I recently met Carmela Hartman, the organizer of a truly special Friendsgiving initive designed to help a victim of the recent floods here in central Texas. I asked her about the true meaning of Friendsgiving…
“It is a gathering of good friends celebrating abundance and giving back to those in need.”
– Carmela Hartman
What made this such a meaningful event was the fact that it came to be in order to support a good friend’s family who had lost their house and most of their treasured belongings in the recent floods.
We’ve all awoken to our phones obnoxiously warning us about the “flash floods” or perhaps simply the downpour of rain and near by lighting strikes during the spring like weather we have had this fall. Not everyone gets to roll over, quiet their phone, and return to sleep. Yanira Villegas and her family weren’t even allowed into their neighborhood after Friday’s rains and were boated in on Saturday to find over 4 feet of water in there house. She grabbed what she could, and her family has since moved into her parent’s house, which is still is without AC and heat because of the floods.
Once Carmela found out about her friend’s tragedy she put her expertise of being an event planner to use “I am a person that just cannot sit back so I gathered all my good friends who own businesses and have a platform to help this event. They all opened their hearts with no hesitations” In just a few days the roster of friends ready to give included:
Within only one week, a truly meaningful Friendsgiving was held at the Arthouse in North Austin as guests gathered to feast for a great cause. Donations were held for Yanira’s family, and canned goods were also collected for the Capitol City Food Bank. The event was completed with a raffle drawing at the end!
“In everything give thanks.”
Chef Edna and Cody: Creamy Butternut Soup, Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms,
Wild Salmon and Cucumber Canopy, Mini Beef Wellington with Mushroom and
Spinach, Polenta Squares with Pulled Philippine Pork Adobo, Roasted Brussels’
Sprouts and Curried Cauliflower
Sam’s Turkey and Mashed Potatoes
Carmela and Robert’s Chicken Adobo Slider
Maureen’s Green Apple and Endive Salad
Marsha and Johnny’s Cheddar cream corn casserole
Kayla and Alex ‘Spinach Artichoke Dip
Vicky and Dave’s Shrimp Asparagus Pasta
Amber’s Special Cranberry Sauce
Maribel’s Mexican Enchilada with Red Sauce
Sara and Josh’ Tasting of Double Dave’s Pizza
“Thanksgiving Pizza” (Pizza of the month specialty)
Estella’s Lobster Mac and Cheese
The Works, Supreme
Buffalo Chicken
Whole Wheat Classic Veggie
Pepperoni roll
Meat eater
Desserts
Edna ‘s Mini Pumpkin Pie Bites and Mini Apple Pie Bites with Whipped Cream
Ravel and Andy, Tiff Treat Cookies
Jennifer’s Hey Cupcakes
Sandra’s Pumpkin Pie
Champagne, Wine, Tea, Water
The Austin community is a force to be reckoned with. The spirit of Friends Giving can be witnessed year round. It’s a beautiful testament to the heart beat of this city.
New Orleans, LA - On October 22, 2024, I recently had an opportunity to attend the grand opening of Caesars New Orleans, marking the completion of a stunning $435 million transformation of the former Harrah’s New Orleans. It was an evening to remember, filled with excitement, luxury, and the vibrant spirit of New Orleans. The festivities began on Canal Street with an exhilarating ceremony led by Caesars Entertainment CEO Tom Reeg, President & COO Anthony Carano, and Caesars New Orleans General Manager Samir Mowad. The atmosphere was electric as they joined Caesar himself and an iconic New Orleans second-line band in a lively procession into the casino. It felt like the entire city had come out to celebrate, with Caesars New Orleans team members and Mayor LaToya Cantrell also joining the event to commemorate this historic occasion. Anthony Carano’s pride in introducing Caesars to New Orleans was palpable. “From local favorite Emeril Lagasse to our long-time partner, Chef Nobu, to the beautiful state-of-the-art Caesars Sportsbook, all-new rooms and gaming floor, and of course, our gorgeous new center bar, Octavia, Caesars New Orleans offers something for everyone. It’s a world-class resort in the heart of the Big Easy, and we can’t wait for our guests to experience it,” he said. The ceremony was a spectacle, kicking off with an iconic Mardi Gras float featuring Caesar and his court, and a dazzling firework show that lit up the New Orleans sky. The second-line band then led us revelers into the resort’s elegant center bar, Octavia, where we indulged in a “Taste of Caesars New Orleans.” Each bite from the six on-property restaurants was a delightful journey, capturing the essence of New Orleans’ rich culinary scene. Throughout the night, elemental entertainers, including the Saints Cheer Krewe, Mardi Gras Indians, Zulu Tramps, and showgirls, created an authentic and unforgettable Big Easy experience. Everywhere I turned, there was something new to marvel at, each performance more mesmerizing than the last. Samir Mowad, SVP and GM of Caesars New Orleans, highlighted the significance of the transformation, stating, “This year marks 25 years since we opened in New Orleans, and the completion of this project is the perfect way to usher in a new era with Caesars. Synonymous with the Caesars name, our new resort is pure elegance, and we’re excited to introduce a luxury brand like this to New Orleans. We are extremely grateful for the support of the community, our team members, and our guests as we come to the finish line of this tremendous transformation.” The hotel itself is impressive,…
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