I rode my bike down to the Marigny tonight to see some experimental theater. Those two words together often send shivers up my spine, but I was in the mood to watch creative people doing creative things, so I was game. I showed up early to meet my friend M., so I decided to tool around the neighborhood for a bit. Continue reading
Railroad Crossing at Royal and Press Streets
This picture captures, I think, the crazy sun of today. It was absolutely beautiful, again. And I was in the mood to celebrate outside, because today marks the third anniversary of quitting smoking. Three years ago today I was a quivering mess, crying between mouthfuls of Fritos or M&Ms, not sure why I’d made the terrible decision to quit smoking, and feeling quite certain that I’d never be ok again. Continue reading
Burned-Out House at 4th and S. Tonti
I had an hour this morning between work and more work, so I took the opportunity to hop on the new bike and tool around Broadmoor. Broadmoor took on a lot of water when the levees broke, and the neighborhoods in the area are only slowly coming back. Some streets have maybe one house that’s been redone on the block while other blocks look like nothing ever happened. The rebuilding here is incredibly uneven, as it is in most parts of town. Continue reading
Sky Above the St. Thomas Development
Yes, this really is a picture of the sky in New Orleans today. That blue is ridiculous. I was riding down to a coffee shop to do some reading, and decided to get off Magazine Street and enjoy the occasionally smooth pavement of Laurel Street. This neighborhood–part Irish Channel, part Lower Garden District–is incredibly mixed. Continue reading
Birds at Bayou St. John
Today was a New Orleans kind of day, as N. would say. I had no particular plans, but what started as brunch with friends ended up being a day of fun in Mid-City, riding the new bike around. Continue reading
Decaying Boat and Shipping Container at Oak and Adams
I know I keep harping on the weather, but today was simply ridiculously beautiful. I donned my ipod a fluffy skirt, and not enough sunscreen and tooled along side streets over to a coffee shop to meet a friend to sit outside and get some writing done. I was trying to explain why riding around in weather like this with my skirt blowing back feels so good. Continue reading
Sunset on the Mississippi
Oh yeah, it’s springtime in New Orleans. Today was ridiculously beautiful. I took advantage with a nice ride on the levee late this afternoon. So many people were out riding around, running, walking dogs. The folks with horses had them out, trotting around. Other folks were engaging in archery practice, shooting on the banks of the Mississippi at hay bales draped with vinyl targets. There were even golfers practicing chip shots. This is what I love about public space–it’s for the public. Continue reading
Sunshine at Prytania and Peniston
It was downright beautiful in New Orleans today. And I mean beautiful. I put on a short skirt, heels, and my helmet and sped off to work feeling like a little girl with no responsibilities. At least, I felt like that until I got to the office and had to work. But the ride home was even nicer, because I’ve got tomorrow off and a whole world to bike through. I stopped to take this picture at the corner of Peniston and Prytania because it was exactly what a beautiful day here looks like to me. Continue reading
Sunset On Bayou St. John
It’s about to get warm again in New Orleans, so I decided to take advantage of the cool afternoon and got on the new bike for a trip to Mid-City and Bayou St. John. I love the new bike. I love just letting loose and speeding along, legs spinning, elbows bending. It feels so, so free. Jack and I are in for a long life of rides together, methinks. Continue reading
Decaying Car at S. Liberty and Valmont
It was a lovely, crisp day in New Orleans today–blue sky, sunny, slight breeze. I decided to take Freret home from work, but was stymied by a rare event: a bicycle traffic jam. There were enough bikes on Freret slowing my easy traffic that I went ahead and took South Liberty. It felt good to be on a different street, sailing along, noticing new houses and new stray cats and new downed trees. Continue reading