New Year's Issue 2015

January 2015

WhereYat.com

DINING • MUSIC • ENTERTAINMENT • NIGHTLIFE

NewYear'sKiss SugarBowl PhantasticPhở

WhereYat.com | January 2015 | 3

CONTENTS Features 6 New Year's Eve Kiss 12 Fitness on the Go 16 NOLA Video Games

Music & Events 18 Lakeside 2 Riverside 20 Concert Calendar 26 Ones to Watch 28 Album Reviews

Dining 8 2015 Beer Trends 14 NOLA Smoothies 30 Food News 32 $15 and Under 34 Conscious Palate 36 Restaurant Guide

Extras 29 Bar Guide 42 Tales from the Quarter

January 2015 Vol. 18 No. 05 Publisher/Editor-in-Chief: Josh Danzig Creative Director: Greg Roques Music/Assistant Editor: Emily Hingle Movie Editor: David Vicari Copy Editor: Susan Broadhurst Contributing Writers: Kathy Bradshaw, Matt Boudreaux, Chris DiBenedetto, Fritz Esker, Emily Hingle, Telle Ink, Phil LaMancusa, Debbie Lindsey, Craig Magraff Jr., Nora McGunnigle, Andrew Marin, Julie MItchell, Jhesika Menes, Kim Ranjbar, Chris Romaguera, Celeste Turner, Kimmie Tubre, David Vicari Director of Sales: Jeremie Ertle Cover by Jorge Menes Photographers: Jonathan Bachman, Scott Chernis, Gus Escanelle, Jason Hall, Steve Hatley, Jorge Menes, Gary LoVerde, Romney, Greg Roques Interns: Johnathan Cummings, Eric Layer, Kelsey Nibert, Taylor Schoen, Lauren Smith Subscribe: Receive 1 year (14 issues) for $30 and get a FREE Where Y’at CD. Subscribe today at WhereYat.com.

Logo © 2014 All rights reserved Bruce Betzer, Legal Counsel: (504) 304-9952 Where Y’at Magazine 5500 Prytania St., #133 New Orleans, LA 70115 (504) 891-0144 info@whereyat.com | WhereYat.com

43 Po-Boy Views 44 Where Y'at Chat 46 Where Ya' Been?

Happy New Year from Where Y'at! Do you know where you are going to have that special kiss when the clock strikes midnight? If not, then read Leith Tigges’ great piece on special locations to celebrate the fi rst kiss of 2015.

Is your New Year’s resolution to fi nally get in shape? Celeste Turner’s “Fitness on the Go” shows you how to have a productive workout that you can do from home. You’ll also want to read our article on 10 healthy spots around town to fi nd tasty smoothies. But if your resolution is to drink more beer, then Nora McGunnigle’s “Beer Trends” is for you!

Cooler weather is upon us, and a hot bowl of soup is great for warming the soul. Kim Ranjibar’s “$15 & Under” this month focuses on “phantastic” pho. Go visit all of her great picks from uptown to downtown, from MidCity to the West Bank.

Join us on January 13 from 6 to 9 pm at d.b.a. at 618 Frenchmen Street for the 15th Annual Best Bartender of New Orleans Finals presented by Forty Creek Whisky. There’s no cover, and you can enjoy complimentary samples of drink recipes from the Finalists from Finn McCool’s, Bamboula’s, and Parlay’s. Don’t miss it!

—Josh Danzig, Publisher

4 | January 2015 | Table of Contents

WhereYat.com | January 2015 | 5

New Year's Eve Kiss

T

Locations to Ring in 2015

By Leith Tigges

he last big event of the holiday season is coming close and, as usual, you have to do it up big. It is, quite literally, the year’s fi nal fun, the last hurrah. While some might look at it as just a night to party and forget, that doesn’t mean it can’t also be romantic. Say goodbye to the mistletoe and embrace the ball drop for that fi rst kiss to really welcome in the New Year. It’s not just about the New Year’s resolutions and what kind of sparkly dress you or your date will be wearing. To really ring in 2015 the right way, you’ve got to start it off with that perfect, romantic midnight kiss. You’ve got the date, but to make the night a memorable one, you need a place that is just as special.

Bacchanal Wine Bar Strings of twinkling lights, delicious wines, decadent small plates and live music—all perfect ingredients for an unforgettable date night, made even better when it is New Year’s Eve. Bacchanal Wine Bar is magically romantic on any ordinary day. Tucked away among residential homes, this backyard wine bar is the perfect neighborhood spot for celebrating, making it the ideal location for a low-key, intimate New Year’s. Take a break from the end-of-the-year holiday hoopla and spend 2014’s last night with just your signifi cant other. Unplug from the countdowns and New Year’s resolutions clogging up social media and share a romantic night. 600 Poland Ave. • 948-9111 • bacchanalwine.com Hotel Le Marais New Year’s Eve is about treating yourself and your loved ones, and an easy, thoughtful way to do so is to celebrate the evening with a quick getaway, even if that means driving just 10 minutes away from home. Feel free to shy away from the big chain hotels and take a peek at the quaint appeal of New Orleans’ boutique hotels. Ideal for spontaneous weekends, holidays and those late nights out on the town, boutique hotels off er a luxurious and charming way to ring in the New Year.

A quiet night for two is easily made special and romantic when it turns into a mini vacation. Check out the French Quarter’s Hotel Le Marais for a chic evening. 717 Conti St. • 525-2300 hotellemarais.com City Park This magical park off ers more than 1000 acres of beauty beneath some of the city’s ancient oak trees.

Roam the sculpture and botanical gardens and share a romantic evening with fi reworks. With the park’s Celebration in the Oaks holiday attraction still in swing until January 3, you and your signifi cant other will get the pleasure of the last bit of celebrating the holidays. Dozens of Christmas trees and light displays will still be adorning the park, lighting the perfect pathway for a romantic kiss at midnight. No need to spend the evening among strangers and tourists; simply enjoy the company of

loved ones at this historic New Orleans beauty. 1 Palm Dr. • 482-4888 • neworleanscitypark.com Jackson Square Jackson Square is one of New Orleans’ most notorious and popular spots. Known as one of the most beautiful areas in the French Quarter, Jackson Square always draws a crowd, no matter what day it is. It’s a beautiful area to celebrate the holidays, and with the Square’s annual Christmas caroling coming to an end, the New Year’s celebrations are in full swing. Always a popular spot for New Year’s Eve, couples can gather for 15 minutes of fi reworks followed by Jax Brewery’s Fleur de Lis drop, setting the scene for the perfect midnight kiss. 700 Decatur St. • 658-3200

Woldenberg Riverfront Park If you’re into spending New Year’s Eve near the water but aren’t feeling like a boat ride, spend the night at NOLA’s Woldenberg Park. Take in the 16 acres of artwork, sculptures and riverfront green space. Being in close proximity to Jackson Square, the riverfront park is a great spot for watching the evening’s fi reworks along the Mississippi River. Bring a couple of chairs or a cozy blanket to share with your signifi cant other. 1 Canal St. • 565-3033

Jacks on Square

Reveillon Dinner at Andrea’s Restaurant With the holiday happenings in New Orleans coming to a close, the city’s famous Reveillon dinners also come to an end until next year. But there’s still time to savor the last few nights of this special Big Easy tradition and surprise your signifi cant other with an extravagant meal to close out 2014. Andrea’s Restaurant is known for its exclusively lovely and delicious dishes, promising an even better evening during the holidays for their special Reveillon dinners. You and your loved ones are guaranteed a memorable night of decadent dinner courses. Don’t forget the champagne! 3100 19th Street at Ridgelake • 834-8583 • andreasrestaurant.com

Bac chanal Wine Bar

6 | January 2015 | New Year's Eve Kiss

Year’s Eve shenanigans, and the Delachaise will give you the perfect backdrop for your celebratory needs. Find a table for you and your signifi cant other on the outdoor patio, the wine bar’s signature spot of relaxation and charm. With Christmas tree lights woven throughout the branches of nearby trees and the St. Charles streetcar just mere feet away, the Delachaise off ers a romantic atmosphere to ring in 2015. Choose from their extensive drink menu and feast on quality dishes of mussels and pommes frites. 3442 St Charles Ave. • 895-0858 • thedelachaise.com

The Delachaise It’s pretty much guaranteed that one or two (or more … no judgment) beverages will be involved in your New

New Year’s Eve Dinner Party at Bywater Country Club This country club might be famous for its former clothing-optional policy, but that doesn’t mean it won’t provide the perfect setting for a romantic New Year’s Eve. Off ering a fi ve-course dinner, a live brass band and plenty of champagne, the Bywater Country Club guarantees a great setup for a great kiss at midnight. As the club’s end-of-the-year events tend to be very popular and crowded, reservations for the soiree are recommended. 634 Louisa St. • 9450742 • thecountryclubneworleans.com

The Tasting Room While it’s probably obvious by now that wine is ideal for a romantic evening or holiday celebration, New Orleans’ Tasting Room reiterates this point by off ering an elegant wine bar and lounge restaurant featuring romantic tastings of truffl e fries and cheese plates, fl utes of champagne and premium fl ights. The ambiance of the Tasting Room can’t be beat, and it’s the ideal restaurant for an intimate evening with great service. Start the New Year cozy, sipping on only the best wines, and fi nish the night with one of the restaurant’s raved-about desserts. 1906 Magazine St. • 581-3880 Creole Queen New Orleans may be known for its crazy festivals and never-ending nights of bar hopping, but the gorgeous river is not to be forgotten. Perfect for picnics on warm, breezy afternoons and ideal for romantic walks along the water’s edge, the river gets even better when you can get yourself out on a boat, especially for New Year’s Eve. Start out 2015 on NOLA’s Creole Queen for a romantic river ride with your signifi cant other. Order tickets online to enjoy a DJ and open bar while you sail under fi reworks and sip champagne. All of the perfect romantic elements play a part in the Creole Queen’s idea of the perfect New Year’s Eve. #1 Poydras • 587-1719 • creolequeen.com/contact-us @LeithTigges

WhereYat.com | January 2015 | 7

By Nora D. McGunnigle

I

t’s diffi cult to predict what direction craft beer will be going in next year, but here are my thoughts for the Top 8 beer trends in New Orleans and Louisiana in 2015.

1. More local breweries Hopefully, in 2015, Cajun Fire, Second Line, Wayward Owl and Urban South will join NOLA Brewing and Courtyard Brewery in New Orleans. Statewide, Mudbug in Thibodaux will open and Tom Conklin’s Chappapeela Farms Brewery in Husser on the North Shore will open or be well on its way to opening.

2. More civic education and advocacy for local breweries and businesses The success of breweries opening in New Orleans is very much dependent on City Council, the City Planning Commission, and the Louisiana Offi ce of Alcohol and Tobacco Control. There are a lot of very old laws on the city and state books that are actively holding back the growth of these small businesses. Only education and advocacy will turn the tide to help New Orleans be more business friendly and include small breweries in their goal to support entrepreneurship. To that end, a group of New Orleans brewers and breweries are forming a city-specifi c guild to both educate city offi cials and other stakeholders and advocate for a more positive business growth environment. If successful, that will be a critical piece of ensuring that the 2015 brewery forecast lives up to expectations.

3. Barrel-aged beers The increasing number of breweries both opening in the state and coming

8 | January 2015 | 2015 Beer Trends

to the state from other areas means an increasing diversity of types of beers. Many local breweries, like Abita, Bayou Teche, NOLA Brewing, Old Rail Brewing Company, Parish Brewing and Covington Brewhouse, have begun barrel-aging programs. Abita’s Bourbon Street bourbon barrel-aging series of beer is becoming more and more popular, and Bayou Teche’s series has resulted in a wide range of beer aged in both bourbon and French wine barrels. I predict that experimentation will continue, leading Louisiana’s breweries to constantly push the envelope on fl avors, using the complex notes that come from used (and new) whiskey and wine barrels.

4. Sour, wild and funky beers Barrel aging often, but not always, leads to breweries thinking seriously about sour and funky beer fermentation processes. By using yeasts once considered disastrous to successful brewing, like Lactobacillus or Brettanomyces, breweries can make beers with a wide range of tart, sour or funky fl avors. NOLA Brewing has released two sour beers: Piety, a 100% Lactobacillusfermented American Wild/Sour Ale, and Lowerline, fermented with both Lactobacillus and Brettanomyces and aged with tart cherries. Parish Brewing and Tin Roof have done some experimentation for Louisiana Craft Brewers Week and/or American Craft Beer Week, and Bayou Teche is planning to celebrate its fi fth anniversary in February

Expect more barrel-aged beers to be in demand in 2015. with a persimmon beer that will be soured in some fashion.

5. Lagers Other styles are also proving increasingly popular. Lindsay Nations of Shreveport’s Great Raft Brewery predicts an overall increase in lager brewing. Brewing a lager involves using a whole diff erent class of yeast than ale yeast, and requires very cold fermentation. While the German styles that Abita, Crescent City Brewhouse, Gordon Biersch NOLA and Covington Brewhouse are known for all require lager yeast and fermentation (called “lagering”), more and more modern twists on the beer genre are entering the market. Great Raft is well known for its lager program.

Two of its fl agship beers, Southern Drawl Pale Lager and Reasonably Corrupt Black Lager, have spread lager love to those who associate “lager” with tasteless, fi zzy, yellow mainstream beers. Great Raft has also done small-batch lagers like At Arms Length Imperial Pale Lager, a hoppy lager version of the popular IPA (Imperial Pale Ale) style. And although Abita has been making lager since it opened 28 years ago, the past two years have found them acclaimed by the Great American Beer Festival. Abita’s Andygator Helles Doppelbock won silver in the Bock category in 2013 and, this past year, their new Oktoberfest lager took home bronze in the German-Style Marzen category. Lagers are hugely popular and will continue to break out of the German mold in 2015 and become a unique American and Louisiana version of the classic lager styles.

6. Growlers Another trend that’s just starting to amp up and will hopefully increase exponentially in 2015 is the growler fi ll trend. A growler is a 32- or 64-ounce jug or bottle that can be fi lled at a brewery or bar for the customer to take home. Courtyard Brewery encourages growler sales and a relative newcomer to the New Orleans craft beer retail scene is Pearl Wine Company, which has just started a growler program of its own. NOLA Brewing will fi ll growlers of their beer (not their experimental stuff , though) in its tap room as well. I think 2015 will be

when more retailers realize the market for fi lling and selling beer on draft to go.

This may be something that requires some legislation change on the state and/or city level, however.

7. Local collaborations Larger craft breweries like Sierra Nevada and New Belgium are all about working with other breweries to create and brew beer together. And as the number of Louisiana breweries increases, local collaborations will increase as well. Mandeville’s Chafunkta Brewing led the way in 2014, collaborating with neighboring Old Rail brewpub on Off the Tracks, a Belgian ale brewed with boysenberries for American Craft Beer Week in May. For Louisiana Craft Brewers Week in September, Chafunkta’s Josh Erickson teamed up with his old homebrew buddy, Gnarly Barley’s Zac Caramonta, to create a black IPA called Black Tooth Grin. In 2015, I predict more breweries will get in on this trend, as it’s a great way to share resources and encourage collegiality between brewers. And it’s fun for the consumer to see what two diff erent brewers can do when they put their heads together.

8. Local beers overtaking national craft brands And fi nally, although the New Orleans craft beer market has been getting some really great and well-known national beer brands as of late, like Bruery, Lagunitas, Green Flash and New Belgium (to name a few), I think 2015 is when there will be more local options to outsell non-local craft beer.

New Orleans and Louisiana as a whole have populations that are fi ercely loyal to what’s local, and as more breweries open in the city and state, the better the local options will be. Competition will drive all breweries to produce better and better beers. And eventually, our brewers will take back the craft beer market, the taps and the shelf space that’s allocated to beers from other parts of the country.

All signs point to 2015 being the Year of Louisiana Beer. @noradeirdre

WhereYat.com | January 2015 | 9

qualifi cations required for this job than you may think. It’s defi nitely not easy.

The job requires superhuman strength and marathonrunner endurance to carry all those heavy plates, run circles around the restaurant, and stay on your feet for many hours. We have to have the patience of a saint, the balance of a Cirque de Soleil performer—to steady trays of precariously balanced, tippy glasses, and the fl exibility of a Twister champion: Reaching far across the table, without

There are nearly 60,000 people working in the restaurant biz in New Orleans. It wasn’t until I moved here that I started to see service industry workers actually getting some of the credit we really deserve.

An Ode to Waiters

By Kathy Bradshaw

I

have a friend who tends to refer to me as a waitress, and I am continuously correcting him. I’m not really a waitress. We don’t use that term anymore. It has fallen into political incorrectness, much the same way as the term “stewardess” is bad form when talking about a fl ight attendant. Coincidentally, since I am on my feet 10+ hours at at time, I decided to treat my exhausted tootsies to a pedicure the other day. And they give cutesie names to nail polish these days, like they name paint colors or horses. So I selected a fabulous bright red shade that would also pay tribute to my proper job title. It was called “I’m Not Really a Waitress.” Nope, I am a server. Or, better yet, a service engineer. A menu consultant. A hospitality ambassador….

I work in the service industry. And here in New Orleans, that is serious business.

There are nearly 60,000 people working in the restaurant biz in New Orleans. It wasn’t until I moved here that I started to see service industry workers actually getting some of the credit we really deserve. In New Orleans, there are all kinds of perks: we get discounts in many local bars and restaurants, the occasional special event in our honor, and a lucrative $2.13 an hour! While most places you go, on the other hand, being a server is a pretty thankless, underappreciated job. (Except for maybe in New York City.

The bartenders are superheroes there, cloaked in all black capes and tights.)

People tend to take us for granted. To look down on us: “She’s just a server.” They consider our line of work as a job

10 | January 2015 | An Ode to Waiters

for those who can’t do any other job. A last resort. Plan C. Are you unemployed? “Well, I can always get a job as a waiter at Applebee’s.”

Are you sure about that?

For the majority of folks working in the service industry, this is a career choice, not a fallback option. We are not beauty school dropouts. Sure, there will always be those chasing tips merely to pay the bills. But many people do it because it allows them the fl exibility to pursue other interests on the side. The actors, artists…aspiring writers.

And still others do this because they actually enjoy it. Must be for the glory.

So before you drop off your resume at Denny’s, think long and hard about whether or not you really have what it takes to be a good server. There are far more skills and

falling over or sticking an elbow in the guest’s face. Keep the tray behind you. Left foot on red. Spin again.

We have to be a mindreader and a psychic. We are supposed to assume that since you ordered a Diet Coke, you must also want the sauce on the side. Your faithful server must read between the lines and know what you really meant to order, instead of what you actually asked him for. We also need to be an amateur tailor, due to all the washing and ironing and starching our uniforms require.

And a housekeeper, with all that clearing and wiping and cleaning up of other people’s messes.

And there are so many rules and regulations, it’s like following a military regiment. To get to where we are now, we’ve all been put through service boot camp. Serve from the right. Clear from the left. Ladies fi rst. Don’t point.

Never cross your arms. How to walk. How to talk. You need the dedication and discipline of a Marine.

We are the few. The proud. The undertipped.

But be polite. Be perky. At all times. Keep that corkscrew in your pocket and the smile of a pageant queen, or an escaped lunatic, permanently glued on your face.

If you’ve ever thought any dummy could do this, think again. You need above-average intelligence and a photographic memory, as you will be required to know every single ingredient of every single item on the entire menu, along with having the wine expertise of a high-class sommelier, and remembering at least 347 drink recipes.

Most professional servers could probably get into med school with their knowledge of every conceivable food allergy or digestive reaction. And you better YouTube your Top Chef episodes, because you need to know your velouté from your béchamel from your remoulade. And your baguettes from your pistolettes. Not to mention most of us are genius-level math whizzes who can calculate 20% of any number, quicker than you can say cheapskate.

You’re right, it’s not rocket science. It’s far more complicated than that. Compared to the service industry, rocket science would be a piece of cake.

Cake? Don’t forget the dessert spoons.

So….the next time you dine out, treat your servers well.

You are probably dealing with trained professionals worthy of your respect. Be nice to them and they’ll be nice to you.

It’s with good reason that they say never to bite the hand that feeds you. Equally important, the hand that feeds you won’t appreciate being stiff ed on the tip.

WhereYat.com | January 2015 | 11

Fitness on the Go

By Celeste Turner

A

lthough the holidays are over, many of us may still be battling weight gain from ditching the workouts. After the endless hours of traveling, offi ce parties and family meals, a proactive plan using these 10 exercises to get back in shape off ers surprising benefi ts and stronger muscles for anyone on the go.

You do not need to lift weights or fi nd a gym. By using your own body weight, this easy workout plan will produce results and provide no excuses for the holiday traveler.

Doing three body-weight workouts per week can reduce stress, boost your metabolism and build muscle.

Always start with a full-body warm-up, which includes high knees, jumping jacks, fast walking and dynamic stretches, for approximately 10 minutes. Wearing a heart rate monitor during your workout may assist you in exercising effi ciently and within your target heart range.

Instead of trying to fi t hours of exercise into your day, why not consider mixing cardio exercises with your body weight and strength moves for a type of circuit training program?

Circuit training targets all of your muscle groups and helps you to stay fi t by keeping your heart rate elevated throughout the entire workout. As you move quickly from one exercise to another, you can use either a time limit or a specifi ed number of repetitions for each activity.

Do not rest between exercise stations. Here are the 10 best exercises for the body on the move.

1. Lunges. Stand with your hands by your side and feet together. Step forward with your right foot, and lower your hips until your right thigh is parallel to the ground. Pause while your left knee dips to the fl oor, then push off with your left foot back to a standing position. That completes one repetition. Aim for 10 reps on each side.

One minute of jumping jacks

4. Single-leg deadlift. Stand with your feet shoulder- to hip-width apart and fold your right hand behind your back.

Raise your right foot and leg off the ground and bend its knee behind you. Keep your head looking forward and send your left arm toward the ground. Don’t drop your chin as you bend your torso forward while keeping your feet locked in place.

Just before your left hand touches the ground, push down on your right foot and straighten your torso to a standing position. That completes one repetition. Try to do at least 5 reps on each leg.

One minute of jogging in place.

5. Plank. Get into a push-up position on the ground with your arms extended and your body in a straight line from head to heels. Bend your elbows and rest yourself on your forearms while holding your torso tight and straight. Pull in your abs and hold for 15 seconds. That completes one repetition.

Try to do 5 reps and focus on your core to remain centered.

One minute of lateral hops (one foot taps over to the other foot).

6. Side lunge. Stand with feet together and step out with your right foot angled to the right side, then lean into that side. Make sure your knee does not extend over the toes. Then bring your right foot back to center position. That completes one repetition. Do 10 reps on each side.

One minute of jumping jacks or jumping rope.

Lunges

2. Squats. Stand tall with your feet shoulder-width apart.

Bend your knees slowly and push your hips back to lower your body to a seated position, as far as you can. Make sure your knees do not extend past your toes. Pause and then slowly push yourself up through your heels to a standing position. That completes one repetition. Aim to do 10 repetitions. If you feel unstable or uneasy, use a chair or stool to perform a squat, barely touching the seat with your bottom each time.

One minute of alternating knee lifts to opposite elbow.

3. Burpee. First, you reach up with both hands and explode up with your legs, as if you were shooting a basketball into the hoop. Then, put your hands down to the fl oor and send your feet, chest and hips into a push-up

12 | January 2015 | Fitness on the Go

position. That completes one repetition. Aim to fi nish at least 5 reps with an added jump to “shoot the hoops.”

One minute of side-step while pumping arms.

7. Bicycle abs. Lie fl at on the fl oor with your knees bent in the air and hands behind your head. Lift your upper body by using your abs to fl ex your spine and alternate opposite elbow to knee. Keeping your abs tight and head off the ground, reach your right elbow to left knee and then switch: left elbow to right knee. This completes one repetition. Do 10 reps while always keeping tension on your abs.

One minute of jogging in place.

8. Side plank. Get into a push-up position with your arms extended and your body in a straight line from head to ankles. Raise your right arm into the air above your shoulders while balancing on your left arm and your legs

Running in place keeps your heart rate elevated between sets. stacked on top of each other. Hold the move for 5 seconds, keeping abs tight and back straight. Rotate left to work opposite side. Complete 5 reps on each side. You can lift your top leg to make the move more challenging while you hold the position.

One minute of high knees.

9. Inchworm. From a standing position, bend forward and place your hands on the ground with a slight bend in your knees. Slowly, start to crawl your hands away from your feet until you end up in a push-up position. After a brief hold, keep your hands stationed on the ground and begin walking your toes forward. As you walk your feet toward your hands, lift your hips while keeping your legs tight, not locked, until you wind up back in the toe-touch position.

That completes one repetition. Do 5 reps, and for a more intense workout, add 3 push-ups while in push-up position.

One minute of squat jumps.

10. Bridge. Lie fl at on the fl oor with your knees bent and feet fl at on the ground hip-width apart. Next, gently tense your abs and hold it while you raise your hips off the ground. Pause and keep your back straight. Then lower to starting position and do 15 repetitions. To increase intensity, try holding one leg in the air while your hips come off the ground and return to starting position.

Beginners generally do one circuit of the exercises listed above, while intermediate/advanced-level fi tness buff s complete 2 or 3 circuits. If you are interested in partnering your workout with a fi tness app on your phone, check out “You Are Your Own Gym.” This app costs $3.79 and gives you instant access to other body-weight exercises, with more than 200 video demonstrations.

Photos by Jorge Menes, courtesy of tasc Performance — tascPerformance.com.

WhereYat.com | January 2015 | 13

Local Spots for Healthy Smoothies

By Celeste Turner

D

oing double duty during the holidays makes it easy to blow your diet by skipping meals and treating every party like it’s an invitation to indulge. To get things back in gear for the new year, try one of these healthy smoothies at local spots around town.

1. Superfood Bar, located at 4113 Magazine Street, notably off ers a diverse menu of smoothies. The top two contenders for most popular smoothie are the Green Avocado—avocado, coconut kefi r and dates—and the Green Superfoods—lemon and granola, which perhaps is the most nutritious and original smoothie created by chef/owner Amie Havens. Superfood Bar’s smoothies are characterized by an exclusive selection of healthy sweeteners such as whole dates and bananas, while their base is whole coconut, nuts, avocado or banana. They also ferment their own vegan cheeses, kombucha, kimchi and kefi r, all in-house.

Superfood Bar features meal replacement alternatives such as Muscle Mealk and Protein Purity smoothies. Smoothies are either 16- or 24-ounce servings for an average price of $6.50.

2. Smoothie King has more than 50 locations around the city and surrounding parishes, from LaPlace and Slidell to Ponchatoula and Harahan. Traditionally known for their vast array of tasty combinations, the most popular smoothie at Smoothie King is Angel Food, although

14 | January 2015 | Local Spots for Healthy Smoothies

Muscle Punch is a close second in New Orleans. While their classic smoothies mix fruit and fruit juice with nutrients and protein powder, Smoothie King recently introduced Veggie Blends and Vegan smoothies. This new Vegan line incorporates Sunwarrior plant-based protein and mango, banana, kale and/or dark chocolate, which can make for a hearty and healthy meal. Smoothie King has almost 20 smoothies that could serve as a meal replacement. They are available in 20-, 32- and 40-ounce sizes that range from $2.99 to $8. They also off er 12-ounce kids’ cups.

3. Jamba Juice has three locations at 3341 Magazine Street, 930 Poydras Street, Suite #102 and in Metairie at 730 Veterans Boulevard, Unit C. Surprisingly, their most popular smoothie, Apple n’ Greens—with kale, apple, mango, peach and banana—is both delicious and nutritious since Jamba Juice found a way to mask the kale fl avor.

They have a variety of fruits and vegetables that can be mixed in with your smoothie, including beets, spinach, chia seeds, cucumber, ginger, kale, pineapple, apple and carrots. Other all-natural additions include the Lean Advantage Boost, chia

diff erent sizes: 16 ounces for $7.40, 20 ounces for $8.35 and 32 ounces for $10.

In addition, there are smoothies like The Rainbow Connection that kids love to drink.

This delicious treat is fruit juice combined with frozen peaches, mangoes, bananas, strawberries and blueberries.

Lemonade Parade Smoothie Cafe seeds, 3G Charger Boost for caff eine, antioxidants, Quaker oats, daily vitamins, whey and soy protein, and Energy Boost (B vitamins). The smoothie sizes are 16, 22 and 28 ounces, and 9 ounces for kids. If you’re looking for a fresh squeezed juice, one recommendation is Great Greens, made with lemon, cucumber, spinach and apple and generally refreshing, especially with ginger added to it!

4. Lemonade Parade Smoothie Café is in the heart of Mid-City at 4709 S. Carrollton Avenue, one block from the Canal Street streetcar line. All smoothies are vegan and are included in the “Eat Fit NOLA” program. Their green smoothies are increasingly becoming the most popular, since customers can create their own smoothie by adding their choice of greens to any fruit smoothie. For example, Dancing in the Streets Strawberry is made with kale, spinach and hemp protein. This 20-ounce smoothie has 5 servings of fruit and 4 servings of vegetables, 11 grams of protein and 14 grams of fi ber, as well as NO added sugar. Now that’s a healthy way to skip a meal. With an extensive line of nutritional supplements, Lemonade Parade Smoothie Café’s menu has 20-ounce smoothies starting at $5. The larger size of 32 ounces is priced at $8.

5. Back to the Garden, located at 833 Howard Avenue, Suite 100 in the Lafayette Square Historic District, off ers a variety of all-natural fruit smoothies in a single serving size for $3.25. For a healthy snack or meal, try the protein drink, a blend of apple juice, banana, soy protein powder, brewer’s yeast, honey and molasses.

6. d’Juice Fresh Juice, located at 8237 Oak Street, has a unique smoothie called It’s Not Easy Being Green. It’s made with fresh juiced kale, spinach, green apple and cucumber, blended with frozen mangoes, bananas and peaches. Considered the most popular smoothie because it tastes so good, this mix has the tasty greens with the high nutritional value. Some people do use it as a meal replacement, or as a healthy snack. Their smoothies come in

7. Green Fork (two locations at 1400 Prytania Street and 200 Metairie Road) uses fresh fruits and vegetables such as kale, coconut, mango and banana for their sensational smoothies. Select a mood or expression for your smoothie, such as Peaceful, made with cucumber, ginger, apple, lime, cranberries and agave. Sizes and prices of smoothies vary. A complete menu is available on their website.

8. Smoothie Time, located at 3908 Veterans Boulevard adjacent to the French Riviera Fitness Center, serves a wide array of smoothies, including meal replacements and additional supplements.

9. Beaucoup Juice is located at 4719 Freret Street. The smoothie called Tipitina, named after the famous local music venue, has been voted as the most popular item on their menu. However, the Açaí Bowl, recognized as a Brazilian classic, has gained more recognition as a smoothie in a bowl.

Beaucoup Juice incorporates local fruits and veggies into diff erent types of Açaí Bowls and smoothies, including green and açaí smoothies. Customers can ask to have veggies added to any smoothie on the menu. Sizes range from 16 to 20 ounces and smoothies are priced between $6 and $10.

10. Whole Foods Market has three locations around the city at 3420 Veterans Boulevard, 300 North Broad Street, Suite 103 and 5600 Magazine Street. Recognized as a fresh and organic whole food source, Whole Foods’ website off ers an assortment of delicious fruit and vegetable smoothie recipes. The Baton Rouge Whole Foods Market is the closest location, at 7529 Corporate Boulevard, that has an actual smoothie bar inside the store. Smoothie ideas like Strawberry Almond Butter, a creamy smoothie recipe listed on the Whole Foods Market website, will tempt your taste buds without taking a lot of time. Another recipe to substitute for a quick breakfast is the Double Green Smoothie, packed with the nutrients of hearty greens and a simple blend of fruits. A list of ingredients with instructions are found on the website, accompanied by a video featuring this delicious recipe.

So, if you’re looking for a meal, a snack or even a thirst-quenching treat, pick up and enjoy a healthy smoothie made with the freshest fruits and vegetables from one of these hot spots around town.

WhereYat.com | January 2015 | 15

Video Games Set in New Orleans

By Greg Roques

N

ew Orleans has made countless appearances in literature and fi lm – particularly since the post-Katrina Hollywood South boom. Most, however, overlook its inclusion in video games. The Big Easy has been the setting of many a button-masher spanning more than 20 years. Below is a list of games in which the Crescent City makes an appearance.

Death Race (1990, Nintendo Entertainment System) As a kid I can remember renting this game many a Friday afternoon. It was a lesser known title by a nobody developer, but the box told you all you needed to know: fast cars, killer robots, and guns...lots of guns. Death Race is based on the 1970's fi lm of the same name, later remade in 2005 starring Jason Statham—pretty much telling you all you need to know about the movie. Death Race is also cited as an infl uence for the fi rst Grand Theft Auto.

The game play has you drive an armored car excessively accessorized with fi repower. You progress to the next stage by collecting a series of fl ags, and gain points to upgrade your vehicle by killing everything in site...even pedestrians are fair game.

I was pretty stoked back then when I got to the New Orleans stage. However, this was back in the 8-bit era— every stage looked the same. It was a bit disheartening to see nothing that reminded me of home, but technical limitations aside, the game does take place in an apocalyptic future—maybe it was all “ain't dere no more.”

The Adventures of Bayou Billy (1991, Nintendo Entertainment System) Set in the swamps of Louisiana, Bayou Billy’s fi nal stage is a showdown on Bourbon Street. New Orleans' pixilated landscape fi rst begins to take shape in this game. You can recognize Spanish architecture downtown in some of the background building designs, and in case you still question exactly where you’re at, the word “Bar” is plastered sporadically on several of the properties. Not that I can recall any of this from personal experience. This game is so anuerism-inducingly challenging I still can’t get past the fi rst stage.

Bayou Billy’s back-story goes something like a Swamp People take on Tarzan: orphaned as a boy, Billy was raised by gators, bringing him up to be a total badass. Judging by this game’s diffi culty, everyone in Louisiana is raised by gators...that, or Billy was clearly a disappointment to his amphibious foster parents.

Save yourself the agony of seeking out and playing this perdition on your patience—YouTube it instead.

The Adventures of Bayou Billy 16 | January 2015 | Video Games Set in New Orleans

James Bond: Everything or Nothing (2003, PlayStation 2) Everything or Nothing’s plot revolves around a terrorist organization developing WMDs in the form of nanotechnology. Midway into the game, an informant dies and tells you to go to a plantation in New Orleans. There, you learn the terrorists' plan to release the nano-bots to destroy the levees, fl ooding the city. With that, your next mission begins—stop them.

New Orleans here appears more like L.A. than LA, just with a plantation and St. Louis Cathedral thoughtlessly placed at random. I imagine the designers already had a stock city ready to go, later doing a cursory Google Images search for some icons to throw in to put a face on it. The one shining exception is the Ponchartrain Bridge stage. The motorcycle chase is thrilling, and the city appears picture perfect in the distance. Bond crashes Mardi Gras at one point, but again, Mardi Gras as envisioned by someone who has never been to or remotely researched the festival—it comes across more like a Latin carnival than Fat Tuesday.

Despite the eerie Katrina-esque foreshadowing and a failing grade for verisimilitude, this game is solid. A strong story and engaging missions give it good replay value. This game also marks the last appearance of Pierce Brosnan as James Bond, and once again features Judi Dench as M. Tony Hawk’s Underground 2 (2004, PlayStation 2) I was a fan of the Tony Hawk games up until the Underground series. I remember playing this with a friend in college, and it just never grabbed me. Maybe it was the introduction of a storyline—it does nothing but slow down the game when all you want to do is skate.

This second installment in the series pits Tony Hawk and his crew in a series of competitions against fellow proskater and Jackass star Bam Margera. The storyline here is heavily based around Margera’s second MTV show, Viva La Bam, which was popular around the time of this release.

This game nails its depiction of the French Quarter better than any other game I’ve played. Everything from the Cathedral and the Superdome to the intermittent zydeco jingle…it's all here. The parking garages look just how they do downtown, and Bourbon St. features many of the same jernts you’d recognize if you skated (or stumbled) down there this second. You can even skate into Pat O’Brien's courtyard and go through the fountain – awesome. A carnival clown can be unlocked as a playable character, and if you pull off the right trick, he’ll off er to buy you a drink while an image of a Hurricane pops on the screen. One of the missions even requires you to make “5 Girls Go Crazy,” a wink at the old Girls Gone Wild Mardi Gras videos. Nice.

Left 4 Dead 2 (2009, X-Box 360) The Walking Dead? More like the running dead. If the zombies in AMC’s The Walking Dead stumble about ATL like a tourist after one-too-many Hand Grenades, Left 4 Dead 2’s zombies dash at you like sprinters on a meth-binge.

Left 4 Dead 2 is a fi rst-person shooter that sees a group

Tony Hawk's Underground 2 of survivors in the aftermath of the zombie apocalypse as they seek shelter, heading from Atlanta to New Orleans.

This is what I like to call a meathead game – little plot, no strategy, just lots of repetitive slaughter. But it does slaughter well…heck, it elevates it to an art form. Like gore?

You’ll love Left 4 Dead 2. The entire game is a Red Bulltweaked rendition of Call of Duty’s zombie mode, just with progressive stages in place of level ups.

As for the New Orleans stage, I was impressed. The layout of Jackson Square is a bit off , as is its proximity to Woldenberg Park, but you are able to recognize where you are. The attention to detail here is not nearly as impressive as in Tony Hawk’s Underground 2, but it is a diff erent type of game. The pace at which zombies attack you doesn’t give you an opportunity to peruse, so the developers probably didn’t see the harm in cutting a few cartographic corners.

This is by far my favorite title on this list. It is killer fun running through downtown New Orleans mowing down an endless army of zombies.

The following games I have not played, but they seemed worth mentioning in this rundown: Infamous 2 (2011, PlayStation 3) Set in the fi ctional city of New Marais (based on New Orleans), you assume the role of Cole MacGrath, a man who in the series’ fi rst installment gains the ability to harness electricity. He comes to New Marais to stop a biblical baddy known as The Beast from destroying the world.

From the start, New Marais pays ode to New Orleans with jazz musicians on its corners and locally inspired building designs. Later in the game, the city fl oods, becoming—unsubtly—referred to as “Flood Town.” Many critics applauded the game for its post-Katrina depiction, considering it a virtual reality simulator of sorts, allowing players to empathize with the tragedy. In addition to the acclaimed socio-political context, it’s supposed to be a lot of fun too—the true gauge of any worthwhile game.

Assassins Creed III: Liberation (2012, PlayStation Vita) Assassins Creed is one of the best-selling series of the past several years. The recurring plot involves a syndicate of time police, called the Assassins, that travel backwards in history via a machine allowing them to inhabit the host bodies of historical fi gures, reliving their lives and memories. This one-off entry features the series’ fi rst female protagonist, a Creole living in 18th century New Orleans at the end of the French and Indian War. The game was praised for its beautiful re-imagining of 18th century New Orleans, and its celebration of the city’s diverse cultural heritage; the game play, however, was panned. @GregRoques

WhereYat.com | January 2015 | 17

Lakeside2Riverside

FESTIVAL & EVENT PREVIEWS

the Forty Creek Whisky Best Bartender of New Orleans.

Fitness/Races

ends at Washington Artillery Park joanofarcparade.org The Krewe de Jeanne d'Arc are dedicated creators and runners of New Orleans' Joan of Arc parade.

Beginning in 2008, the krewe will embark on its eighth year in 2015. To honor and celebrate the matron of the fest, the parade always falls on January 6, which is Joan of Arc's birthday. The parade is unlike most Mardi Gras–style parades, as it's modeled after medieval parades from Joan's time in 1400s France. You'll see jugglers, knights, stilt walkers and much more. The walking parade incorporates festive medieval costumes, music, characters and throws. It is open to the public and krewe membership is off ered to men, women and children.

Rock ’n’ Roll Marathon Sunday, January 25, 7:30 a.m.

Wizard World Comic Con Starts at Poydras and Camp Friday, January 9 - Sunday, January 11 Streets Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, 900 Convention www.runrocknroll.

Center Blvd. competitor.com/newwizardworld.com/home-neworleans orleans Nerds, geeks and dorks of all kinds are invited to gather Most people would at the Wizard World New Orleans Comic Con. In recent agree that listening to years, the con has been a success. It's lured hundreds of music while running fans who are as colorful and kooky as the characters they makes exercising a little cosplay. This year's Comic Con is a star-studded event. It less torturous. The tempo, features the likes of Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy) from the beats and lyrics can help to Harry Potter franchise and The Walking Dead star Norman kick you into overdrive, which Reedus (Daryl Dixon). In addition, Comic Con will host Ian results in a better workout.

Somerhalder (Damon Salvatore) and Paul Wesley (Stefan Rock ’n’ Roll Marathon has Salvatore), stars of The Vampire Diaries. Experience the art, created a marathon with a twist. panels, screenings, shopping, signings and more.

The run is lined with live bands that Battle of New Orleans rock out while participants sweat it Bicentennial J a n ua Marvel Universe LIVE! out. Afterwards, there's a post-race Wednesday, January 7- Saturday, r y 9 - Januar y 11 Thursday, January 15 - Sunday, January 18 party at which Trombone January 10, Various locations Smoothie King Center, 1501 Dave Dixon Dr. Shorty and KONGOS will perform. battleofneworleans2015.com marveluniverselive.com/tour-ticket/ Admission also grants you access The Battle of New Orleans was a crucial turning point neworleans-la1857610501 to a two-day fi tness expo at the during the War of 1812. A victory for American troops From Iron Man to Wolverine, Marvel has created one of Convention Center. against their British opponents forced Britain to reconsider the most diverse and expansive collection of superheroes, our budding nation. The unexpected win for Andrew villains, characters and stories. Comic books have already Jackson in the Gulf led to ratifi cation of the Treaty of Ghent, jumped from the page to the big and small screens, but which ended the war. The bicentennial celebration of this now they come to life in a one-of-a-kind live action historic battle will include many exciting events, such as Allstate Sugar Bowl event. Marvel Universe LIVE! brings together more concerts, parades, fi reworks, battle re-enactments, parties Thursday, January 1, 7:30 p.m. than 25 Marvel characters for an epic quest and and more. The grand fi nale includes an Andrew Jackson Mercedes-Benz Superdome, battle against Loki. The malicious god has victory dinner and dance reception at Antoine's Restaurant.

1500 Sugar Bowl Dr. been tracking down pieces of the über allstatesugarbowl.org powerful Cosmic Cube to try to gain Forgotten Conflicts: Indians, Andrew Jackson and the The number one ranked team in the nation, the its strength and wipe out the planet, War of 1812 in the South Alabama Crimson Tide, will take on number four team, the if not the entire universe. The heroes Friday, January 23 - Saturday, January 24 Ohio State Buckeyes, in what is sure to be an exciting and must band together to stop Loki before Hotel Monteleone, 214 Royal St. intense game. (This will be Alabama’s 15th time playing in it's too late. hnoc.org/programs/symposia the Sugar Bowl and Ohio State’s fi fth.) Thousands of fans will With the new year comes the offi cial bicentennial of the be heading to New Orleans for the 81st annual Sugar Bowl Battle of New Orleans (1815), and The Historic New Orleans Classic. The game will be airing on ESPN at 7:30pm (Central).

Collection is exploring the War of 1812’s impact on New Orleans and surrounding areas in the South. There will be Forty Creek 1st Annual National Tailgate Showcase and Auction seven speakers who will present lectures on various related Whisky’s Best “The Art of the Tailgate” topics such as Andrew Jackson, the Creek War of 1813-1814, Bartender Finals Thursday, January 15 experiences of people of color and women, and the Battle Party Degas House, 2306 Esplanade Ave. of New Orleans.

January 13, degashouse.com 6-9 p.m.

This event is put on by Bud Light and Southern d.b.a., Eagle and will feature competitors who will create and 618 Frenchmen St. produce art to be sold at the Grand Tailgate and Auction Big Al Carson NO COVER at the Degas House. All proceeds benefi t The National The three fi nalists from Multiple Sclerosis Society. The art-making takes form Wednesday, December 31; 8:30 p.m.

Funky Pirate Blues Club, 727 Bourbon St. Where Y’at’s Best Bartender in transforming a tailgate, supplied by Bud Light, thefunkypirate.com Contest—Jay Pedesclaux from into something creative or useful. The entry fee Ring in the New Year with the smooth and funky sounds Parlay’s, Tom O’Donnell from is $100 per team and includes two tickets to of Big Al Carson and the Blues Masters. Enjoy the Funky Bamboula’s, and Stacy Josie from the kickoff party and auction.

Pirate’s signature hurricanes while Al and his band belt Finn McCool’s—will be whipping up out everything from classic rock to old-school blues tunes their signature cocktail recipes, which to their own special takes on today’s hits. Located in the all feature Forty Creek Whisky, at middle of premier party central (aka Bourbon Street), you’ll the Finals Party. Come by d.b.a.

Trombone Shorty Performs Joan of Arc Parade be right in the heart of all the wild action NOLA has to off er to try these specialty cocktails, at the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Tuesday, January 6, 6 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. and vote for who you think is Starts at Shops at Jax Brewery, most deserving of being named Sunday, January 25

Comics

Wi zard

on World Comic C

Football & Tailgate

Cocktail

New Year's Eve

History

18 | January 2015 | Lakeside 2 Riverside

Big Night New Orleans New Year’s Eve Gala Wednesday, December 31, 9 p.m.

Hyatt Regency, 601 Loyola Ave. bignightneworleans.com Big Night New Orleans is off ering a blowout to kickstart your new year. The New Year’s Eve Gala features a night of drinking, dancing and food for the price of your admission.

Celebrate the New Year with 3000 of your closest friends and enjoy buff ets, open bars, themed party areas and musical guests and entertainers. The lineup includes local favorites and national acts like Cowboy Mouth, Kid Kamillion, Glen David Andrews Band, The 610 Stompers and Bad Girls of Burlesque. When the clock strikes midnight, congregate in Countdown City for a new year to remember.

Performance & Theater Bricks in the Wall: The Sight and Sound of Pink Floyd Saturday, January 10, 8 p.m.

House of Blues, 225 Decatur St. houseofblues.com/neworleans Flash back to the psychedelic 70s with Bricks in the Wall: The Sight and Sound of Pink Floyd. A tenacious and renowned nine-piece tribute band takes the stage to recreate the excitement of a live Pink Floyd concert. In addition to the recreated Pink Floyd favorites, the show includes a large, circular projection screen for mind-melting visuals. Top-of-the-line video and light eff ects are paired with a stunning laser light show for an unforgettable experience. Relive the magic of your fi rst Pink Floyd show or experience it for the fi rst time.

well-known musicians.

Miranda Sings

Sunday, January 11

Miranda Sings Sunday, January 11, 3 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.

The Civic Theatre, 510 O’Keefe Ave. civicnola.com Miranda Sings is a millennial breakout star. Sings is actually a fi ctional character portrayed by actress Colleen Ballinger, who pokes fun at YouTube celebrity hopefuls. Sings got her claim to fame through videos of her singing very poorly and creating tutorials. She often misunderstands current events and pontifi cates about nonsense. She’s garnered a following as well as national exposure since her debut in 2008. Sings has taken her over-the-top antics and cringe-worthy covers to the stage. During her live performances she reads hate mail, does magic tricks and sometimes performs duets with

Mamma Mia! Tuesday, January 13 - Sunday, January 18 Saenger Theatre, 1111 Canal St. saengernola.com Mamma Mia! has become a legend throughout the years.

With countless stage adaptations, a blockbuster movie and millions of fans, the story is beloved around the globe and across generations. The whimsical musical will dance its way to the Big Easy this month. Mamma Mia! tells the story of love, friendship and family through the many hits of Swedish pop group ABBA. The play's protagonist, Sophie, is a bride-to-be, and she wants her father to walk her down the aisle. The only problem is, she doesn't know who he is. She narrows the possibilities down to three men and invites them to her wedding, unbeknownst to her mother.

The reunion sets off an exciting escapade for both Sophie and her mom.

Jesus Christ Superstar Friday, January 16 – Friday, January 30 Le Petit Théâtre, 616 Saint Peter St. lepetittheatre.com Jesus Christ Superstar was one of the fi rst rock operas.

The 1970 creation was scored by Andrew Lloyd Weber and written by Tim Rice. The hit play is loosely based on the last days of Jesus' life and can be considered a passion play.

The musical opens with the arrival of Jesus in Jerusalem and ends with his crucifi xion, although with modern twists.

Judas worries that Jesus' growing popularity and resulting fan base will be a threat to the Roman Empire. He then tips off the Romans to Jesus' whereabouts to put an end to his following. See the story come to life while you can.

WhereYat.com | January 2015 | 19

MUSICCALENDAR

Complete Listings @ WhereYat.com Irvin Mayfi eld's - Shannon Powell Kerry Irish Pub-Lynn Drury Little Gem Saloon-Kermit Ruffi ns & The BBQ Swingers The Den- Mississippi Shakedown and Righteous Jones Maison- Melanie Gardner, Smoking Time Jazz, Dysfunctional Bone, Street Legends Maple Leaf-New Orleans Suspects Mid City Lanes- Harvey Jesus and Karma One Eyed Jacks-Dax Riggs Richard Fiske's-Lucas Davenport, Glenn Andrews Rock 'n' Bowl- Harvey Jesus, Karma Shamrock- DPlay Siberia- Idle Hours Club, Little Freddie King Special Venue- Henry Turner & fl avor Snug Harbor- Herlin Riley Three Muses- Debbie Davis, Shotgun Jazz Tipitinas: Lost Bayou Ramblers Tropical Isle-The Hangovers, Late as Usual Tropical Isle Bourbon- Rhythm & Rain, Debi & the Deacons Little Tropical Isle-JB Elston, Ben Joseph Varsity Theatre- BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet Yuki Izakaya- Norbert Slama Sunday, December 28 Banks Street Bar- Ron Hotstream

AraabMuzik The bass drops all night at The Metropolitan’s New Year’s Eve Bash with a peformance by Araab Muzik with guests DJ Scene, DJ Trashy, and more. Wed., Dec. 31. $30 - $100, 9:00 p.m. The Metropolitan Nightclub, themetropolitannightclub.com.

Wednesday, December 24 Banks Street Bar: Major Bacon

Bourbon Orleans- Eudora Evans & Matt Lemmler Buff a's Lounge- Open Mic Night Checkpoint Charlie- The Blue Fox, My Friends Band Chickie Wah Wah: Clockwork Elvis' Acoustic Blue Xmas Crazy Lobster- Ken Swartz and the Palace of Sin Davenport Lounge-Jeremy Davenport Dragon's Den: Dancehall Classics with DJ T-Roy and Bayou International Sound Funky Pirate-The Blues Masters Irvin Mayfi eld's Jazz Playhouse: Irvin Mayfi eld's NOJO Kerry Irish Pub-xMas Eve- NO music Little Gem Saloon-Closed for Christmas Little Tropical Isle-Mark Barrett, JB Elston Maple Leaf: Closed Preservation Hall- Lars Edegran St. Peter Street Ralph's on the Park- Joe Krown Richard Fiske's-Tony Seville Tropical Isle-Debi & the Deacons, Late as Usual Tropical Isle Bourbon-Way to Early, Debbie and the Deacons Thursday, December 25 Bourbon Orleans-Eudora Evans & Matt Lemmler

Cafe Negril-Chris Klein & The Boulevards Checkpoint Charlie-My Friends Band Chickie Wah Wah-Eric Boom's Here Comes Santa Claus Funky Pirate-Mark Stone Duo, The Blues Masters Hi Ho lounge: Trivia Night Howlin Wolf the Den-Comedy Gumbeaux Irvin Mayfi eld's Playhouse- Kris Tokarsi, James River Kerry Irish Pub-X Mas Day- No Music LeBon Temps Roule-The Soul Rebels Little Gem Saloon-Closed for Christmas Little Tropical Isle- Allen Hebert Maple Leaf-call club Mid City Lanes- Benny Grunch, Geno Delefose Richard Fiske's-Mississippi Hyperfl y Rock 'n' Bowl: Benny Grunch Annual Christmas Snug Harbor- Closed Tropical Isle-The Hangovers, Late as Usual Tropical Isle Bourbon-Miss Maggie Trio, The Deacons Yuki Izakaya- Norbert Slama Friday, December 26 Banks Street Bar- Lynn Drury

Buff a's Lounge-Chip Wilson, Jenna Guidry

20 | January 2015 | Music Calendar

Bourbon Orleans-Eudora Evans & Matt Lemmler Carrolton Station: Fred LeBlanc's Christmas Show Checkpoint Charlie- Hostile Apostle, The Weakness Chickie Wah Wah:Michael Pearce, Paul Sanchez Crazy Lobster-Ken Swartz d.b.a.-Debbie Davis and the Mesmerizers, Marc Stones Dragon's Den-Up Up We go, Studio 504, Upstairs Fremin's Restaurant- Charlie Miller Funky Pirate-Mark & The Pentones, The Blues Masters Gasa Gasa-35 PSI and Stone Rabbits Howlin Wolf- George Porter Jr.'s Annual Birthday Bash Kerry Irish Pub-Moe Larry, & Shirley LeBon Temps Roule- Jeff Greenberg Little Gem Saloon-James Martin, Erin Demastes Little Tropical Isle-Ben Joseph Maison- Jon Roniger, Shotgun Jazz Maple Leaf- New Orleans Suspects Mid City Lanes- Groovy 7 New Orleans Museum of Art: Gal Holiday Old Arabi Bar: Irene Sage Pearl Wine Co. The Sarah Gromko Trio Richard Fiske's- Sasha Masakowski Rock 'n' Bowl: Groovy Siberia- Eat the Witch, the Weakeness Snug Harbor-Jason Marsalis Spotted Cat- Andy J. Forest, Washboard Chaz Blues Trio, New Orleans Cottonmouth Tipitinas-Earphunk Three Muses- Glen David Andrews Tropical Isle-The Hangovers, Late as Usual Tropical Isle Bourbon-Way to Early, Jay B Elston, Debi & the Deacons Ugly Dog- Austin Sicard & the Medics Saturday, December 27 Bank Street Bar: Claude Bryant

Buff a's Lounge- Dr. Jimbo Walsh's Holiday Party,Sherman Bernard and the Ole Man River, Stieux Carre Carrolton Station: John Mooney Checkpoint Charlie- The Olivia DeHavilland Mosquitoes Crazy Lobster: The River Gang, The Neon Shadows Funky Pirate-Mark & the Pentones, The Blues Masters Gasa Gasa- Close Enough Hi Ho Lounge- Hustle feat. DJ Sister Howlin Wolf- The Benjy Davis Project

Buff a's Lounge- Some Like It Hot!Nattie's Songwriter Circle Chickie Wah Wah- Sweet Olive Duo feat. Pat Flory and Mike Kerwin, Gal Holiday and The Honky Tonk Revue Circle bar- Eric Lindell Crazy Lobster- Ken Swartz and the Palace of Sin d.b.a.- Tin Men, Walter "Wolfman" Washington Dragon's Den- Upstairs- DJ Jubilee Funky Pirate-Mark & the Pentones, Willie Locktt Howlin Wolf The Den- Hot 8 BrassBand Irvin Mayfi eld's Jazz Playhouse- Germaine Bazzle Kerry Irish Pub- Chip Wilson Little Gem Saloon- Jon Roniger's Gypsyland Little Tropical Isle- Lynn Drury, Reed Lightfoot Maison- Leah Rucker Mid City Lanes- Mixed Nuts Miss Jean's Famous Corner- Bobby Love Ralph's on the Park- Joe Krown Richard Fiske's-Ellen Smith, Tony Seville Rock 'n' Bowl- Mixed Nuts Siberia- Jonny Kashner and the Hatchet Boys Snug Harbor- Allen Toussaint Three Muses- Raphael Bas, Linnzi Zaorski Tropical Isle-The Hangovers, Late as Usual Tropical Isle Bourbon-BC & Comp, Rhythm and Rain, Debi & the Deacons Monday, December 29 Banks Street Bar-The Bathrobe Banditos Jazz Band

Buff a's-Antoine Diel d.b.a.- Luke Winslow King, Glen David Andrews Funky Pirate-Gary Brown Gasa Gasa-Antique Music Booty Hi Ho- Hill Country Hounds Irvin Mayfi eld;s Jazz Playhouse- Gerald French and the Original tuxedo Kerry Irish Pub-Patrick Cooper Maison- Chicken and Waffl es, Aurora Nealand,Musicians' Jam Maple Leaf-Tony Hall, Nigel Hall and Alvin Ford Mid City Lanes- Geno Delafose Richard Fiske's-Monty Banks Tropical Isle- Graham Robertson, Whiskey Bar Tropical Isle Bourbon-Rhythm & Rain Little Tropical Isle- Lynn Drury, Reed Lightfoot Tuesday, December 30 Banks Street Bar- NOLA County Bamboula's- Dana & the Boneshakers Buff a's-Messy Cookers Jazz Band Checkpoint Charlie- Jamie Lynn Vessels, Afro Cube Project d.b.a.- Treme Brass Band Dos Jefes- Bryce Eastwood Dragon's Den- Punk NIght Funky Pirate-The Blues Masters Gasa Gasa-Progression Music Series Howlin Wolf-Comedy Beast Kerry Irish Pub-Tim Robertson Little Gem Saloon-Jon Roniger, The Roamin Jasmin Maple Leaf- Rebirth Brass Band Mid City Lanes- Bucktown Allstars

New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park- Richard Scott Old Arabi Bar- Open Mic Night Ralphs on the Park - Joe Krown Richard Fiske's-Lucas Davenport Siberia- Greek Trivia, Pleistocene, Routine Involvements Spotted Cat- Andy J.Forest, Call Club, Shotgun Jazz Tropical Isle-The Hangovers, JB Elston Tropical Isle Bourbon-Way to Early, Debbie and the Deacons Little Tropical Isle-JB Elston,Tropic Gumbo Wednesday, December 31 100 Men Hall- Little Freddie King

Banks Street Bar & Grill- Major Bacon Blue Nile- The Soul Rebels Bourbon Orleans-Eudora Evans & Matt Lemmler Buff a's Lounge- Lynn Drury, Arsene DeLay, Antoine Diel Checkpoint Charlie-T-Bone Stone & The Happy Monsters Chickie Wah Wah- Phil Degruy, 1st Annual Boudin Ball NYE Party Circle Bar- Eric Lindell Dragon's Den- Upstairs- DJ Jubilee Funky Pirate-The Blues Masters Gasa Gasa- Brass Bed Howlin Wolf- Rebirth Brass Band Irvin Mayfi eld's Jazz Playhouse- Purple Masquerade Little Tropical Isle-Mark Barrett, JB Elston Kerry Irish Pub-Vincent Marini & The One Tailed Three Joy Theater-Dumpstaphunk, The New Mastersounds Maison- Kristina Morales, Kumasi, the Essentials, DJ Matt Scott Maple Leaf- New Year's Eve with Big Sam Mid-city Lanes- Tab Benoit One Eyed Jacks-DJ Soul Sister's Palm Court Jazz Cafe- Palm Court Jazz Band Richard Fiske's- Sasha Masakowsi Snug Harbor-Topsy Chapman and Solid Harmony Three Muses- Leslie Martin, Sarah McCoy Tipitina's- Galactic and California Honeydrops Tropical Isle-Debi & the Deacons, Late as Usual Tropical Isle Bourbon-Way to Early, Debbie and the Deacons Thursday, January 1 Bayou Club-Cajun Drifters, Louisiana Inferno

Buff a's-Some Like it Hot, Tom McDermott & Aurora Nealand Circle Bar- Asumaya Funky Pirate-Marc Stone Duo, The Blues Masters Little Tropical Isle-Allen Herbert, Casey Saba Maison Bourbon Jazz Club-The New Orleans Swamp Donkeys, Jamil Sharif & the New Orleans Allstars Ralph's On the Park- Joe Krown Richard Fiske's- Hyperphlyy Spotted Cat Music Club-Sarah McCoy's Oopsie Daisies, Miss Sophie Lee, Jumbo Shrimp Tropical Isle- The Hangovers, Late as Usual Tropical Isle Bourbon-Miss Maggie Trio, Debi & the Deacons Vaso-Bobby Love & Friends Friday, January 2 Bayou Club-Louisiana inferno, T' Canailli

Buff a's-Miss Nola, Arsene Delay Burgundy Bar-The Creole Sweet Tease Burlesque Show Dos Jefes-The Peter Honan 4 Funky Pirate-Mark & the Pentones, The Blues Masters Irvin Mayfi elds-Piano Professor Series, Leon "Kid Chocalate" Brown, Burlesque Balroom

BélaFleck Béla Fleck has set himself apart in a world fi lled with guitarists, bassists and drummers.

He's a master of the banjo, and has dabbled in jazz, bluegrass, folk and rock. Thu., Jan. 8. $20–99 Advance Tickets, 7:30 p.m. Mahalia Jackson Theater, mahaliajacksontheater.com

LeBon Temps Roule'-Dave Reis Little Tropical Isle-Reed Lightfoot, Ben Joseph Maison Bourbon Jazz Club-Phil Campo Maple Leaf Bar-Groovesect One Eyed Jacks-Cardinal Sons+ Prom Date and Marine Richard Fiske's-Monty Banks Special Venue- Kevin Aucoin are Cockatoo Spotted Cat Music Club-Harbinger, Washboard Chaz Trio, Cottonmouth Kings Tropical Isle- The Hangovers, Late as Usual Tropical Isle Bourbon-Way to Early, Jay B Elston, Debi & the Deacons Saturday, January 3 Bayou Club-La Maniere des Cadiens, Louisiana Inferno, T' Canaille

Irvin Mayfi elds-Germaine Bazzle & Peter Harris Trio Little Tropical Isle-Lynn Drury, Reed Lightfoot Ralph's on the Park-Joe Krown Richard Fiske's-Tony Seville Tropical Isle- The Hangovers, Late as Usual Tropical Isle Bourbon-BC Comp, Rhythm and Rain, Debi & the Deacons Yuki Izakaya-Haruka Kikuchi Big 4Tune Monday, January 5 Bayou Club-Cajungrass Duo, Cajun Drifters

Buff a's-Antoine Diel Circle Bar-The Dulac Smack Dos Jefes-John fohl Funky Pirate-The Blues Masters Irvin Mayfi elds-Gerald French and the Original Tuxedo Jazz Band Little Tropical Isle-Reed Lightfoot, Lyne Drury Hi Ho Lounge-Bluegrass Pickin' Party, Hill Country Hounds Richard Fiske's- Monty Banks Tropical Isle- Graham Robertson Tropical Isle Bourbon-Rhythm & Rain

Buff a's-Crossind Canal Burgundy Bar- Gypsy Elise & The Royal Blues Circle Bar-Bipolaroid + Summer Dos Jefes-Sunpie & the la. sunspots Evangeline French Quater-Lil Josephine & Rhodes Spedale Funky Pirate- The Blues Masters Irvin Mayfi elds-Brasil to NOLA Kickstarter Launch Party Hi Ho Lounge-Hustle with DJ Soul Sister House of Blues – Departure – Tribute to Journey, DJ/lounge party after the show Howlin’ Wolf Den – Dauzat St. Marie Little Tropical Isle-JB Elston, Ben Joseph Maison Bourbon Jazz Club-Phil Campo & The Loose Change Jazz Band Maple Leaf Bar-Eric Johanson Band One Eyed Jacks-Mahayla Richard Fiske's-Lucas Davenport Shamrock-Shamarr Allen and the Underdawgs Spotted Cat Music Club-Panorama Jazz Band Tropical Isle- The Hangovers, Late as Usual Tropical Isle Bourbon-Way to Early, Rhythm & Rain

Buff a's-12th Night Circle Bar-Hazlehurst The Civic Center Theatre- Quintron & Miss Pussycat, Morning 40 Federation, King James Funky Pirate- The Blues Masters House of Blues – Clutch, Torche, Lionize Irvin Mayfi elds-Pat Casey & The New Sound Little Tropical Isle-Mark Barrett, Ben Joseph Ralph's On the Park-Joe Krown Richard Fiske's-Lucas Davenport Tipitina’s – W. Kamau Bell Tropical Isle- The Hangovers, JB Elston Tropical Isle Bourbon-JB Elston and Wayne, Tropic Gumbo

Sunday, January 4 Allways Lounge-Christopher Johnson & The Jazz Band Ballers

Wednesday, January 7 Backroom at Buff a's-Open Mic Night featuring Nattie

Bayou Club-Cajungrass, Louisiana Inferno Buff a's-Some Like It Hot, Hoc and Spicy Swing Club Dos Jefes-The Sean Riley Band Funky Pirate- Gary Brown Howlin’ Wolf Den – Hot 8 Brass Band

Tuesday, January 6 Bayou Club-Cajungrass Duo, Cajun Drifters

Bayou Club-La Maniere des Cadiens, Cajungrass Circle Bar-Philos Moore + Al Holiday Dos Jefes- Leah Rucker Funky Pirate-Mark & the Pentones, The Blues Masters House of Blues – Jet Lounge

Pennywise

Pennywise has been producing pulse-quickening, political-minded punk rock since the late 80s. Catch them with other Warped Tour favorites Anti-Flag and A Wilhelm Scream. Sun., Jan 11. $25 Advance Tickets, 7:30 p.m. Tipitina’s, tipitinas.com Irvin Mayfi elds-Lady Sings the Blues Little Tropical Isle-Mark Barrett, JB Elston Ralph's on the Park-Joe Krown Richard Fiske's- Tony Seville Tropical Isle- Debi and the Deacons, Late as Usual Tropical Isle Bourbon- Way to Early, Debi and the Deacons Thursday, January 8 Bayou Club-Cajun Drifters, Louisiana Inferno

Funky Pirate-Mark & the Pentones, The Blues Masters House of Blues –New Orleans Most Wanted Irvin Mayfi elds-Playhour, The James Rivers Movement Little Tropical Isle-Allen Hebertm Caset Saba Mahailia Jackson Theatre-Bela Fleck & New World Symphony

Ralph's On the Park-Joe Krown Richard Fiske's-Hyperphlyy Tipitina's-35 PSI, Battling Delirium Tropical Isle- The Hangovers, Late as Usual Tropical Isle Bourbon-Miss Maggie Trio, Debi & the Deacons Friday, January 9 Bayou Club-Louisiana inferno, T'Canailli

Circle Bar-Ossacruz + Solid Giant + Gristnam + Eat the Witch Dos Jefes-Panorama Jazz Band Funky Pirate-Mark & the Pentones, The Blues Masters House of Blues –Johnette Napolitano + Laurie Sargent Howlin’ Wolf – Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus’ 5th Annual Sci-Fi Fashion Show

WhereYat.com | January 2015 | 21

Howlin’ Wolf Den – Jeff Thompson Album Release Irvin Mayfi elds-Piano Professor Series, Leon "Kid Chocolate" Brown LeBon Temps Roule'-Joe Krown Little Tropical Isle-Reed Lightfoot, Ben Joseph Maple Leaf Bar-Funk Monkey Neutral Ground- Mario Ortiz One Eyed Jacks-Vox & The Hound + Rotary Downs + Fancy Pants Richard Fiske's- Monty Banks Special Venue-Shotgun Double Tropical Isle- The Hangovers, Late as Usual Tropical Isle Bourbon-Way to Early, Jay B Elston, Debi & the Deacons Ugly Dog- Shotgun Double Saturday, January 10 Bayou Club-La Maniere des Cadiens, Louisiana Inferno T' Canaille

Contemporary Arts Center-The LA Philharmonic Orchestra Dos Jefes- Sunpie and the LA Sunspots Evangeline French Quarter-Lil Josephine &

Rhodes Spedale Funky Pirate-Mark & the Pentones, Willie Locktt House of Blues – Bricks in the Wall: The Sights and Sounds of Pink Floyd, House of the Young feat. Chase n Cashe Howlin’ Wolf- Totally 80’s 80th Birthday Party Howlin’ Wolf Den – Strumlandia Irvin Mayfi elds-Leroy Jones Quintet Little Tropical Isle- JB Elston, Ben Joseph Maison Bourbon Jazz Club-Phil Campo & The Loose Change Jazz Band Maple Leaf Bar-101 Runners One Eyed Jacks-Terry McDermott & The Bonfi res Richard Fiske's- Lucas Davenport Shamrock-Backlit Stereo Special Venue-Laugh in the Dark Tropical Isle- The Hangovers, Late as Usual Tropical Isle Bourbon-Way to Early, Rhythm & Rain Sunday, January 11 Allways Lounge-The Swamp Donkeys

Bayou Club-Cajungrass Duo, Louisiana Inferno Civic Theater – Miranda Sings f/ Colleen Ballinger Howlin’ Wolf Den – Hot 8 Brass Band

Dos Jefes-the sean riley Funky Pirate-Gary Brown Irvin Mayfi elds-Germaine Bazzle & Peter Harris Little Tropical Isle-Lynn Drury, Reed Lightfoot Marigny Opera House-Katalin Lukacs Ralph's On the Park- Joe Krown Richard Fiske's- Tony Seville Tipitina's-Pennywise + Anti Flag and A Whilhem Scream Tropical Isle- The Hangovers, Late as Usual Tropical Isle Bourbon-BC Comp, Rhythm and Rain Yuki Izakaya-Haruka Kikuchi Big 4Tune Monday, January 12 Bayou Club-La Maniere des Cadiens,Louisiana Inferno, T' Canaille

Dos Jefes-John fohl Funky Pirate-The Blues Masters Irvin Mayfi elds-Gerald French and the Original Tuxedo Jazz Band Little Tropical Isle-Lynn Drury, Reed Lightfoot Richard Fiske's- Lucas Davenport Tropical Isle- The Hangovers, Late as Usual Tropical Isle Bourbon-BC & Comp, Rhythm and Rain

Wednesday13 Wednesday 13 is the pseudonym of Joseph Poole, renowned horror rocker. See him shred with special guests Die So Fluid. Fri., Jan. 16. $10 Advance Tickets, 9 p.m. Siberia, siberianola.com Tuesday, January 13 Bayou Club-Cajungrass Duo, Cajun Drifters

Circle Bar- Aaron Moras Dos Jefes-Tom Hook, Wendell Brunious Funky Pirate-The Blues Masters Irvin Mayfi elds-Ricio and "Reece's Pieces" Little Tropical Isle-Mark Barrett, JB Elston Ralph's On the Park-Joe Krown Richard Fiske's-Lucas Davenport Tropical Isle- The Hangovers, JB Elston Tropical Isle Bourbon- JB Elston and Wayne, Tropic Gumbo Wednesday, January 14 Bayou Club-La Maniere des Cadiens, Cajungrass

Dos Jefes-Megan Stewart Funky Pirate- The Blues Masters Irvin Mayfi elds-Lady Sings the Blues, Irvin Mayfi eld's NOJO Jam Little Tropical Isle-Mark Barrett, JB Elston One Eyed Jacks- King Tuff and Ex Hex Ralph's On the Park- Joe Krown Richard Fiske's-Tony Seville Tropical Isle- The Hangovers, Late as Usual Tropical Isle Bourbon- Way to Early, Debi and the Deacons Thursday, January 15 Bayou Club-Cajun Drifters, Louisiana Inferno

Dos Jefes-The Geoff Clapp Trio Funky Pirate-Mark & the Pentones, The Blues Masters House of Blues – Old Soul feat. Tahir Moore Irvin Mayfi elds-Playhour, The James Rivers Movement Little Tropical Isle-Allen Hebert, Casey Saba Ralph's On the Park- Joe Krown Richard Fiske's- Hyperphlyy Tipitina's- The Radiators Tropical Isle- The Hangovers, Late as Usual Tropical Isle Bourbon-Miss Maggie Trio, Debi & the Deacons Friday, January 16 Bayou Club-Louisiana Inferno, T Canailli

Burgundy Bar-The Creole Sweent Tease Burlesque Dos Jefes-The Joe Krown Trio Funky Pirate-Mark & the Pentones, The Blues Masters House of Blues – Periphery, Wovenwar, Thank You Scientist Howlin’ Wolf Den –The Laurie Lehners’ Festivus Irvin Mayfi elds- Leon " Kid Chocolate" Brown LeBon Temps Roule-Tom Worrell Little Tropical Isle-Reed Lightfoot, Ben Joseph Mahalia Jackson Theatre-The LPO presents Nadja Plays Piazzolla Maple Leaf Bar-Gravity A Old U.S. Mint-Dr. Michael White Richard Fiske's- Monty Banks Siberia – Wednesday 13, Die So Fluid Tipitina's-The Radiators Tropical Isle- The Hangover, Late as Usual Tropical Isle Bourbon-Way to Early, Jay B Elston Varsity Theatre-Earphunk and ProbCause Saturday, January 17 Bayou Club-La Maniere des Cadiens, Louisian Inferno, T Canaille

Checkpoint Charlie-The Olivia DeHavilland Mosquitoes Circle Bar- Caddywhompus + Patrick Shuttlesworth Wants to Make You Deaf The Civic Theatre-Ben Howard

22 | January 2015 | Music Calendar

BillyIdol Billy Idol will be kicking off 2015 the right way with his Kings and Queens of the Underground Tour in the Crescent City. Cry more, more, more as the English rocker performs with guest Broncho. Wed., Jan. 21. $70 Advance Tickets, 7 p.m. House of Blues, hob.com/neworleans Dos Jefes- Jenna McSwain Trio Funky Pirate- The Blues Masters House of Blues – Luke Wade Irvin Mayfi elds-New Orleans Swamp Donkeys Little Tropical Isle-JB Elston, Ben Joseph Mahalia Jackson Theatre-You've Got a Friend in Me Maple Leaf Bar-Honey Island Swamp Band Richard Fiske's-Lucas Davenport Shamrock-Pocket Aces Brass Band The Max-The Midnight Streetcar Band Tipitina's-The Radiators Tropical Isle Org-The Hangovers, Late as Usual Tropical Isle Bourbon-Way to Early, Rhythm & Rain Sunday, January 18 AllWays Lounge-Caroline & Moonshine

Bayou Club-Cajungrass, Louisiana Inferno Dos Jefes-The Sean Riley Band Funky Pirate-Mark & the Pentones, Willie Locktt Howlin’ Wolf Den – Hot 8 Brass Band Irvin Mayfi elds-Germaine Bazzle & Peter Harris Trio Little Tropical Isle- Lynn Drury, Reed Lightfoot Ralph's On the Park- Joe Krown Richard Fiske's- Tony Seville Tipitina’s – Cliff Hines and Chris Severin Tropical Isle- The Hangovers, Late as Usual Tropical Isle Bourbon-BC & Comp, Rhythm and Rain

Tipitina's- Badfi sh, a Tribute to Sublime and Shrub Tropical Isle Org-Debi & the Deacons, Late as Usual Tropical Isle Bourbon- Debi and the Deacons Varsity Theatre-Rebelution and Katchafi re Thursday, January 22 Bayou Club-Cajun Drifters, Louisiana Inferno

Circle Bar- Valerie Sassyfras + Mr. Sister Funky Pirate- The Blues Masters Little Tropical Isle-Allen Hebert, Casey Saba Joy Theatre- Rebelution Katchafi re Ralph's on the Park-Joe Krown Richard Fiske's-Hyperphlyy Siberia – Karma to Burn Tropical Isle Org-The Hangovers, Late as Usual Tropical Isle Bourbon- Miss Maggie Trio Varsity Theatre- Marc Broussard Friday, January 23 Bayou Club-Louisiana inferno, T' Canailli

Civic Theatre – John Mulaney Dos Jefes-eric traub trio

Monday, January 19 Bayou Club-Cajungrass Duo Cajun Drifters

Dos Jefes-John Fohl Funky Pirate-Gary Brown Irvin Mayfi elds-Gerald French and The Original Tuxedo Jazz Band Richard Fiske's- Monty Banks Tuesday, January 20 Bayou Club-Cajungrass Duo, Cajun Drifters

Dos Jefes-Tom Hook, Wendell Brunious Funky Pirate-The Blues Masters Irvin Mayfi elds-The Session Little Tropical Isle-Mark Barrett, Ben Joseph Ralph's On the Park- Joe Krown Richard Fiske's-Lucas Davenport Tropical Isle- The Hangovers, JB Elston Tropical Isle Bourbon-JB Elston and Wayne, Tropic Gumbo Wednesday, January 21 Bayou Club-La Maniere des Cadiens, Cajungrass

Dos Jefes-Meryl Zimmerman Funky Pirate-The Blues Masters House of Blues – Billy Idol, Broncho Irvin Mayfi elds-Lady Sings the Blues Little Tropical Isle-Mark Barrett, JB Elston Ralph on the Park- Joe Krown Richard Fiske's-Tony Seville

Giraffage Giraff age, also known as Charlie Yin, has received acclaim for his R&B remixes and synth-doused original creations. Stop by for a night of dreamy electronica. Fri., Jan. 23. $12 Advance Tickets, 9 p.m. The Hi-Ho Lounge, hiholounge.net

WhereYat.com | January 2015 | 23

24 | January 2015 | Where Y'at Magazine

WhereYat.com | January 2015 | 25

OnesToWatch

Tank and the Bangas

By Emily Hingle

T

arriona Ball’s stage name is fi tting, as Tank is a force to be reckoned with. She is quirky, smart and strong. Her beliefs are her core, and she voices them through her musical poetry. Though this band has been around for a few years, playing at smaller venues and festivals, they were the focal point of the November edition of The Joy Theater’s This Is NOLA showcase. Dressed in school uniforms, Tank led her classmates through many fun songs, tossing her scarf about, before bringing the mood down for more serious pieces. Each song was as unique as the last, and you can hear such texture on their new release, The Big Bang Theory. I caught up with Tank and sax player Albert Allenback to discuss the group’s roots, their singular style and what lies ahead.

WYAT: How did the band come together?

Tank: We were the Liberated Soul Collective, and we decided to see if we’re loved in another place. We saved up our money, rented an RV and went traveling through the South. After that, [some band members moved away] so we became Tank and the Bangas. We combine spoken word and music in every set because it’s something that I grew up loving. I was on a slam team.

WYAT: Let’s go back even farther. How did you get into spoken word?

Tank: I believe it all started in two places.

I opened up my sister’s poetry book, and I read all the poems and knew them by heart, and I was really excited about that.

The second was at my grandparent’s 50th wedding anniversary, and my cousin gave me a poem to read that she gives to her students called “A Great Somebody” by Adrienne Hardesty. After that, I went to my fi rst high school poetry slam, and for an auditorium full of my peers to stand up for me, the girl they barely noticed in the hall, that’s when I knew I had a voice and I had to do something with it. It’s one of the scariest, most exciting rollercoasters ever, only rollercoasters end at a certain point.

When you follow your dream, you don’t know where it’s going to take you, and that’s one of the scariest parts of it.

WYAT: How did you become a Banga?

Albert Allenback: I was going to go to Berklee, but I came here fi rst to try it out.

26 | January 2015 | Ones to Watch

I was getting discouraged with the scene, cynicism and seeing people burned out, and not playing the music I wanted to play.

Then I started playing at our bass player, Norman Spence’s, church and one day Tank needed an extra sax player for a gig. I played a show at Tipitina’s with them, and told them they needed to take me with them. I did my homework, and I came and showed them.

WYAT: What is the dynamic of the band?

How do you relate to each other to make this sound?

Albert: We all work in diff erent ways compositionally. Josh Johnson and Norm are more [spontaneous]. I like to compose something alone and bring it in fl eshed out. Merell Burkett, we feed him ideas, and he spits them out like a machine. We all understand that we need each other.

That’s how we approach music: positive energy, collective talent, and it comes out as serious music that’s positive music, which is important in today’s climate.

WYAT: Where do you hope to play in the future?

Tank: New soil. I want to breathe the air of and take a piece of grass home from another country. I want to see how those ears will receive us. We’re planted right here in New Orleans; it is our roots. But it’s not my branches; I’d like to go everywhere, but come right back home. Look forward to us, and speak good things for us. @Emily_Hingle

WhereYat.com | January 2015 | 27

AlbumReviews Debauche Songs from Underground Independent Debauche is back and they’ve brought friends along to this insane Russian party.

In true form, the energetic acoustic Russian folk band launches into their bouncy and intoxicating native music. The listener is helpless against moving along, possibly wanting to indulge in some bellydancing or singing along with the group “Ay, lai, lai, lais.” Ukrainian-born vocalist and guitarist Yegor Romanstov croons throughout the album in his raspy, longing voice about trials, tribulations, lesbians, and vodka. My personal favorite selection (though they are all fun and endearing) has got to be “Gop So Smykom” because the tempo speeds up during the song. However, the haunting violin and accordion mix by Joe Mcginty and Matt Schriber, respectively, in “Rabinovich” is very Old World reminiscent. Other guests on the album include fi ddler Dr. Sick, guitarist Georgy Petrov, and accordionists Christian Kuff ner and Alla Melnik just to name a few.

Songs from Underground is a piece of Russia in New Orleans. – Emily Hingle @Emily_Hingle

BookReviews Buster Voodoo

By Mason James Cole 190 Pages Permuted Press (March, 2014) There is immediate intrigue in Mason James Cole’s Buster Voodoo. The story weaves between the past and the present, a method that has proven to be favorable among readers, as this recently released book has already gained a popular following.

The back and forth between time periods keeps the story interesting and constantly keeps readers on their toes.

The book’s title stems from a horrifi c legend of a crazed killer with no face, and that’s just the beginning of the creepy and disturbing notes.

The protagonist, Dixon Green, attempts to cause a ripple of excitement in his otherwise boring life as an amusement park custodian. Green soon begins to delve into the mystery of Buster Voodoo, a legend that

28 | January 2015 | Album Reviews

Bent Denim Epistolary Independent Bent Denim’s 2014 debut sounds like what I imagine an album combining Death Cab for Cutie with the Postal Service would give us. On the surface, they seem like another chip off the electro-indie/ library-voice-vocals "Dream Pop" chopping block that has conquered alternative rock as of late; however, a strong core of catchy hooks and earnest songwriting let them stand on the shoulders of the zeitgeist’s dopplegangers as a possible one to remember. The lyrics – also par for the course – are fi xated in Generation Z’s (or whatever we’re called) supposed quarterlife crisis, talking through personal issues such as lifestyle disillusionment, media oversaturation, future doubt and romantic ennui. Again, what should be cliché is not on Epistolary – you can hear the uncertainty in lead singer Ben Littlejohn’s story telling, adding an emotional punch to the band’s melodic, introspective musicianship.

“Fuel" is the album’s most memorable and upbeat track, climaxing with a thundering piano dirge. The rest of the album has a ponderous pace to it; however, all of these songs live a separate, more spirited life when performed live. Don't miss these guys the next time they play here. – Greg Roques @GregRoques

has captivated him since his youth.

It’s hard to decide on the real issues that Dixon faces, whether it be fear based on New Orleans’ Voodoo spirituality or the community’s lack of equality regarding race.

It’s refreshing that some realistic underlying tones are weaved into this horror novel.

With the Voodoo aspects of the Big Easy put on display for tourists and recently through the media on television series such as American Horror Story, the dark notes in Buster Voodoo are enticing as Dixon’s demons are brought to light. The mysteries of his world leave him—and, in turn, the readers—a little lost, but that only makes the book’s ending that much more intriguing. The intensity of the story’s buildup leads to a number of diff erent climaxes, all of which are woven into the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina. Dixon’s job in the amusement park refl ects his personal life as well. He is overcome by a terrifying rollercoaster ride of emotions, fear and memories that will keep readers begging for more by the story’s end.

– Leith Tigges @LeithTigges

BarGuide Backspace Bar & Kitchen 139 Chartres St., 522-2216 backspacenola.com

The unique literary theme and rare specialty cocktails featured at Backspace lend a sense of sophistication and class you won’t easily find elsewhere.

Bamboula's 514 Frenchmen St. 944-8461

There’s a new music venue shaking up Frenchmen Street. Home of three bars and two music stages, Bamboula’s is making their mark on New Orleans.

Balcony Bar 3201 Magazine St. 894-8888

Well-known for their balcony overlooking Magazine Street, this gem also has plenty of beers on tap and a late night kitchen offering delivery.

Barcadia 601 Tchoupitoulas St. 335-1740

Home of the life-sized Jenga, 80’s arcade games and giant Connect Four, Barcadia is where you go to enjoy yourself, not just the beer.

Bottomline Beach Club 3408 28th St. 324-5777

Metairie's Bottomline Beach Club gives you the ultimate beach experience with volleyball tournaments and your favorite drink specials.

Buffa’s Bar 1001 Esplanade Ave. 949-0038

Buffa’s is a great neighborhood bar with even greater food. Try the Buffa-Lo Wings or a Buffa Burger with a drink from the bar.

Club Carribean 2443 Bayou Rd. 949-9246

Reggae and island music is the name of the game at this Mid-City classic located near the Fair Grounds.

Don’t miss Ladies Night when ladies drink free!

The Columns Hotel 3811 St. Charles Ave. 899-9308

The Columns Hotel is a favorite Uptown spot.

Add a little class to your night and enjoy a Sazerac inside at their Victorian Lounge Bar.

Known for the re-enactment of the movie, Coyote Coyote Ugly 225 N. Peters St., 561-0003 Ugly is a fantastic French Quarter bar with a bit of a fun and wild twist. coyoteuglysaloon.com Dino’s Bar & Grill 1128 Tchoupitoulas St. 558-0900

Offering great drink specials, burgers, and bartenders, Dino’s is great for any occasion. It is named after the “King of Cool,” Dean Martin, after all.

The Metropolitan is the premiere location for Generations Hall/Metro weekday private events and the place to dress up, 310 Andrew Higgins Dr. 568-1702, generationshall.com suit up, and drink up on the weekend.

Holy Ground 3340 Canal St. 821-6828

Holy Ground is your Mid-City staple for a great Irish Pub. Throw darts with your mates while enjoying a cold stout and great prices.

J&J’s Sports Lounge 800 France St., 942-8877 jjssportslounge.com

J&J’s features a courtyard, pool table and jukebox adding to the low-key feel that makes locals and neighbors feel right at home.

Kerry Irish Pub 331 Decatur St. 527-5954

Kerry’s Irish Pub is known for having the best Guinness in the Quarter, and for featuring live music every night of the week.

Lucy’s Retired Surfer’s Bar This Warehouse District legend is known for great Happy Hours such as 3-for-1 drinks every 701 Tchoupitoulas St. Wednesday from 4 – 7 pm.

523-8995 Masquerade at Harrah’s 228 Poydras St., 533-6000 harrahsneworleans.com

Voted # 27 in Nightclub & Bar Magazine's Top 100 Nightclubs, Masquerade is a hot spot featuring the nation’s top DJs, slots, and table games.

Ohm Lounge 601 Tchoupitoulas St. 335-1760, ohm-lounge.com

This Asian-deco lounge carries a large selection of sake, gourmet Asian tapas, great music, and specialty cocktails made from scratch.

Pat O’Brien’s welcomes patrons with a cool Pat O’Brien's 718 St. Peters St., 525-4823 atmosphere, an open patio area, and an outside bar to enjoy while eating one of their Creole dishes. patobriens.com Rick’s Cabaret 315 Bourbon St. 524-4222, iknowrick.com

Located in the center of all the action, this gentlemen’s club features some of the most beautiful women in New Orleans.

Rick’s Sporting Saloon 522 Bourbon St., 552-2510 Ricks-saloon.com

Rick’s Sporting Saloon is located in the heart of Bourbon Street and features 11 TVs for catching the big game while enjoying some adult entertainment.

Shamrock offers up the fun with their extensive Shamrock Bar & Grille collection of games for everyone to enjoy, including 4133 S. Carrollton Ave. 307-4350, shamrockparty.com air hockey, skee-ball, and even mini bowling lanes.

Tracey’s 2604 Magazine St., 897-5413 traceysnola.com

Known as the Original Irish Channel Bar, Tracey’s is a great spot to enjoy the winning combination of beer, food, and sports.

Tropical Isle Original 721 Bourbon St. 529-4109

Home of the Hand Grenade, Tropical Isle is a must stop while in New Orleans, with multiple locations up and down Bourbon Street.

Wit’s Inn 141 N. Carrollton Ave. 486-1600, witsinn.com

Come by Wit's Inn for fresh pizza and specialty sandwiches or stop in for their 3-for-1 shots on Wednesday nights.

Bar Guide | January 2015 | 29

Food News

By Kim Ranjbar

E

at your alphabet … Le Méridien New Orleans, the new hotel on Poydras Street that has replaced the W, announced the name and executive chef of their new restaurant, both of which debuted last month. LMNO will off er “new American” dishes with Cajun and Creole fl avors created

by Executive Chef Mauricio Gutierrez, who has over 15 years’ experience cooking at resorts and upscale restaurants. The restaurant menu reads more like gastropub fare, with small dishes of shrimp po-boys on buttered rolls, andouille hushpuppies and raw oysters. 333 Poydras Street ~ 525.9444 ~ lmnonola.com Mastering the art of pizza … Dolce Vita Wood Fired Pizzeria has tapped Zac Watters, a Louisiana native who’s worked in the kitchens of restaurants like Stella!, Del Porto and Cafe Adelaide, as executive chef. Taking over the daily responsibilities of Chef Bogdan Mocanu, Chef Watters will undoubtedly keep the stellar reputation Dolce Vita has earned thus far alive and kicking. 1205 St. Charles Avenue ~ 324.7574 ~ dvpizzeria.com Who gives a fig? … Fat Falafel food truck owners Theresa Galli and Gavin Cady have opened a brick and mortar version dubbed 1000 Figs in Mid-City, much to the delight of falafel fans in the neighborhood.

Located on Ponce de Leon, just a few doors down from Fair Grinds Coff eehouse, this small yet modern eatery serves dishes like their famous falafel (of course) alongside grilled cheese sandwiches, fl ash-fried Brussels sprouts and hand-cut fries with toum for dipping. Although there’s nary a fi g in sight on the menu, do we really care?

Just pass the falafel, will ya? 3141 Ponce de Leon Street ~ 301.0848 ~ 1000figs.com Real, schmeal ...

Red’s Chinese opened last month on St. Claude Avenue, an ethnic spot that is proud of touting its lack of authenticity. Following in the footsteps of Danny Bowien of Mission Chinese in San Francisco, owners Tobias Womack and Amy Mosberger off er dishes like Kung Pao Pastrami with their own mesquitesmoked meat and the holy trinity, Confetti Rice with Louisiana catfi sh and Chinese sausage, and Bywater Eggplant with

30 | January 2015 | Food News

mirliton and pumpkin seeds. 3048 St. Claude Avenue ~ 304.6030 ~ redschinese.com Truly Tiki ... Beachbum Berry’s Latitude 29 recently opened inside the Bienville House Hotel, a space that formerly housed Iris, and everyone who’s anyone is raving about it. Decorations are eerily similar to the Tiki Room in Disneyland, but instead of animatronic birds dropping from the ceiling, one can expect fruit-laden cocktails and Polynesian-inspired dishes like taro fries seasoned with curry and served with kimchi ketchup, Pang Wings, or a Hawaiian Cuban sandwich with pork belly, ham and cream cheese on pineapple bread. 321 N. Peters Street ~ 609.3811 ~ latitude29nola.com Gelato for juice … Just recently, the owners of Magasin Vietnamese Cafe opened The Pressery in the space that once belonged to La Divina Gelateria on Magazine Street. Selling mostly organic, cold-pressed, bottled juices, The Pressery also off ers fresh salads, vegetarian spring rolls, vegan milks and popsicles.

3005 Magazine Street ~ 304.7791 ~ thepresserynola.com Savoring our seafood … With a focus on rustic preparations of Gulf seafood, Trenasse was recently opened inside the Intercontinental Hotel by Word of Mouth Restaurant Group. At a self-proclaimed “store-front restaurant,” Chef Jim Richard off ers dishes like Blue Crab Bisque, Smoked Alligator Tamales, Pressed Crab Po-Boy and Duck Confi t Lettuce Wrap with pepper jelly glaze. Trenasse is open daily for lunch and dinner, plus they also off er brunch on Saturdays and Sundays. 444 St. Charles Avenue ~ 680.7000 ~ trenasse.com Cheesy babies … Beginning Janaury 6 through Mardi Gras Day, Copeland's of New Orleans and Copeland's Cheesecake Bistro will be off ering a delectable slice of carnival with their Mardi Gras King Cake Cheesecake, only $7.95 … that is, unless you want a whole one? copelandsofneworleans.com @SuckTheHeads

Copeland's Mardi Gras Cheesecake

WhereYat.com | January 2015 | 31

15 & Under

$

All “Pho” the Best...

By Kim Ranjbar

I

n this, the coldest month of the year, folks are wandering around in layers of clothing more suitable for tropical heat than 35ºF weather, sniffl ing, snuffl ing and seeking a hot meal that soothes their bellies and warms their souls. Enter pho … the ultimate Vietnamese comfort food.

Thanks to a huge infl ux of immigrants in the 70s, New Orleans is a fantastic place to fi nd authentic Vietnamese food in the southern United States. Also, over the past two years, the Crescent City has seen an

Pho Cam Ly's Pho Tai Chin

32 | January 2015 | $15 and Under

explosion of new Vietnamese restaurants opening up on the East Bank after the cuisine became sought after by travelers who honed in on what the locals were enjoying on a daily basis.

From rare strips of fi let mignon to chicken or oxtail, pho comes in all kinds of fl avors and sizes, but that rich, earthy broth is a reassuring constant. In addition, a huge bowl of pho will fi ll you up and leave you feeling cozy for as little as $6 and as much as $12. It’s always aff ordable and defi nitely worth every penny.

By far the most inexpensive, Pho Cam Ly on Magazine Street has developed quite a reputation for mouth-watering, traditional Vietnamese cuisine in the nine months since it opened. Part of that might be due to their fun food challenge: consuming a mammoth bowl of pho with two pounds of meat and two pounds of noodles in less than an hour. Very few people have attained this monumental victory, but if you’re not up to the task, just order a bowl of their Pho Tai Chin—beef noodle soup with eye of round and brisket— and we promise you’ll be more than sated for only $6.50.

What was once a convenience store that served Chinese takeout at Tulane and S. Carrollton Avenue has completely transformed into Namese, a cozy restaurant run by the Donas family. Munch on a complimentary prawn cracker and peruse a menu fi lled with both new and classic Vietnamese dishes, from Izzy’s Shrimp Balls to Five Spice Pork Belly Banh Mi. One of the standout features of Namese is their Filet Mignon Pho, in which thin slices of raw beef are served with a spicy “nuoc cham,” or red pepper sauce. In this über-original version, you cook the fi let yourself by suspending each thin slice in the ultra-hot beef broth and then devouring it at your preferred level of doneness. Though this treat is simply spectacular and a whole lot of fun to eat, it will only set you back about $12.

Located in the Riverbend on South Carrollton Avenue, Jazmine Cafe has lately been wowing diners by featuring stellar dishes like spring rolls with fresh salmon and sliced mango or a summer roll salad bowl, but don’t “pho-get” they’re a good source for pho! They off er a rich pho tai with rice noodles, sliced beef and cilantro for

only $7.95. Spring rolls and pho? No problem!

Try not to be daunted by the gigantic menu at Viet Orleans Bistro situated in the CBD on Baronne Street.

They’re mixing it up in a good way by off ering both Japanese Viet Orleans Bistro's Pho and Vietnamese cuisine, with sushi, nigiri, miso and squid salad appearing on the same menu as banh mi, pho and vermicelli bowls.

But it’s still optimal to score a pho dac biet with rare eye of round, brisket and meatballs for only $10.99. If you’re really hungry, add some extra broth, noodles or meatballs for only $1.99 more.

Although there are many other Vietnamese restaurant in the Greater New Orleans Area, a longtime favorite that always seems to be bustling is Pho Tau Bay. Located on the West Bank in what appears to be a partially abandoned strip mall, Pho Tau Bay is a local eatery that has been the go-to spot for diners for the past 32 years. They off er a large menu of traditional Vietnamese dishes, including 15 varieties of soup, none priced over $7.50 … and that’s for a large bowl! On many occasions I have inhaled their classic “P1” or Pho Tai with medium-rare beef and rice noodles along with an order of cha gio, their perfect fried egg rolls, but my all-time favorite (which is technically not pho) is their Won Ton Soup, the chef’s specialty, featuring a rich, heady broth, shrimp and pork wontons, rice noodles and grilled pork … it’s freaking pho-nomenal! @SuckTheHeads

GREAT FOOD, FRESH BEER GOOD TIMES & LIVE SPORTS

$5 COCKTAILS & APPETIZER SPECIALS AT HAPPY HOUR MON-FRI 4-6:30 PM

200 Poydras Street • 504-552-2739 • gordonbierschrestaurants.com

WhereYat.com | January 2015 | 33

Conscious Palate

The Skinny on Low-Fat Foods By Jhesika Menes

W

eight watchers meticulously counting calories or monitoring cholesterol levels for their heart and waistline’s sake have been fooled by low-fat off erings for years.

Recent studies reveal that food products labeled “low-fat” are actually not as good for you as a high-fat diet managed with caution. Obesity in America, particularly among children, has risen at an alarming rate. While we explore what labels claim to be healthy versions of our favorite foods, we are inevitably growing at our hips and bellies, and here’s why.

The American Heart Association targeted saturated fats as the main culprit in the 1980s.

Prepackaged limited-calorie meals and “low-fat” versions of dairy, meats, spreads and the like hit the market to battle the war against superfl uous fl ab. Carbs and sugars have always gotten a bad rap, but when the news of fat supplying twice the calories per gram compared to carbohydrates hit the airwaves, suddenly carbs seemed far less off ensive; and therein lies the problem.

The fact of the matter is that fat gives food fl avor. Recall your mother’s red beans—they wouldn’t be the same without a fatty hambone swimming deep in the cauldron. Saturated solids like butter, lard and animal fat season foodstuff s like no other spice. To appease the general public and reduce fat content, food science evolved to produce the same deli meat you hanker for in a sammie at a fraction of the calories. How they do it is the scary part.

Saturated fats are replaced via a process called hydrogenation in which unsaturated vegetable oils are used in solid and semisolid states as fi ller. Hydrogenated fats dangerously increase levels of trans-fats, which are far more detrimental to heart health than the average dinner serving of bread and butter alongside a fatty T-bone.

Now comes the not-so-sweet truth for those with a sweet tooth. Altering oils is one thing, but increasing sugar content is another. Dietitian Kerrie Turnwell explains, “The typical low-fat product tended to be high in carbs, might contain trans-fats and at the end of the day had a very similar calorie count to the original product. In fact, when we eat foods high in carbs, especially white refi ned ones, our bodies digest them more quickly. This can lead to blood sugar swings and cravings, making it more diffi cult to control our overall caloric intake—which means that second or third “low-fat” sweets start to look very tempting! A diet too high in these refi ned carbs and sugars can be as unhealthy as a high-fat diet because it increases the risk of diabetes and heart disease and causes high cholesterol levels.” Hence the “Skinny Fat” epidemic.

Consumers who opt for low-fat products essentially destroy their chances for weight loss and overall health benefi ts due to miseducation and investing trust in products disguised with confusing labels. Inorganic substances like sugar substitutes and oils are nutritionally devoid foods that are harder for the body to digest. For example, soy by-products. Soy lecithin–laced vegetarian versions of tacos, burritos and burgers off er carnivores the same fl avor they love but with half the calories. Just as ya mama would say, “Anything that sounds too good to be true usually is,”—and she’s right. Soy lecithin, though harmless itself, is produced using a process called hexane extraction, resulting in residual contamination. Hexane is a petroleum chemical produced as a by-product of gasoline refi ning. Though prohibited when processing organic foods, hexane is used to process nearly all conventional soy protein ingredients and edible soy oils. Even a trace amount of contamination in food is poisonous to the human body. However, there is no federal regulation requiring food companies to test their products for hexane residues. Hexane has been classifi ed as a neurotoxin contaminant and environmental air pollutant, two things we were not designed to digest.

Dr. Josh Axe, athlete physician and cookbook author, believes that food is medicine.

“Exercising restraint with a normal diet of natural foods is the most ideal route. A balance of protein, fruits and vegetables, with limited animal fats and dairy won’t make you obese—it’s portion size and lack of moderation that do that. Eating a small meal or snack

Fat is not the culprit — it is actually good for the body.

Following a very lowfat diet makes you more likely to be low in vitamins, affecting your immunity.

34 | January 2015 | Conscious Palate

Marcello's Grilled Artichoke every three hours, to include small amounts of protein, is the perfect way to kick start the metabolism. Keeping it fueled with the proper ingredients will ensure stability in the way the body processes what it is receiving.”

“Fat is not the culprit,” he continues. “It’s actually good for the body. Essential fats are important for maintaining healthy blood vessels, making hormones and the proper function of the nervous system. The fat in our diet helps us absorb certain fat-soluble vitamins, which include vitamins A, D, E and K. Following a very low-fat diet makes you more likely to be low in these vitamins, and that can aff ect your immunity. It’s better to focus your diet on the healthier fats by including more fi sh, nuts, and vegetable oils like olive and avocado.”

Finding healthy fat-balanced options with local fl avor is not as big a chore as one may think. Seed on Prytania has fi gured out ways to creatively deliver dairy-free, vegan and gluten-free fare to the Creole palate. Gumbo made from collard greens and okra or corn nachos with cashew queso and veggies satisfy your craving without the calories or allergen fi llers. Buddied up on the next corner is The Green Fork, with their slew of fresh juices and smoothies and daily pre-packaged take-away grabs of salads and the nutritional like. In the French Quarter, Cafe Envie hits home runs with sandwiches that settle the breakfast or lunch hankering.

Grilled asparagus, mozzarella cheese, olive oil and thin slices of prosciutto are paninipressed on sourdough and accompanied by potato salad. Hearty and healthy in moderation. Marcello’s on Saint Charles off ers those healthy omega fats in their Pesce Del Giorno: fresh fi sh beautifully presented with zucchini and squash ribbons and saff ron burro bianco. Their antipasti Lobster Panzanella and Long Stemmed Grilled Artichokes are fi ne starters that are low in calories but high in fl avor. @JhesikaMenes

WhereYat.com | January 2015 | 35

AFRICAN

Ernst Café is a great place to come for delicious, locally inspired dishes—Boudin Balls, seafood plates, etc... Enjoy specialty cocktails and a wide selection of beers. 600 S Peters St. • 525-8544 • ernstcafe.net

Bennachin off ers a taste of Africa in the Big Easy. Order the Sisay Singho—baked chicken, fried plantains and coconut rice. A BYOB policy is off ered. 1212 Royal St. • 522-1230 • bennachinrestaurant.com

Gattuso’s has unbeatable appetizers, signature sweet potato fries, NOLA favorites and daily specials. Check out Trivia Tuesdays, Pint Night Thursdays and live music on the weekends. 435 Huey P. Long Ave. • 368-1114 • gattusos.net

AMERICAN

Gordon Biersch is the perfect pub-style hangout for a casual get-together. Pair homemade beers with delicious southwest egg rolls, fried calamari, and chicken wings. 200 Poydras St. • 522-2739 • gordonbiersch.com

RestaurantGuide

Cheesecake Bistro by Copeland's serves traditional New Orleans cuisine like blackened shrimp Alfredo, as well as the city’s best cheesecake. 2001 St. Charles Ave. • 593-9955 • copelandscheesecakebistro.com Crescent City Brewhouse, with four house brews, also off ers New Orleans cuisine with a German twist. Try the Tuna Orleans with a Philners or Red Stallion. 527 Decatur St. • 5220571 • crescentcitybrewhouse.com Daisy Dukes has a great southern atmosphere making for the perfect 24/7 joint. It has great off erings like the Blackened Alligator Sausage Plate. French Quarter, CBD, Metairie • daisydukesrestaurant.com Dat Dog features a large menu of gourmet hot dogs to enjoy. This isn't the average hot dog place. Try the Crawfi sh Étouff ée dog, featuring crawfi sh sausage. Uptown, Marigny • datdognola.com Dino’s Bar & Grill is a great pub to grab a burger like Dino’s Mushroom Jack. Stop by on Saturdays for the city’s best ladies’ night. 1128 Tchoupitoulas St. • 558-0900 • dinosnola.com

36 | January 2015 | Restaurant Guide

Ma Momma's House is the place for some delicious, southern soul food. Feast on the Drunk Love—fried chicken wings with a sweet waffl e. 5741 Crowder Blvd. • 244-0021 • mamommashouse.com

ASIAN Five Happiness satisfi es customers with its fantastic Chinese cuisine. Every visit or delivery leaves customers happy with their delicious, traditional dishes. 3605 S. Carrollton Ave. • 482-3935 • fi vehappiness.com Green Tea specializes in authentic Cantonese and Mandarin dishes and is known for its great prices and fast service. Green Tea off ers many delicious options. 1116 Louisiana Ave. • 8998005 • greenteanola.com Jazmine Café lets you take a break from typical NOLA dishes with healthy Vietnamese cuisine. The space is perfect for enjoying veggie dishes with friends. 614 S. Carrollton Ave. • 866-9301 • jazminecafe.com

Kyoto is a space boasting creative and playful takes on sushi rolls. Sip on sake while enjoying attentive service, a relaxed atmosphere, and delicious food. 4920 Prytania St. • 891-3644 • kyotonola.com Kyoto II off ers great sushi in a relaxed space right by The Elmwood Palace movie theater. Feast on sushi rolls and traditional Japanese cuisine.

5608 Citrus Blvd. • 818-0228 La Thai off ers the ultimate Thai experience in a modern space full of intoxicating aromas.

The curries and creative cocktails are a musttry here. 4938 Prytania St. • 899-8886 • lathaiuptown.com Miyako off ers one of the best cooking shows in the city, letting customers enjoy an unforgettable dining experience at this Japanese seafood and steakhouse restaurant. 1403 St. Charles Ave. • 410-9997 • japanesebistro.com Namese off ers delicious Vietnamese cuisine in a refreshing, intimate atmosphere. Stop by if you’re in the mood for Vietnamese with a unique New Orleans twist. 4077 Tulane Ave. • 4838899 • namese.net

Manning's serves unique versions of classic tailgating dishes like the Manning Burger. With more than 30 fl at-screen TVs and reclining chairs, Manning’s is ideal for sports watching. 519 Fulton St. • 593-8072

OHM Lounge, located next to Barcadia, off ers an intimate club space perfect for meeting friends. Try their artisanal cocktails, great sakes, and delicious tapas. 601 Tchoupitoulas St. #B • 335-1760 • ohm-lounge.com

Phil’s Grill is the ultimate, family-run, spot for fresh-off -the-grill burgers. Build your own burger and order a side of classic fries. Metairie, Harahan, CBD • phils-grill.com

Origami features a dynamic trio of master New Orleans sushi chefs, making it a classic place to dine with cocktails, unique rolls and sashimi platters. 5130 Freret St. • 899-6532 • sushinola.com

Willie Mae's Scotch House boasts the best Fried Chicken in New Orleans. Enjoy delicious soul food and be sure to arrive early to avoid the lines. 2401 St. Ann St. • 822-9503

Copeland’sofNewOrleans

SOHO has an array of Asian dishes along with

a sushi bar. With excellent service, fresh cuisine, and intimate dining spaces, SOHO is must-try.

601 Veterans Blvd. • 301-2266

among locals and tourists. Find humbly priced drinks and good food in a relaxed environment.

141 Chartres St. • 524-0493 • thejimani.com

Viet Orleans Bistro, a New Orleans/ Southeast Asian bistro, is a CBD must with friends or colleagues. You don’t want to miss their happy hour. 300 Baronne St. • 333-6917

Mimi's in the Marigny off ers cold and hot tapas late into the night. With dancing and DJs, this is the ultimate, low-key place. 2601 Royal St. • 872-9868

BARS WITH GREAT FOOD

Pat O’s Courtyard Restaurant, home of the Hurricane, is the place to go for music, eating Creole favorites, and hanging out by the piano lounge. 624 Bourbon St. • 588-2744 • patobriens.com

Backspace Bar & Kitchen is an elegant spot that off ers an extensive and unique menu. Even get some waffl es and pancakes at this ultimate cozy space. 139 Chartres St. • 322-2245 • backspacenola.com Bamboula's is more than just a music venue.

Try the delicious Coconut Shrimp & Craw Cakes and, after dining, check out the Festival Hall Theatre. 514 Frenchmen St. • 944-8461 • bamboulasnola.com Barcadia has something for everyone— whether you’re in the mood for games or craft beers. Eat, drink and play life-sized Jenga on the patio. 601 Tchoupitoulas St. • 335-1740 • barcadianeworleans.com Bourbon Heat off ers seating at both the indoor and courtyard bars. Their Courtyard Grill is great for bar favorites and many American and Creole options. 711 Bourbon St. • 324-4669 • 711bourbonheat.com Buffa's Bar and Restaurant off ers such greats as omelets, Cheesecake French Toast, and sandwiches. Visit their back room for live music and open mic nights. 1001 Esplanade Ave. • 949-0038 • buffasbar.com The Jimani, a fun-fi lled dive bar, is a favorite

Origami

Poppy's Time Out Sports Bar, with 21 televisions, great food, and many beers on tap, is the ultimate game-day bar for cheering and celebrating. 500 Port of New Orleans Pl. • 247-9265 • poppystimeoutsportsbar.com Richard Fiske’s Martini Bar & Restaurant serves up more than just potent, delicious drinks.

Come to this romantic spot to enjoy shrimp and grits and Jazz. 301 Dauphine St. • 586-0972 Rivershack Tavern, located on River Road adjacent to the Mississippi, is a neighborhood tavern and honky-tonk that is great for live music and food. 3449 River Rd. • 834-4938 • therivershacktavern.com Shamrock Bar and Grill off ers every game imaginable as well as karaoke, live music, and fantastic munchies until the wee morning hours. 4133 S. Carrollton Ave. • 301-0938 • shamrockparty.com Tracey's Irish Restaurant and Bar off ers an assortment of po-boys along with great drink specials and welcoming hospitality. 2604 Magazine St. • 897-5413 • traceysnola.com

Wit’s Inn is known as a neighborhood pizza kitchen and bar with quick service. Try their caprese salad, delicious pizza, and enjoy drink specials. 141 N. Carrollton Ave. • 486-1600 • witsinn.com

Café Amelie is known for its beautiful courtyard which is perfect for al fresco dining.

Come for breakfast, shrimp and grits and refreshing cocktails. 912 Royal St. • 412-8965 • cafeamelie.com

CAFÈ

Café 821, in the CBD, off ers good coff ee and Belgian waffl es with delicious housemade syrups.

Stop by for a Croque Monsieur and French pastries. 821 Baronne St. • 267-5456

Another Broken Egg off ers unique creations, from new twists on eggs benedict to amazing biscuit beignets. The huge menu also provides options for everyone. Uptown, Lakeview • 301-2771 • anotherbrokenegg.com Breads on Oak off ers assorted breads, soups, sandwiches, and pastries. Breads on Oak has something for everyone, with many gluten-free and vegan options. 8640 Oak St. • 324-8271 • breadsonoak.com

Café Navarre is a casual, neighborhood place with great atmosphere and selections for breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner. 800 Navarre Ave. • 483-8828 • riccobonos.com/ cafe_navarre Carmo Tropical Cafe and Bar brings culinary infl uences from the Caribbean to West Africa and beyond, making this spot sure to excite the palate.

527 Julia St. • 875-4132 • cafecarmo.com

Japanese Restaurant, Sushi & Such Mon – Thur 11:30 am – 10 pm Fri & Sat 11:30 am – 11 pm Sun 5 – 9 pm SushiNOLA.com | @OrigamiNola 899-6532| 5130 Freret St.

WhereYat.com | January 2015 | 37

EAT, a farm-to-table style restaurant. off ers a variety of Cajun, Creole and other famous NOLA dishes. Enjoy local favorites featuring fresh, local ingredients. 900 Dumaine St. • 522-7222 • eatnola.com

Venezia off ers home-cooked Italian food at its best. Make memories with family and friends and be sure to enjoy the always-perfect pizza. 134 N. Carrollton Ave. • 488-7991 • venezianeworleans.com

Jimmy J’s Cafe is a great place to eat for both locals and tourists. Jimmy J’s off ers a variety of breakfast and lunch options. 115 Chartres St. • 309-9360 • jimmyjscafe.com

LATIN

Orleans Grapevine allows you to indulge in casual fi ne dining and a glass of wine. Enjoy the shrimp remoulade indoors or in the cozy courtyard. 720 Orleans Ave. • 523-1930 • orleansgrapevine.com Riccobono’s Panola Street Cafe, located uptown near Tulane, is a wonderful spot for breakfast or lunch. The hearty breakfast plates can’t be missed here. 7801 Panola St. • 3141810 • riccobonos.com

Mizado Cocina is an exciting, bustling place with a ceviche bar and hand-crafted salsas.

Come to enjoy fresh Mexican food and strong drinks. 5080 Ponchartrain Blvd. • 885-5555 • mizadococina.com Nacho Mama's Mexican Grill serves unique Mexican dishes loaded with creative seasoning combinations that you won’t fi nd anywhere else. 1000 S. Clearview Pkwy. • 736-1188 • nachomamasmexicangrill.com

MIDDLE EASTERN

Copeland's of New Orleans combines New Orleans fl avor and comfort in a casual dining atmosphere. Copeland’s is known for its premium ingredients, sauces and seasonings.

Covington, Metairie, Kenner, Slidell, West Bank • copelandsofneworleans.com Marti’s is the ideal place for a small plate or cocktail downtown. Enoy their happy hour Tuesday through Sunday with half-priced cocktails and wine. 1041 Dumaine St. 522-5478 martisnola.com New Orleans Creole Cookery is a fantastic new addition to the French Quarter that off ers wonderful Creole dishes. Don’t miss their charbroiled oysters for a treat! 510 Toulouse St. 524-9632 neworleanscreolecookery.com.

PIZZA AND MORE Dolce Vita Pizzeria specializes in delicious wood-fi red pizzas and having a friendly staff . Enjoy

a daily happy hour from 2–5 p.m. 1205 St. Charles Ave. Unit C-3 • 324-7674 • dvpizzeria.com Mo’s Pizza off ers more than just hand-tossed pizzas. Try the turnovers, Mo’s take on the calzone, and other options including muff alettas and meatball po-boys. Westwego • 341-9650 • mospizzanola.com

PO-BOYS AND MORE Domilise’s, though it has limited seating, is a great place to go for a delicious and simple fried shrimp, catfi sh, or roast beef po-boy. 5240 Annunciation St. • 899-9126 Parkway Bakery and Tavern is a casual, family dining restaurant that off ers po-boys for the right prices. Enjoy eating out on the patio. 538 Hagan Ave. • 482-3047 • parkwaypoorboys.com Short Stop Poboys is committed to satisfying customers with great food and excellent service.

Enjoy an assortment of po-boys and some amazing seafood gumbo. 119 Transcontinental Dr. • 855-4572 • shortstoppoboys.com

Vacherie has a variety of sandwiches and salads as part of their café menu. Stop by for dinner to enjoy drinks and appetizers bar menu. 827 Toulouse St. • 207-4532 • vacherierestaurant.com

Lebanon's Café off ers some of the fi nest Middle Eastern dishes in New Orleans—creamy homemade hummus, amazing kabobs, rosemary lamb chop, and much more. 1500 S. Carrollton Ave. • 862-6200 • lebanonscafe.com

ITALIAN

NEW ORLEANS CUISINE

SEAFOOD

Pascal's Manale brings 100 years of rich recipes that have resulted in delicious specialties.

Try their Creole-Italian dishes, soups, pastas, veal and fantastic sides. 1838 Napoleon Ave. • 895-4877 • pascalmanale.com

Antoine's Restaurant continues to serve renowned French-Creole cuisine in its unique and historic atmosphere. It's a New Orleans staple you can't pass up. 713 St. Louis St. • 581-4422 • antoines.com

Crazy Lobster Bar & Grill off ers great indoor and outdoor seating options, tasty, fresh seafood, classic New Orleans favorites and a variety of innovative cocktails. 500 Port of New Orleans Pl. • 569-3380 • thecrazylobster.com

Red Gravy, off ering traditional and handmade pasta dishes and vegetarian options, invites you to indulge in home-cooked Italian food in the heart of NOLA. 125 Camp St. • 561-8844 • redgravycafe.com

Charlie’s Restaurant features a casual, family-friendly atmosphere along with comfort foods. Charlie’s has an extensive menu, and it’s well worth the drive. Violet, Louisiana • 6829057 • charliesrestaurantla.com

Don's Seafood Hut features delicious weeknight seafood specials. This casual and low-key spot off ers delicious Cajun fare that will satisfy any seafood lover. 4801 Veterans Memorial Blvd. • 889-1550 • donsseafoodonline.com

38 | January 2015 | Restaurant Guide

ParkwayBakeryAndTavern

WhereYat.com | January 2015 | 39

FilmReviews

Catch Where Y'at Movie Editor David Vicari and critic Fritz Esker's “Dueling Critics” blog at WhereYat.com.

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies By David Vicari This fi nal chapter in fi lmmaker Peter Jackson's Hobbit trilogy, which are the prequels to his Lord of the Rings trilogy, is the shortest of the fi lms, clocking in at a mere 144 minutes. That's a good thing because the two previous movies, An Unexpected Journey and The Desolation of Smaug, felt far too padded.

Odd, since these movies were broken up into three from J.R.R. Tolkien's single book The Hobbit, or There and Back Again.

This one, however, is fast and furious.

It opens with a bang as Smaug (voice of Benedict Cumberbatch) the dragon lays waste to a village. The movie then takes a breather for some exposition, then it kicks into high gear again for the exciting Battle of the Five Armies, which eats up much of the fi lm's running time.

Dwarf Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage) has reclaimed the Lonely Mountain of Erebor and its treasure from the dragon Smaug, but now Thorin seems to be becoming the Gordon Gekko of Middle Earth. His new-found greed has made him lose friends and gain enemies. However, can the Dwarves unite with Elves and Men to fi ght those nasty Orcs and Goblins who are planning a major attack on Lonely Mountain? Caught in the middle is Hobbit Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) and Wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen).

The Battle of the Five Armies delivers exactly what you would expect – big epic battles, top of the line digital eff ects and Legolas (Orlando Bloom) the Elf gleefully murdering bad guys in inventive ways. It's all familiar by now, so it's a good thing that this is the end, and that it goes out on a high note.

Wild By Frtiz Esker Movies often try to gloss over selfi sh behavior by their protagonists. But that’s always a mistake; minimizing the hurt a main character causes others makes him/her less likable than if the movie addressed those fl aws honestly. The new fi lm Wild presents its lead character, a recovering heroin and sex addict, with a refreshing degree of frankness.

Based on the memoir by Cheryl Strayed, Reese Witherspoon stars as a woman left in tatters after the death of her mother (Laura Dern). She decides to walk the Pacifi c Crest Trail to fi nd herself.

Along the way, there are fl ashbacks depicting her downward spiral into heroin abuse, risky sexual encounters, and the end of her marriage.

Because the fi lm shows the pain Witherspoon causes her friends and husband and the remorse she feels, it makes it a lot easier to root for her than, say, Julia Roberts’ narcissistic character in Eat, Pray, Love.

Another of the movie’s strengths is the way it makes even male viewers realize how scary it can be for a woman traveling alone in the wilderness. Every man she encounters, even those who end up becoming friends (and that’s most of them in this fi lm), starts out as a source of menace, a potential victimizer.

Directed by Jean-Marc Vallee (The Dallas Buyers Club), Wild is a strong fi lm likely to pick up a few Oscar nominations (Witherspoon, Dern, and screenwriter Nick Hornby are the likeliest candidates).

40 | January 2015 | Film Reviews

2014 Movie You May Not Have Seen...

But Should by David Vicari

2014 Performances Oscar Will Unfairly Ignore by Fritz Esker

Grand Piano – A famous pianist (Elijah Wood) making a comeback after a breakdown receives a message that he will be killed if he plays one wrong note. Silly premise is made plausible by confi dent direction by Eugenio Mira. Crackerjack thriller is tense from the word “go”.

Chris Pratt, Guardians of the Galaxy Action movie acting is almost always overlooked by the academy. But all worthwhile blockbusters need a solid center. In Guardians of the Galaxy, Chris Pratt pulls off a diffi cult balancing act. The fi lm’s tone tightrope walks between action and comedy and if Pratt can’t convincingly handle both aspects, the fi lm falls apart.

You have to believe he’s goofy enough for the funny scenes to work, but you also have to take him seriously enough to be thrilled by the action scenes. From start to fi nish, Pratt hits it out of the park.

His “losers” speech at the fi lm’s climax is genuinely aff ecting.

Joe – Nicholas Cage delivers a fi ne, understated performance in David Gordon Green's drama about a short-tempered ex-con who fi nds himself looking out for a poor and abused teen (Tye Sheridan).

Using non-actors in small roles really helps the atmosphere in this return to form for director Green.

Locke – Construction manager Ivan Locke (Tom Hardy) is driving on the freeway after receiving a phone call that could unravel his comfortable existence. Even though it all takes place in a car, cinematographer Haris Zambarloukos comes up with many arresting visuals. Hardy's one-man show is an absorbing character study.

Snowpiercer – Survivors of global warming travel around the world on a loop in a high-tech train. The Have Nots are packed into the back of the train and treated like dirt. Chris Evans, in a commanding performance, leads a rebellion in director Boon Joon Ho's action-packed science fi ction fable.

Dan Stevens, The Guest Some actors are good at playing one type of role, but lack the range to handle a variety of parts. In Downton Abbey, Dan Stevens excelled at playing nice guy Matthew Crawley. But his character in The Guest could not be more diff erent, and he’s terrifi c in both. As a mysterious house-guest who shows up at a family’s doorstep claiming to be an army buddy of their son who died in Iraq, Stevens fi nds a perfect balance of charm and menace.

Something seems off about him, but he’s so cool and charming you fi nd yourself hoping he’s really not a bad guy. The fi lm itself stumbles a bit in its fi nal act when it reveals who he is and what he’s doing, removing the mystery from the character.

But Stevens is riveting throughout. @NOLAMovieBuff

Top Five By David Vicari Top Five does its job as a comedy by making us laugh, and laugh often. The movie is also about something and that lifts it above the average comedy. Writer/ director/star Chris Rock explores celebrity and the media in this age of Twitter and reality TV. Rock plays stand-up comic and fi lm actor Andre Allen. He is just out of rehab and wants to be taken seriously as a dramatic actor. Forget his Hammy the Bear comedies .On a promotional tour for his new “serious” fi lm, in which he plays a Haitian revolutionary, Allen decides to give an in-depth interview to journalist Chelsea Brown (Rosario Dawson, just wonderful), who has her own issues. Allen allows Brown to spend the day with him and ask him the hard questions, like “when did he stop being funny?” Lighter questions include “top fi ve favorite musical artists.” In between questioning, Allen has to deal with his reality TV star fi ancee (Gabrielle Union) and the details of their impending marriage.

Top Five does take its time to fi nd its rhythm, but when it does it's a funny observational comedy that would make Woody Allen proud. Rock and Dawson have good chemistry, and J.B. Smoove, as one of Andre's handlers, lends fi ne support.

The movie is semi-autobiographical, so you do feel like a fl y on the wall. This has to be what it's like for a movie star on a media tour plugging their latest movie. Rock has made a fi lm that feels as authentic as it is funny...and it is funny.

WhereYat.com | January 2015 | 41

TalesFromTheQuarter

By Debbie Lindsay

Thanks for the Memories

W

hen are you gonna get a real job?” I heard this question, this judgment, during all my earlier Mobile years as a waitress. The real job concern may not always have been directed toward me; sometimes a co-worker would lament their own impatience to fi nish college so they might begin a real career. Even today, working in a hospitality-centric city such as New Orleans, you can hear those careless words voiced by some young waiter and it’s a slap in the face to the veteran tray jockeys and all those members of the Krewe of Kitchens.

Perhaps there is a distinction between the terms career and job. Time spent earning a paycheck is important, but can leave a person feeling like they’re just doing a job, a means to an end, putting in time, merely punching a clock. And some folks spend years preparing for the career, something that is meant to elevate themselves or others and result in pride or fame. And still, they may never fi nd true satisfaction.

I began working in food and beverage not because I wanted to, but simply because it was all I could do as a high school dropout. I put in the time just for the rent.

For too many years I fl oundered through restaurants and bars without staying put long enough to give a care. But slowly I came to identify with the world of food service and used my personality to make it work for me (and for my customers).

I came to own it. For me, the job of restaurant work slowly became my career.

Few people get to have a job they’d truly love. I’ve had the good fortune to become emotionally attached to and rewarded by several restaurants through the years.

And until this past April, I enjoyed 12 of those years working for a family-owned restaurant, Café M—and it meant the world to me. Oh, it had its dysfunctions and annoyances, but what home doesn’t—and it was home for me. I had planned to work there for as long as I could make my customers laugh, sling food and spill minimal amounts of beer.

Walk into a restaurant that has been serving up food and memories for decades and let your senses absorb the smells, sounds and history. Café M was that kind of place. It might have been in the thick of tourists, but even they became regulars.

There was nothing transient about the patrons. Those folks that lined the sidewalk to wait for a table either had been there

42 | January 2015 | Tales from the Quarter

before or were soon to be initiated into the ranks of the “the regulars of Café M.” The absolute weirdness of the place stuck with people. Oh, and of course the huge portions and cheap prices.

I worked behind the bar. It would be hard to call myself a bartender, as our bar was more of a diner, with lots of food service—no strong-arming folks to drink, no crafted cocktails, no fancy garnishes (“Sir, will that be in a clean glass, with maybe a straw for good measure?”)—thus eliminating the amateur drunks and pretentious would-be wine snobs. There was a rhythm and a routine to the business that was 90% spot-on, a method to the madness. Bottom line: It worked. Well, until it became corporate.

A restaurant is more than a spreadsheet; it is organic and made up of lives. This eatery was built and run the old-school way and never spent one dime on paid advertising—it didn’t need to. Things were simple and uncomplicated. The work

could be hard and sweaty (the owner was reticent to use the air

conditioner to its fullest), and there were times when a bit more adult supervision would have eased mayhem (a fi stfi ght in the kitchen or a near riot by the party of 20 wanting separate checks), but sweating comes with every high-volume diner and too much in-your-way, up-your-ass micromanaging can be as bad as none.

Like it or not, more and more of our city’s independently owned cafés, bars and food businesses are going corporate.

A corporation is not innately a bad thing, by no means; but it is a diff erent animal from the personalities of the mom and pop businesses that are elemental to the uniqueness of our New Orleans. Too many dollar signs can’t help but obscure the welcome signs. As one fl eeing co-worker said, “It’s not about fi ghting the power, it’s more about turning the volume down on the greed.” All I know is that I miss my Café M before its facelift. I loved the wrinkles in time and patina of years that made it home—my home.

Po-BoyViews By Phil LaMancusa Willin’ Or The Idiot and the Odyssey Back in the day, January would annually be celebrated as the month that sanity fi nally returned to the grownups in my family and, collaterally, to us children. In December each year we were surrounded by raving, full-blown, bat guanocrazy maniac adults that we happened to be subjected, related, and forced to live in close proximity to. Mercifully, this was when I was younger, but I feel that it became instrumental as a specifi c reason why I no longer live any closer than a thousand miles from my nearest relative. My life: my sanity.

Turmoil would start on my birthday, which is December 1st, and for a long time I suspected that I was the cause of the madness that invaded the household. In retrospect, I realized that the beginning of December was the time that the last welfare check came in before the horrid days of Christmas were upon us and the mad scramble for family holiday cred had to begin not only in earnest but with a high degree of alacrity. Large family; small income; pride; prejudice; pretense; competition and excessive focus on the importance of material signifi cance all rolled up into the red-eyed, fang-gleaming, fi re-breathing, brimstonebelching, mucus-dripping, blood-thirsty, razor-clawed monster of impending failure to keep up appearances for the holiday season turning everyone around me from mild mannered Doctor (I’ll have another piece of pie) Thanksgiving Jekyll into Mister (cajones-in-a-vice-grip)

Holiday Hyde.

I’ll admit I wasn’t the sharpest tack, but it didn’t take a rocket surgeon to know that the grownups were having meltdowns in December more so than other months-- when they were merely irrational, unpredictable, illogical, and a lesson to the kids that growing up was something that should be avoided at all costs.

Of course, when the New Year fi nally rolled in, the miasma of impending doom had passed—for them. The threats of no presents, no tree, no Santa and even no Christmas dinner had fallen by the wayside—for them; but, as kids, young and green, disappointment was our devil. Our fantasies had been bedfellows that we had nestled with each night; sugar plum fairies that had danced in our heads as the holiday season came and stood poised to drop an avalanche of cosmic detritus on our hopes and dreams.

After Christmas, the realization of the fi nality of the experience set in for the adults with them congratulating themselves for a job well done. Us kids, defl ated over not getting our ponies, pool tables, Madame Alexander’s and Thompson submachine guns resigned ourselves that we had just not been deserving enough.

And, with Christmas past and New Year’s looming, the grownups gave a collective sigh and started gearing up for that fabulous party to come, as if making it through the year alive was reward enough to warrant a colossal shindig; each one telling the other that it ‘hadn’t been such a bad year’ and ‘this one’ll be better’ (besides, the next check was in the mail).

Fast forward to 2015. Here we go with another New Year. Our holiday angst is fading, our resolutions are being formed and there are no other big expenditures for a while

(except for birthdays, anniversaries, groceries, school supplies, doctors, dentists, the usual bills, getting things fi xed and gettin’ ‘er done).

I’ve come to the realization that it’s never going to get any easier; this year again, there will be gains and losses; babies will be born; loved ones will die and the rent will be a little late sometimes. The one thing that is certain about life is its uncertainty.

I’ll try to avoid accidents, missteps and the reliably unplanned ‘less-than-comfortable’ conclusions resulting from my actions (if I’m not paying attention to good and positive results); but, you know, stuff happens. Lessons will be learned or repeated. But, winter will turn to spring and there will be rain. Our best laid plans won’t always work out

I’ve come to the realization that it’s never going to get any easier...the one thing that is certain about life is its uncertainty. and there’ll be sweet surprises that transpire, magically and exactly when we need them, like the sun rising in the east over the west bank of the river every day.

We can get all maudlin about how the world is goin’ to hell in a hand basket or we can enjoy the ride; we can lose our minds and misplace our senses of humor or we can be like my weird and wonderful role models that congratulated themselves on squeaking out of yet another year and toasting each other into another year. Another chance to do the best they could with what they had.

So, I’ll keep reminding myself that I’m too blessed to be stressed and fortunate to have made it through another year myself; still standing, bent but not broken.

Po-Boy Views | January 2015 | 43

Vamos a los Tacos! Tacos and Beer is not your typical Mexican restaurant! We bring a real taco game to the table serving up tacos al pastor, lengua, chorizo, and eight other choices. We provide the ideal drinking-environment and an extensive cerveza selection; and of course our famous fresh-squeezed lemon n lime Margaritas. Come party at Tacos & Beer!

Chat NIKKI REYES with

<< José Valencia Co-Owner, Tacos and Beer

<<George Porter, Jr. The King of Funk

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

1.

I want to be 10 years younger. Like Tom Hanks in BIG. L.A., CA. With family.

NyQuil.

Patience.

Alabama! SEC football all the way.

<< Stephanie Vargas Manager, Tacos and Beer 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

To hear, "Will you marry me?"

Paris, France.

Love. Big love.

I'm good!. It's all good.

Sugar Bowl? Da Saints!

Where Y’at Chat Questions: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Happy New Year, Baby! What would you like on New Year's at midnight?

If you were able to be anywhere in the world on January 1, 2015, where would it be?

The New Year's baby asks you to refi ll his/her bottle. What would you put in it?

Forget New Year's resolutions! What resolve would you like in your life?

SUGAR BOWL time!! Who wins: Saints, Alabama or Ohio?

<<Rob Mroz Bar Manager, Tacos and Beer 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

2.

3.

4.

5.

The Nikki Reyes Show Thurs., 5 p.m.

Lean over, turn over and kiss my WGSO 990am wife, Ara! New Orleans. It's my place, my home.

Milk.

Resolve "PBS"... a.k.a. "PORTER BATISTE STOLTZ." Sugar Bowl? Alabama.

Goodwill, happiness and successful growth.

A) New York; B) Paris.

Trust fund.

Stress over things I have no control of.

Alabama.

<< James Rivers Godfather of N.O. music/ Instrumentalist 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Begin the year in good health.

Paris, France.

Barcardi Rum and Coke.

Make my "HIP" record.

I'm a Who Dat, but the Sugar Bowl? Alabama.

^^ Javier Gutierrez Musician, Latin Fire 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Be healthy and loved.

Home. In La Paz, Bolivia.

Music, happiness and health.

I'm just fi ne.

The Saints...all the way.

Why not?

<<Kenny Lopez Newscaster, WGNO 26/ News with a Twist

<< Dennis Woltering Retired Anchor, Reporter, and Handsome

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

1.

2.

3.

Dollar bills raining all over my body instead of confetti.

Brazil. I believe I'm half Brazilian.

Breast milk from Britney Spears.

Let go and truly live in the right now.

The Praline's by Jean. That's plenty SUGA.

<< Dartagnan Magician/Mind Reader/Charmer 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Make out with a tall, buxom blonde...woman.

Awaken on my hotel room fl oor with a Tiger in the bathroom.

A letter from my deceased mother.

Forgive the misdeeds that fell upon me in the past.

Landslide...Ohio!

44 | January 2015 | Where Y'at Chat

4.

5.

Explosions. Oh, and to be with family and friends.

Tahiti, overlooking water.

Orgasmic wine! Comes from The Naked Winery in Oregon!

Start my new life making artistic documentaries.

Saints? Sugar Bowl? No. Let's say Alabama.

<< Debbie Mulvenna Executive Director, Stewardship and Donor Relations, Tulane Univeristy 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

A big kiss from my husband, Carlo.

New Orleans.

Optimism for the New Year.

Relax into the New Orleans lifestyle.

Always the Saints. But, really? Alabama will win even though I love an underdog.

WhereYat.com | January 2015 | 45

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1

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3 5

Brought to you by:

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46 | January 2015 | Where Ya' Been

Where Ya' Been?

7 1.

Brittany Gilbert and the gang from the Jefferson Chamber of Commerce enjoyed The Celebration in the Oaks Preview Party.

6.

Canal Place’s Carla Adams enjoyed the ICAN Fundraiser with President Vincent Calabrese.

2.

Saints Cameron Jordan, Zach Strief, and Keenan Lewis posed at the Keenan Lewis Foundation Fundraiser.

7.

Jerry Hendrick (left) and the crew from Short Stop Po Boy served the crowds at the Celebration in the Oaks Preview Party.

3.

RNDC’s Fred Holley and William Grant’s Jorge Lauriano enjoyed the Celebration in the Oaks Preview Party.

8.

The Most Interesting Man in the World was the star of the Dos Equis XX Masquerade at Generations Hall.

4.

The Saints Superfans were out in full force to support the Keenan Lewis Foundation.

9.

5.

The Civic’s Bryan Bailey, Dennis Areaux, and Where Y’at’s Jeremie Ertle enjoyed the Keenan Lewis Foundation Fundraiser.

Miss Louisiana Candace Bennatt enjoyed being a judge at the Clash of the Catwalk at The Civic.

9

10

10. The Dos Equis XX Masquerade at Generations Hall featured masks and mystery.

Training Time

Saturday, April 4, 2015