winter... did we have one? even here in the southeast we expect a little more of a chill in the air. however, we got away for a few trips this winter for fun with friends and family.
we started back in november with our annual pilgrimage to exotic locales to celebrate the coming of winter and the birth of the stogie monster... with stogie himself and the lovely brookester. this year...new orleans!
stopped in mississippi for some bbq at the shed
pretty good stuff and fun hole in the wall atmosphere. i think we'd still choose some carolina bbq anyday.
kevin and brooke did all the research on where to stay and they found us an awesome apartment in the garden district - just off magazine street (with so much delicious food right around the corner!)
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| first meal...joey k's...we were not disappointed |
walking-walking-walking...the best way to explore new orleans. we started in our garden district neighborhood.
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| this might be a stogie monster |
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| sculptor morrison's gargoyle with medusa's head |
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| a beautiful shot by mike in the lower garden district |
we were very excited to have lunch at butcher - house cured meats.
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| bruisin' ales love in new orleans! |
we worked our way into the french quarter (avoiding bourbon street as much as possible).
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| jackson |
a trip to new orleans must include a cafe' au lait and some beignets from cafe du monde....
....best enjoyed by the mighty mississippi.
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| melanzana solidarity |
we had a great surprise that night. we explored a little northeast of the french quarter and came across frenchmen street in faubourg marigny. we went to dba and a great band started playing - the hot club of new orleans. they were amazing!
we then headed down the block to three muses where there was a great horn band - complete with a tuba.
our new orleans musical quest continued the next day at the new orleans jazz national historic park - the only national park dedicated to an art form.
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| joe simon jazz band |
my mom wanted some pralines so we began a quest for our new orlean's favorite. we found it with loretta's.
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| loretta stole our hearts... |
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| ...and our tummies |
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of course--------muffuletta!!!! we literally got the last muffuletta of the day from central market! there were many disappointed folks behind us in line - but we were so, so happy.
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| morgan o'kane...is amazing. definitely check out this link to one of his videos. it's a treat to hear him live on the streets. |
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| casamento's oysters |
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| breakfast at the apartment - of course with some tabasco |
we went to the barataria preserve - part of the jean lafitte national historic park and preserve.
the trail started in a hardwood forest of live oaks and palmettos...
...into the swamp...
...and opened to the marsh.
this, my friends, is definitely a stogie monster.
parting shot our last night at the apartment
mike's dear friend, charlotte, is a new orleans native. we loved getting to see her and explore some cajun country together.
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| charlotte at her irish channel home |
must go to avery island! we love tabasco!
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| inside we had some tabasco ice cream...mmmm |
also on avery island is jungle gardens - a botanical and bird preserve.
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| mike doing the louisiana mosquito dance |
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| i love buddha |
we had such a wonderful time with kevin, brooke, and charlotte doing the best of new orleans - food, music, and swamps. new orleans is so rich and beautiful.
we leave new orleans with
some of mike's beautiful medium format shots
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| lower 9th ward |
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| barataria reserve |
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| sugar cane fields of the atchafalaya basin |
We loved seeing our northern family in the south for christmas. what a treat! thanks for making the trek down y'all (we missed you charlotte and melissa)! however, we didn't get to celebrate with mom/vera and paul - so in january we went to new jersey to celebrate a late wojtowicz christmas. here are some shots from our trip:
kevin and brooke threw mike a belated surprise birthday!
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| and the surprise guests keep arriving! |
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| hoagies are here! |
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| hoagie haven cheers in princeton |
so now it's spring - the green has worked it's way up the mountains and we are loving some thunderstorms...until the next adventure...
beulah loves it!
lubec has started smiling! it melts our hearts everytime... 
of course--------muffuletta!!!! we literally got the last muffuletta of the day from central market! there were many disappointed folks behind us in line - but we were so, so happy.
