Nawlins kitchen

It was my first exploration in New Orleans--minus the arrival/Daquiri/motorcycle ride after my arrival the previous evening. I ventured out of my friends door and turned left, after snapping photos of the bright purple house next door and nearby graffiti. I felt obligated to snap photos of every pattern of peeling paint, every brightly colored yellow and turquoise trim, every sign posted from before the 60s. I then arrived at an unusual corner, where there stood an eatery called, "Marie's Bar" which had to be at least 50 or 60 years old. I couldn't help myself. I had to take a photograph, not the quick and stealthly kind i had taken along the path. Nope, I had to really check out my angle etc. Then, from inside the bar, an older gentleman stands in the doorway, staring me down. I thought, "oh no. i've been caught." He motioned over to me, "come here!" he says. "I want to show you a picture!" "come here!" I tried to ignore him at first, but after the third or fourth time (with a smile on his face reminiscent of my late grandfather), I chuckled and went over to him. C'mon in! he says. As I entered the bar, there were two other people (it was 11am)--an older gentleman who seemed to be visually impaired, and an older woman with short blonde hair chewing gum tending bar. The gentleman who recruited my attendance pulls me over to a photograph positioned slightly crooked on the nearby wall. "Isn't that the picture you took?" "Yes, it looks just like it" i said. He then continued to tell me about how his girlfriend--a New York Italian who knows how to cook--was making lasagna in the kitchen, and how it was only five dollars for a nice healthy portion. When I appeared hesitant, he insisted that I follow him into the kitchen. Why not? Before I knew it, I was watching Marie from Marie's bar (the New York Italian) pull her mean lasagna out of the oven, as if i didn't believe it would be yummy. And before I knew it, again, we were chatting about New York, New Orleans, Venice beach and New Jersey with Melvyn (the gentleman) and Marie. "Come back tomorrow! Tomorrow we're having pork chops with lime, and Friday we are having seafood gumbo!"

I didn't have the lasagna, as I had to go explore, but I hope to return back to these folks later in the week. A truely welcoming bunch.