Hey Texas, ask for the Ray Nagin Rate

A creative list of "Ray Nagin Rate" ideas
http://chocolatecity2.spaces.live.com/blog/

Summer Festivals in Louisiana 2008

Sure Jazz Fest is over but that doesn't mean Louisiana drains the swamp and heads north for the Summer.

Don't let the heat and humidity scare you away. The crowds are fewer and you'll have space to move around, slowly. Plan now and dive into some of Louisiana's great Festivals this Summer!

compiled for sources all over the internet. Be sure to confirm with the venue before heading out as times, dates and locations often change.

Back to the Beach Festival

May 30 - June 1
at the lake at the end of Williams Boulevard.
Kenner
Music, food, games, crafts, car show to benefit the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation

Pastries and Poboys

June 1
9:00 A.M. - 3:00 P.M
Plano Demonstration Garden Patio
New Orleans Botanical Garden
1 Palm Drive, New Orleans
features pastries from La Louisianne, po-boys, cocktails and music from local bands

Summer Sippin Wine Tasting

June 1
5:00 P.M. - 7:00 P.M.
Conservatory
New Orleans Botanical Garden
1 Palm Drive, New Orleans
Wine tasting, music and entertainment

Riverbend Bluegrass Festival

June 5 -7
Enon
River Bend Campground off Louisiana 16
Gospel & bluegrass music and food
http://www.sabinebluegrass.com

Church Point Buggy Festival

June 6-8
City Park
Accordion-playing contest, Cajun music, buggy and horse-drawn carriage parade, food, rides and a children's French-speaking contest
http://www.churchpointbuggyfestival.com

Opelousas Spice and Music Festival

June 6-8
Evangeline Downs Racetrack
Cajun and zydeco music, food, rides, pageant parade.
http://www.opelousasspiceandmusicfestival.com

Cajun Day Festival

June 7
St. Rose American Legion Hall
12188 River Road
Music, dancing, food, raffles

Juneteenth Freedom Festival

June 7-8
Donaldsonville

Gheens Bon Mange Festival

June 7-8,
Gheens Community Center
Louisiana 654

Japan Fest

June 8
New Orleans Museum of Art
Japanese drumming and dancing, food, storytelling, ikebana, bonsai, origami, calligraphy and martial arts demonstrations

Louisiana Seafood Festival

June 13-15
Various locations: Jackson Square and around French Quarter
New Orleans
Music, cooking demonstrations, tastings, cookbook signings, vendors.
http://www.neworleansseafoodfestival.com

Louisiana Cajun-Zydeco Festival

June 13-15
Old U.S. Mint, 400 Esplanade Ave
New Orleans
Food, cooking demonstrations, crafts, art market and music

Soul Fest

June 14-15
Audubon Zoo
New Orleans

Creole Tomato Festival

June 14-15
French Market
New Orleans
Cooking demonstrations, tomato tastings, food and music

Juneteenth Folklife Celebration

June 15
Farmer's Market
U.S. 190 East, Opelousas
African-American historical and cultural celebration with demonstrations, music and crafts.
http://www.cityofopelousas.com

Festival of Neighborhoods

June 21
2401 Esplanade Ave., New Orleans

Lacombe Crab Cook-Off Festival

June 21-22
John Davis Park, U.S. 190 and Twelth Street, Lacombe
Music, crab and seafood dishes, cooking competitions, crafts, rides and music

Grand Isle community Fair & Blessing of the Fleet

June 27-28
Tarpon Rodeo Pavillion

Le Festival de Viande Boucanee

June 27-28
Ville Platte

Greater Mandeville Seafood Festival

June 27-29
Jackson Avenue at Lakeshore Drive
http://www.seafoodfest.com

Down Da Bayou Festival

June 27-29
Knights of Columbus Home, Dulac
Cajun/Swamp-Pop music, food, auctions, crafts, raffle and bingo

Pridefest 2008

June 28-29
Washington Square Park, 706 Elysian Fields Ave, New Orleans
Gay pride event with entertainment, music, drag shows, food, contests and a French Quarter parade

Pecan Ridge Summer Bluegrass Festival

July 2-5
Pecan Ridge PArk, Louisiana 952, Jackson
Bluegrass and gospel music, and crafts

Greater Mandeville Seafood Festival

July 3-6
Fontainebleau State Park
near Mandeville
http://www.seafoodfest.com

Fourth of July events; around Louisiana

Lebeau Zydeco Festival

July 5
Immaculate Conception Church, U.S. 71

Louisiana Catfish Festival

July 11-13
St. Gertrude Catholic Church, Des Allemands

Jean Lafitte Seafood Festival

July 13 - 15
Across from City Hall on Highway 23, Jean Lafitte

Tales of the Cocktail

July 16-20
Hotel Monteleone and other French Quarter, New Orleans locations
Lectures, discussions, book signings, dinner pairings, cooking demonstrations, cocktail mixing seminars, walking tours, films screening a bartending course and a block party.

Morse Recreational Festival

July 17-19
Old-time street fair

Christmas In July

July 19
Ponchatoulas Historic District

Cajun French Music & Food Festival

July 19 - 20
Lake Charles, LA
http://www.tourlouisiana.com/cajun_music_festival.htm

Deep South Crane and Rigging Swamp Pop Music Festival

July 19-20
Lamar-Dixon Expo Center
Gonzales

Grand Isle Tarpon Rodeo

July 24-26
Grand Isle, Sanddollar Marina
Oldest fishing rodeo in North America

Feliciana Hummingbird Celebration

July 25-26
St. Francisville Inn, 5720 N. Commerce St.
St. Francisville

Satchmo SummerFest

July 31 - August 3
Old U.S. Mint, 400 Esplanade Ave
New Orleans
http://www.satchmosummerfest.com

Whitney White Linen Night

Aug. 2
Contemporary Arts Center and Warehouse Arts District, New Orleans

National Hot Air Balloon Championships

Aug. 8-10
Pennington Center and BREC's Perkins Road Park
Baton Rouge
The Southeast Regional and Louisiana State Hot Air Balloon competitions
http://www.laballooning.com

Festival of Riches

Aug. 8-9
City Park, Cyr Gates Recreation Building, New Iberia

Le Cajun Music Awards Show & Festival

Aug. 15-17
Blackham Coliseum
Lafayette

Delcambre Shrimp Festival

Aug. 15-17
Main Street
http://www.shrimpfestival.net

Gueydan Duck Festival

Aug. 21-24
Rides, crafts, parades, skeet shoots, dog trials, duck-calling contest, Cajun food and music
http://www.duckfestival.org

DecaFest

Aug. 26- Sept. 1
French Quarter and CBD, New Orleans
Theater music, films, literary and culinary events

Southern Decadence Festival

Aug. 27-Sept. 1
French Quarter, New Orleans
http://www.southerndecadence.net

Shrimp and Petroleum Festival

Aug. 28-Sept. 1
downtown Morgan City
Louisiana's oldest chartered harvest festival
http://www.shrimp-petrofest.org

Mamou Cajun Music Festival

August 29-30
Mamou Civic Center

Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Music Festival

Aug. 30
Zydeco festival grounds
457 Zydeco Road, Plaisance,
http://www.zydeco.org

Creole Zydeco Festival

Aug. 31
Adam Carlson Park
St. Martinville

Rayne Frog Festival

September 5 - 7
http://www.rayne.org

Natchitoches Meat Pie Festival

September 12 - 14
http://www.meatpiefestival.com

Alligator Festival

September 26 - 28, 2008
West Bank Bridge Park in St Charles Parish under the Hale Boggs Bridge
http://www.stcharlesrotary.com/alligatorfestival.htm

See you at the fun!

Verna Court in the New Orleans Times Picayune

What a surprise to read an article in the Times Picayune on our old neighborhood, and featuring who else but Miss Irma! :)


A JAZZY LITTLE BLOCK OFF ESPLANADE

Saturday, May 03, 2008
By Stephanie Bruno

THE NEIGHBORHOOD: A sliver of Faubourg St. John (in the Esplanade Ridge Historic District) snuggled up to the Fair Grounds Racetrack and wedged between the cemeteries and Esplanade Avenue. This small enclave includes three short streets -- Verna, Marie and Leda -- all carved from the extensive grounds of the landmark Luling Mansion ... READ the entire Article on nola.com

favorite Jazz Fest artist (poll results)

For the past several months there has been a poll up here asking which artist you're most excited to see at Jazz Fest. It was a tough survey, a lot of feedback said it wasn't fair to only allow one choice. Well that's what it was asking, which single artist or group did you want to see more than any others. Here are the unscientific, unofficial and unorthodox results of this survey.

Al Green	1%		Ozomatli with Chali 2na	0%
Bela Fleck & Abigail Washburn	1%		Pet de Kat Krewe	2%
Billy Joel	2%		Randy Newman	0%
Bobby McFerrin and Chick Corea	1%		Rebirth Brass Band	1%
Burning Spear	0%		Robert Plant and Alison Krauss	4%
Cassandra Wilson	0%		Santana	4%
Del McCoury	0%		Sheryl Crow	2%
Delbert McClinton	0%		Steel Pulse	0%
Diana Krall	2%		Stevie Wonder	24%
Dianne Reeves	0%		Terrence Simien	1%
Dirty Dozen Brass Band	0%		The Count Basie Orchestra feat. Patti Austin	0%
Dr. John	2%		The Derek Trucks Band	2%
Elvis Costello and Allen Toussaint	4%		The Neville Brothers	4%
Galactic	0%		The Raconteurs	4%
John Prine	4%		The Radiators	4%
Keb' Mo'	2%		The Roots	0%
Keyshia Cole	0%		Tim McGraw	1%
Lizz Wright	0%		Total votes: 142
Maze feat. Frankie Beverly	0%		Tower of Power	2%
Michael Franti & Spearhead	1%		Widespread Panic	3%
O.A.R.	0%		Other artist	7%

As a follow-up, which artists or artist gave you the best show at JazzFest this year?
Feel free to add your comments :)

New Orleans Jazz Fest LIVE Webcast this weekend on AT&T Blue Room

Exclusive Webcast of the Jazz Fest Available on AT&T blue room May 3 - 4, 2008

Festival season is in full force! AT&T blue room is delivering the best of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival presented by Shell via an exclusive webcast on the AT&T blue room this weekend (May 3 - 4 2008). The webcast will combine LIVE PERFORMANCES from the 2nd weekend along with archived performances from the first weekend of JazzFest, held April 25 - 27. Additionally, on-demand content will be available across the three screens -- on blue room, on AT&T U-verse(SM) TV and through Cellular Video on AT&T wireless devices starting in early June.

Here is the Webcast schedule of performers...
(All Times E.D.T.)

SATURDAY MAY 3, 2008			SUNDAY MAY 4, 2008 revised
Time	Artist		Time	Artist
2:00 PM	Roddie Romero and the Hub City All-Stars		2:00 PM	Porter Batiste Stoltz
2:30 PM	Susan Cowsill		2:13 PM	Alejandro Escovedo
2:38 PM	Theresa Andersson Group		2:40 PM	Papa Grows Funk
2:53 PM	Kim Carson		3:00 PM	Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk
3:00 PM	Jon Cleary		3:40 PM	Bonerama
3:30 PM	Dr John		4:20 PM	Salvador Santana Band
3:55 PM	Voice of The Wetlands All-stars		4:50 PM	TBD
4:40 PM	The Subdudes		6:00 PM	Art Neville
5:35 PM	Zac Brown		6:40 PM	The Neville Brothers
6:00 PM	Irma Thomas
6:45 PM	Wayne Toups
7:30 PM	Widespread Panic
7:40 PM	Tim McGraw
7:45 PM	Jimmy Buffet

Be aware that the Webcast SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE!

"We are excited to once again bring the sights and sounds of New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival to consumers nationwide," said Dan York, head of Content and Programming, AT&T Entertainment Services. "Last year, we opened the virtual door of the Big Easy to thousands of music fans via the blue room. This year, we're extending the experience of Jazz Fest to even more consumers in more places across the three screens that matter most to their lives -- the TV, PC and wireless device."

The Blue Room webcast will be available at 12 p.m. CDT May 3 and 4. A full lineup of artists participating in the webcast will be available on blue room soon. Fans who can't wait for the festival to begin can tune in to blue room radio, a 24-hour streaming music station, to hear interviews and performances with past and present Jazz Fest performers by visiting http://www.attblueroom.com/.

"This is an exciting time of year for AT&T blue room," said Joey Schultz, vice president of AT&T Consumer Marketing. "Festival season allows us the opportunity to introduce consumers to AT&T's full lineup of products and service offerings while they enjoy exclusive live webcasts of today's top music festivals."

AFTER THE FEST! Tune in on Saturday, May 3, 2008 to RadioJohnson.net for high quality LIVE AUDIO broadcast of Michael Franti & Spearhead LIVE from Tipitina's @ Jazz Fest in New Orleans. The show will begin sometime after 9:30 PM CT. Radio Johnson will be streaming Funk Radio Johnson right up till the live act hits the stage.

DURING THE FEST! Tune into WWOZ for live AUDIO broadcasts during the Jazz Fest.

Sazerac: The Official Cocktail of Louisiana?

The Sazerac is one of the oldest known cocktails, with its origins in pre-Civil War New Orleans, Louisiana. The original drink is based on a combination of Cognac and bitters created by Antoine Amédée Peychaud. Since its creation, many different recipes have evolved for the drink, usually involving some combination of Cognac, rye whiskey, absinthe, pastis, Peychaud's bitters, and Angostura bitters.

YES, there is a bill in the Louisiana Senate (Bill No. 6 by Sen. Edwin Murray, D-New Orleans) to enact R.S. 49:170.15, relative to state symbols; to designate the Sazerac as the official state cocktail; and to provide for related matters.

Murray wants the Sazerac commemorated at a festival this Summer in New Orleans as the "official state cocktail" and does not foresee any opposition. CHEERS! :)



The Sazerac cocktail was named by John Schiller in 1859 upon the opening of his Sazerac Coffee House in New Orleans. Both most likely derive their name from a popular brand of Cognac, Sazerac-du-Forge et fils .

A recipe for the Sazerac is listed in Famous New Orleans Drinks and How to Mix 'Em by Stanley Clisby Arthur, (published in 1937).

Jeffrey Morgenthaler writes about bartending and mixology (all the way from Eugene, Oregon) and has a great blog entry on Sazerac.