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People who say that nothing lasts forever are dead wrong when it comes to Styrofoam.

Styrofoam (or polystyrene, as the men in white coats call it) is a petroleum based product that will likely outlast us all — and that’s not a good thing. Environmentally it's non-recyclable, and refuses to break down, even when exposed to light. Combine that with the fact that Styrofoam is lightweight and floats, and you’ve got massive quantities accumulating along coasts and waterways around the world, which makes it a health hazard for marine life.

It’s summertime, the kids are out of school, and Hollywood is, once again, following the money.

“Right now you can literally go see Fast and Furious 6 at practically any theater in the city, said John Desplas, artistic director for the New Orleans Film Society, “and it’s starting in 20 minutes on one of the 20 screens.”

Who:  Valerie West, 44, a New Orleans native who returned home after years of traveling the world as a military wife because her kids wanted to graduate from high school in the city in which they were born. A housekeeper at Ochsner who lets loose every Sunday as an active member of the New Orleans second-line culture (her club is the Original New Orleans Lady Buckjumpers). A teen mother who saw all three of her kids go to college. A woman whose life was forever changed by violence.

On Friday NOCCA, the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, celebrates with music, guest speakers, a second line and more. The occasion? Plessy Day.

That name should bring to mind history class, and the landmark 1890s Supreme Court case Plessy versus Ferguson, in which the court upheld racial segregation and "separate but equal" as a legal standard.

What in the world am I doing here?

Why do I stay?

In light of the drama surrounding the recent Mother’s Day second-line parade tragedy, I bet I’m not the only one asking these questions today. Friends from upstate New York to the West Coast heard about this one, and they are all asking me these same questions.

Harmony, thy name is Pfister!

This week, the Pfister Sisters sing out and occasionally act out during a rollicking hour spent on jazz vocal harmonies.

While many of us are aware of Tulane University’s well regarded School of Architecture, fewer know about Tulane City Center and its outreach projects into the community.

Sharon Litwin talks with Maurice Cox, its recently appointed new director about the Center’s plans for New Orleans.

As New Orleans students start their summer break, some are leaving their schools behind for good. Four Orleans Parish schools closed their doors permanently, and education reporter Jessica Williams over at The Lens covers the impact on students, parents and educators.