Home CULTURE Downtown Living: January 2015

Downtown Living: January 2015

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Arts: Pelican Bomb to curate for The Paramount

DowntownLivingNov2013The Downtown Development District offers its sincerest congratulations to Pelican Bomb — a non-profit organization dedicated to sustaining modern visual arts and artists in New Orleans — which has been selected to curate art for The Paramount in the new South Market District. Pelican Bomb won the Downtown Development District’s Art’s-Based Business Pitch last year.

The Paramount, a state-of-the-art apartment complex on O’Keefe Avenue, has selected Pelican Bomb to gather a unique collection of contemporary, local art to be exhibited in common areas of the building. The collection includes photography, painting and sculpture by New Orleans artists like Kathleen Ariatti Banton, Rachel David, AnnieLaurie Erickson, Sophie Lvoff, Aaron McNamee, Josephine Sacabo and Jonathan Traviesa.

Each piece selected for the collection is not only New Orleans-inspired, but also specifically embodies Pelican Bomb’s goal to garner awareness for contemporary, local artists and to create professional opportunities for these artists by making their works more accessible to a wider audience. 611 O’Keefe Ave., (504) 324-7750, paramountnola.com; pelicanbomb.com; southmarketdistrict.com

Dining: Johnny Sánchez
Opened by local chef John Besh and TV celebrity chef Aarón Sánchez, Johnny Sánchez is one of the latest Mexican restaurants to be unveiled in New Orleans. This is the second Johnny Sánchez outpost in the country; the first opened in Boston back in August. Combining classic Mexican cuisine with an upscale approach under executive chef Miles Landrem’s practiced hand, Johnny Sánchez features dishes such as beef cheek sopes, tuna aguachile, lamb enchiladas, a beet and chayote salad, and blue-crab tostadas. Johnny Sánchez is open daily and offers mouth-watering specials on a regular basis. 930 Poydras St., (504) 304-6615, johnnysanchezrestaurant.com

Drinks: Craft Cocktails at CellarDoor
Sit, sip and socialize in one of Downtown’s hottest new spots — CellarDoor. Located inside the 19th-century building known as the Swoop-Duggins House, this exciting gastropub offers the best in craft cocktails created by bartender Michael Yusko (who also worked at the well-known bars Cure and Bouilgny Tavern). With a wide variety of spirits to choose from, it might be simpler to let the bartender create something magnificent, or, you could order a drink from the ever-changing menu — like a Trouble & Desire (made with El Dorado Rum, Smith & Cross Jamaican Rum, and Licor 43) or The Ridgewood (made with Powers Irish Whiskey, Yellow Chartreuse and sweet vermouth. 916 Lafayette St., (504) 383-5583, cellardoornola.com

Stay: AC Hotels New Orleans Bourbon
Originally built in 1921, the New Orleans Cotton Exchange Building has been reincarnated once again to become the first AC Hotels brand to open in North America. A few architectural details were preserved in the $12 million renovation, such as the marble archway, the tiled floors and the original glass windows. Opened only two months ago, the AC Hotels New Orleans Bourbon features 220 rooms, reception areas, a fitness center and a lounge that offers cocktails, local beers, draft wine and European-style small plates. With an urban design aesthetic and complimentary wireless, this new hotel is marketing itself to Millennial travelers who seek accommodations with social lobbies that are geared to enable use of the latest technologies. 221 Carondolet St., (504) 962-0700, marriott.com