We loved the Nori Guys food tent at French Quarter Fest back in April, and so were excited to see them doing a pop-up at the wonderful Broadside theater on Tuesday evening. I love their crab and tuna wonton nachos. Looks messy but the very fresh seafood and the sauces are yummy together. And nicely washed down with a hibiscus margarita from their new indoor bar.
The Nori guys were excited to tell me that they just got the keys to a brick and mortar store at Broad and Bank streets. We’re looking forward to that.
We accompanied Kenny to a talk on Social Security strategies at the Metarie library on Wednesday evening. I’m not sure we learned very much that we didn’t already know, but we did stop for a delicious snack at the Hog Alley Lounge in Metarie – a new place to us and so named because it used to be a field area where pigs were reared.
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.
I did refer Kenny to the sign as his volume started to increase.
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.
Laura and Anne met us for an early dinner at Café Degas on Sunday. We had a very nice meal (one of our favourite New Orleans restaurants) – Laura is always entertaining. I loved our meat and pate platter and my quail salad was excellent.
Where was Denny during all of this? Fishing with the boys:
I did enjoy the Olympics very much this week. Katy Ledecky continues to deliver amazing performances:
I finally finished the massive, 950 page book that is “Southern Man” this week.
There is almost too much going on in this book – antebellum slave history, family medical challenges, presidential candidates, small town politics, fires, shootings and on and on. I was impressed by how current the presidential political drama seemed.
Here’s Bobby White, presidential candidate in 2027, explaining his vision of apocalyptic events occurring every 82 years:
“”The critical battles of our major wars. The existential turning points. Seventeen eighty-one, the Battle of Yorktown. Eighteen sixty-three, Gettysburg and Vicksburg – decided on the same day. And of course 1945: Hiroshima.”
The certainty in his voice is chilling. “Sooo…next comes 2027? What’s the political situation then? The crisis, whatever?
Bobby waves his hand. “I don’t have time to get into the weeds on that. Suffice it to say it’s a three-body problem.”
“Humor me.”
Bobby takes a sip of his Mountain Dew. “Well, as I said, it’s potentially apocalyptic. The venue is the Holy Land, of course. And this is a three-body problem in three different ways: political, religious, and radical.”
“What are the countries?”
“Israel, Iran, China. THe religions, obviosly Judaism, Islam, and godlessness. And the races: Semitic, Persian, and Asian.”
“Sounds like a pretty complicated war you have brewing there.”
Bobby nods. “We’re well on our way toward it now, though we don’t seem to know it.”
“How so?”
“Simple. Israel under Netanyahu is leaning ever further to the right, almost to fascism in some ways. They’re supposedly the most vigilant nation in the world. But I’m not so sure. It’s easy to get complacent. Iran is pouring resources into Hamas and Hezbollah, and they mean business. Israel, of course, possesses more than four hundred nuclear weapons as of today. And China has announced its intention to double its nuclear arsenal, as well as to modernize it.””
I always enjoy the saxophone sounds on James Hunter songs:
Something sweet from the Bryan Ferry Orchestra:
And finally, some Philip Glass:
Coexist peacefully with kindness and patience for all!