Nawlins Ramblin's

A few weeks ago we were drinking with friends and decided we needed to go to New Orleans.

Drinking always leads to the best ideas.

So Easter weekend we left chilly Michigan for sunny and humid Louisiana.

I'd like to tell you that we visited historical sites and learned interesting facts and classy sh*t like that.

But, uh, no.

We ate.

And we drank.

And we had a flippin' awesome time.

Check out the magic trick we did with this crawfish, shrimp and andouille sausage boil.

Now you see it:



Now you don't!



It magically GOT IN MAHH BELLY!

We visited the Abita brewery. Which WAS magical in that the FREE tour included all of the FREE beer you suckle out of the open taps.



The Turbodog and the Andygator were my top picks from Abita. I want to buy Andy a T-shirt with a gator ripping out of it so he can be an Andygator too.



Poh-boys from Mother's which we polished off with some Bananas Foster from The Palace Cafe. This served as carbo-loading for the Crescent City Classic 10K run.

Yes, we actually did something healthy like running. Except, since this was a New Orleans race they served you beer along the race course (Andy drank one) and at the finish line festival we once again had all of the FREE Abita beer you could drink. This beer is actually good, so I'm not sure why they keep giving it away, but I'll keep taking it. There was also all you can eat jambalaya and red beans and rice at the finish line party and I took some of that as well.



Clearly we still had to keep refueling (you burn 85,000 calories during a 10K right?)so we stopped at Cafe du Monde for cafe au lait and beignets. Beignets are really just the fancy person's Elephant Ear, but fried dough is fried dough and it was delicious.

We went on a ghost tour in the evening which seemed to be less about ghosts and more about a lot of crazy murdering people that lived in that town.



The next morning we stopped by Peirre Maspero's where Bloody Mary's were enjoyed with . . .



Mufalettas. Which I think is French for "Holy S that's a lot of meat." (that's what she said)

Then an Easter parade happened.









Before the parade started, we were all sad and our necks were bare.



The parade helped remedy that situation.



Even doggies got beads.



Then we decided to do historical the fun way.





Riding in a mule-pulled carriage while some sweet old man told us about NO history. Enjoyed with beers purchased from the liquor store. Did you need further proof that New Orleans is awesome? They give you plastic cups when you buy beer at the liquor store so you can walk freely in and out of bars. You should pretty much feel naked in this city if you're walking around without a drink in your hand.

Then a Gay Easter Parade came by:



During the parade, I think I got maybe 4 beads. Andy got about 40. Those gay men obviously have really good taste in men.

Then we went to Pat O'Briens, a piano bar known for their Hurricanes.



We ended the night with some Oysters at Landry's. Andy and I got up early the next morning to stroll down the Riverwalk, take some pictures, and stuff some more beneigts down our throats.







We sadly returned back to the cold of Michigan with a few souvenirs from our trip. A pint glass and a T-shirt from Abita. Some Mardi Gras beads. A Christmas ornament of a black Santa Claus riding an alligator. And about 10 pounds of additional fat distributed about our bodies.

Now I just need to go out drinking again with friends so that we can plan our next fattening amazing getaway.