the "official" dish ...from 14 ence, and also represents the year-round philanthropic work tion at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland the Academy does,” said Academy CEO Dawn Hudson. “This Center® in Hollywood. charities to support official Oscar Night February we are thrilled to be able to celebrate the movies with New Orleans guests may feel like stars themselves viewing parties throughout the country. fans nationwide while supporting charities around the country.” as they walk down the red carpet through a throng of “Oscar night is an event meant to Oscar Night parties last year raised more than $3.5 million paparazzi and dine on delicious food crafted by Gusto’s be a shared with others. This network in 51 cities. All money raised stays in the local community. The Chef Adolfo Garcia. Patrons will enjoy live entertain- of fundraising parties across the nation Academy will provide party guests in New Orleans the same ment by Becky Allen and Marshall Harris at Morton’s is a natural extension of that experi- official program distributed to guests at the Oscarâ presenta- The Steakhouse. ”Oscar Night generates excitement all over the world,” said Kay Wilkins, American Red Cross Southeast Louisiana Chapter CEO. “With the Academy’s help, our guests will feel like they are on the A-list.” More information on Oscar Night® New Orleans and online tickets are available www.arcno.org. 29th French Quarter Fest to Deliver New Kinds of Fun for Festivalgoers ourism officials call French Quarter Festival ‘the kickoff to festival season in New Or- Tleans,’ and what started as a neighborhood festival and a ‘locals event’ has grown into one of the largest music festivals in the United States. The 2011 French Quarter Festival hosted over 500,000 local and out-of-town visitors and had an economic impact of over $245 million. ‘Locals’ Lagniappe Day’ was launched in 2011 and French Quarter Festival officially became a four-day event. In 2012, there is even more festival to enjoy, with extended hours on opening day, Thursday, April 12. And, next year brings the 30th anniversary of this exciting and beloved festival On twenty (of its twenty-one) music stages, only Louisiana artists are featured (the festival hosts one ‘International Stage’ where traditional jazz bands from all over the world perform.) Part of the great appeal of French Quarter Festival is that attendees get a true and authentic New Orleans experience - locals and visitors [continued on 18]
16 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • Feb. 14-27, 2012 • Official Gay Mardi Gras Guide • GayMardiGras.COM GayNewOrleans.COM • SouthernDecadence.COM • Feb. 14-27, 2012 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • 17 the "official" dish ...from 16
can hear a broad range of artists and a diverse variety of musical styles and 1021 W. Judge Perez genres. French Quarter Festival is com- Chalmette, LA 70043 mitted to keeping Traditional Jazz alive, and features New Orleans’ finest art- • Free Prescription Delivery ists throughout the four days of festival, • Direct Billing to on stages all over the French Quarter. Medicaid/Medicare A new music stage has been added in • Private Insurance & 2012, bringing the total to twenty-one. A Cabaret Stage debuts at this year’s Third-Party Payers festival and will have its home at the • Billing Assistance beautifully renovated Carousel Bar at • Competitive Pricing the Hotel Monteleone.The Hotel • Confidential, Personal, Monteleone is a sponsor of the festival Professional Service and its ‘official hotel’. French Quarter Festivals, Inc. re- cently launched the Musician Sponsor- 504.279.6312 ship Program, in which the community 24 Hour Beeper: was invited to ‘adopt an artist’ at French 504.259.8061 Quarter Festival. The response has A proven community been incredible and corporations, foun- dations and individuals from all over leader in value and the United States - from Minneapolis to customer service! Maryland - have joined the program and are helping to keep French Quar- • We Deliver or ship to ter Festival FREE for the community, your home/office as it remains one of the largest music • We Accept festivals in the United States. The 2012 French Quarter Festival will feature Medicaid/Medicare over 800 local artists. The musician program will continue to seek sponsor- Rodney Culotta, RPh ships. The festival has added a full, fourth OPEN day - dubbed ‘Locals’ Lagniappe Day.’ 9am-5pm Mon.-Fri. The festival opens Thursday, April 12 9am-12noon Sat.. from 11am until 7pm in Jackson Square (one stage) and Woldenberg Riverfront Park, with four stages. New Orleans’ day, April 14. Local fireworks producer finest restaurants – otherwise known Pyrotecnico will produce the show for as ‘The World’s Largest Jazz Brunch’ French Quarter Festivals, Inc. will be serving classic New Orleans In 2011, New Orleans food critic, dishes throughout the festival. radio host, and author – Tom Fitzmorris In partnership with Applitite, the – called French Quarter Festival’s French Quarter Festival iPhone App is World’s Largest Jazz Brunch one of back, along with a new DROID App – the top three food events in New Or- and this year it is FREE, courtesy of leans (the other two are the New Or- Capital One Bank. Fans can receive leans Wine and Food Experience and up to the minute announcements, FQFI’s Reveillon menus). In recogni- downloadable music schedules, com- tion of the major food event that the plete menus, special events, merchan- festival has become, local award-win- dise updates, shuttle information and ning author Kit Wohl tipped her hat by unique offers to enhance their festival doing a special edition of her new book experience. The application will be New Orleans Classic Brunches es- available for download in March, prior pecially for French Quarter Festival. In to French Quarter Festival. the book, Wohl features Jazz Brunch The Capital One Bank Second Line restaurants - with beloved local reci- Shuttle is growing with the French pes, cocktails and lore. The special- Quarter Festival audience! A sixth bus edition signed and numbered book will will be added to help transport local be on sale at French Quarter Festival. fans to the festival Friday through Sun- A portion of the sales will benefit the day. Parking will be offered in the Cen- non-profit French Quarter Festivals, tral Business District along O’Keefe Inc. Street for just $10 per day and the The ever-popular Children’s Head- Hermann-Grima House is one of the ing partnership with Chevron, Tulane shuttle ride is FREE, courtesy of Capi- quarters will be expanded for 2012. most significant residences in New Or- Hospital for Children and the New Or- tal One Bank. Festival-goers can enjoy two com- leans. Its courtyard garden boasts the leans Jazz National Historic Park. An- Fireworks are back! 2012 brings pletely different family fun experiences only horse stable and functional 1830s choring the riverfront Children’s Head- the return of the beloved fireworks dis- on Saturday and Sunday: The newest outdoor kitchen in the French Quarter. quarters is a Kids’ Performance Tent play on the Mississippi River – last addition is the beautiful courtyard of The outdoor hearth kitchen, with its with live music. seen at French Quarter Festival in April the Hermann-Grima House, located at view of the antique roses, citrus and French Quarter Festivals, Inc. 2005 (pre-Katrina). This major spon- 820 St. Louis Street. Major local muse- parterre gardens, provides a dynamic works closely with New Orleans Police sorship is courtesy of Tropical Isle, a ums will offer fascinating and fun hands- experience for visitors. Families can and a private security company (FESS, long time participant and friend of on activities. In addition, young visitors also enjoy a riverfront kids area at the Inc.) to ensure that visitors have a safe will learn how to churn butter, tend a Audubon Aquarium Riverfront Plaza, French Quarter Festival. The elabo- [continued on 21] rate show will begin at 9pm on Satur- garden, and more. Built in 1831, made possible in part through an excit- 18 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • Feb. 14-27, 2012 • Official Gay Mardi Gras Guide • GayMardiGras.COM GayNewOrleans.COM • SouthernDecadence.COM • Feb. 14-27, 2012 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • 19 20 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • Feb. 14-27, 2012 • Official Gay Mardi Gras Guide • GayMardiGras.COM