HAPPY 300TH TO THE BIG EASY

I am in New Orleans this week to speak at the Academy of American Appellate Lawyers (on Saturday) and celebrate the 300th anniversary of the founding of this great city. I lived in this wonderful when I taught at Tulane Law School.  It is always a joy to be back but particularly fun on this historical anniversary with my son, Jack, with me to enjoy the food and culture.

The city was founded in 1718 by Canadian-born French explorer Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville on the swampy, bend in the lower Mississippi River.  Nouvelle-Orléans is a wonderful aggregation of different cultures from its time under the control of France, Spain and America with accents added from Caribbean, European and African immigrants.

We arrived Thursday night and went to my favorite place for char-broiled oysters, Felix’s.  Tourists swamp Acme across the street but I have always gone to Felix’s and Jack is now hooked as having a dozen oysters and red beans and rice.

We then walked down Bourdon Street before turning in.  I will be sharing some of the highlights in the next couple days. I am staying at Loew’s Hotel on the edge of the French Quarter and across the street from Mother’s — my favorite place for breakfast.