189. Nancy Dixon. New Orlean Anthology, part 1

189. Part 1 of our interview with Nancy Dixon. An ambitious new volume, N.O. Lit: 200 Years of New Orleans Literature, collects short fiction and plays that reflect the city’s literary history, from Paul Louis LeBlanc de Villeneufve’s 18th-century play The Festival of the Young Corn, or The Heroism of Poucha-Houmma to Fatima Shaik’s 1987 short story “Climbing Monkey Hill,” with contributions from suspects both usual and unusual filling in the 560-page tome. Editor Nancy Dixon provided informative introductions to each author’s section, placing the works and their creators within the contexts of the city’s history and the history of its literature, making the anthology both an enjoyable artful artifact and an important academic resource.

1. This week in Louisiana history. December 30, 2005. Tropical Storm Zeta ties a record for the latest developing named storm when it formed today in the open Atlantic Ocean. The six-month season featured a record 14 hurricanes.
2. This week in New Orleans history. December 31, 1974. The last Sugar Bowl was played in Tulane Stadium.  It moved to the Super Dome after that.
   
3. This week in Louisiana.
   New Orleans New Year's Eve
   http://www.neworleans online.com/ neworleans/ seasonal/ newyears.html
   In New Orleans, we celebrate New Year's Eve a little bit different from most places. Sure, we have funny hats and noisemakers (if you want them), but we add a little pizzazz to the occasion by ringing in the New Year our own way. For the biggest party in the city, head down to Jackson Square – the Quarter is packed with festive party goers eager to count down the time until the New Year arrives. And because New Orleans does everything a little differently, don’t expect your run of the mill New Years ball drop; instead “Baby New Year” drops from its perch on the top of Jax Brewery followed by a magnificent fireworks show over the Mississippi. Follow the crowds to Bourbon Street and party til’ the early morning, or break away from the group and find your own special spot to celebrate in.

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188. Matthew Randazzo V, part 2

188. Part 2 of our interview with Matthew Randazzo V about his book Mr. New Orleans. Wiseguys called him "the Keith Richards of the American Mafia" and JFK hero Jim Garrison denounced him as "one of the most notorious vice operators in the history of New Orleans" ... but you can just call him Mr. New Orleans. Mr. New Orleans tells the incredible story of Frenchy Brouillette, a redneck Cajun teenager who stole his big brother's motorcycle and embarked on a 60-year vacation to New Orleans, where he became a legendary gangster and the underworld political fixer for his cousin, Louisiana Governor Edwin Edwards. Written by Crescent City native Matthew Randazzo V, the wickedly funny Mr. New Orleans is the first book to ever break the code of secrecy of the New Orleans Mafia Family, the oldest and most mysterious criminal secret society in America.

1. This week in Louisiana history. December 24, 1814. Treaty of Ghent signed ending War of 1812.
2. This week in New Orleans history. December 24, 1924.  Lee Dorsey is born in New Orleans. After meeting songwriterand record producer Allen Toussaint at a party, Dorsey recorded "Ya! Ya!", a song inspired by a group of children chanting nursery rhymes. It went to number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1961, sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. He was approached again by Toussaint, and recorded Toussaint's song "Ride Your Pony," "Get Out Of My Life Woman," "Working in the Coal Mine" – his biggest pop hit – and "Holy Cow," all of which made the pop charts in both the US and the UK.
   
3. This week in Louisiana.
   Shadows Merry Making Season
   December 5-31, 2016
   9:00 am - 4:30 pm
   Shadows-on-the-Teche
   317 E Main St.,
   New Iberia, LA 70560
   337-369-6446
   http://www.louisianatravel.com/la-events/shadows-merry-making-season
   Shadows-on-the-Teche
   Tours of Shadows-on-the-Teche Plantation & Gardens Decorated for Holiday Season
4. David Middleton reads "The Shepherd: A Christmas Play." 1951.  Saline, Louisia.

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187. Matthew Randazzo V, Part 1

187. Part 1 of our interview with Matthew Randazzo V about his book Mr. New Orleans. Wiseguys called him "the Keith Richards of the American Mafia" and JFK hero Jim Garrison denounced him as "one of the most notorious vice operators in the history of New Orleans" ... but you can just call him Mr. New Orleans. Mr. New Orleans tells the incredible story of Frenchy Brouillette, a redneck Cajun teenager who stole his big brother's motorcycle and embarked on a 60-year vacation to New Orleans, where he became a legendary gangster and the underworld political fixer for his cousin, Louisiana Governor Edwin Edwards. Written by Crescent City native Matthew Randazzo V, the wickedly funny Mr. New Orleans is the first book to ever break the code of secrecy of the New Orleans Mafia Family, the oldest and most mysterious criminal secret society in America.

1. This week in Louisiana history. December 17, 1816. William Charles Cole Claiborne completes his first and only term as governor of Louisiana.
2. This week in New Orleans history. James Carroll Booker III (December 17, 1939 – November 8, 1983) was a New Orleans rhythm and bluesmusician born in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. Booker's unique style combined rhythm and blues with jazz standards. Musician Dr. John described Booker as “the best black, gay, one-eyed junkie piano genius New Orleans has ever produced.
   
3. This week in Louisiana.
   NOLA ChristmasFest
   December 16th, 2016 - December 30th, 2016
   New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center
   900 Convention Center Blvd.,
   New Orleans, LA 70130
   855-477-8756
   http://nolachristmasfest.com/
   New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center
   Family fun in an indoor Christmas Festival featuring an ice skating rink, festive lighting, 70 Christmas Trees, attractions, activities, entertainment and more.

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186. Stephanie Perrault. Poverty Point. Pt 2.

186. Part 2 of our interview with Stephanie Perrault about "Poverty Point." Poverty Point is a prehistoric earthworks of the Poverty Point culture, now a U.S. National Monument and World Heritage Site located in the Southern United States. It is situated on the edge of Maçon Ridge, near the village of Epps in West Carroll Parish in northeastern Louisiana. Poverty Point comprises several earthworks and mounds built between 1650 and 700 BC, during the Archaic period in the Americas by a group of Native Americans of the Poverty Point culture. The culture extended 100 miles (160 km) across the Mississippi Delta. We talk to Stephanie about the original culture at the site, as well as about their current programs.

1. This week in Louisiana history. December 10, 1810. The area of West Florida (Florida Parishes) was annexed by the United States and Louisiana.
2. This week in New Orleans history. Songwriter and keyboard player Ed "Zeke" Volker, born on October 10, 1948, was a founding member of the long-running (33 years) local band The Radiators and was its major contributing writer.
   
3. This week in Louisiana.
   Cajun & Creole Christmas
   November 20th, 2016 - December 31st, 2016
   Various Venues in Lafayette
   1400 NW Evangeline Thwy,
   Lafayette, LA 70501
   337-232-3737
   http://www.lafayettetravel.com/events/holiday/christmas/
   Various Venues in Lafayette
   Enjoy the holidays Cajun & Creole style. The heart of Cajun & Creole Country is transformed into a winter wonderland throughout the months of November and December with a Cajun and Creole Christmas. From light shows to parades, tour of homes, performances, carolers and much more you can be sure to find something to get the family in the holiday spirit. If you enjoy riding around admiring homes decorated for Christmas be sure to check out LafayetteLights.com, a website and app that provides a map of decorated homes that even lets you vote on your favorites. 

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185. Stephanie Perrault. Poverty Point. Pt 1.

185. Part 1 of our interview with Stephanie Perrault about "Poverty Point." Poverty Point is a prehistoric earthworks of the Poverty Point culture, now a U.S. National Monument and World Heritage Site located in the Southern United States. It is situated on the edge of Maçon Ridge, near the village of Epps in West Carroll Parish in northeastern Louisiana. Poverty Point comprises several earthworks and mounds built between 1650 and 700 BC, during the Archaic period in the Americas by a group of Native Americans of the Poverty Point culture. The culture extended 100 miles (160 km) across the Mississippi Delta. We talk to Stephanie about the original culture at the site, as well as about the current research and programs there.

1. This week in Louisiana history. December 3, 1861. Union troops land on Ship Island in an early attack on Confederate Louisiana.
2. This week in New Orleans history. December 3, 1981,  Atlantic Records and promoter Bill Graham reserved the Riverboat President for an $85,000 private party which was attended by some 500 people. Keith Richards hobbled around with a cane. Mardi Gras Indians danced. Paul Prudhomme provided red beans and rice, gumbo, Cajun popcorn (fired crawfish) crawfish pie, hush puppies, fried catfish, blackened redfish salad, crabmeat tortillas, pralines, and pies.  Deacon John, Dr. John, "Frogman" Henry, Oliver "La La" Morgan,  the Neville Brothers with Steven Still on guitar, the Meters, "Tuts" Washington, Earl King, and the Original 6th Ward Dirty Dozen Band performed.
   
3. This week in Louisiana.
   Christmas at the Dorcheat Museum
   December 3rd, 2016 - January 7th, 2017
   10:00 am - 4:00 pm
   Historical Museum
   116 Pearl Street,
   Minden, LA 71055
   318-377-3002
   http://museuminminden.blogspot.com/
   Historical Museum
   Come experience the life and culture of Webster Parish along with the Bayou Dorcheat area of North Louisiana.

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184. Robert B. Caldwell, Jr., Part 2. Choctaw-Apache Foodways.

184.  Part 2 of our interview with Robert B. Caldwell, Jr. Robert Caldwell, part 2. Robert is the author of Choctaw-Apache Foodways, which covers the Native American food of his home in Northwest Louisiana. The book is more than a collection of recipes; he also goes into the history and culture behind the food. Choctaw-Apache foodways are influenced by numerous cultural regions and ecological niches (river bottomland, southern forests, plains, desert) along the Camino Real de los Tejas (northeastern Mexico, Texas, Louisiana) and the culture region of the U.S. Southeast, as well as hundreds of years of cultural interactions between so-called “old world” and indigenous groups. The cuisine developed from a longstanding cultural exchange between tribes of the southwest and southeast, and the colonial-era Spanish and French.  These multiple food influences crossed cultural boundaries in the 18th and early 19th century to blend into a distinctive local cuisine that serves as an ethnic marker that sets this American Indian community apart from surrounding groups.

1. This week in Louisiana history. November 26, 1729. Natchez Indians killed 300 Frenchmen at Ft. Rosalie.
2. This week in New Orleans history. November 26, 1915.  100 years ago, and ostrich farm on City Park Ave. closed. The hope had been that people would pay to see the bird and their eggs, and that the owners could sell the feathers.
   
3. This week in Louisiana.
   Victorian Christmas at the Joseph Jefferson Home & Rip Van Winkle Gardens
   November 26th, 2016 - December 31st, 2016
   9:00 am - 5:00 pm
   Rip Van Winkle Gardens
   5505 Rip Van Winkle Rd.,
   New Iberia, LA 70560
   337-359-8525
   http://www.ripvanwinklegardens.com/
   Rip Van Winkle Gardens
   Tours of the Joseph Jefferson Home and Rip Van Winkle Gardens decorated for the Holiday Season.

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183. Robert B. Caldwell, Jr., Part 1. Choctaw-Apache Foodways.

183. Part 1 of our interview with Robert B. Caldwell, Jr. Robert is the author of Choctaw-Apache Foodways, which covers the Native American food of his home in Northwest Louisiana. The book is more than a collection of recipes; he also goes into the history and culture behind the food. Choctaw-Apache foodways are influenced by numerous cultural regions and ecological niches (river bottomland, southern forests, plains, desert) along the Camino Real de los Tejas (northeastern Mexico, Texas, Louisiana) and the culture region of the U.S. Southeast, as well as hundreds of years of cultural interactions between so-called “old world” and indigenous groups. The cuisine developed from a longstanding cultural exchange between tribes of the southwest and southeast, and the colonial-era Spanish and French.  These multiple food influences crossed cultural boundaries in the 18th and early 19th century to blend into a distinctive local cuisine that serves as an ethnic marker that sets this American Indian community apart from surrounding groups.

1. This week in Louisiana history. November 20, 1829. U.S. Army established western boundary defense post on Lake Charles.
2. This week in New Orleans history. November 19, 1909, Doris Zemurray Stone was born. She became an archaeologist and ethnographer, specializing in pre-Columbian Mesoamerica and the so-called "Intermediate Area" of lower Central America. She served as the director of the National Museum of Costa Rica. Born 1909 in New Orleans, Doris Zemurray was the daughter of Samuel Zemurray, a Russian immigrant who founded the Cuyamel Fruit Company the following year. In 1917, Samuel Zemurray purchased and moved his family into a three-storey Beaux Arts mansion on St. Charles Avenue facing Tulane University, which would become the family home for the next four decades. In the early 1960s the mansion was transferred to Tulane where it became the residency of the University's presidents.
   
3. This week in Louisiana.
   Minden Lights Spectacular
   November 19, 2016 - January 7, 2017
   5:00 pm - 10:00 pm
   Downtown Minden
   520 Broadway
   Minden, LA 71055
   318-377-2144, extension 43
   http://visitwebster.net/Calendar/Details/Old-World-Christmas-Lights-Spectacular
   The City of Minden kicks off this regional holiday event in historic downtown Minden on November 19 with fireworks at dusk.  The switch will be flipped to illuminate thousands of Christmas lights throughout the city beginning the Louisiana Holiday Trail of Lights. Over 100 life-size nutcrackers will be on display. The light will remain on until January 7, 2017. For more information, contact Wanda Pittman at (318)377-2144 Ex. 43.

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