Subj : Children of...
To   : Marc Lewis
From : Roger Nelson
Date : Sun Jun 25 2017 21:18:24

On Sat Jun-24-2017 22:32, Marc Lewis (1:396/45) wrote to Roger Nelson:

[...]

 ML> There is actually a new hotel that's about to open in New Orleans
 ML> called "NOPSI", but it's not yet been unveiled to the public. It,
 ML> fittingly enough is located in the old NOPSI main building at 317
 ML> Baronne Street in downtown New Orleans.  You can bet on one thing,
 ML> it won't be cheap.  :-)

 ML> Further note, I just saw the pictures of some of the rooms there...
 ML> First class all the way.  Really nicely done.  Can't wait to visit
 ML> and see it first-hand.  I'll make a point of it come July 4th week
 ML> when I'm there for summer vacation. 

My mother worked at Sears on Baronne and Common for 29 years before retiring, 
so I think I know where that is.  I just can't think of what was torn down to 
accomodate the hotel.  I won't be there for a reason already mentioned.

 ML> A side note: The Regional Transit Authority took over the
 ML> transportation in New Orleans and for the last decade and a half
 ML> have been intensively restoring and renovating the Perley Thomas
 ML> street cars.  The craftsmen are doing an awesome job that includes
 ML> manufacturing from scratch many parts that have been obsolete for
 ML> MANY years.  Worth a trip to New Orleans just to ride them. 

I didn't ride one of those.  I heard you had to have exact change to board, 
there were no transfers, AFAIK, and I didn't ask what the fare is/was.

 RN> I miss riding the street cars of yesteryear, and while it may be a
 RN> novelty to tourists, I won't go back to New Orleans as long as a
 RN> Landrieu lives there. 

 ML> Landrieu, what a piece of work he is... And I'm practicing
 ML> Christian Charity with that statement.  But Landrieu or not, I'm
 ML> going to enjoy my coming visit; after all, I spent the great
 ML> majority of my life there until Katrina. ;-(  Were I financially
 ML> independent, I'd move back in a heart beat.  I miss my city... A
 ML> LOT.

There is talk of removing the statue of Andrew Jackson in Jackson Square as 
well.  I guess the two-faced mayor forgot that black people owned slaves, too.
 
 RN> When I was in grade school, I was riding a school bus to and from
 RN> Gentilly to McDonogh #9 on N. Tonti (of the Iron Hand), but when I
 RN> graduated to high school, my mother gave me 40 cents per day to
 RN> ride the bus to and from high school and the extra 26  cents I
 RN> could spend on whatever I wanted, as in lunch -- usually Mrs. Drake
 RN> sandwiches and a soft drink.  Grade school lunch was free. 

 ML> Three high schools for me: De La Salle, St. Paul's (Covington) and
 ML> Alcee Fortier (which was close to home.)  Grade school at St.
 ML> Francis of Assisi. Lunch was like ten cents and 2 more cents for an
 ML> extra milk.  Glazed donuts were 6 cents at the little confectionery
 ML> down the street from my house. Hubig's pies were a dime. A HUGE
 ML> slice of apple cake was a dime too. First Friday breakfast after
 ML> Mass at school was a half-pint of Borden's Dutch Chocolate milk and
 ML> a donut (free.) Tuition was $2.00 a month.

A friend of mine went there, along with Morris Bart.  THey were classmates.

 RN> I keep waiting for Hubig's to reopen because I like their pies, but
 RN> now I'm thinking it won't happen.  

 ML> As popular as those pies were all across the southern states, I'm
 ML> really surprised that they've not re-opened after that fire.

Try this if you haven't already seen it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOXVEcXftj4&spfreload=10

You can add New Orleans to those lyrics.

 RN> My favorite bakery is gone from there too.  Lawrence Aiavolasiti's 
 RN> (Mr. Wedding Cake) on Elysian Fields in Gentilly.  The old boy 
 RN> passed away some years ago and he apparently didn't pass on his 
 RN> knowledge to his heirs or they wanted nothing to do with it.  A 
 RN> real shame. There is an Aiavolasiti's bakery listed in Folsom, but 
 RN> I don't feel like driving up there.  I should call first.

 ML> Good Lord, I can remember seeing those commercials, both in print
 ML> and TV... Along with Dick Bruce hawking McKenzie's bake shop's
 ML> donuts.  :-) (Tastee Donuts has taken over the McKenzie line of
 ML> pastries, including their awesome cinnamon and hot-cross buns.)

I remember him.  A couple of guys who were relatives of the MLB player Lou 
Boudreau took me under their wing and were fine-tuning me as a hitter and 
infielder.  I never hit like Lou, except in batting practice, but I was a 
better pitcher than an infielder.  They also introduced me to Morgus the 
Magnificent (Sid Noel, his professional name).  Funny, funny guy and really 
brilliant.

 ML> This is really making me feel OLD and very homesick.

I'll have to pass, but I know exactly how you feel.


Regards,

Roger 
--- timEd/386 1.10.y2k+
 * Origin: NCS BBS - Houma, LoUiSiAna - (1:3828/7)

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