Thanks to everyone that sent me some good vibrations last Thursday during my presentation. We started off kind of shaky, but turned it around and I think everyone learned something. Speaking is always a good adventure given the audience's varied experience levels. This time we had people that had barely heard of tax credits to folks that had completed multiple projects which created some difficulty in planning how in depth to go. In the end, though, it all worked out.
New Orleans, where to start? I left RDU on ExpressJet Wednesday morning and arrived at the New Orleans Marriott around 2:00 (plug for ExpressJet, I can't remember the last time I was served a meal on plane, big props for the lunch and XM). After checking in, I hit the street for some quick sightseeing around the French Quarter. I walked around for about an hour and a half criss-crossing the Quarter and at first was disappointed. How many t-shirt, gift, and jewelry shops does one city need? I kept looking for the culture that I'd heard about but didn't find it that afternoon. One highlight was seeing the Mississippi River for the first time, but it was also not as impressive as I'd imagined. I've come to realize that I build up places big time in my head and raise my expectations above reasonable levels before I visit a new place. Maybe I should stop reading the travel guides before I arrive.
Wednesday evening I met up with the two attorneys that spoke with me and we headed out to dinner. While walking to the concierge's suggestion we ran into some guy that apparently works for the convention and visitors bureau that was very nice that told us his life story, about the recovery, football, Brad and Angelina, and restaurants. Apparently our destination was his recommendation, Deanie's Seafood. I had the blackened redfish which was pretty good and classic. Since we had to present for 5.5 hours the next day we called it an early after dinner.
Thursday was our presentation. After relaxing for a couple of hours we headed out in the rain for a night on the town. Our first stop was Pat O'Brien's for a hurricane. If you went to the Schwartz wedding it was the original of the POB we went to in San Antonio. From Pat O'Brien's we went to Dickie Brennan's Steakhouse for an excellent dinner with supurb service. From dinner we made a beeline to the Harrah's casino since two us hadn't been to a casino before. I wasn't really sure what to expect, but being the nerd I am it was quite the sociological/anthropological experience. The amount of money rapidly changing hands at the tables and slots was amazing as were the gambling hotline ads flashing on the flat screen TVs.
After watching and trying to learn craps from the older attorney I ventured into the world of slots with the other casino virgin. Luckily the slots turned out decently well for us. I ended up winning $100 in one pull and came out $89.45 ahead and stopped, surely breaking the house! We were definitely not the ideal customers. I'm sure I'll go to other casinos someday, but I'm not too crazy about how quickly the money can be lost.
Friday morning came early when I woke up at 5:30 with the goal of eating some of the famous beignets at Cafe du Monde before my early flight. Unfortunately I felt terrible and I didn't make it down there. I was also disappointed because the sun was rising to the first clear day and it would have been perfect photography light. Oh well.
My overall impression of New Orleans from just seeing the French Quarter is that I really need to go back and experience the rest of the city. I'd like to be able to linger on the street car or in a park to get a sense of how things really flow away from the neon lights and bottomless strip clubs of Bourbon Street.
Photos from my hotel room
Weekend Update
Friday night Jacs and Missy came down from Virginia for a weekend visit to be Triangle-area tourists. Saturday was filled with a tour of the NC State Capitol, a visit to Chapel Hill and the Pita Pit, some minigolf and air hockey at Frankie's Fun Park, Guitar Hero, and dinner at The Twisted Fork which was good but unfortunately is at the mall. Sunday morning we had a lingering (i.e. slow) breakfast at Finch's after which the excitement of the day began.
Upon my return to my apartment I found a car that an elderly woman drove into one of my neighbor's sunroom. For those that have been to my apartment, the lady's bad brakes apparently gave out (that's the story I heard) and she drove down the little hill and ran into the corner of the sunroom. Luckily nobody was home and she didn't hit the opposite unit as that's where their kids toys are and they play. I think the woman was physically ok but of course shaken up. When I got home from work today the damage was still there so I wonder how long it'll take the apartment folks to fix it. I never really thought of something like that happening, but I guess that's the joy of real estate ownership and something to not look forward to when I become a developer.
Capitol Tour Camera Phone Photos
Overall a fun five days!
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