As a child, my parents voted me Most Likely To Have Visited The Restroom At Any Given Location. Don’t know where the bathroom is? Ask Maitri. A girl can’t help it if she has the smallest bladder in the known universe. Be it at school, parents’ offices, friends’ homes, restaurants, parks, shopping centres or even the temple, I could walk to the loo and back blindfolded. Sadly, this is only one of many running jokes I have provided my family.
The curse of hyperactive nephrons has followed me into adulthood. Now I have the pleasure of frequenting water closets at such varied adult locations as pubs, stadiums, my own workplace and homes of friends. Over the last four years or so, some of the most well-known settings to me include the girls’ room at Fahy’s and “visiting Frank” at Loki and Lex’s.
John McCawley of hardgeus.com has inspired me to create something with the intimate knowledge of these relief facilities (high five to Julie for finding this!). His Toilets Of New Orleans is the indexer’s dream: each visited loo gets its own post, a full review and a comprehensive photograph. However, his coverage is half-done, one-sided, woefully incomplete. What about the ladies’ counterparts? I cannot give up this opportunity, especially when the reputation of Ms. Mae’s restrooms are at stake (her girls’ room is much nicer).
Without further ado, welcome to The Ladies’ Rooms Of New Orleans. Periodically, VatulBlog will contain a post dedicated to a female restroom, public or private, replete with a review and picture. As a woman, I care more about the cleanliness, availability of soap, toilet paper and paper towel and lighting of the restroom rather than the encounters with others of your own species that you men have to put up with in “the trough.” Thank goodness for privacy. [I’ll wager you a bar of antibacterial soap that my mother says, “Cheeee!” when she reads this. That’s “Yuuuuk!” in Tamil.]
First on the list, as I happened to be there for a krewe meeting last night, is Molly’s On Toulouse.
Address: 732 Toulouse St. (downtown side), between Bourbon and Royal
Overall Cleanliness: 4 out of 5 stars
Availability of soap, TP and towel: All available and accessible
Lighting: 4 out of 5 stars
Comments: For a tight space, the tenders of Molly keep their ladies’ clean and well-supplied. The left side of the toilet is almost up against the wall, so leave your jacket in your seat before visiting this restroom.
More to come. MRB, Mardi Gras World and Dragon’s Den on the agenda for this weekend.
Wow…. interesting project. Make sure you catch the ladies’ room on the first floor at Emeril’s Delmonico – VERY nicely appointed (I know this because my date actually dragged me over to look at it.)
A West Bank bathroom favorite, Kim Son, mens room..
Combine a urinal, a rope and a homemade wooden platform and you have a unique flush system.
My husband made me go in and look. I swear.
I second the Kim Son men’s room! I will also expect an article on the members only facilities referred to as “visiting Frank.”…
That’s one nice-looking bathroom!
And, on cue, my mother squeals through the phone, “Don’t you have anything better to blog about? Chee! Yuuuuk! Gross!!!”
My work here is done.
Now, this is a noble project indeed! I loved checking out the bathrooms when I was little. My oldest sister tells stories of how she would take me to the movies at the Fox and I would make her spend the entire time in the (glorious) ladies room. I was sure that we had gone to ancient Egypt. I am certain that your fair city is filled with interesting facilities.
I also wouldn’t be a bit surprised if Middle Son and/or his friends weren’t to blame for the poor state of the men’s room at Miss Mae’s (and it’s possible they’re also responsible for the foul humor of the bartender too). *sigh*
Perhaps we could have a full photo essay of Dangerblond’s pleasure palace when it’s completed?
Also, a subject of GREAT importance to me!
Best ladies’ rooms – Fairmont Hotel, Windsor Court (pre K anyway). Post K, I have not done a study -that’s up to you I guess!
Worst – Tipitina’s uptown.
PS. When I was traveling through Europe as a 20-something, I found that American fast food places had the best bathrooms!
Looking forward to your survey!
I got a start on this for the Austin pee scene last year.
We should team up, we could cover the his and the hers.