[recap]-Essence Festival

It's Monday afternoon and I'm back in Nashville. I'm still recovering from this past weekend. I didn't pull up to my house till after 2:30am and I was up by 8am. It was well worth it though. If I didn't get anything from this past weekend that I didn't get from before its New Orleans natives know how to party and drink.

We arrived in N.O. Thursday night, got our first (of many) daiquiris then changed for this party (that we never made it to). We ended up on Bourbon St. for about a hour before we got bored and went to party at Harrahs Casino. Harrahs went down but I had a feeling that my weekend was going to get better. We didn't make it to bed till after 6am.

Big Ass Bugs in New Orleans

Friday (after 4 hours of sleep) we wandered about aimlessly (after getting more daiquiris). We stopped so many places that I can't remember it all. Friday night we went to First Fridays. It was so many people. We had tickets but ended up going in through the side door because we didn't want to wait in line. So we sold some of the tickets that we didn't use. This First Friday's put every other First Fridays I've ever been to to shame. Such a nice collection of beautiful people. I ran into LaLa and I was thinking she is beautiful and she looks like LaLa. Only to find out it was. lol Her and Solange were hosting the party on the top floor. I also ran into some good friends that I hadn't seen in a minute. Its funny when you see random people you haven't seen in a while across the country. Friday night (well Saturday morning) I didn't get to bed till after 7am.

The Scene of Most of the Crimes

Saturday (after 4 hours of sleep again) we were back at it. Hit multiple cookouts, played spades, reminisced about Steve McNair and drank lots of good alcohol. I might have had 10 giant sized ribs, 3 burgers, 4-5 drumsticks of bbq chicken, authentic red beans and rice, baked beans, potato salad. I was stuffed. lol. Everyone's house we went to had a functional bar with a large variety of liquor. I loved it. After eating our fill we went and shot pool then hit up Harrahs again. We didn't walk into there till afer 2:30 and it was a stupid line to get in. It was crazy and people were drunk out their minds. Here is an example:

Drunken Girls

After Harrahs I had a "Dude Where's My Car?" moment. I lost the damn car and couldn't remember where I parked. I was so blown and so hot. Eventually (30 minutes later) I found it and we all headed to get some breakfast. Then we headed to bed. By the time we got to bed the sun was all the out (8:45am) and I knew there was no way we would be heading back to Nashville anytime soon. Needless to say we didn't hit the road till 7:30pm. Lol. I'll be doing it all again next year.

For now I need to detoxify my body and get ready for round 2 this weekend. DMV here I come. I hope y'all are ready!

Essence Music Festival

"The ESSENCE Music Festival®, began in 1995 as a celebration of the 25th birthday of ESSENCE Magazine, July 4th weekend in New Orleans. Three days of cultural activities and three nights of performances by some of our greatest African-American artists made the Festival a success.

The Festival has grown in stature and attendance every year and is an annual destination. It is the largest African-American music and empowerment event in the country, with more than 270,000 attendees enjoying evening performances, plus free daytime sponsored activities, empowerment seminars and celebrity meet-and-greets.

With the best musical artists, the most powerful speakers and the biggest national brands, the ESSENCE Music Festival is three days of unparalleled music, celebration and community."

Yep this weekend I'll be making my second trip this year to the Big Easy. I had a blast when I was down there for Mardi Gras. From what my friends tell me its more fun (at least for colored folks) during Essence. I don't know if I'll get to make any concerts but I sure will be partying hard. I'm going to get it in this weekend. I sure do need to mini-vacation. The monotony of the lab is really starting to get to me. I actually enjoyed having the distraction of teaching over the past month but now that that's over, I'm right back to where I started. So New Orleans, here I come. Hope y'all are ready.

Mardi Gras

Tomorrow I'll be leaving for New Orleans to experience Mardi Gras for my first time. Me and my 3 PCs will be driving down. It should be a fun road trip. I've been to New Orleans once before, but that was for an ABRCMS (Anncual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students) conference back in 2002. So I know the experiences that I will have this upcoming weekend will be nothing compared to the last time I visited the Big Easy.


I'm trying to do it all. From an Endymion party, church, drinking, clubbing. All of it. I'm even going to try different types of seafood (except for any shellfish), which I clearly have sworn off for the rest of my life. Hopefully I won't drink myself into a stupor tire myself out and will be rested enough to play in this semi-final basketball game on Monday night.