KreweNews

Webinar Summary of Summit Program Available Online

Looking for a great overview of the 2008 Legislative Summit in New Orleans? Today, we recorded a free, online event highlighting the program, the tours, social events, kids program and some great information about the city of New Orleans.

At only 36 minutes long, the presentation features NCSL staff and a representative of the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau. All you have to do is grab your favorite beverage, go to your computer, turn on your sound and click on the link found on this page that says "encore presentation." The event, called a Webinar, will play out on your screen.

We welcome your feedback. Post a comment below and let us know if you have any questions that we didn't answer at today's event. And, if you haven't yet, go ahead and register for the meeting!

New Orleans: A Family Itinerary

Planning on spending some extra time in New Orleans with your family? The Convention and Visitors Bureau has put together a suggested itinerary for families that you may want to consider. Here it is:

Day 1
New Orleans pancake breakfast at Mothers Restaurant in the Warehouse District can start your day.  Walk to the Aquarium of the Americas which also houses the IMAX Theater.  Enjoy lunch across the street from the Aquarium complex at Gordon Biersch Brewery (good for families). 

After lunch take ferry across the river to Mardi Gras World. You will see where the magic of Mardi Gras is created by the artists who make the floats that are seen around the world.   When you return, take the Red Lady Trolley from the ferry dock to Café Du Monde where you’ll get beignets to go and walk along the Moon Walk (pedestrian walkway along the Mississippi River).  You can rest, eat your treats and watch the action in the 3rd largest port in North America.  International ships, tug boats and paddle wheel boats run continuously on the river.

Day 2
Take the St. Charles streetcar to 2020 St Charles Ave and visit the Tourism Headquarters of New Orleans.  There you will find activity brochures, maps and experts on fun to help you plan your day.  Down the street from the Tourism Headquarters is a shop called Pralines by Jean.  Stop by and see how they are made and enjoy a unique item made only in New Orleans. 

Hop back on the St. Charles streetcar and continue to Audubon Park where you can visit one of the top Zoos in the United States. Don’t forget to see the seal families, the elephant fountains and the butterfly exhibit. You can have lunch at the zoo but don’t feed the flamingos.   Return to downtown on the streetcar or a short cab ride.

Day 3
Walk down Decatur St, have Beignets at Café DuMonde, stroll and shop the French Market, visit Jackson Square and watch the street performers.  You can visit the St. Louis Cathedral, the 1850 House and the Hermann Grimma House to see how life was in New Orleans 100 years ago.

For lunch, have a New Orleans Poor boy at  Fiorella’s  in the French Market or a Mufelletta and a Barq’s Rootbeer at Central Grocery.   In the afternoon take the Canal Streetcar to City Park and enjoy Storyland (for young children), the newly restored antique carrousel and the Bestoff Sculpture Garden.
 

Kids Krewe: Carnival Celebration

Ready to fulfill that dream of becoming one of the world's greatest chefs? If you are a member of NCSL's  Kids Crewe at the 2008 Legislative Summit, you can! Not only that, but you'll get a behind-the-scenes look where floats are made for Mardi Gras.

Through hands-on cooking demonstrations with the New Orleans School of Cooking, youth will learn how to create some of New Orleans’ most delicious dishes for lunch, including bananas foster and gumbo.

Campers will enter a sea of imagination and creativity as they tour the workshops at Mardi Gras World where the floats are made for the countless parades during the Mardi Gras season.  Watch the artists at work as they decorate floats more than 100 feet long! Youth can make their own Mardi Gras mask with feathers and glitter to create their own carnival characters!

This special experience is part of the Kids Krewe package. The cost is only $99. Register soon, though. Space is limited!

Kids Krewe: The Sound of Music

Music and New Orleans are as inseperable as peanut butter and jelly. And if you are between ages 5 and 17, you'll get an international taste of great music by attending our youth program, Kids Krewe.

Kids attending NCSL's 2008 Legislative Summit in New Orleans can take part in The Sound of Music: New Orleans Music History at Tipitina’s & Casa Samba Interactive Performance.

At Tipitina’s, one of the city’s most famous music venues, youth will learn about the amazing history of New Orleans music from the very beginning to the present day including jazz, Mardi Gras Indians and much more! Campers will have lunch at the House of Blues (another famous music venue!) before heading back to the hotel for a one of a kind interactive performance from Casa Samba where they will learn about Brazilian culture, music and traditions at this unique workshop.

This special experience is part of the Kids Krewe package. The cost is only $99. Register soon, though. Space is limited!

Celebrate Louisiana: You'll Have a Super Time!

Our hosts for NCSL's 2008 Legislative Summit have planned an unforgettable opening reception on Wednesday, July 23. The family-friendly event at the Louisiana Superdome will feature the food, music and entertainment that makes New Orleans internationally famous. French Quarter Jazz, Riverboat Ragtime, Mardi Gras merriment are all part of the celebration. A special kids zone will include karaoke, rock climbing, and arts and crafts.

At this fantastic festival of magical music and food, a variety of local musicians including Kermit Ruffins and The Historic Preservation Hall Jazz Trio, will rock your soul with electrifying performances and tributes to some of New Orleans’ greatest musical legends, Louis Armstrong, Fats Domino and more.

The social events on Wednesday and Friday night are included in the low registration fee. Make your plans to join your colleagues from across the nation at these great events.

Saturday Swamp Tour Fun for the Entire Family

We've got a great treat to close out the 2008 NCSL Legislative Summit in New Orleans.

Kids from five to 105 are encouraged to take part in our "Braving the Bayou: Swamp Tour and Wetlands Restoration Project," which takes place Saturday, July 26.

Voyage deep into the swamps of Louisiana aboard a flatboat that will cruise through  meandering and mysterious bayous (once the site where the infamous Pirate Jean Lafitte stored his booty!) See egrets, raccoons, water snakes and of course, alligators!

After the excursion on the open water, the group will head back to solid ground for a picnic lunch. Enjoy the beautiful outdoors and help preserve the wetlands--one of the most important ecosystems in America--by planting vegetation in a nearby national park. Home to many species of animals and plant life, the coastline and wetlands play an important role in protecting civilization against various natural disasters, including hurricanes.

The tour is part of NCSL's Kids Krewe youth program, but also may be purchased as an option for adults and families. 

Are Your Kids Ready for Some Football?

Perhaps you've heard of a couple of quarterbacks with Louisiana roots. They've had some pretty good accomplishments -- including each of them winning one of the last two Super Bowls! And we hear their dad is pretty popular in New Orleans, too.

We're speaking, of course, of the Mannings: Archie, Peyton and Eli. And not only are they good at football, they also know what kids like.

If your children love sports, then they will really be jazzed to take part in the Manning Football Experience: Live the Dream at NCSL's 2008 Legislative Summit. Children between the ages of 13 and 17 can take part in this unique sports experience on Thursday, July 24. It's included in the incredibly low registration fee of $99 to take part in our children's program.

Attendees will participate in a basketball shoot out, football toss, volleyball, relay races, sprint relays and much more. They’ll compete against other teams and accumulate points at each station to see which team will be the overall champions at the end of the day. The highlight of the day will be the Manning Football Experience, an interactive program that takes the most important skills of football -- pass, catch and kick -- and creates a fun and adrenaline pumping program for youth of all ages.

Be a part of our winning kids' program and register today!

Walk for Wellness Returns

Our popular "Walk for Wellness" comes back for an encore performance at NCSL's 2008 Legislative Summit in New Orleans. On Friday, July 25, join us at 6:30 a.m. for a 5K walk along the Mississippi River through Woldenberg Park.

The walk is dedicated to raising awareness of the devastating effects heart disease, diabetes and obesity have for our nation as a whole, while drawing special attention to the health disparities that exist in minority and underserved communities.

The walk is a collaboration between:

    * the National Caucus of Native American State Legislators
    * the National Black Caucus of State Legislators
    * the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators
    * the National Asian Pacific Americans Caucus of State Legislators and
    * the Women’s Legislative Network of NCSL
    * the Legislative Staff Coordinating Committee
    * the NCSL Health Committee

Visit the Walk's website to view pictures from last year's event and to register.

Kids Krewe: The Wonders of Our World

Kids are such a big part of our Legislative Summit in New Orleans, we've created a special Krewe designation just for them!

The Kids Krewe features daily excursions that will excite and enchant participants and provide memories to last a lifetime. The cost is only $99, and includes the special tour we are featuring today: The Wonders of Our World: Audubon Zoo, Aquarium & IMAX.

From the swamps of Louisiana and the Amazon jungle, to the Australian Great Barrier Reef and vast underwater world, kids will discover exotic animals from around the globe at the Audubon Zoo and Aquarium. See amazing creatures like the legendary white alligators and Rex and Zulu, white tigers named after Mardi Gras royalty. The Louisiana Swamp exhibit is a slice out of a Louisiana bayou. Campers can experience the animals and culture that make Louisiana unique, witness a ‘gator feeding and sample some spicy Cajun cuisine! After exploring the different continents, the group will sit down for a picnic lunch at the zoo.

Next, campers will head to the Audubon IMAX theatre for a special 3D viewing and then  to the Audubon  Aquarium to visit the penguin colony. The will visit the new “Adventure Island” interactive exhibit and crawl, climb and sit on various parts. Campers can touch the cow-nosed rays in the new 2,600 gallon pool and even feed them in this hands-on exploration of the world under the sea.

The Wonders tour takes place on Thursday, July 24. Register today so your child can take part in this unique experience.