Monthly Archives: December 2008

New Orleans: Day 5

30 Tuesday Dec 2008

Posted by in Art, New Orleans

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Houmas House - Plantation

Houmus House - Plantation

Original Manet

Original Mamet

We ended our trip with a plantation tour of the Houmus House.  The Houmus was an indian tribe located in Louisiana.  This house was amazing because the owner lives in it and allows everyone to touch the furniture. It was decorated to the hilt with Christmas decorations.  We had a really entertaining guide that made the tour really enjoyable. There were a Gaugin and a Mamet hanging on the walls for all to see.  I took the photo of the Mamet before I knew it was one. In total there was $6.5 million worth of antiquities and art in the 17,000 sq. foot house.

Another unique feature of the house is that the owner threw a lovely wedding for his dogs, Sam and Grace at the plantation.  They had 400 guests.  Sam & Grace even had a pre-nup – although from the looks of it, Grace gets to keep just about everything. Here’s the happy couple.

New Orleans: Day 4

29 Monday Dec 2008

Posted by in Art, food, New Orleans

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New Orleans street sign

New Orleans street sign

I struggled with which photo to post.  It was between featuring this street sign and a photo of chocolate, peanut butter pie from Franky & Johnny’s Po-Boys.  They are both “art.”

Obviously we like food, or we wouldn’t have started out with a catfish po-boy for breakfast at Johnny’s Po-Boy – where even his “failures are edible.”  Joy woke up with a migraine that prevented her from joining us.  We were shut out on Day 2 when we tried to eat at Johnny’s – so PR, Al and I were determined to get a po-boy this morning.  I’m pretty sure ours tasted better than the British couple’s hot dogs and chili po-boy.  But to each his own.

I started this trip out by commenting – okay almost complaining about the number of times we consumed food.  I thought it was too much.  But I came around and embraced it like pig to mud.  I was ready to roll in it – every damn spoonful was good.  And so were the rice and beans.

We ended the day with an amazing dinner of crab legs at Mike & Linda’s house.

Day 3: New Orleans

28 Sunday Dec 2008

Posted by in Art, New Orleans

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Orange Crush Exhibit

Orange Crush Exhibit

We saw this really cool exhibit that spanned three stories of a Contemporary Art Center.  For some reason, I really liked these “Orange Crush” bottles.

We ended the evening at one of Vince’s artist friend’s home for a impromptu and AMAZING dinner.  The space was incredible (lots of exposed wood and candles), the food was superb and the company was lots of fun!  I can’t help myself, I must post the at least one photo of the baked brie with figs!

Day 2: New Orleans Prospect One

27 Saturday Dec 2008

Posted by in Art, New Orleans

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Prospect 1: Art Installation

Prospect 1: Art Installation

We came into town to experience Prospect 1 – the largest biennial of international contemporary art ever organized in the United States, opened to the public on November 1, 2008 in museums, historic buildings and found sites throughout New Orleans.

We started the morning with breakfast with our friends Mike Brown and Linda Green – with traditional grits and creole eggs.  YUM!  I didn’t think they could put any more butter in the grits, but I was proven wrong later that night at dinner.  For more photos of the day, go to my gallery

We saw a lot several interesting installations.

The vault in the photo above was one.  It was filled with “100 dollar bills” that school children had created.  The hope is to exchange those bills for real ones and the money will be used to improve drinking water.  Al, Joy and I created our own “100 bills”

Interestingly  enough, this exhibit was not an official “piece” of the Prospect 1, but it was adjacent to some official exhibits.

I love how the kids looked at both historical figures, pop culture and other images to decorate their bills.

Vault filled with $100 bills

Vault filled with $100 bills

Day 1: New Orleans

26 Friday Dec 2008

Posted by in food, New Orleans

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Charbroiled oysters

Charbroiled oysters y'all

happy oyster lovers

happy oyster lovers

We had a rough start today.  I realized that I didn’t have my drivers license while standing in the security line.  Doh!  I cleaned out my wallet and accidently took out the license.  Luckily we live close and Al’s dad came and got me and we went home to retrieve the license.  Whole ordeal took about 15 minutes, but felt like an eternity.

Once we got to New Orleans – we found that there were no rental cars in inventory.  So we waited 1.5 hours for a car.  There were some entertaining moments while waiting.  A man asked for some Hennessy and a mattress as compensation for waiting – “gimme dat and I be happy”.  The staff offered hot dogs instead.  He countered with “I’m done with the hot dogs, gimme some Popeye’s Chicken!”  In the end, he settled for a rental car.

Once we got the car, we happily when to Dragos for some charbroiled oysters. There really s nothing like it – oysters slathered with butter, wine, garlic and Parmesan cheese.  Charbroiled to perfection.  We ordered 3 dozen for the five of us (PR, Joy, Vince, Al and me).  It wasn’t enough.  Alas, by the time we ordered another dozen, the kitchen was closed.  But all in all, we were all happy!

Arancina aka Sicilian rice balls

17 Wednesday Dec 2008

Posted by in food, Husband

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Crsipy on the outside

Crsipy on the outside

gooey, melted cheese on the inside

gooey, melted cheese on the inside

The Silician Chef

The Silician Chef

Today Al and I made a test batch of our famous Arrancina. These balls of rice mixed with egg, cheese and butter are stuffed with a filling then rolled in flour, egg and breadcrumbs.  To make the a golden orange color like “oranges” or arrancina – we deep fry them.  We’re making the real things for Christmas Eve.  This delicacy is not for the faint of heart.

Here’s to my dad

14 Sunday Dec 2008

Posted by in Family

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1972, dad and me in front of our house in Ames

1972, dad and me in front of our house in Ames

Today is the third anniversary of his death.  It’s still weird to think he’s gone, but it almost seems so long ago.  So much has happened in our lives since he passed.

Hope he is in peace.  Love you dad.

Potash visits LA on his way to the South Pole

12 Friday Dec 2008

Posted by in friends

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Michael & Noah Potash with the Qs

Michael & Noah Potash with the Qs

from L to R: Potash, Al, Paul

Brooklyn. From L to R: Potash, Al, Paul

I have heard Al and his family recount many adventures with Michael Potash.  Potash was an integral part of growing up in Brooklyn and Breezy Point. The stories and the photo on the left represented everything I knew of this fun-loving, smart kid.

I was thrilled to hear he was making a 2-hour stop over in LA on his way to the South Pole.  He and his son, Noah, were on their way to setting up some research in the South Pole.  We got lucky and they missed their connecting flight – causing them to stay over-night in LA at our house.  We had a great lunch together.

Happy Anniversary Mary Ann & Al

06 Saturday Dec 2008

Posted by in Family

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Happy 50 years!

Happy 50 years!

Their wedding photo

Their wedding photo

Today Mary Ann & Al celebrated their 50th anniversary – to the day.  It was a great day filled with laughter and tears.  Thanks to Carl for taking a great photo of “newlyweds.”  Cathy came up with a great idea to feature wedding photos of many of our guests. Noi and John drove a two-layer cake up from San Diego! Paul gave a great toast as did PR, JD and Albie.  The Sperrazzo family did a hilarious version of Summer Lovin’ (written by Jessica and Cathy) and we wrapped up the afternoon with a memory-filled slide show. Check out some photos from the day.

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