December 1-7, 2020 Volume 41 // Number 46
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ESPLANADE
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CONTENTS
DEC. 1 — 7, 2020 VOLUME 41 | NUMBER 46 NEWS
OPENING GAMBIT
6
COMMENTARY 8 CLANCY DUBOS
9
BLAKE PONTCHARTRAIN 11
Holiday Spirit
PULLOUT
DETAILS
HEADQUARTERS
FEATURES
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 5 EAT + DRINK
20
GOING OUT: HOLIDAY EVENTS
28
FILM 29 PUZZLES 31 EXCHANGE 31
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13
@GambitNewOrleans
Don’t Do Whatcha Wanna
From the Spanish Flu to the App Store, New Orleans relearns how to Mardi Gras
COVER PHOTO BY JOHN STANTON COVER DESIGN BY DORA SISON CORONAVIRUS MONSTER ILLUSTRATION BY GETTY IMAGES/LCOSMO
MAKERS MARK
MAKERS MARK 46
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STAFF
Publisher | JEANNE EXNICIOS FOSTER
EDITORIAL
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Editor | JOHN STANTON Political Editor | CLANCY DUBOS
Advertising Director | SANDY STEIN BRONDUM (504) 483-3150 [sstein@gambitweekly.com]
Arts & Entertainment Editor | WILL COVIELLO
Senior Sales Representative
Staff Writers | JAKE CLAPP, KAYLEE POCHE,
JILL GIEGER
SARAH RAVITS
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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.
Oh Little Town of Bywater
Top 40 countdown WWOZ 90.7 FM HAS MADE “FESTING IN PLACE” A THING DURING THE PANDEMIC, rebroadcasting recordings of past festival and concert performances during Jazz Fest, over Labor Day weekend and during the Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival’s dates. The station has been following a similar game plan as it counts down to its 40th birthday on Friday, Dec. 4. One highlight, airing Thursday, Dec. 3, is a 1982 tribute to Professor Longhair that features rare recordings. Station hosts will share their own memories on Friday when introducing songs. Visit wwoz.org for a schedule of daily countdown highlights.
Kitten N’ Lou host a backyard, queer living Nativity BY JAKE CLAPP FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS, campy burlesque couple Kitten N’ Lou have produced a popular, month-long holiday show in Seattle, where Kitten LaRue and Lou Henry Hoover lived for a while before relocating back more full time to New Orleans in recent years. When it became clear that it wouldn’t be possible to produce their Seattle show, “Jingle all the Gay,” in person this year, Kitten N’ Lou started to wonder, “What could we do that is a way for people to still take part in some kind of holiday merriment in a safe way?” LaRue says. They took a hard look at their Bywater backyard, which has a gazebo-esque structure that “literally looks like a manger” and were captured with the idea of performing a Living Nativity — of course, told through a queer, comedic lens. “The nature of a Living Nativity in general is sort of this visual that people can come look at,” LaRue says. “It’s different from your normal theatrical show in that way.” Kitten N’ Lou will present “A Living Nativity: Miracles & Masked Merriment” throughout December in their backyard with a stuffed stocking of drag, burlesque and cabaret performers: Lola Van Ella and Woody Shticks play Mary and Joseph; Jeez Loueez is the sweet baby Jeezus; The North Star will be played by Laveau Contraire; Jason Mejias portrays Angel Gaybriel; Candy Snatch and Havana Goodtime are The Three Wise Thems; and Sweet Magnolia is a Shepherdess. Kitten N’ Lou bookend the Nativity story as Santa and Mrs. Claus, fittingly narrating in rhyming verse from quarantine “in the Bywater deep.” The 30-minute show will be performed at several times on Saturdays, Dec. 5, Dec. 12 and Dec. 19, and on Christmas Eve. Tickets must be purchased in advance, temperatures will be checked for everyone before entering, and face masks are required. The shows are intentionally low capacity, and tickets are limited. General admission is $15, or $20 with an “adult libation” by Kitten N’ Lou’s Chance in Hell Snoballs. A $40 “VIP Angel who
After class warfare LE PETIT THEATRE PRESENTS A VIRTUAL READING OF “THE NORTH POOL,” Rajiv Joseph’s psychological drama in which a high school principal interrogates a new student about his whereabouts in the wake of a school tragedy. The reading is Dec. 3. Visit lepetittheatre. com for the streaming link. supports broke ass artists” ticket also is available, with special seats and an autographed 8x10 photo. A theme of Kitten N’ Lou’s “Jingle All the Gay” was to be a home away from home for people who might be estranged from their families, couldn’t get home for Christmas or for people who might feel like outsiders to the holidays. “That’s kind of the vibe we wanted to present with the Living Nativity,” especially during a year where it might be difficult to get together with others, LaRue says. “At the heart of it is the meaning of family, whether that’s blood family or chosen family, and the importance of hope and community and all of these things.” The coronavirus pandemic has been devastating for drag and burlesque performers, and the holiday season is one of the busiest times of year. Some local performers have been able to pivot to live-streams and virtual events, still for many people those platforms haven’t been able to make up for the lost income. In-person performances are still a rarity, but some producers are trying to find innovative ways to make safe, successful, outdoor shows work. “One of the reasons we wanted to create this Nativity is not just to give audience members a chance to have a safe holiday experience, but also, you know, we want to give artists an opportunity to have some income,” LaRue says.
P R OV I D E D P H OTO B Y M I C H A E L D O U CE T T E
Joy to the World! Kitten N’ Lou will present their take on a Living Nativity in their backyard.
Kitten N’ Lou saw a calendar’s worth of shows get canceled, but they did find some peace in the chaos in the summer by starting Chance In Hell Snoballs, a pop-up from their front porch. “That actually turned out to be a lifesaver for us,” LaRue says. “Not just as a way to kind of help pay some our bills while we don’t have the income, but it gave our life some structure.” Along with the backyard Nativity, Kitten N’ Lou are streaming a virtual edition of their “Jingle All the Gay” show on demand Dec. 4 through Jan. 2, 2021. The project was filmed in Seattle last year and edited with new content and vignettes. There also will be virtual viewing parties on Dec. 11, 13, 19 and 20. ‘A LIVING NATIVITY’ SATURDAYS, DEC. 5, 12 AND 19, AND THURSDAY, DEC. 24 VARIOUS TIMES LOCATION SENT WITH TICKET ADMISSION $15-$40 KITTENANDLOU.COM
Bon temps BON BON VIVANT BLENDS JAZZ, folk and klezmer music on its latest album, “Dancing in the Darkness.” The band celebrates its release with a live show at Broadside at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4. Visit broadsidenola.com for tickets.
Treme second line THE TREME BRASS BAND RECORDS A PERFORMANCE as part of the Krewe of Red Beans’ Lundi Gras album project. Ingrid Lucia also performs. At 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, at Broadside. Tickets are available at broadsidenola.com.
At the improv THE NEW ORLEANS JAZZ MUSEUM HOLDS ITS ANNUAL IMPROVISATIONS GALA with live music in the museum’s courtyard. There are performances by Big Freedia, Dirty Dozen, Dee Dee Bridgewater and Bonerama. The entertainment also will be livestreamed via facebook.com/nolajazzmuseum/live. The event begins at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5. FOR A ROUNDUP OF UPCOMING LIVE HOLIDAY EVENTS, see page 28.
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
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Krewe of Bacchus has devel-
oped an app to replace its 2021 parade with a virtual experience amid the coronavirus pandemic. It’s a great example of krewes being innovative in light of a parade-less New Orleans Carnival season and a way to keep residents safe. The app, “Throw Me Something Bacchus,” will allow users to view floats, listen to marching bands and catch “digital throws.”
The average income of a poor Louisiana household in 2019, according to a recent Loyola University report. A DVO C AT E S TA F F P H OTO B Y S O P H I A G E R M E R
Leslie Ellison listens to public comment before the vote for the Orleans Parish School Board president at a 2019 meeting, which she lost.
DEMOCRATIC DONORS SPLIT OVER ANTI-LGBT SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER LESLIE ELLISON AN ORLEANS PARISH SCHOOL BOARD RACE has split the local
Krewe of Krampus also is
thinking differently about its annual holiday season parade. The Krampus run krewe will host a drive-through version of its walking parade on Saturday, Dec. 5, at the New Orleans Recreation Development Commission headquarters on Franklin Avenue. Krewe members will mask and stay physically distant as cars roll through the new spooky, Alpine-themed Christmas parade route.
Louisiana’s Republican Congressional Delegation
with the exception of Sen. Bill Cassidy has not acknowledged (as of press time on Nov. 25) that Joe Biden won the 2020 Presidential election. Cassidy became the first Republican in Louisiana’s congressional delegation to recognize Biden as the President Elect when he tweeted on Nov. 23 that “the transition should begin for the sake of the country.” No word yet from the normally verbose Sen. John Neely Kennedy.
Democratic Party and some of its major national funders ahead of the Dec. 5 runoff election over one candidate’s long history of antiLGBT comments and actions. The runoff pits incumbent Leslie Ellison, who has repeatedly voiced her anti-LGBT views in public, and Dr. J.C. Romero, chief of staff at charter network Einstein Schools, who is gay. Both are running as Democrats for the District 4 seat — which represents Algiers and parts of the Marigny, Bywater and the French Quarter. Ellison’s history of fighting against protections for LGBT students has caused many prominent local Democrats, including Mayor LaToya Cantrell and City Councilwoman Helena Moreno, to endorse Romero. However, on a national level, one major pro-charter school Democratic group and a billionaire pro-charter campaign funder appear to be financing the groundwork for Ellison’s campaign — even though both Ellison and Romero support charter schools. Democrats for Education Reform (DFER), a national political action committee that advocates for charter schools and more stringent teacher evaluations, gets actively involved in school board races across the country. In the early stages of this campaign, the group appeared ready to sit out the District 4 race by not endorsing any of the candidates. It was the only local school board race in which the group did not make a formal endorsement, according to Leslie Leavoy, the director of the Louisiana chapter of the PAC. “Ms. Ellison’s past statements on issues related to protections for LGBT students are not aligned with our values of equity and inclusion,” Leavoy said in a statement to Gambit. Nevertheless, on Oct. 13, a national group associated with the PAC, Education Reform Now Advocacy (ERNA), donated $150,000 to the Black Alliance for Civic Empowerment (BACE) Action Fund, a PAC that then paid for campaign signs and mailers promoting Ellison’s re-election. Jim Walton, one of the heirs to the Walmart fortune, donated another $150,000 to the BACE Action Fund a week earlier. A spokesperson for Walton declined to comment but did confirm that Walton — whose net worth Forbes estimates is more than $69 billion — made the contribution. Brooks Duplessis, a communications consultant for BACE, told Gambit the PAC “does not directly fund candidates” and merely provides “voter education and resources for candidates of color that represent the New Orleans community members’ best interests.” To that end, BACE paid for signs and mailers that blanketed the district with a message that read, “Re-elect Leslie Ellison.” Beneath
The report by the university’s Jesuit Social Research Institute defined “poor households” as those with incomes in the lowest 25% in the state. By that measure, Louisiana’s income was the second lowest in the country, only ranking higher than Mississippi’s, which was $10,826. For comparison, the national average was $16,830. Given the economic impacts of COVID-19, these numbers have likely gotten significantly worse in 2020.
C’est What
? What are your plans for Mardi Gras 2021 now that parades won’t be part of Carnival season?
44.1%
DECORATING A HAZMAT SUIT TO SOLO MARCH AROUND THE BLOCK
23.5% SKIING IN ASPEN, LIKE USUAL
13.2%
PLAYING THE #REXCOMUS DRINKING GAME TO A RERUN OF LAST YEAR’S MEETING OF THE COURTS
19.2%
SPRAY PAINTING “CHAD” IN THE BACKYARD JUST TO KEEP UP TRADITION
Vote on “C’est What?” at www.bestofneworleans.com
In 2013, when the School Board considered updating its anti-bullying policy to include protections for gay and lesbian students, Ellison moved to strike the protective language from the policy, The Times-Picayune reported. In response, Seth Bloom, who served on the board at the time and is gay, said, “I just find it perplexing that certain minorities seek protection for certain minorities but not for others.” “This has nothing to do with being Black. I can’t change my Blackness at all,” Ellison said, insinuating that being gay is a choice, a claim scientists have debunked. During the same 2013 board meeting, when asked if she believed in the separation of church and state, Ellison, who is also an administrator at nondenominational church Gideon Christian Fellowship International, replied, “There is no such thing.” In 2019, Ellison was in the running to become board president but failed in the wake of community backlash over her anti-LGBT comments. Instead, she continued to serve on the board as its vice president. Ellison’s campaign did not respond to Gambit’s requests for comment. Romero, 30, is an adjunct professor at Delgado Community College and has a doctorate in education. He said he wants to expand seats at the district’s
MASK NOW so we can
top-rated charter schools and plan new schools tailored to STEM programming. Lourdes Moran, a former District 4 board member who has endorsed Romero, said her household received five identical BACE mailers in support of Ellison’s re-election, one for each chronic voter who lives there. “I was a little surprised, knowing who donates to this PAC, why they would donate to such a bigot,” she told Gambit. In the Nov. 3 election, Ellison received just under 50% of the vote with 8,799 votes, while Romero received 25% with 4,471 votes. A third candidate, Winston “Boom” Whitten Jr., a special education teacher and Democrat from Algiers, also received 25% of the vote but came up just 101 votes shy of Romero. In a surprising rebuke of her candidacy, Ellison failed to garner the endorsement of the Orleans Parish Democratic Executive Committee (OPDEC), the local chapter of the national Democratic Party — even though she is a member of the OPDEC board. Meanwhile, District 3 school board member Sarah Newell Usdin, who is a DFER board member, contributed individually to Romero’s campaign and is actively supporting his candidacy. Usdin previously founded and headed New Schools
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for New Orleans, a nonprofit aimed at expanding charter schools. Romero’s long slate of endorsements includes Moran, Bloom, City Councilwoman Kristin Giselson Palmer and Louisiana State Commissioner on Human Rights Richard Perque, as well as the Forum for Equality and Black Organization for Leadership Development (BOLD), according to his campaign’s website. The Independent Democratic Electors Association (IDEA) and the Algiers PAC have endorsed Ellison. Despite his long list of endorsements, Romero struggles to match the money DFER and Walton gave to the BACE Action Fund. Even if the combined $300,000 from DFER and Walton was split among the board’s seven contested elections, it still represents a sizeable infusion of campaign cash — one that confounds some local Democrats. “It’s disconcerting to see that this money is going to somebody who has a troubled record, at least on basic human rights issues,” said Vincenzo Pasquantonio, Romero’s campaign manager and former head of the city’s Office of Human Rights and Equity. “It’s just very disappointing,” he adds. “Human rights have to come first.” — KAYLEE POCHE
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that message the following words appeared: “Paid for by BACE Action Fund Louisiana PAC.” Leavoy said DFER “worked closely” with BACE to support other school board candidates — District 1 incumbent John Brown, District 2 incumbent and board president Ethan Ashley and District 7 incumbent Nolan Marshall. Leavoy didn’t say whether the $150,000 it contributed to the PAC was intended to fund materials promoting Ellison. Ellison, 54, has been on the school board for eight years, and her public anti-LGBT statements date back at least that long. In 2012, she testified at the Louisiana Legislature in favor of a bill by then-Sen. A.G. Crowe that would have allowed charter schools to deny gay students admission. As then-president of the board at New Orleans’ Milestone-Sabis Charter School, she said she refused to sign a contract with the Department of Education because it asked her company to guarantee it wouldn’t discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation. “The Department of Education should not place unjust demands on individuals and education leaders who for religious purposes and religious freedom will not sign off on such a policy,” she said at the committee hearing.
OPENING GAMBIT
‘Tis the season for parties and celebrations. With the holidays upon us, let’s work together so we can get back to the life we love in Louisiana. Wear a mask now to protect yourself, your family and neighbors—so we can party later!
01MK7441 09/20
Learn more about ways to protect yourself at bcbsla.com/covid19
later!
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COMMENTARY
Once more with feeling, Go Vote NO, THIS ISN’T GROUND HOG DAY, there is yet another election coming up
— the Dec. 5th runoff. Some very important local elections remain to be decided, along with the fate of one proposed constitutional amendment, three local property tax millage renewals and, for some voters, the proposed extension of a quarter-penny sales tax in the French Quarter. Below are the endorsements Gambit’s editorial board have voted on making for these races and ballot measures.
PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION:
Allen Borne
Two-term incumbent Eric Skrmetta flagrantly accepts contributions from utilities and other entities that the five-member PSC regulates. Though technically legal, this is an awful practice. Attorney Allen Borne represents a needed break. He pledges to be an independent voice who will not be beholden to the companies he regulates.
NEW ORLEANS DISTRICT ATTORNEY:
Keva Landrum
Landrum is the only candidate who has actually done the job already. In 2007, she literally had to clean up a mess left after the sudden resignation of then-DA Eddie Jordan, whose incompetence reduced the office’s staff and functionality to a rubble. In less than 11 months, Landrum stood the office back up and got it working again. Now the office needs another reboot. We believe Landrum, who most recently served 11 years as a Criminal Court judge, is the right choice to right the ship — again.
ORLEANS SCHOOL BOARD:
5 runoff picks
We make the following endorsements in the five runoffs for seats on the Orleans Parish School Board: in District 2, incumbent Ethan Ashley, who currently serves as board president, has earned another term on the board; in District 4, Dr. “JC” Romero offers a refreshing break from incumbent Leslie Ellison, an outspoken homophobe whose continued presence on the board poses a direct threat to LGBTQ students and their families; in District 5, newcomer Katherine “Katie” Baudouin is a public school parent who worked for years in city government and who promises to expand mental health services across the school system; in District 6, Carlos Zervigon is a former public school teacher and lifelong artist and community leader who will focus on student-centered learning policies; and in District 7, incumbent Nolan Marshall Jr. brings experience as well as leadership in helping return previously state-run charter schools to local oversight.
Amendment 1: YES — Proposed state constitutional Amendment 1 would allow up to two out-of-state residents to serve as atlarge members on each of Louisiana’s four higher education management boards. This is a reasonable practice used by dozens of other states.
Property Tax Millage Renewals: YES — New Orleans has four property tax millages that will expire at the end of 2021. Rather than reflexively seeking renewal of each, Mayor LaToya Cantrell and the City Council are asking voters to repurpose them as three millages, each for 20 years — without increasing the total millage rate. For the reasons outlined below, we recommend voting YES on all three.
Proposition 1, Infrastructure and Maintenance: YES — This new millage combines expiring dedications for streets, traffic control and infrastructure into one millage dedicated to infrastructure and maintenance. The new, combined dedication would generate at least $10.5 million a year — more than $210 million over the 20-year life of the millage — to maintain and upgrade infrastructure projects in all corners of the city. This would be the city’s first dedication of property tax money for maintenance of key assets — an excellent idea.
Proposition 2, Early Childhood Education & Libraries: YES — This proposition is the most controversial, and for good reason. Libraries serve a vital function in our communities, and under normal circumstances reducing their funding would be unthinkable. But these are not normal times: the pandemic has hit the city budget hard this year, and 2021 looks to be as bad. Virtually every city department will take a significant budget hit, including some services that could see 40% reductions. Given the current fiscal climate, there’s no good answer. But if emergency services are going to see cuts, then it follows so too should our libraries, which is why we have made the difficult choice to endorse Proposition 2. A fuller discussion of our decision can be found in the Nov. 19th online commentary announcing our endorsements.
Proposition 3, Housing and Economic Development: YES — Two existing dedications would be combined to generate at least $9 million a year for affordable housing and economic development, two longstanding challenges for New Orleans. While more money is surely needed for these purposes, this is a good start.
French Quarter Management District Sales Tax Renewal: No Endorsement — Voters in the
French Quarter approved a quarter-penny sales tax five years ago to help pay for supplemental police protection from off-duty NOPD officers and State Police. That tax expires on Dec. 31. On Nov. 19, we published an endorsement of the renewal, based
S TA F F P H OTO B Y M A X B E C H ERER / N O L A . C O M , 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
Voters are in the voting booth at St. Maria Goretti Church on Election Day Nov. 3, 2020.
on reports that the Cantrell Administration and the French Quarter Management District, which is a state-created public entity, were in agreement on how the proceeds of the tax would be allocated. Hours after we posted our initial endorsement online, we learned that no such agreement had been formalized — and because of that many Quarter residents now oppose renewal. We therefore have withdrawn our endorsement.
The Gambit Ballot – Dec. 5 Runoffs You can take this ballot with you to vote! Public Service Commissioner | Allen Borne (PARTS OF ORLEANS & JEFFERSON, NORTHSHORE)
New Orleans District Attorney | Keva Landrum ORLEANS PARISH SCHOOL BOARD District 2 | Ethan Ashley District 4 | Dr. J.C. Romero District 5 | Katherine Baudouin District 6 | Carlos Zervigon District 7 | Nolan Marshall Jr. Constitutional Amendment 1 | YES “Higher Ed board members” Property Tax Renewals (No Tax Increase) Proposition 1 (Infrastructure & Maintenance) | YES Proposition 2 (Early Education & Libraries) | YES Proposition 3 (Housing & Economic Dev.) | YES
Early voting is Friday, Nov. 20 – Saturday, Nov. 28
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CLANCY DUBOS $68
Races to watch on Dec. 5 — Cantrell has a lot on the line
$62
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THE RUNOFF FOR DISTRICT ATTORNEY may be the marquee
New Orleans race to be decided on Dec. 5, but voters also will fill five school board seats, pick a state utility regulator, and decide the fate of several tax renewals that have generated a lot of controversy. Here’s a look at each of those ballot items. The DA’s Race — Former Criminal Court Judge Keva Landrum led the Nov. 3 primary with 35% of the vote, followed by at-large City Councilman Jason Williams with 29%. The pandemic changed all the rules this election cycle, but candidates found new ways to attack each other. Williams has been the bigger target, thanks to his 11-count federal indictment on tax and conspiracy charges. Landrum has drawn fire for her tenure in the DA’s office when she served under Harry Connick Sr. and the disgraced Eddie Jordan. Landrum has the lion’s share of endorsements, including Mayor LaToya Cantrell and Congressman Cedric Richmond. In an interesting twist, five of Williams’ six council colleagues are backing Landrum; at-large Councilwoman Helena Moreno is with Williams. Turnout was huge on Nov. 3 but will be far smaller on Dec. 5. Landrum appears to have the advantage, but don’t count Williams out. Public Service Commissioner — Two-term incumbent Eric Skrmetta got only 31% of the primary vote, probably because of his penchant for accepting large contributions from utilities and other companies the PSC regulates. His runoff opponent, Allen Borne, has pledged not to accept such contributions. The district’s demographics favor Skrmetta, a Republican, but there’s nothing else of significance on the ballot in East Jefferson and St. Tammany. Can Borne, a Democrat, pull off an upset based on higher turnout in New Orleans? Orleans School Board District 4 — Two-term incumbent Leslie Ellison is an avowed bigot when it comes to LGBTQ matters. She makes no secret about it. However, her support for charter schools earned her the backing — and more importantly the money — of national charter
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advocates, and she came very close to winning re-election on Nov. 3. Her runoff opponent, Dr. J.C. Romero, is also a charter advocate and, coincidentally, openly gay. Depending on turnout, this one could be very close. Property Tax Renewals — The easiest thing to do in politics is kill a tax proposition, and Mayor LaToya Cantrell may be about to learn that lesson. Heronner has proposed repurposing three existing millages at the same cumulative rate but for different needs — with public libraries taking a hit in the process. Cantrell and other renewal backers argue that libraries have run massive surpluses in recent years and amassed nearly $15 million in reserve funds. Opponents say the proposed cut is too much and will lead to layoffs and closures. This may be a bigger test of Cantrell’s coattails than the DA’s race. French Quarter Sales Tax Renewal — Only eight precincts will vote on whether to renew a quarter-penny sales tax in the Quarter, but politicos citywide are watching this one to see if voters there rebuke the Cantrell Administration over who controls where the money goes. Here again, Cantrell has a lot on the line.
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BLAKE PONTCHARTRAIN™ Hey Blake, An old city guidebook I came across mentions the Hotel Denechaud. Where was it located?
Dear reader,
You probably know the Hotel Denechaud by the name it was given in 1970: Le Pavillon Hotel. The hotel at the corner of Poydras and Baronne streets originally opened in 1907. Born in Bordeaux, France in 1832, Edward Denechaud opened his first New Orleans hotel in 1884 at the corner of Carondelet and Perdido streets. When Denechaud retired in 1902, his son Justin took over as general manager and supervised construction of the family’s new 225-room, nine-story hotel. Built at a cost of $850,000, the “new” Hotel Denechaud opened at Poydras and Baronne in January 1907. In 1910, the hotel was sold and renamed Hotel DeSoto. In 1928, the hotel became one of the investors in WDSU Radio, representing the ‘d’ and the ‘s’ in the station’s call letters. The ‘u’ was for the station’s founder, Joseph Uhalt. WDSU’s broadcasting antenna sat atop the DeSoto and its studios were located inside the hotel. The station relocated to the Hotel Monteleone and by 1948 was broadcasting from new studios in the Hibernia Bank building when WDSU-TV signed on the air. Ownership of the hotel changed hands several times over the
P H OTO B Y J O H N M C C U S K E R / N E W O R L E A N S A DVO C AT E F I L E P H OTO
The hotel Le Pavillon on Poydras Street.
decades. Original New Orleans Saints owner John Mecom Jr. was among the investors over the years. In 1970, the hotel underwent $15 million in renovations and was renamed Le Pavillon. A young chef Paul Prudhomme worked in the hotel restaurant as a sous chef for a short time. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. Owned since 2015 by Ashford Hospitality Trust of Dallas, the hotel has a meeting room which still bears the Denechaud name.
BLAKEVIEW THIS WEEK, WE CONTINUE OUR LOOK AT THE BENNY GRUNCH holiday favorite, “Ain’t Dere No More,” and some of the lost landmarks included in the song. The best-known is K&B, the beloved Katz and Besthoff drugstore chain which opened on Canal Street in 1905 and expanded across the city until 1997 when it was sold to Rite Aid. The local chain of A&G Cafeterias (named for owners Bob Atkinson and Clifton L. Ganus) had its roots in a chain of Pig Stand restaurants which dated to 1932. The “Loew’s State show” that Grunch sings about is the Loew’s State Palace Theatre at Canal and Rampart streets. It opened in 1926 as part of the Loew’s movie theater chain. Abandoned for more than a decade, it has been the subject of many failed redevelopment plans. Grunch mentions Red Goose, “them kiddie shoes,” which mothers bought for their children at many local stores. He also sings about several Canal Street stores, including Kreeger’s (open from 1865 to 1986) and Labiche’s, which opened in the 1930s as Labiche and Graff and operated on Canal Street until the 1980s. He lists some retail outlets that had locations downtown and elsewhere, such as Miller-Wohl (at 939 Canal St. from 1933 to 1984), Leonard Krower & Son (711 Canal St.) and Stein’s (738 Canal St.). Finally, there’s Claiborne Towers, a former retail-residential development and later hotel at Canal and Claiborne Avenue that was imploded in 2012 to make way for University Medical Center. The Rivergate, which also is mentioned, met a similar fate. The convention center and exhibition hall opened in 1968 and was demolished in 1995. It is now the site of Harrah’s New Orleans casino.
Send us a photo or video of YOUR 2020 holiday lights display to enter to win limited edition holiday knitwear from Miller Lite and Gambit. VISIT BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM/LITE FOR MORE INFORMATION All qualified submissions must include a Miller Lite logo. Our favorite photos will be selected each week to win a Miller Lite knitwear prize pack and will be printed in Gambit.
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A female impersonator on Mardi Gras, March 4, 1919. Detail of photograph by John Tibule Mendes; The Historic New Orleans Collection, gift of Waldemar S. Nelson. P H OTO P R OV I D E D B Y T H E H I S TO R I C NEW ORLE ANS COLLECTION
FROM THE SPANISH FLU TO THE APP STORE, NEW ORLEANS RELEARNS HOW TO MARDI GRAS BY JAKE CL APP, K AYLEE POCHE AND S AR AH R AVIT S IT’S OFFICIAL. OFFICIAL MARDI GRAS FLOATS AIN’T ROLLING THIS YEAR. Mayor LaToya Cantrell announced her decision Nov. 17 to not allow the large, hours-long parades that have come to dominate the Best Time of the Year, citing the hard truth: Even if bankers take off Mardi Gras, the coronavirus doesn’t. Cantrell’s decision has upset many, but it’s not surprising. Mardi Gras may not officially be on the ecclesiastical calendar, but for locals it is more sacred than Christmas. We look forward to it all year. For Black Masking Indians, Mardi Gras is one of the most important days of the year, and they spend months carefully sewing new suits in preparation for going out in the streets. Others, whether they are in superkrewes or small marching groups or dance teams, work on costumes, float building, choreography and party-planning practically year-round. But it was the right decision. More than 6,000 Louisianans have died from COVID-19, including at least 1,300 in Orleans, Jefferson and St. Bernard parishes combined. We’re in the midst of a major surge right now and can expect another to follow in the weeks after Christmas — just in time for Carnival’s start on Jan. 6. New Orleanians are a resourceful bunch, and have a knack for finding a reason, and a way, to party even in the darkest of times. We’re already beginning to see the signs of ingenuity and innovation, and from virtual parades to “house floats,” krewes and creatives are responding to the challenge of how to safely celebrate Carnival in a pandemic. In this issue of Gambit, we’ve taken a look at where we’re at, so to speak, and also where we’ve been. ‘Cause this won’t be the first time New Orleans has had to party in a pandemic, and we might could just learn a lesson or two from how the ancestors did it 100 years ago.
“THERE ARE BASICALLY TWO WAYS that Carnival has been canceled, or at least come to a stop,” says Emily Perkins, a curatorial cataloger at The Historic New Orleans Collection. “It’s either the city decides, and the mayor issues a proclamation — and in some years expressly outlawed it — and other years, the krewes themselves were left with the decision.” Sine 1857, Carnival parades and events in New Orleans have been completely called off in 13 seasons, for viral outbreaks, because of white supremacist violence, in recognition of wars and due to a police strike. New Orleanians today, in light of the announcement the 2021 Carnival season would be parade-less, can look to the past for some inspiration. But just as past cancellations took place among unique circumstances, the 2021
Carnival season will be another historic occasion. Perkins and Katherine Jolliff Dunn, also a THNOC curatorial cataloger, recently published an article on the collection’s First Draft blog about the years Carnival events have been canceled, whether by proclamation by the city or through decisions made by the krewes. Perkins and Dunn started working on the article in August in anticipation that cancellation would be a “hot topic,” Perkins says. Still, the mayor’s decision to make the cancellation call in November came as a small surprise, and they had to push up publication by a few days — and may have inadvertently broken the news to some krewes still in the dark. “The big takeaway is that people are always going to find a way to celebrate,” Dunn says. “Mardi Gras is so ingrained. For anyone who lives or is from New Orleans, you
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Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club members elbow bump before a drive-by funeral procession for former Zulu King Larry Hammond, who died from COVID-19. P H OTO B Y C H R I S G R A N 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
can’t just not celebrate. It’s going to happen, whether you can go out or not. I think what’s going to be different this year, compared to all the other times parades have been canceled, is the use of technology.” EACH YEAR PARADES AND EVENTS WERE CANCELED came with its own set of circumstances. And, Perkins says, there’s distinctions between Mardi Gras being canceled for war and being canceled due to pandemics. From 1862 to 1865, the Civil War prompted the Mistick Krewe of Comus to put the city’s only parade on hold, and the krewe didn’t hold a ball until 1866 — although a few other organizations did throw Carnival balls during those years. In 1874, the white supremacist Crescent City White League — which included members of Rex and Comus along with Confederate veterans and other racist Democrats — attacked the Republican government, prompting Ulysses S. Grant to send in federal troops to reinstate the governor and occupy New Orleans. With federal troops in the city and civil unrest, Comus and Rex canceled their parades and balls in 1875. Events were also canceled in 1918 for World War I — the year also
included a prohibition on masks out of fear of espionage and secret attacks — and in 1942 to 1945 during World War II, which instead saw seasonal initiatives to support the war effort. After a strong Mardi Gras comeback in 1946, the Korean War five years later prompted some of the older krewes to cancel their parades. Still, other, smaller krewes, joined together to throw a Lundi Gras ball, and a parade from the Krewe of Patria was in the streets on Fat Tuesday. The last time New Orleans saw a full interruption was in 1979 when members of the New Orleans Police Department went on strike. Balls weren’t affected, but 12 parades moved to other parishes while 13 did not take place at all, Carnival historian Arthur Hardy noted recently in The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate. Sickness interrupted Carnival celebrations in 1879 during a Yellow Fever outbreak and in the 1919 Spanish flu pandemic. That year, several krewes decided not to parade, including Comus, who with The Pickwick Club spent their ball budget on private doctors and food programs for the city’s poor. During the Spanish flu of 1919, “going through the newspapers, they were almost daily updating the number of cases and the number of deaths, like we’re seeing
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The Monogram Hunters roll out on Mardi Gras Day February 9, 2016. P H OTO B Y K AT H L E E N F LY N N / T H E T I M E S - P I C AY U N E
today,” Dunn says. “And just the same kind of encouragement to stay home and if you’re going to go out to wear a mask. But interestingly there wasn’t a lot of talk about how it was the flu that was going to cancel Mardi Gras. They were still talking about the effects of [World War I].” Dunn and Perkins note in their article that while parades and balls were canceled, Mayor Martin Behrman left celebrations up to individuals and masked, costumed people gathered downtown to celebrate the day. Several smaller organizations also held impromptu walking parades. New Orleanians navigating the 2021 season also could take inspiration from a time before route standardization, when parades were more dispersed around the city. “If history has shown us anything it’s that Carnival is resilient; it’s undefeatable,” Perkins says. “We’re always going to find a way to celebrate, even with the safety precautions that we have. I’m hoping for a lot of spontaneity this year. I’m hoping for distant celebrations.” TECHNOLOGY HAS ALREADY PLAYED A crucial role in this year’s Mardi Gras, when city officials announced that parades would be canceled for Orleans Parish
in perhaps the most New Orleans government way possible: accidentally. The city had been meeting behind closed doors with krewe captains and other community leaders to try and map out how to deal with COVID-19. While some had already announced plans to forego parading, most krewes were still tight-lipped. On Nov. 15, the city announced that it was seeking public input on what the rules should be. But the next morning the city, apparently by mistake, dropped a bomb on that process when it posted a FAQ on the city website that explicitly ruled out parades. The decision surprised many krewes that had been conversing with Cantrell’s office, and now they are being asked to develop suggestions for the administration by Dec. 5. City officials are working to determine Carnival guidelines amid a massive spike in COVID-19 cases, but so far remain vague as residents attempt to get the infection rate under control. That means there’s still a lot of question marks. For instance, they did not respond to repeated requests for comments on how restrictions would be enforced during alternative celebrations. It’s also unclear whether small walking
parades will be subject to restrictions or a ban. Already at least two walking parades, ‘Tit Rex and the Krewe of Red Beans, have been called off. And then there’s the question of the Black Masking Indians. Mardi Gras is one of the biggest days in their culture, and by nature their celebrations are spontaneous and unregulatable. But they are also inherently socially distant. They aren’t intended as spectacles for outsiders to begin with, and they don’t always announce where they’ll be. In St. Bernard Parish, Parish President Guy McInnis says the parish is currently planning to allow its only Carnival parade, Knights of Nemesis, to roll Feb. 6, 2021, but it’s also waiting for specific state guidance on parades to see what the spectacle will look like. He says the parish has not decided on requiring any modifications to the parade such as limiting the number of people on a float, and it will be up to the krewe to develop a plan that follows future state guidelines. “We’ll see, but our community and where the parade route is it, we have large neutral grounds, so people can spread out if they want to adhere,” McInnis says. Billy Showalter, an official with Knights of Nemesis, says they are
you can’t just not celebrate. It’s going to happen, whether you can go out or not. –KATHERINE JOLLIFF DUNN
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Members of the National Guard stand on Canal at Royal Street on Mardi Gras 1979. That year, members of the New Orleans Police Department went on strike, causing many parades to cancel or move out of the parish. The National Guard was deployed to patrol the French Quarter while revelers still gathered to celebrate. P H OTO P R OV I D E D B Y A R T H U R H A R DY
preparing to ride if parish and state guidelines allow it, and he believes the parish will allow it. “We are planning to roll as usual,” Showalter told Gambit in an email. “If we have to wear masks, we will.” In Jefferson Parish — which capitalized on the 1979 police strike to lure some New Orleanians over the parish line for Carnival — officials are still hammering out plans. Like St. Bernard, Jefferson is significantly more conservative than New Orleans, and anti-maskers are plentiful. That makes public pressure to keep the party rolling more intense. But even there, change is almost certain. Parish officials have said they’re considering shrinking the size of krewes and parades generally, and are also now discussing postponing parades and celebrations until Memorial Day weekend. FOR ALL THE OFFICIAL UNCERTAINTY, at the krewe level things are starting to take shape. Rex announced Nov. 20 — the same week word got out the city wouldn’t be permitting any parades — it wouldn’t be holding its annual ball either, cancelling the traditional Meeting of the Courts. Currently, all of the krewe’s regularly scheduled events are canceled for 2021, according to Rex official James Reiss III. But Reiss says the organization is working closely with the
mayor’s office and is brainstorming alternative ways to celebrate Carnival. “We want to do whatever we can to help the city and help the mayor celebrate some aspects of Carnival,” Reiss told Gambit. “So we’ll be coming up with some ideas, probably smaller events or virtual events that we can do to be supportive.” So far the krewe has discussed potentially holding a king cake cutting ceremony virtually and giving school children virtual tours of its den, where its floats are built and stored, instead of its normal in-person tours, Reiss says. Reiss also says the krewe is looking into smaller luncheons and events for its members to support the dozens of vendors — local restaurants and artisans — who usually make the krewe’s events possible. Rex officials are also already looking to the 2022 parade season, which will be the krewe’s 150th anniversary. Meanwhile, Zulu President Elroy James told Gambit the organization is still trying to figure out if it will host any alternative Carnival activities. Determining how to keep any potential celebrations small has been a challenge, he says, because it has 525 members and 200 associate members, and a major reach across the community. James says some former kings or characters may try to have a luncheon, but if the krewe does organize a public event during Carnival, it’ll likely be last-minute
AT THE SAME TIME, SMALLER krewes, dance teams and everyday revelers are busy finding their own ways forward. “It feels like so far, a giant question mark, especially considering not knowing what the upcoming holidays will bring,” says Daria Dzurik, a musician and one of the longtime leaders of the dance group, The NOLA Cherry Bombs, which typically performs in several Uptown parades. For some groups, the show has somewhat gone on, with alterations. The Cherry Bombs and the Krewe de Lune Star-Steppin’ Cosmonaughties, for example, have continued rehearsing by hosting less formal, outdoor practices in small groups to allow for social distancing — or through apps like Zoom. “We have been exploring the idea of getting into dance video compilations,” Dzurik says. “Like have everyone film a segment of a routine at their own location
and splice it together.” But, she says, “It’s just been hard to get moving on that when things have been weighing so heavy this year.” What started as a joke on social media has become an organized effort that is drawing support from Cantrell’s office. Megan Joy Boudreaux, a 38-year-old who normally marches with the Leijorettes, a sub-krewe of Chewbacchus, mused about a “Krewe of House Floats” on Twitter — but then the idea took off. She launched a Facebook group for it that now has more than 4,000 members interested in a new, perhaps ephemeral way of celebrating before Carnival resumes its normal traditions. They are encouraging people decorate their homes like floats so spectators can drive, walk or bike through neighborhoods to take in the sights of homes in Carnival dress in the absence of parades. Rules are lax, says Boudreaux. Participating doesn’t require payment, but she and other organizers are discussing a suggested charitable component. Boudreaux, who also has a strong network from her days as a Big Easy Roller Girls derby member, says the group will release an official map of participating, festooned households, closer to Carnival season, and that decorating will ramp up post-Christmas. “We don’t want people gathering in front of houses in huge crowds. The whole point is to do this in a safe way,” Boudreaux says. She also says more than 30 people have stepped up as “neighborhood captains” contemplating cheeky but wholesome and timely themes and volunteering to help their neighbors get organized. Algiers Point — where Boudreaux lives — will be decorated in the theme of “Staycation Paradise” while the Irish Channel group opted for “Channel Surfing.” Chris Wiseman, a resident of the Irish Channel, says his usual traditions involve riding his bike to the Uptown parade route for the big parades and meandering through the Marigny neighborhood on Fat Tuesday, which normally is host to many marching and walking krewes. This year, he says he’ll still embrace the season, and he agrees with the mayor’s decision to put parades on hold. “I think New Orleanians will find ways to have a great Carnival season without endangering others,” he says. “I can imagine all of us bringing our hyper-creative, weird homemade sensibilities to this problem in a beautiful way.”
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Young girl maskers on Mardi Gras, March 4, 1919. Photograph by John Tibule Mendes; The Historic New Orleans Collection, gift of Waldemar S. Nelson. P H OTO P R OV I D E D B Y T H E H I S TO R I C N E W O R L E A N S C O L L E C T I O N
the whole point is to do this in a safe way. –MEGAN JOY BOUDREAUX
Knights of Nemesis, the only Carnival parade in St. Bernard Parish, is still being planned for Feb. 6, 2021. P H OTO B Y R YA N H O D G S O N - R I G S B E E / T H E N E W O R L E A N S A DVO C AT E
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and on the down low, as to not attract too many spectators. “Whatever we put together is going to be small in scale,” he says. “We probably won’t do a lot of advertising because we know that we have the gravitas to where if we put something out, the community is really plugged into things that the organization hosts.” The Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus is replacing its parade with a socially distanced event that will be “similar to a scavenger hunt” and will include handmade throws, according to Brooke Ethridge, one of the krewe’s overlords. The theme? “Chewbacchus 11: Don’t Panic! The Hitchhikers’ Guide to the New Reality.” Ethridge says the krewe won’t likely have any smaller gatherings like luncheons either. “We are really trying to respect the city’s wishes and the rise in COVID cases, so what we do in celebration of Carnival is going to be something that individuals or households can do on their own in an open-air setting,” she says. After cancelling its parade and ball, Krewe de Vieux is planning to put its own spin on the 2021 Carnival season with satirical art installations and community projects. It will continue publication of Le Monde de Merde, which it describes as “Real Fake News!” The issue will include a list of locations, or clues, where the art installations can be found. In a news release, the group promised to deliver its “usual biting satire and irreverent commentary” and members still plan to “skewer those who deserve it,” in keeping with this year’s theme, “Krewe du Vieux has no taste.”
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Kingfish Robert Vasquez won Louisiana seafood title BY B E T H D ’A D D O N O IT’S GOOD TO BE KING.
Just ask chef Robert Vasquez, who was crowned King of Louisiana Seafood on Nov. 3. The 13th annual Louisiana Seafood Cookoff wasn’t held at its customary kitchen stadium, taking place virtually instead. But Vasquez killed it anyway, beating nine of the state’s top chefs with his simple dish of red snapper with crawfish sofrito. “I’m a purist,” says Vasquez, who’s the executive chef at PePe’s Sonoran Cuisine in Covington. “There’s going to be a star ingredient in the dish, and there’s also a supporting cast. I’m always looking for more flavor, less complexity.” It’s a creed he subscribes to at PePe’s, which is part of the three-restaurant group owned by Osman Rodas, who was a customer at his previous eatery, Opal Basil, which opened in Mandeville and moved to New Orleans. Vasquez ran that micro-cafe, situated just off the Tammany Trace, from 2013 to 2017, before pivoting to consult with Michael Maenza’s MMI Culinary. “We always talked about doing something together,” Vasquez says. “When he came to me, I felt ready to get back in the business.” Vasquez, 57, has been in hospitality for decades, handling just about every kind of job, from managing banquets for Marriott to upping the culinary ante at Whole Foods and Rouses (where he met Chaya Conrad, his pal who now owns Bywater Bakery) to handling his own restaurant, and now heading the kitchen for another restaurateur. The chef is self taught and has followed his own instincts. “I’m a chef/ hustler,” he says of his open-minded approach to working with food. “I’ve done so many different jobs — I move around a lot to learn new skills.”
His first real break was getting promoted from executive steward to chef de cuisine at Marquesa, a French fine-dining concept at the Scottsdale Princess Resort. His career with Marriott eventually brought him to New Orleans just after Hurricane Katrina. For the past 30 years, he’s worked closely with his mentor, chef Cary Neff, who currently is vice president of corporate culinary services at Morrison Healthcare, which includes Ochsner. “He still counsels me,” Vasquez says. “And my wife works for him as assistant director of the nutrition program there.” Experience in kitchens in Spain, Mexico, Bermuda, Singapore and Louisiana inform the menu at PePe’s, an innovative take on the cuisines of Mexico and the American Southwest. The menu includes braised duck and cheddar taquitos and a grilled pork belly tamale with chorizo and avocado, topped with a fried egg. Fresh fish and seafood, along with seasonal vegetables and herbs, are the stars of street style tacos, sopes, enchiladas, churros and more, and there are plenty of vegetarian options. There is a fine pairing of crab and cactus over fries, and the lobster and the queso quesadilla board go well with a house margarita. Tacos come filled with chorizo and manchego, al pastor with grilled pineapple, fried shrimp and beef picadillo. Entrees, which are served with rice and pinto beans, include queso or chicken adobo enchiladas, lime-cilantro chicken relleno and of course, the seared red snapper dish that earned him the Louisiana seafood crown. The competition is run by the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board. Vasquez will represent Louisiana at events showcasing the state’s seafood in the coming year. In his career, Vasquez has focused at times on consulting and corporate work, but in recent years he was looking to get back in the kitchen. When Rodas approached him to take
Email dining@gambitweekly.com
Po-Boy fest to go THE OAK STREET PO-BOY FESTIVAL
will be a pick-up event on Saturday, Dec. 5. The festival normally draws vendors and attendees to Oak Street for live music and booths offering all sorts of traditional and creative po-boys. More than a dozen past vendors are participating this year
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
P H OTO B Y C H ER Y L G ER B ER
Chef Robert Vasquez at PePe’s Sonoran Cuisine in Covington.
over PePe’s last year, the time was right. With the chance to be creative and consult with Rodas’ other restaurants, Pardos and Forks and Corks, as well as mentor chefs in his own kitchen, the balance between home and work life felt right. Although the pandemic has impacted business at PePe’s, restaurants on the Northshore aren’t as dependent on tourism as they are in New Orleans. “We took off a few weeks and then just did take out,” Vasquez says. “When we finally reopened, it felt like opening a new restaurant again, with all the safety protocols in place.” Currently at 50% occupancy, Vasquez’s priority is to keep staff and guests safe. “I know people are tired — sometimes they don’t want to wear a mask. But it’s just how things are now. It won’t last forever.”
? WHAT
PePe’s Sonoran Cuisine
WHERE
321 N. Columbia St., Covington, (985) 400-5559; facebook.com/pepescovington
WHEN
Dinner WednesdaySaturday
HOW
Dine-in and outdoor seating available
CHECK IT OUT
Mexican and Southwestern-inspired dishes
and offering special po-boys and award-winners from recent festivals. Patrons must pick-up food from vendors’ home locations from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Most restaurants are currently accepting pre-orders. Offerings include last year’s best seafood po-boy, a fried fish and crabmeat sandwich with eel sauce and spicy sauce from Miss Dees Catering Cuisine. GW Fins offers a fried lobster po-boy as well as lobster dumplings. Live Oak Cafe’s Rich Girl includes prosciutto, fried Halloumi cheese, caramelized onions, peach pepper jelly, spinach, shaved apples and walnut butter. Mahony’s Po-boys & Seafood’s Happy Pig combines pork belly and shoulder spiced with Korean style pepper sauce and is topped with charred cabbage and pickled strawberry aioli. For a side, Mahony’s tops fries with crawfish etouffee and cheddar. Seither’s Seafood’s eggplant Harahan features fried eggplant topped with crab dressing, fried shrimp and Parmesan cream sauce. Breads on Oak offers an all-plant-based barbecued jackfruit po-boy topped with red cabbage slaw, smoked onion and fried jalapenos. Visit poboyfest.com for menus and contact restaurants to order. A portion of proceeds supports Son of a Saint, which provides mentoring to youth. Some vendors have additional offerings. Ajun Cajun restaurant on Oak Street is hosting live stand-up comedy with many local comics from noon to 6 p.m. — WILL COVIELLO PAGE 23
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EAT+DRINK Liuzza’s up for sale A REAL ESTATE AD POSTED LAST WEEK
put a question mark over another beloved New Orleans restaurant.  Liuzza’s Restaurant & Bar at 3636 Bienville St. is for sale. Speculation instantly swirled as to the reasons behind the move, as other local institutions have been roiled by change during the coronavirus pandemic. Proprietors Lori and Frank Bordelon say they are selling the restaurant to retire. At 61 and 73, respectively, they feel the time is right to pass the business on to a new owner and begin a new chapter of life with more time with their family.
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Liuzza’s Restaurant & Bar in MId-City.
“It’s been a lot of fun,� Frank Bordelon says. “The restaurant has kept life very interesting, but it’s time to move on.� They confirmed that the restaurant will remain open for business as usual while they own it, at least under the terms of whatever coronavirus restrictions are in effect. They hope a future buyer will keep the restaurant open as Liuzza’s and maintain its traditions. “I feel strongly that Liuzza’s will be around for many years to come,� Lori Bordelon says. The sale offer includes the restaurant, its name and the real estate, which encompasses a succession of adjacent empty lots fronting Bienville and North Telemachus streets. Local real estate firm the McEnery Co. has it advertised at $2.4 million. The Bordelons say their plans to sell pre-date the crisis. “What COVID did was actually delay those plans,� Lori Bordelon says. “The business is down some, like for everyone through this, but we’ve been able to stay open and pay our employees, so we’ve been fortunate. This is more about our personal decision to move on.�
In business since 1947, Liuzza’s helps define the idea of the New Orleans neighborhood restaurant. It’s one of the city’s classic CreoleItalian spots, where red gravy and seafood gumbo share the menu with shrimp remoulade and seafood lasagna. The house sandwich is the Frenchuletta, a hot muffuletta built on a long loaf of French bread. The restaurant also is known for stacks of thin-cut onion rings and fish bowl-sized schooners of draft beer. Vincent Liuzza originally opened the restaurant, though its story begins a few blocks up North Telemachus Street where Liuzza ran a barroom serving workers from the nearby factories, when the area was an industrial hub. He fed customers his wife’s home cooking at the bar, and its popularity sparked the idea for a restaurant. Liuzza built his own restaurant at North Telemachus and Bienville streets from the ground up, a durable, two-story structure of stucco, terrazzo floors and mid-century curves. The restaurant has had a few owners through the years since. The Bordelon family has particularly long ties to the place. Frank Bordelon’s mother, the late Theresa Galbo, worked at Liuzza’s as a waitress starting in 1955. By 1981, she bought the restaurant, setting up the next chapter for her family as proprietors here. Galbo is credited with creating the Liuzza’s Frenchuletta. — IAN McNULTY/ THE TIMES-PICAYUNE | THE NEW ORLEANS ADVOCATE
Saturn’s new turn THE SATURN BAR IS UP FOR SALE , with a deal pending, confirms Bailee Broyard, a member of the third generation of her family to run the bar. Whatever the outcome of this deal, however, Broyard says her family will not reopen the Saturn Bar themselves. That decision would close the book on a story going back to 1960, when her great uncle, O’Neil Broyard, started the Saturn Bar at the corner of St. Claude Avenue and Clouet Street. The pending sale would include the property, the business and the Saturn Bar name. Broyard said a prospective buyer has told her he plans to reopen it as a bar. Broyard did not want to name the buyer before the deal was finalized. She did, however, put one rumor to rest: It’s not Sidney Torres, the high-profile developer and reality TV star who has bought some significant properties lately. The Saturn Bar this year marked its 60th lap around the sun. PAGE 24
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Broyard says there was supposed to be a big anniversary party for the milestone. Instead, the pandemic forced the family to reassess their future in the business. They began looking for buyers. “We had a good run, the pandemic has made the decision to let go a little easier, but it’s still hard,” she says. “I’m feeling a thousand different emotions right now.” The Saturn Bar ranks high among funky, charismatic bars in a city famous for them. In the 9th Ward, it’s been a constant through generations and a great deal of change as the surrounding neighborhoods slowly deteriorated and have more recently been rapidly gentrifying.
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The straight-ahead beer-andshot corner bar also became a menagerie of art and unintentional curios. It was home to the work of Mike Frolich, who started painting murals and works on Masonite panels here soon after his longtime friend O’Neal Broyard took over. A retired diver and veteran of World War II, he painted feverish, phantasmagoric scenes of landscapes and demons and ominous visions (he also painted a starry fresco, though this was lost when fire damaged the ceiling panels). Bailee Broyard says Frolich’s works are not included in the Saturn Bar sale. “They’ll stay with the family,” she says. The corner spot on St. Claude Avenue had once been a grocery, and it had been a string of bars serving its working class neighborhood when O’Neil Broyard took over in 1960. In the early days, there was a boxing ring in the back room, the late Broyard said in an oral history for the Southern Foodways Alliance. Broyard seemed to collect everything, and the room where the ring once stood became cluttered with half-finished projects, tools and yard sale finds. The ambience inside was a mix of glowing red neon and dust. The relic
of a jukebox hummed loudly before dropping another tune by Patsy Cline or Frank Sinatra. The vibe was more pack rat than Rat Pack, though the Saturn Bar drew celebrities out for a night in New Orleans, and their snapshots were tacked to the wall. Among its clientele the Saturn Bar counted musicians, artists, scenesters, neighborhood regulars and visitors with bucket lists of cool bars to check out. Plenty of people came by just for a look at the Saturn Bar’s art collection. The Saturn Bar survived Hurricane Katrina’s upheaval and the subsequent death of its founder in 2005. His family revived the bar, clearing out some of the clutter to open space for bands to perform, and the Saturn Bar became a hub for live music. Under the restrictions for live entertainment during the pandemic, Broyard says it was hard to see a way for the family to keep the bar going. “When will live music come back? We just don’t know, and it would be hard to try to reopen without music,” she says. “We don’t have a lot of foot traffic like a bar in the French Quarter would.” New Orleans bars have been on the ropes through the pandemic, as public health protocols forced them to shut down for months. After bars were allowed to open for indoor seating in New Orleans Phase 3.3, the state rolled back its restrictions last week. — IAN McNULTY/ THE TIMES-PICAYUNE | THE NEW ORLEANS ADVOCATE
Reveillon rolls out MANY LOCAL RESTAURANTS ROLL OUT SPECIAL REVEILLON MENUS
during December. More than 20 restaurants are participating this year, and multi-course menus range from Rosedale’s $33 four-course option to Restaurant R’evolution’s $85 five-course menu featuring pickled Gulf shrimp and a choice of boudin-stuffed quail or wagyu short ribs. The list includes traditional restaurants such as Antoine’s Restaurant, Galatoire’s and the Court of Two Sisters. Participants are located from The Country Club and The Elysian Bar in Bywater and Marigny, respectively, to Andrea’s Restaurant in Metairie. There also are special menus at Commander’s Palace, Cafe Degas, The Pelican Club and more. Visit holiday.neworleans.com for a complete list and to see menus. Reveillon was the name for a late-night meal served in the home for family and friends at the holidays, usually after midnight Mass on Christmas eve. The tradition was popular in early 19th-century New Orleans. — WILL COVIELLO
TO
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 W O 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 and served with 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. $$ Willie Mae’s — Pythian Market, 234 Loyola Ave.; williemaesnola.com — The Creole soul food restaurant is known for its fried chicken, red beans and more. Takeout available. L and D Mon-Sat. $
CARROLLTON Mikimoto — 3301 S. Carrollton Ave., (504) 488-1881; mikimotosushi.com — The South Carrollton roll includes tuna tataki, avocado and snow crab. Takeout and delivery available. L Sun-Fri, D daily. $$ Pyramids Cafe — 3151 Calhoun St., (504) 861-9602 — Diners will find Mediterranean cuisine featuring such favorites as shawarma prepared on a rotisserie. Takeout and delivery available. L, D daily. $$
B — breakfast L — lunch D — dinner late — late 24H — 24 hours
$ — average dinner entrée under $10 $$ — $11 to $20 $$$ — $21 or more
CITYWIDE Breaux Mart — Citywide; breauxmart.com — The deli counter’s changing specials include dishes such as baked catfish and red beans and rice. L, D daily. $
FAUBOURG MARIGNY Carnaval — 2227 St. Claude Ave., (504) 2658855; carnavallounge.com — The Cozinha de Carnaval kitchen serves Brazilian street food. Frango is chicken cooked with thyme, rosemary and cumin and served with rosemary-garlic aioli. No reservations. Takeout available. D Sat-Mon. $ Kebab — 2315 St. Claude Ave., (504) 3834328; kebabnola.com — The sandwich shop offers doner kebabs and Belgian fries. A falafel sandwich comes with pickled cucumbers, arugula, spinach, red onions, beets, hummus and Spanish garlic sauce. No reservations. Takeout and delivery available Thu-Mon. $
FRENCH QUARTER Desire Oyster Bar — Royal Sonesta New Orleans, 300 Bourbon St., (504) 586-0300; sonesta.com/desireoysterbar — The menu features Gulf seafood in traditional and contemporary Creole dishes, po-boys and more. Char-grilled oysters are topped with Parmesan, herbs and butter. Reservations recommended. Takeout available. B, L and D daily. $$
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 coffee, pastries, desserts, sandwiches and salads. Tuna salad or chicken salad avocado melts are topped with Monterey Jack and Parmesan. 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
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. Capelli D’Andrea combines house-made angel hair pasta and smoked salmon in cream sauce. Curbside pickup and delivery available. L, D daily, brunch Sun. $$$ Kosher Cajun New York Deli & Grocery — 3519 Severn Ave., Metairie, (504) 888-2010; koshercajun.com — This New York-style deli specializes in sandwiches, including corned beef and pastrami that come from the Bronx. Takeout available. L Sun-Thu, D Mon-Thu. $ Mark Twain’s Pizza Landing — 2035 Metairie Road, Metairie, (504) 832-8032; marktwainpizza.com — Mark Twain’s serves salads, po-boys and pies like the Italian pizza with salami, tomato, artichoke, sausage and basil. Takeout and curbside pickup are available. L Tue-Sat, D Tue-Sun. $ Theo’s Neighborhood Pizza — 2125 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, (504) 510-4282; theospizza.com — See Harahan/Jefferson section for restaurant description. $
MID-CITY/TREME Angelo Brocato’s — 214 N. Carrollton Ave., (504) 486-1465; angelobrocatoicecream. com — This sweet shop serves its own gelato, spumoni, Italian ice, cannolis, fig cookies and other treats. Window and curbside pickup. L, D Tue-Sun. $ Brown Butter Southern Kitchen & Bar — 231 N. Carrollton Ave., Suite C, (504) 6093871; brownbutterrestaurant.com — Sample items include smoked brisket served with smoked apple barbecue sauce, smoked heirloom beans and vinegar slaw. A Brunch burger features a brisket and short rib patty topped with bacon, brie, a fried egg, onion jam and arugula on a brioche bun. Dine-in, takeout, curbside pickup and delivery available. L and D Wed-Sat, brunch Sat-Sun. $$ 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 pho, spring rolls and more. Takeout, curbside pickup and delivery are available. $$ Five Happiness — 3511 S. Carrollton Ave., (504) 482-3935; fivehappiness.com — The large menu of Chinese dishes includes wonton soup, sizzling seafood combinations served on a hot plate, sizzling Go-Ba and lo mein dishes. Takeout and delivery available. $$ 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 and scallions. Takeout, curbside pickup and delivery available. L and D Tue-Sun. $$ Nonna Mia — 3125 Esplanade Ave., (504) 948-1717; nonnamianola.com — A Divine Portobello appetizer features chicken breast, spinach in red pepper sauce and crostini. The menu includes salads, sandwiches, pasta, pizza and more. Curbside pickup and delivery are available. Service daily. $$ 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. No reservations. L Mon-Fri. $$
NORTHSHORE Theo’s Neighborhood Pizza — 70488 Highway 21, Covington, (985) 234-9420; theospizza.com — See Harahan/Jefferson section for restaurant description. $
UPTOWN Joey K’s — 3001 Magazine St., (504) 8910997; joeyksrestaurant.com — The menu includes fried seafood platters, salads, sandwiches and red beans and rice. Sauteed trout Tchoupitoulas is topped with shrimp and crabmeat and served with vegetables and potatoes. Takeout and delivery available. $$ Red Gravy — 4206 Magazine St., (504) 561-8844; redgravycafe.com — Thin cannoli pancakes are filled with cannoli cream and topped with chocolate. The menu includes brunch items, pasta dishes, sandwiches, baked goods and more. Takeout available. $$ Theo’s Neighborhood Pizza — 4218 Magazine St., (504) 894-8554; theospizza. com — See Harahan/Jefferson section for restaurant description. $ Tito’s Ceviche & Pisco — 5015 Magazine St., (504) 267-7612; titoscevichepisco.com — The Peruvian menu includes a version of the traditional dish lomo saltado, featuring beef tenderloin tips sauteed with onions, tomatoes, cilantro, soy sauce and pisco, and served with fried potatoes and rice. Dine-in, outdoor seating and delivery available. L and D Mon-Sat., brunch Sun. $$$
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. D Thu-Sun. $$$ Carmo — 527 Julia St., (504) 875-4132; cafecarmo.com — Carmo salad includes smoked ham, avocado, pineapple, almonds, cashews, raisins, cucumber, green pepper, rice, lettuce, cilantro and citrus mango vinaigrette. The menu includes dishes inspired by tropical cuisines. Takeout and delivery are available. Mon-Sat. $$ 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. Takeout, delivery and outdoor seating available. 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. Paneed chicken piccata is topped with lemon-caper piccata sauce served with angel hair pasta, salad and garlic cheese bread. Takeout and delivery available. Service daily. $$
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menu also includes bento box lunches, teriyaki dishes, fried rice and more. Takeout and delivery are available. L and D Tue-Sun. $$
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R E E B E ! n ON i w l l i w
Darkest Before Dawn NOLA BREWING
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GOING OUT P R OV I D E D B Y N E W O R L E A N S C I T Y PA R K
Holiday events
Mr. Bingle
BY WILL COVIELLO YOU MAY HAVE TO CELEBRATE the
holidays with just your pod, but as of right now your pod can still enjoy these holiday happenings.
CELEBRATION IN THE OAKS Through Jan. 3 (closed Dec. 24 and Jan. 1) A giant waving Santa Claus has been restored to displays of more than a million lights at Celebration in the Oaks in City Park. As COVID has forced some changes in how Celebration operates, there are a few throwback elements and some new additions. There are holiday themed displays and the giant snowman Mr. Bingle, as well as dinosaurs, a unicorn and a pirate ship in a lagoon near Bayou St. John. Visitors used to have the option to walk or drive through the displays, but this year, because of COVID-19, driving is the sole mode of viewing the 2.25 mile route. The City Park train is running. Visit neworleanscitypark.com for reservations and details.
KRAMPUS LANE Dec. 5 Krampus is a gruesome figure from European folklore, who arrives before
Christmas to punish the wicked. In recent years, the Krewe of Krampus has held a holiday parade in Bywater during which Krampus leads a pagan mob, including Fraus, essentially witches or old hags, the Sisters of Shhh, winter solstice spirts called Y’ules and others. This year, the frightening ensemble fills a forest of Krampus that visitors can drivethrough at a COVID-safe distance in their vehicle. The disenchanted forest is on Horseshoe Drive at the NORDC offices at 5420 Franklin Ave. Tickets are timed, and the journey costs $10 per vehicle. Tickets are available at kreweofkrampus.com.
‘A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS’ Dec. 4-6 & 12-13 A young cast performs in “A Charlie Brown Christmas� at Rivertown Theaters for the Performing Arts. In the Peanuts holiday classic, Charlie Brown enlists Lucy, Linus and others to perform a holiday show, with Schroeder playing Vince Guaraldi’s score on piano. Seating is limited and physically distanced and patrons must wear masks. Visit rivertowntheaters.com for schedule and tickets.
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‘MEEMAW MYSTERY THEATER CHRISTMAS PAWTY’
Dec. 11-13 Ricky Graham created MeeMaw Mystery Theater as a yatty take on Agatha Christie-style murder mystery radio plays. In this musical holiday installment, the West Bank’s best mystery writer plots a holiday show, with tunes like “O Little Town of Harahan.� Graham is joined by Gary Rucker, Tracey Collins, Kyle Daigrepont, Mandy Zirkenbach and musical accompanist Jefferson Turner. Seating is limited and physically distanced at Rivertown Theaters for the Performing Arts. At 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11, and Saturday, Dec. 12, and 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13. Visit rivertowntheaters.com for tickets.
SUPERNOVA ON THE GREENWAY
Dec. 9-20 The Lafitte Greenway celebrates its fifth anniversary with light and art installations on the corridor near Bayou St. John. Art works include the “Mardi Gras Indian Hologram� by Breanna Thompson and Ayo Scott, Josh Pitts’ “Ketleflower,� Nate Sheaffer’s “Neon Circuits,� a contribution by the Virtual Krewe of Vaporwave and more. There’s information about Supernova at lafittegreenway.org/supernova. Supernova is produced in conjunction with The Arts Council of New Orleans, the founder and organizer of Luna Fete. That annual festival of interactive exhibits and light and video displays is being spread to various sites in New Orleans and runs Dec. 11-13 and 18-20. Visit artsneworleans.org for information.
‘THE NUTCRACKER’
Dec. 12-13 & 19-20 Jefferson Performing Arts Center presents the classic ballet featuring Tchaikovsky’s score. Seating is limited and physically distanced at the Jefferson Performing Arts Center. At 2 p.m. Saturday Dec. 12, and Sunday, Dec. 13, and Dec. 19-20. Visit jpas.org for tickets.
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DEC
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FILM
BY WILL COVIELLO FRANK ZAPPA AND THE MOTHERS OF INVENTION’S FIRST ALBUM “Freak
Out!” didn’t sell terribly well, but it was noticed. A steady stream of rock royalty including David Bowie, Mick Jagger, Eric Clapton and others went to visit Zappa and his family at their Laurel Canyon home. Even the Manson Family wandered by the property, according to Frank’s wife Gail Zappa in Alex Winter’s awe-struck documentary “Zappa.” Frank Zappa released 62 albums before his death from prostate cancer in 1993, and more than 50 albums of his work have been released since then. An early scene features a tour of a packed basement where Zappa archived his life’s worth of recordings and filmed performances. Winter got access to the materials, and Frank’s son Ahmet Zappa is credited as a producer. Winter explores Zappa’s music — his classical compositions as much as his rock — but he wants to paint a portrait of an influential and iconic figure, despite flaws captured on screen. Zappa may be a name everyone knows, even if they can’t quickly
name one of his songs. His biggest pop hit was “Valley Girl,” a collaboration with his daughter Moon Zappa, released in 1982. He became interested in classical music as a teenager and gravitated toward more offbeat composers such as Edgard Varese. Even songs he wrote for Mothers of Invention were given to elaborate orchestrations, and he demanded the band rehearse extensively. But Zappa also liked blues and R&B, and he loved to slap flippant or crass titles on songs and albums. Zappa was one of the first artists to start his own label, seeing the advantage on the business side, and Barking Pumpkin Records was one of his imprints. Being misunderstood or unpredictable was a recurring element of Zappa’s mystique. Early in his career, Zappa was jailed for making pornography, though Zappa says the commissioned audio tape at issue had nothing sexual in its creation. He endorsed the personal freedom to use drugs, though he said he didn’t use them. That became a skit on Saturday Night Live in the late ’70s, when Zappa played himself, surrounded by
cast members insisting “Freak Out!” was about drugs. In the 1980s, Zappa appeared before congress as Sen. Al Gore and his wife Tipper Gore, along with then-Treasury Secretary James Baker’s wife Susan Baker, protested music lyrics about drugs and sex. While they singled out artists like Prince, they invited Zappa to testify, perhaps expecting him to make himself into a clown or villain. Instead, he made a principled stand for artistic expression, and noted that other artists had declined to come defend themselves. He became a thorn in the side of Baker, which is one of the odder stories in the documentary, extending to the Velvet Revolution in the Czech Republic.
Winter doesn’t totally ignore Zappa’s shortcomings, but he takes a forgiving approach to Zappa’s infidelity and his absence from his family. Musicians in Zappa’s bands clearly share their fondest memories and praise, but some musicians sued Zappa and considered him hard to work with or unfriendly. The film uses Zappa collaborator Bruce Bickford’s clay sculptures and animation, and his work is inspired. Zappa led a remarkable life. Before his family moved to California, he grew up near a chemical weapons factory in Maryland, and home movie clips in the documentary show kids playing with gas masks. Zappa also was severely injured when a man attacked him at a concert in London, which was an enduring setback. Winter’s movie includes many events where Zappa was in a cultural spotlight, and it’s a fascinating look at a man who shaped his times, often as he rejected or resisted their trends. “Zappa” runs at The Broad Theater and Zeitgeist Theatre & Lounge.
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NOTICES Looking for MICHELLE natural daughter of LINDA JOHNSON born in 1970s or early ‘80s VERY IMPORTANT inheritance rights involved. Please contact Faun Fenderson attorney at 504-528-9500 ext 318 or faun@faunfenderson.com.
PRESENTS THE
2020
Now Open! *Advance Reservations Recommended*
Holiday
PET PHOTO
CONTEST
Send your favorite pet photo to vip@gambitweekly.com for the chance to have your pet published in the Dec. 15 Pets issue inside Gambit.
One grand prize winner will receive a Prize Package from Metairie Small Animal Hospital.
DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES:
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Guidelines and Photo Protocol
Photo files must be hi-res and not exceed 5mb. Please submit only (1) photo per family. For complete contest rules, please visit bestofneworleans.com/petphoto.
1423 N. CLAIBORNE AVE., UNIT B Renovated 2BR, 1 1/2BA Condo! P This Historic Building was W NE Impeccably Renov’d in 2017 by The Preservation Resource Center & is what remains of Straight University, an African American College founded in 1869. Elegant Kitchen w/ SS Appls & Granite. Upstairs are Bdrms & Ba + Galley overlooking the Garden. Centrally Located between The French Quarter & City Park. $225,000 E
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62 Richard of “The Jackal� 63 Former AT&T rival 64 Creepy 65 Tax audit org. 66 Hunchback creator Victor 67 Belgian river 68 Favorite crucifix style? 74 “I see!,� facetiously 77 Match units 78 Cruise of “Top Gun� 79 Actress Bette 83 No, in Fife 84 DVR choice 85 Evangelizing in remote areas? 89 Fast internet svc. 90 Final words from a bully
92 Tirana’s nation: Abbr. 93 Picnic pest 94 Subatomic matter that may or may not exist? 101 “Penn & Teller: —� (TV series) 102 Maui “hello� 103 Hunter constellation 107 Three in “minimum� 108 Big tea vessel 110 Aviator who was really courageous? 114 Little squeeze from a fuddy-duddy? 118 Grain variety 119 NASA’s Eagle, e.g. 120 Suffix with resin or riot 121 Forehead border you had before you started going bald? 126 — kwon do 127 Coal source 128 Door reply to “Who’s there?� 129 Most current 130 Antiquated 131 Fax, e.g. 132 “The battle —!� 133 Provides, as with power DOWN 1 Italian tenor Tito 2 Devise, as a plan 3 Would really rather not 4 Application filename extension 5 Actor Gibson 6 According to 7 Not stale 8 Vienna’s nation: Abbr. 9 Two after uno 10 Persists in discussing 11 Thomas — Edison 12 British bye-byes 13 Perp’s excuse 14 Revered one 15 Narrow road 16 Groups of trial lawyers 17 Fleeting quality 18 Comic Foxx 24 Mythical bird 25 Bitterly cold 30 Jungle den 32 Recipe qty. 33 Alway 34 Assistance 35 Bullring holler
40 Sky light 41 40-Down studier’s sci. 42 Eyelid malady 43 One of a flight of steps 45 MPG monitor 46 USA’s Uncle 47 A Gershwin 48 Be an omen of 49 Feudal vassal 50 Big galoot 51 Outrage 52 Impair 57 Frank Sacks’ “— the Unicorn� 58 Plunk lead-in 59 Helpful hints 60 Get it wrong 61 “— Be My Girl� (top 5 tune for the O’Jays) 66 Source of CBD oil 67 “Right on!� 69 Ancient Egyptian god 70 Dwarfs’ count 71 Vodka brand, familiarly 72 In support of 73 Govt. health agcy. 74 “— you act now ...� (infomercial segue) 75 Is unrivaled 76 Hardly ever employed 80 By way of 81 Hostel
82 Mil. officer 84 Bean curd 85 Touch 86 Traitor 87 Yale alum 88 “The Good Doctor� airer 91 Virgin Mary’s mother: Abbr. 95 Actress Lanchester 96 Many #1 songs 97 Calder Cup rink org. 98 Writer Santha Rama — 99 Email giggle 100 Verdi’s “— tu� 104 Instead (of) 105 Danish port 106 Big Apple MLB squad 108 Coll. in Philly 109 Made grain-sized 111 Skater Sasha 112 Python in “The Jungle Book� 113 Scrabble 4-pointer 114 Hernando de — 115 Engine stats 116 A Great Lake 117 Roman 402 122 Sydney’s state: Abbr. 123 Non- — food 124 Sprinted 125 “Inc.� relative
ANSWERS FOR LAST ISSUE’S PUZZLE: P 30
PUZZLES
31 Confusion when a golfer can’t find the club for the green? 36 2000-15 CBS show 37 Two racing Unsers 38 Strike — (do some modeling) 39 Admission of defeat 41 “The way things now stand ...� 44 Road named for a head of state? 50 Intent 53 Golf average 54 Mental sharpness 55 Santa — winds 56 One who’s bad at playing practical jokes?
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PREMIER CROSSWORD PUZZLE CROSS 1 Conceptual framework 7 Nickname of jazz pianist Earl Hines 12 Cat feature 16 Mailbox item: Abbr. 19 Cajoles 20 Backcountry 21 Actor Alan 22 Before 23 Saving a Hilton from being demolished? 26 Rove (about) 27 Eisenhower, informally 28 Dawn deity 29 Country that’s the setting of a story told by Jesus?
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EXQUISITE RENOVATION
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GORGEOUS GREEK REVIVAL - CONDO!
December Couture Auction S AT U R DAY, D E C E M B E R 5 T H AT 10 A M LOT S 1- 5 1 5 F E AT U R I N G H E R M E S, G U C C I , LO U I S V U I TTO N , C E L I N E , P R A DA , A N D E STAT E J E W E L RY W I T H D I A M O N D S, P E A R L S , R U B I E S , S A P P H I R E S, E M E R A L D S A N D M O R E !
WATCH AND BID LIVE ONLINE FROM THE COMFORT OF YOUR HOME!
Lot 231: Christian Dior Burgundy Micro Diorissimo Patent Leather MM Lady Handbag, with golden brass accents and hanging “D-i-o-r” keychain, opening to red interior with side zip pocket, the bottom with four golden brass feet, accompanied by a Christian Dior dustbag, H.- 8 in., W.- 9 1/2 in., D.- 5 in., Strap L.- 5 in. EST. $120 0-$180 0
Lot 235: Hermes Kelly Sellier Black Box Leather Handbag, c. 1992, with gold hardware, opening to a black leather interior, one side with a zipper pocket, the other with two open pockets, with a lock and two keys in clochette, stamped ‘V’ with a circle, H.9 in., W.- 11 1/4 in., D.- 4 in., Strap L.- 3 1/2 in. EST. $80 0 0-$120 0 0
Lot 402: Chanel Ivory Quilted Leather East West Shoulder Bag, c. 2005-2006, the interlaced silver chain with ivory leather, the flap with silver “CC” logo turn lock, opening to an ivory calf leather interior with three open compartments, Serial # 10302661, accompanied nied with Chanel dust bag, box and ribbon, H.- 5 ¼ in., W.W 10 in., D.- 2 in., Strap L.- 12 in. EST. $30 0 0 $ 00 0-$50
Lot 413: Hermes Ostrich Leather H Belt, c. 1997, with gold hardware, stamped ‘A’ on square, L.- 27 1/2 in. EST. $70 0-$10 0 0 Lot 246: Hermes GM Enamel Bracelet, with tassel motif and gold accents, stamped ‘O,’ H.- 1 1/3 in., Dia.- 2 1/2 in. EST. $60 0-$90 0
Lot 311: Louis Vuitton Neverfull MM Ivory Coated Canvas Damier Azur Shoulder Bag, opening to a monogram canvas lined interior with a side zip pocket, H.- 11 1/2 in., W.- 12 1/2 in., D.- 6 in. Strap L.- 7 1/2 in. EST. $90 0-$120 0
Lot 511: Lady’s Platinum Dinner Ring, with an oval 6.26 ct. blue zircon, atop a “star” border of round diamond “points,” total diamond wt.- .83 cts., Size 7, with appraisal. EST. $150 0-$250 0
Full color catalog available at:
Lot 79: Louis Vuitton Red Sweet Sarah 10 Wallet, the calf leather with golden bress accents, accompanied by an LV dustbag, H.- 4 in., W.- 7 1/2 in., D.- 1 1/4 in. EST. $50 0-$70 0
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Lot 329: Louis Vuitton Brown Monogram Coated Canvas 55 Keepall Travel Bag, the vachetta leather handles with golden brass hardware, opening to a brown interior, H.- 12 in., W.- 22 1/2 in., D.- 10 1/4 in., Strap L.- 5 in. EST. $50 0-$90 0
Lot 17: Lady’s 18K White Gold Dinner Ring, with a 1.78 ct. cushion cut extrmely rare natural alexandrite, atop a square border of round diamonds, on a bypass band with diamond mounted shoulders, total diamond wt.- .42 cts., Size 7, with appraisal. EST. $250 0-$350 0
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