French Quarter POV

Looks like the Ritz-Carlton hotel is in for some free publicity tonight.

The mayor of New Orleans is being presented with an award this evening. It’s supposed to be the “The Excellence in Recovery Host Committee’s Award of Distinction for Recovery, Courage, and Leadership” award, one that most people can’t believe C. Ray Nagin is getting. (More on that HERE.)

To say that people are upset is an understatement of epic proportions. The local photosphere has been lit up with calls to protest, calls which many are heeding. Supposedly.

Yours truly will not be there, not because I think the mayor is doing a super dandy job.

<soapbox> This protest will not change anything. Some people seem to be born with a placard and a marker in hand, ready to write their slogan and march at a moments notice over just about anything.

The mayor knows the people are upset. If he doesn’t care enough to do a better job, do we really believe that one more protest will get through to him?

I plan to say my piece in the voting booth, as the city did when they re-elected Nagin in the first place. Let’s see that energy channeled into a voting drive or hell, a blood drive, and really make a difference in New Orleans.

</soapbox>

Or both? *creepy laughter*

I love this event! Gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered people from around the world come to the French Quarter every year for this party on Labor Day weekend. This is also lots of fun for straight-but-supportive folks.

Continuing the Kenny Rogers song theme: “There’ll be time enough for counting when the dealing’s done.”

There’s a line in a Kenny Rogers song: “You never count your money while you’re sitting at the table.” How about when you’re walking down the street? Or standing in the middle of a busy sidewalk?

I see this every day in the French Quarter, just by glancing out of my kitchen window. In my adult life, I’ve lived in many places ranging from small towns to big cities, yet this is a new one to me. I get nervous using an ATM, much less standing on a street corner counting my dough!

Crime statistics can be terrifying, but this behavior isn’t going to help them improve. What thug worth his salt is going to pass up an opportunity like this? Sometimes, at street level, you can hear the guy/gal counting out loud. That should save the crooks some time.

Next: Where to count your money if you must

In a pair of new television commercials, Kid Rock spreads the word about the great job a garbage company is doing in New Orleans’ French Quarter. Ironic, or appropriate?

Click here to view the commercials: http://sdtwds.com/videos.html

The company, run by Sidney Torres IV, has run commercials in the past featuring the slogan, “Bringing Class to Trash“. Does Kid Rock drive this message home, or is the company’s television commercial campaign set to go in a different direction? Either way, Torres is effectively drawing attention to SDT Waste and Debris.

Kid Rock has stayed in the tabloid news for his high profile marriage — and then divorce– with Pamela Anderson, who is not a byword for class herself. He was recently involved in a scuffle in a waffle house. And then there’s that music thing he does. “Bringing Class to Trash“ indeed!

Whether you’re a Kid Rock fan or not, you must agree that he does raise eyebrows and keep people talking. I guess that’s what an ad campaign is all about.

The third anniversary of Katrina is coming up soon. President Bush is coming to town to make a speech and check out the recovery progress.

New Orleans has not forgotten the incredibly slow and sloppy reaction to the disaster by everyone from Bush on down. Something tells me that there won’t be many photo ops with smiling citizens and applause.

Instead of the usually grumbles about the current state of this country’s affairs, there’s been outright anger expressed over this latest bright idea for a visit. Here’s the story in the local paper (opens in a new window).  http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2008/08/bush_to_visit_new_orleans_next.html

Note the comments below the report, even making allowances for the usual forum-type trolls.

He’s never going to win a popularity contest in New Orleans, no matter what he does. I guess he had to decide between showing up and getting blasted with hostility, or not showing up and getting blasted for being uncaring and insensitive.

As I’ve said of him and other politicians, Boy, am I glad I’m not him!

I love this city, and I love my neighborhood. It’s a quiet, loud, refined, bawdy, outrageous place. From my front window, I could lean out, throw a rock, and hit a bar or a strip club. Or, I could walk a few blocks to one of the oldest cathedrals in the country.

We’re a close-knit community that just happens to have over a million visitors for Mardi Gras, a holiday most of the rest of the country doesn‘t celebrate at all.

Welcome to the French Quarter!

I’ll be posting daily about various aspects of the French Quarter. While we’re best known for Mardi Gras, there’s always something going on here and in the rest of New Orleans.

There will be event information, tips for tourists, local news, and other stuff you might want to know if you’re planning a trip to the Quarter.

I’m still setting up the rest of this blog, so thanks for your patience!