Nine New Orleans shops to participate in Record Store Day 2019

By India Yarborough, iayarbor@my.loyno.edu
Loyola Student News Service

According to record-store owner Lee Rea, “If art imitates life, then the record shop should be an epicenter for local culture.”

Rea is co-owner, along with his mother and sister, of the mom-and-pop record shop Peaches Records on Magazine Street. Peaches, opened in 1975 by Rea’s father, is one of nine independently owned record stores in New Orleans participating in the 12th annual Record Store Day this Saturday. Record Store Day is an international celebration of independent record stores, according to Rick Johnson, one of three people who work full-time organizing the day’s festivities. “These are independent stores because that’s always been the focus of record store day – how do we keep the independent record store alive and thriving,” Johnson said. Record Store Day is held in mid-April each year.

Uptown Sounds is about the music, and the experience

By Catie Sanders, Loyola Student News Service

It was slightly windy and rainy, but that didn’t stop the music of Uptown Sounds battle of the bands from sizzling. The event at Evans Park in the Freret neighborhood on Sunday, March 31, gave eight bands the chance to take the stage at the festival-style event. The winner was chosen by audience vote. Doctors, a dark-pop band, received a cash prize and a spot on the lineup for Freret Street Festival on Saturday (3:45 on Alder Hotel Stage at Valence Street). Competitors included Eamon and the Other Colors, Cosma Dog, Lonelygrrl, Anne Elise Hastings and Her Revolving Cast of Characters, Sympathy Wizard, John Scott and Colorblock.

Art, in the Flesh: Freret tattoo parlor also spotlights artists

By Riley Katz, Loyola Student News Service

Sailor’s Cross Tattoo and Gallery showcases and sells art from around the country while letting customers design a work of art they can wear forever. Founder and co-owner of Sailor’s Cross Alejandro “Bear” Sedaca said art and tattoos go hand in hand, and he was surprised to find no other tattoo parlor/art gallery officially existed when he opened Sailor’s Cross. He said combining the two into a single location on Freret Street would help stress the new meaning of tattoos in modern context. “In the past, tattoo shops were seen as places bikers and felons hung out,” Sedaca said. “Almost all of our artists have been to art and design school, and we are all professionally trained by mentors.”

Lining the right wall of the gallery are submissions from the gallery’s yearly skateboard deck design show, while the rest of the space is reserved for work from other artists.

Fashion show is about more than pretty faces and frocks

Article by Danielle Carbonari, Loyola Student News Service

Models of all shapes and sizes walk down the runway wearing the latest clothing from designers around the world. It’s all a part of the 2017 Coastal Fashion Week run by Exalté Magazine, which stopped at Eiffel Society Nightclub in New Orleans earlier this month. The event showcased designers from Keno Couture Design to Un-U Luxe with both female and male models ranging in size from petite to plus size. Kymberly Soulé is the CEO of Exalté Magazine and also founded Coastal Fashion Week, the only multi-state fashion week in the world. Soulé started the fashion week to celebrate all body types and give opportunities to many different models and designers.

Mona’s on South Carrollton becomes “Uptown Slice”

By Haley Pegg, Loyola Student News Service

Owners of Mona’s Café on South Carrollton Avenue have turned the space over to family members who have decided that pizza is better served at that spot than falafels. Nick Monem is the owner of Uptown Slice Pizza and Wings. Nicknamed “Uptown Slice,” the restaurant has replaced Mona’s Café, a Mediterranean restaurant owned by a relative of Monem’s. Mona’s at 1120 S. Carrollton Ave. was one of five locations of the café in New Orleans.

‘Always so joyful’: With no known family, neighbors lay beloved pharmacy cashier to rest

By Anthony Alongi, Loyola Student News Service

A small group of people gathered at St. George’s Episcopal Church earlier this month to celebrate the life of somebody they barely knew, yet all held dear. On July 4, Roechelle Cox died suddenly from a brain aneurysm. After her death, no family could be found to take over the rights to her remains to make funeral arrangements. With her next of kin listed as her current employer, CVS, there was no way of paying for a funeral and her body was held at the coroner’s office for the next several months.

“The French Library” bookstore on Magazine serves New Orleans’s growing population of bilingual students

By Haley Pegg, Loyola Student News Service

Magazine Street has said “bonjour” to a new kind of bookstore, giving bilingual children an opportunity to further their education outside of school. The French Library, a children’s bookstore with books in French, opened in June at 3811 Magazine St. Last year’s enrollment records in Orleans and Jefferson parishes show more than 1,700 students are enrolled in French immersion programs.

The French Library is set up with two levels, the first including shelves full of books and decorative chairs. The upper level includes more books, tables and a mini café in the back with free coffee and sweets. Katrina Greer, store owner, grew up in Trinidad surrounded by French language and culture.

Piccola Gelateria makes sweet Freret Street debut

By Caroline Gonzalez, Loyola Student News Service

“Welcome to our living room,” is what customers hear when being greeted by Ross and Ria Turnbull, the owners of the new Freret Street dessert destination, Piccola Gelateria. The addition at 4525 Freret St. had its grand opening on Friday, Dec. 3. Piccola was a long-time dream for the couple of 15 years.

Freret Beer Room pairs 16 craft beers on tap with full menu to match

By Danielle Garcia, Loyola Student News Service

While the Freret Beer Room’s primary focus is all in its name, the new restaurant’s 16 craft beers on tap are also meant to be paired with a full lunch and dinner menu from a chef who’s served in some of the city’s most celebrated restaurants. “We aim to marry good food and good beer,” owner Eli Gay said. “We’re sort of presenting beer in a way that you would see wine at most restaurants.” Gay grew up not too far from the area and decided to move back to New Orleans. His previous experience working in a craft beer bar in New York City led him to the idea of the Freret Beer Room.

Former Magasin managers take over Tru Burger on Oak Street

By Danielle Carbonari, Loyola Student News Service

Veteran managers of the celebrated Vietnamese restaurant Magasin have bought Tru Burger on Oak Street, but while they plan to add a few new twists, they said they primarily intend to stay true to its founder’s original vision. Amy Doan, her sister, Lein Doan and Lein’s husband, Hung Nguyen bought Tru Burger from Patois founder Aaron Burgau in late August. The family’s management history began when they all helped manage Nguyen’s parents’ restaurant, Magasin on Magazine Street. Amy managed the restaurant for four years and during that time the restaurant was on the list of top three Vietnamese restaurants in New Orleans. “A good restaurant is not only about food but good management and that is what I truly believe,” Amy Doan said.