Lower Decatur Street, New Orleans

The members of the New Orleans Craft Mafia (myself included) have decided to kick start holiday giving a little early this year with our Handmade Holiday Gift-Away! Just for signing up for our e-mail newsletter, you’ll be automatically entered to win cool prizes created by NOCM members.

The Handmade Holiday Gift-away runs from November 1st through November 30th, and the winners of the three fabulous prize packages will be chosen on December 1st and announced throughout the month of December via the NOCM newsletter. A special “Loyalty Prize” will be awarded, as well, to one lucky recipient who signed up for our newsletter previous to the November 1, 2006 contest start date.

The Handmade Holiday Gift-away was conceived in appreciation of shoppers who patronize and otherwise support the indie craft artists, designers, and shop owners of the New Orleans Craft Mafia. It is also our hope to raise awareness for all our fellow artists/crafters in New Orleans and the rest of the Gulf Coast.

“It’s important to support independent businesses everywhere, but especially in these regions,” says Rachelle Matherne, owner of greenKangaroo.com and founder of the New Orleans Craft Mafia, adding that small businesses in New Orleans are struggling right now in an economic climate where big business gets governmental preference and the customer base has been cut by more than half. “We are still feeling the hurt from last year’s disaster. Though it may not be in the national consciousness as much as it was before, we still need your love and support.”

You can view the contents of the prize packages, read the contest rules, and enter to win here.

If you’d like to meet the members of the NOCM in person and see their crafty wares up close and personal, the group will also host a “Last Stop Shop” holiday market at The Big Top (1638 Clio Street) on Thursday, December 21 from 6-10pm. It will double as a re-Launch party, since the original Launch Party scheduled for September 2005 was curtailed by the hurricane. This is the official kick-off for monthly NOCM-sponsored craft markets, which will begin in January at The Big Top.

We are currently accepting applications for like-minded crafty guest vendors for our Last Stop Shop Holiday Market as well as the upcoming Monthly Markets. You can apply here to be a guest vendor. We are also always accepting applications for new members of the NOCM.

Some of us will also be present at the Lower Decatur Holiday Craft Bazaar this Saturday, November 11th, and even more of us will be at the Lower Decatur Bazaar on December 16th, so be sure to stop by and say hi!

Remember how important it is to shop local and independent this holiday season! Show your commitment to the local economy by signing the StayLocal.org Holiday Pledge.

The Lower Decatur Merchants Association and LowerDecatur.com are hosting the First Annual Lower Decatur Holiday Craft Bazaar November 11th and December 16th from 10am to 6pm. The event will take place on the 1100-1300 blocks of Decatur Street in the French Quarter. On a typical Saturday the neighborhood draws a eclectic crowd of tourists and locals visiting the French Market as well as local dining, drinking, and shopping spots. This is a free event and will be publicized to bring even more shoppers from all around the region.

Free booth space is still available to local artists. Currently signed participants include clothing designers, painters, glass blowers, photographers, jewelers, and more. Interested participants need to request space in advance by contacting Joe at (504) 861-4367 (leave a message) or email “info (at) lowerdecatur.com”. We’ll need to know what sort of merchandise you will have, how much space you will need, if you would like a particular location, and if you have any special needs (i.e. electricity). Please post any general questions below, so that the answers may help others.

Space is filling fast for the November Bazaar, so please don’t wait until the last minute to apply.

Ok, everybody loves a parade, right? And everybody loves Lower Decatur, right? So, a parade on Lower Decatur is a natural, right? Well, hold on to your costumes kids, we’ve got two this year.

The first is the “666th annual Halloween Parade” leaving Flanagan’s Pub, 625 St. Phillip Street, at 10pm on Saturday, October 28th, ending at the Whirling Dervish, 1135 Decatur Street. There the party will rage into the wee hours.

The second parade is the traditional “Jim Monaghan’s Halloween Parade” on ,oddly enough, Halloween. That’s Tuesday, October 31st at 5:30pm leaving from Molly’s , 1107 Decatur Street, and wandering around the quarter before heading back to Molly’s.

Thanks to everyone who made our first event possible, especially the Lower Decatur Merchants Association for donating all the treats and supplies. Thanks to Chuck from Tyler’s Pride Produce for finding us the perfect pumpkins. Also, we’d all like to thank Dan from the Noomoon Tribe for loaning us his tables. And finally thanks to the parents and kids who painted thier hearts out.

Here are some of my favorite pictures from the day.

Friday, October 20th Mojo Cafe & Lounge hosts an excursion to the world famous House of Shock. Arrangements are being made to rent a bus at a cost of $10 per person. Please sign-up at the bar and pay as soon as possible so that the correct size bus will be reserved. Everyone will buy their own tickets at the door. There is a $2 off printable coupon.

Meet at the bar at 7pm. Call 524-1998 if you have any questions.

Wicked Orleans, at 1201 Decatur Street, is having a sale tommorrow Friday the 13th, so all you guys and gals can be dressed for the Halloween season.

All mens and womens tee shirts are 50% off,
all Harley Davidson and Durango boots are 50% off,
and everything else in the store is 20% off.
Plus they will be open from 11am-8pm, so you don’t have any excuse not to drop in and shop.

Let them know LowerDecatur.com sent you!!

The Legendary gathering of French Quarter residents, inspired by the book Obituary Cocktail by Kerri McCaffety, meets this Friday at the Palm Court Jazz Cafe from 6-7pm. They open their doors at 1204 Decatur Street for 5:45pm.  Bottoms up!
More information at the Obituary Cocktail Website.