Christopher Dorsey aka B.G Rapper of Hot Boys Released From Penitentiary

B.G has been released from prison. Here is the story of the Hot Boy rapper from an article I previously wrote:

Christopher Dorsey is now known as United States Federal Prisoner number 31969-034 but for a time he was high-flying Deep South rapper B.G aka Baby Gangsta, one of the biggest stars to ever wreck himself free from the firmament of the New Orleans rap scene. Continue reading

A Revolution In The Kitchen: A Further History Of Swans Down Flour [1926-1956]

Willard Private Donation Library

In May of this year I drove from my home in New Orleans to Evansville, Indiana to research the Igleheart Brothers Swans Down flour archives at the Willard Private Donation Library. As we know, Levi, William and Asa Igleheart built their first flour mill on the banks of the Wabash and Erie Canal in Evansville in the 19th century. Continue reading

Field Report: Miriam Batiste Reed Funerary Second Line

Miriam Batiste Reed Funerary Second Line

Miriam Batiste Reed, legendary New Orleans Baby Doll and member of the sprawling Batiste family, recently passed away in her adopted home of Newport News, Virginia. She was 97 years old. This morning, Baby Doll troupes from across the city gathered to fete her in a celebratory second line.

Miriam Batiste Reed Funerary Second Line

Here’s what we saw:

Miriam Batiste Reed Funerary Second Line

Miriam Batiste Reed Funerary Second Line

Miriam Batiste Reed Funerary Second Line

Miriam Batiste Reed Funerary Second Line

Miriam Batiste Reed Funerary Second Line

Miriam Batiste Reed Funerary Second Line

Miriam Batiste Reed Funerary Second Line

Miriam Batiste Reed Funerary Second Line

Miriam Batiste Reed Funerary Second Line

Miriam Batiste Reed Funerary Second Line

Miriam Batiste Reed Funerary Second Line

Miriam Batiste Reed Funerary Second Line

Miriam Batiste Reed Funerary Second Line

Miriam Batiste Reed Funerary Second Line

Miriam Batiste Reed Funerary Second Line

Miriam Batiste Reed Funerary Second Line

Miriam Batiste Reed Funerary Second Line

Miriam Batiste Reed Funerary Second Line

Miriam Batiste Reed Funerary Second Line

Miriam Batiste Reed Funerary Second Line

Miriam Batiste Reed Funerary Second Line

Miriam Batiste Reed Funerary Second Line

Miriam Batiste Reed Funerary Second Line

Ruthie The Duck Girl Party In New Orleans

Ruthie The Duck Girl Party in New Orleans

It is unfathomable that Ruth Grace Moulon aka Ruthie the Duck Girl has been gone for 15 years.

Ms. Moulon had developed a measure of fame in the French Quarter of New Orleans for bar-hopping across the neighborhood on a pair of old-fashioned roller skates with her retinue of pet ducks quacking and waddling to keep up.

It nearly didn’t matter that Ruthie the Duck Girl generally wore a ratty old wedding dress or weathered fur coat as she made her rounds.

Ruth Grace Moulon died September 6th, 2008. She had evacuated to Baton Rouge for Hurricane Gustav and passed away at Our Lady of the Lake Hospital.

Party location