May 9, 2014 New Orleans

After coffee by the pool again, under lowering humid skies, we set out to visit the Bywater section of the new 1.4 mile Crescent Park which comprises 20 acres of the historic Marigny and Bywater neighborhoods.  The views are of the city and the Crescent City Connection (bridge) are excellent.  A huge container ship hove into view just as we arrived at the top of an arched bridge....52 steps up and 52 down and I did it!  http://www.nola.gov/city/crescent-park/

Then we drove a couple of blocks to Elizabeth's, a cute little restaurant in 100 year old building in Bywater.  Marigny is the first neighborhood downriver from the French Quarter.  It's real name is Faubourg Marigny, which means suburb ( or literally, false city) and it was the first suburb of New Orleans.  Continuing downriver, one arrives in Bywater.  We had the choice of the breakfast and lunch menus.  I had poached eggs hollandaise (spicier down here!) on crab cakes and grits.  John had fried chicken livers with pepper jelly, which he shared.  JK had shrimp on greens.  We all shared fried oysters with blue cheese.  And for desert...an amazing chocolate torte.  And to drink...why Mimosas...why not!

The walls are covered with Dr. Bob's colorful folk art.  "Be nice or leave"; "Be gay or leave"; "Shut up and eat" are just some if the slogans he uses.

On the way home, we passed this historic marker.

After a well-earned nap, we were off again.  This time to a Bohemian night benefit at the Beauregard-Keyes House.  Beauregard as in General Beauregard of the CSA and Keyes as in Frences Parkinson Keyes, the great New Orleans writer and a favorite of my mother's.  (There are several hyphenated historic homes in New Orleans.  Each house may have had several owners, but the two most famous are chosen.  My brother's house, as a historic house, also has a hyphenated name.)

It had been sprinkling for most of the day, but just before we were to walk the four blocks to the affair, the skies opened up.  The torrential rain was accompanied by serious thunder and lightning.  We were able to get a cab.  Even with umbrellas, we got wet.  The band was set up under a tent in the courtyard behind the main house....to get to it, you had to brave stairs and the rain.  Chairs on the porches were wet, so everyone crowded inside the main rooms.

Beautiful house....wonderful food and drink.  Best of all was the music...Deacon John and his band.  Rock and Roll, Rhythm and Blues...just fabulous.  He is an institution in NO.  We finally braved the stairs, with umbrellas and holding up our long skirts and made it to the tent.