How-To Host The Perfect Summer BBQ

3717 Carondelet Street, Listed by Jamie Hughes Here in New Orleans, we have many loves, but our love for gathering with family and friends while enjoying delicious food is at the top of the list. Summertime and BBQs, or cookouts as we call them, go hand and hand. We can’t imagine the summer without enjoying a great time filled with music, food, and fun in our backyards. If you’re looking to take your backyard bbq to the next level this summer, we’ve got you covered! Check our tips for hosting the perfect summer BBQ below. Turn Your Cookout Into An Experience Your Guests Will Never Forget Don’t just host a gathering for your family and friends, create an experience for them! Everyone loves a good theme. Minor tweaks such as adding a few colorful decorations to your yard or asking your guests to wear a particular color will take your party from a gathering to a full-on event, all while creating memories of a lifetime. Add A Few Unexpected Dishes To The Menu When you think of a BBQ, you automatically think of hamburgers, hotdogs, and ribs. Surprise your guests by adding a few unexpected items to your menu list. We recommend adding grilled sweet potato skewers or mushroom burgers to your list of dishes. Your vegan partygoers will thank you, and everyone else will be delighted by these twists on their favorite summertime dishes.  Allow Your Guests To Make The Playlist Music at a Summer BBQ is a must. You can’t have a party without adding good tunes to the mix. Unless you’re a certified DJ, curating a playlist that everyone enjoys can be a tad challenging. Remedy this by asking your guests to add a few of their favorite songs to the playlist. Doing so will allow guests to add their personal touch to the event, which they’ll love.  Make An Outdoor Hand Washing Station  The only downside to hosting an event is the constant flux of guests going in and out of your home. Minimize foot traffic by setting up an outdoor hand washing station. All you need is a small table and a water cooler, then place soap and paper towels nearby. Your guests will adore the cute station, and you’ll have less to clean once the party is over.  We hope you have enjoyed these tips! Wishing you a summer filled with cookout fun!  For more fun tips, visit our Rêve blog! *Written by Deveney Marshall of Mara Creative Agency

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New Orleans: An Artist’s Retirement Paradise

Originally from Ann Arbor, Michigan, art curators, and professors, Lou and Margaret decided there was no better place to retire than New Orleans. The lifelong artists were drawn to the city’s vibrant arts culture and knew this would now be the perfect place to call home. After deciding to move across the country, the couple happened upon the Rêve website, where they discovered Rêve agent Lazaro Suarez. Following a brief conversation with Lazaro, Lou and Margaret knew they wanted him to assist them with finding their forever home. At first, the couple had their heart set on buying an art studio that would double as their house and a gallery, but once Lazaro introduced them to their charming home in Carrollton, they knew they had to have it. “Our home has everything we were looking for, only we didn’t know it at first, and we have an art studio, which was very important to us.” Says Lou and Margaret. Prior to moving to New Orleans, Lou and Margaret set their heart on opening an art gallery in the city. Once the couple settled into their new home, their next mission was to find the perfect location for an art gallery. Without a doubt, the couple enlisted Lazaro to assist them. Finding the right gallery proved to be more of a challenge than buying their home, but in the end, Lazaro located the gallery of their dreams. “We knew we wanted to be in the Arts District, and at first, it seemed like everything we wanted wasn’t available. Lazaro didn’t stop until he found us a location we loved. Our gallery is everything we wanted. It’s right off of Julia Street and has enough space to showcase main talent and up-and-coming artists.” Says Lou and Margaret. A few days ago, the artists opened the IBIS Contemporary Art Gallery in the heart of the New Orleans Arts District. Drawing from their connections as artists and professors, the owners and co-directors have brought together an exceptional and varied group of national and international artists to exhibit at IBIS. The directors hope to contribute their expertise and experience as artists to this city’s already rich and diverse culture. Lou and Margaret note, “Our main goal is to give artists the platform and space they need to host a proper exhibit and generate the income they deserve. As long as our gallery is doing that, we’re happy.” You can visit Lou and Margaret’s new art gallery, IBIS, located at 705 Camp Street.

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Six Rêve Listings That Would Be The Perfect Place To Host Your Holidays Gatherings

In New Orleans, the kitchen and the dining room are the two rooms that see the most traffic. We love to host and entertain during holidays with oyster stuffing and perfectly crafted cocktails. In honor of the most wonderful time of the year, we’ve curated a list of our favorite Rêve listings with kitchens and dining rooms that are worthy of any Pinterest board. Schedule a showing with one of our Rêve agents today and you just might be able to host your family in one of these houses by Christmas! #1. 6319 Tchoupitoulas Street Listed by Joey Walker #2. 1200 Independence Street Listed by Lisa Fury #3. 3016 Sunrise Boulevard Listed by Stevan Gill #4. 1013 Ninth Street Listed By Rayna Bishop #5. 1227 Annunciation Street Listed By Cody Stringer #6. 1220 Dauphine Street #F Listed by Tracey Moore For more home inspo visit www.reverealtors.com!

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