Darling readers,

I hope you all had a safe experience with Gustav and are anxious to get back to “normal” life. I am happy to report that our city is slowly returning to normalcy since I received this morning all my Times Picayune papers.

 Being from the Caribbean, you know that neither a hurricane or high water will drive me away from my beloved New Orleans. I stayed in my condo with my friend Janelle and our darling Tito and Isabella and fortunately for us, Gustav spared us. Thanks God.

I just took a drive through Marigny, the French Quarter, Broadmoor, Esplanade Ridge and Mid City. I went around and took photos of the damage.  

As you probably know, many institutions such as the New Orleans Museum of Art are still  closed , which means that the highly anticipated Overture to the Cultural Season's annual Gala, Cultural Second Line that was scheduled for this Saturday, has to be postponed.

The Obituary Cocktail Society is meeting this Friday from 6 to 7 at Tujaque’s Restaurant in the French Quarter.

Vino in the Bayou will take place as planned at the Pitot House Museum,1440 Moss from 5:30 to &:30 tonight. The wine tasting will benefit the Louisiana Landmark and will feature a book signing by Jan Arrigo, author of “Plantations & Historic Homes of New Orleans.”

My friend Fredy Omar just returned home and will be playing tonight at Ray’s Boom Boom at 9 p.m.. He will start playing next Wednesday at The Cricket Club which will be recreated as the RED ROOM at 9 p.m.

I understand that Dos Jefes Cigar Bar is open as well and is featuring : FRIDAY : ERIC TRAUB @ 10 & SATURDAY : SUNPIE & THE LA. SUNSPOTS @ 10 P.M

Galatoire’s Restaurant in New Orleans’ French Quarter will reopen its doors to patrons  today ,Friday, September 5, for their famous Friday Lunch.  

The restaurant is fully operational and will resume normal service hours from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. The upstairs bar will open at 11 a.m. Galatoire’s full menu will be available, and the staff is prepared to accommodate the busy Friday lunch hour.

John Besh’s Luke opened it doors a few days ago for dinner with a limited menu and I understand by some of my friends the place was packed.

Be early and be prepared to wait on line. I had to do that, when I went yesterday to Rouse’s on Carrollton.

The Bombay Club on Conti will be open for dinner tonight and will feature live entertainment with no cover charge.

Southern Food and Beverage Museum at Riverwalk is featuring Dale Curry who is signing her book "New Orleans Home Cooking  on Saturday at 2 p.m.

Have a great weekend.

Now that Gustav is behind us, and we thanked God for sparing our beautiful city, I like to share some of the important information that I have received from Councilman Arnie Fielkow which can be contacted at afielkow@cityofno.com

Since Hurricane Gustav passed over New Orleans, I have been visiting neighborhoods across the city to ensure that the concerns of residents and local businesses are being met. Starting on Tuesday, September 2nd and continuing daily, I have visited homes, firehouses, churches, restaurants, gas stations and grocery stores. The resiliency displayed by everyone I met strengthened my belief that New Orleans will always stand strong.

The City of New Orleans has been working around the clock to ensure that power, food, water, shelter and medical care are available for all citizens. I am in constant contact with Entergy and I can ensure you that the employees of Entergy are working around the clock to restore power to all of Orleans Parish. Given the conditions, Entergy is optimistic that they will be able to provide full power to the city in the next few days. Energy infrastructure is still the most critical link that limits restoration at this time and Entergy expects to have 90 percent of power in by Saturday evening. Additionally, Entergy has projected full restoration in the City of New Orleans by Monday evening, September 8th. Hopefully, we will get full restoration even earlier! While power is being restored, daily life will continue to be trying. The City also continues to clear downed trees and citizens are asked to place all debris (grass, trees and leaves) curbside and not on neutral grounds.

The cooperation and patience of citizens and businesses have been instrumental in keeping New Orleans safe, secure and on-track for a full recovery from Hurricane Gustav, and I am happy to see our citizens returning, including our citizens who utilized the City Assisted Evacuation Plan who will begin to return today.

And don’t forget, the New Orleans Saints home-opener against Tampa Bay will be played in the Louisiana Superdome on Sunday, September 7th with kick-off scheduled at noon. Go Saints!

If you encounter any difficulties please contact me at afielkow@cityofno.com

Below is some important information for you. I will send updates as the situation and information changes:

Comfort Stations/Points of Distribution (PoDs)
- The Office of Recovery Development and Administration is working to open three (3) distribution centers to hand out food and water. The PoDs should be open between 12noon and 3pm today, depending on set up time and food deliveries. All PoDs are being set up by the National Guard. The three sites are:
1. Main Branch of the New Orleans Public Library, 219 Loyola Avenue
2. Behrman Park, Algiers
3. Joe Brown Park, 10900 Lake Forest Boulevard

Entergy New Orleans Customer Information:
- There are 3 Customer Information Centers located throughout New Orleans:
1. 3400 Canal Street, New Orleans
2. 4021 Behrman Highway, Suite J, Algiers
3. Household of Faith, 9300 1-10 Service Road, New Orleans East
- Or, customers can call the following Customer Service Center Phone Numbers:
     1-800-9-OUTAGE
     1-800-968-8243

American Red Cross Disaster Services
http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/

Hospitals
-- All hospitals are currently open in Orleans Parish, and all emergency rooms are open
-- Mobile medical units will be set up at the Union Passenger Terminal in order to assist citizens re-entering the City through the city assisted re-entry program

Airport
--Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport is open and operational

Postal Services
-- Mail service has returned to a normal schedule

Sanitation
-- All sanitation services have resumed to a normal schedule

Municipal Court
-- Will open on Monday, September 8th

311 Call Center
--  The 311 Call Center continues to operate 24 hours a day from the San Antonio, Texas emergency location. Citizens can call: 1-866-205-6485.
-- Citizens are asked to report downed trees, non-functional traffic lights, and missing/damaged street signs to 311.

Louisiana SPCA
-- Louisiana SPCA has re-opened.  Please call 504-368-5191 x100 for information on retrieving pets.

Louisiana Department of Social Services
- The LA Department of Social Services has set up a hotline for Louisiana residents to locate evacuated family members. The number is 1-800-957-1601.

FEMA Assistance:
- Residents and business owners can begin the disaster application process by registering online at http://www.fema.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free numbers are available from 8AM to 6PM (CST) Monday through Sunday.THIS MORNING ALL