A day never passes in New Orleans without me shaking my head in amazement. Whether it’s the shock of seeing cars at frozen daiquiri drive-through windows or the hoopla surrounding Camellia Grill (no offense: It may be historic, but aside from its ambiance, it’s quite reminiscent of a Jersey diner), there’s no place like N’awlins.
Here’s another installment of “New Orleans surprises” from my Yankee purview:
1. 2009-10 Losing Season for the Hornets?
I hope that by the end of the season I’ll need to recant and eat my words. But it’s not looking too good for the New Orleans Hornets. Before the season, if someone had predicted that as of today the Saints would be 9-0 and the Hornets 3-8, it would have sparked skepticism. But sure enough, as of this week the Saints remain unbeaten after almost getting rammed in St. Louis, but the Hornets are still dribbling down a road to nowhere. A Saints Super Bowl win would likely obscure a dismal Hornets season. But let’s hope it doesn’t come to that — the Hornets losing season, that is.
2. Passenger Trains?
The New Orleans streetcar is a historic mode of transportation, and it’s convenient depending on where you need to go. It’s come in handy quite a few times for me when driving wasn’t an option and walking to the Quarter in 99 degrees wasn’t such a good idea either. Riding the streetcar reminds me of how much I used to rely on trains when I lived in the Northeast.
Sometimes I wish there were a rail line from New Orleans to Baton Rouge and Houston. A high-speed train would provide a different option for traveling to these cities instead of the usual monotonous drive on Interstate 10 or a $500 plane ticket to Bush International Airport.
I have a few colleagues who make long commutes to New Orleans, and sure, it’s not too bad of a drive, but in traffic, that’s a different story. I wish they didn’t have to spend so many hours behind the wheel. It’d be much better (and safer) to spend the commute reading a book or catching up on sleep.
So I’ll just flat out ask: Why isn’t there a passenger train that extends to Baton Rouge or Houston? Is it because a limited number of people make the commute to or from Baton Rouge? Or is the infrastructure too unstable to support a high-speed rail line? Is it more an issue of funding?
And on another note, wouldn’t a rail line help expedite the hurricane evacuation process?
Am I totally off my rocker on this one?
3. Homelessness
I was surprised — no, stunned — when I read an article in March 2008 about the astronomical rate of homelessness in New Orleans. According to a local homeless advocacy group, one in 25 New Orleanians is homeless, post-K.
This is four times the rate of homelessness in other American cities. Many advocates have pointed out that homelessness has nearly doubled since Katrina because of limited outreach centers and skyrocketing rents.
I don’t know about you, but it’s difficult for me to rest at night when I know there are thousands around the city who sleep in blighted buildings on moldy bedrolls.
I know there are plenty of social justice endeavors worth attention and money; this is certainly one of them. We can do better; we must do better — even if it’s just volunteering in our spare time. It would be much better than turning a blind eye and doing nothing at all.
http://www.unitygno.org/voldon.html
http://www.no-hunger.org/donate/donations.htm
4. Louis Armstrong Airport: Least-desirable airport
For a city so renowned for tourism, it’s hard to believe that the city’s proverbial welcoming gate — the airport — always seems like a ghost town. Granted, it’s not an airline hub, so there’s less through traffic, but still, MSY never bustles at the rate of other metropolitan airports. Maybe I’m too accustomed to Newark airport and its thousands of daily plane departures and arrivals.
I guess there’s really no use in comparing New York City-area airports to New Orleans, but it’s hard not to as MSY has something all others lack: the potential to showcase Big Easy spirit, the enticing sounds of jazz recordings and smoky scents.
Wouldn’t it be cool to have mini-parades through terminals and manufactured scents throughout the airport or at least in the restaurant areas? Wouldn’t it be nice to make MSY more distinctive in character? First impressions often make a difference.
Does the fact that it’s located in Kenner have anything to do with it?
5. To rue or not to rue making roux
I’ll never be like Leah Chase. I accept this fact. But at some point in the next decade I’d like to make a decent batch of red beans and rice. I’m embarrassed every time I get caught in the grocery line with multiple cans of Blue Runner beans — the beans I later mix with instant rice to make a faux Monday special. And when it comes to gumbo — forget about it. I need to live next door to a fire station if I ever want to try that again. For now I’ll just stick to roux in a jar and stay glued to the stove when heating it up.
Somehow I thought making traditional Cajun dishes would be a lot easier by now: Add a lil’ lagniappe here, a lil’ gris gris there and BAM!
But it’s not like that — not even close.
Last weekend a friend offered me a bowl of her prized gumbo. It was expertly made and, quite possibly, on par with Chase’s gumbo: chock full of crab, spicy sausage, chicken and a perfect roux.
That gumbo recipe of hers must be in her blood. And that’d explain why I can’t make it — like her or Chase.
Perhaps I should enlist the help of a cooking class or 10. Maybe then I’ll be able to make a suitable roux. One thing I know for sure, however, is that if I’m ever able to make an edible pot of gumbo, it’ll be a jaw-dropping surprise –– and a welcome surprise indeed.
