After a very busy week that included attending the 9th Annual Trinity Independence Day Musical Festival with a completely- packed audience at Trinity Episcopal Church, I am ready for some more.. As a naturalized citizen of the United States of America, I love all the pomp and circumstance associated with the Fourth of July. And there is no better city to celebrate it than New Orleans, although I do have wonderful memories of celebrating the Bicentennial, July 4, 1976, on Manhattan’s Hudson River as part of the spectacular Operation Sail.
These past few days, I have been mourning the untimely death of two icons of my generation; talented Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett. Closer to home, I was also just notified that my good friend Trish O’ Neill’s 22 year old daughter, Brittany O’Neal, died a few weeks ago. May their souls rest in peace!
We did have great news this week. At a celebratory press conference last week, New Orleans Theatre Association (NOTA), in partnership with Broadway Across America, announced that after a four-year absence from New Orleans, Broadway theater will return to the City in October 2009. The announcement was made by C. Ray Nagin, Mayor of New Orleans, and Michael Mitchell, President of NOTA. The Broadway Across America 2009-2010 season kicks off with a special engagement of Cats, October 27-November 1; followed by The Color Purple, December 1-6; Mamma Mia!, February 2-7; Wicked, March 24-April 11; and Avenue Q, June 8-13.
Subscription Information: ‘05/’06 Season Ticket Holders of the Broadway Series at the Saenger Theatre are being contacted now and will receive priority handling. Anyone interested in becoming a new subscriber and purchasing season tickets for the 09/10 Season can call 800-218-SHOW (7469) Monday – Friday
Season subscribers enjoy the privilege of priority ticket opportunities, lost ticket insurance, and exchange privileges on their existing seats. A 4-show season subscription is available at this time, and the prices range from $112 up to $386 per season ticket. Subscribers also have priority access to purchase great seats to the Season Special CATS before they go on sale to the general public. On-sale dates for single tickets to individual shows will be announced in the coming months..
For additional information on the ‘09/’10 Broadway Across America – New Orleans Season at the Mahalia Jackson Theater call 800-218-SHOW (7469) Monday through Friday between the hours of 10:00 a.m.. – 5:00 p.m.
Mr. Mitchell of NOTA will be one of my guest speakers at my monthly Round Table, July 15 at Noon at the Begue’s of the Royal Sonesta Hotel.
More News: According toAnn R. Tuenneman, Founder and Director of Tales of the Cocktail, there are some good news, and some bad news regarding the Festival.
The good news is that even with the concerns of the current economy, registration for Tales of the Cocktail is going extremely well, and many of the sessions are now totally full. The bad news, is that many people have waited perhaps too long to register for the sessions they wanted to attend. This means that there are fewer sessions to choose from. For those that have signed, I have been hired to be a bartender for Van Gogh Vodka. I will be serving martinis from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. If you haven't signed up yet, please go to www.TalesOfTheCocktail.com
Another exciting news was that on On Thursday, June 25, the grand lobby doors of The Roosevelt New Orleans swang its doors as the hotel greeted its first group of guests following a $145-million historic restoration, returning to an era of grandeur for which the legendary hotel once was known. The monumental event will be marked by a ribbon-cutting ceremony, with details of the event to be announced soon.
Here is my list of fun things to do this week:
Wednesday, July 1
POLITICS WITH A PUNCH
Politics with a Punch is presenting a very exciting panel this Wednesday at 8 p.m. at the Cricket Club, 2040 St Charles Avenue. For this special show, Jeff Crouere and Steve Sabludowsky have picked some of their all-time favorite panelists and some exciting newcomers. Check out the outstanding line-up of celebrities:
·Stormy Daniels, Adult Film Star and Potential Senate Candidate
·Ken Ferguson, Impersonator, Comedian and Actor
·Gennifer Flowers, Singer and Entertainer
·Liz Reyes, News Anchor, WGNO-TV ABC-26
·Chad Rogers, Publisher, TheDeadPelican.com
·Chris Rose, Time- Picayune Columnist
·Mike Strecker, Superstar Comedian
The star-studded show, will cover all of the major issues and controversies of the day in a light hearted and humorous manner with the unique Politics with a Punch style. http://ringsidepolitics.com
Wednesday, July 1
ZUMBA CLASS Classes will start Wednesday, July 1. and continuing throughout the end of July. The location is A studio @ Colton, 2300 St. Claude (the old Colton School) two blocks from Elysian Fields. Schedule is 7 p.m. Contact Yera at 504 723-3310 or Mario at 956 227 8986 to RSVP and for more information.
Wednesday, July 1
Celebrate the launch of "Independents Week". . .
. . . with a screening of Independent America: Rising from Ruins, an award-winning film about how locally-owned businesses in New Orleans played, and continue to play, a vitally important role in bringing New Orleans back following Katrina. For more upcoming events at Octavia Books, visit http://octaviabooks.booksense.com/NASApp/store/IndexJsp?s=storeevents .
Enjoy the fantastic atmosphere by the Mississippi River as you view Aquarium inhabitants, and enjoy food and beverages from Atlantis. Guest Speaker: Ron Forman, CEO of the Audubon Institute. Ron will be giving us a special preview of the future of all the Audubon Institute facilities. 5:30-7:30 p.m., 1 Canal Street, Phone: (504) 581-4629 OR 1-800-774-7394.RSVP and prepay on the Website www.naceneworleans.org . 985-966-4949
Wednesday, July 1
LEAH CHASE'S GALLERY DEDICATION
10 a.m. The Riverwalk Julia Street entrance. Enjoy free museum admission for the dedication of the Louisiana Gallery in Leah Chase's honor. Chef John Folse will make the dedication speech.. Nestor Ibrahim, president of Southbend, will also speak. Following will be other speeches about Chase's lifelong dedication to the community through culinary, the arts, and civil rights.
The hosts will also unveil a small exhibit in Chase's honor. Complimentary museum admission until 1 p.m. (See below for a related event the next day.)
Thursday, July 2
LEAH CHASE LOUISIANA GALLERY GALA
Mr. and Mrs.Alden McDonald, Dickie Brennan and the Board of Directors of the Southern Food & Beverage Museum cordially invite you to SoFAB for a Gala to celebrate the dedication of the Leah Chase Louisiana Gallery on Thursday, July 2. The event will feature live music and extraordinary culinary creations offered by the area's top chefs, as well as an original cocktail created in the honor of Ms Chase. The museum is at the Riverwalk’s Julia Street entrance and the schedule is as follows:
· Sponsor's Reception 6 p.m.
· General Admission 7-9 p.m.
Admission is $125. Patron tickets are for 6 p.m. patron party and 7 p.m. gala at $250/person.
The Southern Food and Beverage Museum is a nonprofit living history organization dedicated to the discovery, understanding and celebration of the food, drink and the related culture of the South. They opened their doors on June 7, 2008 at the Riverwalk Marketplace in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Thursday, July 2
Ogden After Hours
The Geraniums (folk) Southern Music. 6-8 p.m. throughout the Ogden Museum's Stephen Goldring Hall, 920 Camp Street.
Friday, July 3
Fredy Omar con su Banda at Tipitina
10 p.m. Tipitina’s Uptown, 501 Napoleon Avenue at Tchoupitoulas. No cover
Friday-Sunday, July 3-5
THE 15TH ANNUAL ESSENCE MUSIC FESTIVAL 2009
The ultimate party weekend with three days of cultural activities and three nights of performance by some ot the greatest African- American entertainers at the Louisiana Superdome. Starring
Lionel Richie, Frankie Beverly and Maze, Maxwell, Ryan Leslie, Melanie Fiona, Charlie Wilson and Little Freddie King, Beyonce, John Legend,Trombone Shorty, Anita Baker are just a few of the names that been added to the line-up for this year’s festival. Visit www.essencemusicfestival.com .
Saturday, July 4
THE FRENCH MARKET RINGS IN THE FOURTH
The French Market invites you to Eat, Drink and Shop till the Fireworks POP!
Live music from noon to 9 p.m. in Dutch Alley at St.. Philip and N. Peters Streets. Featuring The Preservation Hall Stars at 7 p.m.
The French Market Corporation, one of the producers of Go Fourth on the River, an Independence Day celebration on the New Orleans Riverfront, will present free live music and fun throughout the day on Saturday, July 4th, in advance of the Dueling Barges Fireworks Extravaganza on the Mississippi River that evening. Visit www.Go4OnTheRiver.com for a full schedule of riverfront events.
Saturday, July 4
GO FOURTH ON THE RIVER 2009
New Orleans Summers are hot – and there is no hotter place to be for the Fourth of July than in the Crescent City. The biggest celebration happens on the banks of the Mississippi with the annual Go Fourth on the River extravaganza. “Dueling Barges” is an exciting fireworks show to the tune of patriotic music. This unique salute to America’s Independence features a “Symphony in the Sky” from barges over the Mighty Mississippi. Bring your radios to the river for this passionate free salute to America’s independence, which will feature the one-of-a-kind dueling barges fireworks display along the New Orleans Riverfront. Simulcast on Magic 101.9 and WWL AM 870 and FM 105.3.
Saturday, July 4
Forever New Orleans!
The Steamboat NATCHEZ is a floating celebration of our city’s unique history, culture and spirit. Decked in red, white and blue they will conduct a daytime cruise at 11:30 a.m. on July 4. Both that cruise and the evening event will board to patriotic tunes played on our Steam Calliope, as they would have in the 1800s.
The Fireworks Cruise boards at 6:30 p.m., and departs the dock at 7:30 p.m. The menu for that evening is a unique picnic style buffet served to the tunes of a well-known local deejay. At 9 p.m. the NATCHEZ approaches downtown New Orleans and remains offshore during the Dueling Barges Fireworks show over the Mississippi River. She docks and disembarks by 9:30 p.m.Tickets: $65 Adults, $30 (ages 6-12 yrs.), $15 (ages 2-5 yrs.) Purchase= tickets online at www.SteamboatNatchez.com or by phone at 504-586-8777 or 800-233-2628.
The Riverfront Marketing Group, a group of business and civic organizations create and fund the Fireworks. The show has been named one the most unique Fourth of July fireworks shows in the country by the Pyrotechnic Association, and among the top July 4th events by the Southeast Tourism Association.
Saturday,July 4
MARLON JORDAN at the Old Point Bar in Algiers
The Old Point Bar is very excited to have Marlon Jordan entertain their patrons on Saturday, July 4th from 5-8 p.m. Join Marlon as he serves Hot Jazz as well as a sizzling dish of Shrimp Creole made in the tradition of his family through several generations.
Located at 545 Patterson, The Old Point Bar is located in historic Algiers Point, New Orleans just minutes from the French Quarter by ferry. Call 504-364-0950 for details
Monday, July 6
STATE OF THE ART COCKTAIL EXTRAVAGANZA Presented by New Orleans Best Bartenders At the Riverwalk Mall. 6:30 p.m.$20.00 Per Person
Inside the Southern Food and Beverage Museum
Join New Orleans finest for an evening of the best the city has to offer in contemporary cocktails. Long known for its love of tradition and its celebration of classic drinks. New Orleans leaps into the 21st century with an amazing group of young bartenders who are showcasing their skills at many venues throughout the city. Find out who makes the best drinks and where to find them. Hear from those who were called home after Katrina and their contribution to the New Orleans renaissance.
One of the greatest forces in reviving New Orleans will be the reinvigoration of its bar industry by celebrating the city’s unique contribution to cocktail lore and bringing state of the art mixology to its finest establishments. Meet the bartenders who are turning the Crescent City into the cradle of mixology civilization! Join us for demonstrations and personal testimonials from some of the major players who are working to make this happen. Advance registration is required.
Please put in your calendar:
Wednesday, July 15
ROUND TABLE LUNCHEON
My monthly Round Table Luncheon will be held Wednesday, July 15 at noon at Begues’ of the Royal Sonesta Hotel.The featured speakers will be Michael Mitchell, President of the New Orleans Theatre Association who will speak about the return of Broadway to New Orleans after a four-year absence.
The other featured speakers are two very talented musicians from Slidell who are making an impact in the music world. Soprano Monique Weaver and Paul Mauffray, who has been conducting operas and symphonies throughout the world. The three-course gourmet luncheon is only $35 and includes complimentary parking and wines to compliment the food. For reservation:Noel Scallan at 504-553-2220 or nscallan@royalsonestano.com
"The Roosevelt New Orleans again will be the prime destination for travelers and locals because of its reputation for glamour and excitement," said general manager Tod Chambers. The grand hotel boasts 504 rooms, of which 135 are luxury suites, some named for celebrities who once visited the hotel. Other amenities include a comprehensive business center, private dining and suite butler service, an outdoor pool and courtyard, and a specialty gift shop.
The Blue Room also has been restored to its previous splendor and will serve as a place for families and friends to enjoy good music and food and to celebrate life's special occasions. On Sunday mornings starting in October, the Blue Room will feature a grand brunch complete with delights such as mascarpone-stuffed French toast with house-made satsuma marmalade, boiled Gulf shrimp, a carving table featuring the finest roasted meats and much more.
Guests will have the opportunity to enjoy a cocktail in the Sazerac Bar and Restaurant, a Roosevelt landmark for decades. The Sazerac Bar will serve its signature Sazerac cocktail and Ramos Gin Fizz - both invented in New Orleans and made popular worldwide by The Roosevelt - among other delights. In addition to beverages that stimulate the palate, patrons again will be able to enjoy the Art Deco-style murals by artist Paul Ninas and woodwork once held in awe by visitors.
The Roosevelt New Orleans also will feature nearly 60,000 square feet of meeting and event space, including three spectacular ballrooms and 23 distinctive meeting and event rooms that span two floors of the hotel.
For more information about booking any of the rooms, contact Mark Wilson at (504) 648-1200 or at mark.wilson@hilton.com. Memories of the hotel can be logged at the hotel's blog site: www.therooseveltneworleans.com/blog.
Darling friends,
