During these slow summer months, I’ve been working on updates to this site. After more than six months without any articles, I finally published some research I had been sitting on for over a year.
I’ve been focusing on creating new YouTube videos over the past few months, so I have several scheduled. I’d love your subscription over there. I have an update of my biography of Jean Galatoire coming in September. I also have a video about the first Stormin’ the Sazerac and what actually happened in September.
In October, I have planned videos every week starting with a video about 1331 First St in the Garden District, The Dark Origin of Columbus Day, The History of Lower Decatur, and a custom full city tour focusing on the Corn Stalk fences.
I’d also love some accountability to help me finish my two in-progress series — The Real Storyville and The Irish of New Orleans. I have a few more videos to research to complete those projects — Lulu White, Willie Piazza, the Irish Channel, and the rest of the Garden District.
The Slow Summer
I’ve also been using the summer down time to create some projects with my hands. I’m turning grocery bags into grocery bags. One of my favorite hobbies is crocheting. My grandmother crocheted intricate snowflakes and doilies (fine work that I do not yet have skills for). In addition, one of the skills that women were taught in the early colony was crocheting. So crocheting makes me feel in touch with my ancestors on many realms.
I’m particularly fond of turning plastic trash into material to crochet. Plarn from plastic grocery bags makes an excellent reusable grocery bag. I use a pattern called a French Market Bag to create my plarn crochet bags. This is not referring to the French Market in New Orleans, but the markets in France where bags like this are used. But in New Orleans, French Market only means one thing.
French Market < Bulbancha
The location of the French Market in New Orleans, or the high ground in the bend in the Mississippi River, is likely the place where the trading post known as Bulbancha was located before the Europeans colonized New Orleans. In his article about Bulbancha for 64 Parishes, Jeffery Darensbourg wrote, “There were large cities on the Mississippi River before Europeans arrived, but Bulbancha was not one of them.”
It wasn’t a big cosmopolitan town, possibly because it floods here and is prone to bad storms, but it was the Place of Many Tongues, or the place where you can find people who speak different languages, according to Darensbourg.
So in honor of those natives to this land, who knew thousands of years before my ancestors arrived (to literally live on Chippewa Street and then Choctaw Road) that this place was special, I’m calling my crocheted bags Bulbancha Bags.
Some Creative Ways I’ve Made Money Over the Summer
Summer is a notoriously difficult time in the tourism culture of hurricane-land. So I’ve been trying to get creative to supplement the jobs that don’t exist.
One of my less lucrative experiments is selling aluminum cans for recycling. Cans are still one of the most endlessly recyclable things, and we are not very good at recycling in New Orleans. I stash cans and then periodically bring them to sell, largely to ensure they are actually recycled. I figure if they are giving me money for it, then they are making more money on it. I last sold cans in December 2025. Seven months of cans earned me $6.55. The largest haul I had was a four year accumulation during COVID that netted me $20.
I also received a commission to take some photos in New Orleans for an artist who is pregnant and on travel restrictions. I love receiving interesting research projects or commissions like this. I’ve researched dogs, duels, and Storyville. I’ve designed brochures for tour companies. I’ve helped with design details for weddings. I love jobs like these, so please let me know if you need my help!
Bulbancha Bags
Now I’m selling these handmade bags! I have six available currently, all for $35. The sizes vary, but one is decidedly smaller than the others. They are all unique and available in my Shop. These bags take at least 20 hours to make, not including cutting the plastic into strips. I posted a Short on YouTube if you’re interested in the process of turning grocery bags into grocery bags. I’ve also included little charms on the bags. The charms are made of recycled materials or things I found as well and provide an easy place to clip your keys or maybe a wallet.
Right now, these are only available for local pick up/drop off, so please let me know if you want one. I am grateful for your support as we dodge the raindrops and try to stay cool.
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