Frenchman Street and Shamarr Allen

After a great dinner at Mona Lisa, we headed on over to Frenchman Street to see a Threadhead Records release party for Shamarr Allen and the Underdawgs "Box Who In?".  http://www.shamarrallen.com/  He is a great trumpet player.  He also jams with other great local artists in The Midnight Disturbers.  Unfortunately, the Disturbers don't record.  Check out Frenchman Street.  Great clubs, lots of amazing music, both in and out of the clubs.

Wednesday was a busy day!  We had reservations to head out to Oak Alley Plantation (http://www.oakalleyplantation.com/).  This is one of the last few plantations standing on River Road.  Interview with a Vampire and True Colors were filmed here.  This is a working plantation.  We took a bus with this great tour guide who gave us history of NOLA, information about Katrina, the plantations.  It takes about 1 hour to get to the plantation from FQ.  It is right on the Mississippi.  When you get off the bus, you are just simply stunned by the home and the oaks.  There are 28 evenly spaced oaks (14 each side).  you look down through them, and just wow!  It makes you think of Gone With the Wind and Tara.

My advice, rent a car and hit all the plantations on River Road (there are 3-4 of them).  This way, you can take your time, not be rushed through and back on a bus.  That was the drawback.

We got back from the plantation about noon-ish.  We were heading over to my friend's glass studio, Rosetree Glass Studio (http://www.rosetreeglass.com/).  Mark and Brenda are the owners.  Mark is one of the most talented artists.  His work is absolutely breathtaking.  Take a look at his site.  There is a group of people who are all about Jazz Fest and New Orleans.  On the Jazz Fest website (http://www.nojazzfest.com/forum) you can find anything and everything relating to Jazz Fest, Music, NOLA.

  These are Threadheads.  They've developed a record label so that local musicians can get their music out there without getting tied to labels that cost them money, they hold fundraisers for the Musicians Clinic, Fest 4 Kidz (so local kids can go to the Fest).  In last year's raffle, I won the opportunity to have Mark make me a bowl (a really big one).  I got to pick out my own colors, watch them make the bowl.  A truly unique experience.  I knew and had an appreciation for Mark's talent, but was truly amazed when I watched him make the bowl.  He makes these really great Mardi Gras pumpkins.  Read the history on them.  He even makes Christmas colored pumpkins.  A great afternoon with friends, beautiful glass, a great time.

Left there and headed back to condo.  Changed and headed over to Mona Lisa restaurant (1212 Royal St, New Orleans, LA 70116-2555).  After 7 days of crawfish, shrimp, gumbo and ettouffee, we needed a break and went in search of an Italian restaurant.  Some locals referred us here.  Great food!  Had veal parm and salad.  Great atmosphere with all these great paintings, drawings, abstracts of the Mona Lisa.  I would recommend going here while in town.

Such a great day.