Ode to Amazing Roomates.

I have to admit, I have good luck with roommates.  I don't know what it is.  One of my best friends (Nicholas, you know who you are), came out of a Craigslist sublet.  Finding a good roommate in a city close to home is one thing, but finding good roommates in a city, across the country from anyone you know, makes you first, breath a sigh of relief, and then dance for joy.

I have two roommates in this Uptown New Orleans apartment, Dani Johnson and Al Page.  Dani has lived here for almost 8 years and her dad put it best, "My daughter will stay until the ocean won't let her."  She was born to live in New Orleans and doesn't mind sharing some of its amazing secrets with me.

Al on the other hand is relatively new to town and attends Tulane Law School.  Despite being new she already knows a lot of interesting people and places, the types of places I might hesitate going to at first.  It is a breath of fresh air.  She also love to talk about human rights and human justice issues... you think we have a lot to talk about??  haha.

Above all, you know you have good friends as your roommates, when they treat you right on your birthday.  I had only been here here for a month on my birthday, and was pretty homesick, but they made sure I had a wonderful, home-cooked breakfast and dinner.

On a warm spring night, Al decided to "Occupy Spring" on our front balcony with a great outdoor fort.

Al's Occupy comrades.

Dani with the perfect hat for her, listens on to music at the Lafayette Music Festival.

Birthday breakfast... did I mention that Dani can really cook!

Birthday dinner on our balcony.  

St. Patrick's Day: Just another excuse to celebrate.

You have not been to a parade if you haven't been to New Orleans.  I think these kids have perfected the art of marching yourself down the street on a float, scantily clad, drunker than necessary, with the perfect jam blaring out of your speakers.  Everyone is walking around with an open container, including some of the cops I saw.

For St. Patricks day, no one got away with just green socks or a green headband.  People were DECKED OUT.  I was impressed.  From the floats, they didn't throw the traditional beads, but instead cabbages and potatoes.  No, seriously, they did and it was awesome.

I wish I had a picture of the cops also consuming the libations, but instead I have exhibit A of the St. Patty's Day attire I saw.

Party time.  Literally a bar on wheels, just jamming down the street in the parade.

A Week of Firsts

I feel like there can't be too many times in life where you can claim you did something new every day for a week and you didn't even try. I can't say enough that New Orleans is like no other place I have been in the United States. This little island, away from the rest, where there is an abundance of artistic expressions, hot sweaty nights, dark smokey bars, and almost overwhelming celebration. The streets have ample tree coverage and the trees are so important to the city that they would rather have ruined streets than remove the roots to repair. Nothing really makes sense, but you just accept what is. North/South/East/West do not work and I am finding myself saying lake side, river side, uptown and downtown to express locations. I was also lucky enough to have some visitors from the West (and still the best) Coast:

New friends already visiting me down south.  It was so good to have both Nat's in town for a couple of days.. 

Took the Nat's here and discovered my new favorite place to eat.  If the south can have this good of mac n cheese all the time, I think I'll survive.

An example of the bizarre, yet beautiful decay in New Orleans.

Silhouettes at the Fly, a spot on the Mississippi River where people bbq and enjoy a nice little Sunday...

Being a new kid, you have to do a lot of things by yourself.  So, I marched myself down to Cafe Du Monde and indulged in my own plate of beignets with a mug of their signature coffee.

With my stomach full of beignets, I walked around in awe of the French Quarter... Disneyland knew what they were talking about, haha.  I feel like they even have the smell down right.  Gaslamps galore with horse drawn carriages, this place really is a sight to see.  But I will never forget this evening because as I snuck towards the music I heard in the distance, I suddenly and unexpectedly found myself in the middle of Bourbon Street, the infamous street of sin.  Even on a Tuesday night there are a lot of people.

A New Home in New Orleans

I finally made it here.  After over 2,200 miles, land and water (lots of water in Louisiana), I arrived on New Orleans front doorstep, literally.  It didn't happen without a last minute hitch (locked myself out of my car at a gas station just 30 miles north of N.O.), but I rolled up to a house with two welcoming roommates.

I'm living in Uptown, near Tulane University.  Not having ever been to New Orleans before, I searched out a "safer" neighborhood in town, and now find myself in the neighborhood full of mansions.  It is STILL half the price of my place in San Francisco.  Go figure.

My ONE friend (ok, one of two) that I came here knowing, Adam Kronenberg, did a great friend deed in taking me on a bike tour of my new neighborhood.  I live near a great park to run in.  The streets are lined with oaks.  A creamery with amazing ice cream is within 5 minutes of my house... I think I'll stay awhile.

New home on General Pershing Street.

Representing SLO with a morning cup of coffee in my Linnea's mug.

I thought I would miss Chips, our neighborhood cat in SF, but I have a new friend
in a neighborhood Katrina survivor.  I have officially started calling him Chips too.

That's Right You're not from Texas... Texas Wants you Anyway

I hate to say it, but being from California, I have never looked at Texas as a great state.  Now that I have been there a second time, I have to say that NORTHERN Texas is NOT the place to be, but south is great.

I would even go so far to say that Austin is one of the best cities in the United States.  It has a rich live music culture, thriving record and bookstores, food trucks galore, and is beautifully lit at night, this city has a lot going for it.    

It was a great Texan visit.  A reunion with two of my best high school friends:  Christina in Austin and Dana in Gruene (little town south of Austin).  Great to see Christina thriving in school (isn't she always) and loving her home city of two years.  Finally meeting Dana and her two boys, Colby and Rylan was such a good time.  First of all Rylan is hysterical.  He and I had a blast together (his world curiosity is contagious).  It was amazing to see an old friend so happy and being such a great mom.  

And finally, I got to see Mag and Trav in their element.  It was a long overdue visit to Maggie's family's lake house and I got to spend time with them, Mag's mom, Katie, and their bulldog Abby.  I can't believe I didn't take pictures at the lake house, but it was a few days full of delicious food, state park hikes, long conversations on the porch, laughter, board games... you know, the kind of time you would love to have with best buds.  

Mag and Trav had just gotten back from South American adventures and are about to embark on a 5 month plus hike on the Pacific Crest Trail from the Mexico border to the Canadian border by way of the Sierra mountains.  Quite the epic explorers, you can visit their well-written travels here.

Texas was the last stop before New Orleans!

Little Colby barefoot

Rylan's contagious curiosity... What is he looking at?

A photo op we couldn't resist (you can tell he hates getting his
picture taken).

A proper Dixie Thicks reunion.

Answering big questions about the world.. 

Clive Bar on Davis and Rainey Street in Austin.  Ideal bar to film in...

Some HDR photo experimenting with Clive Bar light fixtures.

Texas was the last stop before New Orleans!

Santa Fe, If I Found you Would you let me Come and Stay..

Newsies?  Anyone?  From the moment I heard Christian Bale sing about this beloved town, I knew I had to make it there someday.

My dad left me in Albuquerque to fly back to California, and I suddenly realized I was facing my new future in New Orleans dead on.  Why not prolong the journey a little longer?  My very good friend, Brendan, and I wanted to meet up somewhere on the road.  He was coming from Colorado Springs, CO and we both decided the planned Amarillo, TX meeting place wouldn't suffice for the epic evening.  Santa Fe it was.

If you haven't been to Santa Fe before, it is well worth the trip.  The streets are lined with cozy adobes and the town center is lively with shops, many filled with beautiful Native American art pieces.  Since I had an hour or two to kill before Brendan arrived, I started at the town park, and wandered to get a good cup of coffee.  The local recommendation was Holy Spirit Espresso.  The gem that owned this shop was a sun weathered hippie with a goofy smile and a contagious laugh (thank the lord you will find him featured on the website).  In his own, convoluted way he gave me directions to a nearby bookstore where I could find some good information to get acquainted with the town.

While in the bookstore, I met the most amazing friend couple, Alex and Stevie.  They are good friends from college who are moving to the American cities/towns they always dreamed of.  Santa Fe today and New Orleans in 6 months!  We had a lot to talk about and they got me to thinking of who I have in my life that I could suggest a cross country move to and they would be down for the ride... Despite only knowing them for a good hour, Stevie insisted that I stay with them if my plans for the night fell through.  I was grateful for good people on the road.. Hopefully I will meet them in New Orleans.

I scoped out a rooftop pizzaria/brewery to meet Brenden at.  The reunion was full of laughter, stories, fresh beer, and pizza till our bellies were full.  We then wandered the southwestern streets for a bit, danced with his puppy dog, Emmylou, and found a place to stay the night.  Bob, our new friend at the front desk, recommended Maria's  for dinner.  After watching some of the Academy Awards (RANGO WON!!) we headed down to Maria's for celebratory margaritas (you should see their margarita menu), and incredible food.  I also bet against restaurant staff for the rest of the award winners... and won.

Onto more Santa Fe night wanderings, an underground dive bar, and more local friends.  Christian Bale, you knew what you were talking about.

Town Park.

Brendan overlooking the park (yes, I made him pose).

Holy Spirit Espresso by night.

Double exposure experiments.

Underground Matador bar.

Southwestern light inspirations. 

New record friend who was just jammin' the good stuff at Matador.

Alburquerque: the Desert up and Coming

I have to be honest and say that I never thought much of Alburquerque, NM.  I was wrong.  It is definitely an up and coming town... in areas.  It is a big city surrounded by desert mountains in the day and full of neon lights by night.

We stayed in the Nob Hill district near the university that was full of good food and live music.  Since it was our last night on the road together, we decided to see what the town was about.  We found some good south western mexican cuisine, and then followed the sound to a sweet bar/restaurant, Scalo, with an amazing band.