Closed, then No Service.

The reader must know that there is no nostalgia for Americana from this writer, but rather an interest in things nostalgic in general.  Earlier today, as I was walking around on a day which bordered between not so hot and hot, at least temperature-wise, I had thoughts of getting an egg cream from one of the many spots which advertise its wares and perhaps also of an ice cream cone (which was the thought last evening as I ventured out and about as well).  But, as is usually the case, I did not.  Although I did get a phone call inviting me to a holiday weekend barbeque, which indeed I am considering.

All this talk of refreshments reminds of a place in New Orleans that I first saw two years ago but which was closed for the day.  A year later, I visited again (as New Orleans is a fun place to go to and I heartily recommend it as one of the few places in America that are worth looking into) and the place (Royal Pharmacy) was open. First thing I did was sit at the counter and ask what refreshments they could conjure up, thinking of egg creams, flavored sodas and such such, but I was told that the soda fountain had not been working for years. What a let-down!  So, I snapped a few pictures and with a broken heart,  I found a deli a little further down the street and bought a large bottle of water from a fellow who called me "honey" or "sweetheart" or some such.

ask and you shall not receive