Jazz Fest, New Orleans

Crowds at Jazz Fest, 2014 and Food Stands

We've been in New Orleans since Thursday!  My!  What a time we've been having.  We met up with our tour group on Thursday evening for a lovely dinner at the Bourbon House in the French Quarter.  It's a wonderful group of like-minded music fans.  We're all staying at the Bourbon Orleans in the French Quarter.  Our room is lovely and the hotel is beautifully decorated.

 Bourbon Orleans Hotel, French Quarter

On Friday and Saturday we trudged out to the Fairgrounds for Jazz Fest.  Luckily, the weather has been pretty good.  It's hot, but not unbearable.  

 Jazz Fest Attire

We saw some great bands (Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys, Buckwheat Zydeco, Keb' Mo', Laura Mvula, the New Orleans Klezmer Allstars, Chris Smither, fantastic groups in the Gospel and Jazz Tents and more!  There are so many great groups, that you don't know where to turn first!

The Fais Do Do Stage at Jazz Fest

Along with all the music and interviews, there's wonderful regional food, crafts, artwork and music for sale.  We were totally slammed with sights and sounds at Jazz Fest this year.

Restored Shotgun Houses near the Fairgrounds

On Friday night we made it out to our L.A. Conservancy friends' home for dinner.  David and Gretchen have been living in New Orleans for a few years.  It was wonderful catching up with them and having dinner at their lovely home near Tulane University.  Gretchen prepared a delicious dinner for us with an emphasis on Louisiana heritage.

Saturday, after Jazz Fest, we met up with another L.A. friend, Miss Patti at Landry's in the French Quarter for dinner.  Patti usually visits L.A. once a year, so we just saw her last October.  We caught up on all the gossip!

Sunday was a leisurely day (thank you).  We lazed around in the morning, then met up with my cousin Marlene and her husband Reuben at Galatoire's for lunch.  Wow!  I'd never been to this historic New Orleans restaurant.  It was truly elegant.  The food is prepared and served beautifully.  

Cousin Marlene and Reuben at Galatoire's 

Eggs Sardou at historic Galatoire's.  Yum.

After lunch we walked over to the Historic New Orleans Collection to see an exhibit about the singing Boswell Sisters.  The Andrew Sisters got their whole act from the Boswells!  The Boswells were New Orleans natives and popular during the 1930s.  There is going to be a PBS documentary on their lives and career coming out soon.  It was wonderful meeting Marlene and Reuben.  We've been in contact for awhile, but I hadn't seen Marlene in over 40 years!  I'm so glad that we were able to connect.  I hope to return to New Orleans and visit with the rest of this branch of our family one day.

Today, we're on the road with our tour group to Eunice, LA....the beginning of our Cajun Country adventure!

To view more photos of our Louisiana adventures, click on this album. 

New Orleans Antique Shop on Royal St.