Ernie K-Doe Mother-In-Law Lounge

Lonely Planet review

R&B singer Ernie K-Doe passed away in 2001, but his nightclub lives on. A visit is an unforgettable experience for anyone who remembers the inimitable K-Doe. His life was a remarkable up-and-down ride from the 1960s, when he recorded his number-one hit 'Mother in Law,' to the 1990s, when he pronounced himself 'Emperor of the World.' His widow, Anoinette, keeps the K-Doe spirit alive by designing and sewing flamboyant suits for the life-sized statue of her late husband that presides over the room.

The joint was flooded by Hurricane Katrina, but Antoinette and the statue survived in the upstairs apartment. She set out to refurbish the place and at this writing she was optimistic she'd be reopening soon. Fans continue to flock to the place for live music, karaoke, film screenings and crazy parties. The Mother-in-Law Lounge is on Claiborne Ave, downriver from Esplanade by a couple of blocks. It's a sketchy neighborhood, so take a cab.