New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, April 24

We were on the scene for the first day of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (April 24). The festival runs for two consecutive weekends each year. This year it was April 24,24, 26 and April 30, May 1,2,3. You can see the whole festival line-up here:
http://www.nojazzfest.com/

music fans making their way to the fairgrounds, site of the festival

Tab Benoit Band in the Blues Tent

Joe Cocker's sax player

We couldn't get close enough to the stage for a decent picture, but the music was great

The crowds: mellow for the most part

Austin Texas Indie group: Spoon

Spoon lead singer Britt Daniel

Tommy McLain performing at the Fais Do-Do Stage

Many local crafts were on display

Wynton Marsalis with Yacub Addy & Odadaa!

Custom Iron work

Drive-By Truckers with Booker T.

Dancers at the Fais Do-Do Stage, which featured Cajun and Zydeco music

Those Cajuns love to party!

Hadley Castille Family & the Sharecroppers Cajun Band

The amazing Louisiana Fiddler, 18 year old Amanda Shaw and her band, The Cute Guys.

Go to her site, scroll down to the bottom, and watch the video:

http://www.amandashaw.com/

Amanda solo

Costumes from the Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club

See more here:

http://www.mardigrasneworleans.com/zulu/photos/displayimage.php?album=13&pos=4

We had lots to eat

Pheasant, quail and andouille gumbo from Prejean's

eggplant with crawfish sauce
booths in the food area

Crawfish Monica

Cochon de lait Po-Boy from Love at First Bite

Props for "ritual celebrations" in Louisiana

New Orleans Night Crawlers Brass Band

Folk Art

Semolian Warriors Mardi Gras Indians parade

Arts & Crafts

Como Now, gospel Group

The Big Easy: April 22

We were excited to approach New Orleans across the bayous and the eastern reaches of Lake Pontchartrain. We eventually dropped down off I-10 and entered the French Quarter along Decatur St. to arrive at our hotel, the New Orleans Marriott on Canal St.

We had a comfortable corner room on the 33rd floor with great views up and down the river, and a view of Harrah's Casino on the up-river side. Here are some views, both day and night:

Once we were settled, we struck off for a stroll through the French Quarter to take in the sights and sounds. The architecture is striking as a background canvas for the clash of the refined and the tawdry. Very interesting!

Plaza behind Jackson Square

St. Louis Cathedral, at the back of Jackson Square

Char-grilled Oysters at the Acme Oyster House

Seafood gumbo at the Acme Oyster House.

Cafe au lait and beignets at the Cafe du Monde

The perfect finish to our first day in NOLA

Next morning, we hopped on the St. Charles Avenue streetcar up into the Garden District. We eventually went all the way to the end of the line and back, but first we disembarked at Napoleon Ave. and walked down to Magazine St. to look at some of the shops, and to have lunch at the famous Casamento's which is noted for its oysters and other seafood delicacies.

Here are some views of the Garden District and Magazine St.:

Signs of wildlife: beads from earlier celebrations are evident in the trees and on the phone and power lines, especially in the French Quarter


promotional sign at a cobbler shop


window display on Magazine St.

Casamento's facade

Peg tried soft shelled crab for the first time, and really liked it!
Our shucker was happy, and the oysters were fresh, juicy and briny.

Magazine St. scene

Along St. Charles

library on St. Charles

Ticket kiosk on the St. Charles line

Loyola University campus, Uptown

Hot cars and a buzz at Lucy's bar in the Warehouse district

Thursday night, we had a table at the famous Cochon http://www.cochonrestaurant.com/

For starters, Peg had the paneed pork cheeks with goat cheese arugula & beet rösti, while Kevin chose the fried alligator with chili garlic aioli.

Peg then had the smoked beef brisket with horseradish potato salad. Having never seen an oyster he didn't like, Kevin opted for the oyster & bacon sandwich.

We capped off a wonderful meal by sharing pineapple upside down cake with coconut-lime sorbet & dulce de leche.

We made it an early night, as the next day we would be taking in the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival!