Newsletter 29 - July 27 to August 2, 2010
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| A Summer Treat, The New Orleans Zephyrs. Click here to download this image for your desktop. |
July 27 to August 2, 2010 Dear Friends, We hope your air conditioning is working, or that you've equipped your yard with a kiddie pool – we can't remember the last day there wasn't a “heat advisory!” With six more weeks or so of NOLA summer, it's important to hang in there and remember that the seasons will change...eventually. When I think about this city, I always come back to the idea of its darkness. New Orleans is not a “city that works.” The crime is terrible, many people live in abject poverty, the government is corrupt, it's hard to get a good job, people come here with grand ambitions and often leave in discouragement and failure. The ruin and horror of those first months after Katrina, in particular, stand out in my memory. Yet people – and I – are drawn to New Orleans. Why? The best answer I have, after all these years, is the way people live here. We are perpetually on the edge of the abyss, and in response, we laugh. We go out for dinner. We develop friendships, the kind once found only in foxholes. We stay out all night drinking and watch the sun rise. We dance. It's this urge to dance, these fierce paroxysms of happiness in spite of our troubled circumstances, that I find so compelling. New Orleanians know it better than anyone: our time in this world can be difficult, frightening and short. In the face of our city's darkness, we are defiant, and we are joyful. We're going to get as much out of this life as we can. I hope some of the activities mentioned in NOLAlicious from week to week will help you share the joy with each other. A “season” of my own is coming to an end as this is the last issue of NOLAlicious I'll work on, but I remain joyous in sharing these experiences with you. Signing off, PS: Do you like the NOLAlicious desktop photo above? Which photo from the last six months would you like us to make for your desktop or iPhone background? Tweet us @NOLAlicious with your picks.
NOLAlicious Picks
EAT Ever since our first introduction to Matt and Naddie’s, we were hooked! It’s a staple of the New Orleans Riverbend restaurant community and we even have friends who swear they bought their house in the Riverbend to be closer to this restaurant. The cocktails, entrées, specials and desserts are to die for. On our last trip we practically licked the plate of our grilled Mahi-Mahi with grilled peppers in addition to the delicious venison. An intimate dining room and helpful, friendly staff will make a dining experience here a treat. Reservations are recommended. Open weekdays for lunch. Dinner on Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturdays. Average entrée price $25. 937 Leonidas Street. DO Dance parties are a dime a dozen in New Orleans: but there's something special about Kompression, the second installment of a new monthly at Rubyfruit Jungle. At last month's party, dancers packed the upstairs room, showing off old-school pop and lock and jack dance steps to the sounds of classic house music. This new spot in a storied Decatur Street address finally felt like it had found its footing as a happening spot. The much-anticipated return of the monthly is a must-do for this weekend, so come out and party like it's 1999. Saturday, 9 PM. $7. EAT Sure, we got pho aplenty! But good tasting (coupled with good quality) Chinese food hasn't been as easy for us to find around town. Finally we ventured outside the parish lines to China Rose for what we heard was "the City’s best." An expansive menu and quintessential venue will make any Chinese food lover content. A true must for all of you looking for affordable, fun and fantastic food. 125 Robert E. Lee Blvd. Open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner. Average entrée price $12. GO Cap or no cap, it's not too late to contribute to oil spill cleanup. Hit up the Foundry on Friday night for ACT NOW for the Gulf, a fundraiser and art auction to benefit marine mammals and sea turtles. The ACT NOW group organizes artists for good causes around the world; this particular function is awesome for its breakdown of exactly what the proceeds will go to. And with a $30 entry fee, it's not nearly as cost-prohibitive as some other benefits and art auctions! Who knows, you might even come home with a new hanging for that empty wall space in your house. Friday, 6:30 PM. $30. LAGNIAPPE When $10 seems a little steep for the movies, pack up the cooler and head out to St. Patrick Park for a Saturday night screening. The summer series kicks off this year with a showing of “Princess Bride” in this friendly area of Mid-City. Food will be sold for those without a picnic basket, while bordering neighborhood bar Mid-City Yacht Club should provide a steady supply of refreshing beverages to moviegoers. Both the park and the bar are dog-friendly, so bring Sparky along for a night on the town! Saturday, 7:00 p.m. Free. JOBS Account Executive, CBS Outdoor Inc.
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