Monday at Morning Call

Need that jolt of joe to get your morning going? If you were in New Orleans circa July 1960 (that’s almost 63 years ago for those of you who don't have a calculator), you would probably be at Morning Call, which was New Orleans’ Most Famous Coffee Drinking Place. Or so says the slogan. Forget the coffee, I’m more interested in the vintage T-Bird!



Just as an FYI, Morning Call is not the same as Café du Monde, which is in the same area but about a block away. If you look on the left of this shot, you can see Morning Call in the background.



And it looks like both places are still in biz. I’m not a huge coffee guy, so I typically go to du Monde for the beignets.



See more New Orleans photos at my main website.

24/7 Beignets & Coffee

Cafe Du Monde has been serving up beignets and hot coffee from the New Orleans French Market since 1862. The first shot shows the iconic location back in the 1950s. In October 1960, the two guests shown below were captured enjoying their java and fried powdered delights.



When the weather is nice, you can sit out on the patio, as these 1950s customers did.



On my visit a few months back, I stopped by the Cafe Du Monde during a very early morning run, hoping to get some shots before it opened and was inundated by tourists. I was not aware that it was open 24/7. As their website states, they are only closed on Christmas Day and whenever the occasional hurricane passes through.



The aroma of the fresh brewed dark roast coffee drew me in; the sight of the perfectly dusted beignets caused me to take a break from my run.



Even though it wasn't 7am, the place was fairly packed.



And here's what they all came for: beignets and coffee. Warning: be careful not to inhale while eating your beignet. You'll be coughing up powdered sugar for days.



Jump on over for more java at my Café du Monde photo page.

Thanksgiving Feeding Frenzy: Eating Your Way Through Disneyland

As I slave over a hot stove preparing my Thanksgiving Feast, I thought I'd share a few food photos to get YOUR appetites started. I take no responsibility for the hunger that this post might induce or the fact that some of these items might not be available any more.

Nothing could be finer that breakfast with Aunt Jemima (If you pronounce it the right way, I am sure you could make that last sentence rhyme!).

Since Aunt J's is long gone, you can get your pancake fix taken care of over at The Disneyland Hotel's Steakhouse 55:



Mickey Waffles are available over at the Storyteller Cafe:



Beignets from Cafe Orleans would also make a nice start to the day:



Just make sure you wash them down with a nice wholesome paper cup of milk:



Shifting away from breakfast towards lunch, perhaps a bag of Frito's would make a nice transition snack?



If you feel guilty about eating turkey...



then Silver Banjo BBQ might be your "thang"...



Oh, that's right. That place closed YEARS ago. The Celebration BBQ meal at Big Thunder Ranch would make a fine substitution.



Or perhaps Pork Loin & Coca-Cola BBQ sauce from Flo's:



If seafood is your "dish," you can't go wrong with Walt's personal recommendation of a Tuna Boat Salad:



Served by these lovely cast members (I wonder if they get time-and-a-half for Thanksgiving?):



If fried food is your weakness, then The Plaza Inn might be your choice, as they serve the best fried chicken:



For the ultimate in splurging, a deep-fried Monte Cristo at the Blue Bayou is about as good as it gets.



For dessert, how about a tasty blueberry pie at the Hungry Bear Restaurant in Critter Country?



Or perhaps a cupcake?



Jolly Holiday also carries cupcakes:



Caramel Apple Pie from Plaza Inn is always a Daveland fave:



The Golden Horseshoe holds its own when it comes to apple pie:



If paper plates aren't your thing, then go over to the Napa Rose for both taste and presentation:



If variety is what you need, you can stop by Marceline's for a sweet treat on your way to the tram:



Dole Whip might help calm your tummy a bit after all the indulging:



By the time you've done all your eating, you might need a cocktail to calm your nerves! Make sure it has the perfect ice cube from 1901:



I hope your Thanksgiving is also filled with friends, family, and blessings that can be shared with those that you care about!

See more vintage and current Disneyland photos on my Disneyland web pages.

One More Day Trip Report, Pt. 4

Good fortune reared its beautiful head on us for the 1 a.m. showing of Fantasmic. The Rivers of America were swarming with guests as cast members did their very best to keep the foot traffic moving.

Two hours before the show, all of the good standing spots were virtually gone. As Stacy & I attempted to put together a game plan, two guests got frustrated with waiting and left their prime viewing spot on the footbridge by Pirates of the Caribbean. I made a beeline and voilà, we were set. For two hours. 120 minutes. I have NEVER waited for a show or parade for that long. But at 1 a.m., what are you going to do? Well, for one thing, you people watch. Stacy had seen Holly Madison earlier in the evening, and while waiting for Fantasmic, I spotted her sidekick and former Broadway "Tarzan" star Josh Strickland.



We made new friends with the people standing next to us, a young couple who had flown in from San Francisco (both were in college) just for this event. They had no regrets and were having a great time.



While Stacy guarded our cherished viewing spot, I made a beeline through the crowd to the French Market Mint Julep & Beignet window, ordering up a bag of six to tide us over til dinner. As if we needed any "tiding" after all the stuff we'd been noshing on throughout the day.



Walking back, I saw that KIIS was broadcasting live from the Disney Dream Suite.



While shooting that photo, I was "recognized" by a reader of my blog. What do you do when you get spotted by a "fan"? You take a photo, naturally! Turns out Eric has used my blog as a guide to visit Disneyland with his friends for year-specific visits, riding only the attractions that were around for the chosen year. What a great idea.



Stacy & I ran into people from work again. At least we weren't the only ones who had taken off from the job that day.



Finally, after standing for two hours, the show began promptly at 1 a.m. Peter Pan fought the villains aboard the Columbia:



Ariel & Eric floated by on their private barge:



Pinocchio danced with his showgirl friends:



When the Magic Mirror gave the wrong response...



The Evil Queen summoned all kinds of mayhem & foolishness:







Ursula joined in the villainy:



And before we knew it, the infamous Fantasmic dragon had risen out of the depths of the River, entertaining guests like never before!



He was no match for Mickey though:



All the favorite Disney characters appeared on Tom Sawyer's Island to celebrate, as the Mark Twain was still under refurbishment. Not quite as rousing, but still very festive.



And then with a colorful blast of pyrotechnics, it was over.



Now what? We let the crowds disperse for a bit to avoid getting trampled, and then we moved our tired feet over to the French Market for a 1:45 a.m. dinner with their Late Night Specials.



French Dip sandwiches, chips, and finally the Banana Foster Cheesecake I'd been looking forward to all day.





My master plan of riding the train over to Fantasyland was nixed when I saw that the line in Frontierland went around the bend. No thanks. I'll walk.

As luck would have it, this allowed us to see the Country Bears over in Zocalo Park. That was worth a few more blisters.



as well as Mickey & friends in their jammies at the Carnation Plaza Gardens:



Even at 2:30 a.m., Fantasyland was crazy. Long lines, large crowds...we both knew that we wouldn't last until 6 a.m. We decided to ride "small world" and call it a day. Although I was pleased that there were only 4 strollers in sight at small world, I was still baffled that parents would have their little tots at Disneyland at 2:30 in the morning.



Even though the song sticks in my head for days, I have to admit it was a welcome relief to sit down in the ride vehicle and give my feet a rest. The attraction façade sure looks beautiful at night.



Afterwards, we ventured towards Tomorrowland with the crazy idea that we might ride Buzz Lightyear. The Tomorrowland Terrace was thumping like a rave. The demographic of the park had definitely gotten younger.



It was at this point that we mutually decided it was time to call it a day. A parting shot of the crowds on Main Street at 3:30 a.m.:



And a view of the clock to commemorate my exit:



Would I do it again? Probably not. Disney would really have to pull some cool stuff out of their Sorcerer's Hat to entice me to brave those crowds again. But I'm not saying never, either!

See more vintage & current Disneyland photos on my Disneyland photo website.