Researching The Mardi Gras Indians

Website: http://www.hnoc.org/collections/research-center.html

The main purpose of my time here in New Orleans is to research the Mardi Gras Indians for their Council. The specific research I am doing is to obtain the necessary permissions needed so that the work we have been doing for the Indians at Ohio State can be finished. I have been working on an honors based research project for two academic years involving the Mardi Gras Indian Council (MGIC). Last year I worked with a group of students (Tessa Feick, Steven Foley, Vikas Pulluru and Tiffany O’Connor) and creative director  Mike Yearling to help develop and create a documentary and website for the Council.

Last year we finished the documentary, but still needed to obtain permissions for photos and videos. The website also was not finished. My work at the Williams Research Center will help to do both. The Williams Research Center owns the rights to some of the work of film creator, photographer and artist Jules Cahn, as well as the collection of photographer Michael P. Smith. Both artists have a large number of Mardi Gras Indian materials located at the Williams. A description of their work is located on their digital online collection, but the majority of the images and videos are not available online. I had to go to the Williams to view these in-person. I will bring my research findings back to Ohio, and with the guidance of Mike Yearling and Dr. Virginia Cope, we will identify the best images and video for the documentary and website.

The Ogden: Art The Southern Way

The Website: http://www.ogdenmuseum.org/

The Ogden Museum of Southern Art is full of a variety of art styles, from a range of periods. The museum is relatively cheap as far as admission prices are concerned. Admission is ten dollars, but for students the admission is eight dollars. There are four floors of art, and you can get through the museum in about forty minutes to an hour if you take your time. I do suggest taking the time to visit The Ogden.

If you like art, I suggest you take the time to also visit The New Orleans Museum of Art as well. This museum includes a large variety of art from artists around the world. When I was here in December I was able to see the work of some of the all-time greatest artists, in Picasso and Monet. Currently the New Orleans Museum of Art has a Civil War exhibit. I plan to visit the museum again before I return. I am a big fan of art, and the art museums of New Orleans have helped me to experience many different artists – from contemporary, to all-time great, American, foreign, and more. There is something for everyone.

Insta-Gator Ranch & Hatchery

Website: http://www.insta-gatorranch.com/

I have always found alligators and crocodiles interesting. The insta-gator farm in Covington, LA (about an hour from New Orleans) allowed me the opportunity to experience my interest. The tour guide was used humor and corniness to teach about the alligator, and discussed some interesting facts about the crocodile too. For example, the crocodile is much more aggressive than the alligator, and is known as the real man-eater between the two. While the alligator will attack humans, they generally do so when you get too close them, their nests, or their homes.

During my visit I was able to see many juvenile alligators ranging from about nine inches in length to roughly four feet in length. I was able to pet and handle some of the very small (9-12 inch) alligators. I also had the chance to see the guide handle a three or so foot alligator. All handled alligators had their mouths taped shut. During the tour we fed the alligators marshmallows of all things, which allowed for some interesting photo opportunities.

The Insta-Gator ranch claims that about six in ever one hundred alligators in the wild live to adulthood. The farm is able to double that success rate, and generally releases about twelve per hundred. This helps to increase and stabilize the population, which was once endangered, without overpopulating. The alligators who do not make it to the wild are used to help fund the ranch through food processing, clothing, and even alligator food. The ranch claims that they use every part of the alligator, and nothing goes to waste. They also claim that if they do not take all of the eggs from a nest when they go into the wild that the mother alligator will usually unintentionally kill the rest of the eggs by smashing them when they defend their nests – so if they don’t take all the eggs, the eggs will be killed anyway.

There are some ethical and moral concerns when considering this establishment, but ultimately, in the south alligator is manufactured, sold and eaten just like cows are in the north. Alligators are going to be killed and sold for food, so this establishment raises the alligators, releases some to keep the population healthy, while also making a healthy profit in the various alligator markets.

Still, even with the ethical and moral concerns considered, this is still a very fun place to come if you are in the New Orleans area. I never would have thought to visit such a place if it weren’t for a classmate, Bryce Jones, who had decided to do his research on alligators. Thanks to him, each of the students and faculty were able to experience this alligators.

Angeli on Decatur: Great Food, Reasonable Prices

Angeli on Decatur is a great place to eat in the French Quarter, and they deliver. They have a wide variety of food, and their pasta salad is to die for. This is a great place to eat no matter your diet – even if you are a vegetarian. I have eaten a wide variety of their food, and everything I have ever eaten is delicious. Whenever I come to New Orleans, I have to have Angeli on Decatur – their food is that good, and their pasta salad is even better!

Angeli on Decatur is reasonably priced, and complete meals – including beverage – average $10-12, although you can get away cheaper than that. There is a charge for delivery, and the delivery area is somewhat limited to the French Quarter area. The deliveries are done on bicycle, so you will want to include a tip if you order delivery. The delivery typically takes between twenty and thirty minutes.

On top of their food being delicious, I have always had great experiences with their servers, delivery people and while ordering over the phone. The people at Angeli on Decatur know the definition of customer service.

Angeli on Decatur is conveniently located in the French Quarter on Decatur. Their address is 1141 Decatur Street New Orleans, LA 70116, and their phone number is (504) 566-0077. There is a map below that shows their location. You can find their menu online at http://angelirestaurant.webs.com/

Food Images

Below I have displayed some images of the food that I have ordered from Angeli on Decatur.

Gyro – Lamb meat, lettuce, onions, tomatoes, and caciki sauce – $7.25

Roasted Eggplant Sandwich – Mozzarella cheese, roasted eggplant, pesto sauce, red onions, roasted red peppers, and sundried tomato aoli – $8.00

Italian Feast Sandwich – Mozzarella cheese, pepperoni, ham, genoa salami, and red onions dressed with lettuce and tomatoes – $7.75

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