Barry Manilow ’08 – 7 days..

Hello, From The Big Easy!

Three visits to Bourbon Street so far, and still not a single set of beads. I’ve flashed my chest more times than a gorilla in front of a Macy’s changing room mirror, and nothing! I am beginning to feel a bit inadequate…

In the eyes of scammers however, I am two for two. A mark, a rube, a tourist with handles. I learned from a colleague last night that the first scam I fell for is as old as the balconies here in New Orleans. The scam artist approaches his soft touch (me, in this example), and makes a bet that he can guess where I bought my shoes (open-toed sandals, in this example). While the scam artist yaks at his mark (me, still), he pulls out a small tube of shoe shine, and pours it onto both shoes (open-toed sandals, actually). The mark is then required to pay a sum of money more appropriate to have invested in a fine steak dinner, for the minor privilege of having his toes waxed.

The second scam was also while we were exploring Bourbon Street. We were approaching a group of young gentleman that looked like they would be more appropriately found electrocuting their hair in a tattoo parlour. Trying to avoid the group, and keeping one hand on my favourite pocket comb, one member of the gang beckoned and asked me to help him move a heavy box to the curb.

A normal individual might have wondered why all his burly tattooed friends couldn’t have helped, but being Canadian, I smiled weakly, and happily threw my own considerable body weight into helping move said box.

After a brief struggle, the box arrived at the curb, yet another pierced example of tattooed pride erupted out of the box, and a good time was had by all, at my expense. Har-De-Har-Har…

At least I wasn’t held up, like I was with the shoe shine guy…

On the plus side, the colleague I mentioned earlier (a native of New Orleans) invited us to join her at Galatoire’s – a top-drawer eatery on The Bourbon. Asking for a particular server by name, we enjoyed top-drawer service, and a 5-Star meal. Great experience.

We ended the night by joining up another colleague, for a visit to our hotel’s Carousel Bar.

Chow for now!!