Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInNEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - The New Orleans music venue Ohm Lounge expressed “regret” after allowing a performer into its club and onto its stage Saturday night (May 3) wearing a shirt emblazoned with a large swastika on the back.
“We regret that this occurred within our space and are taking immediate action to ensure it does not happen again,” Ohm Lounge ownership and management said Sunday in an Instagram post. The nightclub promised an updated code of conduct, revised performance guidelines and additional training for staff “to better recognize and address attire or imagery that could be perceived as threatening, hostile or divisive -- regardless of intent.”
The nightclub did not elaborate on what it might consider acceptable intent of displaying a swastika, seen for more than 80 years as the most identifiable symbol of Nazi Germany.
The incident unfolded Saturday during a show featuring rapper Waka Flocka Flame, though the venue claimed it had not known about it until seeing social media posts after the performance ended.
“Following last night’s Waka Flocka performance, we were made aware that a New Orleans-based co-performing artist wore apparel featuring a symbol widely recognized as one of hate and violence,” the statement said. “This symbol has no place in our venue, our values, or our city. Notably, Waka Flocka’s manager, who is Jewish, was just as shocked and disturbed to learn how the situation unfolded online today.”
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But several people who said they attended the show posted on social media that they had complained immediately to Ohm staff and even left the performance early because of the imagery on stage
Many identified the performer who wore the shirt as New Orleans-based rapper Loudiene
“@wakaflocka Knew I Was High Risk Before I Sign A Deal.”
Loudiene also dismissed the criticism with an Instagram story post Sunday
saying “y’all gotta chill” over his attire because he is “not no (expletive) Nazi.”
Waka Flocka Flame has not commented on Loudiene or his fashion statement
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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
The New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL) and the Paris Musketeers of the European League of Football (ELF) are proud to announce a groundbreaking strategic partnership aimed at uniting fan bases
enhancing cross-continental football experiences
and fostering the growth of American football in Europe
This collaboration will encompass a series of joint initiatives
and community programs in both New Orleans and Paris
The partnership seeks to create immersive experiences for fans
and cultural exchange events that celebrate the rich heritage of both teams
"We are proud to announce our partnership with the Paris Musketeers
a collaboration that reflects our ongoing commitment to growing the game of football globally," said Dennis Lauscha
"This strategic alliance provides a valuable opportunity to expand the reach of the Saints brand
and share the rich tradition and passion of our organization with fans around the world."
expressed enthusiasm about the alliance: "Joining forces with the New Orleans Saints is a significant milestone for our organization
We look forward to collaborating on initiatives that will not only enhance the fan experience but also contribute to the development of American football in France and beyond
One of our first joint initiatives will be the launch of a halftime flag football series with local youth groups at our home games this season."
the Saints and Musketeers will also explore opportunities for shared training programs
and the development of digital content tailored to engage fans in both markets
The collaboration underscores a mutual commitment to innovation
and the global expansion of American football
have quickly emerged as a competitive force in the ELF
showcasing a dedication to excellence and a growing fan base in France
bring decades of experience and a passionate following to the partnership
Further details about upcoming events and initiatives resulting from this partnership will be announced in the coming months
About the Paris MusketeersThe Paris Musketeers are a professional American football team competing in the European League of Football
the Musketeers have quickly established themselves as a dynamic and competitive team
dedicated to promoting American football in France and engaging with a growing community of fans
Watch the New Orleans Saints select Oklahoma linebacker Danny Stutsman in Round 4 of the 2025 NFL Draft with the 112th overall pick
member of the French national team announced the pick live in Paris alongside Mona Pagamento and Meenah Gormezano
Cette collaboration englobera une série d'initiatives conjointes
des activités d'engagement des fans et des programmes communautaires à la Nouvelle-Orléans et à Paris
the NFL app and NFL+ for Schedule Release '25
Three-time All-Pro missed all of 2024 season with knee injury
Annual golf tournament features current New Orleans Saints players
coaches and front office personnel and Saints legends
Five-year deal kicks off with 2025-26 Saints and Pelicans seasons
Legendary Saints quarterback Archie Manning says Simmons was 'the best'
Upwards of 3,000 attendees of all ages across the region engaged in hands-on learning
The Joe Gemelli "Fleur-De-Lis" Award winner served on the Saints Athletic Training staff for 44 years
one of the longest tenured members of the Saints organization
DC Brandon Staley to coaching roster ahead of 2025 NFL season
10 schools will be a part of the growing program that empowers young female athletes and fosters a passion for football
There’s no sign of the speculation slowing down and frankly
that’s likely going to only continue as the offseason continues
It has already been a pretty wild offseason for the Saints with the 2025 NFL Draft
and the hiring of Kellen Moore as the team’s head coach
It’s been a rollercoaster of an offseason and it took another turn on Sunday as journeyman corner Eli Apple actually opened up and apologized to Saints fans for the online beef he's had with the team in the past, as shared by ReadWrite's Kyle Odegard
that was one of my biggest mistakes for sure
It was just one of those moments where you are winning and feeling a type of way
I was just sitting there watching football and making my critiques
and then I’m still getting bad replies from the Saints fans
It’s those moments where you let a few bad fans kind of dictate something
My comments went and definitely rubbed people the wrong way
I got messages from everybody in New Orleans
I retract those statements and send nothing but love to everyone out there..
"(The Saints) brought me in and embraced everything about me
Those are probably some of my favorite moments playing football
A lot of guys from Ohio State helped with that transition being traded (from the New York Giants)
gotta pack up everything in a matter of hours
a completely different city that I’ve never been to before.’ And when I got there
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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 AM CREATIVE FINISHES
“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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but their performance turned out to be a triumph of energy
and gratitude towards a city that’s always had their back
Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town
Better Man/Save It For Later (The English Beat)
Rockin’ In The Free World (Neil Young)
Pearl Jam has a deep history of epic shows in New Orleans
and this marked their third appearance at the legendary Jazz Fest
cementing once again their special connection with the city and the festival
immediately paying homage to New Orleans and the Jazz Fest during the break
The band then dropped a “festival-style” set full of crowd-pleasers
but they also threw in some hidden gems for the hardcore fans
like the killer double-header of Tremor Christ and Love Boat Captain
Before Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town
Eddie spoke about the importance of activism and encouraged everyone not to feel alone: “Don’t just react
Eddie gave a shout-out to Steve Gleason in the crowd
saying he’d inspire Mike to bring his A-game — and sure enough
McCready unleashed a scorching solo that set the place on fire
Some of the most intense moments came when the crowd belted out Black
and a jaw-dropping version of Red Mosquito with Danny Clinch playing harmonica
It’s worth mentioning that the original setlist had two more tracks from Dark Matter — the title track and Won’t Tell — but those got swapped at the last minute
with Red Mosquito taking Dark Matter’s spot
Eddie praised the crowd for their respect and energy: “In Florida
we had to stop a few times because people were getting sick
everything’s been smooth sailing.”
The closing stretch was an absolute thrill: Better Man
Porch (with Eddie waving at the fans on the side bleachers)
Pearl Jam turned their concert into a collective celebration
and a setlist that hit all the right notes — from the long-time fans to the newcomers hearing them for the first time
He created pearljamonline.it in 2001 and wrote the first edition of “Pearl Jam Evolution” in 2009 along with his wife Daria
he is behind 2 podcasts: “Pearl Jam dalla A alla Z” and “Fuori Orario Not Another Podcast”
He continues relentlessly to try to find “beautiful melodies that say terrible things”
which captures the ups and downs of falling hard with a sense of humor
Last month, after I ran out of friends to text about KISS, I called up Heaven for a conversation about bounce culture and its commercialization and the lovergirl sensibilities of her breakout EP. She was at home in Atlanta, where she relocated from New Orleans not too long ago, joining much of her family who have been living in the hip-hop hotspot since Hurricane Katrina.
OnlyHeaven: I just like to talk about real-life situations, things people can relate to. That could be love or just something about myself.
On “Never Hard,” I go, “She said, I got a little stomach, that’s from eating niggas bread.” Like, I’m a big girl, so sometimes people try to come for me, though they know not to come for me for real. They’ll be like, “Oh, she got a stomach, da, da, da.” So I turned it into that’s from eating all the nigga’s bread, that’s like taking his money.
[Laughs.] Yeah, like when I went, “I got your text nigga/Say where I’m at nigga/Really been on your mind,” I had really got a text from someone who had tried to be weird with me, and I kind of just brushed them off. I remember they hit me up late at night and then hit me up again talking about “good morning.” So I was like, “Nigga, I really been on your mind, huh?” and was saying it all day to myself until I went to the studio.
If I rapped about you, I told you about it. I’m gonna send you the song and say, “This is about you.” But one time someone reached out to me, you know what… let me not be too messy with you.
OK. Somebody reached out and thought my song “No Friends” was about them. And I had to be like, “Sir, you’re not even relevant.” People be thinkin’ songs about them because they feel guilty, but a lot of my music is about recent exes or things my friends told me.
I’m so sweet. I think I’m a hopeless romantic because I don’t give nobody a chance. But, once I’m on you, I’m on you. But, also, once I’m off you, I’m off you.
Ass shaking. Booty poppin’. Everybody cute. Everybody fly. It could be different. It could be dangerous. You never know. But it stay fun.
It’s just the environment. I grew up all over New Orleans, Uptown, Seventh Ward, wherever. I went back to New Orleans last week and just being away let me look around and be like, “We are really our own goddamn everything.” Everything about New Orleans is its own world.
I believe so. The music back then was a lot more raw. It’s still explicit now, but it used to be even more explicit. They got straight to the point. Things are more commercial now.
Definitely Sissy Nobby; he don’t care what you see. And Kelly Pounchin. Kelly not really spoke on, but they was so raw; rest in peace.
I love Calliope Ceedy. I always knew I wanted to be a bounce artist, but her music was always it to me. She had the energy, always sounded like she was having fun. It sounded like 100% her. I actually ran into her a couple of months ago.
Big Freedia doing work with Beyoncé. VickeeLo collabing with Meg Thee Stallion. That SupahBadd song, the one where it goes, “There’s a meeting in my bedroom.” All of that showed me that bounce was bubbling outside of the city. Of course, Magnolia Shorty had been doing that, but back then, it was just her.
I feel it’s all positive because I don’t want bounce to just be a New Orleans thing. I want to take it worldwide. Some people in New Orleans don’t like when people take it outta town, but I feel without that we’ll all be stuck in one place.
No, every artist that has come up to me wants me to do me, like Drake and artists of that caliber.
He reached out. I can’t talk too much about it, but he saw my video for “In Here” on WorldStar. He wanted me to do something for his project with PartyNextDoor. We did something and he really wanted it to be on his album, but things happen.
South by Southwest showed me so much love, it inspired me. Every stage was crazy and a lot of people already knew who I was. Even the white people were dancing.
Yeah, it’s kind of challenging. It’s hard to make something that will hit at home and everywhere else, but I try not to think about it too much. I try to tell myself that I got my biggest songs by not watering myself down.
Yeah, that’s why I look at older things as a blueprint. That’s what keeps it New Orleans. I’ll even incorporate old lines or samples from old bounce into my music; that’s the foundation.
I used to sing before I rapped. My family would make me sing all the time. My aunt would make me sing in church, I’d be practicing for weeks for her to call me up for my solo. I’d always do the craziest leg movements, and she’d be like, “Put your leg down.” My aunt was really serious about it.
Well, it was my uncle’s funeral. And they wanted me to sing “Take Me to the King.” So I was singing and I messed up a note. I said, “Ooops,” and walked right off the stage and went back to my seat. After that, they was like “you not singing anymore.” [Laughs.]
I didn’t use to when I first started; it was really repetitive, and I didn’t like my own music that much. I would tell everyone to turn me off. When I popped back up with “Mirror” I was telling more stories and it all just clicked for me. It felt like I found my sound.
I’m a big energy person, so I like Anycia. I like what she’s doing and the image she’s giving off for young Black women. She came from the trenches; she built herself up; she got that sweet relationship with 4Batz. It’s so beautiful to watch.
I love when people call me a bounce artist or bounce rapper. It’s what makes me stand out. Everywhere I go, I’m like, “Hi, I’m Heaven; I’m a bounce artist.” I love bounce music; it’s all I ever wanted to be. It’s what’s taking me everywhere. I would never take that away from myself.
WGNO
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Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson is breathing a sigh of relief Saturday night
Her law enforcement millage renewal passed by just two votes
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wins Jefferson Parish District 1 Council race
Coast Guard provides update on oil and gas mixture release near Garden Island Bay
NEW ORLEANS and MOBILE, Ala. – Agreements have been reached for new twice-daily Amtrak intercity train service along the Mississippi Gulf Coast between New Orleans and Mobile, Ala. Starting this summer, the new state-sponsored Amtrak Mardi Gras Service will offer convenient morning and evening departures from both cities
Both New Orleans and Mobile have a long history of Mardi Gras celebrations – as do the communities in Coastal Mississippi
“Amtrak Mardi Gras Service is a natural choice for the name of the new trains that will reflect the region’s distinctive culture,” said Amtrak President Roger Harris
“Travel should be about more than just getting somewhere
Our goal is to have some of that festive Mardi Gras feeling on every trip
sharing the culture of the Gulf Coast region while connecting with the rest of the Amtrak network.”
scenic and productive choice than driving will have their first opportunity to ride Amtrak trains in almost 20 years,” Harris added
“With the launch of the Amtrak Mardi Gras Service, we are not just restoring a transportation link; we are celebrating the vibrant culture and community spirit of the Gulf Coast,” said Joe Donahue, Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development
boost local economies and create memorable experiences for travelers who wish to explore the beautiful landscapes and rich heritage of our region.”
I’m excited about introducing another mode of transit to our community and the impact this infrastructure enhancement will have on our local economy,” Busby added
“Mobile and New Orleans have always shared a rich cultural heritage and renewing Amtrak service will strengthen our ties to the Crescent City and the Mississippi Gulf Coast.” said Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson
“We are so excited to welcome new visitors from those communities when the Amtrak Mardi Gras Service launches later this year
It will be an asset to our citizens and another enhancement to Mobile’s growing downtown waterfront.”
“It’s incredibly exciting to announce the name for this new service that will have such a positive impact in our three states,” said Southern Rail Commission (SRC) Chairman Knox Ross
“This service will open the Mississippi Gulf Coast to a whole new tourism market
making already wonderful places even better by supporting local businesses
and strengthening the entire southern region’s infrastructure and economy
“The Southern Rail Commission couldn’t be prouder to see this service come to reality
and we can’t wait to ride the train with y’all,” Ross added
Amtrak will operate this service under contracts with the states of Louisiana and Mississippi, financial support by the City of Mobile, and with the long-time backing of the SRC. Including this new service, Amtrak will operate 31 state-sponsored routes for 23 state and agency partners in 20 states.
Services such as these are the fastest growing Amtrak business segment, with active efforts in many more states to expand the Amtrak network in partnership with the Federal Railroad Administration
“This is a big step forward in the restoration process of Gulf Coast Rail. Because of collaborations between state and local government and economic development organizations, there will be more opportunities for Mississippians along the Gulf Coast. I am grateful to Amtrak for helping restore this line after nearly two decades of no service. Mississippians deserve access to reliable transportation,” said Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).
Chair of the U.S Senate Transportation-Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee
“I’m excited for what the Amtrak Mardi Gras Service will bring to New Orleans and greater Gulf Coast community! Thanks to the transformative Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this investment demonstrates our commitment to rebuilding stronger and more connected communities. The New Orleans to Mobile Amtrak line is more than a route; it’s a bridge to growth and prosperity for generations to come. All aboard!” said Rep. Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-La.).
Amtrak Advisory | Servicer Temporarily Disrupted in and out of New York Penn Station
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Service Adjustment Update: As of 5:56 PM ET
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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
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playTyler Shough's NFL draft profile (1:00)Check out Louisville QB Tyler Shough's NFL draft resume
New Orleans Saints coach Kellen Moore cracked open the door to quarterback speculation in February when he didn't appear to make a firm commitment to Derek Carr
And in the second round of the 2025 NFL draft
The team selected Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough with the No. 40 pick on Friday night after bypassing the position with their first-round pick (New Orleans selected Texas offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr
Shough will arrive in New Orleans amid questions about Carr
who has not been in attendance during the voluntary part of the offseason program
The Saints confirmed Carr has a shoulder injury during a pre-draft press conference on Wednesday but did not provide any further clarity about the veteran quarterback
with Moore saying the team will "let that process play itself out."
If Carr elects to stay away from the team when offseason practices begin in May, Shough will be sharing time with Spencer Rattler, the primary starter as a rookie when Carr was injured last year, and Jake Haener
who started one game in 2024 but was benched for Rattler after a half
"My goal is to come in there and compete and do everything I can to make the team better," Shough said Friday after being drafted
that's my whole goal and I'm just really excited to work with the coaches and see a lot of my close friends and teammates that are already there
just super fired up for the opportunity and obviously a great franchise and a great history of quarterbacks."
With a potential quarterback controversy brewing in New Orleans
Saints reporter Katherine Terrell answers the biggest questions about the situation with help from NFL insider Dan Graziano
The Saints haven't invested significant draft capital in any quarterback during Loomis' tenure
so this might be their way of giving the new coach his quarterback
It certainly seems that way after a rocky beginning to Moore's relationship with Carr
whose status for the 2025 season and beyond is unknown
But even taking Carr out of the equation won't guarantee Shough sliding into the top spot
The Saints have selected QBs in the last three drafts
taking Rattler with a fifth-round pick last year
While Rattler went 0-6 in his starts for an injured Carr
it was under difficult circumstances that included Allen being fired during the season and a slew of injuries on offense
it's essentially a blank slate with a new coaching staff in place
will likely get a chance to try to prove himself in camp against the rookie
this would leave either Haener or DiNucci as the odd man out
One point in Shough's favor is how much time he's already spent with members of the Saints coaching staff at the Senior Bowl, Louisville's pro day and during a pre-draft visit on April 11 -- the day news of Carr's injury broke publicly. Shough said that he's already had good conversations with Moore
and they talked in depth about his responsibilities at Louisville and how he viewed the game
Shough said his visit with Moore was one of his favorites from the draft process because Moore had a unique perspective on how he viewed negative plays
"You're going to have to talk about bad plays and bad plays are going to happen," Shough said
He used it as an opportunity to grow and it was fixable and I really love that perspective from him because he understands the position
that it's all analytical and you can grow every single snap and play
So I love that and I took a lot out of it." -- Terrell
since they have no idea if Carr is going to play and Shough is likely an upgrade over Rattler
Shough is highly regarded by people around the league as a prospect
and his age and experience indicate that he might be able to play right away
I just don't know how many people were sitting around this offseason thinking thoughts that included the word "Saints" and also the words "playoff chances." If Shough is the starter
he's going to be a rookie quarterback playing for a first-time head coach on a team with
Even after using their first-round pick on an offensive lineman
The receivers have had problems staying healthy
There's a lot of draft left and everyone has at least some degree of hope this time of year. Who knows? Maybe Shough is great out of the gate and receivers Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed both get to 1,000 receiving yards
it feels like Shough's job is going to be to help operate New Orleans' transition through a rebuilding period
Shough started his college career at Oregon, where he backed up Justin Herbert
He missed significant time with injuries in his three seasons at Texas Tech and had his best season in 2024 at Louisville
225 pounds) for an NFL quarterback and makes some impressive throws
He passes into tight windows over the middle and drops the ball into the bucket throwing downfield
Shough stands in and makes plays in the face of pressure
He protects the ball well and keeps his eyes downfield as he climbs the pocket
He extends plays and makes off-platform throws
Shough ran well at the combine with a 4.63-second 40-yard dash
and his speed makes him a threat to scramble for first downs
The New Orleans Pelicans have Joe Dumars as their new president of basketball operations, the team announced Wednesday. The move comes one day after the team fired lead executive David Griffin
led the Detroit Pistons' front office from 2000-2014 and helped guide the franchise to the 2004 title
has worked in the NBA's league office as the executive vice president and head of basketball operations since 2022
"Joe's achievements as a renowned Hall of Fame player
NBA champion and front office executive are indisputable," Pelicans Governor Gayle Benson said in a statement
"I have a great deal of respect for what Joe has already accomplished as a player and executive
but more importantly I admire his character and leadership
His vast experience and relationships throughout the NBA
along with his strong leadership qualities
will have a tremendous impact on our organization and our goal of winning an NBA championship
he was involved in every aspect of basketball operations and got unparalleled perspective and knowledge of the most effective personnel
strategy and tactics throughout the league
That will benefit our team immediately as we move forward
and their children Jordan and Aren to the Pelicans."
Dumars was the NBA's Executive of the Year in 2003
and ESPN named him as the frontrunner for the Pelicans job shortly after Griffin's dismissal
Dumars was a six-time All-Star as a player and was part of the Pistons' back-to-back championship teams in 1989 and 1990
Griffin, fired by New Orleans Monday, took over the Pelicans before the 2019-20 season after winning a championship with the 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers
a rash of injuries and several coaching changes ultimately doomed his once-promising tenure in New Orleans
The news of Griffin's firing came one day after the Pelicans finished the 2024-25 season with the fourth-worst record in the NBA at 21-61
The Pelicans' press release announcing Griffin's ousting did not mention coach Willie Green
Green was considered to be on the hot seat after the dismal season
"After considerable thought and evaluation
I have decided to relieve David Griffin of his duties as executive vice president of basketball operations," Pelicans owner Gayle Benson said in a statement
but one that I feel is necessary at this time to bring a fresh approach to our front office and build a culture that will deliver sustainable success
I am committed to hiring the right person to lead our basketball operations department and deliver an NBA Championship to our city
I am truly appreciative of David for his leadership and many contributions to the Pelicans organization and the New Orleans community over the last six years
and their family all the best moving forward."
Griffin was one of the most sought-after executives in basketball when he surprisingly became available in 2018, following a breakdown in extension talks with Cleveland. He took over the Pelicans a year later and immediately won the 2019 NBA Draft lottery, which gave New Orleans the chance to draft Zion Williamson
Williamson has mostly lived up to the billing
The trouble is that he has barely ever been available to play for the Pelicans
He has played just 214 regular-season games in six years in New Orleans and only 30 in 2024-25
Williamson has three years remaining on his current contract
but his future with the organization is a constant question
How to build around -- or potentially trade -- Williamson will be one of the most-pressing questions facing Dumars as he takes over the job
The Pelicans are hoping for more luck in next month's Draft Lottery
New Orleans has a 12.5% chance at landing the No
1 pick and the chance to draft Duke phenom Cooper Flagg
The Pels have a 48.1% chance of landing a top-four pick
Griffin also cycled through coaches in his role in New Orleans
he inherited Alvin Gentry as his head coach
and and then fired him after only one year
the Pelicans have not won a playoff series
Griffin generally built talented rosters in New Orleans. He drafted extremely well, landing key players like Trey Murphy, Herb Jones, Jose Alvarado and Yves Missi outside of the lottery
and he never built a team capable of surviving Williamson's frequent absences
The result is a tenure with the Pelicans that once seemed like it would yield consistent contention
The announcement came a day after the Pelicans defeated the Charlotte Hornets 98-94 without Williamson (bone bruise in his back) and McCollum (bone bruise in his right foot) in the lineup
Williamson's latest setback ensures the 2019 No
1 pick will play 30 games or fewer for the fourth time in six years
The 24-year-old sustained the lower-back injury during a fall March 19 at Minnesota and sat out of New Orleans' next five games
Over his eight appearances prior to the injury
Williamson had logged his first two career triple-doubles
New Orleans announced that Williamson's rehabilitation plan will consist of rest and treatment
Among the NBA players who have debuted since the 1997-98 season
Williamson ranks as the only one to average at least 15 points in the paint while shooting at least 55% in each of the first five seasons he played
he has missed more games (258) than he has played (214)
The two-time All-Star finishes the season with averages of 24.6 points
7.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists with 1.2 steals in 30 games
suffered his injury during a 40-point performance in a loss to Detroit on March 23
the guard will follow a rehab program of treatment and rest
None of the three Pelicans who averaged at least 20 points per game -- Williamson, McCollum and Trey Murphy III (torn labrum) -- were able finish the season
Multi-talented participants showed off their skills at Day 1 of the preliminary auditions to select the 2025 New Orleans Saints Cheer Krewe presented by Entergy on Saturday
Multi-talented participants showed off their skills at Day 1 of the finalist training camp to select the 2025 New Orleans Saints Cheer Krewe presented by Entergy on Sunday
Check out the best photos of Saints Cheer Krewe member Zachary throughout the 2024 New Orleans Saints season
Check out the best photos of Saints Cheer Krewe member Xavier throughout the 2024 New Orleans Saints season
Check out the best photos of Saints Cheer Krewe member Tyler throughout the 2024 New Orleans Saints season
Check out the best photos of Saints Cheer Krewe member Temer throughout the 2024 New Orleans Saints season
Check out the best photos of Saints Cheer Krewe member Taylor throughout the 2024 New Orleans Saints season
Check out the best photos of Saints Cheer Krewe member Sophia throughout the 2024 New Orleans Saints season
New Orleans Saints Cheer Krewe hosted their annual audition workshops for hopefuls to practice their skills and learn choreography ahead of the 2025 Saints Cheer Krewe Auditions presented by Entergy
Check out the best photos of Saints Cheer Krewe member Sara throughout the 2024 New Orleans Saints season
Check out the best photos of Saints Cheer Krewe member Sammie throughout the 2024 New Orleans Saints season
Check out the best photos of Saints Cheer Krewe member Roxie throughout the 2024 New Orleans Saints season
Check out the best photos of Saints Cheer Krewe member Robyn throughout the 2024 New Orleans Saints season
Julie Gable is co-executive director of Grow Dat Youth Farm
Grow Dat Youth Farm co-executive director Julie Gable told Gambit about their mission
Grow Dat Youth Farm spans seven acres in New Orleans City Park and offers programs for young people to develop leadership skills and learn how to grow their own food
The nonprofit farm also hosts workshops for the general public and sells annual farm shares
which get members a weekly supply of fresh produce
Julie Gable is Grow Dat Youth Farms’ co-executive director
It's a family-style dinner on-site that highlights many of the fruits
international influences on New Orleans cuisine
For more information or tickets, visit growdatyouthfarm.org
Julie Gable: It is an after-school program in a sense
We bring together a diverse group of young people
and we do that based on the premise of growing food
from total beginners to advanced leadership programs
Young people are putting their hands in the dirt and learning how something grows from a small seed to becoming a meal on the plate
Food doesn’t just appear on the shelves; there’s a lot of work involved in how you grow that food
This is what some people do for a living every day
it’s the people who aren’t paid [fair wages]
They get paid an hourly wage to come and grow food
learn about sustainable agriculture and learn about climate change and the environment in general
But they only spend about 50% of the time doing agricultural tasks
They are also in programs that teach job readiness skills
They are learning that it’s OK to disagree
and it’s not appropriate to bring people down.” There are also workshops about workers’ rights
fair wages and how to speak up if you’re being treated unfairly
We don’t expect them to leave wanting to become farmers
but knowing they have a voice and they can make a difference in the community and the city they live in
We host a lot of workshops that are open to the public
it was a golf course before Hurricane Katrina
Indigenous people were the first on that land
just about everything that you can think of that can grow in a warm
We grow about 50,000 pounds of produce a year
People can buy yearly memberships through our Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program
you get 29 weeks of being able to come to the farm once a week and pick up your share
You can get enough food for a family of four
About 80% of our food is distributed through the CSA program
The other 20% we donate to our shared harvest partners
Those are other organizations that are able to distribute it to people in need
And our young people are able to take home fresh produce every week
It's in a beautiful setting outdoors under the starlight
Our space is located along a bayou under a huge oak tree that’s probably 300 years old
We’ll have the opportunity for people to take a short tour of the farm (led by students) and learn about the history of the land and see all the crops we’re growing
The theme is “Entwined Roots.” We’re celebrating the diverse flavors of New Orleans and the history of migration
Each chef will pick an ingredient that we’re growing on the farm and incorporate that into the dish they are preparing
Even the cocktails will have garnishes we grow on the farm
Email Sarah Ravits at sravits@gambitweekly.com
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Irma Thomas performs with Galactic on the Festival Stage during the last day of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans
Trombone Shorty &Orleans Avenue close the last day of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans
Zachery Richard performs on the Sheraton New Orleans Tai Do-Do Stage during the last day of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans
Lenny Kravitz and his band perform on the Festival Stage during the last day of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans
during the last day of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans
Irma Thomas laughs while performing with Galactic on the Festival Stage during the last day of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans
are congratulated and thanked by Jazz Fest producer/director Quint Davis after their set during the last day of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds on Sunday
performs with Connie and Dwight Fitch during the last day of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans
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 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
Scenes of the last day of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans
The Glen David Andrews Band performs in the Blues Tent during the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans
Music fans are on their feet for the Glen David Andrews Band in the Blues Tent during the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans
Banda MS de Sergio Lizarraga performs on the Congo Square Stage during the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans
A hat provides shade for a quick cat nap during the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans
& Runnin' Pardners perform on the Shell Gentilly Stage during the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans
Geno Delafose & the French Rockin' Boogie perform on the Sheraton New Orleans Fais Do-Do Stage during the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans
and Rachel Crochet of Lafayette dance to the music of Geno Delafose & the French Rockin' Boogie on the Sheraton New Orleans Fais Do-Do Stage during the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans
The Glen David Andrews Band performs with guest percussionist Josh Harmon
and Big Chief Juan Pardo of the Golden Comanche Mardi Gras Indians
in the Blues Tent during the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans
The Glen David Andrews Band performs with Big Chief Juan Pardo of the Golden Comanche Mardi Gras Indians in the Blues Tent during the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans
A colorful trombone rests on a stand as the Glen David Andrews Band performs in the Blues Tent during the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans
A table is set up with flowers and extra shoes before Patti LaBelle performs on the Congo Square Stage during the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans
Patti LaBelle performs on the Congo Square Stage during the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans
Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives perform on the Sheraton New Orleans Fais Do-Do Stage during the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans
Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram performs in the Blues Tent during the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans
Kamasi Washington performs at the WWOZ Jazz Tent during the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans
Fans acknowledge Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue as they close the last day of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans
Fans dance as Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue close the last day of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans
Festival producer/director Quint Davis introduces Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue during the last day of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds on Sunday
Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews and Orleans Avenue close the last day of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans
Scenes during the last day of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans
The crowd watches Lenny Kravitz and his band perform on the Festival Stage during the last day of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans
Glen David Andrews reflects before he performs in the Blues Tent during the last day of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans
Glen David Andrews performs in the Blues Tent during the last day of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans
Mexico celebrates their heritage the during the last day of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans
Mexico celebrates their heritage during parade during the last day of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans
Galactic drummer Stanton Moore acknowledges Irma Thomas after the set on the Festival Stage during the last day of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans
Galactic drummer Stanton Moore throws his drumsticks to a friend in the audience after their set on the Festival 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
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
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Other questions:subscriberservices@theadvocate.com
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
Schooner Saloon owners Jaime Coleman and Steve Gingrich (center) with chef Robin DeAbate
When the Philadelphia Eagles played the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX
there was a lot of green on the scene at The Schooner Saloon at 700 Burgundy St
The bar and kitchen offers a menu of sandwiches and sharable plates and is an outpost for Philadelphians
Bar co-owner Steve Gingrich is a Pennsylvania native, a Temple University graduate and a lifelong Eagles fan. Naturally there is a Philly cheesesteak on the bar’s menu
Just as New Orleanians have supported Leidenheimer Baking Co.’s French bread for generations
a family-owned bread company that’s been the go-to delivery system for hoagies and cheesesteaks since 1904
Gingrich imports Amoroso’s rolls for sandwiches
who owns the Schooner with his girlfriend and business partner
is the South’s largest customer for the Philly-based bread company
which are flown to New Orleans Lakefront Airport from Philly
“They are softer than po-boy rolls,” he says
“A customer described it as eating a cloud.”
700 Burgundy St., (504) 224-2450; schoonersaloon.com
Cheesesteaks and more at a French Quarter tavern
The rolls are just one sign that the Schooner is invested in serving better than the usual bar food
His chicken and sausage gumbo is a traditional version powered by a dark
His biscuits are made with Old Bay and cheddar and paired with compound garlic and parsley butter
and can be topped with cochon de lait or barbecue jackfruit for plant-based eaters
A garden salad with grilled shrimp is a lighter option
The beer-battered-to-order fish and chips earn high praise
Show-stopping Reuben egg rolls ooze chopped corned beef
Also popular are the barbecue shrimp roll and the Italian meatball sub
the chef is boiling crawfish and adding traditional and nontraditional ingredients into the pot
A serving of two pounds and fixings is $20
Gingrich and Coleman opened the bar almost two years ago in the space that had been Betty’s Bar & Bistro and
They live around the corner and saw the need for a watering hole in that part of the Quarter
He was an owner of the American Sports Saloon at 1200 Decatur St
Coleman’s been a bartender and manager for years
and they have more than 30 years of bar experience between them
He and Coleman went back and forth before they settled on a maritime theme
in homage to New Orleans’ long history as a port city
Five- and six-masted wooden schooners did most of the city’s hauling until the early 1900s
ships’ wheels and portholes add to the bar’s vibe
“It feels like you’re in the hull of a ship with all this wood,” Gingrich says
local beer on tap and plenty of domestic and imported options
Gingrich was the controller of a Florida disaster relief company and landed in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina and the levee failures
above a bar where he worked for a dozen years
Email Gambit's food and drink team at dining@gambitweekly.com
Babydoll Biscotti with the Wild Tchoupitoulas Baby Dolls at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on Friday
Meschiya Lake and the Little Big Horns perform in the Blues Tent during the sixth day of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans
and the Blackhearts close out the Gentilly Stage at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on Friday
The Castellows perform on the Festival Stage during the sixth day of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans
Tlen Huicani with Ballet Folklorico Universidad Veracruzana dance at the Folklife Stage at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on Friday
Hurray For The Riff Raff perform on the Gentilly Stage at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on Friday
Rain drops and a puddle of water accumulate on the side of the stage as the Da Truth Brass Band perform on the Jazz & Heritage Stage at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on Friday
A Pow Wow presentation with the Calpulli Tonalehqueh Aztec Dancers at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on Friday
Karen Rice and Tammie Most pose in their Jazz Fest hats during the sixth day of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans
Baby dolls dance with the Black Feather and the Wild Tchoupitoulas Black masking Indian tribes during the sixth day of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans
Still dancing and having fun in the rain watching Da Truth Brass Band perform on the Jazz & Heritage Stage at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on Friday
Kevin Litten poses in the Gospel Tent during the sixth day of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans
Tonia Scott & the Anointed Voices perform in the Gospel Tent during the sixth day of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans
Marlina Moe blows bubbles in the Gospel Tent during the sixth day of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans
Washboard Chaz Blues Trio performs in the Rhythmpourium Tent during the sixth day of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans
Son Rompe Pera perform in the Cultural Exchange Pavilion Stage at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on Friday
Calpulli Tonalehqueh Aztec Dancers perform in the Louisiana Folklife Village during the sixth day of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans
Big Sam's Funky Nation performs on the Congo Square Stage during the sixth day of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans
Behind the barricades watching Big Chief Juan & Jockimo's Groove at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on Friday
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts close out the Gentilly Stage at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on Friday
performs on the Jazz & Heritage Stage during the sixth day of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans
DJ Datboi performs for the silent disco in the kid's area during the sixth day of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans
Musician Giovonni Briggs plays the trombone for Marlin Roch King
during the sixth day of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans
holds Giovonni Briggs' trombone during the sixth day of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans
Fans dance as they watch Son Rompe Pera perform in the Cultural Exchange Pavilion Stage at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on Friday
Luke Combs performs on the Festival Stage during the sixth day of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans
Luke Combs band members Jamie Davis and Tyler King perform on the Festival Stage during the sixth day of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans
Luke Combs shotguns a beer on the Festival Stage during the sixth day of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans
Don Vappie plays with a broken string on his banjo as he plays with BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet on the Fais Do-Do Stage at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on Friday
Festival-goers watch Luke Combs perform on the Festival Stage during the sixth day of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans
on the Congo Square Stage at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on Friday
Da Truth Brass Band on the Jazz & Heritage Stage at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on Friday
Luke Combs performs on the Festival Stage with band member Tyler King during the sixth day of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans
on the Fais Do-Do Stage at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on Friday
BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet on the Fais Do-Do Stage at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on Friday
Joan Jett runs onto the stage as she plays with the Blackhearts on the Gentilly Stage at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on Friday
Staku Guaguas from Veracruz gather on the grounds at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on Friday
New Orleans police shot and killed a man Friday morning at the Walmart Supercenter in the Lower Garden District after he ran over a female officer and another person with his car Friday
NOPD Chief Anne Kirkpatrick talks with the media after the New Orleans police shot and killed a man Friday morning at the Walmart Supercenter in the Lower Garden District after he ran over a female officer and another person with his car Friday
New Orleans Police Department officer Raychel Willey was identified in news reports and by a police source as the officer dragged by a vehicle at a Lower Garden District Walmart Supercenter on Friday morning
New Orleans Police Department officer Raychel Willey was identified in news reports and by a police source as the officer dragged by a vehicle at a Lower Garden District Walmart Supercenter on Friday morning
A military veteran, Willey first joined the NOPD on May 15, 2016 as a recruit with Class 177, according to NOPD records.
only with civilians," Willey said in a 2016 interview by NOPD
"I want to take care of them and help those who can’t help themselves."
That's what Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said Willey was doing while working a paid detail at around 10:37 a.m
Willey administered Narcan to a man who appeared to be overdosing in his vehicle
"Here our officer was trying to give aid to someone to try to help them and save them and it turned on a dime," Kirkpatrick said
The man regained consciousness and began acting "erratically," Kirkpatrick said at a Friday morning media briefing
While Willey was still partially in the vehicle
the subject left the Walmart parking lot and drove onto Rousseau Street at Saint Andrew Street
hitting a bystander and dragging Willey in the process
She shot him during what Kirkpatrick described as a "life and death situation" before becoming dislodged from the moving vehicle
which crashed into a truck parked on Rousseau Street
Willey landed under another vehicle with multiple injuries
Willey and the other victim were taken to the hospital
where she was listed in stable condition Friday evening
The Office of the Independent Police Monitor was on the scene and oversaw the NOPD Public Integrity Bureau’s Force Investigation Team as they investigated the officer-involved shooting
Willey is on desk duty pending the outcome of the investigation
Can't see the video below? Click here
New Orleans police shot and killed a man Friday at the Walmart Supercenter in the Lower Garden District after he ran over a female officer and…
A New Orleans police officer and a bystander were injured outside the Walmart on Tchoupitoulas Street on Friday morning
A man who was shot and killed by a police officer after he ran her over with a car at a Walmart Supercenter in the Lower Garden District last …
While this is the case, he isn't the only big addition the team made. The Saints' first pick of the 2025 NFL Draft was offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. Newsweek's Matt Galatzan made a list of each team's "best pick" and worst pick" in the NFC South
he called Banks the team's "best pick."
"New Orleans Saints," Galatzan said
Texas product Kelvin Banks is going to be a stalwart in the NFL for a long time at the left tackle spot and he is a great fit in New Orleans to protect their future franchise quarterback
Kellen Moore starts off his tenure in the Big Easy with a big win."
Banks' selection came as somewhat of a surprise for the Saints at No
The Saints were linked to a wide range of potential offensive playmakers but opted for the safer pick to beef up the offensive line
He's not a huge-name prospect, but he did draw a comparison to two-time Pro Bowler Rashawn Slater by ESPN's Matt Miller
"Matt Miller's pro comp: Rashawn Slater," Miller said
The Saints recently decided to not pick up the fifth-year option on right tackle Trevor Penning
making that spot a key need this offseason
who started for three seasons at left tackle
could occupy the blinside while moving 2024 first-rounder Taliese Fuaga back to his college position on the right side
The Saints now have versatility and can begin to rebuild a strength on the offensive line with the high floor of Banks."
More NFL: Saints Longtime Rival Sends Message To New Orleans
2025 NFL Draft: First-round pick signing tracker
The 2025 NFL Draft is in the books. Stay up to date with which first-round draftees have agreed to deals with their respective teams with NFL.com's tracker below. All first-round rookie contracts are for four years with a fifth-year team option. SEE MORE >>
NFL news roundup: Eagles sign four draft picks, including QB Kyle McCord
Get an inside look as New Orleans Saints players continue voluntary offseason workouts at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center ahead of the 2025 NFL season
Check out the best action shots from the first round of playoffs as Louisiana Flag Football teams competed as part of the 2025 Saints Girls High School Flag Football season on Friday
Recapping the New Orleans Saints VIP Draft Experience at the 2025 NFL Draft
Saints Superfan David DiPiazza from Metairie
A collection of headlines and news about the Saints and the NFL for Monday
A collection of headlines and news about the Saints and the NFL for Sunday
A collection of headlines and news about the Saints and the NFL for Friday
A collection of headlines and news about the Saints and the NFL for Thursday
A collection of headlines and news about the Saints and the NFL for Wednesday
A collection of headlines and news about the Saints and the NFL for Tuesday
A collection of headlines and news about the Saints and the NFL for Saturday
NUNEZ COMMUNITY COLLEGE: The Nunez Community College Foundation Board will hold its annual Pelicans and Pearls Fundraiser Gala on May 9, 6 p.m.-9 p.m., in the newly renovated Physical Activity Center on the Nunez campus, 3710 Paris Road in Chalmette. Festivities will include a tasting from area restaurants, cuisine prepared by Nunez’s Culinary Arts students, music and more. Tickets are $60. Attire is business or cocktail. Nunez.edu
Team reporter Erin Summers and Locked On Saints host and Saints beat writer for LouisianaSports.net Ross Jackson recap the Saints 2025 NFL Draft and break down the additions the Saints made in the undrafted free agent market as well as signing defensive end Chris Rumph II shortly after the draft
Team reporter Erin Summers and Locked On Saints host and Saints beat writer for LouisianaSports.net Ross Jackson recap the Saints 2025 NFL Draft and the picks the Saints made in the rounds 4-7 selecting Oklahoma linebacker Danny Stutsman at 112th overall
Louisville cornerback Quincy Riley at 131st overall
Kansas running back Devin Neal at 184th overall
UCLA tight end Moliki Matavao 248th overall
and Syracuse defensive lineman Fadil Diggs at 254th overall
Team reporter Erin Summers and Locked On Saints host and Saints beat writer for LouisianaSports.net Ross Jackson recap the Saints 2025 NFL Draft and the picks the Saints made in the first three rounds selecting Texas tackle Kelvin Banks Jr
Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough at 40th overall
Texas defensive tackle Vernon Broughton at 71st overall and Virginia safety Jonas Sanker at 93rd overall
Recap of the 2025 Draft Watch Party presented by COX as New Orleans Saints cornerback Alontae Taylor and center/guard Erik McCoy joined fans for the team's first round selection at Five O Fore on Thursday
New Orleans Saints linebacker Pete Werner and offensive tackle Taliese Fuaga joined team partners at the 2025 Partner Draft Party presented by COX at Benson Tower for Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft on Thursday
Watch raw highlights of New Orleans Saints seventh round draft pick Moliki Matavao during his time as tight end of the UCLA Bruins
Watch raw highlights of New Orleans Saints seventh round draft pick Fadil Diggs during his time as defensive end of the Syracuse Orange
New Orleans Saints Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis recaps Day 3 of the 2025 NFL Draft
breaking down the Saints draft picks from round 4-7 and picks from the first three rounds
the Saints selected Oklahoma linebacker Danny Stutsman with the the 112th overall pick
the Saints drafted Kansas running back Devin Neal with the 184th overall pick
the Saints drafted UCL tight end Moliki Matavao with the 248th overall pick and Syracuse defensive end Fadil Diggs with the 254th overall pick
UCLA Bruins tight end Moliki Matavao runs the 40-yard dash at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine
Syracuse Orange defensive end Fadil Diggs runs the 40-yard dash at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine
speaks to New Orleans media after being selected by the Saints in Round 7
Watch the moment when New Orleans Saints seventh round draft pick Fadil Diggs gets the phone call from the Saints draft room as he is selected 254th overall in the 2025 NFL Draft
Watch the moment when New Orleans Saints seventh round draft pick Moliki Matavao gets the phone call from the Saints draft room as he is selected 254th overall in the 2025 NFL Draft
Watch the New Orleans Saints select Syracuse defensive end Fadil Diggs in Round 7 of the 2025 NFL Draft with the 254th overall pick
Watch the New Orleans Saints select UCLA tight end Moliki Matavao in Round 7 of the 2025 NFL Draft with the 248th overall pick
Watch the moment when New Orleans Saints sixth round draft pick Devin Neal gets the phone call from the Saints draft room as he is selected 184th overall in the 2025 NFL Draft
Kansas RB and 184th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft
speaks to New Orleans media after being selected by the Saints in Round 6
Kansas Jayhawks running back Devin Neal runs the 40-yard dash at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine
Watch raw highlights of New Orleans Saints sixth round draft pick Devin Neal during his time as running back of the Kansas Jayhawks
Watch the New Orleans Saints select Kansas running back Devin Neal in Round 6 of the 2025 NFL Draft with the 184th overall pick announced by UFC Fighter and Layfayette
speaks with the New Orleans media for the first time after being selected 112th overall by the Saints in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft
Louisville CB and 131st overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft
speaks to New Orleans media after being selected by the Saints in Round 4
Louisville Cardinals cornerback Quincy Riley runs the 40-yard dash at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine
Watch raw highlights of New Orleans Saints fourth round draft pick Quincy Riley during his time as cornerback of the Louisville Cardinals
New Orleans Saints announced the club has agreed to terms with free agent defensive end Chris Rumph II
Check out Rumph II in action with the Los Angeles Chargers during his NFL career
The New Orleans Saints agreed to terms with 11 undrafted rookies following the conclusion of the 2025 NFL Draft
Get an inside look as New Orleans Saints players head back to the Ochsner Sports Performance Center for voluntary offseason workouts ahead of the 2025 NFL season
New Orleans Saints announced the club has agreed to terms with free agent offensive lineman Dillon Radunz
Check out Radunz in action with the Tenessee Titans during his NFL career
New Orleans Saints announced that they have re-signed with free agent defensive back Ugo Amadi on Monday
Check out Amadi in action with the New Orleans Saints during his NFL career
Get an all-access look at New Orleans Saints free agent wide receiver Brandin Cook's return to New Orleans as he signed his two-year contract with the team on Monday
New Orleans Saints announced the club has agreed to terms with free agent wide receiver Brandin Cooks
Check out Cooks in action with the New Orleans Saints during his NFL career
New Orleans Saints announced they have agreed to terms with tackle Landon Young
Check out Young in action with the New Orleans Saints during his NFL career
Get an all-access look at New Orleans Saints free agent running back Velus Jones Jr.'s first day in New Orleans as he signed his one-year contract with the team on Monday
New Orleans Saints announced the club has agreed to terms with free agent running back Velus Jones Jr
in action with the Chicago Bears and Carolina Panthers during his NFL career
Big Sam’s Funky Nation performing on the Congo Square Stage during New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival on Friday
A mother and baby at the Clifton Chenier Centennial performance on the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival’s Fais Do-Do Stage Friday
Clifton Chenier Centennial with special guest C.J
Chenier performing on the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival’s Fais Do-Do Stage Friday
The Wailers featuring Julian Marley performing on the Congo Square Stage during New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival on Friday
A colorful fest-goer enjoying the breeze at Jazz Fest on Friday
Funky hat picture in the crowd for The Wailers at Jazz Fest’s Congo Square Stage on Friday
Close-up of a vendor's goods outside of the Jazz Tent at New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival on Friday
Rocky Leonard performing with Big Sam’s Funky Nation on the Congo Square Stage during New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival on Friday
Fans dancing in the crowd during The Wailers featuring Julian Marley Jazz Fest’s Congo Square Stage on Friday
Fest-goer pictured outside of the Clifton Chenier Centennial performance at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival’s Fais Do-Do Stage Friday
Fans dancing in the crowd during The Wailers featuring Julian Marley at Jazz Fest’s Congo Square Stage on Friday
Damian and Myles Rhone pictured in the crowd at The Wailers set at Jazz Fest on Friday
Check out these photos from the second Saturday of Jazz Fest 2025
Email Maddie Spinner at maddie.spinner@gambitweekly.com
Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInNEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - Thousands of festivalgoers packed the Fairgrounds on Friday (May 2) for the second weekend of Jazz Fest 2025
sounds and surprises — including a wedding inside the Gospel Tent
The newlyweds said the impromptu setting was everything they hoped for
“We’ve been going to Jazz Fest for many years,” said Taylor Turkman Milligan
is on enjoying the last weekend of music and food — including stops at the oyster bar and a cup of strawberry lemonade
Fans turned out early for performances from local acts like Flow Tribe and Corey Henry & the Treme Funktet
with Friday night’s headliners including Cage the Elephant
Loyola senior Damian Ch shared his reggaeton sound with the crowd
traditional Aztec dancers from San Jose performed ceremonial routines
one of several international groups featured in Jazz Fest’s cultural lineup
The weekend continues with major acts on the way
Sunday marks the final day of this year’s Jazz & Heritage Festival
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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
Sugar Roots Farm will hold its annual spring festival on May 10
SPRING FESTIVAL: Sugar Roots Farm will host its annual festival May 10, 9:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m., at the farm, 10701 Willow Drive in New Orleans. The event includes live music, pony rides, animal feeding, arts and crafts, a bounce house, and concessions. Tickets, starting at $15.60, are available online, with a limited number sold at the gate. www.sugarrootsfarm.org
WOODMERE FESTIVAL: The free community festival will take place May 10, noon-6 p.m. at Woodmere Playground, 4100 Glenmere Drive in Harvey. The event will feature 2,000 pounds of free crawfish, live music performances by local artists, a dedicated Kids Corner, pop-up shops, food vendors and community organizations sharing resources. www.facebook.com/WoodmereFestival
BAYOU BOOGALOO: May 16-18; Bayou St. John at Orleans Avenue. Gates open Friday at 4:30 p.m., Saturday and Sunday at 11:30 a.m. Entertainment includes comedy, drag bingo, crawfish-eating contest and live music, including Big Freedia’s Gospel Revival and Honey Island Swamp Band. Tickets start at $39.50. Children under 12 are free with an adult. More details at thebayouboogaloo.com
GREEK FESTIVAL NEW ORLEANS: May 23-25; Holy Trinity Cathedral, 1200 Allen Toussaint Blvd. in New Orleans. Hours are 5-11 p.m. on Friday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m.-8 p.m. on Sunday. Events include live music on the outdoor stages, kids’ activities, the Greek Festival Run/Walk Race on Saturday. Food offerings include traditional Greek pastries, entrees and more. Tickets start at $10. www.gfno.com
GONZOFEST: The celebration of the life and legacy of author and journalist Hunter S. Thompson comes to New Orleans for the first time, with speakers, panelists, a walking tour and music as part of the festivities May 15-18. Free events are scheduled for the Allways Lounge, 2240 St Claude Ave., and the Garden District Book Shop, 2727 Prytania St. in New Orleans. gonzofest.net
NOLA OMG FOOD FEST: The world’s first hip hop food festival
will showcase more than 40 local and national restaurants
JEAN LAFITTE SEAFOOD FESTIVAL: May 30-June 1; Jean Lafitte Auditorium and Grounds, 4953 City Park Drive in Jean Lafitte. Louisiana food, a full weekend of live music, swamp tours, kayak rentals, carnival rides and an art walk. Swamp tours will also be offered. Children 12 and under are free. www.lafitteseafoodfest.com
GRIEFSHARE: Christian Fellowship Church, 5049 Ehret Road in Marrero, will host a GriefShare Loss of a Spouse seminar on May 8, 10 a.m.-noon. Those who have lost a spouse through death are invited to attend. Cost is $7 for the participant guide. Registration is available online. griefshare.org/find a group or call (504) 347-4875
WEST FEST: WESTBANK SUPER SUNDAY: The MoHawk Hunters
Michael Willis and DJ Big Tymer will be part of the Westbank Super Sunday on May 11
NEW ORLEANS WASABICON: The pop culture convention designed to connect fans and feature entertainment, celebrities, artists, video games and tabletop gaming will be held May 10-11, at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans, 601 Loyola Ave. in New Orleans. The event focuses on anime, cosplay, K-pop, tabletop gaming and video games. Hours are Saturday 10 a.m.-7 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tickets start at $30. nola.wasabicon.com/
MOTHER-DAUGHTER WONDERLAND TEA PARTY: St. John Theatre will host a Wonderland-themed tea party with Alice and the Mad Hatter in attendance on May 10, 2 p.m. The event will include photo opportunities, games and prizes as well as an optional fancy hat contest. Tickets are $20. The theatre is located at 115 W. 4th St. in Reserve. www.stjohntheatre.com
THURSDAYS AT TWILIGHT: City Park Conservancy hosts the musical series at the Pavilion of the Two Sisters in the Botanical Garden, 1 Victory Ave. in City Park, New Orleans. Concerts are held indoors on Thursday nights, 6-8 p.m. On May 8, entertainment will be provided by Boogie Men and Beef Macaroni. . Admission is $15. NewOrleansCityPark.org
MUSIC FOR SHAKESPEARE: The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, under the direction of conductor Matthew Kraemer, will present a program featuring music by Mendelssohn, Diamond, Shostakovich and Korngold and inspired by Shakespeare’s plays on May 14, 6 p.m., at the New Marigny Theatre, 2301 Marais St. in New Orleans. Tickets start at $50. lpomusic.com
WEDNESDAYS IN THE POINT: The 2025 season continues in May with music 6-7:30 p.m
On May 14 T Marie & Bayou JuJu perform at Nighthawk Napoletana
John will perform May 21 at The Little House
features Rick Trolsen & Friends at Trolsen’s Porch at Triangle Park
“ZEAL”: Author Morgan Jerkins will sign copies of her latest book at Baldwin & Co., 1030 Elysian Fields Ave. in New Orleans, on May 9, 4-6 p.m. Tickets for a signed book and admission to the meet-and-greet start at $33 via Eventbrite. www.baldwinandcobooks.com
“THE FANTASIES OF FUTURE THINGS”: Author Doug Jones will discuss his newest book on May 13, 6-8 p.m., at Baldwin & Co., 1030 Elysian Fields Ave. in New Orleans. Tickets for admission, a signed copy and a meet-and-greet are available starting at $31 via Eventbrite. www.baldwinandcobooks.com
AUTHOR DISCUSSIONS: Two local authors, Constance Adler and Teresa Tumminello Brader, will discuss their new books May 20, 7 p.m., at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon in Metairie. Adler is the author of the New Orleans-based novel, “Sight Unseen,” and Brader’s collection of short stories is called “Secret Keepers.” www.jplibrary.net
“J VS. K”: New York Times bestselling authors Kwame Alexander and Jerry Craft will discuss and sign their latest book, a children’s book based on a true story, on May 12, 6 p.m., at Baldwin & Co., 1030 Elysian Fields Ave. in New Orleans. Free; tickets for a signed copy and meet-and-greet start at $19 via Eventbrite. www.baldwinandcobooks.com
“NOWHERE BETTER THAN HERE”: Author Sarah Guillory will discuss her current book, along with the upcoming book "Gus and Glory" on May 12, 5 p.m., at the Garden District Book Shop, 2727 Prytania St. in New Orleans. Reservations are free via Eventbrite, through which books can be preordered. www.gardendistrictbookshop.com
“SCRIM: A NEW ORLEANS STORY OF RESILIENCE AND RESCUE”: Author Kaye Courington will celebrate the release of her book on New Orleans’s most famous runaway dog on May 13, 6 p.m., at the Garden District Book Shop, 727 Prytania St. in New Orleans. www.gardendistrictbookshop.com
"REMEMBER US": Robert M. Edsel, founder and chairman of the Monuments Men and Women Foundation and author of “Remember Us: American Sacrifice, Dutch Freedom, and a Forever Promise Forged in World War II,” will discuss his latest book on May 14, 4:30-6:30 p.m., at the National WWII Museum, 945 Magazine St. in New Orleans. A reception will be held 4:30-5:30 p.m., with the presentation starting at 5:30 p.m. www.nationalww2museum.org
“A SHOWGIRL’S RULES FOR FALLING IN LOVE”: Author Alice Murphy will discuss her latest book in conversation with Jess Armstrong on May 15, 6:30-8 p.m., at Blue Cypress Books, 8123 Oak St. in New Orleans. Burlesque star Betsy Propane will entertain attendees with a signature burlesque performance before and after the conversation. www.bluecypressbooks.com
“STYLES OF JOY”: Author SC Perot will discuss he r book, "Styles of Joy: A Feel-Good Framework for Rediscovering Joy (With a Twist!)" on May 13, 6 p.m., at the Garden District Book Shop, 727 Prytania St. in New Orleans. Audience Q&A and book signings will follow. www.gardendistrictbookshop.com
ART & SOUL GOLDEN GALA: The New Orleans Center for Creative Arts will celebrate its 50th birthday on May 17 at NOCCA, 2800 Chartres St. in New Orleans. The event includes entertainment by NOCCA alumni Sasha Masakowski, Big Sam’s Funky Nation and Preservation Hall and food by the NOCCA Culinary Arts students. Tickets start at $50. noccafoundation.org
NORD GOLF TOURNAMENT: Registration is open for the 2025 tournament, a four-person scramble, to be held May 17 at Joseph Bartholemew Municipal Golf Course, 6514 Congress St. in New Orleans. Check-in begins at 7 a.m., with a shotgun start at 8 a.m. Fees are $600 for a four-person team or $150 per individual. nordc.org
NATIONAL ACTIVE AND RETIRED FEDERAL EMPLOYEES: The Vernon L. Landry Chapter 1398 of NARFE will hold its monthly meeting and luncheon on May 14, beginning at 11 a.m., in the Sicilian Room at Rocky and Carlo’s Restaurant & Bar, 613 W. St. Bernard Highway in Chalmette. All active and retired federal employees are invited. Pamela.e.mark1953@gmail.com
GIRLS FLAG FOOTBALL: Registration is open May 1-25 for the new St. Charles Parish Department of Parks and Recreation girls’ program. The season will run during July and August. All registrations must occur with the individual participant’s affiliated booster club. scpparksandrec.com/flag-football
LINE DANCING: Registration is open for summer line dance classes through the St. Charles Parish Department of Parks and Recreation Classes will be held Mondays and Wednesdays, 5:30-6:30 p.m. starting June 2, in the Edward A. Dufresne Community Center Gymnasium, 274 Judge Edward Dufresne Parkway in Luling. Registration is open to those 18 and older for the nine-week session at $20. www.scpparksandrec.com
BUILDING A COHESIVE SHORT STORY COLLECTION: NOCCA Foundation will sponsor a fiction writing workshop May 10, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m., at the Foundation, 2831 Royal St. in New Orleans. Taught by Annell Lopez, writers will learn ways to curate and organize their stories. Registration through May 1 is $65, with an optional consultation add-on for $140. neworleanswriters.org
ST. MARY’S DOMINICAN HIGH: Registration is open for Dominican’s summer camps. All camps, except soccer and softball camps, are at Dominican’s campus, 7701 Walmsley Ave. in New Orleans. Camps range from drama and cooking to cheerleading and sports. See details at www.stmarysdominican.org
STEAM SUMMER CAMPS: Nunez Community College will offer more than 10 multi-day camps this summer for students in grades 1-12. Prices vary by camp. All camps will take place on the Nunez campus, 3710 Paris Road in Chalmette, and most will meet from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the designated dates. See Nunez.edu/STEAM for details
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A multigenerational lineup of New Orleans music legends and Grateful Dead disciples including George Porter Jr.
and more came together last night at the Joy Theater for A Dream We Dreamed: A New Orleans Tribute to Phil Lesh
The venue was abuzz before showtime as hopeful fans scrounged for last-minute tickets to the sold-out performance
who played both guitar and bass throughout the night
the rotating band kicked things off with a set of classic songs and deeper cuts
starting with “Brown-Eyed Women”
Nicki Bluhm then took the lead on Pigpen-era throwback “Easy Wind” before ceding the spotlight back to Betts for a stoic version of “Althea”
Following in the tradition of the Grateful Dead’s rhythm devil duo of Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart
Jay Lane and moe.’s Vinnie Amico made for a perfect pairing
anchoring the rhythm section as the band’s lineup constantly transformed before them
calling to mind Mickey Hart’s penchant for adding big tom fills while Kreutzmann held down the groove
Their chemistry would continue to develop throughout the night as they egged each other on
Disco Biscuits keyboardist and Billy & the Kids alum Aron Magner was another regular fixture on the Joy Theater stage
though he temporarily shared the piano bench with Dumpstaphunk’s Ivan Neville
who took the lead on the Phil Lesh-favored Robbie Robertson deep cut “Broken Arrow”
The traditional pairing of “Scarlet Begonias” and “Fire on the Mountain” was a highlight of the first set
with Dumpstaphunk bassist Tony Hall handling lead vocals on the latter
accompanied by Trey Anastasio Band‘s Jennifer Hartswick and Bluhm on background vocals
moe.’s Al Shnier then sang lead alongside his bandmate Rob Derhak on bass for the set one closer—a cover of Bob Dylan’s “Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues”
The band returned from set break reinvigorated
with Karina Rykman making her first appearance during “The Music Never Stopped”
but Jennifer Hartswick’s powerful pipes also shined during the part of the song once sung by Donna Jean Godchaux
Rykman found herself in a double bass duel with Tony Hall during “Shakedown Street”
which also featured a substantive solo from Aron Magner
who bounced back and forth between old-school organ and futuristic synth sounds
A Dream We Dreamed: A New Orleans Tribute to Phil Lesh – “Shakedown Street” [Pro-Shot] – 5/1/25
One of the second set’s major highlights was a string of songs sung by The Meters bassist George Porter Jr.
starting with “They Love Each Other”
He told the story of how he fell in love with the song “Eyes of the World” and always wanted to sing it before doing just that
A post shared by Live For Live Music (@liveforlivemusic)
and Bluhm all exited the stage at the end of George Porter Jr.’s bass solo
leaving him on stage alone with the two drummers as they delved into a thunderous “Drums” duet
“Drums” flowed directly into a brilliant “Turn On Your Love Light”
which included teases of the Allman Brothers Band‘s “Jessica” from Krasno
and Krasno then traded verses on “Sugaree”
with George’s subtle swing adding a sensual swagger to the Grateful Dead staple
Krasno told the audience that George Porter Jr
was one of Phil Lesh’s favorite bassists and described the wild night in New Orleans he shared with Lesh
which culminated with the Grateful Dead bassist inconspicuously singing along to “Fire on the Mountain” in the crowd at the legendary Maple Leaf
He went on to add that Phil Lesh loved New Orleans and thanked Ross James for putting the band together before the band went into “Cassidy”
which featured Nicki Bluhm and Aron Magner singing together
The song included a full-on psychedelic jam with Kras and Ross James exchanging noodley licks as the band pushed the form to its outer limits
They then segued smoothly into the unmistakeable blues shuffle of “Deal”
which closed out the second set on a high note with Kras and Al Shnier trading verses throughout the tune
Ross James reflected on playing with Phil Lesh at the same venue six years earlier
bringing the tribute concert full circle before the evening culminated with an emotional rendition of “Brokedown Palace”
Jennifer Hartswick brought down the house with her powerhouse pipes as a montage of Phil Lesh photos appeared on the screens to either side of the stage
It was a fitting end to an unforgettable night dedicated to one of the jam band world’s most beloved and influential figures
A Dream We Dreamed: A NOLA Tribute to Phil Lesh – “Brokedown Palace” [Pro-Shot] – 5/1/25
Click below to check out photos from A Dream We Dreamed: A New Orleans Tribute to Phil Lesh courtesy of Jay Strausser and Dave Vann. The entire show is available to stream via nugs
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