Drop Me Off In New Orleans...

(Yes, another song title.)

HAPPY JAZZ FEST 2006!!

As most of you know, Lehr and I have gone to New Orleans for Jazz Fest each year starting in 2000. This year was no different; Eli experienced the wonderful city for the first time this last weekend. (Actually he did go last year, but he was still in my stomach, so it didn't really count.) For those that haven't attended Jazz Fest, it is a great celebration that lasts two weekends. We attended the first, so if you don't have plans for next weekend, a road trip is in order...

This was Eli's first long-distance drive, so we didn't' know what to expect (other than the unexpected). All in all, it was a success. The drive there was a cake walk, considering we only stopped once for lunch and he napped most of the time. The ride home was a little more trying, but we know it could have been (and probably will be someday in the future) worse.

The fest itself was amazing; I dare say it was the best I've attended. We had Chamber of Commerce weather, unbelievable food, and great company (Eli's Godfather David and "Uncle" Tom went with us). On top of all that, despite the horrific year the residents have had, their spirit is still strong. The performers were passionate and the people on the street were just as friendly, if not more so. The first day we camped out for Eli's first Cowboy Mouth performance (My highlight of the weekend; if you've never seen them perform you are missing out.), and followed that up with a show put on by the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra led by Irvin Mayfield (joined by Kermit Ruffins and Trombone Shorty). The second day resembled a wind storm, so we moved a few times to avoid the dust and debris flying around (I think Eli still has dirt in his ears). Our final destination was the tent where the Herbie Hancock Quartet performed. The rest of the time was spent walking around from music tent to food tent to arts and crafts tent taking in all of the wonderful sights, smells, and sounds of NOLA. Despite his best efforts to stay awake and take everything in, Eli did give in and nap a few times in the backpack, but not before he tasted his first red beans and rice, witnessed his first Big Chief parade, and purchased his first Jazz Fest t-shirt (which won't fit him until he's at least 5).

If you aren't convinced after reading about the best outdoor festival this country has to offer (and possibly the best music shows you'll ever see), we also had some great dining experiences. Jacques-Imo's turned out to be a phenomenal dinner spot, but get there early or you'll wait in a long line. Savvy Gourmet (run by a friend of ours) is not just a cooking school, but also a great place to grab a quick lunch. I highly recommend their veggie sandwich.

We weren't able to take any extra driving time around town to check out areas that were hit the worst by Katrina, but you don't have to look far to see the devastation. As we drove into town you could see neighborhoods from the highway that were still deserted. Many of them were in various stages of repair, with FEMA trailers out front of each house which, I assume, are for the families to live in until their house is livable again. Several of these neighborhoods had dozens of piles of debris throughout. I saw businesses and restaurants still boarded up, or worse, broken into and demolished inside by the storm and looters. Our hotel was downtown, and most of the buildings in that area weathered Katrina pretty well from what we could see. However, many stores and restaurants are still closed because there aren't enough people in New Orleans: people as patrons and people as employees. The desk clerk at our hotel told us they were short-staffed, and a friend of ours who lives nearby told us many restaurants near her house close at 8PM due to lack of staff. Some of these establishments are re-opening, but it is a slow process. This past weekend was the first time Preservation Hall re-opened it's doors. Even in the areas that are habitable, houses still bear the infamous spray-painted "X" and tarps cover most of the rooftops.

It really hit home for me how close we came to losing one of the most culturally-rich cities we have in the United States. It saddens me to see such depression and devastation in a place that used to exude nothing but life and happiness. I hope by the time Eli is old enough to remember, NOLA will have returned, stronger than ever... If you haven't donated time, goods, or money to the relief efforts in the Gulf areas yet, I strongly urge you to join me in doing so. I've added a link to the right to make it easy for those that might not have had the time to seek a worthy organization. This link will take you to a grassroots local organization dedicated to rebuilding one of the greatest cities I've ever visited.