March-April 2017 Issue of Inside Northside Magazine

450

$

HOGS FOR THE CAUSE • GRAVITY CAKES • A HONEY OF A HARVEST • SENIOR LIVING

MARCH-APRIL 2017 VOL. 32, NO. 2

March-April 2017

Vol. 32, No. 2

Publisher Lori Murphy –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Editor-in-Chief Anne Honeywell

Senior Editor Jan Murphy

Managing Editor Leah Draffen

Editorial Intern Meredith Gelpi

Contributors are featured on page 16.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Art Director Brad Growden

Graphic Designer Jennifer Starkey

Production Intern Madison Hutson

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Business Manager Jane Quillin

Senior Account Executives Poki Hampton

Candice Laizer Barbara Roscoe

Account Executives Barbara Bossier Jonée Daigle-Ferrand Amy Taylor

Advertising Coordinator Margaret Rivera

Sales Intern Faith Saucier –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– For advertising information phone (985) 626-9684 fax (985) 674-7721 email sales@insidepub.com –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Please send items for Inside Scoop to scoop@insidepub.com.

Photos for Inside Peek, with captions, should be sent to peek@insidepub.com. Submit items for Inside Input or Dining Guide to editor@insidepub.com.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Contact Inside Northside P.O. Box 9148

Mandeville, LA 70470-9148 phone (985) 626-9684 fax (985) 674-7721 website www.insidenorthside.com

Subscriptions 1 Year $18 2 Years $30 email subscriptions@insidepub.com ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

On the cover

Artist Craig Brumfield

Daytime Sword

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– INSIDE NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE is published bi-monthly (January, March, May, July, September, November) by M and L Publishing, LLC, PO Box 9148, Mandeville, LA 70470-9148 as a means of communication and information for St. Tam­ many and Tangipahoa Parishes, Louisiana. Bulk Postage paid at Mandeville, LA. Copy­right ©2017 by M & L Publishing, LLC. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without written consent of publisher. Publisher is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts and artwork. Inside Northside Magazine is created using the Adobe Creative Suite on Apple Macintosh computers.

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Inside Northside

page 32

contents table of

page 74

Features 18 Coastal Craftsman Cover Artist Craig Brumfield 32 Old World Elegance

The Bajon House 40 Feasting and Festing for the Cause

Hogs for the Cause 2017 50 Prayerful Legacy

Folk Artist Roland Fournier page 40

60 A Honey of a Harvest

La Provence’s Busy Bees

Home and Garden 69 Introduction 70 Home and Garden Resources

Senior Living 94 Introduction 96 IN the Bookcase

AARP Meditations for Caregivers,

by Barry J. Jacobs, Psy.D. and Julia L. Mayer, Psy.D. 100 Hospice Foundation of the South 102 Senior Living Resources

Summer Camps page 50 8

Inside Northside

105 Introduction 106 Summer Camp Resources

contents table of

Departments

12 Publisher’s Note 14 Editor’s Note 15 Reader Resources 16 Contributors 22 INside Scoop 31 IN Other Words

Regular Heroes

page 89

38 Traces

Gravity Cakes How’d They Do It? 48 Generous Hearts

Dick Knight page 60 The embodiment of a generous heart 66 Traces Janet DeLuca 74 INside Look

Spring Chic 89 Flourishes Extraordinary gifts and home accents page 38

108 At the Table 33 Best (offbeat) Seafood Dishes 120 INside Dining 124 IN Love & Marriage 128 INside Peek

Featuring STWC Installation and Awards Luncheon 134 Last Word An Icon Lights Up Again The Doerr Furniture Sign

The Event of Rain

by Lori Murphy

This issue includes some special wedding celebrations. I hope you’ll read them. My friend Allyson Sanderson and I were both readying our homes for weddings over the holiday weekend. Her Rachel was married New Year’s Eve and my Maggie on New Year’s Day. We both planned every detail under the sun, but, as often happens, things you worry so much about end up being insignificant.

The weather that weekend was of no consequence to most, but Allyson and I will never forget the torrential rains that fell. My wedding planner, Susan Zackin of Z Event Co., came to every consultation saying, “I hate to be Debbie Downer, but we need a rain plan.” I suggested that she didn’t really hate it at all, and that we were like Saturday night in LSU stadium—it wouldn’t DARE rain. She was right, and we were so very wrong. It did rain, but good.

Afterwards, I often heard guests of both celebrations talk of the intimacy and sparkle that the rain brought to the weddings. Maybe it will make them unforgettable. For me, I will never again doubt the value of a plan B. Speaking of weather, there have been many in our community and across the state affected by severe weather already this year. As a board member of the American Red Cross, I am tuned in to our operations across the region, and I want to extend my personal thanks to the 260 disaster responders and the generous donors that made the work of the Red Cross possible

residents for over 500 overnight stays and distributed more than 44,000 meals and snacks to residents and responders. Thousands of relief items like rakes, trash bags, plastic bins, masks and flashlights have helped homeowners do what they can when they feel without hope. I hope you will remember the American Red Cross when you want to reach out and help.

Stay dry this spring!

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Inside Northside

photos: CANDRA GEORGE mycreativereality.com

in the aftermath of recent tornadoes. As I write this note, we have so far sheltered displaced

Editor’s Note

by Anne Honeywell Erin Go Bragh!

This year, the northshore will celebrate the Irish and St. Patrick’s Day with a new walking parade, thanks to the recently formed Covington Celtic Club.

Founding members Cody and Nick Ludwig both have Irish blood in their veins, but it was Nick’s great-grandfather John J. Sheahan who inspired them to bring such a wonderful celebration to Covington—he was the New York St. Patrick’s Day Parade Chairman from 1939-1958. “Each year, in mid-March, millions of the Irish—and the not-so-Irish—come together in celebration of Ireland’s patron saint, Patrick. We are looking forward to bringing that time-honored tradition to historic downtown Covington,” says Nick.

During this, their inaugural year, Cody and Nick are both excited and humble. “Our mission is to bring a festive, family-friendly St. Patrick’s Day celebration to the northshore community. We hope to see CCC form into a well-budgeted, more uniform endeavor, but in the meantime we will appreciate Covington’s patience as we present our first parade!”

So get out your best green attire and enjoy this walking parade on Saturday, March 11, beginning at noon at the Columbia Tap Room. It will go down Gibson to Lee Lane to Rutland and end at Jewel’s Cigar & Briar Shop on New Hampshire, for a block party with food, drink and live music until 5 p.m. Cheers! Or, as the Irish say it, slainte!

And cheers to our great contributors for this issue! On page 50, Angelle Albright shares her inspiring story about her Folk Artist father, Roland Fournier. Karen Gibbs tells about La Provence’s bees on page 60. March ushers in Lent, and Tom Fitzmorris gives us his 33 favorite seafood dishes for the season on page 108. Hogs for the Cause is also in March—learn all about the popular benefit from Mimi Knight on page 40. This jam-packed issue also has special sections devoted to Home & Garden (page 69), Senior Living (page 94) and Summer Camps (page 104). Enjoy!

On behalf of all of us at Inside Northside, a big warm welcome to the Covington Celtic Club—we’re wishing you the luck of the Irish!!

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Inside Northside

Reader Resources Contact Us: You may contact us by mail, phone, fax or on our website: Mail: Inside Northside P.O. Box 9148 Mandeville, LA 70470-9148 Telephone: 985-626-9684 Fax: 985-674-7721 Website: insidenorthside.com Receiving Inside Northside in Your Mailbox?

You are on our mailing list, and you will continue to receive Inside Northside every other month at no charge.

Please join us in thanking our advertisers, who make this possible.

Pick Up a Copy: At one of our advertisers’ locations or at Barnes & Noble, 3414 Highway 190, Premier Centre, Mandeville, La. Subscribe: To subscribe to Inside Northside, to our sister publication Inside New Orleans, or if you have a question about your subscription, please contact us by telephone or e-mail us at subscriptions@insidepub.com.

Subscriptions are $18 for one year or $30 for two years. To change your address, please send us both your old address and your new address. The post office does not forward magazines.

Advertising Information: For advertising information, please contact us by telephone or e-mail us at sales@insidepub.com.

Inquire and Share Ideas: Do you know a person, organization or endeavor we might consider featuring in our pages? Or a great storyteller who might want to write for us? Please contact the editor@insidepub.com.

Contributors Our contributors give Inside Northside its voice, its personality and its feel. Here we are proud to highlight a few of them so that you can put a face with a name and get to know them.

Candra Cauley George Candra George has been working in photography since 2001. Since graduating from college in 2007, she has developed an impressive list of clients, including James Michalopoulos, Tulane University, Inside Publications and President Donald Trump. She was most recently named the Southeast Photographer for the President.

Her favorite days are spent at home in Covington with her 5-year-old son, Wesley, and French bulldog, Magnolia, both of whom continuously outsmart her. In this issue, Candra captures photos and pens the story of cover artist Craig Brumfield on page 18.

Angelle Albright

Karen B. Gibbs

Mimi Greenwood Knight

Angelle Albright is the founder and chief marketing officer of Chemo Beanies, which supplies head coverings to women with cancer, a company she co-created with her niece after battling cancer herself. She has a BA in mass communications from Loyola University and was chief news editor at WVUE. After moving to the northshore in 1992, she taught English and journalism at St. Scholastica Academy. A branding expert for independent businesses, Angelle is also a photographer, videographer, speaker, social media expert and Huffington Post blogger. She and her husband, Dr. Anthony Albright, have three children. On page 50, she tells an inspiring story about her father.

Longtime contributor and former managing editor of Inside Northside, Karen B. Gibbs enjoys writing about the fascinating people and places of New Orleans and the northshore. A contributor to Today.com and iVillage. com, Karen recently completed the biography of her fatherin-law, a WWII paratrooper.

When not writing, she enjoys traveling with her husband and spoiling their grandchild.

She writes about the fun of Gravity Cakes on page 38 and on page 60, she tells all about La Provence’s bees.

Mimi Greenwood Knight is a mother of four and a freelance writer with more than 500 article and essays in print in national and regional magazines, devotionals and 50 anthologies, including two dozen Chicken Soup for the Soul books. She lives in Folsom with her husband, David, where she enjoys martial arts, gardening, Bible study and knitting. In this issue, Mimi writes about Hogs for the Cause on page 40.

Other Voices: Susan Bonnett, Tom Fitzmorris, Thomas B. Growden, Poki Hampton, Becky Slatten and Terri Schlichenmeyer.

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Inside Northside

Coastal Craftsman

Above: Sanctuary.

18

Cover Artist Craig Brumfield

YOU MAY HAVE SEEN his art featured in Time, Saltwater Sportsman and Marlin magazines, or perhaps heard of him from some of his fans, which include President Donald Trump and marine artist Guy Harvey. Looking around his outdoor studio space, it would appear that artist Craig Brumfield is actually an expert fisherman. That would be a fact. I feel as if I am one with one of his paintings. The size and scale of his pieces on display are impressive.

His constant companion, Nolan the Labrador, is the first to greet and welcome me. Brumfield is a comfortable and approachable character, easy to talk to. And so we begin.

Born in Biloxi, Mississippi, and raised in Ocean Springs, fishing and exploring came with the territory. Brumfield has been sketching and painting animals and nature since he was a little boy. “Growing up, my mom was a school teacher and dad a vet, and they both encouraged me to sketch and draw. It was usually fish of some sort, but always nature.”

Brumfield’s childhood afternoons spent in his >>

Inside Northside

photos: CANDRA GEORGE mycreativereality.com

by Candra Cauley George

March-April 2017 19

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Inside Northside

photo: CANDRA GEORGE mycreativereality.com

dad’s veterinary office provided some of his first inspirations. He enjoyed studying and sketching marine life, wildlife and trees along with any other gifts nature had to offer. He studied art in college, first at a local community college and then at Ole Miss. An avid saltwater angler and outdoor enthusiast, his years fishing and working in the Chandeleur Islands and Gulf of Mexico only added to his love of the water and nature.

After leaving Ole Miss, Brumfield returned to Mississippi and spent some of his time as a guide for fishermen at Chandeleur Islands until the day of the BP oil spill. He would spend the next 327 days as a guide for the clean-up process. “Working with BP and seeing the clean-up first hand solidified how much I wanted to be a full-time artist. It’s what I know,” says Brumfield.

A mulit-faceted artist, Brumfield is not only a painter and potter—and throw in some scrimshaw engravings and carvings done in bone or ivory—but also a pioneer in gyotaku, the Japanese method of printing fish. Gyotaku, a practice which dates back to the mid-1800s, is a form of nature printing that may have been used by fishermen to record their catches, but it has become an art form of its own. Our cover, Daytime Sword, is a gyotaku-infused oil painting.

Describing the process, Brumfield says, “Whether it’s a marlin, billfish, swordfish or gator, you have a very limited time frame to make the piece. Once the canvas has been prepped, we paint the animal. You have to get into the scales, and it has to be quick. By the time you start at the head and get to the tail, the

animal can start to ruin. After painting is complete, the canvas is then rolled out on top of the animal and pushed into the scales. Gyotaku is a very physical process at the size and scale that we do.”

“The technique has been around for centuries,” says Brumfield. “Kids can even do it. We were just the first ones to take it to a grand scale on marine life.”

Most of his commissions coincide with tournaments and gator season. Back in August 2014, in Camden, Alabama, Mandy Klug killed the biggest gator on record in the world. It weighed in at 1,011.5 pounds and was 15-feet-9inches long. Craig was there with the taxidermist to paint the kill.

When asked why people are starting to prefer the art piece as opposed to a mounting, Brumfield replied, “With a fiberglass mounting of a marlin, there is usually very little relation to the actual fish, except for size. With the gyotaku painting, the actual DNA of the fish you killed is in the paint, and it will look just like your catch. The art is also easily transported and less expensive in most cases.”

Brumfield’s attention to detail is also seen in how he extracts nature into his pottery. “Each feature, be it a swordfish or air bubble, is carved out. Nothing is laid onto the pottery. Painting is the same way. I feel like it’s nature as it should be seen.” He adds that his inspiration for all of his artwork comes from photographs that he takes. Printed images fill his studio the way trees fill the woods.

“I go deep in the water, but not deep into the reasoning of my art. I’m a simplistic person. I just hope my work shows how passionate I am about water and marine life. It’s my life, and it’s my art.”

For more on his art, visit craigbrumfield.com.

March-April 2017 21

INSIDE the definitive guide to northshore events and entertainment

CMST Celebration March 12 Children’s Museum of St. Tammany hosts “Soaring Beyond Imagination.” Culinary showcase, live and silent auctions, Slidell High School Jazz Band and The Bucktown All-Stars. Castine Center, Pelican Park. 6-10pm. General admission, $100; table for eight, $1,200. 246-4714. cmstkid.org.

March Sammy Long, Tom Myers and Terry Tjader. Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art, 386

Hampshire St. 10am-2pm. covla.com.

3 Fairhope First Friday Art Walk.

Madisonville Town Hall, 403 St. Francis St. 8am-3pm. townofmadisonville.org.

4, 11, 18, 25 Covington Farmers Market.

Beach Blvd, Biloxi, Miss. 228-374-5547.

Downtown Fairhope, Alabama. 6-8pm.

600 block of Columbia St. 8am-12pm.

georgeohr.org.

251-929-1466. fairhopemerchants.com.

covla.com.

1-May 21 A Life of Seduction: Venice in

3, 10, 17, 24, 31 and April 7 Fish Fry. St.

4, 11, 18, 25 Mandeville

the 1700s. The New Orleans Museum of

Anselm Catholic Church’s famous Fish

Trailhead Market. 9am-1pm.

Art. One Collins C. Diboll Crl, City Park,

Fry every Friday night during Lent. March

mandevilletrailheadmarket.com.

New Orleans. 504-658-4100. noma.org.

17 is take-out only. Drive through, 4pm;

1-July 16 Waltzing the Muse: The Paintings of James Michalopoulos.

Opening reception March 11, 6-8pm;

7-12 Beautiful: The Carole King

dine-in, 5pm. St. Joseph Hall, 306 St.

Musical. The Saenger Theatre, 1111

Mary St, Madisonville. 845-7342.

Canal St, New Orleans. 800-218-7469.

4 Art Market. Covington Trailhead,

neworleans.broadway.com.

8 Downsizing Lunch & Learn. Get tips

gallery talk with James Michalopoulos April

419 N New Hampshire St.

2, 2-4pm. Odgen Museum of Southern

9am-1pm. 892-1873. covla.com.

and advice from Caring Transitions. St.

Art, 925 Camp St, New Orleans. 504-539-

sttammanyartassociation.org.

Anthony’s Gardens, 601 Holy Trinity Dr,

9650. ogdenmuseum.org.

1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Covington Farmers 22

Market. Covington Trailhead, 419 N New

I n s i d e N o rt h s i d e

4 Madisonville Garden Club Garden Show. Featuring over 25 vendors.

Covington. 11am. RSVP, 605-5950.

9 Facebook Parade of Homes Seminar.

photo: FRANK AYMAMI PHOTOGRAPHY

1-11 The Art of Woodworking. Featuring

Host Kim Walker of 5 Stones Media.

Northshore Home Builders Association, 28603 Krentel Rd, Lacombe. 8-10am.

Member, $10; nonmember, $15. northshorehba.org.

9-12 Spring Break Lilly. Palm Village, A Lilly Pulitzer Signature Store, 2735 US-190 C, Mandeville. 778-2547.

10 Amazing Grapes. Wine auction to benefit Hermann-Grima + Gallier Historic Houses. Hermann-Grima House, 820 St. Louis St, New Orleans. hgghh.org/ support/amazing-grapes-2017/.

10 Northlake Newcomers Club Luncheon. White Elephant Bingo.

Tchefuncta Country Club, 2 Pinecrest Dr, Covington. Doors open, 10am.

Members, $26; guests, $29. 803-7307831.

10-26 Red. By John Logan and directed by Anysia M. Genre. Playmakers Theater, 19106 Playmakers Rd, Covington. Fri and Sat, 8pm; Sun, 2pm. Adults, $15; students, $10. 893-1671.

10-April 1 The Great American Trailer Park Musical. Cutting Edge Theater, 767 Robert Blvd, Slidell. 649-3727. cuttingedgetheater.com.

11 Second Saturday Evening Stroll. Hosted by St. Tammany Art Association. Downtown Covington art galleries. 6-9pm. covla.com. sttammanyartassociation.org.

11 1st Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Walking parade begins at Columbia St. Tap Room, ends at Jewel’s Cigar & Briar Shop on New Hampshire with a block party. Downtown Covington. 12-5pm. covingtoncelticclub.com.

11, 12 Crescent City Auction Gallery Auction. 1330 St. Charles Ave, New Orleans. crescentcityauctiongallery.com.

11-April 28 Pio Lyons. Atrium Gallery at Christwood, 100 Christwood Blvd, Covington. Opening reception, March 11, 4:30-6:30pm. Free. 898-0515. christwoodrc.com.

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March-April 2017 23

Inside Scoop 12 Celebration. Children’s Museum of St. Tammany hosts “Soaring Beyond Imagination.” Culinary showcase, live and silent auctions, Slidell High School

audubonpilgrimage.info.

17, 18, 19 65th Annual Arts and Crafts Festival. Over 230 exhibitors from around

Castine Center, Pelican Park. 6-10pm.

the country showcase in the juried show,

General admission, $100; table for eight,

live entertainment and cuisine. Downtown

$1,200. 246-4714. cmstkid.org.

Fairhope, Alabama. Fri and Sat,

Christian School, 70104 Wolverine Dr, Covington. 9am. 635-0508.

15 Route 66. OnStage at the Fuhrmann.

10am-6pm; Sun, 10am-5pm. 251-9286387. thefairhopeartsandcraftsfestival.com.

17, 19 Dancing Through Life on Broadway. Northlake Performing Arts

Fuhrmann Auditorium, 317 N Jefferson

Society. Fuhrmann Auditorium Greater

Ave, Covington. 892-1873. covla.com.

Covington Center, 317 N Jefferson Ave,

16 Open House. Preschool-7th Grade.

Covington. Tickets available at Braswell’s

Cedarwood School, 607 Heavens

Drugs, Hwy 21, Covington, or online.

Dr, Mandeville. 9am. 845-7111.

276-9335. npas.info.

cedarwoodschool.com.

18 Abita Springs Opry. Listen to The Steve

16-May 21 A Life of Seduction: Venice in

Anderson Group, The Driskill Mountain

the 1700s. The New Orleans Museum of

Boys, The Old Scratch Sallies and The

Art. One Collins C. Diboll Crl, City Park,

Melitauns. Abita Springs Town Hall,

New Orleans. 504-658-4100. noma.org.

22161 Level St. All seats are on reserve

17 Beverage Academy at the Grand.

Bourbon Demystified: a class on its

basis, $18. 892-0711. abitaopry.org.

18 A Night in Haiti. Celebration of

history, production and myths. Menu

Haitian culture. Proceeds benefit

includes Bucky’s Mint Julep and Old

students at sister parish St. Benoit in

Fashioned. Grand Hotel, 17855 Scenic

Haiti. Mary, Queen of Peace School,

Hwy 98, Fairhope, Alabama. 251-928-9201.

W Causeway Approach, Mandeville.

17 St. Patrick’s Day Luncheon. St. Anthony’s Gardens, 601 Holy Trinity Dr, Covington. 11am. RSVP, 605-5950.

17 Sunset at the Landing. Columbia Street

6-9pm. $40; couple, $75. 626-0944. maryqueenofpeace.org/Haiti-partnership/ home.

18 Arts Evening. Presented by the City of

Landing, 100 N Columbia St. 6pm. 892-

Slidell. Art, music, fine and casual dining,

1873. covla.com.

and antique and boutique shopping. Olde

17-18 Northshore Garden & Plant Sale. St. Tammany Parish Fairgrounds, Covington, 9am-4 pm. Adults $5. Free for

Towne Slidell. 4-10pm. Free. 646-4375. myslidell.com.

18 Culinary Academy at the Grand.

18 and under, police, firemen and EMTs.

Cooking Essentials III: Sauces. Menu

Gate proceeds benefit the St. Tammany

includes 5 mother sauces and variations

Master Gardeners scholarships. 875-

of them. Grand Hotel, 17855 Scenic Hwy

2635.

98, Fairhope, Alabama. 251-928-9201.

17, 18, 19 Audubon Pilgrimage. Tour

18 Family Expo. Visit with Riverview Camp

historic homes and gardens, authentic

for Girls staff. Castine Center, Pelican

1820s costumes, living history

Park. 800-882-0722. riverviewcamp.com.

demonstrations, night festivities and cemetery tours. West Feliciana Parish I n s i d e N o rt h s i d e

St, St. Francisville. 225-635-6330.

Jazz Band and The Bucktown All-Stars.

14 Open House PreK-12th. Northlake

24

Historical Museum, 11757 Ferdinand

18 Monk Run. 1-mile/5K trail run and walk.

Will also qualify as RRCA Louisiana State

5K Championship. Saint Joseph Abbey, 75376 River Rd, St. Benedict. 1-mile, 8am; 5K, 8:30am. getmeregistered.com/ monkrun2017. helptheabbey.com.

18 Northshore Heart Walk. Fontainebleau State Park, Mandeville. Registration, 9am; opening ceremony, 9:30am; walk, 10am.

504-830-2300. northshoreheartwalk.org.

18 Shake, Serve and Sip in Print. Palm Village, A Lilly Pulitzer Signature Store, 2735 US-190 C, Mandeville. 778-2547.

18 Spring Fever Chase. Join Thomas Hospital and Wells Fargo for the 10K and 2-mile fun run/walk that winds through downtown Fairhope overlooking Mobile Bay. Registration begins 7am. Fairhope Ave. and Bayview St. intersection, Fairhope, Alabama. springfeverchase. racesonline.com.

19 St. Tammany Humane Society Woofstock. Festival, mega-adoption event and low-cost vet clinic. Castine Center. 9am-3pm. sthumane.org.

19 Youth Service Bureau Chef Soirée.

Food, drinks and live music. 2017 Ford Mustang Raffle. Covington Trailhead.

5-9pm. 893-2570. ysbworks.com. ysbraffle.com.

20, 21, 22 Lenten Mission. Guest speaker Fr. Charles Latour. St. Anselm Catholic Church, 306 St Mary St, Madisonville.

Free. 845-7342.

22-26 Tennessee Williams New Orleans Literary Festival. Showcasing national and regional scholars, writers and performing artists. tennesseewilliams.net.

23 Celebrity Waiters: Having a Bandtastic Evening! Cocktails, dinner, live and silent auctions, music, 50/50 raffle and more. Waiters compete for highest tips. St. Paul’s School. 6-10pm. 8923200. stpauls.com/support/events/ celebrity-waiters-dinner/.

23 60 Years and Still Groovin’. WYES’ 60th anniversay celebration in ‘60s style.

Home of Dana and Steve Hansel, 1

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March-April 2017 25

Inside Scoop Garden Ln, New Orleans. 504-486-5511.

benefitting the St. Tammany Hospital

lobby, Lakeview Regional Medical Center,

wyes.org.

Foundation. Teams of costumed racers

95 Judge Tanner Blvd, Covington.

24 40th Annual Julia Jump. Benefitting

navigate hospital gurneys through an

March 29 and 30, 7am-5pm; March 31,

the Preservation Resource Center.

obstacle course. Food, beverages, music

7am-3pm. lakeviewregional.com.

Music, silent auction and fine cuisine.

and more. Covington Trailhead. 2pm.

The Cannery, 3803 Toulouse St, New

sthfoundation.org/gurneygames.

Orleans. Patron party, 7pm; Julia Jump,

27 Celebrate in Lilly. Palm Village, A Lilly

8pm. $75-$3,000. prcno.org/events/40th-

Pulitzer Signature Store, 2735 US-190 C,

annual-julia-jump/.

Mandeville. 778-2547.

25 Abbey Youth Fest. St. Joseph

28 Phenomenal Woman Retreat. Retreat

30 Luau on the Patio. St. Anthony’s Gardens, 601 Holy Trinity Dr, Covington.

11am. RSVP, 605-5950.

31 Columbia Street Block Party. Free car show, live music and more. 6:30-9:30pm. covla.com.

31 NHBA Crawfish Boil. Presented by

Abbey, 75376 River Rd, Covington.

featuring a fashion show by Pedram

abbeyyouthfest.com.

Pasha Taheri and speakers Northshore

Tammany Supply. Crawfish, live music,

Community Foundation CEO Susan

open bar and more. Castine Center,

Cutting. 320 Steeplechase Dr, Abita

Bonnett Bourgeois, Beignet Festival

63350 Pelican Dr, Mandeville. 6-10pm.

Springs. 11am-2pm. northshorehba.org.

founder Amy Boyle Collins and New

25 Raising the Roof for Charity Ribbon

25 Relay for Life of St. Tammany West.

Orleans Fashion Week founder Tracee

northshorehba.org.

31-April 1 Hogs for the Cause. Nationally

Benefitting The American Cancer Society.

Dundas. Sponsored by Professional

recognized musical talent, amateur

Lakeview Regional Medical Center,

Women of St. Tammany. Southern

and professional BBQ competitors and

95 Judge Tanner Blvd, Covington.

Hotel, 428 E Boston St, Covington.

local beer. Benefitting families fighting

11am-8pm. 966-4731. relayforlife.org/

8:30am-4:30pm. $75. pw-st.org.

pediatric brain cancer. UNO Lakefront

weststtammanyla.

26 Gurney Games. Fundraising event

29-31 LRMC Volunteer Auxiliary SemiAnnual Jewelry Sale. Main entrance

Arena Grounds, Leon C. Simon Dr, New Orleans. hogsforthecause.com.

April 1 Art Market. Covington Trailhead, 419 N

7-10pm. 892-2540 ext 119. ssacad.org.

womenscenterforhealing.org.

1 Women’s Center Gala. The Women’s

1-28 Pio Lyons. Atrium Gallery at Christwood,

Center for Healing & Transformation

100 Christwood Blvd, Covington. Free.

New Hampshire St. 9am-1pm. 892-1873.

presents “An Evening of Masquerade.”

898-0515. christwoodrc.com.

covla.com. sttammanyartassociation.org.

Live, silent and online auctions, music

1-May 21 A Life of Seduction: Venice in

1 Autism Awareness Walk & Family Day.

with Off the Record DJ and small

the 1700s. The New Orleans Museum of

Half-mile walk/run, food, music, raffle

plates by Abita Fresh. The evening

Art. One Collins C. Diboll Crl, City Park,

items and silent auction to benefit SOAR,

benefits the Center, which offers mental

New Orleans. 504-658-4100. noma.org.

Strengthening Outcomes with Autism

health care in a holistic and beautiful

Resources. Lakeview Regional Medical

environment for “education, enrichment

Paintings of James Michalopoulos.

Center, 95 Judge Tanner Blvd, Covington.

and empowerment.” Castine Center,

Gallery talk with James Michalopoulos

10am-2pm. $20; 12 and under, $10.

63350 Pelican Dr, Mandeville. 892-8111.

is April 2, 2-4pm. Odgen Museum of

soarwithautism.org.

1 Crawfish Cook-Off. Presented by St. Paul’s Alumni Association to benefit Hope

Women’s Center Gala.

1-July 16 Waltzing the Muse: The

Southern Art, 925 Camp St, New Orleans.

504-539-9650. ogdenmuseum.org.

1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Covington Farmers

House. All you can eat crawfish. Saint

Market. 600 block of Columbia St.

Paul’s School. 1-6pm. Pre-event: adult,

8am-12pm. covla.com.

$30; 13-18, $20; 7-12, $5. Day of: adult, $35; 13-18, $25; 7-12, $5. spscco.com.

1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Mandeville Trailhead Market. 9am-1pm.

1 Falaya Fling. St. Scholastica Academy

mandevilletrailheadmarket.com.

hosts a buffet dinner, live and silent

5 Prix d’Elegance Awards Luncheon.

auctions, tuition raffle and live music.

Hosted by The Men and Women of

March-April 2017 27

>>

Inside Scoop Fashion and the Ballet Resource and Volunteer Organization (BRAVO) honoring

Introducing Sennod Jewelry Design to

ten males and ten females who exemplify

the Southern Hotel’s retail offering. 428

unique personal style and excellence

E Boston St, Covington. 11am-7pm.

through business, civic and charitable

southernhotel.com.

endeavors. Proceeds benefit the New

and places including swamps, wetlands,

and education programs for talented

pine savanna and hardwoods of Southeast

youth. Hilton New Orleans Riverside

Louisiana. northlakenature.org.

Champagne reception, 10:30-11:45am; luncheon, fashion show and recognition

7-9 Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival. lastrawberryfestival.com.

8 Second Saturday Evening Stroll.

of honorees, 11:45am-2pm. 504-522-

Hosted by St. Tammany Art

0996. nobadance.com.

Association. Downtown Covington

5 Spring for Art. New work from dozens

art galleries. 6-9pm. covla.com.

of artists, live music, gallery openings,

sttammanyartassociation.org.

art demos and fine dining. Downtown

9 Kids Town Rubber Duck Regatta

Covington. 5pm. 892-8650. covla.com.

and EGGStravaganza. Easter egg

sttammanyartassociation.org.

hunts, rubber duck regatta and more to

5 Storyville: Madams and Music. The

benefit Kids Town. Lakeview Regional

Historic New Orleans Collection’s Williams

Medical Center, 95 Judge Tanner Blvd,

Research Center, 410 Chartres St. Tues-

Covington. 12-3pm. $5 per duck.

Sat, 9:30am-4pm. Free. hnoc.org.

5-9 A Taste of Covington. Five-day

kidstownsttammany.org.

10 Aces Against Aneurysms. Ladies’

food, wine, music and art event

tennis tournament to benefit aneurysm

revolving around the St. Tammany Art

awareness. Pelican Athletic Club,

Association’s Spring for Art. Annadell’s

1170 Meadowbrook Blvd, Mandeville.

Plantation, Dakota Restaurant, Del Porto

$50 per person. bfisher@thepac.com.

Ristorante, Forks & Corks, Gallagher’s

brainsupportnola.com.

Grill, Mac’s on Boston, Meribo, Pardos,

13-16 Presents? Shell Me More. Gift with

Ox Lot 9 and Seiler Bar.

purchase event. Palm Village, A Lilly

covla.com. atasteofcovington.com.

Pulitzer Signature Store, 2735 US-190 C,

5, 12, 19, 26 Covington Farmers Market.

Covington Trailhead, 419 N New Hampshire St. 10am-2pm. covla.com.

6, 13, 20, 17 Rockin’ the Rails. Covington Trailhead, 419 N New Hampshire St. 5:30-7:30pm. covla.com.

7 Northlake Newcomers Club Luncheon.

I n s i d e N o rt h s i d e

7-9 Great Louisiana Birdfest. Various times

Orleans Ballet Association’s scholarship

Hotel, 2 Poydras St, New Orleans.

28

7 Sennod Jewelry Trunk Show.

Mandeville. 778-2547.

15 Egg Rollin’ Kids Event. Face painting, crafts, games and more. Covington Trailhead, 419 N New Hampshire St. 10am-12pm. covla.com.

15-19 Art in Bloom 2017. Presented by IBERIABANK. Floral design showcase

Guest speaker Dexter Accardo, Director

created by over 100 exhibitors themed

of the Office of Homeland Security

“Rhythm & Blooms.” Benefits education

and Emergency Preparedness for St.

projects and exhibitions at NOMA and

Tammany Parish. Tchefuncta Country

community projects of The Garden Study

Club, 2 Pinecrest Dr, Covington. Doors

Club of New Orleans. New Orleans

open, 10am. Members, $26; guests, $29.

Museum of Art, One Collins C. Diboll Crl,

803-730-7831.

City Park, New Orleans. 504-658-4100.

noma.org.

18 Opus Ball: LPO Swings. “A Tribute to Louis Prima,” presented by the Bob and Jeri Nims Foundation. Sheraton New Orleans Hotel, 500 Canal St, New Orleans. Patron party, 6pm; concert and dinner, 6:30pm. 504-523-6530.

18 Stars of American Ballet Encore!

New Orleans Ballet Association. Mahalia Jackson Theater, 1419 Basin St, New Orleans. 504-522-0996. nobadance.com.

21 Sunset at the Landing. Columbia Street Landing, 100 N Columbia St. 6pm. 8921873. covla.com.

21-May 6 You Belong to Me: A Patsy Cline Story. Cutting Edge Theater, 767 Robert Blvd, Slidell. 649-3727. cuttingedgetheater.com.

22 Abita Springs Opry. Listen to Three Rivers Cooperative, Crossing Canal, Crazy Whiskey and The Loose Marbles.

Abita Springs Town Hall, 22161 Level St. All seats are on reserve basis, $18. 8920711. abitaopry.org.

22 14th Annual Crawfish Cook-off. Over 60 crawfish teams boil to earn bragging rights, live music and a kids zone all to benefit Hospice Foundation of the South. Fritchie Park, Slidell. 643-5818. hospicefoundationofthesouth.org/events/.

22-23 Covington Antiques and Uniques Festival. Covington Trailhead, 419 N New Hampshire St. 10am-5pm. 8921873. covla.com.

22-May 7 The Red Velvet Cake War. By Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope and Jamie Wooten, directed by Jason Leader. 30 by Ninety Theatre, 880 Lafayette St, Mandeville.

844-THE-3090. 30byninety.com.

23 Sunday with Scholars. The 19th annual Rotary Scholarship Community Fundraiser. Beau Chêne Country Club.

5-9pm. Sponsorships start at $250 for two tickets. John Caulking, 845-4765.

26 Giving Day. Make a difference with the American Red Cross. redcross.org/ >> March-April 2017 29

Inside Scoop givingday.

26 Third Sunday Concert Series.

Southeastern Women’s Chorale and Concert Choir with Alissa Mercurio Rowe, conductor. Christ Episcopal Church, 120 S New Hampshire St, Covington. Doors open, 4:30pm. Free.

892-3177.

27 Champions Together Breakfast.

Benefits the Special Olympics athletes on the northshore and surrounding parishes.

Benedict’s Plantation, 1144 N Causeway Blvd, Mandeville. Breakfast, 7:30-8am; program, 8-9am. $100 per person; $1,000, table of ten. laso.org.

27 Get Lucky! Golf Tournament. Presented

by Canteen Vending Services to benefit St. Tammany Hospital Foundation. Money Hill Golf Course & Country Club. 898-4141. sthfoundation.org/golf.

27 Raising the Roof for Charity Sponsor Party. $2,500 Early Bird Drawing. northshorehba.org.

27-30 South Walton Beaches Wine and Food Festival. The best wines in the world, celebrity wine producers, chefs, seminars and live entertainment. Grand Boulevard at Sandestin. sowalwine.com.

29 Doggie Dash. Walk, run and play with your dog through Old Mandeville to raise funds for the St. Tammany Humane Society. Giveaways, costume prizes for dogs, post race refreshments and more.

Varsity Sports. 8:30am. $15 before April 21. 871-7878. rehabdynamicsllc.com.

29 Magic of Memories Street Rod and Classic Car Rally. Benefitting the St. Tammany Alzheimer’s Association and NAMI. Food, door prizes, music and more. Lakeview Regional Medical Center, 95 Judge Tanner Blvd, Covington. Car registration, $25. 237-9134 or 273-8579.

Send your event information to scoop@insidepub.com to have it featured in an upcoming issue.

30

I n s i d e N o rt h s i d e

IN Other Words

by Becky Slatten

IF YOU BLINK, YOU’LL MISS THEM—or you may be looking right at them and never see them. It takes some practice, but if you train your eye and your ear, you’ll realize they’re everywhere—the everyday saints and heroes who live quietly amongst us.

On election day this past November (have no fear, I’m not about to get political), I was struck by the nonchalant dedication of the men and women who work the polling places for our elections. They make a little money; but, for most of them, it’s about service and patriotism. There’s just something touching about the little old man, wearing his VFW vest and his American flag pin, doing his duty in a drafty junior high gym with his lunchbox tucked away. He doesn’t need a pat on the back, and he may not need the money; he just loves his country, and he does his part. And sadly, he seems to be a dying breed.

But he got me thinking about all the selfless souls who give of themselves without giving it a thought.

My stepdad was an honest-to-goodness decorated war hero. He received the Bronze Star and the French Legion of Honor for his part in the Battle of the Bulge, but his service to France pales in comparison to the contributions the made to his community. He was a college professor; he sang in the church choir; he was a member of the Lion’s Club, and through that organization, he sold roses and fruitcakes and parked cars and collected coats, among other things, to raise money for a myriad of good causes. At almost 94 years old, and just a few weeks before he passed away, he was still singing at the nursing home. Needless to say, he was older than most of the residents, but he knew they looked forward to it, and he wasn’t about to let them down.

I have a special fondness for elementary school teachers. My mother taught 1st grade for 20 years until she got a Ph.D., and then she taught would-be teachers how to teach 1st graders. As children, my siblings and I can recall finding round trays filled with delicious, beautifully decorated cupcakes in the kitchen. Our mother would yell from another room, “Don’t touch those cupcakes, they’re for my school children!” She always had a little plate of cupcakes for us, too—the

slightly burned ones, the ones that fell apart, the ones that barely had any icing. We like to tease her that she loved her school children more than her own, but she explained it to us many years ago. She taught the poorest of the poor in our little town, and she did her best to make them feel special. She was always bringing clean clothes and gently worn shoes and treats with her to school; she dolled out hugs and compassion and patience daily. She tried to reason with disinterested parents about flash cards and hygiene, and she just kept doing what she could to make those little children feel worthy and loved. Being content with the reject cupcakes meant we were somehow on that team, and it tasted good. Many a teacher has a special place in heaven.

Regular Heroes Heroes come in all shapes and sizes. I recall a very obese lady who walked around the same track as I a long time ago; I was trying to lose a few pounds after having a baby, but she was on a much more serious mission, and her health was obviously at risk. Every time I lapped her, I silently cheered her on; I could only imagine what it cost her to put one foot in front of the other under a burning hot sun. Her struggle was obvious, but she never quit. I gave up long before she did, and I never forgot her determination. Many years have passed, and she still inspires me at times to hang tough and keep my eye on the finish line. An example of a different type of hero is the lady who found $160 in cash on the ground in a hotel parking garage. She then handed it over to another lady who worked for the hotel. The money belonged to my teenage daughter who had no hope of ever seeing it again, but when she asked at the desk if anyone had turned it in, a miracle happened. I’m forever indebted to those two kind souls who taught my daughter how it feels when people do the right thing— and to the parents who raised them that way.

We all have the capacity to be those people - the ones who make a positive impact on those around us.

Whether we’re doing for others or being an inspiration to them, there’s surely a little hero in all of us.

March-April 2017 31

Comfortable furnishings in soft neutral colors accent the open-concept living area.

Inset: The poured limestone fireplace was created in an

ELLEN AND ROGER BAJON have been empty nesters for over 10 years and have spent that time traveling the world looking for ideas and inspiration to incorporate into the new home they built last year.

“We took pictures of architectural elements, floors and building designs everywhere we went,” says Ellen of EMB Interiors. “I wanted a house that evolved, not a forced completion. I’m always telling clients not to start on their home until we have all of the elements together. That’s what gives it individuality and 32

Inside Northside

character. I was following my own advice.”

The flooring in the Bajons’ new house was imported. Antique-finished, hand-chiseled marble in warm neutral colors of rich off-white, sand and taupe is laid in the Versailles pattern. The baseboards are of the same marble. In their travels, Ellen and Roger found European double-smoked oak flooring for the master bedroom. These boards were hand rubbed and hand waxed in an oil finish and laid in a herringbone pattern. “It gives just a little bit of motion and pattern >>

photos: THOMAS B. GROWDEN

Old World Italian style.

Old World Elegance

by Poki Hampton

The Bajon House

>>

March-April 2017 33

The kitchen’s two large islands make a wonderful place for guests to gather, while the backsplash from Triton Stone Group adds a touch of shine.

Below: The keeping room is where the Bajons spend their

in the room,” says Ellen.

Curated from pieces gathered over the years, the living room has some surprising elements added for texture. Mixing new materials and antique pieces together gives a room a history and substance. The fireplace is of poured limestone in an Old World Italian-style, and the white crystal shard logs of quartzite make the fireplace look dressier and cool and fresh in the spring and summer months. An antique English mahogany butler’s board, c 1850, is topped by a hurricane lantern with a bone base and a shard of crystal embedded with an Italian antique artifact,>> 34

Inside Northside

photos: THOMAS B. GROWDEN

evenings relaxing.

Clockwise: An antique chest of drawers is made into a vanity for one guest room; the master tub is set into a light-filled alcove; the master bathroom features beautiful tile work by Triton Stone Group; the guest room is complete with a repurposed queen-sized rice bed.

March-April 2017 35

Whitewashed pine beams, a European-style chandelier and the split-faced travertine stone wall add to the dining room’s Old

Left to right: A custom, built-in, glass-front cabinet holds objects collected by the Bajons; the wine cellar’s stone ceiling; the herringbone smoked-oak floors in the master bedroom are a focal point. Opposite: The ceiling of the entrance porch was inspired by Moorish architecture.

36

Inside Northside

and faux-finished candlesticks.

The dining room is crowned by old whitewashed pine beams and a European-style chandelier in a distressed finish. The arched doors are Italian-style mahogany with no casing around them.

A long trestle table of inlaid parquet and

walnut banding, has ample space for entertaining friends and family. On the opposite side of a dramatic, split-faced travertine stone wall, is the wine cellar.

Ellen and Roger wanted an open-concept kitchen decked out for entertaining and cooking. Two islands

photos: THOMAS B. GROWDEN

World ambiance.

provide ample space for guests to mill around and include a huge amount of storage. Pull-out shelves below make reaching pots and pans easy. Again, Europe inspired the design. There are no upper cabinets, but instead a large reach-in cupboard where dishes and glasses are within easy reach. Antiqued, leathered quartzite countertops in tones of warm cream have an Old World appearance. The backsplash is of handmade, molded white subwayshaped tiles with off-white grout.

The master bedroom and bathroom are elegant enough to be in a five-star European hotel. Two separate dressing areas with large walk-in closets make dressing for the day a breeze. The bathroom is classic and timeless, with marble shower, vanities and traditional custom cabinetry painted in a warm cream. Extra luxury is added in the heated marble floor and heated towel racks, making it the perfect spa-like getaway after a hectic day.

The entire house with its classical elements and curated architecture is light and elegant yet perfectly relaxed and comfortable for the Bajons’ shared vision of their empty nest, where friends and family are welcome to gather.

March-April 2017 37

Courtesy: Gravity Cakes! Create 45 Amazing Cakes by Jakki Friedman & Francesca Librae © 2017 www.robertrose.ca Reprinted with publisher permission.

Traces

by Karen B. Gibbs

Gravity Cakes How’d They Do It?

Above right: Jakki Friedman and Francesca Librae.

38

AMAZING CAKES! Or should I just say Gravity Cakes? These show-stopping creations are already a big hit in bakeries in Europe. And thanks to English baker Jakki Friedman and her lifetime best friend, journalist Francesca Librae, you can bake them yourself. In their new book, Gravity Cakes, they not only tell you how to do it, they also share 45 different designs and more than 650 photographs giving step-by-step instructions for making them.

“I’m always searching for the latest trending cake styles,” says Friedman. “When I stumbled across the Gravity Cake design online, I needed to give it a

Inside Northside

try.” She began making them for her family; then, as news of her eye-popping cakes spread, orders began flowing in. “I make up to 20 cakes, maximum, a month. I am a one-man band, so I take on only as much as I can juggle each week.”

The popularity of the cakes got Friedman and Librae thinking about publishing a book on Gravity Cakes. “No one had ever done a book on the subject,” says Librae. “Originally, we were going to self-publish an E-book, but we realized the cakes were popular enough to put into a real book.” Librae penned the text, Friedman gave the directions, and they both thought up the ideas for cake designs.

In November 2016, Gravity Cakes was released in the United States. Since then, both Friedman (in England) and Librae (in New Orleans) have been spreading the word and the secrets for creating the cakes. “What makes them seemingly defy gravity is a rigid balloon stick, the kind that holds Mylar balloons. The “flowing streams” onto the cake are created with fondant wrapped around the balloon stick,” explains Librae. “Candy melts are the main ingredient used as “glue” to affix items to the cake and flowing stream.”

A Few Pro Tips: • It’s normal to want to hurry the process as the design takes shape, but don’t do it. “Rushing is the devil,” says Librae.

“Let each piece of added decoration dry before adding another.”

• Make it easy on yourself. Use a box mix or let someone else bake the cake. You can have the fun of decorating it. Librae suggests buying a “butter-cream double stack”—a double-layer cake with buttercream frosting—from your favorite bakery.

“Just make sure it fits the measurements in the recipe,” she says.

• “Your cake should be fully cooled before attempting to lift it and slide it down the balloon stick,” warns Friedman.

“Otherwise, it could fall apart.”

• If you’re new to baking, start with an easy design like the candy waterfall or the pancake stack cake.

March-April 2017 39

Feasting and Festing for theCause

by Mimi Greenwood Knight

Hogs for the Cause 2017

NEW ORLEANS’ FAVORITE finger-licking festival got its start on a quiet street in Old Metairie where Becker Hall and Rene Louapre grew up in and out of each other’s houses. “Rene and my brother were best friends, so he was like the third brother at our house,” says Hall. From an early age, the boys were taught to appreciate the city’s diverse music, people, food and free-wheeling festivals.

They separated for a time to head to different colleges, and then reconnected back at home for graduate school. One night, they found themselves reminiscing about the cochon de laits their families had enjoyed throughout their childhood. >> 40

Inside Northside

March-April 2017 41

Rene Louapre, Becker Hall and Austin Kirzner.

This year’s Hogs for the Cause band lineup includes: Chris Robinson Brotherhood Railroad Earth Shovels & Ropes The London Souls Fruit Bats George Porter Jr. & Runnin’ Pardners Seratones Futurebirds Marcus King Band For a complete listing, go to HogsfortheCause.org.

42

Inside Northside

“Rene was writing a food blog at the time,” says Hall. “He asked, ‘If I buy a hog, will you cook it?’ So we started making plans and inviting friends.” As the party came together, Louapre and Hall were introduced to a family with a 5-year-old boy who’d been diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer. They decided to turn their pig roast into a fundraiser to help offset medical and other costs for the family. Within weeks, they’d invited 200 friends, raised $10,000 and one of New Orleans’ favorite throw-down weekends was born.

Hogs for the Cause grew quickly and, this being New Orleans, by year three Hall and Louapre knew it was time to add a music element. That was nine years ago. The pig-centric event now attracts tens of thousands of festers, raises millions of dollars and last year outgrew its City Park location, moving this year’s festivities to the UNO Lakefront Arena grounds on March 31 and April 1, with a gala party (the Hogwaii Luau) on the 30th.

The 2017 Hogs for the Cause will include 21 bands on three stages, scads of imported beers and 92 (count ’em) teams of amateur and professional chefs competing in seven pig-cooking categories, including Whole Hog, Ribs, Pork Butt/Shoulder, Porkpourri, Sauce, Fan Favorite and Fundraising Champion.

All that glorious pork will be available for the tasting all weekend long. “You better come hungry,” says Hall.

For three years running, Hogs for the Cause has been voted Best Local Charity Event in New Orleans, and last year NolaEater.com called it “New Orleans most anticipated food festival.”

Musical acts include New Orleans’ favorites and top groups and solo artists from around the country (see sidebar). Barbeque teams are made up of backyard grill masters and some of New Orleans top chefs, with team names like Swine Krewe, The Pig Lebowski, Swinel Richie, PorkChopitoulas, Chits and >> March-April 2017 43

Piggles and 6 Degrees of Kevin Bacon.

This year, Austin Kirzner, executive chef at Ralph Brennan’s Red Fish Grill, will be one of the professional chefs joining the mayhem.

“My wife, Katie, and I have attended for years,” he says. “A group of friends who are on the team Deuce Pigalow Pork Gigalow invited me to join, and I jumped at the chance. It’s a great event for local chefs, because it gets us out of the kitchen and lets us just cook for the fun of it. The crowd is diverse, and though the event has grown, it’s managed to keep a warm, neighborhood feel.”

For the past several years, the Pork Gigalows have been one of the top five teams for fundraising and recipients of the hardest partiers award several years running. Now with Chef Kirzner in their corner, they’re sure to be serious contenders for a food prize as well. And while he was close-mouthed about what dish the team plans to wow festers with this year, Kirzner did let slip the words “crispy pork bellies.” (Mmmmmmm.)

44

Inside Northside

Cooking teams such as Hock and Awe and The Swine Krewe not only sport creative names, they are experts in enticing hungry festival goers with masterful displays and delectable crowd-pleasing eats.

“The teams stay up all night Friday night cooking their pig, each team competing against the team next to them,” says Hall.

“There are 92 individual parties going on at once, making up one gigantic party. It’s pretty wild!” But Hogs for the Cause is about much more than amazing pork dishes, beer, music and passing a good time. Since 2008, the event has raised tens of millions to make life easier for families dealing with a devastating diagnosis of pediatric brain cancer.

“Our primary focus is on outreach services for the families, filling in the gap between what insurance pays and what they can afford,” says Hall. “Sixty to 70 percent of the grants we award stay within New Orleans and Louisiana. But we’ve helped families all around the country as well. In fact, we’ve never turned down a request from a family. We’ve also purchased two negative pressure rooms for Ochsner and Atlanta Children’s Hospital and helped >> create service programs at the Duke

Children’s Hospital, Medical University of South Carolina, Children’s Hospital, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite and Children’s Hospital of San Antonio.

Last year, the charity was approached by Children’s Hospital of New Orleans and asked to build specialized housing for the families of patients traveling from around the region for treatment, many of whom spend months at the hospital, either sleeping in their child’s hospital room or having to pay for lodging somewhere in the city. “We were able to offer them a $2 million, 14-room facility,” says Hall.

“It’s upbeat and cheerful, and it gives the families a chance to get out of the hospital but still have their child nearby for treatment. And it relieves them of the financial burden of paying for somewhere to stay.”

Dubbed “The House that Hogs Built,” or simply “Hog House,” the facility is actually a renovation of an 46

Inside Northside

existing building across the street from the hospital on State Street. It features accommodations for families as well as common areas for kids to play and families to gather, all with pig-themed logos and whimsical pork-related puns.

“Teams can cook for the families and make their lives better year-round, not just one weekend in the spring,” says Hall. “Hogs for the Cause is about more than the bands and the barbecue and the good times. It’s about these families. They give us the confidence to do everything we do.”

While Hogs for the Cause has awarded grants to more than 400 families, Halls says they want to reach out to families in other ways, too.

“We want our impact to be about more than money,” he says. “We don’t just want to hand over a check and say ‘good-bye.’ The teams actually go with us when we bring a grant to a family. They get to know the kids, the siblings, the parents and grandparents

and look for other ways to reach out to them. Now we want to do even more, through Hog House.”

Many of the families who’ve benefitted from the Hogs have also become involved in the event. Take that first little boy, Ben Sarrat Jr. Although Ben passed away a few weeks before the 2010 Hogs for the Cause, his parents have been involved every year since, looking for ways to help other families with kids battling pediatric brain cancer.

This year, Ben’s mom, Erin, will head up beverage concessions, while his dad, Ben Sr., will cook on one of the teams.

“Some of the families have even gotten hog tattoos,” says Hall.

General admission for Hogs for the Cause is $25 for one day, with kids under 12 free. Food comes in at $3 to $5 a plate.

You can buy a two-day pass or even a Boss Hog Passpork with lots of VIP perks.

Find out more at HogsfortheCause.org and support a worthy cause.

March-April 2017 47

Generous Hearts

photo: FIELDING PHOTOGRAPHY

by Susan H. Bonnett

Dick Knight “The most wonderful thing about Dick was that he always had a wonderful tale to tell about prominent people, complete with quotations. He had the memory of an elephant, but the grace and charm of a true Southern Gentleman. Dick often said that that he LEARNED in the first third of his life, he EARNED in the second third of his life and was spending his last third making an IMPACT. And he did. He was a dear friend to me and someone I’ll always remember fondly.”

- Maura Donahue, Donahue Favret Contractors

48

Inside Northside

WE ALL KNOW that the success of our local organizations depends in part on those who frequently get their picture in the paper. But it depends equally on those who live lives of quiet, steady leadership, authenticity and humble dedication. The Northshore Community Foundation was lucky enough to have as a founding board member, officer, chair and ambassador one such individual. Dick Knight, who passed away last October, did countless charitable acts for his neighbors and for our Foundation, but most importantly, he moved the needle on philanthropy and community service in our region unlike any other.

As a retiree, he worked harder in his philanthropic missions than many people at the height of their careers. He contributed to organizations that helped underprivileged children to have stability, consistency and education; to civic organizations that restore blighted neighborhoods and promote smart growth; to the promotion of the arts; and the list goes on. Committed to civic leadership, he gave long-term service to many organizations and boards on the northshore, including Christwood Foundation, The Boy Scouts, United Way, St. Tammany Hospital Foundation, Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra Northshore and the American Cancer Society, just to name a few.

The embodiment of a generous heart Dick’s experience was one of patience, optimism and the power of doing. His was a drive so steady, so consistent, that his contributions and successes have multiplied ten-fold over the years. Doors opened to him through his law and banking careers, as well as in his desire to help others. Success bred action. Action bred success. “I’ve always heard you ask a busy person if you really want to get something done,” he said in an interview.

Never one to express hesitation at jumping headlong into charitable efforts or to hold reservations that singular efforts would produce insignificant results, he gave of his whole self and asked little in return. On giving away money to those more in need, he quoted a former colleague, “Giving something away never cost me anything because you always see the benefit for somebody else.”

A devoted husband, father and friend, he was the kind of man we want our sons to become. As a lawyer, he worked to improve the legal profession; as a banker, he was deeply involved in helping the communities his bank served; and as a proud citizen of our state, he made such a difference in so many lives through community service that Covington celebrates each March 21 as “Richard F. Knight Day.” “I’ve never regretted anything I’ve done to help others. And I always seem to find time for it and still save time for my family.” His words, like the man, were proud, but not boastful. Yet with all of these successes, he held no pretense of perfection. “I buy all my pencils with erasers on them,” he chuckled.

His strong personal and professional relationships and stellar reputation in all of South Louisiana was instrumental in the efficacy and strength of philanthropy throughout our communities. His tireless presence and participation will always be remembered as he remained a treasured source of sound reasoning and balanced perspective.

In an effort to ensure his legacy, at the Northshore Community Foundation’s upcoming Tenth Anniversary Celebration, we will introduce an ongoing recognition in celebration of the impact Dick made on this place we love through his generosity, kindness and service. It was we who were honored to have known and served side by side with him. He is sorely missed.

Some information in this article was taken from Mindy Cordell’s article on Mr. Knight in the November-December 2009 issue of Inside Northside.

March-April 2017 49

PrayerfulLegacy

photo: CANDRA GEORGE mycreativereality.com

by Angelle Albright

Folk Artist Roland Fournier AS A LITTLE GIRL, I used to sit next to my father for endless hours, awestruck by the motions of his hands chipping away at a block of wood. I was the youngest of six, and most of my siblings had moved on and were already married by the time he carved his first masterpiece. I couldn’t for the life of me understand how my dad, a tough officer

50

Inside Northside

of the law and a federal marshall, would possess the delicate hands to turn a block of wood into a work of art. Moreover, I yearned to inherit his infectious passion and patience that could endure hundreds of hours on one single task that was never designated for any particular patron or an ounce of glory.

As much as our dear mother marveled at his work,

photos: ANGELLE ALBRIGHT

she also chastised him for dusting up his good clothes and tracking wood chips all over the house. Who could blame her? As soon as he got home from work, he would rush out back to start whittling away without bothering to change clothing. Then he would come inside with wood shavings spilling out of his hair and pants. If I had to sweep it up to keep mom happy, I didn’t care, for I was a little girl in complete awe of her Daddy’s talent.

After 40 years of humbly carving artworks with no thought of recognition, my father, at 88 years young, got to enjoy a moment most artists only receive posthumously. The 14 Stations of the Cross that he felt led to carve after Hurricane Katrina for no particular purpose are now prominently displayed in the quiet little chapel of St. Anthony’s Garden in Covington, the newest senior living ministry of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, and ironically, just minutes from my home. The plaque bearing his name, Roland Fournier, was a great honor for our family because we all knew they were honoring the heart of a man who truly deserved admiration and recognition that we thought would only come from those of us who love him. It was a dream come true for a humble, loving, spiritual man, whose only motive was to share his God-given gifts so that others may be touched and changed by them.

My father says he acquired an early love of curvature, design and shapes as a young boy, building models of World War II aircraft that the government would mail to children to assemble so

that pilots could be better equipped to identify enemy aircrafts by form. That experience stayed with him his whole life until he was in his fifties and became awed by a rubber Mallard duck decoy that my brother-in-law, Pascal McGoey, used to go hunting. In awe of its design, my dad said, “I think I could make one of these out of wood.” Within a day, he had chopped a block of wood and started whittling away at it. Once he finished the duck and was praised for the way he captured the delicate feathers, we could all tell he was hooked.

With his first of scores of grandchildren arriving soon, he announced his idea. His childhood marked the golden age of carousels, so it was only natural that he would choose to recapture that majesty in his work. He says, “I carved that mallard, so I thought why can’t I increase the size and make it ridable, just like the carousels? I started doing it on a 7⁄8 scale or 3⁄4 size of an actual animal. With a power saw, I could cut out the basic form, and I started acquiring all the tools I needed to carve like the masters.”

As all of his children grew older, we would chip in and send our parents on trips to Europe. My dad says, “I had tools that I bought in Paris, Switzerland, Italy and Germany. Mamma knows wherever we’d go, I’d make her go tool shopping. If they had it, I wanted it. Tools that I ordered out of books—some of the finest chisels, with every curve imaginable. I learned to sharpen them on a stone I had; I could take a chisel with varying degrees of >> March-April 2017 51

curves and I could carve anything. I could make any cut I wanted. I wound up with tools second to none.

In the end, I made over 20 lions, tigers, giraffes, elephants—every animal you could imagine. Then, when I found that one of my Bengal tigers went for $5,000 at an auction for charity, I realized that I was creating something people admired. I started doing sea life after we came back from Hawaii. I wanted to do a whale after I saw one in person, and I got a photograph of a real good whale carrying its baby; I feel like I did that with great accuracy. It was the first time I felt proud of my work.”

It was always hard to identify what drove my father to choose his subjects. He was a brilliant man. He knew every fact about everything Above: Intricate medieval-armored warhorse carved from five species of wood for Spencer Albright.

Fournier’s most treasured of all the carousel pieces. photos: ANGELLE ALBRIGHT

Right: Wagon West scene carved twice by Fournier after the first version burned in the Colorado wildfires.

Below: Holy Cross track star, 1948.

52

historical, whether it be politics, wars, art, music.

He was an avid reader, then a story teller; he loved sharing tales about his childhood, his grandparents’ home on Napoleon Avenue and then the depression. He often shared how things got tough right around the time he was born, and I think that shaped the man he would become. His parents were extremely poor. He would explain it as no running water, no inside bathroom, no heating. Times were tough, but as a track star at Holy Cross, he found solace in his own abilities.

Inside Northside

He broke all kinds of records, but in later years, as my sons were being recruited by universities for the same sport, he started to share more painful memories—like when he had to say no to recruiters because he had to go to work. His mother was ill, and times were hard.

He met my mother, married, enlisted in the Air Force and was sent to England after their first born arrived. My mom bravely sailed the Atlantic with my sister to join him and had their second child over there before returning home. The family rounded out at six children. Dad joined the New Orleans Police Department, where he would serve for over 19 years before becoming a United States Marshall.

Although he never made it to formal college, he did acquire a lot of hours taking classes over his lifetime, probably enough to earn a degree, but I think it always bothered him that he missed out on that part>>

of his life. I never thought anything of it growing up, because to me he was a genius. We never knew that we went without, because he provided everything we needed, and that was enough. His tenacity and obsession with carving after working all day taught me more than if he had a million advanced degrees, because everything he was doing had meaning—some historical meaning behind it.

When my dad, whom we call “Paw Paw,” imagined himself carving a western scene, he hit the library and started copying photos. He came home with these huge enlargements from the copy store and chose a scene that made him salivate when discussing it.

It was a family headed west during the depression—straight out of a scene from the Steinbeck novel. He was obsessed by the ox and how it collapsed in the middle of the desert. In trying to see what his motivation was, I asked him why it was so important. “It’s so realistic. It’s about life. It was about a whole family trying to go thousands of miles in a covered wagon with little children and grandparents, and they are relying on an animal. When it gets sick and falls with its head in the mud, they are trying to feed him water; it looked like total desperation for this family.”

He would go on fervently, “Angelle, that was a piece that I felt personally involved in.” I loved him even more when he would describe it that way, because I could sense his passion. Even though I was only nine or ten, I knew there was something special about this man I called Dad. That special work of art was given to my oldest sister, Shelly, and her husband, Pascal, because it would fit their home in Colorado, and Pas, I think, loved my father’s work even more than I did.

When I told my father I was 54

Inside Northside

Roland Fournier and his wife, Patricia Fournier, with Archbishop Gregory Aymond at the dedication of St. Anthony’s Garden in December 2016.

Below: One of two dozen carousel animals painted by Fournier’s granddaughter, SSA art teacher Marcelle McGoey

photos: ANGELLE ALBRIGHT

Delaune.

writing this story, he said, “I want to talk about my work with the historic things that I did, like the covered wagon scene, which I thought was one of the best I ever did.”

Looking back on his legacy now, I see that he saw himself in that scene. He saw his life that way. He was a survivor. He was determined to make the world a better place.

He didn’t have all the riches in life, but he had his faith—one of the greatest Catholic faiths I’ve ever witnessed. There was nothing that could go wrong that would make him lose or question his faith. It didn’t matter if we were in the bottom of the Grand Canyon, we were making Mass on Sunday. He led by example with his faith, especially in 2002, when, while watching the news covering massive wildfires in Colorado, we all knew the covered wagon carving was being reduced to ashes. He simply said, “Well, I guess I get to do it again,” and he did! He searched for many months for the right piece of wood, because he was determined to do it again, and do it even better.

Pas says, “As I saw him aging, I felt we took all of his love and his hard work for granted. I put the second covered wagon scene in my home in Covington. I have it over my mantel, because I want to look at it every day.” He elaborates on my father’s

interpretations, saying, “The people in it actually have gravity working on their bodies. I can feel the weight of the people. If you sit there and study it, you can see what those people went through.”

When my parents lost their home during Hurricane Katrina, everything changed. I was going through cancer, their home was in ruins, and my dad started showing signs of decline.

He became severely depressed when he saw the town he grew up in, and kept safe policing for half a century, in ruins. It was too much for this proud septuagenarian to bear. He developed a shuffle in his step, and his hands >>

March-April 2017 55

56

Inside Northside

mamma said that the power jigsaw was too dangerous for me. That was a tough day in my life, because there was nothing I couldn’t do with that saw.”

Parkinson’s couldn’t stop him. He did do a few pieces by hand until he found a Japanese hand saw that cuts on

photo: ANGELLE ALBRIGHT

started to shake non-stop as he caressed his thumb and middle finger incessantly.

The doctors reported early signs of Parkinson’s disease, and all of our minds turned to his carving. How would he ever survive without being able to carve?

He says, “When my health went bad,

both sides and realized he could still do a lot of things. He started carving the 20 Mysteries of the Rosary on one piece of wood. It was cruder then his earlier works, because his disease had taken hold of his hands and he was working with a different tool, but it still turned out to be just as special. In honor of his grandchildren who are alumni, he donated it to St. Paul’s School, where it graces the walls of St. Benilde Hall.

Years later, when he started taking medicines to control his symptoms, he got a little more control over his hands. It was at this time that he felt the calling to carve the Stations of the Cross—all 14 of them. The Stations are a devotion that traces Christ’s journey to the crucifixion. My father explained he was inspired by stories of 17th century Benedictines in Europe who had local folk artists paint the scenes on raggedy canvases and march the

around the villages so that the people could better identify with Christ’s passion. It was his belief that the renderings were used to help the illiterate population comprehend and pray better. So now, nearly 80 years old, he was back in his element with a fresh idea in his heart and in his head. He says, “I didn’t know why I wanted to carve them or what I was going to do with them. I just knew I wanted to do it. I didn’t even know how on earth I would be able to get the high quality wood I needed. I called my cousin Sal, who was retiring from a family-owned lumber business, and asked if they would be able to get me some scraps. Within days, someone called to tell me to bring my truck.

Little did I know that the “scrap” was high-quality mahogany from South America, and they loaded my truck to the brim. It was almost as if it was planned that I would be given this beautiful, fine wood that was so rich looking and perfect for carving.”

When I asked if this work was a higher calling, he exclaimed, “What would you think if you needed expensive wood, and somebody gave you exactly what you needed? I decided it would be the Stations

before I started hustling the wood; I just didn’t know the wood would come so conveniently. I couldn’t wait each day to get started; I didn’t care what the outcome would be of the 14. I didn’t think people really cared. I was gonna give it away to the guy who was building my fence ’cause he liked them.The idea of somebody wanting it was a thrill to me.”

He continued to carve until they were all finished. They sat in a shed for years; it was later, when Holy Cross started rebuilding, that Pascal got the idea to see if they would want them. He says, “The principal of the new state-of-the-art school loved them, and it was a real thrill that my old school alma mater would get them.” But the rebuilding process was slow and nothing ever came of it. Pascal says he suggested that Paw Paw let his children and grandchildren take the pieces. My father lamented, “After all this time, they should all go together somewhere.” Pas steadfastly pushed on and decided to reach out to the Archdiocese to get an opinion of the quality of the work and whether they thought it had value as artwork. That led him to email some photos to the director of archives and records at >>

Opposite: Fournier’s first attempt at ridable carousel rockers, carved for his first grandchild, Pas McGoey Jr.

March-April 2017 57

the Archdiocese, Emilie “Lee” Gagnet Leumas. She says, “They sent me a picture of one, and I reached out to them to see more in person. I thought there is so much of his spirit that comes out in those carvings. They just moved me. They really did.” It was her job to place sacred objects throughout the Archdiocese, so she knew about the project at St. Anthony’s Garden and reached out to Ken Schwartzfager, the development manager, who had already contacted her about acquiring some. After meeting with my father and seeing the works in person, they decided to hang them in the chapel at St. Anthony’s Garden.

“All I can say is it was Divine Providence that it all came together.

It was as though God had allowed someone who could even be a resident at this place, someone with the same faith and values, carve these stations out of love for others who might lay eyes on them,” Leumas recalls. She says, “Your father is such a gentle soul. He was in such awe that we recognized his talent. I can remember him telling me that he didn’t know why he was carving them, that he just needed to get them out of his head. The work just came out of him. He is a very special man—the Grandma Moses of woodworking. I’m thrilled. I just can’t even believe we were able to get these works of art and keep them all together.”

My father was so cute on the day of the dedication. He told anyone who would listen, in a funny voice, “I’ve been married to the same women for 65 years. I never got a plaque. I broke records in high school. I never got a trophy or a plaque. I rode in trucks and airplanes carrying nuclear weapons, and I never got a plaque. But all of a sudden, at the end of my life, the Archdiocese of New Orleans gives me 58

Inside Northside

photo: ANGELLE ALBRIGHT

Full bust of an Indian head mounted and framed.

a plaque.” The plaque does mean a lot to him, because he has been acknowledged for something that he never sought out, and it’s something his family can go look at forever.

Pascal wanted a professional opinion of the quality of my father’s work. He took one of his pieces to the head of the sculpture department at Southeastern, who said it was fine Folk Art, art done by a person without any formal training.

Pascal says, “When I told Paw Paw that, he was really happy to hear it, because he never saw himself as an artist.”

Something profound that Pascal told me will stay with me always: “Your dad sat in the back yard in those chairs, and he was out there working for a hundred hours on one piece. We would go out there and talk to him, and he would pick his head up and talk, but he would look back down.

I would watch him work, and it was with his hands and his mind that he carved these, and every minute, he was in love. When he did those carvings, he was like praying back there. He did that with his whole body, hands and spirit. It was all about his religion. It was like each stroke of his knife was a prayer. When he was working, he was praying. He accomplished that, and now people will be praying over each one of his works forever.”

Pascal closed by saying, “Prayer is very simple. It’s an attempt to communicate with God. His attempt wasn’t verbal; his attempt was physical. He was so deep in prayer as he carved those stations it was if his hands were folded, that’s how prayerful he was. That’s how he communicated with his creator.”

March-April 2017 59

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Inside Northside

Honey Harvest

A

of a

by Karen B. Gibbs

photo: THOMAS B. GROWDEN

La Provence’s Busy Bees

ERICK LOOS, CHEF/PARTNER of La Provence restaurant, knows a thing or two about the birds and the bees….and the pigs…and the plants. And he should, because they’re all part of a mini-farm tucked behind his five-star Besh Group restaurant on Highway 190 in Lacombe.

“Having gardens, hives and livestock in our own backyard makes it easy to practice sustainability,” he explains, referring to the restaurant’s efforts to grow some of its own food and to recycle efficiently. “It gives us and our guests a sense of fulfillment to walk back here and see and touch what we’re growing, then to see the same herbs, lettuce and vegetables in the dining room.” Determined to grow chemical-free produce, fruit and herbs, Chef Erick also composts veggie peels to create his own fertilizer. >> March-April 2017 61

photos: THOMAS B. GROWDEN

Something else that has Chef Erick crowing is the hen house. “It’s an incredible experience for our cooks to pick the eggs from the backyard, then cook and serve them for our Sunday brunch.” In addition to providing eggs for hungry diners, the hens do their part to recycle by eating the restaurant’s ground-up crab and shrimp shells.

In front of the hen house, Mangalitsa pigs wallow in well-kept pens and dine on bread and veggie scraps from the restaurant. (Five-star fare for swines!) Remarkably, the fat in Mangalitsa pork is monounsaturated, like the healthy fats in avocados, says Chef Erick, so guests can enjoy this pork relatively guilt-free.

Behind the raised garden beds are three

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Inside Northside

active bee hives. Not only do the bees pollinate the herbs, fruit trees and veggies grown on the premises, they also produce the delectable honey that the chefs use in the kitchen.

Join us as Chef Erick conducts the fall honey harvest with the help of amateur beekeeper Richard Kilgore and La Provence’s official beekeeper, Dr. Samuel “Andy” Leonard.

The harvesting begins with Kilgore “incensing” the hive with smoke to make the bees more tranquil. Next, the team removes several honey-laden frames from the hive, making sure Dr. Samuel “Andy” Leonard.

to leave enough honey for the bees to use throughout the winter. After brushing smoke-mellowed bees from the honeycomb, the team pauses while Dr. Leonard bee-dazzles spectators with some absolutely amazing facts about bees.

Among them: • Bees never sleep—NEVER. • Bees travel 2 ½ MILLION miles to gather enough honey to fill one jar.

• Female bees transition through a series of jobs: nurses for the larvae, housekeepers, carriers, guards and field bees. How they know when to move from job to job is a mystery.

• There are only 50-200 male bees in a hive of 20,000 to 30,000 bees. Their only job: to fertilize >> March-April 2017 63

•

•

•

64

Inside Northside

photo: THOMAS B. GROWDEN

•

the queen. That’s no simple task considering the queen mates only once in her life, and it’s while flying!

When the queen stops being productive, the bees prepare a very large cell into which the worker bees coax the queen to lay an egg.

When it reaches the larval stage, it is fed with royal jelly and becomes the new queen. Since there can only be one queen to a hive, here’s where the drama begins. The old queen can either leave the hive or fight the newbie till the death. If the old queen decides to exit—somehow, some way—half the bees in the hive will know they are to go with her; so, they load up on extra honey to help sustain themselves and the queen until they make a new hive.

Bee hives are kept at 92 degrees year-round. In the summer, the bees cool the hive by bringing water into the hive and fanning it with their wings—little bee air conditioners!

In the winter, the bees form a ball around the queen and produce heat by vibrating (like our shivering).

Bees literally work themselves to death, living until their wings wear out. That usually takes from 4-6 weeks in the summer when the hive is most active, to 120 days in the winter when it’s more or less dormant.

Bees re-use the cells in the honeycomb, cleaning each cell thoroughly before re-purposing it to

hold an egg, honey or royal jelly.

• Bee hives contain five marketable products: honey, wax, royal jelly, propolis (or bee glue) that holds the hive together and seals any holes, and pollen.

While spectators absorb these facts, the bee team members head inside the restaurant to begin extracting honey from the frames. They demonstrate three ways to remove the wax seal on each cell: cut it off with an electrically heated hot knife, scrape it off with a scraper or pierce each seal with a spiked roller. Once that’s done, the frames are placed in a centrifuge and spun to release the honey. A spigot at the bottom of the centrifuge makes dispensing easy.

The next step is to strain the honey to remove large particles, such as wax, while leaving the pollen. (It’s important to keep the pollen in the honey since it’s rich in protein and helps the body develop immunities to local allergens, says Dr. Leonard.)

Remember the sustainability mentioned earlier—especially the recycling part of it? Well, after Chef Erick and his team extract the honey, he rinses the extraction equipment and the honey/wax mixture and saves the water.

To make certain that not a drop of honey is wasted, he spreads this honeylaced water on the ground in front of the hives. Then—you guessed it—those remarkable little bees collect it and recycle it back to the honeycomb!

March-April 2017 65

Traces

Janet DeLuca JANET OALMANN DELUCA had no idea what an idyllic childhood she was living. Born the fourth of five kids to a Covington dairy farmer and his wife, Janet spent summer days riding horses to the river with cousins, siblings and friends and milking cows and feeding calves before daylight on school days.

Her daddy grew much of the food the family ate. Her mama taught Sunday school and treated every child like they were her own. “My mama was the greatest Christian woman I’ve ever met,” says Janet.

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Inside Northside

After marrying her high school sweetheart, Janet set about raising her own kids—and now 10 grandkids—in much the same way. She says, “My siblings and I still live on the family land. We all watch out for all of the kids, and they can walk from house to house. I feel good that our family’s kids are able to live the life few others can.”

Jane and her husband, Charles, still raise vegetables and live off the land as much as possible. “Charles and I grew up a mile apart and knew each other all our lives,” she says. “We’re been married for 44 years. He’s a great guy.”

When she’s not enjoying the agrarian life, Janet stays busy as owner/ operator of one of the northshore’s most popular jewelry and gift stores. DeLuca’s Fine Jewelry & Gifts is the kind of place regulars can call up and say, “I’m going to a wedding and want to spend $50 on a gift,” swing by later, pick up the wrapped present and pay for it sight unseen, knowing that whatever Janet selects will be perfect. “Some of my regular customers have a standing gift they always give for certain occasions,” she says. “But we also offer a bridal

photos: CANDRA GEORGE mycreativereality.com

by Mimi Greenwood Knight

registry. My goal is to offer gifts from $10 to $10,000 that my customers will be proud to give.”

If everyone enjoyed their job as much as Janet DeLuca, the world would be a better place. “This is the only job I’ve ever had,” she says. “I came to work for Expressions in Gold in 1970 when I was 15 years old. Ten years later, I bought the business.

I added the gift shop in 2005 and eventually changed the name. I still love going to market; still love coming to work each day. I don’t even want to think about retiring.”

Janet does enjoy her time off, though. She and Charles enjoy traveling around the country. “We’ve been to Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon.

The Smokey Mountains are a favorite of mine, because they remind me of time spent there with my parents. I also enjoy saltwater fishing at our camp in Grand Isle.” Still on their bucket list are Canada, the West Coast and the New England states.

As Janet waits on her third generation of customers, she’s looking forward to being here to serve the next.

March-April 2017 67

Home and Garden As the temps warm to a breezy degree, the grass begins

to green and blooms begin to show their faces—it’s the perfect time of year in sweet Louisiana. Naturally, we gather outdoors at any time and for any and all reasons, but especially during this season. A crawfish boil, a birthday party, a barbeque. The space where you choose to have your celebration is more than likely your back patio or courtyard.

As it’s also a time for spring cleaning and freshening, new patio furniture or maybe even a moonlight-lighted tree may be on your wish list. In the following pages, find the best in the industry to ensure your patio is well dressed, your grass is green, your hedges are perfectly positioned and your stone walkway is pristine and lit. Get to living…outdoors.

March-April 2017 69

H O M E

A N D

G A R D E N

Home and garden Resources Building and Remodeling

Retail showroom for high-quality

Integrity Builders

kitchen/bath fixtures, tiles, mosaics,

949 Austerlitz St., Mandeville;

backsplashes. Wholesale distributor

626-3479; HomesByIntegrity.com

of natural stone.

Custom home builders J Hand Homes LLC

Interiors

American Factory Direct

Covington; 504-905-2760

68490 Hwy 59, Mandeville;

jhandhomes.com

871-0300; afd-furniture.com

Premier custom home builder

Designer looks at factory pricing

and remodeling company with a

for any room; in-home design

partnership approach to building

consultations.

and remodeling beautfiul homes with no quality spared.

Arabella Fine Gifts & Home Décor 3902 Hwy 22, Mandeville;

Palatial Stone & Tile

727-9787

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arabellamandeville.com

249-6868; palatialstone.com

Fine gifts, home décor, meticulous

Full-service showroom; highest-

personal service.

quality natural stone, artisan tile, glass and mosaic products. Stone

Auraluz

fabrication and installation.

4408 Shores Dr, Metairie; 504-8883313; shopauraluz.com

Pan American Power

Unique gift items, table and bath

17640 Hard Hat Dr, Covington; 893-

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1271; PanAmericanPower.com

accessories, home fragrance products.

Residential/commercial/industrial; standby generators; maintenance;

Doerr Furniture

remote monitoring

914 Elysian Fields Ave, New Orleans; 504-947-0606

Period Millworks – The

Family-owned, since 1938; quality

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American-made furniture for any

306 E Lockwood St, Covington;

room. Facebook: Doerr Furniture.

705-0115 thewoodwrightshopnola.com

EMB Interiors

Architectural millwork for

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embinteriors.com

doors, windows, shutters, moldings,

EMB designs beautiful outdoor and

flooring, turnings, custom furniture

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Triton Stone Group

70

Inside Northside

Eros Home & Clothing 3906 Hwy 22, Mandeville

6131 River Rd, Harahan;

727-0034

504-738-2228; tritonstone.com

Personal styling; designer furniture

As the temps warm to a breezy degree, the grass begins to green and blooms begin to show their faces—it’s the perfect time of year in sweet Louisiana. Naturally, we gather outdoors at any time and for any and all reasons, but especially during this season.

A crawfish boil, a birthday party, a barbeque. The space where you choose to have your celebration is more than likely your back patio or courtyard.

As it’s also a time for spring cleaning and freshening, new patio furniture or maybe even a moonlight-lighted tree may be on your wish list. In the following pages, find the best in the industry to ensure your patio is well dressed, your grass is green, your hedges are perfectly positioned and your stone walkway is pristine and lit. Get to living…outdoors.

March-April 2017 71

H O M E

A N D

G A R D E N

Home and garden Resources

mullin landscape Chase Mullin

“The details are really important,” says Chase Mullin, owner of

Hestia Luxury in Linens

Outdoor Living Center

61 Park Place, Ste D, Covington;

1331 N Hwy 190, Covington; 893-

893-0490; hestialinens.com

8008; outdoorlivingcenter.com

Full-service design studio for bed/

Outdoor furniture, fireplaces, grills,

bath. Free in-home consultations.

accessories and gifts

Pine Grove Lighting & Electrical

Services

50 West Ct, Mandeville; 893-4003

All Saints Cleaning

pine-grove-electric.com

273-4309

Fixtures of every variety/style; gas

Residential/commerical; one-time/

lanterns, lamps, mirrors and accessories.

weekly/bi-weekly/monthly; move in/ move outs; party clean up; spring

The French Mix by Jennifer

cleaning. All supplies included;

Mullin Landscape Associates. “Often, small things can get overlooked

DiCerbo Interiors

while building a pool or other outdoor space. It’s our job to ensure it

228 Lee Lane, Covington; 809-3152

all comes together—plantings, pools, structures—to meet our clients’

shopthefrenchmix.com

Fidelity Bank/NOLA Lending

expectations.”

Full-service interior design, custom

18 local branches; 800-220-2492 /

furnishings, draperies, original art, rugs.

504-569-3418

The process begins with a complimentary consultation with a Mullin landscape architect where ideas are passed back and forth to develop the needs and desires for the space. Following the initial consultation and acceptance of Mullin’s design agreement, measurements and photos

Landscape

Eduardo J. Jenkins Landscape

licensed, insured.

bankwithfidelity.com Home mortgage loans, home equity loans, home equity lines of credit,

are taken to develop the conceptual design. “We typically present a

Architect and Planners

preliminary budget and graphic aids along with the conceptual design,”

119 North Blvd, Baton Rouge;

says Chase.

225-343-0571; edjenkins.com

GNO Property Management

“After revisions, the plans are finalized and approved and real

home improvement loans, lot loans.

From inspiration to installation, we

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numbers are set for the budget. We want to ensure that our clients are

plan complete environments blending

504-528-7028

able to see the value in what we’re building. We don’t want them to

natural settings and elements.

gnoproperty.com

squander money on unnecessary aspects. I believe that’s a cornerstone of our good reputation.”

A project manager is assigned to each project as a point of contact

Full-service community association Mullin Landscape Associates

management company.

621 Distributors Row, Suite F;

for the client. “Whenever our clients have a concern or question, they

Harahan; 504-275-6617

JaRoy Pest Control

know who to go to, which makes the project run more efficiently. We enjoy

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presenting a well-finished product to our clients on time and on budget.”

Landscaping, outdoor kitchens,

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pavilions, fire elements, hardscapes,

ja-roy.com

water features, lighting, irrigation/

Quality pest/termite control for

drainage, fences/decks, pools.

home/office for over 38 years.

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clients in New Orleans, Mandeville, Covington, Slidell and surrounding areas.

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design for homes and businesses.

liability and high-value coverage.

Mullin Landscape Associates offers services to residential and commercial

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March-April 2017 73

INside Look

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1

2

4

Spring Chic 1. Emerald and diamond pendant set in white gold, $2,500. Boudreaux’s Jewelers, Mandeville, 626-1666. 2. Jane sleeveless shift-style dress with zipper and lace detail

5

on front shown in Toucan Green Coco Loco. Palm Village – A Lilly Pulitzer Store, Mandeville, 778-2547. 3. Bright green tunic, $104. CDN Clothing, Covington, 327-7300.

6

4. Shu Uemura Silk Bloom restorative collection for damaged hair repairs structure of hair fiber; damaged hair is left hydrated, elastic and with a smooth, shiny finish.

Shampoo, $48; conditioner, $58; treatment masque, $68. H2O Salon, Mandeville, 9518166. 5. Floral button back dress, $64. Olive Patch, Covington, 327-5772. 6. Joan Rain Wedge Bootie in Nori-zest by Sorel, $165. Vine, Mandeville, 951-0005.

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Inside Northside

March-April 2017 75

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Inside Northside

INside Look

1 3

Spring Chic 1. Teardrop pendant with 1.25 cttw champagne and white diamonds set in 14 kt gold, $4,995. DeLuca’s Fine Jewelry & Gifts, Covington, 892-2317.

2. Eternal lightweight lace underwire balcony bra in Patine

2

color by Prima Donna, $140 in 32-40 E, F and G cups. Matching satin panty, $36. Bra Genie, Mandeville, 951-8638.

3. Tiered crêpe sheath dress in blush

by Rickie Freeman for Teri Jon, $420.

Ballins LTD, Covington, 892-0025.

4. Tropical print, 100% cotton boy’s romper by Mayoral, $17; navy and white tassel loafers, $18. Baby and Me, Mandeville, 626-0267. 5. Antiqued gold Kaylee Bracelet by Loren Hope featuring hand-set stones and a 3” extender, $128.

Cameo Boutique, Mandeville, 231-1332.

6. Ladies ring with 3.21ct green sapphire accented by .45ctw diamonds set in platinum, $7,950. De Boscq Fine Jewelry, Mandeville, 674-0007. 7. Peep toe wedges with laser-cut

4

detailing, side cut outs and back zip closure, $79. Shoefflé, Covington, 898-6465.

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March-April 2017 77

INside Look 1 2 3

4

Spring Chic 1. Chloe saddle bag in vegan leather with thick

5

stitching details, zipper tassels, zipper closure, fabric-lined interior with two slip pockets and one zip pocket and detachable, adjustable shoulder strap, $84. Paisley, Mandeville, 727-7880.

2. Shinola ladies watch on hazelnut strap, $475.

Lee Michaels Jewelers, Metairie, 504-832-0000.

3. Sennod 18� paperclip silver chain with 18k gold overlay, $278; vignette pendant, $188. Southern Hotel, Covington, 844-866-1907.

4. Olive cargo short $52; tie-front knit top, $42.

Posh Boutique, Covington, 898-2639. 5. Cotton woven top with fringe detail. The Villa, Mandeville, 6

626-9797. 6. Joseph Abboud Stevenson Moc Toe Oxfords in cognac, $170; handcrafted Italian leather belt, $79.50. Jos A. Bank Clothiers, Mandeville, 624-4067.

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Inside Northside

March-April 2017 79

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Inside Northside

INside Look

2

1

3

Spring Chic

4

1. Wrap bracelet with colored stones and wired detail, $15.99. Private Beach, Mandeville, 674-2326. 2. Basic side slit max, $46. Designs by Kenzie necklace, $76. The Lifestyle Store at Franco’s,

5

Mandeville, 792-0200. 3. So-Bronze® 1 bronzing powder by jane iredale with high-quality minerals and antioxidants; classic terracotta color with specks of gold mica, $48. jane iredale purepressed eye shadow in cappuccino is simple to blend, sensitivity tested and stays put for crease-free, long-lasting color, $22. The Oasis Day Spa, Mandeville, 624-6772. 4. Cold-shoulder dress with drop sleeve, $60. Columbia Street Mercantile, Covington, 8091789, 809-1690. 5. Vive La Fête smocked dress and playwear, $42$52. Antiques & Décor, Mandeville, 951-2225. 6. Fino Toe Post sandals in bronze from Fit Flop, $85.95. Earthsavers, Mandeville, 674-1133. 7. Classic Auraluz hand-embroidered boy and girl gingham check shortalls, $54.

Auraluz, Metairie, 504-888-3313.

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March-April 2017 81

M E D I C A L

P R O F I L E

(left to right) Sebastian Koga,

MD, MSt (Oxon);

Ilias Caralopoulos, MD; Carolyn Grey Cotton, CST; Julie Arthur, RN and

Maureen Evans, RN.

Ochsner Neuroscience Institute - COVINGTON A Showcase of the Ochsner-St. Tammany Partnership

IN 2014, ST. TAMMANY PARISH HOSPITAL (STPH) AND OCHSNER

seeking care at MD Anderson, Baylor, and other academic centers

announced a partnership. From the onset, leaders of both

around the country. We hope that we can now provide most

organizations committed to build on strengths and expertise to

treatments locally, making such travel unnecessary.

expand resources and increase local access to high quality care for the community, patients, employees and physicians of West St. Tammany.

“It is rare to have an academic neurosurgery group in a community hospital, and we are prepared to handle all levels of

An initial promise was to increase patient access to

complexity. As the St. Tammany Parish population ages, the risk

subspecialty care and since 2015, subspecialties at STPH

of stroke and cerebrovascular disease increase. We say that ‘time

have grown significantly to include pediatrics, neurology and

is brain’ meaning that rapid treatment of stroke can save brain

neurosurgery.

function. We now have the opportunity to provide immediate care

The recruitment and building of a neurosciences institute may be one of the best examples of collaborative success between

for these patients locally, without moving them to the South Shore.”

On a national level, CareChex ranks Ochsner as number

Ochsner and STPH. Ochsner brought two neurosurgeons and five

11 for neurological care. Ochsner is also the only program in

neurologists into the service area, including Dr. Sebastian Koga

Louisiana listed in the U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals

and Dr. Ilias Caralopoulos.

ranking across three specialty categories, where it is number 23 in

Neurological disorders are a huge burden on the U.S.

the nation for neurology and neurosurgery. “The same quality that

population, with more than 5.2 million emergency rooms visits

earned us this recognition on the South Shore, is being delivered

per year for symptoms related to the nervous system. The brain is

on the North Shore at STPH,” says Dr. Koga.

the most complex organ in the body and controls how we translate

Over the past two years and more than 800 operations

the world around us. Neurological injuries can affect anything from

performed on the North Shore, St. Tammany Parish Hospital has

motor skills to moods and memory, making accurate diagnosis

committed to increasing its capacity for complex neurosurgery

and treatment of utmost importance. The Ochsner Neuroscience

cases. In January 2017, they opened a Neuro Operating Suite to

Institute on the South Shore has earned national recognition, and

house robotic cameras, brain navigation devices, 3D visualization

its new location in Covington upholds the same standards.

and high-field microscopes. A four-bed Neuro-Intensive Care Unit

“As we bring these services to the North Shore, we meet a large need in our community,” says Dr. Koga. “Traditionally, the North Shore has practiced ‘medical tourism,’ with our patients

is also in mid-construction and will open in the summer.

The brain surgery program has grown exponentially in recent years and includes treatment for brain tumors, pituitary

>>

March-April 2017 83

Working with a team

department nestled within a successful community hospital.” Dr. Koga

of experts in Toronto,

and Dr. Caralopoulos have a 24/7 call schedule so that the community

neurological paths

has continuous coverage for emergencies. Three additional specialists

can be isolated in

from Ochsner Medical Center – Jefferson Highway are also available to

a map of the brain,

assist with more rare operations and emergency cases.

aiding surgeries.

Another strength of the Institute is its premier imaging.

New MRI techniques help to better define brain lesions, diagnose dementia, and guide treatments, such as deep brain stimulation for Parkinson’s disease. The Ochsner North Shore radiology center is the first in the region to have the capability of advanced nerve fiber tract imaging. These color-coded MRIs overlay the traditional anatomical views to create 3D maps of the nerve fiber pathways in the brain. This mapping technology helps the surgeons find the tumors, aneurysms and movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease. The Institute also performs innovative spinal operations

“Modern medicine involves drawing from the best

to treat nerve injuries, neck and back pain, scoliosis and spinal

specialists from any field, anywhere,” says Dr. Koga. “For instance,

tumors. New techniques and technologies allow the team to

our brain mapping is done by a company in Toronto, and our

reduce complications.

neuropathology samples are read at the University of Virginia, thus

“I consider it a boutique neurosurgery practice for the people here on the North Shore,” says Dr. Koga. “It is a small but world-class 84

best approach for each lesion.

Inside Northside

providing world-class expertise for our local patients.”

During surgery, the STPH Neuro OR is also equipped with

This large state-of-

fluoroscopic filters on the microscope to differentiate tumor tissue

operations. It’s like a wordless dance, everyone knows his or her

from a normal brain. “A glial tumor is like a spider with invisible

place and what comes next. This reduces surgery time, blood loss,

legs that infiltrate into the surrounding brain tissue,” explains Dr.

and the time that patients are under anesthesia so that patients

Koga. “We can see the tumor itself, but cannot see the ‘legs’ with

can have better outcomes.”

the naked eye. After we inject the tumor with dye, the fluoroscopic filters on the microscopic allow us see the tumor invasion. We also have optical tomography filters, which show us what is beyond the visible tissue. For instance, if there’s an artery behind the tumor, we can see it through the tissue before we get to it.”

Another new technology is Quantum Molecular Resonance

Featured Clinicians

was built to the

specifications of the neuroscience team.

Sebastian Koga, MD, MSt (Oxon)

Dr. Koga is the Chairman of Neurosurgery and Medical

(QMR), a type of ultrasound cautery used to cut tissues with

Director of the Ochsner

minimal damage. “The benefit of QMR is that it does not heat

Neuroscience Institute for the

up the tissue as much as traditional cautery, so it does not leave

North Shore Region. He received

patients with a third degree burn. A lot of post-surgical pain is

his Master’s degree from the

because of the deep tissue healing after cautery. Without the burn,

University of Oxford in England

recovery time is shorter.

“However, the most valuable aspect of the neuro operating

and an MD from Tulane Medical School. He studied Neurosurgery at the University of Virginia and completed fellowships in New

suite at STPH is our specialized team,” says Dr. Koga. “With a

Zealand, Germany and Japan. He has an interest in biotechnology

specialized team of nurses and surgical assistants who only

and runs a research and surgical simulation lab in New Orleans.

do neurosurgery, we can perform much smoother and faster

the-art surgical suite

Dr. Koga served as medical doctor on Mt. Everest in 2003

>>

March-April 2017 85

M E D I C A L

P R O F I L E

“Modern medicine involves drawing from the best specialists from any field, anywhere,” says Dr. Koga.

Technology advances

improve surgical

outcomes and reduce

unintended consequences

in many cases.

performing high-altitude rescues within a few hundred feet of the

of medical knowledge and

summit. He was inducted as Fellow of the Royal Geographical

impeccable bedside manner

Society at Sir Edmund Hillary’s invitation. Dr. Koga and his wife,

enhance the surgical care, and

Vaughan, live in Madisonville, and are longtime members of the

allow the surgeons to reach a

New Orleans Polo Club in Folsom, LA.

greater number of patients.

She supervises the educational

Ilias Caralopoulos, MD

programs for neuroscience

Dr. Caralopoulos attended

nurses, nurse practitioners, and

the International School of Geneva, Switzerland, and received his BS from the University of Washington, Seattle.

medical students at St. Tammany.

Providers

Neurosurgery

He studied medicine in the

Dr. Sebastian Koga, MD MSt

Dr. Ilias Caralopoulos, MD

Brown-Dartmouth program and

Dr. Wale Sulaiman, MP PhD

Dr. James Kalyvas, MD

received his MD from Warren

Mrs. Jessica Rachal, NP

Mrs. Jessica Harvey, PA

Alpert Medical School at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. He completed his neurosurgery residency in the Tulane-

Neurology

Ochsner Program in New Orleans.

Dr. Daniel Chehebar, DO

Dr. Thomas Gann, MD

Dr. Maria Carmen Wilson, MD

Dr. Georgia Lea, MD

Dr. Amy Jones, MD

Dr. Olga Fermo, MD

Dr. Caralopoulos was raised in an international family and is fluent in French, Italian, and Greek. He is an avid outdoorsman and

an accomplished underwater photographer. He decided to stay in Louisiana to enjoy the beautiful nature.

Mrs. Jessica Rachal, NP Mrs. Rachal earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing from Louisiana State University in New Orleans and a Master of Science from Alcorn State University, MS. She is a board certified Advanced Practitioner with over nine years of combined experience in critical care and neurosurgery.

Mrs. Rachal screens many new patients and manages the post-surgical care in the ICU and on the wards. Her depth 86

Inside Northside

The Ochsner Neuroscience Institute provides inpatient care at St. Tammany Parish Hospital. The outpatient clinic is located at 1341 Ochsner Blvd. in Covington. For appointments please call 246-2800.

88

Inside Northside

Flourishes 2 3 1

4 1. Action In Painting by Tobi, 59”T x 54”W, $6,800. Beth Claybourn Interiors New Orleans, New Orleans, 504-342-2630. 2. French Provincial lyre-back fruitwood chair, early 19th century. History Antiques & Interiors, Covington, 892-0010. 3. Corsages

5

for proms and dances, starting at $30. Florist of Covington, 8927701. 4. Hand-carved natural wood planter. EMB Interiors, Mandeville, 626-1522. 5. Woodlawn bowl planter

by Elegant Earth, $75. mélange by

6

KP, Mandeville, 807-7652. 6. Walker transitional outdoor pendant light by Hinkley Lighting. Pine Grove Lighting and Electrical Supply, Mandeville, 8934003. 7. Lili Alessandra Coco Blush Sheer Throw, 36”W x 88”H, $338.

Hestia Luxury in Linens, Covington, 893-0490.

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March-April 2017 89

Flourishes 2 1

3

4

5

1. Antique cast iron fragments, starting at $45 each. Rug Chic, Mandeville, 6741070. 2. Estate diamond crown eternity band set in 18kt white gold, $2,100.

Estate cross with French-cut sapphires 6

set in 18kt white gold surrounded by diamonds, $2,900. Antiques & Décor, Mandeville, 9512225. 3. Verve desk lamp, 23”H x 16”D, made of iron and brass handpainted in pewter tones with glass shade and toggle switch, $785. Arabella Fine Gifts and Home Décor, Mandeville, 727-9787. 4. South Walton Wine and Food Festival, April 27-30, 2017. Visit sowalwine. com for ticket information. 5. ANYWARE outdoor/indoor non-stick cookware for use on stove, in oven and on the grill. Available in other sizes, starting at $72. Niche Modern Home, Mandeville, 624-4045. 6. Custom stone 7

bathroom vanity. Triton Stone Group, Harahan, 504738-2228. 7. Amelia leather power high-leg recliner with power headrest by Flexsteel. Doerr Furniture, New Orleans, 504-947-0606.

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Inside Northside

January-February 2017 91

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Inside Northside

Flourishes

2

1

1. Hand-crafted Happy Birthday door wreath with musical plush teddy bear, $60. Water Street Wreaths, Madisonville, 792-7979. 2. Indoor/outdoor handpainted Mexican pottery, 12� diameter, $45. Outdoor Living Center, Covington, 893-8008. 3. Calcified natural oyster shell lamp base with hard back shade in white linen. American Factory Direct, Mandeville, 871-0300. 4. Space-saving pyramid wine rack, $58. deCoeur Gifts 4

& Home Accessories, Covington, 8093244. 5. Settee in princess citrine is individually customizable and handcrafted

3

in the USA. The French Mix by Jennifer Dicerbo Interiors, Covington, 809-3152.

6. Acanthus leaf ceramic centerpiece bowl, $300; 16� round boxwood topiary ball, $253. Eros Home and Clothing, Mandeville, 727-0034.

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March-April 2017 93

Senior Living

THROW AWAY ALL OF YOUR MISCONCEPTIONS about retirement living. Senior living communities are service-enriched residential communities, not a rest home or an institution! Residents enjoy all of the advantages of an independent lifestyle within a comfortable and burden-free environment.

Free yourself from the daily concerns of meal

if and when they change.

Before you say “I’m not ready for a retirement community,” ask yourself these questions:

unforeseen circumstances force you or your loved ones into a decision you haven’t prepared for.

What is it I’m not ready for?

Will I have to move again if my health fails?

Today’s retirement communities are far different

Most retirement community residents never have

from what they used to be. They’re for people who

to make another move. These communities encourage

planning, home repairs and maintenance, all while

want to maintain their independence and make their

healthy, active, independent living, but most are ready

filling your time with new friends and a variety of

own decisions. Residents enjoy life more — not less.

when a resident’s circumstances change.

Why should I consider a move if I’m still healthy?

you is an important decision. It involves more than

ahead your whole life, so don’t wait until

choosing a lifestyle that’s right for you!

recreational, cultural and social opportunities.

A senior living community should meet your social, recreational, cultural and educational requirements. And you also want to be sure there is a continuum of care in place to meet your needs 94

Inside Northside

What better time to move? You’ve planned

Choosing the right retirement community for simply selecting the right floor plan — it’s about

S E N I O R

IN The Bookcase

L I V I N G

by Terri Schlichenmeyer

examine them, say the authors, but don’t judge them. The best way to find compassion is to offer it to ourselves first.

It’s natural to feel anger at any time, but you can deal with it by acknowledging the frustration that leads to it. Put yourself in your loved one’s place and remember that “We have the power to shift our perspective[s].” Take a deep breath, and “take some time to find creative solutions.”

Know your breaking point and ask for help before you reach it; don’t, in fact, ever be afraid to ask for help.

Remember, too, that an adult loved one may still be capable of decision-making.

Keep a schedule, but don’t be so rigid that you can’t appreciate spontaneity. Try to maintain a sense of humor in some way. Ask to hear old stories and memories as a way to boost joy for you both. “Seek reasons to be grateful …”

Understand that you may grieve now more than later, and that you simply can’t control everything, so go ahead and “ease up on yourself …”

Much as I liked the sentiment behind AARP Meditations for Caregivers, there was one thing I struggled THE ANSWER COULD ONLY BE “YES.” Still, it was the hardest decision you’ve ever made. You

with: the stories accompanying the meditations. Roughly divided into “twenty-eight themes,” this book walks

couldn’t do it—but then again, you couldn’t not: Dad fell,

readers through nearly every emotion they may be feeling

AARP Meditations

then he fell ill, and your home was the logical place for him

at any stage of caregiving. You don’t have to read cover

for Caregivers

to be. You’ve had help, naturally, but you could always use

to cover; pick a page, though, and you’ll be presented

by Barry J. Jacobs, Psy.D.

more, and in AARP Meditations for Caregivers by Barry J.

with an anecdote that just doesn’t feel authentic. Yes, it’s

and Julia L. Mayer, Psy.D.

Jacobs, Psy.D. and Julia L. Mayer, Psy.D., you may find it.

representative of what caregivers may be experiencing, but

Forty million people.

According to reports, that’s how many Americans

psychologist-authors Barry Jacobs and Julia Mayer include

friends each year.” If you’re one of them, say the authors,

gentle succor to end their mini-chapters. And therein

you know that caregiving can be rewarding and meaningful,

lies the reason why you need this book: Those words of

but also exhausting, “transformative,” and “stressful in

wisdom, and not the “stories,” are packed with power and

many ways.” With this book in hand, you don’t have to feel

mind-changing thought-provokers that could turn your

alone while offering that care.

day around. They could be lifesavers. They will make a

at her home, yours or a nursing home, a dozen different feelings may swirl inside you. Accept those feelings and Inside Northside

Scan past them, however, and you’ll find that clinical

“provide unpaid care to cherished family members or

When a loved one needs day-to-day help, whether

96

after awhile, those tales weaken the book.

difference.

And for those very reasons, the only answer to AARP Meditations for Caregivers is “yes.”

S E N I O R

L I V I N G

Beau Provence Other communities offer Memory Care- we specialize in it. Here

Park Provence Savor life at Park Provence! Life is meant to be lived well, and

at Beau Provence, we believe that exceptional care is personalized

we make sure that our residents live theirs to the absolute fullest

care. That’s why we built the Northshore’s ONLY community that caters

here at Park Provence. Our highly trained, passionate staff provides

exclusively to residents with Alzheimer’s/Dementia—so that we could

an unsurpassed level of compassionate care, but our stellar resident

provide a customized memory care experience unlike any other.

satisfaction rates are achieved through the amazing quality of LIFE

Our state-of-the-art, expansive community was built from the

found at Park Provence.

ground up to best meet the needs of the residents we serve. Our unique

“Laissez les bon temps rouler“ is the motto at our beautiful

neighborhood design features two distinct neighborhoods complete with

community, and we make sure that the good times are ALWAYS rolling

their own kitchen & dining area, sitting room, hobby room, and luxury

at Park Provence. From exciting social and recreational activities like

suites. From community-wide uplighting to aid residents with visual

Mardi Gras balls, crawfish boils, and our infamous annual Fishing

limitations, beautiful secure courtyards and screened-in porches that allow

Rodeo, to the customized wellness plans and complimentary laundry

residents to enjoy the outdoors without assistance, customized handrails

and housekeeping services offered in our pet-friendly environment, we

built at heights to serve residents of all levels of mobility, personalized

go above and beyond to ensure that our residents are living the good

memory boxes outside of each room, and built-in aquariums to provide

life each and every day.

sensory stimulation- Beau Provence offers carefully cultivated memory care amenities that can’t be found anywhere else.

Our entire team has been specially trained in Alzheimer’s/Dementia

Located alongside a scenic lake surrounded by a walking path and 20 acres of rolling landscape, Park Provence consists of 82 beautifully appointed live-in suites, with an entire floor that caters exclusively to

care, and their passion and dedication to providing tailored activities,

memory care. An onsite barber shop, nail technician, and daily fun,

wellness plans, and exceptional care that meets the individual cognitive

enriching and diverse activities ensure that there is always something to do

and social needs of each and every resident allows us to fulfill Beau

at Park Provence, and help from our highly trained staff is always close by.

Provence’s promise of providing the best of the best in specialized memory care.

Park Provence--Independence when you want it, assistance when you need it.

Are you ready to see what makes Beau Provence

Ready to let the good times roll? Call our

the difference between a place to live and a

Business Development Director Audrey Baker at

place one can truly call home? Call Executive

985.781.0072, or simply stop by to experience

Director Shelly Jarrell at 985.778.0755, or visit

what the good life is all about. Visit

beauprovence.com to learn more.

parkprovence.com to learn more.

March-April 2017 97

S E N I O R

L I V I N G

St. Anthony's Gardens

A Senior Living Ministry of the Archdiocese of New Orleans Introducing St. Anthony’s Gardens, A Senior Living Ministry of the Archdiocese of New Orleans. Rooted in Catholic principles and traditions, this all-new retirement community represents a new and different level of senior living.

“Say hello to more freedom, purpose, and peace of mind,” says Executive Director Corey Leftwich. “St. Anthony’s Gardens is quickly becoming a desirable choice for individuals looking for exceptional senior living on the Northshore of New Orleans and beyond.”

Residents enjoy a beautifully appointed new private residence— whether they prefer the freedom of independent living or the comfort of assisted living—with a helping hand available when needed. Even better, resort-style amenities expand the living space for residents.

St. Anthony’s Garden’s offers inviting areas to gather with new friends. Discuss the latest game in the lounge. Join an aerobics class in an exercise room. See a movie in the big-screen theater. Learn how to paint in the arts and crafts studio. Say a prayer in the chapel. Plus, a full calendar of social opportunities keeps life inspiring, meaningful and enjoyable.

In addition to independent living and assisted living, St. Anthony’s Gardens also offers highly specialized memory care featuring Heartfelt Connections – A Memory Care Program® for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias.

Conveniently located next to Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church at 601 Holy Trinity Drive in Covington, retirees and families are invited to schedule a visit anytime by calling (985) 605-5950. For more information, they can also visit the website at www.StAnthonysGardens.org.

98

Inside Northside

CHRISTWOOD Christwood has blossomed since it was opened in 1996 in Covington. The not-for-profit, non-denominational Life Plan Community sponsored by Christ Episcopal Church has grown its 58-acre campus to 117 acres of beautifully tended, seasonally planted grounds with attractive buildings, cottages, nature trails, ponds and gardens.

The buildings are home to elegant apartments; the Atrium Gallery, a fireside art gallery displaying bi-monthly exhibits by regional artists; and a state-of-the-art 23,000 sq. ft. Community Center complete with

The latest addition to Christwood is Longleaf at Christwood, a

indoor, heated saltwater pool, fitness room, aerobics studio, Lotus spa

cognitive memory care community and Adult Day Stay program for

and gathering spaces for an array of other interests including lectures, art

residents and adults in the greater community aged 60 and above who

classes, cooking demonstrations and celebrations. The Community Center

are having difficulty with cognitive memory decline. Twenty-eight studio

is an amenity for Christwood residents and is open to adults in the greater

style homes offer privacy and comfort. A full range of assisted living

community ages 55 years and above.

support is offered with a focus on memory care. Individualized care plans

In addition to art exhibits, additional programs contribute to the

are developed through assessment by a team of caring professionals

stimulating environment where residents are encouraged to grow and

working closely with each resident, their family members and doctor.

thrive: the resident-driven Christwood Monthly Lecture Series partnering

Licensed nurse staffing is provided 24 hours a day.

with Southeastern Louisiana University; lectures on operas sponsored by

In addition, Christwood has launched a new program, Christwood

Bravos, the Christwood Opera club; memoir writing classes; concerts by

at Home, which provides personal assistance and care to healthy,

members of the LPO; Summer Third Sunday Concerts; book club; garden

independent seniors ages 60 and above in their own homes and a

club; computer classes; and bridge.

dependable plan for their future.

Christwood offers a comprehensive range of living options and a full

Another service we offer through Christwood Connect provides

continuum of care – from Independent Living to Assisted Living to Skilled

customized companion services to people in their own homes, whether in

Nursing to Cognitive Memory Care – on one campus.

Christwood or surrounding Northshore area, for occasional assistance or a

Independent Living consists of Premier apartments and Atrium apartments with a choice of one, two, or three bedrooms and free-

more regular schedule – even round the clock!

Christwood has come to full bloom offering a comprehensive plan

standing cottages with a choice of two or three bedrooms. All Independent

for each stage of a person’s life. It has even branched out to embrace the

Living homes come with the assurance of health care and a myriad of

greater Northshore community through the Community Center, Longleaf,

amenities and services.

Christwood Connect and Christwood at Home.

Once Independent Living is no longer an option, Assisted Living allows for an independent lifestyle with additional support. If health dictates, residents may move to the Health Center for Skilled Nursing where they receive around-the-clock nursing or rehabilitative care, as

For more information on Christwood call (985) 898-0515; Longleaf, (985) 292-

needed, on either a temporary or permanent basis.

1213; Christwood Connect, (985) 292-1221; or visit www.ChristwoodRC.com.

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Hospice Foundation of the South

Hospice House.

A terminal illness presents many challenges for patients and their families. The Hospice House in Slidell provides a home and medical and emotional care for patients to live out their last days at no cost to them or their families.

Hospice House, the only such home in St. Tammany Parish, was opened in March 2014 by the Hospice Foundation of the South. A three-bedroom home, it serves terminally ill patients who are recommended by one of eight associated hospice programs. To date 112 families have utilized the home.

Circumstances often make families need the home for their loved one. Sometimes an elderly person is in hospice but the spouse is not able to physically care for him/her. A son or daughter who has to work cannot be the 24-hour caregiver. And some people have no family—some may even be homeless. The hospices come to the Hospice House just like they would in the patient’s own home. Home Instead Senior Care provides the 24/7 care for the residents.

A children’s grief camp every May helps children who have experienced a loss of a loved one cope with their grief. An all-volunteer effort of chaplains, nurses, social workers, teachers and lay people help coordinate horse therapy, music therapy, art therapy and more to help up to 30 children ages 7-12 cope with their loss.

The Hospice Foundation of the South has three annual events to raise money to support the home. SeptemBEER fest features a wide variety of beers, food, and auctions. At the Annual Wine & Dine event, 200 wines are available to taste.

The 14th annual Crawfish Cook-off is on April 22 at Fritchie Park.

Between 50-60 teams boil crawfish for bragging rights of “Best tasting crawfish in St. Tammany Parish.” Music from several bands provides entertainment, and there is a Kids Zone. For more information, call 643-5470 or visit hospicefoundationofthesouth.org.

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S E N I O R

L I V I N G

Senior Living Resources Benjamin F. Edwards & Co. 1590 W Causeway App, Ste 1, Mandeville; 674-7000; benjaminfedwards.com Provides advice, service and support help clients achieve their financial goals and objectives.

Beau Provence Memory Care Assisted Living 100 Beau West Dr, Mandeville; 778-0755 beauprovence.com The first and only memory care exclusive assisted living community in the Greater New Orleans area.

Canon Hospice 19375 N 4th St, Covington; 626-3015 New Orleans, 504-818-2723 CanonHospice.com Helps patients and their families accept terminal illness resourcefully and positively.

Christie Tournet 1795 W Causeway App, Ste 103A, Mandeville; 957-2177; tournetlaw.com Estate planning/successions; commercial/real estate law; worker’s compensation defense Christwood Retirement Community 100 Christwood Blvd, Covington; 898-0515 or 800-480-4361; christwoodrc.com Independent living, assisted living, cognitive memory care, rehabilitation, skilled nursing, companion services, Christwood at Home, and Christwood Dementia Home Services Culicchia Neurological Clinic Marrero, Uptown, Slidell, Covington; 504-3406976 or 800-423-4084; culicchianeuro.com Neurology, neurological surgery/rehabilitation, pain management Fidelity Bank 18 local branches; 504-569-3418 bankwithfidelity.com Prime senior checking 102

Inside Northside

S E N I O R

L I V I N G

Istre Hearing Care 350 Lakeview Ct, Ste A, Covington; 845-3509 istrehearingcare.com Comprehensive hearing evaluations, specialized diagnostic testing, hearing aid evaluation/fitting, industrial hearing screenings North Oaks Wellness Clinic 2101 Robin Ave, Ste 5; Hammond; 230-5520 Free annual Medicare wellness visit is benefit of Medicare/Medicare 65 plans, such as Humana or Peoples Health.

Park Provence Senior Living 1925 Possum Hollow Rd, Slidell; 781-0072 parkprovence.com Personalized assisted living and memory care in a therapeutic environment.

St. Anthony’s Gardens 601 Holy Trinity Dr, Covington; 605-5950 StAnthonysGardens.org A ministry of the Archdiocese of New Orleans specializing in independent living 55+ and older; assisted living; and memory care.

SWEGS Kitchen 231 N Carrollton Ave, Ste B, New Orleans; 504301-9196 4350 Hwy 22, Ste H, Mandeville, 951-2064 SwegsKitchen.com Healthy pre-made comfort food The Trace Senior Community 19432 Crawford Rd, Covington; 241-4310 thetraceseniorliving.com Health and wellness care services; outstanding amenities; comfortable apartment homes.

The Windsor Senior Living Community 1770 N Causeway Blvd, Mandeville; 624-8040 windsorseniorliving.com Eighteen years of providing seniors with independent and assisted living services.

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Summer Camps PARENTS—DON’T DREAD THE SUMMER MONTHS! Find just the right programs for your children and have happy campers this summer!

By traditional definition, a summer camp is a supervised program for children or teenagers conducted during the summer months. The primary purpose of most camps is educational or cultural development while being filled with indoor and outdoor activities and opportunities for fun, friendships and exploration.

Today’s summer camps offer a wide variety of specialized activities; there are camps for the performing arts, music, computers, language learning, mathematics and even weight loss. At some camps, all campers stay overnight; at day camps, campers go home each night. Some camps allow both day and overnight campers.

Questions to Consider in Selecting a Camp • What training does the staff receive on safety, supervision, counseling, problem solving and other issues unique to working with young children?

• Is the price all-inclusive, or are there extra charges? If so, what for?

• If transportation is offered, where is the pick-up location for campers?

• If before- and after-camp extended care is offered, who is with the children and what activities take place?

• Is lunch served or do campers bring their own sack lunch? Are snacks and drinks provided?

• If the camp offers swimming, are there swimming lessons, or is it simply recreational swimming?

• Are campers in a group with a counselor all day? Or, are campers free to go from one activity to another with appropriate supervision?

• Is an open house offered before camp starts where you can meet your child’s counselor and van/bus driver?

• Are parents allowed to drop by for visits, or is there a special parent visitation day?

“Summers used to be the worst time for me,” says a young northshore mother. “When my son Brian was out of school, he would spend his days just sitting in front of the television. So I began doing research on summer camp programs for him. Finding the right camp for Brian has been a huge relief—and very rewarding.”

Finding the right summer program for your child can make all the difference!

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Summer Camp Resources

C A M P S

St. Paul’s School

Camp: teaches variations of writing

3192; pontyc.org

create sets/costumes and experiment

917 S Jahncke Ave, Covington;

techniques to give participants a sense

Social and sailing club that encourages

with stage makeup and lighting. The

892-3200

of understanding and confidence

and supports the sport of sailing along

two weeks culminate in a theatre

stpauls.com/student-life/summer-camp

when they write independently. Date

with teaching adults and youth.

performance showcasing group

Sports Camp for boys ages 8-14,

TBA; boys/girls 10-14.

June 5-9. Football Skills: June

Huntington Learning Center

separated by age and ability. Baseball: 12-16. Wrestling: June 19-23.

cooperation, individual talent and Cedarwood School

thriving confidence.

607 Heavens Dr, Mandeville; 845-

1748 N Causeway Blvd,

7111

St. Scholastica Academy

Mandeville; 727-0000

cedarwoodschool.com/curriculum/

122 S Massachusetts St, Covington;

huntingtonhelps.com/center/

summer-camps/

892-2540, ext 129; ssacad.org

mandeville

Pre-engineering Camp: A five-day

Camp Kaleidscope for ages 2-6.

Basketball Camp: June 12-16, girls

Huntington offers summer advantage

Exploration, discovery and the

camp where boys and girls design

programs in reading, writing, math,

development of unique imaginations.

their own robot. June 12-16, entering

study skills, and ACT/SAT Exam prep

Camp Colossal: specialty camps

5th-6th grades, 9am-12pm; entering

that are customized to the level

for ages 7 to 12. Robotics, Marine

7th-8th grades, 1-4pm. Drama

Cheer and Dance Combo Camp:

and age of the student. Morning,

Science, Aeroponics, Hydroponics,

June 19-23, girls K-8th grade. Show off

afternoon and evening sessions are

Entomology, STEM activities, Cheer

performance on Friday, June 23 at noon.

available for summertime flexibility.

and Volleyball Clinics and more.

Cartooning Camp: June 12-16, boys/

Basketball: June 20 – 30. Lacrosse: July 10-14. Soccer: July 17-21.

Speed and Strength: July 24-28.

Camp: Date TBA; boys/girls 9-13.

Video Production Camp: teaches students how to light, shoot and edit their own productions. June 19-23; boys/girls 10-14.Creative Writing

Pontchartrain Yacht Club 140 Jackson Ave, Mandeville; 626-

MADD Camp: for students entering 1st – 7th grades. Music, Art, Drama and Dance. Cast members design/

4th-8th grades. Softball Camp: June 5-7, girls 4th-8th grades. Volleyball

Camp: June 5-9, girls 4th-8th grade.

girls 4th-8th grade. Cartoon design; introduction into animation. Movie

Making Camp: June 12-16, 19-23,

S U M M E R

C A M P S

26-30; boys/girls 4th-8th grade. Making

Franco’s Athletic Club

a short digital movie and making one

100 Bon Temps Roule, Mandeville;

film with all campers. Sculpting Camp:

Broadway Bound: July 20-24, boys/

Archdiocese of New Orleans

792-0205

girls 9-14, 9:00am - 1:00pm.

7002 KC Camp Road, Covington,

June 5-9, boys/girls 4th-8th grade.

francosmandeville.com/summer-camp/

Creating a 3-D wire armature sculpture

Summer Camp for ages 3-14; 10

using Super Sculpey clay.Video Game

Playmakers Theater

Camp Abbey for boys: Weekly

July 6-10, boys/girls 13 -17, 6-8:30pm.

327-7240; campabbey.org

sessions available. Includes lunch,

19106 Playmakers Road, Covington;

sessions June 4-July 1, boys

Camp: June 19-23, boys/girls 4th-8th

field trips, camp t-shirt and backpack,

892-9767

2nd-8th grades. Camp Abbey for

grade. Various games systems like: WiiU,

activities. Before- and after-care for

playmakersinc.com/childrens.html

Xbox360, Atari 2600 and GameCube.

additional charge.

Little Mermaid: May 29 - June 11, boys/

Gamers interested in Minecraft and Gamemaker Software will be able to

Northshore Academy of Dance

share ideas and strategies.

1301 S Polk St, Covington; 893-1143

girls 5-16. Robin Hood: July 17-22,

girls: Weekly sessions July 2-July 29, girls 2nd-8th grades.

boys/girls 5-16. Alice in Wonderland:

Pelican Athletic Club

July 24-Aug 6, boys/girls 5-16.

1170 Meadowbrook Blvd,

northshoreacademyofdance.com

Mandeville; 626-3706

Riverview Camp for Girls

Six weeks of summer classes for

Splendor Farms

Fitquest: Weekly sessions all

Mentone, AL 35984

ages 2 and up.

27329 Mill Creek Road, Bush; 886-

summer, boys/girls 6-13

800-882-0722

3747

riverviewcamp.com

30 by Ninety Theatre

splendorfarms.com/summer-farm-

Camp Old Hickory

Where your daughters grow in

880 Lafayette St, Mandeville; (844)

camp.html

73234 Louisiana Avenue

confidence and maturity in a fun, safe,

843-3090

Summer Farm/Horse Camp: girls

Covington; 892-4788

carefree and wholesome environment.

30byninety.com/summer-camps.html

6 and up. Weekly sessions for varied

Long- and short-term sessions.

Short Shakes - Shakespeare for Youth:

Day Camp: Weekly sessions May

skill levels. See website for details.

29-July 21, boys/girls 5-12

At the Table

by Tom Fitzmorris

illustration: GRETCHEN ARMBRUSTER

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33 Best (offbeat)

Seafood Dishes EVERY YEAR, AT THE MOMENT when Mardi Gras gives way to Lent, I publish a list of the most interesting seafood around town. Since the span from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday is 33 days, that’s how many items are in this annual survey. Each year, we take a different approach to the list.

This year’s seeks and finds dishes that are not only excellent but unique.

That’s why you won’t find Antoine’s oysters Rockefeller, Pat Gallagher’s crab cakes, Drago’s char-broiled oysters, or other famous dishes. Everything here is a dish of originality. And proves that having to limit oneself to seafood is not exactly a penance in our area.

1. Oysters Ooh-La-La, La Provence Lacombe, 25020 US 190, 985-626-7662.

This sounds like something that Chris Kerageorgiou—the late chef and founder of this classic northshore restaurant—would have thought of. Not just the recipe, but the name, too. The dish is a total original by Chef Eric Loos, joining the many baked oyster dishes restaurants serve.

Here, the shell and its oyster are topped with a mixture of crab fat, Parmesan cheese, a little bit of bread crumbs and seasoning. They come out bubbling—an effect Chef Chris always loved.

Rich, but in a unique way.

2. Fish in a Bag, Borgne CBD, 601 Loyola Ave. (Hyatt Regency Hotel), 504-613-3860.

Until Katrina, one of the most famous fancy restaurant fish dishes in New Orleans was pompano

en papillote. Fish cooked in a paper bag. It was fancy and terrible, at least the way Antoine’s was doing it. But Antoine’s wisely chose to let the dish die in the flood, and unless you ask for it in advance, you won’t find it there any more. But it was the recipe, not the concept that was flawed, and a few other chefs have tried their hands in reviving the dish.

The best of them is so good that it has become a signature dish at Borgne. Chef Brian Landry reworked the dish by removing the heavy, gloppy seafood sauce of old and replacing it with some savory vegetables and crabmeat. This keeps the fish flavor as the top note, and releases enough steam inside the bag (that’s the idea) to keep the fish moist.

The exact species varies, of course, with the market.

3. Mussels with Coconut Milk, Meril Warehouse District, 424 Girod St., 504-526-3745.

This is the newest dish in this survey. Even the restaurant is new: Meril opened in late 2016, the newest New Orleans restaurant from the evercreative mind of Emeril Lagasse, who named the Warehouse-district place for one of his daughters.

The menu is unusual in being oriented almost entirely toward small plates. One of these is a bowl of the best mussels currently being served in the area. First of all, they’re plump and big, enough >> March-April 2017 109

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so that you can see the genders of the bivalves.

(Pale-ivory mussels are females and the orange ones are males, not that it makes any difference.) The sauce reminds me of the white-wine-and-cream mussels you get in French and Belgian restaurants.

What makes Meril’s version spectacular is its use of coconut milk as an ingredient.

4. Oysters Giovanni, Cafe Giovanni French Quarter, 117 Decatur St., 504-529-2154.

Chef Duke Locicero won a big cooking contest years ago with this dish, and it’s easy to see why. It starts out with money in the bank: fried oysters, crisp with cornmeal at the exterior, still bulging. A bunch of those are arrayed in a circle on a plate spread with a unique brown sauce. It tastes like nothing else I know: sweet, gingery, savory, a little peppery—hard to describe, but perfect with oysters. In that sauce, three colorful fruit-flavored sauces get swirled in to make a stained-glass effect. My first impression was that this was too much fooling around, but the sauces actually add quite a nice flavor. It’s such a terrific dish that it’s hard to go to Café Giovanni without starting dinner off with these. At the very least, get an order to pass around the table.

5. Lobster Dumplings, GW Fins French Quarter, 808 Bienville St., 504-581-3467.

These are a staple on the GWFins appetizer list.

In appearance, they’re reminiscent of Chinese steamed dumplings, but in every other way they are much more elegant, stuffed with lobster and fish mousseline.

A lobster butter sauce finishes it off. Sometimes this is the first course in a four-course lobster dinner that Fins runs in season. It’s almost always available otherwise. Most years, Chef Tenney Flynn brings these great tidbits to the French Quarter Festival.

6. Oysters Foch, Antoine’s French Quarter, 713 St. Louis St. 504-581-4422.

The sauce is where the main action is, although the rest of the dish is pretty good, too. It’s a variation 110

Inside Northside

on hollandaise, which will come as a surprise to those who like it, because it doesn’t resemble hollandaise at all. It’s so dark that it looks as if it’s made out of chocolate. The flavors of tomato, sherry and pepper come through, too. There’s nothing like it in any New Orleans restaurant (or any other restaurant anywhere, to my knowledge). The sauce goes over the top of cornmeal-coated fried oysters, placed on foie-gras-slathered toast. It’s supposed to recall the horrible battles in World War I led by Marshal Ferdinand Foch, but the less you know about that, the better. It’s a fantastic and unique appetizer. Antoine’s also uses this sauce on breaded trout or soft-shell crabs to brilliant effect, too. In Antoine’s Hermes Bar, they serve an oysters Foch poor boy—something I’ll bet the waiters have been eating for 50 years at least.

7. Seafood Martini, Pelican Club French Quarter, 615 Bienville St., 504-523-1504.

This appetizer has lately stolen my allegiance from the Pelican Club’s still-excellent scallops-andartichokes arrangement. Big lumps of crabmeat, big shrimp, and chunks of lobster come together united by an herbal, piquant ravigote sauce. The martini aspect is only in the glass used to hold all this. It’s big enough that Chef Richard Hughes deemed it necessary to add some potato salad at the bottom, to prop up the main items.

8. Salt-Baked Crab, Kim Son Gretna, 349 Whitney Ave., 504-366-2489.

The dish, a Vietnamese specialty, is a misnomer.

There’s more pepper than salt. And it’s not really baked, but stir-fried and finished briefly in the oven. It is, however, really made with crab—good lake blue crabs cut into quarters, cooked with a tremendous amount of garlic and pepper. It’s a major mess to eat—along the lines of boiled crabs. But once you start eating this, you’ll find it impossible to stop, particularly during the best months of crab season (early and late summer). Also good are the scallops and shrimp done in the same style. At a significantly higher price, Kim Son also does salt-

baked Maine lobster. There’s always someone in the dining room eating that. All if it is lusty eating.

9. Crabmeat Sardou, Tommy’s Cuisine Warehouse District, 746 Tchoupitoulas St., 504-581-1103.

The idea is simple and good. Remove the poached eggs from the classic breakfast dish eggs Sardou, and replace it with a pile of warm crabmeat. Everything else remains the same: the artichoke bottoms, the creamed spinach in them, and the hollandaise sauce over everything. All those flavors are great together, as long as there’s enough crabmeat to be the main ingredient. The dish was created at Galatoire’s a long time ago, but their long-time chef Prudence Milton is at Tommy’s now, and so is his great crabmeat Sardou. It works as a light entrée or a heavy appetizer.

10. Crabmeat Cheesecake with Pecan Crust, Palace Café French Quarter, 605 Canal St., 504-523-1661.

This first time I encountered a savory cheesecake was at Commander’s Palace, during Emeril Lagasse’s chefdom.

Interesting idea: you combine all the standard ingredients for a cheesecake except the sweet ones. Then add an interesting savory ingredient or two. In this case, those are crabmeat and wild mushrooms. Surprise! What sounded like a really stupid idea emerges as a brilliant new flavor ensemble. When the Palace Café opened, crabmeat cheesecake was one of the specials on the original menu. It quickly became one of the most popular and best first courses at the P.C. The core of the dish is certainly good enough, and the pecan crust adds textural contrast. Wild mushrooms in an old-style brown meuniere sauce completes a delicious little plate of local flavor.

11. Oysters Amandine, Mr. Ed’s Oyster Bar & Fish House Metairie, 3117 21st St., 504-833-6310.

After 85 years of serving simple but meticulously cooked seafood, the elderly owners of Bozo’s restaurant found the perfect person to carry the torch into the future. Ed McIntyre is not only an excellent operator of neighborhood cafés, but also a big fan of Bozo’s for his entire life. When he bought Bozo’s in 2013, he kept a lot of the old menu, but tripled it in size with a wealth of new dishes. The oysters amandine may be the best of them. They’re fried, topped with an old- >> March-April 2017 111

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style meuniere sauce and then finished with toasted almonds. They come out of the half shell after a pass through the broiler. They’re not only delicious but very appealing to the eye.

12. Crawfish and Goat Cheese Crèpes, Muriel’s French Quarter, 801 Chartres St., 504-568-1885.

This appetizer (made with shrimp when crawfish are out of season, with no loss of goodness) first appeared on Muriel’s menu during the chefhood of Erik Veney. Two subsequent chefs made many changes to the food during their times, but the crawfish and goat cheese crèpes remain inviolate, a classic dish for which it’s hard to imagine an improvement. The goat cheese is inside the crèpes, softened by an admixture of cream cheese and sharpened with chives and shallots.

The crawfish are in the sauce, with butter, a little tomato and bell peppers. It’s a wonderful taste with which to begin a meal—rich, but not too.

13. Scallops with Fennel and Orange Emulsion, Rue 127 Mid-City, 127 N.Carrollton Ave., 504-483-1571.

One of the lightest, but also one of the best dishes from this small, brilliant bistro is a trio of enormous diver scallops, seared top and bottom and bulging with juiciness. The flavor of the sea releases itself in the first bite. It is further enhanced by the orange and fennel flavors. The presence of oyster mushrooms lends a meatiness that satisfies. As always, scallops are what you want to eat when you want to stick to seafood, yet enjoy a firm, satisfying meatiness.

14. Heirloom Beets with Crabmeat, La Provence Lacombe, 25020 US 190, 985-626-7662.

Whoever came up with the idea of pairing beets with lump crabmeat was a) someone who could think counter-intuitively, because the last thing you’d think of doing with expensive crabmeat is to stain it with beet juice; and 2) a genius of 112

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taste. The two flavors are remarkable together. The most interesting version is put out as an appetizer at La Provence. Like everything else there, the beets come from a local farm, where they grow a few different heirloom varieties of beets. Not all are red.

They look as good as they taste.

15. Fleur-De-Lis Shrimp, Drago’s CBD, 2 Poydras St., 504-584-3911; Metairie 3232 N. Arnoult Rd., 504-888-9254.

A dish of relatively recent vintage (inspired by a similar concoction from Bonefish Grill), these are good-size shrimp fried without a batter.

They’re then tossed in a spicy aioli to coat them, and then in crushed, toasted peanuts, which stick to the aioli-covered shrimp. This is an irresistible combination of flavors and a great nibble with a glass of wine or a cocktail. Beware having too many orders of these shrimp on the table. You won’t be able to stop eating them, and they will fill you up.

16. Combination Pan Roast, Pascal’s Manale Uptown, 1838 Napoleon Ave., 504-895-4877.

Although Pascal’s Manale is most famous for its shrimp, in my opinion their great specialty is oysters. They’re good from the raw ones in the bar through this dish, one of the most complex of their concoctions. It started as an all-oyster entrée, but evolved into an appetizer with oysters, shrimp and crabmeat. Holding everything together is a Bèchamel sauce that looks cheesey, but isn’t. It does include a lot of green onions, which makes the dish. Bread crumbs on top, a pass through the oven until it bubbles—then it’s eating time. A good time.

17. Mussels with Saffron Cream Sauce and Chorizo, Pardo’s Covington, 69305 Hwy 21, 985-893-3603.

Pardo’s is the newest five-star restaurant in the area. This dish is an appetizer there. I love mussels, but it’s rare that I’ve had a version as good as this.

In fact, I can’t think of a better version. The sauce/ broth is thick, aromatic with saffron, and spicy with the juices coming from the Spanish chorizo. It’s >>

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a little too thick and intense to eat with a spoon, as is my habit. Instead, both my wife and I were going after every swipe with bread. And she doesn’t even like mussels. The fresh-cut fries added to the enjoyment. The dish runs as a special, so it might be a good idea to ask for it when you make your reservation, a few days ahead of time.

Blue Crabmeat and Mushrooms Eggs Benedict from Mattina Bella in Covington.

18. Seafood Caprese Salad, Cafe Giovanni French Quarter, 117 Decatur St., 504-529-2154.

A standard Caprese salad is layered with fresh mozzarella cheese and tomatoes, with olive oil and basil. Chef Duke’s enhancement adds shrimp and crabmeat, plus a sauce that’s similar to a white remoulade. It’s an irresistible appetizer, and the only thing wrong with it is that it’s too big to finish

while saving appetite for an entree. So, split it two ways. It’s a great item to include if you’re having Chef Duke feed you.

19. Crabmeat Remick, Clancy’s Uptown, 6100 Annunciation St., 504-895-1111.

Crabmeat Remick is baked in the same way crabmeat au gratin is, but with a much zestier sauce.

It became famous locally at the Caribbean Room in the Pontchartrain Hotel, although it appears to have been invented in the 1920s at the Plaza Hotel in New York, where it was named for William H. Remick, the former head of the New York Stock Exchange.

The Caribbean Room through most of its history was a high-upscale restaurant that routinely reproduced famous dishes from all over the world, in addition to its own dishes. The recipe for the dish doesn’t sound good. The sauce is made of mayonnaise, ketchup or chili sauce and mustard, with a few minor ingredients. The sauce is mixed with the jumbo lump crabmeat, topped with two slices of previously-fried bacon, and broiled until it bubbled. It’s a terrific appetizer. Top it with a poached egg, and you have a great brunch recipe, too.

20. Blue Crabmeat and Mushrooms Eggs Benedict, Mattina Bella Covington, 421 E. Gibson St. 985-892-0708.

Mattina Bella is the best breakfast café on the northshore, which is saying something—what with the large number of breakfast places in Mandeville and Covington.

There’s nothing especially offbeat about the menu, but they put out the classics with such attention to detail that you’d have to go to a fancy hotel or Brennan’s on Royal Street to equal it. This dish is exactly what it implies: English muffins topped with crabmeat or crawfish with mushrooms, topped with poached eggs

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photo: THOMAS B. GROWDEN

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and a near-perfect, flowing hollandaise.

The explanation lies in the hands of Vincent Riccobono, the owner, whose family supplies most of the staff.

21. Gnocchi with Crabmeat and Mushrooms, Tujague’s French Quarter, 823 Decatur St., 504-525-8676.

When the ancient (1856) restaurant Tujague’s updated itself in 2013, one of the dishes on the new menu was something so superb that customers who had it as an appetizer often asked to have a bigger plate of it as an entree. The gnocchi are made in house with a very deft hand. The texture is perfect. So is the sauce that connects it with the other elements on the place. The crabmeat is a no-brainer, but the wild mushrooms are another matter. The dish harkens back to the day when Tujague’s neighborhood was mostly Italian.

22. Free-Form Crabmeat Raviolo, Atchafalaya Uptown, 901 Louisiana Ave., 504891-9626.

“Raviolo” is the singular of the much more common Italian word “ravioli,” and says that you only get one of them. That’s plenty enough in this case. The pasta part is a 5-inchsquare sheet, folded over some lump crabmeat in an uncomplicated but very good sauce involving shiitake mushrooms, spinach, unsweetened mascarpone cheese, and a creamylooking citrus beurre blanc with a sprinkling of green onions. The crabmeat is the center of attraction.

Even though it plays solo, one of these is big enough to split, or to make a light entree. I think this has been on >> March-April 2017 115

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the menu since before the brilliant Christopher Lynch took over as executive chef, but it’s right up to his level of cookery.

23. Drumfish with Hot and Hot Shrimp, Upperline Uptown, 1413 Upperline St., 504-891-9822.

Although the black drum (cousin of redfish) is the center of the plate, the shrimp are what you’ll remember. It comes to the table napped with a buttery, peppery sauce, but a little pitcher on the side allows you to add the second, different, and much hotter sauce to your liking. Owner JoAnn Clevenger said she saw the idea in a restaurant she visited, and had then-chef Ken Smith devise the Upperline’s version.

24. Trout Muddy Waters, Mondo Lakeview, 900 Harrison Ave., 504-224-2633.

The funky restaurant phenomenon that was Uglesich’s is gone and probably will never be back.

Most of its unique dishes are gone, too. But one has made a leap from beyond the grave onto at least two current restaurant menus. Trout Muddy Waters (it can be and often was made with redfish or drum) was a straightforward pan-seared fillet with an equally commonplace meuniere sauce in the Creole style. What made it different was the addition of jalapeno pepper chopped into the sauce. Susan Spicer’s version has a little bit going on beyond that, with a faint seafoody flavor from (I would guess) a bit of shrimp stock. It’s my favorite dish at her new Lakeview restaurant Mondo.

25. Jungle Curry with Shrimp, Cafe Equator Metairie, 2920 Severn Ave., 504-888-4772.

This dish shows up on many Thai menus under different names, although the word “jungle” is often included. The reference there is to the quantity and variety of vegetables used. It may well be everything in the house: broccoli, carrots, peas, string beans,

onions, bell peppers, as well as Thai herbs like basil and galangal. It’s a Thai curry, about which two things must be said. First, the flavor is not like that of Indian curry, although it has a few spices in common. Second, it is very juicy, even brothy—something they emphasize at the Equator more than in other restaurants. Best made spicy, it’s a marvelous summer dish.

26. Cajun Bouillabaisse, Jacques-Imo’s Riverbend, 8324 Oak St., 504-861-0886.

It’s not the most popular dish at the hyperpopular Jacques-Imo’s, but it is the best. Chef Jacques take a broad interpretation of the bouillabaisse concept, with shrimp, crabmeat and crawfish in season. It’s topped by a chunk of blackened tuna, and there it is. Spicy and redolent with tomatoes and the Creole trinity, it’s a big bowl of pleasure for seafood lovers.

27. Salmon with Choucroute and Gewurztraminer Sauce, Bayona

French Quarter, 430 Dauphine St., 504-525-4455.

As good as Bayona has been during its entire 18-year history, it seems to me that it’s improved since the hurricane. One index of that is what happened to this dish, a standard on Chef Susan Spicer’s menu since opening day. The salmon is now routinely wild-caught Pacific salmon.

That’s exceptional here; I know of only one other restaurant that offers that incomparably superior salmon all the time. The dish itself always was good.

Its flavor is that of Alsace, the ancestral home of the spicy, white Gewurztraminer grape. That’s the flavor of the sauce. The salmon is encrusted with bread crumbs, then semi-pannéed in butter. Although Alsace is long part of France, it has been German in its history as well, and you see that influence in the food. Choucroute is French sauerkraut. I’ve been to restaurants in Alsace and had this very dish there, and Susan has it nailed. Every time I order it, my mind is prousted back to Colmar. >>

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28. Crabmeat and Brie Soup, Dakota Covington, 629 N. US 190. 985-892-3712.

This soup—now such a signature item for this five-star restaurant that they bring it to every charity event they join—was created when the kitchen found itself with an excess of Brie cheese.

Brie does not last forever, so Chef Kim Kringlie plowed it into the already rich crabmeat and cream bisque. What emerged was a soup with the tang of cream, the bitterness of Brie, the fat mouthfeel of both, and, overriding it all, the flavor of crabmeat both from backfin lumps and crab stock. It’s certainly the best-selling first course at Dakota, and so popular that they get requests to sell it by the quart and gallon. It teaches us that for some people there is no such thing as too rich. I think this is right on the edge of that, and occasionally over it.

But the taste is marvelous.

29. Barbecue Oysters, Middendorf’s River Parishes, Exit 15 off I-55, Manchac.

985-386-6666.

The name suggests something like Drago’s famous grilled oysters, but this is a dish unique to Middendorf’s. The oysters are baked on the shells, after being topped with a thick, reddish-brown sauce whose flavor components are all but impossible to discern. It’s savory and aromatic like a steak sauce, peppery like barbecue sauce, and has a curious texture. If you get a half-dozen of these, you’ll wish you’d asked for another six. A decided sleeper on the menu of this great old catfish house in the marshes.

30. Pescado Campeche, Mizado Lakeview, 5080 Pontchartrain Blvd., 504-885-5555.

The name means, “Fish of the Gulf enclosed by the Yucatan Peninsula” tells us a lot. The Gulf of Campeche teems with fish, most of them species that we are very familiar with in New Orleans.

The kitchen turns out a nice slab of the fish of the day, right off the grill, striped with several sauces, dominated by a sharp, herbal chimichurri and a rich serrano crema. Delicious eating. The only objection I could have is that there are semi118

Inside Northside

mashed potatoes under the fish, which to me is a textural mismatch. The restaurant is the latest creation of the Taste Buds, who in the past brought us Zea and Semolina. It’s decidedly Mexican, but in a style unfamiliar to most Orleanians. Very interesting, particularly if you love seafood.

31. Seraphine Salad, Steak Knife Lakeview, 888 Harrison Ave., 504-488-8981.

The salads at the long-running Lakeview steak specialist (which also serves just about everything else) have always been better than average. This one is for evenings when you want to literally graze.

The Seraphine salad (I think it’s named for the Roth brothers’ mother) brings avocado, asparagus, hearts of palm and artichoke hearts together with the greens. The house-made dressings are all good, but the best is the Roquefort, topped off with a little remoulade. Perfect prelude to the crabmeat au gratin.

32. Lobster Empire, Drago’s CBD, 2 Poydras St., 504-584-3911.

For my money, the only way you can find a better lobster than those at Drago’s is to travel to Maine or Canada. They sell so many lobsters at Drago’s that they’re always still fat and meaty by the time they get to your table. This variation starts with a pound-and-a-half lobster, which is steamed and then cut open end to end. The tail and head contents are pulled off to one side, allowing pockets for the creamy sauce with oysters and mushrooms.

The plate is finished off with a terrific seafood pasta in a cream sauce. Very rich.

33. Pan-Seared Halibut, Gautreau’s Uptown, 1728 Soniat St., 504-899-7397.

Halibut is not a local fish, but we can forgive it that. It’s one of the best of the exotic species we find on New Orleans menus. For a long time, Gautreau’s features halibut as often as it can be found in the market fresh—usually and best from Alaska. They cut thick rectangles from the enormous fillets and either sear them or roast them under an herbal crust.

It has become a signature dish at the Uptown bistro, and the halibut is still there most of the time.

INside Dining

Lunch, dinner. MCC.

7:30am-6pm. englishtearoom.com.

pizzas, calzones. 20 craft beers on

MCC, RR.

tap. Open 7 days a week. Lunch and

Carreta’s Grill, 70380 Hwy. 21,

dinner. MCC. mellowmushroom.com.

MCC: Major credit cards accepted

871-6674. Great Mexican cuisine and

Fat Spoon Café, 2807 N Highway

ME: Menu Express delivery

margaritas served in a family-friendly

190., 893-5111. Breakfast, Lunch,

Mugshots Grill & Bar, 300

RR: Reservations recommended

atmosphere for lunch and dinner. Kids

Tues-Sun. 7am-2pm. Breakfast

River Highlands Blvd., 893-2422.

eat free every Wednesday! Private

severed until 10:30 on weekdays and

mugshotsgrillandbar.com.

events and catering also provided.

all day Saturday and Sunday. Reserve

carretasgrill.com. MCC.

Fat Spoon Café for your next party.

New Orleans Food and Spirits, 208

fatspooncafe.com. MCC.

Lee Ln., 875-0432. Family owned

ABITA SPRINGS Abita Barbecue, 69399 Hwy. 59, 400-5025. Ribs, brisket, chicken, pulled pork and boudin. MCC.

The Chimes, 19130 W. Front St.,

and operated. neworleansfoodspirits.

892-5396. Catering, Sunday brunch,

Gallagher’s Grill, 509 S. Tyler

Abita Brew Pub, 72011 Holly St.,

daily lunch specials, 72 beers on tap.

St., 892-9992. Lunch, Tues-Sat

892-5837. Good fun and great

Lunch and dinner. chimesbeeru.com.

11:30am-2:30pm. Dinner, 5-9:30pm.

Nonna Randazzo’s Italian Bakery

beer. On the Trace. Lunch, dinner.

MCC.

gallaghersgrill.com. MCC.

and Cafè, 2033 N. Hwy. 190, Ste.

Coffee Rani, 234-A Lee Ln., 893-

Garcia’s Famous Mexican Food,

bakery. Luncheon salads, panini,

Abita Springs Café, 22132 Level St.,

6158. Soup and salad specialists.

200 River Highlands Blvd., 327-7420.

catering, donuts, kingcakes, cupcakes

867-9950. Tues-Sun. MCC.

coffeerani.com. MCC.

com. MCC.

5, 893-1488. Full service, year-round

abitabrewpub.com. MCC.

and wedding cakes. Tues-Sun, open Glory Bound Gyro Company, 500

at 7am. nonnarandazzo.com. MCC.

Camellia Café, 69455 Hwy. 59,

Columbia St. Tap Room & Grill,

River Highlands Blvd., Ste. A, 871-

809-6313. Traditional seafood and

434 N. Columbia St., 898-0899.

0711. Open 7 days a week, lunch and

Osaka West, 804 N. US 190, 985-

New Orleans cuisine. thecamelliacafe.

Lunch, dinner. covingtontaproom.com.

dinner. A new age American restaurant

871-8199. Japanese. MCC.

com. MCC.

MCC, ME.

concept with Mediterranean influences.

Mama D’s Pizza & More, 22054

Copeland’s. 680 N. US 190, 985-

Hwy. 59, 809-0308. Lunch, dinner.

809-9659. Creole. MCC. RR.

gloryboundgyroco.com. MCC.

mamadspizza.com.

Dakota Restaurant, 629 N. Hwy. COVINGTON

Osaka 21, 70340 Hwy. 21, 985-8092640. Japanese. MCC.

Italian Pie, 70488 Hwy. 21, 8715252. Dine in or carry out. italianpie.

Ox Lot 9, 428 E Boston St., 400-

com. MCC, checks.

5663. Hotel. Dinner, Sunday brunch.

190, 892-3712. Contemporary

oxlot9.com. MCC.

Abita Roasting Company,

Louisiana cuisine using local

La Carreta Authentic Mexican

1011 Village Walk, 246-3345.

and seasonal ingredients.

Cuisine, 812 Hwy. 190, 624-

Papi’s Fajita Factory of Covington,

abitaroasting.com.

thedakotarestaurant.com. MCC, RR.

2990. Festive Mexican atmosphere,

1331 N. Hwy. 190 Ste. 100, 893-

fresh food from traditional recipes,

1382. Kids eat free on Tuesday nights.

Acme Oyster House, 1202 Hwy.

Del Porto Restaurant, 501 E. Boston

outstanding service and value. Live

Open 7 days a week for lunch and

190, 246-6155. Lunch, dinner.

St., 875-1006. Northern Italian cuisine.

music. Lunch and dinner seven days a

dinner. MCC.

mamdspizza.com. MCC.

delportoristorante.com. MCC, RR.

week. carretasrestaurant.com. MCC.

Albasha, 1958 Hwy. 190,

Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, 69292 Hwy.

Lola, 517 N. New Hampshire St., 892-

Lunch, Tues-Fri; Dinner, Tues-Sun;

867-8292. Mediterranean cuisine.

21, 871-2225. Locally-owned and

4992. Lunch, Mon-Fri; Dinner, Fri-Sat.

Happy hour, Tues-Fri, 4-7pm. Private

albashabr.com. MCC.

-operated franchise. Kids eat free on

Closed Sundays. lolacovington.com.

parties and catering. pardosbistro.

Pardos, 69305 Hwy. 21, 893-3603.

Sundays. MCC.

com. MCC. Mac’s On Boston, 324 E. Boston St.,

Annadele’s Plantation, 71518 Chestnut St., 809-7669. Yellow fin

DiCristina’s Restaurant, 810 N.

985-892-6550. Contemporary Creole.

Pat’s Seafood Market and Cajun

tuna, domestic lamb & much more.

Columbia St., Ste. C, 875-0160. Italian

MCC.

Deli, 1248 N. Collins Blvd., 892-7287.

annadeles.com. MCC, checks.

and seafood. dicristinas.com. MCC.

Jambalaya, gumbo, stuffed artichokes.

Mattina Bella, 421 E. Gibson St.,

Bear’s Restaurant, 128 W. 21st St.,

DiMartino’s, 700 S. Tyler St., 276-

892-0708. Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

892-2373. Best po-boys in the world.

6460. Great food and reasonable

MCC, checks.

MCC.

prices. Lunch, dinner. dimartinos.com.

MCC.

Beck ‘n’ Call Cafe, 534 N. New

21, 875-7894. Catch your morning buzz at this convenient drive-thru!

15, 898-2800. Great sandwiches,

Catering. MCC.

Hampshire, 985-875-9390. Lunch

salads, overstuffed potatoes.

Cafe, Breakfast. MCC.

Dr., 327-7111. Lunch and dinner.

mcalistersdeli.com. MCC, checks.

donsseafoodonline.com. MCC.

803-8368. Hamburgers. MCC. Buster’s Place, 519 E. Boston St., 809-3880. Seafood, po-boys, steaks.

120

Inside Northside

PJ’s Coffee & Tea Co., 70456 Hwy.

McAlister’s Deli, 206 Lake Dr., Ste.

Don’s Seafood Hut, 126 Lake

Bud’s Broiler, 1250 N. US 190, 985-

MCC, checks, ME.

Pizza Man of Covington, 1248 N. Collins Blvd., 892-9874. Checks, ME.

Megumi of Covington, The English Tea Room, 734 Rutland

1211 Village Walk, 893-0406.

Raising Canes, 1270 N. Hwy. 190,

St., 898-3988. Authentic English

megumirestaurant.net.

809-0250. Chicken fingers, crinkle-cut

cream teas. Special event teas,

fries, coleslaw, texas toast, signature

English scones, crumpets and cakes.

Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers,

secret dipping sauce. Dine-in, to-go

Serving breakfast and lunch. Mon-Sat,

1645 Hwy. 190, 327-5407. Salads,

and catering. MCC.

i Sala Thai, 315 N. Vermont St., 249-

Tope là, 104 N. Cate St., 542-7600.

6990. Special salads, spring rolls,

Contemporary delights. topela.com.

soups, noodle and curry dishes.

MCC.

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Sun-Thurs, 11am-9pm; Fri-Sat, 11am-10pm.Lunch buffet weekdays,

Trey Yuen Cuisine of China, 2100

11am-3pm. salathaibysu.com. MCC.

N. Morrison Blvd., 345-6789. treyyuen. com. MCC, checks.

Sugarbear’s Sweet Shop, 100 Tyler Square, 276-2377. Creative

Yellow Bird Café, 222 E. Charles St.,

cakes and assorted sweets. Tues-Sat.

345-1112. A great place to start your

sugarbearsweetshop.com.

day. Breakfast, lunch. MCC, checks.

Sweet Daddy’s, 420 S. Tyler St.,

LACOMBE

898-2166. Pulled pork, brisket and ribs.

La Provence Restaurant, 25020

sweetdaddysbarbq.com. MCC, ME.

Hwy. 190, 626-7662. Dinner, Sunday brunch. laprovencerestaurant.com.

Tchoupstix, 69305 LA Hwy. 21, 985-

MCC, checks. RR.

892-0852. Japanese. MCC. Sal & Judy’s, 27491 Hwy. 190, 882Vasquez Seafood & Po-Boys, 515

9443. Veal is the house specialty.

E. Boston St., 893-9336. Cuban

salandjudys.com. MCC, RR.

sandwiches and more. vazquezpoboy.

MADISONVILLE

com. MCC, checks, ME.

Abita Roasting Company, 504 Water Yujin Japanese Restaurant and

St., 246-3340. abitaroasting.com.

Sushi Bar, 323 N. New Hampshire St., 809-3840. MCC.

Keith Young’s Steakhouse, 165 Hwy. 21, 845-9940. Lunch, dinner,

Zea Rotisserie & Grill, 110 Lake Dr.,

Tues-Fri. keithyoungs.net. MCC.

327-0520. Inspired American food. zearestaurants.com. MCC.

Morton’s Boiled Seafood & Bar, 702 Water St., 845-4970. Lunch,

HAMMOND

dinner. MCC, checks.

Brady’s, 110 SW Railroad Ave., 5426333. bradysdowntown.com.

Orlando’s, 304 Hwy. 22 West, 985845-4446. Seafood. MCC.

Don’s Seafood & Steak House, 1915 S. Morrison Blvd., 345-8550.

Water Street Bistro, 804 Water St.,

donsseafoodonline.com. MCC.

985-845-3855. Contemporary Creole.

MCC.

Jacmel Inn, 903 E. Morris St., MANDEVILLE

542-0043. Catering, special events, weddings. jacmelinn.com. MCC,

Another Broken Egg Cafe, 1901 US

checks.

190, #7, 985-951-2246. Breakfast.

MCC.

Kirin Sushi, 223 S. Cate St., 5428888. kirinjapanesecuisine.com. MCC.

The Barley Oak, 2101 Lakeshore Dr., 727-7420. Serving 130 styles of beer,

La Carreta Authentic Mexican

call and premium liquors. Lunch and

Cuisine, 108 N.W Railroad Ave., 419-

dinner. thebarleyoak.com. MCC.

9990. Festive Mexican atmosphere, fresh food from traditional recipes,

Beach House, 124 Girod, 985-

outstanding service and value. Live

624-9331. Neighborhood Cafe.

music. Lunch and dinner seven days a

beachhousemandeville.com. MCC.

week. carretarestaurant.com. MCC. Bistro Byronz, 1901 Highway 190, Tommy’s on Thomas, 216 W.

985-951-7595. American. MCC.

Thomas St., 350-6100. Pizza, pastas.

Lunch, dinner. tommysonthomas.com.

Bosco’s Italian Café, 2040 Hwy. 59,

MCC, checks.

624-5066. boscositalian.com.

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March-April 2017 121

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985-626-8118. Japanese. locu.com.

Opal Basil, 690 Lafitte St., 985-778-

China cuisine with Louisiana flair. Lunch,

MCC.

2529. Eclectic. MCC.

dinner. treyyuen.com. MCC, checks.

9007. Casual fine dining for lunch,

La Carreta Authentic Mexican

Pat Gallagher’s 527 Restaurant and

Usual Suspects. 1680 LA 59.

dinner and Sunday brunch by

Cuisine, 1200 W. Causeway

Bar, 527 N. Causeway Blvd, 778-2820.

985-674-3333. Chicken Fingers.

Chef Joey Najolia. Tues-Fri, lunch:

App., 624-2990. Festive Mexican

Lunch, Tues-Fri 11:30am-2:30pm.

usualsuspectschicken.com. MCC.

11am-3pm. Dinner, 5pm. Catering

atmosphere, fresh food from

Dinner, Tues-Sat 5-9:30pm.

provided. cafelynn.com. MCC.

traditional recipes, outstanding

gallaghers527restaurant.com.

Café Lynn Restaurant and Catering, 2600 Florida St., 624-

service and value. Live music. Lunch

Vianne’s Tea House, 544 Girod St., 624-5683. A full café menu with over

Coffee Rani, 3517 Hwy. 190, 674-

and dinner seven days a week.

Pinkberry, 3460 Hwy. 190, 612-

120 loose leaf and speciality teas.

0560. Soup and salad specialists.

carretasrestaurant.com. MCC.

7306. Pinkberry is the original tart

Breakfast, lunch. viannes.com. MCC.

frozen yogurt that is the perfect Coscino’s Pizza, 1809 N. Causeway

La Madeleine, 3434 US 190, 985-

balance of sweet and tangy paired

VooDoo BBQ & Grill, 2999 Hwy.

Blvd., 727-4984. Italian. MCC.

626-7004. French. MCC.

with high quality, fresh cut fruit and

190 E., 629-2021. “Taste our Magic.”

premium dry toppings. pinkberry.com.

voodoobbq.com. MCC.

Fat Spoon Café, 68480 Hwy. 59.,

The Lakehouse, 2025 Lakeshore

809-2929. Breakfast, lunch, Tues-

Dr., 626-3006, events 778-2045.

PJ’s Coffee & Tea Co., 2963 Hwy.

PONCHATOULA

Sun. 7am-2pm. Breakfast served

Restaurant open. Call for reservations.

190, 674-1565. Catering. pjscoffee.

Middendorf’s Seafood Restaurant,

until 10:30am on weekdays and all

lakehousecuisine.com. MCC.

com. MCC.

30160 Hwy. 51, 386-6666.

Fat Spoon Cafe for your next party.

LaLou, 200 Girod St., 985-231-7125.

Pontchartrain Po-Boys, 318 Dalwill

fatspooncafe.com. MCC.

Breakfast. doyoulalou.com. MCC.

Dr., 985-626-8188. Sandwiches.

La Carreta Authentic Mexican

MCC.

Cuisine, 147 N.W. Railroad

day Saturday and Sunday. Reserve

middendorfsrestaurant.com.

Fazzio’s Seafood & Steakhouse,

Little Tokyo, 590 Asbury Dr., 504-

1841 N. Causeway Blvd., 624-

727-1532. Japanese. littletokyosushi.

Raising Canes, 3801 Hwy. 22, 674-

atmosphere, fresh food from

9704. Fresh fish daily, aged beef,

com. MCC.

2042. Chicken fingers, crinkle-cut

traditional recipes, outstanding

fries, coleslaw, texas toast, signature

service and value. Live music. Lunch

Liz’s Where Y’At Diner, 2500

secret dipping sauce. Dine-in, to-go

and dinner seven days a week.

Florida, 985-626-8477. Breakfast,

and catering. MCC.

carretarestaurant.com. MCC.

traditional Italian. Lunch, dinner. fazziosrestaurant.com. MCC, ME, RR. Franco’s Grill,100 Bon Temps

Ave., 370-0930. Festive Mexican

Diner. MCC. Rip’s on the Lake, 1917 Lakeshore

Roule, 792-0200. Fresh organic foods for breakfast, lunch and takeout.

Macaroni Grill, 3410 Hwy. 190, 727-

myfrancos.com/dining. MCC.

1998. Lunch, dinner. macaronigrill. com. MCC, ME.

George’s Mexican Restaurant, 1461 N. Causeway Blvd., 626-4342.

Mande’s, 340 N. Causeway App.,

Family owned. Fajitas, George’s

626-9047. Serving breakfast and

nachos, Carne al la Parrilla. Best

lunch, daily specials.

top-shelf margaritas in town.

Dr., 727-2829.

SLIDELL A Touch of Italy Café, 134 Pennsylvania Ave., 639-0600. Lunch,

Rusty Pelican, 500 Girod

dinner. kathrynandcompany.com.

St., 778-0364. Lunch, dinner.

MCC, checks.

rustypelicanbythelake.com. MCC. Assunta’s, 2631 Covington Hwy., Sake Garden, 1705 US 190, 985-

985-649-9768. Italian. assuntas.com.

624-8955. Japanese. MCC.

MCC.

georgesmexicanrestaurant.com.

Mandina’s, 4240 Hwy. 22 in

MCC, ME.

Azalea Square Shopping Center,

Sesame Inn, 408 N Causeway Blvd.,

Bear’s Grill & Spirits, 550 Gause

674-9883. Seafood, Creole and

985-951-8888. Chinese. MCC.

Blvd., 201-8905. Po-boys and more.

Gio’s Villa Vancheri, 2890 E.

Italian. Lunch and dinner, Mon-Sat.

Causeway App., 624-2597. Sicilian

mandinasrestaurant.com.

bearsgrillandspirits.com. MCC. SWEGS Kitchen, 4350 Hwy 22, Ste H, Mandeville, 951-2064. Healthy pre-

Blue Bayou Cafe, 1101 East Howze

Vancheri. Lunch and dinner, Mon-Sat.

New Orleans Hamburger &

made comfort food. SwegsKitchen.

Beach Rd., 985-649-3264. American.

giosvillavancheri.com. MCC. RR.

Seafood Co., 3900 LA 22, 985-624-

com, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook.

MCC.

8035. Sandwiches. MCC.

MCC.

778-2183. Contemporary Creole.

Nuvolari’s, 246 Girod St., 626-5619.

Taqueria Corona. 1901 US 190.

W., 985-288-5544. Sandwiches.

MCC.

In Old Mandeville. Italian cuisine for

985-778-2135. Mexican. MCC.

MCC.

Taqueria La Noria. 1931 LA 59.

Bonnie C’s, 1768 Front St., 985-288-

985-727-7917. Mexican. MCC.

5061. Creole Homestyle. MCC.

specialties by 5-star chef Gio

Iron Pelican, 2625 Florida St., 985-

Blue House Grill, 2170 Gause Blvd

fine dining daily for dinner or special K. Gee’s, 2534 Florida St., 626-0530.

events. MCC. nuvolaris.com.

Featuring Louisiana seafood with raw oysters 1/2 price on Tuesdays.

The Old Rail Brewing Company,

Express lunch and daily lunch specials

639 Girod St., 612-1828. Homemade

Times Bar & Grill, 1896 N.

Camellia Cafe, 525 Hwy. 190, 649-

under $10. Mon-Thurs, 11am-9pm;

American cuisine with fresh,

Causeway Blvd., 626-1161. Lunch,

6211. thecamelliacafe.com. MCC.

Fri-Sat, 11am-10pm. kgeesrestaurant.

local ingredients. Family-friendly

dinner. timesgrill.com. ME, MCC.

com. MCC.

atmosphere. Lunch and dinner.

Closed Mondays.

Kazoku Sushi, 1680 LA Hwy. 59,

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Carreta’s Grill, 137 Taos St., 847Trey Yuen Cuisine of China, 600 N.

0020. Great Mexican cuisine and

Causeway Blvd., 626-4476. Quality

margaritas served in a family-friendly

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atmosphere for lunch and dinner.

Criollo Resturant and Lounge at

carretasgrill.com. MCC.

Hotel Monteleone, 214 Royal St., 504523-3340. Creole dining for breakfast,

Copeland’s, 1337 Gause Blvd., 985-

lunch and dinner. hotelmonteleone.com/

643-0001. Creole. MCC.

criollo/. MCC, RR.

Felipe’s Taqueria, 176 Town Center

Deanie’s Seafood Restaurant, 1713

Pkwy., 985-288-1210. Mexican.

Lake Ave., 504-831-4141; 841 Iberville

felipestaqueria.com. MCC.

St., 504-581-1316. Louisiana seafood prepared in Creole seasonings, available in

Michael’s, 4820 Pontchartrain

Bucktown or the French Quarter for lunch

Dr., 985-649-8055. Creole French.

and dinner. deanies.com. MCC.

michaelsrestaurantslidell.com. MCC. Gautreau’s, 1728 Soniat St., 504-899Nathan’s, 36440 Old Bayou Liberty

7397. Open Monday through Saturday.

Rd., 985-643-0443. Contemporary

Dinner. gautreausrestaurant.com.

Creole. MCC.

MCC, RR.

Osaka, 792 I-10 Service Rd., 985-

Gumbo Shop, 630 Saint Peter St.,

643-9276. Japanese. MCC.

504-525-1486. Award winning gumbo and soups, ship nationwide. Lunch

Palmettos on the Bayou,

and dinner. gumboshop.com. MCC.

1901 Bayou Ln., 643-0050. palmettosrestaurantslidell.com.

Louisiana Pizza Kitchen French Quarter, 95 French Market Place,

Peck’s Seafood Restaurant, 2315

504-522-9500. Casual dining in a fine

Gause Blvd. E., 781-7272. Po-boys,

dining atmosphere with experienced

seafood, burgers and lunch specials.

waitstaff, fresh dishes and made-

MCC.

from-scratch menu items. Lunch and dinner. lpkfrenchquarter.com. MCC.

Speckled T’s, 158 S Military Rd., 985-646-1728. Seafood. MCC.

Mellow Mushroom, 3131 Veterans Memorial Blvd., 504-644-4155. Pizza,

Vera’s, 2020 Gause Blvd W., 985-

30 craft beers on tap, lunch and

690-9814. Seafood. MCC.

dinner. mellowmushroom.com. MCC.

Young’s, 850 Robert Blvd., 985-643-

Messina’s Runway Cafe, 6001

9331. Steak. MCC.

Stars and Stripes Blvd., 504-2415300. Tues-Sun, 8am-3pm.

NEW ORLEANS/SOUTHSHORE

messinasterminal.com. MCC.

Andrea’s, 3100 19th St, 504-8348583. Northern Italian and local

Nola Beans, 762 Harrison Ave.,

seafood. Lunch, dinner, Sunday

504-267-0783. nolabeans.com. MCC.

brunch. andreasrestaurant.com. MCC Restaurant R’evolution, 777 Bayona, 430 Rue Dauphine, 504-

Bienville St., 504-553-2277. Located

525-4455. Fresh local ingredients,

at the Royal Sonesta Hotel. Triptych

balanced yet complex dishes. Lunch

of Quail and Oysterman’s spaghettini.

and dinner. bayona.com. MCC.

Revolutionnola.com. MCC. RR.

Brennan’s, 417 Royal St., 504-

Riccobono’s Peppermill, 3524

525-9711. Creole traditions

Severn Ave., 504-455-2266. Seafood,

and contemporary influences.

filets and Italian. Breakfast and

Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

lunch. Dinner, Wednesday-Sunday.

brennansneworleans.com. MCC. RR.

riccobonos.com. MCC.

Carreta’s Grill, 2320 Veterans Blvd.,

Warehouse Grille, 869 Magazine

504-837-6696; 1821 Hickory Ave.,

St, 504-322-2188. Lunch and dinner

Harahan, 504-305-4833. Mexican, lunch

specials, Monday-Friday. Brunch,

and dinner.carretasgrillrestaurant.com.

Saturday-Sunday, 9am-3pm.

MCC.

warehousegrille.com. MCC.

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Sanderson-Moore Rachael Faye Sanderson and Ethan Michael Moore exchanged vows on New Year’s Eve at the home of her M A R R I A G E

parents, Michael and Allyson Sanderson. Rachael wore a Justin Alexander Dupioni silk strapless ball gown with a cathedral-length train and veil by Sarah Gabriel. A sash belt embellished with crystal and pearls from Olivier Couture added to the look. Alexis Nicole Alcazar was the maid of honor and only attendant. She wore a floor-length navy dress with crystal beading from Bella Bridesmaids. The bride

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carried a bouquet of white, purple and deep red flowers by Dunn & Sonnier.

The intimate ceremony took place on the main terrace, with Rachel’s brother, Patrick Sanderson, officiating. The

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reception followed with a multi-flavored menu including passed hors d’oeuvres by Dakota Restaurant, freshly rolled sushi by Ninja Sushi and Dat Dog, which served Duck Sausage Dogs, Guinness Dogs and Chipotle Vegan Dogs from

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their truck onsite just before the midnight hour. Abita Coffee Roasters baristas served espresso and cordials in the Italian coffee house set up in a cabana overlooking the reception area. In lieu of a traditional wedding cake, Rachael and Ethan chose hand-crafted sweets from Melissa’s Fine Pastries. Along with a specially designed comical groom’s cake, sweets included: whoopie pies, s’mores pops, warm cookies, warm berry pies on sticks, assorted macarons and more.

Kenny LaCour of Grand Events designed the Venetian carnival-themed evening. Large urns of white flowers flanked the porch and tall pillar candles lined the floor. The inside of the home continued the classic white flowers. The bride’s colors of dark red and purple were added to the mix as guests proceeded to the nuptial site and into the reception.

The centerpiece of the tent was a dramatic arrangement of hydrangeas, peonies, orchids, air plants and roses all erupting from a tall gold urn. The dessert table was anchored with a large floral creation resembling a five-tiered wedding cake.

The Harry Hardin Ensemble provided ceremony and cocktail reception music and BRW performed for the reception. To add to the fun, face painters and tarot card readers were on hand to entertain guests, while Alex Harvie cigars for guests wishing to enjoy a smoke on the terrace or take one home to enjoy later. At the stroke of midnight, guests watched a 25-minute fireworks display leading up to the bright and dazzling sparkler tunnel that Rachael and Ethan exited through. The couple honeymooned in Cabo before returning to their home in Mandeville.

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photos: BRAY DANIELLE PHOTOGRAPHY

painted a live-action art piece. The Cigar Factory rolled fresh

M A R R I A G E A N D

Murphy-Bokobza

Maggie Murphy and Jérémy Bokobza exchanged vows under

the chuppah New Year’s Day at the home of her parents, Lori and Rick Murphy. This celebration followed a civil service arranged by the groom’s

L O V E

parents, Alice and Charlie Bokobza, in the Parisian Town Hall of Jérémy’s childhood. Officiated by the mayor of Les Lilas, the proceedings included the couple’s sisters, Lauren Murphy and Myriam Bokobza, as witnesses among the attendants.

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At the Covington ceremony, Maggie wore a couture gown with a skirt of sweeping layers of tulle accented with Alençon lace. The bride’s attendants included friends and family from near and far. Rabbi Ethan Linden noted the wedding was “improbable and yet, inevitable” considering the long distance, four-year courtship. It was a warm and endearing blending of families and deep-rooted traditions under tents holding back the torrential rain.

“Outdoor weddings and those held at home are especially challenging. Combining the two it makes a planner “earn their keep,” laughs Susan Zackin, of Z Event Co. Working with Event Rentals, they pulled off a well-executed Plan B when the rain made it necessary to put down a floor in the tent in just four hours the day of the wedding.

The patio fountain became a stunning centerpiece, overflowing with white hydrangea, dahlias and orchids from Florist of Covington.

Coordinating blooms accented Bevolo lanterns used to blend the home with the Country French event decor. Ralph Brennan catered, giving a nod Casablanca served a selection of kosher dishes to many who hadn’t tasted them before. The Zoe’s Bakery wedding cake of three tiers was accented with handmade painted lovebirds specially created for the couple. And for the groom, a red velvet Air Jordan!

The Bucktown Allstars gathered revelers to the dance floor. Some of Maggie’s friends joined Jérémy onstage for a rousing rendition of Everybody Needs Somebody to Love. DJ Timmy Lovelock from Palm Beach provided the flaming finishing touch to a great night of dancing.

The evening was topped off by a late-night Lucky Dog fix. Capturing the festivities from every angle were Candra George and her team.

Maggie and Jérémy will make their home in the Vincennes neighborhood of Paris.

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photos: CANDRA GEORGE mycreativereality.com

photo: THOMAS B. GROWDEN

to the Bokobza heritage with Mediterranean specialties. Andy Adelman of

M A R R I A G E

Byrd-Rudolph The wedding of Melanie Byrd and Zack Rudolph was celebrated at the Southern Hotel. The bride wore a delicately beautiful, full-sleeved gown from Olivier Couture.

Her bouquet of cream and cranberry roses adorned with berries and cedar was designed by Deborah Villere of Villere’s Florist. The ceremony, officiated by Melanie’s cousin, Reverend Reydon Stanford from Trinity Christian Church in Muleshoe, Texas,

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was set amongst Christmas décor full of sparkling trees, glowing candles, berries, cedar and mistletoe. With Zack’s last name of Rudolph, combined with Melanie’s life-long dream of a Christmas wedding, the bridesmaids and bride walked down the aisle to beautiful Christmas music. The couple married under a gathering of mistletoe

L O V E

before entering the reception hall to Run, Run, Rudolph. DJ John Lejuene with Rock-it photo: JESSICA LUMPKIN, GRACE PHOTOGRAPHY

Productions provided the music and entertainment for the reception. OxLot 9 served a delectable dinner to guests, gearing them up for dancing and celebrating.

Fresh flowers adorned the simple and elegant wedding cake, while the

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groom’s cake resembled Zack’s dog, Wes, on a duck-hunting trip. Guests were treated to favors of hot cocoa accompanied by a small bottle of Bailey’s Irish Cream as Melanie and Zack exited the reception to the sound of jingle bells. The couple happily resides in Abita Springs.

INside Peek 1. Dr. Anita and Nikki Kanagala at Lakeview Regional Medical Center’s Girls Health Day. 2. Reese Foster and Natasha Kapesis.

3. Dr. Brandee Simon-Davis, Cathy Skidmore, Haley Rester and Angela Parker. 4. Mckinley

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and Nicole Castleberry. 5. Angelle Albright at the presidential inauguration in Washington, D.C.

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1 1.Gretchen Armbruster and Joel Forjet celebrating Mardi Gras with a poster signing at Nonna Randazzo’s. 2. Plein air artist Peg Usner, her husband, Mark Goldstein, Atrium curator Ann Loomis and jazz musician Don Vappie at the opening of her exhibit Light, Shade and Water: 4

Scenes of Louisiana and North Carolina. 3. Pat

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Brister presenting St. Tammany Parish Public Schools Superintendent Trey Folse with a proclamation at the St. Tammany Parish Council meeting for his 2017 Superintendent of the Year recognition awarded by the Louisiana Association of School Executives. 4. Shelly Dauterive, Christine King, Joel Forjet, Pia OrfanelloJacobsen, Kallie Lopinto at King Cake Festival, where Nonna Randazzo’s took home People’s

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Choice Award, Best Presentation and Best Non-Traditional. 5. Ray Baudier, John Sutton, Dennis Chapman and Kelly Morrish enjoying Friday evening brews on the patio of Barley Oak. 6. David Bottner of Giving Hope Retreat - New Orleans Mission, Nicole Suhre of St. Tammany Hospital Foundation, New Orleans Saints tight end Michael Mauti and Noble Bates-Young of Miracle League Northshore at the Raising

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the Roof for Charity Early Bird Drawing. 7. Bill Slaughter, Crystal Slaughter, Pat Brister and Brant Wood at Washington, D.C. Mardi Gras.

8. Maggie O’Brien and Michele Williamson at Ballin’s Ltd.’s Lafayette 148 Trunk Show.

9. Gulf States Real Estate Services celebrating the holidays at The Lakehouse. 10. Southeast Political Coordinator Dane Maxwell and family at the presidential inauguration.

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INside Peek

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1 1.North Oaks Diagnostics Services Clinical Operations Manager Suzanne Smith and Physician Group Regional Director Sarah Mitchell find North Oaks Health System’s star on the Press Ganey “walk of fame.”

2. St. Scholastica Academy Color Guard

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members (back) Allison Weimer, Olivia Lapayude, (front) Sarah Harris and Mary Carter, laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown while visiting Washington, D.C. as part of their lesson on the Holocaust. 3. Fidelity Bankers participating in the National Day of Service on Martin Luther King Day. 4. Elizabeth Woods and Kaitlyn Fundling serving up Nonna Randazzo’s king cake and The Coast Roast coffee at Gnarly Gras. 5. Candra and Wesley

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George celebrating the inauguration at the Liberty Ball. 6. The Southeast Campaign team from Louisiana heading into the Liberty Ball.

7. Ryan Lambert and Carrie Hebert. 8. NOBA alumnae and faculty members Chanice Holmes and Tai Teamer, EVIDENCE artist and NOBA alumna Courtney Paige Ross and NORDC/ NOBA Center for Dance student Celeste Jupiter backstage following their performance of On Earth Together with Ronald K. Brown/

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EVIDENCE. 9. Congratulations to the St. Scholastica Royalettes Dance Team for placing First in the Pom Competition at the UDA Louisiana Dance Championship in Hammond.

10. The royal court of the Krewe of Bilge at their ball at the Northshore Harbor Center.

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STWC Installation and Awards Luncheon

photos courtesy: ST.TAMMANY WEST CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

The St. Tammany West Chamber of Commerce held its Annual Installation and Awards Luncheon, sponsored by Chevron and Capital One, at Tchefuncta Country Club. With 230 people in attendance, the ballroom was packed with members there to witness the 2017 Board of Directors, including Chairman Cynthia Thompson, take their oath of office and see the presentation of awards to some outstanding members. Congratulations to the award winners: Member of the Year: Sherri’ Hansen of Culinary Kids; Committee of the Year: Governmental Affairs; Board Member of the Year: Townsend Underhill of Stirling Properties; Chairman’s Young Professional of the Year: Ryan Pearce of Latter & Blum; Community Leadership Award: Rick Flick of Banner Ford; and Tammany Award: Innovative Advertising, People Who Think.

March-April 2017 131

INside Peek 2

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1. Lloyd Johns, Barbara Bossier and Jamene Dahmer enjoying lunch at Riccobono’s Peppermill for an Editor’s Luncheon.

2. Steve and Abbye Gorin at the sneak preview of Longleaf, the new Cognitive Memory Care Community at Christwood. 3. Christwood CEO Steve Holzhalb and board member Ted Mason at the preview. 4. Melanie Byrd, foundation specialist at STH Foundation; Ron Rome, 2016

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Guild president; Shirley Primes, STPH volunteer coordinator; and Patti Ellish, president and CEO of STPH, after the Hospital Guild donated $50,000 to the Foundation. 5. Brittany Carey and 3-year-old Deuce visit with neonatal nurse Debbie McGinnis during the Annual North Oaks NICU Reunion. 6. North Oaks Health System received Business of the Year honors at the Greater Hammond Chamber of Commerce’s 67th Annual Installation and Awards Banquet.

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7. Home Bank Northshore Market President Ben Strecker and Commercial Relationship Manager Karen Wall present donation from Home Bank northshore employees to Children’s Advocacy Center Executive Director Barbara Hebert E.D. and Development Director Liz Taurman. 8. SSA students Allie Edwards, who signed with Rhodes College to play soccer; Allison Weimer, who signed with Spring

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Hill College to play indoor and beach volleyball; and Jenna Pecot, who signed with Spring Hill College to play soccer, on National Signing Day. 9. Habitat for Humanity St. Tammany West Women Build committee members, W.A.T.C.H. women and Habitat STW staff at Barley Oak elebrating their hard work of exceeding the year’s $100K goal.

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March-April 2017 133

Last Word

The Doerr Furniture Sign

FOR ABOUT FIFTEEN YEARS, from 1938 until sometime in the 1950s, the iconic red and green sign lit up the corner of Elysian Fields and Burgundy in the Faubourg Marigny, welcoming all to Doerr Furniture. But for the over 60 years since, although the sign has remained, its light has been dimmed.

Now, in celebration of the company’s 79th year as a locally owned, familyrun business, the sign has been brought back to light by members of the Mutter family, the fourth generation descendents of founder Charles L. Doerr Sr. “According to my grandparents, Lloyd and Marilyn Mutter, the sign has not been lit since the 1950s,” says CEO Shane Mutter. “My grandfather had worked for Doerr Furniture Co. since the 1940s and only just retired a few years back, but he cannot recall the exact year that the sign was last lit.”

For some reason, throughout the years, the idea of fixing the sign always took a back seat to other more important projects. However, in the past two years, the family established a timeline, dedicated funds to the project and set the date for the first quarter of 2017. By January 6, the sign was coming down off the building and the process began.

The iconic sign is a New Orleans mainstay—and like many signs indicative of this era, it needed a complete overhaul to bring it back to light, all while keeping it true to its original glory. “The sign was gutted internally to get out the rust and replace the electrical. Then, they replaced the metal that sealed the outer portion of the sign as well as replicated as best they could all the neon components. We even tried to replicate the screws that would have originally been used on the sign.”

It only took four weeks to complete the overhaul. The sign was then re-wired to the building and set for lighting just in time for Mardi Gras!

“My goal was to bring to life the sign that was created by the first generation of this business over 70 years ago to signify the strength of our family, our brand, Doerr Furniture, and the bright future that the current generation has in place,” says Mutter.

“Doerr Furniture is committed to the citizens of New Orleans and the surrounding parishes by bringing quality home furnishings to this trading area and offering the high level of service and value that we have been known for these past 79 years.”

Mutter says, “If you drive around the city, you will see some of the signs similar to ours. Some in poor shape, some that have been re-done. These signs were part of an era and deserve to be brought back to life. Most of those businesses ‘ain’t dere no more.’ It is an honor for us to be able to say that ‘we are still dere’ and stronger than ever!”

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photo: DAVID TOMPKINS davidtompkinsphotography.com

An Icon Lights Up Again