Katrina Hours made me go bad.

For some reason I could not sleep anymore.  I woke up at 4:45 and decided that this had to be the beginning of my day.  Too many things on my mind to fall back asleep.

I was out the door by 5:20 with my dog Nina and heading down Magazine Street.  The plan was to hit Please-U on St. Charles after I dropped Nina off at my office only a few blocks away.  I would do what I had done for years when I was up before dusk and get some breakfast and coffee. Start the day strong.

I roll up at 5:45 and Please-U is not open.  Frustrated I decide to head back Uptown and go to the French coffee and pastry shop next to the Brother's 3 Bar.  They open at 6am.

I get there at 5:56 and wait about 10 minutes for them to open.  Inside they are prepping the counter with pastries and making coffee.  At 6:10 I realize that they seem to not be rushing to let me in so I can start my day.  I glance a few feet above the painted hours on their glass doors and see a hand drawn sign. "New Hours. 7am-7pm Mon-Sat."  So I leave.

I stop at Big Rue on Magazine.  7am.  CC's coffee shop a few blocks down? 7am. Starbucks?

No. Never. Not gonna do it.  I will drive across town to buy local if I have to.

But I need my coffee. I need something to eat.  I need to utilize being up at this god awful early hour.

So I break. I go to Starbucks. I buy a large iced mocha (I won't order using their lingo) and a croissant.

I am now caffeinated and working. 

It is 7am.  And now everyone is open.

Damn them and these "new katrina hours."