THANK YOU NEW ORLEANS

I am finally back in Washington after a wonderful trip to my old stomping grounds in New Orleans. I fell in love with New Orleans during my clerkship on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and lived in the city as a faculty member at Tulane Law School. The city has bounced back after Katrina. Indeed, there are major improvements with a plethora of new shops and an ever-expanding World War II museum and other attractions. Hotels appear near capacity and the city is bustling.

It was particularly fun to visit in the week leading up to Halloween. No city does it better. Indeed, I was jealous with some of the decorations. I cover our house each year with decorations, including a full cemetery in the front yard with dozens of graves and ghouls. However, there is some real completion in NOLA as these pictures show:

We also heard a great jazz band on Bourbon street.

While walking through the French Quarter, we encountered a great street band called “Yes Ma’am” and bought one of their CDs. This is a wonderful group with a New Orleans blues sound that is unique.

This is a great city and with great food and music. We went to my past favorite haunts from Mother’s for Breakfast, Bon Ton for lunch (and bread pudding), and Galatoire’s and Brennen’s. We also went to Felix’s for oysters, which are always terrific.

Here are a few more pictures from Audubon Park, St. Charles and other areas of the Crescent City.