Author Archives

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Campanella at Jazz Fest next week with new book

Campanella, a Tulane University geographer who occasionally writes for NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune, has come in under the radar with his new book. He will launch “Lost New Orleans” with an April 30 event at the Jazz Fest Book Tent. Filled with grand archival photographs, Campanella’s book ranges across the centuries, cataloging a remarkable array of lost landmarks, from the French Opera House to the Rivergate Exhibition Hall.

If that sounds intriguing, check out Campanella’s much discussed “Bourbon Street: A History,” which vividly detailed the city’s most famous thoroughfare. In a 2014 interview with NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune, he said, “Bourbon Street is a totally authentic, only-in-New-Orleans phenomenon – and a grand success. That’s hard for some people to swallow.”

all of the signings:

FIRST WEEKEND
April 24 – Friday

2-3 p.m., Laura Lane McNeal, “Dollbaby”

3-4 p.m., Tom Cooper, “Marauders”

4-5 p.m., Bruce “Sunpie” Barnes and Rachel Breunlin, “Talk That Music Talk”

April 25 – Saturday

Noon–1 p.m., Chontel Carter Frank, “The Adventurous NoLa Kids Go to the Ruined Mansion”

3-4 p.m., Keith Weldon Medley, “Black Life in Old New Orleans”

4-5 p.m., Patrice Joseph, “Water Line: My Family’s Journey Before, During and After Hurricane Katrina”

5-6 p.m., Dawn Chartier, “Bewitching the Enemy”

5:15-5:30 p.m., Irvin Mayfield, “New Orleans Jazz Playhouse” (Event in Grandstand)

April 26 – Sunday

1-2 p.m., Barri Bronston, “Walking New Orleans”

3-4 p.m., Ashley Kahn, “Universal Tone: Bring My Story to Light, Carlos Santana”

4-5 p.m., Kourtni Mason, “Little Miss Dancey Pants”

SECOND WEEKEND
April 30 – Thursday

1-2 p.m., Bill Loehfelm, “Doing the Devil’s Work”

2-3 p.m., Leif Pederson, “Adventures of Swamp Kids – A Zoo Ta-Do”

3-4 p.m., Richard Campanella, “Lost New Orleans”

May 1 – Friday

1-2 p.m., Bernie Cook, “Flood of Images”

3-4 p.m., Guy Lyman III, “A Big Easy Childhood”

4-5 p.m., Dennis McNally, “On Hwy 61: Race, Music and the Evolution of Cultural Freedom”

May 2 – Saturday

Noon–1 p.m., M.O. Walsh, “My Sunshine Away”

1-2 p.m., Cornell Landry, “Good Night Cajun Land”

2-3 p.m., Michael Pitre, “Fives and Twenty-Fives”

3-4 p.m., Troy Andrews & Brian Collier, “Trombone Shorty”

May 3 – Sunday

1-2 p.m., Brian Boyles, “New Orleans: Boom and Blackout”

2-3 p.m., Johnette Downing, “Fifolet

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New Orleans City Council (mostly) bans big trucks in French Quarter

I could show you DOZENS of these pictures...

I could show you DOZENS of these pictures…

Honestly, large signs that warn of this ban at each street that directs traffic into the Quarter will help. Additionally, high fines for being in the Quarter, levied from photographs submitted by any citizen who is willing to also sign an affidavit that the photo is real; say 500.00 to start…
Maybe the French Market Corp could make some income by using small electric trucks to deliver some goods from larger trucks delivered to their Barracks shed to restaurants and bars in the center of the Quarter?

Trucks longer than 36 feet can no longer freely maneuver through the historic neighborhood. That is unless their owners opt to pay $125 a year or $10 per trip to basically dodge the ban.

New Orleans City Council (mostly) bans big trucks in French Quarter | NOLA.com.

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Where did the oil go?

Monday was the 5-year anniversary of the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The loss of wildlife and nesting habitats is incalculable and will never be recovered.

This was from the local news on the anniversary:

Beshel’s Marina in East Pointe ala Hache on the east bank of lower Plaquemines Parish resembled a ghost town on Monday. Owner Don Beshel said before the BP spill, more than 100 boats would normally tie up to his docks. Now there are only about a dozen boats left, and most of them haven’t left the marina in months….

Barisich said BP has an obligation to clean up the fisheries and rebuild the oyster reefs.
“The oysters are like the canary in the coal mine,” he said. “Until we get our oyster reefs back, which would purify the water and make the environment better, we’re going to be at a standstill.”

This is from the National Resources Defense Council:

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Night concerts during JazzFest

This, obviously, will be amazing:
George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic with DJ Soul Sister
Sunday at House of Blues (225 Decatur St., 504-310-4999; http://www.houseofblues.com. Tickets $40.)

and this:
1913-2013 Orchestra
Bassist, composer and eclectic experimenter James Singleton leads his 1913-2013 Orchestra through an improvisational set exploring New Orleans music across a century. Joining the symphony are trumpeter Satoru Ohashi, saxophonist Rex Gregory, drummer Justin Peake, trombonist Rick Trolsen and guitarist Chris Alford. The orchestra performs at Zeitgeist Multi-Disciplinary Arts Center 7 p.m. Friday (1618 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd., 504-827-5858; http://www.zeitgeistinc.net. Tickets $15 general admission, $10 Zeitgeist members).

more here:

http://www.bestofneworleans.com/gambit/night-concerts-during-jazz-fest/Content?oid=2189237

a few more listed here:

http://www.wwltv.com/story/entertainment/2015/04/21/5-evening-shows-to-see-the-first-weekend-of-jazz-fest/26083689/

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Navy Week in New Orleans

http://nolanavyweek.com/

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Ships from the U.S. Navy, Coast Guard, Great Britain and Canada will line the shores of the Mississippi River and you’re invited to join in on the action. Starting Friday, April 24th, the ships will be open for General Public Visitation – explore as many as you can! Hours for ships may vary by day, so take a look at our calendar or the individual ship’s pages and start planning. School and community groups are also invited to learn more about scheduling private group tours.

    Historic New Orleans Collection will have lectures for Navy Week

As part of New Orleans Navy Week 2015, The Historic New Orleans Collection will host a special presentation on April 27, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at THNOC’s Williams Research Center, 410 Chartres Street just a few blocks away from the riverfront, where the visiting ships will be docked.

The program will feature two lectures moderated by Cyril Lagnavec, who teaches at Jesuit High School and the US Naval College.

William H. Forman, professor at the Naval War College in New Orleans, will open the program with his talk “The 1814 Battle of Lake Borgne: Prelude to Victory,” which will examine the naval engagement between US and British forces that preceded the monumental Battle of New Orleans.

Jason Wiese, associate director of THNOC’s Williams Research Center, will follow with his presentation “United States v. Andrew Jackson: The Fight over Martial Law in New Orleans,” which will explore Jackson’s decision to impose military rule in New Orleans in December 1814 and to keep it in effect after the war’s end, as well as the controversies that ensued.

New Orleans Navy Week will take place April 23–29, 2015, with a host of events at venues throughout the city. The program at The Historic New Orleans Collection is free and open to the public. Reservations are encouraged and may be made by calling THNOC (504) 523-4662 or emailing wrc@hnoc.org.

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HNOC Concerts in the Courtyard

Tonight, stop and listen to one of the best clarinetists in town perform in the lovely Royal Street courtyard of the Historic New Orleans Collection.

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Suspected bike thief arrested in wig disguise after ex-bounty hunter, Facebook group run stakeout

“Gray tailed him for a few blocks, when, he said, Wells found an easy target: a red cruiser bike tethered with a cable lock. With a snip, the bike was free and Wells was on the move, Gray said.

Wells pedaled up to the Lowe’s hardware store on Elysian fields where he tried to sell the ride to the day laborers out front, Gray said. Finding no takers, Wells approached Gray, he said.

“Know anyone who wants to buy a bike,'” Wells asked, according to Gray’s account.

Gray said he only had about $15 on him. Wells said that was good enough, and the deal was sealed, Gray said.”

Keep your eyes and ears out about suspicious behavior around bikes and report it to the Stolen Bikes Nola Facebook page. And DON’T use cable locks.

Suspected bike thief arrested in wig disguise after ex-bounty hunter, Facebook group run stakeout | NOLA.com.