Nell Nolan: Sunday Best; WWOZ Guardians of the Groove 2025 | Entertainment/Life

Quarter Masters

Two recent events that occurred in the French Quarter attested to the uniqueness of the area and the message of each fundraiser. “Sunday Best” and its Exhibition Gala Opening took place in the Old Ursuline Convent Museum, the oldest building in the Mississippi River Valley. Blocks away, and the night before, WWOZ, a non-commercial radio station for the Crescent City, surrounding community, and points afar, that operates out of the Quarter, held its annual Groove Gala, an indoors Jazz Fest. The station is owned by the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation (Friends of WWOZ, Inc.). Dickie Brennan’s Tableau restaurant and Le Petit Théâtre housed the happening.

Sunday Best

“Faith, Family, and Fashion” were spotlighted at the Old Ursuline Convent Museum during the gala opening of “Sunday Best.” Dress for the evening was just that, recalling the better clothing associated with Sunday, or cocktail attire. The museum’s exhibit delved into this history — and the significance of “wearing your Sunday best.” It also showcased a dozen ensembles worn by businesswoman Gayle Benson, owner of the Saints and Pelicans teams, at significant moments in her life and that of the city.

Three entities combined to present “Sunday Best”: the Catholic Cultural Center of New Orleans: St. Louis Cathedral and the Old Ursuline Convent Museum; the Janice Foulks Catholic Culture Series that offers public events each year, such as concerts, lectures, culinary gatherings, stage performance, poetry readings and exhibit openings, and was funded in 2025 by an anonymous donor; and New Orleans Fashion Week, the Southern region’s premier fashion platform that inspires, connects and creates community through style. All proceeds of the gala evening will support the Our City, Our Cathedral Campaign to restore the Cathedral-Basilica of St. Louis, King of France.

The honorary sponsors were Paulette and Frank Stewart. Anonymous ones added to the listing that included as Cashmere Sponsors Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Avin, Janice Thomas Foulks (in memory of her late husband, Edward F. Foulks, M.D., Ph.D.), Dr. Neil Maki, The Vincent Saia Foundation (Vincent attended with Glynn Stephens Jr.), sisters Leatrice Siegel and Frances Salvaggio, and Kelly and Lynn Vest. The next category, Seersucker, included Debb Almeida and David Perlis, Wayne Amedee, The Ayestas family, Jon and Errin Bellan, Louellen and Darryl Berger, Michie and Tom Bissell, Cindy Brennan, The Daigle family, Gayle Ehrensing, Holly & Smith Architects (Michael Holly and wife Denise, Kevin Morris, and Andre and Toots Villere), Rickie and A.J. Maloney, Jane Nalty, Dr. Lynne Neitzschman, Mikel Schaefer, Jacqueline Sullivan, Derrick Varnado, and Damon Wolf. Partners for the gala were New Orleans Fashion Week (founder Tracee Dundas) and Fox 8 WVUE-TV/Gray Media. As attendees entered, they appreciated the thrumming of harpist Judy Seghers.

Headliners were numerous, including Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond, Cathedral Rector the Very Rev. Patrick J. Williams, and Christopher Wiseman, Ph.D., CCCNO executive director. The Special Events Committee included Arnold Baker, Errin Erdal-Vellan, Tracee Dundas, Janice Foulks, Lynda Grillot, David Isganitis (with Margaret Jones), Mark Johnson, Stacey LaCour, Sarah Jane McMahon Briscoe, Diane Simoneaux, and Glynn Stephens Jr. Concerning the Our City, Our Cathedral Campaign notables, they were chair Gayle Benson, director Kevin Avin, Cory Howat of the Catholic Community Foundation, and cabinet members Hon. John Alario, Arnold Baker (husband of Tracee Dundas), Darryl Berger, Hon. Jim Donelon, Benjamin A. Dupuy, Ron Forman, Donna D. Fraiche, Barry F. Kern, Ira J. Middleberg, Dennis Lauscha, Richard R. Smith, and Donna Stumpf.

Most were sighted, as were family members of Janice Foulks, Donald, Tricia and Mary Jo Thomas (from Mississippi), cousins Deanna and Louis Saab and Christina S. Bellaire, Stephen Sonnier, Shara and Patrick Hammet, Mindy Matrana, Adele and Graham Ralston, Beth and Teddy Graziano, Dr. Stacy and Michael Crane, Cindy and Mike Nolan, Ann and Dr. Tony Fuselier, and Sisters Georgeann Parizek and Melanie Guste, both RSCJ. Still others were Sandra Dartus, Denise Nagim, Jeanie and Claiborne Perrilliat, Val Grubb, Elaine and Douglas Grundmeyer, Eleanor Farnsworth, Sharon Rodi, Karen and Burt Benrud, Lele and Brent Wood, Philip and Bree Braun, Jim Walpole, exhibit co-curator Sarah Waits and Brian, Bonnie Broel, Eileen Capritto, Stephen Chesnut, Susan Couvillon, Sister Beth Mouch, Sammy Steele, Joey Difatta, and Wayne LaJaunie, brother of Gayle Benson.

Guests first gathered in the adjacent St. Mary’s Church for welcoming words at 7 p.m. from the Rev. Williams, followed by remarks from Archbishop Aymond (who said, with a wink, “I’m wearing my Sunday best”), Gayle Benson, exhibit co-curator Katie Beeman, and Chris Wiseman, who singled out Janice Foulks to hearty applause. Another speaker was Tracee Dundas, who mentioned the importance of looking respectful and nice (on Sundays) “to enter the House of the Lord, regardless of one’s denomination.”

General hobnobbing on a pleasant evening awaited. People milled about both under a spacious tent and outdoors for food and drink. Thanks were extensive to event donors, especially Johnny A. Lopez, Marty Newman and Robin Beeman, Jim Perrier, Jesse Reeks and, for the main purveyance, Pigeon Catering & Events (Dean Pigeon and Deborah Pigeon). Delightful background music came from Tim Laughlin and his band.

The gala wrapped, and compliments flowed, but the various exhibits will still be open. Of course, the underlying message throughout was the continuing celebration of faith, family and fashion.

Move to the Groove

Cherished words “sold-out.” Cherished sounds: WWOZ numbers. And both came together at Groove Gala 2025, when Guardians of the Groove from 18 states rocked the night away. Attire was decidedly casual, befitting an indoor Jazz Fest.

Host Dickie Brennan closed down Tableau for the disco ado, which featured fabulous food (notably the cochon de lait and duck jambalaya) and drink, including the signature mango freeze. Décor included “45” records suspended from chandeliers, fun and funky WWOZ flags, drums and other musical-themed motifs throughout the restaurant and courtyard. On the third floor, VIP hospitality took place in the Parlor and Wine Room, where Brennan offered personal selections of food (caviar, oysters on the half shell, roast beef) and spirits in a tropical-decorated atmosphere. The second floor’s attraction was Al “Little Fats” Jackson, and on the first, The New Orleans Catahoulas, led by OZ Show Host Gerald French. Doreen Ketchens performed in the courtyard, rendering such favorites as “Iko, Iko” and to conclude, “When the Saints Go Marching In.”

Lively moseying was more like it when, at 8 p.m., Groovers second-lined into Le Petit Theatre, led by The New Orleans Nightcrawlers and OZ Show Host Craig Klein. They waved aqua insignia handkerchiefs to the beat. Inside the theater, Norman Robinson emceed, calling WWOZ “the greatest station in the universe” and thanking a slew of people and businesses. There were 21 Major Sponsors (such as Dickie Brennan & Company, and event chair Bruce Wainer and Ellie) and five more generous ones. The concert’s headliners were The Nightcrawlers; Soul Queen of New Orleans Irma Thomas, a WWOZ board member along with Norman, and her hits, namely “It’s Raining”; Cyril Neville with Omari Neville; and James Andrews & the Crescent City All Stars. Electricity was in the air and the crowd rose in appreciation and applause. Some boogied.

Money figured in the music making, thanks to auctioneer Doug Ferrer, who raised $40,000 with such enticements as WWOZ-related items, autographed performance garments from Irma Thomas and Cyril Neville, and the Big Easy Cruise.

Thrilled with the outcome were WWOZ board members Courtney Slatten Katzenstein, David Kerstein, Bruce “Sunpie” Barnes, Ron McClain, Chris LeBato, Brittany Major, David Francis, Deb Harkins, Bob Edmundson, Tara Hernandez, and Skipper Bond. Darryl Berger, Jeanne and Kevin Poorman, Michael Winn, John Boutte, Richard Derbes, and the Goldfarb family were some of the VIPs, who mingled with WWOZ General Manager Beth Arroyo Utterback, gala creator with pal Dickie Brennan. After the main stage show, guests made tracks to the desserts and “dance floor” with music by Show Host Neil Pellegrin.

Gratitude galore tapped staff members Dave Ankers, Amy Kirk Duvoisin, Louis Dudoussat, Ashli Richard Morris, KaTrina Griffin, David Stafford, Beau Royster, Damond Jacob, Monica Landry, Murf Reeves, Maryse DeJean, Dee Lindsey, Jorge Fuentes, Carrie Booher, David Stafford, Karen Paige, Melanie Merz, and Charlie Steiner, who were dubbed “the backbone of the event and the station,” as well as scores of volunteers and show hosts. Everyone queried, “When is the 2026 gala?”