Slide show: Tell-tale signs of a French Quarter hardware store

New Orleans -- When executed correctly, the neighborhood hardware store format serves as a confirmation of one's surroundings.

In a city like New Orleans, local idiosyncracies are especially difficult to leave out. Where else can you find crawfish boiling pots and fleur de lis merchandise mixed in with your usual nuts and bolts?

Here are a few snapshots from Mary's Ace Hardware -- a popular French Quarter hardware store -- that are especially emblematic of the local flavor.