Downtown Living: October 2017
Events: Parking Day
PARK(ing) Day is an annual global event where citizens, artists and activists come together to transform metered parking spots into temporary public parks. A project begun by San Francisco art and design studio Rebar, PARK(ing) Day has spread across the world and made its way to New Orleans several years ago. Sponsored by local businesses and organizations, this project exemplifies the importance of carving out spaces for the public in dense urban communities. On Oct. 6 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., visitors and locals alike are encouraged to visit these inspiring creations within the boundaries of the Downtown Development District between Iberville Street, Convention Center Boulevard, South Claiborne Avenue and Calliope Street. downtownnola.com/parkingdaynola
Arts & Crafts: Downtown Arts Market
Presented by the Downtown Development District and the Arts Market of New Orleans, the Downtown Arts Market (750 Carondelet St.) offers local arts and crafts on select Saturdays from 5:30-9:30 p.m. Explore this fun, friendly and well-curated market, featuring jewelry, pottery and other fine crafts, on Oct. 7. Each evening market also offers bites from local food trucks and live music from local musicians. artsneworleans.org/arts-market-new-orleans-downtown
Dining: Aglio
Located in The Beacon building at South Market District, Aglio is a new incarnation of its former occupant (Part & Parcel) from the restaurant team behind Root and Square Root. Mike Mericle and Marie Guevara, who worked at Part & Parcel from the start, purchased the restaurant and renamed it Aglio, after the Italian word for garlic. Although a few of the popular sandwiches from the former restaurant remain, the new owners have also added a few of their own Italian recipes and have created a larger menu of bar snacks served from 3-9 p.m. Stop in and try the Godfather, made with meatballs, red gravy, a Sicilian egg and mozzarella on a Gendusa Bakery sesame hoagie, and take home a bottle of the house-made orange-cello for later. 611 O’Keefe Ave., (504) 827-1090, aglionola.com
Health: Higher Power
Get ready to sweat! Built by owners Mark Berger and Brian Baum, Higher Power is an indoor cycling, yoga and TRX facility smack dab in the bustling CBD. It’s an atmosphere that promotes the importance of physical health in combination with mental and spiritual wellbeing — an East-meets-West approach that combines rigorous physical activity with meditation and yoga. This all-inclusive, welcoming studio offers a regular, rotating schedule of classes at all times of the day with skilled, attentive and accomplished instructors. The classes are designed for all fitness levels, and instructors always offer suggestions on different movements and challenges. 1000 Girod St., (504) 302-7497, higherpowernola.com
Accommodations: St James Hotel
Situated in the Banks Arcade, a landmark 19th-century building on Magazine Street, the St. James Hotel is a beautiful and luxurious getaway for tourists and locals alike. Lounge in one of the beautifully restored suites with elegant West Indies-influenced decor that pays homage to the Caribbean sugar and coffee trade to which the building played an integral part in New Orleans. Guest amenities at the 86-room boutique hotel include a lush outdoor courtyard and pool, plus lobby access to the steakhouse next door, Chophouse New Orleans. The St. James Hotel also offers guests a complimentary en suite breakfast. 330 Magazine St., (504) 304-4000, saintjameshotel.com
Music: Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival in Lafayette Square
Now in its 12th year, the Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival, presented by the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation, will take place in Lafayette Square Park Oct. 13-15 with food, music and local art. The music lineup includes performers like Luther Kent & Trick Bag, Samantha Fish, Andrew Duhon and The New Soul Finders. Keep up your strength for dancing with tasty morsels from local vendors like St. Louis spare ribs from Blue Oak BBQ, a Bavarian bratwurst sandwich from Bratz Y’all, brisket chili from Central City BBQ and Key Lime crumble from Bittersweet Confections. jazzandheritage.org/blues-fest