The air is filling with carnival, people. And so are the streets. The signs are everywhere, as I noticed when riding home from a great talk at Tulane. The mansions above Napoleon are dripping in decorations. The intersection at Napoleon and St. Charles is stacked with metal barriers. Fat Harry’s is draped in parade schedule. The synagogue is surrounded by a fence that’s keeping its viewing platform private. The “No Parking: Parade Route” signs that are up all year round suddenly make sense Continue reading
Graffiti at Magazine and Race
After a disappointing series of flat tires and a rainstorm yesterday, I was happy to hop back on the bike today for my regular commute. I then got a nice evening ride in as I headed over to Mid-City for another meeting with the Metro Bike Coalition. Continue reading
Do Not Enter Sign at Bayou St. John
S. texted me this morning, reporting she was in the mood for a bike ride. Ever happy to oblige such moods, I hopped on Rhoda (all decked out for Mardi Gras) and headed to Bayou St. John for a promised ride on Lafitte. Continue reading
Freeway Signs on the Broad Street Overpass
It’s Carnival time, people. I got up this morning and rode over to Mid-City to meet C. and P. for their annual bead-and-plush-throwapalooza, along with lots and lots of other people on this Saturday afternoon. I just got a few things. The checker asked me if I rode. Not in a parade, I said, but on my bike. Continue reading
Graffiti at Magazine and Josephine
I had the day off but lots of work to do, so I packed my computer and the first batch of papers to grade for the semester, and rode over to a coffee shop to meet with a smarty pants graduate student. She’s writing a master’s thesis about baseball, gender, race, and U.S. nationalism. It’s good. Anyway, after writing a few things on behalf of one thing or another, I biked back home down Freret, as per usual, but this time to grab my car to pick up J. for lunch and a ride home to the Treme. Continue reading
Saints Gear For Sale at the Walgreens on Canal and Baronne
I’m not sure you’ve heard, but the Saints are going to the Super Bowl. It is impossible not to know this as you move around this city. I saw a woman in full on Saints game day gear, including the novelty sunglasses. I saw the owner of the diner by my house finishing up repainting its facade in black and gold. Continue reading
Desk Chair Locked to a Traffic Pole at Freret and Napoleon
Well, it’s the day after the NFC Championship Game, and everybody’s still in their black and gold. I rode up to campus expecting an empty classroom at 9:30, but lo and behold, there they were, putting the desks in a circle and ready to talk about the gender politics of their Saints viewing parties. Continue reading
Saints Fans Arriving at the Superdome for the NFC Championship
I don’t know if you’ve heard, but there was a football game in New Orleans today. The NFC championship against the Minnesota Vikings and Brett Favre? Winner goes to the Super Bowl? Yeah, that game. Continue reading
Frat Boys On Their Porch on Broadway
Yep, it was another beautiful day in New Orleans, and my bike took me up to campus to meet a friend for lunch. I was feeling a touch under the weather today, maybe from not enough sleep and too many weather changes, so the ride didn’t feel as good as yesterday. Continue reading
Blight and New Construction on Piety Near N. Galvez
I cannot begin to express what a perfectly beautiful day it was in New Orleans–crystal clear skies, mid-70s, I was riding the Surly around in a flipping sundress. In January. This is more like it, people. I headed out for one of those rides with no destination. Continue reading
What I Saw Riding My Bike Around Today 