A Visit to New Orleans
I had to go back to New Orleans to sort through our warehouse, inventory everything we need for Naughty N’awlins, order new supplies (and another 26 beds), fold and repack everything and then put it all away. It took me (and our krewe) three days, but we finally got it done. That left time for me to visit friends and see New Orleans again, my favorite city.
Coming Home
It’s been a while since I was in New Orleans (it was last year’s Naughty N’awlins) and for the first time in a long time, I was coming back to New Orleans as a tourist, but even so, it felt like I was coming home.
New Orleans will always be my home in the US. Even though I am very happy living in Mexico full time, I still miss this city, it has an energy not found in most cities and I can’t come back without eating all the good food, seeing live music, walking the Quarter to take in all of the historic architecture and even squeeze in a few drinks (and that might be why I am suffering through today- but it was worth it).
Hotels
I got a chance to check out the rooftop pool at the NOPSI Hotel, man is this going to be a great place to hang out during Naughty N’awlins. I think it will be hopping during the day and a cool place to check out at night.
I stayed at the Astor Crowne Plaza Hotel for a week and it was great to stay in the hotel when it wasn’t our event. It really is a great location, I could easily walk to everything and I used my old bike (it’s a pretty cool bike) to get around when I had to venture out of the quarter.
Shopping
I was able to check out a few of my favorite stores (QTiePie & Hustler), and I bought a cool shirt at the Sazerac House, which is a cool new museum on the history of cocktails in New Orleans, especially with bitters (the museum is owned by a distillery and also makes bitters).
There are so many interesting shops here for people interested in art, jewelry, antiques, sexy clothes and toys, costumes, and wigs. Tonight I am heading to one of the many discount stores to get some supplies to take back to Mexico.
Food
Is New Orleans more famous for its food or its music? The answer is both. I was lucky that I visited in the middle of crawfish season. I had not one, not two, but three different crawfish batches from three different places. The winner was the Upper Quarter Bar (just a few blocks from the Astor Crowne Plaza Hotel (where I stayed during my visit). The UQ had the right amount of heat, and spice and they were cooked perfectly. They even had a few turkey necks included.
I have a favorite poke place, I know, not very New Orleans, but there is something about going back to the places you used to frequent. It gave me a real sense of home as I dove into that bowl of poke, it tasted familiar and delicious (just like I remembered).
I had 2 bowls of gumbo (one at the bar inside the hotel) and one at the Four Seasons. The gumbo at the Astor was better. I had chargrilled oysters and raw oysters. You just cannot find oysters like these anywhere else in the US (or Mexico). Yum!
Not only is New Orleans’ food just better than other cities, but the service is better. Restaurants take cooking AND service seriously here, I wish I could take a few of these restaurants with me. I do miss New Orleans cooking.
Music
The first night I was at the hotel, there was a duo playing in the bar that sounded good. I was passing through, but they made me stop and listen for a minute, luckily, I caught a full set later in the week as I was eating oysters and gumbo.
I hope to hire them for Naughty N’awlins, I think our crowd would really like them. You can check out their facebook page.
On Thursday, I went to see one of my favorite bands (Corey Henry) in one of my favorite neighborhood bars (Vaughn’s). They serve red beans normally, but they had white beans on this night and they were delicious. The music was on point, and funky, with lots of brass and lots of energy. It must have been the music that caused me this headache today (couldn’t have been the drinks).
New Orleans wouldn’t be New Orleans without great food and music.
Friends
I got the chance to see several good friends while in town. I wish I could have seen more, but I was only here for a short trip and I had a lot of work to do. The weather didn’t help (it was cold this week), I can’t wait for warm weather the next time I come.
I even got to sit with a few friends (and staff members) to sign the bottom of our devil duckies for this year’s event. These are going to be hot items on the last night (during our bead toss).
I think this is why so many people love coming to Naughty N’awlins, they don’t just come for the playrooms and parties, they also come for the great food, shopping, and music this city has to offer. They come for the history and architecture, and to go on tours and excursions and of course the shopping.
I am certain that one of the biggest reasons they come is to connect with old friends and to make new ones. What is the value of a close friendship? Well, priceless when it is someone you can share anything with, and possibly be intimate with. I’m so glad I get to keep coming back to New Orleans and I’m looking forward to our 25th Naughty N’awlins more than ever because now I am coming back to the city that I love.
I am coming home.
And so many of our attendees will be doing the same thing. See you in New Orleans soon…
Bob
