Frolic: jazz, books, food

Jazz, Books, Food, and the Writing Life

Blogging from New Orleans, La

31 January 2007

Back in December, I wrote in OffBeat about Greg and Mary Sonnier’s struggle to reopen Gabrielle restaurant in Uptown. The original Mid-City location suffered some damage, and the Sonniers hoped to relocate to a beautiful building on Henry Clay Avenue that used to house the Uptowner banquet facility.

A young lawyer, Mike Sherman, launched a ferocious campaign against the restaurant. He claimed the neighborhood was “absolutely united” in its opposition to a restaurant there. The neighborhood association told me at the time that they had no official position on the issue

According to a letter (posted after the jump) from the neighborhood association, it looks like a compromised has been reached. If more people get along like this, we might actually save this city.
(more…)

Posted by Todd at 10:55 am | No Comments

24 January 2007

Suspect Device has the best joke I’ve heard in a while. As they say, it’s funny because it’s true:

Mayor Nagin and Police Chief Riley visited a class in a local elementary school yesterday and the teacher suggested that they participate in the day’s vocabulary lesson. “Today’s word is tragedy, ” said the mayor. “Can anyone give an example of a tragedy?” asked the police chief. One child raised her hand. “If a drug dealer was trying to shoot another drug dealer and hit my sister instead,” the child offered. “No,” said the police chief, “that would be an accident. Anyone else?” “How about if everyone quit visiting the city, my daddy lost his job and couldn’t provide for me?” another child ventured. “No,” said the mayor, “although that would be a great loss. One more answer from Johnny in the back.” “Well,” said Johnny, “if the mayor and police chief were shoved off the viewing platform during a Mardi Gras parade and killed when a float ran them over, THAT would be a tragedy!” “Now that’s correct,” agreed the mayor and police chief. “And can you tell us why?”
“Because,” said Johnny, “it sure as hell wouldn’t be a great loss, and I doubt very seriously if it would be an accident.”

I didn’t catch most of the State of the Union last night. What did Bush say about the Gulf Coast?

Posted by Todd at 1:03 pm | Comments (1)

19 January 2007

A copy of my new guidebook, Night+Day New Orleans, arrived today. Not only did I get the author credit, but I’ve got a photo on the cover and another on the inside flap.

I was also the nightlife editor for the Zagat Survey, which was release last week.

Posted by Todd at 7:16 pm | Comments (1)

17 January 2007

Over at Epicurious, my pal Pableaux is documenting his dining on a road trip from New Orleans to California. He already had a muffuletta in New Orleans and breakfast tacos in Austin. Who knows what he’ll be eating tomorrow?

Posted by Todd at 11:18 am | Comments (1)

15 January 2007

Pampy’s owner Stan Barré pled guilty to charges of mail fraud, conspiracy and obstruction of justice. The crimes took place during the Morial administration.

Will this be the end of his 7th Ward restaurant, the place where Austin Leslie last cooked?

Posted by Todd at 10:56 am | No Comments

9 January 2007

The mood in New Orleans is grim. A recent run of killings has the whole city on edge. It’s the only thing people talk about. The DJs on WWOZ have been playing somber music for days and their voices sound despondent.

Bart, at B.ROX, knew well the young filmmaker who was shot. I have dim memories of seeing them in the city. Even in New Orleans, a couple walking a pot bellied pig stands out.

I don’t know the solution to the city’s crime problem. I’m sure there isn’t just one solution. I’ll attend the march on Thursday demanding that the city take action. Clearly, whatever it’s doing now isn’t working.