New Orleans May 25-28 2012 - now with photos

[Nolamike]

Thanks for the great write-up and pics, Sam! And thanks for complimenting the hostess!

Meredith sends along further regrets that she was tied up with her folks, and didn't get to socialize much, and also apologizes to anyone who chatted with her father and found him, well, "difficult." He can be a challenging person at times.

Two quick things -

1. I don't know if you could really say Kermit was pandering. He plays every Tuesday night at Bullets, the sports bar he owns in the Treme (about as far off the tourist path as you can get), and his set-list is pretty darn similar. He's just stoned and cheesy, in the best ways possible.

2. I really wish the Stooges' second set had been their first set - the addition of keyboard and a trap kit sounded fine, but the best way to experience a brass band is with their usual set-up, with someone holding a bass drum, someone holding a snare drum, and a bunch of horns - you know, the type of set-up that would let you actually march in a parade.

[Sambient]

Sambient Prologue/Epilogue

July 28, 2011
After a dozen days of facebook conversation, I am finally going to hang out with my fellow upside down left-handed uke player who also happens to be an old school friend. Yes, yes, he was my 4th grade sweetheart, but we were friends more than that in the later years.
This is probably how I reassured my husband when I explained I'd be going to the flea market with Joe.
We were in our teens when we'd last seen each other. But apparently when I walked through the door to his place in my black zebra print sundress to pick him up for our flea market adventure, Joe was not willing to let me out of his life again.
We had a great time at the market that day, walking about and catching up. Joe bought a few neat items for his house as he was still redecorating after the split up from his recent marriage.
One of the items he looked at was this black and white print that had some jazz musicians that said New Orleans Dixieland Jazz. We admired it. Joe bought it. It gave us an excuse to discuss our admiration of New Orleans and desire each held to return.

By the end of our first-date-that-wasn't-really-supposed-to-be-a-date I knew I was in trouble. I had seriously strong feelings for Joe and my life was about to get complicated.

May 28, 2012
It's nine months later. I've been living with Joe now for over eight of those months. And we're spending our last few hours in this city we love. Souvenirs have been purchased. We take it all in sitting at Gazebo Cafe. It's no co-incidence that I'd packed that black leopard print sundress for this trip, but it is a co-incidence that I happen to have it on on this date that marks nine months since our modern day journey first began.


Thank you city of New Orleans for being part of our love story.

[Nolamike]

Y'all are great together.











And, like I said multiple times over the weekend, the two of you should just move here.

[Livet]

My trip started with the stewardess buying my row rounds. Hence a blurry picture outside of Cochon. I loved the Hi-Ho Lounge, though if I hadn't left after the first set, I would have fallen asleep on the bar.



Next day's roast beef po boy at my favorite luncheonette. Which sobered me up just in time for the rum tour!







Evening partaking of Gingeroos.







A view from our buggy ride.





Denise makes friends with Pearl and No Name.

[Livet]

Off to the cemetery.







and the French Quarter.

[Livet]

Getting ready for the swamp tour.

[Livet]

"Better shape up" indeed!



Rock n Bowl!



















Surprise visit from Yellowyacket!

[Livet]

A great host!



Wait til they find out what's in the boudain!

[Nolamike]

Great pics, Rita!

[kath]

We've just hugged Martin & Denise goodbye. Now to get on with our packing, run about for a few last souvenirs, and get to the airport.
New Orleans reigns when it comes to jolly up locations.
And maybe one of these times kath will shimmy into view.

somedayyyy, one dayyyy. sniff.

alas, it turns out i was overly optimistic when i said i had a teensy weensy chance of gettin my window of jolly opportunity to line up post-cruise. it turns out we didn't depl_ne til after midnight. i ended up gettin, oh, say, faux three hours of sleep before i had to hit the highway and return attila bamaward. needless to say, upon return here, i slept for two days straight. (more on alaska later. i managed to crack a couple of toes, though. big shock there.)

i'm glad y'all had a great trip. i love all the pics. life is good.

by the way, sam... ya know how you were talkin about new orleans as a place where you feel like yer in yer own skin... new orleans as a place built for samness? it's a funny thing, cuz i'm always lookin at other people in terms of how *they* are built for *nolaness*. mwhahaHA. it's always been kinda cool that there are more than a few BCBers to fit that feel for me, as it so clearly has nowt to do with how far removed those people are geographically or logistically or meteorologically. i can't explain it. part warped outlook on life... part music as religion... part beignet snow... or maybe it all just comes down to blood alcohol level. i've said it sooooo many times before, but new orleans really is a state of mind. once you've been there, you carry it with you wherever you go, kinda like cooties. i won't tell ya you should relocate. that would be redundant.

and just for the record, when i say someday/one day, i do mean it. i am slow but i get where i wanna get eventually. i can already tell what's gonna happen first, in terms of all things kath and BCBers: i'm gonna meet up with mike, probably post-sweltery months, and have a serious discussion with him over his look these days, ya know, the pirate-chef-plaid-shorts-n-white-socks look. i haven't decided yet whether it's a major fashion faux pas or whether it's brilliant and strangely hubbahubba.

p.s. that guy bowlin from the rock n bowl pics looks just like the exhole from the back.

[Nolamike]

i'm gonna meet up with mike, probably post-sweltery months, and have a serious discussion with him over his look these days, ya know, the pirate-chef-plaid-shorts-n-white-socks look. i haven't decided yet whether it's a major fashion faux pas or whether it's brilliant and strangely hubbahubba.

[toomanyhatz]

Anyone else thinking what I'm thinking (re: Yellowjacket's surprise appearance)?

[No Show Baron]

Anyone else thinking what I'm thinking (re: Yellowjacket's surprise appearance)?

That Coan has changed his look?

[toomanyhatz]

Anyone else thinking what I'm thinking (re: Yellowjacket's surprise appearance)?

That Coan has changed his look?

That he's clearly not Coan, but sure- that'll do.

Also, that it removes a certain amount of mystery which turns out to be less mysterious than some would have you believe.

[kath]

Anyone else thinking what I'm thinking (re: Yellowjacket's surprise appearance)?

i think it's fucquin great. mwhahaHA.

cheers to you, yellowjacket. sorry i missed ya.

[Corporate whore]

W tried to get Mike to hold up a Coan style kitchen placard, but sensibly he demured.

[Corporate whore]

Wait til they find out what's in the boudain!

[Homer Mode] Mmmmmmm Boudain *drool* [/Homer Mode]

[Daddy Longlegs]

Here's a clip from the Rock N Bowl with Kermit Ruffins MCing the chaos. Can you spot the BCBers?


.

[Walk In My Shadow]

Yellowjacket sure hasn't got too many moves...

[Loki]

That white-haired guy is a riot.


I can recall the days when taking photos inside bars/clubs was verboten, like in casinos. Things have changed.....