Delectable Excursions: Wine, Cheese-its, and NOLA on my own

The conference was over today about 1:30. Stephanie is gone, my new buddies from Community are not feelin it and I am on my own! Sort of feels like Paris!

I took off my nylon slip and wore a cool linen dress and sandals, hair up, ready to wander, experience and maybe paint! Off I went east on Chartres St.

There is music and entertainment everywhere!

Finally I hit Jackson square, be still my nascent artists heart! I had flashbacks to Montmatre,

there is art circling the iron gates to the square. I oogled, went into a linen shop I knew from times gone by (and became a bit excited). Wandered, oogled, regarded, and generally pleasured in the art.

But is was well past lunch and I had a date with Cafe Du Monde, a requisite even though I did not really need that sort of lunch. Ever participate in holding spots, I stood there in the heat and five women walked up and joined the two in front of me,

REALLY? But it was good, all of it,

the beignet and the cafe au lait, the atmosphere and just being there.

Coming out of Cafe Du Monde I became enamored with vulvar art, yes you read it right. Parts and pieces there artistically, for the world to see. Spelled out so people can really understand, not have myths and old wives tales to go on! I loved it. It made me think of my friend Cara. So We chatted, I shared that I am a SANE, and she said that several people had stopped by.

She said she often gets run off for indecencies, REALLY, I really do fail to understand why we are so embarrassed and ashamed of these wonderful bodies our creator has made. We chatted for a while and I really enjoy her efforts to demystify anatomy. We all have it after all.

So I wandered into Jackson square, sat down next a fellow who was having a afternoon siesta,, alcohol or heat induces, I was not sure, but he was harmless. AND I painted the Bacillica Cathedral of St Louis King of France.

In spite of a woman trying to run everyone out of the park for a wedding, I just ignored her. I figured if she got real serious I could leave, but I got my painting done except for the pen work. It was pleasant, hot, but nice to paint, I can’t wait until or trip to Quarrante! Walking home i again enjoyed the atmosphere, the music, (I found Joes stuff!), the heat, the vibe. There was a blue dog wanna be,

an official parade complete with brass music,

stores with French names and a store full of VERY expensive Limoges boxes.

So it is now 5 PM, I am cooler, sipping wine and munching on cheese-its form the plane. Considering my options for dinner, Coud do Brennans again, Could do Coterie again, or could try something new, that could require a taxi ride. Hmmmm problems, problems. La Vie C’est bon!

I went back to Brennans, and I was treated like a Princess (Ya know, Princess Caroline?) My meal was wonderful

and tonight I had the same starter

and dessert

but tonight the short ribs accompanied with Brussels sprouts Rémoulade. I now officially like Brussels sprouts!

The wine I had with my meal was liquid velvet ( a Malbec-Cab blend) and got even better when I found out that they had comped my wine just because I had come back!