Ms. Mae's

Ms. Mae’s is one of the few 24 hours bars left in New Orleans. The Big Easy has a reputation of being a twenty-four hour city but that has changed since Katrina, even more so since the pandemic.

Unless you are on running with the gutter punks and the Quarter rats who populate the 24-hour joints on Lower Decatur Street, most of the (few) 24-hour bars are owned by Igor. You know Igor’s Buddha Belly on St. Charles Avenue? Those people. They are collectively known as Igor though I think the head of the operation is a woman. If I’m right, she’s blond. She is not Ms. Mae.

Ms. Mae is dead. I met her when she was alive. That is a whole other story, one of the history books. She was a real New Orleans character, a fixture, someone who made the city what it is. Under new ownership, the new and improved Ms. Mae’s is not much different from the old days. They are still cash only.

There is also a one drink minimum. They are very clear about that as soon as you walk in the door. I recommend buying a drink, at least for the air hockey. They serve ginger ale.

And, now, we go behind the paywall. I have something to add to this. None of it is related to Independence Day. Happy Fourth of July. God bless America, land that I love.