I’m still at the convention for my paycheck job. These things mean my time belongs to someone else. There has been a steady stream of networking receptions and things I have to attend.
I had some simple goals as far as returning to NOLA is concerned, and I didn’t get to accomplish them.
One of my bosses likes to ask the hotel staff where the best places to eat are. This is not a good plan, and I had some pretty lousy food as a result. My shrimp po-boy sandwich yesterday day was bland and tasteless. We spent last night at yet another reception, and I played by all the rules. When it ended, I tried to talk some people into taking a cab or an Uber to the ACME Oyster House. They were having none of it.
The night before, one of my bosses wanted to walk to Cafe Du Mond for beignets. He doesn’t drink coffee, but I had a cup of chicory with mine. This is one of the things you do in NOLA. It’s kind of a factory environment though, and there are better beignets around.
One of the attendees from Tennessee wanted to see Lafitte’s, so we walked up there. This put us quite a ways from our hotel. The bar itself is nothing special, but it’s also one of the things you do here.
Another one of my bosses saw us along Bourbon Street and dragged us into a piano bar. It was okay, but I was starting to fade. Standing room only isn’t my thing anymore either.
Tonight was another reception at the Presbètere. This is a museum dedicated to the hurricane. It was really interesting… for about ten minutes. They served drinks, but their idea of bourbon is Jack Daniels. I had one to be polite before leaving.
On trips like this, you usually get one night, or maybe an afternoon to check things out. This was my night. Old What’s Her Face and I came here last year, just for fun. This means I know my way around.
I never got to ACME, but we were impressed by the Royal House, so I stopped in there. They also have chargrilled oysters, so I took my chance.
They really aren’t as good as ACME, but that doesn’t mean they were bad. I had a full order, so they came out on two plates. Apparently, they didn’t invest in plates like the other places. The waitress suggested a dark and stormy hurricane to wash them down with, so I had one of those too.
Once again, I wound up a long damned way from my hotel. I mention this, because I didn’t sleep the first two nights here. I had horrible Charlie horses all night. I expect to have them again tonight, but hey… chargrilled oysters.
Royal street heads back toward my hotel, so that was my route. Old What’s Her Face and I stopped into the Cafe Beignet last year, and their product is better than Cafe Du Monde. I stopped off for dessert and another cup of chicory. It was wonderful.
I love looking in the shops in this part of town. I spotted an antique writing desk that was beautiful. I’d kind of like to have it, but we’re pretty broke right now, and I don’t have anywhere to put it. It was pretty though.
I also spotted a place with a live band. One of the musicians was playing an upright bass. They stopped me at the door, because it was a private event. I’d like to have watched him play for a while, because of Lizzie and The Hat.
Can’t have everything, I suppose.
I am well fed, refreshed by alcohol, and back at the hotel. It’s fairly early, but I’m not as young as I used to be. I’ll finish this post, chug a bunch of water to scare off Charlie and his horses, and call it a night.
I missed some things online, and that’s how it’s going to stay. I’ll pick it back up Sunday, but if I missed something you’d like tweeted out or shared say so and I’ll see what I can do.
Half a day of seminars tomorrow then I head back to Boise.
Craig — Unwrap one of those skinny little hotel bar soaps and slip it underneath the fitted sheet where your legs will be. You won’t have Charlie horses or any other type of leg cramps. I promise.
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A little New Orleans voodoo. I’ll try it. Thanks.
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I wanted to ask, I realize a lot of others may know: but what is NOLA?
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New Orleans, Louisiana. NOLA.
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Ah.
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New Orlean, LA was one of my stops back in the day! Been there! Done that! Good Craig…it is most definitely a ‘drag’ – even though some good things come out of the meetings…at least, I hope, for you! ♥
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Thanks, Billy Ray. It was fine. Better when my wife was with me, but it wasn’t bad at all.
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Hope you’re home safely! All the best! ♥
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Get home sometime tonight.
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Glad you got to have a little fun. I stopped going to Sleuth Fest coz…well…too much networking and elbow rubbing and not enough fun stuff. Plus expenses weren’t covered…except by us.
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It’s been a good trip both from a work and personal standpoint. Not a single corsola spotted so far. Caught several last May.
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Yeah, once gen 3 came out other spawns decreased dramatically. I hit level 40, have a full dex, and ran out of things to do, so I have set it aside. The new quests have done nothing for me. Other things getting done tho. 🙂
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I toned it way back too. I’m not into the gyms and all that involves. Just thought getting this far south I’d give it a try.
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As I’ve never been to NOLA, I liked your look at it. 🙂
Hope the charlie horses keep their distance and you have a safe trip back. In addition to water, bananas are good for staving off leg cramps. I hate those things. Er, not the bananas.
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My wife picked me up some bananas and some vitamin E. I also tried Laurie’s trick from the comments. I never had Charlie horses last night. Might be from the trick???
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Craig — When you go home, take the soap with you and put it under the fitted sheet in your own bed. About once a month, “score” the soap with something like a comb. This “refreshes” it.
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I did some research and scoring was recommended there too. I’ll definitely keep it in mind.
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Good one!
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Sorry you aren’t getting to do a lot of what you wanted. The food and drink look really good though. Sadly, I must admit that I’m a fan of Jack. Most of my friends drink beer, which my stomach doesn’t like. So I have only my own curiosity to guide me with liquor. What’s your favorite brand?
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I like beer, but it fills me up and makes me tired. I have to admit that my favorite isn’t a bourbon either. It’s the “other” Tennessee whiskey, George Dickel #12.
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Beer just makes me feel heavy these days. I’ll have to go looking for that whiskey one day.
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You might like it.
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Have you ever been to Frenchman Street in NOLA? We were there in October and it’s a smaller version of Bourbon St. without the vomit and drunken goofballs.
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A few conventioneers went there, but I didn’t make it. Wish I had now.
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A lil of this and a lil of that. Not too bad, not too good. I’m glad you at least have a fair amount of time on your own.
Oysters. Gah. I really want oysters. May get to have some next month. I dunno. Scheduling is a
Jack is not bourbon. Not to my mouth, anyway.
Sorry about your charlie horses.
I used to work with a guy who had a lot of hospitality work in his background, and he was a foodie — he was marvelous with reading people and making recommendations. I wonder if he went back to hospitality… He sure had a knack.
I haven’t posted anything profound, but my Friday post generated a lot of good comments. It’s really long and I wouldn’t blame you for skippin it 🙂
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I’ll see if I can come around before the first session this morning.
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The last time I was there for a Microsoft convention, I had the good fortune of traveling with a native. We found the good music and food off the beaten path. You know your in a local bar when someone leaned over and told me to order beer in bottles because he didn’t recommend using the glasses in this place as they weren’t washed regularly.
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Now that’s some inside information.
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I have the kind of face that invites people telling me things…or asking for things.
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I know a few like that. I’m the kind they shy away from.
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I feel like I NEVER sleep at my work conventions. So, I feel your pain! And hopefully you’re at least having this lousy food on your job’s dime!!
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Yup, company dime. Last night was really good though. Fairly typical for a work trip. One decent evening.
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Sounds like being in heaven in a straight jacket. I guess that’s why they call it work. Safe travels.
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Fair description. Someday, I might live long enough to retire.
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Ha ha ha. My feelings exactly the last two years of work.
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A long work trip to NOLA sounds like torture in some respects, from the ‘authentic’ experience perspective. Especially when you’ve been there on your own free time. 😦
Still, cutting free for a time on your own sounds like it did you a power of good – Charley Horses aside! 😉
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It was a nice evening, and one is about all that’s allowed on a work trip.
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Glad you got one night to do your own thing. I remember trips by the food I ate in a city:) Happy you got your oysters!
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That’s a good way to track places.
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I’ve never heard of the soap trick … there you go, learned something new today. 🙂
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Me either, but it doesn’t cost much to try it.
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A bad meal in NOLA often beats a good meal elsewhere. The oysters and beignets looked delicious!
I hope you’re enjoying yourself (as much as work will allow). I’ve definitely missed you online. Safe travels back!
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It was a typical work trip. I wrangled one night to do something. Now I’m behind on everything, and my family is making demands on my only day off.
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Sounds about right. Don’t work too hard trying to catch up!
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Thanks.
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You covered one of my favorite NOLA places – LaFittes. I just love the history of it and I got some AMAZING orb pictures around it one night. 🙂 My favorite place and not to be missed is the Oceana Grill. I had the best Oyster Po’Boy and Bloody Mary there. 🙂 Strangely, I have heard Laurie Buchanan’s soap remedy for leg cramps before. You’ll have to let us know if it worked. 🙂
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I think we talked about your orb pictures when I went there last year. Very cool. I tried Laurie’s trick and did not get Charlie horses. Don’t know if that was what worked, or all the water I drank.
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My son and his girlfriend were in NOLA over spring break. She wasn’t crazy about oysters until discovering chargrilled – then she couldn’t get enough. They found a great place by asking a local bartender – they know everything.
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I like oysters some ways, but not others. I’ve never tried a raw one. Bartenders might be a better resource than hotel staff.
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