Thursday, and Friday at Jazz Fest.

Thursday, Robert, Karen, Chris and I did the Magazine Street Run; lunch at Nirvana, an Indian restaurant, and then some shopping in the antique and esoteric junque stores on the street. We stopped at Anne Rice's shop; she has this place where she is selling all her cast off stuff, dolls, posters, jewelry, all kinds of stuff... (one of her old computer monitors for $300. Someone bought it...). Just amazing and too weird! The young man at the counter was ethereally beautiful in the extreme...

Chris and, especially Robert, experience Nirvana.



Jazz Fest

It was another hot, but gorgeous day Friday at Jazz Fest. The crowd was quite a bit larger than last Sunday, but as always very cool and easy to deal with. Karen and Chris wanted to visit all the craft vendors and artists, which we did in detail. (These gurls love to shop! Well, so do I...)

but my eye did wander a bit


We stopped by the Gospel Tent and Lady Tamborine was jumping! The group on the stage was The Greater Antioch Music Ministry and they had everybody up and wailing!
Lady Tamborine. I love this woman!







Then it was time for Bonnie Raitt! She is a big favorite at Jazz Fest; she has been performing at the fest since 1977, which means that she was supporting the festival when it was a very small affair. She's known as "The Queen of Jazz Fest" and she was incredible! She can still rock intensely, but her ballads had people hugging each other and swaying to the music. Performing with her was John Cleary, a consumate NO style pianist and on a few numbers, Ivan Neville, of the Neville Brothers.



For her encore, she did three numbers. The first one soft and beautiful, (she can really sing...), the middle one was a Mose Allison song from the 70's: "Everybody's crying Mercy, but they don't even know the meaning of the word." She finished out with a rocker featuring the kind of slide guitar work that she is known for. Just blew everyone away.




On the way home, on the city bus, we were sitting there listening to the lively chatter of all the folks who had been to Jazz Fest that day and I looked around at the people around me. The bus was filled with people of all ages and races, all sunburned and tired and happy. It's this amazing thing that the fest does to people; they all come together around the music and for a while, they are all so happy to be together.

And this one cute young man that was sitting next to me on the bus was sooo tired... He kept nodding off and resting his head on my shoulder...

sweet...

IMAX Space Station 3D




Yesterday we went to the IMAX theater at the Aquarium to see Space Station 3D.


This has to be the most fantastic use of the IMAX 3D technology to date! The images from within the space station are stunning and the launch sequences are almost over whelming! This is something I can't recommend highly enough; it's something you just have to see to believe. It's being shown around the country and if it's playing anywhere near where you are go see it! This is the web site.

Karen and Chris in 3D glasses!


After the film, we walked along the Mississippi for a while
and the Natchez steamed by.


Then we strolled over to the Napoleon house for muffalettas and then home. Today we're going uptown to have lunch at one of luca's favorite places, Nirvana, and then do some antiquing on Magazine Street.

Tomorrow, Jazz Fest and Bonnie Raitt!

Sunday at Jazz Fest.


Yesterday, after a lovely breakfast in the Quarter, we took the bus down Esplanade Ave. to the Fairgrounds and the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. It was a hot, sunny day, (91 F), but there was a strong breeze that made the temp quite comfortable. We got tickets and got in with no hassle; they have all this down to a science and even the extra security procedures were painless. First stop was the gospel tent, which happened to be right by the entrance we used.

Love Alive Fellowship Choir and Lady Tamborine.


The Love Alive Fellowship Choir was just amazing! About a hundred kids from age 4 to about 20, tremendously talented with four featured soloists. I had never heard of this group, but they are definitly good enough for prime time. On the right of the stage, dressed in white is "Lady Tamborine", Rosalie Ashton-Washington who plays tamborine and dances with almost every group during the eight hours of performance. The gurl works!

We walked around for a while, stopping here and there when something interesting was going on. Saw a Mardi Gras Indian Parade, (more on that later), checked out the crafts, bought some t-shirts and had some really good spring rolls for lunch. Then it was time to head for the big stage and Melissa Etheridge.

We found a good spot about a third of the way back from the stage.


And not too far away from some eye candy.


Even though we were pretty far from the stage, we were right in front of one of the big screens, so the view was good. The sound systems at the Fest are all flawless so there is never a place where you can't hear. Ms. Etheridge did 90 minutes of full out performance that turned me into a fan. I always liked her alright, but yesterday's performance was incredible; she has now reached the goddess level in my book!

The "I was there." shot.


Karen and Chris totally enjoyed their first day at Jazz Fest.


We had a great time and we're looking forward to going again next Friday, (Bonnie Raitt).

Next entry... the Mardi Gras Indians and more!

Karen and Chris are here!

My sister and her other half got into to New Orleans late Friday night, so we got up later Saturday and made it an easy day. First we had coffee in the back yard with Robert, then a little breakfast and a long chat with Nina. About noon we headed for the Quarter.

On the way to Cafe du Monde, we ran into this jazz marching band.


After coffee and beignets we did some shopping in the French Market.


Karen and Chris shopping.


The Coffee Pot


We had a lil' dinner at home and turned in early so we could get up early this morning to go to breakfast at The Coffee Pot. It's been two years since Karen and Chris have been here, but the waitress that always waits on us came right over to say hello. (This same woman has been waiting on them at the Coffee Pot for over a decade.) We had a huge breakfast; callas for Karen, pancakes and strawberries for Chris and a Sis' Soul Omelette for me with lots of good coffee and chicory. Fabulous!

Then we walked back to the house to take a break and cool off. (It's going to hit 90 today!) In a few minutes we're going to leave to go to the Fairgrounds for Jazz Fest.

Tomorrow will be another new journal entry with lots of pics from the Jazz Fest.