January 8 marks a day every year when proud, patriotic New Orleanians force themselves out of their city bubble and trek to nearby Chalmette to celebrate the anniversary of the famed Battle of New Orleans. Cannon and musket firings, military drills, craft and cooking demonstrations relevant to the year 1815 will be taking place at Chalmette Battlefield ini the Jean Lafitte aAtional Historical Park and Preserve, which should be just as exciting this year as it was the last. For history geeks like me, this is a must-see, especially since we city folk aren't often drawn out of our neighborhoods. Chalmette Monument stands tall and proud near a crecreation of an American rampart, and the new 18-pounder cannon replica stands as one of the event's most recent acquisitions.
The beautiful French-Louisiana style Malus-Beauregard House is unfortunately closed for repairs, but the Chalmette National Cemetery is still open to the public.
Although this event is scheduled for Thursday this year, it's definitely worth checking out a piece of New Orleans history. After all, how often does red, white, and blue stand for American in this quaint French-influenced city? Just twice a year, by my count.
If you haven't made your New Year's Eve plans yet, no worries! Courtesy of Where Y'at Magazine, here's a rundown on all the possibilities open to you tomorrow.
Cheers!
Kid's New Year's Eve Celebration
Louisiana Children's Museum, 420 Julia St., 523-1357, Tickets: $10, 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
The family can ring in 2009 with fun arts and crafts, the coolest kids' countdown at noon, complete with confetti throw, balloon launch and noisemakers, along with music from Baby Boyz Brass Band and Guyland Leday and Family Friends
Noon Year's Eve at Audubon Zoo
Audubon Zoo, 6500 Magazine St., 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
This special event features featuring EVERLIFE and is hosted by Radio Disney. Admission to event is included in regular zoo admission price.
City Park Presents "Pop the Cork" New Year's Eve Dinner Dance
Botanical Garden-Pavilion of the Two Sisters, 483.9376,
Tickets $125 Per Person - Semi formal attire
This annual event includes a dinner buffet by City Park Catering, music, dancing and an open bar.
New Year's Eve at the Riverview Room- "Times Square of the South"
Riverview Room, Jackson Brewery, 9 p.m. -1a.m. Cocktail Attire/Black Tie Optional
Tickets: $160 per person Inclusive, Call 504-525-3000 to make your reservation
Enjoy a full buffet dinner featuring petit filet, trout almandine and roasted breast of chicken, premium open bar throughout the party, dancing to the fabulous party sounds of The Top Cats, Champagne, Party Favors, and an indoor and outdoor view of the riverfront crowds, countdown, ball drop and gala fireworks display over the river at midnight.
New Year's Eve Extravaganza on the Natchez
Boarding begins at 9:30PM Cruise Time: 10:30PM-12:30AM
Tickets: $175, Reservations Required, Holiday Attire
Enjoy great food, good spirits, dancing to a renown local band "IVY", premium bar, champagne toast, complimentary gift, party favors, and the very best seat in town for the community-sponsored midnight Fireworks Show.
New Year's Eve Fireworks Cruise on the Paddlewheeler Creole Queen
RiverWalk Dock (next to N.O. Hilton Riverside Hilton Hotel), 10PM-1AM
Cruising Time: 11pm-1am Tickets: Adult: $119, Child (6-12): $89
Enjoy the "Best Seat in the House" during the New Orleans Fireworks Celebration and cruise with a breathtaking view of the Magnificent Midnight Fireworks Show over the Mississippi River including a dessert buffet, finger foods, open call brand bar, DJ entertainment, champagne toast and festive party favors.
Celebrate New Year's Eve with Better Than Ezra featuring Graham Colton
House of Blues, 225 Decatur St., 529-BLUE Tickets: $100
Enjoy an open bar with music from New Orleans' very own BTE!
Celebrate New Year's Eve 2008 at Coyote Ugly Saloon
225 N. Peters St., 561-0003
Drink all night for only $50 in advance, $75 at the door, and celebrate the festivities.
Chris Owens Club and Balcony New Year's Party
500 Bourbon St., 722.9343 Tickets: $35
Enjoy an evening of live music, Chris Owens Show, 1 cocktail, buffet dinner, and champagne toast.
Toast of the Nation-National Public Radio's live New Year's Eve Broadcast with
Evan Christopher & Tom McDermott's Danza Quartet with Shannon Powell and Matt Perrine
Donna's Bar & Grill, 800 N. Rampart St.
Doors open at 8:30pm and music will start at 9:30pm
Advance purchase tickets for $60 include reserved seating for the live broadcast, two free drinks, champagne toast, and a midnight buffet from Chef Charlie Sims.
Metropolitan Nightclub New Year's Extravaganza
Metro 310 Andrew Higgins Dr. 504 568 1700
This year the Metro's party has a $1000 balloon drop, 2nd floor for VIP, 3 rooms-2 floors featuring DJ Supra Las Vegas, Kemistry and Digital. For reservations call 810-8471
New Years 1st Year Anniversary Celebration
Hostel 329 Decatur St. 504 587 0036
Celebrate New Year?s with champagne at midnight, and resident DJ Javier Drada.
A Funky New Year's Eve
The Howlin' Wolf, 907 S. Peters St., 522-WOLF Tickets: $60-$70 with Open Bar
Celebrate New Year's as The Howlin' Wolf 20th Anniversary Series presents Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk and Papa Grows Funk.
Ampersand's New Year's Eve Bash
1100 Tulane Ave., 587-3737 Tickets: $35
Celebrate with 2 rooms of music featuring Baby Anne, Charles Feelgood, Kares, DJ Trashy & Skyhi, Wyldchile & Marshall Monica, with complimentary hors d'oeuvers, champagne toast and ball drop on projection screen at midnight.
New Year's Eve at Kerry's
Kerry's Irish Pub, 331 Decatur St. 286-5862
Celebrate New Year's with the music of Jesse Moore & Don Williams at 5 p.m. and Rites Of Passage at 9 p.m.
Wine Down Wednesday New Year's Eve
OHM, 135 St. Charles Ave. 587-1330
Start the party off early with FREE Wine tasting, complimentary snacks, and drink specials from 5-7 p.m.
New Year's Eve at Visions
Visions Mens Club, 4000 Downman Rd., 240-0069
Visions will celebrate New Year's with special, food, noisemakers, party hats, and champagne to get you popping through the New Year. The party goes from 11-til.
A Jazzy New Year's Eve
Snug Harbor, 626 Frenchman St., 949-0696
Spend New Year's Eve with Astral Project and choose from two special shows at 8 or 10 p.m.
New Year's Eve Bash
Bank St. Bar, 4401 Banks St., 486-0258
The Unnaturals, Johnny J. and the Hitmen, 10pm - No cover.
Blue Nile's New Year's Eve Bash
Blue Nile 532 Frenchmen, 948-BLUE
Celebrate New Year's at the Nile with music from PokitTyme, along with Topaz and Mudphonic at 10 p.m.
Resolution Ball featuring Big Sam's Funky Nation
Republic NO, 828 South Peters St. 528-8282 Tickets: $50, Limited VIP
Make a funky New Year's Resolution this year and keep it with Big Sam's Funky Nation and Republic's own Damion Yancy and DJ Jive ringing in 2009 at midnight with a champagne toast and visual DJ / LED light display. From 9pm-1am, enjoy complimentary Ciroc Vodka cocktails and champagne.
New Year's Eve with Galactic featuring Preservation Hall Jazz Band
Tipitina's, 501 Napoleon Ave. 895-TIPS Tickets: $25, $125 VIP
Galactic hits Tipitina's to perform at their annual New Year's Eve Show featuring New Orleans' very own Preservation Hall Jazz Band. VIP Tickets include an open bar, buffet, signed posters, and a special meet and greet with the band.
Barely Legal University New Year's Eve Balcony Party
423 Bourbon St., 571.6340
Hustler Club New Year's Eve Balcony Party
225 Bourbon St., 524.0010
New Year's Eve Bash at Balcony Music Club
Balcony Music Club, 504 Esplanade Ave., 599-7770
Finn's New Year's Eve Bash
3701 Banks St. 486-9080
Celebrate New Year's Eve at Copeland's Social City Restaurant & Martini Lounge
Copeland's Social City Restaurant & Martini Lounge, 701 Veterans Blvd., 831-3437
Enjoy the Fleur de Lis band, champagne and party favors with no cover.
New Year's Eve at The Westin
The Westin New Orleans Canal Place, 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Tickets: $160, 553-5100 Cocktail Attire
Join the biggest party including a premium bar, private martini bar, a gourmet dinner buffet, and entertainment by the Leroy Jones Quartet featuring Amanda Shaw.
Helix Restaurant & Wine Bar New Year's Eve Celebration
Helix Restaurant & Wine Bar, 936 St. Charles Ave., 962-0903
Enjoy Moet & Chandon Champagne and half priced bottles of White Star, 5 p.m.- til.
Twist of Lime's New Year's Eve Party
Twist of Lime, 2820 Lime St., 455-7775
Featuring a performance by Slang Angus and a champagne toast with drink specials and FREE Food served all night.
McGuire's New Year's Eve Pub & Venue Grand Opening New Year's Eve Southern Blowout!
McGuire's Pub & Venue, 869 Magazine St., 267-7322 Tickets: $30
Enjoy the first drink on the house, free champagne toast featuring Straight Fork, LaidLaw, and the Robert Fortune Band.
Balcony Music Club New Year's Eve
Balcony Music Club,
Enjoy a New Year's Eve musical celebration with Russel Batiste
Monkey Hill Bar Presents A New Year's Eve Bash with Anders Osborne
Monkey Hill Bar, 6100 Magazine, 899-4800, Tickets:$75, 10p.m.
Enjoy an evening of great music from Anders Osborne and an open bar.
Tropical Isle New Year's Eve Bash
Tropical Isle, 600 Bourbon St., 529-1728
Enjoy a champagne toast and live music while celebrating New Year's Eve on Bourbon St.
Normally after a holiday, there's that depressing space of time where it all just seems downhill. You've eaten too much, drank too much, and spent way too much time with your family, but had a great time when all is said and done. It's always sad to wind down ... except after Christmas. Now that that big holiday is over, we've got another one to turn our bright faces towards, a nondenominational holiday that everyone looks to with excitement -- New Year's!
Jackson Square, as always, will be the focal point of the festivities this year as we usher out the old year and welcome the new one, and the crowds promise to be just as big as ever, poor economy notwithstanding. The traditions that draw these huge numbers includes floating bonfires lazily drifting down the Mississippi River, a Baby Bacchus drop (instead of the normal ball drop they have in New York City) from the top of the iconic Jax Brewery, and a stunning display of fireworks over the water. The revelry has no exact end time, but I'll keep y'all posted on the schedule!
As we all know, this is now the home stretch; the countdown doesn't begin December 31, it begins NOW.
If you haven't yet gotten Christmas caroling out of your system, the Banks Street Bar & Grill is giving everyone a last opportunity to bellow your hearts out with the Holiday Sing-Along! Starting at 9 pm, this live music venue will be showcasing the talent of yourself and your friends this Christmas Day, and lucky for y'all, it falls on a Thursday. Everyone knows that Thursdays mean free oysters after 10 pm, and Mondays equate free red beans and rice. So eat, drink, be merry, and sing without shame! 'Tis still the season.
Merry Christmas again, y'all!
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Tujague's
823 Decatur St, New Orleans, LA, Un...
I'm spending Christmas with my family in New York this year, but I don't feel far from my New Orleans home. Which may sound really strange ... but let me explain.
There's a particular accent here that A.J. Liebling identified in his book The Earl of Louisiana as a "New Orleans city accent ... that is hard to distinguish from the accent of Hoboken, Jersey City, and Astoria, Long Island, where the Al Smith inflection, extinct in Manhattan, has taken refuge." Now, mind you, the accent is not Cajun whatsoever, as many people assume, but straight up "Y'at." It is also unrelated to Creole culture, but has become such a large part of New Orleanian lexicon, with the use of "all right" as a greeting and an answer, the famous beignet, ordering food "dressed" with lettuce, mayo, tomatoes, and pickles, the "mosquito hawk" dragonfly, parish, po-boy, praline, snowball, the chant for the New Orleans Saints ("Who dat?!"), and the use of a "throw cup," a plastic cup usually obtained from floats during Mardi Gras season embellished with krewe names and commemmorated with the year. In fact, the origin of the name of the entertainment magazine I'm the food editor for employs the use of a popular slang phrase in its name: Where Y'at Magazine.
This accent is celebrated in an entire Christmas album recorded by Benny Grunch and the Bunch, with a fun and now famous song called the "12 Yats of Christmas," played on the news every year, which I am sharing with you this Christmas Eve. Please, do enjoy with me, wherever y'at this holiday season.