Bev’s Note
It is Mardi Gras time, and even though we won’t have the usual celebrations we’re accustomed to, New Orleanians are going to celebrate to the utmost! Be sure to check out What’s Hot for Mardi Gras for ideas for decorating and celebrating. And Nostalgia outlines 15 other times Carnival was curtailed.
I just talked to Barry Kern and he, Mardi Gras World and The Advocate/Nola.com are putting on “Mardi Gras for All Y’all!” It will be February 12, 13 and 14, and will feature a virtual celebration of Carnival with music, parades and entertainment with Hoda Kotb, Emeril Lagasse, Drew Brees, the Meters, Harry Connick Jr. and many more. Over 90 million people who love New Orleans will stream this event, and this extravaganza will focus not only on the fun but the history and economic impact as well. You don’t want to miss this!
Be sure to check out our Couture Wedding Guide! Yes, weddings are still happening and Kelcy Wilburn interviewed Sapphire Events, Kim Starr Wise, The Royal Sonesta, The Windsor Court, Gem Printing, Rome Tuxedos, Pear’s Place, Briquette and New Orleans Creole Cookery to find out the latest trends. Because weddings are now smaller because of COVID restrictions, they can often be even better, with more attention to detail, decorations and even special masks for all attendees!
Kids Play is all about Valentine’s so be sure to see all of the creative things you can do with your children. Now that school is sometimes at home and sometimes at school, it’s even more important to be creative!
Have a great Mardi Gras and don’t forget to go by to see what Dian Winingder has planned for the Academy of Fine Art on Magazine Street! Her mom and dad, Gigi and JJ Coleman, would be so proud of her!
Beverly Reese Church
In the spirit of Mardi Gras, the New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts at 5256 Magazine St. is swinging into action! Artists from Kern Studios have been rehired to produce an art-inspired float. Van Gogh was the inspiration with his famous sunflowers and irises. Check it out and you might even catch some sunflower beads.
The Academy has over 200 students and was the brainchild of Dottie Coleman, who would be so proud to see the dream thats she brought to New Orleans come to fruition!
We encourage everyone to bring Mardi Gras to their own houses and help support artists who need work! Start by visiting KernStudios.com, Krewe of Red Beans’ HireAMardiGrasArtist.com or call a local artist yourself!
On the Cover
It is time for the Greater New Orleans American Heart Association’s “Go Red for Women” annual event. This year, on March 5, it will be the “Go Red for Women Digital Experience!”
Thanks to Co-Chairs Karen and Peter DeBlieux; Executive Leadership Team Member and CEO of New Orleans East Hospital Dr. Takeisha Davis; and Executive Leadership Team Member and Associate VP of Annual Giving and Membership at The National World War II Museum Leigh Thorpe, who promise a fabulous event!
This year you’ll have the opportunity to choose your own adventure and join a breakout as part of the Empowerment Series, then join with supporters from across the community for the Power Hour. As part of this session you’ll hear from some amazing speakers – including from a fearless, successful leader and author – engage in a dance break to get guests hearts pumping, hear an inspiring story from a heart survivor and gather virtually with your “table-mates” to discuss how we can all “Live Fierce” in our daily lives! Call 872-3498 or visit NewOrleansGoRed.heart.org for tickets and more information, and follow @AHALouisiana and #NOLAGoRed on social media. Be sure to wear your red!
Morgan’s Note
I am writing this the day after the latest unprecedented event of the past year-plus. Some days I’m tempted to drop my son off with his Mimi and plant myself at my favorite watering hole (Hi, 45 Tchoup and Debbie!) for the foreseeable future. But as lovely as that would be, the next day would hurt much more than it used to and it wouldn’t do anything to assuage my feelings or change the state of affairs.
So when a press release for the opening of Stumpy’s Hatchet House came across my inbox, I almost squealed for joy. Located at 1200 Poydras St., Suite 103, Stumpy’s offers the chance to try hatchet-throwing in a safe environment (They follow CDC, state, and local guidelines, and enforce social distancing, maintain private pits and sanitize all surfaces before and after use.). I foresee a new way of managing my anxieties and anger without a hangover. Visit StumpysHH.com/neworleansla to learn more.
I often take to baking as another way to release stress and as an almost meditative task. But with King Cake season upon us – at least through the first half of this month – I don’t need any additional sugar. So this year I’m going to try my hand at baking my own. I began by wading through recipes online and quickly was overwhelmed. Our Kids Play columnist Brittany Kennedy has a fantastic recipe that I’m going to ask her to share with me. And if I fail at that, too, Gracious Bakery (GraciousBakery.com) has a kit with everything I need.
Thankfully, as the season turns to Lent we won’t be without dessert opportunities as Girl Scout cookie season is also underway! Online ordering starts February 1, and this year for the first time you can order cookies through Grubhub for delivery in New Orleans and Baton Rouge February 25-March 1. Did you know that five of the nine cookies available are vegan – including Thin Mints and the new Toast-yay! Check the Cookie Finder app or visit GSLE.org for more!
I want to take a moment to say that I’m so very proud of our writers, photographers, sales staff, our Art Director Ali, Bev and all of the people who touch this magazine and the work we’ve done through this past year. Though the skies haven’t parted and we haven’t returned to “normal” (whatever that was), light is trying to break through. I hope that our work has helped you to continue to find that light.
This month and its usual events are all going to be different – as most things have been since March 2020. Let us all work to make certain these differences are ones that spread kindness and joy. Happy Carnival!
Morgan Packard Griffith
February
28 “French Heritage Society Annual Gala,”
benefiting the French Heritage Society,
dslabouisse@gmail.com
March
2-4 “An Edible Evening at Home,” benefiting
Edible Schoolyard New Orleans, 941-0089,
Bidpal.net/EdibleEvening
5 “New Orleans Go Red for Women
Luncheon,” benefiting Greater New
Orleans American Heart Association,
872-3498, NewOrleansGoRed.heart.org
7 “CCANO Pregnancy Services Jazz Brunch,”
benefiting Catholic Charities Archdiocese of
New Orleans, 885-1509, CCANO.org
14 “Lark Picnic in the Park,”
benefiting Friends of City Park,
FriendsOfCityPark.com/event/lark-in-the-park
20 “Sinai Soiree in Slippers,” benefiting Temple
Sinai, 861-3693, TempleSinaiNola.com
20 “UNCF Mayor’s Masked Ball,” benefiting
United Negro College, Inc., 581-3794,
UNCF.org/NOLAmaskedball
26 “Mad Hatter’s Luncheon and Fashion
Show,” benefiting Women’s Guild of the
New Orleans Opera Association, 267-9534
27 “Ascension DePaul Foundation of New
Orleans’ Keeping Our Promises
Gala Presented by Louisiana Healthcare
Connections,” benefiting DePaul
Foundation of New Orleans, 212-9544,
one.bidpal.net/dchc/welcome
28 “Parkway Promenade XXIX – An Evening
at the Moulin Rouge,” benefiting Jefferson
Beautification, Inc., 466-6063,
JeffersonBeautification.org
31 “Art in Bloom,” benefiting New Orleans
Museum of Art, 658-4100, NOMA.org
