PHOTOS: French Quarter sits empty after bars shut down, gatherings banned

Instead of the usual St. Patrick’s Day crowds, Bourbon Street is empty Tuesday evening, the day after the state shut down bars and curtailed restaurant operations in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Photographed on Tuesday, March 17, 2020.

PHOTOS: French Quarter sits empty after bars shut down, gatherings banned

by Michael DeMocker | March 21, 2020

Instead of the usual St. Patrick’s Day crowds, Bourbon Street sat empty Tuesday evening, the day after the state shut down bars and curtailed restaurant operations in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Photographed on Tuesday, March 17, 2020.

Bourbon Cowboy is boarded up as if for a hurricane on Tuesday evening, the day after the state shut down bars and curtailed restaurant operations in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Photographed on Tuesday, March 17, 2020.

Instead of the usual St. Patrick’s Day crowds, Bourbon Street had little foot traffic on Tuesday evening, the day after the state shut down bars and curtailed restaurant operations in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Photographed on Tuesday, March 17, 2020.

A lone trumpet player performs by himself in front of St. Louis Cathedral on Tuesday evening, the day after the state shut down bars and curtailed restaurant operations in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Photographed on Tuesday, March 17, 2020.

A crowd dances on Bourbon Street Sunday night but the street was empty Tuesday on the day after the state shut down bars and curtailed restaurant operations in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Photographed on Tuesday, March 17, 2020.

The venerable Antoine’s Restaurant was closed for business on Tuesday evening, the day after the state shut down bars and curtailed restaurant operations in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Photographed on Tuesday, March 17, 2020.

A pedicab driver awaits a fare in the nearly empty French Quarter on Tuesday evening, the day after the state shut down bars and curtailed restaurant operations in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Photographed on Tuesday, March 17, 2020.

A bar is locked up on Bourbon Street on Tuesday evening, the day after the state shut down bars and curtailed restaurant operations in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Photographed on Tuesday, March 17, 2020.

Musical Legends Park is locked up Tuesday evening, the day after the state shut down bars and curtailed restaurant operations in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Photographed on Tuesday, March 17, 2020.

A sign announces that St. Louis Cathedral in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Photographed on Tuesday, March 17, 2020.

Instead of the usual St. Patrick’s Day crowds, the French Quarter is empty Tuesday evening, the day after the state shut down bars and curtailed restaurant operations in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Photographed on Tuesday, March 17, 2020.

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Michael DeMocker

Michael DeMocker has been a photojournalist in New Orleans for over twenty years. He’s been the National Press Photographer Association’s Regional Photographer of the Year three times and loves photographing all things New Orleans. He lives Uptown with his wife, son, and two dogs of varying intelligence.

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