The year is 1875. A young gentleman in New Orleans decides that before work he would like to enjoy a cup of Cafe Au Lait while reading the day's news. He picks up a newspaper (any of the many that were sold in New Orleans at the time) and heads to the already 15 year old CDM or the 5 year old MC(each existing only in the French Quarter at the time, but given the year the french quarter was never far from where you were and where you were going). Here he gives the waiter a coin in exchange for his tasty beverage. He sits amongst others like him in the morning air reading the news and sipping coffee.
The year is 1900. A young gentleman in New Orleans decides that before work he would like to enjoy a cup of Cafe Au Lait while reading the day's news. He picks up a newspaper (there were still quite a few papers in the city at the time) and heads to CDM or MC (with the new electrified streetcars it was very easy for one to get to the French Quarter). Here he gives the waiter a few coins in exchange for his tasty beverage. He may have even ordered the new pastry that was becoming poular at that time, the Beignet (replacing the calas that were sold by street vendors up until that point). He sits amongst others like him in the morning air reading the news and sipping coffee (and maybe munching on some beignets).
The year is 1925. A young gentleman in New Orleans decides that before work he would like to enjoy a cup of Cafe Au Lait while reading the day's news. He picks up a newspaper (either the Times-Picayune or the States-Item as they had now become merged respectively) and heads to CDM or MC(He might have had to come from further out than his predecessors, but he was likely heading for a days work in the burgeoning CBD). Here he gives the waiter several coins in exchange for his tasty beverage. He sits amongst others like him in the morning air reading the news and sipping coffee (and maybe munching on some beignets).
The year is 1950. A young gentleman in New Orleans decides that before work he would like to enjoy a cup of Cafe Au Lait while reading the day's news. He picks up a newspaper (probably the Times-Pic) and heads to CDM or MC(Even though he may have lived as far out as Metairie, this was not a problem as he had his own car). Here he gives the waiter several coins in exchange for his tasty beverage. He sits amongst others like him in the morning air reading the news and sipping coffee (and maybe munching on some beignets).
The year is 1975. A young gentleman in New Orleans decides that before work he would like to enjoy a cup of Cafe Au Lait while reading the day's news. He picks up a newspaper (again, probably the Times-Pic) and heads to CDM or MC(If rather than working in the CBD he is working in Metairie's burgeoning business sector this isn't a problem as MC has moved to Metairie). Here he gives the waiter the better part of his pocket change in exchange for his tasty beverage. He sits amongst others like him in the morning air [conditioning (if at morning call)] reading the news and sipping coffee (and maybe munching on some beignets).
The year is 2000. A young gentleman in New Orleans decides that before work he would like to enjoy a cup of Cafe Au Lait while reading the day's news. He picks up a newspaper (The Times-Pic or one of the new weeklys, Gambit and City Business targeted at Niche groups) and heads to CDM or MC(at any of various locations. He might choose to head to CDM in the Quarter, thoguh more likely he'll go to the CDM in one of the shopping malls (either Lakeside Mall or Esplanade Mall), the CDM on Veterans, MC, or the MC in Clearview Mall). Here he gives the waiter a a couple of dollar bills in exchange for his tasty beverage. He sits amongst others like him in the morning air [conditioning] reading the news and sipping coffee (and maybe munching on some beignets).
Now, the year is 2008. A young gentleman in New Orleans decides that before work he would like to enjoy a cup of Cafe Au Lait while reading the day's news. He would love to just grab his laptop so he can read his RSS feeds and head to CDM or MC(now only 4 locations between the 2 establishments. Not the 10 or so that had existed at some point before the hurricane with branches open as far away as Atlanta, GA). He would like to pay with his Visa Checkcard. In the end he decides to have a Frappuccino at starbucks because both CDM or MC niether accept credit cards nor have WiFi. He sits amongst others like him in the morning air [conditioning] reading the news and sipping coffee (and certainly NOT munching on some beignets).
Now let me state something before I proceed any further. I am NOT an advocate of forcing change at CDM in the Quarter. Things are the way they are there for a reason, and I want future generations to continue to be able to have that same experience. That being said, I think that CDM and MC are turning down business (and ultimately money) by not havinf WiFi or taking credit cards. I certainly would spend a whole hell of a lot more time at the establishments is those 2 things were changed. That is just my opion, I may be wrong.
3 comments:
Agreed--esp. in the Metairie locations. Come on, it's METAIRIE. Get WiFi!! And credit cards!
Well if we had city wireless...never mind - that was FAIL!
I very much enjoyed a CC's frozen coffe thing (whatever clever name it goes by at CC's) recently at their Old Metairie location -- whilst wirelessly surfing. I think that CDM and MC aren't exactly going for the cybercafe scene, however. That'd be like saying "Man, Preservation Hall really needs some disco balls and laser lights."
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