The Editor's Room - July 2009

07/27/09

Errol Laborde: What a City Hall should be

A vote is scheduled this week on the mayor's proposal for the city to purchase the abandoned Chevron building on Poydras Avenue and to relocate City Hall there. Some thoughts:

Of all the building that a city government owns, its City Hall is supposed to be special. The building is not only a place for politicians and bureaucrats to work, but ideally should also be a public space - something that reflects the community and that anchors its neighborhood.

Gallier Hall, the city's first seat of government did that. James Gallier's Greek Revival design showed a real strength highlighted by magnificent columns on the portico. Ideally City Halls should face a green space - a place for the pubic to celebrate or to be heard. To this day Lafayette Square is the site of...

Posted at 10:13 AM | Permalink | Comments: 0

07/20/09

Errol Laborde: Witnessing the spirit outside of St. Henry's Church

Last Saturday night a week ago (July 11) there was a block party on the 800 block of Gen. Pershing St. This was the annual St. Henry parish reunion. From the outward appearance the occasion was joyous. Jay Monque D's Blues band performed. There was free food. Drinks were flowing. Old friends were seeing and hugging each other. The people who grew up in St. Henry parish are among the most spirited parishioners in all of Catholicism.
For all the joy, however, there was something pathetic about the event. In past years the reunion was held on the church grounds and in the cafeteria. This year the parishioners were locked out of the very church that many of their families helped build. Denied their parish by their bishop, they maintained the tradition on the street in front of the...

Posted at 10:52 AM | Permalink | Comments: 0

07/13/09

Errol Laborde: Ranking Bud's burgers

Now the debate can begin anew.

There have been auxiliary Bud's Broilers re-opened around the area since you-know- what, but the main place, the original outlet on City Park Avenue across from Delgado College, had been closed, since you-know- what.

As a sign that the recovery has advanced to a higher level, BB No. 1 is back in business all painted, cleansed and spiffier than ever.

Known for its burgers cooked on a charcoal broiler, Bud's offerings are posted on a board above the counter with each choice numbered. As the burgers' fame spread, it became part of the langue of the city to compare the virtues of, for example, a "number six" versus "a number three."

Posted at 09:57 AM | Permalink | Comments: 1

07/06/09

Errol Laborde: Why this week is the perfect time to have a Sazerac

Fortune could not have planned it any better. The Sazerac bar at the Roosevelt hotel is now reopened, coincidentally, just in time for the 150th anniversary of the drink after which it is named. Also, Tales of the Cocktail, which begins July 8, has one more historic occasion in the world of cocktails to celebrate.

To understand what happened in 1859, you have to first understand what was happening prior to that - New Orleans was going bonkers over imbibing. Folks here were talking about a concoction that a Royal Street pharmacist, A. A. Peychaud, had created. To a shot of brandy Peychaud had begun adding his family formula for bitters, a tonic compound that was offered as a cure for various maladies. The bitters, when added...

Posted at 12:00 AM | Permalink | Comments: 1

	07/27/09 Errol Laborde: What a City Hall should be A vote is scheduled this week on the mayor's proposal for the city to purchase the abandoned Chevron building on Poydras Avenue and to relocate City Hall there. Some thoughts: Of all the building that a city government owns, its City Hall is supposed to be special. The building is not only a place for politicians and bureaucrats to work, but ideally should also be a public space - something that reflects the community and that anchors its neighborhood. Gallier Hall, the city's first seat of government did that. James Gallier's Greek Revival design showed a real strength highlighted by magnificent columns on the portico. Ideally City Halls should face a green space - a place for the pubic to celebrate or to be heard. To this day Lafayette Square is the site of... Posted at 10:13 AM \| Permalink \| Comments: 0
	07/20/09 Errol Laborde: Witnessing the spirit outside of St. Henry's Church Last Saturday night a week ago (July 11) there was a block party on the 800 block of Gen. Pershing St. This was the annual St. Henry parish reunion. From the outward appearance the occasion was joyous. Jay Monque D's Blues band performed. There was free food. Drinks were flowing. Old friends were seeing and hugging each other. The people who grew up in St. Henry parish are among the most spirited parishioners in all of Catholicism. For all the joy, however, there was something pathetic about the event. In past years the reunion was held on the church grounds and in the cafeteria. This year the parishioners were locked out of the very church that many of their families helped build. Denied their parish by their bishop, they maintained the tradition on the street in front of the... Posted at 10:52 AM \| Permalink \| Comments: 0
	07/13/09 Errol Laborde: Ranking Bud's burgers Now the debate can begin anew. There have been auxiliary Bud's Broilers re-opened around the area since you-know- what, but the main place, the original outlet on City Park Avenue across from Delgado College, had been closed, since you-know- what. As a sign that the recovery has advanced to a higher level, BB No. 1 is back in business all painted, cleansed and spiffier than ever. Known for its burgers cooked on a charcoal broiler, Bud's offerings are posted on a board above the counter with each choice numbered. As the burgers' fame spread, it became part of the langue of the city to compare the virtues of, for example, a "number six" versus "a number three." Posted at 09:57 AM \| Permalink \| Comments: 1
	07/06/09 Errol Laborde: Why this week is the perfect time to have a Sazerac Fortune could not have planned it any better. The Sazerac bar at the Roosevelt hotel is now reopened, coincidentally, just in time for the 150th anniversary of the drink after which it is named. Also, Tales of the Cocktail, which begins July 8, has one more historic occasion in the world of cocktails to celebrate. To understand what happened in 1859, you have to first understand what was happening prior to that - New Orleans was going bonkers over imbibing. Folks here were talking about a concoction that a Royal Street pharmacist, A. A. Peychaud, had created. To a shot of brandy Peychaud had begun adding his family formula for bitters, a tonic compound that was offered as a cure for various maladies. The bitters, when added... Posted at 12:00 AM \| Permalink \| Comments: 1

Weekly Commentary with New Orleans Magazine’s Errol Laborde

July 2009

07/27/09

Errol Laborde: What a City Hall should be

07/20/09

Errol Laborde: Witnessing the spirit outside of St. Henry's Church

07/13/09

Errol Laborde: Ranking Bud's burgers

07/06/09

Errol Laborde: Why this week is the perfect time to have a Sazerac

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