Today marked the start of the 27th Annual French Quarter Festival. I usually have Fridays off anyway so I went down to the quarter with Dad who was going to the office for the afternoon. Dad dropped me off on canal Street adjacent to the quarter.<\/p>\n
My first stop of the afternoon was Jackson Square. Banu Gibson was playing but my primary concern was getting something to eat. For a Friday, the crowd was pretty thick and didn\u2019t feel like wading through it very long to pick something to eat. I decided on the crawfish louisa from the Court of Two Sisters restaurant booth. It was a mix of crawfish and assorted vegetables. I enjoyed it, high praise from someone who doesn\u2019t like squash.<\/p>\n
When I finished eating I strolled over towards the french market and the international stage in Dutch Alley. The Maryland Jazz Band<\/a> of Germany was playing when I arrived. Don Vappie, one of the most recognized banjo players in New Orleans, performed with them. I stuck around after them for the Young Jazz Cats<\/a> of Germany. Mr. Vappie performed with them as well.<\/p>\n After a few numbers, I walked out to the French Market and the traditional jazz stage where Miss Sophie Lee<\/a> was playing. It\u2019s a rather small stage with a dance floor in front and quite a crowd was gathered around. I couldn\u2019t get very close for pictures. I only remained there for a few minutes before wandering down Bourbon Street to the Royal Sonesta Hotel.<\/p>\n Steve Mazakowski of Astral Project performed alongside his daughter, Sasha at Irvin Mayfield\u2019s Jazz Playhouse. Sasha is a vocalist with a pretty decent voice. Steve accompanied her on seven string guitar. I remained there until about three when I started heading to Jackson Square.<\/p>\n