See Nola

Stanley

547 St. Ann St. (French Quarter) 504.587.0093. 7 Days: 7am to 10pm. Credit Cards. Stanley is in a first-class location looking out to the artists, card readers and tourists milling about on Jackson Square. There's plenty to turn us off: the over-priced poboys (served a la carte), the uneven service, the small and overly expensive malts and milkshakes, the limited booze menu. But then there are moments like the Eggs Stanley -- fried oysters over perfectly cooked eggs benedict, featuring one of lightest hollandaise sauces we've ever tasted. Breakfast dishes are served all day.

Society Page Lounge

542 North Rampart St. (French Quarter) Monday through Tuesday: 6 to till. Saturday & Sunday: 3 to till. The Society Page Lounge exists in an area of the Quarter known for beautifully broken buildings and vice. The bar caters to African-American gay men, most of whom work in the downtown service industry. But all are welcome. Black floors, black walls, black ceilings and black lights, windowless and not much of a sign out front -- the bar feels like a cocoon, a speakeasy, an old friendly secret. Two televisions play music videos and sports. Cheap drinks. Easy going crowd. The only sour point is that the Society Page -- a truly lovely place -- has installed an internet jukebox. Ugh. Video poker.

Octavia Books

513 Octavia Street (Uptown) 504.899.7323. Monday through Saturday: 10am to 6pm. Sunday: Noon to 5pm. Credit Cards. Octavia is the kind of bookstore where you can find John Malkovich wandering the stacks. Not really. But we did see him there on our last visit. In any case, Octavia is a strong, well-loved bookstore that sells new books with a broad selection of local independent titles, which puts it among a rare and beautiful and consistently shrinking crowd. The store is bright and airy and the selection is wide. A block away from Whole Foods and one of those gourmet cup cake places on Magazine Street. Helpful staff. Weekly events. Free coffee.