As the Communications and Marketing Manager at New Orleans Museum of Art, Allison and I have worked together on various events and coverage for St. Charles Avenue over the years. From her favorite workout to her favorite snowball, learn more about her below.
1. What is your idea of perfect happiness?
To live a life filled with wonderful family and friends, travel and a career that I love.
2. What is your greatest fear?
As a cancer survivor, of course I worry about it returning. That experience taught me to live every day to the fullest, to not take anything for granted and to practice gratitude. I’ve learned to let things go and not sweat the small stuff – especially things that I can’t control.
3. Which living person do you most admire?
My momma. She is a wonderful example of a great mother, wife, sister, daughter, professional and friend – and I can go on.
4. What is your greatest daily (or almost daily) extravagance?
I can’t not put half-and-half in my daily cup of coffee. Life is too short to drink bad coffee.
5. What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Temperance. I’m usually all about balance, but I have a tough time with this one when it comes to New Orleans’ amazing food scene. I definitely struggle during Carnival (hello, King Cake) and festival season (Jazz Fest without a Mango Freeze is just wrong).
6. Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
“Basic.” Which is actually pretty basic to admit.
7. What or who is the greatest love of your life?
I’ll have to get back to you on that…
8. Which talent would you most like to have?
I would love to have a beautiful singing voice that could be heard in public and not relegated to my car or shower.
9. What do you consider your greatest achievement?
While I’ve been proud of how I’ve lived my life for the most part thus far, I hope my greatest achievement is yet to come.
10. Where would you most like to live?
If I couldn’t live in New Orleans for whatever reason, I’d need to live somewhere near or on a beach.
11. What do you most value in your friends?
Integrity.
12. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Caring what others think.
13. What is the trait you most deplore in others?
I don’t understand close-minded people; we can all learn from one another.
14. What restaurant do you find yourself recommending to friends lately?
Cavan is becoming one of my go-to neighborhood spots. Whether you’re in the mood for a gorgeous atmosphere, awesome cocktails or fresh seafood, they’ve got you covered.
15. Describe your perfect New Orleans day?
I’d get some exercise in at City Surf Fitness (which is the most fun way to work out), and then meet up with friends at brunch. I can eat breakfast food any time of day; some of my favorites are Coulis, Slim Goodies, Surrey’s, Coquette, Patois and, of course, Commander’s Palace for special celebrations. I’d then head to the French Quarter for window shopping and people watching. I’d stop in Mid-City for an iced coffee at Morning Call and then a stroll in the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden, which is one of the most serene places in the city. I’d end the day with dinner and wine somewhere along Esplanade Avenue (one of the most beautiful streets in New Orleans) and end my night listening to music on Frenchmen Street.
16. What’s your favorite New Orleans story?
It’s so hard to choose just one, but my favorites always involve people helping other people. You never meet a stranger in this city, and while it’s easy to focus on the negative, we’ve got a great community that really comes together in a crisis.
17. Favorite thing to do in New Orleans during the summer?
Enjoying a satsuma snowball from Hansen’s.
