city government

District B recounts adds 3 votes to Bloom’s total; Banks maintains 128-vote lead (live coverage)

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The recount of absentee ballots in the District B City Council race added a net of three votes to Seth Bloom’s total, but he still trails Jay H. Banks by 128 votes, according to tallies released by election officials.

Bloom campaign manager Gary Solomon Jr. said that over the last week, they have identified more than 128 irregularities and discrepancies in the individual vote totals, but will not likely continue to challenge the outcome of the election. After conferring with Bloom, the campaign will issue a report on its findings later this afternoon, as well as a determination on what next steps to take.

“We want to continue the challenge the process, but not necessarily the race. Seth wants to make sure we hold the process accountable,” Bloom campaign manager Gary Solomon Jr. said. “Seth will likely concede today.”

business

Skipping the “Black Friday” rush? Local retailers invite shoppers to enjoy “Small Business Saturday” instead

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If the idea of stampeding hordes crushing their way into big-box stores isn’t your style (and face it, you choose to live in New Orleans, so it’s probably not), the local retailers around the city invite you to come spend Saturday afternoon with them, supporting the local economy instead of sending money out of the state or country — and they’ve got their own perks to offer if you decide to join them.

arts, books and music

Leonardo da Vinci biographer Walter Isaacson dissects the mystery of Mona Lisa’s smile (video)

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The Renaissance genius Leonardo da Vinci is remembered variously for his mechanical marvels, engineering feats like the designs for flying machines, anatomical research and sketches, the narrative tableau of ‘The Last Supper,’ and, of course, the bewitching beauty in the painting that has come to symbolize art itself, ‘Mona Lisa.’

The enduring mystery of her elusive smile, however, is not only the pinnacle of da Vinci’s artistic achievement, but also the summation of all his other interest in engineering, physics, anatomy and drama, writer Walter Isaacson explained in a lecture this week supporting his new biography. If you’ve ever wondered why ‘Mona Lisa’ holds such an exalted place in the world’s artistic canon, treat yourself three minutes to listen to Isaacson’s explanation of exactly how da Vinci combined all his curiosity and passions into the expression on her face.

city government

Danae Columbus: Meet Nicole Sheppard, civil district court’s newest judge

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Newly elected judge Nicole Sheppard, Civil District Court Division J, has the common touch. In a relatively low budget campaign with few paid consultants, Sheppard coasted to a very comfortable victory over attorney Omar Mason by conducting an old-fashioned grassroots campaign in the churches and the streets.

“We definitely worked hard. The voters believed in me, my sincerity and my independence. They could feel my passion to serve the people,” Sheppard reflected yesterday. The CDC vacancy occurred due to the election of Judge Paula Brown to the 4th Circuit Court of Appeal.

good works

Coliseum Square Association gives thanks for fountain volunteers

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Anyone who has passed Coliseum Square has seen its spectacular fountain, but very few realize that the existence and operation of the fountain is almost entirely dependent — not on some city department — but on the consistent manual labor of a few dedicated volunteers from the neighborhood.

This week, at the monthly meeting of the Coliseum Square Association, parks committee chair Bettine Carroll took a few moments to acknowledge the men and women who keep the fountain running and the parks clean.