SNAP Makes Shopping a Snap

SNAP is the name of a women's clothng store filled with scrumptious clothes and shoes. SNAP is located at 617 Metairie Road.

I joined my friend Kellie for this shopping experience. We walk in and Jenny Carr greats us with a drink request..."Would we like a mimosa or a soft drink:"

How fabulous is that? When is the last time you walked into a retail store and they were glad to see you? That is what you will find at SNAP.

This wasn't Kellie's first visit, so it was interesting to see Jenny and Sidney help her shop. The most amazing thing is that they remembered what clothes Kellie had bought in the past and what things she might need to add to her wardrobe.

There is a big comfy sofa, where you can sip on a beverage of your choice and sink back into the oversized cushions and enjoy the music playing.

You will find labels like Marc Jacobs, D&G, Loeffler Randall, and Alex and Olivia.

SNAP makes shopping a snap...enjoy!

Ice Cream in New Orleans

It's hot in New Orleans in more ways than one, But when the temperature gets out of control we head to our local ice cream shops with air conditioning.

The lemon ice is a must at the century-old Angelo Brocato’s (214 N. Carrollton Ave., 504-486-1465).

Indulge in the artisan gelato and sorbets at Sucré (3025 Magazine St., 504-520-8311). You can get chocolate there too.

Have a good old fashioned ice cream cone at at Creole Creamery (4924 Prytania St., 504-894-8680). You will feel like you stepped back in time. Add your photo to the wall.

The tiramisu-flavored gelato at Gelato Pazzo Caffè (8115 Oak St., 504-304-6908), is the ticket when you crave some of Italy without the trip.

Party with the Tigers This Afternoon

The LSU Tigers, 2009 national champions of college baseball, will return to Alex Box Stadium for a championship celebration on Thursday at 4 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Fans will hear from players and dignitaries and enjoy a video recap of the Tigers' accomplishments.
All seating will be general admission. Gates open at 2 p.m.

Dining Out For Life in New Orleans, Lots of Top 10 Restaurants

New Orleans is a city that's known world wide for it's cuisine, so what could be easier than Dining Out For Life to help raise money for the programs and services of NO/AIDS Task Force. It's a win win for everyone.

This year, on Thursday July 16th, dozens of the areas best restaurants will donate 25% of their proceeds to NO/AIDS Task Force. All you have to do is dine at one of these restaurants and 25% of your bill will help someone living with HIV /AIDS.

On Thursday July 16th, make sure to ask your waiter for a donation envelope.

By making an additional donation to NO/AIDS Task Force on the night of Dining For Life, not only will you be entered in a drawing to win a stay at The International House Hotel or The W New Orleans - French Quarter, but your waiter will be entered into a drawing to receive a stay as well. Here is the list of 2009 Participating Restaurants and their phone numbers so you can call:

You might want to make reservations that night because the restaurants get sold out.

I'll be at Vega Tapas.


13 (504) 942-1345
Adolfo’s (504) 948-3800
Andrea’s Restaurant & Catering (504) 834-8583
Bombay Club (504) 586-0972
Café Bamboo (504) 940-5546
Café Degas (504) 945-5635
Café Rani (504) 895-2500<
Chad’s Bistro Restaurant & Catering (504) 838-9935
Chateau du Lac Bistro (504) 831-3773
Eat New Orleans (504) 522 7222
Feeling’s Café (504) 945-2222
Fiorella's Italian Café (504) 553-2155
Flaming Torch Restaurant (504) 895-0900
Fresco (504) 862-6363
House of Blues (504) 310-4999
Iris (504) 299-3944
Jaegerhaus (504) 525-9200
Jasmine French Restaurant (985) 645-9700
Joey K’s Restaurant (504) 891-0997
Juniper (985) 624-5330
La Crepe Nanou (504) 899-2670
La Peniche (504) 943-1460
Leonardo Trattoria (504) 558-8986
Louisiana Pizza Kitchen – French Market (504) 522-9500
Louisiana Pizza Kitchen – Uptown (504) 866-5900
Marigny Brasserie (504) 945-4472
Mark Twain’s Pizza Landing (504) 832-8032
Martinique Bistro (504) 891-8495
Mat & Naddie’s (504) 861-9600
Maya’s Restaurant & Bar (504) 309-3401
Meauxbar Bistro (504) 569-9979
Mona Lisa Restaurant (504) 522-6746
Petunia’s A Restaurant (504) 522-6440
Nirvana (504) 894-9797
Restaurant des Familles (504) 689-7834
Slim Goodies (504) 891-3447
Tomatillo’s Mexican Joint (504) 945-9997

New Shipment at DOP Antiques

I was in DOP Antiques today and a new shipment of goodies arrived. It's kinda like being in a candy store. So many new and gorgeous things to drool over.

It you haven't been there you need to go. I was looking for a side table for The Cupcake Lady and found it. It's the third picture in the blog. So by the time Cupcake gets back to the Big Easy it will be in her bedroom all dusted and polished.

There is no air conditioning in the main part of warehouse so don't be wearing lots of clothes...well you have to wear some clothes.

While you are there make sure that you sign up for the email updates that Michiel send outs. He will be the tall blonde guy with the wooden shoes.

DOP Antiques is located at 300 Jefferson Highway.

Half Price Wednesdays at Salvation Army

I have some friends Martin and Tim who know where every single thrift store in the city is located. Last week they took me to experience some of the best deals in town. I love the hunt and saving money is also alot more fun than paying full price.

One of the things that I discovered today is that on Wednesdays things are half price at The Salvation Army Thrift Store, 200 Jefferson Highway. Martin and Tim had been in there on Tuesday and they thought that I might see some bargains. Well, I am all about the bargain so I jump in my car and off I go.

Well, the place was hopping with people finding all kinds of bargains. From clothes to nick- nacks, everything is half price except for the furniture.

I tried my best to find some treasure to buy, but no luck this time....

It's the kind of place that you need to go back to again and again, because you never know what will appear in the store the very next day.

You save money and you also help The Salvation Army....a win win for everyone. I'll see you there on Wednesdays.

Help Your Furry Friends on Tuesday

You know that you have to buy groceries...why not help out your furry friends at the same time. Tomorrow at The Whole Foods Market on Veterans, Jefferson Parish Animal Shelter, Animal Rescue New Orleans, and LA SPCA will benefit from a donation of 5% of the food sales. All the monies raised will be used for sheltering the animals at all three shelters.

And if you want to help even more Whole Foods is holding a pet food donation drive to provide much needed supplies to Animal Rescue New Orleans and the Jefferson Parish Animal Shelter.

There is an overwhelming shortage of both canned cat and dog food. Collection bins for pet food donations will be in front of the store and accepted during business hours. Any and all brands are welcome. Whole Foods is located at 3430 Veterans Boulevard or you can call for more information (504) 888-8225.

You Always Wanted to Join The Circus, Here is Your Chance

Today you can join the circus when it comes to the Louisiana Children's Musuem.

The Ringling Brothers' famous skipping elephants will make a special stop in front of the Children's Museum around 2PM. Now you can join the circus at least for a little while. Louisiana Children's Museum is located at 420 Julia Street. If you want more information, call them at (504) 523-1357.

Celebrate Summer Soltice This Saturday 12-6

It's time to celebrate the Summer Soltice and what better place than at Partysist? Partysist is located in the Fredrich Shopping Center on Metairie Road. (200 Metairie Road).

From 12-6 you can get psychic readings, astrology ,reiki, aromatherapy or have your tarot cards read. There will be 15 minute sessions for $20.

And, while you are waiting for your readings you can enjoy complimentary wine and nibbles. Lea and Renee have discounted products, wines and spirits for the event.

I am sure there will be plenty of spirits about the store tomorrow.

Where Has All the Black Dye Gone?

For the last 2 days, I have been running like a crazy woman with my new company CRISP. It's a Concierge Service. We help you get things done.. from getting your house cleaned, to meeting the cable guy, to doing black tie events. If it's legal, we will attempt to do it for you. I had a client request for Black Dye. Pretty simple request.....you would think. The client needed it for Friday morning.

On Thursday evening around 6, I finally get a chance to look for the dye. I go to Walgreens, on Carrollton....they stopped stocking it, then I stay on Jefferson Highway and head to Winn Dixie...every color except black....Family Dollar, no luck....Now, I'm getting nervous. Where is the Black dye? I go to the Walgreens on Tchoupitoulas, the girl had never heard of dye. I attempt to stay calm and centered.

I'm sweating now...it's 7:30 and the stores will close at 10PM. Why can't I find Rit Black Dye? Who else is buying this stuff? My mind goes straight to some VooDoo ceremony which would require black dye. It is New Orleans....

Where else can I go?

Where I should have gone in the first place. A locally owned grocery store...Rouses on Tchoupitoulas. Not only did they have the black dye, but they knew what dye was and where it was in the store.

I sent up a small thank you prayer for Rouses.

SoFab Gala, Save The Date

Save the Date for SoFAB, a Gala to celebrate the dedication of the Leah Chase Louisiana Gallery. SoFab will take place on Thursday, July 2nd. You will taste extraordinary food offered by some of New Orleans' top chefs. And dance to Southern Rebels.

Here are all the details:

July 2, 2009
6 p.m. - patron party
7 p.m. - Gala

Tickets: $100 (members of the museum) and $125

If you need more information just call the Southern Food and Beverage Museum at 504-569-0405. They can give you all the scoop or click Southern Food and Beverage Museum.

Whiney Wednesdays at Vega Tapas

I got an email from Glen Hogh from Vega Tapas about Whiney Wednesdays. It is too funny not to share with you. This is what Glen is doing to help you with your Wednesdays....


Are you whining about any of these common problems:
Noisy neighbors
Ungrateful offspring
Barking dogs
Rap music
Pot holes
High insurance premiums
Your boss
Your employees
The Mayor
Why suffer in silence? Why suffer at all?

Vega Tapas Cafe solves every last thing that's buggin' you on Wednesday - this Wednesday and every Wednesday - with....
Winey Wednesday
Every Glass of Wine is $5 all night long!

C'mon in on Wednesday and tell us all about it...we'll bring you more wine.

Red wine, white wine, rose' wine, sparkling wine, dessert wine...if it's served by the glass, it's just $5 on Wednesday... all night long.

Fundraiser for Chef Matt Murphy

I first heard about his accident from my friend Lorn Gaudin. My husband and I were enjoying a cook out at her sister in laws' house when Lorin heard the news.

There is a way that all of us can help Matt. This Sunday, June 14th, a fundraiser will be held in the Grand Ballroom of The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans for the family of the hotel’s Executive Chef, Matt Murphy.

Matt was hospitalized at Ochsner Medical Center and is battling an invasive group A streptococcus infection, which has led to toxic shock syndrome and DIC (disseminated intravascular coagulation), a rare, life-threatening condition that prevents blood from clotting normally. There are regular updates posted by the family on murphyquads.com.

The event will include tastings from at least two dozen of the city’s premier chefs including Scott Boswell, Justin Devillier, Tenney Flynn, Donald Link, John Folse, Bob Iacovone, Brian Landry, Duke LoCicero, Jean Luc, Gus Martin, Mark Quitney, Greg Reggio, Jacques Saleun, Susan Spicer, Chuck Subra and Kevin Vizard to name a few. Calls and e-mails have been pouring in day and night from chefs, the hospitality community and individuals who have worked with the chef from as far away as China. The Murphy Family Fundraiser is a testament to one of the city’s most beloved chefs. Murphy has been with the hotel since 2002 and was appointed to the position of Executive Chef in 2006.

A silent auction will feature everything from multiple night stays at exclusive hotels and resorts around the world, autographed copies of the participating chef’s cookbooks, celebrity memorabilia, artwork, wine, gift certificates and jewelry. There will be a “wish” board for each eighteen month-old Murphy quadruplet (Margaret, Molly, Carolyn and Elizabeth) and donations to the Murphy fund can be made on-site thanks to Capital One.

The funds will go towards the chef’s hospital care and childcare to assist Chef Matt Murphy’s wife, Alicia, who is pregnant with their fifth child. The ticket price for the event is $65 and patrons can call Restaurant Reservations at The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans directly at 504-670-2828.


Cost $65
Location Ritz-Carlton New Orleans
Grand Ballroom (Second Floor)
921 Canal Street
New Orleans, LA
For more information:

The Ritz-Carlton New Orleans

Telephone: 504-913-4114
Contact name: Char Thian Schroeder, Director of Public Relations

Sip and Shop Tomorrow Night 6-9PM

Some of my friends in Le Boulevard Marketplace will be participating in the Sip and Shop! How fun is that name? I wish that I had thought of it.

I always wondered by shopping malls didn't do more events where you serve cocktails to customers and then you invite them to shop.

There are boutique shops inside of Le Boulevard like inside design, Fleur De Light Candles, Donna Marie, Avenue Art, to name just a few.

This is your chance to meet the actual owners of these boutique shops. There will special artists there like Paulette Lizano and Martin Welch. Martin seems to be everywhere this week.

Come and enjoy art, wine, and meet some new friends. Just think of it as Multi-tasking with a twist.

The Artful Fence Inspires Another Fence

When you are driving around Uptown New Orleans, there are surprises. What Kind? Look at this fence on Nelson Street. Now, this is not something that you see every day. It belongs to my friend Martin Welch. Martin Welch is known for his colorful crab paintings, but he does a whole lot more than just colorful crabs.

But, there is a story to all of this. The Cupcake Lady was in town and I took her to meet Martin and tour his beautiful house. His house is full of art, not just his art, but art from all kinds artists.

Cupcake tours his house and then remarks about the art on his fence.

It seems that last summer Cupcake's daughter saw Martin's fence and became inspired to paint her Mom's fence. ( I do want to add the results were drastically different. It did take Cupcake a while to recover from her daughter's art.)

The interesting thing is that Cupcake had not meet Martin at this point, and she didn't know whose fence it was that her daughter had seen and been inspired by.

Boom! This past Saturday, a year later.... Cupcake meets the person who inspired her daughter. It turns out to be Martin.

The point is ....it's a small world and you just never know when something you do will inspire someone else along the way.

Maybe it's time to paint your fence....

Vincent's Restaurant, That's Italian

The Cupcake Lady was in town from California and we went for a girls night out to Vincent's Restaurant in Uptown New Orleans. It is on St Charles Avenue near The Riverbend, (4411 St. Charles). You can hop on a Trolley car and get there. We drove the car.

I'm an Italian, so I Love pasta and anything Italian. That's why I will never be THIN. Vincent's Restaurant, Now that's Italian.

Vincent's Restaurant has history. Vincent Catalanotto started in Metairie and in 1997, he opened the Uptown location. Vincent comes a from large Sicilian family. We, Italians never come from small families. Have you ever known a small Italian family?

My Mother comes from a family of 16 and she is the baby. I always kid her that they did not have TV back when her parents were raising 16 kids......

Vincent grew up eating wonderful Italian food prepared by his parents who both love to cook. Through his years in the restaurant business, Vincent learned that people like to eat food that is familiar, but which has a spark of uniqueness about it. That is the vision behind his food.

Each of the Vincent’s locations has its own unique charm. Many a marriage proposal has taken place in the Uptown location. It's a warm and inviting place, with soft light that certainly makes me look younger.

When you go you can try the famous Corn & Crab Bisque served in a toasted bread bowl, the Veal & Spinach stuffed Canneloni (the House Specialty), the gigantic Seafood Stuffed Pork Chop, or any of the delicious daily specials. They have the perfect Staff, right there when you need them....plus our waiter was very handsome.

I looked at the menu and told our waiter I wanted Pasta with meatballs. There is something about Pasta that reminds me of HOME, growing up with my 12,000 cousins and aunts and uncles for days.....

The Cupcake Lady and I spent some time chatting with Vincent, Jr. I felt like I had known him for years. There is something special about being able to chat with a family member in a family run restaurant. You just doen't get that eating in a chain restaurant. And, did I mention that he is getting married?

Go join the Family.....and add, Vincent's Restaurant to your list of Must Places to Enjoy. Ciao!

The Cat Practise and Funny Cat Pictures

Some of the Funny Cat Art inside of The Cat Practise

The other day, I took Lena Lena Bobeana to get checked out at The Cat Practise. She was looking alittle thin and heaven forbid if you should look too thin in my household. Lena is the CAT GODDESS of our home. When she says jump, Katie and Scooter say how high in cat language. She has her moments, so I always worry when I take her in, that she will show her royalty and act snobby and show her claws.

No worries...the nurses and doctors at The Cat Practise are the greatest. Lena's nurse DeDe took charge and charmed the royal fur right off Lena.



Let me share 3 stories about The Cat Practise. First, see this picture of all the kitties on the wall, those are just some of the kitties that they have saved. I love them for saving all those kitties.

Secondly, my kitty Katie came from The Cat Practise. They saved her life when someone brought her in off the street. Some kids had been swinging her around by her little hind legs. They nursed her back to health and I saw her in the cage licking another kitty and I knew she was sweet. She walks with a limp now, but she is alive and well pampered.

And finally, one day a car hit a kitty in my neighborhood, and it was crying underneath a house. My neighbors helped me get the kitty into a carrier and I raced to The Cat Practise. I cried all the way over there, because I knew that the kitty was in pain and it was breaking my heart.

Dr. Mark Cousins...he owns The Cat Practise, took that kitty and relieved its pain, so it wasn't suffering anymore. Now, I know you want to know if the kitty made it...no it didn't...but I am so thankful that there are still people in the world who will help even when there is nothing they gain from it.

That loving gesture earned a customer for life.



Don't you just love that big FAT Kitty on the side of the building?



So, go see my friends at The Cat Practise and know that you and your kitty will be well taken care of.

Vieux To Do Festival, 3 Festivals in One

Vieux To Do Weekend is June 13-14. Never heard of the festival, well it is 3 different great festivals all happening nearby each other on the same weekend!

Three for the price of One. Now that is a bargain.

“A New Orleans Vieux-To-Do” showcases the Louisiana Seafood Festival, the Louisiana Cajun-Zydeco Festival (both at the Old U.S. Mint) and the Great Creole Tomato Festival (a few steps away at the Historic French Market).

The entire weekend will offer great food, music, dancing and fun for all!

For more information on the Creole Tomato Festival, call (504) 522-2621. You can get more details about the
Louisiana Seafood Festival ,call (504)-286-8736.

For more on the Louisiana Cajun-Zydeco Festival, call (504) 558-6100.

The poster for the Louisiana Seafood Festival was done by local artist Martin Welch. That is a picture of it at the top of the blog. You can buy the poster framed or unframed at the event. And you can meet Martin in person.

Loas Bar inside The International House

On Wednesday evening I went to meet my friend Stephen. He suggested that we meet at Loas. It has been ages since the last time I was in Loas. It hasn't changed, which is a good thing.

Loas is inside The International Hotel. You might be wondering what the heck does Loas mean? It means divine spirits in Voodoo. The entire place is lit by candlelight which makes me look thinner and younger. You will find richly patterned fabrics, patinaed candlesticks and crystal chandeliers that are nearly floor to ceiling.

There is something about chandeliers that make all us feel more glamorous.

This acclaimed bar serves inventive cocktails such as the Jasmine White Tea Martini, the Raw Ginger Taralé, and the loa’tini. The staff is very attentive, you don't have to wait for service. I had to wait for my friend Stephen, yet I felt comfortable sitting there by myself. Sometimes, when you have to wait you feel uncomfortable...

I felt right at home.

So check out Loas, inside The International House located on 221 Camp Street in the Business District of New Orleans.