Design by Greg Peters | Suspect Device

Just a quick word to say hello to our friends gathering in New Orleans this weekend for the fourth annual Rising Tide bloggers’ conference on the recovery and future of the Sunken City. Can’t be there this time—profound regrets—but we’ll be there in spirit and hope to see everyone again soon.

This year’s theme: “Sinking to New Heights.” Our friend George “Loki” Williams will be the emcee nonpareil, and the one and only Harry Shearer will be the keynote speaker. (Shearer is a sometime resident of New Orleans and blogs about the city frequently on Huffington Post.)

It all comes together on Saturday at the Zeitgeist Multidisciplinary Arts Center. There will be four panel discussions: on New Orleans culture, politics, health care, and sports. Read all about it on Loki’s Humid City here. Click here for the registration and information site (includes directions).

The Friday night meet-and-greet is at The Avenue Pub, 1732 St. Charles at Polymnia (7:00–10:00), and the main event—starting Saturday morning—is a short stumble away at Zeitgeist on Oretha Castle Haley Blvd. at Felicity.

Rising Tide 4 was also featured in this week’s Gambit.

Best wishes to everyone—have a great time, and may you all go forth inspired and energized.