Darling friends,

Another fabulous week has gone by in the beautiful City of New Orleans. Balmy, steamy weather greeted us as I went around attending all the fun events that included my Happy Hours - Toasting with Margarita with New Orleans Saints defensive back Mike McKenzie at Le Booze, and the well-attended 2nd Annual Cultural Collision, the unique event that brings together New Orleans' cultural organizations for a one of a kind happy hour designed to encourage participation and involvement in the New Orleans arts scene. I also served as one of the emcees for Carolina Gallop's annual fashion Show at the Blue Nile.

The Megaphone Marathons is a first ever comedy marathon that spans three cities and three weekends!  Last weekend was Dallas, this weekend one New Orleans and next Austin, Tx.  Full time comedy both local and touring acts will perform from 8p-2a straight, on Friday and Saturday at the Shadowbox Theatre. One pass ($10) gets you into every show that night.

This bout's Derby Crush is Tchoup'er! Not only is she one of my teammates, she is a rockstar on the track. She jams, she blocks, she wreaks havoc to the opposing team!

It is almost game day once again, in this fine city that I love! Yes, the Saints, but BERG as well! Saturday is the rematch for the Crescent Wenches against Red Stick Roller Derby. We have been busting our butts at practice; and strategizing for a big win.

New Orleans | Thursday, September 9, 2010:  The season opening TAILGATE & PARTY WITH A PURPOSE, presented by Mike McKenzie’s 34 Ways Foundation takes place in and around The Chicory at 600 S Peters St in New Orleans on September 9. The party starts at 3pm with an outdoor exhibition of hot rods from the World of Wheels and local brass band the Pinettes.  Old School 106.7 will keep the music pumping with a live broadcast 4-6pm. Mike McKenzie will be on hand for photos and autographs for ticketed guests.

Chris Owens to Perform at Teatro Wego

The Jefferson Performing Arts Society kicks off its new season in grand style when the “Queen of Bourbon Street Entertainment,” Chris Owens transports her act from the French Quarter to the Westwego Historic District on the weekend of September 10-12.

Hardly a day passes without a story about food trucks saving the world one Korean taco at a time or the byzantine bureaucracies stalling truck licenses in cities from Chicago to Jersey City to Miami. You know it’s a happening when the Food Network finally cashes in with "The Great Food Truck Race".

St. Roch's chapel, shrine and campo santo have long been favorite places of mine to visit and write about.  I devoted a web page to St. Roch's on my Old New Orleans site and I found that I'd accumulated so many vintage photos, it was impossible to include them all.  I had to edit over and over to keep the page down to a reasonable size.  If you've ever been to St. Roch's, you know what an intriguing place it is and what a unique atmosphere can be found there.

Jazz Great Roy Ayers Celebrates 70^th Birthday at Harrah’s Theater Friday

One of Roy Ayers’ earliest albums, “Virgo Vibes,” was released in 1967, paying tribute to both his instrument and the zodiac sign of his birthdate. Forty-three years later, the celebrated jazz vibraphonist/vocalist will be celebrating his 70^th Virgo birthday at Harrah’s Theater on Friday, September 10.

When I was just a little pest running around my parents feet, I wondered why we were off from school and why my Dad was not working on “Labor Day”.  Isn’t the word labor another word for work?  I still have that question each time the holiday rolls around.  Until writing this it had not occurred to me to just google it.