David Stern, Obama and the Superlounges

“Coming Home” is a blog looking at life in New Orleans as we get ready to meet again in the Superdome July 5, 6 and 7 for the Essence Music Festival. The city recently got a vote of confidence from NBA commissioner David Stern, who Thursday announced his desire to make the NBA All-Star weekend in New Orleans next February more than just a game, a slam dunk contest and a three-point shootout. Nothing has been carved in stone, but he says, “ We’re wrestling now with how we can define something that is more than just a communications policy to have a positive impact coming out of the All-Star Game in New Orleans.” He went on to say, “Although we’re happy to participate with the tourism industry to make it better and to demonstrate the vibrancy of it, we’d also like to find a way to cross over and make more of a contribution to what seems to be picking up steam of developments in New Orleans.”

This is not only a good news, but it’s welcome reinforcement after Billy Hunter of the NBA Players Association expressed concern last February about the players’ safety. “We’ve watched large groups come in and out of New Orleans, far larger than any groups that we’re going to bring in,” Stern said. “It’s going to be a great, great All-Star weekend with respect to the reopened hotels, improved law enforcement and services.”

In other business, it’s exciting to see presidential candidate Barack Obama will appear Thursday, July 6 on the opening night of the festival. Salon.com had an interesting take on what makes Obama such a refreshing campaigner: “Barack Obama is simultaneously both aware of the power of cheap rhetoric and easy emotion - and intellectually contemptuous of it. He is a candidate in quiet rebellion against the banalities that too often govern political discourse. It is questionable whether he can maintain this high-minded stance through the debates and the primaries. But for the moment, Obama is running for president on his own terms, and succeeding.”

Finally, Renata recently wrote asking if the superlounges required separate tickets, wondering if they were free. Long-time Essence Music Festival goers know that the superlounge shows are some of the best of the festival, and as another reader wrote, the superlounges are rooms inside the Superdome. Your ticket gets you into the dome, and you can go to your seat to see the shows on the main stage, or you can check out the superlounges. The rooms are smaller, so it gives you a chance to see legends such as Chuck D and Public Enemy, stars including Angie Stone and Lyfe Jennings and up-and-coming talent Jermaine Paul mere feet or yards away. Typically, artists play a couple of sets so you have a few chances to see them in a night, and watch the schedule because some play more than one night. You can’t, however, get to the superlounges without buying a ticket to get you into the dome for the night.

Writer Alex Rawls edits OffBeat, Louisiana's music and culture magazine.

Comments

[Joi Mavour]

I have 2 tickets for each night of the concert. Floor seats: Section O, Row 11, Seat 3/4. They are $60.00 each and will be sold in pairs. I also have reservations for the Iberville Suites, 910 Iberville Street. If interested, please email joi@1ststudioarts.com or call 561-848-4099. Due to unforseen circumstances, we will not be able to attend. Thanks. Joi

[betty b]

New Orleans, I want you back! I am currently in Los Angeles longing for the warmth, caring, happy, real people that make up New Orleans! Longing for that gooood food! Surely,crime does exist,and, we are all praying that it ceases to be, as the city gets back on track! Overall, there is and will never be any place like New Orleans in the world! What can we all do collectively as participants of Essence's wonderful festival to help our people get back on their feet!

Do yah feel me?

[J. Fergie]

Thanks for the Superlounge info Alex, that helps. Last thing: are the superlounge performances simultaneous with the mainstage performances, so that watching one means missing the other? is there a "central check-in" location where attendees can pick up a schedule of events?

[Jennifer S.]

I just wanted to comment on the many people who are sending in comments from all over the country. I live in New Orleans and I've been to other places, there is nothing like and no other place like New Orleans. Yes we have crime and we are heartily sick and tired of it and we want to work closely with police and other officials to get the crime under control. Until that happens, we have to live because life is too short to stay in doors with your windows and doors locked. I love New Orleans and I love Essence. The empowerment seminars are the best I've ever seen where our people come together intelligently and debate or discuss high profile subjects. I love it...it's good for everyone. I want to thank Essence for coming back home !