Last year, I ran a half-marathon. Along with, “have you seen my pink tutu?” and “how many King Cakes do we need to buy for next week’s parades?” are all words I never thought I’d say or write, but…
Thank you for stopping by New Orleans Homes & Lifestyles’ “Bon Vivant” blog. Writer Melanie Warner Spencer is enjoying the Independence Day holiday and will return on Monday, July 6 with a new, freshly pressed post. Meanwhile, if you are staying inside…
For the past couple of decades, I’ve been refining my morning routine. When I was in my 20s, I kicked off each day by slamming a cold, sugary Coke within a few minutes of waking up (I’m not proud…
Since sometime in 2019, I’ve been living in the middle ages. Well, that is, literarily speaking. I’ve been reading every book I can get my hands on by Elizabeth Chadwick, foremost author of medieval tales, so thankfully I’m living…
With more than 20 years of culinary experience, Chef Phillip Lopez is now at the helm of one of New Orleans’ best known and most prestigious restaurants. As executive chef of Galatoire’s, as well as Galatoire’s “33” Bar &…
We could all use a vacation right about now. In fact, many of us had vacations scheduled, but had to COVID cancel or reschedule for much later in the year or for 2021. So, where does that leave you…
For years, I’ve been in search of the smoothest, most hydrating, gentle, chemical-free and yummy smelling lip balm. The closest I’ve gotten to my ideal are Whole Foods Organic Peppermint Lip Balm and Grove Collaborative Mint & Argan Lip…
Thank you for stopping by New Orleans Homes & Lifestyles’ “Bon Vivant” blog. Writer Melanie Warner Spencer is out on vacation this week and will return on June 22 with piping hot posts three times a week, as usual.…
Originally from India, Nomita Joshi-Gupta brought with her a worldly perspective when she moved to Louisiana to attend LSU’s architecture program. She now lives in New Orleans with her husband and teenagers, adding local flair to her global aesthetic,…
If you spend any time whatsoever on Instagram, you’ve noticed the collective obsession of platform users over charming houses. In fact, searching #charminghouses results in 11,693 posts from all over the globe — and boy are you in for…
Events, both virtual and in-person, abound this week in New Orleans for those seeking design inspiration. Grab your calendar and settle in with this roundup of webinars, tours, workshops and more. The Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden recently…
Regina Correa was lured to New Orleans by friends she met in her hometown of São Paulo, Brazil. When she came to town for what was meant to be a short visit to new friends, she loved New Orleans…
Foyers and any surface close to the door is generally a magnet for mail, keys, purses and briefcases, pocket contents, shopping bags and everything else hauled into the house on any given day. Our foyer is about the size…
There are times when it’s challenging to write about design and lifestyle. After yet another senseless school shooting, during a pandemic and after a weekend of protests and civil unrest are a few things that come to mind. So…
Alex Geriner is a self-taught woodworker, furniture guru and the mastermind behind Doorman, an online company specializing in handcrafted custom furniture with Southern style, built with sustainable techniques.…
By most accounts, we have a small kitchen. It measures just over 8-foot by just over 9-foot and, were it designed any other way, it might be too small. As it stands, we got lucky: it is already laid…
Bon Vivant is taking a break for Memorial Day. Please visit again on Wednesday, when we’ll be back to our regular blogging schedule.
Julie Neill is a custom lighting designer based in New Orleans. Working closely with her clients, Neill says her process is to learn their specific interests, preferences and spacial requirements, in order to craft a personal and distinct piece of…
Perhaps it’s because I grew up on a farm or maybe due to so many of the home cooks in my family being connoisseurs of quality ingredients, but I feel most loved when someone gives me food. The saying…
A few weeks back, Cinco de Mayo and its joyous convergence with Taco Tuesday inspired most of us to mix up a batch of margaritas at home. It reminded me how much I love a good margarita and since…
Graison Gill really does live by bread alone — and fresh pasta, grits and stone-milled flour. A professional baker for over a decade who studied at the San Francisco Baking Institute, he opened Bellegarde Bakery in 2013. His bakery now…
If there is any group well-suited to creative solutions to problems big and small, it’s the design community. New Orleans design pros are no exception and have continued to hum along amid COVID-19 shutdowns and mandates, finding resourceful ways…
At this stage of the COVID-19 crisis, my husband Mark and I are devising as many plans as possible to safely increase our time outdoors. Our daily walks or bike rides and frequent porch sits are getting longer and…
It was in her native San Francisco that Sara Ekanger first fell in love with plants, which filled her childhood home and backyard. She knew at a very young age she wanted to do something creative with her life, and…
With lockdown going into week 2,345 and the spring weather beckoning, most of us have been doing a lot more porch and patio sitting and taking and long walks in the neighborhood. The latter also means blowing through that…
The entire internet has seemingly been baking homemade bread for weeks, with the exception of those of us who weren’t prescient enough to buy yeast before the COVID-19 hoarding began in earnest. My husband Mark and I bake bread…
Daniel Zangara attended Tulane University’s School of Architecture, and, in 2012, established his architectural firm of Zangara + Partners. Focusing on the culture and architectural beauty of New Orleans, the company aims to find a perfect blend of the old…
Last week, our friend’s Ann and Bill texted us to share a new cocktail they were enjoying. It was a delightful spin on a greyhound. Traditionally, a greyhound is simply grapefruit juice and either vodka or gin. You really…
My snake plant — named Daniel Plainview after the character in “There Will be Blood,” because he was devious and, well, it’s a snake plant — had a baby. One day I looked over and there was this little…
Kristin Malone has two retail shops in New Orleans and a robust e-commerce site featuring her own artwork, as well as that of more than 160 other artists from throughout the South. Perhaps best known for her iconic painted…
For 20 years, Melanie Warner Spencer has covered news, lifestyle, design and entertainment at various publications, including as the design columnist at The Austin American-Statesman, a senior staff reporter at The Houston Chronicle and as the editor-in-chief of Modern Luxury Houston Brides magazine. Her work also has appeared in The Chicago Tribune, The Huffington Post and Reuters in the United States and across the globe. Melanie is also an award-winning fine art and editorial photographer. She has been honored by the Texas Press Association for her editorial photography, by the Press Club of New Orleans for writing and editing and by the International and Regional Magazine Association for writing, editing and photography. Melanie is currently serving as the President of Press Club of New Orleans. When not making magazines, Melanie enjoys cooking, trying out new restaurants and best happy hours and taking road trips. Click here to like Spencer's Facebook page and follow her on Instagram @MelanieWarnerSpencer.
