New Orleans tips?

[Circe]

What a week! I've been pushing myself to the brink of exhaustion all week ... for an anniversary trip to New Orleans! I'm leaving bright and early tomorrow, meeting the husband there, celebrating our anniversary on Friday, staying through Halloween, and flying back Monday. Talk about whirlwinds!

So ... any tips, New Orleans PS'rs? I'm probably going to be on my own for Thursday afternoon and Friday during the day: I love vintage shopping, thrifting, antiquing, call it what you will ... jewelry stores, obviously ( ) ... art galleries and museums ... and I'm fascinated by the occult.

We're having our anniversary dinner at Commander's Palace, but that leaves three nights for fine dining on which I could use suggestions (would love a place to watch the parade from!). Not to mention the slew of things I haven't listed, which are probably obvious.

So ... any tips or suggestions? I'll trade ya good pics of Halloween, promise!

 

[Imdanny]

I lived in New Orleans for 1 1/2 years. If you see one thing see this.

http://lsm.crt.state.la.us/1850ex.htm

 

[annadragon]

Circe, I'm so excited you'll be visiting the city this weekend.

First, for food I would recommend you hop over to Chowhound and take a gander at the New Orleans board. If there is no time then I will make some suggestions for you:

This won't help you narrow anything down: Stella! Restaurant August, Herbsaint, Cuvee, and Emerils all down in the CBD/French Quarter won't disappoint. Warning they are quite pricey.

I don't know where you are staying, but in the Uptown/Garden District area (down the street from Commanders) is a lovely place by the name of Coquette (corner of Washington and Magazine). They do some creative, well-executed and delicious cocktails. Their food is great too!

Also, further up the street car line you can find for your dining pleasure Brigstens, Dante, Patois and Boucherie.

Magazine Street is well known for it's shopping (something I don't do often, I just know what the people say). Just riding the street car up from the French Quarter to the River Bend is gorgeous and the weather should be conducive this weekend for a tenable ride.

Of course there is the French Quarter. Cafe du Monde across from Jackson Square is always a hit. The Cabilldo is also in the vicinity for a tour, as well as Stanley (a good place for breakfast). Oh oh I must mention if you like edgy cuisine you should check out the Green Goddess in Pirates Alley.
If you like Jazz then head over to Frenchmen, heck head over there anyway cause it's fun! Lots of bars with live music, lots of fun.

And remember to stay out late, get sloshed while carrying your drink on the street and then go to Yo-Mama's and get a peanut butter burger at 3am-ish.

If that isn't your speed and you're looking for a more upscale atmosphere then look at the Davenport Lounge in the Ritz on Canal, excellent martini's as well as Jeremy Davenport playing tunes. And just for giggles go to the Carousel Bar in the Hotel Montleone cause the bar is a "carousel" that spins round as you quaff a fine beverage.

I could go on but I suspect I've already recommended more than you can fit in during your whirlwind adventure.

 

[sillyberry]

I love the D-Day Museum (and John Besh's museum restaurant is surprisingly good!).

Brigtsen's is one of my favorite restaurants, off in a cute townhouse at the end of the St. Charles Streetcar. You have to have the butternut shrimp bisque! We recently had a great (and reasonably priced) meal at NOLA, one of Emeril's places. Coop's Place has yummy food in a total dive atmosphere.

I love New Orleans!

 

[Imdanny]

Don't walk anywhere by yourself and take a cab a night period even if it's just down the street.

New Orleans was the murder capital of the US when I lived there. That was before Hurricane Katrina messed up an already violent city. Crime is a big issue.

I don't want to tell you the horror stories of people who walked on certain streets in the daytime and convention goers who
didn't know they shouldn't walk the quarter at night.

We're talking bout things like people getting their heads blown off and their cars set ablaze in the middle of the street.

You won't hear about that in the tourist brochures. In fact, the police often purposely didn't take crime reports, and didn't
follow up with cases to cook the books in order to make the "official" crime rate lower.

Watch out for yourself. New Orleans is a world class city. It's also a very dangerous one.

 

[LAJennifer]

I just want to second the recommendation of Stanley's for breakfast. My fave is the Boudin Benedict with a side of fried oysters - for breakfast!

 

[Circe]

Thanks, guys! I'm off to the airport in five so I'll continue the conversation when next I have computer access - but as one of my favorite NO characters once said, thanks a google!

 

[Circe]

Ooooooooooh, I LOVE New Orleans! I flew in around 3, made my way to the hotel, and ... discovered that we have a little backyard with a jacuzzi! I am, a) delighted, and b) bereft of a swimsuit, so if anybody knows a good place to go for that, hit me. FCUK has the ugliest swimwear currently available that I have ever seen in my life. (That said, to give credit where credit is due, their staff is lovely and helpful.) I wandered around a bit, and I literally keep feeling my heart swell with joy when I come across places I've read about in books - Magazine Street! Royal Street (where I will be spending A LOT of time tomorrow)! Etc.

That said, methinks I went to the wrong part of Magazine Street - I didn't see a single store between Julia and Decauter! I must be doing something wrong. But dinner at The Green Goddess was totally worth it - thanks for the tip, Anna! I am a huge fan of Poppy Z. Brite, so that was exciting on two levels - superb food, and the brush of fandom.

Now, what to do tomorrow (aside from the shiny) ... we have reservations for Commander's Palace for dinner, but no concrete plans for the day. Perhaps that will be a good time for idle wandering ....

 

[annadragon]

Yay! Glad you got a bonus from your meal at Green Goddess.

The part of Magazine I was referring to is mainly in the Upper Garden District and Uptown. However, I'm not a shopper and all I know is there are tons of stores on the street that seem to be in your shopping description.

As for swimwear I'm no help there either. Shops at Canal or the Riverwalk, both malls might have a suitable outlet.

I love just wondering around the French Quarter during the day, stop in a bar to have a refreshing drink then continue on your journey. Hmmm...apparently I'm only good at recommending places to eat and places to drink.

Enjoy!

 

[Strawdermangrl]

What a week! I've been pushing myself to the brink of exhaustion all week ... for an anniversary trip to New Orleans! I'm leaving bright and early tomorrow, meeting the husband there, celebrating our anniversary on Friday, staying through Halloween, and flying back Monday. Talk about whirlwinds!

So ... any tips, New Orleans PS'rs? I'm probably going to be on my own for Thursday afternoon and Friday during the day: I love vintage shopping, thrifting, antiquing, call it what you will ... jewelry stores, obviously ( ) ... art galleries and museums ... and I'm fascinated by the occult.

We're having our anniversary dinner at Commander's Palace, but that leaves three nights for fine dining on which I could use suggestions (would love a place to watch the parade from!). Not to mention the slew of things I haven't listed, which are probably obvious.

So ... any tips or suggestions? I'll trade ya good pics of Halloween, promise!

I would say the one obvious staple, Cafe Du Monde- but honestly? With Voodoo Fest, Halloween AND a marathon, the line is going to be hideous. LOL. ALso, the great bars to go to would be on Magazine street. Food, definitely check out Dickey Brennans- the steakhouse has a great dessert that is blueberry shortcake..honestly, I would go in to just order that.

I will be there this weekend, too. It is a great city, just enjoy the people watching and all the great things that it has to offer, great art for sale by Jackson Square, great little shops and amazing food. Have a great time and HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!