I just returned from the Authors After Dark Reader Convention in New Orleans–Bourbon Street to be exact, which is an experience in itself. The architecture in the French Quarter is gorgeous–the balconies, enclosed courtyards, old buildings, actual operating gas lamps. As for the city aspect, it wasn’t Mardi Gras so I figured it would be pretty quiet, right? Not so much. I thought I could handle any city, but what I saw on Bourbon Street was enough to shock even a jaded, born and bred New Yorker like me. Strippers, mostly naked, standing in the doorways to lure in customers from out on the street; some of the women were nude and painted gold. Hawkers worthy of any carnival trying to get people into their shows. Bums dressed in costume coming right up in your face demanding you take their picture for cash. Drunk young frat boys. Drunks in general of all ages. Tourists with their young children walking the streets at night among the debauchery. Live sex shows–no cover charge. Live music in all styles. Artists selling their wares. Tarot card readers. Voodoo shops. All condensed in a few blocks in the French Quarter, and my room faced Bourbon […]