If we can't have an Easter parade, let's pop on a bonnet, pour a mimosa (or two) and toast the four krewes who made the 2019 holiday one to remember.

- photos by Ellis Anderson 

While socialite Margarita Bergen is holding a Clorox bottle these days instead of a champagne glass, she's keeping spirits up by dressing up for Easter and quoting Martha Washington.
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To reach people without internet access, the New Orleans Musicians Clinic and Assistance Foundation has created a series on 18 no-nonsense - and printable -  fact sheets about COVID-19.

- by Kirsten Reneau

Few have ever seen the French Quarter except through a thick and ever-present veil of tourists.  Now they've all gone home, who remains?  We caught these street snaps during the week of March 29 - April 4, 2020, on the third week of the COVID shut-downs,

- by Ellis Anderson

Note: These photos were all taken before the CDC began recommending masks in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies). 

​A short video: Toward the end of our Sunday evening dog walk, the sound of a clarinet pulled us off our usual route and up to the 800 block of Royal Street. Noted musician Tim Laughlin was playing on his balcony. As I watched, four other residents of the building came out and stood on the street to listen to their neighbor (they're out of the frame on the right, standing well apart from each other). Laughlin teases them at the end - "It's the first time I've ever emptied a building!" Feeling fortunate to have captured the moment. 

When social distancing has become the social norm, how does a first date even work?

- by Layth Sihan 
- photos by Ellis Anderson

You can hear Layth read the piece:  

​A short video:  The final dog walk of the day is very short now, just to the fire hydrant and back. We should be used to the quiet by now, but marvel anew every night. The dogs are very confused by the fact that we stand in the middle of the intersection, simply because we can.

Third in the series of daily diary entries by French Quarter writer/historian Frank Perez, this piece considers the comforts of the ordinary.  

- by Frank Perez

​A short video: We can't usually pinpoint the day each year when the Chimney Swifts return from wintering in South America. One day, we'll just began noticing them soaring overhead. In the new, quieter Quarter, their squeaky-wheel hunting song sailed in through the open doors to the balcony at twilight on April 1st. We ran out to welcome them home. They fly so fast and high, there's not really much to see on this vid, but at least you can hear them.

Few have ever seen the French Quarter except through a thick and ever-present veil of tourists.  Now they've all gone home, who remains?  We caught these street snaps during the week of March 22 - 28. 

- by Ellis Anderson

An on-the-ground report from France, where our managing editor's extended stay turned into an indefinite lock-down.
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- by Rheta Grimsley Johnson

​Five of the city's favorite fine dining restaurants are offering an extraordinary selection of meals for pickup and/or delivery:   Galatoire's, Bayona, GW Fins, Italian Barrel and the Pelican Club. (Update, April 3:  GW Fins, Bayona and Pelican Club have closed for now). 

​Bonus?  There's no traffic to make pick-up a hassle!  We've got the details to make ordering easy. 

- by Kim Ranjbar

​Second in the series of daily diary entries by French Quarter writer/historian Frank Perez. "To be one flash of color in the kaleidoscope that is the Quarter lends perspective." 

- by Frank Perez

​A short video:  
​Robert, the One-Man-Gospel-Band is a regular down at the Moonwalk along the river.  Today, he was trying to earn enough for a room for the night.  We tipped him, but it certainly wasn't enough for a room.  "That's alright," he said. "I appreciate it."  

​Decatur Street is one of the borders of the French Quarter neighborhood, running between the river and Jackson Square. It's COVID quiet this evening. We sped up the video X2.

​Several local restaurants have cooked up ways to help support service industry workers during the shut-down.  Want to help?  You'll find some delicious options.

- by Kim Ranjbar 

Few have ever seen the French Quarter except through a thick and ever-present veil of tourists.  Now they've all gone home, who remains?  We caught these street snaps during the week of March 15 - 21. 

- by Ellis Anderson

There wasn't much of an audience, but that's little deterrence to any bagpipe player worth his kilt.  

Tim's a regular performer on and around Jackson Square.  Hearing him playing from our office this morning cheered the heart and we went down to say hi. 

​COVID-19 caught FQJ's managing editor and her husband during an extended stay in France, leaving them with a difficult decision to make.  

- by Rheta Grimsley Johnson
- photographs by Rheta Grimsley Johnson

The diary of a French Quarter writer details the neighborhood's new norm.

​- by Frank Perez