Lazy Sunday Open Thread: Talking Kat Head Edition
Posted: July 22, 2012 Filed under: New Orleans, open thread | Tags: Brennan's, Cajun Justice, Grand Palace Hotel Implosion, New Orleans, rain 20 Comments…because, frankly, I’m tired of the current news chatter ….
Here’s what’s up in New Orleans Today:
They brought down the House at Grand Palace Hotel today … you could really feel it
Trombone Shorty played at my big 5-0 party at Vaughn’s right after Katrina. He’s doing really well, with that funky Nawlins, jazzy, brassy sound …
We’ve had epic rain and now we learn we’re coming back in population. There goes the parking spot in front of the kathouse again! You needed a pirogue to navigate the French Quarter two days ago. 
I stupidly went out to get groceries and got blocked at nearly every turn.
NBC says “New Orleans tops fastest growing cities in America list”. Finally, we’re at number one for something other than our murder rate. BTW, Ralph, Austin is #2. …
1. New Orleans, Louisiana
- Change in population: 4.9 percent
- Population in July of 2011: 360,740
- Population in April 2010: 343,829
- Average annual city unemployment (2011): 8.8 percent
- Increase in jobs (2010 to 2011): 6,900 (1.3 percent)
Continuing to rebound from the effects of Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans had the highest population growth in the country for any city over the size of 100,000. The city’s rate of population growth (4.9 percent) is more than six times the national average of 0.73 percent. The Big Easy’s MSA (New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner) had significant growth in information jobs and education and health services, at 7 percent and 3.6 percent respectively. Despite this growth, the city’s population is at just 80 percent of pre-Katrina levels.
Here’s something to cool you off for dinner tonight! It’s the recipe for Brennan’s Bananas Foster.
Bananas Foster
(Serves 4)
- 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 cup banana liqueur
- 1/4 cup dark rum
- 4 scoops vanilla ice cream
- 4 bananas, cut in half, lengthwise, then halved
Combine the butter, sugar and cinnamon in a flambé pan or skillet. Place the pan over low heat on an alcohol burner or on top of the stove, and cook, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Stir in the banana liqueur, then place the bananas in the pan. When the banana sections soften and begin to brown, carefully add the rum. Continue to cook the sauce until the rum is hot, then tip the pan slightly to ignite the rum. When the flames subside, lift the bananas out of the pan and place four pieces over each portion of ice cream. Generously spoon warm sauce over the top of the ice cream and serve immediately.
Just in case you’re not feeling it yet, I’m going to plug a reality show that’s got me completely addicted right now: Cajun Justice. I just grab a 6 pack of Abita, some boiled crawfish and corn, and watch our crazy neighbors go at it. Where else but south of the I-10 cher, aieyyyyeee?
So, what’s up in your neck of the bayou woods?
peej
Carissa
bostonboomer
ecocatwoman
mablue2
peggysue22
quixote
skydancingguestblogger
Mona (aka Wonk the Vote)
Sky Dancing 
How would a pierogue help you in the rain? I’m mystified. Where I live that is a kind of dumpling with stuff inside.
A pirogue is a flat bottom boat used to navigate bayous, etc. down here.
http://www.unclejohns.com/boat/
I figured it must be something like that. LOL
See what I meant about street flooding on Friday? I wasn’t kidding about how bad it was. I was so stupid trying to get out in a “lull”. I had no idea it was that flooded until I got about 5 blocks north of my house. I am so glad I live on the really high ground. My house is even with the Mississippi River levee tops. That’s way high for around here.
Thank you for the talking Kat head post…;)
JJ, the other news was just plain icky!!!
I know Dak, disgusting.
But I just now saw this link: TwitLonger — When you talk too much for Twitter
No, you weren’t kidding. It’s awful.
Fun post, Dak, but that is a lot of rain! I hope everyone is okay.
I’m with BB. Use pierogi to get around in a flood? How does that work? I used to make pierogi for my ex who was of East European background. Dumplings filled with potatoes and cheese or chopped eggs and dill. Other types of fillings can be used as well.
I’m going to watch a new “Inspector Lewis” on Masterpiece Mystery. I love that series.
Have a good evening, Sky Dancers.
My dad is a big Inspector Lewis fan. As for the rain on Friday, we had like 6 inches in one hour. It overwhelmed the pumps. We’ve had tons of storms and the electricity and cable has been iffy. Drives me nuts.
Hope your evening is a good one Beata!!!
I’m a sucker for just about all of the British dramas — and some of the comedies as well. Inspector Lewis is one of my favorites — nice spin off from Inspector Morse.
Waiting for God — one of the best comedies. Doc Martin — comedy/drama. Wire in the Blood — crime drama.
With British dramas and comedy we are treated to great acting and great writing.
Pirogues in a flooded street. Haven’t seen that in a long long time. I remember an alligator getting stuck in a culvert. Firemen getting him out was fun to watch.
Austin being #2 in growth is good with me. If people moved in here faster, I don’t know where we’d put ’em and driving would be even more impossible. 🙂
Brennan’s Bananas Foster may be the best desert in the world! Yum, now I’m gonna drool for a while.
I’m waiting for my bananas to ripen in the backyard! Then, look out!!!
Interestingly I moved from Plano, the 3rd fast growing city, into the #2 city about 10 years ago.
Aurora victim was pregnant–shot in the stomach, but the baby is OK. She is the one who lost her 6-year-old daughter.
A woman was sent James Holmes profile this morning as a prospective date on Match.com.
http://www.tmz.com/2012/07/22/james-holmes-colorado-shooting-match-profile/
Time to sit on the mat and take a good hard look at yourself.
tbogg Signs of mental illness: social withdrawal, depression, sudden or extreme mood swings, anxiety, confusion, being Michele Bachmann
LOL! Not so funny that Huma is getting death threats and needs extra security though. Bachmann is a menace.
http://www.mediaite.com/online/huma-abedin-gets-police-security-after-being-threatened/
That is so good — spot on.
Bachmann is from an alternative universe.