Honorable Mention for the 2008 Robert Park Outstanding Book Award given by the ASA’s Community and Urban Sociology Section Mardi Gras, jazz, voodoo, gumbo, Bourbon Street, the French Quarter—all evoke that place that is unlike any other: New Orleans. In Authentic New Orleans, Kevin Fox Gotham explains how New Orleans became a tourist town, a spectacular locale known as much for its excesses as for its quirky Southern charm. Gotham begins in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina amid the whirlwind of speculation about the rebuilding of the city and the dread of outsiders wiping New Orleans clean of the grit that made it great. He continues with the origins of Carnival and the Mardi Gras celebration in the nineteenth century, showing how, through careful planning and promotion, the city constructed itself as a major tourist attraction. By examining various image-building campaigns and promotional strategies to disseminate a palatable image of New Orleans on a national scale Gotham ultimately establishes New Orleans as one of the originators of the mass tourism industry—which linked leisure to travel, promoted international expositions, and developed the concept of pleasure travel. Gotham shows how New Orleans was able to become one of the most popular tourist attractions in the United States, especially through the transformation of Mardi Gras into a national, even international, event. All the while Gotham is concerned with showing the difference between tourism from above and tourism from below—that is, how New Orleans’ distinctiveness is both maximized, some might say exploited, to serve the global economy of tourism as well as how local groups and individuals use tourism to preserve and anchor longstanding communal traditions.

Honorable Mention for the 2008 Robert Park Outstanding Book Award given by the ASA’s Community and Urban Sociology Section Mardi Gras, jazz, voodoo, gumbo, Bourbon Street, the French Quarter—all evoke that place that is unlike any other: New Orleans. In Authentic New Orleans, Kevin Fox Gotham explains how New Orleans became a tourist town, a spectacular locale known as much for its excesses as for its quirky Southern charm. Gotham begins in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina amid the whirlwind of speculation about the rebuilding of the city and the dread of outsiders wiping New Orleans clean of the grit that made it great. He continues with the origins of Carnival and the Mardi Gras celebration in the nineteenth century, showing how, through careful planning and promotion, the city constructed itself as a major tourist attraction. By examining various image-building campaigns and promotional strategies to disseminate a palatable image of New Orleans on a national scale Gotham ultimately establishes New Orleans as one of the originators of the mass tourism industry—which linked leisure to travel, promoted international expositions, and developed the concept of pleasure travel. Gotham shows how New Orleans was able to become one of the most popular tourist attractions in the United States, especially through the transformation of Mardi Gras into a national, even international, event. All the while Gotham is concerned with showing the difference between tourism from above and tourism from below—that is, how New Orleans’ distinctiveness is both maximized, some might say exploited, to serve the global economy of tourism as well as how local groups and individuals use tourism to preserve and anchor longstanding communal traditions.

Take a bite out of the Big Easy with this Cajun cookbook Just like a big pot of gumbo, New Orleans is a melting pot of cultures and culinary inspirations, from early Creole cuisine and Cajun cooking to the more recent influences of German, Italian, and Vietnamese immigrants. The Best of New Orleans Cookbook captures the spirit of the city with evocative recipes and tales of beloved culinary traditions. What sets this cookbook apart: 50 iconic recipes—Learn to make some of the city's signature dishes, like Hot Roast Beef Po'Boys, Black-eyed Pea Jambalaya, Beignets, and King Cake. Then wash your meal down with a classic NOLA cocktail, like a Sazerac or a Pimm's Cup. Learn some lagniappes—A Southern Louisiana colloquialism, lagniappe means "a little something extra." That's exactly what you'll get with every recipe, be it a quick Cajun cooking tip or the history behind a particular dish. Top 5 travel picks—Experience the city like a local with advice on can't-miss hot spots for breakfast, raw oysters, and happy hour drinks, as well as landmarks and cultural touchstones. Eat your way through Bourbon Street and beyond with The Best of New Orleans Cookbook.

Williams-Sonoma Foods of the World New Orleans offers an insiders view of this magical city, delving into regional specialties and exploring the diverse 300-year culinary history. Each mouthwatering recipe captures a taste of the Big Easy, wherever you live. Features n 50 authentic recipes, from Crawfish Beignets and Cheese Grits Souffl to Bananas Foster and Carnival King Cake n 225 full-color photographs showcase the New Orleans street scenes, open-air markets, native ingredients, and local restaurants n Suggestions for wine and cocktail pairings n In-depth features on local festivals and holidays, native seafood, traditional desserts, famous food icons, and more n An original illustrated map, full-color glossaries, and a source guide for essential ingredients

Seven continents, one city-taste the world in New Orleans. Over the course of the last 150 years, immigrants from Germany, Lebanon, Mexico, and more have contributed to the melting pot of New Orleans. Indulge in the best cuisine New Orleans has to offer with this book as your roadmap. Read summaries, view photographs, and try recipes for the Big Easy's landmark restaurants as well as its hidden gems. Locals and tourists alike will savor the unusual flavors of the city and the highlights of the best international eateries in this detailed food companion to the South's most diverse city.

About a century after its beginnings, traditional jazz remains the definitive music of New Orleans and an international hallmark of the city. The enduring sound and boundless energy of this American art form have produced a long list of jazz legends. From Lionel Ferbos -- the city's oldest working jazz musician -- to Grammy winner Irvin Mayfield, the musical heritage of traditional jazz lives on through each player's passion. In Traditional New Orleans Jazz, veteran jazz journalist Thomas Jacobsen discusses that legacy with Ferbos, Mayfield, and a who's who of the present-day scene's "trad jazz" players. Through intimate conversations with jazz veterans and up-and-coming talent, Jacobsen elicits honest, witty, and sometimes comedic discussions that reveal a strong mutual devotion to do one thing -- compose and play music inspired by the Crescent City's earliest jazz musicians. Traditional New Orleans Jazz presents local perspectives on what has become an international language with interviews from Lucien Barbarin, Evan Christopher, Duke Heitger, Leroy Jones, Dr. Michael White, and many more. Jacobsen also notes the stewardship of traditional jazz means more than making music. Its longevity relies on teaching and innovation, furthering the inextricable ties between the music and the men who make it. Traditional New Orleans jazz is a culture of its own, and the players in this remarkable volume are its native speakers.

Includes more than 100 essential Louisiana eating (and drinking) experiences.