NOLA II Mini-Reunion

May 30 to June 1, 2014

Our second Mini Reunion in New Orleans ("NOLA II") was yet another great gathering of the Class of '62 ... a record breaker in terms for the number of both classmates and significant others.

The Hilton Riverside Hotel again served as our Headquarters Hotel

Our total of 33 Culver attendees included 19 classmates and 14 significant others … the most in each category for any Mini Reunion to date:

Bob & Nannie Sue Sindelar (Our hosts)

plus (for some activities) Cheryl Ryan's sister and brother-in-law

• Patti and Jay Casteel

After the Saturday dinner and show at the Stage Door Canteen at the National World War II Museum (more details below), we all gathered on stage for a group photo with some of the performers from the show. Regrettably, of the multiple shots from multiple cameras (obviously, none by a professional), all had "issues" of one sort or the other. This is about the best of the lot. Put your cursor over the face of an individual to see his/her name.

Thursday Evening, May 29th

Those arriving early for the Mini started the festivities with some socializing in Bob & Nannie Sue's hospitality suite at the Hilton.

Then we dodged the raindrops (some more successfully than others) to have dinner at the renown seafood restaurant "Deanies" ... a New Orleans favorite for over 50 years.

Friday Morning, May 30th

For those early arrivers, we had a special added attraction at The New Orleans School of Cooking: A class that demonstrated how to cook Louisiana-style food. Our menu consisted of Shrimp and Artichoke Soup, Crawfish Etouffee, Bread Pudding, and Pralines. And best part: We got to eat what they showed us how cook!

The School's entertaining classes and the Louisiana General Store are located in a renovated molasses warehouse built in the early 1800s in the heart of the French Quarter. They taught the basics of Louisiana Cooking (along with a big helping of Louisiana history) in a way we'll never forget!

Our instructor was most ably assisted by our own Rocky Wayburn! You can't see it in either of the pictures, but Rocky was assisted by a glass or two of Abita (New Orleans' favorite local brew).

Friday Evening, May 30th

Starting at 5:30 PM, we gathered in our Hospitality Suite in the Hilton (a/k/a Bob & Nannie Sue's room) for cocktails and swapping old and new stories. As you can see, we had no shortage of adult beverages.

A very, VERY, VERY, VERY wet bar.

At 7 PM, we headed over to Arnaud's. Located steps off of Bourbon Street in the heart of the French Quarter, Arnaud's provided us with classic Creole Cuisine and exemplary service in a beautifully restored turn-of-the-century dining room. Since its inception in 1918, Arnaud's has remained true to its traditions and courtesies.

Once at the restaurant, we headed to our private room on the second floor for drinks on the room's balcony overlooking Bourbon Street.

After socializing on the balcony, we came inside for dinner.

Saturday Afternoon and Evening, May 31st

Early in the afternoon, most of us headed over to the National World War II Museum ... and none of us allowed enough time to see all the exhibits ... or to take much in the way of pictures. However, Air Force Academy grad Neil Crist and his wife Vicki did take an opportunity to flash back to the time period.

Early in the afternoon, most of us headed over to the National World War II Museum ... and none of us allowed enough time to see all the exhibits ... or to take much in the way of pictures. However, Air Force Academy grad Neil Crist and his wife Vicki did take an opportunity to flash back to the time period.

At 5 PM, we gathered at the "Solomon Victory Theater" to watch the multi-media experience "Beyond All Boundaries", narrated and produced by Tom Hanks exclusively for the museum.

After the film, we headed next door to the Stage Door Canteen for dinner with a menu created by Chef John Besh.

Dinner was followed by an hour-long musical-comedy show featuring music from the 1940's, headlined by an incredibly perky young blonde and supported by that award winning trio, "The Andrews Brothers". (Yes, "Brothers" is correct; that was part of the shtick of the show.) Of course, the highlight of show (if not the entire weekend) was when the young lady hand-picked Doug Neumann to join her and the "Brothers" on stage and become part of the show.

After the show, the bus that Bob had chartered took us back to the Hilton where we again invaded the Sindelar's suite to help relieve Bob of the chore of taking left-over beverages back to Baton Rouge.

Sunday Morning, June 1st

At 10:30 AM, we gathered at Mr. B's Bistro for Sunday Jazz Brunch and farewells.

This multitude of memories from New Orleans could not be complete with this classic picture of Joe Schluchter demonstrating his technique for eating a beignet at the world-famous Cafe du Monde.

Acknowledgements

Multitude of thanks to Bob and Nannie Sue Sindelar for all their efforts in hosting another spectacular Mini Reunion ... and for topping their extraordinary first Mini.

And last but not least, credit needs to be given all of those who provided the photos that were used to create this web page. They include Ken Calhoun, Steve Combs, John Davis, Bart Hotchkiss, Brad Laycock, Cheryl Ryan (maybe Mike, too), Joe Schluchter, and Bob Sindelar.

John Davis takes sole responsibility (blame?) for the selection and cropping of all images used on this page.

If seeing (or re-living) the events of NOLA II is not enough, here is the archive of the "NOLA I" Mini Reunion from October 2009.

Footnote: Prior to announcing the existence of this web page, Doug Neumann and a few others were asked to proof it. Doug's response: "I didn't see any typos, although I did see a few 'Type A's'!"