I’ll admit I felt vindicated when my editor at Gambit asked if I would take on a story called “Bar Codes,” a feature for the magazine’s drinking and nightlife pull-out section, Swizzle.

The story is a look at barroom etiquette and the ways in which the seemingly straightforward relationship between bartender and bar patron can go horribly awry. Finally, I thought, all that time hanging around bars and clubs can be considered research. And surely, with all those credit hours booked, I could practically write the story in my sleep.

But the more I interviewed bartenders for the story, the more I learned about the nuances of the simple money-for-drinks transactions I had witnessed and been part of so many countless times. Perhaps it should have been obvious that there usually is a lot more going on than meets the eye, and I’m grateful that the bartenders I interviewed opened up and shared their perspectives with me. Read the rest of this entry »

Today I am kicking myself for not purchasing a dress for an upcoming holiday party while in Europe last week, but as I searched from the Eiffel Tower to the Bastille for the perfect cocktail attire, my husband was constantly whispering in my ear, “you realize what that costs in dollars, right- you should wait till that style hits the US.”

While Europe was amazing, all week long there were constant reminders on the weak American economy, from the below amusing/disturbing CNN International clip, to hearing a couple in line at the Louvre discussing how “UNREAL the exchange rate is now, and how they are leaving for New York to go shopping the following weekend.”

This led me to think. If New York is cheap for the Brits and other EU residents, how disgustingly cheap is New Orleans??? Are we like visiting a 3rd world South American country? So I realized it is time for everyone to email their Europeans friends, family and colleagues and sell New Orleans. The economic impact could be huge.

Here are some rough price conversion comparisons to sell my point: Read the rest of this entry »

If you have ever enjoyed a wonderful evening at Crepe Nanou on Robert St. in the past 24 years, it was probably in part due to Robert Strong. It is important to get the message about this Sunday’s benefit for Mr. Strong out to our community.

Robert Strong has been the bar manager at La Crêpe Nanou for twenty-four years. On Saturday, November 3, 2007 he was shot on St. Charles Ave. during an armed robbery. The incident left Mr. Strong initially in critical condition with major injury to his jaw. He requires five more surgeries to rebuild his jawbone and remains in inpatient care.
On Sunday, December 2nd, 2007, several area businesses will host a benefit to assist in Strong’s recovery and unite against the recent surge of violence in New Orleans. Read the rest of this entry »

This Friday night (Nov. 30) the Photo Alliance will kick off their Photo Nola 2 December celebration with a benefit at the Bridge Lounge. Sit among the dogs and up-n-coming local photographers while bidding on some pretty sensational prints (buy for yourself or a gift). The PhotoNOLA site is offering previews of some of work that will be up for auction. Some of my favorite images include a colorful mosaic piece of a Container Yard by Chris Jordan, a powerful passion print by Hiroshi Watanabe and Judy Coopers, “Young and Old” that captures the essence of three New Orleans generations. Read the rest of this entry »

Actor Michael Martin performs as the charming Bachelor in New Orleans, a one-man show developed from an idiosyncratic 1950s tour guide of the French Quarter. In eloquent and picaresque language, the Bachelor expounds on topics of interest to playboy or playgirl visitors, such as, the signature cocktails of the city and Antoines, his favorite restaurant. The Bachelor offers Read the rest of this entry »