An official “day of drinking” in the French Quarter is a thing of beauty, but you’ve got to start it off right. I did that this weekend at Manolito, an adorably tiny Cuban restaurant and bar near the corner of Decatur and Dumaine.

It is hard to imagine a more painful way to lose a game, let alone one that would have sent the Saints to the Super Bowl.

My truck broke down on Canal Street. So while I was waiting for it to be fixed I stopped into Cafe Beignet to have a cup of coffee and people watch for a while.