<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Make no bones about it, and I've said this before, if I could walk around with a coffee drip running through my veins I would. The act of fetching/having/going out for coffee is a huge part of my process as a photographer, or for that matter a creative. I've featured lots of coffee shops over the years, and these are a few I'm currently obsessing over. Follow them and show them some love when your own craving kicks in.</p>
<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">I've been spending a lot of time in the French Quarter as of late. Being a person built on the idea of routine, coffee (specifically iced coffee) is my morning godsend. </p>
<p>It's been a long time home-coming for the Nola bred coffee outpost <a target="_blank" href="http://www.revelatorcoffee.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Revelator Coffee</a>. A few months ago, Revelator Nola opened in a super cosy spot on Tchoupitoulas in the heart of the Warehouse District, to a ton of well deserved fanfare. Each neighborhood around the city has it's own distinct coffee shop and it was time for the Warehouse District to get its own.</p>
<p>'m grateful for carbs. Let's just get that out of the way. What better way to flick off Dr. Atkins than devouring copious amounts of baked goods. There are a few things I can't resist and usually they're baked, fried, or distilled, just to name a few. <a target="_blank" href="http://graciousbakery.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Gracious Bakery</a>, is located in the bottom floor of the brand new Woodward Design building in the Xavier University area of Uptown. It's a corridor that has seen a ton of growth lately especially with the recent opening of the CostCo and the launch of the Blue Plate Art Lofts.</p>
<p>The Bywater, in my opinion exists in rarefied air. Each and every time I walk around one of Nola's most promising neighborhoods, it occurs to me that there's something special going on down there. Artists and artisans, musicians, and numerous entrepreneurs are truly making the area into something very unique. One of the coolest spots to open in the Bywater is the coffee shop <a target="_blank" href="https://plus.google.com/106133526418864837696/about?gl=us&hl=en" rel="noopener noreferrer">Solo Espresso</a>.</p>
<p>I'm still trying to figure out why donuts are not an official food group. Seriously, they are a universal food in which I cannot get enough of. Since their opening a little over a month ago, <a href="http://www.donutsandsliders.com/">District Donuts/Sliders/Brew</a> have been infiltrating the hearts and stomachs of anyone coming anywhere near Magazine and Jackson avenue in the Lower Garden District.</p>
<p>One of the jewels of Uptown New Orleans is Prytania Street. Whether it's catching a flick at The Prytania Theatre, being romantic at Le Crepe Nanou, or getting your hair did at Paris Parker, there's not much you can't get on Prytania. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/ManhattanJackNOLA" rel="noopener noreferrer">Manhattan Jack</a> is one of our favorite places on Prytania, and is slap dab in the middle of all the action.</p>
<p>Just like most people around town, we all tend to refer to time we spent in NOLA in a post or pre-Katrina fashion. Back in the day, when I was a pre-driver liscence, pre-pubescent, some of my fondest memories growing up were the experiences I had at the Dunkin’ Donuts on Veterans in Metairie.</p>
<p style="margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px">Upon each and every visit to the Bywater nestled below the french quarter, I'm equally surprised and inspired. This time it's the cosy and one of a kind charm of Satsuma Cafe that seems to be working it's magic. Quint and inviting would be the perfect description for this very popular eatery. After a day trip around the Bywater, I decided to listen to droves of folks who've been heckling me for not visiting Satsuma.</p>
<p>In one of the most idiotic retail moves in history, Starbucks pulled out of Lakeside Shopping Center and left their spot vacant until <a target="_blank" href="http://www.shopsucre.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sucre</a> took over. It seems that smarter + cooler heads prevailed and the space has been transformed into a Mr. Magorium style coffee and sweet delights emporium.</p>
<p>Each and everyday like clockwork I stumble into my regular chain coffee joint for a triple shot mocha. At a clip of 364 days a year, and sometimes twice a day. Anyone who knows me, even in the slightest, will tell you I have a serious hankering/addiction to caffeine. Just recently I've become more and more aware of how much customers just don't matter in these places. Don't get me wrong, I realize that in the grand scheme of things, I'm only one person among hundreds of folks who shuffle in and out. What seems to be missing is community.</p>
<p>If you've followed and have been enjoying our content here on iHeartnola.com for some time, you've realized we are obsessed with coffee in all it's facets. One of our favorite places in the city to refuel is <a target="_blank" href="http://merchantneworleans.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Merchant</a>. Located in the Maritime Building in the CBD, Merchant serves not only grade A Illy Coffee but some of the best and quickest breakfasts downtown.</p>