Our Beloved
French Quarter
Eight local, charming merchants and why we love them By Kelcy Wilburn Photos by Mike Lirette
April brings the annual French Quarter Festival to what is perhaps New Orleans’ most beloved neighborhood, giving us yet another celebratory reminder of what a gift we have in the 78 square blocks it comprises. As throngs of people wander the streets, stopping at the variety of stages along the way, they often duck into shops, restaurants and hotels that maintain the French Quarter’s character and charm, whether through antiques and art or Creole cuisine, or Sazeracs and stories of the city’s many generations of residents and travelers. This month, we’re highlighting a number of French Quarter merchants – from fashion-forward clothing boutiques to grand dame restaurants – that add to the neighborhood’s old charm and modern appeal. For stories of the city’s past, you could easily park yourself at a barstool of any French Quarter watering hole, but you might find the information a little more reliable from local experts at The Historic New Orleans Collection (THNOC). A museum, research center and publisher working to preserve the history and culture New Orleans, the state and the surrounding Gulf South since 1966, THNOC houses two campuses in the French Quarter, with a third exhibition center to open soon at 520 Royal St. On April 5, THNOC’s William Research Center at 420 Chartres St. will welcome the unveiling of “Storyville: Madams & Music,” an exhibition examining the sights and sounds of Storyville, the notorious and legal red-light district that operated just outside of the French Quarter from 1897 to 1917. According to Executive Director Priscilla Lawrence, much of the city’s present identity dates back to the Storyville era, when New Orleans was marketed as a winter playground. THNOC’s founders, General and Mrs. L. Kemper Williams, were committed to the preservation of New
Orleans, and were among the first to revitalize their area of the French Quarter in the mid-20th century. “Preservation remains a critical component of our mission, and we’re delighted to be a place of learning and discovery in this iconic community,” says Lawrence. “And, as for our founders’ residence, it’s preserved as a house museum, where visitors can see what daily life was like in the Vieux Carré in the mid-20th century.” Another preserved and iconic French Quarter locale is Le Petit Théâtre du Vieux Carré, which was established just over 100 years ago in 1916. Located at 616 St. Peter St., the theater’s mission today is to provide high quality theatrical experiences that entertain and educate the diverse populations of Greater New Orleans. They offer a range of classic and contemporary dramas and comedies as well as musical productions. “As the city’s longest continually operating theater, being in the heart of the city is so much a part of our cultural identity,” says General Manager Ashley Robison. “Throughout our history, so many local entertainers have performed or gotten their start on our stages. It creates such a memorable experience to be able to perform in the French Quarter, just steps from Jackson Square.” April and May will be busy months at Le Petit. In April, the theater’s Main Stage Production will be Horton Foote’s Dividing the Estate, which opened during The Tennessee Williams Festival. During French Quarter Festival, Le Petit will host the festival’s film series, and during the New Orleans Heritage & Jazz Festival, it will offer a selection of concerts from local favorites like Cowboy Mouth and Broadway performers like Morgan James. Adjacent to Le Petit is Dickie Brennan & Co.’s Jackson Square restaurant, Tableau. Tableau and Le Petit share a courtyard and lobby on performance
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