Matt Haines

Matt Haines lives in New Orleans and writes about all the cool stuff.
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A guide to Carnival dance krewes and how to get in on the action

By Matt Haines / February 5, 2020

Floats are cool, but as a wise man once said, “It’s the stuff between the floats that makes Mardi Gras special.”

The beginnings of America’s Mafia in New Orleans

By Matt Haines / February 4, 2020

Not only was New Orleans a center of America’s network of Mafia families… many historians believe New Orleans was the original center.

Day Trip to Lafayette - Very Local

A Weekend in Lafayette: The Capital of Cajun Country

By Matt Haines / January 28, 2020

Whether it’s Zydeco music — Cajun food, or one of countless other unique cultural attributes — when we arrive in Lafayette we arrive at the gateway to a world unlike any other.

Twelfth Night – How the official start of the most wonderful time of the year came about

By Matt Haines / January 3, 2020

In many parts of the world, Twelfth Night and the Christian holiday, Epiphany, are synonymous. So, what’s Epiphany?

What Is There to Do This Hanukkah in New Orleans? Plenty!

By Matt Haines / December 19, 2019

Did you know Isidore Newman and Issac Delgado are both Jewish? There’s lot of Jewish history in our city to celebrate during Hanukkah.

Know Your NOLA: The Rise, Fall, and Rebirth of Streetcars (Part 2)

By Matt Haines / November 21, 2019

Part two in this series chronicles the history of the streetcar line from the 1800s to the present day.

Know Your NOLA: The Rise, Fall, and Rebirth of Streetcars (Part 1)

By Matt Haines / November 21, 2019

Have you ever noticed a pair of tracks cracking through the street? The city once had an extensive system of streetcars throughout its neighborhoods.

How to Celebrate Thanksgiving in New Orleans

By Matt Haines / November 20, 2019

Those who love Thanksgiving tend to love it because it’s an opportunity to gather with our family and/or neighbors over an incredible meal. Those who love New Orleans tend to love it because — well, gathering over great food is basically what we do everyday, Thanksgiving or not!

Say cheese! A guide to NOLA’s cheese fest, Fête des Fromages

By Matt Haines / November 14, 2019

One day, 150 cheeses. What other reason do you need? It’s the second year of the NOLA Cheese Fest.

New Orleans’ NASA Michoud facility is the history and future of space exploration

By Matt Haines / November 14, 2019

Every mission — and advance in American space exploration — over the last 60 years involved the work of New Orleanians.