unforgettable night on frenchman street // new orleans

Mrs. H and I just got back from a weekend couples trip to New Orleans. Being from Mobile, I went to New Orleans several times a year growing up. I have always loved the city, but this trip gave me the opportunity to see New Orleans from a different angle.

We crashed at the home of some friends - on Bourbon Street no less. People watching from their balcony could be a weekend getaway in itself (i.e. the across the street neighbor who sat indian style and stared at us as if we were invaders to [his/her???] space). 

A highlight of the weekend was exploring Frenchman Street, the authentic first cousin to Bourbon Street. We started our time by exploring the Frenchman Art Market, the refreshingly uncluttered street market with art you might actually want to display in your home. 

Frenchman Art Market

Everybody needs light-up furniture

The Spotted Cat took the crown as my new favorite bar in New Orleans. I'm no bar critic, but I have well defined opinions of what I don't like. Upon entering The Spotted Cat, I could tell we were in for a treat. 

Meschiya Lake and The Little Big Horns were playing, and we all were rapt from the first note. After doing a little research, I discovered the Meschiya has quite the story to tell (she was a light-bulb eating burlesque clown in a former life - no lie). I don't think I have ever seen a group perform at a bar with so much passion. The musicians were like school boys who had just held a girls hand for the first time. Needless to say, The Spotted Cat can expect to have a repeat visit from Mr. and Mrs. H.

The Spotted Cat Music Club // Meschiya Lake & The Little Big Horns

-mr.h

i like that boom boom pow

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obsessed with these uniforms

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Usually a rooftop bar or restaurant that boasts a 360º view of a city isn't at the top of my list. They tend to illicit mental pictures of cheesy, revolving restaurants that over charge you for mediocre service and bad food (not to mention getting nauseous as you spin throughout your meal). The Boom Boom Room (a.k.a. Top of the Standard), however, is "a whole 'nother" rooftop bar... think nostalgic-glam at it's finest. 

Spinning floors and poor service don't exist here. Instead, you're greeted by gorgeous cocktail waitresses while dapper bartenders make your drink under one of the most fabulous bars I've ever laid eyes on. I felt like I was transported back to one of Don Draper's hotspots. Everything from the delicious drinks to the amazing jazz band created a night with my girlfriends that I'll never forget. (Even the bathrooms were memorable--they had one of the best views I've seen of The City.) I'll sum up my Boom Boom Room experience with the rather appropriate words of Fergalicious, "I like that boom boom pow." 
-mrs.h

remedy coffee - our favorite coffee shop

I love coffee... actually I think my "love" for coffee borders on obsession. I'm not a coffee snob. I don't know all in the in's and out's of coffee. I just simply love it. The thought of coffee is my motivation to get out of bed in the morning. I love it so much that I have to force myself to not drink so much that I get sick. 

I know I share my love for coffee with most Americans. We've become a coffee addicted nation. In honor of this shared love of coffee, Mr. H and I are starting to highlight our favorite coffee shops around the nation. Every time we find a new one that makes the list, we'll post it on the blog. 

The coffee shop that has the honor of being our first on the list is: Remedy Coffee in Knoxville, TN. 

We love Remedy for so many reasons.

1. Clearly the coffee is awesome or they wouldn't be on the list. They serve Intelligentsia -- mmmmhhh!

2. The pimento cheese/bacon biscuits are freaking amazing. 

3. The atmosphere is perfect - we've never met a restored building we didn't like.  

4. The staff know coffee and are super friendly. (And, they drink their ice coffee in mason jars... cheers to that.)

5. This maybe my favorite aspect of all (via Remedy's website): "Beyond the coffee, Remedy gives a portion of it's sales each month to ideas, people, and organizations in Downtown Knoxville that are working to restore and transform our city. We live in this city and we love this city and it's our pleasure to give back." One of our core values at mr.&mrs.h is seeing cities transformed through the creativity of food&beverage/hospitality ventures. We love that this is the heart behind Remedy Coffee and it's the defining factor that makes Remedy the coffee shop we chose to introduce as the first of "Our Favorite Coffee Shops."

-mrs.h