Dirty Coast is one of the most recognizable local t-shirt companies around town. Infamous for their New Orleans inspired tees, such as "Be a New Orleanian. Wherever you are." and "Where's Nagin?", the company got started shortly before Katrina, but things really took off as displaced New Orleanians began snatching up these tshirts as a way of showing hometown pride.
Dirty Coast is hosting an End of Summer Party tonight at Tipitina's uptown. Rotary Downs and The Other Planets will be playing and doors open at 9pm. It's only 8 bucks to get in and sounds like it will be a lot of fun. (The Dirty Coast folks usually know how to throw a pretty good party.) Dirty Coast also recently opened their new retail location at 5704 Magazine Street. I haven't had a chance to drop by and check it out, as I'm rarely uptown these days, but I'll have to make a special visit soon.
I found this plaque embedded in the bricks outside the Oil & Gas Building, on the corner of Common and Rampart in the CBD. It reads "One hundred years after Col. Drake [?] completed the nation's first successful oil well in Titusville, Pennsylvania, the New Orleans Oil Centennial Committee deposited historical documents here to commemorate the occasion."
A celebration of oil's first century, eh? Hope they enjoyed the party, 'cos according to some geologists, we are approaching the end of the "peak oil" era. Some estimate that global oil supplies will begin to decline in mid-century, and that by 2050 the decline in production rates -- from having used up this limited resource -- will be precipitous.
In a hundred years, if that plaque is still there, it might seem like more of a tombstone than a time-capsule.
[Apologies for the off-set photo cropping ... it couldn't be avoided.]
The second editorial in the Times-Pic today ("Share the excitement") gently took the Mayor and City Council to task for the secrecy surrounding the recently-approved plan for the first stages of redevelopment of 17 targeted zones throughout the city. The editors should have gone much further in their criticism. The secrecy of the elected leaders could be characterized as disingenuous at best, at worst, it is rife with the opportunity for corruption, influence-pedaling, and back-door politics. The kind of things that people living here are pretty sick of already.
If the plans to redevelop New Orleans are agreed upon by elected officials, then the democratic population who voted for these officials are entitled to see these plans, comment upon them, and above all, take hope from these plans.
Citizens like you and me won't be able to do this, though, until next month. This month is reserved for the New Orleans power structure to assure itself a profitable central role in the rebuilding effort. There are properties to be acquired, and little old ladies and blind old men to be unscrupulously evicted or bought out of their homes for a pittance by scheming developers.
There are dummy corporations to set up, in order to apply or bid for contracts (presuming, that is, that there are any contracts left to be claimed on the first $117 million in development funds; it's even money that big time disaster profiteers Halliburton and Bechtel had a seat at the table when these plans were shown to "other stakeholders" by Tsar Blakely. After all, there's federal money being poured around, and while many still suffer, there's no reason that good, highly-connected corporations like Kellogg, Brown, & Root or Fluor can't earn a buck or two million while shutting out local contractors until the cream has been skimmed from federal largesse.).
Admittedly, the bulk of planning was likely done long ago, and the REAL players didn't have to wait for the council's approval. They already have their schemes in order, you can believe that. Incidentally, this may be the reason why Nagin's office has been so insular lately; he and his cronies have probably been busy making calls and setting up deals with friends, family, and high-powered interests. There's a lot of loot on the way.
Which reminds me of the spray painted warnings after Katrina: You loot, we shoot. Only now, the shooting should be metaphoric.
But don't be surprised to find an awful lot of looting when the development money comes to town.
You know, it would seem that due to my recent posts I am interested in celebrities, but I'm actually not. They just happen to be undertaking some things related to New Orleans. Yesterday I wasn't sure if Beyonce was, indeed, Creole as she claims--and you all advised me this was true. So, props to the Queen B. She just got herself a new fan (uh, me).
This week, Brad Pitt returned to the Crescent City after his stint in Chicago to give us an illustrated example of putting a little elbow grease into something. According to the Perez Hilton website Brad is "spearheading" a new green housing development.
I don't know if this is true or not, either, but the picture looks pretty authentic. I am going to assume it's true and score one more for New Orleans. I think we've all had our differences of opinion on whether the added celebrity element is good or bad for New Orleans. If Brad Pitt is bringing anything housing- or green-related to Nola than I can only see that as a good sign.
Of course, I don't know on what ground the structure is being built or if the housing will be affordable or luxury like all the condos we've seen popping up. Let's hope they're affordable and not built on an old cemetery (although the Saints seem to be moving out from under that alleged curse).
According to the blurb Brad will spill the beans to Ann Curry on NBC this Thursday. Be sure to tune in!
Fabulous pic of Brad Pitt, who was not wearing this at the develoment site, by jawo808.
My friend Kathy of Between Piety & Desire has been helping to organize an event which I think could be really critical in helping to revitalize an important but run-down public space.
Friday on the Roch is a new community event in the St. Claude Avenue neighborhood which will happen monthly beginning this Friday, August 24th. The old St. Roch Market was chosen as the location because of its cultural and historical significance. This city-owned building is well over 100 years old and was renovated back in the 1930s as part of a WPA project. It was once the site of a public marketplace, but it sustained a lot of damage during Katrina and has sat empty in disrepair ever since. A couple of years ago I lived only blocks from the St. Roch Market, and I've often thought what a cool building this is and wished that someone would do something to bring this place back to life. I'm so glad that plans are now in the works to do just that.
Friday on the Roch will be held from 5pm-9pm on the neutral ground behind St. Roch Market. There will be live musical performances by Sunpie Barnes and the Louisiana Sunspots, and the Black Notes, a jazz sextet from NOCCA. There will also be plenty of food & drink (pralines, fresh seafood, baked goods, po-boys, sno-balls...) as well as arts & crafts vendors. Kathy told me that the hope is for this event to join up with some of the other farmers markets that take place nearby and possibly to make this a weekly event in the future. If all goes well, maybe one day the people organizing this event will be able to tackle leasing and running the St. Roch Market itself and restore it to its former glory as a true community marketplace.
I can't wait to check out Friday on the Roch; I'm definitely going to have to stop by after work. I'm really hoping it takes off; I think it could be a major step in the right direction for the neighborhood, as well as the city.
Today marked the second time this month that I hauled all of my recyclables to the curb. Fortunately today no one ran over my neat little pile - perhaps because it was more of a small mountain. Due to some recent home renovation purchases and a certain someone's birthday, I had a quite a bit of cardboard collecting on the porch. I have also been very diligent about recycling all of my mixed paper and plastics. I've found that I'm taking fewer trips to the big green bin every week and was pleased to count four paper bags full of recyclable paper at my curb as well as a nearly full bin of containers.
Every bit of cardboard was picked up today by Phoenix and my bins were neatly stacked at the curb. I'm happy with the service however, it pains me that I have to pay $15 a month to make up for the city's inadequacies. In actuality, I'm probably paying a lot more than $15 but that's another post entirely. It's not too late to sign up for your own curbside pickup. It'll make you feel good, I promise.
B-Native is a great online source for NOLA-inspired and NOLA-made gifts and other merchandise. The site features everything from books and unique paper goods to fashionable accessories for your home and body (you can even book yoga classes here!).
B-Native carries a range of designs by talented local artists, including designer Alexa Pulitzer (her work can also be seen on quite a few Dirty Coast t-shirts), hat artisan Tracy Thomson, recycled art crafters Unique Products and one of my favorites, Gogo Borgerding, who owns a shop at 4212 Magazine Street where she sells her handcrafted modern jewelry. I love this two-toned cuff she's created, made from sterling silver and anodized aluminum. The day I stumbled into her shop on Magazine Street, I had to pull myself away quickly, before I made any rash purchases. Her work is just so funky but elegant, all at the same time.
I love shopping venues like this, that collect the work of multiple talented artisans all in one place. B-Native is constantly adding new products and artists, so there's always something fresh from New Orleans to check out.
The Arts Council of New Orleans has announced a free workshop for arts non-profits and small businesses, to be held on Wednesday, August 15th at 6pm at the Palma Gallery (828 Howard Ave). They'll be discussing fundraising and financing strategies through the use of loans and grants...definitely important topics for anyone involved in an arts-related non-profit.
This free workshop is made possible through Seedco Financial's ArtBusiness Initiative, which recently granted $50,000 to provide support to arts-related businesses and non-profits in the greater New Orleans area. I'm so glad to see this kind of workshop offered, and especially made free to the public. The arts are very important to me, and absolutely essential to keeping the spirit of New Orleans alive during the rebuilding process. The Arts Council does a lot of great work around the city, including offering an Arts Business Program, as well as maintaining the city's Arts Market (which grew out of the Mid-city art market).
RSVP for the workshop is requested: you can send an email to let them know you're coming or call Gene Meneray at 504-218-8869.
It was just recently announced that the city has received a $200,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to make solar energy and other renewable energy sources more affordable throughout the city. New Orleans was named one of 13 Solar America Cities for 2007 by the Energy Dept.'s Solar America Initiative, which will provide $2.5 million plus planning advice for the chosen cities this year. Solar energy and other renewable energy sources were written into the Unified New Orleans Plan as a strategic part of the rebuilding process.
Thank goodness for this, but all I can wonder is when will these savings on energy costs trickle down to us as consumers? The local monopoly, Entergy, has been royally screwing just about everyone I know. I'm still wondering just how we're going to be able to pay the latest electricity & gas bill at my house, which totals almost $500 this month (I only wish I were kidding). I mean, it's great to hear about grants this and bail-outs that, but so far I don't think any of this money has helped the citizens of New Orleans with our energy costs, at least as far as I can tell.
[Beat the Heat offers interesting and entertaining--and tasty!--ways to cool off in New Orleans this summer.]
Well, I think the article in the Crescent City Farmers Market weekly news bulletin says it all, but don't take my word for it. Check out the Farmers Market this week and sample one of local juicer Amanda's fruity concoctions. In fact, you'll have to--I'm stuck here in NYC. At least I have air conditioning.
This Tuesday I also have word that the Farmer's Market will offer FREE WATERMELON to folks who stop by. Now, if there is anything more refreshing that sums up summer than watermelon I haven't seen it. Or tasted it. Or basked in its cool refreshment.
The only thing left to do is get the free watermelon people with Amanda to make some sort of watermelon juice creation. Talk about tasty and refreshing. And sticky, but that's to be expected in these parts this time of year, no?
So get yourself on over to the Farmer's Market this Tuesday or Saturday. Yes, it may be hot--or perhaps raining--during your visit, but it will be well worth it when you enjoy Amanda's special papaya lime juice. You'll cool down AND help the local economy, as well as the environment, all at the same time.
Remember, the Tuesday market runs from 9:00AM (when it shouldn't be too hot and you could enjoy a nice cool juice for breakfast) until 1:00 PM (when you can enjoy one for lunch) at 200 Broadway, the Uptown parking lot. The Saturday market runs from early-bird 8:00AM to high noon at 700 Magazine Street.
Photo of lime juice with orange juice, another fabulous treat, by gigijin.
Can someone please try this juice and let me know how delicious it is? After all, I have to live vicariously through you.
I recently listened to an intriguing NPR interview with Michael Pollen, author of The Ominvore's Dilemma. In addition to tracing the path of four different meals from the ground to the table, he spent a lot of time talking about corn. With ethanol production increasing and farmers cashing in, corn farms have taken over the Mid-West. As the number of farms increase, as does the amount of fertilizer run off traveling down the Mississippi into the Gulf of Mexico. The nitrogen rich fertilizer robs the water of oxygen as it moves through the food chain and causes what is known as the "Dead Zone;" an area believed to be as large as New Jersey. It is called the "Dead Zone" because crabs, shrimp, and fish cannot survive without oxygen. Furthermore, Louisiana fishermen cannot survive without crabs, shrimp, and fish.
A new article states that the Gulf Coast Dead Zone isn't as large as predicted, making it only the world's third largest. In that case, Iowa, continue doing what you're doing. After all, who cares about a few fishermen in Grand Isle?
[Terra Nola documents the long-distance love affair between a New Yorker and New Orleans.]
So I was sitting near a window in my local coffee bar the other day when this young woman walked by me. She was wearing a T-shirt that simply said "Ray Nagin for President." Now, mind you, I live in Brooklyn, in New York City, not in New Orleans (or in LA for that matter).
As she passed me by we exchanged knowing half-smiles through the glass. The absurdity of Nagin running for president was even more absurd than seeing that T-shirt outside of the French Quarter. The French Quarter, as we all know, is where tacky yet often witty T-shirts are born...and where they go to die.
You will recall the "Chocolate City" T-shirt of yesteryears that hit the scene mere moments after the phrase was uttered by Ray Nagin. Still others expanded on that idea by presenting Mr. Nagin as Willy Wonka and cast New Orleans as the Chocolate Factory. Ringing a bell at all for ya?
I distinctly remember a school trip to DC where a Congress security guard asked me where I was visiting from.
"Vermont," I replied. "Where?" He cocked his head and looked at me like I had named some obscure little village. "It's near New York." "AAAAH! Newhart!"
Yep, that's what I got over and over again growing up. Everyone I met thought that I had a brother named Darryl.
Fox's new show K-Ville has the opportunity to do the same for New Orleans. We're all a little raw down here. Part of the country wants to see us recover and they visit for vacation or help gut a house or two. The other part of the country keeps asking, "why bother?" and spouts off nasty little comments on the CNN website. I only hope that the writers and producers of K-Ville keep this in mind as they craft a new series about the Crescent City.
The pilot hasn't gotten great reviews but I do hope the show catches on ... as long as it remains fairly loyal to the state of the city. I don't know what is worse, to have the show bomb completely, discouraging any future television series from filming here or to have it be a success while scaring the pants off from any potential tourists or investors. The show debuts this fall -- we'll have to wait until then to find out.
I'm not much of a kid person myself, but lately it seems like everyone know is having babies. And I know that a bunch of these kids are going to be future Saints fans in the making. So get them started early with a custom made Who Dat Saints dress or jon jon by NOLA-based shop PolkaDotTots.
Like I said, I'm really not a kid person, but now that approximately half the women of child-bearing age I know in town are pregnant, I've been on the hunt for the perfect handmade baby gear. And the clothes by PolkaDotTots pretty much fit the bill. Not only are they made by hand by a local independent artist, much of it is New Orleans themed! You've got to instill some civic pride in these future citizens early, you know?
I love pretty much everything by Algiers-based artist Kerry Fitts, but my favorite things that she makes are her cuff bracelets crafted from recycled fabrics and notions. Like this one for instance. Take some scraps of vintage pleather, an old quilt and a vintage key and you've got a one-of-a-kind rock and roll style cuff. I've got two of her cuff bracelets already, but there are a few more I still have my eye on.
Kerry has been selling her work at art markets around town for sometime now, but it wasn't until after Katrina that she was forced to branch out into online sales as well, since so many of her local customers had moved on. In the past two years she's opened up two online shops (bayousalvage and rustchic), where she offers her handmade cuffs, bags and more. She and her partner Heather Mattingly also create some pretty cool shotgun house wall sculptures made from recycled debris found around the city.
Kerry is pretty passionate about making her work 100% recycled whenever possible. For her, Katrina kind of drove home the importance of knowing what you consume, where it comes from and how it's made. You can find out more about Kerry at her blog.
Dirty Coast is one of the most recognizable local t-shirt companies around town. Infamous for their New Orleans inspired tees, such as "Be a New Orleanian. Wherever you are." and "Where's Nagin?", the company got started shortly before Katrina, but things really took off as displaced New Orleanians began snatching up these tshirts as a way of showing hometown pride.
nd City Council to task for the secrecy surrounding the recently-approved plan for the first stages of redevelopment of 17 targeted zones throughout the city. The editors should have gone much further in their criticism. The secrecy of the elected leaders could be characterized as disingenuous at best, at worst, it is rife with the opportunity for corruption, influence-pedaling, and back-door politics. The kind of things that people living here are pretty sick of already. 
My friend Kathy of 
Today marked the second time this month that I hauled all of my recyclables to the curb. Fortunately today no one 
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I recently listened to an intriguing NPR interview with Michael Pollen, author of 
I distinctly remember a school trip to DC where a Congress security guard asked me where I was visiting from.
I'm not much of a kid person myself, but lately it seems like everyone know is having babies. And I know that a bunch of these kids are going to be future Saints fans in the making. So get them started early with 
I love pretty much everything by Algiers-based artist Kerry Fitts, but my favorite things that she makes are her cuff bracelets crafted from recycled fabrics and notions. Like 
