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ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT
Drum major expo
Keith Duncan opens HBCU band show at Ogden Museum
KEITH DUNCAN AND HIS BROTHER GOT CALLED OUT OF CLASS from time to time while they were in Buras High School in Plaquemines Parish. But they weren’t in trouble. They were artists on call.
“They would call us to the principal’s office because they needed us to draw something, like the high school football banner,” Duncan says. “I say banner because, in a way, my paintings still resemble banners. It started way back when we were in high school, painting on unstretched canvas flat against the wall.”
In his practice, Duncan has often used unstretched canvases. His latest solo show features many fabric and textile canvases. It’s also a return to school colors and pride. His show “Battle of the Bands,” celebrating the marching bands of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), opens at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art Saturday, Feb. 15.
The show is a fitting expo inside the museum after Duncan created a 90-foot mural of a marching band drum major on the outside of the building early last year. The drum major has one knee kicked high and leans back in a dramatic dance step.
“They set the tone and the mood of the crowd,” Duncan says. “Everything starts with the drum major.”
While it was inspired by the dynamic marching bands of HCBUs, Duncan originally had wanted more of a New Orleans subject. He gave the figure several gold fleur-de-lis insignia on his uniform and put “NOLA” across his arm. Duncan’s both proud of his hometown, and he often champions or addresses local culture and sociopolitical concerns in his work.
The show “Battle of the Bands” features 15 HBCU bands, including the Southern University Human Jukebox, Bethune-Cookman’s Marching Wildcats, Grambling State University’s Tiger Marching Band, Jackson State University’s Sonic Boom of the South, Texas Southern University’s Ocean of Soul as well as the bands of Howard University and Morehouse College.
The show has 45 paintings, with three for each school in the appropriate school colors. The works are on unstretched canvases, textiles or paper. For each school, there are two works capturing drum majors in action. Florida A&M’s drum major does a jumping split in his orange and green uniform. Norfolk State’s green and gold drum
by Will Coviello |
major struts with his mace, the ceremonial staff carried by the band leaders.
For each band, there’s a wide horizontal work with marching musicians and majorettes caught in dance steps spread around the canvas. He also includes each school crest. The paintings of bands also feature patterned backgrounds, which reflects that Duncan sometimes paints on materials that already have patterns. The mural was given a blue and white background that looks like Moroccan patterned tiles. Duncan compares some of that effect to the work of quilters.
Duncan traces his interest in HBCU bands back to his days at LSU, when he went to watch the Southern University band perform. He was more interested in the bands showing off their music and moves. He also notes the importance of the schools, and that many were formed during or right after the Civil War. The bands also have garnered wider spotlights, like Southern University’s being part of the Super Bowl’s ceremonies.
After graduating from LSU with a BFA, Duncan studied painting in New England and New York, first at Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture in Maine. He earned an MFA at Hunter College in New York. In New York in the 1990s, his art circles included other budding artists like Kehinde Wiley, Mickalene Thomas, Wangechi Mutu and Derrick Adams,
who was the curator at Rush Arts, a gallery opened by Danny Simmons, the brother of rap mogul Russell Simmons, who funded the gallery. He also met fellow New Orleans native artist Willie Birch, who became a sort of mentor. Duncan has had several solo shows in New York and is currently represented by Fort Gansevoort.
Duncan returned to New Orleans in 2008. A series of his unstretched canvasses with paintings about the BP oil disaster and environmental scenes were featured in the art triennial Prospect.2.
For a show at the Joan Mitchell Center in New Orleans, Duncan did a series titled “The Times-Picayune,” which featured cultural elements such as local food, music and landmarks, and also addressed issues of poverty and crime. A later series called “Black Plight” was a sort of timeline from the era of slavery through the presidency of Barack Obama, which included the civil rights movement, Black Power in the 1970s and an era of Black affluence and celebrity picturing Michael Jordan and Oprah Winfrey. More recently, he turned to HBCUs and what was originally a group of works about Southern University and Grambling.
In addition to his practice, Duncan has always taught art to young people, including current programs through NORD.
“If you can teach, you should always give back,” he says.
Duncan and curator Bradley Sumrall will lead a walkthrough of the HBCU band show at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15. There’s a teacher’s workshop on the expo at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 18.
Duncan is currently working on his next large-scale mural. On a wall at the nearby WDSU TV station, it’s titled “Orleans to Plaquemines Parish” and will include various elements of both, from musicians to cypress trees and the local fishing industry.
For information about the expo, visit ogdenmuseum.org.
Saturnalia Ball
Burlesque performer Vivacious Miss Audacious is orchestrating a “cosmic bacchanalia” that is part dance party, part carnival show, with drag, burlesque, circus arts, aerialists, DJs and more. The event features Intergalactic Realtor and drag performer Tarah Cards, Aria Delanoche, Debbie with a D, Miss Angie Z, The Great Dane, Tigerlily, Eddie Lockwood, Lexis Redd D’Ville and more. At 8 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 16, at Joy Theater. Tickets $35$85 via audaciousnola.com/saturnalia.
Instigation Festival
The four-day festival of improvisational music and art is a collaboration between New Orleans and Chicago. This year’s participating musicians include Steve Marquette, Jeff Albert, Michael Patrick Avery, Helen Gillet, Aurora Nealand, Rob Mazurek, James Singleton, Katinka Kleijn, Damon Locks and more. Thursday features the premiere of a Mazurek piece composed for the 13-piece Instigation Orchestra, and the local premiere of Nealand’s “The Book of Communal Howling.” At the Broadside Monday, Feb. 10, through Thursday, Feb. 13. Individual show tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door. Find information at instigationfestival.com.
Mary J. Blige
Mary J. Blige topped the Adult R&B Airplay chart twice with singles from her latest studio album, “Gratitude,” released in November. She’s long been an influential singer, fusing hip-hop and R&B, and she’s collected nine Grammy awards. As she crossed over to movies, her influence has continued to spread. She performs in New Orleans with support from NE-YO and Mario. At 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14. Tickets $100 and up via ticketmaster.com.
PROVIDED PHOTO BY DARRELL MILLER
Keith Duncan in front of his mural on the the Ogden Museum of Southern Art
PHOTO BY CHRIS GRANGER / THE TIMES- PICAYUNE
OPENING GAMBIT
NEW ORLEANS NEWS + VIEWS
The Super Bowl came to New Orleans and all we got was a few lousy blocks of Poydras Street fxed
THUMBS UP/ THUMBS DOWN
Louisiana 4th graders made big gains in reading on this year’s National Assessment of Educational Progress, also known as “The Nation’s Report Card,” which is given to 4th and 8th graders every two years. The state’s 4th graders leapt from 42nd place in 2022 to 16th place last year in their reading scores in part thanks to a bundle of new policies state lawmakers and education leaders passed in 2021.
Head of New Orleans ofce for unhoused under investigation for alleged sexual assault
Archbishop Gregory Aymond recently fired the longtime CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank as well as three members of the organization’s board of directors. In a press release, Bert Wilson, the ousted board chair, said the terminations came after Aymond increasingly pressured Second Harvest to contribute millions toward settling clergy sex abuse claims in the Archdiocese’s ongoing bankruptcy case.
THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS IS INVESTIGATING A COMPLAINT by a contracted worker alleging that Nate Fields, director of the city’s Office of Homeless Services and Strategy, sexually assaulted her on the job.
According to Mary Bonney, who works for the city through the contractor Civix, Fields forcibly kissed her twice around 11 p.m. while they were working a night shift Monday, Jan. 6 to transport unhoused people to shelters.
When asked for comment in an email, Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s Communications Director Terry Davis said, “To respect the privacy of the person that you are referring to in your email, the City Of New Orleans has not identified or made any public comment about this matter that is currently under investigation.”
Davis said the city’s Law and Human Resources departments would give a statement, but they did not as of press time.
20,000,000
THE AMOUNT IN DOLLARS MAYOR LATOYA CANTRELL IS REFUSING TO GIVE NOLA PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN VIOLATION OF A DEAL HER ADMINISTRATION AGREED TO, IN ORDER TO CLOSE FUNDING GAPS.
The deal was cut after the school board filed a 2019 suit against the city, alleging the administration had been withholding crucial tax dollars. The City Council is considering ways to re-route funds from the administration to the school district, including using Cantrell’s travel budget.
C’EST WHAT ?
What weird event is most likely to happen during Carnival this year?
New Orleans Saints and Pelicans officials worked closely with the Archdiocese of New Orleans on a “monthslong, crisis-communications blitz” amid the fallout of a published list of local Catholic priests credibly accused of child molestation, the Associated Press, The New York Times and The Guardian reported. The outlets recently reviewed emails showing Gayle Benson and publicists with the teams had a deeper role in protecting the church than previously reported.
Bonney said she left afterward, and call logs provided by Bonney show Fields called her three times overnight and into the morning at 2:17 a.m., 7:22 a.m. and 8:06 a.m. She answered the third call, during which she said he apologized.
Bonney told Gambit prior to the incident, Fields had a history of making inappropriate comments at work, including talking about women’s looks, asking women about their dating lives and bragging about how “everybody wants him.”
After filing her complaint, the city informed Civix that Bonney should not come into the office, and she told Gambit the city has been unresponsive to questions about her complaint and at times hostile. She has subsequently been informed she would be transferred out entirely.
However, on Feb. 3 as Gambit was preparing to publish this story, the administration released an “official statement” on its sexual harassment complaint policy and procedures — though it did not provide it to Gambit.
In the release, the administration claims it “takes all allegations of sexual harassment by or against city employees with the utmost seriousness” and once again confirmed it was investigating the complaint.
This is not the first time that the Cantrell administration has faced questions over its handling of harassment and other workplace complaints. In October, the city council launched an investigation into the city’s complaint procedures after a trio of whistleblowers came forward, including one whom alleged a supervisor called them a “fat bitch” and all
12.7%
MAYOR CANTRELL KEEPS TRADITION ALIVE AND FLIPS OFF TUCKS
Nathaniel Fields, director of the city’s Office of Homeless Services and Strategy
PHOTO BY CHRIS GRANGER / THE TIMES- PICAYUNE
stripes&minis
of whom alleged the city retaliated against them for complaining.
Fields also did not reply to a text message seeking comment.
However, in a message to Homeless Services and Strategy staff he acknowledged the investigation, warning them not to talk to media and that this situation would be “closely watched.”
Reporting the alleged incident
Bonney said she reported the alleged assault to her supervisor at Civix, Mike Dorris, on Wednesday, Jan. 8. Still, Bonney said harassment from Fields continued to the point where it was impacting her ability to do her job.
For instance, on Friday, Jan. 10, Bonney said Fields asked her to return a work vehicle she was using to transport supplies and bring the keys to their office. Call records provided by Bonney show Fields called her seven times, from 4:56 p.m. to 5:09 p.m.
Bonney said she dropped the vehicle off around 6 p.m. and ultimately left the keys at the front desk because she didn’t feel comfortable bringing them to Fields’ office.
“Did I tell you to leave the keys at the front with security?” he texted her. “You know what ... thank you!” “We need to talk,” he texted her after.
“Nate — your apology the other day is enough. Let’s leave it at that. Thank you,” she replied.
“That’s not the problem,” he said.
The next morning, on Saturday, Jan. 11, he called her from a different number five times between 9:37 a.m. and 10:04 a.m. She did not answer.
On Sunday, Jan. 12, Bonney texted her Civix supervisor and told him she was ready to report the alleged assault to the city’s Human Resources department. She told Gambit so far she’s found the city’s handling of the process “super intimidating.”
According to Bonney, Dorris told her he initiated the complaint on Jan. 13, submitting screenshots of texts to corroborate.
“I’m heading to work. Very nervous. Is there an HR person I should speak to? I looked on Nola.gov and didn’t see anything,” Bonney texted Dorris that morning.
“We will handle it. I spoke to Nate,” Dorris replied.
The city scheduled a meeting with Bonney on Jan. 16 through Microsoft Teams. She thought it was a virtual meeting and logged in remotely. She said there were five other people on the call, but there was a notification that she wasn’t able to see everyone on the call for privacy reasons.
When she was told it was an in-person meeting, she hurried over and met with Rene Hollins, the city’s Assistant Chief Operations Manager, and Bonita Robinson, management
Jan. 28 letter from the city reassigning Bonney to a different office
fp ro selle $78
wynne $92
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Seafoodstuffedbellpeppers with blackenedredfish
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OPENING GAMBIT
development specialist at the Chief Administrative Office’s Employee Relations Division.
Bonney said she immediately felt thrown off when Hollins introduced herself as “the Gatekeeper” and when Robbins told her “Nate has questions for you.” In a tense email exchange with Bonney following the meeting, Robbins denied making the latter comment.
Bonney also said they placed two phones in front of her without explanation. Emails show she has since asked Hollins and Robinson what they were for but has not gotten an answer.
That night she sent an email to a contact at Southeast Louisiana Legal Services asking for legal advice. Her friend also made a Facebook post about the alleged assault and the city’s response on the same day.
On Jan. 25, Bonney emailed the Metropolitan Crime Commission again asking for legal advice.
Eleven days after Bonney said the city asked her to not come into the office., on Jan. 28 at 3:47 p.m., Hollins sent Bonney a letter saying she would temporarily be reassigned to the Office of Youth and Families starting at 9 a.m. the next morning.
Blackeneddouble cutporkchop with
Ribeyesteaksurfnturf
According to Bonney, the interview lasted around 40 minutes with Hollins and Robinson asking her questions like “Did you socialize with him outside of the office?” and “Was it a friendly office relationship?”
In the letter, Hollins cites the city’s sexual harassment policy, “The appointing authority shall, as soon as practically possible, assess the need to relocate the complainant and/or the alleged harasser to another work unit.”
Following the interview, Bonney emailed Robinson and Hollins asking about the alleged “Nate has questions for you” comment and asked if Fields was on the Teams call or had listened in on their conversation in any capacity.
When Bonney followed up the next morning, Hollins replied and denied either of them had said Fields had questions for her.
Bonney sent an email to Hollins the morning of Jan. 29 declining the reassignment, saying she could continue doing her job under the supervision of the Office of Homeless Services’ deputy and working at the state’s temporary shelter for the unhoused in Gentilly. She copied Mayor LaToya Cantrell on it.
“My question: Why would we say Mr. Fields has questions for you? If so, you did not mention to us that you felt confused and or the question asked felt intimidating nor did you ask for clarity of that question if it was asked. Therefore, I am confused why we are being presented with these questions,” Hollins said.
In the press release, the administration said Fields was not involved in the investigation.
“The City can confirm that the individual accused of sexual harassment has not had any control over or involvement in conducting the investigation into this complaint,” they said in a press release from the City Attorney’s office. “Per City policy, the investigation is being handled by the Employee Relations Division within the Chief Administrative Office, which does not report to the accused individual, either directly or indirectly.”
Out of the ofce
Three hours after that Jan. 17 email exchange, Dorris texted Bonney, “Please call me. I just spoke to the city.” Bonney said on that call Dorris told her the city would not be letting her go to the office.
She said she wasn’t told if the city would still be paying her and has since been using her paid time off, despite continuing her work with unhoused people.
“I have been through enough and I will refuse to be treated this poorly by the city,” Bonney wrote. “Nate is a menace to any woman he comes across and I’m very surprised the city is willing to risk sending that message to the public. It’s certainly not good optics for the office of the mayor or the city to treat a victim of sexual assault like she is the problem and allow the perpetrator to carry on as usual.”
‘Closely watched’
Bonney said the Cantrell administration has still not answered her questions about whether Fields was listening to her interview with Hollins and Robinson nor given her a recording of the interview or told her if there is one like she asked.
Meanwhile, since Gambit contacted the administration for comment on the alleged sexual assault and its handling of it, they appear to have told Fields.
On Feb. 2, Fields texted members of the Office of Homeless Services and Strategy saying the city would be closely watching to see if anyone talked to reporters, according to a screenshot.
“Hello team, I have been instructed of an investigation brought against me and I will be in the media heavy starting tomorrow! I do apologize for the timing couldn’t be worse! Please make no comments to media about anything as this is an ongoing investigation per comms team! This will be closely watched!” he texted.
— Kaylee Poche
@GambitBlake | askblake@gambitweekly.com
Hey Blake,
A recent news story on a groundbreaking ceremony at Children’s Hospital got me curious. When did the hospital open and what’s its history in New Orleans?
Dear reader,
CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL NEW ORLEANS
OPENED IN MARCH 1955 as the Crippled Children’s Hospital, designed to care for children during the polio epidemic as a rehabilitation facility. With 53 beds, the hospital on Henry Clay Avenue opened after a five-year campaign to raise $1,175,000 for its construction.
At the dedication, Dr. Jack Wickstrom, acting chairman of the hospital’s medical staff, said the hospital marked the fulfillment of a dream. “However, it will take much effort to fulfill our purpose … to make children happy and whole, not only physically but also in concept.”
The original hospital included a “specially equipped gymnasium, a Hubbard tub, whirlpool bath, a therapeutic indoor heated pool, a music room, two specially designed classrooms and a lending library,” reported The TimesPicayune. “There are also rooms set aside for examination, X-ray, laboratory and lecture purposes, a plaster cast room, a physical therapy section, another for occupational therapy, two
BLAKE VIEW
isolation rooms and dining, waiting and day rooms,” the newspaper added.
With a $7 million addition in 1976, the hospital became a full-service medical facility, with a staff of 275 and a full-service emergency room. It also dropped the word “crippled” from its name.
In 2009, Children’s partnered with Touro Infirmary to create LCMC Health, which owns and operates eight local hospitals.
In 2021, Children’s completed a $300 million campus expansion. Last month, it broke ground on a $16 million facility called Walker’s Imaginarium. The enrichment center, located on the main campus, will house interactive exhibits and play activities for young patients. It is named for Walker Beery, founder of the nonprofit organization Kids Join the Fight. He died in 2021 at age nine after battling pediatric brain cancer.
THIS WEEK MARKS THE BICENTENNIAL OF JEFFERSON PARISH, WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED by the Louisiana Legislature 200 years ago this week. On Feb. 11, 1825, Gov. Henry S. Johnson signed into law legislation creating Jefferson Parish.
Officials originally considered naming it Tchoupitoulas Parish, but it was instead named for President Thomas Jefferson.
Now Louisiana’s second most populous parish, Jefferson is more than 60 miles long, stretching from Lake Pontchartrain to the Gulf of Mexico, with the Mississippi River separating the parish into the East and West Banks.
In addition to many unincorporated areas — such as Metairie and River Ridge on the East Bank and Bridge City, Harvey, Marrero and Terrytown on the West Bank — six incorporated cities lie within the parish: Kenner, Harahan, Gretna, Westwego, Lafitte and Grand Isle.
Jefferson Parish lines look different than they did when the parish was first formed. The East Bank used to go from Felicity Street in New Orleans to the St. Charles Parish line. In the 19th century, much of what is now Uptown New Orleans was actually part of Jefferson Parish but that changed as New Orleans grew. The present boundaries were set in 1874, and Gretna became the seat of Jefferson Parish government.
Largely a rural area, the parish underwent dramatic change in the post-World War II era, which witnessed the growth of the suburbs and the arrival of both Interstate 10 and the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway linking Metairie and Mandeville.
Events are planned throughout this year to mark the bicentennial, including a Carnival-themed kickoff at Lakeside Shopping Center on Tuesday, Feb. 11. For information and updates on other events, visit jeffparish.gov/1127/JeffersonParish-Bicentennial.
The Mystic Shrine Imperial clowns at Children’s Hospital.
PHOTO BY CHRIS GRANGER / THE TIMES- PICAYUNE
SCRIM AND
Krewe du Vieux is ‘revolting’ for its 2025 parade.
BY SARAH RAVITS
ONE OF THE PERKS OF LIVING IN APOCALYPTIC TIMES is there’s never a shortage of inspiration for one of New Orleans’ most cathartic traditions: the satirical Krewe du Vieux parade.
Its theme this year, “Krewe du Vieux is Revolting,” is a double entendre, and as usual there are layers of meaning to the reliably raunchy spectacle, which rolls at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15, through the Marigny, French Quarter and Central Business District.
“Krewe du Vieux is certainly often described as ‘revolting’ by people who are not fans,” says Yvonne Garrett, the krewe captain. “But we’re also revolting in the climate that we find ourselves in.”
Iconic blues legend Little Freddie King is the king of the parade this year.
Each of the 17 subkrewes of the provocative parade will show off handmade mule-drawn floats, soundtracked by live brass bands in between each one.
Geopolitical and hyper-local issues alike are going to be skewered with the krewe’s signature blend of adult humor.
A few of the subkrewes are using the parade as an opportunity to blast internationally reviled public figures, including the world’s wealthiest man Elon Musk.
The Nazi-saluting billionaire will take particularly heavy fire from the Krewe of Underwear, whose theme is “Illegal Elions Invade Mars.”
Garrett says, “You will see not a small amount on (President) Trump and Elon’s bromance.”
Other subkrewes are keeping their political satire to a more state and local level.
Take Gov. Jeff Landry, who over the last year has focused his efforts on boosting his own executive control of government and daily life while undermining faith in public institutions.
That power grab has provided inspiration to the Krewe of L.E.W.D., with its “Landry-land” theme.
Of course, New Orleans’ own ongoing municipal chaos is always a hot topic.
The past several years have been especially rife with opportunities
for the krewe, as there’s always something to talk about when it comes to Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s administration.
Krewe of K.A.O.S will explore some local issues with “Crescent City Disconnection.”
“We’re known as a parade that speaks truth to power and uses satire in a political context, and you will see plenty of that, and there are plenty of reasons why,” Garrett says.
Not everything in the parade is overtly political, though. Some groups are sticking to the tradition of incorporating naughty word play, like
the Mystick Krewe of Spermes with “Cummer of Love.”
There’s another New Orleans legend who will play an important role in this year’s parade: Scrim, the scrappy runaway dog who is an expert at evading capture. Almost every float will have at least a reference to the loveable mutt.
“We’re animal lovers, and Scrim has inspired us all,” Garrett says.
Sean Gerowin, a member of the subkrewe Drips and Discharges,
Scrim will be honored at Krewe du Vieux this year
PHOTO BY DOUG MACCASH/ THE TIMES - PICAYUNE
Richard and Vivian Cahn to lead the subkrewe Mama Roux.
PHOTO BY SOPHIA GERMER / THE TIMES - PICAYUNE
says his group is going all-in for Scrim with a theme of “Big Hot Dog Energy.”
“You can’t lock up his spirit,” Gerowin says. “The streets aren’t the best place, but that’s what makes you feel alive.”
Krewe members toward the front of the parade will be handing out Bingo cards so spectators along the route can play an interactive game as each float passes.
Garrett says it’s a way to “get people to focus on the floats and the artistry behind it and look for some hidden meanings.”
“It’s a serious time for our country and the state, but in Krewe du Vieux style we are finding some moments of levity and some moments where we can hold up that mirror, and I think people will have fun,” she adds.
Following the parade, the krewe hosts its annual after-party, the Vieux Doo, at the Sugar Mill. Tickets are available to the public and performers include Tra$h Magnolia, Pocket Chocolate, Debbie with a D!, Honey Island Swamp Band, and Big Werm. Tickets $60 via eventbrite. com. For more information, visit kreweduvieux.org.
PHOTO BY SOPHIA GERMER / THE TIMES - PICAYUNE
7 P.M. FRIDAY, FEB. 14
MARIGNY AND FRENCH QUARTER
KREW OF BOHEME subject to change
VALENTINE’S DAY IS A GOOD TIME for a night parade about romance. Krewe Boheme’s love of the Green Fairy makes any connection sound possible with the theme “Absinthe Makes the Heart Grow Fonder.”
The krewe’s absinthe-inspiration is why it has a reigning Green Fairy instead of royalty. This year’s honoree is burlesque performer and now restaurateur Bella Blue.
The procession will include more than 35 krewes and dance groups, plus the Mahogany Blue Babydolls. The TBC Brass Band will serenade Bella Blue during the parade, and several krewes have their own bands, such as the Krewe of Full Bush’s Yeastie Boys. Some groups have large contraptions, like the Krewe of Dystopian Paradise’s massive new bull’s head.
Participating groups that are new to the parade include Krewe of PhantAsia, Krewe of Nyades, The Kaleidoscopic Krewe of Auntie Mame, the roller derby-inspired Loups Sur Roues, Krewe of Awoux and the Amazons Benevolent Society. Returning groups include Krewe of King James and The Super Bad Sex Machine Strollers, Skinz N Bonez, Interrobang?!, Menage a Trike Roule, Krewe de Kink, Krewe de Lune and the Star-Steppin’ Cosmonaughties, Chaissez Ladies and more. Among the dancing groups are the Jamettes and the Bollywood-style dancing Krewe da Bhan Gras.
The parade is followed by the Absinthe Ball at the Fillmore. Its theme is Candy Hearts Run Free. There’s entertainment by the demonic ABBA cover band BAAB, plus aerialists and circus arts performers. The ball is open to the public, and the doors open at 9 p.m. Tickets are $82 via fillmorenola.com.
Visit kreweboheme.com for more information.
SHE DDI N G
I T S S K I N Krewe of Mung Beans transforms into Krewe of PhantAsia for the Year of the Snake
BY KAYLEE POCHE
THE PAST TWO YEARS ON LUNDI GRAS, you may have seen a sight not too common in New Orleans: Asian lion dancers in big colorful feathered costumes making their way from Mid-City to Treme to the beat of drums.
That was part of the Krewe of Mung Beans, which started as a Vietnamese-focused group that paraded with the Krewe of Red Beans on Lundi Gras and has since expanded to include all Asian people.
As part of that evolution, this year the krewe is leaving Red Beans and has rebranded them-
The Woodlawn Lion Dance team stops to perform on Lundi Gras in February 2024 as part of the Krewe of Mung Beans — the predecessor to the Krewe of PhantAsia. PROVIDED PHOTO BY DANIELLA ZALCMAN
selves as the Krewe of PhantAsia, which will debut in the Krewe Boheme parade on Friday, Feb. 14.
Daniella Zalcman, one of the founding members, says though the city has significant Vietnamese and Filipino populations, theirs and other Asian cultures haven’t typically been as visible at New Orleans Mardi Gras. They’re
Krewe Boheme takes inspiration from absinthe.
PHOTO BY SOPHIA GERMER / THE TIMES - PICAYUNE
working to change that and share their traditions with gleeful paradegoers.
“It’s really about the joy of feeling the representation in the context of an event that has not historically had much Asian American representation, when a lot of different Asian groups are very important to New Orleans culture and history,” she says.
Each year the krewe bases its theme off the Lunar New Year’s Zodiac. This year is the Year of the Wood Snake, so expect a lot of scales and Medusas. And of course, the lion dancers and accompanying drummers will return.
“They’re absolutely a signature, at this point, of our krewe,” Zalcman says.
For throws, there will be PhantAsia stickers and pins, as well as items specific to each member’s culture.
For instance, Zalcman will be handing out small red envelopes — the same used to give lucky money to kids on Vietnamese New Year — which she will fill with Vietnamese treats like instant coffee, coffee candy or small amounts of Vietnamese currency. Meanwhile, some Filipino members will give out polvoron, a traditional shortbread cookie.
Some of the throws will even come straight from Vietnam, as a group of PhantAsia members recently traveled there together.
Many members wear cultural clothing when parading, like long Vietnamese dresses with sleeves called áo dài, pointed Vietnamese hats made from woven leaves called non la and barongs, embroidered long-sleeved sheer shirts popular in the Philippines.
“I think the most fun thing is to realize that we have a lot of shared traditions, whether it’s around food or music or dress, and getting to compare and contrast,” Zalcman says.
PhantAsia won’t be the only Asian diasporic krewe walking in Boheme this year. Krewe da Bhan Gras, a walking group celebrating Indian and other South Asian traditions, started parading in Boheme in 2023 — making a splash with their infectiously fun dances to upbeat Bollywood music.
Khai Nguyen, another founding member of PhantAsia, grew up in New Orleans East’s Vietnamese community but says he’s only truly began to feel like an active participant in Carnival in the last few years with the start of Mung Beans.
“I’ve always observed Mardi Gras, and so being able to be part of it has been great,” he says.
Krewe of PhantAsia has around 50 members ranging from pan-Asian folks in college to retirement age, though it’s really an all-ages affair when you count the kids ages 4 and up who parade with their parents.
Founding members say they hope to see the krewe grow and ultimately host events throughout the year, including a Lunar New Year celebration.
But for now, Zalcman says her favorite part of parading is seeing how excited Asian American kids get when they see the krewe coming down the streets.
“I think it’s always really exciting to shift perceptions and to also just open up possibilities, especially for kids, to remind them that, ‘Hey, you belong here too. Your culture belongs here as well,’ ” she says.
SUPPORT SYSTEM
The Krewe of Nyades collects bras and gives out hand-decorated pasties
BY SARAH RAVITS
THE KREWE OF NYADES IS MAKING A SPLASH THIS YEAR, and it’s not just because of members’ long flowy wigs, lilypad-themed headdresses and accessories made with shells and pearls.
Founded last year, the krewe has combined its love of Mardi Gras with a decidedly community improvement ethos, using their appearances in the Mosaique parade last month and again this week in Krewe Boheme to call attention to social and environmental injustices.
“The thing that brings us together is we’re people who love New Orleans and want to give back,” says the krewe’s founder, Laura Cassidy. “We also understand that if we don’t make Mardi Gras ‘greener,’ we may not have Mardi Gras forever.”
The 28-member group is named for aquatic nymphs from Greek mythology, known for protecting young women and coasts. With their ethereal, swamp-inspired costumes, Nyades wants to draw attention to Louisiana’s vulnerable waterways and people who need help, but in a fun way that’s in keeping with the Carnival spirit.
The Krewe of Nyades works with Grounds Krewe, the environmental nonprofit that has been helping Carnival organizations produce less waste and re-evaluate some of the excesses that have been long associated with the season.
Mardi Gras “used to be measured in success by how much trash was collected,” Cassidy says. “Thankfully, (we) stopped doing that.”
Instead of handing out plastic beads and other throwaway items, Nyades members trade handmade and sustainable tokens, including hand-decorated nipple pasties, in exchange for gently used and new bras that they collect for charity directly from spectators.
Collected bras are then given to local organizations like Covenant House and House of Tulip, and the national charity I Support The Girls, which supports unhoused women and girls. Bras are also given to environmental organizations that use clasps to help restore the shells of injured turtles.
“I thought, (New Orleans krewes) have bedazzled shoes, coconuts, purses — how long until someone does a bra (as a throw)? And isn’t it more appropriate if people threw us their bras?” Cassidy says.
She had been thinking about starting a krewe for a while and was inspired by seeing other all-women marching troupes.
“With that much woman power, what if we did more than just get drunk and party? We could change the entire face of what the city looks like,” Cassidy says.
While listening to the radio one day, Cassidy heard a segment about a nonprofit that collects new and gently used bras and gives them to women and girls in shelters. She saw that as an opportunity for the krewe to give back to the community.
pasties made by
“Not only can we help young women experiencing homelessness and trafficking, but we can also be a sustainable krewe that isn’t throwing plastic trash,” she says.
Members have been gathering at RicRack, the recycling and textile nonprofit, to create their signature throws and put the finishing touches on their parade-day outfits.
The group parades on foot, with a tricycle that pulls a pirogue. They also have a cypress tree to hang all the donated bras. During Mosaique, the krewe collected more than 100 bras.
Cassidy hopes the krewe grows in the coming years, and she wants to expand their outreach yearround. She’s already begun brainstorming event ideas that will involve bringing people together for coastal restoration efforts.
In the meantime, though, Cassidy wants people to know that good times can go hand-in-hand with environmentalism and giving to people in need.
“I hope people get an appreciation that Mardi Gras is just as fun even when we’re not littering the streets,” she says. “And when we’re taking care of our planet and our city.”
For more information on the krewe, visit kreweofnyades.com.
A member of the Krewe of Nyades waving a bra
PHOTO PROVIDED BY LAURA CASSIDY / KREWE OF NYADES
Signature
Krewe of Nyades member Alix Saucier
PHOTO PROVIDED BY LAURA CASSIDY / KREWE OF NYADES
KREWE OF NEFERTITI
1 P.M. SUNDAY, FEB. 16
NEW ORLEANS EAST
THE KREWE OF NEFERTITI takes its name from the ancient Egyptian queen, but this year’s parade theme looks to the stars and celestial inspirations with Planet Nefertiti.
The parade’s 14 floats will have both traditional Mardi Gras and space themes.
Reigning over the parade are Queen Nefertiti V Serena WilliamsNobles, who has served as co-captain of the group. Lashonda Tenner is the Goddess of Egypt, and local R&B singer Denisia will be the grand marshal.
Nefertiti’s prized throws are jewelry related, and there also are medallion beads and more.
There will be a family-friendly festival at the conclusion of the parade, organizers say.
Visit kreweofnefertiti.com for information.
KREWE OF NEFERTITI
KREWE
OF LITTLE RASCALS
NOON SUNDAY, FEB. 16
METAIRIE
THE KREWE OF LITTLE RASCALS returns to its route on Veterans Memorial Boulevard with a parade saluting the krewe’s history and its late founder, Jack Spittler Sr.
Riders up to age 19 will fill 12 floats that illustrate the krewe’s history. The procession also typically has marching bands, dance groups, dune buggies and more. For throws, there are bracelets, throwing discs, cups and doubloons.
The krewe was founded in 1983 by Jack and Maureen Spittler. Its members ranged in ages from 2 to 19, and its membership peaked at about 350 members. The krewe functions like adult krewes, including throwing a tableau ball and other events throughout the year. The krewe did not parade last year following the death of Jack Spittler in October 2023.
Captain Xenia “Ten” Smith leads the Krewe of Nefertiti.
PHOTO BY DAVID GRUNFELD / THE TIMES - PICAYUNE
A dancing group marches in the Little Rascals parade.
PHOTO BY DAVID GRUNFELD / THE TIMES - PICAYUNE
’TIT REX
4 P. M. S UNDAY, FEB. 16
MARIGNY
THE KREWE OF ’TIT REX has decided to “Dream Small” this year. The krewe’s artists have designed their shoebox-sized floats around that theme.
The procession includes about 36 floats, each designed by a krewe member or small team of members. The artists typically wear black formal wear and krewe sashes to the parade as they pull their creations. Many of the floats use dolls or tiny figures in dioramas or petit tableau. Tiny t-rex dinosaurs are a symbol of the krewe. Some floats also have lights or moving parts. Some parade watchers bring their own dolls or toys to watch, or set up tiny viewing stands for them on the street.
The procession also features four bands: Egg Yolk Jubilee, Panorama Brass Band, Bra’s Band and Where Y’at Brass Band. At the end of the procession are a couple of miniature horses and a mule.
Throws also are tiny, from bracelets instead of necklaces to cocktail umbrellas turned into second-line umbrellas and walnuts painted and glittered like Zulu coconuts.
The parade route circles the Marigny and ends at the AllWays Lounge where the krewe holds its ball.
Visit titrexparade.com for information.
PHOTO BY SCOTT THRELKELD / THE TIMES - PICAYUNE
$12 from Mother’s Restaurant mothersrestaurant.net
PHOTO PROVIDED BY MOTHER’S RESTAURANT
IT’S AT T-SHIRT
$30 from Dr. John Estate Stores.portmerch.com/drjohn PHOTO PROVIDED BY DR. JOHN ESTATE
$110 from Nola Boo nolaboo.com
PROVIDED BY NOLA BOO
Saintly Skin saintlyskin.com
PHOTO PROVIDED BY SAINTLY SKIN
BOW HEART CHARM NECKLACE
$28 from Gaetana Instagram.com/ gaetanasnola
PHOTO PROVIDED BY GAETANA
SNEAUX CRAB ADULT LONG SLEEVE TEES
Adult S-2Xl-$32 from Crescent Blú crescentblu.com
PHOTO PROVIDED BY CRESCENT BLÚ
CASH & CARRY ROSES
$10 a dozen from Federico’s (504) 837-6400)
PHOTO PROVIDED BY FEDERICO’S
NIGHT KIT
$20 from Alice & Amelia shopaliceandamelia.com
PHOTO PROVIDED BY ALICE & AMELIA
EAT + DRINK
In the neighborhood
JARYD KASE OPENED HIS CASUAL LUNCH SPOT, Bodega, because he broke his foot.
More specifically, Kase used the settlement from a defective product lawsuit to open the Uptown restaurant in December on Annunciation Street in the space formerly home to Barcia’s Grocery.
He was getting something out of his attic when the ladder broke, requiring him to get surgery and lots of metal in his foot. He’d always loved cooking, and after years of friends and family telling him to open a restaurant, it seemed like a good time to do it.
The eclectic menu isn’t easy to categorize. It reflects his Eastern European Jewish family heritage as well the cuisines of Chile, Senegal and Switzerland.
“I’m making what I love to eat, what I’ve loved from restaurants where I’ve worked, and favorites from my travels,” he says.
Kase already has a following for his global menu of sandwiches, one-pot meals and salads. The self-taught chef began experimenting in fall 2022 with weekly dinner menus designed for families of four, including special menus for holidays like Rosh Hashanah and the Fourth of July.
Although his graduate degree is in business, Kase worked in the front of the house in restaurants for years, including stints at Commander’s Palace and Bar Frances. His grandmother is the cook in the family, and he uses lots of her recipes, including a favorite for Bubbe’s kugel.
The current menu includes a refreshing array of good-for-you sandwich options, like grilled salmon with red bell pepper aioli and a roasted eggplant option with fresh mozzarella, basil and romesco sauce, both served on Bellegarde Bakery bread. There’s also house roasted turkey and Swiss cheese on pita bread and grilled flank steak with mushrooms and chimichurri sauce.
“I wanted food that was tasty and nutritious,” he says. “I’m from New York, so I’m not making po-boys. So
mushroom tea to Hal’s New York kettle chips and Kitchens of Africa jerk sauce.
King cake twists
AT A CERTAIN POINT DURING CARNIVAL
SEASON, after the third or fourth or 10th king cake, you may be looking to break out of the traditional box.
Enter Thao Smith and her baking business Nola Bun Mi. Her lighter-than-air king cakes and milk buns are perfectly colored for Carnival season with deep purple ube and bright green pandan flavors.
“People fall in love with it,” she says. Both are traditional ingredients in Vietnamese desserts and Southeast Asia. She describes ube (a purple yam) as a sweet deep vanilla and pandan (a leafy plant) as an earthy coconut flavor.
She combines them with milk buns to make vibrant doughs that twist together for king cakes topped with coconut cream cheese icing, or individual filled buns.
Smith grew up eating traditional Vietnamese desserts made by her family and members of St. Joseph Mission Church in Algiers. She started baking during the pandemic and became known for custard-filled milk buns. She’s particular
many places make them good. I went in a different direction.”
His wife Eliza Weiss Kase, a longtime teacher who is now principal of Jewish Community Day School in Metairie, has her own salad on the menu, Eliza’s Favorite, which her husband makes for her lunch just about every day. It’s a toss of greens, avocado, Dubliner cheese and golden raisins with grilled salmon on top, which is optional on the cafe menu.
There also is a case of prepared meals, which might include eggplant parmesan, meatloaf, moqueca, the Brazilian seafood stew, and yassa, a Senegalese braised chicken dish. He announces daily specials on Instagram.
The café is spacious, with a scattering of tables and chairs, a fancy Italian espresso machine and lots of local art. Large shelving units hold a variety of interesting specialty products, from
Menu items are available for dine-in and to-go. Bodega is currently open for lunch Wednesday through Monday, and Kase plans to open earlier for weekend breakfast later in the month.
The cafe also has some kid-friendly fun play things. After all, Kase and his wife have an 18-month-old and a 6-year-old.
Kase is from Westchester, New York, and first came to New Orleans as an undergrad student at Tulane University. His wife Eliza is from Boston and also went to Tulane. The couple left after college but moved back to New Orleans about 10 years ago. They live just across the street from the restaurant.
“This fits my life right now,” he says. “I’m there to help get the kids off to school and there when they get home. I’ve done the work ’til 2 a.m. thing. That’s not what I wanted.”
about the dough, which has whole milk, milk powder and condensed milk.
She started selling cookies out of her cafe on Canal Street and branched out to king cake a few years ago. Now Smith sells 100-200 king cakes a week from the cafe and her family’s cafe on the West Bank.
Where: Nola Bun Mi offers pickup at Mr. Bubbles Cafe at 1441 Canal St., No. 1 or Mr. Bubbles Sandwich House in the Hong Kong Food Market, 925 Behrman Highway, No. 12, Gretna.
Cost: King cakes with both pandan and ube buns are $32. A pair of pandan or ube buns filled with cream cheese are $10. — Lauren Walck / The Times-Picayune
A slice of pandan and ube king cake and two cream cheese-filled pandan buns from Nola Bun Mi.
PHOTO BY LAUREN WALCK | THE TIMES- PICAYUNE
Jaryd Kase opens a casual cafe in Uptown by Beth D’Addono |
Jaryd Kase makes a roasted eggplant sandwich at Bodega.
PHOTO BY CHERYL GERBER / GAMBIT
Saturday, February 22
9PM - 3AM P A
Notice of Third Public Meeting
New Orleans City Council Utility Docket UD-23-01 Entergy New Orleans 2024 Integrated Resource Plan
Every three years an Entergy New Orleans (ENO) Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) is produced. This is the planning process by which Entergy assesses the resources available to meet the power supply needs of New Orleans. The IRP is produced following an open, transparent planning process through which all relevant resources are investigated. Resources considered include supply-side (such as power plants) and demand-side (programs to modify customer loads to reduce or shift loads from hours with high electricity costs or reliability constraints to other hours). The factors infuencing choice among these resources are considered in the planning process. The goal is to identify the optimal set of resources to meet current and future electric service needs at the lowest total cost to customers and ENO in a manner consistent with long-term public interest. The expected combination of costs, reliability, risks and uncertainty are considered.
The planning process to develop the 2024 IRP is underway. To facilitate this process, a third public meeting will be held:
Wednesday, February 26, 2025 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
New Orleans City Council Chamber, City Hall, 1300 Perdido St., Room 1E07, New Orleans.
The public is invited and encouraged to attend/view this meeting to make a two-minute statement regarding their opinions on the IRP.
The Council’s Utilities Regulatory Ofce will maintain a signup sheet for Interested Persons who wish to receive copies of all flings, issuances, and notices occurring in the proceeding.
If you wish to be included on this list, please contact CURO at 504-658-1112 or by email to Bobbie Mason at bfmason1@nola.gov You are also welcome to view the meeting online, as it is will live-stream. The meeting will also be archived for later viewing at: https://council.nola.gov/meetings/
Jefry Duong
Sushi chef
by Will Coviello
JEFFRY DUONG LEARNED TO MAKE SUSHI AT A JAPANESE RESTAURANT while he studied marketing at LSU While working at restaurants had been a part-time job, he got hooked on sushi and never lost interest. After moving to New Orleans East and working in the insurance industry for a couple of years, he jumped back in with the pop-up Sushi Iku. He currently does pop-ups in New Orleans, Baton Rouge and his hometown of Lafayette. He’ll be at Skeeta Hawk Brewing on Sunday, Feb. 9; The Shops in the Warehouse District on Tuesday, Feb. 11; and at New Orleans Nite Market on Feb. 14-15. This Nite Market is a celebration of the Lunar New Year and features more than 15 food vendors, mostly offering Asian dishes, including Indian, Vietnamese and Japanese cuisines and more. The market is open 5-10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14, and noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15, at the Westwego Farmers Market. For more about Sushi Iku, visit @sushi.ikubiz on Instagram. Find more about NOLA Nite Market by visiting @nolanitemarket on Instagram.
How did you get into sushi making?
JEFFRY DUONG: I am from Lafayette. I went to Baton Rouge for LSU undergrad. My second year of college, I started making sushi. What sparked it was my family members and friends who were waiters. That was a typical job for a college student. I wanted to make the money they made. So I applied to a bunch of restaurants, and the first one that called me was like, “Hey, we don’t have a server position open. But would you be willing to learn how to make sushi?” I had zero restaurant experience. But I was like, maybe this could lead to something. I stayed with that restaurant, Drunken Fish, for about a year. Then I moved to Geisha in Denham Springs. I learned knife skills and how to cut things, and I developed a palate to taste food.
What
was it
like learning to make sushi?
D: There’s a rookie stage you go through. For safety reasons, they don’t let you cut anything for the first couple months, and they teach you the basics. I was in charge of putting rice on seaweed for a while, and I cooked
the rice and some of the intro stuff. Then they taught me to roll sushi rolls. The first roll I made was a crunchy roll. It’s just snow crab and tempura flakes. It’s the most basic roll, but it was hard to roll. It has mayo in it, so it’s hard to close. It’s soft.
At Geisha, I learned a lot. I was at Geisha when I learned how to break down a fish and slice it. In terms of mentorship, I was learning from five people on the line. It was great because I took bits and pieces that I learned from everybody and incorporated it in my own hands.
Geisha had the three core fish: yellowtail, tuna and salmon. There would be six different types of fish in the case. There would be amberjack and escolar. They’d have uni sometimes. It depended on the season.
Everybody does things a little different. One chef will do something this way, and another will do it that way. A bunch of restaurants have a Volcano roll, but there’s 10 different ways to make it. Geisha allowed me to express my creative side. They said, if you feel like bringing something to the menu, bring it to us, and if it’s good, we’ll put it on the menu.
How did you start your pop-up?
D: After graduation, I worked with State Farm in New Orleans East. I still
work there. But the sushi business was always in the back of my head.
In 2023, I talked to my girlfriend. She’s a pharmacist and always works on weekends. I am always off on weekends. I told myself I could go out and do something. So why not give it a try?
Through 2023 I was figuring out how to launch the business.
Oak Street Brewery gave me a try.
I always had my three core items. The three items are the Sunrise roll, which has tuna, asparagus, cucumber and yellowtail on the inside, with salmon and lemon slices on top with ponzu-Sriracha. The Talk Tuna to Me is cucumber, snow crab and spicy tuna on the inside, with fresh tuna on top with jalapenos, ponzu, spicy mayo and fried onions. Flaming Salmon has cream cheese, snow crab and tempura shrimp on the inside with torched salmon on top with garlic mayo sauce.
Those three items sold so well that I kept them and added other rolls. Initially it was just me working it, so I had to stick with three items. When I hired staff, I was able to add more and give people more variety.
Every month, I typically change two or three items and replace them with something new. During football season, I do hand rolls because they’re quick and easy to eat. With my hand rolls, I do it more open-faced so you can see the layers and everything that’s in it.
I am known for doing hand rolls at events like Nite Market. This time, I am doing hand rolls and tuna nachos. They have fried wontons and snow crab, avocado, jalapeno, fresh tuna that’s marinated in a special sauce, and mayo and masago on top.
For special events, like the Super Bowl, I had catering orders. I do platters for people who want to have a little party. I also do home parties where I’ll come to someone’s house and make the sushi there and present it in a creative way. People will ask me if I can make rolls they had at a restaurant, and I will always try.
WI NE OF THE WEEK
Inspired by the iconic dry rosés of southern France
This Rosé is delightfully fragrantand floral, showing lovely aromas of fresh strawberry,sliced peach and watermelon with nuances of hibiscus,cherry and cloverhoney. The palate is refreshinglycrisp revealing juicyflavors of nectarine, orange, strawberry and golden apple. Along, clean finish lingers with impressions of peach, citrus zest and Barbados cherry
DISTRIBUTED BY
PHOTO BY MICHAEL JOHNSON / THE ADVOCATE/THEADVOCATE.COM
Daou Rosé
HAND GRENADE
OUT TO EAT
THE #1 DRINK IN NEWORLEANS!
Out to Eat is an index of Gambit contract advertisers. Unless noted, addresses are for New Orleans and all accept credit cards. Updates: Email willc@gambitweekly.com or call (504) 483-3106.
Angelo Brocato’s — 214 N. Carrollton Ave., (504) 486-1465; angelobrocatoicecream. com — This Mid-City sweet shop serves its own gelato, spumoni, Italian ices, cannolis, biscotti, fig cookies, tiramisu, macaroons and more. There also are coffee drinks. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sun. $
Annunciation — 1016 Annunciation St., (504) 568-0245; annunciationrestaurant. com — Gulf Drum Yvonne is served with brown butter sauce with mushrooms and artichoke hearts. There also are seafood pasta dishes, steaks, lamb chops and more. Reservations recommended. Dinner Thu.Mon. $$$
$ — average dinner entrée under $10
$$ $11-$20
$$$ — $20-up
skinned duck basil is prepared with vegetables and Thai basil. Delivery available. Reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat. $$
Desire Oyster Bar — Royal Sonesta New Orleans, 300 Bourbon St., (504) 5860300; sonesta.com/desireoysterbar — A menu full of Gulf seafood includes chargrilled oysters topped with Parmesan and herbs. The menu also includes po-boys, po-boys, gumbo, blackened fish, fried seafood platters and more. Reservations recommended. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. $$
oysters, flatbreads, burgers, sandwiches, salads and a NOLA Style Grits Bowl topped with bacon, cheddar and a poached egg. Reservations accepted. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. $$
Legacy Kitchen Steak & Chop — 91 Westbank Expressway, Gretna, (504) 513-2606; legacykitchen.com — The menu includes filets mignons and bone-in rib-eyes, as well as burgers, salads and seafood dishes. Reservations accepted. Outdoor seating available. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat. $$
Luzianne Cafe — 481 Girod St., (504) 2651972; luziannecafe.com — Boudin Benedict features two poached eggs over boudin and an English muffin, served with green tomato chow chow and hollandaise. No reservations. Delivery available. Breakfast and lunch Wed.-Sun. $$
Littl RBON
le Tropical Isle 4 3 5 B O U R
Tropical Isle Original 600 BOURBON
Tropical Isle’s Bayou Club 610 BOURBON
Tropical Isle 721 BOURBON
Honky Tonk 727 Bourbon
Bamboula’s — 514 Frenchmen St.; bamboulasmusic.com — The live music venue’s kitchen offers a menu of traditional and creative Creole dishes, such as Creole crawfish crepes with goat cheese and chardonnay sauce. Reservations accepted. Lunch, dinner and late-night daily. $$
The Blue Crab Restaurant and Oyster Bar — 118 Harbor View Court, Slidell, (985) 315-7001; 7900 Lakeshore Drive, (504) 284-2898; thebluecrabnola.com — Basin barbecue shrimp are served with rosemary garlic butter sauce over cheese grits with a cheese biscuit. The menu includes po-poys, fried seafood platters, raw and chargrilled oysters, boiled seafood in season, and more. Outdoor seating available. No reservations. Lakeview: Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sun. Slidell: Lunch Wed.-Fri., dinner Wed.-Sun., brunch Sat.-Sun. $$
Broussard’s — 819 Conti St., (504) 5813866; broussards.com — Rainbow trout amandine is served with tasso and corn macque choux and Creole meuniere sauce. Brunch includes Benedicts, chicken and waffles and more. Reservations recommended. Outdoor seating available. Dinner Wed.-Sat., brunch Sun. $$$
Cafe Normandie — Higgins Hotel, 480 Andrew Higgins Blvd., (504) 528-1941; higginshotelnola.com/dining — The menu combines classic French dishes and Louisiana items like crab beignets with herb aioli. Sandwiches include po-boys, a muffuletta on flatbread and a burger. No reservations. Breakfast and lunch Mon.-Sat., dinner Fri.-Mon. $$
The Commissary — 634 Orange St., (504) 274-1850; thecommissarynola.com — A smoked turkey sandwich is served with bacon, tomato jam, herbed cream cheese, arugula and herb vinaigrette on honey oat bread. The menu includes dips, salads, sandwiches, boudin balls, fried oysters and more. No reservations. Outdoor seating available. Lunch Tue.-Sat. $$
Curio — 301 Royal St., (504) 717-4198; curionola.com — The creative Creole menu includes blackened Gulf shrimp served with chicken and andouille jambalaya. There also are crab cakes, shrimp and grits, crawfish etouffee, po-boys and more. Reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner daily. $$
Dahla — 611 O’Keefe Ave., (504) 766-6602; dahlarestaurant.com — The menu includes popular Thai dishes like pad thai, drunken noodles, curries and fried rice. Crispy
Dickie Brennan’s Bourbon House — 144 Bourbon St., (504) 522-0111; bourbonhouse.com — There’s a seafood raw bar with raw and char-broiled oysters, fish dip, crab fingers, shrimp and more. Redfish on the Half-shell is cooked skin-on and served with crab-boiled potatoes, frisee and lemon buerre blanc. Reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner daily. $$$
Dickie Brennan’s Steakhouse — 716 Iberville St., (504) 522-2467; dickiebrennanssteakhouse.com — The menu includes a variety of steaks, plus seared Gulf fish, lobster pasta, barbecue shrimp and more. A 6-ounce filet mignon is served with fried oysters, creamed spinach, potatoes and bearnaise. Reservations recommended. Dinner Mon.-Sat. $$$ El Pavo Real — 4401 S. Broad Ave., (504) 266-2022; elpavorealnola.com — The menu includes tacos, enchiladas, quesadillas, ceviche. tamales and more. Pescado Vera Cruz features sauteed Gulf fish topped with tomatoes, olives, onion and capers, served with rice and string beans. Outdoor seating available. No reservations. Lunch and early dinner Tue.-Sat. $$
Juan’s Flying Burrito — 515 Baronne St., (504) 529-5825; 2018 Magazine St., (504) 569-0000; 4724 S. Carrollton Ave., (504) 486-9950; 8140 Oak St., (504) 897-4800; juansflyingburrito.com — The Flying Burrito includes steak, shrimp, chicken, cheddar jack cheese, black beans, rice, guacamole and salsa. The menu also includes tacos, quesadillas, enchiladas, fajitas, nachos, salads and more. Outdoor seating available. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Thu.-Tue. $$
Katie’s Restaurant — 3701 Iberville St., (504) 488-6582; katiesinmidcity.com — The Cajun Cuban with roasted pork, ham, cheese and pickles. The eclectic menu also includes char-grilled oysters, sandwiches, burgers, pizza, fried seafood platters, pasta, salads and more. Delivery available. Reservations accepted for large parties. Lunch and dinner daily. $$
Kilroy’s Bar — Higgins Hotel, 480 Andrew Higgins Blvd., (504) 528-1941; higginshotelnola.com/dining — The bar menu includes sandwiches, salads and flatbreads, including one topped with peach, prosciutto, stracciatella cheese, arugula and pecans. No reservations. Lunch Fri.-Mon., dinner daily. $$
Legacy Kitchen’s Craft Tavern — 700 Tchoupitoulas St., (504) 613-2350; legacykitchen.com — The menu includes
Mikimoto — 3301 S. Carrollton Ave., (504) 488-1881; mikimotosushi.com — The South Carrollton roll includes tuna tataki, avocado and snow crab. The menu also has noodle dishes, teriyaki and more. Reservations accepted. Delivery available. Lunch Sun.Fri., dinner daily. $$
Mosca’s — 4137 Highway 90 West, Westwego, (504) 436-8950; moscasrestaurant.com — This family-style eatery serves Italian dishes and specialties including chicken a la grande, shrimp Mosca, baked oysters Mosca and chicken cacciatore. Reservations accepted. Dinner Wed.-Sat. Cash only. $$$
Mother’s Restaurant — 401 Poydras St., (504) 523-9656; mothersrestaurant.net — This counter-service spot serves po-boys dressed with sliced cabbage and Creole favorites like jambalaya, crawfish etouffee, red beans and rice and more. Breakfast is available all day. Delivery available. No reservations. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. $$
Neyow’s Creole Cafe — 3332 Bienville St., (504) 827-5474; neyows.com — The menu includes red beans and rice with fried chicken or pork chops, as well as shrimp Creole, seafood platters, po-boys, chargrilled and raw oysters, salads and more. Side items include carrot souffle, mac and cheese, cornbread dressing, sweet potato tots and more. No reservations. Lunch daily, dinner Mon.-Sat., brunch Sun. $$ Nice Guys Bar & Grill — 7910 Earhart Blvd., (504) 302-2404; niceguysbarandgrillnola. com — Char-grilled oysters are topped with cheese and garlic butter, and other options include oysters Rockefeller and loaded oysters. The creative menu also includes seafood bread, a Cajun-lobster potato, wings, quesadillas, burgers, salads, sandwiches, seafood pasta, loaded fries and more. No reservations. Lunch daily, dinner Mon.-Sat. $$$
Orleans Grapevine Wine Bar & Bistro 720 Orleans Ave., (504) 523-1930; orleansgrapevine.com — The wine bar offers cheese boards and appetizers to nosh with wines. The menu includes Creole pasta with shrimp and andouille in tomato cream sauce. Reservations accepted for large parties. Outdoor seating available. Dinner Thu.-Sun. $$
Palace Cafe — 605 Canal St., (504) 5231661; palacecafe.com — The contemporary Creole menu includes crabmeat cheesecake with mushrooms and Creole meuniere sauce. Outdoor seating available.
Reservations recommended. Breakfast and lunch Wed.-Fri., dinner Wed.-Sun., brunch
Sat.-Sun. $$$
Parish Grill — 4650 W. Esplanade Ave., Suite 100, Metairie, (504) 345-2878; parishgrill.com — The menu includes burgers, sandwiches, pizza and sauteed andouille with fig dip, blue cheese and toast points. Reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat. $$
Peacock Room — Kimpton Hotel Fontenot, 501 Tchoupitoulas St., (504) 324-3073; peacockroomnola.com — At brunch, braised short rib grillades are served over grits with mushrooms, a poached egg and shaved truffle. Reservations accepted. Dinner Wed.-Mon., brunch Sun. $$
Rosie’s on the Roof — Higgins Hotel, 480 Andrew Higgins Blvd., (504) 528-1941; higginshotelnola.com/dining — The rooftop bar has a menu of sandwiches, burgers and small plates. Crab beignets are made with Gulf crabmeat and mascarpone and served with herb aioli. No reservations. Dinner Mon.-Sat. $$
Tableau — 616 St. Peter St., (504) 9343463; tableaufrenchquarter.com — The menu features traditional and creative Creole dishes. Pasta bouillabaisse features squid ink mafaldine, littleneck clams, Gulf shrimp, squid, seafood broth, rouille and herbed breadcrumbs. Outdoor seating available on the balcony. Reservations recommended. Dinner Wed.-Sun., brunch Thu.-Sun. $$$
Tacklebox — 817 Common St., (504) 827-1651; legacykitchen.com — The menu includes raw and char-broiled oysters, seafood platters, po-boys, fried chicken, crab and corn bisque and more. Redfish St. Charles is served with garlic-herb butter, asparagus, mushrooms and crawfish cornbread. Reservations accepted. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. $$
Broussard’s Restaurant (819 Conti St., 504-581-3866; broussards.com) serves bronzed redfish with lump crabmeat, lemon beurre blanc and vegetables.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Theo’s Neighborhood Pizza — 1212 S. Clearview Parkway, Elmwood, (504) 733-3803; 2125 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, (504) 510-4282; 4024 Canal St., (504) 302-1133; 4218 Magazine St., (504) 894-8554; 70488 Highway 21, Covington, (985) 234-9420; theospizza. com — A Marilynn Pota Supreme pie is topped with mozzarella, pepperoni, sausage, hamburger, mushrooms, bell peppers and onions. There also are salads, sandwiches, wings, breadsticks and more. Delivery available. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sat. $
Tito’s Ceviche & Pisco — 1433 St. Charles Ave., (504) 354-1342; titoscevichepisco. com — The Peruvian menu includes several types of ceviche, as well as steak and seafood dishes. Traditional lomo saltado features sauteed beef tenderloin tips, onions, tomatoes, soy sauce and pisco, served with potatoes and rice. Delivery available. Reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat., brunch Sun. $$$
The Vintage — 3121 Magazine St., (504) 324-7144; thevintagenola.com — There’s a full coffee drinks menu and baked goods and beignets, as well as a full bar. The menu has flatbreads, cheese boards, small plates and a pressed veggie sandwich with avocado, onions, arugula, red pepper and pepper jack cheese. No reservations. Delivery and outdoor seating available. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. $$
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Lesseps Street Block Party
The Valentine’s Day block party stretches between BJ’s Lounge and Vaughans, and the music lineup includes Louis Michot & Swamp Magic, Little Freddie King, Happy Talk Band, Sabine McCalla, Charlie Halloran & the Tropicales, Malevitus and Egg Yolk Jubilee’s World’s Shortest Second Line. The party starts at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14. Tickets $30. Visit facebook. com/bjs.bywater for information.
Sam Morril
Comedian Sam Morril spent some time at Tulane University before transferring to NYU, where he thought he’d have a better path breaking into comedy. He’s not as dark as fellow Tulane alum and comedian Anthony Jeselnik, but he’s a good match for New Orleans native Mark Normand. The two host the podcast We Might Be Drunk, and have their own whiskey label, Bodega Cat. Morril released his sixth special, “You’ve Changed,” last year. He returns to New Orleans for a show at 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15, at the Fillmore. Tickets $36 via fillmorenola.com.
Sasha Masakowski:
Love Songs from Brazil
Sasha Masakowski grew up in a musical family, and her parents listened to Brazilian music. She studied Portuguese for a while, but learned to sing more from listening to her favorite artists. Recently, she’s toured and sung music by her favorite Brazilian composers and singers. For Valentine’s Day, she sings some of Brazil’s most popular love songs. At 7:30 & 9:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14, at Snug Harbor. Tickets $30 via snugjazz.com.
Vaporwave: ‘Dead Internet’
The Virtual Krewe of Vaporwave marks its 10th anniversary with a roller-skating party. The cryptic group’s interest in vaporwave has spawned projects combining digital art and music with various generations of technology. Members have created conceptual virtual parades and rock operas. The anniversary party, “Dead Internet: 10 Years of Content” features AI-generated visuals, interactive installations, DJs and roller skating at the Fred Hampton Free Store (5523 St. Claude Ave.). At 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14. Tickets $19.84 via eventbrite. Find information at kreweofvaporwave.com.
Uncle Lucius
Austin, Texas’ Uncle Lucius reunited after a five-year hiatus and released
“Like It’s the Last One Left” in 2023. The band is back on track, blending Southern rock, country and blues, with some slower tunes in the mix. Cole Phillips opens at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 12, at Tipitina’s. Tickets are $18 via tipitinas.com.
Tommy Castro & the Painkillers
California blues rocker Tommy Castro dips into Chicago blues and Memphis soul sounds. He’s released much of his music on blues label Blind Pig and roots label Alligator, which put out “Close to the Bone” last week. At 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15, at Chickie Wah Wah. Tickets $30.06 via chickiewahwah.com.
NOLA Nite Market
The Nite Market celebrates the lunar new year and the Year of the Snake with more than 20 food and other vendors, and there’s music and entertainment at the Westwego Farmers Market. Food vendors include Get Your Mom & Dim Sum, LUFU NOLA, Sushi Iku (see page 21), The Nori Guys, K-Town BBQ & Tofu, Atti Nola, Bambu, Asian Outdoor Kitchen, Namaste NOLA, Sogbu NOLA, Saigon Viet Food, sandoitchi and more. At 5-10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14, and noon-10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15. Visit @nolanitemarket on Instagram for information.
Brechtfest VI
The annual celebration of German poet and playwright Bertolt Brecht features music, puppetry and spoken word. Performers include Kitty Baudoin, Sarah Brecht, Bremner Fletcher, Chris Wecklein, David C. Symons, Harry Mayronne, Jennie Brent, Stoo Odom, Susan Ortner and more. At 8:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 10, and Tuesday, Feb. 11, at AllWays Lounge. Individual show tickets $30 in advance via brechtfest.com, $35 at the door.
‘Mamma Mia!’
Taking its name from ABBA’s 1975 hit, “Mamma Mia!” is a jukebox musical based on the Swedish pop group’s songs, including “Take a Chance on Me” and “Dancing Queen.” Set on a Greek island, the story follows Sophie, who is planning for her wedding and hopes to dig into her mother’s past and meet her real father. The touring Broadway production comes to Saenger Theatre Tuesday, Feb. 11, through Sunday, Feb. 16. Showtimes vary. Tickets $30-$149 via saengernola.com.
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FO R COMPL E T E M U SIC LISTINGS AND MO RE E V E NTS TAKING PLAC E IN TH E N E W O R L E ANS A RE A, VISIT CALENDAR.GAMBITWEEKLY.COM
To learn more about adding your event to the music calendar, please email listingsedit@gambitweekly.com
MONDAY 10
30/90 — Margie Perez, 6 pm; Piano Man G, 9 pm
ALLWAYS LOUNGE — Betsy Propane Smokeshow, 7 pm
BAMBOULA’S — The New Orleans Rug Cutters, 1:15 pm; Jon Roniger & The Good For Nothin’ Band, 5:30 pm; Les Getrex & Creole Cooking, 9 pm
BJ’S — Red Beans & Blues with Alex McMurray & Dick Deluxe, 9 pm
BOURBON O BAR — Vince Henningfeld, 4 pm; Blue Horn Jazz, 8 pm
BROADSIDE — Instigation Festival Small Groups, 8 pm
CAFE NEGRIL — The Metric System, 7 pm
CAPULET Miss Morning, 6 pm
CARROLLTON STATION Biscuits n’ Jam: With Meryl Zimmerman & Friends, 10 pm
DA JUMP OFF LOUNGE — Big Six Brass Band, 9 pm
DOS JEFES — John Fohl, 8:30 pm
FRITZEL’S EUROPEAN JAZZ CLUB
Matinee All Star Band, 1 pm; FTin Men, 5 pm; Richard “Piano” Scott and Friends, 8 pm
THE MAISON Aurora Nealand, 5 pm; Gene’s Music Machine, 8 pm
MAPLE LEAF BAR George Porter Jr. Trio, 7 pm; 10 pm
FAVELA CHIC — The New Orleans Rug Cutters, 7:30 pm; Sugar & The Daddies, 10 pm
FRITZEL’S EUROPEAN JAZZ CLUB Richard “Piano” Scott , 12:30 pm; Sam Friend Jazz Band, 2:30 pm; Woodis/Lange Band, 6 pm; Fritzels All Star Band w/Kevin Ray Clark & Gunhild Carling , 9 pm
GOOD MEASURE AT THE BARNETT — Luv Jones with Prosper, 9:30 pm
HOLY DIVER — OX45, Abusements, White Phosphorous and Carnage Guisada, 9 pm
LE BON TEMPS ROULE Beach Angel, 11 pm
LOBBY AT THE BARNETT — Hey Love with DJ Soul Sister & Cubs the Poet, 7 pm; DJ Mikey Ofine, 11 pm
MAPLE LEAF BAR Lynn Drury, and Deltaphonic, 8 pm
MRB Mike Doussan & Friends, 7 pm
NO DICE — Blood Valentine’s Rave, 10 pm
ORPHEUM THEATRE — Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, 7:30 pm THE RABBIT HOLE — Digital Love with DJ Hndrcks & SNAXX, 10 pm THE REPUBLIC — HOANG with Babyboi, Armani & Guppy b2b RAGGS, 11 pm
ROCK ‘N’ BOWL Image, 8:30 pm
SANTOS — The Love Muscles, 10 pm
SEAWITCH OYSTER BAR & RESTAURANT Silver Line Serenaders, 5 pm
SIBERIA — Nunslaughter with Demiser & Desolus, 9 pm
SMOOTHIE KING CENTER — Mary J. Blige, NE-YO, Mario, 7 pm
SNUG HARBOR Sasha Masakowski Love Songs from Brazil, 7:30 pm; 9:30 pm
VIRGIN HOTEL COUCHES: Satya and St. Panther with DJ Madspinnz and Miles. wav, 8 pm
SATURDAY 15
21ST AMENDMENT Dominick Grillo, 3 pm; Marty Peters & The Party Meters, 8 pm
FRITZEL’S EUROPEAN JAZZ CLUB Marty Peters Band, 1 pm
FRITZEL’S EUROPEAN JAZZ CLUB — Sazerac Jazz Band, 5 pm
FRITZEL’S EUROPEAN JAZZ CLUB Fritzels All Star Band w/Mike Fulton, 8 pm
GOLDEN LANTERN BAR Vanessa Carr , 2:45 pm
MAPLE LEAF BAR — Joe Krown Trio 1 with Papa Mali, 9 pm
NO DICE — Night Ritualz, Empty Model, Zen Hander and Dreampsythe, 9 pm
OKAY BAR — Allision, The Bomb Pulse, Manuscript, and Molly’s Lips, 8 pm
ST. ROCH TAVERN Tit Rex Ball with Valerie Sassyfrass, 2:30 pm
4THANNUAL
Maroon Mardi Gras
February 23 FemmeFatale
February 26 Druids,Alla
February 27 Babylon, Muses
March 2
March4 Zulu,Rex Okeanos,Mid City, Thoth, Bacchus
Restrooms, Refreshments, Music Visitthe MaroonMardiGras2025Eventbritepageto purchase tickets! 1206 SaintCharles Avenue,New Orleans, LA 70130
WedsNearly
MUSIC
Whistling tunes
by Jake Clapp
THERE’S A LOT OF POWER IN COMMUNITY. For musicians, being around peers who understand them or in spaces where their voices feel heard can quickly feel like home. It’s important to feel like you belong.
That community building has been a guiding principle recently for New Orleans singer-songwriter Dusky Waters. Last September, she co-founded the BlackAmericana Fest, a day-long festival highlighting Black Louisiana musicians in Americana, and now Waters is working to build a new space for women singer-songwriters in New Orleans.
“I feel like I’m on this journey right now around what it looks like to create inclusive spaces in roots music for people who have historically not been included in the narrative,” says Waters, a vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. Waters last summer launched Southern Nights, a monthly concert series at Saturn Bar focused on women musicians in Americana. The series ran for a few months leading up to the BlackAmericana Fest and is now back at Saturn Bar through April.
The next Southern Nights concert is Wednesday, Feb. 12, and will feature Mississippi musician Schaefer Llana and New Orleans singer-songwriter Teena May, who also co-founded the BlackAmericana Fest.
This round of Southern Nights kicked off Jan. 30 with indie folk musician Chloe Marie and A.J. Haynes, the vocalist for the funk-soul-rock band Seratones, and continues March 27 with Crys Matthews and Arsène DeLay and April 10 with Bon Bon Vivant and BreAnna.
Waters and her band — Analiese De Saw on viola, pianist Hannah Kreiger-Benson, bassists Dylan James or Johanna Rose and percussionist Conner McCready — host the shows and play a short set. At the end of the night, Waters and the two featured performers join up for a closing “superset.”
On Feb. 12, Waters, Llana and May will dig into songs by Linda Ronstadt, including a couple of tunes from Ronstadt’s album of Mariachi music, “Canciones de Mi Padre.”
Artists like Lucinda Williams, Bonnie Raitt and Dolly Parton are household names in Americana, and Sister Rosetta Tharpe is foundational to the genre. But historically, women — especially Black women — have been marginalized in the industry. A 2019 study found that just 16% of top charting country songs between 2015-2018 were performed by female artists.
Women who are driving their own music careers, Waters says, “understand what it’s like to be a woman in a very male-dominated space, and the nuances and how we show up and advocate for ourselves.”
Waters grew up in Little Rock, Arkansas, and learned to play guitar and piano. After seeing the Carolina Chocolate Drops and hearing band member Rhiannon Giddens talk about the Black history of the banjo, Waters decided to also pick up the instrument.
The banjo, along with accordion and guitar are now her go-to instruments in her music, which mixes rich folk and blues with soul and indie pop elements. She released her first full-length, “Pass It On,” in 2023.
An educator, Waters also worked in north Louisiana near the Mississippi Delta region before moving to New Orleans about 10 years ago. Over the years, she had batted around the idea of hosting an event highlighting the area’s Black Americana musicians, and after meeting May and educator Mark T. Williams II, they built up the BlackAmericana Fest. Last year’s event featured Leyla McCalla, Joy Clark, Lilli Lewis, Jeffery Broussard & The Nighttime Syndicate and many others.
There’s a wealth of songwriters in New Orleans, Waters says, and she wanted to add to the opportunities female musicians had to get on stage. So she approached Saturn Bar about hosting Southern Nights last summer and was encouraged to see people come out during the hot weather.
“How do we elevate this idea that New Orleans is also a destination for great Americana, folk, country?” Waters says. “Something that’s been fun for me is getting to work with other songwriters and witness their brilliance.”
Admission is $10 advance via thesaturnbar.com and $15 at the door. Find more info on Instagram: @duskywaters.
Southern Nights is a monthly show at Saturn Bar highlighting women singer-songwriters.
PROVIDED PHOTO BY KENDRA C. THOMPSON
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