New Orleans

[Marcia (Mrs. Pete)]

Pete and I are going to New Orleans for the first time in our lives in November. We will be there for four nights. The hotel for the conference is the Ritz Carlton on Canal Street. We don't have to stay there, necessarily. Any suggestions for:

A hotel (including feedback on the Ritz)
Restaurants
Things to do/see
Things to avoid
???

Thanks!!

[kellyanna]

we've stayed there & liked it. i'll msg you later.

[Marcia (Mrs. Pete)]

Thanks, Kellyanna. I did a search on here, too and have a rather extensive list of restaurants to look into as well as a couple of hotels.

I haven't seen much posted in the archives about things to do (other than EAT-which sounds really good to me right now).

[Bandit]

Call me on the Hot Line and I'll tell you all about New Orleans.

And just understand...to get the beads, you gotta show'em!!!

[AquaGirl]

I was there for a couple days on a business trip and my favorite thing was the horse-and-buggy ride around the city. We picked it up in front of the famous square with a famous church (can't remember name of either one). We had a great buggy driver who told you all about the sights. The architecture of the homes and shops, the flower boxes, the intricate wrought iron, musicians on the corners were all so enjoyable to see. I know its a very "touristy" thing to do, but it was such a pleasant way to see the historic parts of the city.

The food everywhere was outstanding, excellent, incredible and soooo heavy. I was full for days after I got home. The Beignets and chicory coffee at Cafe Du Monde are famous, but didn't do much for me. We ate a multi-course dinner at Nola's and it was excellent. Hope you have a great trip.

[Terry]

Ah... New Orleans. Went there for a business trip with hubby and another couple. On the first night, we went to dinner and headed back to our hotel in the French Quarter, across the street from a strip joint. See where I'm headed here?

Friend's wife and I head up to our rooms to go to bed. Boys felt they needed to go find a liquor store (of which you won't find in the French Quarter). I receive a call from her at 3 a.m. asking if hubby was home...I roll over and no hubby. Called cell phones, no answer. Knowing the crime in that area, we were a bit nervous.

However, around 4 a.m. someone is trying to insert a keycard into my door but struggling. Guess who? Turns out the guys were 'across the street' all night. Hubby's friend spent $500 on lap dances for both of them.


Rest of the trip was a bit chilly.

Beware... if hubby misbehaves, make reservations at the most expensive restaurants! Emirels is a good place to start, great food.

If you walk Bourbon St. in the a.m., wait until the street washers have finished. It will smell a bit sweeter then.

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[Eric in NJ]

I,ve been there 3 times 2 Mardi Gras and a Jazz Fest. Stayed twice at the Monteleone in the Quarter and once at the Fairmont (now back to thr Roosevelt) Both great the Carosel lounge in th Monteleone is outstanding. Going again in May and staying at the Dauphine. Can't wait it's been 16 years.

[Marcia (Mrs. Pete)]

I,ve been there 3 times 2 Mardi Gras and a Jazz Fest. Stayed twice at the Monteleone in the Quarter and once at the Fairmont (now back to thr Roosevelt) Both great the Carosel lounge in th Monteleone is outstanding. Going again in May and staying at the Dauphine. Can't wait it's been 16 years.

Please let us know how you like the Dauphine...we have a "Superior Patio King" room booked. Heck, a little NO trip report would be great, too.

Thanks!

[Eric in NJ]

I,ve been there 3 times 2 Mardi Gras and a Jazz Fest. Stayed twice at the Monteleone in the Quarter and once at the Fairmont (now back to thr Roosevelt) Both great the Carosel lounge in th Monteleone is outstanding. Going again in May and staying at the Dauphine. Can't wait it's been 16 years.

Please let us know how you like the Dauphine...we have a "Superior Patio King" room booked. Heck, a little NO trip report would be great, too.

Thanks!

We have a balcony room over Dauphine st and my brother has a room in the carriage house. I will be happy to write up a report. This will be my wifes first time along with my brother and his wife.

[Pickle]

Marcia,

We stayed at the Dauphine twice – once in the Carriage House and this past December in the Hermann House (the annex across the street). Do you know where your "Superior Patio King" room is located? If it's not in the Main House, where we've never stayed, I may be able to give you some info.

[nothintolose]

You should eat at Bayona (across the street from the Dauphine). Susan Spicer is one of the famous New Orleans chefs.

I love seeing all of ya'll's comments on the city. It's a wonderful city to visit and there is so much more to it than Bourbon Street. The French Quarter has a completely different look than other parts of the city.

St. Charles Avenue is gorgeous with and you can take the street car and enjoy every bit of it from downtown to the University area. The city outside of the Quarter is full of beautiful oak trees and all different types of architecture. The Garden District is beautiful. The houses in the Irish Channel are adorable as are the ones around Bayou St. John. The New Orleans Museum of Art http://www.noma.org/ is right on City Park which also has a sculpture garden. The National World War II Museum http://www.ddaymuseum.org/ is in the Wharehouse District. The Aquarium of the Americas is really nice as is the Audubon Zoo. You can find both of them here: http://www.auduboninstitute.org/ The main thing though is to just enjoy the food and music and the spirit of New Orleans.

We are a happy people that will tell you hello when we walk past you on the street, but if anyone tells you they bet they can tell you they know where you got your shoes, just say on your feet

Jackson Square is the square B&J in VA was referring to and the St. Louis Cathedral is the church. I got stuck behind a caravan of carriages today while trying to get to an appointment on Chartres. They were all stopping at Jackson Square. It's kinda like being on STJ when the locals decide to stop in the middle of the road and talk to each other, you just wait till they move on if you can't go around them

New Orleans is a very slow paced city where we enjoy everything that we have. We eat slow and take our time with everything so (just as you do on St. John) don't be in a rush. Just take your time and enjoy everything around you. When you're in the Quarter, remember to look up (not just for beads on Bourbon Street) and notice all of the gorgeous iron work on the balconies and all of the beautiful architecture.

Eric - are ya'll coming for Jazz Fest?

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[nothintolose]

SJ!!! I LOVE it! I should change my username to that!

I love that you can walk around the Quarter and all of the sudden you'll hear awesome music pouring out of a club and just walk in and get lost in the music.

Heck, the street musicians are good. You should have heard the brass band just walking around Royal Street the night we won the Super Bowl. It was like 5 guys with different horns and they had everyone dancing in the streets...not that we weren't already but at least we had good music at that point...only in New Orleans.

[Eric in NJ]

No nothintolose we are coming in the week after, just a relaxing trip. We are going to donate some of my dad's WWII stuff to the new museum. I've done the Natchez cruise, the Aquarium, took a Bayou tour and the street car all the way to the Camillia grill but will lovingly do it all again. I've eaten at allot of the big names Antoines, Galitoirs, Commanders Palace,Brennan's and others. Want to try a few I haven't been. All my sister in law who lives in Cali wants is fried oysters. I'm craving a soft shell crab po'boy myself.