The owner of Casamento’s Restaurant, Charles “CJ” Gerdes, shared with me his story of Hurricane Katrina. Thankfully, Casamento’s Restaurant was one of the first restaurants to reopen after the storm. However, Mr. Gerdes was faced with the heartbreak of reopening the restaurant after having lost his uncle and co-owner of the business. The interview took place on February 15, 2014 in the kitchen of Casamento’s Restaurant.
[Editor’s Note: This reflection was captured as part of an English class taught by Gaurav Desai to document memories of Hurricane Katrina]
Voodoo in New Orleans: Reviving history: New Orleans fortune telling This article takes a deep dive into the history of Voodoo in New Orleans, its hybridization with Catholicism, and its present-day place in the city's culture. The author visits fortune-tellers in the French Quarter, using their guidance as a tool for introspection rather than a deterministic predictor of the future. Through her experiences in New Orleans, the author feels a mystical connection to both the past and the future. 