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TGIF means a whole lot more on the third Fridays in New Orleans

LOUISIANA WEEKLY — Often it is preferable to keep rolling after work rather than go home and, even despite the best intentions to go out later, just end up collapsing in front of the television. Two great options on the third Fridays of every month – at least until December – are early evening gigs by saxophonist Calvin Johnson at Buffa’s Bar and the Lilli Lewis Project at the Carnaval Lounge, the St. Claude Avenue establishment formerly known as Siberia. Both locales, incidentally, offer food so there’s no need to head home first and cook. These gigs on September 20 start at 6 p.m. – say what? – so the choice is yours though with Johnson blowing until 9 p.m. it’s possible to hit the Carnaval and then hit Buffa’s or the other way around.

Published

7 years ago

September 18, 2019

Oakland Post

(l-r) Lillie Lewis and Calvin Johnson(Photo by: louisianaweekly.com)

By Geraldine Wyckoff

People around the country and probably many around the world understand the expression “Thank God it’s Friday,” and the relief of having made it through another hard-working week. In his hit, “Blue Monday,” Fats Domino viewed Fridays as his payday that enabled him on Saturday to “go out on the streets and play.”

Often it is preferable to keep rolling after work rather than go home and, even despite the best intentions to go out later, just end up collapsing in front of the television. Two great options on the third Fridays of every month – at least until December – are early evening gigs by saxophonist Calvin Johnson at Buffa’s Bar and the Lilli Lewis Project at the Carnaval Lounge, the St. Claude Avenue establishment formerly known as Siberia. Both locales, incidentally, offer food so there’s no need to head home first and cook. These gigs on September 20 start at 6 p.m. – say what? – so the choice is yours though with Johnson blowing until 9 p.m. it’s possible to hit the Carnaval and then hit Buffa’s or the other way around.

Here, we’ll start with Johnson’s show that includes ace musicians including pianist Jesse McBride, bassist Amina Scott and drummer Levon West. That combination just screams modern jazz that Johnson agrees he’s been digging into hard since moving to New York three months ago. “I’ve had to go back to the bebop and post-bop masters so I’m really deep into Monk (pianist/composer Thelonious Monk) right now and I’m deep into (drummer) Art Blakey. “A lot of tunes will come from the Blakey and Monk songbooks because that’s just what I’m shedding on right now in New York,” Johnson explains. “I’ll stretch the band a little bit and we’ll do some New Orleans songs with a modern flair and some originals.”

The paramount reason for Johnson’s departure from his hometown was to be closer to his longtime love with whom he’d been enduring a long distance relationship. It was also an opportunity for him to expand his artistic expression. “New York is the land of individuality,” he offers. “That’s an incubator for me to find what I’m searching for right now. Everything that I hate about New Orleans, New York offers and everything I that hate about New York, New Orleans offers. I see it as the best of both worlds. I found happiness.”When Johnson comes home to New Orleans once a month, he also performs at Preservation Hall on Saturdays and Sundays. In the Crescent City the saxophonist and vocalist is probably most associated with traditional New Orleans jazz. “That’s because of my lineage,” says Johnson, “and growing up, I was under that umbrella,” he adds mentioning his brilliant uncle, saxophonist and clarinetist Ralph Johnson and also trumpeter George Johnson III, who was a regular with the Pin Stripe and Tuba Fats’ Chosen Few brass bands. “I traveled with the Preservation Hall band so people have grown to identify me with that.”

On Saturdays, Johnson plays with trumpeter Marc Braud at “the Hall” and on Sunday’s with Braud’s uncle, trumpeter Wendell Brunious. “That’s real New Orleans stuff right there,” he proclaims. “I love it… they have the same sound. I’m sure that sound comes from Wendell’s dad, Big John Brunious. They inherited it. You don’t get that up here in New York.”

Just around the corner and down St. Claude Avenue the Lilli Lewis Project, led by the hugely talented vocalist and pianist Lewis, strikes up on Friday in celebration of the ensemble’s new release, We Belong. With a goal of bringing people together, the classically trained and spiritually driven Lewis draws one in with her sincerity and musical and personal charisma. She and her Project touch on and gracefully intertwine numerous genres as heard on the album’s opening cut, “Interlock” that gets started in a jazz mode, enforced by the saxophone of Ole Oddlocken, and becomes an anthem for togetherness on the strength of Lewis committed vocals and lyrics. The percussion of Ryan Murray adds an African flavor and beauty arrives with the guitar of Smokey Brown.

Straight-up blues works for Lewis whose versatility can seeming take her anywhere. With Lewis’ sincere belief in social consciousness, reggae is also right up her alley and she offers two examples on “When the Rain Comes In,” that is a sad reminder that “It will be too late when the rain comes in.” Dig that this includes an essential trombone provided by Glen David Andrews. The final cut, “Turn It Around” begins with Lewis’ sophisticated piano, which we’d like to hear more of, and jazz-wise vocals as she tells a story in song as she often does throughout the album. “It’s a matter of survival,” she sings or more accurately preaches. Then the reggae beat kicks in to calm the fears.Lewis is undeniably compelling throughout the album though perhaps never more so than on “Coretta’s Song,” based in part on the poem and gospel classic, “I Am a Soldier.” Her passionate delivery is stunning on the selection that features clarinetist Michael White and sousaphonist Kirk Joseph.

The Lilli Lewis Project’s We Belong moves in positive directions as steered by its artistically and emotionally committed leader Lilli Lewis.

This article originally published in the September 16, 2019 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.

This article originally appeared in The Louisiana Weekly.

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Smooth Ride! Car Suspension & Comfort Tested #shorts

Smooth suspension meets surprisingly spacious legroom. Experience true comfort on any road!

Published

1 month ago

October 4, 2026

Oakland Post

Car suspension test demonstrating a smooth ride, comfort features, and handling on various terrains.

Experience the difference smooth suspension makes on rough streets. Check out the surprisingly good second-row legroom – test it yourself for true comfort.

Watch the full video: https://youtu.be/l9Z571za5Gc

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61 years since Selma, Houston leaders say the bridge remains to be crossed

61 years after Selma, Houston leaders say the fight for equality continues. The issues that sparked the marches still impact Black Americans today.

Published

1 month ago

October 4, 2026

Oakland Post

Houston leaders discuss the ongoing struggle for civil rights 61 years after Selma, emphasizing the need for continued action.

It has been 61 years since the Selma marches. But political leaders in Houston say that the issues protesters were marching for still plague the lives of Black Americans.

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Here is what you need to know about finding unique white elephant gift ideas that everyone wants to steal

The best white elephant gift ideas are funny enough to get a reaction but useful enough that people actually want to steal them. Look for gifts with a surprise factor, broad appeal, an inside joke, and just enough personality to spark some friendly competition. The wrapping paper comes off, the room goes quiet for half […]

Published

1 month ago

October 4, 2026

Oakland Post

The best white elephant gift ideas are funny enough to get a reaction but useful enough that people actually want to steal them. Look for gifts with a surprise factor, broad appeal, an inside joke, and just enough personality to spark some friendly competition.

The wrapping paper comes off, the room goes quiet for half a second, and suddenly everyone wants the same gift. That is the sweet spot. A great white elephant pick should make people laugh, lean in, and start plotting their next steal before the turn is even over.

Should a White Elephant Gift Be Funny or Useful?

A white elephant gift can be funny or useful, but the strongest choices usually give people a reason to laugh and a reason to keep the item. A practical gift with an odd design, unexpected feature, or playful theme can get a reaction without becoming something the recipient immediately wants to give away.

The right balance depends on the group. Close friends and family members may enjoy a ridiculous gag gift because they already understand one another’s sense of humor.

A workplace exchange, neighborhood party, or mixed-age gathering usually calls for something with broader appeal. In those settings, humor works better when it is built into an item people could still use afterward.

It also helps to think about how quickly the gift will make sense once it is opened. A strangely shaped kitchen tool, oversized mug, quirky desk accessory, or unexpectedly fancy everyday item can create an immediate reaction. Guests understand the joke right away, while the item still has enough practical value to attract a steal.

Pure gag gifts can be harder to pull off. Something that exists only for the punchline may get a big laugh during the reveal and then sit untouched for the rest of the game. If the goal is to bring one of the gifts everyone keeps fighting over, usefulness gives the joke staying power.

Memorable Present Ideas: Creating Inside Joke Gifts

Inside joke gifts can make a white elephant exchange feel much more personal, especially when most of the group shares the same stories. The trick is choosing a reference that people will recognize quickly instead of building the entire joke around something only two guests understand.

You can turn a memorable vacation mishap, office catchphrase, family story, or long-running group joke into the theme of the gift. A personalized comic book can work especially well when it turns familiar people or a ridiculous shared moment into part of the story.

Think carefully about who the joke involves before ordering anything permanent. The gift should make the person feel included in the fun, not singled out for the wrong reason.

Can You Bring Something You Already Own?

Holiday gift exchanges can be a good place to re-gift something you never used, especially if it is unopened and clean.

The following can all work if they still look presentable:

A duplicate kitchen gadget
An untouched game
A decorative item
A sealed gift set
An unopened candle
A new travel accessory

The goal is to give the item a second chance, not use the exchange as an excuse to clear out damaged or unwanted clutter.

Take a close look at the packaging before wrapping it. Faded boxes, missing pieces, visible wear, or anything that looks obviously used can make the gift feel careless.

Wrapping Budget-Friendly Gifts

Wrapping can make gifts more entertaining before anyone even knows what’s inside.

Misdirection works especially well for fun party games. Put a small gift inside a much larger box. Use packaging from an unrelated household item.

Add harmless weight so guests cannot guess what they are holding. The reveal becomes part of the joke without changing the gift itself.

You can also lean into the theme of the exchange. Bright paper, oversized bows, reusable bags, or deliberately over-the-top wrapping can make an ordinary item feel more memorable. If the gift itself is already funny, simple wrapping may work better so the surprise stays hidden until the last second.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Picking Last an Advantage in White Elephant?

Picking last can be an advantage because you get to see almost every gift before making your move. Instead of choosing blindly from the remaining wrapped presents, you can steal something that has already caught your attention if the rules still allow it.

That advantage depends on the house rules. Some games limit how many times a gift can be stolen.

Others lock an item once it reaches a certain number of steals. If the most popular gifts are already unavailable, the final player may have fewer strong options than expected.

The first player can also get another turn at the end in some versions of the game. That rule can balance things out, since the person who started with the least information may get one final chance to steal.

How Do You Plan White Elephant for a Large Group?

For a large white elephant exchange, set a firm spending limit and establish the stealing rules in advance.

Create a clear turn order before the game begins. Drawing numbers as guests arrive can save time once everyone is ready to start.

Keep the number of steals per gift limited so the game does not drag on. It also helps to have one person track which creative holiday presents have been stolen and when they are locked, especially if dozens of people are participating.

Can You Play White Elephant Virtually?

A virtual white elephant exchange can work over a video call, with one person keeping track of the turn order and each steal. Guests can either mail physical gifts ahead of time or use digital gifts that can be delivered once the game ends.

Set the spending limit and stealing rules before everyone joins. It also helps to decide how gifts will be revealed and who is responsible for sending each one afterward so the exchange does not become confusing.