Category Archives: French Quarter

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Save the crawfish boil

 

Cosimo’s on Burgundy has long hosted a popular neighborhood crawfish boil which has now encountered some opposition from neighbors. Crawfish boils are a part of our culture, rich or poor, and without some serious reasons which I can’t even imagine, this one needs to continue. That part of the Quarter has long had some crime issues and anytime we can put some “eyes on the street”, frivolity and food together, we should. Stop in at Governor Nicholls and Burgundy (and get a nice happy hour drink which is one of the best in the Quarter) and sign their petition.
2009 Times-Picayune story about Cosimo’s crawfish boil

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Reflections of Bechet, A New Orleans Jazz Original: The Man and the Music”

13th annual Bill Russell Lecture

“Reflections of Bechet, A New Orleans Jazz Original: The Man and the Music”
Historian Bruce Raeburn will moderate an illustrated program exploring the artistry, humanity and legacy of creative genius Sidney Bechet (1897–1959). The evening will feature musical performances and commentary from members of the New Orleans Jazzman Band, with Jerry Embree (soprano saxophone), Frankie Lynne (banjo), Barry Martyn (drums) and Mark Brooks (bass).

Friday, April 13 • 6:30 p.m.
Williams Research Center, 410 Chartres St.

A contemporary of Louis Armstrong and Jelly Roll Morton, Bechet is regarded as an early virtuoso on both the clarinet and soprano saxophone, and a musician who helped define the role of those instruments in New Orleans jazz.

Admission for this event is $10 and seating is limited. Reservations are encouraged and may be made by calling (504) 523-4662 or emailing wrc@hnoc.org. Reservations will be held 10 minutes prior to the start of the program. At that time, any unclaimed seats will be released to the public.

About the Bill Russell Lecture

The annual Bill Russell Lecture honors the noted jazz historian, born Russell William Wagner (1905–1992), and is dedicated to New Orleans jazz. Russell’s research focused on traditional New Orleans–style jazz and related musical forms such as brass band, ragtime and gospel music. He amassed an extensive collection of memorabilia, including musical instruments, records, piano rolls, sheet music, photographs, books, and periodicals. These materials trace the development of jazz in New Orleans and follow the movement of musicians to New York, Chicago, California and beyond.
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The William Russell Jazz Collection—permanently housed at the Williams Research Center—encompasses Russell’s research, audiotapes, programs, posters, correspondence, films, business cards, notes, clippings and scrapbooks. The Russell Collection is available to the public at the Williams Research Center, located at 410 Chartres St. and open Tuesday–Saturday, 9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. For more information on this collection, visit the institution, call (504) 523-4662, or e-mail wrc@hnoc.org.

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Lee Kyle, roaring in for Tennessee time (TWLF tip #6)

Lee Kyle, roaring in for Tennessee time (TWLF tip #6)

A 21st century Tennessee Williams. Performer, artist, pedicab driver Lee Kyle. He will be selling his linoleum cut postcards of Tennessee and other characters at the merchandise table of the festival (lobby of the Monteleone Hotel)

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TWLF tip#5

This one will probably like a mint julep-sweet, intoxicating and drippingly Southern in taste.

1:00 PM-2:15 PM

Talking Tennessee with Piper Laurie, Bryan Batt, and Christian LeBlanc
Join these talented actors as they recount their experiences with Tennessee Williams’ words and works. They’ll discuss our namesake’s imprint on American theater, as well as his inspiration to them as actors. A highlight of the discussion will be Ms. Laurie reminiscing about her time playing the role of Laura Wingfield in the acclaimed 1965 revival of The Glass Menagerie on Broadway opposite Maureen Stapleton’s Amanda, Pat Hingle’s Gentleman Caller, and George Grizzard’s Tom. Facilitated by Foster Hirsch.

Sponsored by Hendrick’s Gin.

Location: Hotel Monteleone, Royal Ballroom
Ticket Code(s): AllAccessPass, LitPanelPass, StudentPanPass, Sr/TeachPanPass, DayPanelPassSun
Ticket Type(s): All Access Pass, Literary Panel Pass, Student Panel Pass, Teacher/Senior Citizen Literary Panel Pass, One Day Festival Panel Pass, Single Panel Ticket (only available on site)

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TWLF tip #4-


For those know-it-all locals, you might have noticed that #3 and #4 of my TWLF picks are two panels moderated by the fabulous Diana Pinckley and John Pope, respectively. The couple is the coolest literary couple in the city and although I don’t necessarily associate moderation with either of them, I know they can host the heck out of any get together. Check these panels out just because they don’t handle boring very well so will do their best to achieve the opposite effect.

10:00 AM-11:15 AM
The Right to Write: Blacklisting and Its Repercussions

The blacklist ruined dozens of careers during its heyday from the late 1940s until the early 1960s. Panelists will put blacklisting in a historic context, discuss the impact on its victims, and identify some of its lingering effects.

Panelists: Michael Bernstein, Lou Dubose, and Victor Navasky
Moderator: John Pope

Location: Hotel Monteleone, Queen Anne Ballroom
Ticket Code(s): AllAccessPass, LitPanelPass, StudentPanPass, Sr/TeachPanPass, DayPanelPassSat
Ticket Type(s): All Access Pass, Literary Panel Pass, Student Panel Pass, Teacher/Senior Citizen Literary Panel Pass, One Day Festival Panel Pass, Single Panel Ticket (only available on site)
Price: $10 (Single Ticket Event: only available on site), or included in All Access Pass ($500), Festival Panel Pass ($75), or Day Panel Pass ($30)

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TWLF tip #3

Bet You Can’t Read Just One: Mysteries for Fun

There are so many mystery novels, so little time. These four writers, all from very different genres, give us a privileged glimpse into their craft. Ace Atkins’ prime territory has been the South in his hard-boiled novels, though now he is also taking on Robert Parker’s Spenser franchise. Barbara Hambly has created the evocative world of the Free People of Color in her Benjamin January series. Greg Herren’s novels are exuberant portraits of gay life in New Orleans, and C.S. Harris brings her historian’s training to bear on exquisitely crafted mysteries set in Regency England.

Panelists: Ace Atkins, Barbara Hambly, C.S Harris, and Greg Herren.
Moderator: Diana Pinckley.

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Time for Tennessee

As I wait for the heat and humidity to return (yes I do like them), I also wait for the return at least one fair and two festivals: The New Orleans Bookfair, the French Quarter Festival (sorry JazzFest, you’ve lost my complete loyalty when you went past 50 bucks a day and invited Bon Jovi) and The Tennessee Williams Festival. Interestingly, the festivals fall within a few weeks of each other (TWLF at the end of March, and FQF in mid April) and both are held in the Quarter. (Well whaddya know?)
TWLF is a glorious few days of panels, plays and tours (and mint juleps, don’t forget the mint juleps) all held within the French Quarter of course. The date coincides with the birth date of TW, and the entire event ends on Sunday with a round of happy birthday to Tom. The schedule is usually packed with Southern authors, playwrights, editors and publishers, Tennessee Williams scholars and yes, even a few pompous, idle seersucker-wearin’ Southerners who truly believe they make the event when they arrive and pointedly stand in the lobby or at the front of the room in full sight and earshot of everyone. They do throw some historical perspective on class in New Orleans, so even they are a welcome sight. Sure.
It’s not all about TW, but it remains rooted in the context of his New Orleans and the Southern literary sensibility, which, in my mind, makes it very special and dynamic.
The TWLF event that most people know is the Stella contest, held on Jackson Square on Sunday afternoon with that year’s chosen Stella on the balcony auditioning her Stanleys shouting for her below. So make a point to listen in to Stanley and Stella especially cuz its free, but as literary festivals go this one is world-class and deserves more of your attention. Check out the schedule and I’ll save you a seat:

TWLF