5/3/09

Better than a Hostess Twinkie

The goal was to update this again last night. However, the day had different plans, and my body revolted by the time we got back to the hotel room. So as we are packing up to spend our last day in New Orleans, here is a quick post about yesterday's adventures.

After no more than five hours of sleep, we all habitually woke up early. No worries though, then we could maximize our time in the city. We found a random place for lunch, Montrel's Bistro, where I had my first crawfish. Pretty tasty, but messy and a lot of work. Plus I will admit it took me about a minute and a half to get past the look of them. Then I enjoyed some classic red beans and rice, so did Kins, while Billy had some shrimp creole, and Mer enjoyed a shrimp po' boy. Meredith and Kinsley also found that the restrooms in this establishment were gracious enough to be upstairs and include a person-sized window in the stall. Who doesn't want a view of New Orleans while you pee?

Then we walked the river and strolled around Jackson Square where I bought some folk art to add to my collection. We took in the street performers and had a laid back afternoon. The only disappointing part was finding what we thought was a brewery, Jackson Brewery, that turned out to be a brewery converted into a mall. Then we thought they had a museum of the brewery inside the mall, but that was a bust as well. So we decided to go on an adventure to the Garden District. This involved a series of street cars, of which the operators were less than pleasant. (Nothing like the trolleys in San Francisco.) It also took us having to get off to run into a CVS to get our exact change for the ride back. The cashier was equally as pleasant. The view was nice, though, and we made our way back to the Quarter after a relaxing ride.

We then redeemed the afternoon by Billy going on a search for a gift for a friend while Meredith, Kinsley, and I went to a neat little bar and cafe, the Napoleon House. There we enjoyed some wine and cheese in a calming courtyard. Once Billy rejoined us, it was time to find a place to watch the Kentucky Derby. I have to admit this is the first time I have ever watched this race. We ducked into a kitchy little bar in the historic Monteleone Hotel. This place did not have mint juleps unfortunately, but it did have a bar that looked like a carousel where the seats around the bar rotated. Pretty cool.

After the race, Mer and I left Billy and Kins to enjoy the Quarter while we went to enjoy the Death Cab for Cutie show at the Contemporary Arts Center. Ra Ra Riot and Matt Costa were really good, and Death Cab of course was amazing. The venue was a warehouse, which made for a cool atmosphere. The crowd, however, was on average half our age, which made for an interesting atmosphere. The place was packed, and near the end of the show, we actually had to make our way to the back to avoid overheating ourselves, and there we found the people our age. (Are we officially getting old? Crap!) But again, the show was awesome!

We made our way back to the Quarter, stopping to get a hot dog from a street vendor, and then passed out back in the hotel. Kinsley and Billy came back to tell us of their adventures at Harrah's Casino, Pat O'Briens, Jackson Square, and Cafe Du Monde. During the evening, Billy was blessed with another random person talking to him. The guy felt compelled to let him know that he was left handed, and it was sterile. What that meant...who knows?

Now to let you know where the title of this post originated. On our walk to the Napoleon House, Meridith, Kinsley, and I saw a man playing a trombone. We almost stopped for Kins to take a picture, but before we could he shouted: "Y'all are better than a Hostess Twinkie. You're three treats in one!" Needless to say, the picture didn't happen. We just continued to walk.

Now we are off to enjoy our last day here. More to come, I am sure!

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