|
October 2009
It’s the month of savings (or it usually is) on utility bills! I love October – and it really is one of the prettier times of year here. I hope we’ll have some cool mornings and evenings, and sunny days. It’s a month filled with festivals, football, and fairs. My calendar is not too full, but I’m busy with some scheduled jury duty, a friend’s wedding, a kid’s birthday, some festival trips, and some tailgating and football games. August felt like it lasted forever, but September was speedy. I can feel this year is gonna end in a frenzy and be gone before I know it.
Selena and I went to the Saints season opener, and we sat down in the lower section – a first time for me, and a real treat. We ran into a couple of my buddies from The Bulldog era and they brought us to The Rusty Nail (formerly The Mermaid Lounge). Had our first game of shuffleboard – that stunned them – “never played this before? Wow!” Pretty fun and addictive, and it draws out the cutthroat in you! Turns out the place is owned by another old friend, so I might actually get back to New Orleans for a gig, finally!
As I mentioned last month, and always remind you, it is time for Oktoberfest! I can’t wait to actually go to Munich for this huge celebration. I miss the one that used to be in Ponchatoula then Gonzales. This month is not complete without a silly chicken dance. There is a weekly Oktoberfest at Deutsches Haus in New Orleans, and I really hope we’ll get to that – www.deutscheshaus.org. I’ve always loved Oktoberfest beers – Abita Beer’s Fall Festival being one of my favorites of the variety. Paulaner Oktoberfest is the classic flavor of the Marzen brew. I remember buying a mini-keg of Oktoberfest beer and driving to Ponchatoula with several friends. On the cheap, we’d go back to the truck for a swig. Well, that was the year I was told, “sir, please don’t dance on the tables.”
Oh, and last year, we visited a very homey little Oktoberfest at the Heiner Brau Brewery in Covington - http://www.heinerbrau.com/dynamic.php?pg=Oktoberfest_2009 . I loved the old farts playing the oompah music. Gives me hope that, somehow, I’ll find a gig at that age! Maybe I’ll never stop, and I’ll turn into something of an oddity that people come to our area to see… hehe. Robert’s Cove has a long-running Germanfest – www.robertscovegermanfest.com. Well, I hope you get some Oktoberfest time in. You can always find one in Epcot, or in Las Vegas, if you can’t get to Germany! Prost!!
I’m gonna put some festival info here for you. I hope you guys find this of use every month. I get all mine from Huli’s Festivals and Events calendar. It is a yearly purchase and a great asset in my fun management.
Oct. 2 – 4 Gretna Heritage Festival – www.gretnafest.com - This is a great festival with a huge number of very good acts – old and new.
Oct. 10 – 11 Wooden Boat Festival, Madisonville – www.lpbmaritimemuseum.org - beautiful watercraft
Oct. 9 – 11 Gumbo Cookoff, New Iberia – www.iberiachamber.org - maybe one of my favorite dishes and I can make a decent one!
Oct. 9 – 11 Gumbo Festival, Bridge City – www.gumbofestival.org - which one to go to? Wait, there’s another.. Louisiana Gumbo Festival, Chackbay – www.lagumbofest.com - Oct. 16 – 18
Oct. 9 – 11 Festival Acadiens, Lafayette – www.festivalsacadiens.com - I like this one for food and music
Oct. 8 – 11 Tamale Festival, Zwolle – www.zwollela.net - just the name of the town makes me wanna see this, and I love real good tamales
Oct. 18 Pepper Festival, St. Martinville – www.stmartinkiwanis.org - gimme!
Oct. 17 – 18 Crescent City Blues Festival, New Orleans - http://www.jazzandheritage.org/blues-fest/ - This is a newer one, put on by the folks that organize the Jazz and Heritage Fair – awesome blues lineup!
Oct. 17 – 18 Oak Alley Arts and Crafts Festival, Vacherie – www.oakalleyplantation.com - worth the drive along the river to see the line of oaks
Oct. 16 – 18 Great Mississippi River Balloon Race, Natchez – www.natchezballoonrace.com - Natchez is one of my favorite little towns. Better Than Ezra headlines, and my buddy Brint Anderson will play, too.
Oct. 23 – 25 Andouille Festival, La Place - http://andouillefestival.com/ - will the Queen finally take me?
Oct. 23 – 25 French Food Festival, La Rose – www.bayoucivicclub.org/festivals.htm - I really wanna go to this one to eat!
Oct. 22 – 31 – Greater Baton Rouge State Fair, Baton Rouge – www.gbrsf.com - this was the be all, end all when I was a kid, walking that midway. Friends playing – Allison Collins, After 8, and David St. Romain.
I can’t list all the Parish Fairs going on, but will add Washington Parish Free Fair – www.freefair.com - Oct. 14 – 17. Bill Stafford’s hometown favorite. Friends Hip Boot Joe will appear, as well as 3 Dog Night, and Marty Stuart.
Me? I’ll be at the usual spots - notably, both Half Shells on the first weekend, back to Onezia and Sullivan’s with the band, later in the month. Also, back for the good weather, is an appearance at Monjuni’s on Jefferson. Mi Padre’s will be added as soon as I confirm some dates.
Congratulations to Liz Dunn and David Laurent, Jr. who get married this month. That will be a fun time, with a lot of musicians at the reception to jam. Congrats to Elaine and to Connie Mac for their cancer survival milestones. God bless ya’ll. Happy Birthday to Elizabeth L.
You can look these up yourselves, but some of my heroes playing in the region this month are: Styx, The Black Crowes, U2, The Allman Brothers, and yes, Rick Springfield! If you can’t get to their shows, I’ll play you a song by each band! Hehe… that’s a terrible compromise… GO!
It’s gonna be a great month, I hope. Big thanks and love to you all!
Kirk
|
