New Gay Orleans

The week after New Year’s I traveled to New Orleans for the first time in years. I have to admit Solange’s wedding photos probably sparked the urge to check out what has been cooking down there. The Big Easy always seems its best after a big holiday when everyone is relaxed or more appropriately, recovering. I had come out in the French Quarter during the early Nineties; where a closeted 19 year old college kid could walk into a bar, order a drink, and basically observe this new strange world he was walking into. Throughout my twenties, it was the perfect growing up city, as I began checking out the parks, museums and developing a fondness for slow dining. Post Katrina returns were more frequent to watch the developments and keep an eye on what would become of a place that feels like a second home. So not quite and expert but definitely an observer; New Orleans has always captured my heart. Now having spent a few years away, I was anxious to see what kind of vibe the city was delivering. It wasn’t quite what I expected in that there was a laid back appeal but a tangible buzz of new people and new ideas.