Mid-City Neighborhood Organization

Bayou Bicycles has re-opened at 3530 Toulouse Street (just behind the Post Office). Their business hours are 10a – 6p on Mon – Fri and 10a – 5p Saturday.

They sell & service bikes & accessories.

Visit their website: bayoubicycles.com

Mid-City Neighborhood Organization would like to thank Capital One for their generous support of the Mid-City library branch.

From the Capital One press release:
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The Mid-City branch of the New Orleans Public Library is now open at 330 N Carrollton (corner Conti).

The library’s hours are 10a.m. to 5 p.m. Mon. through Thursday and Saturday (closed Friday and Sunday).

The library’s Internet connectivity is still being worked on and will hopefully be connected soon. But meanwhile, stop in and check out our library! Sit and relax with some great books. DEFINITELY, bring your kids and let them enjoy the books in the children’s room. And don’t overlook one of the best resources in the library — the staff! — always feel free to ask them for help.

Update: Our new branch library is hosting its first children’s event this Thursday, June 21, at 10:30. Staff from the Louisiana Children’s Museum will involve kids in a story reading and craft. This is for young kids, age approx. 3-6.

For more information, call the library (483-7750).

Pass the word around to people with young kids!

Bayou Coffee House (326 N Jeff Davis Pkwy) re-opens today, Monday October 10th, 2006, at 7 AM. They’ve got an expanded menu and are now offering breakfast and lunch plus free wireless internet. Parking is available in the large rear lot on North Rendon.

Phone: 504-484-7390
Web: bayoucoffeehouse.com

Mark your calendar for their grand opening celebration November 4th.

Spumoni Fills a City’s Void, and Its Belly by Adam Nossiter.

Delayed by ten minutes, the crowd outside of Angelo Brocato’s Italian Ice Cream parlor didn’t seem to mind one bit. After all, what was another fraction of an hour compared to over a year?

The line wound up Carrollton street toward Canal continuing for a block, as soon-to-be customers waited in line for an hour and longer to see the Mid-City icon reopen its doors.

Mid-City residents were there, but so were people from the Northshore and a family from Memphis, who had planned their trip to New Orleans to visit their children around the Brocato’s opening.

Box after box of pastries made their way out the door, along with cups and cones of dripping Brocato’s gelato. In typical New Orleanian fashion, waiting customers didn’t envy those proceeding toward their vehicles. Instead, those in line reveled in those already possessing the Italian treats, cheering them on as each emerged from the air conditioned pastry/ice cream shop.

The shop itself is back to its remodeled self: tables back where they belong and along the dais in the back of the store where baked goods used to crowd glass display cases. Those cases are now next to the ice cream.

We are New Orleans. Why else would the opening of a small ice cream shop make such a big deal?

On this day, there were more smiles in Mid-City than have been seen in a long time.

According to Edward Bayer from RTA, work will soon begin at the Carrollton RTA Barn “on the six Riverfront cars, to be followed by the 24 Canal cars. The trucks and motors have to be changed out, along with some body work.” Thanks to Jeannette Thompson for forwarding this great news.

Liuzza’s on Bienville is now open.

Their hours are Tuesday thru Saturday 11 to 9.

Unfortunately, Gigi’s closed, but in its place there is a great neighborhood sandwich shop. Is-a’s is open daily 11AM until Midnight at Banks and S. Alexander, and they have fantastic po-boys. In fact, their catfish po-boy for $4.99 was the best I’ve ever had. Fries are a dollar more, and sodas are only 50 cents. Even better, get a beer at the Banks Street Bar next door and bring it inside. Also, they have boiled crawfish on Fridays.

Mid-City is coming back. Here’s further evidence:

I just had lunch at a new restaurant that’s opened in Mid-City. In fact, they just opened today. The place is called Minnie’s Catfish Corner, and they are serving the most delicious catfish this side of Middendorf’s.

They’re located at 3735 Ulloa St, on the corner of Tulane Ave. and S. Cortez. No phone, cash only. For more information and a full menu, check out their website at www.minniescatfishcorner.com.

Liuzza’s on Bienville is open again — well, just the bar. No food yet. They say the kitchen might open in a month. But you can stop by for a frosty mug of beer and some good fellowship from 4pm until late, Tuesday through Saturday. Cash only!

Play some Bob Marley on the jukebox for me.

Among the many, many parties this weekend, 5/5-7, two Mid-City favorites make temporary appearances. Katie’s restaurant makes a return Friday for a Cinco de Mayo party. That starts at 7pm.

Liuzzas on Bienville, the real Liuzzas, opens Saturday, 5/6 at 3pm for one night only. There will be a cash bar.

Stop by and show ‘em some love.

A Pandora’s snowcone and the return of the Canal Street streetcars. Not a bad way to spend a Sunday.

The Sav-A-Center on North Carrollton Ave announced its Grand Opening will be this Thursday, March 16th at 8 AM.

Check out this great interactive map by Alex Oliver that tracks Mid-City businesses as they re-open:

Hint: Click any of the markers on the map for more information. Note also that you can submit businesses that you know about.