Yesterday was a full day in NOLA. I arrived at Union Station on Monday evening at about 8 after a long but very pleasant train trip. I took the Amtrak Crescent from Penn Station (NYP) all the way to New Orleans (NOL.) To make the long trip more bearable I upgraded to a sleeper car, otherwise knows as a Roomette. Calling it a room is a bit of a stretch, but the perks of taking first class sleeper service make the trip worthwhile. In addition to having a dedicated attendant (snacks / turn down service / baggage handling / chatting / etc…) all meals in the dining car are included. Was the dining car akin to the white glove pullman service of the past? Well, not quite, but the food was good and the company (seating is communal,) lively. I had one particularly pleasing conversation with a couple heading down for a notary conference; I always look forward to meals on trains as you find that everybody has an interesting story; I was able to practice my questioning/discovery skills which hopefully will serve me well in my future endeavors.

We saw two places yesterday, neither of which was perfect. Today we have a few more appointments. The two guys who I had yet to meet are good people and I think that we will be able to live together without too much drama. Since I missed it last time I was able to stop by Perlis on Magazine St. Talk about a good store… it’s preppy heaven. I picked up a fleur-de-lis belt which is very NOLA and very cute.

The hilight of the day, though, was the evening’s food and entertainment. We ate at Jaques-Imo’s, a New Orleans institution famous for, among other things, alligator cheesecake. I had crawfish etouffee which was some of the best and most flavorful I have ever tasted. My dining partners were likewise pleased with their crab stuffed catfish and roux.

After a pleasing meal we headed over to the Maple Leaf which, though it appeared to be a regular bar, slowly began to fill up as the time approached for the main act. As the anticipation and energy grew, seven men took the stage and the Rebirth Brass Band started with a bang. If anything is typical to New Orleans it is the tradition of the brass band, and as far as brass bands go, Rebirth is known as one of, if not the best. And let me tell you, this reputation is well deserved. These guys are first class showmen, and their songs had the crowd (me included) jumping and jiving. Their fantastic cover of Steve Miller’s Fly Like an Eagle was out of this world groovy. I danced for what seemed like hours, and would highly recommend Rebirth to anyone visiting NOLA.

We’re about to head out for our first appointment, so please send some good vibes to our housing hunt!