Browsing Category

Local Spotlight

Christian Radke: Son of a Preacher Man

christianradke
May 17, 2012 By In Local Spotlight, Music


When I first heard (and, let’s be honest, saw) Christian Radke in action it was hard for me to believe that he perfected his instrument growing up in his parent’s church. This sultry R&B singer is a  far cry from any alter boy I have ever seen and has the white boy swagger reminiscent of my high school crush. Jon B. Radke oozes sexuality on stage often gyrating and dancing provocatively with the random women he pulls up stage to swoon.

Hailing from the West Bank (what he and his friends call the “Best Bank”) he has a huge following and packs the house at all of his performances, which have included several shows at the Howling Wolf opening for national recording artists Stalley, Miguel, and Estelle on Valentine’s Day. Radke’s smooth soulful sound is much older than his 20-something years and is similar in tone to that of Usher or Donell Jones. His raw natural talent combined with the right team at Supreme Street has put him on the map as one of New Orleans best R&B acts with songs like “No Sleep” and “Lights Low”.

When Christian isn’t busy working on his music he is working towards his degree as a student at Delgado College. For booking information, to sample his songs which he says are mostly inspired by beautiful ladies, or to find out about upcoming performances check out his website.

(This review may or may not attract a lot of listeners but it is guaranteed to attract a lot of girls.)

Rachael is originally from Harrisburg, PA where she plans to be mayor one day. In the meantime she keeps busy cleaning the skeletons out of her closet, catering to the needs of a very spoiled Siberian Huskey, and hosting her own radio show, Plan DD: The morning after Rachael. Rachael can be reached for questions/comments at rkostel7@gmail.com.

Food Spotlight: Liuzza’s is NOLA’s Best Lunch

Liuzza's BBQ Shrimp Po Boy
May 17, 2012 By In Food and Beverage, Local Spotlight

Do you ever find yourself getting anxious around noon? Does your mind jump from Johnny’s Po Boys to Guy’s, from St. James Cheese Company to Stein’s, yearning to hone in on the perfect lunchtime fix?

Ladies and gents, I’ve found it. Let me introduce to you Liuzza’s By the Track, home of NOLA’s greatest lunch.

Tucked away on a quiet corner near the Fair Grounds Race Course, Liuzza’s can easily sneak under your radar. I warn you not to let this happen!

Instead, take a trip up Esplanade and treat yourself to a lunch hour you won’t soon forget.

To try:

  • Liuzza’s special BBQ Shrimp Po Boy, an open-face French roll stuffed with mounds of BBQ shrimp floating in a near-perfect dipping sauce
  • The Garlic Oyster Po Boy – an impossibly light yet full flavor sandwich that sends a jolt of garlic with each bite

So, when tomorrow’s inevitable midday crisis comes… you know where to go!

Amelie G Magazine: New Orleans Fashion’s Finest

Amelie G
May 15, 2012 By In Fashion, Local Spotlight

If you didn’t get your New Orleans Fashion Week fix from InvadeNOLA (which I personally find preposterous), take a look at the Amelie G webzine and fashion magazine for full coverage of the events.

Amelie G is New Orleans’ premiere fashion mag with monthly updates to the webzine blog and a quarterly printed publication. The magazine combines the epitome of old world style with hipster trends unique to NOLA, where other larger fashion mags miss their mark.

Named after Parisian socialite Amelie Gautreau, Amelie G has been living up to its name by “highlighting beauty and intuitiveness of style and taste” since it got its start in 2009 and printed its first issue in the fall of 2010.

Madame X

Amelie Gautreau, the magazine’s namesake. 

Categorizing Fashion, Beauty, Shopping, Events, and Art I found many buried treasures while perusing their site including “The Mane Attraction” by Rebecca Marshburn from 11/2011 which spotlights FiFi Mahoney’s New Orleans answer to world class wigs and accessories, “Papier Dramatique” by Christy Levesque-Perron from 1/2012 informing readers of the latest trends in paper (yes, paper!) eyelashes, and “Dirty by Gorilla Perfume”, the latest and greatest in unisex scents.

For someone like me who needs constant instant gratification, I am disappointed in the quantity of current content, but the quality is right on point and the photography is brilliant and makes up where words may lack.

I have commitment issues that far exceed my relationships with the opposite sex, so I love trying out new trends that I can diss the second I get bored, and Amelie G is usually my source for fresh new products/styles to try. I am still waiting on them to “highlight” (pun intended) this new Ombre hairstyle I discovered before them, but perhaps they realized hair dye is too long term for my taste.

Rachael is originally from Harrisburg, PA where she plans to be mayor one day. In the meantime she keeps busy cleaning the skeletons out of her closet, catering to the needs of a very spoiled Siberian Huskey, and hosting the radio show “Dirty Dishes” on www.crescentcityradio.com every Wednesday from 7-10pm. Rachael can be reached for questions/comments at rkostel7@gmail.com or on twitter @therealplandd.

Beta – The New Local Co-Working Space

Beta Workspace
May 11, 2012 By In Jobs, Local Spotlight, Places, Work

Beta Workspace

There is a lot of buzz about the sleek new co-working space, Beta. It is a modern space created to be shared among local businesses and professionals. Work stations can be rented for $495 a month and office space is available for $895 per month. Located on the second floor of the Maritime Building, this new space is the home of Zydeco Media, Circa Innovations, and our special buddies at New Orleans Fashion Council. As an added bonus, Merchant, our favorite little coffee spot, and The Occasional Wife are right downstairs. Beta is located at 800 Common Street. Check out some more photos of the beautiful space below!

Beta Kitchen and Lounge

Beta Conference Room

Images by: Emily Ardoin

Gallery Veriditas

Gallery Verditas
May 2, 2012 By In Art, Local Spotlight

By: Colin K Wade

Gallery Verditas

Gallery Verditas on Magazine Street “hopes to become a guiding light for individuals who have accepted the difference between the experience of art and the overriding sale bourgeois art in America.” Specifically eschewing a “fixed concept” for its mission, Gallery Verditas endeavors to “to develop an elastic physical place to seed positive aesthetic ideas that promote an elective affinity that nourishes artists and collectors universally.” The gallery exhibits works of international artists both living and dead with a view toward discovering new masters and collectors alike.

Recent artists whose works were exhibited at Gallery Verditas include Shozo Nagano, Diana Lehr, and Joseph Holmes. Currently, the gallery is exhibiting the works of artists JRenee and Luis Colmenares until June.

J Renee

“Warrior Princess” by JRenee

New Orleans artist JRenee has made waves with her Post-K paintings, for which she uses a reverse glass technique which harkens back to 16th century European traditions and remains popular today in West Africa.

“New Works of Balance” by Luis Colmenares

Renowned sculptor and New Orleans native Luis Colmenares is a highly commissioned artist whose kinetic sculptures are have been displayed in such places as the New Museum in New York City, New Orleans Museum of Art, and the Contemporary Art Center. Several of his works are displayed around town at places such as Audubon Institute Insectarium, Dickie Brennan’s, and Emeril Lagasse’s restaurant NOLA.

Gallery Verditas is located at 3822 Magazine Street, New Orleans, LA 70115.

Hours: Monday by appointment only and Tuesday through Saturday 10-5 p.m.

Phone: 504.267.5991