New Orleanians

Madame X: How a New Orleans Mona Lisa created scandal in Paris

By Matt Haines | August 10, 2020

You might not guess it by looking at it, but this painting created an uproar that rippled through the highest levels of Parisian society. Its unveiling in 1884 was met with such disdain that the painter fled in shame to London, and the subject’s mother begged for the portrait to be removed from the highest-profile art exhibition at which it was displayed.

Local Artist Feck Made The Perfect Album For A Summer Spent Inside

By Alex Galbraith | August 6, 2020

Feck’s songs sound akin to our quarantine current situation: manic outbursts of energy being let out into empty rooms because it and you have nowhere else to go. The movement, and the confinement, are both a little more involuntary than we’re entirely comfortable with.

How a local artist is paying homage to Black New Orleans

By Mary Staes | August 5, 2020

Jacq Francoi$ is a local artist who pays homage to Black New Orleans culture with his limited runs of highly-collectible and buzzworthy art pieces.

How a local chef cured his homesickness with homemade ‘Popstar’ popsicles

By Marielle Songy | July 6, 2020

Popstars Icicle Treats are supercool fresh flavor infusions that are handcrafted and flash frozen. These tasty popsicles come in a variety of unique, layered flavors and they’re sure to hit the spot on a hot summer’s day.

New Orleanians: Fleeting melodies from Mobile Music Box NOLA bring moments of wonder during pandemic

By Angela Calonder | July 2, 2020

Kyoto, Zambia, the Canary Islands — all the travels of two women brought them to New Orleans. Their friendship birthed the Mobile Music Box, an ethereal and unique way to bring music to the people during the COVID-19 pandemic.

How a New Orleans cosmetic chemist got her line of travel-inspired nail polishes into Walmart

By Mary Staes | July 1, 2020

New Orleans entrepreneur Mari Alejos-Puente is taking you on a trip with her globally-inspired cosmetic line, born out of her love for travel and nail polish.

PHOTOS: Black Masking Indians lead protest through the streets of Treme

By Matthew Hinton | June 14, 2020

Wearing all black instead of suits, members of the Black Hawk Hunters Mardi Gras Indians take part in a “Peaceful Demonstration for the Young Black Generation,” in the Treme / Lafitte neighborhoods and the 7th Ward in New Orleans Friday June 12, 2020.

From French Quarter Fest to the shelves of local supermarkets: the story behind Jambalaya Girl

By Marielle Songy | June 2, 2020

When a friend introduced me to Jambalaya Girl, a local woman-owned company that makes Louisiana cooking a breeze, I just had to check it out. If I can whip up one of these tasty meals, then there’s hope for all of us.

‘A wall in my mind’: how street artist Mr. Balloonhands creates his funky art

By Sabrina Stone | May 27, 2020

The Louisiana artist may choose to keep his identity a secret but you can get to know him through his influences and through his work, which has cropped up everywhere nowadays.

Cocktails with your face covered? A NOLA designer has figured it out

By Steven Melendez | May 14, 2020

Enjoying a cocktail while keeping your face covered? That’s exactly what one New Orleans designer has figured out how to do.