The Big Easy

We made our first trip of the season to New Orleans last weekend for the Saints opening game. Here are some highlights. You''ll notice the lack of food shots...have no doubt, we ate like spoiled Louisiana kids, but the food disappeared so fast, I didn't have time to take pictures! Yum!

Here are some girls double-dutching outside One-Eyed Jacks, where the Bloody Marys flow like...something really awesome.

Here is Brad at Juan's Flying Burritos! I am always down for burritos, flying or otherwise. This time I had the Veggie Punk, a burrito with beans, rice, potatoes, and a lot of spicy stuff! The Supergreen is also very good!

We went a'walking and a'shopping and found some neat places. This is a candy store full of sugary hyperness! Brad found a giant talking PEZ dispenser of a Saints football player!

Along another street was a magical pink fence with a big hunk of bananas growing! Wheeee!

Here's the lovely courtyard where we stayed...does this remind anyone else of Melrose Place...?

And for your viewing pleasure, yours truly and the Saints #1 fan, setting out on game day. Whoohooo!!
Afterthought: This trip really inspired me to learn more about New Orleans. We walked up and down the streets wondering about the origins of the architecture and the history of the city beyond the basics. I've requested a healthy list of history books, cookbooks, and NOLA music cd's from the library and can't wait to dig in! I loved the sights and smells of the food. Rather than bemoan the ingredients list, I feel very excited about veganizing Louisiana favorites with the help of some amazing cooks, cookbooks, and a little of my own zest for spicing up a recipe. I am helping to test recipes for a really exciting and authentic vegan New Orleans cookbook. Stay tuned for the results!