The Big Top is a big part of New Orleans' International School

"In a raucous common space known as the cafetorium, students laugh as they tumble, flip and unicycle through a sea of props and primary-colored mats. Plates spin, stilt-walkers shuffle past, and all nimble-fingered children juggle. This is a classroom at the International School of Louisiana, 1400 Camp St., where all students learn circus arts as part of the school day."

Click here to learn more about this unusual school.

Celebrity chef Aaron Sanchez gives to New Orleans students

"About 20 culinary students at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts stepped Tuesday into the world of celebrity chef Aaron Sanchez, who showed them how to make his flavor-filled version of shrimp and grits. He interspersed his demonstration with cooking tips and encouragement to stay in school, find a mentor and develop a signature cooking style."

Click here for more on Sanchez, one of the judges on 'Chopped.'

'Big Easy Brides' brings the French Quarter Wedding Chapel to the world

"Statistically speaking, marriage may be about as sound a bet as a coin flip, so why not have a little fun with the entry ritual?

That’s been the business plan for the French Quarter Wedding Chapel on Burgundy Street for a decade-plus, and business has been very good. "

Check out the chapel here.

Big Milestone in the Big Easy's Schools

"In 2005 when Hurricane Katrina devastated much of the Gulf Coast, it swept away much of New Orleans. Along with roads, bridges, homes and businesses, it washed away most of the city’s schools—and in a way the entire school system."


Learn more about the changes here.

Forty years later, Hope House shines on

"Just to the right of the front door as you step inside Hope House, a new plaque on the wall takes you back to its beginnings: 'Hope House Founders, Sr. Harriet Louise Waldo, 03/17/1927 -- 09/18/2010; Sr. Lory Schaff, 09/26/1932 --.'”

Read more - click here.

About 300 volunteers heed call to 'Fight the Blight'

"On Mayor Mitch Landrieu's second 'Fight the Blight' day, concerned New Orleans citizens painted play areas, planted trees, removed graffiti and cleaned up trash while city employees cut grass, inspected buildings for code violations and demolished some of the worst structures."

Click here for more on this movement.

This year's Mardi Gras is expected to be one of the biggest ever

"It’s sometimes called the Greatest Free Show on Earth, but Mardi Gras is poised to translate into big profits for New Orleans-area hotels this year."

click here.

John Besh announces new scholarship program for NOLA culinary students

"Chef John Besh's new foundation is offering a scholarship to a New Orleans minority culinary student.

The John Besh and Bride Mayor Scholarship will include full tuition to attend a nine-month career program at The French Culinary Institute in New York City; an eight-week paid internship, upon graduation, at a John Besh restaurant, and guidance and mentoring from Besh."

Click here to read more about Besh's new program.

New Orleans City Park is better than ever

"The 2005 flood reduced City Park to a saltwater swamp. Most of the attractions in the 1,300-acre, 156-year-old green space remained closed for months while work crews removed fallen tree trunks as the golf courses and softball fields reverted to prairie.

But just look at it now."

Click here for more on this restored gem of a park.

Former WWL newswoman Hoda Kotb tells her stories in new memoir

"Give Hoda Kotb an assist for the best sports photograph of the year.

Covering the culmination of the New Orleans Saints' Super Bowl season for the 'Today' show, she helped get Baylen Brees into his daddy's hands on the Lombardi Trophy podium."

For more on Kotb's new book, click here.

Recipe for Rebuilding a City: Judy Walker and 'Exchange Alley'

"Hurricane Katrina took lives, homes and possessions. In New Orleans, where traditional food is a vital part of the lifestyle, the loss of family recipes to flood waters struck an additional painful blow. For many New Orleanians, that loss became a lasting reminder of the things taken away by the storm.

Judy Walker, Food Editor of the New Orleans Times Picayune newspaper, saw a way to help in the recovery process."

Click here for more on Judy Walker and "Exchange Alley."

Charity group flies New Orleans-area dogs to new homes around the country

"In the back seat of a car parked on the tarmac at New Orleans Lakefront Airport, a 4-month-old mixed-breed puppy named Suzette dozed Saturday morning as she waited on the flight -- her first ever -- that would ferry her from her old home in St. Bernard Parish to a new life in Lakeland, Fla."

Click here for more on the rescue operation.

New Orleans Staycation serves up delights that were unimaginable after Hurricane Katrina

"The last time The Times-Picayune ran a story about playing tourist in our hometown was in July 2005. At that time, then-travel editor Millie Ball wrote: 'You know what? Most of us who live in New Orleans don't take advantage of what's here.'

A month later, what was here was devastation."

Click here for the update on what's happening in New Orleans.

Lemonade stand proceeds help wildlife threatened by Gulf of Mexico oil spill

"Two children from New Orleans and the aunt they're visiting in Alexandria have raised more than $2,000 to help save wildlife endangered by the Gulf of Mexico oil spill."

To read more about these enterprising and big-hearted children, click here.

New Orleans City Park creates a volunteer venue

"It's not often that trees of the past, present and future all play a direct role in a structure's design.

Yet that is essentially the story behind the Duplantier Volunteer Pavilion at City Park's Botanical Garden."

To learn more about this mult-generational structure, click here.

Mardi Gras comes to church on the Uptown parade route

"It's Parade Sunday at Christ Church Cathedral, the seat of the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana, situated along the St. Charles Avenue parade route.

And at morning Eucharist that means the annual reappearance of the Rev. David duPlantier's Mardi Gras vestments."

Click here for more on this interface between the church and society.

WHO DAT? NOBODY! New Orleans Saints win Super Bowl XLIV

"The New Orleans Saints have won Super Bowl XLIV.

They beat the Indianapolis Colts 31-17 here at Sun Life Stadium in South Florida.

Saints quarterback Drew Brees was 32-of-39 for 288 yards and two touchdowns.

But it was the big 75-yard interception return for a touchdown by cornerback Tracy Porter that sealed the deal."

On Super Bowl Sunday, churches filled with black and gold worshippers

"At 10:30 a.m. Mass today in Mater Dolorosa Church in New Orleans' Carrollton section, the crowded sanctuary was awash in black and gold. People young and old sported New Orleans Saints T-shirts, Drew Brees and Reggie Bush jerseys, and fleurs-de-lis on headbands, shirts and scarves."

Test Your Super Bowl Team IQ

"How well do you know your favorite Super Bowl team and its city? Take this quiz and find out."

Click here to test your Super Bowl team knowledge.

Designing in the Dark: The DesCours Design Exhibit

"Attention aesthetic adventure-seekers. Take my advice: Put the DesCours 2009 design exhibition on your weekend not-to-miss list. It’s a self-guided nocturnal tour that will take you into shadowy French Quarter courtyards, a mysterious empty bank lobby, the fourth-floor roof of the old D.H. Holmes building, even a shipping container parked beside an abandoned warehouse. In 13 such locations, you will find a series of glowing sculptures and installations by an international cast of 3-D design teams, cut loose from their usual home and business building projects to think outside the box."

Click here for more on the story, including an intriguing video.