No, Laurel Street Bakery (2701 S. Broad St., 504-897-0576) is not Uptown on Laurel Street, but on a drizzly Saturday morning earlier this month, nobody had any trouble finding it.

They were regulars taking time out of a weekend for a special visit to mark its 20th anniversary and they packed in around the small cafe counter at the bakery. Some brought bouquets of flowers for the proprietor and staff. Baking sheets were used to pass around mimosas for a morning toast. Kids decorated cupcakes and people exchanged stories and hugs.

Then, two days later, the cafe opened for a normal Monday, and the more measured regular flow of customers circulated back in, resuming their routines and demonstrating why it’s worth celebrating a milestone anniversary for a quietly joyful spot like this in

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