The New Orleans Museum of Art has appointed Anne Collins Smith as its new Chief Curator. Smith will lead collection and exhibition initiatives, focusing on modern and contemporary art. Previously, she was director of the Xavier University of Louisiana Art Gallery. Lisa Rotondo-McCord, formerly Deputy Director of Curatorial Affairs, has taken on the new position of Deputy Director at NOMA, and will continue to serve as Curator of Asian Art.
Exhibition Partnership: “New African Masquerades: Artistic Innovations and Collaborations” is organized in partnership with the Musée des Civilisations noires. The exhibition is supported by grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Endowment for the Arts and will have parallel tours in North American and African venues.
Featured Artists: The exhibition will feature the works of Chief Ekpenyong Bassey Nsa, Sheku “Goldenfinger” Fofanah, David Sanou, and Hervé Youmbi. The 13 head-to-toe masquerade ensembles were created for social, spiritual, entertainment, and museum contexts.
MUSIC SERIES INSPIRED BY SUPER BOWL LIX PIANO
Visitors can experience part of Super Bowl LIX history and enjoy music played on the custom Yamaha piano designed by artist and bestselling author Suleika Jaouad for acclaimed musician Jon Batiste’s performance of The Star-Spangled Banner in the Caesars Superdome.
New Orleans–based musicians will give performances in NOMA’s Lapis Center for the Arts on select Sunday afternoons and Wednesday evenings:
El BALLET HISPÁNICO, regresa al Nueva Orleans con CARMEN.maquia
NUEVA ORLEÁNS, LA – La Asociación de Ballet de Nueva Orleans (NOBA) presenta el regreso de la compañía de danza latina más importante del país, Ballet Hispánico, el sábado 1 de febrero a las 7:30 p. m. en el Mahalia
Jackson Theater. Dirigido por el carismático director cubanoamericano Eduardo Vilaro y con su estilo audaz de fusionar la danza clásica, latina y contemporánea, Ballet Hispánico se ha convertido en un “embajador no solo de
la cultura latina sino de la danza misma” (Broadway World). Esta hermosa compañía de “los bailarines más técnicos y musicales que encontrará en la esfera contemporánea” (The Washington Post) trae
el estreno de CARMEN.maquia, una versión contemporánea inspirada en Picasso del amado clásico de Bizet a cargo del coreógrafo Gustavo Ramírez Sansano. Para celebrar el 150 aniversario de esta ópera icónica, la
coreografía cargada de fuerza física, fusiona la danza contemporánea con guiños al pasodoble español y al flamenco.
Emocionalmente feroz, intensamente sensual, brillantemente bailada y asombrosamente diseñada... fascinante de principio a fin”. (Chicago Sun-Times)
“Ballet Hispánico muestra lo que es ser latino en el mundo moderno”. (Financial Times)
CARMEN.maquia es más que una reinterpretación de la icónica ópera de Bizet: es una celebración de la profundidad y diversidad de la cultura latina, que cobra vida a través de una cautivadora mezcla de movimiento, música
y arte visual. Uno de los coreógrafos más solicitados, Gustavo Ramírez Sansano, conocido por su capacidad de entrelazar las tradiciones clásicas con la innovación moderna, se inspira en el estilo audaz y fragmentado de
Picasso, creando una obra que es a la vez visualmente impactante y emocionalmente resonante. La producción cuenta con un extraordinario conjunto de bailarines, cuyo atletismo y profundidad emocional transmiten la
intensidad cruda de la narrativa. Con una banda sonora original que reinterpreta las melodías familiares de Bizet, CARMEN.maquia transforma la conocida historia de amor, celos y tragedia en una declaración poderosa y
contemporánea.
A través de esta obra, Ballet Hispánico invita al público a experimentar los temas atemporales de Carmen desde una nueva perspectiva, mientras afirma el compromiso de la compañía de presentar obras innovadoras que
exploren la riqueza de la identidad y la expresión artística latina.
Las entradas comienzan en $29, con descuentos de $10 para estudiantes y personas mayores, y se pueden comprar llamando al 504.522.0996 o en www.nobadance.com.
With fall in full swing, we begin to feel that festive atmosphere and quickly start to think about the end-of-year celebrations that bring a bit of the hustle and bustle of meetings that require special outfits and gift exchanges. To prevent this time from being chaotic, we could approach a more fun and relaxed way to find unique details for our loved ones and ourselves.
Explore the boutique stores, from baby clothing to lingerie, jewelry, gifts, and artisan shops. Plan a shopping day and make it an opportunity to tour the beautiful French Quarter, enjoy the famous cuisine of New Orleans, and take advantage of the fantastic weather this fall. As you prepare for the end-of-the-year festivities, you can shop and support local businesses in the unique setting of the French Market District.
If you want to know what shops and restaurants you can find, visit frenchmarket.org
Orlando Hernandez Ying, the newly appointed Lapis Curator of the Art of the Americas at the New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA), brings a wealth of expertise to his role. Hailing from Panama, Hernandez embarked on his academic journey in the United States in 1999, earning an MA in Museum Studies from New York University and a doctorate in Art History & Criticism from the Graduate Center, City University of New York.
New Orleans is not a new place for him. Between 2010 and 2012, he worked in the Department of Art History at Tulane University. He was a guest curator at The Historic New Orleans Collection, where he organized the exhibition The Golden Legend in the New World: Colonial Art of the Spanish American Viceroyalties, which drew in part from NOMA’s Spanish viceregal collection. Due to technical issues related to his fellowship, Hernandez returned to Panama and became the head curator of the Museo Antropológico Reina Torres de Araúz (MARTA). As the National Coordinator of Museums in Panama, he coordinated a country-wide master plan of 18 museums.
“Coming back via NOMA reminds me of a quote by St. Teresa of Avila: ‘Trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be,’” says Hernandez about his full circle back in New Orleans. His impressive resume includes projects with the Museum of Modern Art, New York; the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; the Dallas Art Museum; the Walters Art Museum, Baltimore; and teaching at New York University, City University of New York, Tulane University, and the National University of Panama.
Hernandez is ready for NOMA’s big plans. His first major project will be the permanent installation of the museum’s Art of the Americas collection, which will take an expansive look at how museums define “American art” across time and culture. The new galleries will open over several years—beginning in 2025—and present Mesoamerican and indigenous art alongside painting and sculpture from the colonial era through the 21st century. A grant from the Terra Foundation for American Art supports this project.
The museum proudly showcases a collection from a thousand years before Christ to the present, featuring pre-Columbian art from Peru, Ecuador, Mexico, and the southwestern United States. It boasts two reliefs of warriors and rulers from Cayo, Peten, and Copan. “NOMA houses one of the most important Mayan collections in the United States, as well as colonial art, particularly from the Cusco and Potosí schools. It also features Precolumbian gold from Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, and parts of Nicaragua,” Hernandez emphasizes, adding that the art of New Orleans has strong connections with the Caribbean and Veracruz, a fascinating history that the museum has to tell with artifacts made of wood such as mahogany from the Antillean Islands.
NOMA is committed to fostering a sense of connection and belonging among its visitors. Hernandez’s appointment is a powerful testament to NOMA’s unwavering dedication to inclusivity. As Lisa Rotondo-McCord, the Deputy Director at NOMA, says, it “offers an importantopportunity to present and re-interpret these important areas of NOMA’s permanent collection to tell a more inclusive story that considers Precolumbian and Indigenous art as integral parts of American visual culture.”
“I would love to invite all members of the Hispanic community to visit in their free time so that they can get nourished, enjoy themselves, and know that here there is something of the roots of our people that we can feel proud of who we are and where we are from,” finalizes Hernandez adding that the New Orleans Museum of Art offers free public access every Wednesday.
Have you experienced the 4th of July on the Mississippi River?
The French Market District hosts a fantastic Independence Day celebration, which you should experience!
Head to the MOONWALK & Crescent Park for live entertainment, beverage trucks, and the “Go 4th on the River” fireworks display watch party at 9 pm.
Enjoy live music, delicious food, family-friendly activities, and a stunning fireworks display over the Mississippi River. Bring your family and friends to experience the excitement and patriotism of Independence Day in the heart of the historic French Quarter. Take advantage of this chance to celebrate our nation’s freedom in true New Orleans style.
The Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) is expecting a busy summer for travel. During peak periods from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., passengers can expect longer wait times at the ticket counters and checkpoints.
To make your travel journey as seamless as possible, follow these 5 summer travel tips:
Make a travel plan. Ask yourself these important questions: When should I be at the airport? How am I getting there? Do I need to reserve parking? Do I have all of my travel documents? Think through your entire journey from your house to your plane. Planning this out will help ensure a smooth travel experience.
Arrive Early. Arrive at least two hours before your scheduled departure. If you are traveling internationally, give yourself three hours. Expect longer lines at the ticket counters and checkpoints.
Reserve Parking Online. You can reserve parking in your preferred facility online at park.flymsy.com at least 24 hours before. Reservations are available in all four parking facilities: Short-Term, Long-Term, Surface Lot, and Economy.
No parking reservations, no problem. Check parking space availability on our website flymsy.com, before traveling to the airport to save time by driving to the parking facility with open spaces. Valet parking is also available.
Avoid the ticket counter when parking in the Economy Garage near the former terminal at 900 Airline Drive. Baggage Check-In is available for American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Spirit Airlines, and United Airlines. A shuttle departs from the garage frequently and guarantees your shuttle ride will be 15 minutes or less. If the shuttle ride exceeds 15 minutes, passengers receive a voucher for 50 percent off parking fees.
Pack Smart. Visit tsa.gov to learn what to pack in your carry-on and checked baggage. Follow the 3-1-1 rule for baggage brought through the checkpoint. Liquids, aerosols, gels, creams, and pastes are allowed in carry-on bags if each item is 3.4 ounces or less and placed in one quart-sized bag. Each passenger is limited to one quart-size bag.
Need Assistance? Send us a message to @flyneworleans on X or Instagram or @MSYAirport on Facebook Messenger, and we will get back to you as soon as possible (social media is monitored weekdays 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.). Call AVCOM 504-303-7500 for assistance 24/7.
For specific questions about the checkpoint, contact TSA by sending a text directly to 275-872 (“AskTSA”) on any mobile device or over social media by sending a message to @AskTSA on X or Facebook Messenger.
For information regarding your flight, contact your airline.
Hispanic Heritage Series – Weekly Outdoor Lunchtime Concert
Enjoy The Hispanic Heritage Series Weekly Outdoor Lunchtime Concerts. Visiting musicians perform on select Fridays through May 31st at the Farmers Market from 11:30 am-1:00 pm. This event is free and open to the public.
Creole Tomato Festival
Save the date! The 38th Annual Creole Tomato Festival returns to the French Market on June 8th and 9th. It will feature family activities, live music, cooking demos, and various dishes and cocktails made with Louisiana’s plump and delicious creole tomatoes.
Amid a restructuring of the DC Cinematic Universe, Blue Beetle looks to not only lead the charge in this rebooted franchise but to provide the first live-action Latino superhero movie.
Coming to theaters August 18th, Blue Beetle follows recent college graduate Jaime Reyes whose life is changed forever when given a box containing an alien technology known as The Scarab, which puts a target on Jaime and his extended family, as businesswoman Victoria Kord looking to get The Scarab back. With the help of The Scarab, Jaime becomes Blue Beetle using the technology to protect his family and keep the tech out of the wrong hands.
The film is directed by Angel Manuel Soto, director of Charm City Kings and Menudo: Forever Young, and stars Cobra Kai’s Xolo Mariduena as Jaime. Alongside Mariduena, the cast includes George Lopez, Bruna Marquezine, Damian Alcazar, Raoul Trujillo, and Susan Sarandon.
The character of Jaime Reyes debuted in 2006 as part of the Infinite Crisis storyline and is the third iteration of the Blue Beetle character originally introduced in 1939. Since his introduction, the Jaime Reyes version of Blue Beetle has become extremely popular with fans, joining the superhero group Teen Titans and getting his solo series recently titled Blue Beetle: Graduation Day. The character has even appeared in other DC shows like Batman: The Brave and the Bold and Young Justice.
Blue Beetle becomes the first live-action Latino superhero movie with this upcoming movie, following the first Latino superhero movie Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse and its sequel Spider-Man: Across the Spiderverse, animated films following the Afro-Puerto Rican Miles Morales as he becomes the newest Spider-Man. It all comes at a crucial time when more and more people ask for Latino representation.
It is rare to see Latinos outside of supporting roles or playing non-human characters in superhero films. The Marvel Cinematic Universe has had Michael Pena’s Luis from the Ant-Man films and Zoe Saldana’s Gamora from The Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy. Before this film, DC had Sasha Calle’s Supergirl in The Flash and Jay Hernandez’s El Diablo in Suicide Squad. It all has been a stepping stone leading to this film, where a Latino hero directed by a Latino director and surrounded by a Latino cast can enter the spotlight.
Due to the Writer and Actor Strikes going on in Hollywood, Blue Beetle won’t receive any promotion from the cast due to strike guidelines. So, for any fans of the upcoming movie, it will be up to you to spread the word about the film, see it in theaters and make it known that films starring Latinos are profitable if we want more movies like it.
Dive into the dynamic world of fashion as personal style takes center stage, driven by an ever-growing emphasis on sustainability and individuality. The fashion landscape has witnessed a remarkable shift, with retailers prioritizing recyclable materials and breathing new life into estate sale finds. In this era, tags have become passé, making way for the trendy allure of embroidered garments proudly donning QR codes.
Once considered obsolete, QR codes have made a roaring comeback, finding their place in the pandemic-stricken world. From restaurant menus to the windows of Louis Vuitton’s latest offerings, these enigmatic codes are omnipresent. They have even invaded the world of fashion advertising, tracking consumer behavior and boosting website traffic for savvy retailers seeking success.
Comfort reigns supreme in this new era of fashion, as tagless clothing ensures a hassle-free experience during Zoom meetings or workout sessions. Pioneering sustainable materials, local retailer Tasc has taken it a step further by crafting each piece with their signature fabric, BamCo®. This innovative fabric, derived from organic cotton and bamboo viscose, delivers durability, comfort, and sustainability—perfect for the sports and lifestyle-inspired wardrobe.
Vintage-inspired styles continue to captivate fashion enthusiasts with their timeless charm.
Embroidery is no longer confined to jackets but adorns ensembles from head to toe. Streetwear destinations like FOSTER proudly showcase New Era’s Elements Collection, featuring caps intricately embroidered with nature-inspired motifs representing water, earth, fire, and air. Adding a personal touch, luxury retailers like COACH offer customers the opportunity to revive old bags with enchanting embroidery and customizable pins.
As we venture into Fall/Winter 2023, the sustainable fashion movement grows stronger, with denim becoming the new black and the Canadian tuxedo reigning supreme. So, embrace the allure of sustainability, individuality, and vintage-inspired fashion, as this season’s trends pave the way for a more conscious and stylish future.
While I’m usually dabbling in the world of wine, I can’t help but to have spirits in my mind as Tales of the Cocktail -a festival that focuses on such industry- recently took place in our city. So I deemed it adequate to make a little note on the subject.
A few months ago, I had the chance and fortune of spending some time with Antoine Robert, the Export Manager for Distilleries et Domaines (DeD) de Provence, a French distillery in a region most known -to our market anyway- for its wine.
Although I’ve tried to avoid learning too much about distilled spirits (the last thing I need is another boozy topic to obsess about), I can’t deny it’s a fascinating world. Just a few days with Antoine were enlightening.
DeD de Provence is a family-owned and run business that has expanded quickly and now exports its products to almost eighty countries. While Antoine previously had different jobs, he always knew working in the family business was his inevitable fate, a fate surrounded by passion.
With various countries to oversee, Antoine points out the positive side of working in the family business. “Working in the spirits industry is already very exciting, but it adds extra soul to the family business. Our distillery, products, region, and know-how… are a big part of my family”. Antoine thinks offering products that reflect this passion is the best way to remain authentic. Though working in the family business encourages self-improvement and growth, he also admits it may be challenging not to let work-related issues affect his life.
I knew the next question was tricky, but I couldn’t help asking what his favorite spirits were. “Two of our spirits are clearly my favorite: Rinquinquin (a peach fortified wine, made from the maceration of peaches and peach leaves in white wine) and Farigoule (thyme liqueur made from the maceration and distillation of wild thyme).” His choice of cocktails was clear: The Mediterranean (Rinquinquin, Pastis Henri Bardouin, Lemon juice, almond syrup) and The Provençal Sour (Farigoule, Gin XII, Lime juice, Simple syrup, soda water).
If you are a cocktail enthusiast, you might have noticed the last few years have brought innovation with unique spirits, all-natural ingredients, and unimaginable combinations. One of the newest tendencies is low-alcohol cocktails. Antoine agrees this worldwide trend “allows you to taste the ingredients used without an overpowering taste of alcohol.” He then reminds me low alcohol cocktails are a fantastic start to a wine-lead meal. Now we are talking, Antoine!
I asked how we could increase awareness of French spirits -rather than only wine- in the North American market. “By writing articles about it like you do right now. French producers also have to adapt more to the consumption outside of France and especially to the cocktail industry, which is big in North America but not yet in France, outside of the big cities”.
Besides his native language French, Antoine is fluent in English and Spanish. The latter has come in handy when visiting most Latin American countries for work and vacation. He loves this part of the world and points out that Latin America invented or inspired many famous cocktails.
“It’s an excellent area for “spirit lovers’ like me,” he says, adding that he can taste Rum, Cachaça, and Pisco, amongst others.
Antoine is working on an innovative coffee product “in a category where it doesn’t exist yet” that he isn’t ready to reveal, so we must be on the lookout!
If you can identify a Louisiana staple, whether a music genre, dish, fruit, vegetable, or anything else, you can bet a festival is dedicated to it!
In 1986 a festival was created for the succulent Louisiana Creole tomatoes. Known for their bright red color, juicy flesh, and sweet and spicy flavor, creole tomatoes became highly coveted by chefs, creole families, and home cooks alike.
It makes sense to celebrate the bounty of the state of Louisiana in its high season with the Creole Tomato Festival. Its 37th edition will take place on June 10 and 11 at the historic French Market. During this summer festival, you can buy the most delicious creole tomatoes and please your palate with various dishes based on this staple. The food list is long. Among many other offerings, you can get Fried Baby Back Ribs from Cafe Dauphine, Stuffed Tomatoes from Nuevo Horizonte, Creole Tomato Stuffed with Cool and Creamy Shrimp Pasta from LaDelyo’s Creole Catering, Oxtails from Numada, Creole Tomato Jambalaya from Lillie’s Cajun Kitchen, Shrimp and Sausage Stew from Cuties And Cuisine.
The Bloody Mary, a tomato-based cocktail, will be available in many variations. Cornet Restaurant will have a Zesty-infused vodka Bloody Mary and Oh! Sweet Lemon will have Mangonada (Spicy Mango Mexican slushy) Bloody Mary, Ms. Linda, the Yakamein Lady, will bring her Yakamary. You can judge them all.
The historic French Market is the perfect setting for this family-friendly event. The festival is free, with music stages at the market, Dutch Alley and the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park on 916 N. Peters Street will feature local bands starting at 10 a.m. with a variety of genres from Tonya Boyd Cannon, Davis Rogan Band, Josh Starkman, Alicia “Blue” Smith, Ravee Quintet, and the Latin Rhythms of Yusa, Alexey Marti, Julio and Cesar, Muévelo, and Asheson, plus the funk of Bo Dollis Jr & the Wild Magnolias, Kamau Spirit of the Drums, and Mestre Curtis Pierre and Afro-Brazilian drumming, among others. You can even begin Sunday with a yoga session with Move Ya Brass and enjoy kids’ activities in Dutch Alley and cooking demos from noon to 4 P.M. at the Southern Food and Beverage Museum Stage in the French Market.
The Creole Tomato Festival in New Orleans is an opportunity to celebrate the richness and diversity of Louisiana’s cuisine and honor the exceptional flavor of Creole tomatoes. Enjoy the music, the food, and the drinks. Shop from the local artisans and vendors of the market and take home some juicy, fresh Creole Tomatoes and the memories of another great time in the historic French Market.
For a full line-up of the French Market Creole Tomato Festival, visit frenchmarket.org
The love for basketball has always been present in the Latino community. With the great season the New Orleans Pelicans are having, there are more reasons and more ways to follow the Pelicans closely and not miss a single play.
Those behind the team attend in-person games, watch on television, and follow pre and post-games. But now, Latino fans who don’t want to miss a beat can get behind the Pelicans by listening to the local game broadcasts entirely in Spanish on Radio Tropical 105.7 FM New Orleans and 94.7 FM Baton Rouge, and the Pelicans App.
Jose Alvarado of the New Orleans Pelicans
This season the New Orleans Pelicans and Crocodile Broadcasting Corporation closed an agreement to broadcast the local games with play-by-play analysis and color commentary to the Latino audience. This outreach effort brings the Pelicans’ basketball experience to the Spanish-speaking community of Southeast Louisiana. The live broadcast announcers are Juan Carlos Ramos, Victor Quiñones, and Mario Jeréz, a team of sports connoisseurs with experience behind the microphones who bring a lively and very Latino touch to Pelicans games broadcast in the city. According to Mario Jeréz, “Diversity is part of what makes New Orleans great, and with these broadcasts, the team is showing us that they agree and want to help highlight that diversity.” Jeréz is confident that “the Spanish Broadcasts will help to establish pride in the Pelicans’ colors and reach a new, passionate group of Pelicans’ fans.”
Although it is not so common to have Latino or Spanish-speaking players in the NBA, for several seasons, the New Orleans Pelicans already count on the presence of the New Yorker José Alvarado, who’s of Puerto Rican and Mexican parents and Willy Hernangómez, a Madrid native. Alvarado made his NBA debut in November 2020 with the Pelicans, and earlier this year, he was named the Most Valuable Player in the NBA All-Star Rising Stars Game. Alvarado has had some exciting plays this season, despite suffering an injury that left him on the bench for a few weeks. Latino fans root for Alvarado, as they feel represented due to his Puerto Rican and Mexican descent and the fact he has represented the Puerto Rican team internationally.
The New Orleans Pelicans speak Spanish, thanks to Guillermo Gustavo “Willy” Hernangómez, a champion from the Spain Basketball League. He was drafted into the NBA in 2016 and signed by the New Orleans Pelicans in 2020. He comes from a family of champions, with his mother, Margarita Geuer, a gold medal European champion, and his brother, Juancho, also plays in the NBA.
Willy Hernángomez New Orleans Pelicans
Visiting the Pelicans’ nest at the Smoothie King Center is an excellent experience for children and adults who want to see some basketball action with fun activities for the whole family. An NBA game is a unique spectacle. Beyond the awe of seeing professional players in person, there is no time to be bored. Instead, the audience can enjoy the halftime show and games on the court during the breaks and participate in the on-screen contests. Often, spectators will walk away with Pelicans’ gifts, like the jerseys that get catapulted all over the stands.
Now that you are a Pelicans fan, there is no excuse to miss any move from your New Orleans NBA team, even “en español.” Remember to listen to the Spanish broadcasts on Radio Tropical 105.7 FM in New Orleans and 94.7 FM in Baton Rouge. Click here for more ways to catch the New Orleans Pelicans games.
A Caribbean paradise destination with no passport required: Puerto Rico. The Island of Enchantment should be your next destination. It’s easy to get around by renting a car, and crossing the island from East to West takes about four hours. Each of its six regions has something unique to offer. Puerto Rico has everything from surfing, snorkeling, hiking, exploring caverns, golfing, or visiting the only rainforest in the American territory.
Plus, visiting the island can help the economy after being hit once again by Hurricane Fiona last September.
Gift Ideas to Shop Locally and Support Latino Entrepreneurs
Gift Ideas to Shop Locally and Support Latino Entrepreneurs
It’s the gift-giving time! The holidays are the best opportunity to support the economy and shop locally. Here are some gift ideas that are also Latino-made and Latino-owned. ¡Felices Fiestas!
A few months ago, I attended the Austin Food + Wine Festival (AFWF) for the first time and had an amazing time thanks to the good planning and execution of the event. Everything -from picking up my media pass to entering the venue- was as seamless as it gets during such events. I couldn’t help but wonder,could this happen so orderly and successfully in New Orleans a city where people have trouble finding their limits?
Just as the question ran through my head, New Orleans Wine and Food Experience (NOWFE) announced its full return after a hiatus and a soft version the previous year. It would be the perfect time to settle this battle once and for all by comparing these two events in 5 different categories: Venue, Food, Wine,Planning and Execution, and Value.
For competition purposes, I compared NWFE’s Friday night Grand Tasting and AFWF 2 full days (you heard that right!) of tastings. Both events, however, usually offer auxiliary events such as wine dinners and seminars.
Venue
Austin is a beautiful city: modern, with lots to do outdoors, clean, and vibrant. AFWF took place in a fully open space acclimated for tasting purposes. Even though it was November, the sun was pounding on us at some point in the afternoon, yet there was enough shade available. New Orleans in July is the last place one would consider having a partially outdoor event, yet it is greatly important to create events that will sustain the city’s industry through the Summer so the best weather conditions are not really a choice. So this point will go to AFWF since we were just melting as we trekked through the booths in New Orleans.
Food
Both events take place in the south, the land of deliciousness and indulgence when it comes to food so I wasn’t really worried about this aspect being lackluster. Highlights in Austin included a live BBQ pit and lots of Latino-influenced samples. NOWFE will get this point because the festival was able to bring what felt like almost every restaurant in the city also including a variety of formats such as out-of-town pop-ups, caters, and culinary programs.
Wine
In general, the Austin experience was a bit more curated, varied, and approachable. I was able to taste not only lots and lots of wine -some Champagne included-, but also very interesting spirits from all over the world. I was also glad to see representation from wineries in other countries such as Uruguay and Mexico. So Austin will get this point!
Planning and Execution
Both events seemed to develop with no issues, at least from the public’s point of view. Some things I liked about AFWF were the floor plan for the booths (easy to follow and keep track of what you are tastings), the availability of water and non-alcohol drinks), the attendees were chill, and everyone was friendly and having a good time. A great time was also had by all at NOWFE’s, and most importantly, the changes in the organization were noticeable. It was a titanic task to bring this festival back to life, and for that reason, Nola takes the point.
Value
Prices to attend AFWF started at $275 with some higher-end options, and this fee gave you access to two full days of festival. NOWFE’s Grand Tasting started at $130, and there were also a couple of enhancements available. While there were some pretty cool, exclusive things in Austin (like the impressive Suntori tasting room), the lower price, single-day approach makes it more approachable for the general public without having to commit to more than one date. So I give the decisive point to NOWFE! Nola is the winner!!! Either way, both events were great and I’m looking forward to attending both again! Salud!
Beat the Summer heat! Enjoy a Summer day in New Orleans and be a tourist in your own town following the tips of our featured hostess, Samira Medina del Arca.
French Inn Hotel Patio
Built-in the 1800s, this NOLA-style hotel in the French Quarter is a 4-minute walk from Jackson Square!
There is a coffee shop, and paved courtyards offer patio seating. Also, there’s an outdoor pool to refresh yourself.
Jackson Square
A perfect summer day for an ideal view.
Designed as a military parade ground known as Plaza de Armas, the fenced-in plaza was renamed in 1851 in honor of Andrew Jackson (1767-1845), hero of the Battle of New Orleans and the seventh US President. In addition to being an important historical site, this place offers the perfect setting for your summer photos!
Snowball Stands
There is no doubt that snowballs are part of New Orleans culture, especially during summertime. The fun colors and different flavors make a snowball the perfect summer treat!
Cafe Du Monde
For a must-have New Orleans experience, you can grab an order of beignets and an iced coffee at Cafe Du Monde. Lagniappe: Live Jazz from the band playing outside!
A new movement is taking over the stage, not because of emerging talents but because audiences are fascinated by the quality and artistry of true performers like Jerry Rivera. Rivera’s successful career demonstrates that
staying relevant for so many years is not a matter of luck but of hard work, discipline, and perseverance. It doesn’t hurt that he has gained great affection and respect from a public who has followed him since he was almost a child.
Born on July 31, 1973, Rivera is the best-selling salsa artist. He has amassed a devoted international fan base and released a prodigious collection of music since his 1989 debut that kicked o in Humacao, Puerto Rico. His songs have been sung and danced internationally by salsa lovers and remain valid for love themes that everyone can relate to. The phenomenon he became has taken him to the most important stages of music, and in his fantastic tour of 2022, he has managed to bring the salsa genre to the forefront again.
We cannot forget his extraordinary performance in Panama last May. During a concert he was supposed to headline with Marc Anthony, Rivera had to carry the whole show when Anthony had to cancel due to illness. Rivera managed to keep the audience on fire for over two hours while singing the iconic songs that have gotten him many awards and have topped the music charts.
Jerry Rivera has been sweeping and follows a prevailing trend: people buy tickets and sell out shows for artists who make outstanding music. Without putting him in the “veterans” category because he is still young, audiences of four generations filled the auditoriums and stadiums in Mexico and Peru. Even in these countries where people have a wide range of concert choices, audiences fl locked to enjoy “The Baby of Salsa” and to sing along to classics like “Amores Como el Nuestro” and recent hits; like his duet with Don Omar, “Tú No Bailas Más Que Yo.” The chanting during these concerts shook the stage and brought our “Child Face” to tears of emotion.
His unprecedented tour that started July 9 at the Miami FTX Arena, has taken him through Las Vegas and various cities in California. In Costa Rica, he had to book three dates! In South America, he delighted Colombians when visiting Cali, the capital of salsa, and wowed the demanding crowds.
In a very productive year, Rivera announces a new record with another great: Rey Ruíz. The most extraordinary voices of romantic salsa come together in a production that we hope will be available soon. The collaboration promises to be a bombshell that brings their experience, a mixture of contemporary and urban sounds, and a bit of pop, making the kings of salsa the top choice for Latin American audiences.
Rivera’s team is planning to visit our region again with a concert on Saturday, October 8th, at Da Empire in New Orleans. We know this is the perfect opportunity to enjoy an unforgettable evening during a unique celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month with this great artist.
VIVA NOLA will participate in this celebration, so stay tuned to our social media channels for further details and a special giveaway!
As we are blessed with the few weeks a year where weather is truly perfect, and festivals abound in a post-Covid era, food and drink menus around the city adapt to satisfy our changing palates as temperatures rise. Summer salads, summer cocktails, summer bodies… You name it, and it has a summer version! Does this apply to wine as well?
While by the time Jazz Fest arrives a strawberry lemonade sounds like the best option for survival, you can continue enjoying wine throughout the summer upon slightly modifying your choices. Which wine styles or grape varieties are best to be enjoyed under the scorching sun?
These are some of the factors I would take into consideration:
Bubbles.
Do you ever find yourself craving a soda in the middle of a summer day? Ditch the unnecessary sugar and opt for sparkling wine! By design, tiny bubbles dissolved into liquid are quite attractive to the human palate. The size and amount of bubbles vary widely depending on the production method: from frizzante (slightly sparkling) to the super fine bubbles of Champagne and others made via the Traditional or Champenoise method.
Acidity.
The same way most of us enjoy lemonade on a hot day, wines with high acidity tend to feel refreshing as we drink. Acidity provides structure and helps balance wines that would otherwise be too sweet or too fruity. Some grapes known for their high acidity level are Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
Minerality and salinity.
Am I the only one who automatically thinks about the ocean when it’s hot out? It may be wishful thinking alone, but these marine qualities truly bring lightness and approachability to wines. Some seaside wines known for their salinity and minerality are Albariño from Rias Baixas in Northwestern Spain and Picpoul de Pinet from the Languedoc-Roussillon region in France.
Low alcohol.
Beware! Being thirsty under the sun may drive you to overdrink, which can be harmful and dangerous and truly defeats the purpose of imbibing. A way to avoid overdrinking is to be aware of the alcohol content of your beverage, and needless to say, drinking water is necessary to keep yourself hydrated and under control. Trust me; you don’t want to be one of those who pass out at a festival or the beach only to wake up looking like a crawfish.
And believe it or not, red wine is not out of the question, thanks to some trends that aim to produce low extraction offerings. These are wines made with a less aggressive extraction of tannins and color, which creates a fruitier, lighter, and more acidic version of the usual reds. Therefore, you should serve these styles chilled rather than at room temperature.
After being delayed for a year because of COVID-19, the recent adaptation of West Side Story premiered for broad audiences on December 10, 2021. Directed by Steven Spielberg, the movie has been critically acclaimed by many and considered at the top of several lists for potentially being nominated for an Academy Award. However, the film was a box office bomb, making $60 million worldwide against a $100 million budget in its first weeks in theaters. I can attest to the lack of attendance since I was one of about six people in the theater. But, I challenge us and others to look beyond critics’ reviews and box office grossing to see the film for its importance for Latinos in the United States.
West Side Story is a fantastic film in many ways. Everything from the performances to the coolness of the singing and dancing to the social commentary presented is excellent. But, on a representation level, it shows a tremendous sense of importance and care. Spielberg is no stranger to directing a film based on stories he has not personally experienced. For example, he directed The Color Purple in 1985, which focused on the experience of black women in the deep south. With West Side Story, Spielberg’s changes made a story originally written by white men to have a more Latin perspective for a predominantly white audience.
The first meaningful change was casting actual Latino and Latina performers in the Puerto Rican roles. Despite being a story featuring Puerto Ricans, many of the adaptations of West Side Story on both stage and screen haven’t featured them in the parts. The stage version of the story didn’t have Latino performers like Maria and Bernardo until the 1980 revival. The 1961 film version infamously cast Russian-American Natalie Wood as Maria and Greek-American George Chakiris as Bernardo, who had played Riff in the 1958 West End production of the musical. Across both the stage and film versions, the role of Anita was the only one that consistently had a Latina actress, with Chita Rivera originating the role on Broadway and Rita Moreno playing the role on film, which won her an Academy Award. However, Spielberg made it a point to cast actual Latinos in the Puerto Rican roles for his movie: Polish/Colombian-American actress Rachel Zegler as Maria, Afro-Puerto Rican actress Ariana DeBose as Anita, and Cuban-Canadian actor David Alvarez as Bernardo.
Another significant change in the film was the use of unsubtitled Spanish. In many films featuring non-English speaking characters, their dialogue gets subtitles for the predominantly English audience to understand. Spielberg wanted to respect the Spanish language to keep it in line with the authenticity of having Latino actors and actresses in the roles. Speaking to an interviewer from IGN, Spielberg said, “If I subtitled the Spanish, I’d simply be doubling down on the English and giving English the power over the Spanish.” The choice to do so works well within the film, and nothing gets lost on the scenes with Spanish dialogue because there are enough context clues.
The last meaningful change or addition to the 2021 adaptation of West Side Story was the inclusion of Rita Moreno as the character of Valentina. Moreno serving as executive producer and actress adds a lot to the film. Valentina, the widow of the character Doc from the movie and the musical, takes over many of his responsibilities. Valentina becomes Tony’s mentor and gives him a job after his release from prison, providing a sense of morality between the warring Jets and Sharks. As a Puerto Rican woman married to a white man, Valentina faces discrimination from both sides. She navigates within a different space from the other characters involved in the conflict because she understands its stupidity and futility.
All these changes to a story originally written 65 years ago are important because they show the possibilities for Latino representation in the modern age. As the years have gone on and Hollywood has moved away from brownface or not having Latinos in film, there is still a lack of presence and longevity of other Latino and Latina performers. Each year, a study about Latino representation in the media shows that, despite our advances, representation never seems to improve. But, West Side Story gives an example of what and how the portrayal of Latinos on film should be. Latinos come in all shades; some are fully Latino, while others have mixed cultures. Latinos can be English speakers, Spanish speakers, or both, each language having its value. There is no specific mold of who a Latino is and can be, and we want to see our diversity reflected on film.
Some Latino audiences have criticized the film because its director and writer aren’t Latino, which can alter the authenticity of the portrayal of Latinos on screen. It shouldn’t matter who is making, writing, or producing stories about Latinos as long as they aren’t stereotypical and provide opportunities for Latinos within the industry. Unfortunately, the only way to succeed within a system that doesn’t always benefit Latinos is to work within its confines. Higher-ups in Hollywood don’t always see Latino-based films or shows as profitable or able to reach an audience in the same way as other films. That’s why we need to show them that we are.
Whenever a movie like In the Heights or West Side Story that features Latinos in the lead is out there, support them. West Side Story has the potential to win big at the Academy Awards, soon proving that Latinos can gain critical success. But, until we show them that Latinos can also bring financial success, we won’t get the representation we desire.
VIVA NOLA: Lo mejor de la representación latina en entretenimiento 2021
Por Cody Downey
Con la culminación del 2021, es el momento de ver cómo progresó este año la representación latina. Aunque siempre hay campo para mejorar, es cierto que la presencia de nuestra cultura y comunidad en el cine y la televisión ha aumentado.
A continuación, les mostramos algunas de las mejores representaciones latinas de este año.
* Nota: esta es una lista basada en mi consumo de contenido. Si crees que nos perdimos algo, asegúrate de dejar un comentario y avísanos.
Mejor actor: Anthony Ramos como Usnavi de la Vega en “In the Heights”
Volviendo al papel que interpretó por última vez en el escenario en 2018, el actor puertoriqueño Anthony Ramos brilla como Usnavi de la Vega en la adaptación cinematográfica de “In the Heights”.
Hijo de inmigrantes dominicanos, Usnavi dirige una bodega en Washington Heights con su primo Sonny y espera regresar al país de origen de sus padres para reactivar el negocio de su padre. A lo largo de la película, debe lidiar con los cambios demográficos de su vecindario, el descubrimiento de un boleto de lotería ganador vendido en su tienda y la posible relación entre él y su enamorada Vanessa.
Ramos hace un excelente papel, aportando su increíble voz y talento actoral. También aporta una vibra encantadora que facilita identificarse con el personaje de Usnavi y hace que el espectador quiera verlo triunfar. Aunque puede que no haya sido el creador del papel, Anthony Ramos se asegura de ofrecer una actuación inolvidable.
Mejor actriz: Lorenza Izzo como Celina Guerrera en “Women is Losers”
Contando una historia inspiradora de la lucha de una mujer por superar sus circunstancias, la actriz chilena Lorenza Izzo se abre paso como Celina Guerrera en “Women is Losers”.
Celina Guerrera, que creció en la década de 1960 en San Francisco, es una joven prodigio de las matemáticas que enfrenta una serie de reveses después de quedar embarazada de su novio, un veterano de Vietnam. Al enfrentarse a todas las dificultades de una madre joven en esta era, Celina encara el asunto de frente y logra encontrar su camino en un mundo que no siempre la respalda.
Izzo es la destacada absoluta en esta película, llevando y creando un personaje a quien a queremos seguir y animamos a que triunfe. Elegir al actor principal es esencial en una película como esta, e Izzo toma el control de la pantalla sin esfuerzo.
Mejor actor en una serie: Jaden Michael como Colin Kaepernick en “Colin in Black and White”
Viajando desde el mundo de los vampiros en Vampires vs. the Bronx hasta el mundo de los deportes juveniles, el actor dominicano-estadounidense Jaden Michael interpreta el papel del exfutbolista y activista Colin Kaepernick en “Colin in Black and White”.
La serie sigue a Colin a lo largo de su carrera futbolística mientras se convierte en un atleta y un adolescente. Su experiencia única da forma al mundo de Colin. Se descubre a sí mismo a través de diferentes encuentros en su vida y con la ayuda de sus amigos cercanos y sus padres adoptivos.
Michael brilla en el papel de un joven Colin Kaepernick, mostrando todos los matices de una persona que debe pasar por muchas cosas antes de comprender realmente quién es en el mundo. Asumiendo los muchos giros y vueltas que enfrenta el personaje, Jaden Michael muestra magistralmente un futuro brillante por delante en la actuación.
Mejor actriz en una serie: Selena Gómez como Mabel Mora en “Only Murders in this Building”
Pasando sus días como estrella de Disney Channel, la actriz y cantante mexicano-estadounidense Selena Gómez muestra su crecimiento con su interpretación de Mabel Mora en “Sólo asesinatos en este edificio”.
Atraídos por un amor compartido por los podcasts sobre crímenes verdaderos, Mabel Mora se hace amiga del ex actor de televisión Charles-Haden Savage y del director de Broadway Oliver Putnam. Todos viven en el mismo edificio de apartamentos. Cuando un compañero residente es asesinado, el trío decide hacer un podcast para investigar, y rápidamente se da cuenta de que hay más en el asesinato de lo que inicialmente pensaban.
A pesar de actuar durante años, Gómez hace un trabajo fantástico resistiendo cómicamente a leyendas de la comedia como Steve Martin y Martin Short. Ella muestra su versatilidad en este papel, demostrando que es más que una exestrella infantil.
"Encanto" Cortesía Disney
Mejor película de animación: “Encanto”
Con una hermosa representación de Colombia y un elenco casi en su totalidad colombiano y colombo-americano, Encanto es otra película de Disney que habla a las personas de todas las edades.
Siguiendo a la familia Madrigal de Colombia, Mirabel Madrigal es el único miembro de su familia que no tiene superpoderes como fuerza sobrehumana o poder cambiar de forma. Sin embargo, cuando los poderes mágicos de su familia comienzan a desvanecerse, depende de Mirabel descubrir qué está sucediendo y cómo detenerlo.
Al mostrar una familia latina poderosa y vibrante en la pantalla, Encanto envía un mensaje sobre la importancia de la unión familiar y cómo cada miembro es único.
Mejor serie animada: “Maya y los tres”
Inspirada en la mitología de la Mesoamérica temprana, Maya y los tres es otro cuento animado detalladamente por Jorge Gutiérrez, creador de “El libro de la vida y El Tigre: Las muchas aventuras de Manny Rivera”.
La princesa guerrera de Maya en su decimoquinto cumpleaños descubre que el mundo en el que se crió no es lo que parecía. Este descubrimiento se produce cuando los dioses del inframundo amenazan a su familia por cometer una serie de fechorías. Dependerá de Maya y sus tres nuevos amigos luchar para salvar a su familia y cumplir una antigua profecía.
Con una excelente actuación de voz e interesantes efectos visuales, esta miniserie presenta una nueva heroína lista para ingresar a las grandes ligas de íconos femeninos y ser un modelo a seguir para las jóvenes.
Mejor serie: “Gentefied”
Con el regreso de los primos Morales para proteger a su familia, Gentefied logra equilibrar diferentes historias para ofrecer un relato de comunidad y solidaridad.
Después de que su abuelo Casimiro “Pop” Morales es liberado de la cárcel, los primos Erik, Ana y Chris Morales trabajan para evitar que Pop se vaya a México y mantener vivo el restaurante familiar. Mientras tanto, los primos tienen sus propios problemas debido a nuevas oportunidades, cambios de escenario y nuevas relaciones.
Capaz de mezclar la comedia y el drama a la perfección, esta serie permite que cada personaje se concentre en hacer algo nuevo y experimentarlo en un espacio familiar.
Mejor documental: “Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Do It”
Narrando la vida de la icónica actriz, activista y ganadora del EGOT, Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Do It, echa un vistazo al recorrido de la actriz que preparó el camino para los actores y actrices latinos en la industria del entretenimiento.
El documental sigue a Rita Moreno a lo largo de su vida, desde que llegó a los Estados Unidos desde Puerto Rico hasta conseguir el papel en West Side Story y las secuelas de ese papel. También habla de otros aspectos de la vida de Moreno desde sus relaciones, su activismo y su lucha por roles no estereotipados en Hollywood.
Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It es un documental muy humano que llega a la esencia completa de quién es Rita Moreno sin tapujos y siendo completamente honesta sobre sus experiencias
"In the Heights" Cortesía Warner Bros
Mejor película: “In the Heights”
Tomando el exitoso musical y adaptándolo para la pantalla grande, In the Heights, cuenta la historia de luchar por tus sueños contra viento y marea y encontrar tu lugar en el mundo, incluso cuando sientes que no hay un lugar para ti.
Washington Heights es el escenario de la película. La trama trata sobre una variedad de personajes que luchan por lograr sus sueños. La historia se desarrolla en torno a un dueño de bodega que intenta revivir el negocio de su padre, una joven que lidia con la presión de ser una de las pocas en su comunidad que asiste a la universidad, y un estilista que desea dejar su casa. Estos personajes interactúan entre sí y enfrentan una serie de desafíos que incluyen la gentrificación, la pérdida de seres queridos y el navegar relaciones cambiantes.
In the Heights es sin duda la mayor película latina del año, con un elenco casi en su totalidad latino en una historia que no cae en ningún estereotipo. Con hermosas coreografías y canciones fantásticas, esta película es un clásico instantáneo que demuestra cómo Hollywood puede dar un espacio diferente a los latinos en la pantalla grande.
Creativo latino del año: Lin-Manuel Miranda
Desde sus humildes comienzos hasta su meteórico ascenso a la fama, el actor, compositor, director, productor y cantante puertorriqueño Lin-Manuel ha logrado dominar, representando a los latinos en 2021.
Como actor, Miranda interpretó el pequeño papel de Piragüero en la adaptación de su primer musical de Broadway, “In the Heights”. Fue la voz del kinkajou titular en la película animada de Netflix “Vivo”. Él compuso la música y contribuyó a la escritura de “Encanto” y dirigió y produjo “Tick, Tick ... Boom!” sobre el dramaturgo de Rent, Jonathan Larson. También fue productor del documental “Rita Moreno: solo una niña que decidió hacerlo”.
Miranda ha demostrado que sin importar cómo esté trabajando en la industria del entretenimiento, él siempre ¡encontrará la manera de llevar a los latinos a la pantalla grande.
Mario Palmisano and I have a couple of things in common: we are both musicians (I’m retired, Mario plays guitar with Flow Tribe), Loyola graduates, and obsessed with wine. As a typical Covid-era acquaintance, we started discussing wine online before we met in person. Mario works at one of my favorite wine shops in the city, and I recently learned he is also into making wine. While winemaking in New Orleans may be the last thing that crosses one’s mind, the truth is that globalization makes the impossible a bit more plausible for all of us mortals. As he admits, Mario’s education in winemaking ranges from hands-on learning with a Napa winemaker to YouTube videos; and his first experimental wines came to life through DIY kits. In any case, I have learned that there must be a particular innate talent and a significant amount of patience when it comes to the art of making wine.
Thanks to his Italian descent, wine is “a cultural thing” always present in his life. Mario tells me how his grandmother let him try Marsala - a fortified wine from Sicily- at an early age and how much he hated it. “They weren’t great at keeping things fresh back then.” He then shares the outrageous and comical story about his great-grandmother, a Prohibition-era widow turned bootlegger to make ends meet. When a neighbor called the cops on her, she drained out an entire bathtub worth of alcohol to get rid of the evidence. Oh, the joys of Prohibition!
After his touring musician life took a mandatory break due to Covid, Mario had some free time and started taking some wine classes. As the pandemic continued and the opportunity came up, he decided to join harvest in Napa last year. There, he was able to physically work the vineyards and learn as much as possible from the in-house winemaker. “I was annoyingly asking everything,” he says when describing his experience in California. Mario was also a first-account witness of the wildfire that sadly affected many vineyards that year.
Mario’s approach to wine is that of low intervention and “let it do its own thing.” He thinks the winemaking process should be this “beautiful appreciation for and relationship with the land and nature.” He is not alone in this vision. A current trend of winemaking is going back to the process used millennia ago, before using the technology we can access nowadays, which is as helpful as tempting in terms of overly manipulating the grapes and the wine. While Mario had made wine at home before, 2020 was the first year he followed the process from beginning to end: he picked, pressed, and fermented his own grapes (a red blend of Syrah and Grenache). After an epic drive all the way home with the precious cargo, he culminated the process in New Orleans by bottling his vintage. Still, his wine needs to age for a couple of months in the bottle to reach its prime. I am eager to taste it and share an update!
This year, Mario plans to bring in fruit and complete the whole process here in New Orleans, which will be an exciting experience as our weather is unpredictable. Even making bread -a process that also includes the use of yeast- is a challenge sometimes. I have no doubt, however, that Mario will pour his heart into his wine the same way he does into his music.
“Irma Thomas: The Soul Queen of New Orleans – A Concert Documentary Film”
“Irma Thomas: The Soul Queen of New Orleans – A Concert Documentary Film” By Staff
Click aqui para español- >Irma Thomas, conocida como “La Reina del Soul”, ha construido una carrera musical y un legado inigualables. Irma Thomas, known as “The Soul Queen of New Orleans”, has built a musical career and an unrivaled legacy. At the start of her music career, Irma worked as a waitress and occasionally sang with R&B bandleader Tommy Ridgley. With his help, she landed her first record deal with Ron Records and released her first single, “Don’t Mess with My Man,” in 1959. The song reached as high as No. 22 on the U.S. Billboard R&B chart.
Throughout the 1960s, Thomas found work playing locally and on the Gulf Coast at clubs, proms, and other high school dances. Thomas would go on to record for Imperial Records and Chess Records and ultimately moved to California in the late 1960s. In the early 1980s, she returned to New Orleans and opened a music club.
In 1991 she signed a recording contract with Rounder Records and received her first GRAMMY nomination for Live! Simply The Best. She continued to record numerous gospel albums and received yet another GRAMMY nomination in 1999 for the album Sing.
In 2005 Hurricane Katrina forced her to relocate to Gonzales, Louisiana, and she returned as soon as her home in New Orleans East was restored. Teaming up with Scott Billington and Rounder again, she recorded the album After the Rain, which was awarded the GRAMMY for Best Contemporary Blues Album in 2007.
Irma has performed with renowned musicians including James Taylor, Paul Simon and Marcia Ball and has performed around the world. Her 1964 rendition of “Time Is on My Side” inspired a version by the Rolling Stones, and she continues to play annually at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
To honor her legacy, the Emmy Award-winning production team from WLAE-TV and LAE Productions that produced Fats Domino: Walking Back to New Orleans and a Tribute to Toussaint announce the premiere of a riveting one-hour music documentary highlighting the storied life of legendary New Orleans Soul Queen and Grammy-award winner Irma Thomas. The documentary will chronicle and celebrate Irma’s 50-plus year music career. Entitled “Irma Thomas: The Soul Queen of New Orleans – A Concert Documentary Film,” this informative and entertaining documentary will debut this fall on WLAE-TV just in time for the 51st Annual New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival where Irma has performed every year since 1974.
“Irma Thomas: The Soul Queen of New Orleans – A Concert Documentary Film” will feature a candid interview with one of New Orleans’ most celebrated musical icons as well as never-before-seen footage of Irma in concert in her early days through her 80th birthday celebration earlier this year. Irma’s close friends and her local and national musical contemporaries tell the story of Irma’s humble beginnings in Ponchatoula, Louisiana, her days living with her grandparents in Greensburg, Louisiana, how she sang in the Baptist church choir as a young girl and how she quickly rose to national stardom with her first of many R&B Billboard chart singles “Don’t Mess with my Man” in 1959. “The Soul Queen’ is a nice title. I appreciate the thought and energy that went into that honor, but I don’t get hung up on the title. You know, I’m just Irma,” explains the 2007 GRAMMY Best Contemporary Blues Album award-winning artist who talks openly this exclusive interview about her close faith in God. “As Irma prepares for yet another Jazz Fest appearance this fall, our concert documentary on one of New Orleans’ true entertainment legends will focus not only on her music but her life story which is filled with hardship and triumph,” said Jim Dotson, vice-president of WLAE-TV & LAE Productions – the station producing the Irma Thomas documentary.
The production team includes Ron Yager, Executive Producer/Director; Jim Dotson, Executive Producer; Steve Schulkens, Producer; Ted Ochoa, Associate Producer/Editor; and Stephen Hunter, Director of Photography.
“Irma Thomas: The Soul Queen of New Orleans – A Concert Documentary Film” will air this fall on WLAE-TV in New Orleans and on Louisiana Public Broadcasting (LPB) across the state.
Imagine this scenario: you live in a beautiful town near the water. Locals are loud, lively and love getting together and celebrating any occasion with excellent meals and plenty of drinks. Fresh seafood abounds, and it’s never too early to have a libation. People love listening to music and spending as much time outdoors as possible. There is only one minor inconvenience: it’s really, really hot for several months out of the year. Sounds familiar? You might have thought I was talking about a place in Louisiana, but I was referring to Southern France, the birthplace of rosé wine.
While you may be familiar with this pink wine and the famous catchphrase “Rosé all day,” not everyone knows its origins or how it’s become one of America’s preferred summer refreshments. Its popularity has had its ups and downs in this part of the world, but it looks like rosé is here to stay.
People from the South of France—which includes the wine regions of Languedoc, Roussillon, Provence, Bandol, among others famous for their rosé—might share that in the modern era, winegrowers made rosé to drink during the scorching hot summer months while working on the vineyards. Selling it to the general public was not necessarily their original intention, but it happened inevitably as people traveling to the region discovered this local secret.
If you want to go back in time even further, it is believed that the first wines ever made were rosés. Ancient civilizations, like the Phoenicians, would press red grapes via techniques that would prevent maceration (letting the juice soak along with the grape skins), therefore, preventing the extraction of more color. Given that here in Louisiana, we face about six months of summer each year, drinking rosé comes as naturally as drenching our food in hot sauce. And it’s, in fact, rosé’s wide range and versatility, which makes it perfect for many of our favorite dishes. Spicy foods such as boiled crawfish pair amazingly with a high acidity Pinot Noir rosé from Oregon, a pale pink rosé blend from the Languedoc complements raw oysters, and grain-based seafood dishes—such as shrimp and grits, or paella— find a perfect pairing in a rosado from Rioja, Spain.
Rosé wine can be made from any red grape, including those that are known mostly for their red renditions such as Malbec, Tempranillo, and even Cabernet Sauvignon in the shape of Cabernet d’Anjou in the Loire Valley, France. There are three main methods to make rosé: though skin contact (the longer the grape must and skins remain together, the darker the shade); extracting a portion of red grape must intended for the production of red wine (saignée, which means bleeding in French); and by blending red and white wines (frowned upon amongst serious wine enthusiasts). In addition, rosé can also be sparkling, like rosé Champagne or rosé Prosecco, which was recently approved for production as such.
So if you are going to be drinking rosé this summer like the rest of us, be adventurous and try something you have never had before as there will always be a new style for you to taste.
From the world of exporting granite to creating a space for Instagram worthy photos, Brazilian artist Giselle Monteiro provides an experience that you shouldn’t take for granted with ARTmazing Selfie Gallery.
The idea to open a pop art selfie gallery came to Monteiro when she visited a selfie gallery in New York City for her birthday. After that experience, she knew she could do something like that herself in New Orleans.
“We started searching, and there was no place in New Orleans like this yet. That’s when we decided that we wanted to create a selfie gallery, and we started working on the project,” Monteiro said.
The process took almost a year, with ARTmazing opening up in October 2020. The 6,000 square foot gallery hosts 18 different scenarios for photos. Some of the favorites are the Money Room, which has loads of fake money hanging from the ceiling, and the Vogue Room, where the lights shine around visitors as if they were a celebrity.
Monteiro reached out to fellow Brazilian artist Bruna Petalla to help with the murals and art installations after seeing her art on Instagram.
“I was looking for an artist already, and then when Isaw that she is Brazilian, I thought it was perfect because I wanted to do something here to mix Brazil and New Orleans,” she said.
The pair collaborated on the different scenarios in the gallery, and Petalla created a signature mural on a tall wall up the stairs leading into the gallery.
Despite owning and designing for ARTmazing, it wasn’t until Monteiro began the project that she began exploring her more artistic side.
“My background was really with exporting granites and marble from Brazil, and then, I started working with cabinets,” she said. “After I decided to do the gallery, I looked for ways to learn how to create the installations. I went to a sculpture class, calligraphy class, and painting classes, and it helped me a lot to bring some of the ideas to life.”
ARTmazing will change some of its scenarios seasonally. There will be unique installations for holidays such as Mardi Gras or Easter. Monteiro wants to give both tourists and locals reasons to visit the gallery every so often.
“Even though we are in the French Quarter, which is the heart of all the tourists, we wanted to offer something for the locals that is different from the nightlife bar scene,” she said.
Visitors to the ARTmazing Selfie Gallery range from family groups to bachelorette parties. The gallery also has a beautiful space that groups can reserve for parties, meetings, and events.
Some people make their first stop at ARTmazing before going out to party. “They come to ARTmazing because they are all dressed up and are ready to have fun, so it is a cool spot to come with friends, take pictures and have fun with each other,” she said.
As ARTmazing continues to change out its scenarios and grow, the gallery will always have something unique that everyone can enjoy.
“It is a place for pictures and videos and to bring the family. It’s for all ages,” Monteiro said. “The kids love the place. Even the dads when they come, at first, they may not be feeling it, but soon they get in the mood and get to take pictures themselves.”
When you visit ARTmazing Selfie Gallery and find your favorite scenario, you complete the artwork and become the masterpiece.
ARTmazing is located on 309 Decatur street in New Orleans, and it’s open Thursday to Sunday from 1-8 pm. On Sundays, locals get a 20% discount with the code LOCALS. Tickets can be purchased online at artmazinggallery.com.
