Next week the kids are out of school and the grocery stores will be packed with folks hunting and gathering all of the things they need to prepare too much food for too few people. For many, it’s a stressful time, trying to do everything just so. I don’t know about you, but I usually need a break from all of the preparations and look forward to some time out of the house just to have a little fun.

What could be more fun than Turkey Bingo?

The Sunshine Club of Algiers is sponsoring it’s annual Turkey Bingo on Tuesday, 11/25/2008 in the Holy Name of Mary School cafeteria in Algiers Point. Since the 1930’s, the Sunshine Club has distributed holiday baskets to between 150-200 local families in need. The big, annual spaghetti dinner was canceled this year due to Gustav, so Turkey Bingo needs your support!

Winners of the bingo games get their very own turkey to take home and it’s a wonderful way to spend a little quality time with friends, family and neighbors. Here’s a thought – if you win, the Sunshine Club will gladly take that turkey as a donation towards the Christmas baskets that will be distributed on December 20th.

The first game starts at 7:30 pm and bingo cards are only $1.50 each. Watch out for those power players that can play a table full of cards at once! Kids, as always, are welcome and there will be food, drinks and sweets available along with a parade of prizes and a 50/50 raffle.

For more information, contact Gary Laigast at (504) 450-7460.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Copyright 2008. Lisa Heindel and West Bank Living. All rights reserved.

Picking up where Wednesday in the Square left off downtown, Wednesday in the Point is proving to be quite a success! 

While I missed the first two weeks of performances, we were able to get out to Aunt Leni’s Cafe this week for the third installment of the street concerts in Algiers Point.  The sidewalk tables were filled and the street was lined with the lawn chairs of the spectators.  Like any other function in Algiers, it was filled with familiar faces and lots of great local music, with the entertainment provided this week by the Marc Stone Band (turns out that Westbank Mike, who was also scheduled to perform, is on vacation this week). 

With the band playing, the food cooking and the drinks flowing, we were caught up in saying hello to everyone and catching up with friends we had not seen in awhile.  Not a bad way to spend a summer evening…

Where but New Orleans will you find a street party on a Wednesday afternoon?

Next weeks event will be held right down the street at Tout de Suite Cafe, on the corner of Alix and Verret Streets, from 5:30 to 8:30pm…hope to see you there!

Daylight Savings Time

Don’t forget to spring forward before going to bed on Saturday night…you don’t want to be late for any of the great events scheduled for Sunday!

Friday Events

The fish fries continue this week at:

St. Andrew the Apostle 3101 Eton Street Algiers, LA.  5:30-8:30 pm

KC Hall in Algiers Point, 342 Olivier Street, behind Holy Name of Mary Church, 6-8 pm.

Saturday Events

Bead Recycling Day

What to do with all of those beads you caught during Mardi Gras?  Donate them to the ARC of Greater New Orleans this Saturday from 9 am – noon at the Algiers Regional Library on Holiday Drive.

Aurora Tennis and Swim Club Open House

Need a place to relax by the pool this summer?  Check out Aurora Tennis and Swim Club at 5244 Gen. Meyer in Algiers during their open house Saturday from 4-7 pm.  The club offers 3 pools (adult, family and kiddie), 11 tennis courts, a large playground with swings and other play equipment along with an indoor fitness center.  I have spend many summers lounging by the pool at Aurora and it’s a welcome refuge from those hot summer days!

Sunday Events

Algiers Friendship Day

Last weekend, the volunteers were out in force, painting the street and levee for this annual street party.  Taking place this Sunday, March 9th, from noon until 5 pm at the corner of Olivier and Patterson Streets in Algiers Point.  Friendship Day is a must do on the list for this weekend!

• The Confetti Kids will hold their Friendship Day Parade at 10 am, with decorated wagons, tricycles and strollers. 
• The parade will be followed by free green beer, hot dogs, cabbage (food courtesy of Chef Emile) and soft drinks while they last. 
• The Algiers Irish Rebels will announce their Man of the Year at the celebration. 

Come dance the afternoon away with 3 live bands, including Algiers own West Bank Mike and Chicken on the Bone.  This is one of my favorite family friendly spring time activities – I know that I’ll see tons of folks from all over the West Bank, enjoying the party.  Be sure to get there early for the best spots…bring your lawn chairs or blankets to spread on the levee (check out those shamrocks!) for a great view of the festivities.

Make it a great West Bank weekend!

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• Contact Lisa Heindel for help buying or selling your New Orleans area home
• Free Online Home Evaluation of your New Orleans West Bank home

Copyright 2008. Lisa Heindel, All rights reserved.

There is nothing like Mardi Gras in Algiers to bring out all of the folks you don’t get to see regularly throughout the year.  Saturday was a beautiful day, with the sun shining and the temperature just about perfect.  We packed up the kids and headed to the parking lot tail gate party at J&K Cafe & Bar for the Krewe of NOMTOC parade.

As always, John Dugas knows how to throw a party.  The music was playing, people were dancing in the parking lot and everyone was making the rounds, catching up with friends they may not have seen since last Mardi Gras!

And, of course, there was the main event – the parade!  Lots of bands, marching groups and some VERY generous riders who showered the crowds with beads, cups and stuffed animals.  The floats were filled to the brim with riders and throws and DJs who kept the party going…

I love to celebrate Carnival in Algiers….hope yours is happy, safe and dry!

• Get new West Bank Real Estate articles delivered to your email
• West Bank Homes for Sale – Find a home for sale on the West Bank or other New Orleans metropolitan area.
• Contact Lisa Heindel for help buying or selling your New Orleans area home
• Free Online Home Evaluation of your New Orleans West Bank home

Copyright 2008. Lisa Heindel, All rights reserved.

It’s a new year with a whole new slew of West Bank events taking place this weekend!  Planning your weekend?  Here are some great places to start:

King Cake Kick Off Party

Trinity Lutheran Church, 438 Olivier St. in Algiers Point will be holding its annual kick off for the Mardi Gras season.  Food, drinks, king cake…and Benny Grunch and the Bunch will perform.  Sunday, 1/6/08 starting at noon.

Gretna Carnival Kickoff Parade

Sunday, 1/6/08, starting at 1 pm.  Hosted by the Krewe of Alla, the start of the West Bank Mardi Gras parade season will begin at the base of the CCC at Franklin Street and parade through Gretna.  Check the Times-Picayune for the complete parade route.

West Bank Blood Drive

Get your limited edition Blood Center sweatshirt with your donation this weekend.  Friday from 7 am to 3 pm and Saturday from 9 am to 3 pm at the West Bank center, 2701 Manhattan Blvd in Harvey, LA.  All donors will be registered to win a ride for 2 in the Krewe of Thor, including throws and costumes.  Now that’s worth a pint!

Choctaw Day

This is my pick for THE weekend event – come visit me and I’ll throw an extra meatball on your plate!  The Krewe of Choctaw holds its annual spaghetti dinner on Sunday, 1/6/08 from 11 am to 3 pm at the VFW Post 3121 on Monroe St. in Gretna, LA.  Dine in or take out at only $5 per plate.  The lovely Choctaw maids will be selling sweets to finish up your meal.  There will be games, prizes and face painting for the kids, music, a parade of prizes, super raffle and the traditional children’s Shoe Box Float decorating contest.  What better reason to buy some new shoes!

West Bank Homes for Sale – Find a home for sale on the West Bank or other New Orleans metropolitan area.

Contact Lisa Heindel for help buying or selling your New Orleans area home

Free Online Home Evaluation of your New Orleans West Bank home

Copyright 2007. Lisa Heindel, All rights reserved.

All of us are aware of the efforts being made at restoring the Louisiana coastline and wetlands.  Did you know that something as simple as your Christmas tree can help?  It can!

Recycled Christmas trees are a big part of a project at Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge.  The trees will be used to rebuild sediment traps and help create natural habitats for shore and wading birds, along with alligators.  The rebuilding of these traps improves the health of the marsh habitat and benefits our local wetlands.

How can you help?

This weekend residents of Algiers and unincorporated areas of Jefferson Parish can place their Christmas trees curbside.  Please remove all ornaments, lights and tinsel.  Sorry, but flocked trees cannot be recycled.  From January 9th through January 12th, trees will be collected to be included in the recycling project.  Trucks will only pass once, so be sure to kick that tree to curb this weekend!

West Bank Homes for Sale – Find a home for sale on the West Bank or other New Orleans metropolitan area.

Contact Lisa Heindel for help buying or selling your New Orleans area home

Free Online Home Evaluation of your New Orleans West Bank home

Copyright 2007. Lisa Heindel, All rights reserved.

Can you believe that Mardi Gras is right around the corner?  The Christmas decorations are not even tucked back into their boxes yet, and the Carnival season has begun. Mardi Gras 2008 is February 5th (quite early!) and the balls have begun taking place all around the city.

Last night, the Krewe of Choctaw held it’s 25th annual Big Pow Wow at Mardi Gras World in Algiers, LA.  While most krewes hold balls, Choctaw, with its Native American theme, holds a Pow Wow, complete with Chief, Princess, Medicine Man, Maids and Maidens, Indian Braves and Papooses. 

Mardi Gras World provides the perfect venue for a Carnival event…it comes predecorated with huge props and full size floats!  Traditional purple, green and gold banners hung from the ceiling, while the Choctaw tribal teepee provided the grand entrance for the royalty and court of the krewe. 

The afternoon was spent in preparation for the nights event…decorating tables, meeting caterers, accepting flower deliveries and, of course, the rehearsal for the tableau. 

A frenzy of activity followed the rehearsal, as court members began donning  makeup and their elaborate costumes in preparation for their introduction to the waiting crowd of over 450 people.  As a proud mom, I couldn’t resist including this picture of my daughters, who were both maids this year!

The presentation of the court and royalty began at 8 pm.  At the end of the presentation, all previous Choctaw royalty were invited to the stage for a champagne toast to the reigning Chief (Frank Ruiz Jr.) and his Princess (Jina Ellingburg).  How fantastic to see so many long time members continue the Mardi Gras tradition, standing with glasses held high!

The tableau was followed by dining and dancing to both a band and DJ until the wee hours of the morning.  Beautifully decorated tables competed for prizes and the umbrella decorating contest judges had a hard time choosing from the many entries as they second lined through the ballroom. 

From the opening notes of the National Anthem to the final sounds of the last dance, it was an incredible, fun filled evening.  To everyone who worked so hard to make this a success, a heartfelt thanks from the Captain and his family to you.  Happy Mardi Gras from the Heindels!

The Christmas festivities are in full swing in the Algiers this weekend.  Check out these local events:

Christmas Concert at Algiers Methodist Church

• Sunday, 12/9/2007 at 10:15 am. 
• 637 Opelousas Avenue in Algiers Point
• The public is invited to sing along with some of their best loved Christmas carols

Christmas Cantata at Woodland Presbyterian Church

• Sunday, 12/9/2007 at 7 pm
• 5824 Berkley Drive in Algiers
• The Chancel Choir will present the cantata with musical accompaniment by strings, harps, woodwinds and percussion players

Christmas Pet Photos in Algiers

• Sponsored by Algiers Women of Action
• Saturday, 12/8/2007 from 11 am to 1 pm
• Delcazel Playground, corner of Opelousas and Verret in Algiers Point
• Suggested donations of $10 will be donated to the LA/SPCA

Breakfast with Santa in Algiers

• Saturday, 12/8/2007 from 7:30 am to 11:30 am
• Aurora Methodist Church, 3300 Eton Street
• Sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Algiers

When buying or selling a home on the West Bank, you deserve professional, local expertise and advice.  Lisa Heindel provides full time, professional real estate services to buyers and sellers in Algiers, Algiers Point, Belle Chasse, Gretna, Terrytown, Harvey, Marrero, Westwego and more.  Please visit my website to view homes for sale or get a free home evaluation of your West Bank property.

Copyright 2007.  Lisa Heindel, All rights reserved.

This past Tuesday, the Sunshine Club of Algiers hosted their annual Turkey Bingo at Holy Name of Mary School in Algiers Point.  What fun!  The place was packed with families and club members, all trying to win a turkey instead of cash.  You’ve got to love an Algiers event…you always see people you know and meet up with friends, both old and new.  Even though I didn’t win a turkey, I had a great time.

The men of the Sunshine Club were serving hot dogs and chili, nachos, huge roast beef sandwiches and tons of sweets.

All during the year, the Sunshine Club of Algiers holds fundraisers to enable them to distribute food baskets to the needy during the holiday season.  If you have a high school student who needs service hours, assisting in the basket packing and delivery would be a great way to get them!  Thanks to these wonderful people who volunteer throughout the year to help those in need.