One day in New Orleans - need help

[TAPPY]

Originally Posted by Jimmy-James

Great advice Tap and Lola, thanks much- either of you ever hear of a place called "Herbsaint"? I believe it's on Charles St

Check out the web site/menu - looks absolutely wonderful and it looks like it has been given plenty of awards - so I would go in a hearbeat.
(no Oysters - so you are safe) !!!

[lolabella]

Originally Posted by TAPPY

Check out the web site/menu - looks absolutely wonderful and it looks like it has been given plenty of awards - so I would go in a hearbeat.
(no Oysters - so you are safe) !!!

Make sure you stop in at Marie Laveau's House of Voodoo on Bourbon. If they gals have time, make sure they have a reading done.

I did this a few years back and it was pretty freaky. At the time, I hadn't finished my degree but I was working for a computer software company. The woman who 'read' me said that my occupation would involve a study of Librarian Science ( I told her nothing about me when we started). I was confused and told her no, I didn't think so, but she insisted. 6 months later, I decided to finish my degree and was floored when I discovered that my major fell inside The School of Library Science. I had no idea!! She also said that I would meet my soulmate in my late 30's and I'd be married within a few months of meeting him. Well, I'm 37..and I'm waiting!

The House of Vodoo also conducts Haunted Tours of the beautiful graveyards of New Orleans at night! I wished we had more time to do this. It would have been an experience.

[travmagic]

Originally Posted by lolabella

Make sure you stop in at Marie Laveau's House of Voodoo on Bourbon. If they gals have time, make sure they have a reading done.


The House of Vodoo also conducts Haunted Tours of the beautiful graveyards of New Orleans at night! I wished we had more time to do this. It would have been an experience.

That is awesome. We are going to make sure we do that! My girlfriend wants to do all this spooky crap and she is such a baby . She will probably chicken out.

[lolabella]

DARTAY!!

How was the trip?

Dying to know what you ended up doing. Did you see any ghosts!!

Trip report...please!

[dartay]

Originally Posted by lolabella

DARTAY!!

How was the trip?

Dying to know what you ended up doing. Did you see any ghosts!!

Trip report...please!

I just posted some pics from the 9th ward today, go check them out. I'm working on the trip report - and yes my wife saw a ghost. Or 5.

[lolabella]

Originally Posted by dartay

I just posted some pics from the 9th ward today, go check them out. I'm working on the trip report - and yes my wife saw a ghost. Or 5.

5!!!!!

[dartay]

Originally Posted by lolabella

5!!!!!

may have been 10, may have been the liquor, may have been lots of things. The girls were definately spooked.

[lolabella]

Originally Posted by dartay

may have been 10, may have been the liquor, may have been lots of things. The girls were definately spooked.

I'm on the edge of my seat. Seriously!! Looking forward to reading your report!

[travmagic]

Originally Posted by lolabella

I'm on the edge of my seat. Seriously!! Looking forward to reading your report!

Me too!! Me too!

[Jimmy-James]

I'm reviving this thread because my anniversary weekend with Hilary is coming up the 21-24th so I'm finalizing our plans- I've taken into consideration all your suggestions and done a bunch of research but I want all you experts opinions as I've only been to NO once so most of my planning is based on reading. I got us a Jr suite at the Hotel Monteleon in the French Quarter and then reservations for a few meals for the weekend. I always tend to fixate on where we are going out to eat when we travel because I love food so much (one of the reasons I love Playa too) and with New Orleans there's SO MANY good restaurants it's hard to narrow it down. Here's what I have planned so far, please let me know if you have any suggestions or reviews if you've been to any of these places.

Thurs-
Dinner- Acme Oyster House- I figure we arrive at 5pm and won't want to worry about a formal dinner so what better place to get the weekend started than with a dozen oysters, a Peacemaker PoBoy and a couple of Abitas at Acme!

Friday-
Breakfast- The Coffee Pot- don't really know anything about this place except a friend reccommended it for a good affordable breakfast

Lunch- The Commander's Palace- I figured we'd walk the Garden District then made reservations for a 1:30 lunch at the Palace. I guess this place is supposed to be the birthplace and premiere Creole restaurant in the country and it's very expensive so luch makes it more realistic and affordable for us. Plus, they have .25 cent Martinis and Cosmos for lunch!!! We may wobble back to the hotel.

Dinner- K-Paul's- Chef Paul Pruddome's cajun restaurant.

Saturday-
Dinner- GW Fins- It's supposed to be one of the best seafood restaurants in the country and we have a credit there as a gift so we'll have our anniversary dinner there.

Besides meals, I have not made any plans so I am open to suggestion, but I figure a whole lot of our time will be taken up by walking around the Garden district and French Quarter, Jackson Square, Burbon St, etc. Am I trying to pack too much in?

[Seakony]

My favorite places to eat...And I don't like to get dressed up.
Deanies Seafood on Iberville...yums! Not far from Acme's just past Bourbon.
Central grocery store for a Muffaletta for lunch...by Jackson Square.
Court of 2 sisters..all you can eat seafood buffet
For Crabs..I like to drive out to the west end area..I don't know if any of the resturants have been re-built yet..but the best boiled crabs are there.
It's hot...so be sure to get a snowball (snowcone..only better). Theres one at the market on Decatur street.
Moms? for po-boys. downtown.

[Jacko]

Originally Posted by Jimmy-James

I'm reviving this thread because my anniversary weekend with Hilary is coming up the 21-24th so I'm finalizing our plans- I've taken into consideration all your suggestions and done a bunch of research but I want all you experts opinions as I've only been to NO once so most of my planning is based on reading. I got us a Jr suite at the Hotel Monteleon in the French Quarter and then reservations for a few meals for the weekend. I always tend to fixate on where we are going out to eat when we travel because I love food so much (one of the reasons I love Playa too) and with New Orleans there's SO MANY good restaurants it's hard to narrow it down. Here's what I have planned so far, please let me know if you have any suggestions or reviews if you've been to any of these places.

Thurs-
Dinner- Acme Oyster House- I figure we arrive at 5pm and won't want to worry about a formal dinner so what better place to get the weekend started than with a dozen oysters, a Peacemaker PoBoy and a couple of Abitas at Acme!

Friday-
Breakfast- The Coffee Pot- don't really know anything about this place except a friend reccommended it for a good affordable breakfast

Lunch- The Commander's Palace- I figured we'd walk the Garden District then made reservations for a 1:30 lunch at the Palace. I guess this place is supposed to be the birthplace and premiere Creole restaurant in the country and it's very expensive so luch makes it more realistic and affordable for us. Plus, they have .25 cent Martinis and Cosmos for lunch!!! We may wobble back to the hotel.

Dinner- K-Paul's- Chef Paul Pruddome's cajun restaurant.

Saturday-
Dinner- GW Fins- It's supposed to be one of the best seafood restaurants in the country and we have a credit there as a gift so we'll have our anniversary dinner there.

Besides meals, I have not made any plans so I am open to suggestion, but I figure a whole lot of our time will be taken up by walking around the Garden district and French Quarter, Jackson Square, Burbon St, etc. Am I trying to pack too much in?

I think you have it down...I recommend the bar at Acme..better oysters ...check out this thread for info on our trip pre-hurricane...have fun!

[Jimmy-James]

Originally Posted by Jacko

I think you have it down...I recommend the bar at Acme..better oysters ...check out this thread for info on our trip pre-hurricane...have fun!

Jacko, I see from your post on the other thread that you too have experienced the sublime nirvana of a Peacemaker Po-Boy!!! I have only been to New Orleans once before, four years ago and I had one at Acme and instantly fell into a Homer Simpson-like love for that sandwich. I cannot wait for the first beer, oyster and Peacemaker at Acme.

[caramba]

Another vote here for Acme Oyster House, and for muffalettas from Central Grocery.

The French Market is fun- we always bring home bags of garlic pistachios (and hot pistachios- can't remember if they're jalapeno or habanero or what but they're good!)...and the foot long plumeria cutting that we got there 10 years ago is 6 feet tall now and blooming for the first time- VERY cool flowers.

Oh, and Mid City Bowling Lanes (Rock 'n Bowl) is classic.

And I just noticed that the Iguanas, one of my favorite bands, play at d.b.a., a small club just outside the quarter on Frenchman Street, on the 23rd. I guarantee a good time! Have fun!

[JimmyMN]

1. Absolutely go to Cafe du Monde on Decatur and have coffee & beignets
2. Definitely have a few drinks at Pat O'Briens.
3. Catch the trolley at St. Charles & Canal and run it to the end of the line and back.
4. Take the free ferry at Canal St & the Mississippi River across to Algiers and back.
5. At minimum stroll on Bourbon Street, Royal Street and Decatur Street.
6. Although it's a tourist thing, catch some old master jazz artists at Preservation Hall (close to Pat O'Brien's on St. Peter). Cost is a couple of dollars and you can bring your drink in.
7. Visit the Historic French Market at Decatur and Ursuline... cheapest place to get souvenirs, fresh fruit and seasoning galore. Get there early in the morning...
8. Go to an elegant restaurant like Commanders Palace for a superb lunch or dinner, Brennan's for Breakfast (pricey), Court of Two Sisters for their daily Brunch, or Arnauds for an exquisite dining experience.
9. Get cheap eats at places like Maspero's, Acme Oyster House, The Gumbo Shop, Mothers, Central Grocery (for muffalettas), Ernst's Cafe, Uglesich, and I'm sure you'll find many more on your own.
10. For nightlife, go to the original Tipitina's on Napoleon (about a $7 cab ride from the quarter). Check out Mid-City Lanes on Carrolton (lots of Zydeco) for an absolute fun time listening and dancing. In the French Quarter, you could start with some of the Top40 Karaoke bars on Bourbon (everyone seems to dance there). If you like eclectic, check out the Dundgeon on Toulouse, a few step from Bourbon which opens at midnight. The Oz in the 800 block of Bourbon (gay) but straight friendly and a great place to dance. Some people go to Jimmy Buffets on Decatur but seems too commercial to me. Beware of the clubs along Bourbon that have music... they're eager to seat you (one drink minimum) but you might get sticker shock when they bring your drink. Always ask the cost of their drinks before having them seat you!! If you take Chartres Street deep into the French Quarter and cross Esplanade, you'll find some unique clubs like Snug Harbor very refreshing. Some newer fun spots on Bourbon Street are Razoo and Utopia (both have large courtyards and festive atmosphere).
11. Visit a cemetery close to the French Quarter, like St. Louis Cemetery, right next to Louis Armstrong Park. It's recommended that you go with a tour for safety reasons. I think if you go on your own between 9am and Noon you'd be okay.
12. If you like real brass bands, you might check out the Maple Leaf & Donnas on Rampart. Even though Donnas is in the Quarter, a cab is recommended after 9pm.
13. Maybe visit a plantation close to New Orleans.
14. Maybe take a Bayou Tour close to New Orleans.
15. Maybe take a river cruise on a paddleboat.

For great advice once you get to the French Quarter, visit the Tourism Office at Jackson Square on St. Ann Street between Decatur Street and Chartres Street. You'll probably find discount coupons there too for many of the area attractions