And I think to myself, What a Wonderful World

[BOSSHOG]

Don't mind me, I'm just contemplating my next trip to the French Quarter; Red Beans and Rice for Monday lunch; the music blaring from this shop and that; a tall ice cold draft at the Tropical Isle in a Go Cup; a stroll by the River down to the Aquarium; a seafood platter for dinner somewhere within walking distance. Buy a tacky t-shirt for no apparent reason. Show your tits for beads thrown from a balcony. Dancing and drinking and decadance till the Sun comes up Tuesday morning. There obviously is no apparent reason for millions of Americans to want New Orleans to survive. And we are only at Tuesday Morning.

[tuvor]

1. Thank God.

I thought we were in for another photo essay. Of which I'm guilty, so settle down, all o' you.

[finecraft]

2. The Big Easy doesn't care who you are or what you are

you always belong there. Sitting slightly drunk at the piano lounge in the Omni listening to "Someone to watch over me". Celebrating Mick Jagger's birthday with friends at Touchet's Bar on Royal Street. Buying a box of old love letters at the antique store. Getting my palm read at the tea room. Bosshog, we'll be back....I'm sure of it.

[KamaAina]

3. Yes there is. Those millions of people are not Americans.

pretty much by definition.

Aside: I got picked up at Tropical Isle once. Right under my mom's nose. And she's well-preserved enough that to this day I get stuck with the check when we go out. Which is more brazen: picking me up in front of my Mom, or in front of a woman who would appear to be my date?

When I finally moved to town, I lived with that woman for a few weeks -- in the 3800 block of Louisiana Ave. Pkwy., in the hard-hit Broadmoor section, on the first floor, with no car or even a phone. My Gawd, I hope she followed through on her plans to leave town and take a job on a cruise ship... :scared:

[Gildor Inglorion]

4. Hey, neighbor...greetings from scenic Stone County, MS!

Your essay brought a tear to my eye and a lump to my throat...been there, done that, and (yes!) bought the T-shirt. And I'll do it again, too, given the opportunity. If they try to remake New Orleans in the image of Atlanta (concrete and steel, no heart, no soul, no fun)we should ride "them" out of town on a rail! New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast will arise from the ruins, better than ever, heart and soul intact. If I didn't believe that, I'd go crazy.
:toast:

[BOSSHOG]

6. Thanks Teammate

I share your sentiments from recently overpopulated Pearl River County. The Big Easy will be just fine.

And I humbly thank you for your service to our country. I'm free because of you. And because of you, I will take advantage of that freedom.

[No Exit]

5. Don't forget... Tipitina's and the Maple Leaf didn't flood. n/t

[seabeyond]

7. just how flavorful will the all white new orleans be

thinking just wont be the same, that red beans and rice.

[in_cog_ni_to]

8. That's exactly what we did when we were in New Orleans. Well,

except for flashin' the boobs. ;) We did see the transvestite flashing her boobs though. LOL! I still have my cheap t-shirt that says "Bourbon Street"...one of my favorite t-shirts. We went to the aquarium, the mall, walked Riverwalk all day long and had a streetcar ride (that hit a car while we were on it :scared:). We had dinner at some WONDERFUL restaurants. The restaurant in our hotel was great too....red beans and rice. YUM! Visited House of Blues for lunch. We took our son to Bubba Gumps for lunch on another day (one of his favorite restaurants...he was 10 at the time). We always stay on Toulouse St. at The Maison Dupuy. LOVE the charm of that hotel, do you know it? It has a beautiful courtyard area. The hotel is just down the street from Bourbon St. No driving. Just walk a few blocks for the TIME OF YOUR LIFE!

I was talking to my brother the other night. He has never been to NOLA and said he IS GOING to the next Mardi Gras....NO MATTER WHAT. Those who have never been to NOLA, will make it a goal to see it. There really isn't any other place like it and I think it was a wake up call for people who have always wanted to go and never got around to it. Build it and they will come. NOLA will only draw MORE people now. It ain't going anywhere.

I LOVE NOLA. Can you tell? :)

[BOSSHOG]

9. The Maison Dupuy

is a charming little Inn. We've stayed there a few times, but we now mostly stay at a Hotel (name escapes me) across the street and down about a half a block from the House of Blues. Very convenient for concert going. Bubba Gumps sponsors a 5k race in April to benefit Children's Hospital and they provide a lot of food afterward. The race is on a Sunday Morning and starts at 8:00. Budweiser set up a truck on Decatur with free draft beer to all runners; just grab a cup and help yourself over and over again. A couple from NY couldn't believe all the beer drinking go on in public at 9:00 on a Sunday Morning. They were sold on the City. We took my mother in law (from Kansas) to Bubba Gumps for lunch. She had a great time. I usually get about 10 bucks worth of cheap beads and station myself on the balcony of the Tropical Isle at Sundown for a little bit of live entertainment. The Wife doesn't understand the novelty.

If you ever make it back, I highly recommend the Alpine Bistro on Chartres Street near St Louis Cathedral. Nice, but not fancy. Service has been excellent for years. And the food !!!! They serve a blackened shrimp fajita to die for. Hope you have the opportunity again and real soon.

[Coexist]

10. Bosshog -

did you get my message about the empty FEMA trailers here in FL?