Day 5; September 1, 2008 Hello HUNTSVILLE

Hello again. First full day in Huntsville Alabama, it’s no New Orleans, but it knows how to let its hair down.



I awoke this morning and realized that I dream exclusively things I cannot recall. With this in mind we started off our day at FUNNTASIA, a place so fun they added a whole bunch of letters to the word and called their place that.
We ran into a transplanted family; here the mother is glued to the TV, hoping to hear some fresh news on the ongoing GUSTAV. At that point, the levees seemed to be holding, video footage did show water spilling over the top, but for the most part being held timidly back.




Nothing takes your mind off a storm that could decimate the city your friends helped rebuild like a much too competitive round of mini golf. It was a nail biter with Nate, Zach and I trading strokes and the lead all the way through the Zebra course. (Our other option was the elephant course, but we didn’t know there was another option till we finished, still I stand by the decision) Gill was too busy wearing sunglasses and talking on his Bluetooth ear thing to put up much of a fight, so he became the comic relief, but he sucked at that too.









Here we argued at a seminal point about the etiquette of mini golf. Nate had an almost preternatural sense of the topic, but tempers did flare up. At one point I had to walk away and pee in the pond just to cool off. (I suggest if you do go to funntasia to try the elephant course) In the end I walked away the victor, my prize was lunch, courtesy of the sorry bunch I had beaten. (tensions continue to be high in the group, Nate still contending I miscounted on several holes when I did not. Rather I knowingly gave the wrong score)





This gorilla cannot wait to haunt me tonight. Or hug me I guess. It’s probably going to do both.



This was a very cool local coffee shop down the street, great little place with more people outside and around it than actually inside.




Based on an Internet recommendation, we headed to David Gibson’s BBQ, on the way we stopped at this… large tribute to the holy man’s son, JESUS. Here he has been tastefully plastered onto a 60 ft building.








Where to begin with David Gibson’s? Well, we ate at 3pm, it’s now nearly 11pm and me eating is as likely as me watching hotel erotica 3 over the phone with my mom. We all stuffed our faces with slow cooked beef and pork, sides of slaw, beans and potato salad. Everything was moist and the BBQ sauce was a perfect compliment to the piles of pulled meat. We were given a full bag of white roles and plenty of house hot sauce to create massive pulled pork/beef sandwiches. It was bare bones simple and done perfectly.













Harold Gibson, David’s son and current owner took us in the back and showed us the operation. Massive hickory logs stacked out back led us into the kitchen. He explained the entire smoking process in such detail and with such passion that it would be disrespectful to try and do it justice here. All I knows is it was good, and if I’m ever in Huntsville this will definitely be a spot I come back to.







His Mom is 88 and still works in the kitchen.





Being so full it hurt to sit down/breathe, we checked out a local park, adjacent to a large series of housing projects. While the area was somewhat neglected, the kids were amazingly friendly and it was a nice way to let my body digest.











It seems New Orleans was able to avoid the brunt of the storm; we are all relieved and look forward to returning promptly.

Gustav has made us move to Huntsville, AL

Erez, our guest blogger, looks at the headlines in Tuscaloosa, AL





Erez daily blog day 3/4 3:49 PM August 31, 2008
We ended up at Tukami last night, dancing contently by ourselves to mixes from soul sister. The lounge at Tukami was near empty, many people having gotten out of dodge (more on how much I hate that expression and its origins later) It was a chill, comfy spot, that I could see getting crowded quickly if not on the eve of an incoming natural disaster whose name reminds me of a fat French cook. Ben was the manager and bartending; he made me a stiff gin and tonic while sharing his excitement about the new space and his plans for it. He says a website is on the way, and I’ll post the link soon as possible.















Waking late, we soon discovered that most of uptown had not procrastinated as we had. Boarded up shops and empty streets were disconcerting and left an odd feel in the air. Walking around was one of the odder experiences I’ve had.
After packing up things I couldn’t stand to lose, we headed over to an air-conditioned house to have a last meal. These generous giants of men (from left to right; Hampton, Joel and Dan) were attempting to cook everything they had left in their fridge. The many courses we enjoyed were true hodge podges of ingredients and creativity. Drinks were being mixed and handed out in mason jars by none other than Chris Hanna, bartender at Arnauds. He created a delirious elixir, which tasted like a margarita and a mojito dry humping in my mouth. I’ll get the recipe and post it later…











We left at New Orleans at 11 pm, sound bites of Nagin’s ominous warnings being played and played again. The radio was the perfect soundtrack to driving out of the abandoned, boarded up city.
We hit a few hours of traffic on the 10 east before listening to a radio dj and jumping on the 90. It was an unusual event, sitting in traffic, surrounded by tens of thousands, all trying to get out, all listening to the same thing. It conjured up memories of the type of disaster movies that usually come in two’s.
We drove through the night, taking turns at the wheel, surrounded every mile we drove and at every pit stop we took by similar transplants. The city was on the road.
We would switch places when the familiar, heart-thumping roar of a rumble strip would shake us awake. Coffee, conversation and radio kept us in the right lane, above 70.
Arrived in Huntsville, AL at 2:00 pm, 13 hours after we had left the night before. Our mutual hate for the other car traveling in our caravan was the clearest byproduct of the ordeal. Next stop Memphis.








" The VA Hospital in Birmingham, AL- Very different situation than our VA in New Orleans.




A Painting in our final destination of the day- Huntsville, AL






“ It has not been easy to watch the images on television and to now be able to identify very closely with each location. When I heard the Mayor call the storm, “the mother of all storms,” it sent a rush of panic and anxiety through me, and my passion for the city became clearer than ever. It is never easy to leave a place you want to stay, but it’s even worst to not know what you will be coming back to. I want to be back in New Orleans and I hope to see you there soon.”- Nathan Rothstein

Breakfast on the Bayou

Day Two of Erez general thoughts: 9:25 PM Friday 8-29-08

Hello again NOLA people. I am updating from Gill's house on South Tonti St. Beautiful place, listening to BB King's 'something you got' and munching on homemade cookies/brownies courtesy of Anna.

Woke up a little ripe from the night previous, and went to a late breakfest at Ruby Slipper. As there was no one there, it being 10:45 and a weekday, the service was amazing.




Kathy (not her name, I'm guessing) brought us out breakfest, Nate had a fried egg and bacon sandwich, I had the shrimp omelette. The food was great, the omelette was fluffy and moist and the shrimp inside was generous, but we agreed both meals were a little heavy on the black pepper. It's just personal preference, if you like black pepper you could have thought the meal was perfect. Either way it was affordable and overall very good, next time I'll just ask for a less generous pepper portion.






Since the storm was possibly coming, Nate didn't want to leave town before voting. Here are the few photos I was able to take before I was told to put the camera away. Isn't city hall a public place?






The town was definitely gearing up for GUSTAVIO (not it's real name) these men were boarding up a pay less shoes, and I am now kind of wishing I had taken a picture of people boarding up something worth saving.







Allright, well, we're going to Takumi to see Soul Sister spin her music into our silly lives. Ladies drink free it says, so they got that and pay less going for them.