November-December 2018 Inside Northside Magazine by Inside Publications

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PAMELA BINNINGS EWEN •

SAFE HAVEN •

ANGELA •

THREE RIVERS ART FESTIVAL

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2018 VOL. 33, NO. 6

November-December 2018

Vol. 33, No. 6

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

Senior Editor

Managing Editor

Editorial Intern

is Says her favorite her Aunt Petunia’s Apple Cobbler. Actual favorite is something else entirely.

s ate ies. Jan Murphy H berr n cra Leah Draffen

Adam Rapier

Contributors are featured on page 16. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Señor Art Director

Brad Growden

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Advertising Coordinator

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On the cover

Contact

mail P.O. Box 9148 Mandeville, LA 70470 phone

(985) 626-9684

fax (985) 674-7721 Cover Artist Nurhan Gokturk. Find more on page 18.

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INSIDE NORTHSIDE 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. Tammany and Tangipahoa Parishes, Louisiana. Bulk Postage paid at Mandeville, LA. Copyright ©2018 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.

contents table of

page 61

page 34

Features 18 The Thinking Manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Artist Cover Artist Nurhan Gokturk 34 Classic Mack Style 40 Local Author Pamela Binnings Ewen 44 Shine A Light on Lung Cancer 74 Angela 84 A Vision for Healing Safe Harbor 88 Pontchartrain Beach A Family Affair! 04 Celebrating 2018 Success 1 The Shop at the Contemporary Arts Center page 74

page 88

06 100 Years of Leadership 1 The Christian Brothers of St. Paulâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s School

Three Rivers Art Festival

Begins on page 95

Holiday Shopping Begins on page 47

Inside Northside

contents table of

12 Publisher’s Note

page 54

14 Editor’s Note

80 Generous Hearts Critical Connections

16 Contributors

108 IN Love and Marriage

22 INside Scoop

111 Inside Peek Featuring THE Gala Horsepower Happy Hour Smart Woman’s Day Out Northshore Young Professionals Luncheon Ultimate Tailgate Party

32 IN Other Words Oh-h-h, Christmas Tree! 52 Designer Spotlight Ippolita 54 Flourishes Extraordinary gifts and home accents 61 INside Look 68 IN Better Health with Chris Smiroldo 70 At the Table Artistic Dream, Starring The Moon and Pheasant

White Linen Night Harvest Cup Polo Classic Patron Party NHBA Membership Luncheon Business After Hours

22 IN Great Taste 1 Quick and Tasty Host Gifts 124 INside Dining 130 Last Bite Bayside Grill at The Grand Hotel

page 122

It’s Five O’clock Somewhere by Lori Murphy The sign in my office reads “Stop me before I volunteer again.” (It’s from a friend who volunteers more than I do!) The truth is, we all have to step up when we can. It is one of the things that makes our community vibrant and generous. Not everyone can do everything, but each of us can do something. For the upcoming It’s Five O’clock Somewhere party at the Sanderson home, there are plenty of volunteers pulling together a fun evening to benefit WYES. Music, food and plenty of friends in flowered shirts—and an incredible auction! Jeté Crosby and Allyson Sanderson are wizards at auction packages. They will probably kill me for outing them. I can tell you now, they are super busy ladies and can’t take on any more auction assignments, but we’re glad they took the lead on this one. The creative, thoughtful and comprehensive approach to auctioning off incredible experiences helps donors get inspired. Very inspired! Check these out!

Sporting weekend getaway

It begins with a lunch on Luxury sporting trip for four to Covey Rise. hunting on the 400-acre Saturday, followed by an afternoon of quail er when you return, often using property. Chef Marc Lyons will prepare dinn ight in a luxurious 3-bedroom, ingredients cultivated on property. Stay overn a five-star resort with a splash of 3½ -bath cabin with all of the comforts of sporting clay shooting course on the rugged outdoors. Enjoy a round on the from November 2018 – April Sunday and depart at your leisure. Trip valid ing season. Valued at $2,500, tips 2019 to coincide with the Covey Rise hunt Pierre Villere. included. Generously donated by Suzie and

Shell Beach overnight fishing trip

led trout in Breton Sound Guided fishing trip for four in search of speck luxurious overnight is a real bucket-list idea. Your group will enjoy tifully appointed Proctor›s beau a accommodations and a gourmet dinner in rfront views. Breakfast, Landing fishing camp with spectacular wate included. Valued at $3,000. lunch, beverages, live bait and fuel are all . Generously donated by Paula and Brett Davis

rd Master Chef in your own backya

learning how to master it is even Having your own Big Green Egg is nice, but your family and friends. Also better. Let the expert teach you how to wow ecue accessories and an Igloo barb included is an icemaker, a complete set of assortment of meat to grill for Trailmate ice chest. We’ll even throw in an y donated by Outdoor Living your first soirée! Valued at $2,900. Generousl Gourmet. Center, Southland Plumbing, and Simply

A lovely cruise

l Nunmaker Yacht. We will even Enjoy a sunset cruise aboard an exceptiona Sea Spray by Private Beach throw in the boat drinks! Gift certificates from s from Ban Soleil are among the for a spray tan package and chic sunglasse ride. Priceless. basket of goodies to get you ready for the

Painting with a Twist art class

ground tunes of Jimmy Buffet A private art class for 15 people set to back tiki bar! We will include the may inspire a beach scene painting for your -out gang. Valued at $800. wine and hors d’oeuvres—you bring your hang . Generously donated by Painting with a Twist

And, last, but not in the least the least—nationally renowned local artist Marcia Holmes has donated a striking canvas that will make your home feel like a get-away every day. If you don’t have your ticket for the It’s Five O’clock Somewhere party on November 17, don’t wait! This will be a fun, casual party you don’t want to miss. Tickets for the event and advance bids on the auction packages can be placed by calling WYES at (504) 486-5511 before Friday, November 16.

Inside Northside

Editor’s Note by Anne Honeywell The holidays. Ready or not, they’re coming. And again this year, on November 13-14, Franco’s Holiday Market is the perfect way to get ahead of the game. Open to the public, it’s two days of shopping bliss, fashions, cocktails, local cuisine—and much more. The northshore’s most popular boutiques set up mini-stores side-by-side at the Mandeville club and showcase their latest and greatest holiday merchandise, the best in apparel, shoes, accessories, gift, jewelry and home décor. Shoppers will be pampered with mini spa treatments, makeovers, mimosas, martinis and door prizes. The Chef’s Holiday Tasting & Boutique Runway, which benefits the Northshore Food Bank, brings together local cuisine from the area’s best chefs and restaurants and will feature a boutique “runway” showcasing fall’s hottest fashions. Each night of the market ends with a three-hour happy hour with cocktails and passed lite bites to all the vendors and shoppers. After two days at the Market, you’ll be ready to relax. Get your favorite beverage, put your feet on the ottoman and cuddle up with this issue. Let artist Nurhan Gokturk’s cover art put you in a celebratory mood. Holiday suggestions abound, from many pages of ideas for gifts to Tom Fitzmorris’ take on pheasant, duck and quail and Yvette Jemison’s candied pecans and goat cheese roll recipes. Chuckle at Becky Slatten’s crusade against artificial trees. Plan for holiday events in Scoop. Reminisce about fun times at Pontchartrain Beach. Be inspired by cancer survivor Jimmie Brown; by the contribution of NAMI and Safe Haven to our community’s wellbeing; by the work of the Christian Brothers at St. Paul’s. And, last but by no means least, I’m sure you’ll agree that Leslie Cardé and Mimi Knight have given us two special gifts in sharing their conversations with Angela Hill and author Pamela Binnings Ewen, respectively. Enjoy. And may your holidays be filled with peace, joy and many blessings.

Inside Northside

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.

Leslie Cardé Veteran journalist Leslie Cardé began her career reporting for NPR in Los Angeles. From there, she landed in New Orleans as an anchor/health and science editor before moving on to anchor three hours of daily financial news and host an entertainment show for CNBC. She’s reported from the Middle East for CNN, worked as a producer and narrator for E! Entertainment and wrote, directed and produced the awardwinning documentary America Betrayed. Leslie currently writes for The New Orleans Advocate and Los Angeles Magazine. She is also a producer/reporter for CBS Newspath. On page 74, she sits down with Angela Hill.

Shauna Grissett

Mimi Greenwood Knight

Tom Fitzmorris

Shauna Grissett grew up in New Orleans and graduated from St. Martin’s Episcopal School, the University of Virginia and the Fashion Institute of Design’s oneyear fashion-design program. She worked in New York’s rough-andtumble garment industry for more than sixteen years before returning home and is now writing a fiction book based on her former life on Seventh Avenue. Her article on cover artist Nurhan Gokturk is featured on page 18, and she recalls Pontchartrain Beach on page 88.

Mimi Greenwood Knight is a mother of four and a freelance writer with over five hundred articles and essays in print in national and regional magazines, devotionals and fifty anthologies, including two dozen Chicken Soup for the Soul books. She lives on a small hobby farm in Folsom with her husband, David, where she enjoys gardening, beekeeping, Bible study, knitting and chicken wrangling. In this issue, Mimi writes about author Pam Ewen on page 40.

Tom Fitzmorris grew up in Treme, ate red beans every Monday from his Creole-French mother until he left home. Not long after that, he began writing a weekly restaurant review column that has continued for more than 40 years. In 1975, he began a daily radio feature, which grew into his current three-hour daily talk show on 1350, 3WL. He is the author of several cookbooks, more than a dozen restaurant guidebooks, a daily online newsletter (nomenu.com) and joins us At the Table on page 70.

Other Voices: Gretchen Armbruster, Susan Bonnett Bourgeois, Amy Bouton, Lori Chopin, Leah Draffen, Candra George, Thomas B. Growden, Poki Hampton, Cameron Payne, Adam Rapier and Becky Slatten. 16

Inside Northside

The Thinking Man’s Artist Cover Artist Nurhan Gokturk

by Shauna Grissett

“The artistic practice, broadly speaking, is governed by process, meaning the medium defines the message.” — Nurhan Gokturk

Inside Northside

are the artist’s best friend, and within his folios are mini-masterpieces, pen-and-ink sketches, watercolors and writings. Gokturk’s sketchpads are visual journals, even diaries, of his artistic studies, observations, travels—the graphic evolution of his craft over years and years. “I carry these sketchbooks by hand or in my backpack wherever I go, whenever I travel.” Articulate and deliberate with his words, Gokturk >>

photo: CANDRA GEORGE mycreativereality.com

MULTIDISCIPLINARY ARTIST and urban designer Nurhan Gokturk was born in Istanbul, Turkey, but immigrated to New York City at the age of 3 and was raised in Brooklyn and Queens. He went on to receive a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Pratt Institute and a master’s degree from Harvard Graduate School of Design. Multidisciplinary art is “the blending of several disciplines together to form an altogether new field.” Gokturk is a talented artist who is accomplished in many different media, including—but not limited to—drawing, painting, sculpture, photography and architecture. His studio, located in an artist collective of rented studio spaces, displays many of Gokturk’s works and highlights his skill as a multi-faceted artist. Strewn throughout Gokturk’s work space are numerous sketchbooks, mostly small-to-medium sized and leather bound. The artist says, “I started drawing early, when I was very young.” Sketchbooks

Inside Northside

Then, I draw and paint them. I did a study on the botanical gardens of New Orleans, as well as another series on the Lower Garden District. I find it interesting to do seasonal botanicals that are native to a particular community. It’s because they’re recognizable to that group of people; an inherent acquaintance and intimacy is built-in.” Gokturk continues: “The third driving theme in my work is abstraction, meaning it’s neither a place nor an object. It’s something that’s a conceptual frame, a thinking or a thought that’s put down on paper. The viewer may not recognize what it is, the viewer may not identify it, but it causes the viewer to think for a moment. They may not want to bring the work into their home, but it may drive home an idea. The piece of art might deal with a social topic, a cultural topic— nothing political. For example, how do we view space, how do we view or visualize language or linguistics or how does pollution impact our day-to-day lives? These are broader social issues that impact our lives.” To illustrate his point, Gokturk refers to a cyanotype in his studio, one in a series named Disintegration Loops. “A cyanotype is a very old form of photography. Very simply and very abstractly, what you’re looking at—on a very high conceptual level—is the visualization of language through the drawing of text as it becomes illegible. So illegible that you cannot read it. In this piece, I’m attempting

photos: CANDRA GEORGE mycreativereality.com

talks about his process when working with one of his favorite mediums, watercolors. “I love watercolors, and it’s a medium that I’ll continue to work with, probably, for the balance of my lifetime. It speaks to a wide audience. I start with an ink pen, and after I get the line drawing down, I put paint on top of it.” He mixes his own watercolors in addition to using industrial, premade colors. “The paints I make are from pigments, and the colors they produce are pure and very intense. I have red, blue and yellow—the primary colors—and mix all of my colors from those three pigments. What’s so nice about the colors I mix is that they are continually inconsistent, which gives a nice variety.” There are three narratives in Gokturk’s work, and he explains what drives his creativity: “One is the narrative of the city, which tells a story of New Orleans through place and location. I’m embedded in this community and really love it.” He depicts local restaurants, bars and architecture in pen and ink and watercolor. His paintings give the unique culture of New Orleans an unearthly, gossamer-like quality, hovering somewhere between the tangible and fantastical worlds; recognizable, yet at the same time, ambiguous. Seasonal botanicals are Gokturk’s second narrative. “I go through the city—whether it’s this city or another one in which I happen to be—and I collect flowers and bring them back to the studio.

to convey the visualization of sound to the reader.” It is through media that Gokturk expresses his message. He explains, “I express my message or narrative through the media I choose. I can do this in many ways, with different media—with drawings, with physical objects, with montage (collage), with found objects or with photography. For me at least, every form of making, of creating—and I use that term generally—has limitations. You can only go so far with any one media, and that’s when I switch it up and change. Then I go back to process and move from drawing to photography, from photography to physical objects, from physical objects to found objects and then maybe to an object which I have to cast. When I jump from media to media to media, meaning ‘material,’ that’s how I change my narrative or message.” A striking sculpture made of found objects, Anthology, sits near the entrance of Gokturk’s studio. “This is a record pile made of 1440 vinyl records that are cut and stacked. The idea is that we can visualize music but we can’t play it or access it. It represents 75 years of music and 92,000 hours of playing time. It’s a way of saying digital music is accessible, indexable, but, somehow, we get lost in digital media because there’s so much of it. If you remember, back in the day, when you had a record set with those wonderful album covers. There was something very beautiful about being able to see them—the tactility

of them—and being able to trade and swap them.” The inspiration behind The Salons, lithographic plates from 1919, is explained by the artist: “The places are real rooms in France that date back to the 1750s. I have cut and manipulated the lithographs and then mounted them on top of watercolors that I painted. So, you have this idea that there is another world happening between these two worlds. One is a real world, 1750s France, and then there is another, this ethereal place. The driving narrative is between France and New Orleans and our mutual histories.” Gokturk may best be described as the “thinking man’s artist.” Whether a beautiful watercolor of New Orleans or Venice or a more challenging project like Screening, each piece is carefully thought out, and he incorporates layers of meaning into his art—questions about community, time and place. Gokturk’s work integrates seemingly opposing concepts, such as reality versus the imaginary, to compel the viewer to look past the everyday, sparking the mind to think ahead, to ask and to wonder. For more information on Gokturk’s work, please visit his website, nurhangokturk.com. His work will be featured at Covington’s Three Rivers Art Festival. He is currently curating a group show at THE FRONT in New Orleans titled Air is not Free. Although not currently showing, Gokturk is an artist at the Jonathan Ferrara Gallery. November-December 2018 21

INSIDE the definitive guide to northshore events and entertainment

Three Rivers Art Festival

November Lounge at Northshore Harbor Center, 100 Harbor Center Blvd, Slidell. 7-9pm.

vendors, art, crafts, food, drinks and

$12. cesdrama.ticketleap.com.

more. 2200 Block of Carey St, Slidell.

1-17 Selections from the New

5-10pm. facebook.com/oldetownmainst.

GA, $14. Advance sales only. 781-3650.

Orleans Museum of Art. St.

northshoreharborcenter.com.

Tammany Art Association, 320 N

Symposium. Presented in partnership

Columbia St, Covington. 892-8650.

with North Oaks Shock Trauma Center,

Luncheon and reception featuring Mast

sttammanyartassociation.org.

North Oaks Foundation and Southeastern

Florist Lewis Miller. Longue Vue House

1, 8, 15, 29 Live Music Thursdays.

1-2 Essence of Style Design Symposium.

2 Prepared for the Unexpected

Louisiana Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s School of Nursing.

and Gardens, 7 Bamboo Rd, New

The Barrel Wine Bar, 69305 Hwy 21,

Student Union Ballroom, Southeastern

Orleans. longuevue.com/symposium.

Covington. 6-9pm. barrelwinebar.com.

Louisiana University, 303 Texas Ave,

1-2 Mindset Makeover. Personal

2 Doreen Ketchens. Dew Drop Jazz Hall,

Hammond. 7:30am-4:30pm. Physicians,

development training with Karren

430 Lamarque St, Mandeville. 6:30-9pm.

nurses and healthcare providers,

Alexander. Renaissance Pere Marquette,

dewdropjazzhall.com.

$100; pre-hospital providers, $75;

817 Common St, New Orleans. (504) 509-6621. karrenalexander.com. 1-3 The Crucible. Christ Episcopal Schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Center of Inquiry Theater, 80 Christwood Blvd, Covington. Nov 1-3, 7pm; Nov 4, 22

2pm. Students, $8; general admission,

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

2 Friday Nites on the Square. Live music by the Boogie Men. Terra Bella, 100 Terra Bella Blvd, Covington. 5:30-8:30pm. terrabellavillage.com. 2 Olde Towne Crawl. Live music, local

nursing students, $25. northoaks.org/ trauma2018. 2 Shine A Light on Lung Cancer Car and Motorcycle Show. St. Tammany Cancer parking lot, 1203 S Tyler St, Covington.

photo courtesy: THREE RIVERS ART FESTIVAL

1 Up Close & Musical: Wildeyes. Lobby

See the official Three Rivers Art Festival guide starting on page 95.

November 10-11 Three Rivers Art Festival. Juried art show with over 200 artists, food, kids activities, live music and more. Downtown Covington. 10am-5pm. threeriversartfestival.com.

5:30-8:30pm. https://bit.ly/2lb6c45. 2-3 Pontchartrain Film Festival 7. Mandeville Trailhead Depot Museum, 675 Lafitte St. Nov 2, 6:30pm; Nov 3, 4-9pm. Friday night feature, $5; any/ all Saturday, $5. (504) 259-5772. pontchartrainfilmfestival.com/tickets. 2-30 Marcia Holmes’ Frequented Paths: Reflections from Côte d’Azur. Preview reception, Nov 2, 6-8pm. Degas Gallery, 604 Julia St #101, New Orleans. (504) 826-9744. 2, 9, 16, 30 “Legacies for All” estate planning day. Schedule time for a legacy/estate plan, which includes a will, power of attorney and living will. Christie Tournet & Associates, 1795 W Causeway App, Suite 103A, Mandeville.>> November-December 2018 23

Inside Scoop 10:30am-2:30pm. $500. 951-2177. 3 Sugar Plum Fairy Tea Party. Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, 875 Beach Blvd, Biloxi. beaurivage.com. 3 The Louisiana Watercolor Society Winter Juried Member Show. Marks the 50th anniversary of the society, and celebrates watercolorist Claire Rohrbough, who died last October at the age of 102. Christwood Atrium Gallery, 100 Christwood Blvd, Covington. Opening reception, Nov 3, 4:30-6:30pm. 590-8816. christwoodrc.com/art-galleryexhibits. 3 Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Fontainebleau State Park, 62883 LA1089, Mandeville. Registration, 8am; ceremony, 9am; walk, 9:30am. (504) 613-6505. alz.org. 3, 10, 17, 24 Camellia City Farmers Market. 1808 Front St, Slidell. 8am-12pm. camelliacitymarket.org. 3, 10, 17, 24 Covington Farmers Market. 609 N Columbia St. 8am-12pm. covingtonfarmersmarket.org. 3, 10, 17, 24 Mandeville Trailhead Market. 675 Lafitte St. 9am-1pm. mandevilletrailheadmarket.com. 4, 11, 18, 25 Abita Springs Art and Farmers Market. Trailhead Park. 12-4pm. townofabitasprings.com/ farmers-market. 5-10 Deck the Halls Rug Blowout. Large container of rugs in various sizes at amazing prices. Rug Chic Home Décor, 4240 hwy 22, Mandeville. 674-1070. 6, 13, 20, 27 Live Jazz Tuesdays. The Barrel Wine Bar, 69305 Hwy 21, Covington. 6-8pm. barrelwinebar.com. 7, 14, 21, 28 Covington Farmers Market. Covington Trailhead, 419 N New Hampshire. 10am-2pm. covingtonfarmersmarket.org. 9 Northlake Newcomers Club Luncheon. Adam and Erik Acquistapace will speak on wine and cheese pairings. Nuvalori’s Ristorante, 246 Girod St, Mandeville. 24

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

Doors, 10am. Members, $26.50; guests, $29.50. northlakenewcomers.com. 8 OnSTAGE Letters Home. Fuhrmann Auditorium, 128 W 23rd Ave, Covington. 7pm. covla.com. 9 Pallets with Purpose. Live music, silent auction, wine pull, catering by Gary Bonanno’s Catering and more benefiting the Northshore Food Bank. Northshore Food Bank Warehouse, 840 N. Columbia St, Covington. 6:30-9:20pm. $75. 8933003. 9-10 Ronen Chen Fall Stock Event and Spring Trunk Show. Ballin’s LTD, 721 Dante St, NewOrleans. ballinsltd.com. 10 Battle for the Paddle: Madisonville Gumbo Cook-Off. Madisonville Tchefuncte Riverfront. 11am-2pm. Free admission; wristband to taste all gumbos (and vote for your favorite), $5. 845-9824. 10 Faith Music Fest. Free, outdoor Christian music festival featuring 7eventh Time Down, Empowered and Stephen Moore. Heritage Park, 1701 Bayou Ln, Slidell. 10am-7pm. 643-3043. 10 FORESTival: A Celebration of Art and Nature. Family-friendly day with live music, artist presentations, guided walks in the woods with ASITW Environmental Curator David Baker, silent auction, refreshments and snacks. A Studio in the Woods, 13401 Patterson Rd, New Orleans. 11am-5pm. astudiointhewoods. org. 10 Louisiana Book Festival. Featuring more than 250 authors and panelists. Louisiana State Capitol, State Library of Louisiana, Capitol Park Museum and tents on surrounding streets, Baton Rouge. 9am-4pm. louisianabookfestival. org. 10 Skipper Gala. “Set Sail” with the Mandeville High School Band Boosters. Auctions, open bar, entertainment and buffet stations. Beau Chêne Country Club, 602 North Beau Chêne Dr,

November-December 2018 25

Inside Scoop Mandeville. 7-10pm. $50. Mhs-band-

Blvd, Mandeville. 10am-3pm. 624-8040.

new golf cart, beef steer and original

skipper-gala.eventbrite.com.

windsorseniorliving.com.

artwork by Marcia Holmes. Hosted by the

10 St. Paul’s Jazz’n Roll. Briggs Assembly

10-11 Lilly’s 60th Birthday Anniversary

Children’s Advocacy Center Hope House.

Center, St. Paul’s School, 917 S Jahncke

Launch. Palm Village, A Signature Lilly

Top level of Justice Center Parking

Ave, Covington. stpauls.com.

Pulitzer Store, 2735 US 190, Mandeville.

Garage, 601 N Jefferson Ave, Covington.

778-2547.

4-7pm. cachopehouse.org.

30-Dec 1 The Nutcracker. Presented by Ballet Apetrei. Mandeville High School, 1

10-11 Three Rivers Art Festival. Juried

11 Muts and Music Jazz Brunch. Silent

Skipper Dr. Nov 30, 10am and 7pm; Dec

art show with over 200 artists, food,

auction, Reginald Sanders Jazz Trio, K9

1, 2pm and 7pm. 624-3622.

music and more. Downtown Covington.

Performers from the Hammond Police

10am-5pm. threeriversartfestival.com.

Department, adoptable dog parade and

10 Unleashed! Rescue Me Gala. Music by Four Unplugged, cuisine, cocktails,

11 Empty Bowl. Live music by Christian

screening of the Saints game hosted by

auctions and more presented by First

Serpas & Ghost Town, food, drinks,

Tangi Animal Friends. 12-3pm. Donation

Castle Federal Credit Union. Benefiting

ceramic bowls and auctions hosted by

tickets, $60; table of 10 donation,

the Northshore Humane Society.

the Old Mandeville Business Association

$500. Le Fleur De Lis, 111 N 6th St,

Pontchartrain Yacht Club, Mandeville.

benefiting The Samaritan Center

7-11pm. northshorehumane.org/

Food Bank. Pontchartrain Yacht Club,

unleashed.

Mandeville. VIP entry, 2:15pm; 3-6pm.

School, 70104 Wolverine Dr, Covington.

$45. oldmandevillebiz.com.

9am. 635-0508. northlakechristian.org.

10 Windsor Shopping Extravaganza. Jewelry, holiday decor, wreaths,

11 Men Who Cook. Local “celebrity

Ponchatoula. tangianimalfriends.org. 13 Open House. Northlake Christian

13 Shadow Days. St. Paul’s School, 917

handmade wooden items, clothing and

cooks” partner with local restaurants

S Jahncke Ave, Covington. RSVP, 892-

so much more. The Windsor Senior

in a competitive cook-off. Music by

3200. stpauls.com.

Living Community, 1770 North Causeway

4-Unplugged. Raffle items include a

13-14 Holiday Market. Two days of

shopping the best in clothing, shoes,

7774. vantagepointcovington.com.

accessories, gifts, jewelry and home

15 Open House. Cedarwood School, 607

Grill, Hambone, and the Rusty Pelican Seafood & Sippin Station. Old Mandeville.

decor. Mini spa treatments, makeovers,

Heavens Dr, Mandeville. 9am. 845-7111.

Registration, 10:30; first stop, 11am. $40;

drinks and door prizes too. Franco’s Club

cedarwoodschool.com.

couple, $75. topcatsteno.com/stjude.html.

& Spa, 100 Bon Temps Roule, Mandeville. 9am-8pm. francosmandeville.com. 14 Chef’s Holiday Tasting and Boutique Runway. The Tasting, benefiting the

15 Shadow Days. Northlake Christian

17 Falaya Fest. Full lineup of musical talent,

School, 70104 Wolverine Dr, Covington.

food, drinks and more benefitting NAMI

8:15am. 635-0508. northlakechristian.org.

St. Tammany. Bogue Falaya Park, 213

16 Arsene Delay “A Song for Lil.”

Park Dr, Covington. 11am-9pm. Children

Northshore Food Bank, will bring together

Dew Drop Jazz Hall, 430 Lamarque St,

10 and under, free; advance, $18; gate,

local cuisine from the area’s best chefs

Mandeville. 6:30-9pm. dewdropjazzhall.com.

$20. falayafest.com.

and restaurants and will feature a boutique

16 Friday Nites on the Square. Live music

17 WYES It’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere.

“runway” showcasing fall fashions.

by The Fleurtations. Terra Bella, 100 Terra

Jimmy Buffett themed event presented by

Franco’s Club & Spa, 100 Bon Temps

Bella Blvd, Covington. 5:30-8:30pm.

LCI Workers’ Comp. Sanderson home,

Roule, Mandeville. 11:30am. $20 in

terrabellavillage.com.

Covington. Patron reception, 5pm; general

advance. francosmandeville.com. 14 SOUPer Bowl Gala. Presented by the

17 Abita Springs Opry. Last Chance

admittance, 6:30pm. wyes.org.

Bluegrass Band, The Raisins, Kim Carson

17 Rach & Bach Gala Concert. A benefit

Salvation Army Greater New Orleans Area

and The Electrifying Crown Seekers. Abita

celebrating 100 years of The English

Command. The Audubon Tea Room, New

Springs Town Hall. 892-0711.

Speaking Union. Orpheum Theater, 129

Orleans. 6-9pm. $175. salvationarmalm. org/nola. 15 Healthy Happy Hour. Vantage Point, 9 Starbrush Crl, Covington. 6-7pm. 259-

17 Cruising, Strolling & Tasting for St Jude. Stroll or drive to each participating restaurant stop including LaLou, McClain’s Pizzeria, The Beach House Bar &

Roosevelt Way, New Orleans. 7:30pm. lpomusic.com. rachandbach.com. 18 Third Sunday Concert Series. Mad Dogs and Englishmen, vocal trio with

Inside Scoop piano and cello. Christ Episcopal Church, 120 S. New Hampshire St, Covington. 5pm. Free. 892-3177. 22 Run for Hope Turkey Trot. “Run For Hope” honoring Vince Lombardo. All proceeds benefit M.D. Anderson Network. Terra Bella, 100 Terra Bella Blvd, Covington. Registration, 7am; one-mile fun run, 7:30am; 5k, 8am. covingtonprintworks.com. 22 Tammany Turkey Trop & Northshore Food Bank Drive. 5K and 5-mile runs courses. Starts and ends at St. Tammany Parish Justice Center, 701 N Columbia St, Covington. 8-10am. tammanyturkeytrot.com. 23 Martina McBride: Joy of Christmas. Beau Rivage Theatre, Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, 875 Beach Blvd, Biloxi. beaurivage.com. 23-Dec 24 Christmas in the Country. Special shopping events, strolling musicians, carolers, refreshments and door prizes sponsored by the Covington Business Association, Lee Lane Merchants, and the City of Covington. Downtown Covington. 892-1873. 23-Dec 30 Audubon Zoo Lights. Audubon Zoo Lights presented by Children’s Hospital. auduboninstitute.org. 23-Dec 31 Magic Christmas in Lights. Bellingrath Gardens and Home, 12401 Bellingrath Gardens Rd, Theodore, Ala. 5-9pm. (251) 973-2217. bellingrath.org. 23-Jan 1 Celebration in the Oaks. New Orleans City Park. neworleanscitypark. com. 23-Dec 23 Ssh-ampagne Sundays. 1-5pm. Cloud 9, 1901 Hwy. 190, Mandeville. 951-2299. oncloudnine.com.. 25 125th Teddy Bear Tea. Holiday food, specialty teas, tasty pastries, Santa and Mrs. Claus, and sparkling wine and mimosas for mom and dad. The Roosevelt New Orleans, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel, 130 Roosevelt Way. (504) 33528

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

3129. therooseveltneworleans.com. 26 Cyber Funday. Palm Village, A Signature Lilly Pulitzer Store, 2735 US 190, Mandeville. 778-2547.

more. Madisonville Town Hall, 403 Saint

Express rider, $5. Coat drive donations

Francis St. 4-8pm. 845-9824.

requested. terrabellavillage.com.

1 Northshore Food Truck Festival.

2 Tea with Santa. Photo with Santa,

Good food, live music and family fun

champagne for adults, tea service, gift

hosted by The Friends of the Harbor

from Santa, music and more. Southern

Hancock Whitney Broadway in New

Center. Indoors if rain. Northshore

Hotel, 428 E Boston St, Covington.

Orleans. Saenger Theatre. neworleans.

Harbor Center, 100 Harbor Center

2-4pm. Adults, $80; ages 2-9, $60. (844)

broadway.com.

Blvd, Slidell. 11am-4pm. 781-3650.

866-1907.

27-Dec 2 On Your Feet! Presented by

29 Art and Jewelry Show. Featuring the creative work of local artists. Rug Chic

northshoreharborcenter.com. 1-2 On Your Feet! Presented by Hancock

2-8 Shop Local Artists Week. Throughout St. Tammany Parish and Louisiana.

Home Décor, 4240 hwy 22, Mandeville.

Whitney Broadway in New Orleans. Saenger

Includes St. Tammany’s Holiday Festival

10am-5pm. 674-1070.

Theatre. neworleans.broadway.com.

of Arts on Dec 2 on N Columbia St,

29-Dec 1 Russian Santa Trunk Show. Arabella Interiors, 2244 Eleventh St, Mandeville. Nov 29, 4-8:30pm; Nov 30 and Dec 1, 10am-5pm. 727-9787. 30 Robin Barnes. Dew Drop Jazz Hall, 430 Lamarque St, Mandeville. 6:30-9pm. dewdropjazzhall.com. 30-Dec 2 Christmas Extravaganza Arts

1-9 The Best Christmas Pageant Ever Musical. 30 by Ninety Theatre, Mandeville. (844) THE-3090. 30byninety.com. 1-30 Audubon Zoo Lights. Audubon Zoo Lights presented by Children’s Hospital. auduboninstitute.org. 1-31 Magic Christmas in Lights. Bellingrath Gardens and Home, 12401

and Crafts Expo. St Tammany Parish

Bellingrath Gardens Rd, Theodore, Ala.

Fairgrounds, 1304 N. Columbia St,

5-9pm. (251) 973-2217. bellingrath.org.

Covington. 10am-5pm. Adults, $15; 12 and under, free. 966-7863. 30-Dec 9 The Best Christmas Pageant

1-Jan 1 Celebration in the Oaks. New Orleans City Park. neworleanscitypark.com. 1-2, 8-9, 15-24 125th Teddy Bear

Covington. shoplocalartistsweek.com. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 Abita Springs Art and Farmers Market. Trailhead Park. 12-4pm. townofabitasprings.com/ farmers-market. 4, 11, 18, 25 Live Jazz Tuesdays. The Barrel Wine Bar, 69305 Hwy 21, Covington.6-8pm. barrelwinebar.com. 5, 12, 19, 26 Covington Farmers Market. Covington Trailhead, 419 N New Hampshire. 10am-2pm. covingtonfarmersmarket.org. 6 Christmas Luminaries. Founders Circle,

Ever Musical. 30 by Ninety Theatre,

Tea. Holiday food, specialty teas,

Mandeville. (844) THE-3090. 30byninety.com.

tasty pastries, Santa and Mrs. Claus,

Covington. 6pm. stpauls.com.

and sparkling wine and mimosas for

6, 13, 20, 27 Live Music Thursdays.

December 1 Breakfast with Santa. Portrait with Santa by Heidi Bowers Photography, Santa’s winter wonderland, story time with Mrs. Claus, special gift from Santa. Our Lady of the Lake School, 316 Lafitte St, Mandeville. 10am. 626-5678. 1 Holiday Open House and Russian Santa Trunk Show. Arabella Interiors, 2244 Eleventh St, Mandeville. 727-9787. 1 Madisonville Mamma’s Bake-Off. American Factory Direct Furniture, 218 New Camellia Blvd, Covington. afdfurniture.com.

St. Paul’s School, 917 S Jahncke Ave,

mom and dad. The Roosevelt New

The Barrel Wine Bar, 69305 Hwy 21,

Orleans, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel,

Covington. 6-9pm. barrelwinebar.com.

130 Roosevelt Way. (504) 335-3129. therooseveltneworleans.com. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Camellia City Farmers Market. 1808 Front St, Slidell. 8am-12pm. camelliacitymarket.org. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Covington Farmers

7 Christmas with Aaron Neville. Beau Rivage Theatre, Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, 875 Beach Blvd, Biloxi. beaurivage.com. 7 Olde Towne Crawl. Live music, local vendors, art, crafts, food, drinks and

Market. 609 N Columbia St. 8am-12pm.

more. 2200 Block of Carey St, Slidell.

covingtonfarmersmarket.org.

5-10pm. facebook.com/oldetownmainst.

1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Mandeville Trailhead

7 Sips of the Season. Old Mandeville

Market. 675 Lafitte St. 9am-1pm.

bars, pubs and restaurants. Mugs

mandevilletrailheadmarket.com.

available at K. Gee’s Restaurants, Varsity

2 Christmas at TerraBella. Live holiday

Sports, Cameo Boutique, Blent Juice

music, hot chocolate, Christmas crafts,

Bar, Das Schulerhaus Gift Gallery &

Santa Clause and more. Terra Bella,

Christmas Boutique. 5-9pm. 624-3147.

Oaks. Parade, caroling, kid’s activities,

100 Terra Bella Blvd, Covington. 3-6pm.

oldmandevillebiz.com.

photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus and

Photo with Santa, $10; TerraBella

1 Merry Madisonville & Lighting of the

7-9 Christmas in the Country. Old

November-December 2018 29

Inside Scoop fashioned family fun and shopping. St. Francisville. (225) 635-3873. stfrancisvillefestivals.com. 7, 9 Ring Out Wild Bells. Northshore Performing Arts Society. Dec 7, Hosanna Lutheran Church, Mandeville. Dec 9, Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Slidell. npassingers.org. 7, 14, 21, 28 “Legacies for All” estate

stfrancisvillefestivals.com. 8 Deck the Rails. Santa, children activities and lighting of the Covington Trailhead. 419 N New Hampshire St. 4-7pm. 8921873. 8 Running of the Santas. Warehouse District, New Orleans. runningofthesantas.com. 8 Winter on the Water. Santa arrives by

St. Timothy on the Northshore UMC, 335 Asbury Dr, Mandeville. 3pm and 7pm. 626-3307. 9 History and Holly Tour. Seven Covington homes presented by the Covington Heritage Foundation. Begins at Bogue Falaya Hall, 317 N Jefferson Ave. $20. covingtonheritagefoundation.com.

boat, marching parade from harbor to

11 Open House. Northlake Christian School,

planning day. Schedule time for a

Gazebo, performances and lighting of

70104 Wolverine Dr, Covington. 9am.

legacy/estate plan, which includes a

the lakefront live oaks. Lakeshore Dr,

will, power of attorney and living will.

Mandeville. 4-6pm. cityofmandeville.com.

Christie Tournet & Associates, 1795 W Causeway App, Suite 103A, Mandeville.

8-9 Pictures with Santa. Baby’s Corner,

635-0508. northlakechristian.org. 11-12 Volunteer Auxiliary Collective Goods Semi-Annual Gift Sale. A

70448 LA-21 #100, Covington. Dec 8,

portion of proceeds benefits St. Tammany

10:30am-2:30pm. $500. 951-2177.

11am-3pm; Dec 9, 12-3pm. 892-5300.

Parish charities. Lakeview Regional

8 A Christmas Past Festival. Arts and

8-10 Holiday Promo Event. Palm Village,

Medical Center, Main Entrance, 95

crafts, food and beverage booths, bands

A Signature Lilly Pulitzer Store, 2735 US

Judge Tanner Blvd, Covington. Dec

and strolling caroling groups. Girod St,

190, Mandeville. 778-2547.

11, 10am-5pm; Dec 12, 8am-3pm.

Mandeville. 9am-3pm. cityofmandeville.com.

9 Christmas on the Northshore Concert.

lakeviewregional.com.

8 Christmas Tour of Homes. Tour

St. Timothy Choir, Northshore Orchestra,

11-15 Holiday Open House and Artisan

contemporary homes in West

St. Timothy Youth Chorale and Children’s

Trunk Show. Beau Rivage Resort

Feliciana Parish. (225) 635-3364.

Music Ensembles and well-loved soloists.

& Casino, 875 Beach Blvd, Biloxi.

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

beaurivage.com. 12-13, 19-20 Holiday Stroll. Shop with Suella and KiKi & Lolli for all of your

Members, $26.50; guests, $29.50. northlakenewcomers.com.

18-23 Elf. Presented by Hancock Whitney

14 Shake ’Em Up Jazz Band. Dew Drop

holiday gifts. 70515 Hwy 21, Covington.

Jazz Hall, 430 Lamarque St, Mandeville.

302-5000.

6:30-9pm. dewdropjazzhall.com.

13 Candlelight Caroling. Covington

Biloxi. 5-9pm. beaurivage.com.

Broadway in New Orleans. Saenger Theatre. newolreans.broadway.com. 21 Baroque Christmas with the LPO.

15-16 Mug Promo Event. Palm Village, A

Featuring Handel’s Messiah. First Baptist

Trailhead, 419 N. New Hampshire St.

Signature Lilly Pulitzer Store, 2735 US

Church of Covington, 16333 Hwy 1085.

7-8pm. 892-1873. covla.com.

190, Mandeville. 778-2547.

7:30pm. $20-$55. (504) 523-6530.

13 Healthy Happy Hour. Vantage Point, 9

16 Beethoven and Blue Jeans: LPO’s

lpomusic.com.

Starbrush Crl, Covington. 6-7pm. 259-

Yuletide Celebration. Slidell Municipal

22-31 NOLA ChristmasFest. Ice skating

7774. vantagepointcovington.com.

Auditorium, 2056 Second St. 2:30pm.

rink, ice slides, holiday characters,

(504) 523-6530. lpomusic.com.

themed inflatables, arts and crafts,

13 H2O Sip and Shop. H2O Salon Northshore, 3908 hwy 22, Mandeville. 10am-7pm. 951-8166. 13 Shadow Days. Northlake Christian School, 70104 Wolverine Dr, Covington. 8:15am. 635-0508. northlakechristian.org. 14 Northlake Newcomers Club

16 Brunch with Santa. BR Prime, Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, 875 Beach Blvd,

Carousel, Winter Whirl, Snowball Fight

Biloxi. 10am-3pm. beaurivage.com.

area, Snowy Summit climbing wall, food,

16 Third Sunday Concert Series. A

New Orleans Ernest M. Morial Convention

Episcopal Church, 120 S. New

Center, Hall H. nolachristmasfest.com.

Hampshire St, Covington. 5pm. Free.

and Piano Player, Craig Cortello. Beau

892-3177.

Chene Dr, Mandeville. Doors, 10am.

drinks and the world’s tallest snowman.

Christmas Brass Spectacular. Christ

Luncheon. Sing along with Singer

Chene Country Club, 602 North Beau

gingerbread house exhibit, Kringle

Send your event information to

16-20 Photos with Santa. The Buffet, Beau

scoop@insidepub.com to have it featured

Rivage Resort & Casino, 875 Beach Blvd,

in an upcoming issue of Inside Northside.

November-December 2018 31

IN Other Words by Becky Slatten

Oh-h-h, Christmas Tree! IT’S BEEN SUGGESTED that I might go a little overboard at Christmastime. It’s true that I decorate literally everything and listen to Christmas music non-stop and watch Hallmark Christmas movies and color-coordinate my gift wrap, etc., etc., etc., but I’m ok with it. It certainly beats the alternative, the ultimate symbol that you’ve given up on life: the dreaded tabletop tree. I still remember walking into my grandparents’ house, home from college for the holidays, and there it was: a horrible, embarrassing, garish little nightmare of a plastic tree that whispered, “Santa Claus is dead.” I admit I got a little confrontational. “And what is that?!,” I demanded. My Mimi just patted my arm. “Oh honey, we’re too old to get all that stuff out.” And I thought right then how far we’d come from the 32

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

glorious Christmases of my childhood. When we were kids, as Christmas approached, our family would hike into the woods on my grandparents’ land and chop down pines for them, ourselves and an extra-tall one for my dad’s parents, Mom and Pop; that was my cue to get excited about Christmas. My maternal grandparents, Mimi and Papa, were farmers and lived out in the country. Mimi always made fudge and cupcakes and a big pot of hot cocoa with little marshmallows to float on top, and we decorated their tree in the living room where us kids weren’t usually allowed. I’m not sure why not, though; the sofa was completely encased in clear plastic—it was virtually indestructible. My dad’s father was a doctor, and they lived in “town.” Dad and Uncle Sam would have a few

cocktails while they lay what seemed like miles of light strands all through the halls of the big house to check for burned-out bulbs. The other adults laughed and joked and essentially ignored the kids, who were in hyperactive overdrive running circles through the house. And once again, we were allowed in the forbidden living room to decorate the huge tree. It was as though at Christmastime the wardens just threw open the cells and let the inmates run wild. We loved it. We always spent Christmas Eve in the country. The car ride to the farm was so exciting; we bounced around on the big back seat, not a seatbelt in sight. The local radio station would interrupt the broadcast of Christmas carols with reports of a UFO sighting; clearly, they were picking up Santa’s sleigh on radar, so we intently scanned the star-filled sky for a glimpse of Rudolph’s bright red nose. The house was warm and festive and filled with aunts and uncles and cousins, and it smelled of roasting turkey and a freshly cut pine. Just like it was supposed to. After we tore into our gifts at home, Christmas Day was spent in town at Mom and Pop’s house, all dressed up and forced to behave. It was a veritable redneck Norman Rockwell sketch— until the late ’70s, when we ushered in the depressing era of the exceptionally bad artificial Christmas tree. Poor Pop gave in first, but we could hardly blame him; he was old and widowed and all he did was watch TV. His housekeeper put his lame fake tree up for a few years, but she wasn’t much younger than he was, so the pitiful tabletop tree became his

Christmas afterthought. Mimi and Papa were next, and I’m not 100 percent sure, but I think my grandmother “bought” that horrid “tree” with S&H Green Stamps. It started with a green metal pole with holes in it where the “branches” were supposed to go, but it didn’t make a mess, and by then, that’s all they cared about. Christmas reduced to how quickly it could be put away. My mother hung on for a while, but she, too, finally gave in and got an artificial monstrosity with LED lights. What’s really scary is that I put her tree together for her last year less than two weeks before Christmas! And she didn’t really care! In fact, she really just wanted to go back to her den and watch football. Honestly, I don’t even know that woman anymore. So now, I have a confession to make. Last year, as I single-handedly hauled all my huge bins of Christmas decorations down the stairs (because I’m too impatient to wait for help), I made the conscious decision to not put out Santa’s cookie plate. Is this how it starts?! Is the shunned cookie plate actually the trajectory to the travesty of the tabletop tree?! It’s a chilling thought but worth examining. Luckily, I have a two-year-old granddaughter to save me from whatever it is that afflicts the people who give up on Christmas. And you can believe that the cookie plate is coming out of the closet this year, AND there will be real cookies on it on Christmas Eve. If and when I ever get so old and decrepit that I’m forced to give in to the tabletop tree, it merely means that my family no longer loves me; so go ahead and pull the sheet over me, I’ll just be waiting to die. Merry Christmas!!

by Poki Hampton

DURING THEIR 50 YEARS OF MARRIAGE, Stevie and Bob Mack have built and renovated more than 18 homes. “It’s amazing how we just fell into it,” says Stevie. “We would renovate a house, and then someone would want to buy it. It happened again and again.” But recently, Stevie and Bob decided it was time to downsize and to build their forever home to accommodate themselves and their daughters and grandchildren, who visit from Atlanta. With the design expertise of Matt Voelkel of Studio MV, Bob and Stevie put a lot of hours into making the house just the way they wanted it. “From the beautiful 100-year-old, New Orleans soft-red bricks (painted white to provide an authentic aged look), to the 2-inch-by-12-inch heart-pine plank floors from a torn-down building in New Orleans, to the old reclaimed-cypress and -pine beams, to the oversized cove crown molding and the reclaimedand recycled-slate roof with copper trim and antique Old English-style ridge tiles, the materials are impeccable,” says Matt. “Throughout the house, we used only the finest quality materials and finishes. The French lanterns and lighting fixtures purchased from their original locations in France were collected and stored over the year waiting for this project.” As you drive up to the house, you enter a true European parking court with its individually placed cobblestones, which showcases the classic French/ Louisiana style of the perfectly proportioned home.

Inside Northside

The three arched mahogany French double-door panels on the front of the house stand 10 feet tall. Two large antique copper lanterns frame the French iron gates, c1850, leading into the spacious center hallway. The 18th century sideboard was purchased on a trip Stevie and her sister took to Stratfordupon-Avon. Above the sideboard hang framed Italian engravings, c1600. Two iron urns with simple palm fronds adorn the top. The chandelier was purchased

photo:THOMAS B. GROWDEN

Classic Mack Style

on a trip to France, but was shipped without the glass. Stevie was able to get the New Orleans Glass Blowing School to replicate the pieces for her. When you step into the formal dining room, you are transported back in time to a gentler era. The candle chandelier is from Florence, Italy. When Stevie and Bob received the shipment containing the chandelier, it was all in small pieces. Bobâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s attention to detail and his perfectionism prevailed

as he reassembled it. The antique French table seats eight comfortably in slipcovered English Queen Ann chairs. An enormous sideboard from Lyon, France, has a marble top that requires six men to move; it is topped with a gilded Louis Phillip mirror. Light gold silk curtains are quadruple lined for durability and privacy. An 18th century armoire is used for storage. The formal living room is an eclectic mix of antique and contemporary, from the classic 19th >> November-December 2018 35

photos:THOMAS B. GROWDEN

century French chairs covered in Fortuny fabric to an acrylic end table and the two contemporary paintings. The gold and white painting over the French dresser was purchased from the house in Houston that was decorated for Lady Gaga to live in while preparing for the 2017 Super Bowl game. On an antiquing trip to Atlanta, Stevie found the embroidered monogramed pillow with her initials at a show. Had to be fate! Two entertainment cabinets custom made from old Paris shutters flank an 18th century limestone mantle in the keeping room, which has a painted wood ceiling and antique beams. A painting by Jim Seitz hangs over the fireplace. Two sofas from Rug Chic in textured, off-white linen are accompanied by the cocktail table from New Orleans designer Christopher Maier. The 19th century French chairs are in their original robin’s-eggblue silk. Surrounding the 18th century farm table are painted harp-back French chairs with blue textured-linen cushions.

The kitchen is filed with everything to make a cook’s dreams come true. From the custom cabinets by Tom Maras that reach all the way to the ceiling, to the double-thick Calacatta Gold marble countertops and backsplash, to the Sub Zero refrigerator and freezer, the induction and gas stove with a warming drawer, and two dishwashers, Stevie and Bob didn’t leave anything out. It is all crowned by an 18th century French chandelier. In the hallway leading to the separate private master wing are a built-in bar complete with glass shelving and marble countertop and the powder room, which is outfitted with vintage French sink, hardware and mirror. Large windows in the master bedroom dressed in voluminous silk curtains overlook the backyard. The 15-foot sloping wood ceiling adds character. The bed and desk are from Paris, and the French armoire is from L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue.>> November-December 2018 37

Inside Northside

photo:THOMAS B. GROWDEN

Acrylic lamps top the antique nightstands, and framed antique butterfly prints are hung over the bed. The master suite is completed by his and hers bathrooms—hers with plenty of room to relax in the spa-like ambiance with a huge adjoining walk-in closet, sunken tub and French gold fixtures, and his with an oversized frameless walk-in shower and large walk-in closet. Stevie’s closet, designed by Ruffino Custom Closets, has a large center island with a Calacatta Gold marble countertop and a glass-front cabinet to house handbags. Christian Russell of Ruffino says: “The Macks have exquisite taste and an eye for detail. We were privileged to work with them, and to have been a part of such a beautifully built home.” With children visiting, Stevie and Bob wanted three guest rooms, each with its own private bath. Upstairs are two bedrooms and baths and a large den. The downstairs guest room is furnished with a Parisian bed, an English dresser and an antique French linen press. One end table is made from a wooden French wine cooler. Stevie found the Italian chandelier in Round Top, Texas. The curtains are in Colfax and Fowler linen. The laundry room is spacious and grand, with tall custom cabinets, marble countertops and Peacock Paver floors. Planning every detail of this house meant that Stevie would finally have all of her china and crystal in one place. She says, “I hadn’t seen some of it in many years because it was packed away in storage.” She designed an oversized closet with antique double doors and under-shelf lighting to make it simple to find everything she needs to entertain. Large soft-close drawers hold table linens and large platters. Lined drawers for silver make everything accessible and easy to find. The covered back porch is just steps away from the large heated rectangular pool and built-in spa. The pool decking and porch floor are Peacock Pavers in White Rice, making it the perfect entertaining space. “Building a home of this caliber and quality takes a lot of time and careful, thoughtful and well-planned decisions. Bob and Stevie’s perfectionism and attention to detail is personalized in this home. All of the materials and finishes are impeccable,” says Matt Voelkel. “It is truly ‘Classic Mack’ style.”

Local Author Pamela Binnings Ewen

Inside Northside

by Mimi Greenwood Knight

photo: CANDRA GEORGE mycreativereality.com

SPENDING TIME with local author Pamela Binnings Ewen calls to mind a quote from a family friend of the Marx Brothers. He said, “When you’re with Groucho, you feel like you’re with the greatest person in the world. When you’re with Zeppo, you feel like you’re the greatest person in the world.” Somehow, with Ewen, I feel both simultaneously. Here is this absolutely fascinating, completely accomplished woman who is, at the same time, so innately generous that she makes me feel whatever I’m saying is fascinating. Munificence is just one of her gifts. Raised in Sulphur, Louisiana, by New Orleanian parents, Pam didn’t always seem destined for greatness. In fact, she flunked out of the former St. Mary’s Dominican liberal arts college, prompting the mother superior to declare her “simply not college material.” After that, she worked a succession of what she called “survival jobs”: at Shell Oil, an insurance company and Touro Hospital. She married and found a position she enjoyed, working in reservations for Delta Airlines. But when she became pregnant, airline policy dictated she leave her job at five months with no guarantee it would be there when she was ready to return. It was not. “My husband was a professional student,” she says. “I was out of work until Scott was 18 months old, and I brought in some money typing papers for students.” As soon as the baby was old enough, Ewen found a job she enjoyed as assistant to the assistant to the dean at Tulane University. She loved the work and the collegiate atmosphere. “We didn’t have a car, so I’d take Scott to daycare on my bicycle,” says Ewen. “We went everywhere on that bike. I’d work all morning, have lunch, then start classes at Tulane, which I was able to attend for free as long as I worked there.” Scott became a regular on campus, often hanging out with his mom in class or in the library and entertaining himself by drawing, a pastime that eventually led to a career as a visual artist. Four years later, the girl who flunked out of Dominican graduated cum laude from one of the top colleges in the country. By then, her marriage had

ended, and she needed to support herself and Scott. “I asked myself, ‘What can a woman do to support a child if she’s bad at math?’” says Ewen. “I didn’t know any female lawyers, but law school seemed like the answer.” There was the problem of tuition though. “I’d heard about the Louisiana Legislative Scholarship,” says Ewen. “I went to Representative John Hainkel’s office and just asked him for it. He asked me, ‘Why should I give it to you?’ I told him about Scott, and that I needed a career. But it didn’t sound encouraging.” The tuition deadline had come and gone when Ewen was surprised by a call from Hainkel. “He called me from the house floor,” she says. “I could hear all the noise in the background. And he told me they were giving me the scholarship.” For years afterward, when something good happened in Ewen’s career, she contacted Hainkel, who had become a senator. “When I graduated from law school, I sent him a letter and said, ‘this is because of you.’ I wrote him when I got my first job and in 1989, when I made partner. When I had the chance, I stopped by his office and told him, ‘I want you to know you changed my life.’” Ewen remarried and moved to >> November-December 2018 41

photo: CANDRA GEORGE mycreativereality.com

Corpus Christi, Texas, where she commuted 200 miles to finish law school in Houston. After graduation, she worked as in-house counsel for Gulf Oil for four years, a job she loved. Then she went to work for a large firm in Houston doing corporate finance for twenty years. (Ironic, since she’d gone to law school to avoid math.) As though a full-time law career with one of the top firms in the country wasn’t enough, Ewen also served on the boards of directors of Inprint, Inc., a non-profit organization supporting the literary arts in Houston, and the local chapter of Junior Achievement. It was during that time Ewen began to wrestle with her faith. “I always wanted to believe,” she says. “But over the years, I’d lost my faith. Surprisingly, it was the movie Amadeus that set me on a journey to rediscover it. Here was this highly flawed man who was so shallow but who received this glorious gift of music. It didn’t make sense.” Ewen began researching everything she could about the composer, reading whatever she could get her hands on. “From my research, I finally concluded there is something outside the human brain and our world that we don’t understand,” she says. “And I thought perhaps if the writings about Jesus by witnesses in the New Testament of the Bible could be proved true, then this could perhaps provide a foundation for faith for those of us still seeking to understand— that is, for a faith based on reason.” And so, this avowed agnostic and seasoned lawyer set about to put the testimony of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John on trial. “In a civil case, the court’s standard of proof is based on the preponderance of the evidence—that is, in weighing all the evidence jurors (readers) must decide if the testimony of these witnesses is found more likely than not to be true,” she says. “At the end of my search in 1999, based on the evidence, I concluded in my book Faith on Trial that it’s more reasonable to believe the truth of the Bible than not to believe it.” Almost immediately, the book became a best seller at Barnes & Noble and regional book stores across the country. It is, to date, her only non-fiction book. But since its publication, Ewen has written and published five novels: Secret of the Shroud; The Moon in the Mango Tree (2009 Christy Award Finalist and winner of the 2012 Eudora Welty Memorial Award given by the National League of American Pen Women); Dancing on Glass (2012 Christy Award Finalist and winner of a Single Titles Reviewer’s Choice Award); Chasing the Wind (Romantic Times ‘Top Pick’); and An Accidental Life. Her latest book, set to hit bookshelves in 2019, might be her most intriguing. The Queen of Paris is a novel limned from the shadows of history. Without giving too much away, it’s the 42

Inside Northside

surprising tale of Coco Chanel’s own battles waged during the four-year Nazi occupation of Paris in World War II, the controversial choices she made and why. “It took me 15 years to write Faith on Trial,” she says. “I was practicing law and suddenly doing radio and TV interviews about the book. I decided I’d achieved my goals where my law career was concerned, and I had to choose whether to write full time. In the end I did.” Ewen moved to New Orleans to marry longtime friend Jimmy Lott, and continued to write while finding time in 2005 to found the Northshore Literary Society, along with local author Deborah Burst. She’s also served on the boards of directors of the Pirate’s Alley Faulkner Society and the Tennessee Williams Festival, both in New Orleans. In 2009, Ewen received the St. Tammany Parish President’s Arts Award as Literary Artist of the Year. In 2017, she was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award by Marquis Who’s Who. Interestingly, Ewen is only the latest writer to emerge from a talented extended family. Her cousin, James Lee Burke, won two Edgar Awards, for his novels Black Cherry Blues and Cimarron Rose. Other writers in her family are Andre Dubus, Best Picture Oscar nominee for The Bedroom; his son, Andre Dubus III, author of The House of Sand and Fog, a Best Picture Oscar nomination and an Oprah pick; Elizabeth Nell Dubus, author of the Cajun trilogy; and Alafair Burke, author of the Samantha Kincaid mystery series. As for Ewen, she’s already at work on her next work of fiction, which will further flesh out some of the minor characters in The Queen of Paris. “The story is mostly spinning around in my head right now,” she says. “It’s with me most of the time, in some fashion. But then, this is the fun part.” November-December 2018 43

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month. In 2015, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid began covering lung screenings as a benefit. Many insurance companies are now including low-dose CT lung cancer screening as a covered benefit. Certain screening criteria must be met to have the lowdose CT lung cancer screening and a physician’s order is required. It is now considered the gold standard for early detection of lung cancer.

by Lori Chopin

Jimmy Brown. 44

HEARING THE WORDS “You have cancer” can put almost anyone into a tail spin. Not knowing how your life may play out in the future—or even what to expect in the next few weeks—can be unsettling. Jimmie Brown heard those words over a year ago when he was diagnosed with stage III lung cancer. A lung mass was discovered when he had an MRI for neck pain. He had no signs or symptoms of anything being amiss with his breathing. He didn’t experience any shortness of breath or even have a cough. He did experience an unexpected weight loss but other than the neck pain, he didn’t feel any different. Brown was

Inside Northside

lucky to be followed by physicians that persevered to find the root cause of his neck pain. Following extensive treatment, Brown can now say he is cancer free. A survivor! A 36-year employee of Folgers Coffee, Brown began as an equipment operator for packaging coffee. He was promoted many times within the organization, attending offsite workshops where he learned new technology and equipment and then taught other staff members how to operate them. When Folgers was sold by Proctor & Gamble to Smucker’s, Brown had the opportunity to perform for Mr. Smucker and record a music CD of Folger’s chorus group. A member of several bands and leader of his own band, Just Us, Brown played overseas with High Voltage, touring in Germany, Switzerland, and Italy, where the band was the main attraction. He played with Gladys Night and the Pips, Allen Toussaint, at the New Orleans Jazz Festival and numerous other local festivals. Brown was head coach of St. Roch playground for NORD for 28 years, where he led and taught children various sports, including football, baseball and track. Some of the kids, now adults, have maintained contact with their mentor. Coach Jimmie, as he was affectionately known, was a part of the children’s lives—he would take them on outings to the New Orleans Lakefront Airport and tours of the Folgers

photo courtesy: LORI CHOPIN

Shine A Light on Lung Cancer

plant to allow them unique opportunities to see a different way of life. As a cancer survivor, Brown will join the fight against the disease by leading his band, Just Us, to provide entertainment for the Shine A Light on Lung Cancer car and motorcycle show benefiting the Lung Cancer Alliance organization on November 2. For more information about the car/ motorcycle show or low-dose CT lung cancer screenings, contact Lori Chopin at St. Tammany Cancer Center, 898-4581 or email lchopin@stph.org.

Shine a Light on Lung Cancer Car and Motocycle Show

Friday, November 2, 5:30 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 8:30 p.m. St. Tammany Cancer Center parking lot 1203 S. Tyler Street, Covington Free admittance, family-oriented. Cake walk, luminaries available, Covington Fire Department truck, silent auction, refreshments available. Informational displays on LDCT lung screenings/smoking cessation/LOPA. Goodie bags provided for first 150 car/bike registrants. Registration donation of $25 to Lung Cancer Alliance by October 19; after October 19, $30.

For more information, or to donate online to Lung Cancer Alliance, visit https://bit.ly/2Ib6c45. November-December 2018 45

2. 3. 1.

Gifts of Luxury

1. Niermann Weeks transitional chandelier in venetian gold. 2. Jan Barboglio small mouth-blown glass clarity bowl with hand-engraving on iron stand, $299. 3. Small Sharon crystal chandelier in gilded iron. 4. One-of-a-kind blown glass providence bowl by Simon Pearce featuring a unique grey swirl for texture, $900. 5. Mid-century chair in tobacco brown leather by Verellen, $4,995. 6. Votivo 8.5oz special edition red currant holiday candle, $32.

6. 48

Inside Northside

9. 7. Vietri dinnerware in classic pearl with gold trim designed and inspired by hand-carved alabaster. 8. Vittorio glassware collection decorated with goldtone honeycomb accents. 9. Jan Barboglio stone and gesso angel with Matachin crown and wood stand celebrating unity and commitment, $785.

10.

10. Hand-blown glass cheese dome and custom-made walnut base that forms the perfect cheeseboard making this set an elegant way to store, display and serve cheese, $350. 11. Thomas O’Brien table lamp in crystal and hand-rubbed antique brass with natural percale shade. 12. Transport yourself to the cool of the deep Vermont woods with a signature Grand Evergreen Forest by Simon Pearce. Unique, hand-blown and worth showing off year-round, $150-$320. 13. Kelly Wearstler Elliot chair combines clean lines with classic vernacular and brass bar-stock legs finished in burnished brass. $4,995. 11.

13.

12.

2033 N. Hwy. 190, Covington • (985) 875-7576 • greigehome.com • November-December 2018 49

1. Coolibar Active Wear shirt with UV protection factor 50+, $49.50. 2. Coolibar women’s packable wide brim hat UV protection factor 50+, $44. 3. Salt of the Earth customized luxurious body products including body scrubs, creams, muds and detoxifying mineral soaks, $10-$36. 4. Lumity Natural Anti-Aging Supplement for healthier skin, hair and nails, more restful sleep, and greater energy levels, $105. 5. A Great Candle with a Brighter Purpose, $39.50. 6. Glo mineral makeup to nourish, correct and

protect your skin. 7. Advanced Eyelash Growth Serum for thicker, fuller and more luscious lashes, $123. 8. Let Me Sleep eye mask made of mulberry silk, $23. 9. Supracor’s body exfoliator, facial sponge, and bath mit with Stimulite honeycomb design to promote clean, healthy skin, $14-$38.

9. 8.

Now Open! • 4070 Lonesome Road, Suite A, Mandeville • (985) 727-7701 • drmarthastewart.com 50

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Your Niche for Gifts

1. Brouk & Co. The Weekender Bag in cream cotton with removable strap, leather accents and satin lining, $120. 2. Snazzy Santa in pink, green and white velvet, 17” tall, $72. 3. Marie footed bowl in cement finish with gold accents, 12” dia x 8.5” H, $179. 4. Nest festive candle trio set with Holiday, Birchwood Pine and Sparkling Cassis scents, $64. 5. Spiegela craft beer pilsners, set of 2, $20. 6. Round ironwood cheese boards with city logos, exclusive to Niche Modern Home, $49. 7. Santorini glass platter 20” round, $149. 5.

The Market at Chenier • 1901 Hwy. 190, Mandeville • (985) 624-4045 • nichemodernhome.com November-December 2018 51

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What have you learned since you began that’s shaped you as a designer? When I started out, I was designing the kind of jewelry I wanted to wear but couldn’t find. No one was crafting truly wearable fine jewelry—jewelry that is meant to be worn—by real women—every day, for every occasion. As I continue to develop my collections, it’s important to me that each piece I design is beautiful, wearable and makes a woman feel special. How do you choose stones Why was Lee Michaels a first choice

and colors?

as a retail partner?

I cherish the idea of respecting

Lee Michaels has a love and integrity for what

our natural resources. To me, this

they do that’s very similar to my own. They

translates into using materials for

know their customer so well and have a true

their innate beauty and doing as

connection to the community. Our partnership

little as possible to them. I make

has been especially great due to how well Lee

collections around the mesmerizing

Michaels understands the relationship between

sheen of shells or the delicate

the seller and consumer and truly understands

striations of exotic wood: simple,

what people are looking for.

elegant and cool.

What else encourages your design process?

What do you know to be

The world is an endless source of inspiration for

true about creating

me—art, architecture, a walk down a New York

quality jewelry?

street, a poem, a song—I am constantly inspired.

Craftsmanship is essential and noticeably present in every piece I

What kind of environment do you like to be in

design. It is really what differentiates

when designing?

my collection and something I

I find I am at my most creative late at night—it

never compromise on. To create

may be the dark or the quiet solitude—but I

contemporary, timeless pieces that

keep a sketchbook on my night table as I am

are well designed and well made, is

often drawing new ideas at odd hours.

for me the epitome of quality.

Lakeside Shopping Center • 3301 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie • (504) 832-0000 • lmfj.com November-December 2018 53

Flourishes

2 1

1. Decorative rustic holiday reindeer: Small, $39; Large, $49. DeCoeur, Covington, 809-3244. 2. Seasonal arrangements starting at $65. Florist of Covington, Covington, 892-7701. 3. Handcrafted Cypress wood ice chest with bottle opener. Mike’s Den, Mandeville, 626-9668. 4. Tree Mendous, the “tremendous ornament decorator,” includes eight colorful non-toxic markers and three ornaments to decorate for ages 6+. Olive Patch, Covington, 327-5772. 5. Kate Spade multi-faceted crystal table lamp with neutral linen shade. Greige, Covington, 8757576. 6. Zella chair in tangerine, 32”W x 33”D x 33”H. Arhaus, New Orleans, 504-581-6684. 7. Agate coasters, gold-accented martini glasses and decanter atop gold leaf and marble accent tray. Each sold separately. Bliss Clothing + Home, Mandeville, 778-2252. 8. French Quarter Lantern on Holland Post, available in gas

or electric. Bevolo Gas & Electric Lighting, Mandeville, 2496040; New Orleans, or bevolo.com.

5 6

8 7 54

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November-December 2018 55

Inside Northside

Flourishes

1. Feiss Thayer 5-light chandelier in Antique Guild. Southland Plumbing, Mandeville, 8938883. 2. Christian Serpas & Ghost Town’s Rockin’ ol’ Christmas cd, $5. Available at shows, iTunes, cdbaby.com and christianserpas.com. 3. 16” Lakeview stainless steel fixture available in an array of custom sizes, starting at $450. Pine Grove Lighting and Electrical Supply, Mandeville, 893-4003. 4. Walnut wood tumbler that keeps your beverages cold for 9+ hours and hot for 3. CC’s Coffee House, Covington, 900-2241. 5. Annieglass Ruffle 20” giant round platter. Arabella, Mandeville, 727-9787. 6. Cotton Ginseny potpourri, $23; spray, $12.50; candle, $23. mélange by kp, Mandeville, 807-7652. 7. Curvy solid mahogany frame of chair in aged, bone-white finish separates the dark chocolate and white velvet outer surround from the neutral linen box cushion and tufted inside back. Seat height is 19”.

American Factory Direct, Covington, 871-0300. 5

November-December 2018 57

Flourishes

1 2

1. Himalayan driftwood tray candle, $95. Niche Modern Home, Mandeville, 624-4045. 2. The Awakening, framed print by R.C. Davis, 30” x 40”, $289. Pizzella Picture Framing &

Fine Art, Mandeville, 231-7088. 3. Build your own custom settee. Choose wood finish, fabric and nail head details; as shown, $2,850. The French Mix, Covington, 809-3152. 4. Long Beach Collection Gas Lantern, available in several sizes in both Gas and Electric, starting at $533. Gulf Coast Lanterns Showroom, Covington, 800-910-3275. 5. Sacred Snow series for wall or display; jeweled art in gold and silver, hand-painted on canvas by Rhonda Alleman, $68 each. Rug Chic Home Décor, Mandeville, 674-1070. 6. Kool Kombi

beverage cooler measures over three feet. Fully insulated and waterproof with drain. $599. Outdoor Living Center, Covington, 893-8008. 7. Handmade sidesleeper pillow with monogram includes 300-threadcount cotton sateen zippered and washable pillow protector. Hestia Linens, Covington, 893-0490.

8. A Cup of Soup, perfect for teacher gifts. Pat’s Seafood, Covington, 892-7287.

Inside Northside

November-December 2018 59

Inside Northside

INside Look 1 1. Jude Frances Fall 2018 Mixed-Metal Collection, starting at $450. Boudreaux’s Jewelers, Mandeville, 626-1666. 2. Lustrous satin hi-low cami with side slits, $60; matching palazzo sleepwear pants with drawstring waist,

2 3

$68. Cloud 9 Boutique, Mandeville, 951-2299. 3. Fitted silhouette, boat neck, long-sleeve dress with draped ruched detail at front. Ballin’s LTD, Covington, 892-0025. 4. Dondolo velvet puff-sleeve dress with hand-embroidered Christmas village apron, $150. KiKi and Lolli, Covington, 900-2410. 5. Laced-back v-neck sweater. The Villa, Mandeville, 626-9797. 6. Camo rubber ankle rainboots, $79. Shoefflé, Covington, 898-6465. 7. Jane Iredale Pommist Hydration Spray: Pomegranate-infused mist for setting makeup and boosting hydration, $29. Jane Iredale PlayOn Naughty Lip Crayon: deep red for a matte lip, $18. OPI “Come Se Llama?” perfect red for holiday manicure and pedicure,

$10. Oasis Day Spa, Mandeville, 624-6772. 5

November-December 2018 61

INside Look 1

1. 18 karat white gold, 5.38 carat diamond tassel necklace, $11,500. Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry, Metairie, 504-832-0000. 2. Dress with wreath and bow smocking by Beaufort Bonnett Co., $90. Boysâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; coordinating outfits available. Serendipity, Mandeville, 951-2262. 3. Contemporary seamed tunic in olive and black, $114. cdn clothing, Covington, 327-7300. 4. Alden Dress in Pawsitive Cattitude print, $158. Palm Village - a Lilly Pulitzer Store, Mandeville, 778-2547. 5. Embroidered North of Your Expectations canvas cap, $25. northofyourexpectations.com. 6. Emerald velvet two-strap shoes with wide buckle by Dee Keller. Ballinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s LTD, Covington, 892-0025. 7. Color Lustre shampoo and conditioner duo gift set for color-treated hair by shu uemura, $80. H2O Salon Northshore, Mandeville, 951-8166. 5

Inside Northside

November-December 2018 63

Inside Northside

INside Look 2 1

2. Square-neck, spaghetti-strap bodycon dress, $39. Olive suede knee-length jacket, $49. Columbia Street Mercantile, 1. Classic ruby, sapphire, emerald

Covington, 809-1789 & 809-1690. 3. 18 karat yellow gold,

and diamond stack rings set in

14.56 carat round diamond hoop earrings. Lee Michaels

18k white gold, starting at $1,475.

Fine Jewelry, Metairie, 504-832-0000. 4. Long-sleeve floral faux-wrap dress, $190. Suella, Covington, 302-5000.

Exclusive at Aucoin Hart Jewelers,

5. Reserve wool and silk blend sport coat, $698;

Metairie, 504-834-9999.

wrinkle-free, stain-resistant Traveler shirt in new Ecru color, available in traditional, tailor and slim fit, $89.50. Traveler merino wool sweater, $109.50; Reserve tie, $79.50; 100% silk pocket square, $24.50. Jos. A. Bank, Mandeville, 6244067. 6. Advanced eyelash growth serum promotes thicker and fuller lashes, $123. Dr. Martha E. Stewart, Mandeville, 727-7701. 7. The Fernweh in sable is a sleek, low-calf boot with back zipper,

$159.99. Joeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Family Shoe Store, 5

Mandeville, 626-5633. 8. AURALUZ Turkey Collection: dress, $58-$62; boy button-on, $60-$64; bubble, $52. Auraluz, Metairie, 504-8883313 or shopauraluz.com.

8 7 November-December 2018 65

Flourishes

1. 14 kt white, yellow and rose gold band with .75 cttw diamonds. Regular price, $4,995; Sale price, $3,495. DeLuca’s Fine Jewelry & Gifts, Covington, 892-2317. 2. Long-sleeve wrap, $52. The Lifestyle Boutique at Franco’s, Mandeville, 7920200. 3. “Sweeter than a Beignet” pajamas; designed locally, $37. Baby’s Corner, Covington, 892-5300. 66

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November-December 2018 67

with Chris Smiroldo WHILE MOVING FIREWOOD, Chris Smiroldo injured his back. He says, “After my injury, I could not stand for more than a couple of minutes without having nerve pain radiate from my hip and buttocks down my leg and into my knee. Three rounds of therapy, injections and a few prescriptions later, I decided to have a microdiscectomy with Justin L. Owen, MD, FAANS of Culicchia Neurological Clinic.” We sat down with Dr. Owen and Chris to learn more.

Dr. Justin L. Owen and Chris Smiroldo. 68

by Leah Draffen

showed the presence of a ‘herniated disc’ in his back, which was visibly pinching the nerve that correlated to his pain. This made him an excellent candidate for surgery, and specifically, a minimally invasive microdiscectomy. This is an outpatient surgery (go home the same day of surgery) performed through a one-inch or smaller incision in the back. Risks of infection and blood loss are minimal. Relief is often instantaneous, and the most common ‘problem’ we encounter with this surgery is usually that patients are desperate to get back to everything they want to do sooner than we’re comfortable releasing them. IN: Chris, how did you feel after? Chris: After the procedure, the nerve pain pretty much disappeared immediately. It’s a great relief to know the procedure eliminated all of the nerve pain. I exercise regularly, as I always have, but I am aware that I’m not 25 anymore (now 47). I’m just trying to be smarter about it.

IN: What was Chris’ condition when he came to you? Dr. Owen: He suffered from low back pain for about a year and was not able to get relief through PT and other treatments. He was diagnosed with radiculopathy, or ‘sciatica’ as it is most commonly called in everyday life, which is leg pain that is usually caused by a pinched nerve in the spine.

IN: Additional thoughts? Dr. Owen: Mr. Smiroldo was on mild activity restrictions for six weeks after surgery, then released from all restrictions. He returned to work two months after the procedure. Chris: I would highly recommend Dr. Owen. Everything went as planned and recovery was better than expected. He’s very honest and specific about the options. His assistant and office staff were very friendly and professional.

IN: What treatment plan did you and Chris decide on? Dr. Owen: As a young, active and fit man, this pain was debilitating for Mr. Smiroldo and preventing him from having a satisfactory quality of life. An MRI

As a neurosurgeon, Dr. Owen practices on the northshore, treating disorders of the nervous system and its supporting structures with advanced techniques such as image-guided brain surgery and minimally invasive spine surgery. To learn more, visit culicchianeuro.com.

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photo: CANDRA GEORGE mycreativereality.com

IN Better Health

November-December 2018 69

At the Table

m a e r D c i ist

by Tom Fitzmorris

Art

I AM A STUDENT of my own dreams. Here’s an example. A few days before I wrote this, the Harvest Moon—the full moon about which many odes and songs and romances have been written— preoccupied my thoughts. The Harvest Moon is a phenomenon in which the full moon of September hangs higher in the sky than 70

Inside Northside

at any other sunset time of year. One explanation for this is that the Harvest Moon is unusually closer to the Earth now than at any other time. This is not merely something to sing about; it has a real function among people who collect the richest crops of the year. The moon is so bright that the harvesters can stay out in the fields well into the night.

illustration: GRETCHEN ARMBRUSTER

g n i r r a t S n o o M The and t n a s a e Ph

This is not like the eclipses of which we’ve had so many this year. The Harvest Moon differs from the quick, striking eclipses that imposed themselves in our world. The eclipses involve nearly perfect spheres. In its unique visible poetry, the Harvest Moon might stretch out a little and refuse to take charge of the show when lovers allow themselves to be drenched in other shapes. Indeed, my wife saw the Harvest Moon before I did, as she usually does when something unusually bright is hung in the sky. All the rest of the day, thoughts of this imposed on my mind, not far from global warming. Which my love MA doesn’t believe in. I find myself thinking about her, the moon, our daughter and the love that exudes from all quarters of our world. In the world of eating and drinking, the Harvest Moon shows itself capable of bringing forth elements with strong edible possibilities. Those who like to paddle their way on their trenasses through the wetlands and woodlands look for wild game. Everything from birds to fish to mushrooms is out there for those who know what they’re seeing and how to deal with it. Unfortunately, professional cooks are not allowed to cook the wild edibles they might find. All that deliciousness must be farm-raised. Fortunately, most recipes for game turn out better than the same recipes using wild eats, because they were written for those slight variations. That allows me to present some of my favorite recipes for ducks, quail, squabs and wild turkeys. It’s all something to dream about.

Pheasant With Wild Mushrooms Fall and winter are the times for wild birds of all kinds. Pheasants aren’t often seen around Louisiana, but plenty of them are just to the north of here, and you can buy them in stores. The farm-raised birds are better than the wild ones, because they’re likely to be younger and unfledged. (Although I wouldn’t kick a wild pheasant off the table.) Pheasant has the most interesting and rich flavor of all the white-meat birds. It also has a problem: a propensity to dryness. We all know how to solve this, don’t we? Let’s say it in unison: “Brine it!” 2 whole pheasants, thawed, or 4 pheasant breasts, boned, with wing still attached

1 stick butter, softened 1 Tbs. finely chopped garlic 2 Tbs. finely chopped flat-leaf parsley, leaves only 2 leeks, light part only, well washed and chopped coarsely 2/3 cup Chardonnay 1 pint heavy cream 8 oz. porcini or cèpes mushrooms, sliced (shiitake or oyster mushrooms are decent substitutes)

1. The night before cooking, dissolve a cup of salt into a gallon of water and pour it and the pheasant into a large plastic food storage bag (those turkey roasting bags are perfect). Marinate the birds overnight, refrigerated. 2. The next morning, rinse the pheasants very well and pat dry. Season the pheasant with a little salt and pepper. 3. Combine the softened butter with the garlic and parsley. Cut slits in the loose parts of the pheasant’s skin, and insert pats of the herb butter under the skin, reserving about 2 Tbs. of the herb butter for later. 4. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Place the pheasants breast side down on a roasting pan. When the oven reaches 450 degrees, lower the temperature to 375 degrees, and put the pheasant in the middle of the oven. (If you have a convection oven, turn the convection feature on.) 5. Roast the pheasants for 20 minutes. Turn the heat in the oven back up to 450 degrees, and continue roasting another 10-15 minutes, until a meat thermometer inserted into the meat of the thigh reads 170 degrees. (If using breasts, roast for just another 5-10 minutes after turning the heat up.) 6. While the birds are in the oven, heat the herb butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the leeks and sauté until soft. Add the wine and reduce by half. Add the mushrooms and cook until soft. Add the cream and reduce until it thickens. Add salt and pepper to taste. 7. Let the pheasant rest for about five minutes after taking it out of the oven. Slice it 1/4 inch thick on the bias. Place the leek sauce on the plate and fan the pheasant slices out over it. Arrange the mushrooms on the plate. >> November-December 2018 71

Duck Tacos With Lentils

1/4 cup vinaigrette dressing

I got this amazing little dish from Patrick Perie, an Alsatian chef who ran a couple of kitchens here before returning to France. Remember this the next time you have a turkey or duck with leftover slivers and morsels of meat. The taste and look is decidedly French if you make crêpes, as in Patrick’s original. But making crêpes is a lot of work, often frustrating. The recipe also comes out well (perhaps better) if you use small, thin flour tortillas. Filled with either smoked or roasted duck and mellowed with lentils, it makes a great appetizer or light lunch.

8 six-inch, thin flour tortillas

1 cup cooked lentils

As cute as quail are, sometimes I find their flavor not sufficiently interesting to justify the amount of work involved in eating them. So it’s saying something when I tell you that I would never turn away from any quail dish prepared by Pat Gallagher.

3/4 cup roast duck (or chicken or turkey) breast, diced 1 Tbs. chopped French shallots 1 Tbs. chopped green onions 2 Tbs. chopped fresh parsley Salt and pepper to taste

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Sprigs of fresh herbs and bitter salad greens for garnish

1. Combine all ingredients except tortillas and herb garnish in a skillet and heat through to warm. 2. Divide four ways and spoon into centers of crêpes. Close tortillas like little bags, and tie the tops with strips of green onions or chives. Or roll them up. Makes four entrées or eight appetizers.

Gallagher has operated a number of restaurants over the years on the northshore. He has two of them under his control now: one in Covington and the other in Mandeville. Quail were always a great specialty in Gallagher’s restaurants. None were pretentious dishes. Just fresh, prepared simply and very, very well. Now that quail are relatively easy to buy fresh, consider trying this one night. 8 quail, partially deboned and split 2 sticks butter

Pat Gallagher’s Smothered Quail

1 medium onion, sliced 4 cloves garlic, chopped 8 large mushrooms, sliced 2 oz. brandy 2 cups chicken stock 1/2 tsp. thyme 1/2 cup dry red wine Salt and pepper to taste

1. Season the quail front and back with salt and pepper or Creole seasoning. 2. Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat and bring it to bubbling. SautĂŠ the quails for about two minutes. 3. Add the onions, garlic, and mushrooms, and cook until the onions are clear. Carefully pour on the brandy and touch a flame to it. (Skip the flaming if you have even a shred of doubt about safety.) 4. When the flames die out, add the stock, thyme and red wine and bring to a boil. Cover the pan and cook over medium-low heat for seven to ten minutes, until the quail are tender. 5. Serve two quail per person with plenty of the sauce and dirty rice. (Or not-so-dirty rice, for that matter.) Serves four.

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Inside Northside

ENTER THE RIVERFRONT CONDO of Angela Hill and your eyes are drawn to the all-encompassing objets d’art. You will notice various bronze busts sculpted by her husband, psychiatrist Irwin Marcus; a plethora of pigs in plush, plaster and paint (in honor of her former pet pig, Alice); and a canvas by Iranian artist Harouni entitled Oedipus on the entryway wall. It was a painting she and her mother discovered together, and loved. Hanging alongside that painting is an imposing canvas of Angela with two large Great Danes, painted by first husband Garland Robinette, and across the room two golden urns containing the

a respite from the intense heat and humidity of the New Orleans summer and a retreat from daily responsibilities. “You know, I was born in Maine,” explained Angela. “We ended up in Texas after my parents’ divorce, but when my mother got remarried we moved back to Andover, Massachusetts. My mom and I were very similar in that we loved the four seasons, and New England in general. My news career took me down south, but when my mom was still living, Irwin and I started looking for a place up in Maine about 13 or 14 years ago. It was just fun—I

a l e g An photo: CANDRA GEORGE mycreativereality.com

by Leslie Cardé

ashes of her beloved cats, who passed away just in the last couple of years. Delve a bit further into these decorative pieces, and you’ll learn there’s meaning behind everything here. You’ll understand that Angela does indeed love her animals and especially cherishes the people who are and have been a part of her life. As I sit down with Angela to ruminate on the past, get caught up on the present, and look ahead to her future, the black clouds are rolling in through the immense floor-to-ceiling windows in a slightly surreal evolution of a storm. It seems to be a metaphor for Hill’s arrival in the Big Easy in 1975, when she took the city by storm, then proceeded to stay a bold and relevant fixture on New Orleans’ airwaves for the next forty years. At the time of this interview in September, she has been back in town for less than 48 hours from a 3-month sojourn to her house in Belfast, Maine,

found our place on the internet.” Never one for pretense, the house she found was two hours north of Portland in a 6,000-person, working-class community. The place needed remodeling, and except for one room which she claims will probably never get finished, the task is over and provides a haven of serenity and tranquility. “This will sound silly and foolish, but I get such pleasure from a family of crows and 20 seagulls that live on the property,” said Hill. “We spend hours feeding them, and then we have time to catch up on our reading and go to movies. This summer, we had company in from out of town about every third week. We have a precious little guest house. It’s relaxing; there are no demands. I cook, and I’m at peace.” Maine may be known for lobsters, but there is one food item that Angela misses up in the northeast. “There’s no fried chicken to speak of, so I wasn’t >>

November-December 2018 75

home 24 hours when I found myself in Popeyes, sitting in my car, stuffing my face.” Popeyes isn’t the only thing that is indigenous to New Orleans, which makes it a unique and a compelling place from which to do the news. “I hadn’t been here but a few years and had finally absorbed the concept of Mardi Gras, when in 1979, it was totally cancelled over a police strike,” remembered Hill. “We did a broadcast Mardi Gras day out in Metairie, but the strike meant that the whole season was essentially cancelled in the city of New Orleans.” That contentious tête-á-tête between then-Mayor Dutch Morial and the Teamsters Union, which represented the New Orleans Police Department and was demanding wage increases, was just one of many political hullabaloos in the city throughout the years. “We’ve had our share of characters, but it’s what makes this town interesting from a news standpoint,” said Angela. Edwin Edwards, David Duke and Ray Nagin may have made national headlines in pejorative terms, but nothing about New Orleans has ever been boring—certainly not its weather. “The Pan Am crash, which you and I both covered, was just horrendous,” said Hill. “But I am reminded that because of that terrible crash, we have wind shear detectors in place at airports all around the world today.” For anyone who covered the news beginning in the ’70s, much about the manner of news gathering is different, for a variety of reasons. “It’s about change, and not all change is progress,” Hill said contemplatively. “With some change, you go with the flow. For instance, technologically. Look what’s happened. You and I remember what it took to do a live shot decades ago, 76

Inside Northside

and now they do it practically off their shoulders. But there are other elements now present in newsrooms which have imposed new requirements on the staff, like posting everything on social media, and that’s time-consuming. I argued all of the time I was at WWL-TV that eventually something would suffer, because to really do a good story, on top of all of this other work, you’re just stretched too thin.” It may be the nature of the beast, not just in New Orleans, but in many TV stations around the country. Social media has become a fact of life as many millennials to baby boomers now get their news off the internet. And the viewing audience generally has been splintered and fractured ten ways from Sunday with the advent of 300 channels and a variety of choices that previously didn’t exist. Compounded upon this equation, New Orleans went from the 34th market in the ’80s to the 51st market post-Katrina and is now #53 out of 210 Nielsen market areas. Since market-size is determined by the number of homes in any given viewing area, and the population after Katrina was diminished, fewer potential viewers means advertisers pay less money for the same 30- or 60-second spot. In this situation, economics becomes a major factor in terms of just how many employees any news station can afford to pay. “Look, starting in Corpus Christi ( now #128), we all shot our own stuff in 1972. We were literally one-man bands out there, so the concept is nothing new,” said Hill. “But those were small stations, and the idea was to learn everything so you could go to a bigger station where there was a professional photographer, you were the writer/reporter, and together you created wonderful things. Now, they are eliminating photographers, so we’ve gone back in time. And that’s why I say >> November-December 2018 77

that not all change is progress.” With cable news exploding on the scene in the ’80s, the blurring of the lines between news and opinion has grown over the decades. Hill discussed her concerns about the implications for journalism in an era where our own president calls the press the “enemy of the people” and many stories “fake news.” “The networks do a pretty good job of being objective, but cable news is feeding the beast, so to speak. There are some stations I won’t watch. It just seems to be theater, and not legitimate. There is news, and there is opinion, and all real reporters need to reinforce every day that this is news, this is real, this is legitimate, this is fact.” Angela Hill has done it all, and she is well aware of crossing any lines. She spent 38 years at WWL-TV as a journalist, and while a news anchor there also hosted her own talk show, Angela. “It was walking a very fine line,” she remembered. “I grew up in the old school of Walter Cronkite news where you had no opinion. What a rare thing! So, whether the talk show on any given day was a fun show or a very serious topic, I still held the line, because that show was on at 4 p.m., and I was on the anchor desk at 6 p.m. In spite of the straddling I had to do, I loved that the show had real people in the audience, rather than my just staring at a camera reading the news. These people took time out of their day to come to the Superdome and be a part of the show. It ran for seven years, and at the end of its run, my husband, Irwin, gave me a trophy, since as a child I’d never gotten a trophy for anything. It said ‘Best of Show—1688 shows.’” In 2013, Angela Hill walked away from news as she had known it. “It was time. I’m so glad I did it when I did it. It 78

Inside Northside

was not an easy decision, but it was 38 years here and three in Corpus Christi. It’s changing now, and things were just telling me to move on. I was lucky in that when I left Channel 4, I felt like I could still walk back in there and love it and the people. I took six months off and then made the transition to talk radio.” If anything can be described as the antithesis of hard news journalism, it might just be talk radio—at least in some of its forms. We’ve all heard the ranting by callers, the preaching done by some hosts and the series of shouting matches that often ensue. “I was never going to be the screamer,” stated Hill. “Certainly there were people who called in who just wanted to hear the sound of their own voices, and I’d thank them for their thoughts. Those two years were very oriented towards issues on WWL Radio, and I would just have to tell some callers that we’d go to our graves disagreeing. But I liked the show, and I had Helen Centanni as my producer, who had worked with me previously on the Angela show, which made life much easier.” The one taboo while doing news is being a spokesperson for anything commercial, which would pose a conflict of interest for a journalist. Talk radio has no such qualms about crossing between moderating news topics and being a professional pitch person. “I wasn’t sure I’d feel comfortable,” explained Hill, “but I did a Ray Brandt commercial. It was very thrilling, and I realized I could do this. I’m still with him now and do many other commercials both on television and radio. I like the freedom it gives me to be with my husband, letting us block out time to go to Maine. It’s the constant balancing of career and personal life.” These days, life consists of prioritizing her time, which she often continued on page 128

November-December 2018 79

Generous Hearts by Susan Bonnett Bourgeois

Critical Connections YOU THINK they just have the holiday blues, and then a good friend confides in you that they are having dark thoughts about ending it all. A family member transitions from months of taking prescription pain medication after back surgery to ugly dependence on street level heroin. You suspect your child might have ADD but have no idea where to even start to get them help. The good news is that there are countless resources in our community to address mental health, substance abuse, learning disabilities and recurring cycles of behavioral distress. The bad news is that those resources can sometimes be hard to find, and even harder to navigate. That is where the Northshore Community Foundation found our community several years ago after Hurricane Katrina, when we were still dealing with the challenges of trauma and stress that follow disasters. Enter NAMI St. Tammany and a wonderful story of how an initial gift of support can be the spark that ignites an exciting idea and innovation. So back to 2008, when our Foundation funded a 80

Inside Northside

seed grant to NAMI St. Tammany for the research and production of a printed behavioral health resource directory. A one-stop catalog or list of local providers, clinics, hospitals and the like that address behavioral health needs. And even better, NAMI St. Tammany is part of the National Alliance on Mental Illness; they serve as the mental health expert organization in the same four parishes of the NCF footprint. Their work in St. Helena, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, and Washington Parishes made our collaboration a perfect fit. Each year, NAMI helps thousands of northshore individuals overcome hurdles and navigate what can be a very confusing and fractured system, and since 2008, they have done that with what began as 1500 copies of a printed directory. A small gift was a seed planted that was about to growâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;exponentially.

Embracing Technology What started out as a directory of 100 of these available resources ballooned to more than 300-and-counting on an excel spreadsheet. NAMI St. Tammany remained committed to the maintenance,

accuracy and consistency of this valuable resource directory. Not content with only reaching a limited number of local residents, and with an eye towards evolving technology, in 2015 NAMI St. Tammany sought and was awarded additional funding to leverage that very same resource list into a mobile health resource app. Partially funded from GNOF, Florida Parishes Human Services Authority and District Attorney Warren Montgomeryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Office, the initial version of the app was to connect first responders with necessary resources through their smartphone or computer to give them up-to-date information at their fingertips. As the professionals who are usually the first to encounter people living with mental illness and in crisis, NAMI researched the needs of police officers, EMTs and ER departments in our region and developed the tool >>

November-December 2018 81

initially for their use. But looking toward even more growth of the tool, NAMI St. Tammany had the vision for a scalable design that could help everyone in the community searching for answers. “I really have to credit the Northshore Community Foundation for making that initial investment in our organization for the resource directory. That seed money helped us get started. When donors or foundations invest in a nonprofit with a plan to fill a need, it can really propel the organization towards their bigger goals,” says Nick Richard, NAMI Executive Director. “We understood that our first responders far too often are the first on scene when there is a mental health crisis; but when they are equipped with little or no resources at their disposal, many people with mental illness wind up transported to the local ER or possibly even jail.”

App 2.0 As we have all experienced during natural disasters, communication is critical during any emergency. Following the regional floods of 2016 82

Inside Northside

and recognizing this importance, NAMI St. Tammany has again partnered with the Northshore Community Foundation to help make powerful and practical updates to the existing mobile app. The new upgrade, available this winter, will have the critical capability of sending text push notifications out when there is an emergency or weather event. Preparation and information are fundamental in getting ahead of potential trauma, and the upgraded app will now deliver those services as well. “The resource directory and the mobile app will provide our citizens and first responders of St. Tammany Parish with much needed information regarding mental health services. Today more than any other time, this directory and mobile app will help save lives,” says Celeste Falconer, NAMI St. Tammany board member.

Looking Ahead With the success of the NAMI St. Tammany App, similar NAMI and related organizations from around the country have reached out to our local NAMI leaders for advice, guidance and even coding to replicate the system. Our region, and the services provided through this app, have put this work on the national stage. The Northshore Community Foundation is proud to be a part of NAMI St. Tammany’s evolving, cutting-edge work addressing the enormous needs of our most vulnerable citizens seeking their journey to help and recovery. The NAMI St Tammany App is available free on the App Store. If you or a loved one needs information about behavioral health or want to get involved with NAMI St. Tammany, reach out at 985-626-6538. It is free and confidential. Or visit namisttammany.org. November-December 2018 83

Safe Haven by Amy Bouton

WHAT SHAPES A COMMUNITY’S IDENTITY? Its culture? Its people? Its history? The health and well-being of the people who make up a community are crucial components of its ability to thrive and prosper. In our community, there is a real, pervasive need for help for people in times of crisis from acute or chronic behavioral health issues. St. Tammany Parish recognized this. The National Alliance on Mental Illness reports that statistically, mental illness affects one in five adults in the United States at some point in their lives. Of those who have a mental health condition, 40 percent will live day-to-day without treatment. These statistics, applied to the people in her own community, were the catalyst for action by Pat Brister, St. Tammany Parish President. She says, “In 2012, we made a choice to fight to retain our behavioral health services here in St. Tammany. “Too many people depend on this care for their day-today well-being and for help when a critical situation arises. So we took action to keep Southeast Hospital up and running through a CEA with the state, and we formed the St. Tammany Parish Behavioral Health Task Force because we always knew we would need to do much more long term. From there, we collaborated with the Louisiana Public Health Institute and the National Council on Behavioral Health to brainstorm on how we could make it happen.” The vision for Safe Haven, a comprehensive, collaborative healing environment for the behavioral health continuum, began to materialize.

Inside Northside

In 2015, land was acquired on the Southeast Hospital campus, and by early 2016, experts were retained to undertake the master facility planning and economic impact and implementation strategy of the proposed behavioral health redesign recommended by the BHTF. The pioneering endeavor—Safe Haven—is a vision to create a high-quality, coordinated, sustainable and humane network of behavioral healthcare anchored in St. Tammany Parish. The facility will address unmet needs to create a seamless thread in the continuum of care and serve as a comprehensive multi-faceted program and a “single point of entry” into the behavioral health continuum for law enforcement, the judiciary and local area hospitals. Safe Haven represents the efforts of Parish Government and various other stakeholders, including: the St. Tammany Parish Coroner’s Office, the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, the 22nd Judicial Court, the St. Tammany Parish Public School System, Florida Parishes Human Services Authority, District Attorney’s Office; 22nd JDC, NAMI St. Tammany, Slidell Memorial Hospital and St. Tammany Parish Hospital, as well as nonprofit organizations and others, to provide a collaboration of on-site and network-based partners to create a healing environment. Anticipated outcomes from this approach include: the creation of a healing environment for vulnerable individuals at all stages of mental illness; earlier access to care, thereby reducing the cost of

photo courtesy: SAFE HAVEN

A Vision for Healing

inpatient stays due to delayed treatment; lessen the burden on the criminal justice system through access to the specialty court system; a lessened burden on Emergency Departments as patients will be diverted to Safe Haven for care; and diversion from jails, as many people detained in local jails are in need of behavioral healthcare, or reentry alternatives. “The present state of behavioral healthcare is fragmented, expensive and often times ineffective,” Brister notes. “Safe Haven will ultimately become a place where all people struggling with mental illness or substance-use disorder can come to be assessed, locate services and ultimately receive the care they need based on the place they are in within their behavioral health journey.” The Safe Haven campus, located in the Mandeville area, opened its first physical component—the NAMI St. Tammany Day Center—in June 2018. The renovation on the 3,800-square-foot building was completed by St. Tammany Parish Government using Community Development Block Grant money. A grant from Baptist Community Ministries currently funds the training and operation of the Day Program. This center, operated by NAMI St. Tammany, offers—at no cost—support, resources, recovery-oriented programs, groups and activities in a safe and accepting environment for those living with a mental illness who are seeking guidance. The program is staffed by Certified Peer Support Specialists, who assist adults living with severe and persistent behavioral health disorders in St. Tammany Parish in navigating access to appropriate support resources and providing alternatives for less-costly behavioral health care in a less-restrictive environment, leading to recovery. The programs are nonclinical and no medical providers are on on-site. Transportation to and from the Day Center is provided upon request. In September 2018, St. Tammany Parish Government and the Safe Haven project were awarded $5.3 million in grant funding through the National Disaster Resiliency funding, facilitated through the State of Louisiana’s LA SAFE initiative. The funding from this competitive grant will be utilized to implement green infrastructure projects on the Safe Haven Campus. This project will enhance critical drainage and flood mitigation on the site, as well as the adjacent properties, while at the same time strengthening the holistic healing approach to behavioral health care Safe Haven will utilize. The State Bond Commission recently approved $500,000 in State Capital Outlay funding for St. Tammany Parish Government for the planning, construction and renovation for the next phases of the Safe Haven Campus. This phase includes the construction of the Crisis Receiving Center and the rehabilitation of several November-December 2018 85

buildings on the campus. This center will be the central point of the Safe Haven Campus. It is slated as an integrated facility where patients will either walk in, be dropped off by law enforcement or be transported from the emergency room and then go through an assessment. They will then be guided to the best place for care for their specific need, within the center or through an outside resource. Plans include a sobering room, a psychiatric observation room/respite center, healing services, outpatient treatment services, primary care, housing-related resources and intensive as well as acute services. The Crisis Receiving Center is set to break ground in early 2019. The Safe Haven model is based on extensive and thorough research and study by not only the BHTF, but by key stakeholders, agency partners and behavioral health experts. This facility will serve St. Tammany Parish and also act as a replicable paradigm for other communities within Louisiana and across the United Sates. “We want to build a place that will fill a need and ultimately help to solve problems. We are investing in the wellbeing of our own as we create this facility,” Brister says. “By doing so, we are investing in our future, because the physical and mental health of our residents—our neighbors, friends and family—is the cornerstone of our community.” She goes on to say, “Safe Haven is a place where the pieces can be reassembled, where comprehensive care at every stage is the only goal, where people can move through to a brighter season in a humane, multifaceted network of care in St. Tammany. Safe Haven will heal.” 86

Inside Northside

H E A L T H

A N D

W E L L N E S S annual visit takes an hour and a half,” says Dr. Robinson. “We conduct extensive blood work not included in traditional wellness checks. At your next visit, we sit down together and go over your results in detail. You won’t just know your ‘numbers,’ but will understand what those numbers mean and how they can be improved. Together, we develop an individualized step-by-step action plan for optimum wellness. You’ll receive a follow-up letter detailing our recommendations.” Included in your membership is the benefit of the MDVIP website which supports you in your health goals with meal plans, recipes and shopping lists. You can also customize exercise programs tailored to your fitness level and health challenges. Additional benefits include travel care, “Should you become sick while traveling, our office will work to get you an appointment with a nearby MDVIP physician. If both parents are members, we will see your children, ages 15-26, at no additional fee. Also, should you require very specialized treatment not available locally, we can expedite an appointment at a center of excellence.”

James M. Robinson, MD

Primary Care That Makes You Primary Consider your last wellness checkup. How

“Dr. Robinson takes excellent care of three generations of our family,” adds patient Mimi Schully Voelkel. Whether you’re managing a chronic illness,

able to focus on my patients’ complete health,” Dr.

worried about a family history of disease or

long did you wait to see your doctor? How much

Robinson says. “Every patient has my cell number

consider yourself the picture of health, there’s

time did the two of you spend together? Did

and knows they can call, whenever they need me.

always room for improvement. Even if you’re in the

you discuss diet and exercise? Did you receive

And I’m able to devote the time I need to each

best shape of your life, Dr. Robinson’s personalized

a detailed action plan for your optimum health,

patient without the typical rushed office visit.

care can help you maintain good health and,

feeling like you and your doctor had partnered in

Our staff takes great pride in accommodating the

through early detection of disease processes, avoid

your lifetime wellness journey?

needs of our patients.” Dr. Robinson’s personalized

some of the problems that come with aging.

Sadly, that scenario describes few primary care

practice allows him to spend quality time with his

“The MDVIP Wellness Program is a

visits. Too many good doctors have found themselves

patients, scheduling routine visits for 30 minutes.

on a medical treadmill required to see too many

comprehensive tool to help map out a health plan

“Dr. Robinson makes you feel like you are

specific to you,” says Dr. Robinson. “Published studies

patients in a day, leaving little time with each and

his only patient. His calm demeanor and wealth

bear out that the MDVIP personalized preventive care

resulting in healthcare that’s reactive rather than

of knowledge and experience make him the first

approach leads to better, healthier lives.”

proactive. The harried healthcare model didn’t sit

choice for my family’s healthcare needs. We feel

well with Covington internist James M. Robinson.

blessed to know him,” says patient Elinor Dorsey.

He wanted more time with each patient, to be able

Here’s how the program works: There is a

to address their individual needs. He wanted to be

yearly fee for membership with MDVIP. This fee

James M. Robinson, MD, attended Louisiana State

available to see his patients when they needed him

affords the patient an annual comprehensive

University School of Medicine and is affiliated with

with same day appointments if necessary.

wellness physical, advanced health screening and

St. Tammany Parish Hospital. He can be found at

Fortunately, Dr. Robinson found a

diagnostic testing to detect any health issues early

190 Greenbrier Boulevard, Suite 106, in Covington,

personalized healthcare model in MDVIP. “I’m

and provide a clearer view of overall health. “That

985-809-7171. mdvip.com/JamesRobinsonMD November-December 2018 87

At the beach, at the beach, at Pontchartrain Beach You’ll have fun, you’ll have fun every day of the week. You’ll love the thrilling rides, Laugh ’til you split your sides, At Pontchartrain, Pontchartrain Beach.

A Family Affair! by Shauna Grissett

Inset: (standing) David Batt, Harry Batt Jr, Harry Batt III, Jay Batt, Gayle Mackenroth Batt, Bryan Batt, John Batt; (seated) Barbara Batt Claiborne

halt. But, no matter the era, everyone had “fun, every day of the week,” at Pontchartrain Beach. In the early part of the twentieth century, Harry Batt Sr., the park’s founder, worked in his family’s ice manufacturing business. The story goes that while making an ice delivery Uptown, Harry inset photo courtesy: BRYAN BATT AND KATY DANOS

and Fay Vilac Batt.

IF YOU’RE A NEW ORLEANIAN of a certain age, hearing the refrains of that catchy jingle transports you back in time to steamy summers spent at Pontchartrain Beach. The mouth-watering smells of hotdogs, hamburgers and cotton candy materialize and hang in the hot air that’s as thick as grits in the Big Easy. In the background, the loud clicketyclack of the Zephyr zooming along its tracks comes to life to the screams of delighted riders as you race to get in line for the Wild Maus, always the scariest ride at the Beach. Then again, a Fogg Cutter at the exotic Bali Ha’i with your best guy or gal might be more romantic. Just as the beat of the 70s’ hit Love Will Keep Us Together begins to pulsate from the loudspeakers along the Midway, your iPhone rings and your daydream of carefree summers spent at the beloved amusement park comes to an abrupt

Inside Northside

photo courtesy: THE CHARLES L. FRANCK STUDIO COLLECTION AT THE HISTORIC NEW ORLEANS COLLECTION, 1979.325.6384

Sr. saw a Model T truck carrying a refrigerator down St. Charles Avenue, and the proverbial “lightbulb” went off, signaling it was time for a new career. Jazz and liquor abounded in New Orleans—it was the height of The Jazz Age—and Harry Sr., an imaginative man with an entrepreneurial spirit, knew instinctively the one thing the city lacked—entertainment for children. So, with the support of his dynamic wife, Marguerite, by his side, he built his dream and opened Pontchartrain Beach on June 30, 1928. Bryan Batt, grandson of Harry Batt Sr., and Katy Danos—co-owners with Tom Cianfichi of Hazelnut, the fine-gift and home-furnishings shop on Magazine Street—have written their second book together, Pontchartrain Beach: A Family Affair! It’s a fun-filled, roller coaster ride through the amusement park’s history, jampacked with laugh-out-loud stories, poignant reminiscences and vintage photos. The book is a tribute to Harry Batt Sr.’s vision and foresight as well as to the Batt family’s lasting legacy. When not at Hazelnut or writing books with Danos, Batt is the talented Broadway, film and television actor, best known for the role that won him two Screen Actors Guild awards—Salvatore Romano in the critically acclaimed series, Mad Men. And, Danos, equally accomplished, is the editor of Adore Magazine, a lifestyle publication by the New Orleans Advocate, Louisiana’s largest newspaper, and a contributing writer to Inside New Orleans. Her work has appeared nationally in House Beautiful and the New York Times. Talking to Batt and Danos about their upcoming book is even more fun than riding the Ragin’ Cajun and the Zephyr—combined. The animated and charismatic duo, who met as undergrads at Tulane, are close friends as well as business partners. Danos says, “When we opened Hazelnut in 2003, Bryan and I quickly realized how much we liked working together. We are very in sync when it comes to

creative pursuits.” She elaborates on their successful partnership: “We have a similar stamina, work ethic, vision, and we’re both fiercely driven.” Batt echoes Danos, saying, “I don’t think you can have a genuinely good working relationship, or any relationship, if you don’t have respect and admiration for that person. Katy is a ‘can-do’ kind of person, which goes with my philosophy. She’s great about structure and elevating ideas, and we trust each other artistically. We complement each other very well.” It was when Batt was cleaning out his late mother’s home that the idea for a book about the Beach began to take root. He says, “We found several boxes of memorabilia in the garage labeled ‘PB’ and wondered what to do with it. Unbelievably, nothing had been written about the Beach until now. I thought a book would be great because people constantly came up to me and asked about it.” So, Batt began to knock around his idea with Danos as a possibility for their next book. Danos says, “Bryan had a lot of material, all of Marguerite’s journals, her hand-written notes and many pictures. But, before I committed, I had to think about how I was going to connect to this project since I’m not a family member and I don’t love roller coasters! Then, Bryan started lobbying me about it, and he wouldn’t take ‘no’ for an answer!” Eventually, Danos signed on, but the first order of business was figuring out the book’s angle. She says, “We didn’t want it to be a dry history, because we’re not historians. And, I didn’t want it to become a family scrapbook. Once I saw Bryan’s treasure trove of memorabilia, I knew that this was an American pop culture story of a much larger scale.” In order to tell the real story of Pontchartrain Beach, to find out what it was like to work there, to be a Beach-goer and to find out what Harry Sr. was like, Batt and Danos announced their project by

November-December 2018 89

photo courtesy: BRYAN BATT AND KATY DANOS

she was right. Batt is both witty and a fabulous storyteller, and his accounts of growing up in the dazzling wonderland are worth the “price of admission” to Pontchartrain Beach: A Family Affair! One of Batt’s funniest anecdotes recounts his perilous experience as a child marooned on the Sky Ride with his brother, miles above the earth, his little feet dangling in the air. Without giving away the story, suffice it to say only Batt could turn his harrowing rescue by the Fire Department into

asking the public—former Beach employees, patrons, performers and friends of the Batt family—for their stories and photographs. Ask and ye shall receive. And receive they did! The public sent in countless reminiscences, memorabilia and photographs, more than Batt and Danos could ever have imagined. They were overwhelmed by the response. “As far as writing the book and selecting the photographs, which are the parts we love the most, it took about two years, and we did all of it together,” says Danos. We have a specific process, but the final phase is that we sit side-by-side and write word-byword, together. We ask each other, is there a funnier word, a more lyrical word, a more striking word? And creating the headers and subtitles—well, let’s just say the humor flows!” In addition to cementing Pontchartrain Beach’s place in history, Batt and Danos had another motivation for writing the book: to tell the story of a family-owned business, a universal subject. Danos explains, “I felt people would identify with the book, even if they’d never been to Louisiana or to Pontchartrain Beach, because there are so many unique family businesses with their own cultures. The inside vantage point to this story is fascinating.” At first, Batt wasn’t sure that his personal family stories would be of such interest to the readers. But Danos convinced him otherwise, and

a storybook ending complete with a photo op—a hint at his future career as an actor, perhaps? About his family’s business, Batt says, “All of my friends, their dads were doctors, lawyers and businessmen, everything was very cut-and-dry. But I could never really explain what my father did.” Batt’s father and uncle, John A. Batt and Harry J. Batt Jr., joined the family enterprise in the mid-’60s and worked alongside their father, Harry Sr. Batt continues, “But yes, I suppose in retrospect it was very exotic to have the sampan from the Bali Ha’i come and deliver dinner at night! I was weaned on egg rolls, and honestly, I couldn’t stomach Chinese or Asian food from fifth grade until I was out of college!” The Bali Ha’i tiki lounge and restaurant opened in 1952 at the Beach. Built in response to the tiki craze sweeping the nation in the late 1940s and 1950s, it provided a new dining experience for New Orleanians.

Top, left: A 1970s advertisement featuring family fun in front of the Zephyr on the midway. Above: Bryan Batt and Katy Danos.

November-December 2018 91

Below: Harry Batt Sr. (center) passing the business to John Batt and Harry Batt

While parents enjoyed Asian food and drank rum-laced cocktails, such as Mai Tais and Fogg Cutters, kids had the run of Pontchartrain Beach. The Bali Ha’i was the perfect “date-night” location, a one-stop shop complete with a built-in baby-sitter! On a more serious and touching note, in the process of writing the book, Batt learned more about both his grandfather and father from an adult perspective. “This may sound corny, but while we were writing, it was as if my grandfather came to life again. He 92

Inside Northside

passed away when I was only 14, but he was always so supportive of me. And my father died two years after the Beach closed, when I was in my early twenties.” Batt says he learned the impact his grandfather had on theme and amusement parks, not just locally but internationally. “Now I realize that he was a visionary.” In addition to the concessions, games and state-of-theart rides, Harry Sr. brought in a wide variety of entertainment to the Beach. He hired animal acts, magicians, tight-

rope walkers, high-divers, daredevils, celebrity guests—including a very young Elvis Presley—and introduced fireworks shows. With the nation’s fascination with Hollywood glamour, Harry Sr. had the groundbreaking idea to host beauty pageants at the Beach. The first Miss New Orleans pageant took place at Pontchartrain Beach in 1928 and continued, along with a variety of fun, themed pageants, through 1967. In September of 1983, after 50 years of providing thrills, chills and endless fun to the public, Pontchartrain Beach closed. Batt explains, “All good things must come to an end. By the late ’70s and early ’80s, that style of entertainment was dissipating. The big theme parks were taking over, and going on a roller coaster or taking your date to an amusement park was replaced with going to the mall. I am very proud of this book. It was important to document the Beach, not only for my family, but for New Orleans, the Gulf South and for history. I didn’t want Pontchartrain Beach’s legacy to fade away without proper recognition.”

photo courtesy: BRYAN BATT AND KATY DANOS 1979.325.6384

Jr. in the 1960s.

H E A L T H

A N D

W E L L N E S S

and reversal of slower-than-normal bradychardia heart rhythms. It also can be used as a supportive device for interventional procedures, such as pacemaker extractions, pacemaker battery changes and alcohol septal ablations. According to Abraham, the device’s stability means less chance of complications for patients. It also means patients can be up and moving earlier and have shorter hospital stays. Patients with coronary artery disease, the leading cause of death in the United States in both men and women, also are benefiting from Dr. Abraham’s expertise. Coronary artery disease often results in the buildup of plaque at a site where one artery branches from another, also known as a bifurcation. About 20 to 30 percent of all patients undergoing coronary interventions to open blocked arteries have a bifurcation lesion. “This can be a dangerous condition that generally requires lengthy and multiple technically difficult treatments,” Abraham explains. A new bifurcation treatment device, the Tryton Side Branch Stent, is giving interventional cardiologists like Abraham a way to directly target these types of lesions. It was approved by the FDA in February 2017 as the first of its kind.

North Oaks’ Dr. Nik Abraham

Using Leading-Edge Techniques to Treat Heart Patients

Dr. Nik Abraham of North Oaks Cardiology is continuing

Honored as North Oaks Physician of the Year for 2017,

to break new ground in Louisiana as the first provider to use

Abraham joined North Oaks Physician Group in 2013. He

leading-edge techniques and devices to treat heart patients

chaired the Medicine Department on behalf of the North

in a minimally invasive way at North Oaks Medical Center.

Oaks Medical Center Medical Executive Committee in 2016

Most recently, Dr. Abraham became the first cardiologist in Louisiana to use a new type of temporary pacemaker and the first on the northshore to deploy a new type of stenting to treat blockages where one artery branches from another. He also is one of the few doctors in the state performing

and 2017. Since 2014, he also has served on the hospital’s committee responsible for reviewing cardiology cases. Abraham is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease and Interventional Cardiology. He also is certified by the

alcohol septal ablation to relieve symptoms caused by abnormal

American Society of Echocardiography in Echocardiography.

thickening of the heart muscle. In addition, “hole in the heart”

He is fellowship-trained in Interventional Cardiology and

adult patients are benefiting from his expertise in performing

Cardiovascular Disease through Christiana Care Health System/

adult atrial septal defect closures to repair their condition.

Jefferson Medical College in Newark, Delaware, where he also

Approved by the Food and Drug Administration in

completed his medical degree, internship and residency.

October 2016, the Tempo Temporary Pacing Lead is an alternative temporary heart-pacing device. It can be used

Inside Northside

For more information about heart health services

to regulate heart rhythm during a variety of cardiovascular

available through North Oaks Health System, visit

procedures, including: Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement

northoaks.org/heart.

sponsored by

FOOD COURT Beck-n-Call

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Aune what type of artist she was, this is what she

AREA/500 BLOCK

had to say:

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an older artist, I have learned that change is

Grandma’s Kettle Corn - Kettle corn, cotton candy Lemonade

“Whimsical with a dark underbelly. As inevitable both in life and art. I usually paint in

Rue Chow — Korean BBQ chicken pita, smoked

series, exploring a subject or element until I lose

pork loin sandwich

interest. I will visit a series again when there is something new to explore. I layer thin acrylic

ALONG COLUMBIA STREET

pigments with non-traditional tools and my

Lemonade — 300, 400 & 500 Block

This loose expressionistic technique invites the

Isabella’s Pizza — 200 Block The Nuttery — 300 Block

fingers onto a textured, abstractly painted canvas. viewer to see beyond the surface.”

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November-December 2018 101

Schedule of Events MEET THE ARTISTS PARTY COVINGTON TRAILHEAD

ARTS ALIVE! CANDICE ALEXANDER

The tent where art comes alive. Watch as poster artist Candice Come meet the artists, listen to great music, buy some food

Alexander shows you the art of printmaking. Join in the fun by

and drinks and support Covington Three Rivers Art Festival.

adding some paint to our working mural.

Yep, all that by just showing up to Saturday night’s FREE party! Saturday, November 10, 5:30-9pm Special Guest Eddie Jemison

5:30-7pm Maddi Tripp & Artist Awards Ceremony 7-9 pm

Tyler Kinchen & The Right Pieces

MUSIC STAGE

CHILDREN’S DISCOVERY AREA

CHILDREN’S HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES

Saturday, November 10 & Sunday, November 11 Arts & Crafts provided by Children's Museum of St. Tammany Creative Arts of St. Tammany

Saturday, November 10

Northlake Nature Center

11am

Culinary Kids

12pm 2pm 4pm

Maddi Tripp Pop Brett Thomassie

Big Daddy-O The In-Laws

Acoustic Rock, Pop, Soul

Painting with a Twist

Rockin’ Soulful Blues

Youth Education Service of Mandeville

Acoustic Rock

Northshore Families Helping Families Bayou Yoga

Sunday, November 11

St. Tammany Parish Library

11am

Bricks 4 Kidz

12pm 2pm

Brooke Hagler Popular

Groove Kings

Noelle Tannen

4pm

The Burris Family

Pop, Soul, Funk, Groove Piano/ Vocalist/ American/ Songwriter and Jazz singer Pop, Rock, Stage

STUDENT ART 200 BLOCK OF COLUMBIA STREET

Archbishop Hannan High School CHILDREN’S PERFORMING STAGE

(Please check our Facebook page for changes in the schedule.)

Saturday, November 10 10am 11am 12pm

Saturday, November 10

1pm

10am-5pm Exhibit Viewing

2pm 3pm

Sunday, November 11

4pm

For the Love of Art

(LPO) Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra

The Art of Dance - Jessica Boudreau Dancescape Studio Baby and the Brasshearts Brass Band Open Mic

The Art of Dance - Jessica Boudreau Dancescape Studio Creative Arts

10am-3pm Exhibit Viewing 2pm

Awards Ceremony

Sunday, November 11

3-5pm

Artwork Pickup

10am 11am 12pm 1pm 2pm 3pm

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Inside Northside

For the Love of Art Launch

Pearl River Talented Music McElroy Irish Dancers

Saint Tammany Youth Talent Showcase Practically Princess

November-December 2018 103

The Shop at the Contemporary Arts Center NEW ORLEANS’ PREMIER CO-WORKING SPACE, The Shop at the Contemporary Arts Center, is thriving as the Greater New Orleans Region focuses direct efforts on fostering its growing business community. With over 40,000 square feet of fully furnished co-working space designed to maximize flexibility and collaboration, The Shop offers members, commuters in town for professional meetings and prospects the opportunity to connect with a vibrant professional community in a sophisticated, flexible environment. As of October 2018, private offices are 100 percent leased, with over 300 members and counting. 104

Inside Northside

This growth showcases the opportunity for diverse professionals to expand their business in a progressive workspace with unparalleled benefits, services and programming. Recent members of The Shop’s community include Accruent, Lyft, A.B. Freeman School of Business at Tulane, The Business Council of New Orleans and the River Region, and more. These companies have joined an established Shop community that includes The Domain Companies, The Idea Village, GNO Inc., Tulane University and other leading organizations in business, design, media/film and arts/culture. “Our main goal was to give locals and visitors

photos: NEIL ALEXANDER

Celebrating 2018 Success

alike a place to congregate, share ideas, and in turn, foster a creative, entrepreneurial community,” says Matt Schwartz, CEO of Domain Companies, The Shop’s developer. “The Greater New Orleans Region is open to that. It’s a creative place with a ton of opportunity, already full of great ideas that we can build on. It’s exciting to see people from across the region collaborate cohesively in the space.” Last winter, The Shop hosted events as part of New Orleans Entrepreneur Week (NOEW), a week-long series of events celebrating business, innovation and entrepreneurship in the city. To match the momentum from NOEW, The Shop has continued to provide members with educational and cultural programming in the workspace by curating a selection of both locally and nationally focused events throughout the year. Recent events include

a discussion and book signing with acclaimed chef Alon Shaya, the Accruent tech firm launch and several speaker-series functions, most recently with The National WWII Museum’s CEO and President Stephen Watson, to name a few. The Shop also served as the main hub of NOLATech Week. In keeping with the goal of providing exceptional benefits and services to its members, The Shop recently announced an innovative partnership with Blue Bikes–New Orleans Bike Share, giving members an exclusive discount to make getting around for business or pleasure easier. This perk joins a strong list of community benefits that The Shop provides for members. Current benefit partners include ADP, Premium Parking, Luxer One, Gigsy, French Truck Coffee and Urban South Brewery. The Shop’s membership packages are offered in multiple tiers and allow for streamlined, app-based access to all benefits. Conference room rentals are available when purchasing a day pass, while space rental options for requested events are also available. Learn more at theshopcac.com. November-December 2018 105

The Christian Brothers of Saint Paul’s School

100 Years of Leadership

by Adam Rapier THIS YEAR, SAINT PAUL’S SCHOOL in Covington is

St. Paul’s School students participating in the 100th anniversary celebration of the continuous presence of the Christian Brothers at the school. 106

honoring 100 years of leadership by the De La Salle Christian Brothers. Dating back to 1680, educational institutions throughout the world have been influenced by Saint John Baptist de La Salle, the Founder of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. De La Salle innovated education by forming a community of educators who had the same spiritual views and loved teaching and learning to give a Christian education to young people, especially the poor. Today, the Christian Brothers continue to teach their students through advancements in teaching, technology and scholarship. Teachers touch hearts, inspire minds, and create leadership, thus preparing students for life, work and service to society and the Church. Saint Paul’s School traces back to 1911, when the Benedictines of Saint Joseph Abbey purchased Dixon Academy in Covington. It had forty-eight students, and the school quickly won a reputation for excellent instruction and strong discipline. By the end of the year, enrollment had sky-rocketed to seventy boarders and thirty day students. In 1918, the Benedictines sold the school to the

Inside Northside

Christian Brothers, represented by nineteen French Brothers. These Brothers worked long hours mentoring their students, as well as being carpenters, painters, plumbers, electricians and yardmen. Inspired by the energy of the founding Brothers, Saint Paul’s has grown to a student population of 850 boys in grades 8 through 12 and has secured its reputation for educational excellence. Today, the Christian Brothers who work in the school and the retired Brothers who live on campus are supported by lay faculty members who are all dedicated to Saint John Baptist de La Salle’s beliefs. Saint Paul’s offers strong academic and extracurricular programs as well as competitive athletic programs in a safe and disciplined environment. The gospel message is central to Saint Paul’s mission, and a spirit of faith inspires the Brothers to create a set of God-centered values in their students’ hearts. Saint Paul’s centers on these values and personal relationships, academic excellence, faith formation, inclusion, respect for the individual, service and social justice—all while striving to enhance each student’s cultural, intellectual, physical, social and spiritual development. “The future starts today, not tomorrow.” – Saint John Paul II.

M A R R I A G E A N D

Heap-Reeves McKenzie Heap and Coty Reeves were married at Felicity Church, a 125-year-old former church in New Orleans. The couple,

L O V E

engaged during Mardi Gras 2017 on the parade route, wanted their guests to enjoy the city as visitors. Many of the guests stayed at The Pontchartrain Hotel and enjoyed a Thursday rehearsal dinner at The Riverview Room at Jax Brewery hosted by the groom’s father

I N

and stepmother, Jeff and Becky Reeves. Preceded by 24 attendants, the bride was escorted by her father, Edwin Heap. Wildwoman Blooms created a hand-tied cascading bouquet for the bride with pastel peonies, hydrangeas and roses accented with burgundy dahlia and pale purple anemones to complement the mixed solid and floral palette that the bridesmaids wore. The wedding was officiated by the Reverend William Miller of Covington’s Christ Episcopal Church, who gave the couple “Top 10 Marriage Tips” given to him by the couple’s German Shorthaired Pointers, who couldn’t attend the wedding for fear they would upstage the couple. Oxlot 9 catered the event, providing traditional Louisiana hearty fare. A four-tiered cake sat atop a stand made from wood from the bride’s grandparents’ home, which has held several family wedding cakes, including at a cousin’s wedding four years ago where McKenzie and Coty met. The bride and her mother, Claire LeTard Heap, created simple and rustic décor to mirror the beautiful wood and stained glass of Felicity Church. They incorporated their love of antiques by designing centerpieces of old books and bottles with single flowers in the groupings. The cocktail hour entertainment was Baby Hearts Brass Band, brother are alumni; they led the bride’s parents and guests in a second line upstairs to the reception. Groovy 7 took the stage until the couple left with a sparkler exit riding away in a pedi-cab down cobblestoned Felicity Street. The couple honeymooned in the Bahamas before returning home to Covington. 108

Inside Northside

photos: APERTURE PHOTOS

a group of students from St. Paul’s, where the bride’s father and

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Inside Northside

INside Peek

photo courtesy: ST. TAMMANY HOSPITAL FOUNDATION

THE Gala THE Gala benefiting St. Tammany Cancer Center at the Southern Hotel featured live music by the Messy Cookers Jazz Band and New Orleans Piano Maniacs, a live painting by artist Marianne Angeli Rodriguez, live and silent auctions and magical games and experiences, all to benefit world-class cancer care close to home. Presented by HUB International, THE Gala was an opportunity to support local cancer care in one healing placeâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;St. Tammany Cancer Centerâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;where nationally ranked leaders St. Tammany Parish Hospital, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center and Ochsner are fighting to beat cancer. More than $202,000 was raised for the Cancer Center. November-December 2018 111

INside Peek

Horsepower Happy Hour A polo pony, Haute Dames Couture hats, beautiful jewels from Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry and luxury Mercedes-Benz of Covington vehicles set the backdrop for a fun and festive Horsepower Happy Hour. Revving up for the Junior League of Greater Covingtonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Harvest Cup Polo Classic at Summergrove Farm, guests gathered to prepare for the Polo Classic with jewelry, hats and more to try. Drinks and food were enjoyed as cars were perused. Inside Northside and the Junior League of Greater Covington would like to thank Mercedes-Benz of Covington, Fidelity Bank, Jennifer Rice and Team, and Legacy Kitchen for making the Horsepower Happy Hour a success!

112

Inside Northside

photos: CAMERON PAYNE PHOTOGRAPHY

Smart Woman’s Day Out A day of networking, speakers and delicious food brought together 175 guests at The Greystone for Smart Woman’s Day Out: It’s A Northshore Thing, presented by Women of Infinite Possibilities. The speaker list included Alice Couvillon, Mary Pratt Lobdell, Women of Infinite Possibilities President Leslie McGoey, Mark Johnson with event committee member Barbara Dillon, Mallory Goorley with grandmother Kay Morse, and Parish President Pat Brister. The day also included 11 raffle packages, a 50/50 raffle and entertainment by GrayHawk Perkins. Nineteen new members joined Women of Infinite Possibilities, whose mission is to create a community of belonging through opportunities, connections and good works.

November-December 2018 113

INside Peek

Northshore Young Professionals Luncheon

photo courtesy: STWCC

A panel of young professionals from around the northshore discussed the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Power of Prioritizingâ&#x20AC;? at the second Northshore Young Professionals luncheon of 2018. Held at the Holiday Inn Covington and sponsored by Fidelity Bank, panelists included Tayler Landry of Evolve Studios Louisiana, Townsend Underhill of Stirling Properties, Janel Evans of Hancock Whitney and Joey Roberts of St. Tammany YMCA and Councilman District C.

114

Inside Northside

photos: CAMERON PAYNE PHOTOGRAPHY

Ultimate Tailgate Party Football and tailgate fans gathered with The Exchange Club of West St. Tammany to kick off the season while raising money for the children and families of the community. Held at the Covington Trailhead, the event featured live music by Four Unplugged and an online silent auction as well as a life auction contributing to two annual beneficiaries, the West St. Tammany YMCA and CASA. The BBQ cookoff delivered Grand Champion team Swinel Richie. In the previous seven years, the Exchange Club has given $390,000 back to the community through the Ultimate Tailgate Party. The Club focuses on projects in child abuse prevention, Americanism, youth services and community services.

INside Peek 1. Saintsations Amber Scott and Hayden Harris with LSU punter Josh Growden. 2. Pat and Janet Roscigno, Doug and Michele Tymkiw as King and Queen IV of Slidellâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Krewe of Poseidon, and Lena and Bob Joyce enjoying the Coronation Ball at the Castine Center. 3. Naomi Labrousse with violinist Harry Hardin after Christwoodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Third Sunday Summer Concert at the Atrium Gallery. 4. Daughters of the American

1 2

Revolution Wharton Regent Charlotte Nagy and Hazel Gaudet (right) presenting Sue Cheveallier with the DAR Community Service Award. 5. Girl Scout Troop 30605 attending an outdoor badge workshop and

their first overnight camping trip at Girl Scout Camp Covington. 6. Newly married Kelsey and Seth Collie with grandparents Ronald and Liz Orgeron. 4

Robert Amato, MD Medical Director yourMD™

yourMD 11

Patient-Centered Direct Primary Care What if you could get better health outcomes with 24/7 access to your doctor at a lower cost than what your current insurance requires? There’s an innovative healthcare model gaining popularity nationwide that delivers those benefits to patients. It’s called Direct Primary Care (DPC) and it offers a patient/physician relationship that is more personalized and accessible than a traditional fee-for-service clinic. Rather than the traditional care model that puts an insurance company between patients and doctors, DPC has no middleman or the restrictions and claim-filing that insurance companies require. For a flat, monthly membership fee, a DPC arrangement covers 85-90% of primary health care services. Because this model benefits both the

7. The Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency enjoying the Grand Opening of its new location in Covington. 8. The H2O Salon Northshore team celebrating a day full of beauty and fun to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association. 9. Covington Mayor Mike

Cooper with Chris and Susan Blanchard and Mary Bird Perkins President and CEO Todd Stevens enjoying the first-ever Live Well Northshore, presented by the Benjamin Blanchard Memorial Foundation and Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center. 10. Fontainebleau High and Covington High

patient with improved, affordable care and the doctor with freedom from insurance company restrictions and paperwork, it is an attractive option for patients and primary care physicians. This direct primary care trend has reached St. Tammany and is offered by yourMD™ Medical Director, Robert Amato, MD. Amato says this model allows him to work only for the patient by offering 24/7 access, including remote appointments using digital technology, more comprehensive visits, and ultimately a higher quality of care. Like other successful direct primary care physicians across the country, yourMD™ offers low monthly membership plans for individuals, discounted family and employer group plans, extended 45 to 90-minute physician visits, no copays, and care coordination with other providers. “The combination of quicker access, longer visits and much more affordability is a real win for my patients,” says Amato.

cheerleading teaming up to assist in the St. Tammany Outreach for the Prevention of Suicide 5K held in Abita Springs. 11. Saint Paul’s National Merit Semifinalists for 2019 David Needles, Stephen Millet, Cullen Irwin, Jackson Gold, Ross Hightower, Christopher Wilson, Andrew Norlin and Hyde Healy. 12. Mallory and Nick Orozco with pups Daisy and newly adopted Wynona (on leash) at Doggie Dash.

yourMDTM is located in Covington at 141 Lakeview Circle, Suite A Call (985) 273-5100 for details. November-December 2018 117

INside Peek

White Linen Night Shops, galleries, restaurants and taps opened for the annual White Linen Night in downtown Covington. Dressed in linen, patrons perused shops and art galleries while sipping their favorite libations. A percentage of local business sales went toward the Public Art for Covington Fund to brighten up downtownâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s works of art. 118

Inside Northside

Harvest Cup Polo Classic Patron Party In preparation for the 2018 Harvest Cup Polo Classic, the Junior League of Greater Covington and patrons of the event enjoyed an evening at Maison Lafitte in Mandeville. Partygoers learned more about the day of the Polo Classic and savored food and cocktails provided by The Lakehouse, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Champagne Beverage and the New Orleans Bourbon Festival. November-December 2018 119

INside Peek

photos courtesy: STWCC

Business After Hours Members of St. Tammany West Chamber Of Commerce, guests and future members met and mingled at Business After Hours sponsored by American Factory Direct in the new showroom in Covington. Attendees enjoyed great conversation and food, as well as drinks donated by Champagne Beverage.

The sold-out luncheon held at The Greystone gathered Northshore Home Builders Association members for the winners announcements of the 2018 Northshore Parade of Homes and to hear from St. Tammany Parish Assessor Louis Fitzmorris. Winners of the Parade of Homes included Best Overall by Centanni Construction Co., Inc in the $400,000 & Above category as well as Best Kitchen Design by Integrity Builders. Checks were presented to the Raising the Roof for Charity partners that benefited the Habitat for Humanity St. Tammany West, St. Tammany Hospital Foundation and the Louisiana Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Discovery Center. 120

Inside Northside

photos: CHUCK BILLIOT

NHBA Membership Luncheon

1. Artesia Apartments celebrating the grand

opening with a ribbon cutting. 2. Becky Gilly;

Fredrich Anthony accepting Every Moment Counts award for his father, Houston Anthony; Elizabeth Dupuy; Gene Bellisario; Julie Agan; John Carver; and Ella Mae Selmon at the St. Tammany Council on Aging’s 50th Anniversary Gala. 3. Jose Awill, Chad Berg, Kenny and Doreen Adams with Konstantino at his personal appearance at Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry 5

in Lakeside Shopping Center. 4. Dr. Marcia

Davila, Konstantino and Angela Tsatsoulis. 5. Guests enjoying the fourth annual Kelly Kicking Cancer Gala at the Fleur de Lis Center. 6. Paul and Owen Tusa showing off their prize at the Christ Episcopal School Athletic Booster Club’s Third Annual Fishing Rodeo. 7. Ethel Lanaux, presenting a gift from the Lanaux family to the Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center honoring their granddaughter, Hillary, who passed away in 2001 due to sarcoma, with

Jack Saux, MD, who cared for Hillary during her cancer battle. 8. Northshore’s Finest honorees at the Northshore’s Finest Luncheon wrapping up the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation fundraiser in which honorees raised over $42,000. 9. Leslie Domingues, owner of Northlake Academy of Music, donating $5,000 to NAMI on behalf of Nick Richard. Funds were raised through a Music with a Mission fundraiser celebrating the academy’s 20th anniversary. 10. The North Oaks Hospice team

sharing remembrances of the late Margaret Dantzler with her family at the annual Memorial Service.

November-December 2018 121

IN Great Taste by Yvette Jemison

Quick and Tasty Host Gifts

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Inside Northside

Candied Thyme Pecans

Candied Pecans are salty and sweet and roasted to a crunchy perfection. Delicious for holiday snacking or gift giving, they’re incredibly easy to prepare. Servings: 5 cups 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed 1/3 cup granulated sugar 1 Tablespoon dried thyme leaves 1 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper 3 cups (12 ounces) pecan halves, unsalted 1 egg white

1. Preheat oven to 300°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment or a silicone mat. 2. In a small bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, granulated sugar, thyme leaves, salt and cayenne pepper until well combined. Set aside. 3. In a medium bowl, whisk the egg white until frothy. Add pecans and toss until evenly coated. Add the sugar mixture, and toss until pecans are well coated. 4. Arrange coated pecans in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. 5. Remove baking sheet from the oven and stir the pecans. 6. Return baking sheet to the oven, and continue baking until the pecans are fragrant and the coating is no longer wet in spots, 10-15 minutes. 7. Place the baking sheet on a cooling rack until the pecans are completely cool. Do Ahead: Nuts can be made up to one month ahead. Store in airtight container at room temperature. >>

photos: YVETTE JEMISON

A BATCH OF CANDIED Thyme Pecans is great to have on hand over the holidays when we’re inundated with invites and in need of host gifts. These slightly spicy, slightly sweet pecans are scented with thyme and make delectable gifts. They’re easily packaged in cellophane bags, cute little jars or tins to add to your holiday gift stash. Not only will your host enjoy them, but making a batch for yourself will allow you to use them as your secret ingredient in your holiday concoctions. You’ll be able to dress up salad greens when you toss these tasty pecans into your favorite salad for added crunch and flavor. When holiday guests drop in, the pecans are quite versatile when piled high on a cheese board or combined with dried fruit in a Candied Pecan Goat Cheese roll. If you’re needing a quick appetizer for drop-in guests, baked Brie begs to have a sweet and salty accompaniment. Simply begin by combining the pecans with fresh berries. Remove the top of Brie, mound the berry-pecan mixture on top and bake until the berries are warm and the cheese is melted. Serve with baguette slices and a glass of wine for a crowd-pleasing appetizer. These extra-easy recipes will make your guests gather around and enjoy the holidays one bite at a time!

November-December 2018 123

IN Great Taste by Yvette Jemison

INside Dining MCC: Major credit cards accepted

Candied Pecan Goat Cheese Roll You’ll enjoy this cheese roll sliced and added to a cheese board or served whole with your favorite crackers. Servings: 6-8

ME: Menu Express delivery RR: Reservations recommended ABITA SPRINGS Abita Brew Pub, 72011 Holly St., 892-5837. Good fun and great

1/2 cup candied thyme pecans, chopped

beer. On the Trace. Lunch, dinner. abitabrewpub.com. MCC.

2 Tablespoons dried apricots, chopped 1 Tablespoon parsley, chopped 2 4-oz. goat cheese logs

Abita Springs Café, 22132 Level St., 400-5025. Open 7 days a week. MCC. Camellia Café, 69455 Hwy. 59,

Do Ahead: Cheese rolls can be made two days ahead. Keep chilled. Let sit at room temperature for 20 minutes before serving sliced or whole with crackers.

Abita Roasting Company,

809-6313. Traditional seafood and New Orleans cuisine. thecamelliacafe. com. MCC. Mama D’s Pizza & More, 22054 Hwy. 59, 809-0308. Lunch, dinner. mamadspizza.com.

1011 Village Walk, 246-3345. abitaroasting.com. Acme Oyster House, 1202 Hwy. 190, 246-6155. Lunch, dinner. mamdspizza.com. MCC. Albasha, 1958 Hwy. 190, 867-8292. Mediterranean cuisine. albashabr.com. MCC. Annadele’s Plantation, 71518 Chestnut St., 809-7669. Yellow fin tuna, domestic lamb & much more. annadeles.com. MCC, checks. bacobar, 70437 LA-21, 893-2450. International street food with South Louisiana soul. bacobarnola.com. MCC. Barrel Wine Bar at Barrel and Roll, 69305 LA 21, Ste. E, 272-8485. Wine, small plates and sushi. MCC. Bear’s Restaurant, 128 W. 21st St., 892-2373. Best po-boys in the world. MCC. Beck ‘n’ Call Cafe, 534 N. New Hampshire, 985-875-9390. Lunch Cafe, Breakfast. MCC.

Inside Northside

Buster’s Place, 519 E. Boston St., 809-3880. Seafood, po-boys, steaks. Lunch, dinner. MCC. Carreta’s Grill, 70380 Hwy. 21, 871-6674. Great Mexican cuisine and margaritas served in a family-friendly atmosphere for lunch and dinner. Kids eat free every Wednesday! Private events and catering also provided. carretasgrill.com. MCC. CC’s Coffee House, 1331 N Hwy pastries and more. Open 7 days a week. Easy drive thru. ccscoffee.com. MCC. The Chimes, 19130 W. Front St.,

COVINGTON

124

803-8368. Hamburgers. MCC.

190., 900-2241. Catering, coffee,

1. In a shallow dish, toss pecans, apricots and parsley together. 2. Roll log of cheese in nut mixture until well coated. Tightly wrap in plastic wrap. Repeat with remaining cheese and refrigerate. 3. Let sit at room temperature for 20 minutes before serving whole or sliced with crackers.

For more recipes and the cookbook Entertain Effortlessly Gift Deliciously, go to Ydelicacies.com and follow on Instagram @y_delicacies. We hope you’ll give these recipes a try and let us know by tagging us on Instagram @insideneworleans.

Bud’s Broiler, 1250 N. US 190, 985-

892-5396. Catering, Sunday brunch, daily lunch specials, 72 beers on tap. Lunch and dinner. chimesbeeru.com. MCC. Coffee Rani, 234-A Lee Ln., 8936158. Soup and salad specialists. coffeerani.com. MCC. Columbia St. Tap Room & Grill, 434 N. Columbia St., 898-0899. Lunch, dinner. covingtontaproom. com. MCC, ME. Copeland’s. 680 N. US 190, 985809-9659. Creole. MCC. RR. Dakota Restaurant, 629 N. Hwy. 190, 892-3712. Contemporary Louisiana cuisine using local and seasonal ingredients. thedakotarestaurant.com. MCC, RR. Del Porto Restaurant, 501 E. Boston St., 875-1006. Northern Italian cuisine. delportoristorante.com. MCC, RR. Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, 69292 Hwy. 21, 871-2225. Locally-owned and -operated franchise. Kids eat free on Sundays. MCC. DiCristina’s Restaurant, 810 N. Columbia St., Ste. C, 875-0160. Italian and seafood. dicristinas.com. MCC. DiMartino’s, 700 S. Tyler St., 2766460. Great food and reasonable

prices. Lunch, dinner. dimartinos.com.

McAlister’s Deli, 206 Lake Dr., Ste.

Pizza Man of Covington, 1248 N.

MCC.

15, 898-2800. Great sandwiches,

Collins Blvd., 892-9874. Checks, ME.

salads, overstuffed potatoes. Don’s Seafood Hut, 126 Lake

mcalistersdeli.com. MCC, checks.

Dr., 327-7111. Lunch and dinner.

Salty Joe’s BBQ, 43344 S. Range Rd, 956-7099. New southern BBQ.,daily

Raising Canes, 1270 N. Hwy. 190,

specials, lunch and dinner. MCC.

809-0250. Chicken fingers, crinkle-cut Megumi of Covington,

fries, coleslaw, texas toast, signature

Tommy’s on Thomas, 216 W.

1211 Village Walk, 893-0406.

secret dipping sauce. Dine-in, to-go

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

megumirestaurant.net.

and catering. MCC.

Lunch, dinner. tommysonthomas.com.

cream teas. Mon-Sat, 7:30am-6pm.

Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers,

Rob’s Rockin’ Dogs, 400 N. Theard St,

englishtearoom.com. MCC, RR.

1645 Hwy. 190, 327-5407. Salads,

234-9201. Gourmet hotdogs, pet friendly

Tope là, 104 N. Cate St., 542-7600.

pizzas, calzones. 20 craft beers on

restaurant. robsrockindogs.com. MCC.

Contemporary delights. topela.com.

donsseafoodonline.com. MCC. The English Tea Room, 734 Rutland St., 898-3988. Authentic English

MCC, checks.

Fat Spoon Café, 2807 N Highway

tap. Open 7 days a week. Lunch and

190., 893-5111. Breakfast, Lunch,

dinner. MCC. mellowmushroom.com.

MCC. Sala Thai, 315 N. Vermont St., 2496990. Sun-Thurs, 11am-9pm; Fri-Sat,

Yellow Bird Café, 222 E. Charles St.,

severed until 10:30 on weekdays and

Mugshots Grill & Bar, 300

11am-10pm.Lunch buffet weekdays,

345-1112. A great place to start your

all day Saturday and Sunday. Reserve

River Highlands Blvd., 893-2422.

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

day. Breakfast, lunch. MCC, checks.

Fat Spoon Café for your next party.

mugshotsgrillandbar.com.

Tues-Sun. 7am-2pm. Breakfast

Sweet Daddy’s, 420 S. Tyler St.,

fatspooncafe.com. MCC.

LACOMBE

New Orleans Food and Spirits, 208

898-2166. Pulled pork, brisket and ribs.

Sal & Judy’s, 27491 Hwy. 190, 882-

Gallagher’s Grill, 509 S. Tyler

Lee Ln., 875-0432. Family owned and

sweetdaddysbarbq.com. MCC, ME.

9443. Veal is the house specialty.

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

operated. neworleansfoodspirits.com.

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

MCC.

gallaghersgrill.com. MCC.

salandjudys.com. MCC, RR. TCBY, 70488 Hwy 21, 892-9000 tcby. MADISONVILLE

com. MCC. Nonna Randazzo’s Italian Bakery

Abita Roasting Company, 504

Garcia’s Famous Mexican Food,

and Cafè, 2033 N. Hwy. 190, Ste.

Vasquez Seafood & Po-Boys, 515

Water St., 246-3340. abitaroasting.

200 River Highlands Blvd., 327-7420.

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

E. Boston St., 893-9336. Cuban

com.

bakery. Luncheon salads, panini,

sandwiches and more. vazquezpoboy.

The Green House Salad Co, 104

catering, donuts, kingcakes, cupcakes

com. MCC, checks, ME.

Lake Dr, 898-6380. Signature salads

and wedding cakes. Tues-Sun, open

made to order. MCC.

at 7am. nonnarandazzo.com. MCC.

Habanero’s, 69305 Highway 21,

Osaka West, 804 N. US 190, 871-

Ste. 600, 871-9760. Daily specials,

8199. Japanese. MCC.

Italian Pie, 70488 Hwy. 21, 871-

seafood dishes and New Orleans

Sushi Bar, 323 N. New Hampshire

neighborhood favorites .MCC.

St., 809-3840. MCC. Keith Young’s Steakhouse, 165 Hwy. 21, 845-9940. Lunch, dinner,

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

327-0520. Inspired American food.

Tues-Fri. keithyoungs.net. MCC.

5663. Hotel. Dinner, Sunday brunch.

zearestaurants.com. MCC. Morton’s Boiled Seafood & Bar,

oxlot9.com. MCC. HAMMOND

5252. Dine in or carry out. italianpie. com. MCC, checks.

LA-21, 845-2348. Fresh Louisiana Yujin Japanese Restaurant and

Zea Rotisserie & Grill, 110 Lake Dr.,

happy hour 2-6. habaneroscuisine. com. MCC.

Crabby Shack & Po-Boys, 305

Papi’s Fajita Factory of Covington,

Brady’s, 110 SW Railroad Ave., 542-

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

6333. bradysdowntown.com.

La Carreta Authentic Mexican

1382. Kids eat free on Tuesday nights.

Cuisine, 812 Hwy. 190, 624-

Open 7 days a week for lunch and

Don’s Seafood & Steak House,

2990. Festive Mexican atmosphere,

dinner. MCC.

1915 S. Morrison Blvd., 345-8550.

fresh food from traditional recipes,

702 Water St., 845-4970. Lunch, dinner. MCC, checks. Orlando’s, 304 Hwy. 22 West, 985845-4446. Seafood. MCC. MANDEVILLE

donsseafoodonline.com. MCC.

outstanding service and value. Live

Pardos, 69305 Hwy. 21, 893-3603.

music. Lunch and dinner seven days a

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

Jacmel Inn, 903 E. Morris St., 542-

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

week. carretasrestaurant.com. MCC.

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

0043. Fresh fish, small plate classics,

MCC.

parties and catering. pardosbistro.

house cut steaks, Sunday brunch.

com. MCC.

jacmelinn.com. MCC.

Pat’s Seafood Market and Cajun

Kirin Sushi, 223 S. Cate St., 542-

call and premium liquors. Lunch and

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

8888. kirinjapanesecuisine.com. MCC.

dinner. thebarleyoak.com. MCC.

La Carreta Authentic Mexican

Beach House, 124 Girod, 985-

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

624-9331. Neighborhood Cafe.

PJ’s Coffee & Tea Co., 70456 Hwy.

9990. Festive Mexican atmosphere,

beachhousemandeville.com. MCC.

Mattina Bella, 421 E. Gibson St.,

21, 875-7894. Catch your morning

fresh food from traditional recipes,

892-0708. Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

buzz at this convenient drive-thru!

outstanding service and value. Live

Bistro Byronz, 1901 Highway 190,

MCC, checks.

Catering. MCC.

music. Lunch and dinner seven days a

985-951-7595. American. MCC.

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

Another Broken Egg Cafe, 1901 US

4992. Lunch, Mon-Fri; Dinner, Fri-Sat. Closed Sundays. lolacovington.com.

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

Mac’s On Boston, 324 E. Boston St.,

Jambalaya, gumbo, stuffed artichokes.

985-892-6550. Contemporary Creole.

MCC, checks, ME.

MCC.

week. carretarestaurant.com. MCC.

November-December 2018 125

n s

g Bosco’s Italian Café, 2040 Hwy. 59,

Express lunch and daily lunch specials

624-5066. boscositalian.com.

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

Café Lynn Restaurant and

com. MCC.

Catering, 2600 Florida St., 624-9007. Casual fine dining for lunch, dinner and

La Carreta Authentic Mexican

Sunday brunch by Chef Joey Najolia.

Cuisine, 1200 W. Causeway

Tues-Fri, lunch: 11am-3pm. Dinner,

App., 624-2990. Festive Mexican

5pm. Catering provided. cafelynn.com.

atmosphere, fresh food from traditional

MCC.

recipes, outstanding service and value. Live music. Lunch and dinner seven

Coffee Rani, 3517 Hwy. 190, 674-

days a week. carretasrestaurant.com.

0560. Soup and salad specialists.

MCC.

Coscino’s Pizza, 1809 N. Causeway

La Madeleine, 3434 US 190, 985-

Blvd., 727-4984. Italian. MCC.

626-7004. French. MCC.

Daisey Dukes, 1200 W. Causeway

The Lakehouse, 2025 Lakeshore

Approach, Ste 13, 951-2140. Authentin

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

Cajun, all day breakfast and lunch.

Restaurant open. Call for reservations.

MCC.

lakehousecuisine.com. MCC.

El Paso Mexican Grill, 3410 US 190,

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

624-2345. Daily specials, happy hour,

Breakfast. doyoulalou.com. MCC.

2-7pm. elpasomex.com. MCC. Leonardo’s Trattoria & Pizzeria, Fat Spoon Café, 68480 Hwy. 59.,

2625 Florida St, 788-2550. Authentic

809-2929. Breakfast served until

Sicilian dishes, desserts and bar with

10:30am on weekdays and all day

wine and beer. Closed Sundays. MCC.

Saturday and Sunday. Reserve Fat Spoon Cafe for your next party.

Little Tokyo, 590 Asbury Dr., 504-

fatspooncafe.com. MCC.

727-1532. Japanese. littletokyosushi. com. MCC.

Fazzio’s Seafood & Steakhouse, 1841 N. Causeway Blvd., 624-9704.

Liz’s Where Y’At Diner, 2500 Florida,

Fresh fish daily, aged beef, traditional

985-626-8477. Breakfast, Diner. MCC.

Italian. Lunch, dinner. fazziosrestaurant. com. MCC, ME, RR.

Mande’s, 340 N. Causeway App., 626-9047. Serving breakfast and

Franco’s Grill,100 Bon Temps

lunch, daily specials.

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

Mandina’s, 4240 Hwy. 22 in Azalea

myfrancos.com/dining. MCC.

Square Shopping Center, 674-9883. Seafood, Creole and Italian. Lunch and

George’s Mexican Restaurant,

dinner, Mon-Sat. mandinasrestaurant.

1461 N. Causeway Blvd., 626-4342.

com.

Family owned. Fajitas, George’s nachos, Carne al la Parrilla. Best

Nuvolari’s, 246 Girod St., 626-5619.

top-shelf margaritas in town.

In Old Mandeville. Italian cuisine for

georgesmexicanrestaurant.com. MCC,

fine dining daily for dinner or special

ME.

events. MCC. nuvolaris.com.

Gio’s Villa Vancheri, 2890 E.

The Old Rail Brewing Company,

Causeway App., 624-2597. Sicilian

639 Girod St., 612-1828. Homemade

specialties by 5-star chef Gio

American cuisine with fresh,

Vancheri. Lunch and dinner, Mon-Sat.

local ingredients. Family-friendly

giosvillavancheri.com. MCC. RR.

atmosphere. Lunch and dinner. Closed Mondays.

K. Gee’s, 2534 Florida St., 626-0530.

126

Inside Northside

Featuring Louisiana seafood with

Pat Gallagher’s 527 Restaurant and

raw oysters 1/2 price on Tuesdays.

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

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

outstanding service and value. Live

Speckled T’s, 158 S Military Rd.,

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

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

music. Lunch and dinner seven days a

985-646-1728. Seafood. MCC.

St., 504-581-1316. Louisiana seafood

gallaghers527restaurant.com.

week. carretarestaurant.com. MCC.

Pinkberry, 3460 Hwy. 190, 612-7306.

SLIDELL

prepared in Creole seasonings, available in The Blind Tiger Slidell, 37330

Bucktown or the French Quarter for lunch

Lakeshore Marina Dr, 707-1082. Fun

and dinner. deanies.com. MCC.

Pinkberry is the original tart frozen

A Touch of Italy Café, 134

yogurt with premium fresh fruit and dry

Pennsylvania Ave., 639-0600. Lunch,

toppings. pinkberry.com.

dinner. kathrynandcompany.com.

Vera’s, 2020 Gause Blvd W., 985-

7397. Open Monday through Saturday.

MCC, checks.

690-9814. Seafood. MCC.

Dinner. gautreausrestaurant.com. MCC,

190, 674-1565. Catering. pjscoffee.

Assunta’s, 2631 Covington Hwy.,

Young’s, 850 Robert Blvd., 985-643-

com. MCC.

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

9331. Steak. MCC.

waterfront restaurant. MCC. Gautreau’s, 1728 Soniat St., 504-899-

PJ’s Coffee & Tea Co., 2963 Hwy.

RR.

MCC. Pontchartrain Po-Boys, 318 Dalwill Dr., 985-626-8188. Sandwiches. MCC. Raising Canes, 3801 Hwy. 22, 674-

Gumbo Shop, 630 Saint Peter St., 504-525-1486. Award winning gumbo

NEW ORLEANS/SOUTHSHORE

and soups, ship nationwide. Lunch

Bear’s Grill & Spirits, 550 Gause

Andrea’s, 3100 19th St, 504-834-

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

8583. Northern Italian and local

bearsgrillandspirits.com. MCC.

seafood. Lunch, dinner, Sunday

Louisiana Pizza Kitchen French

brunch. andreasrestaurant.com. MCC.

Quarter, 95 French Market Place,

2042. Chicken fingers, crinkle-cut fries,

and dinner. gumboshop.com. MCC.

coleslaw, texas toast, signature secret

Blue Bayou Cafe, 1101 East Howze

dipping sauce. Dine-in, to-go and

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

Antoine’s Restaurant, 713 Saint

dining atmosphere with experienced

catering. MCC.

MCC.

Louis St, 504-581-4422. antoines.

waitstaff, fresh dishes and made-from-

com. MCC.

scratch menu items. Lunch and dinner.

504-522-9500. Casual dining in a fine

Rip’s on the Lake, 1917 Lakeshore

Blue House Grill, 2170 Gause Blvd

Dr., 727-2829.

W., 985-288-5544. Sandwiches. MCC.

525-4455. Fresh local ingredients,

Mellow Mushroom, 3131 Veterans

Rusty Pelican, 500 Girod

Camellia Cafe, 525 Hwy. 190, 649-

balanced yet complex dishes. Lunch

Memorial Blvd., 504-644-4155. Pizza,

St., 778-0364. Lunch, dinner.

6211. thecamelliacafe.com. MCC.

and dinner. bayona.com. MCC.

30 craft beers on tap, lunch and

Carreta’s Grill, 137 Taos St., 847-0020.

Brennan’s, 417 Royal St., 504-

Rusty Pelican, 500 Girod

Great Mexican cuisine and margaritas

525-9711. Creole traditions and

Messina’s Runway Cafe, 6001

St., 778-0364. Lunch, dinner.

served in a family-friendly atmosphere for

contemporary influences. Breakfast,

Stars and Stripes Blvd., 504-241-

rustypelicanbythelake.com. MCC.

lunch and dinner. carretasgrill.com. MCC.

lunch and dinner. brennansneworleans.

5300. Tues-Sun, 8am-3pm.

com. MCC. RR.

messinasterminal.com. MCC.

Briquette, 701 South Peters St,

Nola Beans, 762 Harrison Ave.,

504-302-7496. Contemporary coastal

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

lpkfrenchquarter.com. MCC. Bayona, 430 Rue Dauphine, 504-

rustypelicanbythelake.com. MCC.

dinner. mellowmushroom.com. MCC.

St. Roch, 1814 N. Causeway Blvd,

Copeland’s, 1337 Gause Blvd., 985-

951-2135. Seafood and Cajun style

643-0001. Creole. MCC.

entrees. MCC. El Paso Mexican Grill, 1100 Robert SWEGS Kitchen, 4350 Hwy 22, Ste

Blvd, 445-1450. Daily specials, happy

H, Mandeville, 951-2064. Healthy pre-

hour. elpasomex.com. MCC.

made comfort food. SwegsKitchen.

cuisine. briquette-nola.com. MCC. Opal Basil, 719 S Peters, New Caffe! Caffe!, 4301 Clearview Pwky.,

Orleans, opalbasil.com. MCC.

504-885-4845; 3547 N. Hullen, Metairie,

com, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook.

Felipe’s Taqueria, 176 Town Center

504-267-9190. Breakfast, lunch and

Restaurant R’evolution, 777 Bienville

MCC.

Pkwy., 985-288-1210. Mexican.

coffee. caffecaffe.com. MCC.

St., 504-553-2277. Located at the Royal Sonesta Hotel. Triptych of

felipestaqueria.com. MCC. Times Bar & Grill, 1896 N. Causeway

Carreta’s Grill, 2320 Veterans Blvd.,

Quail and Oysterman’s spaghettini. Revolutionnola.com. MCC. RR.

Blvd., 626-1161. Lunch, dinner.

Michael’s, 4820 Pontchartrain

504-837-6696; 1821 Hickory Ave.,

timesgrill.com. ME, MCC.

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

Harahan, 504-305-4833. Mexican, lunch

michaelsrestaurantslidell.com. MCC.

and dinner. carretasgrillrestaurant.com.

Riccobono’s Peppermill, 3524

MCC.

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

Trey Yuen Cuisine of China, 600 N.

filets and Italian. Breakfast and

Causeway Blvd., 626-4476. Quality

Nathan’s, 36440 Old Bayou Liberty

China cuisine with Louisiana flair. Lunch,

Rd., 985-643-0443. Contemporary

Criollo Resturant and Lounge at

lunch. Dinner, Wednesday-Sunday.

dinner. treyyuen.com. MCC, checks.

Creole. MCC.

Hotel Monteleone, 214 Royal St., 504-

riccobonos.com. MCC.

523-3340. Creole dining for breakfast, PONCHATOULA

Palmettos on the Bayou,

lunch and dinner. hotelmonteleone.com/

Sala, 124 Lake Marina, New Orleans

Middendorf’s Seafood Restaurant,

1901 Bayou Ln., 643-0050.

criollo/. MCC, RR.

504-513-2670. Cocktails and

30160 Hwy. 51, 386-6666.

palmettosrestaurantslidell.com.

shareable plates. salanola.com. MCC. Dat Dog, 5030 Freret St., 504-899-

middendorfsrestaurant.com. Peck’s Seafood Restaurant, 2315

6883; 3336 Magazine St., 504-324-

Warehouse Grille, 869 Magazine

La Carreta Authentic Mexican

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

2226; 601 Frenchmen St., 504-309-

St, 504-322-2188. Lunch and dinner

Cuisine, 147 N.W. Railroad Ave., 370-

seafood, burgers and lunch specials.

3363. datdog.com. MCC.

specials, Monday-Friday. Brunch,

0930. Festive Mexican atmosphere,

MCC.

fresh food from traditional recipes,

Saturday-Sunday, 9am-3pm. Deanie’s Seafood Restaurant, 1713

warehousegrille.com. MCC.

November-December 2018 127

Angela continued from page 79

Angela and her unmistakeable hair had a prominent role in a scene from 1984’s Tightrope, starring Clint Eastwood.

gives to special projects. One in particular involves raising $1,000,000 for the J. Michael Early Studio within the multimedia center of Loyola University’s School of Communications. As the former President and General Manager of WWL-TV who built Channel 4 into a television powerhouse and was Hill’s long-time boss, Early, who died at the age of 99 just a few years ago, was a beloved figure around the city. The thrice-married Hill seems to have now found her soul mate. I asked her what she has learned from her marriages. “Hopefully, how to do it better each time,” she said, amusedly. “If I’m lucky in my life, it’s that I don’t look back. Irwin and I have just celebrated our 18th wedding anniversary, and we went steady for five years prior to that. Our first date was at Antoine’s. He proposed to me there years later, and after our elopement in a little church on the Westbank in 2000 after anchoring the 6 p.m. news, our wedding party of six, including the minister and his wife, all caravanned to Antoine’s, where we had the wedding celebration.” For Hill, life is easier and less stressful being with her kindred spirit. “I like everything about Irwin,” Hill explained. “He is easy going, kind and is always thinking about everyone else. He has three children who are great and a real reflection of him. You know, he had very little interest in finding a place in Maine, but when he saw that it made me happy, he was happy.” You can catch them around town enjoying crab salad and lemon icebox pie at Clancy’s, fried oysters at Galatoire’s, or the turtle soup and bread pudding soufflé at Commander’s. Angela is lately enamored with a new little French-inspired bistro in the warehouse district called Vyoone’s. But all of the newly found freedom aside, this lady still has her fingers in a lot of pots and doesn’t completely rule out new ventures. “I made a decision that once I started doing commercials, I would no longer do news,” she said. “But I would never close my mind or a door to something new—as long as it’s interesting.” 128

Inside Northside

The Chef Is In

Money Hill Grille’s New Executive Chef Daniel Bourgault “For a while, the Grille has had the same menu, so the concept that I am using is a new menu every two weeks to a month. I am bringing fresh products in, getting to know local vendors and continuously introducing new and seasonal items to keep up with the culinary trends going on in big cities.” While a teenager attending Slidell High, Chef Daniel began his career at La Provence under the tutelage of Chef Chris Kerageorgiou and Chef John Besh. After leaving La Provence, he assisted Chef Besh in opening Artesia restaurant in downtown Abita Springs. He further developed his skills working at the Michelin Star Resort Spielweg in the Black Forest of Germany. Upon returning to the United States, he continued his relationship with Chef Besh, assisting him in opening and running some of New Orleans most acclaimed restaurants. Liz says: “The Grille should be an extension of everyone’s kitchen. Our residents and members—especially our foodies—are liking the variety of new and innovative dishes he is introducing! His organizational skills and event experience are only going to enhance Delicious wafts of new fare are floating out of the Money Hill Grille’s kitchen thanks to Chef Daniel Bourgault. “Daniel’s energy and

our dining experiences here.” “Daniel has great credentials. Since being at Money Hill, he has

the excitement in the kitchen is refreshing,” smiles Food and Beverage

been re-acquainted with residents and members who have been his

Director Liz Beter. Chef Daniel recently came on board as Money Hill Golf

patrons in the past. He is a great fit for our community,” says Money

& Country Club’s Executive Chef.

Hill President Mimi Goodyear Dossett.

“I was working down in the French Quarter when I received a call letting me know about this opportunity,” says Chef Daniel. “I wasn’t

Celebrating 20 years, Money Hill Golf & Country Club welcomes

really looking for a new career, but after coming to visit Money Hill

anyone to tour the beautiful community any time to see what makes

and seeing how beautiful the property is, I knew my style of cooking

Money Hill such a special place. Money Hill Golf & Country Club

would fit in perfectly. I wanted the menu to match the ambiance of the

is located at 100 Country Club Drive in Abita Springs. 892-3300.

property, and I knew I could help do just that.

moneyhill.com. November-December 2018 129

Bayside Grill at The Grand Hotel

WHETHER ENJOYING a stay at The Grand Hotel, or visiting for the day, make sure to catch local fare at Bayside Grill. From shareable appetizers to fresh seafood, the menu offers an array of options to be enjoyed inside or on the outdoor patio. Share small plates such as the crab and avocado toast, gulf shrimp bubble-over dip, pork belly burnt-end tacos or pimento cheese. In addition to salads, pizzas and sandwiches, indulge in the Gulf Wild By-Catch served with local pink-eyed peas, mirepoix, arugula, shallots and lemon. For land dishes, have the 1855 Super Prime beef tenderloin, butcherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s130

Inside Northside

by Leah Draffen

cut steak, pork belly wrapped meatloaf or freerange chicken. Accompany dinner with a locally crafted beer or draft wine while the kids play on the activities lawn. On Fridays and Saturdays, listen to live music with dinner from 5:30 to 8:30pm. Bayside Grill is open Monday-Saturday, 11am to 9pm and Sunday, 3 to 9pm, at The Grand Hotel Golf Resort & Hotel, An Autography Collection Resort Hotel by Marriott, in Point Clear, Alabama. Complimentary valet parking. For a full menu and the live music schedule, visit grand1847.com.

photo courtesy: BAYSIDE GRILL

Last Bite

November-December 2018 Inside Northside Magazine

Articles inside

Local Author Pamela Binnings Ewen

The Thinking Man's Artist: Cover Artist Nurhan Gokturk