Originally posted sometime after Halloween, 2013 on Tumblr
It has been about four weeks since I was in New Orleans visiting my friend Jeremy. Being back and forth between LA and Newport, partying, and excessive procrastination I am just now sitting down to discuss my visit.
A recollection can be more rosy eyed than an immediate response and probably slightly more vague and idealistic. Well, we shall se how this turns out…
I arrived mid afternoon, expecting a hot, muggy day, even at the end of October. It is the south and my west coast upbringing have me expecting nothing less than walking into a steam room. Sporting a Hawaiian shirt and shorts I am quickly disappointed at the weather and appoint the hair on my arms and legs to stand guard at attention. It was quite cold as I recall, even for a recent inhabitant of the Pacific Northwest.
There is a party that night; after acquiring booze and getting a roadside daiquiri, things are looking up. I am excited to meet Jeremy’s flatmates and co. Most of the lot seems pretty liberal, and by that I mean “I will be a post-feminist in the post-patriarchy, female hair appreciating, Obama is too far right” liberal. I kept my mind open though, I am not one to butt heads with radical thinkers, although I may have slipped out a few comments.
That night I borrowed Jeremy’s trumpet playing roommates Jets shirt, he is from New York, so I could sport the Tebow look. I allegedly have an uncanny resemblance to him according to people from all over the states (minus my minute stature in comparison).
Before the party we went to Dat Dog. A NOLA take on the hot dog stand, tons of wild fixins and meat choices. It was heavenly and very filling. Hit the party for a night of mostly pong. There was a cute girl dressed as a mummy (pretty minimally wrapped too!) who I would become to know as Julia.
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The next day we grabbed brunch and made our way to the Second Line (NOLA traditional Sunday parade). People marched and drank through the streets showing off their best or worst dance moves. This was one of the great experiences I have had traveling and must really be experienced first hand if you ever find yourself in NOLA. Our small group ran into Julia and her sister, I made sure to reintroduce myself and talk for a bit. Me and Jeremy split up, got lost, found out he was gonna be an uncle and made our way to a Pizza place called Midway Pizza. Hoping we would get hooked up by my Aunt’s ex-boyfriend (he’s the owner), but he wasn’t there. Luckily it was tasty. My buddy got sick this night, kinda put the kibosh on partying.
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Tuesday rolled around. Streetlight Manifesto was playing that night and I was ready to skank the night away. Jeremy had work so I went and explored by foot. I had initially planned on borrowing Julia’s bike but she had a busted tire. That night we went to Willie Mae’s Fried Chicken which I can only describe as a heavenly heart attack. So fried, so tender, the perfect fried chicken.
The concert was amazing, as Streetlight always is.
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Last day arrived, I had a few goals to achieve left. Gumbo, check, Muffuletta, check, Po’ Boy #2, check. In the morning Jeremy and I went to the zoo and checked out all the animals whilst drunk and sporting our costumes. I came dressed as a doctor in scrubs, Jeremy as toothpaste. After a few weird looks, pictures with strangers, and a little living with nature we headed out. It was halloween that night and shit was about to get real.
We hit bourbon street and frenchmen St. which are the two liveliest night time streets, even more so than NYC, at least it felt that way. Live bands playing everywhere, thousands of costumed people from young to old (ridiculously old for how they were cutting loose) and of course, a parade! We joined in, dancing, drinking more, and enjoying the view. We stopped in numerous bars that I couldn’t begin to try and name. The night blurred and we made our way home. Luckily we had a sober driver that night, so we didn’t need to blow money on a cab, phew.
The next day was rough, but I made it on my flight and back to Orange County I went.