Irvin Mayfield is the official cultural ambassador of New Orleans, and he owns a club that represents the style, flair and sensual joy of his city.

Irvin Mayfield's Jazz Playhouse is a showplace decked in purple velvet with a sound system that sends enlivening rhythms through your skin. Attend a jazz set there, and you won't stay in your chair. It's a perfect spot for African American travelers who want to support the city and its black businesses. The entire place makes you want to dance.



Situated in the beautiful Royal Sonesta Hotel (above), located at 300 Bourbon St., this black-owned business retains a refined atmosphere in the midst of a partying mecca. From the perfect drinks to the friendly staff, a visit to Irvin Mayfield's is a must for any New Orleans black travel adventure.



I was lucky enough to attend a charity event for a wide variety of organizations held Friday at the club. The local organizations that benefited are working to restore New Orleans to perfected stability and even greater prosperity. Irvin, pictured above at the microphone, is one of many positive and involved black entrepreneurs I met here who are dedicated to using their resources to help New Orleans in a creative way.

Creative philanthropy is an amazing hallmark of New Orleans residents in Katrina's aftermath. Over and over, the city's residents spoke to me about their resilience and their love for their town. Mayfield exhibited these qualities that night, as he used his influence to help others at a time when I am sure his business is just beginning to gain its footing.

Coming posts on New Orleans post-Katrina will feature discussions with more black businesspeople who provide their take on what the city needs to improve. But while there is still more to go, black businesses like Irvin Mayfield's make New Orleans a great place to visit now -- for African Americans and vacationers of all colors.