NEW YEARS EVE NEW ORLEANS - THE GOOD AND BAD

We had great thoughts of having a blowout New Years Eve with 3500 other Warrior Fans. The event entitled the Warrior Cajun Football Bash was promoted heavily. With tickets going for $125 per person, we were promised great food, cocktails, party favors and more. The doors opened around 6:00 p.m. so we arrived around 7:30 or 8:00 in anticipation of staying until after midnight. Wow....were we surprised. The lines for drinks and food were so long. You would wait an hour or more in each. The lines were just to long. This was not right. To spend half your evening waiting in line for some gumbo and a beer is outrageous. We stood around trying to figure out an angle to getting some food and drinks. After careful review we decided to leave. NOT ONE DRINK BETWEEN THE FOUR OF US, NOT ONE CRACKER, NOT ONE PARTY FAVOR. SPENT $500 FOR THE FOUR OF US AND WE RECEIVED ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. NOTHING....

As we walked out the front door there were other people leaving in disappointment. Where do you go at 9:30 or 10:00 without a reservation. Every hotel and restaurant is packed. Shirley, Keli and myself walked disgusted down the main street heading for our hotel. On the way to the Hawaii Cajun Bash we had stopped in the Leows hotel to use the restroom. The entire bar and restaurant was filled to capacity. Well, Shirley said lets give it a try. Maybe there will be a cancellation. We entered and were greeted by a nice man who seemed surprised that we would request a table for three around 10:00 p.m. on New Years Eve. We are completely booked and there is a pre-fix cost of $110 per person for the dinner. Shirley gave the guy a big smile and said that we would be happy to wait for a cancellation. The man said it would be a half hour or more before he would know anything. We entered the bar to wait so I hit the main bar and aksed for a glass of champagne. The bartender handed me my glass and said this is on the house because you came all the way from Hawaii (I was wearing my Hawaii jacket as usual).

Wow...maybe our luck is about to change I thought. After several more glasses of champagne we were told that we could be seated. Upon arriving at our table, we were given hats, party favors and complimentary champagne. The meal began with crab and lobster bisque, spinach salad and Red Fish and Lobster Tail. Dessert included a cheesecake and double chocolate cake. The waitress we had was fun and really made us feel special. The champagne kept flowing and by the time we were done there was no room for any more food or beverage. We were spent.

As we walked towards our hotel, we passed hundreds of people partying into the night. We were attempting to walk down Bourbon Street but the crowds were too big and Keli was getting very tired. As we walked into the Ritz Carlton, we celebrated the New Year with the family before going to bed. Turned out to be a great New Year afterall.