b.rox

My neighborhood organization alerted me to the fact that a bunch of properties in Mid-City were coming up for code enforcement hearings. I noticed that 3016 Bienville was on the list. (I wrote a letter to Code Enforcement about this property back in April.) My neighborhood organization further advised me that “the city is more [...]

We were sad to see a bank repo underway at the corner of N. Rendon and Iberville. That’s the site of Hair Ideas, where I sometimes got my hair cut. I forget the name of the lady who was the proprietor. I think she also owned the building, which contains some apartments. She made a [...]

After many phone calls and much wheedling, pleading and cajoling, it appears I’m getting my stripes. Those are pedestrian crosswalk-style stripes to mark the Jeff Davis bike path as it crosses Tulane Avenue. Since they were resurfacing Tulane Avenue (and Airline Highway) it seemed like a good time. The idea of course is that it’s [...]

My neighborhood is still capable of surprising me every now and again. Such was the case yesterday when we stopped by the Mid-City Community Garden for the first time. Amazing! Here in the shadow of Tulane Avenue are colorful raised beds full of beautiful vegetables. We were there for a fundraiser event — a mere [...]

Dear Mr. Carrere, Your name was given to me as a good person to contact in Code Enforcement for the City of New Orleans. Unfortunately a number of homes in my immediate neighborhood remain hazardous eyesores that have not been properly remediated since the floods of 2005. Today I am writing to you about what [...]

Here’s my new desktop wallpaper, courtesy of Brother O’Mara: This photo was taken on Iberville in Mid-City, up near N. Telemachus. I’ve passed by this drainpipe many a time and thought it would make a great picture. I finally snapped a crappy shot with my phone, which led to Brother O’Mara to visit the location [...]

I commented a year ago (to the very day!) that some sidewalks around our home were impassable, some friends recommended a stroller upgrade. They didn’t understand that our stroller wasn’t the problem. The major obstacle just around the corner was Gwen’s FEMA trailer, as pictured here: I don’t think any stroller in the world could [...]

We got a Sex Offender Notification in the mail, about a guy who’s living six or so blocks away. The card lists the following offense: “03/27/1995 14:81 2-Molestation of Juvenile.” There’s a mugshot, as well as his name, sex, hair and eye color, race, height, weight, age, and of course his address. It’s also got [...]

Woke up to the sound of screaming. Actually I was already half-awake — I slept sitting up last night cradling the girl to help with her congestion. But the screaming got my attention. Xy had just gone out the door to catch her car pool ride to work. That wasn’t her voice I was hearing [...]

Here’s a number of Mid-City things on my mind lately: Looks like they’re working to renovate the bar at the corner of Bienville and Rendon. Anyone know if they’ve applied for a liquor license? We should keep an eye on this. I don’t mind a bar near my house as long as they know how [...]

I spent an hour or so today and another yesterday distributing 200 fliers around the immediate neighborhood on behalf of Mid-City Neighborhood Organization. Here’s the text of the flier: ATTENTION NEIGHBORS: The Mid-City Neighborhood Organization Requests Your Attendance at a Public Meeting MONDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 6:30 PM Grace Episcopal Church (3700 Canal St.) To Give [...]

What’s that floating in the water? Yes, it’s a portable toilet! This picture was taken on the entrance ramp to the basement of the Lindy Boggs Medical Center on September 24, 2008. This is not Katrina flooding. Apparently all the Katrina water was pumped out. But the basment has filled back up with water since [...]

It’s gone. So that only took three years. Check out the photoset.

I’ve often fantasized about organizing a cleanup of the Jeff Davis bike path. (For some reason I thought tribal drumming would provide a good accompaniment to the task.) It seems the Big Easy Roller Girls are actually doing it. Now I can fulfill two fantasies in one fell swoop.

Police sirens drew me out of my house Saturday around midnight, and I was surprised to see a hundred young people in the street. I live behind Warren Easton High School. Their dress made it clear the school was having a dance. The police were commanding the crowd to disperse. This morning I talked about [...]

So I went to that meeting last Monday night, the scoping meeting where the Veteran’s Administration sought public input on the possibility of locating their regional medical center at the old Lindy Boggs site. I won’t rehash the background details, since I already wrote about that last week. Instead I just wanted to record a [...]

A friend of mine posted the following on our neighborhood discussion group: I was working at my other house I am renovating tonight around 8:50 pm. Rendon/Conti St. Heard four/five shots fired. Looked out the back door as the shooter sped off. Shortly after I heard the cries across the street and realized someone was [...]

Yesterday I spoke with Jennifer Weishaupt, president of Mid-City Neighborhood Organization, about the possibility of the VA hospital at the site of the old Lindy Boggs Medical Center (Mercy Hospital). As you may be aware, Victory Real Estate Investments has assembled some parcels of land, including the old hospital. They were hoping to build a [...]

A mighty wind blew through our block Friday afternoon. Xy described it as a “mini tornado.” I thought she was being dramatic until I saw the damage myself.

The Louisiana Department of Transportation held a public meeting at City Park Tuesday night to gather input for a statewide bicycle/pedestrian master plan. I missed it, but good ole Charlie London tells me we can still send ideas to [email protected] Here’s what I sent: I commute to work every day in New Orleans using the [...]