Tag Archives: The Missing Ingredient: A Charlotte Reade Mystery

#StayHome Movie Recommendations – Movies with Great Soundtracks

Like most of the country, we in New Orleans are staying home to help prevent the spread of the corona virus. My industry is shut down. No cameras are rolling. L.A. has no traffic or smog. Hollywood South is also fairly silent. I already miss hearing live music all over the city. Until the festivals and buskers return and the bars reopen, here are some wonderful movies with great soundtracks.

The first time I ever remember noticing a movie’s soundtrack was when I saw George Lucas’ American Graffitti. Still one of my favorites, the movie follows a bunch of friends on their last night before going off to college or war or becoming an adult. The ensemble cast launched the careers of Richard Dreyfuss, Kathleen Quinlan, Mackenzie Phillips, Harrison Ford, Continue reading

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Filed under entertainment industry

The Next New Orleans Mystery & Jingle Parade

The local-bestselling Charlotte Reade series is back with another food and music soaked mystery! In this third installment, Charlotte lands the role of a lifetime and tracks down a restaurant thief. But don’t panic if you haven’t read The Secret of the Other Mother or The Hidden Huntsman – each book stands alone. Settling into her family home in New Orleans after 18 years of showbiz life in Los Angeles, Charlotte is chosen to play one of the “7 Sisters” in the latest Clarence Pool movie. Even as her days become filled with her old lifestyle and friends from L.A., Charlotte continues her love affair with New Orleans.  Continue reading

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Filed under Culture, decorations and costumes, free events and lagniappe, parade

Random Acts of Kindness and 3 Birthday Meals

My birthday celebrating started early this year with a dinner at John Besh’s Domenica with old friend Richard Dreyfuss and his lovely and amazing wife, Svetlana. Over the 25 years we’ve known each other, Richard and I have worked on 3 movies together, collaborated on a Katrina relief project and he even wrote the foreword to my book, Know Small Parts: An Actor’s Guide to Turning Minutes into Moments and Moments into a Career. The menu from Executive Chef Alon Shaya, 2015’s  James Beard Foundation’s Best Chef: South award winner, provided a delicious take on some traditional Italian dishes as well as offering show-stoppers like the Squid Ink Tagliolini with blue crab & herbs. We finished the meal with 3 beautiful and decadent desserts selected by our charming server, Cristina. Each dessert was decorated with a chocolate birthday banner. We were there for hours enjoying fabulous food and great company with perfect service. I’m definitely going back for that squid ink pasta dish. Continue reading

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Filed under Charity, Culture, Local Cuisine, Mama says, shopping