We chose the only day it rained to attend the Jazz and Heritage Festival this year! Actually it turned out great though. The crowds were smaller, the day was breezy and I only got hit by about 20 raindrops all day. This was Amy's first Jazz Fest and she loved it. It was my 26th and I still love it! Elvis Costello rocked!
Glad you had fun.
So, tell me about the Jazz Fest? Who else did you see? Joan and I saw Elton on Friday night (again) but I know that doesn't compare with the fun of outdoor shows. Where is it held?
Is that my favorite Mandarin Orange Spice tea y'all are drinking? And what's in the bags?
Boy, does Kevin look like Lars or vice versa. It was nice of you to include Amy in your tradition, wow, 26th year! How fun. Carol
You mean to tell me that you never brought the kids with you to experience the kids tent? People at my school wondered if I would bring Samuel this year. I said I'm not that much of a die-hard, that wouldn't be any fun for me. A lot of the parents at my school take their kids and keep them out of school sometimes for it. I sure miss my crawfish monica though and crawfish beignets!
We ate our way across the infield to the Acura Stage and caught the tailend of somebody and then watched a group called Galactica. They were just OK. Dave Mathews was on next and he was good but there seemed to be something wrong with the sound (a rare occurence). Halfway through Dave's set we jumped on the track and boogied down to the other end to watch Elvis at the Sprint Stage. He really impressed me. Over the years I've seen Paul Simon, Stevie Ray, Buffet, Phish, Muddy Waters, BB King, Allmen Brothers, The Band and on and on. Between the food and the music it just doesn't get any better.
Yes, Aunt Janine, it is Mandarin-orange tea! It was very good, and very big!
Jazz Fest was a lot of fun (except for the part where i didn't get a really pretty necklace)! My mom has warned me that I will not be going again, unless I'm with friends! I told her I wouldn't ask, except if someone REALLY GOOD is playing (like Nelly last Sunday!)
Amy, so did that mean you didn't like it? You are lucky you got to go. Jimmy was all bummed out when he discovered that Uncle Scott and his Aunt Rhonda saw Cowboy Mouth. He wanted to know why he didn't get to go. I told him why. Money! I have never been and Uncle Scott has only been twice--each time when his sister has come to stay. Well, they did Jazzfest like tourists. They paid $35 at the door and paid $15 a piece to ride the shuttle. With Rhonda's boyfriend, Jim, that amounted to $45 for a nasty little school bus. Of course, they had to eat, too. It all adds up. I think I am going to try and go one year just so I can go eat and see all the crafts. I am not much of a music fan so it always seems too expensive to splurge. Oh yeah, the bathroom situation seems to be a bit nasty, too........and I do have cleanliness issues.
I went to Jazz Fest for the second time this past Thursday and had a blast. We got to see Jack Johnson, Nickel Creek, The Subdues, and another local band that we liked a lot. BB King played that day too, but it was during Jack Johnson and he is who we really came to see. I got crawfish monica and split some crawfish bread with all the fellas. I am currently in search of a crawfish monica recipe if anyone has one. It was amazing.
Amy, I can't say Nelly would be someone I consider "REALLY GOOD", but if you say so. My brother David, continues to be a work in progress with his music tastes...he is slowly leaving the rap world and coming to appreciate the REALLY GOOD music. I would have loved to have seen Elvis Costello, but there just wasn't enough time...and I love Coyboy Mouth. I saw them in Atlanta a few summers ago and it was one of the best concerts I have been to (thanks to Aunt Katie for turning me on to them).
Stephen,
Patsy and I have become fans of Nickel Creek. How were they?
I'm sorry to have missed Jazz Fest. I really must get there one of these years, although this year with Dave Matthews, my ultimate favorite and Nickel Creek, would have been awesome.
I just took Madeline to Maroon 5 a couple of weekends ago. It was a lot of fun, but I have to say it's quite a different experience being a chaperone at a concert with a teenybopper. I attended a Judy Garland performance the following weekend to balance my musical self. The woman was an amazing replication - voice and presence. For any MNans, I highly recommend the play at the American History Theatre in St. Paul.
I don't have much time so I'll try to put into words my feelings on Jazz Fest. It's almost a religious experience for me. Scratch that, it is a religious experience for me! It's more than just great music and fabulous food. What always never fails to amaze me is how mellow the crowd is. I mean, thousands and thousands of people crowded together, long lines at all events,lots of jostling and EVERYONE is extremely polite. I've never seen a confrontation ever, and I've been to at least one day of the fest for the past 22 years! It's really awe inspiring and moves me in a very spiritual way.
Stephen, glad you had a good time. I thought I would never take my own children to the fest. I was afraid they would be too demanding on my nerves and patience. But I have to admit, Amy was a terrific Jazz Fest participant! Meaning, she went with the flow. She didn't even nag about not getting that pretty (gaudy) necklace. But, she did get a $25 commemerative T-shirt, so she did alright!
Laura,
JazzFest is held at the New Orleans Fairgrounds. Horseracing season is over and the JazzFest is held mostly in the infield but there are other events around the city that consider themselves part of it.
I saw one potential altercation while waiting in the bathroom line (never for very long) at the jazz fest. A guy who must have been drinking, a bad idea for a sunny day event, got all riled up with somebody for something stupid, (he probably broke in line), and as he was leaving his port-a-let he was shouting to us, backing away, and pointing "f... you, f... you." So, the guy whom he was mainly doing that to - did the same thing after his exit and all of us waiting laughed at that comical imitation.
I agree with Katie, it is a religious experience. The diversity in styles of people that attend is phenomenal. It makes you wonder where some of those eclectics are the rest of the year. "Do they have jobs? Do they look like that at work?" I didn't go this year, and I don't miss it when I don't go, but when I do, I get into that life-is-grand mindset and chill out. It almost doesn't matter who is playing; they've done a good job of wiring for sound and showing what's on stage on high, wide-screens for the masses; every seat is good. I have seen Indigo Girls, Bonnie Raitt, Neville Brothers, Jimmy Vaughn (as good as his brother), many little bands in the air-conditioned area, and numerous ones that I still don't know who they were, but they were cooking when I passed by their area.
This is not Crawfish Monica, but there is a recipe for something similar in the big recipe book that your Grandpa put together, Stephen. It is called "Janine's Shrimp and Pasta." Ask your Mother for that. It is easy to make. Just substitute a pound of crawfish. Michael and I weren't impressed with Crawfish Monica because of our making that dish. Chef Paul is a genius with his magic seasonings. I didn't make it up, though. It was a Olde Nawlins Cookery recipe. Michael was kitchen manager and absconded with some recipes. That's the only one we use.