New Toulouse

Pictured are Nikita Weymann, Gigi Lapin, and me. We sit among some of the prizes you can get at the Post-Storm Pirate Booty Hunt that runs till September 1 in New Toulouse.

Last night was the hunt kickoff pub crawl, in which we enjoyed rum and went around to all the places where treasure chests are to be found. So much stuff washed ashore during the last hurricane that Taloosters have made these chests to get rid of it. The pub crawl was so much fun, but today I am completely exhausted. So I went to see Niki at her house on the bayou, and Gigi joined us, and I showed them some of my treasures.

The lovely little frog on the barrel, the washed-up trellis bench, and the junk shop lawn chair are from Noctis. The vampire gentleman and the zombie head trophy are from Harley’s Hotel. The zombie is wearing a black leather beret from the Old Spanish Stable.

Dare Munro’s book Musings in the Dark is published by my very own company, Darker Shadow Productions, and you get it from the Ghost of Liza Veliz Books & Poems at La Coquette. The book chaise Niki is lounging on is from Galerie Shotgun/Argonaut Travel on Shotgun Road.The kraken-themed rugs are from Look What the Cat Dragged In, #2 Spiegel Hall. The candle bowls are from Grimalkin Workshop in the bayou. Look out for bats—just saying.

The Paradiso Firepit is from Lei’s Café on the Bayou. The Poe’s Raven plushie I’m holding is from Ravenwood Arts & Curios on Shotgun Road. Do I need to mention that it says “Nevermore” when you touch it?

I am wearing the fish hat that Francesca Alva designed and put in her chest at the Green-Eyed Fairy for scurvy knaves to find. There’s a version for tinies too! To be totally honest, I was expecting us all to turn into fish people when the flood after the hurricane took so long to dry up, so I enjoy this cute hat very much. It is hilarious to watch it cuddle people as if it wants to eat them when they sit on my lap.

You should totally do this hunt! There are so many fun treasures in those chests that you can find all over the city and bayou. If you are feeling lazy, you can always use the list of treasure spots.

---

The Ghost of Liza Veliz fell in love with New Toulouse at first sight. She publishes books by various authors; find them at her reading cafe on Shotgun Row.

Last year, Kristine Jinx-Kristan closed up her gallery on Shotgun Row and headed off to see the world. She rode back into town at Mardi Gras on the back of the Bast Krewe float, but soon she discovered that settling down requires sacrifice. So, Ms. Jinx-Kristan—KK to her friends—opened a secondhand store, “Look What the Cat Dragged In,” on the ground floor of Spiegel Hall.

“I’d just come off a year of traveling in which I seem to have acquired a lot of … stuff,” she explained. “I had the chance to become one of the first residents of Spiegel Hall, and didn’t have room for it all.”

There is a wide variety of treasures in Jinx-Kristan’s shop, from furniture to flying pigs. (The “greeter” flying around the front of the store is named Porky von Schweinenburg).

“I am pretty selective of what I put in the shop. I want things that appeal to the community, but also unusual or unique collectibles as well.”

So far, mechanical horses and unicorns—which Jinx-Kristan points out are hard to store—seem to be selling well, as are music boxes. “I parted with a rare collectible one just this morning,” she said. “I was sad to part with it, but I know it will be enjoyed. Plus rent was due.”

The shop’s inventory was originally a personal garage sale—”I like to think I have some pretty nice junk,” Jinx-Kristan said—but business has been so successful that she has begun showing off her hunting skills.

“I’m always out looking for deals. I’ve had a few requests that I’ve tracked down. I like to think if I don’t have it, I can find it for you. Otherwise it doesn’t exist … yet.”

The store owner so enjoys tracking down a hard-to-find item that she doesn’t even charge extra for the service. Right now she’s on the lookout for nice rugs. “I don’t know what I’ll do if the one I have down now is bought, as it’s covering a few scratches on the flooring that I need to hide from the landlord. Some of the furniture is pretty heavy.”

Jinx-Kristan, who comes from the deserts of the southwest but whose family hails from Sas-cat-chewan, is happy to be back in New Toulouse, and particularly in Spiegel Hall.

“The park has always been one of my favorite places, so I love being near it,” she said. “I think Spiegel Hall has a great future in New Toulouse. I’m just really happy to be here. Everyone has been wonderful and friendly. I hope I can keep the shop going for a long time, and that people have fun looking around, even if they aren’t buying that day.”

“Look What the Cat Dragged In” is at #02 Spiegel Hall.

---

Jane Moreaux keeps all four eyes on New Toulouse.