Native

It’s always funny for me to hear or read certain types of out-of-towners who probably moved here looking for Transgressive and Decadent Fun go on and on about how they’ve “gone native” and are "real" New Orleanians now. The problem for me is that there really isn’t any real way to “go” native. You are either a born New Orleanian or you are not. Sure, you can grasp an idea of what this place is and your place in it. However, the only way to truly be “of” this city, with its slow organic cycles of growth, regeneration, and degeneration, is to be from a family that has been here for generations and to spend your entire life here.

That being said, here is a list of a few of the more potent memories and intensities that combine into an approaching idea of what it means to me to be “of” this city:

The Shrove Tuesday evening ride of the Mystick Krewe of Comus ( I miss this more than anything else)

Maison Blanche, D.H. Holmes & Krauss, the glory days of Canal Street

Jingle, Jangle, Jingle, Here comes Mr. Bingle…

Seafood City! Very Pretty! Stay with Al Scramuzza and you’ll never be a loosa’!

The Fairgrounds before the fire, hanging out with the old man and feeling like I was doing something naughty

Popeye & Pals, “Roll ‘Em!”

Pontchartrain Beach (notice the spelling)

Bud’s Broiler after a summer swim

Getting wasted with your high school friends at the Tree of Life, The Fly and The Moonwalk

Skate Country 1982

Sitting at the top of the family ladder during Carnival

Learning the old Carnival Songs from your Great Aunt

Learning the secrets of Boiled Crawfish, Red Beans & Rice, Gumbo and Etouffee from your Family, not a book

Morgus & Chopsley

The splendor of a Sunday afternoon at Kaldi’s

Beer and Independent Cinema at Movie Pitchers

Climbing my Uncle Bobby's Fig Tree

Sitting in my Nanny's glider on a beautiful Spring day, my little brother climbing in the tree above me

Jazz Fest, before the Really Big Acts started, when you could still bring in your own Ice Chest

WTUL in the heyday of late 80’s College Rock

World’s Fair ‘84

Riding in the backseat of my cousin's Z28, driving down Terry Parkway and listening to "Freakazoids"

Cinema City

The Original Lakeside Theatre

The Pitt

Rockin’ The River and Shakin’ The Lake

All ages shows at The Abstract Café

Decatur House, Kagen’s, Pussycat Caverns, The Blue Crystal, RC Bridge Lounge and The Warehouse Café

Seeing Morton Anderson kick the field goal that got The Saints to their first Playoff Game

Greasy late night treats at the Hummingbird Hotel

Shake That Thing Like A Salt Shaker

Hey You, What’s Your Name? You on the Radio Wit Your Boy Wild Wayne

The Hong Kong and The Golden Dragon at the height of their splendor in the late 70’s

Getting Ice Cream at the KB

Comments

[chomps]

1825 Tulane
Jefferson Downs
Canal Villere
Special Man
K&B purple (beer, icecream, pencils and playing cards)
Rajun Cajun
50 Fathoms pet store

[Jonah]

That National Canal Villere reminded me of another one:

Shopping at the Schweggman with my MawMaw.

[chomps]

Double U T I Xxxxxxxx New Orleans

[Nw Awlins Lady]

The Great Mc Nut would eat donuts during the commercial for McKenzies during the Saturday cartoons.

When mardi gras was a family outing and after the parade you would pick up the Coke Bottles and get money back for them, I think it was 5 cents.

When the Saints fans wore paper bags over their heads and called them the Aints

Climbing the trees in City Park and feeding the ducks, then having the ducks chase you.

When you could swim in the Lake on the Southshore and everybody had watermelon fights

They had dances on the President, paddle boat, on Friday and Saturday nights.

Drag Racing on Lapalco BLVD

WTIX was the station to listen to with Captain Humble?

Drag racing from Rockery to Lenfants.

When WNOE wasn't country, Ha.

When they served you food and drinks to your car at Rockery and Lenfants and Ye Olde College Inn

Carrollton Theater

We use to get the donut holes free in the alley way next to that pizza place on Carrollton, Venezia's, after the show, they were frying the donuts for the morning crew.

The owner of Sealtest Dairy use to decorate his house like Copeland does now, and then cruise in the front of Maison Blanche to see Mr. Bingle Christmas display
on Canal Street.

[will]

i am indeed a native.

my family built our house ~140 years ago.
we have been living in it since. i am the 5th generation to grow up in it.

[Nw Awlins Lady]

http://www.morgus.com/

[CHRIS REAMS]

I saw Jay Batt in front of Canal Villere on Carrolton with the folks fron Roberts Fresh Market. I listened to them for a little while today and they said it will be opening up in the eyesore location. Finally. Can't find any news on it anywhere yet so you can break it if you want. Later

Chris

[Art Shepherd]

Hi,
I doubt if you'll ever get this message or if you do whether I'll ever know it...but...I was in New Orleans in mid 70's and had the pleasure of knowing the Scamuzza family through a mutual friend. I'll never forget the warmth of Al and Sarah, Toni and Sarlyn...didn't know Al Jr. But if ever a Yankee came to feel like a born New Orleanian...it was me thanks partly to them...and 5 consecutive Mardi
Gras...I had an Apt. on corner of Frerret and Broadway for $88/month!!! Right next to the Tin Lizzy pub...wow!!! I'm so nostalgic for those days. I miss the Scramuzzas big time. If you see any of them tell them I said hello and thank you.

[ralph]

Hey Jonah!Nice blog... but I gotta disagree with you. New Orleans has always been a city that has attracted freaks from all over... THAT is as much a part of the city as anything else. I myself grew up in the quarter, a place with bikers, strippers, street artists and weirdos. It is as real New Orleans as anything. My mother came for Mardi Gras and never left, a very old N.O kind of story... one that definitely makes me a real New Orleanian.