Spooky Week in the Big Easy, Day 2
Hey again! Kristen and I have gotten our bearings a bit, and started to navigate a bit further afield wit the aid of a good night's sleep, and plenty of coffee. Day 2 of New Orleans promised to be a fun one, full of exploration and discovery, through the French Quarter and beyond!
Bourbon, Blues, and Brews
Though things were still a little quiet here (according to the locals, at least), there were signs tuesday that New Orleans' second-biggest holiday week was about to begin. Storefronts, bars and resturants all sporting witches, black cats, and skeletons dotted the streets near our hotel. The iconic verdant galleries (full-length, column-supported balconies) of the historic French Quarter are a sight to see at any time of year. But with the spooky season upon us, a number also appeared to be festooned with Halloween Decor.
After a bit of bleary-eyed wandering through more of the French Quarter, we stepped into Ruby Slipper for brunch. The portions were plenty and tasty, and like everywhere else we'd been, the folks were friendly – a great start to the day.
Scoping out a few more shops and museums, we happened upon a Jazz quartet setting up on a pinched corner between some roadwork. Hearing upbeat jazz on just about every speaker in town is one thing, but hearing it live and local is another level of delightful! We snapped a few quick pictures as we listened.
Strolling on, we came at last to the famous (or infamous) Bourbon Steet. No longer in our 20's, Kristen and I opted to make our first jaunt down the aptly-named place in broad daylight. Still quite busy even then, there was plenty to see and do, though we were more interested in the historical signage and landmarks we passed as we went on. Speaking of, one of my favorites has to be the tiled street markers that describe the naming conventions and history of each street when it was under Spanish rule.
Passing through Canal Street, the sights and sound (and smells) of Bourbon street melted away suddenly, and the high-rising buildings glittered in the morning sun, marking a stark contrast between the French Quarter and the edge of the Central Business District. Still plenty touristy, we crossed up and down the busy thoroughfare, noting the charming street cars chugging along between the wide streets. Our day was still quite open – all of our booked tours and reservations didn't start until Thursday – but we had a number of must-see's (and must-eats!) to check off our list!
Having worked up an appetite, we took a late lunch over at Mother's, an old-school deli counter eatery with a wealth of history behind it. On my dad's reccomendation, I had a Po' Boy with debris and roast beef, the mix of warm shredded pork and cold cuts hitting the spot! Trying to be a bit healthy as well, we mixed in some salad greens – with so much heavy food, especially fried, it takes deliberate effort to get your greens in this town!
With the sun shining and the weather warm, we took a leisurely meandering route back to our hotel, cruising through the waterfront walk. A lovely riverside breeze greeted us near the ferry, cooling us down as we continued along. Off in the distance, the twin steamboats sat, having finished their latest tour of the Mississippi. We spent a little time making our way through art installatations, memorials and statues, before turning off the waterfront and arriving at our final stop for the night: Crescent City Brewhouse.
The food was nice, and the craft beer was excellent (I recommend the Red Stallion), but the big draw for me was the live Jazz music up front and the colorful art decor arranged around the brewpub itself. A number of local artists supply the stylized paintings, all of which are available to purchase. Not for sale (thankfully!) is the Jellyfish installation over the bar, lending the place a bit of nautical whimsy.
After that, we turned in – still quite a few days to go in town! All in all, another lovely day in the city of New Orleans!