Tuesday, August 16, 2016

A Toast to NO: Jazz Funeral for Pete Fountain/ Farm to Table Experience/ Helen Brett and more‏

Darlings,
Before I start toasting to New Orleans,  I want to express my sorrow for the devastating floods that hit Baton Rouge and the surrounding parishes. My prayers are with those who were impacted by them. Many organizations are coming together to donate to victims of this disastrous flooding. If you would like to make a monetary donation to help the victims of this catastrophe, please contact The United Way through their website. Here is the link that shows where donations could be made
http://www.wwltv.com/news/local/local-donation-drop-off-locations-for-flood-victims/297344214I love this and my prayers are the people affected by the flood!

New Orleans was very fortunate this weekend because, even though we also had our share of rain, it did not cancel any of the myriad of soirees that I attended.

I started my week by attending the always lovely Where magazine’s 25th Annual Silver Plume Award hosted by ACE Hotel. Mark Romig, CEO of the New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation, was the emcee and, as in the past, the event honored local concierges and other hotel professionals for their ongoing contributions to tourism, the hospitality industry and the community at large. And the Winners were:

Concierge of the Year: Melissa Comardelle, Loews Hotel 
Rising Star Award: Joshua Carpenter, Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery
Junior Concierge: Andrew Morgan, JW Marriott
Spirit of Hospitality Award (tie): Randy Stein, Mr. B’s Bistro, and Kevin Belton, New Orleans School of Cooking
Unsung Hero Award: Bill Smith, Westin Canal Place
Sales & Marketing Person of the Year: Adrienne Thomas, New Orleans Steamboat Company.
General Manager of the Year: Amy Reimer, International House 
General Manager Lifetime Achievement Award: Steve Ferran, Maison Dupuy Hotel 
Julius Craane Award: Noel Minturn, Windsor Court Hotel
My next fun event was participating in the annual 2016 Hispanic Business Conference & Tradeshow at the Harrah's Casino which was  a huge success. It is amazing how every year it gets bigger and bigger. Let’s face it; the Hispanic community has a large purchasing power and is growing. I have always been proud to be Latina! https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10153588428230870.1073742700.581200869&type=1&l=f9a2cf8eb9

On Thursday, I went to see my darling friends, Guatemalan-born guitarists, Julio and Cesar and the band at Thursday at Twilight at the Pavilion of Two Sisters in the Botanical Garden. Their performance is going to appear in the Bilingual TV Program, “El Mirador,” that appears on Cox TV; not only throughout New Orleans but throughout Baton Rouge and Lafayette as well. Congratulations are in order to Walther "Kino" Vera, its producer. 

I didn't stay until the end because I was invited to attend the delicious Restaurant R'Evolution Seersucker and White Linen Dinner. I joined in celebrating seersucker and Southern tradition with special guests Bill Haltom, author of Milk and Sugar: The Complete Guide to Seersucker, along with Laurie Aronson, owner of Lipsey’s & Haspel and great-granddaughter of the creator of seersucker. The duo spoke about the invention of seersucker and autographed books following the dinner.

On Friday, I attended the always fun and delicious Krewe of Cork Luncheon at August Restaurant. Guests were sadly informed that Queen 2004, Mary Anne (Gillis) McDougal, has passed on.  All who knew Mary Anne will miss her. May her soul RIP. http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/theneworleansadvocate/obituary.aspx?n=mary-anne-mcdougal-gillis&pid=180987028

On Saturday, I was dressed in red to attend along with my darling Chiquita, the annual Red Dress Run that started at Louis Armstrong Park.  As my darling friend  Doug MacCash, NOLA.com/The Times-Picayune said, “Despite threatening clouds, the 2016 Red Dress Run got off to a dry start on Saturday (Aug. 13). Well, dry might not be the right word. Many of approximately four thousand red-clad participants who gathered in Armstrong Park to await the 11 a.m. starting gun, passed the time by consuming copious amounts of an amber-colored athletic beverage ... beer.”
  
But darlings, do you know that the Hash House Harriers, who run the Red Dress Run, were able to give just over $169,000 to 73 local charities from the 2015 Red Dress? I love those runners and their contributions.

Saturday night and Sunday night were those nights that once again I wished I had a clone. 
On Saturday night, it was time to change to white linen to attend the annual fun-loving Dirty Linen Night along Royal Street. 2016 Dirty Linen Night was divine. No rain and the temperature was mild, so I enjoyed very much entering in and out of the fabulous galleries along Royal Street and seeing so many of my friends. https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10153597172635870.1073742701.581200869&type=1&l=049151e387
That evening, thanks to my darling friend, talented artist Anna Gil that invited me to join her at the awesome performance of the Gipsy Kings at the Mahalia Jackson Theater.  The highlight of the evening  was going backstage with  Anna Gil who has knows them for years. 






On Sunday, since there is only one me, I had to miss Liz Callaway's cabaret performance at Le Petit Theatre du Vieux CarrĂ© but I heard it was wonderful and well-attended. I did attend, at the Little Gem Saloon, the wonderful performance of my talented friends Nell Nolan and Dennis Woltering in “Love Letters.” Even though I have seen “Love Letters” numerous times, I found the performance, directed by talented Carl Walker, to be very refreshing and entertaining and the venue to be intimate. 
Margarita Bergen's photo.

Unfortunately, I could not stay until the end because my darling friend, Sammy Steele, had invited me to be his guest for one of my favorite group's lead singer, Frankie Valli, at the Saenger Theater. I loved it since I grew up in America listening to his songs with The Four Seasons and later as a solo artist.

Darlings, the media community is mourning the loss of longtime Times-Picayune sportswriter Peter Finney, who died at 88. May his soul RIP. He will be missed.

Talking about funerals, this Wednesday is the funeral service of beloved clarinet player, Pete Fountain, who I had the pleasure of knowing. The funeral for the iconic New Orleans jazz clarinetist will be Wednesday, August 17 at St. Louis Cathedral.

Visitation will be from 9-11:30 a.m. at the cathedral. Following 30 minutes of remembrances and eulogies, a funeral Mass will begin at noon. Archbishop Gregory Aymond will officiate over the Mass and a big second-line funeral is planned. A fitting musical tribute to a great musician and a wonderful gentleman. He was the embodiment of a gregarious New Orleans personality and he will be greatly missed.
I just saw tonight on PBS, the 1980 WYES documentary “PETE!” (Fountain). It will be shown again on WYES-TV/Channel 12 this Saturday, August 20 at 6 p.m. and Sunday August 21 at 7 p.m. It is narrated by Phil Harris and produced by the talented documentary producer John Beyer.

On a much happier note, I am delighted to announce that I have the complete list of confirmed guest speakers for my upcoming Round Table Luncheon on Wednesday, August 24 at noon at the Palace Cafe.
Nick Stillman, President & CEO of the Arts Council New Orleans will be joining featured guest speakers Maxwell Williams, Artistic Director of Le Petit Theatre, and Lydia Blackmore, Curator of Decorative Arts at the Historic New Orleans Collection at the luncheon, which will be on the third floor of the Palace Cafe, 605 Canal Street, corner of Chartres Street. 
Talented Robin Barnes, the “New Orleans Songbird,” will be the featured live entertainer and she will be accompanied on the piano by Jim Walpole
Margarita Bergen's photo.

The delicious gourmet menu will include the following:

SOUP/SALAD 
Werlein Salad - Romaine lettuce tossed with a housemade Caesar dressing, topped with freshly grated Pecorino Romano cheese and herb croutons

ENTREES
 
Shrimp Tchefuncte - Creole seasoned gulf shrimp sautĂ©ed with toasted garlic and green onions in a Creole Meunière sauce, served with Louisiana popcorn rice and pan-roasted mushrooms 
Pasta St. Charles - tender gulf shrimp and andouille sausage in a green onion Creole mustard cream, with penne pasta and grated Romano cheese 

DESSERT
Mini Brownie - Dark chocolate brownie bite with chocolate ganache.

The price will be $55 all-inclusive of luncheon/service/taxes and, of course, plenty of champagne and validated parking at the Marriott Hotel. Please make your  reservation now at   www.margaritabergen@hotmail.com and now at Eventbrite:  https://www.eventbrite.com/myevent?eid=27091435212

Darlings, now that I got that out of the way, on Thursday, August 18, The Pfister Sisters will be playing at Thursday at Twilight.

“Farm to Table Experience,” at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center will be from August 18-20. The Farm to Table Experience showcases the cultivation, distribution and consumption of locally sourced food and drink through hands-on demonstrations, education and more.

The New Orleans Gift & Jewelry Show - Helen Brett Enterprises, will be August 19-22.
Helen Brett Enterprises has welcomed buyers and sellers of gifts, jewelry and general merchandise to the Gift & Jewelry Show for 70 years.

Cripple Creek Theatre presents Ragtime on Friday, August 19 and Saturday, August 20 at the Marigny Opera House 725 St. Ferdinand Street in the Faubourg Marigny. Admission to all performances is free.

Ragtime is described as “an opulent and muscular musical that incorporates the birth of film, the Harlem Renaissance and the American tradition of armed insurrection as a tool to combat tyranny and oppression.” For more information or directions call (504) 948-9998 or log onto their website at http://www.marignyoperahouse.org/

Enjoy your week and keep dry and cool!

Enjoying R'Evolution Seersucker and White Linen Dinner

Great menu




At Julio and Cesar presentation at Thursday at Twilight at Botanical Garden



Help those impacted by the recent flooding!
The Louisiana SPCA is currently assisting with animal rescue efforts in the flooded areas and requests supplies from the public as animals flood area shelters. It’s important to know that the Louisiana SPCA is not leading animal rescue efforts; we are assisting the coordinating agency, the Louisiana State Animal Response Team (LSART).
louisiana spca laspca spca new orleans dog puppies training obedience weather disaster prep hurricane
The biggest area of need is currently supplies. The affected shelters are inundated with animals and need supplies to care for them. The influx of animals is only going to increase in the coming days as the floodwaters recede. The Louisiana SPCA has secured three local drop-off locations for pet supplies: Canine Connection, Camp Bow Wow Mid-City and Demo Diva. Supplies will be picked-up by the Louisiana SPCA and hand-delivered to animal shelters in the affected areas.
Immediate supplies needed include:
Metal buckets with clipping carabiners
Wire pet crates in various sizes
Leashes
Unopened dry cat and dog food
Metal water bowls
Below is a recap of assistance that the Louisiana SPCA has provided up-to-now:
Tangipahoa Parish Animal Shelter – Louisiana SPCA has donated a large amount of supplies and has a physical team on-site assisting with setting up a temporary shelter for the influx of animals as well as their daily care. The Louisiana SPCA is taking roughly 20 adoptable animals from this shelter to be transported to the Louisiana SPCA for adoption in hopes of freeing up space for rescued animals. No owned/rescued animals will be included on this transport.
City of Denham Springs Animal Control – This shelter had to open the kennels and release all of the dogs to avoid drowning with the quickly rising water. The Louisiana SPCA sent Humane Law Enforcement Officers to assist but hit water 4 miles out. Volunteers are shuttling whatever dogs they can find still roaming the area around the shelter via boat to our Humane Officers. Officers are then transporting the animals to the Companion Animal Alliance in Baton Rouge.
Companion Animal Alliance in Baton Rouge – This shelter has taken in over 100 rescued animals in the last two days and is over capacity. The Louisiana SPCA is assisting the Humane Society of the United States with coordinating a large transport of current adoptable animals to free up space for rescued animals. No owned/rescued animals will be included on this transport.
East Baton Rouge Parish Animal Control – This group provides animal control services for Baton Rouge and works with the Companion Animal Alliance. Due to the large amount of calls they do not have enough man power to respond to all of the calls for assistance. The Louisiana SPCA, Jefferson Parish Animal Control and Terrebonne Animal Control have all sent out Humane Officers to assist.



link August 16, 2016

 http://conta.cc/2bnFSTy 
LaFete News
Editor / Publisher: Frank Stansbury
lafete11@att.net
504-450-1955

August  16
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Pete Fountain will be remembered during funeral services on Wednesday, Aug. 17, at St. Louis Cathedral. As promised by his son-in-law Benny Harrell and as befits the musician's contributions to the city's musical lexicon, the service will be followed by a second-line.

Public visitation will begin at the cathedral at 9 a.m., which will be followed by "words of remembrance" at 11:30 a.m. Mass will begin at noon, and the second-line will follow, according to a representative from Lake Lawn Funeral Home, which is handling arrangements for Fountain's family. The interment will be private.

Funeral for Pete Fountain

The funeral for iconic New Orleans jazz clarinetist Pete Fountain will be Aug. 17 at St. Louis Cathedral.

Visitation will be from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at the cathedral. Following 30 minutes of remembrances and eulogies, a funeral Mass will begin at noon. Archbishop Gregory Aymond will preside over the Mass.
While it will contain some music, the Mass will be more along the lines of a traditional service rather than an all-star concert, said Benny Harrell, Fountain's son-in-law and manager. 
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Pete Fountain funeral map
After the service, a second-line procession, featuring a horse-drawn hearse, will depart from the cathedral, turn onto St. Peter Street, then turn west on Royal Street. The parade will end at Hotel Monteleone, where Fountain's Half-Fast Walking Club concluded its annual Mardi Gras morning stroll for decades.

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The Farm to Table Experience (F2Te)
August 18 - 20
New Orleans Ernest N. Morial 
Convention Center 

The Farm to Table Experience (F2Te) is the premier annual gathering in the south exploring cultivation, distribution, and consumption of food and drink sourced locally. F2Te will feature Tastings, Interactive Displays, Hands-on Workshops, Chef Demos with top New Orleans chefs, Garden to Glass Reception with mixologists and more! 15% off for Gambit readers! Use code F2TGAMBIT at www.f2texperience.com



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LIZZIEby Steven Cheslik-DeMeyer, Tim Maner, and Alan Stevens Hewitt
In 1892 on a sweltering August day in a small New England town, a well-to-do elderly man and his second wife were brutally murdered with an axe in broad daylight. Lizzie Borden, their youngest daughter, was the primary suspect. She was arrested and tried, but, with no witnesses to the hideous crime, she was acquitted. The murders remain unsolved to this day. 
LIZZIE is four women fronting a six-piece rock band. LIZZIE is rage, sex, betrayal, and bloody murder. LIZZIE is American mythology set to a blistering rock score. LIZZIE is a new American musical with a sound owing less to Sondheim and Andrew Lloyd Webber than to Nirvana, the Runaways, and Heart.
Performances:
August 14-28, New Orleans Arts Center (3330 St. Claude Ave)
All performances are at 8pm 
$25 General Admission** 
$30 VIP Seating** - reserved front-row seat and autographed program
**Plus tax and fees

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http://neworleanscitypark.com/calendar/category/thursdays-at-twilight

THURSDAYS AT TWILIGHT: 6 p.m., Pavilion of the Two Sisters, Botanical Gardens, City Park, Victory Drive, New Orleans. 

Thursdays at Twilight Garden Concert Series presents August 18 - Pfister Sisters
Holley Bendtsen, Yvette Voelker, Debbie Davis and Amasa Miller comprise one of the few groups that represent the New Orleans swing era, with their recreation of the Boswell Sisters arrangements, and the only act featuring vocal jazz harmony
 
Admission is $10 per person. Mint juleps, wine, beer, soft drinks, water, and food are available for purchase. No outside food, drink, or pets are allowed.
 
Advance tickets are available online at NewOrleansCityPark.com. Advance tickets may also be purchased over the phone at 504-483-9488 or at the Botanical Garden Gift Shop. Thursdays at Twilight Series Season Passes are also available for purchase.



 
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Kenny Rogers' Final World Tour
The Gambler's Last Deal
with Special Guest Linda Davis
Saturday, October 8
Saenger Theatre
 
 
PRESALE CODE: GAMBLER
  
Kenny Rogers has enjoyed great success during his storied career of nearly six decades. The enduring Country Music Hall of Fame member embarks on his farewell tour performing many of his number one hits such as "The Gambler," "Lucille,"  and "Coward of the County."

August 19

Cripple Creek Theatre presents Ragtime
  • Friday, August 19, 2016
  • Saturday, August 20, 2016
  • Venue information:
Marigny Opera House 725 St. Ferdinand St. New Orleans, LA 70117
504.948.9998http://www.marignyoperahouse.org/
 
Admission: Free
The Cripple Creek Theatre Company presents Ragtime, an "opulent and muscular" musical that incorporates the birth of film, the Harlem Renaissance and "the American tradition of armed insurrection as a tool to combat tyranny and oppression."


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