Tag: Bourbon Street

Earl Bernhardt, Tropical Isle co-founder, dies at 80

Earl Bernhardt, co-founder of the iconic Tropical Isle bar and the Hand Grenade drink, reportedly died on Dec. 5. He was 80 years old.

Bernhardt, along with his business partner Pam Fortner, founded the Tropical Isle bar after the 1984 Louisiana World Exposition and its melon-flavored signature cocktail served in an elongated neon green container shaped.

Shaped like a hand grenade at the bottom, cups are often seen strewn along Bourbon Street on a daily basis and have become an essential part of French Quarter scenery.

The drink comes in two varieties: frozen or with ice.

The bar expanded to five locations on Bourbon Street and has been a French Quarter mainstay for decades.

Longtime Tropical Isle employees praise Bernhardt for his generosity and treating them like family despite running a high-volume business with stressful hours.

His reputation extended to the local music community as his venues hosted many popular bands and musicians over the years.

Bernhardt was also known for his flashy dress. During visits to the bar, Bernhardt was occasionally seen wearing a solid gold chain with a Hand Grenade medallion around his neck.

Bernhardt was originally from Jackson, Mississippi. A cause of death was not disclosed.

A second line celebration of life parade was held for Bernhardt on Monday, Dec. 16.

Man and woman sought after Bourbon Street encounter leads to robbery, NOPD says

Courtesy of the NOPD.

The New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) is searching for a man and a woman who are suspected of robbing an intoxicated victim at a hotel following a September 20 encounter on Bourbon Street.

The NOPD said the incident occurred on September 20 at midnight when the victim reported getting separated from his friends on Bourbon Street and that he met an unknown black female who offered to help find his hotel room.

Instead, according to the NOPD, the woman allegedly led him to a different hotel.

When the victim walked into the hotel’s elevator, a male suspect entered before the doors closed, and struck the victim over the head, causing the victim to lose consciousness.

The victim regained consciousness, the NOPD said, and discovered that his phone was missing, and two debit cards were missing from his wallet.

The victim could not provide a description of either subject, but did recall that the female subject wore yellow stripped pants.

The NOPD released a surveillance camera picture of the alleged woman.

The stolen debit cards were subsequently used at several locations causing approximately $3,088.12 in fraudulent charges, the NOPD said.

Security cameras from a Walmart in Kenner showed a woman clad in yellow stripped pants using the cards at the self-checkout counter, the NOPD said.

Anyone with information on this incident or the identity and whereabouts of the wanted subjects is asked to contact Detective Ron Howard at 504-658-6080 or call Crimestoppers anonymously at 504-822-1111 and toll-free at 877-903-7867.

Amite man suspected of carrying Glock 19 with extended magazine on Bourbon Street

Brandon Curry. Courtesy of NOPD.

An Amite man was arrested on October 6 after he was allegedly caught with a loaded Glock 19 handgun with extended magazine on Bourbon Street, the New Orleans Police Department said.

New Orleans Police Department Eighth District Promenade officers arrested 32-year-old Brandon Curry at about 12:28 a.m. in the 400 block of Bourbon Street after he was found in possession of the Glock 19, which shoots nine millimeter bullets; the extended magazine and 12 additional rounds of ammunition.

The NOPD arrested an Amite man for illegally carrying a firearm in the Eighth District.

According to NOPD, Curry has a felony conviction of aggravated assault with a firearm in Tangipahoa Parish and is forbidden from possessing a gun, adding that Curry recently completed five years of probation related to the charge.

A record check revealed the firearm was reported stolen by the Amite Police Department.

Curry was booked on suspicion of illegal carrying of a firearm, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of a stolen firearm. He was released after posting a $20,000 bond.

Two suspects snatched $100 bill from victim’s hand on Bourbon Street, NOPD says

The New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) released a surveillance camera photo of two males suspected of snatching a $100 bill out of a victim’s hand on Bourbon Street on September 26.

According to the NOPD, the victim was walking in the 200 block of Bourbon St. at 4:30 a.m. when one suspect allegedly snatched the bill victim’s hand.

The suspect and an accomplice, according to the NOPD, ran from the scene down Bourbon Street, turning left onto Iberville Street.

One suspect is described as male, possibly Hispanic, standing about six foot one inch and weight about 160 pounds. He was wearing a Chicago Bulls cap, black shirt and jeans.

The second suspect is also described as a male, possibly Hispanic, standing about five foot nine inches, and weighing about 180 pounds. He was last seen wearing a cap turned backwards, a black shirt and dark colored pants.

Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact NOPD Eighth District detectives at 504-658-6080. Anonymous callers can contact Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111 or toll-free at  1-877-903-7867.

NOPD searches for alleged Bourbon Street transgender pickpocket suspect

Courtesy of NOPD.

The New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) is searching for an alleged transgender suspect wanted in connection to a pickpocket incident that occurred in the 400 block of Bourbon St. on September 22.

According to the NOPD, the victim was walking along Bourbon Street at about 3:45 a.m. when he was approached by the female transgender suspect.

The victim accepted a hug from the suspect, who allegedly stole unidentified property from the victim.

The NOPD released a picture of the alleged suspect, which is pictured above.

The NOPD requests anyone with information on this incident is requested to call Eighth District detectives at 504-658-6080. Anonymous callers can contact Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111 or toll-free at  1-877-903-7867.