lndshrk Posted October 4, 2004 Share Posted October 4, 2004 Thought I'd check with my shooting buddies here, going to visit the Big Easy for the first time this Thursday to Sunday (gotta use those fequent flyer miles). What food and sights shouldn't this former New Yorker miss? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJPoLo Posted October 4, 2004 Share Posted October 4, 2004 Depends on where you're staying. Hopefully downtown or in the Quarter. That will make getting around easier. Not to be missed: Central Grocery, 923 Decatur. The best muffuletta sandwich ever. Cafe du Monde, 1039 Decatur. Cafe au Lait and beignets. Be careful when you go, though. This place can be VERY crowded. Take the St. Charles streetcar through the garden district. Also worth seeing is the zoo. We like to take the streetcar to the zoo, but then take the ferry back to the Quarter. Take one of the ghost tours of the French Quarter. They all begin across the street from Jackson Square on Decatur. Jackson square is very nice and full of local artists. It's also where I proposed to my wife. The Rodrigue gallery is pretty cool if you like his style. 721 Royal Street. The Harrahs casino is huge and if you like gambling you will not be disappointed. As I think of more I'll post 'em. -Chet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kellyn Posted October 4, 2004 Share Posted October 4, 2004 ACME Oyster bar in the French Quarter. Mmmmmmm. Commander's Palace in the Garden district for a very expensive but FABULOUS meal. I had a truly excellent steak dinner at Dickie Brennan's steakhouse in the Quarter. Old Absinthe House and Lafitte's Blacksmith shop on Bourbon St. have their charms. St Louis #1 cemetery off Rampart but be careful it's in the 'hood. Don't forget to try a GinFizz and Sazerac. Classic New orleans cocktails, far better than the alcoholic slurpees that you buy on the street. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lndshrk Posted October 4, 2004 Author Share Posted October 4, 2004 Will try to do it all, weather report says thundershowers from Thursday through Sunday, don't care! Staying at the Baronne Plaza, just off the French Quarter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DogmaDog Posted October 4, 2004 Share Posted October 4, 2004 Jaque Imo's restaurant in the Garden District is outstanding, and not terribly expensive. The aquarium on the River Walk at Canal St (approximately) is pretty neat, and air conditioned...so if it's hot out, and you don't want to walk around the zoo. On the other hand, I saw 2 giant tortoises mating at the zoo...that was pretty fascinating/horrifying. If the Quarter is too crowded and seedy for you, then check out St. Charles and Magazine streets in the Garden/Warehouse districts. Lots of decent restaurants, bars, shops, etc. Not sure if the Friday Night Steel Match will go at the St. Bernard Indoor Shooting center or not--what with the MS classic match this weekend. DogmaDog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BDH Posted October 4, 2004 Share Posted October 4, 2004 Already some great suggestions, but I'll add.... The Palace (a Brennan's resturant) for Sunday morning Jazz Brunch.... Mulate's Cajun Resturant (cajun food, music and dancin'! A blast) The National D-Day Museum (very interesting and moving) Also, I will second the kellyn's recommendation of the Old Absinthe House and Lafitte's Blacksmith shop. Have fun. One of my all time favorite town's..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vlad Posted October 4, 2004 Share Posted October 4, 2004 Though I was overall disapointed with place, some of the things listed already do need to be visisted. My favorite place to eat is Rita's on Charles St ( around the 950's). My wife and I ended up there after the recommandations of some of the locals and we both loved it. If you get the chance take a boat tour of the swamps around there (Cyrus was the old man that took us along and hand fed the aligators but I don't remember the name of the company, there are a couple of them) and get out of the town if you get the chance and visit some of the old plantations. Vlad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mactiger Posted October 4, 2004 Share Posted October 4, 2004 Try Lillette on Magazine street. Excellent food in an elegant but not too pricey setting. Central Grocery, Tujaques, Acme Oyster bar are all good. St. Charles and Magazine streets give an excellent view of the "garden district" and get you out of the French Quarter, which is nice for a little while, but too seedy and touristy for me. (I live about 60 miles away). Have fun. Troy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barrettone Posted October 4, 2004 Share Posted October 4, 2004 Troy: The French Quarter is too "SEEDY"??? Am I to believe that you wouldn't wear your kilt down there for the he/shes??? I wouldn't blame you...I got hit on by two of 'em WITH MY WIFE STANDIN' NEXT TO ME!!! If they went for me, seeing yer legs would DEFINITELY illicit a response!!! I had to race up to my room and shower the filth off me just to feel "unviolated". lndshrk...I'll give you $100 if you can get Troy drunk and get him in a TV bar with one of 'em sittin' on his lap!!! $200 if he's wearin' the kilt!!! Jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scooterj Posted October 5, 2004 Share Posted October 5, 2004 If you're looking to do a swamp tour, Donnie Miculek, Jerry's little brother, does them in Maurepas Swamp. I'll see if I can get his number and post it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mactiger Posted October 5, 2004 Share Posted October 5, 2004 Troy:The French Quarter is too "SEEDY"??? Am I to believe that you wouldn't wear your kilt down there for the he/shes??? I wouldn't blame you...I got hit on by two of 'em WITH MY WIFE STANDIN' NEXT TO ME!!! If they went for me, seeing yer legs would DEFINITELY illicit a response!!! I had to race up to my room and shower the filth off me just to feel "unviolated". lndshrk...I'll give you $100 if you can get Troy drunk and get him in a TV bar with one of 'em sittin' on his lap!!! $200 if he's wearin' the kilt!!! Jeff Is that where you learned what "sako" meant? Hell, just send me $300, and skip the middleman! I get to wear the Glock, too, though. Sorry for the thread drift...if you are looking for more information on New Orleans, www.nola.com is a good place to start. Troy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diehli Posted October 5, 2004 Share Posted October 5, 2004 http://www.airboatadventures.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lndshrk Posted October 5, 2004 Author Share Posted October 5, 2004 Very cool! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kschwan Posted October 5, 2004 Share Posted October 5, 2004 The National D-Day Museum (very interesting and moving) I agree, I went with a couple of good friends to NO seveal years ago. We all took turns picking places we wanted to visit One of my friends wanted to go to the national D-Day Museum ( the rest of us wanted to drink) and I must say we spent all day there. I is diffently worth going to. We actually went on Memorial Day and they had one of the Boat builders there to discuss the boat they used on the D-Day landing. It was really neat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toddrod Posted October 5, 2004 Share Posted October 5, 2004 If you go to the D-day museum then you should walk around the corner and see the Confederate Museum on Camp Street as well. Well worth the time and effort. They have just finished restoring an original Higgins landing craft from WWII that was found in San Fransico Bay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BDH Posted October 5, 2004 Share Posted October 5, 2004 Is that where you learned what "sako" meant? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eric nielsen Posted October 5, 2004 Share Posted October 5, 2004 Be careful of the New Orleans police - they have a very bad reputation compared to other US departments. Which is to say they're much like any average third world police force. If you drive a car there, do not let a cop do a traffic stop on you until you are in a VERY public place. Word to the wise... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scooterj Posted October 5, 2004 Share Posted October 5, 2004 If anyone would like to do a tour with Donnie, need to act soon. Looks as though they may loose their lease. The Blind River boat tours should continue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lndshrk Posted October 11, 2004 Author Share Posted October 11, 2004 Had a fantastic vacation and trip. Yes the weather was not cooperating with a tropical storm drenching us most of the time, but it did not stop my 5 month pregnant wife and I from eating our way across the area. Ate at Zydeque, The Pearl, Acme Oyster, Deanie's, VooDoo BBQ, Cafe du Monde, Central Grocery, and Mulates. Spent much time at the clubs on Bourbon Street, House of Blues, visited Jackson Square, the Garden District, took streetcars everywhere, and of course the cemetary and voodoo tour. My personal favorite was Deanie's, amazing oysters, huge portions, great service. Every meal out was amazing! The weather prevented the swamp tour (wife said no-way), but would do it first next time back in the Bayou. Only negative was the large number of homeless, crazies, and pan-handlers, which made me feel right at home, just like NYC. Also some of the street performers had a "get-in-your-face" attitude, which seemed a little out of character for clowns. Thanks again for all the recommendations, the trip was a winner! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJPoLo Posted October 12, 2004 Share Posted October 12, 2004 Only negative was the large number of homeless, crazies, and pan-handlers, which made me feel right at home, just like NYC. Also some of the street performers had a "get-in-your-face" attitude, which seemed a little out of character for clowns. The latter probably doing so to defend against the former. Glad you had fun. I can't wait to get back.When's the next S.H.O.T. show in 'Nawlins? -Chet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmccrock Posted October 13, 2004 Share Posted October 13, 2004 Be careful of the New Orleans police - they have a very bad reputation compared to other US departments. Rent the movie "The Big Easy" - closer to the truth than is comfortable. That having been said, NOPD is much better than it used to be. Anyway, I was raised in New Orleans, but I cannot really keep up with the changes. Usually when we visit my mom, we eat at Frankie and Johnnie's, uptown on Tchoupitoulas. Good for po' boys, fried seafood, seasonal seafood; neighborhood family restaurant. French Quarter is seedy? No, you think so?!? The first time I took my now-wife to N.O. it was Jazz Festival. Great time, but when we went to the Quarter it was a warm, balmy, sort of day, and the stale beer smell was worse than usual. And we all know why the D-Day Museum is there, right? The "Higgins" landing boats were made in New Orleans in WW2. Higgins made more vessels than any other company in WW2. Lee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barrettone Posted October 13, 2004 Share Posted October 13, 2004 I find that the ambiance in N'awlins is a bit lacking. The potporri they use (a mixture of piss, stale beer, manure and vomit) is not the best smeel to encounter when eating oysters. Of course, it tends to perpetuate the smell, as it usually INDUCES MORE VOMITTING!!! I told the wife to make sure she checked under the bed of the hotel before we left town, to be sure we didn't forget anything so we would have no reason to EVER come back!!! Sorry fellow BE'ers, but to me the "Big Easy" is the "Big Sleazy". I think it is the armpit of America. Jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJPoLo Posted October 13, 2004 Share Posted October 13, 2004 The potporri they use... is not the best smell to encounter... Barrettone, be sure to stay away from San Francisco's Chinatown, then! I love the 'Quarter and Chinatown, but I'm pretty seedy, too, I guess! -Chet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3quartertime Posted October 13, 2004 Share Posted October 13, 2004 Count me in the seedy crowd... Something about walking down the street at 7am with a cold beer being not unusual appeals to the drunken salior in me... The quarter may look and smell touristy and abused, but those iron railed streets reek of history.... Next visit I hope to experience much more, but I took a taste for crawfish etoufffee home with me. Led me to find some really cool local spots that specialize in those dishes. Way cooll!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flexmoney Posted October 13, 2004 Share Posted October 13, 2004 I spent a week there...one night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now