8 State Hurricane Kate

I have a room deal that gives me breakfast at my hotel each morning. This morning when I entered the restaurant, three people greeted me. The hostess asked me if I preferred the “bar”. Now I knew I was in New Orleans, but it wasn’t even 8:00 am yet! Then I realized that there was a breakfast bar!The omelet chef seemed eager to make an omelet for me. There was an apparent tiff as two waiters both wanted to serve my table. New Orleans hospitality seems to be still going strong. The kindness, the openness, the eagerness to welcome and serve people hasn’t changed. Made me smile.

As I walked to the meeting site, around the corner and a couple of blocks down Canal Street, I passed the VooDoo Mart Liquor Store and the Palace Cafe. I remembered both from previous visits to NOLA. Some things haven’t changed. I never really understood the voodoo stuff and am not into the seedier side of Bourbon Street. But the people, the spirit, the music of NOLA are unique, not matched anywhere else.

This evening I went to BoW WoW Bingo at the W hotel, just a few blocks from the Holiday Inn. It was a benefit for the LA-SPCA. There I met Deedra of Canine Culture (a New Orleans store with all kinds of great dog stuff) and Lori of the LA-SPCA. I displayed postcards featuring Kate’s book and Kim’s Katrina animal rescue film. Deedra wants to sell the book in her store, which looks like a really cool place). She had items from her store for sale tonight, including “Life is Good” things. She took some postcards back to the store with her. Lori was very nice too and she offered to look up the old records for the LA-SPCA number that Kate had around her neck when she came into Lamar-Dixon (0001-1442).

BoW Wow Bingo was lots of fun, with human and dog participants. The bingo caller was the son of George Rodrigue of the Blue Dog art fame. The New Orleans Museum of Art is having a special George Rodrigue event on Saturday, but I have to work. L Some of the bingo prizes were George’s books. I got a free blue dog NOLA pin, which I love. Funny, I happened to be wearing a blue shirt and brown capris, and Deedra was wearing the same colors to go with the event’s “blue dog” theme. She also had plenty of blue merchandise. I found that people don’t pick up the postcards though, so I walked around and handed some out. I couldn’t find my camera tonight, but had my photo taken with Lori by Muttshotz Photography. Everyone here is very nice. It’s good to be back. J

I’m planning to attend Gatsby’s Second Line Parade, a memorial parade for the animals, across the river in Algiers tomorrow. It’s named in memory of Gatsby, the parade founder’s dog, and is another benefit for the LA-SPCA. I wish I’d known about it before so I could have brought and worn my Kate t-shirt. I’ll take her photo and postcards along.

I learned that the second line is a tradition in brass band parades in NOLA. The “first line” of a funeral includes people who are an integral part of the ceremony, such as the family and friends of the deceased. The “second line” originally referred to people who were attracted to the music. Traditionally such people would follow behind the “first line”, and would be offered brightly colored items such as beads and feathers.