Last night’s rain has left this city soggy, and I was a bit nervous about getting caught in a downpour on my ride to work. I stayed dry, but it’s definitely time to start thinking about getting some quality rain gear. I took the Surly out for the first time since I got home tonight, pedaling through Central City in the thick air. Continue reading
French Quarter
Delicious New Asphalt at St. Charles and Louisiana
It is so, so humid here. I know, I know–that’s New Orleans. But really people, it’s crazy humid here lately. When I rode to the coffee shop today it was pouring rain, but then it stopped and the sun came out and the steam was rising. I headed down to the Treme for drinks with friends tonight, and as soon as I pulled the Surly out of my air conditioned apartment my glasses fogged up and my handlebars were wet with condensation. Continue reading
Distressed and New Facades at Dauphine and Toulouse.
It was a stormy day in New Orleans, but I magically missed the downpours, by just six minutes on my ride home from work and altogether on my ride up from the Treme, where I enjoyed a delicious homemade organic carrot cake from D. Continue reading
Brown’s Dairy at Baronne and Erato
My rides today took me to work for a faculty meeting and then down to the Treme for my standing Thursday night date with friends. I rode slowly up Baronne on my way home, needing some extra time, letting the bike do that thing it does so well–concentrate my attention outside of myself. Continue reading
Luckmore Finance at Baronne and Girod
I rode my bike down to the Treme tonight for some TV with friends and then a stop at S.’s to meet her delightful friend T., in town for one night only. As I crossed Canal from University Place, I had a first-time experience as a biker in New Orleans. A car was turning right on to Burgundy and stopped short right in front of me. I had to pedal back hard (damn pedal breaks!) and then I just sat there, waiting for the car to move. It didn’t. Continue reading
Crowd Control at the Southern Decadence Parade
I had planned to stay Uptown today to get some work done, especially since it looked like it would pour again. But after a quick ride around my neighborhood and some lunch, the sun was out and it seemed like a most excellent day for a ride down to the Quarter for some festival–it’s Southern Decadence and Black Men of Labor time! Continue reading
John Brown’s New Orleans Sidewalk Astronomy at Cafe du Monde
Tonight’s bike ride took me over to the Treme to watch some TV with D. and friends. The evening air felt oddly cool; it’s only August, and it already feels like fall! I’m sure it will warm up again, but I’m just a bit nervous that summer’s over. Continue reading
Houses at Vicksburg Near Porteous
I finished up some last-minute work on this semester’s syllabi yesterday and decided to spend the waning hours of my summer on my bike. It was surprisingly dry yesterday–N. said it was only 15% humidity–and the sky was blue, no thunderstorms threatening. Perfect. Continue reading
Lightning Over Lee Circle
I’m back in New Orleans and back on my bike. Rhoda felt so different from the big old cruiser I’ve been riding. I like a high seat, what can I say, and I’m happy to be back high up on the bike. Leaving the Bay Area was a little bittersweet. Continue reading
Flex New Orleans at Baronne
Tonight I rode down to the Treme for dinner with D. and then over to the edge of the French Quarter for a show at the House of Blues. I of course saw many Lutherans on my way downtown–rounding Lee Circle, blocking traffic at Camp and Carondolet, and marching through the Quarter im their matching Tshirts, or matching sequined dresses. Continue reading