Special Issues

When I began my public relations career at Sacred Heart, my relationship with The Times-Picayune was typically with community news, photography and education. When I entered the agency world, those media contacts broadened, commensurate with the more sophisticated needs of clients. I adjusted.

St. Joseph’s Day altars and Lenten fish fries are obvious symbols of New Orleanians’ faith. When I open my notebook to interview area cooks, however, less obvious expressions of that faith often emerge.

I can’t imagine a better way to learn all about your city than to write for a daily newspaper.

The Times-Picayune has diligently kept the public informed about the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center since its conceptual development in 1978, when the state Legislature was considering the feasibility of developing a modern convention center to replace the Rivergate.

I’ve worked for The Times-Picayune as a photojournalist for 26 years. Trust is all I have. On the day of Tom Benson’s funeral, I was hoping to get into St. Louis Cathedral to photograph the event.

The New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center has long been considered a “destination of choice” for events that bring world-leading innovators, entrepreneurs, scientists and technology and business leaders from all kinds of fields to the Crescent City.

I was 21 the three months I worked in The Times-Picayune newsroom on Lafayette Square. We used manual typewriters, shared telephones and threw trash on the floor.

I sat at a French Quarter bar watching floodwater creep in, when the familiar frenzied pinging of my phone started. The NOLA.com | Times-Picayune newsroom was shifting into high gear.

Working on the photo and video staffs at NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune was an amazing privilege. I spent 41 years as a photographer, chief photographer, assistant photo editor, multimedia editor and finally photo/video manager.

My favorite part of column-writing at The Times-Picayune was the memorable people who entrusted me with their stories. None inspired me more than Amanda Hill.

Ad Reporter was a daily column of blurbs about The Times-Picayune advertisers launched in 1981 by Advertising Director Bob O’Neill. It revived and updated a previously popular “Want Ad Reporter” column by Maud O’Brien.

Despite all The Times-Picayune’s rituals, it was sometimes hard to figure out exactly what was happening. It was impossible if you weren’t on a desk downtown.

New Orleans is a passionate sports town, and for two decades I had the best job in it. As The Times-Picayune’s lead sports columnist, I witnessed some of the greatest sporting events in New Orleans history.

This is the story of how we wrote the 2002 Times-Picayune series “Washing Away,” which set the stage for what would happen to New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina. For years, I had tried to convince my editors that we needed to explain to readers what would happen if a catastrophic hurricane hit New Orleans.

One of the many things I handled during my years at The Times-Picayune was the Loving Cup ceremony. Before I was more intimately involved, I thought this was just some award that was given to a well-known person in the community, to someone who knew a lot of people and sat on a lot of boards.

A tradition I began last year for my 11-year-old twin grandsons, Collin and William, was “spend, save, share.” My Christmas gift to them is money with the direction to spend some on themselves, save some and, finally, share with something they choose.

Facing an unplanned pregnancy can be a confusing and overwhelming time for many women. Volunteers of America Southeast Louisiana provides free, confidential counseling to assist expectant mothers in understanding pregnancy options and making the best choice for their baby.

For 95 years, the Junior League of New Orleans (JLNO) has trained women leaders to understand the community’s needs, envision ways to better others’ lives and bring forth change.

Stumped on what to give friends and loved ones this year? Consider gifting them an experience they’ll always remember.

Each January and February, Hostelling International USA (HI USA) offers groups free overnight accommodations across 30+ hostels in exchange for volunteer work in the surrounding community. Participating locations include NYC, Chicago, LA, San Francisco, Washington, D.C. and more.

Christmas shopping doesn’t have to break the bank. Get creative by shopping at one of New Orleans’ many thrift stores. Bridge House/Grace House has two locations to find just what you’re looking for at bargain prices. Here are my favorite finds from my recent shopping trip. Plus, they’re 50% off!

Multicolored lights or white lights? In NOLA, you don’t have to choose.

We Gambel Girls love the holidays because we get to shop (for each other) at our favorite local stores. Here are our picks for the 2018 holidays:

Canal Place launched its Style Board initiative this year to mentor college-age students interested in fashion – giving them a place to interact with local fashion influencers and engage with the iconic mall while expanding their breadth of knowledge on fashion design, styling and marketing.

Did you know that giving back is not only good for the community, but also good for your personal health? According to Forbes, giving back is one of the most therapeutic things you can do as an individual. Science has proven that people who have a purpose outside of themselves benefit both mentally and physically.

The holiday season’s here, and there are tons of apps for your smartphone to get you in the holiday spirit. From shopping to travel to fun, here are some of my favorite apps this season: 

With the holiday season in full swing, gift giving is at the forefront of every New Orleanian’s mind. This year at Gambel Communications, we’re going local. The one requirement of our Secret Santa swap (besides the $20 limit) is that all gifts must be purchased from local vendors.

One tradition that has continued in my family throughout the years is sending out holiday cards. A great way to send a little cheer, mailing cards to family and friends each Christmas has also acted as a reminder to my family to take more photos together. If you need some inspiration for where to take your holiday photos this year, consider these Crescent City gems:

Other than maybe Mr. Bingle, there are few holiday activities more uniquely New Orleans than Reveillon dinners. Begun as a meal after Catholic midnight Mass, these dinners have become a staple of New Orleans restaurants throughout the month of December and serve as the perfect way to celebrate the holidays with friends and family.

Getting thrifty at Christmastime is getting more popular every year. Trying to gift generously on a budget? Use these simple tips to spread cheer.