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It’s traditional at any university commencement to give honorary degrees to big-name supporters and leaders in their respective fields.

We’re celebrating these notable New Orleanians who received a coveted doctorate at graduation ceremonies across the country this year.

Why it matters: These are people who've made contributions to the world beyond New Orleans, but who make our city a richer place in the process.

Wendell Pierce: The prominent actor received an honorary doctorate from Juilliard, which recognizes leaders in the arts world.

You probably know the New Orleans native from "Treme," "The Wire," "Suits," "Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan" and "Death of a Salesman" on Broadway.

Pierce received his bachelor's degree from Juilliard in 1985.

Jon Batiste: The five-time Grammy winner was the keynote speaker and recipient of an honorary degree from Loyola University.

The New Orleans native was also musical director and bandleader on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" for seven years until 2022.

Quint Davis: Tulane also recognized prominent New Orleanians this year, giving an honorary degree to Davis, who’s been the "driving force" behind Jazz Fest, the university said in a release.

Davis was a Tulane student when he helped launch the first Jazz Fest in 1970. He’s still involved 53 years later.

The bottom line: Celebrity or not, we want to send a big congratulations to all New Orleans graduates (and their parents). Y’all did it.

Wendell Pierce, Jon Batiste among notable New Orleanians to receive honorary degrees this year

These are people who've made contributions to the world beyond New Orleans.

Photo shows Wendell Pierce smiling at the camera. He is wearing a blue suit jacket, white shirt and blue-patterned tie with a lapel pin.

Wendell Pierce was awarded an honorary degree this year from Juilliard. Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions

It’s traditional at any university commencement to give honorary degrees to big-name supporters and leaders in their respective fields.<ul><li>We’re celebrating these notable New Orleanians who received a coveted doctorate at graduation ceremonies across the country this year.</li></ul>Why it matters: These are people who&#x27;ve made contributions to the world beyond New Orleans, but who make our city a richer place in the process.Wendell Pierce: The prominent actor received an <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="honorary doctorate from Juilliard" data-vars-click-url="https://www.juilliard.edu/news/162521/arts-world-leaders-be-honored" data-vars-content-id="30b7c964-110b-43ef-8492-7162681f86f9" data-vars-headline="Wendell Pierce, Jon Batiste among notable New Orleanians to receive honorary degrees this year" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.juilliard.edu/news/162521/arts-world-leaders-be-honored" target="_blank">honorary doctorate from Juilliard</a>, which recognizes leaders in the arts world.<ul><li>You probably know the New Orleans native from &quot;Treme,&quot; &quot;The Wire,&quot; &quot;Suits,&quot; &quot;Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan&quot; and &quot;Death of a Salesman&quot; on Broadway.</li><li>Pierce received his bachelor&#x27;s degree from Juilliard in 1985.</li></ul>Jon Batiste: The five-time Grammy winner was the keynote speaker and recipient of an honorary degree from Loyola University.<ul><li>The New Orleans native was also musical director and bandleader on &quot;The Late Show with Stephen Colbert&quot; for seven years until 2022.</li></ul>Quint Davis: Tulane also recognized prominent New Orleanians this year, giving an honorary degree to Davis, who’s been the &quot;driving force&quot; behind Jazz Fest, the university said in a release.<ul><li>Davis was a Tulane student when he helped launch the first Jazz Fest in 1970. He’s still involved 53 years later.</li></ul>The bottom line: Celebrity or not, we want to send a big congratulations to all New Orleans graduates (and their parents). Y’all did it.

News

A "new age" steakhouse will open on St. Charles Avenue this July.

What to expect: Gaia Steakhouse's atmosphere will be over the top with 24-karat gold atop steaks cut tableside, luxe finishes and "world-class" DJs.

Vibe: "I call it a new age steakhouse because it is not a classic steakhouse," restaurateur Murat Nalcioglu told Nola.com | The Times-Picayune. "It's a fine dining steakhouse, with a touch of a lounge."

Eater Nola, however, called it "a 'new age' steakhouse nobody asked for" in its Wednesday newsletter.

Rendering of Gaia's dining room. Rendering: Courtesy of Gaia

Cost: While the steaks won't be $1,500 or more like the other Salt Bae-famous steakhouses Nalcioglu has managed in Vegas and Dallas, they'll still put a dent in your wallet somewhere between $300 and $400, he told the newspaper.

Dress code: Gaia's website includes a list of what you can't wear at its establishment, including sweatpants, sweatshirts, running sneakers and flip-flops. For women, it adds "no dress or shorts shorter than mid-thigh and no low-cut revealing tops."

Nalcioglu tells Axios that as he's learned more about New Orleans, he'll probably loosen the dress code to include more casual attire.

"I'm still learning the system, the style, how the city functions, what people like, what people don't like," he says. "It's going to take me a few months."

"Let's wait to open our doors, and I'll let everyone see what is going to make Gaia different versus me trying to explain how Gaia is going to be," he says.

Nalcioglu says he's aiming for a mid-July opening.

Location: 1820 St Charles Ave., Ste. 120. Gaia takes over the former Melting Pot space.

New steakhouse with $400 gold-coated steaks to open in New Orleans

The swanky spot also has a strict dress code.

24-karat gold leaf wraps the steaks at Gaia. Photo: Courtesy of Gaia Steakhouse

Restaurants

A &quot;new age&quot; steakhouse will open on <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="St. Charles Avenue" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans/2023/05/22/see-the-design-for-the-new-st-charles-avenue-mcdonalds" data-vars-content-id="4873c5e1-b24f-4668-add5-c9d73a8d797a" data-vars-headline="New steakhouse with $400 gold-coated steaks to open in New Orleans" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans/2023/05/22/see-the-design-for-the-new-st-charles-avenue-mcdonalds" target="_self">St. Charles Avenue</a> this July.What to expect: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Gaia Steakhouse" data-vars-click-url="https://www.gaiasteakhouse.com/" data-vars-content-id="4873c5e1-b24f-4668-add5-c9d73a8d797a" data-vars-headline="New steakhouse with $400 gold-coated steaks to open in New Orleans" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.gaiasteakhouse.com/" target="_blank">Gaia Steakhouse</a>&#x27;s atmosphere will be over the top with 24-karat gold atop steaks cut tableside, luxe finishes and &quot;world-class&quot; DJs.

Food and Drink

New Orleans live music fans, here's a quick list of seven big concerts coming in June.

Of note: This isn't a comprehensive list. Check out the full calendars at your favorite venues for more.

And check out our guide to summer festivals in New Orleans and the 16 biggest concert tours coming here between June and September.

The country and folk singer-songwriter is known for hits like "Down at the Twist and Shout" and "He Thinks He'll Keep Her."

Bastille and Nile Rodgers & CHIC join the popular 1980s and '90s British rock band Duran Duran.

Tickets: $25 plus feeds via Ticketmaster.

LCD Soundsystem, Boygenius, Steve Lacy, Big Freedia and James Blake are among the dozen artists on Re:SET's stacked lineup.

When: June 9-11. Doors open at 3pm on Friday and Saturday and 2pm on Sunday.

Tickets: Single-day tickets start at $79.50, and three-day tickets start at $250. Purchase via Re:SET site.

The Grammy-nominated Logic is joined by fellow rapper Juicy J.

Tickets: $49.50 plus fees via LiveNation.

Mexican singer-songwriter and rapper Peso Pluma's breakthrough is largely thanks to TikTok and YouTube, where his tracks have been played hundreds of millions of times.

Tickets: $119 plus fees via Ticketmaster.

You can still hear this indie folk band's hits like "White Winter Hymnal" and "Mykonos" in coffee shops everywhere.

Essence's annual event celebrating Black culture and community returns to downtown New Orleans, taking over the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, the Caesars Superdome and just about everywhere in between. Expect a huge turnout and big-name performances from the likes of Megan Thee Stallion and Ms. Lauryn Hill.

Tickets: A mix of free and ticketed events. Purchase via Essence's site.

Read more: 14 can't-miss festivals in New Orleans this summer

14 can't-miss festivals in New Orleans this summer

7 concerts coming to New Orleans in June, including Boygenius and Peso Pluma

Essence Fest and Re:SET also come to New Orleans this month.

Phoebe Bridgers, Julien Baker and Lucy Dacus of Boygenius perform onstage during Coachella this April. Photo: Scott Dudelson/Getty Images for Coachella

Music

New Orleans live music fans, here&#x27;s a quick list of seven big concerts coming in June.Of note: This isn&#x27;t a comprehensive list. Check out the full calendars at your favorite venues for more.

Things to Do

New Orleans left empty-handed from Monday's James Beard Awards ceremony celebrating the best chefs and restaurants in the country.

State of play: We started out with 12 semifinalists representing NOLA, which was whittled down to three finalists: chef Ana Castro of Lengua Madre, the long-standing Angelo Brocato bakery and Serigne Mbaye of Dakar NOLA.

Yes, but: There's still plenty to celebrate from this year's ceremony.

The night was one of historic firsts, including the first Puerto Rican chef and the first indigenous woman to win James Beard awards.

New Orleans locals will also appreciate the nod to the late chef Leah Chase early into the night. Chase was the New Orleans woman who inspired Disney's Princess Tiana and won a lifetime achievement award during the 2016 James Beard Awards. 

"I'm so grateful she got her flowers later in life," Tanya Holland of the James Beard Foundation's Board of Trustees said of Chase.

The bottom line: In a foodie city like New Orleans, awards like these feel like a big deal, but we don't need a James Beard win to celebrate our top culinary talent.

Lost to: Natalia Vallejo, the first Puerto Rican chef to win a James Beard Award. Vallejo's restaurant Cocina al Fondo is located in the island's capital city of San Juan.

Try it: Chef Castro tells the story of her life through a five-course tasting menu at her modern Mexican restaurant in the Lower Garden District. Book a reservation via Resy (1245 Constance St.).

Lost to: Damarr Brown, the chef behind Chicago's Virtue and of Top Chef fame.

Try it: Chef Mbaye's Senegalese restaurant on Magazine Street has a rare perfect rating on Google and is a must-visit for tasting menu-loving folks. Reservations available via Tock (3814 Magazine St.).

Lost to: Yoli Tortilleria based in Kansas City, Missouri.

Try it: The 118-year-old gelato and dessert shop is a piece of New Orleans history — and now a piece of James Beard history, too, with this new category for outstanding bakeries. Its fresh-piped cannoli are a New Orleans staple (214 N. Carrollton Ave.).

Related Axios story: Try the 3 New Orleans spots on Esquire's best bars list

Try the 3 New Orleans spots on Esquire's best bars list

No James Beard Awards for New Orleans restaurants this year

But we don't need a James Beard win to celebrate our top culinary talent.

man stands in the doorway of a bakery in new orleans

Angelo Brocato has been open in New Orleans since 1905. Photo: Chris Graythen/Getty Images

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="New Orleans" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans/food-and-drink" data-vars-content-id="e64d1d29-5523-41f7-95d4-ec427f44b84e" data-vars-headline="No James Beard Awards for New Orleans restaurants this year" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans/food-and-drink" target="_self">New Orleans</a> left empty-handed from Monday&#x27;s James Beard Awards ceremony celebrating the best chefs and restaurants in the country.State of play: We started out with 12 <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="semifinalists" data-vars-click-url="https://nola.eater.com/2023/1/25/23570863/new-orleans-james-beard-award-semifinalists-2023-restaurants-chefs" data-vars-content-id="e64d1d29-5523-41f7-95d4-ec427f44b84e" data-vars-headline="No James Beard Awards for New Orleans restaurants this year" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://nola.eater.com/2023/1/25/23570863/new-orleans-james-beard-award-semifinalists-2023-restaurants-chefs" target="_blank">semifinalists</a> representing NOLA, which was whittled down to three finalists: chef Ana Castro of Lengua Madre, the long-standing Angelo Brocato bakery and Serigne Mbaye of Dakar NOLA.

Travelers kicked off what’s expected to a chaotic summer travel season Thursday, pouring into Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport ahead of Memorial Day weekend.

Why it matters: Brace yourself for headaches if you’re doing any kind of travel this weekend, but especially at the airport, where you can expect higher ticket prices, unexpected fees and delays.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says the holiday will “test the system” for airlines.

The big picture: Overall satisfaction with airlines has declined since the pandemic, according to J.D. Power’s annual study.

While airlines have been booking record business, "this golden age of enhanced revenues is coming at the expense of customer satisfaction," the company said in a release.

Southwest's customer satisfaction score fell 22 points from 2022, but it was still the highest-ranking airline in the economy segment.

Context: Airlines are still struggling to meet demand that bounced back faster than expected after the pandemic, Axios’ Joann Muller writes.

Be smart: Know what you're getting yourself into before you travel.

Major airlines are trimming summertime service despite surging passenger demand, so get your plan B, C or D ready.

If you’re traveling internationally and you need a new passport, put in your request very early. Processing can take up to nine weeks, not including mailing time.

And if you're looking to park at MSY, remember to check real-time parking information. As of Thursday, the economy garage had the most spaces available. 

Memorial Day travel forecast isn't pretty

Transportation secretary Buttigieg says Memorial Day weekend will "test the system"

picture of sign at New Orleans airport that tells people where to find the Exit, Bag Claim, Ground Transport, and Gates A,B

Interior of Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. Photo: Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Travelers kicked off what’s expected to a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="chaotic summer travel season" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/04/19/summer-travel-2023-airline-flight" data-vars-content-id="e8439221-8114-41c1-a66e-96b89b8450d4" data-vars-headline="Memorial Day travel forecast isn&#x27;t pretty" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/04/19/summer-travel-2023-airline-flight" target="_self">chaotic summer travel season</a> Thursday, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="pouring into" data-vars-click-url="https://www.wdsu.com/article/record-breaking-travel-numbers-expected-on-memorial-day-weekend/44002923" data-vars-content-id="e8439221-8114-41c1-a66e-96b89b8450d4" data-vars-headline="Memorial Day travel forecast isn&#x27;t pretty" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.wdsu.com/article/record-breaking-travel-numbers-expected-on-memorial-day-weekend/44002923" target="_blank">pouring into</a> Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport ahead of Memorial Day weekend.Why it matters: Brace yourself for headaches if you’re doing any kind of travel this weekend, but especially at the airport, where you can expect higher ticket prices, unexpected fees and delays.

Emma Way

Featured stories

No James Beard Awards for New Orleans restaurants this year

New steakhouse with $400 gold-coated steaks to open in New Orleans

7 concerts coming to New Orleans in June, including Boygenius and Peso Pluma

Memorial Day travel forecast isn't pretty

Wendell Pierce, Jon Batiste among notable New Orleanians to receive honorary degrees this year