It’s almost like that’s the definition of being American: You love becoming Irish for a day, or becoming Italian… Or becoming a Negro for four years.

The safest day at the Melody is St. Paddy’s,” adds another Mardi Gras girl. “All the cops are out vomiting at the parade.

I want my list of works to be lean and mean and everything was urgent and had to be done. Nothing to play the market. My family’s had to suffer for that, that I haven’t...