Algiers Point resident Lindsay Hilton is one of many who were moved by the closure of the food bank. She came to AEDF to see what could be done.  In response, collection boxes will be placed in businesses around Algiers Point, and there will be a collection box at all remaining Wednesdays on the Point free summer concerts to collect food. This weeks show will be at the Old Point Bar at 100 Olivier St. and Patterson Drive from 6 to 9 p.m featuring Amanda Shaw.

Bring a can or box of food to donate and help stock the Algiers Food Bank

The food bank is located in the Arthur Monday Center at 1111 Newton St., Algiers. Hours are Monday through Thursday, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. To donate, email unitedchurches.org@netzero.com or call 504.361.1661.

If Louisiana is Hollywood South and New Orleans is its capital, then Algiers Point is the crown jewel.

At least that’s how Christopher Kane, president of the Algiers Economic Development Foundation, sees it.

Since the beginning of the year, 13 major productions each with budgets exceeding $300,000 have been shot in New Orleans, and six have used Algiers locations. That’s a high percentage, Kane said.

“They like filming here because it can stand in for Uptown or any other part of the city. But unlike the Garden District, we don’t have the hustle and bustle, noise and traffic that can get in the way.”

Some New Orleans neighborhoods aren’t crazy about the film industry because it brings trucks, bright lights and late-night noise, Kane said. Algiers, on the other hand, has welcomed the industry with open arms.

The increased film activity brings with it opportunities for the Algiers business community. To ensure they take advantage of those opportunities, Kane invited Jennifer Day, director of the New Orleans Office of Film and Video, to speak at the Algiers Economic Development Foundation’s luncheon May 19.

We had the largest attendance for the luncheon in two years, which told me that our business community is interested in this but they don’t know how to get involved,” Kane said. “They’re filming here, but there’s a segment of our business community going untapped. Services needed by film productions are being met by folks not in New Orleans. It seems to make more sense if they’re shooting here to use a caterer down the street versus one in Harahan.”

Algiers is the first community in the New Orleans area to create a committee to specifically look for ways to educate its business community about movie productions and how they can become more involved, Day said.

“They need to do their homework, know what’s in town and be very diligent,” Day said. “They need to network, figure out if they know people in industry and get word out that they’re interested in being a vendor.”

Kane wants Algiers businesses to become involved not just as on-screen locations but behind the scenes providing catering services, props, equipment and anything else required to shoot a movie.

“For instance, productions need office space for six months close to their base location. New Orleans lacks temporary office space, but we have plenty,” Kane said. “Right now we’re talking with developers and investors with underutilized or blighted property in Algiers that they may convert to office space.

The Old Point Bar has been used as a film location for various productions, including “Ray,” “Green Lantern” and “Treme.” As a result, it has become a popular destination for sightseeing film buffs, and Kane wants to extend that appeal throughout the neighborhood. He plans to create maps with stars on locations where films were shot in hopes of attracting tourists to Algiers.

“We need to make sure this industry thrives,” Kane said. “You might grow a great crop. But if no one is focused on nourishing it, nothing much will happen. We want to make sure we take advantage across the board and involve all our community.”

The May 24th issue of People Magazine has named Old Point Bar – right here on Algiers Point – as one of the hot spots to go when travelling to New Orleans. Old Point Bar has been featured in several films and will soon be featured as Broome’s Bar in the Green Lantern. Congrats to Old Point Bar.  Pay a visit to the jewel right here in our backyard.  See the article here….

The transformation of the Naval Support Activity in Algiers into a federal campus for military, government and private agencies is solidly under way with the footprint for the national headquarters for Marine Forces Reserve, the project’s anchor tenant, taking shape.

A year ago, local leaders and Navy officials signed the final documents setting the stage for the active construction site, where concrete slabs are being poured over 2,600 pilings. By December, project officials expect the exterior walls to be four stories tall overlooking Opelousas and Hendee streets.

Contractor Woodward Design+Build of New Orleans expects the 417,000-square-foot headquarters compound to be occupied by Sept. 15, 2011, the federally mandated deadline for the command’s 1,900 Marines and civilian personnel to move in.

“We’re on track, feeling excited about the prospects and delivering what we said we’re going to deliver,” said retired Marine Corps Maj. Gen. David Mize, who is spearheading the Federal City development.

Using $150 million from the state Department of Economic Development, Federal City planners are constructing facilities for the command and the Marine Forces Reserve Band, which embedded a conductor’s baton and two Marine Corps coins in the building’s concrete last month.

Developers envision that over 15 years, the Federal City will attract other government agencies and private businesses to the campus, ultimately bringing 10,000 jobs to Algiers.