NOJHF 2012: More Mardi Gras Indians

Thought I would share more of my photos taken of Mardi Gras Indians at the Jazz and Heritage Stage during Jazzfest 2012. These are from  the Friday of the first weekend. These were actually my first photos of the festival; Each day I rode my bike from my sister's house in Mid-City, parked and locked my bike near Liuzza's By the Track and walked into Fest via the Sauvage Street entrance which brings you onto the Fairgrounds right near the Gospel tent and immediately behind the Jazz and Heritage Stage. Anyway, on Day 1, I headed right for this stage and caught the first "Indian show"-the Semolian Warriors- of the day and then right after, a parade featuring the Black Mohawk and Black Foot Hunters Mardi Gras Indians. The parades start "backstage" from the Jazz and Heritage stage area and continue out onto the Fairgrounds, so if you are at the Jazz and Heritage stage you get the bonus - or lagniappe- of also being around to catch the Mardi Gras Indian parades or the various second line parades that step off from the same place during the day.

Louisiana Cajun and Zydeco in NYC!

Get your fiddle and accordian fix right here back East. You can catch real deal Cajun and Zydeco music direct from Louisiana in Midtown Manhattan. Check out website Let's Zydeco for schedule. Upcoming dance this Sunday April 10th featuring L'Angelus. Get out those dancin' shoes and go.

EATS: Louisiana in Philadelphia

I read another review about Khyber Pass Pub here in Philadelphia, PA. in this weeks Philadelphia Weekly newspaper. I actually ate there a couple weeks ago based on the first (and much better) review I read in the Philadelphia Inquirer. Wow! I was there the day after Fat Tuesday. I had a couple bottles of Abita Mardi Gras Bock beer along with some boudin balls (excellent), gumbo (very good), and a shrimp po' boy -dressed (fantastic!). The side dish of fried okra was actually the highlight of the meal- came with something called "Alabama White BBQ Sauce"- don't know what it is but it tasted great. I also got a bag of the bacon popcorn to go- it definitely is addictive. For folks that know New Orleans, the special ingredient that makes the po' boy sing is the fact that they are served on  Leidenheimer French bread. Apparently, they get the bread sent up directly from New Orleans on a regular basis. (Secret: when I was there I asked if I could buy a few of the frozen rolls and they sold 'em to me for $1.25 each- quite a bargain in my book to be able to use in making my own 'po boys at home)! They also get their sausage from Cajun country so I am looking forward to going back multiple times to eat my way thru the menu.