Great Escape: Make It a Cajun Date

Your teens are holding a car wash at the high school Saturday. The grandparents volunteered to take the younger children to a movie Sunday afternoon. Your tweens take tap on Wednesday evening. It’s your time. Take it.

Each week, we’ll tell you about one great idea to give you a much deserved break, and make your life a little easier, maybe a whole lot easier.

The first thing that comes to mind when I think of Hyattsville isn't New Orleans. It isn't cajun cuisine or even Coltrane.

It definitely isn't seafood gumbo.

But if you're looking for an escape of parish porportions, head over to at the Metro Shops.

At first blush, this place seems like any other restaurant. But once you've tasted the fried okra and jambalaya, you know you're in another world.

I have a very bad, bad memory involving red beans and rice, so I won't suggest you start there. But I will toast you over any of their decadent po' boys or muffaletta sliders.

On a visit to see family in the Big Easy I tasted fried alligator. Sadly, that's the one thing I see missing from J Marie's menu. But since it tastes like chicken, you can just replace it with an order of blackened chicken and mushroom pasta.

The best part is that on Friday and Saturday nights the restaurant has live jazz to serenade your meal. The French fun runs from 8 to 11 p.m. on Fridays and 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. on Saturdays. There's also karaoke on Tuesdays.