Latest Issue: April 2023–Spring Festivals Guide

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Spring is my favorite time of year in New Orleans because of all the fantastic festivals! Enjoy this issue that previews the great regional festivities as well as the amazing concerts coming to town.

No place celebrates Easter like New Orleans, from Good Friday crawfish boils to the French Quarter Easter Parade. Check out Kim Ranjbar’s look at Louisiana’s Elmer Candy and their delicious Easter offerings including Heavenly Hash and Gold Brick Eggs.

The largest free festival in the south is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. French Quarter Festival has grown from a sleepy “locals” festival to one that draws over a half million people from around the world. Enjoy Landon Murray’s profile of the can’tmiss acts and all the scrumptious food offerings.

Keep your eyes peeled for the upcoming special Jazz Fest issue that’s out on April 15. This issue will preview Jazz Fest with a focus on the first weekend as well as the exciting night shows.

YEARS

April 2023

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'23 FESTIVALS GUIDE

MARCH

MARCH 25 - APRIL 11

NATCHEZ SPRING PILGRIMAGE 2023

Various Locations, natchezpilgrimage.com

Explore beautiful mansions and gardens in Natchez, Mississippi during this year’s Natchez Spring Pilgrimage. Gain the opportunity to tour around the interiors of many different historical private homes and museums that are housed in structures that date back to the 1800s.

MARCH 30 - APRIL 1 | NOEW FEST

Various Locations, noew.org/fest

Experience music that pushes the boundaries of creative and cultural innovation at the inaugural New Orleans Entrepreneur Week Fest. Some of the featured performing artists include White Denim, Pell, People Museum, Juno Dunes, Brass-A-Holics, and Water Seed.

MARCH 30 - APRIL 2

THE OVERLOOK FILM FESTIVAL

Prytania Theatres at Canal Place, overlookfilmfest.com

Celebrate all things horror in America’s most haunted city at the Overlook Film Festival. The fest will screen new, recent, and older horror films from around the world, as well

as premiere the new Renfield movie with actor Nicolas Cage and director Chris McKay in attendance.

MARCH 31 | SHELL-A-BRATION

Cajun Ballroom at Audubon Zoo, crcl. org/program/shell-a-bration

Live music and delicious oysters will be in plentiful supply at the Shell-A-Bration event in the Audubon Zoo. The celebration is dedicated to raising awareness for the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana’s Oyster Shell Recycling Program to restore Louisiana’s oyster habitat.

MARCH 31- APRIL 1 | VOLKSFEST

Deutsches Haus, deutscheshaus.org/ volksfest-schedule

Head out to the Deutsches Haus and take part in a traditional German celebration of spring. There will be plenty of German food including bratwurst on a pretzel bun, live music by the band Prost!, wine and schnapps tasting sessions, a maypole, and even dachshund races.

MARCH 31- APRIL 1

HOGS FOR THE CAUSE

UNO Lakefront's, 6801 Franklin Ave, hogfest.org

Attend a three-day festival featuring mouthwatering barbecue, refreshing beer, and lively music—all in support of the children's hospital. 85 local and regional BBQ experts

will compete against national and New Orleans artists, while enjoying a range of live performances.

APRIL

APRIL 1 | PSYCHIC FAIR

1708 Lake Ave, Metairie

Attendees have the opportunity to explore a variety of metaphysical and spiritual practices, from tarot and palm readings to energy healing and aura photography, providing an immersive and educational experience for those interested in the mystical arts.

APRIL 1

IRISH ITALIAN ISLEÑOS PARADE

W. Judge Perez Drive, Chalmette, visitstbernard.com/events

Celebrating the rich cultural heritage of New Orleans' Irish, Italian, and Canary Islander communities, the annual Irish Italian Isleños Parade features an array of colorful floats, marching bands, dance troupes, and costumed riders.

APRIL 1-2 | ST. TAMMANY COLLECTORS CON Castine Center, sttammanycollectorscon.com

Attend the Northshore’s largest celebration of pop culture, video games, comic books, and more. Special guests will include actors

Matthew Wood (Stars Wars), J.J. Cohen (the Back to the Future trilogy), and Terrance Rosemore (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and Treme).

APRIL 2 | ABITA SPRINGS

BUSKER FESTIVAL

Abita Springs Trailhead Museum, trailheadmuseum.org/busker-festival

Experience the music of New Orleans in Abita Springs at the 12th annual Abita Springs Busker Festival. This free festival was established to preserve Louisiana roots’ music and will feature live music from NOLA acts, as well as hot food and cold beer.

APRIL 2

GATESFEST MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL

Congregation Gates of Prayer, gatesfest.org

One of Metairie’s favorite family-friendly festivities, GatesFest, is returning for 2023. In addition to food and an arts’ village, the festival will have live music provided by Marc Broussard, Cowboy Mouth, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, the Lost Bayou Ramblers, and more.

APRIL 12-16 | CYCLE ZYDECO

Various Locations, cyclezydeco.org

Experience the beauty and uniqueness of Acadiana while getting some exercise at this year’s Cycle Zydeco. Bike around South Louisiana while enjoying great Cajun food

ALL PHOTOS: ROBERT WITKOWSKI

and traditional Cajun/Zydeco music at different festival locations.

APRIL 13-16

FRENCH QUARTER FESTIVAL

French Quarter, Various Locations, frenchquarterfest.org

With over 20 stages, 60 food and beverage vendors, and more than 700,000 attendees, the French Quarter Festival is an annual four-day music and food extravaganza that takes place in one of the city’s most famous neighborhoods, showcasing local music acts.

APRIL 14 | WESTWEGO FRIDAY NIGHT

CONCERT SERIES

Corner of Sala Ave & 4th St, Westwego, visitwestwego.com/event/ free-friday-night-concert

With live music performances every Friday night, the Westwego Friday Night Concert Series offers a fun and family-friendly way to start off the weekend and enjoy local musicians' talents in the picturesque setting of Westwego's amphitheater.

APRIL 14-16 | PONCHATOULA

STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL

Ponchatoula Memorial Park, Ponchatoula, lastrawberryfestival.com

Celebrate the strawberry harvest with food, music, carnival rides, a 5K race, a parade, and a strawberry eating contest. The beloved tradition is the reason why the town is known as Louisiana’s “Strawberry Capital.”

APRIL 22

TULANE UNIVERSITY’S CRAWFEST

Tulane Newcomb Quad,

crawfest.tulane.edu

Taking place on the campus quad of Tulane University, this university tradition boasts an abundance of attractions, including live music performances by local artists and a massive crawfish boil featuring over 20,000 pounds of crawfish.

APRIL 22 | 18TH ANNUAL

CRAWFISH COOK-OFF

Fritchie Park, Slidell, business.sttammanychamber. org/events/details/18thannual-crawfish-6922

Enjoy over 40,000 pounds of crawfish at Hospice House’s 18th Annual Crawfish Cook-off. There will be a "Best Crawfish in St Tammany Parish" competition with over 50 teams competing, as well as live music by Christian Serpas, the Bucktown Allstars, and the Pine Leaf Boys.

APRIL 22

SCOTTISH TARTAN FESTIVAL

182 Gleason St, Minden, scottishtartanfestival.com

Experience the vibrant and rich culture of Scotland at the Scottish Tartan Festival, where you can immerse yourself in traditional Scottish music and dance performances, and indulge in authentic Scottish cuisine and drinks.

APRIL 25 | PARADIGM GARDENS CONCERT SERIES

1121 S. Rampart St., paradigmgardensnola.com/concertseries

Experience lively evenings in Central City

with an array of culinary delights, refreshing beverages, and captivating music. Every event offers a delectable menu crafted by the finest local chefs and restaurants, accompanied by live entertainment and sweet treats.

APRIL 25 | SWING IN THE OAKS

City Park, 42 Dreyfous Dr., lpomusic.com

Celebrating the vibrant jazz culture of New Orleans, Swing in the Oaks is an annual music festival held in City Park, featuring live performances by both local and national jazz musicians, delicious food vendors, and an energetic atmosphere among historic oak trees.

APRIL 26-30 | FESTIVAL

INTERNATIONAL DE LOUISIANE

Downtown Lafayette, festivalinternational.org

This festival features live performances, cuisine, and fun activities for visitors to celebrate worldwide music, arts, and culture. Along with having a significant economic effect, the festival offers 300,000+ tourists the chance to see other cultures while learning about Acadiana's distinctive culture and creativity.

APRIL 27-30 | PLAQUEMINES PARISH

SEAFOOD FESTIVAL

333 F Edward Hebert Blvd, Belle Chasse, plaqueminesparishfestival.com

The annual celebration in Plaquemines Parish offers a distinctive mash-up of mouthwatering seafood, exciting music,

and amusing activities. Swamp pop music from the past is played at the event. Apart from carnival games and the Seafood Queen Pageant, visitors can also take in local craftsmen's wares.

APRIL 28-30

FANATEC GT WORLD CHALLENGE

NOLA Motorsports Park, nolamotor.com/gtworldchallenge

Thrilling sports car racing awaits at the 2nd annual Fanatec GT World Challenge at Avondale’s NOLA Motorsports Park. See supercars from famous manufacturers like Ferrari, Porsche, BMW, and Aston Martin face off against each other in high speed racing.

APRIL 28-30 & MAY 4-7

NEW ORLEANS JAZZ & HERITAGE FESTIVAL

Fair Grounds Race Course, nojazzfest.com

New Orleans honors the city's strong musical heritage with local food and drink vendors, art, renowned jazz musicians, and word-famous performers. Lizzo, Dead & Company, Ed Sheeran, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, Kane Brown, and H.E.R. will be a few of the musical artists that will perform over the two-weekend festival.

APRIL 29 | DENHAM SPRINGS

ANTIQUE FAIR

N. Range Ave, Denham Springs, denhamspringsantiquedistrict.net

Located in downtown Denham Springs, this annual event draws visitors from all over the state, with more than 200 vendors, offering a wide variety of antiques, vintage

Where Italy meets the South. The unlikely marriage between classic Italian recipes and the bright and mystifying flavors of the American South.

items, and collectibles, as well as live music, food vendors, and a welcoming environment for families.

APRIL 29-30 | KITE FEST LOUISIANE

3383 Rosedale Rd, Port Allen, westbatonrouge.net/kite-fest-louisiane

Each year in Port Allen, Kite Fest Louisiane offers free entertainment for all ages, featuring hundreds of kites soaring high above the Mississippi River, in addition to kite-flying competitions, workshops, and demonstrations, along with delicious local food and live music.

MAY

MAY 1-3 | NOLA CRAWFISH FESTIVAL

The Broadside, nolacrawfishfest.com

The NOLA Crawfish Festival is the perfect event to go to during the downtime between the two Jazz Fest weekends. Enjoy plenty of delicious crawfish, refreshing beer, and live music by headliners George Porter Jr., Russell Batiste, Sonny Landreth, the Lost Bayou Ramblers, and more.

MAY 2-3

DAZE BETWEEN NEW ORLEANS

Faubourg Brewery, dazebetweennola.com

Head out to Faubourg Brewery and enjoy plenty of beer at the Daze Between New Orleans event between the Jazz Fest weekends. The festival will directly benefit the Rex Foundation and will feature live music by Tanks and the Bangas, David Shaw, and more.

MAY 5 | CINCO DE MAYO FEST

Los Jefes Grill, losjefesgrill.com

Celebrate Mexican American culture at Los Jefes Grill’s 7th annual Cinco De Mayo Fest. Enjoy music by DJ Mannie Fresh and the Honey Island Swamp Band, food vendors like Dragos and La Cocinita, a margarita bar, a taco eating contest, and even lucha libre matches.

MAY 13 | ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE FESTIVAL

French Market, apasnola.com

This annual event honors and celebrates the culture, traditions, and contributions of New Orleans’ Asian American and Pacific Islander communities through exciting activities that include cultural performances, martial arts demonstrations,

MAY 19-21 | HANGOUT FEST

Beaches of Gulf Shores, Alabama, hangoutmusicfest.com

food, exhibits, and a marketplace featuring a diverse range of vendors.

MAY 19-21 | MID-CITY BAYOU

BOOGALOO

Bayou St. John, Louisiana, thebayouboogaloo.com

Bayou Boogaloo is a party on the bayou–Bayou St. John. There will be bands, delicious food, and art at this three-day festival. Come out and hear Juvenile, Reverend Horton Heat, Boyfriend, People Museum, and more. With both land tickets and water tickets available, this festival will go on, rain or shine.

MAY 20 | LA VETERANS FESTIVAL

Slidell, Louisiana, facebook.com/LAVeteransFestival

This Festival is hosted by the East St. Tammany Habitat for Humanity. The Louisiana Veterans Festival provides an opportunity for families and friends to celebrate our veterans for their service. There will be great music, food, and enjoyment. Musical acts include Marc Broussard, Tyler Kinchen and the Right Pieces, and Soul Revival.

MAY 25

FOOD FIGHT NEW ORLEANS

Spanish Plaza, New Orleans, foodfightnola.com

Food Fight is the preeminent New Orleans food competition bringing together over 40 restaurants and 30 spirits to see who has the top dish. The categories include top traditional dish, top creative dish, top vegetarian dish, top classic cocktail, and top creative cocktail. Chefs and bartenders compete at this all-inclusive event.

MAY 26- 28 | GREEK FEST

1200 Allen Toussaint Blvd, gfno.com

The Greek Festival is back for its 48th year of celebrating Greek culture, food, and heritage. Come see traditional dances, try delicious pastries and meals, and enjoy all that the beautiful country of Greece has to offer—all from the banks of Bayou St. John!

JUNE

JUNE 2-3 | CATHEAD JAM

422 S Farish St, Jackson, Mississippi, catheadjam.com

Hangout Fest has a variety of musical genres, from indie rock to electronic dance music, in addition to local food and art vendors. This festival is on white-sand beaches of Gulf Shores. Bring your friends, put on your best swimwear, and head to the beach for some sun-filled fun. Everyone of all ages is welcome, rain or shine.

WHO MAKES THE BEST MARGARITA IN NEW

ORLEANS?

Cathead Jam is a must-see event for music fans thanks to its vibrant atmosphere and stellar musical roster, which features performers from different genres. The Dreamnote Foundation promises to provide accessibility to music and art in impoverished areas all around Mississippi.

JUNE 7-11 | NEW ORLEANS

FOOD AND WINE EXPERIENCE

900 Camp St., nowfe.com

A five-day celebration of the finest culinary offerings in New Orleans, the New Orleans Food and Wine Experience takes place in the French Quarter, featuring a range of events such as tastings, wine pairings, cooking demonstrations, seminars, and exclusive dinners.

CONGRATS TO OUR SEMI-FINALISTS:

ANTHONY GRAPEFUL APE

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BRAYLON BAYOU BAR

BRENDA STATION 6

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VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE RECIPE HERE!

FINALS PARTY: APRIL 24, 2023 AT

FQF PICKS

Almost unbelievably, just like that, we can look forward to the spring music festival season. Once again, crowds numbering into the thousands will be bouncing over the area on the river as well as through the French Quarter, of course. We’ll celebrate the gumbo that is New Orleans music, and we’ll see friends and dance to amazing acts over the course of four hopefully beautiful days. Here are some of the highlights of the lineup, as well as some must-sees.

Must-See French Quarter Fest Performances

By Landon Murray

THURSDAY, APRIL 13

SLUGGER, 12:50 p.m., Jack Daniel’s Stage Slugger has a sound mixture that is comprised of mixing Latin, funk, slow rock, amazing, precise drumming, with some hip hop flavoring. It's going to be early in the day, but they are fantastic, and, if you're there, you should definitely check them out. This funky group was founded by members of Tank and The Bangas, Funky Meters, the Brass-a-holics, and Naughty Professor and is one of the coolest groups to hit the city.

BAG OF DONUTS, 6:00 p.m., Tropical Isle Hand Grenade Stage

Now, if you’re in the mood for a cover band, it's hard to pass these guys up; they’re always fun. They know what they're doing, the outfits are still hilarious, and they love to have a good time. That's something residents love as well, so if you're looking for a sing along to some extremely welldone cover songs, head to see the Donuts.

Since she entered the industry at age 13, she's been prolific and undying in her loyalty to the Crescent City. This performance is a hell of a way to start the festival, and our Queen of Soul will grace us with an amazing coming home love fest. If you like soul, it's likely that the words “Irma” and “Thomas” already have you ready to go.

FRIDAY, APRIL 14

BON BON VIVANT, 2:00 p.m., WWL TV Stage

As off-center as they are, their instrumentation and really fun shows explain why they keep getting better. Whether they play in the afternoon or the evening, it's a fun show. Also quintessentially NOLA, their music breathes out the experience of the city like few others.

6:30 p.m., Abita Beer Stage

As a resident of New Orleans and a lover of music, if you don’t love this pick you might be crazy. It's all the greatness in terms of musical celebration and exploration we’ve come to expect. The Rebels are undeniably reliable live. They give their all when performing, especially for a hometown crowd. Then you have Freedia, with her bombastic lyrics, dancers galore, and more energy than most other artists. It’s sure to be a highlight of the day. If you like dancing, horns, and the type of show that Freedia typically has, it's a must see and potentially best set of the festivals.

ERICA FALLS, 6:40 p.m., Chevron Stage

Like Irma the day before, she represents the heart and soul of NOLA so well it's wild. Her voice is like an angel, even when she's being a little seductive, but it never falls to charm. It’ll be an easy-going set of classics and a real treat for the FQF crowd.

IRMA THOMAS, 6:40 p.m., Abita Beer Stage

SOUL REBELS WITH BIG FREEDIA,

SATURDAY, APRIL 15

ASTRAL PROJECT, 5:30 p.m., WWL TV Stage

AP has a meandering way about them, but it’s so fluid and fun and introspective that it really doesn't matter much. They played a stellar set around eight years ago. This is probably going to be even better, especially if it feels great outside. A must-see and potential show stealer right here.

FLOW TRIBE, 6:30 p.m., Abita Beer Stage

Another tried and true NOLA institution, the Tribe has been playing for a long time, and they never disappoint. Their vibe is funk and high energy emotion. Like many of these acts, they are rooted in the Crescent City, but they're also an important part of NOLA music for the last many years. They’ve rocked Jazz Fest, Voodoo, and this will be no different.

SUNDAY, APRIL 16

ICEMAN SPECIAL, 5:30 p.m., WWL TV Stage

One of the great urban legends of NOLA folklore, Iceman is infamous. The band, however, is unique to themselves. The band’s music is joyous at times, with a modern rock vibe filtered through horns and rapturous drum work. I.S. also has this interesting jam band feel to it, which adds even more to the catchy nature of the music. The band is still consistently rising in local popularity, so expect plenty of excitement and bodies wherever they play.

HONEY ISLAND SWAMP BAND, 6:00 p.m., Tropical Isle Hand Grenade Stage

A larger band on the lineup for Sunday is Honey Island Swamp Band. They've been around so long, it would be hard to miss them if you often venture to these local fests. They are easy-going with an upbeat but subtle energy that's amazing for a day outdoors. They've also been playing festivals for years, and, judging by their drawing power, at least locally, this is likely to be one of the better attended sets of the day. More than half the band is from the area, and while it feels very much like home, the music is solid and enjoyable so any music lover can walk away appreciating the showcase.

TANK & THE BANGAS, 6:30 p.m., Abita Beer Stage

When Tank and the Bangas closed out the Saturday pavilion area several years ago, the anticipation was evident and in the air. They were just starting to get national buzz, and the set was fantastic. Now they're the first name on the Sunday lineup, and with their wellknown energy, this set is sure to be a victory lap of sorts for the hometown heroes. They've consistently made thought-provoking music about life in the deep South, and their perspective gives them unique insight to the lives and minds of artists in New Orleans. This is a must-see for any fan, new and old alike.

FOOD

Now of course, the FQF is going to have food. Festival food can be a little dicey at times, but then again, the FQF sets itself apart from more mainstream fare with incredible food, not only on the main river front grounds, but every other spot you can think of in the vicinity. With six different food areas, there’s more than enough to enjoy even if you somehow don’t care about the music and artists. Classics such as Dickie Brennan’s are hearty and savory enough to slow down a party if you need a recharge or, maybe, some Cochon King BBQ in the Old U.S. Mint. Both of those are incredible, but there’s so much more. Lastly, if you need something to help you cool down, the riverfront will have options including the House of Blues, Tropical Isle (who will undoubtedly be selling Hand Grenades) and some of the best snowballs in town, Plum Street

ROBERT WITKOWSKI

FRENCH QUARTER ICONS

Gone But Not Forgotten.

By Grant Varner

Since her birth in 1718, the French Quarter has made her streets home to some of the most eccentric acts and personalities you’ve ever seen—from clowns to tarot card readers, buskers to chicken tamers.

As time marches on through the years, beloved characters have disappeared from the streets. We remember five exclusive French Quarter street figures of the last 25 years—the souls they were in life and the legacies they left behind.

PERRY "PERRI THE HOBO" RLICKMAN

Perry David Rlickman (Perri the Hobo) was born in West Virginia in 1951 and gained notoriety for his arguably mischievous routines, such as keeping step with folks on cell phones and mimicking their conversations, removing his clown nose last-minute to plant a kiss on a picturegoers’ cheeks, or using a loud referee whistle to disturb other performers’ crowds. Rlickman ruffled some feathers with more offbeat antics, such as grabbing women’s rear ends, nastily telling people

off who didn’t give him money, and casting crude comments towards passersby.

On March 22, 2003, at the age of 51, Rlickman was found unresponsive in the basement room in his Boston residence, in his classic clown attire. He was celebrated with a jazz funeral through all his stomping grounds in the Quarter, while a simultaneous tribute was coordinated in Harvard Square.

JERIK DANERSON

Jerik Danerson spent 30-plus years in Jackson Square providing tarot card readings for tourists. He was once a young hitchhiking boxcar kid from Hollywood, California, who turned into a master palmist and tarot card reader.

As a boy, Danerson met an elder Wicca practitioner, “who reminded me of

Merlin,” in a California coffee shop. After a year-long apprenticeship, he went on to write a master's thesis and teach classes on palmistry at community colleges. He found his true calling in Jackson Square, as a well-respected Wiccan High Priest and pagan elder in the Wicca community.

Danerson prided himself on being genuine with others, distinguishing himself from “your average hustler’’ by not annoyingly beckoning anyone to his table, never accepting money from those dissatisfied with their readings, and only providing advice to his clients from personal life experiences. As a widower father raising six girls, Danerson earned a reputation of assisting other “street kids” from dysfunctional homes as a parental figure they referred to as “Daddy Bear.”

Jerik Danerson left us on March 14,

2009 and was buried in a pauper's grave. His legacy lives on in his daughters, especially Fox, who is a tarot reader herself.

ELLIOT “GRANDPA ELLIOT” SMALL Grandpa Elliot Small was born on July 10, 1944 in New Orleans and raised in the Lafitte housing projects. Small’s uncle gifted him a harmonica when he was young, which he’d go on to learn while performing on street corners with a Fred Astaire-style dance routine. Small moved with his mother at age seven to the Big Apple in hopes of performing on Broadway, but he returned to New Orleans when she was killed to live with relatives, who helped hone his talents.

Eventually, Small set up shop on Royal and Toulouse Streets, where he remained for the duration of his life entertaining

Grandpa Elliott on Royal St.

French Quarter listeners. He donned an iconic straw farmer’s hat, a long red shirt and overalls, a pair of glasses, minus one lens, and a harmonica. Small

“learned how to trust [the music business] again,” becoming the first artist to be signed to Playing for Change Records/Concord Music Group.

In his Grandpa Elliott (aka Uncle Remus) persona, Small delighted Quarter crowds until his passing on March 8, 2022 at the age of 77.

FRED “CHICKEN MAN” STATEN

Fred Staten, known as the Chicken Man, was born in 1937 in Haiti and moved to New Orleans in the 70s to start his own Voodoo temple and reinvent himself as “Prince Keeyama” or “The King of New Orleans Voodoo.''

Staten’s macabre proclivities included eating fire, handling live snakes, and sticking thin needles into his throat. These acts proved mere child’s play in comparison to his most shocking feat—hypnotizing a chicken, biting off its head, and drinking the blood through its neck. While some abhorred the sight, others saw a mystical answer to pressing matters of life, which he’d happily assist with old Voodoo practices from his grandparents of

handing over a bag of “gris-gris” containing spiritual trinkets.

Fred Staten was honored with a jazz funeral, replete with horse-drawn hearse and second line through the French Quarter, when he passed away in December 1998. Tropical Isle co-owner Earl Barnhardt—who attributed much of his bars’ success to the voodoo blessings of Chicken Man—covered expenses for Staten’s lavish send-off.

The “proper funeral” was so grand, it drew splashy coverage in the New York Times the next day.

RUTHIE “RUTHIE THE DUCK GIRL” MOULON

In the New Orleans’ street scene, you don’t always need to be a performer to put on a show. A worthy example of this was "Duck Girl,” Ruth Grace Moulon.

Ruthie was born on January 19, 1934 and became a French Quarter staple notable for cruising from bar to bar adorned in eccentric furs and a wedding dress often on a pair of roller skates, carrying—or being followed—by a team of ducks.

Raising ducks as a child in her family's Royal Street apartment, she would charge people to take her picture with her cherished fowl.

The energy their procession brought to the streets for over almost 50 years was returned tenfold, demonstrated by folks who would buy her favorites: packs of Kool cigarettes ("for later") and Budweiser ("for the ducks"). Locals also took care of her as if she were part of their family.

Ruthie was moved into Our Lady of the Lake Hospital in Baton Rouge in 2005 to escape Hurricane Katrina, and stayed there until her death on September 6, 2008.

We remember the performers our French Quarter has been graced with over the years.We appreciate their talent they bestowed on us and that makes us proud to call this city home.

Ruthie the Duck Girl

Chicken Man

FLIGHT OF FANCY

MSY’s New Terminal Offers Luxury, Convenience, and History

By Kathy Bradshaw

There’s something in the air at MSY Airport. The recently constructed facility has all the perks and amenities to keep passengers terminally happy.

Some 19 million tourists come to New Orleans every year (the equivalent of the entire population of Chile), and a big chunk of them arrive via airplane. That means that MSY airport is what welcomes them to the Big Easy. It’s their first impression of the city, and when New Orleans puts its best foot forward to greet its guests, that foot has two runways, a single terminal with three concourses, and 35 gates. It has over 8,000 parking spots in two garages and four lots, with tire-pumping stations and places to juice up your electric car.

MSY, whose official name is the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, has become not only a stopping-off point on the journey into New Orleans, but a destination in its own right. It’s meant to be a little slice of the city. The airport’s designers wanted to take a bit of the Crescent City and transport it 11 miles west of downtown to MSY.

With that goal in mind, they added several art installations and exhibits, jazz musicians performing on stages sprinkled throughout the terminal, and a design esthetic that aims to replicate the bends in the Mississippi River and the light shining through the local oak trees. The 40-plus shops and restaurants on-site incorporate New Orleans-based faves such as Cure, Café du Monde, Bar Sazerac, Dirty Coast, and Fleurty Girl.

JUST PLANE IMPRESSIVE

MSY airport in its current iteration is a 972,000 square-foot, trilevel architectural wonder spread out over 1,500 acres (nearly double the size of Central Park).

There’s all you need for before or after your trip, including free Wi-Fi, phone-charging stations, outlets galore at every gate, last-minute gifts for the people at home you’d forgotten about, and three nursing rooms for moms traveling with babies.

MSY has everything from shopping to shellfish to shoeshines. You can grab a drink or meal at one of the many bars and restaurants. Enjoy the views of the runway from most any vantage point, if watching planes taking off and landing is your thing. Nervous about flying? Duck into the meditation room to calm your nerves. Feeling stiff from a long trip crammed into a center seat? Stretch your legs while strolling through the spacious retail corridor in search of a crawfish t-shirt. There’s even a spot for your furry traveling companion to do his business before takeoff, in a mini doggy park inside security.

Aviator John Bevins Moisant

FLYING, PAST: THE HISTORY OF MSY

The original New Orleans International Airport was built on land that used to be an air base during World War II. It opened to commercial flights in May 1946, quickly becoming one of the largest airports in the country. To honor famous New Orleans’ native Louis Armstrong, his name was added to the airport moniker in 2001, the year that would have marked his 100th birthday.

The newfangled, cutting-edge terminal as we know it today opened on November 6, 2019—a $1.3 billion project that took four years from initiation to completion. It replaced the considerably older rendition of the airport, which had been constructed in 1959 and was in much need of a facelift.

MSY has seen passenger and flight numbers soar to impressive heights. From just 74 flights per week back in 1957, the airport saw almost 2,000 arrivals and departures weekly (280 daily) in November of 2022. And in 2019, MSY had a record-breaking year, welcoming well over 13.6 million passengers.

WHY MSY?

Airport codes can be a rather odd bunch (think Perm, Russia, which goes by PEE, or the butt of airport jokes everywhere—Butler, Missouri, has been assigned the code BUM, and, of course, Oodnadatta, Australia’s airport literally is ODD).

Other airport codes simply don’t seem to correspond with the cities they’re meant to represent—case in point, MDT means Knoxville, and GEG is, oddly, Spokane. If you’ve been racking your brain trying to figure out what MSY stands for and its connection to New Orleans (Minimal Sobriety Yonder? Marijuana Sought Yearningly? Music, Scenery, Yakamein?), let’s finally clear the air about the airport.

MSY stands for Moisant Stock Yards, from which the name of the early airport, known as Moisant Field, was derived. Both were named after John Bevins Moisant, who was a fearless thrill-seeking aviator. He and the aluminum

plane he built himself cruised the skies, whizzing their way through air shows, pulling off impressive air stunts, and leading a traveling flying circus of fellow daredevils. Moisant’s doomed career as a pilot soon crashed and burned when he flew his plane into a field in Kenner on New Year’s Eve 1910, dying of a broken neck. To commemorate him and his untimely demise, they named the land where he rather roughly landed, and that later became the airport, Moisant Stock Yards

PASSING OVER TO THE OTHER SIDE

In most airports, the world beyond security is a very exclusive club with good food, strong drinks, and fancy bling (in the form of souvenir hoodies and pricey coffee mugs). Only select people are allowed in, and the bouncer at the door makes you remove your jacket and shoes and take the change out of your pockets.

Not at MSY. Thanks to their Guest Pass program, the post-security club has a fairly open-doors policy, so you don’t need to be one of the cool kids to get in. You don’t even need an airline ticket.

Only the third airport in the country to introduce such a program, MSY allows even those guests who aren’t traveling to enter the heavenly realm beyond TSA’s pearly gates. This allows anyone to eat, drink, or shop, where usually, only celestial beings come and go—both before and after they take to the skies. The program also helps the airport to attract locals to its billion-dollar doors.

There are certain limitations and regulations, however, and you’ll still need to pass by the gatekeepers for screening, so leave your liquids and firearms at home (but interestingly, you can bring antlers, biological specimens, a microwave, or a live pet lobster through security, should that enhance your Guest Pass experience).

Whether you’re coming or going, or a local looking for a new place to dine, it’d be a shame not to take advantage of all that MSY has to offer. That simply won’t fly

Natchez Spring Pilgrimage - March 1 - May 15

Few American cities offer an in-depth look at the lives of southerners like Natchez Since 1932, homeowners have opened their doors to the public for tours of their magnificent homes We invite you to wander through manicured gardens, tour historic properties, and experience the stories of our city's great history and charm

With over 36 homes on tour and special culinary and musical events, Spring Pilgrimage in Natchez is something you don't want to miss!

DRINK RESPONSIBLY

Whiskey Specialty, 35% ABV ( 70 proof.) JACK DANIEL DISTILLERY, Lynchburg, Tennessee. JACK DANIEL’S, and TENNESSEE FIRE are registered trademarks. ©2022 Jack Daniel’s. All rights reserved.

By Emily Hingle

WOODLAND CIRCA 1834 WOODLAND CIRCA 1834 Experience the Essence of Plaquemines Parish

The area produces millions of pounds of seafood annually and is the operational center for large industries including offshore oil and gas. As industrious as this parish is, it maintains a charming atmosphere with a genteel pace of life.

One can experience the best aspects of this wonderous part of the state with a stay at Woodland Circa 1834, a former dilapidated plantation transformed into an activitycentered inn visited by people from all over the world who want to be immersed in Louisiana’s natural side.

Woodland Circa 1834 was built by Chief River Pilot Captain William Johnson who traversed waterways from Nova Scotia to the Gulf starting in the late 1700s. The property was sold by Capt. Johnson’s descendants to the Wilkinson Family who owned it for one hundred years. The structures and grounds were derelict by 1997. The property was slated for auction, and that’s when Foster Creppel saw an opportunity.

Foster Creppel was living in Chattanooga, Tennessee when he saw the article about the auction of Woodland. Without even seeing it, he bid on the property remotely and won. Thus began years of heavy restoration work to bring Woodland to life. Woodland Circa 1834 only had two structures in 1997. Now, the land has five homes with

several rooms each and a picturesque former churchturned-dining hall.

At arrival, diners can be seen enjoying their meal over lively conversation in Spirits Hall. People come from nearby neighborhoods and all over the world to get to know each other over a great meal. Many of them are return customers who make coming to Woodland an annual tradition. They certainly feel proud to support Woodland and the community.

Spirits Hall is not original to Woodland. Foster purchased over-one hundred years-old St. Patrick’s Catholic Church 14 miles south of Woodland, and he had it painstakingly moved to his land in 1998. Spirits Hall now sits atop a part of the land that previously had slave quarters on it destroyed by Hurricane Betsy. He named it Spirits Hall in order to honor the spirits of the people who suffered there.

A good way to start a meal off is with Woodland punch, a tropical cocktail with a Southern Comfort base. Woodland’s Big House was featured on Southern Comfort’s label for many decades before the label was redesigned in 2010.

Many guests opt for the chef’s 5-course meal which changes with whatever Chef Kevin Vizard can find to cook

Just south of New Orleans lie historic communities along the Mississippi River. Plaquemines Parish is ecologically significant; it holds the confluence of the nation-long river as it pours into the Gulf of Mexico.

FEST EYE CONS!!

that day (Chef Vizard owned Vizard’s on Magazine Street which ran from 2008 to 2012). One particular meal started with grilled quail legs drizzled in a rich red wine sauce followed by a hearty, dark roux white bean soup and warm cornbread. These were perfect little appetizers to warm up the body for the rest of the meal.

The third course was a little bit lighter—a strawberry salad. The entrée was grilled mahi-mahi, served with creamy mashed potatoes and asparagus. The fish was so perfectly cooked that it just practically melted but still had that little bit of crunchy crust. And the red velvet cake could not be resisted and was a perfect cap on this cold coastal night.

Staying in the Big House’s Grande Salon suite gave the feeling of being a child because everything seemed so big. The doors looked 10 feet tall, and the bed was made for a king. The room had all of the modern amenities but with an old-world charm fully intact.

As a new day dawned, it was back to Spirits Hall where a big breakfast buffet was laid out. Hunters and fishers meandered in and out at their leisure to get hot coffee and plates of eggs and bacon before they set out.

Driving down to the marina in order to board a boat with expert fishing guide Matt, who set out through winding waterways to find the best spots to fish.

In a couple of spots in these tranquil waterways, there were casts out and lots of red fish and blue speckled trout reeled in. One of the redfish that was caught was “tournamentworthy.”

Woodland also arranges birding trips and eco-tours for those who just want to admire the natural beauty.

After a few hours on the water, Matt headed back to the marina where he cleaned the fish right away, and fed some hungry pelicans in the process.

After an impromptu fish fry back home, which may have been the best fried fish ever experienced due to the freshness, and that Matt left not even one bone in the filets.

While this trip to the coast was amazing, Woodland and the land that it sits on is not without trouble. The plantation has flooded during the last major hurricanes due in part to the coastal erosion eating away at the land and marsh that used to be much more prevalent. Foster is highly active in championing coastal erosion prevention measures including the newly created water and sediment diversions. The staff at Woodland Circa 1834 is so proud of what they’ve built here, and they are ready to share it with travelers from far and near. Stop by for a delicious dinner at Spirits Hall, or get a room to experience the serenity of Plaquemines Parish.

UNDERSTANDING MORGANZA-TO-THE-GULF

Fresh Water Diversion

By Emily Hingle

Historically, the Mississippi River would periodically overflow its banks. The flooding pushed rich sediment over the floodplains that eventually built land, created waterways, and created diverse ecosystems. This nutrient-dense land was excellent for growing crops. Levees built by people who started settling alongside the river and in its floodplains in the 1800s attempted to restrain the river to the detriment of the southern portion of the state. Slowly but steadily, water crept over Louisiana’s coastal lands over the course of the last two centuries.

Though some people, organi zations, and communities grew concerned about the erosion, plans for how to mitigate the loss were not considered urgent until the onslaught of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. That ruinous storm ushered in the Coastal Master Plan in 2007, which was created and maintained by the Coastal Protection & Restoration Authority. The organization works with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, state and local officials, and the public to identify and prioritize issues affecting our coast and put forth projects that could help with those issues.

The 2023 Coastal Master Plan Draft is the fourth revision of the original plan. Since that time, there have been several devastating hurricanes across Louisiana’s coast and the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill that brought destruction as well as more federal and corporate dollars that have allowed the Master Plan to scale up. In the latest iteration of the Master Plan Draft, the CPRA boasted that they have “completed more than 140 projects,” which have restored 71.6 miles of barrier islands, improved 369 miles of levees, used dredged sediment to build land and marsh, and restored oyster reefs. Yet, there is much to be done to slow the mass erosion. Disagreements

As insurance companies increase premiums or simply drop policies due to the increasing frequency of hurricane damage and the residents of Isle de Jean move to higher ground, it’s apparent that our coastal communities are in imminent danger.

about how to accomplish the Master Plan goals, however, have led to stalemates.

Some of the proposed projects in the Master Plan are highly controversial and are debated by citizens, city and parish councils, activist organizations, and government officials to the point of halting projects altogether. Sedimentary diversions in the Barataria and Breton regions may have broken ground by now, but the use of diversions has been contested by some citizens and businesses who may suffer losses from them.

As some high-profile projects have been tabled, one large-scale project has finally started construction to the relief of the hundreds of thousands of people it may protect from storm surge during hurricanes.

The Morganza-to-the-Gulf Hurricane Protection System is a storm damage risk reduction project. “The project is a 98-mile alignment consisting of earthen levees, floodgates, environmental water control structures, road/railroad gates, and fronting protection for existing pump stations,” explained the Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). The massive endeavor hopes to provide protection from hurricanes up to Category 3 for coastal Terrebonne and Lafourche Parishes, about 60 miles southwest of New Orleans.

The USACE further explained, “The project would reduce the risk of flooding due to storm surge more than 52,000 structures and over 200,000 people in an area of intense concentration of energy infrastructure near the confluence of two nationally-significant navigation corridors in the Mississippi River and the Gulf Intercoastal Water Way. Deterioration of coastal marshes as a result of saltwater intrusion, land subsidence, and the lack of interchanges from the Mississippi River and tributaries system have steadily increased vulnerability to storm surge inundation over time.”

The Morganza-to-the-Gulf was originally authorized in the Water Resources Development Act of 2007, but it was redesigned before it got started, triggering a long series of approvals which took years to do. The first part of the project, the Humble Canal Floodgate, received $12.46 million in funding from the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 to develop a Project Partnership Agreement, start construction of the Humble Canal Floodgate Preload, and work on any extra design for the Humble Canal. About $400 million has been allocated for the entire

On December 9, 2022, the groundbreaking ceremony for the Humble Canal Floodgate foundation in Montegut was held. Col. Stephen Murphy of the United States Army Corps of Engineers stated, “This day has been many years in the making and we are thankful to all those before us who worked to make it possible. This is an important step toward furthering one of our nation’s most important risk reduction systems.”

The foundation for the floodgate will take about 8 months to complete, and the floodgate will be started in 2025. There is a floodgate in this area already that was built in the 1990s, but it can take hours to raise and lower, whereas the new one will take only a handful of minutes.

While this may seem underwhelming, the fact that other potential coastlinesaving and land-building projects have not been able to go through for several years means that land is continually being lost forcing wildlife to find new habitats. This, in turn, makes citizens wonder if they need to abandon their homes for higher ground. Unfortunately, even if all of the projects in the Master Plan began immediately, Louisiana will continue to weather the impacts of erosion.

The Coastal Master Plan 2023 Draft states, “Since 1932, more than 2,000 square miles of Louisiana’s coast, and the benefits they provide, have been lost. Even with the 2023 Coastal Master Plan fully implemented, coastal Louisiana’s landscape is going to look different 50 years into the future. We see a maximum benefit of 395 square miles of additional land [created] at Year 40, however, the benefits of many of the early projects diminish in the final decade as they can no longer keep pace with subsidence and accelerated rates of sea level rise.”

You can keep up with coastal erosion matters and projects, including finding public hearing events, at coastal.la.gov and crcl.org

Morganza-to-the-Gulf.

MUSIC CALENDAR

MONDAY, MARCH 27

21st Amendment James Beaumont

AllWays Lounge Betsy Propane

Apple Barrel Mark Appleford

BJ’s Lounge Barstow Brown

Bamboula’s Crawdaddy T, The Four Horsemen

Bourbon Orleans Raddy Tat Tat, Tiffany Hall

Buffa’s Doyle Cooper Trio

Cafe Negril Cristina Kaminis

Capulet Bad Penny Pleasuremakers

Church at Hotel Peter & Paul The Dominic Minix

Healing Sound Bath

D.B.A. James Martin Band, Secret Six Jazz Band

Dos Jefes John Fohl

Fritzel’s Jazz Pub Lee Floyd & Thunderbolt, Richard Scott

Gasa Gasa Dusky Waters, Sierra Bryan

Hi Ho Lounge Tucker Baker, Ben Russell

Le Bon Temps Roulé Kevin Scott Trio

MRB Ben Buchbinder

Mahogany Jazz Hall Tom Hook

Preservation Hall Preservation Brass

Royal Frenchmen Jazz Vipers

Saturn Bar BC Coogan

Siberia Herakleion, Congealed Putrescence

Sidney’s Saloon Amazing Henrietta

St. Roch Tavern Max Bien Kahn

The Howlin Wolf

Bryan Bielanski

The Maison

Single Malt

Three Muses

Danny Abel, Monty

Banks

Tropical Isle

Dave Ferrato, Dave

James

Tulane

University Aizuri

Quartet

TUESDAY, MARCH 28

Bamboula’s Andy

J Forest, Doyle

Cooper Bayou Bar Oscar

Rossignoli, Peter Harris

Fritzel’s Jazz Pub Bourbon Street Star

Gasa Gasa The Quadroholics, Bear & The Forest

Friends House of Blues Hawthorne Heights, Armor For Sleep

Lafayette Square Galactic, Angelika “Jelly” Joseph

MRB Lynn Drury

Madame Vic’s O.L.D

Mahogany Jazz Hall Tom Fischer

Marigny Brasserie The Delta Review

New Orleans Jazz Museum The Avery Band, Millard Green

Palm Court Jazz Cafe Lars Edegran

Pour House at Jefferson Huey C

Preservation Hall Preservation All-Stars, Branden

Lewis

Santos Bar Swamp Moves

Saturn Bar Ded Debbie

Snug Harbor Oscar Rossignoli Trio

Spotted Cat Chris Christy Band, Shotgun Jazz Band

The Broadside BAD OPERATION, JER

The Howlin Wolf Sariyah Idan, Amethyst Starr

The Jazz Playhouse Big Sam

Tropical Isle Bourbon Dave Ferrato, Dave James

Tulane University Samuel Hines, Nicholas Ciraldo

University of New Orleans Rodney Whitaker

G. LOVE & SPECIAL SAUCE AT THE HOUSE OF BLUES

Philadelphia rock band G. Love & Special Sauce will be serenading the House of Blues near the end of March. The band’s laid-back sound incorporates elements of blues, soul, and hip hop.

Thursday, March 30, 7 p.m., $22-$55, houseofblues.com/ neworleans

Bourbon Orleans KB Express, Raddy Tat Tat

Capulet Sun Queen

Chickie Wah Wah Raph & The Rotation

D.B.A. DinosAurchestra, Soul Brass Band

Dos Jefes Tom Hook

Fritzel’s Jazz Pub Jamil Sharif

Gasa Gasa Kaye The Beast, Slaz, Geske

Hi Ho Lounge Murphy Smith, Matt Schultz Trio

House of Blues Judah & the Lion, Mark Barrett

Kitchen Table Cafe Kitchen Table Cafe Trio

Mahogany Jazz Hall Big Joe Kennedy, Joe Lastie

Maple Leaf Bar TBC Brass Band

New Orleans Jazz Museum Sir’ Chantz Powell

Royal Frenchmen Trumpet Mafia

Saturn Bar Early Day Miners, James Rose

Side Porch Brad Walker, James Singleton

Silk Road Anuraag Pendyal

Spotted Cat Chris Christy Band, Smoking Time

Sweet Lorraine’s Russell Batiste

The Maison Gene’s Music Machine, The Villains

The Rabbit Hole Rebirth Brass Band

Three Muses Hunter Burgamy

Uptown Market Robert Eustis, Elliot Kamenintz

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29

21st Amendment James Beaumont

Apple Barrel Mark Appleford

Bamboula’s Roulé & The Queen, John Saavedra

Bayou Bar Firm Roots, Peter Harris

Blue Nile New Breed Brass Band

Bombay Club Harry Mayronne, Raynel Shepard

Bratz Y’all Andy Forest, Dean Zucchero

Buffa’s Bar Wooton Wednesday

Cafe Negril Night People, Higher Heights Reggae

Café Degas Double Whisky

Capulet Suzanne Ortner

Carousel Lounge James Martin Band

Chickie Wah Wah Lulu & The Broadsides

D.B.A. Joy Clark, Tin Men

DMACS Sam Price & Friends

Dos Jefes Kris Tokarski

Favela Chic Mervin Campbell

THURSDAY, MARCH 30

21st Amendment The Jelly Roll Stompers, Joe

Kennedy

3rd Block Depot Dr. Sick & The Late Greats

Apple Barrel Bubbles Brown

Bamboula’s The Zig Zags, Wolfe John’s Blues

Bayou Bar David Torkanowsky, Jason Marsalis

Bistro Orleans Santi “Harmonica” Garcia

Blue Nile Where Y’at Brass Band

Bourbon Orleans Hotel The Leroy Marshall Band, The Villains Bratz Y’all Margie Perez, Dean Zucchero

Bullet’s Sports Bar No Boss Jazz Band, Jerry Anderson

Cafe Negril Piano Man ‘G’, Sierra Green

Capulet Double Whiskey

Carousel Lounge Lena Prima, Tom Hook

Carrollton Station Funk Griot, Apricot Jam

Chickie Wah Wah Alex McMurray

City Park Pavilion of the Two Sisters Little

Freddie King

Commons Club Jenn Howard, Jenn Howard Band

D.B.A. John Boutté, The Quickening

DMACS Paggy Prine, Pizza Man’s Fam Jam

Dos Jefes Mark Coleman Quartet, Cass Faulconer

Fritzel’s Jazz Pub Doyle Cooper Band, Fritzel’s All

Star Band

Gasa Gasa Wumbo, Sarah Burke Band

Hi Ho Lounge Robert Florence, ESP

Hilton Riverside Public Belt Louise Cappi

House of Blues Dick Deluxe, G. Love

Joy Theater Kayzo

Kitchen Table Cafe Dr. Mark St. Cyr Trad Jazz Band

Le Bon Temps Roulé The Soul Rebels

MRB Clint Johnson

Mahogany Jazz Hall Jamil Sharif, The New Orleans

Catahoulas Trio

Maple Leaf Bar Joe Ashlar, Johnny Vidacovich

Marigny Brasserie Slick Skillet Serenaders

New Orleans Jazz Museum Fred Kasten

Orpheum Theater Louisiana Philharmonic

Orchestra

Palm Court Jazz Cafe Duke Heitger, Crescent City

Joymakers

Preservation Hall Wendell Brunious

Ray’s On The Ave Stooges Brass Band

Royal Frenchmen Roccadile

Saturn Bar Gold Connection, Eva Lovullo

Snug Harbor Rodney Whitaker Quintet

Spotted Cat Chris Christy, Jumbo Shrimp Jazz Band

Sweet Lorraine’s Chucky C & Friends

The Howlin Wolf Comedy Gumbeaux

The Jazz Playhouse Brass-A-Holics

The Maison Secret 6, The New Orleans Rug Cutters

The Neutral Ground Open Corner’s Collective

Three Keys Ace Hotel Kyndra Joi, Soul Theory

Three Muses Tom McDermott

Tulane University Rafael Padron, Javier Garcia

Verdugo

Vaughan’s Corey Henry, The Treme Funktet

Virgin Hotels Le Youth

FRIDAY, MARCH 31

21st Amendment Dominick Grillo, Dr. Sick

Apple Barrel Bubbles Brown

BJ’s Lounge Tuba Skinny, Charlie Halloran

BMC NOLA Groove Collective

Bamboula’s Golden Compass Trio, Les Getrex

Bayou Bar Lex Warshawsky, Peter Varnado

Blue Nile Kermit Ruffins, Trumpet Slim

Bourbon Orleans Hotel Raddy Tat Tat & The Cats

Bratz Y’all Don Cook, Dean Zucchero

Buffa’s Bar Brint Anderson

Bullet’s Sports Bar Sporty’s Brass Band

Bywater Brew Pub Glenn Hartman, Joe Cabral

Cafe Negril Dana Abbott Band, Higher Heights

Cajun Ballroom Sweet Crude

Carousel Lounge Nayo Jones, Richard Scott

Carrollton Station Tom Andes, Emily Neustrom

Central City BBQ Zac Maras & Cactus Thief

Chickie Wah Wah Ed Volker’s Trio Mullosc

Civic Theatre Pete Holmes

D.B.A. Meschiya Lake

DMACS The John Krupa Project

Dab’s Bistro Santi “Harmonica” Garcia

Dos Jefes The Afrodiziac’s Jazz

Fillmore New Orleans Harry Mack

Free People of Color Museum Big Sam

Fritzel’s Jazz Pub Richard Scott, Sam Friend

Gasa Gasa The Sloppy Boys, Dear Blanca

Hi Ho Lounge Strange Roux

Lakefront Arena Charles Godwin, George Porter Jr.

Le Bon Temps Roulé Russell Batiste

Link Nola MLG Band

MRB Patrick Cooper

Madame Vic’s Dayna Kurtz, Robert Maché

Mahogany Jazz Hall Mahogany Jazz Hall All Stars,

Smoking Time Jazz Club Trio

Maple Leaf Bar Funk Monkey, Arséne Delay

Marigny Brasserie Secret Bandwagon

May Baily’s Place Ellis & The Shambles

NOPSI Hotel Matt Lemmler

New Orleans Jazz Museum Anna Laura Quinn

Ochsner Hospital Atrium Elizabeth Yeoh-Wang

Old Point Bar T Marie & Bayou Juju

Palm Court Jazz Cafe Kevin Louis, Yolanda

Robinson with Palm Court Jazz Band

Polo Club Lounge Bean & The Boys

Pour House at Jefferson Mike Darby Band

Public Belt Philip Melancon

Republic NOLA Jabari, Samplifire

Santos Bar Sunday Circus, Kinky Vanilla

Saturn Bar C’est Funk, HEELTURN

Sidney’s Saloon DarkLounge Ministries

Smoothie King Center New Edition, Keith Sweat

Snug Harbor Germaine Bazzle, Larry Sieberth Trio

Spotlight Bar & Grill Tank & Bill

Spotted Cat Chris Johnson Band

Sweet Lorraine’s Sharon Martin

The Howlin Wolf Artopia

The Maison Shotgun Jazz Band, Swingin’ Gypsies

The National WWII Museum Josephine Baker

The Neutral Ground Genial Orlenians, Jean Bertrand

Three Muses Bad Penny Pleasuremakers

Tipitina’s John Papa Gros

Tulane University Mahmoud Chouki, Cristian Puig

Woodie’s Grill & Bar Claude Hitt

SATURDAY, APRIL 1

BJ’s Lounge Sweet Magnolia Brass Band, Magnetic

Ear

Cafe Negril Bon Bon Vivant, New Orleans Rug

Cutters

Chemin à la Mer Amanda Shaw

D.B.A. Big Sam, Tuba Skinny

DMACS Pocket Chocolate

Dew Drop Arco Latino

Fountain Lounge Leslie Martin

Gasa Gasa Alexalone, Scenic World, Pope

House of Blues Maude Caillat

Joy Theater David Cross

Loyola University New Orleans Elizabeth Yeoh-

Wang

Mahalia Jackson Theater Druski

Maple Leaf Bar Sam Price

Port Orleans OTRA Quartet

Saenger Theatre Los Angeles Azules

Santos Bar She Might Be a Beast

Spotted Cat Soul Brass Band

The Neutral Ground Clementine, Scott Gold

The Rabbit Hole X-Coast

Tipitina’s Maggie Koerner

SUNDAY, APRIL 2

Bacchanal Wine Noah Young Trio, Tangiers Combo

Cafe Negril John Lisi, The Mojo Hands

DMACS Mad Dog Menagerie

D.B.A. Treme Brass Band

East Bank Regional Library Elizabeth Yeoh-Wang

Smoothie King Center Stevie Nicks

The Howlin Wolf Joie des Femme

The Maison Mervin Campbell

Tipitina’s Bruce Daigrepont

MONDAY, APRIL 3

AllWays Lounge Betsy Propane

Cafe Negril Cristina Kaminis

DMACS Monday Blues Jam

Siberia The Pallbearers, Voice Of Addiction

Silk Road The No Quarter Shanty Krewe

TUESDAY, APRIL 4

AllWays Lounge Nola Dukes Band, Sw33theartbreak

D.B.A. Secret Six Jazz Band, Lulu & the Broadsides

Ellis Marsalis Center Freddie Blue

Hi-Ho Lounge Southpaw Saint, Manuscript

Joy Theater Kevin Kaarl

Spotted Cat Chris Christy, Smoking Time Jazz Club

Treme Hideaway JuvieTuesdays

STEVIE NICKS AT THE SMOOTHIE KING CENTER

Legendary

Rock and Roll Hall of Famer

Stevie Nicks will be bringing her live concert tour to New Orleans. Expect to hear many, many hits from solo career and her days with Fleetwood Mac. Sunday, April 2, 7 p.m., tickets start at $93, smoothiekingcenter.com

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5

Broadside The Residents

Cafe Degas Double Whiskey

Cafe Negril Higher Heights, Double Whisky

D.B.A. Bon Bon Vivant

Favela Chic Mervin Campbell

Gasa Gasa HELL, Fauns

House of Blues Valley Of The Sun

Lafayette Square Mia Borders

Republic NOLA Elderbrook

Spotted Cat Chris Christy, Shotgun Jazz Band

The Sandbar at The Cove Leon Anderson

GLEN DAVID

THURSDAY, APRIL 6

3rd Block Depot Dr. Sick

BK House & Gardens Betty Shirley

BMC Renée Gros

Cafe Negril Piano Man ‘G’, Sierra Green

DMACS Paggy Prine

House of Blues Adrian Belew, Scrote

Joy Theater Big Wild

New Orleans Jazz Museum LPO

Pavilion of the Two Sisters John Boutté

Republic NOLA Black Carl, SubDocta

N.O. Charter Science & Mathematics High

School

Mykia Jovan, Stooges Brass Band

Spotted Cat Chris Christy, Jumbo Shrimp Jazz Band

FRIDAY, APRIL 7

Cafe Negril Paradise Jazz Band, Sweetie

DMACS Sierra Green, Sun Queen

Deutsches Haus Ladies Choir, Men’s Choir

Fillmore Stavros Halkias

Gasa Gasa Slauson Malone 1, MIKE

House of Blues Shadow of Intent, Eric Hutchinson

Marigny Opera House Saint Mercedes, Medicinal

Harmony

NOPSI Matt Lemmler

Republic NOLA Emorfik, Ghastly

Spotted Cat Chris Johnson Band

The Broadside Louis Michot

SATURDAY, APRIL 8

Abita Brew Pub The Silver Lining Serenaders

BJ’s Lounge max bien kahn

Buffa’s Bar Freddie Blue, Glenn Hartman

Cafe Negril Rug Cutters, Sierra Green

Carrollton Station The Heartland

Chemin à la Mer Amanda Shaw

DMACS Nardy Boy, Sean Hobbes

Dew Drop Hall J. Monqué D Blues Revue

Fillmore Pouya, Terror Reid

House of Blues Skinny Puppy, Lead Into Gold

Republic NOLA Bemo Rouge, Hey Thanks!

Smoothie King Center Los Tigres del Norte

Southport Hall Throwing Silk

Spotted Cat Shake’em Up Jazz Band

The Howlin Wolf Wait, What?

SUNDAY, APRIL 9

Bacchanal Wine Noah Young, Tangiers Combo

Cafe Negril John Lisi, Vegas Cola

DMACS Flatline Radio

Felix’s Rhythm & Rain Trio

Gasa Gasa Xiu Xiu, Coral Mercy

House of Blues Onyx

The Howlin Wolf Tink & Friends

The Maison Mervin Campbell

Tipitina’s Rakim

MONDAY, APRIL 10

Cafe Negril Cristina Kaminis

DMACS Bar & Grill Monday Blues Jam

Gasa Gasa Skweezy Jibbs, Adam Pasi

Joy Theater Built To Spill

TUESDAY, APRIL 11

Gasa Gasa Lightning Bolt

Joy Theater The Moth GrandSLAM

Orpheum Theater Hippie Sabotage

Spotted Cat Chris Christy, Smoking Time Jazz

Club

Toulouse Theatre Hovvdy

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12

Cafe Negril Colin Davis, Higher Heights

Café Degas Double Whisky

DMACS Paul Faith

Favela Chic Mervin Campbell

Joy Theater One Step & One Step Closer, Silverstein

Lafayette Square The Suffers, Trumpet Mafia

MRB Lynn Drury

Santos Bar Franks & Deans

Spotted Cat Chris Christy, Shotgun Jazz Band

The Sandbar Victor Atkins

THURSDAY, APRIL 13

3rd Block Depot Dr. Sick

Cafe Negril Piano Man ‘G’, Sierra Green

City Park Pavilion of the Two Sisters Ladies of Soul

DMACS Paggy Prine, Pizza Man

Orpheum Theater Big Freedia, LPO

Santos Bar The Toasters

Spotted Cat Chris

Christy, Jumbo Shrimp

Jazz Band

Tipitina’s Josh Johnson

FRIDAY, APRIL 14

BMC Renée Gros

Cafe Negril Paradise Jazz Band, Sweetie

D.B.A. The Soul Rebels

DMACS the Lili Lewis Project, Jamey St. Pierre

Fillmore Wayne Graham, Tyler Childers

Gasa Gasa Dougie Poole, Thomas Dollbaum

Madame Vic’s Poisson Rouge Music

NOPSI Matt Lemmler

New Orleans Museum of Art Kumasi Afrobeat

Orchestra

Santos Bar SCHISM, The Toasters

Spotted Cat Big Fun Brass Band, Chris Johnson

Band

The Maison Mervin Campbell

Toulouse Theatre Paul Cauthen

SATURDAY, APRIL 15

BMC Jason Neville

Cafe Negril New Orleans Rug Cutters, Sierra Green

Carrollton Station Mia Borders

Chemin à la Mer Amanda Shaw

D.B.A. Dwayne Dopsie, Zydeco Hellraisers

DMACS Lili Lewis Project, LYON

Gasa Gasa Kid Charleroi, Silver Godling

Joy Theater Mac Ayres

Maple Leaf Bar Jon Cleary

Roosevelt Hotel Leslie Martin

Santos Bar The Well, Firebreather

Spotted Cat James Martin Band

The Howlin Wolf Poisson Rouge

The National WWII Museum Victory Swing

Orchestra

BIG FREEDIA & THE LPO AT THE ORPHEUM

NOLA’s queen of bounce Big Freedia will be teaming up with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra in April. Freedia has gained national attention for collaborating with artists like Beyoncé, Kesha, and Drake. Thursday, April 13, 7:30 p.m., tickets start at $49, lpomusic.com

The Rabbit Hole Scrubfish, Torrfisk

Tipitina’s Big Sam’s Funky Nation

Toulouse Theatre Uncle Lucius

SUNDAY, APRIL 16

30/90 Renee Gros

Bacchanal Wine Noah Young Trio, Tangiers Combo

BJ’s Lounge Valerie Sassyfras

Cafe Negril John Lisi & Delta Funk, Vegas Cola

D.B.A. Treme Brass Band

DMACS Hold for Craig C, Magenta Sunshine

Gasa Gasa LOOSE CATTLE, BRUISEY PEETS

The Maison Mervin Campbell

Tipitina’s Eric Lindell

LAKESIDE2RIVERSIDE

NATCHEZ SPRING PILGRIMAGE

Through April 11, natchezpilgrimage.com

Head out to Natchez, Mississippi and tour through beautiful mansions for this year’s Natchez Spring Pilgrimage. More than a dozen private home owners will have their doors open for visitors to peruse their houses’ gorgeous interiors and colorful gardens. Several B&Bs and museum homes are also included in the spring pilgrimage. Tours can be booked through the pilgrimage’s website.

SHELL-A-BRATION

March 31, crcl.org

Head to the Audubon Zoo’s Cajun Ballroom and enjoy delicious oysters at Shell-A-Bration. The event, which starts at 7 p.m., celebrates and raises awareness for the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana’s Oyster Shell Recycling Program. There will also be live music by Sweet Crude, local food by the Audubon Nature Institute, local beer, door prizes, and more. Adult tickets are $75, $25 for children 12 and younger, and kids 2 and under get in for free.

GATESFEST 2023

April 2, gatesfest.org

One of Metairie’s festivals, GatesFest, is returning for early April. Held on the grounds of the Congregation Gates of Prayer synagogue, the festival will have plenty of food, art, and family entertainment for attendees to enjoy. This year’s musical headliners include Marc Broussard, Cowboy Mouth, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Lost Bayou Ramblers, and more. General admission is $25, while kids 12 and under get free admission.

NEW ORLEANS ENTREPRENEUR WEEK FEST

March 30 - April 1, noew.org/fest

New Orleans Entrepreneur Week will be holding its first ever music festival this year. The fest will feature back-to-back concerts with over a dozen artists who push the boundaries of creative and cultural innovation. Some of the artists include White Denim, Pell, Brass-AHolics, People Museum, Water Seed, and Young Fellaz Brass Band. The concerts will take place at Generations Hall on Thursday and Friday and at the Broadside on Saturday.

WORLD BALLET SERIES: CINDERELLA

April 2, jeffersonpac.com

The World Ballet Series will be bringing the magical world of Cinderella to Metairie’s Jefferson Performing Arts Center.

cast of 40 ballet dancers in stunning handsewn costumes will bring this timeless tale to life. The ballet is choreographed by Marina Kessler and accompanied by a fantastic score by Sergei Prokofiev. The performance will begin at 7 p.m. and tickets start at $40.

CYCLE ZYDECO

April 12-16, cyclezydeco.org

Grab a bike and head out to Acadiana for this year’s Cycle Zydeco. Louisiana’s official Cajun and Creole cycling festival gives attendees the opportunity to experience the sights and unique culture of Cajun Country through casual bike rides. Choose from different routes that bring folks to points of interest like brewery tours, swamp tours, and more. The event, which is $210 to register, will provide plenty of great food and festive music to enjoy.

THE FRENCH QUARTER EASTER PARADE

April 9, frenchquartereasterparade.com

Celebrate Easter in true New Orleans fashion at the French Quarter Easter Parade. The Historic French Quarter Easter Parade will start at the Omni Royal Orleans Hotel. The parade starts at 1 p.m. but before the parade, there is a pre-party and hat contest. After the parade there will be a lavish brunch with entertainment by the Y’at Pack. The price for adults is $300 to ride and brunch, and brunch only is $195 For kids, the price is $250 to ride and brunch, and brunch only is $125.

PONCHATOULA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL

April 14-16, lastrawberryfestival.com

Celebrate Louisiana strawberries grown by local farmers at this year’s Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival. Held in the “strawberry capital of the world,” the festival is one of the largest free harvest festivals in all of Louisiana. There will be tons to enjoy like delicious food and drinks, rides, a parade, and more. Musical headliners will include Parish County Line, the Phunky Monkeys, Dukes of Country, and many others.

ELMER'S CHOCOLATES

NOLA's Memory Lane is Paved in Gold Brick Chocolates

By Kim Ranjbar

There's

hiding Louisiana's

For kids all over the country, Easter morning will arrive with the sweet surprise of jelly bean-stuffed plastic eggs and hollow chocolate bunnies, but the baskets in Louisiana are just a little bit different. We still gorge ourselves on Cadbury Creme Eggs and marshmallowy Peeps, but Easter's just not complete without Elmer's confections.

Like many cultural aspects of the region, the local love for Elmer's has a long history. Founded in 1855, this local confectionery started life as the Miller Candy Company located in a large building on the corner of Jackson and Levee streets in New Orleans. At the tender age of 16, Christopher Henry Miller emigrated from Germany seeking his fortune. After learning the pastry arts working in area restaurants, Miller decided to open his own candy company. His son-in-law Augustus Elmer eventually joined him and around 1914, with the addition of Augustus's five sons, the business became the Elmer Candy Corporation.

Fast-forward to 1963 when Chicagonative Roy Nelson purchased the candy corporation. Due to antiquated facilities at the New Orleans location, Roy moved operations an hour's drive Northwest to Ponchatoula, a small town in Louisiana well-known for its strawberries. The Nelsons kept the company in Ponchatoula, and in the family and today, Elmer Candy's CEO is Robert Nelson, Roy's great-grandson. “I didn't know there was any other kind of Easter candy when I was growing up,” confesses Robert.

Though it may be difficult to comprehend for any Gold Brick-gobbling New Orleanian, the bulk of Elmer's business does not come from their Easter candy. In fact, as the 2nd largest manufacturer of heart-shaped boxed chocolates in the country, it's actually Valentine's Day that keeps the company chugging along. “[Easter candy is] a very small part of our business,” says Nelson. “It's right around five percent. Locals are very surprised by that.”

Folks from Beaumont, Texas to Pensacola, Florida would likely disagree, because the Gold

frequently outsell the national leaders locally in the Easter candy market. “People who move away from Louisiana will call us when they can't find it in the stores because they figured it's everywhere,” says Nelson.

After well over 150 years in business, Elmer's has become so intertwined in the lives of locals that company artifacts will pop up in the most unexpected places. “It's interesting because over the years, I've had people come to me and say, ‘Hey, you know, I found this box in my parent's attic and it had these candy molds,’” says Nelson. “It was kind of one of those things, when people found them, they saved them.” The antique molds to make hollow chocolate bunnies and large solid chocolate eggs are living proof that residents’ memories aren’t just the Mandela effect.

Heavenly Hash, Gold Brick Eggs, and Pecan Eggs are the three magical confections by Elmer Candy which cause the local Easter candy kerfuffle each year. Made with roasted almonds surrounded by fluffy marshmallow and all enrobed in chocolate, Heavenly Hash was originally created at a New Orleans department store, but in 1923 Elmer’s purchased the recipe and it’s been their signature ever since.

In fact, Heavenly Hash just celebrated its centennial anniversary on February 2, 2023. Gold Brick Eggs are made with rich milk or dark chocolate, crunchy pecans, and a “creamy melt-a-way center,” and, finally, the Pecan Egg is a chewy nougat surrounded by buttery pecans in a rich caramel.

Just mentioning Heavenly Hash or Gold Brick Eggs stirs evocations of Easters past from people all over the area. WDSU News’ famed meteorologist Margaret Orr has fond

memories of Elmer's confections. “I can still remember biting into my first Gold Brick Egg as a child, and thinking joy,” says Orr. “I love Gold Brick Eggs, my favorite as a child, and even today. I put them in my children’s baskets, and always—always—hide one away for me.”

Popular t-shirt shop Fleurty Girl's founder and local celebrity Lauren LeBlanc Haydel can't imagine an Easter passing her by without Elmer's chocolates. “I remember when I got a little older, I requested the Easter Bunny to not give me a solid chocolate bunny, and instead I wanted that whole package of six Heavenly Hash Eggs” reveals Haydel. “I always get excited when I see those shiny blue packages in the stores. It just means spring is right around the corner. It’s not the blooming flowers for me.”

Veteran chef and restaurateur Greg Sonnier of Gabrielle Restaurant grew up eating Elmer's and, along with Lauren LeBlanc Haydel, associated the confections with springtime. “We know what time of year it is when Elmer chocolate candies are around,” says Sonnier. “Spring has sprung, but it also reminded us that school was almost over.”

Internationally acclaimed New Orleans artist Terrance Osborne vividly remembers getting Gold Brick Eggs every Easter. “As a child, it's all I got,” says Osborne. “It's synonymous with Easter.” As an adult, Osborne buys the gold wrapped chocolates for his wife and children. “One time I came back with something else, something I thought might be a good substitute, and [his wife] just said. 'No. I will not eat that.' They run out so fast, they just

disappear from the shelves.”

Finally, New Orleans-born actor Bryan Batt, known for his work in AMC's Mad Men and acclaimed 2013 film 12 Years a Slave, has been a lifelong fan of Elmer's chocolate. He's for “Gold Brick all the way. As a kid, I thought they were the bricks for Dorothy's yellow brick road.” Apparently, it was a local myth believed and beloved by children statewide.

Easter is just around the corner and with it, Elmer's confections will make their brief, but annual appearance on local supermarket shelves. Have you ever tasted a Gold Brick melt-a-way Egg or Heavenly Hash? What cherished recollections do you have of Elmer's candies? We'd love to hear about it.

no

nostalgic connection to Elmer's confections, as many natives confess, “it's just not Easter without Elmer's!”

FRENCH QUARTER FESTIVAL

MAKING GROCERIES, Y’ALL!

Local Brands Bring New (Delectable) Definitions to Cajun and Creole Cuisine

Sara Levasseur of Jamboree Jams

By Frances Deese

The New Orleans culinary scene doesn’t live just within restaurants and bars. The local products on grocery shelves and in shops have their own incredible impact. Luckily, this compilation of products are ones who have not ignored the history of the cuisine of the city, but incorporated it and found ways to give Cajun and Creole cuisine new meanings. These tasty local goods can be incorporated into your crawfish boils or Easter gatherings this year, and their versatility means they bring excitement to a plain old day.

As the originators of “gumbo in a box,” Mam Papaul’s has helped to bring the flavors of Louisiana into homes for over 50 years. What began as “Cajun Care Packages” by Miss Nancy Wilson, today is a company bringing all the classic flavors, along with new renditions and creations. Current owner, Steven Marque describes that while their products like the entree mixes capture flavors, they are not overpowering. The brand encourages cooks to make it their own, and Marque explains that in the city, “the inspiration is right in front of you, just open your eyes.” Using their knowledge and experiences, they have also developed a line of seasoning blends with nods to the local neighborhoods. Marque says one of his favorites is the Audubon blend, which pairs excellently with cucumber and tomatoes. For this spring, their Crawfish Pie Mix is a must try. Their site also features this mix used as a crawfish pie dip, but other seafood substitutes such as shrimp work well. While Marque jokes that it is the secret everybody has in their kitchen, this

Much like the trinity mix that is the strong foundation of countless Cajun and Creole cuisine, classic dishes of these cuisines aren’t going anywhere. The inspiration they spawn, however, allows for unique takes.

Mam Papaul's Crawfish Pie

is your official sign to proudly boast a true GNO brand as your base of great dishes.

Conjure up the word jam and many may envision a quaint cottage in New England, sitting in the midst of some fall foliage. Founder and owner of Jamboree Jams, Sara Levasseur, is changing such perceptions of the spread in dynamic ways. Levasseur is intentional with the pairings in the jams and marmalades, and uses produce from local farmers. Their Spicy Satsuma has “peppers that lend a spicy contrast to the sweetness of the satsumas.” She says, “I think it’s worthwhile to have some fun with your flavors and try something out that people maybe haven’t tried yet,” adding that the complementary component is key, like the heart of countless Cajun and Creole dishes. Levasseur’s has recommendations for using jams outside of their typical associations including as a marinade for meat, fish or veggies, on a charcuterie board, even in cocktails, and much more beyond those. These jams can be found at her shop on St. Claude Street.

Derived from New Orleanians’ long use of the term to mean neighborhood, Faubourg Brewing Co. does more than boast the name, including working to connect with the culture and micro communities that have shaped their brand. With more than a century of business under their belts, they aren’t just resting on their laurels. The opening of their state-of-the-art brewery in 2019 in New Orleans East was just the start in their efforts towards establishing the culture of craft beer in the city. One part of their mission is ensuring all beers marry well with local cuisine. One refreshing take on that is their Beignet Au Lait, an imperial blonde that is combined with pilsner and Vienna malts, cascade hops, and local cold brew. As they state, it’s a tribute to the city’s most versatile, anytime treat.

The artisanal food movement in recent years has also had its helpful impacts on the beverage scene. This means that drinking at home can be elevated, while still accessible and El Guapo Bitters is seeking to make the best elixirs possible. Led by Christa Cotton, the founder of New Orleans Beverage Company, they regularly seek the highest quality ingredients and often source from local farmers. Whether it’s a Friday night in or a large hosting event, there are boundless combinations with their bitters, mixers, and syrups. With the arrival of spring, the Crawfish Boil Bitters or Cajun Grenadine would be excellent starting points.

There’s nothing wrong with indulgence when it comes to snacking, but many companies of today are proving that one doesn’t have to sacrifice flavor and health for good eats. While

the New Orleans-based Brass Roots Snacks is able to intertwine these two, they are also introducing a mysterious ingredient to the city, the sacha inchi seed. Hailing from a long line of cultivation in Peru, the seed comes in various flavors, yet their Sweet Heat roasted offering has flavors that are reminiscent of the classic essence seasoning blend. Available outside of the roasted form are butters, crunch puffs, and nutrition bars that are sure to surprise.

Those who are of the persuasion that mustard is strictly reserved for hotdogs have not had their eyes opened to the many varieties of this condiment, and, in this case especially, Cochon’s Abita Whole Grain mustard. This German-style, whole-grain mustard is a nod to the owner of Cochon, Chef Donald Link’s heritage and Louisiana upbringing. The use of Abita Beer balances out the acidity, while the heat and spice make it easy to use in lots of ways. Link’s Restaurant Group has recommendations that it goes great with grilled sausage, fried boudin, or on a ham and cheese sandwich. This is a product complimentary to so many dishes.

Brass Roots Snacks' second line entrance on Shark Tank

Louisiana’s DELTA

Plaquemines Parish

COUNTRY

As the Mississippi River nears the Gulf of Mexico, orange groves and oyster boats mingle with marsh, swamps and barrier islands to create a unique setting for you to explore. Come experience world class fishing, fresh seafood, history and environmental tours in Louisiana’s Deep Delta Country.

Plaquemines Parish Seafood Festival April 28-30, 2023

www.PlaqueminesParishTourism.com for more information!

$20 AND UNDER

A Piece of Cake: Tres Leches

By Kim Ranjbar

Made with an airy, eggy sponge and three kinds of milk, tres leches cake (a.k.a. pan tres leches) is a wondrous Latin American dessert, which is both delicate and rich at the same time. Many countries claim to be the home of the tres leches cake, from El Salvador and Nicaragua to Argentina, Cuba, and Columbia. But all we know for sure is the recipe popped up, alongside the advent of canned milks, sometime in the 1940s. It started becoming popular in the U.S. around the early 80s, specifically in Miami where it began appearing on local menus in Latino and Hispanic communities.

These days, you can find tres leches cakes anywhere, from Honduran cafes and Dominican restaurants, to taco stands and bakeries. But how do you choose? The mark of a great tres leches is found in its airy sponge and moist, but not soggy, texture. It's a cake that should never be dry or sit in a big puddle. It should burst with the flavor of lightly sweetened milk—a rich, creamy bite of bliss just begging for another.

Uptown on Magazine Street, chef/owner Edgar Caro has been delighting diners with his Latin-Caribbean cuisine since 2007 at Baru Bistro & Tapas. Most diners only have to spend one warm, spring evening, kicking back at a comfortable table on the balcony, sipping a sweet caipirinha, and munching on their signature pulled pork arepas to fall in love with this neighborhood gem. Topping off the evening should include a pristine square of Baru's tres or should we say cuatro leches cake? “We use four forms of milk: evaporated, condensed, whole milk, and media crema,” says Caro. “It makes our tres leches cake succulent, richer, and irresistible the way it should be.” This fruit-topped cream of the crop will set you back $10, but it's worth every bite.

One of a minuscule number of Colombian restaurants in New Orleans, Mais Arepas is an incredibly popular spot for an affordable, and tasty, lunch, dinner, and dessert. Located a block off St. Charles Avenue on the corner of Carondolet and Clio (AKA CL10), this restaurant is known (obviously) for its thick, fluffy, corn flour arepa served stuffed with everything from skirt steak and sweet plantains, to chorizo, Gulf shrimp and pulled pork almost all of which are $15 and under. Ringing in at only $8, the tres leches at Mais Arepas is not only sweet, cool and creamy, and it's completely gluten free. Owner David Mantilla, former business partner Edgar Caro of the above-mentioned Baru, has spent years perfecting their glutenfree version of tres leches and was unwilling to reveal their secret recipe, but who can blame them? Just go, eat, and be happy.

After opening in a “cursed” location in Bywater during the pandemic, and surviving, Alma Cafe should not only be on your radar, it should be in your regular restaurant rotation. Owned and operated by Chef Melissa Arujo, a local industry vet who has worked in kitchens such as Susan Spicer's now-defunct Mondo and Restaurant R'evolution, launched the neighborhood joint featuring Honduran cuisine in Fall of 2020. Open for breakfast and lunch, Alma's menu is always changing with dishes like ground beef enchiladas with green cabbage and sliced boiled egg, chorizo and cheese pupusas, and (if you can get there early enough) house made, sweet cemitas with a cookie-like crust. Though it's not always on the menu, consider yourself blessed if you can score a massive slice of Arujo's tres leches made with yellow cake (as opposed to sponge), a blend of aromatic spices (aka “old family secrets”), and topped with burnt meringue.

Opened in 2007, Maya's Restaurant on Magazine Street has always seemed to fall under the food media radar, though the reason why is a mystery. Born in Honduras, co-owner and chef Edgar Irias does a spectacular job serving up plates of mahi ceviche with jicama and avocado, bean and chorizo empanadas, shrimp and crab meat tostones, and roasted Chilean seabass. Though the prices are a tad high overall, Irias' tres leches cake is still under budget, a gorgeous, spongy Nicaraguan version steeped in milky goodness and drizzled with strawberry coulis.

On the other side of the Mississippi River, La Providencia is a stand-alone Mexican restaurant serving flautas, nopales, fajitas, and pupusas to Westbank denizens since 2014. This Belle Chasse Highway spot offers huge plates of chicken mole, pork and cheese tamales, and massive bowls of pozole for well under budget, so you'll have plenty of pesos left over for their creamy tres leches, topped with whipped cream and a maraschino cherry, which will only set you back $3.99. They also make a killer flan for the same price, so you might as well get both.

The last stop on this tres leches tour is at Val's, a taco stand by CureCo, which opened during the pandemic in June of 2020. Located on the busy Freret Street corridor, the vintage service station-turned restaurant offers a simple menu of tacos, corn chips and salsa, guacamole, and queso along with a slew of specialty cocktails as only the folks at Cure can create. Along with churros and chocolate flan, Chef Alfredo Nogueria also offers an incredible tres leches cake for $9 a slice. “The cake is a chiffon cake that we make in-house and take great pride in,” says Nogueria. “I am a lifelong fan of tres leches and have done many iterations over the years.” Topped with Louisiana strawberries and served in the Louisiana sunshine, it's a sweet, springtime adventure you should experience at least once.

Creamy, light, and just sweet enough, tres leches cake is a splendid, springtime dessert and finding a slice in the Crescent City is as easy as cake.

RESTAURANT GUIDE

AMERICAN

Alto Rooftop Bar, atop the Ace Hotel, is perfect for socializing. Enjoy small plates like Gulf shrimp wraps or caprese paninis while sipping $8 specialty drinks during happy hour. 600 Carondelet St, 504-900-1180, acehotel.com

Crescent City Steaks, Louisiana’s oldest family-owned steakhouse, is known for their mouthwatering New Orleans-style steaks sizzled in butter. Their award-winning menu offers delicious options, including broiled lobster tail and shrimp cocktails. 1001 N. Broad St., 504821-3271, crescentcitysteaks.com

Daisy Dukes’ takes a simple approach to great Southern classics. Favorites include a blackened alligator platter with gumbo, red beans, fried green tomatoes, remoulade, and a biscuit, and their delicious po-boys. Multiple Locations, daisydukesrestaurant.com

Gattuso’s Neighborhood Restaurant in Old Gretna is perfect for families and their furry friends. Enjoy great drinks and tasty sandwiches like the Rueben or roast beef po-boy in the beautiful courtyard. 435 Huey P. Long Ave., Gretna, 504-368-1114, gattusos.net

Houmas House & Gardens contains three different restaurants that cater to your specific tastes and price range. Take the family to the Carriage House and enjoy some Louisiana ribs, turtle soup, or lasagna. 401336 LA-942, Darrow, 225-473-9380, houmashouse.com

JB’s Fuel Dock serves mouth-watering pizzas and specials with a waterfront view. The open kitchen and bar layout create an intimate atmosphere. Try the JB’s classic burger or the pepperoni calzone. 126 S. Roadway St., 504510-2260, jbsfueldock.com

Jimmy J’s Café serves funky all-day breakfast like beignet sticks, crab cake Benedict, and French toast Monte Cristo. Don't miss the cochon panini, and try their specials like bananas Foster French toast and Irish 115 Chartres St., 504-309-9360, jimmyjscafe.com

Legacy Kitchen Steak + Chop offers some of the best steaks on the Westbank. Whether you order the sirloin, tomahawk, or even the Legacy surf and turf, you will be eating a great cut of 91 Westbank Expy #51, Gretna, 504513-2606, legacykitchen.com American in the heart of the French Quarter, serves classic Louisiana cuisine in an elegant setting. Indulge in Oyster Rockefeller, blackened redfish, and jambalaya with handcrafted cocktails. Experience attentive service for a memorable dining of authentic Creole flavors. 333 St Charles Ave., 504-378-2840, lukeneworleans.com

Manning’s Sports Bar & Grill is themed around New Orleans' favorite quarterback, Archie Manning. Enjoy sports and great food, including jalapeno poppers, fried catfish fingers, and nachos with a beer. 519 Fulton St., 504593-8118, caesars.com

Nola Steak is a prime destination for steak lovers in New Orleans. Offering an extensive selection of hand-cut, aged steaks and an extensive wine list, diners can enjoy a luxurious and sophisticated meal. 4132 Peters Rd., Harvey, 504-805-5596, boomtownneworleans.com/dining/nola-

Spudly’s Super Spuds serves the best baked potatoes in Greater New Orleans. They have been serving meals in baked potatoes for over 40 years, with options such as crawfish, chicken, chili, and specialty sandwiches. 2609 Harvard Ave., Metairie, 504-455-3250, spudlys.com

The Country Club is a Bywater gem with elegant decor and a pool area. Savor quality cocktails and exquisite dishes like black angus burgers or grilled Norwegian salmon. Don't miss

their weekend drag brunches. 634 Louisa St., 504-945-0742, thecountryclubneworleans.com

The Steakhouse at Harrah’s blends classic New Orleans flavors with unforgettable steaks. Try the charred Gulf oysters, Louisiana BBQ shrimp, and chef’s cheese plate as starters. Choose from an extensive wine list to complement your meal. 8 Canal St., 504-533-6111, caesars.com

Ugly Dog Saloon serves up delicious BBQ and offers a great spot to watch sports. Dig into the slow-cooked Lafitte Pig with tangy sauces and pair it with a cold beer. Enjoy outdoor seating too. 401 Andrew Higgins Blvd., 504-569-8459, theuglydogsaloon.com

Voodoo Chicken and Daiquiris has juicy and flavorful voodoo chicken and delicious daiquiris. The menu features a variety of classic New Orleans dishes such as jambalaya and gumbo, as well as a full bar. Multiple Locations, voodoochickenanddaiquirisnola.com

ASIAN

Asia is one of many top-notch restaurants located in Boomtown Casino. Diners can expect authentic Chinese and Vietnamese fare. Try popular dishes such as General Tso’s chicken, fried rice, and tofu vegetables. 4132 Peters Rd., Harvey, 504-366-7711, boomtownneworleans.com

Thai'd Up offers modern Thai street food near the Fairgrounds. Try their homemade beef jerky and butter Thai shrimp. Stay refreshed with Thai or jasmine tea. The warm atmosphere makes it perfect for a casual meal. 1839 Gentilly Blvd., 504-354-8202, thaidupla.com

Mikimoto has served authentic Japanese cuisine with a modern twist for 20 years. Skilled chefs prepare traditional dishes, including sushi, with great care. Don't miss the Geaux Saints or Sex in the City rolls. 3301 S. Carrollton Ave., 504-488-1881, mikimotosushi.com

BARS WITH GREAT FOOD

Bar Marilou is a chic French-style bar offering creative cocktails, wine, and virgin drinks. Enjoy seared scallops, foie gras, or indulge in caviar selections like kaluga royal or trout roe. 544 Carondelet St., 504-814-7711, barmarilou. com

Buffa's Bar & Restaurant, since 1939, is a must-visit Marigny spot serving live music and a warm atmosphere. Enjoy the Reuben sandwich, sip cocktails, or attend traditional jazz brunches. "The best place you’ve never been.” 1001 Esplanade Ave., 504-949-0038, buffasbar.com

Down the Hatch Bar & Grill in the Garden District offers a variety of delicious dishes, including wings, salads, po-boys, burgers, shawarma, and gyro with hummus, pita, and basmati rice. Try their homemade bread pudding for dessert. Multiple Locations, downthehatchnola.com

Flamingo A-Go-Go is a fun and funky spot to hang with friends. Order creative "flocktails" like the Bloody Mary A-Go-Go and Forester Old Fashioned. Share tasty appetizers like garlic chicken parmesan bites or the tuna poke bowl. 869 Magazine St., 504-577-2202, flamingonola.com

JINX Bar & Grill, in the heart of the Quarter, serves tasty sandwiches and burgers like the Big Kahuna, plus shareable plates including JINX wings and Foghorn fingers. Enjoy happy hour and signature cocktails while soaking up the city's atmosphere. 91 French Market Pl., 504-510-2797, jinxnola.com

Le Bon Temps Roule is where the good times

ROBERT WITKOWSKI

roll Uptown, featuring live music and some of the best Bloody Marys and sandwiches in the city. Be sure to try the killer blackened mahi sandwich and their satisfying sides. 4801 Magazine St., 504-897-3448, lbtrnola.com

Rivershack Tavern is a cozy live music club, sports bar, and neighborhood tavern. Enjoy hearty food and a nice selection of beer. Try the famous fried pickles and the delicious Tex-Mex burger. 3449 River Rd., Jefferson, 504-8344938, rivershacktavern.com

Stumpy's Hatchet House combines food and fun with private hatchet throwing pits, perfect for socializing with friends and family. Refuel with hot dogs, nachos, and beer at the snack bar. 1200 Poydras St., 504-577-2937, stumpyshh.com/ neworleansla

The Bombay Club is known for some of the best food and drinks in the Quarter, including classic cocktails like the Sazerac and the Ramos Gin Fizz, and unique creations like the Cissy Strut and Baroness Clementine. 830 Conti St., 504-321-6932, bombayclubneworleans.com

The Garage is perfect for live music and tasty food. Sing your heart out during their open mic nights, savor a cold drink, and dance to the live band. Don't miss their fried okra and other Southern classics. 810 Conti St., thegaragemusicclub.com

The Jimani is perfect for late-night food, drinks, and sports. Enjoy all DIRECTV packages, UFC, and 10 huge screens. Sip over 100 different beers and try their Chicago-style hot dogs, pizza, and strong Jell-O shots 141 Chartres St., 504-524-0493, thejimani.com

The Marsh Room Patio Bar and Grill is a lively spot for delicious food and signature cocktails. With karaoke nights and live music, it's the perfect place to enjoy the city's vibe. 4740 Rye St., Metairie, 504-571-5733, facebook.com/marshroom

Tracey’s Original Irish Channel Bar is not just for St. Patrick’s Day. Try the different beers on offer alongside one of Tracey’s specialty po-boys such as surf & turf, fried catfish, roast beef, alligator sausage, and French fry. 2604 Magazine St., 504-897-5413, traceysnola.com

CAFE

Carmo fuses Caribbean and Southeast Asian flavors. Vegetarian and vegan-friendly, they offer dishes like vegan ceviche and Burmese tea leaf salad. Try their unique baked bread with havarti or vegan cheese. 527 Julia St., 504-875-4132, cafecarmo.com

The Vintage is a great spot to grab a bite and people watch. Nibble on some of their traditional beignets, or wrap your hands around either their Italian, caprese, veggie, or BBQ chicken pressed sandwiches. 3121 Magazine St., 504-324-7144, thevintagenola. com

Mosca's

Willa Jean offers retro-chic vibes with Southerninspired breakfast items like their famous biscuits and avocado toast. Pair with coffee or cocktails for the perfect start to your day. 611 O’Keefe Ave., 504-509-7334, willajean.com

FRENCH

Café Degas is a classic French bistro, serving up award-winning dishes for over a decade. The lunch and dinner menus feature traditional French fare such as escargots and quiche, while brunch includes Belgian waffles. 3127 Esplanade Ave., 504-945-5635, cafedegas.com

ITALIAN

A Tavola Restaurant & Wine Bar is a goto spot after a shopping spree at Lakeside Shopping Center. Indulge in authentic Italian dishes such as Neapolitan-style pizza and gourmet pasta and wash it down with one of their select wines. 3413 Veterans Blvd., Metairie, 504-577-2235, atavo.la

Domenica is a must-visit restaurant in the historic Roosevelt Hotel. Enjoy fresh, seasonal ingredients with handmade pastas, Neapolitan-style pizzas, and classic Italian dishes. Traditional cooking techniques ensure a memorable experience. 123 Baronne St., 504-648-6020, domenicarestaurant.com

Josephine Estelle blends classic Italian recipes with Southern flavors using seasonal ingredients. Enjoy breakfast, brunch, or dinner with dishes such as seared scallops and 48-hour braised beef short ribs. Savor drinks like the Amalfi 75. 600 Carondelet St., 504-930-3070, josephineestelle.com

Mosca’s Restaurant is one of the best-known made-from scratch Italian restaurants in the Westbank and has been a favorite for over 60 years. Go for their signature Oysters Mosca or amazing plates including chicken cacciatore.

4137 US-90 W., Westwego, 504-436-8950, moscasrestaurant.com

Nephew’s Ristorante has served quality and authentic Sicilian dishes in New Orleans for years. The menu is filled with tasty entrees such as veal, eggplant parmigiana, and grilled rosemary chicken, as well as seafood options.

4445 W. Metairie Ave., Metairie, 504-533-9998, nephewsristorante.com

Pizza Domenica is the best place to enjoy Italian classics in a casual and lively atmosphere. Try their specialty gourmet pizzas and finish up with the lemon pound cake or the banana Nutella stromboli. Multiple Locations, pizzadomenica.com

LEBANON’S CAFE

MIDDLE

EAST CUISINE √ A HEALTHY ALTERNATIVE

Great Selection Of Vegetarian Dishes

APPETIZERS

Hummus √ Falafel √

Bathenjan Dip (Roasted Eggplant w/ Garlic) √

Vegetarian Grape Leaves

Lunch & Dinner Daily (Closed on Tuesdays)

DINNERS

Shish Kabob (Chicken, Lamb or Beef) √ Lula Kabob (Lamb) √ Hummus w/ Lamb Meat √ Rosemary Lamb Chops

1500 S. CARROLLTON √ UPTOWN TELEPHONE: 862-6200 / 862-0768

Thhe e Galley

RESTAURANT GUIDE

Tavolino Pizza & Lounge is definitely worth crossing the Crescent City Connection or the ferry to the Westbank. Tavolino specializes in authentic thin crust pizzas, with specialties including the Behrman Hwy, red goat, and that’s a spicy meatball. 141 Delaronde St., Algiers, 504-605-3365, tavolinonola.com

Venezia specializes in delicious home-style Italian cuisine with a New Orleans twist. Enjoy pizza from their original stone oven or classic dishes like lasagna and chicken marsala. Perfect for a Sunday family meal. 134 N. Carrollton Ave., 504-488-7991, venezianeworleans.net

LATIN

Empanola makes the best empanadas in the city, offering unique flavors including beef Argentina, chorizo Mexicana, and gumbo. Pair with a refreshing drink like Argentine maté tea. Multiple Locations, empanolaempanadas.com

MEXICAN

Felipe’s Mexican Taqueria is home to the best margaritas and tacos in town at an affordable price with friendly service. Enjoy the Mexico City tacos, Baja style, or gringos tacos. Multiple Locations, felipestaqueria.com

Juan’s Flying Burrito has been serving fun tasty Mexican fare for 26 years, featuring the most unique burritos around. Be sure to try the big bowl with skirt steak, potatoes, black beans, and more at their newest location on Oak Street. Multiple locations, juansflyingburrito.com

Mr. Tequila Bar & Grill adds a Tex-Mex twist on traditional Mexican recipes. Whether you’re in the mood for tacos, enchiladas, burritos, or the popular 88-ounce margarita, Mr. Tequila offers a mouth watering selection of dishes that are sure to satisfy. 5018 Freret St., 504-7669660, mrtequilanola.com

Tacos Del Cartel serves up some of the best tacos in Metairie. Choose from a variety of meats including al pastor and carne asada, and wash it down with a margarita, craft cocktail, or tequila flight. 2901 David Dr., Metairie, 504-381-5063, tacosdelcartel.com

MIDDLE EASTERN

Gita Pita serves up delicious Middle Eastern food quickly. From shawarma bowls to pita wraps, they have it all. Don't miss out on the veggie sampler or the Greek fries. Finish with their sweet baklava. 2530 Canal St. 504-7666519 facebook.com/GitaPitaCanal

Lebanon’s Café’s reputation for being one of the top Middle Eastern restaurants in the entire city continues to be confirmed by diners who enjoy traditional Lebanese classics such as tabbouleh salad and the kibby meat pies. 1500 S. Carrollton Ave., 504-862-6200, lebanonscafe.com

Shaya is a James Beard Award-winning restaurant. Make sure to sip on some of their craft cocktails or quality wines paired with amazing hummus topped with cauliflower, octopus, lamb ragú, tahini, or fried tomato. 4213 Magazine St., 504-891-4213, shayarestaurant.com

NEW ORLEANS CUISINE

Annunciation’s modern Creole and Southern dishes pair perfectly with their extensive wine selection. Try upscale entrees like filet mignon or roasted duck, and hand-crafted cocktails with appetizers like fried green tomatoes or pommes frites. 1016 Annunciation St., 504-568-0245, annunciationrestaurant.com

Apolline is a cozy-chic dining spot with delicious dishes ranging from roasted Gulf fish couvillion and seared diver scallops to panéed veal medallions. The candlelit ambiance creates a warm environment where you can enjoy their expertly curated wines. 4729 Magazine St., 504-894-8881, apollinerestaurant.com

Neyow's Creole Café

Café Normandie is inside the Higgins Hotel, the official hotel of the National WWII Museum. Sip on locally-roasted coffee surrounded by vintage war memorabilia and elegant chandeliers. Don’t miss dishes including eggs benedict and the signature flatbreads. 1000 Magazine St., 504-528-1941, higginshotelnola.com

Commons Club New Orleans, nestled within the Virgin Hotel, offers elevated dining options. Try their mouth-watering Wagyu smash burger and weekend brunch from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Enjoy a stylish and sophisticated atmosphere with delicious food. 550 Baronne St., virginhotels.com

Crescent City Brewhouse offers craft beers in the French Quarter. Try a flight of pilsner, wheat beer, Red Stallion, and Black Forest brews, and savor Louisiana raw oysters. Enjoy live jazz every weekend. 527 Decatur St., 504-522-0571, crescentcitybrewhouse.com

Evangeline is a top restaurant in the French Quarter, serving authentic Louisiana cuisine like gumbo, jambalaya, and etouffee. Brunch features unique dishes such as fried alligator and waffles, crawfish and grits, and crab cake benedict. 329 Decatur St., 504-373-4852, evangelineneworleans.com

House of Blues New Orleans offers drinks, live entertainment, and Southern-inspired food. Try the shrimp and grits, amazing burgers, and don't miss the bread pudding. A fun night out, guaranteed. 225 Decatur St., 504-310-4999, houseofblues.com/neworleans

Kingfish adds a new-school twist to traditional New Orleans cuisine. Try knockout entrées including seafood au gratin or red beans and rice with fried chicken. Save room for bourbon pecan pie, big brulée cheesecake, or café au lait mousse cake. 337 Chartres St., 504-5985005, kingfishneworleans.com

Lakeview Harbor has been satisfying customers for over 30 years with its delicious and juicy burgers. Enjoy a relaxed atmosphere and a wide selection of beer, as well as their famous Typhoon cocktails. 8550 Pontchartrain Blvd., 504-486-4887, lakeviewharbor.us

Li'l Dizzy’s Cafe serves up classic Creole soul food for lunch. Founded by Wayne Baquet Sr., it's a family-owned spot with a must-try signature gumbo. Group reservations are available. 1500 Esplanade Ave., 504-766-8687, lildizzyscafe.net

Mandina’s Restaurant is a NOLA favorite for Italian classics and sumptuous seafood. Try the filet mignon or ribeye with fries and string beans, along with fried seafood and Gulf fish amandine. 3800 Canal St., 504-482-9179, mandinasrestaurant.com

Meril, Chef Emeril's restaurant in the Warehouse district, offers a casual and cool vibe for craft cocktails and Lagasse's favorite dishes like fettuccine nero and wood-fired flatbreads. Great for dates or out-of-town visitors. 424 Girod St., 504-526-3745, emerilsrestaurants.com

Mother’s Restaurant is famous for its baked ham and delicious red beans and rice. Don't miss out on their file gumbo and allday breakfast options, including the crawfish etouffee omelet and the shrimp creole omelet with grits and debris. 401 Poydras St., 504523-9656, mothersrestaurant.net

New Orleans Creole Cookery has a beautiful indoor and outdoor space in the French Quarter. Don't miss the massive seafood tower with crab maison, shrimp cocktail, shrimp remoulade, oysters, clams, and mussels—a unique dish you won't find elsewhere. 510 Toulouse St., 504524-9632, neworleanscreolecookery.com

Neyow’s Creole Café serves up casual Creole and Southern cuisine favorites like char-grilled oysters, hot sausage po-boys, and BBQ shrimp. Don't miss their weekly specials or Sunday brunch's Creole Omelet with grits. 3332 Bienville St., 504-827-5474, neyows.com

Neyow’s XL offers fine dining with authentic Creole flavors. Enjoy dishes such as corn and crab bisque, jumbo crab cakes, and whole red snapper. Don't miss the XL Hurricane, made with seven shots of Captain Morgan and fruit juice. 3336 Bienville St., 504-827-5474, xl.neyows.com

Quarter. 720 Orleans Ave., 504-523-1930, orleansgrapevine.com

Parkway Bakery & Tavern, established in 1911, serves a range of delicious po-boys, including shrimp and roast beef. Catch the Saints game on their large patio with two 65inch TVs and enjoy an ice-cold beer from their extensive selection. 538 Hagan Ave., 504482-3047, parkwaypoorboys.com

Please U Restaurant will surely leave you pleased. The restaurant’s po-boy selection is absolutely massive with choices such as veal parmigiana, French fries and gravy, chicken fried steak, and more. They also offer all day breakfast. 1751 St. Charles Ave., 504-5259131, pleaseunola.com

Short Stop Poboys, in Metairie since 1966, offers over 30 delicious po-boys such as roast beef, hot sausage links, and catfish. These are some of the best po-boys around. Get yours with a side of chips or gumbo. 119 Transcontinental Dr., Metairie, 504-8854572, shortstoppoboysno.com

Trenasse, in the Intercontinental Hotel, celebrates Louisiana fishers and hunters. Try the smoky braised short ribs, oysters, and oyster po-boy. Don't miss the beignets or the Out of the Blue martini. 444 St. Charles Ave., 504680-7000, trenasse.com

Willie Mae’s Scotch House, since 1957, has been known for serving New Orleans’ finest fried chicken, which can be enjoyed in a sandwich or with a variety of delicious sides. They’ve got some of the tastiest fried chicken in town. 2401 St. Ann St., 504-822-9503, williemaesnola.com

SEAFOOD

Bon Temps Boulet Seafood offers delicious boiled seafood and mouth watering BBQ. Try their plentiful boiled crawfish or the 16-hour Wagyu brisket po-boy with caviar ranch or horseradish sauce. 4701 Airline Dr., Metairie, 504-885-5003, bontempsboulets.com

Briquette serves contemporary coastal cuisine in the French Quarter, with seafood from the Gulf Coast and around the world. Try dishes like the Roast Duckling Girod, cooked to perfection on the grill or pan. 701 S. Peters St., 504-3027496, briquette-nola.com

Felix’s Restaurant & Oyster Bar is a true French Quarter staple featuring oysters prepared in a multitude of different ways. Don’t miss their delicious turtle soup, crawfish etouffee, and live music. Multiple Locations, felixs.com

Legacy Kitchen’s Tacklebox offers Southern comfort food and a great oyster bar. Try the NOLA Classic Trio with gumbo, jambalaya, and red beans and rice. Enjoy brunch with Crawfish + Egg Beignets and Bananas Foster Waffle. 817 Common St., 504-827-1651, legacykitchen.com

Nice Guys Bar & Grill gives creative twists on classic cuisine, including popular choices such as drunken wings coated with alcohol-infused sauces and candy-coated praline wings. Quality food that you can taste. 7910 Earhart Blvd., 504-3022404, niceguysbarandgrillnola.com

Nonno’s whips up authentic New Orleans cuisine and homemade pastries all day. Their menu has a bit of everything, from burritos to sandwiches, and is delicious. Try the vegan cauliflower po-boy and the Southern shrimp and grits. 1940 Dauphine St., 504-354-1364, nonnoscajuncuisineandpastries.com

Orleans Grapevine Wine Bar & Bistro is perfect for date night with its intimate atmosphere and casual fine dining. Enjoy double cut pork chop or black angus house filet with one of the largest bottled wine selections in the

Middendorf’s Restaurant, located just north of Laplace off I-55, is totally worth the scenic drive out. Folks flock to the restaurant for their famous thin-fried catfish, turtle soup, and crispy fried onion rings. Multiple Locations, middendorfsrestaurant.com

Seaworthy is the ideal spot for fresh oysters and handcrafted cocktails. Enjoy Americancaught seafood, including mussels and Gulf shrimp, and top it off with the delicious banana bread pudding for dessert. 630 Carondelet St., 504-930-3071, seaworthynola.com

Tito’s Ceviche & Pisco will make you feel like you’ve been transported to the beautiful cities in Peru. Their tuna, shrimp, and octopus ceviches keep patrons coming back for more. Multiple Locations, titoscevichepisco.com

Bar Guide

Alto (Ace Hotel) 600 Carondelet St. 504-900-1180

Babylon Sports Bar

2917 Harvard Ave., Suite A 504-324-9961

Bar Marilou

544 Carondelet St. 504-814-7711

Boot Scootin’ Rodeo

522 Bourbon St. 504-552-22510 4132

Club 38 4132 Peters Rd. 504-366-7711

Evangeline 329 Decatur St.  504-373-4852

Fillmore New Orleans

6 Canal St. 504-881-1555

House of Blues

225 Decatur St. 504-310-4999

Jinx Bar and Grill 91 French Market Pl., 504-510-2797

Lots A Luck Tavern

203 Homedale St. 504-483-0978

Martine’s Lounge

2347 Metairie Rd. 504-831-8637

Pal’s Lounge

949 N. Rendon St. 504-488-7257

Rosie’s on the Roof

1000 Magazine St. 504-528-1941

Stained Glass Winehouse

201 Huey P Long Ave. 504-812-0930

Stumpy’s Hatchet House

1200 Poydras St., Suite C 504-577-2937

The Garage 810 Conti St.

The Marsh Room Patio Bar & Grill 4740 Rye St. 504-571-5733

The Metropolitan 310 Andrew Higgins Blvd. 504-568-1702

The Rabbit Hole 1228 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd. 504-354-9709

The Royal Frenchmen Remedy Bar 700 Frenchmen St. 504-619-9660

Tracey’s Original Irish Channel Bar 2604 Magazine St. 504-897-5413

Treme Hideaway 1234 Claiborne Ave. 504-301-4441

Tropical Isle

Multiple Locations

504-523-1927

Ugly Dog Saloon & BBQ

401 Andrew Higgins Blvd.

504-569-8459

MARGARITA MIX-OFF

FINALS: APRIL 24 at

Located on top of the Ace Hotel, Alto is a chill spot to hang out with your friends. You can cool down with some of the bar’s signature cocktails like Calypso and Turkish Royale.

Babylon is a great place to watch football and listen to live music in Metairie. The bar also provides a homey atmosphere with reasonable prices on all of their drinks.

Bar Marilou has a sophisticated French-style atmosphere in a very beautiful location alongside the Maison de la Luz hotel. The bar offers plenty of wine, beer, and craft cocktails.

If you’re in the mood for country, Boot Scootin’ Rodeo is your place. This country bar plays good old music and serves cold beer and cocktails. Mechanical bull included.

Located inside Boomtown Casino & Hotel in Harvey, Club 38 is the perfect VIP experience. Available through Boomtown’s mychoice® loyalty program, guests can enjoy complimentary food and drinks after signing up.

Evangeline provides some of the best Cajun food that can be found in the French Quarter. Enjoy local craft beers and other drinks the restaurant offers like the strawberry blonde or the rum punch.

The Fillmore is a beautiful, state-of-the-art 22,000 square-foot entertainment space above Harrah’s Casino. While there for a night of live music, make sure to grab a cocktail in BG’s Lounge.

The House of Blues offers one of the best nightlife experiences in all of NOLA. Choose from a long list of beers, wines, and more and jam out to one of the venue’s many live music events.

Located right next to the French Market, JINX has an extensive beer list and top-notch cocktails such as the Decatur Mule, El Guapo, and Blue Milk. It offers hookahs with different flavors to choose from.

Lots A Luck Tavern is one of the best places in New Orleans to play bar games. Watch the next big football game while enjoying some cold beer or some of the bar’s other refreshments.

Cold beer and other specialty drinks including frozen Irish coffee, cherry limeade, and frozen sangria await at Martine’s Lounge. Pop-ups are frequently are on-site to offer food.

Open from 3 p.m. to 3 a.m., Pal’s Lounge is one of New Orleans’ perfect late-night spots. Some of Pal’s most popular, and affordable, drinks include the gingerita, the watermelon mojito, and the bacon Bloody Mary.

Located atop of the Higgins Hotel, Rosie’s surrounds guests with World War II-era Americana. Cold beer and delicious small plates like fries loaded with brisket and bacon cheese curds are available.

Stained Glass is Gretna’s premiere self-serve wine bar. This upscale, unpretentious bar offers over 300 wine bottles and 24 self-serve wine taps, as well as spirits, draft beer, and cocktails.

Stumpy’s Hatchet House gives patrons the perfect opportunity to test their hatchet-throwing skills. Light snacks and refreshing drinks from Stumpy’s fully-stocked bar are available for a quick pick-me-up.

Enjoy all sorts of entertainment like live music and open mic nights at The Garage. In addition to a fully stocked bar, the venue offers tasty NOLA favorites such as gumbo and spicy beef yaka mein.

The Marsh Room is one of the best establishments to hang out at in Metairie. While sipping on your favorite drink, grab some bites such as cheese curds, steak, and the bar’s “Marsh burger.”

The Metropolitan is one of New Orleans’ premiere nightclubs. While partying with your friends, make sure to visit the multiple different bars located all around the large, two-story club.

The Rabbit Hole is a truly eclectic club that always provides a great night of fun. Enjoy the venue’s outdoor and indoor stages for live music, as well as The Rabbit Hole’s downstairs bar.

The Royal Frenchmen Hotel is a cozy spot to stay to be close to the Frenchmen Street action. It also features a great bar in the lobby with a fantastic Happy Hour and live music on the weekends.

Beer lovers will be happy when they see Tracey’s six draught taps and over 100 bottles of different brands to choose from. The bar also serves delicious oysters, poboys, and more.

Treme Hideaway is one of New Orleans’ best kept secrets. Tucked away in the historic Treme neighborhood, locals can flock to this night club for R&B music, DJ sounds, and hot food.

Tropical is a Bourbon Street staple that is beloved by both tourists and locals. The bar is best known for being the birthplace of the “hand grenade,” aka New Orleans’ most powerful drink.

Complete with beer, 15 TVs, and an outdoor patio, Ugly Dog Saloon is the perfect spot to watch the Saints game. Enjoy delicious, smoky BBQ classics such as Buffalo fried ribs and smoked pulled pork.

SPRING IS NATURE’S WAY OF SAYING, “LET’S PARTY!”

Robin Williams

FILM REVIEWS

By David Vicari & Fritz Esker

Shazam! Fury of the Gods Inside

This sequel to 2019s Shazam! is almost on par with the winning original, but not quite. While the new movie does entertain, the main problem with Shazam! Fury of the Gods is that it feels overstuffed.

The adventures continue for teenage Billy Batson (Asher Angel) who, as you will remember, has been given the power by the gods to become an adult superhero (Zachary Levi) when he utters the word “Shazam!”

He has also shared his power with a group of teens he lives with at a foster home. Billy is worried about getting kicked out of his foster home when he turns 18, and he's also concerned that he is not respected as a superhero. Meanwhile, his best friend, Freddy (Jack Dylan Grazer), becomes totally smitten with the new girl at school, Ann (Rachel Zegler). The big conflict for the heroes is the arrival of several ancient gods (Helen Mirren and Lucy Liu) who are in a ruthless search for a stolen–and all powerful–staff, so they can also find a magic apple that will grow into the Tree of Life—or Tree of Death, in this case.

The movie is very busy juggling its many characters, but most of them seem to have their little moment. It's also nice to see reliable character actor Djimon Hounsou, as the god who gave Billy his powers, given more to do here then in the original, and even display a good sense

of comedic timing.

Fury of the Gods has some cool effects, but it's so overloaded with digitally created destruction and mayhem that it gets kind of tiring. Think of the fight sequence between Superman and the three Kryptonian villains from Superman II (1980) and how damn exciting it is, yet it's done on a smaller scale than anything we see here. Less truly is more, but the powers that be want the digital effects on an unending loop.

Still, director David F. Sandberg and a game cast keep Fury alive with some heart and soul. You care about the good guys, and Mirren and Liu make a couple of formidable—and scary—villains.

There are also some fun little Easter Eggs in Fury of the Gods. There is a cameo by Michael Gray, who played Batson in the mid-1970s Saturday morning Shazam! TV show. There is also a rampaging cyclops here which looks very similar to the cyclops designed by the great stop-motion effects master Ray Harryhausen from the classic 1958 feature The 7th Voyage of Sinbad. Then there is a pediatrician character named Dr. Dario Bava, a combination of the great Italian horror film directors Dario Argento and Mario Bava. Last, but certainly not least, there is a cool cameo at the conclusion.

Yeah, Shazam! Fury of the Gods is overwhelming at times, but there is still some fun to be had.

–David Vicari

Willem Dafoe plays an art thief who finds himself trapped in a skyscraper’s penthouse on a heist in the new film Inside

The thief is looking to steal a few top-dollar paintings from the penthouse. While he has initial success getting past the high-tech security system, a technical malfunction with the system leaves him sealed inside with limited supplies, no cell phone signal, and no one who has any interest in helping him get out.

There’s already a big logical leap to take from the start— any security system as high-tech and intricate as the one the penthouse owner has here would likely notify the company’s central office if there was a technical malfunction. Who doesn't get a Ring doorbell alert every time a stiff breeze jostles the wind chimes on their porch? There’s no way a system of this expense would not generate a response if a malfunction of the type depicted in the film happened.

However, movies can get past central plot holes if the execution is top-notch. After all, no one who loves Speed really believes a bus could fly across a 50-foot interstate gap. Inside could have survived the plot issue above if the execution worked. But there’s a limit to the amount of things the thief can do to try to get out, so the film pretty quickly bogs down to him losing his mind. The losing-his-mind section could work if director Vasilis Katsoupis had a knack for unsettling visuals and shot compositions the way directors like Stanley Kubrick, David Lynch, and Terry Gilliam do. Alas, he does not.

The best thing about Inside is Dafoe, who gives a committed performance. Unfortunately, the film he serves is one that might have worked better as a 30-minute short, but proves to be a bit of an endurance test at an hour and forty-five minutes.

– Fritz Esker

TALES FROM THE QUARTER

By Debbie Lindsey

The Bits and Pieces of My Life

photographs of people? He can’t abide seeing them forgotten and homeless. He rescues them from thrift stores where memories go to languish. Gotta love him

So while we delight in being surrounded by art, the printed word, memorabilia, antiques, and wacky shit, this is the stuff of nightmares for “the minimalists” out there. Marie Kondo was born to rescue folks like us from ourselves, and our stuff. But I say, “Back

I can’t think of anything more demoralizing than those white-on-white (sure there are touches of gray thrown in for kicks) homes with the oh-so-carefully curated and placed vase or single piece of art. That’s great for a gallery, but, come on, this should be a home.

telephones, typewriters, and Electrolux vacuum cleaners circa 1960. I love glass of all sorts and colors, china, earthenware, cast iron, and I have a fondness for stainless steel Revere-ware. Oh! I nearly forgot my little plastic dinosaurs, farm animals, and horses. They roam free upon picture frames and window sills. And socks monkeys, as well, as I have already mentioned (only about thirty).

The first time I visited Husband’s (aka then Boyfriend) apartment, I knew we were a match made in heaven. We shared the same aesthetic—albeit his with a bit more dust than mine. He is a collector, too. His assortment of ceramic Blessed Mothers tend to intimidate my sock monkeys (and myself as a recovering Catholic). His passion is books, and despite closing our cookbook shop and finding homes for every single book that didn’t sell, our home library is pretty extensive. Tons of literature as well as his ever-growing wealth of culinary books combine with every book I have ever read and the many ones I have yet to read. I have always lamented my inability to read more quickly and more often; this makes my collection of books not too overwhelming. Yet, read or not, just being surrounded by these bound words make me feel comforted and smarter. Anyway, you can imagine that since we share similar aesthetics and interests our house and the walls surrounding us are full to the brim. And add to this: As a chef, he has our kitchen stocked at a restaurant level. Oh! Did I mention he collects framed old

There is one situation when I secretly envy those insufferable minimalists— moving time. As if having to move isn’t hard enough you have to then pack your life into boxes. And did I happen to mention that Husband and I have rather large lives? And much of it is breakable. I have written “fragile” so many times during this current move, this descent into hell with Marie Kondo’s voice gently saying, “Declutter,” or the not-so-soft voices of friends saying, “You better not even think of leaving all this shit for me to get rid off in the event of your untimely demise.”

Yeah, sure, there are advantages to downsizing or “traveling light,” as they say. But I never was a free spirit eager to travel the world and live nomadically. I root quite firmly wherever I live and then fall deeply attached to that place.

Yes, we are moving onto our new house (actually a very old house circa 1890), and surely I will dig in and plant myself there. This does not make me any less reticent, even hostile, about making my spirit move its lard ass once again.

Moving is the ending of a relationship—a relationship with a place that was home and with that habitat came neighbors, and the friendships and alliances that grew from living among them. There are trees outside your windows that you wake up to every morning, watching their leaves clock the seasons. There are homeless and opportunistic cats that adopt your porch and, over time, your heart. I will miss each and every person and thing that is part of the fabric of this small community and neighborhood so dearly.

Thus, I refuse to downsize memories that have attached themselves into the embedded dust and fingerprints of the years of my life. Oh! I’ll dust and shine my treasures somewhat as I unpack and place them in their new home, but I will be careful not to rub too hard or I might remove the patina of life

PO-BOY VIEWS

By Phil LaMancusa

Storyville or Love For Sale

Brothels, houses of ill repute, cathouses, whore houses, bordellos, red-light districts, comfort parlors, and sporting palaces, however you refer to them, they are places where you go and pay someone to have sex with you.

Generally speaking, it’s men who go to get their rocks off, their jollies, their load lightened, and get laid. Women hire gigolos and pamper cabana boys. Men pay whores. The oldest profession is also the oldest systematic subjugation. Prostitutes are people that give sexual comfort and take money for that service (we won’t talk about sluts like me that give it away for free).

Post Civil War, New Orleans was rife with mischief of all kinds: gambling, drinking, carousing, dancing, loud music, violence, mayhem, manslaughter, and, of course, all the sex you could afford to pray or pay for. Some folks here still call then the good ol' days, and some claim that not much has really changed.

Back then, we were truly a seaport river town with cargo and waterfronts and seamen from foreign climes, boatmen from up river, local raconteurs, rapscallions, ruffians, and roustabouts were all looking for

a way to blow off steam. They didn’t have to go far to find it, and it created a city whose atmosphere was definitely not Christian-like, to say the very least.

That particular New Orleans became notoriously definitive as a place to “do whatcha wanna.” It was known as a “Sin City,” where shenanigans were a participatory sport, a tourist attraction, and an economic engine. Tops among these attractions were the “women notoriously abandoned to lewdness.”

However, in 1897, a City Alderman named Sidney Story came up with a unique and clever idea: What if we made all that misbehaving miscreantial mischief legal in one area, one area only, and let the madness be confined and unbridled at the same time? That sounded so good and righteous that it was decreed that thirty-eight blocks (twenty square) above the French Quarter would be set aside for unchecked raucousness and let the games begin. And indeed the games did begin.

Dance halls, gambling dens, vaudeville theaters, restaurants, bars, and fancy and not so fancy sex parlors sprang up. Talent was rounded up and put to work, and a good time was had by all. It was not necessarily a completely safe area but where was?

Names of madams, club owners, sex workers, and gangsters who had risen to the top became household heroes for the whey criminals as examples to aspire to. Great pleasure mansions arose along Basin Street. Lulu White, Josie Arlington, Tom Anderson (the unofficial mayor of Storyville), Willie Piazza, Pete Lala, Frank Early, Joe Victor, and

more held sway and influence.

The district had borders from off Canal Street (Iberville) to Saint Louis Cemetery No. 1, and from Basin Street to North Robinson, but these were by no means the only pits of vice. Sanctity Row, Gallatin Alley (where the French Market is now), and the infamous Tango Belt and French Town (from Dauphine Street to Rampart, from Bienville to Saint Louis streets) operated as much rougher, less discerning, and more affordable alternatives. Even into the twenty-first century, houses of ill repute still functioned.

The book The Last Madam by Chris Wiltz describes Norma Wallace’s place in the 1960s history and legends of New Orleans pleasure characters. Jeanette Maier opened her brothel on Canal Street in 1999. And so it goes.

Storyville operated with its own brand of law outside the law, even having its own published directory, The Blue Book, which gave locations and attributes of businesses and personas that functioned in that district. Storyville was also near New Orleans’ own Chinatown which contributed to other trades of opium and take-out food (not kidding).

More importantly, there was music. Using our current Bourbon Street scene, what better way to draw customers to your place of frolic than to have music wafting through your doors? That idea is not new. In Storyville, there was so much music that music became a competition. Sure, every place that was pleasure-oriented had a piano player (a revered professor), and the more highfalutin the place, the more ambitious the music scene. Bands became an attraction, and the employment level for musicians was high.

Musicians stood to make more money in Storyville than other hot spots around town.

Kid Ory, Papa Celestin, King Oliver, Fess Manetta, Buddy Bolden, Sidney Bechet, and Louis Armstrong, among others, explored a new-found freedom of expression in musical duels called “cuttings,” and discovering new styles of music, leading to a form called “jass,” which eventually became “jazz.” I’ve read about a half a dozen references to the definitive definition; however, the term to me just means “jazz.”

1915 saw the reopening of the U.S. Naval base, and because of World War I, there was a lot of new trade for Storyville; however, it was short-lived. The military regulations prohibited such entertainment within five miles of a base and rather than lose the war, the federal government ordered Storyville closed down in 1917, and the city under duress acquiesced.

But I ask you, do we really ever stop people that seek adolescent enjoyment from engaging in risky business or do we just send those pastimes into the shadows? Does making something illegal that people take pleasure in ever work? Does the razing of Storyville, the destruction of our Chinatown, the 610 overpass, the demolition of neighborhoods in the name of “eminent domain,” really make us “the land of the free and the home of the brave,” or is that just another way of “Big Brother” ruining our fun, security and well being? Or does the common man (of which I am one) simply view “last call” in a bar (or other interferences) as an affront to my rights as a person just trying to have a good time and hurting no one?

BROOKE LAIZER SEFENECH HENOK TAMICA LEE

WHERE Y'BEEN

NOLA ON TAP