take advantage of as many local Marigny/Bywater resources as possible.

http://nolarising.blogspot.com/

The paint party on Saturday was a perfect example of why I live in New Orleans. All kinds of people, artists and not and just people who love New Orleans, all outside on a beautiful day making our city a better and more colorful place to live.

I’m a member of the membership committee for the New Orleans Food Co-op. We’re working on opening a grocery store in the neighborhood as part of a community “healing center.” Our projected date for opening is mid-2009.

It’s exciting because now all we have is Mardi Gras Zone (expensive) and corner stores (not much selection) unless you want to drive at least 20 minutes. There was a grocery store right on St. Claude, but it has yet to reopen so the closest stores are either in Gentilly, Chalmette, Mid City, or Uptown.

I will be working at the local elementary school as a literacy teacher. I will have a walking commute of 5-10 minutes. I will be actively participating in the life of this neighborhood.

I tutor a student from this school in literacy on a volunteer basis twice a week. This is completely separate from my teaching.

Christmas presents, local music, delicious BBQ sandwich. A celebration of the Bywater and close enough that I could bike over there. I took a break in the middle to go to a meeting for the New Orleans food co-op, who are working on opening a grocery storefront on St. Claude.

A mirleton is also known as a chayote squash.

at Gallier and St. Claude. On Saturday I biked up there for a pound of fresh Gulf shrimp to add to the red beans and rice I was making ($3), an 8 ounce jar of basil pesto ($6 with the discount from bringing back my old jars), and a pecan praline ($1). Lots of yummy local goodness for not a lot of money and no exhaust fumes to boot!

www.crescentcityfarmersmarket.org

For $10 you can become a member and check out any 3 books at a time. They have all kinds of world history and politics books, local zines, radical political books, and local New Orleans history books. I could be perfectly happy spending all day there.

www.ironrail.org

They have excellent paint, building materials, etc. Unfortunately, most of their paint is too tame for my taste, either that or it’s pink. Still, I admire what they’re doing. Goodness knows there are enough home renovations going on around here.

This one’s in the Marigny, but it still counts.

It’s a community bike shop where you can either fix up your bike, build your own bike from a kit, or maybe buy a bike for cheap. I was lucky enough to snag one that just needed a couple hours of work, work that I finished up today. My bike is hanging out in my room until I buy a lock tomorrow. My room’s enough of a mess with all the painting we’re doing, so the bike fits right in.

I don’t mean to brag, but it only cost me $25. Now I can save money on gas and I don’t need to drive around forever looking for parking in the Quarter.

www.bikeproject.org

I have a yellow library card with a fleur de lis on it.

I bought $6 pasta sauce and “Chocolate City” ice cream at the Mardi Gras Zone. It’s far more convenient than driving 30 minutes across town when I just need a couple things. Like bananas. They last no time at all in this heat.

Farmer’s Market Saturday from 7 am-4 pm.
Library just down the street.
Elementary school just across St. Claude.
Mardi Gras Zone for occasional groceries when I don’t feel like driving to the West Bank (which is south of New Orleans, of course).
etc.