NOLA Thanksgiving

Dear George, 

We are just back from an eight-day vacation in New Orleans with our sweet family: our son J, our daughter-in-law K, and our grandkids V and L.  Also K’s dad Ted had just arrived from Michigan, and her mom Linda had recently moved from Michigan to the Esplanade apartments at City Park.  This was the first time that all four grandparents had been together with the grandchildren — a special family occasion.  

We arrived on Monday, and Tuesday was Grandparents Day at St. Andrews School.  Here are the third and fourth graders doing a choral number.  Our grandson L in the red shirt is just to the right of the man in the checkered shirt, and our granddaughter V is three kids to his left.  Needless to say, we were enthralled with the children’s performances.  

Back at the house I was happy to spend time with the family dogs, Iko and L’il Paws, and I felt that Cody the cat was becoming friendly. 

On Thanksgiving Day we went to the fairgrounds for the horse races.  The races were good, but even better were all the New Orleans folk decked out in costumes. 

J and K’s friend Katie had a big Thanksgiving party.  Here V begins the collective reading of a poem about New Orleans.  

We had many good New Orleans meals during our stay.  This is Pier 424 Seafood Market on Bourbon Street.  Other highlights included NOLA (an Emiral Lagasse restaurant), Carmo’s (Caribbean), Felipe’s Taqueria, Desire, Cafe Beignet,  and, at home, J’s delicious beef brisket. 

I think Katja ate about 72 raw oysters during our stay.  Here we are at our favorite place, the Desire Oyster Bar in the Hotel Sonesta. 

We visited the French Quarter 3 or 4 times, including this nighttime scene on Bourbon Street. 

J took us to the Tulane-Navy football game.  We left when it appeared to be a Tulane blowout, but they wound up winning in a squeaker. 

We went to the new Pacific wing at the World War II Museum, and it was a powerful experience, particularly since my dad had been stationed there.     

Linda had us over for “game night” at her apartment complex.  I think it was my first time participating in three generations of a family playing poker and Trivial Pursuit.  Our grandson L was the best poker player.  Lots of fun.  

We love the New Orleans Art Museum,  The main exhibit this time was the Orleans Collection, originally assembled by Philippe II, the Duke of Orleans.

We also took in the movies: “Green Book” (terrific) and “Instant Family” (also good). 

Every time we visit New Orleans Katja is eager to go to Saks, which she claims is much better in NOLA than in Cincinnati. 

One of my favorite things about New Orleans is taking the Canal Street trolley from J and K’s house in Mid-City to the French Quarter.  It not only provides a two-mile tour of Canal Street, but the fee is a mere forty cents for seniors. 

We had our last family dinner out at Katie’s Restaurant in Mid-City.  Ted and I shared a muffeleta, and even half  a muffelata was too much for us.

The Ogden Museum of Southern Art is always a treat.  This time, bayou oil paintings by Newton Howard and Southern Photography.  Plus a duck blind for the clientele to explore.

Then, before we knew it, we were back in Cincinnati, greeted by a Wooly Mammoth in the airport.  Many thanks to J and K, Linda and Ted, for a happy family get-together.    

Love, 

Dave