Upcoming Festival Festivities

Spring in New Orleans is synonymous to Festival season! Here are the dates to look forward to!

French Quarter Fest April 7^th-10th

New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Fest April 29^th-May 8^th

Mid-City Bayou Boogaloo May 20^th-22^th

New Orleans Wine and Food Experience May 24^th-28^th

Greek Festival May 27^th-29^th

French Quarter Fest is actually this weekend and it keeps growing every year, but it’s still free! Great local bands play on stages all around the French Quarter and all city’s best restaurants and bars serve around the festival. It’s the epitome of a good New Orleans time: delicious food, lots of drinks and great music set against the famous French Quarter backdrop!

For more information on the French Quarter Fest line-up visit: www.fqfi.org/frenchquarterfestival

Post by: Alex Fontova

Opening Day- Go Giants!

I know this doesn’t pertain in the slightest bit to New Orleans, but as a Giants fan far from the Bay, I had to commemorate the opening day of the 2011 season in some way (please excuse the unintentional rhyme). One of the most popular things to do in the San Francisco Bay Area in the summer time is attend Giants games at AT&T Park, despite the fog and sub 60 degree temperatures. New Orleans may have beaten Northern California in that aspect.

Buster Posey, #28

However, on the subject of other states, the time has also come to decide what those of us who aren’t based in New Orleans are doing for the summer. Do we go home for a summer job or internship, catch up with family and high school friends and take a break from all New Orleans has to offer, or do we stay, enjoy exploring beyond Uptown, and maybe even take some summer school classes? I for one am torn between the two. I’m in the process of applying for jobs and internships in both New Orleans and San Francisco, so we’ll see where I end up.

Post by: Kati Dahm

Ladies Who Lunch

Whether you have guests coming in town, you’re making Easter plans, or you just want to do something different on a Sunday, spring in New Orleans in the perfect time to go to a traditional jazz brunch. Put your cutest sundress on, get your friends together, and check out some of these restaurants that are FAMOUS for their jazz brunch!

Arnaud’s Restaurant- Located right in the heart of the French Quarter, Arnaud’s serves its “time-honored traditional brunch” on Sundays from 10:00 a.m.- 2: 00 p.m. with Dixieland Jazz playing.

Mr. B’s Bistro- Featuring Joe Simon’s Jazz Trio, Mr. B’s serves their jazz brunch on Sundays from 10:30 a.m.- 2:00 p.m. Their Shrimp and Grits and Bloody Mary’s are to die for!

Palace Cafe- Given that the restaurant is housed  in the historic Werlein’s music building, the jazz brunch at Palace Cafe makes you feel like a local celebrity. I ate here recently for a friend’s birthday and the Shrimp Tchefuncte was amazing! Save room for the Banana Foster Beignets too!

By: Abigail Domingue

It’s Springtime in New Orleans!

The weather is warm, the sun is out and New Orleans has never looked more green! So here are just a few reminders on how to go green and keep our city and planet as beautiful as ever.

• You’ve Got Mail- We all know the excitement of receiving that crisp J.Crew or Anthropologie catalogue in your mailbox, but remove your name from any mailing lists you are on and give them your e-mail instead to dramatically reduce the paper waste!

 

• Message in a Bottle- Invest in a cute Nalgene and portable coffee mug. Most on-campus coffee shops will fill up your coffee cup instead of giving you a new Styrofoam glass and many even discount your purchase if you do! And with the New Orleans heat, staying hydrated is important, but going through a case of plastic water bottles a week is just wasteful.

 

• Hang Me Out to Dry- Whether at home or at the laundry mat, wash your clothes with cold water. The washing machine will use less energy which will put less CO₂ into the air. And it will keep your brights from fading too! Also, hang your clothes out to dry rather than placing them in the dryer to further reduce your energy use (and lower your energy bill!)

And if you don’t already own one…buy a bike! Enjoy the amazing parks, or take a trip down Magazine next time you plan on jumping in your car!

Go green, save a little a green and keep New Orleans beautiful!

 Post by: Alex Fontova

What to Wear: The Romper

My favorite look for spring right now is the romper. This light cotton jumpsuit is perfect for those sunny spring days in New Orleans when you need something comfortable and casual to throw on for class. The romper is potentially one of the easiest pieces of clothing to wear- it’s all one piece! I am currently wearing this one in white:

Splendid Taylor Romper, 89.00, Bloomingdales.com

Post By: Kati Dahm

Staying Classy and Comfortable this Carnival

Mardi Gras is one of the most amazing times to spend in New Orleans. The entire Crescent city comes out to celebrate. But with all the drunkenness and debauchery, we have a few tips to make this your most enjoyable Carnival yet.

1. Flask or Water Bottle of Alcohol- For those of us who don’t enjoy copious amounts a beer, a flask is necessary! I don’t particularly enjoy liquor either, so I fill up a water bottle with white wine to enjoy throughout the day. The alcohol offered on the route is very overpriced and the fraternity boys’ kegs aren’t always reliable, or chilled for that matter. Save yourself the hassle and money and bring alcohol from home (if you’re 21 or older of course).

2. Comfortable shoes- You 1will walk an average of five miles in a given day and the closest thing you’ll have to a couch is the curb of the street…comfortable shoes is a MUST! And no flip flops or open toe shoes, that’s a disease waiting to happen. I recommend Sperries, tennis shoes or cowboy boot to go best with your Mardi Gras Perlis polo.

3. Pack snacks- After hours of walking and partaking in some adult beverages, you will work up quite an appetite. There will be a open restaurants and a few street vendors along the parade routes, but they will be overpriced and lines will be ridiculous. Pack a sandwich and some chips in your purse to stay fueled up for the day.

And most of all, remember…

Mardi Gras is a marathon, NOT a sprint. Don’t burn yourself out too early!

Perlis loving on St. Charles

Have a safe and happy Carnival!

Post by: Alex Fontova

Finding something sweet on Magazine Street

Sure Magazine Street is famous for its boutique shopping and antique stores, but it is also home to some of the most delicious desserts in New Orleans.

1. Sucre- The Tiffany’s of dessert bakeries. The interior is actually painted Tiffany blue and the incredible array of delectable desserts is almost too beautiful to eat…ALMOST. From gelato to chocolates and cheesecakes to tarts, this high-end bakery satisfies every single one of your sweet teeth. But the real crowd-pleaser here is the French macaroons.
2. La Boulangerie- A classic French bakery. La Boulangerie could be found on any street corner in Paris. The sweet aroma of freshly baked baguettes and the buttery croissants make you wish that an all carb diet was acceptable. But the real thing you can’t miss here is the flakey pain au chocolate. 
3.  Bee Sweet Cupcakes- Actual cupcake heaven. This little store next to Whole Foods can be easily looked over, but once you’ve had one of their cupcakes, you’ll never just drive by it again. Baked fresh daily, each cupcake has a theme. The two favorites here are the I Love Lucy red velvet and the Drew Brees, a chocolate cupcake with vanilla frosting and M&Ms.

Post by: Alex Fontova

Sucre Macaroons

Pain au chocolat

Bee Sweet Cupcake