New Orleans Rock 'n' Roll Marathon

New Orleans Rock and Roll Marathon

There is a marathon in New Orleans on February 24th, just two weeks away!  It had slipped my mind even though it is one of my favorite days of the year.  I am not a runner.  It's the only day of the year that the city cleans the street.

On the evening of February 23rd, whatever cars are still parked on the street will be towed, then, as people are falling asleep, street sweeping trucks will go up and down Esplanade Avenue.  For young children, it is like seeing a fleet of unicorns.  

For people from Boston, where the streets are swept every week, it is nostalgic.  Even if they don't keep the streets as tidy as they do in New England, New Orleans always feels like home.  There are more important things in urban life than tidy avenues.

The New Orleans Rock 'n' Roll Marathon starts at 7:00 in the morning, when it guaranteed to be cool.  Both the full marathon and the half marathon run the length of Esplanade Avenue right in front of our New Orleans bed and breakfast inn.  Here is what it will look like around 8:00:

Nobody races in the neutral ground

The runners take over the street until a little after noon.  Most people after eleven aren't really running any more.  They are more forming up a second line on the way to the finish line.

The view from the front porch of Les Fleurs suite:

Where Esplanade is crossed by Bayou Road

People from blocks around come to the route to cheer and offer encouragement.  Last year the crew set up a bandstand on North Broad Street to entertain the runners and the neighbors.  What classic music did they play?  This marathon's name says it all.  

We like to walk up and down the street enjoying the atmosphere, seeing people we know, exchanging chitchat, and making new acquaintances.  It's a congenial atmosphere, but, then, it is most every day on Esplanade Avenue.  The marathon is special because there are more than the usual amount of cheerful people out in the morning.

Across from the bandstand you'll see a sight you don't see any other time of year:

Tastee Donuts on North Broad Street

People are usually running to get inside Tastee Donuts, not running past it.  

If you want to watch the New Orleans Rock 'n' Roll Marathon this year, consider La Belle Esplanade bed and breakfast.  You can sip coffee with chicory on the balcony and watch the race go by.  When you're ready, you can walk leisurely up to the finish line at the end of our street, relaxed and well rested.

In other news...

The proudest sign in New Orleans

...we have a sign update!!  We met with the sign painter this afternoon to finalize the design and color scheme.  As I mentioned before, I am fond our current chalk-written ghost sign.  I have always been proud of my penmanship.  The old sign won't be replaced.  The new sign will be, well, a new sign.

The new sign won't be done in time for this month's marathon (you can't rush perfection), but it will be done by the time of the Crescent City Classic on March 30.  The city doesn't sweep the streets for this 10k run, but it is still a magical morning on a beautiful street.  Stay tuned.

A votre sante.