Be nice or leave!

New Orleans is like a Caribbean enclave in the U.S., with a healthy dash of good southern hospitality. It's a city bursting with life---great music, tasty food and outgoing, good-natured people.

First stop was the Abita Brewery. Part of the brewery tour includes a SELF-SERVE, ALL-YOU-CAN-DRINK bar, and their beers are really good! I don't think I need to say much more than that. I'm a fan.

The only picture I got of the brewery. Note random tourists hustling to the taps to pour themselves a beer.

Gator! Went on an airboat swamp tour. We learned that gators can only see in black and white, love to eat marshmallows, and will eat you whole. (I realize this is a pathetic gator picture, but it's the best one I got.)

Obligatory Bourbon St shot. Because it was Jazzfest weekend, and also with boatloads of Navy seamen in town, the chaos and debauchery was full speed ahead. Got a chance to suck down a nuclear green Grenade and hear some jiggy zydeco. More spoon!



Aftermath.

We ran into a wedding marching through the French Quarter, complete with brass band. It was drizzling that day, but no one seemed to mind.





We went to Jazzfest. It's a music festival that shows off New Orleans' great musical heritage. Plus, the food at the festival can't be beat. I had the cochon de lait pulled pork sandwich, handful of cracklins, and crawfish rice.

 

Zion Harmonizers. Some rousing, soulful tunes that got people jigging in the aisles. A great rendition of Curtis Mayfield's People Get Ready was a highlight for me.
Do I have a witness! I am a witness!

 

From a negative to a positive. Pitbull's swagger and machismo is impressive. As was his relentless positive messages. Reach for the stars!  (I only got close enough to take a picture of the big screen.)

Porchfest! You can find people playing music on their porch, in their garage or right on the sidewalk.

 

If you want to relax and listen to some great music without dealing with the beady madness of Bourbon, then head to Frenchmen St. We went to a few bars in that area. That night, the Apple Barrel had some a band playing some foot-stompin' rockabilly and surf music. Then The Spotted Cat had the Jazz Vipers, an engaging brass band whose lead singer sounds a bit like Louis Armstrong.

The Jazz Vipers.

A whole fried flounder, stuffed with oysters, shrimp and crawfish. Delicious, but the boudin balls in creole mustard was the best thing we had that night. Also had a frozen key lime pie. Can't go wrong with that, but it didn't beat the fresh key lime pie we had at Brisbi's earlier in the week.

The area was hit by a huge thunderstorm last Monday. Power outages and flooded streets. We made the most of it. Fried oyster eggs benedict, bourbon milkshake, crawfish boil and turtle soup. The turtle soup tasted good. But they could have used chicken and I wouldn't know. (I ate all this stuff before taking pictures of it.)

The best part about this New Orleans visit was that I got to share the good times with some great friends. It doesn't get any better than that!

Here comes the story of the Hurricane,
The man the authorities came to blame
For somethin' that he never done.
Put in a prison cell, but one time he could-a been
The champion of the world!