FEST99-wed

JAZZ FEST 1999
WEDNESDAY - ABITA BREWERY TOUR

Next stop was the Abita Brewery for a tour. It was hot on the bus and hot in the brewery, so a few of us stayed in the a/c tasting room and skipped the tour to watch Steve/LBI do his own beer education seminar (Grin). Then back on the bus to head to the Abita Brewhouse & Restaurant for unlimited Abita beer and a wonderful buffet dinner. Unfortunately, the band didn't make it (Rebirth Brass Band was scheduled). But unlimited pitchers of Purple Haze seemed to take care of any disappointment (Grin), and a bunch of us started an impromptu rhythm section and made our own music anyway.

We all piled drunkenly on the bus for the trip back to the city. Joe and I rode in the back this time, and made the acquantaince of the delightful Ric Batt, who we had heard so much about from Steve/Miami in the past. The ride home was a blast - lots of fun and talking and dancing and denver detours and sips of Tullimore Dew from the gorgeous flask that Julie had given me. We walked tipsily back to our hotel from the river and wound up staying in for the night.