Restoring the Garden Room...

Jay and I are at it again after some time off.  I spent the last two months rehearsing music and finishing up the record.  I still have two songs to go, but am meeting people in New Orleans that I want to record with.

We spent the day yesterday chipping away at the old plaster that was covering the brick underneath.  We weren't into the faux look that someone had left behind.  It didn't seem natural in this house and we're not "Faux" kind of people.  We're more "what you see is what you get".  

Though I get annoyed to have to get back into working on the house after gaining momentum musically, I do love the restoration process.  I'm starting to appreciate having to work for things.  No matter if it's trying to find musicians, plastering or chasing dollar bills.  Everything is Everything!  The Lottery is up to like 300 million and we considered buying a ticket, but then I thought, "I like living here, I like my circumstances".  I think it will be a nice road to sharpen ourselves on.  This road in the Nouvelle Marigny along with all the talent and experiences of New York, will lead us onto the path of contentment.

The ceiling didn't turn out to be so bad.  We have some plastering to do but doesn't look as bad as down stairs.  Well, it's a beautiful rainy day in the city and a good day to get dirty.  I'm loving this morning coffee with some Debussy on vinyl in the background.  Simplicity is king!

Robert Mondavi...

"Whatever you do, pour yourself into it." -Mondavi

Marigny Opera House....

Faubourg Marigny, New Orleans

Farewell Uncle Lionel....

Over the weekend while on a road trip to play music I began to see images of New Orleans' Uncle Lionel's second line parade and couldn't believe how many people there were.  I'm not surprised as he was a fixture on the street who couldn't pass by unnoticed.  He was always sharply dressed in a full suit and topped with his bowler hat and jewels with the watch around his hand.  He always had, "time on his hands"!  

As the miles of road flew by I couldn't stop thinking of how crazy it is how much we celebrate people when they die and when they're living don't really pay that much attention.  I guess the old saying "you don't know what you got til it's gone", rings true.  I think the most beautiful thing about Uncle Lionel is that he was brave enough to be himself and to layer himself with the whole experience of his life both good and bad.  It truly is a beautiful portrait to see an aged person in the twilight of their years sit in their comfort seat resting in the compilation of all those years.  

From now on I'm going to use this image of Lionel as a reminder to my young self, to weather the storm and let it shape my character and to resist the phony luxury of short cuts of our time.  Here's to you Uncle Lionel!

Central Square Concert Poster....

Blueberry Picking in Mississippi

New Orleans Coffee Review...

On Monday night I saw that the New Orleans Coffee Brigade was going to be on Magazine in the morning so I woke up and headed straight over there really excited.  When we walked up we were ignored a little and felt a little unwelcomed and I quickly got excited because it felt like a Brooklyn cafe.  A mustached gentleman fumbled around and finally figured out how to decant the cold brew and gave us our $4 coffee's.  In short, if you're going to give me the Bitchin Barista treatment, your coffee has to be slamming and it just wasn't.  St. Coffee is still the champ!