'Nawlins

Having a great time in New Orleans. Staying in the French Quarter which is touristy, but I gotta say, I love the old brick buildings and all the balconies. I totally want a NO style house - all window and balconies and courtyards. Went to Audubon Park yesterday, it's like NO's Central Park. Then made the mistake of walking back to the French Quarter which was about a 3 hour walk back along Magazine Street. Great area for shops and restaurants if you are ever down here.

Turns out one of my friends from college lives down here, working for Lockheed, so I met up with her and her frends tonight and hit the local hangouts. So much fun. I don't know if I could ever live here, but it's a great place to visit if you like food and live music. Damn never every place has live music every night which is so great. You must go to Pat O'Brien's if you are in NO. Two copper plated pianos, a great staff, and a huge music selection. Not to be missed. Other suggestions:

• Red Fish Grill - touristy restaurant in the FQ, but good food. The hickory smoked red fish with crab is fantastic and the bread pudding is something else. It's so rich, one is enough for a couple of people to share.
• Coop's Place - dive bar a block from the vendor at the French market. The kitchen is in the courtyard and you can watch the employee's smoke and play cards while they cook. Awesome. They have rabbit jambalaya.
• Pat O'Brien's - just off Bourbon Street. A must if you are in town.
• Lafitte's - possibly the oldest bar in the US. They don't have electricity inside, just candles.
• DBA - neat local bar just past the French Quarter. Lots of local bars in this area.

More to come...