Sunday Stylin': not today

Our Sunday Stylin' roundup will not be seen today because, between the Rehnquist news and the continuing agony on the Gulf coast, it would seem even sillier than usual. You can go read it yourself and parse the joys of Rich Gay vs. Poor Gay in Provincetown, Mass.; a moveable feast of status affirmations in Los Angeles and the section's own tribute to New Orleans. The last of these is a list of "22 reasons America needs New Orleans, the national capital of eccentricity" and it's not terrible. Mostly. Some are downright pointless and stupid. Here are some of the better ones.

• Oyster loaf at Casamento's on Magazine Street. The crunchy local French bread showers crumbs on your hands. Each bite contains bread, mayo and the delectable local bivalve, breaded and brilliantly fried. Casamento's closes down for the summer because oysters are better other times of the year.
• If you are a grown man, this is the only place in America where you can step off an airplane, and be guaranteed that within 30 minutes a respectable woman unknown to you will call you "baby," as in, "How you doin', baby!" If you are a grown woman, you will be called "darlin' " whether you are the least bit darlin' or not.
• You can stand at the foot of Ursulines Avenue and watch a huge oceangoing ship slide by above the level of your head.

Fair enough. Though frilly hats and the author's cozy relationship with a real estate agent aren't exactly national treasures. For a more serious assessment of the importance of New Orleans, please see this article, which was dredged up by a commenter over at TPM Cafe.