Last year, I decided it would be fun to create boards for Jazz Fest Bingo. It turned out to be great fun, so it’s back for another year! I’m hoping to keep this tradition up and grow it over time. This year, it will just be huz and me playing again, and I’m going to see if I can get Momma to play along as well for the day she’ll be in Nola with us.
This year, I’ve added more items so each board is not only in different orders but also, not every board will have every item. I also came up with a few simple rules, to ensure fairness and clarity.
- Other than food or drink, you cannot simply purchase an item in order to mark it.
- “Wild” means you are seeing something in the wilds of Nola, not in a store. So, no, walking into Dirty Coast to see a Jolly Louis shirt (if they’re even currently in stock) doesn’t count. Has to be on the streets or in the Fest.
- Hearing particular songs or bands means live, not turning on an iPod, phone, etc.
- Items can be either in the city or in the festival grounds, unless otherwise specified.
- Boards can be adjusted for seafood allergies and sobriety.
If this does grow over the years with my friends and family, I may have to find a randomizer just to make it easier. The last two years, I’ve personally arranged each square. Beignets work as the “free space” because who wouldn’t eat beignets during Jazz Fest? But you do still have to get them! My recommendation is always Cafe Beignet over Cafe du Monde but don’t tell all the tourists that. Even better, Morning Call, but it looks like they’ve closed up shop. I’ve heard rumors of a food truck following the close of the City Park location, but only time will tell. Unless the owners of Morning Call are reading this, in which case they’d know better.
I still haven’t come up with an appropriate prize yet and I’ve considered creating a multi-year plaque to list the winners once I start having more than 2 or 3 folk playing. I won last year and treated myself to a gorgeous photo print by local photographer, David Joshua Jennings. I’d like to come up with something more consistent though. I invested in some cute fleur de lis stickers this year as board markers though, so it’s progressing in style.
If you happen to be attending New Orleans Jazz Fest for the second weekend this year and want to play along, let me know!