Ratty Scurvics is the most talented and original artist/musician in New Orleans. For true. In his one-man-band, Singularity, Ratty pounds two keyboards perched atop a bass drum positioned beside a snare on the floor – both drums equipped with foot pedals, allowing Ratty to simultaneously play drum-kit and keyboards while singing. Regardless of this spectacle of dexterity, however, Ratty’s songs hold the main focus. Comparisons to more famous one-man-band Quintron are inevitable, but while Q’s musical point is mostly ‘Party! Party! Party!’ Ratty’s music stirs up dance frenzies while remaining pathos-driven and deeply personal. Don’t worry though, New Orleans, you’d hardly notice unless you paid close attention, which you won’t, cause you just wanna drink and dance and party, party, party. Doesn’t that get old for you? Nevermind, I won’t criticize… Read the rest of this entry »

Every Christmas season, Papa Noel, the Cajun/Creole version of Santa Claus, magically transports famous personalities from New Orleans history to the present day. Some personalities are generally known today, locally and outside New Orleans, such as Andrew Jackson, Captain Jean Lafitte, and the Widow Paris (aka Marie Laveau). But other persons are less known although equally important to Louisiana cultural history, such as C. C. Antoine, Free Man of Color and 2-term Lt Governor. The company even includes a strolling accordionist, Count Guido, a Vaudevillian who popularized the accordion in North America.

The Living History characters stroll the French Quarter Thursday through Christmas Day, yes, Christmas Day, 11am to 4pm (3pm 12/24-25), often along Royal street, visiting hotel lobbies, restaurants, and places like the Cabildo and Historic New Orleans Collection. They are immediately noticeable, not only for their painstakingly accurate 19th century attire designed by Veronica Russell, but also for the slow pace they walk. The world was slower back in the day. Read the rest of this entry »

Friday, December 21st- one of New Orleans favorite local fashion designers, Leah Bauer of Pooch Clothing will be hosting a trunk show at Le Phare (523 Gravier) - the show moved from the original location at LOA- from 3:00 pm- 7:00 pm.

Leah will be featuring some of her new “Chari-tees”, a stylish collection of shirts that give back to important causes. Past designs, which reflect Leah’s “fashion” sense of purpose have given back to Cystic Fibrosis Research, Habitat for Humanity, Breast Cancer Awareness, Multiple Sclerosis Research and the Daniel Price Memorial Fund. ______________________________________________________________________

2007 marks the 4th anniversary of the tragic death of local artist and NOCCA graduate, Daniel Price. This Sunday, December 23rd, House of Blues will be hosting the “Home for the Holidays” Event to benefit:

The Daniel Price Memorial Fund for Aspiring Artists, a fund established to give exceptional fine arts graduates of the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts an opportunity to pursue higher educational studies in a fine arts discipline. 

The Patron Party ($125 ) will start at 6:00 pm, and include food, an open bar and a special performance by Irma Thomas. General Admission ($30) begins at 8:00 pm and includes entertainment by Kermit Ruffins, Rebirth Brass Band, Troy Andrews & Orleans Ave, Jonathan Batiste, John Boutte and Rockin’ Doopsie. Tickets are available on the House of Blues website.