Best Of New Orleans Blog

Those in the know will soon start looking in the classified section for discreet, only-in-New Orleans ads for St. Joseph’s altars, like the one pictured above. These decorative, devotional feast displays are traditionally constructed in the homes of the area’s faithful Italian-American Roman Catholics, who frequently invite the public to sample from them.

For a primer on the tradition, and a taste of its offerings, check out this event on Sunday, March 2, from Slow Food NOLA and the Savvy Gourmet.

The food advocacy group is presenting a celebration of the St. Joseph’s altar at the Uptown gourmet emporium with local food guru Poppy Tooker and Arthur Brocato, proprietor of the incomparable Angelo Brocato’s Ice Cream.

Brocato will explain the significance of the altars and prepare three of the sweet treats typically found on them, including biscotti regina, or sesame seed cookies; cucidati, or fig cookies; and anise biscotti.

In addition, Tooker will prepare pasta Milanese, a traditional entrée on St. Joseph’s altars.

The event is from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 and there will be a cash bar. Call Savvy at 895-COOK (2665) to reserve a spot.
- Ian McNulty

New Orleans is known the world over for entertaining its guests in style, but next weekend the city will be taking a moment to celebrate itself. The Crescent City Celebration will include a triumvirate of events hosted by the Neighborhoods Partnership Network, a local organization that works with area residents to improve their quality of life by engaging them in revitalization efforts and the civic process.

The celebration will include a Trumpet awards luncheon, a Toast to New Orleans Neighborhoods and the Fourth Annual Festival of Neighborhoods. The events spotlight how New Orleans neighborhoods are vital planning and organizational forces at the forefront of the city’s redevelopment efforts.

The celebration also will recognize the outstanding achievements of local communities in rebuilding their neighborhoods — and serve as an occasion for more networking among citizens, planning groups and sponsors. The weekend’s events will encourage future efforts in the hope that neighborhoods will continue to be buoyed by their partnerships and their successes. (more…)

by Sam Winston

“How can educators help students become more knowledgeable, motivated, engaged, and healthy?

More than 8,000 educators will tackle this question and others when they converge on New Orleans, La., March 15-17, 2008 for the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development’s (ASCD)”

Also, based on a mention of fundraising ASCD has been doing leading up to this conference, it seems like some schools have gone outside the RSD or their district (charter and non-charters) for funding for extracurricular needs or basics like books. Full list funding activity can be viewed here.

by Sam Winston

I guess it makes sense but I honestly didn’t know they came from San Francisco either.

See Ian McNulty for more on the difference between Chinese-American and Chinese- Chinese in New Orleans.