by Shay Sokol

TREME - Yesterday, we sent off true bluesman, Quarter character, and street music legend Mark “Mickey” “Slewfoot” McLaughlin, who passed away earlier this month. Following a service at St. Anna’s Episcopal Church, a proper second-line marched from the church to Frenchmen St.. It ended at the Apple Barrel on  where Slewfoot often played. Like the jazz funeral given in his name, Slewfoot had his ups and downs in life. As a close friend to the frequent busker bluesman, Father William Terry shared his joys and pains.

Star Chef  (Momofuku, Ma Peche, Saam Bar (NYC)) and Treme guest star, David Chang is in the Big Easy this week for a quick trip. Unshy about bringing a little bit of the flavor of New York down South, you can read all about it through various interconnected, Web-based social media outlets! Apparently, Chang spent some time at uptown slow foodery, Cowbell, and he liked it. Chang described the visit on his 4Square account, "Fantastic spot. Apple pies. Chowder. Burgers! Get it w fried egg and bacon. Agogo sauce. Good people." Chang also spent some time with NOLA writer Lolis Eric Elie discussing the Hornets. There was undoubtedly a long discussion of the conceptual parameters of being in.

Once upon a Black History Month, NoDef issued a black heritage walking tour of New Orleans. One of those sites that had to be included on said tour (or any black history roundup of New Orleans, not to mention America) was Congo Square. That place, once in Treme and now located in Louis Armstrong Park (don't go there), where slaves gathered to sing spirituals and dance without a partner or string quartet was probably the biggest early influence on American music as we now know it. Yet, in this age of historical correctness, Congo's official name remains that of a Civil War general who fought to deny the freedom that the colonial Sundays in the Square inspired. For at least one more day, it stands on the record as Beauregard Square, named after General P.G.T.

StarChef  (Momofuku, Ma Peche, Saam Bar,) and Treme guest star, David Chang has been keeping himself busy on a quick trip to the Big Easy. Apparently, Chang spent some time at uptown slow foodery, Cowbell, and he liked it. Chang described the visit on his 4Square account, "Fantastic spot. Apple pies. Chowder. Burgers! Get it w fried egg and bacon. Agogo sauce. Good people." Chang also spent some time with NOLA writer Lolis Eric Elie discussing the Hornets. There was undoubtedly a long discussion of the conceptual parameters of being in.

April 25th, the day the thimble was patented (1684) the first time the Guillotine was used (1792), America's introduction to automobile license plates, starting in in New York (1901), the first use of the seeing eye dog (1938) when Pioneer 10 traveled beyond Pluto’s orbit (1983), when Southern California saw 14” of snow (1994), when Oliver Cromwell (1599), Edward R. Murrow (1908), Al Pacino (1940), Jason Lee (recently spotted at Bistro Daisy) (1970) were brought into the world, and when Ginger Rogers (1995) and B. Arthur (2009) left it. Today, the sights and sounds continue- so don’t call this no reign of terror:

In case you ain't heard, Treme is on its way back tonight. Today, there's plenty of David Simon to read about on the interweb for those looking to gear up. But the show is not Simon's undertaking alone. As we know all too well, it wouldn't exist without the cast of local characters that voluntarily partake in the show and give life to the 'rythyms of New Orleans life' that Simon so eloquently weaves. Today, NPR talks to one of those characters: spoken word artist Gian Smith. His poem will open tonight's show. And he knows a bit about this place, too!

April 24 marked the establishment of the Library of Congress (1800), the day Union troops were ordered out of New Orleans to end their post-Civil War occupation (1877). Dead Huey Long's favorite author, Robert Penn Warren, was born (1905), as was Barbara Streisand  (1942) and Cedric the Entertainer (1964).  It also happens to be Easter Sunday. Indulge:

This week, a cargo ship was hauled in for its magic pipe, the NOPD exposed their love of the Segway, Treme creator David Simon found out what it was like to be in actual New Orleans drama and, as ever, Nicolas Cage screwed up. It might seem like a mirage, until some numbers are attached to it. Click on through to the other side for the full recounting.

At the behest of Mayor Mitch Landrieu, the city went forward with demolition of the five properties that form the backdrop of promotion materials for the HBO show "Treme" this afternoon. Located across from a playground at the 2700 block of S. Derbigny St., the blighted properties were described by the city as unsafe. The producers of the show sent a letter last week opposing the demolitions, but "Treme" creator David Simon spoke with Mayor Mitch Landrieu earlier today, and the two apparently came to some common ground.

This afternoon, the City of New Orleans will demolish a row of houses in the 2700 block of S. Derbigny as part of Mayor Mitch Landrieu's initiative to reduce blight. But the row of houses, across from Taylor Park, aren't just another run of overgrown lots. They appear on promotional materials, and now DVD covers, for the HBO series, "Treme." The producers of the show have protested the city demolishing the property. In a letter obtained by NoDef that was delivered to the city and signed by executive producers David Simon, Eric Overmeyer and Nina Noble, they urged a halt to the demolition of the properties.