If we ever get to Mars, man’s journey will begin in New Orleans East.

Cindy Manto’s fascinating new book, imaginatively titled Michoud Assembly Facility, tells the story of the piece of dirt off of the I-10 that started off as a land grant from Louis XV of France.

In the 1940’s Michoud was the site of the world’s largest factory, building planes, then tanks, then in the 70’s they started building a whole different kind of tank – the external tank for NASA’s space shuttle – and today the Michoud Assembly Facility is building the MPCV (Multi Purpose Crew Vehicle) that will take us to Mars.

Is there Mozarella on Mars? If Chef Kevin White goes up in Cindy’s MPCV there will be – Chef Kevin makes his own every day at Wayfare, and drizzles home made blood orange oil over it.

Like Cindy, Michael Harold is writing about whole other worlds. Having recently turned his back on 23 years of wrestling Mesolthelioma victims as an asbestos attorney, Michael is, among other pursuits, a columnist for recently launched Inside New Orleans magazine where he is chornicling the doings of the rich and nefarious.

Now that Michael has no schedule he doesn’t need to get changed out of his running shorts or show up any place on time.

Rich Collins is resurrecting his smash hit Disney TV series Imagination Movers as an animated series in which the Movers develop super powers. On this show we get to help Rich write the new theme tune to the show, and preview a slice of the other side of Rich’s life, a cut from his upcoming solo record “A Particular Set of Skills.”

Andrew Duhon, back from wandering the Western edge of America, laments the lack of heart and soul in Nashville and beyond and puts his heart and soul where his mouth is with a beautiful rendition of a new song about impermanence and a pocket full of rocks.

The photos on this page were taken at Wayfare by Douglas Engel. Douglas has more images here.