The world is a stage. Or your oyster. Or both.

Upon recommendation from Rhoda the concierge we tried a pair of new spots across from our Julia Street hotel: Happy hour at Rebirth. We sang and danced and swapped lies with bartender Claire and all-round-everything-but-most-importantly-oyster-shucker Manny. Laissez les bontemps rouler!

Dinner at Galliano. Alligator creole. BBQ pork belly. Fried green tomatoes with lump crab meat. Server recommended the pork chop laPlace. We hailed a wheelbarrow to roll us home.

Next morning beignets at Cafe du Monde. Oysters at Acme because we can.

Hop the streetcar to the Garden District. Lunch at Camellia Grill.

Head back to the warehouse district and walk past an old friend who I stopped to visit.