Bubba Shrimp and a Weekend in New Orleans

I know, just the subject line of this post will make everyone curious for the mere fact it involves the words "New Orleans" as if the city holds some dark, mysterious spell over us.  Well, maybe it does.  Stuff always happens when we go down there.  It seemed like the perfect storm had landed in New Orleans last weekend.  The traffic was at a standstill, complete gridlock.  Between road construction, Valentines Day, pay day, holiday weekend, start of Mardi Gras, and NBA All Star activity, the city was wild with excitement.

The youngest of our crew (not to be confused with a Krewe, the name of float residents called "Mister") was covering the NBA activities for ESPN, so that was fun.  My husband and I stood in the wrong line at a restaurant and ended up with a wrist band that got us entry to a party given by Dwayne Wade, the Miami Heat player. I cannot tell you how great it feels to be able to write that last sentence.  It makes me feel as if I were a VIP, if only through error.

But New Orleans is a city all unto itself, having not only its own culture but a language of sorts.  Most of us when having a 35th birthday, we turn 35.  There, you "make" 35.  If you are going over to your mother's house, you are going "over by my mama's."  If you are at a Mardi Gras parade and you would like a member of the Krewe to throw you a parade trinket, you scream "Throw me something, Mister."  The male members of the Krewe prefer, if you are a female, that you do this with bared breasts..... The parades at St. Patrick's Day, my favorite parade time, you can eat for a week afterwards as they throw carrots, cabbage, potatoes, anything that involves Irish stew, from the floats.  But you have to be quick or someone will run you over for a trinket of any type.  And when asking the current location of an individual, you ask "Where Yat?"

Then there is the food.  Need I say more?  Yes because I AM writing a blog.  Anyway, they have those fabulous beignets that are big balls of fluffy dough, fried, as most everything is down there, and then lots of confectioner's sugar dusted on top.  The coffee, a blend of chicory and arabica beans, will make your hair stand on end.  Warning:  There are those who are of the mindset that this stuff tastes like floor sweepings from the sawdust mill. This coffee is not for the caffeine-challenged. Of course, there is the Heart Attack on a Plate, which is code for Anything That has Shrimp in It.  As Bubba Shrimp from Forest Gump said, "You can barbecue it, boil it, broil it, bake it, saute it. Dey's uh, shrimp-kabobs, shrimp creole, shrimp gumbo. Pan fried, deep fried, stir-fried. There's pineapple shrimp, lemon shrimp, coconut shrimp, pepper shrimp, shrimp soup, shrimp stew, shrimp salad, shrimp and potatoes, shrimp burger, shrimp sandwich. That- that's about it."

My steadfast rule of visiting New Orleans is easy:  As long as no police are involved and no one requires medical attention, all is good.  Except for that one time...... we were in town for a Saints game and decided to have a drink in a very swank hotel, but the lobby bar was closed.  We met up with a couple who had just won $20,000 at Harrahs and they were looking to celebrate.  They offered for us to go to the upstairs bar with them and drink champagne.  What's not to like about that invite???? To make a long story short, at the table next to us sat a fund raiser for the person who currently occupies a house in our nation's capital painted with a color from Duron called Whisper White (see Lounge Slipper post...).  After a slight altercation, security did have to come and physically remove her.  Oh wait, there was one other time but that's another post for another time.

There are many artists in New Orleans who make and sell wonderful items on Etsy.   One is a shop called
Broile and owner Heather Greene, now a Katrina transplant in Saint Louis, has some hauntingly beautiful photographs of the real New Orleans.  This is a shot of the oldest bar in America, Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop.  It's fun to visit but it would be best if you like biker bars.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/56963580/jean-lafittes-blacksmith-shop-new?ref=shop_home_active_6




Another fun shop that showcases a true New Orleanian is scontrino1970.  Dawn Dragon-Ericsson makes all sort of fun trinkets that are indigenous to New Orleans, but I loved this customized tile coaster.  How cool is that?  Impress your friends with your great taste with a set of these.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/173831648/custom-monogram-tile-or-coaster-set-for?ref=shop_home_active_10

Well, time to go.  I would love to hear some stories of yours about New Orleans.  That don't involve the police...