Central City thrift store and sewing school provide remedies for the ‘high cost of cheap fashion’

Listening to the radio while driving nine years ago, Alison Parker heard a segment about the book “Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion” by Elizabeth Cline, and it opened her eyes to the problem of waste and pollution in the fashion and clothing business. 

“I knew I could no longer sit on the sidelines and do nothing,” Parker said. Eventually, it lead her to found ricRACK, a nonprofit organization its website describes as “combining creative skill building with environmental responsibility.” 

Everything that ricRACK does, Parker said, in some way combats the waste prevalent in the fashion industry, which is estimated be the second-largest consumer of the world’s water supply and pollutes the oceans with micro plastics. What’s more, 85% of all textiles go to the dump each year. And when this happens, the dyes and chemicals from the fabrics leach into the ground water and release greenhouse gasses. 

To promote the productive recycling of clothes, ricRACK has opened a thrift store in Central City that sells donated clothes as well as those that have been used in films and TV shows, and sponsors a variety of sewing classes. Parker herself worked in the costume department for Cirque du Soleil for five years and then as a costume designer for theater and films, so she has those connections.

At Secret Birria, the food speaks for itself

Who doesn’t love a good secret? Last year, the local internet seemed to be alight with talk of birria tacos — tacos traditionally made with lamb, goat or beef stewed in a pepper marinade, creating a paste. The meat sits in the marinade overnight, and is then served in a corn tortilla (although Secret Birria uses flour tortillas) and dipped in its own juices. Last year, the dish was made popular locally by chef Will Avelar at Mawi Tortillas in Metairie. Secret Birria — which comes complete with a secret owner, who is present at the restaurant but prefers the food to speak for itself — is serving up the tasty Mexican dish in an unassuming building at 323 Octavia St., near Jefferson Avenue and Tchoupitoulas Street in the West Riverside neighborhood. 

Manager Alex Caluda told me that the owner got the idea for a restaurant that serves birria tacos after traveling through Mexico; he thought that hearty dish would do well here.

NOPD arrests suspect in Central City shooting, other incidents

The NOPD’s Violent Offender Warrant Squad and the U.S. Marshals arrested Eric J. Tyler, 21, on March 11 on multiple criminal arrest warrants, including for a shooting on Feb. 5 in the 3300 block of South Saratoga Street. In the Feb. 5 incident, a 48-year-old man was hit in the right thigh with a bullet shot from a white BMW sedan. Detectives subsequently obtained a warrant for Tyler’s arrest for principal to aggravated battery by shooting.

Walter Isaacson discusses ‘The Code Breaker’ at event celebrating Garden District Book Shop’s 40th year

 

At the garden of the stately manor house of Katherine and Tony Gelderman, on Saturday (March 13), the Garden District Book Shop hosted acclaimed author and Tulane professor Walter Isaacson for a combined celebration of his new book “The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race” and a celebration of Garden District Book Shop’s 40th anniversary. “For 40 years, Garden District Book Shop has charmed us,” said Christopher Tidmore, one of a group who purchased the store from founder Britton Trice earlier this year. “It has been a great 40 years, and we’ve overcome a lot of obstacles,” Trice told the assembled audience. Despite bookstore chains, the rise of e-books and the gobbling maw of Amazon, Garden District Book Shop is poised to enter its fourth decade with a new children’s reading room and plans to add a connecting cafe and bistro, with three enthusiastic new owners besides. When Isaacson, smiling, took the stage, it was for the first in-person event that the bookshop has hosted through the pandemic.

20-year-old man shot to death in Gert Town

A man was shot to death Saturday (March 13) in the Gert Town neighborhood, the New Orleans Police Department reported. Sixth District officers investigating reports of gunfire found the victim in the 4600 block of Washington Avenue at about 1:25 p.m. He was suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. The victim was later identified as 20-year-old Joshawn Palmore. Medical responders took Palmore to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The NOPD reported at 2:20 p.m. that the incident has been reclassified as a homicide.

Person of interest sought in shooting death of teenager in Hollygrove

The New Orleans Police Department is seeking to identify and locate the pictured person of interest in the investigation of a homicide on March 8 in the 3300 block of Leonidas Street. The young woman is not currently wanted. However, NOPD Homicide Unit detectives think she has information vital to the investigation and wish to interview her. Officers are investigating the death of Rashad Anthony, 17, who was found slumped in the driver’s seat of an SUV at about 11:30 p.m. on Monday (March 8). Medical responders pronounced him dead at the scene, and the Coroner’s Office determined he died of gunshot wounds.

Fried chicken, ice cream and wine: Here Today pop-up satisfies a trilogy of cravings

Here Today, a weekend popup in the Lower Garden District had its soft opening March 5. The endeavor is run by Michael Stoltzfus of Coquette, and includes popular ice cream popup Lucy Boone Ice Cream, and newcomer Patron Saint Wine. Stoltzfus is spearheading the project that will be serving a menu that includes a fried chicken sandwich ($6), pickled vegetables ($8) and other rotating items. Chef Ana Castro, who heads the kitchen at Here Today, will be cultivating a menu that is sure to interest meat and veggie lovers, alike. 

Stoltzfus had the idea for the pop-up when he saw the space at the former Thalia location, 1245 Constance St., sitting empty. “It was just sitting here and I knew that it had a liquor license,” he said. “Because of restrictions, the space is too small for regular dine-in service, so I thought that a pop-up would be a perfect fit.