Ascension Magazine

HOUMAS HOUSE ... THE SUGAR PLANTATION

Today the beauty and grandeur of Houmas House Plantation, ‘The Sugar Palace’ can be enjoyed by thousands of visitors each year due to the incredible dedication and extensive sense of history and distinction that is Mr. Kevin Kelly. Through the vision and determination of Mr. Kelly, who acquired the property in the Spring of 2003, the mansion today reflects the best parts of each period in its rich history alongside the big bend in the Mississippi River. Yet it remains clear that it is Kelly’s presence and personality which is the overwhelming and singular reason for the plantation’s return to its rightful and recognized place as the ‘Crown Jewel of Louisiana’s River Road’.

It was by chance that Kevin discovered that he could indeed purchase a plantation. “I was searching for a property to renovate after having just finished my home on St. Charles St. in New Orleans,” Mr. Kelly said. “I was completely smitten with the unexpected nuances and eccentricities of renovating old properties and I discovered I had a real knack for the process. I was totally enthralled with the idea and practice of restoring historical properties and had done many such renovations in the city. I didn’t realize that one could actually purchase these historic plantations and it was in a chance conversation with a realtor friend that I found that Houmas House was indeed available, so we made an appointment to take a look at the property.” More

NOW I CAN DIE IN PEACE
by Bill Delaune

Okay, so I stole that title from a long-suffering Boston fan named Bill Simmons who wrote a book by that name after the Red Sox broke an 86-year drought and won the World Series in 2004.

Simmons is also the author of a column named “Growing Queasy in the Big Easy” when the New England Patriots won the Super Bowl in 2002.

There was an early Mardi Gras that year also and the native New Englander was somewhat taken aback at the spectacle he described in the above-mentioned column…

“Perverts packed the balconies of every bar, screaming at women to pull up their shirts and hurling bead necklaces at them when they obliged. Drunken idiots wandering around like they’ve just been shot. Transvestites, strippers, hookers and drag queens intermittently wandering around without anyone batting an eyelash. And everybody’s holding some sort of drink. It defies description.”

Well, Bill, we Saints fans didn’t wait quite as long as you and your Sox supporters did for your championship-only 43 years. But then we didn’t trade Babe Ruth either, did we?

But on one glorious February weekend, the Bless You Boys erased the curses of Russell Erxleben, of a stadium built on the site of a Poydras Street cemetery and of a football helmet with a flower on the side...all in one fell swoop. More

THOUGHTS FROM BULLY: WHO DAT?

Who Dat?

It’s everywhere. Who Dat, Who Dat, Who Dat talkin’ bout beaten dem Saints. What a phrase! Only in Louisiana could a slogan catch on that has 7 mispelled words.

I don’t know about you but in the first quarter I was so nervous I couldn’t enjoy the Super Bowl. I started thinking and wishing the Saints hadn’t made the playoffs so I could enjoy this yearly party. However when I saw we had controlled the clock for thirteen minutes in the second quarter I started feeling a whole lot better. Oh! When we kicked the on-side kick I felt as if I had divorced my ex-wife again. Whooa Hoo!

I’ve been celebrating for weeks since the Saints became Super Bowl Champs and I have met or heard stories that make these folks, Who Dat Champs”. More