The sweet smell of Dunbar’s baby back ribs and jambalaya drifted through tents filled with New Orleans artists, antique dealers, clothing designers, musicians and cooks selling their work during the Freret Holiday Market Dec. 1, located on Freret Street between Napoleon and Valence.
Shirts proclaiming “thou shalt not steal copper” and “honor ya mamma and nem” appeared next to oyster shell paintings of the Virgin Mary and a large offering of anything fleur-de-lis.
The variety was true to New Orleans culture and many enjoyed the opportunity to shop in a less formal setting. “It has a home grown feel to it. You know, we don’t need another Gap,” said Robert Bell, English professor and interim director for writing across the curriculum, who lives in the area and perused the market with his family.
Jessica Kinnison, mass communication senior, said she came to the festival with her mom, aunt and grandmother to enjoy the food, music and revitalized atmosphere.
“This part of Freret was really damaged in the storm and has been notoriously dangerous. For all these people to be out here where nobody usually stops or shops, it’s a huge feat,” Kinnison said.
It’s the fourth market organized by The Freret Business & Property Owner Association since September. The idea sprung out of a meeting in late 2006, when the association decided to take on the Market as an initiative to improve the flood-damaged neighborhood.
“During the spring and summer of 2007 the ideas were fleshed out with the help of Freret residents and the staff at Neighborhood Housing Services of New Orleans. The start up funding was provided by the Office of Recovery Management,” Gregory Ensslen, president of the Freret Business & Property Owner Association, said in a press release.
Tina Dunbar, owner of Dunbar’s restaurant on Loyola’s law campus, opened her original restaurant on Freret Street and has set up a tent at every market this fall. “All I hear is, when ya coming back, when ya coming back?” Dunbar said. She plans to reopen a restaurant on Freret, but for now she serves the community by setting up shop at the market on the first Saturday of every month.
“I think it’s good that we have things like this because it brings people to the area. For the people who live here it’s a great opportunity to be out in the neighborhood. With free entertainment, you can’t beat it,” Bell said.
Jordan Hultine can be reached at
Freret Market Slideshow
