The element requested is either not valid or does not exist 2025Save this storySaveSave this storySaveAll products featured on Architectural Digest are independently selected by our editors we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links The Italianate-style mansion—with its soaring ceilings and stately proportions—was built in 1859 by the architect Henry Howard best known for shaping the antebellum aesthetic of New Orleans through his opulent town houses and plantation homes the AD PRO Directory designer was both thrilled and daunted the pull of New Orleans’s deep-rooted charm was what drew her back to her home state after many years living in California “Everything there just became very formulaic for me,” she explains of her earlier career in the Golden State “When we moved to New Orleans after having children it really opened up so much more.” Reimagining the Garden District gem was simply the icing on the cake Among the few decorative elements left in situ from the previous owners was this hand-painted mural of a Louisiana swamp by the artist Ann Marie Auricchio “Our main inspiration was those Parisian Haussmann-style apartments that maintain the original architecture while blending in modern furniture and kitchens,” Erwin says There were a few elements kept in situ from the previous design including a moody hand-painted mural of a Louisiana swamp “We approached this project with deep respect for the home’s architectural legacy,” adds Amy Petersen who served as Lee Ledbetter & Associates’ project manager for the renovation “The goal was never to modernize for the sake of change but to create a home that supports the rhythm of daily life while allowing the original craftsmanship and character to shine through and making every intervention feel like it had always belonged.” The architecture of the house was the guiding influence for everyone involved “The owners are a fun couple with four young children so we had to make it modern while blending it with the existing [shell],” explains the designer that meant introducing sculptural furnishing with subtle curves and abstract shapes—a 1950s boomerang-style sofa upholstered in bouclé an Atelier Fevrier rug that resembles shattered ceramics a pair of wedge-like Achille armchairs by Pool Studio—and painting the walls and ceiling a warm almond-toned shade of cream as a way of softening the room’s ornate details and gargantuan scale separated from the living room by a series of arches held aloft by Corinthian columns the space revolves around a 12-foot custom Egg Collective dining table and a Lindsey Adelman Branching Disc chandelier “Having to work with these big spaces meant finding the right proportions,” Erwin explains “The volume of each room is so massive that we had to be specific about each piece we put in the room.” A vintage Italian mirror and brass-toned hardware enhance the jewel-box effect balancing the home’s natural grandeur with more intimate spaces was equally as important so they wanted a home that could host everything from a black-tie event to Sunday fundays when they have a bunch of families over,” Erwin says where a vintage Willy Rizzo chrome and wood bar and matching games table evoke the feeling of 1970s glamour it remains very much a family house at heart Lee Ledbetter & Associates designed the kitchen and Erwin selected a functional Bulthaup-designed system with fuss-free Cosentino countertops and a sun-drenched breakfast nook where they can all sit occupying a piece of history doesn’t necessarily mean living in a museum they didn’t want a ‘don’t touch’ house,” she adds “The furniture had to be usable and family-friendly—somewhere the kids could run around and make a mess.” The Garden District mansion was built in 1859 by the architect Henry Howard inject bold contrast into the light-filled room Erwin specified Farrow & Ball’s earthy Green Smoke wall paint for the boy’s room “We made sure the garden furniture was easily moveable, so you can set up a dining table and have an outdoor dinner party,” says Erwin, who sourced a set of Kettal Cala Club Armchairs for the tree-filled backyard. 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DISCLAIMER: The currency conversion is provided for illustration purposes only It is meant only as an approximation based on the latest information available and should not be relied upon for any other purposes We are not responsible for any loss that you may incur as a result of relying on these currency conversions All property prices are as stated by the listing agent The New Orleans Saints finished last in the NFC South during the 2024 NFL season It marked the first time the team ended up in the cellar since the 2008 campaign Moore inherits a roster filled with significant question marks the most glaring of which are at quarterback Will Derek Carr be able to play in 2025 as he battles a shoulder injury? How will 25-year-old rookie second-round pick Tyler Shough fare in place of him if not Those are two questions Moore will quickly have to figure out answers to if New Orleans is to be more competitive during the upcoming NFL season Will the Saints also be able to work their way into the competition especially if Tampa Bay takes a step back as it pivots to a fourth different offensive coordinator in the last four years It could depend on just how difficult New Orleans' schedule ends up being Here's what to know about who the Saints will face during the 2025 NFL season SAINTS TICKETS: Buy tickets to 2025 New Orleans Saints games Saints 2025 opponentsHere's the full list of Saints opponents for 2025: The Saints will play each of their NFC South divisional foes twice during the 2025 NFL season They will also play all of the teams in the AFC East and NFC West as part of the NFL's rotating schedule New Orleans' final three opponents – the Bears Giants and Titans – were determined based on the Saints' last-place finish in the NFC South last season The NFL is set to reveal its 2025 schedule in full on Wednesday the NFL will reveal its entire 18-week slate of matchups and bye weeks for each team This year's schedule release will be held one day earlier than last year's The NFL announced the full 2024 schedule at 8 p.m so fans can expect a similar release time for this year's schedule Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInNEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - Every vote counts That’s especially true in election results for the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office 10-year millage renewal According to election day reporting from all 349 precincts the renewal was narrowly passed by a difference of two votes The Louisiana Secretary of State’s office reports that 12,715 voters supported the renewal and 12,713 opposed it is the winner of the Jefferson Parish District 1 Council race over Andrea Manuel with 56% of the vote All three millage renewals in Jefferson are projected to pass by a wide margin 62 percent of voters approved to renew a 10-year millage for the library system 67 percent of voters in the Consolidated Drainage District No 64 percent of voters in the Consolidated Jefferson Recreation & Community Center & Playground District voted for the 10-year renewal 58 percent of voters were in favor of the sheriff’s sales tax to help pay for salaries and other costs supporting the department 1 of 3 -- 9.75 Mills Renewal - BOC - 10 Yrs 2 of 3 -- 9.80 Mills Renewal - BOC - 10 Yrs 3 of 3 -- 14.63 Mills Renewal - BOC - 10 Yrs 5 -- $490 Parcel Fee In-Lieu - BOC - 20 Yrs In the runoff for District Judge -- 21st Judicial District Court Jenny Richardson Fore wins with 63 percent of the vote over Gov Bogalusa residents voted to renew the school district’s 10-year millage with 75% of the vote For more statewide results, view here See a spelling or grammar error in our story? Click Here to report it Subscribe to the Fox 8 YouTube channel WGNO Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson is breathing a sigh of relief Saturday night Her law enforcement millage renewal passed by just two votes Orleans Parish law enforcement millage renewal passes by two votes wins Jefferson Parish District 1 Council race Coast Guard provides update on oil and gas mixture release near Garden Island Bay Two-day live auction at Thibodaux Firemen's Fair Chief Anne Kirkpatrick called the incident a high-stress situation that went from an officer trying to save a life to that officer and an innocent bystander almost losing their lives Dog shot after biting deputy during Marrero search warrant: JPSO 'Kyle Kinane said comedy is best performed in places that violate the fire code.' Drummer Nikki Glaspie’s funk and soul band is joined by keyboardist Cory Henry. A veteran of the jazz fusion band Snarky Puppy, Henry blends soul, gospel, jazz and R&B, and earlier this year, he won a Best Roots Gospel Album Grammy for “Church.” At 11 p.m. Monday, May 5, at Blue Nile. Tickets $20 via bluenilelive.com Dan Savage’s wildly inclusive home-made porn film fest returns with the first installment of 2025 films. The short films feature all sorts of sex, sexualities, kinks, body types and more. The films include orca furries spicing up their pod, the horror comedy “Camp Baloney,” a dominatrix playing a new role, Jell-O games and more. At 7 and 9:30 p.m. Friday, May 9, and Saturday, May 10, at the Broad Theater. Tickets $25 via humpfilmfest.com The Roadmasters band celebrates their late leader Walter “Wolfman” Washington at Walter Wolfman Washington Memorial Park at Esplanade Avenue and Mystery Street Former Ringling Brothers & Barnum and Bailey Circus clown Nari Tomassetti is back with a new vaudevillian-style show with a troupe of clowns and the Hannah and her Bananas band Chris Wecklein is the top banana in this clown alley and there’s plenty of pratfalls and old-style slapstick and continuing May 16-18 with an additional matinnee at 1 p.m The internet is an easy place to talk to strangers Cajun fiddler Joudan Thibodeaux et les Rodailleurs close out the Wednesday at the Square free concert series in Lafayette Park. Bon Bon Vivant also performs and there’s an art market and food and drink vendors. At 5-8 p.m. Wednesday. Find information at ylcwats.com Rusty Lazer, the DJ outlet for Jay Pennington, throws a birthday dance party for Taurus season with performances by Chore Boys — the duo of Rusty Lazer and DJ Messy — Brookiecita, Soft Serve, C’est Funk, Aliyuhhh and DJ Kuti. Music starts up at 10 p.m. Friday, May 9, at the Saturn Bar. Tickets are $12.47 via dice.fm Valerie Sassyfras stretches into 1980s work-out video dance grooves on her latest album, “Sassersise.” The 10-track album warms up with “Sweet Sassy Sassercise Sassout” and works its way to “Let’s Get Stoned and Screw.” She celebrates with an album release party at 9 p.m. Thursday, May 8, at Banks St. Bar. Tickets $10. Visit valeriesassyfras.com for information The magazine Rolling Stone and Sonesta International Hotels is hosting a five-city event series where musicians interview one another. For the New Orleans edition, vocalist and poet Tarriona “Tank” Ball and The Revivalists frontman David Shaw will sit down together at 8 p.m. Thursday, May 8, at the Royal Sonesta hotel. Ticket packages are $50 and include two tickets and seating. Find info at sonestaevents.com While New Orleans comedy scene is a changing mix of open mics and only one comedy venue the city is hosting more and more comedy festivals Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: By Isaac MacDonald It’s hard to leave New Orleans when the jasmine is in bloom — especially when you’ve spent a decade learning its rhythm The scent floats in the air like a soft spell the sudden sweetness a harbinger of spring and the slow turning of seasons The white flowers seem to appear all at once adorning the tangled vines that trace the city’s fences and phone poles A friend tells me that every city you live in is a kind of love affair They say it takes exactly as long to move as you need it to I think I needed that whole time to learn what this place was trying to teach me — about pace My first home was a house in the Irish Channel a red camelback shotgun with too many roommates and not enough hallways What I remember most are my neighbors sitting on their porches every day long talks interrupted only by the sounds of Mr Okra driving through the streets selling vegetables Compared with what I knew from the East Coast the most striking difference was the pace of things Years later I would learn a word for this   that New Orleans has aspects of a polychronic society in contrast to the more rigid monochronic frame that dominates the rest of the country time is seen as cyclical and relational rather than fixed That shift in orientation touches everything: multitasking Everyone thinks their early 20s were the golden age of the place they lived but New Orleans in 2015–2020 had a special quality to it DJ Soul Sister spinning classic vinyl Saturday’s at Hi Ho Lounge New Orleans was the Goldilocks city — slow enough to feel luxurious small enough to always run into someone at the grocery store I tell them there’s more life in a cubic inch of swamp muck than in a whole pile of Virginia clay The swamp doesn’t offer the postcard peaks of the Sierras or the expansive plains and skies of West Texas One night during a kayaking trip in the Ponchatoula Basin I lay in a hammock strung up between old cypress trees Dusk came with a deafening chorus of frogs That night I happened to be awake at 2:00 am and heard the heavy splash of an alligator rolling off of a log Louisiana can’t just be seen ;  it has to be heard The choice is deciding to stick around long enough to listen One feature of being alive for the last decade is that we’ve had lots of time to soul search about why things are on the wrong track, and how our society has become so polarized. Recently, a heatmap from a 2019 study in Nature called “Ideological Differences in the Expanse of the Moral Circle” made the rounds on the internet Participants were asked to assign moral concern to various groups of people The allocation options began with immediate family and radiated outward to “all things in existence.” The heatmaps could not be more different across political divides: liberal respondents’ allocation was clustered at the outer edge toward the universal; conservatives were more concentrated on their inner circles Each side interpreted the findings to confirm what they already believed Liberals scorned conservatives’ narrow empathy   demonstrated in their recent glee over the dismantling of foreign aid and unlawful detentions what kind of life is it to lead where you can’t extend your care beyond just your family and friends conservatives mocked liberals for caring more about “all natural things in the universe including rocks” than about their grandmothers grandmothers are included in “all natural things”!) reflecting arguments from progressive movement leaders about how internal dynamics are harming our movements for social change (adrienne marie brown & Maurice Mitchell I know from my own experience that it is true: sometimes we are so focused on the universal that we forget to inhabit a lived politics of care I found a model for balancing these perspectives a massive parade snowballing through the Treme and snarling traffic on Claiborne someone had set up a popup bar in the bed of a U-Haul rental second lines are celebrations born from exclusion Black mutual aid societies and pleasure clubs formed in response to lack of access to life insurance due to racial discrimination These clubs held jazz funerals to advertise their services The first line was the mourners; the second line was the band and everyone else Today’s second lines are jazz funerals without a body  That sweet spot between intimacy and universality is something New Orleans does well John or through any number of neighborhoods in the city but also a willingness to extend that graciousness outwards to strangers There is no contradiction between caring deeply for those closest to you and extending that care outward to the broader community Extracting ourselves from the political and spiritual hole we’re in will require this embodied politics—not just about issues but about how we carry ourselves and treat others as we move through the world this is something that organizers in the Deep South have in spades What the progressive movement needs isn’t more ideological refinement or a perfect policy agenda but better ways of being with each other; a little less theory and a little more porch time I’d argue the level of care that New Orleans excels at the most is actually missing from the Nature study It’s a circle that sits between “all people you have met” and “all people in your country” — an allocation for collective care at the community level For the people you haven’t met yet but still feel connected to Lately I’ve been working on how to stop thinking things through so much and just feel I remember one of the first times I really cried because of a beautiful thing:  listening to a recording sent to me by the archivist from the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Archive features legendary performer and songwriter Allen Touissant at Jazz Fest Halfway through the Soul Queen of New Orleans joins him to perform “It’s Raining,” which Touissant wrote but has since become a Thomas classic It is one thing to know intellectually that art and ritual are a tool to metabolize grief It’s another thing to feel it in your bones It’s been a hard year in Louisiana politics — decades of policy progress ripped up overnight bipartisan legislation that ended Louisiana’s reign as the most incarcerated place in the world was eliminated in a two-week special session with the stroke of a pen Governor Landry recently moved to pause the Barataria Sediment Diversion despite the dozens of millions already invested undermining a linchpin of the Coastal Master Plan effort to address land loss Census data tells us 77% of Louisiana residents were born in the state  The Pelican State doesn’t pull too many people in A friend lovingly calls New Orleans the “velvet ditch” :  a place comfy enough to distract you That feeling of being stuck is how I know that it’s time to go I suppose the simplest way to say it is that things have stopped feeling “just right”—that the proverbial porridge has gone cold I’m ready to try something new :  to live closer to my family to swim in a slightly bigger pond where we can fight for more than just the bare minimum my Uber driver tells me she’s trying to leave The governor has cut funding for special education leaving is rarely about lack of love and is almost always about protection It’s striking how many people from the East Coast look down on the South as backward and broken is their own role in the story: the South is full of things they can’t stop using but don’t want to see the byproducts of The gulf absorbs the runoff of all the nation’s choices   from fertilizers washing down the Mississippi to oil rigs drilling up fossilized dinosaur bones to keep the gas pumps from going dry Centuries of extraction and resistance settle in the delta mud My great aunt Anne — a longtime New Yorker and one of the people I most admire—told me not long before she passed about a trick she’d use to fall asleep Starting from the cot she laid in as a young girl in Guangzhou to her north-facing bed in a Brooklyn row house For my own studio in Brooklyn I think I’ll set it up the opposite way: head north Leaving New Orleans is like saying goodbye to a teacher at graduation: you know you’ll see them again but that this chapter is over because they’ve given you enough This place taught me that you can hold universal politics and still care deeply for your neighbors That it’s possible to be passionate about your profession and still move at the beat of your own drum That you can’t participate in every parade but you have time to join more than you think that when you feel something in your bones it marks another cycle ending and beginning another beat in the rhythm of a place that taught me everything I know For more writing from this author visit his Substack here Isaac MacDonald is a consultant and writer with a focus on systems change and narrative He holds an Urban Studies degree from Brown University and was a fellow with Venture for America (2015) and New Leaders Council (2021) Isaac spends his days building the strategy consulting firm Trepwise and nights arranging his collection of miniatures Get smart and engaging news and commentary from architecture and design’s leading minds a Not-For-Profit website dedicated to reconnecting architecture and design to the public There is some serious talent on the offensive line The quarterback position was decimated by injuries itself but it didn't help with the line struggling as well As the 2025 National Football League Draft approached there was a lot of speculation about who the team could pick as their first selection with Kellen Moore as head coach but most of the chatter revolved around playmakers or maybe even a quarterback but did so with an offensive tackle in Kelvin Banks Jr He's a talented guy and Pro Football Focus' Dalton Wasserman thinks he'll get a shot right away to show what he can do as he called him a "virtual lock" to start right away Each of these players was selected within the first 34 picks in the draft and has virtually nothing in their way of gaining a starting spot." This isn't the most shocking thing in the world The Saints wanted to bolster the offensive line and clear did so More NFL: Saints’ Tyler Shough’s Path To Playing Time Shared The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Sports Illustrated or its affiliates All picks and predictions are suggestions only and not a guarantee of success or profit If you or someone you know has a gambling problem crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER Photo courtesy of Stacey Covell: This photo was taken on Saturday evening of the sunset over Lake Alice in Waterport The forecast for this week in Orleans County shows more rain and highs in the 50s or 60s Today there will likely be showers in the afternoon with a high near 55 according to the National Weather Service in Buffalo Monday shows likely showers with the thunderstorm possible after 2 p.m Showers are also likely on Tuesday with a thunderstorm possible after 11 a.m Wednesday is forecast to be partly sunny with a chance for showers after 2 p.m The forecast then includes a partly sunny Thursday with a high near 56 followed by a sunny Friday with a high near 60 A proud member of LION Publishers – supporting local Pearl Jam lead singer Eddie Vedder jumps on the Festival Stage during the seventh day of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans Psychedelic-blues guitarist and producer Gitkin took over the Rhythymporium Tent at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival on Saturday Pearl Jam performs on the Festival Stage during the seventh day of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans Pearl Jam kept things easy on the Festival Stage Saturday during their two-hour headlining set at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival the massive rock band sounded great and played an energetic show that included both big hits — some of them still rock radio staples 30 years on — and a few deeper cuts frontman Eddie Vedder was eager to interact with the crowd and shake things up a little a major act’s show can feel scripted and a little too stiff Vedder joked they were still “making it up as we go.” The area around the Festival Stage was packed and some groups leaned against the back fences in whatever spots they could to still hear the band and see the screens Vedder pointed out a couple of people watching the show from a large boom lift planted on the other side of the fence Pearl Jam scattered their best-known songs through the setlist including “Daughter,” “Black” and “Alive,” which brought out a gigantic sing-a-long from the crowd And Vedder dedicated their song “Even Flow” to former Saints player and ALS healthcare advocate Steve Gleason Between those hits were several songs from the band’s 2024 album “Dark Matter” — one of their best since the ’90s — and a few deeper cuts Vedder acknowledged they don’t often take requests but would accommodate a couple who were both celebrating 50th birthdays and their wedding anniversary with the song “Love Boat Captain,” a song that hasn’t been played much since the early 2000s Pearl Jam invited on photographer and harmonica player Danny Clinch to rock with them on “Red Mosquito,” another deep cut that doesn’t show up often at live shows Pearl Jam often closes their sets with Neil Young’s “Rockin’ in the Free World,” which they did again Saturday they first paired it with The Who’s “Baba O’Riley.” It seemed like the band was having a lot of fun and wanted to jam just a little longer before calling it a night Grammy-winning Icelandic vocalist Laufey (pronounced lay-vay) drew a crowd of mostly younger fans to her headlinging set on the Gentilly Stage… Samantha Fish was on fire on the Festival Stage which was filling up with chairs and people by 2 p.m The blues rocker leaned more into the rock aspects of her music digging into gritty solos for an energetic show At points Fish also played an electrified cigar box guitar “Paper Doll,” and she’s going to be spending the summer touring the U.S. Catch her later this year whenever she comes back home another guitarist had people moving to reverb-soaked There’s a lot of Tuareg rock influence in the music played by Gitkin surf rock and some Western American sounds rolled in Gitkin was joined by drummer Washington Duke and keyboardist-percussionist Simon Moushabeck for the largely instrumental set though Gitkin invited Pimps of Joytime vocalist Carol C There’s a transportive quality to Gitkin’s music It’s danceable but it also wouldn’t be hard to imagine a Gitkin soundtrack to a grainy ’70s Western shot on the fringes of the Sahara Bounce artist HaSizzle performing on the Congo Square Stage during New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival on Saturday Bounce artist HaSizzle is celebrating 20 years of music s decided to turn his show on the Congo Square Stage into a star-studded celebration Flagboy Giz — in a beautiful blue and silver suit — PoppyH Anjelika “Jelly” Joseph and more popped onstage during the fast-paced show Many of those artists have worked with HaSizzle over the years and the fast-paced show covered a lot of the King of Bounce’s catalog from “Rode That Dick Like a Soldier” to “Getcha Sum.” HaSizzle also brought out an expert team of shakers and a brass band for the show It was a party with rainbow balloons and a peacock chair HaSizzle’s machine gun cadence was on full display but he also let his great singing voice shine for a few moments fun bounce show that showed why HaSizzle can lay claim to his crown Jazz Fest's Cultural Exchange Pavilion had a variety of Mexican music Saturday from harmonizing sisters Laura and Celia García of Las Hermana… Email Jake Clapp at jclapp@gambitweekly.com Email notifications are only sent once a day An alleged member of the Islamic State has been arrested in Iraq after being accused of inciting the New Year's Day truck attack in New Orleans that killed 14 people and injured dozens of others The unidentified suspect is believed to be affiliated with the Islamic State militant group according to a statement from Iraq's Supreme Judicial Council The council said Iraqi authorities had received a request from the United States to assist in the investigation of the terror attack that occurred in the early hours of January 1 Following an investigation and evidence analysis Baghdad’s Al-Karkh Investigative Court identified the suspect as a member of ISIS's external operations office and later detained him in Iraq The council added that the suspect will be put on trial under Iraq's anti-terrorism law and the country's "commitment to international cooperation to combat terrorism and enhance global security." The arrest was first reported on April 27 by Al Arabiya a state-owned news television channel based in Riyadh The Federal Bureau of Investigation reiterated on April 29 that it believes the man who rammed his truck into crowds of revelers on New Orleans' famed Bourbon Street acted alone, NOLA.com and CBS News reported The agency previously identified the driver as Shamsud-Din Jabbar an Army veteran and U.S.-born citizen from Texas "While we continue to work with our law enforcement partners we continue to believe that Shamsud Din-Jabbar acted alone in carrying out the attack on Bourbon Street," the FBI said in a statement The investigation into the attack remains ongoing The FBI did not immediately respond to USA TODAY's request for comment During an April 29 news conference announcing an economic development project Jeff Landry said he had been briefed on the arrest in Iraq and directed questions to the FBI's field office in New Orleans "This goes to show you the resiliency of the state and the commitment that our law enforcement partners have in making sure that we’re safe in Louisiana," Landry added State Attorney General Liz Murrill said in a statement on X that she was "grateful to see this action." "The (FBI) has been working with our partners across the globe to ensure we get answers and justice for the victims of this horrific tragedy," Murrill said Extremism: New Year's attacks place new focus on connections between extremism and the U.S. military FBI: New Orleans truck attack suspect was inspired by ISISFBI officials previously said they believed Jabbar acted alone to execute a premeditated "act of terrorism." According to officials, he was inspired by ISIS to carry out the assault that occurred shortly after 3 a.m The FBI said Jabbar was killed in a shootout with police after he plowed his pick-up truck into the New Year's Day crowd, killing 14 people and wounding at least 57 others. Authorities have said the death toll could have been higher after law enforcement recovered two explosive devices hidden in coolers near the scene the FBI said Jabbar posted five videos on an online platform "proclaiming his support for ISIS." Further evidence obtained in the investigation also indicated that Jabbar "became a more devout Muslim in 2022," according to the FBI Jabbar began isolating himself from society," the FBI added Federal agents have been following leads in several states and other countries The agency revealed just days after the attack that Jabbar had previously visited Egypt Cheap and deadly: Why vehicle terror attacks like the Bourbon Street ramming are on the rise Though ISIS was largely defeated in Iraq in 2017 and in Syria in 2019 by a U.S.-led military campaign the militant group has been operating in the shadows with sleeper cells that launch attacks in both countries and other areas across the world "Despite losing many of its leaders and its territory ISIS remains capable of conducting insurgent operations in Iraq and Syria while overseeing at least 19 branches and networks in Africa and Europe," according to the National Counterterrorism Center The group was once based in the Syrian city of Raqqa and the Iraqi city of Mosul and had tens of thousands of fighters from numerous countries the United Nations estimates that the group has about 10,000 fighters Key foreign fighters for the group fled Iraq for neighboring countries, such as Afghanistan, Syria, and Pakistan. Most have joined the Islamic State's Khorasan branch which is active along Iran's borders with Afghanistan and Pakistan A 2023 United Nations report estimated that in Egypt's Sinai province there may be between 800 to 1,200 fighters who remain loyal to the Islamic State The group's presence has also seen a decline in Syria and Libya Contributing: John Bacon and Joey Garrison Members of New Orleans' Krewe of Dreux meet their heroes 'Up In Smoke' cemented Cheech and Chong’s place in American pop culture Scores of cannabis enthusiasts and just plain old stoners mobbed the Mid-City Rouses Wednesday and not just because they had the munchies The weed aficionados had gathered en masse for a chance to meet two of the true titans of THC the only gods of stoner comedy … Tommy Chong and Cheech Marin "I've been quoting from 'Up in Smoke’ since I was in diapers,” said Yuri Mladenoff “I didn’t want to miss out on meeting these cultural icons.” “Up In Smoke” cemented Cheech and Chong’s place in American pop culture Combining hilarious stoner humor with biting commentary on racism the story of two blissed-out potheads trying to play a gig was an instant classic — and majorly influential on generations of young people The iconic duo has been in New Orleans for the past few days hosting a handful of appearances to celebrate the launch of their new THC soda That included a meet and meet-and-greet with some of their most dedicated fans and merch giveaways at the local grocery store THC sodas have become increasingly popular so it was just a matter of time before Cheech and Chong got in on the industry The duo's calorie-free drinks come in different flavors A case of four cans costs $13.99 at Rouses One fan described it as having a similar taste to a sparkling water It also seems like a pretty smart marketing move given that New Orleans is in the middle of Jazz Fest Other eager fans who lined up early included several members of the Krewe of Dreux a Gentilly-based Carnival organization that stinks of weed And even though it's technically not Carnival season the krewe's current king Eric Mark couldn't resist the opportunity to show up in full regalia including a velvety cape adorned with a cannabis leaf “With the krewe’s history of inclusivity and our history of being hippies and (weed) smokers this is like a dream come true for us," he said Despite soaring temperatures fans didn’t seem to mind the wait One devotee who had been in line for three hours told Gambit it provided a "great opportunity to drink beer and smoke joints" with his friends also wore a cannabis-themed cape and a dazzling crown for the occasion lighthearted opportunity to celebrate with friends “This is a real New Orleans moment,” she said Email Sarah Ravits at sravits@gambitweekly.com Lisa and David Wurtzel dance to the music of Yvette Landry & the Jukes at the Sheraton New Orleans Fais Do-Do Stage during the last day of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans The Stooges Brass Band performs on the Congo Square Stage during the last day of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans Scenes from the last day of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans The TBC Brass Band performs on the Festival Stage during the last day of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans Yvette Landry and the Jukes perform on the Sheraton New Orleans Fais Do-D0 Stage during the last day of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans Scenes of the last day of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans News Tips:nolanewstips@theadvocate.com Other questions:subscriberservices@theadvocate.com Were NOLA’s ‘casket girls’ mere brides-to-be There’s something about New Orleans that radiates romance and intrigue The city is ancient by American standards: Founded in 1718 the yellow fever epidemic claimed an estimated 7,000 lives smallpox killed approximately 6,450 New Orleanians The city’s centuries-old mansions with their ornate make for the perfect hangout for ghosts hesitant to leave one of the most beautiful cities in the U.S “The first thing you notice about New Orleans are the burying grounds—the cemeteries—and they’re a cold proposition It’s no wonder that Anne Rice chose New Orleans as the backdrop for her Vampire Chronicles it’s easy to imagine Lestat and Louis wandering through the misty French Quarter I fell under the spell of Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles First published in 1976 with Interview with the Vampire a young man who was transformed into a vampire in 18th-century France and later made New Orleans his home and hunting ground a more introspective vampire who spends much of his immortal life grappling with his loss of humanity and famously hesitates to drink the blood of humans Many of Lestat’s and Louis’s most iconic moments take place in the French Quarter Rice’s novels are the perfect gateway to exploring the city’s vampire lore But fiction has a way of inspiring me to explore related real-life so I began digging into some of the city’s long-unsolved mysteries On my latest trip to my favorite city to while away a long solo weekend I stumbled upon a story more unsettling than the imagined world of Lestat and Louis the oldest surviving building in the entire Mississippi Valley It was here that I first encountered the legend of the Casket Girls a tale so dark that it felt straight out of a gothic novel the legend of these mysterious women—sent from France in the 1700s rumored to have brought something dark with them—was rooted in historical accounts The early colony of La Nouvelle-Orléans struggled with lawlessness and a lack of women willing to marry the mostly male settlers a group of young women were sent by ship from France in 1728 by the King himself to marry settlers and help establish families in the colony Their arduous journey across the Atlantic Ocean took nearly six months sickly and exhausted from the difficult voyage coffin-shaped caskets—wooden chests known as cassettes or casquettes—holding the few personal belongings they possessed the French term “casquette” was misinterpreted as “casket,” fueling eerie associations pale from months spent in the belly of a transatlantic ship their eyes bloodshot from lack of proper nutrition and rest concealed in plain sight in the form of innocent virgins were walking among the streets of Nouvelle-Orléans The young women came to be known as the Filles à la Cassette (“Casket Girls”) who housed them in their stately convent until they were married off to settlers You can still visit the Old Ursuline Convent where the Casket Girls stayed upon arrival in the city almost 300 years ago Located on Chartres Street in the French Quarter it’s the oldest surviving structure in New Orleans and is an outstanding example of French colonial architecture with its symmetrical façade hosting exhibits highlighting the city’s Catholic heritage and French colonial past The convent’s third-floor attic is perhaps one of the spookiest places in all of Crescent City Legend states that when the Casket Girls left to marry Many came to believe that the Casket Girls were vampires or had smuggled vampires into the colony the nuns sealed the attic shut with 800 silver nails Stories began to circulate about bodies found across the city two paranormal investigators camped outside the Old Ursuline Convent hoping to uncover the truth about the Casket Girls They reported unexplained noises and shadowy figures moving near the attic windows and while no definitive proof of vampires was ever found The legend of the Casket Girls and their mysterious arrival in 18th-century New Orleans is only the beginning of the city’s deep-rooted vampire lore Established in 1833 and nestled in the Garden District, Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 is a graveyard where whispers of vampires and lingering spirits are as much a part of the landscape as its ornate tombs and crumbling crypts from prominent families to victims of the yellow fever epidemic Unlike many cemeteries in the United States a necessity given New Orleans’ high water table—traditional graves simply wouldn’t hold Many visitors to the old cemetery claim to have spotted shadowy figures breezing through the tombstones Perhaps the most famous tomb here is the Karstendiek family crypt Often called “Lestat’s Tomb,” the Gothic crypt could easily represent a vampire’s final resting place Fans of Anne Rice’s novels have long associated the tomb with Lestat de Lioncourt of Interview making it a favorite pilgrimage site for vampire enthusiasts The LaLaurie Mansion (1140 Royal St) is arguably the most haunted location in the city Born during the era of Spanish rule in Louisiana she married three times over her years in New Orleans She maintained a respected social standing until April 10 when a fire broke out at her mansion on Royal Street According to reports in the New Orleans Bee more or less horribly mutilated … suspended by the neck with their limbs apparently stretched and torn from one extremity to the other” were found clinging to life in the mansion LaLaurie’s elderly cook found chained to the stove by her ankle was rescued and later stated that she had set the fire as a suicide attempt because she feared being tortured or killed noting that anyone taken to the uppermost room “never came back.” Many believed that LaLaurie was attempting to unlock the secrets of immortality—a pursuit eerily reminiscent of vampiric lore The revelation of her cruel actions sparked public outrage Furious New Orleanians stormed the mansion vanishing from the city where her reputation had once flourished While the mansion that stands on the grounds of the LaLaurie Mansion today is privately owned and not open for public tours A short stroll away, Boutique du Vampyre immerses visitors in the world of New Orleans’ vampire subculture Take your vampire persona to the next level with custom-made fangs crafted just for you (by appointment only) or even triple sets inspired by Interview with the Vampire A skilled fangsmith will sculpt your fangs to fit your teeth perfectly The session takes about 30 minutes; you’ll leave with your new fangs ready to wear Among the elaborate Victorian mansions of the city’s uptown Garden District grand residence is said to have inspired The Witching Hour—and as you walk along these streets lined with towering oaks picture Lestat and Louis brooding beneath the gas lamps watching time slip through their immortal fingers one acclaimed restaurant offers a spine-tingling dining experience The stakes were high when wealthy merchant Pierre Antoine Lepardi Jourdan lost his beloved home at 801 Chartes Street in a risky poker game he tragically ended his life on the second floor of his 18th-century mansion overlooking Jackson Square Since then, Muriel’s Jackson Square has embraced its eerie legacy, becoming New Orleans’ most infamous haunted restaurant. Many say Jourdan’s spirit never left the second floor and that he occasionally appears as a glowing orb of light. In a nod to their spectral guest, Muriel’s keeps a table permanently set for him, so you can dine on exquisite Creole cuisine and sip handcrafted cocktails solo with the feeling that you’re never truly alone. Embed on your websiteClose×Copy the code below to embed the WBUR audio player on your site<iframe width="100%" height="124" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" src="https://player.wbur.org/hereandnow/2025/05/02/la-mixantena-de-santa-cecilia"></iframe> a band that elevates the rich musical traditions of Guerrero and the Afro-Mexican rhythms of Mexico’s Pacific coast Music journalist Betto Arcos tells us more about them Richard Windmann - Contributing Writer But what started as a beacon of independence and resilience slowly began to unravel in ways far more insidious than any foreign invasion The enemy would not come wearing redcoats but instead would arrive in boardrooms and street corners soaked in the blood of the innocent and housing covenants ensured that not all of New Orleans got to celebrate Fat Tuesday equally the city had become a case study in systemic decay beginning with the shipping and manufacturing exodus of the 1950s and accelerating through the 1980s its economy had become dangerously dependent on tourism becoming both dealers and customers before they hit puberty New Orleans became one of the murder capitals of the world Entire communities were paralyzed by the sound of gunfire at night and the deafening silence of political indifference during the day The streets bled while those in power toasted at Galatoire’s immune to the rot that infected everything below the Garden District Even federal dollars, those meant to bring relief, were caught in the sticky web of corruption. Post Katrina aid became a buffet for contractors and so did the last illusions of competent governance August 29, 2005. Hurricane Katrina was not just a natural disaster a divine audit that uncovered every lie New Orleans told itself But perhaps the greatest tragedy was not the storm but the response The media painted the people of New Orleans as looters and thugs Entire neighborhoods were bought for pennies by developers and investors replacing it with mixed income developments that were heavy on condos and light on compassion Bernard projects home for generations were pushed out hospitality workers smiling through clenched teeth while working two jobs and living in mold infested apartments they could barely afford Education in New Orleans became an experiment the charter school movement seized the opportunity to bulldoze the public school system While reformers bragged about graduation rates and test scores thousands of students were quietly left behind staffed by temporary Teach for America recruits lacked cultural competence and community connection Children were taught how to say “My pleasure” instead of “No I will not work this shift without overtime.” They were prepared for service or connections to start anything besides a food truck It breathes through brass bands that refuse to die It shouts from the stoops of grandmothers who raise generations on faith and red beans It lingers in the slow dance of a Sunday second line and the drumbeat of Congo Square Young Black entrepreneurs are reclaiming their space in the city Grassroots artists are painting over blight Elders are returning to teach the language and recipes that capitalism tried to sterilize Now, in 2025, New Orleans stands at a precipice. The crime remains high. The inequality still yawns wide The scars of Katrina still pulse in the soil and in the soul Children of the Lower Nine are starting nonprofits. Grandchildren of Treme are running for office. High schoolers in Gentilly are coding apps to report blight. Young women in the Seventh Ward are organizing against landlords. Former gang members are becoming mentors New Orleanians are beginning to understand that no cavalry is coming from Baton Rouge The city is turning its pain into policy. Survivors are becoming leaders. The future of New Orleans is no longer being auctioned to the highest bidder, it is being written, note by note, by those who refused to leave, refused to be erased Because New Orleans never forgot how to care From the battlefield of Chalmette to the battlefield of inequality And the next generation is ready to set the world ablaze Covid-19 is challenging the way we conduct business As small businesses suffer economic losses they aren’t able to spend money advertising Please donate today to help us sustain local independent journalism and allow us to continue to offer subscription-free coverage of progressive issues Thank you,Scott PloofPublisherBig Easy Magazine and website in this browser for the next time I comment Copyright © 2024 Big Easy Magazine - Voice of New Orleans