Last night I was front and center at The Dakota for Kermit Ruffins & The BBQ Swingers.... The energy in the room was contagious... My favorite was listening to Kermit scat.... I've seen him before but never in this intimate of a setting.... most shows I've been to were on an outdoor stage... it was nice to finally hear all the layers of sound in the group. "We partying" is Kermit's new mantra.... he said... "ok... time to clear all the tables out of here and start dancing" ... a perfect appetizer before our trip to Satchmo Summerfest on Thursday! Kermit is playing the festival again this year too! Oh.... and there's still time to see him here in Minneapolis... he's playing 2 more shows at The Dakota TONIGHT! 7pm and 9pm.  http://www.dakotacooks.com/event/kermit-ruffins-the-barbecue-swingers/2013-07-29/

This year I am going to Kermit's Treme Speakeasy... to try some of his world famous BBQ!  http://www.yelp.com/biz/kermits-treme-speakeasy-restaurant-new-orleans  

Things have been bustling in the Harrelson Trumpets Shop... there are now 5 of us here... going full speed ahead... sometimes i stop for a moment... look around and realize that things we've been trying to "get to" are finally getting done... what a great feeling that is... there is no shortage of tasks to complete... that's for sure. I just sent off new T-Shirt designs... yesterday was posters and stickers... all of these print materials are special order and we'll be handing them out at Satchmo Summerfest to raise awareness about this year's Satchmo Trumpet Donation. I think the new designs are really fun... and we're using new local printers for our shirts... hoping to have a regular stream of new Shirts coming out from now on... we've upped our marketing budget and with Christine in the office I have more time to focus on what I do best... the fun stuff :)

Speaking of fun stuff... 

This Sunday, Harrelson Trumpets Client, Kermit Ruffins is playing The Dakota and we'll be catching both the 7pm and 9pm shows... what better way to warm up for  Satchmo Summerfest on Thursday! I can't wait!!!

This is always my favorite event of the year... in my favorite city... Satchmo Summerfest is a free festival... with an awesome music line up and an extremely interesting series of lectures in the air conditioned MINT Building adjacent to the festival... this year I am most interested in "what's in louis armstrong's record collection" and "the buddy bolden cylinder meltdown" ... i've been to many of these lectures over the last few years and I am never disappointed... always great photos and insights... and did I mention... air conditioning?  :)

My first trip to Preservation Hall... on my last trip... to see Leroy Jones... it was packed and hot and awesome.

They have the best antique shops in New Orleans... you never know what you're going to find... 

If you find yourself in or around New Orleans... I highly recommend you swing by Satchmo Summerfest this year... or start planning your trip for next year... it's a great excuse to check out an awesome city... eat some Alligator... and do a little dancing... 

We're hitting a lot of our old haunts this year... and a few new ones... I get to stay in town a couple of days after the festival ends... and finally do some further exploring I have always previously been to busy to enjoy... on the top of the list: lake pontchartrain... st. louis cemetary... kermit ruffin's treme speakeasy... jazz mass at st. augustine's church... st. charles street car... OYSTERS! ... the list goes on and on and on... 

Oh... and look.... on page 19 of MPLSzine... that's the photo I took the last time we were in town giving a lecture at Loyola! This was after everyone left of course :)