DO Halloween in New Orleans is fast approaching. Get in the mood with the Historic New Orleans Collection tour “Historic Haunts: The Myths and Legends of the Vieux Carré” throughout the month of October. This exploration reveals the truth behind New Orleans more seedy legends and the French Quarter’s most infamous characters. It’s spooky and informative and most of all, really fun! Tours Oct 1-31, Tuesday through Sunday at 2pm. $5, free for HNOC members. Note, intended for adult audiences. Meet at 533 Royal Street.
GO Join us in this adventure outside of Orleans Parish! Head north to Natchitoches for the 56th Annual Fall Pilgrimage/Candlelight Tour. Experience the charm of Louisiana’s original French colony by touring some of the most famous plantations including the Rusca House and Scott Corner House. Guests may visit the homes in any sequence, but make the Steel Magnolia House your last stop for wine, cheese and music. Tours Friday, October 8th from 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM. Tickets range $15-$38 per person. More details here.
EAT We’re superfans of the cozy, colorful Lebanon’s Cafe which serves up some of the freshest Lebanese food in the city. Lebanon’s is our #1 Middle Eastern restaurant pick in New Orleans, and with good reason – from the warm, soft pita bread and bottomless Lebanese iced tea that kicks off the meal to the bright, crisp tabouli and juicy chicken shawarma, the scrumptious and authentic cuisine here is high quality and generously portioned with a kind pricetag to boot. The oft-neglected vegetarians of New Orleans will find refuge in the plentiful meat-free options as well. Open daily for lunch and dinner. 1500 S. Carrollton Ave.
SEE Fashion in New Orleans can range from just-woke-up nonchalance to over-the-top insanity. See it all at the I Heart Southern Style, an evening of art, fashion and music that celebrates New Orleans style and culture and the relaunch of two of our favorite local blogs, I Heart NOLA and Slow Southern Style. Vendors will be selling locally-made apparel and there is a range of live performances headlining with The Breton Sound. Held at The Factory (next to The Maple Leaf). Admission $5 in advance, $10 at the door. 8:00 PM – 11:30 PM.
DO Get ready for a pub-crawl like you’ve never seen. Teams of 2 to 5 people will have to make their way through a French Quarter Pub Crawl and answer questions and complete challenges based on HIV prevention information for the first ever GAY-Mazing Race: A Pub Crawl with a Twist. Prize baskets include Halloween party passes, bar and restaurant gift cards and a few things for use in the boudoir. Sunday October 10th. 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM. $10 registration includes brunch. 21+ only. Saints viewing party to follow. 507 Frenchmen Street.
LAGNIAPPE Join us in showing some love for the residents of the New Orleans Women’s Shelter at their first ever I’m Every Woman fundraiser at Howlin’ Wolf. The event will feature celebrity women monologues, a silent auction, musical performances, and tastes from an array of different local restaurants. Patron Party will be from 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM. and the main event is 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM. Tickets are $25 for students, $50 regular priced. 907 South Peters Street.
Sloane Berrent is a cause-based marketing and social branding consultant, nonprofiteer and budding social entrepreneur. She uses social media, product evangelizing, fundraising and community development services to help for-profit and nonprofit companies with a focus on social action campaigns. Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, she has lived in Burlington VT, Boston MA, Rome Italy, and Los Angeles, CA. She spent 2009 as a digital nomad, traveling the world experiencing life and volunteering including stints in South America, New Orleans and three months in the Philippines as a Kiva Fellow.
She co-created “Cause It’s My Birthday” a campaign to raise money (over $19k to date) and awareness for malaria prevention in Ghana. Sloane moved to New Orleans as her new home at the end of 2009 and co-launched NOLAlicious, a weekly newsletter of events in New Orleans. She was recently named the citizen journalist to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland for the MySpace and The Wall Street Journal communities. Her consulting practice, Answer With Action, focuses on strategic integrated marketing consulting. She speaks frequently on building community and blogs at The Causemopolitan.
