Mr. Lake's New Orleans Forum

My auntees, Nanny, DeeDee and Jean, were there in the mid to late thirties.

I just about followed you. I tried to get some PJs beans here in Metry but as usual they were out. After hitting two banks( no hold ups just drive up lines) I went down Causeway heading to Oak St to look for some rugs . That hook is making progress but it sure is slow. The turn looks as wicked as it used to be. Then down River Road to that rug store. Oak St is in deplorable shape. The road is horrible, the street narrow and businesses look like they are holding on by a thread. Then I decided to try PJs on Maple. As usual they were out (deja vu all over again. I call this New Orleans merchandising- keep the shelves bare, never order too much now) Some of the back streets are resurfaced but most are abysmal. Houses look like no one ever takes care of them.( The house I called the Munster's house was near the riverbend and one block over St Charles on the lake side. It belonged to a high school teacher of mine and we swore there was always lightning cracking over it. This place was overgrown and dismal back in the 70s. Some friends later moved into the house that was back to back with it on the Avenue and it was still in bad shape then.) Then I came home, utterly depressed from the the sights of the city after passing the corner of Palmetto and Carrolton. With so many stores knocked down, it looks bombed out. The streets look bombed, too. I was wondering what one word description most people on this board would give to NOLA. I'm sure it would be more flattering than mine.

All I see is DECAY.

Oak Street sucks! The potholes are impossible, the sheeple blocking traffic to go to Jacques-imo's are even more so and the only drawing factor is Pazzo for some great panini and gelato and crisp salads made with their own dressings. Park on a side street if you don't want your car to get sideswiped.

On Oak Street I agree. The only nice thing there anymore is Pazzo. Gelato. Panini. Sorbatto. Check the website for menu items http://www.gelatopazzo.com/index.html Pazzo means "Crazy"

Pazzo - the best damn gelato this side of It'ly! I promise you that their gelato is exactly the same as the gelato we had last summer in Italy. We go to Pazzo every time we're in town. My other go-to spot on Oak is Ninja. Great rolls, great service, great prices. We prefer to sit at the sushi bar, but occasionally we sit at a table, especially if Wes is with us because he usually orders a dinner rather than rolls.
You can definitely lose a wheel in the potholes. Try it in Will's very low to the ground Mini!

Another Uptown place you gotta try is Il Posto. This is on Dryades Street a couple of blocks from Charlie's Steak House and Pascal's Manale. I discovered it when I was dropping off laundry for my boss lady across the street at the cleaners at Dryades and Cadiz. Stop in and say hello to cute li'l Maddie Curry who operates da jurnt. She has roots in this neighborhood, her parents still live close by. Maddie operated a Manhattan neighborhood eatery in Gramercy Park for a few years, so she knows her bidness. I picked up a smashed Caprese on ciabatta just last week on my way to "work"!