New Orleans History

New Orleans Is For The Dogs!

by Christine Achille on March 22, 2012

Don’t Leave Man’s Best Friend at Home!

Don't Leave Man's Best Friend at Home!

Don't Leave Man's Best Friend at Home! New Orleans is Dog Friendly!

So you’re here in New Orleans for vacation and of course, you’ve brought along the whole family — including Fido! You aren’t going to leave him in the hotel are you? You might have to do that in lots of cities, but not in New Orleans. It is one of the most pet-friendly cities in the country.

Often you will find locals and their four-legged friends enjoying a meal together at many of the city’s restaurants. How do you know if a bar or restaurant is going to welcome Fido as a guest? Here is a list of some of them:

Lafitte in Exile at 901 Bourbon Street is the oldest gay bar in America and the home of New Orleans’ Barkus Parade, the Mardi Gras parade for dogs! It is pet-friendly year-round, however, and a fun and welcoming place to bring Fido (regardless of his orientation!)

Cafe Amelie, at 912 Royal Street, is a lovely restaurant serving brunch, lunch and dinner. It is famous for its beautiful courtyard featuring bubbling fountains and night-blooming jasmine. Well-behaved pooches on leashes are more than welcome to enjoy the fine dining experience of Cafe Amelie with you.

Cafe Beignet, at 311 Bourbon Street, has a huge courtyard featuring live jazz music all day. Coffee and beignets of course, as well as a nice selection of sandwiches make this a fine place for you and Fido to relax, tap your foot (and paw!) and take in a little culture.

Dogs are the stars in the Krewe of Barkus Parade during Mardi Gras season!

Dogs are the stars in the Krewe of Barkus Parade during Mardi Gras season!

Best known for their artisan gelato, La Divina Gelateria, located at 621 St. Peter Street, also boasts a nice breakfast menu as well as a fine selection of paninis for lunch. With tranquil courtyard seating right off historic Pirate’s Alley, you and Fido can spend some time people-watching. They even offer Dessert for Dogs!

After you and your pet have enjoyed the fine cuisine that New Orleans has to offer, head down to the corner of Barracks and Dauphine, where you will find the dog park consisting of open fields and a shelter for shade. New Orleans ordinance officially says that dogs must be on a leash — just between us — locals don’t pay that any mind. Dogs run at their leisure, but owners are required to pick up after their four-legged friends. The entrance is on the Dauphine Street side and water is provided. Maybe Fido will meet some new friends!

There is no reason that you should be the only one in your family to enjoy your New Orleans vacation — Fido can come home from his vacation with some new experiences as well!

 

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Take The Ferry To New Orleans’ Algiers Point

by Christine Achille on March 20, 2012

Algiers Point Ferry

Algiers Point Ferry

Try a Different Point of View

If you’re looking for a pleasant way to spend the day and would like something a little different, try taking the ferry across the Mississippi to Algiers Point.

New Orleans’ second oldest neighborhood, Algiers Point was founded in 1719, making it just one year younger than the French Quarter. The area has a quaint 19th century small-town flavor that is in sharp contrast to the bustling French Quarter located directly across the Mississippi River. Many of the same churches, schools, shops and restaurants there have been a part of the neighborhood for years. Many people who live there enjoy an easy and leisurely commute in to work in both the French Quarter and the Central Business District. It is truly a little village within the city.

You can take the Crescent City Connection Bridge over to the Point, but by far the easiest and most pleasant way to get there is by ferry.

Taking The Ferry

 

Algiers Point is New Orleans' Second Oldest Neighborhood

Algiers Point is New Orleans' Second Oldest Neighborhood

The Algiers Point Ferry has been in operation since 1827 and is free for pedestrians. There is a $1 fee for cars, and you pay on the Algiers side, on your way back. The trip from Canal Street to Algiers Point lasts about fifteen minutes. The boat leaves Canal Street every thirty minutes on the quarter-hour, and leaves Algiers Point every thirty minutes on the hour and half hour. The first boat of the day will leave Algiers at 6am and the last boat leaves Canal Street at 12:15am.

There is a seating area on the upper deck, but pedestrians are also permitted to stay on the lower deck, which many find is better for taking pictures.

While it is certainly a lovely neighborhood for strolling and taking in the various styles of architecture found in the charming homes, you will surely want to stop somewhere and have a bite to eat.

Fortunately, Algiers Point is happy to oblige, with several neighborhood spots to choose from.

Great Neighborhood Spots

The Dry Dock Cafe, located at 133 Delaronde is open seven days a week from 11am-10pm, except for Sundays when they close at 9pm. Their menu consists of salads and sandwiches for lunch, and mostly seafood for dinner. They always have specials for both lunch and dinner, the most notable being Tuesday Prime Rib Night for $9.95. They also serve Sunday Brunch from 11am-2pm.

Just steps from the ferry landing, you will also find Vine And Dine, a wine bar and bistro. Located at 141 Delaronde, this charming little place is the perfect spot to unwind and enjoy a glass of wine in a quiet atmosphere. It is a small place, with only a few tables and a small bar, so it is a nice place for a romantic evening. The bistro menu features a wide variety of cheeses, foccaccia, and house specialities such as Brie & Crab Au Gratin, a triple creme brie and lump crabmeat blended with garlic and herbs and topped with melted mozzerella.

One of the Point’s most interesting establishments is the Crown and Anchor Pub, New Orleans’ only authentic English Pub. The Pub is at 200 Pelican Avenue, and opens at 4pm Monday through Friday and 11am on Saturdays and Sundays. They are reknowned for their Thursday Night Pub Quiz, as well as their Darts Tournaments — and of course, their beer! Pints are $1 off during Happy Hour from 4-7pm Monday through Friday, and they serve Abita Amber as well as traditional English pub brews like Bass, Boddingtons, Guinness, Harp, Newcastle and Smithwicks.

A pleasant neighborhood, so close yet a world away from the French Quarter, Algiers Point is well-worth taking the time to visit!

 

 

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Getting Around In New Orleans: How To Spot A Local

by Christine Achille on March 15, 2012

Don’t Look Like a Typical Tourist

Try Not to Look Like a Typical Tourist

Try Not to Look Like a Typical Tourist

There are plenty of times when I am walking around the French Quarter and I see people looking at maps and trying to figure out where they are and where they are going, or walking down the sidewalk while looking at the Google Maps on their phone. They may as well be wearing a sign that says “Hey! I’m from out-of-town! I’m vulnerable!”

New Orleans isn’t much different from any city in that you need to have a little street-smarts in order to get around. As much fun as it is, you don’t want to fall into the mindset that it is a grownup version of Disney World. It’s a city, and the French Quarter is a neighborhood where people live and work.

Find Yourself a Local

Locals, especially French Quarter locals, are generally friendly and willing to help out visitors find their way. Here are a few ways to spot a local:

  1. It may need to go without saying, but your server or your bartender are surely locals. Ask them for directions, or recommendations and you will learn some things that the guide books won’t tell you. Hotel concierges, while very helpful, are often college students on a Hospitality Degree internship, and many are not “from here.”
  2. The check-out girls at Rouses’ are all locals, and are very familiar with the French Quarter. Rouses is the Quarter’s supermarket and it is small and often very crowded. If the checkout lines are long, then obviously don’t ask questions. Find someone who is shopping for things like toilet paper, cat food, and Windex. That person is surely headed back to their apartment in the Quarter and will often help you find your way.
  3. Locals walk down the sidewalk with purpose. They don’t tend to stroll much. They might be carrying a newspaper, or a Rouses bag, or walking a dog. They won’t be carrying a bag full of beignet mix from Cafe Du Monde.
  4. Street musicians and performers are working. They may be local, but they tend not to give out information. They survive on tips, however, so a well-placed dollar bill will often go a long way toward getting the information you need. Same goes for cab drivers, buggy drivers and pedicab drivers.
  5. While the hotel concierges are often college students on an internship, Doormen are almost always local and have typically held their jobs for a good long while, often for many years. They are a wealth of information but again, will usually share more with you once you slip them a buck.

New Orleanians are known as a quirky but friendly bunch, and most will go out of their way to help you as long as you ask respectfully and politely. We tend to be very proud and protective of our town, so make sure when you ask a local for directions or advice that you do so with that in mind. Take the time to talk to the locals — you won’t be sorry. We have the information you are looking for, and more as well!

 

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Jackson Square: The Heart of New Orleans

by New Orleans Pirate Girl on July 12, 2010

The Heart of City Life

 

Jackson Square in Front of St. Louis Cathedral

From the beginnings of New Orleans the general area of what is now known as Jackson Square was the center of New Orleans life.  It’s closeness to the Mississippi River Port, the church and the government buildings made it the hub of local shipping and commerce.

Jackson Square area functioned as a hub of city of life throughout the rule of the French, the Spanish, then again the French and even after the American rule took over after the Louisiana purchase.

How It Became Jackson Square

After the Battle of New Orleans in 1814, the Baroness Pantalba financed the redesign of the area and lobbied for a more beautiful public square. The square was named in honor of Andrew Jackson, the hero of the battle of New Orleans for which one of three statues are in honor of. The square itself is surrounded by a beautiful iron gate. On the inside you’ll find many beautiful flowers and plants with pathways and benches all for observers to enjoy the splendor of the square.

[click to read more…]

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