Newsletter 30 - August 3 to 9, 2010

August 3 to 9, 2010

Dear Friends,

I've only lived in New Orleans for seven months, but even I feel like this August is shaping up to be a momentous month. Forget the heat, and focus on the hotbed of activity in New Orleans preparing for the anniversary of Katrina and continuing to recover from the oil spill. It's a time for reflection, for big thinking, for celebrating the good and understanding the bad that's happened in these five long years that I've heard so much about.

But more importantly, it's a time to do.

Where to start? Read GOOD magazine's current issue, all about "The Big Easy Difficult", focusing on the people and institutions working to remake and preserve New Orleans. Attend a CitizenGulf National Day of Action event (promoted by Gulf Coast Benefit) on August 25th in over 13 cities across the US to help Gulf Coast fishing families find a new, more sustainable future through education. Attend TEDxNOLA on August 27th in New Orleans to "explore the pivotal role that crisis plays in the development of groundbreaking ideas." Dig into the numerous competitions and contests to fund projects to give back to the Gulf; the X PRIZE Foundation announced a $1.4 Million challenge for better ways to clean up oil spills, and Pepsi Refresh Everything: Do Good for the Gulf (covered in NOLAlicious) just announced 277 project ideas submitted by the public to give back to the Gulf communities impacted by the oil spill. The voting started yesterday, and will continue until August 31. Of note, NOLAlicious co-founders Sloane and Taylor each submitted project proposals to help the Gulf communities, and there are many, many more ideas submitted by people here in the NOLAlicious community.

So do, in your own way. Read, think, attend, donate, vote, give. It's what New Orleans needs.

Taylor

PS: Can you spare 3 to 5 minutes to answer 11 questions to help us improve NOLAlicious? Click here to take the survey; the survey is anonymous, but if you complete the survey by Thursday at noon CST and give us your email address, you'll be entered into a random drawing to win either a NOLAlicious T-shirt or a $25 donation to the local nonprofit of your choice.

NOLAlicious Picks

GO  You have to love a town that encourages community engagement, art and white linen! Head out to Julia Street this Saturday evening for the 16th Annual White Linen Night!  Dress in your best linen and stroll through twenty of the city’s best art galleries. This night is meant to bring out patrons and art lovers from all around to immerse themselves in the 300-800 blocks of Julia Street, home to the best art galleries in the city. Live music, food and drink stations will be set up all along the street. Complimentary hand-held fans will be provided, but don’t forget to stay well hydrated throughout the evening. It is August in New Orleans, after all! Head over to the CAC for a Post-Linen After party from 9pm-Midnight. Free to the Public.  Saturday, August 7th (Raindate is the 14th). 6 to 9 PM.

EAT  We are all for a fine dining experience, and luckily for us this city has an abundance of establishment to choose from. But sometimes, all you’re in the mood for is a big slice of pizza and a nice cold beer. New York Pizza just opened their new place on Magazine Street. They offer some of the best pizza in the town and well as affordable pitcher deals. A friendly staff and convenient location makes this place a no-brainer for those you of in need a quick, delicious bite to eat. Open daily 9 AM to 11 PM. 4416 Magazine Street.

GO  Be sure to check out Eatventful's inaugural event happening this week. Created to provide a friendly, yet upscale environment to build professional contacts, mix, mingle and find others interested in your craft all while enjoying great food from the best restaurants in town. $15 gets you great food and a gift basket, we've heard some of the baskets have gift certificates and surprises in them and you can also introduce yourself in the comments on their blog post to be eligible to win 2 tickets to the event. Thursday August 5th, 6 PM at Capedeville.

SEE  Satchmo Summer Fest heads to town this weekend for excellent live jazz music at the Louisiana State Museum's Old U.S. Mint. This free community event will also feature free dance lessons sponsored by NOLA Jitterbugs. The fest also features an array of educational and entertaining children's activities, including a Satchmo collage making project, a second-line umbrella creation station sponsored by the New Orleans Jazz Celebration, an activity station sponsored by Krewe of Muses, coconut decorating sponsored by the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club "Junior Zulus," and more. August 5th to 8th, all day and free to the public. 400 Esplanade Avenue.

LAGNIAPPE  Nobody likes going to a bar and leaving smelling like an ashtray (well maybe some of you don't mind, but play along with us here)! Throw your support behind the Louisiana Tobacco Free Living by heading to Phillips Bar for First Fridays: A Smoke Free Happy Hour. The owners of this fun uptown bar have agreed to make every first Friday of the month smoke free. Show them it’s worth it by grabbing a cocktail to start your weekend. There has been a big push recently to get bars in New Orleans to go smoke free, and this is one of the newest establishments to add itself to the growing list. Friday August 6th, 5 to 9 PM. No cover. 733 Cherokee Street.

JOBS

Project Analyst, Jackson Square Group
Interactive Producer, Strategist, Account and Creative Openings, Peter Mayer Advertising
Project Coordinator, Coastal Vitality Project
HR Manager – Louisiana  Hardwood Products, LLC.
Executive Director – New Leaders for New Schools

Here's how you can support NOLAlicious:

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• Send us a tip about what we would love in New Orleans.
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