Chris
from Bacchanal and
Otter from the Backyard
Ballroom were
involved in a bad car accident early morning March 31. Their
friend Tony Bonanno was driving and was pronounced
dead on the scene. Chris suffered some broken bones and has
had surgery, but will hopefully be home soon. Otter suffered
more extensive injuries, including internal bleeding and
is currently in a private room at University Hospital.
Many
wonderful groups and individuals are coming together to help
support Chris and Otter financially and otherwise. L'art
Noir New Orleans is coordinating a fundraiser tentatively
to take place on Saturday, April 19th, location TBA,
with bands, performances, art and other goods/services auction,
etc.
Sign
up to receive email updates on Chris & Otter's condition
and fundraising efforts here: lartnoir.com/Chris_Otter_Updates.
If
you are interested in helping with the fundraiser, playing
at the fundraiser and/or donating art, goods, services or other
items for the auction, please contact Andrea via email at andrea@lartnoirneworleans.com or
by phone at 504-324-2489 or 254.640.8441.
An
organization mailing list has been set up to facilitate fundraising
and other efforts and pass along updates and other info. If
you wish to be part of the list, you can sign up at www.lartnoir.com/Chris_Otter.
Everyone
can help by passing along information as it comes and by spreading
the URL for this site (www.ChrisandOtter.com), and encourage
folks to visit Bacchanal (yes, it's open for business as usual!),
attend performances at the Backyard Ballroom, the fundraiser
planned on the 19th and/or make an online cash donation. Chris
and Otter will have many bills to take care of and it will
be awhile until they are on their feet, so monetary donations
will be much appreciated. All funds go 100% to Chris and Otter.
Check
back here often for updates and information!
Last,
but not least, thank you to everyone who has come forward to
help out. It is beautiful to see our wonderful community doing
everything possible to help Chris & Otter during their
time of need.
Read
the NOLA.com article by Times-Picayune Food Critic Brett
Anderson - Bacchanal
owner recalls harrowing, fatal car crash
Backyard
Ballroom Website
3519
St. Claude Ave
Bacchanal
Website
600 Poland Ave
R.I.P. TONY
BONANNO
A
memorial service for Tony Bonanno was held at the Bonfouca
Marina in Slidell, LA on Saturday, April 5th, 2008 at 5pm.
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Tuesday,
April 8th, 2008:
OTTER
IS OUT OF THE HOSPITAL!! As
Chris put it to me, they sprang her this morning... She
will be holding court at BJ's Lounge (corner of Lesseps
and Burgundy in the Bywater) later this afternoon.
And
don't forget to check out the Benefits
& Fundraisers page,
there's a couple of great things coming up in the next
few days.
Monday, April
7th, 2008:
Otter was taken out of ICU as of Sunday!
Chris is up and about and looks 100% better now that Otter is
out of ICU. Thanks to the crazy rainstorm the other night he
slipped going up the stairs into the house (luckily didn't hurt
himself more) and so now he has given up his protest of
wheelchairs and ramps. Ramp building will be rescheduled in the
next few days, esp. as I've promised his mom and she has complete
faith in us...
For those
that haven't seen it, Otter's play is obscenely fantastic.
I went to see it Saturday night and her fill-in has pulled
of a remarkable job in under 48 hours. The nature of the content
may not be up everyone's alley, but if you can handle incestuous
clowns, by all means go to the show next weekend!
The benefit on the 19th is growing by leaps and bounds. So many
offers have come in - from bands that want to perform to fire
eaters, wine and food booths to tarot booths, art and goods auction
donations and perhaps even enough for a raffle - so many offers
have come in that it's looking like we'll be moving the benefit
from the Backyard Ballroom to a double warehouse + outdoor space
on the other side of Poland Ave - hope to have more specific
details on the new location later today. Everyone is doing an
amazing job spreading the word and we think this is going to
be one hell of a knock-out benefit!
Saturday,
April 5th, 2008:
The
ramp building party has been postponed for a few days due to
rainy weather. Stay posted for the new date. The Green Party
and some other wonderful folks have donated some materials,
but more materials such as 2x4's, 4x4's and long screws would
be useful. Please contact Andrea if you have materials to donate
- pickup can most likely be arranged if you do not have vehicle
access.
Saw
Chris briefly yesterday afternoon - he was walking on crutches
with a big cast, has a bit of a cut/bruise over his left eye,
but otherwise seemed in good shape and decent spirits. He sends
along heartfelt thanks to everyone who has been helping them
out.
Otter
was not released from the ICU yesterday as there were some
issues with her oxygen levels. From my understanding, nothing
to be overly concerned about, but they wanted to keep her
in ICU at least one more day to monitor her condition.
Tony's
memorial service is this afternoon, see below for
info. R.I.P. Tony.
And
don't forget to attend the Special Benefit Showing of Otter's
play tonight at 8pm at the Backyard
Ballroom (see below for details)!
We're
having a closing party at L'Art
Noir for our latest gallery exhibit tomorrow (Sunday, April
6th) between 1 and 5pm and would like to invite anyone interested
in meeting other folks helping out with Chris & Otter efforts
to swing by and meet some of the other helpers - this isn't
a formal meeting, just a chance to put some names with faces.
Thursday,
April 3rd, 3008:
Chris
was released from Slidell Memorial Hospital earlier today.
He went directly to University Hospital to see Otter. They
are finally together, and Chris doesn't want to leave her side.
He says he's not leaving the hospital until she does. Hospital
officials may not allow that, however. But so far, they're
allowing him to stay.
Otter's
second surgery was a success. Her stomach is now stitched up,
and she is recovering in ICU. They expect to move her out of
ICU as soon as they have a bed available, maybe as soon as
tomorrow.
Chris
is wheelchair bound for the time being and assistance is need
tomorrow (Friday) at 5pm to build a wheelchair ramp into Chris & Otter's
house. Anyone interested in lending a hand or donating materials
(wood, screws), please contact Dennis at the Backyard Ballroom
via email at dmonn74@yahoo.com or
phone 945-9936 or Andrea via email at andrea@lartnoirneworleans.com or
phone 324-2489.
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