Mayonnaise.

The sky is growing dark.

The front of the Blue Plate building faces the Mississippi River. The back of the building overlooks the parking lot. There is ample parking for motorbikes. Other people are on the roof, at a respectful distance. Everyone is an artist according to their leases. The flea circus ringmaster, Horatio Agincourt, nods hello.

Ever since the Boston Tea Party, New Orleans has been the nation’s coffee port. In 1900, the Port of New Orleans handled 85% of America’s coffee business. People drank coffee then like they do now but they drank even more of it. Even babies drank coffee.

With a market like that, Mr. Wm. B. Reily made connections at the coffee docks. He was clever that way. It didn’t take him long to get in good with both the Irish and the Sicilians who commandeered the dockworkers. He had his pick of the best beans.

All of this, of course, has to do with the South’s favorite mayonnaise.

In other news, Punk Barbie is in the hospital.

The benefit is over but she could still use a financial lift. She is an entrepreneur, as most people in New Orleans are, in one way or another. In order to get through summer, we have to hustle when we can.