Dispatch From New Orleans

Coming to Jazz Fest: The Alexis Marceaux Band

The new music video below shows the beauty and talents of Alexis Marceaux, a 21-year-old singer/songwriter from New Orleans. Marceaux and her band will be playing on the Lagniappe Stage at 12:33 p.m. on the first day of Jazz Fest, Friday, April 23. See the whole Jazz Fest schedule here.

Alexis's appearance is a perfect example of how Jazz Fest in New Orleans is not just for the hottest performers in the world, but also for up-and-coming locals. 

Watch this video (filmed in our very own City Park) and see if this makes you want to see more in person on April 23.

One Fish by Alexis Marceaux from Kathy Price-Robinson on Vimeo.

P.S. Yours truly co-produced and directed this video.

Live food blogging from Jazz Fest

We're barely one month away from the start of Jazz Fest, which runs seven days over two weekends beginning Friday, April 23. I will be blogging from the Fairgrounds, where the enormous festival is held, and uploading photos of people, performers and food!

Traditionally, food gets kind of short shrift during media coverage of Jazz Fest. And why not? With some 350 acts performing, it's hard not to put the focus there. Simon & Garfunkel headline at the festival, as do Widespread Panic, the Allman Brothers Band, Aretha Franklin, Lionel Richie, The Black Crowes, Pearl Jam, Jeff Beck, and so many more. See the whole lineup.

But what about the food? We're talking Crawfish Bread, Snowballs, Cajun Jambalaya, Po-Boys, Crab Cakes, Fried Green Tomatoes, Banana Bread Pudding, and so much more. See all the food vendors here.  

My plan is to try as many dishes as possible and update this blog as the tastes sink in. I'd love to hear about your own favorite dishes during the festival.

Geez, I'm hungry. Is it mealtime?

Which state has the happiest people?

A newly released four-year study shows that people in Louisiana say they are happier and more satisfied with life than people in all other states. Surprised?

Many were surprised that people in mega states like New York and California didn't feel as satisfied. In fact, California, once known as the land of milk and honey, ranked 46th in the study. Hawaii and Florida were the other happiest states. See the story here.

Why so happy in Louisiana, one of the poorest states? I'll tell you why: Food and Drink. Music. Festivals and Events. It's all here.

It's coming . . . to City Park . . . The Voodoo Experience

Are you ready?

See details here

Halloween in New Orleans

From the New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau: Krewe of Boo October 24 Created by New Orleans' own Blaine Kern, Sr., the Krewe of Boo has a charitable cause - to benefit the First Responder's Fund of New Orleans. Join us in having a great time for a great cause. more...  Star Wars™: In Concert October 27, 2009 Star Wars™: In Concert is a unique multi-media event featuring music from all six of John Williams’ epic Star Wars scores. The production features a full symphony orchestra and choir, accompanied by specially edited footage from the films displayed on a three-story-tall, high-definition LED super-screen. more... Boo at the Zoo October 23-25 Bring your little ghosts and goblins to Audubon Zoo this year for Boo at the Zoo! This annual Zoo extravaganza is a fun-filled Halloween event for children featuring trick-or-treat houses, entertainment and more...  Boo Carre October 23-25 The French Market hosts a series of events leading up to Halloween. Click here for a full list of activities, including hayrides, a pumpkin procession and more. Vampire Film Festival October 23-26, 2009 Vampire Film Festival is descending upon New Orleans for the first time! The four-day International Film Festival features more than 50 films in the Vampire, Gothic and Mythic genres. more... Voodoo Music Experience 2009 October 30-November 1 Voodoo moves to Halloween weekend! This year's festival features 150 bands on eight stages with artists such as Lenny Kravitz, Eminem, Jane's Addiction, Widespread Panic and many more. Halloween New Orleans October 29-November 1 Celebrate with four days of exciting parties in the Big Easy all benefiting Project Lazarus! This year's theme of "Twisted Seasons" gives every night of the event a different seasonal backdrop, each with a little twist of Halloween New Orleans! more... Ritz-Carlton Goblin Tea October 31 Bring the kids to the Ritz-Carlton in Halloween costumes to enjoy a Trick-or-Treat scavenger hunt, a cookie decorating table and Halloween music. more... Halloween Tea at Fairchild House B&B October 22-31 Calling all ghosts, witches, wizards and more to an afternoon tea filled with a crackling good time featuring craft making, cookie decorating, storytelling and much more. more... Take a Haunted Tour Haunted sights, cemeteries, voodoo, vampires and more! Audubon Insectarium Audubon Insectarium showcases the largest group of animals on the planet, insects! Stop by to visit the creepy crawly world of bugs! more...  Visit a Voodoo Shop Shop for potions and voodoo dolls as you walk through the halls of a spiritual voodoo temple. more...

via www.neworleanscvb.com

And now for a little creole cajun zydeco magic

Turn it up!

Red Dress Run in the French Quarter

Bill and I were lucky enough to be having lunch in the French Quarter during the Red Dress run. That's a day when men and women don red dresses of all types and strut their stuff from bar to bar. Oh, and they raise money for good causes.

At first, we didn't quite know what was happening. There we were - me eating onion rings and fried jalapeno strips, Bill eating oysters - when a long line of good-looking red dressed people came streaming past our table and into the restrooms. A woman nearby asked one of them: "Why all y'all dressed like that?" And then we knew.

Above is a photo from the Red Dress Run website, to show you the enormity of the situation.

And below you see me on the river front, wondering why I'm in black-and-white polka dots.