Notes from da Boogaloo….

Went to Bayou Boogaloo on Saturday, and I really loved it. The setting is really nice, on the grass right next to Bayou St. John. I even saw people wading in the bayou, which was apropos because it was so freakin’ hot. As the afternoon wore on, though, clouds obscured the sun, which made the day really pleasurable, as a breeze was blowing, there were trees that provided shade, and best of all, we could take Poppy-dog with us. There was even a dog park of sorts at one end of the grounds. Oh yeah, and the event was free. I hated to miss the Rubber Ducky race on Sunday, but from the photos we got from our on-the-street photographer, Kimbeaux Welsh, a good time was had by all.

The other thing I enjoyed about the Boogaloo was, of course, the music. There were three stages, no sound bleed at all, and it was easy to walk back and forth between stages to see Susan Cowsill, Shannon McNally, Monk Boudreaux, and the return of All That. Also loved seeing a lot the “usual suspects” music folk and musifriques, and the local artists and artisans in the festival’s art market. I met—for the first time—the youngest member of the Boutté family, Peter, who’s an artist, poet and musician. He does some great artwork, and we talked about his siblings and Mama Gloria, who—in her mid-80s—is still going strong. Also connected with Jacques Morial and Davis Rogan, “the real” DJ Davis, to discuss Treme. I have a few ideas to get into the show, since the themes they’ve discussed seem to be initiated in the pages of OffBeat.  So are you listenin’, guys?

Can you please address the fact that this city doesn’t allow any more live music venues in the French Quarter? That there aren’t any music venues on North Rampart Street—other than Donna’s (which was grandfathered in)—across from Louis Armstrong Park? I think that is the most ridiculous thing in the world, and it’s shameful that the residents on that side of the Quarter have been successful in keeping this crap going. Remember King Bolden’s and how it was shut down? How about the fact that the park is still a political football, and there’s nothing happening there? What about tearing down the fence around Armstrong Park? Why do we need that stupid fence, anyway? If we’re known as a “music city,” then why can’t we act like one and encourage live music instead of banning it from the Quarter.

What do you think about changing the city code to allow live music on North Rampart Street?