Dixie Debauchery: The Second Line

If you follow my Twitter feed or saw my post from a few weeks back, you'll remember the much anticipated trip down to New Orleans for my fraternity brother's bachelor party.

Of the 11 gents, five had been down before the other 6 hadn't. And if previous bachelor parties were any lesson (herding cats), the Best Man and I knew we'd need some sort of itinerary in order to please the groom and these gents.


I've also had a few questions around tips and suggestions for planning a trip to the Big Easy and here are the ones from this itinerary:

• Uptown or Marigny: Explore a neighborhood other than the French Quarter - whether through the bars in the Garden District or live music along Frenchman Street.
• Drink, Don't Drive: We hired a party bus for Thursday night - affordable ($60 a person), entertaining (note lighted floor and pole below), and safe (No DUIs or worse).
• A Round of 9: We went to City Park, a public course, for a round of 9 holes. While the course was "flatter than your granny's titties" according to the Golf Pro, it made for a great afternoon of working off the previous nights cocktails.
• Lesson Learned: We chose Mulate's, while a tourist spot, because it guaranteed the atmosphere we were after; Cajun food/fried seafood, live band from 7:00 -10:00 and plenty of people watching. However, after 3 rounds of shots, 2 seafood sampler appetizers at $50, and multiple rounds of drinks our bill was just as high as dinner at one of the best restaurants in town. Next time I'd skip it.
• Commander's: The "Coat & Tie Dinner" seems to be something of a tradition with our group and certainly in New Orleans. I think this is the best deal going: private room, 5 course tasting menu (turtle soup, salad, filet Bearnaise, pecan crusted fish, bread pudding souffle) with cocktail shots in between each course for approx $150 a person. Antoine's and Galatoire's in the Quarter offer similar deals. Rowdiness encouraged.
  

Now, for our own reputations, the respect of our individual relationships and the forthcoming nuptials, photogs for widespread distribution are limited. However, there are a few worth sharing:

Clockwise from top left: The Econoline 350, Jacques-Imo's Cafe, fair warning, French Quarter Festival, floor of Patrice's Party Bus (note: pole).

Top to bottom: The dive known for its incredible cheese fries across from the drive-up New Orleans Daiquiri, hangover sustenance.

And Bourbon Street opinions aside, Pat O'Brien's Dueling Piano Bar still holds it own as 'Naturally Nawlin's' capturing some of the best photos. Ever.

Above: Late at night, at Pat O's - and too many hurricanes in to keep count.

Have a great New Orleans bachelor/bachelorette story? Want suggestions for planning the perfect weekend in New Orleans or elsewhere? Let me know -

Image Credits: Rich Thorne (all NOLA shots) and The Bachelor (for the B&W)

Fit To Be Tied

While Foxfield is tomorrow in Charlottesville and Hunt Cup on Sunday in Middleburg, it's probably too late to order your new digs; but Virginia Gold Cup and the Derby (and all the parties) are still a week off, so y'all have ample time to decide which one you deem fit to be tied...

Charles & Patrick of Georgetown are the official purveyors of the Kentucky Derby Tie. With silk printed in Italy and made in the United States with the Derby's signature rose logo, this one could put you ahead of the pack. You can purchase HERE.

Or maybe you are a bit more modern and want to check out Lumina Clothing Company's collection of bow and straight ties. Available in both 2" (think skinny tie) and 2.5" there gear is the perfect blend of modern materials in tradition design for the 21st Century southerner.

Maybe you'll stick with your favorite Belles of the Business and head over to Southern Proper and check out their Horse and Hound Collection. My personal favorite is Bourbon & Cigar - get it in either red or yellow and it will look just as appropriate with tweeds and Barbours at fall steeplechases.

And because they look mighty sharp and the colors vibrant and rich, these four from Paul Stuart are likely to become favorites in the collection. The 4 panel on the top left isn't on PS anymore, but I'd kill for it.

I'm having a hard time deciding, personally and with the clock ticking it's time to make a decision before we are off the races (apologies, I couldn't help the pun).

One at a time

Is all the Saints have to do, again, to go to...

...Super Bowl XLV in Dallas (Arlington), Texas.

Just sayin'.

Image Credit: ESPN
And, thanks to CIL for sending this along the moment it was released.

Cold Drink, Warm/Dry Hand

Can we discuss....

The custom 12 oz Solo Cup Koozie. No more stretched out back pocket koozies or crushed solo cups.

Classic 'red cup' version can be found HERE, and can be customized at a ridiculously low price as well.

Image Credit: www.discountkoozies.com

SGGiveaway: Winners!

After 110 entries, I broke the men's and women's entries into two lists, renumbered them and used the True Random Number Generator to pick winners.

Drum roll please.....

Congratulations to McKay and Nathan for winning the Southern Tide SGGiveaway of a Skipjack Polo.

McKay will receive a women's Skipjack in "Classic Black":

And Nathan will receive a men's skipjack in "Cannonball":

McKay and Nathan, please email me your full name, size and mailing address.

Thank you, again, to Emalie and the team at Southern Tide.

A Little More Preppy Than That...

Pretty. Hysterically. Awesome.

Winner of the SGGiveaway announced on Wednesday...

Credits: And thanks to PCW for sending this clip along.

Way Down Yonder

While I'm down here in New Orleans for a bit of debauchery in honor of MDG's upcoming nuptials, HBO is bringing New Orleans to you with their new drama 'Treme.'

From David Simon and the folks from 'The Wire' - the acclaimed Baltimore set drama - comes 'Treme' (pronounced treh-may) set in the three months after Hurricane Katrina. The series will follow the impact of the storm on New Orleanians with a focus on the struggling musicians of this Mid-City neighborhood.

Trailer

While previous New Orleans set shows haven't been wildly or at all, popular (remember 'K-Ville' and 'The Big Easy' - yeah most people don't either), from the looks of the trailer, 'Treme' starring Steve Zahn with John Goodman is likely to be as well received as 'The Wire.'

The 10-episode first season starts with an 80 minute pilot on Sunday, April 11 at 9:00/10:00 CST/EST.

Image Credits: HBO

Strap One On

If I remember correctly my first croakies were like an old lady's glasses lanyard with a bobber meant to keep my sunglasses from floating away in the Outer Banks. They were followed by Chums in high school and then in college I started picking up croakies either whenever needed or as souvenirs.

The collection:

• Thompson Boat Center: Picked up kayaking one afternoon on the Potomac at the Georgetown waterfront boat house.
• Basic Black: The Standard.
• Camo Palmetto & Crescent: Carolina kitsch picked up in Kiawah.
• Vineyard Vines: The indicator of "prep" and "frat-tastic" in college.
• Bass Pro Shop: Extra-wide, just like the trailer.
• Saints: Who Dat!
  
• Southern Tide: For when not sporting that Skipjack Polo you won on SG.
  

With 80+ degree weather and crystal clear skies, find your croakies, grab your sunglasses and strap one on.

SGEndorses: Southern Tide & Giveaway

I've been mentioning Southern Tide almost since SG began including them in the first SGGiftGuide: Valentine's Day, in the Polo Match from last June and because they are a southern-owned-and-operated company under "Purveyors of Southern Goods" (see right sidebar).

It was only a matter of time until they got a full fledged post and with the harshest winter in DC's history, let's have Southern Tide usher us into spring.

Based in Greenville, SC, founder Allen Stephenson found himself inspired by the architecture, clothes and cars while studying abroad in Italy. Realizing all three were connected by "exceptional craftsmanship, clean lines, fine quality and classic design" Stephenson brought those elements and his southern roots to designing Southern Tide's first product, the Skipjack polo.

The folks at ST explained to me: "The Skipjack Polo contains a bit of stretch, and is very soft on the inside. The fit is unique since we do not conform to industry norms – we created our fit for real people. Our fit actually varies by size, rather than designing one size and scaling other sizes based on one body type. "

I appreciate what Allen has brought to market with this polo - not only because it's based in the South - but the fit is spot on; the stretch gives the shirt the ability to keep its shape even after wearing in hot and humid weather, the fabric is light weight and soft as hell and the perfect length sleeve falling mid-bicep (similar to the guy top left).

Since launching, ST had done a pretty phenomenal job building their brand. First with a clean, easy to navigate website, a growing Facebook presence with over 10,000 followers and an envy inducing spring ad campaign that captures their products in their ideal setting.

And the aggressive product growth has been impressive. Starting with one Skipjack I picked up at Perlis a while back, my collection of Southern Tide kit expanded exponentially when I received a package of their key goods to give a test drive:

• The Channel Marker Shorts: great weight with a bit of give, but I'll be shortening their 9" inseam to 7".
• Seersucker Skipjack: the seersucker placket is a true southern signal
• Pattern Sport Shirt: Pastel tattersall, light weight cotton and tailored fit - colored button thread are the kind of details that make the difference.
  

Y'all have now waited in anticipation since Monday and read the post, so you probably want the details on the giveaway, right?

Because Southern Gent seems to have both a loyal belle and beau following, the benevolent folks at Southern Tide have generously offered TWO Skipjacks - one mens and one womens. I.E. no need to fight over this giveaway.

Here's the small print:

• Head over to www.SouthernTide.com and check out the different color Skipjacks and then report back and leave a comment letting us know what color you want if you win;
• Include whether you want to be in the running for a mens or womens Skipjack;
• All entries must be received by 11:59 PM on Friday, April 9, 2010.
  

Note: Huge thanks to Southern Tide and to all of you in advance for participating.