That's the only way I can describe how I feel about NOLA, every time I return I am head over heels for the city.
Over St. Patty's Day weekend I had the opportunity to make a quick trip down to New Orleans to visit my little sister and catch some cabbage.
Here's some of my favorite things from the trip:
Loyola University New Orleans
My alma mater, an amazing Jesuit institution on St. Charles, right next door to Tulane and across from Audubon Park.
The Daiquiri Shop
Many, many memories I have of this little shop at the corner of St. Charles & Carrollton. Parking is tough, but it's essential for a warm evening and prepping for parties!
ACME Oyster House
I had never been here until this trip (I guess that shows how UN-tourist I am) - good, but you can get Louisiana oysters anywhere & everywhere. A dozen on the half shell with 2-3 Abita Strawberries, and this one one happy girl! Jacquie had a fried po-boy and cup of gumbo combo which looked delicious!
Cafe Du Monde
Yes, it's mandatory. I can't begin to explain how delicious the beignets are, always hot & always amazing. This time I opted for the hot cafe au lait (usually go for the iced), and I have to say it was better hot. YUM. Restraint is key here.
Magazine Street
Dirty Coast - great tees, you can see them on "Treme" once in a while - collectable for sure.
http://dirtycoast.com/home.php
The Creole Creamery
Fun addition to the Prytania shops, this ice cream parlor was delicious!
WOW, I can't remember what flavor I had, but check out their site.
http://www.creolecreamery.com/
Prytania Theatre
Fun theatre with loads of history - the only single screen theatre in Louisiana and the OLDEST operating theatre in New Orleans.
Jacquie & I lucked out with "Alice in Wonderland 3D" - fun!
http://www.theprytania.com/
Rue de la Course
Coffee here is a must - two locations, one on Magazine & one on Carollton, both draw college students & locals for their amazing iced au lait.
To sum up my adoration, Ken Ringle of the Washington Post summed it up best after Katrina with his commentary "Star Crossed Times for the Crescent City".
For those of us lucky enough to have come of age in New Orleans -- even more than for the tourist who falls for her instantly -- the decadent majesty of the city is like a forbidden love. You want desperately to explain the depths of your enchantment, but you know in your heart that others will acknowledge it merely as an easy infatuation or a passing fling. You know they will never awaken at night drunk on the coffee-and-banana fragrance of her docks or the beery sweat of her pre-dawn streets or the humid hum of her streetcar summers. How could they ever understand the depth of your passion?
How could they understand your love for a city in which life itself is an art form and the poorest, least privileged inhabitant a knowledgeable artist?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/30/AR2005083001809.html
