Lower Decatur Street, New Orleans

The $5 Million dollar renovation of the French Market began this past weekend. The usually bustling Farmer’s Market, was bare Friday. Giant dumpsters were delivered, and two small Bobcats were dropped off later in the evening. The project should take 8-10 months to complete, and will be done in phases, with the Farmer’s Market being the first phase.

The Project for Public Spaces was hired in 2004 to redesign the Markets space to physically renovate and remerchandise the market as a local institution. The goal of the project was to make the market more useful for local residents, not just tourists. Plans for the Farmers Market are geared toward incorporating local foods and producers back into the market by providing them with a specific place to sell their goods. Other plans focused on re-designing lighting, storage, and points of entry.

Look Ma! No gator on a stick!

Read more at the Times-Picayune

Conway Horn and Jim Lewis, two local artisans who run their business N.O. Nomadness Masks in the Artist’s Market, were recently featured on the Weather Channel. The segment called “Storm Stories - N.O. Tourism” talks about the state of New Orleans tourism since Katrina. It features Jim and Conway’s shop, and one of their latest creations named “Phoenix” inspired by the city’s eventual rebirth.

Conway and Jim

Hard at work on the Weather Channel

The Artist’s Market located at 85 French Market Place and 1228 Decatur Street is open 10am-5pm weekdays and 10am-6pm on weekends.

View Storm Stories at Weather.com
Download Storm Stories from LowerDecatur.com

Join us Tuesday, August 29th at 10PM at the Whirling Dervish in saying…

FUCK Katrina

No Cover!

Free Katrina Buffet

Blue Tarp costume contest

$2 Drink Specials

1135 Decatur Street

Angeli on Decatur

• Live Swing and Traditional Jazz, featuring the New Orleans Jazz Vipers on Tuesday Nights.

Checkpoint Charlie’s

• Thursday August 24th - The American Cheese Trio - 10pm
• Friday August 25th - Damn Hippies - 7pm
• Saturday August 26th - Vern - 7pm
• Sunday August 27th - CALL CLUB
• Monday August 28th - Patient Zero - 7pm then The Fens - 10pm
• Tuesday August 29th - Acoustic Open Mic feat. Jim Smith - 10pm
• Wednesday August 30th - Kenny Holiday & the Rolling Blackouts - 10pm

Margaritaville

• Thu August 24th - Jesse Moore - 5-8pm then Danny T. 8pm-11pm
• Fri   August 25th - Jesse Moore - 5-8pm then Danny T. 8pm-11pm
• Sat  August 26th - Jesse Moore - 5-8pm then Ched Reeves  8pm-11pm
• Sun August 27th - Jesse Moore - 5-8pm then Ched Reeves  8pm-11pm
• Mon August 28th - Mr. Manny & Johnny J. - 5-8pm then Joe Bennett  8pm-11pm
• Tue  August 29th - Mr. Manny & Johnny J. - 5-8pm then Joe Bennett  8pm-11pm
• Wed August 30th - Mr. Manny & Johnny J. - 5-8pm then Joe Bennett  8pm-11pm

listings from

While scouring the net for Lower Decatur Street news, this historical right-after-Katrina gem popped up from the City Business magazine. Some of you may not have seen it, so it is posted here for all to enjoy.

Business owners on Lower Decatur Street have been relying on each other to stay afloat. The strip of stores sits behind the French Market, a top tourist attraction. Rhonda Findley and David Gordin own Funrock’n, which sells vintage and retro T-shirts, toys, tin lunch boxes and features a $1 joke rack. Findley says if they can get customers into their store, they can promote other stores on the street. This is a hard-core group of small-business owners, said Findley.

They article also says:

Angel also owns Chi-wa-wa Ga-ga, a clothing store for small- breed dogs. Fiorella’s Cafe, known for its world famous fried chicken, is next to Funrock’n. The Artist’s Market, which features work by local artists, including paintings, photos, jewelry and sculptures, is across the street from the French Market. Le Garage specializes in vintage military surplus, collectibles and other New Orleans themed items. Rock & Roll Collectibles features the largest selection of vintage vinyl in the city. Most businesses on Lower Decatur reopened shortly after Hurricane Katrina. We’ve been open since Sept. 5, said Jan Burrows, owner of The Artist’s Market. Mainly we had relief workers and some locals but not too many.

Read the whole City Business article here.

The diabolical little caffine elves at Cafe Envie are at it again.  What better way to lure people to your place than cheap booze with breakfast.  Just in time in for the merriment surrounding Southern Decadence they’ve unveiled their latest special offering.

Breakfast is served 7am-2pm at 1241 Decatur Street (corner of Barracks).  They also have Gourmet coffee drinks, sandwiches, pasteries, desserts, and a full bar with some of the tastiest absinthe in the French Quarter.

Good only through August 30 - September 4.

The Louisiana SPCA, the New Orleans Musicians Clinic and St. Anna’s Episcopal Church sponsor a jazz funeral march, interfaith service and reception to honor lost pets and celebrate the bonds that unite people and their animals. The march begins at Esplanade Avenue and Decatur Street, 5 Sun., proceeds to St. Anna’s at 1313 Esplanade Ave., with music by the Treme Brass Band and the Storyville Stompers. The public is invited to bring photos or remembrances of their pets but are requested not to bring animals. Call 415-3514 or 368-5191, ext. 202.

From The Times-Picayune