Archive for September, 2009

Sep 29

Posted by L Mad Hildebrandt in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Front of hearse Hi guys,

it’s been a couple of weeks, sorry I left without a word! I went to a wedding in Albuquerque, and it’s taken me a little while to get back into the routine. Anyway, I just had to share this hearse with everyone! I think it’s almost a landmark, it’s probably the most visible auto in town. I’ve seen other cars similarly encrusted and bejeweled – in San Diego and in Miami. But what makes this one special is the ‘hearse’ factor! It’s the last ride everyone takes. How’d you like it to be in this one?

Mad

Tags: hearse, New Orleans

Sep 29

Posted by L Mad Hildebrandt in Uncategorized | No Comments

back of the hearse

Izzo’s Illegal Burrito

Sep 12

Posted by L Mad Hildebrandt in New Orleans fast food | No Comments

Izzo's Illegal Burrito

Are you hungry? Me too, at least until we got to Izzo’s Illegal Burrito. Long ago, Richard and I agreed to try out every Mexican restaurant we could. It was pretty slim pickings when we lived farther East, but now we’re back on the ‘west’ side of the Mississippi River. Well, okay, you can see the bridge from our window, but we ARE West of the river! And don’t even try to tell me the Mississippi meanders around, and crooks back up to the west of us. That’s just a geographical thing, and I’m not here to talk about geography. Right now, I’m talking about burritos.

Izzo’s is a Louisiana chain, but there are only four places. Three are in Baton Rouge, and then the one we went to here in New Orleans. It’s actually a Metairie address — at 4316 Veterans Blvd.

This place makes great burritos. It’s also VERY well liked, so we had to stand in a long line waiting to get up to the counter so we could order. Some people ahead of us got a burrito in a bowl. It was HUGE! Richard got a burrito in cayenne tortilla, and I got the grilled tacos. Everything was really tasty, and you can bet we’ll be going back.

If you’re driving through and need a quick lunch, hey, I’ve got two thumbs up!

(if you live in the area, and know of a great place to eat leave a comment and I’ll check it out!)

Mad

Tags: Izzo's, New Orleans

Sep 12

Posted by L Mad Hildebrandt in New Orleans fast food | No Comments

The long line at Izzo's

Tags: Izzo's, New Orleans

Sep 12

Posted by L Mad Hildebrandt in New Orleans fast food | 1 Comment

Izzo's tacos

Tags: Izzo's, New Orleans

Lake Pontchartrain

Sep 11

Posted by L Mad Hildebrandt in Lake Pontchartrain | No Comments

We drove across the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway because, well, who can resist a really, really long bridge over open water? It’s actually the longest bridge over water in the whole world. It’s 23.9 miles long, and when you get out into the middle of it, you can barely see the darker blue of the north shore. On the shore behind us, in Metairie, there are some large buildings, and off to the side you can see the New Orleans skyline, so you’re never REALLY out of sight of land. The AAA guidebook says you lose sight of it, but not quite. Maybe they drove over it on a foggy day.

What a thought! I don’t think I’d really like it out there in the fog, because you really do feel like you’re out in the middle of nowhere on this bridge, and I don’t know about you, but I’d never be able to swim to shore if I fell into the drink.

Anyway, when you head out of town, you’re on the new side of the bridge. It’s a little higher than the other side, and it’s a pretty smooth ride. But when you come back, you’re on the old bridge that was built back in 1956. That side is a bit bumpy, and if you’re prone to it, you might feel a bit, well, seasick.

Oh yeah, and make sure you’ve got three bucks in your pocket, ’cause that’s what it takes to get back to the city.

Mad

Lake Pontchartrain Causeway

Tags: Lake Pontchartrain

Glass House and Graffiti in the 9th Ward

Sep 10

Posted by L Mad Hildebrandt in 9th Ward New Orleans | 1 Comment

September 10, 2009

Hi guys,
We drove around town and found ourselves over in the 9th Ward. It’s on the East side of the French Quarter, and around a bend in the Mississippi. In New Orleans, there are 17 “wards” — basically districts. Some pretty cool cats came out of the 9th — like rapper Brian “Baby” Williams, hip hop artist Awood Johnson, better known as “Magic,” and my personal favorite – Fats Domino. His house was flooded during Katrina, and he had to be rescued by a Coast Guard helicopter. At some point I’ll get a picture of his house and post it for you.

While down there, we passed a fenced lot. It was filled with broken bits of the city. Flotsam and jetsam, really. Whoever keeps the lot has stacked whatever can be reused on pallets — things like old bricks, slate, and the like. Then they’d built a shed, about the size of a kid’s playhouse you’d put in the back yard. The amazing part is that it was completely covered in mirrors. It looks like they’d cut broken mirrors into rectangles and then mosaicked the pieces onto the house. It’s kind of ironic, don’t you think? This delicate thing of beauty sits in the center of what is still devastation.

Across the street was some fabulous graffiti on the side of a vacant building. Like the glass house, it’s really a testament to the human spirit — that such beauty can exist in the darkness. Yes, it’s graffiti. We’re conditioned to think it’s ugly and destructive. But in this case, it’s rather uplifting. I’m including pictures so you can see these things for yourself.

Mad