THE INVADENOLA GUIDE TO NEW ORLEANSart, fashion, music, and culture with a nola twist 002

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inTerneT, Phone & conFerence rooMeducaTionaL PrograMMing

Fun evenTScoMMuniTy oF greaT PeoPLe

YOU GET:

TABLE OF CONTENTS

letter from the editor

the inVader Guide to asian cuisine

artist sPotliGht: auBreY edwards

coVer imaGe BY lizzie ford-madrid

a christmas carol: fashion sPread

the inVader Guide to shoPPinG local

interView: torGo

the inVader Guide to GettinG laid on new Years

heard it on frenchman

LETTEr FrOm ThE EdiTOr

The holiday season is pretty epic. We wait all year for two wonderful weeks of revelry: opening presents with family, dinners with friends from high school and it all culminates in champagne toasts to a new year.

When we created the December/January issue, we knew we had to do it big. Our second issue features The Invader Guide to Shopping Local, our top picks for Asian cuisine, and a series of tips on how to get laid this New Year’s Eve. The largest endeavor, however, was our Christmas Carol inspired fashion spread featuring looks from ah-ha. With a team of stylists, hair, makeup, photographers, and 5 amazing models, we proved that with intense planning and lots of alcohol, InvadeNOLA has genuinely transitioned from blog to magazine.

And I’m proud to say, this is only the beginning.

Justin shiels

Portion of photo from Aubrey Edwards series “Big River.”

Adding A touch of historic new orleAns to your home décor.

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ARTIST SPOTLIGHT:AUBREYEDWARDSBY: nikki randolPh

a r t f o c u s

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT:AUBREYEDWARDSBY: nikki randolPh

Aubrey Edwards looks like an artist. I had never met her before our interview, but I knew who she was from the minute she bounced into the bohemian courtyard of Fair Grinds, an organic coffee house near the New Orleans Fair Grounds.

It seemed more appropriate to take up space outside despite the chill in the air that day. Aubrey has a presence from the moment she enters a room. She is tall, confident and wearing fashionable boots. She is native of California, but now claims Austin, Brooklyn and NOLA as home (the hipster trifecta). We discussed art, her outlook on life, and her reasons for moving to New Orleans.

Her California childhood was cold and impersonal. Led by an innate desire for a connection she moved from Suburbia to Austin. Here she earned her BA in Journalism at the University of Texas and began taking photos for musicians and bands. This evolved into her working with SXSW, the Grammys and Vibe

Magazine. Other notable clients include The New Yorker, Nylon, Neiman Marcus, Playboy and The Oxford American.

Aubrey’s focus is portraits, and they are both vibrant and polished, but occasionally hint at a staged loneliness. I felt a connection with her subjects and wanted to know more about them.

Like most music photographers, she gets a chance to see our musical heroes up close and personal. Musicians have a love/hate relationship with the media, especially photographers. They realize this person can pull back the curtain on their real persona.That can be terrifying for someone paid to play a role in the public eye. This says something special about Aubrey; both ordinary people and musical superstars trust her. She has photographed musical legend Allen Toussaint as well as recent superstars such as Talib Kweli, Amy Winehouse (RIP), and Lil Wayne.

After establishing herself as a

THERE IS A fInE LInE BETWEEn

DOcUmEnTInG SOmEOnE AnD

ExPLOITInG THEm.

““

photographer, Aubrey moved to Brooklyn, but realized that something was still missing. She found herself traveling to New Orleans for work, and discovered the connections and roots here that she had been searching for her whole life. She took her time in establishing a New Orleans residence, but appears to be here for the long haul. She quotes, “New Orleans has something about it, something that runs deep inside of both the ground and your soul, that is hard to let go of once NOLA has you in her grasp.”

She is locally known for her ongoing

attempt to canonize New Orleans hip hop and bounce artists. The project named “Where They at NOLA?”captures local favorites like Mia X and Choppa, but also tells their stories. She worked on the project with Alison Fensterstock, a local writer familiar with the NOLA musical scene and exhibited a series of photos with biographies at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art.

When Aubrey finishes a large project, she takes time to unwind and works on unpaid projects near and dear to her heart. After Katrina, she came to the city to take photos of families who needed to replace

their family albums. She spoke about how important it was to her to give her time and talents to those people who had lost everything they had, and how those photos meant so much to them. She also worked with the New Orleans Kid Camera Project, where children were encouraged to express their feelings about their losses during Katrina through art. “There is a fine line between documenting someone and exploiting them.” Aubrey believes in the power of one person to make a difference in the lives of others. That is why she devotes so much of her time to the causes she believes in.

As our time together ended, I asked her why she ultimately chose NOLA to be her home. She told me that she is inspired by the city, “The city itself is so abundant with creatives that I can’t help but be inspired to do amazing work here.” She has finally found her connection, those roots she’s been looking for.

fOR mORE InfO vISIT:Aubrey Edwards http://www.aubreyedwards.com/

New Orleans Kid Camera Project http://www.kidcameraproject.org/

Veterans Photo Project http://www.veteransphotoproject.org/

‘Where they at Nola?’ http://www.wheretheyatnola.com/

Photos from Aubrey Edwards series “Big River” featuring portraits of the New Orleans creative class.

f o o d f o c u s

THE INVADER

GUIDE TO ASIAN

CUISINEB Y : e l i z a B e t h t r a n

P h o t o G r a P h Y B Y : l i z z i e f o r d - m a d r i d

When it comes to Asian cuisine in New Orleans, I consider myself an insider.

I grew up with a Vietnamese mother who cooked every night and was the definition of a snob, and a Vietnamese father who refused to eat nothing but Asian food every single meal save for the few times he dragged us to Texas Road House for peanuts and steaks. Needless to say, those experiences have turned me into someone who loves and prefers Asian fare while being enormously and annoyingly particular about the details.

When you think of New Orleans cuisine, you immediately think of Creole and Cajun, some Italian sprinkled in there. But Asian? The 504 actually has a sizeable Asian community and the restaurants to show for it. This is something I took for granted until I moved to Baton Rouge and quickly realized how abysmal sushi, pho, and curry are in other places even a mere hour and a half away.

Here are my three picks for the basic Asian food groups in the Crescent City: Vietnamese, Japanese and Thai. They are three very different taste palates, and there are choices all over the city to choose from, so let me break it down for you nice n’ easy.

PHò TàU BAy

Pho Tau Bay is a Westbank institution and maybe one of the very few reasons anyone ever goes across the river and pays the toll without complaining (it’s only a dollar, people, geez!) The location under the expressway is unassuming, but if you drop by on any weekday at lunch hour, it is a bustling hotbed of beef broth and rice noodles.

There are many, many options for pho in the city, but I can truthfully say I enjoy their pho over a lot of other places. The pho tai is my go-to, which is the noodle soup with thinly sliced medium rare beef. There’s nothing I hate more than a luke-warm bowl of pho, so one of the pros is that my pho has yet to

be anything but steaming hot. Sometimes my noodle to meat to broth ratio is off, but I have no qualms about requesting an extra bowl of broth to add. The veggie basket provided full of beansprouts, mint, basil and other greens is fresh and never wilted, which can sometimes be a problem at other pho eateries.

Their eggrolls are also a great option. Pho Tau Bay does a great job at making their egg rolls crispy and flaky on the outside, and a flavorful meaty mix on the inside. They also offer Vietnamese sandwiches (banh mi), rice platters and vermicelli noodle dishes.

113 westBank exPY, Gretna, la 700539 am – 9 Pm

closed thursdaY and sundaY

LA THAI UPTOwN

La Thai is upscale fusion Thai food that mixes the best of local seafood with authentic Thai traditions. The price point is a bit higher than your quickie lunch fix, but their menu is extensive, ranging from modern dishes with a Louisiana flair to the established noodle and curry plates. The fried calamari has sweet chili sauce that is a nice twist on the usually very salty appetizer. I am always amazed to find that the fried batter remains remarkably crispy even drenched in the sugary glaze. The same could be said for a fried eggplant medallion and grilled shrimp appetizer I tried, which was covered in a similar sweet soy sauce but never got soggy.

The star of the show is their crab cake entree. The amount of fresh lump crabmeat in this dish is

incredible. It is seriously a great, classic crabcake, but definitely one of the less Thai options on the menu. Their noodle dishes are authentic though, and come in generous portions you can take home and warm up for another meal. Everything I’ve had was very subtly hot, but you can pump up the spice if you want— all you have to do is ask. When speaking to one of the co-owners, Diana Chauvin, about their more traditional noodle plates, I discovered her family had also run my absolute favorite Thai restaurant of all time that closed down after Katrina, Bangkok Cuisine in Mid-City. They make the same glass noodle dish that I have been searching for everywhere since 2005 (I’m not exaggerating, y’all) right at present-day La Thai. I don’t need another reason.

4938 PrYtania st., new orleans, la 70115httP://lathaiuPtown.com/

1612 st. charles aVe., new orleans, la 70130httP://sushiBrothers.net/

SUSHI BROTHERS

Nestled on St. Charles in the garden district is Sushi Brothers, a small sushi restaurant with lots of tables for two. Out of the three cuisines, I am probably the least acquainted with Japanese food, having only in recent years accepted the idea of ingesting completely raw fish. Also, the struggle of eating an entire piece of sushi in one bite often deters me from seeking out a Japanese meal.

However, their spicy seafood salad, which is a medley of fresh salmon, tuna and escolar, is now one my favorite things to eat. Clearly I have come a long way from my incredulity at eating anything raw. The seafood salad is drenched in a sour and salty brown fish sauce and is typically mixed with avocado,

asparagus and cucumbers. My only problem with the salad is that the avocado, asparagus, and cucumber component of the dish is inconsistently distributed. Their presentation can be a bit unpredictable, but the salad is always still tasty. It’s just a lot tastier with all of its ingredients.

As for sushi, the rock n’ roll is a great choice. It’s filled with avocado, snow crab, asparagus and tempura battered shrimp, then drizzled in eel sauce. It’s a pretty standard take on the rock n’ roll, but I always know what to expect and it tastes delicious. On the flip side, the spicy tuna is a simple staple. The tuna is mixed into a chili paste and actually makes your nose run it’s so hot.

Defend New Orleans StoreDNO gear / Vintage finds / Hand-crafted goods

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HEARD IT ON

FRENCHMANSTREET

B Y : l a u r a k l e i n

P h o t o G r a P h Y B Y : rYan hodGson-riGsBee

c u l t u r e f o c u s

In a city like New Orleans, most locals agree that the best places to visit on the weekend are the spots that you won’t find tourists.

One of the best places for this is Frenchmen Street, located at the back of the French Quarter in the Marigny. A loaded two-block stretch from Esplanade to Royal, Frenchmen used to be more underground, but it became (somewhat regrettably) more popular in the last couple of years, mainly due to its presence on the HBO series Tremé. Frenchmen is a bar-heavy hub of various music, art and street performers, and one of the most popular places to spend your Halloween or New Year’s. Frenchmen has a great array of hangouts, ranging from the classy Snug Harbor on one end, to the much more hyperactive Maison at the other. The best part about Frenchmen Street? The opportunity to see great performers any night of the week, some of whom I personally love. So for all you music lovers, here’s a few must-see Frenchmen Street bands:

www.YoJimBofunk.com

This funky young band has been playing all over the city for the past two years, and their first album is about to drop in January 2012. They play constantly on Frenchmen Street, mostly at Maison and The Blue Nile a little further down. This band evades a simple definition, as they are a sensational blend of funky rock with a jazzy core. They draw in big crowds when they play Saturday nights at Maison, with people crowding around the stage and dancers spilling out into the street. The band consists of trombone player and dance leader Carly Meyers, drummer Adam Gertner and keyboard/key-bass player Doc Sharp. Mark your calendars for the release party of their album “We Are Dogs” Saturday January 7 upstairs at Blue Nile. It’s going to be good.

Yojimbo

www.mYsPace.com/sPritzmuzic

The latest project from versatile local drummer, Simon Lott, is a solo act. The music is all improvised, and usually comes with a special guest or two at each gig. The name is pretty accurate: the music is best described as a nicely distorted series of layers, infusing some electronic sounds with his quick and stylish drumming. Lott creates the beats live, loops them live, then plays off those creations on his drum set, live. He is surrounded by keyboards and pedals, and he can make any sound come out of them. The music created from this appeals to a wide variety of music junkies. It’s trippy, experimental, exciting and new every single time. Does that sound a little vague? Go see what I mean at his next gig, Tuesday, December 27 upstairs at The Blue Nile.

Context Killer

Though the name might make you think classic jazz, the sound is far from it. The always busy Mario and his group play a weekly gig upstairs at Maison on Wednesdays, from 10 p.m. till. The quartet consists of front man trumpeter Mario Abney, keyboardist Doc Sharp, drummer Jamison Ross and bassist Barry Stephenson. They usually start with some originals from each or any of the members, constantly changing the vibe and keeping it fresh each time. After the first set, they invite up musicians present in the crowd,

turning the gig into a diverse open jam session. The group does play standards, but always in a completely new style. They revise, recreate and rearrange the classics, appealing to a new generation of listeners. This quartet has been playing at the Windsor Court on Gravier Street for the last year, and this session was formed as a way to branch out from the original standards with a more experimental, vamped up energy. Keyboardist Doc says it creates “barrier-free music.”

Mario Abney

Quartetwww.mYsPace.com/marioaBneY

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BONGA CHOP SHOP

May the force be with you

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Fashion spread was shot on location at the historic Circle Bar (1032 Saint Charles Ave.)which will be proudly reopening its doors in early January. Same bar, new feel. Check in to see the new renovations in your favorite New Orleans watering hole.

ACHRISTMAS

CAROLFASHIONSPREAD

P h o t o G r a P h Y B Y : l i z z i e f o r d - m a d r i da s s i s t a n t P h o t o G r a P h e r : a m a n d a t h o m a s

s t Y l i s t : e r i n B r e n ta s s i s t a n t s t Y l i s t : a n n e t u f t o n

m a k e u P : d a n n a m aY s t e i nh a i r : J e n n i f e r l u n d Y

f e a t u r i n G m o d e l s : a s h l e Y c u r t i s , h a n n a h J o f f r aY , d a V i d B e a r , l e n n i e h s i a o , J a s o n f o s t e r , a n d s o n a l i f e r n a n d o

Scrooge: Vintage cape. Green dress from ah-ha $34. vintage earrings

ESMERELDA SCROOgE

Your curmudgeon friend-always needs to be dragged out of her bed. She stays for one drink and awkwardly exits. She’s too cool for your parties and nothing will warm her. But, this year will be different! Old Scrooge gets a visit from 3 friendly

spirits who will show her how to party in style.

THE gHOST OF CHRISTMAS FLIRTATIONS

She wears rose tinted glasses. So warm and gentle, ever there to remind our Scrooge of the missed connections, lost loves, and all

sweet romances past.

Vintage piano shawl poncho. Vintage necklace. Turquoise/gold earrings from ah-ha $34. Black tights from ah-ha $36. Dolce vita booties pulled from ah-ha $216.

Amour vert blouse pulled from ah-ha $146. wood/gold bangles pulled from ah-ha $22. vintage gold bag

Male Model is wearing his own thrift store/vintage ensemble

Vintage Christian Dior cami. Leopard shorts from ah-ha $88.

THE gHOST OF CHRISTMAS

BADASSWith a sparkling eye and an unconstrained demeanor, frankly she doesn’t give a fuck. Her only concern is where her next

drink is coming from.

Pink Free People dress from ah-ha $128. Free people slip from ah-ha $38. Over the knee socks from ah-ha $22. Vintage necklace.

Vintage blouse. Vintage necklace. Vintage lion head belt. Free people pleated shorts from ah-ha $98.

She’s hopeful, contemplative, and dehydrated. You call her up and she’s usually doubled over, half awake in an unfamiliar place.

THE gHOST OF CHRISTMAS HANgOVER

vintage sequin/velvet maxi skirt. sequin/lace free people top pulled from ah-ha $78. vintage turquoise rings

INTERVIEw:

TorgoB Y : m a r k J o h n s o n

m u s i c f o c u s

Photo provided by artist.

InvadeNOLA: Let’s start with a little history and background behind the story and concept of the album series.

Farris: The original idea came after I read the first book in Stephen King’s “Dark Tower” series. I wouldn’t say that my ideas are based off this story, but the story certainly provided the conceptual framework for them. It started out with this

character idea, the “gunslinger,” and my writings weren’t so much based around specific events but rather around this character. It was only really supposed to be one song about that, but when I finished it, it just didn’t seem like it was done. So I kept adding to it, and the whole thing grew into a group of paralleling stories that were all connected in some way.

TORGO IS A NEw ORLEANS BAND DOING THINGS A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY FROM MOST OF THEIR LOCAL COuNTERPARTS. The October release of their debut full-length album “Divinity Transmissions, Phase One: Salvation for the Dead,” is an eclectic and narrative work of art that has the potential to satisfy everyone from metal heads to casual listeners. The album sets in motion an ambitious story arc that brings the “experiencer” into a not-so-traditional Western. Combined with supplementary writings and immersive live performances, the album as a whole truly allows for the promised “experience.”

I sat down with the members of Torgo (Farris Antoon, Martin Antoon, Ryan Talbot, Casey Wilkes, and Ian Paine-Jesam), a Loyola University New Orleans super group, to learn more about what went into creating Torgo.

InvadeNOLA: which came first? The writings, the lyrics or the music?

Farris: Usually the way it goes for me, I’ll come up with a framework for the concept as a whole within the context of one album. Then I’ll focus on what parts would be able to stand on its own as an individual song. When I have a good idea for an individual song, I ask myself how I could convey the idea musically. The specific lyrics come together last.

InvadeNOLA: So who exactly is Nem?

Farris: Nem is the protagonist of Phase One. He is the gunslinger. Phase One follows him during his quest for revenge trying to find his killer. And the more difficult his journey gets, the more he begins to question his own motives and the extent to which he is willing to go to satisfy his need for revenge. The story is about his internal struggle to find where his contentment could come from.

InvadeNOLA: why the eclecticism in your music? why would you not want to focus on being one genre that could be easily identified?

Martin: We all listen to different things and enjoy different things. And we would honestly be bored if we said we were going to play just four-minute rock songs or just metal songs. We have all of these different influences and we try to put them together to make a sound that is recognizable but still surprising.

Casey: Also, we encourage listeners to listen to the entire album. So if every song were the same, it would be like watching a movie where your emotional status remains the same throughout the entire thing. No one wants that. You have to have sections of high intensity, and sections as low intensity. You have to have contrast, that’s how you get the extreme parts of the album to sound the best.

InvadeNOLA: As far as the musical side of this album, who were some inspirations for your composing?

We have all of these different

influences and We try to put them

together to make a sound that is

recognizable but still surprising.

““

Ian- Mastodon’s “Crack the Skye” as a conceptual album was very inspiring for me. And, of course, you can’t go wrong with Gavin Harrison from Porcupine Tree (laughs). I also listened to various drummers from funk and metal bands.

Martin- Well, not only was I listening for my composing and playing, but also in terms of what we wanted to sound like on the album. We all agreed that we wanted a big, symphonic sound; something similar to various post-rock bands like Sigur Ros and Godspeed You Black Emporer. And for the guitar sounds, that was inspired by modern alternative rock bands like Coheed and Cambria, Saosin, and Circa Survive. There was also a lot of bluegrass and classically inspired ideas.

Casey- When I joined Torgo I had to ask myself, “What am I going to sound like?” As a wind player you are normally not found in eclectic progressive rock bands. I took inspiration from instrumentalists like Ian McDonald of King Crimson,

Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull, and the Mars Volta. Also, I was really listening to a lot of guitar players because I was trying to blend my instrument in with the actual guitars of Torgo.

Farris- I listened to a lot of film scores for this album. One of the biggest ideas I got from doing this was working in variations of melodic motifs for different parts of the album. I listened to Thomas Newman, John Powell, Tchaikovsky for his melodicism, and the band The Dear Hunter. And there has always been some inspiration from various 70s prog rock bands and Scandinavian metal bands.

Ryan- As a bass player, I’ve particularly loved the work of Chris Squire, Geddy Lee, John Entwistle and Paul McCartney. For my vocals, I’ve grown up listening to The Beatles, so there is definitely that influence… as well as some other vocalists like Justin Hayward of Moody Blues, Steven Wilson and Mikael Akerfeldt of Opeth.

InvadeNOLA: what kind of processes/steps did you use for arranging such long compositions for a large number of instruments?

Farris: That is one of the biggest challenges. When you have such long songs that are very linear in structure you have so many options for who is going to take the melody, and how the rhythm and foundation will sound. It can be overwhelming at times. Most of the time, we all come together and arrange as a group.

Ian: A lot of the ideas for the arranging came from everyone during practices.

Casey: We usually start out with something, and then by the end of a practice session it has turned into something completely different after we all put in our own ideas. It’s like a quilt work.

Ryan: When Farris brings in a demo, it sounds like Farris making a demo. But as soon as he gives it to us…it sounds like Torgo. We all put in our

own input.

InvadeNOLA: Your live performances seem to be an integral part in experiencing Torgo. Anything new planned as far as live performances?

Farris: What we try to do live is to create a multimedia experience. Everything from the visuals, the spoken interludes and even how we dress on stage…all of these details create a sum that is an experience.

Ryan: One of my favorite quotes from Robert Fripp of King Crimson compared albums to love letters and concerts to hot dates. There’s something you can get out of each of them. And we really are trying to make our live performances different. We all are impressed when we go to a concert and see more than just music. We all love video and the complete immersive experience you get when you combine great video with great audio.

Farris: We’ve talked about

incorporating technology where there will be a tighter relationship between video and film, and incorporating more lighting. We will always try to maintain a theatrical multimedia experience.

InvadeNOLA: Can you preview the direction Torgo will be taking both musically and lyrically (storytelling) for the next album?

Farris: Musically, there is going to be an even greater number of influences at work, so the music is going to be even more varied. It will be much more dynamic and have even more contrast. As far as the narrative, it will focus on a different character than Nem. Thematically, it’s basically about the transition from childhood into adulthood, what that consists of internally, and the differences in the way we react to struggles as a child and as an adult.

Ryan: We are all very excited about what’s coming next. We are slowly gaining some momentum and we are ready to branch out into some new territories, play new cities, make new fans and come together to write another album with even more group inputs.

Check out Torgo’s websites for more information.

Music: http://torgo.bandcamp.comwritings: http://experiencetorgo.wordpress.comFacebook: http://facebook.com/experiencetorgo

ThE iNVAdEr GUidE TO ShOPPiNG LOCALB Y : x x x

BY: emilY Jensen and Brooke larsen

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‘Tis the season to drift softly into a sugar coma, and no holiday party is complete without a plentitude of saccharine snacks. Kupcake Factory has you covered with seasonal cupcake flavors like Pecan Sweet Potato, Pumpkin Spice, and Peppermint, in addition to over 30 more tasty cupcake creations. Pair with some spiked hot cocoa and you’ve got yourself the perfect big-kid Christmas bash.

$2.50 per cupcake; $14 half-dozen; $27 dozen. Kupcake Factory, Three locations in the New Orleans area. www.thekupcakefactory.com

hOLidAy CUPCAkES By kUPCAkE FACTOry

iT’S ALwAyS hUmid iN NEw OrLEANS TEE FrOm ShULTZiLLA

2Too true. Seriously, as much as the weather changes here, the one thing we can always count on is humidity. For all of us living the subaquatic life of a water-breathing New Orleanian, this t-shirt is a fun tongue-in-cheek tribute to our beloved but bizarre lifestyle.

$22. SHULTZILLA. http://www.shultzilla.com

BirdPrOjECT SOAP

3 A truly beautiful gift for anyone on your shopping list, BirdProject’s black, bird-shaped glycerine soaps each contain another, smaller ceramic bird made from Louisiana clay - a one-of-a-kind keepsake to cherish long after the soap washes away. But that’s not all that’s hidden inside these sudsy little avians. For every bird sold, NOLA-based industrial design and consulting studio MATTER L3C will donate 50% of profits to the Gulf Restoration Network and International Bird Rescue to aid in the BP oil spill recovery.

$24. MATTER L3C Bird Project. http://www.matternola.com/

A diVErSiON PriNT By mAriGNy dEmAUriAC 4Deck the halls with extreme cuteness! Marigny deMauriac’s 6” x 9” glossy color photograph of an adorable puppy puzzling over a tiny crawfish is the perfect gift for animal lovers, photography aficionados, and anyone with a meltable heart. deMauriac’s New Orleans-based photography and design agency Neighborhood Riot LLC also offers affordable head shots, portraits, and marketing consultation for fellow artists, musicians and entrepreneurs.

$20. Neighborhood Riot LLC. http://www.NeighborhoodRiot.com

5BOwTiES & SOCkS

There is no better gift for a hungry reader than fresh, local literature. Winston B. Boyd’s collection of poetry ranges from musings about a taco truck on Frenchmen Street to briefer pieces about life, love, and loss.

$9-$20. Bowties & Socks. http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/2303114

6

FLEUr dE LiS VEGAN hANdmAdE SOAP By CAkE FACE SOAPiNG

6What smells good, looks good and fits on your bathroom counter? It’s not a riddle, it’s this vegan soap handmade by Kelsey Forman. And it’s more than just soap, folks - it comes molded into a fleur-de-lis shape, an homage to the city in which it is crafted. It’s sure to look good in any home this winter!

$7. Cake Face Soaping, http://www.etsy.com/listing/87526132/fleur-de-lis-vegan-handmade-soap-from

SkELETON CAmEO NECkLACE FrOm miSS mALLAPrOP

7New Orleanians have a knack for finding romance in mortality, and this skeleton cameo necklace is a beautiful manifestation. Miss Malaprop herself hand-crafted each eerie charm in multiple color combinations, including sweet pink and ghostly blue. If you and your friends wait all year for the Day of the Dead parade, it looks like you just found your stocking stuffers.

$16. Miss Malaprop. https://www.shopmissmalaprop.com/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=754

7

8CUSTOm NEw OrLEANS STrEET TiLE OrNAmENTSBy NOLA TiLES It’s going to be hard to top Tchoupitoulas and Terpsichore, but using replicas of historic New Orleans street tiles to create your own personalized ornament is too tempting to pass up. Spell out your family’s name, a holiday greeting, or a declaration of love - whatever the message, it’s a wonderful way to bring a little piece of beautiful New Orleans streets into your home.

$20. NOLA Tiles. http://www.nolatiles.com

9ShiFT rEGiSTEr ArT PriNT By SCOTT CAmPBELL

10

Multidisciplinary artist Scott Campbell’s expertise in music comes through in his graphic artwork. The colors, shapes and arrangement he uses in “Shift Register” reflect a sonic intelligence - in fact, the same image appears on his concert poster for post-rock gods Explosions In The Sky. Wrap this one up for your musically inclined lover, to hang in his studio for inspiration.

$40. Scott Campbell. http://www.scttcmpbll.com

504 ChArm NECkLACE By LOLA BOUTiqUE

10There are a lot of excellent ways to show off that you’re from the Crescent City and this necklace is certainly one of the best. It comes complete with a dog tag inscribed with “504” (every NOLA resident’s favorite number), a doubloon, St. Mary medal and fleur-de-lis key. Anyone who sees you wearing it will immediately know where you’re from and that you’re proud of it, and most likely make them jealous, too.

$36. LOLA Boutique, 622 S. Carrollton Avenue.

11BATmAN wALLET By BONGAChOP dESiGNS If he’s constantly reminiscing about his childhood - the days of Saturday morning cartoons, Fruity Pebbles, and his favorite comic book characters printed on his bed sheets - give him the gift of practical nostalgia. This rad Batman wallet, made from upcycled vintage fabric, can hold debit cards, cash, and his lingering dreams of being a superhero.

$34. Bonga-Chop Designs, http://www.etsy.com/shop/bongachopshop

LOUiSiANA NECkLACES By BrANCh OUT

12

Keep your Louisiana pride close to your heart with this clever charm necklace from Branch Out. These tiny tributes to our great state are crafted from recycled scrap metal and plated with either 14 kt gold or sterling silver. New Orleans-based Branch Out features wares that are all sustainably produced, locally made, or vintage.

$34. Branch Out, 2022 Magazine St. http://www.branchoutshop.com

BETTEr NOw ThAN NEVEr T-ShirT By dirTy COAST

13

They (society, Santa’s elves, retail giants, who knows?) say this is the season of giving and what better way to show off your generous spirit than by gifting this shirt while simultaneously donating to a good cause? Team Gleason is an organization that strives to find a cure to ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, a fatal condition that former Saints player Steve Gleason was diagnosed with in January. This was tragic news for the city, especially because Gleason was such an integral part of the Saints’ celebrated return to the Superdome after Hurricane Katrina. Dirty Coast is a company known for its commitment to New Orleans and they are donating all of the shirt design’s proceeds to Team Gleason.

$25. Dirty Coast. 5631 Magazine Street. http://www.dirtycoast.com/store/detail/920/Better-Now-Than-Never

COrdONNiEr LiGhT By wE TOOk TO ThE wOOdS

14Wouldn’t having this lamp on display in your abode make you feel like a seasoned explorer? That’s the feeling all the items put together by the all-female trio who make up We Took To The Woods evokes. Each Cordonnier Light, handmade from salvaged shoes, is one of a kind and a staple for that special someone who adores adventure.

$96. We Took To The Woods, http://www.wetooktothewoods.com

14 BLACk ANd GOLd TASSEL EArriNGS By ELLE dEE NOLA

15

The Saints seem to be the primary inspiration for many items featured in this guide, and why shouldn't they be? After all, the men in black and gold are a huge source of pride and inspiration for the city. These earrings are a great way for a special lady in your life to showcase her fandom and look great while doing it.

$6.50. Elle Dee NOLA. http://www.etsy.com/shop/elledeenola?page=1

TUrBANdS AT FUNky mONkEy 16We all have a little funky and a little monkey inside ourselves (we are primates after all). Why not show off these qualities as well as your trendiness by sporting one of these? Turbands are available aplenty at the unique Magazine St store and are great for adding a little something to that ensemble you feel may be lacking.

$16. Funky Monkey, 3127 Magazine Street.

16

whO dAT PLAqUE AT dEFENd NEw OrLEANS 17

“Who dat?” may be a phrase that to the non-indigenous population sounds like a grammatical mishap, but to those of us residing in NOLA it is a chant that ignites our competitive spirit and yet binds us together. Display it on your wall as a constant reminder of the team that played a large part in reviving this once broken city - and our spirits - during hard times.

$75. Defend New Orleans. 1101 First Street. http://www.defendneworleans.com

18GArdEN PArTy NECkLACE By FLAmBEAUx dESiGN COmPANy

Feminine, flirty and floral, Tressa Procter-King is the designer of this colorful and eye-catching necklace. It is made entirely by hand and it’s antique feel makes this necklace especially covetable in a time where contemporary trends deviate towards a vintage aesthetic.

$55. Flambeaux Designs, www.flambeauxdesigncompany.com

NOLA BrEw iCEd COFFEE

19Many people find it difficult to function without coffee. For those of you who connect to the previous statement and tend to shy away from anything that isn’t locally made (NOLA natives don’t like outsiders), this tasty coffee - which comes in many flavors - is for you. Best of all, you can find it at the local grocery.

$5.25. http://www.nobrew.com

19

SkELETON-kEy LAriAT NECkLACE LiNE By wArEGArdEN STUdiO

20

In a city known for history as well as urban decay, a neck adorned with this necklace should fit right in. Brandi Couvillion, the creator, has worked in historic preservation and the field inspired her to make these beautiful pieces of jewelry from salvaged materials. The key and key hole that make up the necklace are found objects from demolished homes.

$35. Wearegarden Studio, http://waregardenstudio.com

21

FABULOUSLy dAZZLiNG SPArkLy hOLidAy drESSES By Em & LiV

One very noticeable (and adorable) trend this holiday season is sparkles. Perhaps due to the lack of sunshine during winter, designers feel the need to make up for it by adorning their products with bright glitter and sequins. This chic dress fits right in with that trend as well as at that holiday party you don’t have an outfit for yet.

$89-$160. em&liv, 7611 Maple St, Suite 101A.

http://facebook.com/emandliv

Offering social media and marketing consulting with a personal touch. Based in New Orleans. Accepting clients everywhere.

WEB

www.CopyThatServices.com

TWiTTEr

www.twitter.com/dominiqueellis

FacEBook

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STAFFJuSTIN SHIELS is a digital strategist and creative entrepreneur. Originally born in Memphis, TN, this self proclaimed New Orleanian loves reading short stories and watching British television. He is the founder of www.InvadeNOLA.com.

DOMINIQuE ELLIS is a consultant offering marketing, social media and PR solutions with a personal touch. Following a 3 year stint in New York, she is happily back living and working in NOLA where she can combine her love of work, the Saints, excessive tweeting and good coffee. You can contact Dominique at www.copythatservices.com.

ANGELIQuE DYER is a New Orleanian by birth, PR girl by day and fiction writer by night. She graduated from Loyola University New Orleans where she worked as a copy editor for the Maroon newspaper and Wolf Magazine. A lover of glitter, Beyonce and food, Angelique plans to change the world through her work in healthcare public relations and her southern charm.

LIzzIE FORD-MADRID is a photographer living and working in New Orleans. Her work has been featured in City Limits Magazine, TimeOut New York, Resource Magazine, and of course InvadeNola. She would love to take your picture. Get in touch with her at www.lizziefordmadrid.com

CONTriBUTOrS

AMANDA THOMAS is a daydreamer with an affinity for portrait photography. She currently lives in New Orleans, La and works for photographer Zack Smith.

EMILY JENSEN is a folk-singin’, camera-totin’, word-lovin’ Portland girl who fell hard for New Orleans years ago and never really left.

LAuRA KLEIN is a freelance writer and music junkie currently living in New Orleans. Originally from Chicago, Laura is fueled by a desire to spread knowledge and inspire curiosity among fellow art aficionados.

ELIzABETH TRAN is a writer, born-and-raised native New Orleanian, LSU Tiger and devout Saints fan. She loves concocting short stories, collecting turtle figurines, and eating bacon.

NIKKI RANDOLPH is a LSU grad with a degree in political science. By day, she is a minion to the man; by night, she is a Faulkner wannabe. You can follow her on twitter @nolajeepgirl

MARK JOHNSON is a Metairie native and graduate of Loyola University New Orleans. A musician trying to keep well rounded, he is a guitar and drum instructor for the New Orleans Academy of Music and the bassist/guitarist for local folk-rock band The Acadias. Mark loves to ponder all things music, especially trends in popular music and songwriting.

RYAN HODGSON-RIGSBEE is a wanderer. Accompanied by a camera, he explores the blurring point between nature and urban life and aims to cultivate new appreciation for and insight into this culture’s relationship with the everyday. View his portfolio at: http://rhrphoto.com

RACHAEL KOSTELEC is originally from Harrisburg, PA where she plans to be mayor one day. In the meantime she keeps busy cleaning the skeletons out of her closet, catering to the needs of a very spoiled Siberian Huskie, and hosting her own radio show, Plan DD: The morning after Rachael. Rachael can be reached for questions/comments at rkostel7@gmail.com.

BROOKE LARSEN is a writer and higher education professional from New Orleans, Louisiana. History, photography, fashion and getting you to visit hellobrookelarsen.com are a few of her favorite things

AdVErTiSErSFItNEss FlEEt

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BONGA ChOp shOp

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shultzIllA

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NOlAtIlEs

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JuAN’s FlyING BurrItO

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slICE pIzzA

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DEFEND NEW OrlEANs

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tINy EArth ADvENturEs

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thE NEW MOvEMENt

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FuNky MONkEy

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keyNewOrleans

lAuNChpAD

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tWIstED hAIr sAlON

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thE WIlDlIFE rEsErvE

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thE rEvIvAl OutpOst

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to adVertise in the feB/mar issue of “the inVadenola Guide to new orleans,“ contact dominique@inVadenola.com for rates.