BOUDINANDBOURBON.COM - Virginia Billeaud Anderson

Sunday, May 7, 2023

Consciousness Screwing with Us: Rice University’s 2023 Archives of the Impossible Conference

Dr. John E. Mack Image by Stuart Conway. John E. Mack Institute

“Twenty seven years ago, rather urgently, I flew off to a UFO conference because Dr. John Mack was there. So was Whitley Strieber. Come hell or high water, I was going. That impulse was impossible to explain. Particularly to my engineer-y spouse. 'You’re going where?' " (BoudinandBourbon.com announces Rice University's 2023 Archives of the Impossible Conference, May 11 through May 13, with a short discussion about the importance of Rice's paranormal special collections.)

Garland Fielder Weighs In on Architectural Design and the Creative Process - Interview

Garland Fielder studio shot 2022

...Hell yea, Garland. I happen to consider architecture the most sublime of human expression... (Virginia Billeaud Anderson - BoudinandBourbon.com interviews Garland Fielder about his architectural design practice and the creative process. Fielder's ARChouse unleashes architecture, art and music.)

A Talk with Angie Dumas about her Blog "Da’Stylish Foodie" - Interview

Angie Dumas - Da'Stylish Foodie

"...I love cooking and throwing down in my kitchen..." (Virginia Billeaud Anderson - BoudinandBourbon.com interviewed Angie Dumas about her lifestyle blog Da'Stylish Foodie. Dumas discusses content creation, authenticity and monetization.)

Eating Garlic Beef at Mai’s Vietnamese Restaurant - Mai's Immigrant Story

Mai's Vietnamese Garlic Beef Bo Luc Lac

"...Inevitably, South Vietnam’s dismal economy, rank with corruption and inflation, forced party apparatchiks to embrace the tools of capitalism, designer bags and all. But by this time Mai’s family was successful in a new land..." (Virginia Billeaud Anderson eats Garlic Beef at Mai's Vietnamese Restaurant in Houston, owned by Mai Nguyen, and describes the dish and the owner's immigrant story. Fun inspiring history.)

Visiting Azienda Agricola Casamonti in the Chianti Classico - Wine and Cinta Senese Pigs

Casamonti's table prepared for wine tasting with an old well in the garden

"...Anna Rita officiated over the wine tasting and as she poured, she dished out bread and olive oil and Pecorino cheese, in sync with celebrated foodie Waverly Root’s assertion that wine's raison d' être is to accompany food..." (Virginia Billeaud Anderson recounts her visit to Azienda Agricola Casamonti in the Chianti Classico where she toured vineyards and saw the Cinta Senese pig.)

Discovering S.P.Q.R. and Miraculous Oil at the Church of Santa Maria in Trastevere

Trastevere - Image by civitavecchia.portmobility.it

...we arrived at the piazza in front of the Church of Santa Maria in Trastevere. There we found S.P.Q.R. and miraculous oil... (Virginia Billeaud Anderson - BoudinandBourbon.com writes about Romulus founding Rome, the Sabines, Trastevere’s vine covered mediaeval architecture, and finding S.P.Q.R. and miraculous oil at the Church of Santa Maria in Trastevere.)

My Visit to the Houston Farmers Market on Airline Drive

Fruit at Houston Farmers Market

"...I learn something every time I go to a market. On this trip I learned that raw cinnamon in all its bark-like glory can be quite large..." (Virginia Billeaud Anderson - BoudinandBourbon.com checks out Houston Farmers Market, the new building, long-time vendors and in-coming culinary hotshots like Chris Shepherd.)

Visiting ShyKatz Café on Galveston Island, Historical Architecture, James Waters House

ShyKatz French toast with Bacon

“…ShyKatz Café is a laid-back place, with old-timey mismatched furniture and a paper towel roll in the center of each table to serve as napkins…” (Virginia Billeaud Anderson - BoudinandBourbon.com - checks out food and historical architecture in Galveston. Learn about ShyKatz Café.)

Irmas Mexican Restaurant - Original Tex Mex – Visiting Irma Galvan

Irma Galvan at the bar of Irma’s
Mexican Restaurant

"...Sometimes I feel sorry for people who live in places where there's no decent Tex Mex. Try to imagine having no options and being stuck with Tex Mex that is mediocre, or in some cases down right sorry..." (Virginia Billeaud Anderson - BoudinandBourbon.com recalls a recent evening at Irma's Mexican Restaurant in downtown Houston. We knocked back margaritas and had a fun visit with Houston's celebrated Irma Galvan, who serves authentic Tex Mex.)

Romano’s Pizza - Italian Restaurant - Vinny Quarto, Frank Fragale - History of Calabria Italy - Montrose Neighborhood Houston

Romano’s Fettuccine Frutti di mare

"...accustomed to grabbing food at Romano’s on nights Donnie didn’t cook, and I hadn’t a clue how much that ritual meant to me until the nail salon’s fire pole-axed it.( Virginia Billeaud Anderson informs readers that Romano's Pizza and Italian Restaurant re-opened. Vincenzo Quarto (Vinny) and Francesco Fragale (Frank), born to two sisters in Calabria Italy, Antoinette and Caterina, are dishing out exquisite food. Read fun history of Calabria.)

Unraveling Mint Juleps, Pat O'Brien's Patio, Julep Bar, Anvil Bar and Refuge

Mint Julep on Patio at Pat O' Brien's New Orleans.
Image from Pat O Brien's Instagram #patobriens

"..It was back in 1938 that Derby big-wigs consecrated the Julep as sacred hooch for the race..."(Virginia Billeaud Anderson - BoudinandBourbon.com discusses the history of the mint julep including its Persian antecedents, while perched on Pat O'Brien's architecturally exquisite patio and the bar at the Crillon. Dips into the Kentucky Derby and literary references, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Hemingway, as well as Houston’s Julep Bar and Anvil Bar and Refuge.)

Eating Oysters at Topwater Grill in San Leon at Galveston Bay, Texas

Topwater Grill at Galveston Bay in San Leon

"...Donnie wanted fresh oysters for lunch, so we ran down to San Leon at Galveston Bay on the Texas coast..."

(BoudinandBourbon.com reports on eating oysters at Topwater Grill at Galveston Bay in San Leon Texas. Here Wally and Barbara Jakubas built their restaurant at April Fool Point Marina. San Leon managed to remain a small boozy fishing community.)

A Tribute to Legendary Wildcatter Jim Bob Moffett

Jim Bob Moffett. Image from Freeport McMoran announcement

"When I heard that Jim Bob Moffett had kicked the bucket, I thought to myself we just lost one of the ballsiest guys in the history of oil and gas..." (Virginia Billeaud Anderson writes a tribute to legendary wildcatter Jim Bob Moffett, who despite humble beginnings, became CEO of multi-billion dollar Freeport McMoran and led the industry in Gulf of Mexico Shelf "ultra-deep" drilling. Moffett steered Freeport McMoran to discover the world’s largest gold mine, and third largest copper mine. Includes oil and gas history and Moffett's philosophy for success. T. Boone Pickens said Moffett's oilfield exploits rank him in the top five of any list of U.S. wildcatters.)

Interviewed John and Lillie Mae Norbert about Norbert’s Restaurant - and Broussard Louisiana

John and Lillie Mae Norbert at Norbert's Restaurant

"...Which days do you serve home-made rice dressing? Sometimes on Wednesday, sometimes on Thursday..." (Virginia Billeaud Anderson - BoudinandBourbon.com talks to John and Lillie Mae Norbert about their lives, the history of Norbert's Restaurant, and the history of Broussard Louisiana.)

A Talk with George Graham of Acadianatable.com about his new cookbook "Fresh From Louisiana: The Soul of Cajun and Creole Home Cooking" - Interview

George Graham in his Kitchen. Courtesy George Graham

"...I poured a glass of bourbon and thought about George Graham..." (Virginia Billeaud Anderson interviews George Graham about Acadianatable.com and his new cookbook Fresh from Louisiana: The Soul of Cajun and Creole Home Cooking. And learned about Graham's food marketing background which evolved into a wide array of marketing services such as content creation, food styling and photography and video production and ad placement.)

Antoine’s Restaurant Re-opens Friday September 25

"Antoine’s survived the War Between the States, two World Wars, Prohibition, the Great Depression and Hurricane Katrina..."

Morvant’s Bar & Grill - Formerly Bero's Youngsville Louisiana - Interview - 97 Year History

Morvant's Bar and Grill - Youngsville Louisiana

"...a cold beer and eat a hamburger or a fried shrimp po-boy or a tray of boiled crawfish and hit the dance floor while the Cajun band “Alligator Blue” performs “Tee Na Na” at Morvant’s Bar and Grill in Youngsville Louisiana.." (Interviewed Chip Hebert about the history of Morvant's Bar and Grill, formerly Bero's, established in 1924 in Youngsville Louisiana. Cajun food, cold beer, dancing.)

Interviewed Carolyn Simon at Vermilion Bay Seafood, Tony Chachere Recipe

Vermilion Bay Seafood fresh shrimp
bought from shrimpers

"...Your alternative is a tasteless imported sorry excuse for a shrimp that was harvested in a pond farm in another country..." (BoudinandBourbon.com - Virginia Billeaud Anderson interviewed Carolyn Simon at Vermilion Bay Seafood about the history of her shrimp business.)

Ryan Baptiste - The Light Beyond The Blight - Redbud Gallery - Echoes of New Orleans

Ryan Baptiste, “Southern Hospitality,” 2018, Oil on canvas, 38 x 46

"...she told me she considered Ryan’s Baptiste’s paintings to be exceptional..." (Virginia Billeaud Anderson interviewed Ryan Baptiste about his "Light Beyond the Blight" exhibition at Redbud Gallery. Ryan's light-filled images of human figures and New Orleans architecture allegorize spiritual essence.)

Bar Boheme - Houston Bars - Drag Brunch - Architectural Preservation

"How admirable that Bar Boheme preserved its building, which dates to 1930..." (Discusses Bar Boheme in Montrose neighborhood, its architectural preservation of as well as its splendid patio, cocktails, kid-friendly drag brunch on Sunday.)

Bar Boheme - Houston Bars - Drag Brunch - Architectural Preservation

My friend Hugo Ovalle has a talent for finding interesting places to drink. Abu Dhabi, Kazakhstan, Buenos Aires, anywhere he goes, Hugo’s radar plops him into interesting spots.

It was Hugo who introduced me to Bar Boheme, years ago. The night he did, I fell in love with a particular red leather couch, located on the right side of the large bar. Boheme patrons carry on about the fancy patios, and I’ll admit the patios are splendid, comfortably laid out and decorated with sculpture and greenery. In fact Houston Press readers rank Boheme’s patios “Best Bar Patio” in 2019. Nevertheless, when I go to Boheme, I always highjack my favorite red couch.

The virus, of course, interrupted that ritual for now. I believe though that very soon Governor Greg Abbott will open the bars, and things will get back to normal here in Montrose neighborhood.

Having two Louisiana brothers who own restaurants, makes me particularly aware of how painful these times are for bars and restaurants. Boheme’s response to the lockdown was to boldly service its customers with curbside pickup and free deliveries, until it was allowed to reinstate patio service, doggies included. On Sunday May 31 Boheme will host its kid-friendly Brunch with Drag Bingo, on the patio from 1pm to 4pm. The eye shadow and lashes on Angelina, Cyn City and Chloe give me a deep yearning to go to an expensive salon for pretty makeup.

Despite Houston’s sorry reputation for architectural preservation, my neighborhood has many preserved historic structures. The house I live in, for instance, dates to 1925. There is a house on my block that dates to the 1910. How admirable that Bar Boheme preserved its building, which dates to 1930. When you go, notice the striking asymmetrical brick patterns on the façade. Then shift your gaze to the roof to see, in my opinion, the building’s most stunning architectural feature, a decorative pineapple-style roof finial. I’m guessing the finial is made of limestone. Other historic buildings in the neighborhood have decorative features of this type. Perhaps you noticed the finials on the building that Hugo Ortega restored when he built Hugo’s Restaurant. I think that building dates to 1925.

The other Hugo, my friend with radar for interesting places to drink, lives in the neighborhood. Hugo and his beautiful family have an architecturally preserved home that dates to 1905.

Images are from Bar Boheme’s Facebook and Instagram.

Bar Boheme
307 Fairview St
Houston, Texas 77006
Barboheme.com

(Selected Articles on BOUDINANDBOURBON.COM)

Consciousness Screwing with Us: Rice University’s 2023 Archives of the Impossible Conference

https://www.boudinandbourbon.com/2023/05/consciousness-screwing-with-us-rice.html

Garland Fielder Weighs In on Architectural Design and the Creative Process

https://www.boudinandbourbon.com/2022/08/garland-fielder-weighs-in-on.html

A Talk with Angie Dumas About Her Blog "Da'Stylish Foodie" - Interview

https://www.boudinandbourbon.com/2022/02/a-talk-with-angie-dumas-about-her-blog.html

Eating Garlic Beef at Mai's Vietnamese Restaurant - Mai's Immigrant Story

https://www.boudinandbourbon.com/2022/01/eating-garlic-beef-at-mais-vietnamese.html

Discovering S.P.Q.R. and Miraculous Oil at the Church of Santa Maria in Trastevere

https://www.boudinandbourbon.com/2022/01/discovering-spqr-and-miraculous-oil-at.html

Visiting Azienda Agricola Casamonti in the Chianti Classico - Wine and Cinta Senese Pigs

https://www.boudinandbourbon.com/2022/01/visiting-azienda-agricola-casamonti-in.html