Kimmie Tubre

If you aren't local to New Orleans or have never been, you may assume that Mardi Gras is a time for wild decadence. A time for people to let loose as the streets are filled with giant floats and patrons on the hunt for beads. Mardi Gras, also known as Carnival, is much more than that.
Its vast history is rooted in royalty, wealth, and a bit of glamor. But when it comes to that history, there is one key factor to note: Black people were not included in most of the festivities, which left them ...

If you find yourself craving Crawfish Monica, strawberry lemonade, cochon de lait, or soft shell crab po-boys, then you may have a case of the Jazz Fest fever.
During this time, you will find yourself longing for a variety of great music and dreaming of places called Congo Square. You'll search for colorful images painted by New Orleans' most talented artists and hope to add to your Bayou Wear wardrobe. This fever happens around the same time each year and there's only one cure—you must atten...

Great Black-Owned Establishments in New Orleans
New Orleans has been a diverse city filled with immense culture and history since its birth. Being influenced by the French, African, Spanish, and Caribbean inhabitants, these cultures have also shaped the foods that make the city famous.
As the city's African American population grew over time, the community used those cultural influences along with their limited resources to create many of the famous Creole dishes that we love today.
African A...

Hard-hitting drumbeats intertwine with mellow piano harmonies. A rhythmic bass keeps the tempo, and funky horns blare as loud as they can, as if they are not only in competition with the other horns, but also competing with the noise of the patrons who fill the room. This is New Orleans, a place where live music is readily available and a part of everyday living. Here, all children learn an instrument, and local bands are deeply admired.
In New Orleans, music is one of the most powerful expre...

There are bar leads, spirit influencers, cocktail mavens, and more. Did you know that women are currently dominating the field of bartending? Contrary to popular belief, women make up over 50% of today's bartending community. But this hasn't always been the case.
In an industry that is usually represented by men, there is no secret that women were not always welcome. In fact, many female bartenders continue to feel undermined even though they are generally the face of a bar and usually the be...

Now that we've gotten all of the good tidings of joy and cheerfulness out of the way, it's time for the best music of the year. "What's better than Christmas music?" you ask? Well, of course, Mardi Gras music is.
After the first of the new year, New Orleanians patiently wait for the perfect moment to trade out all of those Christmas albums with some "Mardi Gras Mambo," "Iko Iko," and all of the vibrant tunes of the Carnival season. This original music comes in many forms, and all of the great...

With haunted homes, mystery murders, vampires, and more, it's no secret that this is a pretty peculiar place. The city that we love so much is filled with not only a rich cultural history, but also a history of hauntings, crimes, and odd situations that are sometimes hard to explain. There are many famous conspiracy theories and superstitions around the world.
From skeptics of the moon landing to people believing Tupac and Elvis are still alive, conspiracy theories and superstitions have fasc...

To Kill a Mockingbird
Broadway New Orleans is ending its 2022-2023 season with the compellingly timeless story, Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird.
While timeless, this adaptation of Harper Lee's 1960's novel is also right on time. With today's climate, the story is unfortunately in many ways current and relatable.
Beautifully performed on stage, make no mistake that this production, adapted by Aaron Sorkin, stands perfectly on its own as a dynamic theatrical experience setting itself apart f...

Ghosts, goblins, spooky scenes-—pumpkins and all things in between. It's that time of year again. Yep, it's Halloween, a holiday of costume wearing, trick or treating, haunted houses, and partying with family and friends. While all of these things make up the celebration of Halloween, they aren't the only ways to celebrate the spooktacular holiday.
From festive virtual fun and quirky gatherings to creative-creepy crafting, Halloween can be celebrated in a variety of ways. While some may conti...

The Cocktail
Today, we know the cocktail to be a spirit mixed with other ingredients. These ingredients can include anything from bitters to juices to sodas to a blend of other spirits. Usually, the cocktail is graced with a garnish and, if done correctly, it should be aesthetically pleasing.
Originally, the cocktail only referred to a specific blend that included alcohol, bitters, sugar, and water—a drink that we know today as an "Old Fashioned." The history of the cocktail is one filled wit...

New York is considered the city that never sleeps. This is mostly due to the late-night bodegas and the 24-hour access to just about anything you want and need. But when it comes to never having a break from the festivities, New Orleans takes the cake-from Halloween to New Years Eve to Mardi Gras to Festival Season-and let's not forget the family-oriented celebrations of Good Friday, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. There is literally always something to distract you from your goals. Not to menti...

Here they come. You can see them and their vibrant, glorious craftsmanship from blocks away, strutting along the Uptown and Downtown st.s. He who masks will have the best design with the prettiest feathers and the most colorful beading. He needs to be seen as the most beautiful, the greatest, and the most magnificent. He must stand out. If he hasn't convinced you, he is sure to have a krewe with him that will. As he and his tribe come head-to-head with a competitor, he knows that this honor i...

It started with a text message from an old friend;
“You know Tonya is in Europe… You should see her show.”
My first thought was to rant about how people assume that living in Europe equals having super easy access to the world. While this is kind of true (LOL), just because I live and work (YES I HAVE A JOB) in Europe doesn’t mean that I can go to an Irish Pub in Ireland every Sunday or to have pizza in Naples every time I’m craving pizza.
It didn’t matter because I knew from that moment that...

A Streetcar Named Pre-Production:
THE BACKSTORY
It all started when I was asked by actress, writer and play director Peppur Chambers to participate in the pre-production of A Streetcar Named Desire. Being every bit of a NOLA girl, I was honored to join the production crew and jump on board as the New Orleans consultant.
Not only was it a way for me to be involved in the art culture of Prague. It also allowed me to do what I do best: talk about the city I LOVE. The city that has reared, shaped...

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