New Orleans Magazine September 2015

SEPTEMBER 2015

n ica ” Amerisney nts lt D a Presee: “W V T c ES- ien WY xper E

SEPTEMBER 2015 / VOLUME 49 / NUMBER 12 Editor-in-Chief Errol Laborde Managing Editor Morgan Packard Art Director Tiffani Reding Amedeo Contributing Editor Liz Scott Monaghan Food Edit­or Dale Curry Dining Edit­or Jay Forman Wine and Spirits Edit­or Tim McNally Restaurant Reporter Robert Peyton Home Editor Bonnie Warren web Editor Kelly Massicot Staff Writer Melanie Warner Spencer Interns Lani Griffiths and Morgan Heuer SALES MANAGER Kate Sanders (504) 830-7216 / Kate@MyNewOrleans.com Senior Account Executive Jonée Daigle Ferrand, Lisa Picone Love Account Executives Sarah Daigle, Brittany Gilbert

Production Manager Staci McCarty Production Designers Monique DiPietro, Claire Geary, Antoine Passelac, Ali Sullivan traffic coordinator Jessica DeBold Chief Executive Officer Todd Matherne President Alan Campell Executive VICE PRESIDENT Errol Laborde Vice President of Sales Colleen Monaghan DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND EVENTS Cheryl Lemoine Distribution Manager John Holzer Administrative Assistant Denise Dean SUBSCRIPTIONS Sara Kelemencky WYES DIAL 12 STAFF (504) 486-5511 Executive Editor Beth Arroyo Utterback Managing Editor Aislinn Hinyup Associate Editor Robin Cooper Art Director Jenny Hronek

NEW ORLEANS MAGAZINE Printed in USA A Publication of Renaissance Publishing 110 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Suite 123 Metairie, LA 70005 Subscriptions: (504) 830-7231

MyNewOrleans.com

New Orleans Magazine (ISSN 0897 8174) is published monthly by Renaissance Publishing, LLC., 110 Veterans Blvd., Suite 123, Metairie, LA 70005; (504) 828-1380.

Subscription rates: one year $19.95; Mexico, South America and Canada $48; Europe, Asia and Australia $75. An associate subscription to New Orleans Magazine is available by a contribution of $40 or more to WYES-TV/Channel 12, $10.00 of which is used to offset the cost of publication. Also available electronically, on CD-ROM and on-line. Periodicals postage paid at Metairie, LA, and additional entry offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to New Orleans Magazine, 110 Veterans Blvd., Suite 123, Metairie, LA 70005. Copyright 2015 New Orleans Magazine. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the consent of the publisher. The trademark New Orleans and New Orleans Magazine are registered. New Orleans Magazine is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, photos and artwork even if accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope.

The opinions expressed in New Orleans Magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of the magazine managers or owners.

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contents

64 FEATURES

IN EVERY ISSUE

ON THE COVER

56

Burlesque

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INSIDE

It’s not the stip but the tease

By Morgan Packard with Trixie Minx

“The Original Burlesque Queen”

64

People to Watch

Class of 2015 Profiles by Lani Griffiths, Stephen Maloney, Morgan Packard, Sarah Ravits, Kimberley Singletary and Melanie Warner Spencer

A primer on what defines, as well as the history and possible future of the “art of the tease” we call burlesque.

Complete with fun facts and local twists, starting on pg. 56.

88

Fall Festivals

A guide to the season’s celebrations

By Lauren LaBorde

168 STREETCAR

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18 speaking out

Editorial, plus a Mike Luckovich cartoon 20

JULIA STREET Questions and answers about our city

167 Try This

“Trying a Tease: Taking a burlesque class”

“Class Action: Katrina’s school problem”

Photographed by Greg Miles

contents

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52

98

THE BEAT

LOCAL COLOR

THE MENU

24

MARQUEE

40

IN TUNE

96

table talk

Entertainment calendar

“September’s Songs”

“Centering on Central City”

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PERSONA Chris Audler, Partner, District: Donuts Sliders Brew

42

Read & Spin

98 restaurant insider

28

Biz

A look at the latest albums and books

44

JAZZ LIFE

“Fuel’s Gold”

“Chief Troubles: Who owns the pictures of a culture?”

30

education

“The Rest of the Story”

46

MODINE’S NEW ORLEANS

“Spekin’ Good”

32

HEALTHBEAT

The latest news in health from New Orleans and beyond

34

crime fighting

“Feat of Crime: What it does to us”

36

CHRONICLES

“Strike Up the Band: Ten years of Tulane’s marching music”

48

Joie d’Eve

“Answers Please: Interview with an 8-year-old”

50

me again

“Starting New: My world upside down”

52

HOME

“New In Lakeview: Kim and Jamie Munoz combine tradition with openness”

The Standard, NOLA Brewing Tap Room and Ichi Japanese Ramen House

100 FOOD

“Claws and Effect”

102 LAST CALL

Two Punches: Tiger Bait and Black and Gold

104 DINING GUIDE

DIAL 12 D1 America Masters: “Althea” looks at the first African American to play and win at Wimbledon and the U.S. Nationals. Watch it Sept. 4

at 9 p.m. on WYES-TV/Channel 12. Then, don’t miss American Experience: “Walt Disney” on Sept. 14 & 15 at 8 p.m. The fascinating story looks at one of America’s most legendary filmmakers and his magical legacy. Masterpiece brings another dramatic series you won’t want to miss – “Indian Summers” begins on Sun., Sept. 27. The none-part series stars Julie Walters as the glamorous doyenne of an English social club in the twilight era of British rule in India. *Get a sneak peek of the series at WYES’ latest event – WYES Indian Summers Screening & Event – on Sat., Sept. 26 at Metairie Park Country Day School. All program and event details available at WYES.org.

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inside

The Original Burlesque Queen

R

ight now you are doing something that has rarely been done – at least in New Orleans – reading about Lydia Thompson in a September issue of a magazine.

Usually Lydia is a February topic, dusted off at Carnival time as part of the legends about the first Rex parade, the Grand Duke Alexis and Carnival’s anthem, “If Ever I Cease to Love.”

Lydia was a burlesque queen, arguably a pioneering figure in the genre; this month’s cover story is about the modern version. The British performer visited New Orleans several times. Her third visit was in February 1872, which just happened to be same time that the first Rex parade was staged. The Grand Duke Alexis, who also happened to be passing through, had seen Lydia perform in St. Louis doing a show called Bluebeard. Because the two had come to town at the same time rumors of romance started. Rex’s selection of its theme song “If Ever I Cease to Love” came from Bluebeard. That embellished the rumor, as though the lyrics referred to Alexis and Lydia.

In fact, the song had been fairly well known in New Orleans because of sheet music. When the Rex organizers announced the anthem in a newspaper decree, they teased that since the first Rex, Lewis Salomon, was a bachelor, this might encourage him to sew his “wild oats.”

There is no evidence of a romance between Lydia and Alexis.

Often overlooked is that the Duke was 22; Lydia was 36. It may be that Alexis had sent Lydia a bracelet after seeing her perform in St. Louis, but hey, when you’re a duke you can do that sort of thing.

Through her career, Lydia developed the bump, grind and tease that would become part of burlesque. Eventually she retired in England, had a family and lived a fairly obscure life. Her name is probably better known in New Orleans than in London. Last year Arthur Hardy, publisher of the Mardi Gras Guide, was in England, and while there looked for Lydia’s grave. He and his wife, Sue, had a lead that she had been buried in a cemetery about 30 minutes outside of London. But where? With the help of a cemetery employee they learned that the site was, “located immediately to the west of the pink fallen granite cross and to the left of the road.” When they found the site there was, according to Hardy, little to see: “All that remains is a chip of a head stone, a slightly larger footstone and an eight-foot patch of grass.” Still, Hardy had found what he was looking for.

Too bad Lydia had not stayed in New Orleans. Imagine if she had been buried in St. Louis Cemetery. Her site might be visited everyday with flowers of purple, green and gold left on it. Most of all, she and Marie Laveau could dance through eternity together. It would be quite a show.

Best Doctors Clarification: Because of scheduling issues, our August Best Doctors list included some listings from 2014 as well as available 2015 listings. We regret any confusion.

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on the web Daily Blogs Visit MyNewOrleans.com daily to see the latest posts from our favorite MyNewOrleans bloggers.

Stay up to date with local restaurant openings, drink menus and recipes, learn the art of Bon Vivant and relate to stories only New Orleans families can appreciate. There is something for everyone at MyNewOrleans.com!

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Events Calendar Right on the homepage of MyNewOrleans.com is our daily events calendar. Our calendar is user-friendly in both access and submitting your own events. Do you have an upcoming event for your business? Or maybe you want to see what’s going on this weekend. Look no further than the MyNewOrleans.com events calendar.

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meet our sales team

Colleen Monaghan Vice President of Sales (504) 830-7215 Colleen@myneworleans.com

Kate Sanders Sales Manager (504) 830-7216 Kate@myneworleans.com

Jonee Daigle-Ferrand Senior Account Executive (504) 830-7257 Jonee@myneworleans.com

Lisa Picone Love Senior Account Executive (504) 830-7263 Lisa@myneworleans.com

Sarah Favret Daigle Account Executive (504) 830-7220 SarahD@myneworleans.com

Brittany Gilbert Account Executive (504) 830-7298 BrittanyG@myneworleans.com

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SPEAKING OUT

Of Hospitals and Domes

M

aybe it was a cosmic moment, but last month the first phase of the new University Hospital complex opened during the same week that the Superdome’s 40th anniversary was celebrated. “Hmmm,” we thought, “there must be parallels.”

• Both were among the largest public construction projects in the nation at the time they were built.

• Both faced serious opposition and charges of being boondoggles.

• Both redeveloped what were blighted neighborhoods.

• Both were built in the city, near the business district and established a new economic force.

We will have to wait and see what history’s verdict will be on the hospital complex, which already has built-in stability with the new Veterans Hospital being part of the campus, but after 40 years it’s fair to declare the Superdome a success.

One lesson to remember is that sometimes, indeed quite often, success comes in ways other than predicted. As a setting for theatrical

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events, the Dome was never as successful as predicted – for most it was too big and too cavernous. Even the mighty Ringling Brothers Circus was dwarfed in the building. It lacked the intimacy for basketball and there was minor league baseball, but it only lasted one season. Here again, the place was too big.

And the Dome never worked out well for Tulane football, which is now in its rightful home on its college campus.

Nevertheless, we would not have the New Orleans Saints were it not for the promise of the Dome. The building has hosted seven Superbowls. College national championships have been decided on the turf, and in an age of bowl game saturation the Sugar Bowl has remained an important event.

During the Saints championship season, the Dome became the center of the universe. However, for most of the building’s four decades, redevelopment of the surrounding neighborhood into an entertainment area was slow.

Now there’s Champions Square and a growing game time bar and restaurant scene.

For those who were worried that the Dome would be easy pickings for scan-

dal, there has been very little, other than an early squabble over janitorial contracts.

As far as we know, the fiscal history of the building has been amazingly honest. In fact it may be that the building’s greatest asset has been as a cash cow.

In what was a brilliant strategy, refinanced Dome bonds paid for the arena next door, which would save costs by using the Dome’s parking and air conditioning system. Dome bonds would also finance Zephyr stadium and the Alario center.

Other cities built domed stadiums in the same era, but none, including the first covered stadium, Houston’s Astrodome, nor Seattle’s Kingdome or Minneapolis’ Humphrey Metrodome, were as good. The latter two no longer exist; the former stands as a relic.

We know there’s a big difference between building a hospital and running a stadium, but both are examples of defying the critics, thinking big and taking chances and both were done in the heart of the city. All the better for the economy. All the easier for the doctors to get to Saints games. n

AN ORIGINAL ©MIKE LUCKOVICH CARTOON FOR NEW ORLEANS MAGAZINE

JULIA STREET /

WITH POYDRAS THE PARROT

TH E PUR S UIT TO AN S W E R E T E RNA L Q U E S TION S

Steel transfer boat Gouldsboro, circa 1930s

Dear Julia, I have two questions concerning the New Orleans area and the state of Louisiana.

Recently, I was passing the new Huey P. Long Bridge and thought about a train crossing it. Before the bridge was built, how exactly did the trains get across the Mississippi? I assume barges and tugs were used.

My second question also concerns railriver crossings. How many rail-bridge connections are in Louisiana and what are their locations?

Mike Staiano Metairie Sorry Mike, two questions cost extra.

Your bill is in the mail.

Before the Huey P. Long Bridge was built, trains were ferried across the river on transfer vessels. Among the best known of these were the Mastodon, the Mammoth and

the Gouldsboro.

The Mastodon, a barge built in 1909 at the New York Ship Building Corporation of Camden, New Jersey, was a 368-foot long, 50-foot wide behemoth which, propelled by tugboats, carried Southern Pacific trains between the foot of Elysian Fields Avenue and a landing at Elmira Street in Algiers Point.

The Mastodon’s little sister, the 308-foot Mammoth, was built in ’17 by the American Bridge Company of Ambridge, Pennsylvania and also worked for Southern Pacific.

Unlike the Mastodon or the Mammoth, the Texas-Pacific transfer vessel Gouldsboro operated under her own power, moving trains between the rail yard at McDonoghville and a landing near Terpsichore Street in Uptown New Orleans. Prior to her civilian service, the Gouldsboro had a distinguished military career as the ironclad monitor U.S.S. Chickasaw.

There are two rail-bridge crossings over the Mississippi River in Louisiana: the Huey P. Long bridges at New Orleans and Baton Rouge.

Dear Julia, Mom (Elaine O’Connor) and Dad met while working at Ancona’s Bakery, which was located in the Irish Channel. According to family lore, the bakery did the baking for the Army during World War II out at Camp Plauche.

My dad, Ignatius Tusa, whose mother was an Ancona, said the bakery was owned by his mom’s brothers, Ignatius and Dominick Ancona. Is there any record of this bakery in the Irish Channel and did they bake for the Army?

According to my parents, they employed many people.

My dad left the bakery to go to work for Higgins during the war but resumed his baking career after the war at the Cloverleaf bakery, also in the Irish Channel.

Can you verify any of this lore to be factual? Mom and Dad have both passed away, leaving three children, 12 grandchildren and 21 great-grandkids. I would like to have the factual information to tell them about this part of their grandparents’ lives.

Thank you for your help.

Cynthia Tusa Metairie

Win a restaurant gift certificate

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Here is a chance to eat, drink and have your curiosity satiated all at once. Send Julia a question. If we use it, you’ll be eligible for a monthly drawing for a $25 gift certificate at Chappy’s Restaurant or a Jazz Brunch for two at The Court of Two Sisters. To take part, send your question to: Julia Street, c/o New Orleans Magazine, 110 Veterans Blvd., Suite 123, Metairie, LA 70005 or email: Errol@MyNewOrleans.com. This month’s winners are Cynthia Tusa, Metairie; and Mike Staiano, Metairie.

SEPTEMBER 2015 / myneworleans.com

photo courtesy of the charles l. franck studio collection at the historic new orleans collection

Around 1910, your greatuncle Ignatius Ancona and his family opened a bakery at 1010 St. Mary St. Famous for its Panella bread and an assortment of home-style baked goods, the Ancona Baking Company thrived not only from walk-in business, but also by selling its products through local grocery stores. Business was so good that, in 1934, the company opened a new stateof-the-art fully automated bakery at that location.

While it’s certainly plausible that the military may have been among the Ancona Baking Company’s wartime clients, it wasn’t possible for me to prove that bit of family lore. I am however, inclined to believe it because your late parents were directly involved in the family business and were adults during the war years, so they probably had first-hand knowledge of the bakery’s commercial contracts.

Your family’s bakery appears to have hit hard times after the war. In 1948, the Ancona Baking company and its bakery were liquidated due to bankruptcy.

Around 1949, the Ancona brothers regrouped, taking over Ernest Judice’s former Broadmoor Bakery at 3920 Washington Ave. The family ran the Broadmoor Bakery until it was liquidated in a September ’65 bankruptcy auction.

Dear Julia, A colleague recently told me with great conviction that Charity Hospital was built by Jean Lafitte, the pirate! While I enjoyed the romantic nature of that idea (That swashbuckler wins the Battle of New Orleans, then starts a hospital and a blacksmith shop!), I know that the first Charity Hospital was established with a bequest from a sailor named Jean Louis. But who was Jean Louis?

Was he just an ordinary seaman? Why did he want to build a hospital?

Lista Hank New Orleans The person who gave the original bequest for the establishment of a local hospital for the poor was a seafaring man, but he rode the waves nearly a century before Jean Lafitte was a household name.

Jean Louis was a sailor and boat builder who had come to Louisiana as an employee of the Company of the Indies.

Although New Orleans did have a Royal Hospital in Jean Louis’ day, that facility tended only to the military and others in the King’s service, not the general public or the impoverished. Those who were not permitted to use the military hospital could obtain some medical care from the local Capuchin priests, but the good fathers were hardly in a position to shoulder the burden of providing medical care to all who needed it.

Jean Louis understood there were community needs that public officials had not addressed. He wrote his will in the hope that his money could establish a public hospital to serve those unmet needs. His will, document 5498 of the Records of the French Superior Council, was filed Nov. 16, 1735. A translation can be found in Appendix A of John Salvaggio’s 1992 book New Orleans’ Charity Hospital: A Story of Physicians, Politics and Poverty.

When Jean Louis died in 1736, his executor quickly carried out the boat builder’s wishes, purchasing the Kolly house at Chartres and Bienville streets and adapting it for use as a hospital, which was first known as the Hospital of St. John. Only three months later, it proved necessary to expand the facility. n

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the beat MARQUEE / PERSONA / BIZ / EDUCATION / HEALTH / CRIME FIGHTING / CHRONICLES

persona pg. 26

Chris Audler, Partner at District: Donuts Sliders Brew, along with partners Aaron Vogel and Stephen Cali, has created a world of sorts on Magazine Street that’s evident on the days when lines for the restaurant’s big, bready and topped-to-the-hilt doughnuts snake out the door.

GREG MILES PHOTOGRAPH

THE BEAT / MARQUEE

OUR TOP PICKS FOR SEPTEMBER EVENTS

Michael C. Hebert photo

BY LAUREN LABORDE

Drama Queen

Snapshots of America

Who Dat’s Back

In a time when Kardashian fixation has reached peak levels, The NOLA Project is shining the spotlight on Marie Antoinette, who one might say was history’s first-ever entitled reality star. The NOLA Project presents the regional premiere of David Adjmi’s Marie Antoinette, which translates the frivolous queen through contemporary celebutante parlance. Mark Routhier directs and Cecile Monteyne, a veteran leading lady, plays the titular queen.

The play opens the season that also includes Adam Szymkowicz’s Clown Bar, Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale, John B. Keane’s Sive, a new adaptation of Don Quixote

by Pete McElligott, and Jecko Says ‘Hide’, an original “interactive theatrical experience” by Andrew Larimer.

Marie Antoinette runs Sept. 3- 20 at NOCCA’s Nims Black Box Theatre. Information, NolaProject.com

From 1972-’77, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency sponsored a photography project called “DOCUMERICA.” The resulting photos capture smogheavy urban cityscapes, rural scenes, the planned route for the Alaska Pipeline and much more.

The New York string quartet ETHEL created a multimedia show incorporating images from the project, and it comes to the Contemporary Arts Center on Oct. 2.

Information, CACNO.org

It is that time of the year: Saints season begins officially on Sept. 13 when the team plays the Arizona Cardinals. But we all know it really begins when our boys return to the Dome to face off against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sept. 20. They are away again Sept. 27 and back home Oct. 4. Information, NewOrleansSaints.com

CALENDAR Sept. 9. Passion Pit in concert, Joy Theater. Information, TheJoyTheater.com

Sept. 11-27. The Producers, Rivertown Theaters for the Performing Arts. Information, RivertownTheaters.com

Sept. 11. Curtain Call Ball fundraiser, Le Petit Thèâtre. Information, LePetitTheatre.com

Sept. 13. Comedian Patton Oswalt, Mahalia Jackson Theater for the Performing Arts. Information, MahaliaJacksonTheater.com

Sept. 11. Scales & Ales, Aquarium of the Americas. Information, AudubonInstitute.org/Scales-And-Ales

Sept. 14-20. We Live to Eat New Orleans Restaurant Week, various locations. Information, WeLiveToEatNola.com

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18-20, 2016); and “Program 4 – Mixed Repertory” (May 2022, 2016), which will consist of audience favorites from the season. Marigny Opera House executive director Dave Hurlbert, who once served as the principal pianist for San Francisco Ballet, talked to us about this uniquely New Orleans troupe.

Live music is a big part of the ballet’s performances. What are some of the cool musical aspects of the upcoming season? Our music director

SPOTLIGHT

Beyond Tutus and Toe Shoes

Executive Director Dave Hurlbert talks about Marigny Opera Ballet

M

arigny Opera House’s resident ballet company encapsulates the spirit of New Orleans: Live music is at the center of performances, loving tradition but embracing the new and weird. Shows happen in the casual, but grand, setting of the Bywater performance space. During its inaugural season in 2014, the ballet company, then the Marigny Opera House Dance Company, drew rave reviews.

The company’s 2015-’16 season opens Oct. 2 with the original full-length Orfeo. The rest of the season continues with Christmas Concerto (Dec. 10-13); “Emerging Choreographers,” new works from Louisiana choreographers (March

Sept. 15-20. The Little Mermaid, Saenger Theater. Information, SaengerNOLA.com Sept. 16-27. Stage Kiss at Southern Rep, Information, SouthernRep. com Sept. 18. Martini Madness, New Orleans City Park. Information, FriendsOfCityPark.com Sept. 25. LOVE in the Garden, New Orleans Museum of Art’s

Craig Mulcahy PHOTOGRAPH

and conductor this season will be Francis Scully, who’s the director of New Resonance Chamber Orchestra. I think this in itself is pretty exciting. Maybe the biggest news, though, is the world premiere of Orfeo, which features a newly commissioned score by local composer Tucker Fuller.

The work is for a two-act ballet and has been composed for a chamber ensemble of 13 musicians – including strings, woodwinds and harp.

In December the ballet will perform another premiere: Christmas Concerto. The accompaniment to this three-act work will be baroque concerti

by Handel and Corelli, all conducted by Francis.

The theater offers classical arts programing in a nontraditional, more casual setting.

Does that nontraditional spirit factor into the style and selections of the ballet? Yes,

indeed. Our aesthetic is far from the world of tutus and toe shoes. I would say we’re a classically trained ballet company performing in a modern idiom. In our inaugural season, we performed nine new works ranging from a fresh look at Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons,” to a work set to the Young Fellaz street musicians’ music (“Blast”).

Tell me a little bit about the season opener. Orfeo has been

in the works for over a year.

Our inspiration has been the 17th-century opera, Orfeo,

by Claudio Monteverdi. The piece tells the story of the demigod Orpheus, his love for Eurydice, and the tragedy they encounter. It’s a two-act dramatic ballet being choreographed by Maya Taylor, with a cast that includes our hero Orfeo, Eurydice, an hypnotic river snake, the King and Queen of the Underworld and forest nymphs and animals.

The theater and film designer C. Robert Holloway is creating sets, projections, lighting and costumes for the production, which we’re very excited about. Our opening night patron party this year on Oct. 2 celebrates Mignon Faget, lead corporate sponsor, and will be held after the premiere at Feelings Café. Judging by advance subscription ticket sales, the party is going to be a crush!

For more information on the Marigny Opera Ballet, visit MarignyOperaHouse.org. n

Sydney & Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden. Information, NOMA.org Sept. 25-Oct. 4. My Fair Lady, Jefferson Performing Arts Center.

Information, JPAS.org Sept. 26. New Orleans on Tap, New Orleans City Park Festival Grounds. Information, NOLAOnTap.org Sept. 30. Janet Jackson, Smoothie King Center. Information, SmoothieKingCenter.com

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THE BEAT / PERSONA

when lines for the restaurant’s big, bready and topped-to-the-hilt doughnuts snake out the door. In December of last year they added to the District brand a hand pie shop (a contemporary successor to Hubig’s) and a food truck, all the profits from which go to a foster care charity. While District serves the kind of upscale junk food that’s made for the Instagram set (District has more than 24,000 followers on the platform), Audler, a beanpole of a person who remains buoyant even when one of his restaurants is swamped with people, is a Belle Chasse boy who went to Rummel and whose food memories were formed at the Metairie Houston’s.

Q: So, why doughnuts? It’s not like we had

Chris Audler Partner, District Donuts

BY LAUREN LABORDE

C

hris Audler briskly moves around District: Donuts Sliders Brew, saying hi to regulars, most of whom he knows by name, and thinking out loud about why the most recent batch of kolaches weren’t amazing (we’re on the topic because I, too, frequent District, and usually buy a kolache). Audler, together with partners Aaron Vogel and Stephen Cali, has created a world of sorts on Magazine Street near Jackson Avenue, and that’s evident on the days

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Grandma’s secret recipe for doughnuts and wanted to take it to the world. We just said, what do we think the neighborhood could use?

What could add value? What’s not really being done in the city? And we thought: doughnuts.

We could have fun with it, stretch some artisanal legs, but also make it approachable.

The space is 2,000 square feet: That’s a lot of space for just doughnuts. And secondly, doughnuts aren’t going to pay the bills for three people. What can we do that would go with doughnuts? We were out one night, and it was like a lightbulb. It was in front of our face the whole time. We all grew up in the area. Tastee Doughnuts was something we were all familiar with, and they have such a rich history – Al Copeland’s brother stared Tastee Doughnuts.

Tastee did it on doughnuts and burgers – they did Kastle Burgers. [District] is foreign enough to where you won’t say, hey this is Tastee Doughnuts, but it’s something that’s been done before, somewhat familiar to the city, that has somewhat of a history in the city.

Q: Why were you interested in the food

business? Even in high school I worked at restaurants. The easiest thing to do once I got to LSU was to work in a restaurant, so I ended up at Chimes, which was an amazing place to work when I was in college. I learned a ton and I really fell in love from a romantic standpoint with not necessarily the food business but with the Chimes. There was a certain culture the place had, a certain style – all these “culture-forward” companies you hear about, this place has it.

Houston’s, for me, I grew up going to the one in Metairie with my dad. He was kind of a GREG MILES photograph

Age: 36 Born/raised: Belle Chasse Education: LSU School of Business Family: wife Meghan; kids Wyatt (9) Hayes (6) Favorite movie: “It’s probably a Guy Ritchie or Wes Anderson movie.”

Favorite TV show: “Game of Thrones” Favorite hobby: Playing basketball with my boys Favorite restaurant: “I’m going with favorite food neighborhood: Lower Garden District.”

Favorite book: “I read Grantland, Lucky Peach and Harvard Business Review religiously.” Favorite vacation spot: “A parallel universe where our nearby beaches also have food destinations.” foodie. Houston’s was kind of special occasion for us, and when I’d go with him he’d point out the food quality.

These salad greens, this chicken, this consistency – and it really stuck with me.

As I started having jobs and could go eat places, I started thinking about these things.

After I got out of school, I thought, “Where would I like to go learn how to run a business?” Houston’s was on my list because they’ve done it really big, done it in a lot of states, they’re uber consistent, they have a culture, they really push super high quality across the board, it’s a scratch kitchen.

I applied with them (and) that worked out well; got to move all around the country with them with my wife. So that was good exposure to see different things. It taught me that New Orleans isn’t so bad. Growing up here I was

like, “I just wanna go live somewhere else.” We lived in a lot of different cities, and you start to appreciate really quickly … this city’s so familiar if you’ve grown up here. You imagine the grass is greener everywhere else — not true. You really have this culture here, you have these quirky things about this city.

Q: Tell me about some

doughnut experiments that really didn’t work out. I’ve been working on a chicken and waffles-style doughnut, or a chicken and waffles option. We gotta pull this off.

We’ve tried it with fries, tried it with a doughnut, we’ve tried a bunch of ways to pull off chicken and waffles.

But nothing’s been amazing that we’ve tasted. So that’s one that’s haunting me. A snowball doughnut haunts me. We have to figure out a snowball doughnut, but we gotta figure out shaved iced and doughnuts and that’s not easy. Other botched ones: We burnt some doughnuts one time. We thought, we could try a savory option, make a play on blackened doughnuts. We made a blackening seasoning and what do you put on blackened redfish?

A little hollandaise, maybe.

Look, it’s a blackened doughnut. I think I put up four as a joke. People said, “These are awesome!” No they’re not.

They’re disgusting. n

True confession I have a recurring dream where I have incredible freestyle rap skills. The mornings following this dream are the best!

myneworleans.com / SEPTEMBER 2015

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THE BEAT / BIZ

Fuel’s Gold State navigates rough waters stirred by low oil prices

By Kathy Finn

T

hrough many decades of playing host to the oil and gas industry, Louisiana has learned to hold tight while riding the economic roller coaster that characterizes the volatile energy business. In 2015, once again, the strength of the state’s grip is being tested.

Following a fairly stable period of $100-per-barrel oil that bolstered the energy industry and generated considerable revenue for both state tax coffers and the many private-sector businesses that service the oilfields, Louisiana now grapples with the darker side of the dynamic: The price of oil in global markets declined by half during the past year.

The reversal of fortunes months ago sparked a contraction in the Louisiana businesses that supply tools, lay pipelines, manage drilling operations and provide a plethora of other services to the energy in-

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dustry. Recent financial reports from some of these companies tell the tale. Covingtonbased Hornbeck Offshore Services, for example, announced a 40 percent plunge in profit for second-quarter 2015 as compared with its year-earlier financial results.

Serving the needs of Big Oil is the bread and butter of many Louisiana companies, and when big exploration and production companies become wary of market conditions, the service companies are among the first to get pinched. Thus, Louisiana service businesses began to feel the pain well before major oil companies acknowledged the trouble themselves.

It was only in recent weeks, for instance, that Royal Dutch Shell – long one of the dominant operators in Louisiana – announced it will reduce spending on capital projects worldwide by some $7 billion and lay off more than 6,000 work-

ers around the globe.

Similar announcements by Shell’s peers followed. Exxon said its profits fell by more than half, producing the company’s worst quarterly results in a decade.

Chevron, meanwhile, took a 90 percent hit to its bottom line. And BP slashed its spending budget for the second time in months, reeling not only from low oil prices but also from the anticipated impact of a huge financial settlement stemming from the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

All this news has Louisiana’s budget managers scrambling for a new game plan because, despite decades of partially successful efforts to diversify the state’s economy, the oil industry continues to reign supreme. Oil and gas extraction accounts for 13 percent of state revenue and employs tens of thousands of people.

Declining oil prices helped push Louisiana’s unemployment rate to about 6.4 percent in June, a full percentage point higher than a year earlier. Meanwhile, with every $1 move in the price of oil translating to an impact of about $11 million on the state budget, analysts in the Legislative Fiscal Office are on alert.

Greg Albrecht, the state’s chief economist, says that members of the Revenue Estimating Conference used an expected average oil price of $61.70 per barrel in making revenue projections for the current fiscal year. That is more than $10 per barrel higher

Analyzing Appomattox In announcing development of its new Appomattox drilling platform, Shell said that design and technology improvements make the project economically feasible at oil prices of at least $55 per barrel.

While that’s above recent prices, Shell has time on its side. Given that the platform won’t be completed until 2020, oil prices have plenty of time to recover before the first oil flows from the field.

According to Shell, the development will consist of: • a semi-submersible, four-column production platform; • a subsea system featuring six drill centers; and • 15 producing wells and five water injection wells.

than oil prices were running in early August.

“We will probably revisit the estimates several times this year,” Albrecht says, predicting that the budget will take further hits.

The degree to which Louisiana will feel the pain of this round of declining oil prices depends largely on how long the downturn lasts. And as is always the case, the supply and demand factors that will determine the duration are far removed from local control.

Soaring production from United States shale fields, whose resources are being tapped through the process of fracturing shale rock, have contributed to an oversup-

ply of oil worldwide. And the OPEC cartel, which ordinarily might impose restrictions on its member producers during times of too-cheap oil, is showing no inclination to clamp the flow this time around.

Meanwhile, demand for oil has slackened as the economies of some of the world’s biggest consuming countries have tightened. Economic growth in China, for instance, has slowed, with the result that the country is using significantly less oil than it has in recent years.

Demand in a number of other normally oil-hungry countries has followed suit.

The dynamics have some energy analysts predicting that the price of oil could fall well below $40 a barrel before the end of the year – an estimate that could have serious repercussions in Louisiana.

The upside of the story, of course, is that the price of oil is sure to rise, eventually.

While the world has begun to see a need to develop alternative energy sources to address future needs, no prospect shows any sign of replacing fossil fuels anytime soon.

And that explains why major oil companies – even as they retrench during the current downturn – continue to make new commitments to massive oil and gas extraction projects.

On July 1, for instance, Shell announced it will undertake construction of the largest floating drilling platform the company has ever installed in the Gulf of Mexico. The installation, dubbed Appomattox, will be located 80 miles off Louisiana’s coast in waters about seven thousand feet deep, and it could produce 175,000 barrels of oil daily when it reaches full production.

The key to Shell’s confidence in the project, even in the current business climate, is time: Appomattox won’t begin operating until at least 2020. n

myneworleans.com / SEPTEMBER 2015

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THE BEAT / EDUCATION

The Rest of the Story The good and the bad

By Dawn Wilson

W

ith 10th anniversary remembrances and hurricane recovery celebrations reaching conclusion, it’s time to focus on “the rest of the story” to borrow the late Paul Harvey’s signature phrase.

Harvey’s “The Rest of the Story” radio show focused on telling the backstory of historical events and synthesizing the past, present and future into a fuller understanding of important issues. When it comes to New Orleans public schooling, the backstory includes some good news and some bad news.

The state’s decision to seize about 100 “failing” New Orleans schools after the storm and place them into the Recovery School District is a major success story that has attracted national recognition. Today, only a few New Orleans schools are deemed failing by state standards.

The RSD deserves much praise for substantial gains in student achievement, but

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those gains are only celebratory in comparison to the educational failures pre-2005. The bad news is this: The majority of schools in New Orleans in ’15 still lag in comparison to other schools in the state, and Louisiana’s schools in general still trail the nation on most academic measures.

Tulane University’s Cowen Institute for Public Education Initiatives says in a recent report that Orleans Parish schools are “now outperforming 25 parishes” in Louisiana compared to only one parish pre-storm. Hallelujah for that, but the flip- side is 39 parishes still perform better, even taking into consideration that some of the highest performing public schools in the state are located here.

It is important to keep in mind that New Orleans now has two school districts: one overseen by the Orleans Parish School Board and one overseen by the RSD. The OPSB system, which contains 18 selective admission schools

and non-selective schools, outperforms most of the state’s school districts and significantly outperforms RSD schools. The RSD’s 63 charter schools are open admissions, which means that they are educating the great majority of the city’s low-income students, who are more prone to absenteeism, illness and other kinds of academic disruptions.

The Cowen report highlights the fact that 57 percent of RSD students scored “basic” and above on state standardized tests in 2014. While it’s true that figure is much improved from previous years, it also means that 43 percent are performing below grade level, hundreds of them far below grade level. Moreover, “basic” does not mean students are “well-prepared” for the next grade.

Only 12 percent scored high enough in 2014 to be considered “well-prepared” for the next grade according to current state standards, the report says.

The backstory becomes even more troubling for New Orleans and the state as a whole when adding the fact that Louisiana’s public school students in general score near the bottom on Joseph Daniel Fiedler illustration

national tests. Education Week’s annual report entitled “Quality Counts 2015” gave Louisiana a report card of D+ or 68.5 percent based on a number of factors, including national test scores and state spending on public education.

Louisiana’s schools earned a D- or 59.8 percent for “K-12 achievement.” On the upside, the nation only scored a C overall and a C- for K-12 achievement. Catching up to that uninspiring average appears doable.

Other enlightening statistics are found in National Center for Education Statistics state profiles. Those profiles show that Louisiana’s definitions of grade level have been historically very low in comparison to national definitions. In 2013, for example, Louisiana’s standard for “proficient” for fourth graders in reading equaled “below basic” in the National Assessment of Education Progress scale, a common metric devised to allow equalized student achievement comparisons of the 50 states.

Louisiana recently started the process of gradually increasing the state’s standards for grade level assessment so that they match national standards. That process, however, which is aligned with the Common Core standards, has met fierce resistance from fearful parents, teachers unions and some district superintendents.

The anti-Common Core movement jeopardizes Louisiana’s attempts to improve student performance. The war against Common Core resulted in a legislatively forged compromise this year that could upend all the timeconsuming and expensive preparatory work that has been done by teachers since Louisiana committed to rais-

ing standards in 2010. The compromise mandates a review of the higher standards by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, the Legislature and the governor.

If status-quo parents and labor unions succeed in electing opportunistic politicians to turn back the Common Core standards, Louisiana schools will stagnate while most of the country’s schools move forward. Louisiana’s standards could revert to the former, low expectation standards until new ones could be developed. Considering that the national average is an upward moving target, catching up would become even more difficult. Turning back now would waste millions of taxpayer dollars and valuable time that could be spent on classroom preparation.

The terrible irony is this: Any new standards worth the time to develop are likely to mimic the Common Core standards in place now. These national standards are the new normal, no matter what they’re called.

Even worse, and a fact that parents may not understand, any Louisiana student transferring to an advanced state school district would face overwhelming challenges in the classroom, as many New Orleans students discovered when their families fled to Texas after Katrina. Texas spent millions of dollars postKatrina counteracting New Orleans’ school deficiencies.

The full story is this: More New Orleans high school students are graduating on time and test scores have improved. Praiseworthy gains indeed, but the good news only looks good when comparing the present to the past. In the future, comparisons must focus on national expectations. n myneworleans.com / SEPTEMBER 2015

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THE BEAT / HEALTHBEAT

A study published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery by seven surgeons from the Center for Restorative Breast Surgery in New Orleans says a larger number of breast cancer patients who were not eligible for certain reconstructive surgeries are now candidates for a complex nipple sparing breast reconstructive surgery using their body’s own tissue. The surgeons have pioneered a new technique that will allow for patients to receive a full breast lift or breast reduction after undergoing a nipple-sparing mastectomy. According to the report, before this discovery, “women with large or sagging breasts are often not offered preservation of their nipple complex due to the inabilities to elevate the nipple position after mastectomy.”

Dr. Frank J. DellaCroce, M.D., FACS, head author on the case and one of the founders of The Center for Restorative Breast Surgery, stated, “It is essential that women know about this advancement before being talked into cutting away their nipples to tighten the extra skin over an implant-based procedure. No one thought this was possible before now, and the importance of this discovery cannot be overstated. As nipple sparing mastectomy becomes more common, we can now offer the same extraordinary outcomes to women with drooping breast or those with very large breasts.”

Harch Hyperbarics Inc and Family Physicians Center in Marrero have donated 40 Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy treatments to the Anba Dlo VIII Halloween Festival. Dr. Paul Harch, a Hyperbaric and Emergency Medicine physician, has used the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy treatment for several neurological conditions and is considered a world-renowned authority on the subject. Patients who use the treatment are put in a pressurized hyperbaric chamber that uses 100 percent pharmaceutical grade medical oxygen. This treatment has been used to treat patients with a multitude of illnesses and injuries, such as traumatic brain injuries, post-concussion syndrome, cerebral palsy, autistm, Alzheimer’s, stroke and dementia. The auction for these treatments is Sept. 2-Oct. 17. Those interested in the treatment are advised to consult their physician beforehand.

Any questions regarding the auction itself can be directed to Dan Walker by calling 940-1130.

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myneworleans.com / SEPTEMBER 2015

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THE BEAT / CRIME FIGHTING

Fear of Crime What it does to us

By Allen Johnson Jr.

I

n a summer of mass shootings nationally and frightening street violence locally, a reporter seeks a New Orleansschooled expert on the fear of crime.

She is Heidi Unter, Ph.D., business owner, criminal justice researcher and former executive director of the New Orleans Police and Justice Foundation Inc. (NOP&JF) “Fear changes our thinking – it’s a scientific fact,” Unter says of her political science dissertation at the University of New Orleans. “Biologically, to feel afraid is to have one’s heart pound, one’s hair stand on end and one’s breathing become rapid, all of which most people have experienced in such incidents as near misses in a car, unexpected noises or criminal attacks,” Unter wrote in her unpublished

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study, completed in May 2001.

A native of Galliano, Unter finished her dissertation at age 25. “She finished in record time,” Susan E. Howell, a political scientist and pollster who directed Unter’s research, says.

Her fear of crime study included a poll of 2,000 residents in four major cities: Detroit, Chicago, Charlotte and New Orleans. Topics included race and racism, and evaluation of police performance in the cities surveyed.

“Fear changes our thinking in that we try to avoid instances where we become more fearful,” Unter says. “We get guns, we get dogs, build higher walls and avoid people who don’t look like ourselves.”

Insulating yourself only exacerbates the fear of crime.

Some may flee their city. Others may “withdraw from community affairs.”

Fear of crime also contributes to social isolation, especially among women and the elderly.

“Fear can also cause individuals to think irrationally,” her study states.

“Perhaps the most serious finding in this area is the tendency of fear of crime to exacerbate stereotypes, especially those of a racial nature.”

Other consequences of a crimeshaken public include increased calls for harsher penalties, such as mandatory minimum prison sentences.

“High levels of fear among the public reflect poorly on national and local governments,” she wrote.

Unter says the most powerful factors in her study of the fear of crime were “media exposure and racial factors.”

When the public says they’re afraid of crime, police brass often trot out crime statistics to show the city is safer than portrayed in news media reports – with little effect on public fears.

Since 2001, an explosion of social media has increased the reporting of crime news.

“It’s not just the 6 o’clock news anymore. Now it’s 24/7 and you never get a break from it. You hear it again and again and it affects your level of fear. It’s not always accurate, but it’s increasing our exposure (to crime).”

What can people do to reduce their fears of crime?

“The more you have social connections, the less intimidating it is to go outside.”

Unexpectedly, she adds: “The same goes for police.”

Police can insulate themselves from the public just as easily as citizens, she says.

So how do police and city leaders reduce our fear of crime?

“You can’t just focus on reducing crime.” She advocates “community policing,” a constant proactive interaction between police and citizens to improve the quality of life in New Orleans neighborhoods and to pre-empt violence.

“Unfortunately, ‘community policing’ is manpower intensive,” she says. “It requires taking an officer out of his car responding to calls for service and placing him in community meetings and schools. When the police brass feels they’re low on manpower, implementation of community policing department-wide may be viewed as a luxury that they cannot afford.”

Unter’s view of NOPD’s quest for more cops is reminiscent of the city Inspector General’s alternative recommendation for better management of police resources.

“I think that this crisis-level “we need more cops on the street” song and dance that they (NOPD) put us through every couple of years when crime rises alarmingly is tiresome and a way they deflect the blame for not getting a handle on the problem,” Unter says. “In today’s era of strategic policing, you should be able to do more with less boots.”

Another Powerful Emotion Unter led the nonprofit Police Foundation’s efforts to help rebuild and improve the local criminal justice system post-Katrina.

She developed a housing plan for the city’s first re-

sponders as she mourned the loss of her Lakeview dream home. “Ten feet of water,” she says. “The ceilings were only 8 feet high.”

She directed a federally funded effort to create a modern technology “footprint” for the criminal justice system.

She and the NOP&JF forged a working protocol between the estranged administrations of NOPD Chief Warren Riley and Orleans Parish District Attorney Eddie Jordan Jr. amid a public uproar over the controversial “701” jail releases of violent crime suspects.

Unter left the NOP&JF and New Orleans in 2009.

The fear of crime expert attributes her departure to another powerful emotion: love.

“I met a man, fell in love, left my career, sold my home, disconnected my cell phone and moved onto a sailboat in the Caribbean.” They sailed for four years, visiting “all the islands from the Bahamas to Grenada.”

Unter met businessman/ sailor Ed Mikkelsen on a blind date at Port of Call, arranged by friend Jill Hayes, Ph.D., a forensic clinical psychologist who has interviewed hundreds of incarcerated criminal defendants –including serial killers.

Hayes says she met Mikkelsen on a flight and persuaded Unter to go on a blind date the next day. “I’m a good judge of character,” Hayes says. “I checked him out to make sure.”

Mikkelsen, who played football for Tulane in the 1970s, and Unter returned to New Orleans in 2013. They have been together for eight years.

He owns several oil-change franchises in New England.

She recently started an oil change shop in Metairie. They divide their time between homes here and in Newport, Rhode Island.

Unter is considering returning to criminal justice work in New Orleans. n

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THE BEAT / Chronicles

Strike Up the Band Ten years of Tulane’s marching music

BY CAROLYN KOLB

T

ulane University Marching Band Director Barry Spanier gives a special award to his graduating senior players after the Spring Concert each year: the “100 Mile Award.”

“That’s because they march about 25 miles in Mardi Gras parades every year – so, after four years, they’ve marched 100 miles. And, that doesn’t count rehearsals or the football season.” Spanier says.

Spanier’s energetic musicians number about 90 these days.

Considering that Tulane’s current marching band has only existed for 10 years, Spanier can well take pride in his students.

As far back as 1905, Tulane had a band at football games. Apparently, the rivalry with LSU in those years was not limited to gridiron action.

As The Picayune reporter noted: “The Tulane Band struck up ‘There Will Be a Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight’ and the students set up a

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terrific yell. The LSU Band had been stationed near the Tulane Band, and it was not to be outdone by its rival, so it also struck up something ...”

(By ’20, LSU was inflating their band numbers by adding the musicians from the band of the Standard Oil Company – and Tulane fans complained to The Picayune about it.)

The Tulane Band’s first appearance in a Mardi Gras parade was apparently when they marched in Momus on the Thursday before Carnival 1912. Tulane’s then-President Edwin Craighead commented to the paper that if the 12 students in the group “keep pegging away they will soon have one of the best organizations in the city.”

Tulane’s band continued, but it stayed small in size. Gay Biggs Graves, who graduated from Newcomb College in 1963, played the oboe in the band for concerts but also sat in with the group at football games. “The concert band was re-

ally good, but the band that played at the football games wasn’t very big.” Despite their small numbers, “We could play the heck out of the fight song, ‘Roll Tulane,’ and in the stands everybody was happy and really enjoyed the music.”

Another former band member, Tom Graves (brother of Ms. Biggs’ late husband Richard) remembered band directors John Morrissey and his assistant, and a later band director, Ted DeMuth.

A clarinetist, Graves was pleased with the “good camaraderie” in the band. He recalled Friday practice, causing him to earn a poor grade in a Red Cross course held at the same time, and then Saturday football games. Graves fondly remembered a spring band tour: “We went to Baton Rouge High School, Byrd High School in Alexandria and then Hot Springs, Arkansas.”

“I don’t remember marching in any Mardi Gras parades, “ Graves admits, but his happy band memories made him a good prospect when, after the official band ended, Tulane students reorganized their own pep band and needed some funding. “Somebody asked me to help, and I gave, and then I started asking ‘What are you doing with the money?’”

Happily, Tulane’s answer was hiring Barry Spanier, giving him the assignment of starting a proper marching band for the school. Graves is still a committed band supporter.

Spanier, as a music education student at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, played in the marching band and was head of the trumpet section. Then, he was hired as an assistant director for that band, leading small configurations and conducting on the field as needed.

When the 1984 Olympic Games were held in Los Angeles, Spanier worked on the Olympic ceremonies, and the producer, an Australian, then hired Spanier to put together an American style band for a ’88 World Exposition in Brisbane. After three years in Australia, Spanier moved back to the United States and earned his Master’s degree at New York University.

At NYU Spanier became director of the Center for Music Performance, coordinating music campus wide and directing the university orchestra.

In 2000, he took a year off and returned to Australia to be director of the opening ceremonies of the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. “We had a 2,000 piece band from 23 countries.

As far as I can tell, it was the largest marching band ever to play a program this way, with a feature on the field and an hour and a half of music for the parade of athletes,” Spanier proudly recalls.

Moving back to New York after the Olympics, Spanier and his wife realized that they wanted a change of scene: “a little greener, a little quieter, but with great history and culture.”

“In May of 2004 I saw a listing for the job at Tulane, and what was interesting to me was that it was starting a new band; that’s what I had been doing at the Olympics, starting a new band. But this would be a new group to continue forever!”

Spanier accepted the job offer, and the family moved to New Orleans in August 2004, in time for the start of the school year.

During his first year, Spanier laid the groundwork. He ordered uniforms and instruments. In addition, he directed the concert band and worked with the Tulane orchestra.

The first Tulane Band Camp, with 25 campers, was held the week before Katrina: “The final day of camp was check-in day for all the freshmen and the day the evacuation order was given,” Spanier says. He and his family evacuated to California but returned in November so he could get ready for the students in January.

Luckily, “Just about all the band members came back. We lost a few but we picked up some new ones and we still had 25,” Spanier says. “We went through uniform fitting and a few quick rehearsals

and we marched in four Mardi Gras parades in 2006. The crowds were fairly thin, but they were very grateful and thankful that we were marching and parades were happening,” he says.

When the new Tulane University Marching Band took the field, “People didn’t really know who we were,” Spanier says. The school’s official band had ended in 1975.

But, that wasn’t the end of game-time music. “There was a student-run pep band called “Soundwave” for Homecoming in 2003, and they marched in the Krewe d’Etat parade in ’04. Their energy and entrepreneurial spirit was the turning point that had the administration wanting to have a proper band program,” he says. And Graves and his fellow alumni had signed up as supporters.

“It all came together with Soundwave – the students, the alumni and the administration – and we’ve grown every year,” Spanier says proudly. His staff now includes an assistant director of bands, Mendel Lee; a drumline instructor and operations manager, Andrew Szypula; a program coordinator, Patricia McWhorter; and two part-time instructors: a choreographer for the dance team Shockwave, Ashley Iserman, and an instructor for the color guard, Nikki Kelly.

Tulane’s drum majors have included Amanda Mahnke, who just received her doctorate at Tulane, and New Orleans native Lauren Stevens.

Students in good standing get one credit unit for fine arts, but other than having a successful audition, musical skills and a willingness to work, there are no academic obligations.

However, prospective band members should beware: There’s a hundred miles ahead. n

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LOCAL COLOR in tune / READ+SPIN / JAZZ LIFE / JOIE D’EVE / MODINE GUNCH / ME AGAIN / HOME

in tune pg. 40

On Sept. 20, Gardens and Villa will be playing at Gasa Gasa.

Their new record, Music for Dog, was released in August – a perfect balance between the electropop and psychedelic elements of their sound.

Giles Borg photograph

LOCAL COLOR / IN TUNE

Old Sounds Made New

Swervedriver

September’s Songs Controlled chaos and more BY mike griffith

S

eptember is here, and with the worst of summer behind us and the Voodoo Experience ahead of us, we can look forward to many of the national tours returning to New Orleans.

This month features several excellent psychedelic indie rock bands. On Sept. 10, the Melbourne, Australiabased King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard will be at Gasa Gasa. The seven-piece ensemble specializes in controlled chaos of a large band’s psychedelic performances. A bit later in the month on the 18th, British stalwarts Swervedriver will be playing the Parish at the House of Blues. The band is touring on their new record, I Wasn’t Born to Lose You, which is their first release in 17 years. Their sound has definitely adapted to match the developments of the indie psychedelic scene of the past decade or so. Two days later, on Sept. 20, Gardens and Villa will be playing at Gasa Gasa. Their new record, Music for Dog, was released in August. On this release they have found a perfect balance between the electropop and psychedelic elements

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of their sound. There is a lot to love on this record; it will be a treat to see them render some of these tracks live.

Finally, on the same night, Thee Oh Sees will be playing at One Eyed Jacks.

Thee Oh Sees are another longstanding psychedelic band that has a new record this year. Their new release, Mutilator Defeated At Last, is the first record they have recorded with their new lineup. The change of personnel has lead to a revitalized sound while retaining the psychedelic essence that the band has always held.

Closer to the pop end of the spectrum, Diet Cig will be playing at Gasa Gasa on Sept. 17. The band consists of Alex Luciano (vocals and guitar) and Noah Bowman (drums). Luciano’s voice reminds me of a ghost of the late 1990s indie female scene. There is definitely an acknowledgement of that sound in her singing, but it’s edged with something comfortable both in terms of her lyricism and ease with audience.

If you’re looking for something a bit more experimental, Godspeed You!

Tipitina’s, Galactic and the Orpheum have pulled together a fabulous series of events clustered around the last weekend of September. First, Tipitina’s and Galactic announced the creation of The Landing Festival out at South Shore Harbor. This three-day event will kick off with a party at Tip’s on Friday night, followed with two days of music at the harbor. In addition to Galactic, they have announced: Grace Potter, Cake, Dr. Dog, Trampled by Turtles and several others. If you haven’t had your fill of music by the end of Sunday, the cherry on top of this remarkable sundae is Wilco on Monday night in the newly restored Orpheum Theatre. In July, Wilco released a surprise record, Star Wars, which looks back to their older sound and brings it up to this moment. What better place to hear an old sound made new than this beautifully restored theatre?

Black Emperor will be at the Joy Theatre on Sept. 12. Godspeed is a post-rock instrumental band that has been on the scene since the late 1990s. They have taken the psychedelic and pushed it beyond the limits of what we consider rock in fantastic ways. These are long instrumental tracks where the melodic lines drift away from each other and meander a bit before spectacularly crashing back together. I highly recommend this rare chance to see this supremely talented cult group in action. Also in this vein, Chelsea Wolfe will be playing at One Eyed Jacks on the 17th. Wolfe’s style is somewhere between drone and industrial with a strong hint of folk in terms of the song construction. If you liked the Pharmakon show a few months back, this is right in your wheelhouse. n Note: Dates are subject to change. Playlist of mentioned bands available at: bit.ly/ InTune9-15.

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To contact Mike about music news, upcoming performances and recordings, email Mike@MyNewOrleans.com or contact him through Twitter @Minima.

Giles Borg photograph

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LOCAL COLOR / READ+SPIN

ART: In Architecture at the End of the Earth, Tulane University professor of Slavic Studies William Craft Brumfield captures the sometimes crumbling, sometimes resplendent cathedrals, chapels and other structures of the Russian North. Nearly 200 full color images of brick and wood buildings in varying degrees of neglect and upkeep, as well as a travelogue and careful, compelling documentation of the edifices are combined to offer a beautiful and daunting portrait of the region.

FICTION: One of The New York Times Book Review’s 100 Notable Books of 2014, I Pity the Poor Immigrant, is now available in paperback just in time for the author’s turn as a member of the New Orleans Magazine People To Watch 2015 class. Zachary Lazar’s poetic crime drama reads like a memoir and features gangsters, mistresses, murder and a deep foray into history.

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POP/CALIPSO/FUNK: Daria & The Hip Drops will celebrate the release of their full-length album Hipnotic at Chickie Wah Wah on Sept. 12. The 12-track effort features beachy dance grooves, such as the catchy, steel drum-infused opener “Battleship,” and reggae jam “Lost UR Mind,” as well as a trippy yet delicate and melodic piano ditty aptly dubbed “Lovely Interlude,” of which the latter would be right at home on the soundtrack to a David Lynch film.

JAZZ: Dr. John fans will want to hurry to their favorite record store or online music purveyor to get the Grammy Award winner’s latest release, The Atco/Atlantic Singles 1968-1964. This compilation includes 22 of the iconic New Orleans musician’s biggest hits and best B-sides and is set to release on Sept. 18.

BY melanie warner spencer Please send submissions for consideration, attention: Melanie Spencer, 110 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Suite 123, Metairie, LA 70005.

LOCAL COLOR / JAZZ LIFE

Chief Troubles Who owns the pictures of a culture?

BY JASON BERRY

I

n 1994, photographer Michael P. Smith sent a three-page letter about his book Mardi Gras Indians to Big Chief Tootie Montana, leader of the Yellow Pocahontas. “I’m very sad about the rumors and misunderstandings now circulating,” wrote Smith, “that I didn’t have your permission to put you in the book, that you weren’t paid and that I’m just making money off your culture.”

Great men, Smith and Montana, both now gone.

Smith was the foremost visual chronicler of the Mardi Gras Indians and second lines. His letter went on achingly about the sacrifices in time, commercial shoots paying for artistic work, the images he gave to people he photographed. He showed me the letter in draft.

“Don’t send it,” I said, arguing that he and Montana should talk through a truce. Smith sent it, and also sent it to me as a blind copy.

The package included Smith’s 1983 letter nominating Mon-

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tana for an NEA Folk Arts Fellowship, Montana’s letter withdrawing his name, preferring, “my nomination to come from the people who make the culture I represent,” and an earlier Smith letter, trying to clear the air on that.

In 1987, Montana received an NEA fellowship as a Master Traditional Artist. Kalamu ya Salaam’s 1997 biographical essay on the chief, “He’s the prettiest” (LouisianaFolkLife.org) fetures photographs by Smith, suggesting some rapprochement over the image issue.

Questions of image rights in a culture of street performance rise anew in a “green paper” by Big Queen of the Guardians of the Flame, educator and co-founder of the Mardi Gras Indian Hall of Fame Cherice HarrisonNelson (wife of Big Chief Daryl, Tootie Montana’s son), Sabrina Mays-Montana and Tamah Yisrael for the Cultural Economy and Preservation Collaborative (MardiGrasIndianHallOfFame.org).

They write of an oral tradition wherein “With each telling, particular facts get stretched some, bent a bit, twisted, lost, compressed. But the central truth remains, and the absolutely accurate and clear picture that emerges is of the Mardi Gras Indians as a fierce, compelling, independent culture of resistance.”

They cite the Flag Boy of an Indian gang who, “Walks past a gallery, and sees his own face staring back at him.

That’s his face, his suit that he’d spent all year sewing. …

This photo of him is for sale in this gallery for several thousand dollars. He never gave permission for the picture, never signed a release. He is

not identified in the photo.

When the photo sells, he will see none of the proceeds – they will be divided between the photographer and the gallery owner.”

A sign by the gallery door says: “No photographs, please.”

A lawyer defending the photographer would argue public domain: You parade in the street for all to see; you’re giving your picture to anyone with a camera. But in a culture where images are so commodified, the issue isn’t how many pictures get taken, but how many are sold. What is the photographer without a subject?

The musicians’ union has compensation standards for footage shot in the streets, a sliding scale that goes up from news (no pay required) to documentary and commercial projects, depending on audience and distribution. That is only fair. A videographer at a jazz funeral who ends up selling footage to an HBO film is making money from the music of artists in the street.

Still photographs are trickier. An Indian or a brass band player is frozen in time: no sound. Pictures you take and put on your wall are not like ones sold for profit, which carry a reciprocal link. Imagine that Flag Boy photograph, dear reader. Now imagine yourself behind him on the street, your entire self and radiant smile as grand parallel in that picture of Flag Boy. So there you are, standing in the gallery, and someone writes a $2,000 check for Flag Boy in Blue Feathers with your beaming smile in the background. Flag Boy wants his piece. What about you? n

myneworleans.com / SEPTEMBER 2015

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LOCAL COLOR / MODINE’S NEW ORLEANS

Spekin’ Good How to talk right

BY MODINE GUNCH

M

y mother-in-law’s cousin, Jerce, says we talk funny in New Orleans. She is visiting Ms. Larda from Kansas City.

Her and me and Ms. Larda are having coffee (tea for Jerce, being as she don’t like chicory). Ms. Larda is filling her in on the family here, and she starts talking about her daughter, Gloriosa. Bragging a little.

Gloriosa is all excited about essential oil these days, Ms. Larda tells us. Only she don’t pronounce it “oy-yul,” like you’re supposed to. Ms. Larda says “Erl.” “Earl?” says Jerce. “Like the Duke of Earl?” (showing her age).

“Erl,” says Ms. Larda. “Like, St. John the Apostle was berled in erl, but it didn’t hurt him, thanks to the grace of God. He is the patron saint of French fries. True fact, from oily choich history.”

Jerce looks blank, so I jump in and say I certainly been hearing a lot about essential oy-yuls. I say “oy-yuls,” so Jerce gets the point.

Ms. Larda says that she’s Italian, so as far as she’s concerned, the only essential erl is olive erl. And of course, Erl of Olay, which she used to wear to bed every

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night, until she decided that when you get old, you got a choice between dry wrinkles and shiny wrinkles. So now she don’t bother with Erl of Olay.

I remember Gloriosa got into essential oiling because she needed to stop her husband, Proteus, from snoring without strangling him. She read on the Internet that what you do is, you get essential oil of thyme and rub it on his feet before he goes to bed at night.

This is the God’s truth. You can Google it yourself.

I personally suspect somebody made that up and put it out there just to see how many people would actually grease their feet before bed. I been thinking about it. Used to be you had to wait until somebody – like your mother-in-law, maybe – told you something ridiculous before you did it. But now you can get crazy advice 24 hours a day. Detoxify your body with cucumbers. Get rid of belly fat with one weird trick. If you got a cough, put Vicks VapoRub on your feet, under your socks.

Anyways, Gloriosa is desperate enough to try thyme on the feet. The first night she convinces Proteus to go to bed like that, he still snores, but then he wakes up in the middle of the night craving pizza. So he heads down to the refrigerator for some leftovers. But he slips and slides and slithers so much, because his feet are greased, he’s afraid to climb back up them stairs, so he curls up on the couch for the night. Meanwhile, Gloriosa, up in the bedroom, gets her first good

night’s sleep in a long time. So in a way, it worked.

Then she started putting little candles under tiny pots of lavender and eucalyptus oil mixed with almond oil all over the house. It does smell nice, and she says it lifts the spirits.

Me, back when I was married, I would put an onion in the oven on low heat. It made everybody think dinner was cooking and it lifted their spirits. That was my weird trick.

Jerce says she could use something for her suitcase, to make her clothes smell nice, so the next morning, she and Ms. Larda take a ride over to Gloriosa’s. She ain’t home, but she has left out a bottle of lavender, with her compliments. Ms. Larda has a key, and she finds a nice big bottle on the counter, next to what looks like a bottle of nose drops.

They bring it home and dab it on cotton balls and Jerce tucks them into her suitcase. Ms. Larda got a doctor appointment, and Jerce got to get to the airport, so I drive her there. On the way, my cell phone rings. It is Gloriosa.

She says the lavender oil she left out is still on the counter. But the vinegar Proteus uses for his foot fungus is missing.

Uh-oh.

We pull up at the Delta gate, and I help Jerce get out her suitcase. “Goodbye, Jerce,” I say.

“It’s Joyce. NOT Jerce. My name is Joyce. Joy-ssss,” she says. And she stomps off.

Joyce? No wonder she’s been in such a bad mood.

It is gonna get worse. n LORI OSIECKI ILLUSTRATION

myneworleans.com / SEPTEMBER 2015

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LOCAL COLOR / JOIE D’EVE

conducted with the subject alternating between sitting on my lap and braiding my hair. I will also say, however, that she and I had the benefit of instant rapport.

Me: What do you think makes New Orleans special? Ruby:

Answers Please Interview with an 8-year-old

BY EVE CRAWFORD PEYTON

W

hen Ruby got back from St. Louis two weeks ago, I promised her I’d take a couple of days off of work and we would enjoy some uninterrupted Mommy and Ruby Time. I have been too busy to make good on that promise until recently, but I finally cleared a bunch of work off of my desk. We spent two days doing very little beyond eating beignets, going to the movies, having living room picnics with takeout from Mona’s and watching “Barefoot Contessa” while making barf noises whenever Ina Garten put raisins into anything (we hate raisins).

Because I was reluctant to interrupt our time to write and because I was curious about her perspective on New Orleans after spending three weeks in St. Louis, I decided to interview Ruby for this column. I have conducted many, many interviews since I first decided to become a journalist at the age of 14, but I can honestly say this is the first one I’ve ever

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Well, it’s a great place and has things that other cities don’t, like Mardi Gras. And we always are willing to try new food and new things.

We’re risk-takers. Some places, they use crawfish for bait and wouldn’t even think about eating it – but they’re missing out because it’s delicious. Also, like, they might not eat red beans and rice because it kind of does look mushy and gross, but it’s so good. Also, people here are nicer and really easy to talk to.

Me: What is your favorite thing about New Orleans? Ruby:

Parades. Food. People. And crawfish. Definitely crawfish.

Me: What did you think when you went to the Fourth of July parade in St. Louis? Ruby: I

thought, “Why don’t they throw anything good?” They just handed out a bunch of bubble gum. And, I mean, bubble gum is fine, but not as good as, like, my favorite all-time throws, which were probably fairy wings; cool,

-

cool glasses, which I think were from Muses; an umbrella from Zulu; and a shoe, which was obviously from Muses.

People in St. Louis would think you were crazy if you told them it was cool to catch a shoe from a float, but that’s just because they don’t get it.

Me: What do you want other people to know about New Orleans? Ruby: It has some

amazing people and some delicious food. Everyone is friendly. No one has a Southern accent. There is so much water here, and I love it – the docks out on Lake Pontchartrain are amazing. And Hurricane Katrina was really, really bad, but it was a long time ago – before I was even born – and it’s not like it’s still gross and yucky here. I wish people would just stop talking about Hurricane Katrina and move on because it’s just, like, a bad thing that happened, but a lot of good things have happened since, but if too many people talk about Katrina, then other people might not want to move here.

Me: Are you ever going to move away? Ruby: No. There’s

no way.

Me: Not even for college? Ruby: Well, OK, maybe for college.

But of course I will come right back as soon as I graduate. n

Excerpted from Eve Crawford Peyton’s blog, Joie d’Eve, which appears each Friday on MyNewOrleans.com.

jane sanders ILLUSTRATION

Hurricane Katrina Ten Year Anniversary Collection

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New Orleans, Metairie, Baton Rouge, Slidell, Bossier City, Lafayette, Denham Springs, Covington, Mandeville, Alexandria, Houston, TX.Â

myneworleans.com / SEPTEMBER 2015

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LOCAL COLOR / ME AGAIN

Starting New My world upside down

BY CHRIS ROSE

T

his is my debut as a monthly columnist for New Orleans Magazine.

I will pause a moment to allow the applause and general commotion to subside.

(Pause) Thank you. Thank you very much.

My background, of course, is newspapering. I spent a year-and-a-half at the Washington Post, then 25 years at The Times-Picayune and then a couple years at Gambit Weekly.

If you take my resume up to this point and turn it upside

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down, it’s a mighty impressive document. Particularly if you add to it my most recent full time employment: as a server in a French Quarter restaurant.

Mine is nothing short of a good old-fashioned American up-from-the-bootstraps story of hard work, perseverance and success. Just in reverse.

The restaurant thing was an unfortunate but economically imperative decision. But truthfully it provided a yearlong hiatus from journalism, which has left me feeling literarily rejuvenated and refreshed.

Can you tell?

Waiting tables also provided me the opportunity to witness a more sweeping and complex view of the human condition than I’d gained from a lifetime of sitting and staring at computer screens waiting for great words to happen.

I will be publishing my observations and experiences from waiting tables in a future issue of this magazine; so stay tuned.

Since I’ve been told on several occasions that I remind people of Anthony Bourdain, perhaps my stories from the “front-of-the-house” in the restaurant business will make me as rich and famous as his books from the “back-of-thehouse” made him. (Those are non-too-subtle and probably self-explanatory terms from the industry – the former means the dining room and the latter means the kitchen.)

It has never occurred to me to ask people if I remind them of the famously abrasive celebrity foodie because of a physical resemblance (slight, I suppose), because of my writing style (again, maybe a little) or because of my personality (no! no! no!).

I’m a nice person.

In person, at least.

Anyway, I’m very excited to be back in the local journalism business and grateful to this magazine for the opportunity.

But as I sit and compose this, my first column, I’m struck by an unshakable anxiety that’s perhaps endemic but not limited to the monthly magazine business.

Let me explain: At The Times-Picayune, my job was to tell yesterday’s news today.

At Gambit, I wrote about last week’s news this week. And during a brief stint on local television news, I delivered this morning’s news tonight.

Just writing that paragraph

made me dizzy. But it also made me sort of understand, for the first time, the title of the HBO program “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.”

Sort of. And now?

And now I have a month between columns. For someone who has spent a career composing literature in a hurry, this new idea is … unsettling.

What if someone dies? What is there’s a fire? What happens if a business closes or an event is cancelled or a politician I write about goes to jail?

Some of my friends tell me that I worry too much.

I don’t see where they get that.

I bet they wouldn’t say that to Anthony Bourdain.

But I like new challenges.

And I take comfort that my subject matter for this column is New Orleans, whose overarching existential circumstance is that the more things here change, the more they remain exactly the same.

And if I ever want to write about something that I know won’t ever change, a phenomenon of enduring and everlasting provenance, I can always write about the monolithic construction and massive road closures on the major thoroughfares of Uptown, downtown and the French Quarter – which are permanent, intractable, irreversible and will continue for the rest of our natural lives and those of our children’s children.

There is one thing that will never change.

Ever.

So I’ll leave you with that until we catch up again next month right here in this very same space in this very same magazine.

That is, if we’re all still here.

But try not to worry about that, though.

Leave that to me. n jason raish illustration

myneworleans.com / SEPTEMBER 2015

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LOCAL COLOR / HOME

LEFT: A wooden tray filled with fresh rosemary creates and interesting centerpiece on the dining room table.

K

New in Lakeview Kim and Jamie Munoz combine tradition with openness

BY BONNIE WARREN PHOTOGRAPHED BY CHERYL GERBER

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im and Jamie Monuz have a new house in Lakeview, just off Fleur de Lis Drive, that combines a traditional exterior with the best of an open floor plan.

“We love the openness of the house,” says Jamie, the general manager of Dickie Brennan’s Bourbon House Restaurant in the French Quarter. “When we fold open the wall of windows in the great room, we step outside to an outdoor living area, swimming pool and even basketball and volleyball courts for Jordan and Maxwell “Max” – our twin 12-yearold sons.” The house works perfectly for their busy family that includes Tyler Burke, her 23-year-old son who lives with them, adds Kim, a registered nurse and owner of Nola Pilates and Xtend Barre.

The couple called Gwen Loria, an architectural designer, to create the plan, with Paul, her husband, as the contractor. “We were familiar with the three homes in our area Gwen had designed and Paul had built, and we were impressed with her attention to detail and that each house has its own distinctive style,” Jamie says.

There is nothing cookie cutter about the Munoz home. “There is a pleasant simplicity to the design,” Kim says. “Yet Gwen incorporated our every request.”

On one side of the foyer, the space under the stairway is a unique “apartment” for Bogey and Sugah, their English bulldogs. “It is so much better than keeping them in crates,” she continues.

“They love having plenty of room to

be comfortable.” And Jamie’s dream, an interesting wine storage area, is nearby. “We have a great collection of wines and it’s all out in the open for easy selection,” he says.

The couple especially likes the master bedroom-bathroom wing of the house, where the freestanding tub only uses a glass wall to divide it from the bedroom. “We also love that

TOP, LEFT: Designed by architectural designer Gwen Loria with her husband Paul as contractor, the new home in Lakeview combines a traditional exterior with the best of an open floor plan. TOP, RIGHT: Jamie and Kim Munoz with Jordan and Maxwell “Max,” sitting on the patio with Tyler behind them. On one side of the foyer, the space under the stairway is a unique “apartment” for Bogey and Sugah, the family’s English bulldogs; nearby floor-to-ceiling wine storage is a dramatic addition to the space. myneworleans.com / SEPTEMBER 2015

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TOP, LEFT: A glass wall separates the tub from the bedroom in the master suite; the same reclaimed pine used for the floors throughout the downstairs was used for the wall that separates the tub from the large shower. TOP, RIGHT: A wall of closets lines the wall of the hallway that separates the great room from the master suite. BOTTOM, LEFT: The outdoor living area that joins the open floor plan through a wall of windows that fold accordionstyle to one side, features a fireplace and comfortable seating for easy entertaining. BOTTOM, RIGHT: Jamie’s extensive collection of wine is stored in alcove off the entry. FACING PAGE, TOP: The large upstairs suite for Jordan and Max, the couple’s 12-year-old twins, features different sleeping areas on raised platforms, with a comfortable sofa at the core of the room. FACING PAGE: BOTTOM: Bogey and Sugah, the family’s English bulldogs, pose in the comfortable great room that includes a large sectional sofa.

there’s a glass door from the bedroom to the outdoors so we can easily have a midnight swim if we wish,” Kim says. She also likes the way Gwen designed a wall of closets along the hallway that separates the master suite from the great room.

Floors throughout the downstairs are pine. “Paul told us the wood is from an old bank building that was torn down in New York,” Jamie says. “I am so pleased Gwen decided to use the same flooring for the wall between the tub and shower in the master suite,” Kim adds. “It definitely gives the space warmth.”

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Upstairs the twins share a unique bedroom suite that’s sectioned off by separate raised floors for the beds and special seating and study areas on a lower level. “We think the laundry chute from our bedroom to the laundry room below is neat,” says Max. “We don’t have any excuse for leaving our dirty clothes on the bathroom floor,” adds Jordan.”

Tyler’s bedroom and an office for Gwen also occupy the second floor. “This is truly our dream home,” Jamie says, while Kim adds, “It fits our family perfectly and I wouldn’t change a thing.”n

“I most often perform comicinspired striptease or classic burlesque with a live band, but there’s never a limit on style of performances when you have such a creative medium in which to work.

As a performer I’m always really excited to collaborate with other dancers, musicians, costume designers, etc., because it allows you to expand on an act or show in different ways than if it was just you on your own.” – Trixie Minx

Z

BURLES

I

t is all about inspiration. Or having a gimmick. Or inhabiting a character.

Or telling your audience a story.

Or maybe it’s just all about taking your

it’s not the strip but the tease

clothes off.

The line between stripping and burlesque is thinner than a G-string.

I asked numerous exotic and burlesque dancers what the difference is between the two. After hearing that it’s like the difference between spandex and rhinestones, or that asking a burlesque performer to try and define stripping is like asking a butcher to cut hair, I knew there was a little further to go.

“There is a different level of involvement between the two, creatively, emotionally and physically,” says a New Orleanian who performs in both worlds and asked to keep

SQUE

by Morgan Packard with Trixie Minx photographs by greg miles

her anonymity. “Although there are plenty of exotic dancers that really do try to add an element of performance art entertainment into their stage sets, the purpose of exotic dancing is to make as much money as possible, whereas burlesque typically has a lot less to do with money. It’s important that burlesque dancers are compensated, but (burlesque) is much more about fulfilling our creative niches and putting on a show for a show’s sake. Physically, there’s a lot less physical contact with our audiences.”

She continues, “for example, it would be inappropriate to ask a burlesque dancer, after her performance, for some ‘private time.’ Although at a strip club, by golly, we would love to hang out with you one on one in the safety of the club.” In addition, there are business differences, such as that most exotic dancers have to pay the club a fee up front, much like many salon stylists, which means their focus is on making money through tips, whereas a burlesque artist is paid to perform his or her act on a stage.

But even defining burlesque on its own can be problematic.

When you look up the term in dictionaries you find things like “a kind of entertainment that was popular in the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries that included funny performances, singing, dancing, etc., and sometimes performances in which women take off their clothes.” Which really doesn’t tell you much.

So What Is Burlesque?

Performer Trixie Minx says that while burlesque means many things to many people, it’s simply the art of tease.

Z “I mainly do nerdlesque and neo-burlesque. I’m a big nerd at heart, and prior to burlesque I was a cosplayer. When I found out I could incorporate my love of comics and manga with burlesque, I jumped into it head first.” – May Hemmer

“Whether playing peekaboob with a boa or a flirtatious wink, it’s the live interaction between performer an audience that defines it.”

“It’s like a cross between Vegas showgirls, Broadway dancers and insatiable flirts,” says Ginger Licious. “It may or may not involve clothing removal, rarely involves touching the audience and may be satirical, comical, storytelling or classically beautiful.”

“It’s not just taking off your clothes,” says Ruby Rage. “It’s removing something as simple as a stocking or a glove, but doing it in a long, drawn out fashion that makes you think, ‘Wow, that was clever.’ I believe that burlesque allows an audience to loose themselves from reality to come in and see a theatrical act, or an act of humor, that allows them to let go and laugh and even cry.”

With aspects of drag, circus, acrobatics, vaudeville and sideshow just to name a few, “I would end the explanation,” says performer GoGo McGregor, “by telling them, ‘It’s a good f---ing time and you haven’t lived until you’ve experienced it.”

The History of The Tease Derived from the Italian word burls, which means joke, ridicule or mockery, burlesque has been in use in the English language since the 17th century (though some would say that Salome’s veil dance as 58

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recorded in the Bible was the first appearance in print). During the Victorian era it referred to satirical, comedic plays that parodied the upper class.

Burlesque as we know it originated in the United Kingdom and was brought to New York City in 1868 by Lydia Thompson and her British Blondes. This racy form of vaudevillian theater quickly became a success and spread throughout the United States. Seen primarily as part of variety shows, vaudeville producers hurried to add the stripteases as a way to keep audiences in their seats.

New Orleans in particular saw burlesque’s popularity. Jazz has been reputed to have risen out of Storyville at the turn of the 20th century, and many a bump and grind was performed to the sultry sounds of the burgeoning music, inextricably linking the two. Bourbon Street at the time was lined on both sides

Blaze Starr started stripping in the 1940s, found her calling and was billed as the Queen of Burlesque. She worked with dangerous cats and had love affairs with influential men, including, according to her biography, former Philadelphia Mayor Frank Rizzo, John F. Kennedy and former Louisiana Governor Earl Long.

Evangeline the Oyster Girl left home at 16 and moved to New Orleans, calling herself Kitty West. As the Oyster Girl, she headlined the Casino Royale.

She is also known for her feud with fellow dancer Divena, who performed an underwater tease.

When Divena received high billing, Evangeline took an axe to the tank during a show – and a reporter from Life happened to be there to document it.

The Rise of neo-Burlesque People have become nostalgic for titillation, and burlesque is on the rise again. As stripping pushed out burlesque, so too did the Internet and the porn industry begin to make stripping less popular.

Audiences began to, as Trixie

“I most commonly perform in a classic or rockabilly style, but I’m also well known to throw in some classic sideshow in with my performances.

I don’t have a favorite type of burlesque to perform. Every show is different and every audience is different, so every outcome is different.

I just love making the audience happy, whether it’s classic, neo, circus or comedic. But, I will say, I love to emcee and be the big mouth with the mic, leading everyone on their journey of burlesque!”

– GoGo McGregor

Z

by dancers, comics, risqué singers and contortionists, all backed by live music. Men and women dressed in their finest garb to visit Leon Prima’s 500 Club, the Sho Bar and the Casino Royale to see Lilly Christine the Cat Girl, Blaze Starr, Evangeline the Oyster Girl and many others (see box).

But as stripping as we know it today began to be the norm, burlesque faded into the background across the country.

Starting with New York City’s Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia outlawing it in the 1940s and followed by the sexual revolution of the ’60s and the creation of the porn industry, even New Orleans’ own District Attorney Jim Garrison began to “clean up” Bourbon Street in August ’62, raiding clubs and arresting girls for obscenity. As club owners replaced live music with records, and go-go dancers and strippers replaced the aging burlesque performers, the art form faded into obscurity.

Known as Tajmah Jewel of the Orient, for an act of the same name, Gloria Bramande (married name Dillon) began dancing at 13 at the club where her mother, Tina Marie, was a waitress. Her most well known act, “The Spider and the Virgin,” was performed with her mother, and newspaper ads called it “the most unusual stage production ever seen.”

When she headlined at the 500 Club, she invited her priest (she attended Mass regularly at St. Louis Cathedral) to approve the act, which he did.

Minx puts it, “crave less flesh and more perfume.”

In 1994, the first agreed upon “neo-burlesque” on record was performed by the Royal Angel Cabaret in New York City. In New Orleans we had the Shim Shamettes. Though curiously enough when they began in ’99, “a fair number of Shim Shamettes made a living stripping on Bourbon Street,” says Bethany Lemanski, owner of Gwendolyn Entertainment, who performed as Mimi Amour, “so in a way I think that enveloping its history and honoring the founders of this craft actually gave dancers an artistic validation to the work being done in the modern day clubs. I think that performing burlesque was like taking continuing education classes for those dancers on this history of their art.”

Though all new, even their location was steeped in history. The Shim Sham Club was originally Leon Prima’s 500 Club on Bourbon Street, and in the late 1990s, according to the Utne Reader, it was reopened on Toulouse Street as a jazz club.

“When we performed the first Shim Shamette shows,” “I love to perform all types of burlesque. I like to make people laugh and I love to make people stare in awe. For those three minutes on that stage (the length of a typical performance) it’s about me and my connection with the audience. No matter if it’s a sexy tease or if it’s a silly act that has an incredible pun at the end of it, I really like to capture an audience. In the past six years I have performed everything from rock ‘n’ roll acts, neo-burlesque, humor burlesque, classic burlesque, fan dances and I’ve even been a ninja. It’s an amazing time to really show case your art and your creativity.” – Ruby Rage

Z

she says, “there was a focus on bringing back the historic dances of the burlesque from the late 19th century and early to mid-20th century. We performed the historic French can-can dance in period costumes, and many of our dance numbers emulated the classic burlesque stars of the ’40s and ’50s by honoring their craft and their signature numbers.”

Celebrating these historical performances included new takes on old shows. “Lorelei Fuller did a finale performance that paid homage to

Evangeline the Oyster Girl; she burst out of a giant oyster shell and danced onstage with a humongous pearl.”

“I think that the burlesque created by Lorelei Fuller, Nina Bozak and Sarah Lavine was one of those types of performances originally aimed at the creative New Orleans community,” she continues, “but instead ended up being so popular and engaging that the burlesque performances of the Shim Shamettes morphed into a worldwide renaissance.”

When the Shim Shamettes

downsized to become the Southern Jeze-Belles (20022005), The Shim Sham Revue (2001-2003) were followed by the Storyville Starletts (2003-present), then Bustout Burlesque (2005-present) and then Fleur De Tease (2006-present), followed by Rev. Spooky LeStrange & the Billion Dollar Babydolls, Slow Burn Burlesque, The Roux and many more.

What It Means Today With this resurgence, the idea of burlesque has also changed.

Once primarily entertainment, today burlesque also incorporates feminism, sexuality and sexual expression. Today’s performers speak of bodily acceptance and using their craft as a means of speaking out on sexual, social and even political issues. “One word,” defines performing burlesque says May Hemmer, “empowerment.”

In addition, New Orleans’ burlesque stands out among

Z

Wild Cherry was born and raised in a circus family. As a teen, she began dancing in the girlie shows. She moved to New Orleans in 1958, got a job dancing at the Mardi Gras Lounge on Bourbon Street performing under the name Torchy, but soon took on the title Wild Cherry.

She performed an “Oriental” into Afro-Cuban style, dancing in clubs across the French Quarter into her mid-40s.

“I always strive to be a versatile performer and never want the audience to feel that I’m being predictable – that’s such a gross word. I perform both classic and neoburlesque as well as comedic roles. Everything ranging from vintage 1940s powder puffs, feather fans and pointe shoe acts to New Orleans bounce rap to the macabre. I love it all. I refuse to dance in a box.” – Roxie Le Rouge

the crowd not only for the amount of performers who have made the city their home (three moved here from across the United States in May alone) but because almost all of the troupes are produced by the performers themselves.

“As a burlesque performer you’re typically responsible for your own costume design, choreography and music selection to create a solo routine, but as a producer you’re able to expand on that process to build an entire show,” says Minx. “This role isn’t necessarily glamorous, but it’s incredibly rewarding to construct whatever you can imagine on a larger scale, especially when you can do it with other talented artists you respect and admire.”

“As a producer, it’s quite literally your job to make sure every person involved in the production has their needs met, meaning the other performers, the venue and their staff and of course the audience are happy with the way the show is going,” says performer and producer Xena Zeit-Geist, who’s also the Founder and Artistic Director of The Society of

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Sin Burlesque & Variety troupe, which specializes in nerdlesque. “You have your hand in nearly every aspect of the production, and the show’s success is riding on you and how much time and effort you put into it in a way that it’s not when you’re just performing. Individual performers can make or break a show with a phenomenal performance or a subpar one, but it’s the producer’s responsibility to curate the whole production, so the success or failure of the individual performers you’ve hired reflects back on you. …

It takes a lot of the pressure off you as the producer when you know you’ve got a group of dedicated people on board who have your back and who you trust to add their creative energy to the mix.”

“I’m not an expert on how

each troupe works across the nation,” Bethany says, “but I don’t think that it can hurt that tourists add burlesque shows to their list of things to do on their trip to New Orleans. Having a demand for shows keeps troupes energized.” She continues, “New Orleans is an independent creative city, it doesn’t surprise me that performers design their costumes and choreograph their own

numbers. It’s another way the city nurtures creative expression. And if you haven’t noticed, the women of New Orleans are strong willed and resilient. I can’t imagine them doing it any other way.”

What the Future May Hold As the novelty of going to see a burlesque performance wears off, the future of burlesque is up for debate.

Some well known performers have begun to take, as Dita Von Teese called hers, a mini-retirement, and Dr. Lucky, “the only Doctor with a PH(Double)D,” wrote last year that burlesque has become “an art form that has become over focused on appearance and self promotion.”

The local performers I spoke with hope that it

becomes recognized as an art form, like jazz has become, that the variety of performances continues to grow and the community that has been nurtured by performers/producers such as Trixie Minx, Roxie le Rouge and Xena Zeit-Geist remains intact. To that end, they worry that the corporatization that comes along with being popular will eclipse the art of the performance.

“I think the future of burlesque is already here,” says Rev. Spooky LeStrange.

“As with all forms of art it will continue growing and changing. It will attract its milquetoasts and dilettantes, it’s frauds. Every so often it will be touched by great genius. Some will use it as a stepping-stone, and some will do it just for the love and passion of it all. It isn’t going anywhere anytime soon; it will just evolve.”

Whether burlesque eclipses the clubs on Bourbon Street to reclaim its early glory, becomes the corporate world’s latest gimmick or is seen to be just another performance to see on the weekends alongside jazz, New Orleans’ love affair with the art of tease seems here to stay. n

Z “I typically perform circus burlesque involving additional skills such as aerial arts, partner acrobatics, stilt walking or sideshow. I have a comical style, very hammy and cheese ball with lots of ridiculous facial expression. I like to be funny and sexy. Making my audience laugh is my favorite thing.” – Ginger Licious

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“On any given week, I’m performing all the styles! However, my favorite leans more towards the neo and performance art genre. I love using this genre to challenge the audience’s idea of what they find entertaining and sexy.”

– Bella Blue

Z

Step-by-Step of an Act From concept to creation to the final product, there’s no exact formula for creating a burlesque act. But no matter what order you use, every act should have all of the following components: 1. Inspiration: Almost always the way to start an act. It can be anything from a line of text to a simple observation, but it’s the moment when you realize “Oh! This would be an awesome act!”

2. Movement/Character: Your inspiration has to transition from an idea into something physical. There is a theme to everything; you can replicate and build upon this through movement and character development.

3. Costuming: In burlesque, the costume is the silent dance partner. Once you have a basic idea of how you want to move and act, you costume your character accordingly. This is perhaps one of the most time-consuming parts of the process. Besides the basic construction there’s also multiple hours of hand-stitching beaded fringe or gluing individual rhinestones to every surface possible, and of course there, are a zillion layers.

4. Music: Music can be the inspiration of an act, but it’s an absolutely necessary component to a strong burlesque routine. It is the beat of burlesque, the accent and melody to the movement.

If the two don’t pair up like peanut butter and jelly, it’s just not right.

5. Rehearse: Practice makes perfect, especially when your act depends on working with costumes, props and other performers. You can twirl a million times, but if you can’t figure out how to keep that tassel attached to your body, it doesn’t do you much good.

6. Showtime: Burlesque is ephemeral, which is part of what makes that moment on stage so magical. Performing is the moment we share our art with the audience, and that’s ultimately the purpose of this whole process.

– Trixie Minx

They won’t have to carry luggage or remove their shoes to get in. Lakefront Airport will be the setting to honor this year’s class of People to Watch. The restored terminal adds an interesting juxtaposition – the past made present again hosting those of the present who, we expect, will be an important part of the future.

Each year we define our selectees as people who are doing something new and interesting in the

community. Most often they are new faces; sometimes they're old faces doing something different. All have stories that you should be aware of, as we think you'll be seeing their progress, their businesses and their awards all over town very soon. We expect many takeoffs in their future.

PHOTOGRAPHED BY JEFFERY JOHNSTON

Ann Heslin

President & Founder, Fabulous Fêtes; Co-Founder, Pink Chariot NOLA Ann Heslin is the President and Founder of the company Fabulous Fêtes, which specializes in full-time special event planning and nonprofit consulting. Her firm services both nonprofit and corporate organizations and short and longterm projects, and prides itself on a project-to-project commitment with clients to ensure every person and business gets the individualized attention they need.

Heslin is also the Co-Founder of Pink Chariot NOLA, which is a women-owned private car service focusing on client safety and reliable service, while allowing women to participate in the traditionally male-driven world of transportation. Heslin’s biggest challenge is “managing [her] time in order to successfully implement concurrent client projects,” and says that her biggest accomplishment is helping her clients’ “make their goals and vision become a reality.”

She attributes her focus and drive to her parents, who “instilled the importance of a strong work ethic, striving for financial independence and giving back to the underserved members of [the] community through volunteerism.”

She prides herself on these principles and relies on them in her business and personal life.

– Lani Griffiths

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Monica Ramirez-­Montagut Museum Director, Newcomb Art Museum of Tulane University

Monica Ramirez-­Montagut lives for those moments when she can witness and be a part of an artist’s realization of a unique vision.

“The absolute best part of my job is installing exhibitions and doing studio visits,” she says. “All the administrative work I do is for those inspirational moments with artists. I am always in awe of their dedication and conviction.”

Since stepping into her position last year, Ramirez-­Montagut has led the effort to create a strategic plan, add the word “museum” to the organization’s name in order to better represent what they do, design a new brand and launch a dynamic new website.

She also had to adjust to the city’s unique lifestyle, mainly by introducing the concept of moderation into her daily life.

“The long term goal for the Newcomb Art Museum is to become an important and familiar destination for all New Orleanians while simultaneously garnering national recognition for our contributions to the field of art,” she says. “Until then, my major accomplishments include launching artists’ careers by giving them their first museum exhibition or the first publication of their work and providing visitors with exhibitions they enjoy and that elicit an ‘aha!’ moment when art reveals something new or different, and they get to take that experience back home.”

– Stephen Maloney

Sharon Mahne

Owner, Louisiana Sisters, LLC It takes a delicate hand to balance the delicacy of a family recipe with the demands of mass production, especially in New Orleans. Louisiana Sisters owner Sharon Mahne has managed to do just that, and the results are delicious.

Like most things in our city, Mahne’s story starts in a crowded family home.

“I grew up in a family of 10 siblings – three boys and seven girls – hence, ‘Louisiana Sisters,’” Mahne says. “My mom, dad, all of my siblings and our families, my aunts and several friends all joined forces to help in the kitchen to produce our products when we first started Louisiana Sisters.”

Even with all those people in the kitchen, demand still outpaced the workforce.

“Now we have co­packers producing our products to keep up with the demand,” she said. “The rest of this year and next I’ll be working with a young lady who’s studying for her Masters in Business. She will be helping us build a stronger social media presence.”

All of this helps support Mahne’s dream of building a business around her crowded family kitchen.

“I have always loved sharing our family recipes, and I love the easy Southern hospitality that goes along with hosting parties,” she says. “So when the idea stuck my sister and I to start a company that would share our family heritage of great recipes, it was a perfect fit.”

– Stephen Maloney

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Katie Pfohl

Curator of Modern & Contemporary Art, New Orleans Museum of Art When Katie Pfohl was growing up, she could never quite decide what kind of an artist she wanted to be.

With a range of creative opportunities before her, she ended up becoming a curator after landing a fellowship at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York after college.

“I realized that being a curator would allow me to be creative in all kinds of different ways,” she says. “As a curator, I get the opportunity to work with artists who create visual art using all different kinds of materials and methods, from painting and sculpture to video and performance.”

With so many artistic stimuli surrounding her working day, Pfohl still finds a way to focus on the human engines driving all the creativity.

“What I love most about being a curator is working with artists to help tell an amazing story about their lives and art,” she says.

“There is nothing like stepping into an exhibition you’ve helped put together and having art you respect and admire surround you from all sides.”

This November, a show called “Visions of US: American Art at NOMA” will debut. The show will feature everything from 18th century portraits to modern and contemporary art drawn from NOMA’s collection of American Art. “It’s a show about shifting ideas of American identity that explores how we imagine and represent the United States – something I’ve been giving a lot of thought since moving to the South!” Pfohl says.

– Stephen Maloney

Matthew Greig

Owner, Plank & Steel

Derek E. Boese, PMP, LEED­AP

Executive Director, East Jefferson Levee District Derek Boese covers a lot of territory at work. He is responsible for over 30 miles of levees, floodwalls, and floodgates along Lake Pontchartrain and the Mississippi River that help keep over 240,000 in Jefferson Parish safe and dry.

With 56 employees under his direct supervision at work and three children at home, ages 10, 12, and 13, Boese also his hands full every day.

Good thing his job comes with one unique and relaxing built­in perk. “The best thing about what I do is getting to drive along the lakefront levee,” he says. “It’s one of the most relaxing feelings around, and I get to do my job while enjoying the scenery.”

Beyond the relaxing drives, Boese says he has always been drawn to work that serves the greater good.

“Everything we do impacts people’s daily lives and livelihood, I look for work where there’s a purpose to what I do every day.”

That drive to make an impact started long ago. As Captain and Commander of A Company 299th Engineer Battalion in the Army, Boese led 84 combat engineers from Kuwait through Baghdad to Tikrit during the ground invasion of Iraq in 2003.

With such an impressive background and with so much on his plate at work, it might not come as a surprise that Boese has taken on another massive project that’s wrapping up this year: earning his law degree.

“Personally, I can’t wait to finish law school so I can spend evenings with my family,” he says.

– Stephen Maloney

A lawyer by trade and former officer with the Judge Advocate General’s Corp. for six years, Matthew Greig has a passion for metal.

Since late 2012, Greig has been designing and fabricating custom furniture, metal art and light fixtures using both new and reclaimed materials.

“Every item I make is customizable and, honestly, a lot of times the customers come up with great ideas I’ve never even thought of,” Greig says.

Among Greig’s creations for sale on PlankAndSteel.com are wall maps crafted from steel, maritime panels and shelving made from bargeboard recycled from a local home.

In the last year Greig has shifted his company’s focus from large furniture to metal artwork and light fixtures.

“Although I enjoyed making larger furniture, it wasn’t necessarily the best use of my time due to the amount of labor required to make each piece,” he says.

This fall he will debut a new line of light fixtures constructed with techniques typically used in the manufacture of handmade steel bicycles.

“I think my greatest accomplishment comes whenever I can hurdle some engineering challenge to build what I have loosely designed in my head,” he says.

“There is a lot of trial and error involved, so it’s very satisfying when it all clicks.”

– Kimberley Singletary

Joel Scilley

Owner, Designer & Woodworker, Audiowood Joel Scilley breaks the boundaries of sound and design with his creative and intricately designed wood-inspired audio equipment.

Always pushing his own limits, Scilley works with unusual raw materials and difficult designs and says he’s always “flirting with disaster.” Because, “That keeps things interesting. I would be bored to tears making the same thing every day.”

Audiowood mostly makes wooden turntables and stereo gear, such as iPhone docks, and even lamps and clocks. All of Audiowood’s products are sustainably produced by hand in the United States, and have even been featured in the blockbuster film Star Trek: Into Darkness, being manhandled by none other than Captain Kirk himself.

Scilley is busy with tons of upcoming projects as well, like a Kickstarter campaign in the fall, a new retail location and new speaker and stereo amplifier designs ready to launch in the upcoming year. His designs at this year’s New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival won him “Most Unique Work” in Contemporary Crafts. He is also hoping to wrangle a few willing participants to start up a Louisiana Product/ Furniture Design Club.

– Lani Griffiths

Peter & Cassi Dymond Owners, Satsuma Café & Pulp & Grind

Besides managing Satsuma Café and Pulp & Grind, Cassi and Peter Dymond are raising their daughter, Louisa, and often looking for the perfect spot for a new café location downtown. They have both spent most of their lives in and around the restaurant industry and feel that “it is something that is deeply rooted,” in both of them. They love interacting with their regulars and participating in the local community through both of their businesses.

Recently, they have focused a lot of detail and attention on their newest venture, Pulp & Grind, in the Central Business District. “It’s a completely different brand than Satsuma, and we have had to build a company from scratch again.”

With both of their businesses they make sure to create a positive work environment, and believe it to be the greatest driving force in a restaurant environment and the greatest personal accomplishment for Satsuma Café and Pulp &Grind.

Their long time goal is the expansion of the brands that they have created, but they’re in no rush. They prefer the “slow and steady” approach, which is why they’ve been patient with their goal to expand to a third location downtown.

– Lani Griffiths

Max Messier & Lauren Myerscough Co-Founders, Cocktail & Sons

Veteran bartenders Max Messier and Lauren Myerscough are dedicated to bringing back the home bar. Using Messier’s well-honed recipes for cordials, tea concentrates and syrups developed via his consulting business for bars and restaurants in New Orleans and New York, the couple’s Cocktail & Sons syrups have taken off since the company’s launch in January. The four signature syrups, Spiced Demerara, Oleo Saccharum, Honeysuckle & Peppercorn and Mine & Lemon Verbena, are now available in more than 30 stores across Louisiana and at New Orleans bars new and iconic, including Arnaud’s French 75 Bar, Doris Metropolitan and Domenica, to name a few.

“When Lauren was pregnant with our daughter last year, we knew it was time to capitalize on years of experience and create a product that not only suited the needs of our regulars, but also provided a lifestyle conducive to raising a family,” says Messier, who some will recognize from his time manning the bar at Kingfish.

Myerscough was a bar manager at Maurepas Foods prior to the conception of their daughter and Cocktail & Sons. “We want our customers to have the power to entertain with simple cocktails at home using real juice and natural ingredients, not just the plastic jug of fluorescent margarita mix.”

In a seemingly syrup-fueled frenzy, between running the company, teaching cocktail classes at Pearl Wine and Longue Vue, and hosting tastings, Messier and Myerscough launched a national campaign in August, expanding the brand to New York, Miami, Atlanta and Texas. In 2016, the duo will introduce four seasonal syrups with locally sourced products.

– Melanie Warner Spencer

Jason Bertoniere

President & General Manager, Jason Bertoniere, LLC

Yamila Bertoniere Financial Manager, Jason Bertoniere, LLC

As a painting contractor, Jason Bertoniere has been very busy for the past decade. Bertoniere started the business at the age of 19, and he has been helping rebuild, restore and beautify the Greater New Orleans region ever since.

“I have a passion for working with people and giving them the best possible results,” he says. “I don’t focus on the competition; I’m more concerned with customer needs and with solving problems. This was especially true after Katrina, when people really needed my services.”

It is easy to overlook the importance of drywall and paint in the overall construction and maintenance of a house, but Bertoniere sees things differently.

“I like drywall and painting to be considered a form of art,” he says. “Beautifying people’s homes gives both me and my customers satisfaction.”

And that dedication has paid off big time this year. Bertoniere was featured on the cover of the June 2015 issue of Walls and Ceilings, a national trade magazine that highlighted his Level Five drywall finish work.

Bertoniere will soon earn his Fine Paints of Europe certification, and he plans to expand his business into the commercial realm this year while maintaining a keen focus on quality.

“We hope that when people want to create or restore the beauty of their homes, our brand is the first that comes to mind,” he says.

– Stephen Maloney

Matthew Holdren

Owner, Designer & Chief Fabricator, Matthew Holdren Design Inc. With an affinity for building things out of, “old wood and junk and repurposing it,” Matthew Holdren spent most of last year designing and building a significant part of the new restaurant Ursa Major, while prepping for and showing his work at Jazz Fest.

From an entertainment console to an entire restaurant, Holdren is working on growing his business, “not getting much bigger in terms of employees and production,” he says, “but in the quality and design of my product.”

Last year he was named a member of “The Curbed Young Guns Class of 2014” and in 2012, he received Best in Show at the Green Project’s Salvations juried furniture exhibition.

Over the next year, Holdren will be moving his entire shop and materials into the 1840s home he recently purchased and is restoring. “It’s always been a dream to own my own work/live space,” he says.

“I’m proud of the work I’ve done around town in public spaces,” he adds, “and that my pieces will hopefully be enjoyed and passed down for generations.”

– Morgan Packard

Reynold Verret

President, Xavier University of Louisiana; CEO, Xavier University

Ursa Eyer Artist

As well as constantly creating as much art as she can, artist Ursa Eyer recently had a comic go viral on Buzzfeed and the Huffington Post, which then translated into both Spanish and South African. She calls art “a compulsion to communicate” and wants to use her art to “connect with as many people as possible in the time [she] has.”

Her husband (local musician Steffan Pitzel) and her two “children” (a dog named Bruce and a cat called Dordlecat) share her life as an artist, which she says at times can be really challenging. “There are so many unknowns that come along with it that are really scary,” she says. “The self-doubt can be all-consuming when there is no direct path to follow.”

Eyer pushes through though, and is excited about her two upcoming projects this year: a surrealist graphic novel called Dogface and a large collaborative installation with New Orleans artist Sadie Sheldon, where they will marry their two very different styles in one synergistic art project.

– Lani Griffiths

Reynold Verret came to the United States as a refugee from Haiti in 1963, and he has focused on building and strengthening communities ever since.

“Education is a foundation on which we build and strengthen society,” Verret says. “Broad education leads to engaged citizens, essential to a democratic government. Education also brings forth the talent and creativity to build economies, healthy societies and to secure the future.”

Verret had enormous shoes to fill when he took over the leadership position at Xavier from the legendary Dr. Norman C. Francis in May 2015, but he did so with grace as he focused on the success of his students.

Watching students graduate and visiting with alumni as they talk about their Xavier days and the tools for success that the historic school helped them develop is a special pleasure for Verret.

Each new year brings a new opportunity to continue the legacy of Xavier within the New Orleans community and the world at large.

“I am looking forward to communicating Xavier’s story, its success in educating talented students fulfilling the hope that Saint Katharine Drexel foresaw,” he says. “Indeed, Xavier shows what great things are possible when one provides great education to students.”

– Stephen Maloney

Teri Wyble Actress

Rita Bernhardt Chef & Co-Owner, The PDR NOLA

William Barial

General Manager & Co-Owner, The PDR NOLA Anyone who has been involved with the restaurant industry knows the amount of chaos that goes on in a professional kitchen.

Luckily, Rita Bernhardt and William Barial both love to be right in the middle of that swirling mass of bodies, high-end food and cutlery.

Bernhardt, a former line cook at Restaurant August, teamed up with Barial, who used to be a server at Dominica, in April 2014 to open The PDR NOLA, a speakeasy supper club intent on challenging traditional dining experiences The original Tremé location offers a prix fixe menu that changes every month and exclusive seating for 14, while the new location in the St. Roch Market caters to a much wider audience.

Bernhardt and Barial are both looking forward to opening a brick-and-mortar location soon, but right now the dynamic duo is working on expanding their already bustling business.

“We are only three months into our venture at the St. Roch Market, and already so many opportunities have come our way,” Barial says. “I’m looking forward to continued growth of our business.”

“We see ourselves in New Orleans for a while, and eventually with a brick-and-mortar,” Bernhardt says. “It’s a process, and we want to take the time to do it just right.”

– Stephen Maloney

A performer since childhood, Arnaudville native and actress Teri Wyble has a wise and optimistic understanding of the industry as she moves forward into bigger productions. The striking brunette, who performs in film, television, commercials and voiceovers, currently has a role in the stoner action-comedy, American Ultra (in theaters now), which put her alongside big-name stars Kristen Stewart, Topher Grace and Jesse Eisenberg.

“The growth in this career will never end,” she says. “I’m anxious to delve more into my craft for new experiences, new faces and for expecting the unexpected. … What keeps me going is the hope that the next audition could be it – whether it’s my dream role or a meaty part in a huge film that will open more doors.”

One of her biggest accomplishments, she notes, is that “the industry hasn’t chewed me up and spit me out yet.”

She also understands the work-life balance. “I love my job, but it’s not my life. Perhaps this detail is what’s helped me succeed thus far. For many actors, every audition is the end-all, be-all, which isn’t the way I like to look at things.” Noting the challenges of constantly being on-call, she concludes, “I’m a hippie at heart,” she says.

“So my long-term goal is happiness. By keeping this at the core of each goal, it helps to make everything fall into place.”

– Sarah Ravits

Lisa D’Amour

Playwright & Artistic Director, PearlDamour

Kim Gibson

Founder & Head of School, NOLA Micro Schools As a mother of four, Kim Gibson has seen constant challenges in the school options presented to New Orleans residents.

Her children, Addison, Deacon, George and Jude, have attended six different schools, including Pre­K. Throughout this process, Gibson saw one thing as a constant: The need for more options in schools.

“NOLA Micro Schools was created with this in mind and with a focus on student­driven learning, real world hands ­on projects and fostering an environment made up of critical thinking and innovation,” Gibson says.

Like many schools that have been founded, restarted or restructured in New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina, NOLA Micro Schools started out with a small number of students and will expand to accommodate the need.

“This is our first year, and we have students second to sixth grade in age – less than 15 for year one – and we’ll grow in grades and number each subsequent year,” Gibson says. “We are focusing on creating our space and our community, allowing our students to adapt to a new school, and being intentional in terms of implementing our curriculum as seamlessly as possible.”

And while there is much work to be done, she says the hard work is already starting to pay off.

“I find great joy in watching our students grow, realize their potential, make mistakes and learn from them,” she says, “and become stronger empathetic members of this amazing city.”

– Stephen Maloney

Lisa D’Amour has had a big year.

With Airline Highway earning multiple Tony nominations on Broadway, Cherokee opening at the Woolly Mammoth Theater in Washington, D.C., and Detroit opening at Southern Rep Theater home in New Orleans, D’Amour’s work has traveled far and wide, earning rave reviews along the way.

“Each production had very different needs, and these needs often required me to be in two places at once,” she says. “So the challenge of this year was staying grounded as I hopped between cities, trying to give my all to each production.”

And while Airline Highway earned four Tony nominations, D’Amour herself took home the Lilly Award, which recognizes extraordinary contributions by women to the American Theater.

Despite the rocketship of a year, D’Amour has stayed connected to what she truly loves.

“I love bringing people together and working with them to create seemingly impossible feats of theater,” she says. “I love writing new worlds filled with nuance and idiosyncrasy. I love thinking out loud through my plays about how we humans live in this world, and how we can live better, clearer, louder, deeper.”

With the Contemporary Arts Center presenting PearlDamour’s eight-­hour performance installation How to Build a Forest in October, marking the first performance of the piece in New Orleans, D’Amour is gearing up for another big year with a decidedly local focus.

“I’m so proud to be a part of the fierce and innovative New Orleans theater community,” she says.

– Stephen Maloney

Maxwell Williams Artistic Director, Le Petit Théâtre du Vieux Carré

Maxwell Williams is new in town and ready to break a leg.

In March 2015, Williams became the new artistic director of Le Petit Théâtre du Vieux Carré, one of the oldest community theatres in the country.

After the theater endured some difficult years, Williams says he’s eager to get to work.

“We intend to represent the whole city, and represent the best of theatre in New Orleans to the world,” he says. “That starts with more diverse programming and casting, which we’re actively cultivating, and leveraging our professional relationships to draw more attention to the extraordinary work that is going on here, not just at Le Petit, but at other New Orleans theatre companies.

Williams formerly served as the associate artistic director for Hartford Stage in Connecticut, where his accomplishments included producing the world premiere of A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, which went on to win the 2014 Tony Award for best musical.

He says his overall goal is to ensure Le Petit is set up to thrive in its second hundred years.

“The challenge is ongoing,” he says, “but it’s a very exciting time to be making art here.”

– Kimberley Singletary

Billy Bosch

CEO & Co­Founder, Be Well Nutrition, Inc. Billy Bosch made quite the professional jump in 2011, when he left his job as a Field Account Manager for Shell to begin selling his ICONIC Protein Drinks full time.

To Bosch, the career shift felt more like swapping out a job for a longtime passion. “I started mixing my own protein shakes when I was in high school, and from there my interest and health and wellness continued to grow,” he says. “I’m passionate about our product line, so I enjoy just about everything we do.”

Dissatisfied with the protein shakes he found on the market, Bosch set out to create a grab-­and-go option for health-conscious people that wouldn’t sacrifice taste. He ended up developing ICONIC, a high protein, low calorie and low sugar drink with added fiber and vitamin B­12.

“It’s great for a light breakfast on the go, healthy snack during the day, or post­workout,” he says.

Where others may have seen a hindrance in local adherence to the legendary cuisine of the Crescent City – which has never been considered “health food” – Bosch saw an opportunity.

“Creating and launching a health drink here in New Orleans allowed us to develop one of the best tasting protein drinks on the market,” he says, “with the help of the incredibly taste conscious consumers of the city.”

– Stephen Maloney

Genevieve J. Douglass Founding Member, KINDRED Studios; Founder & Executive Director, Uptown PR

Genevieve Douglass’ life changed one year ago when her daughter Avery was born.

Douglass had already founded Uptown PR, where she still serves as Executive Director. Always with an eye out for opportunities and innovations, Douglass realized there was an underserved market in the lifestyle arena.

“As a new mom, I wanted an outlet that could help me maintain my active lifestyle while allowing me to incorporate my baby,” she says. “That’s when I developed the concept of a family­ focused lifestyle studio.”

Douglass designed KINDRED Studios to be an all encompassing space that caters to modern parents by incorporating fitness, wellness and play.

“The idea behind the space is to cater to the modern parent and allow them to continue the active lifestyle they had before the baby while being able to incorporate their child into it,” she says. “We want our parents to come take a class, or bring their little ones to play in the Romp Room and grab a juice, shop or work on the go with our free WiFi.” Douglass says she considers her daughter Avery to be her biggest accomplishment, but owning two businesses by the age of 32 comes in a close second.

And while Avery plans on expanding her vocabulary and getting her footing this year, Douglass plans on expanding her other baby steadily.

“We have a lot of diverse plans for the studio this fall with adding new classes, workshops and events,” she says. “I truly hope our clients and community find value in KINDRED and that it helps a new healthy and active generation of parents and little people.”

– Stephen Maloney

Quentin L. Messer Jr.

President & CEO, New Orleans Business Alliance Quentin Messer’s mind goes straight to Jerry Garcia when he thinks about how he got to his current professional position.

“I has been a long strange trip professionally,” Messer says. “As I reflect on the threads of my disparate professional experiences, I realize that I’m energized by people and that I believe each of us is called to be a change agent, an encourager, a cheerleader.”

Messer sees his role at the New Orleans Business Alliance as a way to celebrate the successes of a wide cross section of the city’s citizens while telling the story that our city is a unique place where you can work and play hard.

“New Orleanians are justifiably proud of the city, and the Business Alliance is similarly proud, particularly of the city’s business community,” he says. “Especially since Katrina, our business community has been persistent in its investment in a New Orleans that creates more on­ramps to opportunity to all its citizens.”

Messer says he loves to represent the approximately 375,000 citizens of New Orleans against the 5 million residents of cities like Atlanta or Houston and bet on us to win every time.

“I’ll take a passionate few over traffic jam fatigued millions any day,” he says.

– Stephen Maloney

Jessie Schott Haynes Deputy to the President, The Helis Foundation; Program Director, Louisiana Appleseed Center for Law and Justice

Jessie Schott Haynes has been able to combine some of her many varying passions with her professional life, a feat sure to leave many creative­at­home types envious.

“I’ve been given the incredibly unique opportunity to marry my Art History background, which is and always has been my first, life­ long passion, with my training as an attorney and my nonprofit staff and board experience,” she says. “I know how lucky I am to work in an extremely unique field that allows me to balance my skills and interests while presenting interesting new challenges on a daily basis.”

The key to Haynes’ success lies in understanding as much as possible about the landscape of the New Orleans arts community from a grant making perspective, particularly as it fits within the context of the national and international community.

This past year has seen the Helis Foundation working with Prospect.3 and the Ogden Museum of Southern Art to bring “Basquiat and the Bayou” to New Orleans, installing Lynda Benglis’ “The Wave of the World” in City Park and the Poydras Corridor Sculpture and Exhibition. This coming year will see the finalizing of the Helis Foundation Enrique Alferez Sculpture Garden in City Park’s Botanical Gardens, which Haynes sees as a beautiful addition to the city.

“The legacy of Enrique Alferez and the impact of his work on the fabric of New Orleans will now be preserved for generations to enjoy,” she says.

– Stephen Maloney

Thanh Truong

Anchor & reporter, WWL-TV Do not believe what you see in the movies, says Thanh Truong of his work as an anchor and reporter for WWL-TV. “Despite the depictions of broadcast journalism, the daily responsibilities go well beyond reading a teleprompter and having ‘nice’ hair,” he says, “Sorry Ron Burgundy fans.”

A former correspondent for NBC News where he filed reports for “The Today Show,” “NBC Nightly News” and MSNBC, Truong has been writing, editing and delivering the local news for WWL since August 2013.

A first generation immigrant from Vietnam, he says he feels fortunate to be writing and telling stories for a living.

“It has its pressures and pitfalls, but it’s not backbreaking work, not the sweat labor which my parents had to endure,” he says. “Their work and work ethic laid the foundation for my opportunities.

While every day brings new challenges and opportunities, Truong says he’s excited about the future.

“I’m very much looking forward to the political season,” he says. “The governor’s race and the looming presidential race should make for great stories.

– Kimberley Singletary

Elizabeth Elizardi

Head of Early Childhood Education, Director of Green Trees Early Childhood Village As well as being Head of Early Childhood Education and Director of Green Trees Early Childhood Village, Elizabeth Elizardi is an online contributor to Psychology Today, a writer of several articles on Positive Psychology News Daily and a published author in the book Character Strengths Matter.

Amidst her accomplishments in the early education of children, she has also been planning the inaugural year of Green Trees Early Childhood Village. Green Trees is a coeducational early childhood program that is part of Isidore Newman School, with a mission to develop children’s talents to create and think critically in a safe but challenging environment.

Elizardi loves working with children because “their strengths represent the very best of human goodness,” and she believes that, “Creating dynamic communities of parents, teachers and children connected by a positive core is a moral imperative … not a choice.”

She hopes that Green Trees will become a “hub of professional learning for early childhood educators in public and private schools around our city and country.” She also plans for the program support, protect, and educate the next generation of students through Newman and beyond.

– Lani Griffiths

Scott Reynaud

Co-Owner & Principal Stylist, Jupiter Salon “I think the salon profession chose me,” Scott Reynaud says. “I have always been creative and I enjoy working one on one with people on their image. I feel that hair has an important role that defines the way people see themselves and how others see them.”

Reynaud loves being part of the process of reinvention that can center around a dynamic hairstyle change. But that’s not the only dynamic force of change that Reynaud has put his energy behind.

His Jupiter Salon, which he runs alongside his wife Alicia Alonzo­ Reynaud, is the first private service concept salon in the city. His Jupiter Oil product line is environmentally friendly with low impact packaging, and a smartphone app called Spa Foo that will connect people with licensed service providers is in the works and will be the first of its kind.

“At the same time I’m also painting a series of 20 oils of Native American Indians,” Reynaud says.

“I have a hard time finding time to paint, but I’m getting close to completing the collection.”

With so many things happening at once, Reynaud manages to stay focused on the local community, which he says is the key to all of his success.

“I love this city and appreciate all of the support that I have been given over the years,” he says. “I also look forward to seeing the city progress into the future and grow.

I will continue to work hard and make the city a place known for not only food and music but also for style.”

– Stephen Maloney

Bob Brown

Managing Partner, Paradigm Plus Consulting; President, New Orleans Library Foundation Board of Directors

Robin Barnes

Founder, FIT by You Following a life-threatening health crisis a few years ago, local singer and songwriter Robin Barnes was inspired to not only jumpstart her own wellness routine, but to inspire others in her hometown to do the same through a creative line of New Orleans-themed fitness apparel.

“I am a proud New Orleanian, so everything I do will pay tribute to my New Orleans, in a positive and fun way,” says Barnes, who notes that for her, the only thing that could get her up and moving was brass music.

In a nod to this musical preference, one of FIT by You’s creations is a line of tops and shorts emblazoned with “Move Ya Brass.”

“Our commitment is to provide stylish, fun and relaxed active wear that promotes people everywhere to reach those goals, and eventually soar above and beyond,” she says, adding that one of her main goals is to create an awareness of the need to balance the good time spirit the city is known for with healthy habits.

“Staying active and eating right is the future,” she says, “but we by no means need to leave our traditions behind.”

– Kimberley Singletary

President of the New Orleans Library Foundation Board of Directors and Managing Partner of Paradigm PLUS Consulting, Bob Brown has his fair share of busy days. His company provides comprehensive consulting services to government agencies on conflict resolution, consensus building and culture change. Brown chooses this line of work, as well as his position as President of the Board because his work “marries [his] enjoyment of human interaction with the satisfaction that comes from helping clients find their own best path to their desired objectives.”

As well as keeping busy with work, he’s stubbornly optimistic about New Orleans. He believes that “the city and the region are on the threshold of a transformative rejuvenation. Business, industry, education, cultural offerings, infrastructure – all appear to be moving rapidly towards robust heath.” His work as a partner of his consulting firm and President of the Board only reflects these hopes in his desire to participate actively and positively in his community.

As president of the New Orleans Public Library Foundation Board of Directors, Bob Brown hopes that the Foundation will strengthen its support and advocacy, including broadening resources, reinforcing existing programs and promoting staff development to make the New Orleans Public Library System among the best in the United States.

– Lani Griffiths

Megan Holt, Ph.D

Postdoctoral Teaching Fellow & Freshman Composition Teaching Instructor, Tulane University In addition to her already strenuous workload as a Postdoctoral Teaching Fellow at Tulane, Dr. Megan Holt is extraordinarily involved in the effort to improve literacy in New Orleans.

Holt is a project leader for the Young Leadership Council’s One Book New Orleans effort and she serves on the Board of Directors for the Literacy Alliance of Greater New Orleans and on the Advisory Board for the Lower 9th Ward Street Library.

All of this community activity comes from a place very close to Holt’s heart.

“I chose to become active in community literacy because I want to help make New Orleans a better place for my son to grow up,” she says. “By raising the literacy rate, we can lower our crime rate, lower our poverty rate and improve access to healthcare – just to name a few benefits.”

The hard work also brings people together.

“My absolute favorite thing about what I do is getting the opportunity to work with different communities,” Holt says.

“Though New Orleans is a small city, it can sometimes feel as if the different neighborhoods are isolated from one another.

However, we can all agree on the fundamental role literacy plays in our city. It’s beautiful to see people coming together from all walks of life to help work toward a common goal.”

– Stephen Maloney

Kelsey Parris

Associate Director, Southern Food and Beverage Museum This month marks a year since the Southern Food and Beverage Museum on Oretha C. Haley Boulevard opened its doors last September.

“This year has been all about settling in, setting up protocols for all of the new things we have to deal with, like rentals and demonstrations, and continuing to refine our exhibits,” says Kelsey Parris. “Every day brings a new challenge, whether it’s figuring out how to squeeze 19 bartenders into the museum for our big cocktail event or diving into South Carolina’s liquor laws and figuring out how to make that an interesting exhibit label.”

Parris says her role managing the day-to-day operations of the museum is a dream come true.

“I remember when [the museum] opened in 2008 in the Riverwalk and I spent hours on the website, trying to figure out how I could be hired or even volunteer my time with SoFAB,” she says. “I ended up finding an internship with the museum through Tulane’s public service program.

She says she’s driven by how something simple, like food, can say so much about a person’s culture and history.

“I would love for our museum and our entire organization to be the foremost authority on food history and culture,” she says, “not just in the South, but everywhere.”

– Kimberley Singletary

Zachary Lazar

Writer, Author & Associate Professor of English, Tulane University Zachary Lazar says, like many writers, he fell in love with language and storytelling and decided to try it. One memoir, three novels and, this year, a John Updike Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters indicate that this writing thing seems to be working out.

“My favorite thing about writing is learning, through imagining and describing, what other people’s lives might feel like,” says Lazar. “I tend to write about people who are quite different from me and I like the challenge of trying to understand that difference.”

Swiftly putting his 1993 M.F.A. from the University of Iowa, Iowa Writer’s Workshop to good use, Lazar’s debut novel, the coming-of-age tale Aaron, Approximately, published in 1998 and has since collected a cadre of prestigious awards and accolades. In 2007, his second novel, Sway, received the Discover Great New Writers Award at Barnes & Noble and was an Editor’s Choice at the New York Times Book Review. Publishers Weekly, The Los Angeles Times, Rolling Stone, Newsday and others later selected it as a “best book of ’08.” The Chicago Tribune selected the memoir Evening’s Empire: The Story of My Father’s Murder, as one of its a best books of ’09. Lazar then collected another Editor’s Choice at the New York Times Book Review and its 100 Notable Books of 2014 for his third novel, I Pity the Poor Immigrant.

The author currently is working on a novel set at the Louisiana State Penitentiary and in New Orleans.

– Melanie Warner Spencer

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weekend VIP pass What makes it special: Get in the Halloween spirit early with weekend of indie horror films (short and feature-length) from Louisiana and filmmakers from around the country and world.

Bogalusa Blues & Heritage Festival Sept. 25-26 Cassidy Park, 129 Ben Miller Drive, Bogalusa 5 p.m.-10 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday (985) 205-1075 BogalusaBlues.com Admission: $10 day pass, $20 weekend pass What makes it special: A fairly new festival (it began in 2012) it’s already drawing blues travelers from around the south for its strong music lineup.

Ascension Hot Air Balloon Festival

Sept. 25-26 Lamar Dixon Expo Center, 9039 S. Landry Road, Gonzales 4 p.m.-10 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday AscensionBallooning.com Admission: $5, free for children 12 and under What makes it special: Make your Instagram followers jealous with all the beautiful shots you’ll get of colorful balloons floating up to the sky. Besides the dozens of hot air balloons, there’s a children’s village with activities and carnival rides. Inside the expo center is where you’ll find more than 100 vendors.

September Southern Decadence Sept. 2-7 Various locations in the French Quarter Various Times Info@SouthernDecadence.net SouthernDecadence.net Admission: $50 weekend pass, $100 VIP weekend pass What makes it special: While some other cities just have a pride parade, New Orleans hosts a full scale Labor Day gay-cation that’s an around-the-clock party.

Louisiana Seafood Festival Sept. 4-6 City Park Festival Grounds 11 a.m.-7 p.m. jen@louisianahospitality.org LouisianaSeafoodfestival.com Admission: Free What makes it special: Besides copious seafood, there’s a beer garden, live music, an arts village and chef demonstrations — and

admission is still free.

Louisiana Shrimp & Petroleum Festival Sept. 3-7 715 Second St., Morgan City 1 p.m.-11 p.m. Thursday; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday; 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday; 8:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Sunday; 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday (985) 385-0703 ShrimpAndPetroleum.org Admission: Free What makes it special: Celebrating unusual Louisiana bedfellows, the party extends from Thursday until the very end of Labor Day weekend.

New Orleans Burlesque Festival Sept. 17-20 AC Hotel, 221 Carondelet St. Various Times 975-7425, NewOrleansBurlesque@ yahoo.com NewOrleansBurlesqueFest.com Admission: Various

What makes it special: You can watch burlesque dancers from around the country vie for the Queen of Burlesque title.

Natchitoches Meat Pie Festival Sept. 18-19 Riverbank Stage, Downtown Natchitoches 2:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Saturday (318) 652-0578 MeatpieFestival.com Admission: Free What makes it special: You can experience the small town’s signature street food, as well as live music, kid’s activities and arts and crafts.

NOLA Horror Film Fest Sept. 24-27 Rare Form, 437 Esplanade Ave. 5:30 p.m.-11 p.m.

NewOrleansHorrorFilmFestival.com Admission: Ranges from $10 for single screening to $150 for a

New Orleans on Tap Beer Festival Sept. 26 City Park Festival Grounds 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., VIP early entry noon to 1 p.m info@nolaontap.org NOLAonTap.org Admission: Free; tickets for food and drinks are for sale What makes it special: It’s dogfriendly, benefits the LA/SPCA and features homebrews among the 300-plus offerings.

October Ponderosa Stomp Oct. 1-3 Various Various Times 810-9116, info@ponderosastompfoundation.org PonderosaStomp.com Admission: Concerts $60 per night, $110 festival pass What makes it special: The fest celebrates the “unsung” heroes of rock ’n’ roll with concerts, a music history conference and a record sale.

Hell Yes Fest Oct. 1-11 The New Movement, 2706 St. Claude Ave., and other locations Varies Times HellYesFest.com Admission: Various What makes it special: Besides funny and experimental sketch,

stand-up and improv from around the country, the comedy fest also includes a film component and plenty of parties.

Gretna Heritage Festival Oct. 2-4 Huey P. Long Avenue, downtown Gretna 4 p.m.-11 p.m. Friday; 2 p.m.-11 p.m. Saturday; 12-9 p.m. Sunday 361-7748 GretnaFest.com Admission: Ranges from $20 for a single day ticket to $350 for a VIP Package What makes it special: Raprocker Kid Rock headlines this year’s fest, which includes a German beer garden and Italian village.

Fall Angola Prison Rodeo Sundays, Oct. 4-25 Louisiana State Penitentiary 2 p.m. info@angolarodeo.com AngolaRodeo.com Admission: $15 What makes it special: There’s really nothing like this anywhere, and you can come back with handcrafted souvenirs that are truly one of a kind.

Zwolle Tamale Fiesta Oct. 8-10 Zwolle Festival Grounds Times TBA ZwolleTamaleFiesta.com Admission: Free What makes it special: The festival celebrates the tamale as a symbol of the Spanish and Indian heritage of the tiny (estimated population: 1,975) town.

Gentilly Fest Oct. 9-11 Pontchartrain Park, Press Drive and Prentiss Avenue 6-9 p.m. Friday; 12-8 p.m. Saturday; 12-7 p.m. Sunday GentillyFest.com Admission: Free What makes it special: There’s a gospel tent for anyone having Jazz Fest withdrawals.

Voice of the Wetlands Festival Oct. 9-11 5403 West Park, Houma Times TBA (985) 226-1004, rwilliams@ voiceofthewetlands.org

Festivals Acadiens et Creole

Paul Kieu photo

Girard Park, 500 Girard Park Drive, Lafayette 5:30-9 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday; 9 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Sunday FestivalAcadiens.com Admission: Free What makes it special: For those craving Lafayette’s signature spring festival, Festival International de Louisiane, this offers cultural heritage (although specifically to Louisiana) in the form of a killer music line-up. Playing at the free fest this year are many Cajun or Cajun-influenced bands that have found younger audiences, including Feufollet, Pine Leaf Boys, Sweet Crude and Lost Bayou Ramblers. The festival also features Creole and Cajun food, a craft fair and kids’ activities.

VoiceOfTheWetlands.org Admission: Free What makes it special: Wetlands conservation – the festival’s raison d’etre – is music to your ears with acts like the fest’s resident Voice of the Wetlands All Stars, a supergroup of Louisiana funk and blues musicians.

Japanfest Oct. 10 New Orleans Museum of Art, 1 Collins Diboll Circle 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

JapanSocietyofNewOrleans.org Admission: $5 general admission; free for NOMA members What makes it special: It’s the biggest celebration of Japanese culture in the city where you can buy Japanese arts and crafts and see an authentic tea ceremony.

Carnaval Latino Oct. 10-11 Various French Quarter and downtown locations Various Times 528-8560 CarnavaLatinola.com Admission: Free What makes it special: HispanicAmerican Musicians and Artists Cultural Association’s festival focuses on the music with acts from Latin America, as well as local artists.

Madisonville Wooden Boat Festival Oct. 10-11 Lake Pontchartrain Basin Maritime Museum, 133 Mabel Drive, Madisonville 10 a.m.-8:30 p.m.

(985) 845-9200 WoodenBoatFest.org Admission: General admission $10; $5 for seniors over 65 and children 12 and under; free for active military with ID What makes it special: Up to 100 antique, vintage and contemporary boats typically line up along the Tchefuncte River.

Celebracion Latina Oct. 11 Audubon Zoo, 6500 Magazine St. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

581-4629 AudubonInstitute.org Admission: Free with zoo admission; $18.95 ages 13-64; $14.95 ages 65 and older; $13.95 ages 2-12; free for members What makes it special: You can stroll through the zoo to the

Friends of City Park members; $20 early admission; free for children under 3 What makes it special: Unlimited rides in Carousel Gardens in a spooky setting.

French Food Festival Oct. 23-25 Larose Regional Park and Civic Center, 307 E. Fifth St., Larose 6 p.m.-11 p.m. Thursday; 5 p.m.11 a.m. Friday; 11 a.m.-1 a.m.

Saturday; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday (985) 693-7355 BayouCivicClub.org Admission: Free What makes it special: “French” here more refers to Cajun French, and that’s reflected in festival dishes such as shrimp boulettes.

Oktoberfest

CHERYL GERBER photo

Oct. 9-10, 16-17 and 23-24 Deutsches Haus, 415 Williams Blvd., Kenner 4 p.m.-11 p.m. Friday, 3 p.m.-11 p.m. Saturday 522-8014 OktoberfestNola.com Admission: $6; free for children under 12 What makes it special: With three weekends of festival, there’s no excuse not to experience everything: There are adorable Dachshund races, a beerstein-holding contest, German food and beer, beer and more beer.

sounds of Latin bands.

International Rice Festival Oct. 15-19 Downtown Crowley 6 p.m.-11 p.m. Thursday; 11 a.m.11 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m.-11 p.m.

Saturday; noon-6 p.m. Sunday.

(337) 783-3067 RiceFestival.com Admission: Free What makes it special: Suspend your no-carb diet for Louisiana’s oldest agricultural festival: you won’t want to miss the rice dish contest.

New Orleans Film Festival Dates. Oct. 15-22 Various Various Times 309-6633, info@neworleansfilmsociety.org NewOrleansFilmSociety.org Admission: Various What makes it special: Catch

Oscar hopefuls before they hit the big screen and sometimes rub shoulders with celebrity guests at the fest’s many parties.

Crescent City Blues and BBQ Festival Oct. 16-18 Lafayette Square Park, 540 St. Charles Ave. 5 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m.8:30 p.m. Saturday-Sunday 558-6100 JazzAndHeritage.org/Blues-Fest Admission: Free What makes it special: Equal amounts of blues and barbecue – what could be better?

Anba Dlo Oct. 17 New Orleans Healing Center, 2372 St. Claude Ave. 6 p.m.-midnight 940-1130, nohcfestival@neworleanshealingcenter.org

AnbaDloFestival.org Admission: Free general admission; $25 VIP What makes it special: The Halloween festival with spirited live music has Haitian influences.

Washington Parish Free Fair Oct. 21-24 115 Main St., Franklinton Times TBA (985) 839-5228 FreeFair.com Admission: Free What makes it special: It’s purported to be the largest county/ parish free fair in the United States Ghosts in the Oaks Oct. 23-24 New Orleans City Park 7 p.m.-10 p.m.; early admission 6 p.m.

483-9376 FriendsOfCityPark.com Admission: $15 general; $12

Words and Music Oct. 28-Nov. 1 Hotel Monteleone, 214 Royal St. Various Times info@wordsandmusic.org WordsAndMusic.org Admission: Ranges from $100$800 What makes it special: The Pirate’s Alley Faulkner Society’s festival offers a host of literary happenings, including master classes and sessions with literary agents and critics for authors.

Voodoo Music + Arts Experience Oct. 30-Nov. 1 New Orleans City Park Times TBA WorshiptheMusic.com App: WorshipTheMusic.com/ mobile-app Admission: $125 (three-day general admission); $350 VIP; free for children 10 and under What makes it special: Features favorite contemporary festival acts (Florence and the Machine) alongside 1990s nostalgia (Jane’s Addiction) in a trippy, late-night carnival setting.

Louisiana Book Festival Oct. 31 State Library of Louisiana, the State Capitol, the Capitol Park Museum and nearby locations in Baton Rouge 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

(225) 219-9503 LouisianaBookFestival.org App: itunes.apple.com/app/

id724978331 Admission: Free What makes it special: The one-day festival celebrating the state’s rich literary community is jam-packed with author appearances; panels; an exhibitor space with booksellers, publishing houses and scholarly programs; and more.

LadyFest Oct. 31-Nov. 8 Various Various Times 931-9824 LadyFestNewOrleans.org Admission: TBA What makes it special: Female artists of different mediums challenge racism, homophobia and sexism through performance.

November faux/real Nov. 4-22 Various Various Times FauxRealNewOrleans.com Admission: TBA What makes it special: Formerly New Orleans Fringe, faux/real expands its predecessor’s experimental offerings beyond theater to include literature, food and drink events.

Celebration in the Oaks Nov. 7-Jan. 3 City Park 6-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 6-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday jlacour@nocp.org NewOrleansCityPark.com Admission: $8; free for children under 3 and Friends of City Park members What makes it special: The surefire way for even the biggest cynics to get into the holiday spirit, the park is filled with giant light-up structures, Christmas carols, hot chocolate and other festive fun.

Three Rivers Art Festival Nov. 14-15 Downtown Covington 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

(985) 327-9797, info@threeriversartfestival.com ThreeRiversArtFestival.com Admission: Free What makes it special: More than 200 artists from more than

Louisiana Renaissance Festival

Weekends Nov. 7-Dec. 13 46468 River Road, Hammond 9:45 a.m.-dusk (985) 429-9992 LARF.net Admission: Ranges from $18 single day admission to $110 for season passes What makes it special: If you bemoan the trend of festival attire that leaves nothing to the imagination, here is one place where people will be very much clothed (save for some heaving wench cleavages). As like RenFests everywhere, the Hammond version’s festivalgoers and workers take things really seriously here with accurate period attire and era-appropriate demonstrations. You can watch real jousting and falconry, holiday shop for your English major friends and even brush up your history.

20 states, demonstrations, live music and food booths take over downtown Covington.

Tremé Creole Gumbo Festival Nov. 14-15 Armstrong Park, 701 N. Rampart St. 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

558-6100 JazzAndHeritage.org/TremeGumbo Admission: Free What makes it special: Even the animal adverse can have fun – the festival features a vegan gumbo cook-off.

Boudin, Bourbon & Beer Nov. 15

Champions Square 6 p.m.

BoudinBourbonAndBeer.com Admission: $85 What makes it special: Emeril Lagasse and Donald Link’s event has serious chefs from around the country serving up boudin – it’s like a non-televised “Top Chef” challenge.

Christmas Festival of Lights, Natchitoches Nov. 21-Jan. 6 Downtown Natchitoches Various Times NatchitochesChristmas.com Admission: Free What makes it special: This small

town takes Christmas seriously with over a month of festivities.

All season long there’s festivities, including light displays and a fireworks show every Saturday.

The fun culminates in a parade and festival on Dec. 5.

Oak Street Po-Boy Festival Nov. 22 Oak Street 10 a.m.-6 p.m. info@poboyfest.com PoBoyFest.com Admission: Free What makes it special: Local vendors get creative with their offerings to have an edge in the poor boy competition. n

the MENU TABLE TALK

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The engine of restaurant Primitivo is the hearth, which informs even its name and refers to the elemental cooking and curing techniques with which chef Nick Martin (right) builds his menu.

jeffery johnston PHOTOGRAPH

THE MENU / TABLE TALK

Whole roasted chicken at Primitivo

Centering on Central City Primitivo, Casa Borrega & Purloo

by JAY FORMAN

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dd Oretha Castle Halley to the roster of revitalized urban corridors that includes other members such as Freret and Oak. Of these, OCH’s gritty Central City location has presented the greatest challenge, and work is still ongoing. Still, with Primitivo grounding the Uptown end and the enigmatic question mark of Jack and Jake’s toward the CBD, it has a defined perimeter that’s filling in between these two poles, including The New Orleans Jazz Market, the Southern Food and Beverage Museum and Café Reconcile – the granddaddy of them all – to name just a few. Setting aside the discussion regarding gentrification, one thing is certain:

There are now more places than ever along OCH to find a good meal.

Primitivo, the most recent to open, arguably tipped the scale on OCH thanks in part to an ownership group spearheaded by respected restaurateur Adolfo Garcia. Heading up the kitchen is chef Nick Martin, who rose through the ranks of Garcia’s other establishments before taking the helm at this latest project.

The feel is rustic contemporary, with a large blown-out dining room separated from the bar to the right by a partial wall. Toward the back is a vast open kitchen anchored by a beast of a hearth fired by all-natural lump coal. The engine

of this restaurant, the hearth informs even its name, Primitivo, which refers to the elemental cooking and curing techniques with which Martin builds his menu.

Live fire, drinks and the camaraderie of the barbecue pit sparked the concept. “We wanted to get away from frilly, fancy restaurants,” Martin explains. “What do we want to do on our days off? We like to cook. And we like to cook like this.”

Despite its Paleolithic inspiration, Primitivo is decidedly not a steakhouse; it’s something more. The hearth may be primitive, but the food is not. The menu, unlike that of a steakhouse, is a nuanced balance of vegetables, seafood and meats with an emphasis on shareable dishes.

“Shared dishes lead to more discussion and interaction,” Martin says. “I am a big proponent of the family-style concept.”

From the sharable right side of the dinner menu, consider the Whole Roasted Chicken.

Prior to service the bird is spatchcocked and smoked at low temperature for two hours until done.

Optioning OCH Primitivo 1800 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd.

881-1775 PrimitivoNola.com Lunch Mondays-Fridays, dinner Mondays-Saturdays

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Casa Borrega 1719 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd.

427-0654 CasaBorrega.com Lunch Wednesdays-Saturdays, dinner Tuesdays-Saturdays

Purloo 1504 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd.

324-6020 NolaPurloo.com Lunch and dinner TuesdaysSaturdays

Church Alley Zeitgeist Theater, 1618 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd.

ChurchAlleyCoffeeBar.com 8 a.m.-4 p.m. MondaysSaturdays

jeffery johnston PHOTOGRAPH

Take Me to Church In the mood for coffee? Really good coffee? Check out Church Alley. Tucked just inside the Zeitgeist Theater at 1618 OCH, Church Alley sources its espresso and brewed coffee beans from Tandem Coffee Roasters of Maine while the cold drip beans are by way of Brooklyn’s Café Grumpy. The arthouse vibe is the perfect complement to the Zeitgeist.

When the ticket comes in, the kitchen fires the chicken back up on the grill, crisping the skin, then plating it alongside cornbread salsa with seasonal tomatoes and greens. The result is a chicken that’s a go-to dish rather than the obligatory afterthought it all too often can be on other menus.

Martin has a talent as well for coaxing flavor out of less expensive ingredients. “It is real easy to put a rib eye on a plate. It is a nice product,” he says. “Other than overcooking or over-seasoning it, there isn’t much you can do to screw it up. I like to take something more challenging and make it nice.”

His smoked mullet appetizer is a case in point. A fish typically held in low regard gets special treatment here.

Martin gets them in whole and cures them overnight to pull out the moisture. The fillets are then smoked. The result is a fish that’s firm, smoky and unctuous in a way that most people would never associate with mullet. Tripe, too, is an ingredient Martin keeps on the menu and also one that has sold unexpectedly well. “Once again it’s taking something that might not be delicious

on its own and then coaxing flavor out of it,” Martin says.

Primitivo’s “Happiest of Hours” runs 3-6 p.m. during the week. Going into fall, look for Martin to expand the shared entrée section.

Just across the street from Primitivo is Casa Borrega, a joyously eccentric gathering place with a distinct vibe that’s a direct extension of its owner, artist Hugo Montero.

Equal parts restaurant, music club, coffee shop and community center, Casa Borrega serves as a lodestone that draws together guests from all around the neighborhood.

Casas Borrega is also one of the few authentic Mexican restaurants in the city. More specifically, the menu draws from the cuisines of Vera Cruz, Puebla, Oaxaca and Mexico City, with the use of corn (especially blue corn) serving as a common thread.

Get your feet wet with an order of the Tamales del Dia, cooked in a banana leaf and served with thin, tangy Mexican crèma. The Chicken Tinga is stewed down into glorious shreds with a bit of bite from chipotle pepper. The Esquites make a nice bar snack and try a side of the vegan grilled nopalitos and cebollitas. The bar offers a terrific selection of tequilas, which owner Montero will be happy to tell you about, and non-alcoholic choices include a refreshing cinnamon-spiked horchata.

Outdoor seating in the artfilled patio to the rear is a plus.

Finally, Purloo, the exhibition kitchen and southern foodways tutorial grafted onto the Southern Food and Beverage Museum, seeks to both educate its diners as well as serve them an array of dishes assembled from a loose confederacy of southern traditions, such as a seafoodrich Lowcountry Boil with cayenne broth. n

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THE MENU / RESTAURANT INSIDER

News From the Kitchens

The Standard, NOLA Brewing Tap Room and Ichi Japanese Ramen House

BY ROBERT PEYTON

The Standard The Standard opened in July at 4206 Magazine St. A complete renovation by owners Ali Wild and Lana Banks left the dining room brightlydecorated and comfortable. Wild told me that the only thing they kept was the granite bar.

The Standard is a neighborhood restaurant; Ward described their approach as “restoration meets repast.”

The menus are a work in progress, and certain items, like the arugula and watermelon salad with orange segments, feta cheese and toasted greens in a Dijon vinaigrette, won’t be around when the weather cools.

The Standard branches out at dinner, with dishes such as a fried grit cake topped with spicy sautéed spinach, mirliton stuffed with crab and shrimp that’s served with olive oil and parsley angel hair pasta; and a hand-cut New York strip with blanched asparagus and bearnaise sauce over mashed potatoes.

So far their most popular meal has been brunch, which has an even more extensive menu. In addition to standards, there are sweet potato pancakes with brown sugar butter and the Benicio – jalapeño cornbread topped with Puebla-style pulled pork, two poached eggs, deep-fried hot pepper and a side of grits or roasted potatoes.

The Standard is open for lunch Tuesday-Friday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., for dinner Tuesday-Friday, 5:309:30 p.m., and until 10:30 on Saturday. Brunch is served Saturday 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Call 509-7306 to learn more.

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NOLA Brewing Tap Room

Ichi Japanese Ramen House

NOLA Brewing kegged its first beer on Feb. 27, 2009, and in that short time, NOLA’s beers have gone from being available only on tap at a select number of bars to near-ubiquity in local groceries. Owner and CEO Kirk Coco recently opened NOLA Brewing Tap Room in a space adjacent to the brewery, at 3000 Tchoupitoulas St. It is a beautiful space, with room for around 300, counting the front bar, a rooftop beer garden with an open air deck and a warehousesized event space that has three table tennis tables when there’s no live music.

There are 19 beers and a kombucha tea on tap in the main bar. In addition to the standards, there’s also a changing selection of beers that are only available on tap, like 7th Street Wheat (made with fresh lemon basil), Pineapple Habanero IPA, Jasmine Blonde (made with Jasmine tea) and Girl Stout Cookie (made with cocoa nibs and mint).

All of which would be nice, of course, even without food, but NOLA Brewing decided to bring in McClure’s Barbecue, which offers darn near their full menu, including ribs, pulled pork, brisket and chicken with the standard sides, as well as hamburgers, tacos, nachos, chicken wings (smoked, then fried) and BBQ poutine, which are waffle-cut fries topped with pulled pork or brisket, cheddar cheese curds and green onions.

This is not just bar food, kids.

NOLA Brewing Tap Room is open 11 a.m.-11 p.m., daily. Call 301-0117 to find out what’s on tap today.

Add Ichi Japanese Ramen House to the list of restaurants serving excellent ramen noodles in New Orleans. Ichi is owned by the folks who run the Little Tokyo family of restaurants, and opened in late June at 1913 Royal St., the former location of Sukho Thai (which has moved to 2200 Royal St..)

A few of the Little Tokyo locations have offered ramen, but at Ichi it’s the star. There are around 10 versions on offer, all versions on Tonkotsu, which starts with a rich, almost creamy broth, garnished in the standard form with pork, soft-boiled egg, onion, greens, bean sprouts and seaweed. There are shoyu and miso broth varieties at Ichi as well, but the most interesting variations include corn and butter, curry sauce or melted cheese (the latter of which I have not yet been able to make myself order).

There are other items on the menu – a hibachi grill turns out rice and vegetables and there are dumplings and both tako yaki and ebi yaki, which are a sort of golf-ball-sized, fried treat stuffed with octopus and shrimp, respectively.

By the time you read this, the Little Tokyo at 7537 Maple St. should have become the second location of Ichi; manager Indra Seno told me they had no plans to dramatically expand the menu at either location, with one exception: the Marigny location does not, as I write, have a liquor license. They should have it at this point, but you should call 958-6670 to confirm.

Ichi is open 11 a.m.- 3 p.m. for lunch, and 5 to 10 p.m. for dinner, daily.

SARA ESSEX BRADLEY PHOTOGRAPHs

4510 Freret St. 504-309-0069 wayfarenola.com

Happy Hour Daily 4pm-7pm $1 off all drinks and all 30 draft beers $2 off all Wayfare Speciality Cocktails $4 Absolut Moscow Mule, Grey Goose Melon Mule, Grey Goose Pear 75 $2 PBR • $5 Sangria $5 House made Duck Fat “Pommes Frites” $2 off Meat Pies and Arancinis

Weekends: $5 Mimosas & $8 Wayfare Bloody Marys all day Weekdays 11am-10pm | Fri & Sat 11am-11pm | Sun 11am-9pm myneworleans.com / SEPTEMBER 2015

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THE MENU / FOOD

Claws and Effect Joys of the native blue crab

by Dale Curry

EUGENIA UHL PHOTOGRAPH

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B Crab Salad

1 large or 2 small heads Boston or butter lettuce 1 pound lump crabmeat, preferably jumbo 3 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 3 teaspoons red wine vinegar 1/3 cup capers ½ small red onion, cut into thin rings Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste Garlic powder to taste Several hours before serving, rinse lettuce well, break into bite-size pieces, spin in a salad spinner and place in a serving bowl. Cover with wet paper towels and place in refrigerator until serving time.

Pick over crabmeat, removing any pieces of shell.

Pour olive oil into a small bowl. Whisk in vinegar until mixed well.

Add crabmeat, capers and onions to cold lettuce, sprinkle lightly with seasonings, drizzle with oil and vinegar and toss gently, being careful not to break up crabmeat. Serve cold.

Serves 6

efore crawfish stole local palates, backyard cooks tossed crabs into the boiling pot. And crab cakes were not on the menu. It was stuffed crab. Times and tastes may change, but our prized blue crabs remain a jewel in the crown of Neptune in the Gulf and the brackish waters surrounding us.

Those that remain with us, that is. Much of our catch is shipped to Baltimore, also a home of delectable blue crabs. Why? Because Baltimore’s crabs are shipped to New York. But the fact remains that on any day this time of year I can pick up fresh blue crabs at seafood markets or order them to the table of neighborhood restaurants all over New Orleans. I consider them one of the most delicious foods in the world, and my favorite way to eat them is spicy boiled from a big platter in the center of the table. Just give me a nutcracker and knife and I need nothing more; except maybe an ice-cold beer.

We have our share because Louisiana is the No. 1 supplier of domestic blue crab

in the nation, and 80 percent of the Gulf harvest comes from Louisiana. Even if you’re not a fisherman, you can catch your own. As the weather cools, crabbing is a fun sport for families. Crab nets can be used from piers, or strings tied with bait (chicken necks, preferably spoiled) will bring them to shore to be scooped up with small hand nets.

Jumbo lump crabmeat, though expensive, transforms fish fillets, stuffed vegetables and salads. Sold in plastic containers by the pound, it’s close to shell-free. Lump crabmeat requires careful removal of bits of shell and is good in crab cakes, dips and salads. Less expensive claw crabmeat is suitable for many dishes, such as dips and soups, but has a brownish color that may not appeal in a light-colored sauce, on top of fish or in a salad. Most importantly, all crabmeat must be handled gently, keeping pieces from breaking apart. A simple folding should replace stirring.

Blue crabs are available year-round, but peak season is summer and fall. n

Italian-Style Marinated Crabs

Crab Cakes

6 large boiled crabs

2 eggs

½ cup extra-virgin olive oil

Juice of 1 lemon

1/3 cup red wine vinegar

2 Tablespoons good quality mayonnaise

Juice of 1 lemon

2 Tablespoons flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped

1 cup olive salad 6 cloves garlic, minced 1 small red onion, thinly sliced 2 stalks celery, chopped ¼ cup parsley, chopped 1 Tablespoon red pepper flakes

1 pound lump crabmeat, preferably jumbo

1 teaspoon onion powder 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon Creole seasoning Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 Tablespoon Italian seasoning

3/4 cup panko breadcrumbs, divided

Salt and freshly grated black pepper to taste

4 Tablespoons vegetable oil

Break the backs off crabs and discard. Clean off the lungs, eyes and everything inside the cavity except the yellow fat. Break bodies in half. Remove small legs and cartilage next to the lump and discard. Remove claws and crack small and large segments with nutcracker, leaving shell on.

Mix all other ingredients together in a large bowl. Add crabs and stir gently, coating crabs in mixture. Cover refrigerate for several hours or overnight. Stir once or twice while marinating.

Serves 6 as appetizer or 2 as entrée

Pick over crabmeat, discarding any shell.

In a medium bowl, beat eggs then mix in lemon juice, mayonnaise, parsley, seasonings and ¼-cup of the breadcrumbs. Add crabmeat, tossing gently and being careful not to break up crabmeat. Divide into 6 round balls and gently flatten with a fork.

Sprinkle with remaining breadcrumbs, turning to lightly coat each crab cake.

Heat oil in a medium skillet and brown crab cakes over medium-low to medium heat, turning and cooking until medium brown. Drain on paper towels and serve.

Serves 3 to 6

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THE MENU / LAST CALL

Seasonal Language

Booze for the battles BY tim mcnally

T

here is a language to every season. The lingo of the holidays gives way to Carnival, which takes us to Festival – all different.

Idioms and phrases of each season are really not heard within the other times.

In September, the language is dotted with Geaux Tigers and Who Dat! Everyone wants to be “In That Number” on Saturday night in Tiger Stadium, comprising Louisiana’s fifth largest city at the time, or in the air conditioned confines of the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Sunday afternoon.

To bring additional woe to those unfortunate foes that invade Tiger Stadium, the assembled faithful rain down the taunts of “Tiger Bait” throughout the contest. The game plan, for those who can’t make the trip to Baton Rouge or obtain tickets for the Sunday Who Dat Beat Down, will be accompanied by a proper beverage, both as created and served at big-screen-TV-rich Bayou Burger, a sports bar and restaurant in the middle of the French Quarter. n

Tiger Bait Punch (front) 1 1/4 ounces vodka 3/4 ounce blackberry brandy 3 ounces orange juice 3 ounces pineapple juice Splash cranberry juice Add ice to all ingredients in a shaker and shake.

Garnish with a lemon wedge.

Black and Gold Crush (back) 3/4 ounce dark rum 3/4 ounce gold rum 3/4 ounce pineapple rum Orange juice Add ice to all ingredients in a shaker and shake.

Top with soda. Garnish with an orange wedge.

Thanks to Bayou Burger & Sports Company, 503 Bourbon St., creator and sole outlet for these cocktails.

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sara essex bradley PHOTOGRAPH

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THE MENU / DINING GUIDE H= New Orleans Magazine award winner / $ = Average entrée price. $ = $5-10 / $$ = $11-15 / $$$ = $16-20 / $$$$ = $21-25 / $$$$$ = $25 and up.

American Zea’s Rotisserie and Grill Multiple Locations, ZeaRestaurants.com. L, D daily.

Drawing from a wide range of worldly influences, this popular restaurant serves a variety of grilled items as well as appetizers, salads, side dishes, seafood, pasta and other entrées. Also offers catering services. $$$

Bywater Elizabeth’s 601 Gallier St., 944-9272, ElizabethsRestaurantNola.com. B, L MonFri, D Mon-Sat, Br Sat-Sun. This eclectic local restaurant draws rave reviews for its praline bacon and distinctive Southerninspired brunch specials. $$$

H Maurepas 3200 Burgundy St., 2670072, MaurepasFoods.com. D Thu-Tue, Br Sat-Sun. Pioneering farm-to-table restaurant with an ingredient-driven menu that changes daily. Clever cocktails a plus as well. $$ Satsuma Café 3218 Dauphine St., 3045962, SatsumaCafe.com. B, L daily (until 5 p.m.). Offers healthy, inspired breakfast and lunch fare, along with freshly squeezed juices. $

carrollton Bourré 8115 Jeanette St., 510-4040. L, D Tue-Sun. “Elevated” street food along with quality daiquiris and reconsidered wings are the draw at this newcomer from the team behind Boucherie. $$

CITY PARK Café NOMA 1 Collins Diboll Circle, NO Museum of Art, City Park, 482-1264, CafeNoma.com. L, (snacks) Tue-Sun. Sleek bar and café in the ground floor of museum offers a thoughtful array of snacks, sandwiches and small plates that are sure to enchant, with a kids’ menu to boot. $$

CBD/Warehouse District Café Reconcile 1631 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd., Central City, 568-1157, CafeReconcile.org. L Mon-Fri. Good food for a great cause, this non-profit on burgeoning OCH corridor helps train at-risk youth for careers in the food service industry. $ The Grill Room Windsor Court Hotel, 300 Gravier St., 522-1992, GrillRoomNewOr-

leans.com. B, L, D daily, Br Sun. Featuring modern American cuisine with a distinctive New Orleans flair, the adjacent Polo Club Lounge offers live music nightly. Jazz Brunch on Sunday. $$$$$ Manning’s 519 Fulton St., 593-8118. L, D daily, Br Sat-Sun. Born of a partnership between New Orleans’ First Family of Football and Harrah’s Casino, Manning’s offers sports bar fans a step up in terms of comfort and quality. With a menu that draws on both New Orleans and the Deep South, traditional dishes get punched up with inspired but accessible twists in surroundings accented by both memorabilia and local art. $$$ Pete’s Pub Intercontinental Hotel, 444 St. Charles Ave., 585-5401, IcNewOrleans. com/dining/petes_pub. D Mon-Fri. Casual fare and adult beverages are served in this pub on the ground floor. $$ Q&C Hotel/Bar 344 Camp St., (866) 247-7936, QandC.com. B, D daily. Newly renovated boutique hotel offering a small plates menu with tempting choices such as a Short Rib Poor Boy and Lobster Mac and Cheese to complement their sophisticated craft cocktails. $$

H Root 200 Julia St., 252-9480, RootNola. com. L Mon-Fri, D daily. Chef Philip Lopez opened Root in November 2011 and has garnered a loyal following for his modernist, eclectic cuisine. Try the country fried chicken wings and the Cohiba-smoked scallops crusted with chorizo. $$$$ H Restaurant August 301 Tchoupitoulas St., 299-9777, RestaurantAugust.com. L Fri, D daily. James Beard Award-winning chef John Besh’s menu is based on classical techniques of Louisiana cuisine and produce with a splash of European flavor set in an historic carriage warehouse. $$$$$ Tivoli & Lee 2 Lee Circle, 962-0909, TivoliAndLee.com. B, L, D daily, Br SatSun. Progressive Southern cuisine is the focus. Rabbit sliders, poke salad and pickled shrimp redefine locally sourced ingredients, and craft cocktail and bourbon menus round out the appeal. Craft cocktail bar Bellocq serves specialty and

locally influenced libations. $$$ Walk-On’s Bistreaux & Bar 1009 Poydras St., 309-6530, Walk-Ons.com. L, D, daily.

Burger, sandwiches, wraps and more made distinctive with a Louisiana twist are served at this sports bar near the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. $$ Warehouse Grille, 869 Magazine St., 322-2188, WarehouseGrille.com. L, D daily, Br Fri-Sun. Creative fare served in an artfilled environment. Try the duck crêpes or the lamb spring rolls. $$ Wolfe’s in the Warehouse 859 Convention Center Blvd., 613-2882. B, L, D daily.

Chef Tom Wolfe brings his refined cuisine to the booming Fulton Street corridor.

His Smoked Kobe Short Ribs are a good choice. $$$

Downtown The Grill 540 Chartres St., 522-1800. B, L, D daily. A diner with local character straffed by local characters. $

Faubourg Marigny Langlois 1710 Pauger St., 934-1010, LangloisNola.com. L Fri-Sat, D Wed-Sun. *Reservations only Supper club and boutique cooking school in the Marigny serves up culturally informed, farm-to-table fare with the added bonus of instruction.

Dishes include Spiced Quail and Lemongrass Meatballs with Smoked broth. Open kitchen and convivial atmosphere add up to a good time. $$$ The Marigny Brasserie 640 Frenchmen St., 945-4472, MarignyBrasserie.com. L, D daily. Chic neighborhood bistro with traditional dishes like the Wedge of Lettuce salad and innovative cocktails such as the cucumber Cosmo. $$$ Snug Harbor 626 Frenchman St., 9490696, SnugJazz.com. D daily. This jazz club serves cocktails and a dining menu loaded with steaks, seafood and meaty burgers served with loaded baked potatoes. $$$$

French Quarter Angeline 1032 Chartres St., 308-3106, AngelineNola.com. B Mon-Fri, Brunch Sat & Sun, D nightly. Modern southern with a fine dining focus is the hallmark of this bistro tucked away in a quiet end of the

French Quarter. Southern Fried Quail and Braised Lamb Necks with ricotta agnolotti represent the style. $$$ Continental Provisions 110 N Peters St., Stall 23, 407-3437. Open daily. Artisan purveyors including Bellegarde Bakery and Cleaver & Company team up to reclaim a foothold for quality food in the tourist Ground Zero of the French Market.

Sandwiches, breads, cheeses and more. $$ Hard Rock Café 125 Bourbon St., 529-5617, HardRock.com. L, D daily.

Local outpost of this global brand serves burgers, café fare and drinks in their rock memorabilia-themed environs. $$ The Pelican Club 312 Exchange Place, 523-1504, PelicanClub.com. D daily. Serves an eclectic mix of hip food, from the seafood “martini” to clay-pot barbecued shrimp and a trio of duck. Three dining rooms available. $$$$$ Rib Room Omni Royal Orleans Hotel, 621 St. Louis St., 529-7046, RibRoomNewOrleans.com. L, D daily, Br Sat-Sun. Old World elegance and high ceilings, house classic cocktails and Anthony Spizale’s broad menu of prime rib, stunning seafood and on weekends a champagne brunch. $$$

GARDEN DISTRICT Cheesecake Bistro by Copeland’s, 2001 St. Charles Ave., 593-9955, CopelandsCheesecakeBistro.com. L, D daily. Shiny, contemporary bistro serves Cajun-fusion fare along with its signature decadent desserts. Good lunch value to boot. $$ District Donuts Sliders Brew, 2209 Magazine Street, 570-6945, DonutsAndSliders. com. B, L, D daily. Creative sliders (hello, pork belly) and super-creative donuts (think root beer float) are the hallmarks of this next-generation café. $

Metairie café B 2700 Metairie Road, 934-4700, cafeB.com. D daily, L Mon-Sat. Br Sun. Ralph Brennan offers New American bistro fare with a Louisiana twist at this family-friendly neighborhood spot. $$$ Caffe! Caffe! 3547 N. Hullen St., 267-

Big Changes at Dickie Brennan & Company Restaurant Group FrenchQuarter-dining.com The Palace Café on Canal Street is closed temporarily for renovations, but the restaurant will “pop up” at Dickie Brennan’s Steakhouse for lunch five days a week. The Palace Café brunch will be available at the Bourbon House on weekends. In addition, John Martin has been Chef de Cuisine at Tableau and at the eponymous steakhouse, where chef Sara Toth has created an updated version of the classic Chateaubriand. –Mirella Cameran

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cheryl gerber photograph

9190. B, L Mon-Sat. & 4301 Clearview Parkway, 885-4845. B, L daily; D Mon-Sat. CaffeCaffe.com Healthy, refreshing meal options combine with gourmet coffee and espresso drinks to create a tasteful retreat for Metairie diners at a reasonable price. Try the egg white spinach wrap. $ Heritage Grill 111 Veterans Memorial Blvd., 934-4900, HeritageGrillMetairie. com. L Mon-Fri. This lunch-only destination caters to the office crowd and offers a freshly squeezed juice menu to go along with its regular menu and express twocourse lunch. $$ Martin Wine Cellar 714 Elmeer Ave., 8967300, MartinWine.com. Wine by the glass or bottle to go with daily lunch specials, towering burgers, hearty soups and salads and giant, deli-style sandwiches. $ Vega Tapas Café 2051 Metairie Road, 836-2007, VegaTapasCafe.com. D Mon-Sat. Innovative establishment offers fresh seafood, grilled meats and vegetarian dishes in a chic environment. Daily chef specials showcase unique ingredients and make this place a popular destination for dates as well as groups of friends. $$

Mid-City Parkway Bakery and Tavern 538 Hagan Ave., 482-3047, ParkwayPoorBoys.com. L, D Wed-Mon. Featured on national TV and having served poor boys to presidents, it stakes a claim to some of the best sandwiches in town. Their french fry version with gravy and cheese is a classic at

a great price. $

NORTHSHORE Dakota 629 N. Highway 190, (985) 892-3712, TheDakotaRestaurant.com. L Tue-Fri, D Mon-Sat. A sophisticated dining experience with generous portions. $$$$$

Riverbend Carrollton Market 8132 Hampson St., 252-9928, CarrolltonMarket.com. D TueSat. Modern Southern cuisine manages to be both fun and refined at this tasteful boîte. $$$

Uptown Audubon Clubhouse 6500 Magazine St., 212-5282, AudubonInstitute.org. B, L TueSat, Br Sun. A kid-friendly menu with local tweaks and a casually upscale sandwich and salad menu. $$ Camellia Grill 626 S. Carrollton Ave., 309-2679. B, L, D daily. A venerable diner whose essential character has remained intact and many of the original waiters have returned. Credit cards are now accepted. $ GG’s Dine-O-Rama 3100 Magazine St., 373-6579, GGsNewOrleans.com. B Sat, L, Tue-Sun, D Tue-Fri, Br Sun. Upscalecasual restaurant serves a variety of specialty sandwiches, salads and wraps, like the Chicago-style hot dog and the St. Paddy’s Day Massacre, chef Gotter’s take on the Rueben. $$ Martin Wine Cellar 3827 Baronne St., 899-7411, MartinWine.com. Wine by the

glass or bottle with cheeses and snacks to-go. $ Slim Goodies 3322 Magazine St., 891 EGGS (3447), SlimGoodiesDiner.com. B, L daily. This diner offers an exhaustive menu heavily influenced by local cuisine. Try the Creole Slammer, a breakfast platter rounded out by crawfish étouffée. The laid-back vibe is best enjoyed on the patio out back. $ Stein’s Market and Deli 2207 Magazine St., 527-0771, SteinsDeli.net. B, L, D TueSun. New York City meets New Orleans.

The Reuben and Rachel sandwiches are the real deal and the half-sours and pickled tomatoes complete the deli experience. $ Surrey’s Café and Juice Bar 1418 Magazine St., 524-3828; 4807 Magazine St., 895-5757, SurreysCafeAndJuiceBar.com. B, L daily. Laid-back café focuses on breakfast and brunch dishes to accompany freshly squeezed juice offerings. Healthfood lovers will like it here, along with fans of favorites such as peanut butter and banana pancakes. Cash only. $$ Tracey’s Irish Restaurant & Bar 2604 Magazine St., 897-5413, TraceysNola.com.

L, D daily. A neighborhood bar with one of the best messy roast beef poor boys in town. The gumbo, cheeseburger poor boy and other sandwiches are also winners.

Grab a local Abita beer to wash it all down.

Also a great location to watch the game. $

H Upperline 1413 Upperline St.,

891-9822, Upperline.com. D Wed-Sun. Consummate hostess JoAnn Clevenger and talented chef Dave Bridges make for a winning combination at this nationally heralded favorite. The oft-copied fried green tomatoes with shrimp remoulade originated here. $$$$

H Wayfare 4510 Freret St., 309-0069, WayfareNola.com. L, D daily. Creative sandwiches and southern-inspired small plates. $$ Ye Olde College Inn 3000 S. Carrollton Ave., 866-3683, CollegeInn1933.com. D Tue-Sat. Serves up classic fare, albeit with a few upscale dishes peppering the menu. $$$

Asian Fusion/Pan Asian Little Tokyo Multiple locations, LittleTokyoNola.com. L, D daily. Multiple locations of this popular Japanese sushi and hibachi chain make sure that there’s always a specialty roll within easy reach. $$

Bywater Red’s Chinese 3048 St. Claude Ave., 304-6030, RedsChinese.com. D Wed-Mon. Assertive, in-your-face Chinese fare by chef Tobias Womack, an alum of Danny Bowien’s Mission Chinese. The Kung Pao Pastrami and Delta Broccoli are good options. $$

CBD/Warehouse District Horinoya 920 Poydras St., 561-8914. L, D daily. Excellent Japanese dining. The chu-toro is delicious and the selection of authentic Japanese appetizers is the

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DINING GUIDE best. $$$ Rock-N-Sake 823 Fulton St., 581-7253, RockNSake.com. L Fri, D Tue-Sun, late night. Fresh sushi and contemporary takes on Japanese favorites in an upbeat, casual setting. $$$

Faubourg Marigny Bao and Noodle 2700 Charters St., 272-0004, BaoAndNoodle.com. L, D daily. Housemade noodles and a more authentic take on Chinese fare sets this neighborhood startup apart. Try the soup dumplings if available $$

French Quarter V Sushi 821 Iberville St., 609-2291, VSushiMartini.com. D daily, late-night.

Creative rolls and a huge list of fusion dishes keep party-lovers going late into the night at this combination sushi and martini bar. $$$

Garden District Hoshun Restaurant 1601 St. Charles Ave., 302-9716, HoshunRestaurant.com.

L, D daily. Offers a wide variety of Asian cuisines, primarily dishes culled from China, Japan, Thailand and Malaysia. Fivepepper calamari is a tasty way to begin the meal, and their creative sushi rolls are good. Private dining rooms available. $$

H Tan Dinh 1705 Lafayette St., 361-8008.

B, L, D daily. Roasted quail and the beef pho rule at this Vietnamese outpost. $$

Kenner Little Chinatown 3800 Williams Blvd., 305-0580, LittleChinatown.net. L, D daily.

One of the city’s best Chinese restaurants is secreted away on William’s Boulevard in Kenner. Try the roast duck or roast pork, either one is terrific, as well as their short menu of authentic dishes that (for the most part) avoid Americanized Chinese fare. $$

Lakeview Lakeview Pearl 6300 Canal St., 309-5711, LakeviewPearl.com. L, D Mon-Sat. A long list of specialty rolls rounds out the offerings of this Asian-Fusion restaurant. $$

Metairie Aloha Sushi 619 Pink St., 837-0055, SunRayGrill.com. L Tue-Fri, D, Tue-Sun. Fresh fish and creative rolls, along with gluten-free options such as rolls in bowls, sushi burritos and other lunch friendly Japanese fare featured. $$ CoNola Grill & Sushi 619 Pink St., 837-0055, CoNolaGrillSushi.com. L, D Tue-Sun. Eclectic cafe with DNA from both Sun Ray Grill and Aloha Sushi Bar puts out southern-inspired fare backed by an Americanized sushi menu, a kids menu and more. Along with a Sunday brunch, there’s something for everyone at this independent restaurant. $$$

H Royal China 600 Veterans Blvd., 8319633. L daily, D Tue-Sun. Popular and

family-friendly Chinese restaurant is one of the few places around that serves dim sum. $$

MARRERO Daiwa, 5033 Lapalco Blvd., 875-4203, DaiwaSushi.com. L, D daily. Japanese destination on the Westbank serves an impressive and far-ranging array of creative fusion fare. $$$

Mid-City H Café Minh 4139 Canal St., 482-6266, CafeMinh.com. L Mon-Fri, D Mon-Sat. Chef Minh Bui and Cynthia Vutran bring a fusion touch to Vietnamese cuisine with French accents and a contemporary flair. $$ Five Happiness 3605 S. Carrollton Ave., 482-3935, FiveHappiness.com. L, D daily.

This longtime Chinese favorite offers up an extensive menu including its beloved mu shu pork and house-baked duck. $$

H MoPho 514 City Park Ave., 482-6845, MoPhoMidCity.com. L, D Wed-Mon. Vietnamese cuisine meets southern Louisiana in this upscale casual hybrid by chef Michael Gulotta. Mix-and-match pho and an interesting poor boy menu rounds out the appeal. $$$ Riverbend H Ba Chi Canteen 7900 Maple St., 3735628. L, D Mon-Sat. The kitchen plays fast and loose with Vietnamese fare at this

eclectic outpost on Maple Street. Try the caramelized pork “Baco”. $

H Chill Out Café 729 Burdette St., 8729628. B, L daily, D Mon-Sat. Thai food and breakfast favorites like waffles and pancakes can both be had at this affordable college-friendly hangout. $ Uptown Chiba 8312 Oak St., 826-9119, Chiba-Nola. com. L Wed-Sat, D Mon-Sat. Contemporary restaurant features fresh, exotic fish from all over the world and fusion fare to go along with typical Japanese options.

Extensive sake list and late night happy hours are a plus. $$$

H Jung’s Golden Dragon 3009 Magazine St., 891-8280, JungsChinese.com. L, D daily. This Chinese destination is a real find. Along with the usual you’ll find spicy cold noodle dishes and dumplings. One of the few local Chinese places that breaks the Americanized mold. $ H Magasin 4201 Magazine St., 896-7611, MagasinCafe.com. L, D Mon-Sat. Pho, banh mi and vegetarian options are offered at this attractive and budget-friendly Vietnamese restaurant. Café sua da is available as well. $ Kyoto 4920 Prytania St., 891-3644, KyotoNola.com. L, D Mon-Sat. A neighborhood sushi restaurant where the regulars order off-the-menu rolls. $$

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WEST BANK Nine Roses 1100 Stephen St., 366-7665, NineRosesResturant.com. L, D Sun-Tue, Thu-Sat. The extensive Vietnamese menu specializes in hot pots, noodles and dishes big enough for everyone to share. $$

Bakery/Breakfast Café du Monde Multiple Locations, CafeDuMonde.com. This New Orleans institution has been serving fresh café au lait, rich hot chocolate and positively addictive beignets since 1862 in the French Market 24/7. $ CC’s Coffee House Multiple locations in New Orleans, Metairie and Northshore, CCsCoffee.com. Coffeehouse specializing in coffee, espresso drinks and pastries. $

CBD/Warehouse District H Merchant 800 Common St., 571-9580, MerchantNewOrleans.com. B, L daily. Illy coffee and creative crêpes, sandwiches and more are served at this sleek and contemporary café on the ground floor of the Merchant Building. $

H Ruby Slipper Café 200 Magazine St., 525-9355; 1005 Canal St., 525-9355, TheRubySlipperCafe.net. B, L daily, Br Sun. Homegrown chain specializes in breakfast, lunch and brunch dishes with unique local twists such as bananas Foster French toast and barbecue shrimp and grits. $$ CARROLLTON Breads on Oak, 8640 Oak St., 324-8271,

BreadsOnOak.com. B, L Wed-Sun. Artisan bakeshop tucked away near the levee on Oak Street serves breads, sandwiches, gluten-free and vegan-friendly options. $

City Park Morning Call 56 Dreyfous Drive, City Park, 885-4068, NewOrleansCityPark.com/ in-the-park/morning-call. 24 hours a day; cash-only. Chicory coffee and beignets coated with powdered sugar make this the quintessential New Orleans coffee shop. $

Faubourg Marigny H Ruby Slipper Café 2001 Burgundy St., 525-9355, TheRubySlipperCafe.net. B, L daily, Br Sun. Homegrown chain specializes in breakfast, lunch and brunch dishes with unique local twists such as bananas Foster French toast and barbecue shrimp and grits. $$

Mid-City

Barbecue The Joint 701 Mazant St., 949-3232, AlwaysSmokin.com. L, D Mon-Sat. Some of the city’s best barbecue can be had at this locally owned and operated favorite. $

Lakeview Harbor 911 Harrison Ave., 486-4887, NewOrleansBestBurger.com. L, D daily. Burgers are the name of the game at this restaurant. Daily specials, pizza and steaks are offered as well. $

Lower Garden District

METAIRIE

Voodoo BBQ 1501 St. Charles Ave., 522-4647, VoodooBBQAndGrill.com. L, D daily. Diners are never too far from this homegrown barbecue chain that features an array of specialty sauces to accompany its smoked meats and seafood. $$

Cheeseburger Eddie’s, 4517 W Esplanade Ave., 455-5511, AustinsNo.com/ Cheeseburger-Eddie-s.html. L, D Mon-Sat. Hickory-grilled burgers are the main draw at this casual spot but tacos, tamales, poor boys and more are also served. $

Metairie

Riverbend H Cowbell 8801 Oak St., 298-8689,

Voodoo BBQ 2740 Severn Ave., 353-4227, VoodooBBQAndGrill.com. L, D daily. Diners are never too far from this homegrown barbecue chain that features an array of specialty sauces to accompany its smoked meats and seafood. $$

Gracious Bakery + Café 1000 S. Jeff Davis Parkway, Suite 100, 301-3709, GraciousBakery.com. B, L daily. Boutique bakery on the ground floor of the Woodward Building offers small-batch coffee, baked goods, individual desserts and sandwiches on breads made in-house. Catering options available. $

Burgers

H Ruby Slipper Café 139 S. Cortez St.,

Port of Call 838 Esplanade Ave., 5230120, PortOfCallNola.com. L, D daily. It is all about the big, meaty burgers and giant baked potatoes in this popular bar/restaurant – unless you’re cocktailing only, then it’s all about the Monsoons. $$

525-9355, TheRubySlipperCafe.net. B, L daily, Br Sun. Homegrown chain specializes in breakfast, lunch and brunch dishes with unique local twists such as bananas Foster French toast and barbecue shrimp and grits. $$

Lakeview

Bywater

Cowbell-Nola.com. L, D Tue-Sat. Burgers and homemade sauces on potato rolls are the specialty here, along with other favorites like skirt steak. $$

Uptown H The Company Burger 4600 Freret St.,

French Quarter Bayou Burger, 503 Bourbon St., 5294256, SportsBarNewOrleans.com. L, D daily. Sports bar in the thick of Bourbon Street scene distinguishes its fare with choices like Crawfish Beignets and Zydeco Bites. $$

267-0320, TheCompanyBurger.com. L, D Wed-Mon. Custom-baked butter-brushed buns and fresh-ground beef patties make all the difference at this excellent burger hotspot. Draft beer and craft cocktails round out the appeal. $

French CBD/Warehouse District Chateau du Lac 857 Fulton St., 301-0235, ChateauduLacWarehouse.com. L Tue-Fri, D Mon-Sat. This casual French bistro, run by chef-owner Jacques Saleun, offers up classic dishes such as escargot, coq au vin and blanquette de veau. $$$$

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DINING GUIDE Le Foret 129 Camp St., 553-6738, LeForetNewOrleans.com. D Mon-Sat. Sophisticated fine dining melds southern cuisine and classic French with modernist influences in an elegant setting. $$$$

Faubourg St. John H Café Degas 3127 Esplanade Ave., 945-5635, CafeDegas.com. L, D Wed-Sat, Br Sun. Salad Niçoise, Hanger steak and frites are served in a lovely enclosed courtyard at this jewel of a French bistro. $$

French Quarter Broussard’s, 819 Conti St., 581-3866, Broussards.com. D daily, Br Sun. CreoleFrench institution also offers beautiful courtyard seating. $$$$

H Marti’s 1041 Dumaine St., 522-5478, MartisNola.com. D daily. Classic French cuisine, small plates and chilled seafood platters like Grand Plateau Fruits De Mer are the calling cards for this restaurant with an elegant “Old World” feel. $$$ Lacombe\ H La Provence 25020 Highway 190, (985) 626-7662, LaProvenceRestaurant.com. D Wed-Sun, Br Sun. Chef John Besh upholds time-honored Provençal cuisine and rewards his guests with a true farm-life experience, from house-made preserves, charcuterie, herbs, kitchen gardens and eggs cultivated on the property. $$$$$

Metairie Chateau du Lac 2037 Metairie Road, 8313773, ChateauduLacBistro.com. L Tue-Fri, D Mon-Sat. This casual French bistro, run by chef-owner Jacques Saleun, offers up classic dishes such as escargot, coq au vin and blanquette de veau. $$$$

Uptown Bistro Daisy 5831 Magazine St., 899-6987, BistroDaisy.com. D Tue-Sat. Chef Anton Schulte and his wife Diane’s bistro serves creative and contemporary bistro fare in a romantic setting. The signature Daisy Salad is a favorite. $$$$

H Coquette 2800 Magazine St., 2650421, CoquetteNola.com. L Wed-Sat, D Wed-Mon, Br Sun. The food is French in inspiration and technique, with added imagination from chef Michael and his partner Lillian Hubbard. $$$ Flaming Torch 737 Octavia St., 895-0900, FlamingTorchNola.com. L Mon-Fri, D daily,

Br Sat-Sun. French classics including a tasty onion soup and often a sought-after coq-au-vin. $$

H La Crêpe Nanou 1410 Robert St., 8992670, LaCrepeNanou.com. D daily, Br Sun. Classic French bistro fare, including terrific moules and decadent dessert crêpes, are served nightly at this neighborhood institution. $$$ La Petite Grocery 4238 Magazine St., 8913377, LaPetiteGrocery.com. L Tue-Sat, D daily, Br Sun. Elegant dining in a convivial atmosphere. The menu is heavily Frenchinspired with an emphasis on technique. $$$ Lilette 3637 Magazine St., 895-1636, LiletteRestaurant.com. L Tue-Sat, D MonSat. Chef John Harris’ innovative menu draws discerning diners to this highly regarded bistro. Desserts are wonderful as well. $$$$$

Gastropub Abita Springs Abita Brew Pub 72011 Holly St., (985) 892-5837, AbitaBrewPub.com. L, D TueSun. Better-than-expected pub food in its namesake eatery. “Tasteful” tours available for visitors. $$

CBD/Warehouse District Gordon Biersch 200 Poydras St., 5522739, GordonBiersch.com. L, D daily.

Local outpost of this popular chain serves specialty brews made on-site and crowdpleasing lunch and dinner fare. $$ Victory 339 Baronne St., 522-8664, VictoryNola.com. D Tue-Sat. Craft cocktails served by owner and acclaimed bartender Daniel Victory, as well as refined small plates and gourmet pizza. $$

H Patrick’s Bar Vin 730 Bienville St., 200-3180, PatricksBarVin.com. D daily.

This oasis of a wine bar offers terrific selections by the bottle and glass. Small plates are served as well. $$ Lower Garden District The Tasting Room 1926 Magazine St., 581-3880, TTRNewOrleans.com. D WedSun. Flights of wine and sophisticated small plates are the calling cards for this wine bar near Coliseum Square. $$

Mid-City Trèo 3835 Tulane Ave., 304-4878, TreoNola.com. L Wed-Sat, D Tue-Sat. Craft cocktail bar also serves a short but excellent small plates menu to accompany its artfully composed libations. $$

Uptown The Avenue Pub 1732 St. Charles Ave., 586-9243, TheAvenuePub.com. Kitchen open 24/7. With more than 43 rotating draft beers, this pub also offers food, including a cheese plate from St. James Cheese Co. and the “Pub Burger.” Counter service only. $ Bouligny Tavern 3641 Magazine St., 8911810, BoulignyTavern.com. D Mon-Sat. Carefully curated small plates, inventive cocktails and select wines are the focus of this stylish offshoot of John Harris’s nationally acclaimed Lilette. $$ The Delachaise 3442 St. Charles Ave., 895-0858, TheDelaichaise.com. L Sat-Sun, D daily. Cuisine elevated to the standards of the libations is the draw at this lively wine bar and gastropub. Food is grounded in French bistro fare with eclectic twists. $$

Italian Avondale H Mosca’s 4137 Highway 90 West, 463-

French Quarter H Cane & Table 1113 Decatur St., 5811112, CaneAndTableNola.com. L Sat-Sun, D daily. Open late, this chef-driven rustic colonial cuisine and rum and “proto-Tiki” cocktails make this a fun place to gather. $$ Orleans Grapevine Wine Bar and Bistro 720 Orleans Ave., 523-1930, OrleansGrapevine.com. D daily. Wine is the muse at this beautifully renovated bistro, which offers vino by the flight, glass and bottle.

A classic menu with an emphasis on local cuisine. $$$

8950, MoscasRestaurant.com. D Tue-Sat. Italian institution dishes out massive portions of great food, family-style. Good bets are the shrimp Mosca and chicken à la grande. Cash only. $$$

Bywater H Mariza 2900 Charters St., 598-5700, MarizaNewOrleans.com. D Tue-Sat. An Italian-inspired restaurant by chef Ian Schnoebelen features a terrific raw bar, house-cured charcuterie and an array of refined adult beverages served in the industrial/contemporary setting on the

ground floor of the Rice Mills lofts. $$$

CBD/Warehouse District H Domenica The Roosevelt Hotel, 123 Baronne St., 648-6020, DomenicaRestaurant.com. L, D daily. Chef Alon Shaya serves authentic, regional Italian cuisine.

The menu of thin, lightly topped pizzas, artisanal salumi and cheese, and a carefully chosen selection of antipasti, pasta and entrées, feature locally raised products, some from chef John Besh’s Northshore farm. $$$$ Red Gravy 4125 Camp St., 561-8844, RedGravy.com. B, Br, L, D, Wed-Mon. Farm-to-table Italian restaurant offers a creative array of breakfast items such as Cannoli Pancakes as well as delectable sandwiches and more for lunch.

Homemade pastas and authentic Tuscan specialties like Cacciucco round out the dinner menu. $$ Tommy’s Cuisine 746 Tchoupitoulas St., 581-1103, TommysNewOrleans.com. D daily. Classic Creole-Italian cuisine is the name of the game at this upscale eatery.

Appetizers include the namesake oysters Tommy, baked in the shell with Romano cheese, pancetta and roasted red pepper. $$$$$

French Quarter Café Giovanni 117 Decatur St., 529-2154, CafeGiovanni.com. D daily. Live opera singers three nights a week. A selection of Italian specialties tweaked with a Creole influence and their Belli Baci happy hour adds to the atmosphere. $$$$ Chartres House, 601 Chartres St., 5868383, ChartresHouse.com. L, D daily. This iconic French Quarter bar serves terrific Mint Juleps and Gin Fizzes in its picturesque courtyard and balcony settings.

Also famous for its fried green tomatoes and other local favorite dishes. $$$ Irene’s Cuisine 539 St. Philip St., 529881. D Mon-Sat. Long waits at the lively piano bar are part of the appeal of this Creole-Italian favorite beloved by locals.

Try the oysters Irene and crabmeat gratin appetizers. $$$$

H Italian Barrel 430 Barracks St., 569-0198, ItalianBarrel.com. L, D daily.

Northern Italian dishes like Braciola di Maiale as well as an exhaustive pasta menu tempt here at this local favorite that

The Court of Two Sisters Unveils Renovation The Court of Two Sisters, 613 Royal St., 522-7261, CourtOfTwoSisters.com The Court of Two Sisters has reopened its Terrace dining room and buffet area after a renovation that includes specially commissioned murals by local artist Judy Merrell. After beginning its existence in 1726 as the residence for the French Governor, 613 Royal St. became a ladies wear shop in 1886 and was named after the two sisters who owned it. The name stuck as it morphed into an award-winning restaurant that many people say has the prettiest patio in the city to dine in. The new Terrace room overlooks it. – M.C.

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cheryl gerber photograph

also offers al fresco seating. $$$

and thin-crust pizza. $$

Muriel’s Jackson Square 801 Chartres St., 568-1885, Muriels.com. L, D daily, Br Sun. Enjoy pecan-crusted drum and other local classics while dining in the courtyard bar or any other room in this labyrinthine, rumored-to-be-haunted establishment. $$$$

H R’evolution 777 Bienville St., 5532277, RevolutionNola.com. L Wed-Fri, D daily, Br Sun. An opulent place that combines the local flavors of chef John Folse with the more cosmopolitan influence of chef Rick Tramonto. Chef de cuisine Chris Lusk and executive sous chef Erik Veney are in charge of day-to-day operations, which include house-made charcuterie, pastries, pastas and more. $$$$$

Napoleon House 500 Chartres St., 524522-4152, NapoleonHouse.com. L MonSat, D Tue-Sat. Originally built in 1797 as a respite for Napoleon, this family-owned European-style café serves local favorites gumbo, jambalaya and muffulettas, and for sipping, a Sazerac or lemony Pimm’s Cup are perfect accompaniments. $$ NOLA 534 St. Louis St., 522-6652, Emerils. com. L Thu-Mon, D daily. Emeril’s more affordable eatery, featuring cedar-plankroasted redfish; private dining. $$$$$ Ralph Brennan’s Red Fish Grill 115 Bourbon St., 598-1200, RedFishGrill.com.

L, D daily. Chef Austin Kirzner cooks up a broad menu peppered with local favorites such as barbecue oysters, blackened redfish and double-chocolate bread pudding. $$$$$ Arnaud’s Remoulade 309 Bourbon St., 523-0377, Remoulade.com. L, D daily.

Granite-topped tables and an antique mahogany bar are home to the eclectic menu of famous shrimp Arnaud, red beans and rice and poor boys as well as specialty burgers, grilled all-beef hot dogs

H Tujague’s 823 Decatur St., 525-8676,

Mon-Sat, D daily, Br Sun. Osso buco and homemade pastas in a setting that’s both elegant and intimate; off-premise catering. $$$

premier fine dining destinations serving Italian food that makes use of locally sourced meats and produce. $$$

Semolina 4436 Veterans Blvd., Suite 37, 454-7930, Semolina.com. L, D daily. This casual, contemporary pasta restaurant takes a bold approach to cooking Italian food, emphasizing flavors, texture and color. Many of the dishes feature a signature Louisiana twist, such as the muffuletta pasta and pasta jambalaya. $$

Amici 3218 Magazine St., 300-1250, AmiciNola.com. L, D daily. Coal-fired pizza is the calling card for this destination, but the menu offers an impressive list of authentic and Creole Italian specialties as well. $$

TujaguesRestaurant.com. L Sat-Sun, D daily. For more than 150 years this landmark restaurant has been offering Creole cuisine. Favorites include a nightly six-course table d’hôté menu featuring a unique beef brisket with Creole sauce. $$$$$

Vincent’s Italian Cuisine 4411 Chastant St., 885-2984, Metairie, VicentsItalianCuisine.com. L Tue-Fri, D Mon-Sat. Snug Italian boîte packs them in, yet manages to remain intimate at the same time. The cannelloni is a house specialty. $$$

harahan

Mid-City H Liuzza’s 3636 Bienville St., 482-9120,

Oak Oven 6625 Jefferson Highway, Harahan, 305-4039, OakOvenRestaurant.com. L, D Mon-Sat. Wood-fired pizza and seasonal Italian cuisine with a locavore philosophy brings respite to the burbs. Family friendly with patio seating to boot. $$

Lakeview H Tony Angello’s 6262 Fleur de Lis Drive, 488-0888, TonyAngellos.com. D Tue-Sat. Creole-Italian favorite serves up fare. Ask Tony to “Feed Me” if you want a real multicourse dining experience. $$$$

Metairie H Andrea’s Restaurant 3100 19th St., 834-8583, AndreasRestaurant.com. L

Liuzzas.com. L, D daily. Classic neighborhood joint serves favorites like the “Frenchuletta,” stuffed artichokes and andouille gumbo. Kid’s menu offered. Cash only. $$ Ralph’s On The Park 900 City Park Ave., 488-1000, RalphsOnThePark.com. Br Sun, L Tue-Fri, D daily. A modern interior and contemporary Creole dishes such as City Park salad, turtle soup, barbecue Gulf shrimp and good cocktails. $$$$

NORTHSHORE H Del Porto Ristorante 501 E. Boston St., (985) 875-1006, DelPortoRistorante.com.

L, D Tue-Sat. One of the Northshore’s

Uptown

Pascal’s Manale 1838 Napoleon Ave., 895-4877, PascalsManale.com. L MonFri, D Mon-Sat. Vintage neighborhood restaurant since 1913 and the place to go for the creation of barbecued shrimp. Its oyster bar serves icy cold, freshly shucked Louisiana oysters and the Italian specialties and steaks are also solid. $$$$ Vincent’s Italian Cuisine 7839 St. Charles Ave., 866-9313, VicentsItalianCuisine.com.

L Tue-Fri, D Tue-Sun. Snug Italian boîte packs them in yet manages to remain intimate at the same time. The cannelloni is a house specialty. $$$

Louisianian Fare CBD/Warehouse District H Annunciation 1016 Annunciation St., 568-0245, AnnunciationRestaurant.com.

D Mon-Sat. Chef Steven Manning brings a refined sensibility to this refined Warehouse District oasis along with his famous fried oysters with melted brie. $$$ Balise 640 Carondelet St., 459-4449, BaliseNola.com. L Mon-Fri, D nightly. Chef

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DINING GUIDE Justin Devillier turns back the clock at this turn-of-the-century inspired bistro in the CBD. Decidedly masculine fare – think venison tartare with horseradish and pumpernickel – is carefully crafted and fits well alongside the excellent cocktail and beer list. $$$ Bon Ton Cafe 401 Magazine St., 524-3386, TheBonTonCafe.com. L, D Mon-Fri. A local favorite for the old-school business lunch crowd specializing in local seafood and Cajun dishes. $$$$ Café Adelaide Loews New Orleans Hotel, 300 Poydras St., 595-3305, CafeAdelaide. com. B, D daily, L Mon-Fri. This offering from the Commander’s Palace family of restaurants has become a power-lunch favorite for business-people and politicos.

Also features the Swizzle Stick Bar. $$$$

H Cochon 930 Tchoupitoulas St., 588-2123, CochonRestaurant.com. L, D, Mon-Sat. Chefs Donald Link and Stephen Stryjewski showcase Cajun and Southern cuisine at this hot spot. Boudin and other pork dishes reign supreme here, along with Louisiana seafood and real moonshine from the bar. Reservations strongly recommended. $$ Drago’s Hilton Riverside Hotel, 2 Poydras St., 584-3911, DragosRestaurant.com. L, D daily. This famous seafooder specializes in charbroiled oysters, a dish they invented.

Great deals on fresh lobster as well. $$$$

Emeril’s 800 Tchoupitoulas St., 528-9393, EmerilsRestaurants.com. L Mon-Fri, D daily. The flagship of superstar chef Emeril Lagasse’s culinary empire, this landmark attracts pilgrims from all over the world. $$$$$

H Herbsaint 701 St. Charles Ave., 5244114, Herbsaint.com. L Mon-Fri, D MonSat. Enjoy a sophisticated cocktail before sampling chef Donald Link’s menu that melds contemporary bistro fare with classic Louisiana cuisine. The banana brown butter tart is a favorite dessert. $$$$$ Mother’s 401 Poydras St., 523-9656, MothersRestaurant.net. B, L, D daily. Locals and tourists alike endure long queues and a confounding ordering system to enjoy iconic dishes such as the Ferdi poor boy and Jerry’s jambalaya. Come for a late lunch to avoid the rush. $$ Mulate’s 201 Julia St., 522-1492, Mulates. com. L, D daily. Live music and dancing add to the fun at this world-famous Cajun destination. $$ Palette 700 Tchoupitoulas St., 613-2350, B, L, D daily. Creole, Cajun and French flavors all come together at this restaurant in the Renaissance Hotel near the Convention Center. $$

Central City Café Reconcile 1631 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd., 568-1157, CafeReconcile.org. L Mon-Fri. Good food for a great cause, this

nonprofit on the burgeoning OCH corridor helps train at-risk youth for careers in the food service industry. $$

Darrow Café Burnside Houmas House Plantation, 40136 Highway 942, (225) 473-9380, HoumasHouse.com. L daily, Br Sun. Historic plantation’s casual dining option features dishes such as seafood pasta, fried catfish, crawfish and shrimp, gumbo and red beans and rice. $$ Latil’s Landing Houmas House Plantation, 40136 Highway 942, (225) 473-9380, HoumasHouse.com. D Wed-Sun. Nouvelle Louisiane, plantation-style cooking served in an opulent setting features dishes like rack of lamb and plume de veau. $$$$$

Faubourg Marigny Feelings Cafe 2600 Chartres St., 9452222, FeelingsCafe.com. D Wed-Sun, Br Sun. Romantic ambiance and skillfully created dishes, such as veal d’aunoy, make dining here on the patio a memorable experience. A piano bar on Fridays adds to the atmosphere. Vegan menu offered. $$$$ Horn’s 1940 Dauphine St., Marigny, 459-4676, HornsNola.com. B, L daily, D Thu-Mon. This casual, eclectic watering hole offers offbeat twists on classics (the Jewish Coonass features latkes to go with the crawfish etouffée) as well as the usual breakfast and lunch diner fare. $

Praline Connection 542 Frenchmen St., 943-3934, PralineConnection.com. L, D daily. Down-home dishes of smothered pork chops, greens, beans and cornbread are on the menu at this Creole soul restaurant. $$

French Quarter Acme Oyster House 724 Iberville St., 5225973, AcmeOyster.com. L, D daily. Known as one of the best places to eat oysters. $$

H Arnaud’s 813 Bienville St., 523-5433, ArnaudsRestaurant.com. D daily, Br Sun. Waiters in tuxedos prepare Café Brûlot tableside at this storied Creole grande dame; live jazz during Sun. brunch. $$$$$ Antoine’s 713 St. Louis St., 581-4422, Antoines.com. L, D Mon-Sat, Br Sun. This pinnacle of haute cuisine and birthplace of oysters Rockefeller is New Orleans’ oldest restaurant. (Every item is á la carte, with an $11 minimum.) Private dining rooms available. $$$$$

H The Bistreaux New Orleans Maison Dupuy Hotel, 1001 Toulouse St., 586-8000, MaisonDupuy.com/dining.html. L, D daily.

Dishes ranging from the casual (truffle mac and cheese) to the upscale (tuna tasting trio) are served in an elegant courtyard. $$ The Bombay Club Prince Conti Hotel, 830 Conti St., 586-0972, TheBombayClub.com.

D daily. Popular martini bar with plush British décor features live music during

FR

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www.vincentsitaliancuisine.com 110

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the week and late dinner and drinks on weekends. Nouveau Creole menu includes items such as Bombay drum. $$$$ Café Maspero 601 Decatur St., 523-6250, CafeMaspero.com. L, D daily. Tourists line up for their generous portions of seafood and large deli sandwiches. $ Court of Two Sisters 613 Royal St., 522-7261, CourtOfTwoSisters.com. Br, D daily. The historic environs make for a memorable outdoor dining experience.

The famous daily Jazz Brunch buffet and classic Creole dishes sweeten the deal. $$$$$ Criollo Hotel Monteleone, 214 Royal St., 681-4444, CriolloNola.com. B, L, D daily.

Next to the famous Carousel Bar in the historic Monteleone Hotel, Criollo represents an amalgam of the various cultures reflected in Louisiana cooking and cuisine, often with a slight contemporary twist. $$$

H Dickie Brennan’s Bourbon House 144 Bourbon St., 522-0111, BourbonHouse. com. B, L, D daily. Classic Creole dishes such as redfish on the halfshell and baked oysters served. Its extensive bourbon menu will please aficionados. $$$$ Galatoire’s 209 Bourbon St., 525-2021, Galatoires.com. L, D Tue-Sun. Friday lunches are a New Orleans tradition at this world-famous French-Creole grand dame. Tradition counts for everything here, and the crabmeat Sardou is delicious. Note: Jackets required for dinner

and all day Sun. $$$$$ House of Blues 225 Decatur St., 3104999, HouseOfBlues.com/NewOrleans. L, D daily. Surprisingly good menu complements music in the main room. Worldfamous Gospel Brunch every Sunday.

Patio seating available. $$ Killer Poboys 811 Conti St., 252-6745, KillerPoboys.blogspot.com. L, D Wed-Mon. This quasi-popup operating out of the Erin Rose Bar serves some of the city’s best poor boys, including one featuring glazed pork belly. $ K-Paul’s Louisiana Kitchen 416 Chartres St., 596-2530, ChefPaul.com/KPaul. L Thu-Sat, D Mon-Sat. Paul Prudhomme’s landmark restaurant helped introduce Cajun food to a grateful nation. Lots of seasoning and bountiful offerings, along with reserved seating, make this a destination for locals and tourists alike. $$$$

H MiLa 817 Common St., 412-2580, MiLaNewOrleans.com. L Mon-Fri, D Mon-Sat. Latest offering from husband-and-wife chefs Slade Rushing and Allison VinesRushing focuses on the fusion of the cuisines of Miss. and La. $$$$ Royal House, 441 Royal St., 528-2601, RoyalHouseRestaurant.com. L, D daily. B Sat and Sun. Poor boys, jambalaya and shrimp Creole are some of the favorites served here. Weekend breakfast and an oyster bar add to the crowd-pleasing appeal. $$$

SoBou 310 Chartres St., 552-4095, SoBouNola.com. B, L, D daily. There is something for everyone at this “Modern Creole Saloon.” Decidedly unstuffy with an emphasis on craft cocktails and wines by the glass. Everything from $1 pork cracklins to an extravagant foie gras burger on accomplished yet eclectic menus. $$

H Tableau 616 S. Peter St., 934-3463, TableauFrenchQuarter.com. L, D daily, Br Sun. Gulf seafood such as trout amandine and classic Creole brunch dishes like eggs Sardou are the highlights of this Dickie Brennan restaurant that shares space with Le Petite Théâtre on the corner of Jackson Square. $$$ Kenner Copeland’s 1319 W. Esplanade Ave., 617-9146, CopelandsofNewOrleans.com. L, D daily, Br Sun. Al Copeland’s namesake chain includes favorites such as Shrimp Ducky. Popular for lunch. $$

Lakeview H Cava 789 Harrison Ave., 304-9034. D Mon-Sat. Fine dining (and excellent wine list) at this high-end Cajun and Creole restaurant that makes customer service a big part of the experience. $$$

Metairie/Jefferson Acme Oyster House 3000 Veterans Blvd., 309-4056, AcmeOyster.com. L, D daily.

Known as one of the best places to eat oysters. $$ Austin’s 5101 W. Esplanade Ave., 8885533, AustinsNo.com. D Mon-Sat. Mr.

Ed’s upscale bistro serves contemporary Creole fare, including seafood and steaks. $$$ Copeland’s 1001 S. Clearview Parkway, 620-7800; 701 Veterans Blvd., 831-3437, CopelandsofNewOrleans.com. L, D daily, Br Sun. Al Copeland’s namesake chain includes favorites such as Shrimp Ducky.

Popular for lunch. $$ Crabby Jack’s 428 Jefferson Highway, 833-2722, CrabbyJacksNola.com. L MonSat. Lunch outpost of Jacques-Imo’s.

Famous for its fried seafood and poor boys including fried green tomatoes and roasted duck. $ Drago’s 3232 N. Arnoult Road, 888-9254, DragosRestaurant.com. L, D Mon-Sat. This famous seafooder specializes in charbroiled oysters, a dish they invented. Great deals on fresh lobster as well. $$$$

Mid-City H Katie’s Restaurant and Bar 3701 Iberville St., 488-6582, KatiesInMidCity. com. L, D Mon-Sat, Br Sun. Creative poor boys, local dishes such as gumbo and Sunday brunch make this a neighborhood favorite. $$ Lil’ Dizzy’s Café 1500 Esplanade Ave., 569-8997, LilDizzysCafe.com. B, L daily, Br Sun. Spot local and national politicos dining at this favored Creole soul restaurant known for homey classics like fried chicken and trout Baquet. $

H Mandina’s 3800 Canal St., 482-9179,

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DINING GUIDE MandinasRestaurant.com. L, D daily.

Though the ambiance is more upscale, the food and seafood dishes make dining here a New Orleans experience. $$

H Redemption 3835 Iberville St., 3093570, Redemption-Nola.com. L Wed-Fri & Sun, D Wed-Sun. Chef-driven “Revival” Creole fare served in an inspiring former church. $$$ H Toups’ Meatery 845 N. Carrollton Ave., 252-4999, ToupsMeatery.com. L, D TueSat. Charcuterie, specialty cocktails and an exhaustive list of excellent à la carte sides make this restaurant a carnivore’s delight. $$$

NORTHSHORE Acme Oyster House 1202 N. Highway 190, Covington, (985) 246-6155, AcmeOyster. com. L, D daily. Known as one of the best places to eat oysters. $$ Gallagher’s Grill 509 S. Tyler St., (985) 892-9992, GallaghersGrill.com. L, D TueFri, D Sat. Chef Pat Gallagher’s destination restaurant offers al fresco seating to accompany classically inspired New Orleans fare. Event catering offered. $$$

Riverbend H Boucherie 1506 S. Carrollton Ave., 862-5514, Boucherie-Nola.com. L, D TueSat. Serving contemporary Southern food with an international angle, chef Nathaniel Zimet offers excellent ingredients presented simply. $$ Brigtsen’s 723 Dante St., 861-7610, Brigtsens.com. D Tue-Sat. Chef Frank Brigtsen’s nationally famous Creole cuisine makes this cozy cottage a true foodie destination. $$$$$

Uptown H Apolline 4729 Magazine St., 894-8881, ApollineRestaurant.com. D Tue-Sun, Br Sat-Sun. Cozy gem serves a refined menu of French and Creole classics peppered with Southern influences such as buttermilk fried quail with corn waffle. $$$ Casamento’s 4330 Magazine St., 8959761, CasamentosRestaurant.com. L Tue-Sat, D Thu-Sat. The family-owned restaurant has shucked oysters and fried seafood since 1919; closed during summer and for all major holidays. $$ Chappy’s 6106 Magazine St., 208-8772, Chappys.com. D nightly, Br Sun. Tradition reigns supreme at Chappy’s on a genteel stretch of Magazine Street near Audubon

Park. Classics such as shrimp and eggplant casserole will be sure to please. $$$ Clancy’s 6100 Annunciation St., 895-1111, ClancysNewOrleans.com. L Thu-Fri, D Mon-Sat. Their Creole-inspired menu has been a favorite of locals for years. $$$ Commander’s Palace 1403 Washington Ave., 899-8221, CommandersPalace. com. L Mon-Fri, D daily, Br Sat-Sun. The grande dame is going strong under the auspices of James Beard Award-winner chef Tory McPhail. Jazz Brunch is a great deal. $$$$ Dick and Jenny’s 4501 Tchoupitoulas St., 894-9880, DickAndJennys.com. L Thu-Fri, D Mon-Sat, Br Sun. A funky cottage serving Louisiana comfort food with flashes of innovation. $$$$ Domilise’s 5240 Annunciation St., 899912. L, D Mon-Wed, Fri-Sat. Local institution and rite-of-passage for those wanting an initiation to the real New Orleans. Wonderful poor boys and a unique atmosphere make this a one-of-a-kind place. $

H Gautreau’s 1728 Soniat St., 899-7397, GautreausRestaurant.com. D Mon-Sat. Upscale destination serves refined interpretations of classics along with contemporary creations. $$$$$ Jacques-Imo’s Cafe 8324 Oak St., 8610886, Jacques-Imos.com. D Mon-Sat. Reinvented New Orleans cuisine served in a party atmosphere. The deep-fried roast beef poor boy is delicious. The lively bar scene offsets the long wait on weekends. $$$$ Joey K’s 3001 Magazine St., 891-0997, JoeyKsRestaurant.com. L, D Mon-Sat. A true neighborhood restaurant with daily lunch plates; red beans and rice are classic. $ Mahony’s 3454 Magazine St., 899-3374, MahonysPoBoys.com. L, D daily. Along with the usual poor boys, this sandwich shop serves up a grilled shrimp and fried green tomato version dressed with remoulade sauce. Sandwich offerings are augmented by a full bar. $ Mat & Naddie’s 937 Leonidas St., 8619600, MatAndNaddies.com. D Mon-Tue, Thu-Sat. Cozy converted house serves up creative and eclectic regionally inspired fare. Shrimp and crawfish croquettes make for a good appetizer and when the weather is right the romantic patio is the place to sit. $$$$

WEST BANK Copeland’s 2333 Manhattan Blvd., 3641575, CopelandsofNewOrleans.com. L, D daily, Br Sun. Al Copeland’s namesake chain includes favorites such as Shrimp Ducky. Popular for lunch. $$

Pizza Reginelli’s Pizzeria Multiple Locations, Reginellis.com. L, D daily. Pizzas, pastas, salads, fat calzones and lofty focaccia sandwiches are at locations all over town. $$ Theo’s Pizza Multiple Locations, TheosPizza.com. L, D daily. The crackercrisp crust pizzas are complemented by a broad assortment of toppings with a lot of local ingredients at cheap prices. $$

Bywater H Pizza Delicious 617 Piety St., 676-8282, PizzaDelicious.com. Authentic New Yorkstyle thin crust pizza is the reason to come to this affordable restaurant that began as a pop-up, but they also offer excellent salads sourced from small farms and homemade pasta dishes as well. Outdoor seating a plus. $

Uptown H Ancora 4508 Freret St., 324-1636, AncoraPizza.com. D Mon-Sat. Authentic Neapolitan-style pizza fired in an oven imported from Naples. The housemade charcuterie makes it a double-winner. $$ Pizza Domenica 4933 Magazine St., 301-4978, PizzaDomenica.com. L Fri-Sun, D nightly. James Beard Award Winning Chef Alon Shaya’s pizza centric spinoff of his popular Restaurant Domenica brings Neapolitan-style pies to Uptown. Excellent salads and charcuterie boards are offered as well. $$ Slice 1513 St. Charles Ave., 525-PIES (7437); 5538 Magazine St., 897-4800; SlicePizzeria.com. L, D daily. Order up slices or whole pizza pies done in several styles (thin- and thick-crust) as well as pastas, seafood, panini and salads. $

Seafood Akers Middendorf’s Interstate 55, Exit 15, 30160 Highway 51 South, (985) 386-6666, MiddendorfsRestaurant.com. L, D Wed-Sun. Historic seafood destination along the shores of Lake Maurepas is world-famous for its thin-fried catfish fillets. Open since 1934, it’s more than a restaurant, it’s a Sun. drive tradition. $$

CBD/Warehouse District H Borgne 601 Loyola Ave., 613-3860, BorgneRestaurant.com. L, D daily. Coastal Louisiana seafood with an emphasis on Isleños cuisine (descendants of Canary Islanders who settled in St. Bernard Parish) is the focus of this high-volume destination adjacent to the Superdome. $$$

H Pêche 800 Magazine St., 522-1744, PecheRestaurant.com. L, D Mon-Sat. Award-winning southern-inspired seafood destination by chef Donald Link serves whole roasted Gulf fish from its massive, wood-burning oven. An excellent raw bar is offered as well. $$$ French Quarter Bourbon House 144 Bourbon St., 5220111, BourbonHouse.com. B, L, D daily.

Local seafood, featured in both classic and contemporary dishes, is the focus of this New Orleans-centric destination. And yes, bourbon is offered as well. $$$ Deanie’s Seafood 841 Iberville St., 5811316, Deanies.com. L, D daily. Louisiana seafood, baked, broiled, boiled and fried is the name of the game. Try the barbecue shrimp or towering seafood platters. $$$

H GW Fins 808 Bienville St., 581-FINS (3467), GWFins.com. D daily. Owners Gary Wollerman and twice chef of the year Tenney Flynn provide dishes at their seasonal peak. On a quest for unique variety, menu is printed daily. $$$$$

H Kingfish 337 Charters St., 598-5005, CocktailBarNewOrleans.com. L, D daily.

Gulf seafood and nouvelle Creole dishes such as smoked rabbit gumbo are the main draws at this establishment helmed

by Greg Sonnier, as well as the excellent bar program by mixologist Chris McMillian. $$$ Landry’s Seafood 400 N. Peters St., 5580038, LandrysSeafood.com. Kid-friendly and popular seafood spot serves of heaping platters of fried shrimp, Gulf oysters, catfish and more. $$ Le Bayou, 208 Bourbon St., 525-4755, LeBayouRestaurant.com. L, D Mon-Sat. Blackened redfish and Shrimp Ya-Ya are a just a few of the choices at this seafoodcentric destination on Bourbon Street.

Fried alligator is available for the more daring diner. $$$ Oceana Grill 739 Conti St., 525-6002, OceanaGrill.com. B, L, D daily. Gumbo,

Langlois Launches Catering Services Langlois, 1710 Pauger St., 934-1010. LangloisNola.com After three years as a Cajun/Creole supper club in the Marigny, Langlois is now offering Langlois at Home and Langlois +100. Langlois chefs are available for private parties and catered cooking demonstrations for parties for six to 16 people, as well as for large events. Chef Amy Sins has also introduced Gumbo Fridays, at which guests can expect fried and Cajun chicken with Andouille Gumbo. Langlois is open for lunch and dinner, and guests can be involved as much or as little as they like in the meal preparation. Dining is by reservation only and offers family-style seating. – M.C.

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cheryl gerber photograph

poor boys and barbecue shrimp are served at this kid-friendly seafood destination. $$

offerings such as stuffed eggplant and bell pepper. Fried seafood and sandwiches make it a good stop for lunch. $$

Pier 424, 424 Bourbon St., 309-1574, Pier424SeafoodMarket.com. L, D daily.

Seafood-centric restaurant offers long menu of traditional New Orleans fare augmented by unusual twists like “CajunBoiled” Lobster prepared crawfish-style in spicy crab boil. $$$

Uptown

Kenner

Landry’s Seafood 8000 Lakeshore Drive, West End, 283-1010, LandrysSeafood.com.

Kid-friendly and popular seafood spot serves of heaping platters of fried shrimp, Gulf oysters, catfish and more. $$

Mr. Ed’s Seafood and Italian Restaurant 910 W. Esplanade Ave., Ste. A, 463-3030, AustinsNo.com. L, D Mon-Sat. Neighborhood restaurant specializes in seafood and Italian offerings such as stuffed eggplant and bell pepper. Fried seafood and sandwiches make it a good stop for lunch. $$

Metairie Austin’s Restaurant, 5101 W. Esplanade Ave., 888-5533, AustinsNo.com. D MonSat. Signature steak, seafood and Italian specialties reign at this dinner-only destination. Catering offered as well. $$$ Deanie’s Seafood 1713 Lake Ave., 8314141, Deanies.com. L, D daily. Louisiana seafood, baked, broiled, boiled and fried, is the name of the game. Try the barbecue shrimp or towering seafood platters. $$$ Mr. Ed’s Seafood and Italian Restaurant 1001 Live Oak St., 838-0022, AustinsNo. com. L, D Mon-Sat. Neighborhood restaurant specializes in seafood and Italian

Frankie & Johnny’s 321 Arabella St., 2431234, FrankieAndJohnnys.net. L, D daily.

Serves fried and boiled seafood along with poor boys and daily lunch specials. Kidfriendly with a game room to boot. $$

West End

Steakhouse CBD/Warehouse District H Besh Steak Harrah’s Casino, 8 Canal St., 533-6111, HarrahsNewOrleans. com. D daily. Acclaimed chef John Besh reinterprets the classic steakhouse with his signature contemporary Louisiana flair. $$$$$ Chophouse New Orleans 322 Magazine St., 522-7902, ChophouseNola.com. D daily. In addition to USDA prime grade aged steaks prepared under a broiler that reaches 1,700 degrees, Chophouse offers lobster, redfish and classic steakhouse sides. $$$

H Desi Vega’s Steakhouse 628 St. Charles Ave., 523-7600, DesiVegaSteaks. com. L Mon-Fri, D Mon-Sat. USDA Prime steaks form the base of this Mr. John’s

Dickie Brennan’s Steakhouse 716 Iberville St., 522-2467, DickieBrennansSteakhouse.com. L Fri, D daily. Nationally recognized steakhouse serves USDA Prime steaks and local seafood. $$$$$

offshoot overlooking Lafayette Square, but Italian specialties and a smattering of locally inspired seafood dishes round out the appeal. $$$

H La Boca 870 Tchoupitoulas St., 5258205, LaBocaSteaks.com. D Mon-Sat. This Argentine steakhouse specializes in cuts of meat along with pastas and wines.

Specials include the provoleta appetizer and the Vacio flank steak. $$$ Morton’s The Steakhouse 365 Canal St., One Canal Place, 566-0221, Mortons.com/ NewOrleans. D daily. Private elevator leads to the plush, wood-paneled environs of this local outpost of the famed Chicago steakhouse popular with politicians and celebrities. $$$$ Ruth’s Chris Steak House Harrah’s Hotel, 525 Fulton St., 587-7099, RuthsChris. com. D daily, Br Sat-Sun. Filet mignon, creamed spinach and potatoes au gratin are the most popular dishes at this area steak institution, but there are also great seafood choices and top-notch desserts. $$$$$

Galatoire’s 33 Bar & Steak 215 Bourbon St., 335-3932, Galatoires33BarAndSteak. com. L Fri, D Sun-Thu. Steakhouse offshoot of the venerable Creole grande dame offers hand-crafted cocktails to accompany classic steakhouse fare as well as inspired dishes like the Gouté 33: horseradish-crusted bone marrow and deviled eggs with crab ravigote and smoked trout. Reservations accepted. $$$

Metairie

Garden District H Mr. John’s Steakhouse 2111 St. Charles Ave., 679-7697, MrJohnsSteakhouse.com. D Tue-Sat, L Friday. Wood paneling, white tile and USDA Prime Beef served sizzling in butter are the hallmarks of this classic New Orleans steakhouse. $$$

French Quarter

H Doris Metropolitan 620 Charters St., 267-3500, DorisMetropolitan.com. L Sat-Sun, D daily. Innovative, genre-busting steakhouse plays with expectations and succeeds with modernist dishes like their Classified Cut and Beetroot Supreme. $$$$

Ruth’s Chris Steak House 3633 Veterans Blvd., 888-3600, RuthsChris.com. L Fri, D daily, Br Sat-Sun. Filet mignon, creamed spinach and potatoes au gratin are the most popular dishes at this area steak institution, but there are also great seafood choices and top-notch desserts. $$$$$

Mid-City H Crescent City Steaks 1001 N. Broad St., 821-3271, CrescentCitySteaks.com. L Tue-Fri & Sun, D daily. One of the classic New Orleans steakhouses. Steaks, sides

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DINING GUIDE and drinks are what you get. $$$$

Vegan/Vegetarian Lower Garden District H The Green Fork 1400 Prytania St., 2677672, GreenForkNola.com. B, L Mon-Sat. Fresh juices, smoothies and vegetarianfriendly fare make The Green Fork a favorite for lovers of healthy food. Catering is offered as well. $$

World Byblos Multiple Locations, ByblosRestaurants.com. L, D daily. Upscale Middle Eastern cuisine featuring traditional seafood, lamb and vegetarian options. $$

Bywater H Booty’s Street Food 800 Louisa St., 266-2887, BootysNola.com. B, L, D daily.

Street food culled from countries around the globe is the muse of this creative establishment, where papadum from India resides confidently alongside Peruvian ceviche. $$ The Green Goddess 307 Exchange Place, 301-3347, GreenGoddessRestaurant. com. L, D Wed-Sun. One of the most imaginative local restaurants. The menu is constantly changing, and chef Paul Artigues always has ample vegetarian options. Combine all of that with a fantastic selection of drinks, wine and beer, and it’s the total (albeit small) package. $$

CBD/Warehouse District

Johnny Sanchez 930 Poydras St., 3046615, JohnnySanchezRestaurant.com. L, D daily. Contemporary Mexican mecca offering celebrity chef cachet to go along with the locally sourced produce accompanying the Bistec a la Parilla. Popular happy hour and downtown locale next to South Market District add to the appeal. $$$

H Lüke 333 St. Charles Ave., 378-2840, LukeNewOrleans.com. B, L, D daily, Br Sat-Sun. Chef John Besh and executive chef Matt Regan serve Germanic specialties and French bistro classics, housemade patés and abundant plateaux of cold, fresh seafood. $$$ Palace Café 605 Canal St., 523-1661, PalaceCafe.com. L Mon-Sat, D daily, Br Sun. Dickie Brennan-owned brasserie with French-style sidewalk seating and house-created specialties of chef Darrin Nesbit. Favorites here include crabmeat cheesecake, turtle soup, the Werlein salad with fried Louisiana oysters and pork “debris” studded Palace potato pie. $$$$$

Faubourg Marigny H Mona’s Café 504 Frenchmen St., 9494115. L, D daily. Middle Eastern specialties such as baba ganuj, tender-tangy beef or chicken shawarma, falafel and gyros, stuffed into pillowy pita bread or on platters. The lentil soup with crunchy pita chips and desserts, such as sticky sweet baklava, round out the menu. $

Faubourg St. John H 1000 Figs 3141 Ponce De Leon St., 301-0848, 1000Figs.com. L, D Tue-Sat. Vegetarian-friendly offshoot of the Fat Falafel Food Truck offers a healthy farm-to-table alternative to cookie-cutter Middle Eastern places. $$

French Quarter Bayona 430 Dauphine St., 525-4455, Bayona.com. L Wed-Sat, D Mon-Sat. Chef Susan Spicer’s nationally acclaimed cuisine is served in this 200-year-old cottage. Ask for a seat on the romantic patio, weather permitting. $$$$$ El Gato Negro 81 French Market Place, 525-9752, ElGatoNegroNola.com. Central Mexican cuisine along with hand-muddled mojitos and margaritas made with freshly squeezed juice. A weekend breakfast menu is an additional plus. $$

Kenner H Fiesta Latina 1924 Airline Drive, 4682384, FiestaLatinaRestaurant.com. B, L, D daily. A big-screen TV normally shows a soccer match or MTV Latino at this home for authentic Central American food.

Tacos include a charred carne asada. $$

Lakewood H Mizado 5080 Pontchartrain Blvd., 885-5555, MizadoCocina.com. L daily, D Mon-Sat. Sleek restaurant offers modern Mexican cuisine featuring pan-Latin flavors and influences. Small batch tequila

and a ceviche bar make it a party. $$

Lakeview H Mondo 900 Harrison Ave., 224-2633, MondoNewOrleans.com. L Mon-Fri, D Mon-Sat, Br Sun. Chef Susan Spicer’s take on world cuisine. Make sure to call ahead because the place has a deserved reputation for good food and good times. $$$

METAIRIE Vega Tapas Café 2051 Metairie Road, 836-2007, VegaTapasCafe.com. D Mon-Sat. Fun, eclectic small plates destination offers creative fare keeps guests coming back with frequent regionally inspired specialty menus served with humor and whimsy. $$

Mid-City Juan’s Flying Burrito 4724 S. Carrollton Ave., 486-9950, JuansFlyingBurrito.com. L, D daily. Hard-core tacos and massive burritos are served in an edgy atmosphere. $ Lola’s 3312 Esplanade Ave., 488-6946, LolasNewOrleans.com. D daily. Garlicky Spanish dishes and great paella make this artsy boîte a hipster destination. $$$

H Milkfish 125 N. Carrollton Ave., 2674199, MilkfishNola.com. L, D Thu-Tue. Filipino cuisine like adobo and lumpia is served, further expanding dining opportunities. $$ H Mona’s Café 3901 Banks St., 482-7743.

L, D daily. Middle Eastern specialties

“I Leave Happy.”

-Tom Fitzmmris

Steak & Crabmeat

6106 Magazine Street Walk-Ins or Reservations: 504-208-8772 | Chappys.com Free Parking in Perlis Lot 114

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such as baba ganuj, tender-tangy beef or chicken shawarma, falafel and gyros, stuffed into pillowy pita bread or on platters. The lentil soup with crunchy pita chips and desserts, such as sticky sweet baklava, round out the menu. $

H Taqueria Guerrero 208 N. Carrollton Ave., 484-6959. B, L, D, Tue-Sat. Friendly staff and authentic Mexican cuisine make this affordable neighborhood restaurant a neighborhood favorite. $ Upper 9th Ward Kebab , 2315 Saint Claude Ave., 3834328, KebabNola.com. L, D Fri-Mon. The menu is short and tasty at this kebab outpost along the revitalized St. Claude Avenue corridor. $

Uptown H Café Abyssinia 3511 Magazine St., 894-6238. L, D daily. One of a just few authentic Ethiopian restaurants in the city, excellent injera and spicy vegetarian fare make this a local favorite. $$

H Irish House 1432 St. Charles Ave., 595-6755, TheIrishHouseNewOrleans. com. L Mon-Fri, D daily, Br Sat-Sun. Irish pub dishes such as shepherd’s pie and fish and chips are featured here, as well as creative cocktails like Irish iced coffee.

Check the schedule of events for live music. $$ Jamila’s Mediterranean Tunisian Cuisine 7808 Maple St., 866-4366. D TueSun. Intimate and exotic bistro serving

Luncheons, Banquets and Rehearsal Dinners

Mediterranean and Tunisian cuisine. The Grilled Merguez is a Jazz Fest favorite and vegetarian options are offered. $$

slow-cooked duck are dishes to try. $$$

Juan’s Flying Burrito 2018 Magazine St., 569-0000, JuansFlyingBurrito.com. L, D daily. Hard-core tacos and massive burritos are served in an edgy atmosphere. $

Calcasieu 930 Tchoupitoulas St., 5882188, CalcasieuRooms.com. For gatherings both large and small, the catering menus feature modern Louisiana cooking and the Cajun cuisine for which chef Donald Link is justifiably famous.

H Mona’s Café 4126 Magazine St., 8949800; 1120 S. Carrollton Ave., 861-8174.

L, D daily. Middle Eastern specialties such as baba ganuj, tender-tangy beef or chicken shawarma, falafel and gyros, stuffed into pillowy pita bread or on platters. The lentil soup with crunchy pita chips and desserts, such as sticky sweet baklava, round out the menu. $ H Panchita’s 1434 S. Carrollton Ave., 281-4127. L, D daily. Authentic, budgetfriendly Mexican restaurant serves tamales, mole and offers free chips and salsa as well as sangria. $ H Patois 6078 Laurel St., 895-9441, PatoisNola.com. L Fri, D Wed-Sat, Br Sun. The food is French in technique, with influences from across the Mediterranean as well as the American South, all filtered through the talent of chef Aaron Burgau.

Reservations recommended. $$$ H Shaya 4213 Magazine St., 891-4213, ShayaRestaurant.com. L, D daily. James Beard Award-winning chef Alon Shaya pays homage to his native Israel with this contemporary Israeli hotspot. Fattoush Salad and Matzo Ball Soup made with

CBD/Warehouse District

French Quarter

Blue Frog Chocolates 5707 Magazine St., 269-5707, BlueFrogChocolates.com. Open daily, closed Sundays in summer. French and Belgian chocolate truffles and Italian candy flowers make this a great place for gifts.

Antoine’s Annex 513 Royal St., 525-8045, Antoines.com/Antoines-Annex. Open daily. Serves French pastries, including individual baked Alaskas, ice cream and gelato, as well as panini, salads and coffee. Delivery available.

St. James Cheese Company 5004 Prytania St., 899-4737, StJamesCheese. com. Open daily. Specialty shop offers a selection of fine cheeses, wines, beers and related accouterments. Look for wine and cheese specials every Friday.

Metairie

Sucré 3025 Magazine St., 520-8311, ShopSucre.com. Desserts daily & nightly.

Open late weekends. Chocolates, pastry and gelato draw rave reviews at this dessert destination. Beautiful packaging makes this a great place to shop for gifts.

Catering available. n

Sucré 3301 Veterans Blvd., 834-2277, ShopSucre.com. Desserts daily. Open late weekends. Chocolates, pastry and gelato draw rave reviews at this dessert destination. Beautiful packaging makes this a great place to shop for gifts. Catering available.

Mid-City H Blue Dot Donuts 4301 Canal St., 2184866, BlueDotDonuts.com. B, L Tue-Sun. The Bacon Maple Long John gets all the press, but returning customers are happy with the classics as well as twists like peanut butter and jelly.

Uptown H Blue Dot Donuts 5236 Tchoupitoulas St., 941-7675, BlueDotDonuts.com. B, L

If you feel that a restaurant has been misplaced, please email Managing Editor Morgan Packard at Morgan@MyNewOrleans.com.

Famous Fried Chicken and Seafood

BURGERS, FRIES & MARTINIS, TACOS, SHAKES, WINGS & COLD BEER

A Mr. Ed’s Restaurant

Specialty Foods

Tue-Sun. The Bacon Maple Long John gets all the press, but returning customers are happy with the classics as well as twists like peanut butter and jelly.

Monday- Saturday Lunch & Dinner 4517 W. Esplanade @ Clearview Metairie • (504) 455-5511

RAW • FRIED • GRILLED Metairie 3117 21st Street 504-833-6310 Monday-Saturday French Quarter 512 Bienville St.

one block from the River at Decatur

504-309-4848 | 7 days a week myneworleans.com / SEPTEMBER 2015

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DINING & ENTERTAINMENT

ADVERTISING SECTION

Andrea’s Restaurant

Antoine’s Restaurant

Boscoli Foods, Inc.

3100 19th St. at Ridgelake (504) 834-8583 | AndreasRestaurant.com

713 St. Louis St. (504) 581-4422 | Antoines.com

(504) 469-5500 | Boscoli.com

Andrea’s Italian, Steak and Seafood Restaurant is not just for special occasions; it's elegant, casual and affordable.

Chef Andrea serves only the freshest fish amberjack, speckled trout, flounder, red snapper and redfish. Book one of their private rooms for up to 500 people.

Open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner.

Since 1840, world-renowned Antoine’s Restaurant has set the standard that made New Orleans one of the greatest dining centers in the world. Antoine’s excellent French-Creole cuisine, service and atmosphere have combined to create an unmatched dining experience for both locals and visitors to New Orleans.

Caffe! Caffe!

Chappy’s Restaurant

Broussard's Restaurant

4301 Clearview Parkway (504) 885-4845 3547 North Hullen St. (504) 267-9190 | CaffeCaffe.com

6106 Magazine St. (504) 208-8772 | Chappys.com

819 Rue Conti 504-581-3866 | Broussards.com

Chappy’s is your neighborhood restaurant by the park. Enjoy two-course dinners starting at $19. Specialties include Fried Oysters Rockefeller over spinach with Brie, and Grilled Redfish with crawfish sauce.

Open for dinner Tuesdays-Sundays. Sunday three-course brunch is only $15 (except holidays). Free parking at Perlis lot next door.

The Big Easy meets the Big Apple at the James Beard House on Sept. 17, as Chef Neal Swidler of Broussard's and Chef Nathan Richard of Kingfish prepare a multicourse French-Creole tasting menu showcasing Louisiana-inspired dishes, including oysters Rockefeller, redfish and étoufée.

You love their delicious salads, sandwiches and soups for lunch; now try hot breakfast at both Metairie locations of Caffe! Caffe!

Enjoy bacon & egg breakfast sandwiches and creamy grits made from scratch daily.

Catering menu available. Call individual location for daily lunch specials.

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Boscoli Family’s Dirty Martini Olive Juice and pickled vegetables are a must in Bloody Marys and Dirty Martinis. See Boscoli.com for additional recipes, including “Boscoli Party Dip," featuring their famous Muffuletta Olive Salad.

CoNola Grill & Sushi 619 Pink St. (504) 837-0055 | CoNolaGrillSushi.com CoNoLa Grill & Sushi is a new and innovative restaurant located in the heart of Old Metairie. CoNoLa offers a grassroots-style southern cafe menu, as well as a full service American sushi bar. Both provide multiple Cajun cuisines to be enjoyed by the whole family.

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Hoshun Restaurant

3605 S. Carrollton Ave. (504) 482-3935 | FiveHappiness.com

1601 St. Charles Ave. (504) 302-9717 | HoshunRestaurant.com

Come to Five Happiness and let the ambience and friendly staff take you to a new level of dining experience. This award-winning restaurant always strives to achieve its best. Private party and banquet rooms are available.

Chinese or Japanese? Can’t decide?

Hoshun is your answer! They offer an extensive menu from classic Chinese dishes to Japanese sushi and everything in between (like Vietnamese pho or pad thai). Stick with one cuisine or mix and match! Open daily until 2 a.m.

Langlois

Mandina’s Restaurant

1710 Pauger St. (504) 934-1010 | LangloisNola.com

Chef Amy Sins serves modern farm-totable Louisiana cuisine with a side of cooking how-to and history at this Marigny open-kitchen restaurant. Menus focus on local culinary influences (think: Cajun, Creole, German, Italian, Spanish, Vietnamese) and change monthly. Expect a social, dinner party atmosphere – perfect for groups! Reservations required.

3800 Canal St. (504) 482-9179 | MandinasRestaurant.com

Mr. Ed’s Family of Restaurants

716 Iberville St. (504) 522-2467 DickieBrennansSteakHouse.com A fresh take on classic cut, Dickie Brennan’s Steakhouse has taken the Chateaubriand to new heights! Feast on 20oz of perfectly prepared tenderloin, complete with three seasonal sides and three housemade sauces in New Orleans’ nationally recognized, local steakhouse.

Mandina’s is the quintessential neighborhood restaurant. “There are some items that have been on the menu for 75 years,” says Cindy Mandina. “My grandmother always said, ‘Take care of the neighborhood people and locals that come here… cater to their needs and desires.’ We’re a place that if you want to substitute something, we’ll do it. We’ll take care of you … That’s what we’re all about." Mandina’s is open for lunch and dinner daily.

512 Bienville St. at Decatur (504) 309-4848 3117 21st St. (504) 833-6310 | MrEdsOysterBar.com

DINING & ENTERTAINMENT

Five Happiness

Dickie Brennan’s Steakhouse

Mr. Ed’s Oyster Bar & Fish House has expanded to the French Quarter, now offering two unique locations and one great menu. The location on Bienville is open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner, serving seafood, poor boys, and raw and grilled oysters. Both locations offer a stand up oyster bar for guests to enjoy.

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New Orleans Creole Cookery

Orleans Grapevine Wine Bar & Bistro

510 Toulouse St. (504) 524-9632 NewOrleansCreoleCookery.com

Savor authentic Creole dishes prepared by renowned Chef Alex Patout. Delight in traditional dishes such as Gumbo, Shrimp Creole, Crawfish Etouffee, oysters grilled and raw, boiled seafood and more.

Enjoy handcrafted cocktails and signature drinks in the historic French Quarter.

720 Orleans Ave. (504) 523-1930 | OrleansGrapevine.com

Ralph Brennan Catering

Red Gravy

Sac-A-Lait

(504) 539-5510 RalphBrennanCatering.com

125 Camp St. (504) 561-8844 | RedGravyCafe.com

1051 Annunciation St. (504) 324-3658 | sac-a-laitrestaurant.com

New Orleans’ premier caterer for groups from 100 to 1,200 people! Let them match your palate, theme and budget in your home, restaurant or venue of your choice. They are dedicated to servicing a seamless, professional and above all memorable experience.

Let Madame de Cuisine Roseann feed you the family recipes she grew up with.

Everything she serves is farm to fork, handmade with love and dedicated to tradition. Listed in Open Table’s "Top 100 Best Brunch Restaurants in America!"

Serving brunch Wednesday through Monday. Come and eat, she always makes too much!

Sac-A-Lait is set in an old Cotton Mill in the Warehouse District of New Orleans, originally constructed in 1882. Chefs Cody and Samantha Carroll, 2013 King and Queen of Louisiana Seafood, and their families designed and built the entire restaurant, including all of the wood and ironwork. Menu changes daily. Dinner Tuesdays-Saturdays; lunch Fridays.

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Continuing its long tradition of serving high quality cuisine, soak in the Southern atmosphere Orleans Grapevine Wine Bar & Bistro has to offer as you sip vino from one of the largest selections of wines by the bottle in the French Quarter.

Q&C Hotel/Bar 344 Camp St. (504) 587-9700 | QandC.com The newly reimagined Q&C Hotel/Bar offers a uniquely New Orleans experience, with a contemporary feel and an attention to classic details. The bar offers an extensive menu of craft cocktails, local beer, small plates and artisan pizzas.

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DINING & ENTERTAINMENT

Salon by Sucré

The Court of Two Sisters

The Ruby Slipper

622 Conti St. (504) 267-7098 | ShopSucre.com

613 Royal St. (504) 522-7261 | CourtOfTwoSisters.com

Mid-City, Marigny, CBD, French Quarter (504) 525-9355 | TheRubySlipperCafe.net

Salon by Sucré is in the forefront of culinary innovation in New Orleans, featuring brunch, lunch, modern afternoon tea, a stylish evening menu, craft cocktails and fine wine. Created by Sucré’s Tariq Hanna and Joel Dondis, Salon is located on the second floor of 622 Conti St., above the newest Sucré boutique.

Join us for Jazz Brunch seven days a week! Or enjoy a classic Creole dinner served nightly. Entrées include Crabmeat Au Gratin, Trout Amondine and Veal Oscar. Sept. 14-20, they will offer a special three-course dinner as part of Louisiana Restaurant Association’s We Live to Eat Restaurant Week.

The Ruby Slipper is known for adding New Orleans flair to traditional breakfast, brunch and lunch menus. Specialty cocktails such as the Ruby Slipper Mimosa and house-made Bloody Mary are perfect complements to favorites such as the seasonal Ruby’s Crabcake breakfast, and House Specialties Eggs Cochon or BBQ Shrimp & Grits.

Vincent’s Italian Cuisine

Wayfare

West Jefferson Foundation

4411 Chastant St. (504) 885-2984 7839 St. Charles Ave. (504) 866-9313

4510 Freret St. (504) 309-0069 | WayfareNola.com

Moonlight & Martinis ... Making a Difference is a fundraiser benefiting the Cancer Center at West Jefferson Medical Center. This event will help West Jefferson continue to offer world-class cancer care in a comfortable environment. The night will feature Dr. Jennifer Arnold of TLC’s "The Little Couple," along with scrumptious food, a martini bar and more. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit: wjmc.org/moonlight.

With locations in Metairie and Uptown, Vincent’s Italian Cuisine specializes in classic Italian favorites as well as fresh, local seafood. Vincent's is consistently voted as the local favorite by New Orleans Magazine's readers. Visit VincentsItalianCuisine.com for more information:

Start your night off on the new Freret Street with Wayfare’s Happy Hour. In addition to the daily special arancini and meat pies, their bar also offers $4 Moscow Mules and Grey Goose Pear 75s.

Stop in and cool off before a night on the town! Specials available everyday 4-7 p.m.

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NOVEMBER 20th, 21st & 22nd

Campers are organized into groups:

Younger girls 7-9 Younger boys 7-9 Older girls 10-12 Older boys 10-12 Camp Swan is a 3 day/2 night camp for children ages 7-12 who have lost someone significant in their lives. This camp is sponsored

by Canon Hospice and the Akula Foundation.

Camp Swan is designed to provide an experience in outdoor living combined with therapeutic activities to facilitate grieving in a fun and naturalistic setting.

The camp is staffed by volunteer counselors including bereavement counselors, social workers, doctors, nurses, medical students, and adults from the community. This weekend camp can accommodate approximately 40 children. THE CAMP IS FREE OF CHARGE. Donations to Camp Swan are always appreciated.

The camp will be held the weekend before Thanksgiving, November 20th, 21st, and 22nd, 2014 at Camp Living Waters. Camp Living Waters is 100 acres of land on the north shore of Lake Pontchartain in Tangipahoa Parish between Robert and Loranger, Louisiana.

If you know a child who would benefit from the services provided

by Camp Swan, call Sue May at 504-729-6920

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Traditional New Orleans

French Quarter Phantoms Bakery Village

(504) 666-8300 | FrenchQuarterPhantoms.com

BakeryVillageNOLA.com

French Quarter Phantoms Ghost & Vampire Tours are one of TripAdvisor’s "Top 10 Ghost Tours in the World." Grab a cocktail and walk with their Master Story Tellers for great laughs and chills up your spine! Tours begin at 6 and 8 p.m. nightly and are appropriate for all ages. Online discounts available.

In New Orleans’ newest subdivision, city living meets the peaceful enjoyment of suburban residential life. Located in the Historic Irish Channel neighborhood, Bakery Village is surrounded by parks and reputable schools. A few blocks from the river, Garden District and Magazine Street, Bakery Village is "where it's at" in New Orleans!

Louisiana Custom Closets Cristy Cali (504) 407-5041| CristiCali.com Cristy Cali’s line of Hurricane Katrina Ten Year Anniversary jewelry is a symbol of the honest efforts by the New Orleans community to come together and rebuild our beautiful city.

All of the profits from this line will be donated to Animal Rescue New Orleans.

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New Orleans: (504) 885-3188 Covington: (985) 871-0810 Baton Rouge: (225) 753-3001 LouisianaCustomClosets.com Louisiana Custom Closets represents the pinnacle of quality in storage solutions. Because they are the manufacturer, their professional design staff can create personalized spaces for you. Locally owned since 2003. Choose your style, choose your finish and take your storage space from simply neat to simply fabulous.

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SÖPÖ New Orleans 629 N. Carrollton Ave. (504) 609-2429 SoPoNola.com

QUEORK 838 Chartres St. (504) 481-4910 | Queork.com

Located in the heart of Mid City, söpö showcases the work of a carefully curated group of independent designers both local and international. The two-story lifestyle boutique features gifts on the downstairs portion, and women's apparel on the second floor.

Specializing in luxury cork handbags and accessories made from genuine cork. Waterproof, scratch proof, stain resistant and virtually weightless compared to leather. Pictured: Flapper Cork handbag, $159.

ROBERT HUDSON MAKEUP STUDIO (504) 866-6007 RobertHudson-Makeup.com Robert Hudson has done makeup for Miami, Milan, New Orleans and New York Fashion Weeks. His intimate makeup Studio Uptown offers makeup applications, makeup lessons and brow shaping. Gift certificates are available. Services are provided in the studio and on location by appointment.

TRASHY DIVA 2048 Magazine St. 537 Royal St. (504) 299-3939 | TrashyDiva.com Score one for style this season with Trashy Diva’s signature Grand Fleur collection! Inspired by the city we all know and love, their New Orleans-themed print lets you cheer on your beloved Saints while flaunting classic dresses, comfortable separates and fashionable accessories. myneworleans.com / SEPTEMBER 2015

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Cutting-Edge Technology T

he “cutting edge” of a knife is obviously its sharpest point, the first part of the tool to break through a substance and move the knife forward. Being sharpest, breaking through and moving forward are all synonymous with cutting-edge, and it’s for that reason we use the term to describe the following technologies, research and procedures being used by local and

Orthopaedics Serving the West Bank and Greater New Orleans region, Westside Orthopaedic Clinic provides superior general orthopaedic treatment with a specialty in spinal care. The clinic has been in operation since 1961, making it one of the longest standing orthopaedic clinics in the city.

Dr. Ralph Katz is trained in all areas of modern orthopaedic surgery and is board-certified and fellowship-trained. Dr. Katz is a leader in his field with over 14 years performing advanced, minimally invasive procedures that restore strength and independence, allowing patients to successfully return to their regular activities quickly. Additionally, the experienced and compassionate staff at Westside will always put the patient first with individualized treatment plans.

High-quality patient care is of the utmost importance at Westside Orthopaedic Clinic. Most major insurance plans are accepted, including worker’s compensation. Timely appointments are available. Westside offers full-service, in-house, digital X-rays, EMG/NCS, as well as physical therapy services with access to new rehabilitation equipment. For more information on Westside Orthopaedic Clinic, visit WestsideOrtho.com or call 347-0243.

Dr. Kevin Darr of Covington Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Institute is a board-certified and fellowship-trained orthopedic

surgeon with a commitment to offering comprehensive, progressive orthopedic care, including today’s most innovative and progressive practices, to achieve optimal function and performance.

“In addition to traditional orthopedic treatments and surgery, I also offer minimally invasive alternatives utilizing state of the art technology and integrative orthobiologic therapies and treatments,” says Dr. Darr.

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regional medical providers. For the latest advancements in orthopaedics and anti-aging techniques, peruse the following news, services and offerings of these local pioneers in their fields.

Whether you’re in need of a minimally invasive surgery, interested in learning about new therapies or seeking skin rejuvenation, a local practice or physician may have the answer for you. research and is currently conducting four IRB-approved research studies using advanced adult stem cell therapy along with plateletrich plasma to improve function and relieve pain associated with osteoarthritis, soft tissue pathology including tendon and ligament disorders, and osteonecrosis in various joints.

For more information on these studies and services by Dr. Darr, visit DrKevinDarr.com or call (985) 273-5888.

Anti-aging

Dr. Kelly Burkenstock’s Skin Body Health is the South’s hallmark anti-aging institute that incorporates skin rejuvenation with anti-aging medical disciplines to provide an exceptional healthcare experience. Dr Kelly Burkenstock is internationally trained and has just returned from Brazil, where she attended the International Congress of Aesthetic Dermatology, learning cutting-edge skin rejuvenation and anti-aging techniques. Comprehensive in her approach, Dr. Burkenstock employs customized treatments including lasers, radio frequency, IPL, Botox and fillers to achieve younger looking skin and improve the body’s appearance. Her approach incorporates education and programs that improve health and assist in the prevention and management of diabetes, high blood pressure, thyroid, weight gain and menopause.

Dr. Burkenstock offers a number of plans including the popular “Ageless RX” and “Dare to Be Thin!®” programs. Her “Club Renew” Wrinkle Filler and Botox packages keep skin beautiful all year long via an affordable club plan. Additionally, vein sclerotherapy and tattoo removal services erase what you once thought was permanent. Office locations are in Mandeville and Metairie. Watch Dr. Burkenstock on WGNO’s “News with a Twist” every Tuesday at 6 p.m. For more information, visit SkinBodyHealth.com or call 888-2829. •

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W

hile students are naturally expected to do their fair share of research in school, families in the area often have to do their own research in order to find the right school. Sure, a challenging curriculum is often at the top of the list, but parents and children often have a more than one priority when it comes to education. Are you looking for the spiritual component offered by many of the area’s Catholic, Episcopal or Jewish schools? Are athletics and extra-curricular

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activities an important factor? What about arts programs in music, theater, visual arts and writing? There are a number of facets that distinguish area schools from one another, and knowing what’s offered and where can make a significant difference in your child’s future. As many adjust this month to returning “back to school,” the following schools are planning their open houses and tours for families across the region looking for a head start on what next year will bring.

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Early & Primary School

St. Andrew’s Episcopal School is the oldest Episcopal school in New Orleans, with 58 years of experience in educating the mind, body and spirit of young children. St. Andrew’s enrolls boys and girls 18 months through eighth grade, offering 10-plus years of nurturing yet challenging education that focuses on the Decade of Childhood.

Under the direction of Mason Lecky, Head of School, St. Andrew’s utilizes small classes to promote a challenging learning environment where students interact with teachers and grow spiritually, socially and intellectually. A strong academic program, enhanced by state-of-the-art technology, includes Spanish, Chinese, music, chapel, fine arts, athletics and library skills.

Student publications, dramatics, interscholastic sports and community service round out St. Andrew’s program.

Come see their newly renovated and updated early childhood classrooms at an upcoming Open House (Nov. 12, Dec. 3 or Jan. 14, 2016) or call for a personal tour. For further information, visit the school’s website at StAndrewsEpiscopalSchool.org.

St. George’s is a private, co-educational, independent school for students from preschool (ages 1-3) through eighth grade and is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Southwest (ISAS) and the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS). Established in 1969, St. George’s holds a unique position in the community based on its concept of “individualized education,” which builds upon the distinct talents and learning styles of each individual student.

St. George’s has the lowest student-to-teacher ratio (5:1) of any school in the area. Its small size and abundance of enrichment

programs enable faculty, students and parents to work together using a proven model of educating each child to his or her fullest potential. Students gain the confidence needed to achieve success in academics, social development and emotional wellbeing.

The historic campus is conveniently located uptown on Napoleon Avenue between Magazine and Camp streets. Open house will be held on Nov. 5 and 12, and Jan. 14 and 21, 2016, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Private tours can be arranged by calling 891-5509. For more information, visit StGeorgesEpiscopal.com or call 891-5509.

For a strong primary education combined with the unique qualities of an outdoor country environment just minutes from downtown, check out Arden Cahill Academy, which is nestled on a 12-acre tract of land along Bayou Fatma in Gretna. Not only does the campus provide state of the art classroom learning facilities, but an equestrian arena, stables and petting farm help the school provide unique learning experiences outside of the traditional classroom environment.

The school focuses on cultural enrichment as one part of its primary education and tradition of academic excellence. Their 300-seat theater, art studios, music rooms and foreign language programs ensure students’ abilities to excel in the arts, while a football field, competition pool, gymnasium and extra-curricular athletics allow students to excel in physical competition as well. To provide family-friendly support services, Arden Cahill Academy offers before and after school care and a specialized Infant Center which accepts children as young as six weeks. The academy also offers Camp Corral, a 10-week summer camp.

For more information on the school, call 392-0902 or visit ArdenCahillAcademy.com.

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Established in 1891, Holy Name of Jesus School is located in the Uptown area of New Orleans, adjacent to Loyola and Tulane universities. It is a Roman Catholic, co-educational school for grades prekindergarten through seventh. Serving the Greater New Orleans area, the educational philosophy of Holy Name of Jesus centers on teaching children confidence, compassion and integrity while achieving academic excellence and maintaining the Catholic faith in an inclusive community. The school has flourished under the guidance of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas and the Jesuit Fathers for over 100 years and continues to guide their mission of educating the whole child both academically and spiritually.

Open House for parents of prospective new students will be held Jan. 26, 2016, 4:30-7 p.m. Private tours are available throughout the year by appointment. For more information, call 8611466 or visit hnjschool.org. Experience the difference at Holy Name of Jesus – “Faith, Family, Foundation for over 100 years.”

Located in Lake Vista, St. Pius X is a co-educational Catholic school for prekindergarten 3 through seventh grade, and offers a comprehensive challenging curriculum in religion, academics, music, art, technology, language and athletics in a loving, faithfilled environment.

Founded in 1953, St. Pius X Catholic School is accredited by AdvancEd Louisiana and was named a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence by the United States Department of Education. In 2015, St. Pius X Catholic School received the Outstanding School Board Award from the National Catholic Educational Association. Visit them online at StPiusXNola.org to see how they encourage students through works, actions and deeds to prepare them for tomorrow’s challenges.

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Admission Open House will be on Thurs., Jan. 14, 2016, 6-8 p.m. and on Fri., Jan. 15, 2016, 9-11 a.m. You may call 282-2811 to schedule a prekindergarten or kindergarten tour on Tuesday or Thursday or for more information.

Trinity is a co-educational, prekindergarten through eighth grade school. Their campus is located in the Garden District and offers a pleasant and stimulating learning environment for students and faculty. Trinity continues in the tradition of its

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predecessor school, Miss Edith Aiken’s Little School, founded in 1917, and in that of Trinity Episcopal Church, which since its founding in 1847 has maintained a commitment to the educational and civic life of New Orleans.

The school motto articulates their mission of: “Celebrating the Intellect, Nourishing the Spirit, Celebrating Community.” Trinity nurtures a child’s mind, body and spirit through a fun and challenging program that offers the best in the academic disciplines, uses best practices and is taught by a skillful, experienced, and loving faculty and staff. For more information or to schedule an individual tour, visit TrinityNola.com or call the Admission Office at 525-8661.

Open Houses for grades prekindergarten through eighth will take place on Oct. 15, Nov. 11 and Jan. 15, 2016, all at 9 a.m.

The mission of the Stuart Hall School for Boys is to live the words of Catholic educator, Janet Erskine Stuart, R.S.C.J. – “Education is formation, not just information.” Faculty and staff are dedicated to working with parents to help each child build a foundation for a life centered on a love for learning, a desire to help others, and a commitment to Gospel values.

Now in its 32nd year, Stuart Hall School is the only school in the greater New Orleans area to offer a Catholic, independent, all-boy education in a traditional, elementary school configuration (prekindergarten 3 through seventh). Faith, honor, leadership and scholarship are the foundations upon which Stuart Hall builds future community leaders who have an unselfish commitment to the service of others. It truly is a school “Where Good Boys Become Great Men.” For more information on Stuart Hall School for Boys or to tour the campus, please call 861-5384 or visit StuartHall.org.

Jewish Community Day School (JCDS), an independent school for boys and girls in grades prekindergarten through fifth, is the Jewish day school of Greater New Orleans. Its mission is to instill a strong ethical foundation rooted in Judaism and a love of learning, invigorated by academic excellence. JCDS is grounded in Jewish tradition where it fosters spirituality (emunah), dedication to repair the world (tikkun olam) and a commitment to the entire Jewish people (klal Yisrael). JCDS is a school where families of all backgrounds are welcomed and children are prepared to be engaged, compassionate leaders of their communities in the United States, Israel and the world.

With an average student to teacher ratio of 8:1, JCDS ensures that every child is known, nurtured and challenged to achieve.

JCDS works to ensure that students become inquiring, capable youth, teachers are dedicated to best educational practices and families are engaged in their children’s academic achievement and holistic development.

JCDS is located at 3747 W. Esplanade Ave., in the heart of Metairie.

Private tours can be arranged anytime by calling Director of Admission Deb Marsh at 887-4091. For information, visit JCDSNola.org.

K–12/Continuous Education

Founded in 1903, Isidore Newman School is committed to the intellectual, ethical, emotional and physical development of each student. Newman offers a challenging, comprehensive and age-appropriate curriculum from prekindergarten through 12th grade, with Green Trees Early Childhood Village enrolling children ages 6 weeks to 4 years. A Newman education encourages critical and independent thinking, leadership in academic and extracurricular activities, and provides superior

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guidance and support for high achieving students and families.

Newman seeks to enroll qualified students regardless of race, gender or creed. Need-based financial aid is available.

Newman invites guests to explore the school’s offerings by visiting the school website or by signing up for the many open houses available this fall and spring. Individual visits are always encouraged and welcome. Apply online or contact the school by calling 896-6323, or visit NewmanSchool.org for more information.

Louisiana’s highest performing kindergarten through 12th grade public school, Lusher Charter School, a National Blue Ribbon School in partnership with Tulane University, offers a rigorous, interdisciplinary, college-focused curriculum. Lusher students engage in a comprehensive academic program, enhancing critical, analytical and creative thinking. Serving 1,700 students, Lusher maintains two Uptown campuses, the Lower School (862-5110) on Willow Street, and both the Middle and High schools (304-3961) on Freret Street.

Beginning with arts integration in elementary school, many Lusher students continue their artistic pursuits in a high school Certificate of Artistry program. Students may also choose an area of concentration in Humanities/Communications/Arts or Math/Science/Engineering.

Additionally a Learning Resource Center and state-of-the-art science laboratories support academic excellence. Qualifying juniors and seniors earn college credit at Tulane University.

Lusher’s numerous extracurricular offerings include 27 sports teams that operate with the support of Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who provided funding for the campus football field, Brees Family Field.

For more information, call 304-3960 or visit LusherSchool.org.

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Holy Cross School’s mission is to educate the whole man. Since 1849, they have accomplished this mission through a time-tested mix of a challenging, yet caring academic regimen supplemented by an extensive athletic program for both middle and high school students.

Holy Cross offers a growing “technology-infused” curriculum.

Their state-of-the-art wireless campus is outfitted with two computer labs to complement the one-to-one laptop program in fifth grade through 12th. Teachers are kept on the cutting edge with interactive SMART™ Boards and alternative assessments online. Holy Cross offers an impressive array of extracurricular activities, including the only sequential music program for young men in fifth through 12th grade.

The Primary School, grades prekindergarten through 4, opened in August 2015. The school is a project-inspired school, promoting imagination, creativity, exploration, and discovery with a strong emphasis on STEM instruction. Religion and physical education are part of the daily schedule. Students are offered music, art, library, and foreign language. With the addition of the Primary School, Holy Cross School is the only New Orleans Catholic school for boys prekindergarten through 12th grade.

For more information, visit HolyCrossTigers.com or call 942-3100.

St. Martin’s Episcopal School is a coeducational, independent college preparatory day school for students from ages 8 weeks through 12th grade. The school prepares students to thrive in college and in life through faith, scholarship and service. There is a Baby Boom at George Cottage, St. Martin’s innovative, playbased early childhood program. George Cottage is now enrolling children from 8 weeks to 4 years old.

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All are encouraged to visit the beautiful 18-acre campus for a personal tour or attend one of the upcoming Open Houses.

The George Cottage and Lower School open house takes place Sat., Oct. 17 at 9:30 a.m. The Middle and Upper School will host its open house on Sat., Nov. 7 at 10 a.m, and an All School open house will take place on Thurs., Jan. 21, 2016 at 9:30 a.m.

For more information or to schedule a personal tour, call the Admission Office at 736-9917. Visit St. Martin’s online at StMSaints.com.

Established in 1929, Metairie Park Country Day School is a co-educational, non-denominational, independent school where care and cultivation of each child, from prekindergarten through

12th grade, come to life with exciting and innovative approaches to teaching. Its use of advanced technology and expansive, rigorous curriculum opens the world to students.

Country Day’s outstanding faculty holds students to high standards while teaching the importance of individual achievement through depth of inquiry rather than mere recitation of facts.

The Country Day tradition of developing an aesthetic sensibility in students is reflected not only in its beautiful 14-acre campus, but also in the rich and varied performing and visual arts program that has been a hallmark of the school. Insistence on intellectual virtues and ethical leadership is woven throughout the daily lives of the diverse individuals that build its community.

Visit an Admissions Open House or email admissions@mpcds. com for a private tour. Prekindergarten Open House is Tues., Nov. 3 at 6:30 p.m. kindergarten through fifth grade Open House is Thurs., Jan. 14 at 8:30 a.m.; sixth through 12th grades Open House is Thurs., Nov. 19 at 6:30 p.m. and Thurs., Jan. 21, 2016 at 8:15 a.m. Learn more at MPCDS.com.

Founded in 1867, the Academy of the Sacred Heart is a Catholic, independent, college prep school for girls, toddler through 12th grade. The school is committed to values of faith, intellectual advancement, social awareness, the building of community and personal growth.

As part of a network of more than 150 Sacred Heart schools, its global exchange program allows students to visit other sister schools in the U. S. and abroad. With global exchange opportunities, thought leadership, service learning activities, a tech-forward campus, design thinking and more, Sacred Heart girls are truly outfitted and inspired to go out and make change in the world.

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the whole person, develops leaders of confidence and compassion, and prepares them for life in a global society.

A High School Open House (eighth through 12th grade) will be held Thurs., Oct. 29, 4-6 p.m. An Elementary School Open House (toddler 2 through seventh grade) will take place on Mon., Nov. 16, 3-4:30 p.m. Elementary School Tours will be given on November 4, 11, and 18 at 8:30 a.m. Private tours are available by appointment. For more information, contact the Office of Admissions at 866-5292 or admissions@uanola.org, or visit UANola.org.

High School

Open House for fifth through 12th grades is Wed., Oct. 21, 5-7 p.m. Open House for toddler through fourth grade is Wed., Nov. 4, 5-7 p.m. Tuesday tours for toddler through fourth grade take place Oct. 13, Oct. 27, Nov. 10, and Jan. 12, 2016, 8:30-11 a.m.

For more info, call 269-1213 or visit AshRosary.org.

Ursuline Academy, founded in 1727, is a Catholic school for girls offering a strong educational environment from early childhood (toddler through second grade) through a college preparatory secondary program (12th grade). Ursuline fosters spiritual formation, academic excellence and a life-long commitment to Serviam: I will serve. The Academy values the uniqueness of each student, nurtures

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Benjamin Franklin High School, New Orleans’ most outstanding public charter school, has been preparing students for success through academic achievement since it was founded in 1957. Consistently ranked as a “top public high school in the nation” by U.S. News and World Report, Franklin has received the highest School Performance Score in Louisiana, making it the No. 1 public school in the state, year after year.

Franklin is repeatedly named a National Blue Ribbon School, producing Presidential and National Merit Scholars each year.

For the 2014-’15 academic year, Franklin boasted 35 students recognized by the National Merit Corporation, and graduates earned the most academic scholarships of any public school in the parish. The exceptional students, faculty and staff of Benjamin Franklin High School are the best and the brightest of New Orleans.

For more information, visit BFHSLA.org or call the admissions office directly at 286-2610.

ADVERTISING SECTION Archbishop Chapelle High School is a leading private Catholic school that excels in the spiritual, academic, and social development of girls in eighth through 12th grade. With increased AP and dual-enrollment classes, an extensively renovated campus and a new state-of-the-art STEM center, Chapelle offers a rigorous academic program that prepares students to succeed in college and their future careers while remembering Deus Providebit, God Will Provide.

Chapelle’s technology-rich college preparatory curriculum inspires creativity and encourages hands-on learning through the use of iPad2s and iBooks in every subject. Chapelle graduates thrive as well-rounded individuals ready to become leaders of tomorrow who will enact positive change in the world.

At Chapelle, students are challenged to deepen their faith and advance in the wisdom and truths of Catholicism through religion classes, liturgies, class-level retreats and ministry programs.

Additionally, extracurricular activities at Chapelle encompass a vast range of student interests in athletics, fine arts, academics and service.

For more information on Chapelle’s academic programs, initiatives and activities, visit ArchbishopChapelle.org.

What is your favorite subject? Whatever it is, Mount Carmel Academy offers electives to enable you to learn more about it.

All of your subjects are enhanced and given a global expression, as you use your Apple Mac Book Air computer for research, comparing and connecting ideas and developing concepts.

Have you discovered your talent? You can find it through the 62 extracurricular activities that enable the development of both skills and talents. Learn to make peoples’ lives better through

service, part of all Mount Carmel activities. Are you looking for a great high school where education can be fun, where technology drives teaching, where you are learning with great teachers who enjoy you and where you are supported and strengthened by God’s grace as your spirituality deepens? Mount Carmel Academy is the school for you, a four-time designated Top 50 Catholic School of Excellence and a school nationally recognized for academic excellence.

Prospective students and parents are invited to Open House Thurs., Oct. 8, 3-7 p.m. Private tours available by appointment.

For more information, visit MCACubs.com or contact the Office of Admissions at 288-7626, extension 229, or emailadmissions@ mcacubs.org.

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illness, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and depression, as well as serious emotional disturbances such as Autism, ODD, PTSD, ADHD and Conduct Disorder. Woodrich has intimate knowledge and experience working with individuals with Developmental Disorders and suffering from the effects of Bullying. The mission of Positive Family Solutions is to provide hope for individuals and families through specialized interventions focusing on individual strengths. Woodrich works with the child and parents to formulate therapeutic solutions to reduce negative behavior.

Gerard Woodrich, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, has been trained in various evidence-based interventions including: ABA Therapy, CBT Therapy, Motivational Enhancement Therapy and Play Therapy. For information and appointments call 339-4938, visit PositiveFamilySolution.net or email gerard@positivefamilysolutions.net.

Back to School Resources

Positive Family Solutions is the private practice of New Orleans native, Gerard Woodrich, LCSW. Displaying a commitment to the mental wellbeing of the community, Positive Family Solutions sees clients of all ages and offers affordable and accessible counseling with evening and weekend appointments available with a sliding fee scale for those with limited income. Woodrich’s Garden District practice offers a safe and nurturing environment for clients of all ages.

Woodrich has experience counseling those with severe mental

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Whether it’s a broken arm, a sports-related injury or a complex congenital condition, Children’s Hospital’s Orthopedic Center is committed to providing comprehensive and compassionate care for pediatric, adolescent and young adult patients.

Established in 1955, it contains the region’s largest and most experienced pediatric orthopedic team. In its specialty clinics, last year the hospital recorded more than 24,000 visits, treating the full spectrum of orthopedic conditions, ranging from fractures and sports-related injuries to scoliosis, hip conditions, limb length discrepancies and cerebral palsy.

The center blends cutting-edge treatments and innovative surgical approaches when needed with prompt, family-centered care. A specialized critical care spinal unit is available to all patients who undergo a spine related surgical procedure. The

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center’s team is committed to providing the best possible care for every patient they meet.

For more information about the Orthopedic Center at Children’s Hospital visit CHNola.org.

Guided by a new name and mission, the Newcomb Art Museum of Tulane University presents original exhibitions that explore socially

engaged art, civic dialogue and community transformation.

As an entity of an academic institution, the museum utilizes the frameworks of diverse disciplines in conceptualizing and interpreting art and design.

From Sept. 9 through Jan. 3, the museum presents “A Shared Space: KAWS, Karl Wirsum, and Tomoo Gokita.” The exhibition presents new work by KAWS, one of the most relevant artists of his generation, alongside pieces from his private collection.

The museum is open Tuesdays through Fridays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Learn more at NewcombArtGallery.Tulane.edu or call 865-5328. The museum and its programs are free and open to the public.

Prepping for an exam is as important as its results, which can affect one’s acceptance into college as well as possible scholarships and other financing. The Princeton Review offers area students a vast array of prep options, ranging from private tutoring and small group instruction to self-guided online courses and the LiveOnline Classroom. The Princeton Review’s SAT, ACT and PSAT programs provide students with a personal prep experience that fits their unique learning style, schedule and budget. Find the option that works best for your future graduate.

Program components vary and include several hours of in-class

instruction, practice tests, personalized feedback, interactive multimedia lessons and more.

For more information on prep possibilities, visit PrincetonReview.com or call 826-8406. Find out if your student will make the grade with a free practice test at PrincetonReview. com/FreePracticeTest. In addition to prep programs, a complete line of prep books for SAT and ACT are also available at PrincetonReview.com/Bookstore.

With a diverse and whimsical product line, locally based

Auraluz offers one-of-a-kind gifts and children’s clothing,

including its own Auraluz brand available in sizes Preemie to 6X. Auraluz has been creating its signature hand-embroidered designs for over 47 years with a number of offerings perfect for christenings, first birthdays, weddings and anniversaries.

Centrally located in Metairie, just one block from Clearview Parkway and West Esplanade Avenue, Auraluz occupies a freestanding building with plenty of parking, which makes it a great spot for stress-free shopping.

Auraluz’s new website launched this past summer and now offers easy online ordering at ShopAuraluz.com. In addition to its lines of clothing and gifts, Auraluz also offers monogramming services and baby-bridal-gift registry. The store stocks gifts for both children and adults, including dolls, plush items, books, toys, locally themed items, gifts for every occasion and home and kitchen items.

Auraluz is open 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Mondays through Fridays, and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturdays. The store is located at 4408 Shores Drive in Metairie. For more information, call 888-3313 or visit ShopAuraluz.com. •

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T

Men’s Health

he summer months reached record high temperatures this year, and the dangerous weather affected activities and increased health concerns across the region. With outdoor activity being discouraged during the day, outdoor exercisers cut their routines short or out completely, and people were advised to look for signs of heat-related illness. While the impact of weather on health isn’t normally such a concern, the approaching

cooler months offer a chance to get back on track and take proper care of one’s self, whether that be getting back into exercise or scheduling advised check-ups and screenings. The following health care providers across the region offer the knowledge and expertise related to your concerns and that of the men in your life. Fathers, sons, husbands and brothers take note and seek the guidance of those who can help increase your vitality this fall.

Cancer Care

radiation to the targeted tissue without cutting.

To find out more about the Cancer Center of Thibodaux Regional, visit Thibodaux.com or call (985) 493-4008.

Serving Thibodaux and the Bayou Region, the Cancer Center of Thibodaux Regional has been a leader in the fight against cancer for more than 20 years and provides comprehensive, quality care in a compassionate environment. The Center is Accredited with Commendation by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer and is the only program in Louisiana to receive the College’s Outstanding Achievement Award three times.

Thibodaux Regional’s Cancer Center provides many options for the treatment of prostate cancer. Prostate Seed Implants (brachytherapy), performed by the radiation oncologist and urologists, deliver radiation directly to the prostate while sparing nearby healthy tissue. The revolutionary daVinci Robotic Surgical System is a minimally invasive microsurgery procedure that allows the surgeon more pinpoint movement than traditional surgery, decreasing the risk of damage to nearby tissue. Additionally, the Cancer Center’s advanced Trilogy System can be utilized to perform Stereotactic Radiosurgery, which delivers a high dose of

With the recent unveiling of UroNav, East Jefferson General Hospital is the first center in the region to offer MRI/Ultrasound fusion-guided prostate biopsies. This gives physicians and their patients, the clearest, most accurate, safest prostate biopsy yet.

Doctor Donald Bell is a Urologist at EJGH. He was one of the first physicians in the state qualified to use UroNav. He strongly believes in what this new technology offers, “With UroNav we have yet another weapon in our fight against prostate cancer. It gives us new opportunities in the early detection and accurate diagnosis of prostate cancer. It isn’t an exaggeration to say it will help us save lives.”

In this region, only East Jefferson General Hospital has UroNav. And only a handful of physicians are qualified to use it. To find a urologist who uses UroNav, call HealthFinder at 504-456-5000. myneworleans.com / SEPTEMBER 2015

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Diet & Nutrition People experience a variety of health changes and concerns over a lifetime, and in a city as flavorful as New Orleans, eating can often have its own impact. Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Jessica Schultis offers personalized nutrition counseling that can help find solutions to a variety of nutritional concerns, especially as they relate to weight management, diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol, pregnancy and breastfeeding, celiac disease, chronic disease prevention and more.

“I will help you determine and reach your personal nutrition goals. No gimmicks, pills or quick fixes – just real food in a healthful way,” says Schultis, a New Orleans native. After receiving a B.S. degree in Biological Sciences and Nutritional Sciences from LSU, she went on to complete her dietetic internship and Masters in Exercise and Nutrition Science from Lipscomb University in Nashville before working professionally in both Tennessee and Louisiana.

Schultis offers one-hour initial assessments with clients and a variety of follow-up packages, as well as additional services such as grocery store tours, nutritional recipe analysis, and group presentations. For more information, visit JessicaSchultisRDN.com or call 455-2031.

Primary Care & More

The new CrescentCare Health and Wellness Center provides a variety of primary care and specialty services for men, women, and families. The holistic, community-based center is dedicated to providing affordable, accessible healthcare for all. Additional services offered at the wellness center include behavioral health, case management, infectious disease referrals, and pediatric care.

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This month, the center will proudly begin offering dental care from its new suite. Services are provided on a sliding scale based on income or through several insurance providers.

CrescentCare Health and Wellness Center is open at 3308 Tulane Ave. in Mid-City (in the Marine Building, near the intersection of Jefferson Davis Boulevard). For more information, call 207CARE (2273) or visit CrescentCareHealth.org.

Note: As a National Health Service Core site, CrescentCare is seeking qualified health professionals dedicated to working in the heart of this community, making an impact in very powerful and personal ways. If you are interested in bringing better healthcare to New Orleans, visit their website.

Home Health & Rehabilitation

At the Hainkel Home, founded in 1891, individuals who are critically ill or disabled receive professional care for a range of health issues both short- and long-term. Hainkel Home also offers an adult daycare for those who are able to live at home but need assistance during the day.

Designated “5 Stars” by the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid (the only in Orleans Parish), Hainkel accepts private pay and private insurance, Medicare, VA and Medicaid while offering activities and programs developed around the residents’ needs, desires and abilities. The home prides itself on meeting the spiritual, emotional, social, physical and dietary needs of all residents. They received two consecutive deficiency-free annual surveys conducted by the Department of Health & Hospitals for the nursing home as well as another on their adult daycare.

Hainkel Home features a garden with winding paths perfect for wheelchairs or walkers, social rooms for games and television,

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physical therapy, a variety of religious services, a library, weekly dental services, a beauty parlor and a variety of scheduled activities.

For more information, contact Erin Hamilton or Laura Glazer at 896-5900 or visit HainkelHome.com.

Urology

Crescent City Physicians, Inc., a subsidiary of Touro, offers the latest in urological care and technology. Dr. Richard Vanlangendonck is a board-certified urologist fellowship-trained in minimally invasive urologic surgery with a primary focus on prostate and kidney cancers.

Due to advances in robotic technology, prostatectomies and nephrectomies can now be performed in such a way that surrounding nerves may be spared, which offers patients many potential benefits. Patients having robotic prostatectomies typically have reduced side effects from prostate cancer surgery over traditional open surgery. Reduced side effects, as well as the possibility of a partial nephrectomy, are advantages of robotic surgery in dealing with kidney cancer. In partial nephrectomies, only the diseased part of the kidney is removed while sparing the healthy, functioning kidney tissue. Dr. Vanlangendonck uses the state of the art da Vinci® Surgical System in performing these procedures.

For more information or to schedule a consultation, call 897-7196 or visit Crescent City Physicians online at CrescentCityPhysicians.com.

Sleep Apnea A full night of restful sleep is vital to your mental and physical health. If you have been diagnosed with Sleep Apnea but hate wearing a CPAP, there is a proven alternative. James A Moreau Jr., DDS works with physicians throughout the metro area to provide oral appliance therapy for the treatment of sleep apnea and snoring. Sleep Apnea is a potentially life threatening medical condition that can also be associated with snoring, exhaustion, erectile dysfunction, heart problems, memory difficulty, inability to have dreams, and drowsy driving. If you’re ready for a good night’s rest, call now to get help, (985) 809-7645.

Hospice

Anyone looking for compassionate and dignified care for their terminally ill loved ones should take a look at the services offered

by Canon Hospice. The caring team at Canon is dedicated to a hospice ministry that helps patients and families accept terminal illness positively and resourcefully. Their stated goal is to “allow our patients to live each day to the fullest and enjoy their time with family and friends.”

With special expertise in pain management and symptom control, Canon Hospice designs individualized plans of care for each patient based on their unique needs. Home Based Services provide doctors, nurses, social workers, pastoral care and volunteers. For patients with more intensive symptom management needs, Canon has an Inpatient Hospice Unit. This unit provides 24-hour care in a home-like environment where patients are permitted to receive visits at any hour.

For more information, visit CanonHospice.com or call 818-2723. •

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Madisonville Wooden Boat Festival - Photo by Bill Lang

Fall Travel Escapes T

his fall, make a point to enjoy a beautiful autumn sunset somewhere other than home. Take a break from the crowded, eventful months of September, October and November, and relax into an adventure tailored to your desires. Whether it’s toes in the sand, a fall festival or boutique shopping that strikes your fancy, opportunities are endless this season

across the southern region. From Louisiana up to Arkansas and over to Florida, the area presents a diverse array of travel escapes made better by cool breezes, changing leaves and entertainment possibilities. Find your autumn vacation among the following regional hot spots, and if you need help along your way, there are numerous travel resources for shopping, lodging and more.

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Louisiana Destinations Nestled between Baton Rouge and New Orleans is Houmas House Plantation and Gardens, the “Crown Jewel of Louisiana’s

River Road.” This historic property boasts 38 acres of the South’s most lush and vibrant gardens and offers tours of the magnificent mansion with its rare collection of period artwork and furnishings.

Dine in your choice of three restaurants, all of which feature a contemporary approach to Louisiana delicacies. Houmas House offers both a casual and fine dining atmosphere for breakfast, lunch or dinner. The latest addition of the Inn at Houmas House completes this plantation destination, making it the most extensive experience of the plantations along River Road. Twenty-one private cottages along an alley of oaks offer a serene environment perfect for a romantic getaway. Each room is complete with porcelain bathrooms, Old World furniture and private porch.

Upon arrival at Houmas House, guests feel transported back to a time of antebellum splendor. Slow down and enjoy a leisurely time. Sip a refreshing Mint Julep. Experience the South the way it was meant to be at Houmas House Plantation and Gardens.

Learn more by visiting HoumasHouse.com.

Travel less than an hour southwest of New Orleans and you’ll enter Louisiana’s Bayou Country – Houma, Louisiana. Folks in Houma are big on fun! Consider attending any number of their annual events with several lined up this fall. On September 27-28, celebrate Houma’s unique culture at Best of the Bayou, the city’s premier music festival! This free, two-day event features live music, local Cajun cuisine, a car show, arts and crafts

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and toy alligator races.

Help save the wetlands Oct. 10-12 with the Voice of the Wetlands Festival, a celebration to create awareness about the loss of the coastline in Southern Louisiana. Have some spooky fun on Oct. 25 at the Rougarou Fest, which pays tribute to the rich folklore that exists along the bayous of Southeast Louisiana.

From the Rougarou Run to the Krewe Ga Rou Parade, there are activities for all!

For a free Adventure Guide, call 800-688-2732 or visit HoumaTravel.com.

L’Auberge Casino & Hotel Baton Rouge spans 575 acres of land in the heart of South Baton Rouge. This truly unique casino entertainment complex captures the feel of a Southern river lodge.

Embracing local culture and cuisine, L’Auberge BatonRouge offers a genuine Louisiana experience and exudes a laissez les bon temps rouler atmosphere of fun.

L’Auberge Baton Rouge features an expansive 74,000-squarefoot casino with nearly 1,500 slot machines, 50 table games, a 12-story hotel with over 200 rooms and a rooftop pool, as well as three restaurants and a casino bar with breathtaking views of the Mississippi River. L’Auberge also features a multipurpose event center for concerts, banquets and other events and additionally, the complex includes outdoor festival grounds.

To find out more about L’Auberge Casino & Hotel Baton Rouge, visit MyLAuberge.com or find them on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

St. Tammany Parish, located just 45 minutes north of New Orleans, is known for celebrating a little of everything. Mark your calendar for the following upcoming fall events offering a

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L’Auberge Casino & Hotel Baton Rouge

variety of exciting activities.

The legendary Dew Drop Jazz & Social Hall in Old Mandeville begins its fall season on Sept. 11 with Don Vappie and The Creole Jazz Serenaders, followed by Chris Thomas King on Sept.

25. Pontchartrain Vineyards also has a full fall lineup hitting the stage for Jazz’n the Vines beginning Sept. 12.

Sportsmen and their families won’t want to miss the Kayak Fishing Boondoggle at Fontainebleau State Park Oct. 9-12 or the Wooden Boat Festival in Madisonville Oct. 10-11. Oct. 10 also brings the Fall for Art block party in Covington, featuring gallery exhibits and boutique shopping. The fun continues in Covington with The Three Rivers Art Festival, which takes over downtown Nov. 14-15 with art, food, music and family fun. Over in Slidell, the The Olde Towne Slidell Fall Antique Street Fair brings countless vendors to Historic Olde Towne Oct. 24-25.

For more info on these events and to find your fun, visit LouisianaNorthshore.com.

Visit Bayou Lafourche in October to enjoy great food and fun.

The 41st annual Louisiana Gumbo Festival takes place Oct. 9-11 in Chackbay, which lives up to its title as the Gumbo Capital of Louisiana, serving over 600 gallons of chicken-and-sausage and seafood gumbo at the festival. The French Food Festival in Larose follows two weeks later and wishes all bon appetite Oct. 22-25. The French Food Festival will boast over 30 different Cajun foods for sampling as you make your way through Larose Regional Park.

In addition to amazing food and live entertainment, both of these Southeast Tourism Top 20 Events will have plenty of other fun activities for you to enjoy, including carnival mid-

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Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort

ways, parades, auctions, contests and live local and national music for dancing. Come Live the “Bayou Life” and experience Cajun culture, food, outdoors and people! Plan your visit at VisitLafourche.com.

Visit St. Landry Parish on Sept. 5 and kick up your heels at the Zydeco Breakfast in downtown Opelousas, where there’s nothing like a bloody Mary and good music! Also on Sept. 5, the 33rd annual Original Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Festival starts at noon in Plaisance.

Later in the month, hit the Exit 11 Yard Sale in Sunset and Grand Coteau on Sept. 19, where you can shop hundreds of vendors at more than a dozen shops to find the perfect gift.

Opelousas Music & Market launches its fall series on Sept.

25 with Lil Pookie and the Zydeco Sensations. Other performers such as Jamie Bergeron and the Kickin’ Cajuns, Major Handy and the Louisiana Soul Review, Terry and the Zydeco Bad Boyz and Soul Express Brass Band will take the stage on the following Friday evenings through Oct. 23.

Save the date for the 15 th annual Washington Catfish Festival in Washington (Oct. 4) and the 70 th Louisiana Yambilee Festival on Oct. 3 in Opelousas. For more details on these and other experiences, visit CajunTravel.com or call 337-948-8004 to plan your trip.

Whether you’re traveling to or living in New Orleans, the Orpheum Theater should be at the top of your list for fall escapes. A nearly century-old Beaux Arts theater in the heart of New Orleans’ Central Business District, the Orpheum, opened in 1921, has hosted vaudeville acts, films, concerts and countless performances by the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra. But its halls have sat dormant since 2005, when failed levees ushered Hurricane Katrina floodwaters throughout the building’s lower reaches. Now, the Orpheum is entering a new era.

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completed, this classic space is open to the music-loving public as a fully restored, incomparably luxurious entertainment space as one of the few remaining vertical hall designs in the United States. With six bars, state-of-the-art audio and lighting equipment and an adjustable floor with removable seating, the Orpheum is not only a premier theater space, it’s also an exquisite private event space. For upcoming shows and more information, visit OrpheumNOLA.com.

Louisiana Travel Resources

An unconventionally historic New Orleans hotel, the Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery is the new incarnation of a building that

began its life in 1854. Just steps from the French Quarter, it served as a coffee warehouse before being purchased by E.J. Hart & Company who operated a chandlery trading in everything sailing ships needed to stock their voyages from the Port of New Orleans. In a nod to its heritage, the Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery takes its name from its original address, 77 Tchoupitoulas St., and has undergone a transformation to create the one of the most exciting new hotels in New Orleans.

Featuring hardwood floors and exposed brick, the comfortable rooms of the Old No. 77 showcase a modern sensibility while providing luxurious amenities.

Last month, the Old No. 77 proudly welcomed renowned chef Nina Compton to New Orleans with the opening of her highly anticipated new restaurant, Compère Lapin at the hotel.

Compton channels the delectable diversity of her culinary background while incorporating the rich food traditions of New Orleans.

For information and reservations at Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery, visit Old77Hotel.com.

Just as finding the right bra will make your breasts, back and

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shoulders look and feel better, finding the right bra store will simplify and enhance your bra buying experience. No one understands this truth better than bra expert (or “Genie”) Jeanne Emory, owner of Bra Genie. For more than a decade, Jeanne has been working with women to enhance the comfort and fit of their bras with international brand names and a team of fitting experts.

Bra Genie began in 2005 in Mandeville and has grown to a 3,500-squarefoot store with more than 200 bra size options available. Whether you are voluptuous and busty, or petite and small-breasted, looking to lessen the strain of that overnight shift, or to enhance your look for a night out, Jeanne and her team of expert fitters will ensure a style and feel that will revolutionize your undergarment wardrobe. Walk-ins, scheduled appointments and free shipping are all shopping options.

For more information, visit TheBraGenie.com or call 985-9518638 to speak to a bra fit specialist. Now open: Bra Genie Baton Rouge Towne Center; call 225-223-6114.

Your autumn escape should be exactly that – an escape!

Enjoy pain-free travels and prevent aching feet with the help of Good Feet®. With over 25 different arch support styles and 350 arch support sizes, Good Feet® offers individualized comfort solutions to reduce or completely eliminate foot pain.

Good Feet’s custom-fitted arch supports are personally fit for your individualized comfort. When you visit the Good Feet store, you’ll be personally assisted by a certified arch support specialist who will help you find the arch support that properly fits your foot and your lifestyle. Buying arch supports with-

out being properly sized can actually make your pain worse.

Through a complimentary personal consultation, Good Feet specialists take into account the kind of shoes you like to wear, the activities you like to do, the length and height of your arch, as well as the level of support that feels best to you.

Good Feet is open seven days a week with locations in the French Quarter (539 Bienville St., 875-2929), Uptown (5525 Magazine St., 324-7718) or Metairie (3000 Severn Ave., 888-7080). For hours, information and scheduling, visit NolaShoes.com.

Four Points by Sheraton French Quarter is located in the heart of the French Quarter on world-famous Bourbon Street. They offer 186 comfortable guest rooms, with 4,500 square feet of market-leading meeting facilities, an outdoor pool, tropical courtyard, 24-hour fitness and more.

Café Opéra, the Four Points’ full-service restaurant, features a classic New Orleans menu of Creole and continental cuisine.

Guests can also enjoy a wide selection of specialty drinks at the Puccini Bar. Four Points by Sheraton French Quarter is located on the site of the French Opera House (1859-1919), a legendary New Orleans cultural venue. Their performance series, “Opera Returns to Bourbon Street” features local operatic talent from the New Orleans Opera Association and local classical vocalist group Bon Operatit!

Four Points by Sheraton French Quarter is located at 541 Bourbon St. in New Orleans. For reservations and more, call 524-7611 or visit FourPointsFrenchQuarter.com.

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Florida Destinations

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Enjoy a “pitcher perfect” weekend at the eighth annual Baytowne Beer Festival.

Bring together the charming village at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, beautiful fall weather and a festive beer tasting and you have a winning combination for fun in the sun at the eighth annual Baytowne Wharf Beer Festival.

Known as the “Best Beer Fest on the Coast,” this popular event, October 16-17, features on-site craft brewers, beer samplings, seminars and live music. Beer aficionados will be able to sample domestic and international options, including specialty, seasonal and not-yet-released beers.

Visit South Walton and stay steps away from the action at Sandestin. Enjoy savings of more than $50 on your accommodations and tickets with promo code BEER15. Call 866-544-1026 or book online at Sandestin.com/beer.

Savor the beautiful fall season at the No. 1 Resort on Florida’s Emerald Coast – Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort. Plan your weekend escape, fall break, guy’s golf trip or girlfriend getaway where emerald green waters and white sand beaches await. Enjoy one of the best seasons of the year with gorgeous autumn weather, great activities, events and more.

Sandestin packs in the value with complimentary amenities, events and activities that are sure to please everyone. With a variety of accommodations from the beach to the bay, you’ll find the perfect choice for your needs. The lovely temperatures are perfect for activities like Wednesday Night Concerts, Live Music Fridays and the eighth Baytowne Beer Festival, Oct. 16-17.

This season enjoy 30 percent off three nights or more! (Promo code: SAVE30).

Visit Sandestin.com/nom or call 866-5441026 for details.

Come explore Historic Pensacola and experience the rich heritage of America’s first settlement. Historic Pensacola encompasses eight and a half acres and 28 properties located within the footprints of the original Spanish and British forts in the downtown Pensacola Historic District, including the T. T. Wentworth, Jr. Florida State Museum, the Pensacola Children’s Museum and the Museums of Commerce and Industry, as well as the Voices of Pensacola Multicultural Center, Historic Pensacola Village and the Arcadia Mill Archaeological Site and Museum in Milton.

“One Ticket, Seven Days to Explore” ticketing allows guests to leisurely

visit all of the museums, participate in guided and self-guided tours of historic homes and see history brought to life by period-dressed living history interpreters. Tickets are $8 for adults, $7 for senior citizens, military personnel and dependents and AAA members and $4 for children ages 3 to 15. For more information, visit HistoricPensacola.org or call 850-595-5985.

The 30A 10K, Nov. 25-26, is one of the largest running races in South Walton, Florida, with an estimated 6,000 participants, vendors and volunteers joining together for two days of events culminating to the big race in Rosemary Beach on Thanksgiving Day. This two-day event begins Wed., Nov. 25, at Watersound Origins, where families and the public are invited to join in a fall celebration of games, music and food at the 30A 10K fall festival and race packet pick-up day. Thurs., Nov. 26, rounds out the event with a Thanksgiving Day 10K race and one mile fun run from Rosemary Beach down Scenic Highway 30A. “It’s such a thrill to hear the gun go off at the start and see everyone excited to be burning off some calories before enjoying their Thanksgiving Day meals all the while knowing that they are supporting local charities and giving back to their community, which is what Thanksgiving Day is all about,” says Karen Meadows, Race Director.

For more information and registration, visit 30A10K.com.

South Walton Fashion Week, hosted by the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County kicks off its third year, Oct. 5-10, bringing high fashion to the beach and showcasing South Walton’s own sense of style through local boutiques and designers.

Celebrity judges this year include Shelly Brown (Shelly Brown Jewelry), Amanda Valentine (Valentine Valentine), Claudia Fowler (Haven Sanctuary of Style), Amy Giles (Wardrobe Made Simple) and Tommy Crow. Nationally known designers and emerging designers come in from all over the southeast to participate in this multifaceted event, which elevates the careers of emerging designers and top models.

Alys Beach will host the official launch party on Wed., Oct. 7 at Alys Beach’s Caliza Pool. The Z Motor Style Lounge will feature a shopping village with an array of upscale and unique pop-up shops that will be open throughout the runway shows Oct. 7-9. New this year, The Cultural Arts Alliance and SWFW will commemorate

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local photographer Sheila Goode with the Sheila Goode Model Competition.

All proceeds from SWFW go to benefit the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County. Tickets can be purchased online at SWFW.org.

Tucked in one of the country’s most inviting stretches of white sandy beaches, the Endless Summer Songwriters Series takes over Florida’s Emerald Coast Oct. 3 at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort. The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) in conjunction with Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI) is thrilled to present a free concert series at The Village of Baytowne Wharf at Sandestin.

The sixth annual event will showcase more than a dozen BMI songwriters who will sing country’s biggest hits and share the stories behind the songs.

Visit South Walton this fall and enjoy beautiful weather and live music all weekend long at the No. 1 Resort on Florida’s Emerald Coast. Stay steps away from the action at Sandestin and enjoy 30 percent off with the purchase of three nights or more. (Promo code: SAVE30) Call 888897-0450 or visit Sandestin.com/endless for special offers and event details.

Florida Travel Resources

Cool coastal breezes, soft white sand and crystalline emerald waters are abundant along the beaches of South Walton and Destin, Florida, in the fall. The water is still warm, the sunsets are spectacular and fall rates are discounted up to 30 percent off, making it the ideal time of year to escape to the beach.

As an added bonus, Newman-Dailey Resort Properties is celebrating its 30th Anniversary, and Louisiana residents are invited to join the celebration with the “30 to Wear or Share” package. The package includes a 30th Anniversary commemorative bottle of wine, a $30 gift card to use at one of Silver Sands Premium Outlets 110 designer outlet stores or eateries, a Silver Sands Premium Outlets VIP Coupon Book and a Silver Sands Premium Outlets shopper tote.

Rated “excellent” on TripAdvisor, Newman-Dailey features a wide variety of premier South Walton and Destin vacation rentals. Call 800-225-7652 or visit DestinVacation.com.

Arkansas Destinations Autumn, otherwise known as “Heck, yeah!” in Arkansas, is one of the state’s

most popular seasons. People get pretty stoked around the Natural State when the leaves change colors and it’s easy to see why. Besides the best weather of the year, uncrowded destinations and amazing views, there is plenty more to enjoy.

Gorgeous fall colors line the roads to quaint little out-of-the-way towns, home to one-of-a-kind restaurants and unique shops. Farmers markets, local breweries, a world-class art museum and mountain cabins are just a few things at your disposal during your Arkansas stay.

As you stand atop a breathtaking mountain vista, you’ll wonder why you didn’t visit sooner. With unexpected delights around every bend, folks in Arkansas think you’ll enjoy the views just as much as they do.

Order your free vacation planning kit at Arkansas.com or call 800-NATURAL (628-8725).

Mississippi Destinations

Big Bay Lake is a one-of-a-kind planned community on Mississippi’s largest private recreational lake. Located just outside of Hattiesburg, Big Bay Lake blends seamlessly into its natural surroundings.

Homesites are available on the water starting at $100,000. Both the homes and homesites within this community provide unique opportunities to create the perfect home or weekend getaway.

It’s time to relax, unplug, make memories and create new traditions at Big Bay. Whether you’re a boating or fishing enthusiast, or just a family who loves to make a big splash, Big Bay Lake is simply about the lure of the water. Come enjoy sun-kissed, fun-filled days at Big Bay Lake, “where the little things make life...BIG!” Big Bay Lake is only 90 minutes from New Orleans. Call for a boat tour today at 877-4BIG-BAY or visit BigBayLake.com.

Vicksburg invites you to celebrate summertime along the Mississippi River, where you can explore American history, listen to Mississippi music and find out what Southern charm is all about. From four world-class casinos to some of the most fascinating historic sites, Vicksburg offers an authentic Southern experience you don’t want to miss.

From educational museums to historic tour homes, you can relive history at Vicksburg’s attractions. Living history demonstrations will be held at the Vicksburg National Military Park in June and July. The Lower Mississippi River Museum and Catfish Row Children’s Art Park, which includes a splash fountain,

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call 800-221-3536.

Alabama Destinations

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are musts for the kids.

Just be sure to leave some time to check out the live music scene, eat at Vicksburg’s signature restaurants and browse the numerous boutiques and antique shops throughout the city.

For more to see and do in Vicksburg, go to VisitVicksburg.com or

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Finally: The children are back in school; Saints have three away games in September; and you could use some R&R. It is time to go Grand. Louisiana residents have loved the Grand Hotel Marriott Resort, Golf Club & Spa in Pt. Clear, Alabama since 1847. Come back and experience this relaxing resort and see why USA Today named it No. 6 Best Historic Hotel in America – the only one in the South.

The Grand has three pools, two golf courses, beaches, sailboats, tennis and one of Condé Nast Traveler’s top spas.

Try great steaks and local seafood in the Grand restaurants.

Experience the daily cannon firing and enjoy afternoon tea before strolling along Mobile Bay. Shop in Fairhope, try a Grand spa treatment, or root for your Saints and college teams from Bucky’s Birdcage Lounge. Even better, come during the week and recharge. Ask about the Grand special culinary weekends.

Visit MarriottGrand.com or call 251-928-9201.

The Fairhope Film Festival is a film lover’s festival, offering worldclass, award-winning films in a picturesque location over four days. Films include features, shorts and documentaries that have been finalists at national and international film competitions over the past year – the “best of the best” in cinema arts. Directors, actors, screenwriters and film fans connect at screenings, informative panels and entertaining festivities.

The festival takes place in the quaint bayside city of Fairhope, Alabama, an ideal weekend getaway destination. Festival venues are located in the flower-filled downtown and are within walking

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distance to locally owned restaurants, hotels, shopping and the town bluffs, which boast sweeping views of Mobile Bay. Renowned as one of the country’s loveliest and most unpretentious film festivals, the Fairhope Film Festival is among the Gulf Coast’s top cinematic experiences. The 2015 Fairhope Film Festival takes place Nov. 12-15. Festival passes are available at FairhopeFilmFestival.org.

South Walton Fashion Week

Alabama Travel Resources With cooler ocean breezes and lower rates for accommodations, fall is a fantastic time for a beach vacation along the Gulf Coast. Fall is also one of the best times for charter fishing, and the area boasts several charter companies ready to take you out on the water.

Speaking of seafood, you won’t want miss the 44th annual National Shrimp Festival in Gulf Shores, which attracts over 200,000 people for its succulent seafood, live music, diverse vendors, kids’ village and more. The festival takes place Oct. 8-11 and Gulf Shores Rentals offers gulf-front condos, which book early for these dates. With over 150 properties ranging from bedroom condos to six-bedroom beach homes, Gulf Shores Rentals is a go-to source for arranging the perfect beach vacation.

Guests of Gulf Shores Rentals receive complimentary tickets to area attractions such as championship golf, charter boats and deep-sea fishing. Other bonuses include 14 points to The Track Amusement Center daily and unlimited daily movie rentals. To arrange your fall travel escape, visit Gulf Shores Rentals’ newly revamped and mobile-friendly website at GulfShoresRentals. com and check out the Hot Deals. •

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Cristy Cali launches Katrina Anniversary Collection CristyCali.com Jewelry designer Cristy Cali has introduced a new collection to mark the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. All profits will go to Animal Rescue New Orleans. Cali captures the swirling hurricane symbol in her new designs, and there’s a new “Couture Charm” in silver, and pendants and earrings in both gold and silver. Cali, who attended Ursuline Academy and then Loyola University, has turned her love of the city into a popular jewelry business.

All of Cali’s designs embody an aspect of New Orleans life, culture and architecture.

Trying a Tease

Taking a burlesque class from Trixie Minx

By Morgan Packard

“I South Walton Fashion Week Announces Headliners SWFW.org South Walton Fashion Week (SWFW), which runs Oct. 5-11, has announced an impressive line up of designers and special guests.

Yoanna House, winner of “America’s Next Top Model” will host the runway shows and judge the Model Competition. Mychael Knight, a “Project Runway” alum, will judge the Emerging Designer category. SWFW will showcase established and rising designers including NOCCA student Tieler Garsaud.

In addition to fashion shows, there will be retail shopping events, trunk shows and parties. The event is presented by Visit South Walton and produced by the Cultural Arts Alliance (CAA) of Walton County.

f you’re going to be onstage, you’ll have to have a burlesque stage name,” said Trixie Minx not long into our lesson on stage at The Saint hotel, where Minx performs on Fridays. Of the things we had already learned – starting from the head down: flirtatious looks, shimmies, the bump and grind and how to walk “like you’re dragging your big toe through nail polish” – for some reason this question stalled us.

Performing burlesque isn’t as easy as it looks. “It takes a lot of talent and work that I don’t think people realize,” says Kelly Massicot, this magazine’s Web Editor, who took the class with me. “And on top of that, the choreography, staging, props, music and costumes all have to be on point and precise, and that’s difficult.”

After we had decided on Lacey La Femme (Massicot) and Kiki Kaboom (me) we learned different techniques for using gloves, feather boas and feather fans while dancing.

We didn’t take off any clothing, but the class was revealing another way; it helped teach us to be comfortable in our own skin. As Massicot says, “The burlesque community shows and teaches women that it’s OK to love your body and express your sexuality.”

Personally, I came home and was trying out the “taking off one glove with your teeth” move in a mirror when I realized my husband was behind me smiling; I can promise you I’ll be practicing these moves for years.

Prices for classes are available on request. For more information and to inquire about taking a class, email Trixie@TrixieMinx.com. n

– Mirella Cameran cheryl gerber photo

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CLASS ACTION

Katrina’s School Problem By errol laborde

D

uring the first few days after Hurricane Katrina, we were staying at a bed-and-breakfast in the Avoyelles Parish town of Mansura. We were lucky to get a room since most of the people were relatives of the owners, including two sisters from the river parishes, who each brought their own family. A doctor from New Orleans was also there. At night she would do

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volunteer work in the emergency room at the Marksville Hospital.

From the two sisters, both of whom spoke with delightful Cajun accents, came a statement that I will always remember. That Wednesday after the levees broke we were all watching the destruction of New Orleans on a widescreen TV. “Every time I see that I want to cry,” one sister said. “Me too,” her sibling said, “but I am afraid if I start I will never stop.”

A couple of days later both were crying, but for a different reason. People may forget that, among the many troubles caused by Katrina, it came right when school had just started. Everywhere where there were refugees there were parents figuring out what to do with the kids and their schooling.

Predictions that the city might not be operative for at least six months aggravated the situation. Those who could tried to enroll their kids wherever they were or to make some other plan. In the case of one of the sisters, a relative in California had arranged for a high school-aged son to go to school there.

So one morning the family gathered in the living room as a sister left to take the son to the Golden State, not knowing for how long. All of the family wept. For most schoolchildren, the year ahead held

some sort of promise, maybe graduation, a prom or football Fridays. Now all of that was gone, and the kids were heading to another world filled with uncertainty.

In some cases it might have been for the best. A friend who was an education specialist was doing supervisory work in the Avoyelles Parish school system. She told me that many of the poor kids from New Orleans who were taken into the Avoyelles schools were seeing a different side of life. “Here you say ‘yes sir’ and yes ‘ma’am’ to the teachers and everyone wears their shirts tucked in with no droopy pants.”

She said the kids from New Orleans were getting a level of supervision they had never had before. “They might be better off.”

Another family had two daughters who attended prestigious New Orleans high schools. Now the schools were closed. A Baton Rouge Catholic school took them in.

Their parents, like many now dispersed across the region, now had to think about the long term. Should they buy a home in Baton Rouge, at least to get them through the year?

From one of the daughters came another statement I will never forget: “This is a hard time to be an adult.” She was right, of course.

An occasional tear may have provided some relief. n ARTHUR NEAD ILLUSTRATION