New Orleans is a small city. People refer jokingly to “one degree of separation.” But what happens on this Happy Hour is beyond any coincidence you could imagine. If this was in a movie you’d dismiss it as being insanely implausible.

Without ruining the revelation of the conversation, here’s what you need to know. Sarah Arcenaux and Beau Ross have never met each other before sitting down across the table this evening on Happy Hour.

Sarah is a bartender at Ralph’s On The Park in Mid City. She’s moving soon to be a bartender at the newly renovated Brennan’s on Royal Street in the Quarter. Sarah didn’t start out to have a career in the service industry, though she discovered she’s a natural at it and now she loves it. Sarah set out to be a writer. She still dabbles in writing.

Beau is co-owner and wine afficianado at Bacchanal in the Bywater. Beau didn’t set out to have a career in the service industry, though he discovered he’s a natural at it and now he loves it. Beau set out to be a writer. He still dabbles in writing.

Okay, so now you’re thinking Sarah and Beau have similar backgrounds, similar occupations, and similar life trajectories. Big deal. There are probably hundreds of people in New Orleans who are writers of some description working in bars. And you’re right, there probably are. But that’s not what Sarah and Beau have in common. Their similarities are merely evidence of what they might have in common that’s much deeper than any of these details. Saying any more here would be a total spoiler. All we can say is, no matter what you’re thinking Sarah and Beau’s connection might be, there’s no way you can see this one coming.

Kelcy Mae makes a more than welcome return to Happy Hour, this time bringing Sam Cords, the brother of her partner and banjo/mandolin player, Pudd’n, to join her on guitar. Kelcy is spearheading an all-star fundraiser for the Apex Youth Center in Central City, and plays two songs on this evening’s show.

By the way, Kelcy is also a writer and likes to pour a drink, but she doesn’t share any deeper coincidences with Sarah and Beau.

Sarah cements her candidacy for Best Guest Ever by bringing her own home made booze, and bottles of it as gifts!

The photos on this page are taken at Wayfare by Douglas Engel. You can see even more photos here. And that’s Max Cusimano shooting video.