Southeast to Sunshine
It’s that time again – when we feel the urge to migrate like the birds – to get away from our frozen tundra and find warmth in the lowest of the lower 48. Our southeast trip this winter included some new locations as well as some new activities in a few of our old favorites. This post will start us off in New Orleans.
The Not-too-Exciting Route
If you’ve read many of my blogs, you know we usually find a little something to stop and explore when we have two solid days of driving. But this time we zipped straight south, where we could stow our winter coats for the duration and enjoy the sunshine (and the flowers) without delay. With the exception of rest stops, lunch and gas stops, and one overnight, we cranked up the music and got ‘er done!
With that said, it was a stretch to find photos of our two-day trek to New Orleans. Although the bridge at a rest stop was kinda pretty in the various browns of January, touches of snow reminded us of home and why we’re heading south in the first place! You know it’s a slow news day when rest stop state signs make the cut, especially Mississippi’s which was in the lady’s room! Not exactly the scenic route, but sometimes we just have to suck it up for a while till we get to the good stuff.
Welcome Back to NOLA
We have two timeshares in New Orleans, and while some prefer the more historic and authentic feel of La Pension, we prefer the more modern vibe at The Marquee. Although staying here adds about 10-15 minutes to a walk to the French Quarter or Jackson Square, parking is free and our car is easily accessible for day trips.
Once we got checked in and unloaded, we headed to Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux (8min walk) for a beer and some Bang Bang shrimp. As we remembered from last time, everything was really delicious!!
Although there was a nip in the air on our way home, once we got moving it was nice to be mobile again. The orange lights at Head Quarters were gorgeous and on any other night we may have stopped, but today was a long day. The towering clarinet on the side of the Holiday Inn was pretty cool to signify the Clarinet Bistreaux (coffee shop) located there. That picture made its way to my grandkids who both play the clarinet in middle school!
The Saenger Theatre
Every time we left the Marquee at night on our first two visits, we’d walk past the Saenger Theatre and its gorgeous marquee – all lit up! I have so many pictures – of the marquee – but there was never an event to get us inside.
This time, even before we left Wisconsin, I checked their website and lo and behold – The Four Tops and The Temptations were playing on our second night! Being old enough to remember both groups in their prime, I knew some (if not all) would not be the “originals”. But just being able to get inside the theatre and listen to the music of Motown, was good enough for me!
“New Orleans’ premier performing arts facility”
First of all, what can I say about the fantastic Saenger Theatre! The lobby and hallway had a very stately feel with shiny marble floors, rounded arches and subdued lighting by fantastic chandeliers. The theatre’s multi-color lighting near the ceiling provided a beautiful backdrop to statues and building facades of Roman times. And the ceiling was black with thousands of twinkling stars! This evening was just as much about this historic theatre as it was the music. But together, they made for a wonderful evening.
“The Saenger is here to recreate the luxury and grandeur from a time gone by. Originally built in 1927 for a historic $2.5 million (roughly $34 million today), the atmospheric theatre has housed performances of all kinds from silent films, to movie showings to the top Broadway hits of today.
Destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the Saenger reopened in 2013 after a $53 million revitalization project. The theatre has been restored to its 1927 beauty, featuring the original color scheme as well as carpeting, lighting fixtures and marquees replicated from the originals. Elevating the experiences of our patrons beyond the nostalgic memories of the recent past is the magic of the Saenger Theatre.” ~ READ MORE
The Fabulous Music of Motown
The Four Tops started off our show tonight and they were fantastic! They got their start in Detroit in 1953 and were considered a smooth lounge act before signing with Berry Gordy at Motown in 1964. They were one of several other groups during that timeframe that helped to establish the “Motown sound”.
Songs you may remember: “Baby I Need Your Loving,” (1964), “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)” (1965) and “Reach Out I’ll Be There” (1966). The group continued to chart singles into the 1970s, including the million-seller “Ain’t No Woman” (1973).
The Four Tops were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990. On July 20, 2024, the last surviving original member (Abdul “Duke” Fakir) retired and died two days later.” ~ READ MORE
The Temptations were equally as fabulous and everyone remembers “My Girl” (1965), which became their first #1 Pop, million-copy best-seller. That fabulous song went on to become one of the all-time greatest songs ever recorded, and was resurrected when that tear-jerker movie came out in 1991. “Just My Imagination” (1971) was another fantastic one, and there are so many more in my memory banks (and on their website). We are definitely lucky to have been around during that timeframe, when great music was emerging from every direction!
“The Temptations are celebrating their 60th Anniversary through 2022. To mark this milestone, The Temptations released on January 28, 2022, a brand-new album, Temptations 60, with nearly all-original songs, plus they are currently touring in the U.S and will tour abroad in the fall of 2022. Otis Williams, the sole surviving, original member of The Temptations, turned 80 on October 30th of 2021.” ~ for a brief retrospective of The Temptations’ legendary history READ MORE
Coming Soon!
As you may have noticed in the gallery above, Hamilton is coming to the Saenger Theatre in April of 2025! April is a great time to visit New Orleans before it gets too hot. Get your tickets and head on down to the Big Easy!
My cousin arrives tomorrow and we’ll enjoy another event that’s been eluding us on our visits!
Next up: The Music of New Orleans
Happy trails,
Barb
