Krewe of Iris to debut ‘Flower Power’ sustainable throws

The signature hand-decorated sunglasses will fly from the Krewe of Iris parade on Feb. 26, and so will something new in Iris throws. The city’s oldest and largest all-female Mardi Gras krewe will debut a line of sustainable throws in its 2022 parade. Iris riders will toss throws provided by Grounds Krewe, a local nonprofit dedicated to Carnival sustainability. The city estimates that sanitation workers collect at least 150 tons of garbage during a typical parade season, a number that Grounds Krewe aims to reduce.

Wetlands Sake brewery and tasting room plans grand opening in the Lower Garden District

Wetlands Sake in the Lower Garden District, the first sake brewery in New Orleans, will celebrate its grand opening on Tuesday (Feb. 8). New Orleans natives Lindsey Beard and Nan Wallis are at the helm of the project that serves different sakes brewed at their taproom on Orange Street. Wetlands Sake has been three years in the making. Wallis traveled to New York City and noticed that sake had become a staple of many restaurant menus.

How writer Matt Haines became the king cake guy

 

Matt Haines didn’t intend to write a book on king cake, its historical and modern incarnations, or the bakers who mix and roll it into shape and knead innovations into their dough each year. But when you spend a Carnival season determinedly sampling your way through scores of king cake varieties in the metro area, the development comes naturally.

Viewpoint: New Orleans needs Russel Honoré to lead a war against crime

Many New Orleanians were disappointed in yesterday’s press conference (Feb. 2) featuring Mayor LaToya Cantrell and NOPD Superintendent Shaun Ferguson. Cantrell correctly described the city’s current crime wave as “domestic terrorism,” a hot buzz word on the national crime scene. Yet instead of hearing a full-fledged plan with fresh new solutions and a real sense of urgency, citizens mostly saw the mayor deflect criticism from her office by lavishing praise on the police chief and blaming the other branches of government.