New Orleans, Louisiana USA

It's been more than 4 years since Hurricanes Rita & Katrina swept through the City of New Orleans leaving devastation in their wake. Today, the city is still rebuilding amidst failed funding, missing donations and the sometimes seemingly insurmountable task of encouraging people to return.

Every spring (just after Mardi Gras) hundreds of visiting Pyrates join the local ones for "NOLA Pyrate Week" (well, it's actually 10 days) - bringing their gold and goodwill to the citizens of this fine city on the Mississippi delta. New Orleans has a history with Pyrates; it's business and culture was greatly influenced by them (specifically by Capt. Jean Laffite and his brother Pierre - frequently mis-spelled Lafitte) and holds them in some regard for creating a port of trade, commerce and many a good time!

During NOLA Pyrate Week members of the Pyrates Union and other visiting Pyrates worked with lowernine.org rebuilding homes and planting trees in the recovering Lower Ninth Ward...and along with many mates new and old, also raised $10,000 US for selected charities - including the family of fallen NOPD Det. Tommie Felix.

Our good friend (and Pyrates Union member) Sean M. Perry is co-founder & Director the Lafayette Cemetery Research Project (begun in 1997) - and since then has been the custodian of New Orleans most famous cemetery (Lafayette Cemetery No. 1). There has been a great deal of vandalism in the cemeteries - people breaking the faceplates of tombs to try and claim them as "abandoned" and then re-sell them to others (all tombs are deeded land)...even people stealing statues from tombsites - there were only two left in Lafayette No. 1 and someone destroyed "The Weeping Virgin" in May of 2008 - now only "The Archangel" remains and it's been long damaged (missing a wing).

Sean is a great keeper of the history of New Orleans, from the cemetery to the Garden District that has been his home for more than 40 years, to the Old Spanish Fort out on the Bayou. In fact, Sean is the only official tour guide of Lafayette No. 1. In order to help him continue his work and help support the city through tourism, we encourag everyone to visit Sean for a tour (the tours are free, but we suggest a $10 donation to support the work in the cemetery).

Of course our good mates at lowernine.org can always use help - physically or financially - as they continue the selfless task of rebuilding and restoring one of the oldest communities in New Orleans.

Another very important group in the rebuilding of New Orleans is Brad Pitt's Make It Right Foundation which is helping build homes in the lower 9th Ward. Not only are they building homes, but making them environmentally sound which will also make them easier for residents to own as the costs of electricity (for example) will be considerably lowered by the use of things like solar panels and CF bulbs.

NOLA Rising: NOLA Rising is a post-Katrina art campaign encouraging people in all faubourgs of Greater New Orleans to publicly display works of art, regardless of how simple or untutored it may seem to be, for the purpose of rebuilding and restoring the human spirit in our city. NOLA is a unique and beautiful city that has historically embraced the spirit of personal freedom that supports the growth of the artist, musician and writer ... the goal of the NOLA Rising Project is to showcase that spirit.

We encourage you to support these initiatives - with donations if you are able, or simply spread the word to others. We especially encourage you to visit New Orleans (make sure to get outside the French Quarter) -  and we are certain, like us, you will fall in love with this city, it's people and it's rich culture and return many times (or perhaps like so many in NOLA, never leave).

Boubon St. Live Cam
(Cat's Meow - corner of St. Peter)