Mon
Nov
9
The opening of a new wing at the National World War II museum in New Orleans had the makings of a Hollywood premiere. Actor Tom Hanks and former NBC news anchor Tom Brokaw were on hand Friday to debut the museum’s spectacular new high-tech, sensory-enhanced film about “the war to end all wars.”
Hanks is executive producer of “Beyond All Boundaries” and also narrates the 35-minute film, which unfolds on a 120-foot screen in the museum’s new Solomon Victory Theater. The film highlights several campaigns of the war in ways audiences haven’t experienced before.
As stunning archival footage of events ranging from Pearl Harbor to VJ Day fills the screen, the theater’s seats vibrate as German tanks storm across the deserts of North Africa. “Snow” falls on the audience as the Ardennes Forest turns white before the Battle of the Bulge, and “smoke” fills the air as bomber planes take hits in-flight.
Poignant words of WWII soldiers and journalists, taken from their diaries, come to life through famous voices, including Brad Pitt, Kevin Bacon, Elijah Wood, Tobey Maguire, James Cromwell and John Goodman.
During the dedication, hundreds of WWII veterans, including three Medal of Honor recipients, mingled with museum donors and guests. Brokaw, author of “The Greatest Generation,” told the audience that he wrote the book about the people who endured World War II at the suggestion of the museum’s founder, historian Stephen Ambrose. “He told me, ‘If you don’t write it, I will,’ “ Brokaw said.
Hanks, who has supported the museum since its opening in 2000, said his film team pulled out the technological stops in order to engage younger generations. He said the number of surviving war veterans is thinning, and the museum aims to ensure that future generations never forget their sacrifices.
“As I was growing up, every single adult that cared for me had experienced the war somehow. I never cease being inspired by these people who put their lives on hold for a cause that was much greater than them,” Hanks said.
The new museum wing also houses the Stage Door Canteen, which offers a 1940s-style live musical revue in a setting filled with war-era decor and photographs.
Adjacent to the canteen is the new American Sector Restaurant of New Orleans chef and restaurateur John Besh.
Check the film schedule and other details at http://www.nationalww2museum.org/ .
Fri
Nov
6
The National World War II Museum opened its doors on the 56th anniversary of the Normandy invasion that liberated Europe. It is located in New Orleans because it was here that manufacturing business owner Andrew Higgins built the landing craft used in the amphibious invasions; the landing craft which President Eisenhower believed won the war for the Allies. A replica of the “Higgins boat” is displayed in the museum, along with vintage aircraft and a huge collection of weaponry, uniforms and artifacts from the period.
The Louisiana Memorial Pavilion showcases essential tools of the war effort, including the famous Higgins landing craft. More than 20,000 boats were designed and built in New Orleans and used in all the amphibious landings of World War II. Dwight Eisenhower credited these boats with winning the war for the Allies. Other artifacts include a Sherman tank, jeeps, halftracks and a fully restored C-47.
Permanent exhibit galleries, located on the second and third floor of the Museum, are divided into four areas: The Home Front, Planning for D-Day, The D-Day Beaches and The D-Day Invasions in the Pacific.
The Malcolm S. Forbes Theater features two alternating films focusing on the D-Day invasions at Normandy and in the Pacific, “The Price for Peace” and “D-Day Remembered.”
Along with the just completed new wing, the nonprofit museum is lining up support for the remainder of a $300 million expansion that will encompass every campaign in every theater of the war. The project is slated for completion in 2015.
Thu
Nov
5
Cruise lovers alert: New Orleans has a great new choices in ocean-going adventures.
Carnival Cruise Lines has brought its grand ship “Triumph” to the Port of New Orleans for weekly cruises to Caribbean and other destinations.
“Triumph,” which carries more than 2,700 passengers, now is the largest cruise ship based in New Orleans year-round. Its four-, five- and seven-day cruises from the Crescent City depart from the Erato Street Cruise Terminal.
Port officials announced that along with cruises to Belize, Honduras and Mexico, a seven-day eastern Caribbean cruise will stop at Key West, Fla., and Freeport and Nassau in the Bahamas.
The 900-foot-long “Triumph” has 13 decks, four restaurants, 18 lounges and bars, a miniature golf course, four swimming pools and a 200-foot-long waterslide.
Norwegian Cruise Lines’ “Spirit” also is home-ported in New Orleans.
Thu
Aug
27
When you’re tasked with covering Louisiana as a place, you don’t need to hone your mad ad line skills. Louisiana is, after all, a pretty phenomenal place, and no amount of wordplay could ever live up to the actual experience of visiting the place. The challenge is simply to be able to let the things that make Louisiana Louisiana shine through. That is no easy task, what with the hundreds and hundreds of places to visit, the long list of uniquely Louisiana experiences (music? yup! culture? like no where else! the culinary world? indeed, mouthwateringly so! outdoors? oh, yes, yes, Louisiana is a beautiful place with nature you will never see anywhere else).
The new LouisianaTravel.com is up to the task, however. Start by choosing one of the four main experiences (music | culinary | culture | outdoors ), explore the main slide show (see below), use the Place finder or Interactive Map or use the smart search (see below) to get a start.
We would love to know what you think. So take a look around, drop us a note, follow us on twitter, be our friend on Facebook (we are pretty friendly), give us a listen on blip.fm and let us know how we can better tell Louisiana’s story.
Oh, and while you’re at it, what’s your favorite Louisiana experience?
Wed
Jul
8
Essence ‘09 was a smash hit! How could it not be really. It is hard to go wrong when you have a lineup that includes legendary performers such as Anita Baker, Beyonce, Lionel Richie, Al Green, Salt N Pepa and famous hometown favorites by the likes of Jubilee, the Rebirth Brass Band and of course—Frankie Beverly of Maze, closing it all out on Sunday night as he does every year.
Just another amazing experience and a mind-blowing music festival here in the Crescent City. Pretty normal stuff when you live in the great state of Louisiana!
