Author: Dave Minsky

Guardsman gets ‘retraining’ after rifle left behind in Bourbon Street bathroom

A Louisiana National Guard soldier was reportedly ordered to undergo “retraining” after leaving behind their M4 rifle inside a Bourbon Street hotel bathroom earlier this month.

The National Guard confirmed the incident on Feb. 9 after a picture of the M4 rifle next to a bathroom urinal began circulating on social media. Several news sources have reported that the rifle was mistakenly left inside the bathroom of Lafitte Hotel and Bar in the 1000 block of Bourbon Street.

The person who allegedly took the picture uploaded it to Reddit, saying in their Feb. 9 post that they “waited for a National Guard guy to use the bathroom and then after i entered i found this assault rifle.”

The Reddit user, identified as “awyastark,” described themselves as a tour guide was on a bar stop and waited at least 10 minutes for the guardsman to finish up before stumbling upon the unattended weapon.

“Technically staff bathroom,” the Reddit post said. “I’m a tour guide so they’ll let me use it, part of why I was willing to wait for ten minutes during our bar stop. However it seemed like a long time to spend on the pot so I can’t help but think that whatever they were up to in there had to do with being scatterbrained enough to leave a FUCKING ASSAULT RIFLE BEHIND (sorry but I’m still so unsettled by this).”

Military news website Task & Purpose cited Louisiana National Guard spokeswoman Lt. Col. Noel Collins, who said the solder was temporarily removed from his duty in the French Quarter and ordered to undergo retraining while the incident is investigated.

In December, the Louisiana National Guard mobilized approximately 350 soldiers in New Orleans to assist law enforcement during high profile events, such as the Sugar Bowl and Mardi Gras. Soldiers are scheduled to leave on Feb. 28.

Many soldiers, along with state and local police, are stationed in the French Quarter Enhanced Security Zone, a temporary zone which spans from Canal Street to St. Ann Street, in between Royal and Dauphine Streets.

Anyone entering the FQESZ is prohibited from bringing backpack coolers and ice chests into the area, and anyone refusing a search will be denied entry into the zone.

Added security measures in the French Quarter have been in place since Jan. 1, 2025, when 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar barreled down Bourbon Street and killed 14 people with his truck in what the FBI later determined to be a terrorist attack.

Restaurant Observations, Analysis, Corrections and Health Report

The Quarter Rat’s Restaurant Observations, Analysis, Corrections and Health Report lists the most recent East Safe Louisiana inspections at French Quarter dining establishments for the month of November 2024, and are taken from the Department of Health’s website. Inspections are conducted randomly and unannounced, and are a matter of public record. For more information on inspections conducted at New Orleans dining establishments, visit ldh.la.gov.

Nov. 1, 2024:
The Double Club – Bar
307 Chartres St.
Preliminary Inspection
11:50 AM
Critical Violation:
“Flies are present in the establishment.”
Non-Critical Violation:
“Ice that is used as cooling medium for foods or cooling coils is being used for consumer use.”

Nov. 4:
The Double Club – Bar
Opening Inspection
12 PM
Critical Violation:
“Flies are present in the establishment. [Corrected][Repeat]”

The Double Club – Restaurant
Opening Inspection
12:25 PM
Critical Violation:
“Flies are present in the establishment. [Corrected]”

Nov. 7:
Lebanon Grill – Restaurant
1122 Decatur St.
3:15 PM
Critical Violation:
“Flies are present in the establishment.”

Nov. 13:
Corner Oyster House – Restaurant
500 St. Peter St.
2:10 PM
Critical Violation:
“Flies are present in the establishment. [Corrected]”

Fahy’s Irish Pub
540 Burgundy St.
2:15 PM
Critical Violation:
“Flies are present in the establishment.”
(Nov. 20 follow-up inspection: no violations)

Nov. 18:
Vacherie – Bar
827 1/2 Toulouse St.
1:20 PM
Critical Violations:
“Food consists in whole or in part of a filthy, putrid, or decomposed substance. [Corrected]”
“Flies are present in the establishment. [Corrected]”

Nov. 20:
Hyatt French Quarter – Kitchen
800 Iberville St.
2:40 PM
Critical Violation:
“Rodents are present in the establishment. [Corrected]”

Nov. 21:
B Sweet Bistro – Restaurant
704 N. Rampart St.
3 PM
Critical Violation:
“Flies are present in the establishment.”

B Sweet Bistro – Bakery
3:35 PM
Critical Violation:
“Flies are present in the establishment. [Repeat]”

Nov. 22:
Fuego – Outside Bar
530 Bourbon St.
11:55 PM
Critical Violation:
“Flies are present in the establishment.”

Bourbon House – Second Floor Bar
144 Bourbon St.
12 PM
Critical Violation:
“Rodents are present in the establishment. *DROPPINGS”
(Nov. 25 follow-up inspection: No violations)




Bourbon Street’s Clover Grill sold to new owner

The Clover Grill diner located at 900 Bourbon St. has been sold to a new owner, according to commercial real estate brokerage Elfin Realty.

The property was sold for an undisclosed amount to owner 900 Bourbon LLC. Clover Grill’s sale was listed in Elfin’s The Pulse NOLA website, described as a “weekly update on the commercial real estate landscape of New Orleans.”

Located on the corner of Bourbon and Dumaine streets, the Clover Grill diner is known for its cheeseburgers, all-day breakfasts and class diner decor.

The restaurant opened in 1939 and was featured in the movie “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” in which the main character, played by Brad Pitt, ages in reverse.

Picture courtesy of mrpolyonymous/CC Flickr

Woman drives away with parking boots attached to car following alleged Canal Street assault

A 30-year-old woman is wanted on suspicion of theft and assault charges after driving away from a Canal Street parking lot with two boots attached to her rental vehicle following an altercation with an officer in November, according to New Orleans Police on Tuesday.

Police officials said the incident occurred at about 5 p.m. on Nov. 20 in the parking lot located at 201 Canal St., Brandie Yvonne Moody parked her rental vehicle without paying for parking.

Moody fought with the booting officer when they refused to remove the car boots placed on her vehicle for non-payment, causing minor injuries, NOPD said.

After the altercation, Moody allegedly stole the booting company’s thermal printer and fled the scene with the two boots still attached, damaging her rental vehicle in the process

New Orleans Police said Moody is now being sought on suspicion of charges that include felony theft, simple assault and simple battery. Officials said Moody also goes by the name of “Brandie Yvonne Bell.”

Officials urge the public to contact NOPD Detective Mark Boyle at 504-658-6703 or by email at mboyle@nola.gov, or contact NODP Eighth District detectives at 504-658-6080 with any information on the whereabouts of Moody.

Pictured: Brandie Moody/Courtesy of NOPD.

FQMD Finance and Development Committee meeting at HNOC classroom Dec. 3

The French Quarter Management District‘s Finance and Development Committee will hold its next meeting at the Historic New Orleans Collection classroom on Toulouse Street Tuesday afternoon.

The meeting is scheduled to start at 3 p.m. at at the HNOC classroom located at 610 Toulouse Street. The meeting is open to the public.

The meeting agenda includes discussion on the committee’s 2025 work plan, review of the 2025 budget proposals and vehicle procurement for community liaison officers.

Discussion on the French Quarter Museum Association cooperative endeavor agreement is also slated for the meeting and includes a motion to recommend to the FQMD board of commissioners approval of the fourth amendment to extend the agreement term.

The agenda also includes committee discussion on the New Orleans & Company 2025 general operating memorandum of understanding and will include consideration of a motion to recommend that the FQMD board of commissioners approve the MOU.

Additionally, the committee is scheduled to discuss the New Orleans & Company Upper Quarter Patrol cooperative endeavor agreement and will consider a motion to recommend that the FQMD board of commissioners approval a third amendment to extend the agreement term.

The committee will receive a presentation of the 2024 revised budget amendment and will also discuss updates by the Committee of Public Relations.

New business includes consideration and taking action “upon any other matters that may properly come before the FQMD’s Finance and Development Committee,” the agenda said.

Picture courtesy of vxla via CC Flickr.