In addition to hosting frequent signings by writers like New Orleans own Goth Queen, the shop keeps important, signed first editions for purchase in a special bookcase on the side wall. The first editions of The Lords of Discipline and The Prince of Tides I bought bearing Pat Conroy''s signature ended up costing me more than my share of our hotel room! Ouch! But I was thrilled to find them.

If your budget doesn''t allow for a collector''s itch, no worries. As you wander the aisles you''ll see lots of signed books at the regular, original hardcover prices that aren''t in the "special" bookcase. I ran my thumb over signatures by notable authors like Rudy Giuliani, Michael Connelly, and others.

In the back of the store you''ll see a wall covered in snapshots, a virtual "who''s who" of the literary scene that you don''t want to miss. As a writer myself, it was fun to pick out the faces I knew, while making it a personal goal to one day sign books of my own in this store. Happy shopping!

The Garden District has an eerie, lush, almost tropical feel to it. You can definitely feel like you are in the Gone With the Wind movie as you walk the narrow, uneven sidewalks. The sidewalks are very old and the roots of the huge old trees have upended many of the blocks.

The day we walked in this area, we did not see another person for over one and a half hours. The houses almost looked deserted and almost sad, as though they'd seen a lot over the years. Many of the mansions are still strikingly beautiful with ivy covered walls and stonework. They are very large with typical southern columns and porticos encircled with the classic New Orleans ornate iron scrollwork on the balconies.

You can get to the Garden District by riding the streetcar from the French Quarter, downtown, or within the Garden District itself down St. Charles Avenue and getting off at one of the many stops. I don't think would be an area that you'd want to be walking around at night. The Garden District area is south of the St. Charles and the area north looks pretty rough. Many ghost and vampire novels are set in this mystical area.

It began as a suburb of New Orleans in the 1830s and large mansions were built on large tracts of land before the Civil War. After the war, smaller houses filled in the areas between the larger homes. Within this area is Lafayette Cemetery with a history all its own, the house were Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederacy, died, and homes for famous authors and musicians.

While this may not be an exciting journey, it is nonetheless an enjoyable way to spend a few hours to get the sense of what life must have been like in the age of elegance and southern charm.

Pick up the the St. Charles streetcar (Green Line) at Canal Street and Carondelet. (You'll see the sign by the curb, "Street Car Stops Here." You can also pick it up along St. Charles, but chances are that you won't get a seat. The line begins at Canal and Carondelet, and we had our pick of seats when we got on.) Take it about 10-15 minutes to Washington Avenue.
Once you exit the train, take a left on Washington (heading south) for 1 block to 2727 Prytania St. It's called The Rink Shopping Plaza. This is the old Cresent City Skating Rink which now houses specialty shops.
Inside is a bookstore with 3 or 4 different books on Garden District walking tours. I bought the one entitled "The Historic Garden District: An Illustrated Guide and Walking Tour," and found it to be quite good. You could simply walk around the neighborhood, but having the book is very beneficial. It provides not only a history of the houses, but also some general neighborhood information. It's a great way to spend the afternoon.

Some of the mansions, though still occupied, are open for public tours, though there will be an admission charge. The Garden District starts a little beyond Jackson St. I highly recommend a walking tour.

You might start a walking tour by heading down First Street at its intersection with St. Charles. Proceed down to Chesnut and check out the lavender house on the corner. That's the abode of pulp horror goddess Anne Rice, and if you see a black limo outside, the Goth Queen is in residence. Then walk back up two blocks to Prytania Street (site of some of the neighborhood's most spectacular houses) and take a left, heading toward Washington, where you'll find Anne's bookstore and a cafe where you can stop and have a cup of tea. Then, take in Lafayette Cemetery on Washington, returning to the street to notice the Commander's Palace restaurant at 1403. Follow Washington all the way down to Magazine Street (now you're in the Lower Garden District) and indulge yourself in antique shopping and browsing second-hand stores.