New Orleans - Part 1

Mid afternoon on Saturday I arrived in New Orleans on a business trip. As the hotel is in the French district I traveled down a day early to take in Bourbon Street life and to enjoy some of the jazz clubs. When I checked in I quickly grabbed the camera to take a few quick shots.

Bourbon Street is definitely an interesting place. During the late afternoon and early evening the street is closed to vehicle traffic. As the sun goes down the swarms descend upon the restaurants, the clubs and the various shops. One thing that caught my attention was that restaurants sell alcohol out a window and people walk down the street consuming their drinks. The whole street is a party atmosphere with every club blasting its music out onto the streets through large open doors and windows. The blending of Jazz, Blues, Cajun, and Rock combining with the hum of the crowd turned the street into one great cacophony.

I spent a good ninety-minutes enjoying jazz at Maison Bourbon. The five member group had a trumpet, clarinet/saxophone, bass, piano and drums. Amongst their items they played Bourbon Street, Blueberry Hill, When the Saints Go Marching In, and A Closer Walk With Thee in honor of a local jazz player who passed away in the last week. There is no cover charge but you better to be prepared to pay for $8 cokes per set. Later I enjoyed another jazz performance by Steamboat Willie, a group playing in a courtyard (behind the jazz statue pic). This group was also five members, trumpet, trombone, drums, keyboard and sax.

Oh Jen, for your information beads were tossed to people in the crowds from party goers on a balcony. Jen, FYI, it does not contain the same expectations as happens during Marti Gras. That said, I did see three gals and one guy who accepted them in the Marti Gras tradition. I received two strands of beads that I received from girls on a balcony attending a Bachelorette party, and two more from another party on the balcony of another club. I plan on presenting them to Evie (Mardi Gras tradition expected to be in force LOL).

It is a good thing that I asked for an inside room (a room overlooking the courtyard or pool) versus a room with a balcony overlooking street. The party on Bourbon Street goes until after two in the morning. As it is I was awaken at 1:10 and 1:55 by enthusiastic guests returning to their rooms.


Above is Maison Bourbon, a jazz club. Below are to street scenes.

This is where Steamboat Willie played Saturday night and where I had breakfast Sunday morning.

Above is the oldest church in the city and below is a quick shot of some early evening party goers. The crowds nearly tripled by eight Saturday night.