Gambit Digital Edition: March 9, 2026

® March 9-15 2026

Volume 47 Number 10

SUMM E R CAMP UPTUR N ARTS R A TS

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ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

In the spotlight

Patois flm festival shines light on current events

THE RECENT DOCUMENTARY FILM

“THE ROOTS THAT BIND US” explores Louisiana’s history with non-unanimous juries, which were finally outlawed by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2020. One of the more stunning facts about one of the cases in the film is not that a man was sent to Angola penitentiary with a 99 year sentence, but that there was actually no crime committed at all.

Another man invented a story of a robbery to explain missing money and then kept extending and affirming that lie until a man unfortunate enough to be put in a police line-up ended up going to jail. In many states, the two jury members who doubted the defendant’s guilt would have resulted in a hung jury. At the time in Louisiana, however, 10 out of 12 jurors was enough to send Jermaine Hudson to jail for life.

One of the people interviewed in the film is Calvin Duncan, who was erroneously convicted of murder and eventually exonerated. Since the film’s release, he was elected New Orleans’ Clerk of Court and will be sworn into office in May.

“The Roots That Bind Us” is one of many documentary films tackling timely issues in PATOIS: New Orleans International Human Rights Film Festival. Screenings run March 11-15 at The Broad Theater, and there’s also a pre-fest special screening at the Joan Mitchell Center on Tuesday, March 10. The films cover a wide array of local and international topics, from AI technology to music and foodways. Many of the filmmakers will attend screenings, and almost all films have a Q&A or discussion afterward.

“The Roots That Bind Us” was produced by the local Promise of Justice Initiative, which works on issues surrounding incarceration. The documentary takes a close look at Jermaine Hudson and the man who both testified and recanted his accusation. There’s also the story of Herman Evans, who was sent to Angola for decades after he took the fall for the killing of a member of a drug gang. In both those cases, the film interviews the exonerated and the person responsible for putting them there, all in breathtaking candor.

But the film also is about the system that allowed these egregious cases to happen. It traces non-unanimous juries to their founding as tools to nullify the input of Black jurors after the Civil War. The outline of the efforts to transform Louisiana from depending on slave labor

by Will Coviello |

to creating an incarcerated labor supply is concise and compelling, including shedding light on New Orleans’ own initiation of such a system.

The film also is about the future, since non-unanimous juries were finally outlawed in Louisiana, but the change did not necessarily apply to people already serving terms from split jury convictions. That’s only outlawed going forward.

The interviews with people still living with the effects of the system make it a heartbreaking and eye-opening film. It screens at 6 p.m. Wednesday, and Hudson, Evans and Duncan will participate in a panel discussion.

Other films addressing incarceration include “A New Voice,” by formerly incarcerated filmmakers and MOVE members Mike and Debbie Davis, a slate of short films, and “A Broken System,” a short film in a showcase of student-made films.

Also timely is “Ghost in the Machine,” Valerie Veatch’s intense examination of the rise and looming power of AI. Her scope is broad, and she begins by tracing the development of technology and attempts to define intelligence. That brings her back to the origins of eugenics and efforts more than a century ago to tie the judgement of intelligence to race.

As it moves forward in time, the camera focuses on Silicon Valley and its early inventors and technological leaps, like the development of the transistor. It’s unmistakable that many of the leading figures also harbored racial prejudices. Veatch turns to scientists and social commentators, and increasingly the film zeros in on figures like Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg and Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI. The launching of massively valued companies and the entanglement with government power and military

St. Patrick’s Day parades

St. Patrick’s Day parades hit the area this weekend. The Irish Channel parade (irishchannelno.org) hits the Channel and circles the Garden District beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 14. The parade on Metairie Road in Old Metairie (stpatricksdaymetairie.com) begins at noon Sunday, March 15. And St. Patrick’s Day on March 17 brings the Downtown Irish Club Parade (downtownirishclub. com) in the Marigny, French Quarter and Warehouse District.

applications override any notions that AI is simply a tool being ever honed to mimic autonomous thinking or serve purely for public benefit.

The film gets briefly bogged down in some distractions, and there’s no looming danger, like the environmental harm of massive data centers, that it leaves untouched. The strongest advocates for massive investment in AI don’t end up defining its purpose here, and it is an ominous look at the drive to unleash great power, likely without oversight or limits on its reach and use. The film screens at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday.

There are a few films that touch on foodways, including Mark Decena’s “Farming While Black,” which talks to Black farmers amid a decline in Black farm ownership. The festival also screens two episodes of Tunde Wey’s “Hard to Swallow.” Born in Nigeria, Wey is a New Orleans chef and writer. In the series, he explores the effects of racism and inequality, especially as they’re expressed in food and social settings. He’ll do a Q&A after the screening at 3:30 p.m. Saturday.

Other films include “Gaza Sound Man,” an eerie look at life in Gaza before and after Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, and “Llamarse Olimpia,” about one woman’s battle against the violation of her privacy and online exploitation in Mexico.

Films about music include “The Sixth Borough,” about Long Island’s influence on hip-hop, and “Sun Ra: Do the Impossible,” about the innovator’s free jazz and sonic explorations. There also are slates of short films about queerness and horror and fantasy films.

Tickets to most films are $13.64 including fees. Find tickets and information at patoisfilmfest.org.

Super Sunday Festival

Black Masking Indian tribes come out on Super Sunday to show their suits, and many groups gather in Uptown on Sunday, March 15. Also, the Super Sunday Festival features three days of events in Uptown. There’s a kick-off party at 6-11 p.m. Friday, March 13, at the Dew Drop Inn with music by Shamarr Allen and DJ BSharp. The Mohawk Hunters and Big Chief Juan Pardo perform at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 14, at the Dew Drop. There’s a brunch at noon Sunday, March 15, at the Dew Drop with music by the First Lady of Funky Soul and the Jason Neville Funky Soul Allstar Band. Admission to events is free. Find information at dewdropinnnola.com.

Wednesday at the Square

The Wednesday at the Square spring concert series begins with Big Sam’s Funky Nation, led by trombonist Big Sam Williams. Saxophonist Zahria Sims also performs with her Zahria Sims Collective. The free concerts take place in Lafayette Square, and there are food and drink vendors and an art market. At 5-8 p.m. Wednesday, March 11. The series runs through May 6. Free admission. For more information and a full schedule, visit ylcwats.com.

OPENING GAMBIT

NEW ORLEANS NEWS + VIEWS

THUMBS

UP/ THUMBS DOWN

Jean Knight, the late New Orleans rhythm and blues vocalist whose 1971 hit, “Mr. Big Stuff,” reached No. 2 on the Billboard charts, was recently honored by the New Orleans City Council with a street renaming. The intersection of Frenchmen Street and N. Claiborne Avenue, near Knight’s home, will soon be known as The Jean Knight Honorary Intersection.

Dawn DeDeaux and Demond Melancon have been invited to participate in the prestigious Venice Biennale. The two New Orleans artists are among 111 artists selected to take part in the Biennale’s central group show, titled “In Minor Keys,” which opens in May. DeDeaux is a contemporary artist who often builds installation pieces. And Melancon, the big chief of the Young Seminole Hunters, draws from Black Masking Indian culture for his pieces made with beads, needle and thread.

New Orleans ends $2 million Habitat for Humanity deal over failure to aid homeowners

NEW ORLEANS MAYOR HELENA

MORENO HAS CANCELED A $2 MILLION EMERGENCY HOUSING ASSISTANCE

CONTRACT with New Orleans Area

Habitat for Humanity — and is demanding the group return the first $1 million it had already received — after the nonprofit allegedly failed to provide any of the money to the scores of at-risk homeowners it claimed it would help.

to give back the money already provided to Habitat and ordered the group to stop work and use of any city resources provided as part of the arrangement.

RESIDENT’S MOST RECENT GAS BILL.

The Times -Picayune reported that her gas bill went from less than $80 to $300. A MidCity resident was $301. Last year, Entergy New Orleans sold its gas operations to Delta Utilities, separating gas and electric into two different bills. Delta Utilities CEO Tim Poche is blaming increased usage and a spike in natural gas prices amid cold weather, but the increases are hitting residents hard on top of other rising housing costs.

Gov. Jeff Landry has asked the Trump administration to investigate the state’s public colleges and universities over any diversity, equity and inclusion policies, the Louisiana Illuminator recently reported. Landry in February asked the U.S. Department of Education to look into the Louisiana Board of Regents over a 2019 effort to increase the number of Black and Hispanic students at state schools. Now, Landry wants them to go further — which could lead to serious harm to institutions relying on federal funding.

The money was supposed to go to homeowners facing foreclosure and other financial issues related to their homes. But according to the city, Habitat hasn’t spent a dollar on any New Orleans resident since receiving the first half last year.

“Habitat’s failure has resulted in an unacceptable delay for the City to provide financial assistance and loan forgiveness to citizens of New Orleans with delinquent mortgage and escrow payments,” New Orleans’ Chief Administrative Officer Joe Giarrusso said in a Feb. 20 letter to the nonprofit.

Giarrusso also warned the organization it has until March 7

According to Giarrusso’s office, under the April 15, 2025 agreement Habitat was supposed to identify residents in need of help and provide “120 homeowners with mortgage assistance, 170 with escrow assistance and past due payment assistance to 150 homeowners.”

Gambit asked Habitat if the nonprofit spent any of the $1 million the city gave it and if so, what it was spent on; why the money didn’t go to assisting homeowners; and what happened to the homeowners the nonprofit was supposed to assist. A spokesperson declined to answer any questions.

Now that Mardi Gras is over, which spring event are you looking forward to most?

The previous New Orleans City Council voted in August 2024 to give $2 million to help homeowners of Habitat houses facing foreclosure due to increasing housing costs. In April 2025, then-Mayor LaToya Cantrell signed an agreement to give Habitat 15.4%

the money in batches for the nonprofit to divvy up to the homeowners.

Habitat was already facing public backlash and scrutiny from council members over its decision to sell 32 rental properties (containing 52 units) to for-profit company Cover Casa, also doing business as Stable Housing LLC, for $1.7 million last September. Habitat did not offer residents, or the city, the chance to buy their units at that low price, which comes out to an average of around $33,000 per unit or $54,000 per property. It is unclear why the group would sell the properties at such a low price.

The properties Habitat sold included four duplexes in Musicians’ Village, housing eight rental units. The duplexes were built following Hurricane Katrina in a neighborhood specifically created to create affordable housing for musicians and artists after the storm. Habitat kept the rents the same for the tenants, including seniors living on fixed incomes, over the years.

Habitat understood that the new landlord Sam Madi would raise rents prior to selling the properties to him at well below market-value prices. In December, Madi informed residents that their rents would increase from around $200-$400 a month to around $1,100-$1,200, which several tenants said they couldn’t afford.

The Housing Authority of New Orleans and Madi finalized a deal Feb. 27 that will have HANO help cover rent increases for three tenants of Musicians’ Village rentals for one year. According to the deal, HANO will pay a total of $1,598 a month

for subsidies for the three tenants, including culture bearers like Lolet Boutte, 81, of the noted Boutte family and 85-year-old legendary blues musician Little Freddie King, who was injured in a bike accident last fall.

That amount will be divided up to assistance of $400, $500 and $698 for the tenants’ rents. The agreement is for a year, starting March 1, 2026 and ending Feb. 28, 2027.

“HANO will help however we can after the one year,” HANO Executive Director Marjorianna Willman told Gambit.

Willman said the other five Musicians’ Village tenants had worked out separate agreements with Madi. However, at least one still didn’t have a signed lease as of March 2.

Willman also told Gambit she also explored having HANO acquire the properties from Madi earlier this month but that “the deal did not work for HANO.” — Kaylee Poche

Changes to SW&B, Orleans Parish courts and more could be coming in 2026 lege session

NEW ORLEANS’ LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION HEADS BACK TO BATON ROUGE MARCH 9 for the state legislature’s annual session armed with a host of proposals key to the city, ranging from reforms to the Sewerage & Water Board and tax collection fees to new rules governing the unhoused and help for residents’ insurance bills. Some, but not all, of the bills are part of Mayor Helena Moreno’s legislative agenda, including House Bill 573 by Rep. Stephanie Hilferty, a Republican

representing parts of New Orleans and Metairie. That bill would give the city more authority over S&WB, which is a state agency, specifically when it comes to establishing rate approval and billing policies, including waiving late fees or interest.

HB 795 by New Orleans Democrat Rep. Mandie Landry, addresses the ongoing dispute between the city and the Orleans Parish School Board over the fees the city has charged the school board for tax collection. The bill would cap such tax collection fees to no more than 5% of tax collections.

As the city deals with financial woes, Rep. Aimee Freeman, a New Orleans Democrat, will bring HB 26 to avoid the city having to pay $3 million a year in Police Retirement Fund penalties. During a March 2 town hall hosted by Landry, Andrew Tuozzolo, special counsel to Moreno, said the penalties are a result of the number of police officers decreasing over the years.

Tuozzolo also said the administration is also working on a bill to raise a roughly $1 fee on cell phone bills last set in 2011 to actually cover the cost of the city’s $25 million a year 911 system. Currently the fee brings in around $6 million annually

Tuozzolo also said the administration was working on a bill to move around some city revenue, comparing it to a 2018 “fair share” deal by Mayor LaToya Cantrell which redirected some money into the infrastructure fund.

“We are going to seek some rearrangement of current revenues, potentially from some of our friends in hospitality, because there’s some deeper needs,” he said.

Homelessness

Also on behalf of the Moreno administration, Rep. Alonzo Knox, a New Orleans Democrat, is carrying HB 864 to ban the storage and use of flammable materials underneath bridges and overpasses owned by the state and operated by the city. If convicted, a person could face a fine of up to $1,000 and/or imprisonment up to six months per violation.

Tuozzolo said the bill is to prevent interstate fires, but it’s unclear how it would affect unhoused people or even grilling under the interstate during second lines. The bill does allow a city to allow the use of “flammable, explosive or combustible materials” for city-permitted events.

Another bill by Knox, HB 823, would create a homeless diversion pilot program in Orleans Parish. The district attorney could refer an unhoused person in the legal system to the program and provide them with a path to avoid charges.

HB 211 by Rep. Debbie Villio, a Kenner Republican, would go as far as to create the crime of “unauthorized camping on public property.” For a first offense, the fine is up to $500 and/or six months in prison. Any conviction after that, there’s a minimum year in prison and the max fine doubles.

The bill, which is not part of the Moreno administration’s package, would also give district courts the option to create a Homeless Court program. And it lets local governments use their property to essentially set up temporary city-run encampments that meet certain standards.

New Orleans is working to find permanent housing for its unhoused population. City officials have previously complained that surrounding parishes are sending unhoused people to the city instead of using resources to help them.

Courts

Two lawmakers outside of New Orleans are hoping to make major changes to the Orleans Parish court system.

HB 911 by Rep. Dixon McMakin, a Baton Rouge Republican, would completely remake the city’s judicial system. It would consolidate the civil and criminal courts into the 41st Judicial District Court and establish only one clerk of court for the parish, instead of one for civil court and one for criminal.

Senate Bill 256 by Sen. Jay Morris, a West Monroe Republican, also would have one clerk of court in Orleans Parish, and his SB 217 would decrease the number of civil district court judges from 14 to 12.

Afordability

Landry said at her town hall she will bring a bill to let local governments require new builds to have fortified roofs, which fare better during storms. So far, fortifying roofs has been the only proven strategy for lowering sky-high insurance rates in an area. The hope would be that New Orleans would opt in and that areas would reach enough fortified roofs to bring everyone’s insurance costs down.

“That’s a very big deal because trying to do that statewide is very difficult,” Landry said.

Freeman’s HB 467 takes a statewide approach and would require new residential builds to have fortified roofs “for the entirety of a parish that is located, in whole or in part, in the coastal zone boundary” starting in 2027.

New Orleans Sen. Royce Duplessis’ SB 299 would create a mandatory 20 percent reduction in insurance premiums for properties with fortified roofs. That measure is part of a broader consumer protection, affordability and insurance reform package of bills Duplessis has introduced.

Other legislative items in Duplessis’ agenda include a measure to bar companies from using people’s credit score or ZIP code in setting car insurance rates, prohibiting insurance companies from increasing rates to cover the cost of advertising and marketing, requiring greater transparency in how rates are set and allowing nonprofits greater flexibility in helping residents pay for roof fortifications. Duplessis also has bills aimed at making it easier for surplus public property to be sold for affordable housing and expanding job training and certification opportunities.

Knox also has a couple of bills aimed at making living in New Orleans more affordable, including HB 472, which would let local governments pass laws to stabilize rents.

State Rep. Delisha Boyd also has a number of housing and income equality related measures, including HB 209 which would implement a gradual increase in the minimum wage; HB 712 which waives state ID fees for the unhoused; HB 293 which bars employment discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation and HB 950 which would strengthen protections against deceptive business practices for the elderly. Boyd also has a bill similar to Duplessis’ affordable housing measure. — Kaylee Poche

WEL CO ME TO TH E

@GambitBlake | askblake@gambitweekly.com

Hey Blake,

The words “United Fruit Company” and “1920” are visible on a building downtown on St. Charles Avenue. I’m somewhat familiar with the company and its legendary owner Sam Zemurray, but what more can you tell me about the building?

Dear reader,

FOR MUCH OF THE 20TH CENTURY, UNITED FRUIT CO., LIKE ITS SUCCESSOR, CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL, was the top banana in the tropical fruit and produce business — specifically, the banana trade. Founded in 1899, the story of the mammoth company and the biography of its legendary onetime owner Samuel Zemurray, the Russian-born entrepreneur known as “Sam the Banana Man,” have filled several books.

In this space, however, we’ll focus on United Fruit’s former headquarters in the 300 block of St. Charles Avenue. The Bank of New Orleans was established there in 1857, in a building that more than a decade later housed the headquarters of the Louisiana State Lottery. As United Fruit Company grew in the mid-1900s, it purchased the building and moved its local offices there.

By 1920, the fruit company had bought up several nearby buildings,

demolishing them to make way for a new 10-story, 50,000-squarefoot Spanish Renaissance style property. The $1 million building (worth about $18 million in 2026) was designed by the noted architectural firm of Diboll and Owen and built by the Fuller Construction Co. It opened in July 1921.

A terra cotta sculpture over the building’s ornate front entrance features rosette garlands, raised urns, two cornucopias and a carved basket of fruit. There are similar friezes over the windows on upper floors. The lobby features a mosaic floor with a starburst design, made of 12 varieties of marble.

In 1964, a few years after Zemurray’s death, United Fruit sold the building. The company itself was purchased in 1970 and sold again to become Chiquita in 1984.

Purchased by investors in 2020, the St. Charles Avenue property is currently up for sale.

BARELY ONE MONTH AFTER MARDI GRAS, AND WE’RE ALREADY TALKING ABOUT MORE PARADES, as New Orleans celebrates St. Patrick’s Day.

Saturday (March 14) brings the Irish Channel Parade, the oldest of the local parading groups, organized in 1947. Among its founders were brothers Paul Burke, a former city council member and postmaster, and Richard “Dick” Burke, the longtime Orleans Parish assessor.

Burke’s son Dick is the current club president, his brother Ronnie is vice president and several other family members are also involved. Parade day begins with mass at noon at St. Mary’s Assumption Church in the Irish Channel, followed by the parade. On Sunday (March 15), the St. Patrick’s Day Parade rolls on Metairie Road at 11 a.m. It is organized by the St. Patrick Parade Committee of Jefferson, which was founded in 1970. Johnny Marchese and several friends, who had taken part in the Irish Channel parade that year, decided to form a St. Patrick’s parade in Jefferson Parish. Thirteen charter members organized the Old Metairie parade the following year.

This St. Patrick’s Day, Tuesday, March 17, the Downtown Irish Club celebrates its 50th anniversary. Founded in 1976 and first parading in 1977, the club’s founders included legendary bar owners Edward “Bud Rip” Ripoll, Roy Markey Sr. of Markey’s Bar, Clem Huerstel of Huerstel’s, Eddie Griffin of Griffin’s Final Edition Lounge and Jim Monaghan of Molly’s at the Market. This year’s parade begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Marigny Triangle with tuxedo-clad marchers winding their way through the French Quarter and Central Business District, stopping at several bars along the way.

TEARS NO MORE

Sally Baby’s Silver Dollars sway into the spotlight

BY JAKE CLAPP

IN FEBRUARY 2024, New Orleans band Sally Baby’s Silver Dollars shot a video for NPR Music’s Tiny Desk contest with just a few days to spare before the deadline.

The band had pulled a table — topped with books, a piggy bank, large ashtray, candle and a horse statue — onto the sidewalk along Urquhart Street. At golden hour, members played through “I’ve Got No More Tears Left to Cry,” an original by guitarist and vocalist Salvatore Geloso, the affectionally known “Sally Baby.”

With a trio of horns and Geloso’s rich, earnest vocals, the swaying “Tears” brings to mind classic New Orleans rhythm and blues. The performance caught the attention of neighbors, who poked their heads out of neighboring houses and otherwise stumbled upon the scene. And more importantly, the video caught the attention of the Tiny Desk contest judges.

But Sally Baby’s Silver Dollars had missed a key part of contest’s fine print. Only the musicians themselves could appear in the submission and the onlookers had been captured in the video.

The video got tossed over the technicality, but the contest judges still named the Silver Dollars runners-up, and NPR invited Geloso to talk about the song on the radio. They also played with the 2024 contest winner, California’s The Philharmonik, that summer when they rolled through the Toulouse Theater.

The experience proved to be a pivotal one for Sally Baby’s Silver Dollars, which had spent most of the previous two years slowly building a word-of-mouth reputation. There wasn’t an instantaneous change, Geloso says, but the contest brought some light to the group and, “gave us the most solid anchor we could have asked for.”

It was a powerful reference point, and Sally Baby’s Silver Dollars have since been sashaying further into the spotlight with festival appearances, bigger stages both locally and on the road and a trip to NPR in Washington, D.C., to start 2026 with a full Tiny Desk concert, opening with “I’ve Got Not More Tears Left to Cry.”

“It set off a domino effect,” Geloso says. “There were so many other pieces to that puzzle, but I feel like it initiated the fall of the dominoes to kind of link us to High Sierra Music Fest (in California), Jazz Fest. It was almost like a door opener, if you will, to get us seen a bit, and everything else has just kind of been falling into place from there.”

A COUPLE OF WEEKS AFTER their Tiny Desk was released, Sally Baby’s Silver Dollars was back at its regular haunt, BJ’s Lounge in the Bywater. Sally Baby and his band have been playing a regular Thursday night slot at the 9th Ward bar since the beginning of 2024, and the space was again full of people, many coming from the

Uptown parades and a handful bouncing around in sequins and costumes.

“Carnival is all about altering our form,” Geloso said from the stage.

With charm and showmanship honed by busking and leading tours in the French Quarter, Geloso likes to banter between songs. He’ll talk about stories behind his original songs — and tease the tales he’ll have to share another time — or just let out whatever’s on his mind.

“Give this guy Jameson, and he’ll talk talk talk. I won’t bore you. I’ll just punish you,” he said with a smile before leading the Silver Dollars into their next song.

The small BJ’s stage was packed with experienced musicians. A guitarist and vocalist, Geloso has been a figure around the French Quarter and along Frenchmen Street for going on 18 years, including playing with the Black Hawk Revelators, Sarah McCoy and the Oopsie Daisies and Up Up We Go.

There’s bassist Zach Valentine, who has a background in Django Reinhardt-style jazz — and whose use of the bow on his bass adds an orchestral quality to the Silver Dollars’ sound. Keys player Steve DeTroy was a member of the late blues icon Walter “Wolfman” Washington’s band The Roadmasters. Drummer Trenton O’Neal and percussionist Aurelien Barnes, who both joined the Silver Dollars late last year, play together in the Black Masking Indian-fronted funk band The Rumble. Trumpeter Nathan Wolman is a member of the Secret Six Jazz Band, while trombonist Oliver Tuttle often

can be seen with retro-soul band The California Honeydrops. And saxophonist James Beaumont (who was missing from that Carnival time BJ’s show) has played with The Jump Hounds and soulful jam band The Quickening.

Geloso is the principal songwriter in Sally Baby’s Silver Dollars, but with input from the group, a city of influences are rolled into the band’s sound. It’s a style rooted in New Orleans rhythm and blues and expanded by jazz, funk, soul, Caribbean and Latin styles and a touch of melodrama. And immersed in the mix is Geloso’s powerful, expressive voice, weaving stories of heartache, romance, bittersweet memories and dark lullabies.

“There’s so much shared interest of a lot of music that we bring into the mix,” Geloso told Gambit. Those interests run across the world, from a love for traditional jazz and brass bands to the music of Cuba and Haiti and West African guitarists of the ’70s — “stuff that is, I feel like, intertwined with New Orleans, too,” he says.

A year after submitting “I’ve Got No More Tears Left to Cry,” Sally Baby’s Silver Dollars gave the Tiny Desk contest another shot, this time heading inside Sally Baby’s parlor in the 9th Ward. The band squeezed into the room — the table now filled with fruits, candles, whiskey and a king cake; a bottle of holy water perched on a nearby keyboard — to film “Goodnight, Miss Lulu White.”

“Welcome ladies and gentle-thems,” Sally Baby says to kick things off.

The late-night, theatrical lullaby is part ode to and part lesson about Lulu White, a notorious, powerful and wealthy brothel madam in Storyville.

“Miss Lulu White would become one of the first self-made Black female millionaires in the United States, and she would rise to power when there was very limited ascension for women of color due to the nature of Jim Crow and segregation,” Sally Baby says during a break in the song, emphasizing her association with pianists Tony Jackson and Jelly Roll Morton. “But dear Miss Lulu White, she would sadly fade into obscurity.”

“Goodnight, Miss Lulu White” is a slow burner and can take some time to build, but it’s a special song, Geloso told Gambit. “It almost feels like a spirit enters the room. Some strange phenomena occurs. Something extraordinary finds us between the bars.”

When Sally Baby’s Silver Dollars made its New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival debut last year, Geloso broke a string right at the pinnacle of the show. He wasn’t sure if he brought a backup string and it was a nightmare moment. As the band finished the song, Geloso wasn’t sure what to do — but pianist Steve DeTroy arrived at the stage just in time to start “Lulu White.”

“I put the guitar down and the band just accompanied me on vocals, telling the story of Miss Lulu White, the diamond queen, and we received this standing ovation. I just felt like you could feel the electricity among that crowd,” Geloso says, sitting outside of Café Envie on Decatur Street shortly before gathering people for a tour.

For the last few years, Geloso has led a free walking tour about New Orleans jazz history with the Nola Tour Guy company. Starting at the coffee shop, Geloso leads tours through the Quarter and Marigny and talks about figures like Papa Jackie Laine, Lizzy Landreaux, Kid Ory and Danny Barker, as well as the history of Creole bands.

“I love to absorb these histories,” Geloso says. “From that tour guide gig now, there’s all these opportunities to share the music in an even deeper way. And sometimes in a more enjoyable way because I feel like for what I can’t do musically, I can make up for in just being a storyteller … It all ties together.”

GELOSO GREW UP IN NEW YORK

CITY and on Long Island in a family with Sicilian, Native American and Creole ancestry. His grandmother’s grandmother, Geloso says, was a Creole woman of color born in New Orleans who met an Italian man and moved to New York to be married. It’s history Geloso only learned more about when his grandmother died, and he has been spending time trying to uncover more about that ancestry.

“In a city that induces memory as much as it tends to forget, I feel like it’s made

me want to elevate her, just because of how she was kind of hidden in my family line,” he says.

Geloso ended up in New Orleans in 2008 following some time in Florida. Already a burgeoning singer-songwriter, he earned money by busking in the French Quarter and became a squatter in those early years, living in abandoned properties around Marigny and the 9th Ward. He honed his musicianship by watching and learning from street performers like Meschiya Lake and Doreen Ketchens and finding side streets to play on around the Quarter. In time, he began to pick up gigs in venues like St. Roch Tavern and Hi-Ho, and around 2013 Geloso found himself performing regularly in Frenchmen Street venues.

Around 2020, Geloso was beginning to feel burnt out on the club grind. After losing a gig and the start of the pandemic, he decided to take a step back from Frenchmen Street. He continued occasionally performing and writing new music, but Geloso was looking for something different.

Enter Zach Valentine. The bassist had grown up in Baltimore, Maryland, and had moved to New Orleans in 2021. He and Geloso were friendly, but the two didn’t know each other well and had never performed together.

One afternoon, Valentine was sitting outside of Flora’s Café when he overheard someone ask Geloso when he’d play another show. “And Sal goes, ‘You know, I think I’m ready to start playing out again, and I just need to find a bass player that I like working with,’ ” Valentine says.

Valentine got some nudges from his friends, turned to Geloso and said, “I think I’m your guy,” the bassist says. They hung out for a day, and Geloso showed Valentine some of his songs. The duo clicked, scheduled a gig and just kept playing together, Valentine says. The pair have a lot in common, but they also found they balanced each other out.

“I’m not a great singer. I’m not a great songwriter, and Sal is. I’m really good with organizing people and dealing with the business side of things,” Valentine says. “So our combination of these two powers has allowed us to transcend … and make things happen that wouldn’t have happened without each other.”

After playing a few duo shows, Geloso and Valentine began to pull together the Silver Dollars and settled into a lineup with DeTroy, Wolman, Beaumont, Tuttle and original drummer Jesse Armerding.

The Silver Dollars gameplan since 2023 has been to build slowly. For a while the band didn’t have an Instagram presence past its individual members, they didn’t have music on Spotify, and details about Sally Baby’s Silver Dollars were mostly by word-of-mouth.

It added an intriguing air of mystery to the project, but really “we just wanted to make good art, and we didn’t want to release anything until we were proud of it,” Valentine says. “Instead of the modern age of like, create content, create content, create content, we’d rather just make things that are timeless and we’ll be proud of the rest of our life.”

The Silver Dollars sought out a weekly gig as a way to hone their music and begin to build an audience. The band found an open Thursday night slot at BJ’s Lounge.

“That really kind of birthed everything that was to come,” Geloso says. “We didn’t realize how successful and popular it would be.”

The band outgrew the weekly gig but still plays BJ’s every other Thursday most months. Similarly, the band since 2024 has grown to larger stages in town, including Tipitina’s, the Marigny Opera House and opening for Sierra Ferrell at the Saenger Theatre. They have slots at the upcoming French Quarter Fest and Jazz Fest.

They also have been venturing out to play shows around the country. Last summer, they went West for the High Sierra Music Festival in California and the Oregon Country Fair.

The band also last May released its first EP, a six-song set of songs they typically play live. The self-titled release can be found on bandcamp.com.

“Things have dissolved and been put back together again many a time over in my little story line here in the city,” Geloso says. “This iteration of things, these Silver Dollars, it almost felt like I was taking all the little bits and pieces of my past, putting it over a flame to melt the silver down and recast the coin.”

Find Sally Baby’s Silver Dollars on Instagram: @sallybabys.silverdollars.

SuM mEr CaMpS

SCHOOLS • ACTIVITIES • SERVICES

MOUNT CARMEL ACADEMY

7027 Milne Boulevard New Orleans, LA mcacubs.com

Choose your adventure at Mount Carmel’s Summer Camp! Campers customize their fun by picking favorite activities from a diverse and exciting selection. They will enjoy being artists, scientists, dancers, athletes, cheerleaders, chefs, detectives, designers, and more. Campers explore their interests, make new friends, and have fun along the way.

With morning and afternoon sessions available, girls in grades 2–8 can attend by the week from June 1 to June 26. Registration opens March 11 for grades 5–8 and March 12 for grades 2–4. Register at mcacubs.com/camp.

Voted #1 Summer Camp in New Orleans by Gambit readers for SIX years. Cahill Camp Corral offers two sessions comprised of 10 themed weeks of on-campus activities such as horseback riding, swimming, art, theater, sports, game room, petting farm, archery, rifery, STEAM and more. Space, Dinosaur and Fantasy weeks are always a hit, while blue and white days, rodeos, a theatre production, and the Camp After Dark events are not to be missed. Academic enrichment classes are offered as session options. Weekly and session rates are available.

Free slogan t-shirt if registered by April 1! Conveniently located in Gretna, 10 minutes from the GNO Bridge. For more information or to register now, visit Cahill Camp Corral online at ardencahillacademy.com.

NEW ORLEANS SCHOOL OF BALLET

717 Adams Street

New Orleans, LA

neworleansschoolofballet.com

Experience the joy of dance this summer! Summerdance 2026 runs from June 1-27, offering classes and workshops for all ages in a fun and enriching environment. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced dancer, there’s something for everyone! For more details, contact us at 504-866-0652 or visit neworleansschoolofballet.com. Don’t miss out on a summer of movement, creativity, and inspiration! ARDEN CAHILL ACADEMY

CITY PARK MOVEMENT & ART

Uptown: 1122 Dublin Street

Mid City: 4300 Dumaine Street

New Orleans, LA cityparkmovementandart.com

City Park Movement and Art offers arts intensives and weekly classes June - August. Young Artists ages 3 – 18 are invited to join us for one- or twoweek arts intensives for Musical Theater, Dance, and more. Young Artists ages 3 - adult are also invited to join us for a weekly class in dance or musical theater. At CPMA we know that summer activities can be both enriching and FUN! Come learn, grow, get creative, and continue your training with us this summer.

THE HISTORIC NEW ORLEANS COLLECTION

520 Royal Street New Orleans, LA hnoc.org/camp-2026

Curator Camp, formerly known as Museum Lab, gives teens ages 12-17 behind-the-scenes access to the storied French Quarter Museum, The Historic New Orleans Collection. During the week-long program, young curators will participate in daily workshops and be introduced to skills and ideas that bring history and museums to life.

Campers will also visit other museums in the French Quarter, including the Hermann-Grima House, New Orleans Pharmacy Museum, and Louisiana State Museum Cabildo and Presbytère, and enjoy a live jazz performance at the legendary Preservation Hall. If you get excited by history, art, artifacts, or storytelling, then Curator Camp is for you!

Register today at hnoc.org/camp-2026.

LAAPA MUSIC-DANCE-THEATER (MANDEVILLE & RIVER RIDGE CAMPUS)

2020 Dickory Ave, Suite 200, Harahan, LA 105 Campbell Ave, Suite 3, Mandeville, LA laapa.com

Discover creativity and confdence this summer at LAAPA’s 2026 Arts Discovery Camp for ages 5–14! Held from 9-31 July (M-F | 9AM-3PM) in Mandeville and Harahan, campers choose up to six daily music, dance, and theater programs led by university-trained faculty. This year’s themes are video games, Broadway, Disney, & K-POP! With over 20 programs to pick from, campers can tailor their experience to their interests! Small weekly groups ensure personalized instruction and culminate in Friday showcases where families see their campers perform. Build skills, make friends, and create your own spotlight this summer!

UNIVERSITY OF NEW ORLEANS

2000 Lakeshore Drive

New Orleans, LA uno.edu/fitness/summer-camp

Join us this summer at the University of New Orleans Summer Day Camp, a recreation and sports day camp that is open to boys and girls ages 5 - 11 years old. Activities include: sports, camp games, field trip, and Fun Fridays. Camp dates: Session 1: June 1 – 26; Session 2: July 6 – 31. Register now!! Early Bird Cost: $900 per session, until March 31st. Contact info: Camp Director – Kassie Kinley; 504-280-6009; kthibode@uno.edu; University of New Orleans – Recreation & Fitness Center 2000 Lakeshore Drive, NOLA 70148. uno.edu/fitness/summer-camp

Registration is open for Kidsports Summer Camp 2026!

Join us May 18 through August 7 for a summer flled with sports, swimming, obstacle courses, themed weeks, feld trips, laser tag, roller skating, movies, crafts, and more. Kids ages 3–12 will stay active, build confdence, and have fun in a safe, supportive, noncompetitive environment led by caring, trained staff.

Camp runs Monday–Friday from 9 a.m.–4 p.m., with extended care available from 7 a.m.–6 p.m. Four-week packages are offered in June and July, with daily rates available during select weeks. Ochsner employee and member rates apply.

CRESCENT CITY GYMNASTICS

7800 Earhart Boulevard New Orleans, LA crescentcitygymnastics.com

Crescent City Gymnastics Summer Camp runs weekly from May 26th – August 7th! In addition to structured time on each of the gymnastics apparatus/ events (bars, beam, foor, and vault), campers will enjoy trampoline, free play, gymnastics games, arts and crafts, and much more!

616 St. Peter Street New Orleans, LA lepetittheatre.com

After the success of last summer’s student production of Slowpoke! The True Story of a Tortoise and Hare, Le Petit Theatre’s Workforce Development program and Young Conservatory will combine creative forces once again to bring you the delicious adventures of Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka JR. Workforce Development students learn from industry professionals to design, construct, and run the summer production. Young Conservatory students learn audition and performance techniques to get ready for the Wonka factory tour, then perform for family and friends. Secure a Golden Ticket for your theatre-loving student today! Find out more and register today at LePetitTheatre.com.

SAINT MATTHEW THE APOSTLE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND SCHOOL

10021 Jefferson Highway River Ridge, LA smaschool.net

SMA Summer Camp is back to offer families a fun, safe, and faith flled option at St. Matthew the Apostle School in River Ridge. Planning is already underway to ensure that your kids will enjoy a memorable summer. Registration is open for Pre-K3 – 6th graders from all schools. Children who turn fve years old after June 1st will enroll in our Little Crusaders Summer Program. There are only a limited number of spots for this age group. Please visit our website for more details and email Camp@smaschool.net with any questions.

GIRL SCOUT LOUISIANA EAST

3005 W Cabela’s Pkwy, Suite J Gonzales, LA gsle.org

Girl Scouts Louisiana East offers unforgettable outdoor adventures at two unique summer camp facilities: Camp Marydale and Camp Covington. Camp Marydale, located in St. Francisville, spans 400 scenic acres where girls enjoy horseback riding, archery, canoeing, swimming, hiking, and confdence-building challenge courses alongside a thriving equestrian program. Camp Covington, located along the Bogue Falaya River, offers a charming and welcoming setting perfect for frst-time campers to explore nature through archery, river exploration, campfres, and outdoor cooking. Together, these camps provide exciting opportunities for youth to build friendships, develop leadership skills, discover new interests, and create lifelong memories outdoors.

NOLA VORE

2139 Baronne Street

New Orleans, LA

nolavore.net/cooking-camps-classes

Come cook up some fun with us this summer! Our one week summer camps cover important basic kitchen skills, such as kitchen safety and sanitation, knife skills, sautéeing, grilling, frying, roasting, and more! No two sessions are alike, so feel free to sign up for multiple weeks. Enrollment is limited to provide a safe, fun, and constructive learning environment. Spots are flling quickly - don’t delay! All sessions are for boys and girls entering 3rd – 8th grade. Nine one-week sessions are available from June 1st thru August 7th. Camp runs from 9am –12:30pm daily, Mon-Fri. Snack and lunch provided. Campers will also receive a Nolavore embroidered apron and a self-assembled recipe book of all dishes prepared during the week.

KIDCAM CAMPS

kidcamcamp.com

Kidcam Camps offer a summer your family can count on—simple for parents and unforgettable for kids. Hosted at over 15. trusted community partner locations across S. Louisiana, Kidcam brings the Spirit of Summer to life through safe, engaging programming designed for ages K–13. Families enjoy fexible week-to-week scheduling, convenient payment options, and add-ons that make planning easy. Each themed week blends sports, creative arts, STEM, movement, life skills, and signature Kidcam traditions that keep campers excited and connected. Backed by over 50 years of experience and American Camp Association accreditation, Kidcam delivers a high-quality camp experience parents trust and kids love. This isn’t just camp—it’s Summer Simplifed.

5625 Loyola Avenue

New Orleans, LA

willowschoolNOLA.org

As an Arts Schools Network Exemplary School, The Willow School offers a renowned arts-integrated academic program at its Uptown campuses. Willow’s Summer Arts and Innovation Camp offers three weeks of fun incorporating STEM and the arts for grades 1 - 8 at its middle school campus. Elementary school campers participate in ARTS SPARK! with classes in design, visual and performing arts, science and more. For grades 5 - 8, young artists and explorers are introduced to and prepped for conservatory and design-oriented high school programs. Classes have included theatre, music, visual art, media art, dance, science, robotics, culture, coding and more. For more information go to willowschoolNOLA.org.

THE WILLOW SCHOOL NEW ORLEANS AUDUBON NATURE INSTITUE

6500 Magazine Street New Orleans, LA

audubonNatureInstitute.org/ summer-camps

Let curiosity run wild this summer at Audubon Nature Institute’s Summer Camps!

With two locations, Audubon Zoo 9uptown and Audubon Aquarium (downtown), and a fresh theme every week, campers will experience hands-on activities, animal encounters, and outdoor fun that keeps them moving, thinking, and discovering. These week-long camps are perfect for kids who love animals, nature, or just trying something new. Camp runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with Extended Care available at both locations for busy schedules. Register today at AudubonNatureInstitute.org/Summer-Camps.

COLLEGE OF MUSIC AND MEDIA

6363 St. Charles Avenue New Orleans, LA cmm.loyno.edu

Loyola’s College of Music and Media presents the 2026 Creative Summer Experience, a dynamic boot camp for high school students to explore careers in motion design, graphic design, game design, flm, theater, music and more. Students will learn from experts and educators, gaining hands-on experience in a collaborative, creative environment. New courses are available, along with reimagined experiences for returning students. Participants will develop valuable skills and create portfolio-ready projects. This program is designed to inspire, challenge, and open doors to exciting professional opportunities in the arts and media felds.

Camp Location: Loyola University New Orleans (6363 St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70118)

Camp Dates & Time: June 15-19 and June 22-26 from 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Camp Age: Rising 9th - 12th grade students

Camp Cost: $600 per week ($700 per week after April 17, 2026) *Scholarships available. For more information email scdexperience@loyno.edu.

ARCHBISHOP RUMMEL SUMMER CAMP

1901 Severn Avenue Metairie, LA rummelraiders.com

Online registration is open for Archbishop Rummel High School’s Summer Camp for boys, entering 1st-7th grades, June 1-July 10, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Camp includes weekly feld trips and water days, daily snacks, indoor games, sports, snowballs, arts and crafts, and lunch every Friday. Cost: $1,200 for six weeks, $230 per week, $50 one-time registration fee per child. Athletic and specialty camps are also available for future Raiders looking to work on specifc skills or talents this summer. Register and learn more online at rummelraiders.com.

THE VINEYARD CAMP

1945 Vineyard Road Westfield, NC vineyardcamp.com

The Vineyard Camp,a special camp in the foothills of North Carolina. The Vineyard is world renown for there excellent in sports programs. Led by pastor and author Lewis Dean Barley for over 40 years, Dean has constructed and created an environment that is a safe place for children from all over the world to come and learn about the gospel. Over the course of our camps existence children and staff from over 50 countries have joined.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP WORKS (EW)

3900 General Taylor

New Orleans, LA communityworksla.org

Entrepreneurship Works (EW) is a summer program for middle school students, designed to spark big ideas and help young people turn their creativity into real-world projects. Students will learn an engaging entrepreneurship curriculum, participate in workshops and mentorship sessions, and hear guest speakers who bring fresh perspectives on entrepreneurship, creative industries and leadership. Students will also go on feld trips that expand their understanding of what’s possible in New Orleans, alongside an exciting pitch competition where they’ll present ideas, celebrate growth and practice public speaking in a supportive environment. EW runs July 6-31 at the Broadmoor Arts & Wellness Center. Camp is free to attend, with a suggested $100–$150 donation to support the organization.

ST. LOUIS KING OF FRANCE

1609 Carrollton Avenue Metairie, LA slkfschool.com

Little Crusaders and Camp Crusader offer a fun, engaging summer experience for children in Pre-K4 through 7th grade. Camp runs June 1 – July 24, 2026, with daily activities from 8:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. and aftercare available until 5:30 p.m. Campers enjoy a safe, structured environment flled with exciting activities, opportunities to make new friends, and memorable summer experiences. Little Crusaders is designed for children entering Pre-K4, while Camp Crusader welcomes students from Kindergarten through 7th grade. The camp takes place on campus in Metairie at 1609 Carrollton Avenue. Registration deadline is May 11, 2026. For more information, visit slkfschool.com or call 504-267-9982!

FIRST TEE NOLA

3201 General De Gaulle Drive, Suite 102 New Orleans, LA firstteenola.org

Looking for a summer camp that keeps kids active, outdoors, and having fun? First Tee – Greater New Orleans Summer Camp is packed with fun activities. Campers enjoy swimming, arts and crafts, feld trips, and time on the golf course through games and challenges.

Our trained coaches maintain a 1:6 coach-to-camper ratio, creating an environment where kids make friends, try new activities, and build confdence all summer. Lunch, snacks, and water are provided daily, and no golf experience is required.

Camps take place at locations throughout the Greater New Orleans area.

CRESCENT CITY NINJA ACADEMY

1539 Lafayette Street, Suite B Gretna, LA crescentcityninjas.com

Crescent City Ninja Academy Summer Camp is the ultimate adventure for young thrill-seekers! Designed for kids ages 6-12, this action-packed camp combines ftness, fun, and teamwork as campers tackle a variety of ninja-style obstacle courses. With a focus on building strength, agility, and confdence, children get to challenge themselves while learning new skills in a supportive, energetic environment. Camp is held in our 4,000 sq foot, climate-controlled Ninja Warrior Arena and is led by experienced instructors who guide campers through exciting challenges, including climbing walls, balance obstacles, and obstacle races, all while encouraging teamwork and perseverance. Whether your child is a frst-timer or an experienced ninja in the making, our summer Camp offers a fun and safe way for kids to stay active!

SCHOOL OF ROCK – METAIRIE

1907 Veterans Boulevard Metairie, LA schoolofrock.com/locations/metairie

Looking for the best summer music camps in New Orleans or Metairie? School of Rock Metairie / New Orleans offers high-energy summer camps for kids and teens who want to play real music in a real band. Campers learn guitar, bass, drums, keyboard, and vocals through hands-on instruction, daily rehearsals, and live performance preparation. Our performance-based music camps build confdence, teamwork, and stage presence while students learn rock and contemporary songs. Beginners and experienced musicians are welcome, and every session ends with a live rock show for family and friends. Use coupon code: Gambit2026

SCHOOL OF ROCK – NORTHSHORE

1872 North Causeway Boulevard Mandeville, LA schoolofrock.com/locations/northshore

Searching for Northshore summer camps in Mandeville or Covington that kids and teens will love? School of Rock Northshore offers exciting summer music camps where students learn guitar, bass, drums, keyboard, and vocals while playing in real bands. Our performance-based music programs combine professional instruction, daily rehearsals, and live show preparation in a fun, high-energy environment. Campers build confdence, musicianship, and friendships while learning rock and modern music. Open to beginners and experienced players alike, every camp ends with an epic live performance. Use coupon code: Gambit2026

THE STUDIO SCHOOL OF DANCE

3116 North Arnoult Road

Camp Studio NOLA at The Studio School of Dance in Metairie runs June 22–July 17. Campers enjoy a full week of dance, creativity, and movement in a fun, supportive environment. Daily activities include Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop, Contemporary, Modern, Tumbling, and crafts. Camp Studio NOLA is designed for both beginners and experienced dancers.

Registration is now open at thestudionola.com/campstudionola

LA SPIRIT

5600 Jefferson Highway, Suite 260 Building W2 New Orleans, LA laspiritcheer.com

Louisiana Spirit Cheer summer camp is more than just cheer! Campers will learn motions, cheers, dances, stunts, arts & crafts, jump in our NEW space walk, play games all day long and snoballs! End of week performance for parents and family.

Ages 4-12, boys and girls, no experience necessary. We offer weekly sign up and camp runs all summer long! Email jill@laspiritstaff.com for more info.

CHILDREN’S SUMMER HOUSE - Lots of summer fun, including... ART: Creating a large art project each session using multiple mediums and many art materials available to use creatively. MUSIC: Singing, movement, working on the skills necessary to perform music. OUTDOORS: Playing in our beautiful shady yard, riding bikes, playing in the playhouses, climbing on the play structures, building structures with large wooden blocks, using the mud kitchen and fun water play. CLASSROOM TIME: Using many manipulatives.

CAMP CRICKET – The children play in their yard, climbing on the big oak log and their play structure, in their classroom working with manipulatives.

Archbishop RUMMEL RUMMEL

RUMMEL

DAYCAMP DAY CAMP

ArchbishopRummeldoes not discriminate on the basis of race,color, national or ethnic origin in the administrationofits educational policies

ARCHBISHOP CHAPELLE ACORN CAMP

8800 Veterans Memorial Boulevard

Metairie, LA

archbishopchapelle.org/summer

New Year. New Options. Same Award Winning Chapelle Summer Camp!

Summer is around the corner, and you don’t want to miss your opportunity to spend June at Chapelle! Acorn Camp is open to girls entering 1st–7th grade for the 2026–2027 school year. With a fun new theme each week, you can select the dates that work best for your family or choose all four weeks to spend in the Burrow.

Voted Best Summer Camp by Nola Family Magazine in 2023, 2024 & 2025 and led by our Camp Director and Director of Admissions, Kacey Pierce ’13, the 2026 Acorn Camp is sure to be one for the books.

CAMP CABRINI

1400 Moss Street

New Orleans, LA

cabrinihigh.com/camp

Camp Cabrini is the ultimate summer destination for families seeking fun, discovery, and unforgettable experiences. Designed for both boys and girls, this dynamic program offers a wide range of activities including sports, arts and crafts, STEM, performing arts, outdoor adventures, and leadership development. Campers build friendships, explore new interests, and grow in confdence while enjoying a safe, supportive environment led by experienced educators and coaches. Flexible weekly sessions allow families to customize their summer experience, while exciting feld trips and specialty camps keep every week fresh and engaging. At Camp Cabrini, every day is an adventure flled with learning, laughter, and lasting memories.

DE LA SALLE HIGH SCHOOL

5300 St. Charles Avenue

New Orleans, LA delasallenola.com

Join the summer fun at De La Salle’s Cav Camp! Open to boys and girls in PK-8th grades with 7 weeks of summer fun. Campers will enjoy weekly swimming, water days, and special events. Campers build their schedules each day so no two days are the same. They will enjoy activities such as Sports, Art, STEM, Performing Arts, and more! We also offer extended care, lunch, and bus service at an additional cost. Our staff is made up of certifed teachers as well as current and former De La Salle students. Sign up for the whole summer, all of June, or all of July for discounts. De La Salle Alumni receive an additional discount on camp tuition. For more information, please go to www.delasallenola.com/ cav-camp. Follow us on Facebook at DLS Cav Camp and on Instagram at dlscavcamp. Questions? Email Camp Director Caroline Laurent Huber ‘99 at cavcamp@delasallenola.com.

NEW ORLEANS ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS

5256 Magazine Street New Orleans, LA noafa.org/camps

New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts’ Summer Camp is back and better than ever! Give your aspiring artist the chance to enjoy a session of hands-on art experiences in our vibrant studio spaces, led by professional artists. Each day focuses on building fne art skills through drawing, painting, ceramics, printmaking, and mixed media. At the end of each session, campers will present a gallery-style exhibit of their work.

Registration for Summer 2026 is now open. Get 10% off when you sign up for 4 weeks or more!

Ask Wonder Explore (AWE) is a transformative microschool and camp dedicated to empowering youth through STEM and social justice education. We provide hands-on, project-based learning experiences that foster curiosity, creativity, and advocacy. At AWE, students develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and social-emotional skills while addressing real-world challenges in their communities. Our inclusive environment encourages risk-taking, innovation, and collaboration, ensuring that every child feels supported in their learning journey. By combining STEM with activism, we equip the next generation of leaders with the tools to challenge inequities, drive change, and shape a more just and equitable future.

CAMP VICTORY 2026

5708 Airline Drive Metairie, LA

vcagators.net/camp-victory-2026

Camp Victory is open to children ages 3–12 and is packed with fun, faith, and unforgettable summer experiences. Each week features engaging activities, character-building devotions, and exciting feld trips your child won’t want to miss. Camp runs June 1–July 31, with daily programming from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and before and after care available for added convenience. Our staff loves God, kids, and creating a positive environment where campers can learn, grow, and have fun all summer long. We are located in the heart of Metairie on Airline Highway, right next to the Saints training facility. To learn more and register, visit: vcagators.net/camp-victory-2026.

UPTURN ARTS

1719 Toledano Street

New Orleans, LA upturnarts.org/camps

Join Upturn Arts for 13 weeks of exciting weekly camps from May 18 to August 14, designed for young artists ages 4 to 12. Our talented teaching artists offer classes in theater, music, dance and visual arts! On Fridays, local master artists will showcase their talents in one-of-a-kind workshop experiences. Young artists enjoy time with their friends in a fun, creative environment, where they are encouraged to fnd their artistic voice and create original works of art. We focus on individuality, discovery and exploration in each class. Upturn Arts’ mission is to provide “Arts for All” and offers sliding scale fnancial aid in the form of creARTive grants to help achieve that goal. Come join Upturn for a summer of creativity and fun!

LOUIS “SATCHMO” ARMSTRONG SUMMER JAZZ CAMP

2800 Chartres Street New Orleans, LA louisarmstrongjazzcamp.com

Memorial Baptist Summer Camp provides children entering Kindergarten—7th grade with amazing, supervised activities that encourage friendship & fun! We are located right in the heart of Metairie, where the interstate meets Veterans Blvd. Camp activities include Games, Sports, Movies, a Trampoline area, on-site Swimming, and local Field Trips.

Memorial Baptist School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, or disability in violation of state law and federal law or regulation in the administration of its educational policies or programs.

The Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong Summer Jazz Camp offers an intensive three-week program for young musicians ages 10–21 at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA). Students receive professional instruction in jazz performance, leadership, creativity, and teamwork, with training in brass, woodwind, electric & upright bass, piano, drums, guitar, strings, Jazz vocals, swing, and second-line dance, and hip hop. The camp concludes with a public concert. Register or learn more: louisarmstrongjazzcamp.com OGDEN MUSEUM OF SOUTHERN ART

925 Camp Street New Orleans, LA ogdenmuseum.org/summercamps

Through a series of small, specialized camps, kids in grades 2 through 12 can explore painting, printmaking, mixed media, photography, fashion design and more! Each session draws inspiration from Southern works of art and gives campers the chance to learn from professional artists.

Session1-June1st throughJune19th(3weeks)

Session2- June 22nd throughJuly10th(3weeks)

Session3-July13ththrough July 31st (3 weeks)

Crusader Smmer Camp 2026

Little Crusaders &Camp Crusaders

June 1st-July24th, 2026

Daily8:00 am -3:30 pm•Aftercare 3:30 pm -5:30pm

Little Crusaders: EnteringPre-K 4 (Limited

Registration Deadline:May 11th, 2026

Ogde

n Museum Summer Camps

For campers entering grades 2through 12!

Fine Arts

FUNdamentals Camp

Grades 2-5

Fashion Institute

Grades 6-8

Photography &Exhibition Design camp

Grades 6-12

GRADES 4TH -8TH

JULY6 -31, M-F9:00am- 3:00 pm Broadmoor Arts &Wellness Center

REGIST TODAY moor & Wellness ER Y!

cwla-news.com/entrepreneurship-works (504) 522-2667

Camp is open to boys an dgirls ages 5-11 yearsold.Withactivitieslikesports, games, field trips, an dswimming. Feeinclu des: lunch, field trips, an d before/after camp supervision.

Camp Director -KassieThibo deaux 504-280 -6009• kthibo de@uno.e du

EAT + DRINK

New vibes

BILLY BLATTY IS A LOCAL HOSPITALITY

PRO WITH A VISION and a stream of new ideas — including most recently, the December opening of Kira. The high-concept lounge and restaurant is good for date night or girls’ night out. He calls it “vibe dining.”

Blatty has been a player in the local dining and nightlife scene for more than 25 years. Kira is his idea for the space that used to house Mister Oso.

“I lean toward creating an experience where fostering emotional connections among people at the table is a primary objective,” he says. “To achieve this, all elements — staff, food and drink— must be in rhythm and impeccable.”

At Kira, the reimagined design of the space is impressive. The pergola-like ceiling is covered with hand-strung wooden beads, adding texture and movement to the space. There’s a glowing bar and lots of nooks and crannies with different kinds of seating options.

The room curves around groups of tables, and a DJ sets the beat on the weekends. Lighting is intentionally low.

“Our intent is a dusk-like atmosphere — some of the most flattering light there is,” Blatty says.

The restaurant seems to appeal to a younger crowd, although posting on social media may be tough. The lighting isn’t optimal for taking photos, and the menu warns against using flash photography.

The menu is an interesting mix of broadly Mediterranean cuisine with the addition of Japanese ingredients and techniques. Silky slices of raw hamachi perch on fried sticky rice cakes. There’s a changing fish tiradito with yuzu and tuna tartare served with nori for guests to make their own bite-sized handrolls.

On the cooked side, bang bang shrimp served with romaine lettuce is a crowd pleaser, while the massive wagyu tomahawk steak, which comes with chimichurri and labneh, is a big ticket item and a highly shareable entree at $215. Tender wagyu koftas

are a skewered meat option from the Japanese robata grill, which also is used for spiced Gulf shrimp and lollipop lamb chops.

Many prices hover in the $20s, and a section called “slutty vegetables” contains the best bargains, with offerings like an outstanding roasted cauliflower served with cashew nut dipping sauce. Shaved baby Brussels sprouts keep their crunch, and there’s a seasonal tempura-fried vegetable option. A mezze board includes garlicky hummus with fried chickpeas and a tasty eggplant baba ghanoush.

The menu of original cocktails ($16$19) has interesting drinks with names like Aphrodisia, a riff on a pina colada, and the Smoking Gun, a Japanese take on a Sazerac.

A good way to try Kira is the $50 three-course lunch offered on Fridays, with choices of appetizer, main course and dessert.

One of Blatty’s earlier concepts, Sofia, a stylish Italian eatery on Julia Street, continues to thrive nearby.

Kira opened in a 10,000-squarefoot building that has been home to several of Blatty’s concepts, including Barcadia, a retro gaming concept driven by ’80s nostalgia.

“It became clear that that demographic doesn’t go out anymore,” Blatty says. “The longevity just wasn’t there.”

That was followed by Mister Oso, an ill-fated Mexican restaurant opened with former partners in the Denverbased Culinary Creative Group. The concept continues to crush in the Mile High city, but it didn’t work out in New Orleans.

The massive space also is home to the Asian-themed nightclub Ohm Lounge, and soon Blatty will add Kira Omakase, offering a chef’s tasting.

Well spiced

HERE’S ONE WAY TO ASSEMBLE A GREAT MEAL AT ROSEDALE: First, share the fried cauliflower with pepper jelly and crab boil aioli, which makes the normally humble vegetable creamy, crisp, a touch spicy and totally irresistible.

Then, cut into the shrimp Creole with paneed eggplant for some finely wrought classic Creole flavor, or sample the curry with tofu and green Hatch peppers, a flavorful, meatless southeast Asian meets southwestern U.S. riff that’s not just a vegan placeholder. Then ask yourself what sort of restaurant you’re dining in after all. Each dish could have come from a different place, yet they’re together at a casual spot that defies a neat category.

Many regulars know Rosedale simply as a Susan Spicer restaurant, and that’s enough. Over decades, they’ve come to trust the taste and famously high standards that have made Spicer among the most respected chefs in New Orleans. Now, though, Rosedale is also increasingly an Allison Birdsall restaurant.

This younger chef has been working with Spicer for years, and last fall she became executive chef and a partner in the restaurant.

It’s part of a slow-motion approach to retirement for Spicer who, at 73, has

Based

long talked about backing away from the daily demands of the business.

What does the swan song look like for someone who loves her work and closely values what she’s created, but understands she’s approaching a new chapter of life?

Rosedale right now is a portrait of a legend in New Orleans food methodically navigating that turn. “Passing the torch” sounds too abrupt. It’s more a choreography of two chefs engaged in an exchange of ideas, styles and energy as one prepares to leave her work in the other’s hands.

“She was one I looked up to a long time before I met her,” Birdsall says. “Now here we are cooking shoulder to shoulder. It’s like being able to play with a rock star.”

Found down a side street of the same name, Rosedale is the nicest neighborhood joint imaginable.

It’s casual and affordable enough for anytime meals. Yet in sourcing and quality of ingredients, in the cocktails and its wine selection, it punches well above its weight.

Many of the entrees are sandwiches, even at dinner, and these are excellent (especially the meatloaf sandwich and cochon de lait po-boy). But the daily specials list is always lengthy and loaded with surprises, including dishes you’d expect at a high-end bistro.

Rosedale also hosts wine dinners, just about monthly, when its in-house sommelier Michelle Gueydan brings in prominent winemakers from around the country. They work with Spicer and Birdsall for events that can make Rosedale feel like a one-night tasting menu restaurant.

One such dinner in January, featuring Napa cult producer White Rock Vineyards, was a showcase for the way the two chefs work together now. An oyster stew for one course was classic Spicer, a local standard done to the Platonic ideal. Another course from Birdsall brought trumpet mushrooms cooked with bone marrow butter, a lusty and original treatment of a farmers market harvest.

“Collaboration has always been my favorite part of working with past chefs and sous chefs. It’s good to stay open to things,” Spicer says. “Too many cooks can spoil the broth, but two chefs, the right chefs working together, can make it better.”

For Spicer, the right chef turned out to be one she helped shape.

Birdsall grew up in Louisiana bayou country, in Cut Off, and came through the Chef John Folse Culinary Institute at Nicholls State University. She started her career working in classic French and modern Italian restaurants (if you remember the magnificent

roasted carrot pizza at Domenica from a decade ago, that was her creation).

When she saw Spicer at an industry event, she did not miss her shot. She explained her passion for cooking, and Spicer invited her to apply at Rosedale. She became chef de cuisine in 2018. She left for a few years to start a catering business but felt the call to return.

“This restaurant pulled me back in,” Birdsall says. “The type of food, the local customers, it’s the perfect restaurant to me.”

The menu is increasingly a blend of their respective styles, and the chefs’ collaboration also is about transmitting lessons in kitchen leadership.

“She’s a perfectionist,” Birdsall says of Spicer. “It takes tenacity and keeping on people but also you have to understand it’s not criticism, it’s about growth, it’s getting them where they need to be.”

Rosedale is filled with character and quirky design touches. That includes vestiges of the property’s history as a police precinct house (one restroom still looks very much like a holding cell). The bar has a tavern feel. A table on the leafy patio feels like dining in the country.

Walls are covered with memorabilia from Spicer’s long career and photos of people who have intersected with it.

Spicer grew up in Algiers and started cooking in restaurants in the 1970s, including an influential early apprenticeship with the master French chef Daniel Bonnot at Louis XVI, a longgone French Quarter restaurant.

In 1990, she opened her first restaurant, Bayona, with business partner Regina Keever. This is where she became a leading voice in modern New Orleans cuisine, with a pioneering approach that broke the mold of local dining with amuch broader sweep of global influences.

In the years since the pandemic, Spicer began stepping away from Bayona, devoting her time to Rosedale. Eventually she sold her share of

Bayona to her former business partner, and she’s no longer involved with that restaurant.

At Rosedale, Spicer started looking for people who could gradually take the reins. There was no obvious heir apparent. Her stepson worked with her for a while before he chose a different career.

“I had to find the right people who want to know what I know to hand things over to,” Spicer says.

Jonas Owens, who worked with her at Bayona in its earlier days, joined the Rosedale staff and a few years ago became a partner. He manages the restaurant now, though this has been a collaboration too.

“She’s very protective of what she built and puts her name on,” Owens says. “She had to push through a lot as a woman in the business when she was getting started. I think she looks for that drive in others. She wants people to be engaged and to challenge her.”

Spicer doesn’t have a firm timeline for retiring fully. She discusses her current status like someone who has set boundaries for herself while carving out plenty of exceptions. She doesn’t work nights anymore. Not usually, anyway, unless there’s a wine dinner, a private event or a function around town, in which case she does.

At lunch, she frequently steps out of the kitchen to visit with longtime customers who have become friends. Then she’s back at the stove, working up their order.

“My favorite part of it is still being a line cook,” Spicer says. “Cooking food, and knowing people are enjoying it, and getting to see that in your restaurant. I love that. That’s why I’m still here.” — Ian McNulty / The Times-Picayune

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Mike Correll

Chef

by Will Coviello

CHEF MIKE CORRELL SERVES a variety of Chesapeake Bay seafood and more at his restaurant Ruse in St. Michaels, Maryland, and last year he was a semifinalist for a James Beard Foundation award for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic. He got his professional start in Philadelphia and worked at the acclaimed restaurant Lacroix. There he met Tom Branighan, who now has his own French Quarter restaurant MaMou. The two are presenting a dinner highlighting ingredients from the Chesapeake and Louisiana on Sunday, March 15, at MaMou. The tasting menu is $175 per person, and wine pairings are available. For information, visit mamounola.com. For more on Correll, go to ruserestaurant.com.

How did you get into cooking?

MIKE CORRELL: I grew up in a suburb of Baltimore. I got my influence from my mom. I don’t have this romantic story like a lot of chefs. I didn’t grow up on a farm. I was in suburbia and I grew up watching food TV, and Emeril Lagasse was one of the guys I would always watch. I fell in love with that.

I played sports all throughout high school and thought I would get a scholarship. But I didn’t end up getting a scholarship. I didn’t know what to do, and my mom said, “Why don’t you give culinary school a shot?” So I moved to Philadelphia and went to school there. I worked at Lacroix with Tom. That was the best restaurant in Philly at the time. It was known for avant-garde cooking and great ingredients. But a lot of the food was very manipulated. You’d have a lot of components on the dish and different techniques.

I think through time, chefs go through this evolution from wanting to be impressive and doing crazy shit on plates to — as you get older — you learn it’s about quality ingredients. Through time, you develop relationships with farmers, fishermen and purveyors. You learn that taking a perfectly ripe vegetable and putting olive oil, salt and pepper is better than anything else you can do to it. It’s best to let the ingredients shine.

What do you focus on at Ruse?

C: Being on the Chesapeake, I support local watermen as much as I can. I

refuse to buy crabmeat that is not from the Chesapeake. I have a great relationship with a young couple. They’re the last people on the bay that catch and process their own crab. They have their own picking house on the property. They let me know when crabmeat is in season, and as soon as it does, it goes on the menu. It lasts from mid-April to early November. When crab season is done, people complain about not having crabmeat, but we only use Chesapeake Bay crabmeat when it’s in season.

As far as seafood, I try to source as much locally as possible. I try to have one or two local oysters. My buddy Phil (Valliant) has a place at the mouth of the bay in Virginia. He worked in D.C. at some Michelin star restaurants, one of them being The Dabney. He left to start an oyster farm. He has the best oysters on the Chesapeake Bay. Most oysters have that unbrine-y, buttery flavor. He has the closest thing I can find to a Maine oyster — super petit, very salty and delicious.

He’s built a lot of relationships down there. He buys seafood off the boats and sells it right next to his oysters. During the summer, he’ll have golden tile fish and rock fish, also

known as striped bass, scallops and things like that.

We have a raw bar, and I aways try to keep six to eight different kinds of oysters on the menu. Some people complain that they’re not all Chesapeake Bay oysters. I try to explain “meroir” and the landscape of the water. Think about the coastline of Maine and the crystal clear water. So for the raw bar, I have oysters from Virginia and Maryland, but everything else comes from Washington State, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island or Prince Edward Island.

I am all about supporting small businesses. It goes back to finding good ingredients and finding good people to do business with.

I am not one of those guys who only buys ingredients from within 50 miles of the restaurant. I am all about quality ingredients. What are the best ingredients, because that’s what I want to get, whether it comes from California or New York or Spain or Italy.

What will you do at the dinner at MaMou?

C: I am bringing some things down and trying to showcase things from around here.

I am doing a canape with oysters from my buddy Phil. I am also doing a canape course with tartare. I am using great local beef from Baltimore County called Rosetta Farms. It’s 100% Black Angus, and all their beef is dry-aged for 21 days. The marbleization on it is super high. It’s a delicious product. My entree course is getting into crabmeat. We don’t have crab yet, but they do in Louisiana. I am going to do one of the signature dishes we do in summer. It’s our blue crab cacio e pepe. It’s a play on classic Roman cacio e pepe but with a blend of Sichuan and black peppercorns. The sauce includes a rich blue crab stock. It’s based around the brininess and sweetness of the crab and the saltiness of ParmigianoReggiano and the sharpness of the peppercorn. It illuminates the brininess of the crab.

The vegetable course is a roasted mushroom dish with a raw egg yolk, and we top it with a salsa macha we make in house. It’s a play on a dish from St. Sebastian, Spain. It’s so simple. I love the mushroom-egg yolk combination. We serve it with salsa macha and tortillas so you can make a taco. We serve it with raw egg yolk in the middle, and the servers recommend stirring the egg yolk into the mushrooms. We give them tortillas so people can build their own tacos.

—Brunch —

ApplePie Waffle

Chicken

SausageBiscuit w/ Pepperjack

Cheese,OverEasy

—DINNER—

Eggand Side of Grits

—LUNCH —

CrawfishEtouffee w/ friedcatfish

FriedThaichili

chickensandwich w/ Fries

AppThaichili ribs

Lamb chops over garlic roasted redpotatoeswith chimichurri

Stuffed flounder seafoodcream & veg CRAWFISHBOILS AREBACK! EveryThursday at5PM!

Out to Eat is an index of Gambit contract advertisers. Unless noted, addresses are for New Orleans and all accept credit cards. Updates: Email willc@gambitweekly.com or call (504) 483-3106.

Angelo Brocato’s — 214 N. Carrollton Ave., (504) 486-1465; angelobrocatoicecream.com — This Mid-City sweet shop serves its own gelato in flavors like praline, salted caramel and tiramisu, as well as Italian ices in flavors like lemon, strawberry and mango. There also are cannolis, biscotti, fig cookies, tiramisu, macaroons and coffee drinks. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sun. $

Annunciation — 1016 Annunciation St., (504) 568-0245; annunciationrestaurant.com — Gulf Drum Yvonne is served with brown butter sauce with mushrooms and artichoke hearts. There also are oysters, seafood pasta dishes, steaks, lamb chops and more. Reservations recommended. Dinner Thu.-Mon. $$$

Bamboula’s — 514 Frenchmen St.; bamboulasmusic.com — The live music venue’s kitchen offers a menu of traditional and creative Creole dishes, such as Creole crawfish crepes with goat cheese and chardonnay sauce. Reservations accepted. Lunch, dinner and late-night daily. $$

The Blue Crab Restaurant and Oyster Bar — 118 Harbor View Court, Slidell, (985) 315-7001; 7900 Lakeshore Drive, (504) 284-2898; thebluecrabnola.com Basin barbecue shrimp are served with rosemary garlic butter sauce over cheese grits with a cheese biscuit. The menu includes po-poys, fried seafood platters, raw and char-grilled oysters, boiled seafood in season, and more. Outdoor seating available. No reservations. Lakeview: Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sun. Slidell: Lunch Wed.-Fri., dinner Wed.-Sun., brunch Sat.-Sun. $$ Broussard’s — 819 Conti St., (504) 581-3866; broussards.com — The menu of contemporary Creole dishes includes bronzed redfish with jumbo lump crabmeat, lemon beurre blanc and vegetables. Brunch includes Benedicts, avocado toast, chicken and waffles, turtle soup and more. Reservations recommended. Outdoor seating available in the courtyard. Dinner Wed.-Sat., brunch Sun. $$$

Cafe Normandie — Higgins Hotel, 480 Andrew Higgins Blvd., (504) 528-1941; higginshotelnola.com/dining — The menu combines classic French dishes and Louisiana items like crab beignets with herb aioli. Sandwiches include po-boys, a muffuletta on flatbread and a burger. No reservations. Breakfast and lunch Mon.Sat., dinner Fri.-Mon. $$

The Commissary — 634 Orange St., (504) 274-1850; thecommissarynola.com — Dickie Brennan’s Commissary supplies his other restaurant kitchens and also has a dine-in menu and prepared foods to go. A smoked turkey sandwich is served with bacon, tomato jam, herbed cream cheese, arugula and herb vinaigrette on honey oat bread. The menu includes dips, salads, sandwiches, boudin balls, fried oysters and more. No reservations. Outdoor seating available. Lunch Tue.-Sat. $$

Curio — 301 Royal St., (504) 717-4198; curionola.com — The creative Creole menu includes blackened Gulf shrimp served with

$ — average dinner entrée under $10

$$ $11-$20

$$$ — $20-up

chicken and andouille jambalaya. There also are crab cakes, shrimp and grits, crawfish etouffee, po-boys and more. Outdoor seating available on balcony. Reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner daily. $$

Dahla — 611 O’Keefe Ave., (504) 766-6602; dahlarestaurant.com — The menu includes popular Thai dishes like pad thai, drunken noodles, curries and fried rice. Crispy skinned duck basil is prepared with vegetables and Thai basil. Delivery available. Reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat. $$

Desire Oyster Bar — Royal Sonesta New Orleans, 300 Bourbon St., (504) 5860300; sonesta.com/desireoysterbar — A menu full of Gulf seafood includes oysters served raw on the half-shell or char-broiled with with Parmesan, garlic and herbs. The menu also includes po-boys, po-boys, gumbo, blackened fish, fried seafood platters and more. Reservations recommended. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. $$

Dickie Brennan’s Bourbon House — 144 Bourbon St., (504) 522-0111; bourbonhouse.com — There’s a seafood raw bar with raw and char-broiled oysters, fish dip, crab fingers, shrimp and more. Redfish on the Half-shell is cooked skin-on and served with crab-boiled potatoes, frisee and lemon buerre blanc. The bar offers a wide selection of bourbon and whiskies. Reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner daily. $$$

Dickie Brennan’s Steakhouse — 716 Iberville St., (504) 522-2467; dickiebrennanssteakhouse.com — The menu includes a variety of steaks, plus seared Gulf fish, lobster pasta, barbecue shrimp and more. A 6-ounce filet mignon is served with fried oysters, creamed spinach, potatoes and bearnaise. Reservations recommended. Dinner Mon.-Sat. $$$

El Pavo Real — 4401 S. Broad Ave., (504) 266-2022; elpavorealnola.com — The menu includes tacos, enchiladas, quesadillas, ceviche. tamales and more. Pescado Vera Cruz features sauteed Gulf fish topped with tomatoes, olives, onion and capers, served with rice and string beans. Outdoor seating available. No reservations. Lunch and early dinner Tue.-Sat. $$

Juan’s Flying Burrito — 515 Baronne St., (504) 529-5825; 2018 Magazine St., (504) 569-0000; 4724 S. Carrollton Ave., (504) 486-9950; 8140 Oak St., (504) 897-4800; juansflyingburrito.com —

The Flying Burrito includes steak, shrimp, chicken, cheddar jack cheese, black beans, rice, guacamole and salsa. The menu also includes tacos, quesadillas, enchiladas, fajitas, nachos, salads, rice and bean bowls with various toppings and more. Outdoor seating available. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Thu.-Tue. $$

Katie’s Restaurant — 3701 Iberville St., (504) 488-6582; katiesinmidcity.com — The Cajun Cuban with roasted pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles and mustard. The eclectic menu also includes char-grilled oysters, sandwiches, burgers, pizza, fried seafood platters, pasta, salads and more.

Delivery available. Reservations accepted for large parties. Lunch and dinner daily. $$

Kilroy’s Bar — Higgins Hotel, 480 Andrew Higgins Blvd., (504) 528-1941; higginshotelnola.com/dining — The all-day bar menu includes sandwiches, soups, salads, flatbreads and a couple entrees. A muffuletta flatbread is topped with salami, mortadella, capicola, mozzarella and olive salad. No reservations. Lunch Fri.-Mon., dinner daily. $$

Legacy Kitchen’s Craft Tavern — 700 Tchoupitoulas St., (504) 613-2350; legacykitchen.com — The menu includes oysters, flatbreads, burgers, sandwiches, salads and sharable plates like NOLA Tot Debris. A slow-cooked pulled pork barbecue sandwich is served with coleslaw on a brioche bun. Reservations accepted. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. $$

Legacy Kitchen Steak & Chop — 91 Westbank Expressway, Gretna, (504) 513-2606; legacykitchen.com — The selection of steak and chops includes filet mignon, bone-in rib-eye, top sirloin and double pork chops and a la carte toppings include bernaise, blue cheese and sauteed crabmeat. There also are burgers, salads, pasta, seafood entrees, char-broiled oysters and more. Reservations accepted. Outdoor seating available. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat. $$

Mikimoto — 3301 S. Carrollton Ave., (504) 488-1881; mikimotosushi.com — The menu of Japanese cuisine includes sushi, signature rolls, tempura items, udon noodle dishes, teriyaki, salads and more.The South Carrollton roll includes tuna tataki, avocado, snow crab, green onion and wasabi roe. Reservations accepted. Delivery available. Lunch Sun.-Fri., dinner daily. $$ Mosca’s — 4137 Highway 90 West, Westwego, (504) 436-8950; moscasrestaurant.com — This family-style eatery serves Italian dishes and specialties including shrimp Mosca, baked oysters Mosca and spaghetti Bordelaise and chicken cacciatore. Chicken a la grands is sauteed with garlic, rosemary, Italian herbs and white wine. Reservations accepted. Dinner Wed.-Sat. Cash only. $$$

Mother’s Restaurant — 401 Poydras St., (504) 523-9656; mothersrestaurant.net — This counter-service spot serves po-boys dressed with sliced cabbage like the Famous Ferdi filled with ham, roast beef and debris. Creole favorites include jambalaya, crawfish etouffee, red beans and rice and more. Breakfast is available all day. Delivery available. No reservations. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. $$

Neyow’s Creole Cafe — 3332 Bienville St., (504) 827-5474; neyows.com — The menu includes red beans and rice with fried chicken or pork chops, as well as shrimp Creole, seafood platters, po-boys, chargrilled and raw oysters, salads and more. Side items include carrot souffle, mac and cheese, cornbread dressing, sweet potato tots and more. No reservations. Lunch daily, dinner Mon.-Sat., brunch Sun. $$ Nice Guys Bar & Grill — 7910 Earhart Blvd., (504) 302-2404; niceguysbarandgrillnola.com — Char-grilled oysters are topped with cheese and garlic butter, and other options include oysters Rockefeller and loaded oysters. The creative menu also includes seafood bread, a Cajun-lobster potato, wings, quesadillas, burgers, salads, sandwiches, seafood pasta, loaded fries and

more. No reservations. Lunch daily, dinner Mon.-Sat. $$$

Orleans Grapevine Wine Bar & Bistro 720 Orleans Ave., (504) 523-1930; orleansgrapevine.com — The wine bar offers cheese boards and appetizers to nosh with wines. The menu includes Creole pasta with shrimp and andouille in tomato cream sauce. Reservations accepted for large parties. Outdoor seating available. Dinner Thu.-Sun. $$

Parish Grill — 4650 W. Esplanade Ave., Suite 100, Metairie, (504) 345-2878; parishgrill.com — The menu includes a variety of burgers, sandwiches, wraps, pizza and salads. For an appetizer, sauteed andouille is served with fig preserves, blue cheese and toast points. Reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat. $$ Peacock Room — Kimpton Hotel Fontenot, 501 Tchoupitoulas St., (504) 324-3073; peacockroomnola.com — At brunch, braised short rib grillades are served over grits with mushrooms, a poached egg and shaved truffle. The dinner menu has oysters, salads, pasta, shrimp and grits, a burger, cheese plates and more. Reservations accepted. Dinner Wed.-Mon., brunch Sun. $$

Rosie’s on the Roof — Higgins Hotel, 480 Andrew Higgins Blvd., (504) 528-1941; higginshotelnola.com/dining — The rooftop bar has a menu of sandwiches, burgers and small plates. Crab beignets are made with Gulf crabmeat and mascarpone and served with herb aioli. No reservations. Dinner Mon.-Sat. $$

Tableau — 616 St. Peter St., (504) 934-3463; tableaufrenchquarter.com — The menu features traditional and creative Creole dishes. Pasta bouillabaisse features squid ink mafaldine, littleneck clams, Gulf shrimp, squid, seafood broth, rouille and herbed breadcrumbs. Outdoor seating available on the balcony. Reservations recommended. Dinner Wed.-Sun., brunch Thu.-Sun. $$$ Tacklebox — 817 Common St., (504) 827-1651; legacykitchen.com — The menu includes raw and char-broiled oysters, seafood platters, po-boys, fried chicken, crab and corn bisque and more. Redfish St. Charles is served with garlic-herb butter, asparagus, mushrooms and crawfish cornbread. Reservations accepted. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. $$

Theo’s Neighborhood Pizza — 1212 S. Clearview Parkway, Elmwood, (504) 733-3803; 2125 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, (504) 510-4282; 4024 Canal St., (504) 302-1133; 4218 Magazine St., (504) 894-8554; 70488 Highway 21, Covington, (985) 234-9420; theospizza.com — A Marilynn Pota Supreme pie is topped with mozzarella, pepperoni, sausage, hamburger, mushrooms, bell peppers and onions. There also are salads, sandwiches, wings, breadsticks and more. Delivery available. Lunch and dinner daily. $

The Vintage — 3121 Magazine St., (504) 324-7144; thevintagenola.com — There’s a full coffee drinks menu and baked goods and beignets, as well as a full bar. The menu has flatbreads, cheese boards, small plates and a pressed veggie sandwich with avocado, onions, arugula, red pepper and pepper jack cheese. No reservations. Delivery and outdoor seating available. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. $$

PAGE 5

The New Orleans Book Festival

The free annual literary festival at Tulane University will feature author interviews and panel discussions across four days on the Uptown campus. The fest opens Thursday, March 12, with a panel focused on America at 250 featuring Ken Burns, Clint Smith, Walter Isaacson, Annette GordonReed and moderator Jeffrey Goldberg of The Atlantic. This year’s long list of participants also includes Salman Rushdie, Charles M. Blow, Imani Perry, former Gov. John Bel Edwards, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, Roxane Gay, Dax Shepard, Anderson Cooper, Emeril Lagasse, Kara Swisher and Jason Berry. Find the full lineup and schedule at bookfest.tulane.edu.

Savannah Bananas

When it comes to baseball, the Savannah Bananas are in a league by themselves, or actually a league of two, including their perennial foes, The Party Animals. The Bananas honed their own brand of Banana Ball in Savannah, Georgia and now tour constantly. The game bends to their whims as entertainment trumps the usual rules, while music plays, players dance and antics ensue. Sometimes there’s fan interaction, and foul balls caught by fans count as outs. Games last two hours. At 6 p.m. Saturday, March 14, and 3 p.m. Sunday, March 15, at Caesars Superdome. Find tickets via caesarssuperdome.com.

‘Napoleon

Dynamite’ Live

Jon Heder starred as Napoleon Dynamite in Jared Hess’s 2004 offbeat coming-of-age comedy. The socially awkward Napoleon negotiates high school life in a very small town in Idaho as he tries to impress women, and his friend Pedro runs for class president. The film developed a cult following for its absurdity and quotable lines. A screening of the film is followed by a Q&A with Heder, Efren Ramirez, who played Pedro, and Jon Gries, who played Uncle Rico. At 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 12. Tickets $69.71 and up via mahaliajacksontheater.com.

‘Small Craft Warnings’

In Tennessee Williams’ “Small Craft Warnings,” a bunch of mostly lost souls drink away their lives at a seaside bar in California. Monk presides over the bar, with customers including a doctor who’s lost his license, travelers who have wandered in and neighbors. The cast includes James Wright, Quinn Lapeyrouse, LaKesha Glover, Kevin Wheatley, Kelley Holcomb, Benjamin

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Dougherty, Leon Contravesprie and Miles Hamauei. The Tennessee Williams Theatre Company of New Orleans presents the show at Loyola University New Orleans’ Lower Depths Theater at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 12, through Saturday, March 14, and 3 p.m. Sunday, March 15, and continuing March 19-22 and 26–29. Tickets are $25-$62 ($10 for Loyola students) via twtheatrenola.com.

Buddy Red

Atlanta-based blues rock musician

Buddy Red has recently been making waves for his magnetic style that draws from Delta blues, Jimi Hendrix guitar work, James Brown showmanship and Pink Floyd-style psychedlia. He’s on his way to Austin, Texas, for SXSW and makes a stop in New Orleans for a show at Gasa Gasa at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 10. The concert is presented by the BlackAmericana Fest, and New Orleans singer-songwriter Dusky Waters also performs. Tickets are $13.05 via gasagasanola.com.

Dog Party

As the band Dog Party, Californiabased sisters Gwendolyn and Lucy Giles keep things simple and fun. The guitar and drums duo play an energetic blend of punk, garage rock and pop with a West Coast energy. The duo are in New Orleans Thursday, March 12, for a show at Santos with Dumbster, Atom Cat and Flip Fitch. Music starts at 10 p.m. and tickets are $12.28 online at santosbar.com.

B2K

The boy band B2K had a brief but successful initial run at the turn of the millennium, releasing two chart-topping albums, including its platinum-selling “Pandemonium.” The R&B-leaning quartet broke up in 2004 and is now reuniting for a co-headlining tour with fellow Y2K star Bow Wow. Their Millennium tour stop at the Smoothie King Center is at 8 p.m. Friday, March 13, and will feature performances by Amerie, Yung Joc, Crime Mob, Pretty Ricky and more. Tickets start at $83.65 via smoothiekingcenter.com.

Zita

Rock band Zita takes influences from classic rock ’n’ roll and plays it with New Orleans flair. The band has been working on a new album, “Axiom,” for some time, and it finally comes to life Friday, March 13. Zita will play an album release show at 11 p.m. Friday, March 13, at the Maple Leaf. Tickets are $17 in advance via mapleleafbar.com and $20 at the door.

theNew OrleansChamber Orchestrapresents

featuringBach, Rameau,Telemann, Vivaldi, theCANARYCantata &the COFFEECantata with conductor /harpsichordistPaulMaufray Harpsichord Concertos&Comic Cantatas

Più Mosso Baroque

SATURDAY,March21st 5:30 &SUNDAY, March22nd 3:00

at theNew MarignyTeatre 2301 Marais Street www.newmarignytheatre.com

Tickets at www.LongueVue.com

MUSIC

C OMPLETE MUSI C LISTINGS AND MO R E EVENTS TAKING PLA C E IN T H E NEW O R LEANS A R EA, VISIT CALENDAR.GAMBITWEEKLY.COM

To learn more about adding your event to the music calendar, please email listingsedit@gambitweekly.com

MONDAY 9

30/90 — Margie Perez, 6 pm; Piano Man ‘G’, 9 pm

ALLWAYS LOUNGE — Betsy Propane & The Accessories, 7 pm

APPLE BARREL Mark Appleford, 6 pm; Decaturadio, 10:30 pm

BACCHANAL Byron Asher, 6 pm

BAMBOULA’S The New Orleans Rug Cutters, 12 pm; Jon Roniger Band & The Good for Nothin’ Band, 4:30 pm; Ted Hefko & The Thousandaires, 9 pm

BJ’S LOUNGE — Red Beans & Bluess with Alex McMurray & Greg Sherman, 9 pm

BUFFA’S David Doucet, 8 pm

CAFÉ NEGRIL Keep It Rolling Brass Band, 6 pm; LIT Band, 9:30 pm

COLUMNS HOTEL Stanton Moore Trio, 6:30 pm

DBA — Secret Six Jazz Band, 6 pm; Corey Henry & The Treme Funktet, 9:30 pm

DOS JEFES John Fohl, 8:30 pm

GASA GASA — Yellow Days, 9 pm

THE HOWLIN’ WOLF — Sparrow Blue with Tifany Pollack, Paul Faith & Crown Point, 7 pm

LOWPOINT Robin Rapuzzi Solo Mandolin, Italian Serenade, 6 pm

THE MAISON — Aurora Nealand, 5 pm; Gene’s Music Machine, 8:30 pm

MAPLE LEAF BAR — George Porter Jr. Trio, 7 pm; 10 pm

MAYFIELD’S 208 Kermit Rufns ft. Irvin Mayfeld: Red Bean Mondays, 6 pm

NO DICE — Danny Goo Album Release with T-Rich$, 8 pm

NOLA BREWING & PIZZA CO — Bluegrass Pickin' Party, 7 pm

OKAY BAR Quinn Pilgrim, Fish Hunt, Total Wife, and Melania Kol, 7 pm

POORBOYS Gumbolaya, 9 pm

SATURN BAR BC Coogan, 8:30 pm

SNUG HARBOR — Charmaine Neville Band, 7:30 pm; 9:30 pm

SPOTTED CAT Jenavieve & The Winding Boys, 2 pm; Dominick Grillo & The Frenchmen Street All-Stars, 6 pm

TUESDAY 10

30/90 Sugar & The Daddies, 6 pm; Higher Heights, 9 pm

APPLE BARREL — Bubbles Brown, 6 pm; Jackson’s Flying Circus ft. Mike Doussan & Chris Roberts, 10:30 pm

BACCHANAL — Tangiers Combo, 6 pm

BAMBOULA’S F K-rrera Music Group, 12 pm; Giselle Anguizola Quartet, 4:30 pm; Caitie B. & The Hand Me Downs, 9 pm

BANKS STREET BAR — VetJams, 7 pm

BJ'S LOUNGE BYWATER — Bruisey's Bottoms Up Open Mic, 9 pm

BLUE NILE Julian “Juice” Gosin, 7 pm

BUFFA’S Alex McMurray, 7 pm

CAFÉ NEGRIL — The-Super-MostFantastic-Blues-N-Such-Jam, 7 pm

CHICKIE WAH WAH — The Nude Party, 8 pm

DBA — Sally Baby, 10 pm

DOS JEFES Captain Spalding, 8:30 pm

GASA GASA — Buddy Red with Dusky Waters, 8 pm

HOLY DIVER — The Amazing Henrietta, 8 pm

IRENE’S — Monty Banks, 6 pm

THE MAISON Jacky Blaire & The Hot Biscuits, 5 pm; Paradise Jazz Band, 8 pm

MAPLE LEAF BAR — Alex Wasily & Ari

Teitel: Very Good Tuesdays, 8 pm

MAYFIELD’S 208 — Irvin Mayfeld ft.

Cyril Neville & Kermit Rufns, 6 pm

MRB DJ Mr. Bubble, 7 pm

OKAY BAR Hannah Sandoz + Shmoo + Aubrey Jane, 8 pm

THE RABBIT HOLE — Rebirth Brass Band, 10 pm

SALON SALON — Leo Forde, 7 pm

SATURN BAR — Baile Ritmo Presents:

¡CUMBIA! with Los Guiros and DJ C’est Funk, 9 pm

SNUG HARBOR — Stanton Moore Trio, 7:30 pm; 9:30 pm

SPOTTED CAT — Chris Christy Band, 2 pm; Sweetie Pies of New Orleans, 6 pm; Smoking Time Jazz Band, 9:30 pm

ST. ROCH TAVERN Hairaoke: Haircuts & Karaoke, 8 pm

\VAUGHAN’S — Cuttin’ Up at Vaughan’s with Lil Prince & The Youngbloods, 10 pm

\WEDNESDAY 11

30/90 Jef Chaz Blues Band, 6 pm; The Budz, 9 pm

APPLE BARREL Felipe Kerra, 6 pm; Steve Mignano, 10:30 pm

BACCHANAL Jesse Morrow, 6 pm

BAMBOULA’S — Jacky Blaire & The Hot Biscuits, 12 pm; Swingin’ With John Saavedra, 4:30 pm; Jelly Roll Stompers, 9 pm

BJ’S LOUNGE — Soft Opening ft. Anna Laura Quinn & Christin Bradford, 9 pm

BLUE NILE — New Breed Brass Band, 9 pm

BRATZ Y’ALL — Chip Wilson & Dean Zucchero, 5 pm

BUFFA’S — Mark Carroll & Friends, 7 pm

CAFÉ NEGRIL The Silver Lining Serenaders, 6:30 pm; Jam-ilton, 9 pm

DOS JEFES Jenna McSwain, 8:30 pm

GASA GASA — JMSN, 9 pm

HOLY DIVER Hans Condor + The Nancies, 9 pm

THE HOWLIN’ WOLF Blackdog w/ Raymond Weber & Sam Price, 7 pm

IRENE’S Monty Banks, 6 pm

LAFAYETTE SQUARE — Wednesdays at The Square: Big Sam's Funky Nation, 5 pm

LONGUE VUE HOUSE & GARDENS — Twilight Concert Series ft. Eight Dice Cloth, 5:30 pm

THE MAISON Gene’s Music Machine, 6 pm

MAPLE LEAF BAR Pastor J’s Funky Revival with Eddie Christmas & Greg Hicks, 8 pm

MARIGNY BRASSERIE Legacy Jazz Band, 7 pm

MAYFIELD’S 208 BOURBON Irvin Mayfeld ft. Kermit Rufns, 6 pm

OKAY BAR Julia Blair + Kid Charleroi + Rainsticks, 7 pm

SANTOS — Chambre Noir with Paco, 10 pm

SATURN BAR — Shining Fields, Lisbon Girls, Vinny’s Mirror, 9 pm

SIBERIA — Shatter with Numb Ways, W-9, & Kadaver, 9 pm

SNUG HARBOR — JFA presents New Orleans Cottonmouth Kings, 5 pm; Delfeayo Marsalis & The Uptown Jazz Orchestra, 7:30 pm; 9:30 pm

TIPITINA’S Soul Brass Band, 8 pm

VAUGHAN’S — Robin Rapuzzi’s Glo Worm Trio, 8:30 pm

THURSDAY 12

30/90 — Dapper Dandies, 6 pm; Where Y’at Brass Band, 9 pm

ALLWAYS LOUNGE — Van Ella Bordella, 7 pm

APPLE BARREL — Bubbles Brown, 6 pm

BACCHANAL — Raphael Bas, 6 pm

BAMBOULA’S JJ & The A-Ok’s, 12 pm; Cristina Kaminis & The Mix, 4:30 pm; Sugar & The Daddies, 9 pm

BJ’S LOUNGE Sally Baby’s Silver Dollars, 9 pm

BLUE NILE Irvin Mayfeld’s Music Church with Special Guests, 9 pm

BRATZ Y’ALL — John Lisi & Dean Zucchero, 5 pm

BUFFA’S — Tom McDermott and Aurora Nealand, 7 pm

CAFE NEGRIL — Smitti & Friends, 6 pm; Armani & Soul Ties, 10 pm

CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL — Considering Matthew ShepardNew Orleans Premiere, 7:30 pm

DOS JEFES — Miss Anna Laura Quinn, 8:30 pm

DOUBLE DEALER — The Silver Lining Serenaders, 9 pm

GASA GASA — Julian “Juice” Gosin, 9 pm

HOUSE OF BLUES — KenTheMan, 8 pm

IRENE’S — Monty Banks, 6 pm

JAZZ PLAYHOUSE Brass-AHolics, 7:30 pm

LE BON TEMPS ROULE The Soul Rebels, 11 pm

MAHALIA JACKSON THEATER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS — Napoleon Dynamite Live!, 7:30 pm

THE MAISON — Champagniacs, 4:30 pm; SingleMaltPlease, 8:30 pm

MAPLE LEAF BAR — Booker & Beyond with Kyle Roussel, 6 pm; Johnny Vidacovich Trio with Oscar Rossignoli & Matt Booth, 8 pm

MRB Micah McKee & Friends, 7 pm

NEW MARIGNY THEATER Marina Albero Quartet, 7 pm

PEACOCK ROOM, HOTEL FONTENOT — Da Lovebirds with Robin Barnes and Pat Casey , 7 pm

ROCK 'N' BOWL — Chubby Carrier & Bayou Swamp Band, 9 pm

SALON SALON — Sasha Masakowski, 7 pm

SANTOS BAR — Dog Party + Dumbster + Atom Cat + Flip Fitch, 10 pm

SATURN BAR — Helen Gillet, Eric Bolivar, and Fluttermite, 9 pm

SIBERIA — Howling Giant with Insomniac, Fen Magnus, and Totem, 9 pm

SNUG HARBOR Courtney Bryan Trio + Special Guests, 7:30 & 9:30 pm

VAUGHAN’S Corey Henry & The Treme Funktet, 10:30 pm

FRIDAY 13

30/90 Daphne Parker Powell, 2 pm; Lil Red & Big Bad, 5 pm; The New Orleans Johnnys, 8 pm; T. Cherrelle & Lou’s Bayou, 11 pm

APPLE BARREL Bubbles Brown, 6 pm; Mike Darby & The Rockers, 10:30 pm

BACCHANAL David Sigler, 1 pm; Willie Green, 7 pm

BAMBOULA’S — The New Orleans Rug Cutters, 11 am; Felipe Antonio Quintet, 2:15 pm; Les Getrex & Creole Cooking, 6:30 pm; Bettis & The 3rd Degree Brass Band, 10 pm

BJ’S LOUNGE Oh Dang! Release Party with The Glue, 9 pm

BLUE NILE The Caesar Brothers’ FunkBox, 7:30 pm; Kermit Rufns & The BBQ Swingers, 10 pm

BRATZ Y’ALL Gloria Torrini & Dean Zucchero, 5 pm

BROTHERS THREE — Steady Company, 9 pm

BUFFA’S — Tuba Skinny, 8 pm

CAFE NEGRIL Blackdog, 2 pm; Jamey St. Pierre & The Honeycreepers, 6 pm; Higher Heights Reggae, 10 pm

CHICKIE WAH WAH —

The Walrus, 9 pm

DBA Michael Watson & The Alchemy, 6 pm; The Soul Rebels, 10 pm

DOS JEFES Vivaz!, 9 pm

DOUBLE DEALER BAR — Jazz Bounce Lounge Live, 8 pm

GASA GASA — Blackdog with Raymond Weber & Sam Price, 8 pm

HOLY DIVER — Rik Slave’s Dark Lounge Ministries, 9 pm

HOUSE OF BLUES — Red NOT Chili Peppers, 9 pm

LE BON TEMPS ROULÉ

Marc Stone, 11 pm

THE MAISON Nola Sweethearts, 3 pm; Shotgun Jazz Band, 5 pm; St. Julien X, 8 pm; DJ Lemonhead, 11 pm

MAPLE LEAF BAR Justin Donovan, 8 pm; Zita, 11 pm

MARDI GRAS WORLD Trnscnd Music & Arts Festival , 12 am

NOLA BREWING & PIZZA CO — Gal Holiday and the Honky Tonk Revue, 7 pm

NOLA 'NACULAR — Bobby Bare, Jr. , 7 pm

MARIGNY OPERA HOUSE —

Marigny Opera Ballet with Sweet Crude, 8 pm

MRB — Silver Lining Serenaders, 7 pm

MUSIC BOX VILLAGE — Helen Gillet, 6 pm

NO DICE — The Quadroholics ft.

LVCD + Kidd Love, 10 pm

ROCK 'N' BOWL Bag of Donuts, 8:30 pm

SANTOS BAR Madame Monster

Presents: Those Monsters + Rade + Inner Anguish + Subotai, 10 pm

SATURN BAR PS: ELECTRIC

FEEL 11.0 w/ Heelturn and Carmine, 10 pm

SIBERIA — HourHouse + Days of Grief + Face Of + Whitemoth, 9 pm

SMOOTHIE KING CENTER — Boys 4

Life Tour ft. B2K & Bow Wow, 8 pm

STUDIO SAINT PHILIP — Sonic Chambers Quartet, 7 pm

SATURDAY 14

30/90 — Organami, 2 pm; Polly Darton & The Rhinestone Willies, 5 pm; Brass Flavor, 8 pm; The Soulcial Club, 11 pm

APPLE BARREL The Smoky Greenwell Blues Band, 10:30 pm

BACCHANAL Miles Berry, 1 pm; Pete Olynciw, 7 pm

BAMBOULA’S Aaron Levinson & Friends, 11 am; James McClaskey & The Rhythm Band, 2:15 pm; Johnny Mastro Blues, 6:30 pm; Paggy Prine & Southern Soul, 10 pm

BEANLANDIA — La Louisiane: Corey Ledet, 6 pm

BJ’S LOUNGE — T Marie & Bayou Juju Album Release + Jefery Broussard & the Creole Cowboys, 8:15 pm

BLUE NILE Big Sam & Friends, 8 pm; Afrobeat NOLA, 10 pm

BMC Abe Thompson & Drs. of Funk,3 pm; Deej the Floor King, 6 pm; Sierra Green, 9 pm

BRATZ Y’ALL George Kilby, Jr. & Dean Zucchero, 5 pm

CAFE NEGRIL The Rumpshakers, 2 pm; Bon Bon Vivant, 6 pm; Zena Moses & The Rue Fiya Allstars, 10 pm

CHICKIE WAH WAH — Billy Iuso Plays Dylan, 9 pm

DBA — Tuba Skinny, 6 pm

DOS JEFES Sunpie & The Louisiana Sunspots, 9 pm

DOUBLE DEALER Shawn Williams, 9:30 pm

GASA GASA Lou Oma + Lyla George + dummy plug, 8 pm

HOLY DIVER Brewing Means + Chef Menteur + The Spaghetti Heist, 8 pm

HOUSE OF BLUES Joyce Manor + Militarie Gun + Teen Mortgage + Combat, 7 pm

JAZZ PLAYHOUSE — Nayo Jones Experience, 7:30 pm; 9 pm

LE BON TEMPS ROULÉ — Captain Buckles, 11 pm

THE MAISON The Melatauns, 1 pm; Smoking Time Jazz Club, 4 pm; Big Easy Brass Walker, 8 pm

MAPLE LEAF BAR — Jason Ricci Band, 8 pm; Pete Murano Band, 11 pm

MRB — Marc Paradis & JP Carmody, 7 pm

Drook, 8 pm

MUSIC

NOLA BREWING & PIZZA CO — Flogging NOLA, 5 pm

PUBLIC BELT AT HILTON NEW ORLEANS RIVERSIDE Phil Melancon, 8 pm

ROCK 'N' BOWL — Sugar Shaker, 8:30 pm

SANTOS BAR — Summoning of the Heauxs ft. Mijita (Dance Party), 10 pm

SATURN BAR Mod Dance Party, 9 pm

SIBERIA — MX Lonely + Doctors + Acath, 9 pm

TWELVE MILE LIMIT Heatwave! Dance Party , 9 pm

SUNDAY 15

30/90 — Mother Ruckus, 3 pm; Andre Lovett, 6 pm; Manic Mixtape, 9 pm

ALLWAYS LOUNGE — Swing Night, 8 pm

BACCHANAL Matt Booth, 1 pm; Noah Young, 7 pm

BAMBOULA’S — Them Jaywalkers, 11 am; Laura Doyle Quartet, 2:15 pm; Midnight Brawlers, 5:30 pm; Kat Kiley, 9 pm

BJ’S LOUNGE James McClaskey & the Rhythm Band, 9 pm

BLUE NILE — Gumbo Funk, 7 pm; Street Legends Brass Band, 9:30 pm

BRATZ Y’ALL Sunpie Barnes & Dean Zucchero, 4 pm

CAFÉ NEGRIL — Decaturadio, 1 pm; John Lisi & Delta Funk, 5 pm; The Next Level Band, 9 pm

DBA Paradise Jazz Band, 6 pm; The Jump Hounds, 9:30 pm

DOS JEFES — Joplin Parnell, 8 pm

THE FILLMORE — YFN Lucci, 8 pm

GASA GASA Al Olender, 8 pm

HOUSE OF BLUES — Khamari + Gabriel Jacoby, 8 pm

JAZZ PLAYHOUSE Amanda Shaw, 7:30 pm

MAPLE LEAF BAR — Joe Krown featuring Papa Mali, 9 pm

NO DICE — Strictly Liquid + Quarx, 8 pm

OKAY BAR Irish Folk Jam, 3 pm

SANTOS BAR — Midevil ft. TABRVNE (Dance Party), 10 pm

SATURN BAR Brad Walker, Matt Booth, Quin Kirchner Trio, 10 pm

SCAN FOR THE COMPLETE GAMBIT CALENDAR

FRENCH QUARTER FEST ISSUE DATE:

APRIL 13 [RESERVE SPACE BY APRIL 3]

JAZZ FEST ISSUE DATES:

APRIL 20 [RESERVE SPACE BY APRIL 10]

APRIL 27 [RESERVE SPACE BY APRIL 17]

MUSIC

Dog pile

by Jake Clapp

WRITING LYRICS WITH ANOTHER PERSON CAN BE REALLY VULNERABLE, says Tyler Ryan. But both collaboration and vulnerability have been key to Oh Dang, the New Orleans band anchored by Ryan, a singer and guitarist, vocalist Harper Browman and multi-instrumentalist Eric Anduha.

“It takes a long time to slowly develop that sort of comfort, to be able to share and change and put ideas out that either work or don’t work with somebody else,” Ryan says. “Same with Eric. Eric, I’ve been playing with since I was a kid. That sort of comfort has grown over like 15 years of playing together.”

Since 2021, Oh Dang has operated as a trio, releasing a lo-fi folk EP and a full-length of engaging alt-country highlighted by Ryan and Browman’s harmonies. Now, with their second fulllength “Big Dogs,” the band is growing both in size and in its sound.

“Big Dogs” is out Friday, March 13, on Strange Daisy Records, and the band plays a release show at 9 p.m. that night at BJ’s in the Bywater. Tonya & The Glue also perform.

Following the release of Oh Dang’s self-titled album in 2024, Browman, Ryan and Anduha invited drummer Eric Martinez and bassist Dylan Grove to join the band. Martinez is in a number of projects around New Orleans, including the country-leaning indie rock band Night Medicine, and Grove plays with the alt-rock band Dumbster.

“When those two came in, it just completely changed the dynamic of writing and playing,” Ryan says.

“We’d bring a song to the band at practice, and then everybody puts in how they think things could be different or what should be added,” Browman adds. “It’s pretty open when we’re starting a new song.”

On “Big Dogs,” the effect can be quickly heard as the album opens with feedback and the propulsive rocker “OKC.” Oh Dang has rolled heaps of garage rock into its style. They haven’t necessarily cut out the alt-country past, and those influences can still be heard, but Oh Dang has hit on a fuller sound. Still, it’s anchored by Ryan and Browman’s vocal harmonies and collaboration.

Originally from California and Colorado, Ryan moved to New Orleans about eight years ago to get clean.

Browman also is from California and spent time in Hawaii and Idaho before moving to the city around seven years ago. And Ryan’s childhood friend Anduha moved to New Orleans around the same time.

Although Ryan began playing drums with the local crust punk band Horsebiter, he had stopped writing his own music for a while. When the pandemic shutdowns began, though, he started writing for himself, and after catching a show by Browman (who also plays in the punk band ABSOLÜ NON) at Banks Street Bar, he asked if they’d want to sing on a few of his songs. Along with Anduha on slide guitar, violin and piano, they recorded the 2021 EP “*cycles.”

The trio continued to write together and began playing shows ahead of their 2024 full-length, and a country style developed out of the circumstances. But with backgrounds in metal, punk and rock, it was almost inevitable those influences would bubble up with the right pieces — like a drummer and bassist.

Oh Dang recorded “Big Dogs” with Nick Pope, and the band is already working on a follow-up.

Amid the expanded sound, there’s a lot of vulnerability on the album, with songs influenced by heartache and loss, witnessing a deadly car crash, selfharm, addiction and recovery.

“My favorite thing about music in general is feeling like I can relate to what somebody’s singing about and feeling seen in a way that’s not superficial as much,” Browman says. “I want people to feel that way about music that I’m making, that it’s a shared experience, something that’s a little deeper than all the bullshit around.”

Cover for the March 13 show at BJ’s is $10. Find Oh Dang on Instagram: @ohdangtheband.

info@littlelagniappebeverages.com

Dining Issue Spring

GOING OUT

Crude moves

by Will Coviello

FOR CHOREOGRAPHER

SHANE URTON’S NEW WORK “HOMECOMING,” costume designer Magdalene Paris has based her concepts on boarding school uniforms.

That reflects Urton’s original reason for leaving home, moving from his home near Charlotte to attend the North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem. But the piece looks at the idea of home in many ways.

“There are so many associations with the word homecoming,” Urton says. “I left home quite young and have been away since. So coming home is loaded with a whole spectrum of emotions, which can be optimistic but also sometimes a sense of melancholy. I am treading this tension between the optimism and the melancholy.”

“Homecoming” and Amalia Najera’s new work “Un Autre Soir” both premiere with the Marigny Opera Ballet at Marigny Opera House on March 13-22. Both pieces use music by local roots pop band Sweet Crude, which will perform live during that run.

Urton left home as a teenager to pursue dance, and right after high school he moved to Chicago to join the Joffrey Ballet. Since then he’s joined the companies of the Royal New Zealand Ballet and Opera Ballet Vlaanderen in Belgium, where he currently lives.

Urton’s “Homecoming” explores the balance between the difficulties of leaving home to pursue growth and opportunity and coming home to find comfort.

“Inside of this sense of homecoming, you’re confronted with needing to make a home with a chosen family and new environments and finding a sense of belonging,” he says. “You are building a sense of community and looking for when you can lean on each other. In a choreographic sense, there’s partnering and weight sharing in the piece, which is an extension of that feeling.

“How do you create trust? There are parts when you’re not looking at the person you’re dancing with, but you know they’re there, and when you continue into the next step they’re there to receive you or follow you.”

The piece is grounded in contemporary ballet, and there are some duets, but much of the work uses the company’s full troupe of seven dancers.

To work out a score, he selected several Sweet Crude songs, including “Impuissance,” “Rougarou” and “Porkupine.”

“‘Impuissance’ references folk music from Louisiana,” Urton says. “It has this very slippery, almost tired sounding violin melody. I was drawn to lean into the Southernness.”

In other songs, he’s working with the upbeat pop sounds and French lyrics.

“‘One in the Hand’ has this feeling of optimism, so it’s got a fast tempo and lots of percussion, and the vocals are very enthusiastic,” he says.

Amalia Najera’s “Un Autre Soir” also works with a sense of place. The title roughly translates as another night, but Najera’s intention is to highlight both the ordinary and extraordinary. The piece is about the swamps and their teeming wildlife and abundance.

Najera is Mexican-American, and the piece blends contemporary dance and Mexican folkloric dance. The piece is accompanied by several Sweet Crude songs, including “Finger Guns,” “Little Darling,” “Parlez-Nous a Boire” and more. The final song in the piece is an as yet unreleased tune.

A native of Chicago, Najera came to New Orleans to attend Tulane University and graduated last year. While a sophomore, Najera and another student choreographed the short piece “Tethered.” They entered it in a college dance competition, and it was selected for a performance at the American College Dance Association meeting in Washington, D.C

At Tulane, Najera studied dance with Diogo de Lima, who is the artistic director of the Marigny Opera Ballet. Last summer, he invited her to choreograph an original work for the company’s upcoming season.

Tickets $44.43 and up via marignyoperahouse.org. Shows are at 8 p.m. March 13-15 & 20-22.

PREMIER CROSSWORD PUZZLE

ALTERNATIVE EXPANSIONS

By Frank A. Longo

FORSALE

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Outer: Prefix

Therewards. Theawards.

Ochsner Children’s wasnamedthe #1children’s hospital in New Orleans and ranked among the nation’s best in pediatric Cardiology &Heart Surgery and Gastroenterology&GISurgery by U.S.News & World Report forthe 5th yearina row. But the real prize is seeing kids like Wells, Isla and Lawson healthy and happy.

Meet your expert care team at ochsner.org/childrens.