Tennessee Williams Festival

Thoroughly enjoyed this play reading written by Tennessee Williams "I Never Get Dressed 'Til After Dark on Sundays" at Monteloeone Hotel's Queen Anne Ballroom:

From The Festival’s booklet:

“another clever art imitating life example from our treasured Tennessee.  This one-act play has fragments that would evolve into Vieux Carre.  In this short play, we meet Jane—a fallen Yankee society girl dying of leukemia—and Tye—a vulgar but appealing strip joint barker.  Life in the Big Easy is anything but for these two tragic characters.   Williams unmasks the comedy in this distressed relationship and the creation of its story by moving the audience between two fights:  the director, playwright and stage manager’s arguments over the development of the script, and the painful fights of a couple in a seemingly-doomed relationship. This staged reading stars members of the NOLA Project ensemble."

Ricky Graham played the director and almost stole the show which was difficult as the male lead was gorgeous.  

March 29, 2015

Downtown Super Sunday

Michael & I rode bikes to Broad Street

to catch the Downtown Mardi Gras Indian procession and caught tons of great photos.  Beautiful!  

Caught Kahlinda, Voodoo Priestess, sporting her Snakes:

And one of my personal faves, Queen Kelly, sporting her Enthusiasm!

 Queen Kelly P.



AND LATER THAT NIGHT...

"Suddenly Last Summer"-- Part of the Tennessee Williams Festival

In partnership with the Tennesse Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival, Southern Rep Theatre presented Suddenly Last Summer by Tennessee Williams.

Stage before the show

TW wrote this play while staying with The Bultmans on Louisiana Avenue!

The Bultman Family Home 

Live theater is almost always good and we got to check out the new space, Ashe's Powerhouse Theatre in our 'hood behind the Muses apartments (and part of and behind, the Ashe Cultural Center).

 

Couldn't help thinking of the movie which I have seen many times. The Bultman home's garden (and was also in the Funeral Home next door) is featured in the Matriarch's garden room of the play which I always like to tell people about (and of course how TW wrote the play up in his third floor space!)

April 3, 2015

Good Friday Tour of Churches

A tradition here in New Orleans is for the Stalwart to walk to the many Catholic Churches open for the "occasion."

From an article by Lisa Holzenthal Lewis in Folklife in Louisiana:

"...this tradition can be dated back to 1868 when a New Orleans newspaper, The Morning Star and Catholic Messenger dated April 12 cited 'crowds of men, women and children, who appear to be making a pilgrimage to every sanctuary in the city.'  This devotion was practiced and popularized by New Orleans Creoles, descendants of pioneer French and Spanish families. For many years, devout Catholics in New Orleans have followed this Good Friday tradition of visiting nine churches. In fact, it has been practiced in many other places as well.

In New Orleans, the actual walking seems to have originated with the Spanish in 1772 upon their arrival. The Spanish clergy were horrified at the relaxations that were being allowed by the French clergy. The French people were accustomed to riding carriages to the Cathedral on Good Friday, but that would happen no more. Since Jesus walked to Calvary, from then on all would walk, as dictated the Spanish clergy. Cross, Crozier and Crucible attributes the nine church pilgrimage as preservation of this custom of walking. The WPA Guide to New Orleans, published during the Depression, tells of a Friday practice in which young girls said prayers and left a small sum at each of the nine churches in return for the sending of a husband. This practice was often concluded at the Saint Roch Cemetery chapel where the girls picked a four leaf clover to be 'doubly lucky.'"

While a pretty day for a walk, me not in needing a husband and having quite a bit of ground to cover, I rode my bike.  

Started out with a free coffee at Hi-Volt Coffeeshop, courtesy of my former downstairs neighbor, the Vibrant and Vivacious Vera Miles who had bestowed upon me her coffee coupons when she went back back home to Jacksonville after working on another movie here.  I savored it:

The Perfect Cup of Capp

And while not an official religious spot, I do love my coffee.

View from my outdoor table at Hi-Volt Coffeehouse, which was a vacant building when I lived at the corner of Magazine & Josephine, 1997-1999. The Half Moon Bar and Cafe Roma were both there then.  The white building straight ahead is being re-done into a Catering/Event facility; a former printing shop, I once had my eye on it for a club to play and live upstairs... Heading for my first stop of St. Ann Shrine, I came upon the Stations of the Cross group at St. Theresa of Avila Church on Camp Street:[see more pix to the right]

Made an historical pilgrammage stop at the Bosque House Plaque on Chartres Street in the French Quarter:

Here, on Good Friday, 1788, the first of the two disastrous fires (the other in 1794) started.  A breeze blew the curtains to the lit candles on a man's altar while he was praying. He ran to the Cathedral on the next block, asking them to alert the populace but they refused due to the observance of silence on Good Friday.  

The 1794 Fire started just behind this building, casting less dispersions upon the story told by Haunted History tour guide that this spot was once Native American sacred burial grounds and "very unlucky" for those who settled here.  Yet I quite enjoy a Champagne Cocktail and a chat here at Sylvain either in the courtyard or at the Bar...

The Shrine of St. Ann on Ursulines in The Treme:

I first discovered the Shrine of St. Ann when I moved here--In the late '90s I remember an impressive Stations of the Cross re-enactment and have been curious if that practise had been resurrected.

From an article by David Estes:

"The largest attendance occurs on Good Friday, when many observe the custom of 'making 'nine churches. The Saint Ann Shrine counts as one of the nine stops.

... the minister of a spiritual church, dressed in a curly wig, purple robe, and a crown of thorns, and carrying a cross, dramatizes the Stations of the Cross in the mid- to late morning. In 2000, he performed an expressive dance as each station was read out. In 2002, he was assisted by two 10-year-old boys dressed in white who played the roles of the thieves and three black women who depicted Mary and other women. After each Station had been read out and enacted, a girl in a red leotard and black skit performed a liturgical dance while a woman sang several songs, including "At the Cross.""

At the dedication of the present grotto on July 26, 1935, 43,500 intentions were received. The first outdoor procession was part of the ceremonies. Crowds estimated by the press to be between 1,000-2,000 marched around the block carrying candles that night while "motor cycle policemen kept the traffic off the streets."

The Devotees still climb on their knees up the stairs to the scene of Christ on the Cross, flanked by Mary and John.

  [please see pix to the right]

"White flight" left the Shrine to the neighbors and then assigned to the lovely St. Peter Claver Catholic Church down the street for care and administration.  Made this one of my stops:

 [please see more pix to the right]

Next stop was St. Augustine Church where I ran into Peggy and Errol Laborde, historians and documentarians:I also re-ran into the large group that had been reenacting the Stations of the Cross all over town: 

Made my way to St. Jude Church, originally known as the Mortuary Chapel, built to accomodate the large numbers of death by Yellow Fever back in the mid-1800s:

Then, on across Rampart Street to the Center of Jesus the Lord, formerly a  Cloistered Nunnery.  I had never been inside the Church: 

But had been inside this part:Monastery of St. Joseph and St. Teresa of the Discalced Carmelite Nuns on N. Rampart St.

for many St. Joseph Day Altars which is when I found out about the Nuns from the older celebrants.  

And here from The Center of Jesus the Lord website:

In 1878, four nuns moved into a pre-Civil War cottage at 134 Barracks.  The 22-foot walls surrounding the monastery now enclose this original building. 

The sisters spread their rambling Convent through the square adding buildings, courtyards, (there are 14 courtyards), a fruit orchard, terraced rooftop recreation patios, a multilevel collage of cells (the nuns’ tiny sparsely furnished bedrooms), refectory, oratory, infirmary, chapels and corridors all linked to one another.

The permanent Monastery was completed in 1895.  On November 12 of 1895 the Archbishop of New Orleans consecrated the Chapel, dedicated to the Transfiguration of Our Lord.

Discalced Carmelites are a contemplative order of women who live in strictly cloistered monasteries.  The Discalced Carmelite order is a reformed order of Carmelites restored to its primitive rule by St. Teresa of Avila, Spain, in the 16th century. 

Discalced means no shoe, barefooted; the Carmelites who originally came here wore a type of sandal, hemp alpargaes, which in those days were not considered shoes. 

The nuns spent most of their time praying, including the Divine Office, (Liturgy of the Hours), a prayer that begins early in the morning with lauds and continues at intervals throughout the day into the evening.

The nuns were artists and artisans; they painted religious paintings; sewed and embroidered vestments and linens; baked hosts and bread; planted gardens; they even made their own sandals.  This Carmel community (a Carmelite monastery) translated and published books for the English speaking Carmel communities throughout the world. 

They moved across the Lake in 1971 because they could not keep up with the repairs of the building and it now serves as a Catholic Charismatic Retreat Center, "the Center of Jesus the Lord."

[Please see photos to the right]

Took a brief respite and stopped off at Cafe Amelie for a Champagne Cocktail served up by these two fine & friendly folk: 

Rambled on out of the French Quarter to the CBD to enjoy the beauty of the Immaculate Conception Church and hear their angelic choir! Gorgeous! [pic to the right]

Rambled on out of the CBD to Central City and St. John the Baptist Church

which I was happy to see has reopened after The Federal Flood.

I was excited to see the replica of The Shroud of Turin there:

This section is flipped from its side and shows the supposed face of Jesus.  I read the book The Shroud of Turin when it came out and was always fascinated by relics and miraculous-type objects. I counted the viewing of this as three Churches, and besides, everything after this is anti-climactic.

Connect the Nine Community Bike Ride

April 4, 2015

Always wanted to ride across the Industrial Canal bridge on my bike and figured it would not be as frightening in a group, so I signed up!  

After the Bridge, which was so much easier with "experienced partners" we stopped at this park: 

Turned out to be an educational (!) opportunity as it was sponsored by a couple of community activist groups including The Sierra Club--and a local group striving for a safer bridge for bi-peds and bicycles to be built (hence  the name, Connect the Nine).  Also folks wishing to save The Wetlands!!!!  

The Bayou Bienvenu Triangle is where they are restoring The Wetlands that used to be there, adjacent to the Lower Ninth Ward:



Met a guy whose childhood was spent in The Swamps there before the opening of MR GO caused the water to turn the wrong kind of saline for cypress trees and the like and the Great Cypress Swamp died.

views from the platformThe groups had arranged for free canoes to be available and I took a canoe trip out to the Bayou Bienvenu.  I felt welcomed!  As did my new friends:

Very nice out there and grand.  Check it out some time!  It's a Lips Recommendation!

Had never explored this part of New Orleans and decided to finally find Fats Domino's house.  I remember being told that he inexplicably built a "mansion in the ghetto":

so I expected a bigger palace and a more run-down neighborhood.  I have a feeling that a lot of the neighboring houses were taken out by Hurricane Katrina's "aftermath" as I observed many vacant lots while biking around.

Found the only restaurant in the neighborhood, Cafe Dauphine and enjoyed an excellent oyster po'boy and an Abita Strawberry beer (yeah, it's girl-stuff, I know).  [see pix to the right]

Met the co-owner whose husband's family grew up on that street and they opened up after the "Federal Flood."  Really nice lady and a nice place.  Another Lips Recommendation!

Had never seen the two historic "Gothic Steamboat" homes in person so it was a big day of firsts as I also checked out the new Make It Right Foundation (a la Brad Pitt) houses and enjoyed the country life across the Canal from downtown New Orleans.

The return trip across the bridge presented a bit of a challenge--

A guy showed me how I had to use a steep skinny side stairway. Hence the pushing for a more "friendly" bridge to Connect the Nine!  Hope it happens soon--I scoped out some nice houses with large yards in case we ever want to leave The Garden District:

A pink house with a huge yard!



Easter Sunday

April 5, 2015

Michael & I took in the Norwegian Seaman's Church Easter Service as Tricia Boutte was performing. Her superb singing (and accompaniment by Paul David Longstreth and drummer) was so inspiring and uplifting! [see pix below and to the right]

Michael Uplifted!

Me, moved

She has been back at home in Norway since last year so it was great to see her and her husband, "Fuzzy," a very nice Norwegian.  

Met Leroy Jones, the famed trumpet player who "Sista Teedy" will be singing with at the Jazz Fest this year.  

Rode our bikes to the French Quarter to catch Al "Carnival Time" Johnson in the Chris Owens Annual Easter Parade:and caught a cool egg he threw me:

My throws in my bike basket

Mr. & Mrs. Tony Seville & Friend 

Michael went home but I went to wait for my friend Jewels Sidiropoulous who was arriving from San Francisco where she had attended Sam Andrew's Memorial (that's how we met, in Houston--we both played with him). Headed on down to North Rampart Street where the costumed characters were gathering for the Gay Easter Parade.  

Ran into Page who had received a giant carrot as a throw!

Hadn't seen Jewels since 1993-ish and it was great catching up, having a snort or two at Bar Tonique:on Rampart gearing up for the Gay Easter Parade which despite the streetcar construction:we enjoyed immensely. [Please see pix to the right]

Popped off to the Three Muses Cafe on Frenchmen Street to catch former compadre, Raphael Bas, playing and singing.  

Had to have one more cocktail!!!

April 7, 2015

Dinner with Jewels

Had a coupon and wanted to treat Jewels to dinner.  M. & I took her to The Maison Dupuy Hotel's Bistreaux, the ground floor corner spot where Paul David Longstreth used to play piano some nights. Jewels, of course, found some friends from Australia at the next table! 

So great catching up with her and having her meet My Guy. [see more pix to the right]

April 8, 2015

Kermit Ruffins, Lafayette Square

Met up with Jewels and we enjoyed New Orleans' Ambassador, Kermit, partyin' New Orleans Style, which included calling all the ladies up to the stage to dance and we jumped the barricades, much to the chagrin and consternation of the security "professionals" (actually amateurs as they were volunteers!)

Great show as usual and we got to talk with him and get autographs afterwards.  Love him!

April 9, 2015

French Quarter Festival

Jewels and I took in Allen Toussaint playing on The River:



and Tricia Boutte at the Ogden After Hours where she performed and was interviewed along with her partner-in-assorted-felonies, Paul David Longstreth:



What a blast.  New Orleans Royalty for certain!

Great evening of song and merriment with my Australian Chum!

April 10, 2015

Big Chief Monk Boudreaux, FQ Fest

Met up with Jewels for the Mardi Gras Indians performing by the Aquarium. Arrived early and got a spot right up front.  Was fun to turn Jewels on to them--she loved it and them!  Me, too!

April 11, 2015

Had to put my festivity plans on hold as my Super Honey took sick and we had to go to the Ochsner E.R. where he had surgery. Apparently it was very serious and they were surprised that he lived.

Praise God and all the folks that prayed with me!  Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Friends and Family. Such a scary, scary time.

April 18, 2015

Had a hairy week with Michael at Ochsner, most of the time spent in ICU.  We were very relieved to get him home where he can recover.   Praise God, we are jubilant! Leading forth with Thanksgiving!

New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Fest

April 24, 2015

Saw Sunpie Barnes and the Louisiana Sunspots at the Blues Tent and then met Jewels for an ole fave of mine, Jimmie Vaughan and the Tilt-A-Whirl Band with singer Lou Ann Barton!

Jimmie was on his 3rd song, "Floodin' Down in Texas," and we were all groovin' to the Max, when the stage announcer called the concert due to lightning.  We all got kicked out.  I was grieved over this most heartily... rode home in the rain on my bike, but it was not that bad...

April 25, 2015

Received the sad news that Mark Fowler's wife, Pat McDonald Fowler, took her light into another room of Our Father's Great House of Life while M. was back in the E.R. this morning.

God Bless her, Mark, and all her Loved Ones, of which there were many!  Miss you, Pat.  God Love you!

May 1, 2015

Spent another hairy scary week with Michael at Ochsner.  He came through it thanks to all those prayers, his medical team at Ochsner and The Good Lord looking after him!  Thank you, Lord!  Bless all who were with me in Prayer.  (Thank you, Jewels, for lighting a candle at the Greek Church and asking the Priest and your Mom in Australia to speak M.'s name!  Thank you Guruatma for the long-distance healings! Bless you all very much!)  

May 15, 2015

Lips & The Trips, Fairgrinds Coffeehouse

We dedicated our show this evening to Mark's wife, Pat, who made her transition April 25, 2015.Pat & Mark, Bastille Day 2014

Sean Walters and Susan Kennedy were in town from Houston and I picked them up downtown.  Jewels met some folks and had been staying at a St. Charles Ave. manse and we all rode to the gig in The FurryMobile.  

Sean was kind enough to open the show with a few of his wonderful tunes.  Jewels sat in as well, on a Janis Joplin, "Turtle Blues," and her Greek songs, wow!  What a night!  So much fun, so much love! Matt D'Orazio on the drums, and his sweet wife, Melissa, came up and sang "Fever."  Pete Little, visiting from Houston, arrived from The Bayou Boogaloo to catch Mark on fire and we think Pat was dancing with us!!!!  

Thank you to all!  Blessings Abound!  So happy that My Honey stayed on this side of the Veil!

May 16, 2015

Touring the Town with Sean & Susan

I did not sign up for the Bayou Boogaloo Bike Pub Crawl this year, but met up with Peter & Gang at the Ooh Poo Pah Doo Bar on Orleans Avenue so that Sean and Susan could meet Judy, the proprietor.  Found out that her nephew was the talented musician that died (so young!) while on tour in Japan.  She was so kind and gracious to us, inviting us back for the night of Walter Wolfman Washington's band later.  

Was very happy to show them the inside of the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club where the brass band was entertaining.  We had a couple of Purple Hazes and went across the street to the largest religious candle shop anywhere.  Scored a Divine Justice flame and lit it at the construction spot for the Planned Parenthood facility on Claiborne, but not before taking a detour to the Lower Nine, visiting the wetlands rebirth and savoring a po'boy and a Abita Strawberry at Cafe Dauphine.  Had a ball with them!  The woman who gave us her apartment for our Katrina Evacu-Vacation and Sean Walters, the GodFather of my Band!  Love them both so much!

May 22, 2015

The Greek Fest

I figured that if I went Friday night I would get all that dancing and Retsina out of my system.  Tried to meet up with Jewels, but she was hooked into the Greek Community and was blasted since no-one was around to help me drink that resin-inspired grape.  Loved it and spent 45 minutes in the pastry line for $18.75 worth of delicioso sugah! Yum!  

Jewels was slated to perform the next day, but I pooped out on her. The photos looked great though so I was sorry to have missed it.  

May 27, 2015

Irma Thomas at Lafayette Square

A superb performance by the Soul Queen of New Orleans.  

Just recently saw something where Allen Toussaint said that he hears her voice in his head--it's always rock steady and clear.  

She is FAB!!!!

Time is on her side!  As well as we Fans.  Ran into Jeff & Lisa and had a ball.

May 29, 2015

Ole Pal Steve Brudniak and his Ole Pal Long Tall Luke arrived from Austin-Town for Steve to do an audition with comedians Key & Peele.  Caught up with them at St. Charles Tavern where they were having a fried seafood festival and some Abita on tap!  Great to see Steve and Luke was alright!!!

Went to Jewels' Good-Bye Party at Jo Ann & Rabi's St. Chas Ave. Manse where Jewels performed with Raphael Bas (former Trips guitarist), Norbert Slama, and on her own with her Greek songs. Marvelous!  And she cooked for days for it!  Marvelous!!! 

Michael got out which was nice as he has been recuperating and taking it slow.  

Took The Texas guys to Tipitina's where we enjoyed the Mardi Gras Indian band Cha Wa and lots of folks milling about, drinking beer and the like.

May 30, 2015

Met up The Texas Dudes after their visit to the Ogden and Jim Roche's performance art.  Jim & his wife came along with the Curator to the Circle Bar where Famed Artist Will Smith was celebrating his BeeDay with the Famed Artists O.L.D. performing.

Dave and Luke had a lot to talk about from the early Austin days of the band The Sluts, as Dave was in that band in the early 80s.  I visited a bit with Circle Bar owner, Dave Clements, and my old compadre Johnny J. before we adjourned to The Napoleon House where The Guys got hooked on Absinthe and I took them to Tony Seville's Pirate Bar where they sampled the wares, met Key, and got turned out at daylight.

May 31, 2015

Picked up Those Guys who simultaneously blurted out, "I'm so hung over," upon entering The FurryMobile.  Since a hangover remedy was in order, we adjourned to Surrey's next door to Le Bon Temps, where Mary Kay loaded up Long Tall Luke who was probably not going to feel good for a few days.  

Had a great visit at Surrey's (literally!) and took them to hear Dog's CurFew's Demo tape that Steve had recorded back at Victorian Recording Studio on 11th Street, Houston, mid-1980s!  Still stood up to repeated listening!

Sold L.T. Luke my Vox amp and dropped them off at their rental car in the rain.  Glad to see them both be able to walk out on their own accord.  Loved seeing them!