RL Reeves Jr

Writer documenting life in New Orleans 9th Ward. I'm eating 500 po boys at 500 different restaurants, gas stations, corner stores and cafes in New Orleans

Field Report: 2025 Big 9 Social and Pleasure Second Line

2025 Big 9 Social and Pleasure Second Line

Many years ago Big 9 Social was the undisputed king of the 9th Ward second line rolls.

Recipe: RL Reeves Jr Crawfish Étouffée With The Holy Trinity

Chataignier Supper Club prepares crawfish etouffee

The World Championship Crawfish Étouffée Cook-Off was started in 1986 in Eunice, the ‘Prairie Cajun Capital of Louisiana’. That first year none other than Dewey Balfa provided entertainment to the 107 cooking teams, and hungry assembled Cajuns.

Field Report: 2025 Dumaine Street Gang Social and Pleasure Second Line

2025 Dumaine Street Gang Social and Pleasure Second Line

Back in the late 90s when Dumaine Gang started parading they were lucky to get a few dozen celebrants to come to their second lines. After nearly 30 years of their rolling street parties cascading through Treme, they now see thousands of New Orleanians take to the asphalt for one of the best parties of the season. We rolled with them last weekend, this is what we saw

RL Reeves Jr Recipe: York Peppermint Patty Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies

York Peppermint Patty Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies

I no longer earn my living as a pastry chef but I still love the process of baking.

Field Report: 2025 Original Buckjumpers Social and Pleasure Second Line

2025 Original Buckjumpers Social and Pleasure Second Line

I’m documenting the street fashion scene of New Orleans second line community. The trendsetters are out in force on Sunday afternoons as the social clubs take to our busted blacktop boulevards and pothole strewn side streets.

The 2025 Original Buckjumpers Social and Pleasure Second Line took place in Uptown New Orleans this past weekend. This is what we saw:

RL Reeves Jr Historical Time Capsule: Club Desire in New Orleans 9th Ward

RL Reeves Jr Historical Time Capsule: Club Desire in New Orleans 9th Ward

A decade ago I was rambling through my little corner of the 9th Ward territory when I spotted the nearly tumbledown Club Desire. As New Orleans is wont to do the legendary nightclub has since been completely demolished and part of our city’s cultural fabric is now an empty dirt lot.

Field Report: 2025 9X Social And Pleasure Second Line

2025 9X Social And Pleasure Second Line

New Orleans street fashion is on fire right now. Walk through any public thoroughfare and you will see dozens of culture-shapers wearing garb that won’t be hip anywhere else for another five years. On a second line Sunday there will be hundreds of tastemakers dancing, drinking and having the time of their lives.

RL Reeves Jr Historical Time Capsule: Evelyn’s Place in New Orleans French Quarter

RL Reeves Jr Historical Time Capsule: Evelyn’s Place in New Orleans French Quarter

Evelyn’s Place was located at 139 Chartres Street in the French Quarter. The building formerly hosted Stonehenge, a mariner’s bar that held a level of fame in the early 20th century.

Field Report: 2025 Sudan Social and Pleasure Second Line

2025 Sudan Social and Pleasure Second Line

Sudan Social and Pleasure have been rolling through Treme for over 40 years and some reckon they’re the best social and pleasure club in the entire 6th Ward. This past Sunday they took to the streets and brought their customary heat with some of the best dancers in the city gyrating and working it out on the hot blacktop. This is what we saw:

Rest In Peace Guitar Lightnin’ Lee

Rest In Peace Guitar Lightnin’ Lee

Lightnin’ Lee has left this world and we are bereft. The old New Orleans guitar legend is gone after thousands of gigs in Louisiana and beyond. How many nights did we spend at Melvin’s, Saturn Bar, Checkpoint Charlies, Mermaid Lounge, The Circle Bar, Vaughan’s Lounge and others grinding with strangers with Lee’s hypnotic boogie as the soundtrack?

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