Et cetera

Meet: Nola Smokehouse. Hopefully you aren’t giving up meat for Lent, because jumping on board the slow but steady barbecue locomotive pulling in to New Orleans is Lower Garden District joint, Nola Smokehouse (739 Jackson). The former pop-up will offer a no frills menu of straightforward BBQ offerings: beef brisket, pork butt, burnt brisket ends, twice smoked sausage, rotating sides — like mac and cheese and remoulade potato salad, as well as homemade pickles and sauces, which are also available to purchase in eatery’s retail section. Prices are between $5-15. Smokehouse officially opens this Saturday from 11 AM to 5 PM.

Eat: A healthy carrot ginger coconut cupcake ($4.5) at Fare. Whether you’re making dietary sacrifices for Lent or simply detoxing after consuming the contents of too many go-cups, king cake boxes, and po boy wrappers from Mardi Gras, Fare (4838 Magazine), a health-conscious bakery and prepared foods shop, will help you eat cleanly. The carrot ginger coconut cupcakes, with a honey meringue-style frosting, not only consist of a short list of recognizable ingredients, but are also pale-friendly, soy-free, and gluten. In this case, have your cupcake and… have another cupcake.

Drink: Saison D’ecrevisses from Bayou Teche Brewing. What do you drink at crawfish boil? It sounds like a trick question one might appropriately answer: All the beer. However, some beers complement the little critters better than others. Bayou Teche’s seasonal brew, Saison D’Ecrevisses, a pale ale, is specially crafted — with citrusy, peppery, and lightly grassy notes — to pair with the spiciness of Cajun seasoning. Available on draft (spotted at d.b.a. on Frenchmen) and in 22 oz. bottles at various grocery and wine stores (spotted at Pearl Wine Co.) through June.

Wear: 610 Stompers shades. Local craft eyewear company Krewe du Optic is offering a limited edition batch of 610 Stompers sunglasses. The unisex shades have a classic square shape, inspired by Ray Ban’s vintage B&L Wayfarers; transparent, electric blue frames; and mirrored red/gold iridescent lenses that will add a splash of color to your accessory arsenal without plunging off into the depths of Tacky Town. $160, available online or in store (800 Common Street).

Carry: Bvndi belt bags. You’re holding a sloshing go-cup in one hand; balancing a po boy, whose contents are falling all over your shirt and the ground as you take a bite, in the other; you’re walking; you’re dancing; and every time you turn, your purse swings in to the ribs of yet another fellow-fester whose personal space you’ve violated seven times in the last five minutes. Do yourself a favor this year and choose hands-free baggage.

While, fanny packs were fashionable in the ’80s, functional in the ’90s, and (marginally) tolerable during Mardi Gras — please spare our eyes the sores and leave the fannies at home for fest season. Instead, carry one of California-based bag company Bvndi’s belt-bags — slimmer, trendier, and more elegant alternatives to the fanny pack. Each bag consists of one to two small, structured clutch-like leather pouches attached to a matching, functional belt. For prices inquiry and to purchase, email through their website.

Chelsea Lee is associate editor at NolaVie. Email comments to her at chelsea@nolavie.com.