events

Oak Street sets date for 2018 Po-Boy Festival

By |

This year’s Oak Street Po-Boy Festival will take place Sunday, Nov. 11, and will continue requiring a $5 wristband for po-boy purchases under new management from the founder of the Bayou Boogaloo in Mid-City, organizers announced Tuesday. More than 30,000 people are expected to attend, and more than 50 varieties of po-boys will be available. For more information, see the full event announcement from the Oak Street merchants’ association:
The 12th Annual Oak Street Po-Boy Festival will take place Sunday November 11 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on historic Oak Street in the Carrollton neighborhood of Uptown. The beloved annual festival celebrates New Orleans’ favorite sandwich with four stages of music and more than 35 local po-boy vendors.

crime

Man sought after committing identity theft on Arabella Street resident he lived with

By |

A man who allegedly stole the identity of an Arabella Street resident he was staying with to fraudulently make charges to a credit card is now wanted on warrants that stretch from New York to Florida, New Orleans police said. Isaac Michael Sylvester, 34, is wanted on charges of identity theft, fraud and resisting arrest, according to initial NOPD reports. Sylvester is accused of “making numerous fraudulent charges to a credit card of the victim, with whom he was reportedly residing between April through July 2018 at the victim’s residence in the 600 block of Arabella Street.” Detectives tried to arrest Sylvester at the home, but he escaped from them and remains at large, the report states. Sylvester is believed to have used multiple names — including known aliases of Isaac Michael Macavoy, Isaac Macafferty and Isaac McLaughlin — and false Social Security numbers in his identity-theft crimes, the release states.

public safety

Audubon Zoo jaguar exhibit to remain closed for months for repairs and upgrades

By |

The jaguar exhibit at Audubon Zoo will remain closed for several months so that the habitat can be upgraded with stronger steel cables, officials announced. Following the escape of the male jaguar Valerio last month that led to the deaths of nine animals, zoo staff members made a complete review of the jaguar enclosure and are now choosing contractors for the upgrades. “Due to manufacturing time and the installation process, it will be a few months before the exhibit is complete,” according to the announcement from the zoo. “The jaguar habitat will be updated, using material with a larger gauge size of stainless steel cable and decreased spacing between the cable. “Both Valerio and the female jaguar, Ix Chel remain separated in their respective behind the scenes areas.

city government

Temporary detour announced along Martin Luther King Boulevard

By |

The ongoing reconstruction of South Galvez Street will require a temporary detour on Martin Luther King Boulevard so contractors can perform exploratory work under the street, the city of New Orleans announced. The detour — which affects traffic on Martin Luther King Boulevard between South Rocheblave and South Prieur streets — began Monday and is expected to continue for at least a week, the city announced. For more information, see the full announcement from the city of New Orleans below:

The City of New Orleans construction contractor, Command Construction Industries, LLC, will temporarily detour the river and lake bound traffic on Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard between South Rocheblave and South Prieur streets beginning at 8 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 6, 2018. The detour and lane reduction are necessary to accommodate exploratory work on Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard as part of the South Galvez Street Reconstruction Project in Central City.

crime

Man shot in the head in Hollygrove, police say

By |

A man was shot in the head during an argument Saturday on Pritchard Place in Hollygrove, New Orleans police said. The victim, a man in his 20s, was arguing with an “unknown suspect” around 4 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 4, in the 9200 block of Pritchard Place (near Mistletoe Street), according to the initial NOPD report. “The suspect shot the victim in the back of his head and chest area,” the report states. The victim was taken to the hospital for treatment by ambulance, the report states.

business

Long-vacant historic building on O.C. Haley Boulevard slated for redevelopment

By |

A long-vacant building on O.C. Haley Boulevard — designed by the architect of Charity Hospital and the Louisiana State Capital building — is now under renovation through a collaboration between the nearby Gloryland Mr. Gillion Baptist Church and the Gulf Coast Housing Partnership. City officials joined the church and the nonprofit Thursday to celebrate the start of the $2.4 million renovation of 1626 Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard into commercial storefront space and new offices, noting that it is the last vacant building on the now-busy block. For details, see the announcement below:
Councilmember Jay H. Banks joined representatives from Mayor Latoya Cantrell’s office, the Louisiana Division of Historic Preservation, the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority, Gulf Coast Housing Partnership (“GCHP”) and members of the Gloryland Mt. Gillion Baptist Church to break ground for the $2.4 MM historic restoration of the 9,000 square foot building at 1626 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd. The building’s original architect, Leon Weiss, also designed iconic buildings that include New Orleans’ Charity Hospital and the Louisiana State Capital building.

business

New daiquiri shop proposed for formerly troubled St. Charles Avenue block met with strong opposition

By |

Five years ago, a daiquiri shop on St. Charles Avenue in the Lower Garden District drew such consistently out-of-control crowds that the city of New Orleans ultimately revoked their alcohol license. Now, the owners of a Baton Rouge daiquiri shop want to open nearby and promise better management, but nearby residents and business owners voiced strong opposition to the idea, saying no promises or good intentions will keep it from becoming more of the same. Ferdinand Jefferson and Chris Mercier own the LSU-themed Tiger Paw Daiquiris and Grill in Baton Rouge, and are planning to open a location at 1610 St. Charles Avenue, in place of the Krewe du Brew coffee shop.

elections

Danae Columbus: “Need to Impeach” anti-Trump effort comes to New Orleans

By |

An anti-Trump spirit was clearly in the air last night as a standing room only crowd participated in the “Need to Impeach” town hall meeting at the Audubon Tea Room. The event was sponsored by billionaire investor Tom Steyer, the founder and president of Need to Impeach and NextGen America, thought to be U.S.’s largest progressive political operation aimed at the 2018 midterm elections. Barnstorming the country as part of a well-funded national outreach, Steyer will address the Netroots Nation conference currently underway at the Morial Convention Center later today and is sponsoring a Pub Quiz Friday evening. “I came to this town hall because I hate President Donald Trump and his bigotry and want to get him out of office,” said Lynette, a African-American New Orleans business woman. “I am a mother, a grandmother and the daughter of a World War II veteran.

schools

Lycee Francais hires new principals for each campus amid administrative restructuring

By |

Lycée Français de la Nouvelle-Orléans will have new principals over each of its two campuses next year as part of a restructuring of the administration following the hiring of its new CEO, school officials said Monday. CEO Marina Schoen has recently hired new principals for both the Patton Street and Johnson Street campuses, she told the charter school’s governing board at their Monday night meeting. The new principal overseeing the school’s Patton Street campus, home to children in preschool through second grades, will be Danielle Dufauchard, a former math teacher and Lycee administrator, according to the school website. Chana Benenson — a foreign-language teacher who led Sci High last year, and was a finalist for the Lycee CEO position alongside Schoen — will be the principal over grades 3 through 8 at the Johnson Street campus. Both new principals have just started work in their new positions in recent days, and are going through the beginnings of the orientation process now, Schoen said.

crime

Woman arrested after allegedly attacking man with scissors, police say

By |

A 34-year-old woman was arrested Wednesday after allegedly attacking a man with a pair of scissors during an argument last week on South Robertson Street, New Orleans police said. Donchell Jones, 34, was arrested on a charge of aggravated battery after the attack July 18 in the 3800 block of South Robertson Street. Jones and the victim had been arguing that day, so she left for about two hours, but resumed the disagreement when she returned, the report states. “The confrontation became physical, the victim said, and Jones reportedly attempted to strike the victim with a pair of scissors in her fist, striking the victim on the arm,” the report states. Jones left again, but police identified her and obtained a warrant for her arrest.