Darling friends,
I should be wearing a big sign that says "I Survived Mardi Gras 2009." I did learn to pace myself since most of the time my mind was ready to go but my body would not.
As you probably know, despite the national economy, 2009 was the largest crowd since 2005, before Hurricane Katrina. Estimates of close to a million people this year puts us close to those pre-K record years and this is very good news for our tourism and hospitality industries. This year I witnessed the fabulous "greasing of the poles" ceremony at the Royal Sonesta Hotel which honored the 100 years of the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club.
The King and Queen of the Zulu Club along with colorful characters of the club paraded prior to the traditional "greasing of the poles," which has been going on for 39 years. This year the honor of greasing the first poles went to Rita Benson of the New Orleans Saints and Dana Stumpf of the professional New Orleans soccer team, the Jesters.
After the event I went to the 2009 Mardi Gras Lunch celebration at Galatoire's Restaurnat. Patrons paid more than $75,000 for the privilege of sitting in the downstairs restaurant on the Friday before Mardi Gras. This move was deadly for me since my champagne glass was always full. I remember taking a taxi home and woke up unfortunately too late for the annual fabulous Masked Ball hosted by Kevin Kelly and his beautiful dogs. I always look forward to the ball since this year the theme was famous New Orleans historical characters. I had my costume as Baronesa de Pontalba ready to go but I couldn't find a taxi. I was so disappointed that I missed the opportunity to see Friday's parade from his balcony and eating the fabulous, delicious cuisine of Chef Jeremy Langlois of Lantil's Landing at Houmas House.
I did manage to get over there on Monday and see the Orpheus Parade from Kevin’s balcony, though. Taking advantage of the glorious weather on Fat Tuesday, I got into my wench costume along with my darling dog Tito, dressed as a cabin pooch and headed for the French Quarter where we joined lots of other pirates, wenches and revelers to enjoy the street parade on Royal and Bourbon streets. As a member of the media, I was invited by the Royal Sonesta Hotel to one of the balconies on Bourbon Street. It was the best place to see the large crowds on Bourbon Street. I am grateful to the management of the Royal Sonesta for its generosity.
That morning I learned about the untimely death on Mardi Gras Day of Antoinette K-Doe, the 66 year old irrepressible widow of rhythm & blues singer Ernie K-Doe. Over the past ten years or so, Miss Antoinette transformed the Mother-in-Law Lounge into a living shrine for her late husband and a community center where kindred spirits gathered and many charitable functions were held. Miss Antoinette is rightfully credited with helping Ernie recover from an alcoholism problem and reviving his career, transforming him into a beloved New Orleans icon and, in the process, she became an icon herself. He was the "Emperor of the Universe" and she was his "Empress."
I just received notice that her body will be on view at Mother-in-Law Lounge on Friday from 2-7 p.m. and at St. James Methodist Church, 1925 Ursuline Avenue, from 9-11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 28. The funeral service will be at St. James at 11 a.m., followed by a second line jazz funeral parade to St. Louis Cemetery# 2, where she will be interred with her husband. From 2:30-6:30 p.m. Saturday there will be another tribute to her at Rock N Bowl, courtesy of her longtime good friend and Rock N Bowl owner, John Blancher. God Bless Miss Antoinette and her indomitable soul. We will miss her.
Another sad news was the e-mail I received from talented ph0tographer George Long announcing that he closing his very nice gallery at 1516 Magazine Street on February 28.: Everything is on sale at least 50% off..Everything must go!Gallery closes February 28th!Gallery hours are usually 10am - 6pm Mondays-Saturdays . George Long Gallery,
(504) 899-2975
Here is a lineup of some of the fun events coming up this week and this weekend: February 26 - March 3
MUSIC AT DOS JEFESUPTOWN CIGAR BAR THU., 2/26 - TODD DUKE @ 9 30
FRI., 2/27 - ERIC TRAUB @ 10
SAT.,2/28 - THE WASHBOARD RODEO @10:15
MON., 3/2 - OLGA
TUE., 3/3 - TOM HOOK
5535 Tchoupitoulas Street. www.dosjefescigarbar.com . No cover charge. Excellent premium cigars on sale from their humidor. February 26
JEREMY DAVENPORT AT DAVENPORT LOUNGE AT THE RITZ
Ritz Carlton Hotel - New Orleans,Lobby Lounge from 5:30 pm - 9:00 pm February 26
AUTHOR READING & BOOK SIGNING OF T. JEFFERSON PARKER
"THE RENEGADES" A NOVEL February 26
TIM LAUGHLIN
February 26
OGDEN AFTER HOURS-JOHNAYE KENDRICK
Performing live at The Columns Hotel on St. Charles Avenue. 6-8 p.m.
February 26
JJULIE LASHEA TRIO AT THE MYSTIC Don'ti miss Julia Lashea accompanied on the piano by Larry Siedberth and David Pulpus on bass at 9 pm. at the Mystic Lounge of the Royal Sonesta Hotel, 300 Bourbon Street February 26- March 1 MUSIC AT THE BOMBAY CLUB
Thursday and Sunday - Philip Melancon on the piano from 7-10 p.m. R&B, Jazz & Original Local Melodies
Friday - David Armstrong 9:30 p.m. - 12:30 a.m. and Saturday, 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.
February 26 - March 8
"PLAYIN’ AT THE POLO" at the Windsor Court The Polo Club Lounge, "Playin’ At The Polo," featuring popular local musicians performing a repertoire of sophisticated jazz is presenting the following:
Friday: Vocalist Leah Chase, 9 p.m.-12 midnight
Saturday: Cabaret singer Anais St. John
Thursday, Friday & Saturday: Pianist Michael Pellera, 7-11 p.m. Thursdays, 7-9 p.m. Fridays, 6-9 p.m. Sunday -Wednesday: Pianist Zaza 7-11 p.m.
Sunday Brunch: Christopher Kohl Trio, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
February 27
OBITUARY COCKTAIL SOCIETY OBers will gather at this great New Orleans saloon,MRB (Mississippi River Bottom), 515 St. Philip Street.Always from 6 to 7 p.m.
February 27
PHILIP MELANCON ALIVE AT LE PAVILLON Every Friday beginning at 7 p.m.
February 28
GENNIFER FLOWERS and Pianist Mimi Guste 8-11pm. The Royal Palm on Manhattan Boulevard in Harvey.
February 28
ARTS MARKET OF NEW ORLEANS AT PALMER PARK
Presented by the Arts Council of New Orleans, the Arts Market is a monthly arts market held the LAST Saturday of every month. Located at Palmer Park in the lovely Carrollton Section of Uptown New Orleans (At the corner of two well trafficked streets, S. Claiborne Ave and S. Carrollton Ave,) the Arts Market is open from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and has no admission charge. February 28
Jazz in Film - The Movie Music of Terence Blanchard www.lpomusic.com for more ticket information and directions.
February 28
Leroy Jones Quintet at Donna's Bar and Grill
Donna’s is located at the corner of St. Ann and North Rampart streets opposite Louis Armstrong Park.
February 28
MOTLEY CRUE AT NEW ORLEANS ARENA
Motley Crue is coming to the New Orleans Arena with Hinder. Tickets priced from $24.50-$88.50. Call 1-800-745-3000 to order. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.
February 28
Naturally 7 Presented by Jefferson Performing Arts Society at Jefferson Performing Arts Center (East Jefferson High School Auditorium), Phlox Street, Metairie.
February 28
BUSTOUT BURLESQUE AT THE HOUSE OF BLUES 1950s-style nightclub live jazz-striptease-variety show with dancer/singer Athena, Kitty Twist as the Absinthe Fairy, Roxie Le Rouge, Southern Belle Sugar Lee, Praline Dupree with Dominic Moncada (Playgirl Man of the Year, Mr. New Orleans), emcee/magician Dante, burlesque legend Wild Cherry, and Matt Bell and the Bustout Burlesque Jazz Band. Presented by Obsello Absinthe. Two Shows: 8p.m. and 10 p.m. House of Blues, 225 Decatur Street .$20. Call 504-310-4999 to order. March 1
New Orleans Uptown Brass is a new brass quintet based in New Orleans. Its members are all full-time musicians from the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra and graduates from leading American music conservatories. 5 p.m. Trinity Episcopal Church and School, 1329 Jackson Avenue. 504-522-0276. Free!
March 2
The Museum of The American Cocktail presents "Drink Like You Eat." Adam Seger from Chicago’s Nacional 27, for market-fresh, seasonally-inspired twists on classic cocktails. Taking a chef-like approach to local produce, Adam will be celebrating March's bounty of winter citrus: Meyer lemons, yuzu, sudachi, blood oranges and satsumas. Enjoy some delicious cocktails and load up on Vitamin C. 6:30 p..m. $20 advance, online registration. Visit www.museumoftheamericancocktail.org to purchase or call 504-569-0405.
Through April 26
NEW ORLEANS MUSEUM OF ART
NOMA presents "Frederick J. Brown: New Portraits of JazzGreats" and "Style, Form and Function: Glass from the Collection of Jack M. Sawyer." Brown’s "New Portraits of Jazz Greats" is an exhibition of paintings depicting 20th century musical giants including Louis Armstrong, Frank Sinatra and Billie Holiday, among others. "Style, Form and Function" is a major exhibition showcasing a lifetime of acquisitions by the New Orleans collector and celebrating the survival of these objects despite a 30-foot storm surge that inundated Sawyer's Waveland, Miss., home on August 29, 2005.
Through March 1
NEW ORLEANS MUSEUM OF ART Through December 2009
"FROM TRAMPS TO KINGS: ZULU 100 YEARS"
The Presbytere, 751 Chartres Street, Jackson Square, 504-586-6968. Visit http://lsm.crt.state.la.us/zulu/
Performing musicians are, Thursday, Friday and Saturday: Early evening, George French; Later evening, Jeremy Davenport; Sunday Brunch: Armand St Martin.
SAVE A DATE
Wednesday,March 11
ROUND TABLE LUNCHEON AT BEGUE'S
My monthly Round Table luncheon will be MARCH 11 at noon at Begue's of the Royal Sonesta Hotel. The featured speakers are Jenny Hamilton , Director of New Orleans Ballet Association, Marci Schramm, Director of the French Quarter Festivals and talented pianist, cross-word writer Armand St. Martin. The three-course gourmet luncheon is $35, all inclusive including complimentary parking and wine.. For reservations, please contact Noel Scallan at 504-553-2220 or email her at nscallan@royalsonestano.com Have a great week!
Margarita Bergen, Realtor
LATTER & BLUM
811 Marigny Street, Unit C
New Orleans, Louisiana 70117
Tel/504-947-0555 Cell 504-495-9181 Fax/504-940-6201
Margarita Bergen,Realtor LATTER & BLUM 811 Marigny Street, Unit C New Orleans, Louisiana 70117 Tel/504-947-0555 Cell 504-495-9181 Fax/504-940-6201
Weekly
EVENTS AT THE RITZ CARLTON The Louisiana State Museum and the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club present From Tramps to Kings : Zulu 100 Years, a yearlong exhibit exploring the origins, unique Carnival traditions, and cultural and civic contributions of Zulu from 1909 to the present. From Tramps to Kings features more than 100 seldom-seen treasures loaned by Zulu members, as well as artifacts from the Museum, the Historic New Orleans Collection, Tulane University, and other sources. NOMA presents "Photography and Depression," an examination of depression in all its forms, including mental and financial, through 82 works from the Museum's permanent collection.
Featured artists represent a who's who of photography, including Ansel Adams, William Eggleston, Walker Evans, Andrew Feininger, Lewis Hine, Dorothea Lange, Danny Lyon, Eadweard Muybridge, George Tice, Alfred Steiglitz, Weegee and many more.
The works are accompanied by text excerpted from Culture and Depression, a 1985 book by Dr.. Arthur M. Kleinman, the distinguished professor, psychiatrist, medical and social anthropologist based at Harvard University.
MOTAC Presents: Drink Like You Eat at Southern Food & Beverage MuseumThe Trinity Artist Series Presents New Orleans Uptown BrassThe Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra performs an evening of film selections from 1951 to present, with jazz trumpeting great, New Orleans own Terence Blanchard. In keeping with the movie theme, popcorn and soft drinks will be sold starting at 7 p.m. Concert at 8 p.m. Mahalia Jackson Theatre of the Performing Arts, 801 N. Rampart Street in Louis Armstrong Park (enter on Basin Street side). Visit 6-8 p.m. Ogden Museum's Stephen Goldring Hall, 925 Camp Street. Call 539-9600. February 26
FREDY OMAR The great New Orleans clarinetist performs at Fritzel’s on Bourbon Street from 9 p.m. to midnight. 6 p.m., Octavia Books, 513 Octavia Street
Darling friends, 
