General
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Grand jury indicts teabagging suspect
Posted by Kandace Graves on Thu, May 17, 2012 at 1:24 PM
An Orleans Parish grand jury today (May 17) indicted Alabama football fan Brian H. Downing — accused of putting his testicles on an unconscious LSU fan in a Krystal hamburger restaurant on Bourbon Street following the BCS Championship game Jan. 9 — on one count of sexual battery and one count of obscenity. A judge set Downing's bail at $50,000, but an arraignment date has not been set.
A video of the January incident hit YouTube immediately, and Downing was identified as the suspect. He surrendered to New Orleans police Jan. 19, and his bail was set at $10,000.
If convicted, Downing could face a maximum of 10 years in prison on the sexual battery charge and a fine of no less than $1,000 and no more than $2,500 and six months to three years in prison on the obscenity charge.
Applications being accepted for Big Easy grants
Posted by Will Coviello on Thu, May 17, 2012 at 1:08 PM
Gambit's Big Easy Foundation is accepting applications for grants for projects to support economic development and education in the arts. The foundation makes grants of up to $5,000. Visit here for application details. The application deadline is May 24.
The Big Easy Foundation sponsors the Big Easy Awards for music and theater as well as Tribute to the Classical Arts. Proceeds from those events support foundation grants.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Stop writing about hipsters
Posted by Alex Woodward on Thu, Apr 5, 2012 at 2:15 PM
Just do it. Please. Do it until you have really examined how possible it is to not be doing it.
The recent resurgence of it started as an invective, a slight to a generation of people doing the same "cool" things others have done but without any effort or reason. Collectors of "cool" things, an inter-generational mash-up of pop cultural artifacts and fashion. The Internet made this way easier to do — there are websites where you can catalog all the "cool" things you like and share them like they're your own discoveries, like your identity depends on it. It's self-obsession set to self-destruct, "a culture lost in the superficiality of its past and unable to create any new meaning."
Somehow, instead of fizzling out as a dumb pejorative, it became ironic self-parody, then an actual thing. Mainstream media fixated on what it is or means. People self-identify as it. It's a marketing gimmick. Now it's a marking of a travel destination.
Congratulations, New Orleans, you're one of them now, says the "listicle" farts-for-brains soothsayers Travel + Leisure, which seemingly just lists the pretty unanimously agreed "cool" and interesting cities in the U.S. then arbitrarily dubs them hipster destinations. So what makes you a hipster, New Orleans?
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
LOOP fundraiser/Dan Forman memorial Thursday
Posted by Will Coviello on Wed, Apr 4, 2012 at 11:46 AM
Outdoors enthusiast and educator Dan Forman founded the Louisiana Outdoors Outreach Program in 2004 to link classroom education to outdoor experiences for area school children. Through the program, many students were exposed to the area's natural resources in state parks and City Park.
Forman died Feb. 9. He was 46. There's a story about LOOP by Ian McNulty here, and an obit and story about the program by the Times-Picayune's Bob Marshall.
Forman's friends have organized a tribute and fundraiser for LOOP from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday, April 5, at d.b.a. Jon Cleary performs and there's free food, a silent auction, raffles and more. Suggested donation is $10. Donations can also be sent to Friends of LOOP, c/o FirstLine Schools, 3649 Laurel St., New Orleans 70115.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Pole dancing championship Saturday in New Orleans
Posted by Kandace Graves on Tue, Mar 20, 2012 at 1:42 PM
It’s not what you think, exactly. This event is the Southern Regional Pole Dance Fitness Championships with competitors that include beauty queens and others who have adopted pole dancing as a fitness regimen. It’s a trend that is gaining traction, and organizers say there is a movement to make pole dancing an Olympic sport.
The event starts at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 24, at the Fine Arts Center (1733 Constantinople St.). In addition to the competition, vendors will display fitness-related wares. It is open to the public, and tickets are $25-$50 (other packages are available that include food and drinks). For ticket information, go here.
Competitors include 2011 Miss Georgia, Von Brianna, 2011 Miss Texas Jennifer Huff, 2010 Miss Georgia Nicki Shaw, 2011 Miss South Carolina Karri Mae Telford and 2011 Miss North Carolina Sabrina Woods. Matthew Sabella, a personal trainer at New Orleans Athletic Club, is among five judges.


Thursday, March 15, 2012
Talking culture with Ireland’s minister of arts and heritage
Posted by Ian McNulty on Thu, Mar 15, 2012 at 8:42 AM
- Irish Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
- Jimmy Deenihan
As the countdown at St. Patrick’s Day continues, several hundreds scholars, experts and ambassadors of Irish culture are in town this week attending the American Conference for Irish Studies. One of them is Jimmy Deenihan, the Irish government’s Minister for Arts, Heritage & Gaeltacht (or Irish language) Affairs, who is here to speak at the conference and meet with local Irish cultural groups, including the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the newly-formed Irish Network-New Orleans.
Gambit caught up with Deenihan for an interview at the Hotel Monteleone, the site of most of the ACIS events.
Gambit: We hear a lot in Louisiana these days about the value of our culture and heritage as an economic asset. Is that an idea that has caught on in Ireland?
Deenihan: I think people understand it now more than ever. They understand that we have something here that’s very precious. Because Irish music, Irish dance, it’s quite distinctive, and in film, I’d say Ireland has punched way above its weight. There is a lot of economic potential in culture and in heritage. A lot of other countries have proved that as well, but I think we have capitalized on it more than most. We don’t have climate, so we can’t sell sunshine.
But Irish people in a way drifted from their culture, and during the Celtic Tiger (the recent economic boom time in Ireland) they sometimes changed, and Irish people started acting differently than what would be expected of them. One thing that happened with the collapse of our economy in 2007 and 2008 is that people have gone back to basics and they’ve gone back to their culture and their heritage. And in order to regain national pride, we have promoted Ireland through our culture and through our heritage.
Friday, March 2, 2012
Cupcake-eating contest and 2012 Muscle Walk Saturday
Posted by Kandace Graves on Fri, Mar 2, 2012 at 11:04 PM
The Muscular Dystrophy Association’s (MDA) 2012 Muscle Walk fundraiser Saturday, March 3, at Riverwalk Marketplace/Spanish Plaza includes a host of activities including light exercise, interactive booths, performances and appearances by entertainers and celebrities — and a cupcake-eating contest.
Registration for the Muscle Walk starts at 8:30 a.m., and events begin at 9 a.m. and include a warmup dance by the 610 Stompers. Participants can design their own handkerchief to wave during a second-line victory lap led by Pocket Ace Brass Band.
New Orleans Saints mascots Gumbo and Sir Saint, the Zephyrs’ Boudreaux and the Voodoo’s Voodoo Dolls will be on hand, and there will be performances by the band Kerizma, Praise with Dance Troupe, cheerleaders from the University of New Orleans, Southern University and Ben Franklin High School.
The walk starts at 11 a.m., and at 11:30 there’s a cupcake-eating contest featuring confections from Kupcake Factory. The contestant who eats the most iced cupcakes in 5 minutes (and keeps them down) wins — cupcakes from Kupcake Factory and a T-shirt. Proceeds from contest entries ($25 for individuals or $50 company team members) benefit the MDA.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Donate a suit to Dress For Success this week
Posted by Kandace Graves on Thu, Mar 1, 2012 at 9:50 PM
That almost-new suit you haven’t worn in a year, the pants you never got hemmed — get rid of them and feel good about it by donating them to Dress for Success during the 10th annual Send One Suit Weekend through Sunday, March 4. Drop off clothing donations at any Dressbarn women’s store (the closest locations are listed below the jump).
The nonprofit Dress for Success focuses on helping disadvantaged women who are trying to gain financial independence. The organization collects and distributes donated professional apparel needed for job interviews and beginning a new job. Items needed include suits, blouses, skirts, pants, shoes and accessories. Dress for Success partners with national retailer Dressbarn for Send One Suit Weekend. Dressbarn's stated goal for 2012 is to collect 60,000 items at its 825 stores, 9,000 more than the 51,000 the public donated during last year's drive.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Get healthy on Magazine Street — and win $1,000 in prizes
Posted by Kandace Graves on Tue, Feb 28, 2012 at 2:42 PM
Many of us have given up something for Lent (mostly meat, chocolate, alcohol, tobacco and couch-potatoing among my aquaintances). Might as well capitalize on the commitment — there's still six weeks of willpower to sustain — and get proactive about your health (plus get a lot of FREE STUFF). A group of Magazine Street business owners are presenting A Night of Health + Wellness on Magazine Street from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 29 — (that's TOMORROW for those of us feeling woozy from lack of stimulants).
Earthsavers, LIFE Yoga + Boutique, Lululemon Athletica, Paris Parker Salon & Spa, Pinkberry, Pure Barre, Romney Pilates, Salvation Studio, Southern Runner and Whole Foods Market will have workout demonstrations, personal consultations, fitness assessments, classes and more. They'll give away samples of products, prizes, healthy food recipes, wellness information, lifestyle tips and discounts on products, services and classes. Several businesses are providing refreshments (including a healthy cocktail) aimed at proving that healthy snacks can taste great.
Participating businesses have put together a prize package worth $1,000. For a chance to win, pick up a "Healthy Passport" at your first stop and have it stamped at each of the businesses hosting the event, then turn it in.
A schedule of events and locations follows the jump.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
It’s Girl Scout cookie time!
Posted by Kandace Graves on Wed, Jan 25, 2012 at 10:13 AM
It’s time to find your favorite Girl Scout, Brownie or Daisy and place your order for Girl Scout cookies. In honor of the 100th anniversary of Girl Scouts — Juliette Gordon Low formed the group in Savannah, Ga., In March 1912 — a new cookie has been added. Savannah Smiles are lemon wedge cookies (in the shape of a smile) coated in powdered sugar.
We sampled the new cookie during an informal tasting in the Gambit office this morning. It’s a good cookie, but most hands then went for the Thin Mints. The third cookie in the photo is the Thank U Berry Munch (with cranberry pieces), which is crispy, but not attracting much attention in this office.
The Girl Scouts also are selling Samoas (chocolate, caramel and coconut), Tagalongs (chocolate-covered peanut butter patties), Do-Si-Dos (peanut butter sandwich cookie), Trefoils (shortbreadd) and Dulce de Leche (caramel flavored).
Boxes sell for $3.50 each (there’s no discount for pre-orders), and the cookies will be delivered in early March. Girl Scouts also will sell cookies at booths around the metro area March 2-18 (time to start making room in the freezer).
Read about the mobile app below the jump.
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