New Orleans clippings

Borders® Celebrates the Grand Opening of its New Concept Store in New Orleans Dec. 5-7

Borders will celebrate the grand opening of its new concept store in New Orleans beginning today, Friday, Dec. 5 through Sunday, Dec. 7. The 24,763-square-foot store at the former Bultman Funeral Home located at St. Charles and Louisiana Avenues represents a significant enhancement over existing Borders stores inside and out and fulfills the company's mission to be a headquarters for knowledge and entertainment.

Throughout the weekend-long celebration, Borders will be highlighting its newly created Destinations within the new Borders concept store—Cooking, Travel, Wellness, Graphic Novels and Children's— with special activities, in-store performances and prizes.  These categories are so popular and rapidly growing that Borders has designated them as special Destinations and given these categories their own "shop within a shop" look and feel.

During the grand opening and all year-long, customers can explore the Digital Center—marked by a three-dimensional, 12-foot illuminated fixture with multiple computer kiosks and stations dedicated to digital services—and do everything from download music on demand using Mix and Burn—; create personalized photo books with Shutterfly.com; and publish their own books using "Borders Personal Publishing Powered by Lulu.com®."

Customers can enter to win such prizes as one of five Borders' Digital Services Certificates, one of two $250 Borders gift cards, a collection of hot new cookbooks and a copy of Frank Miller's "Absolute Dark Knight."  In addition, Borders will also be giving away a collection of current wellness books and a $200 Paperchase gift bag filled with stationery, cards and gifts from the new store.

Borders New Orleans Concept Store Grand Opening — 2
Grand opening events at Borders in New Orleans include the following:
All weekend: All prizes will be drawn on Sunday at approximately 6:00 p.m. with the exception of the Nickelodeon® prizes, which will be awarded Sunday afternoon.
Enter to win a "Go Digital!" gift package - includes select Borders digital services certificates for 5 lucky winners;

Enter to win one of two $250 Borders gift cards;
Enter to win a Paperchase $200 gift bag filled with stationery, cards and gifts;
Enter to win a Seattle's Best Coffee $200 gift basket;
Enter to win a $300 collection of current cookbooks;
Enter to win a $250 collection of current wellness books;
Enter to win a copy of Neil Gaiman's "The Absolute Sandman Vol. 1";
Enter to win a $200 collection of Putomayo CDs;

Sunday, afternoon six lucky children will win Nickelodeon® Dora the Explorer Game Houses.

Friday, Dec. 5:
3 p.m. — Meet Curious George for storytime & receive a free photo;
4 p.m. — Author Walter Greaves Cowan will sign his book "Louisiana Governors: Rulers, Rascals, and Reformers";
4 p.m. — Join author Julia Reed for a fun look at southern cooking and entertaining as she reads from her book "Ham Biscuits, Hostess Gowns, and Other Southern Specialties";
4 p.m. — Chef Andrea takes us into his home kitchen for food your mama and grandma used to make in his cookbook "My Home is Your Home";
5:30 p.m. — Satisfy your sweet tooth with free chocolate and confection samples until 9:00 p.m.;
6 p.m. — Kick off your weekend jamming to the booming brass sounds of the New Orleans favorite the Rebirth Brass Band;
6 p.m.  — Enjoy wine tasting with the Wine Institute of New Orleans. Customers will also enjoy a wine and cheese pairing and have their questions answered about wine;
7 p.m. — Get fit and improve your self-confidence with the New Orleans Adventure Boot Camp;
7:30 p.m. — Hear the future of jazz from the Monk Institute Ensemble, made up of gifted young musicians studying at the Thelonius Monk Institute of Jazz;
8 p.m. — Discover the centuries old Chinese art for health, meditation, and self-defense from Tamashii Tai Chi;
9 p.m. — Get ready for an indie-pop set that will leave you wanting to hear more from local band the Big Blue Marble.

Saturday, Dec. 6:
9 a.m. — Cecilia Dartez reads "Jenny Giraffe Discovers The French Quarter."  Kids will be enchanted by this charming tale;
10 a.m. — Enjoy lots of laughs as kids get their faces colorfully decorated until noon;
10 a.m. — Don't miss the crazy stilt-walker roaming the store;
10 a.m. — Customers can learn about New Orleans Children's Health Project, an organization that was formed following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, and donate a Border's "Chaucer the Bear" to benefit the kids they help;
11 a.m. — The Baton Rouge Big Buddy program brings together WordPlay and NOYS for a lively demonstration of performance poetry during the Spoken Word Poetry session;
11:30 a.m. — Enjoy a sweet treat with Winnie the Pooh as we listen to one of his favorite stories during Honeybrunch with Pooh.  Have your picture taken and receive a free photo from Borders;
Noon — Experience the eclectic blend of Latin shuffles, jazz, gritty funk, and Basin Street horns from The Iguanas;
Noon — Meet some of  the stars of the New Orleans literary scene during our New Orleans author showcase including Dave Dixon, Irwin Lachoff, Kerri McCaffety, Monica Pierre, Dominic Massa, Catherine Campanella, and Catherine C. Kahn;
1-3 p.m. — Many of the city's best know psychics will reveal fortunes through palm reading, tarot cards and astrology;
1 p.m. — Satisfy your sweet tooth with free chocolate and confection samples;
2 p.m. —Swedish singer, Theresa Andersson, who has made New Orleans her home, will charm you with her effervescent vocals;
3 p.m. — Mary Jo and Bhrett McCabe from the mother-son radio show "The Psychic and The Doc" use science and the supernatural to deal with your everyday problems;
3 p.m. — Discover our state's celebrated chefs, restaurants, and festivals with Louisiana Culinary Trails;
3 p.m. — Kids of all ages will be captivated by a delightful puppet show;
3 p.m. — Meet this renowned restaurateur, Ralph Brennan, who has helped define seafood cooking;
3:30 p.m. — Celebrate New Orleans' musical heritage as the Pinettes and the Wild Magnolias parade up Saint Charles Ave. and into the store.  Join the parade!
4 p.m. — Visit the Civil War battlefields in Mark Grisham and David Donaldson's captivating debut novel, "Bedlam South," a Borders exclusive;
4 p.m. — Listen to the big, bold sound of the Pinettes Brass Band, the world's only all-female brass band. They will have you dancing throughout the store;
4:45 p.m. — The Wild Magnolias will amaze you with their ornate costumes and irresistible folk-influenced music;
5 p.m. — Take a sip of the spirit of New Orleans as Celebration Distillation reveals the legacy of old New Orleans rum during Borders' Rum Revelry;
5:30 p.m. — Columnist Chris Rose, author of "1 Dead in Attic," recounts the first four harrowing months post-Katrina in New Orleans;
6 p.m. — Offbeat Magazine presents "Saturday Night Music Fest," an evening of music by rising stars on the local scene including Fal Holiday and the Honky Tonk Revue, the Joe Krown organ Trio, Los Po-Boy-Citos, and Paul Sanchez.

Sunday, Dec. 7:
10:30 a.m. — Giggles will abound as kids get their faces colorfully decorated.
11:00 a.m. — Enjoy a special performance and storytime with author Johnette Downing reading "Today is Monday in Louisiana";
12:30 a.m. — Meet Dora the Explorer!  Dora will join us for a storytime and Nickelodeon® games, puzzles and giveaways.. Plus, Dora will return at 1:15 p.m. for a photo opportunity and free photos;
1:00 p.m. — Make the move to improve your health during our free health screening as Touro Infirmary answers your health questions;
1:00 p.m. — Experience down-home Louisiana cooking in our local cookbook author showcase featuring recipes from Frank Davis, Mike Lane, Kit Wohl and Dale Curry;
2:00 p.m. — Salute the brave rescue workers of the New Orleans Fire Department as they give tours of one of the high-tech engines used to fight fires;
3:00 p.m. — Savor the flavors of New Orleans as Culinary Concierge Magazine presents four of the city's top chefs:  Dickie Brennan, Michelle McRaney, Richard Stewart and Susan Spicer during our Foodie Fest;
3:00 p.m. — Unleash your inner artist with advice from Eli Ivory, the visionary creator of "Ivory Comics";
3:30 p.m. — Mackie Shilstone, fitness guru to the pros, helps you get into tip top shape with his book, "Lean & Hard";
4:00 p.m. — Emerging artist Lindsay Rae Spurlock will jump-start your evening with a soulful performance of indie-pop music;
5:30 p.m. — Take the first step in getting fit.  Discover the benefits of a proper diet and exercise program from the professionals at Nikken Wellness;
7:00 p.m. — Wrap up your weekend with Dr. Michael White's New Orleans- styled jazz, inspired by Creole and blues.

Throughout the grand opening weekend and all year long, the new Borders concept store will offer customers in New Orleans community benefit days, educational discounts, diverse events, great selection, special features and a wonderful place to simply explore. Borders is dedicated to enhancing the lives of customers through knowledge and entertainment.