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Tag: new orleans

Don’t Be Afraid To Stop & Ask For Directions: Making Google My Maps for SABs

As promised in my last blog about the new Google My Maps, I’m here today to teach you how to how to create My Maps for service area businesses (often referred to as SABs) that have highlighted boundaries of what counties or parishes they service.

Before we delve into this guide, let’s start with the basics like what exactly is a KML file. KML is the file format used to show geographic data in mapping programs. It is an XML based format and stands for Keyhole Markup Language. Now that you know what this file type is, let’s see how you can use it.

How to Use Old 2011 KML Files

Fun Fact: The U.S. Census Bureau holds kml files for all county guidelines here!

As you can see, they’re from December 2011, so any boundaries that have changed since then will be incorrect. In a very general sense however I’ve found these codes very useful in the past. Each file contains all county boundaries in one state, but the tricky part is that they don’t tell you what state it is in the file name. I went ahead and downloaded them all a long time ago and updated the file names to reflect the state they contain. It’s pretty closely in alphabetical order so if you just use a list of US states in alpha-order next to the list of files in numerical order it should match pretty closely.

Once you’ve figured out which file contains the state you’re looking for, find the county or counties that you want to display in your map, and move it’s entire code for each county (should start with “Placemark” attribute and end with the closing of the “Placemark” attribute) just below the “Document” attribute. Once you’ve moved the boundaries you want to keep to the top of the KML file, remove all the excess counties and leave the closing attributes for “Document” and “kml” at the bottom.

Now that you’ve successfully prepared your KML file, in My Maps, click Import on the left and choose your KML file from your computer.

See the screenshot below for an example of how your KML file should generally look if you’ve done it correctly. The screenshot shows the file for Orleans Parish of Louisiana in TextEdit and then what said file looks like imported into My Maps. (NOTE: In order to show a not so massive screenshot of the KML code, I removed about 3/4 of the coordinates. There are a massive amount of coordinates used to make up these detailed boundaries.)

How to Use New 2013 KMZ Files

The U.S. Census Bureau also has the most up to date 2013 files, which are KMZ format (note the .kmz instead of .kml extension). This is essentially zipped KML files with a .kmz extension, but if you use a Mac like me, unzipping or unpacking the zipped file is not easily achieved. The 500k file contains the most detailed boundaries out of the 3 options.

So, the way I handle this KMZ file is to open the entire file in Google Earth and export just the KML file of the areas I want displayed. To do so you’ll use the search feature of Google Earth on the left at the bottom of the “Places” window to search for and select the areas you want displayed. Since many counties have the same name you’ll want to make sure it’s showing up in the state and location it’s supposed to. Also, note that if you’re trying to add multiple counties in the same state, the Attribute number to the right of the county will be the same for all counties within the same state. This should help you easily identify the counties you’re looking for when adding multiple.

Once you’ve selected the geographic areas you want displayed on your map in the “Places” section, then save the file as a KML file by clicking File>Save>Save Place As….

My Maps will not accept a KMZ file, so make sure to save as a KML.

Once you’ve saved your file, follow the same steps mentioned above to import the KML file to My Maps. I’m not sure if the paid My Maps Pro is any different, but it appears to me that you cannot import multiple KML files to one My Map. So, in the event that you want to represent multiple service areas in one My Map, you’ll want to have all of the geographic area codes in one KML file.

This Google Earth process can also be used instead of manually editing the older KML file codes as shown in the first instructional section in case you don’t want to delve into the coding via text edit. It’s definitely an easier route, but for me, Google Earth can sometimes run slow when trying to handle these files and I don’t mind manually editing code.

Hopefully these steps and screenshots help out a fellow My Mapper!

November 25, 2014
Here Comes Fun: The ONLY Time A High Bounce Rate Is A Good Thing

Any employee at Search Influence will tell you we take our company team-building events very seriously. I have experienced two of these events since I started at Search Influence less than a year ago, and each one has brought the employees of our company closer together. This event was no exception. After all, who wouldn’t bond over inflatable jousting?

It is 3:00 pm on a beautiful Friday afternoon, and everyone begins arriving at New Orleans City Park. With some help from our friends at Space Walk, we created an inflatable fun-zone, complete with an inflatable obstacle course, water slide (sans the water – let’s keep City Park clean!), and the overall favorite – jousting. In between some friendly inflatable competition, everyone enjoyed the carnival-style concessions we had set up, complete with hot dogs, cotton candy, popcorn, and a variety of cold refreshments.

While enjoying the entertainment and food, we were thrilled to recognize the three expecting mothers and one expecting father on our team! Maggie Emerson, Erica Rench, Tracy Stoller, and Justin Scott all received Search Influence onesies for their mini Google expert’s arrival. We can’t wait to meet them!

Overall, it was another successful team-building event for Search Influence. Everyone had a great time, and the newer members of our quickly growing team got to see what this group is all about. I can’t wait to see what our next quarter team building committee comes up with next!

October 6, 2014
SI: Taking Care of Business and Working [Out] Overtime

Rates of obesity are plateauing, healthy eating is up, and work fitness programs are on the rise. Fitness isn’t a fad or a trend, it’s a lifestyle change that a large part of the country is starting to value. But is your regular exercise regimen enough if you spend eight or more hours sitting per day? According to Time Magazine’s review of 43 studies on sitting, a sedentary lifestyle can increase your likelihood of getting cancer, along with a slue of other health problems.

With this in mind, some influencers have taken advantage of our company’s team spirit and new downtown location’s extra office space to incorporated some office fitness into their daily routines. Here are a few ways you can incorporate a little more movement and little less sitting into your daily work flow.

Trek to Work:

Your trek to and from work can be a great time to squeeze in some cardio. Biking or walking to work can help energize you in the morning and give you a boost of endorphins after a long day at work. Exercise before work can also help your memory and recollection, according to the New York Times.

“Biking every morning is a really great way to start and end the day! It wakes me up and keeps me energized throughout the day, while also saving parking money! It’s a quick and easy way to get some exercise in a busy 9-5 schedule.” – Sabrina Mohsenin

“Moving downtown made it worth the ride for me. From my house, after dropping my 12 year-old, it’s a little less than 5 miles. On my ambitious days I’ll extend it and go out and around city park which is 15 miles or more. Everybody was excited when we moved that we had a gym in the building. I’ve never used the gym, but I use the locker room shower plenty!” – Will Scott.

Live too far from your office to walk or ride your bike? Parking at the edge of the parking lot or choosing a parking garage a few blocks from work can help add valuable steps to your pedometer and get your heart pumping.

Climb the Stairs:

Incorporating some cardio into your day can help you shake off pent up energy and increase concentration. Try ditching the elevator and taking the stairs.

Not willing to climb the stairs with your purse, lunch box and computer in hand during your morning and evening commute? Try Chris Dopper’s ‘Crush the Stairs and Kill Some Calories’ challenge.

“After reading the article ‘The War on Sitting’ on Time.com, I realized we are sitting WAY too much. Every place you go, there is an invitation to sit down; in the car, on the subway, at work, at home. Therefore I set up ‘Crush the Stairs and Kill Some Calories’ and invited the whole company to join me in walking up the stairs three times a week. We are located on the thirteenth floor, so we walk up 13 flights of stairs and each week we add one floor. Around 10% of my colleagues accepted this ‘challenge’. Out of breath, but satisfied, we give each other an awkward high five on top of the stairs. According to Business Insider, your brain shows more activity after exercise, so working on the physical also does wonders for the mental. What’s not to like!?” – Chris Dopper

Build a Standing Desk:

Standing is one of the more obvious solutions to sitting too much at work. While that may seem unrealistic or like an expensive investment in office furniture, there are simple ways to build a standing desk with items you can find around the office. Make sure your monitors are high enough so that you don’t need to crane your head down. Also, make sure your keyboard is high enough to keep your arms at a 90 degree angle.

“Standing instead of sitting for 3 hours a day at your desk for a year is the equivalent (in calories burned) to running 10 marathons! My posture has been better and I’m using my abs and back more. My core area has been sore, because I’m using it so much more now and was probably not using it at all before.” – Cory Badeaux

Sit on an Exercise Ball:

Using an exercise ball as a chair in increments throughout the work day can help with core stabilization and posture.

“Since I’ve started using my exercise ball at work, I’ve noticed a big improvement in my posture. I’m standing straighter and have noticed that I have a lot less tension in my shoulders and back!” – Erika Karas

As general rule of thumb, people under 5’3” should use a ball that is 55 cm in diameter. If you are between 5’3” and 6’ try a 65 cm ball. If you’re taller than 6’, you should use a ball that is 75 cm. You can also measure the height of your chair and go from there. Try to maintain a 90 degree angle at your elbow with your arms slightly extended towards your keypad. For more info on how to use the exercise ball, check out this article.

Not ready to commit to a full exercise ball? Some influencers have started using the discball to help their balance and posture while sitting in an office chair. The discball provides many of the same benefits of the full exercise ball without the bulk.

“Sitting on the discball has really helped me maintain my posture throughout the day.” – Andrea Hernandez

Participate in Group Exercise:

Utilizing your support system at work is a great way to keep yourself accountable for your fitness goals. Participating in scheduled and structured exercise with your colleagues after work can keep you motivated to attend and to push yourself. Taking part in running clubs, yoga classes or other exercise groups that meet at the end of the work day is a fun way to be both social and active.

Influencers have been attending Happy’s Running Club on Wednesday after work for a leisurely jog through downtown New Orleans and 2-for-1 beers to hydrate after.

“Anyone who runs knows the running community is one of the most welcoming and supportive groups. A few years back we started the SI Running Club to help everyone train for some of the big races around NOLA. At the time, our office was Uptown and the team ran from Oak to Audubon and back to finish at Carrollton Station for a beer. Even though many of the members in the running club were more walkers than runners, I noticed something on that first run. I saw so many of our runners (daily runners, race runners, half and full runners) running with the slower ones to help encourage them and push them to the finish. For those five miles we weren’t Account Managers, or Developers, or Production members but a true team. This is still by far my favorite team building exercise yet! Even with the move downtown, the running group still goes on, but now we meet at Happy’s Running Club on Wednesdays. I’m still working on getting the team to run from the new office to the old office for old times sake!” – Gabrielle

Play Team Sports:

Team sports are another fun way to get some exercise while building camaraderie with your colleagues. This summer Search Influence participated in the New Orleans Dodge Association’s League. The team worked together by combining their strengths and strategy to win the championship.

“As much as the culture in New Orleans dictates great happy hours with your co-workers, breaking a sweat playing a team sport can be even more beneficial for your relationships and certainly better for your health. Dodgeball has been exactly that for the team at SI. It’s a great change of pace and good opportunity to see your coworkers in a new light.” – Scott Holstein

September 30, 2014
Putting The 8 In Teammate: Search Influence Welcomes 8 New Influencers

Search Influence is happy to introduce its eight newest members. Every month, our team continues to grow!

Andrea Siegel – Junior Account Associate

Originally from Miami, FL, Andrea moved to New Orleans to attend Tulane University. She majored in marketing and loved every second of her Tulane Experience. Andrea decided to stay because she loves the food, music, and culture that New Orleans has to offer. She has danced her whole life. So, if there is a dance floor, you will 100% catch her busting a move (and even sometimes when there isn’t one).

Courtney Cummins – Junior Quality Assurance Specialist

Courtney grew up in Oxford, North Carolina and graduated from the University of North Carolina Wilmington in 2011 with a B.A. in Communication Studies. After graduating, she worked as an estimator for a precast construction company. Courtney worked in construction for two years before deciding to embark on a new adventure in New Orleans. In her free time, she enjoys playing in different sports leagues, going out with friends, and checking out live music. Courtney is excited to call New Orleans her new home and to be joining the Search Influence team!

Kaitlyn Levy – Junior Internet Marketing Associate

Kaitlyn Levy currently attends Loyola University of New Orleans pursuing a bachelor of arts in graphic design. Before working at Search Influence, she worked at the Mayan Import Company, a cigar shop, and We Are Constance, an indie print shop. Kaitlyn can speak French fluently and, on a good day, can stumble through German. She is known for her giant, toothy smile and good humor, which she looks forward to sharing with all of Search Influence.

Lucy Stratton – Internet Marketing Associate

Originally from northern Virginia, Lucy moved to New Orleans to pursue her bachelor’s degree at Tulane University. She graduated a full academic year early with a double major in English and Political Science. Lucy’s writing has appeared in OffBeat Magazine, Art + Design, Generation Progress, GovLoop, The Tulane Review, and the Tulane Hullabaloo. From NOVA to NOLA, Lucy has spent countless hours in hot pursuit of new mac n’ cheese recipes to try and new happy hours to attend. She is excited to continue her cheese-fueled journey with the support of Search Influence.

Ryan Schulze – Junior Account Associate

Ryan, originally from Atlanta, graduated from the University of Georgia in May 2013. Two days after graduation, he got married. Two months later, he moved down to New Orleans to serve as the Administrative Director for a church plant in the Lower 9th Ward called Rebuild. Ryan has a 120-pound English Mastiff puppy named Marvin who recently had his 1-year birthday. In addition to playing in the backyard with Marvin, Ryan enjoys playing any sport, listening to any music, and taking walks on the levee in the Holy Cross neighborhood of New Orleans where he and his wife live.

Sarah Jane Lowery – Junior Internet Marketing Associate

Born and raised in Jackson, MS, Sarah Jane went to college at the University of Mississippi before returning to Jackson for a couple of years. After realizing Jackson was just too far north for her taste, she decided to move to New Orleans. As a new transplant, she is still looking for the best french fries in the city. She also likes the color blue.

Sarah Tan – Internet Marketing Associate

Originally from New York, Sarah completed her undergrad at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, where she majored in English. She then got a master’s in journalism, moved to New Orleans in 2012, and subsequently fell in love with the city. Prior to joining Search Influence, she was an education reporter, but is excited to transition to a slightly different field of communication at SI. She enjoys all things pizza and cat related.

Steven de Brueys – Account Associate

Born in Kenner, LA (America’s City), Steven spent all of his childhood in New Orleans. Steven graduated from Louisiana State University with a major in sports administration and business. Before working for Search Influence, Steven worked in New York City co-running an independent film production company while doing script analysis with Warner Bros., Circle of Confusion, and other independent film companies around the U.S. and Europe. During his free time, Steven likes to travel, go on camping trips, and attend music festivals.

Join us in welcoming Andrea, Courtney, Kaitlyn, Lucy, Ryan, Sarah Jane, Sarah, and Steven. We are ecstatic to have them on the team and to see them progress as Influencers!

September 29, 2014
May The Nola Festivals Be With You

As all New Orleanians know, this great city is known for it’s colorful and sometimes wild festivals. If you have spent any time at all here you will know that there is a festival almost every weekend of the year and for almost any occasion you can think of! These festivals can range anywhere from highbrow to downright weird.

However, May holds a special place in our hearts. It is the perfect combination of festival fun without the feeling of melting into a sweaty puddle. Check out what we have going on in the city this month and join the festivities before it gets too hot!

New Orleans Wine and Food Experience

Thousands of foodies flock to this event to eat their way through one of the best festivals of the year. You can be sure to experience every type food imaginable paired with more wine than you could possibly drink (don’t even attempt to try it all)! Taking place in the French Quarter and with restaurants all over the city participating, this festival is perfect for visitors who are looking for the best that this city has to offer while wandering the historic streets.

Greek Fest

Located at one of the oldest Greek Orthodox churches in the United States, this massive mediterranean festival celebrates food, family, music, and fun. Taste traditional cuisine, enjoy Hellenic dancers, and rock your toga (or your bedsheets). Grab a souvlaki and learn the Zorba with 20,000 of your closest friends!

New Orleans Oyster Fest

The last weekend of the May is, in my opinion, the best weekend of the year! The oyster eating contest, the shucking competition, and the largest oyster contest are just a few events that take place during this weekend event. Paired with local music and libations, the oysters are in peak seasons and couldn’t be tastier! There is no wrong way to enjoy your bucket of oysters – raw, grilled, or on a cracker. Bring your friends, your appetite, and shuck on!

May 20, 2014
What to Watch for on the Web: Tips From PubCon 2014

There was a lot to learn at Pubcon New Orleans 2014! Read below for the inside scoop on some exciting web-related trends we can expect to see in the not-so-distant future.

A Trend Toward the Visual

The belief is that the deeper into the future we go, the more visual-based our web experience will become. Pictures, and moving gifs, are increasingly at the heart of web developers’ designs. Just take a look at what amazon.com looks like today versus February 2000 or even compared to January 2008. And take a look at Disney World’s home page now versus what it looked like in 2000. It will be very interesting to see just how picture and gif-centric the web will become.

Wearable Technology

Optimizing for Wearable Technology might also be a big part of the future. Google Glasses and Fit Bits are just the beginning when it comes to this trend; think watches that control your home, clothing-embedded phone chargers, (and even wearable couture in the form of solar-powered color-changing clothes!). Nobody knows exactly what the trajectory of wearable technology will be, or how in the world we would optimize for it (!), but it definitely makes sense to stay on top of the learning curve when it comes to these advances.

And Google Says…

Of course a blog about PubCon wouldn’t be complete without some interesting updates from Google! According to Danny Bernstein, Google’s Head of Product Partnerships, we can expect to see a lot of interesting expansions from Google coming our way; so, straight from the horse’s mouth, here are some interesting developments that we can be on the lookout for:

App Indexing in Searches

For one, Google is working to populate deep links to your relevant downloaded apps in searches, specifically on Android devices. So, for example, if you Google “Jurassic Park,” (because who wouldn’t want to do that?!) a hit that might populate in your search results could be a direct link to the Jurassic Park page in your IMDb app. Google is currently working on indexing all of these applications so that they can populate in an intuitive way in our searches.

Google Wallet

Google is also working to bring Google Wallet to the next level, which is an application that will make paying for various web services even easier than it is now. App developers can incorporate Google Wallet into their programming so that users can purchase their app’s related services with just a push of a button or tap of a finger. Additionally, businesses will be able to use Google Wallet to push various product promotions to their app’s users.

I’m sure I am not alone in my excitement to observe these exciting developments as they come to life!

April 2, 2014
Influencers Flock to the Pelicans Game

It’s 4:30 PM on a Monday and where is Search Influence? On our way to the Pelicans vs. Nets game! It already did not feel like a typical Monday because Jack Black was filming a movie on the first floor of our building in Oak Bar, but our quarterly office team building event only added to the excitement.

I have only been with Search Influence for a little over three months, and I have already gotten to experience two company bonding events that made me feel welcome and appreciated. Not only did we receive tickets to the Pelicans game, we also had the Party Perch in the Smoothie King Center rented out so we could mingle beforehand. Thank you Team Building Committee! (Yes, we have a group of Influencers that take extra time to make sure our events are special!)

After a slow start, the Pelicans caught up with the Nets and went into overtime, which made our group go wild. We danced to the Wobble, Jump On It and other classic jams while we cheered for the Pelicans who shot multiple three-pointers and claimed their victory!

All in all, it was a very eventful Monday night and I’m glad I got to spend with my co-workers in my favorite city. I can’t wait to see what our Team Building Committee comes up with next to help our ever growing number of Influencers have fun together!

March 31, 2014
The Balder Side of Life

Every year a neighborhood bar that caters to celebrating German heritage in New Orleans hosts a special event. This event is one of caring and hope. The participants all sport identical hair cuts. The floor is littered with a variety of browns, blacks, and yellows in various hues. It is in this hallowed hall that St. Baldricks takes place each March.

St. Baldricks is a charity organization that raises money for children’s cancer research. They have raised over $127 million for research by doing a different kind of charity work. St. Baldricks doesn’t ask its participants to walk, sell candy, or do anything physical. All they ask you to do is take a seat in a barber’s chair and allow a volunteer to shave your hair off in solidarity with all the kids that lose their hair due to cancer treatments.

I have participated in this event for four years and helped raise several thousand dollars with some of my closest friends, two of which have been with me each year. Geoff Gauchet was the first to tell me about this wonderful organization and invited me to participate. And although I was a bit hesitant at first, I fell victim to the age old dare of “I’ll do it if you do it,” from one of my closest friends, Jacob Mayer.

I have asked these two friends to explain why they participate in this organization.

What made you want to participate in St. Baldricks?

JM: Peer pressure! OK, that’s only part of it, but I knew some friends who had been doing it for a while and some more friends who wanted to get involved. The more I learned about the organization, the more I wanted to be a part of it.

GG: My boss at one of my past jobs did it every year, and so one year I decided to give it a shot.

How long have you have you been participating?

GG: This will be my 7th year. I get knighted as a Knight of the Bald Table this year, which is an honor for anyone who’s given 7 years of a service to the organization.

JM: This will be my fourth year! I think.

Your team name is Hairy Shearers, what’s that about?

GG: It’s a reference to The Simpsons. Harry Shearer does a large number of voices on the show, and in one episode there was a barbershop named Hairy Shearers, a pun on cutting hair and his name, obviously.

JM: Since Shearer is a voice actor for the Simpsons, that make this joke so meta. So meta, y’all.

How do you get the word out about your participation in this event? Do you utilize social media or do you have a specific method for raising funds?

GG: I use social media almost primarily. I post my donation link about once per day. As it’s been 7 years, I’ve learned the key times of the day to post for maximum visibility. I also print up a flyer and post it on the fridge at work, and usually email family members.

JM: Any way I can: Facebook, Twitter, emailing my coworkers, bugging my family, etc.

How do your friends and family react to your shaggy appearance prior to the event?

GG: My parents love the event not just for the cause, but because my hair is usually ridiculous right before the event. I wanted to keep my beard at first, but my dad donated extra money on the spot to have them shave it off, so now I do the whole thing. Friends and coworkers usually don’t recognize me for a second. It freaks me out when I catch myself in a mirror.

JM: It’s literally the first thing my family and coworkers mention when they see me in the month or so leading up to the event. “HEY WHEN YOU GETTIN’ DAT MOP CUT OFF?” or “HEY SHAVE YOUR BEARD, YOU GROSS WEIRDO.” You know, stuff like that. But they’re all very supportive of the cause and sympathetic to my disheveled appearance.

Please join Geoff, Jacob, and myself at the Deutsches Haus on March 29, 2014 at 6:00pm to watch us once again lose our hair for charity.

Also, feel free to donate to St. Baldricks:
Team Hairy Shears
Geoff Gauchet
Jacob Mayer
William Monson

March 27, 2014
Mardi Gras Season At Search Influence

Here in New Orleans, we celebrate a few extra holidays. Mardi Gras, otherwise known as Carnival Season, began on January 6th this year with the Phunny Phorty Phellows parade. The season culminates tomorrow, with Mardi Gras Day itself, otherwise known as Fat Tuesday.

Tradition

In addition to the parades, drinking, parties, and mass amounts of tourists that make Mardi Gras special, we also eat a LOT of king cake. This cake, baked in honor of the three kings, is an oval shaped cinnamon cake decorated in the traditional Mardi Gras colors: purple, green, and gold. Each cake has a small plastic baby hidden inside, and tradition states that the person who finds the baby in their piece of king cake will have good luck (and they’ll have to supply the next king cake).

King Cakes

Obviously, we don’t want to mess with tradition at Search Influence, so king cakes have taken over the office for the past few weeks. Not only have we eaten traditional king cakes, Influencers have also gone above and beyond to provide the most decadent, most beautiful, most delicious variety of king cakes around! Almost every day of the week our team enjoys king cakes from any one of the following places:

Rouses
Haydel’s
Meche’s
Manny Randazzo
Domenica
Maple Street Patissierie
Whole Foods
Nonna Randazzo’s
Tastee McKenzie’s
Breads on Oak
JCB Creations
Gambino’s
Hi-Do
La Boulangerie
Ye Olde College Bakery
And More!

As team building is an important part of the Search Influence community, bringing employees together with a new and exciting king cake every day has been a great part of Mardi Gras. Hopefully, as our team continues to grow, the number of king cakes we eat will too!

Do you have a favorite king cake? Let us know in the comments!

March 3, 2014
Lunchtime at Search Influence’s NEW Office Space

When I first started at Search Influence back in October, I was employee #50. Now, just four months later, we’re nearing 70 employees! As a result, 8120 Oak Street has turned into a veritable can of sardines. Check out this picture from our most recent company meeting…

Our Direct Team (along with a few others, most notably Will & Angie, our founders) even work in what is essentially a converted attic – cleverly nicknamed The Treehouse.

As Search Influence continues to grow, so must our office space. While it’ll be hard to say goodbye to the many memories we’ve made on Oak Street, we’re all looking forward to some room to breathe.

Where are we headed next? While nothing is confirmed quite yet, it looks like we’ll be headed downtown, to the CBD, or Old Metairie.

Lunchtime is something we take very seriously here at SI. Every Influencer has their favorite lunch spot – whether it’s Jimmy John’s delivery, pho from the cleverly named Pho Bistreaux or a juicy burger from trūburger (perfect for Fat Fridays). I’m here to assure you that all of our potential new locales have plenty of lunchtime options.

Downtown

Brave the lines at Mother’s (401 Poydras) for one of the best po-boys the city has to offer. In addition to serving up delicious tacos, Felipe’s Taqueria (301 N. Peters) is the perfect place to grab a margarita after work. Who knows, maybe it’ll even be the next Carrollton Station? Can’t tear yourself away from your desk for more than a minute? There’s sure to be a Lucky Dog cart nearby!

CBD

The Store (814 Gravier) has some great lunch specials and a semi-secret taco bar in the back. Missing Pho Bistreaux? Don’t worry, Viet Orleans Bistro (300 Baronne) is just a few steps away. There’s also a Jimmy John’s (900 Poydras) and a Reginelli’s (930 Poydras) right around the corner.

Old Metairie

In addition to coffee shops, there’s Zoës Kitchen (701 Metairie Rd. Suite 1A103), Naked Pizza (701 Metairie Rd. Suite 2A105) and Lee’s Hamburgers (1507 Metairie Rd.). On hot days, venture down to Sal’s Sno-Ball Stand (1823 Metairie Rd.) for one of Metairie’s best kept secrets.

Stay tuned for more once our new location has officially been announced!

February 21, 2014