Posts Tagged ‘Gigi Lapin’

Charity bake sale begins

by on Wednesday, December 9th, 2015

bake-sale
The Gumbo Society of New Toulouse is holding a bake sale to benefit the Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana. Proceeds from the sale, along with donations to the kiosks around the parish, will be sent to the Society’s holiday fund drive, to which direct donations may also be made. Persons wishing to donate baked goods should box (no-copy) items and address them to Yvonne Follet.

The bake sale will continue throughout December, with new items being added periodically. Stop by the west entrance to the Spiegel Hall garage to peruse the current selection of tasty treats!


Gigi Lapin lives in New Toulouse Bayou. Her pet crawfish, Jimbo, has a new and important position as the “watchdog” for the Tiny Social Aid and Pleasure Club on Basin Street at Frog Alley. (Photo credit: Kristine Jinx-Kristan.)

Bayou haiku

by on Thursday, July 23rd, 2015

Photograph taken with a spirit camera, somewhere in New Toulouse Bayou

Photograph taken with a spirit camera, somewhere in New Toulouse Bayou

little swamp spirit
no catnip here, say the cats
why are you asking

Gigi Lapin

Palmer appointed top cop

by on Thursday, March 12th, 2015

pappy-n-bruno
Following Pazzo Pestana’s sudden resignation from the helm of the New Toulouse parish police, today Mayor Godenot appointed John Palmer to the post. When asked for a remark about his promotion, Inspector Palmer replied, “Go about your own business—nothing to see here.”

The mayor’s office had no comment on either the resignation or the appointment. The watering holes of New Tou are abuzz with speculation as to why Pestana left his post so abruptly. He could not be reached for comment, as he was out of town attending to some horse trading business.

Palmer, known to many in town as “Pappy,” had been a police officer in Florida before moving to New Toulouse. He worked for his cousin Blake Palmer (this year’s king of Carnival) in various capacities and started his own catering service before joining the police force. He is often seen in the company of Constable Bruno Erdferkel.


Gigi Lapin lives in New Toulouse Bayou with her pet crawfish, Jimbo.

Local ghosts tallied

by on Wednesday, November 26th, 2014

haunted-cert1For three weeks in November, parapsychologists, spiritualists, and amateur ghost hunters descended upon New Toulouse in search of ghosts for the Beacon Spiritualist Institute’s registry of Louisiana hauntings. With 2,720 ghosts reported, New Toulouse is the most haunted place in Louisiana by a considerable margin.

Liza Veliz runs a cafe across the street from the project’s headquarters. Asked if she met many out-of-town ghost hunters, she said, “So many, it was unbelievable—a real little invasion.”

Being a ghost herself, Miss Liza acted as the local “spectral liaison” for the project. Did any of the hunters try to hunt her? “Yes, several! They just hugged me and said, ‘I found a ghost!’”

Travelers from as far away as the Wastelands came looking for specters, and local business and community leaders offered rewards.

The Still House saloon saw lots of visitors as well. The tavern’s owner, Blake Palmer, says some of them ceased hunting there and commenced drinking instead. And a few decided to stay in town. “Ms. Fern Barker,” said Palmer, “came here for the ghost hunt, and now she owns the land beside my saloon.”


Gigi Lapin lives on the bayou with her pet crawfish, Jimbo.

Letter to the editor

by on Thursday, October 23rd, 2014

Madam Editor,

I write today with the happy news of the return of my lost pet. My home was a sad and lonely place while Jimbo was gone, and I feared I would never see him again. But thanks to Mrs. Ethel Varnish, finally we have been reunited. Miz Ethel found my poor, confused crawfish wandering in a back alley and brought him to the Tattler offices. Jimbo is recovering at home and doing just fine.

Thanks to all for the warm wishes and assistance, and thanks especially to that dear lady Miz Ethel. This city just wasn’t the same while she was on her travels, and it’s wonderful to have her back.

Sincerely,

Gigi Lapin
The Big Tree
New Toulouse Bayou

Fishy business in the city

by on Tuesday, October 14th, 2014

As I was taking my customary stroll around the French Market the other day, I noticed Crawdy’s, a recently opened seafood restaurant. Feeling hungry after my walk, I decided to see what this establishment had to offer.

My first impressions were favorable—the place was clean, bright, and fresh. I sincerely hoped that this was reflected in the food. My order was taken by a somewhat vacant-looking youth, and I wondered what might turn up on my plate.

Waiting for my meal, I noticed an old copy of the Tattler. As I leafed through the classified ads, my eye was caught by a heartfelt appeal from Miss Gigi Lapin asking if anyone had found her pet crawfish, Jimbo, who had disappeared near the docks. I recalled the numerous posters I had seen around town with a picture of the missing creature.

At that moment my meal arrived, and despite the boy’s gormless appearance, my “Crawdy’s Surprise” was everything I could have hoped for. As I chewed hungrily on the tasty crawfish, my mind turned again to poor Miss Gigi and her loss. A shocking thought occurred to me, but I decided to wait until I had cleared my plate before considering it further.

Miss Alva, engaged in a liberal application of hot sauce

Miss Alva, engaged in a liberal application of hot sauce


After a second helping, I asked the boy where he got his supplies. Becoming suddenly shifty, he mumbled that someone called Miz Vee took care of all that. Hardly surprised that he was not the owner of the diner but “juss the mannijah,” I asked him who owned the place. He told me that he had been shucking oysters on the docks one day and watching the unloading of a freighter from San Francisco. An elderly lady was particularly anxious about some crates and shouting at the longshoremen to be careful with her merchandise. The boy could not read what was written on the sides of the crates, because it was in Chinese characters (or maybe because he couldn’t read, period), but seeing the stencil of a smoking pipe, he assumed that she was in the tobacco industry. She gave a long sigh and said that it was good to be home. Noticing the boy, she asked him what in tarnation he was doing staring at a lady, and then to his surprise offered him a job at the diner.

Who is the mysterious lady behind Crawdy’s?

What are the ingredients of “Crawdy’s Surprise”?

Will Miss Gigi and her beloved Jimbo ever be reunited?


Francesca Alva is the proprietor of the Green-Eyed Fairy, a select establishment in the Rue du Bayou. She is entirely unconnected with Frankie’s, a miserable juke joint on the old site of the infamous Tarantula Arms.

Patchwork project celebrates community

by on Tuesday, September 30th, 2014

ari-quiltersA new club in town wants to square things with you. Specifically, the New Toulouse Quilters Association wants your square.

“The idea is to create a quilt using squares donated by residents,” said Ms. Arijah Ankh Khalid-Zyn of the New Toulouse Christmas quilt project. “Each square should represent something personal or inspiring to you. Ideally, these would be things representing your business, hobbies, interests, or life here in New Toulouse.”

The deadline for contributions is November 30, after which the squares will be stitched together into Christmas gift quilts for the people of New Toulouse. Find details on how to participate in the mayor’s multipurpose room at the land office.


Gigi Lapin is still looking for her pet crawfish, Jimbo.

Neptune approacheth

by on Saturday, September 6th, 2014

neptune-fest512
The Neptune Music Festival will take place on Thursday, September 11, aboard the riverboat Mama Cree. Three DJs and singer/guitarist WashedUp Sideways are slated to perform.

Festival organizers Miss Lei Pari (Lei’s Cafe on the Bayou) and Dr. Guenivere D’Avalon (The Cup & Harp) encourage revelers to attend in sea-themed attire. Expect to see merfolk, pirates, and other marine marvels at this September celebration of music.


Gigi Lapin resides on Basin Street with her pet crawfish, Jimbo.

Surreal shindig set for Saturday

by on Friday, August 22nd, 2014

The Krewe of Bast invites you to attend the first annual Surrealist Ball, to be held in the Spiegel Hall auditorium this Saturday, August 23, beginning at 1:00 PM. Expect strange music by DJ Ghosty Kips, peculiar amuse-bouches by Kristine Jinx-Kristan, and singular decor “done entirely by cats,” according to a krewe representative. Those unsure what to wear to such an event may wish to examine the many free avatars available at Meta-Body II.


Gigi Lapin resides on Basin Street with her pet crawfish, Jimbo.

The Curious Ghost

by on Saturday, August 16th, 2014

the-curious-ghost

piratebootyprizes
Pictured are Nikita Weymann, Gigi Lapin, and me. We sit among some of the prizes you can get at the Post-Storm Pirate Booty Hunt that runs till September 1 in New Toulouse.

Last night was the hunt kickoff pub crawl, in which we enjoyed rum and went around to all the places where treasure chests are to be found. So much stuff washed ashore during the last hurricane that Taloosters have made these chests to get rid of it. The pub crawl was so much fun, but today I am completely exhausted. So I went to see Niki at her house on the bayou, and Gigi joined us, and I showed them some of my treasures.

The lovely little frog on the barrel, the washed-up trellis bench, and the junk shop lawn chair are from Noctis. The vampire gentleman and the zombie head trophy are from Harley’s Hotel. The zombie is wearing a black leather beret from the Old Spanish Stable.

Dare Munro’s book Musings in the Dark is published by my very own company, Darker Shadow Productions, and you get it from the Ghost of Liza Veliz Books & Poems at La Coquette. The book chaise Niki is lounging on is from Galerie Shotgun/Argonaut Travel on Shotgun Road.The kraken-themed rugs are from Look What the Cat Dragged In, #2 Spiegel Hall. The candle bowls are from Grimalkin Workshop in the bayou. Look out for bats—just saying.

The Paradiso Firepit is from Lei’s Café on the Bayou. The Poe’s Raven plushie I’m holding is from Ravenwood Arts & Curios on Shotgun Road. Do I need to mention that it says “Nevermore” when you touch it?

I am wearing the fish hat that Francesca Alva designed and put in her chest at the Green-Eyed Fairy for scurvy knaves to find. There’s a version for tinies too! To be totally honest, I was expecting us all to turn into fish people when the flood after the hurricane took so long to dry up, so I enjoy this cute hat very much. It is hilarious to watch it cuddle people as if it wants to eat them when they sit on my lap.

You should totally do this hunt! There are so many fun treasures in those chests that you can find all over the city and bayou. If you are feeling lazy, you can always use the list of treasure spots.

The start of the pub crawl, at the Still House Tavern

The start of the pub crawl, at the Still House Tavern


The Ghost of Liza Veliz fell in love with New Toulouse at first sight. She publishes books by various authors; find them at her reading cafe on Shotgun Row.