You read that right! Thru a book club back in 1998 for The Divine Secrets of the YaYa Sisterhood, I met many wonderful women who became very good friends. We began meeting up all over the country...and outside....as well as many phone calls and who knows how many emails! I even hosted a weekend at our lakehouse where 28 women showed up from all over the world who had never met face to face until they walked up on our deck.....and everyone of us got along like peanut butter and jelly. And have, to this day, remained close. So, it was some of these gals that I met up with in New Orleans - two from Spokane WA and one from St. Louis - and once again we had the time of our lives!
After the initial greetings of CAN'T BELIEVE WE'RE FINALLY BACK TOGETHER AGAIN...BEEN WAY TOO LONG...WILL NOT GO THIS LONG BEFORE GATHERING AGAIN!
We walked down to Canal Street where we hopped the appropriate street car to do a PUB CRAWL!
One of these gals is a super planner and she had everything mapped out of things to do.
First stop was:
Very cool and very old. Fun!
Next stop was Meauxbar....restaurant with a French feel. Very different than the one before it. Here we had snacks....a cheese board with seared Pork Belly
Port of Call was our next stop and it was a super fun "happenin" place!
Then head out and what do we see???? We've turned the corner to...
So funny how things are celebrated in the French Quarter -- a free crawfish boil just because there is a full moon!!!!
And finally, we end up here...
Of course we do!!! Bourbon Street!!
The rest of that night was filled with laughter, stories and more laughing!!
Up and not too early next morn, our planner extraordinaire took us to The Ruby Slipper for brunch.
where, of course, we started off with these!
(hair of the dog!)
and somebody had this!!!!
SHRIMP BOOGALOO BENEDICT
Gulf shrimp sauteed with pork tasso, served over fried green tomatoes & a buttermilk biscuit, topped with poached eggs, finished with a creole tomato courtbouillon sauce
Oh. My. Gawd. That's all I got to say about that!!!!!
Back into the streetcar
two reasons for so many rides on streetcar: #1 they were helping me with my back issues by not walking so much and #2 we ventured more out into the town of Nola, instead of just staying around the French Quarter this time!
Went to the New Orleans park where the Museum of Art and the Scupture Garden is and while we were at it, got a "surry" to pedal all the way around in. What a HOOT that was!!
Also, these gals come from the north where they have not seen their grass since before Thanksgiving. They've literally had snow on the ground for 3 months and all they wanted to do was be outside in our 72 (actually 81 that day) degree days!
I tried taking all the shortcuts that I could find!
but all that pedaling made us thirsty so we stopped in at our favorite lil bar for
Basil/Cucumber/Vodka lemonade!!!!
Sooooooooooooo Goooooooooood!
for dinner this night, we had reservations at Marcello's Italian Restaurant in the warehouse district.
Our transportation? A bike ride driven by the sweetest lil Frenchman you ever could meet!
THE MOST FUN NIGHT EVER!!!
Best atmosphere. Best waiter. Best vino. Best food! Best Company!!
You know those dinners? Where you never want the evening to end??
Appetizers for the table:
Whew!!!! enough for tonight.........the rest of the rest of the story tomorrow!!!
