Shreveport-ed.

This weekend I made a quick trip up to Shreveport to visit with friends - and to participate as an NSO (Non-Skating-Official) for this weekend's bout with my first (and favorite!!) flat-track roller derby team... the Twin City Knockers.  I was up, showered, and eating breakfast by 6:00 AM on Saturday morning, packed the car,  filled the gas tank, and left New Orleans by 7:30 AM.  It's a 5-hour trek (roughly 350 miles) from NOLA to Shreveport - along roads that have NOTHING (and I mean NOTHING) to look at... even the gas stations are few and far between.  However, I *am* a glutton for punishment AND I really enjoy a solitary road trip... it's awesome to take the top off the car, listen to whatever I want to, and just lose myself in thought.  Therapeutic, really.

One of the gas stations I stopped at (exit 87 in Alexandria, Louisiana) was really dodgy... I pulled in there around 10:00 in the morning and was a tad bit worried that I might get shanked while filling up the car.  Of course, I needed more than just a fill-up.  I had to use the public bathroom.  Oh.  My.  Gawd.  Besides the fact that it was a unisex bathroom (with a MASSIVELY TALL urinal for the menfolk to pee in and a pretty grubby commode), there was a condom machine mounted on the wall... and one of the items you could purchase for .75 (all quarters, please and thank you) was "Randy Goat Weed".  Touted as a male enhancement drug, I shudder to think of what type of ingredients were really in those miracle "pills".  And I also wonder just how many people have actually parted with their spare change and actually TRIED it.  The proof is in the pudding:

 ^^  Always quality restrooms to be found on I49 N - Exit 87 (Alexandria, LA)

 ^^  This is what .75 cents in a trashy public restroom buys you...

So, after a mood-altering visit to the bad bathroom over in Shanksville, I headed back up the road in order to make it to the House of Wheels and assist with the track set-up (and whatever else my team needed me to do).  Luckily, I had time for lunch (at a decent sandwich shop) before meeting all the other NSOs at 2:00 PM.  The bout was scheduled to start at 7:00 PM, with the doors opening at 6:00 PM so that spectators could get their drink on ($5.00 surcharge for coolers - no matter what the size!!)...

^^  Home of the Twin City Knockers - and one of my favorite places to be.  :0))

^^  Sexy socks and skates...

^^  And the final score... with the Knockers taking the win!!!  :0))

The after-party was at a new (old) bar that I hadn't been to before - Bear's on Fairfield.  They had some excellent drink specials and the bar staff was awesome.  Very attentive AND offered free shots (some kind of vodka mixed with pineapple???  That was what they smelled like) - also had no problem with the derby girls getting boisterous.  Oh, and they served decent bar food... the kitchen was open as long as the bartenders were still serving.  This, in and of itself, makes Bear's a winner in my book!!

^^  All lit up!!  (Literally)

**Photo courtesy of Bear's on Fairfield**

I didn't get any pictures of the inside... it was dim and a bit smoky (most bars in Louisiana still allow patrons to smoke) and I was too busy socializing to even think about taking pictures.  However, I *did* find these gems in the bathroom (I know, I know... what IS it about me, this trip, and bathrooms??!!??) - and being a big huge fan of "Stall Wall" poetry and doodles...  

 ^^  This gem graced the first stall in the ladies room...

^^  And this was in another stall.  I thought the repertoire was quite witty!!

After having some drinks at the bar, visiting with the team, meeting the opposing team (off the derby track), we called it a night and headed home to have some snacks and chill out.  Of course, my friend B. and I ended up gabbing until almost 2:30 AM - and then we both crashed.  

I set my alarm for 9:30 AM so that I could get a move on my day and meet some of my friends for lunch before heading back to New Orleans.  I'm not going to lie...  I was dead tired.  Ended up going to the Olive Garden and after a great lunch, I packed the car back up and headed home.

All in all, it was a fabulous weekend and I'm so glad I was able to catch up with everyone.  

Road Trip + Roller Derby + Good Friends + Food + Boozy Drinks = A Great Weekend

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Fab Fashionista (for Derby).

So.  Today (after I met up with L. at the gym, popped in to the commissary, put groceries away, and bathed my sweaty ass), I realized that my loyalty card to Fleurty Girl would be filled up today IF I bought two new tee shirts (you receive double-stamps on your loyalty card every Tuesday).  Which means, I could get a *free* shirt!!  Ooh, la la!!  Since I had to run out to the post office, I figured I'd just pop across the river and do a little shopping.  Imagine my surprise when I found TWO of the tees I wanted were marked down to $10 each... so, I ended up getting four shirts for the cost of less than two (full retail).  Score!!  I feel like ol' Charlie Sheen today...  WINNING!!

One of the reasons why I wanted to pick some new tees out is because on Saturday, I'm heading up to Shreveport.  I'll be score keeping for my favorite flat-track roller derby team...  the Twin City Knockers (also known as TCK).  I simply needed something funky to wear for that event.  Now my biggest problem is choosing EXACTLY which tee to wear for the bout (as I can't wear anything with the TCK logo on it)...  I might have to draw straws.

Here are my finds:

 ^^  In New Orleans, the medians are known as the "Neutral Ground".  

Apparently, this is a hold-over from when the French and Spanish had colonized southern Louisiana.  The area between the settlements was known as "The Neutral Ground".  

 ^^  City of New Orleans - Ordinance No. 3267 (March 10, 1857).  NOLA was a trashy whore back then, and she's a trashy whore now.  However, the houses of "ill repute" are now lovely bed & breakfasts gracing the Garden District and Uptown.  The only indication that they were brothels are the red gaslights lighting the doorways at night.

 ^^  The Sazerac is one of the most famous drinks in New Orleans.  You can still order one at many restaurants - however, the absinthe which is used in the drink has changed.  Spirits distilled with wormwood (which is what gives absinthe it's hallucinogenic properties) is illegal in the United States.

 ^^  Well, Boston wasn't acknowledged in this quote.  However, I simply think that the author overlooked the awesomeness.  He's dead, so I suppose I can forgive him for this transgression.  ;0))

^^  And just for shits and giggles... this was the line at the commissary today.  Now, you may feel inclined to ask me just how many registers were actually open today... and I'd have to tell you that there were TWO.  And one was the express lane (15 items or less) and they didn't have the self-checkout open, either (personally, I can't stand the self-checkout because I never seem to be able to place anything properly in the damned bags).  Anyhow, the retirees converge at 11:00 AM - note to self. 

So far, this has been the pinnacle of my exciting week.  I'm very excited to be heading to Shreveport early on Saturday morning to help set up the track at 1:00 - and then the bout happens at 7:00 PM (of course, the doors open earlier and it's a BYOB event - $5.00/cooler - no glass bottles).  It is going to be a blast!!  I'll post a whole bunch of pics when I get home on Sunday afternoon.  

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Out (and About).

For some strange reason, whenever I see the words "out" and "about", I always think of the Canadian pronunciation ("oot" and "a-boot").  Don't know why.  It's just an idiosyncrasy that I have (one of many, let me assure you).  Anyhow...

I ended up at the doctor's office this morning because my allergies were hellaciously bad.  There is nothing quite like a lovely large steroid injection in my right ass-cheek and ten days of oral steroids to start the week off right.  Goodbye, sanity.  Welcome 'roid rage.  Le sigh.  So, I didn't make it to the gym this morning.  Instead (after going to see my doc), I went and got my toes painted, picked up some Philosophy hydrating mist (oh dear Jeebus - my skin LOVES their entire line - and I just wanted to go cray-cray and buy it all), and then moseyed over to Best Buy and picked up a new Sims 3 expansion pack.  Later on, I'm going to run to Michael's to pick up some art supplies so that I can make some additional designs for my tee-shirt line.  I've got some really good ideas.  As to how they will translate on to paper??  Well, we'll see.

Now, I'm back home and I'm attempting to get some housework done.  I know - wicked shocker.  The house-elves are on strike and I'm having to do it all myself.  Fuckers.

 ^^  Purple toesies.

^^  The Philosophy awesomeness.

My life has not been hugely exciting lately.  I've been a good girl and I've been on the wagon (damned booze has a TON of calories in it) and eating healthier.  Well, except for yesterday.  Husby did the neanderthal knuckle-dragging grill-thing...  meat + fire = dinner.  And it was really, really good.  And it was even BETTER because I didn't have to make a plan, find the ingredients, and then execute a meal.  

Might be boring, but it's all mine and I'm pretty damned happy.

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Not just the Westbank. It's really the BESTBANK.

As most of you know, the mighty Mississippi curves around and through New Orleans.  Some sections of the city, such as the French Quarter, Irish Channel, Uptown, Marginy, and the Garden District are on the Eastbank (and, yes, it is indeed spelled as one word).  The area I live in (Algiers Point) happens to be on the Westbank.  You can get here two ways - via the Crescent City Connection (the much-bitched-about bridge) or the Canal Street Ferry can carry you AND your car for a mere $1.00 each way.  Of course, parking is a bitch on the other side of the river... and the meter maids are vicious.  VICIOUS, I say!!

Anyhow, people can be really weird when it comes to what area of the city you live in.  Some uppity-ass Eastbankers also like to call those of us on THIS side of the river "Wankers" (W(est)+Bank+ers).  Hell, my husband will say to me "Are you ready to go back to the Wank?"  So, to counter all the Eastbank negativity, I scored this AWESOME tee shirt yesterday at Fleurty Girl:

^^  New tee.

So take that, you weirdo Eastbankers.  I need to find out from some of our friends if there is a derogatory name for those on the OTHER side of the river.  Not that I'd use it or anything.  ;0))

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Voting. Comics. Stormtroopers. Pizza.

This morning we headed out to the Algiers Point courthouse in order to vote on whether or not the Crescent City Connection (the bridge from the Westbank to the Eastbank - connecting the city of NOLA) should have an additional 20 years of tolls.  We also voted on a new Juvenile Court Judge, but because we don't have children, I just picked the name I liked best.  Not very informed, but both of the people running were from the Democrat party, so it didn't really matter to me.  Had it been a Republican vs. Democrat... well, I *am* a liberal-godless-Yankee, so I would've gone with the blue ticket.  ;0))

Oh, and I voted "no" on the bridge tolls, too.  New Orleans has the only bridge on the entire Mississippi River that has a toll (just a little bit of trivia for you).

On our walk over to the courthouse, I came across this disabled Dollar General trolley trashed underneath a "No Parking" sign.  The ironic thing, is that there isn't a damned Dollar General within 15 miles of this location.  So... it's appearance is most definitely mysterious...

^^  Abandoned trolley...

We had to cross the bridge (the same bridge we just voted on) to get to Metairie, which is where one of the bigger comic book shops are.  Here are some pictures I snapped on the way there (don't worry - I wasn't driving!!)... 

 ^^  Crescent City Connection Bridge (CCCB)

^^  Super Dome!!  You know you're in the heart of New Orleans when you see this...

With today being May 4th and all (May The Forth Be With You), we headed out to a couple of our local comic book shops to get some goodies.  Husby is an Avengers and Fantastic Four fan, and I enjoy the cheezy-ass comics like SpongeBob SquarePants and the Smurfs.  And we have:

^^  Fine promotional literature...  

^^  My Score...  all free!!  :0))

 ^^  An Imperial Guard...  right on the parkway!!

^^  So exciting...  I got to meet a Storm Trooper!!  

The only thing more exciting would've been to see Darth Vader!!

After all our comical excitement, we headed back home so that we could walk the dog (who has some serious gas - it would probably be best to NOT light a match in my living room right now) and figure out what we wanted to do for lunch.  I had a craving for pizza, so we decided to go to Mo's Pizza in Westwego.  Yes, that is *really* the name of the town.  :0))  We ordered the large supreme (minus the olives) and the pie was the size of a large hubcap.  I managed to eat 2 slices (just the goodies - no crust) and we have enough to feed us for the rest of the weekend.  Guess that gets me out of cooking.  

While we were in Westwego, we found a Piggly Wiggly!!  My brother, sister, and I used to call it the "Hoggly-Woggly" (we thought we were being SOOOOO witty - someone slap me straight now!!)

^^  Proof positive!!  Look and weep, biotches!!

Unfortunately, we didn't stop in.  However, I think I'll find a reason to head back there soon (as if I *need* a reason to shop).  

On the way back home, I was lucky enough to see a plane skywriting over the French Quarter.  It was really cool to watch and it made me wonder as to what lucky person was the recipient of the (literal) love:

 ^^  Noticed on the way home from Westwego...

^^  Almost finished by the time we were in Algiers Point...

And now we're back home.  I'm heading over to the Casey Jones in a little bit... they have pork chops on sale (family packs - $1.00/pound) and I need some libations for tonight.  I'll be heading over to S. and L.'s house tonight for some front-porch fun.  Life is good.  Very, very good.

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The Short List.

New Orleans is a foodie paradise.  Oh, yes.  There are so many restaurants to choose from... we could dine out - once a week - for ten years - and never go to the same eatery twice.  So the husby and I threw together an impromptu "we-must-eat-there" list.  Some of the places on this list are instantly recognizable (not just because they are famous, but because the chef is well-known) and some others are relatively obscure.  No matter where we go, I'll be sure to write up a review (similar to my most recent post about Antoine's) and let you know all the dirty details.  :0))

So, here are some of the places we're eager to eat at (in no particular order):

^^  Galatoire's

(Photo courtesy of the Galatoire's website)

Galatoire's Restaurant

209 Bourbon Street

New Orleans  70130

(504) 525-2021
Located in the French Quarter

Yet another "Grand Dame" still in business here in NOLA.  The restaurant was first established right at the turn of the century - the nineteenth century, that is (1905).  Galatoire's is mentioned in the 1952 film of adaptation of Tennessee Williams' "A Streetcar Named Desire".  Apparently, Williams was quite a regular there, hence why he wrote about it.  During lunch, the restaurant is pretty relaxed about attire (no shorts, tee-shirts, or flip-flops) but during the evening, it's more formal.  Coat and tie are required for men, fussy dressy outfits for the women (which is why I want to come here for lunch - it's getting too hot to be trussed-up).  

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^^  The Bier Garden at SoBou

(Photo courtesy of the SoBou website)

^^  The Apothecary at SoBou

(Photo courtesy of the SoBou website)

SoBou

310 Rue Chartres

New Orleans  70130

(504) 522-4095
Located in the French Quarter

SoBou is a newcomer to the French Quarter.  The restaurant is owned by the Brennan family who are, essentially, restaurant Gods here in New Orleans.  One of their most famous restaurants, Commander's Palace, attracts foodies and celebrities alike.  The Brennans place a large emphesis on quality food, excellent service, atmosphere, and they are known for recruiting such famous chefs as Emeril Lagasse, Jamie Shannon (who is now deceased), and Paul Prudhomme.  The name of the restaurant is quite simple... it stands for South of Bourbon.  I cannot wait to try this one out.  

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^^  Piles of fresh seafood at John Besh's Luke

(Photo courtesy of the Luke website)

^^  Pate of Louisiana rabbit
(Photo courtesy of the Luke website)

Luke
333 St. Charles Avenue
New Orleans  70130
(504) 378-2840
Located in the Garden District

John Besh is known locally for his many restaurants.  He even has a steak house in the Harrah's Casino on Canal Street (the menu there also looks mouth-watering).  The food at Luke looks deliciously French and I must admit, it would be VERY hard for me to pick just ONE appetizer, ONE entree, and ONE dessert.  I'll have to really molest the menu before I even get ready to eat there.  That way, I can make up my mind beforehand and not frustrate the waiter.  :0))

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Royal House

441 Royal Street

New Orleans  70130

(504) 528-2601

Located in the French Quarter

Apologies for not having any pictures to post (they didn't have much on their website) - but this restaurant is really near the top of my list.  Every year, at French Quarter Fest, they char grill oysters in their shells.  Oh.  My.  Gawds.  So fucking good!!  They throw in some butter, black pepper, and parmesan cheese and then grill them in their own shells.  Royal House also gives a 10% discount to all locals AND will usually have coupons for a free appetizer (with the purchase of an entree).  I'm really looking forward to trying the actual brick-and-mortar restaurant instead of eating off of a food truck!!  

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^^  Arnaud's 

(Photo courtesy of Arnaud's website)

Arnaud's Restaurant

813 Rue Bienville

New Orleans  70112

(504) 524-5433

Located in the French Quarter

Arnaud's is also a French Quarter institution.  Founded in 1918, the restaurant has a reputation of being haunted by a man in a turn-of-the-century tuxedo.  The building has been around since the 1700's, and it was an opium den before it became an eatery.  There are a variety of menus - from an a la carte to a prix fixe menu with three courses for $40.oo per person (not including libations, of course!!).  They also offer a Sunday Jazz Brunch.  Personally, I'd probably never make it to the Jazz Brunch... only because I'm really not an early riser (although I'm trying to change that).  I'd love to come and eat here on Halloween or All Saints Day.  I imagine it would be a very interesting dinner!!

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With the exception of the Royal House, the rest of these restaurants are not exactly child-friendly.  For instance, John Besh offers a mixed seafood platter (lobster, mussels, shrimp) that will set you back $125.oo.  As with many fine-dining restaurants here in New Orleans, there are NO children's menus, high chairs, or booster seats.  Dinner (depending on the courses) can take upwards of 2.5 hours - so plan accordingly.  

I cannot wait to try all these restaurants!!  Stay tuned, because I will be writing about them all.  :0))  

Happy Eating!!!

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A Post Of Its Own: Antoine's.

An adventurous Saturday, indeed!!

We moseyed into the French Quarter today to take advantage of the three-course prix fixe menu offered for lunch at Antoine's.  The price for all three courses is $20.13 per person.  Also being offered was the .25-cent drink of the day... which just happened to be lemon-drop martinis (one of my personal favorites - mouth puckering sour lemonade and a lot of vodka).  Fuck the wine, we martini-ed it up!!  At the beginning of the meal, the waiter brought out two fresh (as in just-out-of-the-oven) mini-baguettes and freshly churned butter.  ::swoon::  It was so delicious.  I had to stop eating it so that I could save some room for the three plates to come!! 

For my first course, I had the Hot Shrimp Ravigote Au Gratin and the husby had the Ponchatoula Salad.  For my entree, I had the Ginger Currant Pork, which had a current-cranberry sauce with sweet and herby rice.  B. tried the Basil-Crusted Drum (a light flaky local fish) on a bed of corn, artichokes and tomatoes - both of our meals were perfectly prepared and delicious.  For dessert, I had the Pineapple Upside-Down Cake (which had a sweet rum glaze) and ordered a cafe au lait.  The cake itself was dense and moist and had freshly whipped cream on top.  Husby had the candied Peach Melba with home-made vanilla ice cream.  He skipped the coffee and decided to have another martini.  Fabulous New Orleans lunch!!

Antoine's happens to be one of the oldest restaurants in the Quarter.  It was originally opened by a Frenchman back in 1840 and is still owned and operated by the founding family heirs.  As a matter-of-fact, our waiter was proud to point out that he was the third generation in his family to work at the restaurant (he started when he was 15 and told us that this year he celebrated his 20-year anniversary working at Antoine's)... he even gave us a business card with his name on it so that we could request him again.  The restaurant itself has 16 different dining rooms and can hold a capacity of 1400 people at one time.  Some of the dining rooms are small and private, but there are also larger, banquet-style rooms available.  The decor is truly old New Orleans and the food is distinctly French (there are some Creole-style offerings on the menu, but for the most part it is classic French cuisine).

The service was impeccable - white linen - and the wait staff wear tuxedo-style "uniforms" (for lack of a better word) and patrons are expected to be a bit more formally dressed (no flip-flops or shorts or wife-beaters).  For evening dining, patrons are expected to wear a coat and tie and ladies to be dressed appropriately.  There are NO children's menus, nor are there high chairs OR booster seats offered.  I was pleased to see that there were NO children at all, everyone there appeared to be older than the age of 25.  Personally, I think it's worth every penny to dine at this type of restaurant.

 ^^  Antoine's is very distinctive - you can see the sign from a mile away...

 ^^  The main entrance...

 ^^  One of the large dining rooms.  The staff encourages patrons to look all around the restaurant... they also provide souvenir menus on request.

 ^^  The Wine Cellar.  Antoine's has one of the largest wine selections in the entire city.  Well over $2,000,000.oo of wine on hand...  this would be one of the premier restaurants to visit for wine aficionados.  

 ^^  Every fine liquor you can imagine is available in the bar.  

 ^^  Pre-mixed Sazerac!!!

 ^^  One of the private dining rooms.  It had a snail theme of sorts going on...  perhaps a referral to the Escargot that can be found on the menu???

 ^^  Back hallway leading to the various private dining areas...

 ^^  I loved this dining room...  the colors were fabulous and I'd love to have dinner with a group of friends in this lovely room...

 ^^  Courtyard walkway.  The glass cases on the right-hand wall contain a huge collection of ashtrays from all over the world.  I was wondering if people donated them...

 ^^  I just loved the name of this dining area...  

^^  The inside of the mysterious "Mystery Room"...  ;0))

Once again, my apologies for letting so much time lapse between posts.  Since I've been behaving myself, I haven't been out and about as much as usual.  This will definitely be changing over the next couple of weeks... hell, I *still* haven't posted anything about the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas!!  Stay tuned...

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