New Orleans

Jackson Square: Don’t Just Pass Through It !

by Christine Achille on March 27, 2012

There's a lot more than just St. Louis Cathedral in Jackson Square

There's a lot more than just St. Louis Cathedral in Jackson Square

When you see a picture of New Orleans, chances are good that you are looking at a photograph of St. Louis Cathedral. It is the iconic representation of New Orleans, and the oldest continuously operating cathedral in America, and the centerpiece of the centerpiece of New Orleans’ French Quarter: Jackson Square.

While the St. Louis Cathedral is certainly beautiful, especially at night, there is so much more to Jackson Square.

A Great Place to People Watch

The first thing you will notice at any time, day or night, are the artists and musicians, tarot card readers and other performers.

Painters vie for a spot “on the fence” where they can display their artwork to passersby. It is well worth your time to stroll along the fence and see what is available. With so many different types of art displayed, you are sure to find a unique and original piece for your home.

Scattered in among the painters are musicians of every type and style. Take a moment to stop and listen and enjoy this very New Orleanian entertainment but remember: these are working musicians. They depend on your appreciation for their livelihood. In other words, they work for tips. If you stop to listen, even for just a few moments, it is expected that you toss a dollar or two into the box. Not only is it the right thing to do, but it will likely be the best dollar you ever spent.

Have you ever had your cards read? Or your palm? Why not try it, just for fun, here in Jackson Square, where card readers have been telling fortunes for years. Each one is different, and offers a different method of divining the secrets of the universe. What a fun way to pass the time, and regardless of what you learn, you will definitely go away with an interesting anecdote about your experience!

The Shops Hold Many Treasures

Many shops line the perimeter of Jackson Square, from toyshops to gift shops to dress shops. Window shopping here among the shade from the oaks in the park is a fine way to pass the time, but finding something in one of these shops to remind you of your trip to New Orleans is even better!

Just across Decatur Street from Jackson Square is the world-famous Cafe Du Monde. No one should ever come to New Orleans without going to Cafe Du Monde at least once. Order yourself a cup of Cafe au Lait and some beignets and listen to one of the many street musicians who set up shop during the day near the Cafe’s green-and-white canopied patio. Word to the Wise: Don’t wear black! Beignets are piled high with confectioner’s sugar — that’s part of the fun!

If you are in Jackson Square at lunchtime or dinnertime, try a sandwich or a milkshake from Stanley, located at the corner of the Square to the right as you face the Cathedral, or you can go a little fancier and head across the street to Muriel’s for some delicious classic Creole cuisine.

A Walk in the Park Shouldn’t Be Missed

Beautiful flowers fill the park at Jackson Square

Beautiful flowers fill the park at Jackson Square

Don’t forget to take a walk through the park located right in the middle of the Square. It is arranged around the statue of — you guessed it — Andrew Jackson and is a perfect spot for photographs. Try to get one of your family with the Cathedral in the background and you will surely have a fine memory of your trip. It is also a lovely place to rest in the shade and spend a little time people-watching. You might even see a wedding right there in the park!

So many visitors cut through Jackson Square on their way to somewhere else without taking the time to stop and enjoy what the Square itself has to offer. You never know what you might see there!

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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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Discover New Orleans’ Frenchmen Street

by Christine Achille on March 13, 2012

Where’s the “Good Music”?

Where's the "Good Music" in New Orleans? Frenchman Street!

Where's the "Good Music" in New Orleans? Frenchman Street!

Ask a local in New Orleans where to go to hear some good music, and you will undoubtedly hear “Frenchmen.”

Frenchmen Street is light-years away from the neon lights, cover music and glow-in-the-dark drinks on Bourbon Street, but it is merely walking distance from all the chaos.

It is a two-block-long strip where you can hear a wide variety of live music, often from well-known New Orleans musicians.

Head down Decatur Street through the French Quarter, cross over Esplanade Avenue and there you are. Don’t look for bright lights and street barkers to draw you into the clubs — there aren’t any. Within these two blocks you can hear anything from blues to jazz to reggae and everything in between.

The drinks here are usually less expensive than they are on Bourbon, and admission to most of these clubs is free. Sometimes, depending on the artist, there may be a cover, but it is generally minimal. Most of the time, you are only expected to tip the band — generously. You will enjoy the music so much that you won’t mind.

Some of the More Famous Frenchman Street Places

 

Sometimes There's Street Performers on Frenchman Street

Sometimes There's Street Performers on Frenchman Street

The Blue Nile Nightclub at 532 Frenchmen is colorful both inside and out. Some of the acts that perform there are Kermit Ruffins, Big Sam’s Funky Nation and Trombone Shorty. Cocktails here are strong and fairly priced and this is a non-smoking venue.

Cafe Negril at 606 Frenchmen features reggae music most nights and sometimes the blues. They serve food here too, with excellent Jamaican cuisine on the menu.

Checkpoint Charlies is located at 501 Esplanade and is one place where you are sure to find plenty of local French Quarter residents. There is a laundromat in the back, so you can do your laundry while enjoying a cocktail. The musical acts they book here are always diverse and interesting. One local writer famously said that the atmosphere here is so casual he once walked around in his boxers while his laundry was drying!

DBA is at 618 Frenchmen and offers music geared toward local music lovers. They boast a wide variety of beers and it is the home base for the Palmetto Bug Stompers, who host incredible swing dancers on Sunday nights, and offer free swing dance lessons as well.

The Spotted Cat, down at 623 Frenchmen is a small club with huge acoustics. On any given night, you might hear performances from Washboard Chaz, the Phister Sisters, Nathan Kirk and the New Orleans Cottonmouth Kings. I can’t vouch for the Men’s Room here, but I can tell you that the Ladies’ Room even has a piano!

Snug Harbor is possibly one of the most well-known of the Frenchmen Street clubs. At 626 Frenchmen, you can find Ellis Marsalis on most Friday nights, and Charmaine Neville on most Mondays. They also have an excellent restaurant with great burgers and a nice ribeye. They schedule their shows, usually one at 9pm and another at 11pm.

Once you find Frenchmen Street and enjoy everything it has to offer, you will surely begin to think of New Orleans in a whole different light. There is a reason the locals go there when they want a night out. It will only take one visit to this gem of a street to realize what that is.

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St. Patrick’s Day in New Orleans? Of Course!

by Christine Achille on March 8, 2012

St. Patty's Day Parades

St. Patty's Day Parades

With Mardi Gras behind us, New Orleans starts looking forward to the next holiday, namely St. Patrick’s Day.

As you can imagine, New Orleans does St. Pat’s up right. There are parades and parties and everyone is Irish for the day.

Start Your Irish Day Off Right

Start your day off with breakfast at The Irish House. Located at 1432 St. Charles Ave, it is conveniently located right on the uptown streetcar line. Chef Matt Murphy’s menu is Irish cuisine with a twist. Their flagship breakfast item is a full Irish Breakfast, consisting of two eggs cooked sunny side up, rashers, Irish sausage, black and white puddings, baked beans, roasted mushrooms and grilled tomato-potato hash. At $11.75, this is enough food to keep you going for the rest of the day. Breakfast is served daily from 7-11am, lunch from 11am-3pm, and Dinner from 5pm-10pm. They also offer a Bar Menu from 3pm-close. Reservations are recommended but not required. 504-595-6755

After breakfast, you will want to head back to the French Quarter so you don’t miss out on any of the festivities.

There are several Irish bars you will want to visit. The Kerry is located at 332 Decatur St. and is a truly neighborhood bar serving up not only the best pint of Guinness in the Quarter but a stellar lineup of live music as well. The St. Patrick’s Day parade will go right by the Kerry, so this is a good place to be for parade watching.

Finnegan’s Easy, at 717 St. Peter, is a little more upscale, but still casual, despite being located just off Bourbon Street. The atmosphere here is miles away from the typical Bourbon Street bar, however. The drinks are fairly priced and the staff is friendly. This is also a place where you will find a great deal of locals. Their beautiful courtyard is a lovely place to sit and relax and Finnegan’s has a tasty bar menu as well and is known as a great place to watch any sporting event.

Watch the St. Patrick's Day Parades in the French Quarter

Watch the St. Patrick's Day Parades in the French Quarter

Are You Ready for the Irish Parades?

Once you have found your “home base” bar for the day, get ready for the parades. There are two, the Molly’s at the Market parade and the Downtown Irish Club parade.

Molly’s Parade will roll this year on March 11 at 6pm, and will leave from Molly’s at 1107 Decatur St. and will feature the Storyville Stompers, the New Wave Brass Band, the Celtic Highlanders and several marching groups.

The Downtown Irish Club parade begins at the corner of Burgundy and Piety and proceeds up Royal, across Esplanade to Decatur then up Bienville to Bourbon. This parade rolls on St. Patrick’s Day at 6pm.

St. Patrick’s Day is always a party wherever you happen to be, but since New Orleans throws the best parties in the country, why not plan to have your next St. Patrick’s Day right here in the Big Easy?

 

 

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New Orleans Original Movie Tours Offer A Glimpse At Hollywood South

by Christine Achille February 17, 2012

With so many movies and television shows being filmed in New Orleans lately, the city has been dubbed “Hollywood South.” While I am reluctant to advocate canned driving tours in any city, and would much rather just walk around and see what there is to see, The Original New Orleans Movie Tour is one tour [...]

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Mardi Gras Do’s and Don’ts: How To Have A Great Time & Stay Out Of Trouble

by Christine Achille February 13, 2012

  Mardi Gras in New Orleans is a time when people let their hair down, release their inhibitions and engage in all sorts of revelry. But, despite what MTV would have you believe, there is a limit to what is permitted and what isn’t. Here is a list of Do’s and Don’ts that should help [...]

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New Orleans Offers Plenty Of Family-Friendly Mardi Gras Entertainment

by Christine Achille February 11, 2012

  Mardi Gras in New Orleans brings to mind for many a wild time of revelry and debauchery. You can certainly find plenty of that among the crowds on Bourbon Street, but what do you do if you find yourself vacationing in New Orleans during Mardi Gras with your children? Never fear — there are [...]

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Krewe Du Vieux Starts Off Mardi Gras With Bawdy Satire

by Christine Achille February 10, 2012

When you think of Mardi Gras parades, most people have heard of the Bacchus parade, with their celebrity Kings, or the Rex parade, the symbol of traditional New Orleans Mardi Gras. But do you know about the best known of the lesser-known Krewes? Krewe du Vieux has long been known by locals as the first [...]

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