It’s the final countdown! The last of the decade and the beginning of the new roaring ’20s. Fresh beginnings are part of the whole deal with the new year. New starts, new goals and building on what we learned from yesteryear. As we prep to start the next set of annual resolutions, we’re looking back over 2019. This week, we’re highlighting the stories of 2019 … the stories that resonated with you. And while we wait for the big fleur de lis to drop like our water pressure, we have some outings for you to cap off the final days of ’19. Happy New Year, locals!
Very Local New Orleans’ Top Stories of 2019
What a year! From trying out a joint that the rowdy restaurateur and cranky critic, Gordon Ramsay, revamped to getting our greasy hands on 82 inches of Popeyes, and to the heartwarming stories of fighting mental health with food, we’ve told so many of your stories. Here’s what you loved the most this year.
Costuming and Cosplay: It’s time to prep
Mardi Gras is LESS THAN a couple months away. However, there’s always a reason to get crafty with your glitter. Comic-Con is upon us and we’ve seen what kind of things you’ve put together. Costuming has become as much a part of New Orleans as potholes. Every season offers an opportunity to dig into the costume box and break out your best get-up. But in the last few years, our city has become a space for the celebration of science fiction and comic book goodness in the form of pop culture conventions. Here’s how you can get started.
Resurgence of Réveillon
Réveillon Dinners are a Creole tradition dating back to the 1800’s, where people would fast on Christmas Eve until after midnight mass. Now, restaurants have modernized the tradition into the new year, serving a 3-4 course meal of some of their fanciest dishes on the menu. The feast had nearly disappeared by the early part of the 20th century as the Americanized Christmas traditions took hold in New Orleans. But nothing is ever truly forgotten in New Orleans. We have a reflection on Réveillon.
Coming Up: Wizard World New Orleans Comic-Con (Sponsored)
Celebrate the best in pop culture when Wizard World returns to New Orleans, January 3-5 at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Meet “Outlander” stars featuring Sam Heughan plus “Smallville” headliners Tom Welling, Michael Rosenbaum and others, as well as world-class artists, exhibitors and cosplayers, and participate in entertaining, interesting programming panels all weekend long. Tickets start at $35, kids 10 and under free. www.wizardworld.com.
What to Do This Weekend
Fri. Dec. 27, 2019
New Years Eve Headdress Workshop | 6 to 8 p.m. | NOLA Craft Culture | Class starts at $45
Want to stand out from the crowd at your New Year’s Eve party? This sip and make class features two headpiece options: a fascinator or a champagne headdress.
Sat. Dec. 28, 2019
Potato chips and champagne pair brilliantly, right? Logic dictates that the champagne of potato chips and the champagne of New Orleans’ cider must be that much better. Broad Street Cider will have at least 25 pairings in a first-come, first-served atmosphere.
Sun. Dec. 29, 2019
So it’s not crawfish season, but we can still have a seafood boil! This party is family and dog-friendly. Shrimp and snow crab are on the menu.
