Latest Issue: July 2022—Best of the Big Easy by Where Y'at Magazine

July 2022

DINING • MUSIC • ENTERTAINMENT

WhereYat.com

• NIGHTLIFE

Bring Your Besties There’s plenty to do and even more to explore in Louisiana’s capital city. For more ideas on how to spend your time in the Red Stick, go to www.visitbatonrouge.com/girls-trip

Best of the Big Easy | Where Y'at Magazine

WhereYat.com | July 2022

CONTENTS 24 30 32 36 38 50 68 72

Simon Says Louis Armstrong's New Orleans Abandoned Beauty Local Black DJs for Essence Vieux Carre Commission

Publisher/Editor-in-Chief: Josh Danzig

Food & Drink 28 60 62 64 71

Creative Director: Robert Witkowski Executive Editor: Reine Dugas

Cocktail Spinz

Copy Editor: Donald Rickert Movie Editors: David Vicari, Fritz Esker

Avocado Time

Contributing Writers: Kathy Bradshaw, Phil LaMancusa, Debbie Lindsey, Kim Ranjbar, Burke Bischoff, Julie Mitchell, Greg Roques, Eliana Blum, Leigh Wright, Steve Melendez, Michelle Nicholson, Sabrina Stone, Kimmie Tubre, Emily Hingle, Camille Barnett, Celeste Turner, Cynthea Corfah

$20 & Under Restaurant Guide Bar Guide

Louisiana's Reality TV

Cover Photo: Best of the Big Easy painting by Simon of New Orleans

Night Club Era Revisited Top Florists in NOLA

Entertainment & Nightlife 44 48 80 82

July 2022

Live Music Calendar Lakeside2Riverside Movie Reviews Where Y'Been

Director of Sales: Jim Sylve Photographers and Designers: Gus Escanelle, Kim Ranjbar, Emily Hingle, Monwell Frazier, Robert Witkowski

Extras 6 14 54 76 78

Best of the Big Easy Writers' Picks Best of the Big Easy Readers' Picks Best of the Big Easy Diners' Picks Tales From the Quarter

Subscribe: Receive 1 year (14 issues) for $30 and get a FREE Where Y’at phone credit card holder. Subscribe today at WhereYat.com.

Po-Boy Views

Letter from the Publisher The results are in. Thanks to everyone who voted in our 2022 Best of the Big Easy contest—enjoy perusing the winners, and be sure to check out our infamous “Writers’ Picks.” Simon is one of the Crescent City’s beloved artists, as his creative signs can be seen all over New Orleans. Creative Director Robert Witkowski climbs into Simon’s head to learn more about the method behind the magic. Essence Fest finally returns with stars including Kevin Hart, Nicki Minaj, and Janet Jackson. If you’re looking for the after-party, read Cynthea Corfah’s article on the hottest Black DJs to catch. The 20th anniversary version of Tales of the Cocktail is back. Grant Varner explores new cocktail recipes that are soon to be classics, and where to find them, that are a perfect way to toast the return of Tales. Cheers! –Josh Danzig, Publisher

Best of the Big Easy | Where Y'at Magazine

Interns: Gracie Wise, Mathilde Camus, Tatum Arbogast, Lauryn Hinton, Londyn Morse, Sofia Luciano Santiago, Eddie Lemus, Sarah Ignas. Izzy Wollfarth, Esther Boone

Where Y’at Magazine 5500 Prytania St., #133 New Orleans, LA 70115 (504) 891-0144 info@whereyat.com WhereYat.com

48 38

PHOTOS, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: DUCK COMMANDER; SIMON OF NEW ORLEANS; KATHY BRADSHAW; COURTESY TALES OF THE COCKTAIL; WHERE Y'AT STAFF

Features

Come visit any of our 7 locations: Daisy Dukes 121 Chartres St. French Quarter Daisy Dukes 1200 W. Approach Mandeville

Daisy Mae’s 902 Poydras St. Warehouse District

Daisy Dukes Express 123 Carondelet St. CBD

Daisy Dukes 2244 Veterans Blvd. Kenner

Daisy Dukes Cafe 308 St. Charles Ave. CBD

Daisy Dukes 5209 W. Napoleon Ave. Metairie daisydukesrestaurant.com

WhereYat.com | July 2022

2022

BEST OF THE BIG EASY Writers' Picks

BEST CONTINUATION OF JAZZ FEST Hundreds Brass Band Leaving the gates of Jazz Fest each day there was that let-down feeling until I heard “my” brass band in the distance. There on the streets were the sounds of the Hundreds Brass Band reminding me that not only do we have another hour of great music but also that this is New Orleans and hip-shaking, eardrum-throbbing brass music is available year-round. Check ‘em out @hundredsbrassband. They’re a joy to watch and hear anytime and my favorite post Fest moment. —Debbie Lindsey CHEAPEST PLACE TO GET IN A STREET FIGHT Sea Cave 3000 St. Claude Ave. seacavenola.com Looking to bust some heads without breaking the bank? Look no further than the Sea Cave Arcade in the Bywater. Specializing in head-tohead “arcade-style” games, this arcade/bar/restaurant triple-threat regularly hosts evening gaming tournaments. While offering variety in both theme (hi-score nights) and selection (puzzle games, Super Smash Brothers), Street Fighter “Ryu on the Bayou” nights are a definitive favorite. Don’t know how to exchange Venmo for quarters? Don’t worry—for $8 all-you-can-play, there’s no cheaper place to grab a drink and get your game on. —Greg Roques

Trap Dat Cat is a non-profit spay/neuter program that humanely traps cats, partners with local shelters/vets for the medical procedure, and releases them back into the community to live healthier lives. Nita Hemeter and a dedicated group of volunteers trap up to 30 cats a week while also working to provide medical care, foster homes, and adoptions when needed. “I know I can’t change the world but I know I can change the lives of a lot of these cats,” says Nita. She and her volunteers are heroes. trapdatcat.org —Debbie Lindsey

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BEST PLACE TO DO LAUNDRY AND PLAY POOL WHILE HAVING AN ADULT BEVERAGE Igor’s Lounge & Gameroom 2133 St Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA 70130 · (504) 568-9811 Who doesn’t love quaffing spirits while getting household chores done? At Igor’s, one can multi-task like a member of the monarchy: laundry, billiards—that’s pool for the common folks–food, and drinks. Plus, the dive bar is right off the streetcar line, so one doesn’t need to drive to and from to get there and home. What could be better? Be forewarned, though, you’ll need cash (and coins) at Igor’s. It wasn’t always so, but it has been since the pandemic. — Donald Rickert

(or “Stanleyyy”) as loud as you can, the Tennessee Williams Fest has a contest for you. The festival takes place in the French Quarter in March, and it's a fun weekend to immerse yourself in all things books and Tennessee Williams. —Reine Dugas BEST PLACE TO HEAR A FREE ONEHOUR CONCERT Nola Jazz Museum Tuesday evening balcony series New Orleans Jazz Museum, Tuesdays 5-6 pm, nolajazzmuseum.org If you’re a jazz lover and enjoy listening to music from the comfort of your lawn chair or stretched out on a blanket, the New Orleans Jazz Museum has you covered. On most Tuesday evenings, there are free balcony concerts given by local musicians

BEST PLACE TO GET A WAX ON MAGAZINE ST.

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Best of the Big Easy | Where Y'at Magazine

BEST PLACE FOR A SUNRISE KISS Moonwalk French Quarter Yes, sometimes you two might be out all night on Frenchmen or in the Quarter, high on life (mostly sober) and not quite wanting to call it a night—deep in conversation and you’re looking to make a tender moment. Walk over to the Decatur side of Jackson Square, cross over and up the staircase to glance at the Mississippi River. Explain how in New Orleans, the sun comes up in the east over the West Bank and bet a kiss that it does. Surprise! You win! —Phil Mancusa BEST FESTIVAL FOR BOOKISH TYPES The Tennessee Williams Festival Tennessee Williams Festival tennesseewilliams.net Interested in meeting like-minded bookworms and writers? The Tennessee Williams Festival offers a great selection of master classes, author readings, and performances. There’s a writing contest, a literary walking tour, tips on getting your writing published, academic panels, and more. Meet and chat with authors and fellow writers and readers at this annual festival or the LGBTQ Saints and Sinners Festival, which happens alongside it. And, if you’ve ever had the urge to yell “Stelllllaaa”

such as Big Sam, Corey Watson and the Hot 8 Brass Band, Russell Batiste, and more. The atmosphere is casual and the music is the perfect way to ease into the week. The New Orleans Jazz Museum sells drinks at this event and sometimes food, too. You never know who you’ll end up meeting or dancing with at this Tuesday evening show. It’s a perfect spot to get your music fix. —Reine Dugas BEST BREAKFAST WITH THE BEATLES WTIX FM 94.3 America Top Forty with Casey Kasem, the Spinners, Commodores, Carpenters, Coasters, Cat Stevens, Santan,a and Chuck Berry are all on WTIX FM 94.3 on your dial; that’s what’s on in my car for the drive around this town. It’s music that I know the words to and brings me back to a simpler time when rent was $100, hourly wages were $4 to $5, gas was 36 cents a gallon. It’s not a public station or one of a radio station conglomerate. It’s individually owned and operated by Michael “Michael in the Morning’ Costello. —Philipe LaMancusa BEST ONE-MAN CULINARY BAND Peter Vazquez The days have long passed when Peter Vazquez could be found as head chef of a

PHOTOS, FROM TOP: FARRAH ROSS APPLEMAN; COURTESY MOTHER'S RESTAURANT/BEYONCE INSTAGRAM

The White Roach 5704 Magazine St., thewhiteroach.com Don’t let its size fool you—the White Roach is infested with one of the strongest selections of new releases and hidden gems in the city. Some of the rarest and most eclectic albums in my vinyl collection were snatched up thanks to a spontaneous stop in this store— everything from a very-limited Amon Tobin soundtrack to an Mardi Gras classics compilation album. Along with cool merch, a friendly and helpful staff, and several great bars, restaurants, and Audubon Park nearby, there are plenty of reasons to pop in and get lost in its walls of wax. —Greg Roques

WhereYat.com | July 2022

local, fine dining restaurant, but if you're quick and pay attention to the daily dinner menus posted on his Facebook group, you just might be able to taste his incredible cuisine. Over in Algiers Point on Vallette Street, Vazquez is on his own doing his own thing in his own time at his corner takeaway spot, the Appetite Repair Shop. He may not cook every day and items may be sold out by the time you get there, but if you're nimble enough to score a go-box of literally anything he has whipped up, you'll enjoy dishes such as crab-heavy crab cakes and prime rib sandwiches to Emir's Middle Easter Platter and salted caramel tiramisu. —Kim Ranjbar BEST PLACE TO TURN MAKIN' GROCERIES INTO AN ADVENTURE Hong Kong Market 925 Behrman Hwy #3, Terrytown, (504) 3947075, facebook.com/hkmfnola Though many locals already know this, there are few spots more fun to shop than Hong Kong Market. Grocery shopping can really be a chore, whether you're ordering it all online or trudging through a major supermarket, but Hong Kong Market in Terrytown is something yet again. Not only will you find a huge selection of produce, including vegetables and fruits you may not have ever encountered, and an unequaled seafood counter, but you'll also discover a veritable cornucopia of Asian products you never knew you needed. The aisles are crammed with sauces and spices, an incredible variety of rice, colorful displays of candies, cookies and snacks, cold sections with all kinds of meats and sausages, dumplings and mochi, and almost an entire aisle devoted to ramen. I challenge you to go and buy just one thing without walking away with a trolley-full. — Kim Ranjbar

BEST BRUNCH FOR FANS OF ART DECO & AIRPLANES

Messina's Runway Café 6001 Stars and Stripes Blvd., (504) 241-5300, messinasrunwaycafe.com Lakefront Airport’s Art Deco lobby leads to Messina’s Runway Café’s elegant Walnut Room, a full service restaurant open Tuesday through Sunday 8 a.m.–3 p.m., as well as special holiday events. Patrons and pilots enjoy panoramic views of Lake Pontchartrain and runways buzzing with small plane activity. Indiana Jones adventures flood the mind when devouring their made-to-order White Chocolate Bread Pudding amid the Prohibition-era decor. If you prefer a more relaxed dining experience, much like the airlines, book your reservation on a Wednesday or Thursday when it's less busy. — Robert Witkowski

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

Best of the Big Easy | Where Y'at Magazine

BEST PLACE TO GATHER FOR GRILLED MEAT AND K-POP Little Korea BBQ 2240 Magazine St., #103, 504-821-5006, lkbnola.com With the immense popularity of BTS, Squid Game, and more, the Korean Wave can really be felt all over the United States. Here in New Orleans, you can see what all the fuss is about at Little Korea BBQ. Opt to sit at one of the restaurant’s grilling tables and bond with your friends while cooking some delicious cuts of meat. If you don’t feel like working for your meal, Little Korea’s kitchen menu has traditional dishes like bulgogi beef and bibimbap rice bowls. Munch on some kimchi, sip on some soju, and enjoy great tasting food. —Burke Bischoff BEST SHOP TO PICK UP COFFEE BEANS, ROASTED NUTS, & TURKISH DELIGHTS, ALL IN ONE VISIT Royal Roastery 1180 Terry Pkwy., Ste. 103, Terrytown, 504-800-8555, royalroastery.com Royal Roastery is a special gem of a place that brings all of the great tastes and spices of the Middle East right to Terrytown. There is so much to choose from in such a tiny locale. You can get different flavors of roasted nuts, Turkish Delights, and halva, as well as different types of Arabic sweets. They also have imported coffee beans from the Middle East, Brazil, Ethiopia, Colombia, and Mexico (you can request the beans to be ground up), as well as beautifully designed Turkish coffee cups. If you don’t go to the Westbank, you’re really missing out. —Burke Bischoff

RESERVATIONS HAPPY HOUR MENU+CURBSIDE

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544 Carondelet St barmarilou.com @barmarilou WhereYat.com | July 2022

BEST PLACE TO PICK UP ALCOHOL WHEN YOU’RE RUNNING DRY Total Wine and More 3780 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, totalwine.com The name says it all. In fact, they should probably change their name because who’s actually going here for the fruit of the vine? I do know this is the absolute go-to place for the latest craft beer, elusive liquor, mixers, you name it. Consider this: I had to drive to Baton Rouge to get 90 proof coconut rum for my wife’s favorite piña coladas until this bastion of booze opened up on Veterans. And don’t worry, if you can’t drive out there and take advantage of their curbside delivery, they will also deliver to the ultimate curbside—your house! —Jeff Boudreaux BEST PLACE TO GRAB A KITSCHY, NEW ORLEANS T-SHIRT WITHOUT LOOKING LIKE A TOURIST NOLA T-Shirt of the Month Club 3013 Magazine St., New Orleans, nolatshirtclub.com There’s a small, hip storefront on Magazine Street that has the best New Orleans themed t-shirts and curiosities for sale. These shirts and other items won’t make you feel like a tourist, either by buying them and/or rocking them while out and about. In fact, there are so many of the shirts that are so cleverly designed that most people outside of New Orleans wouldn’t have a clue that it was a New Orleans-themed shirt. Plus, the shirts are some of the softest, most comfortable shirts you can buy, so stop

by and pick up your Freddie Mercury poboy t-shirt to kill two birds with one buy. —Donald Rickert BEST NEIGHBORHOOD GROCERY THAT DOUBLES AS A PO-BOY DINER Red Wagon Grocery 6611 Jefferson Hwy, Harahan You certainly wouldn’t know it from staring at the outside of this joint, but inside Harahan’s long standing Red Wagon Grocery, there is a gaggle of sandwich makers will serve up any type of poboy that you are craving—in delicious, stupendous, monster 18-inch editions. Whenever I walk in here, I can’t decide whether I want a fried shrimp, a roast beef, or maybe even a cheeseburger, so I try to alternate between visits. If you want to sit inside, be sure and grab an ice-cold bottle of Barq’s root beer. The locals wouldn’t have it any other way. —Jeff Boudreaux BEST PLACE TO CATCH A FLIGHT Ruby Slipper Café Multiple Locations, therubyslippercafe.net Nope, not the airport. The best place to get a flight and to make sure it’s boozy isn’t the airport bar or duty free shop. It’s the regional breakfast joint, Ruby Slipper. The mimosa as we know it soars to new heights with their four-drink Seasonal Mimosa Flight. With flavors including Mambo 75 (a take on a French 75, with lavender), blue orange, peach Bellini, and blueberry, the sky’s the limit. This is also the perfect fix for indecisive sippers. Don’t miss your flight—get one now. — Kathy Bradshaw

BEST LANDLOCKED LIGHTHOUSE

Seemingly stranded in a lush grassy field hundreds of feet from the water, Milneburg Lighthouse (aka Port Pontchartrain Lighthouse) once sat over the waves of Lake Pontchartrain. One of the most historically significant beacons in the Gulf Coast, it was named after the annexed town of Milneburg, a summer getaway for New Orleanians. The tower was built in 1839, and reinforced to its elegant hour-glass design in1855. It was an iconic landmark in Pontchartrain Beach Amusement Park’s Kiddieland, until being absorbed into “The Beach”—UNO’s Research and Technology Park. —Robert Witkowski

Best of the Big Easy | Where Y'at Magazine

FROM TOP: ROBERT WITKOWSKI; VINTAGE POSTCARD

Milneburg Lighthouse University of New Orleans, 2021 Lakeshore Dr., thebeachuno.org

BREWED FRESH IN NEW ORLEANS, LA

Thank you New Orleans for voting us

“Best Place to Drink Brewed Beer 2022” Wheat beer brewed with tangerine

5.5% ABV Released: May–September WhereYat.com | July 2022

2022

BEST OF THE BIG Readers' Picks THE ARTS Best Art Gallery: 1.

2. 3.

Simon of New Orleans: Orleans: 1028 Jackson Ave., simonofneworleans.com Becky Fos: Fos: 2138 Magazine St., beckyfos.com Dr. Bob’s Folk Art: Art: 3027 Chartres St., drbobart.net

Best Local Artist: 1. 2. 3.

Becky Fos: Fos: 2138 Magazine St., beckyfos.com Frenchy:: 8328 Oak St., frenchylive.com Frenchy Simon of New Orleans: Orleans: 1028 Jackson Ave., simonofneworleans.com si monofneworleans.com

Best Museum:

1. New Orleans Museum of Art: 1 Collins Diboll Cir., noma.org Located in City Park, this beautiful museum houses work from the Renaissance to the modern era, including visiting exhibits and the Besthoff Sculpture Garden. 2. 3.

The National WWII Museum: 945 Magazine St., nationalww2museum.org New Orleans Jazz Museum: 400 Esplanade Ave., nolajazzmuseum.org

NIGHTLIFE Best Dance Club: 1.

2. 3.

The Metropolitan: Metropolitan: 310 Andrew Higgins Blvd., themetronola.com Ohm Lounge: Lounge: 601 Tchoupitoulas St., ohmlounge.com Republic NOLA: NOLA: 828 S. Peters St., republicnola.com

1. Wrong Iron on the Greenway:: 3532 Toulouse Greenway St., wrongiron.com Stellar beer selection, delicious local food trucks, and shaded Mid-City patio. If it wasn’t already too good to be true, your dog is also welcome. 2. 3.

Best of the Big Easy | Where Y'at Magazine

Flamingo A-Go-Go: A-Go-Go: 869 Magazine St., flamingonola.com The Rusty Nail: Nail: 1100 Constance St., rustynailnola.com

FROM LEFT: EDDIE LEMUS; ROBERT WITKOWSKI (2)

Best Patio Bar:

Best Sports Bar:

EASY

1. Manning’s Sports Bar & Grill: 519 Fulton St., caesars.com/ harrahs-new-orleans/ restaurants/manningssports-bar-and-grill It’s all in the name. The best place to grab a beer, catch the game, and soak in the spirit of Louisiana sports alongside merchandise from its leading football family. 2. 3.

Walk On’s: Multiple Locations, walk-ons.com Tracey’s Original Irish Channel Bar: 2604 Magazine St., traceysnola.com

Best Dive Bar: 1.

2. 3.

Snake and Jake’s Christmas Club Lounge: 7612 Oak St., snakeandjakes.com Ms. Mae’s The Club: 4336 Magazine St., facebook.com/msmaesNOLA Lots a Luck Tavern: 203 Homedale St., facebook.com/LotsaLuckNOLA

Best Happy Hour: 1.

2. 3.

A Tavola: 3413 Veterans Memorial Blvd., atavo.la Superior Seafood: 4338 St. Charles Ave., superiorseafoodnola.com Pizza Domenica: Multiple Locations, pizzadomenica.com

Best Bar for Hand-Crafted Cocktails: 1. 2. 3.

Cure: 4905 Freret St., curenola.com Jewel of the South, 1026 St Louis St, http:// www.jewelnola.com/menu Bar Tonique: 820 N. Rampart St., bartonique.com

Best Upscale Bar: 1.

2. 3.

Bar Marilou: 544 Carondelet St., barmarilou.com Cure: 4905 Freret St., curenola.com Arnaud’s French 75: 813 Bienville St., arnaudsrestaurant.com

Best Hotel Bar: 1.

2. 3.

Carousel Bar: Hotel Monteleone, 214 Royal St., hotelmonteleone.com Lobby Bar at Ace Hotel: 600 Carondelet St., cehotel.com/new-orleans/eat-drink/lobby-bar Commons Club at Virgin Hotels New Orleans: 550 Baronne St., virginhotels.com/new-orleans/dine-and-drink/ the-commons-club/

Best New Bar/Club: 1.

2. 3.

Commons Club at Virgin Hotels New Orleans: 550 Baronne St., virginhotels.com/ new-orleans/dine-and-drink/the-commonsclub The Rabbit Hole: 1228 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd., rabbitholenola.com Stained Glass Winehouse: 201 Huey P Long Ave Suite A, stainedglasswinehouse.com

WhereYat.com | July 2022

2. 3.

Rick’s Cabaret: 315 Bourbon St., rickscabaretnola.com Larry Flynt’s Hustler Club New Orleans: 225 Bourbon St., neworleanshustlerclub.com

Best Irish Pub: 1.

2. 3.

Best Beer Selection:

The Bulldog Multiple Locations, thebulldog.bar 1. Boasting nearly 50 draft beers, The Bulldog is hard to beat in terms of brew selection. Check them out at locations in Uptown, Mid-City, Baton Rouge, and beyond. 2. 3.

The Avenue Pub: 1732 St. Charles Ave., theavenuepub.com Wrong Iron on the Greenway: 3532 Toulouse St., wrongiron.com

Best LGBTQ Bar: 1. 2. 3.

Oz: 800 Bourbon St, ozneworleans.com Golden Lantern: 1239 Royal St., www.facebook. com/GoldenLanternBar Good Friends: 740 Dauphine St., www. goodfriendsbar.com

Best Gentlemen’s Club:

Penthouse Club: 727 Iberville St., penthouseclubneworleans.com

Best Place to Get a Bloody Mary: 1.

2. 3.

Daisy Duke’s: Multiple Locations, daisydukesrestaurant.com Molly’s at the Market: 1107 Decatur St., mollysatthemarket.net Atchafalaya Restaurant: 901 Louisiana Ave., https://www.atchafalayarestaurant.com

Best Place to Get a Margarita: 1.

2. 3.

El Gato Negro: Multiple Locations, elgatonegronola. com Felipe’s Mexican Taqueria: Multiple Locations, felipestaqueria.com Mr. Tequila: 5018 Freret St., mrtequilanola.com

Best Place to Drink Wine: 1. 2. 3.

Bacchanal Wine: 600 Poland Ave., bacchanalwine.com Bayou Wine Garden: 315 N. Rendon St., bayouwinegarden.com Orleans Grapevine: 720 Orleans St., orleansgrapevine.com

Best Place to Drink Brewed Beer: 1.

2. 3.

NOLA Brewing: 3001 Tchoupitoulas St., nolabrewing.com Zony Mash Beer Project: 3940 Thalia St., zonymashbeer.com Urban South: 1645 Tchoupitoulas St., urbansouthbrewery.com

2. 3.

The Jazz Playhouse: 300 Bourbon St., sonesta.com/ us/louisiana/new-orleans/royal-sonesta-new-orleans/ jazz-playhouse Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro: 626 Frenchmen St., snugjazz.com The Spotted Cat: 623 Frenchmen St., spottedcatmusicclub.com

Best Music Club: 1.

2. 3.

House of Blues: 225 Decatur St., houseofblues.com/ neworleans Tipitina’s: 501 Napoleon Ave., tipitinas.com d.b.a: 618 Frenchmen St., dbaneworleans.com

Best Place to Play Bar Games: 1.

2. 3.

Barcadia: 601 Tchoupitoulas St., barcadianeworleans. com Lots a Luck Tavern: 203 Homedale St., facebook. com/LotsaLuckNOLA Stumpy’s Hatchet House: 1200 Poydras St. Suite C, stumpyshh.com/neworleansla

Best Bar (Bywater/Marigny): 1.

2. 3.

The Country Club: 634 Louisa St., thecountryclubneworleans.com Bud Rip’s: 900 Piety St., instagram.com/budripsnola Anna’s: 2601 Royal St., annasnola.com

Best Bar (Uptown): 1.

2. 3.

Le Bon Temps Roule: 4801 Magazine St., lbtrnola.com St. Joe’s Bar: 5535 Magazine St., stjoesbar.com Cure: 4905 Freret St., curenola.com

Best Bar (French Quarter): 1. 2. 3.

Tropical Isle: Multiple Locations, tropicalisle.com Pat O’ Brien’s: 718 St. Peter St., patobriens.com Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar: 941 Bourbon St., lafittesblacksmithshop.com

LONDYN MORSE

Finn McCool’s Irish Pub: 3701 Banks St, finnmccools.com Mick’s Irish Pub: 4801 Bienville Ave. Erin Rose: 811 Conti St., erinrosebar.com

Best Jazz Club:

Best of the Big Easy | Where Y'at Magazine

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Best Casino:

1. Harrah’s: 228 Poydras St., caesars.com Complete with delicious restaurants, relaxing hotel rooms, and the best gaming floor in the Gulf South, Harrah’s offers the city great poker— and also much more. 3.

Treasure Chest: Multiple Locations, treasurechest.com

Best Bar (CBD/Warehouse District):

Gattuso’s Neighborhood Bar: 435 Huey P. Long Ave., Gretna, gattusos.net Old Point Bar: 545 Patterson Rd., Algiers Point, oldpointbarnola.com Stained Glass Wine House: 201 Huey P Long Ave Suite A., stainedglasswinehouse.com

Boomtown: 4132 Peters Rd., boomtownneworleans.com

Barcadia: 601 Tchoupitoulas St., barcadianeworleans.com Lucy’s Retired Surfers Bar & Restaurant: 701 Tchoupitoulas St., lucyssurf.com Ernst Café: 600 S Peters St., ernstcafe.com

Best Bar (Mid-City): 1.

2. 3.

Pal’s Lounge: 949 N. Rendon St., www.facebook.com/PalsLounge Wrong Iron on the Greenway: 3532 Toulouse St., wrongiron.com The Bulldog Mid-City: 5135 Canal St., bulldog-midcity.draftfreak.com

Best Rooftop Bar: 1.

2. 3.

Best Bar (Metairie): 1.

2. 3.

Swamp Room: 5400 Veterans Memorial Blvd.,theswamproom.com/ Shenanigans Kitchen and Cocktails: 4612 Quincy St., ezcater.com Martine’s Lounge: 2347 Metairie Rd., facebook.com/martineslounge

Best Bar (Westbank):

Alto Rooftop Bar & Pool (Ace Hotel) New Orleans: 600 Carondelet St., acehotel.com Hot Tin: Pontchartrain Hotel, 2031 St. Charles Ave., hottinbar.com Rosie’s on the Roof: 1000 Magazine St., higginshotelnola.com/new-orleansrestaurants/rosies-on-the-roof

Best Casino on the Gulf Coast: 1.

2. 3.

Silver Slipper: 5000 S. Beach Blvd., Bay Sy. Louis, MS, silverslipper-ms.com Scarlet Pearl: 9380 Central Ave, D’Iberville, MS., scarletpearlcasino.com Beau Rivage: 875 Beach Blvd., beaurivage.mgmresorts.com

SHOPPING 1. GNO Cyclery: 1426 S. Carrollton Ave., gnocyclery.com Whether you’re going to buy one, fix one, or change one, GNO Cyclery is the best place in the city for all things bike. 2. 3.

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Bicycle Michael’s: 622 Frenchmen St., bicyclemichaels.com The Bike Shop, Freret St.: 4711 Freret St. #6320, thebikeshopnola.net

FROM TOP: LONDYN MORSE; EDDIE LEMUS

Best Bike Shop:

Two is Safer Than One! The DDD’s Public Safety Rangers will accompany anyone anywhere Downtown free of charge! Call or Text 504-415-1730 from 6 am – 10 pm.

July 4th | 5:30PM - 9:30PM

Crescent Park

Jamaican Me Breakfast Club 6:30 PM

big 6 Brass band 7:45 PM

Downtown Property and Business Owners: Go to

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to learn about grants for façades, lighting, signage, graffiti assistance, and more!

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Go 4th on the River Fireworks Display Watch Party! 9:00 PM Keep the Fest Free: Food and drink for purchase

! p o h S t f i Best Thr

WWW.FRENCHMARKET.ORG

Be Be part part of of the the good: good: www.goodwillno.org/jobs www.goodwillno.org/jobs

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Best Smoke Shop:

Best Men’s Clothing: 1.

2. 3.

Rubensteins: 102 St. Charles Ave., rubensteinsneworleans.com Perlis Clothing: Multiple Locations, perlis.com Fellow: 926 Valmont St. #101, fellowmenswear.com

1. Ra Shop: Multiple Locations, rashop.us The Ra Shop has been providing smoke and vape products to New Orleans since 1994. Check out their Magazine Street location for the latest in accessories, CBD, cigars, and more.

Best Women’s Clothing:

1. 2. 3.

Hemline: Multiple Locations, shophemline.com Trashy Diva: Multiple Locations, trashydiva.com Chatta Box Boutique: 4114 Veterans Memorial Blvd., acebook.com/chattaboxmetairie

2. 3.

Aart Accent Tattoos: 1041 N. Rampart St., www. facebook.com/Aartaccent504 Downtown Tattoo: 501 Frenchmen St., downtowntattoosnola.com Tattoo A Go-Go: 4421 Magazine St., tattooagogo. com New Orleans Jewish Community Center (JCC): Multiple Locations, nojcc.org New Orleans Athletic Club: 222 N Rampart St., neworleansathleticclub.com Ochsner Fitness Center: Multiple Locations, ochsnerfitness.com

Best Boutique Fitness Studio: 1. 2.

Nikki’s French Quarter Halloween Store: 107 Chartres St. B., www.facebook.com/ NikkisFrenchQuarterHalloweenStore Uptown Costume & Dance: 4326 Magazine St., facebook.com/uptowncostumeanddancewear Funky Monkey: 3127 Magazine St., funkymonkeynola.com

Pure Barre: Multiple Locations, purebarre.com Orange Theory: Multiple Locations, orangetheory.com barre3: Multiple Locations, barre3.com

Best Golf Course: 1. The Herb Import Company: Multiple Locations, herbimport.com The Mushroom: 1037 Broadway St., themushroomnola.com

2. 3.

The Mushroom: 1037 Broadway St., themushroomnola.com Peaches Records: 4318 Magazine St., peachesrecordsandtapes.com Louisiana Music Factory: 421 Frenchmen St., louisianamusicfactory.com

Rouses: Multiple Locations, rouses.com Langenstein’s: Multiple Locations, langensteins.com

Martins Wine Cellar: Multiple Locations, martinwine.com Total Wine & More: 3780 Veterans Memorial Blvd.,

Bayou Oaks at City Park (South Course): 1040 Filmore Ave., cityparkgolf.com Audubon Park Golf Course: 6500 Magazine St., audubonnatureinstitute.org/golf English Turn Golf & Country Club: 1 Clubhouse Dr, englishturn.com

Best Bead Store:

Whole Foods: Multiple Locations, wholefoodsmarket.com

Best Place to Buy Wine/Liquor:

Best Supermarket: 1. 2.

Mr. Binky’s French Quarter: 107 Chartres St. B., Mrbinkys.com Hustler Hollywood: 111 Bourbon St., hustlerhollywoodstores.com Dynamo: 2001 St Claude Ave., dynamotoys.com

Best Record Shop: 1.

Best Tattoo/Piercing Parlor:

Best Costume Shop: 1.

totalwine.com Rouses: Multiple Locations, rouses.com

Best Athletic Club:

Best Adult Novelty Store: 1.

2. 3.

Mardi Gras Spot - Plush Appeal: 2811 Toulouse St., mardigrasspot.com Beads by the Dozen: 333 Edwards Ave., beadsbythedozen.com TJ’s Carnival & Mardi Gras Supplies: 28 Fairfield Ave., tjcarnival.com

You,

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Best Bank:

Best Wedding Venue:

Hancock Whitney: Multiple Locations, hancockwhitney.com First American Bank and Trust: Multiple Locations, fabt.com Fidelity Bank: Multiple Locations, bankwithfidelity.com

Best Car Dealership: 1.

2. 3.

Lamarque Auto: 3099 – 3101 Williams Blvd., Kenner, lamarque.com Ray Brandt Auto Group: Multiple Locations, raybrandtauto.com Premier Automotive: Multiple Locations, premierautomotive.com

Balcony Ballroom: 4738 Utica St., balconyballroom.com Marche’: 914 N. Peters St., marcheneworleans.com/events/ weddings The Chicory: 610 S. Peters St., chicoryvenue.com

Best Kids Spot: 1.

2. 3.

Audubon Zoo: 6500 Magazine St., audubonnatureinstitute.org Louisiana Children’s Museum: 15 Henry Thomas Dr., lcm.org Audubon Aquarium: 1 Canal St., audub ture institute.org/aquarium

Best Bridal Shop:

1. Town and Country: 1912 St. Charles Ave., townandcountrybridal.com Here comes the bride! This family-owned, St. Charles staple has been helping New Orleans say yes to the dress for nearly a century.

2. 3.

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2. 3.

Aucoin Hart Jewelers: 1525 Metairie Rd., aucoinhart.com Mignon Faget: Multiple Locations, mignonfaget.com Boudreaux’s: Multiple Locations, boudreauxsjewelers.com

Best of the Big Easy | Where Y'at Magazine

2. 3.

Art & Eyes: 3708 Magazine St., artandeyesneworleansla.com Warby Parker: 3964 Magazine St., warbyparker.com Krewe: Multiple Locations, krewe.com

Best Spa:

701 S. Peters, Warehouse District

Best Pet Store:

Jefferson Feed: Multiple Locations, jeffersonfeed.com Petcetera: 3205 Magazine St., petceteranola.com Southern Paws: 633 Toulouse St., shopsouthernpaws.com

Best Pet Services: 302-7496

Best Eyeglass Shop:

Pawlins: 3501 River Rd., Jefferson, pawlins.com Petcetera: 3205 Magazine St., petceteranola.com Zeus’ Place: Multiple Locations, zeusplace.com

The Woodhouse Day Spa: Multiple Locations, neworleans.woodhousespas.com Earthsavers: Multiple Locations, earthsaversonline.com Spa Isbell: 1245 Magazine St., spaisbell.com

Best Thrift Store: 1.

2. 3.

Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Louisiana: Multiple Locations, goodwillno.org Swamp Rags Vintage: 533 St Louis St., swamprags.com Bridge House Thrift Store: Multiple Locations, bridgehouse.org

COURTESY TOWN & COUNTRY

Best Jewelry Store:

The Bridal Boutique by MaeMe: 3331 Severn Ave. #102, maemebridal.com Wedding Belles: 3632 Magazine St., weddingbellesnola.com

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brewhouse

WhereYat.com | July 2022

SIMON SAYS New Orleans artist Simon’s passion for the city is palette-able

By Robert Witkowski

OUI SPEAK FRENCH Beginning a career as a chef in the classic French tradition, Simon (pronounced See-moan) came to America at age 37, after a divorce. “I got divorced on Tuesday and I was in New York by Saturday. I was married for five years and it should’ve ended two years earlier, but we had a business.” He was a chef in Florida in 1981 where he met then-manager, now-wife, Maria, originally from Mid-City. The couple came to visit Maria’s family and experience Mardi Gras in 1994 and it was love at first sight—he effectively “never left.” He found work at Bush Antiques in Metairie, repairing furniture, painting signs in his downtime out of scrap wood to promote food he cooked at Johnny’s Bar and Grill. To his surprise, the beer-drinking customers wanted to buy his signs, not the food. Without any formal art training, Simon unceremoniously ended his culinary career to create his profitably popular signs full time. Maria supported his career change “because the money was good.” His first studio was on Constantinople Street by Prytania Street, until they moved to the corner of Jackson and Magazine Streets, where their art and antique businesses adjoin. “We compliment each other, but the antiques is not me.” The first painting he sold was Blue Lady I for Ellen Bush, now displayed in this courtyard gallery. “She just gave it back to me because she is moving out of town and wanted me to have it.” In 2010, WGNO commissioned his work to dress their News With a Twist studio, and is still the colorful backdrop on New Orleans Music Playlist. The TV exposure soon had customers clamoring for his art ever since. The onset of social media has only intensified the demand. “I need to go slow with Instagram posts because when a new painting goes up, it gets sold in five minutes. It’s unbelievable.” Now 73, he painstakingly paints by hand signs averaging around $400 each, based on size and, sometimes, word count. “I’ve sold over 15,000 paintings here, around 1,000 per year,” Simon says. “They sell as quickly as I paint them. I can’t keep up. There’s no time. Especially tourists—I tell them, ‘Keep it simple; not too long.’” To assist in the workload, he relies on “Liz, who has helped me now for eight years. She is from Georgia, but married to a French guy who lives here.”

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MATHILDE CAMUS

Born in the seaside resort town of Cannes, France in 1951, Simon Hardeveld—widely known throughout New Orleans simply as Simon—has literally made his eye-catching mark on New Orleans.

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Simon's palette BE NICE OR LEAVE Like any successful artist, Simon is not without critics and detractors. Although some think his work is evocative of French artist Benjamin Vautier—similarly known simply as “Ben”—whose work is as prevalent throughout the city of Nice, France as Simon’s is throughout New Orleans. “I’ve never been back to France,” he says, unaware of Ben’s work, “but it’s not the first time I’ve heard that.” But similarities in Simon’s artistic sensibilities are also seen compared to Bywater artist Robert “Dr. Bob” Shaffer who also fashioned a career by creating hand painted call-to-action art from reclaimed material. Dr. Bob’s has claimed copyright infringement over Be Nice

Proudest moment: King of Joan of Arc Parade, 2020.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO MISS NEW ORLEANS But the love he has and receives in his adopted city is his muse and continues to inspire Simon. “I like to see my art on the walls of New Orleans. I go to Joey K’s to eat. They’ve had my paintings for over 10 years.” But the appreciation from his generational customers means even more. “There is a family that graduated from Tulane and have paintings for graduation presents and then more when they got married. Now they have kids at Tulane, and they come for their graduation.” Simon’s most popular pieces swap, edging each other out. ”The one that sells the most is sometimes Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler,” he says. In spring and summer, it’s “Do You know What it Means To Miss New Orleans— popular for graduation presents.” Ironically, Simon never leaves the Crescent City. “I never leave,” he says. “Everything you need is on Magazine Street—except my paint, since Ace Hardware closed. I only paint with enamel gloss, oil-base paints, so I bought a lot before they went out of business.” FRIENDS DON’T LET FRIENDS LEAVE NEW ORLEANS His passion for Louisiana is evident in his paintings. “I love my alligator with tits [like a cow],” he proudly says, rustling out his favorite piece to show. “Most people don’t see them, and I don’t say anything. It’s fun that they don’t notice.” But he is also humble about his work. “It’s not great art, but it’s good, and it makes people smile,” he says. “They often put it in their kitchen, and it's the best place because they gather, pour a glass of wine, and talk about it.” When art students look to him for advice, he is adamant, “Don’t stop—if you like it, do it. Some students are good, but it’s about progress. You don’t know what you can do until you build on what you do and get better.” And Simon has no intention of stopping. “I know I’m never going to leave.”

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FROM LEFT: MATHILDE CAMUS; ROBERT WITKOWSKI; GUSTAVO ESCANELLE

or Leave signs, saying he originated the intellectual property, forging an ongoing 25-year rivalry with the Uptown artist. “Bob understands that he can’t copyright a saying like ‘Be Nice or Leave,’” Dr. Bob’s assistant admitted to WGNO in 2016 in response to the rivalry. “But he resents the fact that Simon recreated his art.” Simon has never staked a claim for rights to the phrases he paints, instead asserting his creative license and American right of free speech, “You can say what you want. It’s not copyrighted—I don’t stop.”

Thank You forVoting The Best French Quarter Restaurant One of The Best Outdoor Dining 819 Conti St • Broussards.com • (504) 581-3866

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By Grant Varner

If you’re anything like me and accept your love of New Orleans cocktails as a second religion, then obviously you’re familiar with Big Easy classics such as Arnaud’s French 75, Pat O’Brien’s Hurricane, Carousel Bar’s Vieux Carre, Jewel of the South’s Brandy Crusta, and of course, the legendary Sazerac born at the appropriately named, Sazerac Bar. However, if you only knew of the possibilities that lie beyond the bar, you’d see that these delicacies barely scratch the surface of the drinking world as they’re only small members of the vast cocktail family. Here are a few of their attractive cousins at this boozy family reunion. First off, if you’re an experienced cognac or whiskey locally, then no doubt you’ve tasted the famous Sazerac. However, if you’re looking for a light spin on this Nola classic, then you can find one of my favorites, the Taylor Bird Sazerac at So Bou’s, a bougie spot specializing in medicinal cocktails located at 310 Chartres St. This mix is concocted with a split down the middle between brandy and rye, a few dashes of Peychaud’s, and flavored

with cane syrup for a sweet taste minus the absinthe. It makes for a delicious, but respectful, heir to the Sazerac name. On the other hand, if you’re keen on something a bit bubblier with a citrus squeeze, you already know of the French 75, a popular cocktail for those Sunday brunches with Mom and the girlfriends. But if you’re willing to expand your horizons, then perhaps you’ll step outside the box and over to the 21st Amendment Bar at 725 Iberville St. to get your hands on The Frenchy. This fine drink comes with all the same tasty ingredients as her sister cocktail except with strawberry vodka instead of gin. Stop on by and sip on one while watching a classy jazz show, as old ’50s films play behind the bar at this atmospheric dive.

Vieux Carré

Rendezvous Carré 28

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FROM TOP: COURTESY HOTEL MONELEONE; COURTESY JEWEL OF THE SOUTH

COCKTAIL SPIN New Classics for Tales of the Cocktail

It’s a sin to discuss New Orleans drinks without mentioning the Hurricane, but as there are just too many spots around town with their own versions to recommend, here’s a bit of cultural drink wisdom. Chris, a knowledgeable bartender, divulged that this classic is much more than a drink— it is a misunderstanding. “Oftentimes patrons go to Pat O’Brien’s for a Hurricane and complain that the drink they got is no Hurricane, when indeed it’s the one and only,” Chris imparts. “If you’ve been around the Quarter then you’ve seen some beverage which donned the Hurricane name, but this misleads folks to believe that that's what a Hurricane is. So, by the time they get over here and try ours, they [complain] about the difference, because what they initially had, really ain’t no Hurricane.” The moral of this story is to enjoy this drink responsibly, but “responsibly” means remembering who did it first, and who does it the best. If you still want to explore some more, then Port of Call’s (838 Esplanade Ave) Monsoon, formerly known as Pirate’s Last Stand is the closest runner-up to the Hurricane you’ll find, and is a surefire way to forget your own name. It gets tricky to find variations of some of these New Orleans staples, because they themselves are spins of classics. Fancy that. For example, if you’ve got a more refined palette, then you’ve probably tasted the smoky warmth of the Vieux Carré, which is French for old quarter (the original name for the French Quarter). Though you know it by name, you may not know that the Vieux Carré exists on its own as the love-child between the Manhattan and the Old Fashioned, with all the same flavors of cognac or rye, sweet vermouth, but with Peychaud’s bitters instead of Angostura and a light touch of Benedictine D.O.M., for a sweet aftertaste. You’re sure to find this fella in its rightful home at Hotel Monteleone’s Carousel Bar at 214 Royal Street, but if you’re looking for another type of spin with this drink, check out the Rendezvous Carre served at Jewel of the South at 1026 St. Lewis St. made with coco tea brown butter-washed whiskey and brandy, vermouth di Torino Cocchi, and Jager spice—a perfect after dinner complement. If Jewel of the South sounds familiar, that might be because you know it properly as the home of the esteemed Brandy Crusta, the IBA Official Cocktail made of brandy, maraschino, curaçao, lemon juice, sugar syrup, and Angostura Bitters, invented by Joseph Santini, which funnily enough is regarded as a precursor to the Side-Car. But if you’re looking to step it up a notch, try Jewel’s own creation, the Upper Crusta, with Grand Marnier, Cointreau, maraschino, and Angostura bitters. Fair warning, though, be prepared to drop a pretty penny on this one. The list goes on and on with other New Orleans favorites: the Ramos gin fizz, brandy milk punch, and Roffignac. While you’re exploring what endless boozy possibilities await, keep letting the good times roll. Cheers!

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NEW ORLEANS

100 YEARS AGO The Crazy Summer of 1922 By Michelle Nicholson

On one hand, that spring brought much to celebrate. The Lincoln Memorial was dedicated in Washington D.C. We were at the dawn of the Jazz Age, and New Orleans’s first radio station, WWL, began broadcasting. On the other hand, the city had its 9th driest year on record—narrowly escaping flooding by the Mississippi, thanks to a breaching of the natural crevasse down river in Poydras. Further, this was the beginning of Prohibition and the summer that Louis Armstrong left New Orleans for Chicago—for good. That crazy summer in 1922 certainly was one of extremes and tensions between The Two New Orleans. Why did Satchmo leave and never return this year, despite knowing so well what it means to miss New Orleans? To understand, we have to look at the history of jazz and systemic racism in the city. Many believe that Storyville was the primary birthplace of New Orleans. It is true that clients in the red-light district would most certainly be treated to live jazz performances, but jazz was also performed in Congo Square (now Louis Armstrong Park) as well as bars, cabarets, and dance halls throughout the city, and even steamboats. That said, the closing of Storyville in 1917 was the beginning of a series of political efforts to force segregation and target, or create situations, to incarcerate African Americans and Afro-Creoles in New Orleans. The federal government played a major role in closing Storyville. World War I Navy soldiers were stationed nearby, and many of those young men could be found drinking and taking advantage of the services offered in brothels. The military was not only concerned about their men taking on such vices, but also complained that they lost 142,000 days of labor as a result of sexually transmitted infections. Sure, it was nearly impossible to enforce Prohibition in the district—but this applied equally to speakeasies scattered all around town that famously

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remained in operation throughout Prohibition. The lesser known but equally relevant part of Storyville’s history is that it was only after a failed attempt to racially segregate the brothels—a legislative effort deemed unconstitutional by the Louisiana Supreme Court because the women lived in the brothels—and the federal government realized they could not keep their soldiers from frequenting these multiracial business establishments that the War Department and U.S. Navy forcibly closed Storyville. Similar business continued in cabarets around town, but those were also “profiled” and quickly shut down in 1918. It’s significant to note that even after Storyville was shut down in 1917, illegal casinos, bars, and brothels continued to flourish in what is now Old Arabi. But during the summer of 1922, 100 years ago, when the city made its final attacks on jazz and New Orleans’s African American and Afro-Creole communities. The police department began raiding and rounding up patrons at dance halls, under the pretense that they needed to be searched for arms. Earlier in that year, a newspaper had printed an offensive caricature of Louis Armstrong and other jazz musicians performing at Tom Anderson’s on Rampart Street, and the accompanying article included a demeaning depiction of their dialect and conversation. The final blow, just maybe, was the passing of a law that made the playing of jazz music and dancing illegal in schools. That summer, Satchmo accepted an invitation from “King Oliver” to play music in Chicago, and he never returned. Yet it could be argued that New Orleans’ jazz would have never realized such far-reaching influences and world renown if Armstrong had stayed in the city, playing on steamboats and in dance halls. Then, 1922 saw the very first recording of a Black New Orleans jazz band, that of Kid Ory’s Creole Jazz Band. This was also the time of the “Renaissance of the Vieux

Carré,” when New Orleans became famous as a Bohemian paradise for artists and writers–a movement kick started when Sherwood Anderson, a prolific and acclaimed author, moved to the city. The scene had already been set. Le Petit Theater had just relocated in 1919 to its present location in the French Quarter. The Pontalba buildings at Jackson Square began to be converted into studios and apartments for artists, also in 1919. Architectural students and art students at Tulane University (students who had farreaching connections) had become enamored with the Quarter’s picturesque and peerless façade. And The Double Dealer, a magazine catering strictly to writers that ran from 1921 to 1926, began touting this emerging culture, promoting this Bohemian Renaissance. In Rising Tide, John Barry describes the city of this time from this romantic perspective: “a gritty working-class slum where people spoke French as often as English. Women lowered baskets to the street to grocers who loaded them with food and added a pint of gin. The smells of the docks hung over the whole area: sickly sweet rotting bananas— and the more intimate smell of the dozens of bakeries making bread.” 100 years later, many of the same restaurants remain: Antoine’s, Galatoire’s, Broussard’s. And perhaps there are still two New Orleans. But 100 years later, things have also changed. Satchmo Fest has brought our Jazz King back to New Orleans—and in March of this year, the Orleans Parish School Board finally repealed its ban on jazz music and dancing in schools. Segregation has long been rejected, and New Orleans has returned to its pre-1922 status as a place where people of all shapes, colors, and creeds can get together—vices or not—and celebrate the rich diverse multiethnic culture that is its roots.

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The summer of 1922 in New Orleans was quite an unusual place to be.

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New Orleans

It doesn’t take long for one to come across an empty property that has fallen into disrepair despite the booming real estate market of the last few years. Our abandoned buildings are deemed ugly, dangerous, and even embarrassing—a blatant reminder that we don’t always take great care of our city and our people. These shelters were once teeming with life and bustling with activity, and now they sit quietly decaying as different forms of life move in. However, some find those deteriorating buildings of bygone eras to be things of wonder, beauty, and awe. Russ Gorbarty (@sweeterdo), a prolific abandoned building photographer, thrives on the thrill of entering forbidden places to capture this moment in its history. “The decay that’s going on, to me, it’s really pretty looking like that. In some cases, I think it’s prettier than when a building has no decay. I do like documenting the place as it is because the photos cement that this was my time in history that I saw it. Not too many people get to see stuff like that with their own eyes,” he explained. Russ began his adventurous photography hobby soon after meeting a man who took photos at the abandoned Six Flags park in New Orleans East which he enjoyed going

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By Emily Hingle

to when it was in service. Soon, he ventured into other forbidden buildings including factories, jails, asylums, and hospitals. “Charity Hospital was pretty wild. The place is massive; it’s all dark, and they have these big fans on in there. They have these really cool autopsy theaters. They would have a patient in the bottom that they were cutting up and carving, and everybody was in the auditorium, just looking down. All this money is spent on these places, then they just get left behind. Most people see it from the outside, and they think it’s an eyesore. They really don’t understand what’s inside—how beautiful it is and, really, how much of a waste that building is going to.” Russ will even brave extreme heights climbing up to the roofs of towers to get his stunning photos, but he admitted that the photos he snaps are only one reason for risking his life. He continued, “One of my biggest fears in life is heights. At first, I was really scared, but I would do it just to do it. I wanted to get the photos because it’s a really cool perspective. But then it started becoming an adrenaline high thing, where it made my heart pound when I was up there right on the edge. It was a fear I wanted to overcome. I like to push through it, and after I get back down to the ground, it always makes me feel a lot better

“[New Orleans is] traditionally the city that care forgot,” according to the New Orleans City Guide produced by the Federal Writers’ Project in 1938.

about myself. It makes me feel like I can do whatever I put my mind to do.” Real danger is always a possibility in buildings that have not been maintained and are not allowed to be trespassed, and those barriers of access are what make his photos unique. “I don’t believe in ghosts. I’ve never had any weird experience as far as that. Mainly I’m worried about where I am stepping. Am I going to fall through this floor? Are the police going to come? There have been floors that have crumbled under my feet. There’s been times where stuff falls down, and I’m lucky enough not to be under it. A lot of these places have mold and some of them have asbestos that has been abated.” “I know what I do is illegal, but at the same time, I feel that if nobody does this, and these buildings just go to waste, nobody would even know that these places were even there. I think it’s really cool that I can show the world these things that people are just walking right by every day, and you have no idea that it’s there,” he stated. For other photographers, the intrigue of abandoned buildings is sensing all of the life that was once there. Singh (@nolafinephotography) specializes in street photography featuring revelers and characters around downtown

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METAIRIE • ELMWOOD • COVINGTON | BOULEVARDBISTRO.COM New Orleans, but he has also occasionally been drawn into exploring abandoned or discarded buildings. “Once I started doing street photography, I realized there’s a New Orleans that you see in the morning, and there’s another New Orleans which comes on after dark; then another in the really wee hours after midnight in the same streets. You see the change in the culture-scape. I wanted to start capturing that.” While shooting street photography, Singh met graffiti artist Az, who brought him to artist BMike’s massive graffiti mural project Exhibit Be, under the cover of night. The emotional weight of an empty apartment complex abandoned after Hurricane Katrina touched Singh deeply. “What was haunting about that place was some people’s stuff was still lying there since Katrina like toys and clothes,” he said. “Once you go into an abandoned building, the environment gets to you. You start imagining what must have happened when they had to leave suddenly. They never knew when they were leaving that they would ever come back. You can feel the gravitas of the moment. You can feel their souls. You can feel it there—you’re just trying to capture it now without their physical body being there.”

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it, then they’re going to lock it down even harder. It’s messed up to take stuff in the first place. It’s not yours. You shouldn’t be touching it. It’s somebody’s property somewhere down the line.” While it isn’t advisable to trespass in empty buildings, particularly in places and areas where you can become injured or arrested, those who take those risks in order to document them in their current state aren’t trying to cause harm. “I don’t do it to be a criminal. I don’t have a bad intention. I don’t do anything immoral,” Russ concluded. “I’m just taking pictures.”

ALL PHOTOS: NOLA FINE PHOTOGRAPHY / SINGH

The essence of humanity, and everything that essence entails, is what Singh brings to the forefront of his distinctive photography. “I feel that you have to capture their essence. A lot of street portraits I do, I spend 10, 20, 30 minutes talking to the person sometimes to really get their guard down, so I can capture their soul. That’s why I do black-and-white photography; you are just focusing on the contrast so that the soul of the image comes through. What I experience at that time, I want to capture that in my photography and convey it to whoever is looking at that picture. That’s my sole purpose.” Exposing reality and leaving no trace of your own are cardinal rules of traversing abandoned places. Russ Gorbaty explained, “If you go into a place, you take some pictures and leave, and you don’t damage anything, you don’t take anything. No one’s even going to know that you were there. But if you go and you take some stuff, and the person who owns the building notices

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INFLUENTIAL BLACK DJs TO KNOW IN NOLA Catch Them During Essence Weekend

By Cynthea Corfah

DJs are some of the hardest working people in the city. They set the tone for the weekend, make or break a dance party, stay up late hours to keep the party rolling, and know the songs we need to hear to make our hearts sing.

ANTWIGADEE! New Orleans has produced dozens of famous music artists and DJs such as Cash Money Records’ Mannie Fresh, rare groove DJ and radio programming veteran DJ Soul Sister, and DJ Raj Smoove, who performed at NBA All-Star Weekend and was the official DJ for the 2000 Cash Money Records/Ruff Ryder Entertainment tour. In 2022, local Black DJs are still making waves and influencing the city’s culture. Today, DJs are hosting weekly and monthly events, performing at festivals, opening up for notable artists, sharing mixes online, and having their mixes listened to worldwide. Here are 11 Black DJs you should listen to right now.

Antoine ‘ANTWIGADEE!’ Barriere is a high-energy artist and entertainer who takes his audience on a journey with moving performances. One moment, you’re belting your heart out to Kirk Franklin’s “Melodies from Heaven,” the next you’re bobbing side to side to “This is America'' by Donald Glover. The BUKU Music + Art Project 2022 performer skillfully mixes contrasting genres, artistically showcases musical classics, gospel gems and timely hip hop and rap favorites. See ANTWIGADEE! perform live at local spots including Ace Hotel, Poor Boys, Café Istanbul, and Hi-Ho Lounge. DJ Chinua is a New Orleans DJ and event curator, creating community and encouraging connection through live events and global music. He smoothly blends beats with timeless genres including dance, house, electronic, and soul. He is the founder and co-sound selector for Ascendance, a monthly, local zodiac-themed dance party. He was also the resident DJ for Solange Knowles’ creative group Saint Heron’s Proclamation dance party series and DOPEciety’s Couches event.

DJ Jess 36

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Madspinnz

D1ME is an alternative up and coming DJ that plays

CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP: ANTWIGADEE!; MADSPINNZ; DJJESS

Alexandria "DJ Ally Bea" Bellvie has been a radio personality and DJ for over a decade. She performed at the Vegan Soul Festival, Essence Festival, NOLA Zydeco Festival and the Pussyfooter’s Blushball. She is also the resident DJ for the University of New Orleans Basketball team. She has an assorted set list with music artists including Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, Nipsey Hustle, Big K.R.I.T., Schoolboy Q and more rap, hip hop, dance, pop and reggae music.

primarily alternative house, hip hop music, and ghettotech. Her sound is youthful and refreshing. This soon-to-be fan favorite is just getting started. She’s played music at Poor Boys Bar, St. Coffee, and Set De Flo’s New Years Eve Gala. DJ Jess knows how to get the party started. Her upbeat mixes and contagious energy make it hard to leave the dance floor. This warm-spirited, engaging “vibe dealer” has the ability to read the energy of the room and create a complimentary soundtrack. She’s the go-to DJ for brunches, day parties, women’s events and dance parties. She co-hosts Where Y’Girls At, a women-centric dance party, with Legatron Prime, every month in New Orleans.

DJCHINUA

Lil Jodeci is a music legend in the making. He brings house experiences to the BIPOC community and celebrates Black joy, music, culture, and expression. He plays heart pumping house, dance, and hints of current rap and alternative music. His song “Run the Set” was played in the Netflix documentary series about tennis champ Naomi Osaka. Lil Jodeci hosts multiple events including Set De Flo with MC Lord Chilla at Hi-Ho Lounge and Jodeci Juice Joint at Hotel St. Vincent. Sage ‘Legatron Prime’ Edgerson wears many hats. While she is most known for her turntable talents, she’s also a wardrobe stylist, model, music producer, and vintage clothing curator. The fashionista has performed at festivals like BUKU Music +Art Project, Essence Music Festival, and local venues all over the city. The laid back and down-to-earth artist most often plays hip hop, rap, R&B, reggae, and New Orleans bounce. See Legatron Prime live every Saturday at her event Prime Time at Dragons Den.

DIME

Madison ‘Madspinnz’ Spinner blends 70s and 80s Black funk and soul music with modern, rhythmic grooves. She plays disco, house, funk, soul, and R&B. She has opened for artists at music venues like Cafe Istanbul, Gasa Gasa, and art gallery The Maven Gallery.

FROM TOP: TAYLOR S HUNTER; DIME; DJALLYBEA

phlegm is a multidisciplinary artist and DJ that plays house, techno, dance, and disco music. You may have heard of his popular phrase “Everything you love about New Orleans is because of Black people.” It was seen in Afropunk, Interview Magazine, and at the Joy Theater. Phlegm has performed locally at Poor Boys, Drifter Hotel and Café Istanbul. QBABY is a New Orleans DJ and music artist. He can be spotted every week setting the vibe for parties all over town. He has performed at venues including the Saint, The Rabbit Hole, the Maison, Ace Hotel, Poor Boys Bar, The Drifter Hotel, HiHo Lounge, and Okay Bar. He plays every genre under the sun–from house to Latin.

DJ Ally Bea

DJ Rakim Beau has an ear for music. She mixes throwback and current hits that keep her audience dancing. She plays hip hop, rap, R&B, dance, reggae, dancehall, slow jams, and line dance songs such as “Candy” by Cameo. She has performed at Hummingbird Lounge, The Rabbit Hole and Café Istanbul.

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What the Vieux Carré Commission Is Really About By Kathy Bradshaw

This official government organization has gained the reputation as keepers of the Quarter, protectors of the past, and the police of preservation. Many people view them as quickjudging, permit-wielding, history-loving watchdogs out to tell homeowners in the French Quarter what their windows have to be made of and what colors to paint their trim. Big Brother is watching, and he’s coming after you with a paint swatch and a housing violation. But that impression of the Vieux Carré isn’t the full story. The truth is, the VCC does many great things for New Orleans and the French Quarter,

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which is the only neighborhood actually under its jurisdiction. One thing that people love about the city—and that attracted nearly 20 million visitors annually in pre-Covid days—is its old-world charm, architecture, and perfectly intact history. That is thanks to the Vieux Carré Commission. We met with Bryan Block, director of the VCC, to find out about the organization and why their mission is so important to New Orleans. “We consider ourselves to be custodians of the historic buildings and the ambience of the Quarter,” he says. “It’s about maintaining the historic architecture of the Vieux Carré itself.” They

also have the broader task of the overall upkeep of the entire neighborhood as a whole, including maintaining sidewalks and installing 5G technology. The Vieux Carré Commission was founded back in 1936. The French Quarter was falling into disrepair at the time, becoming a slum. Then, a few people who cared enough to try to bring the Quarter back set out to save it and make it a historic district. They created the VCC, and gave it statewide importance by getting it officially backed by the Louisiana State Constitution. So anything the Commission does must pass up the chain of command. Block and his staff answer to a

ADOBE STOCK

POINT OF VIEUX

Anyone who’s spent time in the French Quarter has heard of the Vieux Carré Commission, and those who live there may have become intimately acquainted with their guidelines and restrictions.

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doorknobs to letting your place fall apart. Residents deemed in violation must make the necessary changes to their building or be taken to court or charged a fine. They also have the option to appeal. But keep in mind that the VCC is really not out to get you. Violations are meant as a method of preserving the historic aspect

VCC protects historical…

of the French Quarter, not as vindictive punishment. Fines are a last resort. As for the VCC’s control over what color you paint your house, there’s a logical reason for it. They want to make sure that the paint colors are appropriate for the style and period of your home—as it would have been painted back in the day. “It isn’t that we’re trying to say that you can’t have your house be a particular color,” Block explains. “We’re saying, ‘What would be appropriate on your particular house type and style and in vintage?’” To ease the paint-selection process, the VCC, in cahoots with a local paint company, is planning to roll out a line of VCC-

approved paint colors available in stores within the next few months. Homeowners can sidestep the requirement of contacting the VCC to okay their desired paint color; they’ll grab an appropriate color for their house straight off the shelf. But how do you explain the buildings in the Quarter that seem too modern

…and allows the new.

to be allowed? Take, for instance, those apartments built in the parking lot behind the St. Louis School on Dauphine Street. They’re ultra-contemporary with a hint of a French Quarter twist—kind of like they were designed by a Victorian version of Frank Lloyd Wright. They stick out like aluminum siding on a 19th-century brick townhouse. How did the VCC let those slip by? Well, according to Block, those buildings, built around 2018, are perfectly at home there. The VCC not only allows but encourages new construction, as long as the new buildings are a precise historic replica, or a contemporary building “that responds appropriately to the historic nature of the

district in materials, proportions, windows, door openings, scale.” “The way that preservation best practices are designed is that in historic districts like ours, it’s not a museum; it’s a living neighborhood,” he says. “And it is inappropriate to create a false history by demanding [new] buildings be designed in a particular historic style that isn’t of our period.” So what would he tell those French Quarter residents who’d like to do whatever they want with no restrictions or repercussions—those rule-breaking rebels who’d love to paint their house in neon pink stripes or put a glass-front atrium on their balcony? He’d remind them that the Vieux Carré Commission—angels of antiquity, babysitters of the bygone—are doing what they do because it’s important to keep the French Quarter historic. That means regulations. “The nice thing about being in a historic district is that you can depend on the fact that the historic nature of the district is protected. And that’s why people choose to live and work and play there,” he says. “And unfortunately, I think the case can be made that most people as a whole, left to their own, would probably not maintain the French Quarter to the degree that it is maintained.” If we want to keep up the quaintness and charm of the French Quarter that New Orleans is famous for and that we all love, we need to play by the rules. “It’s hard,” Block says, “but it’s worth it.”

CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP: ANTWIGADEE!; MADSPINNZ; DJFROM LEFT: ROBERT WITKOWSKI; KATHY BRADSHAW

committee of nine higher-ups who are city officials appointed by the mayor. “What we do has the reinforcement of the rule of law,” Block says. “It isn’t just subjective.” Block explains that the VCC requires permits for any renovations on the exterior of any building, even if it can’t be seen from the street. That includes courtyards, roofs, balconies, carriageways, exterior walls, even the installation of security cameras. “The way we say it is anything that touches air,” he says. This also applies to renovations being done “to match existing.” That can be frustrating for residents who don’t want to get a permit to fix up their house to look the same as it always has. But, Block explains, they might use materials that don’t necessarily fit the historic mold, like asphalt roofing, for instance. “What you say is the same, and what historically is the same, are not always the same,” says Block. You can go wild with what you do inside, however. Knock yourself out with zebra-print wallpaper and blow-up furniture. The VCC has no say over the interiors of buildings, unless your desired changes are structural. The VCC attempts to make the permitting process as easy as possible, with everything done online. Two building inspectors patrol the Quarter to follow up on permits and check the status of work so everything’s being done by the book. They respond to complaints, answer questions, and issue violations, which can be anything from having the wrong light fixtures or

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House of Blues Dix Delux Revue Jazz Playhouse Brass-A-Holics Le Bon Temps Roulé Five Mile Brass Band Madame Vic’s Walter “Wolfman’ Washington Mahogany Jazz Hall Jamil Sharif Maison Dupuy Marty Peters & The Party Meters New Orleans Jazz Museum Kyle Cripps Nola Art Bar Speakeasy Burlesque Oak Daphne Parker Powell Observatory Eleven Debbie Davis Old Point Bar Valerie Sassyfras Pavilion of the Two Sisters Rocky’s Hot Swing Orchestra Peacock Room Da Lovebirds Polo Club Lounge John Royen Preservation Hall Preservation All-Stars Republic NOLA meso Royal Frenchmen Kala Chandra Band Santos Bar DJ Shane Love Smoothie King Center Kevin Hart Snug Harbor Dr. Michael White Quartet Spotted Car The Winding Boys, Jumbo Shrimp Jazz Band Sweet Lorraine’s Chucky C & Friends The Hangar The Molly Ringwalds The Maison Secret Six, Divine Rewind Tipitina’s The Crooked Vines & Honey Island Swamp Band Treme Hideaway Big George Clinton and the P-Funk 6 Brass Band Vaughan’s All-stars at House of Blues Lounge Corey The amazing George Clinton and the Henry P-Funk All-stars offer a lively mix of funk Yard on Frenchmen and soul music to the stage in a show that Jason Neville

TUESDAY, JUNE 28 Bourbon O Bar Zach Lange Duo, Dr. Zach Cafe Negril Blues Jam Capulet David Sigler Dos Jefes Tom Hook & Wendell Brunious Gasa Gasa Emo Night 2 with Superbloom Mother-in-Law Lounge Kermit Ruffins Kitchen Table Belinda Moody’s Trio Mid-City Lanes Rock ‘n’ Bowl DJ Maynor New Orleans Jazz Museum David Batiste Portside Lounge Russell Batiste & The Krewe Preservation Hall Preservation All-Stars Royal Frenchmen Trumpet Mafia Santos Bar A Wilhelm Scream, will get Brendan Kelly Spotted Cat Smoking Time Jazz Club, Meschiya Lake Zony Mash Rebirth Brass Band

you grooving. July 19

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29 Bayou Bar Peter Harris Quartet Blue Nile New Breed Brass Band Bourbon O Bar Real Rob, Board Walker Bourée Charles Paycheck Capulet Brian Quezergue Carousel Lounge Luther Kent Quartet d.b.a. Tin Men, Walter Wolfman Washington Dos Jefes Joe Krown Gasa Gasa Glass Mansions House of Blues The Bronx, Frank Turner Jazz Playhouse Funkin’ It Up Madame Vic’s 7th Ward All Stars Jazz Band Mid-City Lanes Rock ‘n’ Bowl DJ Twiggs New Orleans Jazz Museum Steve Pistorius Oceana Hideout Mem Shannon Trio Peacock Room Rachel Murray Polo Club Lounge David Boeddinghaus Preservation Hall Preservation All-Stars Royal Frenchmen Swingin’ G’s, BAM JAM Santos Bar Russell Welch Trio, DarkLounge Ministries Spotted Cat Shotgun Jazz Band, Marty Peters Tipitina’s Rakim Zony Mash Zaba Do Dat THURSDAY, JUNE 30 AllWays Lounge Backyard Balkan Brass Bayou Bar Peter Harris Trio Bistro Orleans Santi “Harmonica” Garcia Blue Nile Where Y’at Brass Band, DJ T-Roy BMC Dapper Dandies Bourbon O Bar Music Man, Leroy Marshall Show Bourrée Ivor Simpson Kennedy Bratz Y’all Sean Riley & Dean Zucchero Buffa’s Tom McDermott & Tim Laughlin Bullet’s Sports Bar Kermit Ruffins Capulet Meschiya Lake Carnaval Lounge Tears for the Dying, The Palace of Tears Carousel Lounge Sunpie, Lena Prima d.b.a. Andrew McLean & Co., Egg Yolk Jubilee Dos Jefes Mark Coleman Band Gasa Gasa Tim Higgins with C.A. Jones, Dusky Waters, and Kate Baxter

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FRIDAY, JULY 1 Blue Nile Kermit Ruffin, The Caesar

Brothers Buffa’s Davis Rogan Bullet’s Sports Bar Sporty’s Brass Band DMACS Bar & Grill Sierra Green & the Soul Machine, Vance Orange Gasa Gasa Bruisey Peets, Scenic World House of Blues Mark Barrett & The First Calls Hotel Monteleone Steve Masakowski Trio Le Bon Temps Roulé Winston Ramble Mid-City Lanes Rock n Bowl Donovan Keith Nola Art Bar Speakeasy Burlesque Polo Club Lounge John Royen Santos Bar LSD Clownsystem Spotted Cat Cottonmouth Kings, The Catahoulas Tipitina’s Stooges Brass Band, LeTrainiump

SATURDAY, JULY 2 AllWays Lounge New Orleans Sidesteppers Apartment4lifestyle Tonya Boyd-Cannon Barrilleaux’s Restaurant & Wine Bar The Jake Noble Trio Behrman Stadium Battle of the Gulf Coast BJ’s Lounge T Marie & Bayou Juju Blue Nile Marigny Street Brass Band, Tonya BoydCannon Buffa’s Matt Perrine’s Birthday Suit Party Caesars Superdome Essence Festival Cafe Negril The Budz, Paradise Jazz Band,The Sierra Green Show, The Villains Carnaval Lounge Joelton Mayfield Faubourg Brewing Co. Eric Johanson, Red, White & Blues BBQ Fest Fritzel’s Jazz Pub Fritzel’s All Star Band Gasa Gasa Cheekface with Guppy Hotel Monteleone Lena Prima House of Blues Damn That DJ Made My Day Party, Grits & Biscuits, Jake Landry, Ryan Long Joy Theater Finesse Mitchell Le Bon Temps Roulé Sheephead Neutral Ground Coffeehouse Frenchie Moe Polo Club Lounge John Royen Spotted Cat Shake’em Up Jazz Band The Carver Theater The Black & White Affair The Howlin Wolf NOLA 99’s & 2000’s Party The Metropolitan DJ P-NUT, DJ Skillz, Raj Smoove Tipitina’s Talib Kweli Zony Mash People Museum

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MUSIC CALENDAR SUNDAY, JULY 3 AllWays Lounge Musician Jam Bacchanal Wine Carl James Keith, Noah Young Banks Street Bar & Grill Joelton Mayfield & Conor Donohue Blue Nile Street Legends Brass Band Bourrée T Marie & Bayou Juju Bullet’s Sports Bar John Pierre Constanstinople Stage New Orleans Guitar Masters DMACS Bar & Grill Bianca Love Gasa Gasa PUNK BLACK FEST, DJ G + BBQ House of Blues Jet Lounge Lafreniere Park Uncle Sam Jam w/ Cowboy Mouth Le Bon Temps Roulé Dr. Lo Faber Southport Hall Superunknown: Tribute to Soundgarden The Drifter Hotel Valerie Sassyfras The Howlin Wolf Hot 8 Brass Band Zony Mash Jamaican Me Breakfast Club MONDAY, JULY 4 Crescent Park 4th Fest DMACS Bar & Grill Monday Blues Jam TUESDAY, JULY 5 AllWays Lounge Local Queer Music Cafe Negril Blues Jam Spotted Cat Music Club Chris Christy Band, Smoking Time Jazz WEDNESDAY, JULY 6 Bourrée Valerie Sassyfrass Cafe Negril Colin Davis and Night People DMACS Bar & Grill Tony-Ray Thompson Gasa Gasa Pons with Make Your Maze, Ethanol Merman, and Dusty Santamaria Oceana Hideout Mem Shannon Trio Spotted Cat Music Club Chris Christy Band, Shotgun Jazz Band

FRIDAY, JULY 8 Bourbon Square Jazz Bar Britney Chauntae Bullet’s Sports Bar Sporty’s Brass Band Carnaval Lounge Marina Orchestra Carrollton Station Old Barstools Gasa Gasa Caly Pearse, Cronos, Pearse Hotel Monteleone Steve Masakowski Trio House of Blues Big Al and the Heavyweights Le Bon Temps Roulé Fooshee’s Forecast Oceana Hideout Mem Shannon Trio Old Point Bar Valerie Sassyfrass Birthday Bash Tipitina’s Honey Island Swamp Band, The Crooked Vines SATURDAY, JULY 9 Barrilleaux’s Jake Noble Trio BJ’s Lounge Anna Laura Quinn Capulet Colin Davis and Night People Carver Theater Matthew Alec Commons Club Derrick Smoker Trio Gasa Gasa The Louisiana Yard Dogs Jazz & Heritage Center Gal Holiday Hotel Monteleone Lena Prima House of Blues Jake Landry, Nelson Cade III Le Bon Temps Roulé Bird Dog Jubilee Sidney’s Saloon Eduardo Music Spotted Cat Panorama Jazz Band The Pool Club Legatron Prime The Rabbit Hole Salvation SUNDAY, JULY 10 AllWays Lounge Musician Jam Bacchanal Wine Carl James Keith, Noah Young Bullet’s Sports Bar Rayonce & The Vintage Gasa Gasa Coffinwolf Ultra, Coffin Wolf Ultra

House of Blues The Drag House: Country Hoedown, Sean Riley Duo Le Bon Temps Roulé Dr. Lo Faber The Pool Club Skratchmo MONDAY, JULY 11 DMACS Bar & Grill Monday Blues Jam Gasa Gasa Stand up Comedy House of Blues Giovannie & The Hired Guns TUESDAY, JULY 12 Cafe Negril Blues-N-Such Jam Saturn Bar Strange Ranger Spotted Cat Chris Christy Band, Smoking Time Jazz Club

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Vision Video goth, pop music has excellent beats that WEDNESDAY, JULY 13 Gasa Gasa Happy are nostalgic and powerful. Wearing fishnets and Landing combat boots, Dusty Gannon puts on an excellent show. Joy Theater Purity Ring New Orleans Jazz July 15 Museum Chucky C Oceana Hideout Mem Shannon Trio Santos Bar Haunted Summer Saturn Bar Hyena Spotted Cat Music Club Chris Christy Band, Black & Concrete Confetti Jumbo Shrimp Jazz Band Spotted Cat Music Club Chris Christy Band, Shotgun Jazz Band FRIDAY, JULY 15 Bullet’s Sports Bar Sporty’s Brass Band THURSDAY, JULY 14 d.b.a The Soul Rebels Bullet’s Sports Bar Kermit Ruffins Gasa Gasa Vision Video, Missing DMACS Pizza Fam Jam Band, ROULE’ Hotel Monteleone Steve Masakowski Trio Dos Jefes Mark Coleman Quartet House of Blues Mark Barrett & The First Calls Gasa Gasa Sam Bet, Odd The Artist Le Bon Temps Roulé Whisper Party Hotel Monteleone Lena Prima, Steve Masakowski Midnight Revival Johnny & The Mongrels House of Blues Billy Howerdel, Dick Deluxe Oceana Hideout Mem Shannon Trio Joy Theater Hanson, Red Green Blue Tour Rivershack Tavern Casey Saba Le Bon Temps Roulé The Soul Rebels Saturn Bar Hall Johnson & Pope Pavilion of the Two Sisters Harvey Jesus & Fire The Howlin Wolf Marcel P. Black Republic NOLA GorillaT, Kill The Noise

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THURSDAY, JULY 7 AllWays Lounge Prettie Boi Transcendent Bullet’s Sports Bar Kermit Ruffins Carnaval Lounge Big Easy Nerd Band

DMACS Pizza Fam Jam Band, Peggy Prine Dos Jefes Anna Laura Quinn Gasa Gasa Aden Paul Duo Hotel Monteleone Lena Prima House of Blues Matthew Alec, The Dick Deluxe Revue Le Bon Temps Roulé The Soul Rebels Saturn Bar A Day Without Love & James Rose Southport Hall Trapt Spotted Cat Music Club Chris Christy Band, Jumbo Shrimp Jazz Band

Best of the Big Easy | Where Y'at Magazine

For up-to-date listings visit whereyat.com Tipitina’s Brass-A-Holics, Anjelika “Jelly” Joseph Zony Mash Renée Gros SATURDAY, JULY 16 AllWays Lounge Kinky Kaberet Barrilleaux’s The Jake Noble Trio Buffa’s Bar Father Ron and Friends Gasa Gasa Steve Von Till Jazz & Heritage Center Arséne DeLay Hotel Monteleone Lena Prima House of Blues Tribute To Nirvana, Jake Landry, Andrew Lovett Band Le Bon Temps Roulé Organized Grime Maple Leaf Bar Johnny & The Mongrels Saenger Theatre Tom Segura Santos Bar The Goddamn Gallows & Rebelmatic Spotted Cat Shake’em Up Jazz Band The Howlin Wolf HipHop Violinist Rhett Price The Pool Club DJ Kelly Green & Sober Tipitina’s Tab Benoit, Eric Johanson Virgin Hotels Boyfriend SUNDAY, JULY 17 AllWays Lounge After Hours Local Musician Jam Bacchanal Wine Carl James Keith, Noah Young Bullet’s Sports Bar 24/7 Band Carrollton Station Johnny & The Mongrels Commons Club Precious Cargo Felix’s Restaurant & Oyster Bar Will Wesley MONDAY, JULY 18 DMACS Bar & Grill Monday Blues Jam Southport Hall The Aristocrats TUESDAY, JULY 19 Deutsches Haus Kulturabend Gasa Gasa Shawn James House of Blues George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic Santos Bar The Obsessed Spotted Cat Music Club Chris Christy Band, Smoking Time Jazz Club WEDNESDAY, JULY 20 Bourrée Valerie Sassyfrass DMACS Joey Houck & Co, Michael Brown Gasa Gasa Ugli

New Orleans Jazz Museum Yusa Oceana Hideout Mem Shannon Trio Portside Lounge Glass Key Trio, Trapper Keeper Spotted Cat Music Club Chris Christy Band, Shotgun Jazz Band THURSDAY, JULY 21 Bullet’s Sports Bar Kermit Ruffins & The BBQ Swingers Cafe Negril Gumbo Funk, Piano Man “G”, Sierra Gree DMACS Pizza Fam Jam Band, Peggy Prine Gasa Gasa Slim Kuttar, $lim Morri$on Hotel Monteleone Lena Prima House of Blues The Dick Deluxe Revue Le Bon Temps Roulé The Soul Rebels Spotted Cat Chris Christy Band, Jumbo Shrimp Jazz Band

The Howlin Wolf One South Lark, Run Wilson The Metropolitan Night Club ARMNHMR SUNDAY, JULY 24

WEDNESDAY, JULY 27 DMACS Chris Zonata New Orleans Jazz Museum Don Vappie’s Créole Jazz Trio Oceana Hideout Mem Shannon Trio Santos Bar Hippie Death Cult & Sasquatch Spotted Cat Chris Christy Band, Shotgun Jazz Band The Howlin Wolf Kenyon Dixon

Kendrick Lamar at Smoothie King Center

Rapper, producer, and songwriter, Kendrick Lamar brings special guests Baby Keep and Tanna Leone to the city with his Big Steppers Tour. July 29

FRIDAY, JULY 22 Bullet’s Sports Bar Sporty’s Brass Band Constantinople Stage Cardboard Cowboy DMACS Bar & Grill Old Barstool Gasa Gasa Brooklane, Inside Voices, Paris Ave. House of Blues And Then Came Humans Le Bon Temps Roulé Renee Gros Midnight Revival Jon Sheckler Quartet Oceana Hideout Mem Shannon Trio The Goat Hulder & Skeleton & Mehenet The Howlin Wolf Spose Is Still Alive? The Rabbit Hole Valerie Sassyfras Tipitina’s The Quickening, Funky Uncle All-Stars SATURDAY, JULY 23 Barrilleaux’s The Jake Noble Trio Commons Club Mari e Bruno DMACS Bar & Grill MEDICINE Gasa Gasa Michael Wavves Jazz & Heritage Center Lynn Drury House of Blues Alexis Arnold - Lost in You Tour, Jake Landry Jefferson Performing Arts Center Beatles Festival Southport Hall The Chee-Weez Spotted Cat Panorama Jazz Band

TUESDAY, JULY 26 Gasa Gasa Arlie Orpheum Theater CHVRCHES Spotted Cat Chris Christy Band, Smoking Time Jazz Club

AllWays Lounge After Hours Local Musician Jam Bacchanal Wine Carl James Keith, Noah Young Bullet’s Sports Bar In Tune Band Commons Club Precious Cargo Gasa Gasa Michael Cera Palin, Oolong House of Blues Bad Bad Hats & Gully Boys, Sean Kingston The Pool Club Sustenance Tipitina’s Circle Jerks & 7 Seconds & Negative Approach MONDAY, JULY 25 DMACS Bar & Grill Monday Blues Jam Gasa Gasa Professor Goldstein Grow On Urban Farms Maya Elise & The Good Dream The Den Jack Hess Fans The Howlin Wolf Jack Hess 2022 Tour

THURSDAY, JULY 28 AllWays Lounge Backyard Balkan Brass Band Bullet’s Sports Bar Kermit Ruffins Cafe Negril Gumbo Funk, Piano Man “G," Sierra Green DMACS Bar & Grill Pizza Fam Jam Band, ROULE Dos Jefes Mark Coleman Quartet Gasa Gasa Standards & Glacier Veins Hotel Monteleone Lena Prima House of Blues Dick Deluxe Le Bon Temps Roulé Soul Rebels New Orleans Botanical Garden Lena Prima Spotted Cat Chris Christy Band, Jumbo Shrimp Jazz Band FRIDAY, JULY 29 Bullet’s Sports Bar Sporty’s Brass Band Gasa Gasa Antighost, Hey Thanks!, Rich Octopus House of Blues Polyphia Plus Le Bon Temps Roulé Daniel Meineke Organ Trio Maison Dupuy T Marie & Bayou Juju Nola Art Bar Speakeasy Burlesque at Nola Art Bar Oceana Hideout Mem Shannon Trio Old Point Bar Old Barstools One Eyed Jacks Reverend Horton Heat Republic NOLA August Burns Red, We Came As Romans Sheraton New Orleans Hotel Jazz @ the Blue Dog Smoothie King Center Kendrick Lamar Tipitina’s Water Seed, Dominic Minix

Now Open!

5359 Tchoupitoulas Street COURTESY BATISTE SAFONT / WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Any purchase of

$29.99 or more receives a Free Gift!

NOW HIRING

Current openings include Ushers, Parking Attendants, Office/Front Desk Attendants, Concessions, and Arena Production Crew positions

Tickets for all events can be purchased at www.ticketmaster.com or the Lakefront Arena Box Office

@HIgh Stndrd // WhereYat.com | July 2022

@high_stndrd 47

LAKESIDE2RIVERSIDE ESSENCE FESTIVAL

Besides live music, food, and beverages, enjoy breathtaking views of the Mississippi River and skyline at this unique 20acre plot of land. No Independence Day is complete without fireworks, and, in true New Orleans fashion, you will see them pop up over the river.

June 30 – July 3 | Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, essence.com/essencefestival-2022

SAN FERMIN IN NUEVA ORLEANS

Essence Fest is back and better than ever. Join thousands of people for four days of music, culture, food, and fun at the Essence Festival of Culture. Special talents this year include A-list celebrities such as Kevin Hart, Nicki Minaj, Janet Jackson, and New Edition. Events will be spread out throughout the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Evening concerts will take place at the Caesars Superdome. Can’t come to the festival in person? No worries—you can attend online.

July 8-10 | The Sugar Mill, nolabulls.com

Join thousands of runners and hundreds of Rollerbulls for a fiesta of fun. The 16th annual Running of the Bulls at San Fermin in Nueva Orleans (SFNO) is something to add to your summer bucket list. Beth’s Friends Forever (BFF) will throw a kick-off party at the Sugar Mill on Friday evening, where there will be live music and an open bar. Next, SFNO participants will start racing at 8 a.m. Expect live music, beer, sangria, food trucks, and an after-party throughout the day. SFNO will wrap up with food, cocktails, contests, and an Ernest Hemingwaystyle burlesque show on Sunday afternoon.

ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE BASTILLE DAY

UNCLE SAM JAM

July 3 | Lafreniere Park, visitjeffersonparish. com/events/festivals

Come to beautiful Lafreniere Park for Uncle Sam Jam on Sunday evening. Enjoy 155-acres of green space as you ring in Independence Day, enjoy live music, feast on delicious food, and make new friends. As the sun sets, stick around

for spectacular fireworks.

4TH FEST IN CRESCENT PARK

July 4 | French Market District, frenchmarket.org/event

Celebrate the Fourth of July in Crescent Park at 4th Fest.

July 14 | Alliance Française, 1519 Jackson Ave., af-neworleans. org/bastilleday Come out to celebrate the French national holiday at Alliance

FROM LEFT: ESSENCE FESTIBVAL / NYTOUSSAINT; WHERE Y'AT STAFF

PRESENTS

Best of the Big Easy | Where Y'at Magazine

PARADE OF HOMES

July 16-17, July 23-24 | New Orleans hbagno.org/paradeofhomes

Française. There will be live music, delicious food including crepes, quiche, and madeleines, and drinks by Happy Raptor Distilling and Urban South Brewery. It looks to be a fun event with music by French duo Harmanouche and a visit by the Merry Antoinettes, the ReBelles NOLA, and the Krewe de Jean d’Arc. Wear your favorite beret or your striped shirt, but make sure it's la marinière! While advanced tickets are sold out, you can purchase them at the door. The festivities go from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

The Home Builders Association of Greater New Orleans is holding its annual Parade of Homes on July 16-17 and July 23-24. This will take place in neighborhoods all throughout the New Orleans area and will showcase the latest, greatest homes. During this tour, plan to see the newest building and industry trends as well as home technology and outdoor living innovations. There’s a

mobile app, New Orleans Parade of Homes, that will show which homes, builders, and pricing information as well as where to find virtual tours.

INTO THE WOODS

TALES OF THE COCKTAIL

If you love musicals, you should definitely buy tickets to see Into the Woods in Dixon Hall at Tulane. Based on the beloved Tony Award-winning book, Into the Woods follows several storybook characters who venture into the woods to break a witch’s curse and make their dreams come true. Little do they know that having their wishes granted will lead to serious consequences. Into the Woods will be presented by the Summer Lyric Theatre from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Ready to take your cocktail-making skills to new heights? Find inspiration from thousands of bartenders and distillers at this year’s Tales of the Cocktail Festival. Meet people from the international bar and spirits industry to gain tips and tricks for making and selling cocktails. The festival will include tastings, seminars, networking opportunities, and awards programming. Tales of the Cocktail will take place at the Ritz-Carlton.

July 25-29 | Ritz-Carlton, talesofthecocktail.org/events

FROM TOP: COURTESY PARADE OF HOMES; COURTESY TALES OF THE COCKTAIL

July 14-17 | Tulane University, liberalarts.tulane.edu/events

WhereYat.com | July 2022

LOUISIANA'S

Reality Shows Based in Louisiana Reality TV took off in the 2000s, and it shows no signs of slowing down. Though often thought of as trash television, reality shows portray the interesting, unique, and sometimes unsavory aspects of people, their lives, and communities. By Emily Hingle

Best of the Big Easy | Where Y'at Magazine

The first season featured students at Southern University in Baton Rouge. 2009 was an eventful year for Louisiana reality shows, and their quick success may have enticed more show makers to travel down here. A&E premiered Billy The Exterminator and Steven Seagal: Lawman that year. Billy The Exterminator followed the eccentric owner of Vexcon Animal & Pest Control Billy Bretherton as he performed animal and pest control in the Shreveport area. The show was canceled in 2012 after six successful seasons because Billy moved from Louisiana to Illinois following his arrest involving drugs. There was one season of Billy Goes North in 2016 which showcased his new ventures in the northern U.S. Steven Seagal: Lawman surprisingly showed famed actor Steven Seagal working with Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Department as a

FROM TOP: BET/EVERETT COLLECTION; DUCK COMMANDER (2); A&E

Louisiana is a vibrant state with a rich history full of colorful characters, and it’s an attractive place to film reality shows. Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne sponsored the 2002 bill granting tax credits to the film industry. He commented in an interview that Louisiana and its intriguing residents in conjunction with lucrative filming incentives were excellent fodder for reality shows: “It captures this interesting, fascinating, very unique aspect of Louisiana life with its beautiful landscape and a strong streak of adventure. It’s not something you’re going to find anywhere else. It’s indigenous to Louisiana.” Since the dawn of reality TV, Louisiana has attracted producers for such shows. For the ninth season of MTV’s hit reality series The Real World, a cast of seven young adults lived together in the Belfort Mansion in the Garden District as they worked at a publicaccess TV station in the first half of 2000. The Real World came back to New Orleans for a season in 2010. In 2004, BET premiered College Hill, a show about students attending historically Black universities around the country and beyond.

Reality

for three seasons starting in 2013, and Cajun Pawn Stars on History Channel featuring Silver Dollar Pawn & Jewelry Center in Alexandria also aired for three seasons starting in 2012. As legendary as Louisiana’s cuisine is, it is not a typical focus of our reality shows. However, Cajun Aces on Food Network portrayed husband and wife team Chefs Cody and Samantha Carroll for two seasons starting in 2017 while they worked at their restaurants Hot Tails in New Roads and Saca-Lait in New Orleans. Quite possibly the most successful reality show out of Louisiana that no longer runs is Duck Dynasty on A&E. Duck Dynasty was a hit as soon as it aired in 2012, and it ran for 11 seasons over a handful of years, and it had a few spin-offs. The Robertson Family owned the duck call-making company Duck

Commander in West Monroe, and they were beloved for their Christian values and tightknit family life. However, viewership steeply declined after the family’s patriarch Phil Robertson made controversial remarks during interviews about what he considered to be sinful behavior. The show was canceled in 2016. Despite the number of Louisiana-based reality shows that have come and gone, some are still going strong after several years on the air. The long-running show Pit Bulls & Parolees did not begin in Louisiana. The show centers on the Villalobos Rescue Center, a dog shelter mainly for pit bulls staffed with recent parolees looking for a second chance, which was located in Agua Dulce, California. Due to increasing difficulty finding a suitable new location in California,

the rescue’s owner Tia Maria Torres decided to move from Villalobos to New Orleans, and the transition from west coast to gulf coast was completed in 2012. The show’s last season aired in 2021. Episodes were filmed for a new season, but it is not known whether the show will return due to the network being sold. Swamp People broke records for The History Channel since its inception in 2010, and it’s still going strong after 13 years. The popular show follows alligator hunters throughout Louisiana during the state’s month-long alligator season, and some hunters and their teams have been on the show throughout its entire run. From crawfish to dog rescues to law enforcement, reality TV is full of Louisiana flavor.

Reserve Deputy Chief. It was unclear if Steven had any actual authority in his rank, and the show was canceled after three seasons. The Discovery Channel took over an apartment building in Chalmette to film The Colony in 2010. Ten people were placed in a post-apocalyptic zone by helicopter, and they had to figure out how to create a livable society in a matter of ten weeks. They were required to scavenge for food, create electricity, and find water. There were some series that only lasted a short time including MTV’s Caged (2012) about MMA fighters in the town of Minden, OWN’s Blackboard Wars (2013) about John McDonogh High School, History Channel’s Big Easy Motors (2016) about a classic car restoration business in New Orleans. Discovery showed the plight of shrimpers in Venice for the show Ragin’ Cajuns (2012). Serial entrepreneur Sidney Torres has been on some reality shows like Trashmen on TLC in 2010 and The Deed on CNBC in 2017. The shows focused on Sidney’s various entrepreneurial ventures. Trashmen followed Sydney and his company SDT Waste & Debris as they cleaned up the streets of

New Orleans before and after massive events. The Deed documented Sidney and his Chicago-based partner Sean Conlon helping struggling property investors to turn their flips into profit. Two reality shows about pawn shops aired on different networks. CMT’s Swamp Pawn featuring Phillips Seafood in Bayou Pigeon ran

WhereYat.com | July 2022

HOW TO BEAT THE HEAT… … if You're a Surrealist Painter from the 1900s

Summer is so hot! The Earth has lava at its core and the sun is an exploding star millions of miles away, and despite those things always being true, somehow during a few months of the year these simple facts become personal and hostile truths. Isn’t it strange how we all experience heat pretty much the same, and isn’t it strange how the horrors of World War I ushered in a new form of art created from the deep need to explore the absurd and eerie sides of reality? In the mid 1900s after witnessing mass horror, people were like, “Art needs to be more than bridges and fruit,” and they created surrealism, a style that taps into the unconscious and celebrates illusion and the irrational. Here we have compiled a list that honors both of these facts: a summertime guide for how to beat the heat, while not forgetting the surrealist painters of the 1900s. Eat a Popsicle: Everyone loves a cold, sweet popsicle. Whether you’re riding a bicycle to meet a friend or painting a self-portrait as a bleeding deer, popsicles are refreshing. And remember, there’s no wrong way to eat a popsicle. Bite on it fast, or savor it slowly. Shove it down your shirt if you don’t mind getting a little sticky. Trees have sex with each other. What if we are all trees wearing clothes? Go For a Swim: There is nothing like stripping down to a bathing suit and jumping headfirst into a body of cool water. A lake, a pool, the ocean–it all feels good. You know what else feels good? Merging biomorphic shapes into a collective unconscious. Who needs temperature regulation when you have art and drugs? And for that matter, fetishes, religion, or dreams? Ha, just kidding, they’re all the same. So jump in; the water’s fine! Read in a Cold Bath: Books are a window into another dimension. They can transport you anywhere—the past, or India. Take some time this week to run a cold refreshing bath, light a small candle, and soak away with a good book. You might be surprised by what you learn. For example, are hallucinations just repressed memories through the filter of our own experience? What if God is just an apple, and we’re all seeds—especially our ideas? The bath is a nice place to explore these thoughts. Find an open window: Sometimes we don’t all have the luxury of pools or popsicles or open fields, but summertime relief is not out of our grasp. Even just an open window can give a cool breeze and a beautiful view, enough to escape the heat even just for a moment. Find an open window and bring a little chair and a glass of lemonade to the windowsill and watch the world down below. How tiny the people look. Notice all the triangles? Doesn’t everything kind of just look like triangles? When you think about it, isn't your relationship with your mother a triangle? You and her each a point and the world the third? Can’t everything be reduced to shapes on a gray plane? Isn’t that simply the furniture of time?

Best of the Big Easy | Where Y'at Magazine

Have a Water Balloon Fight: What is more exhilarating than grabbing a couple of gal pals or some children, dividing up a cooler of balloons and running and splashing around until everyone is wet and your colorful arsenal is gone? It is of course nothing like real war; the balloons know nothing of grief and the sadness of loss with no name because the thing that was lost was an idea of what things could be. The balloons will be fun though. Go to the Movies: What fun. Popcorn and soda in an air-conditioned building with a soft chair for you to sink into. Images scrolling in front of you that have their own purpose and agenda. A million little lines converging on a single point that is your own consciousness, bringing emotions out of you like water from a well. And sometimes there are dinosaurs. Sit in a Swing: Speeding through the air, high off the ground but close enough to feel safe, surrounded by sky, and sun, and trees. Swinging is such a beautiful and fun pastime and connects us to our childhood. Speaking of childhood and losing ourselves in experience, how often is the representation of something more important that the reality of it? Can you ever truly experience a perception? When a clock melts, how much time would be in the drips? Drink Water: The last one is the easiest one, but often the most overlooked. Drink more water. When you sweat, you’re losing so much of your body’s precious moisture, it’s important to replenish. Not only does it feel and taste good, but this is the only item on this list important to your health. Drinking water is easy to remember, unlike, say, how anything can be a bird, or how sometimes a set of jaws can come out of your hip. Compared to the amusing yet menacing aura of the passage of time for example, remembering to drink water is easy. Drink up. Well, I hope this list helps you have a fun, cool, summer that hides nothing but still elicits mystery and keeps you from getting too hot.

FROM TOP: EXPATRIATE, AMY GUIDRY, ACRYLIC ON CANVAS; ADOBE STOCK; UNSPLASH / VIKA-STRAWBERRIKA; LANJU FOTOGRAFIE / UNSPLASH

By Julie Mitchell

WhereYat.com | July 2022

2022

BEST OF THE BIG EASY Diners' Choice

Best Restaurant (Uptown):

Best New Restaurant: 1.

2. 3.

Neyow’s XL: 3336 Bienville St., neyows.com Le Chat Noir: 715 St. Charles Ave., lechatnoirnola.com Bijou Restaurant & Bar: 1014 N. Rampart St., bijouneworleans.com

Best Daily Specials: 1.

2. 3.

Katie’s: 3701 Iberville St., katiesinmidcity.com Mandina’s Restaurant: 3800 Canal St., mandinasrestaurant.com Joey K’s: 3001 Magazine St., joeyksrestaurant.com

Best Restaurant (Lakeview): 1.

2. 3.

Best Restaurant (Mid-City):

Best Budget Eats:

Cafe 615 (Home of Da Wabbit): 615 Kepler St., Gretna, cafe615.com Mosca’s: 4137 US-90 West., Westwego, moscasrestaurant.com Legacy Kitchen Steak + Chop: 91 Westbank Expy. #51, legacykitchen.com

Best Latin-American Restaurant:

1. Tito’s Ceviche & Pisco: 5015 Magazine St., titoscevichepisco.com The real deal of Latin American dining in New Orleans, Tito’s Ceviche & Pisco offers Uptown the freshest take on Peruvian food with the best ingredients and the warmest service.

2. Broussard’s Restaurant & Courtyard: 819 Conti St., broussards. 3. com 2. Antoine’s Restaurant: 713 St. Louis St., antoines.com 3. Galatoire’s Restaurant: 209 Bourbon Best Restaurant (Metairie): St., galatoires.com 1. Boulevard: Multple Locations, boulevardbistro.com Best Restaurant (Marigny/Bywater): 2. Drago’s: Multiple Locations, 1. Paladar 511: 511 Marigny St., dragosrestaurant.com paladar511.com 3. A Tavola: 3413 Veterans 2. N7: 1117 Montegut St., n7nola.com Memorial Blvd., atavo.la 3. Bywater American Bistro: 2900 Chartres St., bywateramericanbistro. Best Upscale Restaurant: com 1. Restaurant August: Best Restaurant 301 Tchoupitoulas St., restaurantaugust.com (CBD/Warehouse District): 1. Sofia NOLA: 516 Julia St., sofianola.com 2. Commander’s Palace: 1403 Washington Ave., 2. Meril: 424 Girod St., commanderspalace.com emerilsrestaurants.com/meril 3. Restaurant R’evolution: 777 3. Compère Lapin: 535 Tchoupitoulas Bienville St., revolutionnola.com St., comperelapin.com 1.

Shaya: 4213 Magazine St., shayarestaurant.com Superior Seafood: 4338 St. Charles Ave., superiorseafoodnola.com

Velvet Cactus: 6300 Argonne Blvd., thevelvetcactus.com Elle J’s: 900 Harrison Ave., ellejslakeview.com/ Sala: 124 Lake Marina Ave., salanola.com

Best Restaurant (Westbank):

Best Restaurant (French Quarter):

katiesinmidcity.com Venezia: 134 N. Carrollton Ave., venezianeworleans.net

Mandina’s: 3800 Canal St., mandinasrestaurant.com Katie’s: 3701 Iberville St.,

Best of the Big Easy | Where Y'at Magazine

Melba’s Poboys: 1525 Elysian Fields Ave., melbas.com Dat Dog: Multiple Locations,

2. 3.

Baru Bistro and Tapas: 700 Magazine St., barutapasnola.com/ Maïs Arepas: 1200 Carondelet St., facebook.com/maisarepas

FROM TOP: ROBERT WITKOWSKI; LAURYN HINTON (2)

1. Pascal’s Manale: 1838 Napoleon Ave., pascalsmanale.com Traditional New Orleans Italian food since 1913, it can’t get any more classic than this place. Whether you’re coming in for spaghetti & meatballs or the original BBQ shrimp, there isn’t a bad choice on the menu.

WhereYat.com | July 2022

datdog.com Felipe’s Mexican Taqueria: Multiple Locations, felipestaqueria.com

Best Deli: 1.

2. 3.

Carrollton Ave., facebook.com/pages/ Camellia-Grill Clover Grill: 900 Bourbon St., clovergrill.com

Stein’s Market: 2207 Magazine St., Best Café: steinsdeli.com 1. Caffe! Caffe!: Multiple Locations, Martin’s Wine Cellar: Multiple caffecaffe.com Locations, martinwine.com 2. The Vintage: 3121 Magazine St., Kosher Cajun Deli: 3519 Severn Ave., thevintagenola.com/ koshercajun.com 3. Satsuma Café: Multiple Locations, satsumacafe.com

Best Place to Get a Salad: 1.

2. 3.

Salad Station: Multiple Locations, Best Chinese Restaurant: thesaladstation.com/ 1. Blue Giant: 1300 Magazine St., St. James Cheese Company: Multiple bluegiantnola.com Locations, stjamescheese.com 2. Five Happiness: 3605 S. Carrollton The Daily Beet: Multiple Locations, Ave., facebook.com/5happiness thedailybeetnola.com 3. Dian Xin: 1218 Decatur St., dianxinnola.com

Best Restaurant for Dessert: 1.

2. 3.

Willa Jean: 611 O’Keefe Ave., willajean.com Commander’s Palace: 1403 Washington Ave., commanderspalace. com Emeril’s: 800 Tchoupitoulas St., emerilsrestaurants.com/emerils-neworleans

Best Outdoor Dining: 1.

Cafe Amelie: 900 Royal St., cafeamelie.com Broussard’s Restaurant & Courtyard: 819 Conti St., broussards.com N7: 1117 Montegut St., n7nola.com

Best Romantic Date Spot: 1.

Restaurant August: 301 Tchoupitoulas St., restaurantaugust.com Commander’s Palace: 1403 Washington Ave., commanderspalace. com Gautreau’s: 1728 Soniat St., gautreausrestaurant. com

Best Japanese Restaurant: 1.

Rock-n-Sake: Multiple Locations, rocknsake.com Shogun: 2325 Veterans Memorial Blvd., facebook.com/pages/ category/Sushi-Restaurant/ShogunJapanese-Restaurant-and-SteakHouse-172093176182090 Mikimoto: 3301 S. Carrollton Ave., mikimotosushi.com

Best Thai Restaurant: 1.

Cho Thai: 3218 Magazine St.,

Best Bakery:

1. Maple Street Patisserie: 7638 Maple St., cargocollective.com/ maplestreetpatisserie European-style baked goods and breads with cheap prices and great service. What more could you ask for?

Best Breakfast Spot: 1.

2. 3.

Ruby Slipper: Multiple Locations, therubyslippercafe.net Bearcat Café: Multiple Locations, bearcatcafe.com Surrey’s: Multiple Locations, surreysnola.com

Best Brunch Spot:

2. 3.

Bearcat Café: Multiple Locations, bearcatcafe. com Surrey’s: Multiple Locations, surreysnola.com Willa Jean: 611 O’Keefe Ave., willajean.com

Best Diner: 1.

Best of the Big Easy | Where Y'at Magazine

Slim Goodies Diner: 3322 Magazine St., slimgoodiesdiner.com Camelia Grill: 626 S.

2. 3.

La Boulangerie: 4600 Magazine St., laboulangerienola.com Haydel’s Bakery: 4037 Jefferson Hwy., haydelsbakery.com

WHEREPHOTO STAFF Y'AT STAFF

2. 3.

chothairestaurant.com Sukho Thai: Multiple locations, sukhothai-nola.com Banana Blossom: 500 9th St., 504bananablossom.com

Best Vietnamese Restaurant: 1.

2. 3.

Pho Bang: Multiple Locations, phobangnola.com/ Lilly’s Cafe: 1813 Magazine St., facebook.com/LillysCafe Mint Modern Vietnamese: 5100 Freret St.

Best BBQ Restaurant: 1.

2. 3.

Locations, acmeoyster.com Deanie’s Seafood: Multiple Locations, deanies.com

Best Restaurant for Boiled Seafood: 1.

2. 3.

The Galley: 2535 Metairie Rd., thegalleyseafood.net Bon Temps Boulet’s Seafood: 4701 Airline Dr., bontempsboulets.com Bevi Seafood Co.: 236 N. Carrollton Ave., beviseafoodco.com

Best Steakhouse: 1.

Blue Oak BBQ: 900 N. Carrollton Ave., 2. blueoakbbq.com Central City BBQ: 1201 S. Rampart 3. St., centralcitybbq.com Ugly Dog Saloon: 401 Andrew Higgins Blvd., theuglydogsaloon.com/

Crescent City Steakhouse: 1001 N. Broad St., crescentcitysteaks.com Desi Vega: 628 St Charles Ave., desivegasteaks.com The Steakhouse at Harrah’s New Orleans: 228 Poydras St., caesars. com/harrahs-new-orleans/restaurants/ the-steakhouse

Best Italian Restaurant:

Best Creole Restaurant:

Vincent’s: Multiple Locations, vincentsitaliancuisine.com Venezia: 134 N. Carrollton Ave., venezianeworleans.net A Tavola: 3413 Veterans Memorial Blvd., atavo.la

Best Cajun Restaurant: 1.

2. 3.

Cochon: 930 Tchoupitoulas St., Suite A, cochonrestaurant.com Mulate’s: 201 Julia St., mulates.com Trenasse: 444 St Charles Ave., trenasse.com

Neyow’s Creole Café: 3332 Bienville St., neyows.com Dooky Chase’s Restaurant: 2301 Orleans Ave., dookychaserestaurant.com Creole House Restaurant & Oyster Bar: 509 Canal St., creolehouserestaurant.com

Best Bar Food: 1.

Ernst Café: 600 S. Peters St., ernstcafe.com Buffa’s Bar & Restaurant: 1001 Esplanade Ave., buffasrestauran t.com Down the Hatch: 1921 Sophie Wright Pl., downthehatchnola.com/

Best African Restaurant:

Best Coffee Shop:

Bennachin: 1212 Royal St., bennachinrestaurant.com Cafe Abyssinia: 3511 Magazine St., cafeabyssinianola.com Addis Nola: 422 S. Broad Ave., addisnola.com

PJ’s Coffee: Multiple Locations, pjscoffee.com French Truck Coffee: Multiple Locations, frenchtruckcoffee.com CC’s Coffee House: Multiple Locations, ccscoffee.com

Best Indian Restaurant:

Best Vegetarian Menu:

Saffron: 4128 Magazine St., saffronnola.com Nirvana Indian Cuisine: 4308 Magazine St., insidenirvana.com Mantra Indian Cuisine: 3116 S I-10 Service Rd W E., mantracuisine.net

Best Middle Eastern Restaurant: 1.

2. 3.

Lebanon’s Café: 1500 S. Carrollton Ave., lebanonscafe.com Shaya: 4213 Magazine St., shayarestaurant.com Tal’s Hummus: 4800 Magazine St., talshummus.com

Best Mexican Restaurant: 1.

2. 3.

El Gato Negro: Multiple Locations, elgatonegronola.com Juan’s Flying Burrito: Multiple Locations, juansflyingburrito.com Carreta’s Grill: Multiple Locations, carretasgrillrestaurant.com

1. 2. 3.

Carmo: 527 Julia St., cafecarmo.com The Daily Beet: Multiple Locations, dailybeetnola.com Bearcat Café: Multiple Locations, bearcatcafe.com

Best Roast Beef Po-Boy: 1.

2. 3.

Tracey’s Original Irish Channel Bar: 2604 Magazine St., traceysnola.com Parasol’s: 2533 Constance St., facebook.com/ParasolsNOLA R&O’s: 216 Metairie-Hammond Hwy., r-opizza.com

Best Shrimp Po-Boy: 1.

Short Stop Poboys: 119 Transcontinental Dr., Metairie, shortstoppoboysno.com Melba’s Poboys: 1525 Elysian Fields Ave., melbas.com Guy’s Po-Boys: 5259 Magazine St, facebook.com/guyspoboysnola

Best French Restaurant:

Best Oyster Po-Boy:

Café Degas: 3127 Esplanade Ave., cafedegas.com La Crêpe Nanou: 1410 Robert St., lacrepenanou.com La Petit Grocery: 4238 Magazine St., lapetitegrocery.com

Best Seafood Restaurant: 1.

Felix’s Restaurant & Oyster Bar: Multiple Locations, felixs.com Acme Oyster House: Multiple

2. 3.

Parkway Bakery & Tavern: 538 Hagan Ave., parkwaypoorboys.com Domilise’s Po-Boy and Bar: 5240 Annunciation St., domilisespoboys.com NOLA Poboys: 908 Bourbon St., facebook.com/NolaPoboys/

WhereYat.com | July 2022

2. 3.

Bayou Hot Wings: 6221 S. Clairborne Ave., bayouhotwings.com Hooters: Multiple Locations, hooterslouisiana.com Chicken & Watermelon: 3400 S Claiborne Ave., facebook.com/ ChickenandWatermelon/

Best Taco/Burrito:

Best Ice Cream/Gelato:

1. Angelo Brocato: 214 N. Carrollton Ave., angelobrocatoicecream.com Old school Italian ice cream and pastries served in a classic parlor. Don’t forget to add an Italian soda to your order while you’re at it

Best Fried Chicken: 1.

2. 3.

Willie Mae’s Scotch House: Multiple Locations, williemaesnola.com The Original Fiorella’s Cafe: 5325 Franklin Ave., originalfiorellas.com Dooky Chase’s Restaurant: 2301 Orleans Ave., dookychaserestaurant.com

Best Hamburger: 1.

2. 3.

Port of Call: 838 Esplanade Ave., portofcallnola.com The Company Burger: 4600 Freret St., thecompanyburger.com/ Bub’s Burger: 4413 Banks St., bubsnola.com/

Best Pasta: 1.

2. 3.

Venezia: 134 N. Carrollton Ave., venezianeworleans.net Vincent’s: Multiple Locations, vincentsitaliancuisine.com Impastato’s: 3400 16th St., impastatos.com

The Creole Creamery: Multiple Locations, creolecreamery. com Sucre: Multiple Locations, shopsucre.com

2. 3.

Best Pizza:

1. Reginelli’s Pizzeria: Multiple Locations, reginellis.com 2. Fat Boy Pizza: 2565 Metairie Rd., eatfatboyspizza.com 3. Pizza Domenica: Multiple Locations, pizzadomenica.com

Best Sno-Ball:

1. Hansen’s Sno-Bliz: 4801 Tchoupitoulas St., facebook.com/ snobliz 2. Imperial Woodpecker Sno-Balls: 3511 Magazine St., iwsnoballs.com 3. Pandora’s Snowballs: 901 N. Carrollton Ave., facebook.com/ PandorasSnowballs/

Best King Cake:

1. Haydel’s Bakery: 4037 Jefferson Hwy., haydelsbakery.com 2. Dong Phuong: 14207 Chef Menteur Hwy., dpbakeshop.com 3. Manny Randazzo Original King Cakes: 3515 N. Hullen St., Metairie, randazzokingcake.com

Best Sushi: 1.

1. Felipe’s Mexican Taqueria: Multiple Locations, felipestaqueria. com 2. Juan’s Flying Burrito: Multiple Locations, juansflyingburrito.com 3. Rum House: 3128 Magazine St., therumhouse.com

Mikimoto: 3301 S. Carrollton Ave., mikimotosushi.com Hana Japanese Restaurant: 8116 Hampson St., hanasushinola.com Rock-n-Sake: Multiple Locations, rocknsake.com

ANGELO BROCATO

Best Wings:

HOST YOUR PRIVATE EVENT OVERLOOKING HISTORIC ST. CHARLES STREETCAR LINE WITH BALCONY Neighborhood in! the Book YourFine ParDining ty Now Heart of the Warehouse District • REHEARSAL DINNERS

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• SOCIAL OCCASIONS • REHEARSAL DINNERS •• BUSINESS MEETINGS MEETINGS • BUSINESS INTIMATE RECEPTIONS • BUSINESS MEETINGS •• SOCIAL OCCASIONS SOCIAL OCCASIONS •SOCIAL OCCASIONS •• INTIMATE RECEPTIONS INTIMATE RECEPTIONS For event inquiries contact •INTIMATE RECEPTIONS events@annunciationrestaurant.com For For event event inquiries inquiries contact contact DINE-IN & TAKE OUT events@annunciationrestaurant.com events@annunciationrestaurant.com Reservations@AnnunciationRestaurant.com THURSDAY–SUNDAY 5PM–10PM THURSDAY–MONDAY DINE-IN & TAKE5PM-10PM OUT P lDINE-IN e a s e C a l l f& o r TAKE R e s e 5PM–10PM r vOUT ations THURSDAY–SUNDAY THURSDAY–SUNDAY 5PM–10PM Thursday thru 568-0245 Monday 5pm-close (504)

YEARS OF BUSINESS

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1001 N Broad St, New Orleans, LA 70119 crescentcitysteaks.com

Best of the Big Easy | Where Y'at Magazine

(504) 821-3271

1016 Annunciation St.

715 St. Charles Ave. • 381-0045 Management@lechatnoirnola.com LeChatNoirNola.com • Resy

New Orleans, LA 70130 www.annunciationrestaurant.com 1016 Annunciation St.

1016 Annunciation St.

New Orleans, LA 70130 New Orleans, LA 70130 www.annunciationrestaurant.com www.annunciationrestaurant.com

WHERE Y'AT STAFF

(504) (504) 568-0245 568-0245

600 S. PETERS ST. | ERNSTCAFE.COM | IERNSTCAFENOLA WhereYat.com | July 2022

AHHH-VOCADOS! Fun Facts About Avocado Toast in New Orleans

Willa Jean WE’D LIKE TO PROPOSE A TOAST…

Avocados are all the rage. They’re the new pumpkin spice, the General Tso’s chicken of the new millennium. Move over, oat milk. These little green wonders are slowly climbing the ranks on the edible hit list, nudging out spiked seltzers and nipping at the heels of kale.

Ruby Slipper Café

Toast 60

Best of the Big Easy | Where Y'at Magazine

Avocados have been trending since 2017, when Americans spent around $900,000 on avocado toast every month, and then posted about it incessantly. There were an estimated three million pictures of avocado toast posted on Instagram every single day that summer. Miley Cyrus has a tattoo of an avocado on her arm. Celebrities Tom Selleck and Jamie Foxx both have avocado farms. More than just an embellishment for toast, avocados have branched out beyond the sphere of the spreadable to lead an entire avocado empire, which includes their very own paint color, merchandise, memes galore, and a whole mattress company named after them. It’s an avocado world, and we’re just living in it. Whether avocados’ fame will fizzle like that of the apple martini or they’ll join the ranks of all-time greats like bacon

Ready for something warm and toasty? If this has given you a hankering for an avocado, check out our list of recommended places where you can go and toast to your health. TOAST Any place with a name like Toast ought to have one heck of a namesake dish. Without disappointing, their avocado toast includes fried oysters, corn maque choux, eggs, and sriracha mayo. Multiple locations, toastneworleans.com RUBY SLIPPER CAFÉ Their version includes pico de gallo, flashfried capers, herbed garlic goat cheese, and a poached egg atop multigrain toast points. Add salmon for four bucks. Multiple locations, therubyslippercafe.net JOSEPHINE ESTELLE Avocado toast gets delizioso at this Italianmeets-Southern eatery. Their Tuscan Avocado Toast comes complete with ricotta, gravlax, chili aioli, and shaved radish. 600 Carondelet St., josephineestelle.com WILLA JEAN This avocado toast comes spiffed up with all the fixings, including arugula, heirloom tomato, pickled serrano peppers, shallots, spice, labneh yogurt cheese, and a poached egg. 611 O’Keefe Ave., willajean.com THE DAILY BEET First they mash their avocados and spread them across toasted slices of a Bellegarde country loaf, and then they add arugula, cherry tomato, cucumber, pickled red onion, feta, Himalayan sea salt, and chili flakes. Get even more decadent with optional additions of pasture-raised eggs or lox. Multiple locations, thedailybeetnola.com ALMA Organic avocados from California combine with a boiled egg, cherry tomatoes, radishes, herbs, grated sea salt flakes, and, of course, toast. 800 Louisa St., eatalmanola.com CHEMIN À LA MER Located inside the Four Seasons Hotel, Chemin à la Mer creates an avocado toast with a French twist: espellete (French peppers) and fresh radish on toasted French sourdough. 2 Canal St., fourseasons.com/neworleans THE VINTAGE The Vintage keeps it classic with bacon, eggs, and avocados on their toast. 3121 Magazine St., thevintagenola.com

ALL PHOTOS: KATHY BRADSHAW

By Kathy Bradshaw

remains to be seen. In the meantime—and just in time for National Avocado Day on July 31—here are some fun facts about everyone’s favorite fruit. AVOCADORIGINS Avocados originated in Mexico or Central/ South America. They were first cultivated possibly as far back as 10,000 B.C. in Mexico. Today, Mexico still produces the majority of the whole world’s avocado supply—they grew 2.4 million tons of the fruit in 2020. That’s two and a half times the weight of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge. Yet this isn’t the avocado’s only connection to the fine state of California. Named the official state fruit of California in 2013, the avocado arrived in the U.S. via that state in 1871. California now produces as much as 95 percent of all avocados grown in this country. They also love to eat them—more avocados are consumed in Los Angeles than in any other American city.

New Orleans JCC

GETTING TOASTED Beginning around the 1950s, avocados started to ramp up in popularity, and today, the average American now eats over four times more avocados than just a few decades back. The avocado reached its zenith with the invention of avocado toast—which allegedly occurred in Sydney, Australia, in 1993—and life has been a little greener and mushier ever since. NUTS ABOUT AVOCADOS Avocados are also a football favorite—more are eaten during the big ball game on Super Bowl Sunday than any other day of the year. And speaking of balls, some people insist that the word “avocado” comes from the Aztec word for testicle. GO GREEN There are many more reasons to eat avocados than just because your toast will feel naked without them. Avocados are among the healthiest foods to ever top a piece of pumpernickel. They are chock full of nutrients, including vitamins A, C, E, K, and B-6; magnesium; folate (which is good for your blood); and lutein (good for your eyes). They have way more potassium than a banana and more dietary fiber (9.2 grams) than any other fruit. They’re low in sugar and sodium and high in “good” fats. And the leaves of the avocado tree contain dopamine. ONE HEALTH OF A FRUIT All of that means that avocados can help you see better, feel better, and look better. These miracle fruits lower cholesterol and blood pressure levels and can prevent heart disease, diabetes, and arthritis. They encourage proper digestion, protect against gastrointestinal diseases, and keep you regular. They also fight gum disease and eye damage. Avocados can slow down the aging process in both your skin and your DNA. They reduce sun damage, help your wounds heal better, and could cure your psoriasis. Avocados can help you lose weight and body fat. They may even fight cancer. But beware: Keep avocados away from your pets—they are toxic for cats, dogs, guinea pigs, and horses.

Fitness & fun for the whole family Year-round swim lessons Adult and youth sports leagues Adult lap swimming Mat and reformer Pilates TRX, boot camps, indoor cycling, HIIT, yoga and more!

UPTOWN 504.897.0143

METAIRIE 504.887.5158

nojcc.org

WhereYat.com | July 2022

$20 AND UNDER: Killer Queso

By Kim Ranjbar

El Cucuy

Juan's Flying Burrito 62

Best of the Big Easy | Where Y'at Magazine

Secret Birria

Like many of the world's most marvelous inventions, cheese was likely an accidental discovery. Some lucky goat herder thousands of years ago probably was attempting to prolong the life of milk and, in the process, made it curd. Oh what a happy day that must have been. Unbeknownst to the fortunate countrywoman, her revelation would lead to the creation of hundreds of cheese varieties, thousands of dishes derived from them, and millions of “cheese-pull” videos on TikTok and Instagram. Cheese, to those who are lactose tolerant, is easily one of the finest foodstuffs this earth has to offer. Extremely versatile, lovers of the curd can enjoy it during any meal, from breakfast to dessert, and in any form. One creamy creation, out of the hundreds of thousands (dare I say millions?) which currently exist, is a Tex-Mex phenom called queso. Queso, or chile con queso, is a simple, yet dreamy combination of melted cheeses, cream, and chiles, one of the most perfect dips for your chip. Typically, Velveeta (which is not really a cheese, just a cheese-like product) has been the main ingredient, but many of our local restaurants step up their game adding real cheeses, or replacing the processed cheese product altogether, in their ooey-gooey, can't-stop-eating-it quesos. Chef Brett Jones, owner and operator of Barracuda Taco Stand on Tchoupitoulas Street (now with a second location in Algiers Point), tries to make his queso as close to the classic Velveeta version as possible using real chihuahua and sharp cheddar cheeses, their own in-house hot sauce made with spicy pequin chiles, and garlic. When they first opened several years ago, Barracuda gave diners the option of enjoying their fabulous queso with flour tortilla chips or fresh-out-ofthe-fryer chicharrones, but those poppin’ pork skins have disappeared of late. Though some may be disappointed by their disappearance, the takeaway is that their killer queso remains. Just down the street from Barracuda, El Cucuy, named after the Mexican boogeyman, is one of the city's newer taco stands. With lots of outdoor seating and colorful murals, this Mexican street foodinspired spot is choice for cocktails under

the stars and the perfect pairing for a bowl of hot cheese. In their version, a Mexican hatch chile sofrito spices a bechamel made with three different cheeses (both hard and soft) and cream. The finished queso is then drizzled with arbol/guajillo chile oil and served with warm corn tortilla chips. Over in the Broadmoor neighborhood, Chef Lindsay McLellan and her husband Mario are slinging out all kinds of cheesy creations at their Mexican restaurant El Pavo Real, including an incredible queso. Roasted poblano peppers are blended with several cheeses (cheddar, chihuahua, queso blanca), caramelized onions, and fresh corn, and served with flour tortilla chips. Feel free to add chorizo or fresh, local crab if it's in season, but you better be hungry and share with the table or you may not be able to eat anything else. Juan's Flying Burrito, which just celebrated its 25th anniversary, has become a New Orleans institution, a local restaurant chain inspired by the Mission Burrito joints popular in the San Francisco Bay Area. Self-touted as the “world's first Creole Taqueria,” Juan's offers an eclectic menu with dishes ranging from their signature Flying Burrito stuffed with grilled steak, Gulf shrimp, and chicken to banh mi tacos with pickled daikon radish. Surprisingly enough, they keep their queso pretty simple with a creamy white, processed cheese and hatch chile combo, though they do like to top it off with sliced Cajun Chef pickled jalapeños. Finally, the Uptown stand dubbed Secret Birria Tacos is also a fine purveyor of cheesy bliss, among other things. As the name clearly states, this particular restaurant offers the popular Mexican dish quesabirria, which has swept the nation–crispy, cheesy, flour tortilla tacos are filled with a savory goat or beef stew meat (ie. birria) and served with a spicy, meaty tomato “au jus” for dipping. Along with those incredible tacos, Secret Birria also offers items like birria ramen, flautas, a “birriarito” and, of course, queso. Made with American white cheese and mozzarella, this particular cheese dip is topped with salsa negra (roasted tomatoes and chile peppers) and served with crispy, Cajun-seasoned cracklins.

CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP: EMILY FERRETTI; COURTESY EL CUCUY; KIM RANJ BAR; COURTESY JUAN'S FLYING BURRITO

Barracuda

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RESTAURANT GUIDE Crescent City Steaks offers steaks made of primeaged beef and cooked the New Orleans’ way—sizzled in butter. Louisiana’s oldest family-owned steakhouse consistently includes steaks like filets wrapped in bacon to cowboy ribeyes. 1001 N. Broad St., 504821-3271, crescentcitysteaks.com

by chocolate cake, or a “blood” cocktail. 801 Royal St., 504-581-0801, nolavampirecafe.com

BARSWITH GREAT FOOD

Bar Marilou is a classic French-style spot tucked secretively along the side of the new Maison de la Luz hotel. They offer delicious cocktails, wines, and small plates to pair with them, including sumptuous seared scallops and foie gras. 544 Carondelet St., 504814-7711, barmarilou.com

Parkway Bakery and Tavern has been proudly serving Bayou St. John with po-boys, beer, and baked goods since 1911. Its menu boasts some of the best sandwiches in the city, and its classic neighborhood feel just can’t be beat. 538 Hagan Ave, Down the Hatch is a bar and grill, boasting delicious Curio is your ideal French Quarter eatery with a menu parkwaypoorboys.com and unique plates, such as their alligator po-boy including Creole favorites such as shrimp and grits Spudly’s Super Spuds has the best baked potatoes or quesadilla rolls. Along with great food, they and a tasty crawfish cavatappi pasta. They also offer in town. They specialize in unique baked potato dishes are open for late night grub and offer an outdoor an extensive beer and wine list. 301 Royal St., 504like the pizza spud, shrimply put, and chicken delight. patio. 1921 Sophie Wright Pl., 504-522-0909, 717-4198, curionola.com They also serve sandwiches, po-boys, and salads. downthehatchnola.com 2609 Harvard Ave., 504-455-3250, spudlys.com Daisy Dukes is committed to providing you the best Ernst Café is the oldest continually operating bar in Southern fixins in the city 24/7, such as blackened The Steakhouse at Harrah’s uses local, regional the Warehouse District. Aside from their craft cocktails alligator sausage, shrimp po-boys, gumbo, and fried ingredients to make savory steakhouse classics such like the Fulton 75 or Ernst Cup, they also have tasty green tomatoes. Pair your food with their awardas ribeye, blackened strip, and filet mignon. They creole dishes and sandwiches to choose from. 600 S. winning Cajun Bloody Mary. Multiple Locations, also serve fresh seafood, decadent desserts, and Peters St., 504-525-8544, ernstcafe.com daisydukesrestaurant.com handcrafted cocktails. 228 Poydras St., 504-5336111, caesars.com/harrahs-new-orleans Flamingo A-Go-Go is a prime outdoor spot for New Gattuso’s Neighborhood Restaurant is a great Orleanians spot on the Westbank offering delicious choices such Taste of with on-tap as grilled shrimp wraps, catfish bites, and sweet chili Memphis “flocktails” wings. And if you have a puppo, outdoor seating is BBQ Joint is paired with available. 435 Huey P. Long Ave., Gretna, 504a barbecue appetizers 368-1114, gattusos.net restaurant and including the garlic parmesan Houmas House & Gardens is perfect for a day trip. caterer that has authentic chicken bites Visit the Carriage House and enjoy Louisiana ribs or or pepper turtle soup, or head to Latil’s Landing for more upscale Memphis-style BBQ such jack boudin offerings and a diverse wine menu. Dixie Café offers as classic bombers. Stop a full breakfast and lunch buffet. 401336 LA-942, pulled pork in for fun day Darrow, 225-473-9380, houmashouse.com sandwiches, drinking and smoked ribs, Jimmy J’s Café is the funkiest diner to have a cup bottomless or hot wings. of joe or a Bloody Mary, eggs rancho, Monte Cristo mimosa French toast, or poached eggs Tuscan style, 24/7. Not You can also brunching. 869 a breakfast fan? Jimmy J’s po-boys, soups, and salads get your BBQ Magazine will satisfy your palate. 115 Chartres St., 504-309- bologna or St., 504BBQ spaghetti 9360, jimmyjscafe.com 577-2202, fix here. 135 flamingonola. Lakeview Harbor Restaurant & Bar is a cozy spot S. Dorgenois com St., 504right by the lake that is perfect to watch the sun set. 596-8227, They make good po-boys, wings, steaks, and fried JB’s Fuel facebook. pickles.. 8550 Pontchartrain Blvd., 504-486Dock, on the com/tasteofmemphisbbqjoint 4887, lakeviewharbor.us waterfront of the New Basin Canal, fires up cheesy, delicious pizzas. This dockside property offers an Ugly Dog Saloon is a great New Orleans’ spot to Legacy Kitchen Craft Tavern is a great place to intimate experience and if pizza isn’t your style, the catch the big game and get tangy, smoky BBQ. The enjoy delicious beignets, avocado toast, or chicken kitchen whips up a daily selection of rotating specials menu features classic smoked meats like ribs, burnt & waffles. Coming for dinner? Try their shrimp tacos, to satiate your appetite. 128 S Roadway St., 504ends, and even sampling platters, along with inventive pan-roasted salmon, and redfish Pontchartrain. 510-2260, jbsfueldock.com house favorites, such as the Lafitte Pig. 700 Tchoupitoulas St. #3612, 504-613-2350, 401 Andrew Higgins Blvd., 504-569-8459, legacykitchen.com Le Bon Temps Roule is an iconic Uptown bar theuglydogsaloon.com featuring live music and is known for their tasty Bloody Legacy Kitchen Steak & Chop cooks some Marys. Their menu features the traditional bar food mean steaks. Whether you prefer filets, ribeyes, or selections of hamburgers, sandwiches, and satisfying tomahawk, know that your taste buds will thank you. ASIAN sides. 801 Magazine St., 504-897-3448, Asia is a great place to take a break from the slots in You’ll also love the chicken & waffles, south beach lbtrnola.com Boomtown Casino. The menu features Chinese dishes shrimp tacos, and crawfish cornbread skillet. 91 such as szechuan beef and lo mein noodles. You can Westbank Expy. #51, Gretna, 504-513-2603, Peacock Room, located in the Kimpton Hotel also order one of their Vietnamese classics like a hot legacykitchen.com Fontenot, offers crawtator crushed oysters and bowl of pho. 4132 Peters Rd., Harvey, 504-366cheewee fries, which put a fancy twist on the usual bar 7711, boomtownneworleans.com Luke is a Creole-inspired brasserie offering French and food staples. Bartenders are experts at making tasty German cuisines. The restaurant’s raw bar offers Gulf cocktails. 501 Tchoupitoulas St., 504-571-1818, Cho Thai serves delicious Thai food by Thailand native seafood and oysters, fresh-caught mussels with fries, peacockroomnola.com and pork schnitzel. 333 St. Charles Ave., 504-378- Chef Jimmy Cho. The menu features classics including pad thai, pork laab, and short rib khao soi noodle 2840, lukeneworleans.com The Tasting Room, in New Orleans’ Lower Garden soup. They blend elements of Thai street food and District, offers wine and cocktails alongside decadent Manning’s Sports Bar & Grill is the ultimate home cooking. 3218 Magazine St., 504-381-4264, dishes. Enjoy a charcuterie or cheese board with wine living room for watching the big game. You’ll enjoy chothairestaurant.com or have a full meal, with choices like pasta, filets, and traditional pub fare such as nachos, chicken tenders, garlicky shrimp. 1906 Magazine St., 504-766and jalapeño poppers. Order a warm plate of beignets Mikimoto Japanese Restaurant has been a favorite 6390, ttrneworleans.com for sushi in New Orleans since 1999. This locally with powdered sugar and a caramel drizzle. 228 owned restaurant offers freshly made sushi including Poydras St., 504-593-8118, caesars.com/ Stumpy’s Hatchet House pairs alcohol and hatchet sashimi and specialty rolls like the Nola Roll (baked), harrahs-new-orleans throwing. They offer throwing pits to hone your the Mango Mania Roll, and the South Carrollton Roll. tomahawk chucking abilities, along with beer and New Orleans Vampire Café is a dining experience to 3301 S. Carrollton Ave., wine. Enjoy their tasty bar snacks for the perfect die for. Sink your fangs into tempting dishes including 504-488-1881,mikimotosushi.com night out. 1200 Poydras St., 504-577-2937, fried deviled eggs, vampire burgers, and braised pork stumpyshh.com/neworleansla bellies. Enjoy spiked snowballs, doberge cake, death

JB's Fuel Dock

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CAFÉ

Bearcat Café offers quality breakfast and lunch cuisine for health enthusiasts and culinary gluttons alike. They have two New Orleans’ locations, with its spinoff, Bearcat CBD, including a dinner menu of locally-sourced ingredients and seasonal dishes. Multiple Locations, bearcatcafe.com Caffe! Caffe! has a welcoming atmosphere to enjoy a quick and tasty lunch, with local favorites being the grilled caesar pita and the Caffe! Caffe! take on the muffuletta. They have breakfast options like the classic egg, cheese, and bacon biscuit. Multiple Locations, caffecaffe.com 1000 Magazine St., 504-528-1941, higginshotelnola.com Café Normandie at the Higgins Hotel is next door to the National World War II Museum. The newly opened restaurant features French-influenced dishes, such as crab beignets and snapper almondine, among many other delicious options. 1000 Magazine St., 504528-1941, higginshotelnola.com Carmo is a unique café and bar blending flavors from the Caribbean, Southeast Asia, and beyond. They cater to vegan customers and anyone who loves global cuisine, offering selections like vegan ceviche and Burmese tea leaf salad. 527 Julia St., 504-8754132, cafecarmo.com The Ruby Slipper Café is known for delicious breakfast/brunch options such as fried green tomatoes and Bananas Foster pain perdu. Start your morning off right with their award-winning Bloody Mary. Multiple Locations, therubyslippercafe.net The Vintage is one of the best places on Magazine Street to grab a bite and people watch. Their traditional beignets and mouthwatering sandwiches are a wonderful accompaniment to their extensive wine list. 3121 Magazine St., 504-324-7144, thevintagenola.com Willa Jean is a lovely retro-chic spot, and their avocado toast and biscuit station, in particular, set them apart from the competition. They offer toasts and sandwiches along with sweet treats like southern coconut cake. 611 O’Keefe Ave., 504-509-7334, willajean.com

ITALIAN

Alto Rooftop Bar at the Ace Hotel is a great location to vibe poolside in the heart of downtown New Orleans. The bar offers a selection of canned alcoholic beverages, draughts, and classic signature cocktails along with pizzas and wings. 600 Carondelet St., 504-900-1180, acehotel.com A Tavola Restaurant and Wine Bar is a modern take on traditional Italian cuisine. They offer delicious wood-fired pizzas and savory antipasti alongside soups, salads, paninis, and a wide range of other Italian staples. 3413 Veterans Blvd., 504-5772235, atavo.la Domenica, located in the Roosevelt Hotel, is firmly rooted in Italian traditions. They have amazing handmade pastas and Napolitano style pizzas which are complemented well by their Italian wine and seasonal craft cocktail selections. 123 Baronne St., 504-648-6020, domenicarestaurant.com Josephine Estelle focuses on seasonal ingredients that help blend classic Italian recipes with Southern flavors. The seared scallops and the 48-hour braised beef short ribs are absolutely to die for. 600 Carondelet St., 504-930-3070, josephineestelle.com

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Mosca’s Restaurant has been the favorite Italian restaurant on the Westbank for over 60 years. Mosca’s entrée dishes are made from scratch, and standouts include their signature oysters Mosca or the chicken cacciatore. 4137 US-90 W., Westwego, 504-436-8950, moscasrestaurant.com Nephew’s Ristorante has been serving authentic Sicilian and Italian creole dishes to the New Orleans people for decades. Their menu features entrees like eggplant parmigiana and grilled rosemary chicken, with side items such as frog legs, stuffed shrimp, and soft-shell crabs. 4445 W. Metairie Ave., 504-5339998, nephewsristorante.com Pascal’s Manale’s claim to fame is being the birthplace of the world-famous BBQ shrimp, prepared in the shell with a tangy, spicy sauce. They also have delicious, savory steak entrees available. Grab some oysters before your meal and see why Pascal’s has long been an Uptown staple. 1838 Napoleon Ave., 504-895 4877, pascalsmanale.com Pizza Domenica is the best place to enjoy as close to authentic Italian pizza as you’ll find. Pizza Domenica has both white and red pizzas with a thin, delicious crust. Try their savory pies with an order of garlic knots and finish with lemon pound cake. Multiple Locations, pizzadomenica.com Tavolino Pizza & Lounge is the go-to spot for pizza and fun on the West Bank. Located in picturesque Algiers Point, Tavolino specializes in thin crust pizzas like the Behrman Hwy and That’s a Spicy Meatball. 141 Delaronde St., Algiers, 504-605-3365, tavolinonola.com

Shaya is a James Beard award-winning restaurant serving modern Israeli cuisine. They offer amazing hummus options paired with fresh baked pita, and they also serve craft cocktails or quality wines imported from Israel and Lebanon. 4213 Magazine St., 504-891-4213, shayarestaurant.com

NEWORLEANS CUISINE

Annunciation Restaurant is a Warehouse District gem offering modern takes on traditional Creole dishes. Try some of their creative dishes amidst an atmosphere of flickering candles for an elegant evening in the bistro. 1016 Annunciation St, 504-568-0245, annunciationrestaurant.com Café Amelie in the French Quarter is named after the building’s former resident, Amelie Miltenberger— mother to the first American princess of Monaco. The spirit of the Vieux Carré can be felt in this cozy spot, complete with excellent coffee, pastries, plates, and NOLA charm. 900 Royal Street, cafeamelie.com Crescent City Brewhouse is a premier French Quarter destination for freshly brewed craft beers– all of the brewing done in-house. Order a flight to enjoy samples of their pilsner, wheat beer, and other brews, accompanied with a delicious and refreshing oyster platter. 527 Decatur St., 504-522-0571, crescentcitybrewhouse.com

Desire Oyster Bar is located in the iconic Royal Sonesta Hotel. Featuring delicious Creole food and seafood, they are best known for their oysters. They have a raw oyster bar where you can get a dozen freshly shucked oysters or order them chargrilled. 300 Venezia specializes in home-style Italian cooking with Bourbon St., 504-553-2281, sonesta.com a New Orleans’ flair. Their original stone oven pizza and other authentic cuisine, such as chicken marsala, Evangeline offers classics like gumbo and etouffee, is a hit for the entire family. 134 N. Carrollton Ave., with a separate weekend brunch menu featuring specials including fried alligator and waffles and crab 504-488-7991, venezianeworleans.net cake benedict. They source ingredients directly from local markets and fishermen. 329 Decatur St., 504LATINAMERICAN 373-4852, evangelineneworleans.com Empanola is a home to New Orleans’ tastiest empanadas. There are plenty of Latin-inspired House of Blues New Orleans is a good place to and Louisiana-influenced plates as well as eat before a night in the French Quarter. Choose vegetarian options. During Mardi Gras, they feature from delicious southern-style options such as fried a Latin inspired king cake with Guava cream chicken, Cajun chicken pasta, and shrimp & grits. cheese. Multiple Locations, 504-582-9378, There’s also live music in the club that’ll keep you empanolaempanadas.com tapping your foot. 225 Decatur St., 504-310-4999, houseofblues.com Felipe’s Mexican Taqueria is home to some of the best margaritas and tacos in town. If you want Le Chat Noir is a new restaurant with drink selections great tacos, choose from either the Mexico City that are catered to their entree menu. Their oyster bar tacos, Baja style, or the gringos tacos. They also offer offers chargrilled and fresh oysters shucked daily. Le quesadillas, bowls, and burritos. Multiple Locations, Chat Noir uses locally sourced ingredients and modern felipestaqueria.com open fire techniques. 715 St. Charles Ave., 504381-0045, lechatnoirnola.com Mr. Tequila Bar & Grill located on Freret Street, dishes up Mexican cuisine with a Tex-Mex twist. Enjoy Mandina’s Restaurant is a New Orleans favorite a refreshing tequila and choose from fajitas, tacos, for both Italian classics and seafood. Filet mignon, quesadillas, or enchiladas. Don’t forget to order a side shrimp remoulade, crab fingers in wine sauce, and of chips with the dip trio. 5018 Freret St., 504-766- Gulf fish amandine with fries are just a few of their 9660, mrtequilanola.com delicious entrees. They’ve been serving the city for Tito’s Ceviche & Pisco has authentic Peruvian cuisine, with the ceviche being an easy stand out. They also have an extensive beer and pisco list to go alongside the menu. Get a taste of South America right here in New Orleans. 5015 Magazine St., 504-267-7612, titoscevichepisco.com

Le Chat Noir

Lebanon’s Café is one of the top Middle Eastern restaurants in New Orleans. Expect to enjoy traditional Mediterranean classics like tabbouleh salad and chicken shawarma, with their famous Lebanese tea to wash it all down. 1500 S. Carrollton Ave., 504-862-6200, lebanonscafe.com

Best of the Big Easy | Where Y'at Magazine

ENRIQUE MONZON

MIDDLE EASTERN

LEBANON’S CAFE

MIDDLE EAST CUISINE √ A HEALTHY ALTERNATIVE Parkway Bakery and Tavern offers sixteen classic po-boys and a multitude of other sandwiches served on freshly baked bread. Parkway also serves Bloody Mary’s, Cajun side dishes, and delicious desserts. 538 Hagan Ave., 504-482-3047, parkwaypoorboys.com Restaurant August is in a beautiful 19th century French-Creole building, so the atmosphere matches the elegant cuisine. They offer contemporary Creole dishes like torchon of foie gras, poached lobster ravioli, and scallop almandine. 301 Tchoupitoulas St., 504-299-9777, restaurantaugust.com

Felipe’s Mexican Taqueria eight decades. 3800 Canal St., 504-482-9179, mandinasrestaurant.com Mother’s Restaurant not only has delicious baked ham, but some of the best red beans and rice in the Big Easy. Their menu features all day breakfast, so stop in any time to enjoy a shrimp Creole omelet or crawfish etouffee. Arrive early on the weekends to avoid waiting in line. 401 Poydras St., 504-5239656, mothersrestaurant.net

Great Selection Of Vegetarian Dishes

Lunch & Dinner Daily (Closed on Tuesdays)

APPETIZERS Humus √ Falafel √ Bathenjan Dip (Roasted Eggplant w/ Garlic) √ Vegetarian Grape Leaves

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

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

Short Stop Poboys has been dishing out tasty po-boys in Metairie since 1966. They have over 30 po-boys, with sides ranging from chips to homemade gumbo. After your po-boy, try their lemon meringue pie or white chocolate bread pudding. 119 Transcontinental Dr., 504-885-4572, shortstoppoboysno.com Trenasse is a contemporary Cajun-Creole restaurant in the InterContinental Hotel. They offer crawfish pie, boudin balls, and Unca Duke’s BBQ shrimp, as well as oysters on the half shell, gratin, Rockefeller, and with smoked gruyere and pancetta. 4444 St. Charles Ave, 504-680-7000, trenasse.com

NOLA,s Foodie Freaks

Willie Mae’s Scotch House has been serving New Orleans fried chicken since 1957. Whether it is fried, baked, or in a sandwich, Willie Mae’s chicken is the New Orleans Creole Cookery offers a beautiful indoor and outdoor dining space in the French Quarter. best in the city. They also have a nice selection of frozen drinks and beers. Multiple Locations, Try the massive seafood tower, with crab maison, shrimp cocktail, and shrimp remoulade. They also have 504-822-9503, williemaesnola.com classic New Orleans dishes like jambalaya, crawfish étouffée, and shrimp Creole. 510 Toulouse St.,504SEAFOOD 524-9632, neworleanscreolecookery.com Briquette provides delicious seafood and creole food fare, just blocks from Harrah’s Casino. With an 18-foot Neyow’s Creole Café is a well known Mid City spot display of fresh fish, they offer delicious seafood dishes that is renowned for its Creole-inspired dishes. Go such as caramelized scallops. 701 S. Peters St., for some of their NOLA classics such as char-grilled oysters, southern fried chicken, BBQ shrimp, and keep 504-302-7496, briquette-nola.com an eye out for their weekly specials. 3332 Bienville St., 504-827-5474, neyows.com

Neyow’s XL offers more Neyow’s flavors in a more formal setting right next door to the original. Some of the restaurant’s authentic Creole dishes include corn and crab bisque and jumbo crab cakes. Neyow’s XL also has an excellent selection of frozen drinks. 3336 Bienville St., 504-503-1081, xl.neyows.com Nice Guys Bar & Grill lives up to its name with a nice selection of traditional bar and grilled offerings. A great spot to catch the big game with friends, try the char-grilled oysters and drunken’ wings coated with alcohol-infused sauces. 7910 Earhart Blvd., 504302-2404, niceguysbarandgrillnola.com NOLA’s Wings & Things serves awesome wings, but there are also options like gumbo, collard greens, and red beans & rice. Be sure to try NOLA’s favorite spicy chicken sandwich, which is stuffed with kale and pickles. 7906 Earhart Blvd., 504-435-8117, facebook.com/nolaswingsandthings

ENRIQUE MONZON

Nonno’s serves up home cooked, traditional Cajun cuisine and pastries and offers breakfast 24/7. Nonno’s has a little something for everybody like classic po-boys and fresh baked goods made daily. 1940 Dauphine St., 504-354-1364, nonnoscajuncuisineandpastries.com

Chef Ron’s Gumbo Stop is NOLA’s one-stop-shop for great gumbo. Get your gumbo customized with fried catfish, fried oysters, or crabmeat, along with cheesy mac or potato salad. The food here is made with locally sourced ingredients. 2309 N. Causeway Blvd., 504-835-2022, gumbostop.com

Great Specials Such As Taco Tuesday, Seafood Fridays, and Secret Saturday Specials!

Felix’s Restaurant & Oyster Bar has been a true French Quarter staple for more than 70 years. Their oysters are the restaurant’s main draw, but Felix’s also has delicious turtle soup alongside other Cajun dishes. They have Lakefront, Gulfport, and Mandeville locations. Multiple Locations, felixs.com The Galley Seafood offers tasty surf and turf appetizers for your whole party to enjoy. Sit out on their patio and try some of the Cajun house specials such as paneed veal and white beans and rice. 2535 Metairie Rd., 504-832-0955, thegalleyseafood.net Legacy Kitchen’s Tacklebox has a great oyster bar and provides quality southern comfort food. Try their take on the NOLA classic trio of gumbo, jambalaya, and red beans and rice. They also offers a daily brunch with items such as a Bananas Foster waffle. 817 Common St., 504-827-1651, legacykitchen.com

Seaworthy has quality, hand-crafted cocktails with fresh oysters served on the half shell. Mussels, Orleans Grapevine Wine Bar & Bistro offers an crabmeat dip, and fried gulf shrimp are just a few of the intimate atmosphere that is perfect for a date night. other savory seafood dishes on offer. Top it all off with a The double-cut pork chop is just one of many delicious rich banana bread pudding for dessert. entrees to pair with wine from one of the largest wine 630 Carondelet St., 504-930-3071, selections in the city. 720 Orleans Ave., 504-523seaworthynola.com 1930, orleansgrapevine.com

@Niceguysnola

INDOOR & OUTDOOR SEATING

CHARGRILLED OYSTERS

GREAT HAPPY HOUR SPECIALS 2-for-1 Cocktails, $5 Margaritas, and More!

AUTHENTIC NEW ORLEANS FOOD W/ A TWIST!

DJ’S DURING OUR BRUNCH CLUB

7910 Earhart Blvd. | 504-302-2404 Open Daily | Brunch Club Sat.–Mon. niceguysnola.com | WhereYat.com | July 2022

ONCE UPON A TIME… Remembering New Orleans' Former Dance Club Scene By Kimmie Tubre

New Orleans is more of a bar/live music place, rather than a strobe light, packed house, and club VIP section city. This wasn't always the case.

THE NIGHT DANCE CLUB ERA While night time dance clubs existed in New Orleans pre-Katrina, let’s focus on the era of clubbing that happened shortly after. To be more specific, let's look back to a time when you likely owned a Myspace account, wore waist belts with everything, and carried a digital camera into the club. Yes, there once was a time where phones did not come with amazing cameras. Those days in New Orleans were the days of the night dance club era that we are talking about. During that time between about 2006-2012, patrons enjoyed dance-filled nights at clubs like Club Dream, Club

Best of the Big Easy | Where Y'at Magazine

360, Club Ampersand, Ray’s Over the River, the House of Blues, Republic NOLA, the Metropolitan, and more. While some still exist today, they mostly focus on special events rather than the weekly club nights they’ve had in the past. If you were a clubgoer anytime between 2006 to 2012, you likely had your weekly line up. Maybe it was House of Blues’ Soul 2 Soul on a Thursday night then Club Dream on Friday or Republic NOLA on Thursday night, and then Rays Over the River on Saturday. Either way, if you wanted to dance the night away in a nightclub setting, there were a variety of options. THE CLUB VENUES While the night club scene was a blast for many of us, it would not have been as exciting without the venues—from their location to their atmosphere, venues played a major role in why people chose them. Club Dream (or Dreams) was a three-story club located in the French Quarter, on the same street as the world-famous House of Blues. Dream was the club for the young and mostly black who’s who of the city. The people who attended Dream were regulars and often built friendships with other fellow club goers. It was a vibe. When the scene at Dream began to dwindle down, another club rose to fame, Rays Over the River (or Ray’s). In the same building as the famous Club 360 (or 360), Ray’s became another popular location for the same crowd of folks who enjoyed Dream. Both housed in what is now the Four Seasons Hotel (formerly the World Trade Center), these two venues were pretty classy. While Rays was a normal venue with different rooms and VIP sections, 360, which was also a hit club preKatrina, had extra pizazz as it was famous for spinning around at the top of the skyrise building. All three clubs were places of enjoyment while also being where some of the city's most popular

socialites hung out. When party goers, athletes, and celebrities needed a club to attend, rest assured, they'd be in the building. Right outside of the French Quarter, in the downtown area, was a club like no other. If you wanted to rave out and go wild, then Club Ampersand (or Amps) was the place for you. With one of the best lighting and sound systems in the city, Amps was the perfect rave party, dance club. Located in the Warehouse district, the Metropolitan (or Metro) was and still is a place to enjoy a good event or party. But during the night club era, Metro was a place where you could enjoy an excellent club night with DJs playing everything from EDM to hip hop. Just around the corner was Republic Nola. Republic had different club nights and definitely had its heyday during the club era. Still existing in the same location, Republic has become more of an event space and concert venue in recent years. TODAY’S NIGHTLIFE SCENE Of course, New Orleans’ nightlife is always going to be a great time, with or without the booming night time dance club scene. While that era will live on in our memories, we have always been more of a place where live music and local bars thrive. As the people of that scene have aged, we have also adjusted. Now it’s time for the newer generations to find their own versions and eras to remember when their future comes. Yet, great dance clubs can still be found, with spots such as The Metro, Republic, Ohm Lounge, Bourbon Heat, and the new Rabbit Hole leading the way. Currently, the more popular places are parks and lounges, hookah spots and, as always, favorite dive bars. With or without the bubbling night time dance club scene, New Orleans will always hold its title as the USA’s life of the party.

ADOBE STOCK

There is no denying that out of all the cities in the USA, New Orleans is the life of the party. With no end to the festivities, this city tends to have nailed the balance part of a “work/life balance.” When we aren't enjoying the holidays with our family and friends, we are enjoying the celebration of Mardi Gras. And when Carnival season ends, we prepare for a lively festival season. During those in-between times, New Orleanians typically enjoy a good party, Happy Hour, or a visit to their favorite local bar. While our bar scene is like no other, New Orleans lacks a bit when it comes to night time dance clubs. There once was a time where there was a club to hit Thursday night through Sunday night. In those clubs, people would drink and enjoy the sounds of some of the city’s favorite DJs. It wasn't unheard of for pro athletes and famous celebrities to be in attendance. And the dance floor was alway packed with dancers, with minimal wallflowers in sight. This era was one worth remembering. But what happened to it? Why does a city that loves a good time lack night clubs? Or have night clubs become a dying breed? Here’s to the bygone era of the New Orleans’ nighttime dance club scene.

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Best of the Big Easy | Where Y'at Magazine

Bar Guide Alto (Ace Hotel) 600 Carondelet St. 504-900-1180 Banks Street Bar 4401 Banks St. 504-486-0258 Bar Marilou 544 Carondelet St. 504-814-7711

HENDRICK'S

WINNER

Drink Food Specials

Alto offers truly great views of New Orleans. After you’re done chilling in the rooftop pool, order yourself some thirst-quenching cocktails like the Paloma or the Great Ulysses. Banks Street Bar is a true neighborhood bar in Mid-City. While enjoying their beer, chow down on the different traditional Louisiana dishes that they provide like po-boys, gumbo, and oysters. Not only is Bar Marilou very trendy, the food and drinks on offer are fantastic. There are all kinds of drinks to choose from, such as the Jardin De Mémé and the Heloïse.

Fillmore New Orleans 6 Canal St. 504-881-1555

This bar and grill is a special spot in the Garden District for delicious and reasonably priced food and drinks. The Hell’s Kitchen Wings are delicious, as well as the many different starters, sandwiches, and burgers. Evangeline’s courtyard is perfect for sipping on some of the locally craft beers they offer. The Rum Punch and Strawberry Blonde cocktails are also fruity and delicious. Happy hour is from 3 to 6 p.m. daily. The Fillmore prides itself in providing legendary experiences to its patrons. Not only is it the perfect setting for live entertainment, the creative food, signature cocktails, and craft beer are all great.

House of Blues 225 Decatur St. 504-310-4999

Not only is the live entertainment at House of Blues great, the Southern-inspired food and refreshing drinks are fantastic as well! You can enjoy plenty of different beer and cocktails.

Jimani 141 Chartres St. 504-524-0493

If you want to see all of the hottest sports action, then you need to go to the Jimani. A New Orleans favorite for over 40 years, the bar has over 100 beers that you can choose from! Across the street from the historic New Orleans Jazz Museum, Jinx Bar & Grill is an ode to pop culture. It boasts handcrafted cocktails, rotating craft beers, and delicious food. Jinx’s casual atmosphere will get the party started. Lots A Luck Tavern was recently voted as the #1 spot for bar games in New Orleans by Where Y’at Magazine’s readers. Try your hand at mini golf or cornhole or sip a refreshing drink at their outdoor seating area. If you’d like to see the next Saints or LSU game on over 30 flat screens, then you have to go to Manning’s Sports Bar. Get into a local sports mood by ordering the Manning’s Mardi Gras Punch. Martine’s provides a very friendly and comfortable atmosphere in Old Metairie. Not only is there darts and video poker, they serve up great wines, tasty cocktails, and a large selection of beer. Located in Generations Hall, the Metropolitan is a great venue option for anyone looking to party the night away. The space offers two-stories filled with dance floors, spaces for DJs, and multiple bars. Pal’s Lounge is the perfect place to be if you feel like having a drink at “witching hour.” Stay awake with their house cocktails, beers, and many other different kinds of brews.

Down the Hatch 1921 Sophie Wright Pl. 504-522-0909 Evangeline 329 Decatur St. 504-373-4852

Jinx Nola 91 French Market Pl., 504-510-2797 Lots A Luck Tavern 203 Homedale St. 504-483-0978 Manning’s 519 Fulton St. 504-593-8118 Martine’s Lounge 2347 Metairie Rd. 504-831-8637 The Metropolitan 310 Andrew Higgins Blvd. 504-568-1702, Pal’s Lounge 949 N. Rendon St. 504-488-7257

Offering an elevated cocktail bar experience, The Peacock Room’s large drink menu has anything you could want. Perhaps you’d like one of the “Old Birds” like a Sazerac or the Washouko Mary. Not only does the Pool Club offer great views of the The Pool Club city, you can also relax in their pool or jam to the sounds 550 Baronne St. provided by their resident DJ. Grab an umbrella drink and 833-791-7700 enjoy! This eclectic venue has all of the amenities needed for a The Rabbit Hole perfect night out. Listen to brass bands and electronic DJs at 1228 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd. The Rabbit Hole's downstairs bar and stage or get some fresh 504-354-9709 air at their outdoor stage area. Rendon Inn has been providing the food, drinks, and good Rendon Inn company in Mid-City for over 85 years. Grab some food while 4501 Eve St. enjoying different domestic and draft beers, as well as wine 504-218-7106 and specialty drinks. Located in the Higgins Hotel, Rosie’s offers a great spot for Rosie’s on the Roof socializing and snacking with a fantastic rooftop bar and 1000 Magazine St. lounge. Take in breathtaking views of New Orleans while 504-528-1941 you enjoy a craft cocktail and tasty appetizer. Peacock Room 501 Tchoupitoulas St. 504-324-3073

Royal Frenchmen Hotel 700 Frenchmen St., #1614 504-619-9660

This award-winning bar in the Royal Frenchmen Hotel has a stylish ambiance, live entertainment, and a beautiful courtyard. The delicious specialty cocktails are truly amazing.

Stumpy’s Hatchet House 1200 Poydras St., Suite C 504-577-2937

Stumpy’s is the best place in NOLA to try your hand at throwing a hatchet. After you work up a sweat, you can grab some food and drinks while there. Have a day out with your friends! Tracey’s is a fantastic place to hang out at and not just for St. Patrick’s Day! Their extensive beer catalog includes hundreds of different bottles and six draught taps.

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

HENDRICK'S

Tropical Isle Multiple Locations 504-523-1927 Ugly Dog Saloon 401 Andrew Higgins Blvd 504-569-8549

Tropical Isle helps make Bourbon Street internationally famous. Everyone knows that if you go to Tropical Isle, you gotta get a Hand Grenade, aka New Orleans’ "most powerful drink." Ugly Dog Saloon is a great place to enjoy a beer and one of the city’s best pulled pork sandwiches. With a full bar and game day platters, it’s the perfect spot to meet up with friends. This place is more than a barbeque joint for sure.

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JULY 4 BOUQUET?

Nothing screams, “I love you,” more than a bouquet of flowers on a special occasion. However, nothing screams frustration more than last-minute grocery store shopping for a bouquet from overpicked, subpar options. 72

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CLOCKWISE, FROM LEFT: CAMILLE BARNETT; COURTESY HARKINS; COURTESY JUST BECAUSE; CAMILLE BARNETT; COURTESY PRETTY LITTLE PETALS; ADOBE STOCK

Support a Local Florist By Camille Barnett

Even on the occasion that one does make it to the flower section before it’s over picked and wiped out for a holiday occasion, and no matter how great one may think they are at flower selection and arrangement, some things are better from experts. Not only does opting for a bouquet from a professional florist guarantee a beautiful curation of quality flowers while

WhereYat.com | July 2022

simultaneously removing a task from your platter, it’s also an opportunity to support a small business in the New Orleans community. Before scrambling to your local grocery for your next bouquet, consider giving one of these local floral businesses a try.

quality flowers. A unique aspect of Blucid is that Charlot only focuses on florals and does not use greenery, allowing her bouquets to pop with vibrance. For holiday bouquets and delivery, you can stop instore or order through a link that will be available on the business's website.

HARKINS, THE FLORIST, INC. Harkins, the Florist, has delivered fresh flowers to the New Orleans community since 1979. Arrangements of premiumquality florals are created by designers with years of experience, and customer care and satisfaction continue to be a priority. “We treat each of our customers as if they are family, prioritizing the levels of emotional importance attached to floral gifts,” said Liz Clark, manager at Harkins, the Florist. Painted as vibrant as the florals within it, this long-running floral shop is in an easy-to-spot building that takes up the entire 1600 block of Magazine Street. It was built back in 1853 and is within the historic Compagno Magazine Triangle. Clark suggests that the building is the most unique aspect of the shop and encourages visitors to visit. “Our doors are open to anyone who would like to spend a few moments surrounded by sweet smells, swathes of color, and people who truly love what they do.” You can order bouquets in person, over the phone, or online. Although same-day delivery is offered, ordering in advance is recommended to ensure exact design requests and availability, especially for holidays.

VILLERE’S FLORISTS Villere’s first opened its doors to communities in Metairie and surrounding areas in 1969 and has continued to deliver fresh flowers and dedicated customer service. The family-operated, 53-year-old business is ranked among the top 100 floral shops worldwide by both Florists' Transworld Delivery and Telaflora. Villere’s is both an online ordering service and a local homegrown shop. Browse and order online or visit one of their two locations in Metarie or Kenner. Deliveries can be made anywhere: locally and across the globe. Although same-day delivery is available, orders for holiday occasions should be placed one day prior for on-time delivery.

DUNN AND SONNIER Also located on Magazine Street, Dunn and Sonnier has been in operation since 1922. They are known for providing fine, quality flowers such as roses from Colombia, tulips from Holland, and peonies from Israel. Owner Stephen Sonnier added that customers that call to order bouquets usually trust the florists’ arrangement choices. “They know they're not going to get carnations, or daisies, or baby's breath, or any other stuff like that,” Sonnier explained. “So they'll call here and say, ‘Just the designer’s choice.’” Delivery is offered to most parts of New Orleans, but consider visiting the shop to pick up your order. A large, eclectic collection of antiques from around the world is displayed throughout for you to marvel at or consider as an additional gift. As website orders can sometimes get backed up for holiday requests, the best way to place an order is by phone. BLUCID FLORAL Blucid Floral is a Black and woman-owned floral shop. Owner Brandi Charlot, an internationally licensed florist, opened the shop last year during the pandemic in the Lower Ninth Ward. Charlot explained that many people and families in her community are accustomed to silk flowers, making in-home fresh florals is an exotic luxury. Charlot is intentional about providing a sense of that experience to her direct community through her shop’s flower bar, where customers can come in and see, smell, and touch collections of

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PRETTY LITTLE PETALS Pretty Little Petals (PLP) is a woman-owned and AAPI-owned business. PLP’s founders explained that they started their business after realizing that no florists in the New Orleans area offered their preferred style of bouquet wrapping. They incorporate authentic culture into their curations with Korean-styled arrangements. “Korean-style bouquets put emphasis on the wrapping and aesthetic of the floral arrangements,” they explained. Fresh, seasonal flowers such as roses, hydrangeas, tulips, and peonies are used for a cohesive and romantic style. Bouquets are wrapped in waterproof paper, allowing customers to place them directly into a vase without having to unwrap or rearrange flowers. Displayable floral boxes are also provided that help the flowers remain hydrated for longevity. The best way to order a bouquet from PLP is by sending a direct message or or filling out their form to the business’s Instagram account. JUST BC Just BC is another woman and AAPIowned floral business. Founder Victoria Tu explained that she discovered her love for flowers in college while frequenting Trader Joe's to buy arrangements for her apartment. After a trip to South Korea, where street vendors sold beautifully wrapped bouquets, she was further inspired to start her own floral business. Tu wanted to incorporate a personable yet spontaneous way to gift bouquets as inexpensively for customers as possible. All bouquets are freestyled, providing both the gifter and recipient a surprise on delivery day. In addition to client consultations for color/flower preference and the option to include a personalized card, Just BC bouquets can be further customized with word decor. “We want to make sure each person receiving the bouquet knows that that bouquet was made specifically for them.” The best way to order a bouquet is by phone or through a direct message sent to the business’ Instagram account.

WhereYat.com | July 2022

TALES FROM THE QUARTER By Debbie Lindsey

Evidence of Dinosaurs

his magazine has allowed me a space for over twenty years to rant, reminisce, rejoice, and review everything from Jazz Fest to my earlier life in Mobile and subsequent escape to my beloved New Orleans. I have climbed upon my soapbox and written about social and political issues and you, dear readers, have endured my opinions on all. I have been repetitive with my Katrina experiences, initiation into the Who Dat Nation, years as a waitress, my cats, my dogs, my family, and my friends. I wrote about a bag of flour, a cockroach, a cast iron skillet, a house, litter—just about everything I could think of. Oh! And the Covid Cootie Monster nudged my writer’s block many times. Jobs, relationships, health issues, and my love of food have gifted me with many topics to exploit. Yet, every month my deadline looms over me like a loaded gun. I panic and can’t think of a topic. And then along comes Tony, a neighbor, and once again I am brimming over with stuff to say–to write about. I want to use my column as a “thank you” card to all the Tonys in this neighborhood. In a matter of one hour, Tony walked by my porch to chat, joke, and share political commiserations and kindly give me a Covid test-kit to assuage my concerns over my attendance at Jazz Fest (super-spreader event?). Then another visit over the fence with Mary, and, on her heels, came a lovely gal bringing me a gift her mom made for me—a cloth purse bursting with a sunflower print (solidarity for Ukraine). So despite the time-lag from today (May 9) to this July issue, I am able to send them a “thank you.” For all my pontifications and bitching that this column has expressed through the years, I am also able to openly share my love for so many people, places, and things (thanks dear editors). Also my writer’s constipation of what to expound upon this issue has been resolved. My neighbors once again have come to the rescue in allowing me to exploit them for my word count. Many New Orleanians (and those visitors/readers from other hoods) have great neighborhoods, but, with due respect, I think my neighbors are the best. Okay, you may think yours are and then that just means there truly are more good people than not. It’s a win/win situation. But allow me to shout out my peeps. You know who you are—you’re the neighbor that makes me feel like a million bucks by taking the time to say good morning, to remember my dog’s name, forgive her barking, and shower compliments over my garden. You are the neighbor that drops a Gambit off on my porch every week for me. You are the neighbor that sewed face masks to protect Husband and me. You are the neighbor who rescued birds from a gutter and expected no thanks for such kindness.You

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are David and Mary who power washed our entire block’s sidewalks with the help of Gene and Chris, and many others, kept our street clean during Jazz Fest. And hurricane season always requires much prep and clean-up and showcases the best in team efforts. I remember Tom, just off from work, still dressed in his “good” clothes, cleaning a neighbor’s storm drain and gutter in anticipation of street flooding since they were out of town. Same thanks go to Rene, Karen, Chris, Lezley, Margaret, Christian, Michael, and the list goes on and on of those who pitch in when needed. Manuel gets the humanitarian award for giving his front steps and porch over to the dining needs of two slightly homeless/ mostly nomad cats. And, Manuel, thanks for sharing your trash bins with me when my grass clippings and yard trimmings overwhelm my garbage can. (Hey Mayor, how's ‘bout a composting program?) My gardening passion also relies on Christian for allowing me to clutter his alley space with all my rakes and brooms—thanks for never once bitching about it. In addition, I rely on your humor which has always made me howl. There is something special about this entire neighborhood. Maybe it’s not unusual to have a familiarity and even friendship with those next door or across the street, but block after block, folks are so friendly, approachable. Perhaps it’s due, in part, to New Orleans with her style of architecture that gives most a front porch or stoop to socialize from. Also more folks than not have dogs that are tethered to them for daily walks. We may not know all the bipeds’ names, but we damn sure know each other’s dog’s name. Yo, Rocket, Roxie, Maple. Husband and I live at the crossroads of Maurepas Street and North Lopez between Liuzza’s by the Track and the Holy Land (Jazz Fest). And this corner house was a godsend during the Pandemic because most everyone passed us with walks to Canseco’s Grocery and Terranova’s (open as “essentials” during lock-down). Also folks could safely take to the streets with their kids and dogs for some social outings. Our porch allowed us a chance to meet all the folks in the neighborhood and friendships were formed or grew. I know this was a common occurrence everywhere back then, but I still stand by the uncommon friendliness of this little hamlet. Before I ramble aimlessly anymore and wear out my welcome with you, my patient readers, please indulge me one final shout-out to my neighbors. Thank you John and Mabel for allowing us the privilege of renting half your wonderful house—you rock. And to each and every business and neighbor that makes this a special place– take a bow. You guys lift my spirits and make my life sweet.

WhereYat.com | July 2022

PO-BOY VIEWS By Phil LaMancusa

Randall or Paradise Lost

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andy has gone into “assisted living,” which to me, means into a purgatory between independence and invalidation. He’s at one of the better facilities, one with a high falutin religious moniker and we can go visit. He doesn’t get around much anymore so we will have to go to him. The word is that he’s “adjusting quite nicely.” That’s not the Randy that I met nearly twenty-five years ago. As Kurt Vonnegut said, “and so it goes,” but not quite. Randall Garland was a gin and tonic drinker, he was an artist/painter, had served in the Army overseas, raised a family, was on good terms with his former wife, and was loved by his daughters and grandkids. His apartment is now empty. No longer will I walk by and hear the strains of classical music from his record player, and I’m sure that his season tickets to the opera are no longer valid. He will no longer hold court on his porch during Jazz Fest and tell interesting and funny stories about the life he had led, was leading, and was also looking forward to pursuing. I met Randy at a time when we all were younger, when literary salons and raconteurs in the French Quarter were de rigueur, when drinking in bars was an adult occupation and conversation about life, the universe and everything was an art to be polished and pursued, and when patrons would rather commiserate than watch mind-numbing HD screens. Randall was a master. At one time Randall had lived above the Napoleon House and painted; he had a bevy of women and men that adored him. He could be relied on to know local geographical history, current events, and topics of art and literature. He wrote and published a book. He was a member of the city museum and voted religiously. He was raised in the Ninth Ward, had a career, owned property, and could be relied on to have a shine on his shoes and a smile on his face. He was kind, and it’s not like he’s passed away—only passed on to a place that will assist him in his everyday life and make sure that he’s comfortable and taken care of, which is something that he did quite well into his eighth decade on his own terms and in his own time. Randy never was, as Shakespeare said, “a walking shadow, a poor player who strutted and fretted his hour on the stage.” To those of us who have known Randall Garland, he is a god. His fishing camp on the Gulf Coast, where he had sleepovers and fish fries for “the gang,” who was blown away by Katrina. He took an apartment further down the road and drove there weekly. I wonder what they did with his car… Obviously, he no longer drives. I wonder if the new place knows how much he likes his gumbo and fried shrimp po-boys. I wonder if there’s someone there to listen to his conversation, if he’s still on his computer,

and if he’s sleeping well. I wonder what he’s thinking. And now I wonder if you too have a Randall in a “facility,” if you too will go visiting, if you too know that someday you, too, will be in Randall’s shoes, in Randall’s place, “assisted” in your living. I think these places where people are housed seem like book depositories where tomes are sent, having been handicapped by age or infirmary, each with stories that have been written but never published. Some are in libraries; some are in warehouses depending on their value to others. They are cared for in their fashion until some future expiration date finally closes them, and their stories are lost or only remembered by someone who once was a part. Denmark instituted a Human Library Organization, which is now available in eighty countries. The idea is to check out a person and learn about them and from them. It helps you and it helps them; it’s like reading a book–a book about them. What an idea, huh? Its mission is to build spaces in the community for personal dialogue about issues that are often difficult, challenging or stigmatizing. They publish people like open books on a given subject and “readers” ask questions and get answers from “their book.” It’s win-win. Facilities for the elderly and less-thanmobile would be the perfect place to gain some insight to our outlooks, wouldn’t you say? These places are occupied by folks that have lived through good and bad times: teachers, poets, parents, and the ordinary and the extraordinary people that have gone through hell, high water, and high and low times. These are books that need to be read and understood–how to get along with a partner/mate, how to keep from lighting my hair on fire every time that I feel stressed, how the hell do you make tough choices, and why does the meringue on my lemon pie not stand up? There are people in those places that are worth listening to, and they also need perspective. As I get older, and the lemons that I’m used to throwing back at life no longer can be ignored. I want to reiterate to someone how I believe that my life was worth living still and how I have loved, lost, fought and overcome challenges that have made me a worthwhile person. At that stage of his life, I want Randall to have dialogue with someone who wants to know about the time he was fishing in Claremont Harbor and had to warn a swimmer that there was a six foot alligator heading their way and that maybe they should think about heading back to shore; about how to hold a lantern above your head at night when you wade in the gulf in search of flounder and how high you need to roll your pants legs up. Consider Randall Garland worth considering

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FILM REVIEWS

By Fritz Esker & David Vicari

Lightyear

he Toy Story series might be over, but Pixar has made one more attempt to cash in on its signature franchise with the modestly entertaining Lightyear. The Buzz Lightyear action figure from the Toy Story films is supposed to be from a popular movie within that universe. Lightyear purports to be that movie. Chris Evans voices Buzz, a hot-shot space pilot exploring a distant planet with a group of scientists and potential settlers. After a flying mistake by Lightyear strands everyone on the planet, he resolves to fix the problem by any means necessary. Lightyear’s efforts at hyper-speed flight end up altering the fabric of time and he finds himself on the planet decades later. Instead of working with his trusted commander and best friend Alisha, he is now working with her granddaughter Izzy (Keke Palmer). Toy Story fans will not be surprised to know the planet is under attack from Zurg and his robot army. All four of the Toy Story movies are

terrific. Lightyear isn’t in that league. It doesn’t manage the combination of profound emotional depth and rollicking comic action. That said, Lightyear is an entertaining familyfriendly adventure. The funniest moments are provided by Peter Sohn, voicing Buzz’s resourceful robot cat SOX. Taika Waititi also provides some laughs as one of Buzz’s hapless new allies. There are also a couple of good themes/messages for kids. One is that people need to forgive themselves for their own mistakes as much as they need to forgive others, even if it’s often easier to forgive others than yourself. Another is that our joys and failures are intertwined in life; a bad moment can set a person on a path that leads them to happiness. Lightyear has experienced some controversy as some conservatives have objected to Alisha’s character being a lesbian. It’s a rather silly controversy as nothing in the film comes anywhere close to going beyond PG-rated content. It basically just acknowledges the existence of lesbians, which should not be a shocking revelation to anyone in the year 2022. –Fritz Esker

The Phantom of the Open

he Phantom of the Open begins like one of those underdog sports movies where the protagonist comes through with flying colors and wins the big game. That seems to be the way that this movie is going to go, but it doesn't. The hero of the film is Maurice Flitcroft (Mark Rylance), who decides he wants to play professional golf, but he is terrible at the sport, and he never gets any better. Loosely based on the true story of Flitcroft, the film shows him as a crane operator in a shipyard in England. He's getting near retirement age, and hears that layoffs might be coming soon, so, one late night after watching a golf tournament on television, he decides to become a professional golfer. The big problem is that he has never played a round of golf in his life. So he began to study the sport, and practiced in open fields because he wasn't accepted into the local country club. Flitcroft then sent in an application to obtain a spot to play in the qualifying round of the 1976 British Open Championship, and in a hilarious turn of events, he was approved.

He played, and ended up with the absolute worst score in the tournament's history. After that, he was banned from playing at The Open ever again. The movie doesn't end there, however. When the movie has Flitcroft wearing disguises and using fake names to get into The Open, I thought this was surely the wild invention of screenwriter Simon Farnaby, but in doing my research on Flitcroft, I discovered that he really did disguise himself to get in...and he did it repeatedly. Sally Hawkins plays Flitcroft's wife, Jean, who stands by her husband's side as he tries to realize his crazy dream. Yes, it's a thankless role, but Hawkins is such a wonderful actress that she elevates the material. There are scenes between husband and wife that are sweet and even a little touching. The Phantom of the Open isn't the crude, crass, laugh-out-loud comedy that is Caddyshack (1980), but it's not trying to be. Phantom is a low-key, offbeat British comedy with an eccentric and winning performance by Mark Rylance at its center, and it will make you smile. –David Vicari

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WHERE Y'BEEN

OUT & ABOUT WITH

NEPTUNIA GIN MIX OFF FINALS

NEW ORLEANS PRIDE PARADE

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NOLA FOOD FIGHT

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CONGRATS! Winner of a Cruise for Two

AMBER HARRINGTON Tujague’s Restaurant THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED!

MUSIC LINEUP FRIDAY 4:15

The Chitlins

6:00

Big Al & the Heavyweights

7:30

Tullie Brae

9:00

Kenny Neal

SATURDAY 12:00 Abita Blues Band

SEPT. 23-24, 2022