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Dancing Salsa, smoking cigars and enjoying Latin cuisine! “I love what I do here and I really enjoy meeting interesting people who come here from all over the world,” Barbara said. “I speak fluent German and seem to get my share of Damen und Herren.” Born to a Lumbee Indian father, and a German mother, Barbara’s family was stationed in Germany while she was a young child, but she grew up in South Carolina where she attended the University of South Carolina. In 1986 she moved to the Virgin Islands and bought a graphic design studio there. Describing the final leg of her journey from St. Thomas, USVI, where she owned and operated the graphic design studio for 14 years, Barbara said, “In New Orleans, I soon met a sweet elderly couple who needed my design talent. They owned Hotel Storyville. As they were resident innkeepers, it was necessary for one of them to stay and mind the hotel while the other traveled. Later they asked if I would “babysit” the property so they could vacation together and I agreed.” Because of its elevation on the Esplanade Ridge, the hotel was spared the flooding suffered by most of the city during Hurricane Katrina in 2005. However, soon after that, one of the owners passed away. “Her husband offered to sell the hotel to me and I readily said yes,” Barbara recounted. “And so began my new career as an innkeeper.” Barbara takes special pride in the appearance and maintenance of both the interior of the hotel and the gardens and courtyard. “I have the best housekeepers in the world,” she said. “This place is extremely clean and wellmaintained. Raquel and Roxanne are my twin housekeepers. Everyone loves them and they do an exceptional job. “Glenn is the gardener,” Barbara added. “He has a green thumb and everything he touches grows like crazy. He is also responsible for the beautiful pond, which is a focal point in the garden. It is full of fountains and magnificent water lilies and other exotic plants and, of course, fish. Glenn is also very artistic and creative, and when it comes to ‘Event Time’ he really shines! He is the true ‘Entertainer’ around here.” Praising another key staff member, Barbara said, “Cindy handles social media for the Storyville Hotel and Gardens and helps keep me organized. She is absolutely wonderful. The best!” Although the hotel is not a bed and breakfast, Barbara noted that, “Every room is ‘full service.’ They have fully equipped kitchens, right down to the pots and pans. But, when surrounded by some of the world’s best restaurants, who wants to stay in the hotel and cook?” Rooms are at prices ranging from $89 per night in the off-season to $300 for a 2-bedroom suite during special events like JazzFest. Since arriving in New Orleans, Barbara has been active in many business, professional and neighborhood organizations, including the New Orleans Chamber of Commerce, the French Quarter Business Association, Stay Local, the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau, the National Association of Women Business Owners, the Louisiana Landmarks Society, Friends of City Park and the Esplanade Ridge- Treme Civic Association. She is also a member of the Arts Council of New Orleans, the Louisiana Film Society and a supporter of the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts (NOCCA). Being an innkeeper can be a very timeconsuming occupation, leaving little time for getting out and enjoying other activities. But, in what little spare time she has, Barbara likes listening to live music, hitting the local festivals and – mostly – “eating out at the vast variety of superb eateries we have the privilege to choose from. “Any particular kind of music?” she is asked. “All kinds,” she replied. “I like it all but, as an innkeeper, I'm an entertainer in my own right,” she laughs. “In operating Hotel Storyville, I brought my love of the islands and the ocean into the décor, as well as a much-needed renovation,” Barbara said, summing up her nine-year tenure at the helm of the scenic and charming hospitality venue. Today, almost a decade later, visitors can feel as if they are in a relaxed tropical garden in the middle of a bustling city. “This was my intent – to offer visitors the best of both worlds,” Barbara explained. “They can enjoy the excitement of the French Quarter, which is only a stone’s throw away, and then retreat to the quiet and charm of Hotel Storyville. “I love my job!” she concluded. �� JANUARY / F E B R UARY 2 0 1 7 breakthrumediamagazine.com | BREAKTHRU MEDIA | 7


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