Parish Chic

In New Orleans, Thanksgiving Day signals the start of horse racing season at the Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. Once there, you can see couples strolling hand-in-hand and hat-to-hat, babies in blazers, men in suits, and women in skirts and dresses. If the style, horses, and noisy slot machines at the Fair Grounds are not enough for you, you can also find dinner and drinks. I’ve always wanted to take a date there for the holiday and wear hats together—maybe next year.

While on screen Ross’s eyes convey a range of emotions, in person I received only one dispatch: extreme seriousness. Like a boxer weighing in, she stared me down and dared me to challenge her when we met during the recent New Orleans Film Festival. As she posed for photos, her eyes softened. Ross agreed to an interview and wanted me to ask the hard questions about her first attempt behind the camera; she said hard questions help to improve her craft.

Style, jazz, and a cause converged at Snug Harbor last week. The Uptown Jazz Orchestra Goes Pink was created to shine a proverbial light on smaller breast cancer organizations that too often go unseen. We chose two organizations, Mothers Month and Poems and Pink Ribbons, to receive the funds raised.

Jabari Greer, a defensive back for the New Orleans Saints, hosted his third annual Masquerade Ball benefiting his foundation, The Greer Campaign. The event was held at Eiffel Society and featured several bands, New Orleans food, and a live auction with sports memorabilia and art local and international artists.

Lolis Eric Elie, a story editor on the show and OA contributing writer, sent me an e-mail: “Your sartorial splendor has been noted. As a FYI, nobody dresses up around here. Or I should say, seldom does any one dress up around here.”