The Dude

So the wife and I are in New Orleans for the next several days and she has a conference to go to...while I have little to do other than drink (and possibly gamble/gambol).

In any event, are than any must go to's that I must get to in the next two days (we're literally steps from one of the trolley stops, other than that I have no plans to use motorized transport other than to see the Rebirth Brass Band tomorrow night); Other, help me out.

cdollaz

D-Day/WWII Museum. It is very well done.

The Dude

Ooooh! Will look that up, somehow missed its location in the guide books.

Thanks cdollaz!

jfoobar

Herbsaint is a fantastic restaurant.

Breakfast at Brennan's is expensive but worth it.

And you have to stop Cafe du Monde for beignets, obviously.

All of the above are things you should probably do with your wife though. Alone? Uh...lots of strip clubs?

EddieMoney

Go buy a bulletproof vest.

Noonan

Definitely a walk down St. Charles Ave. There are some amazing homes along the way. Other notables:

-Cafe Du Monde
-Jackson Sqaure/St. Lewis Cathedral (both right next to Cafe Du Monde)
-Meal at Commander's Palace (sport coat/suit required)
-Walk through any one of the cemeteries (there's a great one right outside Commander's Palace)
-Take in any local jazz show
-Meal at Lebanon Cafe (small local joint with amazing food)
-NOLA has a great aquarium

If you want one of the best burgers you've ever had, go to Luke in the downtown area.

Kmical

We're talking New Orleans here, not Chicago.

Lenamrie1979

In that case, buy two vests....

movieguru

I was there last December for a convention. The casino is nice but I don't gamble. there's lots of nice stores and street vendors selling interesting works of art. There was one vendor that made art out of driftwood that was really neat. I enjoyed walking around the touristy areas at night. The building look much better at night with all the lights on and the architecture. Every few blocks you can stop and listen to the various street performers.

kenbuzz

Make sure you buy a pair of Nutria so you can breed them when you get back home. Unless home is Virginia - they're illegal there.

maxfisher

As others have said, Cafe du Monde is a must. Also, go to Central Grocery and get a muffuletta. It's delicious.

Charlie Goose

Where is the best area to stay in N.O.?

Should we stay in the French Quarter, or is that just an neighborhood to visit and stay somewhere else?
I think it would be pretty cool to stay in a hotel on Bourbon Street. Is it too noisy around there? We're not really big partiers.

And I'm looking forward to having an authentic Po-Boy. Which restaurant makes the best one?

resinrats

In a hotel with a higher elevation than Lake Ponchatrain/Gulf of Mexico

Sdallnct

Bourbon Street way overrated unless your a college kid trying to see how many different shots you can do. I've found much better bars several streets to either side.

Yes there are some good po-boys out there, but I'd be sure in get some grilled oysters. I "discovered" them on my list trip to NOLA. So scary good. Even getting them someplace like Acme.

majorjoe23

Flash your titties.

Neitzl

Walking up and down Royale St is a great thing to do. So many art studios with many of my favorite artists. I spent way more there than I did drinking! My favorite bar though was the Old Absinthe House. I stayed at the hotel directly across from it (great place The Royal Sonesta Hotel) so I was lucky when I had to stumble the few yards back to my room.

Sdallnct

One bar on Bourbon Street I think worth a visit,

http://www.lafittesblacksmithshop.com/Homepage.html

But it is down at the "end" of Bourbon Street. More away from obnoxiously loud bad music coming out of most of the places.

This the oldest bar in NOLA. One of the oldest in the US. And to be honest, you can tell. Which is not a bad thing! Its interesting how the reinforced the beams, tried to add gas/plumbing, etc. But try to go both during the middle of the day and at night. Totally different feel.

It is just one of those places that you can "feel" the history, the energy. Sure it almost "feels" haunted. One day I was in there and a couple of mounted police road up. They let their horses stick their heads in the windows and one of the bartenders gave them a piece of sugar or treat or something. I know odd, and totally New Orleans. But it did make me think/wonder if a 100+ years ago there were horses all tied near by, sort of put me in that frame of mind.

I have a fairly large water color done by a local artist of the bar. I have it hanging directly behind my home bar. Pretty much the center piece of art (well mainly decorations) in my bar. I'll see if I can find a pic.

Charlie Goose

Another bump.

What is the taxi situation?

Can you flag one down on the street, or are there specific taxi stands, or do you have to call one?

Thanks!

robin2099

I have a question. How is the city to live in? I was contemplating applying for a job down there.

milo bloom

Bump.

I have to travel for work and I want to make sure to miss the Mardi Gras madness. I see it's on Feb 25th this year, how many days afterward does it take to settle down?

thanks

Toddarino

Not just Mardi Gras. There’s a ton of festivals and events. Jazz fest is a big thing I remember hearing about. I went at the beginning of May and it was so fucking hot.

LurkerDan

My experience is quite old, I went to Mardi Gras in 1992. That said, the answer to your question based on my experience is zero days. The very next day, Ash Wednesday, the Quarter was dead. Very few people out. Deader than I ever saw it by a huge margin (based on 3 different visits and maybe 20 days). A better question would be "how many days afterward does it take to get lively again?" Wednesday and Thursday were dead, Friday it started to seem like the normal fun town it is.

milo bloom

Yeah, I have no interest in that stuff. It’s for work though if we have time we might visit one historical site. B

LurkerDan

well, if you don't stay in the Quarter, Mardi Gras is mostly irrelevant.

The food in that town...

Shannon Nutt

Most overrated "treat" ever. It's hot bread with powdered sugar on top. They must make a killing on the markup.