Tag Archives: French Quarter

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St. Joseph’s Day- March 19

Like most Americans, New Orleanians too celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, although here in New Orleans we also celebrate St. Joseph’s Day. There already was a parade through the Quarter last weekend in St. Joseph’s honor and March 19 (St. Joseph’s actual feast day) will be quite the day for viewing of the altars throughout the city. The tradition, which is Sicilian in origin but carried on locally by Italian-Americans and people of all nationalities and faiths, includes baking cookies and cakes and preparing foods for the altar. According to a legend, a drought and famine during the Middle Ages caused much suffering in Sicily. People prayed to St. Joseph, the husband of Mary, and promised to thank him with food altars on his feast day, March 19, and give away the food to all. Supposedly on midnight of March 19, it started to rain and broke the Sicilian drought. Many now create altars to thank St. Joseph for their personal prayers as well.

The altars are found in churches, businesses and homes throughout the city and when you leave after viewing, you will receive a fava bean. The fava bean will bring you luck throughout the year. Part of the tradition requires that no money be spent on the altar, so its creators must beg for all items. Once the day is over, the altar is broken down and its content donated to the poor.
St. Joseph’s Day has another connection to food: it is also the traditionally the last day to plant summer tomatoes for this region. <p><a href=’http://www.wwltv.com/news/List-of-local-St-Joseph-altars-197132801.html#.UT9OAMHCzhU.wordpress’>List of local St. Joseph altars | wwltv.com New Orleans</a>.</p>

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Great song, scene from King Creole

Some of the most gorgeous shots of New Orleans ever captured on film. Worth it just for that.

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Shop Historic online

Great selection of maps and books. I can’t speak for the other merchandise…

Shop Online

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Group Wants Main Gates To Armstrong Park To Open

The closed park gates (and city hall’s response in this story) is a perfect example of the bureaucracy misusing the city’s assets rather than encouraging the use and care of them by allowing citizens to feel ownership.

Group Wants Main Gates To Armstrong Park To Open.

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Scavengers

It’s not that unusual to see people running wildly through the streets of the Quarter, zigzagging their way from side to side. However, the times that it does not involve catching beads from balconies or avoiding iPhone-stealing thugs are rare.
The scavenger craze has been here in the old city for a while, which has allowed locals the chance to watch groups of white people hunting a list of worthless trinkets first rather than just to take home to impressed yet puzzled family members. For active visitors or even bored locals, these hunts can be a fun way to spend a fall evening while out in the glorious weather. Take a minute and click through to this deal for a reduced price scavenger hunt, courtesy of Living Social coupons:
Living Social hunt

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Tree Maps

Mapping is a great way to show both what is available and what could be. Maps can also be the best way to literally show context. My own awareness of the city and region I live in is largely based on 2 things: anecdotal accounts from individuals, and old maps and ephemera.
I began thinking of mapping the French Quarter a few years ago and did the first one (Cheap Drinks, Bookstores and Extra Bathrooms, also known as CDBB) this year to show both local and tourists something new about the old city. It can be downloaded from this site, by searching in the mapping category.
After that map, I began thinking of other ways to surprise and came up with mapping the tree canopy and best native trees.
I walked every block of the Quarter to map the canopy of trees experienced in the public areas and then asked for volunteers among my friends to double check my work and add to it-and got 4. Greg and Jennifer had already helped with the CDBB map, and so stayed on for this one too. Beth and Marcela came to it with their own interest; Beth probably because she’ll help any organizer friend of hers and Marcela because of her passion and knowledge on native planting.
So, am currently working on finding an artist to refine my map, then will have the Tree Canopy map ready by end of year. The native tree piece is still being worked on by Marcela, and I am adding a link to her beginning, entertaining work:

Native

and stay tuned for more.

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Southern Decadence Parade Will Go On As Planned Today

(September 4, 2011)- Despite the rain, Southern Decadence Parade organizers say the parade is still on for this afternoon.
The parade is slated to begin at 2pm, lining up on Royal and Barracks Streets. It’s expected to wrap up around 4pm at Bourbon and Dumaine Streets.
It’s important to note that this year’s parade is strictly for walkers. No floats or vehicles will be included in the line-up.
The parade route is the same as was originally laid out by organizers, and is in today’s Times Picayune. The only major street that may need to be blocked off for up to 15 minutes is North Rampart. During that brief time, RTA buses that run on that street will be temporarily stopped until the parade has left the area and moved into the French Quarter.
NOPD is ensuring ahead of time that all streets along the route are free of standing water or other hazards so paraders and parade-goers will have a safe, enjoyable time.

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New Orleans Police Department