I will have updates during the festival, probably just photos and short captions, but if you’re interested you can follow me on Instagram and/or Twitter where I will likely be posting photos of my adventure more regularly.

 Instagram     _gogozombie

Twitter           @smastroni

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After Bonnaroo I am gearing up for Wizard World NYC with my friend Meagan to meet the cast of the Walking Dead (yes, again). This time it’s just a three hour boat cruise up the Hudson River and around the Statue of Liberty. Michael Rooker (Merle), Norman Reedus (Daryl) and my favorite man of all time… Jon Bernthal (Shane) will be on board. I’ve been using this event as severe motivation to go to the gym 5-6 days a week. It’s been working, let me tell you!

That would be Andrew Lincoln… Rick Grimes… yep and me!

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Then it’s time for Phish. For one full week I will be up and down the tri-state area (five times in seven days!) First stop is their three-day show at Saratoga Performing Arts Center in New York. My friend and I got a room so we can thoroughly enjoy the weekend. Last time we drove home after the show… three hours away. It was painful to say the least. Then it’s Jersey at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel and finally, one of the shows I am most anticipating… Jones Beach.

Me & a new friend at SPAC last year!

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After that it’s a bunch of miscellaneous events like John Mayer, Vibes Music & Arts Festival and a wedding… then at the end of the summer I will be returning to the Catskills for round three of Catskill Chill Music Festival.

Rockin’ blue hair at Catskill Chill last September.

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In other words, if you love music and mischief, stay tuned! I have this urge to pump out posts left and right this summer after the drab and dreariness of winter kept all the fun at bay and left me trying to grasp at anything for posts.

Love to all!

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Well here it finally is. I went to the Big Easy for New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (namely, for John Mayer), and had the best time… ever. No matter where I go with my friends, we always have a fantastic vacation. I am so insanely lucky to have tremendous people around me.

We flew into Mississippi and the weather was beautiful from the start. Our drive from Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport took about an hour, but we stopped for some food at a place called, “Red Zone,” in Diamondhead. We ate Po’ Boys and pulled pork sandwiches and fried catfish strips and I was happiest I had been since that glorious pre-plane shower.

So we met up with the rest of the NOLA crew at our hotel, the Clarion Inn & Suites on Canal Street. The streetcar stopped almost right in front of it, which was a nice little way to get to Bourbon Street, we found, which was five blocks to the right of us.

Our first evening was Jazz Fest, and it was bigger than I had anticipated. The entire outside venue smelled off fresh seafood and only-in-New-Orleans-type-dishes. My best friend Chris and I headed straight to the stage where John Mayer played. We stayed the entire set, duh… and danced happily under a bright, warm sun with some fellow JM fans. He played an amazing setlist. It had been two years since the jazz/blues crooner sang along with his songs, due to a throat granuloma that put him on “indefinite” voice rest, but you would have never known. He proved to me, (like he even really had to), just why he is my all-time favorite music artist and musician. He was all around beautiful.

Saturday afternoon we ventured on a swamp tour which lasted over an hour and gave us all the chance to see alligators and cute little turtles. It was a great way to spend the day. I even got to hold one! I swear from this day forward I will never buy a product made from alligator. Not like I have the money for that, anyway. He was so soft and adorable…. and he was being manhandled by every child and their mother on the damned boat.

In brief, Bourbon Street was one of the most spectacular things I have ever experienced. This may make me sound a little stupid, but I honestly thought Bourbon Street was a few blocks. I was so wrong. It was long, and closed off, and bouncing with excitement. We went to three gentlemen’s clubs (not all they were cracked up to be), tons of bars, drank a lot of margaritas and icy-cold mixed drinks, (there were a ton of open daiquiri bars throughout), shopped, and best of all… I experienced the Dungeon.

The best bar, in the opinions of most of my NOLA crew, the Dungeon is on Toulouse Street and was fully equipped with a stone walkway, caged-in bar seating and blaring good music. Slayer, Marilyn Manson, Rob Zombie… and loud, too. The drinks were among the cheapest on Bourbon and the bartenders and security were so down to earth, we went back our last night.

I was able to get 3 Mardi-Gras necklaces and I didn’t even have to flash anyone… take notes, ladies! The people were all outstandingly friendly and there was such a sense of wonder and awe among my group, we probably wouldn’t have known if they weren’t.

The French Quarter was a daytime thing and I’d like to think we did it proper. We must have walked miles on our Sunday afternoon. We drank, ate some more, and experienced shopping, and saw music live never before. Oh, and we saw the original Real World New Orleans House.

It’s hard to capture every moment on camera. Sometimes that moment passes by us too quickly, others don’t translate on camera as they do in our heads. I did my best to take some photos, but overall.. the landscapes, people, food and smells can only be logged into my mind as memories best kept away. Check out some photos below!

I have gathered some plan ideas via Facebook and Twitter, because no amount of research compares to the tidbits of information given by word-of-mouth. If anyone has any “go-to” ideas, send them my way in the comment box below. I want to go armed and ready to take on what people have experienced firsthand and know to be the best in the city.

Staying: Clarion Inn & Suites 

Near the French Quarter, these rooms have been sold out for months. I’m assuming because of Jazzfest, but also because of its proximity to everything fun in New Orleans.

Doing: New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival 

A two-weekend festival, I am only going for one (missing Fleetwood Mac and Black Keys the following weekend). Luckily, I have seen them both before. Friday is my day and the weather thus far looks fantastic. Friday’s lineup also hosts Band of Horses, one of my top bands. Unfortunately, they go on a different stage the same exact time as John Mayer. No question on who I will be seeing, just very upsetting.

Detour: Mississippi

Oh yeah, we are flying into Gulfport, Mississippi. The plane tickets were significantly cheaper. I am not sure if any of you could recommend something in that general area that is worth stopping for, but if so, feel free to share. I cannot say when I would be in Mississippi again, so if I could optimize my travels by snapping a cool photo, or scoping an amazing landscape, that is a must!

Eating: As much as possible

I hear the festival alone has tons of vendors serving up delicious and local cuisine like creole crabcakes, crawfish, okra gumbo, gator bites, barbecue everything and traditional cobblers, pies and desserts. I am trying to really limit my calorie intake this week, as well as do some extra cardio everyday, so to feel less guilty about stuffing face nonstop. If you guys know of any restaurant in New Orleans area that is worth checking out, do let me know. We have a rental so if it’s outside the city, I am up for the drive.

Keep in touch!

You can follow me (or just creep on from time to time) on Instagram, a social media wonder which I use regularly, if you want to see NOLA through my eyes… and the lense of my iPhone camera.

You can see what I am eating, who I am getting down to at the festival, local brews I plan on slamming back and of course, the beautiful sites of one of America’s most eclectic cities.

Instagram name:

_gogozombie

Twitter handle:

@smastroni

Filed under: Travel Tagged: culture, food, inspiration, jazzfest, life, music, new orleans, travel ]]> http://sarahonthego.com/2013/04/22/new-orleans-or-bust/feed/ 6 neworleans_street_image_large sarahamastroni neworleans_street_image_large Clarion-Inn--Suites-New-Orleans-photos-Exterior jazz-fest-1 Crawfish-New-Orleans-Food1 photo (1) http://sarahonthego.com/2013/03/27/walking-dead-overload-my-cincinnati-trip/ http://sarahonthego.com/2013/03/27/walking-dead-overload-my-cincinnati-trip/#comments Wed, 27 Mar 2013 15:23:19 +0000 sarah On The Go http://sarahonthego.com/?p=5261 Read More →]]> Allow me to get the bad out of the way, first. Our hotel, The Millenium, was so outdated and dirty, I plan to write an extensive review on Trip Advisor soon. At $200 dollars a night, I expected at least a clean set of sheets, working remote and heater.

Other than that, I must say that myself and best friend Chris had an exceptional time in both Kentucky and Ohio. We went to the Horrorhound Convention for two days and had a blast meeting cast members of AMC’S hit drama, The Walking Dead. Besides the fact that the convention was utterly chaotic and unorganized, the knowledge I gathered at New York Comic Con last October helped when we had to figure out which lines to wait in and how early. The people working the event had no idea (reviews on their Facebook page prove I am not the only one who feels this way).

The first day we toured Downtown Cincinnati; we walked past the Reds’ and Bengals’ stadiums, and ate a delicious lunch at Moerlein’s Lager House which overlooked the Ohio River over to Kentucky. I had a yummy sausage and kraut sandwich with an OTR Pale Ale, my friend a barbecue chicken sandwich and Goose Island home brew.

Our one night out was spent at Mynt Martini in Fountain Square. Very friendly staff and bartenders, good music and strong cocktails!

Here are some photos I snapped during my stay.

Spring break for college students is usually centered around partying almost naked, tequila with the worm at the bottom, and shameless sex in the bathroom of some Cancun bar.

The weather in Ohio right now is the same as the dreadful weather in Connecticut- around 35 degrees and ugly. There will be no dancing under a starry night with Miguel the bartender for me, but tequila shots can be had anywhere in the world- and honestly- Cancun never struck my fancy anyway.

Horrorhound Convention starts today and runs through Sunday. Apparently, this particular convention is the premiere event for all things nerd-horror related. I convinced my best friend Chris to head out to the Ohio back in January for Walking Dead-related reasons and so, the adventure begins!

Staying:

Millennium Hotel Cincinnati. A “four star” hotel, Millennium is setting us back a pretty penny. In the heart of Downtown Cincinnati, this hotel seemed like the best option for two people who enjoy fine dining and staying somewhere without the threat of a roach scrambling across the wall. While I am not always a diva hotel-er, in a city like Cincinnati which I know has mostly suburbs and more or less unknown areas surrounding its Metro area, I want to do it right.

Doing:

Horrorhound Convention. Saturday only, myself and Chris are taking on the cast of the Walking Dead. I already met Norman Reedus (Daryl), Chandler Riggs (Carl), and Michael Rooker (Merle), but I’m in Ohio for Jon Bernthal (Shane). Other cast members in attendance include Sarah Wayne Callies (Lori), Scott Wilson (Hershel) and Lew Temple (Axel). I will spend the day getting my autographs and photos with the crew. That’s it. That’s why I’m in Ohio. Should be amazing!

The rest will be a random adventure, likely filled with lots of tasty eats, delicious local craft brewskis and good laughs. I will post all about it on Monday or Tuesday, depending on how bad Ohio kicks my ass.

Have a magnificent weekend, all! 

xoxo

But hold on, poor little 2012 isn’t over yet! I still have a handful of things to do. Here they are [yes, this is a funky all-about me post that I wanted to throw up so you all could be inspired to finish out the year strong.]

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The Rolling Stones 50th Anniversary Show

Yes, I’m actually going to their 50th anniversary show in New Jersey tomorrow night. I will be taking the Amtrak to Newark for dinner and drinks before what will likely be an epic performance by Mick and the gang. Although these tickets were super hard to get, my friend was able to score some. So Friday I will post a blog all about my experience, fully-equipped with photos of me showing off with a nice cold beer in my hand (hehe), and you can live vicariously through me.

The Stones at Brooklyn’s Barclay center on Saturday

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Ink Master live finale in Manhattan

A producer from the show called to see if I’d be interested in coming back for the show’s live finale on Tuesday the 18th. I was on the Spike reality show back in November and now I will be making my second appearance on television. At least the show starts at a time where consuming 2-4 whiskey drinks is appropriate. Nerves, people. I’ve got them.

Oh, and to make this story a bit cooler: I visited my artist from the show, Mark Matthews, last Thursday when he guest tattooed at Addicted to Ink in White Plains, New York. I look a wee bit disheveled in that photo (second down), but in my defense I was being tattooed for almost four hours!

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Rockerfeller Center (NYC) to see the tree

You know, that big ol’ Christmas tree they ship from some Midwestern state and OD with lights. It’s a tradition, especially living so close (an hour) outside of Manhattan, there is really no excuse to pass this spectacle up. When with friends, even the blistering cold breezes passing from skyscraper to skyscraper don’t mean much at all.

From left: My boyfriend Alex, Chris, Sean, Jonny, Diana, me! 2011

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Phish at Madison Square Garden

The best way to end a year and ring in a new one is accompanied by live music, surely. One of my best friends, Jonny and myself will be making another trek into the city for two nights of the jam-band giants. The almost annual show at Madison Square Garden is a four night run, but we are lucky to see them for two nights- having been fortunate enough to snipe tickets through the Phish ticket lottery back in autumn.

From left: Sean, Chris, Jonny, me! Phish 2011

So what are your plans before 2013 takes the reigns?