My very talented, very beautiful, and very fabulous sister, Wendy Tweten, just published a book! Gardening for the Homebrewer: Grow and Process Plants for Making Beer, Wine, Gruit, Cider, Perry, and More.
This book would have been wonderful during Prohibition!!
Pick it up. It’s a great book, with beautiful photographs and loads of good information!
I have been so busy finishing my next two books and working on this lecture that I have not had time to promote it. But here it is – just in case.
I will be delivering a lecture on New Orleans’ Snake Charmers: Female Bootleggers for the 3rd annual Downriver: Mighty Mississippi River Festival 2015. September 12, 2015 from 2pm to 3pm.
Discover New Orleans women who fought for, rebelled against, and eventually reformed prohibition.
Discover what happens when Carrie Nation visits Storyville
Learn about the Flower Mission, Carrie Nation’s visit to New Orleans, “the wickedst but most hospitable city” in the South, and the pretty redheaded coed who ran one of the most popular speakeasies in the city.
Learn about the exciting exploits of Rum Queen Gertrude Lythgoe
Local actors Kerry Cahill and Steve Spehar do dramatic readings from newspaper articles, court transcripts, interviews, and letters.
Free and open to the public. The U.S. Mint, 400 Esplanade. 3rd Floor.
Hope to see y’all there!
I strongly approve of renaming the racist Lee Circle and tearing down the Robert E. Lee statue. I have complied a brief list of other streets, statues, institutions and buildings that also need to go.
First off, let’s rename the city New Orleans! Since the city was named after the Duke of Orleans, who had numerous affairs, rumors of murder and incestuous relations with his daughter… He also won the family farting contest and could fart “like a flute,” but to be fair that could be viewed as a positive… But I am most certain that he was probably an elitist and a racist. The name has got to go.
Let’s tear down the Margaret Haughery statue, honoring the woman who worked tirelessly for the city’s orphans and donated thousands to them, because she owned slaves.
Let’s deem any business that uses Marie Laveau’s name as racist because she owned slaves.
Let’s rename the historic Faubourg Treme, the first U.S. residential neighborhood for free blacks (and listed on the National Register of Historic Places) because it was named after Claude Treme, who shot and killed a slave.
Let’s rename Faubourg Marigny because it was named after Bernard Marigny, who despite offering low interest rates to free people of color, owned slaves. And rumor has it his first wife has an absolute “beast” to her slaves. Let’s also eliminate all of the streets he named to be on the safe side.
Let’s rename Wilkinson Street because it was named after James Wilkinson, a traitor and a spy for Spain.
Let’s rename Milneburg (as well as the streets named after Milne) because Alexander Milne, who also gave hundreds of thousands to orphanages, also owned slaves (although he emancipated some and even bought them houses). But he owned slaves – so he’s got to go.
Let’s rename Poydras Street because Julien Poydras owned slaves (although he bequeathed freedom to over 700 slaves and donated heavily to Charity Hospital, asylums, and orphanages) – sorry, he’s out.
Let’s rename General Ogden – he was involved in the White League.
Let’s also eliminate all streets named after planation owners and their families – the list is huge but a good place to start is Bartholomew, Caffin (who also briefly owned the LaLaurie Mansion – before the atrocities, but nevertheless), Delachaise, Foucher, Burthe, Antonine, Dufossat, Valmont, Bellecastle, Robert, Soniat, Avart, Egania, Lizardi, Hurst, Roman, Eleanore, Joseph, Millaudon, Peniston, Poeyfarre, Villere, Clark, Toledano…
For obvious reasons, let’s also get rid of the street names Jefferson (after Thomas Jefferson), Jefferson Davis, and Jackson Avenue (as well as Jackson Square).
The Ursuline nuns owned slaves – let’s tear down their convent and wipe them from the history books as well. Those women have got to go.
Let’s rename Lafitte Street after the pirate Jean Lafitte– come on, who knows how many men he killed, women he raped, and slaves he traded. Let’s also boycott the bar.
Let’s rename Hennessey Street after Police Chief David C. Hennessy, this guy obviously hated Italians.
I am not sure if Isaac Delgado or Judah Touro owned slaves, but probably. They were wealthy merchants and landowners during their time. To be on the safe side let’s rename Delgado Street as well as the community college and rename Touro Hospital and the street. Touro gave thousands of dollars to the New Orleans Public Library but it is not named after him. Phew. But best to get rid of everything their name is attached to, besides, they were Jewish.
Let’s rename Howard Street after Charles T. Howard– he brought gambling to Louisiana and was totally corrupt.
Let’s rename Camp Street – it was originally called “Campo de Negro” where slaves were bought to be sold.
We should probably rename Race Street because even though it was named after a planned racetrack – way too controversial.
Let’s rename Sophie Wright – she was a cripple and probably a virgin since she never married and you know what that means (LESBIAN)!
Let’s rename all of the Muses Streets and anything after Greek mythology – PAGANS!
Let’s rename Magazine Street because many historians believe it was named for magasin a poudre (ammunition warehouse) and I am totally against guns.
How about renaming everything after numbers? Of course, forsaking number 13 and 69 for obvious reasons.
I would suggest naming a street after black Creole Alexander Aristide Mary, who fought against the Separate Car Act and for the rights of blacks during Reconstruction, but… he killed himself and is obviously going to hell.
This is just a small and modest list. I know there are hundreds of others that need to be renamed, changed, torn down, but if anything comes out of this for God’s sake – LET’S RENAME NEW ORLEANS!!
I will be at the Bolden Bar in the New Orleans Jazz Market on Saturday, June 6th from 5pm to 8pm. 1436 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd. I will be selling and signing copies of my book “Hope & New Orleans: A History of Crescent City Street Names.” First editions are almost gone!
I will also be selling some of my photographs, including never-before-seen photographs from my upcoming book on cemeteries in New Orleans called “An Eternity Above Ground.” This book will be out October, 2015 from the History Press. Artist Lyla Crawford-Levis will also be there!
Hope to see y’all out!
Well, time to update my “Shows” for 2105.
For prosperity purposes – here were my shows and appearances for 2014.
UPCOMING SHOWS AND APPEARANCES FOR 2014
Please check back here frequently for updates and additions!
Some of my work is currently being show at the Cake Cafe at 2440 Chartres.
January 18th to January 25th: Guest Lecturer on Royal Caribbean Cruise Line.
Friday, March 21st: Guest on television show “Steppin’ Out” on WYES. On at 7:30pm and 11pm.
Saturday, March 22nd: Panelist at the Tennessee Williams Festival. Disappearing Ink: A Look Back and Around New Orleans Journalism. With panelists S.L. Alexander and Rebecca Theim. Moderated by Errol Laborde. At the Hotel Monteleone, Queen Anne Ballroom. 214 Royal Street. 1pm to 2:15pm.
Saturday, March 22nd: Curator at the Tennessee Williams Festival. Extra! Extra! Readings from the Legendary “Mascot” Newspaper. With actors Mikko, Veronica Russell, and Dane Rhodes. At the Hotel Monteleone, Queen Anne Ballroom. 214 Royal Street. 2:30pm to 3:45.
Sunday, March 23rd: Panelist at the Tennessee Williams Festival. “Louisiana Cultural Vistas” 25th Anniversary Panel. With panelists Ben Sandmel and Richard Campanella. Moderated by David Johnson. At the Hotel Monteleone, Royal Ballroom. 214 Royal Street. 1pm to 2:15pm.
Tuesday, March 25th: Guest on NPR’s The Reading Life. 1:30PM. Replay on Friday, March 28th at 7:30pm, and Sunday, March 30th at Noon.
Wednesday, March 26th: Lecture and book signing of Hope and New Orleans: A History of Crescent City Street Names at the Garden District Book Shop. 2727 Prytania Street. 6pm to 730pm.
Friday, April 4: Book Release Party of Hope and New Orleans: A History of Crescent City Street Names. TBA. 7pm to 10pm.
Saturday, April 5: Freret Market. 11pm to 7pm. Located at the intersection of Freret Street and Napoleon Avenue.
Thursday, April 24: Lecture and book signing of Hope and New Orleans: A History of Crescent City Street Names at Maple Street Book Shop. 7523 Maple Street. 6pm to 7:30pm.
Tuesday, April 29: Lecture and book signing of Hope and New Orleans: A History of Crescent City Street Names at Tulane University Bookstore. 31 McAlister Drive (on campus). Noon to 2pm.
Wednesday, April 30: Guest on WWOZ’s “New Orleans Music Show” with George Ingmire. 90.7FM. Noon.
Friday, May 2: Book signing of Hope and New Orleans: A History of Crescent City Street Names at theRoosevelt Hotel. 130 Roosevelt Way. 6pm to 8pm.
Sunday, May 4th: Book signing of Hope and New Orleans: A History of Crescent City Street Names at the Jazz Fest Book Tent as part of New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. New Orleans Fair Grounds. Noon to 1pm.
Tuesday, May 6th. Guest on WWLTV New Orleans. 8:30AM.
Saturday, May 10th: Book signing of Hope and New Orleans: A History of Crescent City Street Names atCostco. 3900 Dublin Street. 2pm to 4pm.
Saturday, May 24th: Book signing of Hope and New Orleans: A History of Crescent City Street Names at the 1850 Museum House. 523 St. Ann Street. 2pm to 4pm. Sponsored by the Friends of the Cabildo.
Saturday, May 31st: Arts Council of New Orleans Art Market. Located in Palmer Park at the corner of South Carrollton and South Claiborne Avenue. 10am to 4pm.
Saturday, June 7th: Freret Market. Located at the intersection of Freret Street and Napoleon Avenue. 12pm to 5pm.
Sunday, June 15th: Book signing of Hope and New Orleans: A History of Crescent City Street Names atWhole Foods. Arabella Station. 5600 Magazine Street. 11am to 1pm.
Thursday, June 19th: Lecture of Hope and New Orleans: A History of Crescent City Street Names at the Nix Library. 1401 S. Carrollton Ave. 5:30pm to 6:30pm.
Tuesday, June 24th: Lecture of Hope and New Orleans: A History of Crescent City Street Names at the Bea Field Alumni House. 6319 Willow Street. 6:00pm to 8:00pm. Also featuring dramatic readings by actress Veronica Russell. $10. Snacks and drinks served. Register Here. Sponsored by Tulane Alumni Association.
Saturday, June 28th: Book signing of Hope and New Orleans: A History of Crescent City Street Names at the Big Easy Rollergirls bout. June 28th. 5pm to 8:30pm. At the UNO Human Performance Center. You can buy tickets to the Double Header HERE. AllStars vs. Gainseville Roller Rebels. Crescent Wenches vs. Red Stick Roller Derby Capitol Defenders.
Wednesday, August 6th: “Reading Between the Wines.” A monthly salon/panel type event where authors talk about their books in a discussion moderated by Candice Huber. Fellow panelists will be Ben Sandmel, Chris Waddington, and Ethan Brown. Pearl Wine Company. 3700 Orleans Avenue (inside the American Can Company). 6:30pm to 8:30pm.
Saturday, September 13th: Lecture: “Loaded Down With Iniquity: The 1866 sinking of the Evening Star” for the Downriver Festival: The Mighty Mississippi River Festival. At the Old U.S. Mint. 400 Esplanade Ave. 2:15pm to 3:15pm.
Wednesday, September 17th: Lecture on the scandals and scoundrels involving the French Quarter streets! Signing of Hope & New Orleans: A History of Crescent City Street Names to follow. 6pm to 7pm. 1850 House at 523 St. Ann Street on Jackson Square. Sponsored by the Friends of the Cabildo. Members are $5, Non-Members are $10. No charge if book purchased. Call (504) 524-9118 to reserve your seat.
Saturday, October 4th: Freret Market. Located at the intersection of Freret Street and Napoleon Avenue. 12pm to 4pm.
Thursday, October 16th: I will be interviewed by David Johnson, the Executive Editor of Louisiana Cultural Vistas Magazine about my book Hope & New Orleans: A History of Crescent City Street Names. 7pm to 8pm at the Jefferson Parish Library. 4747 W. Napoleon Ave. Metairie.
Wednesday, October 22nd: Lecture on New Orleans streets named after WWII Veterans. The National World War II Museum. Noon. 945 Magazine Street. Book signing of Hope & New Orleans: A History of Crescent City Street Names to follow in the gift shop.
Saturday, October 25th: Arts Council of New Orleans Art Market. Located in Palmer Park at the corner of South Carrollton and South Claiborne Avenue. 10am to 4pm.
Monday, October 27th: Private lecture. Noon.
Wednesday, October 29th: Private lecture. Noon.
Saturday, November 1st: Louisiana Book Festival. Baton Rouge. From 1:00pm to 2:00pm at the House Committee Room 2 for the 25th Anniversary of Louisiana Cultural Vistas panel. From 2:15 to 3pm Book Signing. From 3:30 to 4:00pm in Senate Committee Room E for a discussion of Hope & New Orleans: A History of Crescent City Street Names. From 4:15 to 5:00pm Book Signing. View my schedule HERE.
Saturday, November 1st: Freret Market. Located at the intersection of Freret Street and Napoleon Avenue. 12pm to 4pm.
Saturday, November 29th: Arts Council of New Orleans Art Market. Located in Palmer Park at the corner of South Carrollton and South Claiborne Avenues. 10am to 4pm.
Saturday, November 29th: Octavia Books. Located at 513 Octavia Street. In honor of Small Business Saturday, the independent bookstore is hosting over a dozen authors to chat, recommend books, and sign copies of their own book. I will be there from 5:00 to 6:00pm.
Sunday, November 30th: Arts Council of New Orleans Art Market. Located in Palmer Park at the corner of South Carrollton and South Claiborne Avenues. 10am to 4pm.
Saturday, December 6th: Freret Market. Located at the intersection of Freret Street and Napoleon Avenue. 12pm to 4pm.
Saturday, December 13th: Freret Market. Located at the intersection of Freret Street and Napoleon Avenue. 12pm to 4pm.
Sunday, December 14th: Arts Council of New Orleans Art Market. Located in Palmer Park at the corner of South Carrollton and South Claiborne Avenue. 10am to 4pm.
Please remember that weather conditions may affect the markets’ times and dates. If in doubt, please check the night before the market for any possible changes.
I recently did a photo essay for Tulane University about the new policy changes for St. Louis Cemetery No. 1.
I spent a lot of time in St. Louis No. 1 during January and February trying to document everything I needed for my book. I have mixed feelings about the policy. Of course I want the cemeteries to remain open to the public, but walking through the cemeteries and seeing the trash and vandalism… I completely understand the archdiocese’s reasoning and become angry over the vandals’ ignorance and disrespect.
On a side note, I’m on the home stretch of my book An Eternity Above Ground. These next couple of months will be brutal. I will be participating in the Louisiana Book Festival again this year so I am trying to get it completed in time.
I decided to divide An Eternity Above Ground into two separate books – the first one focusing on the “Saint” cemeteries of New Orleans. If it does well (which I hope it will) then I will do a second one about Lafayette, Greenwood, Metairie, Holt, etc. I really want to give people their due and the whole point of this book is to talk about the people (known and unknown) in New Orleans’ cemeteries. I don’t want to bullet-point their lives; I want to tell their stories – and the stories of New Orleans during that time period. And despite being heartbroken over the realization that I would not be able to do that with all of the cemeteries I originally planned, I would rather take a chance and risk not being able to do two books. I would rather have one great detailed book with fewer cemeteries than one with more cemeteries and less detail. I just hope it works, because – DAMN – there are some great stories in the other cemeteries that I am dying to tell (no pun intended).
‘Twas the day after Mardi Gras. All through the house
Not a creature was stirring – not even a mouse.
For the master and Madame were still yet a-bed,
And the cook o’er the stove fire was nodding her head.
The master had toasted p’raps one toast too much;
And the Madame was dreaming of fairies and such,
And the boss murmurs out, as he rolls in his sleep:
“I’ll see you ten better!” It made Madame weep,
When she woke and she heard such language as that –
She had begged for the price of a ten-dollar hat.
And he swore by the beard of Mahomet (deceased)
That she had his pockets of all small change eased.
“With your friends from the country you’ve had a hurrah,
And doubtless spent with them a boss Mardi Gras.
And -.” “Will you stop talking,” quoth he in the bed,
“My head is so aching. I wish I were dead.”
Perhaps ’tis well Mardi Gras comes but once a year
And gives us all a Lenten chance masked to appear.
The Mascot, Feb. 10, 1883
Right before I was scheduled to tape my lecture for C-Span’s BookTV at the Louisiana Book Festival, I got a text from a dear friend telling me that they were leaving their job to start producing porn.
I know some people nervous about public speaking say it’s best to visualize your audience naked or in their underwear (I never employ this technique – too distracting), but I went in to the lecture thinking about a whole lot more than nudity or holey boxer shorts.
Anyway, the book festival was a blast. I had so much fun participating.
It was also on All Saints Day so I committed myself to wearing this dress by Trashy Diva to mark the occasion.
It was also very chilly and windy; I drove up to the festival in a hoodie and jeans and once I changed…. Brrr… Not a lot of planning on my part. Luckily had an old sweater in the car.
So, porn on the brain, chilly dress, wind-blown hair….lights, camera, action!
The show airs this Saturday, starting at 11am Central Time (and re-airs at 11pm Central) and runs about 4 hours and 15 minutes. In the New Orleans area, C-Span 2 is channel 110 on Cox Cable. It can also be viewed online at C-Span2 Live. Here is the schedule for the lectures – I am in some GOOD company!
From their website:
Book TV attended this year’s Louisiana Book Festival held in Baton Rouge. We covered eight authors talking about their books. Each author spoke for approximately 30 minutes.
Here’s the line-up (in order of appearance):
James Cobb, Jr., author of “Flood of Lies: The St. Rita’s Nursing Home Tragedy”
Michael Martin, author of “Russell Long: A Life in Politics”
Richard Campanella, author of “Bourbon Street: A History”
Gary Krist, author of “Empire of Sin: A Story of Sex, Jazz, Murder, and the Battle for Modern New Orleans”
Robert Mann, author of “Working Congress”
Michael Ross, author of “The Great New Orleans Kidnapping Case: Race, Law, and Justice in the Reconstruction Era”
Judith Gentry, author of “I Cannot Forget: Imprisoned in Korea, Accused at Home”
Sally Asher, author of “A History of Crescent City Street Names”
So, according to their schedule, and depending on the actual running time of each segment, I should go on as early as 2:30pm, or in the next few minutes after that. Sometime in the 2:30-2:45 timeframe it will begin, and will end a bit after 3. Please tune in!
Thanksgiving is over and that means Art Market Blitzing for the rest of the year. Here are the markets I will be at through the holiday season. Last year, I was rained out or rained on every market so I am hoping for better weather and crowds.
I’ have new photos, new ornaments, and of course my book Hope & New Orleans, which is also new this year!
Saturday, November 29th: Arts Council of New Orleans Art Market. Located in Palmer Park at the corner of South Carrollton and South Claiborne Avenues. 10am to 4pm.
Saturday, November 29th: Octavia Books. Located at 513 Octavia Street. In honor of Small Business Saturday, the independent bookstore is hosting over a dozen authors to chat, recommend books, and sign copies of their own book. I will be there from 5:00 to 6:00pm.
Sunday, November 30th: Arts Council of New Orleans Art Market. Located in Palmer Park at the corner of South Carrollton and South Claiborne Avenues. 10am to 4pm.
Saturday, December 6th: Freret Market. Located at the intersection of Freret Street and Napoleon Avenue. 12pm to 4pm.
Saturday, December 13th: Freret Market. Located at the intersection of Freret Street and Napoleon Avenue. 12pm to 4pm.
Sunday, December 14th: Arts Council of New Orleans Art Market. Located in Palmer Park at the corner of South Carrollton and South Claiborne Avenues. 10am to 4pm.
Happy Holidays! And shop local!
In the spring, I did an interview with S.L. Alexander for the Writer’s Forum on WRBH 88.3 FM. Fun interview! Sherry and I were on a panel together at the Tennessee Williams Festival this year and it was great fun catching up with her.
Of course, there was a big sign in the studio announcing that under no circumstances was I to say the “F Word.” So… during the course of this interview all I could think about was the profanity that was dancing in bubbles at the brim of my brain and on the tip of my tongue. But I am happy to say – no expletives. At least on air!
You can hear my INTERVIEW on iTunes. Don’t have a link to the exact interview but you can scroll down until you see my name. Also, there are some excellent interviews with Susan Larson, Errol Laborde, Aimee Bender, Zachary Lazar and others!
