I get tired of explaining that leasing condos “short-term” here in New Orleans does not include vacation rentals. Our real estate office is focused on leases of a few months or more, catering to those who are here to work or enjoy an extended stay. The week of Mardi Gras, everyone assumed we were “full,” and the week after, the phones rang off the hook. Still… even though we avoid vacation rentals, it does affect everything we do during the Carnival Season!

While parade schedules made it impossible to get much work done, we still had a great time, and so did many of our owners and tenants.

From the office, we are just a walk through the breeze-way away from all the action of the parades on St. Charles Avenue. For the last few years, we’ve done a Friday night party at the office on the weekend of Mardi Gras, just because it’s a fun way of sharing the comforts of the office with friends and family, and tenants and owners, who want to enjoy the parades with a base nearby for those two essential Carnival needs: Bathroom, and Beer storage. We’ve got all that, and this year was the best ever.

My husband, Bobby, and son, Bryce, were the first on the parade route, practicing the art of keeping Bryce’s hands up and shouting, “FOOTBALL!” to request the throws he likes best. Some of our favorite tenants walked over from their condos in the Warehouse District to enjoy the night, neighbors from Destrehan braved the Downtown parades from our cozy spot, and even my Mom, notorious “Parade Pooper,” got right in the middle of it all, trying to get videos of the Marine Corps band and the beautiful costumes that strutted in front of our spot at the Intercontinental Hotel.

We spent Sunday in an equally wonderful, work-related venue. Our gracious hosts, the owners of 1722 Jackson Ave B, invited everyone to experience Bacchus from the parking lot and front porch of the lovely condo. Once again, we landed in the perfect place for a beautiful day of parades, walking just a half block away to parades, and having the magic Bathroom and Beer storage spot at Ginny and Annette’s place.

Trying to meet a client on Julia Street Saturday morning took 3 hours to move less than half a mile… but that’s okay – I wouldn’t trade our “job” for anything. It’s great to be so spoiled with the perfect set-ups for enjoying the city, and being able to offer those same comforts to those we serve. Just awesome. Just way too fun to stay home and complain that New Orleans is inconvenient to work in during the season.

If you call this work…

Anne Beck
New Orleans Realtor, specializing in not much of anything the last few weeks!