What NOLA Krewe is complete without its own set of wheels?
Stirling Barrett, twentysomething photographer, artist, entrepreneur and winner of Best of Show at Jazz Fest this year, is launching another new brand in a career that is more multifaceted than that of most people twice his age. We caught up with Stirling this week to find out why he decided to design a line of New Orleans-centric sunglasses. More about that next week.
Meanwhile, if you want to get a sneak peek at his classic-with-a-flair shades, head to the Krewe du Optic launch party from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday at Dirty Coast Press, 329 Julia Street. Stirling and friends have created some unique display cases — including a newly outfitted three-wheeler with the collaboration of artist/sculptor Benjamin Bullins — to showcase his opening collection. It’s all part of the Contemporary Arts Center’s Whitney White Linen Night festivities. Old New Orleans Rum will be pouring the drinks — for free. And you can’t beat that on a hot Saturday night in August.
NOLAbeings Multimedia artist Claire Bangser created NOLAbeings as a portrait-based story project that marries... 
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. 