I got started in the book trade as a scout in New Orleans in the 2000's. As a novice with a handheld bar code scanner, very few shop owners would buy books from me or give me much more than a gruff sigh or sharp elbow at a library sale table with the exception being Russell Desmond, proprietor of the above-mentioned Arcadian Books. His generosity and kindness were the first of many collegial hands-up I've received in this trade. Don't let his disheveled stacks in there fool you, as a fluent French speaker and translator, he is a real charmer. Hanging out in that shop and listening to him schmooze and flatter tourists into buying stacks of books can be a free masterclass in open shop bookselling.
Wow! Just wow. You two live a very fine life. Pelicans and Bookstores just a perfect eye opening read. Thank you.
I got started in the book trade as a scout in New Orleans in the 2000's. As a novice with a handheld bar code scanner, very few shop owners would buy books from me or give me much more than a gruff sigh or sharp elbow at a library sale table with the exception being Russell Desmond, proprietor of the above-mentioned Arcadian Books. His generosity and kindness were the first of many collegial hands-up I've received in this trade. Don't let his disheveled stacks in there fool you, as a fluent French speaker and translator, he is a real charmer. Hanging out in that shop and listening to him schmooze and flatter tourists into buying stacks of books can be a free masterclass in open shop bookselling.
A shop like Arcadian Books doesn't stick around for 40 years unless someone knows what they are doing! Thanks for adding to the NOLA bookstore lore.
Love this! Reminds me of the Lambeth Walk Fizz cocktail recipe I adapted from James Beard winning bar Maison Premiere for easy home mixing!
It’s a decadent ode to New Orleans culture, giving the creamy Ramos Gin Fizz a tropical, Willy Wonka-esque spin.
check it out:
https://thesecretingredient.substack.com/p/get-james-beard-winner-maison-premieres
Thanks for the NOLA Travel Log 👍