Bargain Meals

... bargains in New Orleans, The Big Easy, are happy hours, where the drinks are cheap and the food free. They're all over town. A few examples of the many possibilities: no cover charge, free oysters, red beans, karaoke, and the cheapest draft we could find:
The City that Care Forgot remembers its traditions, one of which is red beans and rice on Mondays. Donna's, 800 N. Rampart St. (a venue for some of the best young brass bands here or anywhere), dishes them out for free during the Monday all-star jam, although the barbecue is worth forking over a few dinero.

For 25 years, Igor's Bar & grill sidewalk cafe-cumlaundromat at 2133 St. Charles Ave., has ladled out the complete proteins on Monday, which was also was hday, lest the connection be lost there.
Tipitina's, 501 Napoleon, does free beans and rice Sunday nights 5-9 with Cajun music.

At Check Point Charlie, 501 Esplanade, a bar and grill so casual, New Orleans locals use it as a second living room, there's rarely a cover charge for the daily live music.
Loud, bright, and open 24 hours. Thanks to the on -premises laundromat, you can drink while you dry.

Le Bon Temps Roule (possibly the best juke box in town), 4801 Magazine, serves free oysters on Fridays from 7 to 10 p.m.

Described by one wag as a karaoke bar on steroids, Cat's Meow , 701 Bourbon offers three-for-one drink specials on practically all drinks every day. And, hey, the karaoke is free. Bruce Willis stopped in one night.

T.J. Quills , 7600 Maple St., is quiet in the early evenings, but rocks late night 'til dawn.
Cheap nightly specials include Tuesday's $.25 drafts and Wednesday's 22 oz. drinks when more costs less.

Online and in the Times Picayune and Gambit newspapers you'll find lots of food and drink bargains in bars, cafes, and restaurants.