Moving Day

Andy, oozing virility, driving the rental truck as he moves Heidi’s things from Montpelier to Burlington.  He’s putting on a brave face, but he’s clearly dreaming of New Orleans.

Real Haunted New Orleans

This video features an excellent talk from Steve Wehmeyer, an interested onlooker bit from Andy Burkhardt, and general douchebaggery from the camera man.  The last question is an inside joke, and it will also make his lovely wife Kerry smile.

Haunted New Orleans

Here is a famous picture that is also a very important piece of evidence in the study of the paranormal.  In this picture, shot outside of Lafitte’s, a spectral hand is trying to make Steve drink.  Fortunately, this prankster from the other side was no more successful in corrupting Steve than its flesh and blood counterparts.

The Last Hurricane (sort of)

I’m sittting in the courtyard of Lafitte’s, on the quiet corner of St Philip and Bourbon, enjoying another hurricane and waiting on Steve and Andy.  Lafitte’s, which has been around since 1772, has been the epicenter of a lot of the things that happened on this trip, which is appropriate since it is easily one of the coolest bars I’ve ever visited.  At night it is lighted only by candles and there is a piano bar.  Missing New Orleans already.

Lucky Dog

And it would not be a trip to New Orleans without a Lucky Dog, which was served by some avatar of Ignatius O’Reilly.  All my friends know that my goal when I retire is to sell Lucky Dogs in the French Quarter.

My Date with Gabriella Sabatini

OK, so the title is a joke.  As this trip has become more and more epic I’ve been swapping emails and texts with my best friend Dave Kelley from the Natti, and after reporting on today’s amazing adventure Dave just texted, “so, are you having sex with Gabriella Sabatini tonight?”  The trip has been that unbelievable.  Today we second lined with the Uptown Swingers for a couple miles through some unforgiving heat, but with hundreds of amazingly cool folks.  Yesterday at the Backstreet Cultural Museum Steve learned that today’s second line was the last for a couple months, so we planned the day around meeting up with them along the way.  We took a taxi out to the Jazz Daiquiris Lounge where he knew they would stop for a drink.  When we arrived there were only a few folks but it brgan to fill up quickly.  We picked up some cool drinks and waited for the Swingers to arrive.  The crowd could not have been friendlier, which was only partially explained by the flowing of many cool drinks.  Steve knew a couple folks already and made new contacts.  Anyone is allowed to march and it iis a rolling party.  I’ll post some videos later that will give a better picture of the procession.  We marched along tnrough a winding course until they stopped for their next short break at an establishment providing adult beverages (although there folks on bicycles in the midst of the parade that provided the same service).  Utter joy.

Breakfast at Stanley’s

Another great meal, this time at Stanley’s right on Jackson Square.  I had the Eggs Stella, which featured eggs benedict and an entire deep fried soft shell crab.  I am not going home.

Backstreet Cultural Museum

A must-see location to visit in New Orleans is the Backstreet Cultural Museum at 1116 Saint Claude in Treme.  It is ground zero of the true Mardi Gras.  Like a lot of folks from the north I’ve always had a very ignorant view of Mardi Gras as just a drunken party and thus have never wanted to attend.  Now that I’m learning more of what it means outside of the overblown activities in the Quarter I can’t wait to go.

Gentlemen of Sport

Here is a picture of two famous gentlemen of sport enjoying a sazerac in a Waldorf-Astoria establishment in New Orleans.  Later, they will be visiting the Anderson Annex in Storyville, doubtless to contract a case of the gleet.

Yet Another Vermonter

While wondering through the French Quarter, and trying to survive the bkistering heat (when your belt is damp that’s normally a bad sign) I stepped into La Mina Sterling at 840 Royal.  After chatting with the owner, Pancho, I was amazed to discover that he’s a native Vermonter, and grew up in Barre, where we lived when we first moved up from Atlanta.  While we agreed on the pathetic nature of Yankee cooking and our mystification at the house prices in Chittenden County, he also proposed that VT and NOLA actually have a lot in common: desire to left alone that is also tied to an acceptance of whatever anybody else wants to do, and a general quirkiness.