NOLA

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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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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The Satchmo SummerFest – A Celebration of Louis Armstrong

by New Orleans Pirate Girl on July 10, 2010

Satchmo Summerfest

For ten years running New Orleans celebrates one of it’s own in style!  Every year to coincide with the greatest of jazz icons,  Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong’s birthday (August 4th) one of the best summer festivals around is held on the grounds of the Old U.S. Mint at the very edge of New Orleans famous French Quarter and not to far from the famous French Market.  This year’s festival officially runs from Thursday August 5th through Sunday August 8th, however some events to tend to start a day or two before.

Last year’s events kicked off on Wednesday with the Satchmo Art Festival that was a real crowd pleaser of an event, lots of great art celebrating the Louis Armstrong & other jazz icons were available to delight the crowds.  Attendees also gathered in Armstrong Park to celebrate at the Satchmo Birthday Party. [click to read more…]

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Welcome to Fun in New Orleans (NOLA)

by New Orleans Pirate Girl on June 28, 2010

Who Dat?!

Well this is Fun in New Orleans a site all about the fun one can have when they visit the crescent city, the true city that never sleeps, New Orleans, Louisiana.  From the French Quarter to beautiful Garden District there’s a lot to see and a lot to experience that can please all of your senses.

We’ll talk about food, parties, celebrations, festivals, bars, restaurants, art and music …everything that make New Orleans, New Orleans!

Over the next few days we’ll be adding more content so keep on coming back to see what we’ve got!

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