Dreaming of a White Christmas?

See this picture?

photo: Crystal LoGiudice/The Advocate

At first glance you would think this was taken somewhere up north, definitely above the Mason-Dixon line, right? Well it just so happens to be my Alma Mater, Louisiana State University. Baton Rouge got 3 inches of snow yesterday! Unbelievable. Of course I think it's like 70 there now. I love the turbulent weather of the South. You never know what you're going to get.

Apologies to Katie and Jolie for not having warned them days in advance like I usually do. ;)

I HEART NOLA

I'm going to New Orleans this weekend (read: eating my way through Louisiana)!

I'm so excited. I love getting in the car and driving. I drove from Boston to Dallas all by my lonesome when I was 19 years old. I remember driving through Pennsylvania and thinking, "I can go anywhere I want!"

Wasn't true at the time, my father was anxiously awaiting my swift return. But I felt so free. And that's the memory that I keep.

I'm stopping in Baton Rouge to say hello to some very special friends, one of whom I haven't seen in over a year. I'm already planning out all the places that I have to eat/go to while I'm in Louisiana. I'm open to suggestions.


Baton Rouge:
Chelsea's
The Chimes
Sammy's
Louie's
Fleur-de-Lis
The Pasttime
Coffee Call

New Orleans:
The Napoleon House
Commanders Palace
Vinnie's
Lafitte's
Angeli's
Coup's
Cafe du Monde
Balcony Bar
Franky and Johnny's
Mother's
Tropical Isle (i have fond memories wuth hand grenades. you know who you are)

I'm serious about this list, I'm going to take as many pictures as I can. If I manage to eat at every one of these places through the course of my brief trip, I want a four-foot trophy with a giant bronze po'boy on top!