Welcoming the Dalai Lama to New Orleans, a City Still Rebuilding | Huffington Post


From a talk given at Temple Sinai in New Orleans on May 9, 2013. This is part one in a series.

The Dalai Lama has come to New Orleans. If I were to speak with him, this is what I might say.

Your Holiness, you are coming to New Orleans at a time of some optimism, some hope. Eight years ago, after Katrina, there was some concern we might not survive as a city. Many of us had lost everything, our homes, our community our relatives and friends, and most of all our trust in the large institutions and government we thought should have protected us. The levees broke and so did our hearts, and out in the country there were many dark voices who said we had no right to exist, to continue as a city. We might have lost all faith in each other, but somehow we did not. In the first place, from all over, there was a tremendous outpouring of love and help, of compassion. There was a new influx of young people with energy and hope. We have not exactly triumphed, but we have rebuilt much of our city, our schools...


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New Orleans CVB Honored in NTA's Distinct Dozen Awards | Travel Agent


The National Tour Association (NTA) has awarded New Orleans with two honors at their Second Annual Distinct Dozen Awards. The awards, recognizing product quality and partnership, are distributed based on votes by NTA tour operators.


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Bayou Saint John Marsh Creation Project | Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation

Most of the bayou is within the levee system around New Orleans, with a flood gate where it meets Lake Pontchartrain. In the spring of 2013, the Orleans Levee District will dredge a channel from the flood gate to the lake to improve water flow.  The Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation will beneficially use some of the dredged sediment to create a half acre of wetland along the banks.




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Can Star Power Make New Orleans' Food Deserts Bloom? | NPR


Troy Henry (from left), Jim Hatchett and Wendell Pierce, co-owners of Sterling Farms grocery store, meet at the store's soft launch on March 21. Pierce, an actor, gained fame through his starring roles in David Simon's The Wire and Treme. David Grunfeld/The Times-Picayune/Landov

Plenty of celebrities leverage their star power to raise awareness of complicated food issues. Some of the biggest names include Michelle Obama, Jamie Oliver, Prince Charles and Paul McCartney.

Down in New Orleans, actor Wendell Pierce, who stars in David Simon's Treme and, previously, The Wire, has been taking on food insecurity in low-income communities with brand new convenience stores. Pierce has received plenty of attention for his efforts and appeared this week on NPR's Tell Me More to talk about the opening of the first grocery store in his New Orleans-based Sterling Farms chain earlier this spring.


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"Cajun" Bills Debated | KATC


Cajun pride is the focus of several bills that Acadiana lawmakers are backing. From culture to French language, the bills are aimed at showing the world what's unique about Acadiana.

Senator Fred Mills is proposing legislation that would allow drivers to put "I'm Cajun" or "I'm Creole" on their driver's license.
"We have a bill right now that on your driver's license you could basically put "I'm a Cajun" and the proceeds would go to CODOFIL, and it's a permissive bill it would be only if you want to do it. But it would be a proud way to support CODOFIL, say "I'm a Cajun," and promote our heritage," (R) Senator Fred Mills (district 22) said.
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Police: 2nd suspect arrested in New Orleans Mother's Day parade shooting | CBS News


A second suspect has been arrested in the shooting that injured 20 people at a parade on Mother's Day, police said Thursday afternoon.

Shawn Scott, 24, was arrested Thursday, police Chief Ronal Serpas said. He is the brother of 19-year-old Akein Scott, who was arrested Wednesday night in the shooting...


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Three Timeless New Orleans Cocktails | Garden & Gun

Cedric Angeles

Mix some history with these Crescent City classics. Belly up to your home bar and try one of these timeless New Orleans cocktails:

  • The Sazerac
  • Ramos Gin Fizz
  • Pimm's Cup


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Squabble over New Orleans eatery goes to court | NBCNews


Brennan's, a New Orleans restaurant that famously invented the Bananas Foster dessert six decades ago, is more recently known for a long-running family clash over ownership of the French Quarter eatery.
Infighting among relatives of the restaurant's late founder, Owen Edward Brennan, flared up last month when a shareholder meeting led to a standoff inside the restaurant. Police were called to intervene. The heated confrontation ended with a temporary truce, but the tangled family dispute is heading to court.


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