All Things New Orleans

Today, the Audubon Zoo is treasured by residents and visitors alike. But it wasn’t always that way. When the mayor assigned Ron Forman to remake the Zoo, it presented a formidable challenge. In this edition of NOLA Life Stories , Ron takes listeners through the evolution of the Zoo, and describes the arrival of a certain white alligator 40 years ago.

Now through December, The Historic New Orleans Collection is hosting an exhibit called Storyville: Madams and Music . Brian Friedman speaks with curator Eric Seiferth about the soundtrack of this era.

The city’s infamous Red Light District, Storyville, weaves itself through the legends and lore of New Orleans history. It’s also the topic of a current exhibit at The Historic New Orleans Collection . The exhibit is called Storyville: Madams and Music. In this first part of a two-part series, NolaVie’s Brian Friedman speaks with Pamela Arceneaux, author of Guidebooks to Sin and one of the exhibit’s curators.

This week on All Things New Orleans , we'll introduce WWNO's new education reporter Jess Clark. Then Councilman-At-Large, Jason Williams, talks about major shakeups at the Sewerage & Water Board a week after flooding in neighborhoods across the Crescent City. And Cuba native, Alexey Marti, shares his new album entitled " Travesia ".

Some innovative educators in New Orleans are rethinking high school. When New Harmony High opens next year, it won’t look – or act -- like a conventional school. That’s because it will most likely be situated on a barge on the Mississippi River. And its curriculum will include some unique lessons about coastal land loss. NolaVie's Renee Peck sits down with Sunny Dawn Summers, New Harmony's Head of School, to hear about this distinctive project. Visit NolaVie's website for a related article

This week on All Things New Orleans we share an episode of the Listening Post, which focuses on the impact of the national opioid epidemic. Then, we'll discuss a civic engagement social featuring Mayor Mitch Landrieu hosted by Engage NOLA; and another story from Bring Your Own, a live story-telling series.

In a city that takes its name from the center of France, learning French as a second language seems intuitive. École Bilingue of New Orleans begins its French immersion program in early childhood, with the goal of ushering along global citizens. The school’s director of admissions, Courtney Kloor, sat down with NolaVie’s Kelley Crawford to talk about summer at École Bilingue, as well as the fast approaching back-to-school season. Visit NolaVie's website for a related article written by Kelley

Long before the women's liberation movement of the Sixties and Seventies, Marian Mayer Berkett became the first female lawyer in Louisiana. As a law student in the 1930s, the Baton Rouge-native became accidentally entrenched in the turbulent era that was Huey P. Long’s reign as governor. Mrs. Berkett passed away this June at the age of 104, and in this edition of NOLA Life Stories, we share this remembrance of her time in Huey P. Long’s Baton Rouge and her breakthroughs practicing law. This NOLA

So the saying goes, you can’t talk about New Orleans without talking about the food. But for some people, talking’s not enough – some people have to make it. Karen Duncan is one such individual, a chef who came by Louisiana cuisine at her restaurant in Toronto. Her adopted home is Algiers Point, where she owns the bed & breakfast, Casa Pelican . NolaVie’s David Benedetto sits down with Karen to hear more of her story. Visit NolaVie's website for a related article written by David Benedetto.

On this week's edition of All Things New Orleans, we'll discuss a small community's suit against a chemical plant in LaPlace. Then we'll chat about the 5th annual Millennial Awards in conjunction with GNO Inc's Emerge Summit. And Jessica Rosgaard sits down with Executive Director of the Office of Community Development, Pat Forbes, to talk about Louisiana's flood recovery efforts.

Next week, the gigantic spirits convention better known as Tales of the Cocktail will descend on New Orleans. Cocktail enthusiasts from around the world will come together to compare notes on everything from daiquiris to bitters. To learn more about the latter, NolaVie's David Benedetto spoke with Scot Maddox, who founded El Guapo Bitters right here in New Orleans. Visit NolaVie's website for a related article written by David Benedetto.

This week on All Things New Orleans , coastal reporter Tegan Wendland sat down with Julia Kumari Drapkin, founder and CEO of iseechange.org to talk about their online community weather and climate journal. Then, Deputy Mayor Judy Reese Morse joins us to explain the city's first-ever equity strategy, which seeks to address inequities due to economic or racial disparities. And Jessica Rosgaard discusses the documentary film, Five Awake , and domestic violence issues with former Senator Mary

For Darci Jones, bees are fundamentally misunderstood. She's the president of the New Orleans Beekeepers Club , a group focused on both beehives and the bigger ecological picture. NolaVie's Brian Friedman speaks to Darci to learn about bees and their keepers. Visit NolaVie's website for a related article written by Brian Friedman.

On this week's edition of All Things New Orleans, we discuss the GOP Senate Health Care bill with health policy expert Dr. Mark Diana. Then we'll share another episode of the Listening Post, which focused on public safety. Maroon 5 keyboardist PJ Morton also joins us to chat about his latest album, Gumbo; the singer/songwriter discusses being back in New Orleans and his "homecoming" performance at the Essence Music Festival.

Salads used to just be a side, or even an afterthought to the meal. These days, they’ve taken center stage as entrees, often with complex combinations and ingredients. French native and New Orleans transplant Jean-Mark Sens is an authority on leafy greens, and NolaVie’s Renée Peck speaks with him about the once lowly salad and its cultural evolution. Visit NolaVie's website for a related article written by Renée Peck.