Dispatches From New Orleans as Isaac Departs (PHOTOS)

Writing dispatches from New Orleans for The New Republic has helped keep me sane through the seemingly never-ending tropical storm/hurricane experience that was Isaac. Here are two excerpts, as well a slideshow of the French Quarter coming up for air...

Last Call ...

Excerpt from article in The New Republic:

Just after we ordered two Abita beer drafts at the Golden Lantern bar in New Orleans, an emergency response team enters asking, "Who called 911?" They eventually figure out that the pay phone out front blew over pre-Hurricane Isaac. Travis Tritt's "I'm a Member of the Country Club" plays in the background, as responders check out the downed pay phone. It's Country night. Patrons are initially worried that officers are in the bar to close it down, but since that's not the case, they're invited to stay for a beer. With a long night ahead of them, they don't. "Hot man in uniform" is bandied about. The Golden Lantern is as famous for drag night as bingo night, and passers-by can often hear letters, numbers and BINGO! called down the street...

The Morning After Isaac

Excerpt from full article in The New Republic:

Everyone in our French Quarter neighborhood today is talking about Plaquemines Parish. Hurricane Isaac breached their levees, among others outside the federal levee system, and we have nothing but empathy. The relief that Isaac did not breach our levees is mixed with sorrow that people in Plaquemines and surrounded parishes are being rescued from their roofs again...

Photos by Jeff Beninato