OffBeat is a monthly print magazine focusing on the music, cuisine and culture of New Orleans and Louisiana. Its first issue was printed in 1988. The OffBeat media family also includes the Louisiana Music Directory, a printed database of music businesses and musicians throughout the state of Louisiana; the Weekly Beat e-mail newsletter, recipient of a 2009 New Orleans Press Club Award; and this website, OffBeat.com.
STAFF
Publisher and Editor-in-Chief
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Jan V. Ramsey
Started OffBeat and its associated entities two decades ago as an effort to improve and expand local music culture and business. Known for her scathing “Mojo Mouth” essays, Ramsey has been a music activist since the early 1980s, loves local culture and lives down the street from the H&R Bar (which was blown away by Katrina)—just to prove it. She is a native New Orleanian and a (former) good Catholic girl.
Managing Editor and Business Manager
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Joseph L. Irrera
Joseph Irrera, a native of Brooklyn, is living proof that “real men” listen to opera. Joseph, whose forebears came from Sicily, has composed hundreds of pop songs few human beings have been privileged to hear, although he recently performed a song he composed for his wife (Jan Ramsey) at their wedding. He’s also an aficionado of and expert on classical music and opera, as well as European and mid-20th century U.S. pop music.
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Editor
Alex Rawls
Alex Rawls has been a contributor to OffBeat for over 10 years. He became Editor after Katrina. He has written poetry books and is also a musician.
Design/Art Direction/Photographer/Food Writer
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Elsa Hahne’ is OffBeat’s “Allt-i-allo”–a Swedish term for someone who does pretty much everything. She was born in Sweden and has been working as a journalist since 1994 from Stockholm, Bordeaux (France), New York and New Orleans. Her first book, “You Are Where You Eat: Stories and Recipes from the Neighborhoods of New Orleans,” is being published by University Press of Mississippi (October, 2008). She’s in charge of our new food series, “The Gravy,” featuring local musicians’ food stories and recipes.
Stress Relief
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Poppy
Poppy, a mix between a Maltese and a Poodle, arrived at OffBeat 2 years ago. She quickly demonstrated her ability to relieve stress. She provides excellent social support and makes it virtually impossible to stay in a bad mood when her pair of loving puppy eyes meets yours.
Consulting Editor
John Swenson
Listings Editor
Advertising Account Representatives
Ben Berman
Margaret Walker
Will Wilson
Advertising Design
PressWorks
Magazine Design / Production
Democrat Printing
Distribution
Doug Jackson
Shea MacKinnon
Joe Sylvester
OffBeat (ISSN# 1090-0810) is published monthly in New Orleans by OffBeat, Inc.
