The Reeds and I began our day with a visit to the Louis Armstrong Park (also known as the New Orleans Jazz National Historic Park) in the Treme district. The park also includes Congo Square (Place des Negres) where slaves on their day off gathered to play music and sell goods that they had crafted.
The Reeds with Satchmo
Some of the artwork celebrating jazz.
The part is also home of the New Orleans Municipal Auditiorium and the Mahalia Jackson Theater for the Performing Arts as well as the annual Martin Luther King Day celebrations.
Me at Congo Square.
For breakfast we went to the now very popular Willie Maes Scotch House for what I consider to be some of the best fried chicken in the country. It's gotten so popular that they've expanded their hours, they now open at 10AM, have a second dining room and have opened a second location in the more tourist friendly part of town on St. Charles.
Breakfast is served. Butter beans and rice and fried chicken.
A very sweet waitress, who called Carolyn "My Baby" provided us the details of the new location and was very attentive. "Can I get you anything else, My Baby?"
Carolyn had wanted to see the workingman's Bourbon Street, otherwise know as Frenchmen St..
Probably 3 blocks of music clubs, restaurants and shops. Nothing really special, but it was just noon.
We took the rest of the afternoon off from sightseeing after a short walking tour of Magazine Street and a Blueberry Mimosa or two while we awaited Kathy's arrival.
After a fun commute to the airport at 6PM, we picked Kathy up and headed for dinner at the Upperline. I first found this restaurant when looking for local, not chain places to eat on a trip I took here in 2010, because I figured after Katrina, the places that weren't touristy would need the business. The owner, Joanne was a very nice lady who kept me on the phone for 45 minutes or so when I made the original reservation, chatting about New Orleans and her place. She was very sweet, like talking to a friend that you hadn't seen in years.
No food pics, we were all too busy chatting when the food arrived. I had a wonderful Lamb shank braised in red wine with risotto and greens. Delish. I'm telling ya.
Oh wait I did take a picture.
Again, way too much food, but everyone sample everyone's plate.
Its just after 7:30 AM, the Reeds have just left and are heading back to Texas after a fun visit.
+++ We also went to the Publiq House for the Brass-a-holics and caught a set, I tried posting a 1 minute video of them, but it just wouldn't open up. Must be too big. But I also found that all the videos of the St. Pat's parade that I did, weren't videos as well. I'll re-post them tonight if I don't forget.
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