BIG EASY: Royal Sonesta Round Table... Festival Season Preview Edition

I love New Orleans and I love Dorothy Parker. So, imagine my excitement when I was invited to the Royal Sonesta to hear all about our fair city's upcoming festival season at this month’s Round Table Luncheon, which was founded in the spirit of New York’s infamous Algonquin Round Table. The invitation promised guest speakers, live entertainment, delicious cuisine, and, “and of course plenty of champagne, Darlings.”

I ask you -- who could say no to that?!

The event took place in the hotel’s gorgeous, newly renovated Fleur De Lis Suite, where we were greeted by a smiling gentleman with a table full of bubbly -- and, I'm happy to report, the delightful sound of popping champagne bottles was heard throughout the afternoon.

The best part... the monthly Round Table is hosted by New Orleans Living magazine's ebullient social columnist, Margarita "Darling" Bergen (pictured, right). As well as I’d thought I’d come to know New Orleans, I realized I’m still a babe in the woods when I got an eyeful and earful of the sassy Ms. Margarita. Girlfriend not only knows how to work a fabulous hat, but she works the room like nobody’s business, with a champagne flute in one hand and a microphone in the other. I'm told she knows everyone who's anyone in New Orleans. And she certainly embodies the city's energy. As gracious as she was, she also wasn’t afraid to sternly shush some chatty ladies who weren’t paying attention to the speakers.

Love. Her.

So, on to the festival news…

Marci Schramm, Executive Director of French Quarter Festivals, shared some highlights of the upcoming 29th annual French Quarter Fest, scheduled for April 12-15.

• Coco Robicheaux is playfully featured in this year’s festival poster (pictured, above), by artist Brandon Delles!
• They've added a full fourth day, dubbed Locals’ Lagniappe Day
• There are now 22 music stages, including a new cabaret stage and a traditional jazz stage
• Fireworks are back on Saturday night
• The Children’s Headquarters is expanding to both the Riverfront and the Hermann-Grima House at 610 St. Louis Street
• The kickoff party will be at the House of Blues on Wednesday, April 11 from 6-9pm, featuring singer Robin Barnes.

For a full rundown of events and cool features (like a free shuttle service and smartphone app), visit their site.

Don Marshall, Executive Director of the Jazz and Heritage Foundation discussed the following:

• An economic study showed that Jazz Fest (coming up next month!) is second only to Mardi Gras for cultural events that bring money in to New Orleans – the Saints are third!
• Congo Square Rhythms Festival is this weekend, March 24-25
• Comanche Hunters (Mardi Gras Indians) Big Chief Keith “Ke Ke” Gibson will proudly lead his formidable and always pretty gang from New Orleans’ Ninth Ward during Jazz Fest
• The foundation is stepping up support of middle and high school music programs, including a new program called “Class Got Brass? A High School Brass Band Competition,” which will donate $20,000 worth of instruments to the top three schools that compete

As Terry Verigan, the treasurer of the Tennessee Williams New Orleans Literary Festival spoke, his words were often punctuated by booming thunderclaps, for which he thanked Tennessee! He highlighted the festival’s $1 million economic impact on the city (wow!), and mentioned that tickets to the festival, happening now through March 25, must now be purchased at Hotel Monteleone. Lots of activities, check out the schedule.

After we enjoyed our fabulous lunches and veteran actor and performer Vatican Lokey favored us with some Depression-era tunes (so apropos for the occasion!), the performer who plays adult Simba in The Lion King reminded us that show is going on at the Mahalia Jackson Theater through April 15.

Finally, some lovely Nola doyennes discussed the New Orleans Opera Association's 28th annual Mad Hatter's Luncheon (this year's theme is "Alice") at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside on March 27, as well as the Parkway Promenade, April 1 from 4-7pm, which provides funding for tree planting and beautification projects on public green spaces in Jefferson Parish.

(I'm sure I missed a thing or two but, gimme a break! A girl's gotta sip on that bottomless champagne glass every now and then!)

I have to confess, I bragged shamelessly to my friends in other cities via my personal Facebook page that I’d spent my afternoon surrounded by decadent decor and colorful Nola characters, while being plied with champagne, wine, and fab food. And I got to chat with lovely New Orleans psychic, Cari Roy, the whole time.

They all agreed... Best. City. Ever!

For more information on festivals and other goings-on on New Orleans, please visit www.kidsandfamilyonline.com, and click on the events calendar.