Hey, it’s almost February 2012, and we all know what that means here in New Orleans-Carnival Time! The first joyously anticipated parade rolls next Saturday, February 4, starting at 6:30 PM, through the ever-funky French Quarter and Marigny neighborhoods. Yes, that would be Krewe du Vieux.  Makes sense that the first parade would be in the Marigny-in 1833 Bernard Xavier de Marigny de Mandeville, a rich plantation owner of French descent, raised money to fund an official Mardi Gras celebration, and of course his plantation later became the Marigny. (He was one of the original developers of New Orleans!) But there’ve been carnival celebrations in New Orleans since at least 1743.  The Krewe du Vieux likes to boast that it’s the only organization that parades around the original satirical ideals of Carnival.  No lofty mythological themes, or glittering stars on huge floats a la Endymion. No, it’s just creative people making fun of their own society. Lots of material in New Orleans!

This year’s theme of the always-irreverent (and a bit racy) adult-oriented parade is “Crimes against Nature,” and the Queen is Deon Haywood, Executive Director of Women with a Vision.  As leader of that organization, she fights for the rights of at-risk and impoverished women, marginalized members of society, and their families.  She’s clearly not shy!  With a theme like that, who knows what might turn up on those mule-drawn floats meandering through the Old Quarter. Recent Kings include Dr. John (2010-“Fired Up!”) and Don Marshall (2011-“25 Years Wasted.”).

According to the Krewe’s website it has sixteen subkrewes, which will each present their own interpretations of the theme. Subkrewes include the Krewe of C.R.U.D.E., Krewe of Space Age Love, Krewe of Underwear, Seeds of Decline, Krewe of Mama Roux, Krewe of L.E.W.D., Krewe of Drips and Dis- charges, Krewe of K.A.O.S., Knights of Mondu, T.O.K.I.N., Krewe Rue Bourbon, Krewe de C.R.A.P.S., Mystic Krewe of Spermes, Mystic Krewe of Comatose, Mystic Krewe of Inane, and Krewe du Mishigas.  There’ll be numerous brass bands and, oh yeah, the costumes! There’s nothing like it.  Stealing from James R. Creecy’s book Scenes in the South, and Other Miscellaneous Pieces described it best when, speaking of the 1835 Mardi Gras, it all happens “in rich confusion.”

For more information, visit  www.kreweduvieux.org/ And we’ll be updating the blog on other parades and events in the next few weeks.

Southern Comfort Bed and Breakfast, your New Orleans accomodations, is a perfect place to watch the Uptown parades as we are only 2 blocks from St. Charles Ave….a bath room close by is a good thing!

Becoming Artfully AWARE: Linking Local and International Communities through the Arts A special event at New Orleans Museum of Art Friday, February 3rd, 5pm – 10pm

Listen to live entertainment by Irvin Mayfield Jazz Playhouse’s Musical Director, Michael Watson. Be amazed by a cultural performance from Guardians of the Flame, Mardi Gras Indian Tribe.

View exhibitions from Ogden Museum of Southern Art & Contemporary Arts Center of New Orleans. Marvel at artwork & photography created by Professional Artists from New Orleans & around the world including: Latin America, Middle East, Africa, Europe and Asia.

Watch a unique dance performance by New Orleans Dance Collective based on unity. Catch a literary art reading by Professional Writers, hosted by The Faulkner Society.

View environmental works from the Sierra Club & meet residents from A Studio in the Woods. Explore paintings & creative writing from 60+ NOLA schools, health centers & community groups. Listen to original prose by students from New Orleans Center for Creative Arts.

Hear speakers from the New Orleans Citizen Diplomacy Council, World Trade Center, World Affairs Council and Young Leadership Council.

See films about the vital role of the arts in society, presented by FosterBear Films. Receive a free booklet of short stories & visual art created by participants and artists.

Eat and drink at Café NOMA by Ralph Brennan.

Southern Comfort, your  Bed and Breakfast in the Uptown/Garden District thinks this is going to be a great event!

New Orleans is a place where the timeless sounds of jazz fill the air on any given night. One particularly notable voice in this great city is the smooth and sultry ragtime sound of Meschiya Lake and the Little Big Horns. Lake, who has called the Crescent City home for over ten years, has quite the interesting past. Her career began in a South Dakota steakhouse at age nine, where she won a $500 singing contest, and years down the road she ended up in a traveling circus, performing an array of acts, including insect eating and fire dancing. It was during this time when Lake fell in love with the city and soon became a fixture on Royal Street in the French Quarter, busking and becoming one of the city’s most admired street performers, often taking her act on tour both nationally and abroad.

Forming the Little Big Horns in 2009 and shortly after releasing a full length album, Lucky Devil, Meschiya Lake has secured herself as a staple of local live music receiving rave reviews. WWOZ’s David Kunian citing the album as one of his top four releases of 2010 on NPR’s All Things Considered and, as Dan Baum of the New Yorker aptly described, “Meschiya Lake rocks back on her heels, lifts her chest, and opens her throat like an air raid siren to croon in a thrilling pre-microphone style that can make you feel by turns as though you were shivering around a campfire in a railroad (yard) or drinking in a Budapest nightclub in 1938.”

To experience the jazz revival ushered in by Meschiya Lake and the Little Big Horns, check out weekly gigs at Mimi in the Marigny on Monday nights, and at the Spotted Cat on Tuesday nights . The full calendar and tour information is available at www. myspace.com/meschiyalake .  Also enjoy a lively  performance  on Royal Street in the French Quarter at http://youtu.be/m_SMk42zcfI.

Bourbon Street is really an awful place, good thing there is only one like it , you just have to turn the corner to awaken to an entirely different atmosphere. But sometimes you just have take a stroll and people watch.

The neon lights, blasting karaoke and rowdy crowd is part of the experience but you can step in to the Maison Bourbon Jazz Club situated on the corner of St. Peter’s Street and experience a taste of what we all dream old New Orleans to be like, with live jazz playing in this comfortable intimate setting. Thursday through Sunday nights be sure to check out Jamil Sharif head a quintet of talented local  musicians. Playing classic New Orleans tunes, you’ll find yourself tapping your feet, clapping your hands, and shouting your part in the call-and-response.

Filled with an older crowd, there’s a respectful atmosphere of tourists enjoying beautiful music. But if you take notice of the bar you’ll find some locals relaxing in back, here to soak up their local sound. Jamil and his blaring trumpet will keep you happy throughout the sets, and there are plenty of solo moments for the drums, piano, clarinet and bass to delight the ears with a well-rounded mix of improv. With no cover charge and a one drink minimum, Maison Bourbon is easy on the wallet too, at least by Bourbon Street standards.

Whether you’re looking to start your night right or finish it off smoothly, or even spend its entirety with jazz music, this place is the jam. As the craziness outside rolls by, you’ll be happy to have made a stop here.

The team behind New Orleans’ wildly popular Cure, cited as one of the best American bars of 2011 by the likes of Esquire and Travel & Leisure, are at it again.   Neil Bodenheimer and Kirk Estopinal have recently unveiled Bellocq, a lounge located at the recently renovated Hotel Modern, formerly known as Hotel Le Cirque. The developers of this new venture hope to bring about the same type of revitalization to Lee Circle as was seen with Freret Street following Cure’s popularity.

Bellocq aims to focus on a time period that may seem foreign to the clientele, ranging from the 1820s to 1900, garnering its namesake from E.J. Bellocq, well known for his haunting photographs of prostitutes in the red light district of Storyville.  The influences of the era can be found on the bar’s menu, which offers variations of cobblers, cocktails that traditionally include apertif wines, sugar, fresh fruit, and crushed ice.   The bar has an updated boudoir decor with red walls, a zinc bar and drinks served on a silver tray. While Bodenheimer and Estopinal hope to provide a different type of drinking establishment, they understand what it takes for one to move out of their comfort zone. A unique, but small wine selection and hard to find 22-ounce beers sold by the glass will be available, as well as standard drinks.

Food will also be available at Belloq, with a menu created by and prepared in the kitchen of neighbor Tamarind. The restaurant, also new to the Hotel Modern, is French-Vietnamese cuisine created by chefs Dominique Macquet and Quan Tran.

Just walk two blocks to the St. Charles Ave. from Southern Comfort , your Garden District Bed and Breakfast, hop on the streetcar and it will let you off steps from Bellocq.

If you’re searching for a funky and fresh dining experience that sets itself apart from the conventionality of many traditional French Quarter favorites, look no further than the Green Goddess.   Located at 307 Exchange Alley off Bienville, this colorful restaurant is eccentric, to say the least!    With limited indoor seating and a wonderful outdoor courtyard when weather permits, an intimate dining experience is in store.   Chefs Chris DeBarr and Paul Artigues clearly know their stuff and together create a truly unique menu, combining local ingredients with flavors and traditions from nearly every inch of the globe  . Where would one expect to see South Indian Lentil Pancakes, Korean Barbequed Pork Belly, Bangers and Mash, and Louisiana Oysters find a home on the same menu?   Don’t be surprised to hear the exotic origins of each dish straight from the Chef’s mouth, as tableside visits are customary.   For the truly adventurous, a surprise combination of the “Chef’s Cheese Treasures,” as well as a pre-set “Tasting Menu,” featuring an array of restaurant favorites, are offered daily and are perfect to split between 2 or 3.   While the food is sure to please a diversity of palates (plenty of vegetarian options), the Green Goddess takes the cake with its extensive offering of beverages.   The menu includes original infused cocktails, fresh tropical juices, Vietnamese coffee, teas, local and imported beer, and a truly impressive list of wines and champagnes to fit any budget.   Treat yourself to an exploration of flavor and trust the staff’s rather enlightened recommendations!

The Green Goddess is open for Lunch & Brunch every day, except Tuesday, from 11am – 3:30pm.   Dinner is served 6pm-11pm Wednesday through Sunday.   Because of its small size, reservations at the Green Goddess are handled on a “first come, first served” basis.  Luckily, both the Napoleon House Bar and the Carousel Lounge are within walking distance if you have time for a drink while waiting.

Bon appétit!

Southern Comfort Bed and Breakfast, your choice for Garden District Lodging loves this restaurant!  It’s a favorite choice for vegetarians as well as meat eaters .

Renewal of Downtown Theater Industry brings “Joy” to Canal Street.  As 2011 came to a close, the New Orleans’ entertainment circuit gained an exciting addition with the reopening of the Joy Theater, located at 1200 Canal Street. Its history as a popular movie theater, opening in 1947 with the screening of “Lover Come Back” starring Lucille Ball, ended in 2003, facing competition from multiplex cinemas and suffering damaging flooding during Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The $5 million renovations to the theater have kept close to the original exterior plans and include state of the art sound and light systems, as well as wider seats and elevators. The new Joy is a multi-purpose venue available for concerts, theatre arts, private events, and move screenings, and kicked off with an electrifying performance from the “Soul Queen of New Orleans” herself, Irma Thomas, on December 29. The New Year’s Eve celebration featured local favorite Kermit Ruffins and the Barbeque Swingers.

In related news, plans for the reconstruction of the Saenger Theatre on Canal Street have been announced following financial approval. Construction will begin in the New Year, with plans to reopen in 2013 as a venue for touring Broadway productions, dance, and music. All of this good news points to a coming revitalization of the former downtown theater district where aesthetics and décor pay homage to the heyday of these historic buildings and the picture show culture of the past!

Those interested in the historical plight of New Orleans’ theaters like the Joy and the Saenger should check out a 2004 documentary titled “No More Joy,” which chronicles the rise and fall of these local movie palaces throughout the twentieth century. More information on the new Joy Theater, including a list of upcoming events, is available online at www.thejoytheater.com.

The Joy Theater can be easily reached by the St. Charles Ave. streetcar which is only 2 blocks from Southern Comfort Bed and Breakfast, your Garden District Bed and Breakfast.

Let’s not forget about the French Market, either, still the oldest continuously operating outdoor market in the country. It’s been there since 1791.  The Sicilian immigrants who came to New Orleans in the late 19th century contributed a great deal, and Italian-Americans still sell fruits and vegetables at the market and from commercial warehouses.  New Orleans was and is a port, and its immigration patterns at the end of the 19th century matched that of New York and San Francisco in numbers and diversity.  Stalls at the French Market were operated by people speaking languages from all over the world, and many of those people later started corner markets and also sold wares from the streets.  In the late 1990’s, the farmers’ market movement got underway across the country, and in New Orleans, since Hurricane Katrina, farmers’ markets have proliferated.  Now we have farmer’s markets operating three days a week in town as part of the Crescent City Farmers’ Market, at 200 Broadway St. at the river Uptown on Tuesday, at 3700 Orleans Avenue at the Bayou on  Thursday, and at 700 Magazine St. at Girod on Saturday mornings. Several more operate in different neighborhoods on other days.  So, it’s easy to keep those New Year’s resolutions to eat more vegetables and fruit, as well as to buy local! And you’re part of New Orleans history while you’re doing it. These markets are only a short streetcar ride from Southern Comfort Bed and Breakfast, your Garden District Bed and Breakfast.

New Orleans has no lack of museums, and as always, they celebrate the city’s renowned diversity.  For starters, there’s your traditional art museum, celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. That is New Orleans’ flagship art museum, the New Orleans Museum of Art in City Park. It’s under new leadership in the person of Susan Taylor, and is proudly moving into its second century.  NOMA’s holdings include a significant collection of decorative arts and photography as well as painting, but for its second hundred years, it’s widening the spectrum of pieces in the permanent collection in its new show, NOMA 100.

You might want to check out the Ogdcn Museum of Southern Art, on Camp St. in the Warehouse/Arts District in downtown New Orleans.  The Ogden not only boasts a rich assortment of Southern art, including painting, photography, ceramics (such as fascinating pieces by George Ohr, “The Mad Potter of Biloxi,” and Newcomb pottery, originated by the Woodward brothers at Newcomb College in New Orleans), but also sponsors a  happening live music show called Ogden After Hours most Thursday evenings from 6 until 8 PM, with performances by Southern musicians.  You can get a drink (there’s a newly-invented cocktail special each month), mingle with your friends, and listen to all kinds of Southern music–including Cajun musicians, jazz, old-school rhythm and blues, rockabilly, Delta-style blues, New Orleans funky piano, etc. etc.  Just a brief listing of the performers over the last few years- Theresa Andersson, brothers James and Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews, Henry Butler, Leah Chase, the Hackberry Ramblers, Little Freddie King, Joe Krown, Steve Riley, the Red Stick Ramblers, Coco Robicheaux, Amanda Shaw, Walter “Wolfman” Washington, David Egan, Stanton Moore (of Galatic), Jon Cleary, Ivan Neville, and Clarence “Gatemouth”  Brown.  During the intermission, the museum’s staff members or musical authorities in town interview the musicians for the Museum’s archives.  Several of the artists listed here have died since their performances; fortunately, the interviews live on.  This is a easy streetcar ride from your Uptown Garden District Bed and Breakfast.

But for a couple of quirkier museum outings, you might want to check out another New Orleans offering-The Southern Food and Beverage Museum–the only food museum in the United States, in New Orleans, Louisiana, located on the third floor of Riverwalk at the Mississippi River.  SOFAB, as it’s known, has over 35,000 visitors a year and educates the curious about Southern food, defined loosely as whatever food Southerners eat-whether that’s Lebanese, Vietnamese, Tex-Mex, or the more familiar fried chicken, okra and collard greens you might imagine.  It contains exhibits about New Orleans po-boys, snowballs, Cajun food, sugar, MRE’s and abandoned refrigerators in the immediate post-Katrina era in New Orleans, and New Orleans’ famous cocktail culture, showcasing the historic absinthe.  It boasts the original 1859 bar from Bruning’s (originally the West End Hotel) on the lakefront in New Orleans, lovingly reassembled after it was damaged by Hurricane Georges in 1997.  SOFAB also presents live cooking demonstrations at the Museum itself, as well as at the French Market, so the curious can actually see how to go about cooking gumbo the Creole way, or macquechoux, or St. Joseph’s Day cookies. It’s a wonderful way to learn about what makes New Orleanians the happiest – food!

There’s a museum devoted to Mardi Gras Indians, another oddity of New Orleans cultural life. It’s called the BackStreet Cultural Museum, and you can see photographs of Mardi Gras Indians and actual elaborate beaded costumes.  It’s located in the historic Faubourg Treme’ at 1116 Henriette Delille Street in New Orleans. BackStreet Culturual Museum promotes the cultural traditions of the African-American community in New Orleans through its exhibits, of course, but it also sponsors programs such as the Mardi Gras Indian Sewing Program, to teach youngsters the old ways of sewing Mardi Gras Indian costumes, and opens its doors on Mardi Gras Day for visitors to catch the Indians themselves, the Baby Dolls, and everybody else in their finery.

We’ve got more than we can talk about in this space, but for more information on these institutions we’ve described here, check out their websites:
www.noma.org
www.ogdenmuseum.org/
www.southernfood.org/
www.backstreetmuseum.org/

City Park in New Orleans is a magical place during the holidays, and not just if you’re a kid.  City Park, located in mid-city New Orleans on a former swamp that later became Allard Plantation facing Bayou St. John, is spread out over 1300 acres and is the sixth-largest and seventh-most visited public park in the United States. It’s one of the country’s oldest parks; the original land grant was established in 1854.  It’s half again as big as Central Park in New York City. Even though it took a beating during Hurricane Katrina, the park has rebounded and is expanding even more in the next few years. During the holidays, it’s a place to visit that never fails to delight visitors and locals.

City Park is the home of the stunning Celebration in the Oaks, a visual delight of countless light exhibits hung in the century and a half old oak trees that make City Park one of the most beautiful public spaces in the country.  But there’s also the carousel, for a slow ride through history. The antique carousel at City Park, one of only 100 antique wooden carousels in the country, celebrated its 100th birthday in 2006.  It’s on the National Register of Historic Places and recently underwent a renovation.  There are thirteen vintage rides available during Celebration in the Oaks.  There’s a miniature train that kids can ride on throughout the park, decorated especially for the holidays, and a Cajun Night Before Christmas display.  There’s even a synthetic ice rink, allowing Southerners the experience of skating the way they do in the Olympics.  The Botanical Gardens Storyland and a children’s theme park are must-dos for the family with small children.

For many New Orleanians, visiting City Park’s Celebration in the Oaks is a beloved holiday tradition. It’s even got Mr. Bingle, the quintessential New Orleans Christmas character, a snowman who used to help Santa Claus at the now-defunct Canal Street Maison Blanche Department Store.  We love our history here.  City Park’s Celebration in the Oaks makes it all come to life.

Celebration in the Oaks is open this season from Friday, November 25, 2011 – Sunday, January 1, 2012, Weekend only Nov. 25, 26 and 27th.  It’s open nightly December 2nd through Jan. 1, 2012 (Closed December 24 and 31)
Friday and Saturday 6pm-11pm
Sunday 6pm-10pm

$7 per person, children under 3 and Friends of City Park enter free
Rides: $3 per ride or $17 per unlimited ride band.

This is a good thing, you will enjoy it, so when you’re staying at your Garden District Bed and Breakfast this Christmas season  be sure to include it in your “must do list”.