The cap for Maria's birthday week was our journey to New Orleans, with a big band of friends and family. Travel companions the Burckins and Cailin plus Colleen's sister Jenn gave us a peak number of 9 at our rented house at 5141 Chamberlain Street in the Fillmore District (near City Park). The house is big with 4 bedrooms (3 comfortable) with some nice touches, plus a movie room with giant screen, big sound and several recliners. We watched Star Trek Beyond up there but it took 2 nights to get the connections going. The boys tried sleeping up there but it didn't make for a good fifth bedroom. A nice neighborhood, with room and trees and a park nearby. Many New Orleans streets offer roads of bumps, holes, crevices. Sometimes Oliver would choose to ride in the very back- the luggage area. When I would drive the van up, into, and over any of these street divots , everyone would moan "whoa" but from the back I would hear a a giggle and "weee!".
On the big property is also a large backyard. The very first day we were there we were shocked to see through our blinds...
 |
| An ALLIGATOR!! We drew straws. |
 |
| Fair Grinds coffee on Ponce De Leon in Esplanade Ridge |
 |
| our backyard. the cushions could use a wash... |
 |
| How the boys kept busy |
The following is a big gray spot that I can't remove-when I tried to copy and paste a photo of the movie room of our rental, I received this blob instead.
 |
| Chris Ardoin (pronounced "R-dwon just like Jillian Ardoin who I once worked with, she from Lake Charles, LA.) at Rock and Bowl/ Mid City Lanes, always a good place to visit |
 |
| 3 times? (once just Dexter and I) 4 times? |
Eli laughing is always worth the price of admission.
So easy travelling with these folks. I enjoyed driving the big van (big for us) and having different navigators although I did my best to stay focused and not at all silly when driving. Unless I saw a big pothole.
The Music Box/ New Orleans Airlift in Bywater, where recycled materials are crafted into musical instruments in the form houses, from percussive and amplified floorboards to a structure of pipes that controls the flow of air. It's pretty,unfinished or a continual work in progress. The staff haven't gotten their crowd skills down as of yet. and night time rules were unclear.
We saw Sunpie Barnes and his presentation of Louisiana folklore and the Creole culture. In its mystical, and fun presentation, crafted to show a spirit of collaboration and kinship within historic and musical concepts. The venue exists in an attractive green outside setting. Our temperature was around 70 degrees, a very nice night to view. I wish we had had the time to come back when there was not a show, when people are allowed to explore each house on their own. Eli even brought his drum sticks.
This is a good video (2:41) that shows some of the music box houses.
New Orleans Music Box Houses
Ellizabeths was probably the one meal we all had together. Jenn drove over from Houston and met us Thursday night. Cailin came in on Friday and joined us at our favorite Cafe Rose Nicaud on Frenchmen. Maria, Colleen, Hale and Jenn went to Bayona (Friday lunch), and +Cailin and Eli, went to Cochon (Saturday night). Jenn got the group a table immediately by proclaiming this a big night for her
mother, Maria. Considering who her real mother is, even to be her fake mother is an honor. The appeal worked splendidly. On those occasions me and the boys would go find some other stuffs to eat, and Thursday it was an opportunity to get Dexter back to the WW2 museum with Eli joining us.
Colleen has a state of the art- new techno camera which is able to freeze frame objects that move faster than the speed of light- with amazing clarity. I am amazed that with my speed I am not my usual visual blur. If you've even seen a photograph with a color streak, that was actually me running across the frame.
The witness in back was informed to stand back for safety reasons and can be seen as the force of my speed is nearly pulling out her teeth. I ran around the block several times, in both directions. This camera will be patented and sold on the market in 2017.
(thank you Colleen for the photos)
We decided not to let any cars pass through. We knew we would be protesting something, someday.
This is actually walking after a big Elizabeth's breakfast. Within the trip we traveled to Bywater, the Quarter, Marigny, Magazine, Lakeview District, Esplanade Ridge, and our home area. We saw a dispute at Preservation Hall with guest leader Shannon Powell but better was the interaction with Dexter, Cai and Jenn and their jittery engagement with a very large palmetto that crawled over their heads. Some people don't cuddle up to big bugs.
For Hale, here's a (file) photo of John Boutte and Shannon Powell, who often perform together:
 |
| One of those choices Dexter, Oliver and I went to while the group ate at Cochon's. We started with dessert. |
 |
| at the WW2 museum, an impressive place |
We can keeping hoping for this at least. Work toward it minimally.
 |
| Brian Harrison, Donald's brother ( in blue) |
Mid City festival/ Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard. It's the streets where Cafe Reconcile is, and a coffee shop we discovered (but has been there for 4 years), Church Alley Coffee Bar. An area that had been vibrant at one time but in the 70's and 80's became run down and empty. In the late 90's it was revitalized. Although the festival was small, the feeling of community was strong and enthusiasm present.
 |
| self portrait by Mitch, Jr. |
 |
| last night, pillow fight |
 |
| at the Howlin' Wolf, Hot 8 Brass Band and where Dexter at 18 is old enough to be admitted |
 |
| a packed club. I think this was Hot 8's B band, as I noticed they had another gig the same night, in France. Maybe they move fast. |
 |
| down the street. made for a good landmark. hope they leave these guys up and just decorate/adjust them for the season |
4 days later and the alligator is still there.
 |
| I had to ride to get help. The equestrian lessons paid off! |
 |
| we had to work together to get over the fence. |
 |
| Our friend, the gator, a most sedate beast. Great fun seeing Cai three different times in a month in three different states |
From our first night eating at Seed, a vegan place with so many good options
I have to believe Thoreau.
The days and evenings were all good, our hearts and tummies too. Souls nourished by sounds and the moist air of the city. The range of scents jolted and caressed. Although our return would immediately present us with a harsh national election, the days of November 3-November 7 will always be grand and comforting to us. Thank you everyone.
No comments:
Post a Comment