December is a time to celebrate with family and friends, to enjoy traditions and make new ones, to take stock of the past few months and to plan for the year ahead.Â
We manage the darkest days of the year by warming up the night with a holly, jolly tour of lights through City Park, a tour of the Roosevelt Hotel or a drive along St. Charles Avenue. We look for Mr. Bingle winging his way through decorations, with his bright blue eyes always full of cheer. We gather to sing songs in Jackson Square, a warm toddy in hand and clutching candles and caroling classics in an only-in-New Orleans way.
We will toast those that have passed with a song and a prayer and then lighten the mood with a rowdy celebratory meal for those at the dinner table. For many in New Orleans, it’s not gift giving that means the most, it’s sharing special moments with family and friends, reminiscing on the past and kindling new hopes for the future.
In this issue, we feature the Best of Dining, our annual celebration of the restaurants, dining establishments, restaurateurs, chefs and makers that help create some of our favorite memories around the brunch, lunch and dinner tables in celebration of birthdays, anniversaries, graduation, holidays or just a beautiful weekend. Our class of 2023 graduates with honors in our eyes, and we hope you enjoy them too.
For many, all of this celebration can be joyous but also overwhelming, and, sometimes, downright draining. We have a practical guide to managing the holiday stress and embracing the little moments that can bring some light through winter gatherings.
Plus, we have a calendar chock-full of things to do, holiday menus, recipes, and our list of the 2023 Exceptional Women in Medicine. From plays and concerts to winter warmer happy hours and more, there’s no slowing down until New Year’s (with only a short time to catch our breaths until Carnival).
Happy holidays! Be good to yourselves.
