Famous Places to visit in New Orleans...Part 2

Saint Louis Cathedral: The St. Louis Cathedral is one of New Orleans' most notable landmarks and is located in the French Quarter between St. Peter Street and St. Ann. This venerable building, its triple steeples towering above its historic neighbors, the Cabildo and the Presbytere - looks down benignly on the green of the Square and General Andrew Jackson on his bronze horse and on the block-long Pontalba Buildings with their lacy ironwork galleries. Truly, this is the heart of old New Orleans.

As the mother church of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, St. Louis Cathedral has a long and interesting history. It is the oldest continuously active Roman Catholic Cathedral in the United States, originally built in 1727 and dedicated to King Louis IX of France, “The Crusading King” who was later canonized by the Church. The original St. Louis Cathedral burned during the great fire of 1794 and was rebuilt. The present structure was completed in the 1850s.

In September 1987 the cathedral witnessed the historic visit of Pope John Paul II and the plaza directly in front of the church was renamed in the pope’s honor. Shortly afterward the status of the Cathedral was upgraded to a Basilica.

Exterior Features: The towering center spire of St. Louis Cathedral, complimented by two smaller spires on each side and a perfectly symmetrical façade opening up to a pedestrians-only plaza has been a favorite subject for painters, photographers and filmmakers for many years. Viewed from Jackson Square, with the statue of Andrew Jackson in the foreground, this is possibly the single visual image most closely associated with New Orleans.

At the rear of the Cathedral is the St. Anthony Garden dominated by a statue of Jesus with His arms upraised. At night, floodlights project an imposing shadow from the statue onto the Cathedral – a particularly awe-inspiring sight. The front is also lit up at night, illuminating the Cathedral’s powerful presence in the heart of the French Quarter. It is one of the cultural and architectural treasures of the French Quarter and no trip to New Orleans is complete without a visit to St. Louis Cathedral.

Interior Features: Although it is a Catholic house of worship, the rich history and beautiful design of St. Louis Cathedral appeals to visitors of all faiths and nationalities. The interior is open for self-guided tours when masses and other functions such as weddings or funerals are not going on. The stained glass windows and paintings in the church are extraordinary works of art, as is the Rococo-style, gilded altar that graces the front of the church.

Make sure you stop by for a visit when you visit the city!

Peace & Love, Rae

(This is not an original work but a compilation of information that was researched on the internet.)

Famous Places to visit in New Orleans…Part 1

Preservation Hall is a noted jazz performance hall located at 726 St. Peter Street in the French Quarter in New orleans, LA. It hosts nightly concerts featuring a rotating roster of bands. The bands of Preservation Hall typically performs New Orleans style jazz. The Hall has served many functions over the years. Originally built as a private residence in 1750, the hall has evolved into a tavern, inn, photo studio and an art gallery. The inside of the hall contains portraits of the musicians who first filled it with the beautiful sounds of New Orleans Jazz. Preservation Hall opened its doors in 1961. The hall was created as a sanctuary, to protect and honor New Orleans Jazz which had lost much of its popularity to modern jazz and rock n roll. Allan and Sandra Jaffe, the hall's founders, wanted a place where New Orleans musicians could play New Orleans Jazz, a style, they believed, should not disappear. Today, over 50 years later, the hall is still going strong. On any given night, it is filled to capacity with people eager to hear New Orleans jazz played by veteran musicians in their 70's and 80's and younger musicians learning and embracing music that is both sweet and very beautiful. Next time you are in my hood, The Big Easy, check it out ya’ll! http://www.preservationhall.com/ Peace & Love, Rae

Don't Try To Box Me

I have always been the type of person who enjoys a variety of different things not necessarily just those things that are identified soley with my culture or race. I am also a person who thrives on peace, balance, and harmony. If you know anything about me, then you know that my heart is big, I am a loyal and forgiving person, and while there are periods of negative storms, for the most part I spread positive light. You also would know that I greet everyone with a smile and if I know you, that smile also comes with a genuine hug. The one thing that you may not know, is that I despise being locked down, stereotyped, or placed in a box. I have friends from all walks of life, with different experiences and on very different paths. Additionally, I personally have many many different interests. I think this is part of what makes me interesting...don't you? I went to a happy hour with a friend and she said to me, after a few drinks, "...Rae you are so funny with your FaceBook posts. Ghetto with all of that Who Dat. What is that? I've never seen this side of you before." WTH...Who Dat, Ghetto? (confused blank stare...then and now). That was several months ago, but that comment struck a cord with me and obviously still weighs heavily on my mind. First of all, if you have spent any amount of time with me, then you would know that the word ghetto is not an adjective that one would use to describe me. However, last night I started thinking about all of my different social circles and I wondered what type of impressions or mark have I made on them respectively and collectively. I asked myself..self, do the people in those groups think that all of my interest are completely aligned with theirs? I sure hope not, but if they do then they clearly have not gotten to know me very well. Please know that just because I am a suburban soccer mom, it does not mean that I only listen to Justine Beiber or Celine Dion. Or the fact that I LOVE old school hip hop, that I don't also love musicals like Rent or West Side Story. And it definitely does not mean that I am ghetto just because I scream Who Dat louder than most all football season long! Get it together people and stop placing folks in boxes. Or better yet, if YOU are stuck in a box try stepping out of it sometimes. You will be surprised at what you will learn when you open yourself up to ALL that the world has to offer. And more importantly for me, don't try to rock my peace, balance or harmony by placing me in some stupid box. That's all...oh and Who Dat! Peace & Love, Rae

Love Notes

Dear New Orleans,

Please forgive me for taking you for granted. I left you high and dry without so much as a goodbye in search of greener pastures. Yes the grass was greener, but not necessarily better...for me. How I missed the taste of sweet pralines and spicy jambalaya on my lips. The seductive sway of your hips dripped in the soulful tunes of the jazz beats blaring from the Congo Square. The way that you use to tease me with your beauty and old southern charm. No one has ever been able to satisfy all of my senses quite the way you do. I miss the smell of you La Nouvelle-Orléans and I promise not to ever forget your birthday,May 7, 1718. Wrap me in your rich strong history like you use to...oh how I miss that warm embrace. How every step I took thru your boudoir that you have named, French Quarter, revealed the sweetness that you had to offer and the pillow talk that we shared laced with stories of hardship, heartbreaks, triumphs and success while jazz filled the air. I remember how old Mr. St.Charles would take me for a ride in his beautiful mobile. I loved the sound of his squeaky breaks and how he would sway from side to side while the warm summer breeze filled the car. Hmmmm wish I could go for a ride right now. No other has ever loved me quite the way you do. What a foolish girl I've been to think that there was anything in this world better than you. I really do miss all of my old friends, Preservation Hall, St. Louis Cathedral, Riverwalk and his crazy cousin Lakefront. How are they doing? I heard that they had some hard times back in 2005 when cousin Katrina rolled thru town. What an evil bitch she was. She robbed you my beloved and even had the nerve to take my dad with her. My heart broke watching you drown in all dat wata.... I prayed for you my love each and every day and I know that one day the hole that Katrina left in your heart will heal. I know that times got a little harder, when she turned around and sent her big brother BP to smear your beauty with his slick, black graffiti. But at least you got to wiggle a little with Brees and dem boys game to town and brought you that winning crown....Finish Strong! Hell yeah dey did. I pray that you know how full my heart is for you. Please forgive me beloved. I promise to never make the same mistake twice. I sing your praise from the mountain top...Who Dat! Who Dat Who Dat! You Baybee...that's who!

Loving you....like no other. Forever yours, Rae

The Conversation, Part 1

I am currently reading The Conversation: How Black Men and Women Can Build Loving, Trusting Relationships by Hill Harper. While I received this book as a gift for Christmas, I am just now finding the time to really delve into it and I have to admit that it is by far the best relationship book that I have read. I also believe that Steve Harvey's book, Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Man was a very helpful and valuable book but Harper's book has taken me to a deeper level of thinking about relationships. In particular the chapter entitled "He Say / She Say: Who's to Blame" where Harper talks about stereotypes that black men and women hold about each other and how those stereotypes can ruin our relationships and/or keep us from accepting truly committed loving relationships.

He Say:

1. Black Women are always angry;
2. Black women have an "I don't need a man" attitude;
3. Black women are sexually repressed;
4. Black women use pregnancy to trap men;
5. Black women let themselves go;
6. Black women are gold diggers (I found this one personally intersting because someone recently said this about me although I seriously doubt that you can find another person to second that notion);
7. Black women travel in packs.

She Say:

1. Black men are lazy;
2. Black men are playas;
3. When black men become successful they don't want to date black women;
4. Black men don't take on financial responsibility;
5. Black men are sexist and misogynist (another personal interest. If I had a dollar for everytime a man called me a bitch or tried to make me feel inferior because of my education, I'd be rich)

I can relate to many of these comments thru personal experiences and stories from my friends (male and female) but I never really thought about how these views are a primary source to the breakdown of black relationships. I agree with Harper in that these views can keep us sepearted and can "absolutely affect the way we relate to each other". It is not my personal belief that all black men or black women are representations of these views but I can definately see the legitimacy in these comments. I also believe that black men and women need to adjust their attitudes about each other if they ever expect to have successful, positive relationships with one another. What do you think?

Again I am am truely enjoying this book so look forward to more posts from me discussing it. But in the meantime, I will leave you with this quote from the book:

"Be mindful of what [you] reinforce by thought, word and deed"

Peace & Love,

Rae

Letting Go of the Past

Is it truly possible to let go of hurts and disappointments from your past and trust again? If you can't/won't/don't, then please explain to me how do you expect to have a trustworthy relationship in the present or future? I don't understand why people hold onto things that blocks their growth and ruins their current personal or professional relationships. Aren't you making yourself a slave to your negative experiences? How is that working out for you? Wouldn't it be more productive to simply keep the lesson but continue to move forward with an open heart, mind or outlook? Can someone tell me what does one gain by holding onto the negative? How can you truly have a relationship without completely trusting the person that you claim to love? How can you have a profitable and productive business relationship without some level of trust in your partner? It seems to me that holding onto the bad prohibits you from receiving the good.


Up until recently, I never had a good experience in my romantic relationships. But I choose to not enslaved myself to those negative experiences. Instead, I choose to look for the positive lessons in those experiences, let go of the pain and moved forward with a pure heart judging my loved one not by what the previous person did but by his character and how he treats me. The man that I am in a relationship with, I love very much and trust him completely in spite of what others have done in my past. For me, that is the only way to have a loving and successful relationship with him.


What I know for sure is that Letting Go of The Past, is the only way to receive the Blessings that God has in store for me in the present and in the future. Why don't you try it?

Peace & Love,
Rae

Giving Thanks

Happy Thanksgiving! There are so many things to be thankful for but I am particularly thankful for my health, my peace of mind, my joy, my salvation, my daughter, my family, my friends, my job and the gift of giving and receiving love. What are you thankful for? This time of the year just about everyone stop and give thanks for whatever they feel most grateful for. And they feel compelled to give to those less fortunate than themselves. How great would this world be if everyone carried that spirit throughout the entire year?



On May 20, 2007, I started a gratitude journal. Everyday since that day I have written down 5 things for which I am grateful. This ensures that every day I spend time focusing on the positive things in my life and giving thanks to God for the many Blessings that he has bestowed upon me. I use to spend a tremendous amount of time wallowing in negativity, accepting BS from people and stressing over things that simply did not matter. What a HUGE waste of my time and energy. In the beginning, it was very hard for me to become discipline enough to write in my journal everyday and to focus on the "positive" rather than the "negative", but as time went on I found the exercise to be motivating and and an inspiration to move forward. I found peace, joy and a new found purpose in life thru my meditations and journaling. We all have something to be thankful for DAILY!



I encourage you to Give Thanks not just for Thanksgiving but each and every day of your life. You are truly Blessed so I encourage you to take the time to give thanks on a very regular bases rather than focusing on the things that don't matter or only giving thanks once a year.



Happy Thanksgiving today and everyday!



Peace & Love,

Rae