In April, my husband and I embarked on a much-needed vacation to New Orleans with friends, because who wouldn’t want to add the “relaxation” of questionable decisions to their résumé? The last time I visited this vibrant city was in July 1996, enjoying the Essence Festival before it was stylish to complain about the heat in July. I adored the city back then with its arts, jazz, and plethora of beignets, and guess what? My love has only grown, probably because I now understand that “hurricane season” is more than just a theme for a wild party! Our first night, we dined at Drago’s Restaurant at the Hilton on Riverside, where the Original Charbroiled Oysters were so good they ought to come with a warning label. A dozen of these little ocean delights will cost you $30, but trust me, the flavor explosion is worth every penny—you might just want to save room for the “oyster coma” that follows! dragosrestaurant.com The next day, we decided to channel our inner art critics and hit up several shops. Our first pit stop was the Crescent City Nola Creations Art Gallery at the Riverwalk Outlet Mall, which I swear was designed for people with a talent for finding hidden gems and confusing modern art. My passion for art practically dragged me inside, where the owner, Vernon Cook, serenaded us like we were the audience at a one-man Broadway show. Naturally, I couldn’t resist and ended up buying some art pieces to add to my collection—because nothing says “cultured individual” quite like an art piece that could also double as a conversation starter… or a conversation ender! Our next stop was the spooky Mask Factory on Decatur Street, where I indulge my obsession with masks from around the globe—because what’s more fun than scaring the neighbors? I totally spaced on snapping pics of the truly terrifying masks that called this place home, but I couldn’t resist snagging one for my collection anyway, much to my husband’s dismay as he rolled his eyes like they were an Olympic sport. The mask I picked wasn’t all that creepy—more like a beauty queen in disguise. Don’t believe me? Check it out for yourself at https://mask-factory-com-place! The last stop on my culinary tour was Cafe Du Monde in the French Quarter—aka the happiest coffee shop on Earth. From the second you step in, you’re greeted by an avalanche of coffee aroma mixed with the sweet scent of beignets, a combo so delightful it almost makes you forget your daily responsibilities. Seriously, this place looks like a winter wonderland, but instead of snow, it’s powdered sugar raining down from those delicious beignets like confetti at a parade. These tasty morsels were so reasonably priced, I practically ran out with a bag like I was winning the lottery—who needs a bank when you’ve got beignets? shop.cafedumonde.com Later in the evening, we stumbled upon The Maison, a gem on Frenchman Street that claims to be the Mecca of jazz, funk, and whatever else they felt like playing that night—free of charge, of course! We ordered some wine that was so bad it could have been a comedy act on its own and settled in for the jazz. Despite feeling like we might have accidentally joined a laughter therapy session every time we took a sip, it turned out to be a delightful experience—who knew bad wine could make live music even funnier? Now, that’s all for now! But next month, my husband and I are off to Portugal—where hopefully the only thing we’ll be losing is our sense of direction! So buckle up and stay tuned for our next shenanigans. Thanks for reading!
