Yesterday we really began to experience what New Orleans is all about. It's below the surface, you know. The one thing I learned is that to know the Crescent City is to leave the cliche of Bourbon Street. Locals pretty much disdain it, so you probably won't find them there.
A delicious, five star breakfast was hosted by KBIS at Luke's. This is where I devoured, with relish, my first beignet. Afterwards we took a quick ride on the trolley then embarked on a walking tour of the beautiful Garden District.
This tree lined collection of streets was a feast of New Orleans architecture at its best. The style is a hybrid of Southern plantation, Caribbean and French. At times Key West and even Lake Worth comes to mind. I was excited to see the home of "Gothic" author Anne Rice but the real treat was running into Mr. Okra larger than life, after having seen him on this beautiful short film! Check it out here if you missed it. It is so worth it, trust me. 
The Big Easy is also known for its antiques galore and so that was next on the agenda. We met up with Shaun Smith of Shaun Smith Home for a tour of some of the best antique shops. 
Shaun Smith, a New Orleans sweetheart. Both his smile and his jacket were a refreshing white. His style retains a New Orleans flavor but with a little New York chic which makes it something uniquely his own.
We also explored Petricia Thompson Antiques, Empire Antiques and an interesting eclectic store called Malachite. Last but certainly not least we met Gerrie Bremermann in her shop. Let me tell you about Gerrie. Remember those amazing homes I just mentioned in the Garden District? Well she's had a hand in making most of them fabulous. She is a much sought after designer in these parts but also, on a larger scale, she's sought out by national publications as a barometer of southern design. Currently in her mid eighties she continues to immerse herself in her trade. She loves it and she is a true inspiration.
When it comes to my own personal taste I loved Shaun Smith Home the best. In fact I believe antiques are at their best when they are a part of a more modern decor where there is enough space for them to be a focal point. Think about it, in a room crammed with antiquity no one gets to be the star!Shaun also carries a couple abstract impressionist artists' work which I admired. He was a gracious host who showed us what southern hospitality is all about.Next up was a visit to the Ogden Southern Art Museum for a book signing by the dynamic designer/author Miles Redd. You can listen to a fabulous interview of him over at The Skirted Roundtable. Mile's book "The Big Book of Chic" is BIG and the many takers are evidence that the world of paper books is still very much alive.
I loved how Miles is not afraid to work out of the box, in fact he works entirely out of the box taking much of his inspriation from great works of art. I am a maximalist, he claims!
The day was made complete by a breathtakingly delicous dinner at Bayona hosted by our sponsor Mr. Steam. I am really enjoying getting to know all the others on the tour. It's amazing how each has such a unique story with creativity and innovative thinking being the common thread. Three more days to go. Wow. Stay tuned, more to come.
Big Easy Arrival
Actually it really was pretty easy, despite ramped up security measures in the wake of yesterday's Boston tragedy. My prayers and good wished are with all the good people who were affected in Boston.
I spent a lovely afternoon in the company of Patty Davis Brown of Dig This Design and her hubs, Lee. They hail from Vero Beach so we were on the same flight. We were greeted in style so, of course, I had to get picture of it!After a short delay in getting our bags, we were on our way to the Renaissance Arts Hotel, about a 25 minute drive. The hotel is lovely and features artwork scattered throughout.
We were given a map of all the art locations so we can explore at our leisure.
After checking in we spent the afternoon lost in the streets of the Crescent City in search of some lunch and sight seeing.
On the way back to the hotel we found the two items that prove without a doubt we are in New Orleans, beads and masks.
Then I discovered Naghi's at 637 Canal Street. It's sort of an antiques/jewelry/bronze sculpture/judaica store.
At cocktail hour the blog tour assembled to get acquainted (or reacquainted) with each other and with these yummy drinks called St. Germains.
We also met two NOLA natives, Angel of Write Robinson and Stacy of Stacy Naquin Interiors. They are local bloggers who welcomed us with open arms bearing gifts to boot including gourmet cupcakes and personalized stationery! There was also a lovely goody bag, courtesy of Modenus, full of treats and most amazingly a personalized embroidered tote made for each of us from Toma, the Antiques Diva.
At SoBou we indulged in tapas which highlighted the local cuisine and were delicious.
This day and the next four are courtesy of Modenus.com and the sponsors of this tour who we will learn all about in the days to come. Ok I'm pooped. Although the weather is certainly steamy, I'm out of steam so I'll see you tomorrow.
Favorites on Friday
Happy Friday peeps! I'm looking forward to an action packed weekend. You know how it is when you're trying to get away, life seems to suddenly accelerate. Tomorrow I'm signed up for an iphone photography class at the Palm Beach Photographic Centre in the hopes I will learn to take the best pics possible in NOLA. I'll let you know how that goes and hopefully you'll soon see the results.
Every Friday Pinterest tells me my most popular pins for the week. Since it seems like I should do something with that nifty stat I thought I'd share them with you. I have lots of crazy boards. If you want to follow me on Pinterest click here.
Speaking of following, if you would like to follow along on the Blog Tour NOLA, it starts on Tuesday. Subscribe to this blog and or follow me on Twitter or Face Book. I promise to do an excellent job of reporting the good the bad (hopefully not) and the divine. The days leading up to KBIS on Friday will be so interesting and inspiring. Then the annual Kitchen & Bath Industry Show is where new products and design trends are unveiled. You can find the other bloggers and more info about the whole blog tour over at ModenusLast but not least, food is one thing I'm eagerly looking forward to in New Orleans. Everyone knows that Cajun cuisine is known for it's SPICE! Yes dat cookin is hot! When the shrimp goes on sale you might want to check out this awesome recipe from "cookedbyjulie" over on YouTube. Incidentally, you can also make an Indian version of this dish. Just switch to Indian seasonings such as garam masala and turmeric and garnish with cilantro instead of parsley. Serve with naan instead of biscuits and you can have your shrimp and eat it Indian style too. Have a terrific weekend and I'll see you next time in the French Quarter!