Snapshots of New Orleans...You Really Don't Need Many Words
Sunday, July 1, 2012 at 11:39PM Mrs. G. 
Eat here.
Danielle, manager of Cafe Des Amis and her six-week-old baby, Malachie. Danielle walks from table to table making sure all of her customers are satisfied.
Coconut Cream Pie and strong coffee
Crayfish Pie with Dirty Rice and corn
Mrs. G's hostess, Naomi D.
St. Roch is the patron saint of miraculous healing.
Just off the St. Roch's Chapel is this little room containing all the offerings of people who were healed by St. Roch. It is an eclectic collection of legs, braces, crutches, hearts and brains.
Mrs. G. found her thrill at Fats Domino's house.
Remember Katrina? Drive through the 9th Ward and you can see her wrath.
One of Mrs. G's husband's Brad Pitt's many contributions to New Orleans -- the Make it Right homes, safe, sustainable and affordable houses for working families.
Naomi's art studio
She makes, among other things, these delicate, baby devils.
This is one of her fellow artist friend's (Bob Graham) Mardi Gras paintings. That's Harry Connick, Jr. on the left hand side of the painting.
Bonnie outside what Louie (Naomi's beau) believes to be one of the best pie makers in the area.
This guy was in a bar in the French Quarter watching, no shit, Pirates of the Carribean. Arrgh, baby.
Naomi and derf Ginny from Jackson, Mississippi
The WPA put a bird on it.
Ginny isn't much of a drinker and Mrs. G. is much of a drinker, but neither of them had ever tasted a Bloody Mary. They ordered one and it was disgusting. It tasted like seafood funk with a side of funky funk. They couldn't get past the third sip, so Mrs. G. introduced Ginny to a little minx called the gin & tonic. She liked it.
Author Anne Rice's former house
Mrs. G. wishes.
Thanks Naomi, Louie, Ginny and NOLA for a spectacular visit.
Mrs. G. is heading to Atlanta early this morning. Laissez les bons temps rouler
Reader Comments (25)
I KNEW you'd love New Orleans, girl!! Isn't it fantastic?
I love Naomi's baby devils!
I love the fact that you went to St. Roch's - who knows? We may have been at the EXACT SAME TIME visiting the Scuola di San Rocco here in Venice - the same Saint. We were told by our guide that he is the only Catholic saint regularly depicted with an animal - his dog, who supposedly brought him bread when he was sick.
If you don't like the Bloody Mary, try a Pimm's Cup.
Oh, and I forgot to say - how wonderful to see the Make It Right houses. One of the architects, Morphosis, worked with my husbands students here at UCLA on this project.
Wow Mrs. G you grow ever more gorgeous and your smile ever broader and engaging with every stop. The magic of good friends and adventure to be sure! Safe journey and lots of love.
Man, that guy in the bar has got it goin ON!! Watching 'Pirates', doing the Captain Morgan leg thing, AND pink hi-top chucks. I want to have a drink with him!
NOLA looks gorgeous, as do the Southern Derfs you met. The Women's Colony would be a beautiful place!
Isn't New Orleans grand? One of my favorite cities in the universe and it looks like Naomi treated you to a very grand tour. Wish I could have joined you there.
While you're in Atlanta you need to find someone who is making a peach daquiri. MUCH better than a bloody mary.
Oh how fun, I have always wanted to visit New Orleans, someday for sure! And I just love love love cemeteries. You do look so happy, what a great adventure this has been.
This trip is so amazing. Can't wait to see you next week in Boston. xo
I was also thinking of St. Rocco....the protector against the plague and all contagious diseases. That's a hella lot of things!!!! You'd want someone like that in your corner. Looks like fun was had by all.
bloody Mary's are a waste of what could be a good soup....
Looks grand, just grand.
NOLA is heaven indeed....and I wonder why Anne Rice moved from that perfect house? Mrs G--the wife here has them same red chuck taylor sneakers :) Ya'lls can feel awesome together, we'll wear them, get photos, ask other visiting derfs to wear 'em if they got them!
Wish I had been there! It's sad to see that the Lower 9th Ward still has such stark reminders of Katrina, though...
It's so beautiful! NOLA is on my must visit list before I die--I think this post may have moved it a bit further up. Continued safe travels Mrs. G!
That looks like a damn fine time.
Glad you had a good time in NOLA! It is wonderful - was there in 99 and stayed at a B&B just down the street from Anne Rice's house. The smells of the flowers at night were devine!
....but a finely made Bloody Mary (the only way i can tolerate celery without peanut butter on it!) can make this Derf incredibly happy....and pretty damn tipsy ( and i love the soup reference!!)
New Orleans is one of those places that i have always wanted to visit...thanks for letting me and the others tag along vicariously....i just imagine every man looking and talking like Randy Quaid!!! whoooo---Lawd!!
and really.....
that guy's pink Chucks?
i want them.
We do have good Bloody Marys in NOLA; I think Tujagues must have had those particular ones sitting since it opened in 1856. (I think the man in the Chucks may have been there since then too.) Quite a disappointment for your first Bloody, especially in the home of the cocktail. Come on Thanksgiving, bring fancy duds and a big hat, and we'll go to Opening Day at Fair Grounds Race Course. We'll have oysters and one of the best Bloody Marys in NOLA while betting on the ponies.
Great time hanging with you, Heather, and Bonnie too. Glad Ginny got there for the last bit.
There's so much more here, like the Mardi Gras Indians, and the Southern Food and Beverage Museum and . . . . when you coming back, with Mr. G?
Oh, New Orleans really sticks with you, doesn't it? What an amazing place. I'm so jealous of your trip! I'm so glad you're having a ball!
oh, I love those little devils!!! Naomi, do you sell them? Debbie, let's time a visit to NOLA...two birds, one stone! Mrs. G., I adore a good bloody Mary and dislike gin...I'd say we'd make great friends since we'd never steal one another's drinks or boyfriends, then I remember how we both feel about Johnny...sigh... ;-)
Can't wait to meet you (and Erin!!!) next week!
oh, janet...thatbis now on the list of 'things to do'.......i wonder if naomi would let us hang with her and be our tourguide?!?!
Mrs G- You DO look happier and happier as the days go by. Good for you!
I've never been to NOLA and really want to go and live in Anne Rice's house. Thanks for sharing the pix.
S
I haven't been to NOLA since before many of you were born! And I only have vague memories of it. With all the wonderful food in NOLA, I think a shrimp po-boy would have to be on the top of my list -- maybe for breakfast, lunch and dinner!
Sorry the Bloody Mary wasn't to your liking ... there's nothing better than a good one and nothing worse than a bad one. But I did have a gin and tonic the other night in your honor and it was pretty damn good!
And I agree, the baby devils are sweet!
Minneapolis is nowhere near as interesting, I'm afraid. Lots of lakes and freeways though!
I was in NOLA with 4 little boys, by myself (dh was taking midterms) back in 2002. You had a much more interesting time! This post makes me want to go back with some Derfs who know how to have fun and see interesting things. How did I ever miss so much?
I've had one fabulous Bloody Mary in my life, last December, at Tamarack Ski Resort. Other than that, I have to agree, it's a waste of what could be great soup.
Those baby devils? Are they a different take on the baby in a Mardi Gras cake?
Regardless, they are pretty darn cute!
The food, oh the food looks amazing! drooling on keyboard....