Welcome! If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed so you won't miss the Blarties (=blog+party) on the weekends. To find out more about our Blarties check out this post, too. Looking forward to seeing you on the weekends!

Glitter Graphics & Comments

I hope you’re enjoying the heck outta that beach knowing I can’t BE THERE!!!

(Promise. I won’t tell which one. )

Popularity: 1% [?]

Do y’all think it’s a good idea for a blog? I stumbled onto this somewhere the other day and decided to add a page for it here. My thoughts are to see if you all are interested before deciding whether or not to leave it.

So tell me, is it something you would make use of? Could it turn into a regular Boomer meeting place for you? Do you think it would be fun to use on Blarty weekends?

It’s at this page… Baby Boomers Blarty and Chat Room

I NEED to hear from YOU to know which direction to head with this so PLEASE leave your comments and let me know, k? K. Thanks!

Popularity: 11% [?]

Hey Boomers! I’mm baaaack. The suitcases are unpacked, the laundry is caught up, back to the rat race. I had a GREAT time in the Big Easy. Why can’t I win the Lottery? Then I could travel and blog from all over the World.

Well, New Orleans is alive and kicking. The French Quarter was filled with “Who Dat”, a chant of New Orleans Saints fans. The team played their first home regular season game against the Tennessee Titans Monday night. Besides the NFL Jerseys, the other popular attire was the souvenir shop tees, “I Drove My Chevy to the Levy and Levy was Gone”.

I’ve gotta hand it to New Orleanians, despite everything the city has been through, they haven’t given up. I overheard a few of the merchants in the souvenir shops and art galleries talking. They were reassuring each other business was going to pick up. They were discussing upcoming events and conventions coming to the city and were hopeful visitors would spend money.

The architecture of The Vieux Carre (French Quarter) has always fascinated me. The charm of both french and spanish design, but primarily spanish. *In the late 1700’s two separate fires destroyed much of the structures and buildings in the Quarter. Under Spanish rule, wood structures were replaced with courtyards, thick brick walls, arcades, and wrought iron balconies.

*New Orleans was founded by the French in 1718. The Rule then see-sawed from France to Spain, and back again until the Louisiana Purchase. Can you imagine Parisian women or anyone in France wanting to relocate to the swamps and marshes of southern Louisiana then?

*In the late 1720’s, “Casket Girls”, were brought from France to New Orleans to marry. Previously women were supplied to the colonist by raking the streets of Paris for undesirables, or emptying the houses of correction. To really appreciate the Vieux Carre, I suggest first time visitors take one of the Haunted History tours.

Hurricane Hope did only minor damage, eating my way through the Quarter. Pralines, Po-Boys, Shrimp Creole, Fried Alligator Nuggets, Beignets, Fried Crawfish Tails, Fried Oysters, Jambalaya, Chocolate Peanut Butter Oreos, etc. etc. I ate it ALL!

Before leaving Nawlins’, I stopped back by Southern Candy Makers. Making Pralines and candies daily; Creamy Original, Rum, Coconut, Peanut Butter, Chocolate, Cinnamon, and Rum Pralines. Judges at an Atlanta National Gourmet Show gave their Creamy Pralines the Best Candy Award. I can personally vouch for the chocolate and peanut butter ones. I not only brought some of them home, but also some Chocolate Dipped Peanut Butter Oreos too! Yummmm.

Southern Candy Makers opened its doors in the historic French Quarter Leap Year Day in 1992. They ship Pralines, Chocolate Dipped Oreos, Peppermint Bark, Tortues, Sugar-Free Candies and wide variety of candies and nuts nicely packaged for all occasions.

***UPDATE - Hey, I just wanted to add that Southern Candy Makers 2007-2008 catalog is coming out in a couple of weeks! Call 1-800-344-9773 to request a catalog.

If you’re planning on visiting the French Quarter, they have two locations; 334 Decatur and 1010 Decatur. When you purchase pralines in their store know they were made fresh that day, not last week, or last month. ***

Another favorite of note, Johnny’s Po-Boys, located on Saint Louis Street off Decatur. Johnny’s is a favorite of the locals, and an Award Winning restaurant. I will definitely darken their door step my next trip.

Bon Appetite
The Backseat Gourmet

*Resources: www.wikipedia.org (see “Casket Girls” and History of New Orleans)

Popularity: 17% [?]