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National Margarita Day is coming up on February 22nd - here are various specials around some of the city's best bars:
Virgin Hotels New Orleans On Saturday, February 22nd, guests can enjoy Virgin Hotels’ Signature Margarita - Sauza, lime, agave and orange liqueur for just $10 - available exclusively at the bar. Virgin Hotels New Orleans is located at 550 Baronne Street / https://virginhotels.com/new-orleans/. Palm&Pine Enjoy classic and original cocktails revolving around Agave & Cane Spirits. Highlights include the Yes, We Have a Spicy Margarita - hibiscus & jalapeño infused tequila, Cointreau, and lime for $15. Palm&Pine is located at 308 N Rampart Street. For more information, visit https://www.palmandpinenola.com Beggars Banquet The Spicy Boi is a fiery twist on the classic margarita combines Lunazul Tequila, zesty grapefruit, maraschino, Cointreau, and a kick of jalapeño citrus. Balanced with the perfect touch of spice and everything nice, this bold, refreshing drink is sure to heat up your day. Get yours for just $14 on Saturday, February 22. Beggars Banquet is located at 1330 Prytania Street. For more information, visit https://www.beggarsbanquetneworleans.com The Bower The Bower’s stellar Margarita Day offerings include the Magazine Margarita - house-infused strawberry tequila, triple sec, and lime for $16. The Bower is located at 1320 Magazine Street. For more information, please visit https://www.thebowernola.com Alma Cafe On Saturday, February 22, enjoy their Aero Bar Margarita featuring tequila, fresh lime, simple syrup, and dehydrated lime for just $10. Alma Cafe is located at 800 Louisa Streetand a second location just opened on 301 North Carrollton Avenue in Mid-City. For more information, please visit https://eatalmanola.com  Photo by Jen Rosenstein The custom piano played by acclaimed musical artist Jon Batiste during Super Bowl LIX is now on view in the museum’s Lapis Center for the Arts. The grand piano features a design by artist and bestselling author Suleika Jaouad, who is Batiste’s wife.
Before Sunday’s Super Bowl LIX game, Batiste performed the national anthem. A Louisiana native, Batiste is a seven-time Grammy Award-winning and Academy Award-winning artist known for his dynamic work as a singer, songwriter, and composer. Visitors to NOMA will have the unique opportunity to see the custom piano. The New Orleans Museum of Art is open Tuesday–Sunday, 10 am–5 pm, and Wednesdays, 12–7 pm. Every Wednesday, museum admission is free for Louisiana residents courtesy of The Helis Foundation’s Art for All initiative.  Ayu Bakehouse has launched The Queen Bee king cake, a limited-time, a golden crown of laminated dough filled with pillows of burnt honey cream and ribbons of candied local citrus. It's being sold in limited quantities for local pick-up only. Pre-orders are open now.
Also, NOCCA is excited to debut its newest king cake 'The Goddess', in collaboration with all-female Mardi Gras Krewe of Muses. To honor Muses 25th Anniversary, the cake features the flavors of Greece: goat cheese and fig with candied orange and toasted walnuts, topped with silver glitter (to honor the 25th anniversary). The Goddess will be available for pickup or shipping February 17-27 only (you cannot get this king cake after Muses THERSday!). The special king cake will be available for purchase at www.noccamarketplace.com (with various pick-up location and delivery options at check-out) and at King Cake Hub. Proceeds from NOCCA’s King Cake Program sales support NOCCA's Culinary Arts department.  Murder on the Nile at JPAS (Photo Credit: John B. Barrois) Die me a river: Murder on the Nile @ JPAS Review by Todd Perley I have a soft spot for the cozy murder mystery, driven by plot and characters, usually isolated in whatever setting, over the violence of murder itself. Agatha Christie, of course, was the Queen of the Cozies, and her 1937 novel Death on the Nile remains one of her pinnacle pieces. The 1978 film with Peter Ustinov playing Hercule Poirot to perfection follows the book closely, and the stellar cast and location shooting throughout Egypt cements the film as a classic. In 1940, Christie wrote a stage adaptation, changing the title by one word, which isn’t a big deal, but also wrote Poirot out of the plot. Huh? Director Kristopher Shaw tells us, “… by the time she had adapted the novel, she had grown weary of Hercule Poirot. Instead of including him, she created a new character, Canon Pennefather, as an amalgamation of several characters from the book.” This had me concerned, being a fanboy of Poirot for pretty much my whole life, but I was also eager and curious about this new Poirot-less version. The action takes place in the late 1930s in the salon of the paddle steamer “Lotus”, cruising down the Nile, and the set is an eye-feast. It’s a period piece not written from nostalgia, but actually written in the time it is set. Which makes a difference somehow, I’ve always found. Act I introduces us to our suspects, fleshing out their backstories, motivations, and grievances. Simon Mostyn (Jonathan Mares) recently married up into the rich and opulent world of Kay Ridgeway-Mostyn (Kendall Berry), jilting his former fiancée Jacqueline (Gabriella Santalla), who plauges the newlyweds with her surprise presence wherever they go. Other passengers include Mrs. Ffoliot-Ffoulkes (not a typo) played by Janet Shea, a crotchety old woman traveling with her amenable niece Christina (Sarah Colbert), Dr. Ludwig Bessner (Adriel Aviles) whom Mrs. Ffoliot-Ffoulkes refers to with derision as “foreign.” (But so is she, being English in Egypt.) William Smith (Leon Contavesprie) is the sarcastic bohemian, and the aforementioned Canon Pennefather (Jimmy Murphy) stands in for Poirot. Getting to know our shipmates is not rushed. It is both necessary to the plot to know these people well, and also a delight. Act II presents our cozy little murder and the sleuthing begins with Christie’s trademark misdirection and cleverness steering the plot. The direction is zippy. Constant movement, rat-a-tat dialogue, people coming and going, the energy stays high and engaging. While I did miss Poirot, Dame Agatha’s new amateur detective is well-written and believable, so I consider the omission of her supersleuth to be justified, and an interesting twist to a story I was well-acquainted with. If well-constructed murder mysteries are your happy place, as they are mine, treat yourself to Maestro Christie’s classic whodunnit, told with pep and vim by an exceptional cast. As Christie wrote, “The impossible cannot have happened; therefore, the impossible must be possible in spite of appearances.” Murder on the Nile plays at Jefferson Performing Arts Center through 23 February - click here for more information and ticketing.  The cast of Mamma Mia! (photo by Joan Marcus) Mamma Mia! @ The Saenger Theatre
Review by Eileen Daley My finite life can be divided into two categories: days when I am the most rapt and credulous audience member to ever enjoy a musical, and days where I’d rather be anywhere else. This varies by show, of course, but the attitude I bring into the theater can color my entire experience. And what with the news being what it is, my life doing what it does, and The Big Game taking over town this past weekend, I wasn’t sure I was in the aisle-dancing mood. Luckily, the touring production of MAMMA MIA! at the Saenger theater was ready to show me how wrong I was. I don't know about you, but to me, it feels like MAMMA MIA! (and its giant Times Square billboard) has been around my whole life - at least as long as CATS and Les Mis have played on Broadway. But it actually had its New York premiere in October of 2001. Certainly those crowds would have found it even harder to suspend their disbelief and let a cheery ABBA dance party sweep them off their feet. Not only that, but its jukebox musical concept—while not completely novel—was unproven with modern audiences before MAMMA MIA! basically resurrected the genre. Jersey Boys, Rock of Ages and Jagged Little Pill would soon follow, but none achieved the success of the original, which is still the ninth-longest running Broadway show in history. And as true in 2025 as it was in 2001, the crowd loved it. Back then, after one of the performances in that first month, a certain small-time actress by the name of Meryl Streep wrote a note to the cast and director Phyllida Lloyd “to basically say: ‘Thank You For The Music and for the injection of joy that was so needful at that moment.’” I couldn’t put it better myself. The outrageous costumes, the expressionist vaporwave set design, and the slightly muppet-y deliveries all come together to form a lovely sort of dream scored by the world’s foremost Swedish pop quartet. Standouts included Madison Deadman as Sophie, and Stephanie Genito as Tanya. Seven years after that note, Phyllida Lloyd took a chance (took a chance, took a took a chance chance) on a complete unknown and cast Ms. Streep as the lead in the motion picture adaptation of her celebrated musical. Unfortunately, that’s not standard practice in showing appreciation for glowing reviews anymore. Shame! If you change your mind…you know where to find me. Mamma Mia! plays at The Saenger Theatre through Feb 16th - click here for showtimes and ticketing information Here's a round-up of some Mardi Gras season happenings at some of our favourite local restaurants:
Palm&Pine During Krewe of Barkus on Sunday, February 23rd, guests are encouraged to bring their four-legged friends to brunch and savor Palm&Pine’s housemade treats. Patrons can indulge in The P&P Salad, Blue Crab Rangoons and Waygu Steak and Eggs. On Lundi Gras, Monday, March 3, Palm&Pine will host its annual Supa Dupa Pine: An Iconic Lundi Gras Brunch from 10:30 AM - 3PM, priced at $25 per person. The day will feature Supa Fly entertainment presented by Bella Blue. Reservations can be made on Resy. Leading up to Lundi Gras, Palm&Pine is bringing back its celebrated Foie Gras King Cake after a two-year hiatus. The famous cake, featured in the Big Book of King Cake, has had a cult following since the restaurant’s pop-up days. It will be available for purchase by the slice only. The Bower Celebrate the carnival season with three Mardi Gras-inspired cocktails from The Bower. Sip on Carnival Negroni with housemade glittered Campari, gin, and vermouth; St. Charles Sour with house-infused peach bourbon, lemon, aquafaba, and red wine float; and for a frozen treat, the Mobile Mardi Gras with spiced rum and chocolate vegan soft serve. For more information, visit https://www.thebowernola.com/. Birdy’s Celebrate the carnival season with a special Mardi Gras-themed cocktail from Birdy's. The tasty Mardi Gras Martini is the perfect cocktail to bring out the Mardi Gras spirit, and you can pair it with their King Cake Cinnamon Roll. These celebratory sips/bites are the perfect way to toast the season! For more information, visit https://birdysnola.com/. Tujague’s Join Tujague’s for the 2025 Krewe du Vieux Parade Viewing Party on Saturday, February 15th. Enjoy an open-call brand bar, along with a selection of beer and wine, and indulge in a delightful buffet throughout the evening. Guests will have access to our exclusive private balcony, indoor seating, and private bathrooms for a comfortable and memorable experience. Tickets are $160 per person, inclusive of tax and gratuity. For more information and to purchase tickets visit here. Compere Lapin Celebrate Mardi Gras with a special a la carte Friday Lunch at Compère Lapin on February 28th, from 10:30AM to 2PM. Compere Lapin will feature a Mardi Gras menu including starters like buttermilk biscuits with honey and bacon butter, crispy tater tots with crème fraiche and caviar, and broiled shrimp with Calabrian chili butter and cilantro. For the main course, guests can enjoy curried goat with sweet potato gnocchi, fried chicken with biscuits and hot honey, or classic shrimp and grits with creole sauce, among other delicious options. Don't miss out on the decadent desserts, including bread pudding with local berries and Chantilly, mango crème brulee with coconut and berries, and a selection of locally-made ice cream and sorbet. For reservations and more information, visit http://comperelapin.com/reservations BABs This Carnival Season, BABs will be showcasing specialty Mardi Gras inspired cocktails, created by savvy bar guru Rick Powanda: Leading up to Fat Tuesday, the bar will be showcasing a Fat Washing Series:
Beggars Banquet Beggars Banquet will be hosting the Beggars Brunch with a Mardi Gras menu available for two weekends, February 22-23 and March 1-2 from 10:30AM - 3PM. Highlights of the brunch menu will include Pear Toast and Crispy Firecracker Calamari. Entrees will include the Jam n Ham Beignet and Stuffed French Toast. In addition, from now through Fat Tuesday the restaurant will offer Mardi Gras Muses, a specialty cocktail menu. Also available for just $50 will be Gable Boxes, with a choice of quarts of espresso martinis, bloody marys, or spicy boy margaritas (about five drinks to-go) with ice, and cups for the parades. For reservations and more information, please visit https://www.beggarsbanquetneworleans.com/. Virgin Hotels New Orleans
 A Taste of Ireland—The Irish Music & Dance Sensation, comes to the Jefferson Performing Arts Center on Friday, February 28. The hit show features an international cast of Irish dance champions, many known for starring roles in Lord of the Dance and Riverdance. The production, which combines Irish charm with sensational talents, features high-octane dances set to reimagined classics such as “Danny Boy,” accompanied by technical wizardry and live music.
Click here for show information and ticketing  Topher Johnson and Philip Yiannopoulos in 'True West.' Photo: Rhys Lombardo TRUE WEST @ WESTWEGO PERFORMING ARTS CENTER Review by Todd Perley Sam Shepard’s play explores the rocky relationship between two estranged brothers, Austin, the educated screenwriter, and Lee, the thieving drifter counterpart, as they camp out at their mother’s house while she’s on an Alaskan holiday. As Austin tries to write his play, he makes an effort to be welcoming to his brother, but his patience runs dry as Lee’s truculence and interruptions quickly erode his attempt at brotherly love. When Lee muscles in on a meeting with Austin’s producer Saul and usurps his play, Austin’s bonhomie is over, and the characters’ personalities flip-flop as Lee tries to write and Austin raids neighborhood homes for toasters, trying to prove he can be a bad boy too. 'True West' opened in 1980 with Tommy Lee Jones and Peter Boyle as the sparring brothers, and in 2000 moved to Broadway with Philip Seymour Hoffman and John C. Reilly, where it was nominated for a Tony for best play. As Shepard said, “I wanted to write a play about double nature, one that wouldn’t be symbolic or metaphorical or any of that stuff. I just wanted to give a taste of what it feels like to be two-sided.” Goal achieved. Set in mom’s kitchen, which steadily becomes more and more trashed as the relationship grows tenser, Topher Johnson’s Austin and Philip Yiannopoulos’s Lee keep the sparks flying in a relentless crescendo. The booze starts flowing, façades are dropped, and the house (and theater) fill with the smell of fresh toast from Austin’s stolen toasters. Smelling toast is often a precursor to a stroke, I recalled, and the animosity between the brothers may be headed in that direction as well. Toast as metaphor? Shepard says no, but what does he know? Mom (Deb Margolin) makes a darkly comedic appearance towards the end as the men are reaching their limit, suggesting gently that perhaps they shouldn’t fight, then leaves for a motel because, “I don’t recognize my house anymore.” Her behavior tells us this is an old story between the siblings. The duality within each brother is relatable, as we all have different masks we wear. 'True West' seems a more masculine-oriented character study akin to Edward Albee. It could be subtitled “Who’s Pretty Damn Exasperated with Virginia Woolf?” 'True West' plays at Westwego Performing Arts through 16 February  Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans is unveiling an extraordinary collaboration with renowned floral designer Jeff Leatham from Thursday, February 6th, in time for Super Bowl LIX guests. Fuchsias, rich purples and pink florals will be cascading through the lobby, Chandelier Bar and past Miss River, with sunny yellows and verdant greens flowing through the fifth floor past the Spa and Chemin a la Mer. As the city steps into its most vibrant season, the floral experience will serve as a very seasonal celebration. Hotel website
 The New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA) will open New African Masquerades: Artistic Innovations and Collaborations, a major exhibition presenting the work of four contemporary artists working in cities across West Africa: Chief Ekpenyong Bassey Nsa, Sheku “Goldenfinger” Fofanah, David Sanou, and Hervé Youmbi.
The first presentation of its kind, New African Masquerades offers a rare look into contemporary West African masquerade by contextualizing the works of individual artists within a range of social, economic, and religious practices and examining their networks of viewership and exchange. Made from materials including wood, cloth and fabrics, sequins, feathers, gourds, raffia, and cowry shells, the ensembles on view represent a wide variety of masquerade practices and societies. New African Masquerades is on view April 4–August 10, 2025, in NOMA’s first-floor Ella West Freeman Galleries. |
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