Mid-City Neighborhood Organization

What: The Preservation Resource Center’s Renovation Happy Hour
Home of : Will and Donna Tregre
Address: 4419 St. Ann (near City Park/Orleans Ave)
Time: 5:30-7:00pm (informal talk to begin at 6pm)
Cost: $5, includes refreshments

On Thursday, June 26th the popular PRC program, Renovator’s Happy Hour will feature a Mid-City Home near City Park. Husband and wife, Will and Donna Tregre, an architect and interior designer, respectively, will open their renovation in progress for viewing and an informal discussion. They have done a wonderful job maintaining the historic integrity of the house, but have updated it for modern living. A $5 admission will benefit the PRC and includes refreshments. Socializing begins at 5:30pm, with a loose presentation to begin at 6pm.

Mid City Housing Fair – May 18 noon-5pm
Map of stops available at the three major tour stops and HERE

(A printable map with all stops on one page will be posted Sunday morning and copies will be available at all major tour stops.)

This Sunday, Mid City will open its houses and its hearts to welcome New Orleans residents and visitors who wish to see the progress in Mid City and learn about its attractive housing and renovation opportunities. At all three major stops, visitors can obtain a copy of the map, as well as information about the benefits of renovating an historic home and flyers listing housing and renovation-related vendors and homes for sale in Mid City (not offering Open Houses).

Doggy Dog World Dog Daycare will give half-off daycare that day to anyone presenting a copy of the map. Ruby Slipper and Bayou Coffeehouse (both listed on the map) are offering food and drink specials.

Major tour stops are:

636 S. Alexander Street
326 N. Jeff Davis Pkwy (Bayou Coffeehouse)
3438 Cleveland Street

Press release follows.
(more…)

If you have a home related business, here is an opportunity to promote it to the community and potential customers. Also if you have a restaurant or beverage outlet, you too can participate. See details below. Deadline to participate is near. Lynn McLean–Member MCNO Economic Development Committee

FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION
Monday, April 28, 2008
Contact housing@mcno.org

Mid-City Neighborhood to Hold
Housing and Renovation Fair and Tour

May 18, 11-4pm

New Orleans, Louisiana – On Sunday, May 18, from 11-4pm, a Spring Housing and Renovation Fair and Tour will take place in the Mid City Neighborhood. The tour, designed to promote the Mid City Neighborhood as an attractive place to become a homeowner, will have numerous stops hosting special events, informational activities, and instructional demonstrations. Visitors will be able to pick up maps of all tour locations at participating destinations.

The Mid City Neighborhood Organization (MCNO), which is helping to coordinate the event, is currently seeking companies and individuals to participate. The only requirements for application are that participants must either live or have a business in Mid-City and the activity or information offered must be home-related. Restaurants or beverage outlets that wish to offer a related special that day can also receive mention on the map.

Companies outside Mid-City that do a substantial portion of their work in the area will be considered as well. However, participation is limited and all applicants may not be accepted.

If participants have a location where they can hold some sort of event, they will be included on the map. If they wish to provide information only, they can bring a table and set up at one the stops on the tour or optionally, have their name and address listed in a vendor directory.

Types of events/participants sought include:

• Open houses of ready-to-sell properties;
• Individuals or companies who are engaged in renovations of historic homes and would let visitors see what a “renovation in progress” looks like;
• Craftsmen and other construction professionals who talk about or demonstrate their trades. Craftsmen with knowledge of the historic building trades are especially welcome;
• Companies that sell building materials or build/manufacture homes with an historic flavor.

Participants are not required to serve refreshments or give away prizes, but these types of value-added activities will increase visitorship.

The Preservation Resource Center, MCNO, Domain Companies, and numerous housing-related professionals have already committed to participate. If you are interested in participating, please email housing@mcno.org as soon as possible, as the remaining available tour stops should fill this week.

About The Mid-City Neighborhood Organization (MCNO)

MCNO is dedicated to making its neighborhood a rewarding place to live, work and raise a family. For more information about MCNO, including additional community-oriented events and membership information, please visit www.mcno.org.

EDEN FEST: A Celebration of the Earth in the Arts, takes place this Saturday, April 19th, 12 - 5 p.m., @ 3401 Canal, at corner of Canal and Jeff. Davis Parkway, on the Canal streetcar line.

Co-organized by First Grace United Methodist Church and The Neighborhood Gallery. There will be an art gallery showing by Neighborhood Gallery artists, info. tables from Ecological Organizations, Musical, Dance and Poetry performances, including music by Fredy Omar con su banda, Crafts-people, Good Food and MUCH Family Fun (including a space walk and activities for children!).

Come on out to EDEN FEST this Saturday afternoon to celebrate the Earth in the Arts!

Contact people: Anne Daniell 504-872-9970, Jennie Hammatt-Milchenko 504-919-6706, Sandra Berry, Director, The Neighborhood Gallery 504-861-7792

MID-CITY LIBRARY FEST!!!
Sat., April 5, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
At our branch library (330 N. Carrollton, at Conti St.)

EVENTS: Crawfish boil & BBQ, Musical groups, Storyteller, Hornets bookmobile giving away kids’ books, Trivia games for all ages, Activities for kids, Booksale, Raffle items … (more details later)

Attendance at the Fest is free, with tickets sold for food, drink, and some of the activities.

This event is to raise funds for our Mid-City branch library (part of the New Orleans Public Library system)

ADD TO YOUR CALENDAR NOW — COME AND JOIN IN THE FUN ON APRIL 5th!!

OK, now that you’ve got the event on your calendar, please think about volunteering! We need help in all areas: serving food & drinks, help with kids’ activities, ticket sales, used booksale & raffles… Two-hour shifts are available (11-1, 1-3, 3-5) as well as help with setup and cleanup. Free food & drink will be provided for each shift worked. To sign up to volunteer, please contact: Stephanie Martin redstick49 [at] cox [dot] net.

Voodoo Fest has provided a hotline number for neighbors to call to report nuisance issues associated with the Voodoo Fest this weekend. The number will be manned 24 hours for the 3 days of the Festival (starting today).

The number to call is 504.658.8100

This should be used to report illegal parking, blocked driveways, and other nuisance activities (noise, litter).

As always, if there is an emergency crime issue, call 911.

Additionally, the festival organizers have agreed to expand their trash pickup to include City Park Avenue and the bayou, and will have crews that will be dedicated to those areas.

Come out and enjoy some neighborhood fun next Friday night! This is sent on behalf of The Bayou Boogaloo festival organizers:

The Mid-City Bayou Boogaloo Festival is a free music festival, held each Spring on the banks of Bayou St. John. In order to keep the festival FREE, a fundraiser will be held on Friday November 2nd @ 7pm, at Studio 3 ( 3610 Toulouse St behind the American Can).

The fundraiser is themed around the Mexican festival “Día de los Muertos” (Day of the Dead), and will celebrate with Mexican food and drinks, live music and a festival atmosphere. Current food donors include Juan’s Flying Burrito, and Tacqueria Guerrero. Admission is $40 per person, $75 per couple, and $300 to reserve a table for ten.

Online ticket purchase should be available in the next couple of days. For now, mark your calendars, line up your babysitters, tell your friends!

This press release was sent to us by Kaye Florane:

CITY PARK’S BIG BASS FISHING RODEO & FISHTIVAL

We’re coming’ back too! Yep, March 29th, 2008 will mark the return of City Park’s Big Bass Rodeo and Fishtival. This traditional and long-standing rodeo of 61 years will include a competitive fishing rodeo, food, music, educational exhibits, raffles with tons of fishing tackle prizes, silent auctions, Mardi Gras toss of fishing tackle items for kids and much more. We invite adults, children and groups to come on over and fish the rodeo. Since Hurricane Katrina’s devastating blow to City Park, numerous restorative efforts such as new pumps, a fresh water well and fish restockings by La. Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries has once again made fishing a viable sport in the Park.

As we resurrect the Big Bass Rodeo and Fishtival, we need your help. We lost everything in the hurricane, fishing poles, gift prizes, weighing scales, you name it. Your tax-deductible donation will support this event and help the park continue making improvements for fishing and other recreational activities. We also offer several underwriting packages for businesses.

Donations can be made online at:
neworleanscitypark.com/donate.html (Be sure to type in or select “fishing rodeo” to dedicate funds to the rodeo. If you would like more information about donating or sponsorship, please contact Kaye Florane, Rodeo Chairman at rkflorane@cox.net.

Come on out and catch a good time (and fish)!

Mid-City Neighborhood Organization is co-sponsoring a candidate forum for the upcoming City Council At-Large election.

Date: Thursday, October 4, 2007
Time: 7:00pm
Location: Nunemaker Auditorium, 3rd Floor, Monroe Hall, Loyola University
Free parking available in the West Road Parking Garage (enter from St. Charles Ave.)
Click here to download a PDF map of Loyola Campus

Moderator: Lee Zurik, Anchor/Reporter WWL-TV

Mid-City Neighborhood Organization is co-sponsoring this event with a lot of other groups.

Tuesday, August 7, is the National Night Out. In Mid-City we know of at least four events. You’ll want to consult our zone map to make sense of these locations.

• Zone A - Mid City Yacht Club (440 S. St. Patrick) will host a Zone-wide event. St. Patrick Park is across the street so feel free to bring the kids and dogs. They will have a grill and will be cooking hot-dogs. If anyone would like to bring a side dish it would be appreciated. Contact MJ Sauer for more information mj@urbanvisionproperties.com 504-251-3045 cell
• Zone B - 200 Block of South Alexander will host a Zone-Wide event - Potluck - Contact cbgannon@bellsouth.net for more information
• Zone B - Intersection of S. St. Patrick & Palmyra for surrounding blocks - Potluck - Contact booliebumpskie@yahoo.com for more information
• Zone D - Hosted by Ms. Alene Peake, 6:30 pm 4501 Toulouse St. (Corner of N. Murat)
• Zone G - 200 Block of South Pierce Street will host a Zone-Wide event - Potluck - Contact vbviolet@aol.com for more information
• Zone M - Parkway Bakery & Tavern will host a Zone-wide event

If you are planning an event please let us know by posting a comment.

MCNO BBQ 070207

Originally uploaded by dougjoubert

Over 300 hamburgers and 100 hot dogs after things started, most neighbors who attended the Mid-City Neighborhood Organization BBQ on July 2 enjoyed a great evening of food, fun, and music.

The event, sponsored by MCNO, was free and open to Mid-City residents, attracting police and fireman, politicos, neighbors, and the occasional drop-in. A huge thanks go to those involved in the planning and coordination of the event, especially Dawn Loebig.

The BBQ took the place of the regular monthly meeting of MCNO. The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, August 6 at Grace Episcopal Church.

We’re having a big community BBQ and you’re invited!

July 2, 2007 at 6:30 PM
Grace Episcopal Church, 3700 Canal Street

We’ve been having community meetings on the first Monday of each month for quite some time now. We thought it would be a nice change of pace to have a cookout this time and not talk about the big serious issues that usually occupy us these days. We hope this will also bring out some new folks.

If you are interested in helping to organize the event, please contact Dawn Loebig at 504-495-7904.

We will also be organizing a flyer campaign to help promote this event. Stay tuned.

For tickets contact Jeannette Thompson (377-9519) or Michael Homan (377-7284)

From our friends at Silence Is Violence:

SilenceIsViolence an anti-violence campaign City Walk #3: Mid-City to Gert Town Sunday, April 15, 7pm SilenceIsViolence City Walks are weekly evening strolls from one New Orleans neighborhood to another. The walks take place each Sunday evening and are intended to establish a positive, sustainable anti-violence presence in our neighborhoods. We walk 1-2 miles each week and hold a small reception at our destination establishment. Transportation is provided back to the departure establishment.

City Walk #3 will take place on Sunday, April 15, departing at 7pm sharp!

START: Parkway Bakery and Tavern, 532 Hagan Ave. at Bayou St. John. Proceed up Jeff. Davis Pkwy. to Tulane Ave. Walk across the overpass; at the bottom, turn RIGHT onto Drexel Dr. Walk across Xavier University campus on Drexel Dr. Turn LEFT onto the last footbridge and cross the canal. Cross Washington Ave. and continue straight on Pine St. Turn RIGHT onto Stonelitz and LEFT onto Short St. Continue up Short St. to Earhart; cross Earhart to Daquiri Island.

STOP: Daquiri Island, 7908 Earhart Blvd. (2 miles total) Reception with music by the Soul Rebels Brass Band. Transportation will be provided back to Parkway between 8 and 9pm

Join Stay Local! and Mid-City residents and business owners at recently re-opened Venezia Restaurant near the corner of N. Carrollton and Canal St. to celebrate the release of Stay Local’s First Neighborhood Guide & Map. Giveaways and coupons for special offers from local area businesses, and entertainment by local “mostly girl vintage jazz band” Some Like it Hot are just part of the fun.

[Read the Press Release]

Grand Opening!

Come celebrate Common Ground’s new location in Mid-City.

Saturday, March 3, 2007
215 N Jefferson Davis Parkway
Open House 2 to 6 pm

Featuring food and music

Common Ground’s Mid-City location offers free faxing, phone, copying, and internet, plus a free legal clinic and computer repair.

Call 504-483-2145 for more info.

For more details please see hikeforkatreena.com.

KaTREEna Fundraiser
March 9, 6pm-9pm
Sip Wine Bar
3119 Magazine St.

Please join us!
Drinks provided by Sip.
Food courtesy of Commander’s Palace.
Silent Auction. Raffle.

Bring your money and your friends, and join your fellow NOLA lovers, tree huggers and planters.

MCNO Members, Residents & Friends:

Please attend our next neighborhood-wide meeting on Mon Feb 5, 6:30 to 8pm at Grace Episcopal Church, 3700 Canal Street. I challenge each of you to tell at least 2 neighbors about this meeting so we can spread the word and increase involvement.

Our current agenda includes:

• Brief Introduction of all Committee Chairs
• Final results of our Community Center wish list to provide to DNA Creative Media
• Update on Crime from our 1st & 3rd District Captains
• Introduction to the 94th Congressional District Candidates

If there is any additional item that you feel should be covered, please leave a comment!

Finally, a few persons have expressed a need for babysitting in order to attend the meetings. Please contact me if you need babysitting in order to attend. Include the number of kids & their ages. I will try to have some volunteers if a need is expressed.

Mid-City is organizing to start our march against violence beginning from Helen Hill’s home at 3438 Cleveland Avenue. The details follow. We will meet the larger group, which is starting at the Aquarium, at City Hall.

Please invite all neighbors, friends, business owners & employees to join us in this effort.

• What: March Against Violence
• When: Thursday January 11
  Meet between 10:30 and 10:45am
  March at 11:00am
• Where: 3438 Cleveland Avenue (corner of S. Clark)
  March to City Hall

Feel free to join us along the route. [map] or meet us at City Hall at noon.

This march is not just about Helen Hill. It is about all of us.

• Wear a white shirt
• Carry a photo or sign with name of anyone in your life who has been a victim of violent crime.

Questions? Contact MJ Sauer mjcs [at] bellsouth [period] net or Bart Everson at 812-391-0818

It would be great if Central City would march in from one direction, Uptown / Garden District from another, Algiers yet another etc., all converging on City Hall. If your neighborhood can’t put an individual march together, please join in the march from the aquarium, but bring signs representing your neighborhood.

Update: Here is a flyer you can print out. (It is a 1MB PDF.) Remember most people in Mid-City don’t look at this website. Please print out this flyer and make sure everyone on your block sees it!

Update #2: Here is a Spanish version of the flyer. (Thanks to the Molinas for translating.) Please print it out for your Spanish-speaking neighbors!

We’re pleased to share the following press release from the Phunny Phorty Phellows.

Phunny Phorty Phellows To Take Different Streetcar Route to Announce Start of 2007 Carnival Season

The Heralds of Carnival !!!!!

With Endymion having been once again been assigned to the St. Charles Avenue route, the Phunny Phorty Phellows will provide the only organized Carnival activity along the traditional Canal Street route this year.

[Note: The final decision on Endymion has not yet been made. -- Editor]

Because the Phellows’ traditional St. Charles streetcar path is still undergoing repair, the group will break precedent this Saturday Night January 6 and begin their ride on N. Carrollton near City Park.

The costumed and masked krewe will assemble on the neutral ground in front of City Park (at North Carrollton next to Beaureguard Circle) at 6:30pm and will board the streetcar at 7pm sharp.

“We are so pleased to be riding through Historic Mid-City.” states the Captain of the Phellows. ” We’ll proceed down Carrollton, turn left on Canal Street, arrive at the Mississippi Riverfront terminus and retrace the route, ending back at City Park. Mid-City is a neighborhood that is working very hard to bounce back from Katrina and we applaud the progress its residents are making. We also appreciate the cooperation of the Regional Transit Authority in this endeavor. Many folks may not realize that the RTA headquarters is located in Mid-City.”

The Phellows will be accompanied by the Storyville Stompers Brass Band.

The Phellows are an historic Mardi Gras organization that first took to the streets 1878 through 1898. They were known for their satirical parades and today’s krewe members’ costumes often reflect topical themes. The group was revived in 1981.

One Carnival historian has referred to the organization as the “Dessert of Carnival.”