New OrleansLet the Good Times Roll

Fall 2008 Volume 1

In this issue:

*A sip of New Orleans - Cafe Du Monde

*Streets of Culture *Grandest of the City - St. Louis Cathedral

A Sip of New Orleansat the famous Cafe Du Monde

TheOriginalCaféDuMondeCoffeeStandwasestablishedin1862andhasbecomeafamousiconoftheBigEasy.Visitorsandlocals flock to the original location at all hours of the day. Whether for a quick breakfast or a late night snack, Café Du Mondeisafavoritetoall. Themenuconsistsof only a few items, butcustomersdon’tcomplain.CaféDuMondefavoritesincludedark roasted coffee, café au lait, beignets andhotchocolate.Caféaulaitisasimplemixof half coffee and half hot milk. Beignets are a square, French-style doughnut, topped with mounds of powdered sugar. The original café location stays open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and it closes only on Christmas Day and in the event of a nearbyhurricane. AtriptoNewOrleanswouldtrulybeincompletewithoutastopatthefamousCafeDuMonde.

TheoriginalCaféDuMondeislocatedinNewOrleans’historical French Quarter at 800 DecaturSt. Thecaféisopenforbusiness 24 hours a day, seven days a week in order to catch allthelatenightpartiersandtheearlymorningrisers. Today, there are a total ofsevenCaféDuMondelocationsintheNewOrleansMetropolitanarea.

BeignetsareasavorytreatthatwerebroughttoLouisiana in 1727 by French colonists.Thetraditionbeignetisasquarepastrymade of deep-fried dough coveredwithpowderedsugar.However, some beignets are madewithfruitorvegetablefillings.

Streets of Culture Reggie Ford is a New Orleans native. Since the day he was born hehashadthecity’scultureandspiritrunningthroughhisveins.Inspired by the city around him, Ford began painting at a young age. With the little money he had, he would purchase whatever art supplies he could find. His paintings reflect the city that raised him. He covers canvasses with bright, abstract jazz scenes and lively dancers. Although he lacks professional training, Ford knows that his talent is a gift from God. With that, he promised God many years agothatifhecoulddevelophisgifthewouldstayawayfromdrugsand alcohol. To this day Ford proudly refuses any drink he’s offered.

Ford’s art can be found at the Dutch Alley Artists’ Co-op located at 912 N. Peters St., one block from Café Du Monde.

The Dutch Alley Artist’s Co-op is a cooperative artist gallery for local New Orleans’ artists to show and share their work. It was founded in 2003 by Ric Rolston, and is managed and operated by the artists themselves. Featured artists include Reggie Ford, along with Sandra Mann, Terry Schwall and many others.

For a more extensive list of available artists you can visit www.dutchalleyonline.com.

For more information about Reggie Ford, visit his Web site at www.reggieart.com.

“IstartedwhenIwaseightyearsoldandhavelovediteversince.Ididn’tstartsellinguntilthreeyearsagobecauseIwantedto make sure I had somethingoriginal.” -Reggie Ford

New Orleans is a city known for its rich history and culture. One of the city’s most recognizable landmarks is the St. Louis Cathedral, which sits overlooking Jackson Square in the heart of the French Quarter. The Cathedral-Basilica of St. Louis King of France is the oldestcathedralintheentireUnitedStates. Adrien De Pauger, a French engineer, arrived in New Orleans on March 29, 1721, and designated this site alongtheriverfrontforachurch. Together with theEngineer-in-Chief of Louisiana, LeBlond de la Tour, they began to develop thisgreatcathedral. St.LouisCathedralwasdedicated to Louis IX, sainted King of France. It was one of the first buildings in New Orleans to be built usingthe “brick between posts” construction method. Thismethodwascontinuedtobeused inLouisianauntil themiddleofthe19thcentury. On June 21, 1726 De Pauger died before hismasterpiececouldbecompleted.Itreadinhiswillthathebeburiedwithin the unfinished church, and that is exactly where his body lays.

Grandest of the City A visit to the St. Louis Cathedral

Mass:Saturday - 5:00 p.m.Sunday - 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.

Vigil:MondaythroughSaturdayat7:30 a.m. Saturday at 5 p.m.

To help keep this nationalhistoricallandmark alive, visit www.stlouiscathedral.orgto make a donation.