Lighting Up Lee Circle at Bellocq

Lee Circle is a potentially epic fulcrum for the Crescent City, the pivot where downtown becomes Uptown and the gateway to the museum district. But it’s been under-loved for too long. Gas stations occupy two of its landmark corners, and one of those is closed, while the sprawling...

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Positive Youth Voice

A few months ago I moved into a new wonderful apartment in the Broadmoor neighborhood.  And as with every move the colossal stress was physically, emotionally and spiritually debilitating.  The many challenges of moving left me with few resources, but during this time of change is...

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Come to the Fair!

OK, forget self-indulgence; this blog has now officially crossed into the territory of shameless self-promotion. Well, maybe not self-promotion, exactly, but promoting something that is very dear to my heart and very important to me. My daughter is currently attending pre-K at a wonderful...

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The Future is Bright, with Healthy Lifestyle Choices

Donna Betzer is President and CEO of Healthy Lifestyle Choices. This non-profit organization was founded over 10 years ago to address the physical, emotional and mental health needs of our children. Donna describes how Healthy Lifestyle Choices educates children in a comprehensive way and uses...

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Show Us Your Pics ... Again

We tried this a few months ago with, admittedly, mixed results. But we at MyNewOrleans.com are nothing if not stubborn, willing to subject you, our dear readers, to attempt after attempt until we get a thing right. (For more evidence, feel free to peruse our perennial advocacy for the...

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The (Shaved) Iceman Cometh

So many of our comments about New Orleans start out with the phrase, “Is there any other city anywhere that ...?” Why fight it? Is there any other city anywhere that loves their sno-balls more than New Orleans? I’ve done a lot of traveling, and the closest area I can say...

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Re-Learning Childhood Lessons in Politeness

Let’s talk for a moment about Jazz Fest etiquette. There are as many ways to enjoy “The Fest” as there are attendees, but being polite is something we all can do. Look, I know that it’s hot (very hot), and humid, and can be exceedingly crowded, and often dirty and...

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Openings and Awards

You may have heard that a number of New Orleans chefs were nominated for James Beard Society awards this year. Donald Link was up for outstanding chef; Sue Zemanick was nominated again in the rising chef category; and four of the five nominees for best chef in the south region were locals...

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Understanding Shelby Stanga

Please help me understand Shelby Stanga. I know this: He is one of the lumbermen featured in the History Channel’s reality show, “Axmen.” There are several axe swingers from across the country on the program. Stanga is the Louisiana guy who spends his time in a Tangipahoa...

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Guilty Pleasures

What makes a pleasure a guilty one? Is it because it's too "mainstream" or because it's over-saturating pop culture? Is it because it's viewed as sophomoric or unsophisticated? Cheesy as hell? Well, whatever the reason, there are definitely things out...

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The "Bog-uh Chit-uh": A How-Tube Article

New Orleans' infamous summer heat comes licking at the heels of festival season. In the hospitality industry, we’ve been talking about this all month. This is what we call “the dead season,” because this is when the exodus from the city begins. Though the number...