It’s the most wonderful time of the year! One of my favorite holiday traditions is to gather my girlfriends together for a day of gift shopping in the French Market. We pride ourselves in selecting unique gifts for our family and friends while giving back to our community we love by shopping locally. The French Quarter is in our blood; in fact, our private joke is that our blood type is FQ! We shop ‘til we drop, stop for a bite and a cocktail or three, and shop some more!
Kim Welsh
What a Wonderful World!
July 30, 2019
Well, Hello Dolly! It’s that time again, time to celebrate our favorite native son! The 19th Annual Satchmo SummerFest at the New Orleans Jazz Museum at the Mint on August 2nd through 4th will feature contemporary and traditional jazz and brass bands. Satchmo SummerFest began in 2001 as a way to commemorate “Satchmo’s” 100th August 4th birthday. This premier festival is dedicated to the life, legacy, and music of Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong.
Take a Sentimental Journey in the French Market
July 30, 2019
America’s oldest and best loved public market writes its own history every day. With each new sunrise on Decatur Street, history repeats itself as it has for over 200 years: always the same, yet impossible to predict. This keeps it fresh and new every visit, and this summer is no exception.
Ghostly Vieux Carré Gallivants
July 30, 2019
New Orleans has over 300 years of history… and mystery. To say that the French Quarter has a deep, complex history is an understatement. It has changed hands during territorial disputes and boasts architecture from the French and Spanish.. This colored past is preserved in the buildings, alleys, courtyards, and homes and because of it, many believe past spirits are preserved there as well. In the land of voodoo, vampires, and witchcraft, it’s no wonder that America’s most haunted city is rife with tales of restless spirits.
Uniquely New Orleans Weddings
May 01, 2019
Native New Orleanians adored Frank Davis, a television personality distinguished by his tag line, "Naturally N'Awlins." He brought attention to one-of-a-kind places and people that were unique to our fair city. There's no denying the city of New Orleans dances to the beat of her own drum and so will you when you make the decision to marry within her multi-cultural, historically rich walls. Steeped in Creole cool, the Big Easy has many beautiful and unique venues for your big day. You will find historic homes & restaurants with some of the most beautiful, tropical courtyards you've ever seen.
Louis Prima, The King of Swing
May 01, 2019
A tireless showman and a talented trumpeter, singer, songwriter and performer, Louis Prima swang his way to icon status thanks to his irresistible, infectious sound that appealed to several generations. In the Louis Prima exhibit opening on May 1st at the New Orleans Jazz Museum, visitors will find an assortment of artifacts including his Grammy for best vocal performance in 1958 for “That Old Black Magic,” his trumpet, and a couple of his suits which are almost as loud as his personality.
Our Riverfront, Past and Present
May 01, 2019
From the French Quarter, visitors can see with their own eyes how New Orleans earned the nickname the “Crescent City” as large vessels follow the dramatic turn in the river upon which the early city was situated. The site of the original town was built in 1718 along the banks of “Old Muddy,” the Mississippi River's sweeping crescent-shaped bend. Ancient silt deposits from floods created ground higher than found in nearby swamps forming natural levees. In 1722, construction of a low levee was completed to help prevent flooding of the city.
Savor Our Creole Tomato Festival
May 01, 2019
In New Orleans, a rite of summer is our first taste of the coveted and meaty Creole tomato. The Creole tomato was originally imported from the West Indies and thrives in southern Louisiana's rich soil and subtropical climate. When the farmers in nearby St. Bernard and Plaquemines parishes first called their tomatoes Creole, it meant they were grown in the rich alluvial soil of the area and vine ripened because they did not have to be transported long distances to market. This gave them a rich flavor.
It's Party Time
February 05, 2019
The “Greatest Show on Earth,” otherwise known as Mardi Gras, will be celebrated this year on Tuesday, March 5th. The biggest free party thrown in North America always falls 46 days before Easter and is the city's most popular attraction. Visitors and locals alike love the party atmosphere, the crowds, costumed revelers, and the esprit de corps.
Samba Your Way Into Carnival
February 05, 2019
As an avid traveler, I have many places I want to visit on my bucket list. Among them, I have always wanted to spend Carnival in the largely Catholic city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Rio is home to the world's most famous Carnival celebration and what many people consider to be the world's biggest and best party. The basis of Rio's Carnival is the samba school, which is a social club named after the famous Brazilian dance. Samba schools are based in different neighborhoods of Rio de Janeiro, and rivalry among them is fierce.
"Killing 'em Dead with Needle and Thread" A Brief History of Mardi Gras Indians
February 05, 2019
One beautiful Fat Tuesday, my dear native New Orleanian friend, Kyle, invited me to take a walk a few blocks from Bourbon Street to the historic Tremé neighborhood, America’s oldest community of free black people, to catch a glimpse of a tradition that he described as “uniquely New Orleans but nothing like the booze and beads of the French Quarter.” Intrigued, I decided to take a stroll across Rampart Street to the Backstreet Cultural Museum at 1116 Henriette Delille Street. There, in the shadow of St.
