Friends + Family + Music + Movies + Books + Places + Travels

New Orleans + The Cure.

doorsixteen_neworleans_desire

A little more than a year ago, I wrote a post about how little traveling I do. It was difficult to write because it’s always been something I’m a bit ashamed of, but (as is often the case with the posts I hesitate to write) I felt braver and stronger once it was done. A few weeks later I traveled to London and had a wonderful time. This past June I went to my friends Lisa and Clay’s beautiful wedding in San Francisco, last month I went to Palm Springs for Camp Mighty and yesterday I got back from a long weekend in New Orleans! Look at me: Anna Dorfman, occasional traveler. Who could have predicted?

A very good friend of mine moved from Brooklyn to New Orleans about six years ago, and I’d been talking about the possibility of making a visit for a while. Our birthdays are a couple of days apart (I turned 38 right before Halloween — hello, 38!), and just by chance it turned out that The Cure were scheduled to play on the last night of Voodoo Fest. K and I met because of our love for The Cure and it’d been years since we’d gone to a show together…so really, how could I not go? Everything just seemed to fall into place perfectly. This was my first visit to New Orleans, and I loved it. What a magical place!

doorsixteen_neworleans_porch

K and her husband and son live in an incredible 1875 house in the Bywater neighborhood. She has always had the best sense of style when it comes to interiors, and unsurprisingly her home is amazingly beautiful inside and out. I slept in a bedroom painted black from the bottom up, save for a white beadboard ceiling. So perfect and cave-like. (And no, sorry, she doesn’t have a blog, haha. Believe me, it was all I could do to not take a million pictures!)

doorsixteen_neworleans_cemetery

Like all grown-up former (?) goths, we made sure to visit a cemetery. Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 is the oldest in New Orleans, all crumbly and beautiful and densely packed. (I also just learned that a New Kids on the Block video was filmed there, so, um, a slight reduction in goth points.)

GOATS!!! This guy was just walking around a residential neighborhood with a couple of goats on leashes. They were super soft.

doorsixteen_neworleans_instagram1

Top to bottom, left to right:
(1) I have a new appreciation for shutters now, especially when they’re floor-to-ceiling (2) Pretty outdoor lights at Pizza Delicious (the vegan campanelle was very good) (3) Living room mantle, fancy fancy (4) Belated vegan peanut butter birthday cake from Shake Sugary (5) Me, all moody right before the Cure concert (6) Matching manicures (Saints colors totally unintentional) with my waiter at Booty’s

Here’s a silly little video I made of a lenticular photo stuck to a door in the French Quarter. Love!

doorsixteen_neworleans_instagram2

Top to bottom, left to right:
(1) Drinks at Cane & Table — I had the Valeira Gorge: Portal Tawny Port, Banks 7 Year Rum, lime, fresh coconut water, vanilla and Angostura bitters (2) Skulls grow on agave plants in New Orleans, FACT (3) Dinner from the Fat Falafel truck (4) Freret Street (5) LIZARD!!! I saw a lizard in the wild for the first time, very exciting (6) Perfect tofu scrambles and coffees at Satsuma

doorsixteen_neworleans_willie

This is Willie. He was just a little kid when he lived in Brooklyn, and now he’s an old man. I love French bulldogs and all of their grunty croissant-marshmallow-bodiedness. He’s such a sweet guy, and a very patient model.

doorsixteen_curevoodoo_group

doorsixteen_curevoodoo_group2

THE CURE!!! Yayyyyyyyy. I’ve never succeeded in taking good photos at a Cure concert, and this time was no exception (here are some MUCH better ones!). No matter, though, because the show was great as usual. The Cure will for always and ever be my most favorite band, and the best way to experience them (I mean other than locked in your dark bedroom with headphones on, age 15) is LIVE. Their festival shows are shorter by default, but 2+ hours is still nothing to sneeze at. Plus, I got to hear “Burn” played live for the first time ever, and it sounded like a whole new song — like it came off of Pornography instead of The Crow soundtrack! So great.

doorsixteen_curevoodoo_robert

doorsixteen_curevoodoo_robertmontage

Some classic Robert Smith dance moves…

doorsixteen_curevoodoo_rogerhairflip

doorsixteen_curevoodoo_rogermontage

My lovely friend Roger doing his thing up on on stage. Toss that hair, shake that tambourine! What a fun night. It’s been two years since the last time I saw The Cure, which is far too long to go between shows. I’m so glad I made this trip!

doorsixteen_curevoodoo_simonroger

Full setlist:
Shake Dog Shake / Fascination Street / From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea / The End of the World / Lovesong / Just Like Heaven / Burn / Pictures of You / Lullaby / High / Hot Hot Hot!!! / The Caterpillar / The Walk / Stop Dead / Push / Inbetween Days / Friday I’m in Love / Doing the Unstuck / Bananafishbones / Want / The Hungry Ghost / Wrong Number / One Hundred Years / Give Me It // (encore) The Love Cats / Close to Me / Let’s Go to Bed / Why Can’t I Be You? / Boys Don’t Cry

Thank you so, so much to K (+ family) for being such wonderful hosts and for having me stay in your beautiful home. I had the most amazing time. And thank you Roger for everything I can possibly thank a person for.

Previous Post Next Post

Other Stuff You Might Be Into

37 Comments

  • Reply Simone November 6, 2013 at 6:23 pm

    Wow lucky you.
    I had my birthday this weekend, after shopping with her father (for gifts) our youngest comes home (7) and tells me: “Mom we just bought you a fantastic present!”. Turns out it is Electric Lady by Janelle Monea. So funny. Congratulations to you!

  • Reply Dinah November 6, 2013 at 6:41 pm

    Epic post is EPIC! Thanks for sharing 🙂 Also, fun fact: Jordan Knight wears a Bauhaus T-shirt in the video they filmed at that cemetery. Goth point redemption? Proof: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v293/BogartNoir/2911766942_6e8ea41f7c_b.jpg

    • Anna @ D16 November 6, 2013 at 6:44 pm

      !!!!! I remember getting very upset about that Bauhaus shirt at the time, hahahahahahahah. I can’t believe it’s the same video, how mortifying.

    • Dinah November 6, 2013 at 6:53 pm

      I was also upset at first but now it makes me LARFF! Being in my mid-30’s has made me such a lenient goth.

  • Reply Vanessa November 6, 2013 at 7:10 pm

    Look at you jet setter! 🙂 That’s awesome…Traveling defines us, I think it’s great that you’re doing more of it…And NoLa is such a magical place…I visited there again this summer on a road trip and plan on going again, so much to see, so much history, such a beautiful place. I bet the VooDoo Fest was amazing — Especially since The Cure played. I have lived vicariously through you in this post.

  • Reply miss alix November 6, 2013 at 7:12 pm

    So much loveliness in this post but I’m dying over that cake. Looks so good and pretty.

    I also love the moody photo of you!

    • Anna @ D16 November 7, 2013 at 12:13 pm

      Alix, the cake was really good!! I’m wishing I’d sneaked a slice with me on the plane now…

  • Reply Mia November 6, 2013 at 8:06 pm

    Amazing what happens when we release things into the universe. Happy belated birthday! Glad you had such a great visit with special people in such a beautiful place.

  • Reply Steph Nelson November 6, 2013 at 8:43 pm

    “LIZARD!!! I saw a lizard in the wild for the first time, very exciting ”

    Are you kidding me???? I live in fear of those things making their way into my house!! 🙂

    Those pics are great. I mentioned before I bought that Leica because of your concert pics but the few
    I’ve been too have not turned out too well…. 🙁 Don’t know what I’m doing wrong.

    Love the trip recap! I need to make a trip to New Orleans myself.

    • Anna @ D16 November 7, 2013 at 12:14 pm

      Steph, what setting do you have the camera on? I either leave it on automatic or put it in “party” mode (always always always with the flash disabled) if it’s a show with lots of crazy lights like this one.

  • Reply caitlin November 6, 2013 at 9:57 pm

    I was just there for my 30th birthday the week before you. I also stayed in Bywater and ate at Pizza Delicious. Weird! Such a cool city.

  • Reply Caroline November 6, 2013 at 10:09 pm

    I LOVE your New Orleans pics! It is one of my favorite places ever, and your pictures capture the best parts — magical, mysterious, creepy, beautiful; delicious sights, sounds, and flavors. It gets in your blood.

    Dying to see more of your friend’s house. Gorgeous, gorgeous.

  • Reply Charlotte November 6, 2013 at 10:36 pm

    I lived in New Orleans for many years until Katrina forced us to leave. We miss it every day and dream of moving back. So glad you had a chance to hang out in my beloved city.

  • Reply attygreen13 November 6, 2013 at 11:16 pm

    ahhh, my hometown – miss it so much! glad you enjoyed NOLA!

  • Reply Joy @ OSS November 6, 2013 at 11:45 pm

    thanks for this primer on new orleans! i can’t wait to go someday!

  • Reply Shell November 7, 2013 at 2:50 am

    I stayed in Bywater when I visited (it was definitely at the top of my list of places to see), it’s such a great neighbourhood 🙂 And The Cure! Perfect! We saw Steve Earle, which I suppose is appropriate enough. I love the oozing history and music, thanks for sharing your lovely pictures.

  • Reply PhillyLass November 7, 2013 at 8:15 am

    Please, oh please, oh please talk your friend into blogging about her house. The little glimpses here make me want to see more. So very cool!

    • Anna @ D16 November 7, 2013 at 12:16 pm

      I’m pretty positive she’s not interested in blogging about it, but maybe one day I can see if she’d want to do a little sneak peek. 🙂

  • Reply Becky November 7, 2013 at 9:19 am

    GOATS. Pet goats?! I am super jealous of that guy. And they’re so pretty. Fashion goats! Did he tell you what they were about?

    I lived in a small town a few years back and became fixated briefly on getting a pet goat as a companion for me and my dog only to learn they were forbidden in Small Town. But somehow not in New Orleans. That’s magical.

    • Anna @ D16 November 7, 2013 at 12:16 pm

      I kind of got the sense that nothing is forbidden in New Orleans, regardless of what the law might say…

  • Reply thelady November 7, 2013 at 10:03 am

    You captured so much with so few pics! The city really seems to suit you…please consider buying, restoring, and blogging about your third home in NOLA–I know your readers would love it! 🙂

    • Anna @ D16 November 7, 2013 at 12:12 pm

      Hahaha, I would love it too, but who’s funding the whole thing? 😉

  • Reply MFree November 7, 2013 at 11:48 am

    we’re headed to new orleans over the holidays and this has been very excited. Only wish we could see the cure as well. I heart robert smith!

  • Reply Allyson November 7, 2013 at 12:10 pm

    I have never seen the Cure live, but it’s one of my dreams. Even though I was born in ’87, I spent a lot of time in high school in my room listening to the Cure on headphones (I was the only person I knew who listened to them). Thanks for sharing the great photos!

  • Reply jane November 7, 2013 at 1:29 pm

    wonderful photos ! and very clever use of “for always and ever”. Once a Cure fan always a Cure fan. Quite a while back, my son house sat for Roger, the keyboard player when he lived in Toronto (he had left the band for a few yrs.) I went in the house and was pretty pumped to see the music studio etc. (I didn’t touch anything!)

    • Anna @ D16 November 7, 2013 at 2:05 pm

      I was wondering if anyone would notice the “for always and ever.” 🙂

  • Reply Annette November 7, 2013 at 8:19 pm

    Love this post! I am glad you enjoyed my complicated home town. I was at Voodoo Sunday night! I staked out a spot against the front barricade on the left, so my pictures are from the opposite angle. It was a wonderful show.

  • Reply Melissa November 7, 2013 at 11:08 pm

    Anna!! I’m so sad I didn’t know you were in town!! I totally would have stalked you….but not in a stalkerish sort of way. I really love your blog and have learned so much from you. I’m glad you had such a great time in my city. She really is perfect in so many ways! And OMG, goats. I cannot get a goat, I cannot get a goat, I cannot get a goat……

    • Anna @ D16 November 8, 2013 at 8:00 am

      Oh, go on. Get a goat.

  • Reply lisa November 8, 2013 at 6:26 am

    perfect pictures capture the elusive spirit of new Orleans… she is so photogenic!
    happy birthday btw…. i just turned 49 10/26 YEA US!

  • Reply Nancy November 8, 2013 at 8:58 pm

    I’ve been to New Orleans too. Amazing place.

    I’ve always wanted goats. Too cute!

  • Reply Heather Moore November 11, 2013 at 6:58 am

    What great pics of a fab trip. Next trip to the US may well include a new orleans stop in it. X

  • Reply cate November 13, 2013 at 7:33 pm

    I can’t take my eyes off that glimpse of K’s kitchen. Nice sink. (Strom 1920s repro or original?)

    • Anna @ D16 November 13, 2013 at 11:55 pm

      Not sure of the make/year, but it’s definitely not a repro (not original, though — the house was built in 1875).

    Leave a Comment

    Door Sixteen is a hate-free, drama-free, spam-free zone. Open dialogue is welcome, but comments designed to harm or deceive will be removed.

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Get D16 in your mailbox

    Sign up to receive weekly digests and (occasional) other updates from Door Sixteen! I promise to not bombard your inbox.