It is April and that means Jazz Fest and The Zoo-To-Do for Kids presented by Humana with the Whitney Zoo-To-Do following on May 1. We are all “in High Gear” for all of the great music and fun! Our cover features Audubon Zoo’s beloved elephants Jean (foreground) and Panya, because all of the proceeds go to the restoration of the restoration and expansion of the Whitney Asian Domain and elephant exhibit! Thanks to William A. Oliver representing patron party sponsor AT&T; Virginia Rowan, Whitney Zoo-To-Do chair and Kara French, Zoo-To-Do for Kids chair. The Zoo-To-Do for Kids features Jean and Panya inviting you and your children and grandchildren to enjoy arcade games, giant inflatables, live entertainment, arts and crafts, delicious snacks and sips, an elephant wishing well and more on April 24. Whitney Zoo-To-Do is May 1, and features the most fabulous New Orleans restaurants, music by Midnight Star, Joe Simon, Topsy Chapman, Vieux Carré, The Wild Mohicans Mardi Gras Indians, specialty cocktails, a silent auction in the Tea Room. You want to be a patron! Everyone can take a chance on winning a 2009 IS250 presented by Lexus of New Orleans to the Luxury Vehicle Car Raffle. You don’t want to miss the action this year!
We want to salute Brad Pitt again for all of his efforts to help residents of the Lower 9th Ward to return home to environmentally state-of-the-art housing! All of our donors that gave $1,000 to buy one Make It Right House to thank Brad and Angelina Jolie for their efforts went to see the progress in the Lower 9th and presented a symbolic check for $150,000. We also presented Brad with a director’s chair, created by artist Luis Colmenares and a New Orleans Oscar to thank him for all of his herculean efforts to help in our recovery.
As one of the new additions to Avenue, we’re featuring a Vintage Wedding every other month! We are honored to share Anne and the late George Montgomery’s wedding, from 1950. Also in this issue, we scoured the city to bring you the best gifts for children and grads in What’s Hot and our feature “Motarboarding Off!”
If you’re looking for a gift for a musically inclined child, why not stop in at Lafargue Pianos? With the addition of a new location in Metairie, they’re your one-stop-shop for everything piano. However, if the child in your life has four feet and barks, check out Canine Culture, which sells all kinds of merchandise for you and the dogs in your life, including toys, clothes, spa products and all-natural gourmet cookies and cakes. They even offer doggie daycare and boarding and will soon be moving to a new and exciting facility.
Also, be sure to check out the calendar of events so you don’t miss the Cochon Cotillion on April 4, and remember that June 1 is the deadline to submit your charitable event for May through August to be featured in our tri-annual Registry of Charitable Events. Now, submitting your event is even easier! Just visit MyNewOrleans.com, click on the Calendar button, then on the Submit your Charitable Event button, fill out the form and you’ll see your event in our May issue and on our Web sites!
The economy will get better and we must continue to support our local businesses and restaurants! Get a group together and shop and eat New Orleans-style; see our featuring on local spring menus for ideas! Pretend that you got on a plane and went to New York or Houston and stay home! Have a great Jazz Fest!
Also, I will be appearing WWL every Monday in May during the 8 a.m.hour, giving you great tips on entertaining on a “shoestring” – Be sure
to tune in!
