Travel tips for New Orleans?

[tsakshaug]

Going to New Orleans this Friday and will be there for a week. Have a week long meeting thing. Any specific suggestions for things to see and do?

[Brewman_Jax]

1. Online guide to New Orleans

is at http://www.neworleans.com
You can review it and decide on stuff that you'd like to do and see.

[Misinformed01]

2. Cafe du Monde

Chicory coffee and begnets...which I think I just spelled wrong---

Audobon Park; you used to be able to rent horses there-

Just walking around the French Quarter-

Take the tour of St. Louis cemetary with the National Park Service (do NOT go by yourself, it's dangerous)

I adore New Orleans-

On edit: You probably should try to catch the Radiators at Tipitinas..and stop by Preservation Hall-

[Nlighten1]

3. What ever you do...

Don't talk to strangers, especially ones who ask you if they can shine your shoes.

And

Go to "Mothers"

[GumboYaYa]

9. Get the Debris PoBoy at Mothers and Turtle Soup if they have it.

Don't be discouraged by the line. It will move pretty fast and you will meet some people while you stand in line. It is definitely worth the wait. Mmmmmmmm.... Mothers....Good call!

[Nlighten1]

13. I love that Ralph sammich.

And their brownies are to die for. So rich they can almost kill you.

[GumboYaYa]

14. The Ralph is great, with all that juicy juice dripping down your

arms. You can ask for Debris on the side to take home too and make your own poboys later. When I go to NO, I always bring back a few packs of the debris. You made me so hungry this morning, I'm about to eat my arm off!

[indepat]

4. D-Day Museum, aquarium, Commander's Palace for dinner, and have

coffee and those donut-like b's in the French Quarter.

[indepat]

5. And go to Pat O'Brien's in the French Quarter for a Hurricane and

rousing sing-a-long entertainment compliments of those at the twin pianos.

[Lisa0825]

6. I don't remember much of my trips to New Orleans... but I am pretty sure I

had a lot of fun!!!LOL!

:party:

[Brotherjohn]

7. Napoleon House... order the Muffaletta (or a half of one, it's huge).

Or you can order the same sandwich (Italian ham, cheeses, and olive salad, on its own unique, large round bun) at the place it originated, the Central Grocery. Both places, and sandwiches, are great. I just love the ambience of the Napoleon House, a restaurant/bar which was set up as a residence for Napoleon should he ever have escaped exile and made it to N.O.

The zoo and aquarium. Both are world class.

Like someone else said, just walk around the quarter. Especially up and down Royal or Chartres during the daytime, popping in all the shops. Many are like museums.

ON EDIT:
Napoleon House is on Chartres catacorner to the old Wildlife and Fisheries bldg, which they're renovating as a Federal Court Bldg., I believe (you can't miss it -- it's the only square-block sized bldg in the quarter surrounded by trees, between Royal and Chartres). Central Grocery is downriver on the North (lake) side of Decatur, between the Cafe Du Monde and the French Market (flea market). If you're at the Cafe Du Monde, cross Decatur and turn right, up Decatur. I think it may be right there in the first block, actually. The smell of a genuine Italian grocery will lure you in.

[tsakshaug]

8. great

These are great ideas keep them coming.
I have not even been on an airplane for 10 years, much less take a trip like this. First real "business" trip for me

[GumboYaYa]

10. Let's start with music.

You can go here http://www.offbeat.com/listings.html to search the music listings by day. I checked out this Saturday (June 19) for you and have a few reccomendations.

There are three great shows Saturday Night.

Eddie Bo, he is an old school New Orleans pianist that will blow you away with a high energy show.

Snooks Eaglin plays at Rock n Bowl. Snooks is a guitar player who has played with every great R&B, Blues and Rcock n Roll player ever to come out of New Orleans plus some. He is encyclopedic in his knowledge of songs. Rock n Bowl is a really cool place too. It is an old bowling alley/bar/music club with a cheesey disco ball. People bowl while the music plays.

Also, there is Big Sam's Funky Nation at the Maple Leaf. If you want some pulse pounding New Orleans funk, this is it. The Maple Leaf is a famous hole in the wall music club that has been featured in several movies. It is the classic juke joint.

Whatever you do, get out of the French Quarter and see some music. The music clubs in the quarter are generally tourist haunts that do not feature the best New Orleans has to offer.

[tsakshaug]

17. I will check these out

Hard to avoid tourist places for music when you are a tourist. Getting out to these places will be fun

[Creamed Corn]

11. Do you like sushi?

Rock-n-Sake on Fulton is great.

[mede8er]

12. Gumbo Shop.....

.....blackened redfish fingers with a cold Abita beer....yummy......

[tsakshaug]

18. Yummmmm

I will do that too

[Maddy McCall]

15. Cemetery tours at night with Vampires guides.

I don't know if you can still go on the cemetery tour, but it used to be really cool and scary.

[hyphenate]

16. The Audobon Zoo

is absolutely beautiful. Or at least it was when I was there 14 years ago.

Friday nights in the French Quarter.........parties galore.

Jackson Square and the Brewery. The Brewery isn't really one anymore, but has all kinds of wonderful shops and such.

You must go for breakfast in the French Quarter. I don't remember the name of the small place we went to, but they had Belgian waffles with strawberries and whipped cream.....to die for.

[Brotherjohn]

19. Possibly La Madeleine? Either way, go to La Madeleine. A chain, but...

... there aren't too many of them anywhere. More in N.O. than anywhere else, I think (a few in Dallas, one in Baton Rouge, one or two in Atlanta).

It's a really great, and cheap, "French Bistro". Gourmet cooking (and pastries) at budget prices, served cafeteria style.

Have the French Onion soup, with cheese melted in it, and croutons. I thought I hated French Onion soup until I had theirs.

There's one in the Quarter, right on Jackson Square. Crowded, but worth it. There's also one uptown, right at the corner of St. Charles and Carrolton.

[LastKnight]

37. i can vouch for the zoo...

very fun place. was there a year ago... its worth it.

-LK

[TX-RAT]

20. Don't forget Harrahs Casino

[KeepItReal]

21. If you've ever been to Vegas...forget Harrahs

Nobody goes to Nawlins to gamble...

:-)

[TX-RAT]

26. Nobody goes to Nawlins to gamble?

I do every time we go. Harrahs is great.

[GumboYaYa]

22. Blahhhh....scratch Harrahs and the House of Blues off any

itinerary for New Orleans. There is way too much to do that is real New Orleans to waste time on contrived places like those.

[TX-RAT]

28. Not much of a Bourbon St fan

I can get drunk at home.

[GumboYaYa]

29. Me either. I like Uptown, MidCity and the Lake Front.

The only reason I go to the Quarter is if I'm with someonne who is new to New Orleans or to go to the Louisiana Music Factory or A Gallery of Fine Photography.

Nevertheless, if it is your first trip to the city, seeing the Quarter is a must.

[lagniappe]

34. I don't like Bourbon Street either.

I know a few people who visited New Orleans and limited their time to the area around Bourbon Street. That street smells horrible, and it is a terrible first impression of New Orleans. Yeah, it's interesting to see and visit once, but it definitely is not what New Orleans is about.

[LastKnight]

23. you MUST go by preservation hall...

its mandatory. it is THE New Orleans music expierience. burbon street is fun but its just a bunch of drunk idiots...

-LK

[EstimatedProphet]

24. Aquarium of the Americas-a must-see

You will be blown away by the walk-through tank.
And BTW, if anyone tries to bet you that they know where you got your shoes, just walk away. Trust me.

[tsakshaug]

31. I think I have a reception there one night

that will be cool.

What is the deal with shoes?
I have read a few notes that mention them

[lagniappe]

36. There are a few hustlers on Bourbon Street.

It goes something like this "I bet 5 dollars I can tell you where you got them shoes." Of course, you've had a few drinks by then, so what the hell. He will never guess. "You got em on your feet!"

The other one I've seen is "I bet 5 dollars I can knock down that wall". You probably know the answer to that one.

[EstimatedProphet]

38. It's a running gag on tourists that will cost you

Walk down Bourbon Street, and you may run into someone who says "Hey, I bet you $20 I know where you got your shoes". Of course, how could he know? So you say "I bet you don't", and he comes back with "You got em on Bourbon Street right now. Pay up sucker!"
The French Quarter, especially around the touristy areas like Pat O'Briens, sometimes has people looking for an easy score, and making absurd off-the-cuff bets will come back to haunt you if you don't pay attention. at least it used to be...I haven't been there in a few years but I have had the shoe thing tried on me. I was lucky enough to have heard of it before though, so I blew the guy off. Then he came back with "Oh, you heard that one, huh? Here's another one..." as if I was going to think hey, he tried to cheat me with one I knew, maybe this is straight up!. Cracked me up!

[lagniappe]

25. Commanders Palace is outstanding.

I would also recommend the following restaurants:

1. Arnaud's (downtown)
2. Mr B's (downtown)
3. Deanies (if you like fried food or BBQ shrimp, it doesn't get much better). Deanies is also near the lake front (Lake Pontchartrain) which is very nice
4. K-Paul's (downtown) Chef Paul Prudhomme's restuarant.
5. NOLA's (if you want to kick it up a notch)

Explore the streets around Jackson Square, which is the focal point of the French quarter. There is a lot going on. There are shops and open markets all along the streets surrounding the square. Across the street is Cafe Du Monde where you can get coffee and beignets.

I would definitely check out the D-Day museum. Across the street from the D-Day museum is an art gallery for Louisiana artists. I don't remember the name of the gallery, but I though it was really interesting (and I'm not really into art).

[pdx_prog]

27. Check Pete Fountain's

club at the Hilton. He doesn't play every night but you may be able to catch him (if he is still performing there). Good seafood in the quarter will cost you an arm and leg, but Felix's is a great place. Head over to the west bank for some good seafood at cheaper prices. There are quite a few houses in the quarter you can tour.....some reported to be haunted houses.

The court of two sisters is a fine place to eat. Pat O'Briens is a must. Stay away from the far end of Bourbon street at night! Stay off of darker less traveled streets! Check out the shops in the quarter during the day...

City Park, Audobon park and Zoo...tour the superdome, get a muffalata, get a po boy...:)

[Bluebear]

30. Jazz brunch buffet at Court of Two Sisters

http://www.courtoftwosisters.com/

[GumboYaYa]

32. Food in New Orleans.....

Any restaurant you try will be good. Restaurants have to be good to survive in the city, the competition is too tough for bad restaurants to make it. Having said that I have some favorites:

For comfort food in a casual environment try:

Ugelisich's (this may be the best seafood restaurant in New Orleans, but you will not believe it from the exterior. It is in a very bad neighborhood off of St. Charles just outside the Central Business District. A cab driver can get you there easily. Go for lunch; it's the one meal they serve every day. Here's a lnk: http://www.bayoudog.com/02NOE/uglesich.htm

Frankie & Johnny's on Tchoupitoulas in Uptown. This is a New Orleans mainstay restaurant. They serve one of the best SoftShell Crab Poboys in the city IMO. The Onion Rings are the best you will ever eat anywhere in the world. Also the hot boiled Crawfish are served daily in season.

Camelia Grill on Carrolton and St. Charles. You can take the streetcar to this one. It is diner food served with New Orleans flair. The chili cheese omelette will floor you it is so good. Camelia Grill is great to help the hangover you will inevitably have.

Deanies, mentioned by someone else, also serves great seafood, Deanies is on the Lake Front so you get to see a different part of the city.

Fine Dining:

There are some obvious ones like Commanders, Arnauds, Mr. Bs, Galatoires, Brightsens, etc. Any one of those is a great choice.

One of my favorites that I have not seen mentioned is The Upperline. The setting is very relaxed and the food is phenomenal. It is located uptown on Upperline (you can take the streetcar). If you go try the fried green tomatoes remoulade. They are phenomenal.

[ProfessorGAC]

33. Lower Your Music Expectations

The music scene there is far less sophisticated and talented than i expected. Lots of hack players and sloppy bands on Bourbon, in the hotels, and downtown bars.

Some of the swankier places have fine piano players or jazz trios, but the quality of the music scene was not what i was led to believe. Very disappointing.
The Professor

[GumboYaYa]

35. Not to be flip about this, but you

have no clue what you are talking about. Perhaps you had a bad experience in some downtown clubs, but that is not the New Orleans music scene. Right now, the music scene in New Orleans is better than it has ever been. Musicians who have made it around the world are moving to New Orleans just to be close to the scene. A few who come to mind right away are Bob Dylan, Keb Mo, and Lenny Kravitz. The experimental music coming from people like Johnny Vidacovich, George Porter, Jr, and June Yamagushi is pushing the musical envelope farther than any other scene in America.

Tell me who you saw in New Orleans and where you went to develop such a wrong-minded opinion. I generally respect your opinion, but you are just flat ass wrong this time. You need more experience with the New Orleans music scene before you start promoting such a strong opinion.

<ON EDIT> I see the problem after reading yor post more carefully. You never saw the New orleans music scene. You went to the tourist traps and heard the club bands downtown. That is most definitely not the New Orleans music scene. That is just tourist trap crap that does suck. You have to get out of the quarter to hear the real music scene.

[tsakshaug]

39. Thank you

For all of your suggestions.
Now I have more to do in a week than I can fit in
looking forward to the food and music