A century-old building, once the city’s cultural and economic heartbeat of the African American community, The Pythian has been given new life as a mixed-use complex in downtown New Orleans. Located on the corner of Loyola and Gravier, The Pythian building was, even before the levee failures of 2005, an […]
Changes
I’m not quite sure what drove me to login and post today. As I hit “add” I noticed it’s been over a year since I’ve last blogged. I could say it’s been a rough year, emotionally and creatively, for me but I am sure it has been no more difficult […]
Better fish to fry
I’ve lived my entire life surrounded by water. From the Pacific Ocean and the San Francisco Bay to the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico, great bodies of water have always been close to me, intermixed into everyday life. Oh the nights I spent dancing around bonfires on the […]
Enshrining the past, illuminating the future
Neglected for several decades, the old New Orleans Public Service Inc. building in the Central Business District comes alive once again as the luxury NOPSI Hotel. The 1920s-era, nine-story brick building on the corner of Baronne and Union Streets had long stood empty, a derelict property with peeling paint, graffiti […]
Sweet as can bee
Rich and golden, often herbal, sometimes fruity and always sweet, honey is probably the single most fabulous food humans eat. Why so fabulous? Well, for starters, the earliest depiction of honey harvesting is an 8000 year-old cave painting in Spain showing “hunters” gathering honey from wild bee colonies, but this […]
The Country Club: What’s in a name?
Neighborhood restaurant in Bywater measures up to its name, yet still retains its flair for whimsy and frivolity after a year-long renovation. Tucked away into what was once a remote corner of Bywater, The Country Club has been “secret” neighborhood gem since 1977. Built over 130 years ago, this Italianate […]
The (Pine)Apple of My Eye
By far one of the most attractive aspects of living in New Orleans (and other regions of the Deep South) is the endearing atmosphere of genuine hospitality. Locals go out of their way to make newcomers feel welcome, whether it’s the courteous cries of “Good morning!” and “Where y’at?” or […]
Modern Living on Oak
Since the street was renovated in 2009 as part of a government-funded revitalization project, Oak’s businesses and residents have been growing by leaps and bounds. The motley collection of buildings on this historic neighborhood corridor range from a 1930s-era bank (currently the Rue de la Course coffee shop) to a […]
Ten Reasons New Orleans Doughnuts Dunk National Chains
It’s understandable that many have developed an almost insatiable need for the occasional dozen Krispy Kremes still hot from the fryer, but there are plenty of reasons why not jumping on the nationally-acclaimed, hot-doughnut bandwagon is a sinfully sweet way to go. Aside from the obvious anti-corporate, community-oriented drive to […]
Simply shrimp
Everyone is crazy over crawfish right now, to say otherwise in the midst of spring is practically sacrilege, but that is no reason to overlook one of the region’s most prized catches … fresh Gulf shrimp. Whether you’re slurping down some gumbo made with flavorful brown shrimp, nibbling sweet white […]
Michael Gulotta: Inspirational Ingredients
After his recent appearance on Food Network’s “Iron Chef Gauntlet,” you might assume chef and restaurateur Michael Gulotta is seeking the spotlight as one of the nation’s latest celebrity chefs, but the reality is quite different. “I’m more excited about my new restaurant than I am about Iron Chef” says […]
A Good Egg
Like that guy in your building who always tidies the empty bins on garbage day or the receptionist at your dentist’s office who never forgets how much you love dogs, eggs are wee packages of wonderful that we can always depend on. How many times have you been scrambling for […]