Thursday, May 23, 2019

Book Lovers Con 2019 - Part 2



I flew into New Orleans a day early so I'd have time to explore the city a bit. I've been there once before but it was a very long time ago (I was 18) and I was with my family so last week's experience was a bit different. I set out with different groups of friends throughout the week for food, shopping, food, touring, exploring, and, of course, food. Here are a few of the sights and sounds we discovered.





One of the beautiful mansions in the Garden District. 










Chargrilled oysters at Acme Oyster House. I don't care for raw oysters but these babies were delicious!












Found this cool light fixture in a shoe shop.














And shoes. We also found cool shoes. 












I indulged my love of fresh seafood whenever I could. These beauties were my lunch as the Market Cafe in the French Quarter. Lunch in their open-air seating area was accompanied by live jazz, as meals in New Orleans often are.






A little music for our dining pleasure. 











Hey, look! I have my own coffee! 













So much fascinating architecture in this city. 











Beignets and cafe au lait at Cafe Du Monde in the French Quarter is a must. We made several visits. (with friends Rebekah, Monique, and Linda)







The beautiful chandelier over our table at the Cellar Door where we ate dinner Tuesday night. It looks like it could have graced the entry hall of a brothel (which the restaurant used to be), am I right? 









The view from our hotel room. The Mercedes Benz Superdome was like our very own spaceship sized nightlight. With a different color every night!










Even the horses are sparkly! 














More French Quarter architecture. I love the flower-lined balconies. 












Statuary is something else you see a lot of in New Orleans.














After all the walking, one needs sustenance. This flourless chocolate cake with blueberries and ice cream was fabulous!











Jackson Square by night. So lovely and so much history. This is the site where the Louisiana Purchase was signed in 1803.











One of the many above-ground cemeteries in the city.










Another Garden District mansion. 









Commander's Palace, a colorful addition to the Garden District and one of the most renowned restaurants in the city.







A really cool cornstalk fence surrounding one of the Garden District mansions. The 9800 sq. ft. home was build in 1860. The owner commissioned the fence to help his Iowa born wife feel more at home. 






In New Orleans, they celebrate wall art. And don't call it graffiti.










Another Garden District mansion. I sure would have loved seeing the inside of one!









Loretta's in the French Market. Best pralines in the city (in my opinion) and darn good beignets too, according to my friends. 










Moonlight on the Mississipi. What a beautiful way to bring my stay in New Orleans to an end.











One of the best cocktails I've ever had. Tanqueray No. Ten gin, simple syrup, mint leaves, and fresh lemon juice. I only had one but I wanted more! Of course, then my friends would have had to carry me back to the room and we'd have videos of a different sort. ;-)







We saw three separate wedding parties dancing through the streets of the French Quarter Saturday night. So. Much. Fun.







What's your favorite dessert? Favorite drink?

Would you be up for dancing through the streets following a wedding? 

Have you ever eaten in a restaurant with a scandalous history? 

Two randomly chosen people who leave a comment before 11:00 PM, May 24 will each receive a package of books and swag from my conference stash. 



36 comments:

  1. I'm not sure I could choose one favorite dessert--I kind of love them all, from cheesecake to chocolate torte, from beignets to creme brulee... I'm not sure I have a favorite drink either, but I tend to enjoy the fruity ones ;)

    Dancing in the streets? Possibly, if it was how everyone was celebrating :)

    And I don't think I've been aware of a restaurant's scandalous history, but I'd imagine yes--likely loads of restaurants have some scandal in their pasts!

    Thanks for taking us along with on some of your travels, PJ! Love seeing all these photos of sights and eats!

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    1. I think dancing in the streets would be fun but not in some of those shoes I saw the women wearing!

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  2. I visited New Orleans almost 50 yrs. ago. My husband was stationed in Gulfport, MS. we had only a couple of afternoons there but what fun. Hurricanes, Antoines and lots of sights. I would love to go back. Love cheesecake and dancing in the streets sounds like fun.

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    1. Cheesecake is one of my weaknesses. Our RWA hotel in NYC this summer is next to a Junior's restaurant. I have no doubt there will be multiple cheesecake visits. ;-)

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  3. Dancing in the streets, maybe.
    Favorite drink - some kind of mocha drink.
    Favorite dessert -chocolate cream pie or just about any type of pie.

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    1. I make a fierce from scratch chocolate cream pie. So good! :)

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  4. Favorite dessert is flourless chocolate cake with raspberry sauce and lightly sweetened whipped cream. Favorite drink is single malt.
    I would be up for dancing through the streets following a wedding but would have to plan accordingly with my footwear.
    Have not eaten in a restaurant with a scandalous history, to my knowledge.
    Have really enjoyed seeing all of the photos and reading through your Book Lovers Con posts!

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  5. At the Faery and Fantasy Gathering my dessert was a flourless chocolate cake with raspberry sauce. I may have moaned and groaned with pleasure as I ate it. lol

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  6. My favorite dessert is a delectable and moist apple cake made with love. My favorite drink is tea with lemon. I would dance all night long.
    A restaurant with a scandalous history sounds intriguing.

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    1. I love jazz so, of course, I enjoyed the music. It's everywhere in NOLA!

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  7. Cheesecake!!!! And would love to do the dancing in the street with my walker..lol Looks like everyone had fun !!

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    1. We saw three separate wedding "Second Lines" (the line of people that follows the musicians) that night. Everyone was all smiles!

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  8. Chocolate Mousse. Soothing and light. Dancing would be wonderful. I would enjoy visiting a notorious restaurant.

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    1. Chocolate Mousse is a special occasion favorite treat for me. I make one with Kahlua that is delicious!

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  9. Oh WOW! So many choices, so little time! How about 'all of the above'...yes to everything. So much fun...enough to fill a lifetime of memories. That trip sounds fabulous. I'm green with envy!

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    1. It was so much fun, Karen. As I said in the post, I'd been to NOLA once before as a teen but visiting as an adult is a much better experience! :)

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  10. I love fresh cream trifle, fresh cream cakes, iced buns, jam doughnuts, in fact, anything sweet. I plan on stuffing my face with them when I go home in July for a visit.

    I've never tried oysters, but those char-grilled ones look nice. I like seafood, and I enjoy cockles with lots of vinegar and black pepper on them. I wish that we could get them here. I love all the pictures that you shared.

    I wouldn't get much dancing done as I have breathing problems, but I think it would be a lot of fun to watch everybody else dancing.

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    1. I didn't do much dancing as I have bad knees but, as you said, it was a lot of fun watching!

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  11. My favorite dessert is chocolate angel food cake with whipped chocolate icing.

    Favorite drink Whiskey Old Fashioned sweet.

    I think it would be a lot of fun to dance in the street following a wedding. People do polkas here on the football field after college games.

    Restaurant with a scandalous history...speakeasy in Chicago.

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    1. I'm certain there are plenty of stories to be told in a former Chicago speakeasy!

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  12. My favorite drink is tea and my favorite dessert is cookies.

    I have never been to New Orleans and it would be fun to follow a street wedding.

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    1. Is there anything better than fresh from the oven cookies? Bet you can't eat just one! :)

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  13. I'm from the Caribbean where we dance through the streets all the time whether its for a wedding or carnival.

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  14. I worked in New Orleans for a little more than 9 months after Katrina. One room where I stayed for quite some time had the same view of the Superdome. I loved the bread pudding from there. I loved the houses all over the place. I love sea food so it was a good place for me.

    There was a time when dancing in the streets was part of my repertoire, but alas, no more.

    Thanks for the walk down memory lane. You have made my day.

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  15. Thank you so much for sharing New Orleans with us PJ! I have never been and it looks like I would love it! As for my favorite drink it's coffee! I love all kinds of sweets but I'm partial to Italian cookies and pastries!💜

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  16. Favorite dessert is chocolate bourbon pecan pie, and favorite drink is Jack and Coke.
    I would most definitely dance in the street especially after having a jack and coke.😉
    Haven’t eating at a restaurant with a scandalous history, but would love too. I’ll have to research that for my next vacation.

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  17. Thanks for sharing New Orleans with us. I've never been but would love to go. I could see me walking with my walker following a wedding. No restaurant with a scandalous history. The drink you showed sounds amazing! y favorite is an Amaretto stone sour. Favorite dessert is chocolate lava cake.

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  18. New Orleans is such a fascinating city full of beauty and history. She is a survivor, too, since so many hurricanes have come through.

    There are some wonderful restaurants in New Orleans. I had a bread pudding that was to die
    for. Bread pudding is now one of my favorite desserts.

    A favorite drink is Amaretto Sour. I also like peach daiquiris. With enough of those, I might be willing to dance in the streets!

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  19. I haven't been to New Orleans since I was 18 and a group of us went for the National Beta Club convention. Most of us had just graduated from high school and were ready to party since the drinking age was still 18 in New Orleans and our chaperones were ok as long as we didn't let the kids were were still in school indulge. I learned I dislike Huricanes (the drink) but I love Beignets (from Cafe du Monde) and fried crab claws (from Commander's Palace).

    My favorite mixed drink is a Mexican Martini, but I'm happy to drink Margaritias when Mexican Martinis are not available. My favorite desert is anything with chocolate. If it combines fruit and chocolate even better. I have had a couple meals in scandalous restaurants.

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  20. I've never been to New Orleans and so appreciate seeing it through your eyes & pictures. I've eaten in a restaurant that was once a speakeasy. Too many yummy desserts to pick just one, but I love anything chocolate. Thanks for the chance PJ.

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  21. My favorite dessert is anything sweet.
    I don't drink but I'm an iced tea girl
    I would definitely be dancing in the street.
    I've never been to a restaurant with a scandalous history.

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  22. I make a mean flourless chocolate cake with chocolate ganache.

    Love iced tea.

    I once danced the Two-Step on Main St in my hometown.

    In my hometown, The Deer Park Tavern, once a hotel, is famous because Poe frequented there as he traveled up/down the East Coast. There's a raven encased in a niche in the wall to honor him even though he allegedly cursed the building. Other famous guests: Mason and Dixon, George Washington, and it's rumored to have been a stop on the Underground Railroad.

    denise

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  23. It looks like you were able to fit in a lot of sightseeing. That flourless chocolate cake with ice cream looks good.

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  24. I love a dark chocolate dessert, but also a creme brulee. Favorite drink is a Margaritta.
    Looks like your trip was a lot of fun - thanks for sharing the pictures!

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