Pardon my French, but a lot of tour guides in New Orleans are full of shit. Those guides have never taken my Professional Tour Guiding classes. If you’ve ever spent any time walking the French Quarter or sitting outside a bar there, you already know. I hear it all the time when I’m sitting on my balcony. It never ceases to amaze me to learn of all the … [Read more...] about In New Orleans, Truth is Stranger Than Fiction
Women’s History Month: Lesbians and Misogyny
In Louisiana in the 1970s, a number of organizations advocated on behalf of women’s issues. Not the least of these were the Baton Rouge and New Orleans chapters of the National Organization for Women (NOW) and the Louisiana Women’s Political Caucus (LWPC). In New Orleans, many feminist activists were lesbians, which was not necessarily the case in other parts of the … [Read more...] about Women’s History Month: Lesbians and Misogyny
Matassa’s Close Call
The announcement on January 12 that Matassa’s would be closing sent a shock wave through the French Quarter. The place had been around for nearly 100 years, after all. For a century, Matassa’s was an anchor in the lives of French Quarter residents, serving the two fundamental needs of Quarter Rats: cheap booze and food (usually in that order). But more than that, Matassa’s had … [Read more...] about Matassa’s Close Call
Does Mayor Cantrell Hate the French Quarter?
For the last year and half, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell managed to rouse the ire of French Quarter residents and business owners. Her proposal to pedestrianize the neighborhood sparked immediate protests and her handling of the pandemic, while generally praised, has not been without its critics. Detractors point to inconsistencies in COVID regulations and an utter lack of … [Read more...] about Does Mayor Cantrell Hate the French Quarter?
Book Review: New Orleans Vampires: History and Legend
New Orleans Vampires: History and Legend. Marita Woywod Crandle. Haunted America/ History Press, 2018 (2nd ed.). 112 pages. $21.99. New Orleans has a reputation as a home for creatures of the night. Popular books, movies and television shows have cemented the city’s connection to vampires in the public’s imagination. In New Orleans Vampires: History and Legend, Marita Woywod … [Read more...] about Book Review: New Orleans Vampires: History and Legend
Book Review: Flower of Iowa
Flower of Iowa. Lance Ringel. Distant Mirror Press, 2020. 578 pages. $36.00. Lance Ringel’s Flower of Iowa is an expansive novel that is sure to please lovers of historical fiction. The novel is set against the turbulent backdrop of France during the final months of World War I. The setting, the writing, and the story are reminiscent of Hemmingway’s A Farewell to Arms, but … [Read more...] about Book Review: Flower of Iowa
26 Years at Oz: An Interview with Tim Pflueger
Tim Pflueger recently marked 26 years in the VJ booth at Oz New Orleans—quite an accomplishment in an industry where the average bar employee’s tenure is two years or less. I recently had a chance to interview Pflueger about his career, how the gay bar scene has changed, and the devastating effects of the pandemic. FP: Tell us a little about yourself. How did you end … [Read more...] about 26 Years at Oz: An Interview with Tim Pflueger
The Gay Carnival That Wasn’t
Months ago, New Orleans city officials announced that the 2021 Carnival Season would be different. They weren’t kidding. By the time Twelfth Night arrived, the community had adjusted to the fact there would be no parades this year. Yet many were saddened by the absence of so many traditional features that herald the arrival of Carnival—King Cake parties, Joan of Arc riding … [Read more...] about The Gay Carnival That Wasn’t
Book Review and Interview: The Axe Woman of Bourbon Street
The Axe Woman of Bourbon Street. Jane Delacour. Gonzo Publications, 2020. In a fascinating new book, local historian Jane Delacour recalls the glory days of Bourbon Street and recounts the story of one the street’s legendary performers, Kitty West, also known as Evangeline the Oyster Girl. Along the way, Delacour provides not only some amazing insights into Bourbon Street’s … [Read more...] about Book Review and Interview: The Axe Woman of Bourbon Street
2020 Hindsight
We can all breath a collective sigh of relief that 2020 is in the rear-view mirror. And while we’re not out of the woods yet, the new year does offer hope. 2020 was a year I think most people want to forget; nevertheless, I can’t help but reflect on that annus horribilis at least one last time. Personally, the year began on a great note—my Twelfth Night Party was … [Read more...] about 2020 Hindsight
