The book will be titled something like [Garden & Gun presents] Soul of the South: How to Live the Good Life the Southern Way. The idea is a kind of manual/meditation with topical chapters full of fun, voicey service and short and long essays (like mine). If Garden & Gun does it, you know it will turn out beautiful and be an inspirational, informative, entertaining read, as timeless as possible, still fresh 20 years from now.

I'm working on an essay tentively titled "The Tradition of the Southern Garden" Hopefully, it will be inspirational celebration /meditation on the perfect southern garden.

They leave from Shreveport, Louisiana, stops at Jackson, MS (visiting Eudora Welty's home) then on to Oxford, MS for some Faulkner at Rowan Oak an Square Books then on to Nashville, and Franklin TN. This tour is for authors & booklovers alike who want to be part of THE southern booklover's adventure of a lifetime! Please send Kathy L. Patrick your email if interested (authors too!)

Grand Finale will be the Southern Festival of the Books in Nashville's The Pulpwood Queen Presents panel with authors, Amy Hill Hearth, Lynda Rutledge, Jenny Wingfield, Robert Leleux and a special visit w/ Robert Hicks (that's me) at my cabin 'Labor in Vain' in Franklin, along with a private tour of Historic Carnton Plantation. If you love southern authors and books, this is the trip for YOU! 

Finally, you will return back to Shreveport via Memphis where there will be much fun. 

One February night, some years ago, arriving at Colleville sur Mer / Omaha Beach after it had closed, I scaled the fence-hedge around the American Cemetery.  and walked among the 9,387 dead. In the light of a full moon, the crosses & Stars of David seemed to glow. To my surprise the carillon still played on the hour despite the cemetery being closed. It played for the dead and for me that night. 
In all, I've been there 5 times now, but no time has ever been  as meaningful as when I walked among the dead that night as the carillon played 'Rescue the Perishing, Care for the Dying.'
Today is an important day for all of us. With Normandy, the war began to turn in our favor. With the sacrifice of all those boys and so many others, Hitler and his vision was wiped from the earth. 
I am grateful for the evening among the dead and for all the other times I have been there. Mostly, I am grateful for those boys. 

These kind of accidents had happened as long as their were boilers on a pretty regualr bases. So out of this explosion the decision was made that there needed to be a way to inspect boilers to be sure they are safe. My first question to the group was do we still make boilers? Turns out there are thousands of boilers in every city in America, Soemthimes tens of thousands of them.

And, since there have been inspections, there has not been one boiler blowup in the country. Besides, they have now moved into insopecting nuclear power plants - recently shut one down near NOLA. 

I am glad to know there is such a job and glad to knwo they are busily at work. Their wives were a great group to meet. 

Of course, while your at it, what’s a trip to New Orleans without at least one or more trips to Café du Monde (800 Decatur Street across the street and down a bit from Central Grocery) for the ultimate reurrection from a long night of drinking in New Orleans with powdered-sugar beignets, hot from the fryer, chicory coffee and orange juice (good any time of the day).

Mimi's in the Marigny, 2601 Royal Street. There is little doubt that they have the best tapas in New Orleans, located in the city's funkiest neighborhood. Bars on two levels, billiards downstairs, lounge upstairs with awesome food late, late at night amid a very funky lounge scene, usually with a great DJ thumpin.

My favorite thing to do at Mimi's: show up on Sunday nights for DJ Soul Sister -- old school R&B, funk, groove. Great dancing.

 
When it comes to burgers, it’s a toss up for me between Port of Calllocated at 838 Esplanade Avenue (Truly great burgers, but usually there’s a line to get them.) and Yo Mama's at 727 Saint Peter Street in the Quarter with equally great burgers.  It's a bar that specializes in peanut butter bacon burgers and some rare and delicious tequilas. A winning combination in my book for sure.
 
Boucherie was opened by chef Nathanial Zimet who used to pull up ‘Que Crawl’ – a purple truck on the neutral ground outside Tipitina's nightclub during set breaks and sell AWESOME food to everyone with his take on New Orleans specialties, like fried boudin balls and duck gumbo. Late last year, he opened a real restaurant called Boucheriewith more ambitious dishes than those he still serves at his truck, but nothing costs more than $15. Both the truck and the restaurant are better than just good and kind of off the map of the mainstays.

Domenica (504 648.6020; 123 Baronne Street New Orleans, Louisiana 70112; www.domenicarestaurant.com) the newest of Iron Chef finalist / Louisiana native John Besh’s amazing eateries. Using fresh and local ingredients, he conjures up wonderful rural Italian dishes – hand-made pasta, wood-fired pizzas and wonderful house-cured meats. All of this inside the handsomely-restored and chic Roosevelt Hotel 

Coquette’s chef / proprietor Michael Stoltzfus serves up dishes like scallops w/ roast pork and mustard green ravioli and old-fashioned chocolate-filled beignets at this, the newest of Magazine Street's wonderful gathering of eateries. A+ local faire and seasonal dishes. (2800 Magazine St.; 504-265-0421)
 
During any month with a ‘r’ in it and May thrown in for good measure – that is oyster season, head over to Casamento’s at 4330 Magazine Street for some of the best oysters around. Truth is, folks around here eat oysters all year round these days, but they don’t eat ‘em within the tiled walls of Casamento’s except during oyster season and to be sure they don’t, the place is closed from June 1 until Labor Day. They have a good gumbo and an even better oyster stew.
 
You might not think of New Orleans as a barbeque city, but you'd be wrong.  The Joint at 801 Poland Avenue is Exhibition A. The place is terrific and off the tourist path, in The Bywater.www.alwayssmokin.com
 
Lola's on Esplanade, that is 3312 Esplanade Avenue, has really good Spanish fare is funky and byo except for maybe wine…I can’t remember. What I do remember and often ask for is their garlic-infused seafood paellas or their fidueas. The fish dishes are great and the ambiance is perfect.
 
 
Napoleon House Bar & Café in the heart of the French Quarter at the corner of Chartres Street and St. Louis Street is a favorite of mine for a drink. Anywhere else my drink would most likely be a Jack and water, but because it is the Napoleon House where my uncles once drank in the backroom speakeasy fronted by a grocery store, I like to order a Pimm‘s Cup in their memory. The story is that a previous owner of the house offered it for use by the Emperor / General in exile. The décor is perfect in every detail and its one of the best places to start a long night.
 
Last time I was in New Orleans, I tried a brand new place called Green Goodess at 307 Exchange Place in the French Quarter. It’s Chris DeBarr’s new place. He came out of Commander’s Palace. One of my best foodie friends took me there and it was well worth it on every level. The place is small and the DeBarr’s handiwork is amazing.
 
Irene’s Cuisine known to most simply as ‘Irene’s’ can be found at 539 St. Phillip Street. I would sum it up as pure local. The cuisine is country French and Italian with garlic a staple of both. The food is worth whatever the wait. Just try not to act the role of the tourist. The regulars would like to think none of us have ever found the place. The wait staff could not be more welcoming.
 
My dad use to tell how, in 1909, his parents first entered the world that is Galatoire's Restaurant at 209 Bourbon Street on 1909. That would be four years after the restaurant opened its doors to the world. He would then always add, “You do have to wonder what took them so long to get here.” But no matter what the delay was, my family has been eating there for the last hundred years. I went there with the Louisiana Revival architect, A. Hays Town, many years ago and sat at what he claimed to be “my table.” As he lived in Baton Rouge, I was never sure that he really had “a table,” but Galatoire’s always seems like the kind of place where someone really could  have “a table.” Beyond that, the food is rich and old-fashioned as is the service and the room. Even though I have waited over an hour for a table for a large party, I even like that fact that its still first come, first serve, at least downstairs. There is a sense that nothing has changed since my grandparents enter the place, though, truth be told, much has had to change even since Katrina. Still, when I’m in New Orleans, a return to Galatoire’s is a must for me, usually with something like broiled pompano covered in fresh crabmeat.
 
If my dad or grandfather were still around, I have little doubt that they would be frequenting Chef Donald Link's Herbsaint Restaurant and Bar located at 701 St. Charles Avenue. You see, like my dining choices, Donald’s cooking is inspired by his grandfather. And while Galatoire’s will always remain linked to me and my times in New Orleans, there is little doubt that Donald Link is the man of the hour. Dinner at Herbsaint can match any other grand meal in New Orleans these days. Julia Reed and her husband, John Pearce, first introduced me to the joint and for that, I will owe them forever.
 
So while we’re about praising the mastery of Chef Link, let’ not forget Cochon. This is Donald’s second restaurant. With a his tip of the hat to his own Cajun roots with dishes like Spoon Bread with Okra and Tomatoes or Rabbit and Dumplings or the makings of a Louisiana Cochon du Lait (pig roast) with Turnips and Cracklings – all of it his sophisticated take on Cajun cuisine and all things pig (930 Tchoupitoulas St.; 504-588-2123). And then above it, Calcasieu, his new private dining space (504-588-2188).
 
A trip to New Orleans without a muffalotto at Central Grocery or a Po Boy at Parasol’s or dinner at Galatoire's is never complete. Now add Herbsaint and John Besh’ Domenica to the top of that list. What’s good there? Ask Donald or John, they’re both usually around. A fro me, I would say simply “Everything!”

At this point, I begin to ponder why exactly I don’t live in New Orleans. Oh, yea, possibly because I would weigh in at 350 Lbs. That’s why.

So enough of my recommendations. After all, if you need more than these, then you already live there and don’t need any of these. It’s your town, for Pete’s sake. Bon appétit.

There is little doubt that they have the best tapas in New Orleans, located in the city's funkiest neighborhood. Bars on two levels, billiards downstairs, lounge upstairs with awesome food late, late at night amid a very funky lounge scene, usually with a great DJ thumpin.

Other than David Saderis, it's time for all the elves to go away.

Cobb County Public Library - Marietta

September 29th , 7:00 P.M.

Hey folks, join photographer/architect/ friend Nell Dickerson & me to talk about ”The Role of Women in the Historic South,” or whatever else I decide to talk about as part of the 75th anniversary observance of the publication of ”Gone With the Wind.” Dickerson, a native of Mississippi. is the creator of the recently published book ”Gone: A Photographic Plea for Preservation,” which presents an eloquent case for saving some of the most important but decaying historic structures around the South. Her book is truly a must have & oh so beautiful.

I wrote the Foreword for that book.  The program is free and will take place at the Cobb County Central Library. 266 Roswell Street in Marietta.