Summer 2022

New Orleans has many musically talented families. As Grammy Award-winning piano player Jonathan Batiste put it, “music spreads like a disease.” Musicians are our heroes and our traditions are fiercely protected, making the musical family a revered institution that dates back to the 19th century and the beginning of jazz itself. In many ways, the history of these families, with names such as Dejean, Neville, Brunious, Barbarin, Batiste, Lastie, Marsalis, Jordan and Andrews, is the history of New Orleans. The future of these families is the future of the city’s culture.

The Crescent City is the place to spend your Star Spangled holiday this year. New Orleans has become one of the top destinations for visitors to enjoy the Fourth of July holiday. And much of the kudos to this feat is because of our premier event: Go 4th on the River. This community project, produced by the Riverfront Marketing Group, is a family-treasured traditional fireworks display over the Mighty Mississippi, attracting locals and tourists from around the world.

In the often-fickle restaurant industry, where one day you’re in and the next day you’re out, several iconic restaurants in the Crescent City continue to stand the test of time. Year after year of offering tried and true dishes, exceptional libations and top-notch service in a charming atmosphere, these historical dining institutions have garnered countless accolades and legions of fans. And due to our unwavering affinity for timeless traditions and classic cuisine, these legends remain as prominent and celebrated today as they were decades ago.

Antoine’s Restaurant

Once at Vacation Bible School—yes, I went to Vacation Bible School, once and only once—anyway, once at Vacation Bible School when I was 9 years old, we were asked a strange question: if we could be any other person in the world for one day, who would we want to be? Stunned, I raised my hand and stated very clearly that my parents did not allow me to fantasize about things that could not happen, but if I did, I would want to be Gloria Vanderbilt because she was a strong woman with a great head of hair, and I liked denim.