going to new orleans in 2 weeks. suggestions?

joehahn · joehahn's Garage

Wife and I are going on our FIRST vacation without kids in a long time (4 years!!!). Staying in heart of french qaurter. Any ideas on where to go and what to do? We are more the "eat crawdads and oysters, cajun food with 22 oz beer" type than the "black she-she clothes, champagne, fireside rack of lamb" type. Any thoughts? thanks a lot. the only thing i have committed myself to on the trip is long tour of national d-day museum.

joe 68 L

(i tried to figure this out via on-line tourist sites but they seem swayed by those places that invest in the adrvertising spots)

SRISER · 10-22-2003, 12:23 PM

Beads. Lots of beads.

thamlin000 · thamlin000's Garage

Pat O's on Bourbon St. Get very drunk. Lots of grown-up fun. Invest in some beads or better yet, let your wife earn her own.

Visit a New Orleans cemetery too. Definately worth a see.

surflvr911sc · surflvr911sc's Garage

Take a short tour of the city during the day. There is a lot to see and a tour will show you a lot in a short time and then you can go back to anywhere you would like to spend more time. The Cemetery is a great suggestion.

ACME Oyster Bar is always good.

Preservation Hall is a must do if you like Jazz. You may not recognize the people that play there but they are almost all famous in the Jazz world. Get there early (9PM?).

Other than that, cruise Bourbon St. and stop wherever the music takes you. There is definitely a little something for everyone. Have Fun!

joehahn · joehahn's Garage

Thanks! I had not heard about the cemetary tours but wife mentioned them. is it pretty cool? tour or just check it out?

jrdavid68 · 01:25 PM

Mr B's on Royal Street - go at lunch time for their BBQ Shrimp - the sauce is absolutely amazing. Dinner is good too, just more expensive.

Acme Oyster bar - look for "Hollywood", he is the "Master Shucker" Here is the link for the on-line web cam at Acme.

Pascale's Manale in the Garden District - again, for lunch. Here is that link. Take the St. Charles Street Car to Napoleon - it's only three blocks or so from St. Charles - plus you get to see some really cool houses on the short walk. A couple blocks the other way from St. Charles will put you near a bunch of antique shops etc. A nice area to visit after lunch.

Cafe Du Monde for Beignets and coffee - have to do it. Here's that link.

The last time we were there, the wife and I spent some time at the Greenwood Cemetery - not a tour, just the two of us. One of the locals recommended Greenwood because it would be safe - she said we would have more fun on our own than going on a cemetery tour - she was right! We took the bus or trolly - whatever it is - on Canal Street (I think) - Greenwood is at the end of the line. Here are a couple pics:

Moses · 10-22-2003, 01:40 PM

Acme Oyster bar with a cold Abita Amber. Yum.
Cafe du Monde for Beignet and coffee in the AM.

Mothers for lunch. You absolutely must eat a FERDIE at Mothers.

joehahn · joehahn's Garage

you guys are the BEST! this is just the kind of stuff i was looking for! fantastic. thanks a lot and keep em coming. looks like acme is sure bet as is cemetary. AWESOME

joe

MotoSook · 10-22-2003, 02:54 PM

The area around the D-day Museum is a nice area...revitalized warehouse district. Go to "Mother's" and get a (I forget the name exactly) fall out sandwich (all the stuff that falls off the roast reef). There is usually a line out the door during lunch. Mothers (I think that's the right name) is on the corner of Canal and Notre Dame or Magazine I think (I thinK!). You know the memory ain't so great from the times in "Nawlins"

The Riverwall Mall will be fun for the kids. Jackson Square is fun too. Street performers seem to always be around.

Visit the Cathodral at Jackson Square (I never have gone inthere, but I hear it's worth the 5 minutes)

Take a ride on the Streat Car. The Garden District is cool. Ann Rice's house is across from some park that I can't remember, but not far off St. Charles St. Not that you'd get invited in or anything...but cool to show the kids..if they know who Ann Rice is.

There's a place call "Gumbo" that I like for Cajun food in the Quarter.

There is a Saturday Farmer's Market in the warehouse district that is cool. Rock and ROll Sushi is fun...(I think that's what it's called).

The Piano Bar at Pat O's is fun. There is an old guy there that must be 100 yrs old who stands there with a serving tray and bounce a quarter to the piano tunes.

There is this Cajun place on Canel away from the Quarter that serves the best food. It's in an old house and has been there for years! I think it's called Marjan's or something...I can find out. But it's good. Have the crab leg appetizer..

Next time I visit...I'll have to try and be sober for at least one whole day.

Moses · 10-22-2003, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Souk
Go to "Mother's" and get a (I forget the name exactly) fall out sandwich (all the stuff that falls off the roast reef).

That is a Ferdie!

Moses · 10-22-2003, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Souk

Next time I visit...I'll have to try and be sober for at least one whole day.

Why in the world would you do a thing like that?

Moses · 10-22-2003, 03:35 PM

For a cheap night out, try the ROCK N' BOWL.

Bowling, dancing, zydeco music, beer. Lots of locals young and old livin' it up.

KFC911 · 10-22-2003, 03:41 PM

Hi Joe, Although there have been some excellent suggestions already, Mothers (where the locals eat), Preservation Hall, and the Garden District for sure!, I'm going to suggest that you spend some time outside of the French Quarter. Although many of the previous suggestions are a must do (Cafe Du Monde, Pat O's, Cemetary tour - yes, do a tour, you'll learn a lot of cool history) for a first time visitor, the FQ is very much an over-priced, over-rated tourist trap IMO. I absolutely love New Orleans (many Mardi Gras trips in my younger daze, and I attend Jazz Fest as often as I can), but you've GOT to get out of the Quarter to get a real taste of what NOLA is all about. Are you into music? If so I can follow up with more suggestions, but you're not gonna find the 'real deal' in most of the bars/clubs in the FQ with a few exceptions (Donna's on Rampart St. for jazz is one example). Take the street car line and go exploring the Garden District, take a ride on one of the riverboats, go to the Rock 'N Bowl for a unique experience! I could go on & on... One more thing...be safe and take a taxi after dark (they're everywhere, and just a few bucks will get you anywhere you want to go...in the Quarter or beyond). Have fun, and let me know if you want more music options...I have a bunch, but not in the FQ. Damn, I wish I were there now!

MotoSook · 10-22-2003, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Moses
Why in the world would you do a thing like that?

SO I don't nod off at Temptations the next night

I'm getting to old I guess

DonDavis · DonDavis's Garage

Joe,
Heads up... in case you don't have one near you, "Joe's Crab Shack" is a chain. My in-laws went to N.O. about 2 years ago and asked around for a "Really good seafood place". They were told about this great place that was hard to get to. So they thought "Cool, that's us".
After a 2 bus connection that took an hour, they show up at a Joe's. You can imagine their disappointment. And it was kind of funny.

I'm not saying Joe's is a bad place. I've been there once or twice and it was fine. They just wanted something a little more local or Mom and Pop.

I agree with Moses....

Party on!

Be sure to try the 'gator dish. Tastes like chicken. Well, sort of.
and Hurricanes
and oysters
mmmmm, makes me want to go too!

Rot 911 · 10-23-2003, 08:08 AM

Don't forget to hit the used book stores and take the street car out to the city zoo. Even if you don't like to look at the animals, the scenery, including the old homes and the zoo property itself are worth the trip. By the way are you flying or driving?

singpilot · 10-23-2003, 08:13 AM

This makes me want to bid on Nawlins' trips again.

Congrats on your wife's surgery. Sounds like the 3 pounds gain will earn a few beads.

joehahn · joehahn's Garage

again thanks for all the replies! Kurt, we are flying (first time on plane together with no kids in 4 years...we will be loaded before we land (taking cabs). Don, classic story about Joe's crab shack. noted that in file. we will have digicam and post pics of all the recommended spots!

showed my wife thread...not sure how thrilled she was about boob disclosure. Denise, if you are still reading this post pics!

KFC911 · 10-23-2003, 08:54 AM

showed my wife thread...not sure how thrilled she was about boob disclosure. Denise, if you are still reading this post pics! [/B][/QUOTE]

Not to worry...the whole bead & boob deal is ONLY applicable during Mardi Gras, where anything & everything goes on!

HarryD · 10-23-2003, 09:48 AM

Around the corner from Pascale's Manale is a steak place but I con't remember the name. Anyone know?

Anyway, for other eats, I like Ye Olde College Inn for Oyster Po Boys, Camallia Grill for Breakfast, and Central Grocery for Muffellatas.

Spend some time walking around the French Quarter both in day light and at night. Be sure to look up at the balconies and their iron wrk.

A Hurricane at Pat's O's always fun but try to get a seat in the piano bar.

It's a great trip and I want to go back (my wife grew up there).