In Brief - New Orleans

TIME ZONE: Central
AREA CODE: 504
FOUNDED: 1718
POPULATION: 343,829
AIRPORT: Louis Armstrong New Orleans Int’l Airport (MSY)
WEBSITE: www.neworleansonline.com

BY THE NUMBERS

9 number of ghosts sighted to date at Le Petit Theatre, which is widely considered one of the nation’s most haunted playhouses

35,000 pounds of bananas set aflame annually for Bananas Foster at Brennan’s Restaurant

400 number of miles of electrical wiring in the Louisiana Superdome

2,200 width, in feet, of the Mississippi River at Canal Street

NEWS FLASH

Jazzed Up /// The brand-new Ellis Marsalis Center for Music, named for the famous jazz musician, is a $7.4 million arts, education and community center that aims to preserve and develop NOLA’s music and culture. Already open, the new, state-ofthe-art facility will soon host recitals and concerts by its student musicians. www.nolamusiciansvillage.org

Passing the Plate /// Former Saints star quarterback Archie Manning scores a touchdown with his first-ever restaurant, Eat–Drink–Cheer, which is slated to open early next year in the Warehouse District. The eatery pays homage to Manning’s Delta upbringing by serving traditional Louisiana cuisine with Mississippi flavor. www.harrahsneworleans.com

CULTURE CALENDAR

Dec. 8-11 PHOTONOLA 
See New Orleans’ most photogenic side at this sixth annual photography fest. With over 65 contibuting artists, galleries will be lined with the Big Easy’s most provocative work. Wander between galleries on the photowalk, or drop in on lectures by pros like Joséphine Sacabo to pick up pointers on your own techniques. www.photonola.org

Dec. 9-11 FESTIVAL OF THE BONFIRES 
Play with fire (better yet, leave it to the professionals) during the one time a year when pyromania is acceptable. In this 200-year-old Cajun Christmas tradition, two-story-high fires are set along the Mississippi, their ferocious flames lit to help Papa Noel find his way to town. Don’t miss the traditional gumbo cook-off or local bands like Creole String Beans. www.festivalofthebonfires.org