May tidbits

Spring is at full tilt here in New Orleans.   The city is bursting with color and the scent of jasmine is in the air.  Time to treat yourself to an escape from your home office and your pajamas.
New Orleans and COVID
The city has relaxed its restrictions to Modified Stage Three.    Bars, restaurants, breweries and stores may operate at 100% capacity, while maintaining social distancing and mask requirements.   Bars may open from 6 am to 1 am.   The COVID threat level is yellow:  “COVID in Orleans Parish is spreading in a slow and controlled fashion.”  In addition, 43% of the city’s population has already been vaccinated and the vaccine is available to all individuals 16 and older.    Let’s all keep each other safe!
What’s the weather like? 
Getting steamy!   Enjoy a stroll by the river, then duck into a café or bar to cool off.   Here are the monthly average high and low temperatures.  
May:    85 deg. – 68 deg., with 4 days of rain
June:   90 deg. – 74 deg., with 10 days of rain
July:    92 deg. – 76 deg., with 11 days of rain

What’s happening?
Day by day, the city is blossoming back to life.  You’ll hear the familiar sounds of jazz bands on Royal Street and the clip-clop of the mule carriages making their lazy way through the French Quarter.  Folks are gathered on Frenchmen Street to catch their favorite bands, and Magazine Street is buzzing with shoppers and restaurant lovers.  Art galleries are welcoming guests and walking tours are alternately entertaining, educating, or frightening visitors again, depending on the stories they’d like to hear. 
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What to eat NOW
It’s peak crawfish season!   If you already love them, get down here.  If you haven’t tried them, get down here.    Many restaurants offer a tasty, spicy crawfish boil.    We could give you instructions on how to eat them, but your server will be happy to demonstrate.   Pro tip:  don’t wear a white shirt.