A Slam Dunk for New Orleans

 

Music producer and singer Pharrell Williams “Got Lucky” last summer with smash hits that “Blurred Lines” on the Billboard Charts.  He also kicked off 2014 in the Big Easy headlining one of the largest sporting events of the year.  He performed at the NBA All-Star game in New Orleans with an all-star cast, joined onstage by Busta Rhymes, P. Diddy, and Snoop.  The crowd included New Orleans native rapper Lil Wayne, film director Spike Lee and NBA legend Bill Russell celebrating his 80^th birthday.

The atmosphere was electric inside the arena. The game essentially became a slam-dunk competition itself with the greats soaring over their opponents.  The players played minimal defense, but maximum offense, driving up the score to an unheard of 163-155 win by the East lead by MVP Kyrie Irving of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Had the West won I think the MVP battle would have been between high scorers Kevin Durant from the Oklahoma City Thunder and Los Angeles Clippers star Blake Griffin.  I have a soft spot for Griffin, who’s been in the big game all four years he’s been in the league because of his athleticism and intensity.

If you watched from home, TNT’s sports desk was in the corner of the Smoothie KingCenter. Always entertaining NBA greats Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley stole the spotlight –   O’Neal taking selfies on the jumbotron and even participating in knighting a young player from “Shaqramento.” Ben McLemore had the retired center sit on a throne under the basket while he jumped over him and dunked the ball.

One of the highlights for me was seeing not one, but two of my hometown Washington Wizards players in the competitions, especially John Wall who won the dunk competition.  In case you missed it, the team mascot G-Wiz, a blue man dressed in Wizards gear, stood under the hoop with a ball above his head.  The 6’4” point guard flew over him, pushed the ball down below his knees and slammed it behind his head for the dunk.  In typical John Wall fashion, he did a little dance at the end.

Wall wasn’t the only one dancing! Bourbon Street was packed with jazz musicians and bars blaring hip hop while the crowd carried frozen drinks.  Everyone was all smiles because really there’s no winner and loser in this game; the crowd was there for the show.  As always there were balconies full of people tossing beads, but there was a lot more dancing in the streets than my last few trips to the Big Easy.

At one point Bourbon Street did get a little too rowdy for my dad.  To his shock, he was propositioned not once, but twice by a woman wearing very tight clothing! So we slipped down a side street and stumbled upon Arnaud’s Restaurant, a well-known treasure in the French Quarter.  It was too late for dinner, so we slipped into the cigar bar, which felt like we were transported to another time.  The decorations and cocktails were from my grandparents’ generation, and the servers dressed the part.

While in New Orleans we made all the must-see stops from Café du Monde for sweet beignets, (fried pieces of dough covered in powdered sugar) to iconic Pat O’Brien’s for a world famous sweet rum punch Hurricane. I had forgotten about the evening dueling piano bar inside.  In the past I’ve had to wait for a seat, but on this evening in February there was plenty of room to sit as well as dance while the entertainers played requests.

That’s not the only live music that caught my attention.  After the game we went to a party featuring hometown entertainer Trombone Shorty.  Wow! This man and his band were amazing! I’m not much of a jazz fan, but Shorty’s music was full of life, energy, and soul.  He sang a little when he wasn’t free-styling on his brass.   If he’s in town while you’re there I’d definitely recommend buying a ticket.

If you’re a foodie, New Orleans is the place for you! I tried a few new places like Sainte Marie, which is typically a lunch place. It has an industrial décor with blueprints on the wall and reasonably good food like the tagliatelle, a seafood pasta that was cheesy and flavorful.  At Mr. B’s Bistro in the French quarter near Canal Street you dine under low lights.  Their bartender makes a mean Sazerac and I’d recommend the rabbit.

The city was particularly alive for NBA All-Star weekend because it was also Valentine’s Day weekend and the eve of Mardi Gras.  The buildings were covered with the green, gold, and purple associated with the holiday and parade season was on the horizon.  The old streets and ironwork buildings keep the secrets of a thousand wild parties before and surely a thousand more to come.

I put my broadcast journalism skills to use and video documented my trip online at: Lizi on Location.  Enjoy!

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