Having received my bounty of gumbo, crawfish, and a po’boy, my beer cradled under my arm, I considered my next move. Grateful for the lax public drinking laws, I had a full range of options: Walk up the nearby iconic Esplanade Ave and sit in oak-laden Fortier Park, surrounded by stately nineteenth-century mansions and brightly decorated homes; or walk a bit further west and sit on the banks of Bayou St. John. I chose instead to bring my banquet to the pastoral City Park, joined by friends. We splayed out in the park, talking and eating and laughing — all while freely sipping alcoholic beverages in public, without fear of reprisal. Read Full Article »