I launched NO-PROP.com with my team in November of 2012, and we haven’t stopped creating content since. Writer (and long-time friend/partner-in-crime) Christy Lorio is my Managing Editor, and Donovan Fannon, professional photographer and graphic designer, is my Creative Director. Donovan also shoots and edits our digital series, aptly titled PROPAGANDA New Orleans. We like to say we offer “multimedia for the people, by the people”, with content ranging from dining (NOLA Eats), to mental health (Mind Control), and even a bit of humor (Dating Lady T) and technology (TechNO PROP). You’ll even find some LeslieAlmeida.com favorites there, such as beauty (The Nail Wrap) and style (The Shoe Game).

We deliver content via traditional articles posted on the website, digital features on our YouTube channel, and conversations on our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram social networks. While we push content to our site nearly five times a week, our ultimate goal is to create a fully interactive digital magazine. We’re pretty close to beginning the process to reach that goal.

If you’re looking for more dining, beauty and lifestyle content from me, you’ll have to just head over to NO-PROP.com.

*For my feed at Forbes Travel Guide’s Startle.com as the Travel Correspondent for New Orleans, please visit here.

Cult cap bosses New Era sent this beauty to me along with an announcement of their arrival in New Orleans. It’s a NOLA exclusive, and, hello?!, it’s like they made it just for me.

To celebrate, New Era is hosting a major party Saturday, September 22, starting @ 11 a.m. and continuing until closing time at 7 p.m., at their new shop located at 838 Canal Street. DJ E.F. Cuttin will be providing entertainment, New Era will be giving away some huge prizes, and the first 100 fans that arrive get some serious goodies. And I do mean SERIOUS: gift bag filled with a VIP card for 30% off for an entire year, limited edition New Orleans 9FIFTY Snapback and a City Flag Tee. One bag will also include a design session with a brand designer LIVE at the store, and then you get to see your design sold at the NOLA location. How ridiculously cool. Additional prizes will be given away throughout the day, such as a collection of official NFL Sideline caps, New Orleans Saints tickets, New Orleans Hornets tickets, another design session giveaway, and more.

If you can’t tell, I’m pretty excited about this party. If you’d like more info, visit www.NewEraCap.com. You can also follow the NOLA New Era store’s Twitter updates – they’re @New_Era_NOLA.

*Please note: Businesses were added pretty much in the order that I was informed of their status. I have made a few updates to establishments I had previously reported on, but may have missed some. Please do try to find out about hours and menu availability prior to sending me hate mail/tweets . Google is your friend, and so am I

And yes, that’s my kid’s Star Wars notebook. I was out of Hello Kitty stationery.

What have I been up to? Let’s see if this works.

Connect with me on Instagram! My username is LeslieJAlmeida.

Here’s a little more from the Congo Square Festival website:

The Congo Square New World Rhythms Festival is the premier world-music event in New Orleans. Celebrating the rich cultural heritage of Louisiana, the festival showcases the influences from Africa, the Caribbean and Latin America that combined in the Crescent City to make New Orleans a melting pot of world culture. 

Congo Square is the location just outside of New Orleans’ French Quarter where, starting in the mid-1700s, African slaves were permitted to gather on Sunday afternoons to practice their ancestral traditions of drumming and dance. Visitors from around the world marveled at the rich culture. It was the mix of African influences with those from Europe, Latin America and elsewhere that led to the development of jazz and all that followed. Congo Square is truly the birthplace of American music.

With two stages of music and dance, plus a huge arts market, food vendors and beverages and a social services community center, the Congo Square New World Rhythms Festival is more than just an event. It’s a true community celebration.

And get this; it’s all free!

If the music isn’t enough to get you out there, as the statement above reads, there will also be a huge arts market featuring crafts, clothing and handmade goods from around the word. As a matter of fact, my Mommy-in-Law, Alicia, will be out there selling handmade scarves, hats, clothing, jewelry and art from her homeland, Ecuador.

I LOVE these bracelets carved from the nut of the tagua palm. In Ecuador, it’s known as the Ecuadorian Ivory Palm. The nut is often called “vegetable ivory”, and is used as a humane and eco-friendly substitute for elephant ivory.

So if you’re heading out to the Congo Square Rhythms Festival this weekend, be sure to stop by and say hello to my Mommy-in-Law! Oh. And buy some stuff while you’re at it

P.S.! My friend (and NOLA bounce legend) Ricky B will be closing out the music performances Sunday night along with Partners-in-Crime, DJ Jubilee, The 8-9 Boys, Rebirth Brass Band and the Big Easy Bounce Band.