When we talk about big events in New Orleans we typically say “Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest.”  Economically, though, if we’re going to bracket two events, we should say “Mardi Gras and French Quarter Festival.”  French Quarter Festival’s economic impact on the city has become massive. It’s reportedly bigger than Jazz Fest. French Quarter Festival…

If you’ve been shopping lately you might have noticed the growing number of stores that have creative chalkboard signs outside on the sidewalk. You might have also noticed similar creative chalkboard menus in restaurants.  There’s a good chance those groovy looking hand lettered chalkboard signs were made by a company called SmallChalk, the brainchild of…

We’ve all seen this guy or woman on TV, and we’ve all said, “Thank God that’s not me.” The person sweating behind a bank of microphones, trying to explain away something bad. What if one day, maybe through no fault of your own, that person is you? Having to explain why things aren’t quite how…

Wherever you go in the world you find human beings have two things in common. We all like to eat. And we all like to incorporate into our living spaces non functional objects we call art. In many countries we’ve institutionalized these traits. We dine in restaurants and we hang art in galleries.  In New…

There are so many great musicians in New Orleans, there’s got to be a reason. Maybe it’s something in the water. Or maybe it’s something in a building on the corner of Chartres St and Saint Ferdinand. That’s NOCCA – New Orleans Center For The Creative Arts. If you go to NOCCA your education is free. Thanks…