A New Orleans Wedding

Beautiful Bride, Lesley

A couple of weeks ago, we had a wonderful opportunity to attend the wedding of Lesley Simpson and Stephen Malancon in our favorite town, New Orleans.

Lesley is the daughter of our good and long time friends, Lois and Martin--we have known them for more than 40 years and Lesley since her birth. She is as dear to us as a niece.

We, of course, would not have missed her wedding, even if Charlie had not been included as the ring bearer.

Lesley and Dad, Martin

Lesley was a lovely (and serene) bride; Stephen a handsome (and composed) groom.  Martin and Lois were proud and happy parents, and we felt so honored and blessed to be part of the celebration and fun.

Martin made a dignified and proud father and Lois was beautiful as the mother of the bride. (Regretfully we don't have a picture as proof--but take our word for it.)

The church and service were beautiful. One of our favorite parts of the service, however, was when Charlie, as ring bearer, sauntered down the long aisle, looking right and left, until he spotted his mom, Bryn, way up front, and then made a fast dash to her pew.

After-Reception Salute

Stephen watched and smiled, and when Charlie got to Bryn's pew, he stepped down from the altar and gave him a high five. It was a sweet gesture and one we'll remember always.

After the ceremony, all of the guests "second lined"--a New Orleans tradition-- down the street behind the Treme Brass Band to the Reception venue.

Ring Bearer Charlie and Flower Girl with her Mom

The younger members of our group partied all night, but Oma and Opa along with Charlie left the reception early--we were tired and Charlie was having entirely too much fun "helping" the photographers whom he thought had light sabers--their lighting aids.  They were so nice & even let him hold the expensive equipment a little while.

Lesley, Stephen, Charlie and Oma at Desi Vega's

Charlie among the Live Oaks

Before the wedding, we were all invited to the Rehearsal Dinner, which was held at a fantastic and famous steak house, Desi Vega's.  Another Charlie memory--flirting with the pretty bar tender the entire evening.

A day or so after the festivities, Oma, Opa and Charlie visited Audubon Park, a lush and beautiful park across from Tulane and Loyola Universities.  The huge, old live oak trees with branches brushing the ground made a great place to climb.









Afterwards a walk on Tulane's campus allowed us to glean some Mardi Gras beads from low hanging  branches on one of the campus trees. Seeing all the hanging beads as we rode the Street Car was also a lot of fun. Now Charlie thinks that beads grow on the trees in New Orleans.

Helping "Monkey Bear" climb

Bryn, Erin & Kerri

Bryn, Grant, Erin, Johan and our good family friend, Kerri, enjoyed dressing up and going out on the town each night.  Johan and Erin have been dating for about six months.  Kerri is a friend from our Boone days, who now lives in Denver.

We all stayed in the same house, so, needless to say, when Charlie woke up at 6:00 am, some of us got up and out and let others sleep.

Erin & Bryn on our AirBnB porch

Some delicious NOLA food was enjoyed by all of our family group. Everyone agreed that Jacques-Imos is the best restaurant around--and since it was just three blocks away from our AirBnB house, we dined on their specialties several times.

The younger crowd also went to The Maple Leaf Tavern, right next door to Jacques-Imos, to hear some great New Orleans music.  With shows beginning at 10 or 11 pm it was a little late for the elder and younger elements.

Bryn, Grant, Johan & Erin

Charlie & his Dad, Grant, on the Streetcar

Early one morning we took the St Charles Street Car down to the French Quarter.

Oma, Opa, Charlie and Grant had fun walking through the Quarter and along the Mississippi (or MI-crooked letter, crooked letter, I-crooked letter, crooked letter, I-humpback,  humpback, I --- as Opa taught Charlie).

We rode the Ferry across the river to Algiers (the Ferry which takes 5 minutes used to be a great free attraction, but now, sadly, costs $2 each way).

On the Algiers Ferry with matching T-shirts

Afterwards the late risers joined us for a Birthday Lunch (for Sue) at Acme Oyster House where we feasted on raw and grilled oysters, po' boys and gumbo.

Listening to Music at the Live Oak Cafe

Many mornings we  had breakfast at the Live Oak restaurant, just around the corner from where we stayed.

 On Sunday we had live music.  Charlie and "Skittles" listened intently.

Oma (aka Princess Leia) and Charlie ( aka Luke Skywalker) at "home"

Luke defending Princess Leia from Darth Vader (aka Opa)

 Later that day, on another trip to Audubon Park, we became the actors in "Star Wars". While Princess Leia stayed "home" to cook (how sexist is that for a three-year-old ?), Luke defended her from being captured by Darth Vader.

Exploring the "Galaxy" in Audubon Park

Happy Trio: Opa, Charlie & Oma

Stephen, Charlie and Skittles

On one of our last days in NOLA, we met the newlyweds at Parkway Bakery, where some of the best Po-Boys in town are served.

Charlie and the Model A at the Parkway

At the Parkway Bakery & Po-Boy Restaurant

In fact, legend has it that the proprietors of the original bakery coined the term "Po-Boy" when they served the street car drivers who were on strike, and the female owner wanted to serve those poor boys.

Lesley & Charlie

We all ate one of the famous sandwiches and shared quality time with Lesley and Stephen--so nice to have them all to ourselves after sharing them with a couple hundred others during the wedding festivities.

Charlie, Lesley & Stephen

Erin & Johan on the Street Car

With a final ride on the Street Car, the day Erin and Johan had to fly back to DC, we ended a truly memorable few days celebrating the marriage of two of our most favorite young people.

Our family left and we were joined by Larry's High School buddies, which we wrote about earlier.

What a wonderful week in NOLA !!!