New Orleans, Here I Come!
Okay, okay okay! I know there is still plenty of time for until the 24th of April. But still, one can be giddy. Right?
I am excited to announce that I will be departing for New Orleans in three weeks to attend my second consecutiveAn Event Apart. Last year’s Boston conference was so great, it was nearly impossible to consider going anywhere else (though @media SF seemed tempting, until it got canceled). Every speaker in the lineup had given an excellent presentation and I expect much of the same this time around.
If you have never been to a conference, I strongly recommend this one. Convince your boss to approve the expense. The cost will pay back in dividends.
In addition to the learning experience, it’s always refreshing to get out of work and explore a brand new city. In Boston, I was fortunate enough to have my good friend, Matt, show me around. We took a great walking tour of the city, going from Boston Commons to Newburry to the Italian neighborhood. I don’t think I can recall ever seeing so many Dunkin’ Donuts in my entire life.
Like Boston, New Orleans is completely foreign to me. It’s one of those cities that I have always wanted see, but just never gotten the opportunity. I have heard through the grapevine that most of the city’s famous restaurants are back in full swing since the devastating floods. My cursed allergy to shellfish is going to pose severe limitations certain aspects of the regional cuisine however. Why couldn’t it have been scrapple?
Since AEA New Orleans falls on a Thursday and Friday, I am taking the weekend to see what the city has to offer. I have already been told to see the Garden District, the French Quarter, Cafe Du Monde, to name a few. What else is there to see? If you only had a day to spend in New Orleans, what would you do? And more importantly, where would you eat?
Dive into the New Orleans forum at TripAdvisor.com for help with all your questions, and loads of ideas:
http://tinyurl.com/26waxd
For food and drink questions/recommendations, check out the NOLA board at Chowhound:
http://www.chowhound.com/boards/9
Before you go, pick up a good guidebook and read up on the city’s incredibly colorful history. This really will enrich your trip.
If you’re into music, get away from Bourbon Street and check out the clubs on Frenchman Street in Faubourg Marigny (an easy walk from the French Quarter).
Napoleon House has kept odd hours since the storm, and now closes at 5:30 p.m. Go after the lunch crowd has thinned, between 2:00-5:30. Order a Pimm’s Cup and a Muffaletta, and soak up the faded, genteel, quintessentially New Orleans atmosphere. (Phone ahead to confirm hours, openings, and closings.)
Napoleon House
Corner of Chartres and St. Louis Streets
504-524-9752
Have a great trip!
Sorry, I can’t stop…..
If a high-end meal is in the cards, I can unreservedly recommend Stella! in the French Quarter. For the last couple of years, it’s gotten more consistently great reviews than almost any other restaurant in the city. Tel. 504-587-0091 (Closed Tuesday. Request a table in the rear room.)
Another excellent high-end choice (a 25-minute cab ride uptown from the Quarter) is Brigtsen’s. Tel. 504-861-7610 (closed Sun & Mon).
If there’s a chance you’ll want to dine at either of these restaurants, reserve a table now. You can always cancel if you decide not to go.
For great roast beef po’boys, try either Parkway (closed Tuesday) or Liuzza’s By The Track (closed Sunday). Both joints are a 10-minute cab ride from the Quarter. Johnny’s Po’boys in the Quarter comes in third in the rankings, but is still good).
Your hands-down best bet for Sunday Brunch is Commander’s Palace in the Garden District. Advance reservations strongly recommended. (As is the Bread Pudding Souffle!)
There’s a dive bar every two feet in NOLA. For more upscale cocktails, try Arnaud’s French 75 Bar (next door to Arnaud’s restaurant in the Quarter), The Carousel Lounge at the Hotel Monteleone (French Quarter), and The Swizzle Stick Bar at the Loew’s Hotel (a 5-minute cab-ride from the Quarter, in the Central Business District). For a proper absinthe drip (just say “NO” to flaming sugar cubes), try Pravda! (Decatur St., between Ursulines and Gov. Nicholls Streets in the Quarter).
The city’s oldest classic cocktails are the Sazerac and the Ramos Gin Fizz. Try at least one of them while you’re in town!
Program these numbers into your cell phone before you go:
United Cab - 504-522-9771 and 504-524-8380
Whew. Okay, I’ll stop now!
Brooks, wow. I don’t know what to say, but you definitely far and beyond the call of duty with that. I’ve heard good things about a few of the place you’ve listed and will definitely check out a few of them. Thanks a lot, man!
Thanks for letting me put in my $.02!
Don’t judge the city by Bourbon Street. If you like it, cool. If not (locals won’t get near it), there’s plenty else to do.
Check out Offbeat’s Music Listings:
http://www.offbeat.com/listings/clubs.php
From a cursory skimming, I see stuff like:
Friday 25th
Dr. John (House of Blues) - French Quarter
Ellis Marsalis Quartet (Snug Harbor) - Marigny
————————–
Saturday 26th
Blind Boys of Alabama, Allen Toussaint, Preservation Hall Band and guests (Tipitina’s) - Uptown
Sonny Landreth, Jon Cleary, Kermit Ruffins (Rock ‘n’ Bowl) - Mid-City
You’re wise to research restaurants, since in NOLA, the look of a place tells you nothing about the quality of the food. You can find great food in cheap hole-in-the-walls, and crappy food in beautiful, pricey tourist traps. And vice-versa.
Last week, Irene’s Cuisine (French Quarter) finally broke its longstanding no-reservations policy. If you find yourself in the mood for Creole-Italian, Irene’s is solid, cozy, and atmospheric (request a table in the front room). Tel. 504-529-8811 (closed Sunday).
[…] the opportunity to see it and meet some really cool people. I want to thank Brooks for all of his recommendations. Unfortunately, I didn’t get much of a chance to venture outside the Quarter. Casting my good […]