It is an honor and a privilege to work with our university partners at our new, state-of-the-art, academic medical center, opening August 2015. Thanks to the support of our State’s leadership, UMC New Orleans is poised to serve as the training facility for the next generation of healthcare professionals in Louisiana while providing comprehensive, quality and compassionate care to all who need it.
– Gregory C. Feirn, CEO of LCMC Health. The newly-approved state budget includes funding for University Medical Center New Orleans, home of the Rev. Avery C. Alexander Academic Research Hospital.
$50,000 Filmmakers Grant Announced
Create Louisiana — an ongoing effort to support and develop the creative industries of Louisiana and showcase their cultural, economic and social contributions to the state — has announced the campaign’s first project, the 2016 Create Louisiana Filmmakers Grant, in partnership with the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities (LEH) and the New Orleans Film Society.
The $50,000 grant is being offered through a partnership between Create Louisiana, the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities and the New Orleans Film Society, with the first year being sponsored by Deep South Studios. The grant will be used by a local filmmaking team to create a short film project to be completed within 12 months of receiving the award. The finished project will screen at the 2016 New Orleans Film Festival.
Applications open in August and can be found at CreateLouisiana.com. Finalists will be announced in October.
WalletHub Names New Orleans 13th Best City for Staycations
In a study of the 100 most populated U.S. cities, New Orleans was named among the top for staycations. The following is how the city ranked in terms of various amenities.
Staycationing in New Orleans (1=Best; 50=Avg.)
21st – Number of Swimming Pools per 100,000 Residents
51st – Number of Tennis Courts per 100,000 Residents
15th – Number of Zoos & Aquariums per 100,000 Residents
1st – Number of Museums per 100,000 Residents
7th – Number of Spas per 100,000 Residents
1st – Number of Nightlife Options per 100,000 Residents
50th – Cost of a Movie Ticket
1st – Number of Shopping Centers per 100,000 Residents
3rd – Number of Cultural Attractions (Theater & Concerts) per 100,000 Residents
Hotel Monteleone Makes TripAdvisor’s Hall of Fame
The Hotel Monteleone was recently named to Trip Advisor’s Certificate of Excellence Hall of Fame after winning the website’s Travelers Award Certificate of Excellence for the fifth year in a row. The hotel is one of 8,000 honorees that earned the new designation.
In addition, the hotel’s Criollo Restaurant — celebrating its third anniversary this summer — was awarded the gold medal for seafood in the hot category at this past May’s New Orleans Wine and Food Experience’s Fleur de Lis Awards.
Arnaud’s Restaurant Hosting Bastille Day Fete
In honor of its French heritage, Arnaud’s Restaurant in the French Quarter will celebrate Bastille Day (French independence day) with a Bastille Day Fete July 14 at 7 p.m. in Arnaud’s Creole Cottage.
Guests of the event will enjoy fresh twists on Arnaud’s classics along with wines from Wines Unlimited. A specialty cocktail created by Chris Hannah of Arnaud’s French 75 Bar will also be featured. The cost of the dinner is $100 per person, which includes tax and gratuity. To make reservations and view the menu, call (504) 423-5433 or visit ArnaudsRestaurant.com.
New Orleans to Host Major League Gaming World Finals
Following an eight month effort by Greater New Orleans Inc., the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau, New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center and the New Orleans Business Alliance, Major League Gaming (MLG), the longest-running eSports league in the world, has announced that New Orleans will host the MLG World Finals October 16-18. It will be the MLG’s 100th live event.
According to GNO Inc. President and CEO Michael Hecht, the event will “help solidify Greater New Orleans’ reputation as the fastest growing software market in America.”
The three day competition will feature the world’s best players of gaming titles such as “Dota 2” and “Call of Duty.” Teams will compete for over $500,000 in prize money.
Poydras Home and NOMA Partner for Artful Minds
New Orleans retirement community Poydras Home has partnered with the New Orleans Museum of Art to create an Aging Art Enrichment Pilot Program called Artful Minds at NOMA. The program provides guided museum tours twice a month to individuals with Alzheimer’s and Dementia.
The program will be the first of its kind in the south and is part of a growing international movement to use the arts to assist with cognitive functioning.
Artful Minds will be held from 10:15 – 11:15 a.m. July 7, July 21, August 4 and August 18.
Arhaus Enters South Market District
On June 26, Arhaus, a purveyor of handmade furnishings, opened the doors to its first-ever store in Louisiana at the newly-developed South Market District in Downtown New Orleans.
The 15,453 square-foot single-story space, located in “The Park” building at 939 Girod Street, brought the Cleveland-based retailer’s store count in the U.S. to 57.
Customers are invited to Arhaus’ grand opening party, Thursday, July 9 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., for complimentary cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, along with the chance to win one of three Arhaus Gift Cards. To RSVP, visit www.facebook.com/Arhaus.
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