St. Charles Avenue November 2018

Philanthropic Fun: A Jazzy Luncheon

Cancer Crusaders hosted its 18th annual “Celebration of Life Luncheon” on September 14, and recognized a new class of honorees. Judy Hof, Charter Member of Cancer Crusaders, delivered the invocation. Richard Buchsbaum served as Emcee. The national anthem was performed by Lauren Mouney Gisclair. Guitarist Don Vappe from the Loyola School of Music performed during […]

Nostalgia: Bali Ha’i

Bali Ha’i at Pontchartrain Beach was the creation of Harry Batt Sr., who had developed a great appreciation for Asian culture and food on his many travels. The restaurant was first called the Pontchartrain Beach Comber when it opened in 1958, but a lawsuit from Tiki pioneer Don the Beachcomber resulted in a 1959 name […]

Performing Arts: November

3 The Pillowman This Tony-Award winning play, written by Martin McDonagh (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri), centers around the interrogation of an author in an unnamed totalitarian state. Lusher Lions Gate Theatre, 5624 Freret St., 302-9117, NOLAProject.com 4 School of Rock This musical adaptation of Richard Linklater’s hit film tells the story of a […]

Snapshots

Paula Wallace, president and founder of the Savanah College of Art and Design, and Alexa Pulitzer celebrated the release of Wallace’s newest book and SCAD’s 40th anniversary at Pulitzer’s home in April. Winnie and Mark Brown shared a dance to the music of the Storyville Stompers at the Orleans Club’s closing reception in May. Kay […]

Shop Talk: Alicia & Scott Reynaud

What is Spafoo? Scott: Spafoo is a smartphone app that delivers beauty on demand to your door. Think UBER or Lyft but for beauty services. How did it start? Scott: We wanted to develop a beauty app for New Orleans that would create convenience for clients and opportunities for stylists. I’ve been a […]

Shop Talk: Mary-Jo Webster

What is it like to work for such an iconic New Orleans brand? For me this is a dream job. It is about food, retail and New Orleans – three of the things I love the most! Aunt Sally’s is a strongly local, well-established, still relatively small business. It is family owned, and that sense […]

Student Activist: Brooke Scardino

“In order for a community to effectively work, there needs to be involvement. A community is nothing if it doesn’t have support from its members,” says Brooke Scardino, a senior at Archbishop Chapelle High School. Scardino’s most rewarding volunteer experience has been participating in the Greater New Orleans Miracle League. For the past three years,she […]

Young Bloods: Katy Casbarian

The fine dining restaurant Arnaud’s is celebrating its 100-year anniversary in 2018, which is quite the achievement for the French Quarter establishment. Although its Jazz Brunch menu and Creole cuisine are well known in New Orleans and abroad, the restaurant is also renowned for its community service. In fact, Arnaud’s annual Teddy Bear Drive is […]

With This Ring: Branton–Weidenhaft

Abigail “Abbee” Lee Branton was 18 years old when she met 21-year-old Jonathan William Weidenhaft at a mutual friend’s game day party. They caught each other’s eye as the Saints played the Bears, but they never really talked. Two months later, they ran into each other at the Howlin’ Wolf, and sparks flew! They got […]

Entertaining With Bev: Varied Vignettes

As dyed in the wool New Orleanians, we love to go to Pass Christian, Bay St. Louis and Waveland, Mississippi whenever we get a chance! So many locals have summer houses on the coast and the fall is the best time to go and enjoy the water, waves, boating, walking and playing on the beach […]

Celebrating the Season

Snapper Pontchartrain from Briquette As the weather changes, so do the flavors we’ve come to know and love in South Louisiana. Braised meats and squash, apples and warm soups begin appearing on menus across the city as chefs welcome in seasonal ingredients. The holidays are upon us, and restaurants are gearing up with specials, […]

Night Moves

Fashion Stylist: Tracee Dundas Makeup Artist: Pilar Miranda Hair: Heidi Schirrmann Model: Helena Koclanes Scarlet Clematis Red high necked long sleeved hand embellished iridescent sequin swing dress from SoSuSu; gold dangle earrings from Perlis; gold plated bronze arrow pin from Reagan Charleston Jewelry; multi-metal platform peep toe sandal from Joseph. Out of the Blue […]

Elegant Opulence

Beginning with a Preview Party on Wednesday, October 3 and culminating with a luncheon on Thursday, October 4, St. Charles Avenue and its parent company, Renaissance Publishing LLC and the Renaissance Foundation, together with Presenting Sponsor Royal Honda and Chairs Betsy and Eric Laborde and Sheldon and Michael Schmidt, presented a check for over $100,000 […]

Philanthropic Fun: Sensory Dining

La Petite Grocery welcomed 80 guests to a seated dinner and live auction for the fifth annual “A Blind Taste,” which benefits the WRBH Reading Radio for the Blind and Print Impaired. The FM reading radio station broadcasts over a 90-mile radius from New Orleans. The station’s programming includes a broad range of interests ranging […]

Philanthropic Fun: Charming With Champagne

The final activity on the Friday of the “New Orleans Antiques Forum, the champagne reception drew 125 guests to The Historic New Orleans Collection (THNOC)’s Royal Street complex to cap the first full day of sessions for the 2018 forum weekend. Themed “It Really Works! Utilitarian Objects, Beauty and Facility,” this year’s panel of speakers […]

Bev's Note

We are honored to have chairmen Murray and Caroline Calhoun and Semmes and Catherine Favrot on our cover representing the Louisiana Museum Foundation’s inaugural “Founders Ball!” The ball will be held at the Cabildo on Saturday. December 1, and they promise a lavish costume ball that you don’t want to miss! They are honoring the legacy of […]

Philanthropic Fun: Lighting the Way

Held at the Grace-Montgomery Mansion on St. Charles Avenue, Lighthouse Louisiana welcomed patrons to the foundation’s annual “Light Up the Night,” which benefits programs to empower persons with disabilities through services, employment and advocacy. Approximately 422 partygoers attended. The Patron Party began inside the historic home, which has been in the same family for more […]

Philanthropic Fun: Beauty Through Struggle

“You Night New Orleans 2018” hosted a “FIERCE BEAUTY REVOLUTION” for a sold-out audience of 600 guests, comprised of friends, family members, health care providers and program sponsors, all of whom attended to cheer on 18 cancer survivors who walked the runway as a celebration of life. You Night Founder Lisa McKenzie and Pastor Maize […]

Philanthropic Fun: Teaching Through the Arts

The historic home of Anne Montgomery provided the backdrop for “Miss & Sip,” The Crown and Shield Foundation’s benefit to support the organization’s day programs for children, which utilize the arts and media production as an influential tool. Each program provides an educational theme, a moral component and an art form. Following Anne Montgomery’s welcome, […]

Philanthropic Fun: Cuisine for a Cure

The sold-out “Summer Cure Chefs Wine Dinner,” hosted by the Windsor Court Hotel, invited guests to enjoy a magnificent five-course meal and wine pairings prepared by a lineup of local chefs in support of the organization’s ambitious mission to reduce the number of breast cancer deaths by 50 percent by 2026. Featured chefs included chef […]

Philanthropic Fun: Outstanding Citizens

The YLC honored 15 community members at a celebratory evening of live music, dinner and dancing. A Patron Party preceded the gala, which featured the awards presentation in addition to cuisine and cocktails from 12 local restaurants. A lively after party at the Ice Pit Lounge completed the festivities. 2018 YLC “Role Model Awards Gala” […]

Philanthropic Fun: Save Your Theatrics

Le Petit paired entertaining theatrical performances with fine dining at its largest annual benefit, which hosted 250 patrons supporting the future of arts education. The evening began in Tableau restaurant, which was decorated in reds and pinks by Urban Earth Studios. After dinner, guests moved into the theatre for a performance celebrating the American musical. […]

Philanthropic Fun: Thanks for the Memories

The Louisiana Children’s Museum opened its big blue doors for the 20th and last “CHAIRish the Children” on Julia Street, Saturday, August 25. More than 600 “Chairished” guests enjoyed a fun and festive evening of gourmet cuisine from more than 20 local restaurants, signature spirits, fabulous auction packages, one-of-a-kind chairs and sultry music by The […]

Virtuous Indulgences

With the first breath of fall I used to flee from the salads and chilled proteins I had been sustaining myself on since just after Mardi Gras. I would run to the rich gumbos, smoked and slow cooked meats and heavier sauces I’ve always enjoyed in the cooler months. Last autumn I changed my […]

Lagniappe

On the Menu: Luxurious Layering

Crab Dressing 1 gallon trinity (green bell pepper, onion and celery, chopped) 1 Tablespoon crab base 1/4 cup lemon juice 1/4 cup lime juice 1/2 cup Worcestershire sauce Salt and pepper to taste 1 quart breadcrumbs 1 pound of claw crabmeat Sauté trinity until translucent, then add the crab base, then deglaze with lemon […]

What's Hot: Holiday Fashion Accessories

1. Stroll the streets of the French Quarter in a faux fur pom embellished hat. Anthropologie, 333 Canal St., 592-9972, Anthropologie.com. 2. Take in the sights of the season through a pair of gorgeously sculpted DITA Nightbird-One sunglasses with wing-shaped ombre lenses. The Optical Shoppe, 800 Metairie Road, 301-1726, OpticalShoppeBR.com. 3. An heirloom cable scarf […]

Avery Island

There are times when it seems like temperatures are never going to come down in New Orleans. Then, in an instant, “fall” arrives and we enjoy such a brief, and wonderful, moment when it isn’t too hot – and not too cold – that we almost forget about the various school breaks, professional days and holidays […]

American Heart Association

We have a family joke that Saints football gives us weekly heart attacks. Thankfully this isn’t true, but I’m certain our hearts are working harder when jumping up and down after a successful Lutz field goal or high-fiving anyone in arm’s reach after a Kamara touchdown run. Yet in New Orleans, heart disease is clearly […]

Morgan's Note

Happy (what I hope is) fall weather! My husband and I are celebrating by using our new backyard kitchen, which the entire neighborhood has seen throughout its permutations over the past eight months. (And a quick thank you to everyone who has worked or is still working on putting the final touches on it, and […]

St. Charles Avenue November 2018

Event at a Glance

Honorees Eve Vavrick, Rick Granen, Angela Hill and Roy Weiner M.D.

Honorees Lucille Schonacher Ruffino, Kate Elizabeth Launey, Pat Besselman and Karen Stall