680. Anniversary episode with Ed Branley

680. Celebrate a milestone with us! In this episode, we are marking the 13^th anniversary of the podcast and the 14^th anniversary of the Anthology project as a whole. To honor the occasion, we are sitting down with legendary local historian and author Ed Branley, the NOLA History Guy, to reflect on another  year of storytelling. Tune in as we look back at what we and Ed have accomplished over the last 12 months, dive into our favorite recent discoveries, and discuss the ever-evolving history of the Crescent City. Thank you for being part of our journey for over a decade!

1. Now available: Liberty in Louisiana: A Comedy. The oldest play about Louisiana, author James Workman wrote it as a celebration of the Louisiana Purchase. Now it is back in print for the first time in 222 years. Order your copy today!
2. This week in the Louisiana Anthology. Pisatuntema. Myths of the Louisiana Choctaw. II
      Soon after the earth (yahne) was made, men and grasshoppers came to the surface through a long passageway that led from a large cavern, in the interior of the earth, to the summit of a high hill, Nan' chaha. There, deep down in the earth, in the great cavern, man and the grasshoppers had been created by Aba, the Great Spirit, having been formed of the yellow clay.
      For a time the men and the grasshoppers continued to reach the surface together, and as they emerged from the long passageway they would scatter in all directions, some going north, others south, east, or west.
      But at last the mother of the grasshoppers who had remained in the cavern was killed by the men and as a consequence there were no more grasshoppers to reach the surface, and ever after those that lived on the earth were known to the Choctaw as eske ilay, or 'mother dead.' However, men continued to reach the surface of the earth through the long passageway that led to the summit of Nan' chaha, and, as they moved about from place to place, they trampled upon many grasshoppers in the high grass, killing many and hurting others.
      The grasshoppers became alarmed as they feared that all would be killed if men became more numerous and continued to come from the cavern in the earth. They spoke to Aba, who heard them and soon after caused the passageway to be closed and no more men were allowed to reach the surface. But as there were many men remaining in the cavern he changed them to ants and ever since that time the small ants have come forth from holes in the ground.
   
3. This week in Louisiana history. May 29, 1948. The Desire streetcars stopped running.
4. This week in New Orleans history. May 29, 1985: Businessman Tom Benson officially purchased the New Orleans Saints, preventing the team from potentially relocating to another city.
5. This week in Louisiana.
   French Market Creole Tomato Festival
   June 7'8 (traditionally the first weekend of June)
   French Market District, 1008 N. Peters Street
   New Orleans, LA 70116
   Website: frenchmarket.org
   Email: info@frenchmarket.org
   Phone: (504) 636‑6400
   The French Market Creole Tomato Festival celebrates the arrival of Louisiana's beloved Creole tomatoes with food booths, cooking demonstrations, live music, and family activities throughout the historic French Market:
   
• Creole Tomato Dishes: Chefs and vendors showcase tomato‑based specialties and seasonal favorites.
• Live Music: Performances across multiple stages in the French Market and Dutch Alley.
• Family Activities: Kids' crafts, second‑line parades, and interactive food‑themed events.
6. Postcards from Louisiana. Brass-a-holics play at Lundi Gras.

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