VOODOO ON THE BAYOU

by Tom Fitzmorris

Long before the Voodoo Festival in City Park took over the Halloween weekend, the Faubourg St John Neighborhood Association held its annual fundraising party–also Halloween weekend, also with a voodoo theme, also near City Park. Instead of loud music, however, the theme is food. (Although there’s music, too.) The location is right: The Pitot House, one of the city’s oldest houses, on Bayou St. John in the bend across from City Park. It was the home of James Pitot, the first mayor of New Orleans.

The party starts at eight-thirty this Saturday, October 26 and goes until midnight, with all the essential makings of a fun evening: live music, open bar, and food. What food? From these esteemed culinarians, most of which are from the neighborhood:

The tickets are available in advance for $50 online (http://fsjna.org) or at these merchants:

Terranova Supermarket, 3308 Esplanade Ave
Swirl Wine, 3143 Ponce de Leon

Tickets are also at the door for $60. The money goes toward the continuing improvement of that historic neighborhood and the Pitot House itself, which is a real gem. Faubourg St. John’s projects include the ReBridge Project, Desmare Playground, and the Bayou Children’s Halloween event.

VOODOO ON THE BAYOU

Angelo Brocato Italian Desserts will provide MINI CANOLI and ITALIAN COOKIES
Aunt Sally’s will provide PRALINETTES.
Cafe Degas will provide POULET BASQUAISE
Commander’s Palace will provide GRILLADES and GRITS
Deutsches Haus will provide BRATWURST and KRAUT
Fairgrinds will provide COFFEE
Fair Grounds will provide JAMBALAYA
Fellini’s Cafe will provide HUMMUS and PITA BREAD
Katie’s will provide CHICKEN FETTUCCINI with BUCKTOWN ALFREDO
Lola’s will provide PAELLA (vegetarian and seafood)
Mona’s will provide DOLMAS (vegetarian and meat)
Nonna Mia will provide DIVINE PORTABELLA
Ralph’s on the Park will provide SESAME SEARED TUNA with GINGER CHILI SOY SAUCE
Ruby Slipper will provide BREAD PUDDING
New Orleans Tomato Company will provide TOMATO BASIL SOUP
Santa Fe will provide SALPICON de MARISCOS (tortilla soup) and SEAFOOD SALAD with ORGANIC GREENS
Terranova’s will provide ITALIAN SAUSAGE
Toups Meatery will provide CHICKEN AND SAUSAGE GUMBO

by WWLTV.com

Every year, just before Halloween, residents of the Faubourg St. John neighborhood hold a party to mark the season.

It’s called Voodoo on the Bayou and the President of the Faubourg St. John Neighborhood Association, Michael Cohn, joins the Eyewitness Morning News, along with the singer “Lips” from the band, “Lips and the Trips,” to talk about the fun and the fundraising that goes on there.

This year’s Voodoo on the Bayou, the annual benefit for the Faubourg St. John Neighborhood Association, will be at the Pitot House on Moss Street, this Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and tickets are just $50 in advance. For more information or to order your tickets, call (504) 486-7793.

http://www.wwltv.com/eyewitness-morning-news/Voooo-on-the-Bayou-hits-Bayou-St-John-229095881.html

Not only can you get great food, party with Johnny Sketch and the Dirty Notes and get drinks from the open bar, you can also bid on wonderful items in the silent action. Only a few of the many auction items are pictured below. You’ll be able to bid on everything from signed sports memorabilia from the Saints and Pelicans to high end drinking glasses from Mignon Faget along with great works from local artists and more!

CALL THE VOODOO QUEEN AT (504) 486-7793
for TICKETS or more information.

GREAT FOOD AND TREATS FROM OUR GREAT SPONSORS

CALL THE VOODOO QUEEN AT (504) 486-7793
for TICKETS or more information.

FEATURING JOHNNY SKETCH AND THE DIRTY NOTES!

http://voodooonthebayou.com

Voodoo on the Bayou
Saturday, October 26, 2013 – 8:30pm
1440 Moss St
New Orleans, LA 70119

http://tinyurl.com/TICKETS-FOR-TREES

The Bayou is Our Oyster | Hosted by MotherShip Foundation

Browse the gift certificates which will be available at the silent auction on November 14.

http://tinyurl.com/SILENT-AUCTION-NOV14-FOR-TREES

Every year in May, MotherShip Foundation brings 30,000 people to the banks of Bayou St. John for the Mid-City Bayou Boogaloo Music and Arts Festival. But have you ever wondered what MotherShip Foundation does after Bayou Boogaloo? Well, for the past year MotherShip has been establishing partnerships, securing sponsors, and raising over $30,000 to support its “Restore the Bayou Canopy Campaign.” With five new 200-gallon live oak trees planted along Bayou St. John earlier this year, the project has already exceeded its original goal of replacing the four live oaks that were damaged during Hurricanes Katrina and Isaac. And we’ve got more good news. This fall, MotherShip Foundation is investing another $11,000 to plant one 300-gallon live oak along with two massive 670-gallon live oaks. Yes, indeed!

On Nov. 14, 2013 from 7-10pm, MotherShip Foundation will host a fundraiser and auction benefitting the Restore the Bayou Canopy Campaign. The event will take place at Pearl Wine Co. in the American Can Building and will feature entertainment by local artists TBA. In addition to the musical entertainment, Marlin Miller—the artist who carved the public art sculpture out of the dead oak tree on the corner of Orleans Ave and Jeff Davis Pkwy—will also be at the event to share his story and auction off a few or his one-of-a-kind sculptures. Tickets, which include wine and food, are $50 for individuals or $75 per couple—with one hundred percent of the proceeds benefiting the Restore the Bayou Canopy Campaign. Following the fundraiser on Nov. 16, all are invited to witness and celebrate the major tree planting on Bayou St. John.

 
On Nov. 14, 2013 from 7-10pm, MotherShip Foundation will host a fundraiser and auction benefiting the Restore the Bayou Canopy Campaign.

The event will take place at Pearl Wine Co. in the American Can Building and will feature entertainment by Trio Mollusc featuring Ed Volker of The Radiators w/ Michael Skinkus and Joe Cabral. In addition to the musical entertainment, Marlin Miller—the artist who carved the public art sculpture out of the dead oak tree on the corner of Orleans Ave and Jeff Davis Pkwy—will also be at the event to share history and auction off a few or his one-of-a-kind sculptures. Tickets, which include wine and food, are $50 for individuals or $75 per couple—with one hundred percent of the proceeds benefiting the Restore the Bayou Canopy Campaign.

On Nov. 16, all are invited to witness and celebrate the major tree planting on Bayou St. John.

http://tinyurl.com/TICKETS-FOR-TREES

Below from Melinda Shelton

MotherShip founder Jared Zeller said the auction coincides with a benefit Nov. 14 from 7 to 10 p.m. at Pearl Wine, in the American Can Company, 3700 Orleans Ave. “Restore the Bayou Canopy” is an ongoing project to plant trees along Bayou St. John. The foundation, which sponsors the annual Bayou Boogaloo, has raised more than $30,000 to plant and maintain new trees.

Individual tickets for the Nov. 14 event are $50, and $75 for a couple. Trio Mollusc, with Ed Volker, Michael Skinkus and Joe Cabral, will play, and there will be food and beverages, Zeller said. Here’s the real deal: 100 percent of the proceeds go to the campaign.

Zeller said foundation and boogaloo supporters planted five oak trees last year, and on Nov. 16, they’ll plant one 300-gallon live oak and two 670-gallon oaks.

For more information, visit mothershipfoundation.wordpress.com, call 504.488.3865 or email president@MotherShipFoundation.org.

http://tinyurl.com/TICKETS-FOR-TREES

The Bayou is Our Oyster | Hosted by MotherShip Foundation

Browse the gift certificates which will be available at the silent auction on November 14.

http://tinyurl.com/SILENT-AUCTION-NOV14-FOR-TREES

Every year in May, MotherShip Foundation brings 30,000 people to the banks of Bayou St. John for the Mid-City Bayou Boogaloo Music and Arts Festival. But have you ever wondered what MotherShip Foundation does after Bayou Boogaloo? Well, for the past year MotherShip has been establishing partnerships, securing sponsors, and raising over $30,000 to support its “Restore the Bayou Canopy Campaign.” With five new 200-gallon live oak trees planted along Bayou St. John earlier this year, the project has already exceeded its original goal of replacing the four live oaks that were damaged during Hurricanes Katrina and Isaac. And we’ve got more good news. This fall, MotherShip Foundation is investing another $11,000 to plant one 300-gallon live oak along with two massive 670-gallon live oaks. Yes, indeed!

On Nov. 14, 2013 from 7-10pm, MotherShip Foundation will host a fundraiser and auction benefitting the Restore the Bayou Canopy Campaign. The event will take place at Pearl Wine Co. in the American Can Building and will feature entertainment by local artists TBA. In addition to the musical entertainment, Marlin Miller—the artist who carved the public art sculpture out of the dead oak tree on the corner of Orleans Ave and Jeff Davis Pkwy—will also be at the event to share his story and auction off a few or his one-of-a-kind sculptures. Tickets, which include wine and food, are $50 for individuals or $75 per couple—with one hundred percent of the proceeds benefiting the Restore the Bayou Canopy Campaign. Following the fundraiser on Nov. 16, all are invited to witness and celebrate the major tree planting on Bayou St. John.

On Nov. 14, 2013 from 7-10pm, MotherShip Foundation will host a fundraiser and auction benefiting the Restore the Bayou Canopy Campaign.

The event will take place at Pearl Wine Co. in the American Can Building and will feature entertainment by Trio Mollusc featuring Ed Volker of The Radiators w/ Michael Skinkus and Joe Cabral. In addition to the musical entertainment, Marlin Miller—the artist who carved the public art sculpture out of the dead oak tree on the corner of Orleans Ave and Jeff Davis Pkwy—will also be at the event to share history and auction off a few or his one-of-a-kind sculptures. Tickets, which include wine and food, are $50 for individuals or $75 per couple—with one hundred percent of the proceeds benefiting the Restore the Bayou Canopy Campaign.

On Nov. 16, all are invited to witness and celebrate the major tree planting on Bayou St. John.

http://tinyurl.com/TICKETS-FOR-TREES

Below from Melinda Shelton

MotherShip founder Jared Zeller said the auction coincides with a benefit Nov. 14 from 7 to 10 p.m. at Pearl Wine, in the American Can Company, 3700 Orleans Ave. “Restore the Bayou Canopy” is an ongoing project to plant trees along Bayou St. John. The foundation, which sponsors the annual Bayou Boogaloo, has raised more than $30,000 to plant and maintain new trees.

Individual tickets for the Nov. 14 event are $50, and $75 for a couple. Trio Mollusc, with Ed Volker, Michael Skinkus and Joe Cabral, will play, and there will be food and beverages, Zeller said. Here’s the real deal: 100 percent of the proceeds go to the campaign.

Zeller said foundation and boogaloo supporters planted five oak trees last year, and on Nov. 16, they’ll plant one 300-gallon live oak and two 670-gallon oaks.

For more information, visit mothershipfoundation.wordpress.com, call 504.488.3865 or email president@MotherShipFoundation.org.

Weddings on the Magnolia Bridge have become extremely popular.

This wedding included a brass band processional down the bayou.

It was quite a parade!

Join us Friday, November 15 from 5:30-7:00 pm for the Final Fall Vino on the Bayou!

Relax with a glass of wine and delicious food, while enjoying the sunset on Bayou St. John!

Music will be provided by the Panorama Jazz Band and Poppy Tooker will be signing copies of her book Louisiana Eats!

LLS Members: $10
Non-Members: $15
Individual tickets may be purchased at the gate. Special Fall Vino packages and group tickets may be purchased in advance on our website.

Big Chief David Montana, Chief over Bayou St. John helped celebrate the planting of several large oak trees on Bayou St. John.

Earth, Wind and Fire were all invoked at today’s dedication of the new oak trees on Bayou St. John.

Huge oak trees were planted on the bayou today (Nov. 15, 2013). Celebrate tomorrow at 10 a.m.

photos by Charlie London.

The items pictured below were found in the holes dug for the trees planted today.

Restore The Bayou Canopy Tree Planting Ceremony

Hosted by MotherShip Foundation

ED TOUPS DONATES LARGE OAK TO BAYOU ST. JOHN
http://www.itbusinessnet.com/article/Largest-Live-Oak-Ever-Donated-to-New-Orleans-to-Be-Planted-On-Bayou-St-John-2918547

See the big tree planting this Saturday, November 16, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. on Bayou St. John at Orleans Avenue.

Just after 1pm on Wednesday, November 20th, 3 males stole a bicycle from my neighbors’ porch in the 1500 Block of Crete. Two of them acted as look-outs while the third went up the stairs & grabbed an unsecured bicycle off of the porch.

My next-door neighbor has a man working on his house & was kind enough to put himself out there by notifying me & 911 on what he saw concerning the theft. I passed the information on through Dispatch via my radio. I was unable to chase down these guys as I am off full duty until next week due to an injury.

First District Police Officers, Sgt Ricci Fayard, Officers Kenneth Thomas, Dwight Sallier & Detectives Daniel Hiatt & Patrick Kennelly did an excellent job in responding to my call for assistance & apprehended the perpetrators on Paris @ Industry Streets.

My neighbor’s renovation guy put himself out there & agreed for me to relocate him to the place of apprehension in order to identify the stolen bicycle & the perpetrators. The perpetrators are not just bicycle thieves, they come from an area of the city known as Mid-City Killer territory, which is inclusive of S Rendon, Ulloa, Baudin Streets, bordered by Tulane/Carrollton/Jeff Davis. The bicycle & perpetrators were positively identified & the perpetrators were placed under arrest. The detectives advised me we’ve had an uptick in burglaries & thefts in our area & they will look further into these perpetrators concerning these other crimes. First District Police responders did an Excellent Job today as well as the renovation man for my other neighbor who witnessed this crime.

I just want to let all of you know I am very proud of the response by our First Police District & very proud of the fact a man, who doesn’t live in our neighborhood, decided to step up & identify these perpetrators. Granted, a bicycle theft is not a huge crime in the grand scheme of things, but THE TEAMWORK BY THE OFFICERS & MY NEIGHBORS WAS OUTSTANDING AND TRULY WONDERFUL! I love our little Neighborhood & will always do my best as a Citizen & an Officer to keep us safe.

Just a few reminders for Crime Prevention:

1. Always lock up your Property (bikes, homes, cars).

2. Always keep your front & back porch lights on (it doesn’t cost that much, electricity wise).

3. If you think you’re coming home after dark, keep a couple of lights on inside your home before you leave.

4. Always be aware of who & what is around you when you get home, day or night.

5. Have the Fair Grounds Patrol meet you at your house when you come home. More in the link:
http://fsjna.org/about/fairgrounds-patrol/

Thank you, Neighbors!
Thank you, First Police District!

Everybody be well & keep safe.

~Liz on Crete

Click on any photo for a larger view.

HENRY JOHNSON

WILLIAM BROWN

ROMLALICE SHAW

Jimmy Fahrenholtz catches yet another stunning display of nature while out on his bicycle.

article below by Michael Graham Richard
Where bikes are like water to a fish
Here’s another great short film by our friend Clarence Eckerson. He already blew my mind with his recent film on Groningen in the Netherlands, and now he’s doing it again with one of the best videos on Amsterdam’s past and present bike culture that I’ve ever seen (and the others were probably made by Clarence too, so that says something).

Amsterdam is widely considered to be one of the very best cities for cyclists in the world. That didn’t happen by accident, and seeing images from a few decades ago when the city was choked with cars really brings the point home. The locals took some very specific steps to get to where they are today, something that many other cities around the world could learn from.

But enough from me. You have to check out this video. It provides some of the best images of what it’s like to actually live in a city where biking is not a sub-culture.

When strangers start acting like neighbors… communities are reinvigorated.

Ralph Nader

Neighbors are invited to attend the General Membership Meeting on Tuesday, December 10th at 6:30 p.m. The meeting will be held at the Fair Grounds Black Gold room. The Black Gold room is in the back on the left hand side.

Bring Your Non-Perishable Donations for Second Harvest

Egg Nog and Cookies will be served.

FSJNA+Executive+Board+Ballot+-+2014

I.                Guests

·       Officer Kenneth Gill – First District Quality of Life Update

·       Dan Shea – New Orleans Advocate

·       Erik deVries – Cobalt Medical

·       Heather Pohnan – NOLAWise/Energy Smart

II.              Election of Executive Board Members – 2014

III.             Treasurer’s Report

IV.            Committee Reports/Updates/Actions

·       Events/Fundraising Committee  - update

·       Membership Outreach Committee – update

·       Landscape Committee – update

·       Public Safety – update

·       Zoning Committee – update

V.              Old Business

·       From Floor 

VI.            New Business

·       Linda Landesberg – BCC Refresh Urban Garden

·       From Floor

VII.           Adjournment

by Katherine Sayre, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune

The Esplanade at City Park, a landmark apartment building overlooking Bayou St. John, recently sold to a Florida investment firm for $53.5 million.

Financing for the deal was announced this week by real estate finance group Walker & Dunlop, a national firm with a New Orleans office.

Priderock Capital Partners, based in West Palm Beach, bought the 1970s-era, seven-story building in a sale that closed Nov. 12, according to Orleans Parish court records.

The seller was RCG Longview, a partnership led by New York investor Jeffrey Feil. The group bought the property in 2006, on the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, and undertook post-storm renovations.

Feil is an owner in Lakeside Shopping Center, the three-tower Lakeway Center office complex along Lake Pontchartrain, and the land where Costco was developed in Mid-City, among other properties nationwide.

Walker & Dunlop arranged a $43.5 million, 10-year loan with five years’ interest-only through German American Capital Corp., a subsidiary of Deutsche Bank.

Stephen Farnsworth, Walker & Dunlop senior vice president, said commercial real estate capital and out-of-state investors are returning to New Orleans as the recession fades away and signs of economic growth become evident across the city.

“New Orleans is re-establishing itself as a very attractive multifamily market,” Farnsworth said.

Real estate broker Larry G. Schedler of New Orleans, who specializes in multifamily housing and handled the sale, said the property was put on the market about four months ago and quickly attracted the attention of investors both local and national.

Schedler, who worked in partnership with real estate services firm Cushman & Wakefield, attributed the widespread interest to the increasingly vibrant Mid-City neighborhood with new retail, streetcar service and other developments.

“It’s a testament to he strength and the resiliency of that market,” Schedler said.

The 446-unit, 400,000-square-foot building was put up for a sale in a market with strong rental demand. Occupancy rates hover at 95 percent or more, Schedler said, and there is a growing segment of “lifestyle renters” who can afford to buy a home but instead prefer renting higher-end homes.

“There’s probably more people in the rental market than there ever has been,” Schedler said.

According to The Esplanade’s website, the units — ranging from studio to three-bedroom — rent for between $955 and $2,555 monthly.

http://www.nola.com/business/index.ssf/2013/12/the_esplanade_at_city_park_apa.html#incart_m-rpt-2

by Peter Hickman

Noon Tourney 1/11/14

Mid City Volleyball Group will run an adult speed tournament at noon this Saturday.  We’ll be at our usual place along Bayou St John across the street from the Mid-City post office.  This week will be a draw tournament with two divisions based on skill level.  The tourney will most likely be co-ed, but we will always consider running a separate women’s division if the ladies are insistent.  The photo above was taken by Eddie during last week’s co-ed tournament… it was a record turnout, and everyone seemed to have a really good time.  The photo of Angela and Doug shows the intensity of play in the upper division!  Speaking of skill level, MCVG may run a few adult clinics this winter to give some pointers to help your game, but you can also contact Reuben Alumbres to arrange for private instruction.

Monday, February 10, 2014 at 7 pm… The Faubourg St. John Neighborhood Association will meet at 1368 Moss Street under the big dome on the bayou. (in the cafeteria)

photo and info by Charlie London
Today, the Orleans Levee Board opened the main gate on Bayou St. John at Lake Ponchartrain.   This was done to raise the level of the bayou which was a few inches too low.    The gate stayed open a bit longer than it should have causing the level of the bayou to get much higher than usual causing concern for some residents.    The drain at the other end of the bayou near Jefferson Davis Parkway has been opened so the water level should be back to normal soon.