St. Charles Avenue August 2023

SOCIETY • CELEBRATION • STYLE

Associate Publisher Kate Henry

EDITORIAL

Editor Andy Myer

Art Director Ali Sullivan

Web Editor Kelly Massicot Shop Talk Blogger Penn Iarocci Penn@myneworleans.com

Event Photo Coordinator Jeff Strout

Contributing Writers Jyl Benson, Rebecca Friedman, Amy Gabriel, Megan Holt, Lindsay Mack, Seale Paterson, Sue Strachan, Jenny Vorhoff and Melanie Warner Spencer

ADVERTISING & MARKETING

Vice President of Sales & Marketing Kate Henry Kate@myneworleans.com or 504-830-7216

Account Director Meggie Schmidt

Senior Account Executives Brooke Genusa, Rachel Webber, Erin Chiartano

Marketing Manager Greer Stewart

PRODUCTION

Digital Director Rosa Balaguer Arostegui

Senior Designer Meghan Rooney

Designer Ashley Pemberton

CIRCULATION

Subscriptions Jessica Armand

Distribution John Holzer

ADMINISTRATION

Office Manager Mallary Wolfe

Chief Executive Officer Todd Matherne

For subscription information call (504) 828-1380

A Publication of Renaissance Publishing, LLC 110 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Suite 123 Metairie, LA 70005 (504) 828-1380 MyNewOrleans.com

St. Charles Avenue is published monthly by Renaissance Publishing, LLC, 110 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Suite 123, Metairie, LA 70005, (504) 828-1380. Subscription rate: one year $24, no foreign subscriptions. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to St. Charles Avenue, 110 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Suite 123, Metairie, LA 70005. Copyright © 2023 by Renaissance Publishing, LLC. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the consent of the publisher. The trademark St. Charles Avenue is registered. St. Charles Avenue is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, photos and artwork even if accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope. The opinions expressed in St. Charles Avenue are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of the magazine managers or owners.

Late Summer Delights

We had a lot of fun pulling this issue together. Inside you will find two beautiful and inspiring local weddings as well as advice from industry insiders on planning a more intimate celebration. While many find it overwhelming taking on a large ceremony, fine-tuning a smaller-scale event can be just as difficult, with a lot of decisions falling on the couple and their families. Have no fear, we bring you advice to keep in mind if you’ve decided to go the close friends and family route.

It has been really exciting to discover all of the amazing cultural performances coming to town this season. Rebecca Friedman has compiled an incredible collection of what to look forward to in the coming months. From major Broadway hits to the ballet and so much more, you will want to be sure to use this guide as a reference when you’re planning your calendar. There is so much to look forward to!

Late summer is also the season of fresh figs in Louisiana. In this month’s Eat + Drink we’re celebrating the fine fruit (one of the earliest to have been cultivated by humans as a food source) with a delicious recipe and wine pairing. The simple treat will make figs shine in their prime.

'Tis the season for keeping the oven off it at all possible. With that in mind, for this month’s How to Host we’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite local take out options that work great for groups.

And while we’re on the subject of culinary delights, for our August Wellness column Melanie Warner Spencer spoke with registered dietician Molly Kimball, RD, CSSD to discuss gut health and the latest science on beneficial bacteria. It’s a fascinating read, with an extended version of the interview available on Kimball’s July 27 episode of the FUELED Wellness + Nutrition podcast.

Next month we will bring you another registry of charitable events. If you have an event you would like to submit please be sure to visit our website and use the submission form to send us the details.

Here’s to a wonderful last month of summer. Cheers!

On the Cover

Katherine Anne Cochran and Ethan Gordon Bickford on thier wedding day. For more wedding inspiration, including sage advice from local experts, head to page 24.

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5 Fidelity Bank White Linen Night

This much-loved annual event returns on Saturday, August 5, from 5-10 p.m. Beat the heat in white linen and explore the exhibitions on display at the Warehouse Art District’s 20-plus contemporary art galleries as well as the Contemporary Arts Center (CAC) and the Ogden Museum of Southern Art. 300-600 Julia St. and surrounding area, artsdistrictneworleans.com

AUGUST

1-31

Museum Month

Participating museums, neworleans.com/museummonth/

2

Jazz Foundation of New Orleans Presents: Storyville Stompers New Orleans Jazz Museum, 400 Esplanade Ave., 504-568-6993, nolajazzmuseum.org

3-6

New Orleans Antiques

Forum 2023: Music to My

Eyes: Material Culture of Southern Sound Williams Research Center, 410 Chartres St., 504-5987146, hnoc.org

3-6, 10-13 Tennessee Williams Theatre Company presents “Sweet Bird of Youth”

Marigny Opera House, 725 St. Ferdinand St., 504-948-9998, marignyoperahouse.org

4

O First Friday Free Admission for College Students

Ogden Museum of Southern Art, 925 Camp St., 504-539-9650, ogdenmuseum.org

4

Free Fridays featuring Brass-A-Holics and Noah Young Band Tipitina’s, 501 Napoleon Ave., 504-895-8477, tipitinas.com

5-6 Satchmo Summerfest

New Orleans Jazz Museum, 400 Esplanade Ave., satchmosummerfest.org

12

Arts Market Goldring/Woldenberg Great Lawn at City Park, 8 Victory Ave., artsneworleans.org

12

Dirty Linen Night Royal Street Arts District, dirtylinen.org

17

Lyle Lovett and His Large Band

The Orpheum Theater, 129 Roosevelt Way, 504-2744871, orpheumnola.net

18 Counting Crows with Dashboard Confessional Saenger Theatre, 1111 Canal St., 504-525-1052, saengernola.com

25

Book Club Discussion: 1000 Years of Joys and Sorrows: A Memoir New Orleans Museum of Art, One Collins C. Diboll Circle, City Park, 504-6584100, noma.org

25 Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons Saenger Theatre, 1111 Canal St., 504-525-1052, saengernola.com

26

The Black Jacket Symphony Presents Eagles’ Hotel California Jefferson Performing Arts Center, 6400 Airline Dr., 504-885-2000, jpas.org

September ______________

7

Anthony Jeselnik: Bones and All

Mahalia Jackson Theater, 1419 Basin St., 504-287-0351, mahaliajacksontheater.com

20

Drake and 21 Savage Smoothie King Center, 1501 Dave Dixon Dr., 504-587-3663, smoothiekingcenter.com

From the Big Easy to the Big Apple

After 15 plus years as a New Orleans-based artist, Ashley Longshore is headed to the Big Apple to sow her wild, glittered oats. It’s a loss for New Orleans of course. We’ll miss her flamboyant Magazine Street gallery, proudly displaying rotating tongue in cheek mantras via window decals. Still, she plans to keep New Orleans in her stratosphere even as she boards a rocket towards otherworldly success. We had a chance to chat with her briefly about her relocation and what’s up next.

Tell us about your decision to move your showroom from New Orleans to New York City? I have always dreamed of having a gallery in SOHO. For 30 years and four months I have worked towards this. I love New Orleans very much, but I have to carpe diem. We have gotten through a pandemic and now more than ever we all know the power of NOW… we gotta go for it!

How will the new studio be different? The new showroom will be a place for not just my work, but a place for me to showcase the creatives I love so much. My musical theatre scholarship winners, the photographers, drag queens, artists/creatives from SCAD, poets, performance art... all nestled on a thriving iconic street flooded with people from all over the world. It is going to be so much fun!!!!! It’s a DREAM! Crosby Street has always been my dream!!!

Any favorite memories/experiences of living in or having a gallery in the Big Easy? There are countless memories. Mardi Gras dancing and partying for weeks on end in front of the studio, meeting new collectors, helping so many local organizations like Amy’s Art Cart, the ADL, Second Harvest... working with the film industry. At one point having that gallery on Magazine was my biggest dream. It was all a dream come true! And then my insatiable thirst for NYC consumed me. I hope to maybe open a spot in the French quarter in a couple of years. We will see how things go.

Will you maintain a connection with NOLA? Yes. I will still have my studio team in Nola so I am NOT DONE… They just will no longer have to run a showroom too. It’s exciting. Change is good and fortune favors the bold! I love New Orleans, nothing can change that! Ever!

You are such an outspoken proponent of strong women. Which women are you inspired by right now? There are so many, and this series of women I am painting for my ROAR! Collection will continue until I no longer have breath in my body. I am obsessed with Nadia Murad, Lily Ledbetter, Fern Mallis, Diane Warren and Haley Arceneaux. Look them up, read their stories. It is how they overcame their hardships that inspires me! So much! I love them!

Our readers are avid philanthropists; can you tell us about The Ashley Longshore Charitable Trust? Yes, It is an unrestricted award for excellence in the arts that I have been presenting for two years with the Young Arts Organization. They have the most incredible emerging talent that needs to be supported. This is the future of art!!! It is truly the greatest part of my career to be able to give unrestricted awards so that these artists can thrive! My first winner was Blaine Krauss; he is so brilliant and such an unforgettable performer! And this year the award went to Daveed Baptiste, a remarkable young photographer. Look them up. I just want people to immerse themselves in art that they love. That relationship between artist and patron is such a special one. It is like magic when you find art that moves your soul. Could be a photo, could be a performance, could be a plate of food, a painting, a song. Artists are so special. We must protect them and SUPPORT THEM!!!

Meet Penn, Shop Talk Blogger

Penn larocci is a born and raised New Orleanian. After graduating from Tulane University she lived in NYC for nine years working in sales and marketing at an investment bank. When she missed New Orleans more than she could stand, she moved back home, met her husband and started a family. She's now raising two rambunctious little boys and spending her free time on environmental sustainability projects.

Hungry?

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A collection of 50 traditional and contemporary recipes by Stanley Dry — Louisiana Life “Kitchen Gourmet” columnist, former senior editor of Food & Wine magazine and accomplished cook — top-notch ingredients are paired with fresh seafood to create delectable dishes imbued with the author’s signature simplicity. The easy-to-follow recipes emphasize Louisiana seafood and quality, local ingredients. Inspired, innovative and delicious, the seafood dishes in this collection are sure to become favorites in your kitchen.

Visit LouisianaSeafoodCookbook.com to order yours today!

That’s Amore

Having a little FOMO with your friend’s Instagram vacation photos of Italy? Get a taste of Italy here in New Orleans at Summer Dinner Series at Gianna (700 Magazine St.), which in August will take restaurant-goers to Sardinia. “I’m really excited to dive back into Italy’s ‘other’ island,” says Chef Jared Holder. “It has a really rich, unique and underappreciated culinary history and culture.” The special dinner is on Aug. 30. (Note: There is a Mushrooms & Piedmont dinner on Sept. 27.) giannarestaurant.com; Instagram: @giannarestaurant

Louisiana Art Celebration

Considered one of the most exciting and highly anticipated exhibitions, the annual Louisiana Contemporary presented by the Helis Foundation opens at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art (925 Camp St.) on Aug. 5 during Fidelity Bank White Linen Night. This juried art show, which was founded in 2012, highlights contemporary Louisiana artists with this year featuring 45 works by 31 artists who were selected from a total of 790 submissions. The exhibition is on view through Feb. 18, 2024. ogdenmuseum.org; Instagram @Ogdenmuseum

PICTURED: SRĐAN LONČAR, TRAUMA MODEL #2 (HURRICANE KATRINA), 2023 INKJET PRINT ON BRASS, VALUE: $3,000

Free Fridays at Tip’s

The Free Friday Concert series at Tipitina’s (501 Napoleon Ave.) is harmonically winding down the summer with: Aug. 4: Brass-A-Holics; Aug. 11: Honey Island Swamp Band; Aug. 18: Billy Iuso; Aug. 25: Raw Deal: A Tribute to Earth, Wind and Fire and Sep 1: Naughty Professor.

Sponsored by Crescent Canna, BeatBox and Skyy Vodka, this popular series has been taking place since 2007. Doors open at 8 p.m., shows at 9 p.m. and are age 21 plus.

Cochon King BBQ food truck will be there to sate your culinary cravings. tipitinas.com; Instagram: @tipitinas – By Sue

Satchmo SummerFest Sizzles

If it’s hot weather combined with hot jazz, it must be time for Satchmo SummerFest, presented by French Quarter Festivals and the New Orleans Tourism and Culture Fund. Held Aug. 5 and 6 at the New Orleans Jazz Museum at the Old U.S. Mint (400 Esplanade Ave.), the festival — which is free this year —celebrates the legacy of New Orleans native Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong. Traditional jazz, swing, funk R&B, jazz fusion, brass and marching bands will perform, and among the 30 musicians are Tuba Skinny, Kermit Ruffins and Charmaine Neville. There will also be speakers and panels, as well as selection of food and beverages. satchmosummerfest.org;

Instagram: @Fqfest

PICTURED: AL "CARNIVAL TIME" JOHNSON AND CINNAMON BLACK WITH THE TREME MILLION DOLLAR BABY DOLLS

Fitness Reconsidered

If your fitness routine is in a funk, The Fitness Lab at Spyre Center (1772 Prytania St.) can reinvigorate it. Taught by Claiborne Davis, every class is different, but all have the underlying theme of refining the body-mind interface. The class is a lab of movement experiments devised to improve your strength, mobility, agility, balance, endurance, proprioception, soft tissue pliability and respiratory conditioning. The class is Monday, 5 p.m.-5:50 p.m. and Tuesday, 11 a.m.-11:50 a.m., and is while it is an intermediate/advanced class, the intensity can be adjusted. spyrecenter.com; Instagram: @spyre_nola

SHELL CHIC

Add ambience to an alfresco picnic by incorporating natural oyster shell candles to the setting. Each covered glass candle from Mud Pie features a coastal scented wax to evoke the sense of a seaside escape. Phina, 425 Harrison Ave., 504-571-5169; 2561 Metairie Rd., 504-827-1605; 3717 Veterans Blvd., 504-888-4141, phinashop.com.

Swish into the end of summer in an oyster beach skirt from Billy Reid. Cut from luxe and lightweight cotton silk, the brand’s hand-painted oyster design artfully repeats on the elegantly tiered skirt. 3927 Magazine St., 504208-1200, billyreid.com.

Shuck in an embroidered canvas apron from Whereable Art (shopwhereableart.com). Crafted from durable canvas fabric, each apron features adjustable straps, three pockets, as well as a convenient loop to hold your knife. The embroidered oyster detail at the top is the pearl of this handsome design. Little Miss Muffin, 766 Harrison Ave., 504-482-8200, littlemissmuffin.com. PHOTO CREDIT: STROUT PHOTOGRAPHY

You wear your heart on your sleeve but your cravings around your neck. For the half-shell lover in your life, gift a delicate oyster peekaboo pearl pendant in sterling silver and freshwater pearl. Jose Balli, 3138 Magazine St., 504371-5533; 621 Chartres St., 504-5221770; 800 Metairie Rd., 504-832-8990; joseballi.com.

Pack all your necessities in a folded clutch from the Zydeco & Jazz collection from Ashley Lasseigne Designs (ashleylasseignedesigns.bigcartel.com). Doubling as a crossbody with the attached gold chain, each purse is handmade with linen cotton fabric and 100% genuine leather details. Home Malone, 4610 Magazine St., 504-766-6148; 629 N. Carrollton Ave., 504-324-8352, homemalonenola.com.

Every Room Tells a Story

Blair Price, Owner and Designer, Blair C. Price Petit Atelier

Designer Blair Price approaches her work with an eye to history. For Price, each project offers an opportunity to draw stories from the city’s historic homes and reflect them in designs that often hint at her own family lineage, which includes Creole roots on the maternal side tracing back to an early nineteenth century French Quarter lacemaker. “I feel like I’m always pulling from some memory of a rice bed and chenille bedspreads,” said Price. “All these little tidbits from Creole – it feels like home when I’m bringing them into a space.”

Price found her design instincts early, leafing through her mother’s ever-present stack of shelter magazines or visiting her father at work in the French Quarter at Hurwitz Mintz Furniture (with a requisite beignet stop). She experimented with art and printmaking then studied graphic design at Loyola, where she immersed herself in textiles and patterns. “I used to do linoleum block prints on contact paper and faux tile our dorm bathroom,” recalled Price. “I have never really been able to sit still with it.”

That energy led her to an associate degree in interior design, followed by experience with Julie Neill Designs and Ethan Allen, where she served as an interior design consultant, helping clients create custom pieces and gaining valuable skills in the process. “I started thinking, ‘Wow, it would be really cool to be able to do this completely on my own and incorporate that quirky vintage chair and all these different accessories that weren’t in the catalog,’” said Price. When the store closed in 2019, she decided to start her business.

Price finds inspiration through travels ranging from Havana to Europe, seeking out textiles, architecture, and antiques and ferrying home flea market finds in her hard-sided suitcase. She weaves these treasures into eclectic interiors that meld past and present – and, whether through a vibrant red kitchen or eye-catching wallpaper – tell their own tales.

“Working within these houses that are so ancient and have so many stories, it’s all about pulling out their best features,” said Price. “Just knowing how people used to use those spaces inspires me to play off that.” –

Contact: blairprice.com

IT’S ABOUT TIME

Cartier Ladies Tank Francaise with diamond bezel set with 24 diamonds. Black Roman numerals, sword shaped blued steel hands and a secret Cartier signature at 10 o’clock make this timepiece a conversation starter. Wellington & Co. Fine Jewelry, 505 Royal St., 504-525-4855, store.wcjewelry.com.

Color lovers will be in high spirits to keep time with a Daybreak watch in Ivy from laCalifornienne. A rose gold-plated steel case, matte forest green dial and glossy pink colored baton-shaped hands are elevated by a band made of hand-painted natural vegetable tanned leather. Pilot & Powell, 3901 Magazine St., 504-827-1727, pilotandpowell.com.

Add around the clock sparkle when relying on an Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra 150M co-axial master chronometer. The watch features a white mother-of-pearl dial and 11 diamond indexes in 18K Sedna™ gold holders. Boudreaux’s Jewelers, 701 Metairie Rd., 504-831-2602, boudreauxsjewelers.com.

The chocolate brown TUDOR Royal 28 is the epitome of cacao chic. The watch is comprised of stylish elements like notched bezel in yellow gold, alternating cut grooves and polished finish and an integrated bracelet in steel and yellow gold. Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry, Causeway Boulevard at Lakeside Shopping Center, 3020 N. Causeway Blvd., 504-832-0000, lmfj.com.

Bayou born and Swiss made, the Louisiana brand behind the Rue Canal watch designed it as a nod to the clock on the 800 block of Canal Street. Striking specifics include a velvet-finished printed cream dial, a sapphire display caseback and an Italian leather strap finished with a custom-designed “fleurde-lis” inspired tang buckle. Bourbon Watch Company, bourbon watchcompany.com.

Keep it casual yet fashionable with a Michele 36mm stainless steel rose gold plated deco sport with a pink rubber strap. Lovely details include a rose golden reflector bezel, white sunray dial with luminescent baton time markers and a thorn buckle. Aucoin Hart Jewelers, 1525 Metairie Rd., 504-834-9999, aucoinhart.com.

Drawing on her longtime background in education, Claire Jecklin recognized New Orleans students’ need for high-quality technical education. She brought together a cross-sector of professionals from the Recovery School District, Orleans Parish Schools, philanthropic and youth organizations dedicated to this work.

The resulting organization, the New Orleans Career Center (NOCC), is the first nonprofit career center model in the nation. To create the purpose-built center, Jecklin and the team visited many career centers, hospital training spaces, and similar organizations to learn their best practices.

Over Mardi Gras 2023, NOCC moved to their new home: a custom-built facility located in the former McDonogh 35 Senior High School building. NOCC utilizes the building’s enormous 140,000 square feet of space for their many educational programs.

“This building is everything we wanted. Everyone came together so we can deliver on one of the best investments in our young people, community, and employers,” said Jecklin.

In addition, one of the most striking features of the NOCC space is the way in which the

Claire Jecklin

Founder and CEO, New Orleans Career Center

building itself serves as a training tool. For instance, the building’s HVAC is located in a space large enough to accommodate students, so they can look at the machine in the building for real-world learning experiences. Furthermore, there is no tiling on the ceiling, so students can follow the HVAC components and wiring throughout the building.

For the high school program, many public schools allow students to attend NOCC for half the day. Students can choose from five career paths: Building Trades, Culinary Arts & Hospitality, Digital Production, Engineering and Healthcare. These tracts represent many of the top-growing industries in New Orleans. After their training, students can directly go to work for an employer in a high-demand field.

To meet the city’s demand for building trades, the machining lab is set up with the best practices in the field in mind. Students interact with the same types of industry-grade machines and tools they will use in real world settings. With access to welding bays, large workspaces, and a built-in vacuuming system, students get firsthand experience while they learn.

Next, the culinary arts program teaches students to become a chef

in NOCC’s giant custom-designed kitchen. With plenty of grills, stoves, warming pans, fryers and six prep stations, it would look right at home on an episode of Top Chef. Students form teams to simulate the busy environment of a working kitchen.

The engineering and manufacturing section includes a maker lab with a large 3D printer, a CNC router, and more tools to help students practice engineering. With guidance from professionals at local companies, students complete year-long projects that take them through the manufacturing process from start to finish.

The healthcare rooms, meanwhile, feature an impressive simulation setup, including a hospital desk and clinic exam rooms. Students learn how to scrub in, prepare IVs, and much more in a full hospital room setup. It also allows instructors to view their progress and give feedback behind a giant window. The combination of academic content and industry experience prepare these students to enter the field right away, or continue their education with Delgado or Ochsner.

“Our students are people I would want to take care of me,” said Jecklin.

In addition, a giant courtyard allows students from different areas of NOCC to collaborate on large-

scale projects. Students can learn more about what their cohorts are studying, as well as gain experience working outside in the heat.

Furthermore, the NOCC was built with the idea of growing and meeting new demands, such as solar options. Their training can adapt to meet the regional economy’s needs.

In addition to the high school programs, adult rapid reskilling programs allow community members to gain the skills for a new career path in a relatively brief amount of time. In fact, some family members of students in the high school programs have opted to take classes at NOCC as well.

Across the board, the goal is to show young people in the city their many options, as well as prepare them for a career with a stable salary and benefits by the time they reach the age of 25.

Passionate and committed to the NOCC vision, Jecklin is thrilled to get the word out about this organization and help the next generation of students find their dream careers.

“It’s so amazing to talk to the young people in our programs. It gives you hope for the future of this city. You want them building roads, maintaining the Superdome, and caring for you in the hospital,” said Jecklin.

GET INVOLVED

At this time the NOCC team welcomes specialty and general operating donations, as well as industry-specific tool donations. They are also seeking more industry partnerships. If your team can provide personnel and guest speakers, or host interns and apprenticeships, please contact the NOCC team.

Lastly, anyone interested in learning more about NOCC classes, or touring their impressive facility, is invited to get in touch.

Small Weddings, Big Possibilities Just Our Nearest and Dearest

Though the worst of the global pandemic seems to—thankfully!—be a thing of the past, we’re all still living with the lessons learned during that time. This is particularly evident in a new trend we’re seeing with weddings. Newly engaged couples, who learned the value of small gatherings with only the ones they hold nearest and dearest, are approaching their wedding planning in much the same way. Many couples are turning away from a splashy occasion for hundreds of people, opting instead to create an unforgettable experience for the people closest to them.

The size of the wedding is perhaps the first decision a couple should make, as it impacts literally every aspect of the planning process. Kristen Rauch, co-owner of PK Events New Orleans, notes that not every vendor or venue caters to an intimate experience and can have some large upfront costs that may not be necessary for what the couple wants. For example, some venues may require food and beverage minimums that may not be possible to achieve with a smaller number of guests, even with adding all the upgrades possible, or florists could require a minimum that is designed for a larger event.

Linda Novak, proprietor and events director at the Historic Swoop-Duggins House remarks “A smaller wedding gives the hosts an opportunity to get more creative with the event and to use unique and beautiful venues…instead of banquet style facilities that larger weddings require.” It’s crucial to find that niche of planner, venue or vendor to help bring a couple’s vision of a more intimate experience to life. At PK Events, Rauch has this list at her fingertips, noting “One of the things I have worked to provide my intimate couples are vendors and venues that love and specialize in those types of weddings.”

Smaller guest counts can help a couple create a manageable budget, as food and beverage is typically priced per person, and smaller venues often have less expensive rental fees. That being said, Rauch

cautions against planning a more intimate wedding simply because it may appear more budget-friendly at first glance, noting that internet searches may create false expectations about the ease of DIY (DoIt-Yourself) projects: “Sometimes less is more, and sometimes when it’s all said and done if you find that vendor that specializes in the intimate bride, it’s really not cheaper to DIY it.”

Echoing this sentiment, Kerrie Carroll of Girls In Black, LLC, advises “Less guests doesn’t always mean less expensive. That sounds counterproductive but it is factual.” While couples may need less of some items, they may opt to create a custom experience for the select few on their guest list, and the price of custom pieces will often be more expensive.

As examples of pieces that give a more intimate wedding an extra bit of pizzaz, Carroll offers the following list of suggestions: designing personalized details for attendees not just on the day of the wedding, but for the entire wedding weekend; creating personalized gifts for guests to greet them when they arrive at the accommodation rooms; splurging on luxury place settings for a seated dinner; engaging a private chef, personal assistant, or butler service to serve your guests throughout the weekend; and pairing custom linens with a grand floral and candle display for a tablescape.

Rauch agrees that couples today are looking to dazzle their guests: “Today’s couples are about creating a memorable experience for their guests. It could be a unique venue they want, special entertainment, an upgraded menu with elegant table settings or over-the-top florals, and even making it more about several events over a weekend. Whatever it is, they want to be able to afford that wow factor and may not be able to do that when inviting outside of their intimate circle.” Musical elements such as a second line, brass band or upgraded DJ experience also make a wedding incredibly memorable for couples and their guests.

Novak also mentions experiences such as second line and a more extravagant menu among possibilities that smaller weddings afford. Another benefit is that, because it’s not a large-scale production with many moving parts, a more intimate wedding can often be planned without the need for a wedding planner. However, Novak eschews the idea of foregoing a professional altogether: “I always recommend that the couple at least hire a day-of wedding coordinator. On your wedding day you don’t want to have to think about or worry about any details, you just want to luxuriate in the splendor of it all.” Carroll takes that advice a step further, noting that a smaller wedding leaves room in the budget for hiring your favorite wedding planner to plan, coordinate and produce your dream wedding experience.

Carroll’s advice touches on another reason couples may choose a more intimate wedding experience. Foregoing a large, extravagant celebration has the potential to save not only dollars, but also couple’s valuable time planning such a production. For couples who do not wish to dedicate their precious free hours to wedding planning,

Rauch recommends an all-inclusive experience. “All-inclusive goes beyond the venue [and extends to] everything, like officiant, photographer, venue, floral, second line, cake, and planner,” she explains. “That’s what PK Events New Orleans offers, and the intimate couple really appreciates that one-stop experience. It saves them a ton of time vetting vendors.”

Choosing an all-inclusive package can be especially helpful for out-oftown couples planning a destination wedding, as the Historic Swoop-Duggins House’s website notes. Their all-inclusive event planning services bring together all elements of a couple’s big day, such as in-house catering, bar packages, a personalized event website and more. They also offer a carefully curated list of local New Orleans businesses to further assist with wedding planning from anywhere in the world.

Though having an easier planning process, saving time, and saving money are indeed factors in a couple’s decision to have a more intimate wedding, Rauch stresses that the key factor in this decision is creating especially memorable moments with those whose love and

support have nourished them along the way: “Couples are realizing that weddings are a huge investment and because of that they are wanting their guest list to be meaningful—close friends and family. It’s not necessarily about spending less although that can be a driver, it’s becoming more about that dream wedding experience and spending time with the people closest to them.”

In a similar vein, Novak notes, “There are many reasons a couple might choose to have a smaller wedding and budgeting is just one reason. They may want to limit their guests to just immediate family and close friends so that their interactions with their guests are more poignant and impactful. Smaller weddings also tend to be more fun and relaxed because a lot of people don’t enjoy being in large crowds.”

Carroll comments that smaller weddings are particularly appealing to couples who want to make sure that each guest gets to participate in the entire celebration: “The experience changes when your guest list drops to a very intimate 15 or so guests. You can mingle and have

very intentional conversations with all of your most favorite people in the world throughout the entire wedding weekend. No one misses any of the celebration, because everyone is in the same place.” This creates a very different feeling than a large-scale wedding, where guests in one part of the venue may not even realize an important moment, such as a couple’s first dance, is taking place in another part of the venue!

Guests of larger weddings also sometimes find themselves wishing for more time with the bride and groom, who are doing their best to say hello to everyone. An intimate wedding eliminates this potentially stressful scenario. Novak has observed: “Smaller weddings allow you to have meaningful interactions because you can spend more time with each guest instead of trying to fit facetime in with everyone in a larger crowd.”

These meaningful interactions—even more than exciting entertainment or fantastic food—are what many couples want to remember about their wedding day. An intimate wedding offers the opportunity to create memories that last a lifetime with those the couples treasure most.

With This Ring

Cochran-Bickford

While Katherine Anne Cochran and Ethan Gordon Bickford were in college at Virginia Tech, they both spent a lot of time at Sigma Chi fraternity functions. They became good friends, and every time they happened to be at the same event, they found themselves together. Nothing romantic happened until senior year. They were sitting on a couch next to each other watching sports,” and suddenly, out of the blue, real flirtations began. Shortly after, the two became a couple.

Six years later, they were in Richmond, Virginia for Thanksgiving. After a morning and afternoon of activities with their dogs, Gus and Brady, Ethan randomly suggested they go to Maymont Park. Katherine thought this was a ridiculous idea; it was cold, wet, there would be no flowers in bloom, and the park did not allow dogs. However, Ethan was persistent, and they ended up at the Japanese garden in Maymont Park. As they walked over a bridge, Ethan stopped, told Katherine how much he loved her, and got down on one knee to ask her to marry him! He secretly had his friend, Hannah, hiding on the other side of the pond taking pictures, along with other friends and family. They celebrated at the park, and then Ethan had one last surprise. He had gathered all their friends for a house party to celebrate.

Celebrating their special moments at a friend’s house would soon become a trend when Tony Gelderman said to Ethan, “So are you getting married at my house or what?”. Tony and his wife, also named Katherine, were like second parents to the bride-to-be, and their daughter, Carroll, is her oldest and dearest friend. Needless to say, Ethan and Katherine were thrilled to take them up on the offer!

The Geldermans’ home sparkled with paper lanterns as Katherine walked down the aisle to “What a Wonderful World” on October 23, 2021. The lanterns were part of an overall vibe that combined timeless elegance with funky New Orleans elements.

Everyone in the room was feeling this vibe when the newlyweds began their first dance as a married couple to “Going Straight Crazy” by local New Orleans band Galactic. Ethan and Katherine felt the song perfectly described their love.

Of course, nothing pairs better with New Orleans music than good food, and Palete New Orleans created a menu that reflected the flavors of the city. Among the favorites were char-grilled oysters, a grits bar and gumbo. The food beautifully complemented two special cocktails named after the couple’s dogs. Gus’ cocktail was a Moscow Mule; Brady’s was a margarita.

This unforgettable day ended a whirlwind week of wedding activities. Katherine and Ethan were excited to get some much-needed rest on their honeymoon trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, where they slept for fifteen hours the first day!

Ethan and Katherine live in uptown New Orleans with their ten-month-old son, Gordy. Katherine works in Human Resources and Ethan is a Risk Consultant.

Rehearsal Dinner Location: Tujague’s Reception Décor: Minimalist, greenery and paper lanterns Coordinator: Emily Sullivan & team Celebrant: Carroll Gelderman Ceremony

Music: Rewind Band Wedding

Gown: Rue de la Siene, Unbridled Bridesmaid’s Dresses: Dove Grey dress of their choosing Groom’s Attire: John’s of Metairie

Groomsmen attire: Navy suits of their choosing Bride & Groom's Wedding Bands: Sue’s Jewelry Florist: Antigua Floral Invitation: Miriam

Alvarenga Caterer: Palate New Orleans Wedding Cakes: Bywater Bakery Photographer & Videographer: Mike Lirette

Hair: Naomi Corass (bride + MOB), Brantley Schwab (bridal party) Makeup: Brantley Schwab Music: Katherine walked down the aisle to Brooklyn Duo’s “What a Wonderful World.” Bride & groom walked out as husband and wife to Sam Cooke’s “Good Times.” Father/Mother dance: James Taylor’s “How Sweet It Is.” Flash mob of Katherine’s Aunts was to Lady Gaga’s “Stupid Love.”

With This Ring Moore - Metz

When Quinn Marie Moore and Tyler Alexander Metz moved into their freshman dorm rooms at Tulane, neither was looking to meet the person they’d eventually marry. However, fate had other plans. Quinn and Tyler were in the same friend group for over a year, and in December of their sophomore year they decided to date seriously.

Six years later, Tyler told Quinn that he booked a wine tasting at City Park, but when they arrived, he led her over to a bridge and got down on one knee. He had a proposal speech planned, but he was so nervous he ended up botching it! Luckily, Quinn understood exactly what he meant to say, and the photographer hidden nearby captured the moment when she happily said yes. The photographer was not the only one waiting in the park; their friends were nearby with champagne and baked goods, and they toasted the moment on a beautiful December day.

When planning their big day, Tyler and Quinn, who come from different religious backgrounds, decided to opt for a non-religious wedding so that nobody felt out of place. They fell in love with Il Mercato, which offered a combination of indoor and outdoor space, as well as an incredible fireplace.

The venue was decked out in sage green and gold when Quinn and Tyler said “I do” on April 15, 2023. These colors lent a touch of trendy style to a classically elegant space, which is exactly the feel the couple wanted. While taking in the beauty of the décor, guests enjoyed a menu prepared by Joel Catering, which had placed several food stations around Il Mercato. Crowd favorites included grits with the option to add either short rib or shrimp, the oyster bar (raw and char grilled), and the gnocchi.

Though they were surrounded by friends and family, Tyler and Quinn wanted to pay tribute to two loved ones who walked down the aisle with them—their dogs, Boudin and Andouille. As guests approached the bar, they smiled at the custom sign made for the specialty cocktails, which featured a drawing of the dogs’ faces. The sign offered a choice of “The Boudin,” a spicy margarita, or “The Andouille,” an old fashioned.

These playful cocktails had everyone feeling festive as Tyler and Quinn hit the dance floor for their first dance as husband and wife. The newlyweds, who share a mutual love of country music and good vocalists, chose “Joy of My Life” by Chris Stapleton for the special moment.

They’re looking forward to more special moments early next year, when they take a delayed honeymoon to Greece. They are loving newly married life in New Orleans, where Tyler is a 4th-year medical student at Tulane, and Quinn is an Operations Analyst at Ochsner.

Rehearsal Dinner Location: Arnaud’s Reception Décor:

Distressed Rentals, Luminous Events Coordinator: Elyse

Jennings Weddings Celebrant: Todd Capielano Ceremony

Music: New Orleans Classical & Jazz Wedding Gown: Maison

Signore from Kleinfeld Bridesmaid’s Dresses: Azazie Groom’s & Groomsmen Attire: Tuxedos from Perlis Engagement Ring & Wedding Bands: Friend and Company Florist: Pamela Dennis

Florals Invitation: Scriptura Wedding Cakes: Bittersweet

Confections Photographer: September Company Hair and

Makeup: Faces of Virtue Music: Sugar Shakers

Guide tO the Cultural Season

As autumn approaches, so too does the anticipation of a new season of theater, dance, music and other artistic pleasures around town. The array of offerings for the upcoming season are broad enough to satisfy any taste from Beethoven to ballet and beyond. Opt for a season subscription package to Le Petit Theatre, a ‘Broadway pass’ at the Saenger, or pepper your calendar with a variety of plays, concerts, exhibitions, and recitals that sample the full range of the city’s arts scene. However you choose to enjoy it, this calendar will help navigate the paths to filling your cultural cup this season.

Note: A number of organizations had not announced their calendar at the time this issue went to press. If you have an event you would like to add to our online calendar, please email andy@myneworleans.com.

SAENGER THEATRE

1111 CANAL ST. 504-525-1052

SAENGERNOLA.COM

The Saenger brings Broadway favorites to Canal Street all season long through its popular “Broadway in New Orleans” series.

“A Wonderful World” (October 1-8, 2023)

This new musical about the life and loves of Louis Armstrong will be performed in a pre-Broadway engagement at the Saenger. In “A Wonderful World,” the women in Armstrong’s life tell the story of this jazz legend and American icon.

“MJ the Musical” (November 1-12, 2023)

The Tony Award-winning new musical celebrates the creative magic, moves and music of Michael Jackson. In this production, Tony Award-winning director/choreographer Christopher Wheeldon and Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage center the story around the development of the 1992 Dangerous World Tour.

“Wicked” (November 29 – December 17, 2023)

Told from the perspective of the witches in the Land of Oz, this beloved musical premiered in 2003 and has been delighting audiences ever since. With music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and book by Winnie Holzman, the story is based on the 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West.

“My Fair Lady” (January 9-14, 2024)

This Tony Award-winning musical premiered in 1956 on Broadway, followed in 1964 by a film adaptation. Based on George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion, with music by Frederick Loewe and book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner, the story follows Cockney flower girl Eliza Doolittle and the efforts of phonetician Professor Henry Higgins to mold her into a member of high society.

“Les Misérables” (January 30 – February 4, 2024)

A timeless tale of “broken dreams and unrequited love, passion, sacrifice and redemption” based on the novel by Victor Hugo is set against the backdrop of 19th century France. This Tony Award-winning musical has been in production since 1985, captivating audiences worldwide.

“Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations” (February 27 – March 3, 2024)

Winner of the 2019 Tony Award for Choreography, this hit musical “follows The Temptations’ extraordinary journey from the streets of Detroit to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.” With smooth harmonies and fabulous footwork, the production brings the group’s unforgettable hits like “My Girl” and “Just My Imagination” to life onstage.

“Annie” (April 5-7, 2024)

The world’s best-known orphan reminds us that “It’s the Hard Knock Life” – until she finds her forever family – in this Tony Award-winning musical set in Depression-era New York.

“Mrs. Doubtfire” (May 14-19, 2024)

Broadway’s favorite Scottish nanny takes the stage in a heartwarming musical based on the popular film about an out-of-work actor determined to spend time with his children.

“Clue” (June 18-23, 2024)

Six guests gather at Boddy Manor, leading to the ultimate whodunit inspired by the classic Hasbro board game. Was it Professor Plum in the library with the rope? Or Mrs. Peacock in the study with the wrench?...

One New Orleans artist is having a big year on a very big stage. In March 2023, Lincoln Center launched “See Me As I Am,” a year-long celebration of Terance Blanchard’s extensive body of work. Blanchard, a New Orleans native, has built a career over four decades and multiple disciplines as a renowned composer, bandleader, and trumpeter. Blanchard’s work has reached audiences worldwide, earning seven Grammy Awards and two Oscar nominations among other accolades.

“See Me As I Am” is Lincoln Center’s first cross-campus exploration of a single artist, with the series spanning jazz, opera, chamber music, orchestral music, film scores, and more in collaboration with seven arts organizations: Film at Lincoln Center, Jazz at Lincoln Center, The Juilliard School, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, The Metropolitan Opera, New York Philharmonic, and The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.

Blanchard’s "Fire Shut Up in My Bones" premiered at the Metropolitan Opera to open their 2021-22 season, the first opera by a Black composer to premiere at the Met. Blanchard’s earlier opera, "Champion," premiered in 2013 and was performed at the Met in April 2023. His compositions also include scores for dozens of feature films, including many in collaboration with director Spike Lee.

See Me ªS I ªM Lincoln Center’s

Year-long Celebration of Terance Blanchard

THE ORPHEUM THEATRE

129 ROOSEVELT WAY 504-274-4871 ORPHEUMNOLA.NET

This landmark theatre dates back to 1921. Its opulent hall hosts performances throughout the year; check the website for updated schedules.

Bad Omens: Concrete Forever (September 4, 2023)

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit (September 15, 2023)

Fortune Feimster: Live, Laugh, Love (September 16, 2023)

Corinne Bailey Rae: The Black Rainbows Tour (September 26, 2023)

Mt. Joy (October 17, 2023)

Kesha: The Gag Order Tour (October 18, 2023)

Raphael Saadiq Revisits Tony! Toni! Toné (October 27, 2023)

My Morning Jacket: Fall Tour 2023 (October 31, 2023)

Men I Trust (November 10, 2023)

Mark Normand: Ya Don’t Say (November 25, 2023)

Liz Phair: Guyville Tour (November 30, 2023)

Dirty Dancing in Concert (December 10, 2023)

NEW ORLEANS MUSEUM OF ART

ONE COLLINS C. DIBOLL CIRCLE, CITY PARK 504-658-4100 NOMA.ORG

Fashioning America: Grit to Glamour (through November 26, 2023)

This exhibition explores America’s fashion heritage, with its impressive history of spirit and innovation. More than 100 American designers and brands are featured, from contemporary garments to pieces dating back to the 19th century.

Photogenic: Photographs from the Collection of Cherye R. and James F. Pierce (through September 10, 2023)

Ring Redux: The Susan Grant Lewin Collection (through February 4, 2024)

Ninety international artists explore an “enduring jewelry form” with innovation and experimentation in materials and craft.

Monochromes: Japanese Zen Paintings and Ceramics (through November 5, 2023)

This exhibition showcases Zen paintings and calligraphies from the Edo period (1603-1867) along with monochrome or unglazed ceramics created during the past 50 years.

New at NOMA: Recent Acquisitions in Contemporary Art (through December 31, 2023)

These works include contemporary art recently purchased or gifted to the museum, with a focus on works by BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and female-identifying artists.

MUSIC BOX VILLAGE

4557 N. RAMPART ST. MUSICBOXVILLAGE.COM

Billing itself as “New Orleans Airlift’s ongoing experiment in ‘musical architecture,’” this sonic sculpture garden offers interactive art and serves as a performance space, artist residencies, and interdisciplinary works. Check the website for an updated event calendar.

Alabaster DePlume in the Music Box Village (September 20, 2023)

OGDEN MUSEUM OF SOUTHERN ART

925 CAMP ST. 504-539-9650

OGDENMUSEUM.ORG

Louisiana Contemporary 2023

(August 5, 2023 – February 18, 2024)

Ogden Museum of Southern Art first launched Louisiana Contemporary, presented by The Helis Foundation, in 2012 to showcase the practice of artists working across Louisiana. This statewide, juried exhibition promotes contemporary art in Louisiana and provides an opportunity to exhibit living artists’ work and connect with a contemporary audience. This year’s guest juror, Aleesa Pitchamarn Alexander, has selected 45 works by 31 artists from a total of 790 submissions.

New Orleans: Elegance & Decadence, Photographs by Richard Sexton

(September 16 – November 26, 2023)

Richard Sexton’s book New Orleans: Elegance and Decadence celebrates 30 years since its release. This exhibition presents 17 photographs from the classic volume that highlight the homes, collections, and landscapes of a selection of New Orleans’ creative community in the 1990s.

Knowing Who We Are: From 19th Century Academic Painting Through Southern Regionalism (through March 3, 2024)

This exhibition follows the development of art in the American South starting with 19th century landscape and portraiture. “The third floor of Goldring Hall illustrates how, with each new development – from early photography, Impressionism, Tonalism, the Arts & Crafts Movement and Symbolism through American Scene Painting, Social Realism and Regionalism –Southern artists responded with a distinct blend of tradition and innovation along with a steadfast awareness of the power of place.”

Knowing Who We Are: The Rise of Abstraction, Vernacular Art and Photography (through March 3, 2024) This exhibition features the works of artists exploring abstraction in the post-World-War-II American South, those embracing self-taught and visionary art in the late 20th century, and photographers applying studio practices from commercial portraiture and journalism to evolving dialogues in 20th century contemporary art.

LE PETIT THEATRE

616 ST. PETER ST. 504-522-2081

LEPETITTHEATRE.COM

This French Quarter gem sits at the city’s cultural epicenter. The historic theater dates to 1922 and provides a stage for productions that showcase the area’s best professional talent across a range of dramatic, musical, and comedic productions.

“Let the Right One In”

(October 5-22, 2023)

This “enchanting, brutal vampire myth and coming-of-age love story” was written by Swedish author John Ajvide Lindqvist and adapted for the stage by Jack Thorne. The play was adapted from the bestselling novel and award-winning film.

“Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”

(January 11-28, 2024)

Edward Albee’s “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” was first staged in 1962 and explores a tale of “seduction, drama, and despair” centered on the complicated marriage of George and Martha. Recipient of the 1963 Tony Award for Best Play, Albee’s tale remains compelling to this day.

“Beautiful: The Carole King Musical”

(March 7-31, 2024)

The Tony and Grammy Award-winning show follows the life of hit singer-songwriter Carole King from her Brooklyn youth to musical legend and member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Words and music by Gerry Goffin, Carole King, Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil; book by Douglas McGrath, music by arrangement with Sony/ATV Music Publishing, presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).

“Born With Teeth”

(April 25 – May 12, 2024)

In this “punk-edged” play by Liz Duffy Adams, playwrights Kit Marlowe and Will Shakespeare “meet in the back room of a pub to collaborate on a history play cycle, navigate the perils of art under a totalitarian regime, and flirt like young men with everything to lose.”

“The Importance of Being Earnest”

(June 6-23, 2024)

Oscar Wilde’s much-loved farcical comedy, threaded with mistaken identity and romantic entanglements, was first performed in London in 1895 – but its wit still resonates. “Pandemonium breaks out when the fictitious “Ernest” is involved. Can anyone save the day?”

CRESCENT CITY STAGE

CRESCENTCITYSTAGE.COM

This theatrical organization led by Michael A. Newcomer, Jana Mestecky, and Elizabeth Elkins Newcomer was formed to provide a “diverse environment for the creation of theatre to thrive, enlighten, empower, educate, enhance, and evolve in the Greater New Orleans and surrounding areas.” In addition to its regular calendar of theatrical productions, Crescent City Stage also offers its CCS Studio Series of classes ranging from beginning acting to advanced technique courses. Check the website for an updated schedule.

“A Christmas Carol” (December 7-22, 2023)

This holiday season, Crescent City Stage will feature a production of Patrick Barlow’s new version of the classic tale in the Marquette Theater on the Loyola University campus. In Barlow’s take, five actors bring the story and its hundreds of characters to life.

THE JOY THEATER

1200 CANAL ST. 504-766-8051

THEJOYTHEATER.COM

Since its birth in 1947 as one of the city’s first “modern” movie theaters, the Joy has brought entertainment to generations of New Orleanians within its grand Art Deco walls on Canal Street. A significant renovation in recent years has restored the venue to its glory, allowing the Joy to host concerts, shows, and other events.

Tim Heidecker: The Two Tims Summer Tour ’23 (August 3, 2023)

Killer Mike – The High & Holy Tour (August 5, 2023)

JPEGMafia & Danny Brown – Scaring the Hoes (August 22, 2023)

Weyes Blood – In Holy Flux Tour: Unleashed (August 23, 2023)

Yung Bleu – Love Scars (September 2, 2023)

Jessie Murph Presents the Cowboys and Angels Tour (September 13, 2023)

Clozee – Microworlds North American Tour (October 8, 2023)

Raye: My 21st Century Blues World Tour (October 15, 2023)

Chappell Roan (October 28, 2023)

CONTEMPORARY ARTS CENTER

900 CAMP ST.

504-528-3800

CACNO.ORG

Who Lit the Fire? Gulf South Open Call (August 5-October 8, 2023)

In the CAC’s 10th annual open call, curated by Anita N. Bateman, Ph.D., artists working across the Gulf South respond to the question: “What are the unrealized potentials imagined in the eradication of systemic oppression that move us beyond the necessity for resilience and responsiveness to perpetual threat?”

Pod Save America (November 10, 2023)

LSDream: The Radical Audio Visual Experience (November 11, 2023)

Darren Knight: Southern Momma & Friends Comedy Tour (November 12, 2023)

Not Another D&D (November 14, 2023)

Hannah Berner (November 15, 2023)

NEW ORLEANS OPERA ASSOCIATION

2504 PRYTANIA ST. BOX OFFICE: 504-529-3000 NEWORLEANSOPERA.ORG

General and Artistic Director Clare Burovac leads New Orleans Opera in its 81st season featuring four powerful productions at the Mahalia Jackson Theater for the Performing Arts.

“The Marriage of Figaro” (September 29, October 1, 2023)

Mozart’s famed comedy conveys thinly veiled class commentary and a battle of the sexes in this popular work that has become of the most performed operas of the canon.

“Blue” (November 10, 12, 2023)

“Tony Award-winning composer Jeanine Tesori and NAACP Theatre Award-winning librettist Tazewell Thompson’s new opera is inspired by contemporary events and Black literature, including Ta-Nehisi Coates’s Between the World and Me and James Baldwin’s The Fire Next Time.”

“Lisette!” (December 1, 2023)

Lisette Oropesa in concert. One of the most in-demand lyric coloraturas performing today, Oropesa will be curating an evening of French and Italian arias from the Bel Canto period by composers such as Donizetti, Rossini, and Bellini, among others.

“Lucia di Lammermoor” (March 22, 24, 2024)

This story drawn from an actual incident between two rival Scottish families in political opposition could appear in any contemporary true crime podcast. Katrina Galka sings the title role.

LOUISIANA PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA

2533 COLUMBUS ST., STE. 202 AND THE ORPHEUM THEATRE BOX OFFICE: 504-523-6530 LPOMUSIC.COM

For the 2023-24 season, the LPO welcomes Music Director and Principal Conductor Matthew Kraemer. The orchestra’s primary performance home is the Orpheum Theatre, but they also perform at venues across the area, including concerts on the Northshore. All concerts below at the Orpheum Theatre; check the website for full event calendar.

Opening Night: Beethoven Symphony No. 5 (September 14, 2023)

The LPO opens the 2023-24 season with new Music Director Matthew Kraemer and Beethoven’s powerful 5th symphony.

Price & Prokofiev (October 5, 2023) Guest conductor Jonathan Taylor Rush conducts a program featuring works by William Grant Still, Florence Price, and Sergei Prokofiev.

Porgy & Bess: A Symphonic Picture (November 16, 2023)

“Tales of love, loss, and family ties are expressed from the African American perspective in this stirring program” featuring works by Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson, Margaret Bonds, William Grant Still, and George Gershwin.

Classical Christmas: Handel Messiah (December 14, 2023)

The LPO helps bring the beauty of the holiday season to the Orpheum Theatre with Handel’s Messiah and its dramatic Hallelujah Chorus.

Birth of a Culture (January 25, 2024)

Matthew Kraemer leads an evening of premieres in concert for New Orleans. Big Chief Juan Pardo joins the LPO for a world premier piece by Maxim Samarov about the unique culture of the Mardi Gras Indians. New work by Arlene Sierra and a preview of Wynton Marsalis’ Concerto for Orchestra will also be performed.

Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4 (March 7, 2024)

Guest conductor Kalena Bovell makes her LPO debut with a program featuring Tchaikovsky’s fourth symphony and Jennifer Higdon’s blue cathedral.

NEW ORLEANS BALLET ASSOCIATION

935 GRAVIER ST., STE. 800 504-522-0996 NOBADANCE.COM

The New Orleans Ballet Association is the state leading dance presenting and service organization, bringing dance to the community through its Main Stage Series as well as comprehensive programming that addresses educational, health/wellness, and arts healing needs across the community. This season’s Main Stage performances present dance companies across genres to the stage at the Mahalia Jackson Theater, in partnership with NOCCA and Tulane University.

Complexions Contemporary Ballet (October 21, 2023)

Under the leadership of dance icons Dwight Rhoden and Desmond Richardson, Complexions Contemporary Ballet has brought its mission of “bringing unity to the world one dance at a time” to stages in more than 20 countries. This performance will feature the NOBA commissioned world premiere of a new piece choreographed by Rhoden to the music of Chief Adjuah (formerly Christian Scott), a New Orleans native and critically acclaimed jazz artist, among other works.

The Nutcracker Suite (December 3, 2023 – Date TBD)

More than 200 of NOBA’s dancers, aged 6-70+ from its tuition-free programs, perform Tchaikovsky’s holiday classic in a new one-hour production that’s ideal for the whole family.

Compañia Nacional de Danza (January 20, 2024)

The National Dance Company of Spain brings its classical, neoclassical, and contemporary dance repertoire back to New Orleans after more than 20 years with a program of three classic works: White Darkness, a one-act ballet created as a requiem and choreographed by Nacho Duato; Sad Case, a work by Sol León and Paul Lightfoot which “embodies the fiery, syncopated rhythms of Mexican mambo; and Passengers Within, set to music by Philip Glass.

Les Ballets de Monte Carlo (March 1, 2, 2024)

The official national company of the Principality of Monaco was established in 1985 by the Princess of Hanover in accordance with the wishes of her mother, Princess Grace, to continue the nation’s tradition of dance. In New Orleans, the company of more than 50 dancers will present Jean-Christophe Maillot’s dazzling reimagined take on Swan Lake.

Parsons Dance with The Allen Toussaint Orchestra (April 20, 2024)

The company led by artistic director David Parsons presents a program including Caught, “a gravity-defying fusion of art and technology,” and a presentation celebrating the 10th anniversary of Whirlaway. This critically acclaimed work was originally commissioned by NOBA and premiered at the Mahalia Jackson Theater in 2014 and will feature a soundtrack of hits from Allen Toussaint. Reginald Toussaint and The Allen Toussaint Orchestra will join the company in tribute to a New Orleans legend.

RIVERTOWN THEATERS FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

325 MINOR ST. 504-461-9475

RIVERTOWNTHEATERS.COM

This beloved spot in Kenner’s Rivertown neighborhood brings a broad array of spectacular musical, family-oriented, and other programming to the stage.

“Disenchanted!” (August 11-20, 2023)

Gary Rucker directs this musical comedy by Dennis T. Giacino that digs a little deeper into the world of Disney’s most famous princesses: “Poisoned apples. Glass slippers. Who needs ‘em?! Not Snow White and her posse of disenchanted princesses in the new musical comedy that’s anything but Grimm.”

“Singin’ In the Rain” (September 8-24, 2023)

Ricky Graham directs this classic stage musical adapted from the 1952 film. The stage musical was first performed in 1983 and offers a lighthearted look at a group of Hollywood performers navigating the move between the eras of silent films and sound pictures.

“Assassins” (October 20 – November 5, 2023)

Gary Rucker directs Stephen Sondheim’s darkly humorous musical about a group of historical figures who attempted to assassinate U.S. presidents over two centuries, leaving their fingerprints on the nation’s history.

“A Christmas Story: The Musical”

(December 1-17, 2023)

Ralphie is back in this stage musical version of the classic 1983 film. Ricky Graham directs a cast of characters in 1940s Indiana, including the boy who wants nothing more for Christmas than a Red Ryder BB Gun.

“The Big Easy Boys: Just Because” (January 12-26, 2024)

The “throwback quartet with tight harmonies and precision movement” brings its musical stylings to the Rivertown stage.

“The Prom” (March 8-24, 2024)

Kelly Fouchi directs this musical about the intersection of fading Broadway stars, a small-town controversy, and a message of love and inclusion.

“Sister Act: A Divine Musical Comedy” (May 3-19, 2024)

Gary Rucker brings us back to the convent where aspiring singer Deloris Van Cartier goes to hide out and ends up helping her fellow sisters find their voices in the process.

“Mean Girls” (July 11-21, 2024)

Kelly Fouchi directs this musical based on the 2004 film by the same name. High school newcomer Cady Heron encounters the intimidating “Plastics” and must confront the tension between fitting in and losing herself to the perils of popularity.

JEFFERSON PERFORMING ARTS SOCIETY

JEFFERSON PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, 6400 AIRLINE DR. WESTWEGO CULTURAL CENTER, 177 SALA AVE. 504-885-2000

JPAS.ORG

The Jefferson Performing Arts Society presents its 46th season of musicals, drama, dance, and more at the Jefferson Performing Arts Center and the Westwego Cultural Center.

“The View Upstairs” (September 8-17, 2023)

“Take a step back in time to the French Quarter in 1973 as the patrons of the UpStairs Lounge help a modern-day millennial reevaluate his concepts of love and freedom.” At Jefferson Performing Arts Center.

“Steel Magnolias” (September 21-October 1, 2023)

Join this group of strong Southern women as they navigate the joys and hardships of small-town life in fictional Chinquapin Parish. Based on the 1987 Broadway drama and hit film that followed, the Steel Magnolias take us back to the beauty salon to laugh and cry along. At Westwego Cultural Center.

“Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein”

(October 27, 29, November 2, 4, 5, 2023)

Mad scientist Frederick Frankenstein follows in the footsteps of his monster-making grandfather in this madcap musical by Mel Brooks. At Jefferson Performing Arts Center.

“Looped” (November 9-19, 2023)

Revisit a notorious day in the life of Hollywood star Tallulah Bankhead in this three-person drama filled with secrets, confessions, and more. At Westwego Cultural Center.

“The Mountaintop” (January 25 – February 4, 2024) In this two-person drama, Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. spends the evening after delivering his “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech conversing with a hotel maid. In the night before his assassination, they reflect on life, achievements, shortcomings, and unfinished dreams. At Westwego Cultural Center.

“Jesus Christ Superstar”

(March 15, 16, 21, 23, 24, 2024)

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s 1971 rock opera tells the story of Jesus’ crucifixion in bold, energetic fashion, juxtaposing a modern perspective on a narrative that transformed human history. At Jefferson Performing Arts Center.

“Noises Off” (April 12, 14, 18, 20, 21, 2024) This delightful farce follows a touring theatre troupe as they work through a production of sex comedy ‘Nothing On.” Enjoy the ups, downs, mishaps, and misunderstandings that accompany a cast over the course of the show’s run.

Celebrating local women in business and their entrepreneurial spirit, professional accomplishments, and community involvement

SOCIETY

Jefferson Chamber of Commerce Black & Gold Gala

It was billed as the Jefferson Chamber of Commerce Black & Gold Gala, but for insiders, the event is informally known as the “Party on the Turf,” as it takes place at the Ochsner Performance Center, home of the New Orleans Saints indoor training facility.

The turf proved up to the task as it set the stage for the Lombardi Trophy, which was on hand for guests to take photos with. For those who don’t know, the Saints won the Super Bowl in 2010, beating the Indianapolis Colts, 31-17.

More party attractions included the LED performance artists, stilt walkers and a goldclad “Mirror Man,” as well as The Storyville Jazz Band followed by After Party as the dance band. Pigeon Caterers provided food.

Guests could also try their luck at blackjack, roulette, slot machines and poker with credits won that could be used for entry into raffles for trips, wine and more.

Another game of chance, so to speak, was the auction in which the top-selling items were a Hunt Slonem “White Bunny” painting, Saints autographed merchandise and a trip to a Saints away game of the winner’s choice.

Among the “who’s who” at the event on March 31 were Jefferson Parish Councilman-At-Large Scott Walker, Jefferson Parish Sheriff Joe Lopinto, Councilman-At-Large Ricky Templet and District 4 Councilman Dominic Impastato. Ruth Lawson is the Jef-

president.

EJGH Auxiliary Great Lady/ Great Gentleman Awards

The East Jefferson General Hospital Auxiliary found a great way to honor New Orleans metro area volunteers and raise funds for nursing: the Great Lady/Great Gentleman Awards.

Now in its 45th year, the awards luncheon was April 23 at the Château Country Club. Honorees for 2023 were Melinda Bourgeois, Micki Chehardy, Chad Landry, Dominic Massa, Dr. Bennie Nobles, Cindy Paulin, Betty Spurlock and Wayne Thomas, who were presented with the award’s traditional silver bowl.

The event is the auxiliary’s biggest fundraiser, with the money raised dedicated solely to nursing scholarships, nursing certification and hospital equipment.

In addition to ticket sales and sponsorships, more funds were raised by the table centerpieces designed by various nursing units of the hospital that were auctioned; a silent auction filled with art and other enticing items; and a 50/50 raffle won by incoming auxiliary board President Paige Lemieux.

Memory Lane provided the music. Event Chair was Debbie Schmitz; Lise Naccari is auxiliary board president.

FUN FACT

• The auxiliary is in its 51st year, founded just after the hospital. The group has donated more than $2 million dollars to its beneficiaries, and several of the nurses who were scholarship recipients in the early years of the program are still at the hospital.

1. Barry Breaux, Ruby Brewer 2. Carrel Epling, Lee Baraldi, Margaret Wagner, Rosalie Edwards, Darlene McGarry 3. Betty Spurlock, Dr. Bennie Nobles, Melinda Bourgeois, Wayne Thomas 4. Cindy Paulin, Chad Landry, Micki Chehardy, Dominic Massa 5. Coleen Landry, Debbie Schmitz, Faith Pepperone, Dianne Breaux 6. Diane Thames, Lise Naccari, Amy Cioll, Anna Heim

Larry Palestina Habitat for Humanity Golf Tournament

Teeing off for its second year was the Larry Palestina Habitat for Humanity Golf Tournament.

Held April 24 at Lakewood Golf Course, the event had a shotgun start and teams that consisted of foursomes. The winning team was Joe Gerritty, Kyle Hughes, Harrison Golden and Dwight Heron.

In addition to golf, the event featured a live auction, silent auction, Mulligans, Split the Pot and a liquor basket raffle.

The tournament benefits the programs of Habitat, which builds new houses in partnership with sponsors, volunteers, communities and homeowner families. The aim is to eliminate poverty housing in New Orleans and provide decent shelter. Since its inception in 1983, NOAHH has built more than 750 new homes.

NOAHH has also completed 350 repair and disaster relief projects, offers an internship and apprenticeship program, and its two ReStores sell donated furniture and other household items.

FUN FACT

• After the first tournament, it was named the Larry Palestina Habitat for Humanity Golf Tournament in honor of Palestina’s board service to NOAHH and his avid love of golf and support of other area golf tournaments. He was also the chair of this year’s tournament.

Heart of the Park Hat Luncheon

Chapeau, bonnet, beret, fedora, fez, Panama, cloche, caps — so many names for an almost infinite array of hats, but only one luncheon in New Orleans’ City Park that celebrates them for good causes.

The Heart of the Park Luncheon presented by First Horizon started as a partnership between the New Orleans Town Gardeners and City Park Conservancy to raise funds to benefit the care of City Park’s 1,300 acres of urban forest and the community programs of the New Orleans Town Gardeners, such as the Edible Schoolyard and the Grow Dat Youth Farm.

“A true rite of spring, Heart of the Park is a wonderful display of support, and style, for our community,” said City Park Conservancy President Cara Lambright.

The park’s Botanical Garden and Pavilion of Two Sisters were the sites on April 26 for all the hat finery, as well as a garden tour, entertainment by Harry Hardin Quartet, a special Hendrick’s Cucumber cocktail and food by City Park Catering and Maurice’s Fine Pastries. Brothers Jay Batt and Bryan Batt proved to be deft auctioneers who got the audience to bid up nine auction items, including “Crossing Borders” by featured artist Regina Scully. Event co-chairs were Molly Baumer, Vivian Cahn, Jenny Charpentier and Peggy Scott Laborde.

Clover Annual Friendraising Luncheon

As one of Clover’s most important fundraisers for the past 12 years, this year’s Annual Friendraising Luncheon didn’t disappoint.

The luncheon on April 27 at the Clover campus featured food from the Link Stryjewski Foundation, a wine pull and an auction of a Perdido Beach condo getaway.

Attendees also got to learn about the programs and services Clover provides to the community. Founded in 1896, Clover (formerly Kingsley House) serves almost 8,000 people annually via early childhood education, adult day care, career pathways and community services.

“The annual Friendraising Luncheon brings new and existing supporters to our beautiful campus to experience the impact of Clover’s mission through testimonials and a lively performance by our Clover Academy pre-K students,” said Clover CEO Keith Liederman, Ph.D.

“It’s our signature fundraising event to raise unrestricted funds for Clover’s high impact, life-transforming programs and services that educate children, strengthen families and build community.”

Co-chairs were Trishelle Cannatella and Barrett Conrad; the emcee was Clover Board Chair Chimene Grant Saloy.

Hancock Whitney Zoo-To-Do

Once a year, the grounds of the Audubon Nature Institute’s Audubon Zoo turn into a bedazzling, bedecked and beloved space for the annual Hancock Whitney Zoo-To-Do. This year’s soirée celebrated Audubon Zoo’s conservation efforts and the upcoming expansion of its spider monkey habitat. (A spider monkey graced the cover of the invitation, as well.)

From the moment guests arrived, there was entertainment with Geovane Santos Duo at the Lupin Arrival Plaza (front gate); Jose Fermin and Merengue4-Four at the Miriam Walmsley Cooper Plaza; and at the Capital One Stage, Vivaz was the opening act, followed by headliner The Phunky Monkeys. Also spread throughout were food and cocktails from more than 50 New Orleans favorites, including Creole Creamery, Lucy’s Retired Surfers Bar and Restaurant and Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse. Tempting wallets and budgets were the deluxe silent auction, the luxury vehicle raffle of a 2023 Lexus NX250 and a Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry Pick-A-Present jewelry pull.

Of course, the younger set has its own festive fête with the Zoo-To-Do for Kids presented by Children’s Hospital New Orleans on a different day.

2023 marked the 45th Zoo-To-Do, while it was the 34th year of Zoo-To-Do for Kids.

Zoo-To-Do chair was Mathilde Currence; ZooTo-Do for Kids chair was Meg Baldwin; and Audubon Nature Institute CEO is L. Ron Forman. This year’s honorary chairmen were Gov. and Mrs. John Bel Edwards, Mayor Latoya Cantrell, Mr. and Mrs. Tanner D. Magee, Mr. and Mrs. Walter J. Leger III, Mrs. Lindsey Casey, Mrs. Lindsey Wands, Mr. and Mrs. Daniel O. Conwill IV and Mr. and Mrs. Chris Bardell.

FUN FACT

• Audubon Nature Institute re-opened the Audubon Aquarium and Audubon Insectarium in a re-imagined, state-of-the-art facility. Scales & Ales will return to the downtown campus on Oct. 6 after a four-year hiatus.

1. Lucy Currence, Mathilde Currence, Richard Currence, Frances Currence 2. Ron Forman, Leah Brown, Martin Irons 3. Field Ogden, Michelle Ogden, Colleen Waguespack, Elizabeth LeBlanc, Clifton LeBlanc 4. Will Baldwin, Meg Baldwin

5. Emory Mayfield, Autumn Mayfield, Chip Knight, Jennifer Knight 6. Joe Martin, Anna Martin

What to drink with figs

Taylor Fladgate Late

Bottled Vintage Port 2018

“A LBV port, or ‘Late Bottled Vintage’ port, is an excellent pairing for all things fig and goat cheese!” said Emily Staurulakis, sommelier at Copper Vine Winepub.

“In Portugal, LBV port is a classic pairing with their famous cheese Queijo da Serra,” a sheep’s milk cheese very similar to goat cheese. This particular LBV has rich fruit and herbal notes on the nose pairing wonderfully with fig and rosemary, and sweet, rich fruit flavor on the palate perfectly balanced by the acidity of the goat cheese.”

Short & Sweet The Season for Fresh Figs

Succulent, sweet and enticing, figs are ripening on trees all over Louisiana. In late summer, the distinctive lush green leaves and orbs of rosy fruit are as pleasing to the eye as the barren, skeletal branches of the deciduous trees are in times of dormancy.

Native to Asia Minor, the fig tree (ficus carica) is one of the earliest fruit trees to have been cultivated by humans as a food source.

This simple recipe shows figs off in their prime. The recommended Taylor Fladgate Late Bottled Vintage Port 2018 is not only a perfect pairing, but also surprisingly inexpensive.

Figs, Rosemary, Honey, Lemon, Chevre (Serves 4)

4 6-inch pieces of fresh rosemary

4 large fresh fig, stems trimmed, halved lengthwise 1/8 cup lavender or other floral honey

1 Tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice

2 ounces fresh goat cheese, such as Chevre, crumbled

Strip the leaves from the bottom of the rosemary stems, leaving about 1 ½ inches of leaves at the tip. Put the stems in a bowl. Cover them with cold water and allow to soak for at least 30 minutes.

Skewer the fig halves crosswise on each rosemary stem. Arrange the skewers on a plate with the cut sides of the figs facing up.

Combine the honey and lemon juice in a small bowl. Brush the mixture over the cut sides of the figs.

Preheat the broiler to high.

The Expert

With a degree from the Culinary Institute of America, Emily Staurulakis has comprehensive culinary and enological expertise after having held positions in kitchens, dining rooms, and management at some of the most celebrated restaurants in America.

According to Dan Gill, a well-known horticulturist with the LSU AG Center, just about any variety of fig tree will thrive in Louisiana, with Celeste, which produces small to medium sized fruit, being among the most common as well as desirable.

Since 1991 the LSU Ag Center has been prolific in the development of new fig varieties for the native landscape and table: LSU Purple (medium-size, dark purple fruit), LSU Gold (flavorful yellow, medium-size, yellow fruit), O’Rourke (mediumsize, light brown fruit), Champagne (medium size with light red to pink pulp) and Tiger (large, light brown fruit with a darker brown stripe).

There are plenty of figs to be found. Chances are if you know someone with a tree they will enthusiastically offer to share. – By Jyl

Broil the figs cut side up until they are lightly browned and softened, 1 to 2 minutes. Crumble the cheese over the figs and return to broiler for 1 minute.

Serve hot on the skewers.

Saj

For a colorful, healthy, and savory spread, call on Saj. Platters of Middle Eastern treats, salads and kebabs will delight any guest. If feeding a crowd, they offer a Stuffed Whole Lamb. Saj, 504766-0049, sajnola.com.

Bar Sukeban

Our local izakaya now offers a take-away Suke Sushi Bake. It’s a 12” x 10” tin of krab + tobiko salad over sushi rice with furikake. Pair with nori sheets, cukes and avocado for a unique and delicious option on movie nights, pool parties and elegant home affairs alike. Bar Sukeban, 504-3452367, barsukeban.com.

The Chloe

Making cocktails doesn’t require heat, but it does require effort. Why not outsource to the pros?

Mixologists from The Chloe’s bar will prepare batch cocktails or even set up a full-service bar for your party. Nothing gets a party going faster than a thirst-quenching drink when the weather is warm. The Chloe, 504-541-5500, thechloenola.com.

Gracious Bakery

Breakfast, lunch and dessert are still on the menu, but in addition, Gracious is offering 10” Pizzas with Seasonal Vegetables for evening take-out under their new program, Gracious After 5. Gracious Bakery, 504-300-8135, graciousbakery.com.

When It’s Too Hot to Cook

August gets a bad rap. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a fan. However, I think many New Orleanians feel it’s the month to wish away. It’s too hot to do much. The season of back to work and back to school. One that’s easy to overlook and hold out for September. It’s also the month of Satchmo Fest, waning days of summer and the return of friends who have fled to cooler pastures. But one thing we can all agree on is that it’s still warm, and your entertaining efforts are best spent away from the stove. Fear not, we are featuring favorite take-away options that will make your late summer soirees a breeze. Herein lies the definitive guide to your new go-to entertaining packages. –

Barracuda

The Taco Family Meal from Barracuda is synonymous with “crowd pleaser.” Order the size you need, select your filling(s) and in 20 minutes you can pick-up a full taco bar. Don’t forget to add a liter of ranch waters or margaritas while you’re at it. Barracuda, 504-2662961, eatbarracuda.com.

Chris’s Specialty Foods

If you’re looking to serve a more traditional meal but can’t be kept in the kitchen, look no further than Chris’s. Pick up main courses such as Whole Deboned Chicken Stuffed with Spinach. Chris’s Specialty Foods, 504-309-0010, chrisspecialtyfoods.com.

Nell’s Catering

Caterers are set to deliver. It’s no secret we’re a fan of Mary Nell Bennett’s work. Keep her on speed dial if your gatherings could use Maine Style Lobster Rolls, Grilled Panzanella Salad, or Peaches and Burrata. Her seasonally evolving menu is always worth checking. Nell’s Catering Co., nellscateringcompany.com.

The Commissary Pop by the Brennan’s Commissary in the Lower Garden District for Duck Gumbo and Smoked Gulf Fish Dip (with Saltines!). While you’re there, grab biscuit and cookie dough for the mornings and evenings after. The Commissary, 504-274-1850, thecommissarynola.com.

Party Planning

Let these local experts make your celebration spectacular!

Annunciation Restaurant

AnnunciationRestaurant.com | 504-568-0245

Looking to celebrate in New Orleans? Experience the city's true essence by hosting with us! From Bridal Showers to Rehearsal Dinners, we've got you covered. Book now at 504-568-0245 or email reservations@ annunciationrestaurant.com for an unforgettable celebration any day!

Z Event Company

Zeventco.com | 504-510-5838 | @zeventcompany

Susan Zackin, owner and lead producer of Z Event Company is celebrating 35 years in business and a ten-year anniversary of her offices in New Orleans. Most recently Susan saw the need for a curated upscale party store and opened Sparkle and Swag in Old Metairie. This month she opened a second location in the LGD which houses the event production offices as well as serves as a new venue space.

Urban Earth Studios

urbanearthstudios.com | 504-524-0100 events@urbanearthstudios.com

Looking for a one-of-a-kind experience? For 25 years, Urban Earth Studios has helped couples create and style custom special event spaces, floral designs, furnishings, and props to fit their needs. Urban Earth Studios is a one stop shop for your special day.

Girls in Black

gibevents.com | 985-264-9123

Girls In Black Weddings and Events provides memorable weddings for clients with busy lives and unpredictable schedules. For 20+ years, we have provided a practical approach to wedding planning with personal touches, purposeful designs and a simple planning process.

Gut Instincts

Demystifying the latest science on beneficial bacteria and how microbiota is leading the way to good health

The more medical science learns about gut health, the more it sounds like science fiction. In his 2013 book, Cooked: A Natural History of Transformation, author and journalist Michael Pollan writes “The microbial world within our body remains very much a terra incognita — its age of exploration has only just begun. But already scientists have established that the microbiota of the human gut is in fact an ecosystem, a complex community of species doing a whole lot more than just hanging out or helping us break down foods or making us sick.” Ten years later, we’re still learning, but what we do know is promising, especially for those struggling

with the myriad issues medical scientists are linking to digestion, a.k.a gut health. This month, Molly Kimball RD, CSSD, nutrition journalist, director of nutrition at Ochsner Fitness Center and founder of Eat Fit helps sort through some of the science and home in on a few gut health dos and don’ts.

First, what is gut health and why should we care? “Really, we can simplify and say bacteria,” says Kimball. “Our gut bacteria — we often refer to them as gut microbes, it sounds better than bacteria — collectively we refer to them as our microbiome.” Kimball says think about waving your hand in front of your belly, which is the entire gastrointestinal system. This is

the area in question. “Sometimes we refer to them as beneficial bugs,” says Kimball.

These beneficial bugs aren’t something we likely think about until something goes awry with our digestion, and we have symptoms of gastrointestinal distress (such as gas and irregularity), but Kimball says we’re learning that gut bacteria also seems to play a role with our weight and has an influence on cardiovascular health, inflammation and cholesterol, as well as affecting mood (think anxiety and depression).

Next, now that we know about beneficial bacteria, Kimball says, we can look at what leads to healthy gut microbiome and a healthier balance of the good bacteria — those beneficial bugs.

“It’s also really healthy behaviors,” she says. “So, we’re going to say ‘hey let’s choose food, and choose lifestyle choices that are going to support a healthy gut microbiome.”

One of those options is favoring probiotics, which are the live bacteria we can consume in certain foods to improve the composition of the gut microbiome. Kimball suggests fermented foods, including yogurt, olives, pickles and sauerkraut. In addition to those foods, in Cooked Pollan devotes thousands of words to long ferment — also known as sourdough — whole wheat, levain bread.

Once we have probiotics down, it’s time to consider prebiotics, which is food for the probiotics. “Think

about the part of the food that’s not digested, [it] becomes food for that bacteria,” says Kimball. “Fiber rich foods. The natural fibers that are in fruits, nuts, vegetables and whole grains.”

It can be overwhelming to overhaul your entire diet, so Kimball advises starting small by, for example, adding a handful of spinach to your smoothie in the morning, working more vegetables into each meal and including fruits and vegetables in (or as) snacks.

“The two things that I think we can say across the board that seem to have the most negative influence on our gut health,” says Kimball. “One is alcohol and the other is sugar.” She says that there is evidence to support that excess alcohol consumption leads to systemic inflammation, which — among a variety of factors — is linked to the health of gut microbiome. Finally, stress can also factor into gut health, so self-care is also key. Focus on positive coping mechanisms such as meditation, exercise, therapy, good sleep hygiene, time with family, friends and pets. That, coupled with a fiber-rich diet, including the above preand probiotic foods is a great way to keep gut health in check.

(Note: For the full version of this interview, tune into Kimball’s July 27 episode of the FUELED Wellness + Nutrition podcast on your favorite listening platform.)

“There are so many [meditation apps]. Headspace and Calm are two favorites. Also — no app needed — simply a good book for bedtime reading. The Happiness Advantage , [by Shawn Achor] and Stillness is the Key , [by Ryan Holiday] are two of my favorites. Infusing positivity before we sleep.”

“My pick [for probiotics] is yogurt, versus bottled probiotics,” says Kimball. “With yogurt we know we’re truly getting live active cultures. Fage yogurt, 2%, is my top pick, nothing added, no artificial sweeteners or flavors.

Molly Kimball, RD, CSSD is a registered dietitian Board Certified as a Specialist in Sports Dietetics by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. She is the Director of Nutrition at Ochsner Fitness Center where she leads a team of lifestyle dietitians, and the founder of Eat Fit, a nonprofit initiative of Ochsner Health. A nutrition journalist whose writing has published in The Times-Picayune | New Orleans Advocate, Kimball also appears weekly on New Orleans’ ABC affiliate WGNO, hosts the podcast, FUELED Wellness + Nutrition and has authored two books, The Eat Fit Cookbook: Chef Inspired Recipes for the Home and Craft: The Eat Fit Guide to Zero Proof Cocktails. Kimball recently received the Louisiana Champion award by the Louisiana Workers’ Compensation Corporation and is a recipient of the Risk Taker award by Ochsner Health leadership. In her spare time, Kimball travels and creates functional pottery.

Kimball says the Genova Diagnostics SIBO hydrogen breath test kit detects small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, “which is a good first screen for gut health.” Available via doctor’s prescription and often covered by insurance.

"If I had to select a supplement, the Jarrow products that are refrigerated. Always [choose] a refrigerated probiotic, not shelfstable, to ensure maximum potential for live active cultures."

Army Navy Relief Day 1942

During WWII, campaigns to raise relief funds for families with men in the military were common. In New Orleans, Pontchartrain Beach manager Harry J. Batt jumped in, declaring Aug 27, 1942 as Army Navy Relief Day. A full afternoon and evening of events was scheduled, and Batt pledged to donate all proceeds to the relief fund.

Ticket sale events for Army Navy Relief Day were occasions unto themselves. Thousands crowded the street while Eddie Polo, a circus strong man known for unusual feats of strength, pulled a truckload of Marines with his hair along the 800 block of Canal St., where a ticket booth was set up. The next day, at the same booth, the finalists of the Miss New Orleans pageant, held at Pontchartrain Beach that same week, appeared and gamely encouraged their many admirers to buy many tickets.

Pontchartrain Beach’s Army Navy Relief Day featured military bands, drills, exercises and a parade. Beach landing operations using Higgins boats (created and built in New Orleans) and a dive-bombing “attack” by three planes on a merchant marine training ship thrilled the large crowds.

Throughout the day, people could see an array of small weapons up close. The exhibit featured a historical overview of combat development, starting with slingshot and stone axes dating as far back as 1300 AD, then on to antique guns, and ending with the modern artillery and chemical warfare equipment being used that year by deployed troops.

In between the military displays was the park’s regular twice-nightly entertainment. That week’s featured performer was James Jamison, Sensational Fire Diver. Jamison started his act with a 100-foot climb to a tiny platform while his assistant would pour gasoline over the water in a 6-foot deep, 15-foot wide tank. Once the gas was lit and the tank was burning, the fire diver would plunge backwards into the tank. That thrilling act was followed up by the comedic Taylor Trout and Company and the Juggling Jesters. Preceding their final show of the evening was a special performance by Russ Papalia’s orchestra, accompanied by Miss New Orleans and Miss Junior New Orleans 1942, who showed off their

skills. – By Seale

PUBLISHER’S NOTICE: All real estate advertised herein is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Ace and the Louisiana Open Housing Act, which make it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination. We will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. For more information, call the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office at 1-800-273-5718.

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Something Blue

Whether you're adding a touch of blue for your wedding weekend, or a date night trip to the Saenger, a pair of Ella Bartlow’s vibrant earrings (shown here in Starburst) are sure to turn heads. Made from Swarovski crystals with 24k gold-plated brass, in a range of styles and cerulean hues, their classic shapes and festive sparkle will stand the test of time. Ella Bartlow, ellabartlow.com