Jazz Fest and I'm not there :(

Jazz Fest starts today. Love Jazz Fest. Jazz Fest was one of the main reasons I wanted to move back home . (OK, the cold weather, high housing costs and lack of great food were up there too, not to mention being around family) Jazz Fest is so much better than Mardi Gras. Great music of all types - jazz, gospel, rock, zydeco, Cajun, kids and so on. I love it all. I especially love the gospel tent. The music coming out that tent is so rich and encompassing. And so many of my favs are coming this year. OK I have odd taste perhaps but I love Joe Cocker, James Taylor, Dave Matthews, Emmy Lou Harris, Bonnie Raitt, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, The Neville Brothers and The Radiators. Is Marva Wright going to be there? Love her. Jakob Taylor, The Robert Cray Band, Los Lobos will all be there. Erykah Badu, Rebirth Brass Band and the Imagination Movers. And oh so many more. MANY. Check out the line up http://www.nojazzfest.com/ .

$50 a day.

Now I am NOT saying this is not the best deal in the world - all these bands (and there are too many to count) for $50 a day. (Oh - they are playing on 5 days, not all on one day. Cher. That would be too much.) But $50. That is $110 for the 4 of us (kids $5 - now that is a DEAL). I can't pick what day I would go. And see that is another issue - parking. They do have parking in some spots but it is mostly hit or miss or park and ride.

And then there is food. The food is spectacular. And the crafts -oh the crafts are out of site. Some crafts people are history lessons of themselves and their art/trade.

Then there are the posters, the shirts, and so on.

And the weather is to be picture perfect. Hot now but no rain which means no mud.

Now if I could get free tickets, darlin' that would be sweet. Still not sure when I would go but it would make it all easier. Anyone have free tickets they want to share?

So I guess I will have to admire from afar - and I mean afar. I can go on the website and get the simulcast on 5/2 and 5/3 I suppose. Crack open a cool beverage of some nature. Break out the watercolors or clay. Stand in the sun in the backyard. Park the car 20 blocks away and go get it. That could give me some of the flava.

So here's to the 40th New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Guess the Nevilles will have to close without me - unless any Neville is reading and wants to donate some tickets?

If you can go - please do and let me know how it was. Just don't rub it in! Don't forget your sunscreen.