Beyond Bourbon Street, an Insider's Guide to New Orleans

Paul Sanchez, New Orleans Best Songwriter Paul Sanchez is the best songwriter in New Orleans. He's been writing songs and telling stories since he was six years old. Join us as we talk about New Orleans, music and storytelling. Learn about the earliest days of Paul's former band Cowboy Mouth, his connection to Steven Soderbergh, and who has the best singing voice in New Orleans. This interview fir...

Louisiana and the Francophonie Today's episode is about the story behind Louisiana becoming a member of the Francophonie, also known as l'Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie. The Francophonie is comprised of 84 countries, provinces, and one state (Louisiana) whose membership works together to celebrate and preserve French language and culture. To help us learn about the Francophonie and...

St. Bernard Parish Massacre of 1868 In October 1868 dozens of African Americans were massacred in St. Bernard Parish, a few miles downriver from New Orleans. Today's episode is about this little known event. It is a story about freedom, Reconstruction, a Presidential election, and a fight between cultures. To help us learn about the St. Bernard Parish Massacre, I'm joined by Chris Dier, an author,...

Today's episode is about Dillard University. Situated in the Gentilly neighborhood of New Orleans, Dillard University is a historically black university founded in 1930, but with roots going back to 1869. Join me as we visit the campus and learn about its mission, its history, and the impact of Dillard University graduates. All this and more in today's episode!   Quick Episode Summary Recap of las...

Today's episode is all about coffee in New Orleans. It is the 3rd in a sub-series about staple crops or industries in Louisiana. We've previously talked about Tabasco (episode 87) and Camellia Brand red beans (episode 95). While coffee isn't grown in New Orleans, the city has a long history with it. Today, I visit with local coffee roaster Kevin Pedeaux (Coast Roast Coffee). We talk about the Cres...

In this episode we answer listener questions about New Orleans. What are the quirky things you enjoy about New Orleans? How do you convince someone to move to the Crescent City? Is living in a tourist city exciting or annoying? Stay tuned for the the answers to these questions and more in this episode of the Beyond Bourbon St podcast.   Time Stamps 2:38 Are the Popeyes in New Orleans really differ...

In this solo episode I answer your questions about New Orleans. The questions cover everything from museums to infrastructure, the best and worst things about New Orleans, and more. Time Stamps 4:10   As a local how often do you make it to Saints games? Are you a season ticket holder or do you prefer to only attend a few, or even just a single game a year? 5:41   As a New Orleans native, you've su...

New Orleans Red Beans and Rice New Orleans red beans and rice is an iconic dish in the Crescent City. Today, we talk red beans and rice with Vince Hayward, the CEO of L.H. Hayward & Company. While that name might not be familiar, nearly every New Orleanian knows their best selling product - Camellia Brand® Red Beans. Chances are, if you've had a plate of red beans and rice in New Orleans, it was m...

Do you ever wonder how hurricane prep works in New Orleans? I got lots of questions in our Facebook group in the days leading up to Hurricane Barry. Today, I'll share my tips on hurricane prep in New Orleans, and we'll also answer questions from our Facebook community. Timestamps for Today's Episode 03:36 Should I Stay or Should I Go? 11:16 What Do You do to Prepare? Even before Hurricane Season 2...

Mules and Carriages are a common site in New Orleans, and especially in the French Quarter. If you are like me, you probably have lots of questions. Why mules and not horses? Where do the mules live? How are they cared for? Join me and guest Charlotte Jones as we talk about the history of mules in New Orleans, the carriage ride industry, and how these beautiful animals became part of New Orleans....

Impact of Short Term Rentals in New Orleans Have you ever visited New Orleans and stayed in a short term rental through AirBnb, VRBO, or another service? If so, you probably got a great deal, but do you wonder about the impact on the community? Join me and NOLA.com reporter Kevin Litten for a discussion of the current state of affairs and the impact of short term rentals in New Orleans. Sponsor: T...

NOLA DNA Project, a History of New Orleans in Newspapers Have you ever been perusing Craigslist and come across something remarkable? Well, that's exactly what happened to Joseph Makkos, my guest on today's episode. Joseph is a writer, a printer,a self-described media archaeologist, and thanks to that Craigslist ad, the founder and curator of the NOLA DNA project. Join us as we discuss how one per...

Art of the City, Postmodern to Post-Katrina highlights contemporary art in New Orleans. Presented by the Helis Foundation this is the first exhibit to be displayed in the The Historic New Orleans Collection's Seignouret-Brulatour building.(THNOC). Join me and curator/artist Jan Gilbert for a tour of the exhibit, and a discussion of contemporary art in New Orleans. Jan's enthusiasm for the art and...

Did you know New Orleans hosted a World's Fair in 1984? Or, that it was actually the 2nd fair held in New Orleans? Join me and NOLA.com journalist Mike Scott for a look back at 1984. We'll explore the World's Fair and find out what's at that location in New Orleans now. We'll revisit the Wonder Wall, Centennial Plaza, the gondola and more. If you went to the fair, you'll enjoy the memories. And if...

13 Questions About New Orleans with David Mora Today we're back with another Q&A episode. In this edition, I am joined by David Mora, AKA the future king. We answer listener questions about where to eat, how to take great photographs of New Orleans, and more!  

You probably have a bottle of TABASCO® Sauce on your counter or in your pantry right now, but do you know the story behind the brand? Did you know the McIlhenny Company is 151 years old, or that every bottle of TABASCO® is made on a small island in Louisiana? Today, we go way beyond Bourbon Street to bring you the story of TABASCO® Sauce. To do that, we traveled out to Avery Island, located in the...

Today we're back with another Q&A episode. In this edition, I am joined by Rudy Rayfield, AKA Rudy Da Foodie. We answer listener questions about local musicians, things tourists overlook, how to plan for French Quarter Fest and more! Follow Rudy Da Foodie Online Be sure to follow Rudy's New Orleans food explorations on Instagram (@rudydafoodie ) and Twitter (@iamrudydafoodie) . Previous Episodes M...

Bellegarde Bakery Today's episode is all about bread. More specifically, it is about one man's passion for bread and changing the way we think about it.  My guest today is Graison Gill, an artisan in the truest sense. He's a baker of bread in a city known for po-boys, but that's not his story. Graison is the founder of Bellegarde Bakery here in New Orleans, and if you love bread you won't want to...

Rex, King of Carnival Today's episode is all about Mardi Gras and the Rex parade. I am joined by a former King of Carnival, Dr. Stephen Hales. In addition to reigning as Rex in 2017, Dr. Hales is the archivist and historian for the School of Design, the organization that puts on the Rex parade. In this discussion we talk about Rex and its impact on Mardi Gras, and more broadly, on the city of New...

Laine Kaplan Levenson has spent the last 10+ years telling stories about New Orleans and Louisiana. For the last three years, she's produced and hosted Tripod, New Orleans at 300. Tripod won critical acclaim for its exploration of topics related to the Tricentennial, including a mini series on our relationship with Haiti. Ever heard the word 'Bulbancha?' If not, you'll definitely want to tune in!...

52+ Free (or Nearly Free) Things to Do in New Orleans One of the wonderful things about New Orleans is that so many of the best things are free. Don't believe me? How about Mardi Gras and French Quarter Fest as a start? Add in festivals, exploring our neighborhoods, and enjoying the Mississippi River and you've got a great start. Listen to today's episode and walk away with dozens of things to eat...

Late Winter/Early Spring Festivals in New Orleans Just after New Year, New Orleans festivals and events get started. It all starts with Twelfth Night and the start of Carnival, also known as king cake season! Listen to my discussion with my wife, Marie Bologna, as we cover everything from Twelfth Night through the end of March. You'll hear a bit about Mardi Gras, the Bourbon Festival, a celebratio...

Vietnamese Community of New Orleans Did you know New Orleans is home to a thriving community of Vietnamese who fled Vietnam after the fall of Saigon? Listen to my discussion with Councilwoman Cyndi Nguyen and learn all about how her family came to New Orleans, as well as the impact of the Vietnamese on New Orleans food and culture today. We discuss the local celebration of Tet, an incredible fresh...

Have you ever heard of Reveillon? These were traditional meals prepared and served after Midnight Mass in the early morning hours of Christmas. This tradition was carried on in New Orleans until the 1940s when it basically died. In the late 1990s, it was revived by French Quarter restaurants. Today, it is among the most favored holiday traditions in New Orleans. Listen to my discussion with New Or...

In this solo episode I answer your questions about New Orleans! The questions cover everything from art museums to music education, best snowballs to cheap oysters, and more! If you want to submit a question for a future Q&A episode, join our free Facebook Group (Beyond Bourbon St Krewe) . Time Stamps 2:56    Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans? 4:06    I would love to live in New Orlean...