The Buzz – September 2006

Well, here we are with no major storms, no flooding … aaaaahhhhh!

Can we start to breath again?
Well, get ready to shop and put on the ritz because Saks Fifth Avenue will be open for business November 16, following a grand-opening extravaganza on the evening of November 15. Speaking of grand openings, the gorgeous Ritz-Carlton New Orleans will fling open its doors on December 5. Stay tuned for more insider information on those events, my dear.

I just winged back to our beautiful city from Dallas, where Dr. Bob Bloom was feted with a surprise birthday party by his lovely wife, Rosie. Guests, including appellate judge Miriam Waltzer and attorney-husband Bruce, flew in from across the country to hail the birthday boy at a fabulous dinner at the five-star Mansion on Turtle Creek.

The Blooms and Waltzers, formerly of New Orleans, are now Dallasites, but they promise to keep their condos here and return often.

White Linen Night may have been dubbed Wet Linen Night, but art lovers and patrons came out in droves nonetheless. Thankfully, it was a bit cooler after the torrential rain. Major sponsors Whitney Bank, Deutsch, Kerrigan & Stiles LLP, Cabinet Works, Coca-Cola, 89.9 FM, and a myriad of other generous sponsors, were thanked profusely by the 17 art galleries that participated. Of course, the gallivanting continued until midnight at the Contemporary Art Center’s celebration and post-party featuring provocative art, entertainment, cuisine and beverages by Nirvana Indian Cuisine and Damian’s Catering, not to mention Leif Pederson’s 1944 Big Band, plus swing dance lessons. How about that?

And then … you guessed it! The fifth annual Dirty Linen Night followed the next Saturday! Royal Street flung open its doors for the art-oriented block party in the French Quarter, featuring music, food, cocktails and an appearance by the Big Easy Rollergirls. This year’s lineup of 29 galleries and shops included for the first time the George Rodrigue Studio and the Dutch Alley Artist’s Co-op. This Vieux Carre event, the brainchild of several artists from RHINO (Right Here in New Orleans) Gallery, has come into its own. Kudos to you all!

All you wonderful animal lovers out there … if you missed the recent Doggone Fun Dinner at Andrea’s Restaurant, you missed a real good time. The benefit for the Louisiana SPCA was a huge success, thanks to the delicious repast provided by generous chef Andrea Apuzzo and a coterie of show biz personalities that had the dinner crowd screaming, “Encore! Bravo!” all night long. Food critic Tom Fitzmorris proved to be a velvet-voiced Mel Torme kind of guy; Anais St. John thrilled us with her sultry “Summertime” and excerpts from Carmen; dashing Ochsner cardiologist Dr. Hector Ventura warmed hearts with powerful renditions of Latin and American love songs; and Nick Faro of Las Vegas and Fairmont Hotel fame, along with crooner Fred Brink, rounded out the evening of song accompanied by Jeanne d’Avray, Robert Seigel and Richie Ladner on piano. The big surprise of the evening? Henry Lee, of the LPO, on violin! How about those kumquats!

You need to go to Arnaud’s. The restaurant recently hosted a thank-you dinner for about 50 mover-and-shaker, fund-raising types. The dinner, prepared by chef de cuisine Gaetano DiGiovanni, was to-die-for delicious and included smoked pompano with frozen Grey Goose vodka, turtle soup, lobster poached in crème, quail de l’orange, filet au poivre and flamed strawberries Arnaud. The restaurant is a treasure.

Save the date! Pasta & Puccini, the gala benefiting the Jefferson Performing Arts Society Endowment Fund, is Saturday, November 4. For information, call 504.885.2000. Ciao!