New Orleans May 25-28 2012 - now with photos

[Livet]

Their hustling at Honey Island Swamp tours, took me a few tries to not get a busy signal. We're on for a 12:30 pick up in front of the hotel Saturday May 26th. Cash or travellers check payment in person on arrival.

Well done! I'm so looking forward to this!

[kath]

umm, mike? helllllo? would you be so kind as to PM me yer gotdamn contact info? a phone number, mayhaps? see, the odds of my being able to crash the jolly festivities upon my return from icon-yukon-weallcon-for-bacon are greatly improved by my being able to, like, call you up and, ohhh, i dunno, find yer ass or something. i'm not exactly gonna have the chance to check EVERY subway outlet in town, am i? please respond in timely fashion; i.e., when i am post-highway yet pre-a_rplane/prepreship, meaning, well, now.

p.s. if mike flakes out and misses this, would someone/anyone else involved PM me their gotdamn contact info?

p.p.s. oh, and mike? did you not take any pics of sloop with fried osyters for garters and beignet snow in his hair? where are they? YOU ARE FALLIN DOWN ON THE JOB, BITCH.

p.p.p.s. i'm just gonna work from the assumption that everyone has already eaten at commander's, cuz if they haven't, it's... it's... just too much for my being to handle. do i need this right before i face the evil aero-menace? i think not.

[moonie]

I'm not sure Strunk and White condones the p.p.p.s Kath. Get that in check.

I would most love to come down to this, but I've got to teach summer bridge courses and get the freshmen in and settled for the fall. Next time...next time.

[kath]

I'm not sure Strunk and White condones the p.p.p.s Kath. Get that in check.

i will NOT. i for one am damn tired of the word mississippi (as fun as it is to say really fast several times, really drunk), becuz of the flagrant imbalance and unfairness evident: too many esses and not nearly enough peeees. therefore, i show my lexi-politcal protest by giving more of the weight and spotlight to the peees in postscripts. one must pstand up for one's pideals.

p.s. good luck with the summering and all. mannn, back in my day, everybody got in bloody brawls every year just to get the relatively few open teaching jobs/course sections on campus.

[Nolamike]

PM sent!

And you know, setting Sunday brunch (or Monday lunch) reservations at Commander's would not be a bad plan! Folks would have to bring something semi-dressy (you don't need a jacket or tie, although one wouldn't hurt; you at least need slacks and a proper shirt).

For those who don't know, Commander's is a 130 year-old restaurant, the most famous and fantastic of New Orleans' old school joints, and is frequently cited among the best in the world. It's the place that started the careers of Emeril Lagasse, Paul Prudhomme, and countless others.

Lunch is the best time to go - you can get an app/salad/soup and an entree for about $20, with twenty-five cent martinis. Yeah, it ain't the best gin in the world, but once you've spent a buck, you don't care. You can end up getting absolutely hammered and have their three biggest signature dishes (the turtle soup with sherry, the pecan-crusted trout, and the bread pudding souffle with whiskey cream sauce) for about $35 total, including tax and a generous tip. You'd need to set aside about two hours, though, and would have to resign yourself to being damn-near immobile for the remainder of the day. Oh, and make reservations ASAP.

[Corporate whore]

PM sent!

And you know, setting Sunday brunch (or Monday lunch) reservations at Commander's would not be a bad plan! Folks would have to bring something semi-dressy (you don't need a jacket or tie, although one wouldn't hurt; you at least need slacks and a proper shirt).

For those who don't know, Commander's is a 130 year-old restaurant, the most famous and fantastic of New Orleans' old school joints, and is frequently cited among the best in the world. It's the place that started the careers of Emeril Lagasse, Paul Prudhomme, and countless others.

Lunch is the best time to go - you can get an app/salad/soup and an entree for about $20, with twenty-five cent martinis. Yeah, it ain't the best gin in the world, but once you've spent a buck, you don't care. You can end up getting absolutely hammered and have their three biggest signature dishes (the turtle soup with sherry, the pecan-crusted trout, and the bread pudding souffle with whiskey cream sauce) for about $35 total, including tax and a generous tip. You'd need to set aside about two hours, though, and would have to resign yourself to being damn-near immobile for the remainder of the day. Oh, and make reservations ASAP.

Do they do veggie food?

Edit - we will pass on this, the only thing Denise could eat has about three billion calories!

[Daddy Longlegs]

Lunch is the best time to go - you can get an app/salad/soup and an entree for about $20, with twenty-five cent martinis. Yeah, it ain't the best gin in the world, but once you've spent a buck, you don't care. You can end up getting absolutely hammered and have their three biggest signature dishes (the turtle soup with sherry, the pecan-crusted trout, and the bread pudding souffle with whiskey cream sauce) for about $35 total, including tax and a generous tip. You'd need to set aside about two hours, though, and would have to resign yourself to being damn-near immobile for the remainder of the day.

As I hear about all the great things to do in NO, my only concern is being rendered "damn-near immobile" too early in the day. Menu and pics to oogle over at http://www.commanderspalace.com/

[Sambient]

Commanders first fell on my radar as I was looking at Racontours the other day, and lunch at Commanders is part of the deal. I understand that they definitely have dress requirements. No sandals or shorts on men.

One of the the challenges I'm anticipating is the what to do for the few hours between check-out and heading to the airport on Monday while we've got our suitcases.

[Corporate whore]

Commanders first fell on my radar as I was looking at Racontours the other day, and lunch at Commanders is part of the deal. I understand that they definitely have dress requirements. No sandals or shorts on men.

One of the the challenges I'm anticipating is the what to do for the few hours between check-out and heading to the airport on Monday while we've got our suitcases.

Surely there is left luggage at the hotel?

[Nolamike]

Commanders first fell on my radar as I was looking at Racontours the other day, and lunch at Commanders is part of the deal. I understand that they definitely have dress requirements. No sandals or shorts on men.

One of the the challenges I'm anticipating is the what to do for the few hours between check-out and heading to the airport on Monday while we've got our suitcases.

I'm fairly certain that Commander's would be accommodating enough to put your bags in a safe spot if you went for lunch that day; the place is huge, and I'm sure it wouldn't be the first time they'd received such a request.

They're incredibly accommodating in most ways. Case in point - a very good friend is vegetarian. While she was in town, we went for lunch there. The lunch menu is a bit small, and apart from a few salads, it didn't list anything veggie. She mentions her dietary restrictions to the waiter, who gets a general idea of things she likes, and reports to the chef - who then whips up an impromptou plate o' food, which the friend still ranks as one of the top meals she's ever had in her life.

They can definitely hold on to your bags for you.

[Corporate whore]

The Fleagle has landed.

Hotel still standing.

[Nolamike]

The second line on Sunday starts at 1:00 at the corner of Jackson and St. Charles, and the Hot 8 will be the brass band. Excellent!

[Corporate whore]

Sounds fab.

We are in room 135 when people start to land.

Yesterday we lucked out and a had an excellent free tour of the Garden District, today we are heading out to the city park area.

[Nolamike]

Yesterday we lucked out and a had an excellent free tour of the Garden District, today we are heading out to the city park area.

City Park is massive. Make sure you check out the sculpture garden next door to the art museum - it's free, and has some pretty impressive pieces. The amusement park is fun (the bumper cars and the 100 year-old carousel are my favorites). The botanical gardens would be another nice stop in the park. Ooh, and the boat rentals - there are miles of placid waterways through City Park.

If you want a nicer lunch, you could go to Ralph's on the Park.

[Nolamike]

Also, at City Park, you'll be very close to Domino Sound Record Shack, a wonderful cash-only, vinyl-only shop that you might want to pop by.

[toomanyhatz]

Try not to have too much fun, OK? I can only handle so much regret.

The bad news is I'm not going on my baseball trip this year either. Life sucks sometimes.

[Corporate whore]

Also, at City Park, you'll be very close to Domino Sound Record Shack, a wonderful cash-only, vinyl-only shop that you might want to pop by.

Thanks for the advice - as it turned out we went to Aubouron park instead!

Hopefully we will get to City park later in the holiday.

Tonight we had a very good (and cheap by English standards) Sushi meal - a fair selection of veggie rolls etc for a change, and for me some great Sushimi.

[Nolamike]

Also, at City Park, you'll be very close to Domino Sound Record Shack, a wonderful cash-only, vinyl-only shop that you might want to pop by.

Thanks for the advice - as it turned out we went to Aubouron park instead!

Hopefully we will get to City park later in the holiday.

Tonight we had a very good (and cheap by English standards) Sushi meal - a fair selection of veggie rolls etc for a change, and for me some great Sushimi.

Ah, Audubon - my daughter's school is actually inside the zoo, which is in the park. Did you ride the streetcar there? It's a great park. My favorite part of it is the "meteorite."

Where did you go for sushi? My favorite is downtown, not far from your hotel - Horinoya.

[Sambient]

Packing. Been debating whether or not I can get away with just dresses.

[Corporate whore]

Also, at City Park, you'll be very close to Domino Sound Record Shack, a wonderful cash-only, vinyl-only shop that you might want to pop by.

Thanks for the advice - as it turned out we went to Aubouron park instead!

Hopefully we will get to City park later in the holiday.

Tonight we had a very good (and cheap by English standards) Sushi meal - a fair selection of veggie rolls etc for a change, and for me some great Sushimi.

Ah, Audubon - my daughter's school is actually inside the zoo, which is in the park. Did you ride the streetcar there? It's a great park. My favorite part of it is the "meteorite."

Where did you go for sushi? My favorite is downtown, not far from your hotel - Horinoya.

We did indeed ride the streetcar, I love them. Going to school inside the zoo is tres cool, the kids must love it.
We ate at Green Ginger, mainly because it is close to the hotel.