Darlings,
I hope you enjoyed the Labor Day and Southern Decadence Weekend as much as I did.
Before I share all my fun events, I want to express my deepest sympathy to Maria Muro, the publisher of New Orleans Living magazine, to which I am the Society Editor and photographer. Unfortunately, she lost her dearest, beloved brother, Gerry Muro, in Canada. As she said, “My amazing brother and best friend Gerry Muro today we bid you farewell but for me, it's never an end. With you I only have beginnings. Just like the sunrise you woke me with your love and with the sunset you comforted me with your words. All I am and all that I will become, it will always be with you and for you. You will always be my PURPOSE. I love you with no limits, today and forever.” May Gerry Muro RIP.
My cultural week started on Wednesday afternoon, when my darling friend Sammy Steele invited me to be his guest at the annual 48th Annual Touchdown Club “Meet the Saints” Luncheon at the Sheraton Hotel. Fans had the opportunity to enjoy a delicious lunch as longtime TV sportscaster, Jim Henderson, introduced each member of the coaching staff and team. Coach Sean Payton presented the 2015 Coaches Awards to the outstanding Offensive, Defensive, and Special Teams player of last season and recognized the winner of the Ed Block Courage Award.
I enjoyed meeting the Saints players and staff and seeing the owners, Tom and Gayle Benson.
That evening I attended the annual Culture Collision, the city-wide celebration that kicked off the cultural season at The Boeing Center of The National WWII Museum's U.S. Freedom Pavilion. This year the Culture Collision offered a unique happy hour devoted to one goal - introducing potential audience members, volunteers, patrons, artists and members of the local media to the diverse mix of arts that the city has to offer. The entertainment lineup included Dancing Grounds, OperaCreole, The National WWII Museum's Vic Tones, and a jazz ensemble from the Xavier University Department of Music. It was better and bigger than ever and enjoyed so much seeing so many of the people who will be featured speakers at my upcoming Roundtable Luncheon Saluting the Cultural Arts.
Put it in your calendar: Darlings, I look forward every year to hosting this very special luncheon: A Salute to the Cultural Season Round Table Luncheon on Wednesday, September 21 at Bourbon Orleans Hotel at noon.
As in the past it will be co-hosted by Scott Hutcheson, Senior Advisor to the Mayor for Cultural Economy of the City of New Orleans and yours truly, Margarita Bergen, and it will feature, as guest speakers, the heads of some of our community’s major performing and fine arts organizations.
I have invited as featured speakers, Jenny Hamilton, Director of New Orleans Ballet; Maestro Robert Lyall, Conductor of New Orleans Opera; Maestro Dennis Assaf, Jefferson Performing Arts Society; Neil A. Barclay, Contemporary Arts Center; Allison Gouaux and Kristen Jochem, representing the New Orleans Museum of Art; Sean Snyder, Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra; and possibly a few others may join us as well.
The live entertainment will be by talented soprano, Kathleen Halm Simmons, and her husband, Timothy Todd Simmons, Executive Director of the New Orleans Opera on the piano. Tickets will be $55 including luncheon, wines/champagne, and valet parking. I cannot wait. You can make your reservation atmargaritabergen@hotmail.com or send me a message at 504-495-9181.
Photo by Frank Stansbury of the speakers, entertainers and Consul General of France , Consul General of Mexico and Honorary Consul of Italy at last year Salute to the Cultural Arts at Antoine's. .
Timothy Todd Simmons and soprano Kathleen Halm Simmons
Darlings, the theme of this year’s Southern Decadence was "Decadence Takes the World" and they sure did. Mother Nature blessed the parade with spectacular sunny skies to the festivities to go on and it was bigger and better than ever. Congratulations to this year Southern Decadence 2016 Grand Marshals love this photo of the Southern Decadence 2016 Grand Marshals SDGMs XLII (42):Jeffrey Palmquist (Entourage: QUISTADORS) "The Jewels of Decadence": Derek Penton-Robicheaux; Tony Leggio (Entourage: Purple Pirates of DecaDANCE), Derek Penton-Robicheaux and Felicia Phillips (Entourage: Little Bit's Bitches),
Hope you will enjoy the photo link.https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10153651275220870.1073742702.581200869&type=1&l=7fa95ba730
Darlings, this week is going to be another hectic one.
Did you know that September 7th is Geaux Blue NOLA Day by resolution of the City Council? How will YOU Geaux Blue? Show everyone your blue spirit using hashtag #GeauxBlueNOLA.
Jazz in the Park returns for its 10th season this fall running from September 8 to November 3, with a stellar roster of New Orleans music that features Kid Merv, Nigel Hall, Erica Falls, Corey Henry and the Treme Funktet, Joe Krown Trio featuring Walter Wolfman Washington, Soul Rebels, Bill Summers and Irvin Mayfield to name a few. Jazz in the Park is known for food, music, and fun and now Art.
That evening, September 8 from 6 to 8 p.m., New Orleans Homes & Lifestyles selects a group of Design Masters, who are talented experts in their field pertaining to home design. The event will be held at the Southern Food & Beverage Museum, 1504 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd., offering hors d’oeuvres, wine, beer and live music. Honorees will include Julie Babin, Michael Berand, Otis Alexander, Greg Cummings, Beverly Katz, Diane Killeen, Dianna Knost, Chris Licciardi, Neil Peyroux, Shaun Smith and Adem Vant Hull.
That same evening, September 8, the Mahalia Jackson Theater Presents “The Arts Care: A Benefit Concert for Flood Victims” at the theater. In response to the unprecedented flooding that has taken place in the greater Baton Rouge and outlying areas, New Orleans arts organizations the New Orleans Opera Association and Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra team to present a performance benefiting educational institutions, arts organizations, and social service support in the affected communities.
Support this great cause by joining these organizations for an unforgettable evening spanning music from Broadway, opera, and orchestral masterworks.
Please also plan to attend the special benefit concert that my darling friend, Conductor Paul Mauffray, is planning for Sunday, Sept. 11 at 7:30 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church, 1329 Jackson Avenue. Maestro Mauffray will be conducting the Mozart Requiem as a benefit concert for Baton Rouge Flood Victims.
The Mozart Requiem will be performed by orchestra musicians from both the Louisiana Philharmonic and Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestras, with a chorus of singers from the New Orleans and Baton Rouge regions, including vocal soloists Amy Pfrimmer, Daveda Karanas, Tyler Smith, Terrance Brown, and others. General admission is by donation, and your tax deductible donation checks can be made to the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra, with “Musician Relief Fund” in the memo line.
Darlings, on Saturday, September 10 from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., the 4th annual Downriver Festival will offer another multisensory celebration of the Mississippi River at the Old U.S. Mint and French Market. Live music, cooking demonstrations, presentations, panels, walking tours, and informational displays will reflect this year’s 2016 theme of Oysters & The Future of our Coast.
Presented by a coalition of organizations and institutions that includes the Louisiana State Museum, Friends of the Cabildo, French Market Corporation, New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park, the Louisiana Museum Foundation and Slow Food New Orleans, this year’s newest festival partners include Restore the Mississippi River Delta Coalition, Crescent Park, and the Port of New Orleans, with additional stage funding provided by New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation and the Consulate General of Mexico in New Orleans.
Creason’s Fine Art Gallery, 831 Chartres Street will open a rare exhibition featuring the artistry of New Orleans artist and musician Harry Mayronne on September 10, from 6:00-9:00 p.m. “Figures: People Who Amuse, Provoke and Inspire,” will feature Harry’s one-of-a-kind, handcrafted marionettes and offer an opportunity into the old world method of their creation.
The son of artists, Harry has, from an early age, had a fascination with puppetry. With his original self-made marionette character, Miss Viola, he has appeared in festivals, burlesque shows, clubs, on television, and in journalist Chris Rose’s Galatoire’s Monologues at Le Chat Noir. Harry and Miss Viola are featured in the WYES video City Park Memories, as well as in George Wolfe’s book on sculpture 3D Wizardry (Davis Publications, Inc.).
In 2012, Harry was invited to appear in the New Orleans Giant Puppet Festival by Pandora Gastelum of the Mudlark Public Theatre. Harry created several new marionettes for his performance and has been doing so ever since. With his marionette of German playwright, Bertolt Brecht, he appeared in three 2013 concerts at Berliner Ensemble with Germany’s “Mother of Punk,” Nina Hagen, who is now a leading Brecht interpreter. Harry’s figures represent people whom he has known as well as those by whom he has been inspired. Harry Mayronne is also a well-known and respected New Orleans musician and composer/co-producer of the long-running musical comedy “Waiting Around – The Restaurant Musical,” written along with writer Ricky Graham. The show also had an off-Broadway run in 2006.
“Figures: People Who Amuse, Provoke, and Inspire,” is a unique peek into the art and world of puppetry. Guests will be treated to a performance by Harry Mayronne as well as insights on each marionette.
And, for those who – like yours truly – enjoy chamber music, the nine-member chamber music ensemble group, Musaica, will be opening its 2016-17 season with two free concerts early next week. Musaica will be performing on Monday, Sept. 12 at the First Unitarian Universalist Church, 5212 South Claiborne Ave., New Orleans and Tuesday, Sept. 13, Munholland Methodist Church, 1201 Metairie Road, Metairie. Both concerts start at 7:30 p.m.
Pieces to be performed on those two evenings include Nino Rota’s Quintet for Flute, Oboe, Viola, Cello, and Harp; Max Reger’s Serenade for Violin, Viola, and Flute, op. 141a; Ludwig van Beethoven’s String Quartet in E flat, op. 74 “Harp”; and works by Debussy, Rachmaninoff, Faure and Brahms
The concerts are free but suggested donations of $10 for adults and $5 for students and seniors will help the group offset some of its costs. For information call (504) 304-8608, email them at musaica@musaica.org or visit their website http://musaica.org/.
Darlings, enjoy your week and stay cool and dry!
My beautiful friends at the touchdown luncheon
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Sunday, September 11, 7:30 pm -at Trinity Episcopal Church,1329 Jackson Avenue
Benefit Concert for Baton Rouge Flood Victims, with a performance of the Mozart Requiem by orchestra musicians combined from both the Louisiana Philharmonic and Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestras, with a chorus of singers from the New Orleans and Baton Rouge regions, vocal soloists Amy Pfrimmer, Daveda Karanas, Tyler Smith, Terrance Brown, and conductor Paul Mauffray at Trinity Episcopal Church.
General admission is by donation, and your tax deductible donation checks can be made to the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra (with “Musician Relief Fund” in the memo line).
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