What's Up Downtown
9 September 2016 Issue
ONE MORE WEEK TO DOWNTOWN NOLA AWARDS

University Medical Center New Orleans President & CEO Bill Masterton will serve as the keynote speaker at this year's Downtown NOLA Awards. Check out this year's five honorees to be celebrated at the luncheon on Friday, September 16 at the Astor Crowne Plaza located in Downtown New Orleans at 614 Canal Street. The luncheon will be hosted by Camille Whitworth and will be held from Noon to 1:30 pm, with networking and cocktails before from 11:00 am to 11:45 am. Click here to view the honorees and to buy tickets.

LAST DAY TO SUBMIT!
#DowntownNOLA Instagram Contest
Tag your favorite Downtown spot on Instagram with #DowntownNOLA. The top 12 photos will be featured in an exclusive exhibit! Contest ends Friday, September 9. 

PARK(ing) DAY NOLA
Submissions due Sept. 23

The DDD is holding an open call to artists, designers, architects, landscape architects, urban planners and any other local activists to submit design proposals to be constructed for New Orleans PARK(ing) Day. PARK(ing) Day is an annual, open-source global event where citizens, artists and activists collaborate to temporarily transform metered parking spaces into "PARK(ing)" spaces: temporary public places.

Click here for more information.

SAINTS KICKOFF RUN

The 5th Annual 5K (3.1-miles) race will take place on Saturday, September 10, the day before the Saints home opener, making it the ultimate fan experience.

The SAINTS KICKOFF RUN begins at 7:30 am, with a half mile Kids Fun Run following at 9:00 am. Gumbo and Sir Saint, the club's mascots, and members of the Saintsations, will be in attendance to cheer on runners. The course begins in Champions Square and ends with fans sprinting through the Saints team tunnel to the finish on the 50-yard line at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. New to the race this year, runners will able to view themselves on the brand new giant video boards above each end zone. Following the race, participants can enjoy live entertainment, a Bud Light beer garden, and jambalaya in Champions Square. All participants will receive an official race shirt and a finisher's medal.

FULTON ST. FAN FEST

Fulton Street Fan Fest kicks-off Sunday, September 11 at 4pm. on Fulton Street with live entertainment and food and drink specials. Fulton Street Fan Fest takes place after every black and gold Sunday home game this season. Enjoy convenient parking in Harrah's self-park garage validated with purchase from Manning's and a complimentary shuttle to the game from 10 a.m. -noon with your parking ticket (based on availability).

New Orleans 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb commemorates first responders Sept. 10 

The inaugural New Orleans 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb will be held on the morning of September 10 at 400 Poydras Tower from 7:00am until 12:00pm to honor the sacrifice of fallen heroes. Following the climb, Barcadia Bar, Restaurant & Arcade will host a Brotherhood Bash Block Party with local band Flow Tribe headlining. Proceeds from the event go toward the Louisiana Heroes Project, a non-profit organization that proudly supports Louisiana military, veterans, wounded, first responders and their families.

NEW ORLEANS PUBLIC LIBRARY EVENTS FOR BOUCHERCON WORLD MYSTERY CONVENTION

The New Orleans Public Library is hosting a series of events in partnership with Bouchercon, the world mystery convention that celebrates the creators and devotees of mystery and detective fiction. Events include an evening mystery writer reception benefitting the Friends of the New Orleans Public Library, a visit to the Waldorf School of New Orleans by children's author R.L. Stine, as well as Bouchercon Kid Day featuring comic book and mystery-related activities. Click here for more information.

HARRAH'S 7-STAR PARADE

Harrah's New Orleans Krewe of Seven Stars will roll on Saturday, September 17 at 3 p.m.  The parade features 788 riders on 14 super floats and the St. Augustine Marching 100.  The approximate 1.5 -mile parade route will begin in front of Harrah's hotel, proceed down Poydras Street, make a left on Tchoupitoulas Street, right on Julia Street, right on Camp Street, right on Canal Street and circle Harrah's casino before disembarking at the intersection of Convention Center Boulevard and Poydras Avenue.  As a result of the parade, there will be street closures along the route while the parade passes. Please encourage your guests and patrons to come out and enjoy the fun!

Click here for route.

AQUARIUM SCALES & ALES

Soak up the sights and sounds at the 7th annual Scales & Ales event with wine and beer from open bars and delicious cuisine from more than 40 local restaurants. Live entertainment and a unique aquatic atmosphere are highlights of the event as it flows throughout the Aquarium and onto the plaza overlooking the Mississippi River.

The DDD is proud to be a sponsor. All proceeds benefit the Aquarium's valuable work in education and conservation.

Louisiana Contemporary presented by The Helis Foundation
Now - September 18, 2016
Louisiana Contemporary presented by The Helis Foundation is a statewide, juried exhibition organized by the Ogden Museum of Southern Art. Established in 2012, this annual event promotes contemporary art practices in the state of Louisiana, provides exhibition space for the exposition of living artist's work, and engages a contemporary audience that recognizes the vibrant visual culture of Louisiana and the role of New Orleans as a rising, international art center.

Developer BLT and Salamander Hotels & Resorts Reimagine Historic NOPSI building as New Orleans Luxury Hotel

The historic headquarters of the former New Orleans Public Service, Inc., (NOPSI) is being reinvented as a luxury 217-room hotel called NOPSI Hotel, New Orleans. Located in the city's vibrant Central Business District on the corner of Baronne and Union streets, the nine-story brick building originally opened in 1927. It will reopen as NOPSI Hotel in spring 2017 after a meticulous restoration returns each space to its previous splendor, including the building's street facades, cast iron rails and stone panels. Read more...

HELPING FLOOD VICTIMS WITH SCHOOL SUPPLIES

Audubon Nature Institute is teaming up with New Orleans Saints player Thomas Morstead and his foundation on the Team Comeback Kids initiative to collect school supplies for students affected by the recent Louisiana floods. Bring your donation of new school supplies to the Zoo, Aquarium or Butterfly Garden and Insectarium by September 18 and receive a discount! Click here for details.

CRESCENT CITY FARMERS MARKET STAYS DOWNTOWN!

After spending more than two decades on the corner of Magazine and Girod streets, the downtown Crescent City Farmers Market is moving to a new home in Downtown NOLA. Starting Oct. 1, the Saturday morning market will be at the parking lot outside the May Gallery, at 750 Carondelet St., organizers announced Aug. 27.
 
Real Estate developer The Domain Companies, which is a partner in the lot and adjacent buildings, has donated space to both the gallery and the market.

Sign Up for NOLA Ready For National Preparedness Month 

This September is National Preparedness Month and City officials are urging all New Orleans residents to sign up for the NOLA Ready Emergency Alert System, which provides accurate, immediate emergency notifications from the City of New Orleans to residents' cell, work or home phones via text message, e-mail or voice message. The City also urges any resident who may require special assistance during emergencies to sign up for the City's Special Needs Registry. Residents can get more information and sign up for both at ready.nola.gov. 

 Art Downtown

LeMieux Galleries
 
Amy Guidry
"In Our Veins"
        &
Lee Deigaard
"Near and Far"

Now - September 24, 2016
 
332 Julia St.
Click here for a listing of exhibits.

TRAFFIC ADVISORIES for Downtown




Picayune Pl.

Picayune Pl., between Natchez and Gravier streets closed to vehicular traffic with no on-street parking, during work hours while crews perform exploratory excavation work. Due to underground utility conflicts, the Sewerage and Water Board must redesign placement of the new waterline prior to installation. Once exploratory excavation work is completed, the street will be temporarily asphalted and open to vehicular traffic until waterline replacement work begins.
 
Waterline replacement work is expected to be complete sometime this summer. During this time Picayune Pl., between Natchez and Gravier streets, will be closed to vehicular traffic with no on-street parking, during work hours.

For more information about these projects, or to sign up for regular e-mail status updates on the FEMA-funded Waterline Replacement Program, contact Kristen Sawyer at kksawyer@nola.gov or 504-658-8483.


TRAFFIC COORDINATION MAP 

View Areas Impacted by Construction

 

City of New Orleans Department of Public Works has traffic coordination maps for the major portions of the City that are currently being impacted by construction including Downtown New Orleans. Visit www.nola.gov/dpw/traffic-coordination to view them. The maps are updated every 2 weeks.

 
DOWNTOWN NOLA APP

Downtown in the Palm of Your Hands

Download the free Downtown NOLA Mobile App featuring the Downtown guide, SafeWalk and ways to communicate directly with the DDD about Downtown matters. Download now by clicking on one of the links below to have Downtown NOLA in the palm of your hand.

ADD YOUR BUSINESS TO THE DDD WEBSITE

Downtown organizations may register and add their company and/or event to the site for free. Click here to begin your post. 

 

Don't miss this opportunity to let us help promote you!

 

And be sure to follow us on Twitter @DDDNewOrleans & Instagram @DDDNewOrleans and like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/DowntownNola. 
SAFECAMNOLA.COM 

Register Your Security Camera with NOPD to Help Fight Crime

 

If you own a security camera in New Orleans, you can now register it with NOPD to help detectives solve crimes in your neighborhood and provide strong evidence to put offenders away. 

 

The New Orleans Police and Justice Foundation, in partnership with the NOPD, launched a new online service called Safecam NOLA.  The program allows residents and business owners to register their security cameras with New Orleans Police. The SafecamNOLA project is an expansion of "Safecam8," which was an on-line program that Downtown residents and business owners in the Eighth Police District have been using for years to register their cameras with Eighth District police.  The 1,302 8th District cameras that are in that system are now included in the citywide SafecamNOLA system.  

 

Please visit www.SafecamNOLA.com to enroll today.

 
RECYCLING BINS BEING DELIVERED DOWNTOWN
Glass Recycling Included 

Citizens in Downtown New Orleans can call 311 to request delivery of the blue recycling bins if their property is eligible for collection by the City.
 
Residents and small businesses can recycle paper, small metals, cardboard and plastics (#1-#7) on Tuesday of each week. Glass will be collected on Thursday.
 
Collection of recyclable materials operated by Empire Services. For more information visit www.nola.gov. 

RTA INCREASED BUS SERVICE

The RTA Board of Commissioners has increased bus service by over 11 percent to support more job access and make weekend and late evening travel more convenient. Click here for the new schedule.
 
These changes include 5am start times and 24 hour service on many routes used by commuters to access Downtown employment centers, education facilities, and medical care.
 
These service enhancements are designed to restore weekend service in many areas, improve neighborhood access, provide connectivity to major transit lines, and increase frequency on many lines. Additionally, an express line has been added to the Louis Armstrong International Airport to provide access to jobs at the airport and at the new terminal construction site.