Chapter 1
Money, Money, Money
ABBA
About the Music
Each chapter title in Strictly New Orleans is drawn from a song that captures a moment in Philip and Melissa's journey. This playlist weaves together New Orleans jazz, soul, gospel, and contemporary tributes to the Crescent City.
Explore the City
Visit the real-world locations that set the stage for Philip and Melissa's story.
Café Du Monde
800 Decatur St, New Orleans, LA 70116
The legendary open-air coffee shop where Philip first learned that powdered sugar is a condiment, not a decoration. It's where he and Melissa shared their first late-night conversation over café au lait.
Tipitina's
501 Napoleon Ave, New Orleans, LA 70115
The iconic music venue where Patrick dragged Philip to see his first brass band. The sticky floors and sweating walls became the backdrop for Philip's realization that perfection is overrated.
Preservation Hall
726 St Peter St, New Orleans, LA 70116
The holy grail of traditional jazz. In the intimate, bench-seating-only room, Melissa showed Philip the heart of the city—beating in 4/4 time.
First Grace United Methodist Church
3401 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70119
A beacon of resilience on Canal Street. This is where Melissa took Philip to see the true spirit of community—a place that rebuilt itself from the floodwaters up, proving that faith is an action verb.
Loyola University New Orleans College of Law
526 Pine St, New Orleans, LA 70118
The place where Philip learned that the law isn't just about rules—it's about people. In the quiet corners of the law library, he found the clarity he needed to fight for what really matters.
City Park
1 Palm Dr, New Orleans, LA 70124
Under the ancient oaks of the Sculpture Garden, Philip and Melissa walked for hours without saying a word. It was here, surrounded by art and nature, that Philip finally let go of his need for control.
Magazine Street
Magazine St & Washington Ave, New Orleans, LA 70115
Six miles of shopping, dining, and pure New Orleans flavor. This is where Philip bought his first seersucker suit and where Melissa showed him that the best treasures are found in the most unexpected places.
Second Line Coffee (Flagship)
3800 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70115
The heart of the Batiste family legacy. This is where Antoine built his dream, where Mr. George roasts the beans, and where Philip and Melissa first truly connected over a broken espresso machine.
Second Line Coffee (Mid-City)
4100 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70119
The community hub. Located in a converted shotgun house, this shop became the home of the free legal clinic where Melissa merged her two worlds.
Second Line Coffee (French Quarter)
600 Chartres St, New Orleans, LA 70130
The tourist favorite. Just steps from Jackson Square, this bustling location is where Shanice charms visitors with stories and extra powdered sugar.
Second Line Coffee (Marigny)
2200 Royal St, New Orleans, LA 70117
Mrs. Higgins' domain. A quiet, colorful spot near the river where the locals go to escape the crowds and listen to the jazz drifting over from Frenchmen Street.
Second Line Coffee (Bywater)
3200 Burgundy St, New Orleans, LA 70117
The neighborhood spot. Tucked away in the vibrant Bywater, this location is a favorite for artists, musicians, and anyone looking for a strong cup of coffee and a friendly face.
Meet the Characters
Philip
The ArchitectA man of structure and blueprints who came to New Orleans to fix a building, but stayed to fix himself. He learned that life, like jazz, happens in the improvisation.
"I used to think I needed a plan. Now I know I just need a rhythm."
Melissa
The SoulBorn and raised in the Crescent City, she carries its history in her heart and its music in her veins. She taught Philip that you don't just live in New Orleans; you let it live in you.
"Honey, in this town, even the ghosts are dancing."
Stephanie Batiste
The MatriarchMelissa's mother and the quiet strength behind the Batiste family legacy. After losing her husband, she fights to protect what they built, finding a new resilience in the face of change.
"The city will teach you. It teaches everyone, eventually."
Behind the Music
"Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans?"
Louis Armstrong
This was the song playing on the jukebox at the Magazine Street shop the first time Philip truly listened. He'd been hearing the music for months, treating it as background noise, a metric for "ambiance." But that rainy Tuesday, watching Melissa teach a tourist how to properly eat a beignet without inhaling the sugar, the trumpet solo hit him. He realized he wasn't just missing a city; he was missing a feeling. A feeling he was finally starting to find.
"Iko Iko"
The Dixie Cups
Patrick's favorite. During his first visit in July, he became obsessed with the rhythm. He'd march around the apartment banging on pots and pans, chanting "Jock-a-mo fee-na-nay." It drove Philip crazy for exactly two days until he saw Melissa join in, grabbing a wooden spoon and leading a mini-parade through the kitchen. That was the moment Philip realized his orderly life was about to get a lot louder, and a lot better.
"La Vie en Rose"
Louis Armstrong
The song for the wedding. Not the first dance—that was a second line—but the quiet moment before. Melissa was in the bride's room, fixing her makeup, and this song drifted in from the sanctuary where the pianist was warming up. It's a song about seeing life through rose-colored glasses, but for Melissa, it was about seeing life clearly for the first time. No more fear. Just love.
"Big Chief"
Professor Longhair
The anthem of the comeback. After the hurricane, when the power was finally back on and the first batch of coffee was brewing, Mr. George put this record on. It's a song about swagger, about resilience, about being the boss of your own joy. As the piano rolled, the neighbors started trickling in, tired and battered but ready to rebuild. It wasn't just a song; it was a declaration. We're still here.
"St. James Infirmary"
Preservation Hall Jazz Band
The song of the "NOLA Noir." Late nights on the balcony, the humidity thick enough to chew, the shadows stretching long across the pavement. This is the track for the moments when the city feels like a secret, when the history presses in close. It's the sound of Philip and Melissa's first real conversation about the past, spoken in low voices while the city slept around them.