Change sings indeed as the new year has come. Houses are floating. Art installations are popping up all over town. Mardi gras is bringing out the stubborn optimism in New Orleanians this year—I am reminded daily why I choose to live here. Due to (thanks to?) the pandemic, we now have a fish guy, Dino, […]
Tom Waits for no one. Winter Swamp Solstice was a small batch edition this year—and, from my toast, “Can’t turn back the tide of 2020, with its hurricanes, plagues, and tidal waves of disruption and loss- nope, we can’t turn back the tide, but tonight, let ‘s look up and look for that one star […]
Since Sucre went out of business in New Orleans, I’ve been looking for a new place to salve my sugar itch, in particular, where to get a proper macaron. I did not expect to find the boutique feel at the Hyatt Regency in Downtown New Orleans, but lo and behold, I give you 8 Block […]
Per custom, we say soup is good for the soul, probably only because it’s alliterative. Really, I think ice cream may be just as good for the soul. Ice cream cake, even better. Serendipitous. Or ice cream sandwiches made with madeleine cookies. Also a cup of Nana mint tea served in a funky teacup your […]
Clouds are swirling fast above us. The sky changes color from orange to grey to white to purple; sky as kaleidoscope. Meanwhile, we hunker down inside, beside the shrine of bottled water, having dutifully collected extra flashlights, batteries, and kayaks, and we wait. With board games and snacks. I suppose it’s not unlike the rest […]
I know there will come a time when I just wear yoga outfits and Jazzfest print dresses as daily uniform, if weekends are harbingers of the retired versions of ourselves. Marika sent me some yogawear to test out and the leggings had me in a floral mood. Great for gardening because they have stealth side […]
Well we are delighted to have a new bully in the house. Meet Fats Domino, rescue bully from the New Orleans Bulldog Rescue, the perfect partner to our rescue hound, Kermit Ruffins. Just in time for Jazz Fest we have some new sound in the house—a choir of baying and snuffle snores. With the chickens […]
Who is ready to toast tonight!? I’m procrastinating from writing my New Year’s resolution and speech, instead have been using the remaining shard of vacation to binge-marathon-watch Harry Potter, and also I have been futzing around in the kitchen whipping together butter and sugar and cinnamon and espresso liqueur and finding all the sequin-bedazzled clothing […]
I wear this razory fishhook/of crucifix/look… It hangs right here/near the heart’s/hidden room Where a table is set for me. -Franz Wright I met this poet in college and I remember he looked like he was in pain. Just constant pain. His poems sound now to me sort of like the way he looked […]
Restorative time has been the course of the last week. After surgery, I’ve been making the slow march back to the world of the upright. The kindness and care from neighbors and friends has been the strongest medicine and the warmest rehabilitation. Used to tending to patients from the bedside, I think it has been […]