What's Up Downtown June 26, 2009
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| | Roosevelt Hotel Hosts First Visitors This Week
The famed Roosevelt Hotel welcomed its first visitors with a reception for Junior Achievement in the Waldorf=Astoria Ballroom on Thursday, June 25. While the hotel has not yet opened its doors to overnight guests, signs of near completion have been appearing all week. Construction fencing has been removed, lush holly trees have been planted on a newly improved sidewalk on Baronne Street, glass ground floor windows and doors are installed, and beautiful title inlays can be found at both entrances. The hotel will a wedding reception this weekend before its first overnight guests are scheduled to arrive on July 1. A ribbon cutting ceremony will take place on July 15 and a grand opening celebration is scheduled for October. For more information on the Roosevelt Hotel, visit www.therooseveltneworleans.com.
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| | "Signs" of Improvement Along Canal Street
"Take a walk down Canal Street and you will see many improvements," notes DDD Retail Attraction Specialist Ryan Bordenave. One of the most noticable is the improvement is retail signage along the city's great corridor. "With the addition of PJ's Coffee and the installation of their beautiful new sign and awning, we have really noticed a great overall improvement in signage along Canal Street. In the past year, we've seen tremendous upgrades and the DDD's Code Enforcement Program is continuing to encourage retailers to comply when it comes to signage as well as storefronts," says Bordenave. "Many of them have also taken advantage of the DDD's Facade Improvement Grant Program."
The DDD works closely with all Downtown retailers as well as the Historic Districts Landmark Commission to assist in creating and installing attractive and appropriate signage.
To view pictures of some of the new signage along Canal Street on the DDD's website, click here. |
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| | Block-By-Block Cleaning Ambassadors Eliminate a
"Growing" Problem Downtown with Summer Blitz
Last week, a group of eight Block-By-Block Special Team members and Cleaning Ambassadors completed a nine-day blitz on pesky weeds throughout three large Downtown neighborhoods. Beginning on June 8, the team cleared sidewalk weeds in the Financial, Medical and Warehouse districts. Once the weeds were eliminated, a preventative solution was sprayed to keep the weeds from returning.
For more information on the DDD's Public Space initiatives, click here.
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| | | Essence Festival Celebrates 15 Years in Downtown New Orleans
The Essence Music Festival began in 1995 as a celebration of the 25th birthday of ESSENCE Magazine. This July 4th weekend, the festival will celebrate its 15th year in New Orleans with three days of cultural activities and three nights of performances by some of the greatest artists alive today.
The festival has grown in stature and attendance every year and has made Downtown New Orleans an annual 4th of July destination. It is the largest African-American music and empowerment event in the country, with more than 270,000 attendees enjoying evening performances, plus free daytime sponsored activities, empowerment seminars and celebrity meet-and-greets. This year's festival headliners include Beyonce', Maxwell, John Legend, Anita Baker, Lionel Richie, Ne-Yo, Robin Thicke, and Al Green, to name just a few. For more information on the 2009 Essence Music Festival, visit www.essencemusicfestival.com.
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| | DDD Partners with Job1 and the City of New Orleans for
Summer Internship Program Six summer interns have joined the DDD team for the summer as part of the Mayor's Summer Youth Program, Job1 New Orleans, and the Recovery School District's summer programs. The interns, high school students from the New Orleans area, will assist the DDD's Public Space Operations team in surveying and mapping light poles, storm drains, trash cans, and sidewalk trees throughout the district in order to better improve the DDD's database. During their survey, they will also detail the number and condition of each item for maintenance planning objectives. When they are not assisting Public Space Operations, they will have opportunities to participate in special seminars on the court systems and economic development.
For more information on Job1, click here.
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Here's a Little Bit More of What's Up Downtown This Week...
Temperature Lunch at Palace Cafe'
This popular summer tradition is returning for its 15th year. Available Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m, a two course meal is priced at the previous day's high temperature (85° on Monday means an $8.50 lunch on Tuesday).
Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus: Over the Top!
The Greatest Show On Earth is at the New Orleans Arena this weekend! Bring the family for an "Over the Top" experience! The ESSENCE of Fine Art and Culture
Join Picou's Fine Art and Serenity Spa for an artist's reception on Friday, July 3 at Hotel Le Cirque. Featured artist Charles Bibb's work fuses African, African American, and Native American cultural themes to make powerful cross-cultural statements.
Go 4th on the River Dueling Barges Fireworks Extravaganza
The Riverfront Marketing Group invites you to celebrate the 4th of July down by the riverside at the 19th annual fireworks extravaganza, cleverly titled "Go 4th on the River." Local TV and radio stations will simulcast the dynamic fireworks show with patriotic music.
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| For more information on any of the articles featured in What's Up Downtown, or to submit an item for consideration,
contact Lauren Hotard at lhotard[at]neworleansdowntown.com.
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