Glad I got to hear the story finally, Nottso - you referenced it in another NOLA-related post awhile back, I remember. I've never lived there, but I just got married in New Orleans a few weeks ago - got engaged there one year ago - and have visited 5-6 times at this point. We plan to go every year for the rest of our lives - it's a wonderful place and truly unique as others have said. It is not perfect, but it's probably my favorite city in the world. It has a vitality to it like no other place. And the food... man.