French Quarter Fest 2014 – Sunday

Day 4 of the 31st annual French Quarter Fest was as gloriously beautiful as the first 3 had been and stages throughout the city beckoned but we were beat and decided to take it easy. It wasn’t our imaginations – it was FAR more crowded this year with nearly 733,000 music and food lovers attending. That’s almost 200,000 more than last year’s estimated 562,000 as well as the 2012 high of 574,000. We started the day with one of the many film offerings, a documentary on local eccentric, Ruthie the Duck Girl.

Backstage at Vintage Trouble, KISS and Blondie!

Having lived and worked in Los Angeles for almost 18 years, I had more than my share of red carpets and backstage passes. Moving to New Orleans, I assumed my social life would include a lot less of that. Many concerts here are open to everyone and you can say hello to the band without getting on a list or wearing a laminated tag. This weekend, NOLA played host to the NCAA Final 4 and a weekend-long free concert series, the Big Dance, bringing in bands ranging from the Black Keys to Jimmy Buffett. The giant riverside Woldenberg Park was fenced in and gated and security was in full effect protecting the bands from the enormous crowds. Luckily, I had friends in high places.