On the very last weekend of January, Mimi and I went to the last place on earth that most people would go. When the gulf states got clobbered with 11 inches of snow the week prior to that weekend our reservations at the hotel and restaurant had been made. We headed south in caravan fashion with an old friend and his gal who is also an old friend from way back in college and high school. I love it when life circle backs and old friendships are rekindled, or in this case revisited, it was like we had been in touch all these years. They are a fun couple that likes to eat some good food and appreciate the things that New Orleans has to offer.
Our plan was to meet with my brother, Chip, and his wife, Susan Spicer, for dinner that night. We couldn’t get a solid report on the road conditions headed into New Orleans. The reports we were getting from Chip and others that were inside the city was that no one really knew how the roads would be entering the city. He felt like most of the snow was melting around town in the sunnier spots. Chip said they weren’t able to scrape
the ice off the roads with machinery because they have a similar pot hole situation as ours, it would have messed up the streets even worse so they decided to let it melt over time. The temps were headed upward so it should go pretty fast. On the way down, as we got further south beyond Hammond, we could still see remnants of patches of snow in the shadows and as we closed in on the city the snow was mainly hung up along the
sides of the bridges but all was clear as we entered the city. We had decided to blow it out and stay at The Roosevelt Hotel. I knew my buddy knew his way around most cities and knows the best places to stay since he travels for a living. What I didn’t know is that he is on a first name basis with every person that works there, some for 45 years. I mean from the first person we saw at valet parking to the front desk person to the baristas and bar tenders. He knew the ladies that were putting the final touches on our rooms when we got up there. I had to ask him what the deal was with that. That’s when he disclosed that there is one person on the planet who has stayed at The Roosevelt more times than my buddy and he intended to catch him this year and become the person who has stayed there the most. Lofty goals!
He had apparently made a great impression on the folks that make his stay as great as it can be because they seemed to love him and were so nice to all of us, we were in very good hands. We settled in to our super nice rooms, trying not to munch on the goodies in the mini bar and snack area. Apparently the tempting snacks are set up on some sort of scales that can detect their absence and auto charge your credit card if you even look at the stuff. I was scared to even think about it. The charges were exorbitant for the little treats. We decided to head down to the streets towards one of our favorite lunch spots, Cochon. They cure and serve meats done in all kinds of ways, mainly the kinds of ways that we love like pork shoulder and turnip greens or brisket with grits, you get the picture. The place was packed so I had a few minutes to walk around and see how the plants took the sudden snow covering. I saw Sago palms that were probably going to turn gold before coming out of it and growing fresh green fronds this May. Some of the tropical plants that are used around New Orleans in their planters looked like they had a row to hoe before they would be looking good again. It is so tropical down there that it warmed up again so fast that I doubt anything was too seriously damaged by the insulating snow covering, they may have never known what hit them.
We got a table and sat down to the belly warming food that they are famous for. I also like to go there because Cochon is one of the many restaurants that Susan played a part in getting on their feet. The other reason I like to go there is it is one of the many restaurants that Chip's company, Monkey Wid A Fez, made all the furniture for including the hostesses table, the bar, all the tables and all the chairs. Chip and his Monkeys will take an order from a restaurant anywhere between Austin and New York, build the furniture that fits the style, load it up in the biggest U-Haul they can find then deliver and set up the furniture wherever the restaurant is. I’ve heard stories about them delivering to New York several times, I mainly hear about those delivering adventures return trip. After the months of blistering work getting everything perfect and loading and unloading the furniture the party starts to celebrate the end of one and the beginning of the next one, wherever that may be. Chip also makes one of a kind custom pieces for people far and wide. You should check out his facebook page, Monkey Wid A Fez, it’s really wild what he can do.
When we had sufficiently stuffed ourselves with a wonderful lunch we decided to take a walk. We bumped right into the casino. Mimi and I have not been in many casinos but we decided to march on in and throw a little money at a machine. Just as I was about to lose my $60, I hit a roulette number that paid me my $60 back plus $14 extra. That is my cue to stop, cash in, and walk out happy. I think the others came out about the same. It’s fun to go somewhere different and do something different. We walked around and reminisced about the places we’ve been and the places we have yet to visit. We knew we were going to meet Chip and Susan at a restaurant that Susan had picked and then out to a jazz bar. The whole city seemed a- buzz having just gotten over the crazy snow days that the south is famous for, only this one with a Cajun flair. The chit chat was all about that and the upcoming Super Bowl and the traffic snarls it would bring. We had a great meal and a great time catching up with each other.
My buddy is also a friend of Chip's and Susan’s and has eaten at every restaurant that Chip has cooked for and every one that Susan has been a part of. We spent a long time tasting everything the chef had to offer. My buddy's gal is a wine rep and sommelier so we had a pro on that end as well. The table was jumbled up with food and glasses and bottles and a noisy crew having a blast. When we were finished, we walked a short distance to a bar in the Ritz Carlton where Davenport was playing some great jazz music in a place that felt like we had walked into 1940. Susan had reserved a corner with couches and comfy chars to be together and to watch the happening crowd. I was wishing I knew how to dance like that or even to have the guts to try. We called it a night from there, a short walk to the hotel and a sack out.
The next morning, we moved slowly enough to enjoy the beautiful rooms and a great breakfast before we called for our car. We said goodbye to the friendly staff and our friends as we headed even farther to Lafayette to visit a long lost friend. One of Mimi’s best friends moved from here to Lafayette to be closer to her family. We were eager to see her new place. She loves to garden and told us she had found a great place to buy that had a lot of gardening potential. It was truly a great place and who ever lived there before had done an incredible job with the landscape with lots of potential for more. I’m always so surprised at the plants that are used as if we were on the beach. They got the same 11 inches of snow that New Orleans had received so I saw some minor damage but most everything looked like time would heal the little burn that I saw. We spent the night there and was introduced to some great Cajun food and caught up until we couldn’t keep our eyes open. The next morning, we shagged out of there for a 4-hour really nice ride home. We had a chance to chat about our upcoming days and about what a great time we had getting away on such an easy trip. It is nice when you find someone that you enjoy traveling with. Our friends were on the same page as us as far as what constitutes a good time, kind of on the same time line.
We got home refreshed and ready to settle in to springtime on it’s way. We probably won’t step out again until deep in June when the season begins to slow down a bit. We will sneak out to Greenville, South Carolina at Easter to see our daughter, Mia. We just got word that she is now engaged to Cody, who is from Philly. Mia and Cody will get married in Greenville where they met. That will be a perfect halfway point for his family and our family to meet at Easter and to have the wedding.
We are so excited for them, they are just a great and fun match made in Heaven. Cody asked me and Mimi for Mia’s hand when he came here for Christmas so we knew it was brewing, we just didn’t know when or where or how. Now we know more as they are on the planning and getting it done. These two are perfect for each other and we love seeing their happiness. Two weddings in two years! Thats a lot of excitement, the kind we love. Until next week, lets keep wishing this winter away or at least we can wish ice away from the Northside.