music, travels, and that bit November 29, 2010

going to share a few fun things that went on lately.  my dad came out to new orleans for voodoo fest, a big music festival in city park, near my house.  he loves ozzy osbourne and had mentioned he wanted to see him, so he bought us both tickets. i was able to go all weekend, thanks to pops! and he came for the whole day Sat. the  bands i got to see that i really enjoyed and made an impression on me were: Muse-fantastic show and very talented.  Jonsi- solo project, lead singer of Sigur Ros. beautiful music.  Florence and the Machine- rockin girl that can SING!  my dad even liked them.  My Morning Jacket- we listen to them at Sylvain and they get stuck in my head for hours..  and it was great to watch my dad while he enjoyed Ozzy Osbourne.  he LOVED it. whooping and hollering and singing along with the band. it was pretty great.  I had never really done anything like that before.  He slept over in my sweet apt and we had a good ole time.
Ive been trying to get more involved with the arts markets and what not.  Ive been selling my Hair Flairs and accessories, jewelry etc. at Freret St market the first Sat of every month along with my neighbors and their various creations.  i def do feel like NOLA is home now, and love it, and when im gone for more than a couple days, miss it and want to be back at my little place in biking distance to just about everything. i love that there is always something going  on, esp musically, or art wise.  im trying to figure out a balance with working lots and doing all these other fun things and getting involved more with the arts etc.  if youd like, check out my facebook page to see what ive been creating. my hair flairs and accessories make great stocking stuffers and Christmas gifts! i can do custom orders, for special bridal parties, bachelorette parties, formal and or outfit matching..adult and baby headbands.  if you are reading and live in the lafayetteish area, i sell them at Monroe’s Dress Shop in Breaux Bridge, next to Cafe Des Amis.  and if reading from NOLA, at Freret st market every first sat of the month, or from my house. i am currently working on getting in some boutiques!
HAIR FLAIRS and accessories by dominique

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hair-Flairs-and-Accessories-by-Dominique/108893682508745

i recently went to Louisville, KY to visit my cousins Joy and Stefan and their two kiddos, Luke and Ella, as well as my prospective grad school Univ of Louisville at KY.  I have taken and gotten the score i needed on the GRE for the art therapy program there and have finished my application.  now i just have to sit back and wait to see if i get accepted.  i tried to meet with the director of the dept, but they are terrible with communicating and was not able to.  thanks to joy and stefan  i was able to  see the school. they gave me a tour. very nice facilities, nothing too spectacular, but pretty and nice overall. kinda reminded me of UL.  where my cousins live, there is an unfinished part of their basement where they could finish a room for me. there is already a finished bathroom and her pilates studio down there as well as a tv/living room area.  their house and the area is very nice, kinda out in the country.  its reallly strange but there are fleur de lis everywhere! so kinda felt like i was at home. ha.. there are def more hills though, which i like.  it would just be a big adjustment for me to go back to living far away from everything and having to drive lots.  louisville is very spread out, so..it would be hard for me at first im sure.  we got to go to this really cool church my friend had told me about that my cousins actually go to as well, Sojourn church. i enjoyed the service and could myself going there.  we also got to go to churchill downs where they have the KY derby. we watched the horses race. first time id gotten to do that. ive always wanted to. it was really fun!  and my good friend Esther was able to come to Louisville the same time i was there, so it was really nice to hang out and share all that with her too!
more pics on facebook!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2109949&id=68602654&l=6569a75f91

Sylvain and such November 29, 2010

I finally feel as though I have a moment, as well as something worthy of blogging, so here goes.

I was in a bit of a slump for a while.. I was not enjoying my job at a restaurant in NOLA, and was not making any money at it either, so it affected my whole morale..I was beginning to feel as though I could not enjoy living in NOLA.  I had no money or freedom to do anything, so it put a damper on everything.  Summer time/ July-Septish is very slow in NOLA. Its so hot, so not many tourists, and the BP oil spill didnt help any with business, especially  as  server at a seafood restaurant.  BUT… about a month ago I started my new job at Sylvain, this fantastic gastro pub on 625 Chartres St.  I had always been hesitant before to work in the French Quarter because parking is such a hassle and its lots of “obnoxious tourists”.  All my neighbors knew I was not happy at my previous job and had been looking for months for a new one, but to no avail because it was so slow everywhere..My neighbor Joanna had gotten a job at Sylvain via Craigslist, and told me about it.  In a matter of a week I had like 5 interviews at different places.. Well I had been applying and interviewing before, and in NOLA there seems to a quite the demand for jobs, esp in food service industry, so, the likelihood of getting called in or actually getting a job is kinda slim.  At Sylvain, I interviewed and literally 2 hours later the manager called me to give me my fixed schedule!  It was great.  At first I was hired as a backwaiter mainly, with one server shift, which I wasnt thrilled about, but the restaurant was brand new, hadnt even opened yet when I got hired, so everything was evolving and I was just ready to get out of my old job.  I am SO happy I took the job.  It is a wonderful restaurant with fantastic management, food, atmosphere,chef,  coworkers, etc.  The food is all made in house with local produce and sustainably raised, vegetarian fed animals.  A few of the very popular menu items: shaved brussel sprout salad: literally shaved raw brussell sprouts, like gourmet shredded cabbage with cubed apples pieces, shaved pecorino and toasted hazelnuts.. SO yummy.  Entrees: duck confit, cured over night then cooked in its own fat, pan fried crispy, leg of dug served with roasted beets and arugula salad and stewed white beans. everytime i serve it, all i get back on the plate is  a bone.. amazing! also have craft cocktails, housemade syrups, fresh squeezed juices. delicious.  you should def come check it out if you are in nola. you WILL not regret it  sylvainnola.com.

i am also working very part time at Cafe Beignet on Bourbon st.  Ive always wanted to work at a coffee shop, and they were really cool about me being so part time.  Co workers are cool, its pretty slow and def ALL tourists as customers, but its pretty fun.  Right across from the Royal Sonesta Hotel.  Its got courtyard seating and full menu all day long, including out BEG NETS, as most people mispronounce them, and out Cafe O LETS… ha.. I try to humor the mispronounciations, as I  hope i will be a tourist to many more places in the future, esp EUROPE!!!… ..someday.

i was able to move into the apt upstairs that I mentioned in my last blog.  so i am still living in the fourplex at the compound with all my awesome neighbors. my apt is super sweet.  its a shot gun, with a front room, middle room with a mantle, lofted bed, and lots of shelving and craft stuff everywhere! ha.. then my kitchen with my tub in the kitchen,and then my toilet basically connected to my balcony.  its a great eclectic space.  i have a few more little projects, shelves in my kitchen, and painting my front room walls before i take pics.

recently put in some carrot and radish seeds in the garden.  also have lots of lettuces, kale, beets, cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, cilantro, fennel, and dill planted as well. the weather is sometimes warm, sometimes cool. ha. very inconsistent. but not miserably hot.  ive been loving biking to work in the quarter. its a nice little twenty minute ride or so, and then i dont have to deal with parking! perfect!

well. that’s all for now.  ive got a few more things to write about, but ill put those in a few more posts so its not too lengthy