Local music is so widespread here that we sometimes forget to consider New Orleans musicians on an individual level. In the first installment of a new series from NolaVie called “Listening to Locals,” Brian Friedman sat down with jazz saxophonist James Martin , whose album, Something’s Gotta Give, came out January 13. It’s a reflection on the grind, the late nights, and the hustle of the local music scene, as well as the travels that have taken him all over the world. Visit NolaVie's website for

Often when we think about architecture, we think about walls, structures, and enclosed spaces. But Bryan C. Lee, Jr, an architect and educator, goes beyond these boundaries by bringing in knowledge from the environment and community around him. NolaVie’s Kelley Crawford spoke with Bryan about designing for social justice and his new course at Bard Early College in New Orleans . Visit NolaVie's website for a related article written by Kelley Crawford.

In a world that is increasingly connected digitally, we are probably getting more and more disconnected socially. Oswald Cooper, better known as "Oz The Dance Doctor," is out to change that. Oz leads the Who Dat Steppers of New Orleans . Stepping is a type of social dance rooted in African-American history, and it’s making a comeback across the country. Visit NolaVie's website for a related article written by Renée Peck.

With New Year’s Eve right around the corner, revelers may be thinking about what to fill up their glasses with as they ring in 2017. For Chuck Avery, owner of Melt New Orleans , it’s all in the ice. NolaVie’s David Benedetto spoke with Chuck about custom craft ice and its importance in the revival of the American cocktail. Visit NolaVie's website for a related article written by David Benedetto.

The president of Xavier University, Dr. Reynold Verret , is known to many as the Renaissance of Renaissance men. From science to music to biking, and even to some pretty clever pranks, Dr. Verret is bringing his knowledge and charisma to Xavier. Kelley Crawford invited Dr. Verret into the studio as part of NolaVie's Notes from New Orleans series. Visit NolaVie's website for a related article written by Kelley Crawford.

Fine art is becoming a virtual reality. More specifically, Google has compiled a vast, virtual museum to take online patrons into the collections of hundreds of institutions around the world. One of these Google Arts & Culture partners is the New Orleans Museum of Art . Renée Peck recently spoke with Seth Boonchai, digital assets manager at NOMA, about the evolution of their virtual museum. Visit NolaVie's website for a related article written by Renée Peck.

Crowds of Santa lookalikes racing through the street might be a bizarre sight, until you remember that you’re in downtown New Orleans. In fact, that’s exactly what you’ll find next weekend, on December 17, when New Orleanians gather for the annual Running of the Santas . Brian Friedman sat down with organizer Steve Schulkens to get the backstory of an outrageous yet philanthropic holiday tradition. Visit NolaVie's website for a related article written by Brian Friedman.

When I woke up and checked the news, I could hardly believe what I was hearing. I stared at my screen in disbelief. This was really happening. This was the new reality. And there was nothing that I could do about it. I had to muster every ounce of inner strength I had just to say the words, to make them real, to accept that this was the truth. “The New Orleans Zephyrs are now...the New Orleans Baby Cakes.”

What do Bourbon Street, the film Cabaret , and the word “extravaganza” have in common? They are all linked in some way to the art of burlesque dancing. NolaVie’s David Benedetto recently dove into the art form with longtime performer Bella Blue . Bella is a member of the Foxglove Revue and serves as the Headmistress of the New Orleans School of Burlesque . Visit NolaVie's website for a related article written by David Benedetto.

Sean Kennedy has been known as the Irishman and patron of Finn McCool’s, and he’s now known as the Irishman and new owner of Finn McCool’s. After years of working tirelessly and building a tight community in their Mid-City pub, Stephen and Pauline Patterson have passed the torch on to Sean, who’s more than up to the challenge. Especially if there’s soccer involved. Visit NolaVie's website for a related article written by Kelley Crawford.