It seems like whenever I ask someone who lives here, but who wasn’t born here- “Why would you move to New Orleans?” I often get the response “I came down for Jazz Fest and stayed”… which always conjures up an image of the person stumbling out of Jazz Fest drunk with crawfish bread in one hand and an Abita Beer in the other, calling a realtor to make an offer on a house and having all of their belongings shipped from wherever they had come from a few days before.

In actuality, I suppose that this common response, is more of a “code of appreciation” for New Orleans rich cultural mix of music, food, crafts and fun that may not exist elsewhere.

If one of these “transplant super festers” are on your Christmas list- then stop by the Jazz and Heritage Fest Bazaar this Saturday from 9:00 am- 4:00 pm- where a host of Jazz Fest collectibles will be up for sale. Items up for sale include Vintage Jazz Fest Posters, T-Shirts, CD’s and more. The sale will take place at 1205 North Rampart St. For more info call 504-588-6100.

 by Sam Winston

For those wondering where the sudden surge in Barack Obama’s campaign may have come from, other than a packed-out football stadium endorsement by Oprah, I’m betting the cover article in this month’s Atlantic Magazine had a lot to do with it.

It pinpoints the appeal of Obama that all of the rest of the media has timidly circled around but hasn’t been able to put there finger on. And with new poll numbers to boot, there’s now a storyline about Obama that is starting to takeoff.

That means with Louisiana smack dab in the middle of the primary season (Feb. 9, ‘08), and a few potential early Obama wins changing the whole dynamic of the race, we’ll find out indeed if Obama does matter to the state.

For those interested, check out the article or you can also read Obama’s listed views on New Orleans and the recovery from his website in full here.

Yesterday at a barbecue, a discussion regarding financial investments was raised- and someone mentioned their outstanding investment year after a 100% return on a BRIC fund. (BRICS lump emerging developing markets- Brazil, Russia, India and China into one fund- based on the financial theory that these historically poor countries will become some of the richest in the future).

An interesting local twist on the theory of investing in “emerging poor countries” is developing in our city. NobleOutReach a Washington D.C based company, that helps foreign nationals invest in America, has their eye on New Orleans. In exchange for a $500,000 investment — Foreign nationals and immigrants will be granted an EB-5 Investor VISA and hopefully a great return on their investment. Read the rest of this entry »

In my seven years here, I must have somehow never waited tables in the French Quarter during the Bayou Classic.

Every single road into the Quarter is blocked off despite that, on this Saturday night at 9:45 p.m., New Orleans’ cleanest and least pocked streets stand empty. Regardless, Mizzy and I must turn the car around and get our bicycles to ride around the barriers and go meet Mizzy’s friend for a drink. It’s just a football game — not even the Saints, or even LSU. They don’t barricade the Quarter like this even for Mardi Gras, I don’t think. Essence? Maybe. I don’t exactly remember ever seeing the Quarter quarantined this way. Read the rest of this entry »