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New Orleans????

Ledonna N.

Veteran

Greetings, I know it's been a long while actually last summer. Just trying to take one day at a time. I am back and forth still lurking and reading and laughing at post. You all are just a wonderful group. I have a couple of questions.
I will be traveling to New Orleans, L.A. for a vacation/birthday present to myself. I will be taking my Step Mother who has some difficulties walking and uses a walker. I was hoping that you all could recommend some things to do in New Orleans and the type of weather to expect during this time.
We will be staying at the New Orleans Marriott in the French Quarter We have never been before so any advise would be a GOD send.

Thank you in Advance,
LeDonna

P.S.
Just a few Pictures for you.

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30 replies

Latest reply was from DonnaF

rabbit

Veteran

Good to see you! That last picture of you with the motion blurs is awesome! Also where did you find the huge Bowie?

I worked in New Orleans one summer but it was over a decade ago, I'm hoping others will have more recent recs. I enjoyed some of the classic spots (no doubt very filled with tourists) Mothers, Preservation Hall, beignets at the Cafe du Monde (the last two are in the French Quarter - which is walkable). I recommend eating crayfish, and enjoyed trying zydeco dancing. Basically my experience was that the food everywhere local was great. What month will you be there?

Oh I also liked Audubon park near Tulane University -- very beautiful old trees and ponds although it is big so might be difficult for your Step Mother, but there might be a trolley or shuttle at the zoo there. http://www.lonelyplanet.com/us.....ew-orleans

Ledonna N.

Veteran

Rabbit, Thank you for the response the last picture was of me at a
House Party event in Chicago. Yes, we are going to do all of the
tourists/food spots. But I also wanted to visit the local hidden gems
and maybe do some thrift hunting while I'm there. We really don't have a set
schedule and we will be there May 6th -10th from Wednesday until Sunday
evening. The David Bowie collection was on Tour here in Chicago at the Museum of Contemporary Art. The only stop in the United States. We were so fortunate and bonus I work 2 blocks from there.

kkards

Veteran

No advice,but just wanted to say it's good to nice to "see" you again. Hope the trip is fun!

Ledonna N.

Veteran

Thanks kkards it is good to be "seen" I will try to check in once in a while. I cold not leave YLF alone forever you all are wonderful.

abc

Veteran

Great to see you post again!

Ride the streetcars to the garden district.

As a music lover I know you will adore the city.

Offbeat but cool are the cemeteries. Above ground.

I wish I knew the name. Ages ago (like 10-15 years ago) I got a gorgeous vintage coat in a thrift shop there. I hope you can find something that makes your heart sing.

Have a great trip!!

Wish I could help more.

Ledonna N.

Veteran

Hello abc, thank you for the suggestions. I have never had the experience of riding a street car that will be a treat in and of itself. The garden district and the cemeteries are just right for me and my step-mom. Oh I would love to see your thrift find. And you have given me great help.

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

Some ideas in here

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/t.....t_21557010

Food

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/t.....t_21600749

Last comment here
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/t.....ork?page=2

Mind you I've never been there, but I find the Thorn Tree forum useful for new travels

Ledonna N.

Veteran

Greetings annagybe, your suggestions were most helpful and I am bookmarking this 3. I love reading others opinions and suggestions.

Adelfa

Veteran

Never been, but happy to hear from you!

rachylou

Veteran

Fantastic jewelry. In love with the Bowie (!)

New Orleans is my favorite city in the South. My cousin says of course it is, because it's liberal. I don't know what that means, that they're nicer to Yankees? I should think it's because it's rum and sugarcane, French Catholic territory - very homey for me.

No brilliant suggestions, since I haven't been anywhere in ages. There used to be a nice restaurant in a converted church outside of the French Quarter. It may be the one called Redemption.

The architecture is awesome. A lot of history about the way things were, are wrapped up in it. Like quarters for young men separate from the family. Or the way bedrooms were on the street side and people would go in that way. Or the way there are no hallways. One room opens right on to another. Very French and good for airflow.

Does your step mum have a walker with a seat? She'll want rests.

Oh another fun thing to do is a cooking class. Demo and food! You must have bread pudding with rum sauce if you like bread pudding.

Slightly embittering because of the history - but Barbara Hambly (who writes Star Trek novels) has a mystery series: Benjamin January, A Free Man of Color. It's really good. Gives a feel for where the place is coming from.

thimblelina

(website)

Veteran

I will watch this thread carefully! I'm heading to NOLA for a brief 3-day visit in three weeks (we added it on to a wedding we're attending on Cape San Blas FL)...
I haven't been in 20+ years, but the best stuff I remember was just walking around enjoying the architecture & eating terrific food.

Marlene1

One thrifting suggestion: haven't been to New Orleans in several years, but I used to go every year and would always check out the New Orleans Symphony charity shop, Encore.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/encore.....ew-orleans
I made one of my best thrift finds ever there (a Pucci skirt) so I remember it fondly. Even if you don't find anything, it's a lovely streetcar ride down St. Charles Avenue to the Riverbend area and the store is only a block or two off the streetcar line.
There is also an upscale consignment store nearby on the same street (Maple) called Swap. http://www.swapboutique.com/ It skews younger but is not inexpensive.
Another consignment store directly on the same streetcar line is the St. Charles location of Prima Donna. Again, not thrift prices but easy to get to.
http://www.primadonnascloset.com/
I have also been to the Junior League thrift store there https://www.jlno.org/?nd=thriftshop and found a few things. You would probably need a car - if I remember correctly, it was not convenient to public transit.
Hope some NOLA fabbers jump in. Enjoy New Orleans!

viva

Veteran

I adore that picture of you with Bowie!!! So amazing.

It's the most obvious suggestion ever, but do go to Cafe du Monde and sit outside for chickory coffee and beignets (donuts). I have been to New Orleans twice but the last time was probably 27 years ago .... and I can still remember that breakfast!

Also, get a muffaletta sandwich at Central Grocery! (Another famous item from a famous NOLA location).

And drink a Pimm's Cup cocktail at the Napoleon House. It's refreshing and sort of cucumber-y. (Apparently all I did in NOLA was eat and drink!)

There are streetcars in New Orleans, so that will be a fun way to take in the city on a day when your travel partner (and you!) are feeling more like resting a while.

Have fun!

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Janet

(website)

Veteran

Hello! Good to see your fab self here again.

I love NOLA. I ditto abc and rachylou's recommendations. I loved walking over from the French Quarter into Marigny to the east. I can't remember the name of it, but there was a cool little cofee shop over there, and you will also find some of the music clubs there too (Silk Road, etc.). I remember a particularly good BLT at Cafe Amelie in the FQ. And it is touristy but definitely fun to enjoy coffee and beignets at CdM! Great people watching everywhere. I also liked wandering the quirky boutiques along Magazine St. (to the south of the FQ, a good place to take a trolley to). I found the cemeteries fascinating too. But I think it's a great place to simply wander and find your own surprise discoveries -- great food and music are abundant, and the people are very nice. Next time I go, I plan to get further out of the tourist areas, and I definitely want to catch some second line action!

Have you watched the show Treme? It's about post-Katrina NOLA and it's quite good. If you haven't watched it yet, it might be fun to check it out before you go. It does a pretty darn good job of capturing the city beyond the tourist experience.

Meredith

Veteran

Fun! I went a few years ago with my Mom and this is what we did in about two days:

Guided walking tour of the French Quarter (probably too much walking for your sm, but maybe they do carriage or other style tours).

Toured the Cabildo (State Historic Museum). It's in Jackson square and at the time had exhibits on Mardi Gras and Katrina (talk about contrast).

Found places to eat gumbo and oysters and did Cafe Du Monde.

Rode a trolley to the Garden district, then explored a cemetary followed by A martini lunch at Comanders Palace (locals told us to ask to be seated in the garden room).

Jazz music at Preservation Hall (so much fun, but you do have to stand in line for tickets, so maybe not the best for your sm).

Demo cooking class at New Orleans Cooking Experience (not to be confused with New Orleans Cooking School). It's in a historic house and at the end you all eat around the dinning table. It will be mostly locals, so a good chance to learn about the city.

Drank sazaracs at the Roosevelt hotel.

There you have it. It was a fun, tame way to see New Orleans. The WWII museum is supposed to be excellent, but is farther afield. Just eat lots of good food and you are sure to have a good time!

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

Great photos - thanks for sharing!

For your mom, I would consider taking advantage of one of the tours:

I have no affiliation or experience with this group, just remembered someone telling me about the tours and did a quick web search:

http://www.inetours.com/New_Or.....etcar.html

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Welcome back and lovely to see you, ladyone.

We loved New Orleans. Great food and heritage. Must have the beignets at Cafe Dumonde. The crawfish pasta is excellent too - but I forgot the name of the restaurant. Take a tour and see some jazz at Preservation Hall. It was BRILLIANT.

Ledonna N.

Veteran

adelfa-Thank you

rachylou-I think NOLA makes everyone feel welcomed. She does have a walker with a set because she cannot walk to far. And I'm a people watchcher (sounds strange) and love architecture so I will probably be taking lots of pictures.

thimblelina-we will probably be there around the same time. That is plan for now just see where the day will take us.

Marlene1-I'm clapping my hands right now thank you for the thrift suggestions.

viva-We could not take pictures inside the exhibit so this was all I was to take. your suggestions are most appreciated.

Janet-I have not seen that particular documentary but I will put it on the to do. PBS had done some outstanding work on post Katrina.

Meredith-Sounds like so much fun that you and your mom had. I wonder if we could
just ride the trolly all day or maybe we could do a carriage ride tour?

texstyle-Thank you for the tour suggestion I will be sure to look into it.

Angie-Hello, rawfish pasta and Jazz preservation hall ok.

Well, it looks as if I will be packing on a lot of weight and enjoying the sites all around.

rachylou

Veteran

Thrifting is a brilliant idea. The antiques are good too - but pricey and difficult to transport.

Thistle

Veteran

I went to college down there over *gulp* 15 years ago. Back before Hurricane Katrina, so I doubt I can offer much that is current or relevant.

I will say, any restaurant that has survived more than a year has to be fantastic. The city is full of awesome food. Avoid any place that gives out free vouchers or fliers as they are for the tourists. The crappier the restaurant looks from the outside, usually, the better the food

It will most likely be hot and humid. Not full on summer heat as that doesn't start until early to mid May. But, bring cardis. The arctic AC is everywhere.

The streetcars, however, do not have AC and they used to be a very safe and inexpensive way to get around.

I was very poor in college, so again, most of what I saw and did was on a college kid's slim dime.

Ledonna N.

Veteran

Rachylou- Antiquing is never out of the question. I may just have to make a post office visit if I purchase to many things. I am so looking forward to going.

Thistle- thank you any help is great. I don't want to be hustled that is for sure. I will be sure to remember the advise.

rebekahphoto

Veteran

I just went to Nola a couple of weeks ago and had a fantastic time! Really interesting city, amazing food and nice people. Since you already have some great tips here--just a few more comments.

for food, never a hungry day! So many options, both casual and fancy. We had great oysters at Acme and at Royal House, both the raw oysters and chargilled are excellent. Mothers was very much worth the wait, Incredible home style cooking. We had both a breakfast & lunch there-rich gumbo, super greens, & house made ham, so delish! and really good etouffee....

All along Magazine Street are interesting vintage shops, galleries & cafes--a great break for amazing French cafe food/bread & pastries is at La Boulangerie.

The Odgen Museum had some really interesting southern art & photography exhibition.

Just past Decatur street along Frenchman street are cool jazz bars & restaurants with more locals. I talked to a musician & she said the locals almost forget Bourbon street exists....If you are in the mood for a casual, really fun bar, "the Spotted Cat Music club" was awesome, wide range of ages dancing & just enjoying fantastic jazz. We had a late night (130am) quick meal at a restaurant down the street from there, "Thirteen" they served up really good, perfectly done food & cocktails (& could make anything vegan if you wanted). & there was a outdoor artisan craft fair just closing down at midnight (this was a saturday)...so much to see and do, have fun!

Ledonna N.

Veteran

/Rebekahphoto thank you How was the weather when you traveled?

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Oh, just to clarify, Treme was a drama on HBO, not a documentary. By David Simon, who wrote Homicide:Life On the Street, and The Wire.

Ledonna N.

Veteran

Ok I'm watching now. It's on On Demand thank you I'll be well versed when the weekend is over. I think it has 3 seasons I'm,starting on it tonight.

rebekahphoto

Veteran

we were there March 10-15, the weather was rainy/humid the first few days and then warmed up & was sunny & pleasant when we left. A light cardigan was all that was needed...I had a raincoat that was fine in Seattle, but much too warm when I was there & I just ended up carrying it, then switched to an umbrella

Our last day was gorgeous, & we took the trolley up to City Park, very pretty & would be doable for someone with mobility issues

Ledonna N.

Veteran

Thank you so much rebekahphoto I had planned on a rain jacket but I'll take a couple of small umbrellas instead for me and sm.

DonnaF

Veteran

Have you ever traveled with your step-mom? She is likely to have far less stamina and will get tired way before you; doing one thing per day may be her limit. Would she be able to rest at the hotel while you do a second thing (that requires a lot more walking)?

Ledonna N.

Veteran

DonnaF- This will be the first time we have traveled together in many many years. But your suggestions are great. Maybe we could do one thing together and then I can accompany her back to the hotel for rest and relaxation. Then I can explore on my own and return to the hotel and then we can have a smaller or larger experience in the evening. What a great solution I was concerned about her being left out but I did not want to over tax her. I will start talking to SM about it now, we still have 30 days until we leave and I,don't want to hurt her feelings. Thank you.

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