Besh to San Antonio and Reflections on New Orleans

Remember a few years ago when every Who Dat in town spent countless evenings lying awake wondering if the Saints would move to San Antonio? Those certainly were scary times, but luckily we avoided them. Well, except for BC who moved to San Antonio in the hopes the Saints would follow.

But soon, Luke, the kick-ass New Orleans brasserie on St. Charles will open in San Antonio. Hat tip to the aforementioned BC for not only this tip, but also for an excited yet blurry photo of the locale taken from his office window. The fries await you, dear sir.

What an interesting time in New Orleans. Five years ago, some asked if New Orleans would survive or if it would be inundated and overrun by the franchise, Disney World, corporate megaliths. It seems that not only has New Orleans thrived, but we are turning our local spots into the national chains. Sucre, Stanley, Luke, Camellia Grill, and more are expanding and invading parts unknown.

We just elected a new mayor, who if he shows up to work three times a week will be an upgrade from what we have had for the past 8 years. This year's Mardi Gras was big, loud, and boisterous with crowds filling up every inch of ground from Tchoupitoulas to the Marigny. A more telling sign that Mardi Gras is back at full strength is evidenced by people already discussing going out of town next year to avoid the crowds.

And of course, something cosmic happened to every person who has ever had a 504 area code two Sundays past. The Saints winning the Super Bowl was the shower, shave, cup of coffee, Tylenol, and greasy burger after what had been a very long night out. In the middle of the Saints victory parade, a question: What is New Orleans becoming?

As this blog has belabored time and time again, Creole is an ever evolving term, constantly bringing in new and varied ethnicities and techniques. And so too is New Orleans. Ever shifting, ever evolving, for good and bad. Standing in Lafayette square there shook the continuous tolling of the bells from St. Patrick's Catholic Church peeling out in jubilation. Meanwhile, a Spanish speaking father hoisted his two young children on top of a Port-o-Let so they could catch a glimpse of a quarterback from Austin, TX as he rode by on a Mardi Gras float. Over it all the thunderous boom of the St. Aug marching band blasted out a song by a Hip Hop group from Atlanta.

I'm not sure where New Orleans is headed, but I am going along for the ride. And so too, are you.