Cold Sunday

I've been down to my antiquated cellphone camera for a while now (a new charger for the main camera is on the way), but here are a few rough shots from the VA Hospital Footprint as of this afternoon.

Above, Cleveland Avenue between S. Galvez and S. Tonti has been torn out by heavy machinery.  At left, the S.W. Green mansion remains.  A host of house moving apparatus has been moved to an adjacent lot, though - the most tangible sign I've seen that a move of the large property make actually be in the works.

Driving up the newly 2-way Palmyra Street above S. Galvez, one passes a mere four houses en route to Outer Banks Bar.  In spring of 2010, a motorist heading illegally up that one-way stretch would have passed about 25 structures.

At Palmyra and S. Tonti, a new temporary stop sign has been erected near the large police vehicle on the corner.  A sign out in front of the bar announced the Jazz Funeral that happened last night.

About 10 vehicles were gathered outside the bar this afternoon as loud shouts could be heard coming from the patrons gathered inside for the Saints game.  Louis was outside cooking BBQ.  A few camera-wielding individuals made their way along the torn-up road that used to be S. Tonti between Banks and Palmyra over to the bar as I departed.

Heading down Palmyra through the LSU Footprint, an army of cars lined the streets - many sporting black and gold clues as to their owners' afternoon activities.

UPDATE:  Here's a photo from the start end of the Jazz Funeral from a friend:

Once More to Outer Banks

I caught some of today's Saints game at Outer Banks, the bar at the heart of the VA Footprint.  It's the tall building in the center of the photo above.  A bottle of PBR goes for $1.25.

Outer Banks has always been a bit of a bare bones establishment, but a lively crew of about a dozen regulars was hooting and hollering as the Saints defeated the Panthers.  The two loudest patrons were at different ends of the bar.  A call-and-response style cheer went up after big plays, led by the leaders on the ends - "FIRST DOWN....SAINTS!"

The establishment's preference for the home team does not go unnoticed inside the bar...nor does the fake rooster that hangs upside down from the ceiling.  Or the chart that shows the phases of the moon.

The bar manager says she hopes to hang on until the end of the month.  After that, and an interlude of some period of time, she hopes to re-open elsewhere outside the Footprint.

Inside the Footprint Last Evening #7

Tom Dutel drives a moving truck slowly around the corner and away from his business at N. Rocheblave and Banks.  In the background, Outer Banks bar, the tall building, has been expropriated and recently received an eviction notice.  It's nevertheless continued as a lively place to catch a Saints game.

2426 Palmyra

This house is set to move tomorrow.

You may recall this image of the house from earlier - fitting on a day like today!

Someone at Outer Banks Bar was also thinking of the Who Dat? season in the last day or two, it seems:

Black and Gold

Loyalty