Hello, Myles Shaffer coming to you from the New Orleans French Quarter. I have no features to review this week, so I thought I might say a little something about my trip, and the clubs of New Orleans.

I hit the road at 1:00 Pm, Wednesday, December 15th, two hours behind my intended schedule. I stopped in Phoenix to pig out at Pancho's Mexican Buffet and top off the gas tank.

Pancho's Mexican Buffets can be found from Louisiana and points north to Phoenix and Mesa, Arizona. While I have had better Mexican food, I've had much worse. The food at Pancho's is on a par with most Mexican restaurants I have eaten in, and it is very inexpensive! Just ask the editor-in-chief. He went with me to eat at Pancho's when we were both in Phoenix a couple of months ago.

After leaving Phoenix, I continued across Arizona and New Mexico, entering Texas between 3 and 4 the next morning.

After having spent all day driving across, "The Great State of Texas," with a stop in Baytown, Texas, to once again pig out at another Pancho's, I arrived at the Isle of Capri Hotel and Casino on the west shore of Lake Charles, Louisiana. Somehow, I managed to get back on schedule, by the time I got to Lake Charles. It must have been all that speeding I...never mind. There might be a member of law enforcement among my readers, and I've always been told to never confess to anything!

Around 10:15 Friday morning, December 17th, I got back onto Interstate 10 and headed for New Orleans. After stopping in Crowley to eat, and also stopping at Rocky Sonnier's place, in Breaux Bridge, to purchase a gallon jug of fresh make Cracklins, I made it to my timeshare hotel, in the New Orleans French Quarter, at approximately 3:00 Pm, and I've been having nothing but fun ever since! (Rocky Sonnier is a cousin of Jo-el Sonnier, the Cajun music and Country Western singer.)

Since arriving in New Orleans, I have been stuffing myself with some of the best food in the world, listening to Cajun music, and walking around the Quarter saying hello to people I've met over the years, and chatting with a few total strangers here and there. (I suppose my family's admonishments to never speak to strangers fell on deaf ears.)

Oh yes, last night, I attended a small dinner party with some of the local Cajun dancers I know or have met from the original Tipitina's. (Whenever I am here, I always spend Sunday evening at Tips enjoying the music and hanging out with the members of the Bruce Daigrepont Cajun Band. Yes, I honestly do know many Cajun musicians. I even know Charmaine Neville and the members of her band. For those who may not know, Charmaine is the daughter of Charles Neville of, "The Neville Brothers, featuring Aaron Neville." No, I don't know the Neville Brothers. However, I did have the good fortune to meet Charles Neville a couple of years ago when he sat in with Charmaine's band during their first set at Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro one Monday evening.

Here are some of my favorite places to eat in New Orleans, just in case any of the readers might ever find their way to Naw'lins. The Praline Connection, on Frenchman Street, has good, New Orleans style, soul food. Mulate's is a good Cajun restaurant, with live Cajun music. The Cajun Cabin, on Bourbon Street, also has fairly good Cajun food and live Cajun music. Port of Call, on Esplanade Avenue, is a cocktail lounge that also serves great food!

My number one favorite New Orleans restaurant is Michaul's, located on St. Charles Avenue half-way between Julia and St. Joesph Streets. The Cajun food there is fantastic, and the prices are comparable to most of the other restaurants around town. Michaul's has a live Cajun band playing every night they are open, which is Monday through Saturday, opening at 6:00 Pm. Michaul's has a small dance floor, and whenever the band takes a break, Ron and Barbara will teach the basic steps to some of the Cajun dances to anybody who is willing to give it a try. In a nutshell, an evening spent at Michaul's is a lot of fun.

I myself spent last Saturday night at Michaul's. At closing time, after the other customers had left, they locked the doors and had the staff's annual Christmas party. Yes, I stayed for the party. I have a standing invitation to the party from the owners, AL and Michelle Babineaux, whom I have known for about 12 years now.

New Orleans has quite a few strip clubs, mostly in the Quarter. The Gold Club Cabaret is nice, and they occasionally bring in features. Stormy Daniels danced here in late October or early November.

Rick's Cabaret is also a nice club. I haven't been in the Hustler Club since Larry Flynt bought the place and remodeled it.

There are a few clubs that are fairly new, or have new owners and name changes, which I have not been in. Of the others I have been in, they are mostly, in a word, tourist traps. Okay, so it was two words, but I'm certain the readers will get the idea.

I believe that is enough rambling to keep my few readers from forgetting me for now, so I will bring this piece to an end and wish everybody out there a very Merry Christmas.

Bonsoir et au revoir,
Myles Shaffer