A Glorious Sunday in Spring – New Orleans Style
March 14, 2010 by Lisa Heindel
Filed under Around Town, Blog, Family Fun
While our Northern friends are still dealing with cold weather, today was one of those gorgeous spring days in New Orleans that make you forget that before long we will be living with the heat of the summer.
It was entirely too pretty to stay inside, so we hopped over the river and spent the morning walking through the French Market and Jackson Square. Soaking up the sights and the sounds of the city on a Sunday is a wonderful, inexpensive (FREE) way to spend a morning or afternoon and I was reminded how much I love this city that I was born and raised in.
We wandered through the French Market, ate alligator sausage on a stick and checked out the wares of the local vendors. The mouth watering aroma of roasted corn and sweet potatoes was drifting through the market…
On our way back upriver, we strolled along the Moon Walk which has a fabulous view of the West Bank of New Orleans and of the downtown area that hugs the banks of the river.
We wound our way around Jackson Square, stopping to watch a magician perform tricks, pausing to admire the work of local artists, ducking inside the cool interior of St. Louis Cathedral and admiring the beautiful architecture of the oldest neighborhood in New Orleans.
With a live band playing in the square right outside the Cabildo, we had to stop and listen to the talented street performers that were entertaining a huge crowd. It was easy to tell who the tourists were, because they don’t know the local songs…it was also easy to spot the residents wandering through, because they are the first ones to dance and sing along.
My out of town friends always swear that we have more fun than anyone else….what did you do with your Sunday?
For information about home buying or selling on the West Bank of New Orleans, or relocating to or from NAS JRB New Orleans, please contact the West Bank Living Team. It would be our pleasure to have the opportunity to assist you with any of your real estate needs and have a little fun while doing it!
New Orleans West Bank Weekend Events – March 6-7, 2010
March 2, 2010 by Lisa Heindel
Filed under Around Town, Blog, Family Fun
There is so much happening on the West Bank this weekend that my calendar is overflowing. I don’t know how all of these great events ended up on the same days, but if you can’t have fun this Saturday and Sunday, well….there’s not much we can do to help you. Rest up on Friday night, because the rest of the weekend is jam packed with West Bank Living!
Celebrating the 50 year history of Terrytown, the Spring festival is Saturday from 11am – 11pm at 641 Heritage Avenue. A 9:30 am parade through Terrytown will kick off the event, which is filled with food, fun and live music, a kids area, car show and more. The music schedule is:
12-3pm Amanda Shaw
4-7pm the TopCats
7:30-10:30pm Rockin Dopsie, Jr
Bring your lawn chairs to spend the day, but no outside food or drink is allowed.
Mo’s Pizza Fest
This year’s annual Mo’s Pizza Fest starts at 11:00am. A great local fundraiser, proceeds from the Festival benefit both the Westwego Fire Department and Westwego Police Department.
Don’t miss out on all the great food, fun, raffles and live music. Again, bring your lawn chairs, but leave the food and drink at home. Band schedule is:
Foret Tradition – 11:00am -12:30pm
Mojeaux- 1:00pm -3:00pm
Weathered – 3:30pm -4:30pm
Bag of Donuts – 5:00pm – 6:30pm
Five Finger Discount – 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Mo’s Pizza, 1112 Avenue H, Westwego, LA. 70094. Call 341-9650 or mosfest@gmail.com for more information.
Gretna Jubilee
The JPPSS Advanced Studies Academies on the Westbank are hosting the fourth annual Gretna Jubilee – a gala event, featuring restaurant tasting, open premium bar, charity auction and outdoor concert at the historic Gretna Farmer’s Market. This year’s event will take place on Saturday March 6, 2010 from 7p.m. – 11 p.m., in the open-air Gretna Market at the corner of 4th St and Huey P. Long Avenue in the City of Gretna.
The Jubilee is a benefit for charter schools, with food samplings from an expected 35 restaurants and this year featuring two bands – rock-a-billy sensation Gal Holiday and legendary New Orleans rockers Dash Rip Rock. Tickets to the event are $50 and include food, an open premium bar, concert and participation in the auction.
Visit www.gretnajubilee.com for more information on the event.
Louisiana Saturday Night
A family friendly fund raiser being held by the Krewe of Choctaw, Louisiana Saturday Night kicks off at 6 pm at the VFW Post 3121, 475 Monroe Street in Gretna.
It’s a Louisiana Saturday Night party with the Jimmy Thibodeaux Band playing all of your favorite Louisiana music from 6-10pm. The event is free and open to the public. The Kids are welcome… Choctaw will be selling fried catfish dinners and drinks and you can dance all night long! Come dressed as you are from the festivals as they roll back the rug and just have some fun.
Algiers Friendship Day
As if Saturday wasn’t enough to wear anyone out, Sunday is Friendship Day in Algiers Point. One of the most anticipated block parties of the year, with food, drinks and live music from Outlaw Jim and the Whiskey Benders and Algiers’ own Chicken on the Bone.
The weather is supposed to be delightful, so stake out a spot for your blanket on the levee or bring your lawn chairs to the corner of Olivier and Patterson. The music starts at noon, with an official end time of 4 pm, but this party usually lasts into the night. Kid friendly, it’s a wonderful way to welcome spring to the West Bank.
That’s my calendar. What are you doing this weekend?
For information about home buying or selling on the West Bank of New Orleans, or relocating to or from NAS JRB New Orleans, please contact the West Bank Living Team. It would be our pleasure to have the opportunity to assist you with any of your real estate needs and have a little fun while doing it!
Purple, Green and Black and Gold
February 4, 2010 by Lisa Heindel
Filed under Around Town, Family Fun
Surely, the rest of the country cannot possibly be having as much fun as New Orleans this weekend. They might getting ready for a couple of days off and even the Super Bowl, but right in the middle of preparations for the Big Game, we have a whole other party starting.
Friday kicks off Mardi Gras 2010 in earnest, with 5 parades rolling in the metro area (plus a couple on the North Shore as well). On the West Bank of New Orleans, this Friday is when folks that haven’t seen each other for a year meet up again on the Krewe of Cleopatra parade route along General de Gaulle in Algiers and Terry Parkway in Terrytown. Getting there early and waiting for the parade to pass is never a waste of time. It’s a chance to catch up with friends and gives you time to sit back and take a deep breath before standing shoulder to shoulder, yelling “Throw me somethin’” over and over and over again until the last float has rolled away.
Friday evening there will be free, live bands at Stumpf and the Expressway in Gretna (The Bucktown All-Stars play at 6:30 pm) and at Terry Parkway and Carol Sue in Terrytown (the Wise Guys perform at 6:30 pm). Live music, friends, floats, beads…who else is having this much fun on a Friday in February?
Saturday is expected to dawn sunny and chilly, perfect weather for the parades rolling on the West Bank. Kicking things off at 10:15 in the morning is the Krewe of Choctaw, followed by the Mystic Knights of Adonis. But wait! It doesn’t end there. Because the Super Bowl falls on a parade day, the Krewe of Alla has moved their parade, complete with a huge marching band competition, to Saturday as well. That’s 3, count them, 3 back to back parades rolling through Algiers, Terrytown and into the City of Gretna.
Pssstttt…look for me in the Krewe of Choctaw on the shrimp boat float, driver’s side. I bet yelling “West Bank Living” might snag you a pair of big beads 
The live music continues on Saturday, with The Topcats playing at 11 am at Stumpf and the Expressway and Amanda Shaw & The Cute Guys kicking off at 10:30 am at the corner of Terry Pkwy and Carol Sue. While the rest of the country is blowing snow or grocery shopping or running other errands, we’ll be partying in the streets all day.
And then there is Sunday.
Oh my gosh, Sunday. The big day. The day that Saints fans have been waiting for over 40 years to see. The day that purple, green and gold is set aside for the Black and Gold of the New Orleans Saints. Churches are canceling evening services, parades are on hold, businesses are closing early and, in some places, school has already been called off on Monday.
The day when an entire city will be crowded around televisions, whether at home or at a party or in the bars that are broadcasting the game, we will all be united with one goal…to watch our boys win the most important game of their careers – the Super Bowl. Of course, as always, we put our own little local spin on it and I’ll be wearing my limited-edition-sold-out-can’t-get-them-anymore “Supa Beauxl” shirt from local designer Fleurty Girl.
The newspaper warned travelers this week that Miami doesn’t allow the kind of tailgating we are used to. Hmphf. Well, Miami, we don’t need to be there in person to cheer our team on. We will have the biggest citywide party of any team ever to hit the Super Bowl and you can bet that even though the NFL thought they could rip it off (and failed), we will WHO DAT! our way to the end of the game and on into the night.
Here’s wishing you a safe start to your Mardi Gras and GEAUX SAINTS!!!!
2010 Mardi Gras Parade Schedule
For information about home buying or selling in New Orleans, or relocating to or from NAS JRB New Orleans, please contact the West Bank Living Team. It would be our pleasure to assist you with any of your real estate needs and have a little fun while welcoming you to our community!
Cruising the Mississippi River with the Krewe of Choctaw
January 31, 2010 by Lisa Heindel
Filed under Around Town, Family Fun, Local photos
It may have been cold and gloomy outside, but onboard the Steamboat Natchez, the Krewe of Choctaw celebrated their 75th anniversary with the annual river parade yesterday. We boarded bright and early in the morning for a 2 hour party cruise up and down the Mississippi River that was full of fun, music, food and Mardi Gras royalty. The view of the city of New Orleans was a bonus, with such a different perspective of the city when it’s seen from the river.
With a fireboat from New Orleans leading the way and one from Plaquemines Parish following behind, there were picture perfect moments all along the way.
Since it was pretty darn chilly and windy, most people were smart enough to stay inside, where the food was hot and the music kept them moving.
Choctaw’s street parade will roll on February 6, 2010 through Algiers, Terrytown and Gretna, the day before the Saints take the field in the Super Bowl. These riders are ready!
Pssssttt…look for me on the neutral ground side of the shrimp boat float and I’ll throw ya something
Happy Mardi Gras!
For information about home buying or selling in New Orleans, or relocating to or from NAS JRB New Orleans, please contact the West Bank Living Team. It would be our pleasure to assist you with any of your real estate needs and have a little fun while welcoming you to our community!
A Peek Inside A Mardi Gras Ball | Krewe of Choctaw Celebrates 75th Anniversary
January 12, 2010 by Lisa Heindel
Filed under Around Town, Family Fun
Most people, unless they’ve been involved in a krewe, don’t get to attend Mardi Gras balls in New Orleans. Some of the newer, huge organizations sell tickets to the public, but it’s usually to a very large, overcrowded event that is lacking in tradition.
That’s why I love being part of the Krewe of Choctaw. It’s not the biggest krewe in the area, but it has a long history as part of Mardi Gras on the West Bank, and this year we are celebrating our 75th anniversary. To kick off the season, the annual Big PowWow (our version of a ball) was held at the River City Ballroom. New Orleans natives will remember it as the building that fronted the short lived River City Casino. We’ll remember it for the fabulous gala that showcased this year’s royalty to members, family and friends.
Tables were set to welcome guests at the strictly formal event. If there is one thing that ladies in New Orleans know, it’s how to dress up for a ball and the men were in their finest as well. We arrived in the afternoon to begin preparing for the tableau, the biggest event of the year besides the actual parade.
Backstage was a flurry of activity, with makeup artists, costumes, head dresses and sequins galore. After the singing of the National Anthem and the presentation of the colors by the Gretna Police Department, the officers of the krewe made an entrance in their costumes and traditional masks to welcome everyone.
In celebration of the 75th anniversary, past chiefs and princesses were acknowledged and I was surprised at how many were in attendance. Apparently, you don’t forget how to be royalty, as they all made an elegant entrance, waving to the crowd and wielding the traditional Choctaw tomahawk scepters.
The maids of the 2010 royal court were presented and they were just stunning! These young ladies seemed completely unruffled by the spotlights and the flashing of cameras as they gracefully made their way to the stage on the arms of their escorts. Having been a maid many, many years ago, I can tell you that it’s nerve wracking to make that entrance with a smile on your face!
The maids were followed by the Choctaw Medicine Man, who danced and whooped his way through the entire ballroom. The pressure is on the medicine man to keep the rain away for parade day…
Finally, the grand entrance of the Chief and the Princess (escorted by the Captain). Here’s a little bit of trivia for you…this year’s princess was selected 18 years ago. When she was born, her father (this year’s chief) put their names down for the 75th anniversary court and kept it a secret from her until right before they were announced as this year’s royalty. Pretty impressive – I don’t know if I could keep a secret like that for so long!
After the presentations, there was music and dancing and the annual umbrella decorating contest. There were more entries to the contest this year than I’ve seen in a long time and the participants second lined around the ballroom while the judges had the hard task of choosing a winner.
At the end of the night, everyone was exhausted and exhilarated, all at the same time. The costumes are tucked away…waiting to make their next appearance at the River Parade and then the street parade. I hope to see you there!
Choctaw’s River Parade will be held on Saturday, January 30, 2010. Open to the public, tickets are $15 for the cruise up and down the Mississippi River on the Steamboat Natchez. Rain or shine, the party is on, sailing promptly at 10 am. For ticket information, visit www.kreweofchoctaw.com. The street parade rolls on Saturday, February 6, 2010 on the traditional West Bank route through Algiers, Terrytown and Gretna.
