Category Archives: New Orleans

by

French Quarter Festival 2014

I remember the few little tents and one stage of the first years of this festival; I love how it has grown and that it is so well run. A good example of how to utilize our city center for our culture without taking the fun (or life!) out of it.

Dr. John’s first performance at French Quarter Festival since 1987

Dr. John embodies the best of New Orleans’ rich musical heritage, and in 2014, he returns to French Quarter Festival for the first time since 1987. This will be his ONLY appearance at a major spring festival in New Orleans in 2014. Dr. John and the Nite Trippers will perform on the riverfront Abita Stage Friday, April 11th at 4:30 p.m. In what promises to be an incredible musical evening, Dr. John will be followed by the Roots of Music with very special guests, and Grammy award-winning Rebirth Brass Band. Longtime Festival supporter, vendor, and friend – Tropical Isle – has generously provided the support to bring Dr. John back to French Quarter Festival. Enter to win the Dr. John VIP experience for a chance to join Tropical Isle for ring access to the show: https://apps.facebook.com/my-contests/aqesyl

Riverfront construction ends and brings the launch of a new music stage:
GE Capital/New Orleans Tech Big River Stage

Year after year, French Quarter Festival is voted ‘locals’ favorite’ while also attracting a tremendous out-of-town audience. A huge part of the appeal is that it provides a true and authentic New Orleans experience – a broad range of Louisiana artists and a diverse variety of musical styles and genres. Since 1984, French Quarter Festival has been committed to featuring New Orleans’ finest artists every day of the festival, on stages all over the French Quarter. The tradition continues in 2014, when FQFI unveils the Big River Stage with new partners GE Capital/New Orleans Tech. The stage has a diverse mix of talented artists that includes Davell Crawford, Paul Sanchez and the Minimum Rage, Glen David Andrews, Jeremy Davenport, New Birth Brass Band, Eric Lindell, Jon Cleary & the Absolute Monster Gentlemen, Flow Tribe, Diablo’s Horns, George Porter, Jr. and Runnin’ Pardners, Lynn Drury, Russell Batiste & Friends with The Wild Tchoupitoulas featuring Jason Neville, Egg Yolk Jubilee, Big Chief Bo Dollis & the Wild Magnolias, Casa Samba Extravaganza, The New Orleans Suspects, the Iguanas, and more. The Big River Stage will feature music daily, on April 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th.

Brass bands are moving from the Riverside Legacy Stage (formerly located on the riverfront) to the new Popeyes Brass Band Jam with OffBeat at the Old U.S. Mint. Barracks Street will be closed to traffic, adding more to the ‘pedestrian playground’ and street party feel of the Festival. The stage will feature Leroy Jones’ Original Hurricane Brass Band, Hot 8 Brass Band, The Original Pinettes Brass Band, Treme Brass Band, Audacity Brass Band, Lagniappe Brass Band, Onward Brass Band, Corey Henry’s Treme Funktet, The Original Pinettes Brass Band, Andrew Hall’s Society Brass Band, Orleans Brass Band, and more. Popeyes Brass Band Jam with OffBeat will run April 11th, 12th, and 13th.

The Chevron Cajun Zydeco Showcase launched in 2013 at the Bienville Triangle (North Peters near St. Louis Street). It was such a hit with festival fans, that it will return for 2014. One of the most popular stages at Festival, the 2014 lineup includes: Big Easy Playboys, Waylon Thibodeaux Band, Beausoleil avec Michael Doucet, Corey Ledet, Brandon Moreau & his Cajungrass, Bruce Daigrepoint Cajun Band, Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band, Amada Shaw, Feufollet, Babineaux Sisters Band, Rusty Metoyer and the Zydeco Krush, Sean Ardoin-n-Zydekool, Les Freres Michot, Sunpie and the Louisiana Sunspots, the Lost Bayou Ramblers, and more.

New site for the Film Festival at French Quarter Festival: Le Petit Théâtre du Vieux Carré

French Quarter Festivals, Inc. continues its partnership with Timecode:nola – a non-profit 501(c)3 organization made up of filmmakers who promote local filmmaking. Because of its incredible popularity at the 2013 French Quarter Festival, the 2014 Film Festival (free and open to the public) will move to Le Petit Théâtre, with more room for fans. Movies and shorts will focus on New Orleans music, neighborhoods and culture (click here for full schedule). Le Petit Théâtre du Vieux Carré, originally organized in 1916 as the New Orleans Chapter of the Drama League of America and one year later as the Drawing Room Players, is one of the oldest community theatres in the country. Since moving into its current home in 1922, the “Little Theatre” has entertained thousands of audience members in a wide array of dramas, comedies, and musicals.

Exciting new additions to Festival food and beverages

The World’s Largest Jazz Brunch will include a new dining area. Over 60 food vendors make up ‘The World’s Largest Jazz Brunch’ at French Quarter Festival, featuring classic New Orleans dishes as well as cuisine from the best restaurants in the region. A number of restaurants have been with the festival since its beginning in 1984, and have been great partners for 30 years: Pat O’Brien’s, Ristorante Carmelo, Trey Yuen, Tujague’s, Vaucresson Sausage, Desire Oyster Bar, and Court of Two Sisters. Other festival favorites return for 2014, including Galatoire’s, Muriel’s, Antoine’s, Praline Connection, Dickie Brennan’s Bourbon House, Restaurant R’evolution, Desire Oyster Bar, Bennachin, Love at First Bite, Crescent Pie and Sausage, Boucherie, GW Fins, House of Blues, Jacques-Imo’s, K-Paul’s, Mrs. Wheat’s, Lasyone’s Meat Pies, and more. New vendors include Café Reconcile, Loretta’s Pralines, Ninja Restaurant, Rib Room, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, and Theo’s Neighborhood Pizza.
Go online and check out their website and download their free app too:

FQFest

by

The Irish and Italians are at it again…

Friday, March 14, 2014
Molly’s at the Market Irish Parade -6:00 p.m.

Saturday, March 15, 2014
Irish Channel Parade – 1 p.m.

Saturday, March 15, 2014
Italian-American St.Joseph’s Parade – 6 p.m.

Sunday, March 16, 2014
St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Metairie Rd. – 12 Noon

Monday, March 17, 2014
Downtown Irish Club Parade – 6:00 p.m.

Sunday, March 23, 2014
Louisiana Irish-Italian Parade (Metairie) – 12 Noon

Sunday, April 6, 2014
St.Bernard Irish-Italian Islenos Parade – 11 a.m.

so you probably know about St. Pat’s but may not know about New Orleans’ connection with St. Joseph’s Day:
March 19th marks the Catholic celebration of St. Josephs Day where Catholic New Orleanians construct elaborate altars in honor of this saint. The tradition, commemorating the relief St. Joseph provided during a famine in Sicily, began in the late 1800’s when Sicilian immigrants settled in New Orleans. Today, St. Joseph’s day is not just for Italian-Americans. Every year, this celebration offers New Orleans natives and visitors a chance to share food with others and for believers, a way to express gratitude for any sort of fortune in their lives.
St. Joseph altars, representing the Holy Trinity, are divided into three sections with a statue of St. Joseph at the head. The devout place candles, figurines, flowers, medals and other items around the alter creating a beautiful, lush and overflowing effect. Since the altars thank St. Joseph for relieving hunger, offerings of food are essential.

2014 parade routes
Here is the 2013 Times Picayune altar list which will be similar for 2014. However, do check online at nola.com for the updated list before heading out!

Italian-American Marching Club presents its queen ahead of parade.

by

A Musical Prelude to the Celebration of Easter at Saint Mary’s Catholic Church

A Musical Prelude to the Celebration of Easter:
A Series of Free Public Concerts to be Staged At
Saint Mary’s Catholic Church in the Vieux Carre

NEW ORLEANS, LA—On March 6, 2014, renowned tenor and opera performing artist Fernando del Valle and acclaimed organ recitalist Jarrett Follette will kick off a series of concerts at an important architectural and historic landmark, St. Mary’s Catholic Church in the French Quarter.
The series—A Musical Prelude to the Celebration of Easter—will feature music ranging from classical favorites of the great gothic and baroque cathedrals of the world to New Orleans jazz, spirituals, and gospel and will take place on Thursdays at 6 p. m. Saint Mary’s Catholic Church, part of the old Ursuline Convent Complex, is located at 1116 Chartres Street.

Subsequent concerts in the series will feature more of the
talented performance artists of New Orleans.

—The March 13 Concert will star popular New Orleans vocalists Phillip Manuel, whose voice is big enough to fill a cathedral or capture the crowds at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, and Lucy Burnett, noted especially for her dramatic range, both of whom have
frequently sung in gospel chorales as well as jazz jams and solo gigs.
—The March 20 Concert will star Grammy and Billboard Award-winning Jazz trumpeter and bandleader Irvin Mayfield, whose Jazz Playhouse at the Royal Sonesta has been described as the best jazz club in New Orleans and who is founder and artistic director of the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra and New Orleans Jazz Institute, as well as Professor of Music at the University of New Orleans. At the University of New Orleans he initiated a program of musical composition, creating
new music based on the work of famous authors. Most recently, he composed a program of new music based on the work of Louisiana
literary master Ernest J. Gaines.
—The March 27 Concert will star Soprano Amy Pfrimmer, head of the Voice Faculty at Tulane University, who has performed across the United States, Germany, France, Canada, and England, including appearances with the London Symphony Orchestra, Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz, Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, and Baltimore Choral Arts Society, in collaboration with pianist and composer Dave Brubeck. Ms. Pfrimmer will appear with pianist Dreux Montegut, who has been Director of Music since 1966 at the Cathedral – Basilica of St. Louis King of France, where he conducts the Cathedral Choir and Concert Choir. Under his direction, the Cathedral Concert Choir has performed an excitingly diverse array of music ranging from Mozart’s Mass in C Minor to Duke Ellington’s Sacred Music.
—The April 3 Concert will star Lisa McDonald and Jacques Weaver in flute and harp performances. Ms. McDonald, who is a talented architect with McDonald Architects and staff architect at Tulane Univerisity Health Services Campus, plays flute with the New Orleans
Concert Band. Jacques Weaver, who has taught music in Plaquemines
Parish for many years is an accomplished pianist, organist, and harpist,
who plays organ and harp for Mass at St. Mary’s. A singer, too, he has
performed with the New Orleans Opera Chorus.
—The April 10 Concert will star Cynthia Cheri-Woolridge, who
leads a popular group of gospel and spirituals singers and musicians. Her degree in music is from Xavier University and Ms. Cheri-Woolridge, a soloist with the New Orleans Concert Band an the New Orleans Black
Chorale, has served as both choir director and organist for such churches as Peter Claver, Our Lady of Lourdes, and St. Jude.

The concerts are free and open to the general public and are sponsored by the Archdiocese of New Orleans and the Cathedral-Basiica of St. Louis King of France to benefit the new mission of the Archdiocese in downtown New Orleans, the Bishop Perry Center. Donations to support the Center will be accepted at the concerts. The Center, located at 1941 Dauphine, is under the direction of the Rev. William F. Maestri and has a multi-faceted mission of:
—Providing a spiritual ministry—daily mass at Noon Monday – Friday, ongoing spiritual counseling at the Center, boots on the street ministering to men, women, and children living on the street, and communicating with downtown residents to make them aware of services available at the Center.
—Meeting the material needs for food and clothing of the disadvantaged and assisting those in need of shelter find it.
—Providing a base for the delivery of free medical and psychological evaluation and treatment services, desperately needed in downtown New Orleans.
—Providing educational services, such as tutoring for G. E. D., teaching reading and writing, teaching computer skills, and mentoring men and women who have lost their jobs and are seeking employment.
—Cultural Outreach programs for the downtown neighborhoods, including heritage events, music events, literary events, visual arts events.

The program for the first concert will include some of the finest Baroque music written for the tenor voice and for the organ, as well as later spiritually oriented classical music.

by

23rd Annual Costume Bazaar

One of the great Carnival must-dos is not a parade or watching beads rain down on desperate breast-baring middle Americans on Bourbon, but this artistic gathering of our city's great costumers.

One of the great Carnival events is not a parade or watching beads rain down on desperate breast-baring middle Americans on Bourbon, but this yearly artistic gathering of our city’s great costumers.

by

Beaten musician Doug Potter awakens, moves to Touro Infirmary for therapy

Beaten musician Doug Potter awakens, moves to Touro Infirmary for therapy | NOLA.com.

by

new week, new rewards from Waking Up in Dreamland

Project Update from Little Queenie:

we’ve had great week! people have joined the campaign from all over the USA, as well as from canada and australia, and some of you have increased your pledge amounts, for all of which i am SO very grateful. the clock ticks on, so please urge friends and family to join us in the coming days, and when you do, please remind them that every pledge is eligible for rewards.

speaking of those…most of y’all already know i’m a louisiana girl; in my birth land, the vast majority of people feel nekkid roaming around unless they have a vessel on/in hand filled with some refreshing beverage or other. last week, as i read one email and social media post after another from the sportsman’s paradise complaining of this seemingly endless cold season, i realized i couldn’t let any of my backers welcome the heavily-anticipated springtime without something special to tote their potables in style–so everybody who contributes receives at least one Little Queenie go-cup. they bear the LQ logo designed for me by nola artist mark andresen printed on 12-ounce cups in some lovely hey-that’s-MY-drink colors.these are not available anywhere else on earth. you know you’ll be wanting some up in your patio/pirogue/picnic!

for just one lucky high-roller, a shrine featuring st louis di prima will be part of your package! this handmade piece honoring the seminal new orleans musicmaker is one of a kind, just like da man himself, and is available with a $750 pledge.

i’ve been asked about the vintage LQ cds offered at the $100-and-up levels.in order to make sure you don’t receive something you might already own, i’ve created some discs containing material NO ONE has. more about those later.

thanks again to each and all for your support.

yours,

leigh
link to Kicktstarter campaign

original post

by

bicycle culture in New Orleans, circa 1880

(…and was as elitist as expected back then…)

New Orleans jumped onto the bandwagon, forming the New Orleans Bicycle Club (NOBC) in 1880. The NOBC’s evolution mirrored the changing times. Born first as a ‘gentleman’s club,’ they initially described themselves as “men of affairs of relatively high standing.” The less affluent were kept from membership by default, as they wouldn’t be likely to afford the expensive bicycles.

… Issues of race arose because the Northern cycling groups accepted applicants regardless of color, while the NOBC wasn’t ready to do that.

Cycling History on Baronne St, Embodied in New Orleans Bicycle Club