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2011 Gretna Heritage Festival in Pictures

Lisa — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 14:14:13 +0000

This year was the first one in a long time that I wasn’t able to attend all three days of the annual Heritage Festival in Gretna LA. But, despite the fact that I missed Sunday, I was still able to get some pictures and video of all of the festivities. The festival seems to get bigger every year, but still keeps that small town feel that I love so much.

Hope you enjoy the recap!

Parading Pooches at Pawdi Gras 2011

Lisa — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 11:32:43 +0000

Every year I say that I’m going to get to the Pawdi Gras parade in Gretna LA. Every year I miss it. Until Saturday.

Up bright and early, I was able to stroll through the Farmer’s Market and get to the starting area before the parade kicked off. The volunteers from PAWS were there, along with some of the cutest potential adoptees that you’ve ever seen (I hope some of them went home with new families this weekend), as were the folks from PetCo, which also hosts pet adoption events.

Costumed canines were milling around the starting area and their people were quite imaginative with the construction of various floats and matching costumes. If only they had opposable thumbs, I’m thinking they would have ditched the humans altogether.

Click on the photos below for a full sized view

Pawdi Gras is held every year on the Saturday following Mardi Gras. It’s never too early to start planning for next year

2010 Gretna Heritage Festival Kicks Off

Lisa — Sat, 02 Oct 2010 13:47:14 +0000

We couldn’t have asked for better weather for the opening day of Gretna Fest this year! Sunny skies, mild temperatures and a breeze blowing off of the river that was perfect.

If I had to guess, I’d say that they broke a record for Friday night attendance. The Krewe of Choctaw booth, where I volunteer each year, sold over 450 po-boys and I don’t know how many crawfish pies. The folks at Hi-Do bakery are going to be kicking it into overdrive today baking extra bread for us since we figure that it will be another jam packed day.

Because the booth was so busy, I didn’t have a chance to get out and take as many pictures as I usually do, but did manage to snap a few. Enjoy….and I hope I see you at the Fest today!

Have a great weekend!

Friday Fun Fotos | August 13, 2010

Lisa — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 15:19:13 +0000

Last weekend was the annual White Linen Night in the arts district of New Orleans. I don’t know who decided that August was the prime time for an outdoor event in a hot and humid climate, but the heat didn’t keep thousands of people from crowding the streets and the galleries.

Missed White Linen Night? There’s another opportunity to be hot and sweaty and cruise the art galleries during Dirty Linen Night on August 14th. Held in the 500 to 1000 blocks of Royal Street, everyone is invited to the artist owned galleries, studios and shops in the French Quarter. You can check out the Dirty Linen Night facebook page for more info.

Friday Fun Fotos | August 6, 2010

Lisa — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 18:14:52 +0000

How many more days until football?

New Orleans Saints 2010 Season Schedule

Bringing Public Art to Terrytown LA

Lisa — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 21:04:56 +0000

If you were driving down Terry Parkway today you might have seen these fabulous and massive masks being installed on the neutral ground between Stumpf Blvd. and Carol Sue Parkway.

Designed by artist Steve Martin, the masks are part of a public arts project sponsored by Jefferson Parish. I was lucky enough to catch the artist as he supervised the installation and he told me that the masks are created from Cor-Ten steel, which is typically used in the construction of bridges.

One of the requirements of the parish when they put out a call to local artists was that the designs needed to be maintenance free. According to Steve, the metal is kiln fired, creating the rusty looking exterior. But, it’s not the kind of rust that will cause the masks to deteriorate. Instead, it provides a protective coating that will allow them to stand up to the elements and provide years of enjoyment to folks as they are driving through Terrytown.

Steve Martin has a local studio at 624 Julia Street in New Orleans that will be open for White Linen Night this Saturday and he is displaying the original models for the masks there. If you stop in, be sure to thank him for designing a fantastic addition to the West Bank.

Bayou St. John | Photos of a New Orleans Neighborhood

Lisa — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 03:32:40 +0000

With bayous and canals running through and around the city of New Orleans, it’s not surprising that there are neighborhoods with some fantastic water views. Just on the outskirts of City Park, Bayou St. John winds in front of many homes, providing a picturesque setting that seems out of place in the middle of the city.

How would you like to have this outside of your front door each morning?

Originally a waterway used by Native Americans who settled in the area, Bayou St. John is also rumored to have been the site of some of the voodoo rituals of Marie Laveau, one of the most famous (or infamous) voodoo practitioners in the history of the city.

Just down the road from these lovely homes lies City Park, the New Orleans Museum of Art, a public golf course and more. The bridge in the first photo above is used by local school children to quickly cross back and forth.

Enjoying the pictures? You can see more New Orleans photos that we’ve taken all around the city.

More history of Bayou St. John

For more 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 have the opportunity to assist you with any of your real estate needs and have a little fun while doing it!

Spring into Spring

Lisa — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:47:52 +0000

I love spring. It’s my favorite season of all, even if it doesn’t last very long in New Orleans. The long term forecast says that we are expected to have a cooler, wetter than normal spring in 2010. I could do without the wet, but the idea of it not being sweltering hot anytime soon is wonderful.

Japanese Magnolia tree

One of my favorite signs of spring is the blooms on the Japanese Magnolia trees. They don’t last very long, so I had to grab the camera when I saw this one in Algiers this past weekend. My neighbor tells me that the sure sign that winter has passed is when the pecan trees begin to leaf, but that hasn’t happened yet, so I’ll just be content with gorgeous pink blossoms.

Next weekend, we’ll spring forward into daylight savings time. I’m really looking forward to that extra hour of sunshine and the change to take more pictures all around the city.

HAPPY SPRING!

Popp Bandstand | City Park New Orleans

Lisa — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 15:54:18 +0000

I absolutely adore old buildings. It doesn’t matter if it’s a house or a business, the attention to detail that used to be the norm is incredible. So when I took a drive through City Park recently, I was captivated by the different structures that dot the park and the history behind them.

Popp’s Bandstand was dedicated on July 4, 1917 and has been the site of many live, free musical performances over the years. Even the March King, John Philip Sousa, led a band on this stage.

Can you imagine if you had been one of the lucky people to be there? They probably never imagined that all of these years later, those musical arrangements would be part of our national fabric and history.

More City Park history

Map of City Park

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

Lisa — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 16:32:13 +0000

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!