Listen to the last week's show featuring Monique Verdin, Jason Waggenspack, & Kevin McCaffrey |
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Dear Crosstowners, I only half-jokingly tell my friends and associates I speak with at this time of the year finding them in Paris, Norway, Italy, or even New Hampshire, or anywhere on the West or East coasts, how much I hate them. Every summer I have lived here for 50 years I have hoped to escape the humid heat my husband loves and I, yes, hate. There were a few times I escaped...to Gloucester, MA; Cody, Wyoming, (I didn't know); and an Alabama beach. But far and away I have retreated inside our home in Treme. We do have a "campsite" in the woods by the Wolf River. Wish we even got there more. We tend to have just enough we have to do in NOLA. Last Sunday, for example, I staged my first film fest ever at Crevasse 22 | River House with a trio of films resonant with St. Bernard: Kevin McCaffery's film MrGOing, Going, Gone, a scary playbook being revisited by PONO planning for a containerized shipping facility smack in the middle of that dwindling peninsular called St. Bernard. (Expect trucks galore unless the Army Corps does the right thing); Monique Verdun's film My Louisiana Love had me and the whole "theater" in tears; and The True Don Quixote, full of laughs that it is, ended on notes of pathos as well. It was an amazingly powerful afternoon, and a harbinger of more mini-film festivals to come at the Crevasse 22 | River House country retreat with nature, art, and now films. I have so many friends who share the month of August with me as their birthday month, I used to have massive Virgo parties. Less of a party thrower these days, we will never-the-less bookend Tannen's exhibition at the Historic New Orleans Collection with a day before closing day gathering to celebrate the show and my birthday, Saturday, August 27th. It is the last of the seventies for me. (Y'all come.) Tannen's 85th birthday was celebrated at the opening end of the show. That was a kick. And please come see the elegantly presented exhibition sometime before the show closes! As to other cultural beats, I was blown away by the Mayor's Office of Cultural Economy report on their projects at a news conference with the Mayor, and even more by the comments of culture bearers and young entrepreneurs attending last week. I will say this again and again: while many are bemoaning the fate of our treasure of a city, there are younger generations of native and new New Orleanians who are ON FIRE!! They aren't waiting for permission, funding, recognition, nor moving to the big cities. They are just doing it!! We have three of them on our show this week, Friday at noon on WBOK 1230 AM. Meet tech visionaries Osarumwense Adun and Marcus Rosser who will help you, as they did me, understand WEB3, NFTs, and BlockChain. Rowena Robinson reports on her Chic Nouvelle Model and Talent Management Agency planning a Guinness World Record show with an army of models this fall. Mayor's Office of Cultural Economy Director, Lisa Alexis joins us too for an update on her office's ambitious initiatives during and since the pandemic. And, see below for sound bites from the Mayor and Cultural Economy Deputy Director Alana Harris. New Orleans Film leader Carol Morten has some stunning stats too on the scope of our film industry. All that despite the Gulf Coast Midsummer heat. |
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Jeanne Nathan Host and Executive Producer |
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Friday's Guests - In Depth - Artworks - Classified - Coming Attractions - Crosstown Scenes - What is Jeanne Reading? |
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Lisa Alexis Director of the Mayor's Office of Cultural Economy Lisa Alexis is the Director of the Mayor's Office of Cultural Economy and CEO/President of the New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund corporation. Her extensive professional experience deftly combines administrative operations management, communications, and government service to her community, navigating the intricate qualities and needs of creatives and culture bearers in the City of New Orleans. No one is left behind, from large festivals to individual cultural practitioners, Lisa has made economic development opportunities and advancement her mission. |
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Osarumwense Adun CEO of NoirLands (Osa)rumwense Adun is a visionary, entrepreneur, and content creator whose personal goal is to turn Black Communities into Regional Innovation Engines. With 3 yeas experience in WEB3.0 and 6 years of research experience, he has devoted his career to bringing capital and educational resources to New Orleans for the sake of nurturing entrepreneurship in black communities . Osarumwense Adun is the CEO of Noirlands, a media based economic development corporation building impactful, novel and meaningful web3 projects for communities. |
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Marcus Lanier Rosser NoirLands Parter Marcus Lanier Rosser was born into a military household. New Orleans Based for the past 9 years with a focus in Information Technology, building black wealth while inspiring others. Currently working on launching the first black owned NFT Gallery in New Orleans, LA. |
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Rowena Robinson CEO of Chic Nouvelle Model and Talent Management
Rowena McCormick-Robinson is a veteran teacher with a strong passion for educating students and incorporating arts and culture into themed lessons. She is the oldest of thirteen children that she assists in managing in the arts. She is also CEO of Chic Nouvelle Model and Talent Management, a company which she and her husband started in 2009 geared towards helping kids, teens and young adults talented in fashion, acting, music, entertainment and the arts.
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For more information, click on the images. |
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CALLING ALL CREATIVE INTERNS! |
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The Creative Alliance of New Orleans, (cano-la.org), and Crosstown Conversations, the radio show and newsletter are looking for ambitious interns who would benefit from cultural, environmental, urban planning, film, journalism, and or tech experience and connection building. Please send resume to nat...@cano-la.org. Start your new school term off with a great assignment that should be eligible for your community service credits. Jeanne Nathan Executive Director Creative Alliance of New Orleans & Crosstown Conversations Radio Host |
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Coming Attractions For more information, click on the images. |
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Member Appreciation Night at the Ogden Join the Ogden Museum for a Member Appreciation event at the Museum, Thursday, August 18, 2022, from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. Members get in free and can enjoy additional perks such as an added discount at the bar plus one free Specialty Cocktail and a 20% discount in the Museum Store. The evening will feature: - Live music by Marshland
- Food for purchase from Chef Ms. Linda Green, The Ya-Ka-Mein Lady
- Activity table for kids led by artist Jackie Ehle-Inglefield
All are welcome and Museum Membership is not required to attend this celebration! Tickets may be purchased online or at the door. Not an Ogden Museum member yet? Join by Wednesday, August 31, 2022 to save 25% and receive extra perks! |
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Louisiana-Made Film Festival on Sunday at Crevasse 22 |
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Photos by Heidi Klee and Jemima Brady |
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Get weekly updates about culture, politics, entertainment, environment, events and highlights of local shops and creatives on Crosstown Conversations by Jeanne Nathan on the air Fridays at noon on wbok1230 AM. |
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