A Traditional New Orleans Monday Dinner is Red Beans & Rice: Recipe Included
Food, Memoir, New Orleans

A Traditional New Orleans Monday Dinner is Red Beans & Rice: Recipe Included

What I love about the history of cooking Red Beans and Rice is that is was about survival, making something taste good out of a little of nothing. You can feed a family of 4-6 people with one bag of red beans and the parts of meat what was known as throw away parts back in the days of slavery and segregation. Continue reading A Traditional New Orleans Monday Dinner is Red Beans & Rice: Recipe Included

Hurricanes, African Slave Trade, and angry spirits??? My thoughts.
Non-fiction, Uncategorized, weather, Writing

Hurricanes, African Slave Trade, and angry spirits??? My thoughts.

There are African-American folktales about Hurricanes being the energy source of our ancestors; stolen Africans, beaten and lost at sea. Can Hurricanes be a mythical avenger that comes to right the wrongs of our ancestors? Souls of the sea, who unleash their wrath annually unto their oppressors?
Is there a connection between the Atlantic Slave Trade Routes and the path taken by hurricanes? If so, what about those who did not die while en route but made it to live out their lives as slaves? What vengeance do they get? Continue reading Hurricanes, African Slave Trade, and angry spirits??? My thoughts.

The New Orleans Misbelief Fruit, as known as Chinese Plums or Loquats
Gardening, Memoir, Nature, New Orleans, Urban Neighborhood

The New Orleans Misbelief Fruit, as known as Chinese Plums or Loquats

Misbeliefs are a childhood favorite that had me in many yards. Trespassing is what it would be considered now, just to get my fingers on these sweet little things. I remember jumping over fences and looking out for dogs, and though I never was told to get out of someone’s yard, I heard plenty of stories about friends who were. Some who were brave or needed the Misbelief’s so bad would go into yards where mean old ladies would hit them with a broom and call the police because some kid wanted free fruit. I guess it was trespassing. Continue reading The New Orleans Misbelief Fruit, as known as Chinese Plums or Loquats

A conversation with a New Orleans Urban Cowboy; Michael A. Hollins aka Dat Ghetto Cowboy
Culture, Memoir, New Orleans, Relationships, Urban Neighborhood

A conversation with a New Orleans Urban Cowboy; Michael A. Hollins aka Dat Ghetto Cowboy

Maybe you were dancing along the streets during a Second Line and noticed a group of men riding their horses up and down the neutral ground ( the “median-” You know, that little strip of land in the middle of a road.) and thought what horses have to do with the Second Line. Tourist aren’t the only ones with these questions. There are plenty of New Orleanians who do not know the full story of how these young men can saddle up and ride through our neighborhoods as if they were in the Wild Wild West. Continue reading A conversation with a New Orleans Urban Cowboy; Michael A. Hollins aka Dat Ghetto Cowboy

Let me show you My NOLA Neighborhood
Memoir, New Orleans, Non-fiction, Urban Neighborhood

Let me show you My NOLA Neighborhood

As I open my eyes, I’m pleased to see all that imagined sat right before me, it all was going on right outside my door, amid my neighborhood in the 504! The sights, sounds, and the pleasant smells of my neighborhood brings comfort to my heart and soothes my soul. I hope that sharing my NOLA will satisfy the desire to visit until you can visit our fascinating city. Just know that I’m here to give you a personal virtual tour of my Nola Life until then! Continue reading Let me show you My NOLA Neighborhood

Culture, Memoir, networking, New Orleans, Women

Experience the heart and soul of New Orleans with The NOLA Chic

The Nola Chic is one of New Orleans’s top lifestyle bloggers whose goal is to allow you to experience New Orleans through the eyes of the locals as well as share my share NOLA life with you.  I’ll take you on a soulful journey through New Orleans. Walk with me beyond the touristy blocks of the city. Allow me to guide you into the tightly knit communities and businesses filled with outgoing, kind and friendly locals. Come sit with me on my porch and get to know my neighbors, my family, the true New Orleans Ambassadors.  As you lend me your ear you will get to meet some of the most loving people in the world. Continue reading Experience the heart and soul of New Orleans with The NOLA Chic

Life, Memoir, Non-fiction, Poetry, Women

I am that NOLA Chic’k (Poem)

I am every Chic’k that was told she wouldn’t make it and did. I AM YOU and YOU are ME.

My life has been influenced by amazing women, most who did not look like me nor came from the same background and yet their soul mirrored ALL that I AM. I wouldn’t be All That I AM had they not gave a part of themselves to make me ALL that I AM. Our lives can be the greatest influences on the lives of others. Continue reading I am that NOLA Chic’k (Poem)

New Orleans Bucket Drummer: Street Performer or Son Who Needs To Be Saved
Children, Memoir, New Orleans, Non-fiction, Youth

New Orleans Bucket Drummer: Street Performer or Son Who Needs To Be Saved

I’ll try to trick my mind into thinking he is a child musician performing in front of a filming crew for Coke Cola, which produces Sprite, and he has both bottles. He’s drinking Sprite because it’s caffeine-free, and it quenches thirst. Yes, that’s it, because it certainly can not be a little 9-10yr old boy, on the streets of New Orleans, drumming on buckets for a few dollars, unsupervised, and if he is the adult, will take his earnings and do who knows what to this innocent child… Either way, I soon forget about him, and my life will go on without worrying about him, while he and other children like him are lost to the streets… Continue reading New Orleans Bucket Drummer: Street Performer or Son Who Needs To Be Saved

A New New Orleans or Gentrification of New Orleans?
Community, Culture, Life, New Orleans, Non-fiction

A New New Orleans or Gentrification of New Orleans?

As it stands today, well in my eyesight and on my palette, New Orleans has turned into a water-down bowl of Gumbo. It’s actually not Gumbo in some restaurants here anymore, but the wild peasant and alligator sausage soup as one tourist informed me she was served when she asked for New Orleans Gumbo… Where they do that at? It seems in this new place soon to be New New Orleans. It’s not Gumbo anymore, it’s soup, and you can get that at any grocery store in the world. Somethings have changed, modified, removed from New Orleans Culture when they start messing with the Gumbo… Continue reading A New New Orleans or Gentrification of New Orleans?

Happy Hour at Papa Legba
Music, Night Life, reviews

Happy Hour at Papa Legba

Papa Legba is a live jazz club located in West Saint Paul, Minnesota. The club is owned by a black … Continue reading Happy Hour at Papa Legba

My Bittersweet Pickaninny Dolls: New Orleans Vintage Gambina Dolls, Ninkie, and Jody circa 1700s
African American, Art, Culture, History, Memoir

My Bittersweet Pickaninny Dolls: New Orleans Vintage Gambina Dolls, Ninkie, and Jody circa 1700s

The dolls reminded me of the painful memories and difficulties growing up in New Orleans with what I was told was the wrong color skin and bad short hair, the only difference was that “Ninkie” was cute and only because she was made in the 80. A lot of my feelings were rooted not in hatred for myself but for the absence of dolls that looked like me. Continue reading My Bittersweet Pickaninny Dolls: New Orleans Vintage Gambina Dolls, Ninkie, and Jody circa 1700s

2023 NEW ORLEANS ENTREPRENEUR WEEK
Business, Entrepreneur, events, Innovation, networking, New Orleans, Technology

2023 NEW ORLEANS ENTREPRENEUR WEEK

The Idea Village announces the return of New Orleans Entrepreneur Week (NOEW) from March 27th – April 1st, 2023. This year, the celebration will offer attendees a dynamic six-day experience with national and local industry leaders across startup/business, technology, music, food and more. Produced by the non-profit business accelerator The Idea Village and presented this year by JPMorgan Chase & Co, NOEW is the premier event in the Gulf Coast celebrating the spirit of entrepreneurship, innovation, and culture in all forms, in a signature-style event that only New Orleans can host.

Continue reading 2023 NEW ORLEANS ENTREPRENEUR WEEK

Chitlins aka Chitterlings: My Family’s Holiday Cooking Tradition with Recipe
African American, Culture, Food, Memoir

Chitlins aka Chitterlings: My Family’s Holiday Cooking Tradition with Recipe

Chitterlings are part of my childhood memories my mom and sister both taught me their recipe, my version is a combination of both. The smell reminds me a getting ready to go 😆 to my Auntie or my Momo house. Not very ppl eat them anymore but, I will continue to cook them. With all that said who want some??? My Auntie Grace Hollins not here to eat them all. 😆 Dionne Miller Continue reading Chitlins aka Chitterlings: My Family’s Holiday Cooking Tradition with Recipe