decatur

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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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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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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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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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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