Counting Around The Neutral Ground

Guess what? Joanne Mehrtens and Pat Roig have written a second book and what a fun read it is! You will remember these two Metairie schoolteachers who wrote and illustrated The Beignet That Almost Got Away. If you did not buy their first book you missed a great treat for your kiddies. Well, the new one is even more fun. It is a counting book for the little ones
that will have them counting up and down the St. Charles streetcar line. The'll be counting things truly native and unique to New Orleans such as snowballs, streetcars, water meters-Got the picture? The book is a fun way to learn to count because it gets these little readers to count many of the things that make everyday a beautiful adventure for them as they move about the city.

There's a nice surprize in the book too! While those two Zany NOLA roaches, Roxanne and Ralph, are secondlineing and teaching thoughout the book, they are also having a conversation that brings humor to the older folks that are reading to the little guys. But make no mistake about it, the wonderfull illustrations and clever wording will capture the attention of your children and have them " Counting Around The Neutral Ground" in no time.

And, by the way, both Joanne and Pat have graciously signed these books for us. IN A FEW WEEKS WE WILL BE HAVING A READING AND SIGNING BY THEM IN OUR STORE. WE WILL LET YOU KNOW JUST WHEN THIS WILL HAPPEN.

Mary Lou

OUR NEW WEDDING INVITATIONS

Hi,

We're very excited to tell you of a new product we have added to our store in answer to your many requests. Our wedding favors and secondline umbrellas have brought many of you to our store for years. Now, in answer to your many requests we have added a great line of wedding invitations and wedding accessories. We did a lot of reserch to be assured that what we would offer you would be top of the line products at the best possible pricing.

Patty and I are happy to say that we are now a distributor of Birchraft Studios. Birchcraft is a 3rd generation, independent family owned business. Five generations of our own family have served you over the past 70 odd years and we know the care and concern a family owned businesses gives its customers is important. But even that is not enough for us to decide to carry someone elses product. We need to be assured that the products they offer us for sale to you must be the best we can find. And yes, we feel that with Birchraft you will be getting top notch products at fair pricing . If you are planning a wedding or party of any kind and need invites or accessories we hope you will look over their line. We recommend them highly. AND TO INTRODUCE THIS NEW LINE WE HAVE OFFERED A 10% DISCOUNT ON YOUR ORDER.

By the way, if you're from out of town and are coming to New Orleans to be married we can help introduce you to our local planners whom we know would make sure that you have the very best NOLA wedding possible.

Later Y'all , Mary Lou

Welcome To Our Blog

Hi,
Welcome to our new blog. We hope you will join us here as we talk about the pralines we love making as well as the other things we do here at Old Town. Growing up in the French Quarter and watching these candies being made in my grandmothers patio is one of my fondest childhood memories. The picture you see here is our grandmother, Louise in the patio at 627 Royal Steet. In fact, her praline shop was one of my favorite places. Later it became a favorite of my children too. To say the least , it was a sweet place to be and not just because of the candy makin' going on. We all learned so much there both about the warmth of family and the sweetness of New Orleans' favorite candy- the praline. Now as Patty and I make them daily at Old Town we often talk of how important this candy has been not only to the history of our city but also to the history of our family.

For now, we will tell you that our pralines are a local favorite and we are very proud of that. Our traditional praline is made with no dairy or glutin and they are our best sellers. Then, of course, there are the chocolate topped turtle pralines and the chocolate chewy pralines that are our next best sellers. And, we will do a chewy praline if you request it or a coconut one for those who like these products. Our line of pralines is always subject to the desires of our customers. So you can always make a special request and we will try to accomodate requests.

Well, that's about all we'll say today on the subject of pralines. Over time you will find postings on our blog on many subjects that we hope you will enjoy reading. For instance, we hope to give you receipes with pralines you will enjoy, stroies about growing up in the Quarter and introduce you to some of the most interesting people we have met over the past 70 some years through Old Town.

Later, Mary Lou