Studiology

On the Street, Bourbon Street

Home after 10 days in New Orleans, feels like it's been a month. Stayed in the French Quarter, off of Bourbon Street with the Michael DeMeng workshop attendees. Everyday was a blast. I even accomplished a few things that I haven't in the 3 previous trips. Drank a Sazerac at The Roosevelt Hotel, the home of the original drink. Don't need to do that again, definitely not my thing.

Although the setting was beautiful. 

On Bourbon Street there's always lots of crazy stuff going on.  Many of the homeless hang out there, hoping for drink, maybe even food. I noticed a new trend, almost all had a dog. Hard to imagine there's anything good about that. This is Bo, short for Cletus Bochephus. Just a youngster, I wish him well.

Ladybug was an amazing pit bull. She seemed to be well cared for and loved attention.

 

The street performers are incredible. As the Superbowl game was displayed on TV's and a jazz band played in the background, this guy would stand still in an imaginary game, football in hand. Of course the inebriated visitors had fun with him.  He was an incredible sport.

Our fine hostess, Katherine Engen organized a second line parade, a personal street car which was catered, trips to the cemeteries, a racy burlesque show and even a sword swallower named  Ri Dickulous, who enjoyed a few minutes of fame on American Horror Story. I also passed Jessica Lang on Royal street and had to walk around the filming of NCIS New Orleans. 

My first night there was a stop at Preservation Hall, actually an hour and a half wait in line. It was all very hush about who would be playing that night only to end up being the original Preservation Hall Jazz Band, just back from a short stay after traveling with the Foo Fighters. I was in heaven!

The music is fabulous, on the street, in the bars and restaurants. Everywhere you go, you can hear the music.

The trip there was to participate in a week long class. By day we worked on assemblage, by night we ate and enjoyed various forms of entertainment. Our last day was the Krewe Du Vieux parade, of which I have many, many photographs. Much of the group dressed up for the event. As one should always do.

 

Nawlins

In New Orleans you can ride the street cars (not to be mistaken for trolleys) for $3.00 per day. There are two lines which go in slightly different directions but pretty much cover the best tourist areas in the city. Each car can be driven from the front or the back and seats can be adjusted so you are always looking forward. I finally made it to the World War II museum and as I had been promised, it was wonderful. Tom Hanks narrates the film titled "Beyond All Boundaries" which plays in a 4D theatre. The seats shake and things come out of the ceiling and up from the stage. Still under construction, this museum will be really big when it's finished, but it is certainly worth a trip.

 As you follow the museum around you get a really good sense of the time frame for various battles fought around the world. There are cat walks that go up four levels where you walk and look into the planes as they hang from the ceiling.  Small theatres are tucked here and there and you can enter and watch short movies at your leisure. 

With the group we went to the sculpture garden which is part of the New Orleans Museum of Art. This place is really WOW! As evidenced below...

Yes, those beads are really, really big.

titled "Karma" by Do-Ho Suh

the same artist that built "The Bean" in Chicago, Anish Kapoor.

"Civitas" by Audrey Flack

"Monkeys" by Rona Pondick

"Mother and Child" by Fernando Botero

In the park there is the Morning Call Coffee Stand where you can order beignets which are a pastry staple for Nawlins folk. They are usually covered in powdered sugar, but here you add that yourself. Having missed this opportunity my last 2 trips, I ate 3.

Within walking distance of our hotel, which was right on Bourbon Street in the French Quarter, you can go to the Pharmacy Museum. If you go, you must take the tour, which lasts about 45 minutes. This place is so cool.

 

Plus there are art galleries in this section of the French Quarter,  a required visit. The Antieau Gallery is one of the best. No photographs are allowed but this piece was hanging in the front window. The artist is Tom Haney and the puppet is in constant motion, driven electrically.

None of this covers the night life, which is full of music, food and drink. Frenchmen Street is where you will find a bar called  The Spotted Cat. Michael deMeng discovered it 3 years ago and it's definitely a favorite of locals. A couple bands will play in a night and I happened to be there for "The Royal Roses". Lead singer and clarinet player is Aurora Nealand and I just can't tell you how WOW this was. The most sensual jazz I have ever, ever heard. 

 In my next post I will highlight the two greatest moments of my trip and show you a bit of the workshop experience with Michael deMeng. That was the real reason I was there, lest we forget.