It's Coming, Southern Decadence!
That's right, it's not that far away in the future. It's time to make you plans to come to New Orleans during August 28 thru September 2. This has become one of the biggest gay events in the country, and I think has reached the status of world class, (although I only have Sydney's Gay Mardi Gras to compare with...)
There have been over 100,000 people here for the last few years, which is a lot, but a few other events hit that number. The thing that makes SD different is that the French Quarter and the Marigny gay areas are all so easy to get around in. You can easily move from bar to bar and scene to scene with very little trouble; in the Quarter, it's just a matter of walking down the street from one block to the next, with gay bars all along the way. For the rest, it's a convenient cab ride, and the cabbies love the business; you don't have to worry about the address, just name the bar you want to go to. The streets in the Quarter get closed off to traffic for the whole weekend, and for most of the weekend, and especially Sunday, the streets are where the party is! But the bars are fun also; there are hundreds, I mean hundreds of dancing boys. They come in from all over the country.
It took the city father's a while to realize how big this lil' festival had gotten; they finally noticed that on what used to be one of the slowest weekends of the year, the hotels were almost fully booked. And this is in a city that does huge convention business; SD became one of the top five annual events of the year in a city that does Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest. (And this year, everyone will be so glad to see you! It's a bad convention summer and SD is the biggest thing happening.)
The Official Southern Decadence Web Site will give you all the details. This is really one of the greatest parties ever... hope to see some of you here! I'll be glad to host a small, but festive cocktail party for board members, and generally, function as concierge for all who might attend.
There is an open spot at my house for one lucky person, (or a couple...) during SD, as Dave and Glennie will not arrive from Oz until two days after SD, and luca not until a few days after that... but do apply early, as the spot is likely to be quickly filled.
I've actually worked an entire week.
What an experience! I've forgotten what it's like; yea! work is fun!! I've been doing some production cooking for the prepared foods department, and I've also worked in the specialties department a bit, over all just seeing what is going on with the store. I've enjoyed cooking again; haven't done it for years and it seems I haven't forgotten how... I also really enjoyed working with specialties; the place has an amazing cheese counter, and the selection of coffee and teas and wine and beer are very good. The selection of deli meats is astounding, primarily for the incredible quality, the varieties of ham, turkey and beef are the best I've ever tasted. I am so psyched about this whole situation...
3:30 A.M.
Yes, that's when I get up now. I start work most mornings at 6 A.M., but sometimes at 7 A.M., which means that I have to get up before 4 A.M. and get my ass to a city bus by five. It's been interesting moving through the neighborhoods at that time of the morning. The two short bus rides that I take are the first busses on the run for the day, and there aren't a lot of people about at that time. It's still dark then and I am still learning who is on the way to work or just normally there and should be around, and who is out of place, and maybe dangerous. (It's just part of knowing how to move through an urban situation. So far no one dangerous, just new faces.) The thing is, that when I pass one of my fellow early morning travelers on the street, they always say "Good Morning" or at least nod hello. It's the way it is here, and I love it.
The funniest thing that happened this week as I was waiting for the Esplanade bus: A very large woman come striding down the sidewalk towards me, almost marching and swinging her arms as she walked; as she got near, I said "mornin" and smiled and she looked at me and smiled and sang "In the Navy!" without missing a beat in her stride and then walked on by. It was her walking song! How odd that it would be something from the Village People! And yet, this kind of thing is... well, it's so New Orleans.
Thanks!
Thank you for the e-mails, e-cards, comments on the journal and all. I totally appreciate it; it's great to have feed back! If I haven't gotten back to you, it's because I really do have to pay some close attention to my new work situation, but I do keep a list of people that I need to respond to and I'll get back to you. I promise.
And don't forget the Friday nite chat.
and did anyone notice, we topped 5,000 posts on the message board...
durlx
That's right, it's not that far away in the future. It's time to make you plans to come to New Orleans during August 28 thru September 2. This has become one of the biggest gay events in the country, and I think has reached the status of world class, (although I only have Sydney's Gay Mardi Gras to compare with...)
There have been over 100,000 people here for the last few years, which is a lot, but a few other events hit that number. The thing that makes SD different is that the French Quarter and the Marigny gay areas are all so easy to get around in. You can easily move from bar to bar and scene to scene with very little trouble; in the Quarter, it's just a matter of walking down the street from one block to the next, with gay bars all along the way. For the rest, it's a convenient cab ride, and the cabbies love the business; you don't have to worry about the address, just name the bar you want to go to. The streets in the Quarter get closed off to traffic for the whole weekend, and for most of the weekend, and especially Sunday, the streets are where the party is! But the bars are fun also; there are hundreds, I mean hundreds of dancing boys. They come in from all over the country.
It took the city father's a while to realize how big this lil' festival had gotten; they finally noticed that on what used to be one of the slowest weekends of the year, the hotels were almost fully booked. And this is in a city that does huge convention business; SD became one of the top five annual events of the year in a city that does Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest. (And this year, everyone will be so glad to see you! It's a bad convention summer and SD is the biggest thing happening.)
The Official Southern Decadence Web Site will give you all the details. This is really one of the greatest parties ever... hope to see some of you here! I'll be glad to host a small, but festive cocktail party for board members, and generally, function as concierge for all who might attend.
There is an open spot at my house for one lucky person, (or a couple...) during SD, as Dave and Glennie will not arrive from Oz until two days after SD, and luca not until a few days after that... but do apply early, as the spot is likely to be quickly filled.
I've actually worked an entire week.
What an experience! I've forgotten what it's like; yea! work is fun!! I've been doing some production cooking for the prepared foods department, and I've also worked in the specialties department a bit, over all just seeing what is going on with the store. I've enjoyed cooking again; haven't done it for years and it seems I haven't forgotten how... I also really enjoyed working with specialties; the place has an amazing cheese counter, and the selection of coffee and teas and wine and beer are very good. The selection of deli meats is astounding, primarily for the incredible quality, the varieties of ham, turkey and beef are the best I've ever tasted. I am so psyched about this whole situation...
3:30 A.M.
Yes, that's when I get up now. I start work most mornings at 6 A.M., but sometimes at 7 A.M., which means that I have to get up before 4 A.M. and get my ass to a city bus by five. It's been interesting moving through the neighborhoods at that time of the morning. The two short bus rides that I take are the first busses on the run for the day, and there aren't a lot of people about at that time. It's still dark then and I am still learning who is on the way to work or just normally there and should be around, and who is out of place, and maybe dangerous. (It's just part of knowing how to move through an urban situation. So far no one dangerous, just new faces.) The thing is, that when I pass one of my fellow early morning travelers on the street, they always say "Good Morning" or at least nod hello. It's the way it is here, and I love it.
The funniest thing that happened this week as I was waiting for the Esplanade bus: A very large woman come striding down the sidewalk towards me, almost marching and swinging her arms as she walked; as she got near, I said "mornin" and smiled and she looked at me and smiled and sang "In the Navy!" without missing a beat in her stride and then walked on by. It was her walking song! How odd that it would be something from the Village People! And yet, this kind of thing is... well, it's so New Orleans.
Thanks!
Thank you for the e-mails, e-cards, comments on the journal and all. I totally appreciate it; it's great to have feed back! If I haven't gotten back to you, it's because I really do have to pay some close attention to my new work situation, but I do keep a list of people that I need to respond to and I'll get back to you. I promise.
And don't forget the Friday nite chat.
and did anyone notice, we topped 5,000 posts on the message board...
durlx
posted by durlx at 7/12/2002 08:58:00 PM
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