The annual Algiers Bonfire featured a sculpture based on a traditional German Christmas Pyramid Carousel decoration powered by a windmill on top with spinning reindeer and stars at the Algiers Ferry Landing along the West Bank of the Mississippi River in New Orleans, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019. The sculpture was designed by NOLA Burners including artist Eric Arvidson and Brennan Steele. The CBD (Central Business District not that other CBD stuff) and the French Quarter including St. Louis Cathedral could be seen across the river on the East Bank. The L.B. Landry-O.P. Walker High School Marching band played before the fire sponsored by the Algiers Economic Development Foundation. A horned devil or possibly Krampus was sighted admiring the flames along with a lady with reindeer antlers. The river was only at 9 feet during the bonfire, which is nearly half the height it was at in May 2019 when the river crested to 17.25 feet and Flood Stage. When the river was at or near flood stage all this landing area behind the river levee was completely submerged including some barricades used for the bonfire. Bonfire traditions along the river around Christmas time are meant to lead Santa Claus or Papa Noel to homes along the river. The largest bonfires occur on Christmas Eve in St. James Parish along the river levee in the towns of Gramercy, Paulina, and Lutcher. Photo by Matthew Hinton.

📰 Life After The Weekend: Dec. 9

Between the excitement of the LSU Tigers winning the SEC Championship and the disappointment of the Saints' last-minute loss to the 49ers in the Dome, lots happened to keep your eye on.

by Mary Staes | December 9, 2019

The holiday season is in full swing, but we’re still sweating outside. That’s going to change soon, and we’ll have to pull out the umbrellas and coats once again. Between the excitement of the LSU Tigers winning the SEC Championship and the disappointment of the Saints’ last-minute loss to the 49ers in the Dome, a lot has happened to keep your eye on.

 

Update on that massive water main break: water is now safe to drink

On Monday morning, Sewerage and Water Board officials lifted a boil water advisory for Uptown residents, announcing the repair of a huge water main break that left hundreds of residents without water over the weekend. S&WB said testing showed the water is now safe to use and customers whose water was shut off should flush their pipes by running water through their systems for several minutes. Officials said the broken pipe had been in constant use for more than a century. (WWLTV|WDSU)

 

NASA: From NOLA to the moon and beyond

It’s “Artemis Day” in the city! NASA officials renamed Monday after the upcoming Artemis I mission and invited residents to see the Space Launch System rocket core stage with all four RS25 engines that will fly in the space exploration mission. The rocket was built here in New Orleans at NASA’s Michoud facility and will carry cargo to the moon and beyond. After its completion, the rocket will be shipped to Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, for testing. Then, it will be brought to the Kennedy Space Center for the Artemis I launch. (WWLTV)

 

Are Louisiana tax breaks for overseas chemical plants bringing jobs?

A lucrative tax break aimed at bringing big facilities to Louisiana exempts major industrial facilities from most property taxes for up to a decade. A chemical giant disassembled a massive plant in Chile and moved it to Louisiana. The result was far fewer on-site construction jobs in the state, yet, the primary argument in support of the tax break is that it brings in jobs — hundreds of permanent jobs along with thousands of temporary construction jobs in the building process. In a report from The Times-Picayune | The Advocate and ProPublica, some rationales around the program are wearing thinner, documents and interviews show.

 

Rain comes back Tuesday with a big temperature change

Get out your umbrellas and jackets: wind and rain are coming back. The temperatures might be in the upper 70s now, but come Tuesday, temperatures could drop into the upper 50s. Winds are also forecast to reach 25 to over 35 mph, and you know what that means: possible power outages. (WDSU)

 

Quick Hit Headlines

 

What’s Happening This Week

Monday

Merry Mutt Mondays | 6 p.m. | Celebration in the Oaks | Free with admission

Celebrate the season with your best friend and the Louisiana SPCA. Leashed, friendly dogs are welcome to attend Celebration in the Oaks with their favorite human this year on Monday nights.

Tuesday

70th Anniversary of Fats Domino’s First Recording at J&M Studio | 6 p.m. | 840 N. Rampart Street | Free

This celebration honors Fats Domino’s historic recording of “The Fat Man” at Cosimo Matassa’s J&M studio with a talk by biographer Rick Coleman at 6 p.m., followed by a WWOZ broadcast with Neil Pellegrin and guests at 7 p.m. at the former site of the famed studio.

Wednesday

Whiskey Wednesdays | 6 p.m. | St. Roch Market | Prices vary

The Mayhaw Bar brings specials every Wednesday with half-off whiskeys, limited-edition cocktails and exclusive tastings.

Thursday

Luna Fete | 6 to 10 pm. | Downtown New Orleans | Free

New Orleans’ holiday festival of light, art and technology is this weekend, spanning throughout the Downtown area. It’s the sixth year of the festival, which runs nightly through Sunday. Pro tip: The highly anticipated projection on Gallier Hall begins at the top of each hour. All other installations run throughout the course of the festival.

Friday

Very Local NOLA’s Furry Holiday Photos | Zeus’ Place | 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. | $10

It’s the last day to grab your furry friend and take holiday pictures with us! We’ll be at Zeus’ Place Downtown from 4-6 p.m. We’ve even got adorable props, but you’re welcome to dress up your furry friend and don your own ugly Christmas sweater. Prints outs will be available to purchase for $ 10, or you can take a digital copy for free.

 

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Mary Staes

Mary Staes

Mary Staes is Digital Content Lead for Very Local. She works with our freelancers and crafts content for our social media platforms and website. Before Very Local, she worked with CBS affiliate WWL-TV as a web producer and weekend assignment editor for about 4 years. She has also handled broadcast coverage for 160 Marine Reserve training facilities while she served as an active duty Marine. As a native New Orleanian, she takes being "very local" to heart. She loves being intertwined with the culture and figuring out how there are less than two degrees of separation between us all, whether we're natives or not.

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