October 2014
WhereYat.com
dINING • mUsIC • eNteRtAINmeNt • NIGhtLIFe
Fall Restaurant Guide FantasticFries
FallFestivals
Breakfast!
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4 | October 2014 | Where Y'at magazine
WhereYat.com | October 2014 | 5
CONteNts Features 26 Fall Festivals 30 House of Shock 54 Prospect 3
October 2014 Vol. 18 No. 01 Publisher/Editor-in-Chief: Josh Danzig Creative Director: Greg Roques Music/Assistant Editor: Emily Hingle Movie Editor: David Vicari Copy Editor: Susan Broadhurst
40 Album Reviews
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
44 Ones to Watch
Director of Sales: Jeremie Ertle
music & events 34 Music Calendar 38 Lakeside 2 Riverside
dining
8 Finding French Fries
18 Breakfast! 20 Food News 22 $15 and Under 24 Conscious Palate
extras 51 Bar Guide 56 Film Reviews 58 Tales from the Quarter 59 Po-Boy Views
Cover by Sara Essex Bradley at Crescent City Steakhouse Photographers: Jonathan Bachman, Scott Chernis, Gus Escanelle, Jason Hall, Gary LoVerde, Romney, Greg Roques Interns: Kanne Kombol, Eric Layer, Kelsey Nibert, Vi Nguyen, Taylor Schoen, Lauren Smith Subscribe: Receive 1 year (14 issues) for $25 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) 897-WYAT | (504) 891-0145 (fax) info@whereyat.com | WhereYat.com
60 Where Y'at Chat 62 Where Ya' Been We are very excited to announce the launch of the newly revamped whereyat.com! A lot of time and energy has been put in to our beautiful new site, so please be sure to log on today. Whereyat.com is fully responsive on all devices, and features great web exclusive content, lightning-fast response and much more! The first day of autumn is a perfect time to read this fantastic Fall Restaurant Guide issue. Our photographer Gus Escanelle did a wonderful job highlighting some of the best entrees in town, so pick one and go try it for yourself. Also don’t miss Emily Hingle’s feature on the city’s best French fries! October means the beginning of the fantastic fall festival period, and this issue has a preview of the best. Now is a great time of year to road trip to an outlying city to sample their specialties of the season. Check out the new site, enjoy the new issue, and catch a festival this weekend…then keep your eyes peeled for our special Halloween issue soon! —Josh Danzig, Publisher
6 | October 2014 | table of Contents
WhereYat.com | October 2014 | 7
Finding French Fries
Y
The Crescent City's Take on Everyone's Favorite Side
BY EMILY HINGLE
You can get them straight, curly, waffled, wedged or covered over the summer months,” explains Strouse. in your favorite condiments. The French fry may be named French fries are available at almost every restaurant that for another country, but they are truly an American favorite. serves food from all over the world. Boucherie and Brisbi’s And we’ve seen the fry move from the side of the dish to the both have great Garlic Parmesan Fries. Katie’s and Three forefront at some establishments. French fries are so much Muses load their fries with feta cheese, while Baie Rouge more than fast-food culture has allowed them to be, and here prefers melted brie. Cowbell and Mahony’s Po-Boy Shop are some exceptional spuds around town made for fry lovers. like them messy: Cowbell’s Riverbend Fries are covered in Dat Dog may specialize in gourmet hot dogs, but their local andouille and pimento cheese and Mahony’s Dirty Fries French fries are just as popular. They offer Poppy Tooker Fries are smothered in roast beef debris and cheese. The nostalgic (named after a local radio personality), Cheddar Bacon Ranch arcade-meets-restaurant Barcadia has a full menu of gourmet Fries, Crawfish Etouffee Fries and Anna’s White Trash Fries street food that includes a surfeit of tasty fries. You can get (which come fully loaded like a plate of nachos). them Cheese’d with cheddar and Monterey Jack; PBP’d with Serving almost nothing but the golden delicious dish, 3 pork belly preserves; Truffle Parm’d with shaved parmesan and Potato 4 located at 2727 South Broad Street is taking a healthy white truffle oil; Deli’d with local pastrami, Swiss cheese and turn on the otherwise unwholesome food. Owner Jehan Strouse Abita Andygator mustard; Sloppy’d with braised pork and bacon opened her franchise based on the two original restaurants in or you can eat some with a dead guy … Dead Guy Ale BBQ San Francisco. “I wanted to bring healthy, quick vegan food to sauce, that is. the community in New You don’t even have Orleans. I’ve been active to go into a restaurant in the vegan community for fries; as food trucks since I moved here in grow in popularity, many 2008. We definitely of them have adopted have a strong following, French fries as a great and we’re doing pretty side to their wares. Food well considering we’re Drunk offers Duck Fat 11 months into it,” says Fries. One food truck Strouse. serves fries exclusively. Strouse’s spuds The Fry Bar serves their are the epitome of delicious fries, such as the healthy French Garlic, Parmesan and fry, and her sauces Rosemary, in Chinese and salts are just as takeout boxes with whole good and delicious. fried pieces of garlic, First, you order your melted cheese and favorite potato: wedge fragrant whole herbs. cut, redskins or sweet Back in the potato. Then you restaurant, French fries add a sauce from the are not just a side; Irish House's Scotch Egg Chips extensive selection, they are featured and which includes Aztec celebrated menu items. Ketchup, Chipotle Mayo, Chinese Firecracker Ketchup and Sylvain, located at 625 Chartres Street, pairs their fries Krypto Ketchup. Then you pour on some gourmet sea salt with a bottle of Veuve Clicquot champagne for their simple yet such as Ghost Pepper or Hawaiian Black. Your fries come in a elegant Champagne and Fries dish. Co-owner Sean McCusker cone that you can easily put in one of the holes drilled into the explains the unusual pairing: “Basically the dish came up counter for your convenience. And fries aren’t the only thing because I met one of the head guys from Veuve Clicquot at available on the menu. an event in New York City. I was living there and working in the “All of our potatoes are baked, not fried, and they’re organic, magazine business and I attended an event they sponsored. so that takes all the bad stuff out. We have a convection oven After many glasses of champagne I asked him what his favorite to bake all of our potatoes in four minutes. You can get healthy food to eat with champagne was and he told me ‘pomme frites’ food quickly. People are busier than ever before; they don’t want while looking at me like I was an idiot. The next day I went to to wait around, but they do want to take care of their bodies and Brasserie Les Halles and tried the combination. It was awesome, eat healthy. Potatoes are full of fiber, potassium and vitamin C. and I said that if and when I ever had a restaurant I would put it Sweet potatoes have even more vitamin C and vitamin A, we on the menu.” Delachaise also serves some high-end pomme make them without oil and you can get all of these awesome frites fried in goose fat and served with vinegar aioli and peanut sauces for dipping. People love it. We use vegenaise, which satay, and La Crêpe Nanou serves fries with their mussels. people love; they like it even more than regular mayonnaise. The Irish House at 1432 St. Charles Avenue recently It’s definitely a winning concept. We do get people occasionally featured five new fries on their Chipper Menu, ranging from who say, ‘You don’t have salads, you don’t have sandwiches.’ the traditional to the exceptional, such as the Curry, Coleslaw & But we do have soups and chilies, and soup and potatoes Cheese Chips, Scotch Egg Chips and Truffle Mushroom Chips. make for a great meal. We’ve recently added coconut-based ice The potatoes are freshly cut, blanched in a water/vinegar mix, creams; we’ve got four flavors. And we have chocolate frozen steamed and then fried before being topped with ingredients bananas. The vegan ice cream sales have definitely picked up like gravy, garlic mayonnaise or traditional curry.
8 | October 2014 | Finding French Fries
Dat Dog's Étouffée Fries Chef Matt Murphy explains his new French fries: “I’m going to be honest: it’s a pain in the ass to do fresh French fries, and there aren’t many places doing it. When you eat a fresh French fry, you know the difference. What you want is soft inside, crispy outside. This is the thing that I feel sets us apart, sometimes to our detriment because people are expecting the fries that are made from corn flour and are dry, almost overcooked. A French fry is a potato; it’s going to soften up when you cook it.” The Irish House will be featuring some new dishes along with the Chipper Menu, aiming for a gastro-pub menu with more modern takes on Irish food to keep patrons interested. “We’re trying to be inventive, always trying something different. If we made jambalaya all the time, people would get sick of it. We want to try to incorporate New Orleans cooking and flavors into a pub concept, which is hard to do. Sometimes we get it right; sometimes we get it wrong. But we’re always trying, and we’ll get there,” says Murphy. If you’re a die-hard meat-and-potatoes person, Crescent City Steaks at 1001 North Broad Street has plenty of both for you. While enjoying a well-cooked rib eye, strip sirloin or porterhouse steak, a good potato can soak up the succulent juices without overpowering the meaty flavor on your palette. All of their spuds are hand-cut and prepared daily, and their offerings run the gamut from traditional French fries to time-honored European potatoes. Owner Frank Vojkovich explains their selection: “Lyonnaise potatoes are premium red potatoes boiled, then sliced and panfried with thinly sliced onions sautéed with butter, parsley and seasonings. Brabant potatoes are cut into small cubes and fried, then sprinkled with salt; some customers ask for the Brabant potatoes to be sprinkled with a garlic butter sauce. Cottage Fries are cut into slices a little thicker than potato chips. German Fries are premium red potatoes boiled, sliced thickly and round, then fried. But our most popular fried potatoes are the shoestrings.” It’s hard to resist the lure of this crispy golden treat, especially when slathered with molten cheeses and savory sauces. They’re the perfect snack dish when watching the game or having a quick late-night meal. Get out of the drive-thru line and learn about the joys of a true French fry. @Emily_Hingle
WhereYat.com | October 2014 | 9
FallRestaurantGuide AFRICAN
Bennachin offers a taste of Africa in the Big Easy. Offering dishes exploding with flavor, Bennachin welcomes everyone, from carnivores to vegans. Be sure to try the Sisay Singho––baked chicken and fried plantains with coconut rice. An easy BYOB policy is also offered. 1212 Royal St. • 522-1230 • bennachinrestaurant.com
Daisy Dukes emphasizes a great Southern atmosphere and dining service to match, making it the perfect 24/7 joint. The diner-like space offers delicious seafood and classic Southern dishes, such as the Blackened Alligator Sausage plate. Don’t miss their award-winning Bloody Marys. French Quarter, CBD, Metairie • daisydukesrestaurant.com
Ernst Café, established in 1902, is a local legend located in the Warehouse District. This is a great place to come for delicious, locally inspired dishes––Boudin Balls, seafood plates, and more. Enjoy their specialty cocktails and wide selection of beers. 600 S Peters St. • 525-8544 • ernstcafe.net
Ma Momma's House is the place for some delicious and traditional Southern fare. Feast on the Drunk Love––fried chicken wings with a sweet waffle. Indulge in extraordinary New Orleans Creole cuisine with the best of Southern hospitality at this fun soul food joint. 5741 Crowder Blvd. • 244-0021 • mamommashouse.com
American
Cheesecake Bistro by Copeland's is a modern space offering traditional New Orleans cuisine that can please any eater. Their motto is “Keeping it fresh. Keeping it local.” Offering a selection of dishes like Blackened Shrimp Alfredo, they also have America’s best cheesecake. 2001 St. Charles Ave. • 5939955 • copelandscheesecakebistro.com
Crescent City Brewhouse, with four house brews, also offers a variety of classic New Orleans cuisine with a German twist. Be sure to try the Tuna Orleans along with a Philners, Red Stallion, or Black Forest. Be sure to check out the glass-blown jellyfish above the bar! 527 Decatur St. • 522-0571 • crescentcitybrewhouse. com
Dat Dog says, “What’s good at the Dog?” This New Orleans staple features a large menu of gourmet hot dogs and sausages to enjoy. This place makes hot dogs look best with style and flair. Be sure to try the Crawfish Étouffée dog, featuring crawfish sausage. Uptown, Marigny • datdognola.com
Dino’s Bar & Grill, located in the Warehouse District, is a great neighborhood pub where you can get a good burger, such as the Dino’s Mushroom Jack, with a side of crispy Waffle Fries. Stop by on Saturdays for the city’s best Ladies’ Night. 1128 Tchoupitoulas St. • 5580900 • dinosnola.com
10 | October 2014 | Fall Restaurant Guide
Gattuso’s is the perfect neighborhood bar and restaurant. You can’t go wrong here with appetizers, NOLA favorites and daily specials. Check out Trivia Tuesdays, Pint Night Thursdays and live music on the weekends. Try the Sweet Potato Fries for a tasty snack. 435 Huey P. Long Ave. • 368-1114 • gattusos.net
Gordon Biersch is the perfect pub-style hangout for a casual get-together. Savor the flavor of award-winning beer, and the food is not to be missed either. Pair your homemade beers with delicious Southwest Egg Rolls, Fried Calamari, and Chicken Wings. 200 Poydras St. • 522-2739 • gordonbiersch.com
Manning's is all about eating, drinking and cheering. Enjoy comfort foods along with unique spins on classic tailgating dishes, and be sure to try The Manning Burger. With more than 30 flat-screen TVs and plenty of reclining chairs, Manning’s is ideal for sports watching. 519 Fulton St. • 593-8072
Phil’s Grill is a classic, family-owned restaurant that is the ultimate hot spot for fresh-off-the-grill burgers. Build your own burger and choose a bun, sauce, toppings and side of fries for a wonderful experience that’s sure to become a regular habit. Metairie, Harahan, CBD • phils-grill.com
Willie Mae's Scotch House boasts the best Fried Chicken in New Orleans and will satisfy with food so delicious you’ll definitely be going back. This spot has been popular since its opening in 1957 and is famous for its delicious soul food. Arrive early to avoid the lines! 2401 St. Ann St. • 822-9503
Jazmine Café lets you take a break from typical NOLA dishes with healthy Vietnamese cuisine. Try the Caterpillar and Volcano Roll Taro along with some Bubble Tea. The calm space is perfect to enjoy the veggie dishes with friends. 614 S. Carrollton Ave. • 866-9301 • jazminecafe.com
La Thai offers the ultimate Thai experience in a chic, modern space full of wonderful and intoxicating aromas. The fiery-hot curries are a must-try here. Be sure to check out the full bar and try some of the restaurant’s creative cocktails. 4938 Prytania St. • 899-8886 • lathaiuptown.com
OHM Lounge offers an intimate club space perfect for meeting friends. Try their artisanal cocktails, great sakes, and tapas such as the Edamame Dip with Taro Chips. Located next to Barcadia, the contemporary space is perfect, and their Egg Rolls are a must. 601 Tchoupitoulas St. #B • 335-1760 • ohm-lounge.com
Miyako offers one the best cooking shows in the city, letting customers enjoy an unforgettable dining experience at this Japanese seafood and steakhouse restaurant. Be sure to order a Sexy Alligator Martini along with your Steak and Shrimp Hibachi Fried Rice. 1403 St. Charles Ave. • 410-9997 • japanesebistro.com
Origami features a dynamic trio of master New Orleans sushi chefs, making it a classic place to dine with specialty cocktails, unique rolls and sashimi platters. Be sure to try the delicious Tuna Tataki Ginzan. Origami is centrally located in the heart of the Freret Street action. 5130 Freret St. • 899-6532 • sushinola.com
Asian
Five Happiness, a New Orleans staple, celebrates 30 years of satisfying customers with the fantastic Chinese cuisine. Every visit to this restaurant or delivery order at home leaves customers happy and satisfied with the traditional dishes, such as Egg Foo Young and the delicious General’s Chicken. 3605 S. Carrollton Ave. • 482-3935 • fivehappiness.com
Green Tea specializes in authentic Cantonese and Mandarin dishes and is known for its great prices and fast service. Green Tea offers many delicious lo mein, fried rice, soup, and meat options. 1116 Louisiana Ave. • 899-8005 • greenteanola.com
Kyoto is a space boasting some of the most creative and playful takes on sushi rolls. Sip on some sake at the restaurant’s full bar. You can enjoy attentive service, a relaxed atmosphere and delicious food. Try the Chirashi and Homare Shuzo cold. 4920 Prytania St. • 891-3644 • kyotonola.com
Kyoto II offers great sushi in a relaxed space right by The Elmwood Palace movie theater. Try fun, simple sushi rolls and the Tuna Tataki. Whether you’re looking to feast on sushi rolls or some traditional Japanese cuisine, Kyoto II is the place for you. 5608 Citrus Blvd. • 818-0228
Namese offers delicious Vietnamese cuisine in a refreshing, intimate atmosphere. Try their Sticky Sweet Ribs, with a caramelized sauce, along with a Bloody Mary on the outdoor patio. Namese promises delicious dishes with a NOLA twist. 4077 Tulane Ave. • 483-8899 • namese.net
SOHO has an array of fantastic Asian dishes along with an incredible sushi bar. With excellent service, the freshest cuisine, and intimate dining spaces, SOHO is must-try. Don’t miss out on their incredible Dungeness Crab, which is stir-fried with garlic and pepper. 601 Veterans Blvd. • 301-2266
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Viet Orleans Bistro, a New Orleans/Southeast Asian bistro, is a CBD must with friends or colleagues. They have a happy hour you don’t want to miss, and great dishes like the Combination Vermicelli––with chicken, pork, shrimp, and an egg roll. 300 Baronne St. • 333-6917
Barcadia has something for everyone––whether you’re in the mood for board games or craft beers. Eat, drink and play with life-sized Jenga on the patio, and 1980s arcade games. Try the K.G.B. burger with a side of fried Wisconsin Cheese Curds. 601 Tchoupitoulas St. • 335-1740 • barcadianeworleans.com
The Jimani, a fun-filled dive bar in the French Quarter, is a favorite among locals and tourists. Find humbly priced drinks and good food in a relaxed environment. Enjoy the multiple TVs and hundreds of beers to choose from at this cool space. 141 Chartres St. • 524-0493 • thejimani.com
Poppy's Time Out Sports Bar, with 21 televisions, great food, and more than 20 beers on tap, is the ultimate game-day bar for cheering and celebrating. Perfect for after the big game, order classic, game-day foods such as the Cheese Burger and Rambo’d Hot Wings. 500 Port of New Orleans Pl. • 247-9265 • poppystimeoutsportsbar.com
Bars With Great Food
Backspace Bar & Kitchen has an elegant, antique wood and stone decor and offers a large menu, including burgers, red beans and rice, cobbler, and more. Even get some waffles and pancakes at this ultimate cozy space. 139 Chartres St. • 322-2245 • backspacenola.com
Bamboula's on Frenchmen is much more than just a music venue. Try the delicious Mango Jerk Shrimp Salad and the Coconut Shrimp & Craw Cakes. After dining, check out the Festival Hall Theatre. 514 Frenchmen St. • 944-8461 • bamboulasnola.com
Bourbon Heat offers seating at both the indoor and courtyard bars. Their Courtyard Grill is great for French Quarter bar favorites, such as wings and fries, and also a varying range of American and Creole options. Be sure to try the delicious Oysters Rockefeller. 711 Bourbon St. • 3244669 • 711bourbonheat.com
Buffa's Bar and Restaurant has something for everyone with such greats as omelets, Cheesecake French Toast, burgers, salads and sandwiches. Visit their back room for some awesome live music and open mic nights. Buffa’s is open 24/7 and offers plenty of jazz tunes. 1001 Esplanade Ave. • 949-0038 • buffasbar.com
12 | October 2014 | Fall Restaurant Guide
Mimi's in the Marigny is a classic spot that offers fantastic cold and hot tapas late into the night. Try the Lollipop Lamb Chop. With dancing and DJs, this is the ultimate, low-key spot for letting loose. Feeling adventurous? Try the chef’s special, aptly named the “Trust Me.” 2601 Royal St. • 872-9868
Pat O’s Courtyard Restaurant, home of the Hurricane and one of the most iconic bars in New Orleans, is the place to go for music and hanging out by the piano lounge. Try the Rustic Pasta with crawfish and shrimp in a light, spicy sauce. 624 Bourbon St. • 588-2744 • patobriens.com
Richard Fiske’s Martini Bar & Restaurant serves up more than just potent and delicious drinks. Come to this romantic spot and enjoy some Jazz music along with some Louisiana Crab & Roasted Creole Tomato Fondue, a juicy steak, BBQ Shrimp with Smoked Gouda Grits, and much more. 301 Dauphine St. • 586-0972
Rivershack Tavern, located on historic River Road adjacent to the Mississippi River, is a neighborhood tavern and honky-tonk that is great for live music and fantastic food. Try some of the many Cajun fare options as well as the Barcelona Seared Tuna. 3449 River Rd. • 834-4938 • therivershacktavern.com
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Tracey's Irish Restaurant and Bar is one of the originals in New Orleans’ Irish Channel neighborhood. Enjoy an assortment of po-boys, such as the Fried Oyster, along with great hospitality. 2604 Magazine St. • 897-5413 • traceysnola.com
Breads on Oak offers a variety of assorted breads, sandwiches, and pastries. All of these, as well as soups, are made with all-natural ingredients and high-quality organic flour. Breads on Oak has something for everyone, with many gluten-free and vegan options. 8640 Oak St. • 324-8271 • breadsonoak.com
Wit’s Inn will have you wanting more. Known as a neighborhood pizza kitchen and bar, try their Caprese Salad, the delicious Mediterranean Pizza and drink specials while experiencing quick service. 141 N. Carrollton Ave. • 486-1600 • witsinn.com
Café Amelie, located in the French Quarter, is known for its beautiful courtyard which is perfect for al fresco dining. Come here for delicious breakfast, Shrimp & Grits, refreshing cocktails, and to simply enjoy the ambiance. Stop by for brunch on Sundays from 11am-3pm. 912 Royal St. • 412-8965 • cafeamelie.com
CAFÈ
Another Broken Egg is a quirky café offering unique creations, from new twists on eggs benedict to amazing Biscuit Beignets. Be sure to try the Lobster & Brie Omelette. The huge menu gives every eater plenty of options to choose from. Uptown, Lakeview • 301-2771 • anotherbrokenegg.com
14 | October 2014 | Fall Restaurant Guide
Café 821 is a great place to go in the CBD for good coffee and Belgian waffles with delicious housemade syrups. Stop by for lunch for a Croque Monsieur and French pastries. Can’t decide between savory or sweet? Try the Croque Monsieur on Belgian. 821 Baronne St. • 267-5456
GREAT FOOD, FRESH BEER GOOD TIMES & LIVE SPORTS
$5 COCKTAILS & APPETIZER SPECIALS AT HAPPY HOUR MON-FRI 4-6:30 PM
Café Navarre is a casual, neighborhood place with great atmosphere and various selections for breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner. Be sure to try the delicious, po-boy style, pressed Cuban sandwich, a range of omelettes, salads, and even an Artisan-style pizza. 800 Navarre Ave. • 4838828 • riccobonos.com/cafe_navarre
Carmo Tropical Cafe and Bar brings culinary influences from the Caribbean to West Africa and beyond, making this spot sure to excite the palate. Carmo offers fruit juices and a variety of vegetarian/vegan dishes. Be sure to try the Burmese Tea Leaf Salad. 527 Julia St. • 8754132 • cafecarmo.com
EAT offers a variety of Cajun, Creole and other famous New Orleans dishes. EAT is great for brunch, lunch, or dinner in the heart of the French Quarter. This farm-to-table style restaurant features fresh, local ingredients for some delicious Southern fare. 900 Dumaine St. • 522-7222 • eatnola.com
Jimmy J’s Cafe, which opened in 2011, is a great place to eat in the French Quarter for both locals and tourists. Jimmy J’s offers a variety of breakfast and lunch options, such as the Cochon Eggs Benedict, and a Grilled Eggplant Sandwich. 115 Chartres St. • 309-9360 • jimmyjscafe.com
200 Poydras Street • 504-552-2739 • gordonbierschrestaurants.com
Orleans Grapevine allows you to indulge in some casual fine dining and a glass of wine in a pleasant atmosphere. The extensive wine list is sure to impress. Try the Pan Seared Scallops or the Shrimp Remoulade either indoors or in the cozy courtyard. 720 Orleans Ave. • 523-1930 • orleansgrapevine.com
Riccobono’s Panola Street Cafe gives your senses a treat. Located uptown near Tulane, this is a super spot for breakfast or lunch. The hearty breakfast plates can’t be missed at this café. Enjoy their famous Crabcake Benedict. 7801 Panola St. • 314-1810 • riccobonos.com
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MIDDLE EASTERN
Vacherie has a wide variety of sandwiches and salads as part of their café menu. Stop by for dinner and get the Sampler Grilled Red Snapper over Pecan Jasmin Rice. Enjoy drinks and appetizers from the $5 bar menu (3-7 p.m. daily). 827 Toulouse St. • 207-4532 • vacherierestaurant.com
ITALIAN
Venezia offers heavenly home-cooked Italian food at its best. Make memories with family and friends, always-perfect pizza and an array of Italian cuisine. This cozy locale boasts a well-stocked bar and friendly staff. Give the Veal Pontchartrain a try. 134 N. Carrollton Ave. • 488-7991 • venezianeworleans.com
Lebanon's Café offers some of the finest Middle Eastern dishes in New Orleans––creamy homemade Hummus, amazing Kabobs, Rosemary Lamb Chop, and much more. For some authentic Mediterranean-style cuisine, Lebanon’s is the place to try. BYOB to this wonderful café. 1500 S. Carrollton Ave. • 862-6200 • lebanonscafe.com
Copeland's of New Orleans combines New Orleans flavor and comfort in a casual dining atmosphere. Known for its from-scratch cuisine, fresh premium ingredients, sauces and seasonings are blended to bring out the robust signature flavors of New Orleans in every dish. Covington, Metairie, Kenner, Slidell, West Bank • copelandsofneworleans.com
LATIN NEW ORLEANS CUISINE
Pascal's Manale brings 100 years of rich recipes that have resulted in delicious specialties. Try their soups, pastas, veal and fantastic sides. Famous for their BBQ Shrimp, Pascal’s offers plenty of Creole-Italian dishes that’ll keep you coming back for more. 1838 Napoleon Ave. • 895-4877 • pascalmanale.com
Mizado Cocina is an exciting and bustling place with a ceviche bar and hand-crafted salsas, and is a great place to go for fresh Mexican food and strong drinks. Be sure to try the Gaucho Steak Chimichurri, Chorizo Fundido, and a Chipotle Sunrise Margarita. 5080 Ponchartrain Blvd. • 885-5555 • mizadococina.com
Antoine's Restaurant has been operating for 174 years and continues to serve renowned French-Creole cuisine in its unique and historic atmosphere. It's a New Orleans staple you can't pass up. As the birthplace of Oysters Rockefeller, you can’t miss this local legend. 713 St. Louis St. • 581-4422 • antoines.com
Criollo Restaurant is a divine place to enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner while choosing from a selection of wonderful wine. They offer creative food presentations and great classic cocktails. Try the delicious Turtle Soup and then hit their famous revolving Carousel Bar. 214 Royal St. • 681-4444 • criollonola.com
PIZZA AND MORE
Red Gravy, offering traditional and handmade pasta dishes, invites you to indulge in homecooked Italian food in the heart of New Orleans. You can’t go wrong with the steak entree, Pizzaiola Crostini Plate, and Peach Almond Cake. Vegetarian options are also available. 125 Camp St. • 561-8844 • redgravycafe.com
Nacho Mama's Mexican Grill serves unique flavors at affordable prices. Their meals are loaded with creative seasoning combinations that you won’t find anywhere else, such as the Buffalo Chicken Nachos. Customers can enjoy meals and margaritas indoors or outside on the casual patio. 1000 S. Clearview Pkwy. • 7361188 • nachomamasmexicangrill.com
16 | October 2014 | Fall Restaurant Guide
Charlie’s Restaurant features a casual, family-friendly atmosphere here along with comfort foods. The New Orleans Barbecue Shrimp Pasta along with a New Orleans Lady is a must. Charlie’s has an extensive menu, and it’s well worth the drive to see for yourself. Violet, Louisiana • 682-9057 • charliesrestaurantla.com
Dolce Vita Pizzeria specializes in delicious wood-fired pizzas and having a friendly staff. Enjoy daily happy hour from 2 to 5 p.m. while tasting their various Antipasti and Insalata options, such as the Greek Salad, and The Naples Pizza. 1205 St. Charles Ave. Unit C-3 • 324-7674 • dvpizzeria.com
Mo’s Pizza offers more than just hand-tossed pizzas, such as the delicious and hearty All-Meat and Supreme. Try the Turnovers, which are Mo’s take on the calzone. Other options at this West Bank legend include muffalettas, meatball po-boys, or, on a Friday, the roast beef po-boy. Westwego • 341-9650 • mospizzanola.com
PO-BOYs ANd mORe
Domilise’s, though it has limited seating, is a great place to go for a simple and delicious Fried Shrimp Po-Boy. Also try their catfish or roast beef, and if you can’t decide, mix it up and get the half-shrimp, half-oyster. 5240 Annunciation St. • 899-9126
Parkway Bakery and Tavern is a New Orleans family dining restaurant that offers po-boys for the right prices. Try the Cracklin Cat with Bacon and Reno Cheddar at this neighborhood joint. Open since 1911, this casual restaurant (with patio) is sure to please. 538 Hagan Ave. • 4823047 • parkwaypoorboys.com
Short Stop Poboys is committed to satisfying customers with great food and excellent service. They offer an assortment of po-boy offerings along with some of the city’s best seafood gumbo. Be sure to try the Roast Beef Po-Boy at this popular restaurant located right near Zephyr Field. 119 Transcontinental Dr. • 855-4572 • shortstoppoboys.com
seAFOOd
Crazy Lobster Bar & Grill offers great indoor and outdoor seating options, tasty, fresh seafood, classic New Orleans favorites and a variety of innovative cocktails. Enjoy the many options in their extensive menu, especially The Seafood Tower-–Crown Jewel of the Sea. 500 Port of New Orleans Pl. • 569-3380 • thecrazylobster.com
Don's Seafood Hut features delicious weeknight seafood specials. This casual and low-key spot offers delicious Cajun fare. Fresh catches, charbroiled oysters and the Crawfish Bisque will satisfy any seafood lover. Be sure to try the Lump Soft Shell Crab with Pasta dish. 4801 Veterans Memorial Blvd. • 889-1550 • donsseafoodonline.com
WhereYat.com | October 2014 | 17
BReAKFAst! BY KIM RANJBAR
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“One should not attend even the end of the world without a good breakfast.” – Robert A. Heinlein
When I consider how breakfast has changed over the years, I’m reminded of a scene from the movie Pleasantville. For those unfamiliar with the film, it’s about a brother and sister from the early 1990s who are magically transported into a 1950s sitcom similar to Leave It to Beaver. One of my favorite scenes occurs in the very beginning, when the befuddled teens (who have decided to play along) come downstairs that morning to discover that their mother (who now resembles June Cleaver) has whipped up an enormous breakfast that the kids are expected to scarf down before they head to school. The table is practically groaning under the weight of skyscraper-like stacks of pancakes and waffles, mounds of crisp bacon, gobs of scrambled eggs, tottering piles of sausage, a pyramid of biscuits and heaps of ham steaks. It’s a comically gargantuan amount of food that could easily feed 40 people, let alone 4. The 1990s-era teenage girl, likely accustomed to skipping breakfast altogether, timidly says, “Actually, I’m not hungry,” causing her parents to burst into laughter. “Nonsense, young lady,” the mother says, “you’re going to start your day off with a nice, big breakfast.” And she proceeds to pile a plate full of the goodies mentioned above, then drown it all in maple syrup. Although I realize this is an extreme example, wouldn’t it be wondrous if we all had the time to enjoy this “most important meal” so thoroughly on a daily basis? It seems we’re always running out the door sipping on nutrient-rich (albeit flavor-deficient) smoothies or gobbling cheap donuts and slurping coffee while typing furiously, eking out as much work time as possible, instead of taking the time to really appreciate a hearty, delicious breakfast. Honestly, it’s a shame. Here in New Orleans, we specialize in taking time out for lagniappe, and we certainly don’t hold back when it comes to brunch, that eternally popular, gigantic weekend meal that we often enjoy with Brandy Milk Punch in the winter and a Pimm’s Cup in the summer. But I’m not talking about brunch, I’m talking about breakfast: that simple, yet endlessly versatile and delectable meal to be enjoyed at a restaurant that’s just around the corner, where the servers know your name and can probably guess what you’ll order.
Toast’s Quiche 18 | October 2014 | Breakfast!
Waffles on Maple’s Strawberry Shortcake If you live anywhere within a 10-block radius of Laurel and Octavia streets, your go-to breakfast spot should undoubtedly be Toast. Opened mere months ago by pastry chef Cara Benson (who also owns the lunchtime favorite Tartine), Toast is a tiny cafe where you can sit outside, sip freshly brewed French Truck coffee and indulge in an exquisitely prepared quiche of the day, sweet and savory crêpes, ebelskivers (Danish pancake balls) or … well … toast. Using Benson’s house-made brioche, they cut and toast thick slices and cover it with things like smoked salmon and cream cheese, prosciutto and ricotta drizzled with local honey or fresh avocado and a sunny-side egg. Over in the Riverbend, Maple Street is a boon for breakfast-lovers, even if you don’t count the exquisite treats at Maple Street Patisserie … which I’m not. One of the newest additions to the area is none other than Waffles on Maple, another itsy-bitsy establishment (counter and outside dining only) offering waffles (and crêpes) with all kinds of different toppings, from Waking in New Orleans – with crushed pralines, whipped cream, rum caramel sauce and chocolate covered espresso beans – to Better Than Feta – featuring sun-dried tomatoes, feta, ricotta and fresh basil. Satsuma Café, another great spot on Maple Street for breakfast, is just as hip
Panola Street Café’s “One, Two, Three” Plate
as its Bywater counterpart, with a large, bright corner location that offers both indoor and outdoor seating. This most welcoming cafe offers several breakfast sandwiches, such as Green Eggs & Ham with basil pesto scrambled eggs, Nueske’s ham and melted Swiss on a croissant, or you can opt for their Mexican Breakfast Plate (one of my personal favorites) featuring creamy black beans, avocado, pico de gallo and corn tortillas. Don’t forget to pair your breakfast with a frothy cappuccino or one of their refreshing, house-made juices. Just one street over on Hampson, you’ll find Refuel Café, a comfortable, clean eatery built inside a Victorian sidehall. Regulars enjoy a variety of different javas, from French Truck to Try Me, including a Viennese iced coffee and bottomless cups of their house blends. Start your morning with a Nutella Belgian Waffle, Breakfast Burrito or Baja Omelet with bacon, avocado and ranchero sauce. Or, if you have to run, grab a Cuban Bagel with eggs, ham, mayo and Swiss before rushing out the door and gobbling it on the go. In the same area, but much closer to Claiborne Avenue, lies a cute, neighborhood restaurant called Panola Street Cafe. For more than 15 years, this spinoff of Riccobono’s Peppermill in Metairie has been feeding hungry neighbors, students and visitors New Orleans–style dishes such as Eggs Sardou, Crawfish Omelets, Eggs Pontchartrain and Crabcake Benedict (the house favorite). I can’t seem to get enough of the deep-fried potato wedges, their version of country potatoes. Panola Street Cafe’s menu is huge, they’re open every day of the week from 7 am to 2 pm and they serve breakfast all day long. Since we’re talking breakfast, it would be a mistake not to mention the famous Slim Goodies Diner. This popular greasy spoon opened only a few months before I moved to this fair city and it was one of the first places to reopen (about two weeks) after the levee failures in 2005. I’ll never forget how the city was so quiet, almost like a ghost town, but there was Slim Goodies, open for business and flipping burgers. You can enjoy the Slimcherro's, a version of Huevos Rancheros with melted cheddar and sour cream, or a Jewish Coonass, with potato latkes, fresh spinach, eggs, crawfish etouffee and a biscuit. If you’re craving some Slim Goodies grub but there’s a line out the door, now you can head over to the Marigny and break your fast at Horn’s. Kappa Horn, who runs Slim Goodies, opened Horn’s in the old La Peniche space a few months ago with Chef Greg Fonseca (of Booty’s and Rio Mar), and you can find several of your Slim Goodies breakfast favorites on the menu. Another great spot for breakfast in the Marigny is the Cake Cafe & Bakery on the corner of Chartres and Spain. Although they make beautiful cakes, cupcakes and king cakes, this corner cafe is well known for their pretty incredible breakfast dishes, such as Crab Omelets with spinach and brie or a Breakfast Panini with eggs, bacon, cheddar and roasted tomato on their own housemade ciabatta. Cake Cafe & Bakery also offers several vegetarian options, including Mushroom Gravy & Biscuits and Healthy Grits with roasted vegetables and goat cheese. For almost 20 years now, the Trolley Stop Cafe has been operating out of a gas station–turned-restaurant, pleasing diners with its phenomenal prices and simple, hearty fare. One of the few late-night spots in town, the Trolley Stop is open 24 hours on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, although they used to be open round-the-clock every day of the week. There’s many a reveler who won’t forget stumbling into the Trolley Stop late one night, trying to sober up by consuming vast amounts of hot Community Coffee and a $6.75 French Special with two eggs, two pieces of French toast, two strips of bacon, country sausage and a large side of buttery grits … I know I won’t. @SuckTheHeads
WhereYat.com | October 2014 | 19
FOOd NeWs
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BY KIM RANJBAR
Celebrating the past and the future … In honor of its 80th anniversary, Crescent City Steakhouse is marking this momentous occasion with an endowment at Loyola University New Orleans (for its business scholarship fund) and a two-day celebration at the restaurant supporting the National Kidney Foundation. Started by John Vojkovich in 1934, Crescent City Steakhouse has become a landmark establishment in Mid-City, beloved by four generations of New Orleanians. “Our loyal patrons are what has kept my family in the restaurant business for so many years,” said owner, Krasna Vojkovich. “In memory of my husband, John, and the restaurant he opened in 1934, we're giving back to the community.” On September 23rd & 24th, Crescent City Steakhouse will be offering food specials to customers like free champagne and birthday cake, plus a portion of the proceeds for those two days will be donated to the National Kidney Foundation. Make your reservation today! 822.0485 ~ 1001 N. Broad Street ~ crescentcitysteaks.com Local seafood rocks … This month, from Friday October 10th to Sunday October 12th, the New Orleans City Park Festival Grounds will be rocking the best of our beloved Gulf for the annual Louisiana Seafood Festival. Enjoy three days of live music, chef demonstrations, an Oktoberfest-themed beer garden, a kid's tent hosted by the Louisiana Children's Museum, local arts and crafts, and plenty of local, fresh seafood! Get your fill of mouth-watering seafood dishes from local restaurants like Antoine's Restaurant, Cafe Giovanni, Galatoire's, Red Fish Grill, Superior Seafood & Oyster Bar and Woody's Fish Tacos. While feasting on the exquisitely-prepared bounties of the Gulf, you'll enjoy performances from local musicians like Lohn Lisi & Delta Funk, Kristen Diable, Johnny Sketch & the Dirty Notes, Brass-aholics, Honey Island Swamp Band and much, much more. louisianaseafoodfestival.com Moving right along … French restaurant Chateau du Lac has traveled from Kenner to Metairie and now has landed in New Orleans smack in the Warehouse District, all the while maintaining its identity as a traditional French Bistro. Opened less than a month ago on Fulton Street, Chateau du Lac Warehouse Bistro features classic French fare prepared by chef/owner Jacques Saleun like Les Escargots Bourguignons, Coq au Vin, French Onion Soup and, of course, Crème
Half Shell Oyster Bar and Grill's Voodoo Bleu 20 | October 2014 | Food News
Brûlée. 301.0235 ~ 857 Fulton St. ~ chateaudulacwarehouse.com Mid-City seafood … In the building that formerly housed the Creole Cottage on Esplanade Avenue, owner Mark Johari Lawes has recently opened The Half Shell Oyster Bar & Grill. The restaurant specializes in oysters, you can choose from raw, fried, charbroiled, Rockefeller and the house special "Voodoo Bleu." It also offers po-boys, seafood platters, salads, burgers and more. Plus, Lawes was listenting to the needs of the Louisiana Seafood Festival's Nachos Puff Pastry neighborhood when he added a full, daily breakfast menu to The Half Shell. 298.0504 ~ 3101 Esplanade Ave. ~ halfshellneworleans.com Pizza our heart … In a a sad turn of events, both Pizzicare and Crescent Pie & Sausage Company closed a couple of months ago. Owners Jeff Baron and Bart Bell haven't completely thrown in the towel, though. They plan to re-open the Pizzicare space, dub it the Crescent Plate that will be a lunch spot that also offers catering. Not to worry, pizza-by-the-slice, po-boys and other familiar favorites will still be on the menu at the lunch spot combining the best of Crescent Pie & Sausage and Pizzicare. 301.4823 ~ 3001 Tulane Ave. ~ pizzicare.com Not another one! … RioMar, one of the most popular tapas restaurants in the Crescent City, shuttered it's doors much to the dismay of it's many fans. Chef and co-owner Miles Prescott and his partner Nick Bazan have other plans for the Warehouse District space, a trend that seems oh-so-popular right now in New Orleans, and that is Mexican cuisine (think Mizado Cocina, Del Fuego Taqueria and the up and coming Besh restaurant Johnny Sanchez). It'll be interesting to see what Prescott does for the traditional taqueria. 525.3474 ~ 800 South Peters St. ~ riomarseafood.com Along came a spider … Speaking of Mexican cuisine, Araña Taqueria Y Cantina recently opened up on Magazine Street, a restaurant with a menu "inspired by the culinary traditions of the Yucatan." New Orleans-native Richard Papier has been named executive chef, bringing his extensive background (he worked for such famous folk as Susan Spicer, Emeril Lagasse and Donald Link), especially his experience cooking with Guillermo Peters who introduced Papier to the wonderful world of Mexican cuisine at the former St. Charles Avenue restaurant Coyoacan. Enjoy dishes like Tomato & Queso Fresco Ensalada, Steak & Chilaquiles, Chicken Mole and huge burritos stuffed with your choice of al pastor, chorizo, carne asada and more. 894.1233 ~ 3242 Magazine St. ~ facebook.com/AranaNola Local legends make food … Bobby Hebert is a revered, local, professional athlete and sportscaster who also recently became a restaurateur with the opening of his first eatery, Bobby Hebert's Cajun Cannon Restaurant & Bar. Located on Veterans Boulevard, Bobby Hebert's is (naturally) a sports-themed restaurant with Hebert's own special memorabilia like signed jerseys from famous sports stars Cal Ripken and Michael Jordan. Over 30 televisions, including a mammoth 90-inch screen in the central dining room and even 42-inch TVs in the bathroom, ensure that diners can keep up with the game wherever they are. Although the restaurant does serve bar food like Alligator Jalapeno Kickers or Cajun Hebert Fries doused in a crawfish cream sauce, Bobby Hebert's also offers a lot of New Orleans classics. Feast on Barbecued Shrimp, Cajun Cannon's chargrilled oysters, seafood platters, po-boys, red beans & rice, Blackened Bayou Duck and Banana's Foster Ice Cream Cake. 324.6841 ~ 4101 Veterans Blvd. ~ bobbyheberts.com SoFAB returns … The Southern Food & Beverage Museum reopens in its brand new digs in Central City on Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard. Louisiana Lieutenant Governor Jay Dardenne, members of the New Orleans City Council, special guest Chef Jeremiah Tower, Kid Chef Eliana and others were in attendance for the grand ribbon cutting. Not only does this new building play host to the Southern Food & Beverage Museum, within its 10,000 square feet you'll also find the Musuem of the American Cocktail, Galerie d'Absinthe, Kuyper Cake Collection, Gallery of the South and Purloo – a restaurant and bar headed up by Executive Chef Ryan Hughes. 569.0405 ~ 1504 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd. ~ southernfood.org A virtual feast … Copeland's of New Orleans recently launched a brand new website which “expresses the Copeland’s brand, offers a content-rich contemporary design and user-friendly functionality. “ The newly designed site lets users order gift cards, place orders online (like whole cheesecakes that can be shipped anywhere in the U.S.), view current promotions, locate a Copeland's near you and get directions. “Our design process for this website was to bring our Copeland’s of New Orleans culture to life. We knew our guests needed a website that was user-friendly and easy to navigate and we wanted to give that to them for being loyal to the Copeland’s brand for over 31 years,” said Al Copeland, Jr., Chairman of the Board and CEO of Al Copeland Investments. Copeland's of New Orleans selected Bizzuka, a web design firm headquartered in Lafayette, to execute the layout and build the site, but the design idea was done by RauchDesigns. Both companies worked hand-in-hand with members of the Copeland’s team to create the final product. Feel free to explore Copeland's New Orleans' new online address at copelandsofneworleans.com.
@SuckTheHeads
WhereYat.com | October 2014 | 21
15 and Under
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Magical, Marvelous Muffins
BY KIM RANJBAR
A friend of mine has a T-shirt that reads: “Muffins are just ugly cupcakes.” Beneath the text is a prissy, pink cupcake sporting swirled icing and bright sprinkles sneering at a forlorn, brown muffin. While I found the quip (and the tee) amusing, I couldn't help but feel for the sad little muffin. After all, muffins can be vastly superior to cupcakes. Just consider their versatility ... You can binge on a chocolate muffin with rich chunks of chocolate hidden inside it that is just as sinful as a cupcake, or you can get a little fiber in your diet by munching on a dense bran muffin followed by an ice-cold glass of milk. Muffins can stand in as an entire meal – case in point being the breakfast muffin complete with eggs, cheese and bacon – or they can be both sweet and savory – for example, have you ever had a sweet zucchini muffin smothered in herbed cream cheese? To call muffins boring and unattractive is downright rude and just plain wrong. Although I could bake all kinds of delicious muffins to offer further proof, it’s much more fun (and less time consuming) to experience quality muffins created by the hands of masters. Although New Orleans has always been a city that is super-serious about its bread (ahem ... Leidenheimer vs. Dong Phuong bakeries?), in the past few years bakeries have been popping up left and right. Everyone has their favorites, but one of mine would have to be Maple Street Patisserie. Pastry chef and co-owner Ziggy Cichowski is not only one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet, but also a dough master. From croissants, cakes and bear claws to baguettes and challah, there is no pastry Ziggy can’t master, and that definitely includes his muffins. For example, try one of his chocolate chunk muffins with a swirl of vanilla inside and crunchy, sugary crumbles on top. Though you may not be able to eat them both (let alone one!), you could buy two of these mammoth muffins and a hot cuppa joe and still have funds left over. Over on Magazine Street, chef Lisa Barbato and her Rivista's Chunky Monkey
22 | October 2014 | $15 and Under
husband, Chris, are firmly implanted in their new digs, dishing out delectable lunches, heavenly pastries and Illy coffee at Rivista. It’s a terrific spot to spend a peaceful lunch lingering over Bistecca – grilled flank steak with eggplant, ricotta and chimichurri – or digging into a Couscous Salad with summer veggies and pistachio mint vinaigrette. Many folks who visit the Crescent City Farmers Market are familiar with Lisa’s famous tomato tarts, which she still busts out now and again, but there’s so much more to love, such as her golden-brown croissants, herbaceous focaccia, chewy bagels and (my favorite) Chunky Monkey gluten-free muffins. I love sitting at Rivista and scarfing a Chunky Monkey, a banana muffin stuffed with hunks of dark chocolate and walnuts, while sipping a frothy cappuccino. Located on South Jefferson Davis in the modern Maple Street Patisserie's Chocolate Muffin Woodward Design building, Gracious Bakery and the skills of pastry chef and owner Megan Forman are something every New Orleanian (and tourist!) should sample at least once. Folks in the area already stop in on a regular basis for lunch, indulging in everything from a Turkey & Havarti with pear and walnut chutney on green onion bread to a Meatloaf Sandwich made with Two Run Farm beef and dressed with tomato jam and melted cheddar on heavenly ciabatta. But I like to delve into the pastries. Blueberry Slab Pie with brown-butter icing, a moist bran muffin with cream cheese or a Hazelnut “Kermit” Cruffin (named after our famous trumpeter Kermit Ruffins) with hazelnut and chocolate spread between layers of croissant dough and baked like a muffin … it’s what’s for breakfast. Finally, toward the river end of Oak Street you’ll find another newcomer, Breads on Oak. Chef and owner Sean O’Mahony is serious about his bread. Having studied at the French Pastry School in Paris, O’Mahony wanted nothing more than to bring “Old World French breads” back to the New Orleans area, and we’re oh-so-glad he did. Choose from French baguettes, multigrain bread, ciabatta, brioche, olive bread and more. Breads on Oak also offers a rotating menu of breads such as sourdough, dark rye, Irish soda bread and Italian sesame. Other than dreamy loafs, Breads on Oak prides itself on using organic, locally sourced ingredients for everything they make, especially their muffins, which are also quite often vegan. Scarf yourself silly on their Pineapple Coconut, Pumpkin Pecan, and (one of my favorites) Strawberry Vanilla muffins.
@SuckTheHeads
WhereYat.com | October 2014 | 23
Conscious Palate
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The Positive of Negative Ions
BY JHESIKA MENES
Living positively relates directly to how negative forces are imposed upon and henceforth received or processed by the subject. This simple molecular exercise of physics composes the yin and yang of life—everything in nature behaves as a result of positive and negative charge. The misconception is that negative ions are bad, but the opposite is true. Negative ions are actually good. For instance, negative ions are mass produced in environments where air molecules are disbanded due to circulation, sunlight and water presence. After a thunderstorm, negative ions peak, increasing the flow of oxygen, which stimulates euphoria, lightened mood and mental alertness. The same habitats are formed in serene areas such as beach shorelines, waterfalls and mountainous regions. This is why your vacation in these sorts of places is so Zen; that, and because you are far removed from the vertiginous norm of daily life in the city and/or office building. The latter settings are a breeding ground for positive ions. The ions gain charge from electricity, a commonly overused resource in the home and workplace. Computers and cellphones are the primary vessels for the positive transference, while ordinary microbic elements such as dust, pet dander and pollen supply enough positive charge to cause irritation in a negatively charged environment. In the words of Paula Abdul, “It ain't fiction, just a natural fact; we come together as opposites attract.” The human body is organically negative in charge. The positively charged emissions we’re surrounded by, be they pollutants or technology-based radiation, are drawn to us by the law of attraction. As rudimentary as that may be, the actual science behind how to rid oneself of these circumspect factors is willfully opaque at best, given that they are unavoidable in our modern world. By simply breathing, you inhale these pesky positive ions, which then alter the negative internal setting with absolute charge. Mark Sisson, author of The Primal Blueprint, explains, “The trachea is the windpipe, the passage through which air travels into our lungs. Along the trachea are cilia, tiny organelles which keep airborne particles from passing into the lungs. If cilial activity is inhibited, as in cystic fibrosis, more foreign particles are introduced into the lungs. If cilial activity is uninhibited, the junk is kept out of the lungs and discharged later via saliva and mucus. Research shows that negative ion exposure increases cilial activity in the trachea of humans and monkeys, while positive ion exposure inhibits it.” That said, in order to evolve with the times and research, products have been developed to cleanse the air in the home or office by
the human body is organically negative in charge. the positively charged emissions we’re surrounded by, be they pollutants or technology-based radiation, are drawn to us by the law of attraction. releasing negative ions into the atmosphere. Meanwhile, conscious breathing-centered activities, such as yoga and meditation, have adapted to this cleansing method. Krystall Snemyr, owner and instructor at Bikram Yoga New Orleans, attests to the ancient practice of yoga and the benefits of controlled breathing in purified zones. “The particular system that Bikram Yoga New Orleans uses to produce a hot climate for yoga practice is more sophisticated than one you might find in your home or business. The systems we have in place at the studio not only generate high heat temperatures, but also control humidity, air flow and air quality. Although heat radiates from a high temperature source, we also have components that constantly bring in fresh air straight from outdoors. Hot yoga studios have certainly evolved over time and currently there is a plethora of technology available that allows these rooms to be heated for the benefits of hot yoga practice but still provide high-quality air. Personally, I have practiced in old, ‘stuffy’ studios where the air quality was just downright icky. I would say that regular students of hot yoga are usually able to decipher between studios that have outdated systems and those with newer, more complex systems. Understanding the science of air (and how this translates to our bodies and ‘what we feel’) has become quite fascinating to me, especially since opening a studio where it is of utmost importance. Basically, yoga postures and exercises promote balance in all systems of the body, including cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, lymphatic, endocrine and exocrine. Coupled with the yoga postures, the focus on breathing begins to calm and ground the individual.” Yoga and alternative meditation-based therapies may be choice options for city dwellers trying to abolish cation-induced distress, but the main question lies in how one escapes cell signals and Wi-Fi networks that continuously zip through the air around them. While there are no national standards for safe exposure levels to radio-frequency (RF) energy such as wireless fidelity and cellular tower signals, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) continue to investigate issues related to RF exposure. Health Canada has developed guidelines for safe human exposure to energy and made its findings aware to the general public in Canada. “The energy given off by Wi-Fi is a type of non-ionizing radiation. Unlike ionizing radiation (as emitted by X-ray machines), energy from Wi-Fi equipment and other wireless
24 | October 2014 | Conscious Palate
devices cannot break chemical bonds. While some of the RF energy emitted by Wi-Fi is absorbed in your body, the amount largely depends on how close your body is to a Wi-Fi enabled device and the strength of the signal. Unlike cellular phones, where the transmitter is in close proximity to the head and much of the RF energy that is absorbed is deposited in a highly localized area, RF energy from Wi-Fi devices is typically transmitted at a much greater distance from the human body. This results in very low average RF energy absorption levels in all parts of the body, much like exposure to AM/FM radio signals.” Since inhabited urban environments eradicated of free radicals are nearly nonexistent, diet is a sensible and handy first defense. Metabolism, which is the process of acquiring nutrients from the blood and excreting waste from the body, is extremely important to human cells. The more negatively charged electric ions there are in the blood, the more efficient the cell’s metabolic processes are. Alkaline foods, such as dark green leafy vegetables, institute a stable biological climate to receive maximum benefit. Other examples of alkaline foods are sweet potatoes, green beans, cucumbers, broccoli, healthy fruits such as pears, cantaloupe, apples and raspberries and protein sources such as almonds, whey and soy. Seed, on Prytania St., assumed the space that was once Blue Plate Cafe. Founder Edgar Cooper’s mission highlights the use of “local, organic, or purely natural ingredients while growing a fresh and sustainable dining experience grounded in New Orleans taste.” Seed’s menu boasts a mother lode of melt-your-face salads and indigenous fruits and veggies. Be sure to bring your culinary curiosity and a big appetite. According to owner John Michael Wade, La Casita, located in the Warehouse District, is where locals can get handcrafted, authentic Mexican food. Occupying a ground-level space in the stretch of gallery row referred to as The Thirteen Sisters, the restaurant serves quality appetizers, salads and specialty tacos like The Mission: broiled Louisiana shrimp, pickled cabbage, sliced radish and avocado. The menu stays true to its cuisine of root – simple. Artful combinations of basic components are unified in flavor and visual appeal, while the negative ion– friendly rear courtyard is a definite added bonus. @JhesikaMenes
WhereYat.com | October 2014 | 25
FallFestivals Bogalusa Blues & Heritage Festival Sept. 26 – 27 | Cassidy Park | bogalusablues.com This festival maintains and supports the blues and music that is their heritage. Enjoy a diverse lineup of musical guests, a familyfriendly environment, heritage education, and delicious food. Deutsches Haus Oktoberfest Sept. 26 – Oct. 31 | Deutsches Haus | deutscheshaus.org On the last weekend of September and every weekend during October, you can enjoy a piece of Germany. Oktoberfest celebrates with music, German folk dancing, cold German beer and a parade. Great Southern Fall Bluegrass Festival Sept. 26 – 27 | Great Southern RV Park |greatsouthernbluegrassevent.com It’s back again; the Great Southern Fall Bluegrass Festival is ready to entertain. The festival features bluegrass acts including Bluegrass Martins, Leipers Fork, Driscoll Mountain Boys, and more. West Louisiana Forestry Festival and Fair Sept. 27 – Oct. 5 | Vernon Parish Fairgrounds facebook.com/forestryfestival Browse through the agricultural entries that were made/grown by Vernon Parish residents this past year. This 108th annual festival offers a variety of food favorites sponsored by local civic organizations. Tangipahoa Parish Fair Oct. 1 – 5 | Tangipahoa Fair Grounds louisianatravel.com/la-events/tangipahoa-parish-fair
Celebrate the oldest fair in Louisiana with the culture of Tangipahoa including rides, music, dance competitions and a parade. There’ll be a livestock show, beauty pageant and gumbo cook-off. Gretna Heritage Festival Oct. 3 – 5 | Downtown Gretna | gretnafest.com A festival that has everything! Enjoy carnival rides and games, authentic Italian food and drinks, German beer garden, delicious dishes, and over 75 local and international acts.
Robeline Heritage Festival Oct. 3 – 4 | El Camino Real, Highway 6 | robelineheritage.org This annual festival will feature food, arts and crafts, a hayride,
wiener roast, games, and gospel and live performances from The Bowlings & The Dunaways, Johnny Earthquake and the Moondogs, and more. Tour du Teche Oct. 3 – 5 | Port Barre public boat launch tourduteche.com Join the 5th annual race for canoes, kayaks and pirogues that stretch 135 miles from Port Barre to Berwick. Compete in the Tour du Teche, surely a fun-filled event. Blues in Da Parish Oct. 4 | Docville Farm, St. Bernard | bluesparish.com Join the in 2nd annual Blues in Da Parish festival. Enjoy a free and wonderful evening of music, food and fun featuring seven nonstop hours of Louisiana’s best blues musicians. Angola Rodeo Oct. 5 (recurring every Sunday in October) | Angola | angolarodeo.com The longest running prison rodeo in the nation is a professional production that benefits the internal inmate economy. Join in awarding the inmates with an opportunity for positive behavior changes. Sugar Fest Oct. 5 | West Baton Rouge Museum The 19th annual festival honors the sugar cane with live Louisiana music, food, craft demonstrations, sugar grinding, wagon rides, a petting zoo, sweets cooking contests and much more. Que Pasa Fest Oct. 7 – 11 | Greater New Orleans, various locations quepasafest.com Join in the Hispanic Heritage month and celebration with six days of food, dancing, and music performances from Amanda Shaw, Ashe Son, Patrice Fisher & Arpa, Henry Diggins, and many more.
Gentilly Fest Oct. 10 – 12 | Pontchartrain Park Playground | gentillyfest. com Gentilly Fest honors all things “Gentilly,” with heavenly food, live music, and fine arts and crafts for sale. Bring the kids for face painting, pony rides and so much more.
Atchafalaya Catfish Festival Oct. 9 – 11 | Melville Civic Center Grounds Catfish: fried, grilled, blackened, and more is the headliner of the 12th annual festival. Enjoy three days of live music, food, carnival rides and a parade downtown at 10 a.m.
11th Annual Voice of the Wetlands (VOW) Festival Oct. 10 – 12 | Southdown Plantation, 1208 Museum Drive, Houma | voiceofthewetlands.org This festival embodies traditions of the bayou community fairs full of music, food, and dance. Support efforts to save the history, culture and geography of a unique American place.
westbatonrougemuseum.com
Bucktown Seafood Festival Oct. 10 – 12 | St. Louis King of France School slkfschool.com This festival will feature live bands, class performances from the St. Louis King of France, rides and delicious seafood. Enjoy performances from The Topcats, The Bucktown All-Stars and Groovy 7.
Louisiana Seafood Festival Oct. 10 – 12 | City Park Festival Grounds louisianaseafoodfestival.com This weekend features a free, family-friendly event of live entertainment, celebrity chef cooking presentations, local arts and crafts and world-renowned cuisine from leading New Orleans restaurants and caterers.
26 | October 2014 | Fall Festivals
woodenboatfest.org This festival is all about paying tribute to hand-crafted wooden boats, which line the river banks. Enjoy music, various activities, Cajun cuisine, and, of course, the classic boats. World Championship Gumbo Cook-Off Oct. 10 – 12 | Main Street, Iberia Parish iberiachamber.org/gumbo-cookoff Food and live music will kick off the 25th annual Iberia gumbo competition. The cook-off itself starts Sunday at 6:00 a.m. Witness the crowning of a new champion.
Festivals Acadiens et Creoles Oct. 10 – 12 | Girard Park, Lafayette festivalsacadiensetcreoles.com This annual festival pays homage to south Louisiana cultures with 5 stages of live Cajun and zydeco music, original cuisine, cooking demonstrations, Louisiana crafts and kids’ activities.
Tab Benoit plays Voice of the Wetlands Festival Oct. 10
Wooden Boat Festival Oct. 10 – 12
Wooden Boat Festival Oct. 10 – 12 | Tchefuncte River, Madisonville
World Championship Gumbo Cook-Off Oct. 10 – 12 | 100 W. Main Street, New Iberia | iberiachamber.org/gumbo-cookoff Listen to bands all day, indulge in downtown shopping deals, and enjoy museum tours and food booths. Sunday is all about the gumbo competition, comprised of 90 or more teams. Fall for Art Oct. 11 | Downtown Covington | sttammanyartassociation.org Come out and see works by local artists in this street festival, which includes live music, kids’ activities, art demonstrations, outdoor movie screening, boutique shopping, food and more. Fall Garden Show Oct. 11 – 12 | New Orleans Botanical Garden, City Park neworleanscitypark.com/botanical-garden Explore horticultural exhibits and enjoy educational classes and family-friendly activities. The festival includes plant and garden product sales, the Children’s Discovery Zone, Art Market, and live music. Japan Fest Oct. 11 | New Orleans Museum of Art | noma.org The Japanese drumming ensemble Kaminari Taiko returns to
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the Japan Festival. Enjoy energizing performances, art making activities, tours, and have the chance to participate in the classic Japanese Tea Ceremony!
special events and activities at this children’s event.
St. Augustine Church Fair Oct. 11 – 12 | 2262 Highway 484, Natchez | diocesealex.org Specials like meat pies, hot tamales, and turkey dinners are the main attraction of this festival. Don’t miss the 5K run. Enjoy the live entertainment, games, cultural exhibits, crafts, and more.
Caddo-Adai Pow Wow Oct. 18 | 4460 Highway 485, Robeline adaicaddoindiannation.com Come out as this annual gathering celebrates Native American heritage with drummers, dancers and storytelling. There will also be great food vendors, traditional arts and crafts, jewelry and much more.
Celebracion Latina Oct. 12 | Audubon Zoo | auduboninstitute.org Get a taste of Latin American culture with live music, children’s activities and Latin cuisine. Regional artisans will sell hand-made crafts and health organizations will offer wellness education.
Old Farmers Day and Horse Pulling Contest Oct. 18 – 19 | 56136 Loranger Road | oldfarmersday.com Go back in time to pioneering days with activities like lard cooking and cracklin’ making. Enjoy cane grinding and cooking over a campfire with country music, pony rides and crafts.
Capital One Art for Art’s Sake Oct. 14 | Various Locations, New Orleans | cacao.org The Contemporary Arts Center entertains this citywide event that kicks off the opening of the visual arts season in New Orleans. The event, includes music, gallery exhibits, food and drinks.
French Food Festival Oct. 24 – 26 | Larose Festival Grounds | bayoucivicclub.org Enjoy live auctions, an art show, petting zoo, Bull Riding, a walk/ race, cake decorating contest, 3-on-3 basketball tournament and over 40 booths. Overnight camping is optional.
New Orleans Film Festival Oct. 16 – 23 | Various cinemas | neworleansfilmsociety.org This festival recognizes and honors filmmakers for their talent. Priding itself on being a discovery festival where overlooked films find a home, this event offers screenings and panels featuring filmmakers.
Treme Culture Fest Oct. 17 – 19 | Various locations | tremeculturefest.com Join everyone in the Treme neighborhood for exciting concerts, a lecture series, stroll and bar hop, galleries and exhibits, and a one-of-a-kind second line event. Anba Dlo Halloween Festival Oct. 18 | New Orleans Healing Center | anbadlofestival.org Anba Dlo, “Beneath the Waters,” is all about efforts to revitalize the economy of downtown neighborhoods and raise awareness of the importance of water through live music, celebrations, and performances. Boo Carré Halloween & Harvest Festival Oct. 18 | French Market | frenchmarket.org Trick-or-Treating, the petting zoo, kids’ crafts, and costume contests are sure to be the night’s highlights along with other
28 | October 2014 | Fall Festivals
Sweet Dough Pie Festival Oct. 25 | St. Charles Catholic Church | sweetdoughgc.com This event will celebrate the unique culture and history of Grand Coteau and will include a sweet dough pie contest, guest speakers, arts and crafts vendors and live music. Yellow Leaf Arts Festival Oct. 25 – 26 | Parker Park- St. Francisville stfrancisvillefestivals.com Share the love of Southern art, Louisiana songwriters, and exciting poetry! Over 50 artists and artisans will show and sell their creations as you enjoy live bands and local food.
The Ponchatoula Antique Trade Days and Arts-Craft Fair Oct. 31 – Nov. 2 | Downtown Ponchatoula ponchatoulachamber.com Celebrate this fair of antique collectibles and arts & crafts booths. Enjoy food vendors of local cuisine, live music, and fun children’s activities such as pony rides and an inflatable slide.
Andouille Festival Oct. 17-19 | St. John Community Center | andouillefestival.com Celebrate the delicious sausage with a weekend full of live music, food, an on-site gumbo cook-off, an eating contest, various activities for kids, a silent auction, and more.
2014 Louisiana Gumbo Fest Oct. 17 – 19 | Chackbay-Choupic Fairgrounds | lagumbo.com Join the fun with the 43rd annual Louisiana Gumbo Festival. Enjoy delicious dishes, a live auction, and musical performances by LA Cruze, 5 Finger Discount, Bandit, and many more.
Rougarou Fest Oct. 25 | Downtown Houma | rougaroufest.org The Rougarou Fest, a family-friendly festival with a spooky flair, celebrates the rich folklore existing along the bayous of Southeast Louisiana. Enjoy food, dancing, music, and much more.
Voodoo Music and Arts Experience Oct. 31 – Nov. 2 | City Park | worshipthemusic.com Experience six unique staging areas, magnified by interactive art and innovative performances, which reflects the mass of cultures that define New Orleans. Outkast, Skrillex, and Awolnation will all be attending.
Boo at the Zoo Oct. 17 – 18, 24 – 25 | Audubon Zoo | auduboninstitute.org This Halloween celebration is for children 12 and younger. Take your little ones to experience haunted houses, entertainment, train rides, games and prizes. It’s sure to be a great time.
Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival Oct. 17 – 19 | Lafayette Square jazzandheritage.org/blues-fest This free event offers the best combination of blues and barbecue. Over the weekend, both the grills and the guitars will be lighting up the heart of New Orleans.
Harvest Moon Fest Oct. 25 | Main Street, Franklin franklinharvestmoonfest.com The 15th annual Harvest Moon festival will feature a classic car and motorcycle show, a barbecue cook-off, live music, children’s activities and special retail promotions for all interested.
Bayou Bacchanal Nov. 1 – 2 | Louis Armstrong Park | bayoubacchanal.org Support this Caribbean festival partnered with Friends of Culture with food, drinks, dancing, and an exciting parade. Celebrate the diverse cultures of the Caribbean with Soca music and dancing.
Voodoo Music + Arts Experience Oct. 31 - Nov. 2 Ghost in the Oaks Oct. 24 – 25 | City Park | neworleanscitypark.com Ghost in the Oaks is a two-night Halloween event featuring numerous amusement park rides, trick-or-treating in Storyland, a pumpkin patch, arts and crafts, music and children’s activities. Fall Arts and Crafts Festival Oct. 25 – 26 | Oak Alley Plantation, 3645 Highway 18 oakalleyplantation.com Come out and enjoy 170 vendors presenting art, crafts, furniture, wellness products, pickles, jellies and more. There’ll also be Cajun/Creole food, kids’ activities, and a Civil War encampment site. P.3+ Oct. 25 – Jan.25 | Various Locations, New Orleans prospectneworleans.org/p3plus Prospect New Orleans, to support the local arts community, will present about fifty national and international artists in this special program. Enjoy the thirteen weeks showcasing contemporary art events and exhibitions.
Southdown Marketplace Arts & Crafts Festival Nov. 1 | Southdown Plantation, 1208 Museum Drive, Houma | southdownmuseum.publishpath.com Experience over 300 local and national vendors with original, hand-made products including jewelry and clothing. Feast on Cajun food favorites such as jambalaya, gumbo and red beans and rice. Treme Creole Gumbo Festival Nov. 8 – 9 | Armstrong Park | jazzandheritage.org This great festival celebrates the melting-pot culture of New Orleans. Enjoy brass bands, New Orleans jazz and a wide selection of the best gumbo in town. Hell Yes Fest Nov. 12 – 16 | Various downtown venues | hellyesfest.com Hell Yes Comedy Fest, curated by improv, sketch, and standup comedians, is back again and ready to delight. Enjoy some hilarious stand up and improv comedy acts. LA Vets-Fest Nov. 15 | West Feliciana Parish Sports Park, St. Francisville lavetsfest.org Sponsored by the Louisiana Veterans Foundation, this year’s fest will feature blues musical guests Marcia Ball, and Jimmie Vaughan & the Tilt-A-Whirl Band, featuring Lou Ann Barton.
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the house of shock says "Nevermore"
F
BY EMILY HINGLE
For over two decades, no haunted house was more infamous than the House of Shock. Often, the attraction would be spoken about in fascinated whispers usually telling of some horrible thing people witnessed there. Despite the fear the eerie house would garner, people came in droves to be frightened and horrified by the ghastly creatures inside. A rainy 2013 season crippled attendance, and the House of Shock will be forced to shutter after this season unless they can have a banner year. Still, if everything goes so well that they can remain open, things may never be the same again. This is the terrifying tale of the House of Shock. The madman behind it all, Ross Karpelman, states simply: “It all started at a party.” Karpelman and his friends had outgrown the local haunted houses put on at Lakeside Mall, City Park, and in neighborhoods like Chinchuba. Future co-creator Jay Gracianette used to help his father with the New Orleans Recreational Department Haunted House. “We were at the age where we couldn’t really dress up and go trick or treating anymore without getting looked at funny. The other option was to go to the bar and just get drunk, and that didn’t seem appealing either. We all grew up having haunted houses in our backyards. We just said, ‘Hey, let’s do a haunted house.’ [Philip Anselmo, Jay Gracianette, and I] went into Jay’s backyard and dug graves, built rooms out of plastic sheeting, like a kid would do. We just had a good time; we based it off of heavy
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metal and Satan because they go hand-in-hand. We just did our own thing,” recounts Karpelman. The crew made a haunted house the next year as well, but this time in a larger backyard. The House of Shock was growing organically as their notoriety increased. “That’s when the word grew, and we had lines around the block, and the neighborhoods were not happy. We were doing some outlandish things, because we were adults and about extreme and intensity performance. We kind of developed the reputation of outlaws,” says Karpelman proudly. Not only were more and more people interested in experiencing this extreme haunt, many people were so offended and alarmed by it that they attempted to bring the wrath of a higher power down on the house itself. “The neighborhood felt that evil moved in on their block, so they got a priest and broke in,
which I think is kind of ironic, and he sprinkled holy water and salt over everything. I don’t know what that was supposed to do, but I guess they felt better about it. So the next year, we were thinking, let’s do it a little bit bigger,” says Karpelman. Growing ever larger, the House of Shock was turning into a viable seasonal business. Finally, they were able to move out of the backyard and into a place of their own. Still, the very existence of such a demonized attraction was contested. “We were able to find a temporary warehouse behind Cleary Avenue, and that’s where we got infamous. The City Council judged us on our themes and whether or not it was appropriate for people. That brought a whole free speech thing into it: local radio and the newspaper picked up on it, and all that did was make more publicity for us. In the end, the Council realized that it really wasn’t that big of a deal. We’ve gone on from there, and we’ve been in the same area now since 1996,” tells Karpelman. Hurricane Katrina in 2005 dealt a blow to the business, which did not see a season that year. “Katrina hit, and that was going to be our first year in the new location [under the Huey P. Long Bridge]. In my house, I had 12 feet of water. All of our volunteers were scattered. The whole city was scattered. Needless to say, our thirteenth year, how appropriate, didn’t happen. Well, it kind of did because our other partner was in town on Halloween night, and he opened the gates just to see who would show up. They just had Halloween by themselves there in the warehouse,” explains Karpelman. Since that harsh season, business boomed. The House of Shock was more popular and more grandiose than it had ever been. It was seen as an extreme national attraction due to the years of attention placed on it by MTV, VH1, and Rolling Stone Magazine. “Within the industry from the beginning, we were looked at [as the most extreme]. If we sucked, it wouldn’t matter if we had Ozzy back there. The production that we put into it, the time, the detail is very meticulous. We’ve definitely seen the amount of mega haunted houses increase since we’ve been around,” says Karlpelman. The weather of fall 2013 may have dealt the death blow to the House of Shock; they simply did not create enough profit to sustain the business, which is not simply a walk-through haunted house, but an immersive world with a huge pyrotechnic stage show, live music, circus acts, vendors, rides and more. “It was a sit-down year for us. We had a tropical storm threat on our opening weekend; our numbers were down there. Halloween night got rained out totally, completely, and that was [supposed to be] a catch-up night for us. Eyehategod was supposed to play that night. It was heartbreaking. The haunted house business itself is very risky; you’re dependent on a lot of things. We said that we can go for another year and see what happens. Basically, the reason why it’s our last season is because it costs so much money for us to put on a production. You’ve got to be on the cutting edge, and we’ve been on the cutting edge, we’ve been the trendsetters in the industry, for a long time now. But, contrary to popular belief, we don’t do that many numbers to keep up with the amount of money we spend putting on the biggest production that we possibly can because we don’t do this for the public. We do this for ourselves. We get off on it. We enjoy it. And our 300-plus volunteers that we have, it’s their passion. It’s why we’ve kept it going for 22 years, and it’s sad to see it go. I don’t know what’s going to happen after this year. It’s definitely the final year of the House of Shock as we know it,” states Karpelman solemnly. Ross Karpelman only wishes that this year goes well to send off the House of Shock in style, if not to also raise the funds to make the House keep going. There is an air of uncertainty surrounding the future of the House of Shock, and the public may not know what to expect until this time next year.“ This season will dictate where we go, what we do, what happens. The house could be completely stripped-down and sold off for what we can get. I don’t know. This season will be the tale-tell, but one thing’s for sure: it will not be the same haunted house that it’s been for 22 years. We try not to think of it as a business, but you need people to go through the gates to sustain what we do. And we have a strong fan base that has enabled us to have our party. Basically, every year we enjoy our Mardi Gras. We’re just a local group of heavy metal musicians that have gotten older and this is the one thing we can come together on and enjoy throughout the year when we’re not working our boring day jobs. We’ve built our following and our fans, and we’ve stayed true to that,” says Karpelman. One of the crew who created the House of Shock and took it from a backyard party to a full-fledged mega-attraction has these words for those who have enjoyed his work in the past and those who have yet to attend: “I want to see everybody there. This is it. This is the end of an era. This is what people will talk about as New Orleans legend; it might sound presumptuous to say that. We’re part of New Orleans Halloween culture. People tell those fabled stories of Halloweens gone by. Come give us a proper sendoff, come see what we’ve done and continue to do. And come see the show. Don’t let us down. Let’s end it on a high note.”
@Emily_Hingle
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32 | October 2014 | Where Y'at Magazine
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MUSICCALENDAR
Complete Listings @ WhereYat.com
Thursday, September 25 21st Amendment- Christopher Johnson Trio, Steve Pistorius Trio Apple Barrel- Sam Cammarata, Gettin’ It Armstrong Park- Russell Batiste & Friends + The Wild Tchoupitoulas Buffa’s- Tom McDermott Bamboula’s- John Eubanks, Kenny Claiborne, The Pentones Banks Street Bar & Grill – The Call Girls, Acid Broadcast The BEATnik- Love Inks, Fancy Pants, Bionica Blue Nile- Micah McKee & Little Maker Blue Nile (Balcony Room)- Frenchmen Fresh ft. Tuck BMC- Red Line, The Upstarts, Dysfunktional Bone Brass Band Bombay Club- Tony Seville Bullet’s Sports Bar- Neisha Ruffins & The Franchise Band Café Negril- Chris Klein & The Boulevards Carousel Lounge- Antoine Diel Jazz Quartet Checkpoint Charlie- Dominic, Western Settings Columns Hotel- Naydja Cojoe & The Jazz Experience Crescent City Brew House - New Orleans Steamboat D.b.a- Jon Cleary, Dave Jordan Dmac's- Octopus Samson Dos Jefes- Loren Pickford Fair Grinds Coffeehouse- Ryan Floyd Fritzel’s Jazz Pub- Tom Fischer & Friends Funky Pirate- Marc Stone Duo, The Blues Masters w/ Big Al Carson Gasa Gasa- Mark Stone’s Soul Serenade ft. Meschiya Lake Hi Ho Lounge- How to Dress Well + Nite Jewel, House of Blues (The Parish)- Lil Dicky + DJ Omega + Billsbery Flowboy Howlin’ Wolf- Christian Radke + Dre Cruise & more The Irish House- Dan Rivers Irvin Mayfield’s Jazz Playhouse- Kris Tokarski Joy Theatre- The Oak Creek Band Kerry Irish Pub- Dave James Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop- Mike Hood The Little Gem Saloon- Johnny Angel & The Swingin Demons Little Tropical Isle- Allen Hebert, Casey Saba The Maison- Shotgun Jazz Band Maison Bourbon Jazz Club- Swamp Donkeys Maple Leaf- The Trio ft. Johnny Vidacovich + George Porter Jr. & more Marigny Brasserie- Tom Larson, Harry Mayronne Mercedes-Benz Superdome- One Direction, 5 Seconds of Summer Mid-City Lanes Rock ‘n’ Bowl- Same Ol’ 2 Step Morning Call in The Oaks- Clyde & Iggy The Neutral Ground Coffeehouse- Ruby Ross Ogden Museum of Southern Art- Tim Laughlin Old Opera House- Chicken on the Bone Old Point Bar- Jonny Krashner & The Hatchet Boys Old U.S. Mint- Tom McDermott + Meschiya Lake Palm Court Jazz Café- Duke Heitger Preservation Hall- The Preservation Hall All Stars Publiq House- Brass-A-Holics Snug Harbor- Don Vappie Creole Trio Spotted Cat Music Club- Miss Sophie Lee Three Muses- Tom McDermott Tipitina’s- Big Freedia + Partners N Crime Tropical Isle Bayou Club- Cajun Drifters Tropical Isle Bourbon- Miss Maggie Trio Tropical Isle Original- The Hangovers Vaso- Andy J. Forest, Ed Wills & Blues 4 Sale Vaughan’s Lounge – The Treme Funktet Yuki Izakaya- Norbert Slama Friday, September 26 21st Amendment- Rhythm Lizards Apple Barrel- Buck Townsend, Deltaphonic Back Room at Buffa’s- Greg Schatz Bamboula’s- Christopher Johnson Blue Nile- Kermit Ruffins & the BBQ Swingers BMC- Lefty Keith & True Blues, Honeycreepers Bombay Club- Heidijo, Dr. Bones Bottomline Beach Club- Supernova Bullet’s Sports Bar- The Pinettes Brass Band Carousel Lounge- Robin Barnes Carrollton Station- Kelcy Mae Casa Borrega- Santiago, Los Caballeros del Son Checkpoint Charlie-Kenny Triche & Friends Chickie Wah Wah- Michael Pearce Circle Bat- Noisewater Columns Hotel- Ted Long Crescent City Brew House - New Orleans Steamboat D.b.a- Linnzi Zaorski, Eric Lindell Dmac’s Bar & Grill- The Jeff Davis Project Dos Jefes- The Joe Krown Trio Dragon’s Den- The Black Troubadour feat. Ben E. Hunter Fair Grinds Coffeehouse- Steve Cordts The Frenchmen Theatre- Gravity A Fritzel’s Jazz Pub- Tom Fischer & Friends Funky Pirate- Mark & the Pentones, The Blues Masters w/Big Al Carson
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Phantogram NY electro-rock duo Phantogram, touring behind their latest album, Voices, released this past February is taking over Republic. They’ll bring their unique, trip-hop/psych-pop sound to the Crescent City with openers Lia Ices on Sat. Oct. 4. $25-30, 9:00 p.m., Republic, 828 S. Peters St., republicnola.com Gasa Gasa- Liberated Soul Collective + Tank & Bangas ft. Luv & Suave House of Blues- Hells Bells Howlin’ Wolf- Rebirth Brass Band, Nick and the Ovorols Howlin’ Wolf (The Den)- Josh Garrett Band + The Budz The Irish House- Hannah KB Irvin Mayfield’s Jazz Playhouse- The Piano Professor Series Kerry Irish Pub- Patrick Cooper, Hurricane Refugees Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop- Lucky Lee Le Bon Temps Roulé- Jeff “Snake’' Greenberg, Tom Larson The Little Gem Saloon- Jon Roniger, Nayo Jones Little Tropical Isle- Reed Lightfoot, Ben Joseph The Maison- Leah Rucker, The Dapper Dandies Maple Leaf- 101 Runners Margaritaville- Matt Hoggatt Mid-City Lanes Rock ‘n’ Bowl- Bonerama Morning Call in The Oaks- Hector Gallardo’s Jazz Trio Old Point Bar- Rick Trolsen, Hill Country Hounds Old U.S. Mint- Live Animals One Eyed Jacks- The Breton Sound Palm Court Jazz Café- Palm Court Jazz Band Pat O’Brien’s Bar & Courtyard Restaurant – Amy Trail Preservation Hall- The PresHall Brass ft. Daniel Farrow The Prytania Bar- Billy Asprodites Publiq House- Roadkill Ghost Choir + The Eastern Sea Republic New Orleans- Jungle, Quicky Mart Richard Fiske’s Martini Bar & Restaurant- Heidijo Rivershack Tavern- Lost in the Sixties Saenger Theatre- David Gray Snug Harbor- The Uptown Jazz Orchestra, Kellye Gray Spotted Cat Music Club- Andy Forest Three Muses- Glen David Andrews Tipitina’s- The Subdudes Tropical Isle Bayou Club- Louisiana inferno, T’Canailli Tropical Isle Bourbon- Way to Early, Jay B Elston Band Tropical Isle Original- The Hangovers, Late as Usual Twist of Lime- Withering Light + Severed Mass Vaso- R&R Jazz Group, Jeff Chaz Blues Band Windsor Court Hotel - Robin Barnes & Jazz Trio Saturday, September 27 21st Amendment- Big Joe Kennedy, Leslie Martin Apple Barrel- Ruby Moon, Louisiana Hellbenders Back Room at Buffa’s- Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre Bamboula’s- Abby Diamond, Smoky Greenwell Band Banks Street Bar & Grill- Tom Larson Blue Nile- Washboard Chaz Blues Trio, Stooges Brass Band BMC- ADO, Johnny Mastro & Mama’s Boys
Bombay Club- Lucas Davenport, Ingrid Lucia Bottomline Beach Club- As If Café Negril- Jamey St. Pierre & The Honeycreepers Carrollton Station- John Mooney Casa Borrega- Santiago Checkpoint Charlie- The Olivia DeHavilland Mosquitoes Chickie Wah Wah- Tommy Malone & Seth Walker Circle Bar-Little War Twins Civic Theatre- The Airborne Toxic Event Crescent City Brew House - New Orleans Steamboat D.b.a- John Boutte, Papa Mali + 7th Ward Creole Hunters Dos Jefes- Gringo do Choro Dragon’s Den- Sunshine Jones, Herb Christopher Fair Grinds Coffeehouse- Brian Jane Fritzel’s Jazz Pub- Roamin’ Jasmine, Mike Fulton & Dave Ruffner Funky Pirate- The Blues Masters w/Big Al Carson Gasa Gasa- The Noise Complaints + the Honorable South Hammond Regional Arts Center- Lawne Phillips Hi Ho Lounge- Hustle with DJ Soul Sister House of Blues (Big Mama’s Lounge)- Jukebox Heroes Howlin’ Wolf (The Den)- Mississippi Shakedown Irvin Mayfield’s Jazz Playhouse- Don Vappie Kerry Irish - Dave Hickey, Mark Hessler & Friends Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop- Frank Martinez The Little Gem Saloon- Kermit Ruffins & The BBQ Swingers Little Tropical Isle- JB Elston, Ben Joseph Mahalia Jackson Theatre- Enigma Variations ft. Benjamin Beilman The Maison- Swamp Donkeys, Smoking Time Jazz Club Maison Bourbon Jazz Club- Phil Campo & the Loose Change Jazz Band Maple Leaf- The Steepwater Band Mid-City Lanes Rock ‘n’ Bowl- SuperCharger Old Point Bar- Jamie Lynn Vessels Old U.S. Mint- The Next Generation One Eyed Jacks- Odesza + Hayden James + Ambassadeurs Palm Court Jazz Café- Brian O’Connell + Palm Court Jazz Band The Prytania Bar- Heatwave! Preservation Hall- The Preservation Hall All-Stars ft. Orange Kellin Richard Fiske’s Martini Bar & Restaurant- Lucas Davenport, Ingrid Lucia Rivershack Tavern- Pontchatrain Wrecks Saenger Theatre- 1964...The Tribute Shamrock- Refugeze Siberia- Rami Sharkey, Birdmagic & more Snug Harbor- Adonis Rose Spotted Cat Music Club- Jazz Band Baller Steamboat Natchez- Duke Heitger’s Steamboat Stompers Three Muses- Debbie Davis, Shotgun Jazz Band Tipitina’s- Earphunk’s CD Release Party
Tropical Isle Bayou Club- La Maniere des Cadiens, Louisiana Inferno, Tropical Isle Bourbon- Way To Early, Rhythm & Rain, Debi & the Deacons Tropical Isle Original- The Hangovers, Late as Usual Twist of Lime: Love Gunn: A Tribute to KISS Yuki Izakaya- Norbert Slama Sunday, September 28 21st Amendment- Chance Bushman & Friends, Tom McDermott AllWays Lounge- Aurora Nealand & The Red Minders Sextet Apple Barrel- Bailee Sullivan, Vic Shepard Backroom at Buffa’s- Jazz Brunch with Some Like It Hot Bamboula’s- Justin Donovan, John Lisi Blues The BEATnik- Soft Swells Blue Nile- Lagniappe Brass Band BMC- Revival!, Soul Company, Soul Project Bombay Club- Tony Seville Café Beignet- Steamboat Willie & Friends Candlelight Lounge- The Abney Effect The Castle Theatre- Linda Wright, Soulful Sunday Checkpoint Charlie-Open Mic with Jim Smith Chickie Wah Wah- Gal Holiday & the Honky Tonk Revue Circle Bar-Less is More + Radiator Hospital Columns Hotel- Chip Wilson Crescent City Brew House - New Orleans Steamboat D.b.a- Big Chief Smiley Ricks & One Nation Dragon’s Den- Carmine P. Filthy, Unicorn Fukr, Herb Christopher, Ryan Deffes, Kode9, FoxForce005, SeamzLegit Fair Grinds Coffeehouse- Joseph Allen Betran Fritzel’s Jazz Pub- Mike Fulton & John Royen Funky Pirate-Mark & the Pentones, Willie Locktt House of Blues(The Parish)- Kirk Franklin Gospel Brunch (NOLA), Andy Mckee, Late Night Sundays Howlin’ Wolf (The Den)- Hot 8 Brass Band Irvin Mayfield’s Jazz Playhouse- Lu and Charlie’s Revisited ft. Germaine Bazzle & Peter Harris Kerry Irish - Vincint Marini & The One Tailed Three, Paul Tobin Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop- Angelle Trosclair Lagniappe Tattoo- Jake La Botz The Little Gem Saloon- Jazz Brunch with Mad Trio Little Tropical Isle- Lynn Drury, Reed Lightfoot Mahalia Jackson Theatre for the Performing Arts- Phillip Phillips Mahogany Jazz Hall- Gary Brown The Maison- Dave Easley, Brad Walker, KRS-One Maison Bourbon Jazz Club- Swamp Donkeys, Jamil Sharif & the New Orleans All Stars Maple Leaf- Joe Krown Trio Marigny Brasserie- Jon Ronigers Gypsyland Band Marigny Opera House- Tilde Carbia
Miss Jean's Famous Corner Courtyard- Bobby Love & Friends Morning Call in the Oaks- Hector Gallardo’s Jazz Trio Old Point Bar- Chip Wilson, The Tom Witek Jazz Quartet One Eyed Jacks- An Evening with The Bad Plus Palm Court Jazz Café- Lucien Barbarin & the Sunday Night Swingsters Preservation Hall- The Preservation Hall All Stars Ralph’s On the Park-Joe Krown Richard Fiske’s Martini Bar & Restaurant- Tony Seville Sbisa’s- Big Joe Kennedy, Jeff Greenberg Siberia- Deaf Wish, Angie + Nathan Roche & more, Despise You & more, Creator/Destroyer Snug Harbor- Singleton + Freilich + Green + Vidacovich Spotted Cat Music Club- Rites of Swing, Ben Polcer & The Grinders, Pat Casey & The New Sound Steamboat Natchez- Duke Heitger’s Steamboat Stompers Three Muses- Raphael & Norbert, Linnzi Zaorski Trinity Episcopal Church- Laura Patterson + Albinas Prizgintas Tropical Isle Bayou Club- Cajungrass, Louisiana Inferno Tropical Isle Bourbon-BC & Comp, Rhythm and Rain, Debi & the Deacons Tropical Isle Original- The Hangovers, Late as Usual Yuki Izakaya- Yoshitaka “Z2” Tsuji & The Boko Boko Head Monday, September 29 21st Amendment- Jesse McBride Apple Barrel- Sam Cammarata, The Mumbles Bamboula’s- Chris Christie, Messy Cookers Jazz Banks Street Bar & Grill- Bathrobe Banditos, South Jones The BEATnik- ShinyRibs + The Bills, The Banditos BJ’s Lounge- King James & The Special Men Blue Nile- Higher Heights Reggae Band BMC- Jeff Chaz, Lil Red & Big Bad, Smoky’s Blues Jam Bombay Club- Danica Hart Café Beignet- Steamboat Willie & Friends Chickie Wah Wah- Alexis & the Samurai Circle Bar- Marc Ford + Elijah Ford Columns Hotel- David Doucet Crescent City Brew House- New Orleans Steamboat D.b.a- Luke Winslow King, Glen David Andrews Dmac’s Bar & Grill- Danny Alexander Dos Jefes- John Fohl Fritzel’s Jazz Pub- Charlie Fardella & John Royen Funky Pirate- Gary Brown Gasa Gasa- Panorama Jazz Band Hi Ho Lounge- Bluegrass Pickin’ Party, Hill Country Hounds Howlin’ Wolf- Water for People Big Easy Bash
The Irish House- Traditional Irish Music Session Irvin Mayfield's Jazz Playhouse-Gerald French Kerry Irish - Paul Tobin Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop- Mike Hood Little Tropical Isle- Reed Lightfoot, Lyne Drury The Maison- Chicken Waffles, Aurora Nealand & The Royal Roses Maison Bourbon Jazz Club- Reggie & the Smithsonsions Maple Leaf- Jon Cleary & the Absolute Monster Gentlemen Marigny Brasserie- Debbie Davis Old Point Bar- The Romy Kaye Jazz Trio One Eyed Jacks- Foxygen + Dub Thompson Preservation Hall- The Preservation Hall Jazz Masters ft. Leroy Jones Richard Fiske’s Martini Bar- Danica Hart Siberia- Mahala Snug Harbor- Charmaine Neville Band Spotted Cat Music Club- Sarah McCoy & The Oopsie Daisies Steamboat Natchez- Duke Heitger’s Steamboat Stompers Three Muses- Washboard Rodeo Tropical Isle Bayou Club- Cajungrass Duo, Cajun Drifters Tropical Isle Bourbon-Rhythm & Rain, Way to Early Tropical Isle Original- Graham Robertson, Whiskey Bar Vaso- Keith Lewis Blues Revue, New Creations Brass Band
GretnaHeritageFestival Classic rock and funk bands are the highlight of this three-day festival, celebrating its 20th year. Check out performers like Greg Allman, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Cherub, and the Funky Meters (Pictured) Fri-Sun, Oct. 3-5. $20-$350, 1 p.m., Gretna, LA, gretnafest. com Photo by Gus Escanelle
Tuesday, September 30 21st Amendment- Matt Lemmler AllWays Lounge- One Love Brass Band Apple Barrel- Dave Easley, WEB3 Bamboula’s- Vivaz, Dana & The Boneshakers Banks Street Bar & Grill- Hazlehurst The BEATnik- Shonen Knife, The Bills Blue Nile (Balcony Room)- Redrawblak BMC- Krawdaddys, Eudora & Deep Soul, The Abney Effect Bombay Club- Lucas Davenport Bullet’s Sports Bar-Kermit Ruffins & The BBQ Swingers Checkpoint Charlie- My Next Blackout, Yamomenem Chickie Wah Wah- Jon Cleary, Sonic Bloom ft. Eric Bloom & Andrew Block Circle Bar- Matt Krahula Columns Hotel- Riccardo Crespo, John Rankin Crescent City Brew House - New Orleans Steamboat d.b.a.- The Treme Brass Band Dmac’s Bar & Grill- Chip Wilson-Singer/Songwriter Night Dos Jefes- Andrew Duhon Fritzel’s Jazz Pub- Tom Fischer & Friends Funky Pirate-The Blues Masters w/Patrick Williams Gasa Gasa- The Apache Relay + Coyotes House of Blues- Citizen Cope Irvin Mayfield’s Jazz Playhouse- Jason Marsalis
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Kerry Irish - Patrick Cooper Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop- Lucky Lee The Little Gem Saloon- Michael Branley, Crescent City Groove Little Tropical Isle- Mark Barrett, Ben Joseph Mahogany Jazz Hall- Gary Brown The Maison- Gregory Agid, The Swamp Donkeys Maple Leaf- Rebirth Brass Band Marigny Brasserie- Tom McDermott Mud & Water- Shonen Knife New Orleans Jazz National Historic Park- Richard Scott Old Opera House- Chicken on the Bone Old Point Bar- Isla Nola Old U.S. Mint- Hubie Vigreux + Mike Harris One Eyed Jacks- Lee Fields & The Expressions + DJ Soul Sister Ralph’s On the Park- Joe Krown Saint Roch Tavern- Jerry Giddens Saturn Bar- GYMSHORTS Siberia- Paul Collins Beat + Red Sneakers + King Louie One Man Band, The Chop Tops + The Rotten Cores Snug Harbor- Stanton Moore Trio Spotted Cat Music Club- Andy Forest, Meschiya Lake & The Little Big Horns, Smokin’ Time Jazz Club Sweet Lorraine’s- Jazz & Poetry hosted by Shakespeare
Three Muses- Seoul Shack ft. Brice Nice Trinity Episcopal Church- Albinas Prizgintas Tropical Isle Bayou Club- Cajungrass Duo, Cajun Drifters Tropical Isle Bourbon- JB Elston and Wayne, Tropic Gumbo Tropical Isle Original- The Hangovers, J B Elston Band Uptown Tattoos- Jake La Botz Varsity Theatre- Kill The Noise Wednesday, October 1 Banks Street Bar & Grill- Major Bacon Bayou Boys Tattoo- Jake La Botz Buffas - Open Mic Night Checkpoint Charlie- T Bone Stone & the Happy Monsters, Selma Street Chemical Co. Civic Theatre- The Head and the Heart, The Belle Brigade Columns Hotel- Andy Rogers Crescent City Brew House - New Orleans Steamboat Funky Pirate – The Bluesmasters w/Patrick Williams House of Blues- Luke James Kerry Irish - Chip Wilson Little Tropical Isle- Mark Barrett, JB Elston Mid-City Lanes Rock n’ Bowl- Joe Krown Richard Fiske’s Martini Bar - Tony Seville Publiq House- Gold and the Rush
Snug Harbor- The Uptown Jazz Orchestra Tipitina’s- Lake Street Dive + Lucius Tropical Isle Bayou Club- La Maniere des Cadiens Tropical Isle Bourbon- Way to Early Tropical Isle Original- Debbie and the Deacons, Late as Usual Vaso- Troy Turner & The Blues Band, Jeff Chaz Blues Band Yuki Izakaya- Kana de Soul Thursday, October 2 Armstrong Park- Cyril Neville’s Swamp Funk + Joe Krown Trio ft. Russel Batiste & Walter Wolfman Washington Banks Street Bar & Grill- Jonny Kashner & the Hatchet Boys BMC- Roxy Roca Café Istanbul- Amanda Shaw & Charmaine Neville Checkpoint Charlie- Dominic, Hubcap Kings Circle Bar- Apache Dropout Columns Hotel- Naydja Cojoe & The Jazz Experience Crescent City Brew House - New Orleans Steamboat D.b.a.- Jimmy Carpenter Funky Pirate- Marc Stone Duo, The Blues Masters Gasa Gasa- Yip Deceiver, Turquoise Jeep House of Blues- Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Bad Girls of Burlesque The Irish House- Dan Rivers Kerry Irish - Vincint Marini & The One Tailed Three
GaslightAnthem Punk and roots-rock meet and mingle with New Jersey band The Gaslight Anthem, playing songs off their new album, Get Hurt, as well as old favorites. Catch them with openers Against Me! on Friday, Oct. 10. $33.35, 8:00 p.m., Civic Theatre, 510 O’Keefe Ave., civicnola.com. Photo by Jason Hall Little Tropical Isle- Allen Hebert, Casey Saba Mid-City Lanes Rock n’ Bowl- Geno Delafose Ogden Museum of Southern Art- June Victory & The Bayou Renegades Ralph’s On the Park- Joe Krown Republic New Orleans- Bassik ft Pegboard Nerds, Klutch, Rroiddrazr, Captivate, Chriscross Richard Fiske’s Martini Bar - Mississippi Hyperfly Special Venue- Euphoria ft. Sybil Shanell & Cafe au Lait Three Muses- Luke Winslow-King Tipitina’s- Nicki Bluhm & The Gramblers + David Shaw of The Revivalists Tropical Isle Bayou Club- Cajun Drifters, Louisiana Inferno Tropical Isle Bourbon- Miss Maggie Trio, Debbie and the Deacons Tropical Isle Original- The Hangovers, Late as Usual Vaso- Andy J. Forest, Ed Wills & Blues 4 Sale, Willie Lockett Vaughan’s- Corey Henry & The Treme Funktet Yuki Izakaya- Norbert Slama Friday, October 3 Audobon Zoo- Loyola Faculty Chamber Ensembles Blue Nile- Naughty Professor Bottomline Beach Club- Retro Burgundy Bar (Saint Hotel)- The Creole Sweet Tease Burlesque Show Café Istanbul- Sean Johnson & The Wild Lotus Band, Tank & The Bangas Chickie Wah Wah- Michael Cerveris & Loose Cattle The Civic Theatre- Preservation Hall Ball ft. Preservation Hall Jazz Band + Allen Toussaint + Ani DiFranco & more Columns Hotel- Ted Long Crescent City Brew House - New Orleans Steamboat Dragon’s Den- The Black Troubadour featuring Ben E. Hunter Funky Pirate- The Blues Masters with Big Al Carlson Gasa Gasa- Rotary Downs House of Blues- Super Diamond House of Blues(Big Mama’s Lounge)- Michael Liuzza & Company The Irish House- Eli Perry Kerry Irish Pub- Patrick Cooper, Vince Martini & the One Tailed Three Le Bon Temps Roulé- Tom Worrell Little Tropical Isle- Reed Lightfoot Old U.S. Mint- Alex McMurray, Tribute to Danny Barker One Eyed Jacks- Jeff the Brotherhood + Music Band + Hunters Pearl Wine Co.- The Sarah Gromko Trio Preservation Hall- Beats Antique Rusty Nail- Dave Jordan Republic - Bounce ft Sissy Nobby, DJ Jubilee, Walt Wiggidy Richard Fiske’s Martini Bar - Monty Banks, Davis Rogan Tour Bus- Robert Schwartzman Tropical Isle Bayou Club- Louisiana Inferno Tropical Isle Bourbon- Way to Early Tropical Isle Original- The Hangovers Varsity Theatre- Kacey Musgraves Vaso- R&R Jazz Group, Jeff Chaz Blues Band, Jousha Kagler & Band, New Creations Brass Band Winos and Tacos- Tom Leggett Band Saturday, October 4 Apple Barrel- Chris Klein & The Boulevards Buffas - Royal Rounders Blue Nile- Tom Leggett Band, Johnny Sketch & The Dirty Notes Bottomline Beach Club- Therapy Café Negril- Jamey St. Pierre & The Honeycreepers Checkpoint Charlie- Kenny Claiborne, Randy East, The Happy Monsters Circle Bar- Laugh in the Dark Civic Theatre- Preservation Hall Ball w/ Beats Antique Crescent City Brew House - New Orleans Steamboat
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Civic- Jenny Lewis Columns Hotel- John Rankin Crescent City Brew House - New Orleans Steamboat Gasa Gasa- Jamestown Revival + Black Cadillacs House of Blues- Interpol Kerry Irish - Jason Bishop Ralph’s On the Park- Joe Krown Republic - Bonobo (DJ set), Kastle Richard Fiske’s Martini Bar - Lucas Davenport Sweet Lorraine’s- Jazz & Poetry hosted by Shakespeare Trinity Episcopal Church- Albinas Prizgintas Tropical Isle Bayou Club- Cajungrass Duo Tropical Isle Bourbon- JB Elston Tropical Isle Original- The Hangovers
Interpol Indie rock band Interpol returns to New Orleans with a set of tunes off their upcoming release El Pintor, as well as hits from their previous efforts. See them with openers Rey Pila on Tuesday, Oct. 7. $44 - $92, 7:00 p.m., House of Blues, 225 Decatur St., houseofblues.com/neworleans. Funky Pirate- The Blues Masters with Big Al Carlson Gasa Gasa- The Tanglers CD Release Show Gretna Heritage Festival- Lynard Skynard + Many Others House of Blues- Terry McDermott & The Bonfires + Miggs + Kristen Palmer, Imelda May + The Bellfuries Howlin’ Wolf (The Den)- Tank & The Bangas + The Honorable South + Erica Falls and Sasha Masakowski The Irish House- One Tailed Three Kerry Irish - Project X Little Tropical Isle- JB Elston Louisiana Music Factory- Michael Cerveris & Loose Cattle The Maison- Viceroy Mandeville Trailhead- Naydja Cojoe Margaritaville- Matt Hoggatt Marigny Brasserie- Jimmy Sweetwater & Friends Mid-City Lanes Rock ‘n’ Bowl- Paul Sanchez & Minimum Rage + Michael Cerveris & Loose Cattle Old U.S. Mint- Mehnaz Hoosein One Eyed Jacks- Mike Dillon Band + High + Batebunda Ooh Poo Pah Doo Bar- Guitar Slim Jr. Republic New Orleans- Phantogram, Lia Ices Richard Fiske’s Martini Bar - Lucas Davenport, Jayna Morgan and the Sazerac Band Shamrock- Roxy Roca Siberia- Michael Cerveris & Loose Cattle + Kelcy Mae and Alexandra Scott Shamrock- Roxy Roca Snug Harbor- Dave Douglas Speckled T’s- Ben Bradford Tropical Isle Bayou Club- La Maniere des Cadiens Tropical Isle Bourbon- Way to Early Tropical Isle Original- The Hangovers Vaso- R&R Jazz Group, Troy Turner Blues Band, Legacy Brass Band, Tyler Kinchen & The Right Pieces Yuki Izakaya- Norbert Slama Sunday, October 5 Buffas - Some Like It Hot Jazz Brunch Checkpoint Charlie- Open Mic with Jim Smith Circle Bar- Daniel Bonespur + Hand Sand Hands + Puny Columns Hotel- Chip Wilson Crescent City Brew House - New Orleans Steamboat Funky Pirate- Mark and the Pentones House of Blues- Beck Howlin’ Wolf (The Den)- Hot 8 Brass Band Kajun’s Pub- Michael Cerveris & Loose Cattle Hootenanny Kerry Irish - Chip Wilson Little Tropical Isle- Lynn Drury Mid-City Lanes Rock n’ Bowl- Cajun Fais Do Do Miss Jean’s Famous Corner Courtyard- Bobby Love & Friends One Eyed Jacks- Glamrock Superfox Republic New Orleans- St. Lucia, Joywave Richard Fiske’s Martini Bar - Tony Seville Tipitina’s- Amos Lee + Priscilla Ahn Trinity Episcopal Church- Father Ron & more Tropical Isle Bayou Club- Cajungrass Tropical Isle Bourbon- Way to Early Tropical Isle Original- The Hangovers
Monday, October 6 Buffas - Antione Diel Checkpoint Charlie- Clyde & Iggy Circle Bar- Paisley Fields + Max Bernardi + The Shiz Columns Hotel- David Doucet Crescent City Brew House - New Orleans Steamboat Funky Pirate- Gary Brown Gasa Gasa- Panorama Jazz Band Hi Ho Lounge- Bluegrass Pickin’ Party Kerry Irish - Kim Carson Little Tropical Isle- Reed Lightfoot One-Eyed Jacks- Dazed on Toulouse Republic - Ty Dolla $ign, Lil Bibby Richard Fiske’s Martini Bar - Monty Banks Tropical Isle Bayou Club- Cajungrass Duo Tropical Isle Bourbon- JB Elston Tropical Isle Original- The Hangovers Tuesday, October 7 Bamboula’s- Dana & The Boneshakers Checkpoint Charlie- Land Co., Alabama Slim Blues Revue Circle Bar- Marbin
PaulMcCartney Paul McCartney continues his anti-aging showcase, as his “Out There” tour stops off in New Orleans for an epic set of classic Beatles, Wings, and solo numbers. See the legend perform on Saturday, Oct. 11. $27.50 - $250, The Smoothie King Center, 1501 Girod St., smoothiekingcenter.com.
Wednesday, October 8 Buffas - Open Mic Night Checkpoint Charlie- T Bone Stone & the Happy Monsters, VX36 Circle Bar- Kelly Swindall + Lorraine Leckie & Her Demons Columns Hotel- Andy Rogers Crescent City Brew House - New Orleans Steamboat Funky Pirate- The Blues Masters w/ Patrick Wilson Kerry Irish Pub- Patrick Cooper Little Tropical Isle- Mark Barrett, JB Elston Mid-City Lanes Rock ‘n’ Bowl- Gal Holiday & The Honky Tonk Revue, Leroy Thomas & The Zydeco Roadrunners New Orleans Arena- Tegan & Sara One Eyed Jacks- Policia + Web of Sunsets Ralph’s on the Park- Joe Krown Richard Fiske’s Martini Bar - Tony Seville Tropical Isle Bayou Club- La Maniere des Cadiens Tropical Isle Bourbon- Way to Early Tropical Isle Original- Debi and the Deacons, Late as Usual University of New Orleans (Sandbar at the Cove)- Cindy Scott Yuki Izakaya- Kana de Soul Thursday, October 9 Armstrong Park- Daria & The Hip Drops & more Banks Street Bar & Grill- The Tanglers Buffas - Tom McDermott & Aurora Nealand Checkpoint Charlie- Dominic, Jamie Lynne Vessels Circle Bar- Shivas + The Rakers Columns Hotel- Naydja Cojoe & The Jazz Experience Crescent City Brew House - New Orleans Steamboat Fair Grinds Coffeehouse- Open Mic hosted by Robert Eustis Funky Pirate- Marc Stone Duo, The Blues Masters Gasa Gasa- Slothrust + Paper Bison House of Blues- St. Vincent Kerry Irish - Paintbox with Daves James & Tim Robertson Little Tropical Isle- Allen Hebert, Casey Saba Marigny Opera House- The Versipel Collective ft. Mike McCurdy & Christa Van Alstine Ogden Museum of Southern Art- The Mumbles Republic New Orleans- SBTRKT Richard Fiske’s Martini Bar - Mississippi Hyperfly Tropical Isle Bayou Club- Cajun Drifters, Louisiana Inferno Tropical Isle Bourbon- Miss Maggie Trio, Debi and the Deacons Tropical Isle Original- The Hangovers, Late as Usual Varsity Theatre- Gramatik + Lettuce Vaughan’s Lounge- Corey Henry & The Treme Funktet Yuki Izakaya- Norbert Slama Friday, October 10 Buffas - Loren Murrell Trio, Honeypots Bottomline Beach Club- LA Lightnin' Checkpoint Charlie- Hubcap Kings, Dustin Kahil, Isla NOLA Columns Hotel- Ted Long Contemporary Arts Center- Meshell Ndegeocello Crescent City Brew House - New Orleans Steamboat Dew Drop Social & Benevolent Society Hall- Chris Thomas King Dragon’s Den- The Black Troubadour featuring Ben. E. Hunter Funky Pirate- The Blues Masters with Big Al Carson Gasa Gasa- Colin Lake + Otis Heat The Irish House- Vincent Marini Kerry Irish - Chip Wilson, Hurricane Refugees Le Bon Temps Roulé- Dave Reis Little Tropical Isle- Reed Lightfoot Mid-City Lanes Rock n’ Bowl- Mixed Nuts New Orleans Museum of Art- Roamin’ Jasmine Old U.S. Mint- Boswell Sisters Revue One Eyed Jacks- Rory Danger Pearl Wine Co.- The Sarah Gromko Trio Republic - Victor Niglio, C-Lab, Foreign Twinz, SFAM, EDUK8, KTRL Richard Fiske’s Martini Bar - Monty Banks, David Bode Organ Quartet Tropical Isle Bayou Club- Louisiana Inferno Tropical Isle Bourbon- Way to Early Tropical Isle Original- The Hangovers Twist of Lime- Far Gone + The Green Mantles + Rude-A-Baga & More Saturday, October 11 Buffas - Jake's Birthday Bash, Swamp Kitchen CD Release Party Burgundy Bar (Saint Hotel)- The Creole Sweet Tease Burlesque Show ft. the Creole Syncopators Jazz Band Café Negril- Jamey St. Pierre & The Honeycreepers Checkpoint Charlie- Kenny Triche, R.C. Nola, Turn Back Now Circle Bar-Ian Moore
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Lakeside2Riverside
FESTIVAL & EVENT PREVIEWS
Festivals Bogalusa Blues & Heritage Festival Friday-Saturday, Sept 26 – 27 Cassidy Park, 129 Ben Miller Dr., Bogalusa bogalusablues.com Named Best New Event of the year by the Louisiana Association of Fairs and Festivals in 2012, the third edition of this festival looks to have the best line-up yet. Featuring the southern funk of headliner J.J. Grey and Mofro, the roster also includes Texas-native Ruthie Foster, a soulful blues singer who’s opened for acts like the Blind Boys of Alabama. The festival also aims to celebrate Louisiana heritage with great local food, handcrafted arts, and more! Best of the Bayou Saturday-Sunday, Sept 27 – 28 Downtown Houma, LA bestofthebayou.la Taking place in historic Downtown Houma, this free two-day, two-stage festival showcases national headliners as well as Louisiana and Bayou-bred bands like Better than Ezra, Dumpstaphunk, Baby Bee, and the Rebirth Brass Band, among many others! Two food courts will feature delicious local cuisine, and the Art Marketplace houses a slew of local artisans selling their unique wares. And, while you’re there, don’t forget about the worldfamous Gator Race! Louisiana Seafood Festival Friday-Saturday, Oct 10 - 11 City Park Festival Grounds louisianaseafoodfestival.com; Free True to its name, this festival in City Park aims to introduce locals and tourists alike to the best of local seafood cuisine. Whether you like it baked, steamed, simmered, or grilled, you’ll find
Deutsches Haus; celebrate German heritage or just revel in some Germanic awesomeness. Sing along to the authentic Oktoberfest music and, once those 1-liters of ale kick in, join the crowd in a traditional dance. And don’t forget to bring your hunger: the festival features all the Krautwickel, Bratwurst, and Sauerkraut you can swallow!
something to satisfy almost any pescetarian appetite. When you’re not stuffing your face, check out the heavyweight lineup of bands including Gin Blossoms, Drivin N Cryin, Pat Green, Dead Eye Dick and Flow Tribe.
Arts and Performance
Oktoberfest Friday-Saturday, Oct 10-11, 17-18, 24-25 Rivertown Kenner, 415 Williams Blvd. oktoberfestnola.com This October, visitors can enjoy a slice of Germany in New Orleans courtesy of the
The 78 Project Road Movie Road Tour Friday, Sept 26th; 7 PM Zeitgeist Arts Center 1618 Oretha Hayley Blvd. zeitgeistinc.net Visiting filmmakers Alex Steyermark and
25th Annual New Orleans Film Festival October 16 - 23
t
The New Orleans Film Society (NOFS) proudly presents the 25th Annual New Orleans Film Festival, which takes place from October 16th to October 23rd at venues across the city. The festival will kick things off Thursday, October 16th, at the Civic Theatre with the Opening Night film, the New Orleans-shot Black and White directed by Mike Binder (Indian Summer, The Upside of Anger) and starring Academy Award–winners Kevin Costner and Octavia Spencer. This will be the U.S. premiere of the movie. Black and White is a drama about a widowed grandfather (Costner) who is left to raise his bi-racial granddaughter. When the little girl’s paternal grandmother (Spencer) seeks custody, a bitter legal battle ensues that forces this fractured family to confront thoughts of life, death, anger, and America’s racial divide. The film also stars New Orleans native Anthony Mackie, as well as Jennifer Ehle, Gillian Jacobs, Bill Burr, Andre Holland, and introduces Jillian Estell. The film's score is by New Orleanian and noted composer Terence Blanchard (Inside Man, She Hate Me). Costner says of shooting the movie in Louisiana: “New Orleans as well as the state of Louisiana has come to my rescue more than once as a filmmaker. It was the difference between me making my movie and not. The group of filmmakers that exists here made it possible, and nothing feels better than bringing it back for them to see the vision that united us all in work.” Closing the festival on Thursday, October
Better Than Ezra performs at Best of the Bayou 38 | October 2014 | Lakeside 2 Riverside
The Big Beat
Black and White 23rd, is the world premiere of The Big Beat, a documentary directed by Joe Lauro (Rejoice and Shout, Louis Prima: The Wildest, The Howling Wolf Story) that profiles the early years of Fats Domino and Dave Bartholomew. Specifically, this documentary follows their journey of transforming New Orleans rhythm & blues into rock 'n' roll, and shows how their music contributed to racial integration. Through archival footage and recent interviews with Dave, Fats, and surviving band members, the film illustrates the story of these two men and the other musicians who made their band among the greatest in rock 'n' roll history. “I see The Big Beat as not only the story of Fats Domino and Dave Bartholomew, but a tale of New Orleans, the city where Dave and Fats have always lived and where their music was born,” says Lauro. All-Access Passes will go on sale on September 1st ($200 for NOFS members / $250 general admission) and grant pass holders the opportunity to reserve seats for all screenings and VIP access to all parties and special events during NOFF. All-Access Passes do not guarantee admission to the Opening Night film. A limited quantity of Opening Night tickets is available only to All-Access Pass holders on a first-come first-served basis, beginning at noon CST on September 25th. Tickets and passes will be available to purchase at neworleansfilmfestival.org.
Louisiana Seafood Festival Lavinia Jones Wright bring their traveling film detailing their quest to record contemporary acoustic music on 1930s 78 rpm technology. All around the country, folk singers, punk rockers, and Gospel and Cajun singers share their lives through their intimate performances, and discover a new connection to a truly American cultural legacy. Art for Arts’ Sake Saturday, Oct 4; Noon-8 PM Various locations on Julia and Magazine Streets cacno.org/afas; Free Herald the start of the New Orleans arts season with music, wine, gallery openings, and shopping. Hundreds of galleries and shops will open their doors on Julia St., the Warehouse District, and Magazine Street: the heart of this festival. Wander from shop to shop, sip a glass of wine, and view the exquisite art, gifts, jewelry, fashion and antiques. Complimentary shuttles will run between downtown and uptown all night. Chicago Tuesday-Sunday, Oct 7 – 12 Saenger Theater, 1111 Canal St. saengernola.com; $25-90 Celebrate broadway in New Orleans, with this twice-revamped, touring production of the classic, Tony and Oscar-winning Bob Fosse musical, now coming to the Saengar! Chicago has everything that makes a Broadway musical great: a universal tale of fame, fortune, and all that jazz, one show-stopping song after another, and the most astonishing dancing you’ve ever seen.
Competition New Orleans Beard Competition Friday, Sept 26th; 9 PM One Eyed Jacks, 615 Toulouse Ave. oneeyedjacks.net; $15 Don’t miss the first annual New Orleans Beard & Mustache Championships. This hirsute event features local celebrity judges, bands, comedy, and (most importantly) the celebration of facial hair in the Crescent City. Hosted by Chris Trew, and featuring the musical stylings of The Breton Sound, come to watch or compete in categories like “Natural Mustache” (No Styling Aides), “Whiskerina” (Ladies Faux Hair), and “Beard Freestyle” (Anything Goes).
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AlbumReviews Featuring a great bistro menu. “Served from the best view on St. Charles Avenue!”
Submit your new CD releases for review to 5500 Prytania St., #133, NOLA 70115
Sunday brunch 11am-3pm, Bistro everyday till 10pm Check out our in house made charcuterie plate or our grilled chicken wrap.
Variety of nightly musical entertainment to compliment cocktails.
Please call about anksgiving & Reveillon Dinner reservations or end-of-the-year holiday receptions.
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.
Flow Tribe Alligator White Independent New Orleans-based band Flow Tribe is best described as groovy. Each song on their latest album, Alligator White, is the kind of track that’s set for repeat and designed for head bobbing. Self-described as “backbone cracking music,” Flow Tribe is a group of six talented singers and musicians who offer an impressive mix of sounds to create popular music for fans everywhere. These tracks are seriously funky and absolutely perfect for those easy-listening days – definitely the kind of band that’s ideal for New Orleans. Like so many other bands hailing from the Big Easy, Flow Tribe crafts genius tracks with an eclectic blend of funk, rock and reggae to produce tunes like “Gimme a Line,” the album opener that kicks off the CD with a soulful sound that is still stuck in my head and likely will be for awhile (and that’s a really good thing). “Back and Forth” offers a smoother mix for a mellow-sounding (yet still funky) track with rapper Kangol Slim lending his voice. “Ooh Yeah” features a Latin-based background to shake up the tracks. It’s this variety of sounds that has made the Louisiana band so established with fans going way past the Louisiana state line. Flow Tribe recently debuted their latest tracks to the faithful New Orleans crowd at popular bar and music venue Tipitina’s. The funk was born in NOLA and still has a loyal following. It’s clear that no matter the track that’s being played, if you’re listening to it then you’re also probably dancing. –Leith Tigges @LeithTigges
Better Than Ezra All Together Now The End Records The just released album, All Together Now, brings Better Than Ezra fans (dubbed “Ezralites”) together with some great new material to sing and dance to. The NOLA trio still has the classic rock/pop sound that has given them so much popularity over the years. It’s rare that I have a hard time choosing a favorite song on an album – most of the tracks held appeal as soon as the music began, and while each song is definitely different, they all
40 | October 2014 | Album Reviews
share the same undeniable catchiness. The group’s first single, “Crazy Lucky,” opens the album with a bang of a familiar yet fresh track detailing a story about unexpected love. It’d be hard not to be a fan of “The Great Unknown,” one of the album’s more mellow tracks that makes you want to go for a long drive with the top down on a breezy day. It’s clear that this group has grown into an even better band over the years, offering a solid CD that’s ultimately ideal for any occasion. While this sound might be considered “new” or “different” to some, I’d call it the same sweet familiarity that I have always loved about this NOLA group. While this album was highly anticipated and certainly a long time coming (it had been nearly six years since the group’s last CD release), fans are likely to be pleased with the eclectic sound. The fanbase is “Crazy Lucky” to get an album filled with bouncy tracks to keep us going until their next debut. –Leith Tigges
Jason Marsalis Vibes Quartet The 21st Century Trad Band Basin Street Recors I have to thank Jason Marsalis for introducing my ears to the brilliance that is the vibraphone. A clear talent, Marsalis is a NOLA native and has long been experimenting with instruments, often collaborating with fellow musicians and groups until finally taking the lead as an album star. While each track on the album uses some of the same instruments, Marsalis manages to create fresh beats for each song, giving the album a well-rounded feel and variety of music. However, if this album is one specific thing (other than good), it’s most certainly jazz. With a vibraphone, piano, drums and bass featured on each track, the quartet offers plenty of smooth tunes for listeners to enjoy. Born and raised in a New Orleans jazz family, Jason Marsalis has contributed his musical talents to the jazz audience of the Big Easy, creating a cult following that is always eager to hear new material. These tracks are relaxing and often ones you’ll find yourself snapping along to. While the vibraphone might be considered a bit of a risky attempt, Marsalis handles it with ease. Whether you’re an old fan of the vibraphone or a new listener like myself, you’re likely to enjoy the chill sounds that is Jason Marsalis Vibes Quartet: a group producing jazz sounds that the Big Easy can be proud of. –Leith Tigges
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Goatwhore Constricting Rage of the Merciless Metal Blade Records The sixth studio album from our local blackened death metallers Goatwhore is yet another example of how this band can transform; each album is a departure from the last. Before even hearing Constricting Rage… you’ll notice the cover, which has a cryptic cross-etched illustration featuring a seven-headed monster, each with a crown on its horns, snarling and drooling threateningly. It’s just a hint of the ferociousness of the music within. “Baring Teeth for Revolt” definitely has some classic metal influence, especially noticeable in the guitar riffs by Sammy Duet. “Schadenfreude,” which means receiving pleasure from another’s displeasure in German, is laden with lyrics of creating fear for someone, i.e. being their worst nightmare. Vocalist Ben Falgoust growls, “I will sever the spirit of your pride,” sending chills down your spine. This album does have a few tricks up its black sleeves. In “Heaven’s Crumbling Walls of Pity,” there are unsettling occasions of distorted, nearly imperceptible vocals meant to make you wonder if it’s all in your head; a creepy trick. “Cold Earth Consumed in Dying Flesh” starts abnormally with a forlorn and melancholy introduction that could be from a 1960s horror film, a little feedback leads into a dramatic, depressing, and slow song. Falgoust roars deeply here and harkens back to his Paralysis days with a few higher shrills. No album that this band has released sounds like the last, which has allowed the band to reach out to a growing audience. With the release of Constricting Rage… even more souls shall be condemned to fandom. –Emily Hingle @Emily_Hingle
Los Otros Los Otros Esplanade Studios New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival put a spotlight on the connections and similarities of Brazilian and New Orleans culture. This made the festival the perfect unveiling for Sam Price’s Afro-Brazilian group, Los Otros, who had just released their self-titled album. Price, who is the bandleader, is a fantastic bassist who also spearheads an Afro-Cuban group, Otra. He leads a fantastic rhythm section that separates this group from any Latin ‘knockoff’ bands. Los Otros features Price on bass (as well as on the Fender Rhodes on the tenth and final track), along with Alex Joseph Hall on drums, and ‘Conga’ Mike on percussion. The trio keeps the beats and tempos alive, making you want to dance, whether you’re hearing them at the Lagniappe Stage or listening
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to the album while cooking in your kitchen. Todd Duke plays guitar on the track “Triste,” while Billy Franklin plays guitar on the rest of the tracks, adding a “Wah” effect to the classic “Besame Mucho.” Ray Moore plays flute (as well as tenor sax on a couple of tracks), while Brent Rose supplies a soprano (as well as a tenor sax on three tracks). Eduardo Tozzatto plays the Fender Rhodes and the piano. Christina Friis supplies the vocals on the album. The eclectic mix blends perfectly for this album. The record kicks off with the up-tempo version of “Besame Mucho.” On the track “La Bailadora,” which was written by Price, the band shows their versatility. Martin Krusche sits in on tenor sax for the track, while Price is the backbone with his deep-toned bass. Billy Franklin has an elegant solo on guitar, and the whole track just bleeds something you would possibly hear at a bar on the coast of Brazil. Another highlight of the album is “Voo Ave,” which has Curtis Pierre on “Brazillian percussion.” The track has a strong rhythm backbone that makes you want to dance, as Friis chants. Los Otros provides a New Orleans reading of Afro-Brazilian music, an album that will have you dancing and wanting more in any setting. –Christopher Louis Romaguera @cromaguerawrite
One Love Brass Band Skatober in New Orleans Independent Local New Orleans brass band One Love is often described as “New Orleans meets Caribbean,” and whoever first said that was exactly right. As I listened to the happy tracks of One Love’s new album, Skatober in New Orleans, I heard reggae mixed with the traditional sounds of NOLA. It was like Bob Marley paying a visit to the Big Easy, only better, because there’s also a trumpet involved with these tunes. While brass bands are all over New Orleans, One Love offers something new and different for its listeners. Roots reggae lovers and traditional jazz fans can all have the freedom to jam and enjoy the same album thanks to One Love. Of course One Love’s version of “One Love” is definitely worth a listen, but a track that you can’t miss is the album’s opener, “A Message to Rudy,” a great take on the classic song by the Specials. The tracks are a nice change of pace to the traditional notes of many brass bands. On days when you’re stuck in New Orleans but dreaming of Jamaica, you’ve got exactly what you should listen to. One Love deserves all the love for these easy-going tracks. –Leith Tigges
WhereYat.com | October 2014 | 43
Ones
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Watch
WYAT: How did you get started in music? ATN: Honestly, I come from a BMX background. I was really involved in that scene and one year it was raining too much for me to ride. I would ride every day, multiple times. I needed something to do with all the energy I had and a buddy of mine showed me a clip of a guy programming a beat on a drum machine. He was a producer named nick tha 1da out of Washington D.C., and I contacted him and we became friends. That’s how it happened; I really got into making beats and watching footage of people using the samplers and beat machines and it went from there. WYAT: Tell me about your musical influences. ATN: I have so many. I was raised on a lot of soul and funk records, so I looked up to people like Roy Ayers and Parliament Funkadelic. And hip hop, punk rock and indie rock. My music tastes are all over the place. If I had to name a producer I’m influenced by, there’s a producer in L.A. called Battlecat and one in Germany called Jan Jelinek. WYAT: How long have you been active in the music industry? ATN: I started making music around 2007, but I didn’t take things seriously and try to make a living from it until 2010.
AF the NAYsAYeR BY CRAIG MAGRAFF, JR. PHOTOS BY MATT ST. GELAIS & SCUBA FRANK
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Amahl Abdul-Khaliq, better known in New Orleans and across the nation as AF THE NAYSAYER (that’s A-F and, yes, it’s spelled in all caps), is an up-and-coming Louisiana-based producer by way of Los Angeles who blends an eclectic sound featuring 1980s R&B, 1990s West Coast hip hop and even old-school video game soundtracks. Since graduating from McNeese State University in 2010 with a degree in communications, AF has set up shop in New Orleans and carved out a niche for himself within the music community while garnering the respect of underground masters. As “Mr. X” of the Red Bull Music Academy, AF represents New Orleans on the national stage as an ambassador and spokesman for local talent. Totally self-taught, AF proudly named his label Self-Educated Vinyl and has released his first EP, The Autodidact Instrumentals Vol. 1, and its first track, “Sunday.” WYAT: Tell me a little about yourself. AF THE NAYSAYER: I’m a producer. I started making beats in 2008 when I was in college. I was based out of Lake Charles back then. Now I’m more based out of New Orleans and split my time between here and Baton Rouge. I have my own showcase series called Dolo Jazz Suite, which is a producer showcase that travels from Houston to Birmingham and places in between. I also work with Red Bull Music Academy; I’m the ambassador for New Orleans with a position called “Mr. X,” which is a pun on expert.
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WYAT: So what goes into your creative process? ATN: It’s different every time but I do realize I have a pattern. I usually start with the chord progression or if I sample, I start with chopping a sample. Then I put in melody, then I add drums, then bass, then I kind of rinse, wash and repeat. That’s the basic skeleton of it. It starts with a melody in my head and I go from there.
ATN: I talk to people. I genuinely want to know people and befriend people. Lots of people think I'm a really nice guy. I care about the community, the music, and a lot of people like my sincerity. Money’s nice and all, but at the end of the day I think there’s more longevity in building a community. WYAT: What about musically? ATN: I always wanted to make music. Since I was in middle school I’ve been building myself up. By the time I got to making music I just picked it up really fast. I was always studying and researching, and still go back and learn more and more things. In order to create a certain sound, you have to study and know what you’re doing. Once you know what you’re doing, you can make a polished sound easier. WYAT: As a producer, who do you enjoy working with? ATN: Well, honestly, I haven’t really worked with a whole lot of people but I’m getting to a point in my career where I’m doing that a lot more. I have done some stuff with other producers but nothing too serious. I really like remixing. That’s the thing I like doing the most right now. WYAT: What about in the future? ATN: I did work with Myka 9 on Freestyle Fellowship. That was a big deal for me because I’m originally from L.A. and he’s a well-known rapper out of that area and is credited with coming up with the term “freestyle.” It was released on vinyl and got major distribution so that was cool. People I want to work with? Locals. I want to work with locals. There’s this guy in Alexandria called Zetroc, he’s really cool; the best R&B I’ve heard in a long time. There’s also another producer out of Baton Rouge, Prime8 Pimpin’; he’s someone I plan on working with in the future because he’s kind of out there in left field and I’m more structured. But we’re compatible, so it works.
People I want to work with? Locals. I want to work with locals.
WYAT: So what do you have going on right now? ATN: I just got back from a tour. I did my first nationwide tour and now I’m actually about to go out on tour again with my buddy Prism House; he’s out of Brooklyn and we start the tour on September 2 and are doing half of the U.S. I’m also releasing my very first beat tape. It’s really an EP called The Autodidact Instrumentals Vol. 1, and it’ll be out on September 2, so I’m going on tour to promote my first EP. I have more Dolo Jazz shows coming up, too. So I’m just gearing up to make more music. WYAT: You’ve been doing this for about five years. In that period, what would you say helped you to find your way so fast?
WYAT: Tell me about your video for “Sunday.” ATN: It was the very first music video I ever did. Most of the music I did was featured a lot in BMX videos, so that’s how I really got national attention. So I wanted to pay homage to my roots and the BMX community. In Austin, TX, there’s this garage where BMX riders go and ride, so the idea was for everybody to get together and ride bikes until the sun goes down. WYAT: What was your inspiration for the song? ATN: The song is from my upcoming EP. The inspiration is really just a Sunday afternoon. That’s the vibe of the song. WYAT: So what’s the future looking like? ATN: Putting out more records. I’m self-releasing my record through my label Self-Educated Vinyl, so the future is getting my stuff released on different labels. I want to tour Europe, so I’m working on that. I’m also working with this non-profit called Upbeat Academy, which is based in New Orleans and partnered with Winter Circle Productions. There, I teach at-risk youth how to make beats. The age range is 15 to 19. Working more with them and getting that program going is a priority for me: getting more equipment and kids in the building, building the New Orleans and Baton Rouge producer scene. I’m really into getting the community off the ground. WYAT: For anybody who wants to work with you or find out more about your music, where can they do that? ATN: I have a website, afthenaysayer.com, as well as my Facebook page. And I can be emailed at afthenaysayer@gmail.com. I'm pretty easy to get in contact with. WYAT: Is there anything you want to add? ATN: Well, I’d like to say thank you to Tony Skratchere and the Dolo Jazz family for always being there. @CraigMagraffJr
WhereYat.com | October 2014 | 45
Local Labels Go Viral
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BY EMILY HINGLE
Despite our long, glorious history of music, New Orleans has not had a parallel music business infrastructure; our musicians could record and have their music played at local establishments and radio stations. Small labels could move their products to cities around the nation, but we’ve never been a Mecca of the recording industry; our musicians would often leave to find stable work and, hopefully, fame in Los Angeles and New York City. But with a tumultuous recording industry and changing technology, more record labels are able to open shop here in hopes of keeping our talent local and giving them the deals they deserve.
Basin Street Records' Artist Kermit Ruffins
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The best known local label, featuring a powerhouse roster of jazz and brass musicians, is Basin Street Records. Founder Mark Samuels was working in the energy field and had no particular interest in the music business until he was directly asked about it. “Kermit Ruffins’ manager approached me in 1997 about the idea of investing in a live record. Various conversations over a year and a half led to everything from me becoming a manager or an agent to starting a record label. It was a hobby on nights and weekends. About that same time I ran into Irvin Mayfield, and he asked if I was interested in doing a record for Los Hombres Calientes, and I said sure,” says Samuels. Basin Street Records kept growing, releasing hit after hit from local bands that are now in the national eye. But the label remains locally and quality-focused. “I wasn’t really concerned with what other record labels did. I wasn’t concerned with what a record label contract looked like. I never
read a book about it. I like putting out a lot of music by a few artists rather than signing a whole bunch. If people continue to buy music, we will put out high-quality, great music. When I will stop this label is when I can give service to the artists that are on it. I expect the music that we put out will be around in 100 years well after me and my children are gone, and if I can’t make music this way, I’m not interested in making it,” states Samuels matter-of-factly. In the years since beginning the label, the music industry has changed rapidly and Basin Street Records has had to keep up with the changes. “I’ve been in this business for several years, and I challenge anybody to tell me that in a 17-year period that they’ve had more change in these years. Where we don’t have thousands of stores across the country, we have millions of stores in peoples’ pockets. It’s as easy for someone to buy Rebirth Brass Band’s latest album as it is to buy Pink Floyd’s
Dark Side of the Moon. We’ve been fortunate because we’re a small label with small overhead so we can bounce with whatever we get hit with. And we’ve done a good job of that. The important thing for music fans to do is buy music. Buy a CD, buy a download, buy an album, buy an LP. It supports the artist and it supports the label that it's on. Don’t stream it,” says Samuels. Community Records takes a different approach to free music; all of the music they represent is available for free download on their website, communityrecords.org, and for free streaming on communityrecords.bandcamp.com. Greg Rodrigue co-founded the label in 2008 beginning with a compilation album of 22 songs from bands around the country. “The original concept for the label was Total R!ot Records' JOHNNY R!OT that it was to be more of a ‘collective’ than that of a ‘record label,’ hence the name Community Records. Both Daniel Ray and I had been playing in bands together for some time, and we both attended the music industry program at Loyola University New Orleans. Starting an entity that could represent our music and the music of all of our friends seemed like the most obvious thing to do with our lives,” explains Rodrigue. Community Records sees their emphasis on free music as a gateway to bigger things. “Free downloads go a long way. We have had people from all around the world show interest in our endeavors. While we might not have an expansive international audience, it does most certainly exist. Our band, All the People, toured Brazil this past May with a band called Lisabi. Lisabi is based out of Campinas, Brazil, and they’re on Community Records. Just the other day we sent a ton of mail-order items to Singapore, and we often get mail-order requests from the UK & Canada. The free downloads really break down the barrier to entry as far as new people becoming familiar to our music. The way that we view it is that if anyone wants to get downloads for free from the internet, they can just Google search the free .zip file and find it. Why not invite people in and have them get the music directly from us? We feel that the open-door policy helps people to know that we are in this for making art and music, not solely with the goal of financial gain,” says Rodrigue. Despite the free music available online, Community Records does function as a producer of physical albums. “We will often help provide some financing to help the artist to produce physical copies of their work and after we have recouped the money that we have put in, we split the profits 50/50 from there on out. Most of the revenue we make is from the sale of online mail-order directly from our website. We do We've had people from try to get our albums in record stores where we can, but mostly we rely on people ordering vinyl, CDs, all around the world show cassette tapes, T-shirts, and such directly from us off interest in our endeavors… of our website,” says Rodrigue. Not only is the label the free downloads really progressive in their distribution of music, they’re tour van runs on waste vegetable oil which they paid for break down the barrier to using a Kickstarter campaign. entry as far as new people Milo Records does not see financial gain from becoming familiar with record or song sales as a reason to exist either and emphasizes education for their signed bands and our music.�- Greg Rodrigue, international touring. “I don’t have a studio, the office is co-founder, Community Records run out of my house, I have a day job; I’m really a link between musicians and existing music infrastructure. I connect them to studios that are going to be best for their sound, connect them to entities that press CDs at their price point, and do promotional stuff. I’m also doing a lot of work with overseas booking agents and promoters to get New Orleans musicians in Europe. The band is required to raise their own funds, but they’re not required to pay the fees that a record company would charge,” explains founder Kim Vu-Dinh. Milo Records functions more like a managerial service for a roster of mostly traditional American music bands, and Vu-Dinh books local gigs for her bands to build up their audience before releasing albums which they can tour with. “Milo Records is more about technical assistance. I’m more interested in overseas expansion of the market. I think that music that comes out of this city may be some of the best in the country, and it’s huge in the international market because New Orleans is the heart of so many types of music. Very few people know about the Louisiana Hayride, and nobody knows that this is a part of the Americana music triangle from Nashville, Memphis, and New Orleans. It’s an amazing place where you can gig in town a lot. You have a lot of people who came here because they love playing traditional-sounding music. The next step for these bands is to get them out of the country where they’ll be more appreciated. Milo musicians have a flavor of their own; they know what they like to play,” says Vu-Dinh proudly. Local label Total Riot Records also hosts some more traditional artists like Natalie Mae alongside other rollicking acts like Strange Roux, The Dapper Dandies, White Colla Crimes, Merle Swaggard and JOHNNY R!OT; the latter two of which are helmed by label founder, John Thompson. Musicians are more in control of their fate than ever, and a good label can help them increase their visibility by offering them the tools and services that can benefit them the most. Each record label functions differently for their signed bands, but all have a deep love of our local music. @Emily_Hingle
WhereYat.com | October 2014 | 47
Missions and Fixings The Revitalization of Oretha Castle Haley
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By Craig Magraff, Jr.
Traveling down Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard gives visitors and locals alike the first glimpse of the underside of a great American city. Away from the high-rises and parking meters, the glitz and the glamor. OC Haley and other streets like it are the places where the locals and semi-locals fan out into the populace, where the masses cease to be and we once again become individuals.
Photo by Kelsey Nibert
48 | October 2014 | Revitalization of Oretha Castle Haley
"Two years ago I was walking from a meeting down the boulevard, back to my car, talking to my wife on the phone, and I just started laughing,” Glen Armantrout explains with a sly smile. "She asked what I was laughing at and I said, 'Honestly, I didn’t think I’d ever see a white guy walking in Central City at 9 o’clock at night.'" Armantrout is pretty upfront about these things; he has to be. As chief executive officer of Café Reconcile, he deals with hundreds of the city’s disadvantaged youth and young adults. He explains, "We have 15,000 to 20,000 disconnected youth on the streets every day. They’re disconnected from education and employment.” Armantrout, with the help of his rapidly growing life skills certification program, has set out to challenge this reality by graduating students 120 at a time, both certified and qualified for jobs in the ever-needy hotel, restaurant and tourism industry. “You’ll find that a lot of people work in the industry as a way to get to their true passion. We tell each of our staff and students: 'This is your business. People should be coming back for you, not for our fried catfish or white beans and shrimp. No, they should be thinking, I want to see Jamal or Steve.’” Armantrout is a very impressionable guy, likable even. With his grand personality, you can see how he fits into the burgeoning OC Haley scene full of artists, educators and social entrepreneurs. But what about a scene full of pimps and drugs? “When we planted our seed here, there was nothing but prostitution and dealers,” Armantrout says proudly. "It was very much a leap of faith for us, but it was our plan: to go into the worst area of New Orleans at that time and plant a seed,
nurture it and watch it grow.” Café Reconcile opened its doors in 1997. During the infamous “murder capital” era of New Orleans in the 1990s, it served as a beacon of hope and transformation in the lives of many of the city’s youth. And it still does today in its recently updated facility. "There was a graduate who came through the program once and asked me, 'Do you know why we call it the hood? It’s because we don’t have neighbors.' I’d never looked at it like that but it’s an interesting analogy. Within the last two years we’ve worked hard to transform our community by being a good neighbor. We connect with people in the community and ask them, 'Hey, what do you need that we can do?’" Community is what David Bottner, executive director of the New Orleans Mission just down the street from Café Reconcile, hopes is the solution to a chronic problem. "Unfortunately, when people think of a homeless person, they think of a person living under that bridge. That’s the lie.” The bridge Bottner speaks of is the I-10 corridor. Each day, the New Orleans Mission, which is just a few hundred feet from that corridor, feeds, clothes and houses up to 600 people. Yet Bottner and city officials have not been able to successfully eradicate the Occupy-style encampments under the bridge. These encampments include tents, sofas and even television sets in use by homeless men and women in full view of passing cars and pedestrians. With the revitalization of OC Haley bringing increased tourism and traffic to the area, the homeless issue on Oretha Castle Haley—with the CBD just as liable with its Dryades section on the other side— seems to be the pink elephant under the bridge, if you will. But Bottner doesn’t think so. "The reality is, The Mission served 2500 unique homeless people last year,” he explains proudly. "On any given night there’s probably up to 100 people under the bridge. So the question is: where are the other 2000 or so people? We work to quickly transition many of them back into a stable environment. If we can make a real effort, I believe those people under the bridge can be served.” The Mission offers services through a variety of programs. Claire Proctor, assistant to the director, explains, "We have three programs. You can come to The Mission and stay for up to 21 days. If you’re unemployed and you don’t have a history of drug and alcohol abuse, you can qualify for our fourmonth work program and then there’s our discipleship program. It has all of the classwork and things needed to stop challenges and change lives.” In the spirit of revitalization, The Mission is not looking to be left behind and as the boulevard changes, it is very interested in changing itself as well. “Our goal is to add a day room," Bottner explains. "And take The Mission as it looks in its current state and have it look as it did in its original state, which was a furniture store. It would look beautiful as an entry point because we are the first place you see when you turn onto Oretha Castle Haley.” Other improvements include moving the point of entry from the front to the rear so there'll be no lines and, with the community’s and hopefully the city’s help, providing a safe environment that’s off the street. "We’re looking to make room for more people we may have missed,” Bottner says thoughtfully. "Those who may not want to participate in our faith-based programs but still want to get off the street.” Façade RENEW, the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority's (NORA’s) commercial business development grant program, is the lifeblood of OC Haley’s revitalization. Melissa Lee, senior adviser for commercial revitalization, explains: "The program in this current pilot phase will make a total of $1 million in one-time matching grants available to commercial property and business owners to upgrade and preserve the historic integrity of their buildings." It would seem that the growth on OC Haley is just the beginning. Façade RENEW is also targeting areas on Bayou Road and St. Claude Avenue. "We’ve also invested in the Healing Center and Broad Refresh with Whole Foods,” Jasmine Haralson, director of external affairs, adds. "Those are other projects we're proud of, and there are many more to come." On NORA moving to OC Haley, Haralson says it made sense. “We were looking to get out of the CBD. We’re in the process of building communities so we felt we should establish ourselves in one that represented more than just a business context. Without being too far a jump, OC Haley felt like the right place." When asked if the locale has resulted in any advantages over the Central Business District, she replies with a quick laugh: “Parking.” Armantrout, in his usual way, is a little more poignant. "If you look at all the business and organizations that are now lining the streets of OC Haley, it’s such a mix of culture, education, food, learning and music. It’s all about what we do here in New Orleans,” he says with a big smile, as he looks out of his office window onto the boulevard. "You have kids and older folks, mixing cultures and religions. It’s such a blend in one location; it’s almost becoming the new New Orleans.” More than anything, Bottner would like people to support The Mission and its expansion efforts. "If we can change our facade, get our day room open and get those people under that bridge off the streets—if that can help save even one convention or draw in a new business—the money we’d make the city is well beyond the $3 million we need, and we’re already halfway there.” For Bottner, it’s about numbers. "The question is: is fixing The Mission not what’s best for the community? Even if you have no compassion for helping people change their lives, the economic impact alone is attractive." As for old perceptions, Armantrout gets the last word. "I think people are watching us from a distance. They’re waiting for the time when they’re comfortable to come in. If they can push their perceptions of the past aside, drive here and take a look, they’ll see that there’s so much here and so much more coming. Come eat, learn, see a movie, have fun—all the things you always do. It’s here; come do it here." @CraigMagraffJr
WhereYat.com | October 2014 | 49
Now hiring More Projects Bring Growing Work for Hollywood South
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BY TELLE INK
Louisiana offers a unique lifestyle equipped with its own set of rules and a great variety of food and music right at your fingertips. The Wall Street Journal ranked New Orleans as the #1 Most Improved Metro in the USA; likewise, Forbes gave New Orleans the #1 ranking for “America’s Biggest Brain Magnets.” Throw in festival season, charbroiled oysters and affordable rent to sweeten the deal, and our laissez-faire way of life is appealing no matter in what industry you work. Why would anyone want to leave?
Some argue that there is a limit to the number of quality jobs available and a cap on the growth opportunities that Louisiana provides. Historically, after high school the local scholar leaves Louisiana in search of better opportunities. However, now that we have entered the digital world, we can thank modern technology for the decentralization of several industries, particularly film and television production. The ability to produce movies with a quarter of the equipment once needed and the desire to find cheaper labor shifted billions of dollars outside L.A. and New York into markets that offer savings. In case you missed the memo, Louisiana has become one of the largest markets for the film production industry, with more than 25 projects either in preproduction or currently filming – and that’s just the spring list. This is a monumental year for those of us in Louisiana who have been waiting to see the industry boom. It’s hard not to notice the increasing number of Louisiana productions grossing big at the box office, winning awards and breaking out new talent. Let’s not forget to acknowledge competitive film tax credit incentives for drawing the industry to Louisiana, countless jobs created, and a major source of income for the state. The influx of million-dollar movie productions has attracted a rising number of transplants from major markets, all in the name of the entertainment business. This is the opposite of what Louisiana is used to. Now people are pouring into the state by the thousands. Those who moved away to bigger markets are returning home to take part in the movie-making magic. Actors, crew members, directors, musicians and producers from across the world want to experience the indigenous quality of life that Louisiana supplies, one they can afford. Louisiana now has another powerful stream of income from the entertainment industry that equals revenues from tourism. According to a study by the Louisiana Film & Entertainment Association (LFEA), the Louisiana film industry has hit the billion-dollar mark and has strong growth potential, supporting 2.2 million jobs and accounting for $137 billion in total wages. The local workforce has grown to 8 to 10 crews strong, with studios like Quixote and Gold Circle Films setting up operations with plans of expansion throughout Louisiana. To continue the growth of the entertainment industry in Louisiana and establish a permanent stream of income, we need to remain competitive as a state. Our aggressive approach to attract a large share of a multibillion-dollar business through tax credit incentives positions the state to secure a permanent piece of the market and ensures long-term revenue to our economy. Despite more than $1.1 billion in sales at firms within the state, $770.6 million in household earnings for state citizens and 15,184 jobs, there are still some in legislature who disagree with the positive economic impact of the entertainment tax credit incentives and want to place tighter restraints on the total amount of tax credits claimed annually. Does it make sense to put a cap on an exponentially growing revenue stream to the state? We have to spend money to make money and the key is to spend wisely. Due to Louisiana Economic Development’s entertainment tax credit incentives, roughly $5.71 is returned to the local economy for every $1 invested by the state. As legislature is set to reevaluate film credits in 2015, we must move as one unit to urge the state to maintain its competitive stance in the entertainment industry. Essential organizations like LFEA were created to advocate the growth of the state’s entertainment industry. By educating the uninformed on how much the state profits from such
50 | October 2014 | hollywood south
investments and challenging government on proposed regulations, LFEA protects the economic development and interests of Louisiana’s film and entertainment community. LFEA’s president, Will French, describes Louisiana’s entertainment tax incentives as “shrimp nets” that keep revenue flowing in and catch talent living in the state. French also emphasizes how critical it is for the state’s long-term success to stop the migration of local talent and keep them within. An activist for the film community and a native New Orleanian, French points out that the “brain gain” trend that Louisiana is experiencing spawns from the digital movement, noting, “The editing platform is now a Mac on steroids enabling a more efficient process on location when shooting digitally. You can see it immediately on set.” In an effort to determine the effect of Louisiana’s tax credits on the growth of our labor force and businesses, LFEA created the “Brain Gain” survey. It’s geared to all who live in Louisiana and work in the entertainment industry, focusing on their decision to reside here. The survey can be found on the organization’s website at www.lfea.org, and everyone is encouraged to contribute to the study. There are three very important stages in the film business: production, marketing and distribution, the latter of which are still rooted in the major L.A./NY markets. Casting takes place where the relationships are but, as production continues to spread, it becomes more cost effective to hire locally. Now that production is more transportable and production and distribution costs are increasing, it just makes sense to film where crew labor is cheaper, saving millions in payroll. The natural progression toward the permanent presence of the entertainment industry in Louisiana continues to strengthen as more studios call New Orleans home, providing the infrastructure needed to house big-budget productions. LFEA’s finance committee chair and Gold Circle Films producer Scott Niemeyer is producing his fourth movie in Louisiana and attributes his choice of location to the state’s competitive entertainment incentives and the overall cost effectiveness of relocating operations. Qualifying for an additional 5% tax incentive by hiring in-state labor is very valuable to productions such as Niemeyer’s Pitch Perfect 2, which hires locally as much as possible to save on tickets, per diems and housing. As the demand for experienced crews increases, Niemeyer describes now as the best time for skilled labor to relocate to Louisiana and encourages locals who want to move up in the industry to seek specialized training in preparation for a busy season. @Telle_Ink
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.
Bar Tonique 820 N. Rampart St. 324-6045, bartonique.com
Immerse yourself in one of the city's finest mixology hot spots. Bar Tonique's cocktails are crafted using the freshest ingredients mixed with homemade syrups.
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.
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.
Erin Rose 811 Conti St. 522-3537, erinrosebar.com
A popular spot for locals and tourists, this bar offers some tunes from its stocked jukebox and amazing Killer Poboys in the back.
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. 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 Irish Pub is known for having the best Guinness in the Quarter, and for featuring live music every night of the week.
Masquerade at Harrah’s 228 Poydras St., 533-6000 harrahsneworleans.com
Voted #27 in Nightclub & Bar’s Magazine Top 100 Nightclubs, Masquerade is a hot spot featuring the nation’s top DJs, slots, and table games.
Mid-City Yacht Club 440 S. St. Patrick St. 483-2517
Mid-City Yacht Club is a gem amongst the plethora of Mid-City bars. Come in to enjoy a signature Bloody Mary or their house-infused vodkas.
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 heart of all the action, this gentlemen’s club features some of the most beautiful women in New Orleans.
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, ski-ball, and even mini bowling lanes. Spirits on Bourbon 615 Bourbon St., 524-6014 spiritsonbourbon.com
Spirits brings specialty drinks and fun to Bourbon Street visitors. Its featured drinks include the Resurrection and Barber Beer.
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 three-for-one shots on Wednesday nights.
Bar Guide | October 2014 | 51
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Somewhat hesitantly, I recently joined an internet dating site…again. I’d dated online before and it gave me many good stories and an ex-husband. But it’s an overwhelming, labor-intensive, often awkward and discouraging task. It’d be so much easier to simply sit back and wait for Mr. Right to ride in on a white Vespa and sweep me off my feet.
But in today’s age of social media and iPhones, internet dating has surpassed “real-world dating” as the primary way to meet a potential romantic partner. While online dating used to have a certain stigma, these days almost everyone’s doing it. Seventy-six percent of the 54.25 million singles in the U.S. have dabbled in the world of internet dating. eHarmony and Match.com are industry leaders, with approximately 15.5 and 21.6 million members, respectively. One internet dater compared online dating to a “vending machine for girlfriends.” Unfortunately, it’s not quite as simple as that. Like anything in life, you have to put in a little effort to reap the benefits, whether that happens to be a bag of Cheetos or true love. And while vending machine accidents kill twice as many people every year as shark attacks do, you’re likely to survive even the most awkward of dates. So have faith … meeting your other half online is definitely possible, and worth the effort. Statistics prove it. With one third of recent marriages having digital origins—and allegedly being happier and longerlasting unions—the odds are in your favor. Today, allowing modern technology to play matchmaker is increasingly the predominant and best option for meeting that special someone. Internet dating’s main objectives are to
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help weed out freaks and weirdos and to establish compatibility through prison-worthy interrogations. Plug in the required info (hobbies, ideal mate criteria, dream date scenarios, weird quirks and oddities) and through some sort of convoluted scientific equation of data and love, the computer spits out your “perfect match.” But composing online profiles and filling out dating site questionnaires can be a lengthy and grueling time-suck. eHarmony’s notoriously elaborate survey has 400 questions! So much for those who claim they meet people online to save time in a hectic world. Dating on the internet is like shopping on Amazon or eBay … if, that is, the books, electronics and other merchandise sent you messages like “Get at me sistah!!! We'll have din din!!!” or “What’s your name, sweetie?” You go on the internet to “shop” for mates, while simultaneously “selling” yourself as a hot commodity for the right buyer, in much the same way you’d sell your used camera or outgrown sweater. Post the prettiest photos and the most appealing descriptions to draw in potential shoppers. But you’ll also need to separate the bargains from the rip-offs in order to find the best deals. Can’t buy me love? Not so anymore. Not
only can you buy love, you may have to. Most OFFBEAT ONLINE DATING SITES dating websites cost at least $60 a month. The average relationship-seeker forks out $239 Mullet Passions: Find a man or woman with the mullet of your dreams. a year for dating site memberships, with the online dating industry raking in a total of $1.25 Vampersonals: For all those True Blood and Twilight billion annually. Love has become big business. fans out there, this site may be for you. Internet dating is as far-reaching as it is expensive. There’s something for literally Tall Friends: It can be hard to meet someone who’s taller than you when you’re already 6 ft. everyone. In addition to generalized, one-size-fits-all sites, there are “niche” sites Singles With Food Allergies: Sick of being alone that focus on particular interests or types with your food allergy? Well, now you don’t have to. of people. Everyone from nerds to farmers to women in prison is looking for love in all Zombie Passions: Even those missing some or all of their limbs can find a match. the right places. And pot smokers and even Trekkies need love, too. Furry Mate: If you like to dress up like cartoonish What’s more, internet dating is ageless. It’s animals, and would like to date someone else who not only for the young, Twitter-crazed technoshares that passion, this is for you. freaks who’d rather hide behind their computer screens than meet in person. Online dating among baby boomers has become all the rage. Sites like singleandover50.com are designed just for them. But you’ve got to kiss a lot of e-frogs before you find your online prince. One guy sent me a message that said merely “door-hinge.” Then there was the gentleman whose initial contact was a rambling, run-on, 900-word soliloquy about women from Ghana looking for green cards, being opinionated about beaches and the fact that he owns comfortable but not ridiculous cowboy boots and knows how to “cook the heck out of” shrimp, whitefish and crustaceans. All this in his very first message. I’ve met up with a handful of guys who’ve turned out to be quite nice, but the romantic chemistry was lacking and we almost instantly entered the Friend Zone. Then, after a little while of unsuccessful dating, it happened. The stars and the planets—and the bitmaps, broadband and interfaces—aligned, and I met somebody from cyberspace that I actually really liked. We hit it off on our first date, and happily dated for about a month … before he disappeared without a word. Or an email. There are no guarantees with dating, no matter how you meet. Any time people are interacting, online or off, there’s the potential for difficulties. And internet dating has certain downfalls. It lends itself to overly casual and superficial connections. Sites like Tinder encourage selecting a mate based on looks alone. In addition, there’s always the risk of online predators and creepy losers who hide behind the anonymity of the internet to prey on unsuspecting innocents. Women’s in-boxes are frequently inundated with harassing or overtly sexual messages. Discrimination on the basis of race or sexual orientation is sometimes a problem. Several sites aren’t gay-friendly. And statistics prove that racism is an online virus. Ninety-seven percent of white men refuse to date black women, while 92% of white women don’t want to date black men and 93% won’t date Asians. Though many people wouldn’t own up to this in reality, it’s easy to be biased online. Simply avoid checking the little boxes beside the races you want to exclude, and you too can secretly be a racist. Probably the biggest issue with internet dating is the tendency to exaggerate or misrepresent oneself. If you met someone the old-fashioned way in a bar, you’d have an equal risk of him lying about his income or shoe size, or hiding his mommy issues or the fact he’s married, as if you met online. But you could also instantly tell if he really is 6’3” with brown curly locks or 5’7”, chubby and balding. Not true with the internet. Since you don’t initially see someone in person, many people post inaccurate or outdated photos, lying about their age or general hotness. One study showed that 9 out of 10 people lied about at least one physical characteristic, with weight being the most common. I’ve experienced this firsthand. A while ago, I had a date with a guy I’d met online. He was an internet dating cliché, a walking embodiment of the very reason I’d been reluctant to date online again. He refused to give me his cellphone number even to facilitate a meeting (married?), then showed up in a pirate’s outfit (fetishist?) after keeping me waiting for 45 minutes (rude!) with a friend in tow (threesomes aren’t really my thing). To make matters worse, he’d completely misrepresented himself on his profile (Athletic build? Seriously? Not unless you’re a defensive lineman!). He’d lied not only about his age (by probably close to 10 years), but also about his name. His name. But why? It’s not as if his name was really Kamehameha. It was Dave. His friend slipped up and busted him on both of these fibs. And still he denied that he’d lied. We all know there are a lot of crazies out there, and plenty of them lurk on dating websites. One woman dated a man who cried every time he drank liquor. Another went out with a guy who brought his parents on their first date. A friend of mine had a great time with a new guy … until after their date, when he texted her selfies of his favorite body parts. As for the men dating online, I know guys who have been stood up, stalked and propositioned by professional escorts. But there are just as many happy endings. There are many people who, thanks to internet dating, have had some good dates, been wined and dined, ended up with long-term relationships or at the very least some memorable tales and even lived happily ever after. If you’re willing to sift through a lot of digital drivel, with a little perseverance and a fair amount of luck you too can find your cyber-soulmate.
WhereYat.com | October 2014 | 53
Notes for Now An Artful Conversation about the Search for Self By Lauren Adam
“What is the nature of the search? you ask. The search is what anyone would undertake if he were not sunk in the everydayness of his own life. To become aware of the search is to be onto something. Not to be onto something is to be in despair.” —Walker Percy, The Moviegoer
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Prospect New Orleans: Notes for Now (P.3) is the 3rd International Contemporary Art Biennial taking place in the city from October 25 – January 25. The exhibition will showcase the work of more than 50 leading and emerging local, national, and international contemporary artists of different generations working in a variety of media. Curator Franklin Sirmans of Contemporary Art at Los Angeles County Museum of Art, was inspired by the text “The Moviegoer” and site specific installations will address: The New Orleans Experience, Seeing Oneself in The Other, The South, Crime and Punishment, Movie Going, The Carnivalesque, Abstraction, Visual Sound, and All Together Now. These themes aim to explore the search for self and the subsequent importance of ‘the other’ during that journey. P.3 exhibition sites will include major cultural institutes, community, and public spaces such as Ashe Cultural Arts Center, City Park, Dillard University, The George and Leah McKenna Museum of African American Art, UNO St. Claude Art Gallery, and Xavier University. Prospect began when internationally recognized art curator Dan Cameron was visiting the city post-Katrina. Cameron, a veteran curator of biennials in cities such as Taipei and Istanbul had experienced first-hand the social and financial impact of such exhibitions. While attending a public meeting regarding the role of art and artists in rebuilding the city, he decided to launch a venture in New Orleans using seed money from philanthropist Toby Devan Lewis. Founded on the principle that art engenders social progress, Prospect.1 took place from November 2008 – Jan 2009 and attracted 42,000 visitors and $23 million in economic activity. The event continues to be facilitated by a 501c3 here in the city and is headquartered at The Arts Council of New Orleans. One of the most anticipated exhibits being featured at P.3 is A Show within A Show: Basquiat on the Bayou. The exhibit is being held at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art and will showcase the work of Jean-Michel Basquiat, drawing on his relationship with the American South. Of the pieces included is “Undiscovered Genius of the Mississippi River Delta.” The Ogden will also be hosting a lecture series and two-day symposium to discuss some of Basquiat’s overarching themes. In addition to the traditional P.3 exhibitions, a series of supplementary programs will take place around the city. P.3Reads (with NOPL) is a text based monthly lecture/discussion open to the public revolving around Director Frank Sirman’s vision and inspiration for P.3. In its pilot year, P.3Writes (with Pelican Bomb) will partner with local high schools to workshop critical writing about the
54 | October 2014 | Prospect 3
arts. The program pairs youth with working writers as they encounter professional art critics, think about the meaning of art, and learn a critic’s career trajectory. Student critiques of P.3 will be published in the local newspapers and serve as a springboard for further professional publication. P.3Rides (with Bike Easy New Orleans) will be promoting a safer biking experience throughout P.3, encouraging the access of P.3 events by bike. This program will also offer bike tours of P.3 events. Then there is the P.3+ a satellite program for emerging and established local artists in New Orleans because “Why have biennial in New Orleans if you don’t include New Orleans?” says P.3 Coordinator Grace Rennie. There will be 40 concurrent P.3+ exhibitions put on all the way from Arabi to Mid-City and the Riverbend. They will be included on the same map as the other P.3 venues so that viewers will be able to easily navigate all of the exhibits. Those interested can also find information online where there will be a slew of events going on in coinciding with each unique event. The largest piece of art ever commissioned in New Orleans will be done by P.3+ participant Joseph Konert on a wall about the size of a football field on Loyola Street at Amtrak. Joule Solar Energy has partnered Konert who is a self-taught fine artist with experience in everything from typeface, interiors, fashion, and murals. Konert has practiced art from coast to coast and enlisted friends from LA and Detroit to come work on the project. The mural will most likely be the first piece of art that people see when stepping off the train in New Orleans and is going to be lit with LED lights. A party for the unveiling will be free and open to the public Saturday, November 1 from 1 – 5 p.m. at Joule Solar Energy. “I’m really a colorist when it’s all said and done” says Konert of his endeavors. “I see things differently as far as visually and how I look at things…I come to the botanical garden [at City Park] every week. It’s my favorite place in New Orleans – I draw a lot of inspiration from nature.” There is no doubt Konert has an eye for beauty. His striking signature butterflies have graced such places as the Rfrsh Boutique at Jazz Fest and the side of The National Art & Hobby supply store Uptown. “When I’m on the right path I see butterflies. It all started one day a couple years ago…I was painting on my mother’s birthday and a butterfly landed on my spray paint can. When that happened I told my mother about it and it just felt right. You go through stages in your life, ups and downs, and the butterfly goes through a lot [too] – from a caterpillar and [metamorphosis], then it gets
wings and it gets the opportunity to fly.” The mural (deemed The Wall of 300) Uptown is dedicated to the late Marge C. Ward who has two sculptures at the Audubon Zoo. Before getting involved with Prospect, Konert was working with the BR Walls Project in Baton Rouge. The nonprofit cites public art as cultural history and helps facilitate artist/business partnerships, which results in sustainable public art installations. Additionally, the organization states that public art contributes to the quality of life and community engagement. Their mantra is: Commerce Creates ART Creates Commerce. Among other notable P.3+ participants are duo Michael Arcos and partner Marnie Ellen who are doing a video installation which will show in different hotel rooms throughout the city. The project is called D R E A M T H R O A T – an exploratory piece that challenges viewers to come into a space and experience a room that has been inhabited by an eclectic range of occupants; the room collects dreams, aggression, love, lust, and pain and will open on October 25 at Hotel Monteleone Executive Suite at 8 p.m. – 2 a.m. with showings every hour. Judy Cooper (previously employed as the photographer at NOMA), is another talent who is showcasing her photographs of the “A.I.R. Pioneers.” Cooper is interested in capturing the human condition through her photographs of people and has taken special interest in the colorful culture of New Orleans after living here for many years. Her P.3+ show will highlight the A.I.R. Gallery, founded in 1972 by women artists, for women artists. The gallery became a hub for the feminist movement in a time when galleries were primarily run by men. Today the gallery is still going strong
Artist Joseph Konert's street art display on the side of National Art & Hobby on Magazine Street and Cooper is displaying her photographs of the founders as a way to pay them tribute to their critical role as women in the art world. Cooper’s exhibit will open at the Newcomb Women’s Center on October 25. P.3’s opening weekend starts on Thursday, October 22 and extends through October 25 which includes an extravaganza on St.
Claude with food trucks, art vendors, and not only visual artists, but theater and performance. Many of the galleries in the area will be doing auxiliary openings to coincide with the event. Julia Street’s opening event is being held on October 24. To find out more about P.3 and P.3+ artists and events visit prospectneworleans.org.
WhereYat.com | October 2014 | 55
FilmReviews
Catch Where Y'at Movie Editor David Vicari and critic Fritz Esker's “Dueling Critics” blog at WhereYat.com.
As Above, so Below BY DAVID VICARI
Blair Witch Goes to Paris in this latest found-footage horror fest, which is no great shakes, but it isn't too bad either. It is definitely watchable with some haunting moments. An archaeologist (my new crush Perdita Weeks) leads a group into the catacombs beneath Paris in search of a fabled philosopher's stone. Little do they know that this maze of bones is haunted by the souls of the dead, leading to each member of the group having to confront the physical manifestation of their personal demons. It's a given in horror movies that the characters dismiss warnings and peculiar incidents along their journey, but here it's done to a laughable degree. So, there are some unintended laughs. As Above starts off slow and isn't too involving at first, but as it moves along it becomes much more gripping, leading to a tension-filled final act. Director John Erick Dowdle (Devil, Quarantine) filmed in the actual catacombs beneath Paris and that makes the film all the more effective. The catacombs are creepy and unnerved me a little with a feeling of claustrophobia. Not many horror movies are able to do that, so that is worth something.
the equalizer BY FRITZ ESKER Action movies with badass old guys have become increasingly popular since Liam Neeson scored an unexpected hit with Taken. 59-year-old Denzel Washington joins the fray in The Equalizer, an adaptation of the popular TV show of the late 1980s (sadly, original star Edward Woodward did not live long enough to cameo in this film). The result isn’t bad, just mundane. The 131-minute movie takes its time getting started, but not in a bad way as it introduces viewers to former CIA operative Robert McCall (Washington). He works at a Home Depot-style store, dispensing friendly advice to his younger co-workers, then dines alone while reading classic literature at a local diner. There, he strikes up a friendship with a teenage prostitute (Chloe Grace Moretz), who is roughed up by her pimps in the Russian mob. Naturally, he reverts to his old ways in an attempt to secure justice for his friend. So far, so good. Displaying his usual effortless movie-star charm, Washington is convincing in the setup. But once he turns into an avenging angel, the film, with the exception of the occasional witty interlude, bogs down in endless scenes of him killing Russian mobsters in increasingly creative ways. It’s almost like watching a Friday the 13th movie if Jason were the good guy and Eastern European thugs replaced horny teenagers as the recipients of over-the-top death scenes. Much like it is for horror movie bad guys, it all comes too easy for Washington’s character. With the exception of one slightly protracted fight with a henchman in the film’s ho-hum climax, he just breezes through his orgy of revenge without a setback or missing a beat. You never feel like he’s in any real danger or that the villains are any match for him. It drains the tension from the film. In 2012’s superior Jack Reacher, the then 50-year-old Tom Cruise also played a virtuous killing machine plowing through bad guys. But that film had a more consistent sense of humor, plus better plotting, plus a better villain, plus stronger supporting characters. The Equalizer puts a good actor in a promising role, then leaves him stranded. @NOLAMOVIEBUFF
56 | October 2014 | Film Reviews
the Boxtrolls BY DAVID VICARI The Boxtrolls is the newest stop-motion animated film from Laika Studios, the team responsible for Coraline and ParaNorman. While Boxtrolls, which is based on the children's novel Here Be Monsters by Alan Snow, isn't quite as good as those two previous movies, it's still entertaining. So, what are boxtrolls, exactly? Well, they are little, trash-collecting creatures who mainly come out at night from their underground lair. And they wear cardboard boxes for clothes. An evil exterminator, Archibald Snatcher (voice of Ben Kingsley), has the populace of the English village that the boxtrolls reside under convinced that the trolls are bad and need to be taken out. The truth is that these creatures are mischievous yet harmless. In fact, they have raised a human boy, named Eggs (Isaac Hempstead Wright), as one of their own. It's up to a little girl, Winnie (Elle Fanning), to figure out the mystery of why Eggs is with the boxtrolls. It's never explained why Eggs knows perfect English even though he's been living with gibberishspeaking trolls since he was a toddler. Sure, he would listen to vinyl records the trolls would find in the garbage, but still. That's just one of those things you just have to accept. The story here is fairly conventional – the underdogs against the upper-crust villains – but what gives Boxtrolls its distinction, for better or worse, is the character designs. They are pretty grotesque, especially some of the human characters. Seriously, Archibald looks much more hideous than the trolls. In fact, this may be nightmare fuel for small children, so be warned. The humor is dark but never, ever mean-spirited like in the awful Shrek films. Under all its oddness, The Boxtrolls is about love and family. The trolls love Eggs and Winnie desperately wants love from her neglectful father, Lord Portley-Rind (Jared Harris). In the end, The Boxtrolls is charming and funny if you can get past some monstrous-looking characters.
the drop BY FRITZ ESKER Released over a year after James Gandolfini’s death, The Drop is a solid sendoff for the late star of The Sopranos. The film’s protagonist is Bob (Tom Hardy), the bartender at a bar called Cousin Marv’s (Gandolfini plays Marv). Marv was a tough guy in his younger days, but the Chechen mafia moved into town and strongarmed his business from him. Now, it serves as a temporary bank (the “drop” of the title) for mobsters’ illegally obtained money. One night, two armed robbers take the cash and the Chechens want answers. While Bob is helping Marv cope with this issue, he’s also struggling with the psychotic ex-boyfriend (Matthias Schoenaerts) of his potential love interest (Noomi Rapace). The script was written by acclaimed mystery novelist Dennis Lehane, and like any good mystery novel, seemingly disparate plot threads aren’t as unrelated as they seem. The twists of the story aren’t shockers, but most of the time movies that rely on out-of-nowhere surprises make little to no sense by their conclusion. The Drop steadily builds to its climax, culminating in what would have been a terrific final line and scene…only to add one more scene after that. The coda feels tacked-on and slightly undermines what preceded it, but it’s not a backbreaking error. Hardy turns in strong work as the film’s tortured center. Gandolfini’s role is a little like a gone-toseed Tony Soprano, someone who once was respected by tough guys, but isn’t anymore and he’s still bitter about it. It may not be his signature performance (The Sopranos or last year’s Enough Said are his two best), but it’s a fine one. Fans of crime films/fiction will likely enjoy The Drop, a nice transition from the blockbusters/reboots of summer to the meatier fare of the fall.
WhereYat.com | October 2014 | 57
TA L E S z QUARTER
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BY DEBBIE LINDSEY
Affordable dreams
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I love loving New Orleans. Belonging to a place unlike any other makes me feel unique. And even when that uniqueness is shared by so many and might make for a situation of conformity—it doesn’t—somehow belonging to the Who Dat Nation isn’t quite like “keeping up with the Joneses”. You can always tell when someone doesn’t quite get us. Like the time I asked an out-of-towner what he thought of our city and he answered in a slow and measured voice that strained for politeness, “It’s different.” To which I replied, “Yes indeed; we’re weirder than dirt and proud of it!” Delightfully different, however, this is not the Big Easy. There is nothing easy about her. The dysfunctions abound. The fool who governs Louisiana needs a swift kick and a moral compass that doesn’t just point to an unattainable seat in the White House. (Talk about delusions of grandeur.) All too often our City’s keepers are no more than a headline embarrassment. Programs with real potential seem to get relegated to the highest bidder and not to the highest standard. Crime—street level and governmental—is an entire column for another time. Threats of volatile weather are the standard. And our heat burns the sweat off you as quickly as it produces it. Then, god almighty, on top of all this and more, we have mosquitoes big enough to take down an elephant—that’s if we haven’t eaten Dumbo first. So, life’s not always a walk in the park but she’s our park, our home, our town. I simply cannot imagine living elsewhere. However, New Orleans is on the verge of becoming “elsewhere”. Oh, it won’t happen overnight, but give it a handful of years and I suspect most of us will no longer be able to afford ever-soaring rents and home prices. And we will be a loss for our City. Just look at the Quarter and the dramatic changes there in terms of resident profile and cost of rents. The working class has been relocated by economics. Waiters, bartenders, musicians, artists, writers and a host of characters have made the Quarter their home for decades. And in doing so have kept it real and not some Disney facsimile of uniqueness. These are the people who shop, do laundry, vote, lend their voices and concerns to community needs. They have been the personality, verve, funk, and guardians of this neighborhood. They are the ones who truly keep the tourists and their money wanting to return year after year.
58 | October 2014 | tales from the Quarter
But just in the past twenty years I have seen the types of amenities that sustain a neighborhood vanish. The few remaining service-our-needs businesses are hanging on by a thread and more often now one must drive to the suburbs to shop or tend to medical care or home repair. Corporations are steadily replacing family-owned businesses and dwellings. As more condos and extreme rents move in more locals move out. I have many friends who “live” here occasionally and they do care about our City and the Quarter but they are not eligible to vote and their feed to our tax base is limited. This is not solely a French Quarter issue. At large, this City’s working class is being shoved out. And much of our working class is working poor. As too many of us know, you can work six, seven days a week, and still barely make ends meet. New Orleans has never been known for an abundance of high-paying jobs but it has always been home to affordable rents and lifestyle. Well, that’s beginning to change. I’m not an economist but it doesn’t take a business degree to observe how a medical complex the size and shape of the one overpowering Mid-City is affecting, already has affected, the property values (just as post-Katrina caused a supply and demand and the asking prices went up as a result). Certainly homeowners are thrilled (I get that). However, those awaiting their first-time purchase might find homeownership out of their reach. And those renters wishing to move to or remain in this area are now facing $1,200.00 to $2,000.00 per month for the same shotgun cottage that listed for affordable a year or so ago. Many rents have doubled. When did locals get a collective pay raise? Did the minimum wage just increase? The backbone of this City is powered and enhanced by the laborers and the talented, the cooks and Indian chiefs, teachers and preachers. Last time I checked most ain’t makin’ bank. Come on, the folks, the working stiffs, the characters that make this town unique cannot afford to live here much longer. I welcome the influx of fresh ideas, idealism and puppy love that so many of our newcomers bring with them. But they unwittingly have caused much of the rent increases. Face it, when someone relocates from New York or Boston and has been paying several grand a month for a small apartment they have no problem with twelve hundred for a spacious place. What is the answer? Rent control—but that won’t happen. So it is up the landlords not to milk this supposed gravy train of new pocketbooks and rein in the rents. It can be done. Raise rents as needed but without exploitation. My landlord has all but refused to raise our rent; not sure why but I am so grateful I rejoice each time I pay it. Will I stay and continue to be the best tenant he could ever wish for? Damn straight. But what of the other landlords? Will the recently posted FOR RENT sign around the corner with its asking price of $2,300 (better include a hand-job) trigger visions of sugar plums and dollar signs? Will they slap granite counter tops and prefab Jacuzzi-tubs from Loews into our shotgun houses and say adieu to you and you and you?
PO-BOY VIEWS BY PHIL LAMANCUSA
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THIS: Anthropomorphic: The attribution of a human form, human characteristics or human behavior to nonhuman things. PLUS: Metaphor: Figures of speech or symbolism that does not literally represent real things; implicit comparisons. EQUALS: Anthropometaphoric. We bipeds are forever anthropo-metaphorizing our and others’ attributes: hold your horses, you old polecat—you’re as crazy as a loon, blind as a bat, stubborn as a mule and mean as a snake. Just for starters. Sly as a fox, slippery as an eel, brave as a lion and happy as a clam. Quick like a bunny, breeding like rabbits, pregnant as a goat, slow as a tortoise and as happy as a pig in mud. Well, I’ll be a monkey’s uncle if you’ve been workin’ like a dog; you need to go take a cat nap. I smell a rat, be quiet as a mouse, we don’t want to come off cocksure, like some dumbass. “She was the roughest, toughest frail; but Minnie had a heart as big as a whale (hi-dee-ho).” Don’t try to pull the wool over my eyes. (We shan’t go into the different ways we describe our sex lives—we’ll just not go there …
Anthropometaphorisms or sugar Pie honey Bunch fun as it might be.) We’re as strong as an ox/bull, as weak as kittens and can swim like fish, and the world is our oyster. Our hackles are up. We’ve had our shoulder to the wheel, nose to the grindstone and panties in a wad, and we’re up to our asses in alligators. We’ve gone bananas, laughing like hyenas, crying crocodile tears; we’ve been busy as bees and mad as hornets. We’re either swimming against the tide or up a creek without a paddle, cornered like rats; they’ve got us up against the ropes and the shoe is on the other foot (waiting for the other shoe to drop). It’s like banging your head against a wall; whaddya want, blood? Don’t give me the third degree, don’t make a federal case out of it; get off my back!!! She eats like a bird. Make hay while the sun shines; grab the brass ring, scream like banshees and fight like demons or the devil to keep your head above water. Well, whaddya want, an egg in yer beer? You’re as drunk as a skunk, as high as a kite; quit horsing around, you clown. Come down from that ivory tower or pick up your marbles and go home. Fish or cut bait; jump into the fire. “Like an eagle protects its nest, for you I’ll do my best; stand by you like a tree, dare anybody to try and move me.” Sweet as Tupelo honey, butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth, swears like a sailor, drinks like a fish, squirrels away money, industrious as an ant, come up for air … Take a hike! She’s the bee’s knees, flat as a pancake, has legs from hell to breakfast; damn straight! Full as a tick, one olive short of a Greek salad, dumb as a sack of hammers. Can I get fries with that shake? Cat got your tongue? Hen-pecked, take a powder, pull a Houdini, don’t get caught with your pants down, like a bump on a log. Pigeon toed, bowlegged, salt of the earth, hot as a two dollar pistol or firecracker, mad as a hatter, pure as the driven snow, honest as the day is long. “She walks, she talks; she crawls on her belly like a reptile” … Hmm, hard as a rock. Nutty as a fruitcake, queer as a three-dollar bill with a heart as black as the ace of spades. Like a fly in a spider’s web, trophy wife, pond scum, a
real honey or eye candy. Like a chicken with its head cut off. Cat on a hot tin roof. Fly in/on the ointment/wall. We have the patience of a saint, cocoon or “nest” with our families, sequester ourselves like a gopher or badger, draw into ourselves like a turtle or put our head in the sand like an ostrich. “I am a rock, I am an island.” Straight ahead and steady as Gibraltar. Put her on a pedestal, pretty as a daisy, on her like a cheap suit, off like dirty underwear, mad as a wet hen. Balls of a brass monkey, cackling like geese; hen party. “SAY CHEESE!!!” We’re green with envy, yellow cowards (yellow-bellied sapsucker; chicken); we see red when we’re overtly angry and purple when we suck that anger up. My mood is black or I’m tangled up in blue. I may be having a gray day and orange you glad to see me? (Kidding.) … “You ain’t been
We bipeds are forever anthropometaphorizing our and others’ attributes. blue, till you’ve had that mood indigo.” Pucker up, buttercup. Till then, penguin. What’s your number, sweet cucumber? “Don’t want my peaches? Don’t shake my tree!” Sweet as cherry pie; my boy Lollipop. Give Mama some sugar; give Daddy some of that sweet Jelly Roll. Like a lamb to the slaughter. Healthy as a horse, crooked as a snake, forked tongue, Indian giver, beating around the bush, doormat, wet blanket, all-day sucker. It’s dog eat dog in that rat race, big fish eating little’ns. Top dog; bottom feeder. Packed like sardines, ugly duckling, frog prince, cow eyes, cat eyes, bedroom eyes, like a deer in the headlights. Shrinking violet, poison ivy, swat you like a fly. “I’ll hit you so hard, your head will ring like a ten-penny nail hit with a greasy ball-peen hammer!” Skinny as a rail, toothpick, string bean; thick as thieves, slow as molasses, dead as a doornail, done to a turn, it’s down to the wire. There’s more but, hey, that’s my two cents: say goodnight, Gracie. “Goodnight Gracie.”
Po-Boy Views | October 2014 | 59
Chat NIKKI REYES with
444 St. Charles Ave. Inside the Intercontinental Hotel
<< Stephen Mackey
<< Vanessa Bolano
Outlets Manager, Pete’s Pub
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Bartender, Pete’s Pub
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News Anchor/Reporter, WGNO 26
More seasonal menus. Nobody. I'd like the restaurant to invite me back. Scotch. My feet. They're always moving. My mind. It works.
<< Pedro Ferrer
More tapas. I think he knows who he is. Family. My hands. Loyalty.
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More lighting, which includes ambiance. Let the good times roll. My son, Sidney Torres IV. My one kidney. My brother-in-law has my other one. Eyes — my eyes. They see through you.
More outdoor seating. I plead the Fifth. They will know when they come to the door. Candles and bubble baths. Above and beneath my arms. My personality.
2. 3. 4.
It's our Fall Restaurant Guide. What do you wish most restaurants would do more/less of? Your favorite restaurant asks you to run it for a day. Whom would you turn away at the door? It's Anba Dlo Halloween Festival, an annual celebration of water, at New Orleans Healing Center on Oct. 18. What keeps your head above water? Ahh, cool weather. When you're in cool weather, what part of your body remains warm? What’s sexy about you?
<< Joey Collura
Realtor, Keller Williams
Owner, Art Janitorial Services
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1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
More Oktoberfest parties with breasts and skirts. My ex-roommate. Friends and family. I don't get cold. My smile connected with my dimples. Sure.
<< Allison Gorlin
<< Hailey Anderson
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
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Singer, Missy Meatlocker More simplified and less froo-froo. Ebola. Knowing that we, New Orleans, will always survive. My feet. Always in flip-flops. Being with my boyfriend and knowing he adores me.
<< Mike Phillips
Project Management, IT
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Ease of access. Turn all away except those invited to my private party. Thirty degrees north. Ninety degrees west. My stomach due to vodka. The twinkle in my eyes.
60 | October 2014 | Where Y'at Chat
The Nikki Reyes Show Thurs., 5 p.m. – WGSO 990am
Where Y’at Chat Questions:
5.
<< Earline Torres
The all new Pete’s, at the Hotel Intercontinental, serves breakfast, lunch and small plates for dinner. Sample locally influenced specialties like Garlicky Drunken Shrimp and the Cochon Demilune; or indulge with the Bistro Burger, finished with Nueske's bacon and bourbon jam. Paired with drink selections from the city's favorite bartenders, Pete's will surely create a special place in your heart. Join us for lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and don't forget happy hour, starting weekdays at 4:30p.m.
^^Cynthia Hanemann Physician, Nikki’s Aunt
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
More amuse-bouche. Rude people. Be nice or leave. Physical exercise. Mind and body rule. My neck because I like to wear a scarf. My rapier wit.
Hostess, Pete’s Pub
So far, so good. No one. The restaurant would be fun. Positive attitude. Nothing. I’m from Utah. I’m cold always. My confidence.
<< Carolyn Darcé
Legal Assistant, Porteous, Hainkel & Johnson Law
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
More of amuse-bouche. No one. My friends. My heart. I love the first cool breezes of fall. The way I flirt.
WhereYat.com | October 2014 | 61
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62 | October 2014 | Where Ya' Been?
Where Ya' Been?
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Beautiful Mermaids enjoyed the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas’ Scales & Ales.
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Dickie Brennan Jr. enjoys the Grass-Fed Beef Picnic at his steakhouse with his dad.
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Vincent Maenza, Debbie Cuccia, and Michael Maenza celebrated the kick-off of “Restaurant Week” at the Chicory.
at Scales & Ales. Phil and Brandy Jones with Southern Eagle’s Jerry Peters and Nina Camacho enjoy the LRA’s “Restaurant Week” Kick-off Party.
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Mizado Cocina’s Greg Reggio enjoys Scales & Ales.
10. Michelle Dunnick and Meghan Balser of Tales of the Cocktail enjoy the Grass-Fed Beef Picnic at Dickie Brennan’s Steakhouse with the Pelican’s Fred Ruckert.
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Tulane revelers celebrated the opening of Yulman Stadium.
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Mexican Wrestlers were a part of the Midsummer Mardi Gras madness.
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Whistle Monster Leroy Mitchell brings up the rear at the Krewe of Oak's Midsummer Mardi Gras.
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Kayuyum Koban and Casey Dietz enjoy the party
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