They are the faces – or ghostly phantom – you see around town . They protrude up at your favorite measure , your local umber house , or your Facebook provender . They are the distinctly New Orleans personalities you know and love – and would n’t regain anywhere else .
1.Leah Chase
At 93 old age old , Chase is the momma of New Orleans . As the executive chef of the famedDooky Chase ’s Restaurant , she has dish out two president ( George W. and Obama ) and has a Disney Princess – Tiana ofThe Princess and the Frogfame – pose after her .
take over in 1923 , one of 14 nestling , Chase left home after sixth form because her modest Louisiana town did not have a mellow schooltime for pitch-dark children . She moved to New Orleans to dwell with an aunt and later began waiting table in the French Quarter . Dooky Chase ’s open up in 1941 and became a hot spot for civic right wing meeting .
“ African - Americans did n’t have restaurants like that to go to when I came here , ” Chase told New Orleans - basedThe Advocateearlier this year . “ I said we ’ve commence to change things . Growing up , mother always celebrate decent thing for troupe . Nice glasses , nice things . That ’s how we search at it here . Everybody who comes through that front door is my company . People merit that . ”
610 Stompers|Flickr/Derek Bridges
2.Steve Gleason
The former New Orleans Saints defensive back has his city rooting for him louder than ever off the athletic field . The one - sentence football game hero – hefamously blocked a puntthat led to a touchdown in the Saints ’ first home game after Hurricane Katrina – has set up millions for ALS patient through theTeam Gleasonfoundation after he was diagnosed with the devastating illness at age 34 .
Now confined to a wheelchair and using optic movement to speak through a computerized voice boxwood , Gleason has redefine the condition “ hero . ”
He is the field of a critically acclaim docudrama , Gleason , that premiere this year at Sundance .
Leah Chase|Dooky Chase Restaurant
3.Drew Brees
The revered No . 9 of the New Orleans Saints ( and good supporter to the Gleasons ) is one of the most iconic quarterbacks , and players , in the entire NFL.The one - timeSports IllustratedSportsman of the Yearis known as much for his prominent heart as his with child play . TheBrees Dreams Foundation(run by Brees and his wife , Brittany ) has given more than $ 25 million to international charities and causes . But it ’s his piece of work the right way here in New Orleans that has made him a hometown hero – from supporting the rebuilding of the city after Hurricane Katrina to raise money and spending time with pediatric cancer affected role .
The 2009 Super Bowl MVP and father of four has also travel the globe , chew the fat US soldiers send in Afghanistan , Iraq , and Guantanamo Bay .
4.Sandra Bullock
She is a Hollywood titan , but she is also a faithful New Orleans occupant , witha Swiss chalet - style home in the Garden Districtthat she shares with her children , Louis and Laila , when they are in town . Bullock has secure ties to the city – her tiddler were adopted in Louisiana . She is also alive in the community , donating money and time to Warren Easton High School .
5. Burnell Cotlon
This easygoing , quick - to - smile Army veteran has a one - track mind : revitalizing his Lower ninth Ward neighborhood . Devastated in Hurricane Katrina , the Lower 9th has been obtuse to recover than other neighborhoods in the metropolis .
Cotlon help move the recovery a big footstep forth by slump his life savings intoopening the neighborhood ’s first and only foodstuff store . TheLower 9th Ward Marketsells staple like bread , high mallow , milk , rice , yield , and vegetables , but also stocks extras like school supplies , pickled pigs ' foot , and condoms ( at the customers ’ request ) . He ’s working on opening a laundromat with machinesdonated by Ellen DeGeneres . He also has his heart – and his raft – plant on one day opening up an net café and a film dramatics .
6. Tim Williamson
SinceIdea Villagewas founded in 2000 with the goal of making New Orleans the entrepreneurial hub of the South , its business accelerator alumni have pump more than $ 190 million into the regional economy . This summertime Williamson herald he would be taking over as president of theNOLA Media Group , which runsThe Times - Picayuneand NOLA.com . He will stay on the board of manager of Idea Village .
7.Big Freedia
bonk as the Queen of Bounce , Big Freedia has put the home spotlight on the New Orleans - born hip - hops offshoot . She has tour from seacoast to coast but remains fast to her New Orleans home , often playing five daylight a week .
Freedia , who was born a male , but uses distaff pronouns for her stage name , has appear onJimmy Kimmel Liveand in episodes of HBO’sTreme . Her hitsinclude “ Azz Everywhere ” and “ Y’all Get Back Now . ”
8.Mr. Ghetto
speak of bounce …
“ We going to Wally , Wally , Wally , Wally , Wally , Wally World,”he raps in his song “ Walmart ( Wally World ” ) . Yes , that ’s six Wallys ( we counted ) .
The video , which you ca n’t look aside from once it starts , features Mr. Ghetto and two booty short - clad twerk masters necessitate off the Tchoupitoulas St Walmart in New Orleans . He ascertain out their asses , they twerk in shopping cart . It ’s been regard more than 300,000 metre .
Steve Gleason & Michel Varisco Gleason|C Flanigan/FilmMagic/Getty Images
Mr. Ghetto abide by them as they make their way around the store , trying on underclothing in the aisles and buying douche .
And then these lyrics .
“ She grease one’s palms Summer ’s Eve . She buy Massengill . She keep her trunk blank . ”
Andrea Raffin / Shutterstock
in earnest , just watch . You wo n’t regret it . And if Walmart twerking is n’t your crush , how about McDonald ’s twerking ?
9. Mitch Landrieu
Otherwise known asMr . Mayoraround New Orleans . Landrieu was elect in 2010 and 2014 , both with the unprecedented support of white and calamitous voters . A champion of economical increase and more in effect policing , Landrieu is not without his critics , but still holds a respectable60 % favorable reception rating . He ’s also a dad to five tike .
10.Sally-Ann Roberts
She is the cheek of daybreak TV in New Orleans , co - anchoring the morning news on the local CBS affiliate WWL - TV . Having attend with the station since 1977 ( that ’s some allegiance , folks ) , Roberts made her mark by not just report on the residential district , but becoming part of it .
She is the co - founder ofEach One Save One , a nonprofit that recruits and trains mentors for arena school and organizations . She is also a reparation in Mardi Gras promenade . In 2012 , Roberts made news by donating biography - saving bone nub to her piddling sister , ABC News’Good Morning Americaanchor Robin Roberts , who was combat myelodysplastic syndrome , or MDS .
11. The ghost at Muriel’s
… also known as Pierre Antoine Lepardi Jourdan , a turn - of - the - 100 ( nineteenth century , that is ) run a risk partizan who bought the quoin mint in what is now known as Jackson Square as the Gallic Quarter was recovering from the massive fire of 1788 .
According to the legendposted on Muriel ’s restaurant website , Jourdan had hope of restoring the belongings to its one - time splendour , but lost the home in a game of poker in 1814 . Instead of depart his dream house , he pull self-destruction in the location now have it away as Muriel ’s Séance Lounges .
Staff and patrons have describe seeing a glimmer of light that ’s believed to be Jourdan . As a nod to the building ’s past , the restaurant always reserves a table for its most well - known ghost . According to Muriel ’s : “ Those who have seen or felt a comportment have never felt jeopardise and or else we ’ve welcome an old kindred tone to dine , by always keeping a table reserved for Mr. Jourdan rig with cabbage and wine . ”
big freedia|Flickr/Kowarski
12. Trombone Shorty
One of New Orleans ’ premier instrumentalist by age 30 , Mr. Shorty – akaTroy Andrews– is also a major Crescent City philanthropist . The leader of the funkalicious Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue was touring by years 12 , and encounter in Lenny Kravitz ’s horn subdivision by 19 . HisTrombone Shorty Foundationaims to keep the medicine of New Orleans alive through mentoring , lessons , music Education Department , and performances for underserved New Orleans ’ tiddler .
13.610 Stompers
They bear gunpowder - blue shorts and genu socks . They assume headband , and more than a few proudly flaunt “ dad bods ” with pornography ‘ staches .
Their tagline is “ Ordinary human race . Extraordinary move . ” And with it , the dancing men ’s club has stomped through Mardi Gras , boogied through their own bar crawls , and shake it on previous - night TV . They enjoy their overzealous NOLA fan base bygoing national at the Macy ’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2015 . As Matt Lauer said “ You ca n’t unsee this . ”
14. Krewe of Muses
From the dance guys to the power station gals of Mardi Gras . Thisall - distaff krewehas become a major draw during Mardi Gras season . Once a year , ladies of all ages and screen background gather to chuck shoes into the dark sky over Uptown New Orleans . Getting a Muses parade horseshoe expect fate , more than a trivial luck , and a serious strong limb ( and a willingness to trample niggling girl and sometime dame ) . But it ’s so worth it .
15.King Rex
Dating back to 1872 , Rex is genuine New Orleans royalty . His proclamation is why we all are invited to Carnival . It is his colors of violet , dark-green , and gold that we show off on our beads , spyglass , ties , tutus , and shirts .
Each year his indistinguishability is enshroud in mystery story . Will YOU be the next king ? likely not , but we can still assume all the crowns we want .
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Mitch Landrieu|Albert H. Teich / Shutterstock
Trombone Shorty|Mat Hayward / Shutterstock
610 stompers|Flickr/Tulane Public Relations
