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Noise balance

Bourbon Street residents (and homes within a block of it too) must be allowed to go to a special quiet part of heaven when they die…
Once again, the French Quarter leads the way, as noise is an issue everywhere. Th idea of mixed-use neighborhoods is great, but how do you balance the needs between business owners and residents in a 24 hour a day area?
Also, some of those other streets house some shops that blare the music out over the sidewalk til all hours, so the city’s finger should not just point at loud music from clubs and bars…
What is also true is the lack of full-time residents mean that there are fewer people to organize. Many part-time residents don’t care about the long-term quality of life issues, only if the party continues when they visit 1-2 times a season…
wdsu

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Cars Banned? No. Yes. No. Some…

Facebook exchange:
Cars should be banned from the Quarter.
Cyclists in the French Quarter are learning an expensive lesson – break the traffic laws on your bike and get slapped with a hefty ticket.

———–likes this.
———- no they shouldn’t.
———–I agree with —-.
———–yes they should. 😉
———– 2 months ago I got stopped by a cop on a segway for riding through a pedestian mall but he only gave me a warning…
————I told you that all this bike path promotion was going to lead to increased enforcement.
————What bike lanes?
————let me be clear. I like the idea of bikes more than cars. But I also understand that the Quarter is a neighborhood with delivery needs and residents. I’d rather have small buses when possible, which should be added for cross town and uptown/downtown traffic, many of which should stop in or near the Quarter to allow people that are older and disabled who cannot bike.
————bikes will only increase as cars go down. you have to be a pretty confident cyclist as things stand–the ratio of cars/bikes in the city will only change as we get more car-free areas and bike infrastructure.
————i was in Oxford, England, when they banned cars from the city centre. overnight, the streets were full of smiling people, walking. it was amazing. of course there were still buses and working trucks. just no regular traffic to get in the way of the working people. the quarter is now full of frustrated people trying to drive SUVs down streets designed for people and horse carriages, in an endlessly futile search for parking. I’ve had a personal rule never to drive in the quarter for years. let’s shut down the quarter to everyone but residents, service vehicles, and buses. i don’t understand why we haven’t yet.
———– I totally agree.

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Sign to save Le Petit

It’s imperative that we save the oldest community theater in the U.S!
Le Petit has operated in the French Quarter for over 95 years but has fallen on financial hard times recently. As badly as we all want the theater back, the process to look for new owners of this historic theater must be transparent and fair. The Guild of Le Petite Theater du Vieux Carre is an autonomous group that supports the theater revival but its members are concerned that the theater’s governing board is moving too quickly toward a possible deal with Dickie Brennan to operate a restaurant in place of one of the theater’s two stages. As a result, they have drafted this petition:

I want to preserve the cultural and historic integrity of Le Petit Théâtre du Vieux Carré, and I demand that the process to determine the future of the theatre be transparent. The Board of Governors must follow the bylaws of the nonprofit organization, uphold their fiduciary responsibilities and review all options to ensure the long-term sustainability of the theatre.

Please go online and sign today!

Petition

and read Doug MacCash’s nola.com article:

T-P

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Grand Duchess floats back to town

The last time I heard from the GD was during the French Quarter Festival, when her neighbor delivered a message to me from an alert Duchess, who spied me from her balcony. That post
As I know that the Duchess locks up her house for the summer and takes long trips east and west (“never South or North my dear; there’s been entirely too much traffic in THOSE directions over the years”), I was surprised when I noticed the curtains blowing out from her 3rd story. I rang the bell and was admitted warmly by her live-in, Miss Maude who looked fresh as a daisy in the 96 degrees, as all true New Orleans ladies do.
I knew to wait for the Duchess in the cool, darkish middle room on the second floor, which is where she receives guests in the summer. I sat in the large wicker chair after making myself a lemon ginger drink from the tall pitcher, mixed together with ice from the bar freezer and mint from her glorious garden.
garden description

I could hear the muted chatter from nearby streets and feel the fans churning above me. The second floor seems cooled by old-fashioned architecture and strategic breezes rather than too-large air conditioning machines (as the Duchess calls them).
I sat relaxing and cooling and opened my eyes when I smelled verbena. The Duchess had entered and was shooing one of the fattest of her cats to the next room. Soon after, she sat in her usual straight-backed chair across from me.
“I am surprised to see you home in the summer, Duchess”
We believe that in moments of high drama, our citizens need us to be alert.
“I assume you are referring to the historic river levels?”
We are referring to the Mississippi and Atchafalaya river levels, yes. It is our wish that no one suffers on behalf of the village’s residents, but unfortunately, this time some will suffer to save the old city. We hope that our cousins in the Louisiana provinces know that our gratitude and empathy rises to them at this time
“Do you believe the levees will hold?”
We have personally inspected the levee in our village and believe it is safe. However, I cannot vouchsafe for the other villages surrounding ours and hope their royal servants are taking their citizens safety seriously.
“Duchess, I do not believe the other neighborhoods have a Duke or Duchess such as yourself that watch over them.”
(She looked at me sharply as if to gauge my seriousness and then shook her head sorrowfully)
If that is true, our concern is profound for those places. We hope that someday they can restore a personage to serve their needs.
In any case, we must all remember that water is both our saviour and our curse. We cannot control the mighty rivers forever, so must live in such a way as to not draw their ire and still prepare for the days that the water will change its course. We have been thinking a great deal on this subject and offer these decrees:

All villagers must teach each other basic swimming techniques.

All villagers should keep a flotation device available.

The staff of Loyola Avenue must ask for widow’s walks or wrapping galleries to be built on all new buildings above one story.

Second and third floor windows must have an exit path.

Those villagers with means should store expandable ladders of 15 feet or more on second floors or in attics. Rope ladders are more useful but must be inspected regularly for strength. (DW-I mentioned the usefulness and long life of nylon rope, an idea which pleased the Duchess and she begged me to insert the word nylon to the decree above.)

All villagers should make the acquaintance of at least one neighbor who seems to be alone and then to be responsible for that person in times of environmental or federal crisis.

After her decrees were stated, she rose, bade me to follow her into her library and showed me a brass bell and a beautiful old oar from a small boat. She told me they had been given to her by a grateful river pilot many years ago. As she went to ask Maude to show me out, I noticed an first English edition of Mark Twain’s “Life on the Mississippi” near the items and surreptitiously opened it to find this confounding inscription:

To the gracious lady downriver who watches over us all. Mark Twain

To read the original post explaining our Duchess:
Duchess

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French Market public notice

NOTICE: Amplification no longer permitted at Washington Artillery Park

As of May 13, 2011, the French Market Corporation no longer permits use of amplification for performances at Washington Artillery Park. Acoustical performances may be allowed upon review of information provided by artists and musicians. All musicians and artists must put their requests in writing to the French Market Corporation at least 48 hours in advance to request permission to perform.

Permission to perform on any other part of French Market property (Dutch Alley, Dumaine, along Decatur, at the Farmers and Flea Markets) must be issued by French Market staff. During special events and organized performance times and in specifically designated venues, amplification may be permitted. This is always up to the discretion of the French Market Corporation.

All musicians must have a PERMIT TO PERFORM signed and dated by a staff member (at this time, The Marketing Director) in order to perform on French Market property.

Inquiries should be directed to Amy Kirk via email akirk@frenchmarket.org to request permission to perform.

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Any addition to Antoine’s is welcome

On Royal Street, there are some truisms:
1. stuff is expensive.
2. shade is unlikely
3. good public places to sit are taken quickly by musicians and audiences.

So, every time a new place that seems like it might balance one, two or all of the above, I make a beeline for it. The latest is Antoine’s Annex, the coffeehouse brought to us by our oldest restaurant. Just as the Hermes Bar has been such a hit (their newish bar with street entrance which has available Antoine’s appetizers on their menu), it’s likely this Royal Street annex will be too.
I have gone three times since it opened, and I will say the early excitement from the staff seems to have waned. They spent loads of time explaining the pastries back in the day and proudly showing the place itself. Of course, it was a bit much to take when one just wants an espresso and a seat but it was still appreciated.
The pastry case has gotten lighter or has less choices. I mean I didn’t count them, but I remember 2-3 things the first few times I thought looked interesting (and bought one once I remember) but the last 2 times nothing appealed from the case. And I believe it’s all done in-house too so I hope they continue to push the boundaries on pastries- especially with Croissant d’Or’s new owners disappointing so many locals who used to get their croissants, Napoleons and baguettes on Ursulines.
Please Antoine’s Annex, go a little crazy and wow us on the desserts.
The coffee was good; it’s true that cafe au lait is a tough mistress to master in New Orleans, as locals have so many memories and places with which to compare it. I am always unhappy when coffee is served from airpots, as it means it is meant to stay hot longer than it stays fresh in those things. I did see a nice steam but again, am not sure baristas can tell by eyes only when the temperature is perfect as the milk needs to be just below boiling for locals. Their espresso is also fine or good enough (I wonder about the quality of the beans they use), and in all cases the cups used are right and lovely and not just heavy generic coffeehouse stock. And the many flavors offered for espresso was a nice touch.
As for the gelato, they looked okay, but I so appreciate the La Divina local fruit gelato or Brocato’s ice cream, that I have a hard time accepting their small selection as the best they can do. But I promise to come back on a hot evening this month and try one fair and square.
The real treat is the decor and work put into the place. Beautiful. As Royal is as good a place as any to people watch, sit and do that.
Their patio is fine too although it would be nice if the staff would take 5 steps to the street to accept their mobile phone calls and leave the small outside area for sitting and face-to-face level conversations.
But I say let’s keep going and simply ask for more from our Antoine’s. They can handle it.

a nice respite from the street while staying in touch with it.