We are safely in New Orleans. Kevin has already blogged about the trip.
It didn’t take me long to warm to this place, and that wasn’t anything to do with the blast of hot, humid air that greeted us as we got off the plane. No, it was the airport. Most airports have totally predictable and very boring shops. Here, within a few yards of each other, I found “Creole Kitchen” and “House of Blues”. Food and music. This is my sort of place.
We don’t have much in the way of plans right now, so suggestions are welcome. Tomorrow we are having breakfast at Brennans and will be visiting the Arthur Roger Gallery because the Dale Chihuly exhibition closes on the 13th.
So far everything is going well. The only mild mistake I appear to have made in the packing is not to bring hangers. Yes, I know we are only here for 5 days, but if you can’t over-dress in New Orleans where can you do so?
Of course you can under-dress as well. The cover of the tourist guide magazine in our hotel room features an article about the burlesque revival, which I’ve seen various of my New Yorker friends getting excited about (mainly the lesbians).
Hmm, I wonder if it is dinner time yet?
Do try to get to Cafe du Monde for cafe au lait and beignets if you can, just because it’s one of those traditional “things to do” in the Big Easy.
I like the original one out at the French Market.
Cafe du Monde for sure — and much as it sounds kitche, Margaritaville on Decatur has really good “just food” and (I suspect) the best Margaritas in N’awlins :>
I’d also hit the open market on the waterfront — about twilight there used to be (and likely still is) some excellent music there.
Oh, yeah, we will. The plan tonight was to go there for coffee and beignets before walking back to the hotel, but it’s been so long since I was here last that I’d forgotten where it was, got all turned around, and we decided it was better to call it a night. We’ll be there at least once this weekend.
I will not forget, during the first New Orleans SMOFCon, the cries of “Beignet Run!” running through the Con Suite, whereupon half a dozen SMOFS would grab their coats and follow the leader off to Cafe du Monde. I shall raise a cup of cafe au lait in memory of Gary Louie, who was the leader of the first expedition I followed all those years ago.