After the appointment of interim Councilman Eric Granderson, a lengthy presentation on energy rates and a two-hour battle over the height of a Canal Street redevelopment project, the New Orleans City Council decided to postpone four Uptown property-use matters Thursday. Continue reading »
"Birth of a Muse," by Kim Bernadas
On Friday evening, the Lower Garden District wants you to come play in its parks.
At 5:30 p.m., the Arts Council of New Orleans will celebrate the installation of a new sculpture, Kim Bernadas’ “Birth of a Muse,” in the Terpsichore finger park near Prytania. After Hurricane Katrina, the Percent for Art program focused on restoration of public art, and “Birth of a Muse” is the first new work commissioned since then. The ceremony and reception will feature “live dancers and musicians, refreshments and hor d’oeuvres,” according to the Arts Council: Continue reading »
[The following letter to the editor was written by Tim Garrett, State Street Drive neighborhood activist and administrator of NOLAhoods.com and AskNOLA.com]
As the owner/manager of AskNOLA.com, I may be biased, but I suspect many other native New Orleanians share my assessment of the current “citizen complaint hotline” hosted by City Hall:
Its hours are too restricted: Try dialing 311 at 5:01pm or during the weekend. A recording asks you to call another day; you cannot leave a message. The operators are poorly trained: Many of my calls get routed to the wrong department (“I said street light, not traffic signal”), and I’m forced to redial. That’s quite an inconvenience, especially for tourists, drivers and cyclists. Continue reading »
Detectives on a drug raid found a stash of hundreds of pairs of designer jeans from a local boutique, apparently stolen by a store employee, police said. Continue reading »
RSD planning director Adam Hawf (from left), superintendent John White, Carrollton resident Mary DeWitt Dukes and Pensiontown Neighborhood Association president Tilman Hardy speak Wednesday night after a meeting at the Johnson School campus. (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)
Stung by the pain of a broken promise, members of the James Weldon Johnson Elementary School community did their utmost Wednesday night to convince the new chief of the Recovery School District to resurrect a plan to move their campus to a safer, more prestigious site a few blocks away.
The Priestley site on Leonidas would symbolize social change, many said — traditionally, white schools in New Orleans were built on major thoroughfares like Leonidas, while black schools were tucked behind them in the neighborhood, like Johnson. But more importantly, the Priestley site is in a safer part of the neighborhood, they said.
“The crime is very high here,” said Johnson principal Wanda Brooks. “This school year, we had a killing in the back by the cafeteria.” Continue reading »
The rectory at St. Henry's Catholic Church (image via Preservation Resource Center)
The Archdiocese of New Orleans denied any current plans to demolish the rectory at St. Henry Catholic Church, though it acknowledged inquiring about the possibility of doing so in order to host an exhibit on John Paul II. Continue reading »
Lusher Charter School, Samuel J. Green Charter School in the Freret neighborhood and KIPP Believe College Prep in Carrollton are all mentioned in the article about a discrimination lawsuit filed by the Southern Poverty Law Center against the state.
Although the selection of a temporary member of the City Council to serve for the next six months will likely dominate Thursday’s council meeting, a number of Uptown-based land-use issues are on the agenda as well. Continue reading »
Marquel Horton (via opcso.org)
Andre A. Bell (via opcso.org)
Investigators have identified and arrested two men they believe are responsible for a shooting earlier this month on Felicity Street in the Lower Garden District, but the victims’ reluctance to cooperate makes it unlikely the charges will be prosecuted, police said. Continue reading »
The holidays are just around the corner and now is a good time to promote your business in a special kind of way. Just like any other marketing material, your holiday promotions should be closely aligned with your overall branding. Continue reading »
The biggest movement in food these days is quite simply the movement of food. Cuisine mobility. Culinaria transportica. The anti drive thru. While some American cities have been experiencing a food truck culture for some time, the stride is just now hitting here in New Orleans. Case in point: the first annual Street Fare Derby coming up this Saturday, September 24th. And as this phenomenon is slowly becoming a mainstay to the American landscape I am reminded of another from yesteryear: the trucker. Continue reading »
Investigators have located the two people photographed in a bank inquiring about the value of old currency similar to that taken in a violent home-invasion robbery on Walnut Street in August, and although they are no longer thought to be involved, the investigation remains active, police said Tuesday. Continue reading »
T.J Quills
T.J. Quills agreed to a $2,000 fine and strict operating conditions Tuesday, joining Rocco’s Tavern as the second Maple Street to bar to be placed under sanctions following allegations of underage drinking earlier this year. Continue reading »
Warrren Henderon Sr. (via opcso.org)
A narcotics investigation of a home a block off Freret Street last week led to the arrest of a man for the alleged possession of crack cocaine and two guns, police said. Continue reading »
As the James Weldon Johnson Elementary School community looks to the future, the Recovery School District has agreed to meet with school and neighborhood leaders at 6 p.m. Wednesday (Sept. 21) at the Johnson school, 1800 Monroe Street. Continue reading »
In an interview with the Blackened Out food blog, Jeffrey Talbot of Ancora on Freret Street discusses the primacy of sea salt, the “emotional experience” of pizza in California, the regional flavors of Italy, and the legendary oven he built in his backyard of his home outside Lake Charles. (To borrow Blackened Out’s disclaimer of sorts, the article is flavored with “the profanity laced patois of the kitchen.”)
Calling all Saints fans! With the return of the beloved black and gold, Fresco Cafe is offering a football special that can’t be beat – with the purchase of any large gourmet pizza, enjoy a pitcher of Miller Lite or Abita Amber for $1 only. Yes, you read that right – a full pitcher of ice-cold beer for just one dollar. No matter which team you support, now that’s something you can really root for!
Whether you’re looking for a place to grab lunch between classes (Fresco Cafe accepts the Tulane SplashCard and NolaBucks), or need a spot to meet clients or colleagues, Fresco Cafe is the perfect choice. Fresco Cafe is located at 7625 Maple Street, and is open from 11-10 nightly. For more information visit the Fresco Cafe website at http://www.frescocafe.us/, visit their Facebook page, or call 504-862-6363 to place an order. Online ordering is available at http://www.frescoonline.com/.
Jonah Bascle at La Nuit Comedy Theater on Freret Street, where he performs and teaches improv classes. (Sabree Hill, UptownMessenger.com)
The efforts of Jonah Bascle, an Uptown resident who ran for mayor last year to draw attention to the lack of accessibility on the St. Charles Avenue streetcar line, form the basis of this week’s cover story in Gambit. Other than promises of committees to study the issue, little progress has been made on Bascle’s suggestion that the newer handicapped-accessible red streetcars be added to the St. Charles Avenue line.
The rectory at St. Henry's Catholic Church (image via Preservation Resource Center)
Is the century-old rectory at Uptown’s St. Henry’s Catholic Church slated to become a parking lot?
If so, it’s the fate that neighbors of the church are already organizing to fight off. Last week, nearby neighbor Faye Lieder got word from the Historic District Landmarks Commission that the church plans convert the church into a “multi-use facility” and to “request the demolition of a building across the street from the church that they no longer need,” Lieder said Sunday night at a meeting of neighbors who quickly convened at her house. Continue reading »
A Fresh Market storefront in New York (image via the company's Facebook page).
The address of the former Borders store in the old Bultman funeral home on St. Charles Avenue has been added to the website of Fresh Market as “Coming Soon,” and our partners at WWL-TV have confirmed that the upscale grocer will be the site’s next tenant.
The store’s promised amenities include an “old-style butcher shop,” fresh seafood, produce, fresh baked goods, a “European delicatessen,” imported cheese, gourmet coffee and other offerings.