Last Night in Town

Today is my last day as an Intern at Keating Magee and second to last day in New Orleans. I have to say that I am genuinely sad to be leaving both KM and the city. It's going to be hard to leave New Orleans and everything I love about it. I would guess that for most people, they're lucky not to trip on their own shoelaces as they sprint out the door in haste on the last day of their jobs.

In an attempt not to be too sappy, I can say that my work experience here has been phenomenal. I couldn't have asked for more in an internship. I have managed to get hands-on experience in so many aspects of marketing, and also contribute my own unique skills (like wrapping this ADORABLE sea turtle) in a meaningful way. Keating Magee really is a team and I feel like I got to be a real, valuable part of it, which is more than what most people I know can say about their experience.

My personal experience in New Orleans has also been amazing. This city is incredible, and even after four full years I still feel like there is so much to see. I'm sure that I will visit every chance I get. As far as my last day in NOLA goes, I have some plans, but inevitably they will be foiled because of all the packing I am going to have to do. BUT - come hell or high water I will have an oyster poboy tomorrow, oil spill or no oil spill, because as I have found out from experience, there is really nothing like a fried oyster.

Commander's

The one word speaks for itself, doesn't it? Fellow intern Erin and I decided to binge on one of my last Friday's in town and do Friday Lunch in true New Orleans style - at Commander's Palace. I had my doubts about Commander's because it's so well known and so often a tourist or visitor's location. But I figured since I was leaving town I had to go at least once.

First of all, whoever invented 25 cent martinis is a genius. The Commander's Signature martini - (see right) - boasts Commander's famous blue awning color in the glass, and later the inside of your mouth. After a round of drinks, Erin and I went on to ordering some fabulously delicious meals. I got mussels and fries, and Erin got crab cakes. Obviously the food was amazing. fantastic. delicious. you get the idea. But I think what really shines about Commander's is the fact that the experience was overall one of the best things I've done in New Orleans. We got free drinks, a little sample at the beginning, fantastic service and the whole meal was full of laughs and was such a great time.

The meal was topped off with a bread pudding souffle that was out-of-this-world good. It was light as air but had all the goodness that bread pudding always has. Would I recommend it? Emphatically. Even for locals. There's just nothing like it.

The Perks of Being an Intern

This past weekend I got to experience some of the better moments of intern life, getting an inside view at some fabulous events that I otherwise would have never had a chance to attend - Butterfly Tea at Le Salon and the Jade Absinthe Launch (part of Tales of the Cocktail). I did countless mini-projects for both of these events, so getting to attend them was extra gratifying. I got to see my work come to fruition and got to see yet another slice of New Orleans lifestyle I hadn't seen before.











Butterfly Tea
While I'm not exactly in the target demographic for Butterfly Tea, I find it hard to believe that anyone wouldn't like this event. The Audubon Nature Institute partnered with The Windsor Court to create three afternoon Tea seatings, featuring butterflies from the Audubon Insectarium. The tables, the butterfly set-ups, even the sandwiches were so elegant - the amateur photographer in me had to take advantage (as you can see). The event went well overall, but it made for a busy day and I went home a little more tired than usual.

Jade Absinthe Launch
In my four years here, I have never managed to attend a Tales of the Cocktail event. My August birthday meant that this would be my first and last opportunity to see this much anticipated festival - but my empty wallet also reminded me that it probably wasn't going to happen. Luckily, the Windsor Court, one of KM's clients, hosted an event and I was sent to help out and take some pictures. The event was definitely worth the wait. Ted Breaux (left), creator of Jade Absinthe, put on a great show and I really enjoyed meeting him and learning about the product. Absinthe has seen a comeback in the US, and this high-end line is crafted by Breaux himself. The absinthe cocktail samples were delicious and the crowd was VERY interesting. While acting as impromptu "bouncer" I met several interesting people like the President of the Absinthe History Museum, the owner of Pirate's Alley, a few media personnel and some other notables.
All-in-all I would say it was a great weekend to be an intern in NOLA.

Add to Resume: Proficient in Tying Bows

In preparation for the U.S. Launch of Jade Absinthes at the Windsor Court, invitations needed to be made; and 200 bows needed tying. Raquel created the invitation and I had the joy of assembling the parts. The key to maintaining one's sanity with a task such as this, is to ensure you:
-Maintain an athletic and upright posture (slouching most certainly will result in back pains)
-An occasional knuckle crack/finger stretch is needed (to avoid getting carpal tunnel)
-Hydrate
-Keep mind occupied on another subject other than shiny red bows (I thought about my grocery list, an occasional song, and lapsed into some peaceful self reflection)

NOLA on the Cheap - Top 10 Ways to Spend $5 or Less this Summer

Being an intern doesn't usually leave you with a hefty wallet. Rounding out my fourth year in New Orleans, I've decided to make a list of the best ways to spend $5 or less around the city during the summer. The list includes some popular and some less-traveled locations, many of them offering special student discounts or offers, and unique ways to cool off. They are in no particular order because on any given day, any one of these activities could be a favorite.

1. Friday Night Concerts
I've never been let down by anything at either the House of Blues or Tipitina's, and the venues are even more enjoyable when it's free to get in. The House of Blues offers free music in the VooDoo Garden on Fridays all year round, featuring different artists and types of music. Tipitina's has their #FreeFridays summer concert series from the Tip's Foundation, that features some great local acts. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I saw the New Orleans Bingo Show a few weeks ago at one of these events. The price tags on both of these events will let you splurge on a drink (at around $5).

2. Ms. Mae's
On your way to Tip's, you might find yourself a little "thirsty." Located at Napoleon and Magazine, Ms. Mae's has shockingly low prices on everything ranging from mixed drinks to craft beer on tap. Mixed drinks cost only $1, and beers range from $2.50 - $5.

3. Sunday Matinee at the Prytania Theater
I live nearby the Prytania Theatre and I have definitely made a habit of seeing any movie I can there. The theater has been around since 1915, and the owner, Rene Brunet is often standing outside greeting the incoming patrons. Sunday Matinees have one particularly great item, the raffle. With each purchased ticket, patrons also receive a raffle ticket. Mr. Brunet makes a comedy routine out of picking the 10 winning tickets, giving away prizes that surely exceed the sales for the showing. The theater also gives student discounts for all movies times, at already lower prices than the major theaters. Sundays (Wednesdays and Saturdays too) at noon feature classic movies, so see the schedule to pick a date that's right for you.

4. Tour of the NOLA Brewery
I was lucky enough to have a Marketing project on the NOLA Brewery, and I got to meet the owner, Kirk Coco and VP Dylan Lintern. They were overwhelmingly nice and generous with samples. The brewery was founded after Hurricane Katrina, and they have been blazing their way through the beer scene in the city with 3 standard beers and now 2 seasonal beers. I purchased a glass for $5 as a takeaway, which I will presumably fill at home once their beers are bottled (check for it around December). The brewery offers tours on Fridays in the afternoon, but if you email someone at the brewery (or maybe even just stop by), depending on availability they can probably set up a visit.

5. NOMA
At the last stop on the Canal Streetcar, the gorgeous building of The New Orleans Museum of Art is virtually impossible to miss. Wednesdays at NOMA are free for everyone ($7 for students all other days), but students from local universities receive free admission every day. NOMA has some great permanent collections, and I've never been let down by a featured exhibition. Beginning July 24th, the museum will feature "Ancestors and Descendants:Ancient Southwestern America at the Dawn of the Twentieth Century."

6. Get a Snoball
If you have spent any time in New Orleans, you have definitely heard of the "Snoball." A distant relative of the universally awful "SnowCone," Snoballs are often the only cure for the extreme heat of New Orleans. Almost every neighborhood in New Orleans has a Snoball stand. I'm fortunate enough to have Hansen's Sno-Bliz around the corner from my house (try the special flavors), but some of my friends prefer Plum St. Snoballs, where the icy treats come in buckets.

7. Ride the Algiers Ferry
While this might sound like a strange idea, a friend of mine who lived in New Orleans his whole life suggested this to me last summer. The quick ride across the river always gives passengers a nice breeze and beautiful view of the city. The ride across the ferry is free, so you can save your money for a snack in Algiers at the Dry Dock Cafe.

8. Camellia Grill
The first time I saw Camellia Grill, it was still closed after the storm, and it was covered in graffiti and post-its begging for the restaurant to be reopened. Luckily it was and it has always been my favorite late night/early morning/weekend brunch or anytime place to go for cheap, delicious food. While not everything costs $5, you can get anything from two eggs to chili cheese fries, or their legendary "Freezes" at a fairly low cost.

9. Cafe Du Monde
If you find yourself in the quarter with empty pockets and a sweaty face, you might just find solace at Cafe Du Monde. This New Orleans icon is often busting at the seams with tourists, but catch it at an off time in the summer for a chance to cool off. Powdered Sugar coated Beignets speak for themselves, but try the iced version of the Cafe Au Lait for an anytime pick-me-up.

10. Southern Food and Beverage Museum
Pleasant air-conditioned places are hard to come by in the quarter, and so are interesting museums. At $5 for students, the Southern Food and Beverage Museum (SOFAB) provides an interesting background on food and culture in New Orleans and in the rest of the Southeast in a creative setting. The museum also features a separate Cocktail museum where the history of the cocktail is presented in a funny and eye-catching setup.

Being an intern means...

...doing an almost comical variety of things. I've taken a minute to reflect back on the week in order to write this post, and I'm pretty happy with the fruits of my labor. This week I've managed to clock some hours of travel time to Metairie, dabble in some graphic design, make invitations for the Windsor Court (complete with ribbon), create media lists and organize mailings. I've also managed to acquire a bottle of 2009 Superbowl Champs Saints Crystal Hot Sauce ("the Official Hot Sauce of the New Orleans Saints").

Though I spend a lot of time in the office, I have no doubt that being a Marketing Intern gives me a lot of variety in my day compared to some of the other internships I've heard about. Luckily, being busy means that I'm getting a lot of hands on experience and my days go by pretty quickly, instead of looking at the clock wondering when it will turn 5:00. Also, working at a firm means I get to interact with several different kinds of industries, like the music industry with the House of Blues, that I may not have gotten to interact with otherwise.

Working for the Weekend

Erin and I started off the weekend early by attending the PRSA New Orleans event at Irvin Mayfield's Jazz Playhouse on Thursday after work. The event featured Tobacco Free Living, the organization that is pushing for smoke-free laws in New Orleans and the state of Louisiana . The venue was really nice and Erin and I met a few other PR people from New Orleans. We also met one of the musicians. (Here's a picture of us at the event).

Another perk of being an intern is having coworkers who hear about different events or local hidden treasures. Luckily, Erin filled me in on this awesome free concert. On Friday, I went to Fat Harry's to see Kermit Ruffins and managed to get only 4 feet away. He was playing at a going away party for a local news anchor who's going to start working in New York at ABC. Kermit had a great set. I got a few blurry pictures on my phone and here's one of them to the left.

After Kermit, I managed to catch yet ANOTHER free concert at Tipitina's as part of their free Friday concert series in the summer. Last Friday featured the New Orleans Bingo Show. The band is not your typical New Orleans group and I definitely got to experience something out of the ordinary.

Our First Event

Our first event of the summer was held at the House of Blues. The International House of Blues Foundation hosted Schoolhouse Rock, featuring The University of Arkansas at Little Rock Percussion Ensemble Concert. Raquel and I wrote up a press release prior to the event and we were also responsible for documenting footage for the concert: Raquel on the Flip, myself on the camera. The band played percussion renditions of Pink Floyd and Radiohead. Being more of a country fan, I didn't know the majority of the songs. I left the singing to Raquel who knew almost every one!

Introducing: Raquel

I’m Raquel and I’m a recent graduate of the A.B. Freeman School of Business at Tulane University and a 2nd time intern at Keating Magee. I majored in Marketing and just finished my thesis on crisis management with a literature review on using social media to prevent “brand hijacking.” I grew up on Long Island, New York and I came to New Orleans in 2006, about one year after Hurricane Katrina.

Living in New Orleans was definitely a change from New York, but I have really enjoyed growing up while the city was re-growing. I have met so many wonderful people and experienced so many wonderful things. New Orleans is really a community in the sense that everyone knows everyone, yet there are always new things to try and new people to meet.

Interning here has really given me a much better understanding of what “real-world” marketing is really about. While getting my degree, I learned a great deal about marketing research and theory, but there is really no substitute for learning things hands-on. I’ve gotten some experience in traditional marketing while simultaneously finding out about the rising importance of social media.

I am constantly trying to go to a new festival, see a band I’ve never seen or go to a restaurant I haven’t tried, so I’m sure that some of that will creep into my posts on here. Hopefully, I can provide an educational and also entertaining picture of what my days are like here at KM.