Red Dress Run, and Abita Wheat

Amanda & I, at 8:30 a.m.

I came home with a strange sunburn yesterday - a deep red V shined down by my front and back sides. Now, based on the ridiculousness that is my life, you think I would have had a weird sunburn from wearing a dress before, but in fact - this was my first I-dressed-like-a-girl-and-got-a-sunburn, sunburn. And it was completely worth it. When I woke up yesterday, around 7:30 a.m. it was raining and I surely wasn't thinking about the possibility of getting burned. I took a shower and pulled on my red dress, ready for this year's Red Dress Run. The Red Dress Run is a "Run" started by the Hash House Harrier's, a self-proclaimed "Drinking Club with a Running Problem." And while we are not the only city to have a Red Dress Run, we certainly have the biggest.

We got down to the French Quarter fairly early and after making some new friends on the bus, we stumbled upon a bar on Bourbon (at 9:30 in the morning no less) that proclaimed "Free Beer for all Red Dress Runners." We promptly entered Bourbon Live and got our first drinks. There were drinking stations throughout the Quarter, and while this was great, the true prize was at Louis Armstrong Park. There was live music, food, and as much beer, wine, and daiquiri that you could drink. While it was still fairly rainy at 10 am, the park was filling up. Something as silly as rain isn't going to stop a good 'ole NOLA romp. The "run" which we walked, started at 11. And while some of the more fit and trim folks jogged up ahead, personally I didn't want to spill any of the Abita Wheat that I had acquired. We walked around the Mahalia Jackson Theatre and I found myself once again, in the Treme, dancing down Governor Nichols Street, (see last week's blog if you wanna know what I'm talking about).

The Run died when it came back into the Quarter and a rather ragin' street party (including random mobile DJ and stripper's pole) had erupted right outside of Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop. (If you ever get the chance this "piano bar" was built in the early 1700s, and even if the electricity is out, they'll continue to serve you drinks by candlelight.) While the official route of the run might of continued in some direction, most people continued in the direction of Partying. We weaved through the crowd, and danced about, finding our way back to Armstrong Park. While there was most assuredly a helluva party going down in the Quarter - we chose to go to an empty bar on Rampart Street to grab a few Jello Shots. I learned my lesson, knowing that I will never again buy Jello Shots anywhere except from Fat Tuesday's Uptown, where Jello Shots are still 4 for a $1. BEST DEAL EVER. But I digest, or digress, or something.

Finding our way to Armstrong Park again was more than worthwhile. First, because the Hash House Harrier's know how to feed some people. Pulled pork, hot sausage, dirty rice, and pasta salad filled my belly, along with a few Abita Wheats. (Just to let you know there was also Abita Amber, and for the low price of $65 you could drink as much beer and eat as much food as you wanted... just sayin'). The crowd was raucous and no doubt havin' a hell of a time. On our way out of the park we were assured that we were still in New Orleans as a brass band greeted us, tuba and all. Another dance party had begun, and while the run was long over, the Red Dress Party was here to stay. If you happen to be in NOLA next August, sign up, drink a beer, take a jog, and dance the day away. Oh and if you want to feel good, maybe even great, about dressing up as a woman and consuming a great deal of Abita, last year, the Red Dress Run raised over $200,000 for New Orleans Charities. So Hell to the yeah, folks.

Yeah You Right, Joe.