Have you ever walked or ridden along the bike path that runs from Algiers to Gretna? 

It's a great ride, with a spectacular view of the city and the skyline serving as a backdrop to your exercise program.  Plenty of people would love to be able to continue their ride into lower Algiers, but haven't been able to do so.  That's all changing.

Bids will be taken shortly for the planned extension of the bike and walking path in Algiers.  With construction expected to begin this spring and be completed before the end of 2012, the path that currently runs from the Gretna ferry landing to the Algiers ferry landing will be extended all the way to the Chalmette ferry landing on the West Bank.

Plans include benches, water fountains, places for people to clean up after their pets and historic markers that share some of the history of Algiers.  There is already a shell path on the top of the levee, but the addition of a 10 foot path and several access ramps along the route will make your walk, run or ride even more enjoyable. 

Additionally, the section of the levee that was closed to restrict access to the Naval Base is now open and will be included in the path construction.  Just that one change makes the entire path more appealing since it no longer dead ends into a restricted area, which forced people off of the levee and around the base.

I can't wait to see the new improvements as they are completed!

Recent article about the bike path at nola.com

Originally posted at West Bank Living

If there is one thing about New Orleans that people may not get, it's that we embrace the eccentric, the different, the unique.  If you aren't from here, your normal and our normal are two entirely different animals - probably not even in the same species.  

I know that many of the big cities have marching groups that parade on St. Patrick's Day (or whenever people who don't have Mardi Gras parade) but here we have groups that march for anything and everything.  Lundi Gras, Mardi Gras, St. Patrick's Day, Irish-Italian parades, Christmas parades and pretty much any other time we feel like it.  And we have some of those traditional groups that walk the parade route, handing out flowers and kisses along the way.  

But that's not nearly as much fun as when you find a group of guys that not only don't take themselves seriously, but have turned the entire idea of a marching group/dance team upside down.  

Enter the 610 Stompers.

From the headbands to the cheesy red jackets to the spray painted gold tennis shoes and the motto of "Ordinary Men with Extraordinary Moves", you can't watch them and not have a good time.  They have performed at Hornets games, Saints games, in multiple parades and are the epitome of why our town will always be just a little on the fringe of normal ;)

The 610 Stompers will be participating in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (is it really a parade without throws?) and I'm not sure New York is going to know what hit them.  Locally, watch for them between 11:20 and 11:30 am CST.  You can do the math to figure out when they will be on your area, but until then, check out one of the most unique groups to come out of New Orleans in years.

While planning your holiday shopping this year, I'd like to encourage you to spend your dollars with locally owned small businesses who rely on our support to keep their doors open as they provide not just goods and services, but jobs and tax dollars that benefit us directly.

November 26, 2011 marks the second annual Small Business Saturday - a day we should all come together and support our local businesses by keeping our shopping dollars here in our own community.  Although started by the folks at American Express, it truly has little to do with a credit card company and loads to do with how we can each have a positive impact on our local economy while doing the shopping that we all need to get done at this time of year.

You are welcome to join the Amex Facebook page for Small Business Saturday, but the true focus needs to be on making the effort to help our friends and neighbors that own local businesses...whether it's an art gallery, a small home based craft business or even grabbing a gift certificate to a West Bank restaurant, we can all find ways to keep our holiday budget dollars right here in our own community.

Need a place to start?  Visit StayLocal! for a list of businesses that are owned by Louisiana residents.

Do you have a small business in the New Orleans area?  Feel free to leave your information in the comments so all of our readers will know about you!

Originally published at West Bank Living