In the Spring of 1718, Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville presided over a small ceremony on the banks of the Mississippi River and officially founded what we know today as the City of New Orleans.
How did Bienville come to choose this site for New Orleans? What were the other options and how do those decisions impact New Orleanians today?
In today's episode we explore Bienville's Dilemma with noted author and geographer Richard Campanella. In Richard's book, Bienville's Dilemma, he explains the factors that led to the decision to place New Orleans at its present site, rather than at the mouth of the Mississippi River.
You'll learn the important differences between a good site and a good situation, and why that mattered to the French. We also settle the question of whether New Orleans is predominantly above or below sea level.
As we move forward in time, Richard and I discuss how decisions made at the very beginning of New Orleans continue to impact the city today. Richard also explains how even today you can use subtle clues to retrace the past, including the former boundaries of the plantations that lined the Riverfront from below the French Quarter all the way Uptown to present-day Riverbend in the Carrollton neighborhood.
Join us for a nearly 300 year journey from Bienville to post Katrina New Orleans. You'll be rewarded with a new understanding and appreciation for the Crescent City.
All this and more on today's show!
You can find Richard on line at richcampanella.com. You'll find excerpts from all of his books, as well as a wonderful collection of images of New Orleans.
Richard’s books are available at local New Orleans booksellers, including Octavia Books, Garden District Book Shop and Maple Street Book Shop. You can also purchase an autographed copy of Bienville's Dilemma directly from Richard. Send him an email at: rcampane@tulane.edu
For scenes of New Orleans life as well as a steady stream of articles about the city, be sure to follow Richard on Twitter (@nolacampanella).
Of course you do!
If you’re planning a trip to New Orleans and want to cut through all the research we’re here to help. We offer a personalized travel consult. Here’s how it works:
You complete a brief questionnaire to help us get to know you and the experience you want to have in New Orleans. Next, we set up a 20-30 minute phone or video call. During the call, we get to know you a little better. We can clarify any questions and bounce a few ideas off of you to make sure we ‘re on the right track.
Finally, we prepare and deliver a pdf document with our recommendations for your trip. Depending on your needs the report will contain specific places to stay, eat and drink. It will also offer suggestions on things to do and see, all based on your budget and interests.
Sound good? Just go to http://www.beyondbourbonst.com/travel for all the details and a link to order the service.
Thanks to Richard Campanella for joining me on the podcast. His lens as a geographer helps me see New Orleans in an entirely different light. I'll never wander the streets of Uptown New Orleans again without appreciating the subtle curves, the slices of green space, and the streets that sometime jog left or right when you least expect them.
If you enjoy the show, please subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Play Music or wherever you get your podcasts. If you do enjoy listening, please share Beyond Bourbon Street with someone who shares our love of New Orleans.
We now have a Facebook group where you can ask questions, share your New Orleans experiences and engage with others who love all things New Orleans. Join us by going to www.beyondbourbonst.com/facebook
Got an idea for an episode, have some feedback or just want to say hi?
Leave us a message at 504-475-7632 or send an email to mark@beyondbourbonst.com
Thanks for listening!
Mark
Since 1961, Preservation Hall has been the epicenter of traditional jazz music in New Orleans. In today's episode, we visit with Ben Jaffe, the band leader of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band.
After a visit to New Orleans on their honeymoon in 1961, Ben's parents Allan and Sandra Jaffe created Preservation Hall. Along the way, they helped ensure this original American music form would have a place to be celebrated and honored. Ben and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band carry on that tradition, while also helping spread the celebration of jazz music worldwide.
In today's show, we talk about the musicians, the music, the art scene in New Orleans in the early 1960s and more. You'll hear about artists from Buddy Bolden and Sweet Emma to recent collaborations with Dave Grohl and the Foo Fighters.
We also talk about the Preservation Hall Foundation, and the work they do to help kids learn about jazz.
All this and more on today's show!
Preservation Hall |726 St. Peter St - live shows offered nightly, seven days a week. Preservation Hall performances are open to all ages. Tickets can be purchased at the door, though patrons usually start lining up 45 minutes early. To avoid the line, purchase a Big Shot pass on the website.
Follow Preservation Hall on Twitter (@PresHall), Instagram (@PreservationHall), and on Facebook.
Thanks to Ben Jaffe for joining me on the podcast and for welcoming me into his parent's home. It was an honor to record this discussion with Ben about the past and future of New Orleans jazz music.
A special thanks to Paul Sanchez for connecting me with Ben. Both are ambassadors for New Orleans and always looking to connect people who share a love of the Crescent City and her music. You can listen to an interview with Paul back in episode #23.
If you enjoy the show, please subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Play Music or wherever you get your podcasts. If you do enjoy listening, please share Beyond Bourbon Street with someone who shares our love of New Orleans.
We now have a Facebook group where you can ask questions, share your New Orleans experiences and engage with others who love all things New Orleans. Join us by going to www.beyondbourbonst.com/facebook
Got an idea for an episode, have some feedback or just want to say hi?
Leave us a message at 504-475-7632 or send an email to mark@beyondbourbonst.com
Thanks for listening!
Mark
Today's episode of the Beyond Bourbon Street podcast is all about shopping local in New Orleans. It was inspired by Small Business Saturday and a desire to support some of the wonderful makers and business owners in the New Orleans.
Have you ever wanted to purchase something to remind you of your visit to New Orleans? Are you looking for a gift for the holidays? Do you live in New Orleans and simply want to 'buy local?'
In today's episode, we highlight three New Orleans small business owners. Join me as I sit down with Liz Maute Cook of Lionheart Prints, Kristin Malone of Home Malone, and Patti Dunn of Tchoup Industries. We learn their stories and listen as they share their view of New Orleans.
Along the way, you'll not only meet three wonderful people, but you'll get a great list of New Orleans businesses to support during Small Business Saturday and beyond!
Get your pen and paper, or your electronic notepad ready.....
All this and more on today's show!
Lionheart Prints |3312 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA - Visit Liz Maute Cook's fun shop to find a great selection of hand-lettered cards, and other products including collaborations with New Orleans artists. I'm loving my Who's Your Crawdaddy t-shirt! Be sure to say hi to Ross the press man, too!
Lionheart is located just downtown of Louisiana Avenue, and is in a great location with many other small businesses and places to eat and drink. The shop is easily accessible via the (green) St. Charles Avenue Streetcar.
Follow Lionheart Prints on Instagram and Facebook.
Home Malone |629 N Carrollton Ave, New Orleans, LA - Home Malone is Kristin Malone's wonderful shop on Carrollton Avenue in Midcity.
Housed in one-half of a shotgun home converted for retail, Home Alone is full of gifts and artwork by makers from across the Deep South. The shop also hosts regular Paint Parties and other Special Events.
Home Malone celebrated their one-year anniversary in November 2017 and was voted as one of the best new retail stores in New Orleans in the Gambit New Orleans poll.
Take the (red) Canal Street streetcar from downtown. Hop off a couple blocks early and enjoy a cannoli at Angelo Brocato's. You could easily make an afternoon or an entire day exploring Midcity and nearby City Park, as we talked about during the podcast.
Follow Home Malone (@homemalonenola) on Instagram and on Facebook.
Tchoup Industries | 1115 St Mary St, New Orleans, LA - Visit Patti Dunn at her shop just off Magazine Street. Behind the small retail area you'll find makers busily cutting and sewing their one-of-a-kind bags in all sizes, colors and materials.
Special offer for Beyond Bourbon Street podcast listeners: use the promo code GOBEYOND15 at checkout to receive 15%.
This corner of the Garden District is brimming with places to explore. Take the St. Charles Streetcar from downtown and admire the architecture of the Garden District along the way. Be sure to grab a cup of coffee from nearby HiVolt, or a drink at Half Moon Bar.
Follow Tchoup Industries (@tchoupbags) on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
Thanks to Liz Maute Cook, Kristin Malone, and Patti Dunn for joining me on the podcast and sharing their stories with us!
If you enjoy the show, please subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Play Music or wherever you get your podcasts. If you do enjoy listening, please share Beyond Bourbon Street with someone who shares our love of New Orleans.
We now have a Facebook group where you can ask questions, share your New Orleans experiences and engage with others who love all things New Orleans. Join us by going to www.beyondbourbonst.com/facebook
Got an idea for an episode, have some feedback or just want to say hi?
Leave us a message at 504-475-7632 or send an email to mark@beyondbourbonst.com
Thanks for listening!
Mark
Once you've decided to call New Orleans home, you need a Realtor. By now you know Chris Smith is the best. Check out his website www.ChrisSmithHomes.com. You'll find his contact information, plus descriptions about the neighborhoods of New Orleans.
If you reach out to Chris, please let him know you heard him on the Beyond Bourbon Street podcast.
For the perspective of three people who moved to New Orleans, be sure to go back and listen to episode 48 - Moving to New Orleans, Part I. You'll hear from Jennifer, Lara Beth, and Terry as they talk about their decisions along the way. It was a fun discussion and is a nice complement to this episode with Chris Smith.
If you want to research the walkability of a specific New Orleans neighborhood, check out www.walkscore.com. You can pinpoint a specific address or just start by entering New Orleans.
Thanks to Chris Smith for joining me on the podcast, and for helping us find the perfect New Orleans family home! Chris knows and loves New Orleans, and it shows. It was pleasure to share this episode with you all, and to catch up with a friend.
If you enjoy the show, please subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Play Music or wherever you get your podcasts. If you do enjoy listening, please share Beyond Bourbon Street with someone who shares our love of New Orleans.
We now have a Facebook group where you can ask questions, share your New Orleans experiences and engage with others who love all things New Orleans. Join us by going to www.beyondbourbonst.com/facebook
Got an idea for an episode, have some feedback or just want to say hi?
Leave us a message at 504-475-7632 or send an email to mark@beyondbourbonst.com
Thanks for listening!
Mark
You can sign up for Elizabeth's Drink and Learn Tour over at her website: www.drinkandlearn.com. Be sure to enter promo code BBST for a discount!
Follow Elizabeth (@drinkandlearn) on Instagram and on Twitter.
Her latest book, Drink Dat, is a concoction of equal parts guidebook and stories. Do make sure you purchase it! Here's a link to find it a local bookstore near you. You can also find it on Amazon.
For you French Quarter lovers, check out the French Quarter Drinking Companion, too.
Thanks to Elizabeth Pearce for joining me on the podcast and sharing stories about the city we both love. Thanks also to Markey's Bar in the Bywater - they didn't know they were hosting us, but on the plus side, they didn't throw us out, either!
If you enjoy the show, please subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Play Music or wherever you get your podcasts. If you do enjoy listening, please share Beyond Bourbon Street with someone who shares our love of New Orleans.
We now have a Facebook group where you can ask questions, share your New Orleans experiences and engage with others who love all things New Orleans. Join us by going to www.beyondbourbonst.com/facebook
Got an idea for an episode, have some feedback or just want to say hi?
Leave us a message at 504-475-7632 or send an email to mark@beyondbourbonst.com
Thanks for listening!
Mark
Thanks to Jennifer, Lara Beth, and Terry for joining me on the podcast! Thanks also to Lara Beth's husband, Gary who took joined us off-mic and took pictures of the festivities. I had so much fun getting to know them, and I believe their stories and will help anyone contemplating a move to New Orleans.
Talking into a microphone can be a bit intimidating, much less sharing your personal stories. Each of you were terrific and added a special touch to the show. From the bottom of my heart, thank you, thank you!! I am so happy y'all decided to join the party and become New Orleanians.
Pizza Nola | 141 Harrison Avenue | Lakeview | 504-872-0731 - A special thanks to Will and Jennifer Samuels, and the gang at Pizza Nola for hosting us. Please stop in for pizza and gelato. Don't forget about Dong Phuong king cakes during Carnival season, too.
If you enjoy the show, please subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Play Music or wherever you get your podcasts. If you do enjoy listening, please share Beyond Bourbon Street with someone who shares our love of New Orleans.
We now have a Facebook group where you can ask questions, share your New Orleans experiences and engage with others who love all things New Orleans. Join us by going to www.beyondbourbonst.com/facebook
Got an idea for an episode, have some feedback or just want to say hi?
Leave us a message at 504-475-7632 or send an email to mark@beyondbourbonst.com
Thanks for listening!
Mark
What better place to enjoy Halloween than in America's most haunted city? Today, we'll be talking about the many fun ways to enjoy Halloween in New Orleans.
On today's episode Mark is joined by Brian Kern, who puts on the Carnival-style Krewe of Boo, and by Sidney Smith, owner of Haunted History Tours.
You'll learn all about the Krewe of Boo, including how you can take part as a rider, enjoy the parade along the route, or attend the after-party in your favorite spooky costume? Don't have a costume? We'll help you find one!
Are you interested in vampires, Voodoo, and haunted tales? You might want to check out a Haunted History Tour. We're also joined by a special guest who fills us in on the most haunted of New Orleans locations, the LaLaurie Mansion.
All this and more on today's show!
The Krewe of Boo rolls on Saturday, October 21, 2017. The Zombie Run will take place that same day at 9AM. Get all the details about riding in the parade, attending one of the special events, or the race over at KreweofBoo.com
Haunted History Tours offers several different types of tours. In addition to tour information, you can purchase a copy of the book New Orleans Ghosts, Vampires and Voodoo by Kalila Smith.
If you are in town with young children the weekend of the parade, check out Boo at the Zoo. Our five-year-old twins love it. So do we!
The Oak Street Po-Boy Festival takes place on Sunday, October 22, 2017. We also covered the festival back in Episode #1. You can find that one on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher.
If you are coming to New Orleans on the weekend before Halloween, you'll want to check out LGBTQ communities events that raise money for Project Lazarus. Frenchmen Street is always a great destination during that weekend and on Halloween night. The Frenchmen Street Live website is the best place to get updated listings for events.
Be sure to check out The Mortuary if you are into haunted houses - the spooky, jump out at you kind! Insider's Tips - take the Canal Street streetcar to get there. Eat at Katie's or Mandina's before or after.
If live music and art are your things, then don't miss the Voodoo Music + Arts Experience. Held on the festival grounds at City Park, this three day festival is a fun way to spend the Halloween weekend.
Uptown Costume & Dancewear
4326 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70115
Phone:(504) 895-7969
Here are a few key points, if you want to jump back and listen to something specific.
6:02 Krewe of Boo
8:00 Roy Kern and the start of the Kern float building tradition
26:30 Things to do the week before Halloween
30:15 LeLaurie Mansion
35:30 Costumes!
41:00 Oak Street Poor Boy Festival
Thanks to Brian Kern and Sidney Smith for joining me on the podcast!
A special thanks to Joel Sharpton for covering the intro and out at the last minute when I lost my voice! Joel is the voice you hear at the start of each episode of the Beyond Bourbon Street podcast. He is the head guy in charge over at Pro Podcasting Services where he offers podcast editing, coaching, and voiceover work. Thanks, Joel!
If you enjoy the show, please subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play Music or wherever you get your podcasts.If you do enjoy listening, please share Beyond Bourbon Street with someone who shares our love of New Orleans.
We now have a Facebook group where you can ask questions, share your New Orleans experiences and engage with others who love all things New Orleans. Join us by going to beyondbourbonst.com/facebook
Got an idea for an episode, have some feedback or just want to say hi?
Leave us a message at 504-475-7632 or send an email to mark@beyondbourbonst.com
Thanks for listening!
Mark
Today’s show is the first one where we venture beyond New Orleans! We’ll be traveling to the Northshore of Lake Pontchartrain, where we’ll focus on the outdoors. Come along as I explore Cane Bayou by kayak with Chad Almquist and Matt May of Canoe and Trail Adventures.
Have you ever wondered what it was like to paddle along a Louisiana bayou? Want to see wildlife including turtles, heron, and the occasional alligator or snake up close? Would you love to see the New Orleans skyline from the shoreline of Lake Pontchartrain?
If so, this episode is for you!
While we spent a lot of the discussion focused on Cane Bayou, there are many more places to explore across Lake Pontchartrain from New Orleans. Visit the shores of the lake from Fontainebleau State Park. There, you can wander the park as a day visitor, or plan ahead and rent one of their cabins.
Cane Bayou runs directly between Fontainebleau State Park and Big Branch Wildlife Refuge. The refuge is an interesting place to hike, hunt, and explore. Look for the trees with the white rings at their base. This is your sign there is a woodpecker's nest in the branches above!
If cycling or running is your thing, the Tammany Trace is your spot. This 30+ mile path connects many of the communities along Lake Pontchartrain's north shore. As an added bonus, you'll find places to eat and to enjoy a beverage along or very close to the trail. My favorite areas include Abita Springs and Old Covington. Nan's Cafe, where we recorded this week's show is just off the path in Mandeville.
Fontainebleau State Park - the cabins are in high demand. If you want to rent one, plan on making a reservation several months n advance. You can also rent a campsite on the grounds.
Southern Hotel - this 40 room hotel is the place to stay on the Northshore if you want to pamper yourself in luxury. Located in downtown Covington, the location is easy to get to from the Tammany Chase or the highway. Close by, you'll find several excellent options for meals, as well as small boutiques for shopping. The Covington Brewhouse is a short walk.
B&Bs - the Northshore is home to a wide array of bed and breakfasts.
More to follow, but for now....
Nan's Cafe - our host for today's show, this casual eatery on Highway 190 in Mandeville, is excellent for lunch or dinner. Try the fried chicken on Tuesdays and do not skip the boudin egg rolls!
Just Chillin' Too - across the patio from Nan's is where you'll find this spot. They offer both homemade ice cream and the traditional New Orleans dessert, shaved ice snoballs!
Oxlot 9 in the southern Hotel is an upscale bistro.
Just across the street is Del Porto Ristorante. Del Porto's has terrific fresh pastas, and excellent grilled entrees. The double cut pork chop is delicious! I recently had the sautéed sweet potato soup that was beyond words.
Across the Lake From New Orleans, you'll find a terrific community of craft breweries and brewpubs. Be sure to check out Abita Beer, Chafunkta, and the Covington Brewhouse. Many of the local restuarants will have these and other local beers on tap or in bottles.
You can find Canoe and Trail Adventures at their website and on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. (all @canoeandtrail). Book a tour on their website, and check out the wonderful photography on their Instagram feed.
Thanks to Chad Almquist and Matt May for joining me on the podcast and inviting me to take a kayak tour of Cane Bayou. Matt was a wonderful guide and helped bring the bayou to life with his knowledge and stories.
A special thanks to Bobby Folse at Nan's Cafe. We showed up announced. Not only did Bobby welcome us, but he proceeded to feed the three of us and kept our glasses full.
Lynne over at Just Chillin' Too helped cap off a wonderful afternoon with a delicious scoop (or two!) of homemade ice cream. Thanks!
If you enjoy the show, please subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play Music or wherever you get your podcasts.If you do enjoy listening, please share Beyond Bourbon Street with someone who shares our love of New Orleans.
We now have a Facebook group where you can ask questions, share your New Orleans experiences and engage with others who love all things New Orleans. Join us by going to beyondbourbonst.com/facebook
Got an idea for an episode, have some feedback or just want to say hi?
Leave us a message at 504-475-7632 or send an email to mark@beyondbourbonst.com
Thanks for listening!
Mark
Have you ever wanted to travel to New Orleans by yourself? If so, today's episode is for you!
Join Mark and his guest, Lorrie Shaw, as they discuss the ins and outs of exploring New Orleans on your own.
The two cover all you need to know, including....
Along the way, you'll find plenty of insider tips to make the most of your New Orleans experience.
All this and more in this episode of Beyond Bourbon Street!
A special thanks to Lorrie Shaw for being our guest on today's episode. You can connect with Lorrie by email.
We also want to thank podcast listener Mitchel Leadbeater for suggesting today's topic.
If you enjoy the show, please subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Play Music or wherever you get your podcasts. Search for Beyond Bourbon Street.
If you do enjoy listening, please share Beyond Bourbon Street with someone who shares our love of New Orleans.
Send an email to mark@beyondbourbonst.com
Thanks for listening!
Mark
New Orleans has never had a major league baseball team, but it does have a rich history with the national past time. Join Mark and his panel of guests as they explore the rich history of baseball in New Orleans from its earliest days through today.
Today’s guests include…
* Tim Grubbs, announcer for the Baby Cakes and Director of Team Travel
* Ron Swoboda, announcer for the Baby Cakes, and former major league baseball player known for “the Catch” in the 1969 World Series.
* S. Derby Gisclair, author and baseball historian
* Cookie Rojas, Senior VP and General Manager, New Orleans Baby Cakes
Baseball in New Orleans can be traced back to the 1850s and the earliest origins of the game itself. Derby describes the scene back then, including games played on the Delachaise Estate, near present day Touro Hospital in the Garden District.
Along the way, you’ll hear about the players and the places where they played. Ron Swoboda, who played for the 1969 Miracle Mets, regales us with stories of individual players from the past and today. His perspective as a former major league ballplayer helps bring the stories alive!
You’ll learn about Abner Powell who managed the Pelicans and gave us the tarp and the rain check.
The guys walk us through the early days of the New Orleans Pelicans. Later we discuss the return of minor league baseball to New Orleans in 1993, with the arrival of the Zephyrs.
Cookie shares the stories and the thought process behind the name change from Zephyrs to Baby Cakes in time for the 2017 season.
Learn about the Baby Cakes 2017 promotion for all children born in Louisiana in 2017.
All this and more in this episode of Beyond Bourbon Street!
Resources
You can find Derby’s books and information at New Orleans Baseball and on Amazon. His website has great articles and images of the game.
Find all things Baby Cakes at their website. Here’s the direct link to the 2017 promotion if you have had or are expecting a baby in 2017.
Follow Tim Grubbs on Twitter, @MrTimGrubbs.
You can listen to Tim and Ron broadcast Baby Cakes games live through the Baby Cakes website here or using the TuneIn app on your smartphone.
Check out Cookie’s Inside the Shrine podcast on the Baby Cakes website, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Thank You!
Thanks to Cookie, Tim, Ron, and Derby for taking time out of their day to join us.
A special thanks to Julie Couret for connecting me to Cookie Rojas and the Baby Cakes organization!
Julie is a must follow on Twitter (@JulieTCouret) if you love New Orleans and want a real insider’s look into every day life in the Crescent City. She is also the Chief Executive Coach at 7602 Business Performance.
Subscribe to Beyond Bourbon Street
If you enjoy the show, please subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Play Music or wherever you get your podcasts. Search for Beyond Bourbon Street.
If you do enjoy listening, please share Beyond Bourbon Street with someone who shares our love of New Orleans.
Links and show notes at http://beyondbourbonst.com/44
Leave us a voice mail at 504-475-7632.
Send an email to mark@beyondbourbonst.com
Thanks for listening!
Mark
Today's episode is about one of our most-requested topics: movies and television filmed in New Orleans!
Do you know which was the first film made in New Orleans? How about the fact Elvis, James Dean, and Roger Moore all appeared on the silver screen in movies made in the Crescent City?
In this episode we visit with Jonathan Ray, tour guide and owner of New Orleans Movie and TV Tours.
Join us as we discuss the earliest days of film in New Orleans. We make our way through time and the landscape of New Orleans through the camera lens. Along the way, you'll learn about how the Central Business District became the playground of the apes, how Queen Latifah zip lined across Bourbon Street, and where to find the cast and set of NCIS.
All this and more in today's episode of Beyond Bourbon Street!
You can find Jonathan on line at New Orleans Movie and TV Tours.
Links and show notes for today's episode can be found at http://beyondbourbonst.com/43
If you enjoy the show, please subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play Music or wherever you get your podcasts.
If you do enjoy listening, please share Beyond Bourbon Street with someone who shares our love of New Orleans.
We now have a Facebook group where you can ask questions, share your New Orleans experiences and engage with others who love all things New Orleans. Join us by going to beyondbourbonst.com/facebook
Got an idea for an episode, have some feedback or just want to say hi?
Leave us a message at 504-475-7632 or send an email to mark@beyondbourbonst.com
Thanks for listening!
Mark
On this episode of Beyond Bourbon Street, we dive into 18 fun facts about New Orleans, its history, and the people who call it home.
What do ice, dental floss, and pharmacies have in common? How about opera and the game of craps? The Superdome and the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway bridge?
Next, we talk about some of the interesting New Orleans characters you've never heard of. Along the way, you'll learn surprising facts about the Crescent City and find ways to check them out during your next visit.
We top it off with a list of ten people born in New Orleans, including some surprises.
All this and more in today's episode of Beyond Bourbon Street!
If you enjoy the show, please subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play Music or wherever you get your podcasts. If you do enjoy listening, please share Beyond Bourbon Street with someone who shares our love of New Orleans.
Want to share your favorite New Orleans memories, or ask others for advice about an upcoming trip to the Crescent City? Join our free Facebook group. It's a great place to engage with others who love all things New Orleans just like you!
Got an idea for an episode, have some feedback or just want to say hi?
Leave us a message at 504-475-7632 or send an email to mark@beyondbourbonst.com
Thanks for listening!
Mark
On this episode of Beyond Bourbon Street, we explore the Southern Food and Beverage Museum. The museum may be small, but it houses a large variety of artifacts and stories, dedicated to the culinary history of the Southern United States.
The Southern Food and Beverage Museum is also home to the Museum of the American Cocktail. While the cocktail may not have been invented in New Orleans, we certainly have made it our own. Learn about the Sazerac, the Crusta, the tangled history of absinthe, and more!
Join Mark and his guest, Liz Williams, as they discuss food and drink in the heart of the Crescent City.
All this and more in today's episode of Beyond Bourbon Street!
The Southern Food and Beverage Museum is located at 1504 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd, three blocks off of St. Charles Avenue. The museum is open daily Wednesday-Monday (closed Tuesdays).
You can find the Southern Food and Beverage Museum online at Southern Food. Be sure to check out the blog!
Additionally, you can find the Southern Food and Beverage Museum on Twitter (@SouthernFood) and on Instagram @EatDrinkSoFab
Liz Williams is the co-author of two books. Lift your Spirits, and New Orleans: a Food Biography. Both are available at local New Orleans booksellers, including Octavia Books and Garden District Book Shop. You can also purchase them at the Southern Food and Beverage Museum.
Links and show notes for today's episode can be found at Beyond Bourbon St.
If you enjoy the show, please subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play Music or wherever you get your podcasts. If you do enjoy listening, please share Beyond Bourbon Street with someone who shares our love of New Orleans.
We now have a Facebook group where you can ask questions and share your New Orleans experiences. It is a great place to engage with others who love all things New Orleans. Join us by going to beyondbourbonst.com/facebook
Got an idea for an episode, have some feedback or just want to say hi?
Leave us a message at 504-475-7632 or send an email to mark@beyondbourbonst.com
Thanks for listening!
Mark
In the spring and summer of 2017, the headlines in New Orleans newspapers dealt with the proposed removal of four statues honoring the Confederacy.
Ever wonder how we got to this point? I did, and it led me to Abraham Lincoln and his surprising connection to New Orleans. Today’s show is about Lincoln, his visits to New Orleans, and how they shaped his thoughts on slavery and reconstruction as the 16th President of the United States.
We visit with local author, historian, and geographer Richard Campanella, author of a book called Lincoln in New Orleans: The 1828-1831 Flatboat Voyages and Their Place in History. You met Richard back in episode #36, when we discussed how Bourbon Street happened.
In this episode, we travel along with a young Abraham Lincoln as he navigates the Mighty Mississippi,is nearly killed along the Sugar Coast, and witnesses the slave trade in New Orleans.
Through Richard's meticulous research, we walk the streets of New Orleans in the late 1820s and early 1830s, and see this exotic city through the eyes of a future U.S. President.
All this and more in today's episode of Beyond Bourbon Street!
You can find Richard on line at richcampanella.com. You'll find excerpts from all of his books, as well as a wonderful collection of images of New Orleans.
Richard’s books are available at local New Orleans booksellers, including Octavia Books, Garden District Book Shop and Maple Street Book Shop. You can also purchase an autographed copy of Lincoln in New Orleans directly from Richard. Send him an email at: rcampane@tulane.edu
Links and show notes for today's episode can be found at http://beyondbourbonst.com/40
If you enjoy the show, please subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play Music or wherever you get your podcasts.
If you do enjoy listening, please share Beyond Bourbon Street with someone who shares our love of New Orleans.
We now have a Facebook group where you can ask questions, share your New Orleans experiences and engage with others who love all things New Orleans. Join us by going to beyondbourbonst.com/facebook
Got an idea for an episode, have some feedback or just want to say hi?
Leave us a message at 504-475-7632 or send an email to mark@beyondbourbonst.com
Thanks for listening!
Mark
Planning your first trip to New Orleans? Wondering what should be on your list of things to do, eat, and see? We answer those questions and more on episode #39 of the Beyond Bourbon Street podcast!
This list includes the top things every first time visitor to New Orleans should experience. We also provide the insider tips that will help make your visit memorable. Grab a pen and a notepad, because this show is loaded with all the details you need to have a fabulous vacation in the Crescent City!
Listen to the episode to get the details behind this list. NOTE: There might also be some lagniappe – a little something extra!
Links and show notes for today's episode can be found at http://beyondbourbonst.com/39
Subscribe to the Podcast
If you enjoy the show, please subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts (formerly iTunes), Stitcher, Google Play Music or wherever you get your podcasts.
If you do enjoy listening, please share Beyond Bourbon Street with someone who shares our love of New Orleans.
Contact Us
Got an idea for an episode, have some feedback or just want to say hi?
Leave us a message at 504-475-7632 or send an email to mark@beyondbourbonst.com
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Mark
In this episode, I sit down with James Beard award winner Chef Frank Brigtsen. He and his wife Marna own Brigtsen's, one of the best Creole Bistros in New Orleans. Tucked into the Riverbend neighborhood just blocks from the streetcar, Brigtsen's has been serving delicious Creole cuisine since 1986.
Chef Frank and I talk about Chef Paul Prudhomme and his influence on the New Orleans culinary scene, as well as on Chef Frank himself. Join us as we discuss Cajun versus Creole, Commander's Palace, K-Pauls, Emeril Lagasse, and more.
Listen to Chef Frank describe the early days of what we now call the farm to table movement. Alice Waters, Wolfgang Puck, Paul Prudhomme and others.
By the end of the show, you'll be craving a bowl of Chef Frank's famous filé gumbo!
Be sure to visit Frank and Marna at their Riverbend restaurant. Brigtsen's is located at 723 Dante Street in Riverbend. Make reservations by calling 504-861-7610. Check out their menu and learn even more about Brigtsen's at www.brigtsens.com. Tell them Mark sent you from Beyond Bourbon Street!
You can follow Chef Frank Brigtsen @frankbrigtsen. Follow us for great images of New Orleans @BeyondBourbonSt.
Show Notes
Links and show notes for today's episode can be found at http://beyondbourbonst.com/38
Free Guide!
If you would like to download a pdf with information on all the New Orleans restaurants discussed in the previous episode (Ten Places to Eat Like a Local in New Orleans), please sign up for our newsletter. We promise not to spam!
Thank you to Chef Frank Brigtsen for sharing his stories with us. I enjoyed learning about his relationship with Chef Paul Prudhomme and his and Marna's own story!
Special thanks to you the listener for allowing me into your ears every other week. I truly enjoy sharing this city we both love!
If you enjoy the show, please subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts (formerly iTunes), Stitcher, Google Play Music or wherever you get your podcasts.
If you do enjoy listening, please share Beyond Bourbon Street with someone who shares our love of New Orleans!
Got an idea for an episode, have some feedback, or just want to say hi?
Leave us a message at 504-475-7632 or send an email to mark@beyondbourbonst.com
Thanks for listening!
Mark
Ever wonder where the locals eat? Today, we answer that question. At least from this local's perspective!
In episode 37 I cover ten places in New Orleans I frequently recommend.
Some of these are well known. Others are off the beaten path.
This list includes neighborhood restaurants and a trio of New Orleans Creole Bistros. You'll find a steak house and a Thai restaurant. A great place for Italian, and a French bistro. There also might be a little lagniappe near the end of the show.
We discuss when to go, how to get there, and what to order. All this and more in today's episode of Beyond Bourbon Street!
If you would like to download a pdf with information on all the New Orleans restaurants discussed in this episode, please sign up for our newsletter. We promise not to spam!
Links and show notes for today's episode can be found at http://beyondbourbonst.com/37
If you enjoy the show, please subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts (formerly iTunes), Stitcher, Google Play Music or wherever you get your podcasts.
If you do enjoy listening, please share Beyond Bourbon Street with someone who shares our love of New Orleans.
Got an idea for an episode, have some feedback or just want to say hi?
Leave us a message at 504-475-7632 or send an email to mark@beyondbourbonst.com
Thanks for listening!
Mark
Today's episode is about the most infamous street in New Orleans.
I originally planned this show as an April Fools' edition, since the podcast is called Beyond Bourbon Street. As I started my research, however, I quickly came to the realization there wasn't much written about the actual street.
I was about to shelve the idea when I realized local author, historian, and geographer Richard Campanella found the same lack of information and was inspired to write a book called Bourbon Street: A History.
Join me as I talk with Richard about (arguably) the most important street in New Orleans. We discuss its transformation from just another street to its present day status as one of the most infamous streets in the world. Along the way, you'll learn about entrepreneurship, the creation of New Orleans as a tourist destination, and more.
We also discuss the invention of the go-cup and how present day Bourbon Street can be explained through the Huge Ass Beers available for purchase along this fifteen block stretch of excess!
You'll learn about the architecture, the people, and the importance of Bourbon Street post-Katrina.
All this and more in today's episode of Beyond Bourbon Street!
You can find Richard on line at richcampanella.com. You'll find excerpts from all of his books, as well as a wonderful collection of images of New Orleans.
Richard’s books are available at local New Orleans booksellers, including Octavia Books, Garden District Book Shop and Maple Street Book Shop. You can also find Bourbon Street: A History on Amazon.
Links and show notes for today's episode can be found at http://beyondbourbonst.com/36
Thank you to Richard for sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm. This was an entertaining and educational discussion, and I hope the first of many!
A special thanks to you for allowing me into your ears every other week. I truly enjoy sharing this city we both love!
If you enjoy the show, please subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play Music or wherever you get your podcasts.
If you do enjoy listening, please share Beyond Bourbon Street with someone who shares our love of New Orleans.
Got an idea for an episode, have some feedback or just want to say hi?
Leave us a message at 504-475-7632 or send an email to mark@beyondbourbonst.com
Thanks for listening!
Mark
In 1897, New Orleans leaders created Storyville, the infamous red light district of New Orleans. For the next twenty years, Storyville was the legal center of prostitution in the Crescent City.
Storyville was the workplace of madams and prostitutes. Patrons might spend an evening at Lulu White's Mahogany Hall or at Josie Arlington's place. Here, they encountered lavish furnishings, live music, ample amounts of alcohol, and sex for a price.
In addition to the sex trade, Storyville was a hotbed of music and musicians. Patrons wandering down Basin Street would come across Jelly Roll Morton, Manuel "Fess" Manetta, Tony Jackson, and maybe even a young Louis Armstrong. These musicians were expected to play everything from opera to ragtime. While jazz wasn't likely invented in Storyville, the collaboration and improvisation of these talented musicians helped shape and influence the music we know today.
I welcomed three guests to the podcast this week, including a return visit by Pamela Arceneaux, author, senior librarian, and rare books curator at the Historic New Orleans Collection. Pamela's book, called the Guidebooks to Sin: the Blue Books of Storyville, was featured in episode #34.
In addition to Pamela, HNOC curators John Lawrence and Eric Seiferth joined us for a lively discussion. Together, the three of them help bring Storyville to life for us. We learn about the madams and the musicians, as well as the music itself.
Insider Knowledge: Did you know opera was as likely to be heard as ragtime? I didn't!
Along the way, we discuss the divide between establishments targeted towards the wealthy (white) clients, and black Storyville, home of simple cribs. We also explore the new HNOC exhibit Storyville: Madams and Music, and talk about the photos of Earnest Bellocq and the movie Pretty Baby, featuring a very young Brooke Shields.
All this and more in this episode of Beyond Bourbon Street!
You can find Pamela’s book at local booksellers, including Octavia Books, Garden District Book Shop and Maple Street Book Shop, as well as at The Historic New Orleans Collection. You can also find Guidebooks to Sin on Amazon.
Explore the Historic New Orleans Collection online and in person. They are located at 533 Royal Street, in the heart of the French Quarter.
Links and show notes for today's episode can be found at http://beyondbourbonst.com/35
Thanks to Pamela Arceneaux, John Lawrence and Eric Seiferth for joining me today. Together, they helped paint a picture of New Orleans and Storyville during the late 1800s and into the 20th century.
Eli Haddow at the Historic New Orleans Collection made our discussion possible.
Kate McCreary hepled with the research into Storyville.
Finally, thanks to you for allowing me into your ears every other week. I truly enjoy sharing this city we both love!
If you enjoy the show, please subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play Music or wherever you get your podcasts. Search Beyond Bourbon Street.
If you do enjoy listening, please share Beyond Bourbon Street with someone who shares our love of New Orleans.
Got an idea for an episode, have some feedback or just want to say hi?
Leave us a message at 504-475-7632 or send an email to mark@beyondbourbonst.com
Thanks for listening!
Mark
In 1897, New Orleans leaders created Storyville, the infamous red light district of New Orleans. For the next twenty years, Storyville was the legal center of prostitution in the Crescent City.
The blue books were small guides that listed the 'finer' bordellos and even the individual prostitutes. The idea was likely cribbed from various other blue books which noted places and people of distinction.
My guest this week is Pamela Arceneaux, an author, senior librarian, and rare books curator at the Historic New Orleans Collection. Pamela has written a wonderful book, called the Guidebooks to Sin: the Blue Books of Storyville.
In this first of two episodes about the infamous New Orleans red light district, we discuss the creation of Storyville and the role of the blue books. We learn about the surprising contents and how they helped cement New Orleans’ reputation as an entertainment and tourist destination. We talk about the jazz and ragtime musicians who provided the musical entertainment and often began their collaboration with others.
All this and more in this episode of Beyond Bourbon Street!
You can find Pamela’s book at local booksellers, including Octavia Books, Garden District Book Shop and Maple Street Book Shop, as well as at The Historic New Orleans Collection. You can also find Guidebooks to Sin on Amazon.
Explore the Historic New Orleans Collection online and in person. They are located at 533 Royal Street, in the heart of the French Quarter.
Links and show notes for today's episode can be found at http://beyondbourbonst.com/34
Thank you to Pamela Arceneaux for sharing her enthusiasm and knowledge about Storyville and the blue books that serve as the bibliogrpahy to the sex trade during the Storyville period.
Thanks to Eli Haddow at the Historic New Orleans Collection for arranging the interview.
A special word of thanks to Sally Asher for connecting me to Pamela. Sally was a guest on episode #22, the Cemeteries of New Orleans. This is one of our most popular shows, so be sure to check it out! Sally also wrote a wonderful book that tells the stories of the people buried in The St. Louis Cemeteries of New Orleans. Find it at the local booksellers mentioned above and on Amazon.
Thanks to Kate McCreary for helping with the research into Storyville and this fascinating social experiment in New Orleans at the turn of the 20th century!
Finally, thanks to you for allowing me into your ears every other week. I truly enjoy sharing this city we both love!
If you enjoy the show, please subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play Music or wherever you get your podcasts. Search Beyond Bourbon Street.
If you do enjoy listening, please share Beyond Bourbon Street with someone who shares our love of New Orleans.
Got an idea for an episode, have some feedback or just want to say hi?
Leave us a message at 504-475-7632 or send an email to mark@beyondbourbonst.com
Thanks for listening!
Mark
In the last episode, we covered the history of City Park. Today, we dive into the top ten things to in the park. In addition to things to do and see, we also discuss how to get to New Orleans City Park and what you should bring with you.
We'll explore the park together. Along the way, we'll wander through the oldest grove of oak trees, and share an order (or two!) of beignets at the Morning Call. Perhaps we'll play a round of miniature golf and take in the outdoor sculpture garden as well. If you're up for it, we'll take a bike ride and learn about one of City Park's newest attractions, Big Lake.
All this and more in today's show!
NOTE: Get your pen and paper ready because you'll definitely want to take notes...
New Orleans City Park is located in the Midcity neighborhood of New Orleans and is accessible by taking the Canal St. streetcar (the red one). It is just a couple miles from the French Quarter and offers plenty of free parking.
Friends of City Park is a local non-profit organization dedicated to improving the park. You can purchase annual memberships which provide free or discounted admission to many of the ticketed venues within City Park, including the annual Celebration in the Oaks.
To download a map of City Park, click here.
The two websites combined will provide all the details, history and calendars of events you need to get the most out of your visit to City Park.
If you enjoy the show, please subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, or Google Play Music. New episodes are available every other Wednesday. You can find us on Twitter | Instagram | Facebook| Website
In this episode I talk with John Hopper, the Chief Development Officer and Director of Public Affairs for New Orleans City Park. We dive into the history of one of the largest urban parks in the United States.
City Park in New Orleans was first envisioned as a public place in the mid-1800s, but as you'll learn, the land was first inhabited by Native Americans who found the land along Bayou Metairie suitable for their lifestyle.
It was later the site of the Allard Plantation before being purchased by John McDonogh for the purpose of giving it to the city to be used as a park.
John and I discuss the history of the park from its very beginning through present day. Along the way, you'll hear stories of duels, grand architecture, the Works Progress Administration, a Mexican sculptor with ties to Pancho Villa, and more!
If you enjoy the show, please subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, or Google Play Music. New episodes are available every other Wednesday. You can find us on Twitter | Instagram | Facebook| Website
Thanks for listening!
Mark
mark@beyondbourbonst.com
In this episode I talk with Jessica Parker, a New Orleanian in spirit and a frequent visitor who also happens to be a vegan. Together, we dive into great places to eat vegan and vegetarian in the Crescent City. Along the way, we discover plenty of places to eat where vegans, vegeterians and meat lovers can all break bread together.
Even if you are not a vegan, you'll find plenty of ideas for places to eat in New Orleans. The discussion was a lot of fun and I ended up with a great list of places to enjoy along with my friends who are vegan. This question has been coming up a lot recently, so I am excited to dve into this topic with Jessica.
Break out your paper and pen, or your favorite note taking app. We cover places to eat from the Bywater all the way to Riverbend. By the end of today's show, you'll know exactly where to eat vegan and vegeterian in New Orleans!
If you enjoy the show, please subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, or Google Play Music. New episodes are available every other Wednesday. You can find us on Twitter | Instagram | Facebook| Website
Thanks for listening!
Mark
mark@beyondbourbonst.com
In this episode, I talk with Mark Rosenbaum, the owner and artist behind Rosetree Blown Glass. Mark and I discuss Algiers Point, New Orleans' 2nd oldest neighborhood. Mark is a resident of the Point and an active member of the community.
Never heard of Algiers Point?
It's located just across the Mississippi River from the French Quarter and is the only portion of New Orleans on the West Bank, or "Best Bank" as residents over there refer to it.
The best way to get to the Point is to take a quick ferry ride across the river. A $2 fee for pedestrians will transport you to a village-like setting only a short distance from the craziness of Bourbon Street.
Algiers Point is known as New Orleans' best kept secret for good reason - even many locals like myself haven't spent much time in the historic district. That's too bad because a morning or afternoon exploring can yield fabulous views of the New Orleans skyline and the river traffic, unexpected art like Mark's blown glass studio, neighborhood restaurants and bars, and 19th century architecture.
Learn about all this and more in today's show!
If you enjoy the show, please subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, or Google Play Music. New episodes are available every other Wednesday. You can find us on Twitter | Instagram | Facebook| Website
Thanks for listening!
Mark
mark@beyondbourbonst.com
In this episode, I talk with Ed Branley, author, historian, podcaster and contributor to GoNOLA.com. Together, we dive into the Battle of New Orleans.
Imagine you are standing in Jackson Square. You look up at Andrew Jackson atop his horse and wonder why he's there.
Sure, you know about the battle of New Orleans, but what was New Orleans like in the period leading up to the War of 1812? As the battle approached, what did New Orleanians think and feel about it? What did they think would be the outcome? How about the major players in the battle itself?
Listen in as we discuss these ideas and more. By the end of today's show, you'll get a sense of the battle itself, and also of New Orleans in the early 1800s. I enjoyed the conversation and know you will, too!
If you enjoy the show, please subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, or Google Play Music. New episodes are available every other Wednesday. You can find us on Twitter | Instagram | Facebook| Website
Thanks for listening!
Mark
mark@beyondbourbonst.com
