A Magazine Street Day

As a little girl I imagined Magazine Street was paved with actual magazine pages. I pictured one colorful image after another creating a magical pathway leading me down the road of my favorite places.

Though I knew this was only in my imagination, the miles of beautiful shops and entrepreneurial spirit never stopped capturing my heart.

Are you up for a magazine street day? My mom would ask, already knowing how excited I would be.

Sometimes we would visit for a specific purpose, but my favorite days were when we had no agenda at all.

We would wander through shops and cafes, ice cream in hand, sharing our mutual love for finding beautiful things in beautiful spaces. Some days we would take home our treasures, but most days we would leave them there, the ephemeral moments satisfying our spirit just enough.

As I grew up I always had a way of finding myself back on Magazine Street, both rooting me in my past and supporting experiences that propelled me forward.

Laughing with my childhood best friend over giant chocolate chip cookies. Finding the black and white polka dot dress for my first middle school dance.

Submitting a college application to my dream school. Walking into a restaurant for my first ever job interview as a hostess.

Finding the perfect antique decor for my first tiny New Orleans apartment.

Going on a lunchtime walk down the street for a breath of fresh air in the midst of a busy day.

As the years press on and responsibilities grow I fight to remember, but for a moment I go back...

When a Magazine Street day ends and I go to sleep, I dream of being 80 years old, stepping outside my door onto the magazine pages, seeking beauty and adventure just where I was taught to find it.