“Righteous moves,
Invigorating spirits,
Sharing beliefs, and
Empowering, just one
let’s you RISE, above all.”
― Norbert Harms

***
Susan Roth and Jimmy Fahrenholtz recently had a lengthy meeting with Jazz Fest officials, NOPD representatives, and City Tax and Revenue representatives.

Here is the skinny for Jazz Fest 2015:

The City is going to VERY aggressively enforce all laws to the best of their abilities.

Parking is going to be a major focus. If you live in “The Zone” you must have an access pass to get in. That pass, however, only gets you into the dance, it doesn’t guarantee that you will have a spot on the dance floor. There are areas that require a Residential Parking Permit to park on the street for more than 2 hours. Those areas are some what spotty. Our suggestion is to walk in both directions on the block where you wish to park, and look for the green and white permit signs. If they are not on that block then you don’t need, in theory, a permit. Having a philosophical difference with authority over parking rights may be a fun topic at a cocktail party, but a violation of the law is a violation of the law. Don’t do it and you won’t get towed.

“To avoid parking all together, there’s a Jazz Fest Express Service. It offers round-trip transportation on Gray Line Tour buses. Pickups locations are the Sheraton Hotel on Canal Street, the Steamboat Natchez dock and at City Park near the intersection of Marconi Drive and Harrison Avenue. Daily pickup runs from 10:30 a.m. Until all patrons have been transported from the fairgrounds. Round-trip from downtown is $19. Round-trip from City Park is $15, parking included.”
More in the link:
http://www.wdsu.com/news/local-news/new-orleans/jazz-fest-traffic-tips-and-tricks-that-will-help-you-get-to-and-from-he-fairgrounds/32531460

And just for a reference;
http://www.wwltv.com/story/news/2015/04/23/parking-restrictions-bus-and-cab-info-for-jazz-fest/26237123/

Illegal vending is going to be another focus this year. If you see some one selling items from their porch or home, the police can respond and issue a summons. If someone is on the sidewalk or street, then the Tax and Revenue people will respond and it becomes a civil matter. In either case, call the Neighborhood Action Telephone Line immediately. The number is 504 942 7799

Taxis have been given specific instructions as to their behavior. They are only to pick up at the designated area at Fortier Park. They can only enter the queue from Moss and Grand Route. If you should see any taxis cruising or soliciting in any other areas, please get the taxi’s description and number (hopefully with a taxi selfie). The taxi number and company are imperative. When you have that info, call the Neighborhood Action Telephone Line immediately. The number is 504 942 7799

UBER is now a part of our experience. They will be permitted to pickup passenger at three specific locations; City Park Entrance Area, Broad and Abadie, and Desaix Blvd. (see map below) Should you have any concerns about UBER activity, call the Neighborhood Action Telephone Line immediately.
The number is 504 942 7799

There will be a Second Line Parade from NOMA, down Esplanade, left on Mystery, right on Fortin, starting about 10:30am on Locals Thursday. There will be some traffic disruptions for the brief time that they will be parading.
http://www.noma.org/events/detail/1070/Odyssey-Jazz-Brunch-and-Second-Line-Parade

Lights-We are 90% complete on all requested repairs. And we may finally have all 4 lights on the Cabrini Bridge working. Should you have any concerns or issues, please let Susan Roth or Jimmy Fahrenholtz know immediately…

Send any concerns, comments or issues you would like addressed to: jazzfest@fsjna.org

***

It’s here and many folks are excited about the fun and frivolity we know as Jazz Fest.

Lots of neighbors love to have guests join them at their home for each day of Jazz Fest. It’s a fun way to get together and walk over to Jazz Fest as a group. The big negative? …where to put the cars the guests bring.

Why not stop the hassle and aggravation of figuring out where to put all those cars and help out a fellow 501c3 organization at the same time?

The Deutsches Haus will be offering safe, secure, hassle-free parking at 1700 Moss and it’s a short walk to Jazz Fest. You can even reserve your parking space in advance! Check out the details in the link below.

Parking enforcement personnel will be monitoring illegal parking, including blocking hydrants, driveways and sidewalks, or parking within 20 feet of a crosswalk, intersection or stop signs. Motorists are also reminded to park in the direction of travel on one-way streets, and with the right wheel to the curb on two-way streets.

JAZZ FEST PARKING SECRET IN THE LINK BELOW:
https://fsjna.org/2013/04/park-at-the-haus-for-jazz-fest/

The Jazz Fest Neighborhood Action Telephone Line is set up each year to allow communication between residents and the Jazz Fest.The line is used to report NON EMERGENCY matters only such as blocked driveways and streets, reports of illegal vending, trash, neighborhood access issues, traffic, and taxi problems, etc. The number is 504 942 7799.

The NAT Line (Neighborhood Action Telephone Line) that is activated the day before Jazz Fest is: 942-7799. You use this number for Jazz Fest nuisance related issues. Put this # in your cell phone! You call 911 for police emergencies and crime related events. For non-emergency police events call 821-2222.

photos by Charlie London

PARKING ENFORCEMENT REMINDERS:

The Fair Grounds Race Course is located in a residential part of the city offering restricted parking in surrounding neighborhoods. Festival-goers that are driving to the Fairgrounds are encouraged to park in downtown long term lots and use public transportation.

Parking enforcement personnel will be monitoring for illegal parking, including blocking hydrants, driveways and sidewalks, or parking within 20 feet of a crosswalk, intersection or stop signs, in the residential neighborhoods adjacent to the Fairgrounds. Motorists are also reminded to park in the direction of travel on one-way streets, and with the right wheel to the curb on two-way streets.

In addition, existing businesses will be allowed to sell their products on their property, both inside and outside of their business contingent upon not blocking public right of way. However, the City will aggressively enforce the rules against transient vendors (carts, trucks, etc.) from improperly selling their products within the festival’s “clean zone.”

The Department of Public Works is issuing citations for the following safety violations:

•Parking within 15 feet of a fire hydrant: $20
•Parking in a fire lane: $20
•Parking on the median: $75
•Parking on the sidewalk: $20
•Parking in the travel portion of the roadway: $20
•Parking within 20 feet of a crosswalk or intersection: $20
Vehicles may be towed for all of the above violations; the tow fee is $156.

Citations can be paid and vehicles retrieved at 400 N. Claiborne Ave. from 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday – Friday. Payments can also be mailed to:
Violations Bureau | P.O. Box 52828 | New Orleans, LA | 70152

Citations can be contested by mail. Instructions are listed on the back of the ticket.

For more information, please call the Department of Public Works at (504) 658-8000. The city towing hotline is (504) 658-8002.

Park at 1700 Moss just off Esplanade.
Short walk to Jazz Fest.

Parking hours 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

30 dollars per car.

Sorry, no in and out.

***

Description of Jazz Fest by Dan Rabin

The annual New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, or simply Jazz Fest, is a massive springtime music and cultural festival that takes place over two consecutive weekends in late April and early May. Many music lovers of all ilk consider it the country’s premier music festival and return year after year. Others have called it the best party in America.

The name Jazz Fest is somewhat misleading, as jazz is only one component of the festival’s musical offerings. Performers represent a wide range of genres including jazz, rock, blues, gospel, R & B, Cajun, zydeco, folk, bluegrass, African, Caribbean and Latin. Non-stop performances take place on a dozen stages scattered around the festival site. In addition to music, there’s a huge selection of regional cuisine, arts and crafts booths, second line parades and numerous other attractions.

Jazz Fest tips by Andreas Preuss | photos by Charlie London

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/04/23/jazzfest.traditions/

Getting there

Best to take a cab, ride a shuttle, bike or walk. Just like during Mardi Gras, streets around the New Orleans Fair Grounds will be clogged with traffic and city law enforcement. There are also some for-hire shuttle buses from downtown and French Quarter locations.  The event provides free and secure bike parking, and I’ve been biking to the Fest in recent years. That way I can maximize my Fest time instead of looking for a legal parking spot. If you do travel by bike, remember to wear a helmet; New Orleans streets have lots of potholes, and drivers are not always bike-friendly.

Navigating the music

Check out the “cubes” on the Jazz Fest website. The time-slot stage boxes help you schedule your movements during the Fest, optimizing your music listening experience for each stage. I print one out, circle my must-do’s and then hit the stages.

The New Orleans Fair Grounds becomes a city, with thousands of people navigating just about every pavement, sidewalk and grassy way. Having your plan in hand is a great way to take it all in. But also be flexible and let the happenstance music take you away. A small local act can be more inspiring than a big national touring group in many ways.

For the rest of the article, please visit the link:    http://www.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/04/23/jazzfest.traditions/

TIPS BELOW FROM FAUBOURG ST. JOHN NEIGHBOR MICHAEL LUKE

http://www.wwltv.com/eye-on-festivals/Jazz-Fest-on-a-relative-budget-148905585.html

Step 1: Tickets

Volunteering at Jazz Fest is a surefire way to get in for cheap, i.e. free, though it must be done early in the year and requires working part of the day.    If you do buy tickets, buying them as soon as they go on sale is essential to save the most money on tickets – or buy weekend packages.    The tickets for individual days traditionally go up as the Fest gets closer.   To save money, buy your tickets ahead of time at the Superdome box office.   If you are taking children, remember that tickets for children age 2 to 10 are $5, but they are available only at the gate.

Step 2: Packing the Essentials

Next to a hat, comfortable shoes and sunglasses, a backpack is indispensable for a day at the Fair Grounds, and there are several things that should always be inside said backpack:

• A small, six-pack size soft-sided cooler.
• Water and food. Jazz Fest allows a one-liter bottle of water, which must be sealed. Inside your cooler should be that bottle, a bag of ice in a sealed bag to prevent the ice from leaking and keeping your water cold, and a couple pieces of fruit. Oranges and bananas are perfect.
• Sunscreen. A must.
• Should it rain, or if rain seems remotely likely pack a re-sealable plastic bag — this is what your wallet, camera, cell phone, etc. goes inside to stay dry — and a small foldable raincoat or poncho.
• A small, emergency supply of toilet paper. Crude, yes, but also a possible life-saver or a stand-in for a napkin if needed. A pack of wet wipes can also serve here as well.

Don’t bring a chair. Controversial, but a fact. They’re laborious to carry around unless you want to camp at one stage for an entire day. (If you have trouble standing, a portable, compact stool makes life a whole lot easier, but don’t forget the seats in the tents and inside the Grandstand. Those can be an oasis for your weary legs.)

Step 3: Don’t drive there

Don’t drive there. This goes for locals and tourists alike. There is next to nowhere to park, and it costs a pretty penny if you do find a spot.  If you must bring your car, park here.   (Lagniappe tip for out-of-towners: Don’t pay locals to park on the street near the Fair Grounds. This common practice is illegal, a scam; it is public parking on the street. Also, don’t park illegally. You will get a ticket or get towed.)  Also, forget trying to get a cab. Besides the expense, you’re competing against thousands all trying to get a cab at the same time and all trying to get to Jazz Fest.

If you can, ride a bicycle or take the bus.

Here’s the RTA info for public transportation to get to near Jazz Fest, requiring a walk for a couple of blocks:

• Coming from the French Quarter: Canal Streetcar Line – Stops 4 blocks from Fair Grounds’ Gate
  
• Coming from Uptown / River Bend: (Audubon Zoo, Xavier University, Canal Streetcar, Rouses Supermarket, Museum of Art) Bus Line 32-Leonidas – Stops 4 blocks from Fair Grounds’ Gate
  
• Coming from Irish Channel / Garden District / CBD / Esplanade: (Cemeteries Transit Center, Delgado Community College, City Park, Museum of Art, Fairgrounds, Canal Street, Canal Streetcar, St.Charles Streetcar, Wal-Mart) Bus Line 91-Jackson/Esplanade – Stops 2 blocks from Fair Grounds’ Gate
• Coming from New Orleans East: (Village De L’Est, Winn-Dixie Supermarket, Chef Menteur Highway, Fairgrounds, Dillard University, Canal Streetcar) Bus Line-94 Broad – Stops 2 blocks from Fair Grounds’ Gate
  
• The RTA suggests pre-purchasing a boarding pass, arriving to the bus stop early, and being courteous to other riders and patient with the increase need for service. Fare is $1.25 per ride.
• The RTA “Jazzy Pass” is valid for unlimited rides and transfers on the entire RTA fleet.
  For more information how to create your transit itinerary and where to purchase a Jazzy Pass, visit www.norta.com,  find NewOrleansRTA on Twitter and Facebook or contact the RTA Customer Care Ride Line at 504-248-3900.

A listing of some bicycle rentals places: http://www.neworleansonline.com/tools/transportation/gettingaround/bicycling.html

If you ride a bike, there are racks at both entrances — Sauvage and Gentilly — but they fill up fast, and you’ll need to bring your own lock.

Step 4: Pack some food and forget drinking alcohol

This isn’t the easiest rule to abide by – a cold beer is delightful at the Fest under the Louisiana sun and as is a tall Strawberry Lemonade. The problem is either isn’t cheap, same goes for sodas, $4, and bottled water, $3.

The food at the Fest likely the hardest to skip – in fact, it’s probably impossible – which is why the suggestion is to skimp on the food, not skip. Bringing in some snacks like fruit or a granola bars helps in that department. When you do decide to grab a bite, look for the food that delivers the biggest bang for your buck, like BBQ ribs or turkey leg plate near the Jazz Tent.

When you finish with the water bottle you brought in, don’t throw it away. There are several places to get free water inside the Fair Grounds: Water fountains inside the Grandstand and three water stations, which are marked on the Jazz Fest map.

Step 5: Bring cash

Even with these tips, you’ll likely need cash. The Fest does have several ATMs, but if these aren’t your bank, you’ll be hit with the service charges, and the lines for them can get long. Would you rather see music or stand in the ATM line? (If you do need to bite the bullet and use an ATM, go early in the day when crowds are smaller and the lines are still short.)

Step 6: Have fun

http://www.wwltv.com/eye-on-festivals/Jazz-Fest-on-a-relative-budget-148905585.html

http://www.nola.com/jazzfest/index.ssf/2015/04/new_orleans_jazz_fest_2015_gui.html