I've had several events this year that make it a more memorable year than I have had in a VERY long time and it's not even May. Jazz Fest makes the list and I almost missed it.
As always, the thing that really makes something memorable is the person or persons you are with. So, in addition to a thanks to Acura, a special thanks to Meagan. She's a free spirit and is one of the few people I know that can REALLY just "roll with it". We were lost in the dark, somewhere in Louisana, during a rain storm and we still didn't have a place to crash that night. Awesome. =)
So, the beginning... I bought a brand spanking new Acura RDX near the end of January 08. Some time in March, Acura sent me an invite to go to Jazz Fest 2008. This included two tickets to the event plus two VIP passes to Acura's VIP tent. I had no intention of going since I'd never even heard of Jazz Fest (I know, I know...). I asked Andrea (my ex) if she wanted the tickets and she was like, "Hell Yeah!". I had to call a phone number and reserve a day since there was limited availability each day to Acura's VIP tent. Andrea wanted April 26th. So out of curiousity I checked the Jazz Fest web site and saw the line up for that day. The headliner at Acura's Stage was Billy Joel who was preceded by John Cleary, and Dr. John. So all that sounded cool and the tent was right next to the Acura Stage. Maybe this would be fun.
Fast forward to a week before the event. Andrea can't go. Well hell, I'm not letting all that go to waste, I'll go. I just need someone that doesn't suck to go with. I'm at work and we're all talking about what we're going to do this weekend and I say I'm going to Jazz Fest. Meagan, a co-worker, says, "That's so cool, I've always wanted to go!". So I said, "Alright, you're in, let's go!"
During the week we talk about the Jazz Fest and Meagan introduced me, for the first time, to O.A.R. because they happen to be playing on the 26th too. This is my new favorite band! O.A.R. is such an awesome band... How did I never hear of them?
We leave Houston at 7:30am and should be there by 12:30pm. The trip is about 5 hours and the Jazz Fest runs from 11-7 so we won't miss much, plus we'll be there in plenty of time for Billy Joel and O.A.R. All things are going according to plan. We find the shuttle parking, pound a beer and board the shuttle. In a few minutes we're walking into Jazz Fest and looking for the Acura stage and VIP tent. We figured we'd just go there first and get checked in. Dude the Acura stage is clearly THE primo stage. People are sitting and enjoying the music of John Cleary for as far as the eye could see and there are two huge monitors for those way in the back. Nice!
We finally find the VIP tent and have to work our way around the back side of the stage where the initial entrace to the VIP tent is. We check in and walk into the tent. OMG! It is ridiculously nice. Tables on either side with food plus a long table down the middle with pulled pork, po boys, spinach artichoke dip, deli meats, caprese and the food kept changing through out the day. The tables to either side had deserts and salads. There were two private outside areas just for VIP's. The back area had the (FREE) beer tent, a sitting area and the bathrooms. The front area had couches, chairs and umbrellas plus private access to the side of the Acura stage! WOW!!! Talk about being spoiled and doing it right. Whom ever is running this part of the Acura marketing and events knows what they are doing.
Jazz Fest literally cost us $14 each and that was for the round trip shuttle. Even the gas, beer, and beef jerky was provided courtesy of Meagan's Dad's Chevron card =)
Tickets to Jazz Fest = Free. Food = Free. Beer = Free. One of the best times of your life = Priceless. Thanks Acura!
We ended staying here for the majority of the time. It just didn't make sense to leave our couches with free beer, food, and exclusive access to the stage. So, at some point during the day it started raining and then didn't stop. We were either in the tent or under one of the large outside umbrellas staying mostly dry. This is important because, the place where we have to get on the shuttle, is on the complete opposite side of the fair grounds and also where O.A.R is playing. We decide we should leave a bit early to beat the crowd to the shuttles and we'll listen to O.A.R a little too.
This is funny... Meagan didn't want her hair to get too wet so she kept trying to find a way to "acquire" one of the table cloths. Well she eventually ended up with a Glad ForceFlex trash bag on her head.
The rain at this point is torrential, heavy and falling down sideways. Meagan's ForceFlex trash bag is protecting her hair but her lips are blue. No really, I mean blue! We truck it over to the Gentilly Stage, listen to about 1 and half O.A.R. songs before we call it. Meagan was freezing, we catch the shuttle, head back to the car to dry off as best as we can and warm up. On the way to the car Meagan's sandal gets stuck in the mud. She yanks it out and get's totally splattered with good ol' black Louisiana mud. hahaha =)
We're fairly dry, the heater is blowing and heated seats are on. Now what? Uh, do you know how to get to Bourbon Street from here? No, do you? Let's look it up on our phones. Great... where are we? Don't you know? Well yeah, in the middle of a park, but there's no address. LOL =)) Alright let's drive somewhere and get to some street signs. Cool.
We find directions and Canal Street, a straight shot to Bourbon Street. Doh! Apparently Canal Street takes a hard turn somewhere and we missed it. It's dark, pouring down rain, we're lost in Louisiana and don't even know if we'll be able find a place to stay for the night. But do either one of us freak out? Heck no! We like to "wing it" and "roll with it". We end up backtracking and finding our way to another street that will take us to Bourbon Street. See, no problem.
We're parked at the Sheraton (because one of us really had to pee) and I'm calling the Marriot that is across the street to see if they have rooms (any twin bed will do!). That's right, we didn't even reserve a room. I'm sure you'll remember that we decided to "wing it". Luckily they have a "utility closet" we can stay in for $200. Done, we'll take it! I drove across the street, we get to our room, dry off, change and decide to what else, "wing it", for the rest of the night too.
We go to a bar called the "Tarantula" a block from the hotel. A dive of course, but locals and nice people and a red neck (The red neck yells out, "There's a red neck in the house!"). The bar tender tells us we're 4 blocks over from Bourbon St. This is my second time here and Meagan's first. First order of business was dinner. I wasn't dressed to eat any place nice, of which I kind of regret. We ended up at a place called the Bayou (shocker right?) and it was chosen because they sat us immediately. Dinner was mediocre, but we have food in our stomach and feel we can drink for the rest of the night without getting wasted.
We just start walking down Bourbon street and basically entered any bar that had loud live music playing. I think we hit 6-7 bars, Fat Catz and Pat O'briens are two that I remember the names of. It was apparently all cover bands covering the 80's and 90's which was good for me, because I knew ALL of the songs, cuz I'm OLD =) We had fun singing, dancing, drinking. Meagan did some shopping too. We ended the night with one more beer at the hotel lobby.
The ENTIRE trip was fun ("There's a dead body in there!"). From the moment we got coffee on Saturday morning to the moment I dropped Meagan off. The conversation, the music, the sights, the experience of Jazz Fest and New Orleans; unforgettable. Thanks again Meagan for being so YOU.
Side Notes: We saw Billy Joel before he went on stage. I yelled out Billy and he cordially waved to us. Very cool. Also the Dad on "That 70's Show" was in the VIP tent with us. I got a few pics of him. He was very nice and accomodating with pictures and autographs and conversation.
P.S. Sorry for the huge post, but I wanted all this in writing.