October-November 2025 issue of Inside New Orleans

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I am excited to celebrate six years as the Owner and Publisher of JBL Publishing, and Inside New Orleans Magazine celebrates its 11th Anniversary with this issue. We look forward to celebrating many years filled with Artist Parties, Client testimonials, and nonprofit partnerships and helping so many local businesses grow.

I was thrilled to have been selected as one of the Real Super Heroes of Safe Harbor and raise money for their Domestic Violence Program.

As we gear up for the Fall season, our Inside Scoop calendar, page 14, is filled with different clients, local and non-profit events for everyone to enjoy.

I am so excited to introduce Inside New Orleans, Southern Gentleman, starting on page 20, read more about their Southern values and entrepreneurial spirits. We will host a cocktail event featuring our Southern Gents on Thursday, October 9th, at the gallery of our Cover Artist, Zana Brown.

Editor’s Note

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Last issue, the first event in our SCOOP calendar was William Shatner at The Fillmore. Honestly, I was extra excited—Dad and I already had our tickets! My dad raised me on Star Trek, sparking endless “what if?” questions about black holes and future tech (like Apple Watches).

At The Fillmore, I was pleasantly surprised. The wide-open floor plan held cushioned folding chairs, with stadium seating in the back. Chandeliers dripped diamonds over purple uplighting, and bars on both sides added to a radiant mood. My dad enjoyed a loaded cheeseburger, I had a giant slice of pizza, and the 1982 Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan played. Watching it with a room full of devoted fans turned the classic into a Rocky Horror-esque experience—cheers, laughter, and collective gasps at every twist.

Shatner did not disappoint. At 94, he bounded across the stage, sharing behind-the-scenes stories with charm and humor.

At the end, he answered my dad’s question about traveling to outer space in 2021:

“I’m all strapped in, and they started the countdown… ‘20, 19, 18, wait, stop! There’s an anomaly…Ok, anomaly over. 17, 16.’ I thought about ending it right there, but then I thought, I’m Captain Kirk, I have to go to space.”

The best part? Quality time with my dad. The bonus?

Discovering an unforgettable venue.

October-November 2025 Vol. 12, No. 5

Publisher Jonée Daigle-Ferrand

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On the cover

Visit InsideNewOrleansMagazine.com to view our online issue with direct links to our advertisers’ sites. Artist Zana Ranđelović Brown. Find more on page 12.

INSIDE NEW ORLEANS is published bi-monthly (February, April, June, August, October, December) by JBL Publishing, LLC, PO Box 7603, Metairie, LA 70010-7603 as a means of communication and information for greater New Orleans, Louisiana. Bulk Postage paid - New Orleans, LA. Copyright ©2025 by JBL Publishing, LLC. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without written consent of publisher. Publisher is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts and artwork. Inside New Orleans Magazine is created using the Adobe Creative Suite on Apple Macintosh computers.

Turning Grief to Gold

Zana Ranđelović Brown’s

traditions merged with the natural world. “I grew up with plants as remedies,” she told me, half-laughing. Zana does not shy away from the shadows of her past. Her childhood was not idyllic or a woodland wonderland. Growing up in Serbia, war was the backdrop of her childhood. Sirens, scarcity, and the absence of her father, who had been drafted—the emotion is still fresh years later. “I still cannot stand the sound of the vacuum cleaner; it makes a similar sound to the siren,” she tells me. She speaks with the clarity of someone who knows and appreciates what survival means. Though her connection to nature endured, her innocence didn’t. “You don’t survive war and come out a shallow person. My childhood carved depth into me, and every brushstroke carries that weight.”

That single sentence is a key to understanding her art: the depth, the resilience, the insistence on looking inward.

FINDING HER VOICE

Art took a backseat for Zana until life unexpectedly brought her to a city that embraced her within. In 2008, she came to New Orleans as part of a student exchange program. For Zana, it was love at first sight and a new beginning. She describes the city as surreal, like a film set, “too beautiful to be real.” It felt like a safe place to be herself. Her voice softened: “Here I found freedom. This is a place that reveres and encourages selfexpression. Here, you are free to be who you are, and that is beautiful.”

Zana Ranđelović Brown paints her life—grief, resilience, and memory layered in texture and gold. Her work is a visual diary, shaped by war, motherhood, transformation, and a quiet fire that fuels her to this day.

Zana’s studio reflects the artist herself. Past two meticulously trimmed topiaries and through an arched entrance, an olive tree stands guard at the door of Zana’s inviting Magazine Street studio and gallery. The space is layered, worn, and deeply intentional. It is saturated with texture, filled with gold leaves, rich paints, wreaths, crescent moons, and beauty on every canvas.

Amid the richness of her studio, which is instantly recognizable as her own, Zana

Peaceful Warriors

speaks quietly yet with clarity. She pauses, thoughtful, and says, “I paint my life. Whatever I’m feeling, inward more than outward.” That sentiment is the foundation of her work; it serves as a means of processing life and finding purpose through art, in the hope that others can discover their own meaning and navigate their lives by viewing her artwork.

ART REFLECTS LIFE

To understand Zana’s work fully, you have to travel back to where her story began. She was raised in the forested, nature-steeped reaches of eastern Serbia (Yugoslavia then), a place where pagan rituals and Orthodox

Whether while studying landscape architecture and design in Serbia or interior design and fine art in the United States, Zana always had an affinity for the arts. But she was not yet a full-time painter. After years of uncertainty and creative suppression, a doorway opened. In 2014, following college, welcoming her son, and a wrenching, silent divorce, she was at a breaking point when she walked into an art supply store.

“I bought canvases and I painted at night.” Her first piece was a faceless woman in messy charcoal, an angry, dark figure rising from grief. “One of my friends said, ‘Maybe we can sell this.’ I thought initially, ‘who would buy this?’” Then, the painting sold within days. That, Zana said, was her lightning moment: “Out of darkness shone my brightest inspiration.”

That first sale marked the emergence of

her voice as a painter. One of the most striking aspects of her work is what you don’t see, in what she chooses to conceal. The faces of her subjects are obscured intentionally—veiled, shrouded behind metaphor, as if eyes and noses would be distractions from the internal world. Everything clicks when she speaks of her faceless figures. “I believe answers are inside us,” she said with quiet conviction. “When I’m lost, I look inward first.”

Her paintings feel like they’ve been pulled from the place where myth and her memory overlap. In these works, luminous figures drift somewhere between dream and icon. Women rise draped in pale garments that ripple like wind across water, their faces half-veiled, crowned with blooming botanicals and gilded laurels. The blossoms are not just decoration but inheritance, drawn from her childhood in forests, from old-world rituals, and from grief transmuted into beauty. The gold leaf grounds them in reverence, recalling halos and sacred manuscripts, yet the figures seem more human and relatable than divine. Butterflies hover like fleeting spirits, symbols of transformation, while the shrouded eyes remind us to look inward for truth.

Standing before these canvases, you don’t just see elegance. You feel the quiet fire of survival and the fragile, powerful balance of a life remade in paint. Acrylics dominate her practice. “Oil is too slow. I am working out my emotions on the canvas, and acrylic allows me to make bold and immediate expressions.” Her breakthroughs happen around 3 or 4 a.m. The world is silent, free from distraction, and from within Zana channels her feelings through brushwork and mark-making.

Always evolving, her latest series takes a cosmic turn. Stella Polaris, named for the North Star, is anchored in direction, balance, and a search for meaning. It’s a visual prayer for inner harmony and an invitation to turn inward. To see oneself in the absence of facial figuration and to go deeper is where Zana believes all the answers to life’s most difficult questions reside.

While deeply personal, her work resonates with others and their life stories. Once, a collector, who had commissioned a piece, later revealed to Zana that the hidden elements she painted into her canvas spoke directly to him and the fabric of his life. Others, including the R. W. Norton Museum in Shreveport, are noticing the quiet power of her voice. The museum will showcase a painting representing the spirit of New Orleans. “I feel deeply honored to be chosen as an

artist representing my adopted home.”

Zana’s work doesn’t just depict transformation; it embodies it. The forests of her Serbian childhood, the sirens of war, the heartbreak that first pushed her toward the canvas—all of it blooms onto her canvas in textured paint and luminous glints of gold. What she creates are not decorations but testaments: visual diaries that whisper of grief turned into grace, anger turned into flight, and beauty grown from the hardest soil.

To stand before one of her canvases is to feel both the quiet fire she carries and the dream she offers: that out of darkness, something radiant can still emerge.

“Art, if it’s honest, is transference. It carries a little piece of the soul.”

October

3-4 NOLA Coffee Festival Ponchartrain Convention and Civic Center, 4545 Williams Blvd., Kenner; A Trade Show and Consumer Festival Celebrating Coffee, Sat. Consumer Day 9am-7pm; nolacoffeefestival.com

3-5 Gretna Fest 740 2nd St, Gretna. A Cultural Festival Featuring Music, Food, Fun, Family & More. Fri. 4pm-10pm, Sat. 11am-10pm, Sun. 11am-8pm; gretnafest.com

3 Cookie Sampling Event Chick-fil-A, 3870 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie. Come join our drive thru for a little taste of sweetness! 11am-1pm.

4 Pink Dress Crawl Begins at the Royal Sonesta, 300 Bourbon St, New Orleans. This event will raise funds to support the National Breast Cancer Foundation. 11:30am-till (no end time); pinkdresscrawl.com

4 Haunted French Quarter Hotels Book Release Party 2025 The Haunted Hotel 623 Ursulines Ave. New Orleans. Free Admission with purchase options for goods and services; 5pm-10pm; bit.ly/3JsiecS

4 Krewe de Pink-Death by Chocolate Fundraiser Jacob Schoen & Son Funeral

Home, 3827 Canal Street, New Orleans. An awareness and fundraising event for Tulane Cancer Research VIP Entry 5:30pm, General Entry 6:30pm; krewedepink.org

4 Art for Art’s Sake The Art Spot, 2011 Magazine Street. 6pm-9pm; magazinestreet. com/event/art-for-art-sake

4 GiGi’s Playhouse New Orleans 2025 Lagniappe Gala 1023 Ridgewood Drive, Ste 2, Metairie. Comedy, dinner, dancing, auction, and inspiration! Individuals with Down syndrome attend free, 6pm; gigisplayhouse.org/neworleans/gala

4 Swampus Returns: Sustainability on Parade Parading through the French Quarter at 7:30pm; swampusreturns.com

4-5 National Fried Chicken Festival Behind UNO’s Lakefront Arena, 6801 Franklin Ave., New Orleans. 11am-9pm; friedchickenfestival.com

5 The New Orleans Pharmacy Museum’s Fall Oddities Emporium New Orleans Pharmacy Museum, 514 Chartres St., New Orleans. 10am-4pm; bit.ly/4mRZd1T

9 Grand Opening: FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers 3700 Lapalco Blvd

NOLA Funk Fest

17-19 NOLA Funk Fest

Spanish Plaza, 2 Canal St, New Orleans. Fri. 1pm-8pm, Saturday, 12pm-8pm, Sun. 12pm-8:30pm; nolafunkfest.com

A, Harvey. Stop by for refreshments throughout the day. Ribbon Cutting at 2pm; bit.ly/485J311

9 City Park Magic in the Moonlight Botanical Gardens, 5 Victory Ave, New Orleans. Dine under the stars, bid in the virtual auction, and stroll the 13 picturesque outdoor acres. 6pm-10pm; neworleanscitypark.org/event/magic-in-themoonlight

10-25 Oktoberfest Deutsches Haus, 1700 Moss Street, New Orleans. During October, Open Fridays, 4pm-11pm & Saturdays, 1pm-11pm; oktoberfestnola.com

10-11 Abita Fall Fest 72011 Holly St, Abita Springs. 11am; abitafallfest.com

10-12 Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival Lafayette Square Park, 602 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans.Free Admission; Fri. 5:30pm-8:30pm, Sat. & Sun. 11am-8:30pm; jazzandheritage.org/events/ crescent-city-blues-bbq-festival-2025

10-12 Gentilly Fest Ponchartrain Park, 5701 Press Drive, New Orleans. Live Music, Food, Local Art Vendors, Kids Activities, and more. Fri. 6pm-9pm, Sat. 12pm-9pm, Sun.

12pm-8pm; gentillyfestival.com

10 Burn Unit Fundraiser Night Chick-fil-A, 3870 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie. Come out to learn kitchen safety from the University Medical Center of New Orleans. 5pm-9pm.

12 NOLA Dog Race to the Rescue 5K and Festival Lake Lawn Metairie Cemeteries, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd., New Orleans. 8am-11 AM; bit.ly/4gtSF7H

16-19 Ghosts in the Oaks: Monster Mash City Park Carousel Gardens. New trick-or-treat path, unlimited Amusement Park rides, live entertainment, and more. 5pm-9pm; neworleanscitypark.org/event/ ghosts-in-the-oaks

17-19 Boo at the Zoo Audubon Zoo, 6500 Magazine Street, New Orleans. Opens Daily at 10am-5pm (Last entry 4pm); audubonnatureinstitute.org/boo

18 Deo Gratias Saint Joseph Abbey and Seminary College. Benefiting Saint Joseph Seminary College. Patrons 5pm, Vespers 6pm, Gala 7pm-10pm; saintjosephabbey.com

18 You Night’s SheRose Class of 2025THE FIGHT CLUB Jefferson Performing Arts Center, 6400 Airline Dr, Metairie. Breast Cancer Awareness Runway Show and Celebrations. Doors open: 5:30pm, show starts: 6:30pm. Dance party following the show until 11pm

18 Oh What a Night Gala Ogden Museum, 925 Camp St., New Orleans. Raising funds for Ogden’s award-winning programming and exhibitions. 6pm; ogdenmuseum.org/ owhatanight

19 Light The Night-Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Lafreniere Park, 3000 Downs Blvd. Metairie. 5:30pm-9pm, Walk begins 6:45pm; lightthenight.org/events/new-orleans

19 Fleur de Bra Hotel St. Vincent, 1507 Magazine St, New Orleans. A couture art bra runway event raising funds for Breast Cancer. 1pm-4pm; fleurdebra.com

23-28 New Orleans Film Festival New Orleans Film Society, 1215 Prytania Street, Suite 423, New Orleans. Exact screening times vary by venue; neworleansfilmsociety.org

24 LGBT Halloween New Orleans Various venues in New Orleans; main events are in the French Quarter. halloweenneworleans.com

24 Glass Half Full Gala Latrobe’s On Royal, 403 Royal St, New Orleans. 7pm-10pm; bit.ly/3KcFrA8

24 Brews and Boos New Orleans City

Park, Carousel Gardens Amusement Park, Palm Drive, New Orleans. 8pm-11pm; neworleanscitypark.org

24-26 NOLA Reggae Fest Congo Square at Louis Armstrong Park, 701 N. Rampart St., New Orleans. 2pm-8pm; neworleans.com/ event/nola-reggae-fest

25 Boo Carre Halloween Haunt French Market, 1101 N. Peters St., New Orleans. Free trick-or-treating, live music, costumes, and more! 11am-4pm; frenchmarket.org

25 Arts Market New Orleans City Park’s Great Lawn, 6 Victory Ave, New Orleans. 10am-4pm; artsneworleans.org

25 Witches and Warlocks Jazz Brunch Annunciation Restaurant, 1016 Annunciation St, New Orleans. Call 504-568-0245 to make your reservation. 11am-2pm; annunciationrestaurant.com

Campbell, the original Columbia, live! 8pm; mahaliajacksontheater.com

29 Paul McCartney: Got Back Tour Smoothie King Center, 501 Dave Dixon Dr., New Orleans. 8pm; smoothiekingcenter.com

30 Dark Gift ALLIANCE – Belle Époque Noir Generations Hall, 310 Andrew Higgins Blvd., New Orleans. 9pm-1 AM; covenofthearticulate.com

31 Halloween Balcony Party 700 Bourbon Street, New Orleans. 7pm-10pm; bourbonstreetbalconyrentals.com

31-1 The Official Halloween Bar Crawl High Grace NOLA, 733 St Peter Street, New Orleans. Check the website for exact hours; crawlwith.us/neworleans

7 Scales & Ales Audubon Aquarium, 1 Canal St, New Orleans. VIP Entry: 6pm-10pm, General Admission: 7pm-10pm; audubonnatureinstitute.org/ scales-ales

8-9 Tremé Creole Gumbo Festival Louis Armstrong Park in New Orleans, Louisiana, with the address 701 N. Rampart Street, New Orleans, LA 70116; 11am-8pm; jazzandheritage.org/ events/2025-treme-creole-gumbo-festival 11-16 A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical Saenger Theatre, 1111 Canal St, New Orleans. Times vary by date; saengernola.com

November

1 Freret Street Fall Festival Freret Street from Napoleon to Valmont, New Orleans. 11am-6pm; freretstreetfestival.org

25 Tremé Fall Festival St. Augustine Catholic Church Yard and the surrounding neighborhood streets, 1205 Governor Nicholls Street Free and Open to the Public; 11am-6pm; tremefest.org

25 Krewe of BOO! This Halloween-themed parade begins in the Marigny, travels down Decatur Street, and ends in the Warehouse District. 6:30pm; kreweofboo.com

25 Play Soirée Louisiana Children’s Museum, 15 Henry Thomas Dr, New Orleans. Support LCM at their largest annual fundraiser. 7pm-11pm; lcm.org

29 Rocky Horror Picture Show with Nell Campbell Mahalia Jackson Theater, 1419 Basin St, New Orleans. See Nell

1 NOLA Zydeco Fest Heritage Park, 1701 Bayou Ln, Slidell.11am-10pm; nolazydecofest.com

1-2 Bayou Bacchanal Louis Armstrong Park, 701 N. Rampart Street, New Orleans. Celebrate the annual Caribbean culture, parade, music, and food. 11am; bayoubacchanal.org

4-8 New Orleans Musicians in Art The Historic New Orleans Collection (HNOC), 520 Royal St, New Orleans.hnoc.org/ exhibitions/musicians-in-art

14 Moonlight & Miracles Caesar’s Superdome, 1500 Sugar Bowl Dr, New Orleans. Annual Gala supporting the Ochsner Health Care System. 6pm-10pm; ochsner.org

14 Wente Wine Dinner Briquette, 701 South Peters, New Orleans. $150 all inclusive. 7pm. briquette-nola.com

15 TOUCH-A-TRUCK® Pontchartrain Center, 4545 Williams Blvd., Kenner. 9am VIP early access; 10am general doors open; includes Sensory-Friendly Quiet Hour & HalfPrice Hour; doors close at 4pm; jlno.org/ touch-a-truck/

15 Beignet Fest New Orleans City Park Festival Grounds, 4 Friederichs Ave., New Orleans. 10am-6pm; beignetfest.com

16 Oak Street Po’ Boy Festival Oak Street (8100-8800 block), New Orleans. 10am-6pm; poboyfest.com

20 Shuck Cancer Champions Square, Lasalle St, New Orleans, LA 70112; Enter on Girod Street & LaSalle; 7pm-10pm; shuckcancer.org

22 Sober Fest The Broadside, 600 North Broad Street, New Orleans. 11am-5pm; simpletix.com

23 Saints vs. Atlanta Falcons Caesars Superdome, 1500 Sugar Bowl Dr, New Orleans. 3:25pm; ticketmaster.com

27 New Orleans Track Club: 117th Turkey Day Race 5k and half mile Tad Gormley Stadium, 5400 Marconi Dr., New Orleans. Registration 7am, Kids’ ½ Mile 8am, 5 Mile Race 8:30am

28 Bayou Classic Battle of the Bands & Greek Show Caesars Superdome, 1500 Sugar Bowl Dr, New Orleans. 6pm (Doors open at 5pm); mybayouclassic.com

NOTE: Send your event information to scoopINOLA@gmail.com to have it featured in an upcoming issue of Inside New Orleans.

Brewing Tradition, Tapping the Future

The Evolution of New Orleans Breweries

IN A CITY RENOWNED FOR ITS GOOD TIMES, breweries have left an indelible mark on New Orleans’ culture. Once upon a time, breweries were a place to check off a utilitarian errand, a place to swing by and not to graze, and not the beloved watering hole they have become in recent years. The city’s brewery landscape has undergone a significant shift as well.

Today, breweries face a unique challenge to stay afloat. Not only do they need to produce a beer that people love and

enjoy, but they also need to create an atmosphere that people want to return to and enjoy. Even though the landscape for breweries is evolving, you will find breweries all over Louisiana churning away and making a name for themselves.

Tucked away in Hammond, Louisiana, you will find Gnarly Barley—the quintessential brewery of Tangipahoa Parish. Since 2014, Zac and Cari Caramonta have quietly been brewing an empire that spans the Gulf Coast. Breaking onto the scene with their Korova Milk Porter, Gnarly Barley is now debatably one of Louisiana’s most recognizable

breweries. “When we opened, you could not have a tap room,” recalls Zac. “It wasn’t until 2016 that we were able to open our taproom,” he says. Now, Gnarly Barley has morphed itself, through grit and determination, into the spot to be in Hammond. “When the taproom first opened, we had fourteen beers on tap, and now we have a kitchen and are hosting events.” The brewery hosts a plethora of events, from Murph’s Magical Trivia Ride to live music to Gnarly Prom; you can find an event that suits your needs.

If you head east on I-12, you will run into the mecca of Louisiana breweries, Abita Brewery. Since 1986, Abita Brewery has been consistently brewing some of Louisianans’ favorite beers. Abita quickly outgrew its original location and opened its massive facility in 1994. “Breweries are a place that blends production of beer with a twist of hospitality. People want more than just a beer when they come in; they want an experience that feels local, authentic, and shareable with friends and family,” says Heidi Guerra, VP of Marketing. When discussing what the Abita team sees for breweries down the line, Heidi believes that breweries will become multi-purpose facilities. “It’s a full production facility, entertainment venue, and most importantly, a community gathering space no matter the event.”

Even though the future of breweries isn’t exactly clear, what is clear is that beer is no longer just about what is in the glass. Breweries are stepping into a new light, one shaped by community and being a place for people to feel a

Top: Abita Brewing Company in Abita Springs;
Above: Urban South on Tchoupioulas Street in New Orleans;
Right: Port Orleans on Tchoupitoulas Street in New Orleans

sense of belonging. This shift is similar to New Orleanians’ approach to culture, food, and music, which aren’t single items but are woven together and molded by each other. Breweries are not just a place to grab a beer, but a place to celebrate with one another and a place where strangers become friends over a pint.

Urban South Brewery, founded in 2016 by Jacob Landry, has become a cornerstone of New Orleans’ modern beer scene. Known for beers like Paradise Park, Holy Roller, and Lime Cucumber Gose, Urban South has quickly made a name for itself. Landry, who first fell in love with beer while living in Provence, France, envisioned more than just a place to brew. From the outset, Urban South has embraced the concept of community in a city with, at the time, only one brewery. Thanks to evolving state laws, the brewery was able to open in 2016 with a taproom alongside its production space, quickly drawing locals for on-site pours and social gatherings. Soon after, food trucks became a regular presence, adding to the brewery’s appeal. By 2022, Urban South expanded further with the launch of Urban Smash, its in-house burger food truck. “Breweries are having to become event spaces to stay alive,” Landry said. “We host weekly events that range from trivia nights to live music to dog days.”

Like their neighbor Urban South, Port Orleans burst onto the Tchoupitoulas corridor in 2017 with plenty of excitement and applause. Opening with a taproom gave the brewery an immediate edge, transforming it into a gathering place rather than just a production space. Founded by retired Saints player Zac Strief, Port Orleans quickly became synonymous with game days, a go-to spot for fans to grab a pint and cheer on the Black and Gold. These days, the brewery is leaning even further into its role as a community hub, hosting everything from neighborhood events to quirky gatherings, such as the Glizzy Jamboree. “With events like Glizzy Jamboree, we are becoming more than just a brewery,” explained Chase Guillory, VP of Marketing. “We are also targeting new markets like seltzers and THC seltzers,” a move that reflects not just Port Orleans’ adaptability but the broader

As tastes shift and new drinkers enter the scene, some Louisiana breweries are looking beyond beer altogether. Hard seltzers, flavored spritzers, and even THC-infused beverages are starting to appear on tap lists, offering customers something lighter, trendier, or simply different. With this shift in tastes and lifestyles, this new trend is yet another hurdle for breweries to overcome in an ever-changing landscape.

Besides being a place to have a beer, breweries today are versatile and nuanced, and LA Barnhouse Brewery is a perfect example of that evolution. Based in Ponchatoula, the newcomer will open a 21,000-square-foot facility dedicated not to beer, but to kombucha—crafting six unique flavors that honor the memory of founder Bryan Shartle’s late daughter, Chloe. Dubbed the “six flavors of life,” each brew carries a personal story, tying family, community, and creativity into every glass. In doing so, LA Barnhouse shows that Louisiana’s brewing culture is not just about hops and barley, but about the spirit of innovation and connection that makes these spaces so profoundly rooted in the local fabric.

At the end of the day, Louisiana breweries are more than places to grab a cold drink—they’re reflections of the state’s character. They’re bold, resilient, and rooted in community, each one carrying its own story while contributing to a larger cultural fabric. Whether you’re sipping a porter in Hammond, raising a pint in Abita Springs, or trying a new sour in New Orleans, you’re not just tasting beer—you’re tasting a piece of Louisiana itself.

Top: LA Barnhouse Brewery, Ponchatoula; Above: Gnarly Barley in Hammond.
trend of Louisiana breweries expanding their menus to meet changing tastes. Keep an eye out for their new location in Old Gretna.

How do you define a Southern Gentleman? In New Orleans, his charm is born from tradition and action. He is a motivated entrepreneur who honors hospitality—treating everyone like a CEO— integrity—keeping his word even when no one is watching—and kindness—understanding others before passing judgment. We are proud to present our 2025 Southern Gentlemen, exemplars of the very best of entrepreneurial spirit and Southern values in New Orleans. Meet the 2025 Inside New Orleans’ Southern Gentlemen and Cover Artist, Zana Ranđelović Brown, on Thursday, October 9th, 6PM-8PM at the Zana Brown Studio, 3908 Magazine St. New Orleans. RSVP

The Soul of New Orleans Kermit Ruffins

“Integrity plays like a steady bassline. Tradition is the melody passed down. And hospitality is the improvisation—it’s how I welcome fans into my shows.” –Kermit Ruffins

When you think of Southern Gentlemen, Kermit Ruffins comes to mind; a local legend, he is a humble New Orleanian, sincere in his integrity, keeping the Jazz tradition, and serving southern hospitality worldwide.

Born and raised in the Lower 9th Ward, Ruffins discovered his love for the trumpet early on, thanks to his uncle Percy Williams and a gleaming horn his grandfather gifted him from Werlein’s Music on Canal Street. That gift, and the inspiration of Mr. Herman Jones at Lawless High, set Ruffins on a musical journey that would span decades and continents. In 1982 at just 19, Ruffins co-founded the iconic Rebirth Brass Band with Phillip Frazier, quickly making waves on Bourbon Street before touring Japan, Europe, and beyond. In 1991, he formed Kermit Ruffins & the BBQ Swingers with, now thirty-year long collaborators, Kevin Morris, Jerry Anderson, and Yoshitaka Tsuji. And his recording company, Basin Street Records, owned by Mark Samuels, has been by his side through it all.

His hero, Louis Armstrong, inspired Ruffins’ blend of traditional Jazz with modern flair. Regular gigs—Mondays and Saturdays at his own Mother-in-Law Lounge, Fridays at Blue Nile—are beloved city staples. For Ruffins, music is a way of life: “What a joy it is to be living in New Orleans and have the opportunity to hear 50 bands playing with in a 15 minute radius.”

Ruffins’ joyful nature is a testament to his devotion to “practice humbleness—treat the janitor like the CEO. Watch videos of the classics: Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Thelonious Monk. They made everything look effortless, even when Black musicians had so many limitations. That grace, that dedication—that’s what you need to learn.”

Setting the Fitness World on Fire

Steve Smith’s journey into the world of fitness began in McComb, Mississippi, where at 18 he took a job at a local gym. By 23, he had already opened his own facility, leaving gradute school at Ole Miss to pursue entrepreneurship full-time. Nearly four decades later, he’s the visionary behind HOTWORX—one of the fastest-growing fitness franchises in the world.

The idea for HOTWORX was born from a blend of Smith’s personal fitness evolution and an “aha” moment during a 2014 trip to Jamaica. A conversation about yoga and sauna use sparked the concept: “Dude, they should do yoga in a sauna,” said Jerome Price, husband of Smith’s business partner. That casual remark inspired Smith to create a unique infrared workout sauna. What began as the “HOT BOX DETOX” soon evolved into HOTWORX—a high-efficiency fitness method that merges heat, infrared energy, and exercise.

Smith was no stranger to innovation. A former collegiate bodybuilding champion and arena football player, he understood firsthand how the body responds to different training environments. His personal practice of Bikram Yoga to boost

flexibility for skiing and mountain climbing opened his eyes to the power of heat-based workouts. The result: a fitness system that maximizes results in less time, using patented infrared saunas and virtual instruction.

Launched in Oxford, Mississippi, in 2017, HOTWORX now has over 800 locations across five countries. The franchise offers beginners to pros 24/7 access to 15-minute High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) or 30-minute Isometric Sessions guided by virtual trainers. Members track their progress through a dedicated app, monitoring not just workouts but post-session calorie burn and nutrition.

Southern hospitality courses through Smith’s leadership philosophy, embracing values like integrity, tradition, and customer service. “Treating people with respect and a ‘be nice’ to all mentality continues to reflect our desire to help others get what they want out of life in the form of great fitness results,” says Smith.

From bodybuilding to franchising, Steve Smith has always been about pushing boundaries. With HOTWORX, he’s redefining what it means to work out efficiently, effectively, and hot.

From Perseverance to Pearls

Dr. Tauqeer Imran OWNER OF RON JEWELERS

Dr. Tauqeer Imran’s life cannot be defined by a single role. Physician, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and survivor, his journey reflects resilience and reinvention. This is a testament to courage in the face of impossible odds and faith that transformed struggle into purpose.

He began his medical career at PIMS in Islamabad before immigrating to the United States in 2007. Stepping back from medicine, he entered commerce, investing modest savings into what became a multi-state jewelry enterprise—Ron Jewelers and Mr. Goldman & Sons— now with more than 26 stores.

His greatest test came in 2017 with a diagnosis of stage four colon cancer. Given weeks to live, he underwent a 22-hour surgery, followed by chemotherapy and radiation. Even while carrying chemo bags, he continued managing his business, determined illness wouldn’t define him.

In 2021, he returned to Pakistan to launch Diamond Direct Luxury in Lahore, a GIA-certified brand uniting international standards with local craftsmanship, while creating meaningful jobs. Alongside business, Dr. Imran has remained active in civic life, supporting the Jefferson Chamber of Commerce, the Kenner Business Association, and the American Cancer Society, where he uplifts patients facing their own battles.

His achievements have been recognized with multiple Wedding Wire Awards and the honor of “Most Inspiring Personality in the Jewelry Industry” by Instore Magazine. Yet he credits it all to Yaqeen-e-Kamil—complete faith. Dr. Imran’s story proves that with courage and conviction, one can more than survive; you can inspire others to lead with purpose.

Dr. Tauqeer Imran, Ron Jewelers, 4103 Williams Blvd, Kenner, LA 70065, (504) 405-5121, ronjewelers.com

Curating Happily Ever Afters

When Bobby Asaro laid eyes on the property that would become Southern Oaks, it was far from the enchanting venue it is today. Overgrown and forgotten by time, the land might have looked like a lost cause to most. But to Asaro, it was brimming with possibility.

“I could see the magic in the century-old oak trees,” he recalls. “I believed it could become a place where couples celebrated not just a wedding, but the beginning of their forever.”

Alongside his wife, Sue, he poured his heart, soul, and savings into transforming that vision into reality. They restored the home, reimagined the grounds, and built more than a wedding venue; they built a legacy rooted in love, tradition, and southern hospitality.

An admirer of Walt Disney, Asaro has drawn deep inspiration from the iconic visionary’s approach to guest experience. “Walt Disney believed in creating experiences where every detail mattered and where every guest felt special,” he says. “That’s exactly what we strive for at Southern Oaks. It’s not just about service—it’s about creating moments of wonder.”

That commitment to excellence is evident in every element of a Southern Oaks event. “I enjoy being hands-on—greeting guests, helping with details, surprising couples with little touches they didn’t expect,” Asaro shares. “What I enjoy most is knowing we’ve helped create one of the happiest days in someone’s life.”

Weaving southern values into everything he does, Asaro believes “Integrity is making sure every promise we make we deliver, and hospitality means making every person who walks through our gates feel like family.”

For the next generation of wedding professionals, Asaro shares his secret: “Lead with heart. Treat every wedding like it’s your own child’s. That’s the level of care you need to bring if you want to succeed.”

At Southern Oaks, dreams don’t just come true—they’re lovingly made possible, thanks to the vision and values of one Southern gentleman who saw magic where others saw ruin.

OWNER OF ELITE INSURANCE, LLC

SENSEI AT ZANSHIN DOJO

When it comes to redefining the modern Southern gentleman, Darryn Melerine leads by example. His life spans boardrooms, classrooms, and training mats, each reflecting his commitment to service, protection, and empowerment.

As CEO of MD Claims Group, LLC, founded in 2015, Melerine has built one of the nation’s premier independent adjusting firms. Specializing in property loss assessments, catastrophe management, and third-party administration, the firm’s leadership team brings over 145 years of combined experience. Their philosophy, “One Claim. One Team,” captures Melerine’s belief in delivering clarity and care when people need it most.

That same philosophy guides his work as owner of Elite Insurance, LLC, a full-service agency in Mandeville. Partnering with multiple carriers, Elite provides tailored coverage for homes, cars, boats, and businesses, while giving back through free community seminars that empower clients to make informed decisions.

Melerine’s dedication extends to Zanshin Dojo in Covington, where he is a 5th-degree black belt Sensei in Minami Ryu Jujitsu. Zanshin Dojo offers martial arts programs for children and adults, while offering free training to law enforcement, first responders, military, and medical professionals through their “Thin Blue Line” initiative.

Whether guiding families through insurance, helping clients recover from loss, or empowering students on the mat, Melerine embodies the Southern Gent ideal: strength tempered with humility, success paired with service, and leadership grounded in integrity.

A Southern Gent with Many Callings

Surgical Excellence & Personalized Approach

JANSEN, TANDON, & GUSTE PLASTIC SURGERY

At Jansen, Tandon, Guste Plastic Surgery, the guiding philosophy is simple yet profound: achieve results that enhance each patient’s natural beauty while preserving their individuality. Renowned for their precision, artistry, and deeply personalized care, they are leaders in both aesthetic and reconstructive surgery, offering a full spectrum of procedures designed to meet diverse patient goals.

“A truly natural-looking result begins with listening,” says Dr. Ravi Tandon. It’s not just about technical skill; it’s about understanding what each patient wants and needs. This emphasis on communication is the foundation of the practice’s patient-centered approach. Every consultation is comprehensive and tailored, ensuring that each individual receives a clear understanding of their options, from cosmetic enhancements to complex reconstructive solutions.

Their extensive surgical expertise enables them to deliver advanced, integrated procedures with optimal safety and efficiency. Patients often elect to undergo combination surgeries such as rhinoplasty, breast enhancement, and gluteal contouring in a single session. This approach reduces overall recovery time, minimizes costs, and streamlines the experience without compromising care.

One area in which Jansen, Tandon, Guste Plastic Surgery stands out is breast reconstruction. Whether restoring form after mastectomy or correcting previous procedures, the surgeons offer the latest in reconstruction techniques:

• Natural Tissue (Autologous) Reconstruction: Utilizing the patient’s

own tissue, typically from the abdomen (DIEP flap), thigh (PAP flap), or lower back (lumbar flap) to recreate a soft, natural breast with long-lasting results.

• Implant-Based Reconstruction: Using saline or silicone implants to rebuild breast volume with refined shape and symmetry.

• Hybrid Techniques: Combining implants with natural tissue reconstruction methods to enhance volume, shape, and support, offering patients the benefits of both approaches.

Drs. Jansen, Tandon, and Guste are not only skilled in these procedures but are committed to staying at the forefront of reconstructive innovation. Their collaborative approach means each surgical plan is customized, whether the patient seeks aesthetic refinement or is navigating the emotional and physical journey of reconstruction after cancer.

Equally important to surgical excellence is the level of care provided before and after the procedure. Patients are seen multiple times prior to surgery to ensure thorough preparation, and postoperative care is handled directly by the physicians themselves. “We strive to be there every step of the way,” says Dr. Guste. Our patients know they’re supported throughout the entire process.

The result is not just exceptional surgical outcomes, but a patient experience defined by trust, clarity, and compassion. From the first consultation to final recovery, the surgeons at Jansen, Tandon, Guste Plastic Surgery deliver care that is as thoughtful and refined as the results they produce.

Photo taken at Virgin Hotels.

Building a Legacy with Integrity

For Roy Carubba, the decision to pursue civil and structural engineering came from real-life inspiration rather than the classroom. While working a menial job, he admired the stability engineers provided their families. “Coming from a humble background, I wanted that same security for my own family,” Carubba shares.

That drive led him to earn a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of New Orleans—and eventually to start his own firm. “Honestly, starting my own firm was an accident,” he admits. “I was fired and realized I was too independent to work under someone else. With two young kids at home and little money, I took a chance on myself.” That leap of faith became the foundation of Carubba Engineering, a company grounded in resilience, values, and vision.

As a business owner, Carubba finds the greatest reward in supporting his team. “I enjoy helping them reach their goals and giving them the autonomy to balance work and family,” he says. His leadership reflects the values he holds as a Southern gentleman: integrity, hospitality, and humility. “Integrity means doing the right thing, even when no one is watching. Being a gentleman means putting others first and leading with empathy.”

For those following a similar path, his advice is simple: “Work hard, take care of your clients, support your team like family, and chase quality, truth, and trust. The business will follow.” Carubba didn’t just build a business— he built a community rooted in character and care.

Roy Carrubba, Carrubba Engineering, 3400 Hessmer Ave, Metairie, LA 70002, (504) 888-1490, carubbaengineering.com

Redefining Relief

Tod A. Aust, M.D.

DR. AUST INTERVENTIONAL PAIN

Dr. Tod Aust isn’t your typical physician. Intense yet approachable, passionate yet compassionate, he thrives on cases others call hopeless. An interventional pain management specialist, Dr. Aust blends cutting-edge medical technology with the art of listening, crafting personalized plans for patients with complex, long-term pain. His motto, “Pain Relief without Pain Pills,” guides every interaction, emphasizing education, empowerment, and partnership to reduce and, eventually, eliminate the need for opioid use. By addressing multiple overlapping pain sources, 95% of his patients achieve lasting improvement.

Dr. Aust’s mission is personal. Witnessing his wife Tina’s battles with fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis inspired him to pursue medicine.

After excelling at UCLA—earning honors in anesthesiology and completing a fellowship in Pain Medicine—he moved to Louisiana, drawn by the resilience and warmth of the post-Katrina community. From life-changing intrathecal pump treatments to cuttingedge research in refractory pain, Aust combines expertise with empathy. Every patient’s journey is a collaboration, and every success a testament to perseverance. Dr. Tod Aust has built a practice where innovation, compassion, and hope intersect, giving patients the chance to move away from opioid use, reclaim their lives, and achieve extraordinary outcomes.

Tod A. Aust, M.D. & Michael Beninato, MPAS, PA-C, Dr. Aust Interventional Pain, 1375 Corporate Square Dr., Slidell, LA, (985) 377-1884, austpain.com

Michael Beninato, MPAS, PA-C

DR. AUST

INTERVENTIONAL PAIN

Michael Beninato’s journey into medicine began with physical therapy and deepened through his military service. For over 20 years as a practicing physician’s assistant, he specialized in orthopedic and spine surgery. He has fully transitioned to interventional pain management , wellness, and aesthetics.

As Dr. Aust’s partner, Beninato is expanding the practice to what he sees as the future of medicine: weight loss, aesthetics, hormone therapy, and regenerative care. “In my opinion,” he explains, “the future of medicine is avoiding chronic illness by maximizing health and wellness, and I want to be at the forefront of this paradigm change.”

Dr. Artemus Flagg, II

BAYOU PAIN AND SPINE, AND BAYOU INJURY TREATMENT CENTER

Few doctors can say their road to medicine ran through Iraq and the Pentagon. Dr. Artemus Flagg can. Raised in the South, forged in the U.S. Army, and trained at Johns Hopkins, he brings discipline, precision, and compassion to every patient encounter.

A decorated veteran, Dr. Flagg served as a Battalion and Brigade Flight Surgeon in Iraq and later as Chief Flight Surgeon at the Pentagon. Those experiences intensified his sense of duty, one he now channels into his work as a pain medicine specialist. “Protecting and improving lives isn’t just a job,” he says. “It’s a mission.”

Specifically, at Bayou Pain and Spine and Bayou Injury Treatment Center, the largest veteran-owned practice of their kind in the region, Dr. Flagg specializes in personal injuries related to motor vehicle accidents, work injuries, and more like it. His focus is on delivering cutting-edge, personalized care for patients struggling with acute and chronic pain. Merging his background in anesthesiology and surgical procedures with his military experience, Dr. Flagg flawlessly combines science with humanity, helping patients reclaim their quality of life.

When asked how he balances military discipline, medical leadership, and personal life, Dr. Flagg answers simply: “I don’t. I just try to make good decisions, keep my word, and let both worlds coexist.”

Whether in uniform or scrubs, Dr. Flagg’s mission has never wavered! He’s here for you!

Dr. Artemus Flagg, Bayou Pain and Spine and Bayou Injury Treatment Center, 1810 Lindberg Dr., STE 3500, Slidell, LA, (985) 288-5088, bayoupainandspine.com

On the Frontline of Medicine

Carrying the Torch

AL COPELAND INVESTMENTS, LLC

For generations, the Copeland name has been synonymous with Louisiana food. Growing up in Houma, Al Copeland Jr. saw firsthand the long hours, creativity, and pride that went into serving food with bold Louisiana flavor. “My father always said it’s all about having a winning attitude, no matter what the odds. He believed every obstacle was an opportunity to improve upon your original plan,” Copeland recalls.

Those lessons have shaped his approach to doing business. Today, Copeland leads Al Copeland Investments, LLC as CEO and Chairman, overseeing a portfolio that includes the Al Copeland Family of Restaurants, Diversified Foods & Seasonings, a hotel division in the metro New Orleans area, and the Al Copeland Foundation.

As a true visionary in hospitality, Copeland remains personally involved in employee development and actively curates the menu.

And Copeland’s commitment to philanthropy is as strong as his dedication to business. In 2008, after the loss of Al Sr. to cancer, the family established the Al Copeland Foundation with a mission to fund groundbreaking cancer research and patient programs with their partners LSU Health Sciences Center.

Not only was Copeland honored by Governor Jeff Landry for his tireless dedication to innovative cancer care in Louisiana, but he was able to fulfill his promise to work towards finding a cure for the cancer that took his dad’s life. To date, thousands of patients have participated in clinical trials through this effort, five of whom are now cancer-free.

Above all, Al Copeland Jr.’s greatest joy is his wife of 42 years, five daughters, and nine

2601 Severn Ave, Metairie, LA 70002, 504-830-1000, alcopeland.com

Keeper of the Collective

Step onto Julia Street, and, within the beaming blue façade of Orleans Gallery, you’ll find collectors, artists, and neighbors mingle in a space that feels more like a homecoming than a showroom. At the center of it all is gallery owner Cayman Clevenger: writer, art dealer, lawyer, father of three, and storyteller, whose path to the arts began far from the city’s bustle, in the quiet pinewoods of Many, Louisiana.

Clevenger did not grow up with art. His parents did not own it or understand it, and in his small town, galleries were not part of his life. But next door lived a man who had been an early patron of Clementine Hunter. The neighbor would share with Clevenger his collection and stories of Hunter, the self-taught painter who captured Louisiana life. Though she had died a year before Clevenger was born, Hunter became his first teacher, shaping his appreciation for art and its power of storytelling. “I owe my career in the arts to a woman who could not read or write, but who captured the soul of our region with a paintbrush,” he says. After putting himself through law school selling art, beginning with a $250 print, and slowly building a collector base and his own formidable collection of southern art one handshake at a time, he now devotes his heart and energy to his gallery.

“We want art to be accessible, because art belongs to everyone. We are committed to having authentic and original art available to folks of all walks of life.” Artwork at every price point lines the walls, and every first Saturday, the gallery hosts a free community celebration at its twin addresses—603 and 608 Julia Street. In that spirit, he chose the name Orleans Gallery as an homage to the original Orleans Gallery of the 1950s, a collective where artists joined forces to empower the community. “It was a place where artists of all backgrounds could gather, share, challenge, and inspire one another. We carry that spirit forward.”

Investing in People

From Hoops to Hope

Greg Monroe

FYZICAL THERAPY & BALANCE CENTERS

In today’s fast-paced world of apps and automation, Todd Rauch, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at American Bank, keeps the focus on people. “When you work at a community bank,” Rauch says, “you work for a community.”

A River Ridge native, Rauch’s leadership is rooted in respect and personal service. “When you call us, your banker answers the phone,” he says. “No matter who picks up, every one of us considers ourselves your banker.” For Rauch, banking means more than numbers—it’s about helping homebuyers, funding entrepreneurs, and supporting families building their future.

Greg Monroe, a retired professional basketball player and ten-year NBA veteran, is a proud native of the Westbank in New Orleans. A Helen Cox High School graduate, he began his collegiate career at Georgetown University before being drafted into the NBA. After retiring, Greg was inspired to give back to the community that shaped him. When the opportunity to open a FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers location arose, he saw it as the perfect way to provide valuable healthcare services close to home.

Beyond business, Greg leads the Greg K. Monroe Foundation, which focuses on supporting youth and families through programs and outreach. His efforts have earned him a proclamation from the City of New Orleans for his positive impact.

FYZICAL Therapy and Balance Center - Harvey will be hosting their Grand Opening Party Thursday, October 9th. There will be fresh pressed juice, drinks, and light bites throughout the day, with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 2pm. The event will be open to the public, so please come by to learn more about how FYZICAL can help you live your best life!

FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Center is located at 3700 Lapalco Blvd. #A, Harvey, 504-577-2844. www.fyzical.com/harvey-la

Todd M. Rauch, American Bank, 819 N. Columbia St., Covington, LA 70433, (985) 444-0822, AmericanBankUSA.com

A Career Built on Service

For Don Morrison, banking wasn’t the original plan. A college athlete aiming for medicine, his path shifted when football and lab schedules clashed. “Growing up in a small town in Northeast Arkansas…I noticed who was making a real difference—the local community bank president,” he recalls.

That realization launched a career spanning decades, from leading community banks across the South to international executive roles. Today, Don leads American Bank with that same community focus. For three years, his team has ranked as Louisiana’s top SBA lender, delivering fast, local decisions that help small businesses thrive.

Breathing Easy with Integrity

Tim Shea Carroll FOUNDER OF AERIS ENVIRONMENTAL

True New Orleanian Tim Shea Carroll saw families and businesses struggling with mold, asbestos, and poor air quality. Taking action, he co-founded Aeris Environmental to protect people: “I approach every project with integrity, giving clients the truth about their indoor air quality. Raised in New Orleans by grandparents who embodied Southern hospitality, I carry forward those values, treating every client, colleague, and community member with the same care I’d give a guest in my home.” Beyond business, Carroll leads the prominent Men of St. Tammany (M.O.S.T.), fostering mentorship and community service. For Carroll, solving problems and helping people breathe easier is a calling.

Tim Shea Carroll, Aeris Environmental Inspection, (504) 442-8494, aei-iaq.com

Don R. Morrison, American Bank, 1819 N. Columbia St., Covington, LA 70433, (985) 801-0589, AmericanBankUSA.com

Culinary Visionary: From Kitchen to Commerce

Jerry J. Bobb

ENTREPRENEUR, CREATOR/OWNER/ OPERATOR OF SUPER TATERS & MORE!

Meet Jerry J. Bobb, the Southern Gentleman revolutionizing the restaurant industry one dish and bold decision at a time. Handsome, humble, and self-made, Jerry didn’t grow up with much but relied on faith, determination, and confidence to fuel his entrepreneurial journey.

His brainchild, Super Taters, launched on April 1, 2014, blending creativity and hard work into a unique dining experience. The concept has earned him features in Forbes, Business Insider, and even on Times Square billboards. Eleven years later, Jerry remains hands-on: crafting meals, taking orders, and advising aspiring restaurateurs to focus on consistency and education.

Jerry J. Bobb, Super Taters, 5545 Cameron St, Scott, LA (337) 889-5993, supertaters14.com

Here for Good

Jim Schoen

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, FIDELITY BANK

Jim Schoen is a dedicated professional, motivational speaker, and Senior Vice President and Business Development Director at Fidelity Bank. A lifelong New Orleanian and member of the Schoen family, founders of Louisiana’s longest-running funeral home, his heritage instilled tradition, service, and a strong work ethic. Early part-time banking experience shaped his approach as a leader and mentor.

At Fidelity, Schoen combines strategic business development with community engagement, reflecting the bank’s “Here for Good” mission. “I strive to be a good person and leave people better than I found them,” he says, elevating every interaction with authenticity and purpose.

Jim Schoen, Fidelity Bank 3829 Veterans Blvd., Metairie, LA 70002, (504) 905-4792, bankwithfidelity.com

Serving People, Not Just Chicken

Holding Himself Accountable

Patrick J. Gros, CPA A PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTING CORPORATION

Born and raised in Houma, Patrick J. Gros moved to New Orleans in 1985 to attend the University of New Orleans. Initially pursuing engineering, he switched to accounting on his wife’s advice, recognizing his analytical skills and financial acumen. After seven years at Arthur Andersen, Gros combined his wife’s bookkeeping practice with his own, growing their firm to 25 employees. Thirty years later, he now owns a long standing CPA firm on the Northshore.

As a CPA and business advisor, he believes “honesty and integrity are critical to guiding our clients into making decisions that effect their entire financial lives.” With these values, Gros treats each client as part of his team, and every staff member experiences a culture of support and opportunity.

Josh Carter OWNER AND OPERATOR OF CHICK-FIL-A

Josh grew up in Snellville, Georgia, deeply influenced by his parents’ example of hard work and sacrifice. His entrepreneurial spirit was sparked early when his father joined Chick-fil-A’s corporate office in 1999. Surrounded by leaders who embodied care and excellence, Josh was drawn to a brand that aligned with his values. “It was the opportunity to build a business, care for others, and pursue excellence as a team that is something I love doing each day,” he shares.

A graduate of Samford University, Josh now leads one of the highest-trafficed Chick-fil-A in Jefferson Parish. In all his work, he leads with integrity, tradition, and Southern hospitality, beliving in prioritizing people over profits, striving daily to uplift each guest his team serves. For Josh, business is about building legacy through care, consistency, and meaningful impact.

Josh Carter, Chick-fil-A, 3870 Veterans Memorial Blvd. Metairie, LA 70002, (504) 456-3199, chick-fil-a.com/locations/la/veterans-memorial-blvd

Patrick J. Gros, CPA, A Professional Accounting Corporation, 651 River Highland Blvd., Covington, LA 70433, (985) 898-3512 or (985) 871-9600, pjgroscpa.com, pgros@pjgroscpa.com

Favorite Lighting

Eclectic Home

Elan Studio Lighting

Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery

Flambeaux Lighting

Gulf Coast Lanterns

Pine Grove Lighting & Electrical Supply

Southland Plumbing

Favorite Stone/Tile

Jerusalem Stone

KMG Marble and Granite

Level Flooring Solutions

Palatial Stone & Tile

Stafford Tile & Stone

The Stone Gallery

Triton Stone

Tuscan Stone Imports

Favorite Antique Shop

Consign Consign

DOP Antiques

M.S. Rau Antiques

Neal Auction Company

Renaissance Antiques & Gifts

Retreat Home & Lifestyle

Favorite Architecture Company

Albert Architecture

AMB2 Architecture

Greenleaf Architects

Hollingsworth Design

KVS Architecture

Lee Ledbetter and Associates

Practis Architecture & Design

Studio 314 Designs

The Hopkins Company

Architects

Woolf Architecture

Favorite Residential Builder/Contractor

Bobby Roth/Imperial Construction

Crescent City Builders

Edifice Builders

Eli Crosby

Esplanade Construction

Forshag Construction

Hurley Homes

J Hand Homes

JLV Construction

NP Construction & Design

Precision Builders

Schneider Construction

Shuler Construction

Favorite Commercial Builder/Contractor

NP Construction & Design

Edifice Builders

C M Combs Construction

Otillio Construction

Carimi Construction and Development

Ryan Gootee General Contractors

Readers’ Favorites

For Inside New Orleans’ Readers’ Favorite Home Edition, we asked you for your top picks in various home and garden categories. Congratulations to the winners below!

Be on the lookout for more Readers’ Favorites online at insideneworleansmagazine.com

Gibbs Construction

Woodward Design+Build

McMath Construction

Imperial Construction of LA

Landis Construction Co

Robert Wolfe Construction

Favorite Home and Construction Loans

Banks

American Bank

Fidelity Bank

Gulf Coast Bank & Trust

Hancock Whitney Home Bank

Metairie Bank and Trust

OnPath Credit Union

The Mortgage Firm NOLA

Favorite Interior Designer

Beth Claybourn Interiors

Corrinn Fisher Interiors

Flynn Designs

Graci Interiors

H. Mathews Interiors

Hattie Sparks Interiors

Jeff Taaffe Designs

JL Studio Designs

Julie Ponze

Katy Nolan

Lee Ledbetter

Legend Interiors

Livio Designs

M&Z Renovations

Val Spaces Interior Design

Favorite Kitchen Design Company

Campbell Cabinets

Classic Cupboards

Marchand Creative Kitchens

Mattix Cabinetworks

Nordic Kitchens and Baths

Ruffino Custom Closets

Favorite Landscaping Company

Chase’s Landscaping Services

Exterior Designs, Inc. by Beverly Katz

Forefront Construction And Landscape

Grass, Inc.

Manscaping

Mullin Landscape

Roussel Outdoors

Smoketree Landscape Services

The Plant Gallery

Favorite Outdoor Furniture Store

Livio Designs

Merchant House

Outdoor Living Center

Favorite Closet Company

California Closets

Closets by Design

Innovative Closets & Cabinets

Louisiana Custom Closets

Ruffino Custom Closets

Favorite Pool Company

Ducky’s Pools, Hot Tubs & Living

Kingfish Pools

Oasis Pools & Spas

Paradise Pools and Spas

Pleasure pools

Pools by Joe Crowton

Tropical Pools

Favorite Art Gallery/ Shop

Art by Christy Gallery

Arthur Roger Gallery

Casey Langteau Art Gallery

Degas Gallery

Elliott Gallery

Harouni Gallery

Marianne Angeli Rodriguez

Gallery

Michalopoulos Gallery

Tina Marie Studio

Zana Brown Studio Gallery

Favorite Cabinet Builder

Campbell Cabinet Co

Cypress Cabinet Co.

Innovative Closets & Cabinets

Jackson Cabinetry

Milltown Cabinets

Woodwork Warriors

Favorite Flooring Company

Fleur de Lis Flooring

Jim Owens Flooring

LA Custom Flooring

Level Flooring Solutions

LVP Flooring Warehouse

Palatial Stone & Tile

Favorite Gardening Store

Banting’s Nursery

Charvet’s Garden Center

Garden Spot of Mandeville

Jefferson Feed

Perino’s Home & Garden Center

Favorite Furniture

Designer

Doorman Designs

Greg Arceneaux Cabinetmakers

Favorite Furniture Store

Doerr Furniture

Furnish NOLA

Jade

Favorite Home

Decor Store

Arhaus

Eclectic Home

Furnish NOLA

Hazelnut

Jade

Little Miss Muffin

NOLA Living Home Interiors

Favorite Rug Shop

Banana Manor Rug Factory Outlet

Nola Rugs

Rug Chic Home Decor

Favorite Pest Control Company

Audubon Pest Control

Billiot Pest Control

DA Exterminating Co

J&J Exterminating Co

JA-Roy Pest Control

Terminix

Favorite Mortgage Broker/Brokerage

Hung Le- Movement Mortgage

Nola Lending

Stephanie Machado Barto, GMFS

Steven Rapalo

Trey Williams

Favorite Real Estate Agent

Alyson McStay, Keller Williams

Alyssa Quinn, Mirambell Realty

Brittany Picolo-Ramos - Real Estate and Business Coach LLC

Darlene Gurievsky, Berkshire Hathaway

Diane Laplace, Keller Williams

Doris Schutte, RE/MAX

Commercial Brokers

Elizabeth Novit, RE/MAX

Commercial Brokers

Erik Henning, The W Group

Northshore Keller Williams

Felicity Kahn & Associates

Haylie Lukinovich, Scoggin Properties

Image Hasselbeck, Community Real Estate

Jennifer Rice, Berkshire Hathaway

Kara Breithaupt, Snap Realty

Katie O’Leary, Athena Real Estate

Katie Witry, Witry Collective

Lesley Poché, McEnery

Residential

Leslie Perrin, Latter and Blum

Macie Grass, The Agency of M. Grass Group

Matthew Grass, The Agency of M. Grass Group

Melissa Adamcewicz, The One Group, Gulf South of Keller Williams Realty

Rebecca O’Dwyer, O’Dwyer Realty

Stacie Carubba, Athena Real Estate

Favorite Insurance Agent

Barbara Perez-Benefical Insurance Agency

Casey Robin, Emery & James

Chase Dardar, State Farm

Gabe Corchiani, Riverlands Insurance

Joshua Murphy-Allstate

Kaylie Rogers, TWFG Insurance

Melissa Bennett Simeon, Bennett Simeon Agency

Nora Vaden Holme, State Farm

Taylor Lambert-State Farm

Favorite Home Loan Lender

American Bank

Amy Wagner, Premier Lending

Devin Thomas, Reliant Mortgage

Jon Teague, Keller Home Loans

NOLA Lending Group

Stephanie Machado Barto, GMFS

Favorite Wealth Manager

Becky Gustafson, Northwestern Mutual

Jessica Marasco Illes, Edward Jones

Joe Barreca, Wells Fargo

Patricia Besselman, Besselman Wealth Planners

Stokes Family Office

Favorite Senior Living

Avanti Senior Living

Christwood Retirement Community

Lambeth House Retirement Community

Laurel Senior Living

The Blake at Colonial Club

The Carrollton

Favorite Title Company

Arena Collective

Crescent Title

Rocking

1st Lake Properties

4971 W Napoleon Ave

Metairie, LA 70001

504-455-5059 1stlake.com

American Bank

1819 N. Columbia St.

Covington 985-898-0206 americanbankandtrust.com

CPA Realty

Jessica LeBlanc P.O. Box 840260, New Orleans

504-812- 7105 jessicaleblanc.cpa

Fidelity Bank 830 West Causeway Approach Mandeville 985-612-2766 bankwithfidelity.com

Metairie Bank 3344 Metairie Road

Metairie, LA 70001

504-834-6330 metairiebank.com

Angel Barrios, XLV Realty 1409 Transcontinental DR Metairie, 504-512-1772 barriosangel10@yahoo.com xlvrealty.com

Keller Williams Realty

New Orleans

Brittany Picolo-Ramos 8601 Leake Ave. New Orleans, LA 70118 504-300-5179, brittanypicoloramos.com, brittanypicoloramos@gmail.com

Ruffino Custom Closets.

Real Estate Royalty

THE HOUSE OF BROEL is an architectural pearl adorning the corner of St. Charles and Jackson Avenue. For over 56 years, Mrs. Bonnie Broel has been the proprietor of the landmark property, dressing generations of New Orleans Brides and Mothers of the Bride. Now, after a successful and fulfilling career, she’s ready to make her move to Copeland Tower and enjoy her retirement. With elite real estate agent Brittany Picolo-Ramos by her side, Mrs. Broel hopes to hand over the keys to another aspiring entrepreneur.

This magnificent columned mansion is architecturally unique, having been built in two distinct periods: Antebellum and High Victorian. The second and third floors were added in 1850 by George Washington Squires, and in 1884, the Renaud family—known for their lavish entertaining— elevated the entire house to create a grand main floor with a splendid ballroom and sumptuous parlors.

The home remains an outstanding showcase of craftsmanship from both eras. Its center hall features an enormous mirror, embellished with a border of tobacco leaves by the Simon Hernsheim Company, tobacco magnates who owned the property in the 1890s. The

The House of Broel’s Next Chapter by

original gasolier still hangs in the hall, complete with its gas pole and adjustable arms to regulate the flow of gas.

The famed Mystic Ballroom, Mrs. Broel’s favorite room, is adorned with ornate chandeliers, mirrors, and fireplaces. “That’s why we have such a good party house 100 years later,” Mrs. Broel says, sharing stories about weddings hosted at the mansion over generations. And in walking down memory lane, she recalls the story of how she came to own her pride and joy: “In 1972, women still could not borrow money from the bank.” Women business owners were rare, but she wouldn’t let that stop her. She borrowed money from her father and opened Broel Original; soon, she was inspired by the Parisian fashion houses to change the name to The House of Broel.

Her success in the wedding industry has also been attributed to the House of Broel being a sought-after wedding venue, in which she takes great pride: “As with my bridal gowns, I personally see to it that every bride is tended to for her special day; they deserve personal service.”

To its future owner, Mrs. Broel hopes they will share her passion for preserving this true Victorian mansion while upholding the integrity of the Southern values it represents.

Bonnie Broel (left) and her real estate agent, Brittany Picolo-Ramos.

Brittany Picolo-Ramos

After a painful experience in real estate that cost me over $50,000, I knew I never wanted anyone else to feel the way I did: hopeless, abandoned, and misled. That loss became my motivation to enter the industry, not for commission, but to protect and advocate for others. Every client I work with is treated like family. I fight for their best interests with the same intensity I would for my own.

At heart, I’m a defender. If I weren’t in real estate, I’d probably be an attorney. Now, in Real Estate, I can combine my passion for justice with creativity. I help people find their dream homes, build lives they love, and navigate their most important financial decisions with confidence and care.

Today, I specialize in the luxury and commercial markets. Properties like the House of Broel and our investment listing on Veterans Blvd. represent not just incredible opportunities, but the chance to elevate the standard of service in this space. There’s too much neglect in luxury real estate—I’m here to change that.

Selling the House of Broel is especially meaningful—it’s a legacy property owned by a female entrepreneur for over 120 years, and working with Bonnie Broel has been an honor. Thanks to our appearances on HGTV’s ‘Selling the Big Easy’ and our large social media presence, clients receive the best exposure for their listings. We also host stand-out events like our recent fashion show with the iconic Bonnie Broel at the House of Broel, in collaboration with New Orleans Fashion Week and Trace Dundas’s

Working in tandem with entrepreneurs and business owners in our beautiful city, we ensure every property sees the spotlight. With us, every listing gets top exposure, and everyone wins!

Your Friend In Real Estate

Brittany Picolo-Ramos Keller Williams Realty New Orleans 8601 Leake Ave, New Orleans, LA 70118, (504) 300-5179, brittanypicoloramos.com, brittanypicoloramos@gmail.com

Medical Condition: Advanced Generalized Decay and Severe Periodontal Disease

Dr. Rachel Neumeyer, DDS Owner, Revival Dental

WHEN KEVIN YOUNG ARRIVED at Revival Dental, he was in constant pain. Although his mouth was full of crowns and fillings, something was clearly wrong. Dr. Rachel Neumeyer, DDS, quickly discovered the root of the problem: extensive decay beneath the restorations and significant bone deterioration. Kevin was suffering from Advanced Generalized Decay and Severe Periodontal Disease, an urgent and serious condition.

Faced with a complex treatment plan, Kevin carefully considered his options. He ultimately chose full-mouth implants. As he put it, he preferred to only be looking for his keys and glasses in the morning, not his teeth.

Like many longtime patients, Kevin had concerns about transitioning to a new dentist after seeing Dr. Neumeyer’s predecessor, Dr. McCoy, for over 30 years.

However, his hesitation quickly gave way to confidence. “They exceeded all hopes,” he later shared.

Dr. Neumeyer and her team removed all of Kevin’s remaining teeth and placed implants in both the upper and lower arches. These implants support secure, fixed dentures, often referred to as “all-on” dentures, that remain in place day and night and are only removed by a dentist for cleanings.

Today, Kevin is pain-free. He eats with ease, smiles without hesitation, and feels like himself again. His transformation is a testament to what’s possible with modern implant dentistry.

“I couldn’t be happier,” he reports. “Can you feel my smile?”

Dr. Rachel Neumeyer, Revival Dental, 4432 Conlin St #1B, Metairie, LA 70006, (504) 8891209, revivaldental.com

Dr. Rachel Neumeyer, DDS

Senior Care

Retirement Living

Christwood Living Community

100 Christwood Blvd., Covington, LA 985-317-1575 christwoodrc.com

Senior Care

Culicchia Neurological 102 Leondine St., New Orleans 504-340-6976 culicchianeuro.com

FYZICAL Therapy and Balance Centers

3700 Lapalco Blvd., #A, Harvey, LA 504-577-2844 fyzical.com/harvey-la

Thibodaux Regional Medical Center 602 North Acadia Road, Thibodaux, LA 985-447-550

Westside Orthopaedic Clinic

1301 Barataria Blvd., Marrero, LA 504-374-0243

Tulane Doctors Family Medicine

Rade Pejic, MD,MMM

Uptown Square Multispecialty Clinic 200 Broadway St.Suite 200 504-988-9000

Bayou Pain and Spine and Bayou

Injury Treatment Center

1810 Lindberg Dr., STE 3500 Slidell, LA 985-288-5088 bayoupainandspine.com

New Orleans Aesthetics

3434 Prytania St, Suite 420 New Orleans 504-475-1000 neworleansaesthetics.com

Cancer Care

Ochsner MD Anderson Cancer Center Scott Sonnier,MD Hematologist and Oncologist ochsner.org/endcancer

Dr. Aust Interventional Pain

Tod A. Aust, M.D. & Michael Beninato, MPAS, PA-C 1375 Corporate Square Dr., Slidell, LA (985) 377-1884 austpain.com

A Second Line of Strength

NEW ORLEANS UNITES FOR CANCER AWARENESS

WHILE OCTOBER is nationally recognized as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, it’s also a powerful time to raise awareness for all forms of cancer. Across New Orleans, individuals and organizations are coming together to support vital causes—from funding groundbreaking research and providing care for patients in financial need to donating wigs and essentials to young survivors.

These efforts, powered by everyday people, are making a real and lasting impact. Whether it’s showing up, giving back, or spreading awareness, there’s a role for everyone in the fight against cancer.

This October, discover how you can be in that number.

MOONLIGHT & MIRACLES

Gala Shines Bright for Ochsner Health at Caesars Superdome

For one extraordinary evening, over 1,200 guests gather beneath the legendary roof of the Caesars Superdome—not for a game, but to raise funds for Ochsner Health’s patients and innovation dedicated to advancing patient care. Last year, Ochsner’s signature black-tie gala raised more than $2 million, supporting cutting-edge technology, and pioneering medical research.

This year’s Moonlight & Miracles Gala, presented by the Gayle and Tom Benson Charitable Foundation, will shine even brighter with a dazzling lineup of local luminaries. Taking the stage as emcee is Trishelle Cannatella. The event will be hosted by Lori Ochsner and Mark Romig, joined by Ochsner Health CEO Pete November and Chief Physician Executive and President Dr. Robert Hart.

Adding even more star power to the night is Gayle Benson—esteemed owner of the New Orleans Saints and governor of the New Orleans Pelicans. Mrs. Benson is also

serving as Ochsner Health’s Moonlight and Miracles Gala Chair for the 12th year. Enjoy music by Blue Rhythm, food, drinks, and fun while supporting Ochsner patients. Can’t make the gala? You can still make a difference and enter to win a 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLC by visiting ochsner.org/moonlight to enter.

Friday, November 14, 2025, 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM at the Caesar’s Superdome; ochsner.org/ moonlightandmiracles

FLEUR DE BRA

Bras for a Cause: An Artistic Runway Show Supporting Breast Cancer Survivors

Fleur de Bra is not just a fashion show — it’s a

Above: Moonlight & Miracles; Saints Owner Gayle Benson with Pete and Stephanie November.
Right: Fleur de Bra.

powerful celebration of resilience, artistry, and community. This couture art bra runway event raises critical funds for women in Louisiana undergoing breast reconstruction after mastectomy surgery, turning the spotlight on survivorship with creativity and compassion.

Founded in 2021 by Dr. Suma Maddox—a double board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon in New Orleans specializing in complex breast reconstruction—Fleur de Bra brings together a dynamic pairing each year: a local professional woman serves as a model, and an artist crafts a one-of-a-kind wearable artwork for her to debut on the runway.

What began as an intimate cocktail gathering has blossomed into a breathtaking production, featuring over 500 guests and drawing creators from across the city—from florists and photographers to designers and stylists—all donating their time in support of a cause that touches so many.

Proceeds benefit the Cancer Association of Louisiana (CALA) and Breastoration, a fund dedicated to helping Louisiana women access and afford reconstructive breast surgery.

Sunday, October 19, 2025, 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM at the Hotel St. Vincent in the Lower Garden District; fleurdebra.com

DEATH BY CHOCOLATE…NOT BY CANCER

Indulge for a Cause at Krewe de Pink’s Sweetest Fundraiser of the Year

Get ready to taste, sip, dance, raffle, and mingle at one of New Orleans’ sweetest and most spirited fundraisers— Death by Chocolate…NOT By Cancer, hosted by Krewe de Pink. This deliciously decadent evening supports Tulane Cancer Center’s Breast Cancer Research Fund.

Guests will sample and vote on exquisite chocolate creations from some of New Orleans’ finest chocolatiers and caterers, including Café Hope, Caluda’s Cottage Catering (famous for Caluda’s King Cakes), The Mardi Gras School of Cooking, Messina’s Catering and Events, NOCHI (New Orleans Culinary & Hospitality Institute), Pigeon’s Catering, and many more.

The festivities also feature live music, exciting raffle prizes, champagne, non-alcoholic beverages, and a chance to connect with breast cancer survivors in a joyful celebration of hope and resilience. Guests are encouraged to come dressed in their most festive pink attire.

One of the night’s most inspiring highlights is the tribute to Krewe de Pink’s Sweet Survivors—local breast cancer survivors whose strength, generosity, and courage will illuminate the evening. These remarkable women not only bravely face their survivorship journeys but also give back by supporting others navigating a cancer diagnosis. This year’s honored Sweet Survivors are Donna Thomas, Monique Martinez, Laila Morcos Zissis, Ann Donahue, Donna Blady, Aimee Adatto Freeman, and Mandy Boudwin. Saturday, October 4, 2025, VIP 5:30 PM & General Admission 6:30 PM at the Jacob Schoen & Son Funeral Home, 3827 Canal St., New Orleans 70119; krewedepink. org/death-by-chocoilelate

WIGS BY TIFFANI’S CHILDREN’S FUND

Helping Kids Feel Like Themselves Again

When a child is diagnosed with cancer, survival becomes the focus. But amid treatments and hospital stays, something else matters deeply—feeling like a kid again.

For many, hair loss is more than cosmetic; it can feel like losing part of their identity and confidence. That’s where Nhat-thuy “Tiffani” Calix comes in.

As owner of Wigs by Tiffani, she’s made it her mission to help young girls across the globe feel like themselves again. Through her Children’s Fund, Tiffani donates lightweight, custom-made wigs that look and feel

Above: For Death by Chocolate… Not by Cancer.
Left: Kaylie. Right: Addy.

incredibly natural—restoring more than just hair.

Take Kaylie, a high school senior from Conroe, Texas. She missed her long red hair during chemotherapy, and when Tiffani placed her custom wig on her head, Kaylie smiled and said, “That’s me,” her mother recalled. She left the salon not just with a wig, but with renewed confidence.

Then there’s Addy, a 7th grader in remission from B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. She has learned to embrace her appearance, but her custom wig gives her the freedom to express every side of herself: survivor, student, and simply Addy.

With every wig, Tiffani delivers more than hair—she brings hope, confidence, and a reminder that every child deserves to feel beautifully themselves.

Parents or guardians of children ages 8–17 can apply for a free custom wig at kids@wigsbytiffani.com.

Visit wigsbytiffani.com/childrens-fund to donate to the fund!

THIBODAUX REGIONAL CANCER CENTER

Empowering Community Through Treatment and Outreach

Thibodaux Regional Cancer Center works year-round to support cancer prevention in the community, encouraging eligible patients who meet the following American Cancer Society (ACS) guidelines to see their doctor for a screening.

Breast Cancer Screenings:

• Start annual breast exams and mammograms at age 40.

Lung Cancer Screenings:

• Ages 50+ with a 20 pack-year smoking history (e.g., 1 pack/day for 20 years), who currently smoke or quit within the last 15 years,

should ask about a low-dose CT (LDCT) scan.

Committed to spreading this information to the community, the Cancer Center partners with Nicholls State University for Breast Cancer Awareness games in football, baseball, and softball. They also host health fairs, “lunch and learn” events, and the Breast Cancer Awareness Luncheon with Circle of Hope—drawing over 100 attendees annually.

This year’s Breast Cancer Awareness Brunch will be held on Saturday, October 25, from 10:30 AM–12:30 PM at the Thibodaux Health & Wellness Center.

Learn more about the event, services, and prevention at thibodaux.com/centers-services/cancer-institute

Thibodaux Regional Heath.

Jacob Schoen & Son Funeral Home

In 1859, two ambitious young German immigrants, Jacob Schoen and Henry Frantz, arrived in New Orleans from the Rhineland village of Rommersheim. Together, they started a Carriage & Livery Service in the Bywater; one service their livery business offered was to assist families in transporting their deceased loved ones to one of the many cemeteries located throughout the city.

In 1874, as this part of their business grew, it was a logical step for Franz and Schoen to transition from a livery service to a funeral home. They worked together until 1897, when Frantz sold Schoen his interest in the business. Today, Jacob Schoen & Son, Inc. has had a member of the Schoen family involved in the home’s operations for the past five generations. A Schoen family member has always been there to guide grieving families, and Patrick Schoen currently serves in that role as President.

At Jacob Schoen & Son, funeral directors treat you like family, too, listening to your wants and needs during the arrangement conference. Using this as a foundation, Schoen directors will offer thoughtful recommendations and suggest meaningful ways to honor your loved ones. Leave everything else to the Schoen funeral directors; the florists, cemetery, military, musicians, clergy, and so on are coordinated to each family’s desires.

Managing Partner Otto Briede is himself a fourthgeneration funeral director and has made managing funeral homes across Southeast Louisiana his career

for over 38 years. “I accepted this role a year ago as an opportunity to return to my roots, having worked at Jacob Schoen & Son from 1991 to 1993,” Mr. Briede explains.

With Briede and Schoen at the helm, Jacob Schoen & Son continues to be a pillar of compassion, respect, and support for our community. This is why giving back to nonprofit organizations across the city is near and dear to their hearts, having sponsored many fundraisers for City Park, Jefferson Council on Aging, and Lambeth House, to name a few. In the past year, they hosted a Hurricane Preparedness Seminar, Grief Workshop, and, on November 16, will co-host a pre-holiday Remembrance Event, along with New Orleans Catholic Cemeteries and Catholic Grief Ministries.

The funeral home also serves our community as a meeting and event space, offering meeting spaces for community organizations to hold gatherings and workshops. On Saturday, October 4, at 5:30 PM, New Orleans’ Krewe de Pink will host their annual fundraising event for Tulane’s Cancer Research Center, Death by Chocolate…Not by Cancer at Schoen’s.

As New Orleans moves into the future, so does the family business. Jacob Schoen & Son Funeral Home will continue to embrace your family into theirs with the care your loved one deserves.

Jacob Schoen & Son Funeral Home, 3827 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA 70119; 504-482-2111, schoenfh.com

Lapis and Diamond Necklace in 18 kt Yellow Gold, $3,950; Wellington & Company Fine 14k gold custom fleur di lis pendant and rings

Elevate your collection

with the Italian-designed Extensible stretch bracelet, an exquisite creation from the Artiglio collection, crafted in 18K yellow and white gold and gracefully accented with round brilliant cut diamonds. Aucoin Hart Jewelers, Metairie, 834-9999, AucoinHart.com

Signature infinity stretch diamond bracelet, $9,995; Boudreaux’s Jewelers, Metairie, Mandeville and Baton Rouge, 831-2602, boudreauxsjewelers.com 5.

Professional NFL Saints Limited Edition of 25 pieces worldwide, $4,400; Boudreaux’s Jewelers, Metairie, Mandeville and Baton Rouge, 831-2602, boudreauxsjewelers.com

6. Austin Gas or Electric Contemporary Lantern by The CopperSmith. Available in three sizes and four finishes. Gulf Coast Lanterns, Covington, 800-910-3275, gulfcoastlanterns. com 7. The Pensacola Beach Resort, your Gulffront escape; 800 feet of shoreline, stylish rooms, Southern dining, tiki bar, live entertainment, fitness center, and space for meetings or events. The Pensacola Beach Resort, Pensacola, 850-9169755, thepensacolabeachresort.com

with Lilette Ferrand

Hello and welcome to my monthly column, Lilette’s Loves. My name is Lilette Ferrand and I am a Freshman at Saint Scholastica Academy. I love fashion, skin care, running, and soccer. This month I am excited to feature some of my favorite pieces and local jewelry stores. Just in time for the Holidays! Check out my instagram page, @lilette_loves

1. Diamond drop necklace, Boudreaux’s Jewelers. 2. Gold and diamond ring, De Boscq Fine Jewelry. 3. Hoop earrings, Aucoin Hart. 4. Diamond stud earrings, Wellington & Co. 5. Bernard Wolf Flower ring, Symmetry Jewelers. 6. Gold Cartier watch, Ron’s Diamond Jewelers. 7. Coin Pearl multi strand necklace, Designed by Anne Delery McWhorter.

1. Harvest Amber Pumpkin Salt & Pepper Shaker Set. $22; NOLA Boards, 256-0030, nolaboards.com. 2. The Haunted House is a nostalgic throwback to classic LEGO® adventure sets, so be sure to look for rare bricks and ancient artifacts hidden throughout this spooky set! Bricks and Minifigs, Metairie, 408-1661, bammetairie.com 3. Customize your home with creations from Closets By Design!  A gift that lasts a lifetime! Closets by Design, Covington, 985-247-0230. neworleans.closetsbydesign.com 4. This kitchen’s crisp, clean aesthetic is built on the exceptional quality of Campbell Cabinets Company. Ready for the kitchen of your dreams? Campbell Cabinets Company, Harahan, 733-4687, campbellcabinets.com 5. Escape into a blooming sanctuary, meticulously crafted by Exterior Designs, Inc. by Beverly Katz, 866-0276, exteriordesignsbev.com/portfolio

Orleans Gallery

On Saturday, August 2, Orleans Gallery hosted Inside New Orleans for a special White Linen Night cover party, featuring cover artist Kloe Donley.

Sullivan Gala

On August 8, the LSU Health Foundation hosted their third annual Sullivan Gala at The Fillmore.

Palette Grand Opening Bash

On August 27, 2025, Palette Northshore Co-Founders Bradley Cook, Catherine Hover, Marty Mayer, Rory Gallardo, and Chief Experience Officer Amanda Delaup were there to cut the ribbon and introduce themselves to entrepreneurs in the community.

NOCHI

On September 10th, NOCHI, the New Orleans Culinary and Hospitality Institute, hosted Cooking for a Cause, presented by Hancock Whitney, to support aspiring culinary and hospitality leaders in our city.

Medical Condition:

Right MCA CVA with resultant left spastic hemiparesis developing into increased muscle tone/spasticity of the left leg

Treatment:

Intramuscular botulinum toxin injections to relax spastic muscles

Andrea Perrone Toomer, MD

Culicchia Neurological

WHEN MOIRA FLANAGAN BROTT suffered a spontaneous carotid dissection during an early morning jog on Chartres Street in New Orleans in 2017, her life changed in an instant. The dissection led to a stroke, leaving her partially paralyzed on her left side and struggling with uncontrollable muscle contractions. Running, a cherished part of her daily routine, suddenly felt impossible.

Her recovery began at West Jefferson Hospital, where neurosurgeon Dr. Jason Wilson placed a stent to repair the dissection, and neurologist Dr. Kaveh Khoobehi oversaw her inpatient treatment. With the support of her family, friends, and USMC colleagues, Moira gradually regained mobility through intensive physical therapy, ultimately returning to work and reclaiming her independence.

While her activity increased, her ability to walk and run was limited. She

regained strength but was left with severe spasticity in her left leg. This increase in muscle contraction prevented her from controlling her leg muscles. This condition prevented movement, specifically from briskly walking and jogging. Dr. Khoobehi referred her to Dr. Andrea Perrone Toomer, a specialist in physical medicine and rehabilitation. With precision and care, Dr. Toomer implemented a treatment plan of targeted intramuscular botulinum toxin injections to relax the spastic muscles, giving Moira improved control over her leg movements.

“The injections have been transformative,” Moira shares. “I can run more fluidly and comfortably. I even completed my first 5K since the stroke and have another planned next month.” Dr. Toomer emphasizes that recovery is ongoing: “There is no final outcome—she continues to improve, getting stronger,

faster, and more stable every day.”

Dr. Toomer brings 17 years of experience, serving as medical director of West Jefferson’s inpatient rehab unit and running the spasticity clinic at Culicchia Neurological. As an educator for the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, she combines medical expertise with a thoughtful, gentle approach that helps patients regain function and confidence.

For Moira, the combination of Dr. Toomer’s guidance, innovative treatment, and supportive rehabilitation has restored more than mobility, it has restored her passion for life. “Her professional and compassionate care has allowed me to return to the hobby I love, jogging, and live fully again,” Moira says.

Through meticulous care, advanced treatment, and dedication, Dr. Andrea Toomer exemplifies the power of modern rehabilitation: transforming challenges into progress and helping patients breathe—or run—easily again.

Dr. Andrea Toomer, Culicchia Neurological, 1111 Medical Center Blvd., Suite S-750, Marrero, LA 70072, (504) 340-6976, culicchianeuro.com

Moira Flanagan Brott and Andrea Perrone Toomer, MD

Fashion Week and the House of Broel

On September 17th, New Orleans Fashion Week hosted an evening at the House of Broel Honoring Bonnie Broel with a look back at classic bridal wear and future to the next generation of designers. Curated Fashion Presentation by Stephen Goudeau.

Food from the Motherland

The late, great Anthony Bourdain once said, “Food is everything we are. It’s an extension of nationalist feeling, ethnic feeling, your personal history, your province, your region, your tribe, your grandma. It’s inseparable from those from the get-go.” Two dynamic ethnic restaurants in New Orleans take this quote to heart, showcasing the authenticity of two distinct regions of the World. Addis Nola and Spicy Mango dive deep into the traditional flavors of Ethiopia and the Caribbean, respectively, with each restaurant adding a hint of New Orleans’ flavor.

Addis Nola is a family-owned Ethiopian restaurant located at 2514 Bayour Road near the intersection of Esplanade Ave. and Broad St. Named after the capital of Ethiopia, Addis Nola blends authentic traditions of Southern hospitality and traditional food from the “Motherland” through bold flavors and an electric atmosphere. When I eat authentic ethnic food, I expect to be transported to Ethiopia, enjoying a simple meal with the locals. The restaurant accomplishes that and more.

Addis Nola was born from a vision of Dr. Biruk Alemayehu, an Ethiopian immigrant and physician, and her family, including son Prince Lobo and husband Chef Jaime Lobo. In 2022, the restaurant relocated to its current home at 2514 Bayou Road in the Seventh Ward,

doubling its space to 2,500 square feet and adding a full bar, outdoor seating, and a dedicated stage for traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremonies.

Ethiopian dining is inherently communal, and Addis Nola captures this essence. Instead of forks and knives, meals are served on large platters of injera—a spongy, fermented teff flatbread that’s both plate and utensil. Diners tear off pieces to scoop up stews (wot), sautés (tibs), and salads, fostering shared experiences ideal for groups.

The menu showcases Ethiopian staples and unique spices, with options for vegetarians, meat lovers, and pescatarians. Start with sambusas—flaky pastries filled with spiced lentils or beef—before diving into the veggie combo, a colorful array of yellow split peas, collard greens, beets,

Above: Spicy
Mango’s Flaming Branzino.
Right: Spicy
Mango’s Shrimp Ceviche.

cabbage, and house-made ayib cheese. Meat dishes like godin tibs (beef short ribs sautéed in spicy berbere sauce), and the signature Addis ribeye showcase tender cuts infused with aromatic spices. Seafood shines too; the whole red snapper, fried and seasoned with mitmita (a chili-pepper blend), or honey-glazed mar mitmita shrimp, nods to local Gulf Coast ingredients. Did I mention the heavenly berbere spice? A unique spice that is the calling card for most Ethiopian dishes, berbere is a slightly spicy chili blend with citrus notes used to flavor everything from stews to fruit.

For those new to Ethiopian food, the Alemayehu platter—a family-style feast of meats, veggies, and injera— offers a comprehensive introduction. During our recent family dining adventure, our friendly and knowledgeable server, Blaze, answered all of our questions, making recommendations that blew us away. We dined wide-eyed on this platter featuring tender sliced ribeye, whole fried snapper, honey-glazed mar mimita Gulf shrimp (our

for the first time, we were able to speak with him; the passion and story-telling from his island days clearly spills over onto the menu. One such menu item, Joshi bread, named after Josh, is a play on a Caribbean johnny cake, a fried bread served with amazing guava honey butter. Remember the hush puppies you used to get at Ralph and Kakoos? These similar bites take those old hush puppies to school with their overwhelmingly savory taste. Other enticing appetizers on the menu include crawfish beignets served with a pineapple-charred remoulade, the freshest shrimp ceviche you have ever eaten—prepared traditionally and correctly with ripe, fresh mango and spicy, mango habanero wings.

While these dishes are certainly quite the opening act, the entrees we devoured were simply on another level. The entrée menu features traditional island staples such as stewed curry chicken, braised oxtails, and, the showstopper, flaming branzino featuring a grilled branzino in jerk butter,

favorite), and an array of split peas and collared greens, perfect platter for two or three people to share.

End the night with homemade vanilla ice cream topped with Ethiopian coffee or join a coffee ceremony, where beans from Yirgachefe are roasted tableside in a ritual that’s as much performance as it refreshments. Here, the food is an honest representation of Ethiopia.

Next, we take an adventure to the Caribbean at Spicy Mango where Caribbean heat meets Creole soul. Located at 405 Frenchman Street, Spicy Mango is the latest gem from restaurateur Larry Morrow. Guests are transported to a sizzling tropical island in the Caribbean. Because a large part of New Orleans-style cooking derives from the Caribbean, NOLA diners have been craving a top-notch, authentic Caribbean restaurant. Spicy Mango has answered the call and with its bold menu and unforgettable flavors, it is clearly here to stay.

General manager Josh Daly, who was raised in the Virgin Islands, ensures us his favorite dishes from his youth made their way onto the menu. When we visited

flambeed in perfect New Orleans style—table-side. The stewed curry chicken is as authentic as it gets for island cooking, offering three tender pieces of chicken you know are slow cooked for hours because the meat falls right off the bone. One of the best sellers is the jerk mac n cheese which is not your grandmother’s mac n cheese. This island mac n cheese features creamy macaroni with a jerk cheese blend topped with curry chicken and drizzled with barbeque sauce. Their authentic sides, braised cabbage cooked in island spices, the coconut rice, and peas are delectable.

The rum cake is the star of dessert; it’s moist, flavorful, served with coconut shavings and a side of vanilla ice cream—basically the best we’ve ever had.

No trip to Spicy Mango would be complete without sampling some savory and mesmerizing cocktails. With a vibrant bar and adventurous drink selection, they serve their famous Spicy Mango Margarita and the West Indies French 75, an island take on the traditional cocktail. When the bill hit the table, we weren’t quite ready to check out of this Caribbean paradise.

Addis Nola’s Aleymaheyu Platter.

Drinks with Anna

Fall Cocktails

As the air cools a bit (a girl can dream) and the fall fun begins around New Orleans, autumn invites a shift in flavor, moods, and fashion. With warming spices, rich fruits, and comforting spirits, autumn cocktails are perfect for cozy gatherings or spirited LSU and Saints tailgates. Try one of these festive fall-inspired cocktails and enhance it with some seasonal garnishes.

SPICED APPLE OLD FASHIONED

1.5 oz Woodford Reserve Bourbon

Dash Maple Syrup

4oz Apple Cider

Sprinkle of Cinnamon

Serve in a double rocks glass over ice

A twist on the classic, this cocktail combines bourbon with apple cider, a dash

of maple syrup, and a hint of cinnamon. Garnish with a thin apple slice and a cinnamon stick for a festive touch.

DUBAI CHOCOLATE COFFEE

1.5 oz Chocolate Vodka

Double shot espresso

2 pumps of pistachio syrup

Top with pistachio cream, drizzle chocolate, and garnish with crumbled pistachios and a date

Serve in a tall cocktail coffee glass (think Irish coffee glass)

Freshly brewed espresso, chocolate vodka, pistachio syrup, pistachio cream, crispy knafeh, drizzle of chocolate syrup, garnished with crumbled pistachios and a date.

PUMPKIN SPICE WHITE RUSSIAN

Use a highball glass filled with ice; make the drink in the glass over ice.

1.5 oz Vodka

1 oz coffee liqueur - try the new Kahlúa Caramel Cream for this drink, it’s the Chef’s Kiss

2oz Pumpkin Spice Creamer- I like the Chobani or Califia Farms Pumpkin Spice Creamer

Blend vodka, coffee liqueur, and pumpkin spice creamer for a creamy, autumn take on the White Russian.

Top with a sprinkle of nutmeg.

CRANBERRY BOURBON SMASH

Muddle fresh cranberries

1.5 oz Woodford Reserve Bourbon

½ oz Lemon Juice

1oz bourbon sugar simple syrup

Strain into a rocks glass with the good ice. (Think Sonic or Racetrack ice)

Muddle fresh cranberries with lemon juice and brown sugar simple syrup, then add bourbon and shake it like the Saints just scored a Touchdown against the Falcons. Strain into a glass and garnish with sugared cranberries and a rosemary sprig.

SEASONAL GARNISHES AND INGREDIENTS

Cinnamon sticks: Add aroma and a rustic look to cocktails.

Apple and pear slices: Float on top or skewer for a decorative touch. Fresh herbs: Rosemary, thyme, and sage pair well with fall flavors. Sugared cranberries: Provide color and a sweet-tart bite.

Pumpkin puree: Incorporate into creamy cocktails for texture and flavor.

Fall cocktails celebrate the season’s bounty with rich flavors and inviting aromas. Whether mixing up a batch for friends or savoring a single glass, these drinks bring warmth and cheer to any autumn occasion. Cheers!

ANNUNCIATION

1016 ANNUNCIATION ST.

NEW ORLEANS 504-568-0245

ANNUNCIATIONRESTAURANT.COM

Join Annunciation for a Witches & Warlocks Jazz Lunch on Saturday, October 25th; Delight in their sinfully scrumptious Chicken Rosemarino, Roasted Chicken with rosemary, whole roasted garlic, olive oil. It’s to die for!

Briquette

701 SOUTH PETERS ST. NEW ORLEANS

504-302-7496

BRIQUETTE-NOLA.COM

Award-winning contemporary coastal cuisine featuring Gulf seafood and fish, beef, lamb, chicken, Maine lobster and unique chef specials daily. Briquette Restaurant, www.briquettenola.com Call 504-302-7496 to make reservations or open table.

Chick-fil-A

3870 VETERANS

MEMORIAL BLVD.

METAIRIE, LA

Chick-fil-A Chick-n-Strips are boneless chicken tenders, available in original and spicy, seasoned to perfection, freshly breaded, and pressure-cooked in 100% refined peanut oil. Made from the most tender part of the chicken breast and served with a choice of dipping sauces.

Copeland’s

1001

504-620-7800

COPELANDSOFNEWORLEANS.COM

Copeland’s fall menu is here! Savor their newly featured Grilled Chicken and Yams, a sizzling grilled chicken breast, mashed sweet potatoes, spiced pecans, caramelized onions, and Worcestershire sauce.

Jerry’s Super Taters

5545 CAMERON ST. SCOTT, LA

337-889-5993

SUPERTATERS14.COM

BBQ Super Tater featuring Smoked Beef Brisket and my own signature in house made BBQ sauce! Handcrafted, original recipe, made to order SUPER sized BIG Menu Energy courtesy of Super Taters!

Haydels Bakery

4037 JEFFERSON HWY.

NEW ORLEANS

504-837-0190

HAYDELSBAKERY.COM

For over three generations, Haydel’s has treated New Orleanians with the finest fresh-baked cookies, cakes, and pastries. This family-owned business evolved into a beloved institution known for its exceptional quality and service. Every Mardi Gras season, the bakery sends countless fresh, delectable King Cakes across the U.S. and worldwide.

BundtNothingCakes

4839 PRYTANIA ST.

504-267-4652

NOTHINGBUNDTCAKES.COM

The fan-favorite Pumpkin Spice is back. Bursting with the bold, aromatic flavors of cinnamon, nutmeg, and pumpkin, it’s the ultimate seasonal indulgence, perfect for cozy gatherings and festive fall moments. Available for a limited time from now through December 7, 2025.

Southern Oaks

SOUTHERN OAKS

7816 HAYNE BLVD.

NEW ORLEANS 504-245-8221

SOUTHERNOAKSWEDDINGS.COM

Southern Oaks’ famous praline chicken is a delicious savory-sweet option for guests to enjoy. The crispy fried chicken paired with southern praline syrup and topped with fresh pecans has been a crowd favorite for years! This is just one of the over 80 different New Orleans-style hors d’oeuvres Southern Oaks provides.

Copeland’s Serves Up Thanksgiving for Every Table

CRAVING A STRESS-FREE THANKSGIVING EXPERIENCE, Copeland’s of New Orleans has your back. Whether you’re hosting at home, organizing a Friendsgiving celebration, or dining in, your job is to enjoy the day.

Starting October 1st, you can craft a Thanksgiving Feast Package your family will think is home cooked—because really it is!

Designed to feed 6 to 8 guests for just $159, you’ll get your choice of a 12–14 lb. whole turkey or 4 lbs. of Cajun-fried turkey breast, with two quarts of rich turkey gravy, and a dozen fluffy buttermilk biscuits. Choose two decadent sides from buttery creamed potatoes, sweet potatoes with pecan amaretto sauce, creamy mac and cheese, savory cornbread dressing, and more. Looking to mix and match? You can order from their a la carte menu featuring individual

Copeland’s favorites.

Prefer to leave the cooking (and cleanup) to someone else entirely? Dine-in on Thanksgiving Day! Bring the whole family and enjoy the special Pilgrim’s Platter, which combines Cajunfried turkey with traditional sides and signature Copeland’s dishes, all in the cozy atmosphere of their restaurant. No dishes, but you still keep the leftovers!

Thanksgiving orders are available for pickup from November 10–27 with 48 hours’ notice. Pre-order your feast starting October 1st at copelandsfeast.com or stop by your nearest Copeland’s location, including Jefferson, Kenner, Harvey, Slidell, Covington, Houma, and Shreveport. Reheating instructions are included with every order, so all you need to do is serve and celebrate.

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