From Travelvideo.tv website:
By Bea Broda
(travelvideo.tv) New Orleans, April 5, 2008: Hurricane Katrina descended on New Orleans on August 29th 2005 – one of the worst years for hurricanes in history. Some 80% of the city was affected by the floodwaters and almost three years later the devastation continues on so many levels. New Orleans needs people to come and help to recover – the tourist economy is vital to its recovery. To date, the government has not come to the plate to help. The first order of business is to try to get people interested in visiting again.
I have personally come to New Orleans as President Elect of SATW (The Society of American Travel Writers) whose Editors Council is holding their annual conference here. After taking a four-hour "Katrina Tour" yesterday and witnessing the enormous breadth of the destruction on so many neighborhoods, it is impossible not to feel very strongly for what this distinctive city has gone through. A panel named "New Orleans Today and Tomorrow: Recovery and Resurgence" addressed issues relating to the city's tourism challenges in the wake of the devastating natural disaster faced in 2005.
The question posed: New Orleans is one of the greatest cities in the US and also the one most in need of the most help - How can we love it back to health?
According to this panel, to date, it’s only the people that have helped with the recovery – not the government at all. It is felt that this is a government level disaster but there has not been adequate response. Things have been so ridiculous that citizens that received some financial assistance to help re-build are expected to claim those funds as income and pay around a third of it back in taxes.
Three panelists weighed in on the issues:
TOURISM
Sandra Shilstone, President and CEO of New Orleans Tourism says they place special emphasis on developing tourism especially in slower times. Tourism employed over 80,000 people before Katrina and contributes a third of the economy. Some 15 million dollars a day in revenue was being lost from conventions being cancelled after the hurricane. War correspondents were coming instead of travel journalists and were giving the rest of the world a frightening picture of the state of things.
A huge initial decision was to continue with the 150th anniversary Mardi Gras, despite the turmoil. A “Thanks America” campaign was launched to everyone that helped during the worst of it. One week after Mardi Gras, New Orleans hosted the SATW Freelance council meeting, targeting some of the most successful travel journalists to help spread the word that New Orleans was still open for business and that the city’s spirit was still alive and well. There was a “Come Fall in Love with New Orleans All Over Again” campaign that had huge media placement across the US.
The latest high spirited commercial stars Jerry Davenport and a cast of thousands. The arts community has returned with vive, starting a bit if a cultural renaissance. The Audobon Nature Institute is opening an Insectarium in June, creating terrific family entertainment.
“Voluntourism” is inspiring, as volunteers come to help mend the devastation. In fact, enrollment is on the rise at the major universities such as Loyola with students that came to help with the rebuilding effort.
Prior to Katrina, annual tourists were 10.1 million and in 2006 that had decreased to 3.7 million people. In 2008, there has been a 90% increase, but certain misperceptions remain. People think the city is still under water and not ready to be visited. The city IS coming back, but there is a need for more leisure tourists to continue the recovery.
SECURITY
Warren J. Riley, Superintendent of the New Orleans Police Department with 27 years in the police force, says: In terms of crime and redevelopment - three precincts were completely destroyed and 5 out of 19 were greatly devastated. 174 officers were hired last year and another 72 this year. Many officers have been living in trailers that are 10 by 25 feet with four people in the same trailer. The criminal justice section was destroyed – people have been working out of trailers and bar rooms, but the system is now operating on all cylinders mainly because there has been such a strong determination to get home. The first two years was very tough, trying to stabilize the situation after such rampant evacuation.
Superintendent Riley feels that the police force of New Orleans handles huge events better than any other in the country. The force is still short with around 170 officers but Riley feels they will fill this in the next year. He hopes to convey that the city is safe to visit and people should feel quite comfortable. Significant strides have been made and there is a focus on tourism areas. Over 800,000 people are handled during Mardi Gras without incident, a fact of which Riley is proud.
Some of the terrible headlines after Katrina were accurate because of the lack of manpower in the police force, but the recruitment efforts have now changed all of that. Undercover officers also patrol some of the major popular areas such as on Bourbon Street. The numbers have increased from 88 officers pre Katrina to 124 assigned to the French Quarter. Like any other large city, there are areas of concern regarding crime. Much crime is very internal and drug related.
There are four hospitals that are capable of handling large crowds in the city, as well as other facilities with in a twenty-minute drive from the city. There is a heightened state of readiness for emergencies since the days prior to 9/11.
THE JAZZ AND HERITAGE FESTIVAL
Quint Davis – Producer and Director of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, says they look at the festival as a metaphor for the city – a microcosm of New Orleans. There are around 5000 musicians that participate in a festival, but during Katrina, obviously there was a tremendous shortage. They decided to have it, despite the fact that the population of the whole city was around the size of a typical one-day audience. Huge names agreed to appear for the event and somehow 50 or 60,000 people came. The will of the people to see the festival happen and go on was palpable.
Last year New Orleans was back to around 30,000 rooms and there was more international travel to the jazz festival than there has been since 9/11. There ensued an effort to advertise in national newspapers that resulted not only in a growth on a regional base, but from all over the country and the world. In fact, the numbers even exceeded pre 9/11 numbers.
Jazz Fest is a New Orleans experience – not just a music event. The impact on the city of the Jazz and Heritage Festival is around $285 million dollars. 103 live bands are advertised in today’s paper as playing in the city right now. As you walk down famous streets like Bourbon Street, live music emanates from so many establishments, a pleasure in an era of piped music and DJs. It is expected that this year’s festival will be the largest in history and Davis believes they have not just recovered but are actually moving forward.
Aaron Neville, Santana, Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder, Al Green, Diana Krall, Jimmy Buffet Elvis Costello and Sheryl Crow are some of the names expected to entertain this year.
The success of the Jazz and Heritage Festival is more a testimony that there is a mission to keep the essence of New Orleans alive.
The first weekend of the festival this year is April 25th to 27th, and May 2 to 4 is the last weekend. The New Orleans Wine and Food Experience runs May 21 to 25, 2008.
June 13 – 15 – Creole Tomato Festival
June 13 – 15 – Zydeco Music Festival
The city is ready to welcome back the tourists and hopes very much that they won’t stay away, thinking that the city is not capable of handling tourists.
It appears as though it's impossible to stop the people of New Orleans from dancing!
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
Another step further away from Katrina
from the "Did We Survive Hurricane Katrina" website:
photo from biloxibridge.com
"Phenomenal" Biloxi Bridge Completely Open: "After 31 months, one week, and two days, Biloxi and Ocean Springs have been reconnected, by a $338 million concrete marvel. The federal government paid for the replacement roadwork, just like it paid for the $283 million bridge that reconnects Pass Christian and Bay St. Louis."
Click here for before and after images of the Biloxi Bay Bridge from the SunHerald.
image from http://mceer.buffalo.edu
Katrina's 28-foot storm surge destroyed the Biloxi Bay Bridge, which connected Biloxi to Ocean Springs.
photo from biloxibridge.com
"Phenomenal" Biloxi Bridge Completely Open: "After 31 months, one week, and two days, Biloxi and Ocean Springs have been reconnected, by a $338 million concrete marvel. The federal government paid for the replacement roadwork, just like it paid for the $283 million bridge that reconnects Pass Christian and Bay St. Louis."
Click here for before and after images of the Biloxi Bay Bridge from the SunHerald.
image from http://mceer.buffalo.edu
Katrina's 28-foot storm surge destroyed the Biloxi Bay Bridge, which connected Biloxi to Ocean Springs.
Keeping our area up front
If you look deep enough, you'll find a lot of awareness about this area across the country. Here is one article written by a senior at Whitworth University in Washington State
OPINION: The hurricane of coverage is no more, but New Orleans remains
Karla Rose, Staff Writer
link to this editorial
Maybe it's because the average American has an attention span of eight seconds.
Whatever the reason, "out of sight, out of mind" is probably a fair assessment of the state of New Orleans and the rest of the Gulf Coast affected by Hurricane Katrina.
While media coverage and promises to rebuild were rampant in the first months following the storm, nearly three years later, those promises are still unfulfilled and we've all but forgotten - we being America at large.
Though thoughts of Katrina and its victims are less prevalent today, for six Bonner Leadership Scholars who spent this past Spring Break rebuilding on the Gulf Coast, the reality of Katrina victims' continued devastation will not quickly be forgotten.
Witnessing the influx of refugees in her Texas hometown prompted sophomore Katie Petitt to volunteer in New Orleans.
"I am from Texas and so we got a lot of refugees after Katrina, so the storm was more of a real thing to me than maybe others. [In New Orleans] we saw a lot of devastation and hopelessness. The city is still not rebuilt, and there were countless houses gutted out, rotting, or just turned into rubble by bulldozers," Petitt said in an e-mail interview.
Despite claims of progress, much of New Orleans and the surrounding area remain uninhabitable.
Katrina left 80 percent of New Orleans flooded, took over 1,800 lives and displaced over 800,000 people.
While some have returned to New Orleans, many residents of lower-class neighborhoods lack the means to rebuild and have been permanently displaced. Unlike low-income areas such as the 9th Ward, wealthy neighborhoods such as Lakewood have been reconstructed using private funds.
During the 2008 State of the Union Address, President Bush commended the effort that has gone into rebuilding the Gulf Coast and announced plans to convene the 2008 North American Summit of Canada, Mexico and the United States in New Orleans.
Scheduled for April 21-22, the impending Summit places government leaders in the very place they have been accused of abandoning.
In April 2007, the New Orleans Office of Recovery Management released the Unified New Orleans Plan, which outlined intentions to begin rebuilding throughout 17 "Target Areas," including the Lower 9th Ward.
To date, rebuilding of these areas has yet to commence.
Junior Skye Staley recalled her experiences in New Orleans.
"One of the most poignant memories I have of New Orleans is a sign we passed in the Lower Ninth Ward, the neighborhood literally right next to the area of the levee that broke.
"Nearly three years later, most people have not even returned to the area, and the few houses standing are still in complete disrepair," Staley wrote in an e-mail.
Part of the sign's message read: "We want our country to love us as much as we love our country."
At one point America did love the Gulf Coast.
Within a month after Katrina, American charities raised over $1 billion, according to The Chronicle of Philanthropy.
In recent months, American citizens have proved less charitable, less concerned.
And while the federal government has provided over $144 billion to assist reconstruction, little of that money has made its way to those who need it.
Professor of theatre Rick Hornor accompanied the student volunteers during the Spring Break trip.
"I was stunned at how bad the situation still is. It's interesting to see where the money has gone. The casinos and hotels, those are back. But all along the coast there are still piles of bricks. In between Bay St. Louis and Biloxi you can count on maybe two hands the number of beach front homes. Police departments and the city hall are still in FEMA trailers," Hornor said.
With the third anniversary of Katrina approaching, it would be nice to know we have made progress in returning survivors to a state of normalcy and stability.
It would be nice to know that as a country, we have not forgotten our neighbors. With attention divided between politicians and their intentions for the country, Iraq, healthcare and so on, we must remember to remember those in our own land.
If a national crisis is not met with appropriate concern, what of foreign policy?
No, we can't all rebuild in New Orleans or donate thousands of dollars.
But what we can do is keep talking, keep reading and keep remembering.
Maybe those in charge will take notice if we can make Katrina the "Most Popular" story on Google.com.
It's a start.
Karla Rose is a an opinions columnist and a senior majoring in English. Contact her at karla.rose@whitworthian.com.
Thanks, Karla.
OPINION: The hurricane of coverage is no more, but New Orleans remains
Karla Rose, Staff Writer
link to this editorial
Maybe it's because the average American has an attention span of eight seconds.
Whatever the reason, "out of sight, out of mind" is probably a fair assessment of the state of New Orleans and the rest of the Gulf Coast affected by Hurricane Katrina.
While media coverage and promises to rebuild were rampant in the first months following the storm, nearly three years later, those promises are still unfulfilled and we've all but forgotten - we being America at large.
Though thoughts of Katrina and its victims are less prevalent today, for six Bonner Leadership Scholars who spent this past Spring Break rebuilding on the Gulf Coast, the reality of Katrina victims' continued devastation will not quickly be forgotten.
Witnessing the influx of refugees in her Texas hometown prompted sophomore Katie Petitt to volunteer in New Orleans.
"I am from Texas and so we got a lot of refugees after Katrina, so the storm was more of a real thing to me than maybe others. [In New Orleans] we saw a lot of devastation and hopelessness. The city is still not rebuilt, and there were countless houses gutted out, rotting, or just turned into rubble by bulldozers," Petitt said in an e-mail interview.
Despite claims of progress, much of New Orleans and the surrounding area remain uninhabitable.
Katrina left 80 percent of New Orleans flooded, took over 1,800 lives and displaced over 800,000 people.
While some have returned to New Orleans, many residents of lower-class neighborhoods lack the means to rebuild and have been permanently displaced. Unlike low-income areas such as the 9th Ward, wealthy neighborhoods such as Lakewood have been reconstructed using private funds.
During the 2008 State of the Union Address, President Bush commended the effort that has gone into rebuilding the Gulf Coast and announced plans to convene the 2008 North American Summit of Canada, Mexico and the United States in New Orleans.
Scheduled for April 21-22, the impending Summit places government leaders in the very place they have been accused of abandoning.
In April 2007, the New Orleans Office of Recovery Management released the Unified New Orleans Plan, which outlined intentions to begin rebuilding throughout 17 "Target Areas," including the Lower 9th Ward.
To date, rebuilding of these areas has yet to commence.
Junior Skye Staley recalled her experiences in New Orleans.
"One of the most poignant memories I have of New Orleans is a sign we passed in the Lower Ninth Ward, the neighborhood literally right next to the area of the levee that broke.
"Nearly three years later, most people have not even returned to the area, and the few houses standing are still in complete disrepair," Staley wrote in an e-mail.
Part of the sign's message read: "We want our country to love us as much as we love our country."
At one point America did love the Gulf Coast.
Within a month after Katrina, American charities raised over $1 billion, according to The Chronicle of Philanthropy.
In recent months, American citizens have proved less charitable, less concerned.
And while the federal government has provided over $144 billion to assist reconstruction, little of that money has made its way to those who need it.
Professor of theatre Rick Hornor accompanied the student volunteers during the Spring Break trip.
"I was stunned at how bad the situation still is. It's interesting to see where the money has gone. The casinos and hotels, those are back. But all along the coast there are still piles of bricks. In between Bay St. Louis and Biloxi you can count on maybe two hands the number of beach front homes. Police departments and the city hall are still in FEMA trailers," Hornor said.
With the third anniversary of Katrina approaching, it would be nice to know we have made progress in returning survivors to a state of normalcy and stability.
It would be nice to know that as a country, we have not forgotten our neighbors. With attention divided between politicians and their intentions for the country, Iraq, healthcare and so on, we must remember to remember those in our own land.
If a national crisis is not met with appropriate concern, what of foreign policy?
No, we can't all rebuild in New Orleans or donate thousands of dollars.
But what we can do is keep talking, keep reading and keep remembering.
Maybe those in charge will take notice if we can make Katrina the "Most Popular" story on Google.com.
It's a start.
Karla Rose is a an opinions columnist and a senior majoring in English. Contact her at karla.rose@whitworthian.com.
Thanks, Karla.
Monday, April 07, 2008
nola IS rising
Katrina has changed so many lives in huge ways. One such life is Michael Dingler's; pre storm he was close to gaining certification for a legendarily well-paid job as a riverboat pilot
.
In early 2006, a creeping depression swallowed him completely. He walked away from the job, lost his marriage, left town, spent months driving around out West, searching for, himself. From nola dot com:
"I was searching for myself," he says. "At the same time, I was also running from myself, not realizing that, no matter where I ended up, I was still going to be me."
So he returned to New Orleans and - at age 34 - he was developing a purpose for his life, a reason to get back on his feet.
He gave himself the nickname of "ReX" and started NoLA Rising, a group of art emissaries who post artwork in public places as far and wide across the region as possible.
More of their work can be seen here
Now, this group faces a legal challenge from the City of New Orleans, spurred on by the activities of local anti-graffiti crusader Fred "the gray ghost Radtke , a REAL vandal and his group Operation Clean Sweep.
Here's a link to the background on Dingler's legal wrangling with Radtke
While I don't think Radtke's raison d'etre was bad before Katrina, I think he's become a little fanatical when it comes to taking on Dingler's art, which Radtke considers grafitti.
Here's a you tube video that discusses Dingler's work
There's a great article on Dingler at Neighborhoods Partnership Network
written by Angela Pate.
.
In early 2006, a creeping depression swallowed him completely. He walked away from the job, lost his marriage, left town, spent months driving around out West, searching for, himself. From nola dot com:
"I was searching for myself," he says. "At the same time, I was also running from myself, not realizing that, no matter where I ended up, I was still going to be me."
So he returned to New Orleans and - at age 34 - he was developing a purpose for his life, a reason to get back on his feet.
He gave himself the nickname of "ReX" and started NoLA Rising, a group of art emissaries who post artwork in public places as far and wide across the region as possible.
More of their work can be seen here
Now, this group faces a legal challenge from the City of New Orleans, spurred on by the activities of local anti-graffiti crusader Fred "the gray ghost Radtke , a REAL vandal and his group Operation Clean Sweep.
Here's a link to the background on Dingler's legal wrangling with Radtke
While I don't think Radtke's raison d'etre was bad before Katrina, I think he's become a little fanatical when it comes to taking on Dingler's art, which Radtke considers grafitti.
Here's a you tube video that discusses Dingler's work
There's a great article on Dingler at Neighborhoods Partnership Network
written by Angela Pate.
Sunday, April 06, 2008
Funds for Ashley's Famiy
Ashley Morris' friends have worked mega hard and fast to set up a paypal account to help Ashley's wife and three kids cover the costs of his death.
From Humid City's website:
A major voice in the New Orleans blogosphere has gone silent, widowing a Rollergirl and orphaning three tiny children. As
various local groups prepare a benefit we see major obstacles looming
for the family including five figure expenses for the funeral. Please
give what you can, even a few dollar here and there can mount up. There are needs that cannot wait on the fund raising events.
Please join the efforts of HumidCity, Defend New Orleans, NOLA Rising, WTUL, Tales of the Cocktail, The Big Easy Rollergirls, The Skull Club, L’Art Noir, and many more as we show the Morris Family what community really means!
Online Donations can be made at Remember Ashley Morris
If you wish to mail a donation make the check out to Hana Morris and send it to:
HumidCity c/o
George Williams
5500 Prytania St.
PMB #417
New Orleans, LA 70115
If you wish to become involved
this website has all the details.
Thanks.
From Humid City's website:
A major voice in the New Orleans blogosphere has gone silent, widowing a Rollergirl and orphaning three tiny children. As
various local groups prepare a benefit we see major obstacles looming
for the family including five figure expenses for the funeral. Please
give what you can, even a few dollar here and there can mount up. There are needs that cannot wait on the fund raising events.
Please join the efforts of HumidCity, Defend New Orleans, NOLA Rising, WTUL, Tales of the Cocktail, The Big Easy Rollergirls, The Skull Club, L’Art Noir, and many more as we show the Morris Family what community really means!
Online Donations can be made at Remember Ashley Morris
If you wish to mail a donation make the check out to Hana Morris and send it to:
HumidCity c/o
George Williams
5500 Prytania St.
PMB #417
New Orleans, LA 70115
If you wish to become involved
this website has all the details.
Thanks.
Saturday, April 05, 2008
Thursday, April 03, 2008
Ashley Morris
I can't believe this
I'm numb, shocked, saddened
I never met Ashley in person, but feel as if I knew him. What a loss.
My prayers go out for his wife and three small children. Greg Peters created this montage. Have a kleenex ready. The music in the background is Warren Zevon, one of Ashley's musical heroes.
Although not a native, Ashley loved New Orleans with the ferocity of a native. He was a champion of recovery and gawd help anyone who got in it's way.
New Orleans Councilwoman Shelley Midura eloquently eulogized Ashley in Thursday's session
Tim of the Nameless blog remembers Ashley's generosity
Lisa at The Garden of Irks and Delights writes beautifully about Ashley's spirit.
Humid Haney has a video interview with Ashley and Your Right Hand Thief's Oyster here regarding blogging and how the two got into it.
Greg Peters mirrors the mindset of the NOLA blogosphere
Nancy Nall retells of her years of correspondence with Ashley and provides links to some of his classic FYYFF posts
At this link you can listen to Ashley read his FYYFF post. Wonderful stuff
Scout Prime discusses his fanatical love of the Saints
I'm numb, shocked, saddened
I never met Ashley in person, but feel as if I knew him. What a loss.
My prayers go out for his wife and three small children. Greg Peters created this montage. Have a kleenex ready. The music in the background is Warren Zevon, one of Ashley's musical heroes.
Although not a native, Ashley loved New Orleans with the ferocity of a native. He was a champion of recovery and gawd help anyone who got in it's way.
New Orleans Councilwoman Shelley Midura eloquently eulogized Ashley in Thursday's session
Tim of the Nameless blog remembers Ashley's generosity
Lisa at The Garden of Irks and Delights writes beautifully about Ashley's spirit.
Humid Haney has a video interview with Ashley and Your Right Hand Thief's Oyster here regarding blogging and how the two got into it.
Greg Peters mirrors the mindset of the NOLA blogosphere
Nancy Nall retells of her years of correspondence with Ashley and provides links to some of his classic FYYFF posts
At this link you can listen to Ashley read his FYYFF post. Wonderful stuff
Scout Prime discusses his fanatical love of the Saints
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Farewell, Mr. Copeland
Al Copeland was put to rest yesterday. Along with a display of his larger than life toys : nine cars, eight motorcycles, a sport-utility vehicle and a dune buggy all parked in a semicircle. A motorcycle was at the gate, and Copeland's outsize speedboat, with tongues of flame on each side, was nearby.
Here's a video
"Al did everything in life big," said television anchor Eric Paulsen, a friend. "He's going out big."
At the cemetery, where about 300 friends and relatives brandished small black-and-white-checked finish-line flags.
His Obit in the Times Pic reveals some interesting facts about Mr. Copeland, such as
his secret Santa program that went on for a number of years. "I want to give 1,000 children a real Christmas," he said. "Santa and his elf should ring the doorbell after dark on Christmas Eve," he specified, "They must have a sack of presents, wrapped and labeled by name-a big gift and some small ones and a stocking for each child. The elf must have a camera, to take two photographs. One for the family and one for me." That meant more than 3,000 gifts, 1,000 Christmas stockings, cameras, elves, and Santas complete with costumes. He inspected every gift, discarding some as not big enough, exciting, or special. An entire floor at Popeyes headquarters was dedicated to a massive corporate "wrap-a-thon" between Thanksgiving and the week before Christmas. The Knights of Columbus and Knights of Peter Claver identified the families by Catholic Parish, and provided a list of names, ages, addresses, and telephone numbers to call the families in advance. Al refused media coverage for the event.
After the famous war of words with author Anne Rice, he threw garlic from his converted boat during the Mardi Gras parades.
....every time one of his grandchildren was born, Al would bring Popeyes chicken to the entire floor of the hospital. Even when he was ill himself, the nurses got chicken or some other extravagant meal.
Founder of the Popeye's Fried Chicken chain , Copelands of New Orleans Creole Restaurants, Copeland's story was one of "rags to riches". In his obituary from the Washington Post, some "high points" of his life are revisited.
The best part of his funeral - in my opinion - was this:
At New Orleans funerals, jazz bands always end with something upbeat.
This time, the selection was "Love That Chicken from Popeyes."
Another New Orleans character passes on.
Here's a video
"Al did everything in life big," said television anchor Eric Paulsen, a friend. "He's going out big."
At the cemetery, where about 300 friends and relatives brandished small black-and-white-checked finish-line flags.
His Obit in the Times Pic reveals some interesting facts about Mr. Copeland, such as
his secret Santa program that went on for a number of years. "I want to give 1,000 children a real Christmas," he said. "Santa and his elf should ring the doorbell after dark on Christmas Eve," he specified, "They must have a sack of presents, wrapped and labeled by name-a big gift and some small ones and a stocking for each child. The elf must have a camera, to take two photographs. One for the family and one for me." That meant more than 3,000 gifts, 1,000 Christmas stockings, cameras, elves, and Santas complete with costumes. He inspected every gift, discarding some as not big enough, exciting, or special. An entire floor at Popeyes headquarters was dedicated to a massive corporate "wrap-a-thon" between Thanksgiving and the week before Christmas. The Knights of Columbus and Knights of Peter Claver identified the families by Catholic Parish, and provided a list of names, ages, addresses, and telephone numbers to call the families in advance. Al refused media coverage for the event.
After the famous war of words with author Anne Rice, he threw garlic from his converted boat during the Mardi Gras parades.
....every time one of his grandchildren was born, Al would bring Popeyes chicken to the entire floor of the hospital. Even when he was ill himself, the nurses got chicken or some other extravagant meal.
Founder of the Popeye's Fried Chicken chain , Copelands of New Orleans Creole Restaurants, Copeland's story was one of "rags to riches". In his obituary from the Washington Post, some "high points" of his life are revisited.
The best part of his funeral - in my opinion - was this:
At New Orleans funerals, jazz bands always end with something upbeat.
This time, the selection was "Love That Chicken from Popeyes."
Another New Orleans character passes on.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Business for Sale
One of many business that never reopened after the storm, the Old Town Soda shop is for sale
click on photos for larger versions
It has some neat ice cream themed stained glass windows....
From Fox News
Olde Town Slidell Soda Shop owner Frank Jackson stayed in his house next door on August 29, 2005 and rode out the monster storm. He watched the floodwaters — which covered the town in a massive, tsunami-like wave after Lake Pontchartrain overflowed — engulf the little company he and his wife built from scratch in 1988. He saw Katrina take down friends’ and neighbors’ businesses all around him.
“You just watch it go and move on,” said Jackson standing near the rusty old soda fountain in what’s left of his shop. “You watch your friends’ businesses go, and there’s nothing you can do about it. You figure life will be different.”
And it was different for Jackson and his wife, Carla — totally different. He knew almost right away that the quaint old Slidell Soda Shop was gone for good.
For almost two decades Frank and Carla Jackson, both 53, had poured their hearts and souls into their popular restaurant, which Frank characterizes as an “intense” but fun business.
They hosted about 4,000 birthday parties — Polaroid snapshots of the kids still line the walls — and served homemade ice cream, as well as standard fare like burgers, hotdogs and fountain sodas.
There were no weekends off, and their days were long. But because they ran it together, close to home, they were able to spend time together and with their children.
After Katrina left, the water slowly drained and Frank got his wife and sister-in-law safely out of town. He then set to work hauling out the spoils of his shop. The 800 gallons of souring ice cream and other perishables were the first to go.
“The storm came and took it all, and I just put it out on the curb, little by little,” he said. “I put about $200,000 of junk out on the street.”
The original intact menus still hang above the interior destruction. A handwritten sign advertising dollar-off banana splits was also untouched by the six-foot floodwaters. Jars of multicolored candies line high shelves; an inflatable, grinning jellybean spins from a ceiling fan.
This section of Olde Town is slowly reawakening, 2.5 years post Katrina.
The former Slidell Cleaners will soon reopen as an art gallery.
Dish On First is a wonderful restaurant serving lunch and dinner both inside and out.
Their website is currently down
but check back soon. Here's their lunch menu
click on photos for larger versions
It has some neat ice cream themed stained glass windows....
From Fox News
Olde Town Slidell Soda Shop owner Frank Jackson stayed in his house next door on August 29, 2005 and rode out the monster storm. He watched the floodwaters — which covered the town in a massive, tsunami-like wave after Lake Pontchartrain overflowed — engulf the little company he and his wife built from scratch in 1988. He saw Katrina take down friends’ and neighbors’ businesses all around him.
“You just watch it go and move on,” said Jackson standing near the rusty old soda fountain in what’s left of his shop. “You watch your friends’ businesses go, and there’s nothing you can do about it. You figure life will be different.”
And it was different for Jackson and his wife, Carla — totally different. He knew almost right away that the quaint old Slidell Soda Shop was gone for good.
For almost two decades Frank and Carla Jackson, both 53, had poured their hearts and souls into their popular restaurant, which Frank characterizes as an “intense” but fun business.
They hosted about 4,000 birthday parties — Polaroid snapshots of the kids still line the walls — and served homemade ice cream, as well as standard fare like burgers, hotdogs and fountain sodas.
There were no weekends off, and their days were long. But because they ran it together, close to home, they were able to spend time together and with their children.
After Katrina left, the water slowly drained and Frank got his wife and sister-in-law safely out of town. He then set to work hauling out the spoils of his shop. The 800 gallons of souring ice cream and other perishables were the first to go.
“The storm came and took it all, and I just put it out on the curb, little by little,” he said. “I put about $200,000 of junk out on the street.”
The original intact menus still hang above the interior destruction. A handwritten sign advertising dollar-off banana splits was also untouched by the six-foot floodwaters. Jars of multicolored candies line high shelves; an inflatable, grinning jellybean spins from a ceiling fan.
This section of Olde Town is slowly reawakening, 2.5 years post Katrina.
The former Slidell Cleaners will soon reopen as an art gallery.
Dish On First is a wonderful restaurant serving lunch and dinner both inside and out.
Their website is currently down
but check back soon. Here's their lunch menu
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Voluntourists
Observations from Spring Breakers
my perspective has sharpened. Not only am I filled with sorrow, but disappointment and anger. That our country and government would let these conditions continue in this city that I immediately fell for. How could this happen in America? to Americans? how could our government put these people in tents under overpasses, in infested trailers, and have no home or community to go back to. This is far greater than me. Although I have not made any conclusive and large strides to Kim's house, still what help I could offer I did. I am no longer concerned with my own well being while down here, I am privileged and have people who care and help me. But these people need us, need our attention, our time, and our help.
Levin also commented about the overwhelming sense of Southern hospitality and the "laid back atmosphere" that she experienced around town.
The Greeks from Chicago experienced nothing less than a delightful culture shock, Levin said, as she recounted a story of a "local ice cream parlor that we went to where there was never any question about when to pay for the ice cream. The owner told us we could pay when we wanted or come back and pay [later]. I feel that would never happen in Chicago."
The evidence of Hurricane Katrina is still real,” Lucy Sjoblom wrote in a trip journal. “Not just in the construction that is going on. There were mailboxes at the street, three stairs ascending to…nothing, the 100-year-old live oaks leaning heavily to one side, the schools holding classes, but the port-a-potties are lined up against the side walls.....Something that impressed me on a daily basis was the warmth and appreciation with which we were greeted everywhere we went,” she said.
I didn’t know what to expect when I booked my tickets south, but certainly not this. Certainly after the two and a half years it took me to get here, there’d be more life in the neighborhoods.
But I was not too late to collect some of the locals’ stories. I don’t know how many times they told of the Hurricane days, but when they spoke of it to me, there was still a crack of emotion and their eyes watered as they told of all they lost.
But, it will take many more nails before the city is restored.
Let yours be one of them.
I met a Londoner on holiday who came to volunteer for a few days. His story was similar to ours. We wanted to do something besides drop money on tall beers and daiquiris on Bourbon Street. We wished to bear witness to the city we ached for. We had seen the horror of people trudging through waist-high flooded streets and families stranded on rooftops, all while sitting paralyzed in front of our televisions, in our cozy, dry living rooms. The order for martial law prohibited us from going there, so we sat miles away, armed only with our checkbooks and faith that the Red Cross would wisely use the money we gave
my perspective has sharpened. Not only am I filled with sorrow, but disappointment and anger. That our country and government would let these conditions continue in this city that I immediately fell for. How could this happen in America? to Americans? how could our government put these people in tents under overpasses, in infested trailers, and have no home or community to go back to. This is far greater than me. Although I have not made any conclusive and large strides to Kim's house, still what help I could offer I did. I am no longer concerned with my own well being while down here, I am privileged and have people who care and help me. But these people need us, need our attention, our time, and our help.
Levin also commented about the overwhelming sense of Southern hospitality and the "laid back atmosphere" that she experienced around town.
The Greeks from Chicago experienced nothing less than a delightful culture shock, Levin said, as she recounted a story of a "local ice cream parlor that we went to where there was never any question about when to pay for the ice cream. The owner told us we could pay when we wanted or come back and pay [later]. I feel that would never happen in Chicago."
The evidence of Hurricane Katrina is still real,” Lucy Sjoblom wrote in a trip journal. “Not just in the construction that is going on. There were mailboxes at the street, three stairs ascending to…nothing, the 100-year-old live oaks leaning heavily to one side, the schools holding classes, but the port-a-potties are lined up against the side walls.....Something that impressed me on a daily basis was the warmth and appreciation with which we were greeted everywhere we went,” she said.
I didn’t know what to expect when I booked my tickets south, but certainly not this. Certainly after the two and a half years it took me to get here, there’d be more life in the neighborhoods.
But I was not too late to collect some of the locals’ stories. I don’t know how many times they told of the Hurricane days, but when they spoke of it to me, there was still a crack of emotion and their eyes watered as they told of all they lost.
But, it will take many more nails before the city is restored.
Let yours be one of them.
I met a Londoner on holiday who came to volunteer for a few days. His story was similar to ours. We wanted to do something besides drop money on tall beers and daiquiris on Bourbon Street. We wished to bear witness to the city we ached for. We had seen the horror of people trudging through waist-high flooded streets and families stranded on rooftops, all while sitting paralyzed in front of our televisions, in our cozy, dry living rooms. The order for martial law prohibited us from going there, so we sat miles away, armed only with our checkbooks and faith that the Red Cross would wisely use the money we gave
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