NOLA

I'm back in New Orleans for work this week. It's hot and muggy and rainy and sunny all at the same time.

I just love the architecture and style of this city. I had the opportunity to take a co worker around the French quarter for the first time and see their reaction. It was like reliving my first trip.

Here are some pics for your enjoyment.

New orleans

Happy Thursday everyone! I'm in New Orleans again this week for work. I've had a chance to eat some good food again this trip. Last night I went to a cute little restaurant called Dick and Jenny's.



I got the retaurant a bit before the people I was meeting and I was sitting at the bar looking around at the cool collection of plates on the walls. The walls are full of hand painted plates with people's names, drawings and everything in between.



I asked the bartender what the plates were for and the story was just wonderful. He said the owners, Dick and Jenny, were close to finishing the renovations of the restaurant, when a huge plumbing bill threatened to delay their opening night. The solution to their situation came in the form of "friendly investors." Dick & Jenny sold plates to their opening night dinner. For $100, people received a plate on the wall in their honor. The plumbing was fixed, the restaurant a hit, and the plates remain as a reminder of their beginning.

I also made sure to stop for some beignets at the world famous Cafe du Monde. Is there anything better than a sugary beignet? I don't think so....



The day before I left for New Orleans I finished knitting my Forestry sweater! I haven't blocked the collar and button band yet and they are a bit wonky so no modeled pics yet. But I just love the color and had to share. I hope it comes out good in the end!!








I look forward to wearing this baby in a few weeks in Rhinebeck.

New Orleans trip

I'm in New Orleans for work this week! I am lucky to be staying at the W hotel... I love the rooms. They are very stylish...



I took a walk through the French quarter Monday evening enjoying the unique architecture and sights along the way:









I love that this building says "liver pills"




I love walking around Jackson square. Here is a sunset picture of St Louis Cathedral...


After a stroll around I stopped at Cafe du Mond for a dinner of cafe latte and beignets. I swear I think there is more powdered sugar than dough!



After that I walked along the river - and this walk is aparently called the "Moonwalk"...


In addition to the plethora of homeless people sitting on the banks of the river - there were beautiful statues and pieces of art like this angel:



The sunset over the Mississippi was beautiful:




Hopefully I'll have to time for more walks later this week!

New Orleans Style

Hello from the Big Easy!

This is my third day of work and the earliest I've been back to my hotel room yet - so I decided I had to post my latest adventures - yeah!!

I arrived Sunday night and I've been working hard - but luckily I have also been able to do quite a bit of sightseeing. Monday after a VERY long day at work - we ate dinner at Emerils restaurant.


The food was just amazing - I had paella that was just full of HUGE portions of scallops, shrimp, mussels, sausage and chicken. The scallops were three inches in diameter!! Yum!!

After work on Tuesday we headed to Riverwalk - a mall along the banks of the Mississippi River. We then strolled through the French Quarter and had a great dinner and ($1 Margaritas which I so needed after another long day!!) at Cafe Maspero. I had some tasty Jambalaya. After dinner - we had to get some of those famous beignets at the world famous Cafe due Monde



The powdered sugar on these things was at least an inch thick!!



Cafe du Monde is at the corner of Jackson Square - this square is at the heart of the French Quarter in New Orleans. I love all the wrought iron balconies with vines and flowers hanging down on sides of the square.



At one end sits Saint Louis Cathedral.



We were lucky enough to be there at sunset.



Here's my co-worker LaSonya and I in front of the cathedral.


Wandering further through the French Quarter - we of course had to go Bourbon Street. It was surprisingly tame - but then again it was a Tuesday night. We did see some interesting sights, crazy T-shirts, lots of beer, daquairies, hurricanes, and even clowns on stilts! Here are some of the views:


sites from new orleans


We even saw the trolley speed by on the walk back to our hotel.



Today - we took a drive through the lower 9th Ward - the part of New Orleans that experienced some of the worse devastation from Hurrican Katrina almost two years ago. It was extremely sad and sobering to see how much damage is still there and how much is still left to do. Most of the homes in this area - were completely swept away by the surge from the levy break. There were just concrete slabs on many lots, sometimes the front steps remained - sometimes nothing remained. It was amazing how much pride some of the owners still took in their empty lots. Many were mowed and manicured - while others like this one... were even more thoughtfully decorated.



I thought this lot where someone planted a field of sunflowers was such a powerful representation of the hope, rebirth and renewal that is going on in New Orleans. It really made my day to see this gorgeous site.



After this lovely site - we had dinner at a local "greasy spoon" called Praline Connection. We had alligator sausage as our appetizer...



followed by some great Cajun homecooking. I had stuffed peppers with collard greens, macaroni and cheese and a side of hot corn bread.... it was so delicious!

I also got to walk around part of the French Quarter after we ate and I snapped a few pictures of the gorgeous homes and architectural details that are everywhere down here.





I look forward to the rest of the week - I hope the work side goes ok so we can continue our nightly forays into the New Orleans culture!

Have a great week everyone!!