re: TulaneLSU's walk through America's best neighborhood

Of all the streets in the French Quarter, Royal Street is probably my favorite. Thanks to its three and four story canyon and porch overhangs, it gets more shade than other French Quarter streets. The buildings tunnel the wind and it becomes, even on a sweltering day, tolerable to the skin. What a pleasure to the ears, though, to hear fellow Delgado alumnus, Doreen Ketchens, in front of the Quarter Rouses.







The crowds were not nearly what they are in the Autumn or Spring, but the joy was no less great among her audience members. Where else in the world would you see a smile like this one, sitting on a curb when the temperature is 98 degrees with a dew point of 80?









Reborn Johnie Miller, now 66, still delights with his simple and timeless pose.





No trip to Royal Street is complete without a walk through of the newly renovated M.S. Rau, the greatest art and antique store in the South and one of the greatest in our nation. One of Rau’s best new acquisitions undoubtedly is Gustave Max Stevens “The Twelve Princesses,” which is based on the fairy tale by the Grimm brothers. While the picture may be stunning, you cannot truly understand its beauty except by being in person. As much as I would like to get this for our sitting room, I do not think Mother would be okay with its $4.5 million price. That is quite a few trips to for the 3:45 lunch at Golden Corral.



This enormous four foot wide bust of Churchill is a proof of Ivor Roberts Jones’ work that sits in London’s Parliament Square. I believe it is $400,000.



This two millions dollar chess set depicts the Battle of Issos, which signaled the end of the Persian Empire and the beginning of the League of Corinth as a world power. I asked the lovely blue eyed saleswoman if she could take the set from the case and play a game against me. She replied that unless I was interested in buying it she could not, a convenient excuse, as I suspect she knew how good of a chess player I am.



This beautiful Renaissance pendant depicts the sacrifice of Isaac, one of the great stories of the world which gets at the question, What is the chief end of man?



I made a quick run then to the always free Historic New Orleans Collection where a traveling exhibit from the Smithsonian on American democracy as well as women’s suffrage filled the second and third floors. As our democracy is being attacked from both sides, it serves as a timely reminder of the fragility and beauty of this great leap of faith.











At the end of the exhibit, there is a quiz similar to the one those trying to become naturalized citizens must take. They are mostly civics, geography, and history questions.



George Washington Cable: Mother says I remind her of him and I wish we had shared some blood, but she assures me that we do not. What a great man he was.



The great New York painter, Noel Rockmore, like many other artists, found his greatest inspiration in the French Quarter. He loved New Orleans and his works mythologized Preservation Hall. He also painted the first Jazz Fest Poster. At the end of his life, he lived in Kenner, and he tragically died alone at St. Jude Hospital in Kenner in 1995. One of my favorite works he did is his 1975 Homage to the French Quarter, which is in THNOC.



Another quick run through James Cohen’s Antiques, one of the most memorable stores a child will ever visit. This is better than any Toys R Us ever was. Inventory seemed a bit light on this recent trip.







From there the winds brought me to Decatur and then to Canal Place where I had a tie to retrieve at Sak’s. The parking deck there gives a lovely view of the Quarter, so I made my way there as well. It was so hot by then I decided, rather than walking, to take the red streetcar home.















It is time now, Mother says, that we leave for church. I hope all of you will find some communion and community in your lives today, in both church and in the world. We were made not to be alone but for communion with God and our neighbors. Find the places in life where those occur and dive heart deep into them.

Faith, Hope, and Love,
TulaneLSU