Time Travel
In New Orleans clocks don’t seem necessary – at all hours there is something fun to do, something delicious to eat, or some new friend to meet. At secret house parties, epicurean denizens, tucked-away jazz halls, and hidden streets, I’ve found treasures here any time of day or night.
But now, with the re-opening of the elegant and historic Roosevelt Hotel (a Waldorf Astoria property), and its incredible lobby centerpiece, I have a new interest in time when I travel to my favorite southern city. Made by famed French time-master E. Farcot, and sculpted by Albert Earnest Carrier de Belleuse, this onyx, marble and bronze masterpiece began telling time at the 1867 Paris Exhibition. The celestial elegance matches the grandeur of this hotel-come-palace, and it sure made my heart skip a beat.
The clock does more than tell the hour – it also brings together the community twice a month for it’s maintenance “winding.” Manager Mark Wilson brings local heroes to do the job, and I was so lucky as to chance upon one such event. And it was no ordinary guy winding the clock – it was none other than Saint’s owners Mr. and Mrs. Benson.
Although I was in the midst of a sporting melt down, watching my Phillies loose to those Yanks just days before, I was quickly healed by the ever-present adoration for this football team in New Orleans. And it was easy to get caught up in the team spirit. The mustard and gold colored lobby was filled with fans, who knew where to be when Mr. Benson was coming to wind.
Check the hotel’s website for their next clock winding, or come to Teddy’s Cafe, where fine herbal tea, delish pastries, and comfy seats make a great spot to hang out or go online with free wireless, just beside this incredible clock.
If you do need to be on time in New Orleans, a truly timeless city, this is where to go to check it.
Info:
The Roosevelt New Orleans
123 Baronne Street, 504.648.1200
Tags: Explore, New Orleans
