nola411.com: 2017

The decline and fall of First NBC Bank: What happened? | The Advocate

> 5/08/2017 07:52:00 AM

The affidavit, filed in Orleans Parish Civil District Court on April 28, the day of the seizure, added that First NBC was "in an unsafe and unsound condition, and cannot any longer continue the business of banking."

Despite a tumultuous year for the New Orleans-based bank that saw its stock price tumble by 90 percent ahead of the closing, the sudden failure still caught many observers by surprise.

Ducrest's affidavit shows the situation deteriorated rapidly, with the bank taking heavy losses in recent months in its portfolio of loans and tax-credit investments, despite measures to shore up its finances.

Read more via The Advocate

Report: Dangers Remain Under New Orleans Jail's New Leader | U.S. News & World Report

> 5/07/2017 07:15:00 PM

Prison experts say the New Orleans jail remains unacceptably violent and dangerous, even with roughly half its inmates farmed out to other lockups while a new director pursues court-ordered reforms.

Their report to U.S. District Judge Lance Africk this week, their first since Sheriff Marlin Gusman agreed to cede authority over the long-troubled lockup, illustrates the challenges faced by Gary Maynard, a former Maryland corrections official who was appointed by the judge to lead the reforms.

Read more via U.S. News & World Report

City experiences tense week in anticipation of monument removal | WVUE

> 5/06/2017 04:16:00 AM

All eyes are now on Lee Circle, the PGT Beauregard and the Jefferson Davis monuments. Mayor Mitch Landrieu says they're coming down sooner rather than later.

Crews set up barricades Friday around the Robert E. Lee statue at Lee Circle. But, unlike the Jefferson Davis monument, you can still walk up to the statue.

Yotam Ottolenghi’s recipes for New Orleans gumbo and banana and cardamom tart | The Guardian

> 5/06/2017 04:00:00 AM

Gumbos vary tremendously from region to region, from family to family, from pot to pot. In the 19th century, for example, the Creole people of the city thickened their gumbos with okra or, in winter, when okra wasn’t available, with the ground leaves of the sassafras tree, known as filé powder; these days, either or both are used. In Cajun country, meanwhile, just outside New Orleans, they use a flour-and-oil-based roux (darker and richer than any French roux I’ve seen), as a base and thickener; they may or may not add filé to their gumbo, while some modern Creole versions use roux, too, only not as dark and not so much of it. See what I mean now about cryptic?

As for those bits floating about in the gumbo, I couldn’t find two people who agreed on what goes into a traditional one, be it Creole or Cajun. Seafood (often crab, shrimp and oysters) feature in many versions, as do chicken and duck; for extra flavour, the local smoked andouille sausage is another popular addition, along with tasso, a cured smoked pork shoulder a bit like ham that’s flavoured with cayenne and garlic.

What America Eats: Po' Boys in New Orleans | Parade

> 5/01/2017 06:54:00 AM

On What America Eats, Chef Jon Ashton goes to different cities to learn all about the cuisine that America has to offer.

In the latest episode the chef heads to one of America’s greatest food cities: New Orleans. It’d be easy to spend a dozen episodes covering this Mecca for Cajun, Creole and soul food. But this time, we’re focusing on a classic many say is unbeatable: the New Orleans po’ boy.

Read more via Parade

Formosan termites swarm Sunday night in New Orleans area | nola.com

> 5/01/2017 06:51:00 AM

The video above comes from Woodland Highway in Algiers, where NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune reporter Chelsea Brasted says the insects were surrounding light pole after light pole.

If you dare risk turning your porch light on, or venturing to a nearby street lamp, we want to see how big the swarms near you are.

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'Jealousy is behind it': Rapper BTY Young'N shot to death in Hollygrove | Advocate

> 5/01/2017 06:44:00 AM

The New Orleans-born rapper BTY Young'N, who had signed a deal with the Cash Money Records label last year, was fatally gunned down in Hollygrove late Saturday, according to his mother.

The shooting that left the artist dead occurred about 11 p.m. at a gas station in the 9200 block of Airline Highway, police said.

Songs That Define History. CNN Soundtracks Hurricane Katrina | nola.com

> 4/29/2017 03:40:00 AM

The Hurricane Katrina episode of the CNN original series 'Soundtracks: Songs That Defined History' will screen for free at 7 p.m. Monday, May 1, 2017, at the New Orleans Jazz Market, 1436 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. The screening is open to the public, however seating is limited, so RSVP's are required by emailing CNNOriginalSeriesRSVP@turner.com.

This eight-part CNN Original Series explores the music tied to iconic moments in history, from the March on Washington to the riots at Stonewall, to the moon landing to Hurricane Katrina.
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Take a First Look Inside NOSH | Eater

> 4/29/2017 03:14:00 AM

NOSH (752 Tchoupitoulas St.), the newest restaurant/lounge from Creole Cuisine Restaurant Concepts, is now open in the Warehouse District. NOSH stands for New Orleans Social House, a concept that comes to life through nightly musical performances, communal tables, and a menu built around the idea of sharing.

The space, formerly occupied by Tommy’s Wine Bar, has had a major facelift. The dark, baroque interior of Tommy’s Wine Bar had given way to a bright space that feels more open. Furniture includes communal tables, as well as little areas with sofas and chairs for more relaxed lounging. Former Tommy’s patrons will recognize the large cypress columns throughout the NOSH. Additionally, NOSH still has an interior door leading to Tommy’s Cuisine, which Creole Cuisine Restaurant Concepts also bought.

Read more on Eater

Monk Boudreaux honored U.S. Postal Service Jazz Fest Mailer | Jazz & Heritage Foundation

> 4/27/2017 09:21:00 AM

MONK BOUDREAUX HONORED WITH 29th ANNUAL U.S. POSTAL SERVICE JAZZ FEST CACHET

Big Chief Monk Boudreaux of the Golden Eagles Mardi Gras Indian tribe is the honoree on the 29th annual United States Postal Service's Jazz Fest Postal Cachet. This highly collectible mailing envelope, embossed with the Jazz Fest logo and an image of the group, will be unveiled on April 27.

Mr. Boudreaux, 75, is expected to perform at the unveiling ceremony, which is free and open to the public.

The ceremony takes place at 11 a.m. on Thursday, April 27, at the George and Joyce Wein Jazz & Heritage Center (1225 N. Rampart Street, New Orleans, LA 70116).

The 2017 Postal Cachet will be available for sale at the ceremony starting at 10 a.m. The cost is $15 each. They also are available for sale at the U.S. Postal Service tent at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival presented by Shell, which takes place at the Fair Grounds.

Monk Boudreaux - born Joseph Pierre Boudreaux in New Orleans in 1941 - is the Big Chief of the Golden Eagles, a Mardi Gras Indian tribe. He is widely known for his long-time collaboration with Big Chief Bo Dollis in The Wild Magnolias, with whom he was friends since childhood.

In the late 1960s, Boudreaux joined the Wild Magnolias. In 1970, Boudreaux appeared with the Wild Magnolias at the very first New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, and also in the same year, the group released the single "Handa Wanda" on Crescent City Records, the first studio recorded music by the Mardi Gras Indians. In 1974, Boudreaux appeared with the Wild Magnolias on their debut album on Barclay/Polydor Records which featured Snooks Eaglin and Willie Tee in the supporting musicians. Boudreaux is exclusively featured on Golden Eagles' album “Lightning and Thunder,” a live recording released in 1988 on Rounder Records.

After being with the Wild Magnolias for over 30 years, Boudreaux left the group in 2001. Since then he has performed and recorded with artists such as Anders Osborne, Galactic and Papa Mali, in addition to leading his own group, the Golden Eagles.

In the recent years, he has also participated in the recording and tour of the Voice of the Wetlands All-stars, a band that also featured Tab Benoit, Cyril Neville, and Dr. John among others. He is also featured on one track in the New Orleans Social Club's album “Sing Me Back Home,” released in 2006. He currently performs regularly in New Orleans, both with the Golden Eagles and with other artists, including John Lisi & Delta Funk, with whom he has also recorded.

In 2010, Boudreaux appeared in the feature-length documentary “Bury the Hatchet,” directed by Aaron Walker. The film is an intimate look at the Mardi Gras Indian tradition, following Boudreaux and several other Mardi Gras Indian Chiefs in the year before Hurricane Katrina, through the storm and the years after. The documentary won best Louisiana feature at the New Orleans Film festival and a work-in-progress edit of the film won the Grand Prize and Intangible Culture Award at the Royal Anthropological Institute Festival of Ethnographic Film in Leeds, England.

In 2016, Boudreaux received a National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellowship.

The U.S. Postal Service's Jazz Fest Postal Cachet program began in 1989 with a commemorative envelope featuring Professor Longhair. The list of honorees is:

2016 George Wein
2015 The Meters
2014 Rebirth Brass Band
2013 Trombone Shorty
2012 Kermit Ruffins
2011 The Marsalis Family
2010 Louis Prima
2009 Mahalia Jackson
2008 Deacon John Moore
2007 Harry Connick, Jr.
2006 Art Neville
2005 The Dixie Cups
2004 Aaron Neville
2003 Ernie K-Doe
2002 Ellis Marsalis, Jr.
2001 Dr. John
2000 The Neville Brothers
1999 Fats Domino
1998 Allen Toussaint
1997 Sidney Bechet
1996 Doc Cheatham
1995 Buddy Bolden
1994 Louis Armstrong
1993 Pete Fountain
1992 Irma Thomas
1991 Danny Barker
1990 Jelly Roll Morton
1989 Professor Longhair

Source: New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation
The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation is the nonprofit that owns the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival presented by Shell. The Foundation uses the proceeds from Jazz Fest, and other raised funds, for year-round programs in education, economic development and cultural enrichment. For more information, please visit www.jazzandheritage.org.

Beyond the French Quarter: Experiencing New Orleans Like a Local | Vogue

> 4/27/2017 09:06:00 AM

At the heart of it all is the city’s architectural and historic center, the French Quarter. But anyone who has spent time visiting New Orleans can tell you that the French Quarter of today—choked with souvenir shops, dive bars, and rowdy tourists—is a far cry from the interesting, bohemian haven it was a century ago.

That said, there are still two reasons you should go on a quick stroll through the Quarter: first, to try the iconic beignets at Café du Monde (but only after a night at the bar, so as to avoid the overwhelming daytime lines); and second, to shop for sunglasses at the beautiful Royal Street store of Krewe, runner-up for the 2016 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund prize.

Read more on Vogue

New Orleans Jazz Fest Database of Performers #NOLA #JazzFest | Jazz & Heritage

> 4/27/2017 09:00:00 AM

Search Jazz Fest Show History Since 1970

This database was compiled from the Jazz Fest Program Books and lists every performer at New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival beginning in 1970.

Over the years Stage names have changed and even Performers have altered the spelling of their names (Dixie Cups vs. Kups) . Please be mindful of these variations and make your search as simple as possible. Also note there are often last minute schedule changes and those changes from the pre-digital era may not be noted.

Source: https://jfdb.jazzandheritage.org/

Missing Jazz Fest? There's a support group to help

> 4/23/2017 09:56:00 PM

Just find out you can't make the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival this year? There's help for you. A light hearted spot on the web if you are Not Going To Fest.

Jazz Fest Releases Music Schedule ‘Cubes,’ Celebrates Cuban Programming 2017 | Offbeat

> 3/28/2017 12:56:00 PM

The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival revealed the music schedule—colloquially known as the “cubes”—for this year’s event during a press conference at the Fair Grounds Race Course this morning. You can now download the full schedule or check it out below.

Jazz Fest also announced details for its “Cuba Comes to Jazz Fest” programming, which it has billed as the largest celebration of Cuban culture in the United States since the 1950s. The festival has invited over 150 Cuban artists to perform at the Fair Grounds, with many of them of them coming to America for the first time for the event.

Continue reading on Offbeat Magazine

2017 Mardi Gras Parade Schedule on mardigras.com

> 1/09/2017 05:47:00 AM

Find the schedule, changes and updates to the 2017 Mardi Gras Parade Schedule on mardigras.com.

From Wikipedia: The parades in New Orleans are organized by social clubs known as krewes; most follow the same parade schedule and route each year. The earliest-established krewes were the Mistick Krewe of Comus, the earliest, Rex, the Knights of Momusand the Krewe of Proteus. Several modern "super krewes" are well known for holding large parades and events, such as the Krewe of Endymion (which is best known for naming celebrities as grand marshals for their parades), the Krewe of Bacchus(similarly known for naming celebrities as their Kings), as well as the Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club—a predominantly African American krewe. Float riders traditionally toss throws into the crowds; the most common throws are strings of colorful plastic beads, doubloons (aluminum or wooden dollar-sized coins usually impressed with a krewe logo), decorated plastic "throw cups", Moon Pies, and small inexpensive toys. Major krewes follow the same parade schedule and route each year. While many tourists center their Carnival season activities on Bourbon Street and in New Orleans and Dauphin, major parades originate in the Uptown and Mid-City districts and follow a route along St. Charles Avenue and Canal Street, on the upriver side of the French Quarter. Mardi Gras day traditionally concludes with the "Meeting of the Courts" between Rex and Comus.