“COOLinary is an opportunity to live it up for less in New Orleans, offering guests the renowned, delectable cuisine that is part of the reason so many visitors choose to travel here,” said Kim Priez, vice president of tourism sales for the New Orleans CVB. “The promotion gives everyone a chance to experience some of the finest dining in the world, while also driving locals to sample classic New Orleans dishes that were often invented within their own neighborhoods.”

Here is a sample dinner menu from Bayona.
They are offering appetizers of Cream of Garlic Soup, Soup of the Day, Bayona Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette, or Eggplant Caviar with Tapenade. Dinner offerings are the Vegetarian Dish of the Day, Fish of the Day, or Grilled Duck Breast with Pepper Jelly Glaze. Desserts are homemade sorbets or ice creams.

Here is a sample lunch menu from Galatoire’s
On Tuesdays – Thursdays, Avocado Vichyssoise, Creole Tomato and Watermelon Salad, or Smoked Salmon. Entrees include a choice of Grilled Gulf Fish, Mussels St. Pierre, Ratatouille, or Paneed Pork Chop. Dessert is a choice of Banana Bread Pudding or Caramel Cup Custard.

There are more restaurants to be added to the list of participating locations. New Orleans has just recently opened its 1,000 restaurant and more are coming. This is a new record for the city.

Famous National and Local Musicians are coming together to fundraise for those who’s livelihood have been damaged by the recent oil spill.

Musicians, business leaders in New Orleans and community radio station WWOZ-FM have come together to create the GULF AID benefit concert to raise funds for wetland recovery efforts, fishermen and their families as oil continues to gush into the Gulf of Mexico from the site of the collapsed deepwater horizon. The fundraising concert will take place on Sunday, May 16, rain or shine from noon – 10 pm at Mardi Gras World River City overlooking the Mississippi River in New Orleans.

“Thousands of families across south Louisiana will potentially be impacted for years to come and will need all the help they can get to survive,” Ewell Smith, Executive Director of the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board said in a statement. “They bring the catch of Louisiana seafood to America’s tables.”

The concert will be a who’s who of New Orleans music legends. Mos Def, The Voice of the Wetlands Allstars, Allen Toussaint, Zachary Richard, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk, Soul Rebels Brass Band, Irvin Mayfield’s Playhouse Review, Kermit Ruffins and the BBQ Swingers are among the many performers. Lenny Kravitz and Ani DiFranco, who both own homes in New Orleans, will also be performing.

Tickets are $50 and are available exclusively via Elevate Tickets. VIP packages will be available. All funds will be managed and distributed by Gulf Aid in partnership with WWOZ.

For details about the concert, to purchase tickets or to donate online, visit:
Buy Tickets Here!
www.gulfaid.org

New Orleans Luxury Hotel the Hotel Monteleone is offering AFTER concert, stop by Carousel bar and show your concert ticket.  A percentage of the profits will go to Gulf Aid.

Well you do not have to imagine! The New Orleans Wine and Food Experience (NOWFE) has organized these culinary and wine events and seminars.

Hotel Monteleone plays host to a number of NOWFE events and seminars beginning Thursday, May 27, 2010 through Saturday, May 29, 2010.

The Hotel Monteleone is also offering special rates for this event.
Rooms Starting at only $149 per night. Click to book your room.

To purchase seminar tickets please email jamie@nowfe.com or call 504.529.WINE (press 1).

Moderators include:

• Lorin Gaudin, WDSU Restaurant & Food Reporter
• Tim McNally, Host of The Wine Show.
• William Sherer, Master Sommelier, Aureole, Las Vegas.
• Poppy Tooker

Thursday event will include:

• Royal Street Stroll – A definitive evening event of the New Orleans Wine and Food Experience, which brings together New Orleans’ greatest gifts: rare antiques, fine art, live jazz and stunning historic architecture with the world’s outstanding wines. Shop the enchanting galleries of Royal Street while experiencing wine offerings at each stop, as live jazz music fills the air. As always, we will be joined by the Krewe of Cork, as they parade down Royal Street. You must be 21 to enter. At the event, in exchange for your ticket, you will receive a 2010 Wine Glass & Wristband that allows you receive wine & food offerings. $75 per person in advance ($90 on-site), 5:30 – 8:30 pm, 300 Royal Street, BUY TICKETS NOW!

Friday Seminars will include:

• Think Outside the Bento Box! – It will be a champagne and sushi paring featuring fresh sushi from Rockin’ Sake. $75 per person, 10:45 – 11:45am, Hotel Monteleone (La Nouvelle East Room)
• Romancing the Rhone – Rhone style wines from California’s Central Coast, and especially the Paso Robles area, made from traditional French Rhone varietals will be paired with tastes from Le Foret. $50 per person, 12:30 – 1:30pm, Hotel Monteleone (Royal Ballroom A & B)
• Big Red Seminar – These “Big Red” blends are paired with artisan cheeses from The Epicurean Connection. $75 per person, 2:30 – 3:30pm, Hotel Monteleone (La Nouvelle East Room)

Saturdays Seminars will include:

• Gone Gulfing – Learn why they call Louisiana a “Sportsman’s Paradise” through an exploration of gulf coast seafood varieties with Chefs Tenney Flynn (GW Fins) and Brian Landry (Galatoire’s). $50 per person, 10:45 – 11:45am, Hotel Monteleone (La Nouvelle East Room)

John Autin will be opening act at 9:00 pm, Featured performers will play beginning at 10:30 pm.

• Fri. April 23th: Don Vappie
• Sat. April 24th: Cindy Scott
• Sun. April 25th: Cherie Mannino
• Mon. April 26th: Big Daddy ‘O’
• Tues. April 27th: Leroy Jones & Tom McDermott
• Wed. April 28th: Jon Cleary
• Thurs. April 29th: Sam Broussard
• Fri. April 30th: Mitch Woods & Bill Malchow
• Sat. May 1st: Lindsay Mendez
• Sun. May 2nd: John “Papa” Gros

John Autin

Pianist, vocalist, producer, songwriter John Autin is one of New Orleans’ musical treasures. For years, John Autin has been one of New Orleans finest pianists playing or recording with Luther Kent, Marva Wright, Snooks Eaglin, Ernie K. Doe, Tommy Ridgley, Oliver Morgan, Irma Thomas, Eddie Bo, George Porter, Jr., Anders Osborne, Nora Wixted, Timothea, Grace Darling, Brian Lee, Wanda Rouzan, Al Miller, Jeff Chaz, Theresa Andersson, Irene Sage, Big Daddy ‘O’. John has also produced CD’s for many of these artists and others on the Rabadash Records label.

Don Vappie

Born in New Orleans, Don’s versatile background of playing funk, rhythm and blues, and pop music enhances his unique perspective on music and performance. In addition to his work as a producer, composer and arranger, Don has performed/recorded with Terence Blanchard, Benny Waters, Doc Cheathum, Peggy Lee and continues to be a regular guest with Wynton Marsalis and The J@LC Orchestra as well as guest artist at numerous festivals and venues worldwide.

Cindy Scott

She has walked a different path than the average jazz singer. She has a Masters in International Business and speaks German and Spanish. She lived and worked abroad for years in places like Hungary and Mexico. She and husband Bill Fernandez competed for a house on TBS’ reality TV series House Rules – and won! She moved to New Orleans just in time to lose everything to the flood waters of Hurricane Katrina. She earned her second Masters (in Jazz Studies) from the University of New Orleans, a program founded by famed educator Ellis Marsalis and now led by guitar icon Steve Masakowski. She traded a successful corporate career for the crazy life of a jazz musician – and she never looked back!

Cherie Mannino

In a city of transplants and wannabe locals, Cerie Mannino is a true New Orleans native. Born and raised in the lower Ninth Ward with the mighty Mississippi River literally in her backyard. She comes from three generations of shipbuilders and riverboat pilots. The river, the essence of the city, is in her blood. Over the past twenty years her singing career in Los Angeles and New Orleans has put her on stage backing up Rosemary Clooney, Linda Ronstadt and Keely Smith. As a solo artist Cherie has won awards at numerous jazz competitions and has performed at the NO Jazz ad Heritage Festival. Cherie’s vast and varied repertoire includes Blues, Rock, Swing, New Orleans classics, and quite a collection of burning big band arrangements, yet her true passion is Jazz. In her approach to a standard tune, a perceptive listener may catch the influence of Ella Fitzgerald, or Nancy Wilson in her clear tone and purposeful delivery. Her expressive, natural phrasings have an easy, conversational quality reminiscent of Billy Holiday or maybe Tony Bennett. Cherie headlines with various groups at music hot spots in and around New Orleans. Cherie’s vibrant singing style is a true delight for jazz fans. Cherie’s voice is powerful, yet versatile, controlled, yet never loses it’s ability to surprise, which is what makes a voice, a fine jazz voice.

Big Daddy ‘O’

Big Daddy ‘O’ is one of those rare blues finds. For more than thirty years he has been playing in roadhouses and bars in the delta area near the Louisiana/Mississippi border. Rabadash Records “discovered” Big Daddy ‘O’ playing at small bar in Amite, Louisiana. His approach to performing songs makes each song sound like his own, and everyone who has the pleasure of hearing him loves his big beautiful voice and good-natured presentation. At 6’6″, he has a strong presence on stage that no one forgets. He performs as a solo act as well as with his band, “The Big Daddy ‘O’ Revue.”

Leroy Jones & Tom McDermott

Heavily influenced by the New Orleans jazz tradition, Leroy Jones has honored his rich heritage while seeking to expand his musical repertoire. He took up trumpet when he joined his elementary school’s band. At 13, he joined guitarist Danny Barker’s Fairview Baptist Brass Band, who also taught Jones privately. He spent four years in the city’s popular St. Augustine High School Band. After graduating, he formed the Hurricane Brass Band, which along with the Fairview Band provided talent for the Dirty Dozen Brass Band. He toured Canada with Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson and joined Della Reese, leading to international concert tours that eventually resulted in Jones performing in Southeast Asia for a three-year stretch. Recruited by Harry Connick, Jr. for his big band, Jones was Connick’s opening act during his 1994 tour. He finally debuted to critical acclaim as a leader in 1995 with his CD Mo’ Cream From the Crop.

Tom McDermott was born in St. Louis, Missouri on September 24, 1957. He soaked up that town’s ragtime heritage, learning dozens of rags and issuing an LP of originals (“New Rags”, Stomp Off Records, 1982). After earning a Master’s Degree in music from Washington University and working two years for the morning paper as a jazz and rock critic, McDermott headed downriver in 1984 to New Orleans.

In Louisiana, he has explored the styles of New Orleans masters like Jelly Roll Morton, Professor Longhair and James Booker. As a soloist he is in demand as one of the few pianists in town comfortable with the Crescent City’s traditional jazz and R&B styles.

Jon Cleary

He is a funk and R&B musician based in New Orleans, Louisiana. He is from Cranbrook in Kent, England, and has studied for the past 20 years the “musical culture and life of New Orleans,” according to his website. Cleary is an accomplished pianist, vocalist and song-writer.

Jon Cleary performs with a number of music luminaries including Bonnie Raitt, Taj Mahal, B.B. King, Ryan Adams, and Eric Burdon. Compositions by Cleary have been recorded by notable musicians including Taj Mahal, Bonnie Raitt and most recently John Scofield on his album, Piety Street.

Cleary’s current band is Jon Cleary & the Absolute Monster Gentlemen, who have two current albums. Cleary has three solo albums.

Sam Broussard

Sam Broussard was signed to Capitol Records in 1971 as part of the adventurous acoustic quartet of Louisiana boys called Manchild, which also included Bourgeois endorser David Bankston. As a teenager he shared the stage with the likes of Ramblin’ Jack Elliot, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGee and Dave Van Ronk. He went on to do studio and roadwork with Michael Martin Murphey, Nicolette Larson, Foster and Lloyd, Jimmy Buffett and countless others during his stay in Nashville. During his Colorado days he often played with Robben Ford: “I kept up with him a few times.” In the mid-90′s he toured Europe, recording, filming and writing with million-selling franco-swiss star Stephan Eicher.

Mitch Woods & Bill Malchow

Mitch Woods is an American modern day boogie-woogie, jump blues and jazz pianist and singer. Since the early 1980s he has been touring and recording with his band, the Rocket 88s. Woods calls his music, “rock-a-boogie,” and with his backing band has retrospectively provided a 1940s and 1950s jump blues style.

Roots pianist and vocalist Bill Malchow divides his time between the Big Apple and the Big Easy which sounds about right, since his percolating, second-line style bubbles and boils with Fats Waller-style Harlem stride and the steaming New Orleans sounds of Dr. John, James Booker, Allen Toussaint, and Professor Longhair.

Lindsay Mendez

Recently signed by RABADASH RECORDS in New Orleans, Lindsay became the youngest artist (13) to ever sign with the Label. Lindsay has a very impressive resume’ at such a young age. Her National Anthem performances has landed her in the Liberty Bowl in Memphis, TN., the New Orleans Hornets NBA Team, The New Orleans Zephyrs AAA MLB Team, and every Major college in South Louisiana, as well as private functions throughout the Southeastern United States. She has performed with such bands as Irma Thomas and the Professionals, Vince Vance and the Valiants, Bobby Cure and the Summertime Blues, The Wise Guys, Big Daddy O, Waylon Thibodeaux, and many others.

John “Papa” Gros

John “Papa” Gros‘ debut CD, Day’s End, described by Keith Spera (New Orleans Times-Picayune) as “bits of Leon Russell, Dr. John, and Little Feat plus a whole lot of John Gros” is a promisingly fresh look at New Orleans music.

Born in New Orleans and raised in Baton Rouge, Gros studied French horn and jazz piano at Loyola University. In 1996, he joined George Porter Jr.’s band, Runnin’ Pardners where he honed his New Orleans piano and organ skills, paying great homage to Dr. John and Art Neville. In 2000, John founded the all-star funk conglomerate, Papa Grows Funk.

From FRIDAY, April 23 thru SUNDAY, May 2

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Hats Off to Eudora Welty on Her 101^st Birthday!

To celebrate Eudora’s 101st birthday, Hotel Monteleone, where Eudora spent some time writing, will premier The Purple Hat, a short film depicting the short story. There will also be a Purple Hat Fashion Show along with 101 birthday cupcakes.

WHEN: April 13, 2010 – 12:00PM-2:00PM

WHERE: Carousel Bar in the Hotel Monteleone (214 Rue Royal)

WHO: Media celebrities and representatives from The Historic New Orleans Collection, Faulkner Society, WLAE TV and Le Petit Theatre will model purple hats designed by Fleur De Paris.

HOW: Open to the public. Tickets are $35. To purchase tickets please call Carly Plotkin with Hotel Monteleone at (504) 681-4452 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              (504) 681-4452      end_of_the_skype_highlighting or click here.

WHY: In anticipation of the 101st birthday of award winning American author Eudora Welty, the Hotel Monteleone is assisting in the production the film called THE PURPLE HAT. Eudora Welty is famously associated with the hotel as the Carousel Bar was the site where the original short story The Purple Hat was written. Ms. Welty was inspired by her environment, as the basic premise is “A man walks into a bar in the French Quarter and tells a story…a ghost story.”

Serving as a Literary Landmark, the Hotel Monteleone is proud of its literary heritage and is excited to celebrate the birthday of Ms. Welty.

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Tuesday, April 13th. 12 noon – 2:00 p.m. Carousel Bar

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Easter Sunday is another exciting day of parades and festivities in New Orleans. From Uptown to the French Quarter there is a lot of celebrating going on for all ages and all types of people. The parades that are running on Easter Sunday are the Historic French Quarter Parade, Chris Owens Easter Parade, Easter Sunday Gay parade and the St. Charles Avenue Easter Parade. They also have the Dinosaur Egg Hunt at the Audubon Zoo for the kids. You have to pre-register for the Easter egg hunt online here. For more information on these events see below.

The Hotel Monteleone is holding an Easter Brunch Buffet in the Le Cafe. There are two seatings at 11:30am and 1:30pm.  For Reservations call Le Cafe at 504-523-3341 ext. 4264. The price is $45 for adults and only $20 for children. Here is the menu for the Brunch.

Historic French Quarter Parade

The Parade of carriages and convertibles will leave Arnaud’s Restaurant at 10:30 a.m. It goes down Bienville Street to Dauphine Street, Iberville Street, and Bourbon Street. The parade then turns onto Toulouse Street to Royal Street. Participants will promenade in Jackson Square before attending the noon Mass at St. Louis Cathedral, after which they go back to Arnaud’s.

Chris Owens Easter Parade

The parade rolls at 1 p.m. from the corner of Canal and Bourbon Streets, continue down Bourbon Street to St. Phillip, roll up to Decatur, and conclude at Canal Street at the Astor Crowne Hotel.

Easter Sunday Gay parade

It starts at 3:00 p.m. with a party at Starlight on N. Rampart St. The parade rolls at 4 p.m. and goes through the French Quarter.

St. Charles Easter Parade

The parade will roll up and then down beautiful St. Charles Avenue. The parade begins at 12:15pm at Delmonico’s Restaurant on 1500 St. Charles Ave.

Dinosaur Egg Hunt at the Audubon Zoo

Saturday and Easter Sunday. There’s an Easter Egg hunt in City Park at Easter Egg Hunt in Storyland at 11:00 a.m. for the younger ones, and at the Amusement Park for the bigger kids. You can get your picture taken with the Easter Bunny in the Carousel Gazebo. Eggs will be stuffed with candy and toys, a few with ride tickets, and one golden egg for a bigger prize. The Fairy Godmother will be at the Storyland Castle doing face painting and entertainment from 11am-3pm with characters. Regular admission rates apply.

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Hotel Monteleone Welcomes Special Guests for Carousel Bar Performance

Carousel Bar to welcome Harry Mayronne & Anais St. John on February 18, 25 and March 4, 2010. The music series is free and open to Carousel Bar patrons, with featured performances from 5:00-7:00PM and John Autin to follow at 9:00PM each night.

Harry Mayronne
A pianist, composer, musical director, producer and puppeteer, Harry Mayronne Jr. was raised by artists and music lovers; his late father was a graphic artist who also managed the Olympia Brass Band and owned a talent booking agency. His mother is the grandchild of English Music Hall performers. Harry was exposed to an eclectic mixture of music, and began his classical piano training at age six. As a teenager, Harry was drawn to the music of Kurt Weill after seeing Lotte Lenya in Cabaret and later, in her final performance in The Threepenny Opera in Florida. An oil portrait of Lenya which hangs in Harry’s French Quarter home is a memory of that trip. Just a couple of years later, an argument with his roommate over the proper way to chop onions led to his first job as a musical director. The production was The Threepenny Opera. Later, in 2000, Harry produced Kurt Weill New Orleans Style at Le Chat Noir in New Orleans, presenting some of Weill’s compositions in their classic form, and re-arranging others for a jazz audience. “Mack The Knife” received five different interpretations in each performance.

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Anais St. John

Anais St. John is a native New Orleanian who has worked in the music industry for the past ten years. After she earned a Bachelor of Music Degree from Xavier University, she received a Master’s Degree in Vocal Performance from the University of New Orleans. Anais has appeared on stages with Tulane Summer Lyric Theater, the New Orleans Opera Association, Le Petit Theater, Jefferson Performing Arts Society, and the Living History Project. Following in the footsteps of her father, jazz alto saxophonist Marion Brown, Anais is featured regularly in famous New Orleans jazz institutions. Mrs. St. John made her festival debut at the French Quarter Festival in 2007, and has performed every year since then. She also made her debut at Satchmo Festival in the Summer of 2009. After being awarded a spot at the prestigious Cabaret Conference at Yale University, Mrs. St. John has found a home on the stage of the cabaret theater, Le Chat Noir. In addition to being named one of New Orleans Magazine’s “People To Watch,” and most recently featured as one of their “Personas,” Mrs. St. John has also been given a “L’Image” Award from Gambit Weekly. Anais St. John makes a living as a music educator in Orleans Parish.

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The Carousel Bar, Hotel Monteleone
214 Royal Street, French Quarter

The Carousel Bar, which is celebrated its 60th anniversary last year, has been home to an exciting array of musical acts over the years and continues to showcase the city’s most talented musicians and entertainers. A long time favorite of both locals and tourists, the Carousel Bar is the only bar in New Orleans that revolves around the room and overlooks famous Royal Street through large fan windows.

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Spring Fiesta is a special time when New Orleans opens its hearts and homes to the visitors from all over the world in a celebration of history. This cultural event invites exploration of some of New Orleans’ fine homes, enchanting courtyards and elegant gardens.

Locals and visitors are invited to tour magnificent French Quarter homes and patios, take a French Quarter walking tour, and experience the majesty of the presentation of the Spring Fiesta Queen in Jackson Square.

A total of 20 homes not usually open to the public will be part of this year’s tours. Experience the grandeur of the past as you walk through these Garden District, French Quarter, and Uptown homes.

The weekend also features the “Night in Old New Orleans” parade, one of the favorite local traditions, where horse-drawn carriages make their way through the Vieux Carre.

Visitors also have the option of attending a brunch at Broussard’s Restaurant, one of the most elegant dining experiences in the city.

For a schedule of events and tickets, call the Spring Fiesta Office at 1-800-550-8450, visit the website at www.springfiesta.com .

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Each year around March 19, Italians in New Orleans celebrate St. Joseph’s Feast Day by decorating church and residential altars with a bounty of food. This custom was brought to the city by Sicilian immigrants and dates back to the Middle Ages, when Sicilian Catholics decorated altars in thanks to St. Joseph, the patron saint of workers, for protecting them from famine. New Orleans had one of the largest concentrations of Sicilian immigrants in the United States, who brought with them not only their delicious cuisine, but also their unique traditions, including their beautiful St. Joseph’s altars.

Today, congregations fill altars with handmade breads, cookies, and other treats, which remain on display for several days before being dismantled and given to charity. Fava beans (the only crop to survive one of Sicily’s most severe famines) are another common fixture on every St. Joseph’s Altar. Even today, Sicilians often carry a dried fava bean for good luck.

One of the first and most beautiful altars in the city can be found at St. Joseph’s Church, located at 1802 Tulane Avenue. In its earlier days, the altar was set up on the steps outside of the church. Today’s altar is erected inside of the church at the feet of the St. Joseph statue.

Other churches in the New Orleans area also set up altars, so if you’re in New Orleans around March 19, make sure you check one out. Don’t forget to take a fava bean with you for good luck!

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The Competitor Group and the New Orleans Track Club have announced a multi-year licensing agreement for the Mardi Gras Marathon. The Rock ‘n’ Roll Series will add the Mardi Gras Marathon to its schedule of races, hosting the Rock ‘n’ Roll Mardi Gras Marathon & ½ Marathon in New Orleans on Sunday, February 28, 2010.

Registration for Rock ‘n’ Roll Mardi Gras is open on the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series website www.mardi-gras.competitor.com.

In true Rock ‘n’ Roll fashion, New Orleans runners will be treated to a post-race concert after the event. All participants and volunteers receive free entry to the concert. Past headliners have included the Goo Goo Dolls, Chris Isaak, Martina McBride, Kenny Rogers, Chicago, Sara Evans, Sugar Ray, Ozomatli, INXS, LIVE and Collective Soul.

For more information about the Rock ‘n’ Roll Mardi Gras or to register online, visit www.mardi-gras.competitor.com.

Sun. February 28, 2010

This event has expired!