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Dalt Wonk – The Riddles of Existence

Brand new card game for Carnival enthusiasts from one of my favorite illustrators, Dalt Wonk (whose name resembles my real signature way too closely!)

The Riddles of Existence is an oversized deck of fifty cards, each with a full-colored figure wearing a costume. Beneath the illustration, there is a riddle in verse. The costume is the answer, or hint, to the riddle. This is the game. The illustrations and the verse provide great pleasure, above and beyond, the game. There is also a card with the answers to The Riddles of Existence for those who are stumped.

Dalt Wonk – THE RIDDLES OF EXISTENCE | Octavia Books | New Orleans, Louisiana – Independent Bookstore.

other work: http://www.daltwonk.com/illustrated-texts/

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The appearance of king cake tells the season

We have officially begun the 2014 Carnival season in Louisiana. The season starts on the Feast of the Epiphany, Jan 6th (aka Twelfth Night) and runs through Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday. Interestingly, January 6th is also the birthday of the Maid of Orleans, Joan of Arc who is honored in New Orleans with a startlingly gold statue

Joanie on her pony, French Quarter New Orleans

Joanie on her pony, French Quarter New Orleans

and her own lovely parade on her day. As you probably can tell, all of this is closely linked to the Catholic tradition deeply embedded in French Louisiana. For those who have the impression that Mardi Gras is a weekend spent on Bourbon Street, that would be quite far from the actual truth of our season of revelry, which has much more to do with tradition, family and friends and ornate or satirical public costuming. The link to the video shows how a commercial king cake is made, which is the cake we eat throughout the season. The tradition is explained well in the video, so I’ll just add that with the surge in local and artisanal foods, many more types of king cake are now available in the area. Whole wheat cakes, french-style Galette des Rois cakes and more can be found at markets, at stores and bakeries. Happy Carnival!

Galette des Rois (french king cake)

Galette des Rois (french king cake)

yes there is a plastic baby in there. If you get it in your slice, you buy the next cake for your next party.

yes there is a plastic baby in there. If you get it in your slice, you buy the next cake for your next party.

I prefer the brioche with cinnamon version of king cake, but there are literally dozens of varieties available now.

I prefer the brioche with cinnamon version of king cake, but there are literally dozens of varieties available now.

<a href=”http://www.wwltv.com/entertainment/mardi-gras/How-a-king-cake-is-made-111899959.html?autoplay=y”>How a king cake is made</a>

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Dispatches From New Orleans, Vol. 3: A Literary Interlude Starring William Faulkner and Vince Carter – The Triangle Blog – Grantland

An excellent trip through the remaining bookstores of the Quarter and its people and oddities. I’d keep this column as a reference if I were you…Although, his worry about being judged by the booksellers of the Quarter when browsing or buying is entirely unwarranted. If anyone cares less about your preferences than the people of the Quarter, I don’t know who they are.
Rembert Browne (@rembert) is a staff writer for Grantland.

Dispatches From New Orleans, Vol. 3: A Literary Interlude Starring William Faulkner and Vince Carter – The Triangle Blog – Grantland.

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Drink and Learn

Drink & Learn experiences are themed, interactive presentations that uses famous drinks and ingredients to tell the rich history of New Orleans. Join culinary historian Elizabeth Pearce at unique locations all around town as she regales you with tales of rum, rebellion, whiskey, prohibition and more!

drink and learn tour

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Commentary from yours truly on The Lens

Public markets were once a dominant feature of New Orleans’ commercial landscape. There were almost three dozen of them, ranging from those still well-known — the French Market and St. Roch, above all — to long-forgotten markets on Poydras, Washington, Carrollton, Ninth Street, Soraparu, Magazine, Dryades, Claiborne, Treme, St. Bernard, Port, Jefferson, Second Street, Keller, LeBreton, St. John, Ewing, Prytania, Mehle, Memory, Suburban, Rocheblave, Maestri, Delamore, McCue, Lautenschlaeger, Zengel, Guillotte, Doulluth, Behrman and Foto.

 
“The city needs to do better” commentary

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200 years in one book

My pal Dr. Nancy Dixon has just released her amazing anthology of New Orleans literature with fascinating historical and literary introductions by herself.

The reason this book was undertaken by this busy university professor was that the lack of a current anthology hampered her teaching and limited regular folks’ access to the treasure trove of authors that have written about our beloved city. I agree; if this had been around when I was a lit-hungry teenager roaming the Quarter, I could have expanded my knowledge of good writing and my own city so much more and probably reduced the petty crime/nuisance levels around Jackson Square for a few specific years.

From the first play performed in the city, to the details on the Creoles of color and the Los Isleños community, all the way to current writers, (she did stop before 2005 which makes me hope for her post 2005-levee break anthology to come along later), Dr. Dixon gives you a sweet sampling of great writers and/or great pieces to pick up at your leisure. Read a few and then to go to your local dusty used bookstore to dive deeper into those works that appeal to you.

Author Nancy Dixon and me at one of her first public book signings for N.O. Lit: 200 years of New Orleans Literature

Author Nancy Dixon and me at one of her first public book signings for N.O. Lit: 200 years of New Orleans Literature


great local bookstores have it in stock:

http://www.octaviabooks.com/event/nancy-dixon-no-lit

or buy it directly from the publisher and get it inscribed:

http://www.lavenderink.org/content/catalog/210-nolit