MARCH 2015
“Sugarplum Ball” Co-Chair Marianna Trepagnier, Vice President and General Manager of Valero, the ball’s honoree, Ralph Phillip, President and CEO of Children’s Hospital Mary Perrin and “Sugarplum Ball” Co-Chair Lisa Happoldt for Children’s Hospital’s “Sugarplum Ball 2015 presents The Classics.”
on the cover
Children’s Hospital opened in 1955 as Crippled Children’s Hospital, a treatment facility for children with polio. Now, as part of its 60th birthday celebration, the hospital will hold the “Sugarplum Ball 2015 presents The Classics” on March 27 on the grounds of the hospital’s State Street campus starting at 8 p.m. Co-Chairs Lisa Happoldt and Marianna Trepagnier promise a sparkling 1950s-inspired
night including a raffle for a necklace valued at $20,000 donated by Valobra Jewelry and Antiques New Orleans, ’50s and ’60s music by Sha’on and the Girls of Success, a tented parking lot transformed into a ’50s-era house, a soda shop featuring soda jerks and a sampling of foods from more than 30 local restaurants. The ball will honor Valero, represented on our cover by Vice President and General Manager of Valero St. Charles Refinery Ralph Phillip, and all proceeds will benefit The Clinical
Outcomes Research Center.
President and CEO of Children’s Hospital Mary Perrin says this black-tie night of bebop and
soda shops is not to be missed. To learn more and to purchase tickets, call 896-9373 or visit CHNola.org. n
Photographed by Jeffery Johnston Special thanks to Director of Public Affairs for Children’s Hospital Cathleen Randon for all of her assistance. saintcharlesavenue.com | 1
contents features 22 Popping Out of the Picture
An enchanting evening brought photos to life at the New Orleans Museum of Art.
24 Exemplary Enology
The Emeril Lagasse Foundation hosted its 10th annual “Carnivale du Vin” to improve the lives of children.
26 SmARTer Through Art
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KID smART paves the way for effective creative learning through the arts.
28 Civic Responsibility
The “Weiss Awards” returned for a 57th year to recognize outstanding local humanitarians.
30 Under the Big Top
“CADA Carnivale” presented a whimsical festival to support area schools.
32 Bright Stars for Bright Futures
Junior Achievement honored Rising Stars to empower young people to economic success.
34 Honoring Historic Houses
The Women’s Exchange celebrated the support of the Historic Houses Society through the years with a fall gala.
36 Moonlight Success
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“Moonlight on the River Gala” celebrated the arts for beneficiaries of Magnolia Community Services, Inc.
38 For Good and Welfare
A sophisticated soirée for the well being of residents at Saint Andrew’s Village.
40 Fighting Modern Slavery
Eden House continues to combat human trafficking and aid survivors of sexual exploitation.
42 Spring for Spring
Ten places to help you update your home for the season
47 Magazine Street: Block-To-Block Shopping
Eleven places to find what you need
76 Debutante Snapshots
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contents
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in every issue 8 Editors’ Note 10 Making a Difference The Youth Empowerment Project changes lives 12 Skin Deep Turn the Clock Back: Using makeup to your (aging) advantage 14 Kids Play From Apps to “Art-chitecuture”: Things to see and do for all
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ages at Longue Vue House and Gardens
16 What’s Hot Home Décor 18 On the Menu
Bountiful Bivalves: Chef Steven Manning of Annunciation’s Fried Oysters With Brie
20 The Dish
My Fleeting Life of Virtue
68 With This Ring Jordan – Heumann 70 Entertaining With Bev
Art, Entertaining and Libations: Two hosts with two different approaches to hosting
72 Young Bloods
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Your Nutrition Delivered: CEO, Erik Frank
73 Student Activist
Audrey Gold Singer: Isidore Newman School
74 Shop Talk
Marcella Peraza: Owner, Cella’s Boutique
75 Shop Talk
Emile Tujague, Owner and Trainer, SMX Training
76 Snapshots 84 OnStage Calendar 88 Nostalgia Moving Joan: The history of Joan of Arc’s statue in
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New Orleans
New Orleans’ definitive social magazine March 2015 / Volume 19 / Issue 10
Editorial Executive Editor Bev Church Editor Morgan Packard Art Director Sarah George contributing editor Mirella Cameran Beauty Columnist Cat Wall Society Columnist Marilee Hovet Food & Dining Columnist Jyl Benson Associate Editor Melanie Warner Spencer web Editor Kelly Massicot advertising senior Account Executive Brittany Brady (504) 830-7248, Brittany@MyNewOrleans.com
Account Executive Kaleigh Porcelli (504) 830-7226, Kaleigh@MyNewOrleans.com
Production/Web Manager Staci McCarty Production DesignerS Ali Sullivan, Monique Di Pietro traffic manager Erin Duhe Administration Chief Executive Officer Todd Matherne President Alan Campell Executive Vice President/Editor-in-Chief Errol Laborde vice president of sales Colleen Monaghan DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND EVENTS Cheryl Lemoine Distribution Manager John Holzer Subscriptions Sara Kelemencky (504) 830-7231 ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Denise Dean
A Publication of Renaissance Publishing, LLC Printed in USA 110 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Ste. 123 Metairie, LA 70005 (504) 828-1380 The entire contents of this magazine are copyrighted by Renaissance Publishing, LLC, Š 2014 with all rights reserved. Reproduction or use, without permission, of editorial or graphic content in any manner is prohibited. St. Charles Avenue is not responsible for photos or artwork and assumes that all releases have been cleared upon submission to the magazine. St. Charles Avenue is published monthly by Renaissance Publishing, LLC, 110 Veterans Blvd., Ste. 123, Metairie, La. 70005, (504) 828-1380. It is the policy of this magazine to employ people on the basis of their qualifications and with assurance of equal opportunity and treatment regardless of race, color, creed, sex, age, sexual orientation, religion, national origin or handicap.
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Editors’ Note
New Views Children’s Hospital has been a life saver for so many of us through the years, and the “Sugarplum Ball” is their primary fundraiser –we’re so excited to present it to you on our March cover – and all funds raised this year will benefit The Clinical Outcomes Research Center! Can you believe Children’s Hospital is 60 years old? Thanks so much to co-chairs Lisa Happoldt and Marianna Trepagnier, and to President and CEO of Children’s Hospital Mary Perrin and Vice President and General Manager of this year’s honoree, Valero St. Charles Refinery, Ralph Phillip for being on the cover! The “2015 Sugarplum Ball presents
The Classics” on March 27 will begin at 8 p.m. and will be held at their State Street Campus at 210 State St. Lisa and Marianna promise a night of 1950s-inspired fun with a raffle for a necklace valued at $20,000 donated by Valobra Jewelry and Antiques New Orleans, ’50s and ’60s music by Sha’on and the Girls of Success, a tented parking lot transformed into a ’50s-era house, a soda shop featuring soda jerks and a sampling of foods from more than 30 local restaurants. There are still sponsor levels available and tickets; call 896-9373 or visit CHNola.org now to reserve yours. Children’s Hospital is the only full service
hospital exclusively for children in Louisiana and the Gulf South and really deserves our support! Mardi Gras is over but we are featuring four wonderful debutante parties honoring: Scout Beron, Grace Catherine Cary, Eleanor Davis, Ellie George, Elizabeth Hines, Isabel Irvine, Maddy Livaudais and Lane Porter. It is such fun to see how each party represents the girls and their personalities – what a year! Every time I go down Magazine Street, there’s another new store or restaurant, so be sure to check out our feature for everything you need for spring fundraisers and workout clothes to jewelry, shoes and more from 11 of the best places. All of us love to spruce up our houses or condos with a new twist. What’s Hot is featuring home décor, and we also have a feature on home renewal. I want to thank everyone who gave to the Sterling Everidge family, and his website is still up and their family still needs help! Visit GoFundMe.com/js529c to contribute. Thanks again to writer Katy Reckdahl for sharing their story in The Advocate.
I am excited each year to see the often lavish and always extraordinary parties New Orleans debutantes and their families throw each year. I was a deb in Dallas, and it was a time I greatly enjoyed and will always fondly remember. This year we feature four fabulously varied parties, and each will give you great ideas for future events. This month is chock-ablock with amazing events for nonprofits, from the Legacy Donor Foundation to the Preservation Resource Center, to the UNCF, NCJW, NOMA and so many more. Do what you can to support these programs that support our city. One last thing: March and April are the busiest months of the year in terms of nonprofit events. We do our best to inform you about all the fundraising happenings around town, but we can’t do it alone. If you haven’t already, please submit your event to our magazine by filling out the form found at this link as completely as possible: MyNewOrleans.com/ St-Charles-Avenue/Submit-aCharitable-Event/. Morgan Packard
Bev Church
Check out the picture of the City Year teachers (pictured here are Program Manager at Joseph S. Clark Spencer Nessel, Javon Bracy, Maria Dambriunas, Caitlin Riddle, Jasmine Sanville, Kristen Watkins, Kelly Manske, Michael Dodson and James Gutsch) who are doing so much to help our students succeed! Corps members are highly trained interventionists who act as tutors, mentors and role models alongside teachers to make sure that our kids stay in school. They teach math and literacy to students who are one to two grade levels behind. I had the group from Clark high school over for dinner and am so impressed with these bright young college graduates who are giving up a year in their lives to help underperforming children in our schools! City Year’s “School House Rocks” is April 9 at Rosy’s Jazz Hall, 500 Valence St., 6 to 9 p.m., honoring Dr. Scott Cowen and Dr. Norman Francis! To purchase tickets, call 302-5063 or visit CityYear.org/New-Orleans/Events/School-House-Rock.
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events March 1 Sixth annual “Recycled Fashion Show,” benefiting Bridge House/Grace House, 821-7134 6 “Julia Jump – Our City, Our Home,” benefiting the Preservation Resource Center, 581-7032, PRCNO.org 7 “Soul Revival,” benefiting Legacy Donor Foundation, 588-8900, SoulRevivalOnline.com 7 “Paint the Town Green,” benefiting Raintree Children and Family Services, 899-9045 8 “Celebration: A Treasure Odyssey,” benefiting the Children’s Museum of St. Tammany, (985) 246-4714 13 “Lark in the Park,” benefiting Friends of City Park, 483-9369, FriendsOfCityPark.com/ Events/LarkInThePark.htm 14 “UNCF Mayor’s Masked Ball,” benefiting the United Negro College Fund, 581-3794 15 “Puttin’ On The Glitz … A Gem Of A Party,” benefiting the National Council of Jewish Women, Greater New Orleans Section, 782-4091 15 “2015 Light of Hope GALA,” benefiting Court Appointed Special Advocates Jefferson, Inc., 533-8757 18 “Spring Benefit,” benefiting Lighthouse Louisiana, 899-4501, extension 230 18-19 “Art in Bloom: New Orleans by Design,” benefiting the New Orleans Museum of Art, 658-4100 19 “’The Great Outdoors’ Patron Party,” benefiting The Secret Gardens Tour (719) 306-6871
20-27 “2015 Entrepreneur Season,” benefiting The Idea Village, 858-3806, Cameron@ ideavillage.org 21 “Leukemia Cup Regatta Party,” benefiting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, 837-0945 21 “The Secret Gardens Tour 2015,” (719) 306-6871 21 “Fêtes des Chefs,” benefiting The John Besh Foundation, FestesDesChefs. com 21-28 “New Orleans Fashion Week,” 628-3223 25-29 “Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival,” 581-1144 26 “An Edible Evening,” benefiting the Edible Schoolyard New Orleans, 421-1060 26 “Crimestoppers Annual Luncheon,” benefiting Crimestoppers GNO, 837-8477 27 “Sugarplum Ball 2015 presents ‘The Classics,’” benefiting Children’s Hospital, 896-9373 27-28 “Hogs for the Cause,” HogsForTheCause.org 28 Fourth annual “Keeping Our Promises Gala,” benefiting the Daughters of Charity Foundation of New Orleans, 212-9568 28 “Louisiana Children’s Museum’s World’s Fair Presented by DOW,” 266-2415, LCM.org 28 “NOMA Egg Hunt,” benefiting the New Orleans Museum of Art, 658-4100 28 “New Orleans Film Society Gala,” NewOrleansFilmSociety.org
saintcharlesavenue.com | 9
making a difference
By marilee hovet
The Scope of Support The Youth Empowerment Project changes lives It is hard to believe that the Youth Empowerment Project is only 11 years old. Curious as to how the organization has made such great strides in a relatively short time, I asked Melissa Sawyer, YEP’s Executive Director and one of its founders, to tell me about its early days. Sawyer, along with two of her colleagues, conceived of YEP in the course of their work at the Juvenile Justice Project of Louisiana. Its initial mission, which has significantly broadened since its inception, was to provide support to kids who were trying to find their way forward after getting into trouble and, consequently, entering the juvenile justice system. The national statistics on recidivism among young people in this country are alarming; New Orleans, unfortunately, is no
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exception. And then there’s the question of safety. As difficult as it is to imagine, some of the kids who ended up in juvenile correctional facilities were safer there than they were on the streets, and YEP’s founders lost many young people who became victims of violent crime upon their release from incarceration. It was in the face of that reality that the Youth Empowerment Project was founded in 2004, as the first program in Louisiana to support children exiting from jail. The scope of YEP’s services is impressive; it has an annual budget of over $3 million, serves more than 1,000 young people, operates eight different programs and has seven sites throughout the New Orleans area. But what those numbers, as compelling as they are, don’t necessarily convey
is that YEP has likely saved the lives of some of those kids – and has profoundly changed the lives of many more. The vast majority of young people who participate in YEP’s programs come on their own volition, although this isn’t always the case. One of the organization’s most inspiring stories begins with a young man who, not that long ago, was facing jail time. Ordered by a judge to either go to jail or enter YEP’s NOPLAY program (New Orleans Providing Literacy to All Youth) to get his GED, he chose YEP. After successfully reaching his educational goals, he found that he was
in a unique position to help others do the same. This man is now a full time YEP staff member who supports other young people to make positive life choices and attain their goals, and he has become a vocal advocate for underserved youth. There are many components that help to explain the success of YEP. The critical ingredient, however, seems to be its underlying premise that, with the proper support and opportunities, young people – even those who are most at-risk for adverse life outcomes – can change the course of their lives. And that’s how YEP is making a difference. n
Heard something interesting for “making A difference?” If so, please send it to: St. Charles Avenue, 110 Veterans Blvd., Suite 123, Metairie, LA 70005 or email with the subject line “Making A Difference” Morgan@MyNewOrleans.com
saintcharlesavenue.com | 11
skin deep
By Cat Wall
Skip Tinted Face Powder Covering
your skin in powder can mean the difference between a fresh face and a dull one. In other words, skip it. If you feel naked without powder, use a translucent, light-diffusing powder – nothing tinted – to set your base. We have found Sonia Kashuk Barely There Looser Powder does the trick.
Show Off Your Bone Structure After years of smiling into a mirror to isolate the apples of your cheeks, you can now give it a rest. Women lose fat in their face as they age. So take advantage of it: Rub your blush along the highest points of your cheekbones – it makes your bone structure stand out.
Tweeze, But Only If You Absolutely Must
Turn the Clock Back Using makeup to your (aging) advantage There are so many ways you can turn back the clock with makeup. Below are 14 that will make the biggest difference in the shortest amount of time:
Moisturize (Duh!) Obvious, but it bears repeating because all other steps are worthless if you don’t do this one. Before you even think of applying makeup – as in while your skin is still damp from cleansing – slather on a moisturizer. Choose Liquid Concealer As you age,
you have more to conceal, but it can draw attention to lines. You want a product that hides redness and circles without getting cakey, and that means you want a liquid cover-up in a click pen. The light reflectors in Yves Saint Laurent
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Touche Eclat blur imperfections and give skin a luminous look. Buy a Yellow(ish) Foundation Not
Big Bird yellow, just yellowish. Yellow warms up the skin, and the warmer your skin looks, the younger it looks.
Use a Sponge or Brush You may
be tempted to cover up every imperfection with foundation: Don’t. A damp sponge or brush is your new best friend (we swear by the BeautyBlender, but any wedge one will do). Wet your sponge under the faucet, squeeze out the water and put a dab of foundation on the back of your hand. Pick up the foundation you need with the tip and apply it in dabbing motions on your face.
As you age, your face becomes more asymmetrical, but it’s a big mistake to try to correct it by reshaping your brows. Tweezing too much won’t reshape anything – it’ll just make your brows thinner. If you tweeze at all, just clean up the most obvious errant hairs. If you need more shaping than that, go to a professional. Choose a Light Brow Pencil When
you’re filling in your brows, use a pencil that’s a shade lighter than your natural coloring (if you’re blonde, go one shade darker), and hold it at a 45-degree angle, as opposed to perpendicular to the skin. The strokes will be softer, and the brows will look more natural. We like Anastasia Brow Pencils at Sephora.
Curl Your Lashes If you’re over 35, you need to be curling your lashes since eyelashes flatten as you age. Even if you skip mascara, curling your lashes makes your eyes look bigger and brighter.
Apply Eye Shadow Base Patting the tiniest dab of eye-shadow base or primer on the lids before your shadow will keep it in place; this is especially important if your lids have even the slightest wrinkles. A really good option to try is Smashbox Photo Finish Lid Primer.
Wear Brown Eyeliner You have been using black eyeliner since college, you wear it every day and you could apply it with your eyes closed (and probably do). It is time to end that relationship. Deep brown has the impact of black, but looks less jarring. It gives you all the intensity, but in a more sophisticated, subtle way. Draw the pencil along the upper lashes only, and “lift” the lines at the outer corners with a cotton swab – flicking the liner up at the outer corners with the cotton swab to create the tiniest wings. It is an easy way of opening up the eyes. Don’t Shy Away from Shimmer A bit
of soft shimmer is flattering as you get older because it brings light to the face. A woman’s skin starts to lose its inherent radiance when she hits her 30s. Dab a very sheer formula just on the cheekbones, not on the brow bones, the apples of the cheeks or the lips. It adds a very subtle, youthful and pretty dimension to your features. Try Giorgio Armani Fluid Sheers in No. 2 for a stunning champagne shade perfect for light skin, or No. 10, a golden beige, for medium to dark tones.
Choose a Lengthening Mascara
Lashes get thinner as you age, so conventional wisdom says you need a thickening mascara to bulk them up. But common wisdom is wrong – your lashes can’t support the extra weight. Instead, use a lengthening mascara, like Lancome Definicils High Definition Mascara, which tends to be lighter on the lashes, and look for mascaras with thin wands so you can easily coat each lash.
Switch to Nude Lips It is a fact that as we age our lips get smaller, especially the upper lip. The best approach is to stick to shades that enhance your natural lip tone, rather than bringing attention to the area. Look for something between your natural lip color and a berry shade that will just boost your natural tone. I have stood by Clinique’s Pink Chocolate for years; I have a tube in every handbag. n
saintcharlesavenue.com | 13
kids play
By lynne gibbons
From Apps to “Art-chitecture” Things to see and do for all ages at Longue Vue House and Gardens You may not immediately recognize the names Edith and Edgar Stern, but I’m confident that you’re familiar with one or more of their many contributions to our city. If you’ve heard of Dillard University, Metairie Park Country Day School, Newcomb Nursery School or Longue Vue House and Gardens, then you’ve heard about some of the philanthropic endeavors of the Sterns. Recipients of The Times-Picayune Loving Cup awards in 1930 and ’64, the Sterns began building the beautiful house at 7 Bamboo Road in the late ’30s and named it Longue Vue after the location of their marriage engagement, the Longue Vue teahouse on the Hudson River in New York.
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Longue Vue isn’t only a testament to the Sterns’ love of beautiful architecture and exquisite gardens, but it’s also a testimony to their commitment to the education of children. An admission ticket grants you access to 12 rooms on the first floor and nine rooms on the second floor of the main house, and 14 garden destinations. If this sounds a bit overwhelming and you want to be certain that you don’t miss the Wrapping Room, the Blue Room or the Drawing Room, I highly recommend the Longue Vue App; that’s right, as rooted in tradition and history as Longue Vue is, it also offers the modern convenience of a free app for iPhones and androids. With approximately eight acres to explore, you’ll appreciate
the benefit of tour tips from the assistant curator and the head groundskeeper right on your phone. Not to take anything away from touring the house and the gardens, but the real treasure of Longue Vue, in my opinion, lies in the special events on their calendar and the many educational opportunities offered. The website offers a detailed monthly outline of the children’s activities available. You can find the specific days and times for the Kinder Garden, Little Masters and Little Diggers. Kinder Garden offers tots 18 months to 3 years old and their accompanying adult the chance to play, sing and dig in the Discovery Garden. These workshops don’t require pre-registration, so if your baby wakes up cranky, your plan for the day can easily change! For the slightly older set, kids 2 1/2 to 5 years old, Little Masters offers the chance to sketch and draw in the beauty of the outdoor garden with stretching and yoga incorporated into the experience. You will also notice that the calendar denotes special seasonal events. Since Easter is right around the
corner, you won’t want to miss the always-popular Annual Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 21. The members-only hour is from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., with public hours beginning at 12:30 p.m. Tickets are available online. Either way, your little ones are sure to head home with an overflowing basket. Of course, Longue Vue offers engaging and interesting field trips for class groups of grades Pre-K to fifth grade in the Outdoor Classroom, and grades first-12th in the historic house. They also offer workshops specifically designed for the Girl Scout set. The activities range from “Etiquette Teas” for the Daisy troops, to “Insect Investigations” for the Junior troops, to “Tree Naturalist” workshops for the Girl Scout Cadettes. Participants can earn the “bug badge” and the “gardener badge” as well as the “Longue Vue” badge. Longue Vue is also a unique place to host your child’s birthday party. Parties take place on Saturdays and Sundays in the Discovery Center, with activities for children ranging in age from 2 to 10. You may also want to consider Longue Vue as a fun, unique summer camp option. They offer seven one-week sessions, each with a different theme such as “A Bug’s Life”, “Exploratory Photography” and “Art-chitecture”. Registration for Longue Vue members is underway and begins for non-members on March 2. Longue Vue is one of the most serene and peaceful places in the city, but don’t be fooled. There is a vast multitude of things to do and see for all ages. Workshop and event descriptions, age groups, prices and registration information are available on the website LongueVue.com. n photo by cheryl gerber
saintcharlesavenue.com | 15
what’s hot
by amy gabriel
Home Décor
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Spring has sprung in New Orleans and your home is primed for a seasonal transition. Weaving in a few key décor pieces can seamlessly give your living space a breath of fresh air. Out with the Mardi Gras gold and in with these dreamy new hues to instantly have your house refreshed to impress.
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1. The oil on canvas “Cupid and Psyche” by François Fressinier is an instant conversation starter for guests. Martin Lawrence Galleries, 433 Royal St., 299-9055, MartinLawrence.com 2. A glamorous French mirror with embellished floral detail makes for an ideal addition to any living room. Dop Antiques, 300 Jefferson Highway, 373-5132, DopAntiques.com 3. Created by Jennifer Grehan, the Mardi Gras toile design on her pillows illustrates the pageantry of vintage New Orleans-inspired revelry. Judy at the Rink, 2727 Prytania St., 891-7018 4. For a picturesque porch setting, this five-foot turquoise slatted-back bench will be your new relaxation spot for sunsets. Better yet, the functional piece even offers storage space for picnic blankets or garden tools. Brian’s Furniture, 515 Court St. Port Allen, (225) 346-0896, BriansFurniture.com 5. Subtle and romantic, the oil on canvas “Park” by Kevin Gillentine is a piece to pursue for any room in your
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Kevin gillentine photo by trent spann; select photos by cheryl gerber
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home. Kevin Gillentine, 3917 Magazine St., 891-0509, KevinGillentine.com 6. Curl up with a book by the light of this antique iron lamp with a lovely ornate base in blue. Rug Chic, 4240 Louisiana 22, (985) 674-1070, RugChic.com 7. Metallic taper candles from Oak Forest Design add a little spark and sparkle to your dinner table or mantel. The Linen Registry, 204 Metairie Road, 831-8228 8. A piece to covet, this modular-style chevron chest of deep drawers is the perfect place to keep your essentials. The oak chest features a herringbone pattern and is finished in Honey Oak and Havana Oak with antique nickel accents. Abode, 2114 Veterans Memorial Blvd., 266-2135, ShopAtAbode.com 9. A hosting dream, the Buccellati coffee service, consisting of a tray, coffee bowl, creamer and sugar, in sterling silver with wood handles, makes for an elegant cafe au lait moment. Matthew Clayton Brown, 1724 Saint Andrew St., 522-5058, MClaytonBrown.com
saintcharlesavenue.com | 17
on the menu
REcipe Fried Oysters With Brie 8 large Louisiana oysters Peanut oil for frying Corn flour Corn meal French Brie (rather firm and not too ripe) ½ pound spinach leaves, cleaned Salt and pepper to taste Drain oysters well. Sauté spinach in a small amount of butter for 2 to 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Drain well. Mix corn flour with a small amount of corn meal (the corn meal is just for a little crunch). Trim rind off the sides of Brie, but leave the top rind intact. Cut into 8 1-inch squares. Season the oysters with salt and pepper and fry them in peanut oil at 360 degrees until crispy. Place four “coins” of sautéed spinach on each plate and top with one fried oyster. Flatten each square of the Brie slightly with your thumb and press down gently over each oyster with the white facing up. Place plates in a hot oven until the Brie melts and starts to run down on to the spinach.
Bountiful Bivalves Chef Steven Manning of Annunciation’s Fried Oysters With Brie
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Annunciation 1016 Annunciation St., 568-0245
jeffery johnston photograph
saintcharlesavenue.com | 19
the dish
By jyl benson
Market Vegetable Salad at Coquette
TRY THIS Emeril’s Lunch Crunch Menu offers three courses in 30 minutes or less for $22.50 – a bargain for fresh, inventive food from a restaurant celebrating its 25th anniversary this month! The menu recently included a choice of gumbo or soup of the day and one of two salads; a petite hot Chorizo Po-boy; Bucatini pasta with grilled shrimp, chanterelles, tasso, corn, fresh basil, and ricotta salata; or a zesty okra and tomato stew topped with rainbow trout. Desserts ranged from sinful vanilla bean crème brûlée and chocolate peanut butter mousse cake to a relatively virtuous trio of fresh fruit sorbets.
Cafe my blood will be moving
My Fleeting Life of Virtue If, as they say, the definition of insanity is repeating the same action and expecting a different result, then I’m the Mad Hatter and I throw the same tea party every year. I begin every New Year by kicking carbs and hitting the gym so I can look my best in order to compete with teenagers for beads during Carnival. My health kick is motivated purely by vanity and immaturity. By the Thursday before Mardi Gras, when Muses lines up on Jefferson Avenue just 10 feet from my house, I’ve either met my goal and I’m ready to 20 | St. Charles Avenue March 2015
party, or I haven’t met my goal and I’m ready to give up and just score beads with brute force. Either way, that’s the night I hit the house party buffet that runs the length of the Uptown parade route. On the menu: dark gumbos, fried chicken galore, all manner of King Cakes, beaucoup wine and muchas tacky daiquiris sipped from Styrofoam cups. By the time I start Mardi Gras morning with
pickled-vegetable-and-vodkaheavy-Bloody Marys from Mimi’s in the Marigny and a slice of stewed apple and goat cheese King Cake (my fave!) from the Cake
like sludge through my veins. Ash Wednesday ushers in a clean phase. In all honestly, thusly poisoned, I look forward to this annual cleanup almost as much as I enjoy the “Poison Fest” that necessitates it. Judging by the crowds gravitating toward light and fresh fare, I have plenty of company. The line was out the door on a recent chilly morning at Carmo where the newly reformed were sipping Acerola cherry and cupuaça juices and munching fermented Burmese Tea Leaf salads (with dried beans, peas and seeds, cabbage, chilies, shrimp and peanuts) and Rico “sandwiches” (grilled plantains topped with smoked pork, salsa fresca and a zesty sauce). I love the Market Vegetable salad at Coquette so much that I could turn my back on the friend chicken if it were offered at every house party I attend. This utterly beautiful, highly textured salad is a feast for all senses and it makes the very best of fresh, seasonal produce that’s jumbled together in shaved raw and pickled incarnations and married with
citrus vinaigrette, cashew purée and crumbled black olive praline that
provides a crunch as satisfying as fried chicken skin – and it’s exponentially easier to live with as it requires no rationalizations. Pastry chef Zack Miller’s mixed board of sweet and savory pastries
is another matter altogether. That must be rationalized with an extra helping of salad and washed down with a satsuma soda. With roasted walnuts, Granny
Smith apples, sultanas, celery, red onion and red seedless grapes tossed in a Greek yogurt dressing and served over mesclun greens with a pepper jelly vinaigrette, Wayfare’s Chicken Waldorf salad
looked delicious, but it was off limits. But a quick switcheroo from the on-menu coleslaw dressing to a red wine and blood orange infused olive oil vinaigrette made the Giardiniera Pork salad work for me! With spicy pulled pork, hard-boiled eggs and pickled vegetables, this is probably the most unusual and wholly satisfying salad I’ve encountered on my newfound – and short-lived, here comes Jazz Fest! – quest to live a life of virtue. n
Cake Cafe, 2440 Chartres St., 943-0010, NolaCakes.com Carmo, 527 Julia St., 875-4132, CafeCarmo.com Coquette, 2800 Magazine St., 265-0421, CoquetteNola.com Emeril’s, 800 Tchoupitoulas St., 528-9393, Emerils.com Mimi’s in the Marigny, 2601 Royal St., 872-9868, MimisInTheMarigny.net Wayfare, 4510 Ferret St., 309-0069, WayfareNola.com
sara essex bradley photograph
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philanthropic fun
by shelby simon
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Popping Out of the Picture An enchanting evening brought photos to life at the New Orleans Museum of Art. The theme of this year’s “Odyssey Ball” was based around the exhibition “Photorealism: The Sydney and Walda Besthoff Collection,” an extensive collection of artworks from the late 1960s until modern day. The collection featured a variety of compelling subject matter from cityscapes to portraits and lifelike close-ups of inanimate objects. Event Chairs included Juli Miller Hart, Margo Dubos, Gayle Benson and Britton Sanderford. Guests were treated to a nostalgic Café NOMA transformed into a K&B diner, which offered grilled cheese sandwiches, chocolate milkshakes and nectar cream sodas in K&B and NOMAbranded cups. Inspired by a piece in the show of a toy featuring a tough guy on a motorcycle, there was a whimsical Young Fellows Biker Bar where a screening of the film Easy Rider took place, complete with a flash tattoo stand, motorcycles for people to pose on and casual snacks such as sliders and truffle fries. In the French galleries next to the Marie Antoinette portrait by Elizabeth Vigeé-Lebrun were whimsical French desserts inspired by the queen’s famous quote, “Let them eat cake.” Dinner was served on the second floor, and tables for dining were set up throughout the galleries. Also inspired by a piece in the exhibition of a pinball game, there were several pinball games set up in the Modern and Contemporary Gallery, which people of all ages played throughout the night. There were both silent and live auctions, which included dozens of highly valued packages. The World War II Museum’s Band “Jump, Jive and Wail” and DJ Nikki Penny provided music, and Ralph Brennan Group contributed catering. Close to 1,000 people were in attendance, and the money raised benefits NOMA’s arts education initiatives. n
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event at a glance What: “Odyssey Ball,” benefiting New Orleans Museum of Art When: Friday, November 7 Where: New Orleans Museum of Art
1. Co-Chairs Juli Miller Hart, Britton Sanderford, Margo DuBos and Gayle Benson 2. Walda Besthoff, Robert Shelton, Sydney Besthoff and Jolie Shelton 3. Ben and Donna Rosen with Director Susan Taylor 4. Valerie Besthoff, Tommy Westervelt, Margaret Beer and Price LeBlanc 5. Glendy Forster, Phyllis Taylor and Dana Hansel 6. Jennifer Lausha and Jane Scott Hodges
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photographed by Jeff Strout
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philanthropic fun
by shelby simon
Exemplary Enology
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The Emeril Lagasse Foundation hosted its 10th annual “Carnivale du Vin” to improve the lives of children. The nationally acclaimed wine auction and gala dinner “Carnivale du Vin” was held at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans. Upon arrival at the navy carpet, guests received a glass of Brut Premier at the Champagne Reception by Louis Roederer. Visiting guest chefs Jimmy Bannos Jr., Jimmy Bannos Sr., Michelle Bernstein, Roy Choi showcased their talents with a spectacular four-course meal paired with wine from Patz & Hall, Merry Edwards, Post Parade and Broadbent. Guests dined on tables adorned with navy and gold pintuck linen with four spectacular Waterford crystal glasses at each place setting, ready to receive the perfectly paired wine selections with each course. The silent auction was the foundation’s largest yet, offering more than 80 wine lots and 90 luxury goods and travel experiences, which were displayed on tiered shelving running the length of the tables covered in midnight blue linen, dendrobium blooms and glistening twinkle lights. Ty Pennington served as emcee throughout the event. Meschiya Lake and the Little Big Horns played the reception music, and Michael Cavanaugh, Broadway actor of musical Movin’ Out, performer and musician, provided the feature entertainment. Each guest received a lapel pin commemorating the 10th anniversary “Carnivale du Vin,” a collectible tradition each year. Gift bags featured a special cookbook called The Pot and The Palette Cookbook by George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts and Louisiana Restaurant Association Education Foundation, along with notecards from St. Michael Special School, a bloody Mary spice blend from NOCCA Culinary Students, FIJI water, Emeril’s coffee and spices, a Lenox crystal votive and chocolates from Jacques Torres. The Emeril Lagasse Foundation celebrated a major milestone with the 10th anniversary of “Boudin, Bourbon & Beer” and “Carnivale du Vin,” a weekend of fundraising for children’s charities that raised $2.25 million this year. n
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event at a glance What: “Carnivale du Vin,” benefiting the Emeril Lagasse Foundation When: Saturday, November 8 Where: Hyatt Regency New Orleans
1. Chef Chris and Amy Wilson with chef and host Emeril Lagasse 2. Soheila and Fred Holley with Molly Loubiere 3. Michelle Becker, Jen Todd and Jilly Lagasse 4. Brian Kish, Michael Thompson, Mark Stein and Mark Romig 5. Sarah Forman and Jeff Hinson 6. Chefs Roy Choi, Michelle Bernstein and Jimmy Bannos
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photographed by Jeff Strout
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philanthropic fun
by shelby simon
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SmARTer Through Art KID smART paves the way for effective creative learning through the arts. KID smART celebrated its 15th anniversary in 2014, and its annual “Cocktails for KID smART” honored founders Allison Stewart and Campbell “Hutch” Hutchinson; former Board Chairmen Melanee Usdin, Don Massey and R. Campbell Hutchinson; and current Board Chairman Celeste Coco-Ewing. Caroline Calhoun and Stephanie Huger served as Co-Chairs of the Event. Raine Bedsole was Featured Artist at the event and also was celebrating a recent notable exhibit at Callan Contemporary Gallery. Sponsors and Patrons of the event received a special edition, signed and numbered giclée of Bedsole’s work “Blue Coral.” Perfect autumn weather meant that French doors were opened to the wrap-around porches of the Hugers’ home. Caroline Calhoun and Pam Dongieux had filled the home with roses from Calhoun’s garden. The arrangement for the buffet table in the dining room featured ranunculus and seasonal fall foliage setting off magnificent roses; smaller arrangements of roses and ranunculus graced almost every table. Guests were encouraged to get in the KID smART spirit by participating in hands-on arts activities led by KID smART teaching artists in Huger’s ceramics studio. Almost 200 guests feasted on edibles from Joel Catering and Special Events and enjoyed cocktails with spirits provided by The Sazarac Company. David Pulphus and Friends provided the music. Cocktails for KID smART raised 115 percent of its goal, gaining over $100,000 to support the agency’s mission to engage children in dynamic, creative and rigorous learning through the arts. n
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event at a glance What: “Cocktails for KID smART” When: Thursday, November 6 Where: Home of Stephanie and Jim Huger
1. Co-Chair Caroline and Murray Calhoun with hosts Co-Chair and Board Member Stephanie and Jim Huger 2. Executive Director Echo Olander, Honoree and former Board Chair R. Campbell Hutchinson, Honoree and Co-Founder Allison Stewart and Honoree and Board Member R. Campbell Hutchinson 3. Steve and Honoree and Former Board Chair Melanee Usdin 4. Board Members Lisa Puckett Sinders, Scott Howard and Ann Rabin 5. Board Member Phil Gunn with Gretchen and Joel Dondis 6. Amanda and former Board Chair Don Massey
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photographed by Kenny Martinez
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philanthropic fun
by shelby simon
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Civic Responsibility The “Weiss Awards” returned for a 57th year to recognize outstanding local humanitarians. The New Orleans Council for Community and Justice celebrated the 57th annual “Weiss Awards” with an exciting event that honored five significant community members whose civic and humanitarian contributions to the furtherance of human dignity are an outstanding example to be followed. This year, NOCCJ recognized Gayle M. Benson, Dickie Brennan, Rabbi Edward Paul Cohn, Dr. Karen DeSalvo, Irvin Mayfield Jr. and Ashton J. Ryan Jr. The Hyatt Regency New Orleans, decorated in elegant silver and gold décor, easily accommodated the 325 supporters of NOCCJ’s programming. The All Around Brass Band and DJ Matsy played festive tunes throughout the evening. Mayor Mitch Landrieu greeted all of the guests and honorees at the Patron Party cocktail hour, which offered attendees the opportunity to meet and greet people from all facets of the diverse New Orleans crowd. The auction included more than 20 outstanding prizes, including autographed sports equipment by Drew Brees and Anthony Davis; paintings by distinguished artists; gift certificates to local stores and restaurants; vouchers for staycations in acclaimed local hotels; gift baskets; jewelry; tickets to museums and shows, and more. The “Weiss Awards” serves as the principal fundraiser for human relations programs that benefit young people and adults of our community. n
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event at a glance What: Fifty-seventh annual “Weiss Awards” benefiting NOCCJ When: Wednesday, November 5 Where: Hyatt Regency Hotel
1. Honorees Dickie Brennan and Irvin Mayfield 2. President and CEO Stephanie Bridges and Event Chair and NOCCJ Co-Chair Harry Rosenberg 3. Tom and honoree Gayle Benson 4. Honoree Rabbi Edward Paul and Andrea Cohn 5. James Carter SJ, Ruthie Frierson and honoree Ashton Ryan Jr. 6. Mayor Mitch and Cheryl Landrieu
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Photographed by Kenny Martinez
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philanthropic fun
by shelby simon
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Under the Big Top “CADA Carnivale” presented a whimsical festival to support area schools. “CADA Carnivale” this year featured a festive and fun amusement park theme, including whimsical touches such as a candy bar, with colorful sweets in apothecary jars, and table centerpieces of peanuts, popcorn and gumballs with circus animal figurine-topped topiaries. Colorful pennant flags crossed the ceilings. Paul and Donna Flower generously opened their home for the event; the large windows and opened French doors allowed guests to easily float in and outdoors to enjoy the beautiful atmosphere. The live auction featured lots of hotel and dining experiences, a Drew Brees autographed cleat and several pieces of art provided by Galerie d’Art Français. Gulf Coast Theatre on Tap performed rhythm tap dancing numbers throughout the evening with music from their band and vocalist Arsene DeLay. Chef Greg Sonnier of Kingfish served marinated crab claws, boiled shrimp, alligator meatballs, duck quesadillas and an additional array of delicacies. Approximately 100 patrons attended the event and raised more than $40,000 to support substance abuse prevention education in New Orleans area schools. n
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event at a glance What: “CADA Carnivale,” benefiting Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse for Greater New Orleans When: Thursday, November 6 Where: Home of Paul and Donna Flower
1. Hosts Paul and Donna Flower 2. Chef Greg Sonnier, Dr. Juan Gershanik and Kim and Rep. Neil Abramson 3. Dominick Ragusa, Kimberly Fontenot, Katie Roth and Sherri Pucci-Sosa
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photographed by Will Strout
philanthropic fun
by shelby simon
Bright Stars for Bright Futures
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Junior Achievement honored Rising Stars to empower young people to economic success. Junior Achievement’s facility on Delgado’s Community College’s campus provided the backdrop to an enchanting evening honoring the Rising Stars. Guests were able to enjoy three different venues filled with entertainment. The live auction held in JA’s Training Facility was the source of enthusiastic bidding. In JA BizTown’s park-like setting, guests enjoyed strolling around as they dined and greeted fellow JA supporters. Finally, the tented courtyard and site of awards, music and a performance by the 610 Stompers, was lit as a gift from former Rising Star, Gary Solomon Jr., president of The Solomon Group. Bryan Scofield served as Event Chair, Chad Berg as Restaurant Chair, Robby Moss as Sponsorship Chair and Suzi Swoop O’Brien as Auction Chair. 2014 Rising Star honorees included Kyle Brechtel, Founder of Brechtel Hospitality; Katy Casbarian, Co-Proprietor of Arnaud’s; Robert Fogarty, Founder of Dear World; Steve Gleason, Founder of Team Gleason and Brett Patron, Co-Founder of the 610 Stompers. Twenty-seven local restaurants catered food and beverages. Republic donated adult beverages, and Crescent Crown Distributing donated a very popular craft beer bar. The band Louisiana Spice got everyone up and on their feet on the dance floor. Other entertainment included the 610 Stompers, a tarot card reader, a caricaturist and photo booth donated by Spoof Photos. The auction bidding was all done electronically from mobile devices and included a Prize Pull featuring more than 100 items and a special gift from Lee Michaels Jewelry, a seven-day cruise donated by Carnival, a three-night stay at The Cove at Eleuthera and a signed Steve Gleason Saints Jersey. Junior Achievement netted over $72,000 for Junior Achievement programs, in part thanks to presenting sponsor, Peoples Health, as well as major sponsors Entercom, Ochsner Health and this magazine. n
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event at a glance What: “City Stars Soiree,” benefiting Junior Achievement When: Friday, November 7 Where: Junior Achievement of Greater New Orleans
1. Event Chair Bryan Scofield, Sarah McLaughlin, Auction Chair Suzi Swoop O’Brien and Joseph Dempsey 2. Jack Brancewicz, honoree Katy Casbarian, Suzanne Alford and Restaurant Chair Chad Berg 3. Honorees Kyle Brechtel, Steve Gleason, Brett Patron, Katy Casbarian and Robert Fogarty
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photographed by Melissa Calico
philanthropic fun
by shelby simon
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Honoring Historic Houses The Woman’s Exchange celebrated the support of the Historic Houses Society throughout the years with a fall gala. The Board of Managers of The Woman’s Exchange thanked the Leadership Circle of the Historic Houses Society with a “Fall Gala” in honor of their support. The Woman’s Exchange, founded in 1881, is the owner and operator of the Hermann-Grima + Gallier Historic House museums in the French Quarter. Ralph Brennan Catering and Events served selections such as passed truffle Arborio arancini with fontina cream, lobster ravioli with champagne butter sauce (chef Chris Montero’s signature dish), saffron grilled shrimp over stewed white beans, kale and chorizo and a special dessert of fall-flavored bonbons and petit fours. Ambrose Gardens and Elizabeth Walden Designs provided the flowers, and the Garden District Jazz Trio serenaded guests with pleasant tunes. Jim Ashbee and Jim Perrier graciously hosted the event in the Belfort Mansion on St. Charles Avenue. Maury Rendeiro and Melissa Steiner served as Event Chairs. n
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event at a glance What: “Historic Houses Fall Gala” benefiting Hermann-Grima + Gallier Historic Houses When: Thursday, November 13 Where: Belfort Mansion, home of Jim Ashbee and Jim Perrier
1. Host Jim Perrier, Evelyn Kissel, Ashley Bright and host Jim Ashbee 2. James and Erica Reiss with Tommy Westervelt 3. Kirk and Executive Director Mamie Gasperecz with Stephanie and Kenneth Carroll
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photographed by Jeff Strout
philanthropic fun
by shelby simon
Moonlight Success
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“Moonlight on the River Gala” celebrated the arts for beneficiaries of Magnolia Community Services, Inc. This year’s “Moonlight on the River Gala” was the most successful to date. The generosity of donors and attendees made possible the expansion of the Magnolia Community Services’ art program to include the addition of computers, projectors, another kiln, adaptive brushes and other tools, as well as a wonderful supply of raw materials and media from which participants can choose to create works of art, buy new art books and take field trips to museums. More than 550 people attended the event, which raised over $145,000. During the event three employees, Stacy Bell, Shernita Thomas and Joan Vincent, were recognized with the Outstanding Employee Award. Event chairs included Jeanne Gallo, Marion Eagan and Karen Oertling. James Lamantia was honored as he bequeathed a portion of his estate to Magnolia Community Services, Inc., in memory of his brother Daniel, the funds from which will be used to construct two new homes for residents and will be named in honor of Lamantia. Eighteen local restaurants provided food, desserts and beverages for the event. Dawnbusters Kiwanis Club members volunteered their time, serving as bartenders for the evening. Mike Weldon served as Master of Ceremonies. The Wiseguys played festive tunes throughout the event, and the Pussyfooters gave a special performance. Local artist Uncle Wayne Daigrepont created whimsical caricatures. Key auction items included Zurich Classic tickets, Pelicans tickets, a football signed by Drew Brees, a Drew Brees Blue Dog print by George Rodrigue, a Mignon Faget freshwater pearl necklace and one-week trips to the Sonoma County Wine Country and the Mountain Club of Cashiers, North Carolina. Founded in 1935 by pediatrician Dr. Charles J. Bloom, Magnolia Community Services, Inc. currently serves over 250 individuals in vocational and residential programs, including supported employment, day habilitation, community homes and supported living. n
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event at a glance What: “Moonlight on the River Gala: Celebrating the Arts” benefiting Magnolia Community Services, Inc. When: Friday, November 7 Where: Magnolia Community Services, Inc.
1. David and Co-Chair Jeanne Gallo with Karen and Doug Swift 2. John and Kathleen Stassi with Maureen and Billy Guste 3. Judge Margaret Alfonso and Gail Nicholson
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photographed by Jeff Strout
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philanthropic fun
by shelby simon
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For Good and Welfare A sophisticated soirée for the well being of residents at Saint Andrew’s Village. “A ‘SAV-VY’ Affair” for Saint Andrew’s Village brought in more than 400 guests this year. Event chairs included Chris Zainey, Kathryn Zainey Gonski, Jane Dufour, Sudie Sutter Joint, Alicia Corcoran and Louis Bartels. The venue was decorated in blue and white lighting and décor, the signature colors of Saint Andrew’s Village. A variety of delicious dishes were donated by 25 local vendors, including Bon Temps Café, The Balcony Receptions, Byblos, McAlister’s Deli, Babylon Cagfe, Salú and The Gumbo Shop. Deserts were provided by Sweet Treats from Maple Street Patisserie and La Louisiane Bakery, with a gourmet sno-ball station thanks to Imperial Woodpecker Sno-Balls. Live music was donated by The Whiskey Penguins. Auction highlights include a private evening cruise on a yacht, local dine-arounds, Florida vacation packages, Saints tickets and field passes, Pelicans memorabilia, luxury hotel stays, original art and fine jewelry. Now in its second year, the wine pull was a huge success. For a small contribution, wine pull participants had their chance to pull from 90 bottles of wine graciously donated by Oak, Meauxbar, Martin Wine Cellar, Saia’s Supermarket Mandeville and Acquistapace’s. More than $100,000 was raised for Saint Andrew’s Village, a secure, loving community where adults with developmental disabilities can live, work, worship and socialize throughout their lifelong journey. n
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event at a glance What: “A ‘SAV-VY’ Affair” benefiting Saint Andrew’s Village When: Friday, November 7 Where: The Chicory
1. Co-Chair Chris Zainey, Joy Zainey and Jim Letten 2. Co-Chair Kathryn Zainey Gonski, Doug Adams and Co-Chair Alicia Corcoran 3. Co-Chair Jane Dufour, Lisa Zainey, Co-Chair Sudie Sutter Joint and Caitlin Berni
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photographed by Melissa Calico
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philanthropic fun
by shelby simon
Fighting Modern Slavery
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Eden House continues to combat human trafficking and aid survivors of sexual exploitation. Eden House’s third annual fundraiser, “An Evening in the Garden of Eden: Keeping the Promise,” raised funds for programs for women who are survivors of commercial sexual exploitation and in some cases human trafficking. Eden House provides wrap around services such as medical, psychiatric, educational, legal and job training to its residents. Executive Director and Co-Founder Kara Van de Carr; Rabbi Alexis Berk; U.S. Attorney Kenneth Polite Jr.; Eden House Co-Founder Katherine Green; Rev. Henry Hudson; former Eden House Resident Director Clemmie Greenlee; and Eden House resident Christina Young gave presentations throughout the evening. Guests also watched the newly released short film which focuses on the story of Clemmie Greenlee and her long time friend and fellow survivor of human trafficking, Regina Mullins. The film helped guests learn more about the horrors of human trafficking and the power of community in healing. Women in Film and Television donated their services to film and produce the video. Food included small gourmet hors d’oeuvres and wine, and a colorful centerpiece of flowers donated by Ann Heslin and Fabulous Fêtes sat on each table. For the first time Eden House presented a volunteer of the year award. This year the award went to volunteer psychiatrist Dr. Vivienne Hayne. The gala raised roughly $75,000 in donations and pledges. We are thrilled about the success of the fundraiser and are excited to see that our circle of supporters has grown significantly in the last year. n
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event at a glance What: “An Evening in the Garden of Eden: Keeping the Promise,” benefiting Eden House When: Wednesday, November 5 Where: Audubon Tea Room
1. Co-Founder and President Kara Van de Carr, Erin Luetkemeier, Co-Founder Katherine Green and Resident Consultant Clemmie Greenlee 2. Caroline Robert and Samantha McRaney 3. John and Debbie Krentel with Judge Joy Lobrano
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photographed by Jeff Strout
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JADE
Spring for Spring 10 places to help you update your home for the season by Kelcy Wilburn
From Houzz.com to HGTV, the demand for home renewal ideas continues to grow and influence homeowners all over the country. Here in New Orleans, the spring weather brings a perfect opportunity for changing things up and trying out a new look. We asked some local home design companies to weigh in on the topic and offer their advice and experiences for residents considering a renovation. Located on a shaded stretch of shop-friendly Metairie Road, JADE specializes in interiors, art and design. “With over 5,000 square feet of light-filled showroom space, we have a fresh and clean collection of case goods, upholstery, lighting, rugs, accessories, tabletop and gifts,” says Owner Jennifer Rabalais. According to Rabalais, JADE staff is passionate about helping clients realize their dream house. Experienced Interior Designer Tina Lagasse, who spent seven years at Dixon Smith in Baton Rouge, is on staff at JADE and is available for consultation at the store and by email. “My favorite type of project is a total renovation of an existing, well built, old home. I love the challenge of working
within the confines of what is there and the reward of seeing the before and after,” says Rabalais. JADE will host an art show on Thursday, March 26, and feature the photography of Catherine Erb and the paintings of Megan Hurdle. According to Rabalais, sometimes a piece of artwork can be the spark to start the design process of a room. Adding or changing window treatments can also spark a new look, and Wren’s Tontine Shade & Design has been a go-to resource for New Orleans since 1937. Now in its third generation of family ownership, Wren’s Tontine specializes in high quality window treatments, which include custom drapery, valances, interior shutters, blinds, roller shades, woven-wood Roman shades and hardware. Wren’s can also make custom bedding and upholstered headboards. Filling us in on the latest, Blythe Wren notes that motorized roller shades are currently most popular. “It is so convenient to open all of your shades with the push of a button. I offer battery-operated roller shades in which the batteries last up to five years,” says Wren. “The small inconvenience of
changing batteries every five years beats the cost of having the windows hardwired by an electrician,” she says. According to Wren, the motor is ultra quiet. Wren suggests calling ahead to see the variety of fabrics available for these shades. When renovating a room, plan the proper trim for windows, something appropriate for the type of treatment you choose. Wren suggests three to four inches of depth in your windows for most shutters or shades to fit flush to the trim. Whether indoor or outdoor, lighting plays a big role in the atmosphere of a home, and for 12 years Flambeaux Lighting has been manufacturing copper gas and electric lanterns for New Orleans and beyond. Flambeaux Lighting offers two ways to view products: a comprehensive website with all styles of lanterns, pendants and sconces, and a showroom in Metairie where customers can feel and see the finish and quality of the lanterns. “Locally, we have a loaner program we started wherein we let customers take lanterns home, hold them up and decide who likes what,” says Business Director Stephen Guepet. “It helps cut out
Wren’s Tontine Shade & Design
a lot of time, and since we hand-make each fixture, it ensures that we get it right the first time,” he says. If you’re considering a switch from electric lighting to gas lighting, one thing to consider prior to your fixture is the cost of running a new gas line. According to Guepet, the range can be tremendous. “A lot of these things are pretty standard, but when it comes to a conversion from electric to gas – we can’t tell you how much that will cost. You need a third party, especially a plumber,” he says. Replacing an electric fixture with an electric lantern, however, doesn’t usually require any extra work, since Flambeaux Lighting’s lanterns are custom crafted for the home and often its current wiring. With locations in both Mandeville and Metairie, Southland Plumbing Supply is now a onestop-shop for more than plumbing supplies. The third generation, family-owned company is already known for its plumbing fixtures and lighting, and has recently expanded its offerings to include
appliances and generators. Their N. Arnoult Road location in Metairie now includes two showrooms, one for plumbing and lighting, and another for appliances such as refrigerators, microwaves, dishwashers and more. The company now also offers Kohler Generators that can kick on within seconds of a power outage and run enough power for the entire home. “Home renovators can save money and time by picking out lighting, appliances and kitchen and bath fixtures all together in one place,” says Marketing Director Nathan Ales. Ales recommends picking out your appliances and fixtures months in advance of your project to ensure everything will be ready on time, especially if special orders are necessary. “You can pick it out, place the order and line it up with your project’s timeline,” he says. Specializing in 17th, 18th, and 19th century antiques, Nancy Napoli of Empire Antiques loves to reorganize a space by taking it all the way down to its bare bones. “I want to see the space with
nothing – no furniture, no rugs … If I’d had color or wallpaper on the walls, I take it back to cream,” says Napoli. “The next thing I do is bring in the stuff I love, whether an accessory, a piece of furniture or rug, and then I build around that,” she says. While some people refresh a room by changing throw pillows or lighting, that doesn’t work for Napoli. “I have to empty it! I do that with each shipment and people will come and say, ‘My goodness, what happened?’ The stuff that I don’t bring out again, I didn’t really like,” she says. An antiques specialist, it’s no wonder Napoli has a knack for furniture placement. Other services and offerings from Empire Antiques include Hope Meyer jewelry and contemporary art from Octavia Gallery. “Octavia’s Pam Bryan is an expert on placing contemporary art with antiques. If you have antiques, bring in someone who knows how to pair contemporary art with it and give it a fresher, younger look,” says Napoli. A full service interior design firm and furniture showroom, Ashley Hall Interiors has been creating luxury interiors for homes and businesses nationally and internationally since
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1967. They provide anything from furniture, fabrics, and paint selections to design and installation. Shauna Leftwich, Lead Designer, recommends beginning with a consultation. “They should create a master plan together with a professional, even if it’s installed in phases, to avoid wasting time and money,” says Leftwich. “We have a client who wanted to update the look of his kitchen but was
hesitant to dispose of his custom cabinetry. With the help of one of our contractors, The Cabinet Makeover, we painted over the Mahogany stained cabinets and it totally transformed his kitchen with minimal expense and inconvenience,” she says. With the approaching warm weather of March, Ashley Hall Interiors encourages those with outdoor projects to start soon. An early spring start
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date will likely ensure the completion of the project with a full summer to enjoy it. Outdoor projects are the expertise of Mullin Landscape Associates, who feel it’s important for local landscapes to reflect the subtropical Gulf Coast region with all of the natural and cultural diversity that is inherent. Named by New Orleans Homes & Lifestyles as the city’s best landscaping company in
2014, Mullin Landscape Associates has also been recognized by Angie’s List, Houzz.com and HGTV. Specializing in landscape architecture and construction, Mullin Landscape can assist with everything from detailed outdoor kitchens to grand master plans, as well comprehensive construction services. Someone considering an overhaul of a large outdoor space may want to break up the work over time.
“Undertaking the job in a phased approach is a valuable option,” says President Chase Mullin. “A properly planned job can be completed over the course of several years or longer and come together seamlessly in the end.” Landscape Images is likewise a landscape architecture firm with an office in New Orleans and a tree nursery and farm in nearby Mississippi. Specializing in planting design, installa-
Mullin Landscape Associates
tion and maintenance, they perform many of the vintage and tech savvy aspects of landscaping, including landscape LED lighting, irrigation, drainage and
sustainable construction, such as patios of flagstone without the concrete base. “It doesn’t matter how small or large a renovation or construction project is; it always comes down to being creative and having a design or plan thought out to optimize any outdoor space,” says President Alan Mumford. “The design and planning is the most important factor to begin with on any project.” According to Mumford, picking the right professional is equally important. “Make sure you know what the designer is capable of, their experience and credentials – that they’re licensed in all appropriate fields and insured to the limits that you require, not just what you can afford,” he says. Mumford stresses that ongoing maintenance can be as important as installation, especially considering New Orleans’ tricky subtropical climate and rapid plant growth. Improvements to an outdoor space, “should not only enhance the experience and living
environs, but will increase property value and salability of a property also,” says Mumford. Meanwhile, back inside the house, storage options can renew a space, giving it organization while also adding character and style. “Adding a custom island or hood to your kitchen can give you that designer look, or adding custom built-ins to your living areas can maximize your storage space and give the rooms a more finished look,” says President and General Manager Julie Diefenthal Philippus of Northshore Millwork. A family-owned business specializing in radius millwork and French Quarter and historic renovations, Northshore Millwork also manufactures custom wood windows and doors onsite at their facility in Mandeville, and serves as a distributor for all types of windows and doors including Marvin and Atrium. With a full-time designer on staff to help rethink your space, Northshore Millwork can build three styles of custom cabinetry to fit all budgets. Remodelers
can tour their 40,000square-foot showroom and millwork shop for ideas and tips on what features to look for in quality building. They demonstrate the hottest trends in home remodeling to help clients achieve a designer look. “Custom frameless cabinets are the newest trend and style and allow you maximum storage space in your kitchens and bathrooms, while providing a clean, seamless look,” says Philippus. A clean, seamless look also happens to be the goal of Louisiana Custom Closets, who tailors custom closets, pantries, home offices and garages for people across the region. Helping people make the most of their space has been the specialty of owner Don Wise for over 20 years. In garages, for instance, Wise helps expand storage and space by getting things up on the wall, hanging tools and bicycles, creating workbenches and adding cabinetry to make the garage nice and neat.
Similarly, Wise can work his magic in creating a home office, a new master closet or even a pantry or laundry room. From folding stations to adjustable shelves, pull-out shelves and baskets, there are storage possibilities for everything from office equipment, to ties, family snacks and small kitchen appliances. “Once you’re ready to begin your room renovation and you know where you want more storage, we’ll come out to consult, measure and begin designing,” says Wise. Louisiana Custom Closets uses advanced technology, providing clients with computergenerated images and custom-building each closet in their warehouse. Whether your home renewal involves adding storage, sprucing up your yard, changing your color palette or adding antiques, fixtures or window treatments, spring is the season for change and the forecast looks bright for homes in New Orleans.
Ashley Hall Interiors 832 Howard Ave., 524-0196, AshleyHallInteriors.com Empire Antiques 3617 Magazine St., 897-0252, EmpireAntiques.net Flambeaux Lighting 614 N. Causeway Blvd., Metairie, 828-3154, FlambeauxLighting.com JADE 324 Metairie Road, Metairie, 875-4420, JADEnola.com Landscape Images 655 Central Ave., Jefferson, 734-8380, LandscapeImagesLTD.com Louisiana Custom Closets 13405 Seymour Meyer Blvd., Suite #24, Covington, 885-3188, LouisianaCustomClosets.com Mullin Landscape 621 Distributors Row, Suite F, Harahan, 275-6617, MullinLandscape.com Northshore Millwork 1750 South Lane, Mandeville, (985) 867-1813, NorthshoreMillwork.com Southland Plumbing Supply 2321 N. Arnoult Road, Metairie, 835-8411, SouthlandPlumbingSupply.com Wren’s Tontine Shade & Design 1533 Prytania St., 525-7409, WrensTontine.com saintcharlesavenue.com | 45
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HAUTE
BLOCK-TO-BLOCK SHOPPING by Kelcy Wilburn
11 places to find what you need
Every year, visitors return to New Orleans with plans to stroll the six-mile stretch of shopping that is Magazine Street. Playing host to clothing institutions that span generations of customers as well as to brand-new boutiques with unique concepts and designs, Magazine Street continues to offer a collection of stores and businesses that residents, too, loyally frequent. From clothing and accessories, to jewelry, antiques and gifts, the popular street offers a shopper’s dream. Located on the downtown end of Magazine Street in the CBD, Haute is a women’s clothing boutique specializing in contemporary designers who make high quality, expertly tailored pieces – designers such as Mason, Haute Hippie, ICB, Clover Canyon and Mara Hoffman. Haute shoppers can expect these designs in a size range of 0 to 10 and XS to L. Haute owner Sanja Alickovic enjoys engaging Haute fans and shoppers through activity on social media. Special events and sales information can be found on Haute’s Facebook page (search “Haute Women’s Boutique”) and on Instagram (@hautenola).
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Haute’s Friends and Family Event will happen this month and offer shoppers a 25 percent discount. The event will be announced via social media, so follow the store online and on your phone for the latest information. When heading a few blocks into the Lower Garden District, shoppers encounter local company Trashy Diva, famous for its vintage flair and classic style. The 18-year-old company’s original dresses, shoes, lingerie and accessories have been featured everywhere from blogs and magazines to feature films and celebrity appearances. “Spring’s true colors are showing in our newest collections: Geisha Fan, Jade Watercolor and
Irish Polka,” says Candace Gwinn, Owner and Designer. “From floral fascinators and lingerie to spring sandals, our clothing, lingerie and shoe boutiques are stocked with trendy florals and polka dots.” Gwinn’s pieces are vintageinspired, original designs with a timeless and ageless look in sizes ranging from 2 through 20, with styles available in 0 and 24. The company also makes New Orleans-inspired clothing from their French Quarter prints to a vintageinspired Seersucker collection. “We stock all the lingerie and shapewear needed to give you a perfect hourglass,” says Gwinn. They also hand-select shoes and accessories to match
their clothing collections, including retro swimwear. Spring is also wedding season, and future brides can consider a bachelorette party at Trashy Diva Lingerie Boutique for a memorable night of fun and entertainment. Two blocks farther Uptown, Clover greets shoppers with a brand new store. Clover’s focus is on items that people covet and emphasizes a neutral palette. “You’ll see a lot of classic, elegant, wearable pieces from exclusive designers to Clover in whites, blush, black, navy, gray and camel,” says Owner Melissa Coleman. “Customers can expect a strong presence in our store from Frame Denim, skin by Susan Beischel, Ramy Brook, IRO, L’Agence and Milly,” she says. Clover is excited to announce the arrival of two new lines for the spring season: Grace, a cocktail and dressier line by the designers of Frame Denim, and Timo Weiland. Both lines will be exclusive to Clover and, according to Coleman, are highly anticipated in the fashion world. As you near the intersection of Magazine Street and Louisiana Avenue, one store you’ll meet along the way is Cella’s, a boutique with a second location in the French Quarter at 514 St. Peter St. Cella’s Boutique is a fashion-forward women’s boutique specializing in well-priced, high-quality clothing,
along with unique, intricate jewelry. Rich in accessories, Cella’s offers colorful scarves, hats and fashionable footwear as well. “For spring, we’ll have brightly colored silk tops and dresses, fun prints for festival season, lace, gladiator sandals, fringe and mirrored sunglasses,” says Marcella Peraza, highlighting some of the season’s most demanded styles. According to Peraza, each store carries a unique assortment of designers including Amanda Uprichard, GiGi New York handbags, Yosi Samra footwear and 7 For All Mankind jeans, along with local designers, including Brantley Cecilia jewelry. Cella’s is active on social media and recommends shoppers follow on Instagram (@shopcellasboutique) and Facebook (facebook.com/cellasboutique). One of Magazine Street’s newest additions is Hope Goldman Meyer Fine Jewelry, which opened in December inside of the well-known Empire Antiques. Though the store is young, Meyer isn’t new to fashion; she has been in business for 18 years. Meyer sells antique, estate, signed pieces (Cartier and Buccelatti, for example) and new fine jewelry in the store. “I only buy what I love – mine is a curated collection,” says Meyer, who also sells loose diamonds, diamond stud earrings and handmade engagement rings by
CLOVER
TRASHY DIVA
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FEET FIRST
MIMI
appointment. Meyer recommends pearls for spring because they’re always wearable, day or night. “I carry a very nice selection of cultured South Sea Pearls in different natural colors such as gold, silver, black with peacock green overtones – necklaces of course, but also earrings and rings,” she says. The store usually offers a diverse array of jewelry, earrings, necklaces, rings and brooches. Keeping such an array adds uniqueness to each piece, ensuring clients will never see their jewelry on someone else, which is important to Meyer. Another relative newcomer to Magazine Street, Art & Eyes arrived serendipitously four years ago on Magazine Street between Louisiana and Napoleon avenues, exactly where co-owner Starr Hagenbring envisioned having a shop years prior. Along with Paul Wilcox, Hagenbring shares a passion for bringing art to the eye quite literally, specializing in independent eyewear. A one-of-a-kind store, Art & Eyes works exclusively with independent brands such as Francois Pinton, Anne et Valentin and Francis Klein from France, theo from Belgium and Barton Perreira from California.
“A neat thing about Francis Klein is that we receive and see mock-ups for the glasses, and then they make them for us. We wait two to three months for them to be handmade, hand-jeweled and finished,” says Hagenbring. “Buyers could have one of only two pairs ever made of those glasses.” The Art & Eyes store is as much an attraction as its frames and lenses, which are arranged by style, not by designer. The store is well known among neighbors and customers for its whimsical window displays and chandeliers made from eyewear and stemware. “One customer of ours grew up needing eyewear and compared it to going to the dentist. He said, ‘I hated going to pick out glasses, but you guys make it so much fun and make me look good,’” says Hagenbring. Four blocks into the Garden District, Feet First is an independent retailer of women’s shoes, handbags, jewelry, accessories and local New Orleans artists and designers. Celebrating 39 years this summer, Feet First has expanded its footprint to include three locations: Uptown, Downtown, and on Metairie Road. The family-owned and operated store for women has been voted “Best Shoe Store in New Orleans” by Gambit Weekly readers for the last six years in a row. This spring, Co-Owner Evie Poitevent plans to feature Bernardo Italian leather sandals, Sam Edelman fashion-forward sandals and wedges, Kork-Ease comfort-fashion wedges and sandals, Fit Flop & Olu Kai comfort flip flops, Keds slip-on tennis shoes and much more. According to Poitevent, customers can always expect a large selection of – and a variety of price points for – sandals, wedges, flip flops and heels. Other accessories include tons of straw hats and bags perfect for the festival season, spring and summer scarves, tunics, pullovers and locally designed Krewe du Optic sunglasses. A variety of trunk shows and events are scheduled for April and May, along with the Magazine Street Champagne Stroll set for May 9. saintcharlesavenue.com | 49
BETTY HUNLEY
Offering everything from cosmetics and fragrances to the perfect weekend wardrobe, MIMI is a one-stop-shop modern emporium complete with beauty, apparel, shoes and accessories from designers Roland Mouret, Derek Lam, Rag & Bone, Frame Denim, Aquazzura, Loeffler Ra ndall, Trish McEvoy and Maison Francis Kurkdjian. According to Creative Director Kathryn Bullock Joyner, “MIMI blends a freshly edited range of classic designer apparel with progressive contemporary sportswear and accessories to suit the lifestyle of a modern woman.” MIMI’s customers count on an individualized shopping experience and expert opinions in meeting style needs. To help meet those needs, CeCe Shoe, an upscale shoe boutique, is housed inside MIMI New Orleans and specializes in European and American designer footwear. This
spring, MIMI is excited to introduce Anndra Neen, Elena Ghilsellini and Tome among other designers. “Andra Neen’s cutting-edge accessories and directional jewelry are the perfect take on modern minimalism,” says Joyner. “Tome mixes strong shapes with beautifully feminine colors and fabrics to create a powerful and uniquely modern look,” she says. Meanwhile, former Givenchy accessory designer Ele na Ghilsellini makes finding the quintessential handbag with an edgy timeless appeal a much easier feat. Across the street, Pelican Coast provides high-end apparel and accessories for men and boys, ranging from coastal casual to upscale business casual in sizes boys small to XXXL for men. The majority of their clothing, including button-down shirts, belts, pants, shorts and bags, is handmade locally in New Orleans. In addition to the Pelican Coast brand, the
store also carries accessories from other iconic American brands such as Filson and J.W. Hulme. “For spring we’re adding men’s shorts, men’s polo shirts, new men’s T-shirt designs, boy’s polos, boy’s T-shirts, boy’s seersucker shorts and pants, as well as locally made pet collars and leases,” says Owner Allison Maxwell. In addition to bringing in new seasonal items, Pelican Coast is also bringing in an in-house graphics team. “We have been receiving lots of requests for custom neckwear and other items for events such as weddings, conventions and festivals, so to accommodate that demand we now have a graphics team that can work directly with customers to meet their needs in a timely, cost effective manner,” says Maxwell. Five blocks closer to Audubon Park and near the end of Magazine Street’s long stretch is a thirdgeneration specialty apparel
shop known by many for its trademarked crawfish brand. Perlis outfits men, women and children with a variety of designs. “For spring, seersucker and linen are big sellers – the fabrics we’re known for – in boys, men or ladies,” says President David W. Perlis. “We’ll have a big seersucker celebration weekend, March 5-6, when we’ll kick off the season. March is also big for men’s made-to-measure custom clothing,” says Perlis. Seersucker ties, shorts, suits, dresses and jackets are available at Perlis now. “People like to accessorize with color in spring, so we work hard to have lots of seasonal accessories,” says Perlis, who mentions scarves, ties, pens and belts. “We’re excited to bring in the Bonobos line in spring as well.” On the same block is another shop popular during spring. Betty Hunley Designs specializes in invitations, stationery and gifts, items needed for the plethora of festivities and events – weddings, parties and graduations – that happen during spring. According to Betty Hunley, shoppers can look forward to new lines of candles, fresh paper products and party table accessories. “We have a great selection of stationery and invitations and are eager to do custom designs as well,” says Hunley. “We have expanded our gift line to include candles, paper products for kids’ parties and fabulous handmade and painted door decorations.” In March, she anticipates new spring invitation designs. Paper invitations are always a nice touch, but no invitation is required to visit Magazine Street. These retailers and more are ready to put some spring in your step with a new seasonal outfit, accessory or gift from one of New Orleans’ most famous city streets.
Art & Eyes 3708 Magazine St., 891-4494, ArtAndEyesNola.com • Betty Hunley Designs 6056 Magazine St., 895-2870, BettyHunley.com • Cella’s 3013 Magazine St., 592-7510 • Clover 2240 Magazine St., #101, 272-0792, BoutiqueClover.com • Feet First 4122 Magazine St., 899-6800, FeetFirstStores.com • Haute 725 Magazine St., 522-8687, HauteNola.com • Hope Goldman Meyer Jewelry (within Empire Antiques) 3617 Magazine St., 957-3409, HGMJewelry. com • MIMI & CeCe Shoe 5500 Magazine St., 269-6464, MIMINola.com • Pelican Coast 5509 Magazine St., 309-2314, PelicanCoastClothing.com • Perlis 6070 Magazine St., 891-2073, Perlis.com • Trashy Diva Clothing Boutique: 2048 Magazine St; Lingerie Boutique: 2044 Magazine St.; Shoe Boutique: 2050 Magazine St.; 299-3939, TrashyDiva.com 50 | St. Charles Avenue March 2015
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Vagabond Inventions performed “For the Sins I Can Remember� at Fringe Festival 2014. Photo by Sara Brown. saintcharlesavenue.com | 53
front & center
Reese Johanson in “We Don’t Eat Corn Here.” Photo by Zack Smith.
No more fringe Capping off seven years of successful annual performance extravaganzas, The New Orleans Fringe Festival recently announced a big change. No longer will it be known simply as one of many Fringe-type events held around the country; instead, its founders have bestowed on it a new, distinctly local name: faux/ real [a chain of events]. Why the rebranding? Fringe Executive Director Kristen Evans explains that the local theater environment has evolved since the festival launched in 2008, and participating venues and artists “have become astronomically better at producing and marketing their own” programming. It’s clear, she says, that the diverse performances that have shaped the Fringe have arisen from an array of independent thinkers and innovators. “So we’re getting out of the way – removing rules and red tape – and making a chain of events that is
easier to participate in, easier to manage and even more fun to attend,” she said. The online publication
NOLA Defender will produce faux/real, with Publisher B.E. Mintz serving as executive producer. The new event will be a three-week celebration of performing arts and literature staged in various locations around the city in November. “Theater will be at the core of the schedule, with an expanded offering of wild, weird, fresh, original performances just like those that festival-goers have enjoyed at the Fringe Fest,” Evans promised. Evans, Fringe Development Coordinator Swamp Deville, and Technical Coordinator Leah Farrelly will all sit on an advisory board for faux/ real. Additionally, several key Fringe coordinators will join the new endeavor. Mid-City Theatre hangs tough It may be running on borrowed time, but Fred Nuccio’s popular Mid-City
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Theatre will keep the music and laughs coming this spring. Cabaret performances are preparing to take the stage in March. Then Varla Jean Merman returns, along with Ricky Graham, Sean Patterson and other regulars, in a repeat run of the hugely popular “Gone With the Breaking Wind,” which plays April 2-19. Nuccio had previously announced the theatre would close in March as a portion of the property was being sold, but a snag in the sale has given the venue a temporary reprieve, a spokeswoman said. I’m flying! Fans of the hit Broadway musical “Peter Pan” can look forward to a theatrical treat this summer when Rivertown Theaters for the Performing Arts brings the magic to its own stage in a local production. Auditions were under way as OnStage went to press, and Director Kelly Fouchi was reminding aspiring actor/singer/dancers
that anyone who hopes to play the character of Peter, Wendy, Michael or John “must be willing to fly!” Rivertown recently announced an all-musical lineup for its 2015-16 season ranges from “The Producers” and “The Addams Family” to “How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying” and “The Wizard of Oz.” Tomorrow’s stars shine at Southern Rep Southern Repertory Theatre has lined up a busy spring educational program for young students in a series of after-school workshops at the Jewish Community Center. Musical theater is the focus as Southern Rep puts kids aged 4-8 through their paces in preparation to present “Horton Hears a Who!” and rehearses students aged 9-12 for a production of “The Lorax.” Both shows will take the stage on May 12-13. See SouthernRep.com for details.
Read all about it Spring always produces a burst of creativity among local producers and performers, and this year is no exception. The array of dramatic, comedic and musical offerings on tap by local theaters, performance groups and classical music organizations is rife with crowd-pleasers. In the following pages, you’ll find snapshots of the entertainment lined up in dozens of venues. Check the organizations’ websites for updated details, and make plans to be there when the lights go down. As a side note, don’t forget the annual Tennessee Williams New Orleans Literary Festival, featuring speakers, workshops and one or two of the playwright’s unforgettable stage dramas. See TennesseeWilliams.net and get your tickets now for the March 25-29 festival. Kathy Finn, editor OnStage@RenPubLLC.com
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Innovators deliver for local audiences Theater-goers who enjoy drama with a social conscience are already applauding the much-awaited comeback of Cripple Creek Theatre Company. After a year-long hiatus, the Cripple Creek players plan a return to the stage in August when they will present Mark Blitzstein’s “The Cradle Will Rock.” Founder Andy Vaught calls the production “an experiment in civic artistry.” The company aims to bring the vibrant music of “Cradle” into the present day with a production that furthers Cripple Creek’s goals of societal transformation and collaboration, he says. “This paean to the right of individuals to make a decent living could find no better location than the right-to-work state of Louisiana,” he said. See cripplecreekplayers. org for more information. Making noise Collaborative theater ensemble New Noise has grown to five members and last fall raised $6,000 in a Kickstarter campaign to put on “Oxblood,” billed as “a panoramic outdoor dance theater performance about land, labor and home in the contemporary South.” Following the initial success of “Oxblood,” the troupe has focused on taking the performance on the road.
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Meanwhile, they are bringing back Voicebox, an intensive workshop series led by local and national performance innovators. The 2015 lineup “includes dance, devised theater, and design,” according to the ensemble’s founders. New Noise also has re-launched its Acting and Scene Study, led by director Joanna Russo. The Wednesday night class is open to actors at many levels of experience who are looking to sharpen their skills and take risks in a supportive environment. See newnoise.org for more details. 20 years and counting It started in 1995 as a vehicle for artist Kathy Randels to produce her solo performance work, and this year ArtSpot Productions is celebrating two decades of work with a look back. Through summer 2016, the ensemble of artists will present snapshots of their major performance pieces. “On or about the 20th of each month, we present something from the piece; lead some workshopping of principles discovered in the making of the work; and engage in a shared conversation about the piece,” Randels says. The series kicked off in January and February with “Rage Within/ Without” and “How To Be a Man in the Twentieth Century.”
See ArtSpotProductions.org for more on upcoming performances. Admission to each performance is free “so come ready to watch, move and talk,” Randels says. Laugh tracks Broadway-style shows and musical theater are the bread-and-butter of many local entertainment venues, but increasingly, comedy is playing a bigger role and giving talented locals a chance to sharpen their stand-up and improvisation skills. CMT Casting recently hosted a showcase to search for the area’s funniest comedians at The New Movement on St. Claude Avenue. Tami Nelson and Chris Trew say they founded The New Movement to challenge the traditional makeup of a comedy show. They focus on improv and a chain of reactions among participating players. A scene often finds its foundation in an initial, spontaneous exchange and branches outward. The New Movement aims to teach and train comically inclined individuals to step fearlessly into improv. Trew and Nelson formulated the training program by drawing from their own experience in performing hundreds of shows. (See NewMovementTheater. com for more information.) Meanwhile, even Jefferson Performing Arts Society, long known primarily for musical theater, recently presented its first “pure” comedy night. The Comedy Fusion Revival Tour took the stage in Westwego in February, courtesy of its founders, James Cusimano and J.D. Sledge.
Retro delight Audiences looking for a nostalgic musical experience are never disappointed by shows at the Stage Door Canteen in the National World War II Museum. Regulars know they can count on a musical matinee tribute to the Andrews Sisters by the Victory Belles every Wednesday. In addition, on stage through April 5 is “Always ... Patsy Cline,” a touching tribute based on letters written by one of country music’s biggest stars. The musical play – presented with dinner in the 1940s-inspired theater – offers down-home humor, emotion and even a few sing-alongs with such unforgettable Patsy Cline hits as “Crazy,” “Sweet Dreams” and “I Fall to Pieces.” Beginning April 10, “On the Air: A Live Radio Broadcast Musical,” will take the stage, followed in June by “Thanks for the Memories: Bob Hope and his All-Star Pacific Tour,” a lively re-enactment of the actor/comedian’s great shows. See Nationalww2museum. org for more details.
LEFT: The cast of “Cry You One.” Photo by Melisa Cardona. MIDDLE: From the October 2014 production “Oxblood” by New Noise. RIGHT: Stage Door Canteen.
Local talent enriches classical performances Louisiana is widely known for its rich musical history and for sharing a slew of homegrown jazz, Cajun and popular music stars with the world at large. But less well known is that a sizeable number of classical music stars who regularly appear on the world’s stages also were born and nurtured in the Bayou State. Local orchestral, operatic and ballet performances often feature some of these home-town performers. In the coming months several of them will appear with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra and the New Orleans Opera. In March, for instance, New Orleans native and soprano Angela Mannino will take the stage with the LPO. Now a member of the Lyric Opera of Chicago, she is a graduate of Loyola University of New Orleans and Indiana University, and has performed with the New Orleans Opera on several occasions and in locally produced musicals from “Fiddler on the Roof” to Oklahoma.” In her March 19 appearance with the LPO, Mannino will solo
in the orchestra’s presentation of Mahler’s Symphony No. 4. Later in the season, look for several Louisiana natives among the cast as the LPO joins with the New Orleans Vocal Arts Chorale to perform Verdi’s Requiem. Performing with mezzo-soprano Elizabeth DeShong in the May 23 concert will be Lori Guilbeau, Paul Groves and Alfred Walker. A native of Golden Meadow, La., soprano Guilbeau made her Metropolitan Opera debut in 2012 as the High Priestess in “Aida,” winning praise from the New York Times. Acclaimed performances followed at Carnegie Hall and at the Theater Kiel in Kiel, Germany, among many others. Tenor Paul Groves, who debuted at La Scala in 1995 as Tamino in “Die Zauberflöte,” is well known in the world’s leading opera houses and concert halls. He has worked with the best, from Placido Domingo to Renee Fleming, but close friends know him as family man, a fan of the New Orleans
Saints and an avid fisherman in love with his south Louisiana home. A native of Lake Charles, Groves lives in Mandeville with his wife and young children, and sometimes invites visiting opera stars to join him for offshore fishing excursions launching from Venice, La. Rounding out the Requiem cast is bass-baritone Alfred Walker, a graduate of Dillard University, Loyola University and the Metropolitan Opera Lindemann Young Artist Program. Walker has won international acclaim for his commanding performances, including the title role of Der fliegende Holländer, sung at the Wagner Geneva Festival in 2014. The New Orleans Opera frequently brings home-grown talent back to the local stage, and audiences at Mahalia Jackson Theater for Performing Arts have often enjoyed performances by New Orleans-born soprano Sarah Jane McMahon, whose many local appearances have included duets with the great Domingo. And last fall superstar tenor Bryan Hymel, a graduate of Jesuit High School and Loyola University, and a fixture of the Metropolitan Opera, brought his celebrated voice to the city for the local opera’s production of “Carmen.” While doing some of his favorite things around town, Hymel
stopped by Central Grocery in the French Quarter for a muffaletta, and ended up serenading patrons with an impromptu performance (see it at www.nola.com/music/ index.ssf/2014/10/bryan_hymel_ brought_star_power.html ). “My family has been coming to Central Grocery for muffalettas for five generations,” Hymel explained after performing an abbreviated “La donna é mobile” from “Rigoletto.” Noting that he and his wife recently purchased a home in Metairie, he told a reporter: “We’re living right next door to my grandma, and we just love being back here.”
LEFT TO RIGHT: Soprano Lori Guilbeau; soprano Angela Mannino; tenor Bryan Hymel (photo by Dario Acosta); and bass-baritone Alfred Walker (photo by Walter Hill).
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profiles
Saenger Theatre 1111 Canal St. • New Orleans • 800-218-7469 • saengernola.com The majestic and historic Saenger Theatre provides Broadway musical companies and a host of big-name entertainers the grand stage they deserve. The line-up of shows, concerts and comedians is not to be missed.
Upcoming: “Once” (March 17-22). The Tonywinning musical features an impressive ensemble of actor/ musicians who play their own instruments on stage in telling an enchanting tale of a Dublin street musician who refuses to give up on his dream. “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” (April 14-19). One of the most enduring shows of all time, Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s irresistible family musical tracks the trials and triumphs of Joseph, Israel’s favorite son. This new production features Broadway/TV star Diana DeGarmo as the narrator and Ace Young as Joseph. See the website for a lineup of singlenight concerts and performances by entertainers ranging from John Mellencamp and Craig Ferguson to Idina Menzel and Trombone Shorty, scheduled through the spring and summer months.
Rivertown Theaters for the Performing Arts 325 Minor St. • Kenner 504-461-9475 • rivertowntheaters.com The musical talent and theatricality is nonstop here, thanks to Theatre 13 founders Gary Rucker and Kelly Fouchi, who keep the big-time entertainment coming at the lovely riverside theaters.
Upcoming: “When Ya’ Smilin’ “ (March 13-28). A heart-warming comedy about growing up in New Orleans in the 1950s, as seen through the eyes of 10-year-old Paulie Dufour. Directed by Ricky Graham. “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” (May 8-23). Based on the popular 1988 film, this hilarious production centers on two con men living on the French Riviera, who battle for the attentions of wealthy ladies and keep audiences laughing and guessing to the end. Directed by Gary Rucker. Check the website for details of Rivertown’s fall season, which will include “The Producers;” “The Addams Family,” a new musical; and “Sweet Charity;” among other hit productions.
Will Rogers (Marc Fouchi) and the cast of The Will Rogers Follies at Rivertown Theaters in January. Photo by John Barrois.
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Southern Repertory Theatre
Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carré
New Orleans • Box Office: 504.522.6545 • southernrep.com
616 St. Peter St. • New Orleans Box Office: 504-522-2081 lepetittheatre.com
Producing Artistic Director Aimée Hayes takes top-quality productions to venues around the city.
Upcoming: “Suddenly, Last Summer” (March 4-29). Tennessee Williams’ masterwork is set in the Garden District of New Orleans. Directed by Aimée Hayes and presented in partnership with the Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival. See website for location. “Boudin: The New Orleans Music Project” (April 15-May 17). A musical celebration of the city’s music, history and magical nature performed in true tales from local writers and artists. See website for location. “Detroit” (June 3-21). The regional premiere of a Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Lisa D’Amour in which a fun backyard party turns dangerous. See website for location. 3X3 – The One Acts (April 20-21). Featuring plays by Jon Broder, Brian Sands and Lisa Shattuck.
One of the city’s oldest theaters, with a storied history and a lovely location just off Jackson Square in the French Quarter, now has a new artistic director in Maxwell Williams, who is joined by managing director Katie Hallman.
Upcoming: “Dinner with Friends” (March 20-29, April 2-4). Donald Margulies’ Pulitzer Prize-winning play tells of a couple unnerved when they learn their best friends are divorcing and that decisions made when they were younger may not be as lasting as they once thought. “Merrily We Roll Along” (May 22-31, June 4-6). The Stephen Sondheim, George Furth musical crackles with wit as it traces the journey of a jaded composer and his two estranged friends, and includes one of the greatest musical scores in American theatre.
Le Petit Theatre presented “Hair” in November.
Anthony Bean Community Theatre
Summer Lyric Theatre at Tulane
1333 South Carrollton Ave. New Orleans • 504-862-7529 anthonybeantheater.com
Dixon Hall Tulane University Campus New Orleans • 504.865.5269 summerlyric.tulane.edu
Founder and Artistic Director Anthony Bean dedicates the organization to developing young talent and providing a stage where novices and professional actors may work together. The situations and characters of the productions reflect issues in the New Orleans community, past and present.
Upcoming: “Measure for Measure” (March 6-22). William Shakespeare’s play dealing with issues of mercy, justice, truth and pride is directed by Frederick Mead. “The Glass Menagerie” (April 3-19). Janet Spenser directs the Tennessee Williams play about a young man begrudgingly supporting the family his father has abandoned, which includes a painfully shy and slightly crippled sister who is preoccupied with a collection of glass animals. “The Color Purple” (May 22-June 14). Anthony Bean directs the inspiring family saga about a woman who finds the strength to triumph over adversity.
Now presenting its 48th season, Summer Lyric Theatre each summer employs the talents of dozens of paid and volunteer actors, singers, dancers, musicians, directors, choreographers, designers and technical artists. Its mission is to preserve one of America’s greatest art forms by producing the high-quality, timeless musical theater.
Upcoming: “Damn Yankees” (June 18-21). The classic musical comedy became a 1958 hit musical film and now returns to the stage once again.
“Once Upon a Mattress” (July 9-12). This musical comedy was a Broadway hit as a quirky retelling of the fairytale “The Princess and the Pea.”
“Hello, Dolly!” (July 30-Aug. 2). Romantic comedy abounds in a musical based on Thornton Wilder’s farce “The Merchant of Yonkers.”
“The Glove” (July 17-19, 24-26). Magical things happen when a young boy dons a Michael Jackson glove. A world premiere presented by ABCT/ NORDC Summer Youth Program.carols.
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profiles
Jefferson Performing Arts Society 400 Phlox St. • Metairie Box Office: 504.885.2000 jpas.org Under the direction of Dennis Assaf, the regional theater offers a diverse line-up of musical theater, with performances on both East and West Bank stages, at 400 Phlox St., Metairie, and Teatro Wego, 177 Sala Ave., Westwego.
Upcoming: “Sex Please, We’re Sixty” (Feb. 27-March 15). Hilarious antics at Mrs. Stancliffe’s Rose Cottage Bed and Breakfast, by Michael Parker and Susan Parker. At Teatro Wego. “Captain Louie Jr.” by JPAS Theatre Kids! (March 20-22). Enjoy the tale of young Louie, the new kid in town who feels friendless and takes an imaginary journey on Halloween to visit his old neighborhood. At 400 Phlox St.
“Yes, this irrepressible scamp has feelings, but he is first and foremost fabulous.” - from Los Angeles
Times review of Alan Cumming: Uncut
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“The Lady with All the Answers” (April 3-19). David Rambo’s play explores the struggles of advice columnist Ann Landers with all the funny, no-nonsense wit of the lady herself. At Teatro Wego.
The Civic Theater
The Joy Theater
510 O’Keefe Ave. • New Orleans 504-272-0865 • civicnola.com
1200 Canal St. • New Orleans 504-528-9569 • thejoytheater.com
This beautiful theatre, opened in 1906, has been restored to its grandness and now is equipped with cutting-edge technology that enables a premier audience experience.
The reopening of this downtown landmark has enlivened upper Canal Street with live music, comedy and theatrical productions. Audiences enjoy a diverse lineup of performances in a great performance venue.
Upcoming: The Bowery Presents Elvis Costello (March 12). The Bowery Presents Paula Poundstone (March 21). The Bowery Presents Mary Chapin Carpenter with Aoife O’Donovan (March 26). The Bowery Presents Rupaul’s Drag Race: Battle of the Seasons (March 27). The Bowery Presents Sleater-Kinney (April 19). The Bowery Presents Father John Misty with Luluc (April 25). The Bowery Presents a very special solo evening with Joan Armatrading (April 26).
Upcoming: STS9 + Hermitude: BUKU LATE (March 14). John Waters: This Filthy World (March 26). A one-man show celebrating Waters’ film career and obsessive tastes. Crowder + Tim Timmons + Dan Bremnes: The Neon Steeple Tour (April 12). Alan Cumming: Uncut (April 18). An evening of song and stories from Scotland’s beloved man-child performing cabaret spiked with naughty, comical banter. The Meter Men with Page McConnell and Earphunk (April 25).
The Bowery Presents Primus and the Chocolate Factory (May 1).
An Evening with the Word (April 26).
Elvis Costello will perform at The Civic Theater in March. Photo By Karin Lindberg Freda
Scottish actor and entertainer Alan Cumming will perform at The Joy Theater in April. Photo courtesy Alan Cumming Instagram.
An Evening with Joe Russo’s Almost Dead (May 2).
“One Great Moment in Time” (May 1). Acclaimed resident composer Glyn Bailey presents an evening of original music, with performances by “Divas” and veteran JPAS performers Ariel Assaf, Jennifer Delatte and Micah Desonier. At Teatro Wego.
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classical music performances
Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra Mahalia Jackson Theater for the Performing Arts • New Orleans Box Office: 504.523.6530 lpomusic.com Music Director and Principal Conductor Carlos Miguel Prieto presents the orchestra that received ASCAP’s “Award for Adventurous Programming,” in a season featuring great works and star soloists. Concerts are performed in Mahalia Jackson Theater unless otherwise noted.
Upcoming: Mahler Symphony No. 4 (March 19). Virtuoso clarinetist Jose Franch-Ballester performs, as does New Orleans native soprano Angela Mannino.
“The architectural splendor of Missa Brevis was enthralling ...” - from The Washington
Times review of Limón Dance Company
Pierrot Lunaire, chamber music (March 21). World-class clarinetist Jose Franch-Ballester joins select members of the LPO for a rare chamber concert of Arnold Schoenberg music. At Gallier Hall. Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 3 (April 17). Internationally acclaimed concert pianist Jon Kimura Parker brings his impassioned performance style. Fidelity’s Concerts in the Park: Swing in the Oaks (April 21). Join fellow music lovers for this popular annual concert in City Park. Bring your lawn chairs, food and refreshments. Quint Plays Stravinsky (May 14). Grammy nominated violinist Philippe Quint returns. Verdi Requiem (May 23). The orchestra performs with the New Orleans Vocal Arts Chorale, featuring Louisiana natives Lori Guilbeau, soprano; Paul Groves, tenor; and Alfred Walker, baritone. Jose Franch-Ballester performs with the LPO in March.
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New Orleans Opera Association
New Orleans Ballet Association
Mahalia Jackson Theater for the Performing Arts •New Orleans Box Office: 504.529.3000, 800.881.4459 • neworleansopera.org
Mahalia Jackson Theater for the Performing Arts • New Orleans Box Office: 504.522.0996 nobadance.com
General and Artistic Director Robert Lyall again leads the association in presenting opera of the highest musical and artistic caliber, drawing heavily on Louisiana’s abundant artistic talent.
The central Gulf region’s premiere presenting organization dedicated solely to dance, the association offers another season of main stage and educational programs featuring world-class dance companies and artists.
Upcoming: “Lucia Di Lammermoor” (March 13, 15). Lose your mind for love in Donizetti’s most popular work about star-crossed lovers from feuding families, an arranged marriage for political gain and a psychotic bride. This opera includes what may be the most famous mad scene in all of opera. Come see and hear Lucia’s beautiful descent into madness. “The Marriage of Figaro” (April 10, 12). Mozart’s brilliant scoring of a play that “launched the French Revolution” is not just another day at the castle. Full of disguises, intrigue and mistaken identities, it’s an evening of hijinks set to Mozart’s incomparable score. Enjoy opera in odd places with the association’s Opera on Tap series. Catch a FREE performance at the Rusty Nail, 1100 Constance St., on March 4.
Upcoming: “Nuit Blanche” by Unión Tanguera (March 20, 21, 22). The sexy and flirtatious tango takes center stage with the French/Argentinean ensemble of seven virtuoso dancers and a quartet of Buenos Aires’ finest musicians. It’s a stylish evening set in a nightclub at the end of a late-night milonga, co-presented with The NOCCA Institute at Freda Lupin Memorial Hall, NOCCA. Limón Dance Company (May 9). A tribute to the legacy of company founder José Limón, this brilliant program includes the musical gem “Mazurkas,” set to Chopin, and the revival of the masterpiece “Missa Brevis,” with an exuberant score by Zoltán Kodály. This restaging will feature a chorus and New Orleansbased dancers selected from the NORDC/NOBA Center for Dance.
Don’t miss the Mad Hatter’s luncheon presented by the Women’s Guild on March 10 at the New Orleans Hilton Riverside. See website for ticket information. New Orleans Ballet presents Limon Dance Company.
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WITH THIS RING
By Mallory Lindsly
Jordan - Heumann Donald “Hunter” Oscar Heumann, a native New Orleanian, relocated to Jackson Hole to accept a position as a fly fishing guide and outfitter in 2010. At the same time and place, Margaret “Maggie” Pendelton Jordan was earning her Master’s degree in Entomology. The two first met while playing on a recreation soccer team with 68 | St. Charles Avenue March 2015
several members from local fly shops. Hunter and Maggie quickly became friends and began dating in the fall. Their mutual love of fishing, hunting, mountains and rivers led them to make the decision to stay together in the West with their dogs, Bug and Missy. While Hunter and Maggie were in the middle of moving
into their new home in the Teton Valley, Hunter proposed to Maggie. He surprised her on the front porch on one knee with the ring in hand to pop the question. Shortly after she said yes, a group of Jackson Hole friends arrived to celebrate in the valley with the newly engaged couple. After their wedding, Maggie and Hunter honeymooned in
Belize on Ambergis Caye and spent five days fly-fishing at the El Pescador Lodge. The couple lives in Victor, Idaho, just across the Teton Pass from Jackson, Wyoming, where Hunter is a fly fishing guide for an outfitter in Jackson and Maggie is the softgoods buyer for a Jackson outfitting company. n
Bride’s name: Margaret “Maggie” Pendleton Jordan
Ring Bearer: Frederick Jackson Fussell
Groom’s name: Donald “Hunter” Oscar Heumann III
Groom’s Attire: Tan suit from Jos A Banks, green silk ties adorned with trout made by Buffalo Jackson and cowboy boots
Bride’s Parents: Susan and Charles Walter Hawkins; Jo Ellen and James William Jordan
Best Man: Donald Oscar Heumann Jr.
Bride’s Grandparents: Mr. and Mrs. Paul Cleburne Conner, Mr. William Harold Jordan and Mrs. Charles Wayne Hawkins, and the late Mrs. William Harold Jordan
Groomsmen: Benton Patrick Burke, Jeffrey Rene Doussan Jr., William Hunter Hawkins, Matthew Emmett Basquill, James Henry Hargrove II and Jonathan William Tidwell
Groom’s Parents: Annie and Donald “Cricket” Oscar Heumann Jr.
Groomsmen’s Attire: Tan suit from Jos A Banks, green silk ties adorned with trout made by Buffalo Jackson and cowboy boots
Groom’s Grandparents: Mrs. Samuel Joseph Trombatore and Mrs. Donald Oscar Heumann Sr., and the late Samuel Joseph Trombatore, Shirley Moskau Heumann and Donald Oscar Heumann Sr. Rehearsal Dinner: Couloir at midmountain in Jackson, Wyoming Date of Wedding: September 27, 2014 Ceremony Location: Chapel of Transfiguration in Grand Teton National Park Reception Location: National Museum of Wildlife Art, Jackson, Wyoming Celebrant: Rev. J. Kenneth Asel Ceremony Music: String Lake Quartet Musicians Wedding Gown: Romona Keveza, Bridals by Lori, Atlanta, Georgia Hair: Chad Spracklin of Champu Salon, Jackson, Wyoming Makeup: Evan Jagor, Jackson, Wyoming Maid of Honor: Elizabeth Daniel Jordan Bridesmaids: Conner Olivia Jordan, Heidi Christina Heumann, Presley Victoria Hawkins and Jill Bledsoe Taylor
Readers: Kathleen Flournoy Pease Engagement Ring: Three diamonds, with the center diamond having been worn by Maggie’s greatgrandmother, Mary Emma Little, set in a white gold band; setting by Hiller Jewelry Bride’s Wedding Band: Diamond and turquoise baguettes set in a white gold band with milgrain edge, Hiller Jewelry Groom’s Wedding Band: Gold wedding band that belonged to Hunter’s great-grandfather Aubrey Charles Heumann Florist: Jan Kew of Creative Botanicals, Jackson, Wyoming Caterer: Rising Sage Cafe, Jackson, Wyoming Wedding Cake: Persephone Bakery, Jackson, Wyoming Photographer: Mark Fisher Photography, Jackson, Wyoming Videographer: Allie Rood, Jackson, Wyoming Music: Whiskey Mornin Band from Jackson, Wyoming
Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Bill Levkoff
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entertaining With bev
By BEV CHURCH
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Art, Entertaining and Libations Two hosts with two different approaches to hosting This month I’m taking you to two very different settings to explore how different couples handle entertaining and where they serve libations. Alexa Pulitzer and Marianne Mumford are both designers who entertain very spontaneousl, but are set up so they can have a get together very easily. The bar, of course, is where everyone congregates. 70 | St. Charles Avenue March 2015
Many of you are familiar with Alexa Pulitzer [AlexaPulitzer. com] and her passion for design! Her collections can be found in antique and home furnishing boutiques all over the world. She loves entertaining and New Orleans – our music, food and culture. She and her husband recently had a party for Ben Jaffe, Creative Director of Preservation Hall, and her invitation featured
bar essentials. She says that her whole living room serves as her “bar area,” with two spaces where guests can serve themselves whatever spirits they desire. Marianne and Alan Mumford are landscape architects who own Landscape Images. They have an annual party for local artists where friends can meet the artists and even buy their work. A small area has been set aside in which to serve
libations, so they keep it simple and offer red and white wine from an antique bar. They added a Dr. Bob Coca-Cola table, complete with a “Be Nice or Leave” giclée, to serve red wine. Swanson wine is “a must” for guests to enjoy! n
1. Ben Jaffe blowing out the candles on his birthday cake 2. Invitation by Alexa Pulitzer 3. Alexa’s bar area 4. Coca-Cola table by Dr. Bob 5. Marianne and Alan Mumford’s antique bar
Ben Jaffe photos Alexa Pulitzer; select photos linda reese bjork
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YOUNG BLOODS
By Lindsay Mack
Your Nutrition Delivered CEO, Erik Frank Having worked in health and wellness for 15 years, Erik Frank is attuned to the difficulties that many Americans face when trying to eat well. He decided to make healthy food more convenient for New Orleanians, and after winning the Idea Village’s 2013 Big Idea entrepreneur contest, his organization Your Nutrition Delivered was off and running. The basic setup for Your Nutrition Delivered is simple: Users can visit the website and pick a meal plan based on nutritional or caloric needs per day. Many plans are available, and most users choose the meals “à la carte.” The meals are then delivered to the users’ home or 72 | St. Charles Avenue March 2015
office. The menu features red beans and brown rice, grilled tandoori chicken and a variety of other dishes. In addition, the company can accommodate dietary needs, such as gluten sensitivities. Frank said that many people find it tricky to eat a healthy lunch every day, so his five-day workweek special is popular. Corporate wellness is also a big feature for Your Nutrition Delivered, as the organization helps corporations provide solid nutrition for their employees. Furthermore, Frank notes that most people struggle with four to six meals a week. How many people check the refrigerator for a snack, find nothing and
return 15 minutes later hoping a something tasty has magically appeared? Frank wants to ensure that New Orleanians have healthy food readily available at all times. When celebrities such as Jonah Hill and Jack Black filmed in New Orleans, Your Nutrition Delivered provided their meals. Jack Black’s production company even paid to get the meals overnighted to Atlanta when the actor couldn’t find a reliable substitute. Your Nutrition Delivered is affiliated with many local hospitals for nutritional
awareness in treating high blood pressure, cholesterol and obesity. They are also partnered with Touro Oncology to help cancer patients receive proper nutrition. When asked about his success in launching a health food organization in New Orleans, the city famous for King Cakes and muffulettas, Frank fields the question with a positive response. “New Orleans is the best place to launch Your Nutrition Delivered because if it works here, it will work anywhere,” he says. “What success haven’t we had?” n
For more information and to set up your menu, visit YourNutritionDelivered.com or call 952-2665.
cheryl gerber photograph
student activist
By Mallory Lindsly
Audrey Gold Singer Isidore Newman School
Audrey Gold Singer, an eighth grader at Isidore Newman School, founded the Green Team, a club focused on reducing, reusing and recycling in the Newman community. Lisa Swenson, a sixth grade science teacher at Newman, initially inspired Singer to get involved with the community with the Green Team. Singer was given documentaries to watch, projects to get involved in and foundations to support with her activism. Since the club was started, the group has focused on environmental and community service both in and around the school. The club built dog waste stations around campus, collected old tennis shoes to be remade into turf for fields, collected greeting cards to be re-used and sold for St. Jude’s hospital fundraising efforts and more. Outside of school, Singer has always been involved with Charley’s Fund, a favorite cause of her mother’s. Singer always sent money to the foundation whenever she had a bake sale, but this past year the foundation was petitioning to get Accelerated Approval from the FDA for a drug that had
proven to slow down the muscle decay in children with Duchene Muscular Dystrophy. The petition needed 100,000 signatures by a certain deadline. Singer presented Charley’s Fund and the petition to Newman and asked students and teachers to sign the petition and share it with their friends and family. “I provided them with all the information they needed, and within a few minutes, there were students signing and following the petition,” says Singer. “One of my friends texted me in the final countdown because she was so excited to see them reach 100,000.” For Singer’s Bat Mitzvah project, she decided to focus on breast cancer by volunteering with the Jewish foundation Shareset. Shareset aids diagnosed women and their families in sorting out their plans and preparing them for their treatment. Singer has also participated in Susan G. Komen’s Race for the cure. In addition, she has volunteered with the New Orleans’ Women’s Shelter Community Service Day with Newman. The project was to set up a pot-painting station for the kids at the shelter to enjoy. “At first, I wasn’t sure if they were going to like painting pots, but seeing their faces as they ran towards the table excited me and made me want to help even more. I felt so privileged to be there and give the kids something to be happy and feel good about,” she says. Singer has ambitious plans for her future: she wants to study to be a doctor in particular to help cure leukemia patients. Later on in her life, she wants to open a bakery and then have a third career as a math teacher at Newman. n
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SHOP TALK
By Mirella Cameran
Marcella Peraza Owner, Cella’s Boutique
Why did you start Cella’s Boutique? I
had always dreamed of opening a boutique in New Orleans, then, after graduating with both Fashion Merchandising and Business degrees from LSU, a great space opened up in Jackson Square. I jumped at the chance to open the first Cella’s.
You’ve just opened up a second location?
We opened two years ago in the French Quarter and, yes, we’ve just opened on Magazine Street. What kind of lines do you carry?
Amanda Uprichard, 7 For All Mankind, Yosi Samra and GiGi NewYork, as well as local designers such as Brantley Cecilia jewelry. What kind of price point do you offer?
We carry excellent priced items from $40 up to high quality silk, denim and handbags around $200. Who’s your audience? Fashionable
young professionals looking for great quality items at great prices, as well as a more mature audience searching for perfect fitting, high quality apparel.
What are the best things you have right now? Bright, colorful silk tops and
dresses by Amanda Uprichard for spring, the most comfortable Yosi Samra flats, python embossed leather GiGi New York handbags and clutches, and arrowhead necklaces by Betsy Pittard Designs. What are you excited about coming in? Gladiator sandals (huge for
spring!), gingham shirts, sweet lace shorts and lightweight spring vests.
What do you think about style in New Orleans? People are really paying
attention to us not just as a culinary city, but also as a fashionable one. So many amazing bloggers have popped up, really representing our fun style. At Cella’s we love to support local designers. n
Hiller Cella’s Jewelry, Boutique, 923 Metairie 3013 Magazine Road, 837-8200, St., 834-2365; HillerJewelry.com 514 Saint Peter St., 529-5110
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cheryl gerber photographs
SHOP TALK
By Mirella Cameran
Emile Tujague Owner and Trainer, SMX Training
Why did you start SMX? SMX is a
smarter way to train, and almost everyone can find 30 minutes once or twice per week.
Why is it different other kinds of training? SMX is the most efficient
way to get in shape. Results come much more quickly than with other forms of exercise, and there is far less risk of injury. With SMX you spend significantly less time in the gym.
Do you have to do other forms of exercise to complement it for a full training program? It depends on
the person, how often they work out with us and how intensely they train. Exercise is like medication, it should be taken in the correct dose. The more intensely you exercise, the less volume your body can tolerate.
Do you offer nutrition advice? Yes,
you cannot “out exercise� a bad diet.
Do any celebrities practice SMX or a similar method? Yes, our method
of training is popular with people such as Barbara Walters and Lesley Stahl.
What kind of results have you seen?
Our clients notice a dramatic increase in strength and muscle tone. This enhances their metabolism and they burn more calories, so they experience weight loss as well. Clients with osteoporosis demonstrate bone density improvements. How is the studio? Our renovation
and machine upgrade is nearly finished; we have on-site metabolic testing with HIT LAB INC and retail is coming. n
SMX Training, 735 Octavia St., 236-4121, SMXTraining.com
cheryl gerber photographs
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snapshots
by morgan packard
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1. Board Members Gigi Saak, Cheryl Braud, Marlene Trainor, Lori Seuzeneau, Julie Lea, Kristin Kahoe, Stacey Scruggs, Sandy Simpson and Lydia Glapion-Days at the inaugural Mystic Krewe of Nyx “Purses and Pearls” benefit luncheon, fashion show and auction on Sunday, Oct. 12 at the Sheraton New Orleans, where the krewe members modeled fashions from casual to formal to festive. 2. Emcee Janae Pierre and Event Chair Shaney Woods at “Purses and Pearls.” This year’s nonprofit beneficiary was the Louisiana chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. Over 250 guests listened to moving testimonials from caregivers about Alzheimer’s, a disease that strikes over 5 million people. 3. The George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts was selected by the President’s Committee for the Arts and the Humanities to turn around three Louisiana failing schools using the arts. One of these schools, Homer A. Plessy Community School in New Orleans, kicked off the program on October 14 with a visit from Troy Andrews, pictured here with Jacques Rodrigue and student Jared Gray. 4. Homer A. Plessy Community School principal Joan Riley and Oscar-nominated movie star Alfre Woodard (12 Years a Slave) at The George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts visit. The successful Turnaround Arts initiative is a program designed to help turn around low-performing schools, narrow the achievement gap and increase student engagement through the arts. 5. Dominique Hawkins of Preservation Design Partnership in Philadelphia with Vieux Carré Commission Foundation directors Susan Maclay, Amy Bowman and Rick Blount are pictured here at the VCC Foundation’s “Fall Fete” on October 20. Dominique is currently updating the VCC’s design guidelines – a project funded by the VCC Foundation for the benefit of the VCC. 6. VCC Foundation President Tee Zimmermann with artist Sean Friloux and original “Fall Fete” artwork of Muriel’s Jackson Square. The event boasted over 200 guests in attendance
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at Muriel’s and raised funds for the foundation, which supports the mission of the VCC to protect and preserve the French Quarter. 7. Assistant to the President and Development Director Tommy Mitchell (‘79), keynote speaker Gayle Benson and President of Brother Martin High School John Devlin at the 10th annual “Brother Martin Prayer Breakfast” at Metairie Country Club on October 21. 8. (Seated) Linda Holmes, Elaine Ridgley and Tom Ridgley (‘51) with (standing) Ed Holmes (‘52), Tommy Ridgley Jr. (‘82) and Rachele Ridgley at the “Brother Martin Prayer Breakfast.” 9. Tom and Gayle Benson pictured walking down the aisle of St. Louis Cathedral after their vow renewal ceremony on October 22. Photo by Sonny Randon 10. Honorees Sheriff Newell Normand, Klara Cvitanovich, Darlene Cusanza and Robert Merrick at the 41st annual “Ten Outstanding Persons Gala” on October 22 held at the Pavilion of the Two Sisters. Three hundred guests attended the evening, which honored 10 individuals for their philanthropic efforts in support of children and families in crisis. 11. (Front) Honorees Charlotte Bollinger, Pamela Ryan, Cheryl Teamer and (back) Alan Philipson, John Hollowell and Terrance Osborne at the “Ten Outstanding Persons Gala.” During dinner, emcee Mark Romig delivered tributes to each of the honorees, who in turn shared with the guests their thoughts on what community service means to them. 12. Co-Chaired by Kristi Post and Kathy Vogt and Honorary Chair Cynthia Molyneux, the “Ten Outstanding Persons Gala” raised funds for Family Service of Greater New Orleans, which, since 1896, has brought hope, compassion, strength and healing to families and children through a variety of counseling services for domestic violence, victims of crime, child abuse, bullying, addictions, the stresses of poverty and other issues.
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debutante snapshots
by morgan packard
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1. Debutante Isabel Starke Irvine was honored this summer at a French-themed fête on Bastille Day (Monday, July 14). The soirée was hosted by Isabel’s parents, Sallye English and George Richardson Irvine III, and was held at the Uptown home of the Irvines’ dear friends, Lil and Reese Pinney. Pictured here are Claire and Jean-Paul Layrisson with Sallye English Irvine. 2. Del Agnew, George Irvine and George Zeringue were among those who feasted on French fare that included petite croque monsieurs, steamed mussels, vichyssoise shooters, pâté and French cheeses. Catering was done by Sallye Irvine’s longtime friend Patti Constantin, of Patti Constantin Designs in Catering. Denise St. Pierre created the French pastries and croquembouche. Guests were greeted at the door with trays of Champagne, and French wines were poured along with Perrier and Belgian beer. 3. Adam Laurie, honoree Isabel Irvine, Isabel Jackson, Olivia Thomas, the honoree’s brother Richardson Irvine and Harlan Schwarz gather as festive music was provided by French jazz gypsy duo Raphael Bas and Norbert Slama. The Pinney home was draped in gold-tassel tied tricolore bunting with French flags flying. The front parlors were Parisian in décor with massed red roses in sterling vases; the back of the house was a nod to Provence with sunflowers and lavender in French crockery. Outside the theme was “bal populaire” with cafe lights, hydrangeas and gypsy jazz. 4. Debutantes Maddy Livaudais, Lane Porter, Ellie George and Scout Beron were fêted at a party in their honor held by parents Wendy and Thomas Beron, Julie and Ted George, Kay and Marc Livaudais and Claire and Chip Porter at the New Orleans Country Club on Saturday, November 29. Party planner Leslie Campbell of Baton Rouge helped design the “Chinese lantern theme,” which included a canopy strung with lighted Chinese lanterns at the entry and other lanterns, including four with the honorees names, over the stage. In addition, Kay Livaudais painted banners featuring ice cream treats in the dessert room. 5. Arrangements by Steve Baker of Ambrose Garden adorned the setting, including this bank of apricot and orange roses on the mantelpiece, “wisteria trees” created out of branches and snapdragons for the formal dining room and floral “ice cream sundaes” in the dessert room. Greens, citrus and gourds, designed by Patti Constantin, embellished the food tables, featuring some of the best the NOCC had on offer, including boiled shrimp, crabmeat ravigote, fried oysters, carved tenderloin and an ice cream sundae bar with mini cupcakes. Grilled cheese, sliders and French fries were passed on the dance floor in the wee hours. 6. The honorees, along with their friends and Country Day teachers, danced on stage to a cover of Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off” played by the Atlanta Showstoppers. The music continued nonstop for over three hours and kept the dance floor full all evening.
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7. Debutantes Eleanor Brennan Davis and Elizabeth Ashland Hines were fêted at a soirée by their parents Dr. And Mrs. William Edward Davis and Mr. And Mrs. William Hugh Hines on Wednesday, December 17, at the home of Mr. and Mrs. William Hugh Hines. The invitation to “Un Soir en la Nouvelle Orleans avec Ashland and Ellie” was designed as a book with an attached pencil to fill in the dance card. 8. The musical opening of the evening was the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, who entertained the guests with tunes by the Beatles, Gershwin and Cole Porter. Then the debut appearance of Atlanta cover band The Perfect 10 kept guests on the dance floor. 9. The tents housing the event were decorated with custom designed murals reminiscent of the 1920s depicting the French Opera House, a garden with topiaries and a mural of the honorees sitting in the Ritz-Carlton courtyard in Paris. All floral creations were designed by Meade Wenzel and Creole and French culinary delights were created by Mr. B’sBistro. 10. A soirée for debutante Grace Catherine Mallette Cary, planned by Van Wyck & Van Wyck, was hosted on the Winter Solstice (Sunday, December 21) themed the “Bal de la Chasse” (Ball of the Hunt). Dr. George and Beth Cary and Prentiss Havens, pictured here, hosted the evening along with Cathy and Rivie Cary and Dee Havens. 11. Grace Catherine’s brothers Havens Cary and Rives Cary are pictured with musicians Wiz Khalifa, Maroon 5 member James Valentine, honoree Grace Catherine Cary and Maroon 5 members Adam Levine, Jesse Carmichael, Mickey Madden and P.J. Morton. Entertainment abounded: the John Parker Jazz Band played at the entrance; Deacon John and the Ivories during dinner; Simply Irresistible from Atlanta at the after party; headliners Maroon 5 and Wiz Khalifa; and for the late-night entertainment, The Dolls (DJ Mia Moretti and violinist Margot). 12. Catered by Margo Bouanchaud, the evening featured generous buffets of suckling pig, tenderloin, sweets and much more, with Dunn & Sonnier creating the flowers on the food tables while Van Wyck & Van Wyck handled the remaining florals. The Cary home and gardens were transformed; garden tents at the back of the home were inspired by the Orangery at Versailles and topiary garden “rooms.” The first room guests entered was the Gallery of Stags, featuring more than 50 pieces of unique taxidermy, Malachite walls, reproductions of oil paintings from Versailles and antique French furniture. The central dance hall was inspired by the Hall of Mirrors and featured a custom French oak parquet dance floor and cut crystal chandeliers. Fire performers, footmen, acrobats, jugglers and fan artists were provided by Carl Mark; in addition horn players, huntsmen on horseback, footmen, actresses and model bartenders were on hand, all in accurate Louis XIII costumes designed by Van Wyck & Van Wyck sourced through London and Paris theaters.
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advertising section
Mimi 269-6464 FeBe 835-5250 Our “lucky” outfit – the Santa Fe top by Amanda Uprichard paired with the Verdugo Ultra Skinny Jean by Paige Denim.
Jody Candrian, a New-Orleans-based jewelry designer, keeps the unusual stones she selects at the forefront of her bangle designs. This fuchsite mica goes beyond green with ochre and gold reflecting tones.
St. Patrick’s Rug Chic (985) 674-1070 Artichoke Vase with matching Large Footed Artichoke Bowl.
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advertising section
Pelican Coast 309-2314 Stop by Pelican Coast for the perfect St. Patty’s Day look for him!
Day The Linen Registry 831-8228 Add a pop of color to your home with this comfy throw from The Linen Registry.
Emma’s Shoes & Accessories 407-0668 Accessorize for St. Patrick’s Day by mixing and matching these beautiful emerald rings from Emma’s Shoes & Accessories!
Trashy Diva 299-3939 With beautiful floral lace, you¹re sure to feel the luck of the Irish with the Arpege Collection in Ivy Green by Huit from Trashy Diva.
Feet First 899-6800 The newest addition to the KREWE du Optic family – the ‘Olivier’ frames in bottle green is a “lightweight design with prominent square lines that crosses all style genres with its appealing go-with-anything versatility”.
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advertising section
Chatta Box 454-1527 Stay comfortably chic in this patterned dress by Tracy Reese.
Ballin’s 891-4502 (Magazine St.) 866-4367 (Riverbend) Know for their distinctive color pallets, fun fabrics, and lightweight products, the Baggallini brand is perfect for those seeking functional and fashionable accessories. CeCe Shoe 269-6464 Faceted resin stones in cool tones add unexpected focus to this day-into-night “Astrid” sandal by Stella McCartney, “suitable for vegetarians” as the designer’s cruelty-free line describes itself.
Art & Eyes 891-4494 Handmade in Belgium, these limited edition ‘bright’ frames by THEO come from the MILLE Collection and are sure to make a fashion statement for St. Patrick’s Day!
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performing arts
By Lauren LaBorde
Performance Calendar March 4-20 Suddenly Last Summer
3 & 15 Lucia di Lammermoor
As part of the Tennessee Williams/ New Orleans Literary Festival, Southern Rep presents the Williams play about a woman whose wealthy aunt insists she get lobotomized after witnessing her cousin’s death. Southern
Donizetti’s most popular work follows the title character’s descent into madness. New
Rep, location TBA, 522-6545, SouthernRep.com 6 “And the Winner Is … An Evening of Movie Magic”
The LPO presents a concert from music from award-winning films including West Side Story, E.T., Indiana Jones, The Wizard of Oz, Lord of the Rings and more.
Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, Mahalia Jackson Theater, 1419 Basin St., 523-6530; LPOmusic.com 6-22 Measure for Measure
Frederick Mead directs the William Shakespeare play that explores themes of mercy, justice and truth.
Anthony Bean Community Theater, 1333 S. Carrollton Ave., 862-7529, AnthonyBeanTheater.com 9-10 Love Letters
Nell Nolan and Dennis Woltering portray friends who share their lives with each other through sweet, funny and thoughtful letters. Proceeds from the shows benefit Bridge House. Mid-City Theatre,
3540 Toulouse St., 488-1460, MidCityTheatre.wordpress.com 13-28 When Ya Smilin’
Ricky Graham directs the comedy that waxes nostalgic for 1950s New Orleans through a family who lives in the 9th Ward. Rivertown
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Theaters for the Performing Arts, 325 Minor St., Kenner. 461-9475, RivertownTheaters.com
Orleans Opera Association, Mahalia Jackson Theater, 1419 Basin St., 529-3000, NewOrleansOpera.org
17-21 Once
Based on the Irish movie about a romance between two musicians, the Tony Award-winning stage adaptation features an ensemble cast that plays instruments onstage. Saenger Theatre, 1111
Canal St., 525-1052, SaengerNOLA. com
19
Mahler Symphony No. 4 Clarinetist Jose Franch-Ballester performs alongside director Carlos Miguel Prieto and the LPO in a concert that begins with Franch-Ballester’s interpretation of Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto, followed by Mahler’s Symphony No. 4, featuring soprano Angela Mannino. Louisiana Philharmonic
Orchestra, Mahalia Jackson Theater, 1419 Basin St., 523-6530; LPOmusic.com
20-22 The Grand Parade (of the 20th Century)
The Massachusetts-based theater company Double Edge Theater presents the regional premiere of the play, a kaleidoscope of circus arts, vaudeville and magical realism depicting major events of the 20th century. Contemporary
Arts Center, 900 Camp St., 528-3800, CACNO.org
March 20. March 29, April 2-4 Dinner With Friends In Donald Margulies’ Pulitzer Prizewinning play, a couple nearing middle-age learn their best friends are divorcing. Le Petit Théâtre
du Vieux Carré, 616 St. Peter St., 522-2081, LePetitTheatre.com
21 Pierrot Lunaire: Chamber Music The concert begins with Schoenberg’s arrangement of Johann Strauss Jr.’s “Emperor Waltz,” followed by a performance of his musical drama, “Pierrot Lunaire.” Louisiana
Philharmonic Orchestra, Gallier Hall, 545 St. Charles Ave., 523-6530; LPOmusic.com
20-22. Union Tanguera: Nuit Blanche
The French/Argentinean ensemble of seven tango dancers and a quartet of Buenos Aires musicians reimagine traditional tango in this sexy show.
New Orleans Ballet Association, Freda Lupin Memorial Hall, NOCCA, 522-0996, NOBAdance.com
26 Baroque Mass: Outside the Bachs The LPO presents Bach’s “Mass in B Minor,” considered to be one of the greatest musical works. Louisiana
Philharmonic Orchestra, First Baptist Church, 5290 Canal Blvd., 523-6530; LPOmusic.com
28 MASNO Piano Concerto Showcase The LPO and Musical Arts Society of New Orleans’ concert features the top-placing medalists of the 2014 New Orleans International Piano Competition. Louisiana Philharmonic
Orchestra, Loyola University’s Roussel Hall, 6363 St. Charles Ave., 523-6530; LPOmusic.com
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PUBLISHER’S NOTICE: All real estate advertised herein is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Ace and the Louisiana Open Housing Act, which make it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination. We will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. For more information, call the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office at 1-800-273-5718.
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Premier
Properties ELEANOR FARNSWORTH Top Residential Producer CRS, GRI, BRC, HRS Office: (504) 891-1142 Home: (504) 891-9023
891-6400
www.EleanorFarnsworth.com
5631 St. Charles Avenue.....SOLD...............$6,185,000 4717 St Charles Avenue......SOLD...............$6,000,000 1004 Falcon Road................SOLD...............$5,600,000 3 Audubon Place .................SOLD...............$5,250,000 16 Audubon Place .............. SOLD ..............$4,500,000 521 Gov. Nicholls................SOLD...............$3,750,000 8 La Salle Place ....................SOLD...............$3,650,000 4831 St. Charles Avenue................................$2,625,000 1776 State Street ..................SOLD...............$2,300,000 3 Poydras Street #9E/F ........SOLD...............$2,300,000 906 S. New Hampshire Avenue......SOLD...............$2,199,000 2600 Gay Lynn Drive ....................................$1,950,000 841 Barracks Street .............SOLD...............$1,850,000 1427 Eighth Street ..............SOLD...............$1,850,000 7 Rosa Park...........................SOLD...............$1,800,000 1518 First Street ..................SOLD...............$1,750,000 1328 Felicity Street ..............SOLD...............$1,700,000 1538 Fourth Street ..............SOLD...............$1,700,000 1415 Cadiz Street ...............SOLD...............$1,700,000 1800 Jefferson .................................................$1,700,000 1732-34 Palmer.....................SOLD...............$1,650,000 2708 Coliseum Street ..........SOLD...............$1,625,000 1233 Second Street..............SOLD...............$1,600,000 576 Audubon Street ............SOLD...............$1,595,000 4613 St. Charles Avenue.....SOLD...............$1,495,000 2707 Coliseum Street ..........SOLD...............$1,490,000 2507 Prytania Street ............SOLD...............$1,490,000 6433 Paris Avenue ...............SOLD...............$1,450,000 1542 Calhoun Street ...........SOLD...............$1,450,000 5726 St. Charles Avenue......SOLD...............$1,400,000 1205 Philip Street .................SOLD...............$1,399,000 4917 St. Charles Avenue......SOLD...............$1,370,000 1413 Philip Street ................SOLD...............$1,370,000 447 Audubon Street ........... SOLD ..............$1,300,000 9 Blanc Place ........................SOLD...............$1,300,000 1578 Calhoun Street ...........SOLD...............$1,300,000 1207 State Street ..................SOLD...............$1,250,000 571 Audubon Street ............SOLD...............$1,220,000 1539 Soniat Street ...............SOLD...............$1,220,000 6554 Oakland Drive............SOLD...............$1,200,000 441 Audubon Street ............SOLD...............$1,199,000
2006 Jefferson Avenue........SOLD...............$1,100,000 17 Chateau Palmer ..............SOLD...............$1,085,000 1701 Valence Street .............SOLD...............$1,075,000 1919 State Street ..................SOLD...............$1,050,000 1221 First Street ..................SOLD...............$1,050,000 1221 Exposition Blvd .........SOLD...............$1,045,000 3225 Prytania Street ............SOLD...............$1,000,000 1844 State Street ..................SOLD.................. $995,000 1022 Webster Street ............SOLD.................. $995,000 3447 Camp Street ................SOLD.................. $985,000 45 Savannah Ridge Ln ........SOLD.................. $950,000 1543 Henry Clay Avenue.......SOLD.................. $950,000 1729 Jefferson Avenue........SOLD.................. $950,000 4525 Prytania Street ............SOLD.................. $950,000 3937 Camp Street ................SOLD.................. $950,000 508 Walnut Street ................SOLD.................. $950,000 2331 Chestnut Street...........SOLD.................. $949,000 1922 State Street ..................SOLD.................. $899,000 6161 Loyola Avenue............SOLD.................. $895,000 1205 Arabella Street ............SOLD.................. $895,000 3200 St. Charles Avenue......SOLD..................$889,000 6047 Camp Street ................SOLD.................. $850,000 836 State Street ....................SOLD.................. $849,000 500 Walnut Street ................SOLD.................. $825,000 5951 Tchoupitoulas.............SOLD.................. $815,000 5933 Camp Street ................SOLD.................. $799,000 6131 Coliseum .....................SOLD.................. $795,000 7328 Plum Street ............................................... $795,000 1443 Calhoun Street ...........SOLD.................. $789,000 2818 Laurel Street..............................................$775,000 405 Exposition Blvd ...........SOLD.................. $755,000 630 Eleonore Street.............SOLD...................$695,000 5349 Prytania Street ......................................... $690,000 282 Audubon Street...........................................$625,000 5520-22 Camp Street ........................................ $595,000 7605 Claiborne......................SOLD........ .........$520,000 2511 St Charles Avenue #505........SOLD ..... $465,000 7337 W. Roadway Street ......3 Slips.................... $25,000 6257 Highland Rd., Baton Rouge..SOLD ..$2,200,000 71607 Riverside Dr., Covington...................$1,250,000
11 Arbor Circle................................$1,295,000 10 Swan .......................SOLD.... ... $1,300,000 1440 Camp St.............SOLD........$1,245,000 22 Farnham..................SOLD........$1,245,000 500 Audubon .............SOLD.... ...... $998,000 5232 Chestnut ...........SOLD.... ...... $920,000 1566 Calhoun .............SOLD.... ...... $875,000 5111 Pitt .......................SOLD.... .......$749,000 1240 Eighth .................SOLD.... ...... $725,000 208 English Turn.........SOLD .......... $699,000 328 Julia.......................SOLD.... ...... $595,000 6313 Laurel .................SOLD.... ...... $568,000 6308 Camp .................SOLD.... ...... $549,000 6219 Magazine St......SOLD.... ...... $530,000 3801 St. Charles............SOLD..............$499,000 1750 St. Charles #529...SOLD.............$495,000 924 Bellecastle ..... .....SOLD.......... . $485,000 234 Audubon.............SOLD............$479,000 2824 Calhoun.................SOLD..............$449,000 8233 Freret St ............SOLD.... ...... $445,000 700 S. Peters ...............SOLD.... ...... $428,000 6300 Colbert St ..........SOLD.... .......$419,000 4 Stilt .............................SOLD.... .......$415,000 6444 Milne..........................................$399,000 4440 Bienville .............SOLD.... ...... $399,000 915 Cadiz .....................SOLD.... ...... $396,000 4930 S. Johnson........SOLD............$385,000 830 State St .......................................$378,000 4329 Cohn St.............(COM)............$339,900 625 Pine St #2............SOLD.............$330,000 1826 Milan St.....................................$269,000 1418 N. Villere.............SOLD............$255,000 Lots at Arbors Estates ...............from $95,000
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new orleans nostalgia
By Seale Paterson
Workers resettle Joan of Arc on her pedestal in 1984. The statue was regilded in 1984 by two French government workers, Claude Ducroizet and Jean Maillard, brought to New Orleans specifically for this task. The French city of Orleans helped Mayor Dutch Morial’s administration pay for the work, and Orleans Mayor Jacques Douffiagues came to New Orleans to rededicate the statue on May 11, 1984, attending the opening of the Louisiana World Fair the following day. The statue was repaired and regilded again in 1999 by the Euphrosine Conservation Center before being placed in its current French Quarter home.
Moving Joan The history of Joan of Arc’s statue in New Orleans In 1958, New Orleans hoped to buy a gilded bronze equestrian statue of Joan of Arc, one of 10 copies made from the original
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plaster mould sculpted by Frenchmen Emmanuel Fremiet. The statue was shipped to New Orleans on consignment, but the
$35,000 price tag was deemed too steep, despite fundraising efforts that included soliciting schoolchildren for change. It was placed in storage, its future uncertain. In 1964, French President General Charles de Gaulle gifted the statue to the city in recognition of the close ties between New Orleans and France. The cost was shared by de Gaulle and four
French cities: Orleans, Paris, Rouen and Rheims. The statue was formally presented to the city on April 18, 1964. However, Joan remained in storage for an additional eight years until a new CBD plaza, Place de France, was developed between Rivergate and the International Trade Mart. In October 1972, the statue was ceremoniously unveiled, with the United States French Ambassador and Mayor Moon Landrieu present. Two 1813 French cannons accompanied her. The statue stayed in the Plaza de France for 20 years until Harrah’s built their casino. Their construction plans included demolition of the plaza and relocation of the statue, but federal courts intervened, as the plaza had been built with federal funds. At the end of the lengthy court battle, permission was granted to Harrah’s to relocate Joan of Arc. The statue was moved to her present French Quarter home in October 1999, at the pocket park at Decatur and North Peters streets. Her accessories were included: the original cannons, plaques from the French cruiser Jeanne d’Arc that had been given to the city as a token of friendship in 1967 and four flag poles, representing the United States, France, Louisiana and New Orleans. n
photo provided courtesy of the New Orleans Public Library.