NEW ORLEANS – Eric Cook, executive chef and owner of Gris-Gris, will open his second restaurant, Saint John, in mid-September at 1117 Decatur Street (formerly home to Trinity and, before that, Maximo’s). He said the restaurant will serve his…
People who live in garden variety cities only have to plan music for their wedding ceremony and reception. In New Orleans, however, there’s a third category of musical fun: the brass band “second line” parade that usually fits right…
People who live in garden variety cities only have to plan music for their wedding ceremony and reception. In New Orleans, however, there’s a third category of musical fun: the brass band “second line” parade that usually fits right…
Pamela Marquis, a longtime contributor to various titles at Renaissance Publishing, died unexpectedly on May 4. A devoted gardener, Marquis’ gardening column and other contributions to New Orleans Homes kept readers in the know not only with trends and…
Arriona “Tank” Ball After a lavish musical introduction by her backing band, Tarriona “Tank” Ball - lead singer of Tank and the Bangas - playfully danced onto the stage to perform her song “Spaceships” to a rocking crowd. Or perhaps…
During the pandemic, wedding receptions have gotten smaller – and quieter. Health restrictions mean crowded dance floors are, temporarily at least, a thing of the past. So when it comes to planning music for your Big Day, it…
NEW ORLEANS – The Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences New Orleans has released details about chef partner Alon Shaya’s “signature restaurant” scheduled to open later this year on the property. The restaurant, to be named Miss River, is…
Errol and Rich discuss a few of the top moments in Carnival history - from the 1600s to COVID Carnival 2021. Stay tuned to the end for a new type of Carnival music.
Take a trip down the Pussyfooter's parade route with Laura Cayouette, actress and long-time member of the dance krewe. We'll dance our way through the importance of the female dance krewes, how they "party with a purpose" and some…
Krewe du Vieux has been making merry in New Orleans for many years. This year, they have adapted to COVID in typically tasteless fashion.
In this two-part episode, we discuss the history and current state of LGBTQ+ Mardi Gras in New Orleans. First, Roberts Batson and Errol Laborde discuss the founding of gay Carnival balls in the city and some of the struggles the…
From the woman who claims to be the first flasher for Mardi Gras beads to Pagan times and practices, this episode we discuss the risqué side of Carnival.
During the pandemic, wedding receptions have gotten smaller - and quieter. Health restrictions mean crowded dance floors are, temporarily at least, a thing of the past. So when it comes to planning music for your Big Day, it makes sense…
In episode 4, Rich and Errol interview Bo Dollis Jr. of The Wild Magnolias Mardi Gras Indians Tribe. We chat about the history of Mardi Gras Indians, the impact of The Wild Magnolias and Bo Dollis Sr. in music and…
In this episode, Rich acts as "Mardi Gras Beyond The Beads" musical director, and with Errol explores the music behind the greatest free show on Earth.
It will be a different Carnival this year, not just in New Orleans but the world, as people are forced to wear different types of masks. Still, the traditions survive, if only in memory. Carnival expert Errol Laborde, with interviewer…
There are no rules about music at your wedding. If you want to walk down the aisle to a recording of “Cotton Eye Joe” and hire bagpipers to get the party started during your reception then you go for…
There are no rules about music at your wedding. If you want to walk down the aisle to a recording of “Cotton Eye Joe” and hire bagpipers to get the party started during your reception then you go for it.…
There once was a young couple who hired a renowned New Orleans wedding photographer with a fancy office on St. Charles Avenue to shoot their wedding at the New Orleans Museum of Art. A few days before the big event,…
Didya Ever Notice? … These Weird Things About Life During COVID-19 Thanks for reading my diary entries this week! I’ll end with a listicle. Following are some of the unusual new facts of life I’ve noticed over the last two months. Read…
The coronavirus pandemic is a completely different disaster than Hurricane Katrina but there’s a lot about the spring of 2020 that reminds me of the fall of 2005. Recently, I was remembering one event in particular: A few days…
The definition of insanity, according to Einstein and the internet, is “doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.” So I must be insane. Right now, as I sit at a desk in my kitchen…
My family keeps a list (literally, I have a Google doc) of favorite movies that we’ve watched together and enjoyed multiple times over the years. This is partly because we love the art form and partly because when you’re a…
For the last 10 years, my wife and I have lived in a drafty old Victorian house near St. Charles and Jefferson avenues in Uptown New Orleans. Since we have five kids, we’ve needed all of the house’s 4400…
NEW ORLEANS - The Rev. John Restrepo, a priest stationed at St. Dominic Church in Lakeview for the last four years, had plans to go visit his family in Atlanta a few weeks ago … but they had other ideas.…
Lucky you! You’re planning your wedding in New Orleans, the birthplace of jazz, the bounce music capital of the world and perennial home to a bunch of Grammy-nominated musicians. So of course you want to make live music a big…
