Flat-On-My-Ash Wednesday

March 3, 2013 by

“THAT MARDI GRAS WILL KILL YOU!”

My Booty From The Rex Parade: A Good Haul But I Was Paying the Price of Plunder

My Booty From The Rex Parade: A Good Haul But I Was Paying the Price of Plunder

I had begun feeling rough Sunday morning, but was too invested in Mardi Gras to take a break.  As luck would have it, it rained sporadically every day thereafter, yet I pushed on despite my increasing congestion and decreasing energy, traversing half the city on Mardi Gras day while stopping to rest on the sidewalk when I felt my fever spike.  I fought and ignored my body so I could experience the Full Monty.  Now it was my body’s turn for revenge. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Autobiography Tagged With: , , , , ,

Rocckus Wrap-Up & Final Verdict (I Just Knew)….

February 14, 2013 by

Although Krewe of Rocckus ended with the House of Blues show Saturday night, I decided to lump the two concert reviews together and save Saturday afternoon’s cruise on the Creole Queen for the finale.  After all, every traditional drama ends with either a death or marriage, so read on to see how our tale concludes.

First, however, let me take a moment to wrap-up and reflect.

MARDI GRAS CLUE: JOHN ELWAY IN THE BONEFISH WITH A SHARPIE

Waiting To Cruise The Mississippi

Waiting To Cruise The Mississippi

Considering how packed with activity and camaraderie KoR is, it’s a little weird how suddenly it ends, especially considering it’s three more days until Fat Tuesday excess defers to Ash Wednesday chastity.  Saturday night after the show, Rocckus is simply over.  Although several group members headed to the Blue Nile to keep the party going, most went to bed and flew out the next morning.  A few attendees did stay for the holiday, some of whom I kept running into well into Mardi Gras night; but for the most part the krewe just fizzled out.  The welcome brunch was wonderful, and a departure brunch on Sunday morning would have provided nice closure much like horseback policemen clearing Bourbon Street at midnight Mardi Gras officially ends carnival.

That being said, I give KoR a solid [Read more…]

Filed Under: Autobiography, Food & Cocktails, History & Trivia, Travel Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

And The Roccktail Winner Is: The Rocck-ito!

February 10, 2013 by

NOT NEAR AS CHALLENGING AS A TWO-SYLLABLE WORD

Your Roccktail, Sir

Your Roccktail, Sir

In their emails leading up to the event, Krewe of Rocckus’s awesome organizers, Ashley, Ashley, Brian, and Maggie (advanced apologies if I screwed up names or left anyone out, but it was an open bar on the Creole Queen, after all!) gave some hints about the Roccktail contest that would be held at the welcome brunch, but in the end, it was really no contest.  Word is Michael Jerome pouted a bit last year after his team came in second for everything and he was eager to return with a winner.  Either luck or the Patron Saint of Mardi Gras Mojo was on his side, for one of the two sent him fifteen year bartender and food services professional Sally Baker to save the day. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Food & Cocktails, Greatest Hits, Interviews Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Rocckus Out With Your Cocktail Out!

February 9, 2013 by

TYPE D-

Steven & Brandi and Kelly & Michael Saving Me A Seat At the Welcome Brunch

Steven & Brandi and Kelly & Michael Saving Me A Seat At the Welcome Brunch

After rushing to Lucy’s the previous evening only to arrive unfashionably early, yesterday I wandered over to Manning’s, the new sports bar opened by Archie just across from the Hilton, ten minutes comfortably late for the welcome brunch only to find a long food line and the unavailability of a single seat in our second floor perch.  Doh!  Apparently the rhythm method just isn’t my thang, as I just can’t get my timing right.

Cajun Salve for the Creole Soul

Cajun Salve for the Creole Soul

It would take more than a seating shortage to dampen my spirits, however, and what better salve for the soul than shrimp & grits, sliders, fried catfish, and beef tacos?!  After filling two tiny plates to the point of overflow (did you really think I’d fall for that small plate trick?!), I headed out to the balcony where I found one last hidden seat with two couples that were reconnecting from Rocckus 2012.  Par for the course, we fell into easy conversation and became fast friends.  KoR is quality peeps—all killer, no filler!  As I chatted with Brandi & Steven and Kelly & Michael, they questioned me about my crazy scheme and [Read more…]

Filed Under: Autobiography, Food & Cocktails Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

At Lucy’s In The Sky With Diamonds Hot Glued On The Soles Of Her Shoes

February 8, 2013 by

LET’S DO THE TIME WARP AGAIN….AND AGAIN….AND AGAIN….

Michael and Me

Hanging With Michael Jerome of Better Than Ezra

For someone who has a reputation of frequently being late, I sure am aware of time.  Some people create a distraction by rolling in to family dinners and public functions infuriatingly late and blissfully unaware.  I’m that guy that’s always just ten minutes behind and hates it.  I think I have plenty of time to get where I’m going and lose myself in preparation.  At some point, though, I inevitably hit a time warp where ten or twenty minutes just disappears into a black hole and suddenly I’m rushing and fussing and stressing and cussing until I roll in at my pre-determined ten-minutes-late time, all apologies and frazzled to the core.  So, as usual, last night the Krewe was scheduled to have its first event at 7pm to watch Muses parade during a meet and greet at the upstairs of Lucy’s Retired Surfers Bar (I had no idea [Read more…]

Filed Under: Autobiography, Travel Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Starting A Rocckus….

February 8, 2013 by

RED BEANS, PRALINES, AND SATIRE QUEENS

Room With A View

Room With A View

I’m now perched high in a Hilton typing away and looking upon the mighty Mississippi as it rushes past this hotel at the foot of Poydras (poy-drus) towards its famous crescent-shaped bend.  The room and view are both gorgeous and check-in went smooth.  Along with our schedule and concert tickets, I received a goodie bag with all kinds of interesting stuff including canned red beans—you never know when the urge will hit!!!—as well as a cool Saints koozie to which I attached the BTE pin; a BTE decal; a Krewe of Rocckus custom bead (Rocckus on!); two bags of jalapeno cheese puffs; a mini Tabasco bottle, and a praline.

Welcome To Camp!

Welcome To Camp!

The praline and one bag of jalapeno ‘Cheetos’ disappeared as I unpacked, but once settled in I headed out for a walk down Tchoupitoulas.  Pronounced ‘chop-i-too-lus,’ this street has followed the riverbank since the very founding of the city yet no one seems to quite know what it means.  There are many words from local Native American languages that resemble Tchoupitoulas but none that are exact matches, [Read more…]

Filed Under: Autobiography, History & Trivia, Travel Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,
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