Holidays

Mirlitons on the Table

  My mom spent her last years in a nursing home. When we visited, her recollections quite often turned to family gatherings. As a holiday, such as Thanksgiving, approached her ongoing wish was to be able to fix “a big…

My Greatest Blessings

Without any of my trademark cynicism, I can honestly say that my kids are the greatest reason to be thankful.

Soldiers On Parade

  This past Saturday I watched a Veterans Day parade along Harrison Avenue. The crowd clapped politely as troops from the various services marched by. (Even the Boy Scouts got cheers.) Probably no one realized that some of the cross…

Thanksgiving in New Orleans in the Nineteenth Century

John Magill is a New Orleans historian and was formally a curator at The Historic New Orleans Collection. In this podcast, Magill shares his historical perspective on the uniquely American holiday we call Thanksgiving. The origins of Thanksgiving trace to…

This Time Of Year Is A Grave Affair

  “You should celebrate the end of a love affair as they celebrate death in New Orleans, with songs, laughter, dancing and a lot of wine.” —Francoise Sagan   Death may be a solemn affair in other parts of the…

Spirits of Louisiana

  There’s so much to love about the Old State Capitol in Baton Rouge despite that Mark Twain once called it “pathetic." The castle-like structure sits on a hill facing the Mississippi River in the heart of downtown Baton Rouge,…

A Different Easter Date: The Cause Continues

In 2016, Justin Portal Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury and, as such, the head of the Anglican church, predicted Easter will soon be standardized between the Christian religions. "We had warned the government that this was coming up. I would…

No New Leaves

Taking stock of my life as the year changes and deciding to change … nothing, really.

All Things New Year Related

  Where to go for New Years Eve Once again this year there are so many great choices for New Years celebrations.  Tipitinas really has a lock on the week this year if you are looking to start the party…

Let It Snow

Keep your holiday-themed wedding soirée classic not cliché

Louisiana’s Aurora Borealis

“It’s something to see at least once in your life.  You get goosebumps, and you’ll see some people with tears in their eyes because it is a sight to behold,” goes the soft Cajun accent of Elaine Bourgeois Brack.  The…

Christmas Cajun Style

  There’s something magical about walking through the winding pathways of an 1800s Acadian Village all aglow with more than half-a-million Christmas lights. In Lafayette, Louisiana, you can do just that at Noel Acadien au Village – a seemingly timeless place where…

Sipping Through The Season

'Tis the season to shake up your normal cocktail routine. Whether you’re off to catch a quick cocktail with friends, an intimate dinner or ‘show face’ at an annual holiday party, we have you covered. In a city like New…

The Winter Wonderland of Natchitoches

There are few who wouldn’t want to experience an award-winning Louisiana Christmas tradition, especially one that has drawn hundreds of thousands to the oldest permanent settlement in the Louisiana Purchase territory. If you have never experienced the Christmas season in…

Twin City Christmas

Make your way to the twin cities of Shreveport-Bossier this Christmas season for a truly one-of-a-kind, fun-filled and unforgettable experience for everyone. Among the myriad of Christmas festivities is the iconic Christmas in Roseland, a tradition in northwest Louisiana for…

The Challenge of Holidays

Holidays, by definition, are special occasions. We are expected to celebrate in some singular manner; eat foods usually banned from our everyday diets, and drink differently, or at the minimum, more. When holidays occur on inconvenient days, such as this…

Daily Madness

Trying to celebrate motherhood while acknowledging the struggle