New Orleans neighborhoods are so diverse, and each has a vibrant personality and history all its own. On this week’s episode of GoNOLA Radio, we explore the arts-rich neighborhood surrounding St. Claude Avenue. Our guest is Michael Martin, director of St. Claude Main Street, an organization dedicated to promoting a thriving cultural and economic community in the areas in and around St. Claude Avenue, including creative communities like the Bywater and Faubourg Marigny. Martin and our hosts delve into the performance venues, live music hot spots, art galleries, restaurants and bars, and the general spirit of this special New Orleans main street corridor.
Many times artists want to take a break from the commercial and focus on the creative, and the plethora of unique art galleries on St. Claude allows them to show their work. The community decided to showcase new art openings together in a series called Second Saturdays. Folks can pop around to catch killer eats, live music, and more, while walking from gallery to gallery to see new, fresh art from a host of local artists every second Saturday of the month.
Many of the spaces on St. Claude support not just music or theatre, but they embrace a multiplicity of the arts. Spots like the Allways Lounge and Cafe Istanbul are spaces for everything from alternative theatre, live music, slam poetry, burlesque shows, and more. Live music venues like the Hi-Ho Lounge and Siberia feature local musicians and songwriter showcases on a regular basis, but they’ve got regular comedy shows and poetry readings, as well.
Martin and our hosts also tell you about some of the great community and artistic support on St. Claude Avenue. The New Orleans Healing Center, an organization dedicated to providing services to benefit the physical, emotional, intellectual, artistic, and environmental well-being of its community, is home to resources like the New Orleans Food Co-op, yoga classes, and the Island of Salvation Botanica, offering spiritual aids like herbs, oils, art, incense, palm readings, and more.
And if you’re wondering how your appetite can get a piece of the St. Claude Avenue action, you’re in luck. Our hosts talk about restaurants like Sugar Park and their amazing gourmet pizzas, as well as Borracho‘s tasty made in-house charcuterie.
Listen to this week’s episode of GoNOLA Radio to learn all about the rich culture beaming from St. Claude Avenue in New Orleans.
GoNOLA Radio is a free New Orleans podcast hosted by Sunpie Barnes, Lorin Gaudin, George Ingmire and Mikko about the food, music and culture of the Crescent City. Subscribe to GoNOLA Radio on iTunes or download to your mobile device on Stitcher. GoNOLA Radio features music by Cale Pellick.
