Gambit: August 17, 2021

August 17-23, 2021 Volume 42 // Number 33

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4 WHEN IT’S MORE THAN

CONTENTS

AUGUST 17 — 23, 2021 VOLUME 42 || NUMBER 33

Just Because

THE LONG AND AUDACIOUS HISTORY OF CRESCENT CITY BOXING IN PICTURES 19

CALL TODAY FOR YOUR ARRANGEMENT

NEWS

OPENING GAMBIT

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COMMENTARY 9 CLANCY DUBOS

10

BLAKE PONTCHARTRAIN 11 PULLOUT

BACK-TO-SCHOOL FEATURES

M e t a i r ie , L A

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 5 EAT + DRINK

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MUSIC 40 CALENDAR 41 FILM 42 PUZZLES 43 EXCHANGE 43 @The_Gambit @gambitneworleans P H OTO B Y C H E R Y L G E R B E R

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Fistic Carnival You could have a boxing match without burlesque dancers but what would be the fun in that?

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Fine tuning Dwayne Dopsie releases 11th zydeco record ‘Set Me Free’

BY JAKE CLAPP DWAYNE DOPSIE DIDN’T SET OUT to

do too much differently on his new album “Set Me Free.” After more than 20 years of fine tuning, Dopsie and his band The Zydeco Hellraisers are in the groove on their 11th outing.

“I feel like I’ve touched on different aspects of zydeco music with this album here,” the singer and accordionist says. “I didn’t really want to do too much different ’cause I didn’t want to get too far away from zydeco. But I definitely do believe this one is our best work.”

Dopsie and The Zydeco Hellraisers will release “Set Me Free” on Aug. 20. It’s the band’s second album for Louisiana Red Hot Records.

The 12-track album is filled with joyful, rug-cutting zydeco music with a heavy dose of soul, particularly in Dopsie’s lyrics and vocals. Dopsie and his band — guitarist Brandon David; Paul Lafleur on washboard; saxophonist Tim McFatter; drummer Kevin Minor; and bassist Dion Pierre — are tight and keep the energy on high throughout the record. Touches of blues, funk and reggae also can be heard on “Set Me Free.”

Notably, “Set Me Free” also is Dopsie’s first album featuring his three older brothers, Rockin’ Dopsie Jr., Anthony and Tiger. After their father, the renowned zydeco accordionist Rockin’ Dopsie Sr., passed suddenly in 1993, Rockin’ Dopsie Jr., Anthony and Tiger carried on his band, The Zydeco Twisters. Dwayne Dopsie, the youngest in the family, meanwhile started The Zydeco Hellraisers in 1999 when he was 19.

“All I had to do was ask,” Dopsie says about his brothers appearing on “Set Me Free.” “All I had to do is ask and it was pretty much ‘open sesame.’ ” In July, the four Dopsie brothers were inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame with a ceremony at Rock ’n’ Bowl in Lafayette.

“What it means to me to be inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame is that hard work and dedication has paid off,” Dwayne Dopsie said in a statement at the time. “All the years I put into the music, and places I’ve been, goes right into this honor. It just proves

P H OTO P R OV I D E D B Y P E T R O S KOY

Dawn Richard performs in a musical showcase at House of Blues Thursday, Aug. 19.

NOLA Music showcase CASME, DAWN, BRASS-A-HOLICS, VEGAS COLA BAND, MELOMANIA AND OTHERS perform in a musical showcase presented by the New Orleans Multicultural Tourism Network. During the pandemic, Casme reached national audiences on NBC’s singing competition “The Voice.” Dawn Richard, a veteran of Danity Kane, released her latest solo album, “Second Line: An Electro Revival” in April. The show is Thursday, Aug. 19, at the House of Blues.

Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets $20 on eventbrite.com. that hard work and doing what you love doesn’t go unnoticed.

I think it means the same for my brothers. I know the years they put in even before me and they have worked hard and played hard, and I know it’s an honor for them to all be recognized.”

In an interview with Acadiana’s KATC-TV, Dopsie credited a competitive spirit among the brothers that “not only helped me succeed, but helped them succeed and kept what my father built relevant in this day and age.”

“Twenty-eight years later, they still have his band performing and doing great, and I’ve had my band 23 years still performing and keeping the Dopsie name and the Dopsie legacy and that style alive,” he added.

On “Set Me Free,” the brothers play together on several tracks, including kicking it into high gear on “DD’s Zydeco Two Step” and putting their touch on influential blues guitarist Guitar Slim’s “The Things I Used to Do.” “Guitar Slim and my father were friends, and that was one of his favorite songs and that was something he always played,” Dwayne Dopsie told Gambit. “That was our tribute to [our

P H OTO P R OV I D E D B Y DAV I D V I L L A LTA

Dwayne Dopsie will release ‘Set Me Free’ on Aug. 20.

father] — that we’d do that song for him on this album.”

Dopsie and The Zydeco Hellraisers were set to play the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and the Gretna Heritage Festival — both of which announced last week they would be canceling their 2021 events. The band doesn’t have other New Orleans dates on the books, but will be hitting the road this month for a handful of shows in Illinois, Ohio and Indiana.

“It’s like second nature, again. It’s felt good, the times we’ve had to get out on the road,” he says. “Hopefully we’ll finish out all our other shows without that getting canceled.”

Dopsie, a two-time Grammy nominee, and his band recorded “Set Me Free” at FatTone Studio in Luling, just outside of New Orleans. Guitarist Brandon David co-produced and engineered the album.

Dopsie hopes “people take from [the record] that it’s a perfectly engineered, well-recorded zydeco album,” he says. “From start to finish, it never lets up — Zydeco 101.”

Adonis Rose and the NOJO 7 DRUMMER AND NEW ORLEANS JAZZ ORCHESTRA ARTISTIC DIRECTOR ADONIS ROSE will lead an ensemble of musicians, the NOJO 7, in an afternoon concert as part of the Contemporary Arts Center’s Soothing Sunday series. The series features healing-focused Sunday afternoon programs and centers on the exhibition “Behind Every Beautiful Thing: Encountering Bodies, Wrestling the Human Condition,” which includes the works of 36 Gulf South artists giving their perspectives on health and illness and their impact on the individual and community. More information can be found at cacno.org.

48 Hour Film Project premieres TEAMS OF LOCAL FILMMAKERS WROTE, shot and edited seven-minute films in less than two days in the 48 Hour Film Project on Aug. 6-8.

The 23 completed films have been split into two showcases which will PAGE 40

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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OPENING GAMBIT N E W

O R L E A N S

N E W S

+

V I E W S

There’s nothing cool, patriotic or macho about being a selfish jerk. Get vaxxed and carry your card!

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Ben Franklin High School

had 99% of its faculty and staff fully vaccinated before the school year began last week, the New Orleans school said on Facebook.

It added that about 80% of its students also had at least one dose of the vaccine. Many New Orleans students are now back in in-person school for a second fall semester amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic — made even more precarious by the Delta variant surge.

The number of Louisianans who have died of COVID-19 since the fourth wave of the pandemic started, as of press time, August 13.

P H OTO B Y M A X B E C H E R E R / T H E T I M E S - P I C AY U N E

More and more kids are getting Covid even as in-person school is starting.

AS SCHOOLS OPEN, NEW ORLEANS DISTRICT REPORTS 116 COVID-19 CASES AND 638 PEOPLE QUARANTINING Glass Half Full, the New

Orleans program that recycles dropped-off glass into sand and glass cullet, won the Startup St. Bernard pitch competition and will receive a $100,000 prize in cash and in-kind services. Glass Half Full was among three finalists that pitched their businesses — “Shark Tank” style — to a panel and outlined how the program, which already operates in Orleans Parish, could benefit residents of St. Bernard Parish.

Marc Broussard, the Acadianaborn singer-songwriter, said he is against requiring proof of vaccination at shows and threw shade at musician Jason Isbell for doing so. “‘The unclean may not attend. The poor may not attend. The ignorant may not attend.’ Who knew Jason was so bourgois? [sic] Thought he was a blue collar type of guy. ... this is some elitist ish here, fella,” Broussard said on Twitter last week. Isbell fired back “How many kids are in the hospital in Louisiana right now, the place you love so much, @MarcBroussard?”

AS NEW ORLEANS HITS NEAR COVID-19 DAILY CASE RECORDS and tops

test positivity rate records in its fourth surge of the virus, the NOLA Public Schools district is reporting 116 “active” cases among students and staff in the early days of the 2021-2022 school year. As a result of potential exposures, 638 students and staff are quarantining.

However, of the 116 cases, officials said 63 of those people, or slightly more than half, had not been on campus. In a press release, the district reported total cases were among 39 staff and 77 students.

At least one neighboring parish is also seeing Covid cases in schools.

St. Tammany Parish Public Schools has reported 54 student cases and 26 staff cases. The district has an enrollment of roughly 37,000 students.

St. Bernard Parish Public Schools did not have case data available at press time, and Jefferson Parish Public Schools did not immediately respond to an inquiry.

As of Aug. 9, the Louisiana Department of Health hadn’t resumed weekly reporting of COVID-19 cases in schools at the parish level.

The report from NOLA Public Schools is the first since the 20212022 school year began. District officials said the cases are spread across 34 schools, some of which are not yet open to students. Some schools have already begun. Others will begin this week.

The district’s top officials remain committed to keeping schools open — so long as mitigation measures, like social distancing and mask wearing requirements, are in place. Schools statewide will require anyone entering school buildings to wear a mask due to Gov. John Bel Edwards’ indoor mask mandate.

While there are no districtwide, or even school-wide, vaccine mandates for students, all of the district’s charter high schools have agreed to require the vaccine for students participating in extracurricular activities. Staff at those schools must also be vaccinated or receive weekly Covid tests. The requirements could be extended to middle schools, though schools likely focused their resources on high schools, which begin activities earlier in the school year.

But children 11-years-old and younger aren’t eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations, and the state is reporting rising case rates among children.

“We have more children sick with COVID-19 than at any other time in the pandemic,” Gov. John Bel Edwards said at a press conference. Louisiana

More deaths are now being recorded daily than were counted in entire weeks this past spring. The fourth surge of the virus has hit the state especially hard because of its shockingly low vaccination rates. Health officials for months have urged people to get vaccinated to curb the spread and decrease the risk of severe symptoms, hospitalizations and death. Hospitals around the state are overwhelmed and the delta variant of the virus has been killing people of all ages.

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OPENING GAMBIT

Charles ‘Action’ Jackson, radio host and chronicler of second lines, has died at 59 CHARLES M. JACKSON JR., better

known to New Orleans radio listeners

as Action Jackson, died Sunday, Aug. 8, after a battle with cancer. He was 59.

Jackson loved the parading culture and traditions of New Orleans, and he became the source of information on second line parades and more, first on Q93 and later at WWOZ. The force behind “Takin’ It to the Streets,” a title he adopted from the Rebirth Brass Band song, he won awards for his coverage of the city’s parading culture bearers.

Jackson was born on Jan. 1, 1962 and grew up in the Lower 9th Ward.

His family included musicians through the generations, and his grandfather played drums in the Olympia Brass Band. At an early age, he served as an MC for block parties, neighborhood events and at a skating rink, says his younger brother Roland Watson, aka DJ Ro, who has spent more than three decades on Q93.

Friends gave him the nickname “Action Jackson” after the 1988 action movie.

“He loved life,” Watson said. “He was wild. He loved the limelight. He loved being a superstar. Sometimes you want to take your cape off. He never wanted to take it off. He loved the city. He loved the culture.”

After graduating from Francis T. Nicholls High School, Jackson

entered the Louisiana National Guard, where he served for just more than a decade. He also worked as a sheriff’s deputy and a limousine driver.

He became affiliated with the 9th Ward Hunters Black Masking Indians and served as the tribe’s Flag Boy for several years.

Jackson also was involved with the city’s second line clubs. He started sharing information about parades on Q93. He frequently called in to the show of DJ Slab to talk about upcoming parades, and that evolved into a regular “Second Line Report,” Watson says.

Jackson and Watson were honored as co-kings of the Big Nine Social Aid and Pleasure Club’s parade in 2004.

Following a return from evacuation to Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina and the levee failures, Jackson and Watson again were kings of the Big Nine parade in 2006.

In 2011, Jackson served as co-grand marshal of the Oshun parade. In 2012, he was king of the Revolution Social Aid and Pleasure Club parade.

Jackson moved to WWOZ in 2011 and started “Takin’ It to the Streets.”

He posted second line parade routes and interviews with social aid and pleasure club leaders on the OZ website. His high-pitched intro, “It’s

your boy, Action Jackson,” became a signature sound on the station, and he championed the city’s culture.

“Two things you survive off of are dance and laughter,” he told Gambit in December 2020. “That’s the purpose of the second line: four hours of freedom, from everything else that’s going on.”

Jackson also took over a latenight slot at OZ, hosting a blues show from 3 a.m. to 6 a.m. He later moved to a midnight to 3 a.m. slot.

Following the death of host Jesse “The Midnight Creeper” Hawthorn in 2020, Jackson took over the 2 p.m.

4 p.m. shift on Thursday.

“He embedded in the history of New Orleans and the culture. He was helping promote the culture,” Watson says. “His legacy will live on.”

Jackson is survived by Watson and sisters Linda Mckenzie, Tonya Watson, Trinelle Watson-Gillespie and his children Charles Jackson III and Chantrell Trahan.

Funeral services will be Thursday, Aug. 19, at Professional Funeral Services at 1449 N. Claiborne Ave. There is a visitation at 3 p.m. and service at 4 p.m., followed by a traditional second line.

— WILL COVIELLO

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Department of Health Director Joe Kanter added that children are “very effective spreaders of COVID-19.”

“We continue to see the largest transmission in the two youngest age groups,” Kanter said. “We are the epicenter of the national outbreak of the delta variant right now.”

Late last week, the American Academy of Pediatrics urged the FDA “to continue working aggressively towards authorizing safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines for children under age 12 as soon as possible.” Vaccine trials for children ages five to 11 are currently underway.

Some New Orleans schools have already had to quarantine in the city — due either to exposure or staff shortages from forced quarantines. “I think it’s the right thing to do to keep kids in school, but I think for the next month or so it’s going to be a tough go,” Firstline CEO Sabrina Pence said Monday. “The key message on this is we need to wear masks.”

— MARTA JEWSON / THE LENS

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COMMENTARY

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THE UNITED NATIONS LAST WEEK ISSUED a

blunt warning about human-caused climate change: It is already here, and there’s nothing we can do to stop significant changes that will bring deadly consequences over the coming decades.

It’s the latest and most urgent wake-up call on the world’s greatest challenge, and one we here in south Louisiana will feel the brunt of — but also share in the blame for.

The warning came as part of the new Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, which paints a grim picture of where we stand and where we’re headed. Surface temperatures are up more than 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit since 1900, and upper-ocean temperatures have increased significantly since the 1970s — all due to human-induced climate change.

The report also found: • “The global ocean has warmed faster over the past century than since the end of the last deglacial transition (around 11,000 years ago);” • “In 2019, atmospheric CO2 concentrations were higher than at any time in at least 2 million years;” • “Global surface temperature has increased faster since 1970 than in any other 50-year period over at least the last 2,000 years;” • Sea levels have “risen faster since 1900 than over any preceding century in at least the last 3,000 years;” and • “It is likely that the global proportion of major (Category 3–5) tropical cyclone occurrence has increased over the last four decades … [and data] indicate that human-induced climate change increases heavy precipitation associated with tropical cyclones.”

The IPCC also says we are just beginning to feel the effects of drought- and hurricane-caused land loss wrought by these changes. In the next 50 years, things will get much worse. Thanks to decades of political inertia that put carbon-based corporate profits over

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We are dooming future generations through in inaction on climate change.

human survival, we are now past the point of being able to take shortterm mitigation measures.

The IPCC report is humanity’s “Dead Man Walking” moment: Many thousands of people will die in extreme weather events amid shifting climatic patterns over the next 80 years; they just don’t know it yet. Millions more face political and economic upheaval.

Those deaths and disruptions will hang on the necks of carbon-based industries and the politicians too cowardly to stand up to them. This includes past and current elected officials in our state whose active resistance to science-based mitigation measures has hastened climate change’s disastrous effects here in Louisiana and across the globe.

This coalition of the willfully ignorant and the politically timid has cost us our shot at staving off the coming storm. Their complaints that taking serious steps to end reliance on fossil fuels are too painful are at best hollow, at worst outright lies. Whether we do nothing or something, the IPCC report makes it clear that untold people will suffer and die because of their past and ongoing decisions.

The question now is whether all of us, regardless of political persuasion, are willing to break the cycle to save future generations — or join them on the docket of the guilty.

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Climate change is upon us.

Will we all be on the docket of the guilty?

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CLANCY DUBOS

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@clancygambit

Uncomfortable with Trumpism, Cassidy returns to moderate roots OVER THE PAST NINE MONTHS, a lot of

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Louisiana conservatives have asked one another, “What happened to Bill Cassidy?” Truth is a lot of moderates and Democrats asked that question a decade ago, when Cassidy, Louisiana’s senior U.S. Senator, tacked sharply to the right to run against then-Sen. Mary Landrieu and, by proxy, then-President Barack Obama.

Earlier in his career, when he practiced medicine full time and politics occasionally, Cassidy was a Democrat who donated $500 to Landrieu’s 2002 Senate campaign. He worked at Baton Rouge’s Earl K. Long Medical Center, which serves the region’s poorest citizens.

He believed fervently — and still does — in public health care.

But when he decided in 2006 to run for public office in Baton Rouge, Cassidy switched to Republican. He earned his chops as a moderate state senator in an era when Democrats and Republicans still worked together.

Cassidy won a congressional seat in 2008 and, in 2014, he defeated Landrieu by tying her to Obama, who was immensely unpopular across the state.

When Donald Trump became president two years later, the once-moderate Cassidy fell in line with other Republicans, defending or deflecting every Trump outrage.

He won reelection last November by sidling up to the former president.

Then, only a few weeks later, he became the first Republican in Louisiana to acknowledge the obvious: The election wasn’t stolen. Trump lost.

People began wondering … what’s up with Cassidy?

From there, he steadfastly decried the Jan. 6 putsch as other Republicans crawfished back to Trump; he blamed Trump for the violence and voted to convict him of inciting an insurrection after his impeachment trial “because he is guilty;” and he voted to establish a bipartisan Jan. 6 Commission, which Trump and most Republicans opposed.

Last week, he played a leading role in securing Senate passage of a

P H OTO B Y J I M LO S C A L ZO / THE AP

U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy.

trillion-dollar, bipartisan infrastructure bill. Immediately afterward, as with his other breaks with the GOP’s Trumpist orthodoxy, he faced a firestorm of criticism.

He issued a statement citing the $3.5 billion in infrastructure projects the bill will send to Louisiana, creating jobs as it improves highways and bridges, internet access, flood control and access to health care.

“At some point, things have to stop being partisan,” Cassidy said on a recent phone call with reporters. “It has to be about the future of our country, the future of our families, the future of the individual worker.” He added, “I’m so comfortable with my life right now.”

So, what happened to Bill Cassidy?

I think the answer is simple: What we’re seeing now is the real Cassidy — a moderate no longer struggling to adhere to a party line that has shifted so far rightward he feels uncomfortable staying in line.

Now, comfortably reelected, I think Cassidy has decided to just tell the truth and work to get things done.

It’s what all politicians are supposed to do, but so few have the guts and integrity to do it.

His naysayers vow to oppose his reelection in 2026, which is a long way off. Maybe he won’t run again, or maybe he will but won’t care if he loses — kinda like Landrieu in 2014.

Maybe that’s why he feels so comfortable right now.

BLAKE PONTCHARTRAIN™

11

@GambitBlake | askblake@gambitweekly.com

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Hey Blake, My son asked me the name of a local restaurant where he said we ate in the mid-1970s or early ’80s. He said the waiters were dressed as movie stars and there was a talking gorilla near the entrance. Any idea what it was?

— Barbara

Dear Barbara,

The restaurant was Anything Goes, owned by members of the Brennan family but known more for its decor than its cuisine. It opened in 1978 at 727 Iberville st., in the French Quarter building that was once the local Playboy Club.

“It could be called a ‘theme’ restaurant but that might not do it justice,” wrote The Times-Picayune.

“It certainly is unique, particularly by New Orleans standards.” stocked with an eclectic mix of antiques, the restaurant was broken up into booths, each with its own theme “ranging from an igloo to a moving swing or the inside of a pickup truck,” wrote Richard Collin in a 1979 states-Item review. Other tables were designed to look like a jail cell or a giant Budweiser beer can. A boat and 1957 MG automobile were converted into soup and salad stations. A stuffed, talking gorilla character (who was also part of the logo) welcomed guests as they entered.

F I L E P H OTO

Anything Goes was wild.

“The gimmicks were outrageous and relentless,” remembers restaurant critic Tom Fitzmorris in his book “Lost Restaurants of New Orleans.”

He recalled servers costumed as Raggedy Ann, Prince Charming, Popeye, Tarzan and other characters. According to Fitzmorris, the concept was inspired by the Magic Time Machine restaurant chain, which still operates in Texas.

“It is obvious that cuteness is more important to this restaurant than food,” Collin wrote in his review, adding that while some dishes — including prime rib — were done “moderately well, the overall quality of the food is at best routine and at worst painfully inept.”

The restaurant closed in the mid-1980s. The building is now the Penthouse Club.

BLAKEVIEW THIS WEEK MARKS THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF DELGADO COMMUNITY COLLEGE , Louisiana’s oldest and largest institution of its kind. It opened as

Isaac Delgado Central Trades school on Aug. 17, 1921.

The school was named for Isaac Delgado, a 19th-century immigrant from Jamaica who became a wealthy New Orleans businessman and sugar planter.

When he died in 1912, his will left money for the city to establish a manual trade school.

The school’s original building on City Park Avenue opened to just 75 students. The curriculum included “carpentry, cabinet making, plumbing, sheet metal work, machinist trade, electrical workers trade, printing, painting and tailoring,” according to The New Orleans Item. In the 1940s, the school added more metal and woodworking programs to meet the need for skilled workers during World War II. In the 1950s, Delgado — which by then admitted women as well — expanded to become a technical institute at the junior college level. A technical two-year college program was introduced and in 1960 the first graduates received their college degrees.

Then as now, school leaders continually pushed for stable funding sources for the college. In 1970, control of the school was transferred from the city to the state.

In 1980, it was renamed Delgado Community College. The Charity school of Nursing became part of Delgado in 1990 and the nursing and allied health programs now graduate some 400 students each year. In all, Delgado offers more than 30 associate degree programs, as well as technical diploma and certificate programs with classes at seven locations.

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13

TO UNDERSTAND SEAN “SILKY” HEMPHILL’S BOXING CAREER, it’s best to forget ev-

erything you’ve learned from the movies.

Cinematic stories painted in moody colors or black and white like “Creed” or “Raging Bull” are fine for boxers from places like Philly, New York or even Los Angeles, cities where the streets are only hard places to learn harder lessons.

But Silky Hemphill ain’t from those towns.

He’s from New Orleans, home of Carnival, of second lines, of streets as likely to teach you a lesson as they are to be your dance floor. Where tough guys sew colorful suits of beads and feathers and trans women can become queens of the city. So it makes sense that Hemphill, now one of Louisiana’s top fighters, got his start at Friday Night Fights.

“If there’s not some lady swallowing a sword, there’s a guy on a dirt bike in a metal ball — there’s always something,” Hemphill says with a laugh. “That atmosphere, I kind of enjoyed it. It was kind of wild as a kid.

Exposed me to a lot — fast.”

At Friday Night Fights, boxing may be the main event, but it isn’t the only event.

Between bouts, as the blood is wiped up from the outdoor mat, entertainers from every part of the colorful carnival spectrum perform for crowds of nearly 2,000 people.

FNF — which returns Aug. 27 after more than year hiatus — is the brainchild of Mike Tata, the classically gruff, brash boxing promoter who also runs the gym by the same name. Started in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina — which forced most of the city’s boxing gyms to close — FNF breathed new life into New Orleans’ boxing world.

Part of Tata’s success, Hemphill and others say, has been his ability to mix the city’s top-class R-rated entertainment with solid, exciting boxing matches featuring undefeated fighters like Hemphill and Showtime-featured Jeremy Hill.

“Tata has great intuitive skills about drawing in the non-boxing oriented audience,” boxing coach Toby Wattigney, 68, says.

“The New Orleans boxing scene wouldn’t be what it is today without Mike.”

It’s a potent combination that harkens back to the heyday of New Orleans’ boxing scene. When title fights were equal parts boxing and three-ring circus. And as boxing is looking to emerge from the COVID-19

P H OTO P R OV I D E D B Y SEAN ‘SILKY’ HEMPHILL

Sean ‘Silky’ Hemphill came up in the raucous and occassionally raunchy world New Orleans Friday Night Fights before turning pro.

P H OTO P R OV I D E D B Y SEAN ‘SILKY’ HEMPHILL

Sean ‘Silky’ Hemphill.

BY LIAM PIE RCE

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FiStic Carnival

You could have a boxing match without burlesque dancers and sideshow performers.

But where’s the fun in that?

ned.

F a m i ly O w

E R AT E D. F A M I LY O P

fistic carnival

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

Friday Night Fights, which returns August 27, has something for us all: booze, fighting, dancing, music and occasionally a bit of public nudity.

pandemic lockdowns, Tata is once again hoping to resurrect that old magic.

“Listen, man, do your homework,” Tata says tauntingly within the first few seconds of introducing himself on the phone.

“Everything going on in the New Orleans boxing scene has to do with Friday Night Fights.”

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From its very beginnings, New Orleans has been at the heart of boxing culture in America.

New Orleans sports historian Derby Gisclair — author of “The Olympic Club of New Orleans: Epicenter of Professional Boxing” — says boxing had a particular affinity for New Orleans because of the lawlessness the city has always embodied.

“You had a laissez faire attitude — if you want to go to the city limits and beat the crap out of each other, go ahead,” Gisclair says, mimicking a 19th-century cop. “‘Don’t ask me about it; I’ve got other people to catch.’ ” The city’s influx of pugilistic-minded Irish immigrants beginning in the 1830s provided a built-in audience for what were often pseudo-legal prize fights held in the countryside. These typically were London Prize Ring Rules, a brutal combination of boxing and wrestling.

Gisclair dug through old court records about pseudo-legal fights back in the day, and saw defendants trying to slink out of charges for boxing without pro-

tection, claiming that they were wearing “skin gloves” at the time of the fight. In some cases, judges bought the line.

“It was only when it caught the attention of politicians — big name fights, lots of people coming to town — that they had to relocate the fights,” Gisclair says, because bareknuckle bouts were illegal.

The area is even at the center of one of the sport’s longest standing controversies — where and when the first heavyweight bareknuckle world championship took place. According to some historians, it happened May 10, 1870, when Englishman Jem Mace defeated American Tom Allen in a field in Kenner.

In 1883, one of largest boxing venues to date was built in what is now called Bywater — at Royal Street, between Clouet and Montegut. Dubbed The Olympic Club of New Orleans, the venue held between 10,000 and 13,000 people, had a retractable roof, and was decked out in quite fashionable but still rare electric lighting.

The undisputed pinnacle of New Orleans boxing happened in 1892, when The Olympic Club hosted the “Carnival of Champions,” the first time a three-day boxing event was held with three world title bouts. The city was becoming a major destination for such events, thanks in part to hosting the 1884 World Fair, and the event featured a heavyweight title fight between John L. Sullivan and James Corbett, as well as a bout between George Dixon

15

Friday Night Fights features some of the city’s best amateur boxers.

Superdome, which at the time of its completion in 1975 was one of the largest indoor sports arenas in the world. In 1978, the Superdome played host to the title rematch between Ali and Leon Spinks. The combination of New Orleans and the hype surrounding an Ali fight was a perfect fit.

Dubbed “The Battle of New Orleans,” it was an epic fight in which Ali avenged his upset defeat earlier that year. The Superdome matchup would become Ali’s final victory ever in the ring.

In 1980, Don King hosted an homage to the 1892 “Carnival of Champions” which featured three title fights, including a rematch between Sugar Ray Leonard and Roberto Duran, who had recently beaten Leonard to become World Boxing Council Welterweight Champion. Originally dubbed “The Super Fight In The Superdome,” it would later be known as the “No Mas” fight, after Duran allegedly quit the fight by telling the ref “no mas.”

But as the boxing world shifted to Las Vegas in the 1980s, the New Orleans boxing scene took a big nap. No top fights in the city meant no top fighters were drawn here — and the local scene dwindled.

P H OTO B Y CHERYL GERBER

Only a lame would want boxing without burlesque.

P H OTO B Y CHERYL GERBER

Mike Tata knows both spectacle and boxing — and how potent they can be together.

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The New Orleans area didn’t just host spectacle boxing. It also has a long history of producing top notch fights.

Slidell native Tony Canzoneri is considered to be the greatest local to step into the ring, when boxing saw a quick resurgence in the 1920s. Canzoneri won 80% of his 175 fights, clocking in at 21 on ESPN’s 2007 list of greatest boxers of all time. New Orleanian Eddie Flynn took home the Olympic gold from Los Angeles in 1932, and there were a few slight blips on the radar in the post-WWII era.

But through much of the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s, New Orleans remained a center for major fights.

In 1972, Joe Frazier squared off against Terry Daniels at Rivergate Auditorium, in his first fight since becoming the first man to beat Muhammad Ali. The fight was a big deal more as a curiosity than anything else: Daniels was a relatively unknown boxer and seen as the latest in a long line of “Great White Hope” fighters in heavyweight boxing. It would only take Frazier four rounds to beat Daniels.

At the same time, construction was just beginning on the

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

fistic carnival

— the first Black world champion boxer — and white boxer .

Promoters hyped the fight as the “Second Battle of New Orleans,” while The New York Times dubbed the whole three-day series, “The Fistic Carnival.”

The winner was expected to make $25,000, roughly $750,000 in today’s money.

The “Carnival of Champions” was such a big deal in the U.S. that skyscrapers in cities like New York, Boston, and Philadelphia were strung with colored lights to signal to the city who’d won each fight. A telegraph or phone call was sent to those cities with the results of the match and workers would light up the skyscrapers in colors that corresponded to the fighters.

The longest fight in the history of boxing also took place in New Orleans in 1893 between local Andy Bowen and Jack Burke. It lasted seven hours and 19 minutes at 110 rounds, with Bowen breaking both wrists and nearly all of the bones in his hands. He was bed-ridden for six weeks.

Bowen later ended up being one of the last fighters to die in the ring at the end of the 19th century in New Orleans, putting prizefighting to rest in the Crescent City for a while.

That is until the likes of Tata, Hemphill, and Hill brought things roaring back in the years after the storm.

fistic carnival

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P H OTO B Y F R A N K I E P R I J AT E L , N O L A . C O M | T H E T I M E S - P I C AY U N E

U.S. Olympic hopeful for Tokyo 2020 and New Orleans native Sean “Silky” Hemphill spars at the New Orleans Boxing gym on June 16, 2018.

“I like to think of Mike Tata as the Col. Tom Parker of New Orleans boxing,” says Wattigney, the boxing coach. “You know, Elvis’s manager who built him from scratch? Tata did that for New Orleans boxing.”

Wattigney specifically points to Tata’s ability to draw crowds as a huge advantage to young local fighters like Hill — who trains under Wattigney — and Hemphill.

“When you work under that pressure, it amps you up,” Wattigney says. “Now in bigger venues, crowds can’t mess with [Hemphill and Hill]’s ability.”

Hemphill, 25, strikes an interesting character in his career arc. Think of him more as a Prince Hal type character — he never really wanted the throne, but found himself barreling towards it. Hemphill’s father Stephen “Spyder” Hemphill is a two-time kickboxing world champion who started his own gym. But Hemphill never felt pressured by his dad to become a fighter.

“I only really figured out that he was planning this for me like two years ago,” Hemphill says. “I was like, ‘So this is what

you were doing this whole time?’ ” Hemphill remembers getting expelled in the fourth grade for fighting. He was so scared to tell his parents, he just pretended to go to class every day.

“That was a rookie mistake because eventually it caught up to me,” Hemphill says. “I caught the best whupping of my life.”

But despite those early schoolyard scraps, Hemphill didn’t really get into fighting until he was about 15. He would sporadically train with his dad, but started to get a bit more serious about it after winning his first tournament, the world kickboxing tournament in Orlando. Eventually, boxing just felt more like his style.

“I wanted to be able to walk when I was done with my career, so I started to use my hands instead of my legs,” Hemphill says.

Amid an evening packed with drag queens, dance troupes and burlesque dancers, Friday Night Fights soon was Hemphill’s greatest platform. Hemphill became a kind of fan favorite while he was there, remaining undefeated in his 10-plus fights at Tata’s show.

Tata and Hemphill’s careers are both pretty well braided, despite the two having very different backgrounds. Tata doesn’t claim to be much of a fighter, but he certainly has the braggado-

17

P H OTO B Y M AT T H E W H I N TO N

Friday Night Fights Gym owner Mike Tata and his dog Mr. T will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of the gym April 17.

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Tata might be a boastful promoter, but it isn’t just bluster. Stories like Hemphill’s

aren’t out of the ordinary. Tata opened up the first iteration of his gym Friday Night Fights on Freret Street and all boxing gyms in the area came out of the crew that used to train there.

“We were the only [boxing] gym now in the city for five years after Katrina,” Tata says.

Tata waited for the flooding to go down before reopening his gym — the first business to open on the street post-Katrina. Friday Night Fights’ boxing gym offspring include Fred “Action” Kassi’s Le Boxeur, Chase Dixon and Alex Ackel’s New Orleans Boxing Club, and Matt Nussbaum’s Boxing in the Park. And in 2012, Tata had to relocate from Freret to a bigger space on Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard due to rent concerns. Friday Night Fights also helped pave the way for the all-woman-run Swarm Enterprises’ event called “Sting Ring.”

With Tata’s Friday Night Fights, the shows support the gym, not the other way around.

“Throwing boxing shows is a very sexy business,” Tata boasts. “But not a lot of people know how to make money off of it.”

Tata credits his time as an oil broker for his show running success, claiming he’s not afraid to pick up a phone. When first promoting the events, he looked

fistic carnival

cio of one, boasting of bouts, belts, and “broads.”

Tata, a Connecticut native, is a former marine who was stationed in Okinawa, the Philippines and other camps, where he fondly remembers watching “smokers,” or impromptu scraps between soldiers in the field. Tata eventually ended up in Los Angeles, working in venture capital as an oil broker. When that all fell through, Tata took all of his money to New York in 1995 and opened up a gym under the guidance of boxing legend Jimmy Glenn.

Glenn, who died of Covid at 89 in March of last year, was a legend in New York City, partly for his Times Square boxing gym, but also for his bar Jimmy’s Corner — an affordable boxing-themed bar that feels like the only drop of authenticity in the glitzed-up stretch of 42nd Street. Glenn helped Tata shape his gym up in New York, only for Tata to later relocate to New Orleans in January 2005.

After several years of setting up shop in New Orleans, Tata introduced Hemphill to Jimmy’s son Adam, who took an interest in Hemphill’s career.

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in local papers and magazines and saw who was spending money, asking them to sponsor the events.

Tata estimates FNF is the biggest amateur boxing showcase in the country, boasting crowds of up to 2,000 people — though even he acknowledges there’s no way to determine if that’s true.

Veterans get into Friday Night Fights for free. In the summer time, anyone who shows up wearing just their swimsuits gets in without charge.

“New Orleans was like the Wild West,” Tata says. “No one was doing anything out here. The boxing wasn’t enough on its own, so we wove in some entertainment and it was an immediate success.”

Tata says it’s hard to pick a favorite fight card. “You gotta understand, some of these shows are a blur,” Tata says. “There’s a lot of drinking that goes on at Friday Night Fights.”

There is one record he’s particularly proud of, though: “We are the last boxing event to feature live topless entertainment,” Tata says.

The Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports caught wind of the topless entertainment, and Tata hired a lawyer to sort things out.

Turns out they just had to stop doing topless entertainment all together.

“I don’t really know what I’d be if I had to be anything but a fighter,” Hemphill says. “I worked as a personal trainer, doing construction, working in restaurants, carpentry, videography. I like working with my hands.”

Hemphill genuinely struggled to come up with any other profession in an alternate universe.

“OK, I kind of like cooking,” Hemphill says. “It’s therapeutic for me, I’m not worrying about the troubles of the day. But I wouldn’t say I’m the best at New Orleans food. My mom takes that title.”

Appropriately enough, Hemphill is sponsored by food delivery service Fresh N Lean, who help him keep on a pretty strict diet. Even if he is cooking pasta Alfredo for himself every now and then. He’s still got to make his light heavyweight (165-178 pounds) requirements after all.

After aiming for an Olympic run in Tokyo 2020 for a long time — he has a whole page on his website dedicated to the Tokyo timeline — Hemphill decided to go pro.

“

Throwing boxing shows is a very sexy business. But not a lot of people know how to make money off of it.”

— MIKE TATA “It’s tough,” Hemphill says.

“Getting gold at the Olympics is like winning the Heisman — you’re pretty much set for life after that.”

But a skull fracture he suffered in 2017 had Hemphill worrying about his future in the sport.

Getting paid as soon as possible seemed like the correct route and he went pro in 2019.

Covid also has created a giant setback for the New Orleans boxing scene. Tata initially had his 50th Friday Night Fights celebration scheduled for March 27, 2020. Things obviously changed after the lockdown.

The event will be mask-mandated and outdoors.

But one of the scarier impacts happened to Jeremy Hill, whose career also was forged in the crucible of Friday Night Fights.

He contracted Covid in February 2021, and was out of commission for a bit — right before his big fight on Showtime.

Hill is taking a three to four month break before fighting again, hoping it will only be a temporary setback.

“He was coming off of Covid and reassured me his lungs were good to go, but maybe we made a mistake in judgment,” Wattigney says. “I’ve never seen him lose his oxygen level like that. It’s just hard for a kid coming from New Orleans to say no to a fight like that.”

Hemphill, meanwhile, has set his sights on a lofty goal — helping bring back big spectacle prize fighting to the Superdome while also training the next generation of fighters. He has a couple of younger kids that he’s training at his dad’s gym Broadstreet, though he acknowledges it can be difficult balancing their work with his own.

“It’s hard for me to really take them and coach them to be the greatest when I’m trying to be the greatest myself,” Hemphill says.

19

Boxing In New Orleans since 1892 WITH ALL ITS PAGEANTRY, puffery and tough guy peacocking, the sweet science has never been just about the fight itself. So it makes sense that New Orleans — where we celebrate one single Tuesday every year and throw second lines for potholes — has played a central role in the history of professional boxing.

Boxing as a popular sport in New Orleans dates at least to the mid-1800s, and the city has played host to a series of epic, preposterous and sometimes just plain bananas title fights. From the legendary 1892 heavyweight championship bout between James John “Jim” Corbett and John Sullivan at the Olympic Club to Curtis “Hard Knocks” Johnson’s 2019 U.S.B.C. Super Featherweight Championship fight win against José Antonio Martinez at the burlesque and boxing mashup Sting Ring, New Orleans has been putting our unique spin on championship boxing for more than 120 years.

BY JOHN STANTON | Gambit editor

F I L E P H OTO / T H E A P

A spectator reaches out to push Terry Daniels back into the ring after he was knocked down by Joe Frazier in fourth round of their heavyweight title fight in 1972 at Rivergate Auditorium.

F R A N K I E P R I J AT E L / T H E T I M E S - P I C AY U N E

Jonathan “John Boy” Montrel defeats Samuel Forjoe in his 2018 professional boxing debut.

FILE P H OTO / THE TIMESP I C AY U N E

Don King, Boxing Promoter with boxer at Sheraton in New Orleans.

P H OTO B Y S H AW N F I N K / T H E T I M E S - P I C AY U N E

Rapper Boyfriend holds the U.S.B.C. Super Featherweight Championship Belt during the Sting Ring, a night of pro boxing and feminist entertainment presented by Swarm Enterprises at the Sugar Mill in 2019. Sting Ring was designed to to promote local fighters, male and female, and bring a carnival-like atmosphere to the evening’s eight fight card.

S TA F F P H OTO / T H E T I M E S - P I C AY U N E

Press photo of “Killer” Jackson, circa 1967.

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The Crescent City Cross

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The Crescent City Cross P H OTO B Y S H AW N F I N K / T H E T I M E S - P I C AY U N E

Local fighter Curtis Johnson, left, and José Antonio Martinez, right, battle for the U.S.B.C. Super Featherweight Championship Belt during the Sting Ring in 2019 at the Sugar Mill in New Orleans.

F I L E P H OTO / T H E T I M E S - P C I AY U N E

While most politicians’ bodies are the consistency of overripe plums like former mayor Arthur J. O’Keefe, they still love using boxing metaphors.

P H OTO B Y R O N A L D L E B O E U F / T H E T I M E S - P I C AY U N E

S TA F F P H OTO / T H E T I M E S - P I C AY U N E

The pre-fight weigh in has long been a central set piece of boxing drama.

And Muhammad Ali, who weighed in at 221 pounds before his 1972 fight in New Orleans against Leon Spinks, was a master of that drama. The weigh in for their fight was predictably, a mess after a shoving, pushing crowd of more than 2,000 turned the ceremony into a near-riot.

Charles Joseph before his 1967 fight against Texas’ Norris Ringo.

P H OTO B Y B R YA N S . B E R T R E A U X / T H E T I M E S - P I C AY U N E

New Orleans’ Jerry Celestine, left, fought Michael Spinks in 1982. He was a veteran light heavyweight fighter, but was defeated in eight rounds by Spinks in June of that year.

P H OTO B Y B R E T T DUKE / THE T I M E S - P I C AY U N E

Regis Prograis and Juan Jose Velasco pose during the weigh-in before their fight at UNO Lakefront Arena 2018.

P H OTO B Y H . J . PAT T E R S O N / T H E T I M E S - P I C AY U N E

New Orleans’ own Perry Pugh ducks under a left hand thrown by New York City’s Pete Toro during a 1968 bout at Municipal Auditorium.

Pugh avenged an earlier loss by taking a split decision.

F I L E P H OTO / T H E T I M E S - P I C AY U N E

Sluggers three — Tisdale Snow, Manny Martinez and David Anderson in an undated photo — showing off the shear awesomeness of boxing promo photos.

The Irish Channel stars were set to head an eight-bout card the Fun House.

F R A N K I E P R I J AT E L / T H E T I M E S - P I C AY U N E

Chase Dixon, co-owner of the New Orleans Boxing club.

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THE

GOOD AND BAD OF YOUR CHILD’S SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS

BY DOMONIQUE TOLLIVER

Some mommy blogs may use their platforms to scare parents from letting their children use the internet, but it isn’t all bad.

After all, we wouldn’t change for the world that 3 a.m. Google rabbit hole we found ourselves in after searching “cats dressed as humans.” Like everything else, the internet and social media apps have their pros and cons. Here’s what you should know about some of the platforms kids are using these days.

DISCORD (Ages 13+) Discord is the land of niche interests. Users can discover chats about their favorite books, TV shows, games and music. Discord users create chat channels, known as servers, and produce content for them. Anyone can create a server and invite users to it. While the server’s owner can use moderating mechanisms to filter what’s being said and shown in the server, not all of them do.

The danger? Cyberbullying

While it may be nice to find a community online debating the craziest Marvel fan theory, conversations can get heated. But users can leave servers at any

P H OTO B Y J AC K F / G E T T Y I M AG E S

Kids and their screens, amirite?

time and block users who may be harassing them. To turn off all direct messages in Discord, click on your user profile and choose the Privacy and Safety option.

Swipe to turn off the “Allow direct messages from server members” setting.

The danger?

Direct messaging

Discord has an extensive privacy setting for users to choose from.

Encourage your kids to use the “Keep Me Safe” setting.

It screens all images and videos that are sent via direct message before the user opens them for explicit content. This is the default setting when you open a Discord account, but

double check your settings to make sure it wasn’t turned off by accident.

BookTok’s reading recommendations, there’s something for everyone.

Tip for parents:

The danger? The Algorithm

Be involved! Ask what new debates are happening and what new servers your kids have discovered. The more they are willing to share the great conversations happening in the server, the more likely they will come to you if something not so great happens.

TIKTOK

(Ages 13+) TikTok is everyone’s newest favorite social media app.

Whether you’re only there for the dances or if you want to see

TikTok algorithm is hyper-personalized. A trending video may show up on your friend’s For You Page but not yours. The algorithm surrounding your FYP is determined by your “interests” — the posts you like, how long you view a video and what you search in the app. And the more videos you watch on a topic, the more likely you’ll see related videos with less views, which are less likely to be screened by TikTok moderators.

TikTok often takes down posts that moderators deem violate their guidelines, but users

The danger?

Unsafe challenges

Some TikTok challenges can quickly become dangerous, like the Penny Challenge where kids stick a penny in an electrical outlet. There’s also the Vacuum Challenge which involves sitting in a garbage bag and vacuuming the air out of it. Encourage your kids to make challenges a family affair. That way you can spend time together, while also keeping an eye out for any potentially dangerous trends.

Tips for parents:

Aside from these issues, TikTok still can be appropriate for most audiences with the correct safety features. TikTok last year announced a new feature, family safety mode, which allows parents to link to their teens’ accounts to lessen screen time, limit direct messaging and restrict content. To access this feature, go to your settings and click on “Digital Wellbeing.”

SNAPCHAT

(Ages 13+) While teens may claim Snapchat is dead, they still have the app on their phones to keep in touch with friends whose phone numbers they don’t have. For many, apps with profiles like Instagram feel permanent. The photo they posted in 2012 is still on their grid for everyone to see. Users can post a casual photo or minute-long video to their Snapchat story that disappears after 24 hours. Snapchat also allows users to text, video chat, and voice chat with friends around the world through direct messages that delete after a day.

The danger? SnapMap:

SnapMap uses phone location services to display a user’s current or last known location to their Snapchat friends. This can also let anyone who follows you, even people you don’t know well, know your location.

Once you’ve set up Snap Map for the first time, you can’t disable it altogether. But you can put yourself into Ghost Mode to hide your location from others, while still seeing other users who

are sharing their location with you. The My Friends Only option of SnapMap gives you the power of choosing who out of your friends can see your location.

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question why some posts are taken down while others are left up. Many creators, including some doctors, have expressed frustration that their videos about sexual health are being taken down while other videos containing racist language are allowed to stay up. Some Black creators boycotted the app in June due to TikTok taking down their informational videos surrounding race.

The danger? Adding friends

You can allow Snapchat friend requests to sit in limbo for as long as you want. However, if you don’t have your account set to private, any user who adds you can see your Snap story — regardless if you add them back or not. To control who can see your Snap story, go to your settings in the app and choose the “Who Can” privacy settings options.

Tips for parents:

Encourage your teens to use all the privacy features on the app so that their location and the memories they choose to share with their friends online are private. Explain to your kids that what happens on the internet doesn’t truly expire after 24 hours and that they should be aware of what they’re posting online. Encourage them not to add anyone on Snapchat they don’t know.

INSTAGRAM

(Ages 13+) The app lets users like each other’s content and engage through comments. After Facebook bought Instagram in 2012, the app has shifted its focus to ads and online shopping, making it more about promoting products and less about keeping up with friends.

The danger?

Unrealistic standards

Some Instagram “influencers” make a living by promoting products in their photos. Instagram feeds, where posts show up from people you follow, are no longer in chronological order.

It may take scrolling for 10 minutes to find your friend’s post from this morning.

Much of the content on Instagram, especially posts by celebrities and influencers, are curated to be aesthetically pleasing and attract the most attention in order to make the most amount of money. Teenagers using the app as they’re still forming their sense of identity may get caught playing the comparison game and feel low self-esteem due to the unrealistic beauty standards achieved through the face and body-altering filters.

The danger? Cyberbullying

Social media apps have magniPAGE 25

Scan for details

D FOR GO RNING A E L R O F E FOR LIF

OPEN HOUSE October 14 · 2 - 7:30 p.m.

www.mcacubs.com Mount Carmel Academy does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, national or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies.

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Tips for parents:

Explain to your teens that not everything they see on social media is real and that likes online are not associated with their self-worth. Remind them to take a break if their mental health is being negatively impacted by what’s online. If your teen doesn’t want to delete the app completely from their phone, encourage them to turn off their notifications.

can choose to match with someone on your feed and begin messaging them. Each of the apps uses the same three features: profile photos, direct messages and video chats.

The danger? False profiles

While dating apps require you to be 18 to join, there are no security features to verify that. Anyone can use images and create a fake profile, though some apps have tried to crack down on that with photo verification.

The danger? IRL

If you choose to meet with a match, be safe about it. Try to meet your match somewhere neutral like a coffee house. And make sure to always get to know the person outside the app before giving away identifying information like your address or place of work.

CONCLUSION:

P H OTO B Y K I I C H I R O S ATO / THE AP

TikTok is popular with the youths.

DATING APPS

(Ages 13+) Tinder, Bumble and Hinge are three of the many dating apps on the market today. Dating apps show you any other users within your vicinity and you

WHERE GOOD BOYS BECOME GREAT MEN

Social media can be a place of creativity and community — if used wisely. Learn as a family about your digital footprint online and the safety features of any app you decide to use and remind your kids to always put their mental health first.

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fied the speed information spreads, which unfortunately also includes hate messages. Anonymous profiles can be used to troll other users, and if you don’t know who’s attacking you online, it’s hard to get control of the situation.

In April, Instagram rolled out technology to reduce hate speech and bullying within direct messages. Users have the option to have requests to privately message them hidden if they contain “offensive words, phrases and emojis.”

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Discover Your Talents

Explore

Opportunities ) $ $ " ( # & %&# ' #$ %) ' % "!$ % ' ' !# $ !! "# # ' & # % ) $ $ $&""!#% ) $%#! ! & %) ! $% ! #$ #' % #! % # #! ' ( %! % )

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3837 Loyola Drive, Kenner 2504 Maine Ave., Metairie Discovery does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, national or ethnic origin.

Achieve Success

27

SPONSORED CONTENT

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Audubon Charter School Upper School - 1111 Milan St. Lower School - 428 Broadway St. New Orleans, LA (504) 324-7100 Auduboncharter.org

Dr. John Ochsner Discovery Health Sciences Academy 1108 Shrewsbury Road, Jefferson, LA 70121 (504) 233-4720 www.discoveryhsf.org

Our mission is to foster a culturally rich and academically rigorous program using the French and Montessori Curriculum and a comprehensive arts curriculum. Audubon students are actively and purposefully involved in their learning so they become responsible citizens in a changing world. Our vision for Audubon Schools is to provide an opportunity for students to take part in an educational environment that will not only provide them with a high-quality, well-rounded education, but also develop the skill set needed to be successful in a shifting, globalized career landscape and society: creative thinking, problem-solving skills, collaboration, and intrinsic motivation.an opportunity to have personalized attention for a better, differentiated education.

Dr. John Ochsner Discovery Health Sciences Academy is an open-enrollment public school serving diverse learners in Kindergarten through middle school. Dr. John Ochsner Discovery provides a rigorous learning environment where students achieve academically, develop intellectual curiosity, and practice environmental responsibility while exploring health and science topics.

Our values of honor, endurance, academic achievement, responsibility, and tolerance are an integral part of a Discovery education. In August, Dr. John Ochsner Discovery opened a new campus featuring specialized classrooms, Emeril’s Culinary Garden & Teaching Kitchen, satellite Boh Child Development Center, maker space, science labs, library, gymnasium, and cafeteria.

The application period for new students is November through mid-February. For more information, visit www.discoveryhsf.org.

Mount Carmel Academy

Jewish Community Day School 3747 West Esplanade Avenue North Metairie, LA 70002 | 504-887-4091 www.jcdsnola.org Jewish Community Day School of Greater New Orleans is a coeducational independent school for students ages two months through 6th Grade. Balancing challenging academics with an enriching Jewish Studies program, a JCDS education is interdisciplinary, project-based, and holistic. Our small class size and differentiated instruction ensure each child is valued for their individual strengths. Students bring what they’ve learned here beyond the school’s boundaries, too, using their education to fulfill the Jewish value of Tikkun Olum, repairing the world. JCDS is a nurturing school where families of all backgrounds are welcomed and children are prepared to be engaged, compassionate leaders.

YAYA Inc.

7027 Milne Boulevard, New Orleans, LA 70124 504-288-7626 | www.mcacubs.com

3322 LaSalle St, New Orleans, LA 70115 504.529.3306 | www.yayainc.org

The Mount Carmel Academy experience is filled with opportunities for each student to pursue her passions, uncover new talents, grow spiritually, and discover the person God created her to become. Students collaborate with peers, view failures as opportunities for growth, and approach our ever-changing and complex world with an inquisitive mind. Small class sizes (average of 9) ensure an interactive and inclusive learning environment. Students are encouraged to expand their interests and become active participants in the community. Explore our campus, meet our students and teachers, and learn more at Open House on October 14 from 2-7:30 p.m. RSVP on mcacubs.com.

Calling young artists! Register for YAYA’s FREE afterschool arts programs for ages 5-16! Youth are able to experiment with a wide range of artistic media, including glassblowing, ceramics, painting, sculpture, digital media, and more at the YAYA Arts Center in Central City.

All of YAYA’s programs are designed to combine visual arts training with entrepreneurial, leadership, and life skills training. YAYA is a creative community where young people have the freedom, opportunities, and resources to discover their passions and artistic voices.

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SPONSORED CONTENT

Community Academies Phone: 504-861-7957 Website: communityacademies.org IG/FB: @communityacademies

Looking for a great, tuition-free school with a diverse family atmosphere? Look no further! Community Academies of New Orleans (CANO) is a charter organization that cultivates four exemplary community schools in the greater New Orleans area.

We currently have limited availability for students from Pre-K-8th grade and would love to have you. Join our family at one of our four, tuition free, schools: Foundation Preparatory Academy (K-7), Esperanza Academy (K-8), Lafayette Academy Lower (PK-4), or Lafayette Academy Community Middle School (5-8) today!

JOIN OUR FLOCK! Audubon Uptown is now enrolling students grades 4-8 in the Montessori program and grades 2-8 in the French Program* *Placement is contingent upon students successfully completing admissions assessments. French students will be required to pass a proficiency test for the grade they are entering.

AUDUBON CHARTER SCHOOL - UPTOWN 428 Broadway Street New Orleans, LA 70118

Excellence in Private French Education T O U R S AVA I L A B L E B Y A P P O I N T M E N T

Serving children 18 months - 8th grade

New Orleans Military and Maritime Academy (NOMMA) 425 O’Bannon St, New Orleans, LA 70114 (504) 227-3810 | Nomma.net The New Orleans Military and Maritime Academy (NOMMA), is an “A” rated, open admissions public charter school located in Federal City and serves the Greater New Orleans area.

NOMMA, which is a designated Naval Honor School, has a 100 percent student body participation in Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (MCJROTC). NOMMA offers a rigorous college preparatory curriculum and provides multiple career and technical training options. It is one of the top open-enrollment public high schools in the four-parish metropolitan area, and NOMMA’s scores on ACT, AP exams, and state standardized tests exceed both city and state averages. For more information, go to: nomma.net

Ursuline Academy 2635 State St. New Orleans, LA 70118 504-861-9150 | www.uanola.org Founded in 1727, almost 50 years before America, Ursuline Academy of New Orleans is the first all-girls’ Catholic school in the nation.

Today, that legacy inspires girls to confidently blaze their own trails. To succeed in tomorrow’s world, Ursuline Academy believes girls must learn to think creatively, articulate their ideas confidently and compassionately, and solve problems collaboratively. Through highly interactive experiences powered by STEM and the arts – and a nurturing community diverse by design – Ursuline develops tomorrow’s brightest independent thinkers, innovators, and community builders. The Academy – made up of people with different backgrounds, beliefs and talents – fuel every girl’s success.

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SPONSORED CONTENT

Coding has become the business language of the future and a highly sought-after skill for companies of all sizes. Operation Spark is a non-profit software bootcamp where students learn to build mobile apps and video games while exploring high-wage careers in the software industry. Our after-school coding classes and teacher training programs prepare students and educators for an industry that is creating more jobs than any other. Given the range of opportunities, we’re on a mission to ensure our students gain real-world skills, discover a career path that ignites their interests, and prepares them to enter the workforce of tomorrow. For more information, go to: operationspark.org

RIDGEWOOD

PREPARATORY SCHOOL

Kenner Discovery Health Sciences Academy

Knowledge • Wisdom • Discipline

2504 Maine Avenue, Metairie, LA 70003 (PK-4th) 3837 Loyola Drive, Kenner, LA 70062 (5th-12th) (504) 233-4720 www.discoveryhsf.org

Kenner Discovery is an open-enrollment public school serving diverse learners in Kindergarten through 12th grade. Through a strong academic program, health sciences integration, and robust athletic and extracurricular programs, students are able to discover talents, explore opportunities and achieve success.

Our values of honor, endurance, academic achievement, responsibility, and tolerance are an integral part of a Discovery education. The newly opened high school campus features 9 science labs including an Ochsner Hospital Simulation Lab, culinary teaching kitchen, art and music studios, library, cafeteria, and specialized classrooms for students with special needs. The application period for new students is November through mid-February. For more information, visit www.discoveryhsf.org.

Kehoe-France School

720 Elise Ave, Metairie, LA 70003 (504) 733-0472 • www.kehoe-france.com

We are currently accepting applications for the 2021-2022 academic year.

At Kehoe-France School, serving children 8 weeks

Ecole Bilingue de la Nouvelle-Orléans 821 General Pershing St., New Orleans, LA 70115 504-896-4500 | Ebnola.com

Ecole Bilingue de la Nouvelle-Orléans is a private French school accredited by both the French Ministry of Education and the State of Louisiana. The mission of Ecole Bilingue is to develop globally literate students through a rigorous bilingual French-American curriculum set in a nurturing and multicultural community. Graduates of Ecole Bilingue excel in both traditional American and global high schools. The school’s curriculum adheres to a strong English Language Arts, American math, and social studies program that complements the French national curriculum.

Located off Magazine Street in Uptown New Orleans, Ecole Bilingue spans across a four-building campus. Classes are offered for children in preschool (18 months) through 8th grade. For more information on Ecole Bilingue de la Nouvelle-Orléans, please visit ebnola.com. To schedule a tour, call 504-896-4500.

to Grade 7, children are nurtured in a warm and welcoming environment with small class sizes in a secure and picturesque 14-acre environment. As a candidate school for the International Baccalaureate Program, the degreed and certified staff focus not only on the academic fundamentals, but also on a child’s physical health and wellness through expansive athletics programs, exposure to the fine arts, and a commitment to service as a school community. Kehoe-France’s facilities are newly renovated with more improvements to come. Call for a private tour today and take those first steps onto the path to success.

OPEN HOUSE DAILY Please call 504.835.2545 or email rps@ridgewoodprep.com for more information.

201 Pasadena Avenue Metairie, LA 70001 ridgewoodprep.com

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Operation Spark

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Discover Your Talents

Founded in 1903, Isidore Newman School offers a challenging, comprehensive, and developmentally appropriate curriculum from Pre-K through 12th grade, with Green Trees Early Childhood Village enrolling children ages six weeks to four years.

For more information, call 504.896.6323 or visit newmanschool.org/admissions.

Explore

Opportunities Application Period Opens November 1, 2021 Grades: K-7 www.discoveryhsf.org 504-233-4720 1108 Shrewsbury Rd., Jefferson

Newman seeks to enroll qualified students without regard to race, religion, color, gender, national and ethnic origin, physical handicap, or sexual orientation. Need-based financial aid is available.

Discovery does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, national or ethnic origin.

Achieve Success

KEHOE-FRANCE SOUTHSHORE

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LITERACY FOCUS, SMALL GROUP INSTRUCTION, MULTICULTURAL STUDENTS

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3101 Wall Blvd, Gretna, LA 70056 (504) 392-0902 | ardencahillacademy.com Arden Cahill Academy combines a strong education with the unique qualities of an outdoor country environment, minutes from downtown.

Nestled along Bayou Fatma in Gretna, the 12acre campus currently serves students from six weeks in its Infant Center through 12th grade in its High School. Arden Cahill Academy enrolled its first class of high school freshmen in August 2019 and is proud to continue its tradition of academic excellence and cultural enrichment through its college preparatory curriculum. Arden Cahill Academy will be graduating its first class of high school seniors next year. Horse stables, a petting farm, a STEAM Lab, art studios, band and music rooms, and a 300-seat theater make the Arden Cahill Academy campus unique.

The academy also hosts Camp Corral, a 10-week summer camp that has been voted Best of New Orleans by Gambit readers. For more information on availability for the 2021/2022 school year, please call 504-392-0902 or visit ardencahillacademy.com. Prospective families are encouraged to attend an Open House on September 30th from 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. Tours scheduled online by appointment. Spaces are limited.

A MASK FOR YOUR ENVIRONMENT

• Reduce pathogens by up to 99.96% • Continuous coverage • No chemicals • Low maintenance St. Edward the Confessor 4901 W. Metairie Ave. Metairie, LA 70001 504-888-6353 | www.steddy.org Based on the belief that God is the center of all being, the staff of St. Edward the Confessor School strives to foster the spiritual, intellectual, personal, social, creative, and physical development of each child. The faculty hopes to instill in each student the concept that religion is a way of life, enabling practice of Christian values with a sense of justice, service, and democracy in an ever-changing society.

The school offers quality programs from PreK1 through grade 7 and features a wide range of extracurricular activities. The curriculum includes art, music, and foreign language instruction. Extended care is available.

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Arden Cahill Academy

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Algiers Charter

2401 Westbend Pkwy #2001, New Orleans, LA 70114 504-302-7001| Algierscharterschools.org Algiers Charter is a community-based charter network that prepares every student with the knowledge, skills, and values to thrive in college, career, and life.

At Martin Behrman Charter (Pre-K-8th), we integrate the arts to ensure academic, social-emotional, and artistic growth. Behrman’s Pre-K program is rated “Excellent” by the Louisiana Department of Education.

At L.B. Landry High School, students find meaningful opportunities inside and outside the classroom that develop and nurture their unique needs and strengths so they can achieve personal success and reach their full potential. Our scholars receive millions in academic, athletic, and band scholarships each year. Enroll today!

Stuart Hall School for Boys

2032 S Carrollton Ave., New Orleans, LA 70118 504-861-1954 | Stuarthall.org Stuart Hall School for Boys is a non-profit private school where boys develop intellectually, physically, and spiritually. Stuart Hall is the only school in the greater New Orleans area to offer a Catholic, independent, all-boy education in a traditional elementary school configuration (PK3-7th grade).

Faith, scholarship, leadership and honor are the foundations upon which Stuart Hall builds future community leaders who have an unselfish commitment to the service of others. At the heart of its mission is the belief that “Education is formation, not just information.”

Stuart Hall School for Boys accepts students without regard to race, color, religion, or national or ethnic origin. Learn more at stuarthall.org.

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Natural Disinfection Solutions, NDS-360

1343 W. Causeway Approach, Mandeville.

Natural Disinfection Solutions, NDS-360 has been in the disinfection business for over 10 years on the Northshore. With experience in all thing’s disinfection, we have used everything from UV robots to fogging and spraying. In 2019, we discovered a product that has completely changed the disinfection game, CASPR (Continuous Air & Surface Pathogen Reduction). CASPR is an innovative “no-touch” disinfection technology that utilizes a Natural Catalytic Converter (NCC) to create Hydrogen Peroxide (oxidizing molecules) out of your ambient air. These oxidizing molecules then seek out molds, fungus, bacteria, and viruses, oxidizing them and destroying them at the cellular level. This technology is always running in the background giving an added layer of protection to your facility.

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since 2010

Map your future at Franklin

BFHS admissions policies adhere to federal Title IX guidelines. Our full policy can be found at bfhsla.org

SPONSORED CONTENT

2001 Leon C Simon Dr, New Orleans, LA 70122 (504) 286-2600 | bfhsla.org With high-achieving students from every ZIP code in the city, Benjamin Franklin High School celebrates diversity and respects the individuality of each student. We have had the most National Merit Semifinalists in the state for two years running, and our students go on to earn full scholarships at some of the most prestigious colleges in the world. We offer more than 65 electives, including a wide variety of AP and arts classes. We also have 20 sports teams and clubs for everything from anime to Zumba. Go to www.bfhsla.org or call (504) 286-2610 to learn more about our Oct. 7 Admissions Open House and to map your future at Franklin!

Isidore Newman School

1903 Jefferson Ave., New Orleans, LA 70115 504-899-5641 |Newmanschool.org Founded in 1903, Isidore Newman School is a co-educational independent school that serves high-achieving and highly motivated students in grades Pre-K through 12, with Green Trees Early Childhood Village serving children ages six weeks to four years old. Located in the heart of Uptown, Newman is the only accredited co-educational, non-sectarian, independent day school in the city of New Orleans. Visit newmanschool.org for more information or to schedule a tour.

Newman seeks to enroll qualified students without regard to race, religion, color, gender, national and ethnic origin, physical handicap, or sexual orientation. Needbased financial aid is available.

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Benjamin Franklin High School

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SPONSORED CONTENT

Hynes Charter Schools 990 Harrison Ave, New Orleans, LA 70124 Hynes-Lakeview Campus: 504-324-7160 Hynes-UNO Campus: 504-359-7700 Hynesschool.org Hynes Charter Schools are some of the highest in-demand, non-selective admissions elementary schools in Orleans Parish. Serving three campuses for the 2021-22 school year, the Hynes family is a leader in quality public, open-enrollment education. Hynes-Lakeview earned Louisiana’s highest “A” rating for school performance, Equity Honors, and “Top Gains Honoree” for exceptional student progress. Hynes-UNO students have exceeded math and reading targets each year. Hynes Charter School Corporation is excited to add Hynes-Parkview to its family for the 2021-22 school year, replicating its proven model with focus on a well-rounded education. Learn more at the Hynes website: hynesschool.org

Morris Jeff Community School Morrisjeffschool.org

Elementary School - 211 S. Lopez, New Orleans, LA 70119 504-373-6258 Middle School - 2733 Esplanade, New Orleans, LA 70119 504-503-0730 High School - 1301 N. Derbigny, New Orleans LA 70116 504-355-1210

Nola Gifts and Decor

5101 W. Esplanade Ave., Metairie, LA, 504-407-3532 and 3001 Ormond Blvd., Destrehan, LA985-603-4011 Nolagiftsanddecoronline.com

Morris Jeff Community School offers an education that is a source of freedom and possibility for all students, permitting them to develop their talents fully, become contributing global citizens, and attain the foundation needed to excel at college, career, and beyond. As an open-access school, Morris Jeff is committed to diversity in education and to providing a learning environment that is student-centered and fosters personal, creative, and academic excellence. The International Baccalaureate Organization provides a developmentally appropriate curriculum framework for students around our globe. We are proud to be Louisiana’s only PK-12 authorized World School of the IBO.

It’s Back to School time and Nola Gifts and Décor is the place to geaux to show your school spirit. Door hangers, garden flags, ornaments, socks, face masks, tumblers, wall décor from Clay Creations, and so much more. College care packages are filled with necessities and surprises that every college student can use for their dorm or apartment. Check out our School Spirit Collection at nolagiftsanddecoronline.com. Custom orders welcome.

Nola Boo 517 Metairie Rd, Metairie, LA 504-510-4655| www.nolaboo.com Nola Boo was created by a New Orleans girl who loves her city and loves her Louisiana sports teams! She also combines her love of both with fashion. Located on Metairie Road near the tracks, Nola Boo offers gameday gear, the latest clothing trends, accessories, and home décor. To get you ready for the school year Nola Boo has just received a shipment of gameday shirts and accessories to get you in the spirit. Follow them on Facebook and Instagram and download their new APP! Shop from home, online at nolaboo. com or come on in and say hi boo!

St. Edward the Confessor School

FALL OPEN HOUSE — 9 am and 7 pm: Thursday, November 18

Newly-opened PreK1-2 facility with additional spots available.

FAITH

TRADITION

Scan for a link to a Virtual Open House Tour

EXCELLENCE

4901 West Metairie Avenue • Metairie steddyschool.com • 504.888.6353

St. Edward admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin or handicap and provides all rights, privileges and activities generally accorded or made available to students at its school.

New Orleans JCC Nursery School and Pre-K 5342 St. Charles Avenue (504) 897-0143 | nojcc.org The JCC Nursery School and Pre-K enriches a child’s natural love of learning and encourages growth in social, emotional, cognitive and physical development. Our program offers a play-based, child-centered curriculum for ages 13 months through 5 years of age. Weekly music, movement, gardening and Jewish enrichment activities led by specialists enhance the classroom curriculum. The JCC offers a range of attendance options based on age, three and five-day-a-week programs, and a half day option, as well. Before and after care are available, as are holiday mini camps when school is not in session. Families of all faiths are welcome.

Inspiring Academics Jewish Values Community

Best Private Elementary School 4 years in a row!

2001-2002

Infants - 6th Grade jcdsnola.org

Silk roadhouse Tasting adventures in a bright new spot in Uptown

BY B E T H D ’A D D O N O HERE IS WHAT THE NEWLY OPENED MISTER MAO is not: a Chinese restau-

rant serving dim sum, a Pakistani eatery or a Mexican taco joint. It’s also most definitely not an Asian fusion restaurant. What Mister Mao is, however, is a cool, funky restaurant serving fun-to-eat dishes from across the global spectrum with a cocktail list to match. The place is one of a kind.

Chef and owner Sophina Uong and her husband William “Wildcat” Greenwell opened Mister Mao in late July in the barge board building on Tchoupitoulas Street previously home to Dick & Jenny’s. The new restaurant’s menu taps into all of their favorite foods, with dishes reflecting the bold flavors and interesting textures of a multitude of culinary traditions and cultures.

The couple lived in the Bay Area for years and regularly explored restaurants inspired by other cultures. They love Thai flavors, hot spice and riffs on Southern cuisine using locally sourced ingredients. They proudly call their food “inauthentic.”

The renovated space is done up in kitsch-meets-Tarzan decor, with tropical touches, bright green and pink and scads of garage-sale artwork and gilded mirrors.

Uong says some people come in expecting a traditional Chinese restaurant when they hear the name “Mister Mao,” but it was actually named after their cat. “People have gotten upset that we aren’t a Chinese restaurant,” she says. “We welcome everyone, but we also know we aren’t for everyone.”

Uong doesn’t want to dial back the spice for Uptown diners. Greenwell, who also is a chef, is her taster as well as manager of the creative bar program. The menu contains

drinks inspired by the tropics and brimming with herbaceous and exotic flavors. A wine list focused on small producers is curated by general manager and sommelier Roger Eyles, formerly of Shaya, Meauxbar and Sylvain.

There also are local brews from Zony Mash Beer Project.

Uong is self-taught and worked her way from the front of the house to the kitchen, where she says she feels most at home.

She’s worked at Bay Area restaurants including Waterbar, Revival Bar + Kitchen, Calavera and Absinthe Brasserie & Bar. After she won the title of Grand Champion on Food Network’s “Chopped Grill Masters,” she was tapped to manage Andrew Zimmern’s short lived Lucky Cricket restaurant in Minneapolis.

When that project flailed, the couple decided to head to either New York City or New Orleans. Opting for New Orleans, they leased their current space after the last iteration of Dick & Jenny’s closed at the end of February 2020 — just a few weeks prior to the citywide shutdown for the COVID-19 pandemic.

Uong was born in Cambodia, and her family fled the war-torn country for the U.S. when she was very young. She grew up in Long Beach, California, but there wasn’t anyone cooking Cambodian food in her home. “I cooked for my dad and brother out of the Betty Crocker microwave cookbook,” she says.

While growing up, she spent time in neighbors’ kitchens, watching mothers and grandmothers cook everything from traditional American fare to homemade tortillas. Her palate expanded in all directions.

The Mister Mao menu is broken into categories. “Drinking Snacks” might include deviled almonds and plantain chaat with black mustard seed and curry leaf or Yucatecan sikil pak, a dip of habanero and pumpkin seed served with crackers and crudite.

“Food We Love to Share” could range

Native tongue

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

William “Wildcat” Greenwell and chef Sophina Uong opened Mister Mao.

from simply prepared local greens to escargot Wellington — snails en croute with lemon, garlic butter, horseradish and powdered greens.

Berkwood Farm pork cheese is served with oyster sauce and Thai chili.

“These Bring Us Joy & Hellfire Heartburn” features Kashmiri chile fried chicken with Sichuan chilies and shrimp as well as broken Delta rice flavored with coconut milk. “You Don’t Have to Share” are larger plates like red curry amberjack with potatoes and shrimp paste.

“Always Room for Sweets” is the domain of pastry chef Sarah Cotton, who has worked in Washington, D.C., and locally at August and Shaya.

Cotton brings the restaurant’s signature whimsy into desserts like a dark chocolate tart with black garlic, malty peanut brittle, coconut cream and candied cocoa nibs and lotus blossom cookies with crispy coconut and sesame seed.

Mister Mao currently is open for dinner Thursday through Monday, but Uong plans to expand hours as she expands her staff.

“We are working hard to connect with the community and attract the kind of crowd that gets what we’re doing here,” she says. “We wanted to build a place where people could come and just have a good time.”

?

What Mister Mao

Where 4501 Tchoupitoulas St., (504) 345-2056; mistermaonola.com

When dinner Thu.-Mon.

How Dine-in

Email dining@gambitweekly.com

What An adventurous menu and kitschy, tropical decor

ASK CHEF ANA CASTRO about a particular dish and her response may weave together a key ingredient, a taste memory, her experiences cooking with other high-aiming chefs and her deep affection for one or more of her relatives back in Mexico.

Now she leads a restaurant tailored to share these stories.

Lengua Madre is a new restaurant that’s built around a tasting menu format and devoted to contemporary cuisine through Castro’s lens on Mexican culture and heritage.

“To me, it is Mexican food, even though my grandma might not recognize it,” Castro says. “Every dish is here for a reason, and there’s usually a memory behind it.”

Lengua Madre officially opened Aug. 4. It was developed by Michael Stoltzfus, chef and owner of the standout modern bistro Coquette. It’s in the Lower Garden District address that was previously home to Thalia, which had been a sibling to Coquette.

Castro was born in Texas and raised in Mexico City. She’s cooked in high-end restaurants in New

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

Michael Stoltzfus and Ana Castro at Lengua Madre

Orleans, New York and Copenhagen, Denmark. During her time as sous chef at Coquette, Castro was a finalist for the James Beard Foundation’s Rising Star Chef award.

Lengua Madre serves a five-course tasting menu for $70, with optional wine and cocktail pairings available.

Restaurants devoted exclusively to tasting menus typically represent the most ambitious and expensive end of fine dining. But more casual, less costly restaurants have been adopting the approach and adapting the concept to their own styles.

Saint-Germain and the Mosquito Supper Club are two local examples.

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At Lengua Madre, the idea also is tied to Coquette’s long-running special called “No Menu Tuesdays,” with a multicourse menu that is kept secret until the meal begins.

Castro’s menus at Lengua Madre will change frequently, guided by certain dishes, changing seasons or whatever the kitchen is feeling. It will be flexible enough to accommodate different diets with advance notice.

Castro previewed a few tastes prior to opening — a small cup of shrimp caldito, essentially a seafood bouillon, had a bright burst of briny warmth; a cucumber-lime granita was speckled with tajin, the citrusy-earthy spice blend.

Stoltzfus believes the set-menu approach will make the restaurant more sustainable, both in terms of lower waste and tighter control on costs, and also for the experience of the staff. It opens with just nine employees, who will share duties across the restaurant and pool tips.

“It allows you to be very dialed in,” Stoltzfus says. “You can do different things in this format than if you’re trying to serve a full menu.”

In the months ahead, Lengua Madre will add daytime hours with a different menu and a more casual service for breakfast and lunch dishes (like chilaquiles and taco plates). The restaurant also will add outdoor seating soon, and these tables will have an a la carte menu separate from the tasting menu.

Stoltzfus says it was important for Lengua Madre to serve its neighborhood, and he sees these options as ways to broaden its range and make it more accessible for different occasions that might bring neighbors to the door.

“This neighborhood gave us so much support in the pandemic, we always want to be part of it,” he says.

Stoltzfus and his then-partner Kristen Essig opened Thalia in 2019.

Through the pandemic, it served as a market, a pop-up venue and a kitchen for community feeding efforts. Stoltzfus and Essig ended their partnership last year, and Essig is now chef at the Washington, D.C., restaurant Dauphine’s.

The layout for Lengua Madre is essentially the same as Thalia, with a wide-open kitchen lined by a small, curving bar. But its style is different.

The entrance is now on the side of the building, and people walk into find a long, hot-pink corridor lit by neon before emerging to the small dining room.

Mexican design elements include terracotta lamps lining the bar, kitchen textiles and plates and drinking vessels, some of which are artfully crafted gourds.

Lengua Madre’s bar stocks mostly Mexican spirits, and all the wines come from Spanish-speaking

countries. Eventually, the restaurant will offer a menu pairing option with nonalcoholic drinks as well.

The new restaurant opens with a proof-of-vaccination requirement, joining the small but growing number of New Orleans businesses to adopt this coronavirus safety measure as the delta variant surges in Louisiana. — IAN McNULTY/ THE TIMES-PICAYUNE

NOLA Mas LAST FALL, JULIO MACHADO opened Tacos Del Cartel in Metairie with a lushly designed interior, a long list of agave cocktails and a menu centered around taqueria standards.

Soon, he will have a second restaurant in New Orleans that promises much more. In fact, that is precisely what it’s called.

Mucho Mas is taking shape at 8201 Oak St. and is slated to open in early fall.

It will serve a more wide-ranging menu of Mexican flavors, including many dishes that start over a charcoal grill.

For seafood, look for Mexican shrimp cocktail, tuna tostadas and a version of snapper a la talla (butterflied and grilled with dueling sauces on each side of the fish), a nod to the signature dish of star Mexican chef Gabriela Camara. Carne asada and tasajo, a type of cured, grilled beef, are in the works as well.

Mucho Mas is taking over the space that until recently was home to Jazzy Pete’s, the expansion of a po-boy restaurant in Slidell that opened here just last year. The address was previously DTB, which closed in 2020.

Work is underway now behind the papered windows of the corner spot. To design the new restaurant, Machado has brought in JL Studio Designs, the same firm that designed Tacos Del Cartel, with its luminous skull-and-roses motif of Mexican Day of the Dead themes.

Partners in the new restaurant include Danny Cruz, a co-owner of Tacos Del Cartel, and Daniel Borst.

Mucho Mas is the latest in a series of restaurant changes along the Oak Street strip. Over the spring, the Jamaican restaurant 14 Parishes expanded here, taking over the former home of Mellow Mushroom. A block up the street, Seafood Sally’s opened in May in the corner spot that had previously been La Casita.

Just next door to Mucho Mas, the space that was once the grocery Simone’s Market became the microbrewery and taproom Oak Street Brewery last year.

Another new restaurant in the works for Oak Street is Mukbang Seafood & Bar, from the founder of Magasin. It will bring a Viet-Cajun seafood menu and oyster bar to the former home of Chiba, a Japanese restaurant that closed before the pandemic. — IAN McNULTY/THE TIMES-PICAYUNE

EAT+DRINK

Diego Martin Perez

WINE OF THE

WEEK

Baker

DIEGO MARTIN PEREZ GREW UP IN PUERTO RICO and moved to

Lafayette with family in 2005. In 2016, he began baking at home there and soon moved to New Orleans to work with Christina Balzebre at her Levee Baking Co. In January 2020, he started his own small bakery, Pan Fuerza, which offers bread to monthly subscribers and does some pop-ups and markets as well. Pan Fuerza is at the Coffee Science market Sunday, Aug. 22.

How did you get started baking bread?

Diego Martin Perez: Around 2016, I started making bread at home. I had played with it in the past, but this time it felt like a real challenge because it was tied to a personal health situation. A lot of people think it’s triggered by eating gluten, among other things like alcohol, sugar and processed foods. I found some literature that talked about the gluten not being the problem for most people — it’s the way the bread is made, because of the fermentation. That fascinated me. I graduated from UL Lafayette with a degree in biology and a minor in chemistry. That aspect of it tickled the left side of my brain.

I started playing with it, and a friend told me about (Christina Balzebre) in New Orleans. We got to meet and she invited me to come work for her. I was her first employee. It was a bit of luck, but it was a privilege to go from baking bread at home with no previous experience in food service and the hospitality industry to being given a green light and access to all this knowledge she had gained working at different bakeries, restaurants and on her own. We were both into sourdough bread — naturally fermented bread.

It was awesome for me to have a mentor in this very specific world of breadmaking that I was interested in. I did that for several years, and then I got a position making bread for Simone’s Market on Oak Street.

What did you bake?

P: I want to clarify that it was “sourdough,” but when you translate sourdough to any other language, the term “sour” is not in it. It means a way of leavening the bread. It doesn’t taste sour. All of the breads

were made in this way. They were rustic, whole-grain, heavy breads.

They’d look like these crusty, round loaves with lots of volume, chewy insides. They’d call it a sourdough, but sometimes they had corn grits, sometimes they had fermented grains or seeds in it — all kinds of stuff. I get the best grain from a miller in North Carolina. It’s fermented in a longer way which makes it more digestible and more nutritious.

(During the pandemic) I was making bread out of my house for a few friends. There was a time when everyone was home and wanted to support local business, and there was a shortage at supermarkets. I really pushed the limits of the little kitchen I was working out of at the house. I told people I was doing it though a little newsletter and Instagram, and I would sell out in 45 minutes. My girlfriend was a pastry chef who was laid off from her job.

She’d make sourdough cookies and chocolate chip cookies, and we were slinging bread and cookies around town in weird times and trying to bring a sense of normalcy to people.

Subscriptions is my favorite way of doing it. Logistically it’s easy handling orders and payments and how much flour I have to buy. All the fulfillment is streamlined. We deliver by bike. Same bike route, and we meet new folks and then you become friends with them.

That’s exactly what I wanted. Every now and then for subscribers I offer a pastry treat option. I make guava handpies and mallorca, which is a traditional bread from Puerto Rico.

What is your vision for Pan Fuerza?

P: The food industry is not my vibe.

I like the small, community-based,

P H OTO B Y J A M E S B I L L E A U D E A U

very intentional business model.

Feeding people is the original public service, the original form of social work. You’re giving people food. I appreciate knowing who the bread is for and that they know I am making it. It’s very sweet to make friends with people I make bread for. I am thankful for the journey.

Since the beginning I’ve wanted to operate under a sliding-scale system so people can pay what they can. It’s great to see people taking care of each other without even knowing about it. It’s a cool vibe.

I can keep ingredients in the bin, and everyone gets to enjoy good quality food that’s made with love.

It’s not fixing the problem of wealth inequality, but it’s increasing the access to something that’s delicious and good quality.

I am always looking for people to subsidize bread for the community fridges. That’s been heartwarming and awesome — having people support my work, put me to work and have that bread go to folks who need it, who are marginalized. And through a program that allows for dignity in that exchange of goods.

They get good bread from the fridge. The people who donated don’t know who they’re giving it to, and the people receiving it don’t know who gave it to them. I hope I can keep doing that.

Bake it Forward, the bread subsidy thing, is something I am trying to get people to engage with in a long-term way. I don’t want it to just be a chapter in the last year and a half. — WILL COVIELLO For more information, visit panfuerza.com.

Villa Antinori Rosso 2018

Villa Antinori 2018 is deep ruby red in color. Its nose is intense and complex defined by notes of wild berries; blueberries and blackcurrants, and notes of toasted hazelnuts, spices and vanilla.

A full-bodied palate is well rounded with supple velvety tannins and a long savory finish.

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Contact Will Coviello wcoviello@gambitweekly.com 504-483-3106 | FAX: 504-483-3159 C O M P L E T E L I S T I N G S AT W W W. B E S T O F N E WO R L E A N S . C O M Out 2 Eat is an index of Gambit contract advertisers.

Unless noted, addresses are in New Orleans and all accept credit cards. Updates: email willc@gambitweekly.com or call (504) 483-3106.

$ — 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. $$

GENTILLY NOLA Crawfish King Seafood & Barbecue — 5321 Franklin Ave., (504) 571-5038 ; crawfishking.com — The restaurant specializes in boiled seafood and barbecue.

The Gentilly Reuben features housesmoked brisket pastrami, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese and house sauce on marbled rye. No reservations. Takeout and outdoor seating available. Lunch and early dinner Wed.-Sun. $$

HARAHAN/JEFFERSON/ RIVER RIDGE The Rivershack Tavern — 3449 River Road, (504) 834-4938; therivershack-

tavern.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) 835-2022; 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) 533-9998; nephewsristorante.com — Chef Frank Catalanotto is the namesake “nephew” who ran the kitchen at his late uncle Tony Angello’s restaurant. The 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. $

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) 6093871; brownbutterrestaurant.com — Sample items include smoked brisket served with smoked apple barbecue sauce, smoked heirloom beans and vinegar slaw. A Brunch burger features a brisket and short rib patty topped with bacon, brie, a fried egg, onion jam and arugula on a brioche bun. Dine-in, takeout, curbside pickup and delivery available. 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 York-style 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. $$

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MUSIC

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Hello, LeTrainiump

BY JAKE CLAPP IT DIDN’T TAKE LONG FOR NEW ORLEANS to notice

LeTrainiump.

The Mamou native had moved to New Orleans in early 2020 with his wife and manager, Dominique Richard, just before COVID-19 turned the world upside down. Maybe it’s his synth-driven, shimmering pop — a direct throwback vibe to the late-’80s and ’90s — and effusive, energetic presence.

Maybe it’s his colorful windbreakers and oval sunglasses.

Either way, LeTrainiump Richard quickly, and emphatically, planted his foot firmly in New Orleans’ indie music community. Within months of arriving in town, LeTrainiump found himself on stage at Tipitina’s and House of Blues, made friends with locals SaxKixAve and Pell and opened for Sweet Crude and Big Freedia. He generated a buzz and was featured on NPR Music’s social media as part of its “Desk of the Day” series. He even turned the head of the person running the Twitter account for the Frosty pushers at Wendy’s.

Still, there hasn’t been a proper introduction to LeTrainiump. That “hello for everybody,” Richard says, comes with his debut EP, “Purity,” which will be released Aug. 27.

People who attended LeTrainiump’s EP release show at The Howlin’ Wolf on Friday — which included Lady Lavender and SaxKixAve joining Richard on stage — got advance access to the EP. For everyone else, it’s only a few more days.

This “really introduces me, introduces my sound, my artistry in full,” the 28-year-old musician says. “What people have been seeing for months will be tied up in a small package of seven songs.”

“Purity” might be a “small package,” but it dreams big. The EP is filled with tight, danceable pop that’s influenced by Michael Jackson — Richard is staking his claim for the “Prince of Pop” — and Richard’s feeling of growing up carefree in the ’90s, when “All That” and “Dragon Ball Z” were mandatory afterschool viewing. Life wasn’t as complicated.

“You had more time to sit with yourself. And I think that’s where the vibe came from, that single standpoint of ‘I just want to live it again.’ I want to keep that mentality,” Richard says with a laugh.

But rather than being stuck in nostalgia, LeTrainiump resurrects what made that ’90s pop sound so great and turns it into his own, fresh music.

He isn’t replicating performers like

PAGE 5

run at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 21, at the Solomon Victory Theater at the National World War II Museum. The top film goes on to compete with winners from other participating cities across the globe at Filmapalooza in Washington, D.C., in 2022. Visit 48hourfilm.com/ new-orleans-la for details.

Jonathon Long and Samantha Fish

P H OTO P R OV I D E D B Y DOMINIQUE RICHARD

GUITARIST JONATHON LONG RELEASED HIS LATEST ALBUM, “Parables of a Southern Man,” on blues shredder Samantha Fish’s Wild Heart Records in June. The Baton Rouge native got off to a precocious start in the blues, but he emphasized his songwriting and expands into Southern rock on the album. Fish joins him for this belated record-release celebration at 10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 20, at d.b.a.

Tickets $20 on eventbrite.com.

LeTrainiump will release his debut EP, ‘Purity,’ on Aug. 27.

Jurassic Quest

Jackson or Whitney Houston — he’s studying the foundations of what made them icons in the first place.

Each song on “Purity” is something of a building block, Richard says, a signpost along his road to figuring out who he is. Opening track “ily.” features the voice of his mother — and the song was meant to be a gift to her after her home was destroyed in a fire. A few months later, last year, she passed away.

“It was a tough situation,” Richard says. “But it showed me, OK, ‘Purity’ was already in the works and I was working with no meaning. Then everything locked in for me. ‘I Love You’ leads into ‘Control,’ but it’s those songs that my mom loved the most about me and she felt characterized me as a person.”

The track “So Alive” sprang from a time he was questioning his life path while attending a seminary in Romania — high-school aged Richard saw himself going into ministry.

He also deals with the questioning, winding and often circling patterns of our 20s on the song “Lost?” — featuring SaxKixAve — but it resolves into “Belong,” dedicated to cutting out the noise and finding your own space.

“A lot of these songs start with that,” Richard says. “It’s all about looking within. It’s all about learning how to love yourself — and, in turn, loving yourself teaches you how to love others, and it teaches you how to enjoy this precious moment that you’ve been given.”

Find LeTrainiump’s music at letrainiump.com.

THE DINOSAUR ATTRACTION FEATURES MORE THAN A 100 life-like dinosaurs, with some as big as a 50-foot megalodon, as well as cute dino characters for younger audiences. There also are rides, dinosaur shows, a bounce house, art and interactive science activities and more. The touring attraction is at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center Friday, Aug. 20, through Sunday, Aug. 22. General admission is $18-$22, and rides cost extra.

Visit jurassicquest.com for details.

Teatro Sin Fronteras Latin Late Night JOSE TORRES TAMA HOSTS ANOTHER INSTALLMENT OF HIS late-night TV styled live talk show with house band Raices. Guests include Gauchos Del Tango, featuring Yulene Velazquez, dancer and choreographer Maritza Mercado-Narcisse and immigration rights activist Martha Alguera. There also is food from Veggie Tamales. Sliding scale admission is $5-$20. The show is at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 17, at Cafe Istanbul.

Happy Talk Band LUKE SPURR ALLEN LEADS HIS AMERICANA BAND in an outdoor show at 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 21, at Pirogue’s Whiskey Bayou in Arabi.

Flow Moon Jam NOLA NIGHT LIGHTS, a LED hula hooping marching krewe, is hosting an arts market at The Drifter with live performances, tarot card read-

ings and tunes by DJs Tha Roosta, Kingalicious and Sunyata. Flow artists will perform, incorporating live projections by Lacuna Projections and custom hoops made by Jam Hoops. The event is from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, Aug. 20. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at thedrifterhotel.com.

One Direction Night AMID ITS LATE AUGUST REOPENING, the House of Blues plans to finally host its “Midnight Memories: One Direction Night” Saturday, Aug. 21 at 9 p.m. The event — which promised to be a dance party soundtracked by One Direction music videos and Harry Styles hits — was originally scheduled for last August. It drew a lot of attention on social media before the pandemic hit and canceled it. The internationally successful British boyband, put together by Simon Cowell in 2010 on talent competition “The X Factor,” were active until 2016, when they went on an indefinite “hiatus” to pursue their solo careers. Hopes of a possible reunion tour for their 10-year anniversary last year were also quickly dashed due to the pandemic — yet another thing the virus has taken from us. Tickets are $18 and can be purchased at houseofblues.com.

Cowboy Mouth NEW ORLEANS ROCKERS COWBOY MOUTH will play Tipitina’s next Free Fridays show at 10 p.m.

Aug. 20. Lafayette’s LVVRS opens the show. Find more information at tipitinas.com.

Ingenue Revue BURLESQUE PERFORMS MZ. JUNO AND VIVACIOUS MISS AUDACIOUS host a twice-monthly show at HiHo Lounge featuring up-and-coming and crowd favorite burlesque performers, drag performers and variety acts. The next edition of the Ingenue Revue takes place at 10 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 22. Tickets are $15 general, $25 VIP at eventbrite.com.

Zony Arts Bazaar THERE’S AN ART MARKET AND FOOD FROM ZEE’S PIZZA at Zony Mash Beer Project from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 21. Find details at zonymashbeer.com.

41

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TUESDAY 17 BAMBOULAS — Hannah Mignano Quartet, 12 pm; The Villains, 3 pm; Smoky Greenwell Blues, 6:30 pm; Chance Bushman & Rhythm Stompers, 10 pm DOS JEFES — Tom Hook, Wendell Brunious, 8:30 pm SIDNEY'S SALOON — Steve Detroy, 8 pm THE SPOTTED CAT MUSIC CLUB — Meschiya Lake and the Little Big Horns, 6:30 pm; Smoking Time Jazz Club, 9:30 pm

WEDNESDAY 18 BAMBOULAS — Eight Dice Cloth, 12 pm; Fully Dressed Po’Boys, 3 pm; Bamboulas Hot Jazz Quartet, 6:30 pm; The Pentones, 10 pm DOS JEFES — Richard "Piano" Scott, 8:30 pm ROCK 'N' BOWL — Ryan Foret & Foret Tradition, 7:30 pm SANTOS — Zach Edwards, 9 pm; Russell Welch Swamp Moves Trio, 9 pm THE HOWLIN' WOLF — Naughty Professor Wednesday Shredder Sessions, 7:30 pm THE JAZZ PLAYHOUSE — Funkin' It Up with Big Sam, 7:30 pm THE SPOTTED CAT MUSIC CLUB — Shotgun Jazz Band, 6:30 pm; Antoine Diel and the New Orleans Misfit Power, 9:30 pm

THURSDAY 19 BAMBOULAS — Andy J. Forest, 12 pm; Christopher Johnson Jazz, 3 pm; Marty Peters & the Party Meters, 6:30 pm; Tree House Band, 10 pm BOURREE — Jackie Blaire Project, 6 pm BUFFA'S — Tom McDermott and Meschiya Lake, 7 and 9 pm CARNAVAL LOUNGE — Sweet Magnolia Brass Band, 8 pm DOS JEFES — Chicken & Waffles, 8:30 pm GASA GASA — Bobby Bare Jr. & Country Westerns, 8 pm NEW ORLEANS JAZZ MUSEUM — Prime Examples of Excellence in Music, 5 pm NOLA BREWING TAPROOM — Electric Yat Quartet presents “Name that Tune”, 6 pm ROCK 'N' BOWL — Chubby Carrier & Bayou Swamp Band, 8 pm SNUG HARBOR JAZZ BISTRO — Oscar Rossignoli Trio, 8 pm; Oscar Rossignoli Trio, 10 pm THE JAZZ PLAYHOUSE — Brass-AHolics, 7:30 pm THE SPOTTED CAT MUSIC CLUB — Miss Sophie Lee, 6:30 pm; Jumbo Shrimp Jazz Band, 9:30 pm

FRIDAY 20 BAMBOULAS — Sabertooth Swing, 11 am; The Villains, 2 pm; Les Getrex N Creole Cooking, 6:30 pm; City of Trees, 10 pm BOURREE — Gordon Towell Jazz Duo, 6 pm BUFFA'S — Eric Morel and Kinda Blue, 7 pm ; Eric Morel and Kinda Blue, 9 pm P H OTO P R OV I D E D B Y B R A SS - A - H O L I C S CARNAVAL LOUNGE — Ainsley Matic and the Broken Blues/ Brass-a-holics performs Thursday at the Sandra Love and the Reason, Jazz Playhouse 9 pm DOS JEFES — The Afrodisiac's Jazz, 9 pm THE HOWLIN' WOLF — Shawn Williams' GASA GASA — ZITA album release, "Dirty Ditties" Band & Burlesque Show, 8 pm 8:30 pm NOLA BREWING TAPROOM — Blake THE JAZZ PLAYHOUSE — The Nayo Quick and Dave Easley, 5 pm Jones Experience, 7:30 pm ROCK 'N' BOWL — Rockin' Dopsie Jr., TIPITINA'S — Temps Petit, 9 pm 8:30 pm WINDSOR COURT HOTEL — Robin SANTOS — Hidden Charms, 9 pm Barnes, Songbird of New Orleans, SNUG HARBOR JAZZ BISTRO — Jason 8:30 pm Marsalis’ Tribute to Ellis Marsalis, 8 and 10 pm SOUTHPORT HALL LIVE MUSIC & PARSUNDAY 22 TY HALL — Dead End Blues Band, 7 pm; Nashville South, 8 pm BAMBOULAS — Hannah Mignano QuarTHE JAZZ PLAYHOUSE — Burlesque tet, 11 am; NOLA Ragweeds Jazz, Ballroom feat. Romy Kaye, 7 and 9 pm 2 pm; Chance Bushman & Rhythm THE SPOTTED CAT MUSIC CLUB — Stompers, 6:30 pm; Ed Wills Blues 4 Washboard Chaz Trio, 5 pm; New Sale, 10 pm Orleans Cottonmouth Kings, 8 pm; BOURREE — Dusky Waters, 2 pm James Martin Band, 11 pm BUFFA'S — Some Like It Hot, 11 am; Some TIPITINA'S — Cowboy Mouth + Lvvrs, Like It Hot, 1 pm; Larry Scala Quartet, 10 pm 7 and 9 pm WINDSOR COURT HOTEL — Robin Barnes, Songbird of New Orleans, DOS JEFES — Michael Liuzza & Co., 8:30 pm 8 pm

SATURDAY 21 BAMBOULAS — Hot Club of Mazant, 11 am; G & The Swinging Gypsies, 2 pm; Johnny Mastro Blues, 6:30 pm; Crawdaddy T’s Cajun/Zydeo Review, 10 pm BOURREE — Nola Hummingbirds, 1 pm; Tim Nielsen, 6 pm BUFFA'S — Sam Price and Friends, 7 and 9 pm CARNAVAL LOUNGE — Laura Fisher, Velveteen Echo, Butte, 9 pm DOS JEFES — Sunpie & The Louisiana Sunspots, 9 pm GASA GASA — Seth Martin with Pastel Panties, 9 pm NOLA BREWING TAPROOM — Caleb Tokarska, 5 pm PIROGUE’S WHISKEY BAYOU — Happy Talk Band, 8 pm ROCK 'N' BOWL — Sugaer Shaker, 8:30 pm SNUG HARBOR JAZZ BISTRO — Dr. Michael White & Original Liberty Jazz Band, 8 and 10 pm

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SANTOS — Yatra, 9 pm THE CHLOE — John Rankin, 11:30 am THE HOWLIN' WOLF — Hot 8 Brass Band, 8:30 pm THE SPOTTED CAT MUSIC CLUB — The New Orleans Songbird Robin Barnes + Fiya Birds, 6 pm; Spotted Cat Band ft.

Marla Dixon, 6 pm; Pat Casey and the New Sound, 9 pm

MONDAY 23 BUFFA'S — Doyle Cooper, 7 pm; Doyle Cooper, 9 pm CARNAVAL LOUNGE — Tommy Luke with Paris Achenbach, Pastel Panties, 9 pm THE SPOTTED CAT MUSIC CLUB — Michael Watson and The Alchemy, 9:30 pm

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1:00 Looka Here 3:30 Laurie Morvan Band 5:30 Walter “Wolfman” Washington 7:00 Jonathan Boogie Long 9:00 Eric Gales

SEPT. 24–25, 2021 CASSIDY PARK BOGALUSA, LA www.bogalusablues.com

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B Y

Crypto market

BY WILL COVIELLO

DASH SHAW’S ANIMATED FEATURE

“Cryptozoo” gets off to a tantalizing start. Amber and Matt, a couple of 1960s-era, Bay Area hippies, go into the woods to smoke weed and have sex.

It’s got a vague Garden of Eden feel as they remain mostly naked with their genital regions seemingly obscured by fig leaves — or they’re just vaguely drawn. But rather than get kicked out of the woods, they enter what seems like a magical place by scaling a fence. Walking through the forest on the other side, they discover a unicorn. Their encounter is not characterized by sparkles and rainbows.

Then we meet Lauren, who has a much better understanding of the world’s magical creatures. She’s a veterinarian, in part due to her experiences growing up in Okinawa, Japan, where her father served in the military. She was tormented by dreams until a baku saved her. The mythical little elephant-like creature essentially ate her nightmares, relieving her of the associated emotional burdens. She felt a debt of gratitude to the baku and mythical creatures.

“Cryptozoo” opens what seems like a Pandora’s box of problems that would arise in a world where magical creatures aren’t so hard to find.

Besides unicorns, it is inhabited by Pegasi, griffins, hydra, krakens, centaurs, Gorgons (i.e. Medusa) and more.

There’s also a satyr named Gustav who throws orgies, and his scenes feature the most graphic of the sexual content. We soon learn there is black market for captured creatures. Russian mobsters abduct and sell them. The U.S. military also has designs on harnessing their powers and would love to capture a baku.

Shaw is an accomplished author of comics and graphic novels, including “New School,” “BodyWorld,” “Bottomless Belly Button” and more.

His previous feature film, 2016’s “My Entire High School Sinking Into the Sea,” was an entertaining if angsty animated teen comedy that featured the voices of Jason Schwartzman, Lena Dunham, Maya Rudolph and other stars. Shaw repeats that approach here, enlisting voice work from Michael Cera, Lake Bell, Peter Stormare, Grace Zabriskie and others.

Rather than building on the successful elements of “My Entire High

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

School,” however, “Cryptozoo” seems like a step backward. While colorful, its illustrations are less varied and sometimes just simplistic and flat.

Too many bodies, faces and limbs are minimally and awkwardly rendered, which may be meant to amplify the themes of fragility and freakishness in the story, but it comes off as subpar and distracting. Some of the supposedly mythical creatures seem pathetic. The film clocks in at 90 minutes, but it sometimes feels plodding and superficial.

Shaw lays out ideas worth exploring.

To save the creatures, Lauren braves the world of mobsters and military teams dropping from helicopters.

Though mythical, these creatures also are depicted as incredibly vulnerable. Lauren works with a woman who’s founded the Cryptozoo, which operates like a real zoo or amusement park. The creatures live in cages and there’s a gift shop full of stuffed-toy versions of them. It seems like Shaw might be trying to ask hard questions about how to preserve endangered species, or just how to treat defenseless animals.

In too many ways, however, Shaw settles for less. That the movie’s world feels more dystopic than magical seems like his angsty themes run amok. Rather than pursue how the humans view and treat rare creatures, the plot feels more like a crime story with various oblivious agents pushing matters to their bloody and simple ends. The battle royale feels like a game of Dungeons & Dragons with a lot of collateral damage and not much character development.

Shaw could have filled in a lot more on a promising story.

“Cryptozoo” opens Aug. 20 at Zeitgeist Theatre & Lounge.

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PREMIER CROSSWORD PUZZLE IT’S MEANINGLESS

By Frank A. Longo

36 Top-drawer 37 Is storming 38 Antonym: Abbr.

39 Maker of Tater Tots 41 It induces an immune response 44 Trash collection service 48 “Our Gang” girl 49 Evict 50 Raw resource 51 Racing units 52 Furniture with four sleeping units 55 Trachea-to-lung tubes 58 TV trophy 59 Partake of 60 French for “good”

61 Winfrey of “Selma” 65 Small inlet 66 Medieval stronghold near Cork, Ireland 71 “— had it!”

72 With 6-Down, relay some information 74 Rustic hotels 75 Eighth mo.

76 Like both-sex dorms 77 Experienced again 80 Seepage in a boat’s bottom 83 Exhaust conduit, e.g.

86 Cavity-fighting org.

87 Golf great Ballesteros 88 Actress Graff

89 Chef who was a judge on ABC’s “The Taste” 93 Novelist Sidney 95 “Good Times” actor Walker 96 12, on some clocks 97 Speedskater Ohno 98 Celine of pop 99 Part of many a kid’s lunchbox meal 106 Cow stomach, on a menu 108 Fix, as a knot 109 Xbox competitor 110 AOL competitor 111 Yoo- — (chocolate drinks) 112 10 answers in this puzzle have one 116 Tenth mo.

117 Guitar relative 118 Prickly shrub 119 State of hypnosis 120 Co. top dog 121 Pro votes 122 Pungent salad green 123 Gossipy meddlers

ABR, CRS, GRI, SFR, SRS

40 College-level H.S. courses 41 Some vipers 42 “Skyfall” actress Harris 43 Writer Capote 44 Holster item 45 Invite (to) 46 Get reduced in price 47 Suffix with north 49 Surpass in competition 53 Wriggly fish 54 Sheep’s cry 55 Razor brand 56 Stephen of films 57 Weeding aid 60 Fly- — (pilots’ stunts) 62 Ran amok 63 Brand of bath additives 64 Actress Tippi 66 Slangy “sweetie” 67 Denver-to-Bismarck dir.

68 Call a halt to 69 Pull sharply 70 Size bigger than med.

73 Imagine 76 Young and inexperienced DOWN 78 Really weak 1 James A. Garfield’s “A” 79 First lady McKinley 2 — -Seltzer 80 Stinging flier 3 Occupy, as a desk 81 Wall creeper 4 USN VIP 5 Become older 6 See 72-Across 7 — Fables 8 Sominex competitor 9 Have — with destiny 10 — Tin Tin 11 Got together 12 Old Mexican 13 Seven, in Seville 14 As to 15 Luxury Italian car 16 Second-largest city in Greece 17 Shut entirely 18 Tall 24 With an inky implement 29 Stage after larva 30 Bicycle pedal attachment 32 Soft felt hat 33 Actress Katey 34 Categorize 35 PD alert 39 Big oil gp.

82 Hold and use 83 Part of many a kid’s lunchbox meal, for short 84 Shimmer, as an opal 85 It’s stuffed into an olive 87 Potato cover 90 After point number eight 91 Bar on a car 92 2016 Summer Olympics locale 93 1992 Summer Olympics locale 94 Frankness 97 Fall flowers 99 Regional life 100 Church parts 101 Bert’s bestie 102 Some RSVPs 103 Defiant kid’s declaration 104 About, timewise 105 Masks 106 College VIP 107 Rakish guy 112 “SNL” airer 113 NHL’s Bobby 114 ’Fore 115 Pale-looking

ANSWERS FOR LAST ISSUE’S PUZZLE: P 2

PUZZLES

ACROSS 1 Carter-era FBI sting 7 “It costs — and a leg” 12 “Likely story!”

16 Learning inst.

19 Spanning structure 20 Gorme with Grammys 21 Mag online 22 Boxer Clay, renamed 23 Withstanding decay 25 Dak., in the 1800s 26 Sawmill item 27 Org. for drs.

28 Haughty type 29 Reggae singer with the Wailers 31 Pureed fruit product since the mid-1800s

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