New Orleans Scrapbook

To wrap up our time in New Orleans, we want to take a photographic

review of some sights--some common, some
"hidden"--that have special meaning to us.

Cargo ships sharing space on the Mississippi with paddle wheelers is a very

common sight, but the experience of seeing ships pass by at nearly eye level is a bit unusual.

We were fortunate to be in town during some of the most popular festivals. At both the major ones and many of the smaller fairs, food is an important part of the activities.

One of the more interesting vendors we came across at the Dog Day Afternoon event in City Park was this vendor making crepes. The "spreader" was used to spread the batter around the griddle. Then ham and cheese were added to produce the larger-than-usual crepe.

Sights of new construction and the refurbishing of older buildings were gratifyingly common. Here in the Art District, Avery Fine

Perfumery recently celebrated their Grand Opening. This store seemed to echo the company's philosophy: "Modeled on the concept of an aviary, the perfumery eschews labels and gaudy packaging on its products, preferring instead to let molecules of scent flit through the air untethered by celebrity marketing campaigns. (The company) has also used the bird metaphor in their London and Modena, Italy locations" (bestofneworleans.com).

One of the common sights on the streets of the French Quarter was that of the Leiden-heimer Bakery delivery trucks.

A ride on the St. Charles Streetcar will take you past Greenville Hall on the Broadway Campus of Loyola University.

Artists, musicians, and readers of tarot cards and palms can be found in and around Jackson Square,

and it is the space in front of the St. Louis Cathedral that provides the greatest stage for a variety of performers.

Located in Woldenberg Riverfront Park, the "Holo-caust Memorial Sculpture is an artistic visual prayer in memory of the six million Jews of Europe and those millions of other victims who were tortured and murdered by the Nazis and their collaborators from 1933-1945.

"The sculpture is composed of nine panels, each with different designs. As you view the scupture from different angles, the designs on the panels meld to form distinct images. Ten images come into view as you walk around the panels" (holocaustmemorial.us).

From this vantage point, the Menorah, represented by a rainbow and a reverse rainbow, is coming into full view.

Coming into view from this angle is the Star of David.

The artist, Yaacov Agam, an Israeli, is the pioneer of kinetic art.

One last walk through the Quarter took us past these remnants of days of the distant past.

These horses silently watch the changes in the life of the Quarter.

Built between 1722 and 1732, Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop is reputed to be the oldest structure used as a bar in the United States.

One of the most well-known shops in the Quarter is Central Grocery. At any time in the afternoon, there is a line at the counter. Orders for a whole, half, or quarter muffaletta are quickly filled.

More important than the ham, mortadella, Genoa salami, provolone, and mozzarella is the olive mix, a combina-tion of ingredients that varies from artist to artist.

Many things to miss--but one last tribute to the food of New Orleans. Tomorrow.