Nell Nolan: Zoo-To-Do 2024, Jazz Fest Gala

A Whole Lotta Snaking Going On

“Why do you have a cutout of a snake on your front door?” Such was a pervasive query shortly before the 2024 Zoo-To-Do. Presented by Hancock Whitney and held in the Audubon Zoo — recalling its 1972 roots as a fundraiser for the zoo — the latest levity celebrated the centennial of the historic Odenheimer Complex and Louisiana pine snake conservation efforts. The complex, which was built in the 1920s, also includes the Reptile Encounter that houses Louisiana pine snakes. Thus, the name-snake for the promotional door decorations.

Two bashes set the social stage. The first was the romp for youngsters, the Zoo-To-Do for Kids, which was presented by Children’s Hospital New Orleans, chaired by Meredith Claiborne and occurred a week before the Hancock Whitney one. Mr. and Mrs. Calvin C. Fayard Jr. figured as individuals within the second sponsorial tier, Leader of the Pack Area.

For the week-later ZTD, Helen Nalty Butcher was the chairing force. Joining her were husband Kim, as well as their daughter, Lauren, and their sons, Price (with fiancée Ali Cushing) and Martin; her mother, Betsy Nalty Simmons, with husband Dick; and Helen’s twin sister, Elizabeth Nalty. Mathilde Villere Currence, Mrs. Richard M. Currence Jr., was the 2023 chairman. Backtracking to 2013, the chairing cohorts were Mmes. Gordon H. Kolb Jr., Bradley G. Gottsegen, J. Kelly Duncan, Ludovico Feoli, William B. Reily IV, Murray A, Calhoun, Peter L. Freeman, (Ms.) Michele T. Reynoir and E. Archie Manning (2013). They and their predecessors are dubbed queens by L. Ronald Forman, president and CEO of the Audubon Nature Institute.

More top names were the 2024 gala’s honorary chairmen: Louellen and Darryl Berger, Joy and Boysie Bollinger, Mayor LaToya Cantrell, Carol Odenheimer Caplan, US Rep. Troy Carter, Lou Fragoso, Elizabeth “Liz” and Henry Hefler, state Rep. Cameron Henry, Gov. Jeff Landry, and Elizabeth and Clifton LeBlanc. Depicted in the extensive ZTD program, and in front of the Odenheimer Complex, was a photo of Clifton LeBlanc, LEXUS of New Orleans, and Helen Butcher. Behind the two of them was a 2024 LEXUS NX 250 (valued at $42,665.) for the Zoo-To-Do Luxury Vehicle Raffle. It was donated by LEXUS of New Orleans.

The 2024 gallivanting listed 144 “events committee members,” starting with Dial Abernathy and concluding with Meredith Yount. Included, too, were some past chairs. The Audubon Nature Institute headlines Willard J. Dumas Jr. as chairman (succeeding Lynes R.”Poco” Sloss) and Dennis P. Lauscha and Leslie Gottsegen as respective first and second vice chairs. For the Audubon Commission, J. Kelly Duncan has the title of president, and, as first and second vice presidents, Field Ogden, MD, and Gayle Benson. In addition to Title Sponsor Hancock Whitney and Vehicle Raffle Sponsor LEXUS of New Orleans, Chevron was hailed as Conservation Champion. Hundreds more figured as sponsors and patrons, and as such were treated to special areas, namely tents with designated catering and bars. Gorgeous flowers, too. The Sponsor Party unfolded in the Jerome S. Glazer Audubon Tea Room and Garden Tent with food by Dickie Brennan’s Catering at Audubon. There was even a Late Night Lounge, located near the Sea Lion Pool. It had nibbles by the same catering group, as well as Elmer’s Chee Wees.

Gratitude was extensive to all of the forces that made the bash ever so festive, and funds plentiful. On the gala grounds there were donations by at least six dozen vendors; 15 featured decorators, including the in-attendance Luis Colmenares (& Art City Studio), who’s been part of ZTD for more than 30 years; almost three dozen featured restaurants and cocktail bars, which were spread out over nine locations; and the online silent auction of 177 enticements, ranging from fabulous hotel stays, here and abroad, to Audubon Zoo experiences, such as “Vet for a Day.”

Entertainment underscored so much of the gala’s excitement, thanks to Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry — Pick-A-Present; Pixie Dust biodegradable glitter; Hancock Whitney Photo Booth; Boogie Booth; and the roaming Krewe des Fleurs. Of course, music made its mark, featuring support entertainers Sierra Green and the Giants, and Casa Samba. Show band The Phunky Monkeys, headline entertainment, commanded Capital One Stage for hours. In fact, one of their major songs was “All Night Long.” Visual thrills came from flashing lights and colors of pink, purple and silver, along with the on-stage performers and their moves. When “YMCA” played, the crowd gestured with glee, spelling out the famed letters. For other quick-paced numbers, the musical making was in the shaking.

Colombia Caper — and All that Jazz

The world knows the name of the event: the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. And flocks to it as Jazz Fest. The “whirl” knows the name of the party that precedes it.

For the 2024 Jazz & Heritage Gala, Generations Hall was the capacious venue and Colombia, the celebrated country. (Billed as “Land of a Thousand Rhythms,” it was the featured country in Jazz Fest’s Expedia Cultural Exchange Pavilion.) Throughout the gala’s hall, the red, blue and yellow of the national flag illuminated the space, infusing it with chromatic energy and warmth. Dr. Bob’s custom centerpieces combined elements of the Jazz Fest flag with the above to show cooperative symbolism. The overall atmosphere was one of celebration and cultural exchange.

The gala committee was chaired by Rachel Cousin, Julie Wise Oreck and Caryn Rodgers-Battiste. From the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Foundation, Inc. came executive director Don Marshall and director of development Jonathan Solari, to single out two. Tara Carter Hernandez is the president. Top names for the gala entertainment were Los Cumbria Stars, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Gregorio Uribe, and Heritage School of Music All Stars.

Pleasing the palate were culinary creations by Baru’s Edgar Caro and Chapter IV’s Edgar “Dook” Chase IV. Their cuisine celebrated both the Crescent City and Colombia in a combined meal.

Scores of partygoers assembled for patron fun, as well as the three-hour main event. Among the many noted were Judge and Mrs. Sidney H. Cates IV, Jonathan and Karen McHugh, Tracy Copeland, Suzette Toledano and William Roberti, Angelique Roche, Stephanie Burks, Peter Boylan, Sid Bhansali and Gia Rabito, Jeffrey and Walton Goldring, Alden J. McDonald Jr., Beth Arroyo Utterback, Carolyn and Robert Brickman, Geneva and David Kerstein, and Daniel and Klara Hammer.

For the next two weekends, Jazz Fest of 2024, presented by Shell, dominated the local scene. (Producer/director Quint Davis described it as “a miraculous year. It was great. I mean it was really great.”) Acts galore and a constellation of stars abounded, as did the showcasing of Colombia, whose rhythms and cultural riches infused the revels of the kick-off gala.