French Market – Lower Decatur Street, New Orleans

French Quarter Festival lineup announced

Street brass band in the French Market for French Quarter Fest courtesy infrogmation http://www.flickr.com/photos/infrogmation/3455636679/

The largest free festival in the south returns with 17 stages with over 250 hours of local music in the French Quarter. Three stages of great music at the U.S. Mint and one in Dutch Alley in the French Market will have the neighborhood jumping.

Featured artists this year include:

Friday
Big Sam’s Funky Nation – Soul Rebels – 101 Runners – Honey Island Swamp Band – Connie Jones & the FQF All-Stars – Ingrid Lucia – ZydePunks – Shamarr Allen – The Revivalists – Mark Stone Band – Coco Robicheaux – Waylon Thibodeaux – Ensemble Fatien – Russell Batiste & Friends Featuring Jason Neville + MORE
Saturday
Bonerama – Anders Osborne – Kermit Ruffins and the Barbecue Swingers – Irvin Mayfield & NOJO All-stars – Little Freddie King Band – Rebirth Brass band – Christian Serpas & Ghost Town – The Tin Men + MORE
Sunday
The Radiators – Joe Krown Trio – Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue – The Bucktown All-Stars – Wild Magnolias – Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz â€“ Rockin’ Doopsie Jr – Sunpie – Susan Cowsill & Friends – John Boutte & Paul Sanchez – Amanda Shaw & the Cute Guys – Johnny Sketch and The Dirty Notes – Treme Brass Band – I’voire Spectacle – New Orleans Nightcrawlers – Loose Marbles – Panorama Jazz Band + MORE

Check the festival site for the complete and up to date schedule.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsVzWH7v-pc

Mr. Okra calls bullshit on the French Market

This award winning short documentary takes a look at one of the most colorful characters in the city, Mr. Okra. We follow him around the 9th ward and French Quarter as he shares thoughts on food and life in the city, including the story of his name. Particularly interesting is his take on the modern day French Market. “It’s gone”, he says, referring to the produce and fish markets. As he tours the market shaking his head, you can’t help but agree that it’s gone.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Et2SyVKjg5M

French Market Update

There has been some work done to the Produce Market shed over the last two weeks. It’s not exactly a rush job, but you can see some progress if you compare the photos below with the first article about the renovations. All of the walk-in coolers have been ripped out, more electrical outlets have been added, and lines marking vendor stalls have been painted. Most of this appears to be in preparation for the Flea Market vendors to make their temporary move to the Produce Market’s shed.

French Market Progress

Also, City Business has an article about the renovations and their impact on the Flea Market.

According to Richard McCall, outgoing French Market director, renovations should be completed by July of 2007. That’s a long ten months. Stay tuned for more updates.

French Market renovations underway.

The $5 Million dollar renovation of the French Market began this past weekend. The usually bustling Farmer’s Market, was bare Friday. Giant dumpsters were delivered, and two small Bobcats were dropped off later in the evening. The project should take 8-10 months to complete, and will be done in phases, with the Farmer’s Market being the first phase.

The Project for Public Spaces was hired in 2004 to redesign the Markets space to physically renovate and remerchandise the market as a local institution. The goal of the project was to make the market more useful for local residents, not just tourists. Plans for the Farmers Market are geared toward incorporating local foods and producers back into the market by providing them with a specific place to sell their goods. Other plans focused on re-designing lighting, storage, and points of entry.

Bare Farmer's Market

Look Ma! No gator on a stick!