Fifth in the series of diary entries by writer/historian Frank Perez, this day finds him in his French Quarter home, dreaming of Paris. 
​
- by Frank Perez

New and newly-noticed homeless people spark memories of desperation and generosity in a former French Quarter street musician.  
 

- by Ellis Anderson

Fourth in the series of daily diary entries by French Quarter writer/historian Frank Perez, this piece covers unfortunate hair-cuts, making groceries, and graffiti scrubbing. 
​
- by Frank Perez

Mourning John Prine in France, where our managing editor's extended stay turned into an indefinite lock-down.  

- by Rheta Grimsley Johnson

A photo album:  The city's four Easter parades may have been cancelled, but that didn't stop Margarita Bergen and other New Orleanians from celebrating with style.  

If we can't have an Easter parade, let's pop on a bonnet, pour a mimosa (or two) and toast the four krewes who made the 2019 holiday one to remember.

- photos by Ellis Anderson 

While socialite Margarita Bergen is holding a Clorox bottle these days instead of a champagne glass, she's keeping spirits up by dressing up for Easter and quoting Martha Washington.
​

To reach people without internet access, the New Orleans Musicians Clinic and Assistance Foundation has created a series on 18 no-nonsense - and printable -  fact sheets about COVID-19.

- by Kirsten Reneau

Few have ever seen the French Quarter except through a thick and ever-present veil of tourists.  Now they've all gone home, who remains?  We caught these street snaps during the week of March 29 - April 4, 2020, on the third week of the COVID shut-downs,

- by Ellis Anderson

Note: These photos were all taken before the CDC began recommending masks in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies). 

​A short video: Toward the end of our Sunday evening dog walk, the sound of a clarinet pulled us off our usual route and up to the 800 block of Royal Street. Noted musician Tim Laughlin was playing on his balcony. As I watched, four other residents of the building came out and stood on the street to listen to their neighbor (they're out of the frame on the right, standing well apart from each other). Laughlin teases them at the end - "It's the first time I've ever emptied a building!" Feeling fortunate to have captured the moment. 

When social distancing has become the social norm, how does a first date even work?

- by Layth Sihan 
- photos by Ellis Anderson

You can hear Layth read the piece:  

​A short video:  The final dog walk of the day is very short now, just to the fire hydrant and back. We should be used to the quiet by now, but marvel anew every night. The dogs are very confused by the fact that we stand in the middle of the intersection, simply because we can.

Third in the series of daily diary entries by French Quarter writer/historian Frank Perez, this piece considers the comforts of the ordinary.  

- by Frank Perez

​A short video: We can't usually pinpoint the day each year when the Chimney Swifts return from wintering in South America. One day, we'll just began noticing them soaring overhead. In the new, quieter Quarter, their squeaky-wheel hunting song sailed in through the open doors to the balcony at twilight on April 1st. We ran out to welcome them home. They fly so fast and high, there's not really much to see on this vid, but at least you can hear them.