BS: New Orleans??

Subject: BS: New Orleans??
From: artbrooks
Date: 20 Jan 13 - 11:59 PM

Planning a train trip in April with a layover in New Orleans. Arriving about 9:30 pm and leaving at 7:30 am 2 days later. Need advice on where to stay and (safe) things to do.

Subject: RE: BS: New Orleans??
From: Rapparee
Date: 21 Jan 13 - 08:15 AM

here used to be a nice hotel called the Papillion. Near the Superdome, not too expensive (for NO). Stayed there a couple times.

You MUST have beignets at the Cafe du Monde, sip the coffee, and watch the river flow by. Must.

Drink a zazerac cocktail. (That's not spelled right.) Visit the Garden District, take a trip the the Battle of NO battlefield ("In 1814 we took a little trip...") by boat. Eat at Antoine's or any of the fine restaurants there. Visit The Oaks.

You layover delay may vary....

Subject: RE: BS: New Orleans??
From: Bobert
Date: 21 Jan 13 - 08:20 AM

Try to find a room in the French Quarters... Crown Plaza is perfect location... Ride the street car... Enjoy the great food in the French Quarters... And the street musicians...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: New Orleans??
From: Big Ballad Singer
Date: 21 Jan 13 - 09:33 AM

Go to Central Grocery for a muffaletta. Legendary for a reason. There are, not coincidentally, always good street performers around that area of the Quarter, because the good sandwiches make for lots of foot traffic.

+1 on the Cafe Du Monde experience. Mind-blowingly good.

Enjoy your trip! Laissez les bon temps roulez!

Subject: RE: BS: New Orleans??
From: Wesley S
Date: 21 Jan 13 - 09:46 AM

Here's a music link I googled:


Live Music

Subject: RE: BS: New Orleans??
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 21 Jan 13 - 09:54 AM

I've been to New Orleans, but it was all before Hurricane Katrina. I suggest you get a recent guidebook, either from a store or library, and see what you would like to do.

Meanwhile, here are things we enjoyed, pre-Katrina.

visiting the square in front of St Joseph's cathedral and listening to a band, enjoying the local color

Pat O'Brien's bar, with its two piano players

Cafe du Monde, beignets

visiting the River Front near the aquarium. Hearing a steamboat play its callipe

Taking an evening cruise on the Mississippi on a boat built in 1911. Had dinner and listened to Dixieland. On that ride, we were with a bunch of college students who loved the Dixieland.

rode the streetcar through the Garden District. Paid another fare, rode back.

visited the aquarium. I heard it was destroyed in Katrina.

went bird-watching at a refuge 40 miles away.

visited the antique district. (I don't think it was worth the effort.)

on one of our trips, gospel groups from around the city were doing concerts in the cathedral. The concerts were packed with appreciative audiences.

Subject: RE: BS: New Orleans??
From: artbrooks
Date: 23 Jan 13 - 12:25 AM

Any other thoughts? What would you do if you had only 24 hours in New Orleans?

Subject: RE: BS: New Orleans??
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 23 Jan 13 - 08:01 AM

I believe Buddy Bolden is currently playing in a bar in the Storyville area, but does anybody know exactly where?

Subject: RE: BS: New Orleans??
From: Wesley S
Date: 23 Jan 13 - 08:31 AM

I'd go see the Preservation Hall Jazz Band.

Right Here.

Subject: RE: BS: New Orleans??
From: Bobert
Date: 23 Jan 13 - 09:32 AM

24 hours??? Dress appropriately and ride the Charles Street trolley out thru the Garden District... Get off about half way back to downtown and walk back into the district... There are shops and restaurants a few blocks off the trolley line...

That will occupy your day...

Now for the evening... Again, dress appropriately and just walk around the French Quarters... Check out the various restaurants and going on's and decide on one for your evening meal... You really can't go wrong there...

BTW, check out the rates ate the Crown Royal... It's right there in the French Quarters... We stayed there and it's nice... I think the room was $99 per night... A bit pricey but you are right there where you can walk to the trolley line and walk all around the French Quarters with no need to drive anywhere...

Enjoy...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: New Orleans??
From: artbrooks
Date: 23 Jan 13 - 11:23 AM

Can't find the Crown Royal in google - maybe it's gone. The Crowne Plaza is $215/night...too rich for my blood.

Subject: RE: BS: New Orleans??
From: Bobert
Date: 23 Jan 13 - 12:56 PM

Sorry, yes it is the Crown Plaza... Call up the reservations manager and make him an offer... Many times they will make a price adjustment if they are not booked solid... I've had them accept 50% of the asking price...

Or Google around and see what is close to the Crown Plaza 'cause that's the best area if you only have 24 hours... I'll try to remember where to get off the street car in the garden district... Check back later...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: New Orleans??
From: Bobert
Date: 23 Jan 13 - 01:12 PM

I'm thinking that getting off around 7th street is the bee knees... And walk south a couple blocks... There you'll find a great little retail strip...

I did Google up hotels and there are quite a few close to St. Charles Street...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: New Orleans??
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 23 Jan 13 - 03:17 PM

I think I would like some blackened fish..also a praline. I would like to be driven around by a local to see the architecture, the dikes that failed, Lake Ponchetrain, the rebuilding efforts. Perhaps there is a boat tour...hear a bit of Dixieland music...see some of the old weeping trees...

Subject: RE: BS: New Orleans??
From: Bobert
Date: 23 Jan 13 - 04:14 PM

There are probably 100 very good restaurants in the French Quarters and all of them specialize in sea food, sea food and more sea food...

As for the dikes and rebuilding efforts, those are kinda hidden away, mg...

The garden district is miles and miles of eclectic architecture... No two houses are the same... You name it, it's there...

As for the music, the French Quarters is 'da place...

If one had a second day in N.O. a drive across the bridge over Lake Pontchartrain might be in the cards... It takes about 1/2 hour to drive over it...

BTW, a-brooks, if you do go to the French Quarters and ya' see a skinny black guy playing plastic 5 gallon drums just walk up to him and say, "Bobert says 'Hey', Stickman"... lol...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: New Orleans??
From: artbrooks
Date: 23 Jan 13 - 05:48 PM

This is Jenn, to Bobert. What is appropriate dress, day and evening, for the activities you suggest, please? Thank you.

Subject: RE: BS: New Orleans??
From: Bobert
Date: 23 Jan 13 - 07:08 PM

N.O. is a very casual city... So dress the way you want... When I was talking about appropriate dress I was referring to temperature but...

... it's wide open as far as style...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: New Orleans??
From: frogprince
Date: 23 Jan 13 - 07:32 PM

Like Wesley said, Preservation Hall!