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
St. Charles
Fortissimo The Food Emporium at Louisiana and St. Charles
I went out of town for a few days to the lovely Mississippi delta with a friend, which meant no bike riding for a couple of days. I had such a lovely time out in the middle of nowhere, though. The highlight was definitely the B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center; I haven’t learned that much from a museum in a long, long time. Continue reading
King Cakes at the Walgreens on St. Charles
I can’t get this picture to rotate the right way. That’s because I took it with my new cellular telephone (I hope the thief who swiped my old one has had a chance to make all his/her important calls), and I now have to learn how to use it. Perhaps after finals are over the students shall become the teachers. In the meantime, tilt your head and behold what I found at the Walgreens tonight. Continue reading
Cigarette Machine at the Avenue Pub on St. Charles
Ok, I know we all talk about weather too much, but I’ve got to tell you, it was sunny and in the seventies today. I was actually sweating on my ride up to campus for final exam #1. It was such a lovely respite from the cold of the past week. My apologies to the neighbors up north–I hear you’re shivering in a blizzard. After proctoring a four hour final (!) I zipped over to the Avenue Pub for the Metro Bicycle Coalition open meeting. Continue reading
John Georges Sign on St. Charles and Melpomene
The day after Thanksgiving day is a lazy one, if you’re lucky enough to have the day off work, and lucky enough not to think you’re supposed to get up early to go buy things you don’t need. After finally dragging myself off my behind, I got on the bike to run some quick errands. Continue reading
Unity Temple on St. Charles at Peniston
That’s right, it’s kind of cool in New Orleans today. You’d think it was icy outside, given the winter get ups I saw out there today. I liked biking home in the crisp air and sunshine, though. I stopped to take a picture of the Unity Temple on St. Charles and Peniston. Continue reading
New Construction at Louisiana and St. Charles
It was a perfectly beautiful day in New Orleans–slightly cool, slightly breezy, clear as a bell. I hopped on the Surly, clipped in, and zipped up to work. Man, there is just nothing like riding that bike, skirt flying in the breeze. It reminds me, every time, just how perfect the bicycle is. I mean, it’s such a simple machine. I just move my legs up and down in a circle, and I’m really speeding. I feel it especially when passing pedestrians–man, they’re moving slowly. Every once in a great while I’ll walk (like if I have a flat…), and I’m reminded that what I see every day is what I see on a bike; walking gives whole different views. Continue reading
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
Hotel on St. Charles in the CBD
I rode my bike down to the Treme tonight for a party at M. & M.’s place. I went ready to dance, and dance I did. I had such a good time, seeing friends I’ve not seen in a while, an old student or two, colleagues. It was a delightfully motley crew. Continue reading
“Cyclists Dismount” Sign at Tulane University
This will be a blog about bikes and the need for proper places to ride. It’s not about New Orleans, rebuilding, broken levees, crumbling infrastructure, music, Mardi Gras, weather, neighborhoods, or anything else. It’s just going to be a rant about biking conditions in this town. Continue reading
What I Saw Riding My Bike Around Today 