Registration now open for THNOC Symposium

Registration for The Historic New Orleans Collection’s 23rd Williams Research Center Symposium is now open for “The French Quarter,” which will take place Saturday, Jan. 19, at the Hotel Monteleone, 214 Royal St., New Orleans. The 2019 program will feature scholars discussing the visual, social and commercial elements of the city’s original footprint.

“The symposium will offer a prelude to the series of galleries on the history of the French Quarter being dedicated and publicly opened in 2019 as part of THNOC’s expansion into the Seignouret-Brulatour building and old WDSU studio facility at 520 Royal Street,” said John H. Lawrence, director of museum programs at THNOC.

With presentations exploring both historical perspectives and current scholarship, the symposium will be moderated by Diane Mack, host of “Morning Edition” and “Inside the Arts” on the New Orleans-area’s NPR affiliate WWNO 89.9 FM. The program will also feature the following speakers and topics:  

• Author Richard Campanella of the Tulane University School of Architecture will discuss the neighborhood’s cultural geography in the 19th and 20th centuries.
• Mark Cave, senior curator and oral historian at THNOC, will moderate a panel discussion with JoAnn Clevenger, Arthur Brocato and Dorothy Benge, all of whom participated in the institution’s “Vieux Carré Memoir” oral history project.
• John H. Lawrence of THNOC will explore photographs of the French Quarter.
• Alecia P. Long of Louisiana State University will examine the changing character of nightlife in the French Quarter throughout the 20th century.
• John T. Magill, retired THNOC historian and curator, will explore the French Quarter and its riverfront.
• Eric Seiferth, associate curator and historian at THNOC, will discuss rhythm and blues as it relates to the neighborhood.

Registration is required to attend the symposium, with rates ranging between $50 and $90. Registration will remain open as long as space is available. Registration fees include the full day of presentations on Saturday, Jan. 19, and an afternoon reception offering the opportunity to interact with the speakers and other attendees. For more information, including a complete schedule of talks and links to online registration, visit www.hnoc.org/programs/wrc-symposium.

Restore those papers at Restoration Roadshow

In light of the historic flooding in August, The Historic New Orleans Collection (THNOC) is collaborating with several local institutions and conservators to host the Restoration Roadshow, an event to provide the public with free consultations on how they can preserve their flood-damaged belongings. Experts will be at the Mall of Louisiana (inside near the entrance of Dillard’s) from noon to 4 p.m. today to advise individuals on restoring their damaged paper documents, frames and mirrors, furniture, glass and ceramics, jewelry and metals, paintings, photographs, and textiles. This will be the second time that The Historic New Orleans Collection has presented a Restoration Roadshow; the first events were held in the greater New Orleans area in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and were widely attended.

Book events for Oct. 16-23

Dixie Poche discusses her book, “Classic Eateries of Cajun Country” at the Friends of the Lafayette Library Annual Author Dinner from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27, at the Petroleum Club. Her book is an anthology about 40 of French Louisiana’s pioneering eateries. She will share stories of these classic restaurants, meat markets and bakeries as well as discuss some traditional Cajun food customs like boucheries. The cost is $25 and reservations must be made by calling Bobbie at 984-8661 before noon on Oct. 25.  

Newbery Honor Award winner and National Book Award finalist Kathi Appelt discusses her children’s books with a question and answer period to follow from 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. Monday at South Regional Library and will discuss the process of writing a book in “My Life as a Writer” from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday at the Main Library in downtown Lafayette.

            David Billings will discuss his book “Deep Denial: The Persistence of White Supremacy in United States History and Life” at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Octavia Books in New Orleans. Also at Octavia, Troy Gilbert, Billy Solitario and Chef Matthew Mayfield sign “On the Coast: Mississippi Tales and Recipes” at 6 p.m. Thursday.

Rebecca Hazelwood and Ken and Jenni Anderson will read as part of the Thursday Night Reading presented by the UL-Lafayette English Department, EGSA and Sigma Tau Delta at 7 p.m. Thursday at Poets, 1043 Johnston St.

            Deborah Burst will sign her latest book, “Spirits from the Bayou,” at 6 p.m. Thursday at the St. Tammany Parish Madisonville Library and from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Conundrum Bookstore in St. Francisville.

Cheré Coen is the author of “Forest Hill, Louisiana: A Bloom Town History,” “Haunted Lafayette, Louisiana” and “Exploring Cajun Country.” She writes Louisiana romances under the pen name of Cherie Claire. Write her at cherecoen@gmail.com.