Latest Issue: May 2023–Jazz Fest Second Weekend / Mother's Day

KORY

WYATT

Vampire Cafe

COREY

ANDREW

Bourbon O Bar

RYAN Effervescence

Mayday! Mayday! Just when you thought you survived the first weekend of Jazz Fest, weekend two arrives. This issue has schedules, picks, and all the other essentials for a second weekend at the Fair Grounds.

James Andrews carries the torch of New Orleans music and culture; his grandfather, Jessie Hill, was a drummer for Professor Longhair, while his brother Troy Andrews performs as Trombone Shorty. Emily Hingle’s interview is a history lesson on New Orleans’ music.

May is more than just Jazz Fest, as we also celebrate Cinco de Mayo. If you’re looking to enjoy some authentic Mexican-style tacos on this unique American holiday, don’t miss Burke Bischoff’s piece on where to get them.

Don’t forget mom for Mother’s Day. If she loves flowers, check out Cynthea Corfah’s article on local parks with beautiful gardens. After brunch, relax with a nice Mother’s Day movie. Jeff Boudreaux shares good flicks with NOLA tie-

May 2023

Publisher/Editor-in-Chief: Josh Danzig

Creative Director: Robert Witkowski

Executive Editor: Reine Dugas

Copy Editor: Donald Rickert

Movie Editors: David Vicari, Fritz Esker

Contributing Writers: Kathy Bradshaw, Phil LaMancusa, Debbie Lindsey, Kim Ranjbar, Burke Bischoff, Julie Mitchell, Greg Roques, Sabrina Stone, Kimmie Tubre, Emily Hingle, Camille Barnett, Celeste Turner, Cynthea Corfah, Kevin Credo, Frances Deese, Brroke Adams, Joey Cirilo, Dean Shapiro

Cover Illustration: James Andrews by Frenchy

Director of Sales: Jim Sylve

Photographers and Designers: Gus Escanelle, Kim Ranjbar, Emily Hingle, Kathy Bradshaw, Robert Witkowski

Interns: Louis Ostrowski, Mercedes Ohlen, Arielle Gonzales, Caroline Markman

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JAMES ANDREWS Satchmo of the Ghetto

By Emily Hingle

In fact, many of the Andrews have traveled the globe, spreading New Orleans-flavored joy through music allowing those who have never been to the city to take a taste of what we have to offer.

James Andrews is the proud leader of the Crescent City All-Stars, and he has been jazzing it up with this band since he was just a boy. Though he was surrounded by music before birth, his foray into entertainment was not through playing music.

“I always liked the music because it was always in the family,” said James. He discussed music regularly with his grandfather Jessie Hill, a drummer for Professor Longhair and Huey “Piano” Smith, who wrote the well-known classic song “Ooh Poo Pah Doo.” “When I started out, I used to tap dance in

the French Quarter, and I shined shoes on Bourbon Street. [My brothers, my cousins, and I] started going on gigs with different bands tap dancing. My grandfather brought us to Tipitina’s to tap dance when he would play there. Then he brought us to the Jazz Fest one time to tap dance at his set at the Gentilly Stage.”

An iconic local entertainer invested in the fledging tap dancing outfit, and her gifts to the young boys brought them to new levels of making money. “I’ll never forget it. Chris Owens called us to come to her house [behind her club] on Bourbon Street. She had a tuxedo shop behind her house on the side street connected to her building. She sent us to the store to get brand new tuxedos. Next thing you know, we’re

in all these places, big places. The sky was the limit. When we got the tuxedos, they started inviting us in the clubs to dance with the bands when Bourbon Street had jazz bands. We used to dance outside, after we got the tuxedos. They invited us inside to dance one or two numbers, and we’d pass the hat inside the club.” James also explained that they invested in having a shoemaker put real taps on their shoes which made their group stand out among the rest.

Having tap danced for some time, James, his brothers Terry and Bruce, and his cousin Leonard began picking up instruments including trombones, trumpets, and a bucket for a drum. The boys did what they could with them, but their skills developed as they took music lessons in school. They would

The Andrews Family is among the most musical families in New Orleans. Their lineage is populated with musicians and other culture-bearers going back decades, and the tradition does not show signs of ceasing.

earn some money playing around Jackson Square, but the real pay-off was exposing their talent to the masses. “We formed a band called the All-Stars Brass Band. People would see us playing out there, people would call us, wanting us to come play different places for them. We were invited to go play at the World’s Fair with this band for Chrysler Car Company—we were kids. We played at the World’s Fair,” James remembered.

One day, while playing their regular set in Jackson Square, someone noticed the talent of the All-Stars Brass Band and asked them to play an out-of-town gig. “Our first time ever leaving New Orleans was going

we were learning.”

Another great learning experience that James felt heightened his skills as an entertainer was touring Europe with New Orleans musician Tuba Fats. He recalled, “I started playing with Tuba Fats in Jackson Square. I started learning more songs and more songs and many different ways of entertaining the people. Tuba Fats taught me a lot of stuff. Me and Tuba Fats go to Munich, Germany and many other cities in Europe. Then we started learning many things about the stage, learning how to perform on the stage, how to read the crowd, how to interact with the crowd from the stage perspective.”

From the Cover Artist

James Andrews (aka 12) and I go back over 25 years. My earliest “foggy” memories take me back to Donna's on Rampart, and my first ever second line. In 1998, I was granted a Jackson Square artist license. James vouched for me to Tuba Fats, Glen David, and the Jackson Square Brass Band. They would let me paint live and hang my paintings for sale on the fence directly behind the band. Every day, James would go pick up his lil’ brother Troy from school, just a few blocks away. Sometimes they would pass back by the cathedral on the way home, and Troy, who was shorter than his trombone at the time, would join in with the band, and like magic, the crowd would grow and grow. As a lil’ brother myself, I always looked up to James, especially when it came to family–how much he loved and looked out for Troy, Glenn, and friends.

Fast forward to September 2001, and I signed a lease for a gallery and an upstairs apartment at 319 Royal Street. James lived only a few blocks away, and we spent many “daze” pipe dreaming with the likes of John Sinclair, Willie Metcalf, Marcel Richardson, etc. We had a fun time in Amsterdam and many other vicarious situations, with many more still to come.

James has been behind the scenes his whole adult life working with our NOLA kids to make sure that the “brass band tradition” will never diminish. Currently we have more working brass bands than ever. James, 12, the Satchmo of the Ghetto is a true “cultural ambassador” for New Orleans. If you have ever seen him lead a second line, you already know.

I am honored to have been chosen to paint a portrait of my friend for the Where Y’at Jazz Fest 2023 issue.

Maximum love, light, and respect, my brother, 12—you are a bad mofo, ya hurd! —Frenchy

to Milan, Italy. We get on the airplane, and we go over to Milan. When we got over there, the greetings and reception from the people were so wonderful and fantastic. They loved us, and they loved New Orleans music over there. Years later, we got invited to go play in Switzerland at the Ascona Jazz Festival— we were teenagers then. After that, everything started coming together.”

From performing with Danny Barker, to recording with Allen Toussaint, to getting prestigious local gigs, James Andrews & the Crescent City All-Stars were everywhere. They were even on the TV screen. James explained, “We were young and featured in a South Central Bell commercial. We were getting residuals every month. That was another element of the business that we were experiencing. It was beautiful. It was a dream come true. It was an experience that

Throughout the 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s, James and his band have been asked to perform on film soundtracks, for corporate events, and for weddings. His lively sound has brought him to a litany of countries and cities around the world that he attempted to count: South Africa, Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia, Cuba, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Marrakech, and Morocco were just a few of them. James regularly performs throughout Europe where he has been collaborating and touring with other well-known artists. He gleamed when he said, “We’ve been to so many places around the world to spread New Orleans music everywhere. It’s been a great joy representing our city.” When asked about why he is asked to tour in Europe so often, James quickly said that it’s because traditional New Orleans Jazz is the “Holy Grail.” “That’s the top of the line, top shelf of New Orleans culture. Everything feeds off of traditional second line New Orleans jazz; the beat, the rhythm, the melodies,

the traditional jazz of our city. You’ve got the funk, you’ve got the blues, you’ve got everything, and they feed off of that. The second line rhythm of jazz is the top shelf of New Orleans culture.”

JAZZ FEST PREVIEWS

Flagboy Giz

JAZZ & HERITAGE STAGE | 11:20-12:05 P.M.

Experience the unique culture of New Orleans’ Mardi Gras Indians at Flagboy Giz’s performance on Thursday. Flagboy Giz is a member of the Wild Tchoupitoulas, whose 1976 self-titled album was added to the Library of Congress’ National Registry.

Hot 8 Brass Band CONGO SQUARE STAGE | 2:45-3:45 P.M.

The Hot 8 Brass Band are Jazz Fest regulars for good reason. The Grammy nominated group blends traditional New Orleans brass music with jazz, funk, and hip hop to create a sound that is both unique and infectiously catchy.

Buddy Guy FESTIVAL STAGE | 3:25-4:40 P.M.

Louisiana guitarist and singer Buddy Guy will be performing his unique type of Chicago blues music at this year’s fest. He has influenced some of the most famous guitarists in music history: Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Keith Richards, and many more.

Bonerama

SHELL GENTILLY STAGE | 3:45-4:50 P.M.

New Orleans locals Bonerama will bring the funk to the stage on Thursday of the second weekend. Bonerama is sure to blast their unique triple trombone sound that has graced New Orleans for the last 25 years.

Santana

FESTIVAL STAGE |

5:20-7:00 P.M.

One of the bestselling bands of all time, Santana, will be returning to the Jazz Fest Stage this year. Led by guitarist Carlos Santana, the band has created many wellknown and celebrated songs such as “Oye Como Va,” “Evil Ways,” and their rendition of “Black Magic Woman.”

Loose Cattle

LAGNIAPPE STAGE | 4:20-

5:10 P.M.

Loose Cattle is a New Orleans’ based band that is a five-piece roots-rock group.

Playing Southern rock barn burners, they can play high energy tunes or gentle ballads, but they are definitely worth seeing.

Leon Bridges

SHELL GENTILLY STAGE | 5:30-7:00 P.M.

While the soulful singer may be known for his smooth, vintage sound that pays homage to the classic R&B and soul of the 1950s and 60s, Leon Bridges’ ability to captivate audiences with his infectious energy and heart is what sets him apart.

LORETTA’S AUTHENTIC PRALINES | FOOD AREA 2

One of New Orleans’ favorite sweets is the delicious praline, and Loretta’s Authentic Pralines provides some of the best in the city. Loretta’s will be offering four different pralines to choose from: original pecan, chocolate, coconut, and even rum.

Crawfish

Strudel CALUDA’S | FOOD AREA 2

If you’re hungry for something buttery and filled with crawfish, Caluda’s crawfish strudel hand-held delicacies have all the flavors of Louisiana in them. And while you’re there, get yourself a white

Shani Solomon Scarlett Silk Skirts CONTEMPORARY CRAFTS | TENT H

These vibrant, colorful screen print silk wearables are works of art. For beautiful, fluid clothing that makes a real statement, these hand-screen designs on fine and raw silk make each one special and unique.

KEEP THE FESTIVITIES

Festival season is just beginning

Crawfish King Cook-off - May 5

Hot Art Cool Nights - May 12

Soul Food Fest - May 20-21

Live After Five Concert Series: Fridays, April 14 - May 26

Levitt AMP Music Series - Saturdays, May 13 - July 15

Plan Your Trip at visitbatonrouge.com/festivals

JAZZ FEST PREVIEWS TOP PICKS

Marc Stone

BLUES TENT | 11:15-12:05 P.M.

Catch New Orleans roots guitarist Marc Stone at the Blues Tent. In addition to touring through Europe and the U.S. and releasing four studio albums, Stone has collaborated with legendary zydeco, New Orleans blues, and funk masters such as Leo Nocentelli.

Ingrid Lucia

LAGNIAPPE STAGE | 12:35-1:25 P.M.

Don’t miss seeing Ingrid Lucia, who served as the lead singer for the Flying Neutrinos and the Squirrel Nut Zippers. Lucia has performed around the world and has even had her in songs featured in works including Treme

Tim Laughlin

ECONOMY HALL TENT |

1:55-2:50 P.M.

Clarinet fanatics need to check out Tim Laughlin as he plays classics from his extensive jazz catalog. Not only does he have a home residency at the Westin Hotel, he can regularly be found playing in NOLA clubs such as Preservation Hall.

FOR FRIDAY, MAY 5

Pine Leaf Boys

SHERATON NEW ORLEANS FAIS

DO-DO STAGE | 2:50-3:50 P.M.

The Grammy-nominated Cajun and Creole band is sure to get everyone up and moving. Their high-energy infectious performance style and unique blend of traditional and contemporary music will make them a crowd-favorite.

Kane Brown

SHELL GENTLY STAGE | 5:20-7:00 P.M.

One of Tennessee’s newest country stars, Kane Brown, will be bringing his interesting mix of country, pop, and R&B to this year’s Jazz Fest. A number of Brown’s songs, including “What Ifs” and “Good as You,” have been nominated for lots of awards.

Jon Batiste

FESTIVAL STAGE | 5:30-7:00 P.M.

Metairie native and jazz superstar Jon Batiste will be putting on a can’t miss Jazz Fest performance on Friday. Batiste’s fame skyrocketed in 2022 when his album We Are won Album of the Year at the Grammy Awards.

Ludacris

CONGO SQUARE STAGE | 5:55-7:00 P.M.

Ludacris, one of the best and most well-known rappers from the Dirty South, will be tearing up the Congo Square Stage. Some of Ludacris’ most popular songs include “What’s Your Fantasy” and “Southern Hospitality.”

BBQ Pork Ribs

DOWN HOME

CREOLE COOKIN’ | HERITAGE SQUARE

Don’t miss out on the delicious BBQ pork ribs provided by Baton Rougebased catering company Down Home Creole Cookin’. The ribs, along with Down Home’s BBQ turkey wings and ooey gooey bars are the perfect finger foods for the fest.

Michael Cain's Aluminum Hollow Body Resonator & Cigar Body Style Guitars

CONTEMPORARY CRAFTS | TENT F

People come from all over the world to experience Jazz Fest’s music, so why not bring some “music” back on the trip home? Artist Michael Cain will be presenting his creative guitars that are made from aluminum and/or cigar boxes.

Trifongo with Roast Pork

CARMO & FOWLMOUTH | CULTURAL EXCHANGE VILLAGE

People have called New Orleans the Caribbean’s northernmost city so make sure to try this tasty tropical trifongo with roasted pork. This Puerto Rican dish contains green plantains, sweet plantains, and yuca that have been mashed and mixed together.

Robert Randolf Band BLUES TENT | 4:05-5:15 P.M.

Pedal steel player Robert Randolf will be bringing his gospel band to this year’s Jazz Fest. Named one of the great pedal steel players of all time, Randolph also incorporates funk, soul, country, blues, and R&B into his sound.

Dead & Company FESTIVAL STAGE | 4:30-7:00 P.M. Deadheads unite and make sure not to miss Dead & Company’s performance on Saturday. Made up of former Grateful Dead members, Dead & Company’s Jazz Fest show is part of the band’s farewell tour across the United States.

The Lumineers

SHELL GENTILLY STAGE | 5:20-7:00 P.M.

One of the most popular alternative folk bands around, the Lumineers, will be bringing their indie folk/Americana sound to the fest’s Shell Gentilly Stage. Expect to hear the band’s most popular songs “Ho Hey” and “Ophelia.”

H.E.R.

CONGO SQUARE STAGE | 5:25 - 7:00 P.M.

Fans get the opportunity to witness four-time Grammy-winning artist, H.E.R.’s raw talent at her Jazz Fest debut performance. As a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, she brings a unique perspective to the stage.

John Hiatt & the Goners

SHERATON NEW ORLEANS FAIS DO-DO STAGE | 5:45-7:00 P.M.

Rock musician John Hiatt, who has dabbled in a number of different genres throughout his long career, will be heading to Jazz Fest with his band the Goners. His songs have been covered by musicians such as Three Dog Night, Bonnie Raitt, and Linda Ronstadt.

Keb’ Mo’

BLUES TENT | 5:45-7:00 P.M.

See California musician Keb’ Mo’ perform his special brand of Delta blues music at the fest’s Blues Tent. Five of Keb’ Mo’s albums have won Grammy awards for either Best Contemporary Blues Album or Best Americana Album.

Jamaican Chicken

PALMER’S JAMAICAN CUISINE | CONGO SQUARE

New Orleans loves spice in its food, and Palmer’s Jamaican Cuisine will be providing some great tasting spice this Fest. Try the Jamaican chicken with Jamaica’s greatest contribution to the culinary world—jerk spice.

Creole Filé Gumbo

LI’L DIZZY’S CAFE | HERITAGE SQUARE

Try New Orleans’ world famous Creole filé gumbo, which is provided by Baquet’s Li’l Dizzy’s Cafe. This delicious gumbo has smoked sausage, shrimp, crabs, and a distinctive Creole flavor. Served on a bed of fluffy rice, this file gumbo is the perfect Jazz Fest food. See what all the buzz is about.

Christine

Ledoux / Mosaic Bayou

CONTEMPORARY CRAFTS | TENT G

A captivating display of intricate mosaic art reflects Louisiana's rich wildlife and natural scenery. Her use of a variety of colorful tiles, glass, and other materials will transport all who visit to the heart of Louisiana's bayous.

CELEBRATING 44

JAZZ FEST PREVIEWS

Low Cut Connie FESTIVAL STAGE | 11:20 A.M.–12:10 P.M.

Low Cut Connie is known for their electrifying live performances, combining blues, soul, and punk influences. Their unique sound and energy make them a must-see act, sure to ignite the crowd with their high-octane music.

LIVE MUSIC

5/1 9PM JACK RYAN, JOE PIZZOLATO, BRAD MILLER, MIKE RUNYON

5/2 10PM A TRIBUTE TO JEFF BECK

FEAT. CARTER WILKINSON, JAKE GARTENSTEIN, SEAN WEBER, SHOUT YOUNG, RAPH ZEE AND MANY MORE!

Treme Brass Band

ECONOMY HALL TENT | 1:35-2:35 P.M.

5/3

NOAH YOUNG, JERMAL WATSON, SAM KUSLAN, JOE PIZZOLATO & SPECIAL GUEST RICK LOLLAR

KEVIN SCOTT, NIR FELDER, KRIS MYERS

For a true representation of New Orleans’ brass band culture, head to the Economy Hall Tent to see the Treme Brass Band performing. The group’s music has been featured in television and film works including Treme and Tradition is a Temple

Gal Holiday and the Honky Tonk Revue

SHERATON

Boot scoot on over to see local country and rockabilly group Gal Holiday and the Honky Tonk Revue put on their lively show. The band has released five studio albums and appeared at Jazz Fest many times over the years.

FESTIVAL STAGE | 3:35-5:05 P.M. Herbie

Herbie Hancock has entertained audiences with his beautifully funky piano tunes for over 50 years. This jazz powerhouse has won 12 Grammy awards in the past two decades. Be sure to catch this Chicago native’s fantastic set.

TOP PICKS FOR SUNDAY, MAY 7

Melissa Ethridge

BLUES TENT |

5: 40–7:00 P.M

Melissa Etheridge is a singer and guitarist, known for hit songs including “Come to My Window” and “I’m the Only One.” You won’t want to miss this Grammy Award winner’s fantastic set featuring some of her greatest hits from her several decades-long career.

Tom Jones

SHELL GENTILLY STAGE | 5:45-7:00 P.M.

At 82 years old, Tom Jones is still just as charming as he was in the 1960s. Catch him performing all your favorites from “It’s Not Unusual” to “Delilah.” With his powerful vocals and dynamic personality, Jones’ live show might be better than his recorded ones.

Shrimp Remoulade

Po-Boy

TJ GOURMET | FOOD AREA 2 Gretna’s TJ Gourmet has just what Jazz Fest attendees need for a greattasting festival lunch. New Orleanians absolutely love po-boys, and TJ Gourmet provides a tasty shrimp poboy covered in a delicious remoulade sauce.

Mango Freeze

WWOZ COMMUNITY RADIO | FOOD AREA 1

Brought to you by NOLA’s favorite local radio station, WWOZ, this is one treat you won’t want to miss. A sorbet, of sorts, made with fresh mango, the mango freeze will help you beat the heat and stay cool while you catch some of your favorite artists.

Marie-Jose Poux / Haitian

Artwork & Straw Hats

CONGO SQUARE AFRICAN MARKETPLACE | TENT S

Visitors will not want to miss MarieJose Poux’s captivating display of Haitian artwork and beautiful straw hats. Poux’s pieces are a reflection of her Haitian heritage, featuring vibrant colors and intricate details.

NOLA NIGHT SHOW PICKS

Second Weekend

THE HEADHUNTER’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY

By Burke Bischoff

Wednesday, May 3, 7 p.m., NOLA Brewing Company, $18-$43

New Orleans is the birthplace of jazz, so a perfect way to spend a night in the Big Easy is at the Headhunter’s 50th Anniversary jazz show at NOLA Brewing Company on May 3. The Headhunters, which has a sound that mixes jazz, rock, and funk, was formed in 1973 by jazz pianist Herbie Hancock for his 13th studio album Head Hunters. The band was most active in the 1970s with Hancock until the band went off on its own with the release of Survival of the Fittest in 1975. The band’s latest album, Speakers in the House, was just released in late 2022.

KARL DENSON'S TINY UNIVERSE: A TRIBUTE TO AMY WINEHOUSE

Thursday, May 4, 8 p.m., Orpheum Theater, $39-$82

The world lost a musical icon in 2011 when English singer Amy Winehouse passed away at the age of 27. Jazz musician Karl Denson and his band, Karl Denson's Tiny Universe, will be paying tribute to Winehouse’s music at the Orpheum during the “Serves House Wine: An Amy Winehouse Tribute” show. The band has been performing music for 25 years and is best known as the fictional band Sweet Chocolate in the Coming to America movies. The band has been able to go on tour with the likes of the Allman Brothers, My Morning Jacket, Public Enemy, Widespread Panic, and many others.

THE SOUL REBELS

Thursday, May 4 , 11 p.m.,Le Bon Temps Roule, $20

Join one of NOLA’s favorite brass ensembles, the Soul Rebels, as they keep the Jazz Fest festivities going at the iconic Le Bon Temps Roule bar. The band was formed with the desire to combine traditional New Orleans brass music with popular pop sounds. As such, the Soul Rebels incorporate hip hop, rock, and jazz into their sound. The band is not just popular in New Orleans and has had the opportunity to perform in Europe, Asia, and Australia. The Soul Rebels have also been known to collaborate with nationally known acts including DMX, Katy Perry, Lauryn Hill, Nile Rodgers, and even Marilyn Manson and Metallica.

MELVIN SEALS & JGB

Friday, May 5 & Saturday, May 6, 9:30 p.m., Cafe Istanbul, $65

Jam band enthusiasts and Deadheads definitely should not miss seeing Melvin Seals & JGB performing for two nights at Café Istanbul. Melvin Seals ended up joining the band in 1980 as a keyboardist and has been its longest lasting member. In addition to the Grateful Dead, Melvin Seals and JGB helped to pioneer the jam band genre, which is characterized by musical improvisation over rhythmic grooves. Expect to hear everything from blues, rock, funk, and jazz to R&B and gospel.

GLEN DAVID ANDREWS

Saturday, May 6, 8 p.m., Treme Hideaway, $25

Trombonist and local New Orleans musician Glen David Andrews will be performing with his band at the Treme Hideaway Music Hall on May 6. Andrews was born in the Crescent City’s historic Tremé neighborhood and is related to Trombone Shorty and the Rebirth Brass Band’s Derrick Tabb. Andrews began touring at just 14 years old and has performed all around New Orleans, as well in multiple other cities and festivals across the United States and the world. His music, such as his songs “Redemption” and “Portrait of the Treme Prince,” has an enjoyable mix of jazz, gospel, rock, blues, and funk.

LUCINDA WILLIAMS

Saturday, May 6, 9 p.m., Civic Theatre, $79-$219

See Americana/country music star Lucinda Williams when she performs at the Civic Theatre on May 6. Williams is a native of Lake Charles, Louisiana, and began her music career in 1978. She gained critical acclaim in 1988 with her self-titled album, which combined elements of Americana, alternative country, blues, and roots rock. Williams’ most successful album, Car Wheel on a Gravel Road, was released in 1998, became certified Gold, won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album, and was included in Rolling Stone’s “500 Greatest Albums of All Time.” Some of her best-known songs include “Passionate Kisses,” “Right in Time,” “Get Right with God,” and “Can’t Let Go.”

PANIC STRICKEN (WIDESPREAD PANIC TRIBUTE)

Saturday, May 6 & Sunday, May 7, 1 a.m., Zony Mash Beer Project, $26-$36 Groove to the music of Widespread Panic at the two-night Panic Stricken concerts at the Zony Mash Beer Project. The tribute band was founded in 2014 by a group of musicians from Austin. Widespread Panic, the band that Panic Stricken is emulating, is a jam rock band from Athens, Georgia, that has a similar sound to the Grateful Dead and Phish. Panic Stricken has worked hard to perfect Widespread Panic’s style of complicated improvisations across the band’s vast catalog of songs. Expect to hear Widespread Panic’s most well-known songs including “Ain’t Life Grand,” “Up All Night,” “Blue Indian,” “The Walker,” and “Airplane.”

SIX OF SATURNS: BRASS-A-HOLICS & FLAGBOY GIZ

Sunday, May 7, 9 p.m., Three Keys, $10-$15

The sounds of New Orleans brass band Brass-A-Holics and Flagboy Giz, who is a member of the Mardi Gras Indians band the Wild Tchoupitoulas, will unite at the Six of Saturns’ concert at the Ace Hotel’s Three Keys. The Brass-A-Holics formed in 2010, and they combine Washington D.C. go-go funk with traditional New Orleans brass sounds. Flagboy Giz is part of the Wild Tchoupitoulas, whose 1976 self-titled album helped give listeners a delightful glimpse into the city’s unique Mardi Gras Indian culture. Flagboy Giz himself has released two solo albums: Flagboy of the Nation and I Got Indian in My Family

Here are top picks for night shows around New Orleans to keep the music going.

Soul Rebels

Lucinda Williams Panic Stricken

Flagboy Giz

WE GOT THE METAL

New Orleans’ Metal Pioneers

Thrash Onward

By Greg Roques

What many people fail to recognize is the influence New Orleans had on the evolution of heavy metal. Various styles of metal dominated MTV and album charts in the later decades of the past century into the early aughts, many carrying torches first lit right here.

“It was hard to be accepted locally when we got started,” says Kirk Windstein, guitarist/ vocalist for local metal veterans Crowbar. “A lot of old school musicians didn’t take us seriously because we were playing heavy music—that’s why we made our bread and butter touring around the world.”

Crowbar is often credited with pioneering the “sludge metal” subgenre in the late ‘80s, a sound further championed by local legends Soilent Green, Eyehategod, and Acid Bath.

“Metal is like a drunk uncle who comes around during the holidays,” says Kyle Thomas, guitarist/vocalist for New Orleans metal band Exhorder. “You don’t really want them there and can’t wait for them to leave.”

Formed in the mid-80s, Exhorder are often regarded as progenitors of “groove metal,” a style embraced in the ‘90s by bands such as Pantera (also with New Orleans roots) and Sepultura; it was also elemental to nu-metal, the predominant alt-rock sound of the decade’s end.

Today, metal has all but disappeared in popular music. As of this writing, the only metal albums on the Billboard 200 are Metallica’s Black Album and Guns ’N’ Roses’ Appetite for Destruction, both released more than 30 years ago.

Metal’s turn-of-the-century commercial cliff dive was driven by both cultural and technological factors. First, angry rock music was cast as a sacrificial lamb in 1999 to explain (or, more accurately, redirect blame) for the events of the Columbine High School massacre and Woodstock ‘99 riots. This was not a new phenomenon; heavy metal was previously cast as a key influence on ‘80s “Satanic Panic” and the West Memphis Three, wrongfully convicted of murder in 1993. Two years later, metal’s bad rap preceded it in the days following 9/11 when radio stations and record labels ceased promoting music listeners may find upsetting— mostly aggressive rock.

“None of us on the local scene set out to be commercially accessible. We don’t write that kind of music. We don’t play that kind of music,” says Windstein. “Still, in the ‘90s an underground band like [Brooklyn’s] Type O Negative would play on MTV. You don’t really have outlets playing that kind of music anymore—especially locally. The industry really kind of ignores us.”

While heavy music’s public image was taking a beating, another war was underway with more dire repercussions for its major label profitability. The rise of broadband internet access and file-sharing services ignited a wildfire leaving record sales in ashes; likewise, emerging social networks allowed fans to discover new music independent of music television and radio. This new normal poses some unique challenges for metal musicians.

For one, the snackable snippets of content served on Tik Tok and Instagram’s Reels are not engineered for the attention span of someone looking for an extended guitar solo. Second, record labels are far less likely now to gamble on an act that isn’t a sure thing. In a Sep. 10, 2022 episode of Rolling Stone’s “Music Now” podcast, Fall Out Boy guitarist Joe Throhman recounts how when his band returned from a hiatus in 2012, their only guarantee to get new music on the radio was to work with co-writers to guarantee hits, despite churning out multiple multi-platinum albums less than ten years prior, and having a much more marketable pop-rock sound than extreme metal.

These co-authors are no-doubt writing specifically to game the aforementioned social

New Orleans is without debate one of the world’s most renowned musical cities: the birthplace of jazz, bounce, and rhythm & blues.

Goatwhore

Crowbar

involvement.”

To be clear, landing a major label contract is not necessary to be successful, but it is a great way to make a living doing what you love.

“The old days where record sales were significant and everyone had fancy cars and million-dollar homes is a pipe-dream,” says Thomas. “You rarely see a band making a career off just one band. Many are involved in multiple projects or side cover bands. Others get into managerial and production work. I have my side hustles now too. It’s not easy.”

Despite these challenges, the metal scene continues to thrive locally and beyond.

“Metal definitely isn’t as big on a

Thomas, Windstein and Duet recommend the following venues for those looking to discover local metal music:

algorithms now that 65% of the record industry’s global revenue comes from streaming. Factor in sampling, used in more than half of the past five year’s top albums, and the growing existential threat of AImusic generators, and the long-romanticized singer/songwriter are quickly becoming an endangered species in mainstream music.

“In the heavy rock world, the artists are the writers,” says Thomas. “From the popside of the industry, it’s harder to control when it’s not multiple writers spitting out artists left and right without any real artistic

mass audience level,” says Sammie Duet, guitarist and backing vocalist for New Orleans extreme metal band Goatwhore. “It’s gone underground, but the audience is still massive. There are a lot of great bands coming out of the local scene still, and they are doing things on a big level.”

Thomas agrees that the number of young people at his shows, and young bands coming up along the Gulf Coast, has grown in just the past five years.

As for NOLA-metal’s founding members, Exhorder are gearing up for a European tour this spring, and a new album release later this year. Goatwhore, celebrating their 25th year, just completed a European tour in

support of their latest LP, 2022’s Angels Hung from the Arches of Heaven, with several dates around the country scheduled through the fall. Crowbar have four European tours lined up through the summer before returning to the studio to work on their follow up to last year’s Zero and Below

“New Orleans’ metal scene has really started to get a lot of recognition these past five to ten years, which is crazy seeing how many of us have been at it for a quarter-century or longer,” says Duet. “Our music isn’t for the general public—it isn’t safe, it’s meant for a very specific audience. But if you dig deep enough, you will find your local metal scene.”

THE MAN, THE MYTH, THE MUSIC

Guitar Slim

Born December 10, 1926 in Greenwood, MS, Eddie Jones became an idiosyncratic guitarist in New Orleans under the moniker Guitar Slim.

Guitar Slim passed away on February 7, 1959, at the young age of 32. In his short career, he cultivated mystique due to his wild stage show, out-of-this-world look, and ahead-ofits-time distorted guitar playing. Guitar Slim may not be a household name, but he was so far ahead of his time and died so young that he may have seemed more like a vivid dream rather than an actual man.

Eddie Jones was raised by his grandparents as his mother passed away when he was five, and he never knew his father. He frequented juke joints around Hollandale, MS in his free time.

A radio documentary produced by David Kunian in 2001 features interviews with people who knew Eddie. His late childhood friend, Julius Ballard, stated in the documentary, “He would dance with two women better than the average man could dance with one woman. He could jump up, and he could do the split. He could rock back on his heels, go back all the way until his head touched the floor.”

Eddie went to work on a farm in Arkansas where he met fellow worker, Willie D. Warren. Willie D.’s protégé, Tino Mack, recalled Willie D. talking about Eddie, saying, “One of the young workers was a guy named Eddie Jones. He said that when they were done working, there would be a party. He said Eddie Jones was a remarkable dancer. But he didn’t play music. One thing led to another, and Willie started showing him guitar chords. He was

By Emily Hingle

a quick study. [Willie] would crack a smile from ear to ear when he would think about this kid that he showed how to play the guitar, and what he went on to do with that talent. He took it to the highest level.”

Eddie headed down to New Orleans in 1950, and he started calling himself Guitar Slim. Singer Gerri Hall of Huey “Piano” Smith & the Clowns first noticed Guitar Slim when she heard music coming from the house/ bar next door. She said, “After [the house] closed up, we hear this whining guitar at 6 in the morning. I said, ‘I thought they gave the party up last night?’ I made it my business to go down there and see what was happening. He would play and sing to himself. He’d serenade the whole neighborhood.”

Soon enough, he was thrilling audiences at clubs around town including the Dew Drop Inn and Tijuana Club. He had an extremely long amp cord, and, even if it was raining, he would run out into the street playing, he would jump on top of the piano or bar, and he would even climb into a building’s rafters. Slim was known to dress in bright-colored suits to which he matched his shoes, shirt, and even his hair. His regular pianist Lawrence Cotton said, “Slim would have those people like the Pied Piper had those people. He had an act where he had a cord that was almost 50 yards long. He had a guy that was his valet, Eddie Lee Thompson, and sometimes Slim would get on Eddie’s [shoulders], and that seemed to put the people in a frenzy.”

“At one time, especially in the Black community, a lot of people would still know about Guitar Slim. The people that do remember him, he made a profound effect on them. He was flashy with his suits, but it was more than that. It wasn’t just for show; he was a really talented musician and singer,” stated WWOZ host, Neil Pellegrin.

Guitar Slim lived for a time at the Dew Drop Inn where he also performed. Musician Earl King recalled, “Slim had these brown paper bags cut up with thumb tacks hanging all around his walls. He would take an eyebrow pencil, and he would write songs on them. He’d say, ‘Earl, you see these songs up here? I had a dream. The devil came to me with a song, and the Lord came to me with a song. You know which one I picked?’ I looked at him, ‘I picked the song from the devil,’ he said. ‘This is gonna be a hit song.’ That was ‘The Things I Used to Do.’”

“He made a name for himself as a showman and recorded some things for Imperial Records and JB Records starting in 1951, then he got signed to Specialty Records in 1953 where he recorded his big hit ‘Things I Used To Do’ with Ray Charles on piano and doing arrangements,” explained Neil. “Slim did about 25 songs for Specialty Records, and for Atlantic Records [which he signed to in 1956], he did another dozen or so. It was pretty prolific for just those few years.”

Everything seemed to be going well for Guitar Slim except for his penchant for

drinking. Trumpeter Porgy Jones stated, “Slim, to me, seemed like he had a good mind, but, like a lot of artists, he boozed a lot.”

People who knew him noticed a decline in his health in the late 1950s, and Guitar Slim knew that he was ill, too. Singer Carol Fran said about Slim, “He’d have problems, and he poured them out into his music. He was a troubled man deep inside. He was a wonderful person, and he partied himself to death, drinking.”

Guitar Slim was in New York when he fell seriously ill with double pneumonia during his show in Rochester. He asked to be brought back to New York City. His valet Eddie Lee Thompson said, “Slim had gotten so small, I picked him up. I remember carrying him up the stairs. Once I was carrying him up the stairs [to the doctor], he took one breath. We got him up there and sat him up in the chair. He [exhaled], and he was gone.” Guitar Slim is buried in Thibodaux, LA in Moses, Allen Chapel, Calvary Cemeteries.

Eddie “Guitar Slim” Jones may not be well-known by the masses; however, his musical innovation, unmatched charisma, and tenacious desire to be different left a deep impact on those who experienced him. He even was an influence to the likes of Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan. He burst onto the stage and into the studio so quickly and colorfully that people hardly had a moment to understand this force of nature before his flame was blown out.

MUSIC CALENDAR

SUNDAY, APRIL 30

Bacchanal Wine Noah Young Trio, Tangiers

Combo

Bamboula’s Midnight Brawlers, Secret Six Jazz

Band

Blue Nile Holy Ghost-Note

Cafe Istanbul James Singleton’s Malabar, Herlin

Riley and Friends, Naughty Professor

Cafe Negril Delta Funk, Silver Lining Serenaders

Chickie Wah Wah BeauSoleil, Michael Doucet

D.B.A. John Papa Gros, Big Chief Monk

Boudreaux

DMACS Justin Wall

Fritzel’s Jazz Pub Joe Kennedy Band, Marla

Dixon Band

Gasa Gasa Mustard Service

House of Blues Leonid & Friends, Tiffany

Kermit’s Tremé Mother-in-Law Lounge TBC

Brass Band

Le Bon Temps Roulé Dr. Lo Faber

Mahogany Jazz Hall Mahogany Hall

Swingsters, Roderick Paulin

Preservation Hall Leroy Jones, Preservation

Jazz Masters Rock n Bowl

Santos Bar

The Broadside

The Howlin Wolf

The Maison

The Rabbit Hole

World

Three Muses

Three Keys

Discovery Suite

Tipitina’s

Toulouse Theater

“Mobetta” Brown

Tropical Isle Bourbon Rhythm & Rain Trio

Zony Mash Bonerama

MONDAY, MAY 1

AllWays Lounge Betsy Propane

Apple Barrel Mark Appleford

Cafe Negril Cristina Kaminis

Carrollton Station Jimmy Robinson, Cranston

Clements

Chickie Wah Wah Alexis & The Sanity, Eric Bloom

Constantinople Stage Helen Gillet

D.B.A. Happy Talk Band, Arlo Allen

DMACS Danny Alexander

Gasa Gasa Wine Lips

Joy Theater Yves Tumor

Kermit’s Tremé Mother-in-Law Lounge TBC

Brass Band

Le Bon Temps Roule Jack Ryan, Joe

Pizzolato, Brad Miller, Mike Runyon

Saturn Bar BC Coogan

The Broadside George Porter Jr.

The Neutral Ground Trombone Shorty

TUESDAY, MAY 2

AllWays Lounge Sw33theartbreak

Bar Marilou Or Shovaly Plus

Bayou Bar Pedro Segundo, Oscar Rossignoli

Cafe Istanbul Quiana Lynell & The Lush Life

Band

Chickie Wah Wah

D.B.A.

Broadsides

Ellis Marsalis Center for Music

Bazzle

Faubourg Brewery Daze Between New Orleans w/ Goose & More

Gasa Gasa

Kermit’s Tremé Mother-in-Law Lounge TBC

Brass Band

Le Bon Temps Roule

Mahalia Jackson Theater

Rock n Bowl

Saenger Theatre Buggles, Seal

Spotted Cat Chris Christy Band, Smoking Time

Jazz Club

The Broadside Lost Bayou Ramblers, Deltaphonic

The Howlin’ Wolf Daze By Nite w/ Ian Neville

& More

The Rabbit Hole Rebirth Brass Band

Three Keys Durand Jones

Tipitina’s Dragon Smoke, Eric Lindell

Treme Hideaway Juvenile

WEDNESDAY, MAY 3

Apple Barrel Mark Appleford

Bar Redux Movie Club, Atomic Broad

Blue Nile Big Sam, Corey Henry

Cafe Istanbul Ram From Haiti

Cafe Negril The Budz, Colin Davis and Night

People

Café Degas Double Whisky

Chickie Wah Wah Sgt Splendor, Kate Vargas

Civic Theatre The Radiators

Constantinople Stage André Bohren

D.B.A. The Iguanas, Tin Men

Cafe Negril Piano Man ‘G’, Sierra Green

Chickie Wah Wah Nicholas Payton, PJ Morton

Civic Theatre Samantha Fish, Jesse Dayton

D.B.A. Jon Cleary, Absolute Monster Gentlemen

DMACS Paggy Prine, Pizza Man’s Fam Jam

Fillmore Joe Russo

House of Blues Digable Planets

Howlin’ Wolf Joey Porter, Josh Schwartz

Joy Theater Tank and the Bangas

Kermit’s Tremé Mother-in-Law Lounge TBC

Brass Band

Le Bon Temps Roule The Soul Rebels

Metropolitan Diplo

Orpheum Theater Karl Denson

Pavilion of the Two Sisters Patrice Fisher, Arpa

Republic NOLA Anders Osborne

Spotted Cat Chris Christy Band, Jumbo Shrimp

DIPLO AT THE METRO

Come dance to electronica sounds with DILPLO, who will perform with Big Freedia live at the Metropolitan Nightclub. Grab your friends and dance the night away on Jazz Fest Thursday. Thursday, May 4, 9 p.m. Tickets start at $40, eventbrite.com

DMACS Sam Price

Favela Chic Mervin Campbell

Faubourg Brewery Daze Between New Orleans w/ Goose

Gasa Gasa Little Freddie King

Kermit’s Tremé Mother-in-Law Lounge TBC

Brass Band

Lafayette Square Soul Rebels, Tonya BoydCannon

Le Bon Temps Roule Noah Young, Jermal

Watson, Sam Kuslan, Joe Pizzolato, Rick Lollar, Kevin Scott, Nir Felder, Kris Meyers

NOLA Brewing The Headhunters

Spotted Cat Chris Christy Band, Shotgun Jazz

Band

The Rabbit Hole Electric Beethoven, Very Cherry

Three Keys Amina Scott

Tipitina’s The Daze Between Band: Goose, Dumpstaphunk, Lettuce, Tab

The Sandbar at The Cove Nicole Glover

THURSDAY, MAY 4

3rd Block Depot Dr. Sick, The Late Greats

BK House & Gardens Marty Peters

Bayou Bar Ashlin Parker, Victor Atkins

Cafe Istanbul Will Bernard & Friends, Wil Blades & Friends w/Donald Harrison, Mike Clark, Bill Summers

Jazz Band

The Broadside The Iceman Special, Fackn A’

The Howlin’ Wolf Steely Dan Tribute w/ Craig

Brodhead

The Rabbit Hole New Thousand, Crush

Diamond

Three Keys Durand Jones

Tipitina’s North Mississippi Allstars

Zony Mash Beer Project Tribal Gold

FRIDAY, MAY 5

Bayou Bar YYRP, Peter Varnado

Blue Nile Karina Rykman, Kermit Ruffins

Cafe Istanbul Melvin Seals & JGB

Cafe Negril Paradise Jazz Band, Sweetie and the Boys

Chickie Wah Wah Nigel Hall, Terence Blanchard

Civic Theatre Poppa Funk & The Night Tripper:

A Tribute To Art Neville & Dr. John

D.B.A. Soul Rebels

DMACS Sierra Green

Deutsches Haus Ladies Choir, Men’s Choir

Fat City Park Partners N Grime, Jaken, Mannie

Fresh

Fillmore Joe Russo

Gasa Gasa Daisy The Great, Olive Klug

House of Blues Better Than Ezra, Lost Bayou

Ramblers

Kermit’s Tremé Mother-in-Law Lounge TBC

Brass Band

Le Bon Temps Roulé

Zoom St., Grits & Greens

Live After Five Curley

Taylor, Zydeco Trouble

Mahalia Jackson Theater The Disco Biscuits

NOLA Brewing Toubab Krewe

Orpheum Theater Gov’t Mule

Republic NOLA Oteil Burbridge, The Nth Power

Rock n Bowl Cowboy Mouth

Saenger Theatre Avett Brothers

Southport Hall The Molly Ringwalds

Spotted Cat Big Fun Brass Band, Chris Johnson

Band

The Broadside The Deslondes, Silver Synthetic

The Howlin Wolf Cool Cool Cool, Snarky Puppy

The Maison Mervin Campbell, Shotgun Jazz

Band

The Rabbit Hole Morning 40 Federation, Maurice Brown

Three Keys DāM-FunK

Tipitina’s Dr. Klaw, Ian Neville

Zony Mash Beer Project Steeln’ Peaches

SATURDAY, MAY 6

Bayou Bar Jordan Anderson

Blue Nile Krasno/Moore Project, Marco

Benevento

Cafe Istanbul Melvin Seals & JGB, Nicholas

Payton

Cafe Negril Bon Bon Vivant, New Orleans Rug

Cutters

Chickie Wah Wah Peter Rowan

Civic Theatre Lucinda Williams

D.B.A. Eric Lindell, Tuba Skinny

DMACS Pocket Chocolate

Fillmore Joe Russo’s Almost Dead

Gasa Gasa Low Cut Connie

House of Blues Better Than Ezra, Gibson

Howlin’ Wolf Dead House, Worship my Organ

Kermit’s Tremé Mother-in-Law Lounge TBC

Brass Band

Kingpin Dash Rip Rock

Le Bon Temps Roule Colin Davis & Night

People, The Soul Rebels

Mahalia Jackson Theater Disco Biscuits

NOLA Brewing Hendrix, Heads and Tails

Republic NOLA Voodoo Dead, George Porter Jr. Rock n Bowl Bonerama, Kermit Ruffins

Spotted Cat Panorama Jazz Band, Soul Brass

Band

The Broadside Honey Island Swamp Band

The Howlin Wolf LP Giobbi Presents: The Dead House, Worship My Organs

The Maison Smoking Time Jazz Club

The Rabbit Hole Boyfriend, Pleasure Savior

Three Keys Jamison Ross

Tipitina’s Neal Francis

Treme Hideaway Glen David Andrews

Zony Mash Beer Project Steeln’ Peaches

SUNDAY, MAY 7

Bacchanal Wine Noah Young Trio, Tangiers

Combo

Blue Nile Adam Deitch Quartet

Buffa’s Bar Lynn Drury

Cafe Istanbul Gatorators, Bonerama

Cafe Negril John Lisi, Vegas Cola

Chickie Wah Wah Continental Drifters, Jon

Cleary

D.B.A. Stanton Moore Trio, Treme Brass Band

DMACS HG Breland, Duane Bartels

Fillmore Get Busy Or Die

Gasa Gasa Abby & The Arsonists, Elaine

House of Blues Rebirth Brass Band, Kermit Ruffins,

Howlin’ Wolf Joey Porter, Sammi Garrett

Joy Theater

The Word

Kermit’s Tremé Mother-in-Law Lounge TBC

Brass Band

Le Bon Temps Roulé Dr. Lo Faber, Billy Iuso

Mid-City Lanes Rock n Bowl Sonny Landreth

Orpheum Theater Boney James, Alex Bugnon

Republic NOLA Steve Kimock, George Porter Jr.

Santos Bar Laveda

MUSIC CALENDAR

The Howlin Wolf Hot 8 Brass Band, Wil Blades, Purple Party: A Tribute To Prince w/ Craig Brodhead

The Maison Mervin Campbell

Three Keys Brass-A-Holics, Flag Boy Giz

Tipitina’s DumpstaFiya, Dumpstaphunk

Zony Mash Beer Project Dirty Dozen Brass Band

MONDAY, MAY 8

Apple Barrel Mark Appleford

Blue Nile The Nth Power

Cafe Negril Cristina Kaminis

D.B.A. Soul Brass Band

DMACS Danny Alexander

Gasa Gasa Demi the Daredevil, Bemo Rouge

Tipitina’s Jason Mingledorff, John Papa Gros

TUESDAY, MAY 9

AllWays Lounge Sincerely, Fantasy

Bayou Bar Pedro Segundo, David Torkanowsky

Cafe Negril The Super-Most-Fantastic-Blues-NSuch Jam

D.B.A. Lulu & The Broadsides

Dos Jefes Tom Hook

Happyland Theater James Singleton Dirty Numbers

McKinley’s Irish Pub Jerry Nuccio

Spotted Cat Chris Christy Band, Smoking

Time Jazz Club

The Rabbit Hole Rebirth Brass Band

Treme Hideaway Juvenile

WEDNESDAY, MAY 10

Apple Barrel Mark Appleford

Cafe Negril The Budz, The Night People

Café Degas Double Whisky

DMACS Paul Faith

Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport

Favela Chic Mervin Campbell

Lafayette Square Nigel Hall + Miss Mojo

Music Box Village KOKOKO!

Old US Mint Wayne Maureau’s Nu Vieuxdoo

Smoothie King Center The Cure

Spotted Cat Chris Christy, Shotgun Jazz Band

University of New Orleans Musical Excursions

THURSDAY, MAY 11

3rd Block Depot Dr. Sick & The Late Greats

Bar Marilou Double Whiskey

Bayou Bar Peter Harris, Oscar Rossignoli

Cafe Negril Piano Man ‘G’, Sierra Green City Park The Walrus with The Electric Yat

Quartet

DMACS Paggy Prine, Pizza Man’s Fam Jam

Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport

Fillmore Tenacious D

Polo Club Lounge John Royen

Ray’s On The Ave Stooges Brass Band

Spotted Cat Chris Christy Band, Jumbo Shrimp

Jazz Band

FRIDAY, MAY 12

100 Men Hall Cedric Burnside

Bayou Bar Peter Harris, Oscar Rossignoli, and Cyril Aimer

Cafe Negril Dana Abbott Band, Higher Heights,

DMACS Hold for Boneshaker, Jamey St. Pierre

Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport

Gasa Gasa Willie Watson

House of Blues The Psychedelic Furs

Le Bon Temps Roule Atom Cat

Mahalia Jackson Theater The Music of Queen with LPO

Mid-City Lanes Rock n Bowl Louis Prima Jr

NOPSI Hotel Matt Lemmler’s “New Orleans in Stride”

Orpheum Theater Eric Johanson

Pirogue’s Whiskey Bayou The Wolfe Johns

Blues Band

Polo Club Lounge John Royen

Santos Bar Mareux

Spotted Cat Chris Johnson Band

The Goat Tyrant, Dark Entity, Void

The Maison Mervin Campbell

The Rabbit Hole Subject Matter

Tipitina’s DJ Soul Sister

SATURDAY, MAY 13

Blue Nile George Brown Band

Cafe Negril New Orleans Rug Cutters, The Sierra Green Show

DMACS Sean Hobbes & the Hi Res, Troy Turner

Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport

Dew Drop The Jump Hounds

Drifter Hotel The Joey Houck Band, The Love

Muscles

Gasa Gasa Sarah Shook, Buffalo Nichols

House of Blues Blake Owen, Lucas Grabeel

Orpheum Theater Eric Johanson

Pirogue’s Whiskey Bayou Clockwork Elvis

Polo Club Lounge John Royen

Roosevelt Hotel Leslie Martin

Saenger Theatre Trevor Noah

Santos Bar OURS

Spotted Cat Shake’em Up Jazz Band

The Broadside T Marie & Bayou Juju

SUNDAY, MAY 14

AllWays Lounge After Hours Local Musician

Jam

Bacchanal Noah Young Trio, Tangiers Combo

Cafe Negril Silky Silk Milk Band, John Lisi

DMACS Rare Groove

House of Blues Hunter Hayes

Le Bon Temps Roule Dr. Lo Faber

St. Pat’s Irish Coffeehouse The Celtic Music

Session

The Broadside Erica Falls

The Howlin Wolf Hot 8 Brass Band

HUNTER HAYES AT THE HOUSE OF BLUES

Come see American singer and songwriter and multiinstrumentalist, Hunter Hayes for a night of music and drinks. Hear his new single, “If You Change Your Mind.”

Sunday, May 14, 7 p.m. Tickets available online for $30, concerts. livenation.com

The Maison Mervin Campbell

The National WWII Museum Swing Orchestra

MONDAY, MAY 15

AllWays Lounge Betsy Propane

Apple Barrel Mark Appleford

Cafe Negril Cristina Kaminis

DMACS Danny Alexander

Gasa Gasa Blood Orchid

Polo Club Lounge John Royen

TUESDAY, MAY 16

AllWays Lounge Conan + Thra

Bar Marilou Sasha Masakowski

Cafe Negril The Super-Most-Fantastic-Blues-N-

Such Jam

Gasa Gasa The Flowers of Hell

House of Blues Meg Myers

McKinley’s Irish Pub Jerry Nuccio

Spotted Cat Chris Christy Band, Smoking Time

Jazz Club

The Rabbit Hole Rebirth Brass Band

Treme Hideaway Juvenile

WEDNESDAY, MAY 17

Apple Barrel Mark Appleford

Cafe Negril The Budz, Colin Davis

Café Degas Double Whisky

DMACS Matt O’ Ree Band

Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport

Favela Chic Mervin Campbell

Fillmore Pawns & Kings Tour

Gasa Gasa Jenn Howard and Daria & The Hip

Drops

House of Blues Transviolet

Lafayette Square glbl wrmng + LeTrainiump

Old US Mint Jazz Audrey LeCrone

Spotted Cat Chris Christy, Shotgun Jazz Band

The Broadside Kumar

THURSDAY, MAY 18

3rd Block Dr. Sick & The Late Greats

Bar Marilou Hanna Mignano

Cafe Negril Piano Man ‘G’, Sierra Green

City Park New Orleans Mystics

DMACS Matt O’ Ree Band, Paggy Prine

Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport

Deutsches Haus Bier Musikanten, Liederkranz

German Sing a Long

Gasa Gasa Beat Up with Meeka and Gram

House of Blues Ultrabomb, Warrant

Orpheum Theater The Mars Volta Tour

Pavilion of the Two Sisters Thursdays at

Twilight

Polo Club Lounge John Royen

Blues Trio

Polo Club Lounge John Royen

Riverbend Music Room Claudia Nygaard

Spotted Cat Chris Johnson Band, Vegas Cola Band

The Maison Mervin Campbell

Tipitina’s Tchoup Making Sense

Westside Bowling Lanes Old Barstools

SATURDAY, MAY 20

Blue Nile George Brown Band

Cafe Negril Jason Neville Funky Soul Band, New Orleans Rug Cutters

DMACS Aden Paul & Co., The Silver Spades

Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport

Hi Ho Lounge Green Gasoline, Brethren Hogg

House of Blues Shy Glizzy

Le Bon Temps Roule Ted Hefko and the Thousandaires

Mid-City Lanes Rock n Bowl GOT Groove

Orpheum Theater LPO with Tank and the

Bangas and Jon Cleary

Pirogue’s Whiskey Bayou The Junior League

Polo Club Lounge John Royen

Rivershack Tavern Casey Saba

Roosevelt Hotel Leslie Martin

Saenger Theatre Just Getting Started

Smoothie King Center Zach Bryan

Spotted Cat Panorama Jazz Band

The Neutral Ground Frenchie Moe & Family

Tipitina’s Dirty Dozen Brass Band

SUNDAY, MAY 21

Bacchanal Wine Noah Young Trio, Tangiers

Combo

Cafe Negril Silky Silk Milk Band, John Lisi & Delta Funk

DMACS The Old Barstools

Felix’s Restaurant Rhythm & Rain Trio

Le Bon Temps Roule Dr. Lo Faber

Saenger Theatre Rain: A Tribute To the

Beatles

St. Pat’s Irish Coffeehouse The Celtic Music

Session

The Howlin Wolf Joie des Femme, Hot 8 Brass Band

The Maison Mervin Campbell

MONDAY, MAY 22

AllWays Lounge Betsy Propane

Apple Barrel Mark Appleford

Cafe Negril Cristina Kaminis

DMACS Danny Alexander

Gasa Gasa Winona Forever

Polo Club Lounge John Royen

TUESDAY, MAY 23

Bar Marilou Mikayla Braun

Cafe Negril The Super-Most-Fantastic-Blues-NSuch Jam

Gasa Gasa Anthony Hale

McKinley’s Irish Pub Jerry Nuccio

Siberia Byron Daniel and the Five Dead Dogs

Spotted Cat Chris Christy Band, Smoking Time

Jazz Club

Ray’s On The Ave Stooges Brass Band

Spotted Cat Chris Christy Band, Jumbo Shrimp

Jazz Band

FRIDAY, MAY 19

Cafe Negril Dana Abbott Band, Higher Heights

Carrollton Station Marina Orchestra + Sweet

Magnolia Brass Band

Christ Church Cathedral Krewe de Voix

Chamber Choir

DMACS Bakey’s Brew, Greg Afek Band

Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport

Deutsches Haus Ladies Choir, Men’s Choir

Gasa Gasa En Attendant Ana

House of Blues Voivod

Joy Theater Grandson & K.Flay

Le Bon Temps Roule Evan Oberla & the Grow

Maple Leaf Bar Hash Cabbage

Mid-City Lanes Rock n Bowl The Wiseguys

NOPSI Hotel Matt Lemmler

Pirogue’s Whiskey Bayou Washboard Chaz

The Rabbit Hole Rebirth Brass Band

WEDNESDAY, MAY 24

Apple Barrel Mark Appleford

Cafe Negril The Budz, Colin Davis

Café Degas Double Whisky

DMACS Chris Zonada

Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport

Favela Chic Mervin Campbell

Fillmore Pierce The Veil & The Used

Gasa Gasa Jeromes Dream, Slowhole

Lafayette Square The Suffers + Trumpet Mafia

Old US Mint Jazz Pastel Panties

Saenger Theatre It’s Time Tour

Spotted Cat Chris Christy Band, Shotgun Jazz Band

The Howlin Wolf Hari Kondabolu

THURSDAY, MAY 25

3rd Block Depot Dr. Sick & The Late Greats

Bar Marilou Geovane Santos

For up-to-date listings visit WhereYat.com

Cafe Negril Piano Man ‘G’, Sierra Green City Park String Beans

DMACS Paggy Prine, Pizza Man’s Fam Jam

Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport

Polo Club Lounge John Royen

Ray’s On The Ave Stooges Brass Band

Spotted Cat Chris Christy Band, Jumbo

Shrimp Jazz Band

St. Anna’s Episcopal Church

Tanya Boutté

FRIDAY, MAY 26

Cafe Negril Dana Abbott Band, Higher Heights

DMACS The John Krupa Projects

Davenport Lounge Jeremy

Davenport

Hi Ho Lounge Friday Nite Fever

with Soul Sister

Le Bon Temps Roule Scott

Graves

Mid-City Lanes Rock n Bowl

Clay Cormier

NOPSI Hotel Matt Lemmler

Pirogue’s Whiskey Bayou

Strange Roux

Polo Club Lounge John Royen

Spotted Cat Chris Johnson Band

The Howlin Wolf The Dale

Dolese Band and Poisson Rouge

The Maison Mervin Campbell

SATURDAY, MAY 27

Bacchanal Wine Trey Boudreaux

Blue Nile George Brown Band

Buffa’s Bar Buffas

Cafe Negril New Orleans Rug Cutters, The Sierra Green Show

DMACS R & R Smoking Foundation

Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport

Fillmore Dermot Kennedy

Gasa Gasa WOO GRRRL

House of Blues Bruce in the USA, John Hollier

Le Bon Temps Roule Aaron Walker, Organami

Pirogue’s Whiskey Bayou Greg Schatz

Polo Club John Royen

Siberia Russian White + Komrades + Iya

Toyah

Spotted Cat Shake’em Up Jazz Band

PIERCE THE VEIL & THE USED AT THE FILLMORE

San Diego band Pierce

the Veil, who mixes punk, experimental rock, and emo, will appear with The Used, at the Fillmore for their Creative Control Tour.

Wednesday, May 24, 5:30 p.m. Tickets start at $99, concerts. livenation.com

SUNDAY, MAY 28

Bacchanal Wine Noah Young Trio, Tangiers

Combo

Cafe Negril John Lisi & Delta Funk, Marine

Orchestra

DMACS Queta Cavalier

Felix’s Restaurant Big Al

Gasa Gasa Acid Mothers Temple

Le Bon Temps Roule Dr. Lo Faber

The Howlin Wolf Hot 8 Brass Band

The Maison Mervin Campbell

Polo Club Lounge

John Royen

TUESDAY, MAY 30

Bar Marilou Golden

Compass Trio

McKinley’s Irish Pub Jerry Nuccio

Spotted Cat Music Club Chris Christy Band, Smoking Time Jazz Club

The Rabbit Hole Rebirth Brass Band

WEDNESDAY, MAY 31

Apple Barrel Mark Appleford

Cafe Negril Colin Davis, Higher Heights

Café Degas Double Whisky

DMACSl Charlie Paycheck

Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport

Favela Chic Mervin Campbell

Fillmore Bryson Tiller

Old US Mint Water Seed

Spotted Cat Chris Christy Band, Club Shotgun

Jazz Band

THURSDAY, JUNE 1

3rd Block Depot Dr. Sick & The Late Greats

Bar Marilou Tangiers Combo

City Park New Leviathan Oriental Fox Trot

Orchestra

DMACS Paggy Prine, Pizza Man’s Fam Jam

Gasa Gasa Settly & The M.P.’s

Spotted Cat Chris Christy. Jumbo Shrimp Jazz Band

FRIDAY, JUNE 2

Cafe Negril Dana Abbott Band, Higher Heights

DMACS The Sharpened Spurs, Sierra Green

MONDAY, MAY 29

AllWays Lounge Betsy Propane

Apple Barrel Mark Appleford

Cafe Negril Cristina Kaminis

DMACS Danny Alexander

Deutsches Haus Ladies Choir, Men’s Choir

Gasa Gasa Gozu with Smoke

NOPSI Hotel New Orleans Matt Lemmler

Orpheum Theater Mary Chapin Carpenter

Spotted Cat Chris Johnson Band

MAY 12 8:00 PM

LAKESIDE2RIVERSIDE

FELIPE’S CINCO DE MAYO

Friday, May 5, All day

Join the fiesta this Cinco de Mayo on FriYay and enjoy live entertainment, award-winning tacos, and tasty, hand-squeezed margaritas. All restaurants will open at 11 a.m. and there will be festivities at each location: Uptown, Mid-City, and the French Quarter. Mid-City will have music starting at 6:30 p.m., with Ballet Folklorico Viva Mi Tierra and La Tran-K following. If you’re looking for a block party, come to Bienville Street from 6-10 p.m. The Uptown location will have Linda, the Bubble Lady and face painting from 5-7 p.m. and the Vivaz Trio starting at 6 p.m. Come out and enjoy delicious food and drink and cha cha cha.

LOS JEFES GRILL 7 TH ANNUAL CINCO DE MAYO FEST

May 5, 4 – 9 p.m., cincodemayofest.com

With two stages of live entertainment and headliners Mannie Fresh, Partners 'N Crime, and Honey Island Swamp Band, Louisiana's biggest Cinco de Mayo Festival, sponsored by Avión and Modelo Especial, returns to Fat City. Produced by Yeah You Right Events, the one-day festival takes place in Fat City Park and includes live lucha libre wrestling, the biggest taco eating competition in the city, food trucks, and a premium Avión VIP Experience with unlimited tacos and food from Los Jefes Grill, bottle service, and additional entertainment. Online ticket sales are available.

JAMMIN’ ON JULIA

May 6, 6 - 9 p.m., artsdistrictneworleans.com

Jammin' on Julia, a spring art walk and music festival hybrid event in the area, invites visitors to an evening block party that will feature top-notch art exhibits on Julia Street and in the neighborhood, musical performances in a few galleries on Julia, Camp, and Magazine Streets, and food trucks and bars on the Julia Street blocks that will be closed to traffic. The occasion, which is free and accessible to the public, is a great chance to explore the historic Arts District and learn about the modern music, art, and food of New Orleans. Visitors are welcome to take advantage of the art, live music, beverages, and food from nearby food trucks.

MUSIC OF QUEEN BY THE LPO

May 12, 8 p.m., mahaliajacksontheater.com

If you love the music of Queen, then this pairing of rock meets classical should be an exciting event. The Louisiana Philharmonic will perform the music of Queen at the Mahalia Jackson Theater. They’ll play some of Queen’s most iconic songs including “We Will Rock You,” “Bohemian Rhapsody,” and “We are the Champions.” Guest conductor Brent Havens will lead the LPO through a performance that mixes orchestral instruments with Queen’s distinct sound and energy for a new twist on old favorites.

ASIAN PACIFIC A MERICAN FESTIVAL

May 13, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., frenchmarket.org

Asian and Pacific American Heritage Month occurs every May. The Asian Pacific American Festival has been organized by the Asian Pacific American Society to highlight the diverse cultures in the community. There will be lots of tasty food cooked by local restaurants and organizations, as well as entertainment for the whole family. The festival brings guests to enjoy delicious cuisines, share family traditions, and learn the history of Asian Americans.

HANGOUT FEST

May 19 - 21, Gulf Shores, hangoutmusicfest.com

Enjoy the beach to the fullest and immerse yourself in the Hangout experience, where there’s much fun to be had, including a loop around the roller rink and a plunge in the ocean. Prepare yourself for some major sun and fun. Dance the day away at the Monster Energy Beach Club's all-day beach parties and sip on a Malibu drink. Enjoy a lively volleyball match at Corona Beach with your pals. Come hang out because it’s sure to be a good time.

LAKESIDE2RIVERSIDE

LA VETS FEST

May 20, 3 p.m., facebook.com/LAVeteransFestival Gates will be open starting at 3 p.m. for people to celebrate veterans at the Louisiana Veterans Festival. Some of the best bands and food sellers in the Greater New Orleans region will perform during the event, which is held in Slidell’s Heritage Park and ends with fireworks. Marc Broussard, Tyler Kinchen and the Right Pieces, and Soul Revival are this year's featured musicians. Every May throughout Armed Forces Weekend, the Louisiana Veterans Festival is conducted in honor of the state's military veterans. This is a great time to express gratitude to the men and women who have served our nation.

FOOD FIGHT

FOOD FIGHT

May 25, 6 p.m. (VIP) and 7 p.m., foodfightnola.com

HOT OUT OF THE POT CRAWFISH BOIL AT HOB

Through May 27, 3 p.m., houseofblues.com

The Preeminent Food Challenge in New Orleans, produced by the makers of Top Taco, pits over 40 restaurants and 30 spirits against one another to discover who can provide the best meals and drinks in the Big Easy. The competition at Spanish Plaza will be fierce. The PLEASE Foundation, a Louisiana non-profit committed to ending the poverty cycle in New Orleans through education, is the beneficiary of this all-inclusive event. The PLEASE Foundation offers at-risk teenagers mentoring, leadership development, and financial aid to attend nearby high schools that prepare them for college.

The House of Blues New Orleans will be having a fun evening with fresh oysters and crawfish from Louisiana. Visitors are welcome to stop by on Friday and Saturday afternoons to enjoy a night of great music and delicious crawfish right from the bayou. There will be a wide range of flavors and spices to satisfy everyone's palates. You can try charbroiled oysters and spicy batches of crawfish, along with delicious sides and sauces. Their friendly staff will make sure you have a blast in the Voodoo Garden inside the House of Blues with live music and a terrific atmosphere. Space is currently available for reservations.

PICKLEBALL POPS IN NOLA

The pickleball craze is the real “dill” in New Orleans.

By Celeste Turner

A hybrid of badminton, pingpong, and tennis, pickleball has soared in popularity. With more than 4.8 million players nationwide, it is America’s fastest growing sport, according to a 2022 report from the Sports and Fitness Industry Association.

While most of the core players—those who play pickleball more than 8 times per year—were over the age of 65, the game is getting younger, with a surge among players under 55.

“Pickleball is exploding,” said Danny Cooper, a 62-year-old pickleball instructor at the UNO Health and Fitness Center, who has been playin g pickleball for 12 years. “It is the only sport where a grandfather can play with his grandson.”

Founded in 1965, pickleball is played with a paddle and a plastic wiffle ball as either a singles or a doubles game, though doubles is more popular. “The goal of pickleball is similar to tennis,” said Cooper, who teaches beginner pickleball at UNO on Friday mornings at 10 a.m. “You only score when you’re serving and you only win with enough rallies to get to 11 points. Also, it is illegal to serve overhand because the net is lower.” However, pickleball play is distinctive from tennis because of the rules of the “kitchen.” Volleys are not permitted in the “kitchen,” which is set seven feet from the net on either side. “If the ball bounces in that 7-foot zone, you cannot come up to the net and smash it. So the kitchen and the underhand serve equalizes the game,” said Cooper. “The small size of the court minimizes running, which allows the older players to be just as competitive as the younger. It’s more like playing ping pong in front and tennis in the back of the court.”

Easy to learn and inexpensive, pickleball is played both indoors or outdoors on a badminton-size court measuring 44 feet long and 20 feet wide, with a slightly modified tennis net. “We started offering pickleball about nine years ago,” said Mark Volterre, Director of the Health Club by Hilton located in the Hilton New Orleans Riverside Hotel. “We now have added four pickleball courts, and I would estimate that one third of our members play pickleball. We get no less than three calls per day

requesting pickleball.”

In downtown New Orleans, the Health Club by Hilton has begun to offer classes and plans to install more pickleball courts, gearing up for the upcoming annual Big Easy Pickleball tournament scheduled the first weekend in August. “The Big Easy Tournament is three full days of just pickleball,” said Volterre. He expects this year’s attendance to topple the number of players who competed in 2022. “Last year, we had 370 participants. This year, we are expecting 400-450 players at the Big Easy Tournament. The sport is growing with more tournaments, more divisions, and increasingly more products like pickleball shorts, shoes, and paddles.”

About three years ago, Lakeview resident, Jeanette Thriffiley, a 65-year-old former tennis player, introduced pickleball play at Gernon Brown Recreation Center on Harrison Avenue. “I live around the corner from the gym,” said Thriffiley, “My sister who lives in Slidell came over and was talking about pickleball since there are multiple places to play in Slidell. We started with a group of 5 or 6 players and we bought some nets, taped up the basketball floor and set it up. Gernon Brown provided the place to play for free.”

Although her pickleball group tends to appeal to seniors, Thriffiley said that there are more young people joining the game. Gernon Brown offers 3 indoor courts and can accommodate up to 12 players each weekday during the hours of 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. “It is a pick-up game at Gernon Brown. You just show up,” emphasized Thriffiley. “No partners are necessary. We encourage people not to play with the same people over and over again.”

Like Gernon Brown, other NORD facilities provide free play for pickleball courts. Joe W. Brown Park on Read Boulevard, offers 2 indoor courts for open pickleball play Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Henry Mayfield, a native of New

Orleans and a competitive pickleball player, dedicates at least 3-4 hours per day during the week to practicing his serve, volley and drop shots at Joe Brown Park gym. “I started as a recreational player at the end of 2021, and, over time at the end of 2022, I actually started to play and train competitively,” said Mayfield, a 35-year-old former football and basketball player. “I have no tennis or racquet experience, but I fell in love with the game. It has given me a new way to live, taught me to be more patient and transformed my mental focus. Pickleball is physically demanding, but the biggest demand is the mental aspect.”

Mayfield also teaches a beginner class at Joe Brown while preparing for the U.S. Open Pickleball Championships in Naples, Florida.

“For this tournament, I am playing pickleball with a partner who is in a wheelchair,” said Mayfield. “This is a hybrid tournament and the biggest one that I have ever been in. As long as you can move forward and backward with a little lateral movement, anyone can play.” Since playing competitively, Mayfield has met pickleball players from all over the country and relishes the social side of pickleball. “I like the camaraderie,” said Mayfield. “Everyone is so friendly. You can meet so many people from all different aspects of life.”

Thriffiley agreed that pickleball is incredibly social. “This sport brings people together from all walks of life. It’s good for the younger and the older people because pickleball focuses on having a good time.”

NORD / Public: offering free play, no reservation required

● Lyons Recreational Center (624 Louisiana Avenue) provides 2 indoor courts, Mon (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) Wed (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) Fri (10 a.m. to 12 noon)

● Joe W. Brown Park (5601 Read Boulevard) provides two indoor courts, Mon to Fri (10 a.m. to 1 p.m.)

● Gernon Brown Recreation Center (1001 Harrison Avenue) provides 3 courts, Mon to Fri (10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.)

● Morris FX Jeff Recreation Center (2529 General Meyer) provides three courts, Tues/ Thurs (11 a.m. to 5 p.m.) Saturday (9 a.m. – 2 p.m.), Mel Ott Park (2301 Belle Chasse Hwy), Tues/ Thurs (5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.)

Private facilities

● Health Club by Hilton (located in Hilton New Orleans Riverside Hotel) provides 4 indoor courts, must be a member or guest of a member, $15 per person daily fee for hotel guests.

Reservations required

● New Orleans JCC (5342 St. Charles Avenue), two indoor courts for beginner and advanced pickleball

Offers beginner pickleball class (Tuesdays & Wednesdays restricted to 4 people per class), Open pickup pickleball play restricted to 16 people midday M/W/F/ Sat/Sun, Pick up pickleball Tuesday evening (advanced) and Thursday evening (beginner), Must be a JCC member or a guest accompanied by a member. Reservations required

● Goldring-Woldenberg JCC (3747 West Esplanade, Metairie) provides three indoor courts, Offers beginner’s pickleball class Wednesday (9 a.m. & 6 p.m.) Friday at 9 a.m. (no charge for members/ $10 for non-members), Intermediate pickleball class Wednesday (9:45 to 10:30 a.m.) Open play follows; Open pickleball is free to all members and guests of members; Scheduled pickleball play times/ open court times

● UNO Recreation & Fitness Center (2000 Lakeshore Drive) provides 4 indoor courts, Special pickleball monthly membership: $25 per month / Daily guest fee $5. Includes Monday/ Wednesday 9 a.m.to 12 noon, open play, Beginner’s Class offered: Fridays 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

MOTHER’S DAY IN NOLA

A Film Retrospective

By Jeff Boudreaux

Yes, dear children, it is time for Mother’s Day—that annual, delightful holiday where we spoil the women, who very likely spent each of our formative years spoiling us (even if not, she still deserves all the accolades you can possibly bestow upon her).

HOT SPELL (1958) – Shirley Booth (TV’s Hazel) and legendary tough guy Anthony Quinn (Zorba the Greek) star in this melodrama concerning a New Orleans housewife, her philandering husband, and their three grown children. In the sweltering New Orleans heat (of which we are all so familiar), Alma spends her days cooking for Jack, doting on the children, and dreaming of an idyllic life that she thinks she once knew. She refuses to believe that her marriage is loveless, even if Jack only sticks around for dinner and not dessert. It’s just as well, since he can’t get through a meal without starting an argument with his eldest son (Earl Holliman), who he sees every day at the office anyway. Truthfully, you can consider this a public service message to avoid working with your family, at all costs. 24-year-old Shirley MacLaine co-stars as daughter Virginia, who waits for medical student Wyatt to pop the question, while younger brother Billy can’t help but wonder why his dad’s girlfriend is nearly the same age as he. This film takes you back to a time when 18-year-olds could drink beer in a Crescent City pool room. It’ll also have you wondering just exactly where on the Louisiana map this “New Paris” that Alma keeps talking about is located.

SUDDENLY, LAST SUMMER (1959) – Based upon the play by legendary New Orleans author Tennessee Williams, this film was one of the first Hollywood productions to deal explicitly with the subject of homosexuality. Screen giants Elizabeth Taylor and Katharine Hepburn co-star as the severely troubled Catherine Holly, and her wealthy New Orleans aunt Violet Venable. You see, Catherine witnessed her cousin Sebastian become the victim to one of the most horrific hate crimes ever described on screen, and mother-ofthe-year Violet is willing to have Catherine lobotomized to protect Sebastian’s secret. It just goes to show you the places a mother’s love is willing to go, if only to prevent her son’s reputation (albeit postmortem) from being tarnished—it was the 1950’s after all. Co-starring Montgomery Clift as psychiatrist Dr. Cukrowicz, who has an unusually hard time reading between the lines.

PRETTY BABY (1978) – Well this is a special film, probably unlike anything you have ever seen before. It concerns mother/daughter prostitutes in the fabled Storyville district in 1917 New Orleans. Hattie (Susan Sarandon) turns tricks for willing gentlemen, while her daughter Violet (Brooke Shields) watches—then learns firsthand. Photographer Bellocq (top-billed Keith Carradine) loves them both. You’re thinking—this obviously isn’t your average Mother’s Day film; however, the scenes shared between Sarandon and Shields exude an undeniable chemistry as mother and daughter, but two best friends as well. The most unusual thing about this movie is the fact that Shields was only 12 years old when it was filmed, and, yes, she does appear nude. If that makes you uncomfortable then you are not alone, but, contrary to popular belief, you will not end up on a government watchlist by viewing this film. In all actuality, it serves its purpose as a fascinating portrait of the infamous red-light district, with a jazz score (dedicated to the great Jelly Roll Morton) and direction by the renowned French auteur Louis Malle (Elevator to the Gallows, My Dinner with Andre). Co-starring Antonio Fargas (Huggy Bear from Starsky & Hutch) as the Professor (of piano) and Euro-Horror icon Barbara Steele as Josephine. Filmed entirely at the Columns Hotel on St. Charles.

BAD MOMS (2016) – It was filmed in New Orleans but doubles for Chicago in this box office smash about three new friends letting loose, as only overworked mothers can. Mila Kunis stars as Amy, recently separated mother of two, who gets triggered by a bake sale, of all things. Next thing you know, she’s staying out all hours of the night, drinking with the hypersexual Carla (Kathryn Hahn) and uber-conservative Kiki (Kristen Bell), plus meeting hot guys such as Jesse (Jay Hernandez). Will this new attitude empower her to be a cooler mom to Jane and Dylan? She does buy them Arby’s on a whim, so that would be a yes. A hilarious comedy from the writers of The Hangover trilogy, Bad Moms exceeded expectations so much, it was followed the very next year by A Bad Moms Christmas—then nothing. Actually, we can blame the franchise faltering on Covid, since a second sequel was announced in 2019. Relive the glory days of parental comedy.

What better reason is there than this to catch a wonderful piece of cinematic history where mothers like her are immortalized, right after the champagne brunch of course? We all know that time spent with Mom is well-spent indeed so please enjoy this quartet of film recommendations, some controversial, but each of which are forever bound to the great city of New Orleans.

Pretty Baby Hot Spell

Suddenly, Last Summer

Bad Moms

BLOOMIN' FLOWERS

Audubon Park

Whether you prefer to ride your bike around a scenic trail or rollerskate during sunset, Audubon Park is a calming, outdoor escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. Engulfed in ancient live oak tree’s long branches, visitors can get an up-close look at breathtaking trees such as the Tree of Life, active animals, and bushes of azalea flowers. Throughout the year, lilies, daisies, and sensitive plants can be spotted blooming around the uptown park.

Crescent Park

The picturesque skyline isn’t the only highlight of this urban linear park in the Bywater. Take a stroll next to the riverfront, ride your bike down a smooth bike path, or rest on a bench surrounded by rose bushes and native plants. On the Crescent Park path, visitors may see roses, azaleas, palm tree blooms, and other greenery and local flowers. Pro tip—visit during golden hour to watch the sun set over the city.

Lafayette Square

This park may be quaint, but it is full of character. Lafayette Square is two and a half acres and sits right across from Gallier Hall, the former New Orleans City Hall. This historic square is the second oldest public park in the city. Surrounding the three statues of Henry Clay, John McDonough, and Benjamin Franklin, visitors can often see pops of blossoming fuchsia azaleas amidst dense shrubbery.

Louis Armstrong Park

Celebrate jazz music, the arts, nature, and the music legend Louis Armstrong at this historic park in the Tremé. The Louis Armstrong Park spans over 31 acres and includes storytelling sculptures, the historic Congo Square, a grand white metal arch entrance, a tree-lined lagoon, and vibrant plant life. It’s a must-see New Orleans destination, especially for music lovers. Throughout the park, visitors can see native trees and flowers like bushes of azaleas, roses, lilies, and oleanders.

Audubon Park

Crescent Park

New Orleans Botanical Gardens

New Orleans’ parks enjoy flourishing flowers

By Cynthea Corfah

JUST

New Orleans Botanical Garden

The New Orleans Botanical Garden is a flower enthusiast’s dream land. The ten-acre oasis contains more than 2,000 varieties of plants from all over the world. The botanical garden has an adventure around every corner. It has rose gardens, a sculpture garden, a Japanese garden developed by the Japanese Garden Society of New Orleans, a historic train garden, a succulent and cacti greenhouse, a butterfly walking trail that includes plants that attract butterflies and caterpillars, and other themed gardens. Admission is free for Louisiana residents on Wednesdays with a valid ID.

New Orleans City Park

Every visit to New Orleans City Park offers a new experience. As the seasons change, so does the vegetation and flora. Take a walk around the 1,300 acre urban park, lay under the music tree while being serenaded by windchimes, listen to the ducks quack

in conversation and see which species of flowers you can identify. Depending on the day, you can spot flowers such as tulips in every color, rose bushes, and azaleas.

Washington Square Park

This laid-back neighborhood park is a historical favorite. The two and half acre park located in the Marigny has a playground, sculptures, benches, trees that provide shade, and plenty of open grass for pets to play. It is known for being a popular gathering spot for locals and has a variety of plant life including live oak trees, flowering shrubs, and palm trees.

New Orleans is typically known for its native cypress trees, grand oak trees, and decorative, draping Spanish moss. But in some areas around the city, plant lovers can stop and smell the roses, too. Visit these local parks for free flower sightings around town.

When it’s warm and sunny in New Orleans, there’s nothing better than being outdoors. You can eat a pound of crawfish on pages of newspaper in the grass, drink cold locallybrewed beer, bird watch in the clear, blue skies, and admire the swampland’s unique plant life.

New Orleans City Park

New Orleans City Park

GOING NATIVE

Why You Should Consider Native Landscaping

By Brooke Adams

Every spring and summer, gardeners and garden enthusiasts flock to their local plant nurseries to grab the prettiest flowers and foliage to bring a little more of that greenery into their lives. It’s hard to resist the blooms. Plus, who doesn’t love a shopping trip? However, before you go out and spend your next paycheck on plants that will last for a few months (if you’ve got a good green thumb), consider the trending “new” style—native landscaping.

One quick Google search about native landscaping will land you in a world of articles about California or the Midwest. A lot of these places focus on drought tolerant plants, but, here in Louisiana, drought is not our issue—flooding is. One of the main focuses of native landscaping here is water absorption. Many of Swamp Fly’s designs focus on green infrastructure and stormwater management.

“I’m not saying we can change the world by

planting natives, but as we enter more of a water world, as we become more inundated with water, we can help mitigate that.” Ashlee goes on to explain, “We have a lot of rain events that cause major flooding. People lose their cars, their houses. That water just sits. It’s pretty wild what you can do with a water retention garden. The water drains so much faster, and it doesn’t sit there for nearly as long. And that can make the difference for your car flooding or not.”

Outside of the amazing water retention functionality of a native landscaped yard, the benefits can also be seen in the local ecosystem. Having native plants and a native space provides habitat for all the local creatures that are seeing their natural habitats disappear. Everyone, hopefully, wants to save the bees, but you can see all sorts of critters in your native yard, including song birds and butterflies. While helping the local ecosystem is a major plus,

Ashlee Bracken one-third owner of Swamp Fly, a local, women-owned, environmental firm that offers consultation, design, installation and maintenance services that specializes in native landscaping—explains why we should all consider "going native."

Garden District, Baton Rouge

Bayou St. John, New Orleans

experiencing it is even better.

Remembering a previous client, Ashlee says, “We have a client in Gentilly who wanted a native landscape. She said she wanted her garden to look like a witch lived there, even if it meant all her neighbors would hate her. But now, all her neighbors are always hanging out with her in her garden, even coming to collect seeds because they love it. She thought they were going to hate it, and she had accepted that she was willing to be hated to have the native landscape she wanted, but now people want it. They see all the butterflies in the garden and realize they want that too. A lot of her neighbors have called us, and we’ve done a lot of renovations over there. They get to experience their lawn as a truly wild space.”

Many avid gardeners enjoy the look of a traditional garden. However, that comes with a lot of maintenance and issues. As much as cutting the grass can be a cathartic, meditative experience, the constant upkeep creates excessive emissions. Traditional gardening also involves a lot of spraying pesticides, and fertilizing, which adds unnecessary chemicals to our soil and water run-off. Many naysayers want to keep their grass, and their traditional garden look, but Swamp Fly has an answer to that.

Ashlee explains, “There are a lot of people who want grass for their dogs, their kids. We do try to stick with only natives, but we have done lawns that are more sustainable, living lawns using dwarf mondo grass. It’s low maintenance and dormant in the winter. Doing a living lawn like that is not native, but it’s sustainable. We are

currently trying to figure out a way to do a native alternative to grass. But also, kids play in the forest all the time. Dogs run in the forest all the time. They don’t really need grass. If it’s mulched or low-lying stuff, they can still hang out in the garden. Sometimes we leave open patches, or do pathways with dedicated areas for hanging out and playing.

If you want a beautiful flower garden, our native flowers are going to produce way more blooms. You can cut them, and bring them in your house. They are also host plants for a lot of butterflies and moths. So you just get to experience more of a magical wonderland when you have them. It genuinely is more alive.”

People come from all over the world to marvel at the natural beauty of Louisiana. Our unique ecosystem and landscape are filled with life and magic. Countless myths, legends, and stories are rooted in the mysticism of our lands. Looking out at your yard, it’s hard not to want a bit of that magical and mythical wonderland. Having a native landscaped yard brings a little of that magic home. When you drive through neighborhoods and subdivisions, all you see is concrete and grass. Gone is the magic, but also gone is the supportive system that keeps our city from going under water.

To conclude, Ashlee remarks, “I believe it is important to rewild our human environment. We are becoming more and more what North America is. We have significantly more human environment than national and state parks. We are the wild space. And we can make the difference.”

BROOKE LAIZER SEFENECH HENOK TAMICA LEE

Gentilly

Department of Wildlife & Fisheries

ANTOJITOS DELICIOSO

Authentic Tacos in Greater New Orleans for Cinco de Mayo

By Burke Bischoff

While still tasty, tacos that are usually found in Mexican restaurants across the United States are versions that have been adapted to better accommodate American palates. According to a 2017 article by Food & Wine magazine, tacos with hard shells or flour tortillas and topped with lettuce, tomatoes, and cheese are more influenced by Tex-Mex cuisine. What is an authentic Mexican taco, then? Traditionally, and simply, it involves a soft corn tortilla, meat topped with diced onions and cilantro, and a lime wedge on the side for seasoning.

So does that mean locals and visitors to New Orleans can’t experience authentic Mexican tacos? Certainly not. If you know exactly what you’re looking for, there are lots of restaurants in Greater New Orleans that have corn tacos garnished with onions and cilantro on their menus. Here are some personal favorite restaurants in the area that offer great traditional tacos to try.

CARRETA’S GRILL

Multiple Locations, carretasgrill.com

Since first opening in 1999, Carreta’s Grill has been popular enough to spread out and serve its premiere Mexican cuisine across four locations in southern Louisiana. You can find their authentic tacos under the taqueria section of their menu. Labeled “traditional,” this option gives you a single taco with your choice of a wide array of meat including carne asada (grilled steak), al pastor (marinated pork), carnitas (pulled pork), grilled or shredded chicken, and more. Make sure to order more than one with different meats to get a full flavor profile.

CASA GARCIA

8814 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, 504-464-0354, casagarcianola.com

A particular favorite for residents of Metairie, Casa Garcia has a large menu that contains many different specialties such as fajitas, chimichangas, and a very delicious shrimp cocktail. For authentic tacos, be on the lookout for their “grilled fish” and “grilled shrimp tacos.” Both options give you three corn tortillas filled with either seafood, topped with onions and cilantro, and served with your choice of two sides such as rice, beans, Mexican corn, or grilled vegetables, as well as a soup or salad. Make sure to pair the tacos with one of Casa Garcia’s award-winning margaritas.

EL PATRON MEXICAN GRILL & CANTINA

516 Gretna Blvd., Gretna, 504-301-3161, facebook.com/ElPatronNOLA

El Patron is one of the more popular Mexican restaurants on the Westbank and regularly draws in huge lunch and dinner crowds seven days a week. The restaurant’s authentic tacos are labeled “Tacos Tijuana,” and they’ll definitely give you a bang for your buck. This dish comes with four authentic Mexican tacos with your choice of meat, as well as sides of charro beans, grilled onions, chile toreado (blistered pepper), guacamole, limes, and spicy salsa. Mix and match between the different beef, chicken, or pork fillings, or be adventurous and order one with lengua (beef tongue).

FELIPE’S MEXICAN TAQUERIA

Multiple Locations, felipestaqueria.com

With three locations across New Orleans, Felipe’s Mexican Taqueria is very good at providing Big Easy residents made-from-scratch Mexican classics like flautas and enchiladas. The restaurant is set up like a cafeteria-style build-your-own order establishment, so if you want to save time customizing your tacos, order the “Mexico City tacos.” These come with two or three corn tortillas filled with al pastor and topped with cilantro, onion, and Felipe’s guacamolillo sauce. Make sure to wash your tacos down with either Felipe’s delicious frozen margarita or the house-made red sangria.

JUAN’S FLYING BURRITO

Multiple Locations, juansflyingburrito.com

Juan’s Flying Burrito, with four locations around the Crescent City, is a funky establishment that serves Creole-influenced Mexican cuisine with real New Orleans flair. While the restaurant is known best for its massive and unique burritos, Juan’s tacos should not be slept on. Make sure to order a few “street tacos,” served on white corn tortillas and topped with cotija cheese in addition to diced onions and cilantro. Choose a standard protein such as adobo chicken or pulled pork or consider a more unique filling like jerk chicken or adobo roasted tofu.

Most folks know how delectable tacos are, but the kind of tacos Americans are used to are quite different to the ones typically eaten in Mexico.

SUPERIOR GRILL

3636 St. Charles Ave., 504-899-4200, neworleans.superiorgrill.com

Located right off of the St. Charles Avenue streetcar line, Superior Grill has some of the finest Mexican food in all of Uptown. First starting in Shreveport before opening its NOLA location in 1997, this highly-rated restaurant puts a lot of emphasis into using fresh ingredients while making all of its food from scratch. In addition to onions and cilantro, as well as a side of rice and beans, Superior Grill’s “street tacos” come with jalapenos, avocado, and salsa verde that can be added for extra flavors. You can also get slightly different fillings for these tacos such as chicken tinga (marinated shredded chicken), brisket, and duck.

NOLA's Authentic Mexican Tacos

The Eastbank and Westbank have a surprising number of restaurants that have at least one authentic-style Mexican taco on their menus. Check out more of these GNO restaurants and the wonderful tacos they serve.

BARRACUDA

Broccoli Taco CUÑADA

Mix & Match Tacos

EL PASO MEXICAN GRILL

Taco Mexicanos (Street Tacos)

GALAXIE TACOS

Fried Fish and Veggie Tacos

LOS COMPADRES MEXICAN GRILL Mexican Street Tacos

LOS PANCHOS

Every Taco

LOS JEFES GRILL

Al Pastor Tacos

MR. TEQUILA BAR & GRILL Street Tacos

PACO’S TACOS

Traditional Tacos

PANCHITA’S MEXICAN CRIOLLA CUISINE Tacos Suave

TACOS & BEER Street Taco

TACOS DEL CARTEL

Pastor, Carnitas, Carne Asada, and Brisket Tacos

TAQUERIA CORONA

Blackened Fish, Blackened Shrimp, Fish, Rib-eye Carne Asada, and Pulled Pork Tacos

TAQUERIA GUERRERO

Antojitos Tacos

TAQUERIA SANCHEZ

46 Westbank Expy., Gretna, 504-361-3050, ordertaqueriasanchezelsabrosito1.com

A lot of authentic-style tacos are labeled as “street tacos” on restaurant menus, and that name certainly applies to the tacos served at Taqueria Sanchez in Gretna. Located right off of the Westbank Expressway, this very tiny shop really is the embodiment of a traditional taco stand. The tacos served there, with all kinds of different meat to choose from, are all truly authentic, really inexpensive, and very delicious. Be prepared to eat in your car if you visit around lunch or dinner time because what little outdoor seating Taqueria Sanchez has usually gets filled up quickly.

RESTAURANT TO REEF

Coastal Restoration on the Half Shell

By Camille Barnett

the city has an entire festival dedicated to celebrating them.

way afterwards. The Coalition to Restore Recycling Program has combined our annual

heritage sites, and reduce Louisiana coastline erosion. Founded nearly 10 years ago back in 2014, CRCL’s

in Louisiana. Embracing the phrase “once you shuck ‘em, don’t chuck ’em,” the program strives to keep leftover oyster

CRCL makes weekly collections of recycled shells from restaurants

partnered with the shell recycling program (you can view the full list of participating restaurants online). Restaurants have the option to choose between three (Monday/ Wednesday/Friday) and five (Monday/Wednesday/Friday/Saturday/Sunday) pickup-days per week, with a 7-days-a-week pickup option soon to come. Darrah Bach, Oyster Shell Recycling Program Coordinator, explained that program organizers are eager for other restaurants to join the mission in order to collect even more shells.

“We have specifically designed our contract with the pickup service provider to have capacity to bring on as many restaurants as are interested,” Bach explained.

Next time you’re at your favorite restaurant with a menu featuring fresh oysters, make sure that they are involved with the Oyster Shell Recycling Program; if they are not, urge a partnership. Restaurants interested in a partnership can apply for more information online or send an email to us@oysterscrcl.org.

In addition to ordering your favorite oyster dish at one of these 25 coastlineconscientious eateries and urging other restaurants to consider a partnership, you can also support the program by recycling shells yourself. If you host shucking or chargrilled gatherings at home, or even if you opt for a take-out dish featuring oysters on the half-shell, you can bring your used shells to one of two drop off locations. These drop-off locations have been made possible through additional partnerships with local organizations Glass Half Full NOLA and the Green Project. Glass Half Full (3935 Louisa St.) offers drop-off hours on Monday and Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Green Project (2831 Marais St.) offers dropoff hours from Wednesday to Saturday, 11:00 a.m.- 4:45 p.m. Simply place your used/ unwanted oyster shells in one of black bins with bright-green lids.

Between participating restaurant partners and drop-off bins, Bach describes how much can be potentially collected on a given day: “We currently have 79 bins in rotation. If all bins were full on pickup day, we could collect 31,600 pounds of shell in

one day.”

Since being founded in 2014, more than 12.6 million pounds of shells have been recycled (three million pounds since 2020) through the program’s efforts. To date, a total of five restoration reefs have been built: the Biloxi Marsh Living Shoreline in St. Bernard Parish (built in 2016 using 868 tons of shell to restore .5 miles of reef), the Pointe-au-Chien Community Reef in Lafourche Parish (built in 2019 using 200 tons of shell to restore 400 ft of reef at an Indigenous mound site), the Barataria Bay Living Shoreline in Jefferson Parish (built in 2020 using 800 tons of shell to

Raw, fried, between French bread, grilled, charbroiled, shucked at home with friends and family, enjoyed out at a favorite restaurant, dazzled with hot sauce, or dunked in horseradish, no matter the manner, New Orleanians have a known and undoubtable love for oysters.

$20 AND UNDER

$20 AND UNDER It's Bananas [Foster]!

By Kim Ranjbar

There's no such thing as “too much of a good thing” when it comes to the endless iterations of this classic New Orleans recipe.

You’ve placed your napkin on the table and declared yourself “full” when all at once you’re surrounded by the caramel-like aroma of melting butter, brown sugar, and bananas. Out of the corner of your eye, you discretely glance at the next table where a group of friends have unabashedly ordered dessert, now being prepared table side by their exuberant server. She adds a splash of rum with a theatrical flourish, and the pan is set aflame, sending orange-tipped tongues of fire towards the ceiling while the delighted diners emit oohs and aahs. The bubbling mixture is spooned over generous scoops of creamy vanilla ice cream and served, and, as they begin to dig into their spectacular dessert, you realize you're not that full after all.

New Orleans-born and loved the world over, Bananas Foster is an incredibly simple, yet astoundingly delicious dessert invented by Owen Brennan at his Vieux Carré in 1951. It's typically made with only five ingredients (six if you count the vanilla ice cream): brown sugar, butter, dark rum, a dash of cinnamon, and bananas. And if you’re a daring home cook who's not afraid to flambé, you can easily reproduce it at home, but creating it yourself or ordering it at a high-end, white tablecloth restaurant certainly isn’t the only way you can enjoy that Bananas Foster flavor.

Chef/owner Bryan Gilmore of Creole Creamery understands the demand for this uniquely New Orleans’ flavor. At his ice cream shops, whether you're at the location Uptown on Prytania Street or in the burbs on Metairie Road, Bananas Foster-style ice cream makes a regular appearance. Gilmore's version is a creamy banana ice cream, swirled with a brown sugar, butter and rum caramel sauce. Enjoy two scoops in a crispy waffle cone or go complete nuts with a fully loaded banana split, topped with caramel sauce, tons of whipped cream, and chopped peanuts.

In the continued interest of keeping your cool, head over to Tchoupitoulas Street for a Bananas Foster sno-ball at Hansen's Sno-Bliz. For over 80 years, this iconic New Orleans sno-ball stand has been sweetening spring and summer with their superfine shaved ice concoctions. Their syrups are always made by hand and the Bananas Foster is no exception. Doused in banana syrup and topped with bruleed bananas, this is a seasonal treat to stand in line for, and make no mistake, you will be standing in line, but it's worth it.

If you happen to be in the French Quarter one fine morning, or even afternoon, don't miss a sweet breakfasty treat at Stanley. Owner and chef Scott Boswell and his wife Tanya are offering breakfast (and lunch) daily at their restaurant on the corner of Jackson Square, mere steps away from St. Louis Cathedral. Among other incredible dishes include their Eggs Benedict poor boy and filet gumbo that has shrimp, oysters, chicken and andouille sausage. Stanley offers a Bananas Foster French toast. Made with Leidenheimer, the French toast is topped with fresh, sliced bananas, house made vanilla ice cream, crunchy, toasted walnuts and that signature, boozy Bananas Foster sauce.

Less than a block from the Ashe Cultural Arts Center on Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard you'll discover Cafe Reconcile, a non-profit lunch spot serving Southern favorites while offering at-risk youth workforce development and training.

The café’s program is adept at not only creating a space for youth ages 16-24 to get real-time, on-the-job work experience, but it also excels at providing a supportive and safe environment for their personal growth, enriching the community as well as setting them on the right path for success. Stop into the café for lunch and devour a plate of jerk chicken and pickled peppers, a fried green tomato sandwich on jalapeno cornbread toast, or smothered turkey necks served with rice and gravy—all offered under budget. Just don't leave without getting a slice of their awardwinning, custardy Bananas Foster bread pudding for dessert.

Down on Annunciation Street, the Bakery Bar is a cozy restaurant with a craft cocktail program led by Vincent Heitz and Joseph Witkowski and a menu of shareable eats by Chef Lydia Solano. But what launched the Lower Garden District, and their main attraction, are the slices and bites of

New Orleanian's unofficially official celebratory cake—doberge—created by Debbie Does Doberge or Charlotte McGehee and Charles Mary IV. If you've never had the pleasure, doberge (pronounced “doe-bash”) is a multilayered cake (six is the hard minimum) with alternating layers of pudding covered in buttercream or ganache and a thin fondant shell. Though the traditional flavors are lemon and chocolate, Bakery Bar (and Debbie on the Levee in Kenner) feature flavors of the more creative-and-boozy variety, i.e. Cafe Brulot King Cake, peppermint bark, spiked s’mores with bourbon, and piña colada. It’s not on the menu all the time, but now and again they’ve been known to offer a big-fat slice of Bananas Foster doberge with layers of banana cake and caramel pudding spiked with a hefty dram of spiced dark rum.

Speaking of hefty drams, Palace Café on Canal Street can always whip up a frosty, frozen cocktail with Bananas Foster-flair, and why wouldn’t they? It's one of Dickie Brennan’s restaurants. It’s a sweet creamy, banana-salted caramel shake blended with a kick of white rum and a dash of cinnamon. Grab a large go-cup for $11 and let the evening begin.

Creole Creamery

Stanley

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., 504-821-3271, 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 such as 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., 504-510-2260, 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 including bananas Foster French toast and Irish coffee. 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 meat. 91 Westbank Expy #51, Gretna, 504513-2606, legacykitchen.com American

Luke, 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., 504-593-8118, 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, 504-8055596, boomtownneworleans.com/dining/ nola-steak

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 such as 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, 504366-7711, 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

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 such as 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 including 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., 504-5102797, jinxnola.com

Le Bon Temps Roule is where the good times 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., 504897-3448, 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, 504-834-4938, rivershacktavern.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 poboys 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

Willa Jean offers retro-chic vibes with Southerninspired breakfast items including 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 go-to 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, Neapolitanstyle pizzas, and classic Italian dishes. Traditional cooking techniques ensure a memorable experience. 123 Baronne St., 504-648-6020, domenicarestaurant.com

Manning's

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 such as 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,

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 such as 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

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 including 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

Tavolino Pizza & Lounge is definitely worth

ROBERT WITKOWSKI

RESTAURANT GUIDE

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, 504-6053365, 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 such as 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 such as 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., 504-766-9660, 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. 504-766-6519 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 such as 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., 504-8948881, apollinerestaurant.com

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 including 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., 504-598-5005, 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., 504-4864887, lakeviewharbor.us

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

Loretta’s Authentic Pralines has been bringing delicious sweet and savory pralines to New Orleans for over 35 years. Make sure to try their delicious crab meat beignet— this tasty treat is sure to satisfy your

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., 504-524-9632, neworleanscreolecookery. com

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 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 65-inch TVs and enjoy an ice-cold beer from their extensive selection. 538 Hagan Ave., 504-482-3047, 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., 504-525-9131, 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, 504-885-4572, 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., 504-680-7000, trenasse.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, 504-8855003, 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., 504-302-7496, 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

Middendorf’s Restaurant, with two locations, 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 American-caught 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

FILM REVIEWS

By David Vicari & Fritz Esker

Evil Dead Rise Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret

Evil Dead Rise isn't a direct sequel to Sam Raimi's The Evil Dead (1981) or its 2013 remake. It's a similar story that does take place in the Evil Dead universe, because, according to Rise, there are three volumes of that pesky Book of the Dead floating around.

The rebellious Beth (Lily Sullivan) discovers that she is pregnant, so she goes to visit her estranged sister, Ellie (Alyssa Sutherland), for some advice. Ellie is a single mom living in a dilapidated high rise apartment with her three kids—Bridget (Gabrielle Echols), Danny (Morgan Davies), and young Kassie (Nell Fisher). A mild earthquake ruptures a section of the concrete floor of the apartment's parking garage, exposing a secret basement. Exploring the basement, Danny finds the Book of the Dead and several vinyl records. Of course, for a horror movie to work, characters have to do stupid things; Danny decides to play one of the records,

which has a priest reciting an incantation, and that unleashes demonic forces into the building. The demons can possess a person with ease, and the only way to stop the possessed is by bodily dismemberment.

Writer-director Lee Cronin (The Hole in the Ground) has basically transported Raimi's original from a cabin in the woods setting to a high rise apartment complex in the city. The high rise is a refreshing setting for an Evil Dead film, but filmmaker Lamberto Bava did this back in 1986 with Demons 2

Rise hits many of the same beats and even reinvents certain iconic scenes from the first two films. For instance, the original has a nasty scene where a character is, well, raped by tree

limbs (Raimi recently admitted that he had gone too far), so here a character is attacked by wires and cables in an elevator. There are also lots of in-jokes and references to the past Evil Deads, and they are generally clever and/ or amusing, but sometimes you want Rise to be its own thing. The movie is a little pokey in its early scenes, but, once it kicks into high gear, it is a demonstrably bloody and wild ride. The parking garage/chainsaw finale is awesome. Be forewarned, though, this movie is gleefully disgusting. For example, at one point, a character is eating glass, and, as they swallow, you see the shards slicing their throat from the inside. Evil Dead Rise is a wellmade horror picture that generates suspense, has a creepy uneasiness throughout, and makes you care about the main characters. In the early Evil Dead films, Raimi displays a mischievous attitude where he just wants to see the characters die. Cronin, however, seems to care about this family unit and wants them to survive the terror. Well, some of them, at least— maybe. —David

Vicari

Based on the beloved 1970 young adult novel of the same name by Judy Blume, Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret, is a charming and touching film that will likely please audiences young and old.

Abby Ryder Fortson plays Margaret, an 11-year-old whose family (Rachel McAdams and Benny Safdie) moves her from New York City to suburban New Jersey in 1970. Aside from homesickness, she deals with making new friends, her own self-consciousness, and a strong desire to mature quicker. From a half-Jewish, halfChristian family but raised as neither, she also grapples with questions of religious faith for a school project.

Margaret is a heroine who’s easy to root for, and the other child characters are believably awkward but endearing. Fortson

and McAdams have the film’s biggest roles, and they turn in good performances, as does Kathy Bates as Margaret’s grandmother. There are also a lot of laughs as Margaret and friends try to figure out what to expect when they reach puberty, especially a scene where Margaret and a friend cope with the embarrassment of buying their first-maxi pads at a drugstore.

The film also deals with faith and belief in a thoughtful manner that does not feel like a Sunday school lesson. Many films in today’s era are either targeted specifically to church groups or ignore questions of belief and faith entirely.

Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret is writer-director Kelly Freeman Craig’s second film after 2016’s The Edge of Seventeen. If you enjoy Margaret, you should give Seventeen a look as it is also a good coming of age story about a young woman. —Fritz Esker

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

FLORA ADORA MIX-OFF

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.

TALES FROM THE QUARTER

By Debbie Lindsey

Crossing That Line

There are lines that we draw in the sand, and here, in New Orleans, those lines wash over in a rain and disappear into a pothole.

It’s a game of jump rope here, and when the jumping wears you down, you try hopscotch. Except this isn’t child’s play, this is survival—daily attempts to straddle firm ground and not fall, fall out of love with this most amazing place. One only needs to walk a mile in most any direction, on any street, and the incongruity, contradictions, the yin and yang of our town are present with each step.

Intoxicating jasmine fills the air and is a joy to observe while growing lush next to strewn bottles and cans’ fermenting remnants of beer. A beautiful old house filled with love and a fresh coat of Caribbean hues sits next to a house left to termites and squatters, owned by some out-of-town entity (this historic wreck’s best hope is to be flipped into an AirBnb). The juxtaposition of good and evil, filth and grandeur, function and dysfunction is a constant. The warm greetings from a passing stranger just as a car follows you with a miscreant eyeing your wallet, your very life—all this in a day’s walk.

The thin line between “passin’ a good time” and disrespect is evident in the trail of litter that flows behind our communities beloved and most worthy second lines, or the crowding of Esplanade Avenue on Sunday evenings with no purpose other than to drink and defy and prevent city buses, EMS vehicles, and cars from driving to their destinations is not merely illegal and dangerous, it is selfish and rude. Make no mistake, these take-overs of a block of an important thoroughfare are not second lines, parades, or righteous protests.

One evening, as our bus driver cautiously and respectfully maneuvered the bus, riders had to endure a crowdturned-mob that proceeded to beat and bang upon the bus windows. I was one of those riders and for the first time, I truly regretted my commitment to live here.

We all have our breaking moments. For some it’s the infrastructure, a dead body decomposing in a collapsed building with a tarp to shield it somewhat from the elements, a carjacking, break-in, a robbery, eversoaring rents, insurance, or property tax. Need I go on? I suspect I am preaching to the choir. And even if you are a visitor to our town, you too have issues back home, I am certain. And to all the tourists I have the absolute pleasure of meeting, I thank you for being here. I see the immediate love and appreciation of New Orleans in their eyes and their enthusiasm to return and even to move here.

I have always promoted my city with gusto. When visitors fall in love with her and don’t wanna leave I am quick to write them a list: WWOZ.org for a free and fabulous connection to our music (telling them if they can’t make it to Jazz Fest, tune in and hear it live). I list books that will further the experience and knowledge of this town—Why New Orleans Matters by Tom Piazza and Nine Lives by Dan Baum are among the many. I also recommend HBO’s Treme, created by David Simon and Eric Overmyer. I insist that they can take New Orleans home in their hearts.

And for those planning a return trip I have even given my phone number to them in case they need recommendations for lodging etc. I have extended my contact info to those who have decided to move here (I’ve made some excellent friends doing this). But more and more through the years and especially now, I pepper my cheerleader enthusiasm with cautious words.

I explain to folks seeking to make this their home that this ain’t no Big Easy. That she is a hard place to live and those challenges seem to me to be escalating. Rents are sky high, and I recently learned (the hard way when home buying) that this is not always due to landlord greed but rather to soaring expenses attaching themselves to mortgages and maintenance. For example, starting January 1, 2023, residential property insurance premiums went up 63% when your Louisiana Citizens policy renews. Also Mr. Google reminded me that Louisiana is among the top three most expensive states for auto insurance. Now do your own research (better rates available perhaps if you are a senior or a veteran). But plan your move here with eyes wide open.

Just read the news regarding crime, be informed, and act accordingly to make your visit here fun and safe— not regretful. I have always believed that it is better to put the fear of god in visitors and have them leave here happy, healthy, and ready to return. The culture and pleasures this place has to offer are abundant and unique.

As a resident, I feel privileged to belong to the most unique place on the planet, but I am sad, even pissed, that the line between love and hate has become far too faded and that jumping over it has worn me out. Give up on her? I can’t. New Orleans is more than a municipality—she has a heart and soul. She has been abused by corruption and greed but she is still a grand lady. Can we rescue her? All I know is we cannot turn our backs on her. New Orleans needs us now more than ever.

PO-BOY VIEWS

By Phil LaMancusa

Radio Relic or Radar Love

Today’s music ain’t got the same soul: I like that old time rock and roll.” —Bob

Seeger

Okay, okay, you got your Jazz Fest. I’ve got my Jazz Fest—it’s an awakening, it’s recharging, it’s a freaking cathartic epiphany for chrissake. I’m with ya, I smell ya, I got the fever too; however, when it’s done and the tents have been struck and the magic turns into miasma. Whatcha got to get you through the tough parts here? OhhZee? Sure, but in rush hour traffic, or getting to work at dawn’s crack, or dodging those light runners, lane changers and speed demons that inhabit our roads, I need something other than Jazz and Heritage. No disrespect to the Guardians of the Groove, but when I’m working long and hard, hand-eyed coordinated and in a zone where no man has gone before, I need to hear Aretha demanding some R.E.S.P.E.C.T. or Mavis countering with “Respect Yourself,” Stevie talking to his part-time love, Elton doin’ the crocodile rock, and/or songs from the seventies that I can sing along with. Steve Miller is a joker, a smoker, and a midnight toker who gets his lovin’ on the run, while

Stealers Wheel is “Stuck in the Middle with You,” the Eagles are takin’ it to the limit (maybe to the Hotel California), the Kinks are trying to get away from Lola, and Paul McCartney wants to “Let it Be,” while Paul Simon continues as a boxer on a “Bridge Over Troubled Waters.”

E.L.O. can’t get her out of my head, Marvin Gaye wants to “(Let’s) Get it On,” Al Green want to “(Let’s) Stay Together” and the Staple Singers want to “(Let’s ) Do It Again,” and I say (let’s) turn the radio louder and sing like Joe Cocker or the O Jays, the Bee Gees, Queen, Spinners, Buckinghams, CCR, CSN&Y, BTO, MLRB, and ABBA, or Barry White, the Who, Fleetwood Mac, and Santana—Janis, Jimi, Joni and Jim and hundreds, yes hundreds, more who led a counterculture of musical revolutionaries through their day—back in the day. Jeff Beck, Peter Green, Eric Clapton, Janis Ian, and Suite: Judy Blue Eyes.

This music came before social media, laptops, flat screens, cell phones, MP3s, and personal computers. Vinyl records played on turntables until they were worn out. Tapestry, The Dark Side of the Moon, Songs in the Key of Life, Blood

on the Tracks, Rumours, Rastaman Vibration, What’s Goin’ On, Exile on Main Street, The White Album, In the Court of the Crimson King, Workingman’s Dead, Trout Mask Replica, Paradise and Lunch. Eat a Peach, Tommy, Hair, and Jesus Christ Superstar —Sly and the Family Stone, the Temptations, Linda Ronstadt, and The Brothers Johnson.

Your Gramps had a ponytail and a pierced ear, and grandma wore bell bottoms and no bra. We had outdoor rock concerts and rainbow gatherings (besides Woodstock). We had bands playing for free in public parks, and we pissed off our elders, and let our kids go naked. And now you (and I) have the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival where they, each year, pay homage to the music that we all love. It’s sights and sounds that I attend every year to get my festival/musical fix; it’s my drug of choice, and I am addicted.

However, “[i]f you believe in forever, then life is just a one night stand / [i] f there’s a rock and roll Heaven, well, you know, they’ve got a hell of a band” ( Righteous Brothers ), and that’s what grooves me the rest of the year—Dr John’s album Gumbo (1972), The Wild Tchoupitoulas (1976), and Professor Longhair’s Rock and Roll Gumbo (1974). There’s Allen Toussaint, Irma Thomas, Ellis Marsalis (who I first saw playing on Bourbon Street), the Radiators, Little Queenie, and the Percolators.

Yes, I’m a WTIX listener (so are Will and Lenny, the Mechanic Gods

that keep my ’97 Lincoln Towncar running smoothly), and, sure, I have to hear commercials for pasta sauces, buttburgers, pest control companies, and restaurants that I’ll probably never go to. I know the patter of the DJs and kinda hear news and weather because I generally tune out most everything except the music. The music brings back simpler times when I can’t even remember how I paid the rent, much less where I was until I hear a song like “Radar Love,” “Tumbling Dice,” or “Fool (If You Think It’s Over).” I do recall, with the help of those oldies (but goodies) that it was a time of (relative) innocence and a time of (complete) confidence.

That’s what these days should be like for you, and that is what I wish for you as you go to Jazz Fest. You should look back on these days with a smile; they are so similar in many ways. We stood on the shoulders of the music that came before us, and we believed in human rights. We fought hatred, and we believed in saving the planet for our children. We were against war and greed. I still believe we can make life and living a more positive experience. I also believe we can make a difference, especially when I hear Otis Redding telling me that all I have to do is “try a little tenderness.”

So have a time at the Fest. I know that I will. Have the time of your life. I know that I will. Go forth, have fun, be kind to your web-footed friends, ‘cause the duck may be somebody’s mother.

WHERE Y'BEEN

MARGARITA MIX-OFF FINALS