Ariee is Killing Me Softly
<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">New Orleans based R&B star Ariee is killing me softly with her new EP 8. So thrilled to have met up and get to know Ariee over coffee and a rainstorm. </p>
That One Thing with Kay Charbonnet
<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">One of the best ideas I’ve had over the years was coming up with a interesting and authentic way to highlight people who I admire and respect for their purpose, talent, and their dedication to the city we call home.</p>
Malia Luna
<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">I toiled and toiled for many years on the thought of getting a tattoo. As a creative person, more importantly as a designer, the hardest part of getting a tattoo was the deciding what the image would be. It was crucial that it was just right, because it will be there till the end.</p>
“That One Thing” with Sheba Turk
<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Nola Native, <a href="http://www.wwltv.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>WWL TV's</strong></a> Eyewitness Morning News Co-anchor, and all around hustler, <a href="https://www.shebaturk.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Sheba Turk</strong></a> is one of the hardest working folks in the local spotlight. My family has always caught the news on WWL each day, but it's when my momma says "that Sheba is something else", I tend to pay closer attention.</p>
That one thing : Katherine Rowan
<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Since the beginning of this year, I've been following the super talented <a href="https://www.instagram.com/katherine_rowan/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Katherine Rowan (@katherine_rowan)</a> on Instagram, and have been extremely impressed with her point of a view as well as her focus on the culture and beauty of New Orleans.</p>
PJ Morton is sticking to his guns.
2016 has already been a stellar year for PJ Morton. Earlier this year, Morton released his most recent love letter to Nola, “Bounce & Soul...
Olesya’s Candy Shop
<p>Artist Olesya has done it again with her latest solo exhibition "Candy Shop" in the warehouse district at Steve Martin Gallery this evening. </p>
Patrick Melon
<p style="text-align: center;">I’ve been a huge fan of photographer and explorer <a target="_blank" href="http://melon.photos" rel="noopener noreferrer">Patrick Melon</a> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.instagram.com/melontao" rel="noopener noreferrer">(AKA @melontao)</a> for quite some time. His images drip with passion, grit, and reflect life in New Orleans like no one else. His work is authentic through and through. </p>
Scott Jarrett — General Public Designs
<p>A few months ago when <a target="_blank" href="http://www.hattiesparks.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">Hattie Sparks</a> opened up her second location in the CBD, I was quite taken and equally blow away by not only the curated space in all it's super clean glory but the pieces of artwork that were hanging in plain view as you walked through the doors.</p>
The Toyota Effect & St. Bernard Project
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.stbernardproject.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer">The St. Bernard Project</a> is one of the most successful non-profit organizations in New Orleans. Folks from down the street and from around the world gather to give their time to make the lives of folks who are need of help to rebuild after Hurricane Katrina.</p>
Marianna Massey
<p>Photographer <a target="_blank" href="http://www.mariannamassey.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Marianna Massey</a> is one of my favorite photographers/creatives in New Orleans. Specializing in lifestyle, fashion, sports and entertainment photography, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.instagram.com/mmimages" rel="noopener noreferrer">Marianna's Instagram feed</a> beams with excitement from locations all over the world.</p>
Hayley Gaberlavage — Southern Vice
<p>One of my favorite artists and pal <a target="_blank" href="http://www.hayleygaberlavage.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">Hayley Gaberlavage</a> is having an exhibition showcasing her latest work this coming Saturday evening. I have been a huge fan of her work for years and I truly believe her latest pieces are her best yet.</p>
Sammy Bosalavage
<p>Just this past year I was fortunate enough to spend some time learning a little bit about the Jewish faith and life here in New Orleans. A friend of mine whom I met through another mutual friend invited me to shabbat earlier this year and I was thrilled to attend. It was a great experience for me and I was totally enamored by the conversations and the passion each person showed for their faith.</p>
Laura Steffan
<p>I remember the day I stumbled upon freelance photographer <a target="_blank" href="http://www.laurasteffan.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">Laura Steffan's</a> images on Instagram. I was led there in an email from VSCO, the makers of my favorite editing app VSCOCam, and from the jump I was blown away.</p>
10 Years Stronger
<p>For years I've wondered and fantasized about what it would be like to be on the Mercedes-Benz Superdome field on gameday. I contemplated reaching out to the powers that be so many times, but I pushed it aside and in the end as I got busier and busier over the years. Based on the image you see above, the fantasy became reality at this past weekend's Saints home opener. </p>
Zack Smith — My Louisiana Muse
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.zacksmith.photography" rel="noopener noreferrer">Zack Smith</a> is one of the hardest working, prolific, and talented photographers I know. The title "renaissance man" is thrown around and attached to lots of folks, but Zack is the the title in it's truest form.</p>
Time Is Money
<p>Earlier this year I posted a photo on Instagram of some fantastic street art that caught my eye around town. I remember that I also posted it to my Facebook iHeartnola.com page and within the amount time it took take to make pop-tarts, there was a negative comment. I dwelled on the comment for weeks, sort of in awe. It was surrounding the idea that street art was defiling the city of New Orleans with it's blight. I have to admit, and this is totally my opinion, that the street art found around our city is part of the fabric and culture of New Orleans. Of course as a photographer, the city is my backdrop and the street art is my own visual MDMA.</p>
Nikki Carter
<p>Editor, writer, and blogger Nikki Carter is hustling. Nikki first caught my eye with her super engaging creative series "Workflow Wednesday" on her website Spirit Style and Scribe.</p>
Gwendolyn Knapp
<p>I haven't known the creative spirit in New Orleans to be any more vibrant than at this moment in time. There are so many folks around town doing the damn thing and hustling out there, and the community is growing and shaping the city. That brings us to our latest feature writer/editor <a target="_blank" href="http://www.gwendolynknapp.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">Gwendolyn Knapp</a>. </p>
Jenna Guidry
<p>Singer/songwriter <a target="_blank" href="https://soundcloud.com/iamjgmusic" rel="noopener noreferrer">Jenna Guidry</a> is an old soul paired with a modern voice and approach to her craft. As a student at NOCCA, Jenna has been given the freedom to explore and grow as an artist.</p>
Holly Hobbs
<p style="margin-right: 0px;">Holly Hobbs is one of the most fascinating creative folks I've met as of late. Frankly I had only been barely aware of her & her work though her Twitter account, <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/holl_x" rel="noopener noreferrer">@Holl_x</a>. Even though she's become well known for her ever evolving project <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/NOhiphoparchive" rel="noopener noreferrer">Nola Hiphop Archive</a>, Holly's talents couldn't be any more diverse and eclectic.</p>
Augusta Sagnelli
<p>Fashion + commercial photographer and Connecticut native, <a target="_blank" href="http://augustasagnelli.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">Augusta Sagnelli's</a> work caught my eye on Instagram earlier this year. Since then, I have become a huge fan of her dynamic perspective and approach to photography.</p>
Dustan Louque — Campo Santo
<p>With the advent of streaming music and the evolution of the modern music machine, it's hard not to get lost in it all. Authenticity is a dying art in the the music world especially with all the manufactured sounds and emotions in a majority of today's biggest hits. I have to admit that I can appreciate pop music, mostly in small doses. Today and in the world we live in, authenticity is hard to come by.</p>
Tania Dall
<p>A few years ago, during whatever storm we were hunkering down for, I remember watching the 10 o'clock news on WWL Channel 4 as it began to roll in. That current storm was the news of the day and was on everyone's mind.</p>
Nolachick X Exhibit Be
<p>Way back in the day, right when New Orleans was coming around to Twitter, I signed up. Not really knowing what to make of it or even what to do with it, the Nola Twitter community was taking shape. One of it's mavens was and has always been <a target="_blank" href="http://www.nolachick.net" rel="noopener noreferrer">Nolachick</a>. Marielle, aka Nolachick, has become one of the most well known, versatile, and prolific models in and around town.</p>
Skylar Fein
<p style="margin-right: 0px;">It's been nearly 7 years since The New Orleans Museum of Art hosted a one man show featuring the work of artist <a target="_blank" href="http://www.jonathanferraragallery.com/artists/skylar-fein" rel="noopener noreferrer">Skylar Fein</a>. I can admit, even years later, that show was one of the best and most memorable events I'd ever been to in the city to date. </p>
Alys Arden
<p>Native New Orleanian novelist and author of the wildly popular "The Casquette Girls", Alys Arden, recently took time out to walk around her favorite part of the city, chat about her work, and pose for a few photos along the way. </p>
Rebecca Rebouche’s Dreamsicle
<p style="margin-right: 0px;">"Hustle is the dark horse of creativity, the close cousin of grit and tenacity. Without the hustle, drive, and complete devotion to making things happen, you are average."</p><p style="margin-right: 0px;">Artist and native New Orleanian <a target="_blank" href="http://rebeccarebouche.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">Rebecca Rebouche's</a> quote above could not be anymore honest and inspiring. The moment I discovered this quote on the back of issue #2 of the magazine <a target="_blank" href="https://thegreatdiscontent.com/interview/rebecca-rebouche" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Great Discontent</a>, I was instantly reminded of why being a creative person is my crash course destiny.</p>
Cristina Perez — #NolaSweetestThing
<p style="margin-right: 0px;"><span style="font-size:14px">Local New Orleans Jazz & Contemporary singer/songwriter <a target="_blank" href="http://www.cristinaperezmusic.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">Cristina Perez's</a> style has been referred to as "sultry, smooth that is part Ella Fitzgerald, part Norah Jones". Being included in such company certainly denotes some serious chops. A true renaissance performer, Cristina's range extends through all disciplines including acting, dance, and her most prolific, singing.</span></p>