Under Pressure
Various types, sizes and colors of flora and fauna are prominent in a wedding day, tying the theme together and bringing a breath of something natural and beautiful to the “I Do’s.” From bouquets and boutonnieres to cake flowers…
Weekly Blogs
Searching for a Real Love
We’ve written several times over the year of the coronavirus pandemic that love is not cancelled. And it hasn’t been. Many couples around the city have continued to celebrate their love and marriages in various ways – numerous creative…
Rites and Rituals, Shaped by the Times
We were regulars at a certain neighborhood restaurant and always knew the food to be good and the service efficient, but on a Friday night a few weeks ago things just were not right. Service was slow; very slow.…
Episode 35: The Empire of Louisiana – Aaron Burr and What Might Have Been
Imagine being Vice-President of the United States and having killed Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton in a duel. Imagine that later in his career the same person possibly committed sedition by trying to make the newly purchased Louisiana territory…
Play Date
As more and more Louisianians are vaccinated, many businesses are opening, and festivals and events are starting to make their way to our fall 2021 calendars. Though the coronavirus pandemic is still very prevalent, it’s nice to think some…
The Best Bets for a Wet Weekend
Unless huddling under and umbrella or wading about in galoshes is your jam your outdoor activities are probably getting s---canned for the weekend, so your options are a bit limited. You could build that ark you have been considering.…
Where Now?
I have the distinction of having passed the two-week period following my second shot that means I am officially vaccinated. I do not feel any different, unless you count the slight easing of tension that knowing I am unlikely…
Dream Honeymoons: Romance in Brooklyn
For would-be honeymooners waiting to go to their fantasy location, a mini-moon beckons. Visiting an easier to access place as the world heals can satisfy those travel cravings as you await the dream event. You’ve always wanted to visit…
Sign of the Times
Last year, Fleurty Girl owner Lauren Haydel and Jazz Fest artist Nan Parati pivoted and partnered together to bring New Orleanians a little part of the festival that was cancelled. The Jazz and Heritage Festival is set for October…
Rain, Rain, Go Away
Is there anything possibly more mundane to talk about than the weather? OK, maybe pro wrestling, but still. That said, let's talk about the weather for a minute. (Because I don't really know much – or anything, actually –…
A Much-Needed Getaway
I don’t camp. That’s something you do not have to know me well to know about me. I don’t like, in no particular order: bugs, being hot, being cold, not having a bath tub, pooping in the woods, cooking…
A Royal Ramble
Our driver was from London. As he made his way toward the city, we talked about the wedding between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle that had taken place only a few weeks earlier. I told him that practically all…
Sun's Out
Though not everything is yet back to life as it was before the coronavirus pandemic, there are still new things are to look forward to in New Orleans. The Chloe, the chic boutique hotel that opened in the fall…
Homeward Unbound
I often daydream about how cool it would be to live and work in a new city every year or maybe even every few months. In the past, I’ve cobbled together about two weeks of working remotely from about…
The Best Weekend Road Trip: Wayne Jacob’s Smokehouse in LaPlace and Sweet Treats at the Ace Hotel
Consider taking a drive to LaPlace for lunch tomorrow or brunch on Sunday. Throughout the month of April, Wayne Jacob’s Smokehouse (WJS) in LaPlace is celebrating 71 years in the business of turning out what is, in my humble…
Dream Honeymoons: Find Romance on Lake Como
You both incline toward urbanity’s buzz, but for this special trip, your long-awaited honeymoon you agreed — it had to be Lake Como, a storied destination in northern Italy. You did think she had been a little too enthusiastic…
Sake
I received an email recently from Wetlands Sake, reminding me that there is a sake brewery in New Orleans. Moreover, they’re using a short grain rice developed by the LSU Agriculture Center that is being grown just for them. The…
Let's Grab a Drink, NOLA
Whether in good times or bad, we love to hear the sound of ice hitting the cocktail tin and the music of champagne corks popping. As we begin to get out and about, we're seeing more outdoor venues pop…
Episode 34: The Bounty From The Sea - Stanley Dry At The Skillet
What is the better fish for eating, red drum or red snapper? They’re both good but food writer Stanley Dry know the differences. Dry has a long list of credentials including being food editor for Louisiana Life magazine and the…
Wediquette Wednesday: Can friends not invited to the wedding attend the bachelorette party?
Each Wednesday, we tackle wedding etiquette. At times, it’s a reader question or one from a colleague, friend or family member and other times we’ll cover a popular issue. (Note: Questions may be edited for clarity and brevity.) Question: Due…
On The Web
A year out from the start of the coronavirus pandemic, we are starting to see the world around us open back up and grasp for a sense of normalcy. As more people are able to get the COVID vaccine…
There is No Vaccine for Violence
In New Orleans, the comparisons between COVID-19 and Hurricane Katrina are inevitable. Empty streets. Shuttered businesses. A populace in general despair and malaise. But you know things are getting back to normal when we start shooting the sh*t out…
Meal Kit Basics
My husband and I don’t exactly agree on the importance of different household aesthetics. He hates scented candles, Febreze-type sprays, and any other kind of “room fragrance”; I hate the overwhelming smell of dog that, left unchecked, pervades our…
Hair-Raising New Products
When life seems overwhelming, uncertain and daunting it can be helpful to step away from the fray and indulge in a little self-care. A relaxing treatment or a fabulous blowout can work as a life reboot and enable us to…
Spring Break
Bon Vivant is on a break this week to celebrate Easter. Whether you are celebrating one of the various religious holidays this week or simply reveling in the coming of Spring, enjoy. If you’d like something to read, catch…
Send Guests Home With Flavorful Favors
When it comes to wedding favors, it’s always a great idea to give something from the heart that is locally made. That way, your guests get a taste of your special city. One such option here in New Orleans…
This Is Not An April Fool’s Joke
Nor am I playing at Magritte. I simply have too much respect for you to pretend that I could “fool” you. Also, I forgot it was going to be April 1 when I wrote this piece. If you are…
The Best Sunday Dinner with Friends and Family
Throughout this pandemic, Andrew and I have been dutiful mask-wearing, social distancing, hand washers. We are just now fully vaccinated. What this means for us is we will not be white knuckling our way through dinner on Sunday afternoon…
Episode 33: Conversation with a Voodoo Priestess
Is Voodoo a religion or is it a way of life? According to Sallie Ann Glassman it is both. Glassman, who travelled to Haiti to study Vodou and to be initiated into the priesthood explains the complexities including the parallels with…
Wediquette Wednesday: Can I have a bachelorette party with only vaccinated friends?
Each Wednesday, we tackle wedding etiquette. At times, it’s a reader question or one from a colleague, friend or family member and other times we’ll cover a popular issue. (Note: Questions may be edited for clarity and brevity.) Question: My…
