Oh That Voodoo That You Do

October 12, 2017 by Charlie London

Many thanks to Nancy Shepard for meeting with representatives of Voodoo Fest

 

City Park Festival Grounds and Track will be closed 10/13 through 11/3

Please use the contact information below if you have any issues with the Voodoo Festival

Click here for a larger view

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SOUND COMPLAINTS

[email protected]

512-806-7924

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PUBLIC WORKS – TOWING

504-658-8100 (24 hrs)

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Information below courtesy neworleansonline.com

Like most festivals, here in New Orleans and elsewhere, the Voodoo Music + Arts Experience started out small and, over time, exploded into a mega-event spanning several days and drawing big names and even bigger numbers.

Voodoo has booked over 2,000 acts and has drawn more than a million people, along with some of the top acts on the contemporary popular music scene. It is now second only to the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in annual attendance figures.

The Event

This year’s Voodoo will take place on Halloween weekend, from Friday, October 27th through Sunday, October 29th.

The festival, which invites attendees to “Worship the Music,” is held annually at the Festival Grounds in City Park. Four unique performance areas, each of which is enhanced by the use of interactive art, will feature top-tier and innovative artists from a variety of musical genres, all of which reflect the multitude of cultures that define the New Orleans demographic.

Music

This year’s lineup is as stellar as it has been in previous years. Voodoo 2017 headliners include Kendrick Lamar, Foo Fighters, The Killers, and dozens more.

Other acts among those announced for 2017 include:

  • LCD Soundsystem
  • DJ Snake
  • Galantis
  • Dillon Francis
  • The Head and the Heart
  • Brand New
  • Miguel
  • Post Malone
  • Cold War Kids
  • Louis the Child

And many more! For a full lineup of musical acts by day, visit the Voodoo Official Musical Lineup.

Voodoo Fest also features a wide variety of food specialties, many of which can only be found in New Orleans and south Louisiana. Artwork and local crafts will also be on hand for display and sale.

The organizers of Voodoo have negotiated special discounted rates with some local hotels for visiting festivalgoers. To view a list of those hotels, along with rates and reservation information, click here.

Due to increased traffic and parking demands, it is highly recommended to take advantage of public transportation to get to and from the fest site. The North Carrollton Branch of the Canal Streetcar Line will take you from downtown right up to the main gates of City Park. You can catch the Canal Streetcar along any one of many stops downtown and ask the conductor for a transfer to the North Carrollton Line. Fares are $1.25 each way, transfers included.

City buses may also be running along Esplanade Avenue that will bring you close to City Park. Check out the streetcar and bus schedules on the Regional Transportation Authority website.

For more details and the most up-to-date information about Voodoo 2017, check out their website at www.voodoofestival.com.

For the most up-to-date information on Voodoo Fest, follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Filed Under: More Great Posts! Tagged With: complaint about noise, faubourg st john, fun, music, New Orleans, noise complaint, voodoo fest, voodoo in city park, voodoo noise, voodoo on the bayou, voodoo parking

NEIGHBORS TO REMOVE INVASIVE SPECIES FROM BAYOU ST. JOHN ON JUNE 20 and JUNE 24

June 10, 2017 by Charlie London

by Sara Beth Howard

NEIGHBORS TO REMOVE INVASIVE SPECIES FROM BAYOU ST. JOHN ON JUNE 20 and JUNE 24

Kayakityat ( http://kayakitiyat.com/ ) is hosting two events on June 20th and June 24th to remove the invasive water hyacinths from the north end of Bayou St John.

Please join your neighbors for some fun and help make a difference on June 20 and June 24

Tuesday, June 20th 12PM to 2PM
https://www.facebook.com/events/487442778269543

Saturday, June 24th 9AM to 11AM
https://www.facebook.com/events/1790765734586521

For more information, please visit the facebook pages above or contact Sara at
[email protected] , or call 985-778-5034 or 512-964-9499

WATER HYACINTHS ARE SPREADING RAPIDLY IN BAYOU ST. JOHN AND NEED TO BE REMOVED IMMEDIATELY

CLICK ON THE MAP FOR A LARGER VIEW OF THE SPREAD OF WATER HYACINTHS IN BAYOU ST. JOHN

Late last Fall, water hyacinths were introduced into the north end of Bayou St. John.
In just six months, it has multiplied many times. It now lines the west bank of Bayou St John from Robert E Lee Blvd to Filmore Ave.
It moves with the wind, so parts have broken off and made their way to other parts of the bayou, likely even beyond the Filmore Avenue bridge.

According to the University of Florida, one plant can grow to cover an acre in one growing season!

This is a very prolific and dangerous invasive aquatic plant that is now threatening the health of Bayou St John. We must carefully manually remove every piece. If one tiny portion of a plant is left, it’ll will become a whole new reproducing plant. We must dispose of it in a place where it dies completely and cannot re-enter any waterways including storm drains that lead back out to Lake Pontchartrain.

This does not only threaten the recreational use of Bayou St. John but, the ecological health we’ve worked so hard to improve.

Kayakityat is coordinating two removal days within a week to in order to ensure the most thorough removal, ideally eradication. It will be up to all of us individually to remove plants as we see them pop up through-out the future.

DAY 1: 12PM to 2PM Tuesday, June 20th. The Barman’s Fund has graciously offered their services.
It is specially scheduled to accommodate service industry folks. Anyone is welcome to join! This will be the bulk of the removal; we’ll get the big obvious patches.

DAY 2: 9AM to 11AM Saturday, June 24th. This removal will be a bit more meticulous.
We’ll have to spread out and look for hidden patches and individual plants along the banks.

Each event will be followed by a swim in Lake Pontchartrain and a bit of lakefront chillin’!

We need the following supplies; any donations are welcome!

2 Pick-Up Trucks that can handle some weight. We need to transport the plants to a composting sight; it may take multiple trips.

Canoes. If you have one, bring it with you. They can hold more plants than a kayak.

Pitch Forks. 3 to 6 at minimum for removal from banks.
Nets with short handles for removal from boats.

Dump Site. Ideally, all this vegetation should be composted. If anyone knows of a business that will take it, let us know.

Anyone with experience removing water hyacinth or taking on similar projects, please share suggestions and/or equipment.

Those interested can contact Sara at 512-964-9499 or [email protected])

Filed Under: CRIME, HISTORY, Living Well, More Great Posts! Tagged With: bayou clean-up, bayou st john, best neighborhood in New Orleans, clean up, community service, faubourg st john, fun, fun ways to help in new orleans, how can I help, invasive species, kayakitiyat, New Orleans, volunteer, water hyacinth

PIKACHU IN THE PARK

August 10, 2016 by Charlie London

pikachupark

The character Pikachu was seen in Fortier Park this morning.
A character of a different kind was seen sleeping nearby.

pokemon-parkPIKACHU IN THE PARK!

Pikachu (Japanese: ピカチュウ?) are a species of Pokémon, fictional creatures that appear in an assortment of video games, animated television shows and movies, trading card games, and comic books licensed by The Pokémon Company, a Japanese corporation. The Pikachu design was conceived by Atsuko Nishida and finalized by Ken Sugimori. Pikachu first appeared in Pokémon Red and Green in Japan, and later in the first internationally released Pokémon video games, Pokémon Red and Blue, for the original Game Boy.

Like other species of Pokémon, Pikachu are often captured and groomed by humans to fight other Pokémon for sport. Pikachu are one of the most well-known varieties of Pokémon, largely because a Pikachu is a central character in the Pokémon anime series. Pikachu is regarded as a major character of the Pokémon franchise as well as its mascot, and has become an icon of Japanese pop culture in recent years.

courtesy Wikipedia

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NATIONAL LAZY DAY

Today there will not be much information regarding this annually celebrated holiday as we do not feel like doing any research. Actually, we do not feel like doing anything at all.  So we are in our hammocks with a couple of good books and glasses of lemonade and iced tea.  Yes, it is National Lazy Day, and we choose to be lazy rather than tell you that this holiday is observed each year on August 10th.

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WHAT IS POKEMON GO?

by John Davison at rollingstone.com

This weekend, you might have noticed some people – more people that usual – wandering around staring at their phones. To the untrained eye, it might have just looked like more tourists than usual were descending on your town, trying to follow a digital map to their next location. But those playing Pokémon Go could tell what was going on. Since its initial rollout on July 6th, the app already has more Android installs than Tinder, and will soon have more daily mobile users than Twitter. It’s already caused some skateboard spills, led a girl to find a dead body, and some not-so-clever teens allegedly even used it to lure in victims to rob. But WTF is it?

Developer of hottest mobile game ever is scrambling to deal with its popularity

Technically, it’s a free-to-play, location-based, augmented reality, multiplayer online mobile game that also supports its own custom wearable tech. Huh?
It’s still a Pokémon game, and has roughly the same principles as every other Pokémon from the past 20 years. You look for the critters, catch them, train them and battle with them. What’s different here is that it uses the real world to inform your game experience. The game uses your phone’s GPS sensors to track where you are, and makes use of a stylized Google map as the primary game board. Your character moves in the game as you walk around in real life, and events and objects – known as PokéStops – are associated with specific locations in the physical world. In order to interact with them, you need to actually walk to a particular place, like, in the real world. You can look at the game world through your phone’s display, which serves as a viewfinder that mixes reality with game objects. Hence the term “augmented reality.”

How does that actually play out?
For starters, Pokémon Go comes with no instruction manual, so you’ll have to rely on your intuition (or Google) to figure out just how to catch ’em all. The Pokémon will show up at random, but you will not have to compete with any other players for them. You may also notice certain Pokémon cluster in certain spots – for example, fire Pokémon tend to be found near gas stations, grass Pokémon in parks, and ghost Pokémon after dark. (Though law enforcement recommends that you stick to daylight hours.) The more Pokémon you catch, the more points you score as a trainer. You also score points when you rack up free items at Pokéstops, or when you evolve your Pokémon. Once you’ve accumulated enough experience points to reach Level 5, you can train your Pokémon at the nearest Gym, marked by a wacky-looking laser tower in your map. The Gym will usually be found near a local landmark. Where most people see a pack of weirdos circling a statue and thumbing at their phones, you will see a path to glory.

You mentioned wearable tech?
Walking around all day staring down at your phone may be something you’re used to doing anyway, but it’s not necessarily the safest option if you’re walking around a busy city. Don’t worry, though, your phone will vibrate whenever there is a Pokémon near you, so you won’t miss anything important. If you want to wear something that looks like a kid’s Pokéball watch, there will be an official Pokémon Go Plus wearable released any day now, which is a $35 wrist device that pairs with your phone via Bluetooth, buzzes when you’re near a Pokémon and lets you catch them with the push of a button.

How did all this get started?
The idea for the game was conceived in 2013 by the late Satoru Iwata, president and CEO of Nintendo, and Tsunekazu Ishihara of the Pokémon Company as an April Fools’ Day collaboration with Google called the Pokémon Challenge. Revealed with a slick trailer on YouTube (which has since been viewed over 17 million times), the “joke” launched a fake competition to find 150 Pokémon hidden in real world locations. The trailer showed participants holding up their phones to reveal the creatures through the device’s camera. Little did we know at the time that this would be the premise for the real game launched three years later.

How did it get so huge, so fast?
The game was originally supposed to be rolled out around the world starting in Australia on July 6th, and then it would launch in North America, before moving west to Europe and finally Asia. Things didn’t quite go according to plan though. By the time the game was turned on in North America, demand was so high that it made the game’s servers grind to a halt causing all kinds of problems. The game debuted at Number One on both iPhone and Android, and there were so many people trying to play it that the system struggled. Lots of players found that they couldn’t log in, or if they did, the game would freeze and crash. As a result, the global rollout was paused while things were fixed, which is on set for this week.

Filed Under: Featured, HISTORY, More Great Posts! Tagged With: bayou st john, character, faubourg st john, fortier park, fun, game boy, New Orleans, park, parks and recreation, pikachu, pokemon go

NOMA FRIDAY NIGHTS

July 29, 2016 by Charlie London

Friday_Nights_at_NOMA

Friday Nights at NOMA: Music by The Roamin’ Jasmine

July 29 from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM

This Friday night at NOMA, check out a cooking demonstration in Cafe NOMA, live music by The Roamin’ Jasmine, and a film screening on designers Ray and Charles Eames, whose work is featured in the current exhibition The Essence of Things – Design and the Art of Reduction: An Exhibition of the Vitra Design Museum.

  • 5 – 8 pm: Art on the Spot
  • 5:30 – 8:30 pm: Music by The Roamin’ Jasmine
  • 6:30 pm: Artful Palate in Cafe NOMA: “Simplifying Sorbet” with Brett Gauthier, Ralph Brennan Restaurant Group corporate executive pastry chef
  • 7:30 pm: Film: Eames: The Architect and the Painter

About The Roamin’ Jasmine

Forged out of the lively street music scene in the French Quarter of New Orleans, the members of Rhe Roamin’ Jasmine found one another busking under the swampy Louisiana sun, along the banks of the Mississippi, or after hours in storefronts on Royal, Frenchmen and Decatur Streets. Inspired by the city’s history of ethnic and musical diversity, and fresh out of music school at University of Miami, bassist, vocalist, and bandleader Taylor Smith began to collect some of his favorite old blues, jazz, and country tunes, while also composing some of his own songs.  Arranging this collection for a six piece jazz ensemble and giving them a healthy dose of New Orleans flavor, he decided to share his work with some like-minded colleagues, and bring it to the streets of New Orleans. The Roamin’ Jasmine repertoire explores 1920’s era speakeasy blues, vintage calypso from Trinidad, seminal 1950’s New Orleans rhythm & blues, and original compositions, all set to traditional jazz instrumentation with original arrangements.

About Café NOMA’s 2016 Artful Palate Summer Cooking Series

Chefs of the Ralph Brennan Restaurant Group will soon demonstrate their own culinary masterpieces at Café NOMA’s Artful Palate, the fifth annual summer cooking series featuring nine artfully inspired demonstrations at the historic New Orleans Museum of Art. Friday evenings are FREE for all café guests and patrons to partake in the presentation, and savor samples as each artful dish is created.

In conjunction with the launch of NOMA’s exhibition The Essence of Things: Design and the Art of Reduction, the talented executive chefs, sous chefs and mixologists of Café NOMA, Ralph’s on the Park, Red Fish Grill, Brennan’s, and Napoleon House will share their culinary vision inspired by the exhibits focus on the art and practice of minimalism. The Artful Palate demonstrations will take a minimalist approach to cooking; featuring local seafood, meats, fruits and vegetables with simplistic recipes highlighting the core of their natural essence.

The Ralph Brennan Restaurant Group is proud to operate Café NOMA, one of the “Best Museum Restaurants in America” according to Travel + Leisure and Food & Wine magazines. Artful Palate is held every Friday night at 6:30 pm from July 15 to September 9. It is free of charge and open on a first come, first served basis. Come early for an evening of enlightening art appreciation — in the very best of taste!

About Eames: The Architect and the Painter

The husband-and-wife team of Charles and Ray Eames are widely regarded as America’s most important designers. Perhaps best remembered for their mid-century plywood and fiberglass furniture, the Eames Office also created a mind-bending variety of other products, from splints for wounded military during World War II, to photography, interiors, multi-media exhibits, graphics, games, films and toys. But their personal lives and influence on significant events in American life – from the development of modernism, to the rise of the computer age – has been less widely understood. Narrated by James Franco, Eames: The Architect and the Painter is the first film since their death dedicated to these creative geniuses and their work.  (85 minutes)

 

Filed Under: Featured, HISTORY, Living Well Tagged With: art, bayou st john, best neighborhood in New Orleans, faubourg st john, friday, fun, museum, New Orleans, new orleans best neighborhood

Thursdays at Twilight

June 2, 2016 by Charlie London

THURSDAYS AT TWILIGHT

Thursdays at TwilightThursdays at Twilight Garden Concert Series begins at 6 p.m. at the Pavilion of the Two Sisters in the Botanical Gardens at City Park located on Victory Drive in New Orleans.

http://neworleanscitypark.com/calendar

Thursdays at Twilight Concert Series

Schedule of Concerts at the New Orleans Botanical Garden in New Orleans City Park

Thursdays at TwilightWhat: Join music lovers in City Park to hear some of New Orleans’ favorite performers during the “Thursdays at Twilight” concert series. Bring your friends to enjoy this very popular series with an array of musicians and mint juleps indoors at the Pavilion of the Two Sisters. This series is sponsored by the Louis and Virginia Clemente Foundation with support from WWNO 89.9 FM.

Admission is $10 per person. Mint juleps, wine, beer, soft drinks, water, and food are available for purchase. No outside food, drink, or pets are allowed.

Advance tickets are available online at NewOrleansCityPark.com. Advance tickets may also be purchased over the phone at 504-483-9488 or at the Botanical Garden Gift Shop. Thursdays at Twilight Series Season Passes are also available for purchase.

When: Thursday Evenings

5 pm – Gates Open, 6 pm – Performance Begins

Thursdays at Twilight

Where: Pavilion of the Two Sisters, New Orleans Botanical Garden, City Park

Contact: New Orleans Botanical Garden: phone: 504-483-9488 or email: [email protected]

June through August 2016 schedule:

June 2 – John Boutté

Voted Best Male Vocalist of the year at both the Best of the Beat and the Big Easy Awards. His song “Treme” is the theme song of the popular HBO series. Those who were lucky to attend his sold out concert last year were part of a magical night. Don’t miss this year’s show. For more information about the band, visit johnboutte.com.

June 9 – Bon Operatit

Consists of New Orleans opera singers Lauren Mouney Gisclair, Jesse Nolan, and Mary Penick Akin. From La Boheme to Phantom of the Opera, they perform a perfect pairing of opera and musical theatre hits that are sure to invigorate the senses. For more information about the band, visit bonoperatit.com.

June 16 – New Orleans Mystics

Buy your tickets early so you will not miss this show featuring the music of Motown. Songs from the Temptations, O’Jays, Marvin Gaye and Otis Redding will all be part of this soulful tribute to some of the greatest music from the 1970’s.

June 23 – Symphony Chorus of New Orleans

The Symphony Chorus will perform Shubert and Vivaldi in the first half of the concert, and then music about New Orleans and Louisiana in the second half. Should be a great mix of music. For more information about the band, visit symphonychorus.org.

June 30 – Rocky’s Hot Fox Trot Orchestra

Celebrate the traditions of our New Orleans swing era with an energetic, upbeat patriotic concert. The program will include hits from the era of the WWII “greatest generation”, popular modern tunes, and patriotic tributes. This swing ensemble features a full horn section with vocals. For more information about the band, visit rockyshfto.blogspot.com.

July 7 – Chucky C and Clearly Blue

Chucky C’s (Charles Elam, III) charisma has earned him the title, “The King of Feel Good.” This versatile entertainer blends all of his musical influences from jazz to pop, Dixieland to blues and can change gears to satisfy diverse audiences making him a real crowd pleaser.

July 14 – Boogiemen Swing Band

Will be performing the music of Frank Sinatra, Michael Buble’, Harry Connick Jr. and more…..” Don’t miss this special night of music!! For more information about the band, visit boogiemen-nola.com.

July 21 – Ronnie Kole

Jazz pianist Ronnie Kole’s smooth sound and elegant demeanor have earned him respect from musicians across the globe. Kole sharpened his skills in Al Hirt’s club and Kole’s Corner on Bourbon Street. He was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame in 2012 and has recorded 32 CD/LP’s. This New Orleans-based pianist keeps busy performing concerts across the United States, Europe and Asia. For more information about the band, visit ronniekole.com.

July 28 – Ladies of Soul

You know Naydja CoJoe, Rechelle Cook, and Sharon Martin as, “The Ladies of Soul,” having performed at the Garden with The Mystics. They will not only sing a bit of Motown, but also Jazz, R & B, and familiar New Orleans tunes.

August 4 – Bruce Daigrepont

Music came to Bruce at an early age, and in the most traditional manner–handed down from father to son. When he was growing up, no family gathering was complete without a little playing and singing. His father picked the guitar, “Carter Family-style,” while his Uncle Alton lent a remarkable voice to the traditional Cajun songs and old-time country ballads. Bruce Daigrepont almost single-handedly has popularized Cajun music and Cajun dancing in cosmopolitan New Orleans. For more information about the band, visit brucedaigrepont.com

August 11 – Julio and Cesar

Originally from Guatemala, Julio and Cesar Herrera have been in New Orleans for over 30 years. They describe their music as constantly evolving, attributing this, in part, to their exposure from an early age to many cultures. For more information about the band, visit julioandcesar.com.

August 18 – Pfister Sisters

Holley Bendtsen, Yvette Voelker, Debbie Davis and Amasa Miller comprise one of the few groups that represent the New Orleans swing era, with their recreation of the Boswell Sisters arrangements, and the only act featuring vocal jazz harmony. They bring joy to your soul, harmony to your ears, and the best and biggest boogie-woogie to your feet. For more information about the band, visit pfistersisters.com.

August 25 – Mark Brooks and Friends

Mark Brooks is one of New Orleans’ most talented, versatile, and sought after bassist. Mark has played and toured with an array of artists including Dr. John, The Neville Brothers, Henry Butler, Charles and Aaron Neville’s Ensembles, Lou Rawls, Fats Domino, Ellis Hall Preservation Hall Jazz Band and Harry Connick, Sr. Mark is known for his diversity with the different styles of music ranging from Rhythm & Blues, Contemporary Jazz, Traditional Jazz, Blues, and Gospel. For more information about the band, visit markabrooks.net.

Filed Under: Featured, HISTORY, Living Well Tagged With: bayou st john, best neigborhood in new orleans, city park, family, faubourg st john, fun, music, New Orleans, new orleans best neighborhood, thursday, thursdays at twilight

CITY PUTT IN CITY PARK FOR FAMILY FUN

May 27, 2016 by Charlie London

CITY PUTT IN CITY PARK FOR FAMILY FUN

City Park is proud to announce the parking lot next to the First NBC sponsored City Putt is complete and ready for patrons’ cars!

The former site of tennis courts, the parking lot will hold 64 cars. New plaza areas have also been built between the entrance to City Putt and the Goldring/Woldenberg Great Lawn.

Many thanks to the visitors who have patiently allowed construction to continue.
It is wonderful to have the parking lot, plazas, and sidewalks completed.

cityputtCheck out City Putt in City Park for family fun

During Father’s Day weekend, June 17th through 19th, tickets for City Putt will be BOGO (buy one, get one free).

Each day of the promotion, players who get a hole-in-one at either of the courses, will have their name placed in a hopper to win a $100 cash gift card (10 winners) or tickets to City Park Attractions (ten winners).

City Putt will also offer free popcorn for our guests playing mini golf.

City Putt is a 36-hole mini golf complex with two courses: the Louisiana Course highlights cultural themes and cities from around the state; the New Orleans Course showcases streets and iconic themes from around the city, with signs detailing the city’s historic sites at each hole. City Putt is 100 percent ADA accessible.

New Orleans City Park wants to send a special shout-out of thanks to First NBC for being City Putt’s title sponsor. The City Park family is so grateful to have First NBC on board!

Looking for a unique location for a birthday party or special event?

City Putt is the only mini golf complex in New Orleans! City Putt’s Clubhouse has
two party rooms available to rent and birthday/event packages available. For
more information or to book a room for a birthday party, call (504) 483-9458.

WHEN: June 17th and 18th from 10 am to midnight (last rental at 11pm)
June 19th from 10 am to 10pm (last rental at 9pm)

WHERE: City Putt: 8 Victory Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70119

EVENT PRICE: Buy one round; get one round free:
1 Course Play Ages 13+ $8
1 Course Play Children (4-12) $6
2nd round in same visit $4
Children (0-3) Free

REGULAR HOURS: Sunday, Tuesday – Thursday: 10am to 10pm (last rental at 9pm)
Monday: only open for corporate/private events
Friday & Saturday: 10am to midnight (last rental at 11pm)

ABOUT CITY PARK:
City Park: is distinguished by its large menu of sports and recreational
activities, attractions for children, and its natural beauty. City Park has
a special place in the hearts of generations of New Orleanians and is a must
visit for visitors to the city. As a popular place to picnic, play a
favorite sport, wander through its gardens or take a boat ride- the Park
receives millions of visitors each year. It is located in the heart of the
city and is the largest recreation area for the entire metropolitan area.
Attractions include: City Putt, New Orleans Botanical Garden, Storyland
fairytale playground, the Carousel Gardens Amusement Park, and numerous
athletic venues. The 1,300 acres of parkland provide enjoyment for young
children playing on our playgrounds and walkers, joggers, and bicyclists
winding through the Park’s streets and trails.
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Filed Under: Featured, HISTORY, Living Well Tagged With: bayou st john, best neighborhood in New Orleans, city park, city putt, family, faubourg st john, fun, New Orleans, new orleans best neighborhood, putt putt

YOU TOO CAN BOOGALOO AS A VOLUNTEER

May 17, 2016 by Charlie London

volunteersboogaloo

Help the Bayou Boogaloo to remain FREE

You too can Boogaloo as a volunteer

Bayou Boogaloo Volunteers! – http://www.thebayouboogaloo.com/info-directions/volunteer/

Are you interested in volunteering with The Bayou Boogaloo on the banks of beautiful Bayou St. John on May 20, 21, and 22?

You can visit the sign up page by visiting https://www.volunteerspot.com/login/entry/987188364026

If you are unable to volunteer this year but would like to join The Bayou Boogaloo’s
volunteer mailing list for future events, please, sign up on The Bayou Boogaloo’s website.

For any questions or concerns, please email
[email protected]

Interested in Volunteering with The Bayou Boogaloo?

See all of the 2016 volunteer opportunities and sign up for a spot here.

On top of becoming part of the Boogaloo Family and being one of the key players that help keep the festival free, Volunteers also receive a free t-shirt that is not available for sale to the public.

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2016boogaloobanner4fsjna

Bodacious Boogaloo
by Charlie London

Since the beginning, the Bayou Boogaloo, held on the banks of Bayou St. John in New Orleans during May, has had a mission to give back to the community. The first Bayou Boogaloo in 2006 was a healing effort for the community. Many folks were still rebuilding their lives and their houses after “the storm”. The Bayou Boogaloo was a welcome respite from the daily grind. It provided much needed fun for both adults and children.

One of the often forgotten aspects of the Bayou Boogaloo is its emphasis on zero impact on the environment. I’ve personally witnessed the meticulous cleanup after the event. One would never know the music festival ever took place because the area is left as clean or cleaner than it was before the event.

The Bayou Boogaloo has promoted solar energy, recycling and encouraged folks to consider the environment. The Bayou Boogaloo has led by example. Several huge oak trees have been planted along the banks of Bayou St. John leaving a lasting positive impact on the environment and the community.

The Bayou Boogaloo gives back in other ways too! The event helps neighborhood organizations raise funds for their operations, has helped build playgrounds, has supported community sports initiatives, helped plant native habitat-building and erosion-preventing marsh grasses, and replaced trees lost during hurricanes.

The City even recognized the Bayou Boogaloo’s founder, Jared Zeller, with a proclamation for promoting an economically and environmentally sustainable event.

Join the Bayou Boogaloo this Friday, Saturday and Sunday May 20, 21, and 22. The Bayou Boogaloo is more than just a music festival, it’s a community building coalition!

More info at: http://thebayouboogaloo.com/

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THE BEAT GOES ON AT THE BAYOU BOOGALOO
By Geraldine Wyckoff
Contributing Writer

It’s been less than three weeks since the last notes rang out at the Fair Grounds to close the 2016 edition of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Not far away, bands will strike up again at the 11th Annual Mid-City Bayou Boogaloo. The free event is presented from Friday, May 20 to Sunday, May 22, 2016 along the banks of Bayou St. John between Dumaine Street and N. Jefferson Davis Parkway. It features three main music stages at Dumaine Street, Orleans Avenue and Lafitte Street plus a Kids Stage that has both music and other activities to please the youngsters.

There are some excellent local and national headliners at the festival that didn’t perform at this year’s Jazz Fest including Nolatet (Sunday, 6 p.m.), The Lowrider Band (Saturday, 7:45 p.m.) and the Wailers (Friday, 7:45 p.m.).

Let’s start with Nolatet, a band of all-star jazz masters – drummer Johnny Vidacovich, bassist James Singleton, vibraphonist/percussionist Mike Dillon and pianist Brian Haas. This performance marks the first time many local people will have the opportunity to experience this group as they’ve only performed in New Orleans several times. Formed spontaneously in 2014 and quickly releasing its exciting debut album, Dogs (The Royal Potato Family) just this year, Nolatet has been out on tour promoting the CD and, according to Vidacovich, has been very well-received. “They liked it a lot – a lot more than I imagined,” he is quoted in OffBeat magazine. “I thought the music would be a little too orchestral. There’s a lot of things that we’re doing that are just out of the norm.”

“I can tell you what it sounds like to me sometimes when I’m involved with the music and my head is spinning,” he continued. “It reminds me of a circus and a Christmas tree with a lot of lights.”

Because pianist Haas, unlike the other members, doesn’t live in New Orleans, Nolatet is a get-it-while-you can band though all concerned express their hope and intent to do much more in the future.

Just an aside – it’s great to have Dillon, who absolutely floored the crowd at last year’s performance of his New Orleans Punk Rock Percussion Consortium – back at Bayou Boogaloo. Hopefully, the Consortium, an amazing collection of rhythm masters will return next year or be booked somewhere else soon.

The Lowrider Band, which partly due to the presence of one-time Crescent City resident, drummer Harold Brown, feels almost like its from New Orleans. It’s also got that funk and street band attitude that music lovers here can really relate to. The last time the Lowriders performed in New Orleans was in 2009 at a benefit for the Save Charity Hospital organization. Now that’s awhile ago…

The band is, of course, made up of original members of the group War, including Brown, the great harmonica player Lee Oskar, guitarist Howard Scott and bassist B.B. Dickerson, who, because of health issues will be unable to perform with his fellow Lowriders. Due to a court order, nobody in the group is allowed to mention their participation in War in any promotional material or advertisements. Fortunately, these talents have been able to retain their rights to their compositions and receive royalties.

“Here’s how we say it,” Brown explained. “We are the original composers of and performers on ‘Why Can’t We Be Friends?,’ ‘The Cisco Kid,’ ‘The World is a Ghetto,’ and ‘All Day Music.’ All our friends know the Lowriders. Everybody knows exactly who we are.”

“When we come to play in New Orleans it’s like playing at home in our living room,” Brown once proclaimed. “You can drop all of your big shot attitudes. In New Orleans they want to know about your soul – your spirit. I tell people when they come into the city, to turn off the radio and roll down the windows.”

The socially conscious messages of tunes like Bob Marley’s “One Love” are much needed in today’s world. The Wailers keep that warmth, the much-loved classic songs and laid-back reggae riddims alive. Bassist Aston “Family Man” Barrett is the only member of the touring band that performed and recorded with the group that backed the late, legendary Bob Marley who influenced the world with the magic of his music and his pen. Barrett was the heartbeat of the rock steady beat, the sound that could be felt to one’s core. Reggae by the Bayou seems so right.

Our local stars like bassist George Porter & the Runnin’ Pardners (Sunday, 4 p.m.), the Queen of New Orleans Soul, Irma Thomas (Saturday, 5 p.m.) and zydeco go-getter, accordionist/vocalist Dwayne Dopsie (Friday, 6:15 p.m.) also bolster the impressive schedule.

Parents might want to bring their children to the Kids Stage on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. where Daria Dzurik, the leader/steel pan player/vocalist of Daria & The Hip Drops fame will hold a percussion workshop. With her talent, lively personality and big smile, Dzurik has the qualities to educate and entertain the whole family. She and the Hip Drops certainly caught the crowd at this year’s French Quarter Festival.

On Friday, the music schedule is abbreviated and begins in the evening on two stages starting at 5 p.m. The Wailers, which hit the stage at 7:45 p.m. close it down. On Saturday and Sunday the music gets going at 11 a.m. Naturally there are food and beverage vendors aplenty and arts and crafts booths from one end of the fest to the other.

One of the beauties of the festival remains its wonderful setting and just being able to sit along Bayou St. John and relax.

This article originally published in the May 16, 2016 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.

Filed Under: Featured, HISTORY, Living Well, More Great Posts! Tagged With: bayou boogaloo, bayou st john, best neighborhood in New Orleans, faubourg st john, festival, food, fun, help, music, New Orleans, opportunity, volunteer

Bodacious Boogaloo

May 16, 2016 by Charlie London

by Charlie London

2016boogaloobanner4fsjna

Since the beginning, the Bayou Boogaloo, held on the banks of Bayou St. John in New Orleans during May, has had a mission to give back to the community. The first Bayou Boogaloo in 2006 was a healing effort for the community. Many folks were still rebuilding their lives and their houses after “the storm”. The Bayou Boogaloo was a welcome respite from the daily grind. It provided much needed fun for both adults and children.

One of the often forgotten aspects of the Bayou Boogaloo is its emphasis on zero impact on the environment. I’ve personally witnessed the meticulous cleanup after the event. One would never know the music festival ever took place because the area is left as clean or cleaner than it was before the event.

The Bayou Boogaloo has promoted solar energy, recycling and encouraged folks to consider the environment. The Bayou Boogaloo has led by example. Several huge oak trees have been planted along the banks of Bayou St. John leaving a lasting positive impact on the environment and the community.

The Bayou Boogaloo gives back in other ways too! The event helps neighborhood organizations raise funds for their operations, has helped build playgrounds, has supported community sports initiatives, helped plant native habitat-building and erosion-preventing marsh grasses, and replaced trees lost during hurricanes.

The City even recognized the Bayou Boogaloo’s founder, Jared Zeller, with a proclamation for promoting an economically and environmentally sustainable event.

Join the Bayou Boogaloo this Friday, Saturday and Sunday May 20, 21, and 22. The Bayou Boogaloo is more than just a music festival, it’s a community building coalition!

More info at: http://thebayouboogaloo.com/

***
THE BEAT GOES ON AT THE BAYOU BOOGALOO
By Geraldine Wyckoff
Contributing Writer

It’s been less than three weeks since the last notes rang out at the Fair Grounds to close the 2016 edition of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Not far away, bands will strike up again at the 11th Annual Mid-City Bayou Boogaloo. The free event is presented from Friday, May 20 to Sunday, May 22, 2016 along the banks of Bayou St. John between Dumaine Street and N. Jefferson Davis Parkway. It features three main music stages at Dumaine Street, Orleans Avenue and Lafitte Street plus a Kids Stage that has both music and other activities to please the youngsters.

There are some excellent local and national headliners at the festival that didn’t perform at this year’s Jazz Fest including Nolatet (Sunday, 6 p.m.), The Lowrider Band (Saturday, 7:45 p.m.) and the Wailers (Friday, 7:45 p.m.).

Let’s start with Nolatet, a band of all-star jazz masters – drummer Johnny Vidacovich, bassist James Singleton, vibraphonist/percussionist Mike Dillon and pianist Brian Haas. This performance marks the first time many local people will have the opportunity to experience this group as they’ve only performed in New Orleans several times. Formed spontaneously in 2014 and quickly releasing its exciting debut album, Dogs (The Royal Potato Family) just this year, Nolatet has been out on tour promoting the CD and, according to Vidacovich, has been very well-received. “They liked it a lot – a lot more than I imagined,” he is quoted in OffBeat magazine. “I thought the music would be a little too orchestral. There’s a lot of things that we’re doing that are just out of the norm.”

“I can tell you what it sounds like to me sometimes when I’m involved with the music and my head is spinning,” he continued. “It reminds me of a circus and a Christmas tree with a lot of lights.”

Because pianist Haas, unlike the other members, doesn’t live in New Orleans, Nolatet is a get-it-while-you can band though all concerned express their hope and intent to do much more in the future.

Just an aside – it’s great to have Dillon, who absolutely floored the crowd at last year’s performance of his New Orleans Punk Rock Percussion Consortium – back at Bayou Boogaloo. Hopefully, the Consortium, an amazing collection of rhythm masters will return next year or be booked somewhere else soon.

The Lowrider Band, which partly due to the presence of one-time Crescent City resident, drummer Harold Brown, feels almost like its from New Orleans. It’s also got that funk and street band attitude that music lovers here can really relate to. The last time the Lowriders performed in New Orleans was in 2009 at a benefit for the Save Charity Hospital organization. Now that’s awhile ago…

The band is, of course, made up of original members of the group War, including Brown, the great harmonica player Lee Oskar, guitarist Howard Scott and bassist B.B. Dickerson, who, because of health issues will be unable to perform with his fellow Lowriders. Due to a court order, nobody in the group is allowed to mention their participation in War in any promotional material or advertisements. Fortunately, these talents have been able to retain their rights to their compositions and receive royalties.

“Here’s how we say it,” Brown explained. “We are the original composers of and performers on ‘Why Can’t We Be Friends?,’ ‘The Cisco Kid,’ ‘The World is a Ghetto,’ and ‘All Day Music.’ All our friends know the Lowriders. Everybody knows exactly who we are.”

“When we come to play in New Orleans it’s like playing at home in our living room,” Brown once proclaimed. “You can drop all of your big shot attitudes. In New Orleans they want to know about your soul – your spirit. I tell people when they come into the city, to turn off the radio and roll down the windows.”

The socially conscious messages of tunes like Bob Marley’s “One Love” are much needed in today’s world. The Wailers keep that warmth, the much-loved classic songs and laid-back reggae riddims alive. Bassist Aston “Family Man” Barrett is the only member of the touring band that performed and recorded with the group that backed the late, legendary Bob Marley who influenced the world with the magic of his music and his pen. Barrett was the heartbeat of the rock steady beat, the sound that could be felt to one’s core. Reggae by the Bayou seems so right.

Our local stars like bassist George Porter & the Runnin’ Pardners (Sunday, 4 p.m.), the Queen of New Orleans Soul, Irma Thomas (Saturday, 5 p.m.) and zydeco go-getter, accordionist/vocalist Dwayne Dopsie (Friday, 6:15 p.m.) also bolster the impressive schedule.

Parents might want to bring their children to the Kids Stage on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. where Daria Dzurik, the leader/steel pan player/vocalist of Daria & The Hip Drops fame will hold a percussion workshop. With her talent, lively personality and big smile, Dzurik has the qualities to educate and entertain the whole family. She and the Hip Drops certainly caught the crowd at this year’s French Quarter Festival.

On Friday, the music schedule is abbreviated and begins in the evening on two stages starting at 5 p.m. The Wailers, which hit the stage at 7:45 p.m. close it down. On Saturday and Sunday the music gets going at 11 a.m. Naturally there are food and beverage vendors aplenty and arts and crafts booths from one end of the fest to the other.

One of the beauties of the festival remains its wonderful setting and just being able to sit along Bayou St. John and relax.

This article originally published in the May 16, 2016 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.

Filed Under: Featured, HISTORY, Living Well, Magical Mystery Tour, More Great Posts!, Postcards from Home Tagged With: bayou, bayou boogaloo, bayou st john, best neighborhood in New Orleans, boogaloo, family friendly, faubourg st john, festival, fun, good food, music, musicians, neighborhood, New Orleans, new orleans best neighborhood, new orleans festival, new orleans fun, party

Please Leave Us With Great Memories of Your Visit

March 29, 2016 by Charlie London

Welcome!
We hope you leave us with great memories of your visit.

cropped-cropped-bayoustjohn-940-header.jpg
Regardless of whether you live in Faubourg St. John or are a visitor,  everyone is glad you are here. Faubourg St. John has one of the best reputations in New Orleans as a community that cares.

vincamajorFaubourg St. John loves visitors. In Faubourg St. John, you get a unique, extraordinary experience. Faubourg St. John gives visitors an authentic, high-quality New Orlean experience that you will remember for a long time.

Jazz Fest, Bayou Boogaloo, and the Voodoo Experience are premier festivals that draw people from around the world because of the great fun the festivals provide. Bayou St. John is a beautiful inland waterway where you can rent a kayak to explore yourself or get a kayak tour and learn lots of great things about New Orleans.

Fortier Park, located in the 3200 block of Esplanade, offers natural beauty and modern art in a restful space. The park was redeveloped and is maintained by Faubourg St. John residents.

Fortier Park is just across from Faubourg St. Johns central business district where you can visit with local people running local businesses. Top rated restaurants, a day spa, a coffee shop and two great local grocery stores are all waiting for you to experience.

Take a short bike ride down Esplanade to Broad and Bayou Road and you’ll find even more unique shops and great local folks waiting to serve you.

City Park is a short walk from Faubourg St. John where you’ll find the New Orleans Museum of Art, Morning Call (coffee and beignets!), Storyland (rides and fun for the kids), and City Putt (minature golf for all ages). City Park is one of the largest urban parks in America.

On your way to City Park, on Esplanade Avenue, stop by St. Louis Cemetary #3 where you can see the beautiful above-ground tombs.

bayoustjohn-magnoliabridge-1937PITOT HOUSEFaubourg St. John is also home to the Pitot House at 1440 Moss Street. It’s where the first mayor of incorporated New Orleans lived. It’s nestled along Bayou St. John and across from the Magnolia Bridge.

Faubourg St. John is just a mile from the world famous French Quarter with bus and streetcar service to interesting places all around New Orleans.

Information below courtesy Rachel Dangermond:

City Park and Bayou St. John
The intersection of Esplanade Ave. at Bayou St. John and City Park Ave. is one of the points of higher elevation in the city. Bayou Metairie flowed into Bayou St. John here. Bienville is supposed to have found the Indian village of Tchou-Tchouma in 1718 where the Esplanade Ave. bridge is now located. In the 18th and 19th centuries Bayou St. John provided an important second water route to the city. The mouth of the bayou at Lake Pontchartrain was protected by a fort built by the Spanish.

Ocean going vessels were able to travel as far as the present end of the bayou. From this point goods were carried to and from the city by portage during the 18th century along Bayou Road. In 1805, a canal was dug, following an earlier canal by Spanish governor Carondelet, which brought the ships to a turning basin just behind what is now the Municipal Auditorium at Basin St.

Statue of Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard
(May 28, 1818 – February 20, 1893) was a Louisiana-born American author, civil servant, politician, inventor, and the first prominent general for the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. Beauregard was trained as a civil engineer at the United States Military Academy and served with distinction as an engineer in the Mexican-American War.

His arguably greatest achievement was saving the city of Petersburg, Virginia, and thus also the Confederate capital of Richmond, from assaults by overwhelmingly superior Union Army forces in June 1864. However, his influence over Confederate strategy was marred by his poor professional relationships with President Jefferson Davis and other senior generals and officials. In April 1865, Beauregard and his commander, General Joseph E. Johnston, convinced Davis and the remaining cabinet members that the war needed to end. Johnston surrendered most of the remaining armies of the Confederacy to Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman, including Beauregard and his men.

Following his military career, Beauregard served as a railroad executive and became one of the few wealthy Confederate veterans because of his role in promoting the Louisiana Lottery. Today he is commonly referred to as P.G.T. Beauregard, but during the war he rarely used his first name and signed correspondence as G.T. Beauregard. Nicknames were The Little Creole, The Little Napoleon, Bory, Felix

Place of birth: St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana ontreras” sugar-cane plantation in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, about 20 miles (32 km) outside New Orleans, to a white Creole family, the third child of Jacques Toutant-Beauregard and Helene Judith de Reggio Toutant-Beauregard. He had three brothers and three sisters. Beauregard attended New Orleans schools and then went to a “French school” in New York City. It was during his four years in New York, beginning at age 12 that he first learned to speak English. He trained at the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. One of his instructors was Robert Anderson, who would later become the commander of Fort Sumter and surrender to Beauregard at the start of the Civil War.

In 1841, Beauregard married Marie Laure Villeré, the daughter of Jules Villeré, a sugar planter in Plaquemines Parish and a member of one of the most prominent Creole families in southern Louisiana.

Marie was a paternal granddaughter of Jacques Villeré, the second governor of Louisiana. The couple had three children: René, Henri, and Laure. Marie died in March 1850, while giving birth to Laure.

Ten years later, the widower Beauregard married Caroline Deslonde, the daughter of André Deslonde, a sugar planter from St. James Parish. Caroline was a sister-in-law of John
Slidell, a U.S. senator from Louisiana and later a Confederate diplomat. She died in Union-occupied New Orleans in March 1864. They had no children together.

On first meeting, most people were struck by [Beauregard’s] “foreign” appearance. His skin was smooth and olive-complexioned. His eyes, half-lidded, were dark, with a trace of Gallic melancholy about them.

His hair was black (though by 1860 he maintained this hue with dye). He was strikingly handsome and enjoyed the attentions of women, but probably not excessively or illicitly.
He sported a dark mustache and goatee, and he rather resembled Napoleon III, then ruler of France—although he often saw himself in the mold of the more celebrated Napoleon Bonaparte.

Place of death: New Orleans, Louisiana and was buried in the Tomb of the Army of Tennessee, Metairie Cemetery, New Orleans

City Park is a beautiful and well maintained urban park, the largest in the city and fifth largest municipal park in the United States and, at this writing, is reported to be one of the safest. In 1854, the first section of the park was acquired by the city. This tract of land, fronting on Bayou St. John and present City Park Ave., was part of the Allard Plantation. The first improvements to the park were made in the 1890’s. The park is laced with lagoons (the lagoons along City Park Ave. are part of old Bayou Metairie, seven miles of them which contain bass and bream), and trees typical of the region such as magnolias and live oaks
(the dueling oaks are named for the duels that were supposed to have taken place from 1804 to 1830).

The amusement park area has a fine old carousel dating from 1904. The Casino, dating from about 1914 is the center for information, rentals, and refreshments (coffee and beignets!) (domed band shell and Beaux Art style pavilion were built in the 30’s). The park has three 18-hole golf courses. Major restorations and all of the paving of roadways, construction of bridges, drainage and other improvements in a large area of the park were done under WPA in the late 30’s.

copy of the Pitot Housec. 1940
800 Moss Street
A modern Pitot House (see 1440 Moss Street) facsimile. One of the original Pitot House mantels still survives in the newer residence.

Louis Blanc Housec. 1798
924 Moss Street
Formerly the plantation and home Louis Antonio Blanc. The second story gallery has slender colonnettes and the French window, jalousies and steep roof are characteristic of
Louisiana colonial plantation houses; similar to Parlange and Homeplace Plantations elsewhere in the state.

Spanish Custom Housec. 1784
1300 Moss Street
A small-scale typical Louisiana Plantation hose. Various reasons have been given for the name of the so-called “Custom House” although there is no real tradition that it ever functioned in this manner. Probably built for Don Santiago Lloreins when the land formed part of his plantation.

Evariste Blanc House
(Holy Rosary Rectory)
c. 1834
1342 Moss Street
Some Greek Revival alterations have been made in this Bayou St. John plantation house, although evidence of an earlier style including slender colonnettes and round arched doors, is plainly visible.

Cabrini High School1964 – 1965
1400 Moss Street

Morel-Wisner House
c. 1850’s
1347 Moss Street
Mid-19th century, possibly constructed as a residence for the attorney Christoval Morel in the late 1840’s after he purchased a large tract of land on the Bayou St. John in 1847. The house served as New Orleans’ first Fencing Club in the 1880’s and one time as a rowing club. From
1935 until her death the house served as the home of Dr. Elizabeth Wisner, an original member of the faculty and later the dean of the School of Social Work at Tulane University.

Christoval Morel’s father, Pierre L. Morel dueled under the oaks in City Park while his wife (Victorine de Armas) was pregnant with Christoval. The Duelling Oaks in City Park have seen some of the most colorful scenes in New Orleans’ history. For years sword clanged against sword and bullets streaked between the ancient trees.

An article in the Times-Democrat, March 13, 1892, said, “Blood has been shed under the old cathedral aisles of nature. Between 1834 and 1844 scarcely a day passed without duels being fought at the Oaks. Why, it would not be strange if the very violets blossomed red of this soaked grass! The lover for his mistress, the gentleman for his honor, the courtier for his King; what loyalty has not cried out in pistol shot and scratch of steel! Sometimes two or three hundred people hurried from the city to witness these human baitings. On the occasion of one duel the spectators could stand no more, drew their swords, and there was a general melee.”

In early Creole days more duels were fought in New Orleans than any other American city. Creole honor was a thing of intricate delicacy, to be offended by a word or glance. The Duelling Oaks were a favorite setting for these affaires d’honneur, with pistol, saber, or colichemarde, a long sword with a broad forte and very slender foible, a favorite duelling weapon since the seventeenth century.

Creoles were expert swordsmen and often delighted in any and every opportunity to exhibit their art. Duels were fought over real and trivial insults, were sometimes deliberately
provoked by young men anxious to display their skill. A quarrel between rival lovers, a fancied slight, a political argument, a difference of opinion regarding an opera, any one of these things was ample excuse for a duel under the oaks. In his History of Louisiana, Alcee Fortier states that on one Sunday in 1839 ten duels were fought here.

In 1855 the police began to enforce the laws against duelling, but it continued surreptitiously for many years, despite frequent arrests and prosecutions. Finally, however, the law began to have some effect and there seems to have arisen a simultaneous loss of interest in the affairs. At last the time came when a man challenged to defend his honor with the sword or pistol, suffered no stigma by refusing an invitation to the Oaks. By 1890 duelling was only history.

The house is a frame one and a half story Greek Revival style structure raised off the ground on six-foot-high piles. The large half story created by the gabled roof is broken by two fine dormers on the Bayou St. John façade. The roof which extends outward to form a gallery across the bayou façade is supported by six square wooden columns resting on the brick piers below.

The entrance façade is five bays wide with the front door placed at the center. The façade is covered with ship-lap siding while ordinary weatherboards cover the solid brick exterior walls. The rear, which once contained a gallery and two cabinets, has been converted to a kitchen/den/breakfast area.

The house is very similar to raised houses in the Bayou-Lafourche area. However, by the 1840’s the traditional Creole plan with no hall had been replaced with the increasingly popular center hall plan favored by Americans. As such, this house is an important example of two different building styles. Morel house is a New Orleans landmark.

Pitot House
c. 1796 – 1799
1440 Moss Street (Formerly 1370 Moss Street) In 1964 as a result of a trade with Cabrini High School the Pitot House, threatened with demolition, was moved about 200 feet and is now located in a corner of the Desmare Playground. It is another fine Moss Street example of the Louisiana plantation house on a fairly small scale. While the upper part of the present structure is totally original, some of the older brick columns were either re-used or rebuilt after the move. Restored under the auspices of the Louisiana Landmarks Society. Open Thursday 11 am – 4 pm.

Musgrove-Wilkinson Housec. 1850’s
1454 Moss Street
A large, extremely simple Greek Revival residence, with wide central hall and plain interior mouldings.

New Orleans Museum of Art
1911 City Park
1971 Additions: Stern Auditorium, Wisner Educational Wing and City Wing – August Perez & Associates, Architects and Arthur Feitel, Consulting Architect.

The Degas House 
Historic Home,
Courtyard & Inn
 2306 Esplanade Avenue 
New Orleans, Louisiana 70119 
(504) 821-5009 
www.degashouse.com

jazzfestassholesWe love the folks who visit Faubourg St. John. However, there are some visitors who drink a bit too much and forget their manners. If you wouldn’t do it at your momma’s house, please don’t do it here.

For your safety, please consider checking out some of the information below:

Stash cash, credit cards and any currency.
Don’t make yourself vulnerable.
Work that cellphone.
Carry makeshift self defense weapons.
Identify safe places and people.

Please visit the link below for more:
http://www.axs.com/tips-to-stay-safe-at-new-orleans-jazz-heritage-festival-jazz-fest-safe-51357

Assume people driving cars do not see you. Drivers may be drunk, tired and sunburned; don’t expect that the drivers see the red light, let alone the periodic Jazz Fest reveler jumping out in the middle of the street.

Beware of bikers. A good rule of thumb is to treat a bike like a car. If you see one coming, don’t think you can run across the street right in front of it. Bikers will come upon you faster and be much slower at stopping than you think.

When walking from Jazz Fest to the location of your post-festing-party, remember that you may be traveling through potentially dangerous areas. Do not walk alone, know where you’re going and be aware of your surroundings.

Do not forget to hydrate! Dehydration can make people disoriented and alcohol adds fuel to the dehydration fire. I cannot count the number of Jazz Fest partiers I have seen take a spill due to too much alcohol and too little water. Don’t look like an amateur, drink lots of water!

More information in the link below:
http://www.morrisbart.com/pedestrian-safety-at-new-orleans-jazz-fest/

New Orleans weather is unpredictable and the Fair Grounds tend to be muddy, so bring lawn chairs, an umbrella, and garbage bags, which double as a raincoat and a dry place to sit. The Louisiana heat can be unforgiving, so pack your sunscreen and a hat too.

Do not forget toilet tissue, as you are sharing those port-o-potties with 400,000 others.

To avoid the heavy crowds, walk on the circular horse racing track around the perimeter of the Fair Grounds, and venture out to the grandstands for food demonstrations, art installations, shade and clean restrooms.

More information in the link below:
http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2012/02/13/new-orleans-jazz-fest-for-beginners/

Venture Beyond the Headliners
Absolutely Do Not Get Behind the Wheel
Come hungry
Linger in Mid-City
Indulge Intelligently
Don’t Miss NOLA by Night
Go for the Double

More information in the link below:
http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2015/04/7-survival-tips-new-orleans-jazz-heritage-festival.html

To ensure proper safety and preparation, please read the following rules and policies:

All persons and bags are subject to search

• Single, collapsible folding chairs (NO foot rests, side tables) and small folding
blankets are permitted.
• Wheelchairs permitted. Strollers for children permitted.
• NO FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY.
• NO tents or shades of any fashion.
• NO bicycles or other wheeled personal transport devices allowed on the
grounds or infield.
• NO flashing devices of any kind.
• NO unauthorized vending.
• NO weapons, illicit drugs, contraband or fireworks.
• NO outside food, beverages or glass allowed.
• NO flag/kite-flying of any kind.
• NO Inflatables of any kind – this includes beach balls.
• NO pets.

Festival chairs and/or festival baggage are not allowed to be set-up anywhere in the
Grandstand, Paddock or Apron areas. They are only permitted on the Infield in certain areas.

All entrances and exits will be clearly marked for your safety.

fsj-bastille-2014Bayou St. John is the beautiful waterway that runs through Faubourg St. John.

We are so glad you are here.
Please leave no trace.

Bring yourself to the bayou.
Take your stuff home with you. ‪#‎leavenotrace‬

***

Below is short explanation of what the Faubourg St. John Neighborhood Association is about:

The Faubourg St. John Neighborhood Association (FSJNA), organized in 1977, is a benevolent group interested in continuing improvements in this historic New Orleans neighborhood through its people, children, historic waterway, public spaces and other environs.

FSJNA has participated in numerous beautification efforts throughout Faubourg St. John from Parks and Playgrounds to simple street plantings. A few examples of this are Desmare Playground, rebuilt by FSJNA in the early 90’s and beautified with tree plantings in 2008, the maintenance and care of Fortier Park, the beautification of the median on Esplanade Avenue and plantings along Bayou St. John. FSJNA worked in conjunction with KABOOM to restore the children’s’ play area at Stallings Playground, which was negatively impacted by Hurricane Katrina. After playground equipment was installed, FSJNA obtained a loan to purchase additionally needed rubberized safety tiles for the area. FSJNA also continues to apply for grants to support these activities. Our Keep Louisiana Beautiful grant allowed us to obtain benches and garbage cans for local parks.

FSJNA works to keep its membership informed. The https://fsjna.org website (available to anyone) is a library of the events, benefits, and programs FSJNA provides. Additionally fsjna.com is a resource for paid members (dues are $10 per year) this is a “yahoo group” website where members can exchange ideas, get neighborhood information, and even get hurricane updates.

During previous hurricanes, this site was a welcome source of information from people who stayed in the neighborhood to those who evacuated. It can be very reassuring to know the status of your home when you are away. The Faubourg St. John Neighborhood Association is also represented on FACEBOOK and TWITTER.   Faubourg St. John is also at NEXTDOOR.com… http://faubourgstjohn.nextdoor.com

No one in the organization gets paid. The Faubourg St. John Neighborhood Association is an all volunteer organization where any donations or membership dues go directly back into making Faubourg St. John the best neighborhood in New Orleans.

While zoning matters can be contentious, they are a necessary function of an involved neighborhood organization. FSJNA has successfully negotiated and worked with most of the neighborhood businesses to protect the quality of life and increase the appeal of the area for those businesses and residents through limiting traffic and noise pollution, helping with the elimination of blight and providing safer streets.

FSJNA also works with and reaches out to other non-profits and bordering neighborhood organizations by participating in area festivals, cultural events, community workshops and informational seminars. Future work will continue to focus on building partnerships with local non-profits and community organizations to help retain the historic character and positive quality of life we enjoy.

Filed Under: Featured, HISTORY Tagged With: bayou st john, faubourg st john, festivals, fun, jazz fest, jazz fest parking, jazz fest safety, music, New Orleans

Faubourg St. John FEEDS THE FIRST During Mardi Gras

February 5, 2016 by Charlie London

FeedFirst2016officers

 

Hans Ganthier, the new Commander of NOPD’s First District, is all smiles during the FEED THE FIRST event. photo by Brenda London
Hans Ganthier is the new Commander of NOPD’s First District. photo by Brenda London

Faubourg St. John and Deutsches Haus once again joined forces to “FEED THE FIRST” during Mardi Gras weekend.  Our First District Officers work 12 hour shifts during this time and are very appreciative of the fresh breakfast and lunches we provide.

Can’t donate your time?

Faubourg St. John

is a 501c3 non-profit
Donations are tax deductible

Donations are always welcome in any amount.
Please mail checks made out to the Faubourg St. John Neighborhood Association to:

Faubourg St. John Neighborhood Association
P.O. Box 19101
New Orleans, LA 70179

Thank you!

The officers of NOPD’s 1st District are very grateful for the support from neighborhood organizations
and the Deutsches Haus.
 

Faubourg St. John and Deutsches Haus teamed up once again to provide meals for 1st District NOPD officers during Mardi Gras.Faubourg St. John and Deutsches Haus teamed up once again to provide meals for 1st District NOPD officers during Mardi Gras.
Heartfelt thanks to all those who donate each year

FEED THE FIRST is not possible without your support!

FeedFirst2016gLinda Landesberg, Brenda London, Charlotte Pipes, Ronnie and Ayse Brink, Mona McMahon, Diane Angelico, Charlie London along with Joe & Doranel Stephany and  Deutsches Haus have worked hard each year to make the annual Feed the First program work!   Your support is much appreciated.

article below by Alicia Serrano of the Mid-City Messenger

FeedFirst2016b

The Faubourg St. John Neighborhood Association is hosted its annual “Feed the First” event Mardi Gras weekend.

Brenda London, Leslie Capo and Ayse Brink prepare fresh fruit salad for the officers.At left, Brenda London, Leslie Capo and Ayse Brink prepare fresh fruit salad for the officers. photo by Diane Angelico

Faubourg St. John provides a hot breakfast and lunch to the First District NOPD officers working during the Mardi Gras weekend, with shifts that can last up to 12 hours.

FeedFirst2016a“You can’t believe how satisfying it is to see these poor officers come in from their shifts and we feed them and everybody’s in a much better mood,” Linda Landesberg, head of Faubourg St. John Neighborhood Association events, said at last month’s meeting. According to Landesberg, the association will provide breakfast and lunch for about 80 officers for four days at the First District station. Bagged lunches are also provided for officers along the parade route as well.

“There is a group of us that go and we actually bring a hot breakfast and serve our First District NOPD on Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday and we also do two hot lunches for them on Saturday afternoon and on Monday afternoon,” Landesberg said.

FeedFirst2016kThis year, Faubourg St. John will partner with Deutches Haus, Parkway Bakery, Terrenova’s, The Ruby Slipper and the Fair Grounds Racecourse and Slots for breakfast and lunch food items.

Landesberg said the event normally costs the association about $1500 to get, prepare and serve the food. At the meeting, she described the hard work that goes into making the officers’ healthy breakfasts and snacks, with association members starting preparation at 4 a.m.

“We have a great time doing it, but we’re pretty exhausted afterwards,” she said. “It’s a really nice community event and the officers are happy.”

To read about one of the previous Feed the First events click here and to donate or find out how to volunteer for the event email [email protected].

photos below by Diane Angelico:

Joe Stephany and Charlotte Pipes working hard in the kitchen at Deutsches Haus.
Joe Stephany and Charlotte Pipes working hard in the kitchen at Deutsches Haus.
Ronnie Brink serving up coffee to the volunteers in the kitchen at Deutsches Haus.
Ronnie Brink serving up coffee to the volunteers in the kitchen at Deutsches Haus.

 

Filed Under: CRIME, Featured, HISTORY Tagged With: bayou st john, best neighborhood in New Orleans, Bonnie Lee, Brenda London, Charlie London, Charlotte Pipes, Deutsches Haus, Diane Angelico, fair grounds, faubourg st john, faubourg st. john neighborhoood association, feed the first, fsjna, fun, help new orleans, improvement, Jim Danner, Linda Landesberg, messenger, mid-city messenger, Mona McMahon, n.o.p.d., New Orleans, nopd, police, Ronnie Brink, volunteer, ways to help New Orleans, worthy cause

HOOTENANNY – Dance Yourself Silly March 11

January 28, 2016 by Charlie London

FOOT STOMPIN’ BOOT SLAPPIN’ GOOD TIME
Hootenanny Barn Dance Benefit
PUT ON YOUR DANCING SHOES TO SUPPORT TEENS GROWING FOOD FOR NEW ORLEANS!

Grow Dat Youth Farm | 150 Zachary Taylor Drive, New Orleans, LA 70124 | T. 504 300 1132

hootenannyhootenanny2016

Join your neighbors on Friday, March 11, from 6:30-10 PM for the Hootenanny, a barn dance benefit for Grow Dat Youth Farm!

 

Party with Jeffery Broussard and the Creole Cowboys, Lost in the Holler and My Wife’s Hat!

Local musicians will transform the party into a true hoedown and inspire revelers to kick up their heels. The event will feature square dancing with caller Dan Wally Baker and zydeco lessons with Harold Bernard. Premier local restaurants and chefs will cook up delightful small plates for the event, and there will be unlimited craft cocktails and ice cold beer.

This year, the Hootenanny is on the farm, rain or shine! Come on out and join us for dancing, dining, and drinking under the Louisiana night sky!

hootenanny

buytickets2

The mission of Grow Dat Youth Farm is to nurture a diverse group of young leaders through the meaningful work of growing food.

At GROW DAT farm people collaboratively to produce healthy food for local residents and to inspire youth and adults to create personal, social and environmental change in their own communities. Grow Dat is a place where people from different backgrounds and disciplines come together in research and practice to support public health, local economies and a sustainable food system in South Louisiana.

Filed Under: Featured, HISTORY Tagged With: best neighborhood in New Orleans, dance, farm, faubourg st john, friday fun, friday night dance, fun, grow dat, grow dat youth farm, hootenanny, New Orleans, things to do in new orleans, youth, zydeco

Elvis Lives at the Deutsches Haus

January 4, 2016 by Charlie London

Deutsches Haus has partnered with Faubourg St. John each year for several years to help feed the 1st District police officers during Mardi Gras. It’s just one of the many things the Deutsches Haus does for the community. Join the fine folks at Deutsches Hause for Elvis Week!

ELVIS WEEK (2)
Elvis-Germany connection:  Elvis served honorably in the U.S. Army from March 24, 1958 – March 5, 1960, Sergeant E-5. His unit was stationed in Friedberg, Germany for 18 months.

Purchase Vince Vance & the Valiants tickets here.

_____________________________________________

Celebrate the “King’s” birthday over 4 BIG nights.

Drink Specials: Elvis Cocktail, Blue Hawaiian, Hound Dog, Jailhouse on the Rocks, All Shook Up, Blue Suede Shooter
King Cake available!

_____________________________________________

Wednesday, January 6th

Celebrate King’s Day and Twelfth Night with King Cake and Elvis Cocktails!

Doors open 4pm (movies begin promptly)
4:45 “Viva Las Vegas”
6:30 “GI Blues”
8:30   “King Creole”

Free Admission
Food will be available for purchase.
see below for movie descriptions

_____________________________________________

Thursday, January 7th

Compete in New Orleans’ Best Elvis Contest. Semifinalists will return on Saturday during the Vince Vance Show for the final round of competition.

Doors and food 6pm
Karaoke 7pm to 10pm
Free Admission
Food will be available for purchase

Competition categories (Finalists selected on Saturday during the show)
– Most Original Elvis theme (Space Elvis, Reincarnated Elvis, etc)
– Best Dressed Elvis
– Best Singing Elvis (Elvis songs only)

Come sing your favorites, even if they are not by Elvis.

_____________________________________________

Friday, January 8th

Elvis trivia, celebrate and toast the King for his Birthday!

Doors and Food 6:30pm
Trivia 7:30pm
Free Admission
Food will be available for purchase
Prizes for top 3 trivia teams

_____________________________________________

Saturday, January 9th

The grand finale – winner for New Orleans’ Best Elvis

Trophies and $30 bar tabs will be awarded to the winners. 3 awards
Doors 6pm
Pre-show music by Eric Hahn Food (available for purchase) 6pm
Special offering: Elvis Burger (with bacon, banana, and peanut butter of course)
Showtime 7pm

The Rolling Elvi’s dance troop, The Jailhouse Rockers
will be at Deutsches Haus on Saturday night.

$10 Attendees in Elvis costume and Deutsches Haus Members (in advance)
$15 Non-members without Elvis costume (in advance)
$20 Everyone (at the door)

Silent Auction to raise money for the new Haus on Moss St.

Tickets available online here.

_____________________________________________

elvis

KING CREOLE

Starring: Elvis Presley, Carolyn Jones, Walter Matthau

Wednesday, January 6th, 8:30 pm

Having flunked graduation for the second time and needing cash to support his unemployed father, Danny Fisher takes a job as a singer in the King Creole nightclub – about the only joint around not run by smarmy crook Maxie Fields who wants him for his own place. He gets on pretty well with Fields’ floozy, though, and all this plus his involvement with Fields’ hoods and with innocent five-and-dime store assistant Nellie means Danny finds his world closing in on him all ways round.

Crime, Drama, Musical (PG)
Run Time: 116 min (1 hr, 56 min)
Director: Michael Curtiz
Release date: 2 July 1958 (USA)

 

poopie-01

 

GI BLUES

Starring: Elvis Presley, Juliet Prowse, Robert Ivers

Wednesday, January 6th, 6:30 pm (food available)

Tulsa is a US Army specialist stationed in Germany. He loves to sing and has dreams to run his own nightclub when he leaves the army….but dreams don’t come cheap. Tulsa places a bet with his friend Dynamite that he can spend the night with a club dancer named Lili, who is rumored to be hard to get. When Dynamite gets transferred, Tulsa is brought in to take his place. He is not looking forward to it, but in order to keep his money, he must go through with it.

Comedy, Musical (PG)
Run Time: 104 min (1 hr, 44 min)
Director: Norman Taurog
Release date: 23 November 1960 (USA)

 

viva

 

VIVA LAS VEGAS
Starring: Elvis Presley, Ann Margret

Wednesday, January 6th, 4:45 pm (food available)

Race car driver Lucky Jackson goes to Las Vegas to earn money to pay for a new engine for his motor car. Working as a waiter, he still finds the time to court young Rusty Martin.

Musical, Comedy (PG)
Run Time: 85 min (1 hr, 25 min)
Director: George Sidney
Release date: 20 May 1964 (USA)

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Filed Under: Featured, HISTORY Tagged With: 50s, 60s, All Shook Up, bayou st john, best neighborhood in New Orleans, birthday, Blue Hawaiian, blue suede shoes, Deutsches Haus, elvis, elvis presley, faubourg st john, fun, Hound Dog, Jailhouse Rock, metairie, New Orleans, party, ridgewood, things to do

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