The Big Easy III - After the Storm

Good Afternoon Ladies & Gentlemen,

It's great to be typing to you again...but don't feel too bad because I've been having a great time since I last blogged. I've spent the past three days in the glorious city of New Orleans. I think what I'm going to do today...because New Orleans is such a big topic that I have a great love for...is that I'm going to talk about my trip the past three days and then further elaborate what to do in "The Crescent City" over the next few blogs. I say that because this trip, we didn't get to experience more than a scratch of what New Orleans has to offer...and I'd hate to sell my readers short on what a fantastic city it is. I hope that you don't mind. Great, then it is settled. Let us start with my latest journey....

Day 1 - Slick City to New Orleans

We were to meet at the airport at 5:15 AM and I slept a good six hours that night in preparation for not sleeping in New Orleans. The flights over were okay. From SLC to Atlanta, my neighbor & I watched "Robot Chicken" on my laptop and the time flew right by. There was only an hour layover & then an hour or so flight to New Orleans. Awesome. Nothing really out of the ordinary. We were greeted with a company van at the airport & taken to stay at The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans for the next few nights. It was raining, as the next couple of pictures will show you...but I was amazed to see that the city itself...was almost identical to what it was when I came the last time before Katrina hit. I know that on the news all that is shown is the devastated outer burbs and rural areas...and it was truly a devastating storm...but please believe that if you have any reservations about going to New Orleans because you think it's still a wasteland, that is simply not true. My pictures probably aren't going to full convince you from this last trip (thanks to Tropical Storm Humberto) but it is amazing...and you should all head out there for Halloween or something. That's what I want to do. Anyway, check out this rain storm as we arrive...


We arrived at The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans and were treated with some of their spacious rooms with vaulted ceilings and two king sized beds. Awesome!!! As you know, I love Ritz-Carlton beds and try to emulate them at my own home...but there nothing better than a Ritz-Carlton bed...except maybe sharing one...but you get the idea. Here are some pictures of the room & the view of the French Quarter.


After a few minutes to get assituated with the room, we dressed in our business attire and had a wonderful reception & meal at their restaurant, Melange. New Orleans restaurants are, in my humble opinion, some of the best in the world. I love soul food...and great food...and the city has both EVERYWHERE. This restaurant though, back when it was called Victor's (I've stayed a few times), made the absolute beat food that I've ever had...and it was on the menu again this time. We started with a lobster bisque, filet of beef cooked perfectly with a spectacular brenaisse sauce, and for dessert, one of the signature dishes of New Orleans, beignets with three different dipping sauces.

For those of you who don't know what beignets are, they're basically deep fried dough smothered in powdered sugar...and they're spectacular. From what I understand, they originated at the Cafe Du Monde on the riverfront of the Mississippi. They're really good. Anyway, the dinner was great...and the drinks were free...so a good time was had by all. After dinner, we decided to walk a block to Bourbon Street & check it out. Being a Tuesday night and September 11th, there wasn't a whole lot of action to be had my Bourbon Street standards...but when there's a whiskey, there's a way. We checked out a few of the souvenior shops (lots of people there for the first time) and then most of them went back to the hotel after a long day...but I wasn't about to. The three adventurers among us went to the piano bar at Pat O'Brien's for a few hours/drinks. It was a good time. Then we walked around and ended up at Fat Cats for about an hour to dance and take in the eye candy...which was sufficient, especially for a slow night.

Piano Bar at Pat O'Brien's

On the dancing note, I firmly believe that the greatest dance song of all time may be "Get Low" or "Yeah!" by the Ying Yang Twins and guests. It just depends on the establishment, but both usually get played...and the ladies LOVE that song. (I say that song...because it's the same song...just with different lyrics & singers so it can get played at the 18-year old clubs too) Anyway, that was my word...and I challenge you to name me a more widely accepted song by both men & women at a club. You can search anywhere, from the window to the wall, and I think that you'll agree that, Yeah, it's the best one out there.

Here's some neon for my buddy B.

Oh look! A store called the Panda Bear. Surely, it has some cool Oriental items with a N'awlins twist or something along those lines. Let's check the window display...

Even better!!!

Anyway, after taking that in, I had to call it a night because I had been up since 4 AM and we got back around 2 AM and slept in that Ritz-Carlton bed. Magnificent!!!

Day 2 - New Orleans

The morning started...with a headache...because I'm a lightweight. Luckily, there was an overcast for my hangover. I was still full from the night before, so I couldn't even eat pancakes the next morning at breakfast. Oh well, I was doing pretty good anyway. I kept up a conversation with some of the beautiful ladies at the Ritz-Carlton and we talked about our favorite parts about the city, working, antecdotes, etc. We also met the general manager Myra and her parrot Lady, who is kind of the hotel mascot and can be found most days in the Courtyard area. She can carry on a conversation too.

After breakfast, we went on a city tour in a bus hosted by Rudy, one of the concierges at the hotel. He was a great tour guide. We drove through the French Quarter, the Warehouse District, the Garden District (all of which will be elaborated in future entries) but we took a stretch at the New Orleans Museum of Art & Sculpture Garden were I took these pictures...

I'd like to take credit for the foggy effect around the sides...but it's just humidity.

See? My blog is spreading over the land...

I wonder what a tree has to do for beads...

Modern Art - I just don't get it...

Really? Thick marble rod in something resembling a pink shell. Why not just add the mushroom tip and throw a hefty bag over it? Oh yeah, play safe kids.

Modern Art - I try...but I just don't get it...

Okay, the curator of the museum was out for a stroll & gave us a tour...and he was THRILLED that this next piece in particular survived Katrina basically unscathed. "Of all the sculptures here, you were worried about the 30-foot safety pin? (Sigh) modern art..."

Then we toured the St. Louis Cemetary No. 1 and saw the burial place of Marie Leveau, the famous voodoo legend. Here it is...along with a few other shots (more shots in future entries)

Here lies Marie Laveau

Kirk finally got him. "KAAAAAAAAHN!!!"

Here lies Jesus

We had a little free time & walked down to Dumaine Street where there were several voodoo shops and the Voodoo Museum. Unfortunately, only one of the shops was open but it was a pretty cool store. A lot of the shops are only open on the weekends during the off (hurricane) season. Still, just walking around the French Quarter is a beautiful experience...and we walked past the Cornstalk Fence Hotel, which was featured in the Elvis movie, "King Creole." Elvis rules!!! Here are the pictures...

When we returned to the hotel, we were given a tour...and then they moved me up into The Ritz-Carlton Suite, which is the Presidential Suite at the hotel, because I'm awesome. Here are some shots of my new room...

Okay, so I didn't really get to spend the night there...but we did get to check it out (second time for me, still cool). For dinner, they served us a southern barbecue, Ritz-Carlton style at FQB (French Quarter Bar) and we had boiled shrimp, sausage, and everything else, macaroni & cheese, oyster shooters, jalapeno cornbread, gumbo, all of which was absolutely delicious...and the conversation with the managers was great as well. My friend & I were having a conversation that was bordering on a new improv show. Another coworker was speaking with one in Vietnamese. It was a great time with a warm, casual ambience.

After dinner, we went on a Haunted History Tour of New Orleans...and our group leader Midian was amazing. He has an obvious passion for history and his job...and it comes through in his delivery, storytelling, answering questions, and just an incredibly fun guy to hang around...and that's why we invited him back to the hotel. He was a cool cat...and apparently we didn't seem that threatening. We had a few drinks and told jokes & stories with a group of about eight of us. Great time!!! If you go to New Orleans, you have to go on the Haunted Tour...and ask for Midian. He was awesome!!!

Day 3 - New Orleans to Slick City

The next morning, I was treated to a 25-minute massage by the hotel...and it was amazing, even though a 25-minute massage is kind of a tease. You may not know this, but I considered getting a second job in massage therapy...because I've been told that I'm pretty good...but the schooling would just be a pain...and I'd prefer to keep a private practice in exchange for meals & hugs or something...you know, just expand on the non-profit gigolo game a little. Oh well, I know what I'm doing. I don't need a paper to tell me that.

Whenever I get a massage, I usually just pay attention to what the masseuse is doing, thinking to myself, "Hmm, that feels pretty good. I'll have to remember that one." or "This lotion is nice...but I prefer my eucalyptus scent myself." Stuff like that, learn the trade a little bit. If any of you ladies are interested in helping further my experience in this field, let me know. I'm always willing to listen & learn...and practice.

During our free time, we decided to check out Jackson Square & the Riverfront and it started to rain pretty well...like fallout from Tropical Storm Humberto well. I love the rain though, as you may remember from last week, so it was all good...and I got the last minute souvenirs for some of my peeps & fam. Here are some pictures...but I'll have better weather ones in future installments...

Then we went to the airport...and hilarity ensued as we were rerouted and layed over...but in the airplanes waiting an hour or so for clearance...and through it all, I ended up getting back to my house just before 3 AM. Then I napped...and came here today...and now other news, thanks for listening about my trip.

Really? - Okay, I had to read this article because it's like something out of a bad movie. Investigators questioned O.J. Simpson about a robbery of sports memorobilia at a casino in Las Vegas. If you don't know the background on O.J. then you've been living under a rock for the last 15 years, but in this case, he met with a man who allegedly had stolen some items that belonged to him...and was planning on possibly selling them...but then they disappeared later that day. It just goes to show...that if you give them an inch, they'll get away with murder...and then rob a casino...guest. Okay, so it doesn't roll off like a standard cliche...so yeah, maybe O.J. will go to jail this time. Fingers crossed, huh?

My Friend Shaky is Going Back to School - International superstar singer, songwriter, and hottie friend Shakira is going back to school at UCLA. The Colombian seductress has been dropping albums since she was 14, so didn't need a high school diploma to become a millionaire. Now, she's studying Western Civilizations and expanding her knowledge for learning of new exciting cultures. We can all learn from her example...and just not how to make our hips shake like their mixing paint. By the way Shaky, if you need somebody to help you study, I'm more than willing to help out...and I've taken several classes on Western AND Eastern Civilizations. All I ask in return is that you teach me un pacceto Spanish for my trip back to your mansion in Colombia, so that I can mark it off my map...and meet your familia. That'd be sweet. Anyway, keep that in mind...and I'll pay for my own plane ticket.

Football Commercials That I Like - Some of the best commercials out there are specifically aimed at football fans. Being a Marketing degree holder, I like to analyze commercials a lot...but football, it doesn't really matter as long as it's funny & you remember the product. Past favorite include "Terry Tate: Office Linebacker" which can be found on my MySpace page. Southwest Airlines commercials from a few years back that have the everyday situation such as a man getting in a three-point stance because he dropped his credit card, then the a woman get down behind him & yells out "Blue 42!!! Blue 42!!! HUT HUUUUUUT!!!" then "It Must Be Football Season!!!" Classic. Also, I'm a big fan of the Nissan Titan commercials with the college football mascots chasing down the Heisman trophy in the back of the truck.

Why do I bring this up? There's a new Nike commercial out where it has Shawne Merriman & Stephen Jackson battling through other players, leaping over defensive backs, spinning off linemen, blasting through swarms of ongoers, and finally stretching that extra inch for a touchdown...all to the theme from "Last of the Mohicans" which I'm sure has another name...but that's what I know it as. I think it's just badass. If you've ever seen the final ten minutes of the movie, you'd know why. Anyway, I like it...and that leads me to my next movie list...

Romance Movies that Guys will Watch

Medal Winners

Gold - True Romance (1993) - Written by Quentin Tarantino, directed by Tony Scott, starring everybody that is awesome (Christopher Walken, Dennis Hopper, Christian Slater, James Gandolfini, Gary Oldman, Michael Rappaport, Chris Penn, Bronson Pinchot, Brad Pitt, Tom Sizemore, even cameos by Val Kilmer & Samuel L. Jackson) and a lot of Love & action and witty monologues and everything else that will keep both men & women glued to the screen. Easily one of my favorite movies of all time. I am going to warn you, it's rated R...and it's on Lifetime once in a while. Why is it on Lifetime? Like every other show on Lifetime, it involves a woman getting the crap beat out of her. What is it about that channel? If it's not Oprah, it's spousal abuse, or both. What's entertaining about that? Anyway, this movie rocks.

Silver - Last of the Mohicans (1992) - Directed by Michael Mann & apparently it was based off a book...but don't let that convince you that the book is better...because this only takes two hours. Set during the French-Indian War, Daniel Day-Lewis stars with Madeleine Stowe in this timeless romance classic...and there's a lot of Braveheart-esque fighting and the final ten minutes are incredible. Guys you may be a little bored through some of the slower plot points, but it makes up for it later on.

Bronze - William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet (1996) - I liked this movie because the dialogue is straight from Shakespeare but set in modern (mid-90's) times and has a great ensemble cast...and Baz Luhrmann makes good movies...about once every five years...and horrible music in between. Leonardo DiCaprio, Claire Danes, John Leguizamo, Paul Sorvino, Harold Perrineau, and a slough of others are in this masterpiece. It just shows that even though the words or grammar of Shakespeare & other writers of past centuries may not ring the same to modern ears...that the themes & beauty of the words ring throughout history...and through different mediums as well.

Suggestion - Doctor Zhivago (1965) - Yeah, it's an old movie...but it's a classic. Yeah, it's a little long...but that just gives you time to make out during the movie...and there's an intermission for...whatever floats your boat. Omar Sharif & Julie Christie set the bar for this classic masterpiece set during the Bolshevik Revolution of early 20th century Russia and it's beautifully orchestrated & visually stunning (especially by 1960's standards) and I needed to put something in here that you've probably never seen...so I went with something made before 1990. Anyway, this is it. Enjoy...

Flush It - Anything entirely British - The vast majority of men out there will be bored to tears if they have to listen to anything done entirely in a British accent that doesn't involve drug running, gun smuggling, or occasional full frontal nudity (see Winona Ryder in "The Age of Innocence"). I'm just looking out for both of the guys & the ladies. I just want to make sure that you're BOTH happy...so that every movie, even Romeo & Juliet, has a happy ending...or two...or more.

Future Watch - Honestly, I don't know of any romance movies coming out any time soon. The last really good one that I saw was "The Fountain" (2006) with Hugh Jackman & Rachel Weisz, directed by Darren Aronofsky. Good flick...but as long as there are romances in the future with a bit of action to keep both men & women entertained...that's all good with me. Anyway, I'm done typing now. More on the Big Easy in the future...and have a great weekend everybody!!!