My boyfriend picked me up from our last show in Lafayette, Louisiana and chauffeured me to New Orleans, or the last city in this country that I desperately wanted to see. Between learning about Mardi Gras in French class, and hearing about New Orleans from a good friend who's lived there, even planning a road trip with my sister but then being told it was too dangerous, I was beyond excited to finally see the city.
Two hours later in the car, we hit the dark and narrow cobblestone streets and neon lit bars. We put our Valentine's Day presents to each other in the hotel room and set out to grab some dinner and drinks. New Orleans is the first city to carry a beer that I enjoy. In every bar. Akita Strawberry Lager - it's seriously the toast (or I guess lager) of the town and it's quite refreshing.
Our first morning in the city, we woke up and visited the legendary Cafe du Monde. We sampled their chicory coffee and powdered beignets that melted in our mouths they were so moist.
Afterwards, we walked across the street to the riverfront and then into St. Peter's Cathedral. It's a lot more impressive inside then out. After seeing the cathedrals of Paris, the exterior looks very blank, but the interior is a lot airier and brighter which is nice. We did a spot of shopping. We came across a few cool thrift stores that had all sorts of costumes and swords and crazy hats. I finally decided on a Saints Jersey from a souvenir shop but bargained the guy down from $40 to $20. When I told him I was from New York, he called me out and said, "I know you. You New York Jew!" (only it sounded like New York juice, which was even more hysterical). I congratulated him on his perception and he told me he was losing money on the deal. I smiled and left with my winnings.
The afternoon consisted of frozen drinks, amazing dark chocolates from New Orleans' oldest candy store and a trip to Blacksmith's, New Orleans' oldest bar (all gas lamps and antique decor, very cool).
The next day, we took a ride on the St. Charles streetcar to the Garden District, which is a neighborhood lined with beautiful homes decked out in Mardi Gras beads for the upcoming festivities. The architecture is a perfect blend of Southern and French, and having spent a significant amount of time in both places, that was a neat hybrid to observe. We visited the Voodoo Museum, learned about Marie Levau, the Queen of Voodoo in New Orleans, and then went to Molly's, a bar where one of my best friends, Camber, used to work. It was completely surreal, because the bar looks like something out of the East Village, where she and I once shared an apartment. I met one of Camber's old friends and held the bar cat, Mr. Moo. Chris and I were recommended to an amazing local restaurant called Elizabeth's where we stuffed ourselves with delicious Southern food and dessert. A couple hours later when we could finally move again, we met up with some friends on Frenchmen Street at a jazz bar.
Our three shows in New Orleans were a hit, and I was so pumped from the amazing Valentine's Day weekend, I didn't need any caffeine to get me through. The audiences were great, and it was an incredible feeling to be performing in this town. My sweet boyfriend picked me up between shows to take me to lunch in the French Market and get me the red hot chili pepper earrings I'd spotted a few days earlier. I also picked up a matching Saints jersey for my little French pup, Jacques Chirac.
Our lunch was amazing - the deep fried sweet corn being my favorite, and we learned that it was born out of circumstance and resource. A few years back, our waiter told us, he'd bought $1000 worth of corn for a festival, only to be told there were no roasters. His wife, upon hearing this, took a couple ears into their kitchen and voila! Deep fried sweet corn has been a hit ever since.
That last night, we went for our old staple - Mexican food. The place is called Felipe's, and it was quick, cheap and fantastic. So many fresh vegetables, and such great flavor. After the carb and sugar fest of the past couple days, some vegetables were definitely in order. We said goodbye and a final Happy Valentine's Day at 4am the next morning. It was an amazing few days of walking together, eating together, dancing together, waking up together (or more accurately, me waking up Chris with reports of "Blue skies, no rain!"). It was the perfect Valentine's Day.
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