The Royal Street Treatment: Hotel Monteleone

Once I was able to escape the Conference hotel, I moved down the street to experience the legendary Hotel Monteleone on Royal Street. I was not disappointed by this New Orleans classic that was founded in 1886..



The staff was friendly and attentive, and the lobby was inviting.



The hotel's famous grandfather clock still works!



The Monteleone's guestbook reads like a who's who of the literary world, and they are immortalized in this lobby display case:





The room was decorated in a style that honored the classic nature of the hotel without being stuffy.



Love the little touches like the embroidered pillowcases:



Upstairs you can get a workout in:



while enjoying panoramic views of Bourbon Street:



and the riverfront:



The rooftop area was lively; a great place to sip a beverage while cooling off with a dip in the pool.



This was the best angle I could get on the rooftop of the Hotel's neon sign:



At night, this one really stands out from down below in the French Quarter:



The Monteleone is probably best known for its Carousel Bar, which actually revolves. Good luck scoring a seat though; there are only 25 and every time I walked by, they were full.



Maybe on my next visit to Nawlins I can get an opportunity to sit at the bar and sip a Sazerac!



Yes…the smiling jester is very similar to the one you see at Disneyland's King Arthur Carrousel:



Last one for today is the fab-tastic neon sign for the hotel's garage.



If YOU want more of the Royal Street treatment, visit my main website.

Eating in Nawlins: Brennan's

Located at 417 Royal Street, the Patio Royal Restaurant, seen in this 1950's image, featured the world's first air-conditioned outdoor dining patio. It was also known as the home of the Banker's Cocktail.



Today, it is home of the world famous Brennan's, where I had the pleasure of dining last month. The service was impeccable; just enough attention…but not too much.



The original Brennan's Restaurant, called Owen Brennan's Vieux Carre Restaurant, was located on Bourbon Street, as seen in this November 1954 photo:



The patio is still there; no air conditioning necessary in March!



The restaurant has eight dining rooms.



The one we dined in resembled a Parisian Cafe:



The Roost Bar, with light fixtures resembling bird cages. The perfect place to have the official New Orleans cocktail, a Sazerac. I had my first sip of one, which was plenty. An entire one would have knocked me on my ass.



The lamb chops were delicious (sorry vegetarians!).



The highlight of the evening was the preparation of dessert, Bananas Foster. In the early 1950's, Owen Brennan decided to name a dessert after his friend and fellow member of the Metropolitan Crime Commission, Robert Foster. The dish was originally invented at Brennan's Vieux Carré, but its popularity did not fully take off until Brennan's began "Breakfast At Brennans' with Fosters as a signature dessert.



As it was served; it may not look all that appetizing, but trust me...it was de-lish!



Hungry for more of Brennan's? Pull your chair up to my main website.

Mardi Gras Madness

The last time I was in New Orleans was pre-Katrina in June 2003. I've been to the French Quarter three times; in the near future it should be four. I cannot wait! In honor of today's Mardi Gras (aka Fat Tuesday) celebration, I am posting a few shots from Mardi Gras World, where most of the amazing floats for the big parade are put together.



I was in town for the HOW Design Conference, and one of the perks was an event that took place right smack dab in the middle of the studio. It was a blast to be able to walk around and see all of the gigantic floats up close while listening to a live band.



I swear I wasn't trying to feel up Mighty Mouse's knee; it was just a comfortable place to rest my arm.



It was pretty cool seeing all of the huge parade heads looming overhead and trying to identify who they were supposed to be.



This Louis Armstrong figure was a no-brainer.



All of the brightly-colored creations were a Technicolor dream for me.





Even the Fab Four were there:



You could almost hear Tarzan's call:



Mardi Gras World even had photo ops:



Jessica Rabbit needing a bit of a paint touch-up. I wonder if Disney's legal team just looks the other way for this kind of thing?



Our tour guide:



Let's take a closer look at the studio behind him:



even closer:



A Marilyn that definitely looks better from far away:



I hope you all have an amazing Mardi Gras celebration today, wherever you are located!



See more Daveland vintage & current New Orleans photos at my main website.

Traveling Thursdays: The REAL New Orleans

One of my favorite cities to visit is New Orleans. I love the food, the architecture, and the rich history...and yes, even the seediness. It is still so very Tennessee Williams; like Blanche come to life. I have not been since the Katrina disaster, but hope to rectify that in the near future.

Here are a few vintage images:





Oh those yummy beignets!







Fats Domino “Live” in The Big Easy:



Fast forward to 2002: a trip to N.O. would not be complete without visiting its cemeteries.





Jazzfest? What a joke. The real music happens in the French Quarter on the streets and in the clubs.



My fave restaurant in town is Antoine’s; fab service and delicious artery-clogging dining.



Be sure to ask for Chuck (if he’s still there!). He’s a damn good waiter and will take very good care of you.











Across the water is Mardi Gras World, where many of the Parade floats are stored.



Jessica Rabbit looking...well, very busty!







The Fab Four together again:



See more New Orleans photos at my main website.