203. Dylan Waguespack, part 1.

203. Part 1 of our interview with Dylan Waguespack. Dylan is the Outreach and Communications Coordinator at Louisiana Budget Project working on tax reform for a fair, adequate and sustainable state budget. A young professional with a background in state government relations and communications strategy, Dylan has worked to advance state and federal policies which expand opportunity for people impacted by homelessness and hunger.

1. This week in Louisiana history. April 8 1812 West Florida made part of Louisiana
2. This week in New Orleans history.  De La Sallle High School, operated by the Christian Brothers, opened the doors to 76 Catholic freshman boys in 1949 in an old house on Pitt Street in New Orleans
   
3. This week in Louisiana.
   Natchez Spring Pilgrimage
   Sunday, April 9 & following
   Venue information:
   Stanton Hall 401 High St. Natchez, MS 39120
   (601) 446-6631
   This spring, the city of Natchez, Mississippi will host a celebration of its rich local history with its annual Spring Pilgrimage—a rare opportunity for visitors to get an inside look at some of the most beautifully preserved antebellum mansions in the South. Nationally renowned for its dazzling collection of historic homes, Natchez hosts visitors from across the country each year for Pilgrimage programs, including special presentations, docent-led tours, theatrical performances, live music, and more.

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202. Emily Clark, part 2.

202. Part 2 of our interview with Emily Clark about her research on Ursuline nuns and free women of color. We finish interviewing Emily about her book, Masterless Mistresses: The New Orleans Ursulines and the Development of a New World Society, 1727-1834. Emily was the first secular historian allowed into the archives of the Ursuline convent in New Orleans.  She found a treasure trove of information about the early history of the Ursuline nuns and their work in New Orleans. We also talk to her about her book, The Strange History of the American Quadroon: Free Women of Color in the Revolutionary Atlantic World. The free women of color in New Orleans played a distinct role in New Orleans and American culture.

1. This week in Louisiana history. April 3, 1793. Pope Pius VI establishes the first Diocese of Louisiana and the Floridas.
2. This week in New Orleans history. Daniel Henry Holmes Establishes D.H. Holmes Department Store April 2, 1842.
   
3. This week in Louisiana.
   Lao New Year Celebration
   April 14th, 2017 - April 16th, 2017
   Lanexang Village
   7913 Champa Ave,
   Broussard, LA 70518
   337-364-3403
   Lanexang Village
   Lanexang Village celebrates the new year every Easter weekend with a three-day festival that includes live music, a beauty pageant, parades, sand castles building, kids activities, and several vendors selling clothes, jewelry, music an food from Southeast Asia.

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201. Emily Clark, part 1

201. Emily Clark, part 1. We interview Emily about her book, Masterless Mistresses: The New Orleans Ursulines and the Development of a New World Society, 1727-1834. Emily was the first secular historian allowed into the archives of the Ursuline convent in New Orleans.  She found a treasure trove of information about the early history of the Ursuline nuns and their work in New Orleans. We have the Ursuline Correspondence on our web site now.

1. This week in Louisiana history. April 1, 1718. Approx. date land began being cleared for city of New Orleans.
2. This week in New Orleans history. On March 8, 2011, MSY/New Orleans was one of eight cities given approval for charter flights to Cuba. Flights to Cuba have been scheduled on a very limited basis, with the first departure on March 26, 2012, operated by Sky King, Inc., charters and marketed by Cuba Travel USA. 
   
3. This week in Louisiana.
   Cajun Classique
   April 3rd, 2017 - April 9th, 2017
   Bayou Teche
   Berwick to Breaux Bridge,
   New Iberia, LA 70560
   337-366-0337
   Website
   Bayou Teche
   Leisurely classic wooden boat cruise down Bayou Teche with excursions in Franklin, New Iberia, St. Martinville and Breaux Bridge.

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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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