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New Orleans Magazine December 2007

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A Royal Artist

Float No. 2 in the 2006 parade of Mobile’s Mystics of Time depicted a serpent winding down the street. The float was gorgeous with radiant colors spotting the monster’s trunk and blasts of fiery yellow radiating from its mouth. Carnivals in Mobile and in New Orleans have historic links – though one of the last […]

RICK PUSTANIO

And you thought Vincent van Gogh had it tough! At least the post-Impressionist genius gave up only an ear in pursuit of his kaleidoscopic world of color. Rick Pustanio? That’s another story altogether. Pustanio has the same aspirations as van Gogh. But while the Mid-City native has kept both his ears, he’s had to endure […]

Who Created the Big Easy?

Sometimes a nickname is so apt, so perfect, that it fits like a glove: the way the “The Big Easy” has become synonymous with New Orleans.  Tracking the term “The Big Easy” provides a happy, if rambling, stroll through New Orleans memory – the way following a walking club on Mardi Gras Day can give […]

Modine’s New Orleans

What do you do if your car has a honking problem? I ask you that. I am driving my mother-in-law, Ms. Larda, to Rouse’s in Metairie for her New Year’s resolution supply of Weight Watchers food. We stop at the McDonald’s for her last pre-diet Quarter-Pounder and we’re sitting in the drive-through line when my […]

Last Call

Party GrasBloody Marys for the morning after What an interesting state of affairs the calendar has presented to us in the first month of the new year. New Orleans will be celebrating Carnival as usual starting on Twelfth Night, Jan. 6. But this year, almost the entire season will take place in January. Mardi Gras […]

Libations

Bacardi comes to CarnivalBacardi rum is planning to have a high presence in Carnival this year. “Our consumers are those who seek a great time and great taste, drinking responsibly,” says Brian Shaifer, a brand manager for the company. “In the past, Bacardi has been proud to sponsor and host events in and around Mardi Gras, […]

Parade Rest

For a relatively short stretch of road, the blocks from Napoleon Avenue to Lee Circle are teeming with bars and restaurants perfectly suited for Mardi Gras revelers. These hangouts run the gamut from classic, such as Cannon’s and Emeril’s Delmonico, to casual, leaving revelers with choices as eclectic as the festival itself. Grab an umbrella […]

Get into the Spirit!

Through Jan. 13. “Classic! A Celebration of Sugar Bowl Memories;” The Historic New Orleans Collection. Information, 523-4662, www.hnoc.org. Through Feb. 17. “Blue Winds Dancing: The Whitecloud Collection of Native American Art;” New Orleans Museum of Art. Information, 658-4100, www.noma.org. Jan 3-20. MacBeth at the Gates; Southern Rep. Information, www.southernrep.com.Jan. 9. German Movie Night; Deutches Haus. […]

Fleur de Lists

1913Last time Mardi Gras was earlier than it is this year.Back then it fell on Feb. 4, the earliest date it can possibly be. 3Number of Carnivals since a ball was last held in the Municipal Auditorium. 0Indications that the auditorium will be ready for next Mardi Gras. 2  Best changes for neighborhoods. 1. Mid-City. […]

A Parade of One’s Own

There can be only one king of Carnival. But while Rex reigns supreme on Mardi Gras, his kingdom is peopled with a dizzying array of grassroots Carnival groups marching to the beat of their own drummers. Sometimes found on the parade routes with official sanction but more often inhabiting the side streets, filling French Quarter […]

The Turn of the Krewe

Like a lot of krewe members, the mischievous soldiers of Le Krewe d’Etat marched back into the city of New Orleans in October 2005, along with most everyone else (who could) to learn some brutal truths. By the time they gathered in November after Mayor Ray Nagin and the City Council agreed to proceed with […]

Rex Themes

Parade-goers paying close attention to “The Lunar Realm” theme of the 2007 Rex parade as it rolled by might have been more than a little perplexed by float No. 22. Entitled “Independent Order of the Moon,” the float depicted a bizarre French Quarter street scene with dogs and cats dancing on hind legs against a […]

New Orleans Homes – On Course

When your backyard offers a panoramic view of a lush golf course it makes you feel like you are living on a beautiful country estate,” Celia Ward explains as she opens the glass doors that lead from the family room onto the broad veranda overlooking the swimming pool and Metairie Country Club’s golf course. “We […]

When the Parade Passes By

Years ago we lived one house off St. Charles Avenue when Carnival’s Uptown parade route started at Louisiana Avenue. We hosted a Monday night party when the only parade passing our house was the Krewe of Freret. Then the route moved up to Napoleon Avenue. Our place became box seat quality for the big day […]

Baghdad Dispatch

Ed. Note: This is one of a series of columns written by a New Orleanian stationed in Baghdad. Because of military regulations he cannot be identified. We can say that he is a Navy pilot and that he is from a prominent New Orleans family. My life here in the International Zone (IZ) can be […]

Healthbeat

Medic alert bracelets can save lives but can also draw unwanted attention, especially to young people with illnesses. Hope Paige Designs has found a way to rectify this problem with stylized versions of the ordinarily bulky bracelets. The Hope Paige bracelets come in a variety of styles, crafted from materials like leather, hemp and rubber, […]

Wax-Tournillon Wedding

Thérèse Marie Wax and Jonathan Brady Tournillon were joined in Holy Matrimony on the evening of March 3, 2007, at the Chapel of the Academy of the Sacred Heart, New Orleans, where Reverend Norman O’Neal, S.J., officiated the ceremony. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Louis Wax. She is the granddaughter […]

Finlay-Steudlein

Elizabeth Ashely Finlay and Jonathan Michael Steudlein were united in marriage on October 13, 2007, during a candlelight ceremony at St. Agnes Catholic Church in Jefferson. Deacon Andrea Capaci officiated the ceremony during which, in true Spanish tradition, the groom gave his bride the Arras (13 coins) representing Christ and his 12 apostles, and the […]

Daigle-Markiewicz Wedding

Melissa Leigh Daigle and Anthony Joseph Markiewicz were united in marriage Oct. 27, 2008, in a 1 p.m. ceremony at Annadele’s Plantation in Covington. The ceremony was officiated by the Honorable Charles Cusimano, II. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Keith Daigle. She is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph […]

Dvornak-Mackey Wedding

In the presence of their family and close friends, Jaime Michelle Dvornak and Patrick Ryan Mackey were joined in marriage on June 22, 2007 on Santa Rosa Beach at sunset. Reverend William Russell officiated. Patrick and Jaime have always loved the beach, so it was no surprise when they decided on a beach wedding. They […]

Bourgeois-Vincent Wedding

Bethany Marie Bourgeois and Ryan Paul Vincent were united in Holy Matrimony at Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church on Loyola University’s campus on September 22, 2007. The Reverend Monsignor Martin Van der Werff officiated. The bride’s father gave her hand in marriage. She is the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Lionel Paul Bourgeois of […]

Bridal Registry

All the BestGive a gift for the special couple to always remember their special day! A special plaque with their wedding invitation inscribed! It can be hung as a wall piece or placed in a decorative easel to display on a tabletop! Uniquely your day, uniquely remembered with a Wedding Invitation Plaque from All the […]

Taking the Cake

It’s an iconic image: The bride in white laughing as she and her just-made-official-moments-ago husband attempt to cut into a tiered wedding cake covered with white icing. Though that primarily monochromatic image will always remain the epitome of the traditional bride, you might be amazed at the number of Tiffany-blue stacks of presents, tiers of […]

Take a Sip!

In a city that’s constantly celebrating, a wedding is no small occasion. There are countless details to plan – the budget, the band, the location, the guest list, the dress. And there’s one guest who’s no longer hanging out in the background. The Wedding Cocktail is now approaching center stage, no longer the understated, polite […]

Belle Couture

Brides today have more choices than ever before; there are destination weddings, pre-honeymoon getaways, eco-friendly invitations and even couture gowns to fit the unique wishes of a bride-to-be. Ladies looking to have a dress made just for them can visit a custom gown designer and select every last detail, from cut to color to embellishment. […]

Crimefighting

In the waning weeks of Gov. Kathleen Blanco’s administration, a convicted killer makes a live teleconference appearance before the state Pardon Board at a local courthouse. John David Floyd, 58, has served 26 years of a life sentence. A model prisoner at the maximum security-prison at Angola, Floyd also has won acclaim for his volunteer […]

Have You Noticed

The New Orleans business community isn’t what it used to be. Just ask around. Talk with local business leaders and what you hear in their voices is the intensity and determination of people who are hyper-focused. They exude confidence and stamina and they carry an air of urgency about the need to move ahead. So […]

When Mardi Gras Saved the City

Three yearsMardi Gras in New Orleans, for all the joy it brings and economic good it does for the city, also creates its own vulnerability. Carnival’s contrasts, while not original, are all too tempting: grandeur in a city where there is poverty, joy where there is suffering. Those same contrasts could be made in any […]

Throw Me a Trick or Treat

In its very first year of operation, Blaine Kern’s Haunted Fun House at Mardi Gras World in Algiers was ranked as the No. 2 Halloween attraction in the nation by the Travel Channel. It was a headline-grabbing accolade for the brand-new attraction but Blaine Kern, president of the carnival float-building studio that bears his name, […]

Read and Spin

Music l Wyclef Jean’s Carnival Vol. II: Memoirs of an Immigrant is a lyrically moving sequel to his hit 1997 album featuring the Fugees. This new album features myriad artists, including Paul Simon on “Fast Car,” Mary J. Blige on “What about the Baby,” and New Orleans’ own Lil Wayne on “Sweetest Girl (Dollar Bill).” […]

Music

Down in New Orleans, due in stores late January, is the latest CD by a legendary gospel group: The Blind Boys of Alabama. The vocal harmonies find a Crescent City groove on cuts that feature accompanying work by Allen Toussaint, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, pianist David Torkonowsky, bassist Roland Guerin, drummer Shannon Powell and […]

Art on the Tracks

Just as New Orleanians are learning to watch out for the St. Charles streetcars again when crossing their tracks, visitors and locals alike will soon be looking out for a whole new form of streetcar-based art. The Young Leadership Council, a local volunteer group for young professionals, is now gearing up to launch its “A […]

Restaurant Insider

Marigny Brasserie (640 Frenchmen St.) is a great place to catch Krewe du Vieux, which parades Jan. 19, and a great place to have dinner as well. Chef Alan Gilbert’s menu hits the high points of Nouvelle Creole cooking, with items such as Fried Green Tomatoes with Lump Crabmeat Remoulade, “Bronzed” Gulf Ahi Tuna with […]

Tabletalk

At the dawn of each New Year many of us vow to become fitter, happier and more productive. But with an early Mardi Gras peeking over the horizon, it might be just a matter of days before we swap our Kashi bar for a particularly enticing corner-slab of purple frosted King Cake. Still, for those […]

Rising on Royal

For many years, a historic but blighted five-story building has lain fallow on the 100 block of Royal Street, right at the entrance to the French Quarter. Several developers have examined the task of rehabilitating the 19th century property, which had housed the Cosmopolitan Hotel, the Astor Hotel and the St. Regis Café through the […]

Frank Boutte – Zulu 2008

One of Carnival’s best moments happens each year on Lundi Gras not long after Rex arrives at Riverwalk. Once the King of Carnival completes his royal duties by proclaiming the next day to be a holiday, and after the fireworks that announce Mardi Gras’ arrival to the heavens, Rex, for the last several years, has […]

Julia Street

Dear Julia and Poydras, My 85-year-old mother recently gave me these “Communion” pictures of her aunt and uncle. The boy and girl were photographed in New Orleans at the Daliet Studio. Could this have been a studio in the French Quarter or perhaps on Poydras Street? Why did this little girl balance her fan on […]

Violent Night

The weekend was a bloody one, even by New Orleans standards. During a 52-hour stretch, between midnight Friday and 3 a.m. Monday, six people were shot to death and three more wounded. “We got our tails handed to us this weekend,” says Lt. Joe Meisch, commander of the New Orleans Police Department Homicide Division. The […]

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