On Friday I was walking down a very familiar stretch of Royal Street in the Quarter (between CC's and Royal Mail) when I decided to stop into a fairly new shop for the first time. Royal Sundries (927 Royal Street) had caught my eye a few times as I'd walked past it during the two months or so since it first opened, but I'd never taken the time to stop in. It looked like a pretty cool assortment of stuff from the window... art and jewelry and handmade cards, plus some snacks and cold drinks. And apparently a small DVD rental selection as well.

I chatted with the owner Karen Landry for awhile. She was super nice and enthusiastic, and she spoke about how she really wants her shop to be a place that's inviting for both locals and tourists alike. The one thing in the shop that really caught my attention was a display of some artwork by children, ages 3 to 12, from around the world. Acquired through a non-profit called the Global Children's Art Gallery, some of these pieces were pretty impressive considering the ages of the children who had created them. This got Karen talking about how she hopes to soon set up some art workshops for children and adults, featuring a different resident artist each month or so. Eventually she plans to have even more community resources and activities available in the shop.

I hope this so-much-more-than-just-a-gift-shop really takes off. Karen seems like such a kind and giving, down to earth person, and her store could be a very welcome addition to the French Quarter landscape.

photo by jeffschwartz via Flickr