Annunciation | NOLA

2011-10-06T16:42:00.000-05:00

Thinking Pink!
So many reasons to think pink!
1) Pussyfooters start up dance practice! Woot! Got to look good for the Mardi Gras parades. We recently performed for a fundraiser for Metropolitan Center for Women & Children. It was so much fun to put on the pink wig and corset and shake our groove things for a good cause.
2) October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and the color for that is pink. I'm going to be walking in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure on the 22nd. If you would like to donate to me team (pretty please!) click here.
3) I'm going to the Halloween Tea at the Windsor Court on the 23rd (busy weekend, but that's October for you). The gals I'm going are all going to dress up as the pink ladies from Grease. The Audubon Insectarium is bringing "creepy crawly guests" with them too.
4) Baby shower this month friends adopting a little girl. I have a second shower to go to this month too but they aren't announcing the sex of the baby.

Maybe I should put Pink Panther on the Netflix que? Hmmm... that might be a good Halloween costume.

2011-08-30T17:48:00.000-05:00

Come on September!

Ugh August. I hate August. Thank gawd it's almost over. A crazy month with the East Coast getting a one-two punch of an earthquake followed by Hurricane Irene. Here in New Orleans we are in a drought, in spite of the fact it rained every freaking day in July, but hardly at all in August. And we are also on day three of a marsh fire burning out of control in NO East. The city was blanketed in smoke today. Makes me cranky, super cranky. So it's time to look back over to some of the good time in August - go to a happy place if you will.

I think it's saying something that I didn't do a post for 08-29-11 the sixth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. But I think that was because of all the above distractions. I came across this graphic on Tumblr - very nice.

http://stephanieshift.tumblr.com/post/9555965725

The husband and I always do something to mark this day. One year we drank a nice bottle of wine we bought in CA that we had been saving. This year we went to dinner at Coquette, a wonderful French inspired restaurant in our 'hood.

The annual Rising Tide Conference was this weekend. It just gets better every year. And it's great to see all folks we've met thanks to the blogsphere. I did miss the annual group proclamation of FYYFF. Very cathardic to yell that with a whole room full of people. After the conference I got all pink and sparkly and joined my Pussyfooters sisters for the Mid-Summer Mardi Gras. Something else I can cross off my New Orleans Bucket List. It was fun but dammit was hot. A full day of stuff to remind me why I live here. Sunday I had drinks with a friends who was visiting from out of town and one of them asked me a question along the lines of "have you ever thought of living somewhere else?" Yes of course I've day dreamed about living other places. I was in NYC earlier this month and I was ready to not come home. I think I gave him a look of horror though based on how he back peddled and tried to clarify what he was trying to say. That probably wouldn't have happen two days earlier when I would have yelled "YES and get me the hell out of here."

2011-05-10T13:13:00.000-05:00

Driven to Distraction

It feels like living in New Orleans is just a series of distractions. Once we got through the holidays, we had Mardi Gras, followed by St. Patrick's Day, French Quarter Fest and JazzFest, with all sorts of other festivals sprinkled between. I've started a post-JazzFest diet to work off off the food and libations that go along with said distractions. For me though, JazzFest is the BEST distracation of all. You can't beat the variety of music, food and arts & crafts. This year there was no rain the entire time - first time that's happened in 12 years.

Thursday, Day 2 for us.

Gentilly Stage the second Saturday, day 3 for us.

Sunscreen and hats are very important.

The Decemberist rocked the Fais Do Do stage the first Sunday.

Actually, it's been weeks since we've had any rain. I have to water my garden every other day, my allergies are out of control, my car is covered in dust and pollen and my office building is sinking. Now our attention gets focus on another distraction, the rising Mississippi River. It's flooding parts of Memphis and other areas of north. Levees have been blown up to relieve the pressure on them and spillways are being opened. We have the Bonnet Carre spill way upriver from New Orleans that was opened Monday that funnels water into Lake Ponchatrain, which an event unto itself. There is talk of opening the Morganza spillway, which is upriver of Baton Rouge. It's going to flood thousands of people who live along the Atchafalya River, but there's no way the powers that be will let Baton Rouge or LSU flood.

Am I worried? Eh, not yet. Though I was thinking now would be a good time to make sure our "disaster kit" is up to date.

To come: my JazzFest schedule.

2011-03-03T10:37:00.001-06:00

Grassroots Mardi Gras marching groups opt for spunk and sparkle over pomp and prestige
Published: Thursday, March 03, 2011, 9:00 AM
By John Pope, The Times-Picayune
Article in the T-P about marching groups with great photos of the Pussyfooters and other groups.

NOTE: The Pussyfooter started 10 years ago, before Katrina. :-)

Slide show of photos from the shoot above.

2011-02-22T17:19:00.000-06:00

Krewe du Vieux 2011

G and I are in Krewe of PAN and sub-Krewe of Krewe du Vieux and our parade was Saturday. Unlike the huge super-krewe who pay professionals to make their floats and costumes we all do it all ourselves. Our theme this year was "S'il Vous Played" and everyone costumed as a huckster, sham artist, what have you. There were several meter maids, garbage collection agencies, corrupt politicians, card sharks and mimes. The crowds this year were huge! Probably because the weather was mild. It's usually freezing cold for our parade.

I was a fortune teller.

Our float. The hands were motorized.

G as a politician.

A great video of us appears on YouTube:

2011-02-08T10:59:00.001-06:00

What I've been up to...

The 610 Stomper's Ball -their theme was 80s and/or prom wear.

My get-up for the Pussyfooter's Blush Ball

2011-02-08T10:54:00.000-06:00

One month to Mardi Gras day!

I had all these grand delusion of posting about the building up to Mardi Gras. But I've just been too busy to post! So instead, just enjoy this wonderful video.

Mardi Gras 2010 from Cottage Films on Vimeo.

2011-01-28T13:12:00.001-06:00

Party with a Purpose Blush Ball is tomorrow night!

Wow. It's been a VERY busy January gearing up for the Blush Ball. Weekly dance rehearsals, shopping for costume accesssories, creating the decorations to make the big black hole that is the Howlin' Wolf all pink and sparkly and FUN. Sending out email blasts and Tweets. Marketing meetings. Spamming my friends on Facebook. Selling ball tickets and raffle tickets. As usual I have over committed myself. LOL! But the payoff should be worth it. Ticket sales have been very strong. Our goal was "over 60" items for the raffle, we have around 175! And some really amazing stuff too. Gift certificates for restaurants, bars, spas and salons. I personally got gift certificates from Katy Beh Contemporary Jewelry, Lakeside Shopping Center, Finn McCool's and Mid-City Yacht Club plus some tickets to the 610 Stomper's Ball next week (thanks everyone!).

Our goal is to raise $10,000 for Metropolitan Center for Women & Children. We may actually EXCEED that figure. I got to create a BIG fake CHECK to present to Metro.


Big @ss check!

The Pussyfooters colors are pink, orange and silver and they are all about being sparkly. I didn't own anything pink before joining but not I own a TON of stuff. Claire's Boutique is a good source for pink and sparkly. Fake nails, glitter pink lip gloss and eye shadow, pink gloves and sparkly earrings. It's been fun getting in touch with my inner 12 year old girl. LOL. And I've met some great ladies.

Is it pink? check. Does it Sparkle? check.

I'm very exciting, and feeling a little (OK a lot) overwhelmed by tomorrow. A bunch of us are showing up at the venue at 9am to clean and decorate. Then I have to go home, get dressed, go back around 7pm for dress rehearsal. And THEN the party begins! OY! I'm not planning on doing much of anything Sunday. Just relaxing. And trying to wash all the glitter off me.

UPDATE: We raised $14,000 for METRO!

2011-01-18T12:35:00.000-06:00

JAN. 29, 2011:
Blush Ball Fundraiser!Party with a Purpose!
Fundraiser for Metro Center for Women and Children (METRO)
The Pussyfooters are celebrating our 10th Anniversary by raising $10,000 for Metro Center.

January 29, 2011
Howlin' Wolf
907 South Peters
9pm - 2am

$30 advance tickets - buy from your favorite Pussyfooter
$30 plus service charge - buy on-line
$35 tickets at the door

Featuring Big Sam's Funky Nation and DJ Brice Nice
Performances by the Pussyfooters and the 610 Stompers
Firehouse Cook-off by the Firefighters of New Orleans
Win a chance at over 60 fabulous prizes in our Raffle. Tickets $5 each or five for $20. Buy now from a Pussyfooter or at the Ball. Drawing Jan. 29. Need not be present to win.

METRO's mission is to break the cycle of domestic violence and aid survivors of sexual assault through advocacy, intervention, empowerment and transformation. Click here to learn more about METRO.

Click here to download the poster. (PDF)

Click here to download the press release. (Word doc)

Click here to read article about the Blush Ball by the Times-Picayune .

Simon's Cat in 'Santa Claws'

2010-12-17T11:53:00.000-06:00

2010-10-05T15:45:00.001-05:00

Magazine Street Blues Festival this weekend

I went to this Uptown festival last year and it was really nice.

2010-09-09T16:33:00.007-05:00

Uptown Flash Flood

This morning started out beautiful and clear. Sometime around 2:00 it started to rain. And it continued to rain. Then harder. And harder. Lots of thunder. I check the radar, and there was just a red dot sitting over Uptown not moving. I decide to stick my head out the door of my office and check on my car. Mine was OK but then a neighbor ran up saying my business partner should move hers. She couldn't open the driver's side door because water would get in if she did, so she crawled in through the hatchback. I ended up having to move my car a few feet because of the dip by the curb.

No wake zone please!

You could tell one the pumps were on because there was a current flowing down the street. You can sort of see it in the video.

Watching the water rise.

The kayaks might be a little over the top.

2010-09-08T12:54:00.003-05:00

Details on all the hoopla going on tomorrow before the Saints game.

NFL ANNOUNCES LOCAL DETAILS FOR “NFL KICKOFF 2010”

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9

The National Football League announced today event information for “NFL KICKOFF 2010 PRESENTED BY EA SPORTS” Thursday, September 9.

THE KREWE OF NFL KICKOFF PARADE travels through the heart of the French Quarter, stepping off at 5:00 p.m. (CT) on Esplanade Ave. and North Peters, heading downtown on Decatur and North Peters crossing Canal St. to Tchoupitoulas and ending at Julia Street.

There will be specialty NFL floats and throws (beads) in the parade. The Krewe of NFL Kickoff Parade will feature Blaine Kern Studios signature floats, the area’s finest marching bands, local residents, local chefs and former NFL greats from around the league. EMERIL LAGASSE, DICKIE BRENNAN, PAUL PRUDHOMME, FRANK BRIGSTEN, JOHN BESH, TORY McPHAIL & KATY CASBARIAN are among the local chefs and restaurateurs who will in the parade representing all members of the Louisiana Restaurant Association.

The floats of The Krewe Of NFL Kickoff Parade include:

EA Madden To The People Float celebrates Madden NFL 11 and its cover-athlete DREW BREES and features chefs Haley Bittermann, Dooky Chase & John Besh, and EA throws.
VISA Float showcases a variety of NFL teams, chefs from Brigtsen’s, Commander’s & Herbsaint/Cochon and Visa throws.
Pepsi Max Float celebrates getting back to football and tailgating, featuring chefs from GW Fins & Café Giovanni, and Pepsi throws.
Snickers Float, telling people to ‘Go Nuts for the NFL’ and featuring chefs from Dickie Brennan's Steakhouse, BACCO & Sucre and NFL throws.
Orpheus Smokey Mary Train featuring local kids who are part of the NFL’s PLAY 60 campaign, committed to making the next generation of youth the most active and healthy. Chefs from Arnaud’s, The Rib Room, Mr. B’s Bistro, Commander’s, Café Adelaide & Galatoire’s Restaurant will ride the train as well and NFL and Kickoff beads will be thrown.
Lombardi Riverboat Float commemorating the Saints Super Bowl XLIV championship, featuring chefs Emeril Lagasse, Dickie Brennan and Kickoff throws.
Rex Streetcar Float, a New Orleans-themed float celebrating that night’s match-up between the Saints and the Minnesota Vikings, will feature New Orleans’ beloved Chef Paul Prudhomme and Kickoff throws.

The marching bands featured in The Krewe of NFL Kickoff Parade include:

United States Marine Corps and Marine Forces Reserve Color Guard
St. Augustine High School (New Orleans)
Tulane University (New Orleans)
McDonogh 35 High School (New Orleans)
Warren Easton Charter High School (New Orleans)
Eleanor McMain Secondary School (New Orleans)
West Jefferson High School (New Orleans)
Sophie B. Wright Charter Middle School (New Orleans)

There also will be 17 GMC vehicles featuring the NFL match-ups during Kickoff weekend in the parade.

PARADE ROUTE
The parade will begin at 5:00 pm on Elysian Fields Avenue between Royal and Dauphine Streets. The parade will proceed (with traffic) on Elysian Fields to North Peters and turn right (against traffic) on North Peters to Dumaine Street. The lead units of the parade will arrive at the intersection of North Peters and Dumaine Streets at approximately 5:40 pm. Upon arrival at North Peters and Dumaine Streets, the parade will be a part of the NBC live television program and will be cued by the producers. It is anticipated that the last float will pass Jackson Square on Decatur Street at approximately 7:00pm. Once passing Jackson Square, the parade will continue on Decatur and North Peters Streets to Canal Street. The parade will cross Canal Street on North Peters and Tchoupitoulas Streets to Julia Street, where it will disband at approximately 8:00 pm.

CONCERT

The Krewe of NFL Kickoff Parade kicks off "NFL KICKOFF 2010 PRESENTED BY EA SPORTS,” the NFL’s ninth annual football and music festival. DAVE MATTHEWS BAND and TAYLOR SWIFT are scheduled to perform. NFL Kickoff 2010 will be televised live, from 7:30-8:30 PM (ET)/6:30-7:30 PM (CT) on NBC and NFL Network, leading up to the season opener between the Saints and the Minnesota Vikings at the Superdome (NBC, Westwood One Radio Sports, 8:30 PM ET). This is the seventh consecutive year the NFL has saluted the Super Bowl champions with the opening game in their stadium on a Thursday in primetime.

TRANSPORTATION

Traffic and Street Closing Information

Wilkinson Street will be closed Sunday, Sept. 5 through Friday, Sept. 10 at 4 PM.
Decatur Street (from St. Louis to Dumaine) will be closed on Sunday, Sept. 5, 7 AM – 7 PM & Wednesday, Sept. 8 from 12 – 8 PM and on Thursday, Sept. 9 starting at 12 PM through 6 AM on Friday, Sept. 10.

All of Decatur Street will be closed during the Parade.

No Parking Zone

There is no parking on Decatur Street from Toulouse to Dumaine through Friday, Sept. 10.∙
French Market Parking Lot is closed from St. Peter to Dumaine beginning Friday, Sept. 3. Beginning Tuesday, Sept. 7 at 6:00 AM, French Market Parking Lot is closed from St. Peter to exit through Thursday, Sept. 9. French Market Parking Lot will be fully open on Saturday, Sept. 11.

NFL Kickoff Fan Zone

Fans may access the kiosks at the Jackson Brewery Lot along Decatur Street.

They are open to the public Tuesday - Thursday, 10AM – 7PM.

The NFL Kickoff Fan Zone offers fans an opportunity to interact with a number of exciting football-themed attractions provided by NFL partners. The three-day event will feature player appearances, sponsor promotions and giveaways. Highlights include: GMC vehicle displays, Pepsi Max product sampling, Verizon's Rule the Air interactive display, and more. Several of the areas will feature player appearances. On Thursday, GMC will host former Saints RB Deuce McAllister from 1-2 PM, Jerome Bettis from 2-3 PM and Marcus Allen from 3-4 PM. Coors Light will host former Saints QB Bobby Hebert from 11:30 AM -12:30 PM and Ron Jaworski from 3-5 PM.

2010-08-27T13:44:00.006-05:00

K+5 and Rising Tide

Sunday will be the 5 year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina making landfall in Louisiana and Mississippi. Wow. 5 years. All week there's been TV specials and articles devoted to the anniversary. Chris Rose wrote an article asking "What if Katrina Never Happened?" which is something I can't wrap my head around.

For book club we are reading two Katrina related books, City of Refuge by Tom Piazza and Nine Lives by Dan Baum. I'm halfway through City of Refuge. I loved Piazza's book Why New Orleans Matters but I'm just not connecting to City. I think it would be a very good book for someone who doesn't live in New Orleans to read. It's a novel but very true to life, following two families Katrina experiences. Their stories are ones we New Orleanians have heard many times. I have yet to start Nine Lives.

I have learned that rituals are a good thing to help get through a difficult anniversary. Every year to remember my mother's passing (August 23rd-I hate August), I cook a special meal while listening to some of her favorite music, then watch one of her favorite movies. The first year after Katrina, G and I didn't do anything special. We tried to pretend it was just another day, went to work, didn't go to any wreath layings or bell ringings, but it wasn't a normal day and it felt off. The 2 year mark we drank a bottle of wine we had picked up in Sonoma and was saving for a special occasion. Every year around this time is the Rising Tide Conference. To me it's a great way to mark the anniversary. I started blogging because of Katrina and have met a whole host of wonderful people after the storm through our blogs. I don't post as often and I have not been keeping up on others' blogs because of Facebook. I'm looking forward to the group FYYFF shout out.

The artwork is a revised design from the t-shirts I put on CafePress after Katrina. Occasionally someone still buys stuff. I had to do something to keep from going crazy.

2010-08-17T11:57:00.003-05:00

Please vote!

Markham Vineyards "Mark of Distinction" is a $25,000 grant awarded to an individual or organization making a difference in their community. TheNewFreret.com aka Freret Business & Property Owner Association is one of ten finalist. Please click here to vote for TheNewFreret.com. You can vote once a day. All you need to do is enter your name and email. It takes a few seconds. Please and thank you!

2010-08-12T12:53:00.004-05:00

WHO DAT?!

Today's the first pre-season game for The Saints. Normally I pay no attention to pre-season because it doesn't count. But I find myself in a strangly good and euphoric mood today inspite of the fact it's been storming for two days thanks to TS #5 and work is sooooo slow and our bank balance is really low. I'm looking forward to seeing my game watching posse at Rendezvous tonight and watching our boys in black and gold do their thing.

Drew Brees' pre-game chant:

When I say 1, you say 2. When I say win, you say for you. ...
1! 2! Win! For you!

When I say 3, you say 4. When I say win, you say some more. ...
3! 4! Win! Some more!

When I say 5, you say 6. When I say win, you say for kicks. ...
5! 6! Win! For kicks!

When I say 7, you say 8. When I say win, you say it's great. ...
7! 8! Win! It's great!

When I say 9, you say 10. When I say win, you say again. ...
9! 10! Win! Again!

Win! Again! Win! Again! Win! Again! Win! Again!

2010-07-29T10:51:00.001-05:00

Happy Birthday Harold!

Our little kitten is now a year old. My how he has grown!

2010-07-23T14:36:00.004-05:00

And so it begins...

Tropical Storm Bonnie is off the coast of Florida and the current forecast has it coming right to New Orleans. A friend in Miami said it wasn't too bad for them.

I was already to leave the office early when I got an email from a client who wanted a contingency plan for his company's website (a shopping mall) due to the storm, to let people know whether they are open or not. Which made me realize that I am totally unprepared for hurricane season. Now I have an iPhone, there's got to be a way to update web page from my phone. If the power is out I wouldn't be able to use a computer. I downloaded an HTML editing app and will have to test it to see how well it works. I know there's a way to update this blog from my phone because I did it during hurricane Gustav, I'm just not sure I remember how.

Bonnie is one of those wake-up calls. August is right around the corner and that's when hurricane season really picks up. Everyone realizes they better get on the stick.

Hopefully this won't be a big deal. My biggest concern is the oil and dispersant that will probably get pushed ashore and into the fragile wetlands, lakes and inlets. Ugh. It could get even messier. We'll just have to wait and see.

I always refer to Bob Breck's Blog and Weather Underground.
Pay no attention to CNN and the Weather Channel.

2010-07-14T12:02:00.003-05:00

Rising Tide V

It is my duty as a NOLA blogger to promote RT, though not sure anyone reads my blog any more. Hello? Anyone out there?

Rising Tide is a conference for bloggers put on by bloggers. I attended II and IV and have been very impressed. So here's the 411:

Rising Tide 5
Saturday, August 28, 2010
9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
The Howlin’ Wolf
907 South Peters Street
New Orleans, Louisiana

www.risingtidenola.com

Rising Tide NOLA, Inc. will present its 5th annual new media conference centered on the recovery and future of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast on Saturday, August 28, 2010, 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., at The Howlin’ Wolf, 907 South Peters St., in New Orleans.

The one-day conference features speakers and panel discussions on the status and future of the culture, politics, criminal justice system, environment, and flood protection of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. Past speakers have included actor and outspoken champion of New Orleans Harry Shearer, and authors Dave Zirin, John Barry, Christopher Cooper and Robert Block.

Rising Tide NOLA, Inc. is a non-profit organization formed by New Orleans bloggers in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and the failure of the federally-built levees. After the disaster, the internet became a vital connection among dispersed New Orleanians, former New Orleanians, and friends of the city and of the Gulf Coast region. A surge of new blogs erupted and, combined with those that were already online, a community of bloggers with a shared interest in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast developed. In the summer of 2006, to mark the anniversary of the flood, the bloggers of New Orleans organized the first Rising Tide Conference, taking their shared interest in technology, the arts, the internet and social media and turning advocacy for the city into action.

Conference registration is open at http://www.risingtidenola.com and at the Rising Tide blog: http://www.risingtideblog.blogspot.com

Rising Tide 5 is sponsored by The Canary Collective, a media publishing agency, and by Levees.org.

Rising Tide’s featured artwork, available as a poster and t-shirt, is once again produced by the award-wining editorial cartoonist and artist Greg Peters of Suspect Device.

2010-07-08T17:35:00.002-05:00

puss·y·foot
1. To move stealthily or cautiously.
2. Informal To act or proceed cautiously or timidly to avoid committing oneself.

Tonight I'm going to my first Pussyfooter's meeting. I'm very excited. The Pussyfooters are an all female dancing/marching group. There are several of these groups in New Orleans. This article does a nice synopsis about the groups.

2010-06-13T15:54:00.009-05:00

You don't have to be crazy to live here but it helps.

I survived my trip, but just barely. Day two I went on a rafting trip. The river was running high, fast and very cold due to all the snow melt. We hit a rapid the wrong way and everyone got thrown from the raft except the guide. Two manged to swim to shore, me and another guy got pulled back into the raft. Never been so cold in my life. Scared the shit out of me and I got some lovely bruises. One guy twisted his ankle really bad. But we all were OK and we only lost 3 baseball caps and one paddle.

That white stuff is snow, my friends. Up to our knees in some places.

It's always interesting to travel-you realize just how dysfunctional yet unique New Orleans really is. The first week of my trip was small spent in small, charming mountain towns in the southern half of Colorado. One day were were so high up in the mountains that the snow still hadn't melted. The second week I was in Denver for a conference. Denver is huge and flat. Who knew? It's very clean and there's a good mix of older buildings and new ones. I thought "this is what it's like to live in a town with a robust tax base." I like the funk of New Orleans though, and Denver seems like it tries too hard. My friend and I visited Pearl Street, billed as "unique shops, excellent dining and community minded businesses nestled in a delightful, pedestrian and pet friendly setting." All three blocks of it. Whatever. It pales compared to Magazine Street which is 6 miles long full of shops, restaurants, bars and galleries.

Cute, mountain town of Silverton.

I did have an interesting experience. I have friends in Denver and they picked me up from my downtown hotel and took me to their house for dinner. I was there for about 5 minutes when the power went out. It was a very hot day so we all assumed it was a brownout. But it stayed out. Thankfully they lived within walking distance of some restaurants so we headed out. This was no brownout, traffic lights were also out. My friend pulled up the news on her Blackberry - an electrical substation had exploded and thousands of people were out of power! We were lucky there was an area near by that had power and we were able to have dinner. They took me back to my hotel around 9pm and it was creepy. It was dark, no lights, no traffic lights - very reminiscent of parts of New Orleans after Katrina - plus smoke. Thankfully downtown had power so my hotel wasn't affected.

Getting back to crazy; I come home to extreme heat and humidity, the start of hurricane season and the on-going oil "spill" in the gulf. I won't lie, it was a relief to be away from all the bad news for a while. As well as away from the humidity. But we do find ways to distract ourselves and make it worth it to live here: incredible food, amazing music, copious amount of booze available 24/7, the laissez faire attitude, Mardi Gras, festivals and other crazy things. For example, I just found out today I got accepted into the Pussyfooters, one of the female dance troupes. There are others; Camel Toes Steppers, Bearded Oysters and The Muffalottas. I also play on a Skee Ball team every Thursday. Excuse me, it's a skee ball and drinking league. The guy who formed the league just made this great video. I'm a member of two Mardi Gras krewes, so I get to dress up in costumes and parade through the street with a drink in my hand, throwing stuff at people-it's really a hoot. If you are thinking "grow up" then you don't have the right attitude to live here. Yes, people do have jobs, pay bills, own homes and raise families. We just like to have fun while being all grown up and responsible.

2010-05-28T11:22:00.004-05:00

Heading West

Time for my annual hiking/camping trip. Going to Colorado this time. 2 weeks. Can't wait.

No posts about the BP oil disaster. Just too overwhelming. Just plug the damn thing up and clean our coast and gulf up.

Keep eating Louisiana seafood please, there are still some not impacted fishing zones as of now. Keep the fishermen who can work in business.

If you want to donate money, here are a few good organizations:

These help the ecosystem:

Gulf Restoration Network: http://www.healthygulf.org/

Tri-state Bird Rescue: http://www.tristatebird.org/

Voice of the Wetlands: http://www.voiceofthewetlands.org/

These help the people impacted on the Louisiana coast:

Gulf Aid: http://www.gulfaid.org/

Second Harvest: http://no-hunger.org/

Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans: http://www.arch-no.org/

The Greater New Orleans Foundation: http://www.gnof.org/

2010-05-03T12:39:00.007-05:00

Ups and Downs

Another JazzFest has come and gone. I only went two days this year - the first Saturday and Thursday. The Thursday has always been my favorite day. "Locals Day" much smaller crowds, no lines for anything.

Saturday we saw: Bonerama, Papa Grows Funk, Big Sam's Funky Nation,Terence Blanchard, Treme Brass Band, Dr. Michael White. We saw the first half of Simon and Garfunkle but were somewhat dissapointed so we scooted over to the Blues tent to catch the second half of Tab Benoit's set. He was tearing it up! We also saw the parade " Kirk Joseph & the Sousaphone Symphony Parade honoring Anthony “Tuba Fats” Lacen" with 15 tubas!

Thursday the weather was perfect. I saw Dumpstafunk, Sunpie Barnes, Steve Martin w/ Steep Canyon Rangers (yes that Steve Martin), Soul Rebles, 101 Runners and Elvis Costello. The day was more laid back in all ways.

Soul Rebels - the nice thing about Thursday you can get up closer to the stages.

We were up front for Dumpstafunk. This is looking back at the crowd.

The down was the BP Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion and the oil leak (leak? geyser is more like it) that followed. 11 men lost their lives, hundreds of fishermen will lose their livelihood and thousands of marine animals and bird are suffering not to mention the damage to the coastlines and beaches of 4 states. And BP is hemmoraging money for the clean up. As of this time still waiting to hear why this happen. Here in New Orleans people are eating and buying up seafood for the very real fear it will be in short supply for years, which of course will drive up the cost. It remains to be seen how this will affect shipping in the ports of New Orleans and Mobile and the price of gas.

Another Up - New Orleans has a new mayor! Mayor Mitch Landrieu was sworn in to day. Can I get an amen?! I'm more excited about the departure of Ray Nagin but I do hope Landrieu can turn things around and actually get things done and be accountable. It's pretty easy for him to look better and accomplish more than Nagin.

2010-03-29T11:47:00.007-05:00

Super Sunday 2010

I went to my first Super Sunday yesterday. No, it’s not a sporting event. It’s a day when various Mardi Gras Indian tribes meet up, show off their suits, and parade. There is drumming, chanting and call and response. The suits are incredibly elaborate, covered in feathers, beading and rhinestones and can weigh over 100 pounds. It’s a generational thing and it’s great to see the kids out in suits as well.

Here’s an overview of the Mardi Gras Indians
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mardi_Gras_Indians

More detail information and history:
http://www.mardigrasneworleans.com/mardigrasindians.html

Click here for my photos from Super Sunday 2010.

2010-03-08T12:12:00.003-06:00

Saints Update

610 Stompers

The Saints have been Superbowl Champions for one month and about 14 hours, 16 minutes. The feel good after glow has not warn off. I heard "Halftime" (aka Get Crunk) for the first time since Mardi Gras at the Big Easy Roller Girls bout Saturday. I had grown sick of the song after hearing it over and over. The 610 Stompers were half time entertainment and did part of their routine to the song. The whole crowd on the New Orleans side jumped up and started singing and dancing along, myself included. My friends and I yelled ourselves hoarse. I hope the fans from Arkansas (the opposing team was the Arkansas Killbillies) were amused by our Stompers and the crowd's reaction.

CityBusiness reports on the "Saintsaintional Impact" the win has had on New Orleans. (Thanks to Humid Being for having the whole article.)

Of course now is the NFL draft and everyone is waiting to see who is staying with the Saints and who is going. A surprise was Scott Fujita signing with the Cleveland Browns. Going from the Superbowl winners to a team who went 5-11 last year. Wow. A surprise since Fujita always talks about how much he loves New Orleans. But of course, money talks louder. Maybe he hopes he can help the Cleveland become a turn around team/city, sort of like NOLA.

Some guy named Mike Polk made two videos, self proclaimed "hastily made Cleveland tourism videos." They are hilarious. I was going to embed them, but the maker's comments are priceless.

Attempt #1
Attempt #2

2010-02-15T16:26:00.006-06:00

Lombardi Gras

Some people have started calling this year's carnival season "Lombardi Gras" instead of Mardi Gras because of the black and gold bleed over. The crowds are huge this year. Cell phone service (at least with AT&T) is spotty and even text messages aren't going through. We are definitly back to pre-K levels of crowds.

This has definitely been the best Mardi Gras ever for me. Joining the Krewe of PAN and marching in Krewe du Vieux was amazing. I went to my first Blush ball - fantastic - and my first AMUSEment Muses's ball with the B52s performing - outstanding. I almost had the opportunity to ride in the Muses parade for the first time as a sub. I tried but no too hard to ride. Got to save something to look forward to! In between these experiences was also the first of seeing the Saints win the NFC Championship and the Superbowl. Saturday night we took a break from parades and watched the Superbowl again. I've never watched the Superbowl twice. I've been on such a high for weeks now. Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, Mardi Gras will be over. Catholics observe Lent and I'm going to join them in Flexi-lent. No drinking except for my birthday and the St. Patrick's Day parade party we have every year.

The video of Wynton Marsalis "The Spirit of New Orleans" is finally on-line, posted on Facebook by the man himself (or his representatives). So perfect.

I'm paraded and partied out and am ready to get back to "Normal." Of course, like after Katrina, there's a new normal around here. For so long New Orleans, like the Saints, have been looked down upon. New Orleans is back baby! The Who Dat! Nation is alive and well. Ya you rite.

One last New Orleans video, just as perfect as Wynton's but this one is funny and funky. "New Orleans: Love it or Leave it."

2010-02-08T14:13:00.005-06:00

Super Bowl part deaux

I've been at work for several and very little actual work has been done. I just ordered DVDs of the Superbowl game and the NFC championship game. I watched them but want to see them again. Especially some of the pre- and post-game stuff that the sound was turned off at the bar we were at. For example, I missed this poem by Wynton Marsalis "The Spirit of New Orleans," I was hoping to find it on-line but haven't found it yet. I'm sure the NLF have clammed down on this stuff. All I can find are the ads.

Some did this wonderful little video of Magazine Street after the Superbowl. This is where we were.

More to come...

2010-02-08T12:12:00.001-06:00

New Orleans Saints win Super Bowl XLIV

Speechless.

2010-02-06T17:48:00.005-06:00

Anticipation....

Superbowl kick-off is less than 24 hours away now and I can hardly stand it! I've been doing weekend chores all day because nothing productive will get done tomorrow. I voted this morning and tonight will watch the returns. Will Mitch Landrieu pull off a landslide without a run-off? Hey, the Saints are in the Superbowl ANYTHING is possible. Elections here are crazy (like everything else). The primaries are open and there were 11 names on the ballot:

Mayor City of New Orleans 1 18 Jonah Bascle No Party
Mayor City of New Orleans 1 19 'Manny' Chevrolet-Bruno Other
Mayor City of New Orleans 1 20 Robert 'Rob' Couhig Republican
Mayor City of New Orleans 1 21 John Georges Democrat
Mayor City of New Orleans 1 22 Troy Henry Democrat
Mayor City of New Orleans 1 23 'Jerry' Jacobs No Party
Mayor City of New Orleans 1 25 Thomas A. Lambert Republican
Mayor City of New Orleans 1 26 Mitchell 'Mitch' Landrieu Democrat
Mayor City of New Orleans 1 28 James Perry Democrat
Mayor City of New Orleans 1 29 Nadine Ramsey Democrat
Mayor City of New Orleans 1 30 Norbert P. Rome No Party

Also on the ballot were spots for city council, various judges and coroner. Who elects their coroner??? The challenger to the incumbent ran this ad.

I can't even think straight anymore. My head is a buzz. All I can say is WHO DAT!

2010-02-06T09:00:00.000-06:00

30 years of Super Bowl Commercials

Super Bowl TM©® ads used to be highly anticipated and offered a resite from those who didnt' care for football. They've been ho-gum that last few years after the tech bust. Here's a site where you can watch the ads from the past. Heck they even have some 2110 ads posted already.

2010-02-05T10:13:00.009-06:00

The New Orleans Saints Superbowl Drinking Game

1. Every time they mention hurricane Katrina, drink 1
2. If they show pictures of the City of New Orleans right after Katrina, drink 1
3. Every time they say how much the Saints mean to the City of New Orleans, drink 1
4. Every time the words “tragedy”, “flood”, or “devastation” are used, drink 1
5. Every time they talk about how good Reggie Bush was in college, drink 3
6. If they show Kim Kardashian in the stands, drink 5
7. Every time they show a picture of Reggie Bush with a bat or say “bringing the wood” drink for 5 seconds.
8. Every time Reggie Bush gets negative yardage trying to run around in the backfield a bunch and outrun the defense, drink 1 and turn to the person next to you and say “I told you Vince Young should have won the Heisman”
9. Every time Reggie Bush gets up and flexes his arms in that pose he likes to do, drink 1
10. If they mention Tim Tebow for any reason, funnel a beer
11. Every time they say that “it’s destiny for the Saints to win” drink 1
12. If they show footage of Katrina survivors at the Superdome, take a shot of cheap liquor
13. If they call Saints fans the most passionate fans in football, drink 1
14. If they say that the Saints, Saints fans, or the City of New Orleans “deserve” a Superbowl victory, drink 1 and yell Who dat!
15. Every time they say how good of a story the Saints are, drink 1
16. If Jeremy Shockey pretends to be hurt after dropping a pass, drink 2
17. If they mention the Saints beating the Falcons in 2006 in the first game after Katrina in the Superdome, drink 5
18. Every time they compare hurricane Katrina to the Haiti earthquake, funnel a beer and yell “bullshit!”
19. Every time they mention Drew Brees as the Mardi Gras king, drink
20. Every time they show Archie Manning, drink 1. If they show old footage of him with the Saints, drink 5. If they mention how tough of a decision it was for him as for whom to cheer for, drink 10.
21. Every time they show a saints fan yelling "Who dat!" Or a sign/shirt saying the same, drink 1 and yell Who dat!
22. If they show Chris Paul at the game, drink 1 and mention to someone how much better he is than Marvin Williams.
23. If they show former Mayor Ray Nagin, drink 5 and then do a little dance since he'll be gone after May.

Other Rules not involving the Saints:
1. Every time they show Eli Manning in the press box, drink 1
2. Every time Pierre Garcon is mentioned with Haiti, drink 1
3. If Brett Favre is mentioned for any reason, drink 1

If I play this game I'm going to be passed out on the floor by the end of the first quarter!

2010-02-02T13:23:00.006-06:00

A letter to the Who Dat! Nation

The T-P did a funny letter: "Dear Miami: Get ready for the Who Dat Nation coming for the SuperBowl"

I offer my letter to the Who Dat! Nation. My father lives in South Florida, so I feel qualified to offer some advice to those New Orleanians making the trek to Miami.

Leave the heavy clothes at home. This is South Florida where it’s always beautiful and balmy. There might be some rain but it will be over before you know it. You might need something light for the freezing cold restaurants.
Speaking of restaurants, don’t expect to find TabascoTM on the tables. Bring your own hot sauce and Tony C’s. You’ll thank me.
South Florida has some fantastic seafood so enjoy. Just don’t expect everything to be fried. They like to eat "healthy" down there. Remember the “South Beach Diet?”
If you want food with a kick, try some Cuban cuisine. You won't be sorry.
If you are driving to Miami, you might want to pack your own booze – I bet they run out. But make sure none of the bottles in your car are open. They are very strict about drinking and driving and a bottle of wine with the cork stuck back in, under the driver’s seat, may land you in jail.
The Florida Highway Patrol officers do not have a sense of humor.
Be prepared to be carded. Keep your ID handy.
It’s snowbird season, which means there are retirees from the north everywhere. Be prepared to follow slow moving cars with their turn signal going.
Pack the sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat. You’ll need them.
Be prepared to drive. A lot. Kind of like visiting Houston or Dallas.
If you have a day or two, drive down and see the Keys. Key West, at the very end, has a New Orleans vibe with a tropical twist.

Anything I missed?

UPDATE: ESPN posts "Here are the 20 reasons you should be in New Orleans instead of Miami for the Super Bowl" (Thanks Jim!)

2010-01-31T16:03:00.004-06:00

The morning after...

We had SO much fun with Krewe du Vieux and all the wonderful people of Krewe of PAN. Can't wait to do it again next year. However, today I am sore all over from walking, dancing and lugging a gym bag full of beads and throws. These photos were taken from a balcony on Royal street by G's cousin. I have a whole host of photos I took here.

The local rag, the T-P has a nice slide show of image from the parade. Our float made the front cover of the paper! Nice! VOO DAT!

2010-01-30T13:11:00.004-06:00

Krewe du Vieux gets FIRED UP tonight!

After living in New Orleans for 17 years I am finally participating in my first Mardi Gras parade. G and I were invited to join the Krewe of PAN, a sub-Krewe of Krewe du Vieux, 2 weeks ago by Adrastos and Dr. A. It's been a very busy 2 weeks as we helped with the float (well, we mostly stood around, drank beer and held things when needed), created gris gris bags for throws and ran around town buying throws and parts for our costumes. Our Krewe's theme is VOO DAT and I will be dressed as a Miami Dophin voo doo doll. I'm glad I didn't decide to be a Saintsation cause it's gonna be bone chilling cold tonight! Therefore, you can be guarenteed the parade will move fast like last year. It's been fun getting to know the other krewe members and using our creative juices for some fun stuff. I'll post pics tomorrow.

2010-01-29T13:58:00.018-06:00

Who Dat?!©®TM owns Who dat?!

There's been an uproar over the NFL sending cease and desist letters to small businesses who have printed shirts using the phrase "Who Dat," fleur di lis and the colors black and gold. The uproar has been as loud as the joyous yells just after the Saints won the NFC Championship against the Vikings. New Orleanians don't like corporations trying to capitalize on our coloquialisms. About 10 different groups have popped up on Facebook in protest, and people are tweeting like mad. The debate about who owes the right to the phrase is on going.

What's next? "Geaux Saints"? People in So. Louisiana love to give things a Cajun twist like spelling Go Geaux (dat's French cher). We can't use "Superbowl" or "The New Orleans Saints" all owned by the NFL. Here's an alternate: It's a black and geauxld, whoux dat supahbowl!

"Who might that be who claims they can beat the football team from New Orleans." just doesn't have the same power as the Who dat chant.

Then Senator Vitter, of all people, jumps in the fray and pens a letter to the NFL telling them to drop the suit or sue him.

Will the NFL back down?

UPDATE: "Who Dat Nation 1, NFL 0 in merchandise fight"

2010-01-28T14:31:00.000-06:00

"The Soul of New Orleans"
A beautiful and moving video.

2010-01-27T14:34:00.001-06:00

Highlights from the NFC championship game.

Saints 31, Vikings 28 and the Saints advance to the Superbowl.
"Pig have flown. Hell has frozen over."

UPDATE: Another great video of highlights with audio of what players and coaches were saying on the field.

2010-01-26T13:00:00.010-06:00

Hell hath frozen over.

The Saints are going to the Superbowl, first time ever. Everyone has Who dat!! fever. Work isn't getting done. Black and Gold is every where. All everyone can talk about is the Saints. I too am guilty of all of this. I'm sure the Facebook friends of all of us Saints fans are probably sick of all the video postings, fleur de lis and and Who Dat! But the energy here in New Orleans is amazing.

Sports announcers kept saying "Mardi Gras has come early." I hate to tell them technically it's BEEN Mardi Gras since Twelfth Night. But we'll forgive them. Normally this time of year houses are decked out in purple green and gold, like the one below, but there seem fewer than usual this year.

Others have gone black and gold:

And others have mixed it up:
We watched the game at our usual spot, the Rendezvous. I was half deaf by the end of the game from all the hooting and hollering. It was loud in there, I can't even imagine how loud the Dome was. When the winning kick was good, everyone was jumping up and down yelling and hugging each other. We spilled out on the the side walk. Cars were driving by, honking. People were hanging out of their car windows, hi-fiving people standing along the street. We moved down a block to where there was a bigger crowd. People were dancing in the street, traffic was at a stand still. A city bus came by. The driver stopped to high-five people then made the bus "dance" by making it kneel. He finally moved on and a cop car with the lights going pulls up. Over the loud speaker "Stay out of the street please. The sidewalk works much better. The Saints are going to the Superbowl." And this was happening all over the city. This was probably the first night that Bourbon Street was actually full of locals. We have two weeks to bask in this. Going to the Superbowl was the prize. Winning? Would be lagniappe. The Superbowl maybe in Miami, but the party to be at will be the City of New Orleans.

Saints Video: Bourbon Street

2010-01-18T12:44:00.007-06:00

I've got Saints fever and the prescription is a Super Bowl win!

I'm not used to having to juggle football and Mardi Gras. In the past football, pro and college, was over for me about the first week in January. But not this year. Da Saints are marching in, with a play-off match up in the Dome Saturday. Everyone was excited about the game, but it got bumped up when it was announced the Saints had resigned Deuce McAllister. He didn't play but he was team captain. I watch the game at the Rendezvous on Magazine street and while there were two rounds of "Reggie! Reggie! Reggie!" there were at least two if not three "Deuuuuuuuuuuce!"

Football. It allows men to hug and women to curse like a drunken sailor. I wish I had a dollar for every f bomb one girl dropped. It was her birthday, as she liked to keep reminding everyone, over and over, so I'll forgive her. Football allows me to get in touch with my inner dude. By the end of the game, my throat hurts from yelling, hands hurt from clapping and hi-fiving.

Friday night I went to the Pussyfooter's Blush Ball which was a total blast. Great party and I loved the 610 Stompers. Saturday before the game went to the den of Krewe de Vieux to work on the Krewe of Pan's float. Looking forward to the parade. It will be a first for me being in a parade.

WHO DAT?!

2010-01-03T16:50:00.004-06:00

Happy New Year! And boy am I happy the holidays are over. Or are they? I took down the Christmas decorations yesterday. In a couple of days the Mardi Gras season kick-off on Twelfth Night so up will go the purple, green and gold. Or should the black and gold for the Saints go up first? The city is so pumped that the team has made it to the play-offs. The end of the season has seen a slide in their performance. Today was their last regular season game with a final record of 13-3 with a loss to the Carolina Panthers. Several Carnival krewes have canceled their parades become they fall on the same night as the Super Bowl. Saints players will be riding on floats, Tom Benson will be Grand Marshal of the super krewe Endymion.

For me an end of a football era has passed. Bobby Bowden has at long last retired from FSU football. They won his final game in the Gator Bowl against West Virginia. Since FSU isn't in the SEC they don't get much press coverage around here. This fall, a Seminole Club was started so I've had other alumni to watch the games with. It was bitter sweet as we watched the FSU victory. When it was all over, you would have expected us to all be hooping and hollering with the win, but it was mellow with the sadness of the leaving of The Bobby. Part of the sadness was that he wasn't ready to leave yet. He wanted 400 wins before retiring. But the team hadn't be performing as well as they once did and it was awkward to have a head coach you didn't know when he was retiring and a "head coach in waiting."

I was only 9 when he became coach; some of the people in the Club weren't even born! It's going to be weird next year to not see him on the sidelines. He was a great coach and a class act. To bad CBS sucks in their coverage and the audio dropped out during Bobby final comments. I'm sorry we missed the half time tribute to him. But I found a video on YouTube. And I loved him planting the spea r.

2009-12-18T15:17:00.003-06:00

More happy articles about New Orleans!

New Orleans in state of grace over Saints by USA Today.

Also a study that ranked Louisiana the happiest state. Who would have thunk it?

2009-12-17T17:02:00.006-06:00

Good grief. 2009 is almost over. I have a lot of catching up to do. But first I have to share this article about New Orleans and the Saints football team. It's not about football but about the team and the citizens and the "soul of the city." Very well written and spot on. No tired clichés. This guy gets New Orleans. Make sure to have a few kleenex handy.

I will admit I never cared about the Saints before Katrina. But that first game at home at the Dome, the energy, electricity and hope in the city was incredible. The Saints were back home. I cried during the Green Day U2 opening performance. I still tear up when I hear "The Saints are Coming" or "Wake me up when September Ends." I've watched every game since that one. I am now a total Saints fan. For the last two years we walk over to our neighborhood bar to watch the games. It's usually packed, especially during away games. We yell, scream, curse and Who Dat?! until we are hoarse. It's a blast. Better than Mardi Gras. And you know what? The Saints team are a class act. Sean Payton is not going throw his head set in a tantrum because of a call he didn't like (though he will murmur "bullsh*t" behind his play card). The players are a team and respect each other. They have a job to do and they do it. I loved one moment during one game the commentators were talking about the team during half time. One guy said "They aren't your father's Saints." Ditka chimed in "They aren't MY Saints." He got that right.

2009-10-30T17:19:00.000-05:00

2009-09-08T07:11:00.002-05:00

As some of you may know, I used to teach at Delgado Community College. I was full time until I started my own company back in January 2005. After that, I taught one class a semester as an adjunct. I remember talking to my students on the first day of class of the Fall 2005 semester. I made a comment about how the fall semester before, we lost a week of classes because of hurricane evacuations. I said "Hopefully that won't happen again this year." DOH! How about missing a whole semester of classes? And the powers that be thought that it would be fine to host the college's website and data bases and so on, on campus with no off-site redundancy. Therefore, for weeks there was no DCC e-mail or website or data. They had to boat in to retrieve the hard drives if I remember correctly. If you had a non DCC email for someone you could try to reach them. Otherwise too bad.

Unfortunately, I have not taught there since, either because they didn't need me or scheduling conflicts. I miss teaching and being an adjunct was great. You show up, you teach class, you grade. You don't have to get involved in committees and other academic nonsense. I don't have much patience for bureaucracy, which is why I decided not to pursue teaching full-time and went back into private practice.

I haven't been back on campus other than to go to the Symphony book fair. I was sad to read this article in the T-P.

Meanwhile, Delgado is continuing its steady post-Katrina growth with 16,715 students this semester, 16 percent more than last fall and only 4 percent below its pre-storm high of 17,398, which it reached days before the hurricane struck in August 2005, Delgado spokeswoman Molly Jahncke said.

For the first time in Delgado Community College's 88-year history, the area's most populous institution of higher education has turned away 1,500 applicants because it ran out of building space.

About 40 percent of the square footage of the City Park campus' buildings is out of commission, including the library.

... eight of the 21 buildings on the City Park campus are unusable.

They used to have stuff about the flooding after the federal levees flooded, including photos, but that appears to no longer be on the web site. There isn't even a mention of it under "Our History." I typed in Katrina in the search box and the info does still live, Hurricane Katrina Chronicals, just no recognizable links from the current website.

2009-09-07T12:13:00.002-05:00

I'm still here. Just been distracted. We added a new feline to the Kitty Krewe. Click here to meet Harold the kitten.

2009-09-02T13:20:00.002-05:00

Second day of September and first day of Criminal Court jury duty. I was feeling nervous this morning. Didn’t know what to expect. Wasn’t that bad, just boring. You feel like cattle though. I entered through the main entrance but I think we can enter through a back entrance. I walked up the stair through the front where you have to put your belonging in an x-ray machine and go through a metal detector. Then down an ancient elevator to the basement. The holding pen, oops, I mean jury lounge, is a huge, windowless room full of chairs. You check in then take a seat. There’s a display on the wall that show how many courts are left for the day. There are 12 courts and we started at 8. The first pool of 25 people got called, left the lounge and then promptly returned because something had been canceled. It weird sitting there listening to them call out the names, waiting in anticipation to see if you are going to hear your name or not. They do provide coffee and tea and there’s a small kitchen with a microwave and refrigerator. I was getting stir crazy and around 11:00 took a trip to the snack bar on the first floor. I brought snacks but really just wanted to walk around. You have to sign out on a list so they can find you if they need to. You can also go outside for a smoke break. Councilman Arnie Fielkow is in my group. He said he was trying to get out of it. I was standing next to him so I asked jokingly “You’re not exempt?” and he said no. He got to wait with the rest of us. He moved over to the other waiting room, the quiet room where you aren’t supposed to talk. I main room has 2 TVs and I’m not a fan of daytime TV. It’s not bad if you aren’t seated close to them. I passed time on Facebook, checking email – there is free Wi-Fi, which is good because you can’t get much of a signal down there. Listened to a business podcast I’ve wanted to listen to for a month now. Trying to do some constructive stuff with my time. One woman was knitting. There’s a good way to past the time. Too bad I don’t know how. My name didn't get called and we got released around noon. Never been so happy to go to work.

2009-08-29T11:57:00.001-05:00

2009-08-28T13:26:00.006-05:00

Tomorrow marks 4 years since Hurricane Katrina made land fall. I’ve struggled thinking about what to do to mark the occasion, like I did for last week’s anniversary of my mother’s death (Needless to say, August, especially this last week, is particularly emotional for me.). I have a friend’s baby shower to go to. I remember thinking when I got the invitation, “Are they crazy? Do they know what day that is?” But maybe they did it on purpose to symbolize rebirth and renewal; life must go one. I imagine anyone who lived here 4 years ago must have August 29th burned in to their memory, unless they are in very deep denial. I’m glad it falls on a Saturday this year. It was odd the last 3 years to go to the office and work, just like it was any other day. But it wasn’t. Sure there are bell-ringings, plaque dedications and wreath layings across the city, but I couldn’t connect with that. The other day, a friend who had surgery a few months ago proclaimed that she was finally ready to go out and wanted to go to Rock ‘n’ Bowl. I pulled up the music calendar and saw that Kermit Ruffins was playing Saturday. Perfect.

After bouncing around from house to house to house in Baton Rouge the first few weeks of September 2005, we decided to head to Houston. We weren’t the only ones, many of our neighbors ended up there, as did Kermit Ruffins. He wrangled a weekly gig at a Jazz Club downtown and it when he played, it would be overrun by New Orleanians. We got there early and while waiting for friends and neighbors to arrive, got a drink and noticed a couple sitting across the room. The guy was wearing a huge gold Saints Jersey and Saints baseball cap and we took the table next to them. Turned out the women worked at my friend’s gallery in the quarter and they lived in Gentilly. When Kermit took the stage I started crying, wondering when I would be able to go back home and what would I be going home to. It felt good to have other New Orleanians around who understood what you were going through and could talk about it. I hugged neighbors I wouldn’t normally hug and let Kermit’s music and voice wash over me. The crowd stood around listening to the music, but when he broke out into “We are Family” everyone cut loose, dancing and singing along.

2009-08-26T08:16:00.000-05:00

Gambit's Best of New Orleans poll came out this week. I was going to vote on-line but when I read that I would have to answer at least 50% of the questions I changed my mind. A lot of the questions I don't know or don't really care. My apologies to friends whose businesses I didn't vote on. Here are some of my thoughts...

Here's the link.

Best Place to Get a Bloody Mary - Louisiana Superdome
Glad to know I'm not the only one who would have thunk it? But they are fantastic. My number 2 would be Molly's at the Market.

Best Neighborhood Bar. I'm glad to see my neighborhood bar, Rendezvous, did not make it on the list. Keep those posers out.

Best College Hangout & Best Place to Karaoke lets me know what places to avoid. I didn't realize Budda Belly had Karaoke.

I predict we'll see Avenue Pub showing up on this list next year. The new and improved AP hasn't been discovered yet. It would qualified for Best Beer Selection, Neighborhood Bar, and they should have a category "Best Bar Food."

Best Beer Brand - 1. Abita, 2. NOLA Brewery 3. Budweiser. Budweiser? Seriously? I guess Bud Light drinking like to take on-line pools.

Best New Restaurant - Glad to see Gott Gourmet made the list. I'm surprised to see Rum House, it's only been open a few months.

Best Cup of Coffee & Best Coffeehouse - Glad to see all winners are local.

Best Public Spat - Wow, Stacy Head is involved in all three!

I like this one: Best New Job for Mayor Ray Nagin - 1. Garbage Man 2. Making License Plates in Prison 3. Cleaning the French Quarter for SDT

Muses got voted Best Carnival Night Parade. I certainly have to agree.

I like their comment about NOLA.com's comment section though it can be next to impossible to find stuff on the site.
Best Local Web Site - 1. Nola.com - The online arm of The Times-Picayune features the paper's excellent reporters and some interesting blogs and multimedia. Now if we can only get them to clean up the toxic soup that infects their comments section. Mr. O'Byrne? Please? 2. Bestofneworleans.com 3. WWLTV.com

Best Local Blog - 2. Blackenedout.blogspot.com How is it I've never heard of this blog? Now it's going to get slammed.

I find it interesting that Best Men's Clothing Store & Best Women's Clothing Store are all national chains save Perlis. Are you paying attention over-priced Magazine street boutiques who only carry size 0-2??

Best Wireless Phone Service - 1. AT&T - SERIOUSLY??? I have AT&T and they suck for cell phone service.

2009-08-25T10:41:00.002-05:00

From the Gambit blog "Lights out for Canal Place Cinema"

"Monday, September 7, 2009 will be their final day of operation at that location."

Well crap. While it wasn't the best cinema to see a movie, it is (was) the only place to show "art house" and "foreign" films. Since I'm not the type of person who must see a movie the day it comes out on the big screen, I'm quite content to wait for a movie to appear on DVD and get it through NetFlix. File under "ain't there no more."

UPDATE: Apparently Gambit only had half the story. Today's T-P says the cinema is closing but another group will take it over, renovate it and reopen it.

2009-08-21T16:24:00.003-05:00

Well I have quite the weekend ahead of me. Tonight's the Opening Reception for the Rising Tide IV "Bloggers" Conference. Got to love this year's theme "Sinking to New Heights." Looking forward to checking out the new and improved Avenue Pub. It's been a long time since I stepped foot in there.

The conference starts Saturday at 9 a.m. Ouch. I'm not really one who follows celebrities but I am very excited that Harry Shearer is going to be the keynote speaker. He's so talented, I hope I get a chance to meet him. It can be hard to get a word in with other bloggers (they can talk as much as they type) and I'm sure Harry will be the belle of the ball. The conference has been getting some press so it should be interesting to see what this year's turn is like.

That evening there will sure to be the post-party somewhere, but I'll be scooting off to go join my fellow FSU alumni at the Greater New Orleans Seminole Club inaugural meeting. Years ago there was a club but it became defunct. Thanks to the tireless Shrimp Po-Boy we again have a group. That's 7-10pm at Cafe Prytania, 3445 Prytania Ave, in case some fellow Seminole stumbles across this page.

Sunday marks 10 years since my mother passed away. In her memory I'm going to have a movie marathon of some of her favs. I already watched "Clue" (can't ever get enough of Tim Curry and a favorite board game of ours) and saw "Young Frankinstein" when I was in Albuquerque (Gene Wilder was on of her favs). First up will the "Blues Brothers," hands down her #1 fav movie followed by "Murder by Death" (she loved murder mysteries and had a great sense of humor). I have all of these on DVD. Another fav is "Ladyhawke" that I only have on VHS - it's kinds of a silly movie with a bizarre soundtrack by Alan Parson's Project, but has Rutger Hauer and Matthew Broderick so there you have it. And I should get a Dirty Harry but there's only so much sitting around I can do at one time so we'll see. Plus I'm going to make Hungarian stuffed cabbage and that can be time consuming. Hmm... maybe I can roll the cabbage rolls while watching one of the movies?

2009-07-30T12:07:00.003-05:00

Spinal Tap is Back! "Back From the Dead"

It's the 25th anniversary of the original release of the mockumentary "This is Spinal Tap." I LOVE that movie. And I love that "the band" managed to release albums and tour in spite of not being a real band, not originally.

Their website rocks and they have fully embraced all the new media available. No Facebook page though? I downloaded the Spinal Tap app for my iPhone. You have to be careful where you use it. Every time you launch it, it starts cranking out a song.

The new CD is over the top as well, with a pop-up diorama of the band.

So of course I'm thrilled that Harry Shearer will be the key note speaker for this year's Rising Tide Conference. I missed it last year, but am already registered.

2009-07-29T13:10:00.004-05:00

This afternoon I am jetting off the the "Land of Enchantment" otherwise known as New Mexico. Time for my annual hiking/camping trip with my friend Dorie. Really looking forward to it. I learned my lesson - no more traveling far during the peak of hurricane season. Darn Gustav cut my road trip vacation short last year. Nothing in the Atlantic right now. Pshew. Not sure where we are going yet... we like to be impulsive that way. It's going to be a quick one since Dorie is still in school. I'll be back home Monday.

2009-07-26T08:00:00.000-05:00

There hasn’t been everything out of City Hall regarding recycle in a while. There was the survey they did back in April 2008 I blogged about here and here.

Before that T-P did this article November 2007 about how the City's 2008 budget was not going to include recycling.

[Veronica] White said that, in light of other pressing needs, the city cannot afford recycling, too.
"I need to have money to recycle," she said.

Midura said she realizes that the city's recycling program, like most across the country, never drew enough participation to generate sufficient savings in landfill disposal costs to cover its own expenses. But she said the city still should provide the service because of its environmental benefits, even if City Hall has to subsidize it.

At what point are the landfills so full and costly that recycling is a cost saving measure?

I cough up my $14 monthly fee so the Phoenix recycling will come pickup my paper and plastic. They stopped collecting glass last year, which is really annoying. STD offers curb-side recycle for a fee, and I now learn from Gambit that there is yet another company offering it, The Pooh Bah Group.

Pooh Bah is cheaper than Phoenix, only $10 a month. I sort of want to continue to support the first company who started a recycling program post-K but I could save $48 a year. What I want to know is how can 3 competing companies offer curbside recycling if there’s no money in it???? I don’t understand.

2009-07-25T16:02:00.006-05:00

My friend K and I are trying to not take New Orleans’ fantastic music scene quite so for granted. I don’t have the stamina I once did to go out late to see music, especially not on a work night. We took advantage of Tipitina’s Free Fridays a couple of weeks ago and saw a great show with Soul Rebels and DJ Soul Sister. Even though the place was packed, we scored a great spot upstairs. Last night, we ventured to d.b.a. It’s been a while since I’ve hung out on Frenchmen Street. It was hopping last night. I was pretty surprised for such a crowd on a night in July, but what do I know?

Lost Bayou Ramblers were playing. A great young Cajun band out of the Lafayette area (a.k.a. “Cajun Country”). K and I had the pleasure of discovering these guys at the Creole Tomato/Cajun Zydeco/Seafood Festival back in June. It was a blistering hot Saturday afternoon. We walked around for a while, had lunch but it was just too hot, so we parked ourselves in Café Angeli and had some cocktails. Once we had cooled down and had a nice buzz we wandered back to the music stage to catch the end of Sunpie and the Louisiana Sunspots set. After Sunpie, the Ramblers came on.

About half way through their set, the power went out. This did not deter them in the least. The bassist unplugged himself and jumped off the stage into the crowd. The rest of the guys followed suit with the drummer grabbing his snare from his drum kit.

They moved over to stand on some steps near by and the crowd followed them, clapping keeping time. Sunpie had been dancing in the crowd when this all happened. He rushed off to grab his accordion and joined in. I don't know if the techs got the power back on, but nobody cared. It was one of those magical musical moments.

2009-07-09T21:09:00.000-05:00

Last fall I did a post about the former Copeland's Restaurant on St. Charles Ave. and Napoleon Ave. from an email I recieved about the proposed new restaurant. link

The T-P had a story about it today. link

In my almost daily drive-bys on the way to the office I've notice some minor activity at the site. I was wondering if the seafood place would happened. Maybe it will.

2009-06-21T15:08:00.004-05:00

R.I.P. Le Jardin?

A for sale sign appeared outside our community garden this week. As neighborhood assoc pres. I got many phone calls and emails about it. The way it works is, the garden is on private land and can stay there as long as the the owner allows; the gardeners maintain the land and pay the water bill. Unbeknownst to the gardeners and even Parkway Partners, the land had been adjudicated by the city and sold for $20k in November 2007. The currently asking price is $89K. If anyone pays that much for the property I'm sure they are not going to leave a community garden on it but rather build a house or apartments. Many people in the neighborhood love the garden. Non-gardeners come to enjoy the green and tranquility. I suggested a few options such as, create an LLC or some other legal intity and buy the land ourselves; convince someone to buy the land and let the garden remain (hello Brad Pitt?); start looking into some of the other empty lots in the neighborhood and see if we can move the garden. I remains to be seen how it plays out. But it will be a sad day when the garden is gone.

2009-06-18T21:34:00.000-05:00

The NY Times has a column called "Happy Days"

About Happy Days

The severe economic downturn has forced many people to reassess their values and the ways they act on them in their daily lives. For some, the pursuit of happiness, sanity, or even survival, has been transformed.
Happy Days is a discussion about the search for contentment in its many forms — economic, emotional, physical, spiritual — and the stories of those striving to come to terms with the lives they lead.

What a refreshing perspective now days when it seems all the media focuses on if the negative. I don't understand why the local news has to cover stories about murders and and what not in towns on the other side of the country. Leave that to the national news.

Today's "Happy Days" is about New Orleans. link The author, Dan Baum, seems to have really picked up on what makes people here tick - "Their preference for having more time than money was at the heart of what made that city so much fun to visit and so hard to leave."

And his closing sentence: "New Orleans can teach us that the life we build with our neighbors deserves at least as much attention as our endless thrust towards newer and bigger."

2009-06-14T12:07:00.001-05:00

Why does the 2nd District Police Station need a crime camera out front?

2009-06-13T17:45:00.005-05:00

2009 Lafitte Corridor Hike

I posted my photos from the hike to my Flickr account. There's supposed to be a way in embed a slide show on your blog and even in a post, but I haven't found any clear instruction on how-to and don't have the patience right now to figure it out. So if you want to see then here's the link:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27509547@N08/

If you want to see even more photos, there's a Lafitte Corridor group on Flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/lafitte-corridor/

This year's hike number exceed everyone's expectations. There were guest speakers and more stops. Massey's provided lunch and amazingly I think there was just enough for everyone. Massey's also paid for a bus to shuttle everyone back to the start but we exceeded the number of seats. A small group headed over to the Bulldog at the end of the hike to cool off and enjoy some libations.

My company designed a new logo for the Friend of Lafitte Corridor, and has been very well received. Their newly redesigned website looks great. Check it out here and learn more about the Corridor and the project: http://folc-nola.org/

2009-06-11T12:20:00.007-05:00

Quick car update: I got my car back, after a few sweaty days of riding the streetcar to work. Got a new ECM relay, battery terminals and a fuse. Everything seems to be working now *fingers crossed.*

When I worked downtown I used to ride the streetcar every day. Some people think it's just a tourist thing but it's not. I must say I'm impressed by their punctuality. I checked the times on the RTA web site and they were right on. The first day I just missed it. I was drenched in sweat by the time I got to the office. After the first day I got smart and took a change of clothes with me. Yesterday I had one of those drivers with the fun personalities. The machine didn't want to take my dollar and he was cracking jokes the whole time. "Did you print that dollar last night?" Most of them are pretty nice. I remember the one man (pre-K) who would talk to the cars. "Whooo, hold that buggy!" he'd say when a car looked like it was going to cross in front.

Last weekend we did the Lafitte Corrodor Hike (I need to post photos!) and we rode the Canal Street line back to our car downtown. A great way to ride.

2009-06-05T16:34:00.003-05:00

When you have 13-year-old car, you can expect it to break down from time to time. About a week ago I had trouble starting it. Turn the key – nothing. I checked the battery, nothing loose, wiggled some things around. After turning the key a few more time it started up. Had to turn the key a number of times to get it started at the end of day. The next morning, no problems. Didn’t have any problems until Wednesday. Took a number of times to get started. I should have taken the car into the mechanic then. Live and learn. Yesterday I had no problems. I had decided to go ahead and take it in today, and idea confirmed when it took many time to get it started. Driving along I noticed my radio kept powering off and on. All of a sudden it just turned off completely. I managed to coast over to the side. Turn the key, nothing. Mess with the battery and wires, still nothing. After a while I call AAA for a tow. I was told 45 minutes, so I sat and waited. As I’m sitting there, a trickle of very nicely dressed people start parking around me and going to the church across the street (I was broken down next to the post office on Louisiana Ave.) More and more people arrive. I’m guessing it’s a funeral. I notice men in gold blazers with “Zulu” on them. The crowd grows; a cop starts to direct traffic. I’m worried about my tow truck getting to me. I hear a brass band in the distance but I can’t see them. Now I’m kind of hoping my tow truck doesn’t show up for a while. A procession comes down LA Ave. and goes into the church. There were about 100 men in gold blazers standing on LA Ave, swaying to the dirge the band was playing, like they were marching in place. It’s been 50 minutes I call AAA. The truck is 5 miles away will be there in 20 minutes. An elderly woman walked by me asked if I needed help. I told her thank you but no, I was waiting for a tow truck. She said she read about the man who had died in the paper yesterday. “Must have been someone important, that’s a lot of people.” I agreed with her. The music stopped and slowly the men swaying in the street file into the church as other people file out. At long last the tow truck arrives and he gives the battery a jump and the car starts. He says I need a new battery and I tell him the other things that happened and that I was worried it would died again, so he says he’ll follow me to the mechanics. We go 4 blocks and my car conks out. He jumps it again. While standing there, my friend Michael, who lived near by, walks up “I saw on your Facebook status you had broken down and was wondering if you were close by.” I had posted the photo you see here to Facebook. I get in my car and we drive another 2 blocks. The tow truck driver states, “I’ll need to tow it.” No shit Sherlock.

I had not heard from my mechanic and it was getting to be the end of the day so I gave them a call. "It started right up" I was told. I was pissed and went off on a rant of the problems it gave me. They can keep it until they figure out the problem. I walked home which was good for the nerves. Monday the saga will continue.

2009-05-31T15:35:00.003-05:00

Tomorrow, June 1 marks the official start of Hurricane Season. Yippee.

After donating last year’s canned goods in a recent food drive, I stocked back up for this season. Still need to get water… turns out there was a gallon from 2 years ago in the back of the pantry. It sprung a leak. That’s why the “use by date” is 2 years from when it’s bottled: isn’t not that the water goes “bad” but the plastic just can’t hang anymore.

Today’s paper had a special hurricane preparedness section with checklists, contraflow maps, lists of this year’s storm names, etc. I think even more helpful was Saturday’s column where readers sent in their thoughts. Another article that really interested me was “Airport a vital escape route from storms.” What fascinated me was this:

During Hurricane Gustav, federal officials originally wanted to stop flights about 10 a.m. on the day before the storm made landfall, but airport officials were able to get a few more hours of flying time, Wilcut said. "That allowed us to get a lot more people out of the city," she said.

The last flight out was Aug. 31 at 6 p.m., according to news reports. The storm made landfall the next morning about 10:30 at Cocodrie.

For Gustav, the airport opened again to commercial flights on the afternoon of Sept. 3. It took about two weeks to reopen to commercial flights after Katrina, Wilcut said.

As Gustav made its way towards Louisiana, I was road tripping from Georgia to New Mexico. Aug 30 Aug 31

I’m glad the airport didn’t close at 10 am August 31, because I would have been stuck in Dallas. I was in a serious race against time to make it back to New Orleans to help Greg evacuate. My friend in Albuquerque said I was welcome to stay as long as I needed to, but I would have lost my mind. I couldn’t even sleep the night of the 30th, I was so amped up with a singular thought “I must get home.” Not only would there have been a period of time during the height of the storm when I would have no idea if Greg was OK, but who knew how many days it would have been before the airports reopened. As you can see, after Gustav it was a few days. After Katrina, two weeks. One of the most important lessons I've learned about hurricanes and storms is no two or exactly alike.

2009-05-30T14:02:00.008-05:00

Festival Double Header

Last Saturday we squeezed two festivals into one day. We needed our Sunday to do the mundane weekend chores.

First was the Greek Fest. Held every year at the first Greek Orthodox Church to be established in America back in 1866. It’s on Bayou St. John near the lake. The day started out gray with rain in the forecast, so we didn’t bother with hats and sunscreen and packed ponchos instead. An hour later it was full on sun. Oops.

We spent a few hours consuming a smorgasbord of Greek delicacies, a bottle of retsina wine (tastes like drinking water from a Christmas tree stand, but in a good way), browsing the market place, chatting with friends and taking in the music and Hellenic dancers. It had been a number of years since we had been (it’s usually beastly hot, which isn’t fun) and it has grown considerably in size; they apparently bought more land, probably after Katrina. Opa!

* * * *

We then went to the other end of Bayou St. John for Bayou Boogaloo, a festival of local music, crafts and food vendors.

Floating in the bayou seemed to be the place to be. Shade was limited and what shade there was, people crammed in under.

The music was great – we were too full to eat anything else – checked out the crafts and bumped into more friends. We only stayed a few hours because it was really getting hot.

2009-05-28T16:43:00.005-05:00

So somebody is jerking the public around. Here’s a brief time line of events surrounding the Lyon’s Pool:
----------------------------------------------------
April 21, 2009, Day 0
2 Suspects were arrested for theft of copper at Lyons Center

April 30, 2009 – Day 9
2nd District Email blast from Major Little about arrests sent to Public via Google Groups

May 11, 2009 – Day 20
Irish Channel N.A. hears rumors about extent of vandalism and the possibility that the pool will not open this summer.

May 12, 2009 – Day 21
1st Email Sent to Councilman Fielkow and Councilwoman Head asking them to inquire about Lyons pool. These inquiries are forwarded to NORD and others for follow up.

May 14, 2009 – Day 23
NORD Dep. Director makes presentation to ICNA regarding NORD programs. He makes a statement regarding the Lyons Center Pool. “Mr. Barabino asked that I give a status of the Lyons Center Pool.” He further states that the pool is expected to open by “June 1”

May 22, 2009 – Day 31
NORD Director and Capital Projects Administrator address status of Lyons Center pool at a City Council subcommittee meeting. They state that they expect the pool to open by 2nd week of June. NORD was awaiting Entergy to install a pole to provide power to the pool pumps, at which time they could test the pumps. It was also reported the center had been broken into earlier that week and one person arrested. At the same public meeting a petition was presented to NORD Director and Councilman Fielkow with 196 signatures from neighbors asking that Lyons Center be opened. All signatures collected in less than 2 weeks.

May 26, 2009 – Day 35
Press Release from NORD Director and Capital Projects Administrator state “targeted a late summer date to open Lyons Center pool”.
----------------------------------------------------

We just want to know the real story. Several emails were sent in response to the May 26th press release asking why Friday the 22nd it was said the pool would be open in June, and now on the 26th it won’t be open until the end of summer. What good is opening the pool at the end of summer? And what transpired between Friday May 22 and Tuesday, May 26th? There was a Saturday, and Sunday and Memorial day in between these two days.
----------------------------------------------------

Part of the press release that addressed Lyon’s Pool:

Mayor's Press Office
City of New Orleans
1300 Perdido Street, Suite 2E04
New Orleans, Louisiana 70112
Official Statement
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 26, 2009

OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM NORD AND CAPITOL PROJECTS

Unfortunately last month, the Lyons Center was damaged as a result of copper theft. The facility has been secured and further security measures, are being evaluated at this time. Understandably, the theft and resulting damages, have delayed NORD's plans to reopen the Lyons pool in June, but, NORD and Capitol Projects will continue to move forward with repairs and have targeted a late summer date to open Lyons Center pool.

----- Original Message -----
From: Arnie Fielkow
To: William M. Chrisman; Larry Barabino, Jr.
Cc: Jackie B. Clarkson; Shelley S. Midura; Stacy Head; James Carter; Cynthia H. Morrell; Cynthia Williard-Lewis; Deborah J. Langhoff; Eric Granderson; Katherine R. Schneiderman
Sent: Tue May 26 17:48:53 2009
Subject: Fw: Official Statement NORD and Capitol Projects

The lyons opening is inconsistent with the public testimony bill provided friday to the youth and rec comm. At that hearing, it was represented lyons would be open in mid june. How could your position have changed in 4 days? This is a major setback for the community!

----- Original Message -----
From: Brenda G. Hatfield
To: Arnie Fielkow
Cc: Jackie B. Clarkson; Cynthia H. Morrell; Shelley S. Midura; Stacy Head; 'James.Ross@mayorofno.com' ; cwlewis@cityofno.com ; Ray Nagin; 'ceeon.quiett@mayorofno.com' ; Larry Barabino, Jr.; William M. Chrisman; Deborah J. Langhoff; Eric Granderson; Katherine R. Schneiderman; Pamela S. Smith
Sent: Tue May 26 19:36:22 2009
Subject: NORD press release

Councilmember Fielkow:
Regarding your reprimand to Larry Barabino and Bill Chrisman today, wouldn’t it seem rational for them to promise a more reasonable date of late summer to open Lyons’ pool after gathering more capital repair information -- so as not to disappoint the community while aiming for mid June? Even doing our best, it sometimes takes longer than anticipated.

Can you give some credit for nine pools being ready to open along with 84 parks and playgrounds for recreation, cultural and educational programs for our youth, seniors and families to enjoy this summer?

----- Original Message -----
From: Arnie Fielkow [mailto:AFielkow@cityofno.com]
Sent: Tuesday, May 26, 2009 8:58 PM
To: Brenda G. Hatfield
Cc: Jackie B. Clarkson; Cynthia H. Morrell; Shelley S. Midura; Stacy Head; James.Ross@mayorofno.com; Cynthia Williard-Lewis; Ray Nagin; Ceeon.Quiett@mayorofno.com; Larry Barabino, Jr.; William M. Chrisman; Deborah J. Langhoff; Eric Granderson; Katherine R. Schneiderman; Pamela S. Smith;
Subject: Re: NORD press release

Brenda, I am truly sorry you see it that way. There was no reprimand but rather a statement that there is little credibility when a senior official (and I think bill does an excellent job!) makes a public committment and then 4 days later the administration says something very different. The neighborhood leaders who were present on friday are pretty frustrated with this situation given the importance of the lyons center and the fact that this matter could have been averted with appropriate security. Even this past friday, I had to call the nord director because a door to the center was wide open when I passed by.....many kudos and thanks were extended to bill and larry friday for improving the facility issues and working closely with fema to close the reimbursement disparity.....I believe the community deserved a straight answer on this one but they can weigh in directly with you.
--------------------------

At this time, we wait for any further clarification on the matter.

2009-05-19T20:13:00.004-05:00

Petition to open Lyon's Center Pool

Lyons Center

The pool

NORD's Lyon Center is in my neighborhood. No renovations have been done since Katrina. Last July at the Mayor's Round Table I attended last August a representative from NORD said that the Lyon's Center was under Architectural review and construction would start the end of the year. No work has been done since then.

Last summer the pool was open and kids from all around went. These are kid who parents can't afford to send them to a summer camp. And it's hot down here in the summer. The pool is a safe, supervised opportunity for the kids to have some fun.

April, two men were arrested after doing over $300,000 worth of damage to the Lyon's Center. Here's what someone from NORD emailed us about the damage:

There was substantial recent vandalism to the facility:

Room housing electrical breakers for pool area- Stripped wiring, electrical breakers and pool valves and mechanics-Total loss

Under Gym Bleachers as well as Restroom- Copper tubing for water lines stolen and cut-Total loss

Large Conference in front- Most copper electrical wiring in ceiling striped ceiling destroyed to get to the copper

Additional rooms throughout building- copper electrical wiring in ceiling striped ceiling destroyed to get to the copper

Restroom Facilities used in summer season 2008- Inoperable -copper waterline tubing cut and stripped.

We have assigned an architect to the project- have to get the contract through the process- but never anticipated this most recent and significant damage of this extent and nature that will now have to be addressed. Of course with our high insurance deductibles the repair cost will be borne by the most part by the City. There are bond funds available ($1.7M)which were supposed to go toward overall improvements which will now have to be used for this remedial purpose. There is little to no likelihood that FEMA will even entertain the idea of any funding to address that vandalism. It is my understanding that the thieves were apprehended but any help that Council could give making copper theft less attractive will greatly help our and thousands of others efforts in the recovery. We will do what we can but this is a major blow to that facility which will be exceptionally costly and time consuming to repair.

I have instructed MWH that the City will no longer use copper piping in the construction of any of our facilities; however, electrical system, the most costly in the construction, remain wholly vulnerable.

Why wasn't the building better secured and monitored? That much damage can't be done in a day. Plus when the arrest was made there was evidence that people were living in the center!

So I started a petition, to be presented this Friday at meeting with the City Council, NORD and FEMA, stating it is NORD's responsibility to do what need to be done so that the pool can be opened this summer. If you agree, PLEASE sign the petition and tell your friends. THANK YOU!

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/open-lyons-center-pool

2009-05-08T16:41:00.002-05:00

We've been tagged.

We have a long metal shed across the back of our property that backs up to a field. One day in the last week or so it got tagged. Big time. I'm not sure how I feel about this.

I am amazed they were able to work in such close confines. There's only about 14 inches between the fence and the shed. G discovered graffiti artists wear latex gloves because he found some along with empty spray paint cans.

2009-04-08T11:04:00.003-05:00

They're baaaaaack!

New school zone flashing signs have been going up Uptown. They are very visible and appear to be solar powered. So no more excuses, slow it down.

2009-04-04T16:01:00.008-05:00

I love April in New Orleans. The weather, while very unpredictable, can be spectacular. Today, after several stormy days this week, is gorgeous. I remembered to put on sunscreen (unlike Mardi Gras) and put on a floppy hat. After voting and walking to Harry's Ace for a few things, we stopped by Cafe Atchafalaya for a crawfish boil. Lordy be, this was some of the best crawfish I've had in a while. Very flavorful, hot and spicy. They had a trio playing tunes while we stood outside, sucking heads, pinching tails, drinking beer and chatting with neighbors from the 'hood.

After our fill, we headed over to the Freret Street Festival. It's a shame I was so full of crawfish because there was some good smelling food there. It was very crowded. I was looking for a jewelry maker who is usually at the Freret Market. It took us our third time down the street for me to see her. I bought her shotgun house necklace. Love it!

(P.S. I can't remember if I said this before but a friend of ours bought Cafe Atchafalaya back in January and has changed up some things for the better. Open on Mondays. Check it out!)

2009-03-29T14:36:00.009-05:00

NOLA in the NYT

Just two days ago, the New York Times had an article about brewing in NOLA. Today, we get another shout out in an article "Reinventing American's Cities: The Time is Now" along with LA, The Bronx and Buffalo. The article mentions how I-10 sliced though a once vibrant community...

In New Orleans, for example, the 10 Freeway bulldozed through one of the city’s most vibrant African-American communities, becoming a psychological barrier between the black middle-class Treme neighborhood and the tourist-infested French Quarter.

... but there was no mention of the UNOP or Master Plan; and the Master Plan calls to remove I-10 in this same spot. (UNOP may have addressed this as well, I don't know.)

I Googled the author's name (Nicolai Ouroussoff) and stumbled upon this lively blog, "Lost City" about disappearing New York landmarks.

2009-03-28T16:53:00.004-05:00

R.I.P. Wah Laundry Sign

Any old sign aficionado who's driven down Freret Street has noticed the Wah Laundry sign. The good news is the owners of this long neglected building is finally doing some work on it. It only took an expose on TV. Public humiliation does work! The bad news is they took the sign down. I snapped these pics just before they started work. Will the sign go back up? I'll let you know.

2009-03-27T11:27:00.007-05:00

Mmmmm beer....

With the opening of a new brewery in New Orleans - NOLA Brewing - the brewing scene has been in the media lately, including a NY Times article "New Orleans Gets its Brew Back."

G has been a home brewer for years. After Katrina, his favorite local brewing supply store, Brew Ha Ha, sadly closed. He bought up some ingredients for a brew before they closed. Since then, he's made only one or two other batches of beer, after visiting a brew store in Houston. But in the last few months, a new brew supply store has open, Brewstock, on Oak Street and G has been a brewing fiend. Some folks got to sample one of his latest brews at our St. Pat's Parade party. Brewing beer makes G happy, which makes me happy. And it's also "green" - no one is recycling glass right now, so no beer bottles to throw away. (Wine on the other hand...) G's next plan is to try growing hops. I'll post photos on the garden blog once this get going.

2009-03-26T17:09:00.007-05:00

This has been a week consumed with neighborhood/community type meetings. Because I am the president of my neighborhood association, I get bombarded with emails and invitations to participate in this, attend that, disseminate this.

It started Saturday morning, 9am. It was a gorgeous day. G and went to a meeting for a briefing on the Draft Master Plan. Waste of time. I fully support the Master Plan and will read as much of the draft as I can, and attend another meeting for my district in April. But nothing new was unveiled at the meeting. After the podium got taken over by a civil rights activist who called everyone in the room racists, and microphones were being set up for the Q&A we decided we had had enough and it was time to go.

Tuesday evening I went to the District 2 NONPACC meeting, which was pretty good. Freezing cold room. A representative from the DA’s office was there. Under Canizzaro, the DAs and NOPDs are going to work together, no more pointing fingers, communicate with each other. What a concept! That would make a good TV series. Oh wait, it is. Sarcasm aside, I am hopeful that real change is happening, call me naive. The Gray Ghost made an appearance to talk about his Operation Clean Sweep. I bit my tongue and didn’t heckle him nor did anyone else. (I was happy to read this article “Graffiti eraser told to keep his hands off”)

Wednesday was the annual meeting with the NPN. Another freezing room, what’s with that? The meeting went way past the allotted time, and ironically, I blame the facilitator they hired. She talked to us like we were elementary school children. “So I want us all to practice active listening. Can someone tell me three things of interest Bob just said?” Clap, clap, clap. At one point, everyone was asked to pull a folded piece of paper out of a box. When we were allowed to open it, I looked at mine “Advice from a Cat” with a cute picture of a kitty. Debby sitting next to me had “Advice from a Butterfly.” Madam Facilitator went around the room asking who had the various animals “Where are my bears? RRROWWRR!” Yes, she made animal noises too. “What advice did you get from the bear?” She closed the evening with a poem about how “crazy” people change the world. Some one asked her who wrote it. She struggled with the name… “Jack Mumble… He wrote a book called On the Road…” Everyone yelled in unison “Jack Kerouac!” Lordy. (Side note: This “poem” was actually from an Apple commercial, not On the Road.)

Tonight’s there’s a townhall meeting with state representatives. I was going to go, but I’ve had enough public forums to last me a while. I haven’t had a quiet dinner at home evening with my husband in over a week. Plus there’s good TV tonight.

2009-03-25T13:11:00.002-05:00

Smoke and mirrors

I feel baffled when people “play” the race card. One recent example: Veronica White calling Stacy Head a racist. In my dealings with Ms. Head she’s never said or done anything that made me think she is a racist. Thanks to an excellent post on American Zombie I now understand why I feel baffled – it’s not about race. Duh!

Have you noticed how people who boldly proclaim themselves to be something are usually the opposite? Vitter and family values for one example? If someone has to blow his or her own trumpet so much, it makes you wonder. Maybe we can assume the reverse – some one who keeps calling other people racist is actually the racist. It’s a game politicians play when running for office. Pay attention to whom is slinging the mud, directing the discussion away from issues and from themselves.

The old guard – black and white – is coming down and they are not going to go quietly.

* * * * *

It’s Springtime again. Which means everything covered in green pollen and I continue my gardening attempts seen here on my garden blog.

2009-03-17T18:32:00.001-05:00

I'm not sure how I feel about this.

The NEW Mid-City Lanes?!?! link

2009-03-17T10:38:00.001-05:00

Happy St. Patty's Day!

This makes me laugh so hard I cry. Oh boy oh boy...

2009-03-15T17:06:00.005-05:00

Today is a dreary, rainy day. Yesterday was the Irish Channel St. Patrick's Parade and our 3rd Annual parade party. I'm too tired to do a full recount here today and I didn't take a single photo. I will however post the second half of my Mardi Gras saga.

A never-ending cycle – Part 2

Unlike Saturday, I went to all 3 afternoon Uptown parades: Okeanos (so-so, too much blaring bad music), Mid-City (nice) and Thoth (very nice). I walked from our house, up Magazine to a party at Jefferson stopping long the way to chat with people I knew. We were on a balcony, which is why I was able to get good photos of floats. I got a lot of exercise this day. Walked back home once the parades were over. Then G and I walked to a party over by Charlie’s Steak House and watched Bacchus on Napoleon Ave. Or I should say we tried to. People started setting up camp on Napoleon Wednesday; I know because I drive down it to work every day. We were stuck half way back, behind ladders. The worst part was using the City of NO port-o-potties. UGH.

Bacchus on Napoleon.

Not going to watch parades on Napoleon any more. We got a call from a friend who was in the Garden District, so we crossed Napoleon and hoofed if over to 6th street. We caught most of the parade again. This time we could see since the crowds were smaller. We hit two parties during the course of the evening and there was zero food. After the parade we walked back to Magazine Street for some dinner and drinks.

Bacchus on St. Charles Ave - better. Hard to get good night photos.

Flambeaux

I had learned my lesson from the previous years and took Monday off. I did go into the office for a bit and then spent the afternoon running errands. That evening we met friends on St. Charles Ave. to watch Proteus and Orpheus. I vowed to not drink too much so I wouldn’t be hung over Mardi Gras day. It didn’t work out that way since I was fed an endless stream of red wine. (I’ve decided wine and parades don’t mix. No beer either, makes me pee too much. Gin + tonic = good. Scotch = good) After the parade, you guessed it: Magazine Street for dinner and more drinks.

Mardi Gras day was another warm and beautiful day. After a fortifying breakfast we set out on foot to Liprap’s for their annual party. I love seeing all the people and costumes while walking along St. Charles Avenue. After visiting for a while we followed Adrastos and Dr. A to Krewe of Pants. We were at 3rd Street watching Rex.

The king of Rex

Boeuf Gras "the fatted ox"

Didn’t catch much. After Rex was over we all converged at the House of Pants, hanging out outside. You know that shooting that took place? It happened 2 blocks away from us. We were oblivious until I noticed a cop running down the street, gun in hand, “Uh hey guys? That cop over there has his gun drawn.” Another cop appeared, then another. People started rushing by and we asked what was going on. Seconds later, many police cars with light going pulled up and an ambulance. We got herded inside and watched the proceedings from the windows. They recovered a gun near by and we saw both suspects get put in cars in cuffs. I have to say I was pretty impressed with the NOPD's response. It’s hard enough to catch bad guys, but when there are hundreds of people, probably drunk, milling around clueless, makes it even more challenging. The one plus of all the people was there were plenty of witnesses. Adrastos also has an account here. I had considered going down to the Marigny but it was too late once the cops let us out and my buzz was long gone. G and I just walked home and relaxed. Just when I had thought Mardi Gras was over for me, we got a call from the Mad Irishman that a friend who cooks for Commander’s Palace was making gumbo and potato salad and get ourselves over there. Man was that good eating. Drinks at the Rendezvous followed that. I drew the line at shots. Jagermeister at that. Yuck. Works slows down around Mardi Gras since clients are also busy with parties, parades and balls so I took Wednesday off to recuperate.

Mardi Gras '09 - excellent weather, skimpy throws, gorgeous floats that went by too fast, good company, marred only by the shooting.

2009-03-09T15:30:00.002-05:00

It’s never good when your mechanic calls you and says “Here’s something I’ve never seen before…” He found cat or dog food in (or near) my car’s intake manifold. He figures some critter’s been stashing it in there. WTF?!???

I first went to the Car Talk web site and there were two instances of something like this happening to others.

Another possibility here. Have you removed the air cleaner top and verified that the air cleaner is not full of stuff stashed in there by rats?
Slim odds I know but a VW was towed into the shop one time that would barely even run and the housing was completely full of dog food. Rats had gnawed their way in and had turned the air cleaner into their own personal bank vault. The owner stated that he had noticed the car running worse and worse over time.

And I also found this on a Prius chat site.

I hope my mechanic can cover up some of the inlets with screening as suggested in the articles. I’ve heard of rodents chewing on wire but never stashing food in a car. Ugh.

2009-03-02T14:04:00.005-06:00

Flexi-Lent

In case you didn’t know, the whole purpose of Mardi Gras is to have one big blow out before Lent. Many non- Catholic people in New Orleans observe a form of Lent. It’s sort of a do-over for the New Year’s resolutions you didn’t keep. I decided to do a mini-Lent between now and the Irish Channel Parade March 14th. No booze (whimper), South Beach Diet Phase 1 and lots more exercise. I think I can keep that up 2 weeks. And putting up here will give me motivation, I hope.

Similar to my idea is something my friend emailed me “Flexi-Lent”

Flexi-Lent is a modern twist on the traditional Catholic practice of giving up vices (like booze) and living healthy between Mardi Gras and Good Friday (which is the Friday before Easter Sunday). Some Catholics believe it is acceptable to drink on Sundays during lent. Irish Catholics naturally add St. Patrick’s Day to that list. Thus, it appears fine to drink seven times during Lent. You get seven exemptions, in other words.

Here’s the modern twist: Instead of being confined to those specific seven days, we have decided to make the exemptions flexible. In other words, you have seven exemptions (or 12-hour drinking periods) during Lent, which you can use any time you want. One can engage in multiple vices during one exemption period. (Note: There is no solid theological support for that rule.) Exemptions can be used whenever you want. They can perhaps even be bought and sold on the free market (but I’ll leave that to the theologians).

Also, there is typically a fitness component. I try to run 100 miles during lent, but my foot is hurt so I’m not doing that. (I’m working on some new goal

Finally, be smart with your exemptions. Save them. Don’t burn them quickly. And remember St. Patrick’s Day is one of the seven exemptions.

Flexi-Lent ends on Good Friday, at which point all Flexi-Lentarians will have a party, which will be known as Flexivus.

And remember: Flexi-Lent is Exci-Lent!

2009-03-02T14:02:00.001-06:00

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

2009-02-28T15:55:00.008-06:00

A never ending cycle – Part 1

Some of this year's parade booty.

So I survived another Mardi Gras. When I first moved here, I went to as many parades, concerts and parties as I could. After a few years, the novelty wears off and the stamina wanes. The couple of times I lived on the parade route and embraced it fully. There were years where I went out of town or stayed in town and tried to avoid festivities. You can’t avoid Mardi Gras here; that’s like trying to avoid Christmas. There are Mardi Gras decorations, songs, special foods, parties, and it’s every where. There are also good Mardi Gras experiences and bad ones. Since Katrina, we’ve stayed and played. I’m still recuperating, but I think a lingering cold may have something to do with that.

First parade was Krewe de Vieux, Feb 7. They parade in the Marigny and French Quarter and walk the route with small, satirical, plus some vulgar floats. G hates the French Quarter and never wants to go. I had a plan and a back up plan. Plan A: meeting people in the Marigny, fell apart because we left late (my fault). Plan B: go to friend’s gallery on Royal Street went into action. We parked, hoofed it across the Quarter and had dinner at Gato Negro. Some neighbors sat next to us and we all discussed how KdV never starts on time and they would be slow so we were fine with time. We finished dinner and walked over to our friend’s gallery. Much to our surprise the parade had already passed! So we did a quick 180 and scooted over to Decatur, as did everyone else in the Quarter. The last few floats went flying by at warp speed. G refuses to go ever again.

Krewe of Muses signature shoe float.
Their most coveted throw is decorated shoes.

You get spoiled living in the part of Uptown we do where you can walk a few blocks from your home to the parades. Having to get in a car, drive and park? We scoff at that notion. And we’ve learned to be selective about which parades we attend. Thursday before Mardi Gras (this year Feb. 19) is Muses along with Babylon and Chaos. Muses is hands down one of our favorite parades: it’s beautiful, funny, lots of marching bands, with creative throws. Bonus this year is the new extended Uptown route now starting at Jefferson and Magazine. It was a joy to see Muses and the other parades on Magazine. No huge crowds or obnoxious walls o’ ladders. Some friends of ours have a party for Muses so that makes it even more enjoyable. At any time a parade can stall and this night there was about an hour delay as a Chaos float broke down. Muses stood still on Magazine in front of us. People walked around, some went back to the party for more food. A friend visiting from out of town found me, so we sat in some chairs and caught up. This seemed to be the year of speeding parades. Once Muses started rolling they flew by. I was trying to find friends in the dance groups but only found one. Speedy parades are no fun because you can’t take in the whole float decoration and you catch less throws.

The last photo I took before my battery died. Boo hoo.

G and I took Friday off, walking from our house to a restaurant for dinner, then over to our usual Friday night hangout for drinks. 5 blocks away the parades were rolling, but in “the pocket” (we get surrounded by all sides by parades and can’t leave via car), it was quiet. We ended up skipping all parades Saturday. We had plans to go Mid-City since several friend were having Endymion parties. I just didn’t have the energy for it thanks to the earlier mentioned lingering cold. Since there are no Uptown parades that night, we ventured outside of the pocket for dinner and had a quiet night.

2009-02-18T14:24:00.002-06:00

Mardi Gras Mambo

Tonight kicks off the first of 5 consecutive days of Uptown Mardi Gras parades. I get paraded out so I don’t go to each and every parade like I did when I first moved here. Twice I’ve lived on the parade route and that kind of spoils you too. But the Mardi Gras buzz is in the air.

Port-o-lets dot the neutral grounds and this particular one caught my eye. The signs on it says “Donations $1.00” “Pee for Paris” “5th Grade French Audubon Charter” A 5th grade French class is raising funds by letting people use their port-o-let. How funny is that? I may go by and donate a dollar.

People ask “have you been to Mardi Gras?” that’s like asking “have you been to Christmas?” It’s a holiday season and people decorate their house like they do for Christmas. The green and red get switched out for purple green or gold.

2009-02-18T14:22:00.002-06:00

Deuce cut loose

My favorite Saint gets released. (link)

He’s such a class act. Too bad more athletes aren’t like him.

Deuce McAllister Says Goodbye

2009-02-14T14:54:00.002-06:00

Such a festive weekend! Friday the 13th (not the stupid movie) followed by Valentine's Day. Monday is President's day, but in New Orleans we don't really observe President's day because we observe Mardi Gras day instead, which falls on Feb. 24th this year. And this weekend the parades are rolling.

Here's a pic of a big *ss house on St. Charles Ave. flying big *ss Mardi Gras Krewe flags.

2009-02-12T10:06:00.006-06:00

I live in the congressional district that was represented by William "Dollar Bill" Jefferson - the congressman the FBI found $90K cash in his freezer. He got re-elected once since then, but this past fall he was finally voted out. While my district, and most of New Orleans, is full of Democrats, we elected Cao who is a Republican. Today's T-P has an article "Cao may be one of few to break Republican ranks on stimulus" (link)

Though hailed a party hero by Republican leaders in Congress after his upset defeat of Democratic incumbent William Jefferson, Cao would be a party renegade on the biggest vote since he arrived in Washington.

I voted for Cao as well as I voted against Jefferson and had Cao been up against someone other than Jefferson he might not have won. It's refreshing to hear a politician say:

"I'm voting along what my conscience dictates and the needs of the 2nd Congressional District dictate, even if I were to be the only member of the GOP to vote for the stimulus package, " he said.

It's good to see he also has a sense of humor:

Scalise, the assistant Republican whip, laughed when asked whether it was his responsibility to keep Cao in line, adding that a few Republican defections are to be expected.
Joked Cao, "Steve Scalise doesn't know kung fu. I know kung fu. He can't whip me."

But can someone explain to me what the heck "the hard-core, rock-ribbed Republican districts" means?

UPDATE
Cao voted no. It passed anyway but time will tell how it plays out. I like Adrastos' comment "Still, it would have been nice if Mr. Cao had tried but we got used to having an empty suit in the House during Dollar Bill's decline..." which is all too true. And I also like he "Kung Fu Fighting" video clip. "Those cats were fast as lightning." Sweet.

2009-02-01T17:05:00.005-06:00

St. Charles at Louisiana Update

There's been some action on this corner. The crappy Exxon that never reopened after Katrina has been on the market and the building is being torn down.

A year ago I did a post when the video store/deli was being torn down. The lot has been cleared and leveled but that's about it.

The Borders Bookstore opened recently after an extensive gut and build out in the former Bultman Funeral home. It looks nice from the outside, I haven't been inside yet. I'm torn between having a bookstore within walking distance that is a chain, (and serve Seattle's Best Coffee) or driving to Octavia books, a local bookseller.

In just a few weeks parades will be rolling past here. The empty lot(s) could be prime party areas if they don't get fenced off.

2009-01-30T09:47:00.002-06:00

I was shocked and surprised to read today's headline in the T-P that Inspector General Cerasoli quit due to health reasons. I hope his health returns to the better soon and thank him for all he's done and has tried to do. He had to work against great odds and resistance from City Hall. Cerasoli is from Boston, another town known for government corruption. The article says "One main goal has just been to simply identify the entity that is the city of New Orleans, " Cerasoli said. "Nobody can give you an organizational chart." I bet there are a ton of people on the payroll who are unnessary and know that they are but keep mum. I hope we can hire another person willing to go up against Nagin and his crew. On the bright side, we are saddled with Nagin for only one more year and I have hope we can elect someone who will clean City Hall up.

2009-01-24T16:28:00.002-06:00

A new (new to me) sassy gal blogger: Rubypearl!

I loved this excerpt from a recent blog about things she does not like:

Old people who write checks in line in front of me. Get a Goddamn debit card! The technology is 20 years old, so it's about time for you to adopt it. You should be in a hurry, you don't have much time left, yet you choose to spend it crossing every t and dotting every I while I am DYING inside behind you.

Amen sister.

2009-01-18T16:00:00.006-06:00

Prospect.1 is over. Thankfully I managed to see a few exhibits, but not nearly as many as I would have liked. I had a friend visiting from LA and a friend of hers had sent her passes and a map. Kinda of strange since it's free but I think things like that may have made the numbers seem low. I never bothered to go "check in" and get counted. We had a map but it was hard to follow, I think they were really pushing for people to take the shuttle.

The big ark was all it was touted to be. There was something pleasing about it's simplicity. It's on the corner of Caffin and N. Miro in the Lower 9th Ward. I wonder how long it will stay?

This was a neat building, an old hardware store that still had a bunch of old stuff around. The artists kept the items and arranged them. These two pictures are the lower floor. The building space was neat - the "art" was slices from a concrete slab, flipped around so you could see the underside where the cement flowed to fill the voids. It was interesting but didn't hold my attention all that long.

The upstairs was really cool. An artist painted swamp mural in all the rooms.

Here you can see some of the items from the hardware store I mentioned. Here the artist arranged some on the mantle.

The date on this calendar is February 1924! 85 years old.

The spot for an exhibit is marked on the map but it isn't labeled as to what exhibit it is. The above I'm not sure where this was, maybe the Tekrema Center for the arts. One other site we visited, but didn't take photos, is the 19 center for the arts, a lovely little gallery in a shotgun double. One side was photographs, the other had a collage on the walls, like stuff being blown around in the wind. Both exhibits were worth the stop.

2009-01-12T10:55:00.002-06:00

I got my new flatware today. The stuff we had started to rust! It's very groovy and designer-y, which is perfect for us being designers and all.

I first spied it in one of the big box housewares stores, but they didn't carry any serving pieces. I pulled up the web site of the mfg. on my iPhone and found they were having a killer sale on a 65 pieces, service for 12 for $99 plus free shipping. Well, the bargain shopper in me could not resist that. It also has a 50 year warranty. I doubt I'll still be using this when I'm 90 but who knows?

2008-12-12T08:57:00.002-06:00

Festivus on Freret

This Saturday the Freret Market is having "Freretstivus" with double the vendors, double the free music and Festivus Festivities. So bundle up and come support local vendors and bands.

Saturday December 13th from Noon to 5 pm on Freret between Napoleon and Valence
Join us around the Festivus Pole, Airing (and reading) of Grievances, gift exchange, Flattery Booth, Insult Booth, and the Mighty Feats of Strength--See how many Big Easy Rollergirls can you pull on a rope?

Also featuring 130 Vendors with local art, food, produce, craft and junk, plus six bands for free on two stages.

Market Stage
The Space Heaters at Noon
String Beans at 1:45
Billy Iuso and Restless Natives at 3:30

Freret Stage
Sunpie and the Louisiana Sunspots at Noon
Viva! Los Americanos at 1:45
Los Poboycitos at 3:30

2008-12-11T12:31:00.007-06:00

Today's Big News Item

It's snowed this morning! Honest to goodness snow. G wasn't as impressed at first having grown up in New Jersey, however I was excited - I'm from Florida and can probably count on one hand the number of time I've been in snow. It was raining this morning and as I was making some breakfast I noticed the rain was different. It had started sleeting. After about 20 minutes of that it was full on snow. Then G was impressed. We drove to work together and the snow was amazing. I walked around by my office and took more pictures since the snow was starting to accumalate. Around 10:30am it turned back to sleet and now it's just melting. Boo hoo.

Our house, in the snow!

G throwing a snowball at me.

My friend's house. Such a pretty picture!

The cemetery by my office.

The last time it snowed was Christmas day 2004. We missed it because we were in Baton Rouge and they didn't get snow. Has hell freezed over? Is it because Dollar Bill Jefferson was finally defeated? Someone on NOLA.com said it means the Saints are going to the superbowl (riiiight). An other momentous, weather related even happened 8 months after the last snowfall... I hope history doen't repeat itself.

2008-12-06T16:01:00.002-06:00

Here's the other side of the renovated house on our street. There's a gate so this is close as I can get. There's another set of French doors you can't see. Such a cute side gallery!

2008-12-06T14:55:00.002-06:00

Today has been one of those days when I really love my neighborhood. G and I walked over to the elementary school to cast our votes in today’s election (Congressional seat). We ran into some neighbors from around the corner we hadn’t seen in a while and caught up with them. We then walked up to Magazine Street. We were right by Katy Beh Contemporary Jewelry so we popped in to say hi to Katy. G needed to go to Harry’s Ace Hardware so we walked by there. I continued on because I needed to stop at Breaux Mart to buy some veggies for the soup I wanted to make. Along the way I stopped in Buffalo Exchange and bought a sweater. Walking back from the grocery, I stopped in a relatively new store “Francesca’s.” I’m pleased to report that it is not your typical overpriced ladies boutique that only carries size 0 and 2. The sales clerks were friendly and I got some really cute gifts for some people and a new top pour moi. Much like San Fran and NYC, two of my fav cities, you can actually walk to places you want to go. We also have a drug store, Martin Wine Cellar, some great restaurants, bars, coffee houses and a bunch of other shops. Only thing missing is a great bakery and cheese shop. Technically I could walk to St. James and La Boulangerie‎, but it’s a bit more of a hike. The new Border’s opened up and that’s close by too, but I think I’ll make the trip to Octavia Books instead. Remember: buy local for your holiday gift giving and every day!

2008-11-22T11:21:00.006-06:00

Eyesore update

The POS house on our street has been renovated! And there was much rejoicing. I first commented about the house last December. I forget when it sold but I noted back in June that renovation work had been started, so they worked on it for 4-5 months.

Before

After

I'm always amazed at what can be done to house that looks like it's about to fall over. The paint color are a little on the bright side, but they should weather nicely. They are cleaning up the job site today so maybe someone will move in soon.

2008-11-21T15:19:00.001-06:00

I’m been tagged.

Thanks to one camping adverse individual (at least he likes cats), I have been tagged by Adrastos. We're supposed to post the rules so here it goes.

1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Write six random things about yourself.
4. Tag six people at the end of your post and link to them.
5. Let each person know they’ve been tagged and leave a comment on their blog.
6. Let the tagger know when your entry is up

6 random things…. Uhhhhhhh… I think I’ll look through my emails and see if something inspires me.

1. I like my in-laws. Really I do. And my mother-in-law is a cook-ass cook so I’m looking forward to Thanksgiving there. Just got an email saying she’s making pumpkin pie. Yum!

2. I dislike Dr. Pepper. Reminds me of some medicine I had to take as a kid. Yuck. Shrimp Po-boy (tag!) sent me something about free Dr. Pepper because Guns n Roses released an album. Whatever.

3. I’m the president of my neighborhood association and it’s taught me that I do not want to be a public servent or be in politics.

4. I spend waaaaaay too much time on Facebook. Which is why I don’t blog as often. Too busy sending drinks, poking people, farming and playing word games. Tug Boat (tag!) and I have an on-going game of Scrabble. I’m currently kickin’ his ass. He he.

5. Two more? Ugh. OK I like to whine. And complain. I’m really a positive person but sometimes I like to rant. Salty Miss Jill is my hero. (tag!)

6. I hate to run. Worst exercise ever. Ugh.

So let’s see... Shrimp Po-boy, Tug Boat, Salty Jill. Lip Rap, Bigezbear and Dangerblond. Please don’t hate me.

See everyone at the Po-Boy fest Sunday! If I tagged you I’ll buy you a beer if I see you there. How’s that?

2008-11-14T10:35:00.001-06:00

From my in-box- re: Letten

Hey all – I know I’ve been in touch with some of you concerning Jim Letten. We have started a letter writing campaign encouraging our leaders to keep Mr. Letten in New Orleans as he is about the only one who has been able to actually start cleaning up the political and criminal mess here. We’ve stressed to everyone that it doesn’t matter how you voted last week – the bottom line is the vital importance that Letten remain in office. Many of you have sent emails to both Senators Landrieu and Vitter and their response has been encouraging.

However, we got more information last night from another insider who has alerted us that even though we are voicing very loudly our desire to keep Letten, it’s not looking positive. Sadly, the political games may trump what is best for NOLA. Our inside contact has suggested we now bombard Rep. Karen Carter Peterson with letters in support of Letten – saying the more she hears from her constituents, the better.

I have enclosed her contact information and would encourage everyone to send an email -- then fax it. I’ve also included her legislative aide’s name and phone number and a call may not hurt as this will stress our desire to keep Letten in office so he can continue his work in NOLA. For those who have not written, I’ve enclosed all other contacts that we are approaching. If you feel as strongly about keeping Letten here, please send a message to all folks below and pass this email on to everyone you know. This fight is too important and we need our voices heard.

Rep. Karen Carter Peterson
email is larep093@legis.state.la.us
phone is (504)568-8346, fax is (504)568-8405
Her legislative aide is LeBraun Robinson

Mary Landrieu
724 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-1803
Phone: 202-224-5824
Fax: 202-224-9735
http://landrieu.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm

David Vitter
516 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-1804
Phone: 202-224-4623
Fax: 202-228-5061
http://vitter.senate.gov/?module=webformIQV1

2008-11-04T09:27:00.002-06:00

Public service announcement: remember to always keep your crocker spaniel on a leash at all time.

2008-10-25T17:40:00.002-05:00

Redevelopment of Copeland's on St. Charles - About time!

Dear District B Constituent,

Recently, CM Head was approached regarding the re-development of the Old Copeland’s restaurant located at 4338 St. Charles (corner of St. Charles and Napoleon). The developers currently own Superior Grill on Saint Charles and are interested in opening an upscale/ family seafood restaurant. Attached are artist renderings that depict the proposed facade. Notably, the plans require the leasing of 3 ½ feet of city sidewalk space (the sidewalk measures approximately 12 ½ feet) for occasional outdoor seating. We are not aware of any necessary zoning variances or waivers.

We would appreciate community input regarding the redevelopment. Accordingly, next Wednesday the developers, Gabe Garza and Joe Friend, will be available to discuss their proposed plans and answer any questions. This meeting will take place:

Wednesday, October 29, 2008
6:00 p.m.
Sacred Heart’s Mater Library

Please feel free to forward this e-mail to anyone who may be interested and I hope to see you all next week.

Truly,
Theresa R. Becher, J.D.
Legislative Aide
District "B"
504-658-1020

2008-10-23T13:14:00.003-05:00

And on the gastronomical side...

A new cafe has opened on Magazine Street - Gott Gourmet - 3100 Magazine Street (across from The Rendezvous). They have fantastic sandwiches and salads. Also a plus, all their take-out packaging is biodegradable and compostable. Try them out!