Bev’s Note
Now that everyone is getting the vaccines, we’re excited to get out there and go places, so you’ll be sure to welcome our annual spring fashion feature starring model Rupa Jolly for the perfect ideas to enliven your wardrobe. Whether it’s lunch with the girls, dinner with friends or a trip to exotic places, you’ll want to have new outfits! Also check out What’s Hot for Spring Fashion Accessories to “show off as you step out” from shoes to scarves to sunglasses!
Spring is here and summer is coming fast, so make certain to read our feature “Crafting, Camping & Caring – Oh My!” for more than 15 activities and outings for your little ones that promise excitement and engagement without compromising safety. Whether you’re looking for something to do as a family or something to keep them occupied for a bit, all you need and more is available right here in the city, with options for any budget!
Keep wearing your mask and following the guidelines, even if you’ve received the vaccines! We’re almost there!
Beverly Reese Church
It’s time to get ready for the annual Kingsley House “Friendraiser Luncheon” on April 30. This year’s luncheon is themed “Come Picnic With a Purpose” and will be a hybrid affair, so guests will both be seated in the scenic outdoor courtyard and livestream the program virtually on the webpage. Onsite guests will enjoy McHardy’s chicken, hear impactful participant testimonials and share a champagne toast! Lebron “LBJ” Joseph will emcee the event which serves as their signature event in support of their mission of educating children, strengthening families and building community!
Event Co-Chairs Windsor Court General Manager Ralph Mahana and Kea Sherman of the Sherman Law Firm spearheaded this year’s luncheon. Get more information, purchase your tickets and learn about sponsorship opportunities by visiting KingsleyHouse.org/support-us or by calling 523-6221, extension 127.
On the Cover
New Orleanians are so proud of our history, so when we heard that Hermann-Grima and Gallier Historic Houses are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the museum and the 140th anniversary of The Woman’s Exchange, we were dying for them to be on our April cover! This year, the “Wine Fête” will be on April 30th and will be Chaired by dynamos Celeste Eustis and Dorothy Mann. They share our cover with the famous Furloughed Four: Sommelier Ray Gumpert, Chef Doug Braselman, Chef Mario Reyes and Sommelier Taylor Terrebonne, all who were at Emeril’s restaurant before the pandemic!
This exciting virtual event will occur on April 30, 6:30-7:30 p.m., when you can tune into Sommelier Ray Gumpert guiding you through paired wines from local shops with cheeses from St. James Cheese Factory. You will be whisked away to Gallier House and different areas of the Hermann-Grima House – including the garden and the open-air hearth with interior views of the house – learn interesting information about the history of the property, enjoy music by the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra and enjoy visuals of exciting auction items! There is a $2,000 level offering a catered dinner for 10, but the pièce de résistance will be an in-person catered dinner with wine pairings by the Furloughed Four for $5,000 for 10 friends that you’ll have right after the virtual fundraiser in your own home! There is only one at this level, so I hope you win!
As all of you know, these historic houses are managed by The Woman’s Exchange, which preserves the two 19th-century French Quarter homes and, through their architecture, collections and history, inspires discourse about our collective past and its relevance to our present and future.
Call 504-274-0744 and visit HGGHH.org to learn more and purchase your tickets, and follow them on Facebook @HermannGrimaGalllierHistoricHouses and Instagram @hgrimagallier1831!
Morgan’s Note
Spring in New Orleans is the epitome of hope, and this spring is giving us more reasons to celebrate that than ever. From the massive amount of us who have been vaccinated – please, if you have the opportunity to do so, please do, for all of us – to the opening of a beautiful and necessary new bookstore in Baldwin & Co. (1030 Elysian Fields Ave., BaldwinAndCoBooks.com) to the amazing weather and flowers and green everywhere, even when we’re water-logged. But summer is just around the corner and temperatures are rising, and though many of our festivals, fundraisers and events are still postponed, our small bubbles are starting to grow and there are so many opportunities for fun and supporting our local nonprofits.
If you’re on the fence about sending a kid to summer camp, make sure to look to our feature on summer activities for children for ideas on how to spend time together – and apart – safely.
Though my son is still too young for most camps, and most travel still feels scary, I’m amassing a quickly growing list of ideas for making learning fun. Our feature is a great place to start, and thankfully there are many beautiful beaches within a short drive for when the need to get out of Dodge grows too strong. If you have some fun ideas, please email me (Morgan@MyNewOrleans.com) and maybe I’ll be able to share yours in an upcoming issue!
Morgan Packard Griffith
APRIL
8 “2021 Man & Woman of the Year Campaign Kickoff Celebration,” benefiting The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society; mwoy.org/mwoy-new-orleans-0
11 “JCRS Jewish Roots Jubilee Gala,” benefiting Jewish Children’s Regional Service, 828-6334; JCRS.org
21 “Heart of the Park Hat Luncheon” presented by IBERIABANK | First Horizon, benefiting City Park, 483-9376, Friends@FriendsOfCityPark.com
30 “Wine Fête,” benefiting Hermann-Grima + Gallier Historic Houses, 274-0744; HGGHH.org
30 “Friendraising Luncheon,” benefiting Kingsley House, 523-6221, extension 127; KingsleyHouse.org
