bars are 21+ but i’d be suprised if they were super hardcore about id’ing people.

I'll be there! I'm flying in the night before and staying at the Fairmont so if anyone's in the lobby hanging out, I'll see you there... Looking forward to Shellac...

Dan

I'll be there and working at the conference in some
capacity. I have a cargo van, so I believe that Craig
Schumacher is going to exploit the use of that in one
way or another to set up and strike, but he assured me
I'd get to attend most of the conference. I live in Baton
Rouge, 70 miles west of New Orleans.

To answer Redlights question... the drinking/gambling/
strip club age in Louisiana is 21, and they're notoriously
hardass in the French Quarter about IDing people, but you
can drink on the street and won't likely get carded by
passing cops. Besides... the French Quarter is ridiculously
overpriced, except for One Eyed Jacks and the far eastern
strip of Decatur street where Molly's and the Abbey are.

Louisiana in general isn't particularly vegetarian friendly...
a lot of the indigenous food is seafood-based in one way
or another, or cooked in a pot with copious amounts of
butter.. which doesn't make customizing things for a
vegetarian possible. But since NO is so tourist-oriented,
I'm sure there are guides on the internet that will point
you in the right direction.

Tak'er easy,
Fred

Fred, I'll probably be seeing you; I'm helping Craig also. Here's a couple veg. restaurant listings from last year's conference:

La Fee Verte 620 Conti 504 525 8763
Slim Goodies Diner 3322 Magazine 504 891 3447

My fav from last year (non-veg)

Napolean House 500 Chartres

Should be fun.

Frank

I'll be there. I went last year and had an amazing time.

Really, load up your porta-coffee maker and your Red Bull. There's so much to do. There aren't many places to get take away coffee near the Fairmont, and the hotel only pours little cups.

There's no much time to see NO if you want to make the panels. There's almost no down time. Skip a few, come early or stay late so you can eat lots. The famous Uglesitch's just closed, and that's a crime. The guy retired.

WWII geeks should check out the D-Day Museum. It's pretty damn cool. I'm pretty up on the subject and I was impressed with the detail.

Last year, on the way back from seeing Calexico with my pal Matt, I found a $100 bill in the middle of Tchipchoulous Street. I looked up and saw Harrah's, right there. I thought "this is a sign - I'm to gamble this and make my fortune." Then I realized that I suck at gambling and bought everybody in the hotel bar associated with the convention a drink instead.

DO NOT miss getting a meal at Mother's. It's quick, cheap, copious and on the way to the Howlin' Wolf.

Note: these comments coming from a lifelong northerner who doesn't get to the south more than once a year.

New Orleans, or especially the French Quarter has a fine layer of filth all over everything. Probably the constant humidity and the breasts everywhere. May also be the cockroaches the size of your head. Those fuckers fly too.

I've only been there once as a tourist a couple years ago, and since we were new to the city, and hadn't rented a car, we made a few mistakes. Like trying to eat at a restaurant on Bourbon street. Don't do that. It's like sleazy adult Disneyland. Everything is mediocre, just there for show, and overpriced, but it's the best people watching you can get anywhere. Get off onto some of the side streets a few blocks away at least.

Even when Mardi Gras isn't going on, at night you'll still find a few roving packs of 20-30 guys with video cameras surrounding a couple of girls. You'll know when they're flashing their tits because the whole pack will light up when they turn the cameras on and flashes go off.

Since my boyfriend at the time was into terrible music, we caught a cab to go to the Rock and Bowl to see Tab Benoit. Not my thing, but the musicians were all local session guys, and they were incredible players at least. I would have preferred just bowling. Just as a warning, it's a pretty good distance from downtown. Don't plan on walking there.

I'll be attending TapeOp as a "spouse" so if any of you have guests coming along, I'll be spending most of my time wandering around aimlessly. There's a nice area of galleries and little shops that I thought was pretty cool... I hear they kicked the psychics off the square though. That's a pity.

Oh yeah, the panhandlers aren't total sneaky pros like they are in Nashville, but don't get accosted by clowns with balloons. Just don't. I still remember his foul alcohol soaked at 2 in the afternoon breath. That, and the $15 lopsided balloon animals that smelled more like him than rubber, and were covered in the same film of filth everything else is. ... but all in all the trip was a great experience, loved it, wouldn't want to live there though.

rachael wrote:
...hinging on whether or not my boss is paying for the trip. Otherwise I might not be able to make it. Too broke. Hope to see you there!

Hmmm... we need to let your boss know how important TapeOp is to your professional development!

Besides... you need to take the boss to see Shellac...

t

I went to TapeOpCon 2004 and had a good time. I'm just finishing up college today, and moving, so I won't be able to go to TOC 2005. Damn...I've never seen Shellac live, and this was my chance. I thank Steve, Bob, and Todd for coming to New Orleans and playing a show, the people who will be here are really looking forward to it.

As for all the questions about where to eat, what to do? Last year there was a list of reccomended eateries on the program that was compiled by Piety St. Studios that was pretty spot on. I assume they will put that on again, and people should use that.

I'm thinking about going, and in between the bands and the panels will probably go play some poker at the local casino.

I'm jonesing for some beignets RIGHT NOW.

Russ,
I'll be there, and I'll definitely have my Powerbook. I was invited to be on Andrew's intern panel. I'm preparing to have my ass handed to me. It should be a fun time.