March 6, 2025 · 12:25 am

Moving to Ghost – Don’t Panic

I started this blog in 2009 as a way of sharing my new home of New Orleans with my friends from coast-to-coast and around the world. I wrote it anonymously since my friends already knew the author and I wanted to focus on what I was experiencing – “Carnival, Concerts, Cuisine & Culture.”

LAtoNOLA is now read in over 100 countries! My family has been from Louisiana for generations and New Orleans has always been my favorite city in the world, so it delights me to share this marvelous place with the world.

When I began this blog, I posted frequently. In 2012, my acting career got a boost from Django Unchained and it became harder to find time. Continue reading →

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February 24, 2025 · 1:12 am

Sat. Parades – Pontchartrain, Freret, Sparta, Pygmalion & More!

The Krewe of Pontchartrain parade kicked off a 6-parade Saturday of floats, school bands, baton twirlers, pom girls and adult marching krewes starting with the Big Easy Roller Derby and the Muff-A-Lottas. Continue reading →

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February 22, 2025 · 1:36 am

Krewes of Oshun and Cleopatra 2025

 

It’s Carnival time!!! Krewes of Oshun and Cleopatra were the first to roll St. Charles Ave. and start the weekend of festivities. Oshun features beautiful royalty, school bands and youth dance troupes. It was only in the 40’s, but the crowd got thicker for Cleopatra.

The Egyptian-themed floats spouted beads, plushies, fans, hair clips, cups – and blinking headpieces, cowboy hats, medallions and more. Continue reading →

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January 24, 2025 · 11:39 pm

2024 – A Year in Photos

It’s been impossible for me to make time for this blog this year in large part because my life has been very full! My documentary, Wasted: Overtourism & the French Quarter, premiered and has been featured in six festivals so far. The piece won Best Louisiana Film at the recent Abita Springs International Film Festival. Off Ramp, a wild ride of a movie I open with a small part also came out to rave reviews.

Then there’s all the regular New Orleans life stuff. I danced with the Pussyfooters in Mardi Gras parades, the Krewe of Boo Halloween parade, the Children’s Hospital Holiday Parade, Southern Decadence, and even the French Quarter’s Sugar Bowl Parade on New Year’s Eve (the day before the terrorist attack on Bourbon Street). Continue reading →

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December 26, 2024 · 2:21 am

Holiday Parade & Festivities

It was a brisk day for the Children’s Hospital Holiday Parade – a spectacle including giant balloon floats that rolls through the French Quarter and downtown New Orleans. I love any excuse to dance with the Pussyfooters, a non-profit dance krewe of over 100 women over-30 wearing pink corsets and white combat boots. But the 11am Holiday parade is special because the crowd includes so many children. Their costumes and eager smiles fuel me. Continue reading →

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March 26, 2024 · 2:23 pm

Super Sunday 2024

The Black Masking Indians, or Mardi Gras Indians, flooded the Uptown streets with spectacular feathered suits they spent the year carefully designing and crafting – storytelling bead by bead. Super Sunday was postponed a week to avoid rain, but it was 70’s and breezy for one of my favorite days of the year. Continue reading →

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August 6, 2023 · 12:37 am

Satchmo Summerfest 2023

The French Quarter’s Satchmo Summerfest celebrates New Orleans native, Louis Armstrong’s birthday. The free 2-day celebration with live music and local food, takes place in the French Quarter at the Old U.S. Mint – home to the New Orleans Jazz Museum where you can find Armstrong’s first coronet. The heat has been extreme for weeks. I believe the heat index Saturday was 117 degrees, but we were looking forward to finally being out and about.

When we arrived, the 79ers Gang were playing on the Barrack’s Street Stage Continue reading →

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April 17, 2023 · 10:32 pm

French Quarter Fest 2023 – Sunday

It was cool and breezy for the day of the 40th French Quarter Fest (FQF), perfect for picnicking and dancing to local favorites. We started behind the Old U.S. Mint with Happy Talk Band. We’re used to seeing young people join the ranks of our city’s bands to learn from their elders, but the 10-year-old son of one of the band members truly held his own on keyboards. It was impressive.

Afterward, we tried the Cochon King BBQ Brisket Burnt Ends and got a box of Original “Yellow Bag” Crawfish 5lb Combo ($30) from Louisiana Fish Fry with NOLA Crawfish King – my first crawfish of the season.

My friend, Louis Sahuc’s wonderful photo gallery on Jackson Square closed after his passing, but his work lives on in a new 2-room location at 317 Exchange Place. We dropped in for the opening and were offered drinks and French Quarter stories as we celebrated Louis’ work. Then it was back to the music! Continue reading →

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April 17, 2023 · 12:45 am

French Quarter Fest 2023 – Saturday

Saturday, day 3 of French Quarter Fest, is usually crowded but rain kept the stages empty for much of the day. Many people who normally drive in for the day from across the lake and other neighboring areas opted to stay home. Rather than face the impending deluge, we joined an out-of-town friend and her first-timer friends for brunch at Muriel’s on Jackson Square. In addition to my Shrimp & Grits, I was thrilled to share the Crawfish & Goat Cheese Crêpes Continue reading →

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April 16, 2023 · 1:21 am

French Quarter Fest 2023 – Friday

French Quarter Fest (FQF) expands on Fridays to more of the eventual 20 stages of indigenous music and 60 local food booths scattered throughout the historic Vieux Carre. My favorite festival of the year, FQF is also one of the city’s most profitable – generating an economic impact of $190 million in 2019. We started our day at the Abita Stage with Big Chief Bo Dollis Jr. & the Wild Magnolias singing local favorites, some wearing their beaded and feathered Mardi Gras Indian suits.

We’d been intrigued by the offerings from fest-newcomer, Monday, since spotting their sign yesterday promising – Whole Snapper (deep fried) Continue reading →

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