The Road Home - KY to LA

Our speed racer road trip came to an end after Day Two of the long haul through Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississipi back to Louisiana. If the first leg of the journey was a snooze fest, the second was the Bo Derek of Americana road trip boners.




We headed southwest along fields of horse farms in the morning and made first detour to the Four Roses Bourbon Distillery in Lawrenceburg. MM and I hadn't planned on stopping so early in the day, but you can't find two Catholics driving through the Kentucky Bourbon Trail before noon and expect otherwise! The choice between a tour of Four Roses and Wild Turkey was instantly settled as soon as I saw the latter's logo on the parkway. Flashback to late SF nights, Shrimp clutching her little prawny hands around the wattle of an empty plastic Wild Turkey jug, and I thought, we best make new memories with the more delicate brand! Four Roses was a fine place to visit, though I had hoped for a more "organic" experience. I was looking for a mom and pop operation. We were greeted with hand-etched tumblers and logo emblazoned polar fleeces. I guess mid-tier boozers with little brand cache have to make money however they can. We explored the campus for a while, opting out of the official tour ($$). A note for future visitors: the doors to the actually factory are unlocked so you don't need a guide to see the fun machines (always a highlight for RF).





Our next destination wove us through the scenic Bluegrass Parkway to Munfordville, home of Kentucky's Stonehenge. Before visiting the replica megalith, we paused for Poor-Key's BBQ rib special at Memory Lane Restaurant. The cafe enshrines several recently fallen soldiers from the area. We stuffed our faces to the recordings of a local fiddler then drove down the street to the town attraction. Marked by a handful of small roadside placards, the Stonehenge site appears to be a private endeavor in the adjacent lot of some one's backyard. We offered Lula to pachamama and then she promptly ran through the gates of the neighbor's yard. After some coaxing we were able to get her back to the car. Our threesome hightailed it out of Munfordville.










I-65 South lead us to Cross Plains, Tennessee, where we spent some time hunting down our next checkpoint. Lead astray, we took Barren Plains Road in the opposite direction but soon found ourselves in front of Thomas Drugs, an old-timey pharmacy and soda fountain (eeek, I wanted to know if it used to be segregated but I wasn't sure if that is something about which one might inquire politely?). My vintage heart was thoroughly charmed by the menu: phosphate sodas, egg creams, and the "hobo float" (a glass of water with a bobbing toothpick). The kids behind the counter were super cute. We even chuckled at the pimple faced teen's attempt at making fun of us. They were helpful in pointing us toward our raison d'etre in Cross Plains, although it seems that locals couldn't understand why we had traveled so far to see a decaying, pink fiberglass elephant. Back on track we reached the destination. OH BOY was Her Majesty worth it! The pachydermus roseus sits in the parking lot of the Red River Antiques Mall, holding a rusty martini glass in her trunk. Faithful pilgrims, MM and I payed homage to the beast with photographs and hugs. We then crossed the road for an unexpected bonus. Sad Sam's Fireworks Outlet features a multistory saluting (?) American Indian rendered in the classic muffler man style. Perhaps we should have taken the Indian as a harbinger of what was in store - a real taste of America! Amid a generous stock of fireworks were many shelves of Tennessee and regionally-theme souvenirs, mostly of the Confederate flag variety. I resisted the temptation to make several "can you believe this shit?!?!" purchases and left with only one crate of sparklers for New Years.

Overwhelmed anticipation to return to our New Orleans families, we forewent addition detours in Alabama. We gunned it down I-65 then across the I-10, an old friend, until we made it to the Crescent City just past midnight.

Lexington, KY: Halfway There

"click to enlarge!"

MM collected me and Lula this slushy mid-morning. We made a quick stop to collect some cargo from friends at the UES outpost of Fair Folks + a Goat to transport to its NOLA sister (nothing nefarious really - just a few prints and a funky chair). After limited luggage shimming, we headed west. Most of the daylight drive was pretty zzzz - I'm not not charmed by the bucolic landscape of the Pennsylvania Dutch - seen it! Into the evening, however, we hit novel states: first West Virginia! next Kentucky! My co-pilot and I stopped once for "pan Asian" dinner in WVU's hilly Morgantown. We then slogged across the rest of the winding Appalachians to the motel in Lexington.

Tomorrow, southward ho!

New York, NY: RSVP or KGB

Zee Shrimmz's votos fhrom Kreeessmas at Kremlin:













PS: Miessssssss you, podruga!

New York, NY: Pickle Back Blizzard

Michaelmartin and I are driving back to NOLA (via Kentucky!), wrapping up a two week visit to the mothertown. I've had a great time seeing (almost) everyone and did a good job quelling the New York-induced manic episode.

The day after I arrived home I went to meet Lauren, Allegra, and Sasha for a drink an an embarassing UWS bro bar. Just as I took of my coat, I spied a little, wooly thang wiggling from under the table. IT WAS SHRIMP! She surprized me with a weekend in New York. I instantly became verklempt. Always looking to punk yours truely, the well-hidden secret had been in the works for months.

The next night I gave Mikecohen a feel for my home life at the Dizard's annual holiday party. Still waiting for slowass Shrimp to send me the pictures. Homie and I left at 5:30am and the party was still roaring!

Mikecohen and I went to the Giants vs Eagles game, Heather and I returned to the banya and enjoyed several sleepovers, we paid our final respects to Maxfish - set to close at the end of January. RIP. Pete came to NYC! Sandra had a housewarming party! Erin and I met for gimlets! I caught Felipe and Jordan and Daniela and Austin in one freezing night. Long lost Lina returned for our THIRTEENTH year at Walkers (she got the Happy Birthday - ha!).

We went out after Walkers when Lauren was treated to a smack in the head when an overly ambitious member of FDNY tried to pick her up and throw her on a pool table.

Lauren and I spent Chrismas Night at Dorrian's and were driving home at dawn by a doctor. Sandra, Lauren and I survived the blizzard at Claire's bar then treked to Brooklyn in the apocalyptic storm in the middle of the night.

It's sunny today and now the snow is slush. I love you, New York but I am ready for you, New Orleans.

New York, NY: Quick Hi/4LOKO Science Lesson

Hello from holiday vacation in NYC -

Pleased to share Hyphy's excellent first go at vid making sans Ruby - HOW TO MAKE FOUR LOKO. <3 these guys so much. Watch and learn!

Thanksgiving at the Racetrack

(photos by CJ and Sasha's friend)

This holiday was my second in New Orleans, although it was much different than last year's celebration. I was sad to spend the day away from my family but it was also pretty fun to have the day to eat and play with friends. I joined Diné and extended family for the lunchtime Thanksgiving dinner at her parent's house (Wade gave a special thanks/blessing to the DREAM act hunger strikers in TX - so great). We stuffed ourselves then shuttled off to the Fair Grounds for the big race day at the tracks.

Diné, Kira, Catherine, Stella, and I made wonderful hats at our NOLA version of Stitch n Bitch the night before so we were appropriately dressed for the occasion. Thanksgiving at the Fair Grounds is a popular destination for many faces in the neighborhood, in addition to the families and gamblers in attendance. I was so distracted that I didn't even get to make any bets. The only problem with wearing a super glamorous hat is having to stop and pose for pictures every few minutes. I could have bet and won thousands of dollars if I hadn't been everyone's Micky Mouse! Catherine and Diné, however, won $15 and $2, respectively. Not too bad!

After the last post we headed over to Catherine's for a few hours of drinks on her porch - it was a 83 degrees and humid into the night. Diné and I then went to her cousin Brooke's house to snuggle up and watch the Saints game before returning to the parents' house for several rounds of leftovers. The last stop was enough to turn our evening nap into bedtime.

It felt great to spend the holiday sipping on cocktails without a thought of finals on my mind.

Now back to studying!

Portraits from Friendsgiving

(via)