“Anne’s Pre-Birthday Week”
Diana and Anne had a pool day planned at Merry Lee’s place on Monday. They invited me to join them for lunch at Tacos del Cartel beforehand. This was a wonderful meal in a very pretty restaurant. We started with a delicious ceviche and then I had the birria tacos on the clothesline, while Anne had soft shell crab tacos and Diana some yummy mushroom tacos. All three were fantastic.
The jaguar seemed to have a role to play in the restaurant – Diana’s drink and a topiary in the outside area:
It’s nice when a “pretty” restaurant (what the kids call “Instagram worthy”) also delivers good food.
After lunch, I was on my own to get home. I thought I’d try the streetcar but couldn’t figure out where the stop was. I did chuckle as the stop was somewhere near Herbsaint restaurant – apparently quite the power lunch spot as there were dueling Ferraris outside.
McD was talked into a quick jazz outing to Dos Jefes on Thursday night. The Mark Coleman band was playing – Mark is our friend Chris Henry’s (tennis coach) piano teacher. John Fohl sat in on guitar.
I was quite entertained when Fohl walked in about 15 minutes into the set, plugged in his guitar, and immediately started jamming. So much for the 30 minute setups that most musicians indulge in.
I absolutely love that we can leave the house at 8pm, listen to an hour and 15 minutes of world class music, and be in bed by 10pm. Exactly why we moved here.
A guy came to the door on Friday to tell me that Entergy (local energy company) was going to be trimming trees away from the electric lines and did I know who the parked cars belonged to. I had no idea. Turns out a raft of trucks from all over were involved in this operation, with no clear leader. We saw trucks from Texas and other locations – quite disorganized. Would have been good to have some advance warning before we went out shopping and then couldn’t get back into the street. I watched the tree chipper burn up and then we waited on the replacement to roll in. All was cleared up before Denny picked us up for Anne’s birthday dinner. We had a card and gift for Anne to open before everything got busy:
And what a wonderful birthday dinner Denny had organized. Acamaya (Spanish for crawfish) was excellent. Ana Castro has previously had excellent Mexican restaurants in New Orleans – Lingua Madre was her high end tasting menu at what is now Wild South. 
The food was amazing. The arroz negro with squid ink in the rice and topped with squid and mussels was a complete stand out. One of the best things I’ve tasted in a long time.
Diana doesn’t like sweet potatoes, but whatever they did to this one made her really enjoy it.
All of the dishes we had were amazing. Great call Denny!
Here’s the local food critics write up:
We followed dinner with a visit to Markey’s and then BJ’s lounge. Here we are at Markey’s (next to the Country Club restaurant).
The Happy Talk Band was playing at BJ’s lounge. I enjoyed watching Alex McMurray ramble in (he played Kenny’s retirement party with the Tin Men).
Sixtieth birthdays are a big deal, and Diana had arranged a ladies brunch for Anne on Sunday (in addition to the various other celebrations.) La Petite Grocery was the destination and they made sure the decorations and cake were staged before everyone arrived. Reports are of a very successful event.
Meanwhile, Campbell was enjoying the wide open spaces of Wyoming:
Doesn’t that look amazingly relaxing?
My book this week was “The Women” by Kristin Hannah. This was a quick and easy read. The reaction to Vietnam heroes returning from war took me by surprise. Can Americans be so callous? Here’s the online synopsis:
“When twenty-year-old nursing student Frances “Frankie” McGrath hears these unexpected words, it is a revelation. Raised on idyllic Coronado Island and sheltered by her conservative parents, she has always prided herself on doing the right thing, being a good girl. But in 1965 the world is changing, and she suddenly imagines a different choice for her life. When her brother ships out to serve in Vietnam, she impulsively joins the Army Nurse Corps and follows his path.
As green and inexperienced as the men sent to Vietnam to fight, Frankie is overwhelmed by the chaos and destruction of war, as well as the unexpected trauma of coming home to a changed and politically divided America.
The Women is the story of one woman gone to war, but it shines a light on the story of all women who put themselves in harm’s way to help others. Women whose sacrifice and commitment to their country has all too often been forgotten. A novel of searing insight and lyric beauty, The Women is a profoundly emotional, richly drawn story with a memorable heroine whose extraordinary idealism and courage under fire define a generation.”
Something interesting from the always controversial Gil Scott Heron:
Maybe the best piano music ever:
I was listening to some “Classic Rock” from the London Symphony Orchestra that reminded me of Nigel Boddice and his trumpet work on the Rolling Stones classics. I looked him up and was sad to see his passing in 2022. It reminded me of train rides with him from Edinburgh to Glasgow and our reviews of music scores and mountain climbing magazines. Such a giant of trumpet and conducting. A good friend who had a big impact on my musical career.
Coexist peacefully, with patience and compassion for all!
Diana had two options for Happy Hour on Friday – The Bower or The Library, both new places for us. She opted for The Bower. Kenny joined us initially with Anne and then Kara joining later. We enjoyed the drinks and Happy Hour snacks very much, and had a great private seating area in the front window.
The Bower was followed with a quick stop into Pete’s bar (just down the street). They always have some fun games to entertain us – this time a basketball thing that took some skill.
On Saturday we made a visit to the Alker distillery on Oak street. It was the grand opening event and the distiller is the son of Peggy’s college roommate. We picked up Anne and met Peg there. The girls reported that their cosmopolitans were the best they have had. It will be interesting to see how this place does.
I finally finished the massive, 950 page book that is “Southern Man” this week.