Writer's Room

The historic Roosevelt New Orleans has all the drama a playwright requires.

While such lavish digs may be beyond the means of most aspiring playwrights, those lucky enough to spend a night in this Waldorf Astoria's opulent Teddy Roosevelt Suite will no doubt find the inspiration they need to write the next A Streetcar Named Desire. If not, perhaps the suite's grand piano will inspire an equally lucrative career. 123 Baronne St; 5046481200; therooseveltneworleans.com

HAT A Panama from the very store that sold chapeaux to Tennessee Williams makes an excellent — not to mention stylish — thinking cap. $95. www.meyerthehatter.com

TYPEWRITER The writers of yesteryear made their words count on machines like this one from the Magazine Antique Mall on Magazine Street. $150.  www.magazineantiquemall.com>

DRINK Need to get the creative juices flowing? A sazerac from the hotel's aptly named Sazerac Bar should do the trick.

PLAYBILL Take in a performance at the Mahalia Jackson Theater for the Performing Arts, one of the city's most impressive performance venues.  www.mahaliajacksontheater.com

BOOKS Faulkner House Books, a shop housed in William Faulkner's old digs, has plenty of literature by Big Easy influenced writers.  www.faulknerhouse.net

SUIT & TIE A white linen suit and red bow tie from famed men's clothier Rubensteins will have you channeling Williams' ghost in no time. Suit: $295/ bow tie: $65,  www.rubensteinsneworleans.com