Be Cultural: Part 1: I left my heart at Jazz Fest in NEW ORLEANS
I began my love affair with the Big Easy, aka New Orleans, last year on my first trip to see the last show of the Railroad Revival Tour featuring Mumford and Sons, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros and Old Crow Medicine Show (rumor is they are planning another tour for sometime this Fall-- stay tuned!). Thanks to our friend Amy Reimer, a NOLA native and GM of the International House Hotel, we stayed for our first day of Jazz Fest last year... That was it for me. I am hooked.
Day 1: En route to the Fest from the French Quarter. Yes! That man is carrying a tuba.
I returned this year for the first weekend of Jazz Fest last weekend with Napper. Arriving a few days early to wander the French Quarter eating beignets at Cafe du Monde, having boozy lunches in picturesque courtyards, late (very late!) nights imbibing French 75 champagne cocktails and 2AM Jazz shows, we were prepped and ready (and maybe a little hungover) for the start of Jazz Fest last Friday.
Day 2: At Tom Petty. Thank goodness for the hats! It is hot, hot, hot.
Advised by Amy, who is a Jazz Fest pro, to spring for the Grand Marshal passes which get you smack in front of the stages, we cut through a quarter of a million people to literally dance to and sing along with Bon Iver, Tom Petty, Cee Lo Green, Dr. John, Seun Kuti (Fela's son) Feist and Bruce Springsteen.
For a tremendous and moving rendition of "Wrecking Ball" by Bruce, click the pic below. This one is for Liz Hallock, my favorite Jersey Girl!
Bruce and Bon Iver. We really were that close. Spring for the Grand Marshal passes-- so worth it.
A playlist of favorites from the weekend:
Bon Iver: Creature Fear, Bloodbank, Towers
Tom Petty: Free Falling, You Wreck Me, Handle Me With Care
Cee Lo Green: Crazy, Fuck You
Dr. John: Something You Got
Seun Kuti & Egypt80: Think Africa
Feist: How Come You Never Go There
Bruce Springsteen: When the Saints Go Marching In, Dancing in the Dark, Wrecking Ball
From top left: Bruce, the Acura Stage, Tom and Bon Iver.
In between shows, we sampled the delicacies of Jazz Fest. My favorite from last year was the Crawfish Bread-- basically a gooey heavenly grilled cheese sort of concoction with crawfish. Still amazing but what took first prize for me this year was the Cochon de Lait-- the most tender tantalizing pulled pork with slaw on a bun with a mustardy sauce sent from above. And we swilled a lot of beer. The only time and place I drink beer-- snug and cold in a koozie.
Cochon de Lait. Looks gross but absolute best sandwich I've ever had.
Devastated to be missing Florence and the Machine and Grace and the Nocturnals this weekend-- those are two ladies that really rock. Lucky Jazz Festers there this weekend!!
Will regale you with restaurants, bars, activities not to miss while in New Orleans next week....