Leslie Carde

1 month ago | nola.com | Leslie Carde

When New Orleans magician Michael Dardant’s appearance on Penn & Teller’s Las Vegas television show “Fool Us” was broadcast on March 21, Dardant was sworn to secrecy as to the outcome of the show. The premise of “Fool Us” is to stump the two longtime magicians with a magic trick that can be performed for the studio audience in five minutes or less. Dardant performed a mystifying card trick that he hoped would win the prestigious “FU” trophy (short for “Fool Us”).

1 month ago | nola.com | Leslie Carde

If dysfunctional family crime comedy is a movie genre, then the new film “Riff Raff” from Roadside Attractions satisfies all the necessary parameters. Starring New Orleans resident Jennifer Coolidge, along with such luminaries as Ed Harris, Bill Murray, Pete Davidson, Lewis Pullman and Gabrielle Union, the hilarious crime drama, directed by Dito Montiel, puts a new spin on an unexpected family reunion.

1 month ago | nola.com | Leslie Carde

It all began when 5-year-old Michael Dardant received a magic kit from Santa under the Christmas tree. Once he learned all the tricks, he did a show in his backyard for the neighborhood kids. He was hooked. “I knew early on I had an affinity for the art of magic, and entertaining generally,” Dardant explained. “So, I began augmenting my skill set by acquiring other performance-based skills, like juggling and acting.

2 months ago | nola.com | Leslie Carde

The Mystic Krewe of Barkus rolls through the French Quarter on Sunday, starting at 2 p.m. with a pre-party at 10:30 a.m. Dogs and owners will line up in Armstrong Park ahead of the parade. To register your dog, go to www.kreweofbarkus.org. All proceeds benefit animal organizations in New Orleans and the Gulf South area.

2 months ago | nola.com | Leslie Carde

Family Gras is about much more than parades. Before the Metairie parades roll this weekend, the neutral ground of Mardi Gras Plaza on Veterans Memorial Boulevard near Lakeside Mall comes alive with live music ranging from country to pop to rock to Cajun fiddling. Just 10 minutes from downtown New Orleans, the free outdoor concerts feature national artists and homegrown Louisiana artists. The latter include Amanda Shaw, a native of Mandeville who now lives in New Orleans.