June-July 2022 Issue of Inside New Orleans

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LIFE ALONG METAIRIE ROAD •

THE BUSINESS MARRIAGE • MONEY HILL • BUSINESS & LEADERSHIP

JUNE-JULY 2022 VOL. 9, NO. 3

June-July 2022

Publisher

Vol. 9, No. 3

Jonée Daigle-Ferrand

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On the cover

Artist Greg Creason.

Find more on page 10.

Visit InsideNewOrleansMagazine.com to view our online issue with direct links to our advertisers’ sites.

INSIDE NEW ORLEANS is published bi-monthly (February, April, June, August, October, December) by JBL Publishing, LLC, PO Box 7603, Metairie, LA 70010-7603 as a means of communication and information for greater New Orleans, Louisiana. Bulk Postage paid - New Orleans, LA. Copy­right ©2022 by JBL 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 New Orleans Magazine is created using the page 20 Adobe Creative Suite on Apple Macintosh computers.

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contents table of

Money Hill Page 52

page 50

Departments

page 22

7 Publisher’s Note 10 INside Scoop 19 Summer Specials 48 Flourishes 50 INside Look 54 Senior Care Resources 58 INside Peek 62 Drinks with Anna

Refreshing Drinks for the New Orleans Heat 64 Haute Plates 66 Last Bite

La Cocina NOLA 6

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page 34 page 70

Features 8 Captured Emotions

Cover Artist Greg Creason 14 Life Along Metairie Road

Shopping, Dining and More 22 The Business Marriage 52 Explore Beautiful Money Hill 56 Delgado Turns 100!

Business & Leadership 2022 21

Publisher’s Note

by Jonée Daigle-Ferrand

Summer is my favorite time of the year. I enjoy having my daughter, Lilette, home for a few months, sleeping a little later, moving a little slower, spending a little more time having fun, and of course, going on family vacations. We are headed with my entire family to Telluride, Colorado this summer to horseback ride, white water raft, visit hot springs, and hike.

These photos are just a few from a very successful Women IN Business Luncheon at Briquette Restaurant where we honored 34 local women business owners at a beautiful luncheon.

I am looking forward to our upcoming event honoring 29 different business leaders who are featured on page 25. The event will be held at the Virgin Hotel on Wednesday, June 15thfrom 6-8pm. We are excited to honor this amazing group of leaders in their exclusive fields!

In this issue you will find cover artist Greg Creason who has a unique way to paint and create art using broken glass. Check out our newest columnist starting on page 14, Sue Strachan, who will scope out different areas around town. First up is Old Metairie. Also, we welcome Jyl Benson as a new writer for us.

Read her enjoyable and entertaining piece on Business Couples on page 22. I am pleased to announce Inside New Orleans’ newest Editor, Sarah Spencer. She wrote Business and Leaders profiles and provided a great article on the cover artist, Greg Creason. We are excited to have her part of the team and look forward to seeing more stories from Sarah.

Enjoy your Summer!

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Captured Emotions

Cover Artist Greg Creason

OFTEN USING BRIGHT COLORS, bold palettes, and mixed media, Greg Creason brings images to life. “When [an image] captures my eye based on the elements and emotions depicted, I choose it. I look for balance, composition, and coloring. Once the painting is done, I address each piece and the elements I want to add to enhance it,” says Creason. In addition to oil paints, he uses acrylics, foil, broken glass, and resin to create his unique paintings.

Greg discovered he had a talent for art at a young age when a lawyer complemented a comic that he drew. Realizing at age 11 that he wanted to be an artist, he copied Norman Rockwell calendars for practice, putting himself through college and obtaining a Bachelor of Fine Art from Kendall College of Art & Design at Ferris State University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. After college, he was hired by Thomas Kinkade as his first apprentice; he worked in Kinkade’s organization for 12 years, learning the business side of art.

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All that hard work has paid off. In 2007, Greg and his wife, Lisa, moved to New Orleans, and opened his gallery, Creason’s Fine Art Gallery, on Royal Street in 2009. In 2019, they expanded that gallery and moved to Chartres Street. They also opened a gallery in Carmel-bythe-Sea, CA in 2020 and another in Naples, FL in 2021.

Additionally, he is represented by The Giving Tree Gallery in St. Armand’s in Sarasota, FL, Masters Gallery in Denver, CO, Exposures International Gallery of Fine Art in Sedona, AZ, Hoypoloi Gallery at Chicago O’Hare Airport, Centaur Gallery in Las Vegas, NV, and the Wyland Gallery at Disney’s Boardwalk Inn, which features castles from his series, “The Kingdom.”

“Art allows me to be free to choose different styles and subject matter, depending on where I am emotionally,” he says.

Greg’s subjects have primarily been women for 35 years. “I hope that I am painting women in a manner that they can see themselves.” An introvert growing up, Greg noticed small, simple things that he hopes can help him tell his subject’s story. For example, when he worked in a department store in college, he noticed that women tend to touch what they plan on buying; this observation is part of why he works with mixed media to create texture in his paintings. He hopes that women can connect to his works and relate to the emotions and stories that they tell.

Many of the women in his paintings don’t have their eyes featured so the viewer can see themselves as the subject.

Delving into women’s stories has its benefits outside of art, as well. “I fall in love with my wife at least 100 times a day,” Creason says.

Greg often has his pieces as part of a series that addresses a unique theme. For example, the cover art, named “Sandía Daze,” is from his “Pop” series, and his

“Once Upon a Time in Storyville” series showcases things you wouldn’t know unless you lived in New Orleans. “I am currently working on a new series that is a bit softer than my very colorful and bolder creations,” he says. “This new series is about taking the subject into the emotional side of it to try to offer the reflection of the pressure and freedom they have in their lives.”

In addition to his new series, he has several commissions lined up, including a 10’x4’ commission that is going to San Diego. Creason is also going to be part of a summer show in the Hamptons, NY, and he’s donating a large piece to the Boston Arts Academy in October. He also donates artwork to numerous other foundations, including the Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation and the AIDS Foundation. He usually does 150 to 200 reproductions each month, not including his originals or shows. Even though he’s very busy, he suggests that we all take a step back every now and then and “enjoy what you got.”

“I am always trying to push myself with my own art in terms of the technical difficulty and the subject matter,” he says. “I try to paint my subjects, women or not, in moments where certain emotions or expressions are captured.” Above all, he just wants people to enjoy his art.

“For whatever emotions my art invokes, I hope it makes people smile.”

Explore Greg’s work at Creason’s Fine Art Gallery at 831 Chartres in the French Quarter or at creasonsfineartgallery.com.

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What’s in Bloom Happy Hour

June

1-30 A Taste of Covington Food, Wine, Music, & Art Festival. This month-long event features wine dinners, tastings, and more revolving around Historic Downtown Covington. atasteofcovington.com.

1-July 3 Backstage at “A Streetcar Named Desire.” The Historic New Orleans Collection is honoring the 75th anniversary of “A Streetcar Named Desire” with this exhibition. Admission is free. 520 Royal Street. hnoc.org/streetcar.

1-July 17 Queen Nefertari’s Egypt. This exhibition at the New Orleans Museum of Art brings to life the role of Nefertari and other powerful women in ancient Egypt. One 10

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Collins C. Diboll Circle, City Park. noma.org.

1-July 31 Audubon Cool Zoo. Cool Zoo will be open Thursdays to Mondays through the summer, returning to weekendsonly after the month of July. coolzoo. audubonnatureinstitute.org.

1 Juleps in June. One Book One New Orleans hosts their annual thank-you party for their supporters, community partners, and volunteers. Sidecar New Orleans. 1114 Constance St. onebookonenola.org.

1, 15 Twilight at Longue Vue. Longue Vue House and Gardens presents their series of casual, open-air showcases for local musicians and performers across all genres.

5-7pm. 7 Bamboo Rd. New Orleans. longuevue.com.

1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Trivia Night at Wetlands Sake. Trivia every Wednesday at 6:30.

Free and for all ages, hosted by Live Trivia.

Winners get Taproom Gift Certificates: 634 Orange St STE B. wetlandssake.com.

2 Charcuterie Board Class. NOLA Boards and Plattered NOLA are teaming up to create an unforgettable—and delicious— event. Attendees will take home their very own Walnut NOLA Board! 4228 Magazine St. nolaboards.com.

4 Covington Art Markets. St. Tammany Art Association, in partnership with the City

photo: DOUGLAS MASON

INSIDE

June 23 What’s in Bloom Happy Hour.

Spend a late afternoon learning more about Longue Vue House and Gardens while enjoying a glass of wine. Longue Vue House and Gardens, 7 Bamboo Rd. longuevue.com.

of Covington, presents the Covington Art Market, a seasonal juried market of visual arts and crafts held on first Saturday of the month. 510 E Boston St, Covington, LA. sttammany.art.

4 Be Queer, Drink Beer! Urban South Brewery is teaming up with Fringe + Co, DJ Liz Owen, for their annual Pride party.

With special drag performances by Fabigail Tchoupitoulas, Laveau Contraire, and Tarah Cards Hatch & Harvest will be parked outside serving a fabulous menu alongside Urban Smash. 1645 Tchoupitoulas St. urbansouthbrewery.com.

4 Jenn Howard Band. At the Commons Club from 6pm to 9pm at the Virgin Hotels New Orleans. 550 Baronne St. virginhotels. com/new-orleans.com.

4 Tiki Disco at The Pool Club. Enjoy Tiki Disco from 12pm to 6pm at The Pool Club of Virgin Hotels New Orleans. 550 Baronne St. virginhotels.com/new-orleans.com.

6 Season Tickets Available at JPAS. The Jefferson Performing Arts Society will begin selling season tickets for their 2022-2023 season. jpas.org 7-12 New Orleans Food & Wine Experience. Wine strolls, wine pairings, gourmet meals, and more. nowfe.com.

7 Empower 2022. Junior Achievement of Greater New Orleans and New Orleans CityBusiness are honored to announce Empower 2022, a unique opportunity to empower women. Ritz-Carlton New Orleans.

921 Canal Street. jagno.org 7 The Ella Brennan Lifetime Achievement in Hospitality Award Gala Honoring Chef Frank Brigtsen.

With a VIP Reception before the Award Gala, this award is presented to a recipient who has made a lifetime commitment to the hospitality industry. The Four Season Hotel.

2 Canal St. 10 Jazz and Blues Brunch. Soiree New Orleans is hosting their Jazz and Blues Brunch in the Japanese Room at Antoine’s Restaurant. Sponsored by Fidelity Bank and Jim Walpole. 725 Saint Louis Street. antoines.com.

10 OUTLOUD Pride Drag Brunch. With shows at 10:30am and 1:30pm, enjoy mimosas and Pride with Virgin Hotels New Orleans. 550 Baronne St. virginhotels.com/ new-orleans.com.

10 JPAS Summer Family Film Series. The Jefferson Performing Arts Society will screen “A Bug’s Life.” Tickets are $8, children under 3 are free. 1118 Clearview Pkwy, Metairie. jpas.org. >> J u n e - J u ly 2 0 22

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Inside Scoop 10-12 Waitress. Don’t miss this hilarious hit Broadway show at The Saenger Theatre. 1111 Canal St. 504- 287-0372. saengernola.com.

10-25 As You Like It. The New Orleans Shakespeare Festival at Tulane presents this Shakespearian classic. Lupin Theater, 150 Dixon Hall Annex. neworleansshakespeare.org.

11 New Orleans Heart Ball. The American Heart Association presents its fundraiser to celebrate its successes in driving change and to continue the fight for better health. 601 Loyola Ave. neworleansheartball.heart.org.

11-12 Louisiana Cajun-Zydeco Festival.

Presented by the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation. The festival features live Louisiana Cajun and Zydeco music plus large local food and arts markets. Louis Armstrong Park, 701 N. Rampart St. cajunzydecofest. com.

12 PRC Shotgun House Tour. Presented by Entablature Design + Rebuild & Entablature Realty, this self-guided, walkable tour showcases New Orleans’ unique shotgun houses. prcno.org.

12 Family Equality Day. This free community

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event at Longue Vue House and Gardens celebrates of Pride. The series is in keeping with the inclusive values of the Sterns, recognizing families of all shapes, sizes and definitions with a special focus on the LGBTQ+ community. 7 Bamboo Rd. longuevue.com.

14 Rum: A Cocktail Class. Boards & Beverages presents an evening focusing on delicious and unique rum cocktails. 4228 Magazine St. nolaboards.com.

15 Inside New Orleans Business & Leaders and June-July Cover Artist Event. Meet and celebrate our featured Business & Leaders as well as our Cover Artist, Greg Creason with cocktails and appetizers in-hand. 6-8 p.m. Virgin Hotels Dreamboat Room. 550 Baronne. Email SummerINola@gmail.com for reservations.

16-July 30 Gardens & Grand Boulevards: H. Claude Pissarro. M.S. Rau is excited to announce the opening of its new exhibition, which is free and open to the public in person and online. 622 Royal Street. msrau.com.

18 Family Flower Arranging Workshop.

All ages are welcome to attend Longue Vue

House and Gardens interactive and handson class that flowers and botanicals from the gardens. Materials and instruction are provided and light refreshments served. 7 Bamboo Rd. longuevue.com.

21-July 10 Hamilton. This Tony Awardwinning Broadway musical will return to The Sanger Theatre as part of the current Hancock Whitney Broadway in New Orleans Series. 1111 Canal St. 504- 287-0372. saengernola.com.

23 What’s in Bloom Happy Hour. Spend a late afternoon at Longue Vue House while enjoying a glass of wine at the 7 Bamboo Rd. longuevue.com.

24 Jenn Howard Band. At the Commons Club from 6pm to 9pm at the Virgin Hotels New Orleans 550 Baronne St. virginhotels. com/new-orleans.com.

25 Meet the Author. Meet Mary Walsh, the author of cozy-ghost story Fine Spirits Served Here at the Hermes Bar in Antoine’s Restaurant from 2:00 to 4:00. 725 Saint Louis Street. antoines.com.

30-July 3 ESSENCE Festival of Culture.

ESSENCE Fest mobilizes, informs, and uplifts the largest global gathering of everyday

multigenerational Black women in a safe space to achieve new levels of sisterhood, personal development, wealth creation, civic engagement, and community leadership. essence.com.

July

1–31 P.O.W.E.R Plates. Fidelity Bank P.O.W.E.R. presents its 4th annual P.O.W.E.R. Plates, celebrating P.O.W.E.R.ful women in hospitality. power-plates.com.

4 Madisonville Old Fashioned 4th of July Celebration. This all-day celebration of our independence on the Madison Riverfront features, contests, a parade, and fireworks. Madisonville, LA. madisonville4thjuly.com.

4 Go 4th on the River. Celebrate the 4th of July with fireworks at the riverbank of the Mississippi in downtown New Orleans. go4thontheriver.com.

6, 20 Twilight at Longue Vue. Longue Vue House and Gardens presents their series of casual, open-air showcases for local musicians and performers across all genres.

5-7pm. 7 Bamboo Rd. New Orleans.

longuevue.com.

6, 13, 20, 27 Trivia Night at Wetlands Sake. Trivia every Wednesday at 6:30.

Free and for all ages, hosted by Live Trivia.

Winners get Taproom Gift Certificates. 634 Orange St STE B. wetlandssake.com.

8-10 San Fermin in Nueva Orleans 2022.

Back in action after a long hiatus, they put on unforgettable events like The Running of the Bulls on Saturday, July 9. nolabulls.com.

8 JPAS Summer Family Film Series. The Jefferson Performing Arts Society will screen “The Princess and the Frog.” 1118 Clearview Pkwy, Metairie. jpas.org.

15-30 Henry IV, Part I. The New Orleans Shakespeare Festival at Tulane presents this Shakespearian classic. Lupin Theater, 150 Dixon Hall Annex. neworleansshakespeare.org.

19 Margaritas: A Cocktail Class. Who doesn’t love a good margarita? NOLA Boards will show you how to make three variations of this classic to find your favorite.

4228 Magazine St. nolaboards.com.

25-29 Tales of the Cocktail. Celebrating its 20th year anniversary, enjoy a long list of events, from tastings, seminars, and the

Spirited Awards. talesofthecocktail.org.

30-31 Welliver Productions 27th Annual Bridal Expo. Visit displays from the area’s finest wedding professionals at Lakeside Shopping Center. 3301 Veterans Memorial Blvd.

Looking Ahead

August 6-7 Satchmo Summerfest. Enjoy free music and food from local vendors at this celebration of Louis Armstrong. satchmosummerfest.org.

August 6 Fidelity Bank White Linen Night.

Stroll through the galleries on Julia Street in your most-breathable outfit (white linen suggested).

August 13 Red Dress Run. Presented by the New Orleans Hash House Harriers (NOH3), this run too raise money for local non-profits has a dress code that adds a unique flair: wear a red dress. Registration is now open.

Those who don’t want to run can always make a donation. noh3.com.

formal, and everything in between.”

Womac says she always wanted to own a clothing boutique and found her niche through taking advice from her father, a successful entrepreneur. “One of the greatest lessons he taught me about business is having the ability to identify a void in the marketplace and then creatively plug it,” Womac exclaimed.

Womac said she noticed a lack of options available for high-quality, fashion-forward, reasonably-priced clothing for women moving from their teen years into young adults, as well as a store “focused on dressing the entire customer and providing patrons with an excellent shopping experience.” Charli Boutique was the solution.

“What also makes Charli Boutique stand out is the store’s stylists who can create a total look from head to toe including accessories and shoes. The best reward is to see our beautiful customers feeling great about how they look,” says Womac.

Before you go much farther, you want to visit the Metairie Small Animal Hospital’s Silver Collar Pet Boutique.

The veterinary practice is known for its quality care for dogs and cats that is open 24/7 (this location only) for emergencies. But for those times Fido and Felix don’t need regular or emergency care, the Silver Collar sells toys, collars, leashes, beds, and treats, grooming items, and apparel.

Em’s Boutique “is known for carrying colorful and printed merchandise sourced from all over the world, unique statement jewelry, eclectic assortment of hats and designer denim to name a few,” says Emily Puckett about the store which opened in 2005, and she “hasn’t looked back!”

Puckett said that one thing that sets Em’s apart “is our price point variation on all merchandise. We have a

Life Along Metairie Road Shopping, Dining and More

by Sue Strachan

Above: JADE. Opposite: EverydayKetoToGo. 14

WHILE RESIDENTS of Old Metairie know all about Metairie Road, those living farther afield may not and should take some time to drive down it — if not only to enjoy the large oaks that shade parts of the road, but to find basically everything anyone would need from shopping for home furnishings and getting insurance to dining and cocktails.

Metairie Road, also known as Louisiana Highway 611-9, spans 3.5 miles and begins at the I-10 exit and ends at Airline Drive. That’s a lot of ground to cover, and while there are many fine establishments along the road, Inside New Orleans has selected its favorite 15 places along the route for those curious to discover or rediscover.

LET’S GO! You’re going to need some caffeine to start your journey, so pop into Royal Blend Coffee and Tea to grab a cup of coffee or tea to go. You don’t have to go far for your next stop. Charli’s Boutique is right next door. Store owner Charli Womac says the store offers “options from casual to

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little something for everyone!”

She also shared that the store will have some big news this summer and to watch for it on its social media — @shopems — for an announcement.

The fun thing about Metairie Road shops is the mix of new-kids-on-the-block, such as Charli’s, which has been open for almost a year, with longtime favorites. Estella’s has been at its current location for almost 15 years and will be serving the Greater New Orleans area for 36 years this October.

Kent Ozborn and his talented crew works hard “to keep our mix open to the hottest new items without forgetting our basics like good taper candles. In our store someone can come and buy a new sofa or a bar of soap.”

Ozborn also adds, “we always try to have a great value in the merchandise that we buy so we can pass that along to our customer.”

Another must-stop is JADE, which had its 10-year anniversary last November. It has been at its current location for eight years. “JADE offers service,” says Jennifer Rabalais. “From color consultations to whole-

home design, renovations and installations, JADE can meet your need.”

Rabalais says some of the store’s signature items include “Estelle colored glasses, which have been a hit! Acrylic anything from decorative knots for coffee tables to bar stools, oversized plaster, or gold leaf bowls perfect for large islands or dining tables, and chica pillows and visual comfort lighting.” Check back in this summer for a possible “tent sale.”

We all need glasses (or contacts) at some point in our lives. Eye Wares has optometrists on staff to check out your eyes. Eye Wares also provides different lines of eyeglass and sunglass frames to choose from. Among them are Alain Mikli, Chanel, Oliver Peoples, Ray-Ban, Valentino and locally-based Krewe.

Victoria Giglio opened Indigo Boutique in Houma in 2005 and in 2021 expanded to Metairie Road. “Indigo offers a personal shopping experience with well-trained stylists,” says Giglio. “I used to style the American idol contestants, and my employees know exactly how to fit every body type. We pride ourselves on having something for everyone.”

Indigo is the official sponsor of the Miss Louisiana and Teen RPM Productions. Since summer is here, Giglio notes that the store has an “amazing swim collection.” She also carries two exclusive lines: Dixie, which is a designer line directly from Italy, and Frank Lyman, a sophisticated line from Canada.

HALO is another newcomer to Metairie Road and sells luxury swimwear, resort wear, active wear and tarnish-resistant jewelry that can be worn to the beach or the gym. Always keeping up with all the trends, HALO will be back in Miami for Miami Swim Week this July to purchase 2023 swimwear collection.

Melissa Perreand says, “In addition to>> J u n e - J u ly 2 0 22

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luxury swim and resort, HALO is a ‘Dolce Glow’ verified Sunless Boutique, offering a professional self-tanning line

by Dolce Glow as well as Dolce Glow spray tans using its signature celebrity technique.”

At this point you are probably starting to get hungry. Among the culinary choices on Metairie Road are Blue Line Sandwich Co., The Ruby Slipper Café, and EverydayKetoToGo. Blue Line Sandwich Co. boasts its farm-to-table menu for breakfast and lunch. Breakfast selections include traditional eggs dishes but why not try the corned beef and hatch hash which is topped with two eggs. Lunch includes the classic combo of grilled cheese and tomato soup.

Salads include a kale Caesar or a crab Louie that is topped with a rémoulade sauce.

The Ruby Slipper’s breakfast/brunch/lunch menu has

Above: Longue Vue House and Gardens.

Right: Victoria’s Indigo Boutique.

Opposite: HALO Bikini Boutique.

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hearty dishes as well as items geared to vegetarians, glutenfree palates, and those on a keto diet. Why not start your visit with some French toast bites, segue into shrimp and grits or dig into a Florentine omelet? All pair nicely with a mimosa or one of the restaurant’s specialty cocktails.

EverydayKetoToGo’s Susan Freeswick shared that when people come into her bakery, which opened its doors on Metairie Road on Jan. 6, people are wowed by what they see. Her healthy and delicious items include cupcakes, cakes, pies and more. “Our main focus is that we offer items that are gluten free, sugar free, low carb, grain free and soy free,” said Freeswick, who is so careful that she even has an oven in which she doesn’t bake anything that has a tree nut, as to not cross-contaminate, something she is overall extremely careful of.

“People suffering with allergies, auto-immune disorders, diabetic conditions, celiac disease or are simply on a low-carb diet, we can accommodate them,” says Freeswick. While the store may be new, Freeswick has been creating her healthy goodies for five years. She also notes that they make wedding and groom’s cakes as well.

EverydayKetoToGo also does wholesale and is welcome to helping “other establishments” that may not have its facilities (or recipes!)

It’s not all shopping and dining on Metairie Road and its environs, so when it is time to get insurance, make an appointment with Nora Vaden Holmes, CPCU, LUTCF, CHFC, of State Farm, who has been serving the Old Metairie-area since 2001.

“We offer award-winning customer service to our customers,” said Holmes. “We are ranked in the top 50 State Farm Agencies nationwide consistently year after year.” Holmes added that potential customers should “check out our Google reviews. We take delivering exceptional customer service to our customers as our No.1 priority.” Her firm provides auto, homeowner, flood, life, disability, annuities, financial services, and mortgages with Rocket mortgage and specializes in business insurance.

Holmes’ office has one of the largest fully licensed team of insurance professionals including a business

lines department, which is notable as “our business insurance is growing and expanding constantly, and we’re saving business owners on their insurance to reduce their expenses in the insurance area so they can put those savings toward retaining and hiring employees to grow,” said Holmes. “We enjoy working with fellow business owners to maximize their competitive edge. Our mortgage business continues to grow with our partnership with Rocket mortgage.”

A great place to start or end your journey along Metairie Road is at the beloved Longue Vue House and Gardens.

Edith and Edgar Stern developed the current house between 1939-1942; in 1980 it was turned into a historic house museum.

Famed landscape architect Ellen Biddle Shipman designed the gardens.

Longue Vue has a busy schedule this summer including the return of Twilight Concert Series which kicks off June 1 and continues every first and third Wednesday of the month until November.

Family Equality Day on June 12 is a free community event in celebration with Pride weekend. The series is in keeping with the inclusive values of the Sterns, recognizing families of all shapes, sizes and definitions with a special focus on the LGBTQ+ community.

All ages are also welcome at Family Flower Arranging workshop on June 18.

This interactive and hands-on class uses flowers and botanicals from the gardens.

Materials and instruction are provided, and light refreshments served. All-day garden admission is included in the ticket price.

On June 23 spend a late afternoon learning more about the gardens while enjoying a glass of wine at the What’s in Bloom Happy Hour. You may also want >> J u n e - J u ly 2 0 22

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Charli Boutique.

to peek into the Discovery Garden which was designed specifically with young ones in mind and invites children to explore concepts of design and gardening relevant to Louisiana ecosystems and the values inherent in the Longue Vue vision established 100 years ago.

Discover Metairie Road

Blue Line Sandwich, 2023 Metairie Rd., bluelinesandwichco.com Boudreaux’s Jewelers, 701 Metairie Rd., boudreauxsjewelers.com Charli’s Boutique, 204 Metairie Rd., shopcharliboutique.com Em’s Boutique, 246 Metairie Rd., 504-834-2795 Estella’s, 601 Frisco Ave., 504-833-8979 Eye Wares, 800 Metairie Rd., eyewaresnola.com EverydayKetoToGo, everydayketotogo HALO, 3333 Metairie Rd., haloglo.glossgenius.com Nora Vaden Holmes, State Farm, 117 Metairie Lawn Dr., geauxholmes.com Indigo Boutique, 605 Metairie Rd., shopindigoboutique.com Longue Vue House and Gardens, 7 Bamboo Rd., longuevue.com JADE, 324 Metairie Rd., jadenola.com Metairie Small Animal Hospital and Silver Dollar Pet Boutique, 101 Metairie Rd., msah.com Royal Blend Coffee and Tea, 204 Metairie Rd, royalblendnola.com Ruby Slipper Cafe, 2700 Metairie Rd., therubyslippercafe.net

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r e m m u S s l a i c e p S Virgin Hotels New Orleans.

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Tori Pasentine Royal Retreat Day Spa

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Jennifer Ponson Jennifer Ponson Jewelry Designs

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Chris Ferris Fidelity Bank

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Olivia F. Scott Freedom At The Mat

Dr. Keith LeBlanc, Jr. Dr. Elizabeth Bucher Dr. Corey Rougelot The Skin Surgery Centre

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Kathryn Perrin La Cocina Nola

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Chloé T. Potter Glo Events by Chloé

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Nora Vaden Holmes, CHFC, CPCU, LUTCF Nora Vaden Holmes - State Farm

31

Gwen M. Cousins, MD, FACS Kathy H. Ta, MD, FACS Ronald L. Willson, MD, FACS Stanislav A. Zhuk, MD, FACS Retina Associates New Orleans

43

Dr. Jessica Miller Uptown Veterinary Hospital

43

Paula Polito Beary Cherry Tree

32

Stacie Carubba Athena Real Estate

29

33 Parker A. Velargo, MD, FACS New Orleans Center for Aesthetics and Plastic Surgery

44 Susan Freeswick and Ioan Tamas Everyday KETO To Go ReLintless Dryer Vent and Chimney Services 44

Dr. Lauren Agnew Eye Wares

45

Kelly Martin The Laurel Senior Living Dr. Karen Jakuback Ursuline Academy of New Orleans

34

Greg K. Stock, MHA Thibodaux Regional Health System

45

35

Annette Dowdle, RHU, CCWC, CHRS HUB International Gulf South

36

Allison Herrera Uptown Girl Media

46 Dr. Suma Maddox Aesthetic | Reconstructive Plastic Surgery

37

Tricia Barrera and Jessica Marasco Illes Edward Jones

38

Meggan Ory Makeup By Meggan

39

Anna Tusa New Orleans Creole Cookery and Briquette

40

Mike Stanton Oasis Pools & Spa

46

Royd Anderson Writer and Filmmaker

47

Greg LeBlanc Jessica LeBlanc, CPA/CFF, RENE/e-PRO Trey LeBlanc Jessica D. LeBlanc, CPA, LLC CPA Realty, LLC

47

Raven Davis Studio Luelle

48

Alison L. Burns, MBA, Founder & CEO Precision Payment Systems

Business & Leadership Reception and Meet the Artist Party Wednesday, June 15 6-8pm Virgin Hotels New Orleans Dreamboat Room 550 Baronne Street RSVP SummeriNola@gmail.com

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21

B U S I N E S S

&

L E A D E R S H I P

The Business Marriage

by Jyl Benson

MARRIAGE IS TOUGH. So is running a business. When you combine the two, things ratchet up exponentially. One little flicker and everything—business, marriage, home, family, and finances—can go up in flames.

Inside New Orleans spoke to five couples who are both business and life partners who successfully manage thriving businesses and happy homes.

LAUREN AND RYAN HAYDEL FLEURTY GIRL & HAYDEL’S BAKE SHOP

Lauren and Ryan Haydel, of Fleurty Girl and Haydel’s Bake Shop.

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She of Fleurty Girl, he of the Haydel’s Bakery, when they married five years ago, Lauren and Ryan Haydel came to embody a merging of contemporary and historic New Orleans cultural icons.

With his family, Ryan runs the large-scale bakery business (a wedding and king cake kingdom) his grandparents founded in 1959. Lauren oversees Fleurty Girl, the growing New Orleans-centric t-shirt and novelties empire she founded in 2009 as an online store that has grown to six physical locations. Seemingly

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indefatigable, she also hustles real estate on the side through NOLA Home Realty Group. Together the New Orleans natives opened Haydel’s Bake Shop, an oldfashioned coffee shop and sidewalk café on Magazine Street in 2018. Ryan oversees day-to-day business at the shop and Lauren plays a developmental and creative roll.

She also designed the look and feel of the business.

“His strengths are my weaknesses and vice versa,” Lauren said. “It makes us a good team.”

“Because we both have other business interests and we run the bake shop together, we share ideas for it when we are just hanging out,” Ryan said. “She comes up with new ideas and concepts, such as adding a micro-line of gluten-free king cake to our offerings.”

In their private time, the couple manages a blended family of five children and spends time in Bay Saint Louis where Lauren opened a Fleurty Girl shop in 2020.

“People keep asking when we are going to open a bake shop [in Bay Saint Louis],” Ryan said, “but I don’t know about that. I think of this as the place where we will retire.”

ERIC AND ROBYN COOK - RESTAURANT GRIS-GRIS AND SAINT JOHN RESTAURANT

Eric and Robyn Cook quietly opened Gris-Gris in August 2018 on a shoe-string budget cobbled together with family loans and a mortgage on their Algiers Point home. They likened the experience to jumping off a cliff together. She had left her job as a private school fundraiser to take on the role of business manager for the restaurant.

He had left a decades-long career of running some of New Orleans top restaurant kitchens.

“We just wanted to control our own lives,” Robyn said.

Despite the nail-biting start that came with opening a restaurant in the dead of the New Orleans summer, Gris-Gris soon took off as word spread of Eric’s masterful execution of regional classics like chicken and dumplings and whole redfish court-bouillon.

The challenges of running a restaurant are legendary: staffing, slim profit margins, endless licensing and codes, long hours, equipment failures, spoilage. All of it was magnified by the Covid-19 pandemic, which hit just as Gris-Gris was hitting its stride. Their business became an overwhelming, budget-wrecking nightmare of shutting down, opening, sanitizing, shutting down and opening repeatedly.

At one point Eric gave voice to millions of frustrated

and frightened small business owners when a kitchen table “rant” over the repeated shutdown and closures of Gris-Gris was secretly recorded, transcribed, and shared on social media by the couple’s 20-year-old daughter, Liz. The response was immediate. With more than 240,000 shares, for a time his was the most searched MSN story in the country.

In October 2021, with Gris-Gris just coming out of the Covid darkness and onto solid footing, the pair took another leap and opened Saint John, an haute Creole restaurant on Decatur Street. That bold move brought instant applause, so they are doing it again. They will open restaurant Julia Brown in the Bywater neighborhood in the fall.

“Ten years ago, I would never have dreamed we could be seeing one another this much,” Robyn said. “It’s insane, but when he used to come to me with problems he was having when he worked for other people, there was nothing I could do. Now we are in this together. We trust and understand each other because we are fighting the same battle. We lean solely on each other. We are both at the top of a business where there is a lot of pressure.

“When we take a day off or go on vacation, we do not discuss work no matter what is happening. We often do different things. He gardens, I read, and we like to escape to the beach.” >>

Eric and Robyn Cook of Restaurant Gris-Gris and Saint John Restaurant.

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VANCE AND JULIE VAUCRESSON VAUCRESSON’S SAUSAGE COMPANY

Above: Vance and Julie Vaucresson of Vaucresson’s Sausage Company. Right: Kevin Gillentine and Vincent Bergeal of Kevin Gillentine Gallery and Vincent Bergeal Custom Framing.

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A Creole culture preservationist with an encyclopedic knowledge of his family’s fascinating history, Vance Vaucresson runs his family’s 121-year-old business with his wife, Julie, a familiar face on Fox 8 News, where she explores Creole culture and cuisine. She left her position as an executive overseeing elderly housing for the Archdiocese of New Orleans in 2018 to join Vance in growing Vaucresson Sausage Company. Together they are rapidly expanding the line of Vaucresson sausages and complementary products. Julie manages business operations, marketing, and development while Vance handles sales, and oversees manufacturing and processing.

“We respect each other and our designated roles,” Julie said. “We stay out of one another’s lanes, but we battle through all of it together.”

The family’s signature product is its peerless Creole Chaurice (hot sausage), a mainstay at festivals such as the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, where they run the 52-year-old festival’s last remaining original food booth.

“My marriage vows were to love, honor, and work the Fest,” Julie said.”

The couple very recently opened Vaucresson’s Creole Café at the corner of St. Bernard Avenue and North Roman Street where, Vance’s grandfather ran his butcher shop and processing plant in New Orleans’ historic Seventh Ward neighborhood. The new business merges the original Vaucresson’s Creole Café, which Vance’s father ran at 624 Bourbon St., and the family meat market under one roof. The new Vaucresson’s Creole Café is also serves as a community center of sorts where locals and visitors can learn about Creole culture and history.

They say their common goal is to leave a legacy for their three children. They also share similar values, work ethic, faith, and a belief in honesty and fairness.

“This has helped us to grow the business and

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surround ourselves with good people,” Julie said.

“We thrive on the feedback that we get from our customers and how intricately we are woven into the culinary history of New Orleans,” Vance said. “Serving these people is a part of our family legacy.”

KEVIN GILLENTINE AND VINCENT BERGEAL KEVIN GILLENTINE GALLERY & VINCENT BERGEAL CUSTOM FRAMING

A prolific painter and designer, Kevin Gillentine creates large scale, ethereal landscapes that allow the viewer to impose him- or herself upon the work. His compositions display an incandescent quality through an adept use of chiaroscuro, which conveys a sense of serenity and well-being. His distinctive, coveted works of art are featured in collections throughout the world.

A skilled and passionate cook, the Tupelo, Mississippi

native learned to cook professional-level biscuits, cornbread, and fried chicken while working alongside his grandparents in their country home where he spend most weekends as a child.

But balancing a checkbook is a challenge.

It was in New York that he met his husband and business partner, Vincent Bergeal, a native of Paris, France, with a head for numbers. The couple moved to New Orleans in 1994 and opened the Kevin Gillentine Gallery in 1995. Within their Magazine Street gallery space, Bergeal also runs a conservator and museum-quality framing business and carries an extensive selection of uncommon frame options as well as antique prints and maps.

“We complement each other,” Vincent said. “Kevin is the creative force and I manage all the business aspects.”

With Kevin manning the kitchen, together they entertain numerous friends and acquaintances often in their Uptown home. Kevin and Vincent also serve, respectively, as President and Treasurer of the Magazine Street Merchants’ Association.

“We never tire of laughing at one another’s jokes,” Kevin said. “It seems odd to me that life partners could work separately and, with work, commutes, and obligations, only end up spending a couple of waking hours a day together. I have lived with Vincent longer than I have been alive without him.”

KEVIN AND TIFFANY EYER - COUNTRY PIE PROPERTIES

Pre-pandemic, most Tuesday evenings found Kevin and Tiffany Eyer hosting up to 90 people for dinner at their Gentilly home. Family members, friends, friends of friends, neighbors, their adult children’s school friends and their families, business associates, tenants, and potential tenants of their Gentilly rental properties would start showing up somewhere between 5:30 and 6 p.m.

“We never really knew who would show or how many, we just always made sure we had a whole lot to feed everyone,” Kevin said. By 8:30 or so, a team effort would have left the refrigerator stocked with leftovers, the dishes washed, the kitchen gleaming, and the Eyers free to quietly enjoy the rest of the evening. It was about dinner, sharing a meal and community, not hanging out all night.

Community clamor will soon lead them to resume the dinners. Meanwhile, they routinely cook meals to feed hundreds and distribute the fruit of their efforts from the back of Kevin’s pickup truck to homeless people camped out on Calliope and Tchoupitoulas Streets.

Their shared desire to build community led to the development of their business, Country Pie Properties,

a collection if 12 architecturally meaningful multifamily rental homes scattered throughout the Gentilly neighborhood where Kevin grew up. The business uses Tiffany’s skills in business and architecture as well as Kevin’s propensity for math.

“We like to make nice homes for nice people and wouldn’t expect anyone to pay rent for anything we wouldn’t live in ourselves,” said Tiffany, a native of Daytona Beach, Florida “We paint with color to accentuate the architectural features and charm of each property.

We pride ourselves on keeping housing affordable while including many amenities.

“I think the reason our partnership works is because we are constantly learning from one another. We balance and level one another when it gets tough. The challenges are always new. Sometimes we are interviewing and deciding on potential tenants by showing off our gorgeous housing stock and all we do to maintain it. Othertimes, we are doing nail-biting assessments after a hurricane, prioritizing damages, and making sure all of our current tenants’ needs are met. And sometimes, we just swing the hammer to get the job done.”

“It’s like we each have our own rail,” Kevin said. “But together we make the track. I’m the nail driver and she is the honeybee. The business needs both. Together we are the decision team.”

The structure of their business allowed them to travel extensively with their two children while taking lead roles in their schools and extra-curricular activities.

They ride their two horses around their neighborhood and are together restoring a 48-foot sailboat. They are officers with the Krewe of Spank, a sub krewe of Krewe du Vieux; founding members of Societé des Champs Elyseé; and Tiffany is a founder of the Ladies Godiva, a group of women who parade on horseback in flesh-colored scuba suits adorned to be anatomically correct in the manner of their muse and namesake.

Kevin and Tiffany Eyer of Country Pie Properties.

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L U X U R Y

D A Y

S P A for them. Facial treatments are often focused on improving firmness, soothing inflammation, protecting against free radicals, and more. Massage treatments offer release from stress in innumerable ways. Combining expert massage techniques with exfoliation and wholebody masks, the Royal Retreat exclusive treatments melt away any built-up stress. The spa also has service options

Bao Ka

specifically designed for expectant mothers. Royal Retreat offers customizable massages and facials, as well. The team is always happy and ready to accommodate a customer’s specific needs, creating an individualized treatment.

In addition, Royal Retreat offers luxurious treatments tailored for groups. It’s the perfect location to bring a bridal party, birthday gift, or girls’ day out, crafting a delightful experience that everyone will always remember.

In addition to services and experiences fit for a king or queen, the products that Royal Retreat uses by Natura Bissé have been voted the “World’s Best Spa Brand” at the World Spa Awards many years in a row. These products are designed to meet every individual’s skin needs.

“All of our aestheticians and massage therapists were trained by Natura Bissé, our trade partner,” Tori says. “We like to keep the brand’s integrity by strictly following protocols and procedures.”

Combining research, state-of-the-art technology, and a deep understanding of our relationship to our skin, Natura Bissé has created a collection of products

Tori Pasentine

ROYAL RETREAT DAY SPA

Tori Pasentine has been working in the luxury day spa industry for as long as she can remember. She grew up in the business with her family as massage therapists, aestheticians, and nail technicians. Ethnically mixed Vietnamese and born in the Philippines, Tori has lived all over the country, but she eventually found herself in Louisiana.

Opening the doors of Royal Retreat Day Spa in Mandeville reveals the warm, relaxing atmosphere of luxury and excellence that is usually only afforded to royalty.

This astounding day spa combines state-of-the-art facilities, products from Natura Bissé, and individualized care, crafting a unique experience fit for a king or queen.

Part of what makes Royal Retreat exceptional is that its services are available to both men and women. The team of professional massage therapists and aestheticians is committed to giving customers the highest possible quality of service, providing the ultimate rejuvenation, relaxion, or even invigoration that they need.

Royal Retreat started garnering attention from the community within a week of its Grand Opening, with multiple rave reviews on Google. This spectacular day spa sets the standard for individualized care and luxury.

Royal Retreat offers a wide variety of services, including massages, facials, luxury hydrafacials, body enhancements, and exclusive treatments, the expert team ensures that each individual will find the treatment perfectly suited 26

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“We believe in the power of touch, so each facial and body treatment follows massage techniques while incorporating the highly effective ingredients in Natura Bissé’s products to promote beauty and wellness to our clients,” Tori says.

In addition to its exemplary level of care and its relaxing, rejuvenating experiences, Royal Retreat offers a variety of additional amenities, including a jacuzzi, a sauna, and the breathtaking VIP room that features a soaking tub.

These stunning amenities transport visitors to a place of utter tranquility.

Tori’s dream of creating a breathtaking space with “luxurious products and a luxurious atmosphere” in her community have come to fruition. “We opened and treatments that fit any need and deliver a level of excellence in care that in

our doors for business, on March 26th of this year, and since we have been

unparalleled. The Natura Bissé collection features product lines that focus on anti-

operating during this soft opening period. We are excited to announce that on

aging, hydration, skin balance, and more. Royal Retreat features a variety of these

June 11th, we will be throwing our Grand Opening party. Our trade partners,

products in their treatments, providing the best options for everyone who comes

Hannah from Natura Bissé and Mya from Hydrafacials will be making a special

in. The superior quality of Natura Bissé products combined with the expert care at

appearance to meet everyone and perform free-sample facials. We’ll serve

Royal Retreat create a uniquely luxurious and pampering experience.

wine and champagne, do a giveaway, and all 20% of all retail sales, and gift

Kevin Vo, Tori Pasentine, Tina Pham, Valerie Villatoro

certificates proceeds will be donated to charity.”

This elegant retreat, fit for royalty, allows its visitors to take a break from the stressors of life, relax, rejuvenate, and invigorate themselves. Royal Retreat Day Spa is sure to become a staple of the community.

Visit Royal Retreat Day Spa at Emerald Corner, 3571 Hwy 190 in Mandeville. 985-231-7329. royalretreatdayspa.com J u n e - J u ly 2 022

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B U S I N E S S

B A N K I N G

Chris Ferris FIDELITY BANK

Chris is the President and CEO of Fidelity Bank and NOLA Lending. While he initially pursued a career in education, he realized that he could help a lot of people in the world through

Garden District, our third new branch since 2019 in the city of New Orleans.

When choosing a bank for your business, Chris suggests,

banking and financial services. He’s proud that Fidelity Bank is a

“Don’t base your decision solely on products or price. They are

valued-based mutual financial institution that takes a consultative

important, yes, but look to do business with an organization that

approach to their client’s needs. “Every day we have an opportunity

understands you and your business on a deeper level.”

to educate and help people achieve financial success,” he says.

Fidelity Bank was founded in 1908 as Fidelity Homestead,

Chris graduated from the University of Georgia, the Graduate School of Banking at LSU, and the BB&T Banking School at Wake

focusing on home mortgage loans. Many generations of New

Forest University. He is a member of Vistage Worldwide, the

Orleanians received their first home loan from Fidelity Homestead.

world’s largest CEO coaching and peer advisory organization for

Now, as a full-service bank, Fidelity Bank offers all traditional

small and mid-size business leaders, and he recently received the

banking products and continues to lead the area in home loans

Vistage Impact Award from his fellow Vistage Worldwide peers.

through their mortgage division, Nola Lending Group. They

When he isn’t busy as a leader in business banking, he enjoys

recently opened their 18th full-service branch in the heart of the

being with his wife and two children, playing golf, and cycling.

Let Fidelity Bank be a part of your success!

Visit a branch or bankwithfidelity.com.

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MOHS MICROGRAPHIC SURGERY AND SURGICAL DERMATOLOGY

Dr. Keith LeBlanc, Jr., Dr. Elizabeth Bucher, Dr. Corey Rougelot, Dr. Vanessa Voss THE SKIN SURGERY CENTRE

The physicians at The Skin Surgery Centre focus on providing high-quality

in evaluating and treating skin cancers. If you are recommended to have Mohs

care with a personalized touch for the treatment of skin cancer and other

micrographic surgery, look for a surgeon who completed an American College

tumors of the skin and nails.

of Mohs Surgery (ACMS) fellowship and is board-certified in Mohs micrographic

Dr. Keith LeBlanc, Jr. founded The Skin Surgery Centre after completing his residency in dermatology and accredited fellowship with the aim to curate a personal, attentive experience for each and every patient. Dr. Elizabeth Bucher and Dr. Corey

surgery. This represents the highest level of training and expertise possible for a Mohs surgeon and ensures you will receive the best treatment for your skin cancer.

Drs. LeBlanc, Bucher, and Rougelot each attended medical school at the

Rougelot are now co-owners of the practice with Dr. LeBlanc, and the two are joined

LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans. Dr. LeBlanc completed his dermatology

by Dr. Vanessa Voss; all four are board-certified dermatologists and completed

residency at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta. Dr. Bucher completed her

accredited fellowships in Mohs micrographic surgery. Mohs surgery is the gold

dermatology residency and fellowship at the University of Massachusetts Medical

standard for the removal of skin cancers on the head and neck and certain types

Center. Dr. Rougelot completed his dermatology residency at Tulane University.

of skin cancer on other sites, such as if the cancer is recurrent, highly aggressive, or

Dr. LeBlanc and Dr. Rougelot both completed their Mohs surgery fellowships at

greater than 2cm in diameter. The Mohs procedure allows for minimal removal of

Dermatology Associates in Birmingham, Alabama. Dr. Voss completed medical

the skin by eliminating small areas incrementally until the site is cleared of cancerous

school at St. Louis University School of Medicine, dermatology residency at

cells. Mohs fellowship training includes advanced reconstruction techniques to

Stonybrook University, and Mohs fellowship at the University of Missouri.

achieve an excellent cosmetic result that maintains form and function. The Skin

All of the physicians at The Skin Surgery Centre are members of the American

Surgery Centre’s operating rooms are equipped with televisions and speaker systems

Academy of Dermatology, the American College of Mohs Surgery, and the

so that patients can relax with music or entertainment.

American Society for Dermatologic Surgery. They are also members of the Louisiana

The most important factor to consider when seeking a skin surgeon is to find a board-certified dermatologist. Dermatologists have extensive, rigorous training

Dermatological Society, where Dr. Bucher and Dr. Rougelot have held leadership positions, as well as the Louisiana State Medical Society.

The Skin Surgery Centre has three convenient locations in Metairie, Mandeville, and Biloxi. 504-644-4226. theskinsurgerycentre.com.

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V E I N / V A S C U L A R

C E N T E R

Richard Gitter, MD, FACS and Patrick Bonneval, MD, RPHS GITTER VEIN INSTITUTE

Gitter Vein Institute catches problems before they happen. Many people see varicose and spider veins as a cosmetic issue, an inconvenient or

peripheral venous system abnormalities.

Dr. Gitter expanded his practice last year with the addition of his new

unsightly annoyance that largely affects the legs, but, along with a number of

partner, Dr. Patrick Bonneval, who Dr. Gitter personally recruited and trained,

other symptoms, these veins are actually warning signs of a larger problem.

and opened a second location in Baton Rouge. Dr. Bonneval is graduate of

Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI) is a condition that occurs when valves

E.D. White H.S., Louisiana State University, and LSUHSC Medical School. He

in the leg veins fail to properly propel blood back to the heart. Symptoms of

completed his residency in Baton Rouge and is Board Certified in Emergency

CVI include spider and varicose veins, swelling or heaviness in the legs and

Medicine. He is also a registered sonographer of phlebology and is board-

feet, pain and itching, restless legs, or stained, leather-like skin around the

eligible for Board Certification in Venous and Lymphatic Medicine.

calf and ankles.

The Gitter Vein Institute offers cutting-edge technologies that are

“When blood flows away from the heart and toward the legs, it creates pressure in your legs,” says Richard Gitter, MD, FACS, Founder of the Gitter Vein Institute. “When this happens for many years, the veins create new

patient-friendly and ideal for every anatomy. Almost all patients walk out after a quick treatment and can go back to work that very same day.

“Even if you don’t feel you have a lot of these symptoms, you should

branches to relieve the excess pressure. These branches ultimately can reach

seek an evaluation.” says Dr. Gitter. Most insurance companies readily cover

the skin and appear as spider or varicose veins. The cosmetic issue won’t go

diagnosis and treatment of CVI to reduce the patient’s risk of blood clots,

away without stopping the problem where it starts.”

bleeding, and skin ulceration.

“Without proper diagnosis there can’t be proper treatment,” says

Double board certified in General Surgery and Cardiothoracic

Dr. Gitter. He and his staff are experts at the diagnosis and treatment

Surgery, Dr. Gitter is a graduate of Isidore Newman, Tulane University,

of venous conditions such as CVI and serve to eliminate or minimize

and Tulane University School of Medicine. He did his general surgery

the often-unrecognized adverse consequences of venous insufficiency.

residency at Baylor University in Dallas and then completed his fellowship

The Institute is a patient-focused, minimally invasive center that utilizes

in Cardiothoracic Surgery at the University of Virginia. He founded Gitter

the most proven and innovative techniques to treat and cure venous

Vein Institute here in his hometown after serving as Director of Cardiac and

insufficiency, varicose veins, spider veins, venous ulcers, and other

Vascular Surgery both in Sioux City, Iowa, and Fredericksburg, Virginia.

Visit the Gitter Vein Institute at 1 Galleria Blvd #100 in Metairie. 504-833-0111.

10101 Siegen Lane, Suite 3B in Baton Rouge. 225-256-0102. gittervein.com.

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R E T I N A

C A R E

Retina Associates New Orleans

Retina Associates New Orleans has served the communities of Southeast

including macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, macular hole and

Louisiana and the Mississippi Gulf Coast for over four decades. The physicians

pucker, ocular tumors, retinal tears and detachments, severe ocular trauma,

and staff are dedicated to diagnosing and treating common and rare retinal

uveitis, and retinal vascular disease.

conditions. Each physician and surgeon is a fellowship-trained retina specialist

Retina Associates New Orleans uses innovative technologies to diagnose

with extensive education and experience in disease and surgery of the retina,

and treat retinal diseases, including fundus imaging, which shows an image

macula, and vitreous.

of the back of the eye; fluorescein angiography and indocyanine green

The retina is an essential part of the human eye. Just like the film in a

angiography, which are methods for visualizing retinal circulation; optical

camera, the retina processes light to form an image that the brain can see.

CT scans; and ultrasounds of the eye. Treatments include medications, laser

Hidden on the inner back surface of the eye, the retina cannot be seen without

surgery, and micro surgery to correct the retinal issue and help improve the

special techniques. It is a fragile, paper-thin structure composed of tiny blood

patient’s visual acuity.

vessels and brain-like nerve tissue. Healing the retina and restoring its visual function requires great skill and significant effort.

Retina Associates New Orleans is nationally recognized for their

Retina Associates New Orleans is privileged to be home to the outstanding, extensively trained, and dedicated physicians, along with their supportive and compassionate staff:

dedication to exploring new treatments through clinical research. With

Gwen M. Cousins, MD, FACS

decades of clinical experience, commitment to research, passion for

Kathy H. Ta, MD, FACS

technological innovation, and unyielding compassion for the visually

Ronald L. Willson, MD, FACS

impaired, Retina Associates New Orleans is the premier institution for retinal

Stanislav A. Zhuk, MD, FACS

eye care. Their board-certified physicians are committed to excellent patient

For the convenience of their patients, they have two primary locations

care, and they have multiple office locations equipped with state-of-the-art

in Jefferson Parish and St. Tammany Parish, with satellite locations in Amite,

technologies. They offer consultations and treatments for many retinal issues,

Hammond, Thibodaux, Houma, and Gulfport, MS.

Visit Retina Associates New Orleans at 4315 Houma Blvd., Ste. 201 in Metairie, 1311 Ochsner Blvd. in Covington, or at a satellite location. 504-456-9061. retinaassociates.org J u n e - J u ly 2022

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R E S I D E N T I A L

R E A L

E S T A T E an impact in people’s lives. Buying or selling a home is typically one of the biggest transactions that someone will experience in their lifetime, and it is very rewarding to be a part of their journey.

“It’s also quite an emotional process in many instances and I value my supportive role throughout the transaction. I also love educating my clients. There are so many different scenarios that can arise throughout the deal, and I want my clients to feel informed and empowered to make the right choices for them, while maintaining their bottom line.”

In January 2020, Stacie became partner at Athena Real Estate where she continues to be the brokerage’s top producing agent with over $55 million in sales since earning her license in September 2015.

Additionally, Stacie was named a top 10 real estate influencer in New Orleans in 2021 and was listed in the top 1% of professionals in her field by Marquis’ Who’s Who in America.

Stacie gives credit to her late grandfather for her tagline and fire for success. “My tagline keeps me accountable to my clients and colleagues. It is not only my promise to them, but it has a deeply personal meaning to me. I was extremely close with my paternal grandfather, Dr. Rosario Carubba, and was his caretaker in the last few months of his life.

When he passed away in the fall of 2016, I decided to honor his legacy by adopting his famous words. At that point, I had been a licensed agent for about a year and my business was on an upward trajectory, but after

Stacie Carubba ATHENA REAL ESTATE

Real estate broker Stacie Carubba goes the extra mile for her clients. After all, her tagline is “Results, not excuses.” She says,

joke with people that real estate is not just a profession, it is a lifestyle.”

As a New Orleanian with deep roots, Stacie

Pappy’s passing, something just clicked with me. I felt like I truly had a calling to fulfill his legacy and my brand was born.”

Stacie is a proud member of the Junior League of New Orleans. She has held a leadership position within the organization for many years. She is the president

“Real estate is more than a job for me. Since

prides herself on being a trusted resource in

of the Business Networking International (BNI) chapter

this is a deeply personal business and people

the real estate industry by providing insight and

and has served on many committees for philanthropic

are buying into ‘you’. I take pride in being an

sensible advice to her clients while building

organizations including Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and

active member of my community and often

lasting relationships with them. “I love making

Immune Deficiency Foundation.

If you’re looking for an agent that delivers “Results, not excuses”, call Stacie at 504-434-SOLD(7653). staciecarubba.com.

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F A C I A L

P L A S T I C

S U R G E O N Hansen’s Snobliz — “There are no shortcuts to quality”.

Ultimately, I take great pride on having made a name for myself in New Orleans without riding on the coattails of a more senior surgeon’s reputation. Having patients recommend their family and friends to me after a positive experience is the highest honor and speaks to the care and results that I curate for patients. Referrals from other physicians also speak to my positive reputation in the community. Additionally, I am dedicated to advancing my knowledge and techniques through medical education and collaboration with my colleagues across the globe. While tried and true techniques are the cornerstone of plastic surgery, it’s only through modern advances that superior results can be obtained.

I am a double board certified facial plastic surgeon and only focus on plastic surgery of the face and neck. I am most known for rhinoplasty as well as aging face surgery (extended deep plane facelift, neck lift, eyelid surgery, brow lift, lip lift, and fat grafting). I specifically take pride that my neck lifting and neck contouring procedures are more

Parker A. Velargo, MD, FACS NEW ORLEANS CENTER FOR AESTHETICS AND PLASTIC SURGERY

When I was asked by the editor to be featured in the business and leaders publication, I had to think really hard about

advanced than any other surgeon in the region. I am the only surgeon in New Orleans specializing in the deep neck lift as well as the minimally invasive Zoom (MyEllevate) lift.

Additionally, I’m really proud of the rhinoplasty results I am producing these days.

I love that I get to utilize my scientific and artistic skills

how I could possibly contribute. I don’t often see my practice or

to practice medicine, and I love using my hands on a daily

accomplishments as “successes” but rather view them as stepping

basis to help patients look and feel better about themselves.

stones on a path to something greater. As a facial plastic surgeon,

As NOCAPS looks to the future, I am pleased to

the quest for perfection in everything I do is a blessing and a

announce that we have acquired property near the

burden. I’m always looking to improve and do better for myself

intersection of Louisiana and St. Charles. We are in the

and my patients.

process of planning a state of the art clinic and surgery

I’m so happy to have co-founded the New Orleans Center for

center. Once completed, we will be the only accredited

Aesthetics and Plastic Surgery (NOCAPS) in 2013! We have been

surgery center focused on aesthetic plastic surgery in all of

keeping New Orleans beautiful for over 8 years now by offering

Uptown New Orleans.

patients a 5 star experience and exceptional results. As they say at

Trust your face to Dr. Velargo, a facial plastic surgeon.

New Orleans Center for Aesthetics and Plastic Surgery is located at 2633 Napoleon Ave., Ste. 920, New Orleans (504) 533-8848 www.plasticsurgerynola.com J u n e - J u ly 2022

33

H O S P I T A L S

innovative and technologically advanced Cancer Institute is a premier facility that will continue to provide patients with high-quality cancer care close to home. Built to benefit the community, the Sports Complex will complement services offered in the adjacent Wellness Center and focuses on offering additional and innovative aspects of sports and fitness to provide people of all ages the opportunity to engage in physical activities that can lead to longer, happier, healthier lives.

Over the years, Thibodaux Regional has received many awards and recognition for its superior patient care, technology, community involvement, education and outreach, and much more. “What sets us apart is our powerful vision, performance from the heart, accountability and innovation,” Greg says. When selecting a hospital, Greg suggests finding one that puts the patient first. “Ask people you trust to share

Greg K. Stock, MHA

CEO, THIBODAUX REGIONAL HEALTH SYSTEM Greg Stock, CEO of Thibodaux

such as comprehensive cardiovascular care

their experience and preferences. Check third party ratings such as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Leapfrog, Healthgrades, and others.”

Regional Health System, originally

and heart surgery, comprehensive cancer

Greg’s favorite aspect of being CEO is

wanted to become a city manager, but

care, neurology, neurosurgery, orthopedics

creating a powerful vision and working to make

switched to healthcare administration. “I

and sports medicine, women’s services,

it a reality. When he isn’t working to improve

became fascinated with the complexities

obstetrics, inpatient and outpatient physical

lives through Thibodaux Regional, he’s actively

of the job and the opportunity to make

rehabilitation, and health and wellness

involved with his church. He also has directed

a difference in the quality of people’s

services.

and supported fundraising efforts to benefit

lives,” he says. Thibodaux Regional is the

In the past year, Thibodaux Regional

many charities and organizations, such as the

regional healthcare provider for Lafourche,

has opened its 80,000 square foot, state-

American Cancer Society and The Haven, a non-

Terrebonne, and the surrounding parishes.

of-the-art Cancer Institute and its Sports

profit organization that benefits women and

They provide a wide range of inpatient

Complex, which is the second phase of their

children who are survivors of domestic violence

and outpatient care, including services

242,000 square foot Wellness Center. The

and sexual assault.

Learn more about Thibodaux Regional Health System at thibodaux.com or by calling (985) 447-5500, or visit them at 602 North Acadia Road in Thibodaux, LA. 34

I n side N ew Orl ean s

E M P L O Y E E

B E N E F I T S

resources and consulting options include voluntary benefits, data analytics, health and performance, program design and implementation, and much more. “An employer wants to retain and attract good talent. We create that for them with a little bit of art as well as science, but it always comes back to the human element of it all,” she says.

“Someone who is dealing with a serious medical condition has a lot of claims. They might need some hand-holding, and we do that for them. We hold their hand and help them. This makes them feel comfortable enough that they can ask the questions they don’t really want to ask their employer.” Employees can engage with consultants wherever they prefer to be met. “Because the world and technology has changed, we’re digital, paper, and telephonic. We can meet each generation or person in whatever channel they are comfortable in.”

The many stories of how HUB has made a difference in people’s lives is what keeps Annette learning and collaborating. “I work with phenomenal team members who are passionate about what they do. They care about our clients and the work that they do together,” she shares. “All of that is very deliberate. Our HUB employees are just as much customers as our customers. They’re going to give our customers a really good experience and work really hard for them if they’re happy working for not only HUB, but for me.”

Annette is a graduate of Leadership St. Tammany and

Annette Dowdle, RHU, CCWC, CHRS

Leadership Louisiana. “Leadership training and networking give me

With the right team, benefits can be simplified. The problem solvers at HUB International

Annette says. “It allows us all to draw from each other’s experiences to

HUB INTERNATIONAL GULF SOUTH

are readily available and equipped with common sense application and insightful collaboration.

Annette Dowdle, Senior Vice President of HUB International Gulf South, says, “It’s so very rewarding to take the mystery out of employee benefits for people.”

After all, it’s people who inspire Annette to lead her team each day. “We want to go above and beyond. We take the whole experience and make it surprisingly better by streamlining the process, which helps employers create an engaged culture with their employees. Then, it becomes more than just benefits.”

avenues to connect with people inside and outside of my network,” not only help our businesses, but our communities.”

She recently completed Loyola Women’s Leadership Academy and is Co-Chair for 2022 American Heart Association Northshore Heart Walk. Annette is member of National Women in Construction and serves on HUB’s National Best Practices Task Force.

“People take insurance for granted until it’s needed, but it’s then that it can change people’s lives. We are making a difference.” She

As the largest privately owned brokerage/consultant within the US and Canada, it’s HUB’s goal to build high-performing companies through high-performing employees. Annette’s

concludes, “It’s not just about insurance. It’s about helping people get the right kind and having them understand it.”

Annette.dowdle@hubinternational.com. 504-491-5576. hubinternational.com.

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D I G I T A L

M E D I A

Allison Herrera UPTOWN GIRL MEDIA

Allison, owner of Uptown Girl Media, fell into digital marketing

decided if I’m going to tell people’s stories, highlight their memories, &

somewhat on accident. “I originally worked in the news industry as a producer

explore their experiences through a visual experience that no one else can

for local television stations—WVUE Fox 8 in New Orleans and WAFB Channel

reproduce, I am going to do it on my own terms,” she says. “A lot of clients

9 in Baton Rouge. I absolutely loved my experience in news and helping

like to joke around and say they wish they had my brain when it comes to

keep our community updated and informed through storytelling,” she says.

creativity, and to me, that’s what sets us apart. Creativity isn’t something that’s

“What I genuinely loved about my job was sharing people’s stories, specifically

learned or a copy/paste situation. Authentic creativity is a trait people are born

small businesses’ stories. These feature stories on small businesses would

with, and how my team and I harness it in connecting people to brands and

grow their presence in the community and make a positive impact in small

businesses is what sets us apart.”

business owners’ lives… and that’s all I wanted to do. I wanted to work in a

Allison is a member of the New Orleans Chamber of Commerce,

career focused on small businesses, professional videography, storytelling, and

American Marketing Association, and Junior League of New Orleans. In

writing, but off of the television screen and on to another type of screen, which

her spare time, she loves spending time with her loved ones and Yorkipoo,

was gaining more and more popularity—smartphones.”

Gumbeaux, as well as exploring New Orleans with a cocktail in hand.” There’s

Her favorite aspect of running a business is creating a positive impact

so much to do around here while absorbing culture, fests, and (my personal

on people’s lives. “I’m a social person by nature, so I truly love being in the

favorite) food. I also enjoy live music, playing chess, writing, reading, LSU

‘front seat’ by helping others and creating genuine connections within my

sports, and watching any movie with Tom Hanks in it.”

community. There’s been many sleepless nights, but watching my clients

Uptown Girl Media is the first woman-owned and first minority-

succeed through the help of Uptown Girl Media is the sweetest and most

owned marketing agency in New Orleans (and possibly Louisiana) that

rewarding feeling,” she says. “We treat each client as a family member and

produces videos in-house, from pre-production to post-production.

truly invest in their brand when they come on board with us.”

“When there was no seat at the table, I decided not only to create my own

Allison also enjoys the freedom and creativity of digital media. “I

seat… I decided to create my own table.”

For more information about Uptown Girl Media, visit uptowngirl.media or call (504) 788-2UGM. 36

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F I N A N C I A L

A D V I S O R S

Tricia Barrera and Jessica Marasco Illes EDWARD JONES

Whether you want to plan for retirement, education, or ensure

Jessica Marasco is a Series 7 and 66 licensed Financial

you have income to cover your expenses, we offer personalized service

Advisor whose Mid-City branch office is located near City Park. She

and long-term investing strategies instead of the latest investment

is a proud alumna of Northwestern State University, Dominican

fads. As Edward Jones Financial Advisors, we love that we get to

High School, and the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts. She

wake up every day and help our clients create wealth. We became

serves as President of the St. Martin’s Episcopal Mom’s Club and is

Financial Advisors after seeing a grave need for women in the financial

a member of the Gretna Economic Development Association. She is

industry. We also take pride in understanding the financial needs of

also a co-captain of the sub krewe of House Floats: Old Gretna, and

entrepreneurs and clients with unconventional careers.

a member of the Krewe of Cleopatra.

Because Edward Jones is a privately-owned company and not

Tricia Bordelon Barrera is a Series 7 and 66 licensed Financial

publicly traded, we truly work for our clients—not shareholders—when

Advisor whose branch office is located in the Lower Garden District.

we give advice and create a strategy. From buying a lake house, to

She is a proud alumna of the University of New Orleans, Delta Zeta

planning an annual food tour across Europe, or taking the grandkids

Sorority, and Benjamin Franklin. She serves as a board member

to Disneyworld, we enjoy listening to how our clients want to spend

of the Sylvain Society of the New Orleans Opera Association. She

retirement. As separate branch teams located in Mid-City and The

is also a member of The Slidell Noon Lions Club, and The Patio

Lower Garden District, we create strategies to get them there.

Planters of The Vieux Carre.

Meet with Tricia at Edward Jones Investments located at 1350 Magazine St, Suite A. 504-208-9311. Edwardjones.com. Member SIPC Meet with Jessica at Edward Jones Investments located at 606 N. Carrollton Avenue. 504-486-8645. Edwardjones.com. Member SIPC J u n e - J u ly 2 022

37

C O S M E T I C

B R A N D

C R E A T O R / A E S T H E T I C I A N

Meggan Ory

MAKEUP BY MEGGAN

Makeup by Meggan is a two-fold business: Meggan is both an aesthetician

development and helping increase women’s confidence through beauty.

and a cosmetic brand creator. When she started Makeup by Meggan nine years

“Looking good is feeling good—and that is a powerful notion.” In addition to

ago, it only consisted of makeup artistry. After a few years, she expanded to

skincare, makeup artistry, and her cosmetic line, Meggan posts beauty tutorials

offering skincare services, and in 2018, she launched her cosmetic line, Makeup

weekly on Instagram and Facebook. “Through my years in the industry, I have

by Meggan Cosmetics. “Watching the brand grow has truly been a dream come

learned that most women are not confident in their makeup skills. I break it down

true!” she says.

in my tutorials so they can take my products home and know exactly how to use

Meggan has been drawn to beauty since she was a little girl. Her mother is a licensed aesthetics instructor and the assistant director at a top-ranked beauty

them. This is so important as a beauty brand creator.”

Meggan’s hard work and perseverance shows in her wide range of products

college here in Louisiana, and her involvement in the beauty industry and career

and services and her impeccable skill. “When you come to the Makeup by

is what ultimately sparked Meggan’s interest. “I would get so excited when my

Meggan Studio, we have the tools and knowledge for helping you achieve the

mom would put on makeup,” she says. “I would sit on top of the toilet seat cover

best skin of your life and the best makeup. We are a one-stop skin shop.”

and just watch her apply her makeup in the mirror. To this day, I recall feeling deep admiration for what it is to be a woman. When she would finish, I would sneak behind her and play in her makeup.”

Meggan has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a license in Aesthetics.

She’s been married for 10 years, and she has two wonderful children!

In addition, Makeup by Meggan Cosmetics has a new product launching at

Her favorite aspects of her business are being creative with product

the end of June. “Stay tuned!”

Purchase Makeup by Meggan cosmetics and make an appointment at makeupbymeggan.com or by calling 504-473-7263.

Follow Meggan on Instagram at @makeupbymeggancosmetics.

38

I nside N ew Orl ea n s

R E S T A U R A T E U R

A N D

M I X O L O G I S T interacting with locals and visitors from near and far. “I love seeing everyone happy and enjoying their meals, cocktails, and our total dining experience.”

Housed in the former Rodd Brothers Molasses Refinery, Briquette is nestled in the Warehouse District and features a contemporary, yet casual, restaurant interior marked by a signature open kitchen. “Our 18-foot seafood display is filled with fresh sea bass, halibut, steelhead salmon, Louisiana redfish, and many other seafood favorites that are caught daily,” says Anna. Also at Briquette, Anna recently launched her “Shaken Up NOLA” Craft Cocktail Classes that can accompany lunch or brunch.

Over in the French Quarter, Anna delights guests at the New Orleans Creole Cookery. The courtyard, oyster bar and dining room offer a mixture of settings to enjoy traditional Creole food. The new and improved courtyard has a beautiful mural by a local artist, string lights and a courtyard bar. “Our staff enjoys what they do, and it shows in the culinary delights that are created and delicious cocktails that are hand-crafted,” Anna adds. “We care about each other, and the guest experience. We have fun every shift doing what we love. We know that we need each other to accomplish all our goals.”

Since 1995, Anna has been devoted to the New Orleans restaurant industry. Out of high school, she began working in the industry and went to college for restaurant management. She serves as President of the French Market Corporation Board of Directors and is a graduate of the Goldman Sachs Small Business program. She is a member of the Confrérie de la Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, which is the oldest and largest food and wine society in the world, and the Société Mondiale du Vin, which focuses on wine and

Anna Tusa

NEW ORLEANS CREOLE COOKERY AND BRIQUETTE “Our family approach makes all the difference,” Anna Tusa says. “We treat each guest like they are a member of our family!”

As owner of the New Orleans Creole Cookery and Briquette, Anna enjoys serving guests in comfortable atmospheres with first class service. She is active in the restaurants daily,

spirit appreciation.

When Anna isn’t welcoming guests at Briquette or New Orleans Creole Cookery, Anna enjoys traveling, eating, and experiencing new cultures with her husband, A.J. She is regular contributor to Inside New Orleans’ “Drinks with Anna” column.

Very soon, Anna will launch a travel blog with great tips for trips, restaurant recommendations, and more fun things.

For menus and reservations, visit briquette-nola.com or neworleanscreolecookery.com.

J u n e - J u ly 2 022

39

E V E N T

P L A N N I N G

have also been a bride myself… twice. Since I have paid for two weddings, I feel like I have a true understanding of how expensive everything can be. I know that for some clients, this can be extremely stressful and take away from what should be a wonderful and joyous occasion. With that in mind, I work with my clients to generate creative solutions to make their décor, candles, and floral budgets go farther.

Clients with budgets, both large and more conservative, seem to appreciate this consideration.”

Glo Events was Chloé’s light in a time of difficult life circumstances ending in divorce. “It was a dark and scary time, but I was determined to persevere and bring back some light into my children’s lives, so I started Glo Events, specializing in event décor, candles, rentals, and more! Glo was a way for me to feel confident and happy again, to reconnect with the creative side of this industry, and to better connect with clients who bring me so much joy. And most importantly, to set a good example and path for my children, while being motivated by the need to support them on my own.”

Through the encouragement and support of her family, especially her mom, she is thriving and excited for what’s next. When not pulling together beautiful gatherings, she says, “I enjoy living a healthy lifestyle and staying active in my community. Outside of events, my other passions are my family, working out, and cooking.

Chloé T. Potter

GLO EVENTS BY CHLOÉ An event planned by Chloé T. Potter is an event well-planned. “I am here to make it look easy, so my clients don’t feel the stress on such an important, emotionally-charged day. I love what I do and want my clients to feel like we just wiggled our noses and poof – it all came together!”

For 15 years, the event industry has served as a creative outlet for Chloé. Starting as the

I live to eat and love trying new cuisine and craft cocktails.” Chloé has served as Marketing Director, Vice President, and President of the National Association for Catering and Events (NACE) and is on the events committees for the City of Mandeville and St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce.

“I was never the little girl that planned her wedding, but in college, my favorite job was selling wedding dresses at a bridal

Director of Sales at Latrobe’s in New Orleans, she moved on to become a Live Nation Sales

boutique. Fast forward and I have now planned and produced

Manager for the House of Blues where she met lifelong and cherished mentors and friends.

thousands of weddings and have had two myself! Typically, you don’t

After the birth of her son in 2013, she moved closer to her family in Mandeville and accepted

go into a marriage thinking you’ll have a second wedding, but in my

a position with The Lakehouse, Maison Lafitte and The Inn at La Provence.

industry, it was a good refresher to be a bride again and to find love

She says, “I have worked in many aspects of the event industry, and most importantly,

later in life, happily blending our families.”

Reach Chloé at 985-630-0687, chloetevents@outlook.com and gloeventsbychloe.com.

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I nside N ew Orl ea n s

J E W E L R Y

D E S I G N E R

W O M E N ’ S

W E L L N E S S

Olivia F. Scott

FREEDOM AT THE MAT

Jennifer Ponson

JENNIFER PONSON JEWELRY DESIGNS Jennifer got started in jewelry design when her daughter came

Olivia unexpectedly found refuge and peace in vinyasa yoga after years of growth and achievement in her professional career in New York City. After finding vinyasa yoga, she became a diligent student of yoga and decided that she wanted to spread word of this modality, which had been a blessing to her.

home from college with an interest in rocks, minerals, and semi-

Freedom At The Mat started in Harlem, NYC, teaching classes at The Dream Center

precious stones. “I soon became addicted to the natural beauty of

Harlem, which gave Olivia great insights into women and what they needed. After

these items and started creating jewelry for myself,” Jennifer says.

Olivia moved to New Orleans in January of 2020, she began to teach yoga online

“Before long, I had people asking me where I got my jewelry, and my

via Zoom. She launched a YouTube channel in June of 2020, YouTube.com/

hobby developed into a business.”

FreedomAtTheMat.

Jennifer Ponson Jewelry Designs is celebrating 10 years in

“Our mission is to create wellness content accessible to women 24/7

business this year. “I enjoy working with people. When people see

daily,” she says. “We are available online through our YouTube channel, and we

my creations, they smile, and smiles are contagious,” she says. “As

also have appearances via our partners such as New Orleans Museum of Art,

for my jewelry, you need to touch and feel my pieces. The stones

New Orleans Family Justice Center, ESSENCE Wellness House, Project Peaceful

we use have a special energy, and you need to find the stone that

Warriors, among others. Our priority is ensuring that women carve out time for

connects with your personal energy. When selecting a jeweler, you

themselves, even if just for a short while” she says. Women are nurturers and

should be allowed to touch the jewelry.” Jennifer’s jewelry is not just

caretakers, and we often slight our own self care. So, we offer content in the form

an accessory, but each is a conversation piece and source of each

of 1-, 2-, 3-, 5-, 10-, 15-, and 30-minute classes.”

individual’s energy.

Jennifer earned a certification from the New York Institute of

In addition to offering classes, Freedom At The Mat also sells yoga gear.

Their mats feature art from visual artists of color, and they are launching four new

Art and Design. She graduated from the University of West Florida

designs in June. 15% of their profits benefit non-profit organizations serving

and has been a certified dental assistant for 35 years. She is married

underserved women, especially survivors of domestic violence, substance abuse

to Randy, her wonderful husband of 33 years. Together, they have a

and homelessness.

beautiful daughter, Whitney.

Visit FreedomAtTheMat.com or YouTube.com/FreedomAtTheMat See Jennifer’s designs and learn more at jenniferponson.com.

to learn more.

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41

C A T E R I N G

Kathryn Perrin

LA COCINA NOLA Kathryn owns La Cocina, a local catering business that features Cuban

I N S U R A N C E

Nora Vaden Holmes, CHFC, CPCU, LUTCF NORA VADEN HOLMES - STATE FARM

Nora’s favorite part of being an insurance agent with State Farm is leading a team of professionals and knowing they make an impact on the customers

classics such as lechón, a roasted pork butt dish, and black beans. She started

and community we serve. “I love watching my employees grow and develop

her business by making family meals for family and friends during the

to become the best version of themselves,” she says. “Being a business owner

pandemic in her hometown of Miami. She and her family moved to New

allows us so many opportunities to give back to our community to make it a more

Orleans in February of 2021, and she brought her business with her, though

desirable place to live and work for us and future generations.”

she still does catering in Miami, as well.

“It’s scary to start a new business, especially in a field that is male-

With over 500 five-star reviews on Google, Nora and her team have proven that they’re experts in their field who take customer service very seriously. “We’re

dominant, but I went with it, and I’m so glad I did,” she says. “I think my Cuban

a full-service agency for not only home, auto, renters, and flood insurance, but

background and my culturally diverse upbringing help me bring flavors to a

we are also one of the top agencies at State Farm for business insurance and life

plate that not everyone can do.”

insurance. I’m also a licensed mortgage originator for Rocket Mortgage, and we

“Food is the center of any party and or event,” she says. So when you’re choosing a caterer, she advises to “make sure it’s what you want and the caterer can bring your vision to life.”

“The catering business is very competitive; there are so many talented

do financial services. We practice delivering the best insurance experience for our customers—service matters.”

Her agency of fully licensed insurance professionals has been consistently ranked in the top 50 agencies out of 19,000 State Farm agencies nationwide.

chefs to choose from, but I always say ‘the sun shines for everyone.’ I learned

They’re also a lifetime Million Dollar Round Table qualifier, which is an industry

that phrase when I moved here.”

award for financial service providers. “I’m proud to represent a company like State

Kathryn loves the flexibility of being her own boss. Since moving to

Farm that has the financial ability to deliver on their promise when devastation

Louisiana, she and her family have not missed a festival. “We love the food,

strikes. We’ve seen a lot of recent hurricane activity, and many companies didn’t

music, and people. It’s an experience better than the last one every time.

survive it—we did and will continue to be there for our policyholders.”

42

Reach Kathryn at 305-336-6877 or lacocinainfo00@gmail.com.

Nora Vaden Holmes - State Farm is located at

Follow along on Instagram and Facebook @lacocinanola.

117 Metairie Lawn Drive, Metairie. 504-831-0002.

I n side N ew Orl ean s

Artwork by GRETCHEN HOWARD

Louisiana truly is a place like no other.”

V E T E R I N A R I A N

C H I L D

C A R E

Dr. Jessica Miller

Paula Polito

UPTOWN VETERINARY HOSPITAL Dr. Miller’s favorite part of owning her own veterinary hospital

BEARY CHERRY TREE Paula is the third generation in the early childhood education business,

and doggy play day space is that she’s able to run her business by her

with her grandmother starting Beary Cherry Tree Child Development Center in

moral code and not by a strict business model. “When I see a problem,

1974. Paula has been owner and director since 1999. Beary Cherry Tree serves

we can address it immediately and not worry about red tape,” she

over 225 families in the Greater New Orleans area, providing equitable access

says. “I think it’s just easier for me with my small business model set

to high-quality early care and education in an environment that offers a diverse

up just for me and my clients and patients.”

teaching team.

Her veterinary hospital offers veterinary care, bathing,

Paula is most proud of the impact she has on each family. “Ninety percent

sleepovers, and doggie day play. She is the only doctor, so she gets

of brain development occurs between birth and four years old. We have children

to know her clients and her patients very well to provide outstanding

at the most important time in their lives, and we have a social responsibility to do

care. “I love to solve problems, and I take a practical approach to

what is best for each child!” she says.

medicine,” she says. “I recommend what I would do if it were my pet, but still let you know the thousands of other options available.”

Dr. Miller graduated from Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine in May 2001. She then practiced at a very

When choosing a childcare center, Paula emphasizes the need for quality.

“Look for a culture that is inviting and welcoming, and look for centers that are licensed with low [child-teacher] ratios, low turnover, and that practice quality on a daily basis.”

large vet outside of Washington, D.C., where she was mentored by

Beary Cherry Tree offers quality—and so much more. “Our socially,

a wonderful veterinarian who taught her innumerable invaluable

emotionally, and academically appropriate environments enable children to

ways to approach animal health. She has two feisty chihuahua mixes

explore, learn and play.”

named Laverne and Cubbie, who are at her practice almost every day yapping away.

Paula earned her Bachelor’s of Science and her MBA at University of New Orleans, and she is currently a doctoral student in the field of Urban

Uptown Veterinary Hospital will be celebrating its 10-year anniversary in November.

Studies. Her advocacy work includes serving as the Advisory Board Chair for the Louisiana Department of Education, a commission member for the Louisiana Early Childhood Care and Education Commission, Core Leadership team for the Jefferson Parish Early Childhood Collaborative, Advisory Board for Teachstone, and the former Education Chair for the Jefferson Chamber of Education.

Visit Uptown Veterinary Hospital at 731 Nashville Avenue

Beary Cherry Tree is located at 3117 Lake Villa in Metairie.

in New Orleans. 504-897-4973

(504) 455-1950. bearycherrytree.com.

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KETO BAKERY AND CONSTRUCTION

O P T O M E T R I S T

Susan Freeswick and Ioan Tamas

EVERYDAY KETO TO GO RELINTLESS DRYER VENT AND CHIMNEY SERVICES Susan Freeswick and Ioan Tamas are a dynamic duo in both of their businesses. Susan’s bakery, Everyday Keto To Go, provides gluten-free, sugar-free, low-carb goodies with clean, organic, locally sourced ingredients. “I explain how diverse our keto based bakery is to customers and how it touches so many different lifestyles—celiac, diabetics, children, people with autoimmune issues, and other medical issues,” she says. Ioan’s business, ReLintless Dryer Vent and Chimney Services, specializes in bringing homes to safety standards, historic restorations, masonry, chimney sweeps, fireplaces/gas log sales, and inspecting and cleaning

Dr. Lauren Agnew EYE WARES

Dr. Lauren Agnew, owner of Eye Wares, understands the impact eye care

dryer vents. No job is too small or big! His concentration is getting your home safe

can have on someone’s life. Her passion for optometry was sparked by having a

again! He works on projects from St. Tammany to Terrebonne Parish.

“lazy eye” as a child. “The experience propelled me on a course that led me to my

They both are involved in each other’s businesses. Ioan, as a jack of all trades, helped design, build and provide the finishing touches in the bakery on

current career. I can now pay it forward and help the next child,” she says.

One of her favorite parts of the job is developing relationships with

everything from the counters to their signs. He’s also the official “taste-tester”!

patients. “I love working with patients, hearing about their lives and their

“He’s a little spoiled,” laughs Susan. She loves to present him with new flavors of all

families, and knowing that I’m making a difference. I also love to help style

types of goodies! Susan assists in the administrative side of ReLintless Dryer Vent

patients in some of my favorite lines to highlight their personality and to let their

and Chimney Services by answering the phones, scheduling, talking to insurance

true self shine through.”

adjusters and sending them the info they need—all while she’s baking at the bakery!

She also manages both company websites, Facebook and Instagram pages.

This driven and ReLintless duo help support their businesses together as

“Remember that comfort is key!” she says. “If your glasses are too heavy, you won’t wear them. Confidence in a great pair of eyeglasses can add an aspect of style while giving you the best vision.”

a team even if it means getting the family involved! “As busy as we are, it is very

She notes that eye care isn’t only about a prescription. “The bulk of an

important that we spend time with our family. Sometimes that means take your

annual eye exam is a health exam. We can find evidence of diabetes, high blood

family to work day or scheduling lunch dates between appointments just to spend

pressure, and skin cancers—to name a few. There is even ongoing research linking

extra time with each other!”

eye health and neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s.”

Whether you’re craving a delicious, healthy dessert or need your chimney inspected or dryer vent cleaned, this power couple has you covered.

Dr. Agnew graduated from Tulane University, and she attended Optometry school in Memphis. She is a member of the American Optometric Association and the Louisiana State Optometric Association. Her favorite local charities include the Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Mutts to Models, and the You Night Runway program. Nationally, she supports St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital after seeing their amazing impact during her time in Memphis.

Everyday Keto To Go is located at 110 Athania Parkway, Ste. B, in Old Metairie.

504-957-9033. everydayketotogo.com.

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ReLintless Dryer Vent and Chimney Services. 1000 Central Ave, Metairie

Eye Wares has locations in Mandeville, 985-624-3314; and Metairie,

Relintlesssweep.com. 504-444-6297

504-301-1726. eyewaresnola.com. Coming soon Uptown to Magazine Street.

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S E N I O R

L I V I N G / M E M O R Y

C A R E

E D U C A T I O N

Kelly Martin

THE LAUREL SENIOR LIVING The Laurel Senior Living located on Magazine Street offers independent living, assisted living, and New Orleans’ only all-female memory care with specialized programming tailored just for her! Their warm and safe environment will give families peace of mind about their loved ones. They also provide personalized and proactive wellness plans and around-the-clock care, including nurses, security, and

Ursuline Academy Ignites Impact With Women in Leadership Roles

assistance with everyday tasks like bathing, dressing, and medication management.

Everything at The Laurel is taken care of, including laundry, housekeeping, and transportation. They even have a beauty salon and therapy center on-site.

“Helping seniors and their families navigate through one of the most difficult parts of the aging process by guiding them and giving them resources

Dr. Karen Jakuback

URSULINE ACADEMY OF NEW ORLEANS Ursuline Academy recognizes the benefits of women in

that make them feel good about their choice to become a part of The Laurel

leadership. Women are powerful agents of change, and the need for

family is my favorite part of this business,” Kelly Martin, executive director, says. “I

more female leaders has never been more critical. As the working

want residents and families to feel at home at The Laurel.”

landscape evolves, success in tomorrow’s world will be fueled by our

Kelly and operator/owner Stuart Coleman embody the Albert Einstein

girls’ ability to think creatively, articulate their ideas confidently, and

quote, “Only a life lived for others is a life worth living.” Stuart is directly involved

solve problems collaboratively. Through highly interactive experiences

in the day-to-day operation, which gives The Laurel the ability to personalize the

powered by STEM and the arts—and a nurturing community diverse

senior living experience for each resident. “I want to build a work environment

by design—we develop tomorrow’s brightest independent thinkers,

where employees feel more like a family, they are excited to come to work, and

innovators, leaders, and community builders. Our girls stand up, stand

where they feel comfortable and encouraged to share their ideas, as well as their

out, and blaze trails. As the nation’s first all-girls Catholic school, it’s

concerns,” Kelly says. “It takes a village, and I certainly cannot do it without the

been our legacy for 295 years. Make it hers, too.

right team in place!”

The Laurel is opening in September and is now taking priority reservations.

Ursuline Academy of New Orleans is located at

Learn more at laurelnola.com or by calling (504) 350-2244.

2635 State Street. 504-861-9150. go.uanola.org.

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AESTHETIC | RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY

W R I T I N G

A N D

F I L M M A K I N G

Royd Anderson

WRITER AND FILMMAKER Royd Anderson was introduced to the wonderful world of literature and writing by his English teacher at Ganus High, Mrs. Bjerke. With his creativity chakra opened, he went on to get a B.A in

Dr. Suma Maddox

AESTHETIC | RECONSTRUCTIVE PLASTIC SURGERY Dr. Suma Maddox has always had a desire to be a surgeon, working

English Literature at Loyola, and his lifelong love for movies led him to pursue a Master of Science degree in Communication at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, specializing in filmmaking & broadcasting.

“My grandfather, Alfonso Cortina, owned a cinema in Havana,

summers in high school at the outpatient surgery center her surgeon father

Cuba, so I grew up watching and appreciating films with my family. He

built. After completing her General Surgery residency at Brown University, she

and my family have had a strong impact on my life,” Royd says.

worked for Ochsner as a General and Breast surgeon for four years, frequently

Royd’s stories focus on Louisiana disasters that are not usually

collaborating with Plastic Surgery for breast cancer patients needing reconstruction

mentioned in Louisiana history textbooks. He published his first book

after mastectomy surgery. It was during one of these cases that her colleague,

last year, New Orleans Disasters: Firsthand Accounts of Crescent City

recognizing her ability, asked her to join LSU’s Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

Tragedy, which peaked at number four on Amazon’s “New Releases in

training program. “Plastic surgery has become my artistic medium, and I really feel

Disaster Relief” category. He also has produced many award-winning

like my potential blossoms each day because of it,” she says.

documentaries such as Pan Am Flight 759, The UpStairs Lounge Fire,

In addition to being board eligible with the American Board of Plastic Surgery,

The Continental Grain Elevator Explosion, Mother’s Day Bus Crash

Dr. Maddox’s connection to her patients sets her business apart. “I am a woman and

on 610, and The Luling Ferry Disaster. “My film on the ferry disaster

a mother, and I am my patient demographic,” she says. “I understand the changes

served as my master’s thesis project at UL-Lafayette,” he says. “The

that a body goes through to become a mother and there can be shame generated

success of this film led to the creation of a monument for the victims

when trying to voice one’s desires for change. I offer a safe space without judgment,

in 2009.”

because I truly want to empower women to love their details again.”

Dr. Maddox will be an American Cancer Society Belle this year. She also founded the Fleur de Bra Breast Cancer Reconstruction art bra fundraiser last year

“I’m a proud ‘Yat,’ born and raised in Gentilly,” he says.

“Preserving local history is imperative; I’m blessed to do it in writing and also in film—it’s a dream come true.”

in collaboration with Breastoration and the Cancer Association of LA (formerly CAGNO), which will be hosting their second show in October 2022.

Meet Royd for a Q&A and to buy his book and DVDs of his films at a screening of Pan Am Flight 759 on Saturday, July 9 (the 40th anniversary of the crash) at 9:30 a.m. at the West Visit Dr. Suma Maddox’s practice at 1603 Second Street, Floor 3 in New Orleans.

504-439-9728. devin@drsumamaddox.com 46

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Bank Regional Library and at 2 p.m. at the River Ridge Library.

A C C O U N T I N G

H A I R S T Y L I S T

Greg LeBlanc Jessica LeBlanc, CPA/CFF, RENE/e-PRO Trey LeBlanc JESSICA D. LEBLANC, CPA, LLC CPA REALTY, LLC

With over 20 years of experience in private industry and public accounting, and

Raven Davis STUDIO LU ELLE

Raven wanted to be a hairstylist her entire life. “As a small-town girl, I dreamt of

over 18 years of experience in the real estate industry, Jessica LeBlanc thrives in two

owning my own salon in the city,” she says. Studio Lu Elle is a studio suite designed for

professions. She and her husband Greg are licensed Louisiana real estate salespersons,

a private luxurious experience. “As a color expert, I feel that my approach to coloring

who own CPA Realty, LLC, and she also owns a CPA consulting firm, Jessica D. LeBlanc,

women’s hair is unique because I not only strive to hit the clients expectations on color

CPA, LLC. Jessica’s financial background adds value for her accounting and real

but the health of the hair. Each guest’s formula is customized to their lifestyle, and they

estate clients, while Greg handles all aspects of the real estate side of the business,

take along with them a regimen best-suited for at-home maintenance.”

including residential and commercial real estate transactions, such as listings and

When looking for a hairstylist, Raven emphasizes the importance of finding

sales, and property management services. Jessica is a Certified Public Accountant with

someone you can trust. “I believe that this is the most important aspect of sitting

a Certification in Financial Forensics. She has also received the National Association of

in someone’s chair. A great hair salon is not ‘one size fits all.’ Once you’ve found

Realtors’ certifications of Real Estate Negotiation Expert (RENE) and e-PRO. She is also a

the trust in the relationship, you know you’re in the right place.”

licensed real estate broker in Louisiana, Colorado and Pennsylvania.

The CPA consulting firm, Jessica D. LeBlanc, CPA, LLC, is where Jessica provides

One year before she started her business, she began working with a hairstylist business coach. She took the leap into opening up her own salon. “In

financial consulting and accounting services in the areas of business consulting,

this industry you have to be prepared for the unexpected but also ready to take

forensic accounting, litigation support services, and outsourced accounting services.

the risk,” she says. Her hard work has paid off. She has been a studio suite for

Her son, Trey, works as a part-time bookkeeper, helping her with her outsourced

four and a half years, and she was voted Stylist of the Year 2021 for Inside New

accounting, forensic accounting and other consulting matters. Trey is currently

Orleans Magazine. Her success comes from hard work and dedication, earning

attending LSU to obtain his accounting degree. He also works for CPA Realty, LLC,

multiple extension certifications, as well as support from her family.

helping with social media and marketing. Jessica hopes that her 17-year-old daughter, Tristin, will one day join the family business, as well.

“Clients in both of my businesses appreciate our attention to detail,” Jessica says. “They appreciate my openness and that I know the numbers.”

“I want to thank my sister, Anacia, for her continuous support and believing in me more than I believe in myself sometimes. And to my son: “Follow your dreams. I’ll be alongside watching you grow to be successful and happy. I love you both so much!”

To reach Jessica, call 504-812-7105 / 504-812-8807.

Visit Studio Lu Elle at 3348 West Esplanade Ave., Ste. 105.

JessicaLeBlanc.cpa. CPArealtyLLC.com

in Metairie. 504-655-9868. studioluelle.org.

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P A Y M E N T

S Y S T E M S

Flourishes

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1. Vietri large limoni figural bowl. $250. Hilltop Shoppe, 533-9670, hilltopshoppe.com. 2. Silver

Alison L. Burns, MBA, Founder & CEO PRECISION PAYMENT SYSTEMS

Alison got started in payment systems over a decade ago as an outside sales consultant in credit card processing and point-of-sale systems, but she felt her customer service wasn’t at her standards since she had to meet a quota for another company. So, she struck out on her own, enabling her to offer a wider portfolio and provide a more fitting service and solution to her clients’ goals. Her tenacity paid off, and Precision Payment Systems now

flask wrapped in black leather, embossed with the Sazerac House logo. $60. Sazerac House. sazerachouse.com. 3. Sunbetter Tone Smart SPF 68 Compact by Skinbetter Science. Whether it’s around town or by the pool, pop this sunscreen compact in your bag and touch up on the go! Aesthetic Surgical Associates.

3223 8th St #200, Metairie. aestheticsurgical.com. 4. Tic-tactoe inspired art for the gold and acrylic lovers. Fur.nish, 3413 N. Causeway Blvd., Metairie. 702-8514, furnishnola.com.

has seven credit card processors, six point of sale systems, and extends from Florida to Texas and up to Arkansas.

“This business was born out of my Christian faith for serving others,” she says. “I really have a heart for the independent business owner. I want to do right by them and be fair to them with one of their top three overhead expenses.” Her favorite part of running her business is connecting with her clients and providing services that can help their families. “My services improve cash flow, help their businesses grow, and increase revenues.”

In addition to owning her own company, Alison is a member of the Women’s Network in Electronic Transactions, the Electronic Transactions Association, Stay Local NOLA, the leadership council for the National Federation of Independent Businesses in Louisiana and Mississippi, and she is a Certified Payment Professional as of June.

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Precision Payment Systems is located at 1912 Clearview Pkwy, Ste. 201, in Metairie. PrecisionPaymentSystems.com 48

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5. Unique, contemporary Biltmore Approach Copper Lantern.

Available in 3 sizes, 22 to 35 inches, multiple mounting styles and electric or gas options.

Shop at Gulf Coast Lanterns Showroom at 401 N. Columbia St., Covington. 800-910-3275, Gulfcoastlanterns.com. 6. Metropole Five Mini Vase Set. $140. Judy at the Rink. 2727 Prytania St., New Orleans. 891-7018, judyattherink.com. 7. In-Counter Cooling Cylinder by U-Line. Southland Plumbing Supply in Metairie. 504835-8411. SouthlandPlumbingSupplyMetairie.com. 8. Personalize your décor with an outdoor rug.

Stocked in a variety of colors

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and sizes. Prices from $29 to $210. Outdoor Living Center, Covington, 985-893-8008, outdoorlivingcenter.com.

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Inside Look 1

2

1. 29.00ct double-strand diamond rivière necklace in 18K white gold. Boudreaux’s Jewelers. 701 Metairie Rd. 504-831-2602. boudreauxsjewelers.com. 2. Christian Dior Mask Matte Blue Injected Sunglasses with Blue DiorOblique Mirror

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Lenses. Eye Wares. 800 Metairie Rd, Suite Q and 6001 Magazine St. eyewaresnola. com. 3. Citrine Beauty Oil is an antioxidant rich, lightweight beauty oil that can be mixed with foundation for a radiant finish or added to your skincare routine. Makeup by Meggan. makeupbymeggan.com.

4. Aquamarine, Moonstone, Labradorite with Pearl Focal Necklace and Earring Set. $268. Jennifer Ponson Jewelry Design, 850-698-3183, JenniferPonson.com.

5. EltaMD UV Elements Broad-Spectrum SPF 44 is a 100% physical sunscreen in a tinted, moisturizing base. Chemicalfree active ingredients make it gentle on the most sensitive skin types, including post-procedure skin. New Orleans Aesthetics, 504-475-1000, neworleansaesthetics.com.

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6. Anatoli Collection, 18k vermeil and sterling necklace with a sparkly London Blue Topaz briolette with a Freshwater Gray Pearl on a 16-18 inch chain. $175.

Symmetry Jewelers. 504-861-9925, symmetryjewelers. com. 7. 18K 1.50 CT marquise ring “Umeed” designed

By Dr. Tauqeer Imran, $8,212. Ron Jewelers, Kenner, 405-5121, ronjewelers.com. 8. Womens Jacket by

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Tasc Performance Activewear. Money Hill. 100 Country Club Dr. in Abita Springs. moneyhill.com.

9. Natura Bissé Diamond Extreme Serum, reinforced with ingredients that complement the skin’s natural cycles of rebalancing during the day and replenishing at night. $395. Royal Retreat Day Spa, 3571 U.S. Hwy. 190, Mandeville. 985-231-7329, royalretreatdayspa.com. 10. Natura Bissé C+C Vitamin Eye Gel with Ginseng. $68. Royal Retreat Day Spa, 3571 U.S. Hwy. 190, Mandeville. 985-231-7329, royalretreatdayspa.com. 11. Alastin Eye Cream. $90.

New Orleans Center for Aesthetics and Plastic Surgery

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and Dr. Parker Velargo. Plasticsurgerynonla.com.

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Explore Beautiful Money Hill

Abive: Money Hill’s newly renovated golf course.

Right: Pickleball.

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MONEY HILL HAS BEEN lovingly maintained by the Goodyear family for over five generations. Once a lumber tract, a tung oil plantation, and a family campground, it has since transformed into one of the finest private golf and country club communities in the southeast United States over the past 20 years. With two gated entrances, it is just minutes from downtown Covington and only an hour drive from New Orleans. Money Hill offers relaxed sophistication with easy access to nearby shopping, community, and cultural centers. There is over 6,000 acres of pristine landscape located in the hills of St. Tammany Parish for members and residents to enjoy.

Money Hill boasts a fantastically well-maintained golf course with unique topography; it was the number one golf course in the state of Louisiana every year it was open pre-Katrina, and thanks to an extensive and exciting golf course renovation, they expect to be number one again as soon as it’s complete! The undulating contours of terrain offer hills and valleys that provide constant elevation changes throughout the course, which wraps around the 186-acre artesian spring-fed lake.

In addition to golf, Money Hill offers a wonderful mix of activities and amenities such as tennis, pickleball, hiking, biking, fishing, a pool, and more! The state-of-theart fitness center offers everything you’ll need to stay in shape and live a healthy lifestyle, including Yoga, Tai Chi, Cardio Sculpt, Circuit Training and On-demand classes.

It’s accessible to members 24/7 through an after-hours security access system.

If you prefer to exercise—or relax—outdoors, there is an extensive network of Nature Trails and paved roads surrounded by woodlands and pine savannah that is ideal for running, hiking, and biking. Money Hill’s commitment to the environment and to the surrounding nature preserves make the trails a beautiful sight to behold. The tennis courts and pool are a perfect place to practice your backswing, get some cardio, or just relax and have fun.

To give Money Hill’s youngest members the best environment to have fun and grow, you’ll find a myriad

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of options for children to learn and master including golf, tennis, and swim lessons, fishing rodeos, hayrides, bonfires, and more. They are sure to enjoy themselves. In the future, Money Hill will also offer horseback riding lessons and The Nature Conservancy® Wild Walks Nature Tour.

The Clubhouse is a fabulous spot to enjoy and unwind.

The Member’s Lounges, located right next to the locker rooms, are perfect for a small group to relax after a long day of hitting the links. And if all that golfing worked up your appetite, The Grille and its adjoining outdoor covered patio were designed to take advantage of the spectacular sunsets over the beautiful spring-fed lake. The Founder’s Room, in the heart of the clubhouse, plays host to informal gatherings, meetings, work sessions and some friendly rounds of bridge or poker. It is also available for private business lunches, sales meetings, and rehearsal dinners.

Money Hill will soon offer Golf Cottages in which to reside. These golf cottage condos overlook the 10th hole of the championship golf course. With two- and threebedroom options, each four-unit complex will sit at over 100 feet above sea level, as does the entire community.

There are also several Homesites available ranging from Garden Home lots, upwards of 5-acre Estate lots, and while it can take months or even years to integrate into a new area, Money Hill has a built-in community of friends, new and old, where meeting people is incredibly easy.

Next year, Money Hill will celebrate 25 years as a premier golf course community. They invite you to come out, take a tour, and experience the natural beauty and wonder that can only be found at Money Hill. A place like no other.

Culicchia Neurological

e r a C r o Seni g n t i n v e i L m e r and Reti

New Orleans, Jefferson and Northshore 504-340-6976 Culicchianeuro.com Founded in 1961, Culicchia Neurological Clinic provides complete Neuro-Care for the New Orleans and Gulf South Regions.

LCMC Health Urgent Care

Algiers, Gretna, Clearview, Lakeview, Covington, Marrero and Uptown LCMChealthurgentcare.com LCMC Health Urgent Care offers urgent

care and occupational health services as an extension of the LCMC Health family.

Standard services include on-site lab work, x-rays, physicals and immunizations.

and assistance with everyday tasks like bathing, dressing, and medication management. They are opening in September and are currently accepting priority registration.

Money Hill

Thibodaux Regional Medical Center

100 Country Club Dr., Abita Springs 985-892-3300 moneyhill.com With over six thousand acres nestled among the high upland hills of St. Tammany Parish, only minutes from Downtown Covington and an hour from New Orleans, the members and residents of Money Hill enjoy an active lifestyle of relaxed sophistication that has easy access to community and cultural centers nearby.

The Laurel Senior Living

1101 Aline Street, New Orleans 504-350-2244 The Laurel Senior Living offers independent living, assisted living, and New Orleans’ only all-female memory care. They also provide personalized and proactive wellness plans and around-the-clock care, including nurses, security,

602 N. Acadia Rd., Thibodaux 985-447-5500 thibodaux.com At Thibodaux Regional, you are not a number – you are someone who will be treated with respect, cared for with compassion, and treated kindly.

Westside Orthopaedic Clinic

Ralph Katz, MD 1301 Barataria Blvd., Marrero 504-347-0243 westsideortho.com Westside Orthopaedic Clinic is a full service orthopaedic clinic offering a wide array of orthopaedic care and services. Specializing in Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery (including microdiscectomy and lumbar fusions), kyphoplasty, and cervical disc surgery.

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Delgado turns 100!

Above: Ribbon Cutting for the Advanced Technology building at the West Bank Campus in Algiers in August 2021.

Right: Delgado Faculty c.1950.

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DELGADO COMMUNITY COLLEGE celebrates 100 years of service to New Orleans and the surrounding area!

The start of Delgado’s year-long Centennial celebration was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic and Hurricane Ida, but special events and Centennial-themed fundraisers, including selling commemorative engraved bricks that will be installed in a Centennial Courtyard behind Isaac Delgado Hall and an internal giving campaign with Centennial-themed merchandise are now underway. Delgado is also launching the Century Club, which recognizes 100 individuals, past and present, who have made a positive, lasting impact on the college, its community, and its mission.

After opening as the Isaac Delgado Central Trades School in 1921 with about 150 students, Delgado Community College evolved into Louisiana’s first comprehensive community college and became one of the state’s largest higher education institutions, with approximately 20,000 students currently enrolled. There were originally about 30 instructors at the flagship location on City Park Avenue; today, the seven-campus college employs nearly 900 full-time and part-time faculty and staff, most of whom hold advanced degrees across a wide variety of subjects. When Delgado first opened, it was operated by the City of New Orleans, but now it is statesupported and a member of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System. In addition, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges awarded Delgado full accreditation in 1971, which

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gives the college’s academic credentials the same value as those awarded by other SACS-accredited institutions, including nearby Tulane, Loyola, and Xavier Universities, as well as LSU, and the University of New Orleans.

Delgado has undergone a great deal of expanding and improving at many of its locations in the past 10 years. These include the opening a state-of-the-art library and a business-focused learning center at the flagship location on City Park Avenue and replacing and expanding the Sidney Collier location. Most recently, Delgado cut the ribbon on a new Advanced Technology building at the West Bank Campus in Algiers in August 2021.

The Delgado West Bank Campus Advanced Technology Center represents a significant expansion of the 15-acre footprint of the West Bank Campus. The center houses

MindSet …What is it all about?

RN Pinning ceremony, 2014.

all academic STEM programs, including classrooms, laboratories, and faculty offices. The center will primarily focus on the healthcare, petrochemical, digital media, and transportation logistics industries.

It also includes an open common space and meeting spaces.

The investment in the Delgado West Bank Campus Advanced Technology Center gives Delgado the capacity to teach up to 2,000 more students. This expansion is designed to create a workforce pipeline for the West Bank’s industrial needs and ensure access to higher education.

In addition, Delgado plans on opening the Ochsner Center for Nursing and Allied Health at the Delgado City Park Campus in 2023.

Funded by the Ochsner Health gift and by the State of Louisiana, the new building will replace outdated facilities on the City Park Campus as well as the current location of the Charity School of Nursing in downtown New Orleans. The new center will feature modern classrooms, state-of-the-art labs, and a simulated hospital to ensure facilitated collaboration, among many other amenities. In addition to funding the new building, Ochsner is providing $10 million for the Ochsner Scholars program. Delgado Community College produces 1,200 nursing and allied health professionals each year, so this new facility will help give our future healthcare professionals the best tools to enter the workforce with confidence and knowledge in the most recent technologies.

Additionally, a recent study released by Delgado revealed that Delgado has a $588.1 million impact annually in the greater New Orleans region. The study found that, for every dollar they invested in Delgado during fiscal year 2019 to 2020, students will gain $5.30 in future earnings, and taxpayers will gain $6.80 over the course of students’ working lives for every public dollar invested in Delgado.

The study also concluded that Delgado associate degree graduates earn an average of $10,200 more in annual income than people with a high school degree or equivalent.

As well as offering degrees and transferable college credits, Delgado provides diplomas and certificates in many professional and technical areas. Delgado also prioritizes workforce development, as shown in its well-known motto: “Education that works!” Delgado Community College has been a monumental institution in New Orleans for 100 years, and we are excited to share its rich history and stories of its growth, evolution, resilience, and the important role Delgado has played and continues to play in the community.

WHAT IS ALL OF THE HYPE around this new concept of mindset?

Actually, this is not new at all. Mindset has been around forever.

Go back to the Bible and look at numerous stories of individuals being challenged in their thinking. Scripture makes references to how we view and think about things throughout the entire Bible. 2Corinthians 5:7seven (my favorite) “go by faith not sight.”

2Corinthians 4:18 tells us to “look at not what can be seen but what is unseen.” These are just a few. Now, jump forward to current times with athletes, Fortune 500 CEOs, and world leaders all having a mindset of success. The success shared by these individuals is not just a numbers game but all areas of their lives and the impact they make on the world. The only real shift today is that society has discovered its importance and its availability to all.

Mindset work starts with giving yourself permission.

Permission to forgive.

Permission to take time.

Permission to fail (make discoveries).

Permission to MoveOn. Permission to invest in yourself.

Sounds easy, right? Well, for most, it is harder than flipping a switch. Therefore, top athletes, company heads, and world leaders have coaches, advisers and a full support team on their journeys.

The national science foundation reports that an average person has a range of thoughts between 12,000 and 60,000 per day. 80% of these are negative, and 95% are repetitive. OK … example time. Think back to school days. You get called to the principal’s office. What did you think? Your boss wants to meet with you? Your accountant says they need to speak with you?

You hear the words, “we need to talk?” Few without “mindset” work go to a positive thought. So how do you do the work? It starts with daily reflection. I recommend 30 minutes to 1 hour daily. Personally, I schedule one hour of thinking time a day. Our schedules are so busy that we often go through the day without recognizing our thought processes. Thinking time allows us the space to identify negative (faulty) thinking. If we are unable to identify a problem, we are unable to fix it.

It is in our daily thinking that we put up roadblocks and prevent ourselves from moving forward and receiving what is available to us. I know this can sound mystical and mysterious.

There is nothing touchy-feely about what is accessible to all of us. It lies in the evidence-based work that is available to all of us. So go out and get that notebook, get that journal - whatever your preference, but pen and paper is a must! The exercise here engages the visual auditory and the kinetic energy to really leave the mark on our thinking for the positive. If you find thinking stirs up past traumas or concerning feelings, please seek help in the form of counseling. You must know it is there for you. If you are struggling identifying, rewriting, moving forward, and taking action, coaching can help!

To learn more of how to work with me, please feel free to contact me at sharon.a.heno@cox.net.

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INside Peek

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1-3 Attendees at the Sugarplum Ball, which raised a remarkable $1 million for Children’s Hospital New Orleans.

4. Attendees enjoying the Jefferson Chamber of Commerce Black & Gold Gala.

5. Guests enjoying the beautiful Design Symposium held at Longue Vue House and Gardens. 6. Hogs for the Cause 2022 Crowns Children’s Hospital High on the Hog Awards. 7. The 2nd Annual O’Danny Boy Charity Golf Scramble raised over $12,000 for STARC of Louisiana.

8-9 New Orleans Bourbon Fest Dinner hosted by Jo Ann Street with Russell’s and Wild Turkey. 10-11 Bubbles & Bourbon

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Cocktail class with Brunch at Briquette

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Restaurant. 12. Royd Anderson at a documentary screening. He’ll be screening his acclaimed film “Pan Am Flight 759” July 9. 13. La Cocina Nola at the West London BTQ 5-year anniversary party.

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Lark In The Park Lark in the Park celebrated its 40th Anniversary in the expansive New Orleans Botanical Garden on Friday, March 18. Guests enjoyed a glamorous springtime gala experience to celebrate and support New Orleans City Park.

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Ursuline Academy’s La Fete Casino Night Annual La Fete to celebrate and commemorate the 295th year of Ursuline Academy with a Casino Night. Open bar & beverage stations, Music by D1 C- Smith and New Orleans culinary specialties provided by Sage Dining services.

Jefferson Beautification Patron Party Jefferson Beautification Patron Party at the home of Marc & Darlene Robert in Old Metairie. Melinda Bourgeois was the event chair and Nora Vaden Holmes was the Parton Party sponsor.

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Drinks with Anna

by Anna Tusa

TRYING THE NEW PRE-MIXED cocktails and seltzers in a can available in our market has been the most fun and the easiest job this girl has had in a while. I partnered with Republic National Distributors to do some research on the hottest trend in the liquor industry right now. These cans went to French Quarter Fest, a crawfish boil, poolside, and Jazz Fest pre-gaming. After this was over, I truly felt like a SELTZPERT! So, here is the low down on these delicious products: Perfect for poolside, beach, and afternoon sipping was Malibu Cocktail: Pina Colada & Pineapple Bay Breeze. They were refreshing, light, and made with natural flavors. I did not like them straight from the can, but thought they were very delicious over ice. I even added a little more Malibu to the Pina Colada for an extra kick. Other poolside favorites were the Absolut Berry Vodkarita which was sparkling and Absolut Pineapple Martini which was still. Again, these two were light and refreshing and absolutely perfect for our hot summer days. For a quick cocktail, I muddled a few fresh Louisiana strawberries in a glass and then filled with ice and topped with the Absolut Berry Vodkarita. The muddled strawberries added a nice little strawberry touch to the drink.

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Next up was boiled seafood with the Ranch Rider Spirts: Ranch Water and Tequila Paloma.

The Ranch Water was refreshing, light, and offset the spices from the boiled seafood. It is made with reposado tequila, sparkling water, and real lime juice.

I liked the fact that it was a seltzer, had only 1 gram of sugar, was gluten free, and low-carb. It was the perfect balance with all the spices from the boiled crawfish, corn on the cob, and potatoes that a girl could want. Pro tip: this one tasted good in the can.

The Tequila Paloma again was made with reposado tequila, sparkling water, and real grapefruit and lime.

It too was gluten free, low in sugar, and low in carbs.

This Paloma was the perfect after-crawfish- boildrink. It was refreshing, and the acidity of the lime and grapefruit paired perfectly with the tequila. This drink tasted better over ice.

French Quarter Fest and pool-side afternoons were more fun with the Onda Sparkling Tequila Blood Orange and Onda Sparkling Tequila Watermelon. Both were made with tequila and real juice. They had zero sugar and zero carbs. These delicious drinks can keep you hydrated, and they were light enough to enjoy throughout the day and were easy to carry because of their slim design. They easily fit into a can cooler holder which kept it colder longer while wandering around the French Quarter.

photos courtesy: ANNA TUSA

Refreshing Drinks for the New Orleans Heat

INside Peek Pink Soirée Guests who attended the Pink Soiree dressed from head to toe in pink and decorated their tables, luncheon was held at Antoine’s Restaurant in the 12th Night Room.

The same thing held true to this one as well - it tasted better over ice.

Jazz Fest morning got off to the right start with the Tia Maria Cold Brew Iced Coffee Frappe on the walk to the Fairgrounds. This little delicious can packs a mighty punch. It is like an Espresso Martini or an Iced Coffee with a kick, lol. This one did not have a metallic taste while drinking from the can. I did drink another can over ice with a shot of espresso, and it was truly delicious for an afternoon pick me up.

My final cocktail experiment was the Batch & Bottle:

Glenfiddich Scotch Manhattan and Monkey Shoulder Lazy Old Fashioned. These were perfect drinks. Just pour

Brunch & Run for the Roses Attendees enjoying the Brunch & Run for the Roses Kentucky Derby Soirée at the Ritz-Carlton New Orleans.

out of the bottle over ice and serve in a high ball glass. I garnished the Manhattan with a Bordeaux cherry, and for the Old Fashioned, I muddled an orange and Bordeaux cherry first before pouring over ice. These were simple and great. Best of all, they were easy when entertaining guests outdoors.

Bottom line: summertime cocktails just got easier, and there is something for everyone in today’s market.

All these products can be found at Rouse’s, Total Wine, Walmart, or your favorite liquor store. Many bars with outdoor seating are also offering these cocktails as well. I hope everyone enjoys these cocktails, and I look forward to hearing some of your favorites.

Cheers!!!

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Haute Plates

A selection of restaurants and haute dishes found in New Orleans and beyond.

Annunciation

1016 ANNUNCIATION ST.

NEW ORLEANS 504-568-0245

ANNUNCIATIONRESTAURANT.COM Annunciation Restaurant, located in New Orleans’ bustling

Blue Line Sandwich Co. 2023 METAIRIE RD. METAIRIE, LA

BLUELINESANDWICHCO.COM

NEW ORLEANS 504-302-7496

BRIQUETTE-NOLA.COM

Farm fresh breakfasts and lunches at Blue Line Sandwich Co.

distance to the New Orleans

Pictured above is the homemade,

Convention Center and WWII

locally sourced St. Patty’s Day

museum. Specializing in Southern

Massacre Corned Beef sandwich.

and Creole cuisine, Annunciation is

Catering and Delivery available.

evening out or a corporate dinner.

701 SOUTH PETERS ST.

(504) 309-3773

Warehouse District, is walking

the perfect setting for an intimate

Briquette

Award-winning contemporary coastal cuisine featuring Gulf seafood and fish, beef, lamb, chicken, Maine Lobster and unique chef specials daily.

Commons Club VIRGIN HOTEL NEW ORLEANS 550 BARONNE ST.

VIRGINHOTELS.COM/ NEW-ORLEANS

Glazed Tamari Duck Breast at Commons Club. Dinner is served daily at Commons Club from 5pm – 10pm, including Monday & Tuesday!

Everyday Keto To Go

La Cocina Nola

METAIRIE, LA 70001

LACOCINAINFO00@GMAIL.COM

110 ATHANIA PKWY, SUITE B (RIGHT OFF METAIRIE ROAD) 504-957-9033

EVERYDAYKETOTOGO.COM Healthy can be delicious!

Gluten free, Sugar Free, Low Carb and Keto Bakery delivering weekly to New Orleans and surrounding areas including the Northshore!

Everydayketotogo.com or call/text 504-957-9033 to place your order.

305-336-6877

New Orleans Creole Cookery

IN/FB: @LACOCINANOLA

NEW ORLEANS 504-524-9632

Indulge in generation-old Cuban

classics. From Cuban sandwiches with housemade mustard and 13-hour roasted pork to Abuela’s arroz con pollo. Whether it’s a casual family dinner or a 7-course tasting, La Cocina Nola can do it all.

508 TOULOUSE ST.

NEWORLEANSCREOLECOOKERY.COM Experience the traditional Creole

tastes of New Orleans in the historic French Quarter. Specialties include jambalaya, crawfish étouffée, shrimp creole and raw and chargrilled oysters on the half shell. Craft cocktails and signature drinks with Happy Hour, weekdays 3-6pm.

Wetlands Sake 634 ORANGE ST. NEW ORLEANS 504-442-0432

WETLANDSSAKE.COM

Wetlands Sake not only handcrafts

premium sakes using locally grown rice— they also serve up creative and delicious custom cocktails in their taproom! The newest addition to their rotating taplist is theLouisiana Strawberry Filtered Sake..

Find out more at wetlandssake.com and follow them on social media!

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WHAT STARTED OUT as cooking family meals for friends and family during the pandemic quickly turned into a passion for Kathryn Perrin, which then led to a business: La Cocina.

Initially in Miami, Kathryn’s hometown, La Cocina became La Cocina Nola when she and her family moved to Louisiana, although the business still operates in Miami, as well.

Kathryn is no stranger to food, learning how to work her way around the kitchen and the ins and outs of Cuban classics as a young child with the guidance of her great-grandmother, Abuela Nena.

The menu at La Cocina Nola showcases Kathryn’s culturally diverse background and her exemplary culinary skills. As a catering company, La Cocina Nola specializes in meals for large groups. Whether it’s for a family of four who wants a delicious meal to a birthday or wedding party, La Cocina Nola can craft an unforgettable 66

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culinary experience. La Cocina offers Cuban dishes such as lechón and black beans, but also a wide range of meals suited for everyone, including carne asada enchiladas, rosemaryinfused ribeyes, rigatoni, shrimp, salmon, chicken, and so much more.

Of course, one of the staples of a large party is a charcuterie board. The charcuterie boards crafted by La Cocina Nola play with local ingredients (as do all their meals). There are always three different types of cured meats, such as prosciutto and salami; an assortment of both hard and soft cheese from different areas; nuts; honey comb; and local crackers. In addition, she also frequently adds a variety of macaroons or house-made cookies.

Invigorate your next event with La Cocina Nola. 305-336-6877. lacocinainfo00@gmail.com.

Follow on Instagram or Facebook at @lacocinanola.

photo: BRAD FERRAND

Last Bite La Cocina Nola