Gambit: November 23, 2021 by Gambit New Orleans

November 23-29 2021 Volume 42 Number 46

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Holiday Spirit

NOVEMBER — 23 - 29, 2021 VOLUME 42 || NUMBER 46

CONTENTS

NEWS Opening Gambit................................7 Commentary......................................9 Clancy DuBos....................................11 Blake Pontchartrain......................13 ORDER YOUR ARRANGEMENT TODAY!

GIFT GUIDE

CURRENT HOURS: MON-FRI 7am-1pm /// SAT 7am-Noon

............................................................20

FEATURES Arts & Entertainment.....................5 Eat + Drink....................................... 23 Music Calendar............................... 27 Comedy.............................................28 P H O T O B Y M AT T H E W H I N T O N / T H E N E W O R L E A N S A D V O C AT E

Film....................................................30 Puzzles...............................................31

Booking Fees

The Global Effort to Find Long-term Solutions for Short-term Rentals

S TA F F

Publisher | JEANNE EXNICIOS FOSTER

EDITORIAL (504) 483-3105// response@ gambitweekly.com Editor | JOHN STANTON Political Editor | CLANCY DUBOS Arts & Entertainment Editor | WILL COVIELLO Staff Writers | JAKE CLAPP, KAYLEE POCHE, SARAH RAVITS

Homestyle Italian Cooking with a

New Orleans Flare Reserve our backroom for your next holiday gathering

COVER PHOTOS BY GET T Y IMAGES COVER DESIGN BY DORA SISON

BUSINESS & OPERATIONS Billing Inquiries 1 (225) 388-0185 Administrative Assistant | LINDA LACHIN

ADVERTISING Advertising Inquiries (504) 483-3150 Advertising Director | SANDY STEIN BRONDUM (504) 483-3150

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Contributing Writers | IAN MCNULTY

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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) 486-5900. 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 2021 Capital City Press, LLC. All rights reserved.

Ride Your Pony Human Horse Races are back on Thanksgiving

by Will Coviello

Fair Grounds opens THE FAIR GROUNDS RACE COURSE & SLOTS OPENS ITS 150TH SEASON of thoroughbred racing on

HORSES WITH AMUSING NAMES ARE EASY TO FIND in the racing

program at the Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, which opens its season on Thanksgiving Day. But all the ponies have fanciful names at New Orleans’ Human Horse Races, which has its second holiday run this Thanksgiving. Attendees can place “bets” on Panikan Skytrotter, Earl Gay, Prickly Muffin, Banana Lasso or FleaRoy Jenkins. Attendees also are the horses. Anyone can sign-up on the day of event to run as any of the horses or as a jockey, and there are races for kids only. At post time, runners don the appropriate festively decorated horse’s head and hit the 50-yard track. “You’re going to embody these characters,” says event founder Ingrid Anderson. “No need to bring a (horse’s) head, unless you want to rock one in the crowd. People did that the first year.” The costume-friendly event also has live music, free drinks and more from noon to 4 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day in Easton Park in Mid-City. There’s gambling, but “bets” are actually raffle tickets, and there are trophies for each official race. Anderson launched the first Human Horse Races in 2019. After putting the event out to pasture during the pandemic last year, the races are back and she plans to build it into an annual holiday tradition. Part of that plan is the introduction of stables. The names of the horses will change every year, Anderson says, but the stables will remain the same. She’s created backstories for them. “We’re trying to create a horse soap opera,” Anderson says. Attendees can pick up a zine, which doubles as a coloring book, with details on each stable. Panikan Skytrotter is from

Thanksgiving Day. The highlight of the card is the Thanksgiving Classic for male sprinters. It’s also one of the most festive days at the track, and fans can reserve tables in the Club House or enjoy the holiday buffet by Messina’s in the Black & Gold Room. The first post time is at noon on Thanksgiving. Visit fairgroundsracecourse.com for information.

PHOTO BY SOPHIA GERMER / T H E T I M E S - P I C AY U N E PHOTO BY SOPHIA GERMER / T H E T I M E S - P I C AY U N E

the Star Skufflers stable, which Anderson says is marked by glitzy, jet-setting style. Earl Gay is from the 24 Carot stable, the more aristocratic, thoroughbreds of the group. Banana Lasso is from the Patchouli Dusters, a more earthy group, and FleaRoy is from the contingent of Wild Horses. B.U.B.B.L.E., which Prickly Muffin is a part of, is the woke, pop-culture-driven group, she says. The stables are more like cliques or fashion niches. They appear in short videos on the Instagram page @humanhorseraces. The short scenes made on TikTok feature dance music, some sparkly effects and settings such as a beach at sunset or a posh lounge. There’s also a contest to create logos for each stable. Anderson started the Human Horse Races as an alternative to watching horse racing on Thanksgiving. Her group’s mission is to raise awareness about cruelty-free treatment of animals and to support animal shelters. Proceeds from this year’s event benefit Rocking R Ranch and Rescue, which runs a pair of

Brian Markey runs for the finish line as the horse as Lillian Joffrion holds on as the jockey during the inaugural Human Horse Races in 2019. havens in Mississippi for rescued horses and kangaroos. The event and sign-ups begin at noon, and the Dapper Dandies perform for an hour before the races start, as well as between races. Race winners get a trophy made from repurposed materials as well as a small prize package. Race Bets, or raffle tickets, cost $1 each, and grand prizes include gift baskets with a bottle of rum from Baton Rouge’s Three Roll Estate distillery and gift cards for local stores. There’s also a costume contest, with prizes including a gift card to Miss Claudia’s Vintage Clothing and Costumes. Attendees interested in running as a horse will be asked for proof of vaccination. Following the official races, Anderson opens up the track for attendees to run their own heats. For information, visit humanhorseraces.com.

Celebration in the Oaks CITY PARK’S HOLIDAY DISPLAY FEATURES MORE THAN A MILLION LIGHTS in scenes spread around the grounds and among the oaks. There’s everything from a rendition of the St. Louis Cathedral to candy canes, dinosaurs, a pirate ship and a unicorn. Attendees can drive the 2.25 mile course by entering Friedrichs Avenue off Wisner Boulevard, and there are bicycle hours on Monday evenings. The City Park Train has on-board entertainment, and the Carousel Gardens Amusement Park and its rides are open. There’s a bar in the Botanical Garden. Celebration runs from Thanksgiving Day through Jan. 2, 2022. Drive-through prices start at $39.99 and are based on vehicle size. Bikes cost $5. Visit celebrationintheoaks.com for a list of activities, special events and fees.

Covered in Earl! EARL KING WORKED WITH EVERYONE FROM DAVE BARTHOLOMEW TO ALLEN TOUSSAINT while recording hits that included “Come On” and “Trick Bag,” and he wrote “Big PAGE 29

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NEW ORLEANS NEWS + VIEWS

Who’s ready for some sweet, sweet Christmas jams?

T H U M B S U P/ THUMBS DOWN

48,750

Jon Batiste, the Grammy-winning

musician and Kenner native, made a guest appearance on “Sesame Street” last week and repped his alma mater, St. Augustine High School, by wearing his purple and gold varsity jacket. “A dream come true. I cried the entire day. So much healing and life force energy on Sesame Street. I loved stopping by my favorite neighborhood!” he tweeted.

THE NUMBER OF VOTES RECEIVED BY MAYOR LATOYA CANTRELL IN THE NOV. 13 ELECTION, ALLOWING HER TO DEFEAT 13 CHALLENGERS FOR RE-ELECTION. Voter turnout was historically low for this primary election, which was postponed due to Hurricane Ida. Only 28.2% of Orleans Parish residents cast ballots — compared to 33.3% in 2017, when Cantrell won 51,342 votes and beat Desiree Charbonnet. In other re-elections by previous incumbent mayors, Mitch Landrieu won with 53,441 votes and about a 35% turnout in 2014 and C. Ray Nagin won a second term in 2006 with 59,460 votes and 37% turnout — while much of the electorate was displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

P H O T O 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

Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin Gusman.

Emeril Lagasse Foundation raised more than $3.75 million during its annual fundraising weekend to support nonprofit organizations across the country that mentor youth and provide culinary training, nutrition education and arts education. New Orleans’ Cafe Hope, Cafe Reconcile and Covenant House are among the organizations supported by Lagasse’s foundation. Helping add to the grand total: A 6-liter bottle of cabernet sauvignon sold for $1 million.

Spotify pulled New Orleans

singer-songwriter Lilli Lewis’ new album, “Americana,” without warning because of a naming dispute between two other acts. Lewis’ new album features Seattle-based blues musician Lady A, a Black woman, who is being sued by country band Lady Antebellum, which is now trying to claim the Lady A name for itself. The Seattle Lady A has been recording under that name for decades and has filed her own lawsuit. “Americana” was finally restored to the streaming platform, but only after Lewis called them out on social media.

THE COUNT

Facing runoff election next month, Gusman encounters tough crowd at city budget hearing ORLEANS PARISH SHERIFF MARLIN GUSMAN — WHO WAS UNABLE TO SECURE ENOUGH VOTES in Saturday’s municipal primary to avoid a December runoff — faced questioning from New Orleans City Council members and criticism from criminal justice reform advocates as he presented his proposed 2022 budget to the council last week. His runoff opponent, former Independent Police Monitor Susan Hutson, also made an appearance during the budget hearing, demanding greater budget transparency from the long-time sheriff. Meanwhile, Councilman Jay Banks said that he was in favor of deferring a vote on a zoning amendment that would allow for the construction of a controversial, 89-bed mental health jail facility known as Phase III, until the legal deadline for action has passed. That would result in an automatic denial in early January. It is unclear how the move would ultimately impact the construction of the facility, which the city has been ordered to move forward with by a federal judge. Attorneys for the city are

currently appealing that order. The building has become one of the key issues in the sheriff’s race. Gusman has long advocated for a Phase III — at times arguing that it should hold as many as over 700 beds. Hutson, on the other hand, has aligned herself with criminal justice reform advocates who have mobilized against the facility and anything that would increase the number of beds in the jail. Initially scheduled to present last week, prior to the primary election, Gusman cancelled the presentation saying he first needed to meet with a court-appointed budget working group that was set up as part of the jail’s federal consent decree. The move frustrated advocates who showed up to testify at the meeting. But if Gusman was hoping to avoid the budget hearing turning into a political spectacle by winning outright on Saturday, the move failed. Hutson forced him into a runoff, receiving 35 percent of the vote, to Gusman’s 48. A candidate needs more than 50 percent of the vote to avoid a runoff. The two will face off again at the polls on Dec. 11. PAGE 8

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At the presentation on Tuesday, Gusman touted the jail’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and Hurricane Ida, along with rehabilitative programming offered at the facility. In her public comment, Hutson said OPSO needed to give more information regarding the amount of money spent on lawyers and liability suits against the office. “There are a number of lawyers on the budget,” Hutson said. “I would love to know how many lawsuits they’re handling. I would love to see some detailed invoices about that. There have been issues about that in the past.” Gusman’s proposed 2022 budget provides some details on legal services. It estimates that the agency will spend $105,000 in outside legal costs next year on two firms, both of whom are working on the consent decree. It does not provide details on what cases the firms have or are working on nor their current billing arrangement. As the administrator of the city’s jail — and a major parish agency — Gusman and his agency are frequent defendants in federal and state lawsuits over contracting disputes, inmate deaths, wrongful imprisonment and other civil rights issues. The office is currently named in more than a dozen open federal lawsuits in New Orleans, court records show. That’s not to mention ongoing legal work in the eightyear-old federal consent decree. Gusman’s proposed budget asks for $40 million in city appropriations for its operating costs — $2.8 million more than Mayor Latoya Cantrell has apportioned in her proposed budget. But Sean Bruno, the Chief Administrative Officer for OPSO, seemed to suggest that the office could make up the difference in “cost savings,” and return to the council mid-year if they determine the need for more funding. Councilwoman Kristin Palmer questioned Gusman on why OPSO’s budget wasn’t shrinking in proportion to the jail population, which has declined dramatically over the last several years — particularly since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. She noted that the possibility of reducing costs by shutting down certain sections of the jail was something Gusman used to sell the design of the jail to the council prior to it being built. But Gusman said that the number of “fixed costs” at the jail meant that the reductions in population were not necessarily correlated with the reductions in costs, and that utilizing the various areas of the jail was often necessary given different detainee classifications.

“If we can get to the point where the population is low enough where we can close an entire floor, I think you would see the sort of reductions in expenditures that I was talking about then,” Gusman said. Phase III The position Councilman Banks took on the Phase III zoning ordinance amendment Tuesday indicated the potential strategy that the council as a whole may take on an issue that has become both politically and legally sensitive. All of the current council members have come out against the construction of Phase III, instead favoring a retrofit of the current facility to accommodate detainees with serious mental illness. But they have also expressed concern that they could be held in contempt of court if they vote against the zoning ordinance that the city says is required to build the facility. The city agreed to build the facility back in 2017, but after moving forward in the pre-construction process for over a year, Mayor Latoya Cantrell’s administration abruptly halted it in June of 2020. The city said that given the decreasing jail population and a diminished budget due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the facility was a waste of taxpayer dollars. But their attempts to get out of the agreement have been denied by U.S. District Judge Lance Africk, who has determined that the facility is necessary to provide adequate mental health care to the city’s incarcerated population. At a status hearing last month, Africk appeared to issue a warning to the council, noting that “throughout history, not complying with federal court orders has not been a successful strategy.” Banks said at the meeting on Tuesday that voting on the matter would put him in a position of either voting for something he fundamentally opposes or violating a federal court order that could lead to the city being held in contempt of court. Dr. Jeffrey Rouse, the jail’s chief psychiatrist and former city coroner, also testified at the meeting in favor of Phase III. Rouse said the facility was necessary in order to provide adequate mental health care but also would provide a “huge level of safety, and not just for the patients, but also for the staff, the deputies.” Rouse has previously expressed support for Phase III, and has also appeared in a campaign video for Sheriff Gusman’s re-election campaign. — Nicolas Chrastil / The Lens

C O M M E N TA R Y

‘Tort reform’ rightly under fire as insurance rates rise LAWMAKERS LOVE SIMPLISTIC BUZZWORDS AND CATCHY SLOGANS that conveniently hide

politicians’ — and many citizens’ — aversion to the truth. A good example of that is “tort reform,” the weary bromide that insurance industry apologists breathlessly prescribe for Louisiana’s perennially high auto insurance rates. What is tort reform? It’s a slate of anti-consumer laws that make it significantly more difficult for people injured in auto accidents to sue insurance companies and be made whole. Thanks to an increasingly anti-consumer Legislature and a powerful business lobby (assisted by at least four dozen lobbyists), Louisiana lawmakers enacted their latest version of tort reform last year. They promised it would lower auto insurance rates. So far, it hasn’t. In fact, Louisiana now has the highest average auto insurance rates in the nation. This comes as no surprise to us. Last year, as lawmakers prepared to debate tort reform legislation amid the COVID-19 pandemic (which effectively prevented the public from attending committee hearings on the subject), we wrote in this space that proponents of tort reform “claim it will save jobs and reduce insurance rates. That is a lie. Such bills will increase profits for insurance companies [and] reduce people’s ability to be made whole after being seriously injured in accidents.” To this day, we’re still waiting for someone to name a single state whose insurance rates actually went down as a result of adopting so-called “tort reform.” State Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon, who should be the leading advocate for consumers on such matters, told the biggest whopper of all when he said last year that passing the proposed legislation would reduce insurance rates by up to 25% within a year of the new law taking effect. On Nov. 15, he admitted to the Task Force on Affordable Automobile Insurance that rates have actually gone up 2% this year through October — and that the 25% estimate he gave lawmakers last year was a “pure guess,” not a guarantee. That’s not how it sounded last year.

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Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon Advocates of the new law say it needs more time to show its promised benefits. On its face, that excuse makes some sense, considering accident victims have a year to file lawsuits and cases take time to wind their way through the courts. However, in contrast to what he told lawmakers in 2020, Donelon said last week that insurance rates went up because highway fatalities increased this year by 7% across the state. Notably, Donelon also pegged previous rate hikes to highway fatalities — not to the insurance industry’s timeworn bogeyman of “lawsuit abuse” or Louisiana’s alleged status as a “judicial hellhole.” Eric Holl, executive director of the pro-consumer group Real Reform Louisiana, says tort reform “was never about lowering auto insurance rates ... If we want to lower auto insurance rates in Louisiana, we need real pro-consumer insurance reform.” “Insurance reform” — now there’s a catchy slogan. But don’t hold your breath waiting for Louisiana lawmakers to rally behind it. There’s too much money and political muscle on the other side.

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Election Winnas & Loozas: The Halftime Report LESS THAN HALF OF NEW ORLEANS’ MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS were settled

on Nov. 13. The rest are headed for runoffs on Dec. 11. It’s halftime, so there’s no definitive compilation of winnas and loozas just yet. There are, however, a few early loozas, some big halftime leads, some ongoing slug fests and a Comeback Kid. Herewith our first-ever Election Halftime Report, starting with…

EARLY LOOZAS The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry LABI was the driving force behind House Speaker Clay Schexnayder’s push to centralize sales tax collections via Amendment 1. Despite a statewide push by tax reformers, the proposition lost by a vote of 48% to 52%. Numerically, it failed by 15,141 votes, but that’s only half the story. Mayor LaToya Cantrell, in addition to winning re-election, led the local fight against Amendment 1, which lost in New Orleans by a margin of 15,878 votes.

John Neely Kennedy and Jeff Landry Senator Soundbite and Attorney General Dumbass lead the Louisiana Committee for a Conservative Majority (LCCM). Somehow they thought a rightwing, business-oriented group that cemented the Legislature’s GOP majorities could make a difference in a Black-majority, solidly Democratic state House district in Algiers. It may sound like the political equivalent of “Springtime for Hitler,” but they were serious. Jordan Bridges, the candidate backed by LCCM, got only 38% of the vote against Delisha Boyd, who won with 62%.

BIG HALFTIME LEADS IMayor LaToya Cantrell Welcome to Teedyville, y’all, and give Heronner her due. She garnered an impressive 65% of the vote. On the other hand, the anemic turnout of only 28.2% reflected voters’ post-Ida “malaise.” Cantrell won a second term with 48,750 votes, the smallest number of ballots cast for a New Orleans mayor since the early

1930s. Still, she’s our mayor for the next four years. On another front, Cantrell provided the margin of defeat against Amendment 1. That’s a big win for her, but legislative leaders who supported the amendment and don’t care much for the mayor, will seek payback in future legislative sessions. Looking ahead locally, Cantrell will face a more independent City Council in her second term (as do all mayors). Her staunchest council ally, District B incumbent Jay Banks, is in a tough runoff fight against attorney Lesli Harris. Banks may need Teedy’s help to win this one, and if she gets involved it’ll be a test of her coattails in her old council district. P H O T O B Y S C O T T T H R E L K E L D / T H E T I M E S - P I C AY U N E

The Richmond-Carter Crew The former and current congressmen lead an unnamed political cabal with attorney Ike Spears and bondsman Blair Boutte. They supported several candidates who either won or made runoffs in key races. The winners include new state Rep. Delisha Boyd in Algiers. In Council District C, Freddie King III built an impressive lead (44%) in a field of six — but all four candidates who didn’t make the runoff have since endorsed Stephanie Bridges, King’s runoff opponent. That certainly complicates things. Elsewhere, Darren Lombard made the runoff against Austin Badon in the contest for clerk of Criminal District Court, though Badon had a big lead (43% to 30%) in the primary. We’ll see who can finish strong in the second half.

IMPRESSIVE SHOWINGS Progressives In a low-turnout election, progressives can make a huge difference. Exhibit A: former NOPD Independent Monitor Susan Hutson forced 17-year incumbent Sheriff Marlin Gusman into a runoff by holding him to 48% of the vote. That showdown will likely be the bloodiest contest on the Dec. 11 ballot. In Council District D, activist and former St. Roch neighborhood leader Troy Glover made the runoff against Eugene Green in a field of 14. Progressives’ only setback was voter approval of Amendment 2, which they op-

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell celebrates her reelection Saturday, Nov. 13. posed because it gives significant tax breaks to the wealthy and to corporations.

The Comeback Kid Former at-large Councilman Oliver Thomas finished ahead of District E incumbent Cyndi Nguyen by a margin of 45% to 41%. Thomas looks poised to return to City Hall after he resigned amid a bribery scandal in 2007. He spent several years in jail but has since rebuilt his reputation and resurrected his career by working in the nonprofit world and as a popular radio host.

SLUG FESTS BOLD District B Councilman Jay Banks, a longtime member of the BOLD political organization, landed in a runoff against attorney Lesli Harris, who has the all-out support of DA Jason Williams. BOLD worked hard to defeat Williams in the DA’s race a year ago; now it’s payback time. Banks led the four-candidate field with 44.6% of the vote to Harris’ 36.6%. Two other candidates — both white women — received a combined 18.8% of the vote. Elsewhere, BOLD ally Austin Badon led the field in the primary for clerk of Criminal District Court, but he took a lot of fire from forces sup-

porting Darren Lombard, now his runoff opponent. Oliver Thomas, a one-time BOLD member and now frontrunner in Council District E, no longer has close ties to the organization. The second half will determine whether BOLD will continue to have at least one of its own holding local elected office.

Incumbents The malaise took a toll on incumbents this cycle. Sheriff Marlin Gusman will see a storm of outside money pouring in to attack him in his runoff against Susan Hutson, though Gusman has started to return fire. Councilmembers Kristin Gisleson Palmer and Jared Brossett both lost an at-large council race to former state Sen. JP Morrell, and Jay Banks in District B and Cyndi Nguyen in District E face strong runoff challengers in Lesli Harris and Oliver Thomas, respectively.

A Note of Encouragement This cycle saw lots of candidates running for public office for the first time. Though most of them lost, all gained a greater understanding of what’s required to run a city and wage a professional campaign. Here’s hoping they stay engaged and feel encouraged to try again. The electorate and the city were better off for having lots of options.

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With the Fair Grounds starting its racing season on Thanksgiving, here’s a question for you: Is it true there was once a race track in City Park?

Dear reader, THE CITY PARK RACE TRACK STOOD NEAR THE PRESENT-DAY SITE of Tad Gormley Stadium. In their book “Historic City Park, New Orleans,” Sally K. Evans Reeves and William D. Reeves explain that it was the brainchild of a consortium of real estate and racing entrepreneurs led by George G. Friedrichs. In 1903, Friedrichs paid $25,000 for 180 acres of land (which had been a dairy farm) with plans to develop a race track. The track, which opened for business on Feb. 11, 1905, had a three-story steel grandstand. Advertisements called it “the most modern racing plant in the South or West,” accessible by streetcar and railroad. According to the Reeveses, the City Park Race Track became so popular that the Fair Grounds agreed to alternate racing dates with it every two weeks during the season. The success of both tracks drew the ire of anti-gambling Gov. Jared Sanders. In 1908, he pushed the state legislature to pass what was known as the

PHO T O BY H. J. H A RV Y / T H E T I M E S - P I C AY U N E A R C H I V E

City Park race track, about where Tad Gormley Stadium is today. Locke Law, prohibiting organized race track betting. City Park’s track closed but found new life as a stadium for other public events, including a 1910 daredevil show featuring aviator John Moisant. He would die while flying a stunt mission from City Park to Harahan. The New Orleans airport was later named in his honor. By the time the Locke Law was repealed in 1916, the Business Men’s Racing Association owned both the City Park and Fair Grounds race courses. Instead of reviving the City Park track, they moved the grandstand to the Fair Grounds in 1918. It replaced that track’s grandstand when it was destroyed by fire. In 1920, the City Park Race Track property was donated back to the park. By 1937, City Park Stadium (named for coach and trainer Tad Gormley in 1957) had been constructed on the site.

BL AKEVIE W THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY BRINGS WITH IT THE START of a New Orleans tradition: City Park’s Celebration in the Oaks. The beloved holiday light display opens on Thursday, Nov. 25. Originally known as Christmas in the Oaks, the event was introduced in Dec. 1987. Before that, there had been a smaller light display in City Park’s Botanical Garden. The garden’s director, Paul Soniat, collaborated with Betty Bagert, a longtime park volunteer, to create an even bigger event. They enlisted the help of then-WWL anchor Angela Hill, who recruited the television station as a sponsor. They also convinced NOPSI (the predecessor to Entergy) to spend $150,000 to modernize City Park’s lighting system and co-sponsor the event. The first display featured more than 150,000 lights, Christmas trees decorated by local schools and a nativity scene donated by the Centanni family, who were known for staging a Christmas display at their Canal Street home in the 1950s and ‘60s. The Times-Picayune columnist Iris Kelso called Christmas in the Oaks “simply the most spectacular Christmas event to hit New Orleans in years, maybe ever.” In 1991, the event’s name was changed to the more inclusive Celebration in the Oaks. It has gone on to become the park’s biggest annual fundraiser. This year’s event runs through Jan. 2. You can see more than a million lights on the 2.25-mile driving tour or take the walking tour through the Botanical Garden and Carousel Gardens Amusement Park. Purchase tickets in advance at celebrationintheoaks.com.

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The global effort to find long-term solutions for short-term rentals BY JAKE CLAPP AND SARAH RAVITS FOR YEARS, Nashville has been a destination for music lovers. But over the last decade, the city has blown up as a go-to for bachelor and bachelorette parties, rivaling New Orleans for tourists eager to get rowdy in a Southern city known for live music and historic charm. The influx of tourists to Nashville has driven a boom in the shortterm rental industry, drawing visitors out of centralized tourism friendly areas and into residential neighborhoods. Noise complaints, increased housing costs and a city deprived of tax revenue inevitably followed. As blocks swelled with tourists, frustrated residents increasingly voiced their concerns to City Hall: There goes the neighborhood. Sounds familiar, right? In response, Nashville officials cracked down by enforcing stricter fines and zoning ordinances and raised fees and fines. They have also turned to a budding software company called Host Compliance — which is now merged with Granicus — to serve as a private investigator and automate the process for the city’s overwhelmed code enforcement staff to weed out the STR bad actors. “The debate has been going on so long and people are fed up,” Host Compliance CEO Ulrik Binzer told Scalawag Magazine in 2018. “They want to help the city figure out and report issues.” Richel Albright, a public information officer for Metro Nashville’s office of Codes & Planning, says Granicus “tries to identify every short-term rental advertisement in our county.” The software then creates a page that lists most of the details, Albright says, displaying if the property is compliant, its history, links to screenshots, a link to the rental ad and other identification information. The company also sends out letters on behalf of the city to properties that do not have permits and offers filters that officials can use to pull different lists. Since Nashville implemented the technology, hundreds of other cities have followed suit, and now New Orleans enforcement officials are planning to try out this type of surveillance. The bidding process for contracts closed earlier this month, and Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s administration will soon announce which tech company it will partner with to help regulate the city’s STR restrictions. Problems with STRs are neither new nor going away anytime soon. And it’s become increasingly clear there isn’t one perfect solution to the problems they cause — it’s going to take a multipronged approach. It will likely require tackling their negative effects of STRs on communities from multiple directions, and cities across the world have increasingly tried new ways, through technology, stricter regulations and fees, to rein them in — or even use them to the city’s benefit. But no matter which tools are used, they’re only as good as their enforcement. And here in New Orleans, that’s been sorely lacking — and a point of contention at recent meetings at

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Affordable housing advocates silently fill the New Orleans City Council chambers after Councilmembers refused to take comments on the proposed re-write of short term rental regulations in 2018. City Hall and during the ongoing election season. “If you’re not enforcing anything, it’s completely meaningless,” says Jesse Keenan, associate professor of real estate at the Tulane University School of Architecture.

BINZER FOUNDED HOST COMPLIANCE in 2015, and the program is now used by roughly 300 cities around the globe. The computer program helps municipalities regulate rentals using artificial intelligence to identify fraudulent or illegal activity on STR websites. He told Fast Company magazine in 2019 that expecting major tourist destinations to successfully crack down on illegal operators with limited code enforcers is akin to bringing a “knife to a gunfight.” The software scours rental listings, cross-references them with active permits and sends the initial violation notice to hosts who aren’t in compliance with city laws. Host Compliance helped Nashville identify more than 2,000 fraudulent or illegal listings within a year. In 2019, then-mayor David Briley also announced that the annual permit application fee for STR hosts would be hiked from $50 to $313 in order to pay for the staff added to Nashville’s code enforcement department.

Tammie Jackson, director of New Orleans’ Safety and Permits office, and city STR regulator Celeste Sparks seemed optimistic that implementing new technology on top of hiring additional staff could lift a huge weight off their office’s shoulders and speed up the process to more quickly identify bad faith operators. “Say you call in about a blighted house and take pictures of the blight. The inspector goes out and cites it. But with STRs, it’s not that easy,” Sparks explains. “You need to see the number of occupants checking in. [The host] might have a license but they have more than 10 people there — that’s the violation. I need to see those people checking in. It’s kind of like a stakeout — it’s more complex than just issuing violations on location.” Neither gave a price range for the cost of installing the software. And the cost generally depends on the size of the city and proliferation of rental units. Napa County, for example, spent $37,000 on a yearly contract, while Nashville’s contract cost closer to $1 million in a year. Of course, employing new technology isn’t entirely foolproof, and hosts can continuously muddy the waters of STR sites by starting new LLCs and other shady tactics. Additionally, critics of this type of program have said it is invasive because it unearths private user

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information to sell to cities. One anonymous contractor of a software company told Vice’s Motherboard last year that it was “essentially doxing for money.” And, according to The Times-Picayune, Revenue Collector Romy Samuel suggested at the budget hearing that the software could be used to collect tax revenue from illegal operators who charge phony taxes to renters. Airbnb representatives did not comment on these kinds of software programs to Gambit, but a company spokesperson noted that Airbnb itself has ramped up internal efforts to curb illegal activity and pointed to the requirement that hosts list a city-issued license number on every New Orleans listing. But Airbnb has expressed opposition to third-party programs like this in the past, arguing they invade hosts’ privacy by giving city officials more information than necessary to enforce rules. It also recently launched a pilot program in select cities — including New Orleans — called City Portal, which provides insights about the listings on its site in their community.

SHORT TERM RENTALS EXPLODED in New Orleans the year after the city passed its first set of regulations, which went into effect in spring 2017. By the next year, there were more than 4,000 licensed STRs open in the city and at least another 2,000 operating illegally, according to a 2018 report by housing advocacy group Jane Place Neighborhood Sustainability Initiative.

In 2019 — as the City Council was debating new STR regulations and revisions to the law — The Times-Picayune reported some estimates found up to 8,500 rentals were operating in the city, with fewer than 2,500 officially licensed. The range demonstrates how tough it has been to find clear STR data. JPNSI also found in 2015 there were 1,764 entire homes listed on Airbnb and that number would grow, accounting for 82% of the site’s listings three years later. As JPNSI pointed out in the study, “There are more STRs operating in the city than available public housing units.” STRs amplified gentrification and displacement, particularly in Treme, the 7th Ward, Marigny and Bywater. Much needed housing stock was removed from the long-term market in favor of tourists willing to pay more for the #NOLA experience. Wealthy out-of-town investors buying up property drove up housing prices and tax bills jumped, further increasing the burden on New Orleanians. Under pressure from housing advocates, the city in 2019 revised the regulations and enacted STR limits that, on paper, are more stringent. Among the new rules: STRs could only operate in residential areas if the owner has a homestead exemption, in theory proving it was their home; new limits were placed on STRs in commercial areas; a new tax to be collected and split between the city for infrastructure projects and the tourism agency New Orleans & Co. was added; and booking fees were increased to $5 a night in residential STRs and

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NEW STR REGULATIONS mean nothing, of course, if they aren’t enforced. “I know so many of us, especially as district council members, receive a lot of complaints in terms of illegal short-term rentals,” District C City Councilmember Kristin Gisleson

Palmer said during a committee hearing in October on STR enforcement. “This council and the housing community worked hard for a year and a half to pass good legislation. But you can only have so much great legislation if you don’t have enforcement.” Last year, the city formed its umbrella office of Business and External Services, which oversees Safety and Permits and Code Enforcement — in addition to city planning and the office of economic development. But, the man Mayor LaToya Cantrell put in charge is Peter Bowen, a former executive at Sonder, a major STR operator. Bowen earlier this month conceded that the city needs to do more to curb illegal activity — but Bowen holds investments in his former employer, The Times-Picayune reported in June. The Department of Safety & Permits has been scrutinized by the public and the City Council for its lack of oversight on illegal STR activity. And at the Council’s budget hearings, officials acknowledged they had been unable to reel in rogue STR operators. Code enforcement officials bristle at the notion that they aren’t working hard enough — regulating STR’s with a limited staff is like playing a game of whacka-mole, they say. As of press time, the city was employing five code enforcement inspectors and two administrators, but with plans to expand to a few more in the coming months. “We have over 226 open violation cases that my inspectors are working on,” Jackson told Gambit Nov. 12. “They are going out in the field, sending letters on a nightly basis, and we have inspectors working until midnight ... I think we are definitely doing our part.” The additional staffers will help with the office’s response to complaints. But their jobs also involve stopping hosts from overbooking rooms and filling the houses over capacity, which is trickier because it usually requires them being caught in the act. Staffers have to work “unconventional hours” to monitor listings that pop up in the night when hosts suspect enforcement has retired for the evening. Code enforcement officials say they’re “constantly” scrolling listings to make sure the permits and license numbers listed online line up with what the city has on

file. Airbnb spokesperson Laura Rillos says, “When the city notifies us of noncompliant listings, we swiftly take action as appropriate.” Non-compliancy, while a major concern, isn’t the only issue at hand — it’s the widespread existence of STRs in the first place. “Gentrification in the city isn’t just because of STRs,” says incoming councilmember-at-large JP Morrell. “But they’ve certainly aggravated the problem, so they need to be a part of solving it ... There’s no silver bullet.”

THERE ARE WAYS for New Orleans to leverage its STRs for affordable housing. Among them is the Neighborhood Housing Improvement Fund, which is dedicated to help provide incentives to build more affordable housing, aid low-income homebuyers and support programs that address blight. The NHIF is funded in two ways: Largely through a property tax as well as directly through fees collected when an STR is booked in New Orleans. Renewal of that property tax, 0.91 mills, will be part of the city’s Dec. 11 election. The NHIF is a way for New Orleans to “invest in ourselves,” says Andreanecia Morris, HousingNOLA executive director. “Housing issues are very large, and we’ll need federal dollars, but we also need to be investing something on our own and for ourselves. It shows that we recognize this is an issue — the NHIF has been around for 30 years now and it’s done amazing work. And in order to get some

of the federal money we need, we have to be able to put up our own money.” The NHIF is a useful tool, but it has limitations. For one, the fund falls far short in its ability to match the sheer scope of the money needed to address New Orleans’ affordable housing crisis. When New Orleans passed its first set of STR regulations in 2016, only $1 per night was being dedicated to the NHIF. In 2018, Airbnb reported the fee contributed just $541,000 into the fund between April 1, 2017, and Feb. 28, 2018, barely enough to fund a couple of units of affordable housing in the city. With the stricter rules passed in 2019, the city increased that fee to its current level. A study commissioned by the city said a $10 commercial fee and a $5 residential fee would generate $6.7 million annually. Still, that’s a drop in the bucket compared to the billions of dollars needed to fix our affordable housing issues. The NHIF also is only as useful as the people who control the fund, Morris says. If the City Council and administration are aligned, the money could help fill in funding gaps during housing emergencies. “If you’re intentional, you can close some of these gaps,” Morris says. “The NHIF, if property capitalized, represents creativity, flexibility and thoughtfulness, and you can pair it with traditional federal funds and do things that are innovative and responsive to the needs at hand.” Councilmember Palmer’s initial proposal in 2019 also included a requirement that those looking to develop STRs in commercial

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$12 a night in commercial STRs, with that money going directly to the Neighborhood Housing Improvement Fund for affordable housing works. Housing advocates also pushed for the city to rein in bad actors by having them scale back their operations to comply with the new rules. But the city didn’t act. And a proposal tying development of STRs in commercial buildings to new affordable housing units also was dropped. At the time, council members said they would look into the issue further. Only a few months after the new regulations went into effect, the pandemic struck New Orleans. With travel restricted amid stay-at-home orders, the bottom fell out of the STR industry around the world, making it difficult to fully understand the impact the city’s new regulations have had. Housing groups, like JPNSI, have been focused more on fighting evictions during the pandemic, but they certainly are keeping an eye on the STR issue, particularly as tourism builds back up in New Orleans. “Through 2020, we saw a decrease in license registrations for new short-term rentals, and that’s been creeping back up through 2021,” says Russell Moran, JPNSI’s program and operations manager. “But I think one of the things that we did see is as cities were in lockdown, folks who operate short-term rentals were actually then renting those apartments to tenants and converting them to longterm tenants.” But that trend is already reversing as Covid restrictions have eased, Moran says. “Sadly, now we’ve started to see in eviction court, landlords evicting tenants so they can return to short-term rentals,” Moran says. “[Landlords] aren’t outright coming to say that — we have tenants who have called us and said specifically that my landlord is putting me through the eviction process for whatever reasons but has made it clear that they’re going back to shortterm rentals.”

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Council member Kristin Gisleson Palmer has been a central figure in the city’s efforts to control STRs. areas also build affordable housing units. The proposal called for a one-to-one match of STRs to affordable apartments or condos for long-term residents. But the 2019 study recommended New Orleans not pursue the unit requirement, arguing the one-year duration of a STR permit was too short to guarantee the stability of the matching affordable housing units. It also said the policy wouldn’t work in buildings without common ownership or management, and that the city wasn’t prepared to monitor and enforce that system. However, the study did say a 6-to-1 ratio could be supportable across the city. Housing advocates pushed back against the study, saying it took a one-size-fits-all approach in its recommendation, even though the analysis itself showed a one-to-one could work in some areas, The Times-Picayune reported. The proposal was dropped in 2019, but housing advocates would like to see the measure picked up again.

WHILE NEW ORLEANS FAIRLY RECENTLY enacted stricter regulations, mitigating the impacts of STRs in the city won’t be easy or quick. New Orleans already had a pre-existing lack of housing stock. And that makes its residents extra vulnerable to the devastation caused by unfettered STRs that have pushed locals out and inflated the housing market. “Here, you have poor quality housing that occasionally gets blown apart by a hurricane or a storm,” says Tulane’s Keenan. “There’s also no land left, and there’s no production. Other cities can grow up and grow denser. But no one really wants to invest here. It’s built to its

max capacity ... Housing supply is extremely constrained in New Orleans. So competition is more amplified compared to other cities.” Despite these heightened concerns, New Orleans’ problems with STRs aren’t entirely unique. Proliferation of STRs is a global issue, and many cities around the world have been coming up with individual approaches to curb the problems they have caused. The pandemic — and the few years leading up to it — have given tourist-heavy cities a chance to rethink how these types of businesses fit into a city’s landscape. Barcelona has banned renting out private rooms for STRs, as has Amsterdam in its city center. Berlin is cracking down more on STR platforms that skirt its rules. And in an innovative move, Lisbon — whose city center has been overrun with STRs — has started to offer landlords monthly allowances to return their properties to long-term rentals for a minimum of five years. Outright bans are highly unlikely to happen here anytime soon. Clark County, Nevada, in fact, found its ban wasn’t working and recently decided to move to regulating the industry. So, if New Orleans has to live with STRs, a tenuous relationship to say the least, then the city can push harder to mitigate the negative consequences and maybe even find ways to creatively benefit locals. “If we became good at enforcing short-term rentals, we could become good at other things, like code enforcement in general,” Morris says. “We could become good at other things that benefit the city in the long-run, not just settling for this extractive relationship. We could decide to hold ourselves accountable to our own rules.”

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Gifting Local

Home Place Pastures Gift Boxes Prices vary. Support regenerative farmers right here in our region. Home Place Pastures gifts and bundles include shipping and help sustain a healthier food system in Louisiana and Mississippi. Homeplacepastures.com Use coupon code GAMBIT for 10% off. PHOTO PROVIDED BY HOME PLACE PASTURES

This holiday season spend your money where your home is. Moon Ray Tie Bar

$130 from Mignon Faget (3801 Magazine St., 504-891-2005; and Lakeside Shopping Center, 3301 Veterans Blvd., 504-835-2244; mignonfaget.com). From the Crescent Collection. Available in Sterling Silver or 14K Gold. PHOTO PROVIDED BY MIGNON FAGET

Ladies Wrap Jacket

$44 from gae-tana. Stay warm and stylish this winter. This fashionable jacket makes the perfect gift! Available in S-M-L. GAMBIT STAFF PHOTO

The Art of Dining® books by Joy Bateman

$21.95 and $23.95 from gae-tana (7732 Maple St., 504-865-9625; @gaetanasnola). Joy Bateman combines her love of art and passion for good food to create The Art of Dining® books, each filled with her beautiful paintings and highlighting the best recipes from the South’s leading restaurants. PHOTOS PROVIDED BY GAE-TANA

SPONSORED CONTENT

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Taking flight

FORK + CENTER

Dragonfly Cafe opens in the Irish Channel THE NAME OF DRAGONFLY CAFE , a new breakfast and lunch spot in the Irish Channel, was chosen for its global meaning: The dragonfly symbolizes change, transformation, adaptability and self-realization. The cafe is a partnership between the Raphael Academy and The Guild, a Waldorf-inspired learning hub established in 2012 for children and young adults with developmental differences, and the cafe’s general manager Thaddaeus Prosper, his sister and master baker Tammy Patterson and chef Gregory Thomas. People with developmental, learning, language and behavior differences that can range from autism spectrum disorder to Down syndrome are often isolated from the rest of society, preventing interaction on both sides of that wall. According to Prosper, Dragonfly Cafe is as much about breaking down that wall as it is about serving fresh, locally raised food. The sweet and welcoming cafe, which officially opened Nov. 14, is at the heart of the Academy’s Town Center, a community space that also includes offices, a bakery and the newly relocated Guild. The Guild is an outgrowth of the Academy that offers post-secondary education, as well as vocational and artist guild training for people age 18 and older. Guild members are already helping in the bakery, with plans in the works to get them busy in the café too. The Town Center is a first step toward creating more living spaces for people with and without developmental differences in the neighborhood. It’s part of the school’s affiliation with Camphill Association of North America, an international organization that aims to connect people with developmental needs to their community. Prosper, an Algiers native, founded Sheaux Fresh with his wife Tamara in 2008. The local, family-owned fresh food purveyor emphasizes regional, organically and sustainably grown and sourced products. He spent close to 20 years in the front of the house of

by Beth D’Addono

Emeril Lagasse’s restaurants. His love for gardening came from his parents. “My mother was a patio gardener who produced amazing stuff out of pots,” Prosper says. “My dad was an in-the-ground-pullingweeds kind of grower. We planted a big garden on the vacant lot next to our home and I had work to do before I went to school and work to do after school, before I did my homework.” Prosper has been growing produce on the Northshore and Algiers and selling it at 2500 Bayour Road on most weekends. But moving forward, that market will move to Raphael Village as a way to bring more folks to the space. Prosper and chef Thomas, also an Emeril’s alumnus, crafted a changing all-day menu of breakfast and lunch dishes with an emphasis on seasonality and value. Menu items are priced from $2, for two eggs, local honey, preserves, cheddar cheese and bread, to $16, for the grass-fed beef burger on a housemade sweet bun served with sweet potato fries. As a green homage to a charcuterie board, The Paddle is a spread of vegetables and accoutrement, and the generous serving is enough for two people. Patterson’s outstanding crusty bread informs many of the menu’s dishes, including house-cured salmon and pickles served with herbed cream cheese on crostini and a grilled cheddar cheese sandwich with house-made pickles on the side. There’s a Dragonfly salad, more local vegetables from Sheaux Fresh, a chicken salad sandwich or wrap and a rancheros bowl with poached eggs, beans and salsa fresca. The breakfast items also include a yogurt and fruit granola bowl, a terrific avocado toast topped with pico de gallo, and three

Email dining@gambitweekly.com

Tabled Requests IF CHEF ALFRED SINGLETON HAD HIS CHRISTMAS WISH, he’d be able to fill

PHOTO BY CHERYL GERBER

Chef Gregory Thomas, master baker Tammy Patterson and general manager Thaddeaus Prosper opened Dragonfly Cafe. eggs served with grits and toast. Bakery treats from the Academy’s teaching kitchen also are available. There’s a robust coffee and tea program, and every kind of milk alternative is available. They’ll add fresh juices soon. Prosper says the partnership came together recently. “My wife used to work at the Waldorf School, where she met Jackie Case, who is the executive director of Raphael Village. About five months ago she asked if we were interested in partnering,” he says. Prosper, who has a few exceptional people in his family as well as firsthand experience as a special education teacher, sees everything about Dragonfly Cafe as a win-win. “My sister’s bread and baking is over the top. Greg, who is also a level two sommelier, was dealing with the pandemic and doing popups, and I am always looking for a learning experience,” he says. “We make a strong team and we haven’t even cracked it open yet.”

? WHAT

Dragonfly Cafe

WHERE

518 Jackson Ave., (504) 544-9530; dragonflynola.com

WHEN

6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thu.-Fri.; 7:30 a.m.3 p.m. Sat.-Sun.

HOW

Dine-in and takeout

CHECK IT OUT

Fresh produce and baked goods at a cafe with a purpose

the dining rooms across all three floors of Cafe Sbisa with festive groups and private events this holiday season. It would be the boost his French Quarter restaurant badly needs after all the losses and limitations of the pandemic. But right now, he has only half the number of employees Cafe Sbisa needs to run at full tilt. So he’s being cautious about how many reservations he can take. He knows there’s a danger in pushing beyond the capacity of his limited staff. “You can’t serve them right, and we want to be able to provide people with the level of service they’re accustomed to here,” Singleton says. “If you’re providing bad service, no one will want to dine with us in the future.”

PHOTO BY CHRIS GR ANGER / T H E T I M E S - P I C AY U N E

Chef and co-ownerAlfred Singleton at Cafe Sbisa. The struggle to meet customer demand while trying to staff the restaurant has been a major issue across the hospitality industry. Now the holiday season is throwing an already fraught situation into stark relief. Pent-up demand from the dining public is running up against short-staffed restaurants that have been stressed to the max. Restaurants across the city are having to decline many reservations and holiday party requests for the weeks ahead, sometimes turning PAGE 24

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E AT + D R I N K

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FORK & CENTER PAGE 23

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away long-standing customers. They often are fielding angry responses as a result. Christmas Eve is always one of the busiest days at Commander’s Palace, right up there with Mother’s Day. Most tables are reserved by the same regulars year after year. But this year, Commander’s Palace will close for Christmas Eve. It’s an effect of the pressure the restaurant’s limited staff has faced. “We’re doing that for our team,” says Commander’s Palace co-owner Ti Martin. “They’re worn out, beat up, exhausted, as much by working as by some of the customer interactions around Covid.” Galatoire’s Restaurant, which famously doesn’t take reservations for its main dining room, requires them now. It’s a holdover from when restaurants were required to collect contact tracing information, but now it’s a vital tool to meet high demand with limited staffing, says restaurant president and CEO Melvin Rodrigue. Restaurant workers were laid off en masse in 2020 when restaurants were ordered to close their dining rooms in the coronavirus fight. Rehiring staff has been slow and fitful through the undulating course of the crisis since. While this is a national issue, many New Orleans operators say Hurricane Ida essentially forced a restart. Commander’s Palace is operating at about 60% capacity due to staffing, Martin says, which she calls “unsustainable” for the business. What’s most difficult for her is having to turn down regulars looking to return for the holidays. That extends to her own family: When her aunt Dottie Brennan, once a proprietor of the restaurant herself, asked for a holiday reservation, Martin had to say no. “We pride ourselves on holding back tables for locals and regulars, but it got past us this year,” Martin says. “We hope folks understand this is just a pause.” At Antoine’s Restaurant, the city’s oldest restaurant and a repository of many local traditions, manager Lisa Blount has been urging some regulars to change the particulars of their plans this year. That might mean moving to lunch instead of dinner, or limiting the size of a group. It’s a chessboard of decisions between requests, days on the calendar and staff on hand to work certain days; often she’s had to simply turn down the business.

“We’re optimistic, but also realistic,” she says. “We want to set the expectations. We don’t want people to have a sub-par experience.” For some upcoming December nights, Antoine’s is booking much less business than it normally would. On Christmas Eve, for instance, the restaurant will serve 375 people, compared to more than 800 in pre-pandemic years. “People want it to be like it used to be,” Blount says. “We want that too, but it’s taking time.” The rub is that restaurants badly need to do more business after such a long stretch of shutdowns and business restrictions. “We want you to come in, we need you to come in,” says Edgar “Dooky” Chase IV, chef at his family’s landmark Dooky Chase’s Restaurant. “The challenge that restaurants have is maintaining that balance. You want to give the best possible service, and you don’t want to exhaust the employees you do have. There are only so many doubles you can work.” Holidays are always big for Dooky Chase’s, especially with expat New Orleanians coming home to visit family. One way Chase has learned to serve more people than his staff can handle is with takeout, family-style menus for home. These have been a key part of the business through the pandemic, and they continue at Thanksgiving. Commander’s Palace similarly has family-style meals through its adjacent takeout shop, Le Petit Bleu, developed during the pandemic. While this holiday season will invariably be different, some restaurateurs are already seeing that a little flexibility can go a long way. The most popular restaurant for holiday events in Mr. Ed’s Restaurant Group is Austin’s in Metairie. Owner Ed McIntyre says the restaurant is now fully staffed, but demand is still outstripping capacity for the most popular days. Some customers are opting for McIntyre’s more casual Mr. Ed’s Oyster Bar and Fish House, which has room for parties and a covered patio. “It’s all the groups and friends and clubs we see every year, but that we didn’t see last year because of Covid,” McIntyre says. “The phone is ringing a lot from them. Everyone wants to get back at it, and that’s good to see.” — IAN McNULTY/ THE TIMES PICAYUNE

Michael Bruno

OF THE

WEEK

Chef by Will Coviello DURING THE PANDEMIC, MICHAEL BRUNO STARTED THE FILIPINO POP-UP Kusina.

He grew up in New York and Florida and moved to New Orleans to work at Shaya before the pandemic. This week, he and partner Ruby Ruhala bring Kusina to Miel Brewery from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 26, and Parleaux Beer Lab beginning at 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 27. For information, find @kusinanola on Instagram.

How did you get into cooking Filipino food? MICHAEL BRUNO: I have been cooking all my life. I am half Italian, half Filipino. I ate a lot of Filipino food growing up, but not just Filipino food. At holidays, it was always a big feast, and sometimes we would order lechon (whole roasted pig). At home, we’d eat pancit palabok (noodles with shrimp sauce), lumpia (spring rolls), dinuguan (pork blood stew) and adobo (pork stew). Dinuguan is one of my favorite things. It’s pork blood stew. It’s got really deep flavor, but it’s not bloody. It’s got a lot of ginger, lemon grass, garlic, a little tanginess from some vinegar. It’s really comforting for me. It’s served with puto, which are little steamed cakes with a sweet taste. I have been cooking in restaurants since I was 16. It was the first job I got, and I started thinking of doing it as a career. My dad passed away when I was 19, and I moved back to New York. I was living in Queens and went to the International Culinary Center. It used to be known as the French Culinary Institute. I was there for a couple of years and did some internships. I moved back to Florida, and during those years, I came to New Orleans on vacation. I was like, “This place is awesome,” and the restaurant scene is something else, so I decided to move here. I started working at Shaya, but I was furloughed during the pandemic. My friend was like, “Man, just start selling food.” So I started doing that. Originally, I started Pasta Luna, doing pasta sales from my house, but it didn’t really work out. After a couple months I switched over to Filipino because I could vend at some places. It was a year ago. I started at Nolavore Commissary Kitchen. There was a Thursday night market, and I was one of the food

PHOTO PROVIDED BY MICHAEL BRUNO

vendors. I started out with a little charcoal grill, a wok and a table. I started with chicken and pork barbecue skewers and veggie pancit. Pancit just means noodles. It could be egg noodles or glass noodles stir fried with vegetables, garlic and soy sauce. Now, I am at Gasa Gasa most Fridays. I pop-up at Parleaux and Miel. Sometimes I am at the Broadside and Broad Theater. I have done a second line. I have been at Pepp’s Pub and Henry’s Uptown Bar. I try to stay away from Frenchmen Street. I want to serve locals because I am making a brand for myself.

At pop-ups, how familiar are your customers with Filipino food? B: Filipino food is here. People should know more about it. One of the oldest Filipino communities in America was less than 100 miles away — St. Malo. There are three active Filipino pop-ups in the city now. Some people who moved here from California know Filipino food and they miss ube, adobo and lumpia. A lot of people don’t know what to expect. Sometimes they think it’s like Chinese food, or ask, “Is it spicy?” But Filipino food is a blend of East and West. There are a lot of European and Asian techniques and flavor profiles. Surprisingly, it’s not very spicy — some regions are — but it’s not chili heavy. I was worried certain names would intimidate people — not knowing what something is, like

bagoong (shrimp paste). But I would always cook barbecue for my friends, and they were like “Why don’t you sell this?” I might have to do a little bit of explaining.

What dishes do you like to serve at Kusina pop-ups? B: I change the menu every couple of weeks. I like to do a mix of traditional (dishes) and contemporary stuff that’s just good food with Filipino flavor. My best-selling traditional thing is pork adobo. I use pork shoulder, soy, cane vinegar, garlic, peppercorn, bay leaf and fish sauce. I braise it for three hours and serve it over jasmine rice and tomato-onion salad. Something more modern would be bagoong Brussels sprouts. Bagoong is a Filipino fermented shrimp paste. It’s used as a condiment or a flavoring for sauces, soups and stews. I make a vinaigrette with it and then deep fry Brussels sprouts and toss them in with the vinaigrette, shaved red onions, green onions and cilantro and top it off with peanuts, golden raisins and crispy garlic. Ube is a purple taro that’s native to the Philippines. It’s a super common dessert flavor. It’s got a nutty, almost vanilla flavor. I do a few things with it. My most popular ube dessert is ube cheesecake. It has a Marias cookie crust. They’re like digestive biscuits — not too sweet, but buttery. I make a whipped coconut cream and top it with toasted coconut. I have a sweet tooth, so I like to make good desserts.

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504-309-4717

Out 2 Eat is an index of Gambit contract advertisers. Unless noted, addresses are for New Orleans and all accept credit cards. Updates: Email willc@gambitweekly.com or call (504) 483-3106.

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 char-grilled oysters and more. Reservations recommended. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. $$

Chef Ron’s Gumbo Stop — 2309 N. Causeway Blvd., Metairie, (504) 8352022; gumbostop.com — The Seafood Platter includes fried catfish, shrimp, oysters, crab balls fries and a side. Delivery available. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sat. $$ Kosher Cajun New York Deli & Grocery — 3519 Severn Ave., Metairie, (504) 8882010; koshercajun.com — This New Yorkstyle deli specializes in sandwiches, including corned beef and pastrami. Lunch Sun.-Thu., dinner Mon.-Thu. $ Martin Wine Cellar — 714 Elmeer Ave., Metairie, (504) 896-7350; martinwine. com — See Uptown section for restaurant description. No reservations. Lunch daily. $$ Nephew’s Ristorante — 4445 W. Metairie Ave., Metairie, (504) 533-9998; nephewsristorante.com — The CreoleItalian menu features dishes like veal, eggplant or chicken parmigiana, and Mama’s Eggplant with red gravy and Romano cheese. Reservations required. Dinner Tue.-Sat. $$ Theo’s Neighborhood Pizza — 2125 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, (504) 510-4282; theospizza.com — See Harahan/Jefferson section for restaurant description. $ Short Stop Po-Boys — 119 Transcontinental Drive, Metairie, (504) 8854572; shortstoppoboysno.com — Fried Louisiana oysters and Gulf shrimp are served on a Leidenheimer loaf with lettuce, tomato, onions and pickles. No reservations. Breakfast, lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat. $

JEFFERSON/RIVER RIDGE

MID-CITY/TREME

CBD Juan’s Flying Burrito — 515 Baronne St., (504) 529-5825; juansflyingburrito.com — See Uptown section for restaurant description. Outdoor dining available. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Thu.-Tue. $$

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$ — average dinner entrée under $10 $$ — $11-$20 $$$ — $20-up

Mid City Pizza — 6307 S. Miro St., (504) 509-6224; midcitypizza.com — See MidCity section for restaurant description. Delivery available. Lunch Thu.-Sun., dinner Thu.-Mon. $$ Mikimoto — 3301 S. Carrollton Ave., (504) 488-1881; mikimotosushi.com — The South Carrollton roll includes tuna tataki, avocado and snow crab. Delivery available. Lunch Sun.-Fri., dinner daily. $$

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

FRENCH QUARTER

The Rivershack Tavern — 3449 River Road, (504) 834-4938; therivershacktavern.com — This bar and music spot serves burgers, sandwiches and lunch specials. Delivery available. Lunch and dinner daily. $ Theo’s Neighborhood Pizza — 1212 S. Clearview Parkway, Elmwood, (504) 733-3803; theospizza.com — Choose from specialty pies, salads, sandwiches and more. Delivery available. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sat. $

LAKEVIEW The Blue Crab Restaurant and Oyster Bar — 7900 Lakeshore Drive, (504) 2842898; thebluecrabnola.com — The menu includes sandwiches, fried seafood platters, boiled seafood, shrimp and grits and more. Outdoor seating available. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sun. $$ Lakeview Brew Coffee Cafe — 5606 Canal Blvd., (504) 483-7001; lakeviewbrew.com — This casual cafe offers coffee, pastries, desserts, sandwiches and salads. Delivery are available. Breakfast and lunch daily. $

METAIRIE Andrea’s Restaurant — 3100 N. 19th St., Metairie, (504) 834-8583; andreasrestaurant.com — Chef Andrea Apuzzo’s speckled trout royale is topped with crabmeat and lemon-cream sauce. Delivery available. Lunch and dinner daily, brunch Sun. $$$

Angelo Brocato’s — 214 N. Carrollton Ave., (504) 486-1465; angelobrocatoicecream.com — Try house-made gelato, spumoni, Italian ice, cannolis, fig cookies and other treats. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sun. $ Juan’s Flying Burrito — 4724 S. Carrollton Ave., (504) 486-9950; juansflyingburrito.com — See Uptown section for restaurant description. Outdoor dining available. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Thu.-Tue. $$ Katie’s Restaurant — 3701 Iberville St., (504) 488-6582; katiesinmidcity. com — The Boudreaux pizza is topped with cochon de lait, spinach, red onions, roasted garlic and scallions. Delivery available. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sun. $$ Mid City Pizza — 4400 Banks St., (504) 483-8609; midcitypizza.com — Shrimp remoulade pizza includes spinach, red onion, garlic, basil and green onions on an garlic-olive oil brushed curst. Delivery available. Lunch Thu.-Sun., dinner Thu.-Mon. $$ Neyow’s Creole Cafe — 3332 Bienville St., (504) 827-5474; neyows.com — The menu includes red beans with fried chicken or pork chops, as well as grilled or fried seafood plates, po-boys, raw or char-grilled oysters, pasta, salads and more. Lunch daily, dinner Mon.-Sat., brunch Sun. $$ Theo’s Neighborhood Pizza — 4024 Canal St., (504) 302-1133; theospizza. com — See Harahan/Jefferson section for restaurant description. $

NORTHSHORE The Blue Crab Restaurant and Oyster Bar — 118 Harbor View Court, Slidell, (985) 315-7001; thebluecrabnola.com — See Lakeview section for restaurant description. No reservations. Lunch Fri.Sat., dinner Wed.-Sun. $$ 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 — Sauteed trout Tchoupitoulas is topped with shrimp and crabmeat and served with vegetables and potatoes. Delivery available. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat., brunch Sun. $$ Juan’s Flying Burrito — 2018 Magazine St., (504) 569-0000; 5538 Magazine St., (504) 897-4800; juansflyingburrito.com — The Flying Burrito includes grilled steak, shrimp, chicken, cheddar-jack cheese, black beans, yellow rice, salsa la fonda, guacamole and sour cream. Outdoor seating available. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Thu.-Tue. $$ Martin Wine Cellar — 3827 Baronne St., (504) 894-7444; martinwine.com — The Sena salad includes pulled roasted chicken, golden raisins, blue cheese, pecans and field greens tossed with Tobasco pepperjelly vinaigrette. No reservations. Lunch daily. $$ Red Gravy — 4206 Magazine St., (504) 561-8844; redgravycafe.com — Thin cannoli pancakes are filled with cannoli cream and topped with chocolate. Reservations accepted. Dinner Wed.Sat., brunch Sun. $$ Theo’s Neighborhood Pizza — 4218 Magazine St., (504) 894-8554; theospizza. com — See Harahan/Jefferson section for restaurant description. $ Tito’s Ceviche & Pisco — 5015 Magazine St., (504) 267-7612; titoscevichepisco. com — Peruvian mlomo saltado features beef tenderloin tips sauteed with onions, tomatoes, cilantro, soy sauce and pisco, and served with fried potatoes and rice. Outdoor seating and delivery available. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat., brunch Sun. $$$

WAREHOUSE DISTRICT Annunciation — 1016 Annunciation St., (504) 568-0245; annunciationrestaurant.com — The menu highlights Gulf seafood in Creole, Cajun and Southern dishes. Fried oysters and skewered bacon are served with meuniere sauce and toasted French bread. Reservations required. Dinner Thu.-Sun. $$$

WEST BANK Asia — Boomtown Casino & Hotel, 4132 Peters Road, Harvey, (504) 364- 8812; boomtownneworleans.com — Restaurateur Tri La’s menu serves Chinese and Vietnamese dishes, including a Lau Hot Pot with a choice of scallops, snow crab or shrimp. Reservations accepted. Dinner Fri.-Sun. $$ Mosca’s — 4137 Highway 90 West, Westwego, (504) 436-8950; moscasrestaurant.com — This family-style eatery serves shrimp Mosca, chicken a la grande and baked oysters Mosca. Dinner Wed.-Sat. Cash only. $$$

MUSIC

G A M B I T > B E S T O F N E WO R L E A N S . C O M > N OV E M B E R 2 3 - 2 9 > 2 0 2 1

F O R C O M P L E T E M U S I C L I S T I N G S A N D M O R E E V E N T S TA K I N G P L AC E I N T H E N E W O R L E A N S A R E A , V I S I T C A L E N D A R . G A M B I T W E E K LY. C O M To learn more about adding your event to the music calendar, please email listingsedit@gambitweekly.com

Note: Due to COVID-19, events may have certain restrictions or may be postponed; we recommend checking out a venues social media sites or call before you go for the most up to dateinformation.

TUESDAY 23 BAYOU BAR AT THE PONTCHARTRAIN HOTEL — Peter Harris Quartet, 7 pm CHICKIE WAH WAH — The Shake em Up Jazz Band, 7 pm DOS JEFES — Tom Hook, Wendell Brunious, 8:30 pm KITCHEN TABLE CAFÉ — Kitchen Table Cafe Trio, 6:30 pm NEW ORLEANS JAZZ MUSEUM — Soul Brass Band, 5 pm SIDNEY'S SALOON — Steve Detroy, 9 pm

WEDNESDAY 24 BAYOU BAR AT THE PONTCHARTRAIN HOTEL — Peter Harris Trio, 7 pm CHICKIE WAH WAH — Danny Burns, 7 pm D.B.A. NEW ORLEANS — Tin Men, 6 pm; Walter "Wolfman" Washington & the Roadmasters, 9 pm DOS JEFES — The Mark Coleman Trio, 8:30 pm MADAME VIC'S — Marty Peters & the Party Meters, 8 pm PALM COURT JAZZ CAFE — Greg Stafford with Palm Court Jazz Band, 7:30 pm PEACOCK ROOM, HOTEL FONTENOT — Jordan Anderson, 6 pm REPUBLIC NOLA — Kai Wachi, 10 pm ROCK 'N' BOWL — The Tower Project: A Tribute to Tower of Power, 8 pm SANTOS — Swamp Moves with Russell Welch, 8 pm SOUTHPORT HALL LIVE MUSIC & PARTY HALL — Dead End Blues Band , 7 pm THE JAZZ PLAYHOUSE — Funkin' It Up with Big Sam, 7:30 pm TIPITINA'S — Covered in Earl! A Tribute to Earl "Trickbag" King, 8 pm

THURSDAY 25 BAMBOULAS — Hot Toddy and His Fully Dressed PoBoys, 5:30 pm; Ghalia Volt Blues, 9 pm BUFFA'S — Tom McDermott and Aurora Nealand, 7 & 9 pm PEACOCK ROOM, HOTEL FONTENOT — Da Lovebirds with Robin Barnes, 8 pm ROCK 'N' BOWL — Geno Delafose & French Rockin' Boogie, 8 pm SIDNEY'S SALOON — DarkLounge Ministries, 6 pm THE JAZZ PLAYHOUSE — Sierra Green, 7:30 pm

FRIDAY 26 BAMBOULAS — The Villains , 2 pm; Les Getrex N Creole Cooking, 6:30 pm; City of Trees, 10 pm BAYOU BAR AT THE PONTCHARTRAIN HOTEL — Peter Harris Trio, 7 pm

BOURREE — Rosalynn de Roose Duo, 4 pm; Tim Neilson, 7 pm BUFFA'S — James Evans Quartet, 7 & 9 pm CARNAVAL LOUNGE — Lynn Drury, 6 pm; Sunrise: Sunset/Eat the Witch/ Megalomania, 9 pm CHICKIE WAH WAH — Phil DeGruy, 8 pm; New Orleans Guitar Masters, 9 pm D.B.A. NEW ORLEANS — Smoking Time Jazz Club, 5 pm; Blind Texas Marlin, 9 pm DOS JEFES — Joe Krown and Jason Ricci, 9 pm JAZZ @ THE BLUE DOG — Alicia Renee aka Blue Eyes, 7 pm MADAME VIC'S — Jeff Chaz Blues Band, 7 pm NEUTRAL GROUND COFFEE HOUSE — JP Dufour, 7:30 pm; Jay Walkers, 9 pm PALM COURT JAZZ CAFE — Kevin Louis & Topsy Chapman with Palm Court Jazz Band, 7:30 pm ROCK 'N' BOWL — Bucktown Allstars, 8:30 pm SAENGER THEATRE — “Rent,” 8 pm SANTOS — Strangelove (Depeche Mode Experience), Electric Duke and Temple of Mercy , 8 pm SNUG HARBOR JAZZ BISTRO — Victor Goines Quartet, 8 & 10 pm SOUTHPORT HALL LIVE MUSIC & PARTY HALL — Puddle of Mudd & Fighting For Frequency, 7 pm THE FOUNTAIN LOUNGE AT THE ROOSEVELT HOTEL — Sam Kuslan, 6 pm THE JAZZ PLAYHOUSE — Burlesque Ballroom feat. Romy Kaye, 7 & 9 pm THE TOULOUSE THEATRE — Ju9cey album release, 9 pm TIPITINA'S — Papdosio, 10 pm ZONY MASH BEER PROJECT — Dave Jordan & The NIA, 7 pm

SATURDAY 27 ACE HOTEL NEW ORLEANS — Jodeci Juice Joint, 9 pm BAMBOULAS — G & The Swinging Gypsies, 2 pm; Johnny Mastro Blues, 6:30 pm; Crawdaddy T’s Cajun/ Zydeo Review, 10 pm BAYOU BAR AT THE PONTCHARTRAIN HOTEL — Jordan Anderson, 8 pm BOURREE — Samantha Pearl, 2 pm; The Chandeleurs, 6 pm BUFFA'S — Marla Dixon, 7 & 9 pm CARNAVAL LOUNGE — James Rose, 6 pm CHICKIE WAH WAH — Bill Kirchen, 8 pm D.B.A. NEW ORLEANS — Shake Em Up Jazz Band, 5 pm; Nathan & the Zydeco Cha-Chas, 10 pm DOS JEFES — Sunpie & The Louisiana Sunspots, 9 pm JAZZ @ THE BLUE DOG — Alicia Renee aka Blue Eyes, 7 pm

KITCHEN TABLE CAFÉ — Bad Penny Pleasuremakers, 6:30 pm MADAME VIC'S — Obliquestra with Dr. Sick, 8 pm NEUTRAL GROUND COFFEE HOUSE — Joel Willson, 7:30 pm; Mike True and the Phantom Band, 9 pm NOLA BREWING COMPANY — Anders Osborne, "Jumpin' Johnny Sansone and John Fohl, 6:30 pm OLD POINT BAR — Cast Iron Cactus, 6:30 pm PALM COURT JAZZ CAFE — Palm Court Jazz Band, 7:30 pm ROCK 'N' BOWL — Category 6, 8:30 pm SAENGER THEATRE — “Rent,” 1 & 8 pm; SANTOS — Strangelove (Depeche Mode Experience) with WeBop and INTXS, 8 pm SNUG HARBOR JAZZ BISTRO — Stanton Moore Trio, 8 & 10 pm THE FOUNTAIN LOUNGE AT THE ROOSEVELT HOTEL — Sam Kuslan, 6 pm THE JAZZ PLAYHOUSE — The Nayo Jones Experience, 7:30 pm THE TOULOUSE THEATRE — Trumpet Mafia with Nicholas Payton, 9 pm

SUNDAY 28 BAMBOULAS — NOLA Ragweeds Jazz, 2 pm; The Somerton Suitcase, 6 pm; NOLA R&B Review, 6:30 pm; Ed Wills Blues 4 Sale, 10 pm BOURREE — Dusky Waters, 2 pm BUFFA'S — Some Like It Hot, 11 am & 1 pm; Hannah KB and Meryl Z, 7 & 9 pm CARNAVAL LOUNGE — Ainsley Matic, 6 pm; Dr. Sick and the Late Greats record release, 9 pm

PHOTO BY BRIAN KOZAK Walter “Wolfman” Washington plays at D.B.A. Weds the 24th D.B.A. NEW ORLEANS — Palmetto Bug Stompers, 4 pm; Treme Brass Band, 9 pm DOS JEFES — Richard "Piano" Scott, 8 pm LE BON TEMPS ROULE — Doctor Lo, 8 pm MADAME VIC'S — Sleaze Ball Orchestra, 7 pm NEW ORLEANS JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER — Community Chanukah Celebration, 2 pm NOLA BREWING COMPANY — Lynn Drury Band, 3 pm PALM COURT JAZZ CAFE — Mark Braud and Sunday Night Swingsters, 7:30 pm SAENGER THEATRE — “Rent,” 1 pm SNUG HARBOR JAZZ BISTRO — Tom McDermott & Aurora Nealand, 8 & 10 pm THE MAISON RESTAURANT AND MUSIC CLUB — New Leviathan Oriental Foxtrot Orchestra, 4 pm

MONDAY 29 BUFFA'S — Leslie Cooper & Harry Mayronne with Doyle Cooper, 7 & 9 pm CHICKIE WAH WAH — Oscar Rossignoli Trio, 7 pm DOS JEFES — John Fohl, 8:30 pm THE FOUNTAIN LOUNGE AT THE ROOSEVELT HOTEL — Sam Kuslan, 5:30 pm

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and wasn’t particularly funny, it’s had a silver lining for Mark Normand. After recording his hour-long show “Out to Lunch” a couple of months before the shutdowns, he released it on YouTube in May 2020. It notched its 8 millionth view last week. “Turns out Covid was a good time to put out content, because people were absorbing, absorbing, absorbing,” Normand says from his home in New York. “I started the (‘We Might Be Drunk’) podcast, and started my own podcast, ‘All Over the Road.’ ” While Normand has been busy making podcasts — including his long-running “Tuesdays with Stories!” with comedian Joe List — and videos for the Patreon page he started, he also got back on the road as quickly as possible. This week, he returns to his hometown of New Orleans and the club where he had his first paid comedy gig, The Howlin’ Wolf. There are shows at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 26. In “Out to Lunch,” Normand shows a knack for finding a touchy subject and teasing the possibility he might say something inappropriate. He takes on issues of race and gender, and makes jokes about pedophilia, prejudice, obesity, school shootings and “midgets,” a term now considered derogatory. He’s also not thin skinned, and jokes about himself being a bedwetter and having a passive aggressive mother. He’s keenly aware of terms that have become verboten and the social consequences of using them. He lunges at the taboo material by comparing them to drinking. “Offensive words are like alcohol,” he says in the special. “Sure, you can abuse it, and sure, you can hurt people, but if you do it responsibly, it’s a good time.” He sticks with the booze issue by proposing that there should be speakeasies where people can partake of the illicit stuff. The joke’s all in the passwords. “I am not even trying to be provocative or offensive,” he says. “I am just joking about things that I think are interesting. That really bothers people. There are certain buzzy

P H O T O B Y M AT T S A L A C U S E

terms like ‘trans,’ or ‘gay’ or ‘Black’ or whatever and people are like, ‘Whoa, whoa, whoa!’ And you’re like, ‘I haven’t even said anything bad yet. You heard a certain word and got angry or assumed the worst. You’re not even listening anymore.’ ” Normand says it’s more a sign of the times than the specific politics. “Things have changed,” he says. “Social media stuff really emboldened people. They feel entitled to their opinion. Comedy is one of the last places you can tell the truth. Now the truth is more offensive than actually offensive stuff.” He says people have tried to triangulate his beliefs based on his appreciation of the comedy of Dave Chappelle, who has been criticized recently for remarks about gender. “I know (comics) who were blowing up, who sell out theaters, and certain networks won’t touch them because they’re controversial,” he says. “I am like, hey, have you heard of Richard Pryor, Lenny Bruce, George Carlin, Sam Kinison, Eddie Murphy, Howard Stern? The whole thing was going against the grain. Not playing the game is rock-star shit. I thought that was what we were going for. Everybody is nervous.” Normand says he just stays focused on writing new jokes and a heavy schedule of gigs. He’s been on numerous late-night TV shows and done a special for Comedy Central. The network didn’t buy “Out to Lunch,” but after its success online, he’s happy that he owns it. He has a half-hour special coming up in the third season of Netflix’s comedy series, “The Standups,” which will be available on Dec. 26.

PAGE 5

Chief,” recorded by Professor Longhair. This all-star tribute to King features Ivan Neville, Deacon John, Walter “Wolfman” Washington, Samantha Fish, Tony Hall and many more. At 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 24, at Tipitina’s. A portion of proceeds benefits the New Orleans Musicians’ Clinic. Tickets $45$50 at tipitinas.com.

Louisiana Sunshine Festival THE LOUISIANA SOLAR FUND, FEED THE SECOND LINE AND GLASS HALF FULL present music, a film screening and more at the Louisiana Sunshine Festival on Sunday, Nov. 28, at The Broadside. The entertainment lineup includes the Lost Bayou Ramblers with guests including Lady Red and the 79rs Gang, and there are performances by Amigos do Samba, Julie Odell and Corey Henry & The Treme Funktet. There’s also a screening of “On Va Continuer,” a documentary about The Lost Bayou Ramblers and Cajun culture. Food includes gumbo, red beans and barbecue — and oysters for those who buy the highest tier tickets. Proceeds support the Louisiana Solar Fund, and Feed the Second Line and Glass Half Full’s Get Lit Stay Lit program. The festival is from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tickets $20-$75 via broadsidenola.com.

The Bayou Classic THE GRAMBLING STATE TIGERS AND SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY JAGUARS battle each other in football at 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 27, in the Caesars Superdome. The school’s marching bands face off in the Battle of the Bands in the Dome at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 26. Other events include a parade through the French Quarter to the Dome Saturday morning, followed by a fan fest with live music and DJs from noon to 3:30 p.m. in Champions Square. Visit mybayouclassic.com for a schedule of events and tickets.

PJ Morton AFTER WINNING A COUPLE OF R&B GRAMMY AWARDS, PJ Morton won one this year for his gospel album “Gospel According to PJ.” He got back in his R&B groove with the October release of the single “Please Don’t Walk Away.” He performs at 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 26, at The Fillmore. Tickets $35 at ticketmaster.com.

Irma Thomas documentary SINGER IRMA THOMAS IS CELEBRATED IN ANOTHER NEW DOCUMENTARY ABOUT HER CAREER. “Irma Thomas:

Soul Queen of New Orleans — A Concert Documentary Film” premieres at 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 28, on WLAE. The film features an overview of her career and concert footage, as well as never-before-aired film of her working with Allen Toussaint. The documentary will be rebroadcast at 9 p.m. Sunday and in December. Visit wlae.com for details.

‘RENT’ ‘RENT’ IS THE STORY OF YOUNG ARTISTS

AND BOHEMIANS LIVING IN LOWER MANHATTAN, scraping by and trying

to launch their careers, all overshadowed by the HIV/AIDS pandemic. The musical debuted on Broadway in 1996 and ran for a dozen years. Now, on its 25th anniversary, the touring production arrives in New Orleans for five shows at Saenger Theatre. There are 1 p.m. matinees Friday, Nov. 26, through Sunday, Nov. 28, and shows at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Find tickets on ticketmaster.com.

Zony Arts Bazaar ZONY MASH BEER PROJECT KICKS OFF A SERIES OF SATURDAY HOLIDAY ARTS MARKETS on Nov. 27. Charlie &

The Tropicales provide music and there’s food from Zee’s Pizzeria. Vendors offer jewelry, ceramics, art, macramé, plants, cosmetics, healing and food products and more. The market is open from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and the series continues through Dec. 18. For more information, visit zonymashbeer.com.

Bill Kirchen THE “TITAN OF THE TELECASTER,” GUITARIST AND SINGER BILL KIRCHEN

blends rock, country and blues. He performs at 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 27, at Chickie Wah Wah. Tickets $20 on chickiewahwah.com.

Grateful Dead Tribute FAUBOURG BREWERY HOSTS THREE DAYS OF GRATEFUL DEAD TRIBUTES,

with both tribute bands and bands made up of moonlighting local musicians including Papa Mali, Dave Easley, Sam Price and others. There’s music from 4:30-7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 26, and 12:30-6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 27, and Sunday, Nov. 28. There’s also free vegan chicken sandwiches on Saturday from the Pollo Project. Free admission. Visit faubourgbrewery.com for schedule.

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Cameo Appearances

“Slaughterhouse Five,” but its success was likely amplified by being released during the Vietnam War. His books often reflected timely issues. He became a figure in pop culture — with the help of serendipitous spots on TV and film. Weide went on to other projects, and he became an Emmy-winning director of Larry David’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and other shows. He also made a documentary about comedian Lenny Bruce. Vonnegut died in 2007. But it would take Weide years before he would return to his film footage and finish his documentary. Weide and Vonnegut became friends over the years. He directed a movie version of one of the novels, and Vonnegut named a character after Weide in a later book. Because of their connection, Weide becomes part of the story, and he’s not shy about having the cameras point at himself. Weide draws from film he shot in the 1980s through later in Vonnegut’s life, as well as plenty of material from other sources, including the writer’s home movies. He doesn’t mention if they ever discussed when Weide would finish the project. But being friends provided him plenty of access. It’s a unique circumstance for approaching a subject, and as either a fan or a friend, Weide produces a very warm portrait that is at times a self portrait.

PHOTO COURTESY OF C. MINNICK AND B PLUS PRODS

by Will Coviello KURT VONNEGUT OFTEN DREW RATHER DIRECTLY ON HIS OWN EXPERIENCES in his novels. “Slaughterhouse-

Five,” a pivotal success in his career, was based on his time as a prisoner of war after his unit was captured by Germans at the Battle of the Bulge. Vonnegut and other prisoners took shelter in a slaughterhouse meat locker in Dresden while the Allies reduced the city to rubble in bombing runs. The prisoners were tasked with excavating the bodies of the dead. The novel is extremely clear about its anti-war politics, but Vonnegut also is known for his dark sense of humor and premises, and incorporating bits of sci-fi, such as time travel. Books like “Breakfast of Champions,” filled with his own illustrations, including vulgar ones, were popular on college campuses. In his later years, Vonnegut was a reliably entertaining commentator on cable TV. Hosts like Bill Maher and Jon Stewart could count on him for blunt and funny insights. He stole “The Daily Show” from a near speechless Stewart when he said he thought the Earth’s immune system was trying to rid itself of humans. With his gruff charm, the writer seems like a ripe figure for a documentary retrospective. Director Robert Weide’s “Kurt Vonnegut: Unstuck in Time” starts like such a project but also is intriguing for what’s unconventional about it.

Gifting

Local

Vonnegut led a fascinating early life. He grew up in a wealthy family in Indiana that was wiped out by the Depression. He apparently had a joyful childhood, but his mother became depressed and abusive following the financial collapse. Vonnegut’s beloved sister died of cancer at a young age, and he adopted her four children. He tried writing publicity for General Electric and ran a Saab dealership before he established himself as a short story writer. He eventually released 14 novels, including “Cat’s Cradle,” “Galapagos” and “Deadeye Dick.” Critics often gave him mixed reviews, but many of his books were best sellers. Vonnegut moved to New York and lived as a literary celebrity. Weide was 23 when he initially contacted Vonnegut about doing a documentary. He started filming in 1982, but it became a never-ending project. Vonnegut’s career benefited from timing. It took him a while to tackle the personal subject matter in

“Kurt Vonnegut: Unstuck in Time” opens Nov. 26 at Zeitgeist Theatre & Lounge.

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