New Orleans might be a great late-night town for entertaining, but it's taken some time to turn it into a great place for late-night eating.

Why it matters: There's more to life than Lucky Dogs and floppy slices of off-Bourbon Street pizza.

The big picture: There are lots of reasons late-night eating went through a long slump in New Orleans.

• Hurricane Katrina certainly did a number on things. (Chelsea remembers the days when the only option to satisfy a late-night craving was to drive out to Sweet Things and Donuts and Grill. It's still open 24 hours, so keep it on your radar.)
• Late-night crime and the pandemic didn't help, either. (The Times-Picayune's Ian McNulty has a story that dives into both.)

Yes, but: Things are lookin' up.

• Not only are some once-reliable options restarting their late-night hours, but others are purposefully getting into the game.

Here's where to find great eats in New Orleans well after dark.

🍔 The classics: For when you need a beer and a burger, or perhaps breakfast well before the rooster crows.

• Buffa's, Melba's, Clover Grill and Beachcorner. Bertie's Intergalactic Pub Kitchen does classics with a twist.

🍸 Something chic: Great cocktails or wine lists, plus elevated kitchens that stay open 'til at least 11pm on weekends.

• Bouligny Tavern, The Delachaise, The Chloe, Pluck, The Will & The Way and Revel.

👀 And three newcomers: These spots opened recently but made early plans to appeal to the late-night scene.

• Junebug, Morrow Steak and Taquerias Carnalito.

Share with a night owl

🏀 University of New Orleans tapped Michael "Gio" Giorlando to be its new athletic director ahead of the school's transition to LSU New Orleans. Giorlando brings decades of experience from leadership roles at UNO, LSU and Loyola University New Orleans. (Biz New Orleans)

🦍 Audubon Zoo is collecting old tech donations to help support gorilla conservation efforts. In exchange for their old cellphone or other tech, guests can take home a small piece of gorilla-made art.

🏖️ For all you beachgoers:

• Destin just voted to replace its 4th of July fireworks with a drone show. (Get the Coast)
• The city also has a new "floating ER." The fast response vessel provides trauma-level care on the water until patients can get to shore. (Video)

Homeowners are suddenly trying to fix their own machines rather than replace them to save money.

Driving the news: Whirlpool shares plummeted this month after the appliance maker said industry demand dropped 10% in March — the biggest decline since the global financial crisis.

• "One of the strongest businesses in Q1 was actually our spare parts and repair business," Whirlpool CEO Marc Bitzer said.

Between the lines: Interest rates remain elevated, making it more expensive for people to borrow to buy appliances — and housing sales remain low, removing one standard incentive for consumers to buy washers and dryers.

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