WWOZ has long served as the voice of New Orleans's culture and as a source of information about the music community, expanded with WWOZ Street Talk: a cultural news service.
On the air and on the web, Street Talk addresses issues vital to New Orleans' cultural rebuilding: from the future of music education to the struggle to keep traditions like second lines alive.
Meet The Threadheads in this installation of Street Talk. They are self-described as a fun-lovin’, concert-goin’, booty shakin’, hard partyin’, sometimes silly bunch… and because of their strong attachment to the people and culture of New Orleans, this marvelous group of people support charity projects, helping to ensure the heart of their beloved New Orleans continues to beat.
http://www.wwoz.org/programs/street+talk/2008/09/threadheads
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) is approximately 11 miles from the French Quarter.
There are several options to get downtown from the airport. Taxicabs, shuttle buses, and public transportation have routes that can take you there 24-hours a day.
A cab ride costs $28.00* from the airport to the Central Business District (CBD) for one or two persons and $12.00* (per passenger) for three or more passengers. Pick-up is on the lower level, outside the baggage claim area. There may be an additional charge for extra baggage. $1* fuel surcharge is added to total fare.
Shuttle service is available from the airport to the hotels in the CBD for $15.00 (per person, one-way) or $30.00 (per person, round-trip). Three bags per person. Call 1-866-596-2699 or (504) 522-3500 for more details or to make a reservation. Advance reservations are required 48 hours prior to travel for all ADA accessible transfers. Call enough in advance for the specially-equipped shuttle to be reserved. For group reservations of 10 or more people please dial 1-866-596-2699. Ticket booths are located on the lower level in the baggage claim area.
Jefferson Transit's Airport-Downtown Express (E-2) picks up outside airport Entrance #7 on the upper level. For more information on public transit in the area, visit the Jefferson Transit website, www.jeffersontransit.org, or the RTA website www.norta.com.
Amtrak's Union Station is located at 1001 Loyola Avenue. Amtrak does not provide transportation to or from the airport. Passengers should use limousine, public bus, or taxi service to reach the station. http://www.amtrak.com
The Greyhound Bus station is located downtown at 101 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, 70113. For information fares and scheduling, call (504) 525-9371 or toll free 1-800-231-2222. http://www.greyhound.com
Flying to Baton Rouge? Check Reliant Transportation Group for ground transportation between Louis Armstrong International Airport and Baton Rouge, La. including Gonzales, Prairieville, Port Allen, Baker, Denham Springs and Zachary. Prices start at $90 One Way for one or two guests. Call for group pricing at: 1-866-925-8110. 48 hour advance reservations requested. www.relianttransportation.com
Automobile Rental: There are 7 car rental agencies with offices on the lower level of the airport.
Driving into New Orleans: I-10 takes you directly into Orleans Parish, and exits for New Orleans.
*any prices given are in 2008 dollars, and may change. Check with carrier for current prices.
Books about the Jazz Fest
http://astore.amazon.com/louisiana20-20/
The food offerings at Jazz Fest are delicious! There is even an official food policy of the Festival, "no carnival food."
Here are a few popular offerings, which are not available every year:
CRAWFISH MONICA
Sort of a crawfish alfredo. A delicious blend of Louisiana crawfish and pasta The sauce is a secret recipe. This is a crowd favorite!
BOILED CRAWFISH
Find a nice patch of grass, spread out and enjoy a few pounds of red hot crawfish.
COCHON DE LAIT PO-BOY
A roasted pork poboy. Slow roasted pork served on crusty French bread.
CREOLE'S STUFFED BREADS
The best and most underrated offering at Jazzfest, served by Mrs. Merlene Herbert of Creole's Lunch House in Lafayette. A baked bun stuffed with meat, sausage, cheese and pepper.
PHEASANT, QUAIL & ANDOUILLE GUMBO
from Prejean's Restaurant in Lafayette, Louisiana.
ICED TEA and STRAWBERRY LEMONADE
In addition to plenty of water, these two great beverages will help you make it through the day. The caffeine from the tea and sugar in the lemonade keep you boogying.
MUFFULETTA
It is like a mixed Italian sub with olive salad but Muffulettas are made on large round loaves of Italian bread and can easily feed two.
SOFT-SHELL CRAWFISH PO-BOY
Just as it states
MANGO FREEZE
Mango sorbet will cool you down on a hot day.
PRALINES
A sweet candy available in several flavors including pecan, coconut, chocolate and rum.
SNO-BALLS
A sure sign summer is near. This is New Orleans version of snow cones but made with finely shaved ice instead of crushed ice.
The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, aka Jazz Fest, is a 10-day cultural feast.
The music encompasses every style associated with the city, the state and region. It also invites international touring bands to perform on the larger stages. So the music encompasses every style associated with the city and the state: blues, R&B, gospel music, Cajun music, zydeco, Afro-Caribbean, folk music, Latin, rock, rap music, country music, bluegrass and everything in between. And of course there jazz, both contemporary and traditional. Some would say not enough jazz for a jazz festival.
Jazz Fest typically occurs the last weekend of April (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) and first weekend of May (Thursday through Sunday). Thursday is considered "Locals Day" by many because the hoards of visitors haven't yet descended upon New Orleans for the 2nd weekend.
The festival is held at the Fair Grounds Race Course, 1751 Gentilly Boulevard, about a 10 minutes drive from the French Quarter. Hours of the Heritage Fair are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Jazz Fest Express shuttle, city bus or taxi cabs are the best options for transportation. If you decide to drive, parking at and around the Fair Grounds is very limited. Be sure to know what is a legal parking spot, towing is strictly enforced. Do not leave valuables in your vehicle.
There is also a lot of music between weekends as music promoters and local music clubs book great acts throughout the week. In addition, there is free music, check the local schedules and Offbeat Magazine. You can find free "in store" performances at record stores such as the Louisiana Music Factory and Lafayette Square which hosts "Wednesday at the Square", a free summer concert series that includes the Wednesday between Fest weekends.
A friend of Jazz Fest passed away recently. He wrote an email to some, which reads, in part:
there once was a man name of wing,
who decided one last final thing,
it's now time to leave
take rest all bereaved
i'm off to my greatest final fling!
to all my friends, by this email know that wing/ dancerboy no longer exists in the form you knew him as. i have chosen to end my life ...
my cancer returned in symptomatic form 10 months ago. after a biopsy and series of scans i elected not to receive treatment .¤.¤.
i chose not to share the information for the following reasons:
why upset everybody?
don't have to justify my reasoning to anyone
don't have to listen to everyone's aunt marthe's famous cancer cure
now i imagine some of you might have wondered what was up, since there was no jazz fest or travel to the islands for winter dancing and fun. now you know."
Chris Rose wrote about and included a portion of Wing's letter in his column: Jazzfest fixture's e-mail arrives after he succumbs to cancer
Posted by Chris Rose, Columnist, The Times-Picayune June 25, 2008 4:15AM
http://blog.nola.com/chrisrose/2008/06/chris_rose_jazzfest_fixtures_e.html
We'll miss you Wing, keep on dancing :)
New Orleans Jazz Fest 
Useful Links
Official Fest website - http://www.nojazzfest.com/
Swag's Jazz Fest FAQ - http://jazzfest.swagland.com/
Jazz Fest Nightlife Grids - http://www.jazzfestgrids.com/
Helpful Hints for First-time Festers (and heavily seasoned vets too) and Jazz Fest PACKING List
http://www.petdekat.com/fest.htm
Put some MUSIC in your EARS--> 90.7FM 90.7FM 90.7FM 90.7FM 90.7FM 90.7FM
and make it every preset on your Rental Car radio! http://www.WWOZ.org
Put a JF BIBLE in yo pocket--> Offbeat Magazine - http://www.offbeat.com
Pet de Kat Krewe "Worldwide Festivalists" - a loosely disorganized troupe of worldwide festivalists that randomly gather and a party happens - http://www.petdekat.com/
Stay Safe at the Jazz Fest http://www.ehow.com/how_2028626_be-safe-new-orleans-jazzfest.html
Are you Festerin' For Da JAZZ FEST? Look up festering and you may find:Festering: [ fes·ter·ing ] n. — The time between flight arrival at Armstrong International Airport and dropping bags at hotel. also happens in conjunction with Jazzfesteria.
Remember, Jazz Fest Recycles! ♥ http://www.cafepress.com/recyclejazzfest
THANK YOU for continuing to donate to rebuilding and relief efforts of the Gulf Coast.
Legend of the Creole Cat
It all started in 1879, in a small town called Dekattrois, Louisiana. The myth of the Creole Cat transformed from legend to actuality. By the early 1900s, word spread all over Louisiana about a wild creature that put Dekattrois on the map.
"Legend has it that a large cat would stalk the Dekattrois neighborhoods after the heat of summer would subside, and before the chill of winter would set in. Residents would swear that they were sober when they saw a cat, over six feet high they claim, walking up on its two hind legs, terrorizing children and dogs in its path. Later a crazed resident of Dekattrois caught the Creole Cat and put it up on a pole for all to see. When neighbors saw this huge cat mounted on a pole, they would come out and pet it. This gathering which happened a long time ago was later named Pole Cat day. Who knew at the time, but an annual tradition started in Dekattrois which led to the modern times Creole Cat Festival, held every October on the even year." - Rudy Truax, Lafayette Historian
THE CREOLE CAT FESTIVAL ...
In 1922, the Creole Cat Festival became so popular that it was moved from Choctaw Park to Dekattrois Commons where a record setting 125,000 people attended in one day. On the third day of the festival a hurricane blew through and forced organizers to shut down. Dekattrois was hit with winds over 100 mph and severe flooding. Dekattrois Commons was totally devastated. We Will Rebuild was the towns response to nature. Dekattrois was never rebuilt, and eventually reclaimed by nature.
DEKATTROIS, "THE CITY OF COMMERCE"
Dekattrois was founded as a stopping point for pioneers of the west. For decades the only commercial properties were a hotel, three bars and a blacksmith shoppe.
WHERE IS DEKATTROIS, LOUISIANA
If you draw a straight line between Breaux Bridge and Mamou, you will see five lakes which appears as a paw print. Now follow these lakes due east twelve miles and you've found Dekattrois! It is rumored that the Pet de Kat Krewe (aka PDKK) has its origins in Dekattrois.
PDKK COMMUNITY VALUES
WHAT IS THE PDKK? WHERE CAN I FIND THE KREWE?
The Pet de Kat Krewe is made up of music fanatics who gather in New Orleans for Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest and any other occasion they can think of. Local chapters of PdKK span the USA and range from UAE to Tokyo, Japan to Baffen Island, Canada.
HOW TO JOIN THE KREWE
You may already be a member. We are a professional audience incorporating a loosly disorganized group of music lovers who's credo is simple:
WORLDWIDE FESTIVALISTS
The PdKK continually seeks out great festivals at can be spotted at events around the world, including but not limited to:
