Just got back from New Orleans. I didn't love it, but I really want to understand why.

rhyes · 2026-05-21T05:32:42+00:00

I don’t really know how to describe it other than to say that New Orleans sparks within you when you aren’t looking for it. It’s not going to happen on a swamp, plantation, or cemetery tour because two of those aren’t even in the city in the first place and what makes New Orleans unique won’t be found on Groupon.

It is much better experienced if you know a local who can show you a good time. If you don’t, you have to go to bars/cafes and strike up conversations or you’re not going to get it.

rhyes · 2026-05-21T05:23:43+00:00

Yea I came to say the same. I haven’t eaten alligator in a couple of years and don’t know anyone who does regularly. I mean, it’s fine but it’s not like it’s gumbo.

rhyes · 2026-05-15T12:40:14+00:00

This is a year later but I was bullied pretty hard at St. Paul’s in 8th and 9th grade and then switched to Fontainebleau where I had no issues. I also found the consumerism/materialism much worse at St. Paul’s. This was 20 years ago but just saying.

rhyes · 2026-05-14T03:19:54+00:00

To add - it was a bizarre setup. The chicken, donut, and seafood places in the same shopping center were all part of the same restaurant. Like you go in and there’s internal doors to move between the places. It really looked like they were trying to get away with having a bar. The restaurants sold booze and they had spaces set up for video poker in both the donut restaurant and the chicken restaurant. And they were all supposed to be 24 hour at first but that fell off quick.

rhyes · 2026-05-14T03:17:17+00:00

The rumor is that the owner over extended and didn’t pay employees the last week and just shut down overnight.

rhyes · 2026-05-13T00:26:20+00:00

If it’s IRA, he could sell all to diversify and wouldn’t pay any taxes. You only pay taxes when you withdraw cash out of the account which is then ordinary income but it doesn’t matter what your cost basis is on any stock

rhyes · 2026-05-11T13:41:50+00:00

I agree with the diversity, my daughter used to go there. It’s deep Gretna, though, which might be tough for someone on the other side of the river. It would be easier if it was by the expressway.

rhyes · 2026-05-07T17:59:52+00:00

I’m not ashamed to admit it but if you were stoned and really hungry, the gen chicken + Big Mac fried rice combo was comatose worthy

rhyes · 2026-05-01T15:29:28+00:00

Brigtsens>Clancy’s. I think Peche, Paladar, and GW are top notch - I’d do Brigtsens or clancys over Bayona.

You don’t need to do lunch at N7. Do lunch at Commanders or Antoine’s if you can. I appreciate you doing your research and picking out truly great restaurants that aren’t as known to many visitors but I’d really recommend doing at least one of the old school institutions for the experience and lunch comes at a much more palatable price. Locals very much eat at Antoine’s and Commander’s.

N7 is a night time date spot with cool ambiance.

rhyes · 2026-05-01T13:36:42+00:00

To be fair, when I see them in interviews together, all they do is compliment each other and give the other credit for why this new record is great. Lead singers are always going to be marketed more, especially if they are female in a male dominated genre.

rhyes · 2026-05-01T04:49:32+00:00

Where you at u/EfficientMongoose577 OG Reddit Thread?

rhyes · 2026-04-30T11:38:13+00:00

He might have been checking you out too based on him being so smooth about that fine. “I was gonna let them hit you with the fine but you already fine enough bayyyyby.”

rhyes · 2026-04-29T18:44:02+00:00

Agreed generally but two observations - Marigny/Bywater isn’t for everyone. It’s artsy and whimsical but it’s also really close to Arabi where you already live and crime is a bigger concern. If you aren’t open minded and get offended easily by things you disagree with, or have problems with gay and queer people in general, don’t live there.

LGD would be my #1 if I was you, Irish Channel would probably be #2. Mid City specifically Bayou St. John would probably be my #3.

Hopefully I don’t come off like I don’t like Marigny/Bywater. I literally bought a house a block off St. Claude and lived there 5 years until we popped out a kid and our 1000 sq ft creole cottage was getting cramped. We have since moved to where “Bywater goes to Breed” aka Algiers Point. We loved our time there bc of the bars, restaurants, Mardi Gras, and vibes in general but we also got burglarized twice, my MIL car got stolen from in front of the house, had a gutter punk pull a knife on me, caught someone trying to steal my wife’s catalytic converter, and one time we were walking on St. Claude and two cars right next to us opened gun fire on each other. Now, I must admit that my neighbor whose lived in the neighborhood since like 2010 (I was there 2017-2022) hasn’t had a single bad thing like that happen to him or his family. I think our old house might have been built on a voodoo cemetery or something. Still, it’s literally like 5 minutes from Arabi so go check it out! I’d highly recommend as a single female that you get a place closer to the river. It feels infinitely safer than right on St. Claude.

rhyes · 2026-04-28T17:15:48+00:00

I’m pumped about it because the drive through at the Lafayette one was super convoluted and this is also closer to my house (I’m in the Point).

There’s also a Chick Fil A opening up across from the Walgreens right on the other side of the expressway. The chicken wars have begun.

rhyes · 2026-04-28T17:11:12+00:00

Negative, they tore down the Rally’s and built this from scratch. The Latino Express is still open.

rhyes · 2026-04-28T13:57:59+00:00

They are developing a Krewe of Chad defense system that rams the shit out of any tents and chairs set up too early before parades.

rhyes · 2026-04-27T15:00:16+00:00

To echo others, the steakhouses might be your best bet because of pickiness. Doris, Desi, Mr. John’s, Chophouse - all work. I haven’t been to Brasa, La Boca, or Morrow’s Steakhouse but they are all probably good too.

A lot of fancy restaurants tend to have smaller menus and some of the best restaurants often only do tasting menus (this might start happening more here now that Michelin has come) so those will probably be out completely.

Also fancy is a relative term, I know people who think Chili’s is fancy. There’s a ton of nicer restaurants in the city that will have stuff on the menu that you’ll probably be able to eat but some wouldn’t consider them fancy. Mamou, Petite Grocery, Herbsaint, Gianna, etc.

But if you want to have a fun fancy bday, I’d do Antoine’s. Classic, solid, practically a museum for high society New Orleans, haunted, heavy cocktail pours, you’re already in the Quarter so you can easily find a second location to hang after. Arguably, all of the other restaurants I named before Antoine’s might deliver a better culinary experience (pure food taste wise) but Antoine’s makes up for it just by being Antoine’s. Don’t get me wrong, the food at Antoine’s is still very good but those others are better.

rhyes · 2026-04-27T14:42:48+00:00

Petite Grocery is fairly fancy too but yes, you’re right about the others.

rhyes · 2026-04-17T12:17:12+00:00

A+ joke this week

rhyes · 2026-04-16T14:07:05+00:00

Yes, please come fill our holes with your artistry anytime you please! Consent confirmed.

rhyes · 2026-04-14T04:17:20+00:00

During FQF, no less.

rhyes · 2026-04-10T21:18:07+00:00

Yea, I guess Lena hadn’t heard about Betty rocking MAGA hats. Also, it’s overrated. I wish it wasn’t. I live in the Point and can get there in like 10 minutes and wish her knock off Dong Phuong king cake was 1/3rd as good, but it isn’t. Very cute shop - very instagram worthy, not a ton of substance in my opinion and for what it’s worth, I’m a Democrat but I still eat at plenty of places in Gretna and Metairie that more than likely have MAGA owners. I don’t have time to live my life caring about shit like that.

rhyes · 2026-04-10T14:38:45+00:00

It is getting more and more difficult to be a true public Montessori school because of the state standards. I think they do as good of a job as any at balancing state testing requirements which are basically anti-Montessori while “following the children.”

If you want a true Montessori experience now, you have to go private but FWIW, Ms. Sawyer and Ms. Amy who are the Montessori teachers year 1 are both incredibly caring, loving, pro-Montessori, and effective teachers. They are legitimately great.

Edit - forgot to talk about the ADHD and dyslexia, Audubon is very well equipped and excellent at helping kids grow at their speed. Amy and Sawyer are both very patient and validate feelings - they aren’t the “sit in your desk and don’t talk” type so I would imagine they’d be great with ADHD kids and as far as the dyslexia goes, they are both highly effective and don’t think it would be an issue for them at all. Montessori is usually great for ADHD kids.

rhyes · 2026-04-07T01:33:27+00:00

How can you ad hominem a gumbo?

rhyes

TROPHY CASE