New Orleans, Louisiana: 29th Birthday + Thankful Day: Part 2

Mom joined us in New Orleans  on Thanksgiving Eve and my Birthday Eve.

Our Mama!

For starters we took her on down town to John Besh’s restaurant, Domenica.

Ummm Yummm!

Down the hatch!

The restaurant was attached to a hotel decked out for the Holiday’s. Of course mom wanted us to take pictures so she could recreate the ambiance at home. On that note, I think my mother is one of the most ambitious people I have EVER met.

Vavavoom! Check out this room!

xoxo

That evening we cruised on down to Borbon St. and took in some drinks and live music.

We loved this group. Mom even bought their CD.

The next day was Thankful Day and my birthday! Mimosa’s , cinnamon rolls and potatoes all around for breakfast!

Salud!

Mom even made us this meringue, custard, crème Brule concoction and sang Sess and I Happy Birthday.

The Sag and the The Scorpio

Since Sessa’s Birthday is earlier in the month I shared MY DAY with her.

Overheard in New Orlean’s: “Are you freaked out about turning 29?” – Petite, Jew-Jew Bean with extreme Go Green tendencies also overheard saying: : “I really miss if it’s yellow, let it mellow.”

Thanks for the cake pops and strawberries Dana!

The rest of the morning  I supervised while the ladies worked hard on our Thanksgiving dinner.

Then we got ready to go down to the New Orleans horse races.

Love!

Walesa’s buddy Brian a bike jockey joined us for the races and Thanksgiving Dinner.

Horsey's!

Giddy up!

Mama!

Love!

Overheard in New Orleans’s : “This is a green household so instead of napkins we’re going to share dish towels. One to two people.”  - Same Go Green chick from above.

I heart U

The day after Thanksgiving we visited The Music Box by Swoon.

Awesome musical house that is open for the public to play! Check it out! It’s fully musical!

Later we checked out the Hurricane Katrina Memorial.

Hurricane Katrina Memorial

It was one of the saddest memorials I have ever seen. There are no names on the walls of the memorial (like what you would see at the Holocaust museum or the Vietnam Memorial in Washington D.C.) 1,836 people died in Hurricane Katrina, most of which were unidentified and 705 are still missing.

On our way to take me to the airport was one of the highlights of my trip: The Drive-Thru Daiquiri stand! Yes! Can you believe it?! In New Orleans’s you can get an alcoholic daiquiri in a to-go cup from a drive-thru! I was so excited by the experience that I had to record it for ya’ll!

Thank you again Sess for such an awesome trip! I can’t wait to come back and visit again soon!

Overheard in New Orlean’s: “I bet I can guess what country you’re from!” – Cocky brunette girl from the West who likes to bring unneeded attention to herself while simultaneously embarrassing her family.

 

New Orleans, Louisiana: The City: Part 1

**This post would not be possible if it weren’t for the kind folk of Carlson Motorcars. Thank you Rick and Dana for getting me to LAX and back from (on a Saturday night!) Your generosity – and delay of the Saturday night party hour is noted! You rock!**

The President and First Lady of Carlson Motor Cars

My little sister, Sessa decided a year and half ago that she was moving to New Orleans, Louisiana to go to Grad School at Loyolla. Now for those of you who don’t know, Louisiana was originally claimed by the French, but they were booted after a quick 7 years. The snobbery is gone, but their flamboyant eating, partying and intoxicatingly life enjoying ways are still alive and thriving!

Sessa

I found this sticker in the gutter on Borbon St. and loved! Reminded me of my book club, The Gypsy Snipers!

Sessa is one who definitely jives with the French way of life. This classy dame dines on Oysters from Felix’s where the Oyster schuckler calls her “baby!”

Oysters from Felix's!

Prepare!

Slurp!

She rides her bike everywhere she goes (Yup, just like a real Parisian). I think she wants to observe all the art in her cultural French inspired neighborhood. Except when those hippies from the West

Cest moi!

(aka Me) knock her over on her bike leaving, blood and remnants of pleather Target shoes all over the sidewalk. Thankfully the good men of NOL get some good Southern class, bandaids and benzoyl peroxide to help these damsels in distress! Quite the classy host Sessa is she easily forgives and treats her guests to Breakfast of Shrimp and Grits and some delectable pastry’s!

*Notice the band-aids from the crash.

Overheard in New Orleans: “Man, I’m hurtin’ today, I got white girl drunk last night!” – 20 something man, talking on his cell phone,  walking around in the Bywater with a blonde womans wig on his head.

K. I’m done talking in the narrative. That get’s old real fast .

Sess took me to an uber cool thing called, The Fringe. Which was a super, artsy cool, independent, improvesque  theatre production we saw. The Moulin Rouge in Sessa wanted to pounce the performers, I wanted more potato chips and beer.

Sing it girl!

Channeling our inner Bob Dylan

When I was done with the potato chips and beer I got me some Beignet’s! These were delish with coffee! But, I think they were exactly like mom’s French Toast! Can you belive that?! We have a Mexican woman who channels French cuisine! We are so lucky!

Eating Beignets on the River!

We heart eachother

This is how they do it!

Sexy lady in the city!

New Orleans has Cemetary’s- they are full of black magic, mausoleums, sea shells and really nice volunteers with tape holding their glasses together who give you the history of the place for a “donation” of your choice. Sweet Place.

Vodoo love

Everyone need’s a drink after visiting a cemetery.

And if you’re gonna drink, you’re gonna have to EAT! I think all the fine folks in the South need to reclaim their territory as the “Dirty South” and rename it the “Yummy South” cause that’s how I remember it – Yummy and carbo-tastic!

Praline bacon!

This little lady is one amazing (and patient) tour guide (and sister) xo