Gambit: October 4, 2020 by Gambit New Orleans

October 6-12, 2020 Volume 41 // Number 38

G A M B I T > B E S T O F N E WO R L E A N S . C O M > O C TO B E R 6 - 1 2 > 2 0 2 0

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Lakeview

SENIOR SECURITIES ANALYST To work in New Orleans, LA. Initiates and conducts research relating to the investment suitability of various income securities. Executes trading in public and private securities. Participates in rate risk modeling process and assists in developing modeled scenarios. Must have MBA degree or International MBA degree and 60 months experience as a Senior Securities Analyst or Financial Analyst. 60 months experience must be in securities investment industry. Must also be ﬂuent in written and oral Spanish and be a Chartered Financial Analyst. Occasional travel to company’s Latin American and Caribbean oﬃces. MAIL RESUME TO ELLEN FITTE, PAN-AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, 601 POYDRAS STREET, SUITE 1530, NEW ORLEANS, LA 70130.

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Sneaking

CONTENTS

OCT. 6 -12 , 2020 VOLUME 41 | NUMBER 38

into Fall like ...

NEWS

OPENING GAMBIT

CLANCY DUBOS

COMMENTARY 10 BLAKE PONTCHARTRAIN 11 PULLOUT

DETAILS FEATURES

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 5

517 METAIRIE RD. OLD METAIRIE | 504-510-4655 | nolaboo.com

CORONA COUCH CONFIDENTIAL 13

You like us! You really like us!

EAT + DRINK

GOING OUT

PUZZLES 27

THANK YOU FOR VOTING US

EXCHANGE 27

BEST COSTUME STORE #2 BEST VINTAGE CLOTHING STORE

@The_Gambit @gambitneworleans @GambitNewOrleans

PICK UP DELIVERY

ON THE COVER: PROVIDED PHOTO BY ROBERT MERCURIO PHOTO BY DAVID GRUNFELD / THE TIMESPICAYUNE | THE NEW ORLEANS ADVOCATE

BABY, PLEASE DON’T GO

Will New Orleans music clubs survive the coronavirus?

COVER DESIGN BY DORA SISON

THURSDAY - SUNDAY

3 - 9 PM 2 3 15

Miss Claudia’s

STAFF

Publisher | JEANNE EXNICIOS FOSTER

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EDITORIAL

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Editor | JOHN STANTON

Advertising Director | SANDY STEIN BRONDUM

Political Editor | CLANCY DUBOS

BUY • SELL • TRADE

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THANK YOU FOR VOTING US #2!

Contributing Writers | IAN MCNULTY

PRODUCTION

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Creative Services Director | DORA SISON Pre-Press Coordinator | JASON WHITTAKER

Sales Representatives

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KATIE BISHOP

Graphic Designers | CATHERINE FLOTTE,

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BUSINESS & OPERATIONS

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Billing Inquiries 1 (225) 388-0185

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Gambit (ISSN 1089-3520) is published weekly by Capital City Press, LLC, 840 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans, LA 70130. (504) 4865900. We cannot be held responsible for the return of unsolicited manuscripts even if accompanied by a SASE. All material published in Gambit is copyrighted: Copyright 2020 Capital City Press, LLC. All rights reserved.

Tuned in

Hot shots THE HOT 8 BRASS BAND FUNKS UP THE NEW ORLEANS JAZZ MUSEUM with a live show. The group performs on the balcony at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6. The concert also will be available online via facebook.com/ nolajazzmuseum.

Ricky Graham’s ‘Quarantune Cabaret’ opens at Rivertown Theaters

Howling Wolfman

BY WILL COVIELLO THE PANDEMIC SHUTDOWNS HAVE BEEN HARD ON THEATER. Ricky

Graham has seen four major shows pre-empted, including starring in “The Drowsy Chaperone” at Rivertown Theaters for the Performing Arts and directing “Follies in Concert” at Tulane’s Summer Lyric Theatre. But it hasn’t been all bad, he says. “I have to be honest,” he says. “I am such an introvert that working from home, doing a lot of reading and watching a lot of Britbox and Acorn TV is not an issue.” Graham also has had plenty of time to write and has produced a series of comedic murder mystery radio plays. He and longtime collaborator Jefferson Turner also started working on a new musical show, “Quarantune Cabaret,” which opens this week at Rivertown. It’ll hash over the experiences of sheltering at home. “We’ll be dressed like we were at home,” Graham says. “I’ll be wearing my T-shirt, pajamas and robe. Jefferson is dressed from the waist up, like he did when he was teaching.” The show will explore the many questions people have asked about COVID-19. “Is wearing a mask a fashion statement, or does it just make me look fat?” Graham asks. “We deal with the very New Orleans solution to everything: eating and drinking.” Graham and Turner also enlisted actress, singer and musician Ashley Lemmler. She starred in Graham’s first installment of “MeeMaw Mystery Theatre.” Lemmler played a yatty Agatha Christie fan who writes her own Louisiana-set murder mysteries and broadcasts them as radio plays from her carport on the West Bank. After playing British soprano roles, like Eliza Doolittle in “My Fair Lady,” MeeMaw was the first time Lemmler got to use a more natural local accent, Graham says. MeeMaw was meant to have a small audience at Rivertown when it opened in June, but after the first night, the state altered coronavirus restrictions due to COVID-19 cases at LSU. The rest of the run was streamed online. There has been very little entertainment in theaters with audiences in Orleans and Jefferson parishes since the pandemic shutdowns began in

P H OTO B Y J I A N B A S T I L L E

March. Graham directed a production of “Peter and the Starcatcher” at Rivertown which was shut down after opening weekend. Some local theater companies have live-streamed play readings and radio plays. Rivertown streamed a telethon-style show featuring singers who participated in an online singing competition, and the winner will perform a song in the “Quarantune Cabaret.” Rivertown has been leading the way in figuring out how to bring audiences back into a theater. The theater runs annual summer camps, and efforts to host them this year helped co-founders and directors Gary Rucker and Kelly Fouchi figure out safety plans to bring people back to the theater complex. The plan for the camp approved and it enrolled more than 40 children, dividing them into pods of 10 and allowing them to stay separated at different stage and studio spaces. Rivertown worked with the city of Kenner and consulted with medical experts and the state fire marshal, Rucker says. They worked out plans to physically distance audiences, move people in and out of the theater, clean the facility and upgrade equipment, such as air conditioners and filters. The theater has been working on a mini season of shows with small casts. Last week it presented A.R. Gurney’s “Love Letters” with different actors staring in the two-person show each night. It’s working on opening the six-person musical “Disenchanted” in late October. In November, it presents the next installment of Ricky Graham’s “MeeMaw Mystery Theatre.” The second episode is based on Christie’s Miss Marple and revolves around a Carnival ball and some truly killer king cake. He also created a Sherlock Holmes parody, “The Hound of the Mandevilles.”

P H OTO B Y J O H N B . B A R R O I S

Jefferson Turner (l. to r.), Ashley Lemmler and Ricky Graham debut ‘Quarantune Cabaret’ at Rivertown Theaters.

Rucker says the theater isn’t planning too far ahead because of the uncertainty about pandemic and restrictions. If conditions improve, he’d like to do a holiday show and possibly remount “Peter and the Starcatcher” in 2021. For Graham and Turner, getting back on stage following a disaster is familiar territory. They launched a series of musical shows about life in post-Hurricane Katrina New Orleans. “There’s the old adage that tragedy plus time equals comedy,” Graham says. He thinks people are ready to laugh, but it was easier to pack a theater following Katrina. During the pandemic, streamed events and late-night comedy monologues from empty studios or remote locations have showed how important live audiences are for comedic timing. That’s another challenge. “When we did the MeeMaw show, we had a very small audience of people who had masks,” Graham says. “One of the things we were concerned about was whether we could hear them respond. Fortunately, we could. It’s one thing to play to an empty house and another thing when you don’t hear people laugh.” ‘Quarantune Cabaret’ 7:30 p.m. Fri.-Sat., Oct. 9-10; 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Sun. Oct. 11 Rivertown Theaters for the Performing Arts, 325 Minor St., Kenner, (504) 461-9475; rivertowntheaters.com. Tickets $30

GUITARIST WALTER “WOLFMAN” WASHINGTON & THE ROADMASTERS PERFORM a live-streaming show Wednesday as part of the d.b.a.LIVE series. The performance is at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7 on d.b.a.Live. On Tuesday, Trixie Minx kicks off a weekly series of burlesque showcases. Find the link at stagit.com/dbaLIVE.

Falls has arrived NEO-SOUL, R&B and funk singer Erica Falls is next up in the Maple Leaf Bar’s virtual sessions. The performance was recorded at the Leaf and will be broadcast at 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9. Find the link on mapleleafbar.com.

Halloween Make-Up THE DRAG PERFORMERS OF MAKE-UP get a jump on Halloween with another online improv comedy show. Performers include Laveau Contraire, Tarah Cards, Havana Good Time, Dolly Pardon, Gayle King Kong, Anjle and Siren. The show is at 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, and information is available on eventbrite.com.

Mending habits THE NEW ORLEANS MUSEUM OF ART OPENS ITS FIRST MAJOR EXHIBITION since the pandemic started with a show of 10 artists responding to the world being turned upside down. Titled “Mending the Sky,” it features Beili Liu’s large-scale installation of silk clouds and dangling needles, as well as artists from across the globe presenting paintings, textile works, sculpture, animation, performance and more. The show runs Saturday, Oct. 10, through Jan. 31, 2021.

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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OPENING GAMBIT N E W

O R L E A N S

N E W S

V I E W S

It’s the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine

# The Count

Thumbs Up/ Thumbs Down

35 million

The estate of Dr. Isidore Cohn Jr. and Marianne Cohn has given $1.4 million to the

The number of dollars New Orleans officials are hoping to avoid paying to people fined under a controversial red-light ticketing program.

Greater New Orleans Foundation to establish the Cohn | GNOF | NOLA | Arts Awards, an annual artist grant program to start in 2021. Along with those grants, the Arts Awards will also give a special award to an individual or group from the region who has created exemplary work in visual arts, performance or music. More information about the grants will be posted to the GNOF website.

City attorneys Oct. 1 asked a federal court to dismiss a previous ruling, which had put New Orleans on the hook for the massive pay out. In 2018 a state judge ruled the city owed money to people fined under the program from 2008-2010, arguing it violated the city’s charter. The city, however, has yet to begin making payments, prompting a new round of litigation officials are seeking to dismiss, arguing in part that “whether a plaintiff can use federal courts as a collection tool for a Louisiana state court is not an open question,” according to the Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate. A hearing date has not yet been set.

P H OTO B Y I A N M C N U LT Y / T H E T I M E S - P I C AY U N E | T H E N E W O R L E A N S A DVO C AT E

To-go drinks are now back in New Orleans under new Phase 3 reopening guidelines.

Blue Runner Foods last week

donated 100,000 red bean meals to the Second Harvest Food Bank as part of its “Millions of Meals” campaign. Those meals will be distributed to people impacted by Hurricane Laura. Louisiana Healthcare Connections also is supporting the campaign and has committed to fund more than 360,000 meals. Blue Runner launched its “Millions of Meals” campaign in April to help those affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

The New Orleans Fair Grounds for at least six years put horse manure, urine and untreated wastewater into the city’s drainage system, sending pollutants into Lake Pontchartrain and the Mississippi River. Churchill Downs Inc., which owns the racetrack, settled with the federal government for violating the Clean Water Act, agreeing to pay a $2.8 million penalty and spend $5.6 million on construction and changes.

CITY CAUTIOUSLY STARTS PHASE 3 CORONA RECOVERY NEW ORLEANS MAYOR LATOYA CANTRELL ON OCT. 1 ANNOUNCED the

city would take its first steps toward implementing Phase 3 of the city’s coronavirus reopening plan, though she warned a spike in infection rates or other key metrics of the virus’ spread could halt or even reverse that progress. The announcement came after a week which saw no deaths from the virus — the first time that has happened since the beginning of the pandemic. Infection rates and hospitalizations remained relatively steady for most of September, and the slow reopening of in-person schooling has, so far, proven successful. Although the plan includes loosened restrictions on restaurants and other businesses that have already opened, perhaps the biggest change for residents will be the return of bars, albeit slowly. After of 8 a.m. Oct. 3, bars across the city will once again be allowed to sell to-go cups of alcoholic beverages. Assuming there are no infection spikes, as soon as Oct. 16 bars will also be allowed to serve limited numbers of customers onsite, but only in outdoor areas. If all goes according to plan, limited indoor service could return by Halloween. The city this month will also launch a new grant program to help bars set up outdoor seating areas. Private gatherings will initially be allowed up to 50 people indoors and 100 outdoors, and further expansion of those caps could come later in the month, under the rules. There are lots of big ifs and caveats in Cantrell’s plan. Live entertainment will continue to be largely banned, meaning bars won’t be allowed to book bands. Even those with large outdoor areas won’t be able to have music unless they are granted a special event permit. Social distancing and masking rules will remain in place, and the city has vowed to step up enforcement of its rules, including sending staff out to check compliance at bars and restaurants. PAGE 7

C’est What

? What’s the best way to listen to New Orleans music during the pandemic?

43.7% WWOZ IS ALL I NEED

15.5%

I’M READY TO MASK UP AND BE BACK INSIDE A CLUB

21.8% TUNING IN TO LIVESTREAMS FROM THE COUCH

19%

OUTDOOR CONCERTS ANY CHANCE I CAN GET

Vote on “C’est What?” at www.bestofneworleans.com

OPENING GAMBIT And if there’s a spike in cases, the city could quickly tighten up restrictions again: Indeed, after reopening bars in mid-June, Cantrell called for them to close again by July 25 after caseloads began to rise. Similarly, the city implemented a temporary ban on go-cups in late August after Bourbon Street and other areas became flooded with partiers who flaunted physical distancing and mask rules. Bar owners have increasingly chaffed at Cantrell’s handling of the reopening, particularly her decision to allow restaurants to reopen and sell liquor while keeping their bar rooms closed. Although some have been openly confrontational with the administration, even those owners who have supported her conservative approach to the virus are frustrated. During a press conference Oct. 1 announcing the new rules, Cantrell gave a nod to those complaints. “I do recognize and we understand the hardship, while at the same time focusing on our public health and doing the best we can to open our economy back up,” Cantrell said, adding she was eliminating the go-cup ban in part to show bars “a little love.” — JOHN STANTON

Legendary Gambit delivery man Ralph Seals turns 90 New Orleanians and Jefferson Parish residents this week are tipping their glasses in celebration of long time Gambit delivery man Ralph Seals’ 90th rotation around the sun, a rare bit of good news in an otherwise bleak 2020 news cycle. Seals, who completed this remarkable feat of longevity and life Wednesday, has helped spread the good word of the Gambit far and wide in the New Orleans metropolitan area for more than two decades as one of the paper’s longest tenured contractors. Originally of Yankee stock, Seals is the second most famous child of Avon Lake, Ohio, following closely on the heels of WWE wrestler and Playboy Playmate Carmella DeCesare. Seals served in the Army during the Korean War, and like the great poets and drinkers of his generation, got a bit of the travel bug, inevitably, making his way to New Orleans. A talker by nature, the city was a natural fit for a people person like Ralph. He met a lady, naturally, and settled in for the duration, working for 35 years as a plant operator at the

MASK NOW so we can

P R OV I D E D P H OTO

Longtime Gambit delivery man Ralph Seals celebrated his 90th birthday this week.

American Cyanamid chemical plant, and siring two daughters — Patti and Jean — and a son, Mike. They’ve been busy spreading the roots Seals first put down, bringing into this world seven grandkids and 12 great grandkids, enough to qualify them as a certifiable clan in most jurisdictions foreign and domestic. Since 1999 his delivery route, like

his life, has meandered a bit, but always circles the Crescent City, taking him from Metairie to Kenner, River Ridge, Harahan and Jefferson before crossing the Mighty Mississippi for various and sundry destinations in the wilds of the West Bank. Seals is well-known, and liked, along his route, and he takes care to know his customers. Though the pandemic has temporarily put him on the bench, you can bet he’s chomping at the bit to get back, and his daughter Patti says customers routinely ask after him. Happy birthday, Brother Ralph, from the staff and readers of Gambit, and here’s to 90 more! — JOHN STANTON

In Louisiana, we love our football games and tailgate parties. Let’s work together so we all can get back to enjoying the traditions that make us special. Wear a mask or face covering now to protect yourself, your neighbors and the way of life we love in Louisiana.

01MK7374 R08/20

Learn more about ways to protect yourself at bcbsla.com/covid19

later!

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PAGE 6

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CLANCY DUBOS

No ruling yet on Williams’ move to dismiss indictment NEW ORLEANS CITY COUNCILMAN JASON WILLIAMS put his

personal and political fate in the hands of a federal judge on Oct. 2, after his attorney and federal prosecutors sparred over whether U.S. District Judge Martin L.C. Feldman should toss an 11-count federal tax fraud case against the councilman. Since June, Williams has campaigned for district attorney under P H OTO B Y S O P H I A G ER M ER / the cloud of that fedT H E T I M E S - P I C AY U N E / T H E N E W O R L E A N S A DVO C AT E eral indictment. Feldman gave no Councilman and candidate for district indication of when attorney Jason Williams he would rule on Williams’ motion to dismiss the months of sparring with the DA over indictment, but he did say he is “very his tough-on-crime policies. In early concerned” about Williams’ claims of June, news broke that the feds had selective prosecution and prosecutoopened a criminal tax investigation rial vindictiveness. The government into Williams, who had established argued that the investigation is himself as a leading challenger longstanding, ongoing and part of a to Cannizzaro. larger probe. On June 26, four weeks before In recent weeks, Williams confithe three-day qualifying period, the dently predicted that Feldman would feds indicted Williams on 11 counts dismiss the charges against him of tax fraud, conspiracy and failure immediately after oral arguments. to file reports of cash income. The Instead, the judge took the matter indictment alleges Williams claimed under advisement, saying, “It’s going more than $700,000 in phony to be a little while because there’s a deductions to reduce his tax liabillot to chew on in this case.” ity by more than $200,000 from When Feldman rules, the losing 2013 to 2017. side will likely appeal — leaving the Then, less than two hours before case against Williams officially unrethe close of qualifying on July 22, solved through the Nov. 3 election Cannizzaro announced he would not and Dec. 5 runoff. Williams’ trial, seek a third term. That took some originally set for Sept. 14, has been of the wind out of Williams’ political pushed back to Jan. 11 because of sails and, in the wake of the indictthe COVID-19 pandemic. ment, focused attention on Williams. When it comes, Feldman’s ruling In addition to Williams, three could loom large in a DA’s race former Criminal Court Judges are that already has seen several running to succeed Cannizzaro — unexpected twists. Tossing the Arthur Hunter, Keva Landrum and indictment would lift the cloud of Morris Reed. tax fraud — and possible jail time Williams initially claimed that — from Williams’ candidacy. A the feds’ investigation was a sham ruling against him could leave him foisted by Cannizzaro and political even more wounded by recasting consultant Bill Schultz, a longtime doubt on his ability to function as advisor and confidant of the DA. In DA while facing felony tax charges. recent weeks, Williams shifted his Feldman could also grant an alterdefense strategy —alleging “selecnative request by Williams to allow tive prosecution” by the feds. defense attorneys to grill investigaNo matter what he decides, tors at an evidentiary hearing. Feldman’s ruling will add another Williams initially declared his intentwist to a campaign that already tion to run against incumbent DA has given voters and candidates a Leon Cannizzaro two years ago after wild ride.

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@clancygambit

w windowpane collections by

pandemic hours mon - sat 10 - 5:30 7732 m a p l e 865 . 9625

From biscuits to bourbon.

Or vice versa.

Refresh yourself in Natchez. Dinner, cocktails, and a stroll in our go-cup district. A walk in any direction and discover your new happy place . Rest assured, we’re keeping that space clean. Get the latest safe travel information at VisitNatchez.org/Responsibly.

CHECK OUT OUR CALENDAR OF EVENTS

visitnatchez.org #VisITMSResponsibly

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COMMENTARY

Nov. 3 Endorsements: Ballot Propositions THE NOV. 3 BALLOT ACROSS LOUISIANA WILL BE ONE OF THE

longest in decades. In addition to elections for president, U.S. Senate and Congress, voters will decide the fate of seven proposed amendments to the Louisiana Constitution, a local option referendum on sports betting, a host of local races and ballot propositions — plus elections for district attorney, district and appellate judgeships and two state Supreme Court justices. As in the past, Gambit will make recommendations in some (but not all) contests. Our editorial mission is laser-focused on local issues that matter to New Orleans and surrounding parishes — particularly crime and policing, the local economy and education. That’s why our candidate endorsements will focus on races for Orleans Parish School Board, Public Service Commission and Orleans Parish district attorney. We do not endorse in judicial elections because we believe judges should be appointed, not elected. The sickening tenor of some local judicial contests only reinforces that decision for us. We begin our endorsement rollout with statewide and local referenda, which appear on the ballot as “yes” or “no” propositions. First, however, we want our readers to know our endorsement process. Our endorsement committee consists of publisher Jeanne Foster, editor John Stanton, former longtime publisher Margo DuBos, and political editor Clancy DuBos. The committee researched ballot propositions and candidates, and conducted virtual interviews. We offer our endorsements as recommendations to our readers — with the respectful suggestion that voters do their own research as well. Most of all, we remind our readers that your vote is your voice. Don’t be silent. AMENDMENT 1 “No Right to Abortion” NO Louisiana ranks among America’s most ardently prolife states, and we already have a law on the books that will immediately outlaw all abortions if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns its 1973 Roe v. Wade decision. Amendment 1, which would state that nothing in the Louisiana Constitution protects a woman’s right to an abortion, is therefore redundant and unnecessary, in addition to being bad policy. Our constitution has been amended almost 200 times since it was adopted in 1974 and is now one of America’s longest and most unwieldy state constitutions. We don’t need to add to the clutter by repeating what’s already the law in Louisiana. AMENDMENT 2 “Oil and Gas Well Assessment” YES This amendment would allow parish assessors to take a well’s oil and gas production into account when assessing its fair market value. By failing to allow that, Louisiana currently is an outlier among oil and gas producing states. It’s past time to change that. AMENDMENT 3 “Rainy Day Fund and Disasters” YES Louisiana’s “Rainy Day Fund” softens the adverse impact of economic downturns on the

state’s annual budget. This amendment would include federally declared disasters in the list of things that allow lawmakers, by a two-thirds vote, to tap the fund. Disasters often cause the state to face fiscal ruin, but in the wake of largescale disasters the state needs extra money right away — particularly when the feds are slow to respond. This amendment would address that problem. AMENDMENT 4 “State Spending Limit” NO This amendment would create a new state budget spending limit, which sounds good on its face but, like other proposed amendments, actually would create more problems than it solves. Louisiana already has a very effective spending cap in the state Constitution. This proposal would take millions out of the state’s general fund, triggering severe cuts to public health care, hospitals and education at all levels. Voters should reject this amendment. AMENDMENT 5 “Payments Instead of Property Taxes” NO This is arguably the worst proposed amendment of all. It would allow manufacturers and local governments to schedule payments in lieu of property taxes for industrial expansions. No doubt it will get a big push from big business interests, who will tout it

P H OTO B Y B I ZO O _ N /G E T T Y I M AG E S

A number of amendments to the Louisiana Constitution are on the Nov. 3 ballot.

as a “jobs” proposal, but don’t be fooled. Louisiana already has exceedingly generous property tax breaks for industries; we don’t need another — particularly one that would shift a significant portion of the local property tax burden to small businesses and individual property owners. AMENDMENT 6 “Expanded Property Tax Freezes” NO This proposal would allow homeowners with higher incomes to qualify for an existing property tax assessment freeze program designed to benefit seniors on fixed incomes. If adopted, it would further shrink the local property tax base. That means individuals and businesses that don’t benefit from the proposed break would bear an even greater share of the local property tax burden. The existing program works well. It doesn’t need this tweak. AMENDMENT 7 “New Fund for Unclaimed Property” NO Like other proposals, this one sounds good but isn’t so good on closer inspection. It would create a new state trust fund to “protect” unclaimed property. Truth is unclaimed property is not threatened, and the existing program has worked well for some 50 years. This amendment is a solution in

search of a problem. Worse, it would take money out of the state general fund that otherwise would go toward education, hospitals and health care. Voters should reject it. Local Option for Sports Wagering YES This statewide referendum is actually a local option proposition that would permit sports wagering in parishes where a majority of voters say “yes.” Many people already bet on sports; this vote would legalize it and allow the state and local governments to regulate and tax it. If approved, wagering would not happen immediately. State laws and regulations would have to be adopted, including methods of taxation. The Louisiana Gaming Control Board and the State Police, which already regulate gambling in the state, would oversee sports wagering. Mississippi and other states are capturing the market on sports betting; Louisiana needs to get in the game.

JEFFERSON PARISH Property Tax Millage Renewal for OIG YES Voters in Jefferson Parish are asked to renew a small property tax millage that supports the parish’s Office of Inspector General (OIG). This office effectively serves as the parish auditor, and Inspector General David McClintock has done an

excellent job of looking out for taxpayers’ interests in that regard. Since its inception in 2013, the parish OIG has issued dozens of reports with more than 160 recommendations. Equally important, the office has questioned more than $42 million in parish expenditures. The tiny millage rate — 0.5 mill — would cost someone whose home is valued at $200,000 barely $6 a year. That’s a pittance for a vital public service.

NEW ORLEANS Neighborhood Security Districts YES Neighborhood security districts are created by the Louisiana Legislature and authorized — after voter approval — to provide supplemental security patrols in neighborhoods that choose to tax themselves for the costs of the patrols. Annual funding, which is typically assessed “by parcel,” must be periodically reauthorized. Voters in five New Orleans neighborhoods this year are asked to renew existing annual fees for security patrols. Those neighborhoods (and the annual fees) are Lake Willow ($300), North Kenilworth ($300), Lakeshore ($420), Broadmoor ($100) and Lake Vista ($200). We recommend voters in those neighborhoods vote “yes” to continue funding their respective security districts.

BLAKE PONTCHARTRAIN™

Hey Blake, While visiting the Beau Rivage casino in Biloxi, we came upon a Saenger Theatre nearby. What’s the connection to our theater of the same name?

Dear reader,

Biloxi’s Saenger Theatre is one of four across the South bearing that name. All were owned and operated by the Saenger Amusement Company, founded in 1912 by brothers Julian and Abraham Saenger. Their Shreveport-based business grew into one of the largest movie theater chains in the country, at one point operating more than 300 theaters. The Biloxi theater opened in January 1929, four years after the Saenger opened in Pensacola and two years after the Saenger theaters in Mobile and here in New Orleans at Canal and Rampart streets. The Biloxi theater — which, like ours, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places — was designed by architect Roy Benjamin and cost $200,000 to build. It opened with 1,500 seats, compared to the 4,000 seats the New Orleans Saenger accommodated. In 1975, ABC Interstate Theatres, the successor to the Saenger Amusement Company, sold the theater to the City of Biloxi for $10. It was restored and hosted live theater

W E A D O R E YO U , TO O. THANKS FOR VOTING US

BEST HAIR SALON P H OTO P R OV I D E D B Y T H E LO U I S I A N A O F F I CE O F C U LT U R A L D E V E LO P M E N T, D I V I S I O N O F H I S TO R I C P RE S ER VAT I O N

New Orleans’ Saenger Theatre is one of four theaters with that name in the South, including in Biloxi, Mississippi.

productions, recitals and concerts. In 2018, the city closed the theater because of its deteriorating condition. Biloxi is now seeking a private developer to repurpose and manage the theater. Construction crews are currently renovating it as part of a $4 million project paid for by the city and the state of Mississippi. The city hopes to reopen the building by the end of the year.

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BLAKEVIEW WE’RE NOT EXAGGERATING WHEN WE SAY THAT THERE WOULD BE NO JAZZ

Fest without George Wein. This month the legendary pianist, producer and promoter — known locally as the founder of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival — turns 95 years old. Born in Boston on Oct. 3, 1925, Wein became a professional musician while still a teenager. In 1954, he created the country’s first outdoor jazz festival, the Newport Jazz Festival in Rhode Island. He later created the Newport Folk Festival and music festivals in Los Angeles, New York, Boston and elsewhere. Wein was first contacted by New Orleanians about producing a jazz festival here in 1962, but told them segregation laws made such an event unfeasible. After the Civil Rights Act of 1964, a festival launched with a different producer at the helm. In 1969, Wein was contacted about taking over the event and accepted. Wein’s early local advisors included Tulane University jazz archivist Dick Allen, who introduced Wein to Quint Davis, a student worker at Tulane’s Hogan Jazz Archive. Davis and his then-girlfriend, Allison Miner, would become key members of Wein’s team. Davis remains the event’s producer-director. In his 2003 memoir, “Myself Among Others: A Life in Music,” Wein described the first festival, held in Congo Square in 1970. He wrote that, with nearly 75 acts and two dozen local food vendors, “We had a little bit of everything. Everything, that is, except people.” His wife Joyce went across the street to an orphanage to recruit children to beef up the crowd of 300. Since moving to the Fair Grounds in 1972, the festival, now co-produced with AEG Live, has grown into an international event with a $300 million economic impact. It is owned by the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation, a nonprofit entity formed in the 1970s. In 1995, Wein, Davis and their company, Festival Productions Inc., in partnership with Essence magazine co-founder Ed Lewis, also created the Essence Music Festival, which they produced until 2008.

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COVER STORY

Baby, PLEASE

DON’T GO New Orleans music halls and bars are hanging by a thread. Don’t let the music end BY JAKE CLAPP

B EFORE THE PANDEMIC

turned off the PA systems at New Orleans bars and live music venues, Rollin “Bullet” Garcia Sr. was rotating five different bands on Sundays, filling Thursdays with Shamarr Allen and other jazz musicians, and booking The Original Pinettes Brass Band on Friday nights at his bar. After more than 20 years, it’s become a key venue for New Orleans music in the neighborhood and the city at large, giving up-and-coming acts a shot to strut their stuff and established musicians a chance to let loose, far from the bustle of the Quarter and Frenchmen Street. “I’ll give a young group a chance that nobody else probably would,” Garcia says. “I’ve had a lot of New Orleans greats play at my place. I’ve had people that come in [to play clubs in] the French Quarter and knew Kermit [Ruffins] and things like that and drop in and sit in.” Like venues across the city, however, Bullet’s stage has been quiet

since March. At first, “I wasn’t worried,” Garcia says. But after more than six months, that’s starting to change. Although Mayor LaToya Cantrell this week announced the city would begin a phased reopening of bars — the second time New Orleans has tried to reopen bars — he has little faith. The announcement is “a crock of bull,” Garcia says bluntly. He argues the plan to allow bars to initially sell go-cups will only help high-volume tourist bars in the Quarter, and even when bars can begin serving customers indoors again, occupancy rules will likely make it economically unworkable. Though it’s technically possible to put on socially distanced shows, the money just doesn’t add up. “You would have to charge maybe $20 a head, because after you get the people in there at social distance, you can’t make money with it,” he says. Garcia isn’t alone. Bar and music

LEFT: Inside Seventh Ward staple Bullet’s Sports bar, currently closed. P R OV I D E D P H OTO B Y ROLLIN GARCIA JR.

TOP RIGHT: Rollin “Bullet” Garcia Sr. owns Bullet’s Sports bar P H OTO B Y M A X B E C H E R E R / T H E T I M E S - P I C AY U N E | T H E N E W O R L E A N S A DVO C AT E

The fact is we “have bills, just like restaurants — just like City Hall has bills. — SPORTSMAN’S CORNER OWNER STEVEN ELLOIE

”

venue owners across the city have become increasingly concerned they are being left behind by government officials at all levels, particularly Black-owned neighborhood venues like Bullet’s, which have been the backbone of New Orleans’ music culture for decades. The situation is nearing a tipping point, owners and community activists say, warning the city’s music landscape could be fundamentally changed if steps aren’t taken to keep these venues alive now. New Orleans’ “cumulative magic is under siege,” says The Ella Project co-founder Ashlye Keaton. “And we are endangered. That’s going to impact the quality of life for the whole community and impact the ability to draw in tourism dollars.”

Few industries have been hit harder

by the economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic than live music, particularly at small independent venues. Overnight, thousands

COVER STORY

“ October,

November, I think those are going to be big months where you start to see a lot of people

”

dropping off. — TIPITINA’S CO-OWNER ROBERT MERCURIO

TOP LEFT: Sportsman’s Corner P H OTO B Y DAV I D G R U N F E L D / T H E T I M E S - P I C AY U N E | T H E N E W O R L E A N S A DVO C AT E

BOTTOM LEFT: Frenchmen Street

club d.b.a.

P R OV I D E D P H OTO

RIGHT: Sportsman’s Corner owner Steven Elloie P R OV I D E D P H OTO

industry over other sectors. That can mean everything from emergency grant programs to simply having a seat at the planning table simply aren’t available to Black business owners. Black-owned businesses in the past also haven’t had the same access to resources such as loans, financial information, business counseling or tools, says Cecile Dalton, the owner of Seal’s Class Act in the 7th Ward. Even when the country isn’t being ravaged by a pandemic, “the resources are not there for us,” Dalton says. The lack of structural support for Black-owned businesses has long meant that even in an industry which operates on the margins, like the live entertainment sector, they are more vulnerable than others. And the coronavirus has only made that worse.

Before it closed on March 15, Seal’s Class Act hosted live entertainment every Friday and Sunday, including featuring singer Lisa Amos and the Treme Brass Band. Most nights with music it was jam-packed, with people calling ahead to reserve tables, Dalton says. At the beginning of March, Dalton took sick and was in the hospital for eight days. And then COVID forced her to close her bar, leaving her and her business without income. “So it’s been a roller coaster for me,” she says, “but through the strength of God, it’s been one day at a time.”

Dalton has applied for an SBA loan, but the Small Business Administration couldn’t verify her business, she says. Through her accountant, she submitted a reconsideration letter and is now waiting to hear back. “What more is not verifiable” about her business, she asks. “I don’t know. It is frustrating.” It’s a familiar situation for Steven Elloie, who inherited Sportsman’s Corner in Central City from his mother Theresa in late March. Elloie’s mother was something of a legend in Central City, not only for her popular bar but also the beautiful, detailed corsages she would make for social aid and pleasure clubs, birthday parties, weddings and Saints games. Before the pandemic, the Elloies were in the process of transferring Sportsman’s Corner from her ownership to his. But within weeks of the pandemic hitting New Orleans his mother became one of its first victims. With offices closed or shortstaffed because of the pandemic, or from complications arising from Theresa’s death, it’s been difficult to get the transfer completed. That, in turn, has made the process of applying for grants, like through the Louisiana Main Street Recovery Program, while the bar has been closed more difficult. “It is a complicated situation,” Elloie says. “At the end of the day, being in business, besides being a Blackowned business, I just think we all

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of clubs and bars that host music across the country went dark in March as the virus spread, putting employees, owners and performers out of work. And given that the virus spreads easily in confined spaces, it’s unlikely any sort of “normal” will return for music venues for at least another year. Already operating on tight margins, it’s likely many venues will never reopen. “How these venues are able to exist are by basically having as many people in the room as the fire marshal will allow,” says Audrey Fix Shaefer, a spokesperson for the National Independent Venue Association and for several music venues, including Washington, D.C.’s 9:30 Club. NIVA launched in April in order to lobby for independent venues, including more than 25 in the New Orleans area, such as Tipitina’s, d.b.a., and The Spotted Cat. “Often ticket sales, generally, almost all of that goes to the artists,” Shaefer says, “Where we’re able to make our mortgage is by having people come through the door, feeding them, serving them drinks and having them buy merchandise.” “I personally don’t understand how we can plan ahead for anything,” says Kallie Tiffau, who books shows at Banks Street Bar in MidCity. “Everything seems uncertain. Also doing things that incentivize people to gather personally feels bad for me.” So far, most venues have been able to hold on, though a small number have closed. Techno Club in June announced it was permanently closing its physical venue, followed by Gasa Gasa announcing it was closing its doors in July. Bywater mainstay Bud Rip’s, which occasionally held live entertainment and DJ nights, has also closed. And, without help it’s easy to see that number could quickly grow. The damage to Black-owned bars could be particularly severe. Just as the coronavirus has had a disproportionate impact on the Black community’s physical health due to systemic issues like access to healthcare and pollution, its economic effects have been exacerbated by longstanding structural disparities. Historically, Black-owned New Orleans bars, which cater to a local clientele often made up of residents who live near the venues, haven’t received the same amount of attention as some white-owned, tourist-frequented clubs. For example, Garcia points to how cameras during breaks in Saints games will air certain, well-known bars over others. That’s meant less attention from government leaders who often prioritize the tourist

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COVER STORY need to be able to operate at 25% capacity, just like restaurants, or we should be able to operate at curbside. The fact is we have bills, just like restaurants — just like City Hall has bills.”

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While other industries have been given tax breaks and direct finan-

cial relief from Congress and state governments, the live music industry has gone largely ignored by lawmakers. Among the legislation before Congress currently backed by NIVA are the Save Our Stages Act, a bipartisan bill — without Sen. John Neely Kennedy’s support — which would establish a $10 billion grant program for live venue owners, and the RESTART Act, which gives the Paycheck Protection Program more flexibility. The outlook on those pieces of legislation are grim, with the Senate more concerned about confirming a new Supreme Court Justice than addressing a new federal relief plan. City officials, so far, have done little in the way of helping venues — and in some ways understandably so. Cantrell and city health officials were faced with one of the country’s largest initial outbreaks of the virus this spring. In response they’ve taken a conservative approach, including maintaining stricter rules even when the rest of the state has moved forward in reopening. The city has also been particularly focused on the reopening of schools. That has come with its own set of challenges and has been a much slower process than many had hoped. But it seems to have paid off: infection rates have not forced in-person schooling to be called off as some had feared, and so far students have not become the source of significant community outbreaks.

Howie Kaplan, right, at his music venue Howlin’ Wolf PH OTO BY CH RIS G R AN G E R / T H E T I M E S - P I C AY U N E | T H E N E W O R L E A N S A DVO C AT E

Still, Cantrell’s resistance to letting bars and music venues open has been notable and appears to be driven at least in part by how some bar owners have reacted to the rules. For instance, when she first moved to cancel St Patrick’s Day celebrations in March, a handful of establishments hosted huge street parties, most notably Tracey’s Original Irish Channel Bar. Hundreds of revelers openly flaunted her efforts to limit large gatherings, and video of the party went viral. Within days, Cantrell shut down all bars in the city, shortly followed by a city-wide lockdown. Similarly, when the city briefly allowed bars to reopen, masking and social distancing enforcement by bars was, at best, lax. Bourbon Street quickly became an unmitigated disaster, and infection rates began to spike, bringing the shortlived experiment to an end — and was later followed by an unprecedented ban on the sale of go-cups city-wide. Still, given the central role music and bars play not only in the lives of New Orleanians but also its image as a “destination city” for tourists, the lack of assistance has frustrated owners: a fact Cantrell tacitly acknowledged Wednesday when she announced the city would start showing bars “a little love” under the Phase 3 rules. But even when fully implemented, Phase 3 still won’t make it possible for venues to host significant numbers of patrons. And for neighborhood bars, those limits will likely make it hard to operate successfully.

Community activists and venue operators point to a number of other

communities where officials have begun taking steps to help the live music industry as potential models.

COVER STORY

LEFT: Do like Tipitina’s says and wear a mask. | RIGHT: Seal’s Class Act owner Cecile Dalton P H OTO S B Y DAV I D G R U N F E L D / T H E T I M E S - P I C AY U N E | T H E N E W O R L E A N S A DVO C AT E

may not be feasible, but guidelines restricting music venues and bars have left many scratching their heads. And other rules — for example, a zoning ordinance prohibiting live music in courtyards or prohibitive permits for outdoor concerts — remove options that could help struggling musicians. “The city understands, we lacked the infrastructure before the pandemic to properly address the tensions arising in connection with the city’s promotion versus regulation around the often distinct creative industries and cultural ecosystem,” Keaton says. “There was already an obvious need to fill those gaps in infrastructure. And then the pandemic hits, and, instead of galvanizing around addressing those existing challenges, that momentum just dissipated. New Orleans, going into REVS, was supposed to be the beacon because we have more musicians per capita, more clubs per capita, and instead, we’re last insofar as making any real progress with supporting the people and businesses that need resources to continue.” The loss of New Orleans music venues, musicians hurting, restaurants and bars closing to never come back, neighborhood businesses shuttering and sending a ripple through their communities — it all unravels the fabric of the city.

Some venues, particularly larger clubs, have tried to find work

arounds in the absence of government assistance. At The Howlin’ Wolf, owners have brought back some of their employees on the payroll through its kitchen and for Meals for Musicians, a program they launched with the New Orleans Musicians’ Clinic. The program serves lunches for free to musicians, culture bearers and service

industry folk on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. In August, Tipitina’s launched Tipitina’s TV, a six-week, ticketed online concert series featuring pre-recorded concerts from the club’s stage. The series “did pretty much about as well as we had hoped, maybe even a little better,” says co-owner Robert Mercurio. And while the club plans to produce a second season, Mercurio says it’s won’t be enough to keep the club afloat. Similarly, d.b.a. owner Tom Thayer — who was in the early stages of selling the Frenchmen Street club when the pandemic hit — is hosting shows through the online platform StageIt. The platform, which has been around for a few years but has recently started to grow, allows venues and musicians to charge a cover for each show and the concerts aren’t archived — if you miss it, you miss it. StageIt takes its cut from the ticket price, but the platform is one of the few options for artists, many growing frustrated with Facebook and Instagram, to charge tickets for their online shows. Walter “Wolfman” Washington, who has held down a steady Wednesday night gig at d.b.a. for years, kicked off d.b.a.LIVE from inside the Frenchmen Street venue, recently outfitted with new cameras and wiring for the online platform. Little Freddie King followed on Thursday and Trixie Minx will host a weekly burlesque showcase. “This to me, having no idea where my industry as a whole is going, I see it going this way at least for the next couple of years,” Thayer says.

But for smaller venues like Bullet’s or Seal’s Class Act, those simply aren’t options. Tipitina’s and d.b.a.

are well-known venues outside of New Orleans, and the acts they host often have international followings — indeed, a number of the performances at d.b.a. are being timed to be accessible for viewers in Europe or other parts of the world. But bands that play smaller venues don’t have the ability to command the kind of online ticket prices — or demand — that would make it work. “October, November, I think those are going to be big months where you start to see a lot of people dropping off,” Tipitina’s Mercurio predicts. “It’s grim,” he says. “It’s not a great situation. The expenses are real. Banks are real … The struggle is real and I think we’re all feeling it.” For Black bar owners like Garcia, that grim reality is an everyday challenge. Though he thinks little of Cantrell’s Phase 3 plans, he says he’ll try to find opportunities to try and make it work, such as hosting a voter drive outside the bar where he’ll sell go-cups and host the Pinettes. But it’ll be a while, he says, before music is back inside his 7th Ward bar. With all bars and clubs closed, it’s an even playing field — Bourbon Street bars are now understanding what it’s like to be closed, a rarity, he says — but there’s a risk of local music being changed. “If we lose the little joints over there that made New Orleans music what it is, it’s rough,” he says sadly. “Back in the days, it was The Dew Drop Inn and all. I was just picking up on things that were done way back. We were representing the city real well.”

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For instance in August, Seattle and King County, Washington, distributed $750,000 in grant funding to closed music halls. In Austin, Texas, musicians and venue operators are pressing its City Council to create a $10 million venue preservation fund. There are also initiatives to help venues in place in Louisville, Kentucky; Charlotte, North Carolina; Portland, Oregon; and Cleveland, Ohio. New Orleans has been behind the curve “when it comes to the level of investment, the level of understanding of the importance of not just the cultural economy, but the whole ecosystem,” says Ashlye Keaton. “The health of our cultural community impacts tourism and dollars in the economy, but also, here in New Orleans, this is part of the fabric of who we are.” Keaton is the co-founder of Reopen Every Venue Safely, a national campaign that started in April to develop guidelines to help venues safely reopen whenever restrictions lift. The initiative launched in 11 American cities, including New Orleans, as well as in Canada and the United Kingdom. Organizers, venue operators, musicians and other stakeholders meet with city officials and public health advisors to plan best practices for safe reopening as well as creating a communication strategy to help get the word out. Austin’s guidelines have already been published, and REVS conversations in other cities, like Seattle and Louisville, have sparked collaboration between musicians and venues. That kind of coordination has been difficult in New Orleans, Keaton says, due to a lack of city leadership and little pre-existing support infrastructure for the arts community. Although, Keaton adds, a musicians working group has continued to meet, transitioning from talking about reopening and more about reimagining the future of the music industry in New Orleans. “The venues here are so deflated,” Keaton says. While clubs were organized around reopening for a while, once it became evident that it may not be possible for a while many pivoted to focusing on sustainability. “They haven’t received any [federal] funding, the state hasn’t distributed anything, a second round [of federal funding] has not come out, the issue is more around sustainability than reopening,” Keaton says. One of the biggest frustrations, according to many of the music venues Gambit spoke with, is a lack of clear guidance from the city. New Orleans does not have a lot of money and direct financial aid

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Alma mater Chef Melissa Araujo opens Alma in Bywater BY B E T H D ’A D D O N O “ESPIRITU” AND “FUTURO.”

Those two words sum up how chef Melissa Araujo feels about opening Alma, her first brick and mortar restaurant, in New Orleans’ Bywater neighborhood. “I feel that this is my life right now,” Araujo says. “My business is my spirit and my soul and it’s also my future.” Araujo is a Honduran American whose deep sense of heritage informs her every motion. She opens Alma five years after launching the concept as a food pop-up that paid homage to her grandmother’s kitchen. Alma means soul in Spanish. The opening process was smoother than she expected, Araujo says. “The restaurant seemed to be putting itself together,” she says. “We did a deep clean from the front of the house to the back, pressure washed and disinfected everything twice. Did some painting, and I hung up pictures of my family — I think it’s very homey.” There’s also a large-scale version of her logo painted in black on a white tiled wall, a depiction of the Mayan moon goddess Ix Chel, a deity of female power and fertility. The restaurant occupies a space formerly home to Paloma Cafe, Cafe Henri and Booty’s Street Food. The restaurant could handle 55 guests at full capacity, but it’s now set up for half of that with tables six feet apart, and there are five tables outside. Like Paloma Cafe, it functions as a coffee bar and also a restaurant. It’s open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, and Araujo wants to be an early stop for neighbors in search of java and pastry. “I’m working with a single-origin coffee farm in Honduras, Finca Terrerito, an organic, fair-trade farm that grows and roasts really delicious coffee,” she says. “Our pastry chef will be making Honduran and traditional pastry every day. Honduran pastry is a strong tradition.”

The changing selection of traditional treats might include baleada, which is a tortilla filled with beans and other ingredients; fried dough dusted with sugar, a Honduran version of beignets, bunuelo macheteadas; a deep-fried pancake topped with syrup; and rosquillas, a crispy, corn-based version of biscotti. Traditional fruit-based aqua frescas and smoothies also will be on the menu. Breakfast service begins at 7 a.m. with dishes of eggs, refried beans, plantains, avocado, house-made crema and queso fresco. A hospitality worker breakfast sandwich special available Monday through Friday — with proof of industry employment (or unemployment) — is a stack of bacon or sausage, eggs and white cheddar on a house-made biscuit along with a cup of coffee for $6.95. Her lunch menu, served until 3 p.m., includes a mix of small plates, like house-made chicharrones (cracklings), pastelitos (meat pies), mushroom toast and salsa verde ceviche with local shrimp. Entrees include traditional guisos, bowls of stew flavored with the likes of beef tongue, pork, brisket or grilled shrimp with rice and vegetables. Honduran burgers feature patties with meat ground inhouse and mixed with fresh herbs, onions and bell pepper. “We put our flavor on the inside,” Araujo says. As she turns her attention to traditional savory Honduran food, Araujo hopes to educate her customers on the country’s rich and varied tradition. “We are like New Orleans in many ways,” she says. “Our table reflects so many influences. A lot of people will be very surprised about what Honduran food actually is.” Besides Spanish influences, there are dishes from the Garifuna, descendants of an Afro-Indigenous population from the Caribbean island of St. Vincent who were exiled to the Honduran coast in the 18th century.

Alma

WHERE

800 Louisa St., (504) 982-8361; eatalmanola.com

WHEN

6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily

Email dining@gambitweekly.com

Mamma Misa

MISA, A RESTAURANT SERVING MEDITERRANEAN-INSPIRED COOKING, recently opened at 4734

Magazine St., the corner spot formerly home to Bordeaux. In 2016, Tal Sharon opened Tal’s Hummus, a casual spot serving Israeli street food, at 4800 Magazine St. He recently took over the neighboring space to open Misa, which is named for his grandmother from Libya. The restaurant started a soft opening two weeks ago, and its menu included ravioli with pumpkin and garlic butter sauce, a grilled boneless half chicken, a grilled whole fish stuffed with herbs and served with salsa verde and a tuna burger

P H OTO B Y C H ER Y L G ER B ER

Chef Melissa Araujo serves Honduran-inspired fare at Alma.

Filipino, Mexican and Colombian influences also are present. Starting with the coastal area of La Ceiba, where she was born, Araujo plans to focus on different areas of Honduras every three months, showcasing regional specialties. Alma offers breakfast and lunch currently, but Araujo hopes to expand into a tapas style dinner service. She’s waiting on a liquor license, so for now, it’s BYO with a small corkage fee. Online ordering is available on the app ChowNow and delivery is through DoorDash. Though born in Honduras, Araujo was raised in New Orleans. She’s worked in kitchens at Doris Metropolitan and Restaurant R’evolution before training in Italy. Five years ago, she started her pop-up and also her catering company, Saveur. Now that Alma is open, she is feeling at home. “While we were working on the space, I had people knocking on my door, calling to reserve tables,” she says. “I really want to be part of this neighborhood.”

? WHAT

FORK CENTER

HOW

Dine-in, takeout and delivery

CHECK IT OUT

Honduran-inspired fare

P H OTO B Y W I L L C OV I E L LO

with garlic-herb tzatziki. Smaller plates include white fish ceviche, a combination of calamari and fried onion rings with garlic and lime aioli and spicy tomato salad over tahini. There also is a cheeseburger with French fries and spaghetti with beef Bolognese. For dessert, there’s chocolate tart with fruit and sour cream and a fruit salad with tapioca and coconut. Bordeaux was known for chef Dominique Macquet’s rotisserie cooked meats. That rotisserie oven is not part of the plan at Misa. The restaurants has outdoor seating on a fenced in patio and covered deck, and there are two small indoor dining rooms. At some point, Sharon will open an upstairs room which will feature a Bedouinstyle arrangement of low tables and seating on cushions. Misa opens at noon Monday through Friday and starts with brunch from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. It closes at 11 p.m. daily. For information about Tal’s Hummus, visit facebook.com/ talshummus. — WILL COVIELLO PAGE 23

EAT+DRINK Peli deli

JOSHUA KAHN WAS WORKING TOWARD an April opening for his

Pelican Delicatessen when the coronavirus shutdowns intervened. He’s finally opening the counter-service deli Wednesday, Oct. 7, at 4739 Magazine St., in the space that formerly housed Shahrazad Cafe. Kahn may be a familiar face to some. He came to New Orleans to attend Loyola University and worked at the bars at Tipitina’s and the Maple Leaf in the 1990s, he says. A decade ago he owned a bar and grill in Atlanta, which held on for several years after the 2008 financial crisis but eventually closed. While there, he learned how to cure bacon and prepare deli-style meats such as corned beef. He’s bringing those skills to Pelican Delicatessen. The new place will infuse classic deli items with local flavors, such as a corned beef debris Reuben with Creole remoulade, crab-boiled potato salad with andouille and corn, and a bananas Foster cheesecake. For appetizers, there are knishes, potato latkes and more. The initial menu will have six sandwiches, and he’ll add daily specials such as an entree salad and offer some side dishes and items pre-packaged to go. The sandwich lineup also features seafood salad on an onion roll, a BLT, a French dip sandwich, grilled Havarti cheese with house-cured bacon and a chicken salad sandwich. Kahn says he’ll build it up slowly, expanding hours of operation and the menu as he goes. There will be outdoor seating on the sidewalk and he’s going to add more tables on a side deck. He is applying for a liquor license. Pelican Delicatessen will be open 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. — WILL COVIELLO

Baked in

GOOD BAKERIES MAKE GREAT PIZZA .

That’s an adage proving true at Mayhew Bakery these days. Pizza also has made a difference helping the young business survive the pandemic. Kelly Mayhew added pizza to the lineup of breads, pastry and pies to keep his shop open. It became popular and helped Mayhew expand his hours and rehire staff he let go earlier in the pandemic. The New York-style thin crusts are crisp but pliant. Mayhew uses a fresh tomato sauce and straightforward toppings. He also makes calzones, and thick-crusted, rectangular Sicilian pizza makes periodic appearances as specials. Mayhew made his name on king cakes, which he sold in pop-up fashion before opening his own space in fall 2019 at 3201 Orleans

Ave. in Faubourg St. John. He and pastry chef Jess Ragan-Williams prepare sourdough loaves, cookies, Danishes, bagels and biscuits. The menu includes French ham and brie on baguette and savory “swirls” from garlicky smeared baguette dough. Everything is takeout for now, but Mayhew will soon add outdoor tables in a parking lot turned patio. Mayhew is open 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday and 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Visit mayhewbakery.net for information. — IAN McNULTY/THE TIMES-PICAYUNE | THE NEW ORLEANS ADVOCATE

Sausage fest

OKTOBERFEST FESTIVITIES ARE CANCELLED in both Munich and at

New Orleans’ Deutsches Haus, but there are some places to get traditional foods and German beer. Deutsches Haus is not doing its annual festival, but the club has been open on a limited basis since the summer. In October, it’s open daily with an expanded menu. Middendorf’s Manchac restaurant and its newer Slidell spot are known for thin-sliced fried catfish. This time of year, though, chef and owner Horst Pfeifer takes the seafood house into Oktoberfest mode with special menus and decor. Oktoberfest specials are available every Wednesday and Thursday at the Manchac location and every Friday in Slidell from Oct. 7 through Nov. 13. (Visit middendorfsrestaurant.com for information.) It’s always Oktoberfest at Bratz Y’all , Sven Vorkauf’s Bywater beer garden. Schnitzels and sausages fill Bratz’s menu of sandwiches, platters and pretzels, and there’s a kids menu. There are German beers on tap and in bottles, as well as schnapps and German wines. There’s outdoor seating at heavy picnic tables under umbrellas. (Visit bratzyall.com for information.) Cochon Butcher, chef Donald Link’s Warehouse District restaurant and butcher counter, serves Oktoberfest specials throughout the month. Look for fried sauerkraut and bratwurst balls, potato pancakes with apple sauce, pork schnitzel with mustard cream, weisswurst, mushroom and goat cheese pastry and an array of pretzels. The bar has added German draft beers and German wines. (Visit cochonbutcher.com for information.) At Riccobono’s Peppermill, the Riccobono family’s longtime restaurant in Metairie rolls out an Oktoberfest menu of schnitzels, brats and corned beef and cabbage, with German beers and wine on the list. (Visit riccobonospeppermill.com for information.) — IAN McNULTY/ THE TIMES-PICAYUNE | THE NEW ORLEANS ADVOCATE

3-COURSE INTERVIEW

Falayn Ferrell Black Restaurant Week co-founder FALAYN FERRELL WORKS IN DIGITAL MARKETING, catering to small,

Black-owned businesses. In 2016, she and marketing partner Derek Robinson and wine salesman Warren Luckett founded Black Restaurant Week in their home of Houston. It’s spread across the county, and they’re holding a Black Restaurant Week in New Orleans Oct. 2-11. A directory of more than 25 participating participating restaurants, restaurant week specials and online events is on blackrestaurantweeks.com.

Why did you start Black Restaurant Week? FALAYN FERRELL: We created the first one in Houston in 2016 as a way to showcase the Black culinary industry. Houston has a really big restaurant week, but a lot of Black-owned restaurants don’t have the model to fit restaurant week. They’re more casual, counter-service restaurants. Houston Restaurant Weeks is more fine-dining and three-course dinners. So (many Black-owned restaurants) were getting left out of that story. We wanted to create a platform to show who they were. The premise of the project is that a lot of these businesses don’t have the extra capital to do a citywide marketing campaign on their own. This is a cooperative economic thing where we pull everybody together with corporate partners and community partners to showcase it throughout the city.

How does Black Restaurant Week work? F: It’s free for restaurants to sign up, but there’s also a premium level. We don’t put the bulk of the cost on the participants. We look for corporate partners and sponsors. (During the week,) many restaurants offer specials. Some offer combos, or two- or three-course dining, happy hours, brunch specials. We’ve seen a variety of things during the campaign. We do outreach through press and social media. We advertise and work with groups like Urban League Young Professionals and the Black Chamber. This year we

P R OV I D E D P H OTO

had Pepsi come in as a sponsor to help with messaging and support marketing and advertising. In New Orleans, we worked with chef (Gary) Netter, the culinary ambassador, and the (New Orleans Jazz Market) has hosted events. Chef Netter did a Health Talk in spring. We’re looking to do some professional development and panels and conversations at the end of October. One of the goals is that money being pumped into these restaurants stays in the community. Some of the money can help hire new staff or open a second location. It recycles within the community.

How has it grown? F: As we did it, we realized there wasn’t a platform for caterers, food trucks and bartenders. So we added events to showcase the full spectrum of the Black culinary industry and provide opportunities for economic growth for them. We started to expand to other cities like Philadelphia and Atlanta. We’ll be in 11 cities this year. We work with food community partners, food bloggers and network and invite restaurants to participate. What we’ve heard from corporate and community partners is that they want to hire (Black purveyors) but they don’t know where they are. We’re trying to be that resource, so if you’re looking to hire a Black caterer or you are looking for a food truck, here’s a list. It becomes a question of how to get these lists more organized and into directories and platforms and make it more available. We have a business directory on the website. We collected a lot more info this year when people signed up: Do you have private dining rooms? Do you do catering? What delivery platforms are you on? So even after the week is over, you can come to our website and there will be a lot of information. — WILL COVIELLO

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OUT EAT TO

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Contact Will Coviello wcoviello@gambitweekly.com 504-483-3106 | FAX: 504-483-3159 C O M P L E T E L I S T I N G S AT W W W. B E S T O F N E WO R L E A N S . C O M Out 2 Eat is an index of Gambit contract advertisers. Unless noted, addresses are in New Orleans and all accept credit cards. Updates: email willc@gambitweekly.com or call (504) 483-3106.

Notice: Due to COVID-19, dining at restaurants is impacted, with limited indoor seating and other recommended restrictions. All information is subject to change. Contact the restaurant to confirm service options.

BYWATER Luna Libre — 3600 St. Claude Ave., (504) 237-1284 — Roasted chicken enchiladas verde are filled with cheese, hand-rolled and served with special house-made cheese dip. The menu combines Tex-Mex and dishes from Louisiana and Arkansas. Curbside pickup is available. B Sat-Sun, D Wed-Sun. $

CBD 14 Parishes — Pythian Market, 234 Loyola Ave.; 14parishes.com — Jamaican-style jerk chicken is served with two sides such as plantains, jasmine rice, cabbage or rice and peas. Delivery available. Curbside pickup and delivery available. L and D daily. $$ Eat Well — Pythian Market, 234 Loyola Ave.; pythianmarket.com — Phoritto is a spinach tortilla filled with brisket, chicken or tofu, plus bean sprouts, jalapenos, onions and basil and is served with a cup of broth. Curbside pickup and delivery available. L and D daily. $ Kais — Pythian Market, 234 Loyola Ave., (941) 481-9599; pythianmarket.com — A Sunshine bowl includes salmon, corn, mango, green onions, edamame, pickled ginger, ponzu spicy mayonnaise, cilantro, masago and nori strips. Curbside pickup and delivery available. L and D daily. $$ La Cocinita — Pythian Market, 234 Loyola Ave., (504) 309-5344; lacochinitafoodtruck. com — La Llanera is an arepa stuffed with carne asada, guasacasa, pico de gallo, grilled queso fresco and salsa verde. Curbside pickup and delivery available. B, L and D daily. $ Meribo Pizza — Pythian Market, 234 Loyola Ave., (504) 481-9599; meribopizza.com — A Meridionale pie is topped with pulled pork, chilies, ricotta, mozzarella, collard greens and red sauce. Delivery available. L and D daily. $$ Willie Mae’s — Pythian Market, 234 Loyola Ave.; williemaesnola.com — The Creole soul food restaurant is known for its fried chicken, red beans and more. Takeout available. L and D Mon-Sat. $

CARROLLTON/UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOODS Mikimoto — 3301 S. Carrollton Ave., (504) 488-1881; mikimotosushi.com — The South Carrollton roll includes tuna tataki, avocado and snow crab. Takeout and delivery available. L Sun-Fri, D daily. $$ Pyramids Cafe — 3151 Calhoun St., (504) 861-9602 — Diners will find Mediterranean

B — breakfast L — lunch D — dinner late — late 24H — 24 hours

$ — average dinner entrée under $10 $$ — $11 to $20 $$$ — $21 or more

cuisine featuring such favorites as shawarma prepared on a rotisserie. Takeout and delivery available. L, D daily. $$

CITYWIDE Breaux Mart — Citywide; breauxmart.com — The deli counter’s changing specials include dishes such as baked catfish and red beans and rice. L, D daily. $

FAUBOURG MARIGNY Carnaval — 2227 St. Claude Ave., (504) 265-8855; carnavallounge.com — The music club’s Cozinha de Carnaval kitchen serves Brazilian street food. Frango is chicken cooked with thyme, rosemary and cumin and served with rosemary-garlic aioli. No reservations. Takeout available. D Sat-Mon. $ Kebab — 2315 St. Claude Ave., (504) 3834328; kebabnola.com — The sandwich shop offers doner kebabs and Belgian fries. A falafel sandwich comes with pickled cucumbers, arugula, spinach, red onions, beets, hummus and Spanish garlic sauce. No reservations. Takeout and delivery available Thu-Mon. $

FRENCH QUARTER Desire Oyster Bar — Royal Sonesta New Orleans, 300 Bourbon St., (504) 586-0300; sonesta.com/desireoysterbar — The menu features Gulf seafood in traditional and contemporary Creole dishes, po-boys and more. Char-grilled oysters are topped with Parmesan, herbs and butter and served with French bread. Reservations recommended. Takeout available. B, L and D daily. $$

HARAHAN/JEFFERSON/ RIVER RIDGE The Rivershack Tavern — 3449 River Road, (504) 834-4938; therivershacktavern.com — This bar and music spot offers a menu of burgers, sandwiches and changing lunch specials. Curbside pickup and delivery available. L, D daily. $ Theo’s Neighborhood Pizza — 1212 S. Clearview Parkway, Elmwood, (504) 7333803; theospizza.com — There is a wide variety of specialty pies and toppings to build your own pizza. The menu also includes salads and sandwiches. Curbside pickup and delivery available. L, D Tue-Sat. $

LAKEVIEW Lakeview Brew Coffee Cafe — 5606 Canal Blvd., (504) 483-7001; lakeviewbrew.com — This casual cafe offers gourmet coffees, pastries and desserts baked in house, sandwiches and salads. An omelet is filled with marinated mushrooms, bacon, spinach and goat cheese. Tuna salad or

chicken salad avocado melts are topped with melted Monterey Jack and shredded Parmesan cheeses. Takeout, curbside pickup and delivery are available. B, L daily. $ Lotus Bistro — 203 W. Harrison Ave., (504) 533-9879; lotusbistronola.com — A Mineko Iwasaki roll includes spicy snow crab, tuna, avocado and cucumber topped with salmon, chef’s sauce, masago, green onion and tempura crunchy flakes. The menu also includes bento box lunches, teriyaki dishes, fried rice and more. Takeout and delivery are available. L and D Tue-Sun. $$

METAIRIE Andrea’s Restaurant — 3100 N. 19th St., Metairie, (504) 834-8583; andreasrestaurant.com — Chef/owner Andrea Apuzzo’s specialties include speckled trout royale which is topped with lump crabmeat and lemon-cream sauce. Capelli D’Andrea combines house-made angel hair pasta and smoked salmon in light cream sauce. Curbside pickup and delivery are available. L, D daily, brunch Sun. $$$ Kosher Cajun New York Deli & Grocery — 3519 Severn Ave., Metairie, (504) 888-2010; koshercajun.com — This New York-style deli specializes in sandwiches, including corned beef and pastrami that come from the Bronx. Takeout available. L Sun-Thu, D Mon-Thu. $ Mark Twain’s Pizza Landing — 2035 Metairie Road, Metairie, (504) 832-8032; marktwainpizza.com — Mark Twain’s serves salads, po-boys and pies like the Italian pizza with salami, tomato, artichoke, sausage and basil. Takeout and curbside pickup are available. L Tue-Sat, D Tue-Sun. $ Theo’s Neighborhood Pizza — 2125 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, (504) 510-4282; theospizza.com — See Harahan/Jefferson section for restaurant description. $

MID-CITY/TREME Angelo Brocato’s — 214 N. Carrollton Ave., (504) 486-1465; angelobrocatoicecream. com — This sweet shop serves its own gelato, spumoni, Italian ice, cannolis, fig cookies and other treats. Window and curbside pickup. L, D Tue-Sun. $ Brown Butter Southern Kitchen & Bar — 231 N. Carrollton Ave., Suite C, (504) 609-3871; brownbutterrestaurant.com — Sample items have included smoked brisket served with smoked apple barbecue sauce, Alabama white barbecue sauce, smoked heirloom beans and vinegar slaw. A Brunch burger features a brisket and short rib patty topped with bacon, brie, a fried egg, onion jam and arugula on a brioche bun. Dine-in, takeout, curbside pickup and delivery are available. L and D Wed-Sat, brunch Sat-Sun. $$ Doson Noodle House — 135 N. Carrollton Ave., (504) 309-7283; facebook.com/ dosonnoodlehouse — Bun thit is Vietnamese-style grilled pork with cucumber, onions, lettuce, mint, cilantro and fish sauce served over rice or vermicelli. The menu includes rice and vermicelli dishes, pho, spring rolls and more. Takeout, curbside pickup and delivery are available. $$ Five Happiness — 3511 S. Carrollton Ave., (504) 482-3935; fivehappiness.com — The large menu at Five Happiness offers a range of dishes from wonton soup to sizzling seafood combinations served on a hot plate to sizzling Go-Ba to lo mein dishes. Takeout and delivery available. $$ Katie’s Restaurant — 3701 Iberville St., (504) 488-6582; katiesinmidcity.com — Favorites include the Cajun Cuban with roasted pork, grilled ham, cheese and pickles pressed on buttered bread. The Boudreaux pizza is topped with cochon de lait, spinach, red onions, roasted garlic, scallions and olive oil. Takeout, curbside pickup and delivery available. L and D Tue-Sun. $$ Nonna Mia — 3125 Esplanade Ave., (504) 948-1717; nonnamianola.com — A Divine

Portobello appetizer includes chicken breast, spinach in creamy red pepper sauce and crostini. The menu also includes salads, sandwiches, pasta, pizza and more. Curbside pickup and delivery are available. Service daily. $$ Theo’s Neighborhood Pizza — 4024 Canal St., (504) 302-1133; theospizza.com — See Harahan/Jefferson section for restaurant description. $ Willie Mae’s Scotch House — 2401 St. Ann St., (504) 822-9503; williemaesnola.com — This neighborhood restaurant is known for its wet-battered fried chicken. Green beans come with rice and gravy. There’s bread pudding for dessert. No reservations. L Mon-Fri. $$

NORTHSHORE Theo’s Neighborhood Pizza — 70488 Highway 21, Covington, (985) 234-9420; theospizza.com — See Harahan/Jefferson section for restaurant description. $

UPTOWN Joey K’s — 3001 Magazine St., (504) 891-0997; joeyksrestaurant.com — This casual eatery serves fried seafood platters, salads, sandwiches and Creole favorites such as red beans and rice. Sauteed trout Tchoupitoulas is topped with shrimp and crabmeat and served with vegetables and potatoes. Takeout and delivery available. $$ Theo’s Neighborhood Pizza — 4218 Magazine St., (504) 894-8554; theospizza. com — See Harahan/Jefferson section for restaurant description. $

WAREHOUSE DISTRICT Annunciation — 1016 Annunciation St., (504) 568-0245; annunciationrestaurant. com — The menu highlights Gulf seafood in a mix of Creole, Cajun and Southern dishes. Fried oysters and skewered bacon are served with meuniere sauce and toasted French bread. Reservations required. D Thu-Sun. $$$ Carmo — 527 Julia St., (504) 875-4132; cafecarmo.com — Carmo salad includes smoked ham, avocado, pineapple, almonds, cashews, raisins, cucumber, green pepper, rice, lettuce, cilantro and citrus mango vinaigrette. The menu includes dishes inspired by many tropical cuisines. Takeout and delivery are available. Mon-Sat. $$ NOLA Caye — 898 Baronne St., (504) 302-1302; nolacaye.com — The menu features Caribbean-inspired dishes and Gulf seafood. Seared ahi tuna is served with mango, avocado, mixed greens, citrus vinaigrette and sesame seeds. Reservations accepted. Takeout, delivery and outdoor seating available. L and D daily, brunch Sat-Sun. $$$ Provisions Grab-n-Go Marketplace — Higgins Hotel, 500 Andrew Higgins Blvd., (504) 528-1941; higgingshotelnola.com — The coffeeshop serves salads, sandwiches, pastries and more. Takeout available. Service daily. $

WEST BANK Mosca’s — 4137 Hwy. 90 W., Westwego, (504) 436-8950; moscasrestaurant.com — This family-style eatery serves shrimp Mosca, chicken a la grande and baked oysters Mosca, made with breadcrumbs and Italian seasonings. Curbside pickup available. D Wed-Sat. Cash only. $$$ Specialty Italian Bistro — 2330 Belle Chasse Hwy., Gretna, (504) 391-1090; specialtyitalianbistro.com — The menu combines Old World Italian favorites and pizza. Chicken piccata is a paneed chicken breast topped with lemon-caper piccata sauce served with angel hair pasta, salad and garlic cheese bread. Takeout and delivery available. Service daily. $$

GOING OUT

OPAL

FESTIVAL ACADIENS ET CREOLES LAFAYETTE HAS TWO MAJOR FRANCOPHONE MUSIC FESTIVALS . Festival

International usually overlaps with the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and early fall brings Festivals Acadiens et Creoles. Due to the pandemic, Festivals Acadiens presents its slate of Cajun and zydeco music in a virtual event Friday, Oct. 9, through Sunday, Oct. 11. Instead of the usual outdoor event based in Girard park, shows will come from music clubs and theaters in Lafayette, either pre-recorded or streamed live. The festival leads off with the Lost Bayou Ramblers at 6:10 p.m. During the pandemic, the band’s members have worked on solo projects, with fiddler and vocalist Louis Michot releasing several albums on his Nouveau Electric label. Guitarist Jonny Campos released an ambient instrumental album on the label as well. Here the band is back together for a show from the Blue Moon Saloon. Roddie Romero and the Hub City All-Stars plays a mix of Cajun, Creole and Louisiana roots music at 6:30 p.m. from the Acadiana Center for the Arts. The Pine Leaf Boys close the day at 7:55 p.m. Saturday’s schedule is highlighted by zydeco heavyweights Nathan Williams & the Zydeco Cha-Chas (5:50 p.m.) and singer and Cajun poet and cultural ambassador Zachary Richard (4:35 p.m.). Christine Balfa leads Bonsoir, Catin lineup of women vocalists, which closes the day at 7:40 p.m. The lineup also features two rising star accordionist bandleaders: Corey Ledet (6:35 p.m.) and Chris Ardoin with his band NuStep (7 p.m.). Feufollet Trio (6:15 p.m.) was started as a band of kids playing traditional music, and it still sings in French but ranges from Cajun to country, folk and indie rock sounds. Sunday brings Grammy winner Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band at 3:05 p.m. Zydeco outfit Geno Delafose & French Rockin’ Boogie performs at 5:20 p.m. and the day is closed by Wayne Toups & ZydeCajun. For a full music schedule and cultural programming, visit festivalsacadiens.com.

P H OTO P R OV I D E D B Y N I G H T S T RE A M

‘Anything for Jackson’ screens in the Nightstream horror festival.

NIGHTSTREAM The Overlook Film Festival is named for the lodge in “The Shining” and was initially held at the hotel used as a shooting location for some of the film. The festival relocated to New Orleans because of the city’s abundance of ghost and vampire stories. This year, Overlook joined forces with four other horror festivals to create Nightstream. An international slate of horror movies and events stream online Oct. 8-11, and movies will be available through Oct. 14. Each night will feature an online happy hour with guests such as Elijah Wood, actor and founder of SpectreVision. The opening night film is director Aneesh Chaganty’s “Run,” about an isolated wheelchair-bound teenager who’s link to the outside world is her mother. Closing night brings “Mandibles,” a comic project from French director Quentin Dupieux, creator of “Rubber” and “Deerskin.” Indonesian director Timo Tjahjanto presents his popular possession film, “May the Devil Take You Too.” There are more than 35 feature films, including psychological thrillers, gore fests, surreal and supernatural projects, films made with puppets, and more. Events include a celebration of the 20th anniversary of the bloody “American Psycho,” a discussion of horror comics, Peaches Christ discussing horror camp, a podcast about LGBTQ horror films, a horror trivia stream, and more. Visit nightstream.org for schedule and details.

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LOVE

in the Time of

COVID-19 Celebrate an engagement or wedding by telling your love story in Gambit

Stanton & Moore

Stanton & Moore Sam Stanton and Telly Moore were both students at Loyola Law School when they met. Mr. Stanton, who grew up in New Orleans is now a lawyer at Bates Walker. Telly who was from Washington D.C now works at Fishman Smith. Sam and Telly celebrated their nuptials at a small ceremony in Audubon Park on July 27.

Sarah Stanton and Telly Moore were both students at Loyola Law School, when they met in 2017 at Snake & Jakes dive bar. Ms. Stanton, who grew up in New Orleans is now practicing environmental law at Bates Walker. Telly who was from Washington D.C now works at Fishman Smith as an associate attorney. “I was very attracted to him,” said Sarah “and we had a magical first Jazz Fest together after we met, and had a mutual love for Stevie Wonder.” Telly proposed at Patois Restaurant before the pandemic in November 2019. A destination wedding in Costa Rica was originally planned. Following the travel ban, Sarah and Telly celebrated their nuptials with their immediate families at a small ceremony in Audubon Park on July 27, under the tree of life with a masked picnic reception to follow. The event was catered by Chez Nous. The couple will now reside in Mid-City with their

To place your wedding or engagement announcement visit bestofneworleans.com/wed

BILL MURRAY MAY HAVE HAD AN EASY TIME playing a jaded, aging

actor in “Lost in Translation,” which won writer and director Sofia Coppola an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. But Murray was funny and showed some singing chops, covering Roxy Music’s “More Than This” in a Tokyo karaoke bar with his much younger new friend, played by Scarlett Johansson. Unfortunately for anyone excited about Coppola and Murray getting the band back together for another movie flirting with infidelity, “On the Rocks” is less about the temptation to cheat, and more about wondering if one’s partner is straying. It’s not as fun or funny. In “On the Rocks,” Murray plays the grandfatherly Felix, who is trying to help his daughter Laura find out what’s going on with her husband. Murray has his moments, although not enough of them, and the story is more about Rashida Jones’ Laura. Felix is a very successful art dealer, leading to scenes in all sorts of expensive and exclusive locations in New York. It’s not clear if Laura lives in a huge Manhattan apartment because of him, because of her own writing career or the rapidly taking off new business started by her husband Dean, played by Marlon Wayans. Dean jets around the world on business trips while she stays home and shuttles their two beautiful daughters to school and ballet lessons. It looks like a dream life, except she’s wondering if there’s another reason her husband is spending so much time away from home. Coppola explored a more nuanced idea about extra-curricular relationships in “Translation,” and this is simply about whether marriages run out of passion. There could be more hijinks in trying to catch a spouse cheating at a high-end resort, but here it seems to be just about having lush locations for film shoots.

P H OTO C O U R T E S Y O F A P P L E

Rashida Jones and Bill Murray star in ‘On the Rocks.’

“On the Rocks” is a vaguely comic adventure, though Wayans barely gets the chance to be funny. Murray is amusing as an old goat who expounds philosophically on the many reasons men cheat. He’s best in a few scenes where he tries to impress women when he’s supposed to be focused on Dean’s whereabouts. For Laura, the embarrassment of bumbling spy missions adds some humor and some misery to the story. Jones is natural and convincing as a woman tortured by uncertainty. But the film struggles to make Laura’s relationship with Dean convincing. A few dinners out are meant to show how their companionship has become awkward, but instead they look like first dates between people who barely know one another. Laura and Felix’s attempts to catch Dean with another woman too often come off as gimmicky, and some scenes are saved by Murray’s charm. Laura is reluctant to jump to conclusions, and she starts to wonder about trusting her father’s instincts. The men in her life seem to have different ideas about relationships. Coppola manages to pull off a few surprises. While she found delicious nuance and an exotic backdrop in “Lost in Translation,” this feels more formulaic and predictable. In setting the film in exclusive spots for affluent New Yorkers, it also makes the film feel stuffy and claustrophobic. All of that could be used to comic effect, but Coppola really isn’t in it for the laughs. “On the Rocks” opens Oct. 9 at The Broad Theater.

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ANSWERS FOR LAST ISSUE’S PUZZLE: P 2

PUZZLES

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F O L L OW YO U R D R E A M , H O M E .

PREMIER CROSSWORD PUZZLE ACROSS 1 Perfect places 8 Places 15 Firing noise 20 Italian province or its capital 21 Mobile’s place 22 Goes the distance 23 “We were just talking about you!” 25 Roast’s host 26 Early 1900s cars 27 The Raptors, on sports tickers 28 Up to, for short 29 Actor Everett of “Stardust” 30 In accordance with

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Offices in Metairie and Hammond. Results may vary. Mike Brandner Injury Attorneys won the first place title of “Best Law Firm in New Orleans” for 2019 and 2020 in the Gambit’s annual Best of New Orleans reader’s poll.