Like the rest of the All Star Charts team, I spent last week in New Orleans. It was hot. It was muggy. But the food—oh man, the food—made it all worth it.
I think I hit all the cornerstones of New Orleans cuisine:
I even enjoyed a non-alcoholic Hurricane. I was told it was a "Category 1". LOL
This trip was also a first for me: my first time visiting New Orleans sober. And let me tell you, it didn’t change my love for the city one bit. I still soaked in the music, the architecture, the culture, and that ever-present sense of celebration that pulses through every corner of the French Quarter.
But being clear-eyed did sharpen my awareness of some of the more absurd—and uniquely American—aspects of the experience. Lets just say I raised my eyebrow more than once at some of the things I observed...
The contrast was never more apparent than on the days we held our Portfolio Accelerator meetings in our hotel, right on Bourbon Street.
Inside the conference room, it was cool, calm, and composed. We dove into smart conversations about money, markets, and opportunity. If I needed a break, I’d step into the quiet lobby, where a gentle fountain trickled and time seemed to slow.
But take 50 more steps and crack open those front doors to the hotel, and boom: full sensory assault. Street drummers pounding. Door guys shouting offers and insults with equal volume. Tourists stumbling mid-day with drinks in hand. All of it wrapped in a sweltering soup of heat, and the smell of oysters, stale beer, garbage, and god knows what else.
Welcome to Bourbon Street.
It’s a strange, jarring contrast. And also, somehow, totally perfect for a city like New Orleans.
As always, the real highlight was connecting with our customers and guests—people who brought sharp insights, fresh perspectives, and a contagious sense of curiosity and optimism. And they brought the fun too!
I left feeling inspired, recharged, and ready for what’s next.
Toronto in September is next. Can’t wait. Let’s go!
Sean McLaughlin | Chief Options Strategist, All Star Charts
