JAZZ FEST 1999
MONDAY


The first weekend of Fest was behind us, and we were ready for the Daze Between festivities. Since we had such an early night, Joe and I were up early. We spent some time getting our hotel room organized after 3 days of Fest chaos, then we went by to pay for another day of parking on the car, before we wandered into the quarter. We strolled all over, winding up by the French Market to eat at Fiorelli's for lunch. This place was recommended to us by the Rats & Kats forum, and by Willie Yeah You Rite. And we give the place two BIG thumbs up. The restaurant has two rooms - front on Decatur and back on the French Market. We wound up sitting in the back room and ordering two HUGE shrimp Po'Boys. The placed was packed out and everyone but us was wearing uniforms - maids, cops, delivery guys, you name it. This was obviously a favorite lunch spot for the working folks in the area - cheap, good food.

After lunch we strolled through the French Market & Flea Market and ran into Pony Dancer, Marisol, Lil' Beth and their friends Myra & Rick. Joe found a great deal on a white panama hat, and I found a lovely wooden angel from Bali for my Christmas tree. We stopped and spoke with a local artist who paints original Jazz Fest posters and bought one of her pieces. We also picked up a great print of a photograph showing a musician waiting outside of Preservation Hall. Both now look great hanging on our walls at home. After a quick stop at the funky drugstore with the great postcard selection (we bought some doozies), and a stop into Gargoyles for some naughty fun trying on fetish clothes, we headed back through the quarter.

We stopped to sit on a bench in front of the Cathedral in Jackson Square and watched two street performers set up to play. It turns out that it was David and Rosalyn, who we had seen on a TV show about street musicians in New Orleans. We sat and listened to them play and sing until it was time to head over to Levon Helms' new club at 2:30. George Porter was scheduled to do an LMNOP workshop there, and Joe, being a bassist and a big fan, wanted to catch it. We sat at a table in the bar and listened to George talk about his music and the musicians he had played with. He took questions from the crowd and was an interesting, friendly, entertaining speaker. The only problem was that some folks started gathering at the bar by the door and they were gabbing so loudly, it was sometimes hard to hear George speak. He also played some for us as well. It was a great way to spend the afternoon.

       
David & Rosalyn at Jackson Square


      
George Porter at LMNOP workshop
       
Joe asking George a question


Afterwards, we headed out to buy some cd's. First stop was LMF but it was too packed out because of a performance going on. So we went over to Tower and picked up three discs - "Aint No Funk Like New Orleans Funk", "Get You A Healing" (the cd George Porter was promoting, which donates music to pay medical bills for N.O. musicians), and "Wild Magnolias - Life is a Carnival". We ran into Julie and KinderKitti (and ate up all her pralines). Then we met Char from Minnesota (finally) and her friend Jerry, Cajun NY and her friends and even ran into Xrisma and Harmonica Joe, our LaSalle buddies. All the kats were hanging around the music stores today. We walked home with Kinderkitti and Julie to shower and dress for a special dinner we had planned.


      
Kats at NOLA
from left: KinderKitti, Bethesda Boy
Beach Bob & Linda, Neen & Big Joe
Katlanta Julie
 Beach Bob and Beach Linda had made reservations at Emeril's restaurant named "NOLA" and had graciously invited Joe and me, Julie and KinderKitti and Bethesda Boy to join them for dinner. Our reservation was for 6pm and dinner lasted for hours. It was an incredible meal. I had pecan-encrusted crab with plank scallops and cheese canneloni, along with salad, bottles of wine, coffee and banana pudding for dessert. The place is not cheap, for Joe and I together, along with wine, it cost $125. But it was a special treat with wonderful dining companions and worth every penny. One of my favorite memories is of KinderKitti taking photos of each course as it was brought out to her.


      
Neen & Big Joe
Beach Bob & Linda


      
Bethesda Boy liked his Gumbo
Katlanta, Kinderkitti & Bethesda Boy


      
KinderKitti photographing her meal
Any room left for pie?


After dinner, Joe and I had plans to see Mas Mamones at Storyville District. The starting time was listed as 8:30pm, which sounded doubtful. So we had called the club and they had promised us that, unlike most clubs in the city, they actually stick to their starting times. And it was true. In fact all week long we would laugh whenever we would walk by the club and see musicians carrying their instrument cases running down the street to be on time. This was our first time at this new club and I can't say enough good things about it. It is split into two rooms, with music going on in both. The cover charge was only $5 and it was a steal. We saw Mas Mamones in the big room, on a huge stage. They needed it, because there were about 12-15 players in this hot, young, latin-influenced jazz band. We also saw Kermit Ruffins and Irving Mayfield in the smaller room as well. It was a great night and the low cost was perfect after our fancy dinner. Best of all, we were able to stroll the four blocks back to our hotel room for a private party in our room (GRIN) before going to sleep.


Good food gets Julie buzzed!


Back to Jazz Fest 1999 Page