I adore Muriel's. For one of the newer restaurants in town, they have no pretense. Gorgeous burgundy walls, five unique crystal chandeliers in the small dining room I'm in. The best part: they don't treat single diners as second-class citizens. They have a section of the wine menu dedicated to half bottles. With the layout of the tables and how the dining rooms are architected, single diners are scattered throughout the room, not shunted to a section in the back with no view and a sign overhead that says "Here sit those who didn't have anyone who wanted to eat with them. Please begin piteous glances now."

Plus, the service is second to none. There would be a picture here of me enjoying turtle soup, but the lighting's too subtle. Instead, you get my visage getting ready to head out. Just figured out that you can watch the Sidekick screen in the mirror when taking pictures of self to ensure non-decapitation. Yaaaaay!

Self-aggrandizement followed by a shot of the Cabildo at night,

And a little of the *real* Pat O'Brien's (as opposed to the one in San Antonio).

No hand grenades for me tonight, thanks. I'd have to get up at 7 to be home by 5. I'll be hunkerin' down at my refuge, O'Flaherty's. Danny's not on stage, but I'll nurse my cider and deal. --regan