200. Kim Vaz Deville. The Baby Dolls

200. We interview Kim Vaz Deville, author of The "Baby Dolls": Breaking the Race and Gender Barriers of the New Orleans Mardi Gras Tradition. One of the first women’s organizations to mask and perform during Mardi Gras, the Million Dollar Baby Dolls redefined the New Orleans carnival tradition. Tracing their origins from Storyville-era brothels and dance halls to their re-emergence in post-Katrina New Orleans, author Kim Marie Vaz uncovers the fascinating history of the “raddy-walking, shake-dancing, cigar-smoking, money-flinging” ladies who strutted their way into a predominantly male establishment.

1. This week in Louisiana history. March 20, 1839. Shreveport become a "city" on the northern end of the Red River.
2. This week in New Orleans history. Clarence "Frogman" Henry, was born March 19, 1937 in Algiers. His trademark croak, utilized to the maximum on his 1956 debut hit "Ain't Got No Home," earned Henry his nickname and jump-started a career that endures to this day. "(I Don't Know Why) But I Do" and "You Always Hurt the One You Love", both from 1961, were also top-selling records.
   
3. This week in Louisiana.
   Dave Robicheaux's Hometown Literary Festival
   March 31st, 2017 - April 2nd, 2017
   New Iberia-information at Shadows-on-the-Teche
   317 E. Main St,
   New Iberia, LA 70560
   337-369-6446
   Website
   New Iberia.  Information at Shadows-on-the-Teche
   Literary festival honoring Iberia authors as well as others from around the world. Focused on James Lee Burke's legendary literary character, Dave Robicheaux, and his hometown. There will be events throughout the festival at various venues celebrating literature and its impact on our culture as a parish. Events include storytelling, workshops, academic symposium, theatrical vignettes, music, local cuisine, Dave Robicheaux tours and a 5K run.

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199. Adam Rothman

199. We interview Adam Rothman about his book, Beyond Freedom's Reach. Born into slavery in rural Louisiana, Rose Herera was bought and sold several times before being purchased by the De Hart family of New Orleans. Still a slave, she married and had children, who also became the property of the De Harts. But after Union forces captured New Orleans in 1862 during the American Civil War, Herera’s owners fled to Havana, taking three of her small children with them. Beyond Freedom’s Reach is the true story of one woman’s quest to rescue her children from bondage.

1. This week in Louisiana history. March 14, 1780 Galvez captures Ft. Charlotte at Mobile.
2. This week in New Orleans history.  Wardell Quezergue (March 12, 1930 – September 6, 2011) was an American music arranger, producer and bandleader, known among New Orleans musicians as the “Creole Beethoven.”
   
3. This week in Louisiana.
   New Orleans Spring Fiesta Association
   November 25th, 2016
   New Orleans Spring Fiesta Association
   826 St. Ann Street,
   New Orleans, LA 70116
   504-581-1367
   March 25-26 and April 1-2, 2017
   Website
   New Orleans Spring Fiesta Association
   Spring Festival is a series of events designed to entertain, educate, and allow all to revel in the cultural heritage that is uniquely New Orleans. Tours of private French Quarter homes and courtyards and a presentation of the Spring Fiesta Queen and her court in antebellum attire.

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198. Michael McHale

198. We interview Michael McHale, 1st Vice Chair, Louisiana Democratic Party.We talk about Democratic prospects in Louisiana, and about how average citizens can become involved. He has been active in Democratic politics all of his life. He has been on the Democratic State Central Committee since 1996. And has served as 1st Vice Chair since 2008. Before that Michael served as President of the Young Democrats of Louisiana and Executive Vice President of the Young Democrats of America. He served as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1992, 1996 and 2008. He is a practicing attorney in Lake Charles and has been for 15 years. He is a graduate of Southern University Law Center and Northwestern State University.

1. This week in Louisiana history. March 6, 1867. General Philip Sheridan arrives in New Orleans to command the Fifth Military District (Louisiana and Texas) during Reconstruction.
2. This week in New Orleans history. On March 5, 1837, The Picayune described "dead rats, dogs horses, etc, etc, etc, with which our city abounds."
   
3. This week in Louisiana.
   Shadows Plein Air
   March 11th, 2017 - March 18th, 2017
   9:00 am - 4:00 pm
   Shadows-on-the-Teche
   317 E Main St,
   New Iberia, LA 70560
   337-369-6446
   Website
   Shadows-on-the-Teche
   Plein air painters will be outdoors in the Shadows-on-the-Teche gardens, along Main Street, on Avery Island and possibly other areas for visitors to view. Art will be on exhibit at the Shadows Visitor Center in mid April. Additional details are available on the Shadows website.

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197. Lolis Elie, Part 2.

197. Part 2 of our interview with Lolis Eric Elie. Lolis is a New-Orleans born, Los-Angeles based writer and filmmaker. He wrote for the HBO series Treme. Working with the award-winning director Dawn Logsdon, he co- produced and wrote the PBS documentary, Faubourg Treme: The Untold Story of Black New Orleans. His essay, “America’s Greatest Hits,” is included in Best African American Essays: 2009. He is the author of Smokestack Lightning: Adventures in the Heart of Barbecue Country and co-producer and writer of Smokestack Lightning: A Day in the Life of Barbecue, the documentary based on that book. He is editor of Cornbread Nation 2: The Best of Southern Food Writing.

1. This week in Louisiana history. February 27, 1827. New Orleans kicks off its first Mardi Gras. A group of students, inspired by a study abroad experience in Paris, took to the streets in masks and costumes to celebrate and party. The celebrations became more elaborate every year. In 1833, it was made an official city wide celebration.
2. This week in New Orleans history. Happy Birthday, Fats Domino. Born in the Ninth Ward on February 26, 1928
   
3. This week in Louisiana.
   New Iberia Azalea Trail
   March 1st, 2017 - April 30th, 2017
   Iberia Parish
   Main St,
   New Iberia, LA 70560
   337-365-1540 | 888-942-3742 | Fax
   Website
   Iberia Parish
   Delicate Azaleas bloom early each Spring flooding the landscape with a sea of red, pink, white, purple and salmon.  Our easy self guided driving tour offers a glimpse of all the beautiful flowers along the trail from the miniature varieties to the massive.
4. Postcard from Louisiana.  This week we talk to Elisabeth Grant-Gibson at a recent demonstration in Monroe urging Senator Cassidy to hold a town hall meeting in North Louisiana.

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196. Lolis Eric Elie, Part 1

196. Part 1 of our interview with Lolis Eric Elie. Lolis is a New-Orleans born, Los-Angeles based writer and filmmaker. He wrote for the HBO series Treme. Working with the award-winning director Dawn Logsdon, he co- produced and wrote the PBS documentary, Faubourg Treme: The Untold Story of Black New Orleans. His essay, “America’s Greatest Hits,” is included in Best African American Essays: 2009. He is the author of Smokestack Lightning: Adventures in the Heart of Barbecue Country and co-producer and writer of Smokestack Lightning: A Day in the Life of Barbecue, the documentary based on that book. He is editor of Cornbread Nation 2: The Best of Southern Food Writing.

1. This week in Louisiana history. February 21, 1882. First Mardi Gras Parade in Lake Charles takes place.
2. This week in New Orleans history. Doctor Edgar Hull, Jr. (February 20, 1904 – October 24, 1984), was a founding faculty member of the Louisiana State University Medical Center in New Orleans in 1931. He was among those called upon to treat Huey P. Long after he was shot in 1935.  In 1983, after nearly a half-century, Hull published his memoirs, This I Remember: An Informal History of the Louisiana State University Medical Center in New Orleans. Unlike LSU historian T. Harry Williams, who suggested Long might have survived with better medical care, Hull said that Long could not have survived the shooting. He denied that Long had died from medical or surgical incompetence.
   
3. This week in Louisiana.
   Krewe of Dionysus Mardi Gras Parade
   February 25th, 2017
   Downtown
   781 Front Street,
   Natchitoches, LA 71457
   800-259-1714
   Website
   Downtown
   Family friendly night time parade, super floats, lots of throws, marching bands.  Parade begins in East Natchitoches and travels to the Landmark Historic District.  Pre-party in the downtown historic district.
   
4. Postcard from the Louisiana Resistance: Joy Robinson.
   We catch up with Joy at the Monroe Civic Center, were a group was demonstrating at an event attended by Senator Bill Cassidy.

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195. JB Borders IV, part 2

195. Part 2 of our interview with J. B. Borders IV.  Borders has written the book, Marking Time, Making Place: An Essential Chronology of Blacks in New Orleans Since 1718. Considered the birthplace of jazz and gumbo, and habitat of the fascinating blend of black and European blood called creole, New Orleans is the site of historical and cultural contributions that include music, cuisine, architecture, and politics. J. B.'s timeline starts in 1718 and notes the major names, events, and locations involving African Americans in New Orleans for the last 300 years.

1. This week in Louisiana history. February 14, 1957 Southern Christian Leadership Conference founded in New Orleans. 
2. This week in New Orleans history. New Orleans soul singer and songwriter King Floyd was born in New Orleans on February 13, 1945.  He was best known for his top 10 hit from 1970, "Groove Me".  Floyd  passed away on March 6, 2006.
   
3. This week in Louisiana.
   Cajun Country Courir de Mardi Gras
   February 23rd, 2017 - February 28th, 2017
   Various Locations in Eunice, LA
   Downtown Eunice, 300 S. Second St.,
   Eunice, LA 70535
   337-457-7389
   Website
   This unique five day celebration is not your typical idea of Mardi Gras with beads and doubloons. In fact you won't find these trinkets in sight, but instead, men and women on horseback donned in hand crafted wire masks, tall hats called capuchons, and very distinctive costumes. This one of a kind celebration begins the Friday before Mardi Gras Day, but the main event is the Courir de Mardi Gras procession or "chicken run" which involves chasing a live chicken to collect for a community gumbo, and silliness by revelers all day. Don't wait till Fat Tuesday to join in the fun. Throughout the weeked, experience the town's rural traditions with jam sessions, street dances, cooking demos, Mardi Gras exhibits and a special Liberty Theater show. Les Jeunes and L'il Mardi Gras runs for children are on Sunday as well as an old time boucherie (hog butchering).
        The Eunice Courir de Mardi Gras dates back from when the town was first established in the late 19th century. The Courir was abandoned for a few years during World War II, but in 1946 a small band of riders revived the tradition. Today, the Eunice Courir de Mardi Gras has more than 2,000 participants on the run, and it continues to increase each year.
   
4. Postcard from the Louisiana Resistance: Chris Wade.
   We interview Chris Wade of COEXIST about the Unity March at ULM on February 4, 2017. The march was in support of international students after Donald Trump's travel ban.

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194. J.B. Borders IV, part 1

194. Part 1 of our interview with J. B. Borders IV.  Borders has written the book, Marking Time, Making Place: An Essential Chronology of Blacks in New Orleans Since 1718. Considered the birthplace of jazz and gumbo, and habitat of the fascinating blend of black and European blood called creole, New Orleans is the site of historical and cultural contributions that include music, cuisine, architecture, and politics. J. B.'s timeline starts in 1718 and notes the major names, events, and locations involving African Americans in New Orleans for the last 300 years.

1. This week in Louisiana history. February 7, 2010. New Orleans Saints win their very first Super Bowl and finish the year at 14-3.
2. This week in New Orleans history. Born in New Orleans on February 6, 1944, Wilson Turbinton (known as Tee and Willie Tee) arranged, co-wrote and led the band on the Wild Magnolias' self-titled 1974 debut album. The popularity of that recording, and the subsequent They Call Us Wild introduced the Mardi Gras Indians' street-beat funk to the world.
   
3. This week in Louisiana.
   Fasching Karneval & Parade
   February 11th, 2017
   10:00 am - 9:00 pm
   Downtown Minden
   520 Broadway,
   Minden, LA 71055
   318-377-2144
   Website
   Downtown Minden
   Celebrating our German Heritage! "Fasching" is the German version of Mardi Gras. Activities 10am until dark. Food, Fun and Vendors. For more information call  Becky White at (318) 371-4258.

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