I visit the Big Easy for about a week each summer and make sure to get here at least a day before Tales of the Cocktail starts, and settle in properly.
After checking into my hotel (I love staying at the Bienville House), the ritual is as follows:
1. Straight razor shave from the Monteleone Barber
2. Shoes shined by the first working-hard shiner I see
3. Buy a new straw fedora at Meyer the Hatter
4. See who is already in town and head to the bar at Arnaud’s for a French 75.
From here, it depends on the mood and the weather, but some favorite next stops include Coop’s for gumbo, Cochon for snout-to-tail pork delights, and Yo Momma’s for the peanut butter burger.