You can't keep a good city down: Mardi Gras Festivities

There's still time to go to New Orleans for Mardi Gras on February 28th. The economy there can sure use the infusion of tourist money considering the devastion. If you go, have fun and consider taking one of the devastation tours, taking tons of pix and be a pest reminding people that the area is still decimated and thousands and thousands are homeless and jobless. Katrina charities still need your help.

Here's some links you might find useful if you are considering going:

Nola.com Mardi Gras parade schedule (lot of other info too)
Mardi Gras Links, with stuff for kids
Mardi Gras Krewe links
New Orleans Travel and Convention Bureau
Cafe Dumond, the historic place for beignets and coffee with chicory. The Decatur Street shop is open.
Cafe Beignet, from what I'm told is the best place for beignets and coffee and chicory, daquiris and fried catfish po'boys. They also have vegetarian offerings and music.

Maude Maggart - Cabaret Singer

Yes, you read right...cabaret singer. I love classic rock and blues and folk, but I also love Irving Berlin, George and Ira Gershwin, and God, how I love, Cole Porter! Anyway, on NPR's Morning Edition this very minute, they are doing a spot on Maude Maggart, who I have not heard of until today. She has found her voice, and it lives in the past. She looks for lyrics the original songsters had maybe not included, songs that they had never published. Click here to learn more about her, as well as listen to a duet with her sister, Fiona Apple. Maude is currently appearing at the Algonquin Hotel's Oak Room.

Listening to Maude is like stepping into the past. Her voice is just heavenly!

It's things like this that are the reason I support (and, yes, join!) my local public radio stations.