Music and Food Soothes The Soul!

After the extreme heat of summer that seems to have encompassed the world, a couple of weeks ago, we had a weekend respite in New Orleans. My Father’s Day gift this year was for Linda and me to be treated to dinner followed by a concert by Jackson Browne at the Saenger Theater. My three sons, Zeb, Bryan, and Matthew, took care of everything.

We left Fairhope on a Friday afternoon, and the temperature hovered around 100 degrees as we made our way to the Big Easy. This was our first trip to New Orleans in almost three years since visiting after Hurricane Sally left us powerless, hot, and seeking shelter in the aftermath. All of the reasons to go to New Orleans; the spectacular restaurants, great entertainment, and interesting places to shop and visit ended when Covid raised its ugly head. But they still had air conditioning in September 2020, and we didn’t.

On arrival, we dropped the dogs off with my son, who has lived there for the past dozen years.  We met my cousin and his wife at their “getaway” condo next to the Columns Hotel on St. Charles Avenue. This place has been a godsend and a good reason to visit New Orleans for many years, and it was good to be together again.

Friday night we walked a few blocks to Superior Seafood and Oyster Bar on the corner of St. Charles and Napoleon Avenue. The place was bustling for a sultry July evening. Typically, this is a slow time of the year in New Orleans as people pack in the last beach trip of the summer or seek refuge from the heat by going to cooler places. 

We enjoyed a nice meal and it began with grilled oysters. Three of us opted for seafood pasta dishes and one had a seafood salad. Nice wine accompanied our meal and we left happy. On the way home, I had to stick my head into Fat Harry’s, an institution for the younger crowd, I spent way too many days and nights there when I lived in New Orleans years ago. We had more good times than I can count, or remember.

The next morning, we eased over to The Columns Hotel for a late breakfast/early lunch. I love the Columns Hotel with its broad front porch seating, lush landscape, and eccentric interior. It fits right in in the City of New Orleans where eclectic and eccentric meet.

After lunch, we said goodbye to Doug and Ginger and ventured down to Magazine Street to poke around and shop for new prescription eyewear. At Warby Parker, we met Brei, a cool sales associate. She has an Instagram page called Sweet Honey and Brei with almost 14,000 followers offering book reviews and opinions on designer handbags. 

She tells us immediately that her mom named her, not knowing what brie cheese was. Apparently, she gets this information out of the way as soon as she sees the puzzled look on people’s faces at the spelling of her name. I get it. If I had a nickel for every time someone asks me what Zeb is short for… 

Soon it was time to get ready for the big evening. Matthew and Zeb picked us up and we headed to a 6 PM reservation at the always fantastic, Peche Seafood Grill. We started with hand-crafted cocktails, a dozen wild-grown oysters from Louisiana Area 3, and delicious gumbo. We then shared the grilled whole Red Snapper with salsa verde, sides of grilled shishito peppers, grilled zucchini with capers and feta, and the best field peas with bacon and onion that  I’ve ever put in my mouth.

It was one of the best meals I’ve ever had, and I’ve had many in New Orleans. That’s why I love visiting and it felt so good to be back. As a prelude to the concert, it stormed just as we were leaving the restaurant Before the Deluge, would have been an appropriate opening Jackson Browne song. 

Somewhat drenched, we made our way to the Saenger Theater on Canal. The traffic was snarled with the downpour, but we made it to our seats with wine in hand just as Jackson Browne walked on stage by himself to open the show. Due to the rain, the late-arriving stragglers made their way to their seats and everyone settled in to enjoy the performance.

What a show it was! At 74 years old, Jackson Browne’s voice and enthusiasm haven’t missed a beat. I’ve liked his music since high school days, and have seen him live twice in Birmingham, but this was my first time seeing him with his full band. It was incredible. Everything about it! His banter, the full, rich sound that the four musicians created, and he played all his familiar songs with some new music thrown in. 

Alternating between guitar and grand piano, he entertained for almost three hours, with every song better than the last. With the rowdy crowd offering up song selections between each rendition, he tried to accommodate, within reason. “I appreciate all your suggestions, but I’m better at playing my songs,” he said with a laugh. “Freebird” came to mind. 

He did put his guitar down once and went back to his piano to fulfill l a request, so he was winning friends throughout the evening. By the end, I was convinced this was the best concert I have ever attended. I haven’t wavered from that opinion. Linda agreed, as did my sons, who live for live music. The Saenger Theatre in New Orleans is a spectacular venue with a very interesting history, but that is a story for another time.

As I’m writing this, Jackson Browne is about to begin his show at the Saenger Theater in Mobile. My son Bryan and his wife, Ally, saw him in Birmingham the following evening at the Alabama Theater, another beautiful, restored treasure. “It was great and we had a blast!”

Back to our New Orleans Day Trippin’ escapades. We met other close friends for coffee and pastries at Ayu Bakehouse at 801 Frenchman Street in the Marigny. There we enjoyed a brief visit before picking up the dogs and heading back to Fairhope. 

All said it was a special weekend and a much-needed break. I’ve rekindled my love for the City of New Orleans after a three-year hiatus. It won’t be that long before we visit again.