It's Monday, Jazz Fest over, but still lots to do before leaving tomorrow...

A Monday morning tradition - walk to Cafe du Monde. No busy schedule to adhere to. The Louisiana Music Factory has hourly in-store concerts set up (with $2 coupons for Abitas!):
noon Tom McDermott
1PM Cyril Neville
2PM Alex McMurray
3PM Glen David Andrews
4PM Marc Stone
5PM Paul Sanchez & the Rolling Road Show
6PM New Orleans Nightcrawlers
7PM John Boutte

Cyril Neville performing at the Louisiana Music Factory on Monday afternoon.


The Twin Towers (Mark & Larry) leave for lunch at the Red Fish Grill, while we head to Johnny's Po-Boys. We all rendezvous at Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville, where we waste away for a spell with margaritas and mojitas. On the way back, I realize that I have not yet sampled that French Quarter delicacy, the Lucky Dog!

Barry (or Larry, as he is now known), after numerous reminders from Gumbo, books us for dinner at Lüke, "an authentic brasserie on St. Charles Ave. combining German and French Old World cooking techniques. Located adjacent to the Hilton St. Charles in the heart of the Central Business District on St. Charles Avenue, Lüke’s space is as warm and nostalgic as the menu. Brasserie features include blackboard specials, and newspaper racks. There are also elaborate pulley-and-belt driven ceiling fans, an early air-conditioning system first admired by visitors in the 1880s that has been re-created for the restaurant. Lüke is John Besh’s homage to old brasseries that once reigned in New Orleans." Great food and drink, no-drink toasts, interesting conversations about origins of common slang, command appearances by our chef, our bartender and "Ratdog."

Post-dinner we cab it up to Frenchman Street one more time to d.b.a. to catch the Pine Leaf Boys. The bar books a full lineup of bands during Jazz Fest, usually two per night, often more. Glen David Andrews opened here at six o'clock. Steeped in music since children and hailing from farms and towns in Cajun country, the Pine Leaf Boys have preserved the traditional Cajun sound, while allowing it to breathe and stretch with those who play it. They present their music in multiple configurations such a twin fiddle, duo accordion/fiddle, bass, drum, and foot-stomping jurés (myspace). I hear they have two Grammy nominations, too. Gumbo is dancing up a storm. Finally, after a couple 'one more song' turns, the PLBs call it a night after one o'clock. And so do I.