Copper on 08/02/2009 1:20 am

Oh lord, where to start? *laughs* I'm headed down for my fourth trip there in October (too late to find you, Rog, though :() Where are you staying? I mostly know the French Quarter best, as that's where most of my activities down there are centered. And I can give you addresses for these places too, if you want 'em.

Let's see what I can recommend...

Food:

Brennan's. It's a higher end place but the brunch there if fab! I recommend the eggs benedict, strawberries in cream (it's like strawberries in ice cream...for breakfast!) and the banana's foster!

Cafe DuMonde, especially at 3 in the morning. Just try not to breathe when you're biting into your beignet and you won't get powdered sugar all over yourself or anyone near you.

Acme Oyster House. Best place to get an oyster shooter and they've got really good food there, too.

Aunt Sally's Praline shop - Omnomnomsugar!

Cafe Beignet on Bourbon St. You'll know it by the iron fence, bronze statues, and live music. It was the first place I had gumbo and I make sure I stop there every time!

Never been myself, but the gals that I travel down with rave about Commander's Palace, too. Antoher high end one, but since they have a dinnere there every year, they must like it *laughs*

The Gumbo Shop. Been there a couple of times. Great gumbo there, too, but it is more of a sit-down kind of place and it gets packed easy. Great special when I was there, though. Three course meal (appetizer, meal, dessert) for, I think, about $25 and that was with drinks. (Granted, it's been a while and my spending memory gets hazy, so don't quote me on it.)

Other stuff:
As for what to do, I recommend taking the Haunted History Tour, which, when we usually take it, ends at Pirate's Alley (absinthe bar!) and hitting up the Aquarium, too. When I'm down there, it's mostly shopping for me, so a lot of my activities involve sight-seeing and there's a lot to see! Bourbon pretty much never stops (though it's a lot more active at night). Although it totally amuses me how you can walk down Royal St. and it's art shop, furniture store, clothing store, art shop and a block over...Bourbon: Bar, bar, strip club, bar *and* strip club...

It's a beautiful city though. My advice is to just...walk around or take the trolley and you're sure to find something to do. There's bead shops and they have *everything* you can think of and there are voodoo shops as well, I just can't remember the ones I've gone to. The Riverwalk is nice. It's an mall right on the river (natch!) that's got some nice shops in it and a food court. There's also Jackson Brewery, which is on Decatur St. and not all that far away from it is an open-air plaza with lots of shops and artists and tarot readers and I got distracted by the toy shop when I was down there actually *laughs*

Anyway, those are my usual activities when I'm down there (aside from the con stuff that we do) so hopefully some of that helps and you can get a chance to try some of it and find your own stuff that you like down there!

Poxpower on 08/02/2009 2:42 am

Haha dude, my roomate is leaving for just that convention tomorrow!
He's doing his masters in computer graphics or some advanced thing and is going to attend siggraph and whatever other panels held there for the next week or so.

Trey (Guest) on 08/02/2009 4:12 am

Do visit Commander's, and try the turtle soup. It's required by management that you wear a shirt and tie though.

Visit Marie Laveau's voodoo shop in the French Quarter and leave her a tribute at her shrine.

Also, stop by Jean Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop, the oldest bar in America, also located in the French Quarter.

Pat O'Brians in the French Quarter hosts karaoke

Anything else, just hit me up. That's my home and stomping grounds

Shane Skekel (Guest) on 08/02/2009 11:33 am

I live in Slidell, which is north of New Orleans on the other side of Lake Pontchartrain. You probably won't be interested in strip clubs even though I go to those every once in a while. However, check out the Audobon Zoo and the Art Museum.

ScaryRedMonster on 08/02/2009 12:53 pm

Well...there's this house New Orleans. They call it the 'Rising Sun'. And it's been the ruin of many a poor boy, and God, I know I'm one. So yeah, go there.

Bronsonman (Guest) on 08/02/2009 1:42 pm

Skip Bourbon entirely (except Lafitte's blacksmith shop) and go to Frenchmen's street in the marigny right off the edge of the quarter- its the "bourbon street" for locals- a ton of live music every night, hard to go wrong. Stay away from the tourists traps- the gumbo shop, mother's, KPaul's, Mulates- while not terrible it is a crime to go to these inferior restaurants in such a great city. Instead of Acme go to casamento's if you want a better oyster bar.

Bucket (Guest) on 08/02/2009 3:23 pm

Seconding Cafe du Monde. I haven't had one of their beignets in over 15 years and I still remember how they taste.

A Bad Enough Dude on 08/02/2009 5:01 pm

I went there a few years back and there was this group of chaps playing chess at tables on the sidewalk. Sitting down with them, I learned that they had been doing this from dawn to dusk for several years; they live off of tips and the sheer joy of strategy. I played against the main bloke, a chap named Jesus, and was delighted to discover his skillz were 'mad crazy.'

As I got up to leave, one of his compatriots asked me to look into his nearby bookbag. When I peered inside, the fellow pulled out a boxknife and threatened me with it, demanding that I play another game of chess.

It was the first time I'd ever been forced to play chess at knifepoint.

Rydell382 (Guest) on 08/02/2009 8:29 pm

Definitely do not miss on Cafe du Monde, every time I go there I have at least 2 orders of Beignets every time (1 order = Beignets). also another good place to eat is Mulates, and Mother's (best po' boy ever)

Copper on 08/02/2009 10:59 pm

Ahyeah...Brennan's is a "suit and tie" type of place too. I knew I forgot to mention that! One of our guides mentioned a better place to get beignets, too, but I don't remember the name of the place or the street. Just kind of remember it whenever I walk by *laughs*

The con gals rave about Pat O's, too, and we've been to Lafitte's (it's a tour stop) but I'm not much of a drinker, so I can only vouch for atmosphere. Admittedly, a lot of the places I go are tied to the books that I'm down there for, but I still find them plenty enjoyable, even if they are considered tourist traps *chuckles*

Poop On A Stick (Guest) on 08/02/2009 11:37 pm

Like Copper, Bucket and Rydell said, the Cafe Du Monde is a must for the beignets. Why? Well, they're like funnel cakes from the county fair but even better. I think regular readers know your propensity towards sugar. Bucket is so right about remembering how they taste. Weird how that is one of my strongest memories of New Orleans other than the boobs on display at Mardi Gras

niftysunburn (Guest) on 08/03/2009 12:54 am

Go to the Palm Court. They have good food, good beer, and great live music. If Leroy Jones is in town you might be able to catch him there. Great trumpeter. Also, you should ask around and see if you can meet up with a guy named Uncle Lionel. The last time I was down there I ran into him every night of the week completely by accident and he was so nice and a heckuva lotta fun.

ChicagoDrew on 08/03/2009 1:51 am

While there, try not to be accidentally adopted by the Jolie-Pitt's.

10,000 Volt Ghost on 08/03/2009 7:33 am

Hang out with Victor Crowley.

Angryhydralisk on 08/03/2009 9:26 am

Hoooo mama....Voodoo Chicken. Clear's the sinuses like a mug. Enjoy NEW OH-LEANS.

mepsceni3 (Guest) on 08/03/2009 12:05 pm

I live in New Orleans, and while Copper had some great suggestions, most of them are kind of tourist-ey.

Brennan's and Commander's Palace are both upscale, but definitely worth the experience. Both are owned by the Brennan family (along with Dickie Brennan's steak house, Mr. B's Bistro, Bacco, Palace Cafe, and about 5 or 6 others). Any of them are worth going to, but none are cheap.

If you want the best burger, go to Port of Call on Esplanade Ave. Be prepared to wait for a seat.

Cafe Du Monde is worth its weight in powdered sugar, if you can stand the crowds. Morning Call off of Causeway will give you the same product, but with less mayhem.

I suggest having at least 1 night to spend on Bourbon Street. If you do one of the early evening ghost/vampire tours, you'll end up in Pirate's alley with enough time to spend getting debauched on Bourbon (although it never closes). Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop is awesome.

Definitely check out Audubon Zoo & the Aquarium of the Americas (They offer a cruise that allows you to do both in a day).

Re might enjoy The New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA) and the Degas house, but they charge at NOMA for non-Louisiana residents, and the Degas house is little bang for the buck.

If you want seafood, go to Deanie's. Acme Oyster House has good food, but since it's a chain, it doesn't have exactly the same charm as all of the local joints do.

It's too bad that you guys missed the festival season, but there's still plenty to do.

GreenPeaness on 08/03/2009 4:18 pm

For dining, the best place I've gone to in New Orleaons is Pierre Maspero's: http://www.pierremasperosrestaurant.com/index.php[/rul]
Not too bad price wise and has a wonderful atmosphere at dusk. From there you can see the Cathedral and walk around the square. On any random night there will be about 30 performers in the square so that ought to occupy you for a good 2 hours.
Oh and be sure to do the Ghost Tour!
Fun place, but watch your wallet and a word of advice, if someone shouts at you to get your attention, or is walking past you on the street and says "hey, buddy" to get your attention. -KEEP WALKING-

GreenPeaness on 08/03/2009 4:22 pm

Oh, and Cafe du Monde. Grab yourself some coffee and a beignet after midnight. You can sit out in the open air in a wrought iron chair and just watch. I swear you can spend 24 hours in New Orleans just watching people go by. I guarantee you you'll spot a vampire, the Grim Reaper, an angel, and a pirate inside of an hour.

Shane Skekel (Guest) on 08/03/2009 4:37 pm

I forgot to mention Chez Clay, Jackson Square, and (while your at it) check out Old Town Covington...

Mutant Turd (Guest) on 08/03/2009 6:40 pm

Used to live in New Orleans and I have to second Bronsonman when he mentioned going to Frenchmen St. It's a lot more laid back then Bourbon and it has all the cool people over there. Also, whenever I had a friend come in from out of town I would always take them over to Slidell to check out Scuttlebutt, which is a strip club. The club sucks but c'mon, it's a strip club called Scuttlebutt! And you have to drive across the Lake Pontchartain Causeway. It's the longest bridge in the united states clocking in at 22 miles long, it's always a trip when you're in the middle and you can't see land in front or behind you.

GreenPeaness on 08/03/2009 6:46 pm

Crossed the causeway for the last time, pre-Katrina, at 3am headed out of NO. Had less than a quarter tank of gas left, so I figure I'll chance exiting the causeway once I got back over land. I took the first exit I saw and left the concrete and entered a Friday the 13th movie. It is PITCH black underneath that bridge off the exit ramp. I drove 15 minutes into the swamplands and finally lost my nerve and did a U-turn and got back on the Causeway more than a little nervous.
I tell you, the Mothman lives down there. Watching.

matty (Guest) on 08/04/2009 12:41 pm

I whole heartedly second the gumbo shop, as well as the zoo and aquarium. The locals can tell the tourists at the zoo from the locals (or at least the non southerners from the southerners) by how excited you will be to see thousands of turtles everywhere at the zoo. Here in New England the zoos have turtles as the exhibit, in New Orleans any water feature will be crawling with turtles and the locals just think its amusing anyone would be excited to see them...

In other news, if you're not going to New Orleans during Mardi Gras, Bourbon St will be one of the skeeziest places ever. You may not know it but NOLA is one of the biggest convention centers in the country, and lots of businesses have annual meetings there. So what you end up with on Bourbon during non holiday times is a bunch of 40 year old business men drunk as hell screaming at girls young enough to be their daughters to take their tops off. I personally thought it was disgusting.

I highly HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend that you take a hurricaine tour (check with the concierge at your hotel), its really depressing, but oh so important that everyone sees first hand just how badly our country handled that problem!

As the others have said the cafe du monde is a must visit, ghost tours are awesome. Definately check out the tacky souvenier shops on canal st, and the awesome real antique shops on royal st (just don't break anything, but honestly they're like museums).

Lafayette Square is lots of fun on nice days, you can go get a psychic reading or get a caricature done or listen to some street performers.

But here's the thing you absolutely MUST do and nobody will tell you about. DO NOT walk around the french quarter before the businesses open up in the morning. There is vomit and piss and crap in the streets, and it reeks incredibly badly! When the businesses open up they hose off the sidewalks and you can walk around with minimal displeasure. Also the bums don't disburse until after 9 or so in the morning so if you don't feel like being accosted for some donations (my favorites are the college age kids who ask you for beer money, come on, I don't work so you can get drunk, asswipe!) I suggest you don't plan many early mornings (unless you are going further afield for a plantatian/swamp tour).

Finally, if you are staying in the french quarter (I recommend The Montleone, its a beautiful hotel that is about average for french quarter prices, and their restaurant's breakfast buffet is the best in the city, guaranteed) don't bother renting a car, just use taxis and airport shuttles, as parking is non existant in the french quarter (your hotel may even charge you extra to use their garage if they even have one) and they are constantly shutting down streets to allow for partying and it makes driving nightmarish!

matty (Guest) on 08/04/2009 12:45 pm

Oh and I forgot, I don't know how you feel about seafood, but Ralph and Caccoos (I think that's how you spell it, but I'm not sure) is the best BEST seafood restaurant in the world, especially if you like large portions of crab or shrimp. The blackened alligator appetizer is out of this world too.

Oh and if you're into raw oysters, ask the locals before you go spending lots of money. After Katrina it has taken NOLA a long time to reestablish its oyster farming and much of the oysters you can get there now are brought in from other places and are not as good (though any oyster afficianado will tell you that long island area oysters are way sweeter anyhow and gulf coast ones are muddy).

BigMac500 on 08/04/2009 3:47 pm

Rent a shrimp boat and become a millionaire like Forrest Gump. You'll just have to make peace with God first or something. Oh, and find a guy with no legs to come with you.

Bronsonman (Guest) on 08/04/2009 9:33 pm

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD DO NOT EAT AT RALPH AND KACOO'S. As a former resident of the big easy one night early into my residence there we were stuck in the quarter late and not dressed nicely enough to go anywhere else. It was by far the WORST meal I had in my entire 3 year stay in New Orleans and in fact the ONLY bad meal I have had in New Orleans (minus my cooking). Other "tourist traps" may not be the best, but they aren't bad. R&Ks however is godawful and I hope another person never eats there again.

matty (Guest) on 08/05/2009 11:11 am

Well i've been to Ralph and Kacoos several times and always was incredibly impressed with the food and prices. Maybe you just had a bad night.