Gambit: June 1, 2021 by Gambit New Orleans

June 1-7 2021 Volume 42 Number 22

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NOTICES Anyone knowing the whereabouts of any heirs of Benjamin Williams, an African American male, who lived at 1259 Lena Road, Lena LA 71447, who was born on July 30, 1949 and who died on October 1, 2020; Please contact Kristina Collins Harrison, Attorney at Law, PO Box 194, Paulina, La 70763 or by phone at 225-623-8043 between the hours of 8:30am and 4:30pm, Mon - Fri.

to us after his owner could no longer care for him. He loves people and may even get along with other cats since he was surrendered to us with a kitty sibling. Skeeters is a younger cat, but he is still extremely well-behaved and looking for a loving forever family.

With the outbreak of COVID-19, we have moved our adoption process to appointment only. Fill out the adoption application on our website, www.la-spca.org, and a staff member will call you back within 24 hours to schedule your appointment.

merged to become Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Louisiana. On a mission to help kids who need it most achieve great futures, this regional organization is bigger, better and #StrongerTogether.

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The Boys & Girls Club of Greater Baton Rouge and Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeast Louisiana have

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CONTENTS

JUNE 1 — JUNE 7, 2021 VOLUME 42 || NUMBER 22 NEWS

OPENING GAMBIT

COMMENTARY 8

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A long time coming The push to put trans and gender-nonconforming New Orleanians in control of their housing

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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 2021 Capital City Press, LLC. All rights reserved.

Porkamines parish Hogs for the Cause brings barbecue and music festival to Belle Chasse BY WILL COVIELLO HOGS FOR THE CAUSE COFOUNDER RENE LOUAPRE was wearing white

shrimp boots as he oversaw the positioning of tents and equipment in the field of the Plaquemines Parish Government Center in Belle Chasse last Monday. It was the first official day of loading in equipment for the June 4-5 barbecue festival and fundraiser. While Covid had forced alterations in plans when they decided to hold an event this year, the festival will look very much like it normally does. “We knew in November that a March event wasn’t going to happen,” Louapre says. “We knew fall wasn’t going to happen (with all the other major festivals postponing till then). We ID’d this as one of two weekends it could happen. It was just a matter of being patient and waiting for everything to fall into place.” While the location is new, the festival has its usual mix of barbecuing team pits and booths and music by local and touring bands. Though the total number of teams is down, there are more than 70 participating, including stalwarts Fleur de Que, Boar’s Nest, Atlanta-based Foxeria del Sol, Aporkalypse Now, Capt. Porkenheimer, Silence of Da Hams, Deuce Pigalow Pork Gigolo, Swineaux and Lard and in Charge. Also competing is Central City BBQ, whose pitmaster James Cruse just won major awards at the Tennessee barbecue event Memphis in May. The teams will build out their themed tents and barbecuing pits, though Louapre doesn’t anticipate seeing the two- or three-story scaffoldings some teams have created to attract attendees in past years. The music lineup is headlined by Robert Randolph and the Family Band and Old Crow Medicine Show. The Soul Rebels and other guests will join Randolph onstage on Friday night. Also performing that day are Anders Osborne, Boyfriend, local funk band The Iceman Special, blues guitarist Jonathon Long and singer-songwriter Early James. Saturday brings Old Crow, Los Angeles blues rockers Andy Frasco & the U.N., country rockers Travers Brothership from Asheville,

P H OTO B Y M I C H A E L D E M O C K E R / T H E T I M E S - P I C AY UNE

Jason Marsalis performs at the Ellis Marsalis Family Tribute during the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in 2019.

Ellis Marsalis tribute

North Carolina, and guitarist and singer Molly Tuttle. Local bands performing Saturday are Sweet Crude, Honey Island Swamp Band, the Stooges Brass Band and Dragon Smoke, a collaboration between Ivan Neville, guitarist Eric Lindell and Galactic’s Stanton Moore and Robert Mercurio. Hogs is conducting its normal food competitions, with categories for ribs, whole hog, pork shoulder and “Porkpourri,” for a creative dish using pork. The Friday night event highlights separate competitions for a bacon dish and chicken wings. The teams are the heart of the operation, says cofounder Becker Hall, and it’s a mix of rivalry and camaraderie. There’s a fundraising prize, and many teams fundraise in advance of the festival. In 2019, the last full normal year of fundraising, Hogs for the Cause raised $1.5 million. The nonprofit organization’s cause is assisting families with children battling pediatric brain cancer and supporting treatment centers. While the 2020 festival was canceled due to Covid, the nonprofit distributed $550,000 in support last year, organizers say. Hogs makes direct grants to families across the U.S. and has supported local hospitals, as well as facilities in Atlanta and South Carolina. Besides the postponed dates, there are some alterations due to Covid. Organizers initially decided to lower the total number of available tickets to roughly 5,000 per day — but Friday night tickets and two-day passes still are available. Covid restrictions have loosened substantially since March, but organizers are sticking with their plans to preserve the quality level, says Hall. To eliminate box office lines at the festival, ticket buyers were mailed elec-

P H OTO B Y M I C H A E L D E M O C K E R / T H E T I M E S P I C AY UNE

Barbecue team Lard and in Charge will compete at Hogs for the Cause June 4-5.

tronic wristbands. That should speed admission to the festival grounds, and the wristbands are tied to credit cards, which makes the festival cashless. While the site is new, it’s the sixth location the festival will have used. The festival grounds cover 15 acres, which is approximately the same as the space it’s occupied next to the UNO Lakefront Arena in recent years. While Covid altered the normal spring calendar of festivals and events, Hogs is used to adjusting. The festival has always been a rainor-shine event, and there were some soggy days that turned conditions in City Park swampy. Once, when the festival expanded to South Carolina, an entire event was called off due to a hurricane. After missing last year, due to Covid, they’re ready to get back on track. “People ask us if it’s going ‘smooth as butter,’ ” Halls says with a smile and a shrug. “It never is.” For information about the Hogs for the Cause charity work, visit hogsforthecause.org. HOGS FOR THE CAUSE GATES OPEN 3:30 P.M. FRIDAY, JUNE 4; 11 A.M. SATURDAY, JUNE 5 PLAQUEMINES PARISH GOVERNMENT CENTER, 333 F. EDWARD HEBERT BLVD., BELLE CHASSE HOGSFEST.COM

SNUG HARBOR REOPENS ON A SWEET NOTE: First up is drummer and vibraphonist Jason Marsalis with a musical tribute to his father, pianist Ellis Marsalis, who held a weekly show at Snug Harbor for years. Ellis Marsalis died from COVID-19 last April at the age of 85. Jason Marsalis will perform at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. Friday, June 4. Tickets are $35. The Herlin Riley Quartet also is set to perform on Saturday, June 5. More information can be found at snugjazz.com.

“Songs for a New World” JASON ROBERT BROWN IS KNOWN FOR THE ROCK MUSICAL “The Last Five Years.” He also composed “Songs for a New World,” a suite of songs — based in jazz and pop and meant for the stage — about moments of decision. Tulane Summer Lyric Theatre opens its season with “Songs for a New World” at the New Orleans Jazz Museum at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, June 4-5 & 1112. Find tickets and info at liberalarts. tulane.edu/summer-lyric-theatre.

Curry with a Flavor Festival THE CARIBBEAN MUSIC AND FOOD FESTIVAL includes the reggae and Caribbean group Dex Daley and the Jam-X Band, the Pan Vibrations Steel Band, soca and reggae performer Creig Camacho, DJs and more. The event is from noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, June 5, at Crescent Park. Find tickets on eventbrite.com.

Faubourg Pride Fest THERE’S THREE DAYS OF ENTERTAINMENT, food trucks and a new beer release at Faubourg Beer and PAGE 25

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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OPENING GAMBIT NE W

O R L E A N S

N E W S

V I E W S

Kids’ lives being saved is more important than your tennis match

# The Count

Thumbs Up/ Thumbs Down

The percentage by which your hotness increases once you get the COVID-19 vaccine, according to the online dating service OKCupid.

A Studio in the Woods will

receive a $75,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to support a collaborative project between artist and biologist Brandon Ballengee and the Plaquemines Parish Government. Ballengee’s project, “Searching for Ghosts of the Gulf,” will combine art and science to teach about missing Gulf of Mexico fish species. The grant is one of 63 Our Town grants given by NEA.

The statistic was cheekily mentioned by state health officer Dr. Joseph Kanter at Gov. John Bel Edwards’ news conference last week as part of a continuing push to get Louisianans vaccinated. The vaccine, according to the report by OKCupid, is “really helping people find love.” Those who say they are planning to get the vaccine or already have it are getting 14% more likes, 15% more matches and having 4.5% more conversation.

P H OTO P R OV I D E D B Y L A S H AW N B U T L E R

Louisiana vaccination rates have slowed, despite the

national rate recently passing 50% of adults. The state had completed vaccinations for only 39.5% of the adult population as of last week. At the state’s current pace, The Times-Picayune reported, it would take almost a year for Louisiana to hit the 70% vaccinated target. COVID-19 vaccinations are free and can be scheduled easily at lcmchealth. org/vaccine.

New Orleans Police Department currently has

38 officers who appear on a list made by District Attorney Jason Williams of police officers with credibility problems, The Lens reported last week. The list includes officers who have a history of lying, discrimination or brutality, but does not include some other types of misconduct, such as unauthorized use of force, The Lens reported.

The outfit Sanai Butler wore to Lula Restaurant Distillery on Tuesday, May 25.

UPTOWN RESTAURANT CALLS COPS OVER BLACK TEEN’S ATTIRE

C’est What

MAY 25 MARKED A MAJOR MILESTONE FOR SANAI BUTLER .

The 17-year-old had just graduated with honors from Warren Easton Charter School, and her mother told her she could choose any restaurant she wanted for a big celebration. Sanai picked Lula Restaurant Distillery on St. Charles Avenue, and a group of 28 relatives and friends, all Black, gathered to honor her and hear some big news: she would be heading to Talladega College in Alabama. But what was supposed to be a joy-filled meal ended with the restaurant calling the police because a woman — identifying herself as the owner’s wife — didn’t like the bikini top that Sanai was wearing, according to the family. Officers ultimately didn’t arrest anyone. But Sanai’s mother, La Shawn Butler, said the restaurant’s decision to involve the New Orleans Police Department was excessive and hurtful. “I feel it was racially motivated,” she said. The group had not been told of a dress code, and there didn’t seem to be one posted in the restaurant, Butler said. She also said the woman, who was white, approached Sanai in a bathroom, but should have approached adults at the table. Sanai and her mother, after viewing pictures online May 26, said the woman was Erin Bourgeois, wife of owner Jess Bourgeois. Lula’s declined to comment on the Butlers’ identification. “This is a child at the end of the day — if you had something to say about her outfit, you could’ve approached me as her mother,” Butler said. A year ago, a Minneapolis store clerk called police on George Floyd because he suspected Floyd had given him a counterfeit PAGE 7

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OPENING GAMBIT $20 bill, setting the stage for what would become Floyd’s tragic killing at the hands of an officer who has since been convicted of murder. That is what made the event so scary, said Butler. “That could’ve gone so many different ways,” she said. While the NOPD confirmed that it went to Lula’s Tuesday to respond to “a disturbance about a female’s attire,” the restaurant issued a statement saying the call was made during “a verbal altercation” to ensure the safety of all patrons. “The police were called after three disruptive, adult patrons engaged with another table of patrons, and one of the female owners of Lula,” the statement said. The restaurant apologized to the diners who were present, including “any person who feels that Lula discriminated against them based on their attire or race.” “We are working with our team, including management and ownership, to determine what should have been done differently and to ensure an enjoyable restaurant and dining environment for everyone,” the statement said.

La Shawn Butler on Wednesday provided a detailed account of the encounter, which she said occurred two hours after the group had arrived for their reservation. When Sanai entered the restaurant, no one on the staff said anything about her outfit: a bikini top, matching leggings, a customized graduation stole and a mortarboard, Butler recounted. Her daughter put a jacket on inside because she was cold, but she took it off for pictures and had not put it back on when she went to the restroom with her cousins. According to Butler, it was in the restroom that a woman who said she was the wife of Bourgeois told Sanai that she needed to put on another shirt because the top she was wearing was “very inappropriate.” Sanai was “visibly upset” when she returned to the table and told her mother what happened, Butler said. The group was incensed. At one point, Butler said, the woman came up to the party and argued that she could say whatever she wanted because she was in her own restaurant. She eventually went off to the side, and two NOPD

patrol cruisers pulled up. They left without taking action. Butler said she felt the restaurant would’ve handled the matter differently if her group — which spent $2,000 — wasn’t entirely made up of Black people. A newly hired Lula employee who asked to remain anonymous said she was so disgusted she quit Wednesday. She vouched for the Butlers’ version of events, saying it seemed the cops were annoyed at the reason they’d been called out to the restaurant. “It didn’t have to get to that point,” she said. Prior to the police’s arrival, the former employee said fellow restaurant patrons, in addition to the girl’s family, had stood up or visited the table to toast Sanai on her accomplishments. “Her mom was glowing,” the former employee said. “She was like, ‘This is my daughter. She’s going to do great things.’ ” Once police arrived, the former employee described an “uncomfortable” atmosphere with guests requesting their checks and trying to

clear out of the building. “Her day was ruined,” she said. ”To have this moment taken from her so quickly — I couldn’t believe it.” Sanai declined to be interviewed Wednesday but issued a statement saying her dinner at Lula was “a horrible and sad experience.” It’s not the first time in recent months where a local restaurant has been criticized for hostility toward Black diners. In February, James Washington said he took his wife on a date to Desi Vega’s Prime Steaks and Seafood in Metairie, where they received a bill with a 20% gratuity included. Washington said he called the restaurant from his table and spoke with a manager who confirmed the 20% tip was policy. But later, he spoke with friends and posted on Facebook about the experience and learned that a white couple who had recently dined there did not receive a bill with automatic gratuity included. Later, a manager told Washington the server had “pre-judged” the couple. — RAMON ANTONIO VARGAS / THE TIMES-PICAYUNE AND SARAH RAVITS / GAMBIT

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COMMENTARY

Exposing solutions, not just problems THIS WEEK’S COVER STORY, ‘A LONG TIME COMING,’ details the

ArtAndEyesNewOrleansLA.com

ongoing efforts to address the housing crisis facing transgender and gender-nonconforming (TGNC) New Orleanians. It is part of a new economic mobility partnership organized by the Solutions Journalism Network. Gambit is proud to join this effort. The idea behind the Economic Mobility Initiative is as simple as it is needed: examining ways in which governments, communities and even individuals respond to economic challenges across the country. This is, of course, far from unchartered territory for the news business. Newspapers have addressed questions of pay equity, housing, income disparities and more since the start of our industry. What’s unique to this project is its focus on real solutions to these and other problems. One of the guiding principles of journalism has long been the adage, “Sunlight is the best disinfectant.” By using our pages to expose corruption, discrimination and other societal ills, journalists do their part in forming that aspirational more perfect union. It’s also an important idea, one we hold dear. However, news organizations have long encountered a fundamental level of frustration, despite our best efforts. Veteran beat reporters often lament that they find themselves writing nearly identical stories every few years about the core problems in their beats. It turns out exposing the problem simply isn’t enough. Consider, for example, the issue of systemic abuse and racism in police departments around the country. For half a century, there’s been a predictable cycle to how the issue is covered. Police get caught engaged in violence against a Black person, often ending in that person’s death; protests and public outrage soon follow; news coverage shifts from what happened to why; public outrage intensifies; reporters detail the longstanding problems facing Black Americans in their interactions with police; elected officials promise change; and the news cycle moves on. Rinse. Repeat. Proponents of solutions-based journalism hope to break that cycle

P H OTO BY LO U I S T. F R I TC H / T I M E S - P I C AY UNE

A classic printing press — which is basically substack come to life — used by the Times-Picayune.

by not just exposing problems, but by covering things people are doing to fix those problems. “Our goal is to encourage an increase in nuanced, complex coverage of what’s working to increase economic mobility across the United States,” says Sarah Gustavus, the project’s manager at SJN. Gambit writer Jake Clapp’s story on House of Tulip’s efforts this week is a perfect example of that kind of journalism. His story highlights the various barriers TGNC people face in obtaining affordable housing — including discrimination — and it takes a clear-eyed look at the tangible efforts people here and across the country are making to address that problem. There is a growing movement here and in other Southern TGNC communities to tackle the issue head-on through direct ownership or control of homes, apartment buildings and even whole neighborhoods where TGNC persons can find safe, affordable, long-term housing. Though very much in its infancy, this movement already shows promise. It could become a model not only for TGNC people but also for other marginalized communities. We promise to tell more stories like this in the future. For more information on the Economic Mobility Initiative, to read more solutions-based reporting or to donate to SJN, visit solutionsjournalism.org.

CLANCY DUBOS

Fires of scandal spark bipartisan push to protect women and kids

our perfect linen tee

IT TOOK THE SEXUAL ASSAULT SCANDAL

that continues to rock LSU and state politics to galvanize legislators’ will to advance a passel of bills addressing domestic abuse and campus-based sexual assaults, as well as broader protections for women and children. Most of the protective measures are nearly through the legislative process — with bipartisan support — but time is short. The annual session ends June 10. Virtually all of the bills face critical, life-and-death votes this week, and legislators face a series of potentially career-defining votes. Here’s a look at some of the notable bills: • HB 159, by Rep. Malinda White, D-Bogalusa, would codify the definition of domestic abuse across Louisiana’s criminal and civil statutes. The House passed White’s measure unanimously; it’s up for Senate approval on June 1. The NRA fought White’s bill, but she has muted that opposition. • HB 55, by Rep. Aimee Freeman, D-New Orleans, simplifies the process for domestic violence victims to get a restraining order against their abusers. It faces final Senate approval on June 1. • Freeman’s HB 375 would allow victims of sexual assault to terminate residential leases early even if they are not in a relationship with the assailants. Current law allows only victims of domestic violence who are in a relationship with abusers to terminate leases early. This measure only needs Gov. John Bel Edwards’ signature to become law. • Several bills sprang directly from the LSU sexual assault scandal. Freeman and Sen. Beth Mizell, R-Franklinton, have bills that significantly tighten reporting requirements when colleges and universities receive complaints of sexual or “power-based” abuse. Measures by Sen. Regina Barrow, D-Baton Rouge, and Rep. Neil Riser, R-Columbia, impose greater accountability on higher-ed institutions that don’t report incidents of abuse. • HB 468 by Rep. Mandie Landry, D-New Orleans, extends Medicaid postpartum coverage

$59

S TA F F P H OTO B Y T R AV I S S P R A D L I N G / T H E A DVO C AT E

Sen. Karen Carter Peterson, left, D-New Orleans, and Rep. Barabara Freiberg, R-Baton Rouge, during testomony regarding sexual misconduct allegations and incidents at Louisiana colleges and universities.

for low-income mothers from 60 days to one year. It passed the House unanimously and awaits a hearing in the Senate Health and Welfare Committee this week. “It would bring millions of federal dollars into the state and directly help about 10,000 women,” Landry said. Landry also has authored HB 301, which provides a tax credit for funeral and burial expenses for pregnancy-related deaths. • HB 7 by Freeman grants a tax exemption on feminine hygiene products and diapers for children and adults. It passed the House with bipartisan support and awaits action in the Senate Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Committee this week. • SB 151 by Barrow creates the Foster Youth’s Bill of Rights for children aged 14-18 in foster care. It’s up for Senate concurrence on June 1. “I plan to make these issues a big topic going forward,” said Barrow, who chairs the Senate Select Committee on Women and Children, which heard the heart-rending testimony relating to the LSU scandal. “I’m going to use my committee to have a more intentional focus on things that impact women and children.” It’s safe to say Barrow’s committee has already had a significant impact. It’s a shame it took a gut-wrenching scandal to make it so. Here’s hoping those bills clear their final hurdles.

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@GambitBlake | askblake@gambitweekly.com

Hey Blake, I often see bricks around town with the words “St. Joe” inscribed in them. Someone told me they come from a local brickyard. What can you tell me about it?

Dear reader, CRAWFISH BEIGNET

CHARGRILLED OYSTERS

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MON-THURS 11AM-9PM FRI & SAT 11AM-10PM SUN BRUNCH 9AM-3PM

While St. Joe bricks are indeed produced by a Louisiana brickyard, they are used in homes and businesses across the country. St. Joe Brick Works, Inc., was founded in 1891. The Pearl River, Louisiana, brickyard has used many of the same production methods for the last 130 years. The company takes its name from its original owner, Joseph McCarron, an Irish immigrant whom people called “St. Joe.” In 1895, Peter W. Schneider, a German immigrant, purchased the brickyard. He trained his five sons in the business, which family members continue to own and operate. The bricks are made with sandy clay that is dug on site or near the brickyard. St. Joe is one of only a half-dozen brick makers in the country that still uses a wooden mold to form the clay into bricks. The bricks get their various colors after being baked in large kilns. They are flecked with charred black

P H OTO B Y C L A N C Y D U B O S

The new campus of Holy Cross School on Paris Avenue was built with the same brand of St. Joe bricks that went into the school’s original campus in the Lower Ninth Ward.

kernels caused by iron pyrite in the clay. If you can’t read the words “St. Joe” stamped into each brick, you can still identify it as a St. Joe brick by those black flecks. Though not all are marked with the words “St. Joe,” the bricks have been used in many churches, schools, hospitals, public buildings and homes. They are featured throughout the campuses of LSU and Rice University — and locally at both the original and new Holy Cross School campuses. Older bricks bearing the name are often seen as pavers in local sidewalks.

PRESENTS THE

2021

Summer

BLAKEVIEW

PET PHOTO

FOR MOST OF THE 20TH CENTURY, EDGAR AND EDITH STERN were the first

CONTEST

Send your favorite pet photo to vip@gambitweekly.com for the chance to have your pet published in the June 15 Pets issue inside Gambit.

ONE GRAND PRIZE WINNER WILL ALSO WIN A PRIZE PACKAGE FROM METAIRIE SMALL ANIMAL HOSPITAL DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES:

JUNE 7

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couple of New Orleans philanthropy. They were married 100 years ago this June. As The Times-Picayune wrote, if there was a worthy activity in town, the Sterns supported it. That included the New Orleans Symphony, the New Orleans Museum of Art and Tulane University. They were instrumental in founding Dillard University, as well as the Newcomb Nursery School and Metairie Park Country Day School. The two met in New York while Edgar was a student at Harvard. Both came from wealthy families. Edgar, a native of New Orleans, was the son of Maurice Stern, a cotton merchant. Edith, a native of Chicago, was the daughter of Julius Rosenwald, the president of Sears Roebuck & Co. “Our families always regarded wealth as a trust to be invested judiciously in humanity,” Edith Stern said. The couple married on June 29, 1921. After moving to New Orleans, they built an eight-acre estate on Garden Lane. They named it Longue Vue, after the Hudson River tea house where they became engaged. Now open to the public as Longue Vue House and Gardens, the site is a National Historic Landmark. In the 1950s, the Sterns were part of a group that created Pontchartrain Park, New Orleans’ first subdivision developed by and for Black homeowners. The Sterns had three children. One of them, Edgar Stern Jr., was instrumental in establishing WDSU-TV, which the family owned until 1972. The Sterns also developed Oakwood Shopping Center and the Royal Orleans and Royal Sonesta hotels. Edgar Stern Sr. died in 1959 and Edith Stern died in 1980. Earlier this year, the City Council Street Renaming Commission recommended Palmer Avenue be renamed for Edith Stern.

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THIS ARTICLE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW ORLEANS. The University of New Orleans is breaking down barriers to higher education by offering different opportunities for enrollment and extensive support services to all students. “Our focus is both access and completion,” said UNO President Dr. John Nicklow. “If a student has a ﬁnancial barrier, we ﬁnd a way to help. If a student needs to meet admission requirements, we examine all avenues to ensure they are admissible. If they need extra support in certain areas, we provide it.” Last year, the Louisiana Board of Regents waived a requirement that students needed certain standardized test scores and at least a 2.5 grade point average to be admitted to a statewide university. The GPA minimum is now the only requirement. The change will be in effect until at least 2022. Nicklow said a student’s GPA is often a better indicator of college success. “GPA is an indicator of both knowledge and the intangibles, including motivation and dedication to succeed,” he said. “We want to know that you are determined to achieve your degree, and in my experience and analysis, GPA is the best predictor of that.” Even without at least a 2.5, students may be admitted to UNO through alternative routes, said Mary Beth Marks, UNO’s Vice President of Enrollment Management.

For example, Privateer Pathways offers provisional admission to students who may not meet other requirements. Once in the program, students receive additional support in English and math, as well as lessons on time management, study skills, financial literacy and other aspects of university success. “I think it’s very important for us to consider everything that is part of a student’s makeup,” Marks said. “We need to continue to recognize that a person applying to college is more than a test score. We are a diverse and inclusive university and that is very important to us. If a student is looking for a place to fit in, we’re a great setting in a great city to help make that happen.” Shannon Williamson, director of UNO’s Learning Resource Center, said Privateer Pathways gives students structured academic support in core subjects and helps them bond with other students. “They form friendships and make connections,” she said. “They spend a lot of time together in study groups. They are in smaller classes, so they also receive more time with instructors to receive that support they need.” Troyneisha James, a UNO junior, said Privateer Pathways was key to her success, especially since she is the first person in her immediate family to attend college. “It was very much needed for me because I didn’t have anyone in my family to turn to about what to do,” James said. “In Pathways, we talked about grades, school and life in general. So much of college is life work, and they do a good job of checking in and making sure your life is on track.”

Williamson said the Learning Resource Center also provides tutoring and academic coaching for graduate and undergraduate students. Some students come to the Center seeking to boost a grade, while others may be struggling in certain classes. “We meet one-on-one with students who may be having trouble on how to approach the material,” she said. “It may be a content problem, or it may be a process issue where the student doesn’t know how to communicate with a professor or work on a group project. We have academic coaching to help students understand the process of being a good student and having good study habits. We work with them to ﬁgure out an academic strategy that works for them.” Increasingly, those academic strategies involve hands-on projects, also known as experiential learning. This type of learning takes many forms, including internships, practicums, research projects, service learning, study abroad programs and more. Every UNO academic department offers such a learning component, said Ryan Anne Bell, UNO’s director of experiential learning. “Depending on their degree, some students will be required to take a certain number of experiential learning hours, but very few graduates will ﬁnish without any at all,” Bell said. “A lot of our faculty are well-versed in the practice and in making sure students are connected with their partners. The projects help them encapsulate the whole experience and digest everything they have learned.” Bell said the process also helps students grow as individuals. She’s often seen students go from quiet observers to

engaged participants who realize the value of their work and studies. “You see this light come on inside of them, and it’s transformational,” she said. “They realize they are capable of doing what is asked of them. It’s the purpose of the university to prepare students to be citizens and lifelong learners. Experiential learning is that extra step we are taking as an institution to help students understand the value of their degree and how they can benefit their communities.” Nicklow said that type of personal and academic growth is a key part of UNO’s overall mission. “It’s been said that UNO has the brains of a national research university and the heart of a tight family community,” he said. “We have a vibrant campus community that provides an incredible college experience. We serve New Orleans and the region and many partners. We believe new students can be a part of that and help us in making sure the future of New Orleans is what we desire.” James said she feels she is well on her way to becoming a strong contributor to her field and community. “There’s just a great support system all around. It really allows you the opportunity for growth,” she said. “If it wasn’t for the professors I’ve met and the people I’ve worked with in labs, I would not be where I am today.” To ensure more students have access to a UNO education, the university is continuing to increase its financial assistance. Beginning in fall 2021, UNO will offer the Privateer Pledge to eligible students from Jefferson Parish. The Pledge launched in fall 2020 for Orleans Parish students and is a promise that UNO will fill unmet financial needs for tuition and fees for eligible students. To qualify, students must be admitted to UNO as a freshman, file a FAFSA, be eligible for a Pell Grant and have an annual family income of $60,000 or less. In addition, UNO launched the New Orleans Scholars program last year thanks to a gift from a local nonprofit foundation. The program provides 15 Orleans Parish public high school graduates with grants and scholarships to cover all expenses in their first two years at UNO. In their final two years, grants and scholarships will cover those same expenses for TOPS-eligible students. For students without TOPS, a gap of up to $5,500 may be filled with Federal Direct Stafford Loans. “If a student thinks there may be a financial barrier, let us work to help you,” Nicklow said. “Seventy-seven percent of our students receive some form of financial assistance. We are committed to putting together programs and scholarships designed to tear down that barrier and make sure students can receive the transformational education I believe everyone deserves.”

G A M B I T > B E S T O F N E WO R L E A N S . C O M > J u n e 1 - 7 > 2 0 2 1

Access and Success: How UNO is expanding educational opportunities and supports to help more students thrive

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BY JAKE CLAPP Milan Nicole Sherry knew just how long

P H O T O S B Y DAV I D G R U N F E L D

Above: Milan Nicole Sherry, House of Tulip’s director of community support and outreach Top right: House of Tulip Executive Director Mariah Moore

the hours were going to be over the last year. As a Black trans woman, native New Orleanian and activist, she was keenly aware of the needs of the area’s transgender and gender-nonconforming community when House of Tulip launched last year. Housing insecurity has long been one of the biggest challenges facing the TGNC community, particularly for people of color who can face layers of discrimination and violence for the mere act of existing. When the pandemic hit New Orleans last March, Sherry and her friend Mariah Moore immediately got to work helping the TGNC community face the challenges it would bring. Like Sherry, Moore is a Black trans woman from New Orleans who’d spent years working with and advocating for the TGNC community. It quickly became apparent to the two women that the pandemic had turned their community’s long-standing affordable housing crisis into an immediate, and deadly, one. Within weeks they’d come up with a plan to address it: Rather than follow rent assistance or short-term housing models, Sherry, Moore and a small group of other TGNC activists decided to secure housing

by buying properties to provide zero-barrier housing and resources for their community. On June 22, 2020, House of Tulip was born, and by January of this year, TGNC people were moving in. “It was definitely a long time coming,” says Sherry, House of Tulip’s director of community support and outreach. “Living here in the South, being from New Orleans, where [the TGNC community] lack a lot of resources, especially when it comes to housing, education, jobs — to be able to provide a resource to our community that we know many of us have needed has just been an overall amazing process and very humbling.” House of Tulip will reach its first anniversary later this month, and the organization is already making progress. The group has begun providing housing for several TGNC New Orleanians, and they’ve also opened an office space which serves as a community resource center. “I tell folks all the time, if only I had this resource when I was young. We didn’t have this resource here in New Orleans,” Sherry says. “It’s rooted in love. You have two Black trans women who know what it’s like to be counted out, to know what it’s like to be discarded. Coming to House

of Tulip is knowing that you’ll always be welcome.”

Nationally, nearly 30% of trans people

will experience homelessness at some point in their lives, according to the sweeping U.S. Trans Survey. That number jumps to 42% for Black trans people. The TGNC community faces discrimination on every field. One in five trans people have reported being refused a home or apartment because of their gender identity, and one in 10 say they have been evicted for being transgender. Trans people are also four times more likely than the cisgender population to have a yearly income below $10,000. Discrimination in employment, health care, credit availability and even basic identity documents means lower income and housing insecurity. And trans people face high rates of violence and abuse

1 in 3 trans Louisianans report experiencing homelessness at some point in their lives, according to the U.S. Transgender Survey

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14 P H O T O P R OV I D E D B Y B E N C O L L O N G U E S

Members of House of Tulip’s founder’s circle, clockwise from left, Camilla Marchena, Milan Nicole Sherry, Mariah Moore, Ben Collongues and Za’hair Martinez with artist Yves.

— in 2020, at least 44 TGNC people were killed in the U.S., the majority of whom were Black or Latinx, the Human Rights Campaign reported. According to the U.S. Trans Survey, one in three trans Louisianans will experience homelessness at some point in their lives. Further, 33% of trans Louisianans were living in poverty in 2015, the year of the survey — the U.S. poverty rate was 12% that year. Housing insecurity and poverty impacts Black trans people at even higher rates. The 2015 U.S. Trans Survey was the largest survey conducted on the trans community, with almost 28,000 respondents nationally. Of those respondents, 274 were in Louisiana. Hard data on the number of TGNC people living in New Orleans are difficult to find — population studies over the years have ignored the community, and historically, discrimination has made TGNC people seek privacy. But Gallup estimates 5.1% of people living in New Orleans identify as LGBTQ, one of the largest in the country per capita. The pandemic only worsened the precarious and often dangerous

position trans Louisianans constantly have to deal with. There is a long history in the transgender and gender-nonconforming community fighting for housing justice and providing homes for themselves and their neighbors. Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, trans women of color and sex workers, created their own home in the early 1970s New York for trans sex workers and LGBTQ youth. From 1995 to 2008, Rusty Mae Moore and Chelsea Goodwin ran Transy House in New York, where Rivera also lived. And countless mutual aid homes have housed people when shelters or government-run programs have consistently failed the trans community. Historically, one of the big problems in addressing homelessness has been a reliance on an emergency response model, says Dylan Waguespack, public policy and external affairs director at True Colors United, a national organization focus on housing insecurity among LGBTQ youth. Waguespack also is from New Orleans and is part of House of Tulip’s founder’s circle. In the system, the emphasis is on

42%

of Black trans Americans have experienced homelessness at some point in their lives, according to the U.S. Transgender Survey

the immediate, and people needing housing are often sent to a shelter without significant flexibility and a response to their case-by-case needs. Also, many TGNC people do not identify by male or female genders, which could prevent access to housing shelters. The layers of marginalization TGNC people experience — from employment to being pushed out of school early — makes it more challenging for a person to be able to navigate the system into permanent housing, Waguespack adds. “What we see is that trans people cycle in and out of this emergency response system pretty rapidly,”

he says. “They’ll get through their maximum amount of days they’re able to stay somewhere, for example, without achieving that sort of positive long-term outcome.”

As the pandemic was taking hold last March,

Moore and Sherry were busy helping coordinate mutual aid and help for local TGNC people facing job loss and mounting rent and bills. The TGNC Crisis Funding Circle, which was co-managed by trans activists Waguespack, Dylan Born and Spirit McIntrye, raised around $20,000 through GoFundMe and redistributed those donations back to TGNC New Orleanians. In that work, though, they found one of the biggest needs was help with housing. The TGNC Crisis Funding Circle could help with rent money — but that was a short-term solution. Moore and Sherry wanted to find a permanent way to help people in their community facing homelessness, they told Gambit. Both were included in Gambit’s 40 Under 40 last year. “We were able to provide that assistance,” Sherry then told Gambit, “but it was short-term.

trans Louisianans are living below the poverty line, according to the U.S. Transgender Survey

We wanted to think about longterm solutions and how we can actually further provide resources to our community.” Moore and Sherry wanted something more for their community. A long-term solution for housing insecurity. And they couldn’t rely on others, particularly a state government run by openly hostile Republicans and Democrats. They knew they would have to do it themselves. In June, House of Tulip launched with Moore and Sherry as co-directors and a “Founder’s Circle,” which would help shape the formation of House of Tulip. That team includes seasoned local, state and national activists like Waguespack, Ben Collongues, Sultana Isham, Camilla Marchena and Za’hair Martinez. The nonprofit was established as a community land trust, a commitment to directly purchase property and hold it exclusively for affordable housing. The community land trust model has grown in recent decades — two other community land trusts exist in New Orleans, Crescent City Community Land Trust and Jane Place Neighborhood Sustainability Initiative — and has been increasingly used by marginalized communities being denied housing or pushed out by gentrification. New Communities in Albany, Georgia, began in 1969 for Black homeowners and farmers and was a model for future CLTs until it was forced to dissolve in 1982 amid a drought and racist practices from the federal government. Today there are more than 270 CLTs across the U.S. But House of Tulip is truly unique in its focus on the TGNC community. House of Tulip secured $50,000 in seed funding and started a GoFundMe, which raised more than $400,000. Word of House of Tulip spread quickly on social media and was then featured in publications around the country, including Washington Blade, The Guardian and The Root. Donations came in from anonymous celebrities and individuals around the world. The organization rented its first property last November and began housing people in January. House of Tulip purchased the property that same month. It now also rents a second house and an office space. And the organization was able to add Collongues as an operations support specialist and donations specialist Meloney Washington to the staff.

Though it’s unique in many ways, House of

Tulip is part of a broader movement in the TGNC community nationally to address housing needs on their own, which have all begun to show signs of success. In New York, storied Black trans activist Ceyenne Doroshow founded GLITS — Gays & Lesbians Living in a Transgender Society — which purchased and opened its first 12-unit apartment building in November for TGNC residents. Movements have been taking place across the South, too. The Trans Housing Coalition in Atlanta, which grew out of a GoFundMe to help house Black trans women, raised more than $3 million. So far THC has been able to provide onetime rental assistance or consistent help to 200 TGNC Georgians, including helping almost 20 access federal housing voucher programs, says founder and co-director Jesse Pratt Lopez. The Memphis, Tennessee, group My Sistah’s House raised more than $250,000 to build a neighborhood of tiny homes for Black trans women and non-binary people. And other housing assistance programs have caught on in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Eureka Springs, Arkansas. There’s a reason many of these community-based solutions to the housing crisis are happening in the South, activists say. The South “is the region of the country where there’s a higher percentage of trans people than

P H O T O P R OV I D E D B Y C H A R L E S C H A M PAG N E

Dylan Waguespack is the public policy and external affairs director at True Colors United and a co-founder of House of Tulip.

anywhere else, and there’s greater need for these kinds of economic supports across the board,” Waguespack says. There are aspects of House of Tulip’s model that are inspired by work that has happened in other communities, Waguespack says. Community land trusts have been

15%

of trans people have a yearly household income below $10,000. That’s compared to 4% among the nontransgender population, according to the Movement Advancement Project and Center for American Progress.

established by numerous groups, and people in marginalized communities have long come together in mutual aid. “But what we’ve never seen is in the trans community all of those things coming together,” Waguespack says. “It’s an interesting combination of strategies that gave us the real sense of like, here is a really comprehensive, community-oriented approach to this massive homelessness crisis that we have among trans people in Louisiana, and really everywhere.”

Waguespack believes House of Tulip could be a model for folks to look at across the country, especially in ways to promote housing-first solutions, grow affordable housing stock in a city and promote home ownership in the TGNC community. There are challenges, though. Funding is a big one. It’s expensive to purchase a house — especially with New Orleans’ rising home prices — house people and keep the bills paid. House of Tulip relies on grassroots donations and is seeking unrestricted or minimally restrictive grants to go toward its operational budget, Moore says. “Because House of Tulip is not a national organization, funding becomes very limited when seeking grants from larger foundations who have the multi-year grants that we need,” she says, “which is why it is so important to build a large sustaining donor base.” Federal investment would help close the gap between traditional community development funding and projects like House of Tulip, Waguespack says, to make it easier to access things like equity funds or community development block grants. Another limitation is just in the ability of a young, small organization to meet the needs out there. House of Tulip is working to grow,

PAGE 17

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1 in 3

Both homes have a full kitchen, communal spaces and backyards. The office space also has a kitchen, computer lab and clothing closet accessible to those in the TGNC community. House of Tulip does not share the locations of its housing in order to protect the individuals staying there. House of Tulip offers permanent, zero-barrier housing where individuals can stay as long as needed and depending on their goals. Along with providing rooms, the organization talks with residents about those goals and offers help with things like job searches and school prep. There is also the long-term goal of helping the TGNC community build to home ownership. According to the U.S. Trans Survey, only 16% of trans individuals in the country own their homes, compared to 63% of the general public. “We’ve already seen people be a lot more confident and feel a lot more secure in their living situation,” Moore says. “They know they’re going to have the support they’ll need and be able to find jobs or apply to colleges or schools without a fear of not being able to pay rent or being under the stress of having some kind of time limit, like ‘You have 30 days to do this or fulfill this agreement.’ ”

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PAGE 15

Milan Nicole Sherry, speaks at Armstrong Park during a Black Lives Matter Rally and March for Black women in July 2020.

but it’s bounded by the amount of space it has, its staff size and access to other resources. There also are unexpected state laws they have to navigate: Louisiana’s “crime against nature” laws — which have historically targeted LGBTQ people — requires a person to register as a sex offender, meaning their address is public and could inadvertently put other residents at House of Tulip at risk. Moore and other LGBTQ activists have campaigned to have the state’s CAN law removed. “House of Tulip is still in its infancy but has accomplished so much in one year,” Moore says.

Milan Nicole Sherry says her dream

is to organize herself out of a job. The goal is to reach a point where a place like House of Tulip isn’t needed for the TGNC community. “We will live in a world where trans folks can thrive and not just be tolerated,” she says. Right now, she and Moore are working to make sure at least House of Tulip can offer that space to thrive. Along with the day-to-day operations of housing people and helping those who drop by the community center, House of Tulip is working to grow. The aim is to move forward with the community land trust model and help TGNC community members become homeowners, Moore says. Moore in March also announced she will run for the District D seat on the New Orleans City Council this fall. There is joy in knowing “this is ours, this is for community,” Sherry says, “and this is a

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Pizza pit stop

New apple products THE SUDS STARTED FLOWING IN LATE MAY at a new taproom in Old Jefferson,

but this latest addition to the ranks of local craft drinks isn’t a brewery.

Garage Pizza serves pies and more on St. Claude Avenue BY B E T H D ’A D D O N O GARAGE PIZZA HAS BEEN SITUATED ON THE SAME BLOCK of St. Claude

Avenue for several years, but owner Karen Bolds now has a more permanent and prominent spot on the corner of Independence Street. Bolds recently opened a pretty purple dining room for her restaurant in the space that formerly housed a vintage-meets-junk shop. Bolds knows the neighborhood well. She spent her early childhood a few blocks away and attended Dr. Charles Richard Drew Elementary School, then known as George Washington Elementary. The route that led her to the spot at 3704 St. Claude Ave. has been a winding one. She didn’t intend to make a career of cooking. “It’s not like it’s been my passion or dream,” she says. “It’s just that I’m good at it, and every time I try to do something else, I wind up back in the kitchen.” Garage Pizza has been a thing since 2009, a solo endeavor she’s run at a few locations, including as a pop-up at Chickie Wah Wah, where customers clamored for her trademark crisp, thick crusts and inventive, New Orleans-inspired toppings. She started working out of nearby Mike’s Food Store on St. Claude in 2013 and eventually opened a tiny storefront that was easy to miss unless you saw the small Garage sign over the door. The landlord offered her the larger corner space a few months ago, and after sprucing it up and adding some outdoor seating, she opened the new indoor location in April. The airy dining room, with its local art and nods to the film “The Color Purple” — inspired by the soft shade of orchid on the walls — includes handmade beadboard cabinetry and tables constructed from repurposed doors.

P H OTO B Y I A N M C NU LT Y/ T H E T I M E S - P I C AY UNE

Colleen Keogh opened Kingfish Cider in Old Jefferson.

“A guy named Mo from the neighborhood made them for me,” Bolds says. “I don’t even know his last name.” There’s a nook she calls the living room, outfitted with a comfy leather sofa. Her brother Keving Bolds, who was an opening chef at Louisiana Pizza Kitchen, recently came home from years of traveling and is helping out in the kitchen. Although she offers delivery and takeout, which helped her scrape by during the pandemic, many of her regulars and neighbors are choosing to dine inside the restaurant. Thick-crusted pizza is still her calling card, and each special pie is named for a car. The Rolls Royce is topped with pepperoni, Italian sausage, ham and vegetables. A Jaguar Jambalaya takes all of the traditional dish’s ingredients — shrimp, crawfish, sausage and Cajun spices — and spreads them out under a scattering of mozzarella. The Subaru spinach pie is geared to vegetarians, with a mix of baby spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, red onions, fresh tomatoes, feta and roasted garlic with garlic sauce. The build-your-own options include artichokes, pesto and pepperoni on 10-, 14- and 18-inch crusts. Bolds says she’s working on recipes for a gluten-free crust. Pizza isn’t all that’s on her menu. There are crab cakes, fried green

P H OTO B Y C H E R Y L G E R B E R

Karen Bolds makes pizza and more at Garage Pizza.

tomatoes and feta rolls made with phyllo dough and served with a side of marinara. There’s a range of salads, including the Sports Car made with spinach, candied pecans, red onions and apples. Pasta is served with creamy crawfish sauce, red gravy with meatballs or house-made basil pesto. Vegan options include a curried marinated tofu bowl with vegetables and marinated tempeh with brown rice and steamed kale. Bolds says she’s proud to run a scratch kitchen, making everything from salad dressings and sauces to bread pudding herself. She honed her cooking while working at restaurants at Jax Brewery, the Chart House, Old Dog New Trick Cafe, House of Blues and Herbsaint when Susan Spicer was involved there. Originally Garage was going to be a joint venture with Fatima Nayir and Musa Ulusan from Italian Pie. But when plans changed, Bolds went her own way and is now at the wheel at Garage Pizza. “I never planned to have my own place,” Bolds says.

? WHAT

Garage Pizza

WHERE

3704 St. Claude Ave., (504) 214-5177; garagepizzaneworleans.com

WHEN

11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tue.-Sun.

HOW

Dine-in, outdoor seating, takeout and delivery available

CHECK IT OUT

Thick-crust pizza and more at a casual Bywater spot

Kingfish Cider makes hard cider. This crisp, bubbly alcoholic drink has a growing following in the U.S., and now it has a new outpost that represents a major first for Jefferson Parish. The local revival of the craft beverage industry mostly has been centered on New Orleans, along with some Northshore communities, where breweries and distilleries now dot the map. Kingfish Cider is the only taproom of any category in Jefferson Parish, but local officials say its debut could augur growth for more to follow. For Kingfish founder Colleen Keogh, the cidery is a chance to build her own business and stake out some new turf. “It’s such a different drink, and cideries are different, too,” she says. “They’re somewhere between a winery and a brewery, but different from either one.” Kingfish is at 355 Iris Ave., part of an industrial stretch between Jefferson Highway and the levee lined with workshops, garages and a smattering of homes. The nondescript exterior of its metal building hides a colorful taproom with a vintage theme across the space. Pieces of old cars compose the bar (the cider menu is drawn on the hood of an old Chevy). Stage lights from an old theater shine down from above. A rusty bicycle holds up a table made from refurbished bowling lanes. The cidery’s namesake is Huey P. Long (aka the Kingfish), and the politician’s iconic imagery is all around the taproom. The cider list takes similar cues. The Huey Perry is a cider made from pears. The Uncle Earl (named for the Kingfish’s brother) is a hopped cider with a spicier flavor. PAGE 20

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Kingfish is licensed to serve beer and liquor as well as its own cider, though it’s not stocked like a conventional bar. It has four Louisiana beers on draft, and it keeps a short list of locally made spirits to mix cider cocktails — like one blending hard cider, ginger beer and Black Pearl Rum from Seven Three Distilling Co. in New Orleans. Kingfish sells its cider at the taproom only, but distribution could come later. The taproom pours flights to sample, full glasses or cans that are sealed on the spot to take away. The taproom stocks a fridge of cheese and meats from St. James Cheese Co. for visitors to assemble their own charcuterie boards. In the future, Kingfish may host food trucks too. Though it’s a cidery, Kingfish is regulated by the state as a micro-distillery, because there is no designation for cider making. Still, the process is closer to wine making. Hard cider is made from fermented apples or pears, and it typically has an alcohol content similar to beer. The drink is naturally gluten-free. More common in apple-producing areas around the U.S. and especially overseas, craft cider is a niche within a niche for the still-new craft beverage business in this region. One other

example of the type is Broad Street Cider, which opened in New Orleans in 2017. Keogh works in health care information technology. She developed a passion for cider and studied cider production at Washington State University on her way to building her business. She worked with the Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission (JEDCO) for years to develop the plan and its financing. The location on Iris Avenue was guided by parish zoning laws, which allow breweries and distilleries only in industrial areas. The last brewery in the parish of any sort was a brewpub operation at Zea Rotisserie & Bar in Metairie, though brewing ceased there years ago. JEDCO president and CEO Jerry Bologna says there is momentum building to adjust zoning rules to encourage more craft producers to set up shop in Jefferson Parish. Bologna was joined at Kingfish’s opening by a host of local elected officials, including Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng and councilmen Deano Bonano and Scott Walker. In New Orleans, the growth of craft breweries has led to a clutch of new businesses and jobs, fostered a

different kind of social space apart from conventional bars and created a new draw in the city’s tourism industry. Though Kingfish is tucked away on an Old Jefferson side street, Keogh looks at the proximity of Ochsner Medical Center, nearby neighborhoods and even Tulane and Loyola universities as promising sources of business. “If tourists find us, that’s great, but we’re out to serve the locals here,” Keogh says. Kingfish is open from noon to 6 p.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays and noon to 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. — IAN McNULTY/ THE TIMES-PICAYUNE

Virgin chef WHEN THE VIRGIN HOTEL OPENS in downtown New Orleans later this year, it will debut a new restaurant with a chef who already has a local following. Alex Harrell has been named executive chef for the hotel and its forthcoming restaurant, called Commons Club. He’ll oversee menus for the hotel’s bar, poolside lounge and in-room service as well. All the Virgin Hotels around the U.S. use the name Commons Club for their flagship restaurants, but at each one, the chef takes a different tack with its menu and identity.

For Harrell, this New Orleans version of Commons Club will showcase the modern Southern culinary style he’s developed through the years. “It will be a continuation of what I’ve been doing since the Angeline days,” he says. “It will be a refined, elevated Southern style with strong Mediterranean influences.” Harrell developed and ran the French Quarter restaurant Angeline as chef and owner from 2015 to 2018. Angeline distinguished itself with menus that were strongly Southern, and original but also down to earth in concept, composition and flavor. After Angeline closed, Harrell became executive chef at the Elysian Bar, the restaurant at the Hotel Peter & Paul in Faubourg Marigny. The Elysian Bar announced last week that it had named local chef Jonathan Klaskala to take over Harrell’s post there. The Virgin Hotel is an $80 million project from Virgin-brand creator Richard Branson. The 13-story, 238room hotel at 550 Baronne St. is slated to open in late summer. Commons Club will unfold across a series of interconnected rooms, including a lounge and a cafe for coffee and morning meals. — IAN McNULTY/ THE TIMES-PICAYUNE

Gambit Details showcases how New Orleanians love to intersect classic style with the eclectic, while introducing our readers to some of our city’s unique retailers, designers and creators.

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ISSUE DATE: July AD SPACE: June

Ad Director Sandy Stein 504.483.3150 or sstein@gambitweekly.com * S C A R B O R O U G H R E S E A R C H : N E W O R L E A N S , L A 2 0 2 0 R E L E A S E 2 & 2 0 1 9 R E L E A S E 2 T O TA L ( A U G 2 0 1 8 - J U L 2 0 2 0 )

EAT+DRINK

Dre Glass Chef

DRE GLASS GREW UP IN ONTARIO, CANADA , and went into a winemak-

ing career that took her to California, Oregon, Argentina and New Zealand. After coming to New Orleans eight years ago, she started bartending and has made the city her home. She began cooking food for friends while working in bars, and started her business, Once Around the Kitchen, as a hobby pop-up. Now she offers weekly meal boxes and sells hot sauces and preserves at local markets, including the weekly Coffee Science market.

How did you get interested in cooking? DRE GLASS: I am Italian. My mother is Italian. I grew up in a very Italian household, curing meats, making wine in the garage, making prosciutto, canning tomatoes, all of that stuff. That’s where it all started. When I was making wine, I traveled a lot for work and learned about all of the cuisines I cook. Our Italian basket

is one of our most popular baskets. I stayed in the Caribbean for a bit and I really enjoy those flavors. [The boxes] rotate between three or four things and putting a Southern twist on stuff.

How did you start your pop-up? G: Pre-pandemic I would do pop-ups at bars for fun. It wasn’t a business venture as much as something to do on my days off. I did pop-ups at Lost Love Lounge and Hi-Ho Lounge. I was always cooking and giving away food to bartenders and that turned into pop-ups, and then the pandemic happened. Then it turned into delivering food. The first few days of it, I made giant pots of red beans or pasta and (started) doing $6 meals and delivering them around the city, and that very quickly became overwhelming. I was doing a themed basket for a week, and it was like, “Here’s some beans to tide you over for two weeks until the bar reopens.” I think we all realized pretty quickly it wasn’t going to be two weeks. It all started through Instagram. Being a bartender, I had a pretty big network of people. During the

P H OTO P R OV I D E D B Y D R E G L A S S

pandemic, I found that people were buying baskets for their parents that they typically would help but couldn’t get to because of lockdown. And I would have people send in donations so I could give away meals, and we were doing a lot through the community.

What do you like to put in the baskets? G: Each basket is like three or four meals for one person or a pretty big feast for two people. There are things that are on the add-on

menu regularly, like curry chicken salad. The baskets are international comfort food. For a lot the pop-ups I would do what is now the Caribbean basket. I only did a dozen or so before the pandemic, but I did that one pretty often. I use all local ingredients. I have a small garden, but I try to source my fruits and vegetables from local growers. For hot sauces, jellies and jams, it’s all seasonal. I just got a bushel of okra and a flat of blueberries. I am about to get some peaches. I make three flavors of hot sauces. Burn it Down is fermented chilies from my garden. I have mango-pineapple-habanero that I have been making for a while to go with our Caribbean food. I have a jalapeno-mint hot sauce that started with what I have too much of in my garden. It’s our breakfast hot sauce that isn’t blow-your-head-off spicy. You can put it on everything. — WILL COVIELLO Editor’s note: Gambit Knife-Wielding Crab-In-Chief John Stanton was the best man in Glass’s wedding and often stuffs his face with her wares. Visit oncearoundthekitchennola. com for more information.

FATHER’S DAY GIFT GUIDE

IN THE JUNE 15TH ISSUE! AD RESERVATION

JUNE 4

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ISSUE DATE

JUNE 15 To advertise, contact:

Ad Director Sandy Stein 504.483.3150 or sstein@gambitweekly.com

21 G A M B I T > B E S T O F N E WO R L E A N S . C O M > J u n e 1 - 7 > 2 0 2 1

3-COURSE INTERVIEW

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40 UNDER 40 2 0 2 1

C ALL FOR NOMINATIONS NOMINEE REQUIREMENTS:

Must be 39 years of age or younger on July 27, 2021 Live in the New Orleans area Be worthy of distinction (elected officials are not eligible) Tell us about your nominee’s background, accomplishments and future plans and be sure to include their exact DOB. If you know someone who fits these requirements, please fill out the nomination form at

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Contact Will Coviello wcoviello@gambitweekly.com 504-483-3106 | FAX: 504-483-3159 C O M P L E T E L I S T I N G S AT W W W. B E S T O F N E 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.

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

Notice: Due to COVID-19, dining at restaurants is impacted. Information is subject to change. Contact the restaurant to confirm service options.

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

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

FAUBOURG MARIGNY 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. Lunch and dinner Wed.-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. Breakfast, lunch and dinner 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. Lunch and dinner 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. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sat. $

LAKEVIEW The Blue Crab Restaurant and Oyster Bar — 7900 Lakeshore Drive, (504) 2842898; thebluecrabnola.com — The menu includes sandwiches, fried seafood platters, boiled seafood and more. The Blue Crab platter has fried shrimp, oysters, catfish and crab claws and either fried stuffed crab or soft-shell crab. Outdoor seating available. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sun. $$ Lakeview Brew Coffee Cafe — 5606 Canal Blvd., (504) 483-7001; lakeviewbrew. com — This casual cafe offers coffee, pastries, desserts, sandwiches and salads. Tuna salad or chicken salad avocado melts are topped with Monterey Jack and Parmesan. Takeout, curbside pickup and delivery are available. Breakfast and lunch daily. $

METAIRIE Andrea’s Restaurant — 3100 N. 19th St., Metairie, (504) 834-8583; andreasrestaurant.com — Chef Andrea Apuzzo’s speckled trout royale is topped with crabmeat and lemon-cream sauce. Capelli D’Andrea combines house-made angel hair pasta and smoked salmon in cream sauce. Curbside pickup and delivery available. Lunch and dinner daily, brunch Sun. $$$ Chef Ron’s Gumbo Stop — 2309 N. Causeway Blvd., Metairie, (504) 8352022; gumbostop.com — The Seafood Platter comes with fried catfish, shrimp, oysters and crab balls and is accompanied by fries and choice of side. Delivery available. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sat. $$ 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. Lunch Sun.-Thu., dinner 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. Lunch Tue.Sat., dinner Tue.-Sun. $ Nephew’s Ristorante — 4445 W. Metairie Ave., Metairie, (504) 5339998; nephewsristorante.com — Chef Frank Catalanotto is the namesake “nephew” who ran the kitchen at his late uncle Tony Angello’s restaurant. The

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. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sun. $ Brown Butter Southern Kitchen & Bar — 231 N. Carrollton Ave., Suite C, (504) 609-3871; 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. Lunch and dinner Wed.-Sat., brunch Sat.-Sun. $$ Katie’s Restaurant — 3701 Iberville St., (504) 488-6582; katiesinmidcity.com — Favorites include the Cajun Cuban with roasted pork, grilled ham, cheese and pickles pressed on buttered bread. The Boudreaux pizza is topped with cochon de lait, spinach, red onions, roasted garlic and scallions. Takeout, curbside pickup and delivery available. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sun. $$ Mid City Pizza — 4400 Banks St., (504) 483-8609; midcitypizza.com — The neighborhood pizza joint serves New Yorkstyle pies, plus calzones, sandwiches and salads. Signature shrimp remoulade pizza includes spinach, red onion, garlic, basil and green onion on an garlic-olive oil brushed curst. Dine-in, takeout and delivery available. Lunch Thu.-Sun., dinner Thu.-Mon. $$ Neyow’s Creole Cafe — 3332 Bienville St., (504) 827-5474; neyows.com — The menu includes New Orleans favorites such as red beans with fried chicken or pork chops, as well as grilled or fried seafood plates, po-boys, raw or char-grilled oysters, pasta, salads and more. Dine-in and takeout available. Lunch daily, dinner Mon.-Sat., brunch Sun. $$ 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. Dinner Tue.-Sun. $$ Theo’s Neighborhood Pizza — 4024 Canal St., (504) 302-1133; theospizza. com — See Harahan/Jefferson section for restaurant description. $

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

UPTOWN CR Coffee Shop — 3618 Magazine St., (504) 354-9422; crcoffeenola.com — The

selection includes Coast Roast coffees made with beans roasted in antique roasters, and the sweet vanilla cream cold brew is a signature item. There also are pastries and snacks. Indoor and outdoor seating, online ordering and delivery available. Open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. $ 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. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat., brunch Sun. $$ Red Gravy — 4206 Magazine St., (504) 561-8844; redgravycafe.com — Thin cannoli pancakes are filled with cannoli cream and topped with chocolate. The menu includes brunch items, pasta dishes, sandwiches, baked goods and more. Takeout available. $$ 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. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat., brunch Sun. $$$

WAREHOUSE DISTRICT Annunciation — 1016 Annunciation St., (504) 568-0245; annunciationrestaurant. com — The menu highlights Gulf seafood in Creole, Cajun and Southern dishes. Fried oysters and skewered bacon are served with meuniere sauce and toasted French bread. Reservations required. Dinner Thu.-Sun. $$$ NOLA Caye — 898 Baronne St., (504) 302-1302; nolacaye.com — The menu features Caribbean-inspired dishes and Gulf seafood. Seared ahi tuna is served with mango, avocado, mixed greens, citrus vinaigrette and sesame seeds. Takeout, delivery and outdoor seating available. D daily, brunch Sat.-Sun. $$$

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

23 G A M B I T > B E S T O F N E WO R L E A N S . C O M > J u n e 1 - 7 > 2 0 2 1

OUT EAT

Creole-Italian menu features dishes like veal, eggplant or chicken parmigiana, and Mama’s Eggplant with red gravy and Romano cheese. Reservations required. Dinner Tue.-Sat. $$ Theo’s Neighborhood Pizza — 2125 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, (504) 510-4282; theospizza.com — See Harahan/Jefferson section for restaurant description. $ Short Stop Po-Boys — 119 Transcontinental Drive, Metairie, (504) 885-4572; shortstoppoboysno.com — The menu includes more than 30 po-boys along with other Louisiana staples. Fried Louisiana oysters and Gulf shrimp are served on a Leidenheimer loaf with lettuce, tomato, onions and pickles. No reservations. Breakfast, lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat. $

G A M B I T > B E S T O F N E WO R L E A N S . C O M > J u n e 1 - 7 > 2 02 1

MUSIC

STAY ISSUE ISSUE COMING JUNE 22 AD SPACE

JUNE 11

EVERYTHING LOCALS NEED

TO REDISCOVER NEW ORLEANS! F E AT U R I N G

Museum Preview Promote your museum exhibits & special events in this special section of Gambit.

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Smoke show BY SARAH RAVITS FOR MORE THAN A DECADE, JOHNNY MASTRO AND MAMA’S BOYS could be

recognized on downtown stages by their slicked-back hair, sharp suits and sunglasses. It’s been a missed presence on Frenchmen Street while venues have been shut down during the pandemic. On June 5, the group will make a triumphant return to Bamboula’s for a weekly Saturday gig, offering some new songs from their forthcoming 13-track album. The four-person band, which was founded in the early 1990s in Los Angeles before relocating to New Orleans around 2009, draws heavily upon influences from Delta and Chicago blues and Led Zeppelin and incorporates heavy doses of harmonica licks.   Their latest album, “James Elmore for President” — named for the slide guitar player of the 1940s, ’50s and ‘60s — will be released in the next few weeks. The group originally planned to release “Elmore” in the spring of 2020 and would have followed it up with a weeks-long European tour. The band has amassed a following in Germany, Switzerland and Belgium. Like many local bands who also rely on a robust music festival season, both in and out of town, the members faced a conundrum after canceling the tour.  “We were like, ‘Do we put the record out, or should we sit on it?’ ” says slide guitarist Smokehouse “Smokey” Brown. He co-writes most of the group’s tunes with frontman and harmonica player Johnny Mastro. “We recorded it in 2019, and it was a whole process. T-shirts, merch — everything was already done,” he adds. The group, which also includes Jim “Jimbo” Goodall on drums and John Fohl on guitar, describes “Elmore” as their most psychedelic release to date. Many of the songs had evolved based on how live audiences had reacted to earlier versions. Ultimately, the group decided to hold the record release.  “The market was flooded with people doing online stuff in the beginning [of the shutdowns],” Smoke says.  “We sat on the record and started releasing a few live shows, but the market was so washed over it just got lost in the crowd, so we just decided to hang back.”  Even doing a livestream, he says, “just didn’t feel right. You miss the

P H OTO B Y P I E R R E K A H N / P R OV I D E D B Y J O H NN Y M A S T R O A N D M A M A’ S B OY S

Smokehouse Brown, left, and Johnny Mastro.

interaction of the crowd.” In the meantime, group members turned to other odd jobs around town. Brown bar-backed at Pal’s Lounge and helped creative friends in similar situations at pop-up markets and other endeavors in the Bywater. The band was “just trying to get by, trying to figure out ways to survive besides doing music,” he says. “When we would do online things, we’d make like $7.” Brown says “four months in, people just stopped giving money … Everyone was in the same boat, everyone was hurting.”  Though details of an upcoming international tour are not yet hashed out yet because of European COVID19 restrictions, Johnny Mastro and Mama’s Boys are feeling more optimistic and ready to get back in front of live audiences celebrating a “crazy, psychedelic record.” Tracks include original material with a couple of cover songs. One of Brown’s personal favorites is an homage to local legend Little Freddie King.  Brown notes the group’s name honors Laura Mae “Mama” Gross — a mentor to the band in its early days — who ran a Los Angeles-based blues shrine called Babe and Rick’s Inn. “She brought blues bands out there from places like Mississippi and Texas,” he says. “She was like our mentor, and she always told us to go to New Orleans.”  These days, they will heed her simple advice: “Keep the people dancing, and you’ll do all right.”

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT the Forum for Equality’s celebration of LGBT pride. Burlesque and drag duo Kitten N’ Lou performs Friday. The Lilli Lewis Project and others perform Saturday, and Sunday’s lineup features John Boutte, Mia Borders and Joy Clark. Friday, June 4, through Sunday, June 6, on the lawn of Faubourg Brewery in New Orleans East. Visit faubourgbrewery.com for details.

Dance for Social Change Festival DANCING GROUNDS’ DANCE FOR SOCIAL CHANGE FESTIVAL is highlighted by the release of its teenage dance company’s film “Ya Heard Meh? Youth Stories in a Global Pandemic.” There’s a red-carpet event and screening Thursday, June 3. The festival opens Wednesday, June 2, with a Youth Night featuring Big Freedia. DJ Webbie highlights a Day of Wellness on Saturday, June 5. All events are at the Broadside and The Broad Theater. Visit dancingrounds.org for tickets and information.

Kumasi THE KUMASI AFROBEAT ORCHESTRA IS INSPIRED BY THE AFROBEAT, jazz and funk of bandleader and musical pioneer Fela Kuti and drummer Tony Allen. The group performs at the Broadside at 6 p.m. Sunday, June 6. Find tickets at broadsidenola.com.

Nicholas Payton COMPOSER, TRUMPETER AND KEYBOARDIST NICHOLAS PAYTON is joined by drummer Jamison Ross and bassist Jason Stewart for two shows at Tipitina’s on Saturday, June 5. Tickets $30-$40 for tables for two or four. Shows begin at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Find tickets at tipitinas.com.

Tephra Sound NAMED FOR MATERIAL PRODUCED BY A VOLCANIC ERUPTION, Tephra Sound explores improvisational music. Tephra cellist Helen Gillet, drummer Nikki Glaspie and keyboardist Brian Haas are joined for this show by Byron Asher playing reed instruments. The Scatterjazz series of improvisational music organized the show at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 5, at the Broadside. Find tickets on broadsidenola.com.

“The Amusement Park” DIRECTOR GEORGE A. ROMERO MASTERED THE ZOMBIE MOVIE on his first try with the landmark “Night of the Living Dead” in 1968.

He released five more installments through “Survival of the Dead” in 2009. In the early 1970s, Lutheran Services of Pittsburgh enlisted Romero to make a movie about discrimination against the elderly — and never released the horror film he delivered about a man going to what amounts to a surreal and grotesque amusement park. The film was discovered in 2018, restored and released. It includes a filmed Q&A with Romero, who died in 2017. The film opens at Zeitgeist Theatre & Lounge on June 4. See zeitgeistnola.org.

Caren Green THE R&B AND SOUL SINGER PERFORMS OUTDOORS as part of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation’s summer concert series highlighting women artists. Green debuted her latest single “Crown Me” in March, which features 3rd Ward rapper 3d Na’Tee. The free show starts at 7 p.m. Saturday, June 5, at the George and Joyce Wein Jazz & Heritage Center and RSVP is required. jazzandheritage.org.

“Treasure Island”

Corey Henry & The Treme Funktet RECENTLY, TROMBONIST COREY HENRY AND HIS BAND THE TREME FUNKTET restarted their weekly Thursday night gig at Vaughan’s Lounge in Bywater, and the group recently posted photos from the studio while working on new music. So you may hear some new pieces from the group when they perform on the New Orleans Jazz Museum’s balcony at 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 1. It’s free outside the museum and online at facebook. com/nolajazzmuseum/live.

COMEDIAN AND WRITER TASHA RILEY recently started hosting a new monthly themed stand-up showcase at Zony Mash Beer Project. On Thursday, June 3, comedians Shep Kelly, Nita Cherise, Grant Collins, Lane Sperkus and DC Paul incorporate the theme “work and workmates.” The free show starts at 8 p.m. More information can be found at zonymashbeer.com.

Connie & Dwight Fitch with Davell Crawford, John Boutte and more

Water Seed

Mod Dance Party

LOCAL FUNK BAND WATER SEED IS JOINED BY DJ RAV SMOOVE and synth pop performer LeTrainiump at this Pink Party show at The Howlin’ Wolf at 10 p.m. Saturday, June 5. Tickets $40-$120 for pod seating. Find tickets at thehowlinwolf.com.

DJS MATTY AND KRISTIN REVIVE THEIR MOD DANCE PARTY FOR A NIGHT AT THE BYWATER ART GARDEN, and there will be an art market, food pop-ups and cocktails. At 3802 Dauphine St. from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, June 5. Ticket $10 at the gate. facebook.com/ moddancepartyneworleans.

SINGER-SONGWRITER KELCY MAE WILBURN leads the Americana and alt-country band Ever More Nest, which returns to live performances by kicking off a series of shows on the first Sunday of the month at Carnaval Lounge. Tickets $15-$20 for the seated show. The performance is at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, June 6. Tickets are available on eventbrite.com.

where to goosee who t

The Zony Mash Up

THE NOLA PROJECT’S A.J. ALLEGRA, James Bartelle and Alex Martinez Wallace wrote an original comic version of the pirate story “Treasure Island” — complete with sea shanties to sing — to present in the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden last spring. The troupe presents a reading of the show inside the New Orleans Museum of Art at noon Sunday, June 6. The company will present a full production in the garden at an undetermined date, and the reading series will continue with other original works. Tickets $8-$15 and free to museum members. Visit nolaproject.com for information.

Ever More Nest

what to do

GOSPEL AND RHYTHM AND BLUES ARTISTS CONNIE AND DWIGHT FITCH recently launched a foundation to support music education programs and burial assistance for families of musicians. They are hosting a foundation kick-off fundraiser and concert on Saturday, June 5, featuring John Boutte, Davell Crawford, Kermit Ruffins, Wanda Rouzan and more. Tickets are $100 at fitchfieldfoundationkickoff. eventbrite.com.

Miss Mojo THE EIGHT-PIECE BAND GOT ITS START AT TULANE UNIVERSITY. Vocalists Jenna Winston and Piper Browne blend pop and funk sounds. The band takes the stage at 8 p.m. Friday, June 4, at the Broadside. Tickets are $18 at broadsidenola.com.

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FILM

French exports BY WILL COVIELLO CREATED TO HIGHLIGHT NEW DIRECTORS, YOUNG FRENCH CINEMA

is a project between the French Embassy and UniFrance, which promotes French films globally. The project’s 2021 showcase of seven short films screens at Zeitgeist and features an Oscar nominee, winners of Cesar awards (France’s equivalent of the Academy Awards) and films from festivals including Cannes and Sundance. Subject matter ranges from cosmetic to spiritual dilemmas, and there are two innovative animated films. The directors and settings span France and North Africa. The program opens with “By a Hair,” in which a butcher is confronted with the reality that his teenage daughter doesn’t want to follow him in the family business. He proudly tells customers that Elodie can “bone a lamb,” but she has much more delicate procedures in mind as she prepares to take a practical exam to be a beautician. She just can’t find a friend who will be the test model for her not-yet-professional nail and waxing treatments. Also humorous is a tale of young love on a beach in Casablanca in “Sukar.” Young Muslim boys make rude sand sculptures and laugh at the battle between a lifeguard and a man hawking doughnuts, but it’s the taboo of a young couple flirting in the dunes that attracts everyone’s attention. The most visually stunning and intriguing film is French-Moroccan director Sofia Alaoui’s Cesar-winning “So What if the Goats Die?” Mostly set in a remote region of the Atlas mountains in North Africa, a young shepherd faces the starvation of his goats unless he can retrieve grain from a faraway town. When he arrives, the town is nearly empty. A destitute old man speaks of a strange happening, and Abdellah does not know whether the man is crazy or if supernatural events are coming to pass. It’s almost a parable of spiritual questioning, and he is uncertain whether to stick to his task of feeding the goats or seek to understand what is happening in the outside world. Alaoui deftly interweaves the story with fears of heresy. The two animated films are striking for their abstract styles and psychological reflections. Adrien Merigeau’s Oscar-nominated “Genius Loci” follows a young Black woman in both her interior thoughts and her

P H OTO P R OV I D E D B Y K I N O LO R B E R

“Olla” screens in New French Shorts 2021.

strange travels from her home out into her city’s nightlife. The animation is colorful and alternately spare and stark or phantasmagoric. The artistic styles traipse from figurative to abstract and surreal. And while the artistic rendering is dazzling, viewers can miss its effect while keeping up with the subtitles. Agnes Patron’s “And Then the Bear” is more minimal in its illustrations and color palate and mysterious in its free associations as a boy tracks grasshoppers, conjures bears and encounters menacing adults. “Haute Cuisine” is a story of intense rivalry between chefs in a Michelin-starred kitchen. It’s well acted, but what starts as a metaphor about personal sacrifice to succeed gets overbaked. The dark streak in actress-turneddirector Ariane Labed’s “Olla” is more lurid and entertaining. An Eastern European woman with bright orange hair arrives at the home of a Parisian man she met online. They don’t speak the same language and Labed reveals little about what they’ve agreed to. The man wants her to be the sex object he’s met online, a deferential partner and a caretaker to his mother. This arrangement does not go well, and there’s a sort of voyeurism to watching their mismatched expectations meet reality. It’s a small but diverse collection of films running 10 to 27 minutes each, and the most successful ones find original ways to pursue funny or strange mysteries. New French Shorts 2021 opens June 4 at Zeitgeist Theatre & Lounge.

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PREMIER CROSSWORD PUZZLE EPICUREAN SPECIALTY By Frank A. Longo

or cash 32 Riddle, part 2 43 Apple on a desk 44 Latin “that is” 45 “— So Fine” 46 French for “man” 47 Set into motion 50 Charles Chaplin’s title 51 Eileen of “Clue” 53 In the vicinity 54 Riddle, part 3 58 Old-time actress Irene 59 She was Mrs. Gorbachev 60 German word before “geist” 61 Donkey Kong and others

62 Riddle, part 4 65 Lacerate 69 Dove shelter 70 Use all of 71 Afro-Brazilian dance 72 Riddle, part 5 78 Scrupulous insistence on traditional rules 79 Disturbs 80 Source of some bran 81 Havana natives, to Havana natives 82 Novelist George 83 Braying beast 84 Shooter of small balls 87 Bard’s “before” 88 End of the riddle 94 Huge battle

95 Bereft, poetically 96 Khaki color 97 Riddle’s answer 107 Back-baring blouse 108 “— think so!” 109 Certain airport worker 111 “History repeats —” 112 Make a phony copy of 113 Moniker for Wilt Chamberlain 114 Shoulder garments 115 Deuce-beating cards 116 Admin. aide 117 Low grade DOWN 1 Baby bear 2 In — (lined up) 3 Phnom —, Cambodia 4 Skydived, for short 5 Second-most populous place in South Dakota 6 Slaughter of the Cardinals 7 Chewing gum brand 8 Lack the courage to 9 700-mile-long African river 10 Intro studio course 11 Secular 12 Range of the Appalachians 13 Actress Hedy 14 Composer Khachaturian 15 — Reader (magazine) 16 Turn a — ear 17 Hence 18 Hair colorer 20 “I love you,” to Juanita 27 — Christian Andersen 28 Opposite of old, in Germany 32 Plummer of “Pulp Fiction” 33 How cards are sometimes dealt 34 Gasoline rating 35 Exalting verse 36 Lower leg part 37 Feudal toiler 38 Source of some bran 39 Goose sound

40 1980s Dodge 41 Supermodel from Somalia 42 Hong Kong’s Hang — Index 48 Catering coffeepots 49 Vigoda of “Fish” 50 Tries to hit, as an insect 51 Cat variety 52 Sluggers’ stats 54 DJ Casey 55 Fall chill 56 Bear, in Baja 57 Gas in an atmospheric layer 59 Hayworth and Moreno 62 Certain garden worker 63 “The Simpsons” storekeeper 64 Sleuth, in old slang 65 Lipinski on ice 66 Rapper aka “Slim Shady” 67 Sop up 68 19th-dynasty pharaoh 69 Greek island 71 Deli hero 72 “Oh, ri-i-ight” 73 — contendere (court plea)

74 “Take — from me ...” 75 Take an ax to 76 2010-19 Royals skipper Ned 77 Waist wear 78 Pokes a hole in 81 Chew the — 83 Helicopter rescue, say 84 Three 19th-century literary sisters 85 Arctic chunk 86 Subgenre of rap music 89 Friends of Snow White 90 Mart start 91 Like flashy jewelry, informally 92 Least frequent 93 Not fulfilled 97 — and that 98 Possesses, in Shakespeare 99 Bride of Lohengrin 100 Crockpot dish 101 Beehive unit 102 Scent 103 Sweat outlet 104 Singer Phil 105 Blyton of kids’ books 106 Prefix with marketing 110 Blvd., e.g.

ANSWERS FOR LAST ISSUE’S PUZZLE: P 2

PUZZLES

ACROSS 1 Salary limit 4 Reputation, on the street 8 Two-team wrestling competitions 13 Gave high praise to 19 Pesticide compound 21 The “A” of James A. Garfield 22 Aorta, for one 23 Study hard 24 Proportional relation 25 Supervise 26 Start of a riddle 29 Thing a doc prescribes 30 Yin and — 31 Suffix with hotel

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