Abita Beer. Brew Pub. Deliciousness.

Oh, yes.

You see, it is the weekend before my birthday.  Due to work circumstances, husby will be traveling on my special day, so he opted to take today (Friday) off and whisk me away to visit the Abita Brewery (which is located in the small - but lovely - town of Abita Springs).  We've been wanting to do this for a while (okay, since we moved to New Orleans at the beginning of November 2012) and we also decided to try the Abita Brew Pub for lunch.  We had to drive across the 24-mile Causeway which spans Lake Pontchartrain in order to get to (what is referred to locally) the North Shore.

The weather today was quite muggy, which created the feeling of being in a cloud... or as in MY overactive imagination, it looked like a scene out of Stephen King's short novella "The Mist".  If you haven't read it, you might want to.  Anyhow, I digress.  This is what it looked like while crossing:

^^  It's like driving into the sky...  spooky!!  ;0))

Please ignore the EU safety sticker on the window.  It's been there since we bought our car in Germany three years ago.  I'm not really sure why the husby hasn't removed it yet...

First stop???  Lunch.  Yes, lunch.  The atmosphere at the Abita Brew Pub was really laid back - and they even had beer tap handles from all over the world as decoration.  Both of us had a good chuckle when we saw a Bitburger tap - which is one of the most popular pilsner in Germany.  I had the fried oysters and husby decided on the gumbo, made with locally-made Andouille sausage and chicken.  We also both had pints of SOS (Save Our Shores) beer.  It's a high gravity brew and it's very smooth and sweet.  Delicious!!  

^^  It's the brew pub!!  

^^  They had outdoor seating also (for al fresco dining), however it was a too hot and muggy to eat on the patio.  We opted for the air-conditioned comfort (icy cold inside)... but, I'd like to come here sometime in the fall when the weather cools down.  

^^  The pub features different daily specials. 

^^  View from our table... this building used to be the brewery, until the business took off and the owners had to move to a far bigger location.

^^  The brewery is all about being green!!  :0))

After eating a delicious lunch, we decided to explore the downtown area before heading in for our beer tasting and brewery tour.  We visited the local museum and took a short walk down the Rail-Trail.  I plan on definitely exploring some of the shops and checking out the local bakery - it smelled divine as we walked by.  They also had some beautiful looking pastries on display...

 ^^  Introduction to the Rail-Trail...

 ^^  Map and statistics about the Rail-Trail concept...

 ^^  Head of the trail...

^^  Walking towards the Abita Springs Museum (free of charge to the public)...

 ^^  Lovely little museum... they had a really friendly staff.  

 ^^  Every Saturday afternoon (from 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM) the museum features an impromtu jam session with local musicians.  It's free to the public - to either play OR watch.  I'm definitely going to come back and check it out.  :0))

 ^^  The town of Abita Springs ALSO has their own "Piney Woods" Opry.  Although, I don't think that there is anyone under the age of 65 who either watches OR participates.  

^^  The fountain gracing the Abita Pavillion.  They have beer festivals here, also.

After wandering around, we finally headed over to the brewery.  They offer *free* tours AND *free* 12-ounce beer "samples".  Yes.  You did, indeed, read that correctly.  And, it's entirely self-serve.  Another plus is that people under the age of 21 are not allowed to attend.  So, for any of my friends who are Child-Free, Child-Less, or Empty Nesters, this is a great place to come and visit.  The town is quaint, the people are very friendly, and there is a great gift shop with some very funky art (for sale right beside the tees, coasters, hats, coozies, and glassware).  

 ^^  Outside the brewery, before going into the courtyard.  The placard even reads that people under the age of 21 are not allowed to enter.  I'd certainly be happy if more restaurants and pubs would stop allowing children entirely.  After all, that's what (Up) Chuck E Cheese is for, yes???  ;0))

 ^^  Fountain and greenery in the beer garden.  It was HAWT out!!  

 ^^  Feast your peepers on this bomb-diggity SELF-SERVE beer bar!!  ::swoon::  I really wish that I could have one of these in my house.  Le sigh.  A girl can dream, can't she???

 ^^  Gift shop area... also, please note that they do NOT take cash OR credit cards.  So, if you think that you'd like to buy something, you may want to ensure that you have your plastic money with you.

^^  Very surreal Purple Haze painting (one of my favorites besides Turbo Dog)...  I wouldn't mind owning this!!  ;0P

^^  I picked up this magnet for my car...  Abita Brewery is donating all proceeds from their SOS line (beer included) to agencies cleaning up the BP oil spill.  Some also goes to the wild life refuge and zoo.

^^  Braved the 24-mile long bridge and we're almost in Metairie!!

And, since we were in Metairie, we decided to swing by one of our favorite comic book stores (yes, I am letting my inner geek out for a bit) and browse around.  Well, the husby didn't find anything that he wanted... but there were a couple of things that I found.  A hardback compilation of Neil Gaiman's "The Sandman" AND a graphic novel of "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" originally penned by Stieg Larsson - but the comic book style adaptation was created by Denise Mina, Leonardo Manco, and Andrea Mutti (published by Vertigo).  And so I snatched up the latter of the two.

All-in-all, it's been a great day - and a wonderful start to my weekend.  Tomorrow, the plan is to grab some lunch in the French Quarter (the venue has yet to be decided... but I'm really thinking about Napoleon House or Coop's) and then we'll head off to the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas.  I have a hot (cool??) date with some penguins - as we've picked up tickets for the "Backstage Penguin Pass".  I will get to touch the penguins, hold them, feed them, and after that is all done, *your* bird-buddy gets some non-toxic paint to waddle around in - and voila!!  Penguin artwork!!  No two are the same... hahahahaha!!  

Well, I'm signing off for now... I hope everyone has a fan-fucking-tabulous weekend!!!

x0x0

Running of the Bulls. AKA SFNO2013.

7th Annual San Fermin in Nueva Orleans

This happened Saturday...

^^  14,000 people and counting.

^^  The running route (red) and meet-up point (yellow)...

All my derby girls from TCK showed up on Friday night.  Total hen-fest, gabbing, catching up, comparing outfits, discussing stockings and socks and pub-crawls... oh, my!!  Husby thought it was quite awesome to be the only guy in the house and opted to stay home and smoke a brisket for the post-Bull-Run-dinner.  We finally all got settled in and in bed around 2:00 AM (3:00 AM for me - I was excited and my insomnia kicked in).  

Alarm clocks started going off around 4:30 AM.  Too early!!  Spicy-ass Bloody Mary cocktails were mixed and we were all imbibing by 5:15 AM.  Since the ferry hasn't been running regularly, we called for a taxi and headed over to the Sugar Mill.  The taxi ride was about $20 for the five of us - so definitely affordable at $4/each + the tip.  We all had VIP access, which included a free open bar (Sangria, screwdrivers, gin-and-tonic, Hurricanes, and Bloody Mary cocktails were just some of the drinks provided) and all the food was catered by Rouses Market (mini Muffulettas, roast beef, ham, and turkey wraps, fruit trays, cheese trays, petit fours, and mini fruit tarts)...  delicious. 

 ^^  Dark delicious Sangria and a wickedly strong Bloody Mary.  Breakfast of Champions!!

We had a group of men dressed like Elvis Presley in our area (if there is more than one, are we supposed to refer to them as "Elvii"???) and two of my girls posed with them:

^^  Knotta Cupcake, who was a skating bull - posing in all her derby glory with the sneery impersonators...

^^  Breasaurus, who was one of the runners - showing off her Elvii love with some cheezy gangsta moves...

We even had representatives from the Westboro Baptist Roller Derby League (WBRDL)... they mock and wave around crazy signs which are all in reference to WFTDA rules (essentially the roller derby "bible") and act all sanctimonious.  I joined on general principle... as an atheist, I thought this was really fucking funny and quite brilliant, actually (along the lines of True Blood's "God Hates Fangs")...

^^  Protest, protest, protest!!!  

^^  Quad loves us!!!  

There were so many people there - and everyone had something funky going on.  Here are just a few random shots from the event:

^^  Almost-naked Blue Bull runner...  he was looking all cray-cray.

^^  Even though we greased Dr Krak up with the thickest, most viscous sunburn lotion ever (seriously, it was like zinc), she still got burnt.  Her temporary prison tattoo (of the bull) might not be so temporary...  oops.

^^  A mock Cardinal getting his ring kissed by our own Angst Muffin...

After the Bull run was over, we headed over to a local bar which had it's own in-ground pool out back. It was pretty fucking awesome.  We hung there for about 2 hours (and drank more copious amounts of booze) and after that, we taxied on home to The Point.  Everyone crashed for a couple of hours for a nap, and at 7:00 PM some of our friends who didn't attend the SFNO2013 festival popped over for beer, wine, cocktails, and dinner.  Husby had everything ready for us... a smoked beef brisket, German potato salad, various styles of chips, bread and butter, and a Southern Comfort pound cake.

Then... we hit up Bourbon Street and the French Quarter.  Round two.  Everyone survived.  I have no pictures of this because my phone had totally croaked by this time.  Knotta Cupcake's phone got fried in the sun (literally - all it had was a green screen and it made chirpy noises out of the blue), Breasaurus' camera didn't shut off right and ran down the batteries, Angst left her phone at home, and I have no clue if Dr Krak took any shots while we were in the Quarter.  All I have to say is this... it's probably best if there WERE no pictures taken that night.  As it is, I don't think that any one of us would pass scrutiny for public office.  

If you get a chance, you ought to come next year.  This is a fantastic event, which is FULLY adult-oriented (for any of you child-free, child-less, or empty-nesters reading this) - children are not permitted into the VIP sections, strollers are not permitted along the running route, and IF someone does take their child, they MUST be supervised by their legal guardian at ALL TIMES.  It's a bit pricey, but well worth it - and it happens during the low tourism season here in New Orleans.  Which means that flights are really cheap, hotels have great deals, restaurants and attractions are not crowded at all.  Viva Nueva Orleans San Fermin!!!  :0))

x0x0

Jam-Packed-July.

Unlike June, the month of July is bound to be busy-busy-busy.  It's not just my birthday month (I still cannot believe that I am going to be a whopping 38 years old) - but it's a New Orleans Festival kind of month.  Although the weather will feel like we are out frolicking in the middle of a fiery hell, the booze is sure to be icy cold and company is guaranteed to be utterly fabulous.  :0))

Coming up in a mere four days (July 13th - to be exact) - is the 7th Annual San Fermin in Nueva Orleans (Running of the Bulls).  Roller derby girls dress in black and red while wearing Viking horns on their heads (to emulate the bulls), while men (mostly) dressed in all white with red sashes RUN to get away from the bulls.  Oh, and the bulls are armed with wiffle-ball bats - where they beat the poor runners with if they get caught.  The festivities start EARLY (NOLA-style) at 6:00 AM (looks like I'll be drinking my breakfast... hahaha) and end around 1:00 PM.  Everyone will be returning to my house for a siesta, and then at 7:00 PM, the party will re-start at my domicile.  There will be lots of beer and lots of wine and lots of good friends.  Excitement!!  I love to throw a good party (people usually joke that they couldn't run for public office after attending one of my soirees) and the company will be excellent.

^^  San Fermin in Nueva Orleans 2012

**Picture courtesy of www.nolabulls.com

 ^^  My tee-shirt that I received with my VIP Package

^^  My kerchief, VIP Bracelet (AKA "Booze Permit"), and Beer Number

One of the most awesome things about The Running of the Bulls is that there are NO children allowed in the VIP tent (because of the copious amounts of alcoholic beverages) and strollers are prohibited along the skating/running route.  Any and all children under the age of ten MUST be accompanied by their parent or legal guardian (which certainly narrows things down when baby carriages are not allowed).  Once again, New Orleans is catering to those without children - probably one of the last cities in the United States to do so.  ::double-fist-pump::

Another great thing that will be happening in the Point over the same weekend as the Bull Run, is the re-opening of our local library.  It's been under construction for about 10 months (it was closed when we moved here and that was in mid-October).  It's literally only a few blocks away from our house - which is great - because we won't have to go all the way to the Algiers Library (which is about a 15-minute ride down the Parkway).  

^^  Who doesn't love a local library???

The next weekend AFTER the Running of the Bulls and the re-opening of the Hubbell Library, there is the up-and-coming Tales of the Cocktail starting on July 17th and running through the 21st.  Here is a brief description:

"The five-day event, from July 17-21, will feature a series of seminars, mixing competitions, "spirited" luncheons and dinners, complimentary events and invitation-only events. Popular and up-and-coming liquor brands will be showcasing their latest products in tasting rooms. And, as always, there will be "Spirited Awards" given out in sixteen different categories, including "American Bartender of the Year," "Best American Cocktail Bar," "World's Best Cocktail Menu" and more. The top four nominees for each category will be announced on June 7, 2013 on www.TalesoftheCocktail.com."

Depending on my liver recovery from the weekend of the 13th, I may or may not make it to any of the festivities offered by Tales of the Cocktail.  I'll probably need to save my liver strength for my birthday... 

Which we will be celebrating a few days early (the husby has to go on a TDY - Tour of Duty - for a month at the beginning of August).  So, he won't be "technically" missing my birthday, but he'll be busy arranging and packing things, so we're planning the festivities a couple days early.  I'm so stupidly excited because we are going to the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas for the extra-special PENGUIN EXPERIENCE.  I have been looking forward to this since we purchased our membership back in February!!

^^  Oh, Mr Penguin... how I love thee!!

And here is my most favorite video of a baby penguin named "Cookie".  I can't play the video very often (with sound) because it drives poor Choggie absolutely apeshit crazy (and she starts looking behind EVERYTHING trying to find the source of the noise).  And although "Cookie" is currently living at the Cincinnati Zoo, we have just had three new penguins born here in New Orleans.  I certainly hope that they are available to at least see (even if we can't touch and hold them).

After the Aquarium, I anticipate going out to eat somewhere... but the "where" has yet to be determined.  I always lean towards my tried-and-true Cajun-Creole happy place, K-Paul's, but I'm also looking at some other places where we haven't tried yet.  Quite honestly, I'm in the mood for an awesomely dirty-deluxe burger from The Company Burger - but since I can go there pretty much any old time, I probably won't choose to go there for my birthday.  

So, it's looking like my July is going to turn out FAR BETTER than the previous month.  Things have been just so depressingly crazy - it's about time I have something positive to look forward to!!

Happy-happy-happy!!

x0x0

Musical Wednesdays. Our First Time is Coming Up!!

Details, details, DETAILS!!!

Husby and I usually pick up our local independent paper - The Gambit - and besides the off-beat articles, they have a listing of all the different things to do (usually in each individual neighborhoods).  So, we were amazingly happy to see that Algiers Point will be holding a free concert every Wednesday night until July 17th.  They do request that patrons do NOT bring their own coolers/drinks - as they sell water, soft drinks, beer, and mixed drinks - and those proceeds go to keep the concerts free.  Since I'm planning on having a Hurricane, I'll just treat myself to one once I get down to the concert/mini-festival... I'm sure there will be some food vendors, too...

Which means... we'll be able to walk to the levee with our folding bag chairs, meet some friends, and hang out for an evening.  :0))

Drum roll, please...

Wednesday, June 5th, 2013

@ Algiers Ferry Dock

200 Morgan Street

6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Free Admission

Presenting:

Bag of Donuts 

Band Info

^^  Bag of Donuts (stage make-up free!!)

**Photo courtesy of the Bag of Donuts Facebook Page**

********************

Algiers Brass Band

Production Info

Band Info

^^  Second Line 

**Photo courtesy of the Algiers Brass Band**

^^  Artist portrayal of the Algiers Brass Band

**Credit for photo will be given as soon as I find out who the artist is.  Otherwise, this image is supplied by Google**

********************

I'm going to Instagram it up - and I think that husby might be taking his Canon (which takes way better shots than my iPhone 4S - but my phone isn't too shabby!!) and I'll be sure to get some good pics of the shows AND the crowds.  New Orleans people love to dance and shake their money-maker (after they've had a libation or two) and don't mind posing for pictures.

I'm seriously looking forward to a mid-week night out!!  :0))

x0x0

Memorial Day Weekend. Crawfish Saturday.

Memorial Day Weekend???

Started with a bang.  BOIL time!!

There is NOTHING better than a boil, great company, and plenty o' booze.  I actually find myself feeling bad for those who think a "party" consists of high-end cupcakes, some sort of fizzy drinks (non-alcoholic, of course), and worrying about how everything looks.  How does one do it??  To me, that would be the second circle of hell - I'd rather deal with crazy drunks rather than the Joneses.  True story.

Let's start off with Friday night.

So.  Went to Perino's last night (I had such a hard-on for some properly fried oysters).  We sat in the bar area (which also has electronic gaming machines - so no one under the age of 18 was allowed - SCORE!!) and ordered our deviously delicious seafood.

I had a basket of sweet fried oysters and curly fries.  Husby had the fried shrimp (which are JUMBO) and he drank a couple of Abitas.  Needless to say, I drove home.  ;0))  Perino's is THE place to eat fresh Louisiana seafood.  It's not fancy (not by any means), but the beer is frosty and cold, the menu is simple, and the food comes to you hot and fresh.  One of our very good friends introduced us to this very local restaurant, and I won't eat oysters anywhere else.  The decor is awesomely tacky, though...

^^  An alligator sucking down a beer??  WINNING!!

^^  Cheezy mural outside Perino's...  the crab isn't really looking boiled.

But the gator has a beer and is wearing "over-hauls".  <3

After dinner, we stopped at Barnes and Noble (again) on the way home - I had just found out that the new Joe Hill book was out (I've given up waiting for the trade paperback/regular paperback versions - I'm rough on my books and I love to have them forever), so I picked that up and found a book which was a collection of short stories/novellas by some of the best horror writers in the genre.  So, I started reading that today (Sunday - as I'm a bit behind).  :0))

So... on Saturday, the neighbors were having a crawfish boil.  Oh, yes.  I picked up a Bananas Foster Cake (banana cake with rum custard - if I were religious??  I would've had an epiphany!!) and some Mike's Hard Cherry Lemonade from Rouses Market (which is one of my favorite local stores here in NOLA)... and bestowed my friends with the gifts.  I also drank some Abita beer, white wine, and a lovely mixed (girly) cocktail.  Delish!!

 ^^  It was 10* cooler under the overpass.  I was glad to get some shade!!

^^  Looking down a side-street on the way to my house...  I love how I can see the city (even when it is beyond the levees AND across the Mighty Mississippi)...  shots like this make me appreciate living in New Orleans.  The difference between a "big city" and a "little neighborhood" are obvious, but not unreachable.  This city is FANTASTIC.

^^  Live crawfish.  Waiting to be boiled.  And, yes.  That is a boat paddle in the upper right-hand corner of the picture.  Certainly necessary for getting every last live crawfish into the boiling pot.

^^  It takes 30 minutes to boil the crawfish, potatoes, onions, mushrooms, garlic, and corn (along with cayenne and other Cajun spices) on a 80,000 BTU gas burner.  Sounds like the space shuttle taking off, it's so loud.  And when everything is done, it's spread out on a large table and everyone eats what they want - it's a communal experience.  We were really lucky - we had some out-of-country visitors (a married couple from Brittany, France - and an Irish woman on a short stay from Dublin).  It was very cool to teach them how to eat the crawfish and they really enjoyed the whole experience.  

^^  After dinner, L. (who works for the New Orleans Saints), took out her ring that she received when the Saints won the Superbowl.  It's from Tiffany's - and it is HUGE.  Weighs over 2 ounces with all the  gold, diamonds, and onyx... and it is heavy.  

^^  Here I am, wearing the ring (to give you some perspective, my solitaire is 1.2 carats - and the Superbowl ring makes it look minuscule)... I can honestly say that I don't think I've ever worn a piece of jewelry that is so very expensive...  

^^  View from the front porch after the boil.  Everyone is keeping their lights off, because right now - the termites are swarming.  Yes, you *did* read that correctly.  However, it was a really balmy night and the wind coming off the Mississippi River was lovely.  So, we braved the swarms.  ;0))

I didn't get home until well after midnight and managed to sleep until 8:00 AM.  Woke up, showered, dressed, popped some Tylenol, and headed to another friend's house because I was on doggy-sitting duty for her four pups.  Hung out there for about an hour and a half, ran the dogs until they were tired, watered and fed them, and headed home.  Where I promptly fell asleep on the couch while reading one of my new books (no, the book wasn't boring or badly written - I was just wickedly tired).  I managed to snap some pictures of the pup-dogs, though...  they were so happy to see me and so very cute!!

 ^^  Petey (the ugliest-pug-in-the-world) is wrestling with Clementine... the hairiest dog in the house.

^^  Petey's profile.  He has a massive under bite and the worst breath.  ;0))

I didn't get pictures of Sophie and Bootsy... as Sophie had jammed herself under an end table and Bootsy moves TOO fast for me to get a decent picture of her.  Maybe I'll be able to get a photo in the morning (when I head over to the Grotto to water, feed, and wee everyone).  

Speaking of tomorrow, I don't think we're planning on doing much.  I borrowed the Lord of the Rings trilogy from my friend, K. - so I'm thinking it's going to be a pretty laid-back day.  I'm thinking that we'll probably do some upscale bar-food (spicy buffalo wings, home-made pizza with a ton of roasted veggies, and some jalapenos stuffed with cream cheese, wrapped in bacon, and broiled) and we'll probably graze for most of the day.  Besides, it's supposed to be hot and humid here again, and I think it'll just be in our best interest to take it easy.

Because... come Tuesday, I'll be back at the gym for my 3+ miles on the treadmill and then off to the pool afterwards to hopefully start a tan of sorts and swim some laps.  I love, love, love to swim!!  

I hope everyone had a wonderful, relaxing, fun, happy, awesome weekend... because we most certainly did (and are technically still working on it).

x0x0