Thursday, January 15th, 2026

Today was our last full day in New Orleans and we decided to focus on the waterfront. We had breakfast at Mena’s and then walked down to the waterfront. We caught the first streetcar to come along which happened to be heading toward the French Market. We got there and it was closed, so we hopped back on the streetcar and took it all the way to the other end of the riverfront line and found ourselves at the Riverview Mall, which we explored.

We left the mall and walked the riverwalk plaza back to the steamboat landing where hoped back on the streetcar and took it back to the French Market which was now open. I don’t know where I’ve seen so many street vendors and eateries in one place!

We made our way back to the Jackson Brewery building and entered the new Museum of Illusions. We were the first ones there and had the place to ourselves, which was fun!

After a rest back at the Quarter House, we left in search of a late lunch and made a beeline for Pat O’Brien’s. Amanda ordered an Old Fashioned and a sampler of gumbo, jambalaya, and red beans and rice. I ordered a hurricane and a muffuletta, which was amazing. I could only eat half and saved the rest for a late dinner in our room.

On our way back to the room we stopped at The Historic New Orleans Collection Museum which documents the history of the French Quarter. I had an interesting conversation with a docent who was telling us about the Aeolian organ installed there and how it was one of only about 6 of its size left in the U. S. Two others are in Eastman House in Rochester and Hildene, the home of Robert Todd Lincoln in New Hampshire, both of which I have seen and heard! We turned in relatively early to watch the premiere episode of the newest “Star Trek” series and to pack up our things as we had asked for a taxi pickup at 7:00 the following morning.

We made it to the airport in plenty of time the following morning. Our flight to Baltimore was uneventful. Our flight from Baltimore to Albany was delayed a bit, but otherwise also uneventful. We got home to our very welcoming cats at 11:00pm.

Step count: 11,822, or 5.46 miles

Riverfront Streetcar

Museum of Illusions

Museum of Illusions

Museum of Illusions

Museum of Illusions

Museum of Illusions

Museum of Illusions

An impression of Amanda’s butt

Museum of Illusions

Museum of Illusions

Museum of Illusions

Museum of Illusions

Riverfront Streetcar Line, New Orleans

Riverfront looking over Jackson Square Park

Amanda and Statue

New Orleans Riverfront

Some call her the joker…

Hurricane at Pat O’Brien’s

Muffuletta at Pat O’Brien’s

The Historic New Orleans Collection

The Historic New Orleans Collection

Portrait of George Washington, The Historic New Orleans Collection

Museum of Illusions

Wednesday, January 14th, 2026

Amanda woke before I did (no alarms!) and had coffee. We walked over to the Police station next to which is a Café Beignet location, of which our tour guide on Sunday had two things to say: 1) a donut shop next to a police station is a can’t-fail business model, and 2) their beignet MIGHT just be better than Café Du Monde. (He admitted that the latter is basically heresy and implored us not to tell anyone else that he said so. 🙂 ) We ordered an order of beignet. They were bigger and…”fluffier” (less dense) than the ones at Du Monde. But I won’t pick favorites!

We walked back to Quarter House’s where Amanda did a load of laundry. Then it was back to the riverfront for a late lunch cruise on the City of New Orleans paddle wheel cruise boat. It was a narrated, leisurely cruise downriver on the Mississippi about 7 miles before turning and heading back upriver. The cruise started boarding at 2:00 and we had lunch first thing. Scheduled to return to dock at 4:30, I called in to a meeting of the Library Board (Keeseville) at 4:00 for the remainder of the cruise and our walk back to our room.

Amanda wanted a nap before a group call she has on Wednesdays, and so I went back to Caesars and too-quickly bounced out of a poker tournament. Somewhat disillusioned, I returned to the Quarter House and had a bacon brie burger in the Backspace Bar and just hung out by the fireplace before heading upstairs for the night.

Step count: 7,726, or 3.02 miles

Lunchroom on the steamboat City Of New Orleans

Amanda enjoying the view

Tuesday, January 13th, 2026

Mena’s is closed on Tuesdays and so we found Café Fleur de Lis farther up the block. They offer balcony seating, which we have been interested in, but it was a bit too chilly for that, so we ate indoors. We each had some of the fluffiest, melt-in-your-mouth pancakes we’ve ever had!

All fueled up, we walked the mile or so to the National World War II Museum. All I can say is “wow!”. What an experience! I can’t remember being so moved by such careful and dedicated curation and presentation other than when I visited the 9/11 Memorial in New York City. It was simply incredible. Someone deeply interested in the War and what led to it could probably immerse themselves and spend a couple of days there. We spent a few hours working our way through the exhibits and then shared a charcuterie board in the café.

I’d had some minor stomach issues and so did not feel much like walking a mile back to the Quarter House. We found the nearest streetcar about 3 blocks from the museum and took it back to Canal Street from which it was a short walk to the Quarter House and some rest. Mid afternoon we visited the Legendairy Milkshake Bar. We had seen it earlier in the trip but it was closed. We looked up its hours and made a point of visiting for a mid-afternoon snack. I don’t know as I’ve ever paid $18 for a milkshake, and I probably won’t do that again; but we are on vacation and it was a treat! Amanda had “Death By Chocolate” and I had “Cereal Killer,” a vanilla base with Fruity Pebbles cereal and crushed Trix powder topping off the whipped cream. Oh MY, was that delicious!

I spent some time in the Quarter House’s courtyard finalizing some materials for an upcoming board meeting and chatting with some of the staff and other guests milling about. They were preparing for a Social Hour (wine and cheese) from 5-6pm. Amanda joined me at 5 and we continued to enjoy the food and company for a bit.

Cheese and crackers does not a meal make, however. We were not hungry enough for a meal, but decided to go walking and see where the evening took us. We decided to check out Pat O’Brien’s, about which our tour guide on Sunday had told us. It’s apparently the original home of the Hurricane rum drink and we wanted to have one there. O’Briens is unfortunately closed on Tuesdays!! In the French Quarter. During Mardi Gras season. Go figure!

Amanda suggested we head back to Fritzel’s to hear whomever was playing. We took the same seats we had on Sunday and were entertained by a foursome called The Jumbo Shrimp Jazz Band, who were playing not only traditional/Dixieland jazz, but also “Old Time” hits from the 1800s, which I very much enjoyed. We stayed until about 8:30 and then went in search of food, as Fritzel’s is drinks only. We got pizza slices at the first stand we found on Bourbon Street, sat and ate, and then walked back to the Quarter House and bed. I don’t know if it was the number of drinks we’d had or the fact that it was Tuesday in Winter, but the walk down Bourbon Street seemed a good deal less obnoxious than it was on Saturday!

Step count: 10,533, or 4.68 miles

WWII: I Want You

WWII Museum Exhibit

Tootsie Rolls in WWII

View from Fleur-de-lis Café

Death By Chocolate and Cereal Killer

The courtyard at Quarter House

Amanda and Me at Fritzel’s

Breakfast today was at Mena’s Palace, just up the street from Quarter House. Traditional breakfast fare in a cute venue. This is another place Mom remembers fondly.

We left Mena’s and walked to the “top” of the French Quarter and turned right on Rampart Street. Our tour guide yesterday had mentioned Louis Armstrong Park and I wanted to see it. We found the park and walked all around it. The auditorium building in the park was closed for renovations, which was unfortunate for me because my stomach was giving me issues and I felt I needed a bathroom! We left the park and made our way down St. Ann street to Bourbon St. and Fritzel’s where we knew we could find and use one (a bathroom). Then it was back to our room where I rested for a bit and Amanda walked down the street to check out a bookstore she’d noticed yesterday but which was closed at the time.

We had lunch at Daisy Dukes, located in the same building/block as the Quarter House. Then it was Amanda’s turn to rest. I went a few blocks away to Caesar’s Casino to check out the poker room. I wish I could say it was a profitable venture. It was not. I returned to the room to pick up Amanda and we went out again.

We walked down near the waterfront in search of dinner, not being very hungry yet. The steamboat City of New Orleans’ calliope was playing, though the acoustics of the surrounding buildings resulted in a certain amount of discordance depending on where you were. We found a spot called Café Pontalba and each had a cup of gumbo, which was very spicy/hot. Just right! Then it was back to our room for the night.

Step count: 17,414, or 7.33 miles

Statue, Louis Armstrong Park

Statue of Louis Armstrong, Louis Armstrong Park

Louis Armstrong Park

Armstrong Memorial Plaque

Louis Armstrong Park Entrance

Amanda at Daisy Duke’s

Daisy Duke’s

Exchange Place

Jean Lafitte Trading Company

Jean Lafitte Trading Company

Canal Street

Canal Street

Café Pontalba Selfie

Step count: 17,417, or 7.33 miles

Sunday, January 11th, 2026

Our host (The Quarter House) has a complimentary a la carte breakfast on Sundays starting at 9:00. We did not set our alarms and woke naturally in plenty of time for breakfast. There was a keyboard player in the lobby, wearing a tuxedo and everything. Mimosas were included. I had a large bagel and a mimosa.

We signed up for the Sunday morning walking tour taking place at 10:00, also provided by The Quarter House. That took about an hour and a half and ended in Jackson Square Park, after which we made a beeline for Café Du Monde, home of beignet and café au lait! There was no waiting for seats and we were in and out quickly.

We then took a look at the waterfront. One of the steamboats was on its way by. Then, on a lark, we caught the streetcar passing by on its way to Canal Street where we switched lines and took the Canal Street line all the way up the City Park. The park is full of ancient Live Oak trees, many with Spanish moss draping down and palm trees sprouting from their trunks. The park is home to the New Orleans Museum of Art, which we toured. Having seen something called a “Train Garden” on the map, we went in search of it. Siri/Apple Maps had an incorrect address and so we walked a couple of extra miles unnecessarily. I was momentarily upset and frustrated, but then looked around and the natural beauty (and I don’t just mean my wife!) made quick work of my angst. We did eventually find something to do with trains, but it appeared to be part of an amusement/kiddie park that is closed for the season. We crossed a Great Lawn the size of a football field (at least) on which all sorts of activities were talking place, followed a winding pond/lagoon, and made our way back to the streetcar which we took all the way back to Chartres Street and the Quarter House.

Nap time, followed by dinner at Bourbon House just around the corner from The Quarter House. I had rigatoni with shrimp and alligator sausage. Amanda had blackened catfish. Both dishes were delicious, and the portions were sensible. We had creme Brulé for dessert and then made our way to Fritzel’s. Fritzel’s European Jazz Club on Bourbon Street is the place to go if you want to hear traditional Dixieland jazz. My parents have spoken of it fondly and often over the years–nothing but good and happy memories there. We arrived at 6 and found a good spot to sit. (Thankfully there IS seating at Fritzel’s!) The current band was on until 8 and so we listened to two sets. The house band came on at 8, and I introduced myself to Mike Fulton, the trumpet player, whom my parents had befriended years ago and made a point of seeing every time they visited. He recognized my Mom’s name immediately, and we had a nice chat. We stayed for their first set and I FaceTimed with Mom so she could see and hear a couple of numbers.

Then it was back to The Quarter House for bed. We had a great first full day in New Orleans!

Step count: 15,483, or 7.37 miles

Quarter House Courtyard Pool

Exchange Place

Amanda on a Streetcar

Sidewalk in City Park, New Orleans

New Orleans Museum of Art

FDR Mall WPA Marker, City Park, New Orleans

Live Oaks with Spanish moss

View in City Park, New Orleans

Goldring/Woldenberg Great Lawn, City Park, New Orleans

Wall of Bourbon

Belt-driven ceiling fans

The view from our seats at Fritzel’s

Saturday, January 10th, 2026

We left home at 5:00am, stopping at Stewart’s for car fuel and people fuel on our way to Albany.  We had flights on Southwest Airlines, and it was the first time either of us had flown with them.  Lack of assigned seating was interesting, but we ended up being able to sit together.  We had a connecting flight in Fort Lauderdale with a very short layover.  But it was the same plane at the same gate!  That’s never happened to me before.  We got off the plane and just waited right there to get back on.  (We couldn’t stay on the plane because the were different flight numbers…I asked.)

We arrived in New Orleans on time.  Cab fare to the city is a flat $36, which seemed reasonable.  We have decided not to rent a car this trip.  In about 20 minutes we arrived at the Quarter House on Chartres Street in the French Quarter where our family has a time share unit, and this week is our week!  It actually took us awhile to find the unit, which was a bit of a laugh.  There are several elevators, and not all units/rooms are available via all elevators and we did not know where ours was and so took the “main” elevator and wandered around verifying that every room in the windy twisty halls was not, in fact, ours.  A quick trip back to the front desk got us on the right track.

After a quick nap we walked the length of the Quarter down Chartres Street to Frenchmen Street and a place called d. b. a. where a dixieland jazz band called Tuba Skinny was playing.  They have been playing the last few years at the Mace Chasm Farm in Keeseville–one of the band members is friends with the farm owners.  As we were checking the place out, I saw Shaye Cohn, the leader of the group arrive.  As she was putting down her stuff I walked up to her and said, “we came down from Keeseville to see you!”  She smiled and said, “We LOVE playing up there!”  d.b.a. doesn’t have much in the way of seating, and what little they had was full.  We bellied up to the bar (standing) and ordered a couple of drinks.  The band started and we stayed and listened to a few tunes before leaving to seek out food (no food at d. b. a.) because we hadn’t had dinner.

Frenchmen Street seems to be “artist central” and we found a pop up artisan market across the street from d. b. a. and spent a few minutes perusing the works.  For dinner we ended up at a place called Willies Fried Chicken.  A franchise outfit, their stores are decorated with incredible graffiti.  The food wasn’t anything spectacular, but the ambiance was great.  As we waited for our food, we noted the presence of the National Guard on the street.

After dinner we walked two blocks up to Bourbon Street and walked back down towards our hotel.  Upper Bourbon is not much to comment on, but once we hit lower Bourbon, the activity level ramped up considerably.  If I had to choose one word to describe Bourbon Street on a Saturday night it would be “cacophony”.  Not terribly enjoyable, either.  We couldn’t even talk to each other as we were walking down the middle of the street!  We certainly weren’t going to go into any of the establishments–what would be the point?

As soon as we turned off of Bourbon things got quiet and we saw several nice places we’d like to explore later in the week.  We made it back to the Quarter House and retired for the evening, blaming our fatigue on “jet lag” (only one hour) and the fact that we’d been up since 4:30am.

More to come!!

When I graduated from high school in 1987 I was asked by my parents what I would like as a gift. I told them that I wanted the Civil War Chess Set being produced and sold by the Franklin Mint at the time. The purchase was a subscription. You got the board, which was also the case for the pieces, first, followed by two pieces every month until you had the whole set. It was (and still is) gorgeous! It makes me wish I played chess more than I do, which is pretty much not at all.

Seemingly unrelated (but trust me), I have traveled back and forth between Keeseville and Potsdam hundreds, if not thousands of times. I attended college there. After college I moved back to Keeseville. After a year or so I got a job based out of Plattsburgh but which required that I live in St. Lawrence County. So back to Potsdam I went. This was about 1993 or so. After a couple of years I moved back to Keeseville, eventually leaving that job to work for SUNY Potsdam, moving back to Potsdam in December of 1997.

When I left Potsdam in or about 1995, I had a housemate. We both vacated the apartment at the same time. I recall one last load of stuff being left in the foyer of the house. There was no one else moving in–the house had been purchased and was going to be demolished in favor of a new home to be built. I also recall that one of us was supposed to go back for that last load. I think my housemate thought that was me, and I think I thought it was him. But whatever, I left some stuff there back then. All I remember is a set of weights and a torchiere-style lamp, neither of which I’ve missed. But once in awhile I wonder what else I might have left there and what ever happened to it.

So that was about 1995. I had packed up all my stuff, including over 100 “Star Trek” paperback novels that I had collected and read. They all fit into one rectangular (and heavy!) box, sealed and labeled. Back to Keeseville they went, along with all of the stuff I did NOT forget; and there they have stayed. For 30 years. I just never got around to unpacking them. I moved back to Potsdam in 1997 where I lived for 25 years before (you guessed it) moving back to Keeseville in 2023.

At some point in those 25 years I either wanted to play some chess or I wanted to show someone my chess set. But I couldn’t find it! I looked everywhere and it was nowhere to be found. I remembered that last load of things left in the house on Pierrepont avenue back in 1995 and was both horrified and ashamed to realize that that must be where it had gone. I had forgotten it all those years ago! My parents might not care so much (if I had told them, which I didn’t), but I did. That set was something I dearly coveted and they made it happen. It may seem like just a thing, but to me it represented a grandiose expression of their love and pride for me at the time, and I was mortified to think I had lost it–not to theft or accidental damage or something out of my control, but to careless forgetfulness.

But never fear: eBay is here!! Yes, if there’s something you want and can’t find, odds are there’s someone out there who has it and doesn’t want it anymore. eBay brings these people together. And eBay brought me together with someone who had and no longer wanted a complete Civil War Chess Set in very good condition. I don’t remember what I paid. Probably too much. But how do you put a price on the representation of parental love and pride? No, it wasn’t the same set they had given me, but it was a Civil War Chess Set. I had one again, and every time I saw it it would remind me of them and all they’ve done for me over the years.  And from then on I always knew exactly where it was.  I made a point of that.

And so, having soothed most of my panic and shame, I buried the rest and forgot about the whole “incident.” Life moved on. I divorced, remarried, left my job at SUNY Potsdam and eventually left Potsdam, moving into the home I now occupy near Keeseville (again). We continue to enjoy this house, but still have some things to unpack. You know, all those “non-essentials” we collect throughout our lives–the things that have been living happily, largely unmissed, in our garage for the last two years. Well, we recently acquired and set up some shelving in the basement which we can use to start unpacking those boxes. A few days ago I unpacked a few of them, including my box of Star Trek novels. As I dug through them, pulling them out five or six at a time, I got to the bottom of the box where sat…MY ORIGINAL CIVIL WAR CHESS SET!

You’ll recall I said I had looked “everywhere” for it. And indeed I thought I had. After all, WHY would I bother to open a sealed box clearly labelled “Star Trek Books” when I knew it was ME who had packed and labelled it? If I had also packed my Civil War Chess Set in that box, SURELY I would have included that on the label. RIGHT?!

Apparently not.

So I now have two Civil War Chess sets from the Franklin Mint in Very Good condition. And you know what? I have two sons! Two sons who will each someday have their own Civil War Chess Set as a modest representation of this parent’s love and pride.

Lost, Found, and Replaced!