I was lucky enough to take an impromptu trip down, this summer with friends and some of our kids. The city feeds my soul! I’m always looking for a way to get back to New Orleans. I set the novel I’m trying to finish in the Crescent City. so I can still “travel” there, mentally while I’m in the story! Actually traveling there is much more fun! A few days back in the city was enough to re-energize, enjoy a frozen daiquiri or three and to get the creative juices flowing! It was a nostalgic trip down memory lane while reaffirming that it isn’t the place we want to live at this moment. (Especially in July!)

Also known as “The City that Care Forgot.” New Orleans is as much a city full of poverty, crime and decomposition as it is mansions, parades and rebirth. It’s a city that can be both thrilling and terrifying, haunting and humorous, cultured and crass. I talked about some of that decomposition in my last post. As entertaining as a stroll through the French Quarter is, I couldn’t argue with my young friend who complained “this street stinks!” (The complex aroma of sweat, pot, urine, incense, body odor, cigarettes mixed with seafood cooking smacks you in the nose on a soggy July day!)

Many years ago, a local friend remarked, “New Orleans is a small town that thinks it is a big city.” You can easily turn a corner and run into someone you know–or at least someone who knows someone you know! (Southern hospitality is real, too! I’d asked if I could stay with her one of the nights during my visit. She immediately said yes but that they had a fundraiser/gala to attend that night so I should come along! I ended up at a lovely cocktail reception with my friends, enjoyed meeting more of their friends while we spied several well-known individuals, including the then-mayor of New Orleans! Walking back to the car after the party, we ran into a friend of hers who asked about the family; we ran into another two blocks later!) During my most recent visit, as the teens in our group flipped through vintage vinyl albums in The Louisiana Music Factory, I struck up a conversation with a man behind the counter. I mentioned that I’ve long since parted with the vinyl records I used to own as well as cassettes I listened to when I lived in New Orleans; he mentioned it’s a shame as those albums are hard to find and worth quite a bit! We quickly discovered we shared an alma mater, though we both attended Loyola University in different decades.

The historic mansions in the Garden District and grandiose mansions lining St. Charles still stand, as do the ancient live oaks in Audubon Park. Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 is closed to the public. The Rink looks different than I remember. I recall sipping coffee and writing with a view of the cemetery but the bookstore is there, along with boutiques and a larger coffee shop. Neither the Chopin nor Scheinuk florist shops remain on St. Charles Avenue. Several homes I remember as looking decrepit years ago have been beautifully renovated! It has always been a city were decay abuts growth; you can find something shiny and new adjacent to brokenness and disrepair. In the early 90’s, I’d often walk from my apartment to Loyola and pass exquisite homes beside deteriorating buildings. A couple of years later, one of those buildings was beautifully transformed into luxury apartments. (I was able to see the gorgeous interior after one of my bosses at the time moved in!) There have been obvious changes every time I’ve been back but I took special note of many uptown, this visit as I tried to show friends places I’d lived in the area.

We were only there for a few days, not enough time to visit enough of the amazing restaurants but I did enjoy some new places ! On our last evening in town, we were in Audubon Park and in the mood for Italian. Vincent’s Italian was close and had good reviews, so off we went! The place felt familiar but I was sure I hadn’t been there. (I had–when it was Compagno’s!) I was thrilled to see soft shell crab on the menu! I always hope for soft shell crab when I visit but am often disappointed. That meal made my visit complete and I can’t wait to go back, again!

New Orleans is no longer home but I miss it, each night and day!