Poboys!
October 10, 2007
New Orleans Po-Boy Preservation Festival
November 18, 12 noon - 6:00pm
Oak Street at South Carrollton
We are excited to announce the first annual New Orleans Po-Boy Preservation Festival to be held on Sunday, November 18, 2007 from noon to 6:00pm.
The festival will be held along the 8100-8300 blocks of Oak Street between S. Carrollton Ave and Cambronne Street.
The first annual New Orleans Po-Boy Preservation Festival will feature po-boy offerings from some of the city’s most famous restaurants.
Festival Judges will present the “Golden Loaf Awards” for the best tasting po-boys. Judges include Tom Fitzmorris host of “The Food Show” on WWWL-AM, and Lorin Gaudin, host of “All Over Food” on WRNO-FM.
The festival will feature 2 stages with live music, arts & crafts, a silent auction, a children’s section with games & prizes, a beer garden with a large screen TV to view the Saints as they play on their game day; and of course, the best po-boys in New Orleans.
At the New Orleans Po-Boy Preservation Festival, it’s all about food, fun and family; with great music, lots for kids to do and the arts.
The Music
Bands that will be performing at the festival include:
Downloads
About the Po-Boy Preservation Festival
Hosted by the Oak Street Association, the New Orleans Po-Boy Preservation Festival was founded as a celebration of the storied sandwich and the role it has played in New Orleans’ culinary culture.
“There’s a whole generation of young people out there who have grown up thinking Jared is the expert when it comes to making sandwiches” said Brad Wilkins, President of the Oak Street Main St. Association “But a po-boy is more than just a sandwich, it’s a part of our collective past.”
The collective past of which he speaks is the historic streetcar driver strike that crippled New Orleans in 1929.
History has it that a local shop owner who was formerly a streetcar driver began feeding the striking the workers for free. When a hungry worker would come in off of the picket line the call would go out: “here comes another poor boy!”
From those humble beginnings spring the many varieties of the po-boy sandwich; a New Orleans original of which there is no sub-stitute!
The Po-Boy Preservation Festival will also highlight the ongoing revitalization of the Oak Street corridor.
In 2006, Oak Street was designated a National Main StreetTM by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and a Louisiana Main StreetTM by the Department of Historic Preservation which authorizes the program. The Main StreetTM program, that has been in existence since 1985 has been successfully revitalizing local neighborhood commercial corridors that have suffered from large scale malls and big box stores in the suburbs.
As a not for profit 501 C 3 organization the program has been raising funds through events, grants and corporate sponsorships. As a result new businesses have been popping back up on Oak Street and longtime shops have been given the chance to revitalize their existing businesses as well as freshen up and revamp their store fronts. The Main Street initiative has been steadily gaining steam, and Oak Street has seen a slew of activity as a result of the programs success.
Proceeds from the New Orleans Po-Boy Preservation Festival will go towards the Oak Street Association’s work to promote, preserve, and revitalize Carrollton’s historic Oak Street neighborhood and commercial corridor.
A portion of proceeds from the festival will go to support the Abeona House Child Discovery Center. Abeona’s purpose is to support families through high quality childcare for their young children by fostering a sense of community, and respect for the capactiy of children, their teachers and parents.Located in the Riverbend area on Oak Street, Abeona House is a full time, year-round, not for-profit child care center. They serve children ranging in age from 6 weeks to 5 years.
Louisiana Main Street Press & Articles
For more information on the Louisiana Main Street: Main to Main event check out the website at: www.louisianamaintomain.org
For more information on the Oak Street-Main Street program check out their website at: www.onlyonoak.com
For further information, please contact Marilyn Kearney, Program Manager at oakstreetnola@bellsouth.net or by phone at (504) 228-3349
New Orleans Po-Boy Preservation Festival Sponsors
The New Orleans Po-Boy Preservation Festival would not be possible without the generous support from the following companies and organizations, in addition to the many people that have volunteered their time and skills.
Party Size Sponsors
Whole Loaf Sponsors
- Alto Audio
- The Idea Village
- Leidenheimer Baking Company
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