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

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!

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!

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!

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

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!

Don’t 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!

Where’s the “Good Music”?

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

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.

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

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?

The Original New Orleans Movie Tours

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 that is worth taking.

In their comfortable ten-passenger van, you are taken through the Garden District, the Warehouse District, the French Quarter, the CBD, Treme and more, visiting over thirty different locations where famous scenes from well-known films had been shot.

What makes this tour different, however, is that you are shown the scenes on the monitors in the van and then look out your window and — lo and behold — you are at the very location!

More often than not, you will also see an actual movie set as well. You even get popcorn!

At $39 adult, $29 for children, this tour is a little pricier than some, but you definitely get your money’s worth. Your hosts are owners Jonathan and Michelle Ray, who are knowledgeable film buffs as well as experts on the city. The tour, which is said to last two hours, will often last even longer than that.

“Movie fans love to know more about their favorite films and the actors who starred in them,” says Jonathan Ray,”To see a location where your favorite movie was shot or a famous actor strolled is a huge thrill for movie fans.”

Not just for tourists, this tour would be a fun activity for locals as well. So next time you are looking for something different and interesting to do, say Lights, Camera, Action!

Lucky Dog Cart on Bourbon Street, New Orleans

Anyone who has strolled down Bourbon Street knows that if you’re hungry, or need a little food in your belly before heading out for a serious night of indulgence, you want to head for the nearest Lucky Dog cart.

Lucky Dogs, with their ubiquitous hot dog-shaped cart, have been entwined in the French Quarter experience for the last fifty years. Ignatius Reilly, the hero of A Confederacy of Dunces, famously worked as a Lucky Dog vendor.

The carts and vendors are iconic, and during peak partying times on Bourbon Street, you are likely to find one on every corner. The menu is simple: hot dogs. To be fair, they also sell a spicy smoked sausage, but it is the hot dog that most people order.

Your choice of condiments is limited, but ordering a Lucky Dog is really more about the experience and less about the food. A Lucky Dog is no Nathan’s Coney, but it will fill you up and do the job of providing the ballast you will need to counteract the Hand Grenades from Tropical Isle.

The vendors seem surly, but most of them will give you some helpful advice regarding places to go — and places to avoid! — as well as provide you with a colorful anecdote you can tell at your weekly poker game back home.

New Orleans is filled with countless fine dining establishments, famous chefs and gourmet restaurants but trust me, if you leave Bourbon Street without having sampled a Lucky Dog, you have not experienced real New Orleans dining!

Mardi Gras Do's & Don'ts To Keep You Out of Trouble

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 you stay on the right side of the law.

While we allow you to drink in the streets, and — if you aren’t breaking other laws, NOPD will usually not arrest someone solely for public drunkenness — drinking until you pass out is never a good idea. An unconscious person laid out on the sidewalk or propped in a corner is just an invitation for robbery, or worse.

Getting Those Beads

Everyone has seen the clips of young ladies lifting their shirts for beads. It’s become a cliche’. The fact is, you don’t have to. Most people on balconies will throw the beads anyway, and if they don’t, buy your own. In my opinion, a girl should not sell herself for plastic. Besides, it is illegal. If a policeman spots you, you will be arrested.

Same goes for the guys who drop their pants. You might be able to get away with it on Bourbon but definitely do NOT do this at a parade. There will be lots of children at every parade, even night parades, and you don’t want to be “that guy.”

Have a “Rest Room” Plan

Speaking of dropping your pants, make sure you have a “potty plan.” There isn’t a business in the French Quarter that will allow you to use the facilities unless you are a customer, and during Mardi Gras, most have a minimum purchase to qualify as a customer. A pack of gum does not a customer make. If you are staying at a hotel, make sure you have your room key handy to show that you belong there and yes, you may use the restroom in the lobby.

Don’t Loose Your Friends & Watch Your Cash

Have a meet-up plan with your friends. Make sure that you program everyone’s number into your phone before you set out for the day. The crowds are thick, and you will likely become separated from one another at some point. Agree to meet for lunch, for instance, or at a certain time back in the hotel lobby.

Do not carry cash if you can help it. If you must, keep it in your front pocket, and only take what you are going to spend. You can always go back to your hotel and get more.

Listen to the NOPD, No.. Really

Finally, always listen to and obey the police. They work very hard during Mardi Gras and are under a great deal of stress. You don’t want to get on their bad side.

If you do have the misfortune of being arrested on Mardi Gras weekend, remember that you will not even have the opportunity to bail out until at least Wednesday of the following week. Lundi Gras (Monday) and Mardi Gras (Tuesday) are legal holidays here, and many offices are closed the Friday before Mardi Gras as well.

Besides, you came to New Orleans to experience Mardi Gras — don’t do anything that will cause you to miss out on all the fun!

Mardi Gras Can Offer Family Fun Entertainment

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 plenty of parades that are family-friendly, and will allow the little ones to enjoy all that a New Orleans Mardi Gras experience has to offer.

The Krewe of Carrollton

The Krewe of Carrollton is the fourth oldest parade in the history of Carnival, behind Rex, Proteus and Zulu, and they have the distinction of being the first parade to have their floats drawn by tractor rather than horses. They are known for their punctuality and pride themselves on starting exactly on time. Carrollton rolls rain or shine along their uptown route on February 12, promptly at 12 noon.

The Krewe of Tucks

Another fun and family-friendly parade is the Krewe of Tucks parade. Started by two Loyala students back in 1969, Tucks has grown into a full-scale Mardi Gras parade, with grand floats showcasing a satirical theme. This year’s theme “Tucks Gets Culture” promises to be one of their best. You can see Tucks roll along their uptown route  on February 18. Get your spot early — this parade starts at 10 a.m.!

The Krewe of Iris

The Krewe of Iris holds to traditional Carnival attire and the distinguished roots of Carnival since its founding in 1922. The beautiful floats carry all-female riders and you won’t see any drinking in this parade, making it a truly family-friendly event. Iris will follow the Tucks parade on the same route, starting at 11 in the morning, so keep your spot!

Don’t be concerned about bringing your children to New Orleans for Carnival! It is a tradition you might want to continue year after year. Mardi Gras in New Orleans is a spectacle that your children will never forget, and will likely talk about for years to come.