the part-time wanderer
Hi I’m Kyla. Urban adventurer, part-time nomad, certified nap witch, amateur foodie and aspiring sommelier.
A recovering banker, I’ve spent the last decade working across the public and private sectors as a social change alchemist deploying capital for impact and designing innovative programs to close the racial funding gap. In 2024, after five years launching and scaling a startup nonprofit accelerator, I left my job and moved to New Orleans.
Explore the city and beyond with me, one meal and cocktail at a time. Follow along my sabbatical journey here.
living with intention
Pursuing Wonder. As someone who’s had a job since I was legally old enough to work (and even before that if I’m honest), taking my first ever self-funded career break has been a significant transition, literally years in the making. Besides the financial planning, which I never thought would be possible for someone like me who grew up in a single parent household and graduated college with student loans and credit card debt, the surprisingly harder challenge was the mental planning and preparedness. Detangling my worth from my work, unlearning a culture that celebrates burnout and attaches personal value to productivity.
I recently read this beautiful story about how scorpions must completely shed their skin in order to grow bigger, and live for days without any protective cover skin, completely vulnerable and exposed. Change can be scary and uncomfortable, but it can also be an adventure, a voyage, an expedition to something far greater that fits who we have yet to become. In addition to leaving a career I’ve spent my entire adult life identifying with, I left the place I’ve called home for the past ten years. And I couldn’t be more excited about what’s to come next.
Wander with me for a season of experimentation and exploration, decadent meals and extravagant cocktails, morning pages and artist dates, permitting myself to do less and pursue wonder and joy, every single day.
Authentic Adventure. I have a genuine passion for slow travel, long lunches with Sobremesa, and fancy martinis. I don’t claim to be an expert. I don’t know it all. But I do have a long and intimate relationship history with each. I love trying new things – exploring new places, meeting new people, and eating great food. I’ve relied on travel blogs to help plan my own trips and found some of the best cultural gems learning from others. My intention here is to return my own experiences and hard-earned lessons from all the amazing opportunities I’ve had to travel.
My guarantee is that everything you find here is authentic: I only use my own photos, and I only share places I’ve actually visited – there’s amazing bars, restaurants, museums and sites everywhere, I won’t claim to know the “best” but I will share favorites based on my real, lived, experience.
Crawdads and Cocktails is a world travel blog exploring bars and restaurants, local culture, urban art, and unique experiences. Based in New Orleans, enjoy a foodie’s paradise one bite at a time. Peruse urban playgrounds from around the world. I share over two decades of travel tips (and mishaps), and lived experiences from over twenty countries and nearly every continent.
Disclaimer: I am by no stretch a New Orleans local and I don’t claim to be. I’m not from here. But I have spent the last four winters here and now live here full-time. Because New Orleans isn’t a city you live in, it’s a city that lives in you. The best way to get to know any city in my opinion is to get to know the people who are from there, and do your own research. That’s what I do, it’s what I recommend you do, and I hope this can be one source to help inform your experience.
Urban Playground. As a community and economic developer, I’m passionate about all things that make cities vibrant and improve the quality of life for residents and visitors alike. My favorite part of traveling is eating local cuisine, trying new restaurants and bars, and exploring cultural hubs, creative adaptive reuse and innovative ways cities are evolving while honoring their history and heritage.
Budget Luxe. I bring over two decades of travel tips (and mishaps) from trendy restaurants to fancy spas, and first-hand experience from over twenty countries and nearly every continent (except Antarctica – but someday!) Whether you’re planning a US road trip or getaway in Dubai, find inspiration for your next destination and tactical tips for the budget conscious jet setter. You won’t find me in the same outfit twice on a trip but I never check a bag and I always travel with a big hat. If you have a first class appetite but a coach budget, this is for you!
