Viewpoint: Amid the revelry, be aware that this can happen

By Stephanie Knapp, guest columnist

On a Monday night in November, the Pelicans were playing the Warriors at the Smoothie King center. It was chilly outside, with an early sunset thanks to daylight savings time. My fav neighborhood bar — with its craft beer, reliable big screens, and low-key, cozy vibe — was the perfect place to tune in. I’d watched games there often enough, usually accompanied by my writing or a novel for multitasking during timeouts. But that evening, I ended up leaving early.

Rolling tonight: Mystic Krewe of Hermes, Le Krewe d’Etat, Krewe of Morpheus

The Fat Friday parades take over the Uptown parade route tonight, ushering in a busy Carnival weekend. The elegant Mystic Krewe of Hermes is followed by the irreverent Le Krewe d’Etat and the fast-growing Krewe of Morpheus. All of tonight’s parades follow the traditional Uptown route and include the family-friendly stretch of Magazine from Jefferson to Napoleon, where neighbors gather to enjoy the parades together. The night will be mostly cloudy and cooler than the past two nights, with a low in the upper 30s, according to the National Weather Service. Revelers will need to add some layers to their parade-watching outfits.

Rolling tonight: Watch the weather ahead of Babylon, Chaos and Muses

As a cold front moves in, thunderstorms and rain showers are predicted for this evening (Feb. 16), so the city will be carefully watching the weather for tonight’s parades. The latest word from City Hall is that the parades will roll as scheduled. Check for any updates, and come prepared for a wet and chilly night. Temperatures could dip into the mid-40s, according to the National Weather Service.

Viewpoint: One thing is certain about Saturday’s District 93 election: low turnout

The election on Saturday (Feb. 18) to replace former state Rep. Royce Duplessis in House District 93 is a popularity contest, pure and simple. The ultimate winner will be the candidate who does the best job of getting his or her friends, family and admirers to the polls on Endymion Saturday. Duplessis was sworn into the state Senate last week during a well-attended ceremony at Xavier University. Fast, furious and barely funded, the race includes six competitors who reflect the district’s geographic and ethnic diversity.

Moon Garden opens Friday on Magazine Street, offering bubble tea and more

Moon Garden, one of the first dedicated boba tea spots in New Orleans, is opening Friday (Feb. 17) for tea and snacks on Magazine Street in the Irish Channel. The building was formerly the home of Alkemy Salon, which closed last year. Owner Raymond Curry completely renovated the Magazine Street building — the former Alkemy Salon, which closed last year — to fit his purposes, adding a kitchen and a bar and freshening up the space. Moon Garden is planning its soft opening for Friday (Feb.

Rolling tonight: Ancient Druids, Mystic Krewe of Nyx

The steady weeklong drum beat to Mardi Gras begins tonight, with the Ancient Druids and the Mystic Krewe of Nyx parades. The all-male Druids and the all-female Nyx are known for delivering barbs back and forth, employing signs on their floats for veiled insults. This friendly rivalry can add a touch of drama to this parade weeknight. Nyx, however, has been undergoing its own dramas. Its 2022 parade was smaller than the usual extravaganza after a mass exodus from the krewe and a class action suit against its captain in 2020.

Don’t pitch it, fix it, at the Repair Café in Broadmoor

“We got press!” This was the surprised cry from Billie Golan, who started New Orleans’ own Repair Café in the summer of 2022. Although the bi-monthly event has rolled out with little fanfare, the free community resource has gained popularity. Here’s how it works: twice a month (one Monday and one Wednesday of each month) Repair Cafe volunteers set up shop on the second floor of the Broadmoor Arts & Wellness Center to help all who enter repair their goods and sundry: bikes, electronics and appliances, clothing and jewelry, furniture. There are snacks provided, and those getting repairs done are expected to assist the repair experts if they can, and hopefully learn about how to repair their items for the future. Donations are appreciated, but not required, though visitors may be expected to help pay for the cost of parts, if applicable. 

Though the Repair Café is new to New Orleans, it is far from the first of its kind.