOrleans to ring in thenew year with friends.
Shamsud-DinJabbar, 42,plowed hispickuptruck from CanalStreet into BourbonStreetatabout 3:15 a.m. on newyear’sDay,the FBIsaid Wednesday. An ISIS flag wasonthe vehicle, andweaponsand apotential improvised explosivedevicewere foundinside.
Officialshavenot yetreleasedalist of namesofpeoplekilled, butfamily membersare speaking outabout loved ones lost
Nikyra Cheyenne Dedeaux
THE18-YEAR-OLD FROM GULFPORT, MISSISSIPPI,was supposed to starta nursingprogram at Blue CliffCollege on Jan. 13,following in thefootsteps of her mother,who is also anurse Butnikyra Cheyenne Dedeaux waskilledwhile celebratingthe new year with hercousinand afriendnew Orleans, accordingtothe people she waswith.
Knownby thenickname“Biscuit” by friendsand Cheyenne by family, friend Zion ParsonssaidDedeaux
“was neverdown, or grumpy.” He called her“alittleballofsunshine” whoalwaystriedtostaypositive, cheering friendsifshe detected an attitude or negative energy
“you know thosekinds of people whereyou can’tfinda reason to dislike them?She wasone of thosepeople,” Parsonssaid.
Hermom,Melissa Dedeaux, said herdaughterhad “carloads” of friendsand wasalwaysgetting together with them.She wasthe third oldest of sixchildren.
“I just want to seemybaby,” Dedeaux, 40,wept. “She wasthe sweetest person.She wouldgiveyou anything,anything.”
Reggie Hunter
REGGIE HUNTER WASA WAREHOUSE MANAGERAND AFATHER of twofrom Batonrouge whodecided to head to BourbonStreetona whim Tuesday, said ShirellJackson,acousin.
He andanother cousin were both hitbythe truck. Hunter died from his injuries, andhis cousin is hospitalized with extensiveinternalinjuries. Hunter leaves behind twosons, one12years oldand one18months old. He wasproud of hiselder son’s academic accomplishments
Martin ‘Tiger’Bech
ALAFAYETTE NATIVE ANDFORMERFOOTBALLPLAYER died late Wednesdaymorning aftersuffering catastrophic injuries from theattack. TigerBech, 27,was hitbythe suspect’struck,according to Kim Broussard, theathleticdirector
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.
Reggie Hunter PR OV ID ED BY TH EH UN TE RFAM ILY
Nikyra Cheyenne Dedeaux, PR OV ID ED PH OT O
at St.ThomasMoreCatholicHigh School,where Bech played football before goingontoplayfor Princetonuniversity.
He graduated from Princeton in 2021 with adegreeinfinance andworkedasatraderata new
herson.She walked to work at 5:30 in themorning to getthere on time.
“She wasagoodmom,” said usher “She learned quickly. Shejustwanted to be successful.”
AGoFundMehas been startedfor herfamily.
Weekend Specials
york brokeragefirm, accordingto Broussard. He wasinnew Orleansfor theholidays.
Bech waskeptonlifesupport until hisfamilycould arrive
He earned all-statehonorswhile at STMand wasamemberofthe All-Acadiana regional andAll-District FirstTeamasasenior.
Bech is theolder brotherofformer LSuplayerJackBech.
Hubert Gauthreaux
GAUTHREAUX,21, WASCONFIRMED DEAD by Archbishop Shaw High School,where he graduatedin2021.
Multiple newOrleansfamilymembers initiallypostedonsocialmedia that he wasmissing,thennewsof hispassing.
five brothersand sisters, andhegrew up with twobrothersand agag gle of cousinswho felt like brothersin Slidellafter moving therefromnew york as achild.Healsospent time in Picayune,Mississippi,and graduated from Pearl riverCentral High School
“Lotsofkids. Lots of chaos,” Colgan said
Butitwas good chaos, where cousinsmight getintoalittlebit of troubletogether,haveaspat, then play basketball andhide-and-seek 5 minuteslater
January3-5
Redfish crab cake stack with seafoodcreamand veg
Shortribs collardgreens5cheeseMac andcheese
Lobsterkadobster
Ribeyelobster surf nturf with roastedredskin potatoes andasparagus
Corned beef with blackeyedpeasand newpotatoes
Lobstermushroom crab omelet
Seafoodstuffedbellpeppers with blackenedredfish andseafoodcream
HEATED PATIO ISOPEN!
3701 iberville st •504.488.6582 katiesinmidcity.com Mon-Thurs 11am-9pm Fri&Sat 11am-10pm•Sun 10am-5pm
AGoFundMehas been createdfor Bech’s family andryanQuigley,aclose friend whowas injuredinthe attack.
”Weare asking theentireArchbishop Shaw family to pray forthe repose of Hubert’s soul,his family and friendsduringthisdifficult time,and all thoseaffectedbythistragedy.”
Tenedoriowas an audiovisual tech forthe Superdome, andhe wasalwayshappy when he talked aboutit. Hisdad also worked at theSuperdome.
Nicole Perez
NICOLE PEREZHAD JUST BEEN PROMOTED TO MANAGERATKIMMY’S DELI at LakewayinMetairie. Shewas abouttomoveintoanew apartment andwas teaching herfour-year-old sonhow to read anddomath.
Herson is nowinthe care of friendsand her boss aftershe was killed Wednesday.
“She wasjustout with her friends last night, andthishappened,”said herboss, deli ownerKimberlyusher Perez, 27,had been throughhard timesrecently, said usher. Butshe was dedicatedtoher joband motivatedby
Kareem Badawi
BADAWI WASKILLEDAND PARKER VIDRINEWAS CRITICALLYINJURED in theattack, theEpiscopal School of Batonrouge said Both were classof2024graduates.
Badawi wasafreshmanatThe university of Alabama, theschool posted on social media.
“I grieve alongsidefamilyand friendsofKareemintheir hear tbreakingloss,”universityPresident Stuart r. Bell said in astatement “Pleasetakea moment to pray for thoseimpactedbythistragedy.”
MatthewTenedorio
WHEN PEOPLE THINKABOUT MATTHEWTENEDORIO,theythink abouthis laugh.
“Hewas just ajoyfulperson,”his cousin,ZachColgan, said.“We’d walk into my grandma’shouse …and he’d just startedgig gling.”
Just hoursbeforethe attack,he waslightingfireworks with hisfamily, “havinga good time,laughing,” said Colgan Largefamilygatheringswereabig part of Tenedorio’slife. Hismom has
“I thinkhejustwantedtofollowin hisdad’s footsteps,”Colgansaid. He lovedpeopleand animals,and hisfamilywillrememberhim as a gentle,lovingperson. He wasan uncletoaniece andthree nephews.
“The dude didn’t have ameanbone in hisbody,”Colgansaid.
Tellinghis grandparents was hard,Colgansaid. They satina chairand criedfor hourstogether on Wednesday.
Hisfamilyisstill in shock. On Thursday,itwas stillhardtocomprehendthatitwas hiscousin’sfaceon thenews.
“Itwas unreal,” said Colgan.“It’s ourMatthew…that’sour Matthew.” Amongthe critically injuredis astudent from theuniversityof Georgia, theschoolconfirmed in a statementfromthe PresidentJere W. Morehead
TwoIsraeli citizens were also injuredinthe attack,according to Israel’s Ministry of ForeignAffairs.A consulaterepresentativeistraveling to newOrleans,according to apost on social mediasiteX
This list will be updatedas more people areidentified. —Times-Picayunestaff
TigerBech
Nicole Perez
Hubert Gauthreaux
MatthewTenedorio
@GambitBlake |askblake@gambitweekly.com
Hey Blake, Icameacrossa vintage ad forGrunewald’s music storeonCanal Street. Wasn’t theRoosevelt Hoteloriginallynamed theGrunewald as well? What’s theconnection?
Dear reader,
THECONNECTIONBETWEEN THE MUSICSTORE ANDTHE HOTEL is that both were establishedand ownedby thesameperson, LouisGrunewald Born in Germanyin1827, Grunewaldimmigratedtothe u.S. in 1852.Amusicianand musicteacher, he openedamusic storeonMagazine Street.Helater openedanother store on CanalStreetand builtGrunewald Hall,aconcert hall andballroomone blockoff CanalonBaronne Street
TheSept. 14,1873, DailyPicayune called it a“newand imposing structure,containingwithinits amplelimits ahandsomeconcert andballroom, a nucleusofattractiontoBaronne Street andanornamenttothe city.”
Af teran1892firedestroyed the building,Grunewald decidedtobuild ahotel on thespot. It opened in time forthe Carnivalseasonof1894. Grunewalddiedin1915. Hisson Theodore ownedthe hotelbut sold it in 1923,when it wasrenamed theroosevelt.
Meanwhile, themusic storebusiness expanded,withthe slogan “Everything in Music.”A youngPeteFountain’s father bought hisfirst clarinetfor him at Grunewald’s, whichalsobecame knownfor publishing sheetmusic.
Over theyears,Grunewald music stores opened on Carondelet Street, BaronneStreet, Carrollton Avenue andGentillyBoulevard,aswellas on Veterans Memorial Boulevardin Metairie in the1970s
TheGrunewald name also was attached to amusic school at 827Camp St.According to theWWOZA Closer Walk website, theschooleducated some majorplayers in newOrleans jazz, rhythm andblues androck’n’ roll.That includes Warren Bell Sr., Al Belletto, Peter“Chuck” Badie, EddieBo, Earl Palmer,robertParker, Tommyridgley andAlvin “red”Tyler.
AS NEWORLEANSPREPARESTOHOSTSUPER BOWL LIXINFEBRUARY,werememberSuper Bowl IV,the firstof11nFL championship gamesplayedhere. The Kansas City Chiefs facedthe MinnesotaVikings here on Jan. 11,1970—55years agothisweek.
Acrowd of nearly 82,000 people attended thegameatTulaneStadium,whose fieldwas muddiedbyovernight rains. Thesun emergedlateinthe game,which was notbroadcast on localTV, becausethe game sold outafter theblackoutdeadline. Ticketswere$15.
Ahot-air balloonist generated some pregameexcitementwhenhecrashed in theend zone,but fortunatelyhewas nothurt. Other pregamefestivities included a“Battle of theTrumpets” betweennew OrleansiconAlHirtand “Tonight Show” bandleader DocSeverinsen. Severinsen performedthe national anthem,with actorPat O’Brienrecitingthe words.
Halftime entertainmentconsisted of theSouthernuniversitymarchingbandand theOlympia andOnwardbrass bands. Hirt played “Bourbon Street Parade”and joined jazz greatLionelHampton on “Doyou Know What It MeanstoMissnew Orleans” before playing“BasinStreetBlues”withopera star andnew Orleans native MargueritePiazza.
Though theVikings were a13-pointfavorite, theChiefs(ledbyfutureSaints head coachHankStram)ended up winningthe game 23-7.
Hailingthe game as afinancial successfor newOrleans,cityleaders immediately went to work vyingfor future SuperBowls.“yesterdaywas agreat dayfor new Orleansand we want many more like it,” incoming MayorMoonLandrieusaidinthe next day’sStates-Item
SuperBowlVIwould be thenextchampionshipplayedhere, in January1972.
BL AK E VI EW
HotelGrunewald
UP? NWHERE TO GO BUT
BY KA YLEE PO CHE
Louisiana Democratsbegin to mapout their future afterhitting rock bottom
BY THEEND OF 2023, theLouisiana Democratic Partyhad hitrockbottom.
They hadlostthe governor’s race outright, letRepublicans gain supermajorities in both thestate Houseand Senate,failedtorun Democratic candidates in countlessraces up anddownthe ballot andmanaged to getzero Democratselected to statewideoffice.
They’d even lost mayoralseats in some of thestate’s majority-Democrat cities,and internal strife andallegations of financialand strategicmismanagement by leadershiphad effectivelysplinteredmuchofthe partyinto variousfactions.
Thelistofproblemsgoeson.
“Itwas nota good time forus,”saysHouse Democratic Caucus ChairMatthew Willard. “It hasn’t been agoodtimefor us.”
Butthe silver lining forLouisiana Democrats is that in at leastone respect, many finally seemed to be on thesamepageabout what to do with theparty:Throw thewhole thingaway andstart over
“The reason that we jumped in to get involved wastoreallytakeanintrospective look at theparty andtoplanout along-term future that really serves thepeople,”says
Katie Darling, now first vice chair of the party. “What we’re working on is very serious, and there are very serious implications to people’s lives.”
So what’s happened since the 2023 elections?
To some degree, quite a bit: New and veteran party members alike teamed up to run for party offices and elect a new chair who they hoped could turn the party around. That led to former state legislator Randal Gaines becoming chair in April, while new faces joined the state central committee and parish executive committees, which lead the Democratic Party locally.
But since then, the pace of restructuring the party has been slow
The party’s new leadership had to immediately start preparing for the Democratic National Convention, then turn their attention to the presidential election, which included a last-minute change in the ticket, and the congressional elections, with Louisiana having a new second majority-Black district at least for now.
“This year was just chaos,” says Page Gleason, who Gaines appointed as senior advisor for the party in June.
Meanwhile, Louisiana Democrats suffered further losses in 2024 Last month, Republican
Sid Edwards, a first-time candidate, won the Baton Rouge mayor’s race against incumbent Democrat Sharon Weston Broome And a version of Gov. Jeff Landry’s tax plan increasing sales taxes to pay for income tax cuts for the rich and corporations succeeded in November with votes from some Democrats.
“You can take some of the losses and say, ‘Oh, clearly nothing’s happened,’ but it takes time,” says Davante Lewis, a member of the Louisiana Public Service Commission who considered running for party chair.
Party leaders point to the election of Democrat Cleo Fields to Congress in the new majority-Black district in the primary as a big win, citing it as their main focus for the 2024 election. However, that district’s lines are still up in the air, with the U.S. Supreme Court set to hear a case on it next year Perhaps significantly, leaders aren’t promising a quick turnaround and acknowledge rebuilding the party is going to be a slow process and that 2025 will be a crucial year.
“The one loss that you may see, that doesn’t necessarily mean that that work hasn’t been done,” Lewis says “It just means that work has to continue and that there’s still more work to be done.”
Louisiana Democratic Party Chairman Randal Gaines at a get out the vote rally at on Nov. 1, 2024.
Small steps
After the party elections last year, Gaines did a chairman’s tour to hear from residents across the state, making stops in New Orleans, Lake Charles, Lafayette, Shreveport, Opelousas and Jonesville
He says he noticed an increased “enthusiasm and eagerness” among Democrats to oppose Republican policies. “I think a lot of people are eager to try to right the ship to halt the extreme right-wing agenda that’s moving across the state,” he says On policy issues, Gaines identifies reproductive health care, protecting voting rights and putting more money into workforce training and public education as top issues for the party. Darling also says tackling climate change, the insurance crisis, a lack of affordable housing and health care disparities will be key to making sure it is possible and affordable to live in Louisiana.
Structurally, Gaines says the party is working on rebuilding its parish executive committees (which handle party operations at the local level) in the River Parishes, Natchitoches and other areas, as well as boosting its Young Democrats chapters All of those are voting groups Democrats have either traditionally done well with or should be doing better with than they have in recent years.
When it comes to the parish executive committees, Gaines says the party is not simply training members to run for office but also how to be community leaders and connect people with their elected officials to help address their daily problems The goal is “to focus more on community leadership than a political agenda,” he says.
Alongside Gaines, there is an almost entirely new state executive committee and new advisors like Gleason, a longtime Georgia political organizer, and former New Orleans City Council Member Arnie Fielkow, who was previously president of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans.
Darling says the state executive committee now meets monthly, which wasn’t happening before.
What’s the plan?
While identifying potentially winning policy issues and injecting new blood into the party’s apparatus are critical to party rebuilding efforts, Democrats will still need a concrete plan with actual goals to follow if they want to start evening the playing field with Republicans.
To that end, Louisiana Democrats have created a strategic planning committee, which didn’t officially exist in the past The committee, which started meeting in
mid-December, has been tasked with developing a shortterm and long-term plan for the party.
There are about 20 core members, a mixture of political operatives, community activists and elected officials. The committee will gather input from a variety of stakeholders, according to Darling, before distilling them into a blueprint for the party going forward.
Gaines says they expect to have published a plan by the end of January that will include initiatives to implement immediately as well as more long-term efforts to meet ongoing goals.
But Gaines isn’t waiting for that report before getting started. In January, the party will start looking at which races they’ll want to focus on, including which Senate and House seats to target to flip. Gaines says they’ll make that determination by March, though he did say he’s already begun talking with potential candidates about running.
“We want to focus on ones we should win, first of all, and then we’re going to focus on the ones that [we’re] not expected to win,” he says.
Kathy Hurst, the party’s parliamentarian, also says she is looking forward to “a much-needed revision of our bylaws,” aka the party rules. Meanwhile, the party also is seeking feedback in a post-election survey
Gleason says the fact that Louisiana Democrats understand that they need a new game plan is an important step in the right direction.
“I think the party understands its assignment, that it needs to be different, be bolder, be more strategic, be a leader in this state and really lean into that and developing what that plan is,” she says
“That’s actually noteworthy that the party isn’t just like, ‘Oh, we know how to do this. We’ll just continue to do it.’ ”
Now hiring
Several key Louisiana Democratic Party staff positions are still empty. Darling says filling them will be part of the party’s “aggressive growth plan for 2025.”
There’s an ongoing search for a permanent executive director, who will play a major role in carrying out any rebuilding plan the Democrats form
“At the end of the day, this is an organization led by an executive director, and the chair is like the chair of the board, essentially,” Gleason says
Gaines says the party also is working on hiring a finance director, who can develop a fundraising plan, and a communications director who will play an important role in shaping how Democrats talk to voters about issues.
Democrats in Louisiana and nationally have both struggled with messaging. Gleason says
the party needs to develop a strategy that offers alternatives to what Republicans are proposing and gets the word out beyond press releases from elected officials or social media posts.
“The right and the Republicans are really, really good at amplification. Fox News will say something, and everybody else by the end of the day across the nation, up and down in churches, all the way up to Trump are saying the same exact thing. It’s wild how good they are at that,” she says “We need to focus on [questions like] ‘How do we amplify the messages we need to amplify in Louisiana to reach people and to reach them in a way that hits their hearts and not just their heads?’ ” But Gleason says an executive director must come before other hires.
“Even if the [party] had all the money in the world, you shouldn’t hire those two positions until your [executive director] is in place,” she says
Money, money, money
Gaines told Gambit in the beginning of December that the Louisiana Democratic Party had raised around $800,000 since he became chair in April.
Interim Executive Director Drew Prestridge says the party spent around $243,000 leading up to the Nov. 5, 2024,
First Vice Chair of the Louisiana Democratic Party Katie Darling
Public Service Commissioner Davante Lewis
State Sen. Cleo Fields was elected to the new 6th Congressional District.
election.For comparison, The Times-Picayunereportedthat theparty spent$28,000 in themonth leadinguptothe election in October2023.
Themoney went toward radio, printand online ads, text messages,thousands of free pieces of campaign cards to everyendorsedcandidate, direct mail,phone banking, canvassing in East Baton Rougeand Caddo parishes, “VOTETODAY”signs at polling locationsthe partyidentified as “highperforming” andmore than 6,000HarrisWalzsigns It also paid forthe party’s “PurgedVoter Protection Program,”duringwhich they made 6,220calls to Louisiana Democraticvoterswho the staterecentlytookoff the voting rollstolet them know that they’d need to register to vote again.
Gaines says theparty also is starting to getmorehelp from theDemocratic National Committee. Thenationalparty gave thestate party$55,000 in Septemberfor itsworkinthe newmajority-Black congressionaldistrict.
“I’veseenanincreaseinconfidencefromthe national party in theLouisiana Democratic Party, [particularlyan] increase in confidence in theleadership,” he says.
Gaines says theparty plansto hold fundraisersinevery majoritycityacrossthe statestarting in January.
AccordingtoWillard,this year’s annual fundraiser for theHouse DemocraticCaucus broughtinaround$240,000, whichhesayswas theirbest totalpossiblyever. He’s now lookingfor more opportunities to raisemoney throughout theyear.
Bringing in more money to theparty will be vitalin providing candidates with the resourcestheyneedtorun a competitivecampaign.
“Wecan have allthe vision in theworld,and untilwe convince other folkstofundit, there’sonly so much that we cando,”Gleason says
Georgia on my mind
TheLouisiana Democratic Party also haspartnered with Fair Fight, Stacey Abrams’organization to fightvoter suppression
that startedinGeorgia andhas expanded to other states
Gaines says Fair Fight hasdonated moneytothe LouisianaDemocraticParty, andGleason,a former executive director of Georgia’s Democratic Party, also is advisingLouisiana Democrats.
SheseesLouisiana as having asimilar problemtoGeorgia whereahistoriclackofnational investment hascreated an environmentwhere people fightfor what little is thereratherthan work together.
“Thatlackoffunding creates this real scarcity mentalitythat makesithardtodothe work becauseyou need moneytodo work,and it also builds competition amongpeoplewho should be workingtogether,” Gleason says.“Becauseifthere’s$5on thetable andthat’sit, insteadof workingtogether to getthat$5, thetendencyistopushpeople outand push othersout of the waybecause it’s only $5.”
To raisemoremoney,the partyneeds to show donors a long-termplan, like they didin Georgia, accordingtoGleason That plan needstohonestly acknowledgewhere theparty is now, itschallengesand how they canovercomethem.Such aplantakes afew months to develop.
“It’sjustbeing able to articulateathoughtfulvisionthat people canbelieve in,evenifit’s alongvision,”she says Butcomingupwithanew plan requires thinking outside of thebox andreimagining howthe partyoperates, Gleasonsays.
“Thisistruein(the) Louisiana (DemocraticParty)and allthe wayup: It’s such an oldinstitution that it hasits wayofdoing things,and thekneejerkis‘but this is howwedothings, so let’s just do that,’ ”she says.“That hasn’t really gotten us wherewe need to be in Louisiana.”
‘Tough family discussions’
In recent years, theLouisiana Democratic Partyhas struggled to getthe smallnumber of Democratsinthe legislature (now 32 in theHouse,11inthe Senate)tovotetogether.
Aconsiderablenumberof HouseDemocrats votedfor at leastpartofthe Landry’s tax overhaulin November,leaving
House Democratic Caucus Chair Matthew Willard frustrated Willard says he had a strategy going into that session that involved Democrats voting as a unit. That obviously failed.
“I spent a lot of time up front before the session to make sure that the members knew what was going on, to make sure that they were familiar with some of the proposals. I spent time trying to get the caucus to stick together, scheduling meetings and trying to do my best to communicate with them,” he says “So when everything falls apart, it’s tough.”
Willard says moving forward he is going to try to do team building among House Democrats and talk with them to understand the needs of the people in each of their districts. Similarly, Gaines says party leaders also plan to meet with Democrats in the legislature to “identify the issues that it’s important for us to be unified on.”
“I think we’re gonna have to have some tough family discussions,” Willard says Willard notes that the House Democratic Caucus doesn’t take many positions, and when they do, the caucus votes on the position Still, he says, it’s important for members to vote together, especially on what he considers “big issues,” to show Democratic voters that Louisiana Democrats are different from Republicans.
“When those big issues come up and we do take a position next year, I guess I’ll be back at the drawing board to figure out what I can do better to keep my members together so that we can vote as a bloc,” he says.
Davante Lewis agrees it is important for Louisiana Democrats to stand up for traditional Democratic policies, writing on Facebook, “You can’t just blame people for not voting if you aren’t assessing the conditions that make voting obsolete.”
But Lewis has a different strategy for addressing this: He says he’s looking at recruiting progressive candidates to run against the more conservative Democrats who tend to vote with Republicans.
“If you’re not willing to be part of the team, then the team may have to put somebody else in, and I’m not ashamed about that,” he told Gambit “The point is, just because you walk in a room and put a D next to your name doesn’t mean you are doing the work of the party, and we just can’t have that anymore.”
Gleason says that when she was executive director of the Georgia Democratic Party, Senate Minority Leader Steve Henson and House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams were good at getting Democrats to vote together, even though some were conservative, like in Louisiana.
Gleason says part of that was getting Democrats to realize that Republicans could pass most of the policies they wanted without the support of Democrats anyway and that Democrats have more influence when they stick together
“We’re a big tent, yes, but we don’t have any power if we’re relinquishing it even further to the Republicans,” she says “There’s more power in us coming together and
taking unified stances and providing alternatives.”
Georgia Democrats would also hold alternate committee hearings on bills Republican leaders wouldn’t bring to the floor and bring forth bills they knew wouldn’t pass to send a message about what the party stood for.
Gleason says she’d like to see more of that here to strengthen the Louisiana Democratic Party as an opposition party.
“We have to get back to recognizing that we are only as strong as we all are together, and we are all rowing in the same boat, but you can’t row a boat with everybody paddling in a different direction,” Lewis says
Ballot measures
Some parts of the governor’s tax plan are amendments to the state’s constitution, meaning voters still have to approve them on March 29 before they take effect
Willard told Gambit on Dec. 5 the party hasn’t yet determined which ballot measures it will support or oppose
“We’re still going through it and trying to understand everything that would be affected,” he said “I mean, it’s over 100 pages long.”
But leaders say they’re definitely against the proposal to give state legislators the power to make new laws that let the courts try 14- to 16-year-olds as adults However, details on their opposition campaign are scant “Facing children at that age with the adult population really just replicates the creation
of a failed destiny,” Gaines says. “So yeah, we’re gonna use every available messaging method available: radio, TV, text messaging, mailing.”
Darling says the party will need to work with community groups, like Progressive Northshore Democrats, the Northshore Democratic Women’s Club and 10,000 Women in Baton Rouge, to get the word out to voters about the measure.
Gaines hopes the party will be able to draw in some national money to defeat the proposal. But should it pass, he also sees an opportunity to potentially challenge it in court.
“That’s such an egregious initiative that I do think that that’s going to generate national money to help us fight that cause and possibly national legal resources in terms of the ACLU and some other organizations that would come and help us to build a battle to better fight that,” he says
A ‘critical’ year
2025 is going to be a critical year for Democrats. They’ll need to come up with a plan to turn the party around and start implementing it, all while working on the races that are on the ballot and laying the groundwork for the 2027 governor’s race
Gleason says it will be clear if the party is on track halfway through the year
“If we get to mid-2025, and we’re still navel gazing and we’re still figuring it out, that, to me, would be challenging,” she says “If we’re not getting this plan down and then actually
implementing it, then 2027 will be here, and we’ll still be like, ‘Oh, shoot Is that in place?”
But Lewis says with the Louisiana Democratic Party hitting rock bottom, there’s an opportunity to get creative and completely reimagine how the party works
“You rebuild better when people least expect you to win,” he says “This is the time to really relook at our approach and get outside of this heavy consultant phase that we’ve had and these like four people that we lean upon to tell us how to run campaigns.”
Lewis says the party first needs to adapt its message to make sure it resonates with people Then, it needs to make sure that message reaches people, including outside of traditional channels.
“This is the moment for us to lean in to what is possible, to dream, to think big, to sell a vision of Louisiana that we know we want to see, and not kind of like fall into the trap that because we’re behind, because we’re in the minority, we need to play along the margins,” he says “No, let’s tell people if we were in control what we would do. I think you’ll see people buying into a vision.”
Rep. Matthew Willard, D-New Orleans, speaks at the State Capitol on Nov. 7, 2024. PH
Former Rep. Stacey Abrams of Georgia speaks during the College Democrats of America Summer Convention in 2019 at Tulane.
It’s all Greek
DON’TGET VASILEIOSZARGANIS
STARTEDABOUT THEGREEK SALAD so oftenservedinGreek and Mediterraneanrestaurants.
“It’sjustnot right,”saysthe Athensborn restaurateur.“youdon’t put romainelettuce on aGreek salad. It’s tomatoes,onions, cucumbers, capers andrealfetacheese. notthose crumbles.Theyaren’tfollowing the real recipe.It’sAmericanstyle.”
Zarganisfervently believes that Greekfoodisthe world’sbestcuisine “I’m notthe only onesayingthat,”he says,referring to the2024/2025 100 Best Cuisines in theWorld awards from TasteAtlas,which ranked Greece no. 1, followed by Italy, Mexico andSpain He is so proudofhis Hellenic heritage andgastronomythatheopened AthenianBar &Grill in Septemberon DecaturStreetinthe French Quarter. Hisideaistoserve traditionalGreek food like dinerswould find in Greece
The90-seat restaurant is airy and modern,withstrikingaccents like olivebranchchandeliers,alongwhite barand an artsymontage of wood from Greekwinebarrels.
Zarganisdidn’tstart outtobein hospitalityand entertainment. He was aprofessionalsoccerplayerbut was permanentlysidelined by an injury earlyinhis career.Heworkedinbars andrestaurants in Greece andcame to newOrleans in 2002 to work in hisuncle’s restaurant,Orleans Cafe, whichalsowas on DecaturStreet. Hisfirst business wasgoing to be a bar, buthewound up buying Fritzel’s Jazz Club in 2008,a trad jazz oasison BourbonStreetsince 1969
Allthe while, he wasirked at the lack of traditionalGreek cuisine. “It’s changing with restaurantslikeMilos in newyork, butIdidn’twantfine dining,” he says.“Iwantedcasual, but better.” To him, better meantkeeping thefoodrealwhile upping thepresentation.“We have an issueinGreece. Thefoodisdelicious,but theplating is ugly.Plating is greatinAmerica,sothe food looksdelicious.But is it?” He broughthis friend,chefnikolaos “nik”Kalkavouras,fromAthens
OwnerVasileios Zarganis with chefsNikolaos
Gaurav
to help open therestaurant. An experiencedhotel banquetchef, Kalkavourasworkedclosely with Zarganisand chef de cuisineGaurav
“G”Trivedi to refine themenu. “The recipesare genuine. They’reGreek,” says theowner Take thesoups forexample.Fakes (fah-kes)isa staple of theGreek kitchen. Thetraditional lentil soup is made with vegetables,herbs andfruityolive oil. It’s just oneof many veganoptions on themenu. Avgolemono is rich,fragrantchicken soup,silky with strandsofegg and bright with citrus.The soups, like everything on Athenian’s menu,are made daily, oftenwithimported Greekingredients Greekcalamari,chunkierthan theusual,isflashed fried, perfectly
tender, served with taramosalata, adip tangy with fish roe, onions and oliveoil.It’sjustone of thehouse-madeappetizers,which also include feta mousse andgarlicky tzatziki. Itspresentation is alittlefancy,with thetwirled tentacles bundledand tucked into aringofsquid
Skewersare stacked with grilledsalmon, pork, chickenorloukaniko,a Greeksauce peppered with orange peel and citrus,and served with chubby grilled asparagus andjuicy tomato. yeerosandwiches— “nobodyknows how to saygyro,”Zarganis says –start with proteins like pork bellyorchicken dressedwithtomato, onions andtzatzikisauce in toastedpitarounds, for$14-$16.Plattersof grilledlambchops,Gulfshrimpand branzino arethe priciest menu items, andhealthy portions with friesand vegetables are$30-$38.
Thedessertsare stellar, from the baklavacheesecaketothe Greekstylechocolate pie, anda sampler offers ataste of four.The barhas an arrayofouzo-basedcocktails,along with afullmenuofclassic drinks,as well as Greekwineand beer.
Zarganisispleased with howthings aregoing,despite thechallenges of negotiatingthe French Quarter pre-SuperBowl. He’s also invested in asecondbusinessinthe Quarter andenergized by theopportunity to presentthe food of hishomeland.
“Wekeepitsimple,”hesays. “none of this pieceofmeatwith20ingredients on theplate.Who knowswhat they’reeating? Two, threeingredients,a freshpiece of meat or fish, simply grilled. That’s delicious.”
Restaurantturnover
MANY NEWRESTAURANTS OPENED IN 2024,and they keep opening, bringing sparksofexcitement, deliciousnew flavorsand newopportunities.The flip side is learning of thelatestrestaurant to close, andlastyearbrought many of thoseaswell.
Belowisa list of some of therestaurantswelostin2024. It does not includeevery onebut is representative of thearc of ayearthatshows we can take no valued placefor grantedastime marchesonand as operatorstry to navigate achangingbusinessenvironment
TONY MANDINA’S
Theend of this West Bank classic afterfourdecades saddened itsmany longtime regulars.But many were buoyed by thenextdevelopment,when
TheJosephine Estellespace will become anew Italianrestaurant, Brutto Americano.
VeneziaItalianrestauranttookover theaddress as itsown second location, whichisgoing strong.(note:there’s no relation to theolder Mandina’s restaurant in Mid-City.)
ANITA’SGRILL
This wasalegend, once an all-night, old-school dive of adiner that drew devotedregularsand fordecades generated endlessstories.Itstrug gled throughthe last fewyears andclosed when itspropertywas sold to theLSu Hospital complexnearby. There’stalk of reopeningelsewhere,but no confirmed plans.
TOMMY’SCUISINE ANDN.O.S.H.
After20yearsofupscale Italianand Creole cuisine, Tommy’sand therelated loungenext-door,n.O.S.H.(once called Tommy’sWineBar), closed for good in november.The connected
Athenian Bar&Grill opensonDecatur Street by Beth D’Addono |
spaces aresoontobereplacedbyapair of newconcepts, aFrenchrestaurant called Le MoyneBistroand Maria’s Oyster Bar, both from thefoundersof thenearbyrestaurant plates
JOSEPHINEESTELLE
What originally openedwiththe debut of theAce Hotelchanged namesand management when thehotel rebranded this year to theBarnett,a Hyattproperty.now theoperators of uptown’s Costeraand OsteriaLupoplantoopen anew Italianrestaurantherecalled Brutto Americano, settoopenearly in 2025.Inthe same hotelchange-up, whatwas previously theupscale lounge BarMarilouisnow called BarMetier.
CARMO
What startedin2010asaWarehouse District deli grew into amultifaceted restaurant fillingmanyneeds with its vegan-friendly menu andlocal sourcing ethos. Whileits last daywas Dec. 21,its chefsalready have anew conceptopen in Mid-City called nikkei,which continuessimilar themes within theBroadside eventvenue
THEGREEN ROOM
This restaurant filled thenot-so-obviousbut crave-worthy nichefor Slavic soul food in newOrleans fora dozen years. Theaddress is nowthe new ItalianrestaurantPulcinella, with the Original niteCap barjustupstairs.
BIJOU
Part of apromising trendof redevelopment alongthe edge of theFrench Quarter, this northrampart Street bistroand lounge with itsbeautiful interior spaces andcourtyard closed earlyinthe year andremains quiet.
CASA BORREGA
Part Mexicanrestaurant,partbar and also aworkofart in itsown right, Casa Borregawas abrightspotfor Central City that sawa series of upsand downs throughthe pandemic before finally closingthisyear. FounderHugoMontero stillrunsastreetfoodstand fortacos at theCrescentCityFarmersMarket
WINDOWSILL PIES
Piewas thething at this bakery cafe, whichevenbrought apie happyhourto Freret Street.The addressisnow home to ChiChi’s,which specializesinKorean fried chickenand beer
TRUBURGER
Thesehavebeentough timesfor burger fans alongOak Street,wherethisspot originally opened as part of thebetter burger trendbackin 2011 before changinghands alongthe way. Theaddress is nowhometothe newPizza Bella.
JUNCTION
It waspartBywater neighborhood bar, part burger destination, andoriginally part of thefamilyofspots that include
Molly’satthe Market.Itclosedthisyear afteradecadeinbusiness.
ROSALITA’SBACKYARDTACOS
It startedassomething like apop-up crossedwithabackyardcookout,a speakeasytacostand forthe Bywater that grew into this full-fledged restaurant in themidst of thepandemic. Fans canstill find rosalita’s at itstaco Tuesdaypop-upatnearbyBud rip’sBar (900 PietySt.).
CALLIOPE
BEER WORKS
Theformerhomeofburgerspecialist Cowbellwas remodeledasabrewpub, butthatlastedjusta fewmonths. Plansare nowunderwayfor anew restaurant called Minnie andJohn’s Kitchen&Cocktail.
BYWATERBREWPUB
Another hittothe ranksofnew Orleans’ craftbeerscene arrivedwhenthis brewpubclosed. It originally opened late in 2020.
BAKERY BAR
Arestaurant, abar anda dessertstop from thedoberge cake mastersDebbie Does Doberge, theBakeryBar is now closed.But thespinoff Debbie on the Leveeisopeninrivertown in Kenner (2118rev.richard Wilson Drive)
CHURCH ALLEYCOFFEE
Acafefor greatcoffeeand lightbites startedinCentral City in 2012 andmade itshomeinMid-Cityfiveyears later. Dinerscan find some Church Alley’s brandedproducts, includingcold brew andteas, at Laughing Buddha nursery in Metairie.Laozi IceCream hasbeen usingthe CanalStreetspace forpint pick-uppop-ups.
BLUE DOTDONUTS
This hasbeenMid-City’sdoughnutspot since2011, originally opened by agroup of cops.Itchanged handsyears ago, closed in 2024 andswiftly became a newbusinesscallednot AnotherDonut Cafe,which is nowopen.
CREPESALACARTE
Crepes both sweetand savory and late-night hoursmadethistinyspota campus fixturefor Tulane andLoyola students since2004. Whilethe stand is closed,its food truckstill makesthe rounds forevents.
FROSTOPMETAIRIE
Theburgerspotwithanold-timevibe in Metairie closed after16years.It’s importanttonotethatthe otherFrostop locationsinthe area areseparatebusinesses,soTed’s FrostopDiner in new Orleans, Buddy’sFrostop in Destrehan andFrostop DriveInrestaurantin LaPlaceare allstill cooking.
PARISH LINE BISTRO
Theold neighborhood dive MetryBar underwenta radicalredotobecome Parish Line,withanew modern look anda rooftopbar.Latein2024, the owners broughtinnew operators, the team behind Junior’s on Harrisonto reinvent theplace as BarCar,which serves modern comfortfoodand drinks,and hasthe same rooftopbar
MAE’SBAKESHOP
Pastry chef Jeremy Fogg drew acclaim during histimeatEmeril’srestaurant andstarted hisown family-inspired bakery brandduringthe pandemic.The storefront location opened in time for Carnival 2024,but closed in fall.
MISA
This wasanupscale-casualspot servingMediterranean-inspireddishes in uptown,and it hasapatio facing MagazineStreet. It hassince become SonofaBun,a burger conceptfromthe operator of Tal’sHummusnextdoor.
KOLACHEKITCHEN
Thereweretwo locations(4701 Freret St.and 314CarondoletSt.)ofthe casual spot forkolachesand good breakfast tacos. Both were expansions of aconcept from Batonrouge.The Freret location is nowset to become aPitaParadise.
CAUSE ANDTHE CURE
Many dinerswillrememberthisnarrow shotgunbythe hospitalsasthe home of Fharmacy,which wasknown forits burgers. It looked primefor acomeback when Causeand theCureopenedwith itsown take on barfoodand laterdoubled as amorning location forMonkey Monkey,onceastand-alone coffee shop in Mid-City.Bothclosedafter a fewmonths.
GORDON BIERSCH
Themicrobrewerywas part of achain, butitwas an earlyadditiontothe ranks of craftbeerinnew Orleanswhenit openedin2004. Theparentcompany hasbeenclosing locationsaroundthe country. Itsprime location is nowpart of theoverall CaesarsCasinocomplex downtown;plans forwhat’snext remain unclear. —Ian McNulty/ TheTimes-Picayune
In OldMetairie, Parish Line Bistro Bar became BarCar.
Out to EatisanindexofGambit contract advertisers. unless noted, addressesare fornew Orleans and allaccept credit cards. updates:Email willc@gambitweekly.com or call (504)483-3106
AngeloBrocato’s — 214N.CarrolltonAve., (504)486-1465;angelobrocatoicecream com— This Mid-City sweetshopservesits owngelato, spumoni, Italianices, cannolis, biscotti,fig cookies, tiramisu,macaroons andmore. Therealsoare coffee drinks no reservations.Lunch anddinner Tue.-Sun $
Annunciation 1016 Annunciation St., (504)568-0245; annunciationrestaurant. com— Gulf Drum yvonne is served with brownbuttersauce with mushroomsand artichokehearts. Therealsoare seafood pastadishes, steaks,lambchops andmore. reservations recommended. Dinner Thu.-Mon. $$$
Bamboula’s — 514FrenchmenSt.;bamboulasmusic.com— Thelivemusic venue’s kitchen offers amenuoftraditional and creative Creole dishes,suchasCreolecrawfish crepes with goat cheese andchardonnay sauce. reservations accepted.Lunch, dinner andlate-nightdaily $$
TheBlueCrabRestaurantand Oyster Bar— 118HarborViewCourt,Slidell,(985) 315-7001;7900Lakeshore Drive, (504) 284-2898;thebluecrabnola.com Basin barbecue shrimp areservedwithrosemary garlic butter sauceovercheesegritswitha cheese biscuit. Themenuincludespo-poys, friedseafood platters,raw andchar-grilled oysters, boiled seafoodinseason, andmore. Outdoorseating available. no reservations Lakeview:Lunch anddinner Tue.-Sun.
Slidell: LunchWed.-Fri.,dinner Wed.-Sun., brunch Sat.-Sun $$ Broussard’s— 819Conti St., (504)581-3866; broussards.com rainbowtrout amandine is served with tassoand corn macquechoux andCreolemeunieresauce.Brunchincludes Benedicts,chicken andwaffles andmore. reservations recommended. Outdoor seatingavailable. Dinner Wed.-Sat., brunch Sun. $$$
Cafe Normandie— HigginsHotel,480 Andrew HigginsBlvd.,(504) 528-1941; higginshotelnola.com/dining— The menu combines classicFrenchdishesand Louisiana itemslikecrabbeignetswithherbaioli Sandwiches includepo-boys,amuffuletta on flatbreadand aburger. no reservations Breakfastand lunchMon.-Sat.,dinner Fri.-Mon $$
TheCommissary— 634OrangeSt.,(504) 274-1850;thecommissarynola.com— A smoked turkey sandwich is served with bacon,tomatojam,herbedcream cheese, arugulaand herbvinaigrette on honeyoat bread. The menu includes dips,salads, sandwiches,boudinballs,fried oystersand more no reservations.Outdoor seatingavailable. LunchTue.-Sat. $$
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. $$ Dahla— 611O’Keefe Ave.,(504) 7666602;dahlarestaurant.com— Themenu includes popularThaidisheslikepad thai, drunkennoodles,curries andfried rice Crispy skinnedduckbasil is prepared with
$ —average dinner entrée under$10
$$ —$11-$20
$$$ —$20-up
vegetables andThaibasil.Deliveryavailable reservations accepted.Lunch anddinner Mon.-Sat $$
Desire Oyster Bar— RoyalSonesta New Orleans, 300Bourbon St., (504)586-0300; sonesta.com/desireoysterbar— Amenu full of Gulf seafoodincludeschar-grilled oysterstoppedwithParmesanand herbs Themenualsoincludespo-boys,po-boys, gumbo, blackenedfish, friedseafood platters andmore. reservations recommended. Breakfast, lunchand dinner daily. $$
Dickie Brennan’sBourbon House— 144Bourbon St., (504)522-0111;bourbonhouse.com There’saseafood rawbar with rawand char-broiled oysters, fish dip, crab fingers, shrimp andmore. redfishon theHalf-shell is cooked skin-onand served with crab-boiledpotatoes, frisee andlemon buerre blanc. reservations accepted.Lunch anddinner daily. $$$
Dickie Brennan’sSteakhouse — 716Iberville St., (504)522-2467; dickiebrennanssteakhouse.com— The menu includes avariety of steaks,plussearedGulffish, lobster pasta, barbecue shrimp andmore. A 6-ouncefilet mignon is served with fried oysters, creamedspinach,potatoesand bearnaise.reservationsrecommended 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 and salsa. Themenualsoincludestacos,quesadillas,enchiladas, fajitas, nachos,saladsand more.Outdoor seatingavailable. no reservations. Lunchand dinner 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;higginshotelnola.com/dining The barmenuincludes sandwiches,saladsand flatbreads,including onetoppedwithpeach,prosciutto, stracciatella cheese,arugula andpecans. no reservations.Lunch Fri.-Mon., dinner daily. $$
Legacy Kitchen’sCraft Tavern 700 Tchoupitoulas St., (504)613-2350; legacykitchen.com— The menu includes oysters, flatbreads,burgers,sandwiches, salads and anOLAStyle GritsBowltoppedwithbacon, cheddarand apoached egg. reservations accepted.Breakfast,lunch anddinnerdaily $$
Legacy KitchenSteak &Chop— 91 Westbank Expressway,Gretna, (504) 513-2606;legacykitchen.com The menu includes filets mignonsand bone-inribeyes,aswellasburgers,saladsand seafood dishes.reservationsaccepted. Outdoor seatingavailable.Lunch anddinner Mon.-Sat $$
LuzianneCafe— 481Girod St., (504)2651972;luziannecafe.com— Boudin Benedict features twopoached eg gs over boudin and an Englishmuffin, served with greentomato chow chow andhollandaise.noreservations. Delivery available. Breakfastand lunch Wed.-Sun $$
Mikimoto 3301 S. Carrollton Ave.,(504) 488-1881;mikimotosushi.com TheSouth Carrollton roll includes tuna tataki,avocado andsnowcrab. Themenualsohas noodle dishes,teriyakiand more.reservations accepted.Deliveryavailable. LunchSun.Fri.,dinnerdaily $$ Mosca’s— 4137 Highway90West, Westwego,(504) 436-8950;moscasrestaurant.com This family-style eatery serves Italiandishesand specialtiesincluding chickenalagrande, shrimp Mosca, baked oystersMosca andchicken cacciatore reservations accepted.Dinner Wed.-Sat Cash only $$$
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. $$
Neyow’sCreoleCafe— 3332 BienvilleSt., (504)827-5474; neyows.com Themenu includes redbeans andricewithfried chicken or pork chops, as well as shrimp Creole,seafood platters,po-boys,char-grilledand raw oysters, salads andmore. Side itemsinclude carrot souffle, mac andcheese, cornbread dressing,sweet potato tots andmore. no reservations.Lunch daily, dinner Mon.-Sat., brunch Sun. $$
Nice Guys Bar&Grill — 7910 EarhartBlvd., (504)302-2404; niceguysbarandgrillnola. com— Char-grilled oystersare topped with cheese andgarlicbutter, andother options includeoysters rockefellerand loaded oysters.The creative menu also includes seafood bread, aCajun-lobster potato,wings,quesadillas,burgers,salads, sandwiches,seafood pasta, loaded friesand more.noreservations. Lunchdaily,dinnerMon.-Sat. $$$ OrleansGrapevine Wine Bar&Bistro— 720Orleans Ave.,(504) 523-1930;orleansgrapevine.com— Thewinebar offers cheese boards andappetizerstonoshwith wines. ThemenuincludesCreolepasta with shrimp andandouille in tomato creamsauce reservations accepted forlarge parties. Outdoorseating available. Dinner Thu.-Sun $$
Palace Cafe — 605Canal St., (504)523-1661; palacecafe.com ThecontemporaryCreole menu includes crabmeat cheesecake with mushroomsand Creole meuniere sauce. Outdoorseating available. reservations recommended.Breakfast andlunch Wed.-Fri., dinner Wed.-Sun., brunch Sat.-Sun. $$$ Parish Grill— 4650 W. EsplanadeAve., Suite 100, Metairie, (504)345-2878; parishgrill.com
The menu includes burgers, sandwiches,
WI NE OF TH E WEEK
Iron &Sand Paso Robles
Cabernet
ThisPaso Robles Cabernet opens with aromas of ripe redfruits, cherries, anise, cedar,savory spice, roasted coffee, and tobacco. It is velvetyand lush with delicious flavors of raspberry, cherry and plum with baking spice, earthy undertones,and ahintof vanilla. It is complemented by livelyacidity and fine tannins with along, supple and mouthwateringfinish.
DI ST RIB UTED BY
pizzaand sauteedandouille with figdip, blue cheese andtoast points.reservations accepted.Lunch anddinner Mon.-Sat $$ PeacockRoom— KimptonHotel Fontenot, 501Tchoupitoulas St., (504)324-3073; peacockroomnola.com— At brunch,braised shortrib grilladesare served over gritswith mushrooms, apoachedegg andshaved truffle. reservations accepted.Dinner Wed.-Mon., brunch Sun. $$
Rosie’sonthe Roof — HigginsHotel,480 Andrew HigginsBlvd.,(504) 528-1941; higginshotelnola.com/dining— Therooftop barhas amenuofsandwiches, burgersand smallplates. Crab beignetsare madewith Gulf crabmeat andmascarponeand served with herbaioli.noreservations. Dinner Mon.-Sat $$
Tableau 616St. PeterSt.,(504) 9343463;tableaufrenchquarter.com— The menu features traditionaland creative Creole dishes.Pasta bouillabaissefeatures squid inkmafaldine,littleneck clams, Gulf shrimp,squid,seafood broth, rouilleand herbedbreadcrumbs.Outdoor seating availableonthe balcony. reservations recommended. Dinner Wed.-Sun., brunch
Thu.-Sun $$$
Tacklebox— 817CommonSt.,(504) 827-1651;legacykitchen.com Themenu includes rawand char-broiledoysters, seafoodplatters, po-boys, friedchicken, crab andcornbisqueand more.redfish St Charlesisservedwithgarlic-herb butter, asparagus, mushroomsand crawfish cornbread. reservations accepted.Breakfast, lunchand dinner daily. $$
Theo’s Neighborhood Pizza— 1212 S. ClearviewParkway,Elmwood,(504) 733-3803;2125VeteransMemorialBlvd., Metairie,(504) 510-4282;4024Canal St., (504)302-1133; 4218 Magazine St.,
Mosca’sRestaurant (4137U.S.Highway 90 West, Westwego,504-436-8950; moscasrestaurant.com)serves dishes includingsignature chickenalaGrande, sausage with potatoes,shrimpMosca, spaghettiand meatballs andoysters Mosca.
(504)894-855 4; 70488Highway 21, Covington,(985) 234-9420;theospizza. com— AMarilynnPotaSupreme pieis topped with mozzarella,pepperoni, sausage, hamburger, mushrooms, bell peppersand onions.Therealsoare salads, sandwiches,wings,breadsticks andmore. Delivery available. Lunchand dinner Tue.-Sat $
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. $$$
TheVintage 3121 Magazine St., (504) 324-7144;thevintagenola.com— There’sa full coffee drinks menu andbaked goodsand beignets,aswellasafullbar.The menu has flatbreads,cheeseboards, smallplatesand apressed veggie sandwich with avocado, onions,arugula,red pepper andpepper jack cheese.noreservations. Delivery and outdoorseating available. Breakfast, lunch anddinner daily. $$
alongits routetothe French Quar ter. Theprocessiongoesto CanalStreetand returnstoFat Harry’sonSt. CharlesAvenue. The festivitiesbegin at 7p.m.Monday, Jan. 6. Formoreinformation,go to funkyuptownkrewe.com
MiaX
NewOrleans’Mia Xiship-hop royalty,soit’sfitting that she’sthrowing aroyal regencyballtocelebrate her 55th birthday on Saturday, Jan. 11,at Toulouse Theatre. Theballstartsat 8p.m., andtickets are$40 general admissionand $75for VIP viatoulousetheatre.com
CarolynWonderland
Texasblues rocker Carolyn Wonderland returns to newOrleans forashowat8p.m.Wednesday,Jan 8, at ChickieWah Wah. Ticketsare $24.91 viachickiewahwah.com.
‘Naked Acts’
In the1996film, Cicely landsher firstmajor film role,but it callsfor anudescene.She’s asexualassault survivor andhas bodyissues, andher mother appeared in Blaxploitation films, so Cecily struggleswithher desire to be in themovie.BridgettM. Daviswrote anddirected thefilm, whichisnoted amongindependent Blackfilms from the1990s.Davis andnew OrleansnativeMayaCade, whofounded theBlack Film Archive, will discussthe film afterascreening of a4Krestoration of it.At7 p.m. Thursday,Jan.9,atZeitgeist Theatre &Lounge. Tickets$8-$10. Formore information, visitzeitgeistnola.org
Phunny Phorty Phellows
Thekrewe heraldsthe beginning of Carnival with astreetcar ride.Costumedmembers andthe Storyville Stompers sharea toast anddepart from thestreetcar barn at Willow Street at 7p.m.Monday, Jan. 6. Thekrewe makesits way to CanalStreetand loopsbackto Carrollton.For more information, visitphunnyphor typhellows.com
Mark
Braud’s
NewOrleans Jazz Giants
TheNew Orleans Jazz &Heritage Foundation’s four-week concert seriesinJanuary andFebruarywill focusontraditional andcontemporary jazz in thecity. Trumpeterand vocalist Mark Braudand hisnew OrleansJazzGiantskickoff the series at 8p.m.Friday, Jan. 10,and
Cuban-born pianist Victor Campbell will play on Saturday, Jan. 11,at theGeorgeand JoyceWeinJazz& Heritage Center.upcomingshows will featureMikhala “JazzMuffin” Iversen, JasonMarsalis, ThePfister Sisters, JasonStewart,the Panorama Brass Band andSteve Masakowski.Tickets are$10 viajazzandheritage.org.
Desert Nudes
Localtumbleweedcountry and westernbandDesertNudes released theiralbum “Keepa-Moving, Dan” in spring.The lineup of AndreBohren, DavidPomerleau andJohnPaul Carmodyall performunder stage namesstartingwithDan.now, they’rereleasing avinyl edition. Therelease partyisafreeshowat nOLA Brewingat5p.m.Sunday, Jan. 12.nOLABrewing is canninga new beer forthe occasion.For more info, go to nolabrewing.comorfacebook. com/thedesertnudes.
‘Xanadu’
Though thesoundtrackproduced hits forOliviaNewtonJohn,who also starredinthe 1980 film, “Xanadu” wasabox of fice disappointment. Butovertime, it became apopular bitofdisco and 1980skitsch. Themusical adaptation forthe stagealsofeatures roller skating. In thestory,aGreek goddessdescendsfromthe heavens to Venice Beach, California,where shehelps an ar tist find anew vision, openingarollerdisco.At7:30p.m. Friday,Jan.10, andSaturday, Jan. 11,and 2p.m.Sunday, Jan. 12,at rivertownTheaters. Also running Jan. 17-26. Tickets$41-$45 viariver towntheaters.com
Societedes Champs Elysee
Thekrewe andcharitablesocial organization holdsits TwelfthNight Ball at Siberiawithacoronationceremonybeginning at 6p.m.Monday, Jan. 6. TheMargiePerez BigBand with theElysian Hornsperformsat8 p.m. Ticketsare $25atthe door,and costumes or blacktie arerequired. Find informationatsocietedeschampselysee.org.
TortureGarden
NewOrleans hardcore band
TortureGarden kicksoff ashort Southwesttourwithashowat9 p.m. Thursday,Jan.9,atSiberia. Thenancies,PanamaPapersand newcomersLaughingTorso arealso on thebill. Ticketsare $12.40 viasiberianola.com
To learn moreabout adding your event to themusic calendar,pleaseemail listingsedit@gambitweekly.com
MONDAY6
APPLE BARREL Mark Appleford, 6pm
BAMBOULA’S— Therug Cutters, 1:15 pm; Jonroniger Band, 5:30 pm; Les Getrex &Creole Cooking,9 pm
BARREDUX — 12 night Partywith DJ Solo X, 9pm
BJ’S — ItchyStitches 12th night Party withThe unmentionables, 9pm
BOURBON OBAR — Kimchisoop,4pm; Lynn Drury, 8pm
BROADSIDE “Beats To EatTo” ft. Sasha Masakowski, 7pm
DOSJEFES John Fohl, 8:30 pm
MRB— BenBuchbinder,7 pm
NOLABREWING TheBluegrass Pickin’Party,7 pm
OKAY BAR— Django Jazz Band, 7:30 pm
THE RABBIT HOLE— Very Good Mondays ft.AlexWasily,JMB and Alvin Ford Jr., 8pm
SATURN BAR— Piano night with BC Coogan, 9pm
SIBERIA — Margie PerezBig Band with Elysian Horns, 9pm
SNUG HARBOR — Charmainneville Band, 7:30 &9:30 pm
TUESDAY7
BAMBOULA’S— Queen Bonobo,1:15pm; Giselle Anguizola, 5:30 pm;Caitie B. &The Hand Me Downs, 9pm
BOURBON OBAR — Dr.Zach, 4pm; Chucky C, 8pm
DOSJEFES— John Fohl,8:30 pm
ELLIS MARSALISCENTER FORMUSIC — Marcehlla ratclif, 6:30 pm
HIDEOUT BAR— Kid Merv& AllThat Jazz, 4:30 pm
THE RABBIT HOLE — rebirth Brass Band,10pm
SALONSALON — Or Shovaly Plus, 7pm
SNUG HARBOR — Electric yat Quartet, 7:30 pm; 9pm
WEDNESDAY8
BAMBOULA’S — JJ &The A-Ok’s,1:15pm; Boardwalker &The ThreeFinger Swingers, 5:30 pm; TheQueen &Friends,9pm
BOURBON OBAR — Brian Wingard, 4pm; Serabee, 8pm
CAFÉ DEGAS — Double Whisky,6pm
DOSJEFES Kris Tokarski, 8:30 pm
THE JAZZ PLAYHOUSE Funkin’ It up with BigSam. 7:30 pm
MAHOGANY JAZZ HALL Paul Longstreth, 6pm; Mahogany Hall Jazz Band, 8pm
MAISON BOURBON JAZZ CLUB KidMerv, 8pm
MRB— Lynn Drury, 7pm
NEWMARIGNY THEATRE — Louisiana PhilharmonicOrchestra,6pm
ORPHEUM THEATER Pink Martini feat. China Forbes,8pm
THE RABBIT HOLE DanceHall Classics with DJ T-roy, 10 pm
SATURN BAR— Burnt Sugar,Sleep Habits and Mango,98pm
SNUGHARBOR — Delfeayo Marsalis &uptownJazzOrchestra, 7:30 &9:30pm
THURSDAY 9
BAMBOULA’S— Caleb nelson &His Hot 5, 1:15 pm; Cristina Kaminis& TheMix, 5:30 pm; WolfeJohn’s Blues, 9pm
BLUE NILE — IrvinMayfeld’sMusic Church,9 pm; 11 pm
BLUE NILE BALCONY ROOM — reggae night with DJ T-roy, 11 pm
BOURBONO BAR— Tifany Hall, 4pm; Davisrogan, 8pm
BROADSIDE Sally Baby’s Silver Dollars, 7pm
CARROLLTONSTATION TheJunior League with Caseyneill and natasha Sanchez, 7pm
DOSJEFES TheMark Coleman Band, 8:30 pm
GOOD MEASURE AT THE BARNETT — Four Five Times Swingnight, 8pm
JAZZ PLAYHOUSE — Brass-AHolics, 7:30 pm
MARIGNY OPERAHOUSE LesDeux Qs: SarahQuintana &Anna LauraQuinn,7:30pm
PEACOCKROOM, HOTEL FONTENOT— Da Lovebirdswithrobin Barnes and PatCasey,8pm
THE RABBIT HOLE — Synth Cult Production,10pm
ROCK ‘N’BOWL— ChubbyCarrier& BayouSwamp Band,8pm
SALONSALON — Double Whisky,7pm
SNUG HARBOR CourtneyBryan, 7:30 &9:30pm
FRIDAY 10
ABITABREWPUB — Gloria &The Doctors, 6pm
THE BARNETT LOBBY— Trust the DJ with MikeyOfine, 10 pm
BLUE NILE Kermit rufns& TheBBQ Swingers, 11 pm
Brass-A-Holics perform at TheJazzPlayhouse Thursday,Jan.9 at 7:30 p.m.
BOURBON OBAR — Ellen Smith &April Spain, 4pm; Mem Shannon Trio,8 pm
BROADSIDE — WaxPoetand Helen Gillet, 8pm
CHICKIE WAHWAH Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra Happy Hour,6pm
JAZZ PLAYHOUSE — Trixie Minx’s Burlesque Ballroom, 7:30 pm; 9pm
MAISON BOURBON JAZZ CLUB — Kid Merv, 8pm
THERABBIT HOLE Interstellar,10pm
SATURN BAR— AndrewJobin, Max Bien Kahn and Miss Martha, 9pm
SEAWITCH OYSTER BAR& RESTAURANT— richard rourke, 5pm
SNUG HARBOR Dr.Michael White&Original Liberty JazzBand,7:30 &9:30 pm
Tipitina’s — John Craigie and Sabine McCalla, 8pm
SATURDAY 11
BAMBOULA’S— TheJaywalkers, 11 am;Boardwalker &The 3Finger
Swingers, 2:15 pm; JohnnyMastro Blues, 6:30 pm; PaggyPrine & Southern Soul, 10 pm
BLUE NILE Afrobeat nOLA, 10 pm
BOURBON OBAR — Brian Wingard, 4 pm; TheBluesMasters,8pm
DEWDROP INN— Saint Mercedes Album release arty,9pm
GOOD MEASURE AT THE BARNETT TropiPapi, 9pm THE JAZZ PLAYHOUSE ThenayoJonesExperience, 7:30 &9pm
MAISON BOURBON JAZZ CLUB — Kid Merv, 3:15 pm
MRB — SamPrice& Friends, 7pm
THE RABBIT HOLE FanExpo AfterParty,7pm
SNUG HARBOR Herlin riley Quartet, 7:30 &9:30 pm
SUNDAY 12
BAMBOULA’S— AaronLevinson &Friends, 11 am; youse, 1:15 pm; Midnight Brawlers, 5:30 pm; Ed Wills Blues4Sale,9pm
IrvinMayfieldperforms at Blue Nile Thursday,Jan.9 at 9p.m.and 11 p.m.
BOURBONO BAR— Marc Stone, 4pm; KennyBrown &the KB Express, 8pm
DEWDROP INN — Brunch with Amina Scott, 11 am
JAZZ PLAYHOUSE— nancyHays& Lush Life Band, 7:30pm
MAISON BOURBONJAZZCLUB— Kid Merv,7pm
MARIGNY OPERAHOUSE Anight in the Woods: naturePercussion and Vocals, 8pm
NO DICE — BVrnBVByBVrn,Trigger Therapyand TheGloryholes,9pm
SNUGHARBOR — Denise Mangiardi Quintet,7:30&9:30pm
Shelf life
by JakeClapp
JONNYCAMPOSTHOUGHT THEREHAD BEEN ANICEARC to hissoloproject WeeksIsland.
When theLostBayou ramblers went on hiatus in 2018,Campos, whoplays guitar in theband, recorded “Droste,” astrikingfive-trackEPofambient pedal-steel music. Acoupleofyears later, ramblers fiddlerand vocalist Louis Michot released theEPonhis nouveau Electric records, andCampostalked with mediaabout thealbum,including an interviewwithbassist Mike Watt on hispodcast
“Thatwas thearc of that,” Campos says,“andthatwas great.”
Butitultimatelywasn’tthe endfor “Droste.”Inakindoftestament to neverknowing whomight be listening,a new, expanded versionof “Droste” will nowbeissuedbyDFA records, thelabel co-founded by LCD Soundsystem’sJames Murphy
Thefull-length versionof“Droste” is outJan.10onvinyl anddigitally,and Campos will performaWeeks Island releaseshowat6p.m.Thursday, Jan. 9, at theHotel Peterand Paul.new OrleanstrioOcean Boyfriendwillopen.
Sometime after“Droste”was released in 2020,Korey richey,a former bassistfor Lost Bayouramblers whonow playsinLCD Soundsystem, hadput theEPonwhile workingina studio,and it caught Murphy’s attention.Murphywantedtore-releasethe projectonvinyl throughDFA records.
“I kind of didn’t thinkitwas real untilI held it in my hands,”Campos says.“It soundedcrazy.Stuff like that doesn’thappen.”
Afterarun of busy yearsand therelease of theirGrammyAward-winning album “Kalenda,” theramblershad decidedto take some time offin2018. Campos also playsinseveral othergroups, including theindie rock bandsCarbonPoppies andBrass Bed, buthewantedtouse the hiatus to builduphis solo catalogue.
“I’vedrivendownHighway 90 more timesthanIcan count, just beingagigging musician in thearea,”Campossays. “There’sa sign forWeeks Island on 90 Ikindofhad that in mind fora name of a band sometime in thefuture. Initially, Iwas goingtotry andmakeitaKrautrock band.”
Around that time,Camposalsohad come across an albumcalled“Balsams” by pedalsteel player ChuckJohnson. The2017recordisfullofbeautiful ambientpedal steelthat’stextured andmeditative.
“I didn’t know youcould do that,” Campos says abouthearing“Balsams.” He wanted to give it atry
JonnyCamposrecords ambientpedal steelmusic as theproject WeeksIsland.
So over afew afternoons,Campos satdownwithhis pedalsteel guitar in ramblers drummerKirklandMiddleton’s houseand recorded thesongs that wouldmakeupthe “Droste” EP.Campos paid Middletonwithraising Cane’s in exchange forhis recordingwork.
Campos played theEP, whichwas mixed by newOrleans musician Turk Dietrich,for hisramblersbandmates, andMichotpickeditupfor hislabel nouveauElectricbeforeitfound itsway eventually to Murphy In Iberia Parish,Weeks Island is the site of asaltdomethatwas minedfor Morton Salt.Peoplehad once livedon WeeksIsland, butinthe late 1960s, Morton paid more than 400familiesto relocate offthe island,dispersingthe communitythathad been builtthere.
Similarly, thesongs on “Droste” arenamed forLouisiana waterways that have disappeareddue to coastal erosion. Michot hadsug gested theidea, with lost locationslikePoint Fortuna, BayouLaChute andCyprien Bay.
Campos’pedal steelpiecesare layeredand atmospheric, andwiththe name of alostwaterwayattached, the musicalsoinadvertently takesona mournful quality. It’s hard nottothink aboutthe impermanence of Louisiana’s coastasCampos’ pedalsteel resonates outacrosslapping water.
Forthe DFArecords release, Campos recorded anotherthree songstoexpand “Droste” closer to afull-length.Ittook some time to have theoriginaltracks mastered,byBob Weston,for vinyldue to theoriginalrecording method.
“Itwas kind of an audionightmare to master,but we finallygot it mastered andfinally gotitprinted,” Campos says “Droste” canbefound Jan. 10 at dfarecords.com. Ticketsfor theJan.9release show are$15 viaeventbrite.com.
Oscar worthy
by Will Coviello
IT WASN’T SO LONG AGOTHATOSCAR
LEVANT WASAHOUSEHOLD NAME to American audiences. Thepianist and moviestarwas knownfor hissharp wit andunpredictability.
In thedrama “Goodnight,Oscar,” Levant is aguest on Jack Paar’s “The TonightShow,”asanearly versionof thetypeofself-destructivecelebrity so familiar nowadays,saysLePetit TheatredirectorAJAllegra
“WehavecharacterslikeOscar Levant today,”Allegra says.“Ioften thinkof robinWilliams.Hewas abeloved guest onevery late-night talk show because he wasa loosecannon. younever knew what he wasgoing to do.But as we now know,Williamsdealtwithalcohol and pill issues anddepression. Alot of people when they ask, ‘Who’s OscarLevant?’I tell them he’s like therobin Williams of the’40sand ’50s.”
Allegraisdirecting theshow, which runs at Le PetitTheatre Jan. 9-26.
Thedrama debutedinnew york in 2023,withformer“Will &Grace”
star Sean HayesasLevant. It wasafar differentrolethanthatofJack, theendlessly upbeat sidekick on thesitcom. It also showed asideofHayes that fewmay have been familiar with:He’s an accomplished pianist.
Levant’s avenue to fame wasasa pianist. He wasfriends with George Gershwin andwas knownasthe premierinterpreter of thecomposer’s work.After Gershwin’s deathatage 38,Levantwas oftencalleduponto performhis stillverypopular music, like “rhapsodyinBlue.”Thatnotoriety was at timesdifficult forLevant, though he composed little musicofhis own.
Levant’s charisma helped himland acting roles, though oftenheplayed himselfinmoviesabout theworldsof musicand entertainment.
He also wasapopular guestonTVtalk showsbecause he reeled offone-liners with ease.Hewas self-deprecating and didn’t hide some of hisstruggles with mental illnessorsubstance abuse. That’s onetheme that runs throughthe drama.
“The play aims to give an honest depictionofthe relationshipbetween artistry andinsanity,”Allegra says,“and to remind people that even artistsdeal with huge inferioritycomplexes.”
In theplay, Levant is making an appearance on “The TonightShow,” during an earlyiteration of what the TV industry came to dub“sweeps” week,whennetworkscompetedto establishtop ratings. ButLevantison furlough from amentalinstitution to do theshow.
Levant’s wife is helpingmanagethe appearance,but it raises thespecter of theindustryexploitingcelebrities.
Le Petitisdoing thefirst professional production of theworksince itsdebut on Broadway.It’snot easy to find an actorwho canalsoplaythe piano, as Levant playssomenotable Gershwin musicinthe show.
Le Petitwas fortunatetoenlist MichaelPaternostro,who hasnumerous Broadway credits, includingin“AChorus Line,” “Dirty rotten Scoundrels”and “Saturdaynight Fever.”Healsostarred in “Guysand Dolls” with Leslie Castay,who helped connecthim with Le Petit, and whostars as Oscar’swife, June Levant
Playwright Doug Wright hastaken on adiverse arrayofprojects. He won aPulitzerPrize forhis 2003 drama“I Am My OwnWife,”about Charlotte vonMahlsdorf,a transgenderwoman in Berlin wholived throughthe nazi and communistregimes.Healsowrote the booksfor themusicals“Grey Gardens” and“TheLittleMermaid.” He also wrote thestage andfilmscriptsfor hiswork aboutthe Marquis de Sade,“Quills.”
“GoodNight,Oscar”runsatLePetit TheatreJan.9-26. Tickets$22-$78 (including fees)via lepetittheatre.com.
Michael Paternostro starsasOscar Levant
PREMIER CROSSWORD PUZZLE
CONTINGENCY STRATEGY
By Frank A. Longo
name in arcades
“That lie!”
Gas choice
Vuitton
Contingency strategy as found in eight long answers in this puzzle?
Bamboozle out of money
Al -- (pasta request)
More mellow, as a fruit
Afflictions
How pastrami may be served
-Dixie (grocery chain)
‘80s Camaro
Suffix with novel
Here-there linkup
Commercial spots
Onetime big name in camera film
“Great” part of Europe
Nightfall, poetically
German “a”
Pitches extremely well against
Belittles
Ad- --
Make certain
Scythe a crop
Ejects
In any way
Lock opener
