The TIN ROOF BLOWDOWN by James Lee Burke

With hurricanes approaching New Orleans, it seemed appropriate to mention Burke’s excellent novel of Katrina and its aftermath,The Tin Roof Blowdown (Dave Robicheaux Mysteries) which he somehow managed to temper within the confines of a Dave Robicheaux mystery. There is some powerful writing and plenty of truth told and dispensed. An enjoyable mystery, a powerful […]

IRMA THOMAS: I’M A BELIEVER

There’s a good interview with Irma Thomas, New Orleans’ Queen of Soul, in the July/August issue of THE BELIEVER, which is also their music issue. Thomas talks about her early brush with fame but not success, about having to take a job at Montgomery Ward, about Katrina before during and after, about her closing her […]

Dr. John’s great line

You might think that I’m using any excuse to showcase this photo of me and Dr. Johnand you would be right! But I do have a story to tell. When I met Dr. John last Wednesday night  outside Tipitina’s in New Orleans, he asked where I was from. “Los Angeles,” I told him “I know […]

Dr. John’s great line

You might think that I’m using any excuse to showcase this photo of me and Dr. Johnand you would be right! But I do have a story to tell. When I met Dr. John last Wednesday night  outside Tipitina’s in New Orleans, he asked where I was from. “Los Angeles,” I told him “I know […]

One more photo from New Orleans

visit to the 9th ward: where New Orleans is at

Three years ago in the summer Katrina devastated New Orleans. The following May a group of us went to New Orleans for Jazzfest to support a city we loved by being tourists, by spending money in its restaurant and hotels, in its clubs and stores by attending Jazzfest. At that time we toured the 9th […]

Some final notes on Jazzfest weekend

Saturday night found all of us wandering around Frenchmen Street, visiting the clubs there, from the Dragon’s Den where a combo of guy on mac, guy on drums and guy on turntable jammed together.Over at the Blue Nile there was a great band called Toubab Krewe — a bunch of white guys playing exotic African […]

Best meal: John Besh’s August

This deserves more detail but just want to put it out there: this comes as no surprise because everyone says so, but the best restaurant right now in New Orleans (or thus far in my eating adventures) is August. I will go in greater detail at a later date but every course was fantastic as […]

Best meal: John Besh’s August

This deserves more detail but just want to put it out there: this comes as no surprise because everyone says so, but the best restaurant right now in New Orleans (or thus far in my eating adventures) is August. I will go in greater detail at a later date but every course was fantastic as […]

Jazzfest day 3: the sun comes out

Despite early morning rains, the sun came out as did the people to play at Jazzfest People at Jazzfest were dancing in the mud Saw quite a few great bands there were the jazz hounds of Tokyo a traditional New Orleans jazz band — straight from Tokyo Spent some time in the gospel tent Perhaps […]