Feb 11, 201912 min read

If You’re From Baton Rouge—Quarter Stories 15

STORY: Stories about my adventures bartending in New Orleans in the late ’70s and early ’80s. To read them all, click #quarterstories....

Nov 9, 20183 min read

Bartending is a Dance – Quarter Stories 10

STORY: At Lafitte’s Bar in the French Quarter of New Orleans, the bar was made of thick old bayou cypress planks polished by thousands of...

Oct 8, 201811 min read

Peacocks – Quarter Stories 9

STORY: 1979 - The crowds were still in full force around the stage for the Bourbon Street Awards and the only space available was under...

Jun 20, 20185 min read

The Torch – Quarter Stories 14

STORY: 1982—Max was at work at the point station, his head down deep into the jockey box scooping up ice in the cups taking orders three...

Jun 9, 20184 min read

The Lavender Line – Quarter Stories 11

STORY: Sunday was my favorite day to go out. Friday and Saturday shifts were over. I could go out on my own down to the Quarter and hang...

Jun 9, 20185 min read

Cajun Sweat (Louis Pt. 2 )- Quarter Stories 13

STORY: Louis had vanished. I looked for him, but he kept out of the bars, strange hours, whatever jobs he picked up. Saw Jeff again, who...

May 11, 20184 min read

Louis the Cajun – Quarter Stories 12

STORY: 1981—Cajuns have a way about them, the way they move as men, the heavy beards, beefy bodies, thick hair all over em. Sexy as...

May 7, 20186 min read

Bourbon Street Exulting – Quarter Stories 8

STORY: 1979: A thunderclap woke me up and then loud voices. I hadn’t gotten much sleep but wasn’t hungover. I felt a buzz all around me,...

May 6, 20187 min read

Jewel’s and the Shah – Quarter Stories 7

STORY: 1979–Dinner at 1132 Bourbon Street at the dining room table was a daunting experience with all these handsome men, at least 10 to...

May 5, 20186 min read

Ghosts and Lovers – Quarter Stories 6

1979 – “The rules of this house during Mardi Gras are” as George South proceeded to tell all of us hung-over guys at about 11am on...

May 4, 20184 min read

Mardi Gras Mambo – Quarter Stories 5

1979: Getting to work at Café Lafitte on the second night of Mari Gras was tough, even though 1132 Bourbon Street was only a couple of...

May 3, 20187 min read

Bartender Debut – Quarter Stories 4

STORY: Mardi Gras, 1979: Clyde, Al and I began walking up to Lafitte’s. Clyde started talking about Louie Hartfield and his lover Steve,...

May 2, 20185 min read

Arrival – Quarter Stories 3

1978: Safely landed at New Orleans Airport, Al and I jumped into an airport van and headed straight to the French Quarter. As the van...

May 1, 20186 min read

Heading to New Orleans – Quarter Stories 2

1978: The stewardess gently told us to fasten our seatbelts, we were now descending into New Orleans. I thought it was part of a dream. I...

Apr 29, 20183 min read

Introduction–Quarter Stories 1

STORY: (Late 1970s-1980s): In New Orleans, Bourbon Street runs for thirteen narrow blocks, roughly north to south, a straight line,...