If you wanted to make a list of the things New Orleans needs, it wouldn’t take long and the list wouldn’t be short. But if you were talking about what the Crescent City needs when it comes to art, entertainment, music, fashion or culture, you’d be staring at any empty page for a mighty long time, friend.

Or so we thought. That was before we experienced The Influencer Lounge this weekend.

We knew that The Influencer Lounge, established and produced by Gabrielle Deculus of Saint Josephine, was going to be something special. That’s why we were ready to be a sponsor and get involved with this unique event, which took place on July 7 at the new event space in The Auction House food hall.

We didn’t know that she would be giving us something we didn’t even know our city needed: a place for creatives and other cool people throughout the city to connect among the beats of some of the hottest DJs; a cozy locale for young makers to sell their creations, to surrounded by some of the most significant art being made by artists whose names some may not yet know; a place to learn from local influencers how to stand out in the digital cacophony in a city full of people who have never blended in.

At The Influencer Lounge,  attendees were able to have their photos taken by local business, the NOLA Gold Booth, among the lush and fresh greenery of Luna Botanicals, and shop for queenly t-shirts from Fhonia Ellis, commanding clothing and jewelry created by Krystal Carpenter of The ComMANdment and Purple Drink specialty cocktails provided by your favorite new lifestyle site, Very Local NOLA.

The beats were hot, provided by DJs Nesby Phips and Lil’ Jodeci. The art adorning the walls and space was created by Ceaux Young and Ronnie Dents II. We got schooled on what the new New Orleans is all about from influencers and local entrepreneurs, Moe Flippen of Earn Dat Body, Greg Tillery of We Dat’s Chicken & Shrimp and Jaleesa McDowell of McDowell Branding. Local activists and social justice organizations reminded us to be engaged civically and politically to make New Orleans better every day.

We have decided to continue the party here on Very Local NOLA. Continue to look out for pieces from The Influencer Lounge, the people who were there and Saint Josephine.