Kate J.
Yelp
BOOOO HISSS!
Okay, so I readily admit I am not a NOLA native. I was down there visiting some friends who are, however. And this is not my first time, either, nor will it be my last. So I don't really consider myself one of those drunk-on-Bourbon-Street-every-night-Katrina-tour-taking-loudmouth-asshole types. As such, I wanted a New Orleans tee shirt that did not scream "I HAVE PARTIED IN NEW ORLEANS AND IT KICKED ASS!"
I passed over some of the classics in the French Quarter - "I Got Bourbon Faced on Shit Street" and "DEA: Drunk Every Night" amongst them. In Funky Monkey, I found the perfect tee shirt - a water meter emblem. Cute, kitschy, and not crazy touristy. Alas, the only one on the rack was not my size.
BUT WAIT! My boyfriend informed me that there was a sign indicating that they MAKE tee shirts! I walked into the backish area of the store and discovered a wall of tee shirts (actual shirts, not just images) as well as a blank rack of tee shirts. Among the shirts on the wall was the water meter design!
Now I hate feeling like a tourist, hate looking like a tourist, and try my best o be respectful and never act like a tourist. So when I went up to the girl working behind the counter and said, "Excuse me? Are the shirts on the wall the designs you can imprint on--" I did not expect to be cut off with a curt, rude, "Mm-hm," and negative eye contact. I can't really convey the attitude without a face to face demonstration, but trust me: she was definitely privately considering just exactly how much better than me she is.
Look, sister. I may be a tourist, but until you decided to treat me like something you accidentally and unfortunately stepped in, I was about to spend money in your crappy hipster store. Now I never will, no matter how many times I come to New Orleans, no matter how cool your tee shirt designs may be.
Hope it was worth it.