Dear Friends,

New Orleans is undoubtedly the greatest city in America. I’ve either lived or visited multiple times other cities like Washington DC, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Houston, Dallas, Miami, Dayton, and Philadelphia. None of them comes close to the charm and passion New Orleans produces. Ten minutes in New Orleans will produce and ferment more ideas than ten years in these other cities. It is my muse, my love, my city. God is the raison de'etre; New Orleans is the cite’ de’etre.

As I continue to plan my tours for TulaneLSU’s Poorboy Tours of New Orleans, I had the opportunity to visit several poorboy stops in the French Quarter this weekend. Which poorboy shops will make my list is still a matter of discussion. A few have continued calling their sandwiches po-boys and until they change their names, I have told them I cannot do business with you.

This walk gave me ample opportunity to be inspired. I wanted to share with you ten things that caught my attention and interested me during my journey. Perhaps you too will one day share with us ten things you noticed while walking in your hometown or, I hope, in New Orleans. Keep tabs and records of your life. Don’t let life parade away. It happens too quickly. And it’s gone. Listen and watch. Be inspired. Then inspire. Make something.

10. Society of the War of 1812 wreaths

I don’t think Americans appreciate just how significant Jackson’s victory at Chalmette over the British is. If the Brits had taken New Orleans that week, we might all be speaking English and paying taxes to a royal family of do-nothings who spends their time golfing and writing books.

I appreciate that the Society of the War of 1812 still has public displays which commemorate the Republic’s triumph over Empire. It serves as a reminder to Americans never to become empire, for we are founded and meant to be a republic.

9. Mario Suazo working at the Napoleon House

I am categorically opposed to alcohol. A strict teetotaler and a prohibitionist, I champion temperance everywhere. I have tried to persuade Mr. Suazo to start serving all cocktails without the liquor. So far he has refused. One day, though, he will relent. Still, I love seeing him work. He moves with such elan and purpose. He is a true fixture of New Orleans. I pray every day his health stays.

8. Litter

In New Orleans, even the litter tells a great story. And is quite beautiful. I could have spent the whole day watching the light catch this detritus at different angles.

7. NOFD responds to “collapsed building” on Toulouse

To listen to the OT journalists is to hear reports of New Orleans’ demise greatly exaggerated. There are the typical bumpkins, jealous that they have to live in squalor and cultural nothingness elsewhere in the state. I would probably also delude myself into believing New Orleans is failing if I had to live in a place like Baton Rouge or Shreveport. There are others in other parts of the country who have left New Orleans. They know deep down that they miss it, but they have to repress those feelings, and they do so by attacking the city.

When Saturday started and a report of a French Quarter building collapsed hit the OT, the best and dimmest of the anti-New Orleans brigade were out in full force. They used this non-story as another example of New Orleans’ failure. In reality, perhaps 25 bricks had fallen from a parapet. Although the street was temporarily blocked, it was really a non-story.

Thank you for your service, LSUcajun77, and for the many NOFD members who risk their lives daily and keep our streets safe. If it’s true starting salary is just $30,000, we need to write our councilmembers to increase their salaries.

6. The unclothing of The Roosevelt’s Christmas decorations

All good things come to an end. One of the saddest days of the year is the day the Christmas lights come down at The Roosevelt. I wish they would wait until January 6, the appropriate date for changing from Christmas. It happens so quickly. What took weeks to install takes but a few hours to remove. A reminder to all that to build and create is time and energy intensive. To destroy and remove is the work of boors, bounders, and cads.

I know it's not technically part of the French Quarter. I apologize if this bothers you and spoils the list.

5. Jackson Square artist painting

Most of the people in Jackson Square are not artists. They sell junk that I wouldn’t even call craft. There are others involved in witchcraft and other unsavory works of evil. We all know what Paul warned the Christians in the Anatolian city of Galatia about this:

The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

This fellow here, however, is an artist and was doing something very few others in Jackson Square were: making something beautiful and bringing good to the world. His style was American impressionism, and had I place for his painting, I would have purchased one.

This post was edited on 1/7/20 at 6:40 am