At Pasta on the Fly, build your own meal with fresh pasta and toppings

By Marielle Songy, Uptown Messenger

New Orleans native Ryan O’Connor owns Pasta on the Fly, a new Maple Street restaurant that allows diners to build their perfect pasta bowl. O’Connor was working at the Ritz-Carlton on Canal Street when Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005. He relocated to California, where he worked as general manager of the Michelin-starred Rustic Canyon restaurant in Santa Monica.   

At Rustic Canyon, O’Connor learned from master pasta maker Evan Funke. “He has the softest touch when it comes to pasta; he rolls out everything by hand,” he said. “That was a turning point for me.

Viewpoint: Jefferson has something Orleans lacks — a fully functioning economy

By Danae Columbus, opinion columnist

I was more than a little envious this week of the millions of dollars Jefferson Parish Council members are doling out to pet projects mostly in their districts — from support for festivals, community centers and churches to cheerleader uniforms, swimming classes and tutoring. Jefferson’s council members, all up for re-election in the fall, enjoy broad leeway in making those discretionary selections. The allocations are available not only because of one-time dollars from the American Rescue Plan but from ongoing funding sources such as gaming revenue and hotel/motel taxes.  

Jefferson’s council recently voted to give each district council member an additional $12.5 million and each at-large member $1 million of allocate. Surely the council could have voted instead to distribute those dollars to their transit system, which is having budget problems, or toward building secure housing with wrap-around services for Jefferson’s growing homeless population.  

Fortunately for them, the Parish Council enjoys the luxury of significant discretionary spending because Jefferson has something that New Orleans hasn’t had in more than half of century – a fully-functioning vibrant economy with industry beyond tourism, a healthy retail tax base, and an infrastructure system that is not about to collapse into the Mississippi River. Sure, Jefferson Parish has potholes, streets that need resurfacing and new playgrounds to build.

Tulane University asking city for control over four Uptown blocks

Tulane University is asking the city for control over four city blocks adjacent to its Uptown campus. The proposal requests “long-term leases for site control and access” to the four Uptown blocks and one block near the downtown medical school. The request took University Area neighbors, already rankled by parking and traffic congestion in the area, by surprise. Tulane spokesman Michael Strecker told Uptown Messenger that the university just wants to fix and maintain the Uptown streets. “None of these areas would be closed to the public,” Strecker said in an email.

Shooting suspect shot while breaking into cars, the NOPD says

The New Orleans Police Department has named a suspect in a shooting early Saturday (May 13) near Joseph and LaSalle streets. At about 6:30 a.m., a man was shot in the leg and taken to the hospital by the Emergency Medical Services. About 10 minutes later, another man arrived at a local emergency room with a gunshot wound and police began investigating a possible connection. The 35-year-old victim had been inside his parked vehicle when he saw two gunmen with their faces covered pulling on the door handles of vehicles parked in the 5500 block of LaSalle St. They were being followed by an accomplice driving a black SUV, the NOPD said.

Police blotter: Two shootings, two robberies and two home invasions reported uptown

Two shootings, a robbery, an attempted robbery and two home invasions were reported in Uptown neighborhoods over the weekend, according to the New Orleans Police Department. Shootings
A shooting Sunday night (May 14) in Central City left a 17-year-old injured. The victim was in the 2300 block of Toledano Street at about 10:10 p.m. when he heard gunshots. He ran into a residence and realized he had been shot. The Emergency Medical Services took him to the hospital.

Gunfire on Saratoga Street leaves a man dead

A man was shot to death Sunday night (May 14) in a barrage of bullets on South Saratoga Street, the New Orleans Police Department reported. At 10:37 p.m., NOPD Sixth District officers responded to shots fired in the 3300 block of South Saratoga, near Toledano Street. Upon arrival, officers discovered an adult male lying on the sidewalk. He was unresponsive and had suffered multiple gunshot wounds. The Emergency Medical Services pronounced him dead on the scene.

Viewpoint: Cantrell-related PAC opposes efforts to realign the recall process

By Danae Columbus, opinion columnist

Two like-minded bills that together will fundamentally redefine the recall process for Louisiana elected officials are working their way through the 2023 legislative session in Baton Rouge. Though the new laws, if ultimately approved, will bring Louisiana’s rules in closer alignment with other states, a political action committee associated with Mayor LaToya Cantrell is raising its voice in protest and soliciting funds to fight back. An email sent Tuesday (May 9) to supporters by Cantrell’s long-time campaign manager Maggie Carroll labels one of the pieces of legislation, House Bill 212, as “voter suppression.” Carroll further asks for assistance in gathering $250,000 for the Cantrell-supported Action New Orleans PAC.   

In an interview, Cantrell said she knows nothing about the recall legislation and doesn’t care whether it passes. She also distanced herself from Carroll’s comments and current fundraising efforts. Carroll confirmed that Cantrell was not behind the PAC’s latest activities.

Latter Library to host spring edition of Really, Really Big Book Sale

The Friends of the New Orleans Public Library will hold its annual Really, Really Big Book Sale on Saturday (May 13). 

Held on the front porch of the iconic Latter Library on St. Charles Avenue on the Saturday before Mothers Day, the Really, Really Big Book Sale is a signature fundraiser of Friends of New Orleans Public Library. Sales of used books fund important New Orleans Public Library programs, such as the Summer Fun Reading program and adult literacy classes. 

The first hour of the sale will be reserved for members of Friends of New Orleans Public Library exclusively. From 10 to 11 a.m., members will have their first choice of local interest books, literature, biographies, children’s and young adult books, DVDs, comic books and everything in between. The sale is open to the general public from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

For a chance to make an early purchase, individuals can join as members of FNOPL.