New Orleans

  • Stella Restaurant in the Quarter

    Stella is arguably the best restaurant in New Orleans (and that’s saying something!). Stella is fancy and super fabulous with that attention to detail that takes it a step ahead of all others. Peanut allergy? They’ll note it in their computer so every time you reserve a table, they know what you can’t eat! The sommelier, John, is the best we’ve ever had. So affable, knowledgeable, and lovely–it’s worth it to go just to meet him. Stella is on Chartres…

  • Trashy Diva!

    Trashy Diva This store could have been named for the ultimate trashy diva–me! Incredible retro designs in gorgeous fabrics cut for today’s bodies—I have an entire collection of stunning dresses, skirts, silk slips, velvet coats, shoes, jewels…you get the picture. Love the ultra sparkly brooches and necklaces, and most glamorous vintage purses!! And of course stunning flowers for your hair! They always play glamorous old music for your shopping pleasure and to get you in the mood for their vintage…

  • Fleur De Paris

    The storefront window alone is worth the trip, with its carousel horse,  glamorous, sparkling clothing, evening gloves, 1920’s style speakeasy coats trimmed in chinchilla (I’ll only buy faux!), but their main claim to fame?One-of-a-kind Hats!Fleur De Paris has the most incredible array of hats—from 1920’s diamond flapper hats to English riding hats to Kentucky Derby stunners. If you are a high roller and in the mood to buy something stunning and frivolous, this is the place for you! If you’re…

  • Fifi Mahoney’s

    Fifi Mahoney’s! A showgirl’s dream on Royal Street in the French Quarter, Fifi Mahoney’s is beyond fabulous! When I was a showgirl in Los Angeles, I had to get my wigs and makeup at skanky smelly dives on Hollywood Boulevard. I thought I had stepped into Showgirl Heaven when I entered Fifi’s. A red velvet couch shaped like lips, three rooms full of anything a showgirl could desire! A front room full of fabulous makeup, sparkly jewels and hairbands with…

  • Stella!!

    Cathy and I took Henry and Annabelle to the French Quarter today to watch the climax of the Tennessee Williams Literary Festival; the Stella shouting contest. Today was the perfect day–no humidity, no extreme heat–crisp air, a brilliantly sunny day–no clouds, blue sky–incredible day in NOLA. We looked at the street artists–we liked the mermaids–and had beignets at Cafe Du Monde. We climbed and played and got balloon animals and the kids had their faces painted. Henry was a wolf…

  • Fairies, Pippi Longstocking, and Tennessee Williams

    What a day! I went to the French Quarter this morning for a Master Class on writing at the Tennessee Williams Literary Festival and as I was walking down Bourbon Street at 9am, I was so overwhelmed. There is something about the Quarter–it’s iconic for me. And it’s not just that I’m looking around and seeing the same buildings people saw 300 years ago; it teems with culture, and there’s an authenticity and beauty there that is incomparable. Walking into…

  • New Orleans Easter

    We had the BEST Easter!! No church for us–we went to the Easter parade in the French Quarter led by an 80-year-old Bourbon Street Stripper! It was a whole lot more fun than church, and more representative of the beginning of Spring–beauty, fertility, life, fun, babies, treasures, joy…  Let’s back up a bit. The weather has been so perfectly gorgeous that we ran very late yesterday and our egg dying turned into a bit of a frenzy. That didn’t stop George…