The past week was just fabulous, with beautiful balmy weather and a myriad of fun events that keep me going all over the city.
As a mixologist and member of the media, I was invited to a soiree hosted aboard the amazing vintage 1927 railcar, the Patrón Tequila Express, that made a stop in New Orleans as part of the “Music in Motion Tour.” As you probably know, shortly after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, people around the country and across the world generously donated relief funds and volunteered their time to help. This summer, Patrón tequila partnered with New Orleans’ St. Bernard Project and Preservation Hall to create a national fundraising initiative called the “Music in Motion Tour” (www.musicinmotiontour.com). The Patrón Tequila Express, which is riding the rails from city to city collecting donations, is offering a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for people who raise the most money to ride the train to attend music-related events. The train departed from New Orleans on July 17 and is scheduled to visit many of the nation’s other large cities. All money raised will directly benefit efforts in New Orleans to rebuild homes and help bring music and musicians back to the city. Last Tuesday, the organizer of the tour presented a check for $50,000 to the St. Bernard Project and a check for $15,000 to Preservation and they are not finished with their tour.
On a sad note, New Orleans is mourning one of its most revered photographers and visual historians, Michael P. Smith, who for more than 30 years immersed himself in the world of social aid and pleasure club parades, music festivals, jazz funerals, spiritual churches and other unique vestiges of our culture. He will be missed but his work lives on in museums, galleries and private collections.
After this past weekend, most of us need a break, but alas, there is none to be had because we are not only having one festival but three, in addition to the eagerly anticipated Art for Art’s Sake on Saturday, October 4.
The Southern Food and Beverage Museum is continuing this Tuesday their Cinq a Sept from 5-7 p.m. Theafter-work music/food/wine series features some of the region's finest musicians, along with free food and a cash wine bar -- all for the price of museum admission (free to museum members).This week's lineup includes music by Jimmy Robinson.
I am going to start my week early because on Tuesday, September 30, I am planning to attend the informative lecture by M. Ronald Katz, "Diversity of the French Architecture Heritage in the United States.” The free lecture is being presented by Alliance Francaise de la nouvelle-Orleans at 6:30 at the Historic New Orleans Collection, 533 Royal Street. It will be in English. You are also invited after the lecture to the lovely courtyard for refreshments and an opportunity to meet the author for a book signing. If you want to continue the night, you can attend a wonderful dinner at the Rib Room which includes three hours of complimentary parking. For reservations call 504-523-4662 or visit http://www.hnoc.org/.
The Historic New Orleans Collection is also hosting a wonderful exhibition featuring Pre-Civil War photographs of New Orleans . It will open on Wednesday, October 1. The exhibit, entitled “A Closer Look: The Antebellum Photographs of Jay Dearborn Edwards, 1858-1861,” features three dozen of the oldest paper photographs of New Orleans. These images capture life in a thriving southern city on the eve of the Civil War. In addition to presenting early images of New Orleans' residential neighborhoods, riverfront, and business district, the exhibition encourages visitors to take a closer look by pairing the photographs with items from The Collection's holdings. Tuesday-Saturday, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Sunday, 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at the Williams Gallery, The Historic New Orleans Collection, 533 Royal Street. Free and open to the public; call 504-523-4662 or visit http://www.hnoc.org/ for details.
Tales of the Cocktail, the annual dining and drinking extravaganza, which is produced by the New Orleans Culinary and Cultural Preservation Society, will unveil its newest medium to further their “cocktail cause.” “Behind the Bar” is an exhibit of photographs taken in New Orleans bars and restaurants that convey the “spirit” behind cocktail culture in New Orleans. The month-long exhibit will display photographs selected by a panel of judges, including award winning photographer and author, Kerri McCaffety and designer and author, Phillip Collier. You will be able to enjoy sophisticated bar food created by Chef Roberto Bustillo of Zoë Bistro, along with a New Orleans Sazerac bar, compliments of Sazerac Rye Whiskey at the W Hotel New Orleans, 333 Poydras Street, from 5:30-7 :30 p.m.
Darlings, I want to invite everyone to The 1st Annual Post-Katrina/Gustav Fashion Show Extravanganza, "A La Ceiba Honduras Fundraiser," hosted by my darling friend, Carolina Gallop, with a special tribute to Fashion Designer Yves Saint-Laurent. It will be held this Wednesday, October 1, and I will be the Mistress of Ceremonies, along with my other darling friend, Ranord Darensburg.
Doors open at 6 p.m. and entertainment begins at 7:00. Fashion Show begins at 8:30 p.m. at the Blue Nile, 523 Frenchmen Street. Call 948-BLUE. $20 limited reserved seating, $15 general admission or $10 with a donation of clothing (2 items minimum). Entertainment: DJ Otto,Chief Alfred Doucette, Karen Gant Andrews, Big Pearl, Mike Hood, Lela Cloud, Claudia Baumgarten, and more. Puppetry by Harry Mayronne and "Ms. Viola" and impersonators Princess Stephanie, Ava & Ms. Raven Kennedy. Complimentary hors d'oeuvres provided by Whole Foods Market, Maximo's Italian Grill, Guy's Po Boys & Daniel’s on the Bayou Restaurant. Complimentary beverage sampling provided by Glazer’s.
Fredy Omar con su Banda will be playing at the Latin Night on Wednesday at the Cricket Club.
Also on Thursday, October 2,Ogden After Hours presents19th Street Red (a blues band) from 6-8 p.m. in the Lobby Atrium of The Ogden Museum of Southern Art, 925 Camp Street.
On Friday, October 3 will feature “Vino on the Bayou”and a book signing by Jan Arrigo and Laura McElroy, author and illustrator of Plantations & Historic Homes of New Orleans at the Pitot House Museum, 1440 Moss Street, on Bayou St. John from 5:30-7:30 p.m. $10 per person, $5 for Landmarks members. All proceeds donated to Louisiana Landmarks Society.
The Obituary Cocktail Society is meeting this Friday from 6-7 p.m. at one of my favorite places in the French Quarter -- Orleans Grapevine Bar & Bistro, 720 Orleans Avenue. Call 523-1930.
The Polo Club Lounge, named by Zagat as one of New Orleans’ best places to drink, is jazzin’ it up every Friday and Saturday with the hot entertainment series, “Playin’ At The Polo,” featuring popular local musicians performing a repertoire of sophisticated jazz.
Fridays, October 3, 10, 24, 31, 2008
The Leah Chase Trio -9 p.m. – 12 Midnight
Saturdays, October 4, 11, 18, & 25, 2008
Vocalist Anais St. John with The Harry MayronneTrio -9 p.m. – Midnight
Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays
Pianist Michael Pellera
7 p.m. – 11 p.m. - Thursdays
7 p.m. – 9 p.m. - Fridays
6 p.m. – 9 p.m. – Saturdays
Sundays - Wednesdays
Pianist Jim Harris-6 p.m – 10 p.m.
Sunday Brunch
Christopher Kohl Trio- 11 a.m – 2 p.m.
This weekend is a good time to cross the river for some real fun, food and entertainment. From Friday, October 3 through Sunday, October 5 is the Gretna Heritage Festival 2008, featuring such big names as Blue Oyster Cult, Foghat, KC and the Sunshine Band, Christopher Cross and many more fantastic bands and entertainers. Hours are Oct. 3, 4-11 p.m.; Oct. 4, 2-11 p.m.; and Oct. 5, 2-9 p.m. For the complete festival entertainment schedule, visit http://www.gretnafest.com/schedule.php . Admission is $10 per day or $25 for a weekend pass
Friday, October 3 is the New Orleans Seafood Festival, sponsored by Harrah's Casino and the Louisiana Seafood Promotion Board, along with other corporate sponsors. The festival will be held at Fulton Square, on Fulton and Lafayette Streets, next to Harrah's Hotel. New Orleans-style seafood is featured and celebrated, and proceeds support the Louisiana Hospitality Foundation. Some of the restaurants participating in the festival are Arnaud's, Galatoire's, Mr. B's, Acme Oyster House, Drago's, Barreca's, Ernst Cafe, Cafe Giovanni, and many more. The festival is free and open to the public. Live entertainment will be presented on two stages, with more than 15 bands
On October 3, Running With Scissors presents the New Orleans premiere of Charles Busch's killer camp comedy, DIE! MOMMY! DIE! through October 19 at Le Chat Noir, 715 St. Charles Avenue. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 6 p.m. Tickets are $26 on Fridays and Saturdays, $21 on Sundays, and can be reserved at http://www.norunningwithscissors.com/ or 504-581-5812.
On October 4 I want to remind everyone to exercise your right to vote in the first round of primaries. Every vote counts!
On Saturday, October 4 Capital One’s Art for Art’s Sake takes to the streets of the Warehouse Arts District. The Contemporary Arts Center’s annual rite of fall has become one of the hottest events of the year for art lovers and party-goers in and around New Orleans. The free citywide gallery hop marks the opening of the city's arts season and is New Orleans' largest arts event of the year. Art for Art’s Sake features citywide art exhibit openings between 6-9 p.m.; spotlight on Julia Street and the New Orleans Arts District Street Party, also from 6-9 p.m.; and the official After-party featuring live entertainment, great food and libations from 7 p.m.-midnight at the CAC, 900 Camp Street. Visit http://www.cacno.org/ .
Saturday is also UNCF's New Orleans Annual 5K Walk/Run. Join thousands of runners and walkers to further educational access for America's youth, sponsored by the United Negro College Fund and supported by local corporations, restaurants, groups, and organizations. The race course begins and ends on the Riverview directly behind Audubon Zoo and winds its way through beautiful Audubon Park and then back on the Riverview for Food Family and FUN! Registration begins at 7:30 a.m., rain or shine, and the 5K Walk/Run begins at 9:00. The New Orleans Track Club will administer the race and prizes will be presented to top finishers.
On October 5 and October 19, from 3-7 p.m., City Park is presenting Domingo Latinos. $6 admission. For information call 504-483-6530.
I want make sure that you know that on Sunday, October 5, at 5 p.m., Trinity Church, 1329 Jackson Avenue, is presenting Tom Sancton’s New Orleans Quartet with Tom Sancton, clarinetist; Lars Edegran, pianist, Seva Venet, banjoist and Tom Saunders, bassist in “Sing on! Hymns and Spirituals, New Orleans Style.” Sancton (a.k.a. Tommy), is a New Orleans native, former Rhodes scholar, internationally known jazz clarinetist and bestselling author. He was also a foreign correspondent for Time magazine in France.
And, as if there’s not enough going on this weekend, there’s something for all you railroad buffs and your children. SteamFest III-A Tribute to Railroading and Bluegrass is taking place this weekend in the Riverview section of Audubon Park. Railroading and bluegrass aficionados will get a full taste of both as the Louisiana Steam Train Association (LASTA) rolls out old Engine #745 for display while some of the nation’s top banjo pickers entertain with “the music of the hills” along the banks of the mighty Mississippi..
SteamFest III will feature a model train layout, a kiddy train for the youngsters to ride on, antique cars and a gift shop, plus great New Orleans food and beverages and a chance to view – close up – a real, fully operating steam locomotive: Southern Pacific #745, nicknamed “The Spirit of Louisiana.” The event is free with a small donation charge to tour the locomotive. For more detailed information and a bluegrass performance schedule visit http://www.lasta.org/ .
Nickel-A-Dance, a New Orleans family-friendly jazz-dance tradition since 1994, will return for a series of six concerts in October & November, and the first concert on Sunday, October 5, will feature Connie Jones/Tom McDermott’s Crescent City Jazz Band.
Tell your friends and tell your children: The venue will be Ray’s Boom Boom-Room, 508 Frenchmen, from 4-7 p.m. AND: IT’S STILL FREE!
Mark your calendars:
Sun., October 12: Joint Chiefs of Jazz with Frank Oxley (4-7 p.m.)
Sun., October 19: Steve Pistorius & his Southern Syncopators (4-7 p.m.)
Sun., October 26: Lionel Ferbos and the Palm Court Jazz Band (4-7 p.m.)
Sun., November 2: Mark Brooks’ All-Stars (4-7 p.m.)
Sun., November 9: Creole Jazz Serenaders with Don Vappie
And finally, still another reminder to order your tickets early for the Chinchuba Institute’s “Look Who’s Talking” fundraiser at the Preservation Resource Center on Saturday, October 18, starting at 7 p.m. Entertainment by Benny Grunch and the Bunch and Becky Allen, with fabulous food, dozens of silent auction items, door prizes and more. Order your tickets now for a fun evening on Tchoupitoulas Street. Call 391-2475.
Have a wonderful week and enjoy this magnificent weather and don't forget to vote on Saturday, October 4.
Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana announces its new fall concert series, “Harvest the Music,” to raise awareness and funds to highlight the ongoing crisis of hunger across southern Louisiana. Beginning on September 25, and running each Thursday until October 30, the free concert series will take place at Lafayette Square, 600 St. Charles Avenue. In addition to food and drinks from local favorites, artwork and crafts from regional artists and designers will be available for purchase. The feature performers areRebirth Brass Band.
On Thursday, October 2, The Historic New Orleans Collection presents the Seventh Annual Les Comédiens Français Lecture. The topic is “Manon Lescaut: From Allure to Addiction” by Dr. Quinn Peeper. The lecture is in recognition of the New Orleans Opera Association’s October 17 and 19 performance of Giacomo Puccini’s Manon Lescaut. It will be held at the Williams Research Center, 410 Chartres Street, in the French Quarter. It is free and open to the public. Seating is limited; reservations are suggested and may be made by e-mailing wrc@hnoc.org or by calling 504-523-4662.
Antoine François Prévost’s 1731 novel, L’Histoire du chevalier des Grieux et de Manon Lescaut, is the basis for Puccini’s opera. Set in early 18th century Paris and New Orleans, the novel—about the beautiful Manon Lescaut and her conflicting loves of luxury and a young aristocrat named des Grieux—inspired numerous operas (including French composer Jules Massenet’s Manon, along with ballets, and films.
Local artist Jillian Gibson will be showing recent works entitled "FOR YOUR SPIRITS" at Mimi's in the Marigny, Oct. 2-Nov. 5.The opening reception on Oct. 2 will be upstairs at Mimi’s from 8-10 p.m. with refreshments.
Darling friends, 
