The sky was dark with storm clouds. We had just walked out of Jack Dempseys after a late lunch of fried seafood and got a half block away before the rain came down. Big fat drops the size of nickels spattered the pavement.
There was only one place for refuge, and fortunately, at 3:00 in the afternoon, it was open. Vaughan's Lounge is a neighborhood joint on the corner of Dauphine and Lessups, and its looks might give some folks pause. We were looking for shelter, though, so we went on in.
Inside it was dark and quiet. There was one other customer at the bar, a gray-haired gentleman in a Hawaiian shirt. We ordered a couple of beers and settled in as the thunder growled overhead.
The bartender's name is Beth. When [The Man I Love] mentioned he was fighting a cold, she mixed him a rum-based variation on a Moscow Mule, tingling with ginger. It took us through the storm and some good conversations with the gentleman whose name we learned was Jules.
By the time the sun came out, we knew where our new "local" would be.
Vaughan's lounge has music on Thursday nights, and drag shows on the third Friday of each month.
Oh yeah! You are getting right into the New Orleans thang! Go for it, Auntie Snow! I look forward to more photos and musings from the Crescent City.
ReplyDeleteNothing better than an interesting, borderline dive bar.
ReplyDeleteWhen it rains in New Orleans, it doesn't kid around. We've found some of our favorite places ducking in to escape a downpour. Looks like your adventure is off to a good start!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a winning combo to me!
ReplyDeleteDo you live near Naomi?
That's the first place I wanna go when we visit. :)
ReplyDelete