Going to New Orleans ... 1st time!

[Muse]

Oh man, even though it is a week after Mardi Gras even @BD231 could get laid on Bourbon Street! So you might want to leave your schedule open Friday night to try and get some booty!

And NOLA Poboys is an actual restaurant at 900 Bourbon, hope you aren't homophobic because if you take Bourbon all the way down you will go through the "colorful" area. If you aren't homophobic Oz, probably the biggest gay bar in the city, has an absolutely hilarious comedy show on Thursday nights at 10, haven't been in a while so check their website to make sure. Don't worry, you won't catch the gay (psst it isn't contagious) and the gay folk aren't going to try and recruit you to their side. They might even still offer to buy you a drink after you tell them you are straight. Then again, I am assuming you are straight, if not then this is the place for you!

Getting laid would be awesome! Not homophobic but not attracted by it either. I relate well with men but don't get it up for them! My sister, OTOH might really dig a gay bar. I like comedy, too. Don't remember the last time I saw live comedy. I mean like in person.

A smart cool site I hit on a year or two ago said that NOLA is about as close to a foreign country as you will find in the continental USA, IIRC.

Here's another one: "America has only three cities: New York, San Francisco and New Orleans. Everywhere else is Cleveland." --Tennessee Williams

I'm excited!

A question: Will just about any place accept credit cards or should I expect to have to come up with cash sometimes?

Edit: Forecast is thunderstorms Wednesday, 80% chance and probably some on Tuesday too, temperature around 80F. Should I bring something for the rain? Poncho, rain jacket, an umbrella (will they let you take an umbrella on a plane?)?

 

[TeeJay1952]

It rains daily in the Lowlands. Rain gear (umbrella) a must.

 

[Muse]

It rains daily in the Lowlands. Rain gear (umbrella) a must.

Bring a small folding umbrella? I have one somewhere. But I have several big strong golf umbrellas. Can I bring that? Will United let me take it in the cabin?

Edit: Yo, just called United and they put me on hold a couple minutes to do some research. She says, yeah, I can bring an umbrella in addition to my two carry on items. I go "a golf umbrella?" She goes "they don't make any distinction, so yes!" Not sure which I'll bring. The little one measures 16" long folded up. The big one would keep me drier and is a damn weapon on the street!

 

[Muse]

I'm seeing two locations for Drago's:

3232 North Arnoult Road
Metairie, LA 70002

Hilton Riverside: 2 Poydras St, New Orleans, LA 70130

So, which one?

 

[Muse]

Cochon - 930 Tchoupitoulas St SUITE A, New Orleans, LA 70130 Closes at 10PM
- -
Willa Jean - 611 O'Keefe Ave, New Orleans, LA 70113 Closes at 9PM
- -
House of Blues - 225 Decatur St, New Orleans, LA 70130 Opens 4PM
- -
Croissant D'Or Patisserie - 617 Ursulines Ave, New Orleans, LA 70116 Closes at 3PM
- -
Preservation Hall (live NO Jazz) - 726 St. Peter Street
- -
The National WWII Museum - 945 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70130 Closes at 5PM
- -
Mothers - 401 Poydras St, New Orleans, LA 70130 Closes 10PM
- -
Drago's Hilton - 2 Poydras St, New Orleans, LA 70130 Closes 10PM
- -
Deanie's Seafood Restaurant - 841 Iberville St, New Orleans, LA 70112 Closes 10PM
- -
Oceana Grill - 739 Conti St, New Orleans, LA 70130 Closes 1AM
- -
NOLA Poboys - 908 Bourbon St, New Orleans, LA 70116 Closes at 12AM
- -
Three Legged Dog - 400 Burgundy St, New Orleans, LA 70112 24 hours
- -
Chartres House - 601 Chartres St, New Orleans, LA 70130 Closes 12AM
- -
Central Grocery - 923 Decatur St, New Orleans, LA 70116 Closes 5PM
- -
Port of Call - 838 Esplanade Ave, New Orleans, LA 70116 Closes 12AM
- -
Aquarium of the Americas - 1 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70130 Closes 5PM
- -
Emeril's Delmonico - 1300 St Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA 70130 Closes at 9PM
- -
Johnny’s Po-Boys - 511 St Louis St, New Orleans, LA 70130 Opens 8AM Monday
- -
Parkway Bakery & Tavern - 538 Hagan Ave, New Orleans, LA 70119 Closes 10PM
- -
Cafe Beignet - 334 Royal St, New Orleans, LA 70130 Closes 10PM
- -
K-Paul's Louisiana Kitchen - 416 Chartres St, New Orleans, LA 70130 Opens 5:30PM Monday
- -
The Ruby Slipper Cafe - 1005 Canal St. Opens Mon. 7AM
- -
Erin Rose Bar - 811 Conti St, New Orleans, LA 70112 Closes 7AM Monday
- -
The National WWII Museum - 945 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70130

 

[MollyQMurphy]

In case anyone wants addresses for most of the recommended spots in this thread, I just looked them up. Included are the closing times:
- - - -
Cochon - 930 Tchoupitoulas St SUITE A, New Orleans, LA 70130 Closes at 10PM
- -
Willa Jean - 611 O'Keefe Ave, New Orleans, LA 70113 Closes at 9PM
- -
House of Blues - 225 Decatur St, New Orleans, LA 70130 Opens 4PM
- -
Croissant D'Or Patisserie - 617 Ursulines Ave, New Orleans, LA 70116 Closes at 3PM
- -
Preservation Hall (live NO Jazz) - 726 St. Peter Street
- -
The National WWII Museum - 945 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70130 Closes at 5PM
- -
Mothers - 401 Poydras St, New Orleans, LA 70130 Closes 10PM
- -
I'm seeing two locations for Drago's:

3232 North Arnoult Road
Metairie, LA 70002

Hilton Riverside: 2 Poydras St, New Orleans, LA 70130

So, which one?
- -
Deanie's Seafood Restaurant - 841 Iberville St, New Orleans, LA 70112 Closes 10PM
- -
Oceana Grill - 739 Conti St, New Orleans, LA 70130 Closes 1AM
- -
NOLA Poboys - 908 Bourbon St, New Orleans, LA 70116 Closes at 12AM
- -
Three Legged Dog - 400 Burgundy St, New Orleans, LA 70112 24 hours
- -
Chartres House - 601 Chartres St, New Orleans, LA 70130 Closes 12AM
- -
Central Grocery - 923 Decatur St, New Orleans, LA 70116 Closes 5PM
- -
Port of Call - 838 Esplanade Ave, New Orleans, LA 70116 Closes 12AM
- -
Aquarium of the Americas - 1 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70130 Closes 5PM

Hi, muse. Was reading for something else and your thread caught my eye, so I signed up.

Metairie (the town) is way out on Lake Ponchatrane, so you want the Drago's on Poydras.

Seems like you have a great bunch of suggestions.

Cafe du monde is best done early morning, on a day you can take your beignets (baynYAYs, cher) and coffee outside and watch the river and foot traffic go by. Feels very Parisian to me when we do that. Don't rush it.

Bring white clothes, slacks and button-down shirt, shoes, if you can, which is dressy for NO.

You will find cheap water shoes in most tourist tee shirt shops or swim shops. They're slip-on, usually mesh tops and rubber soles, should be less than $10. The salt water will ruin your cross-trainers.

Three Sisters is the height of fine dining in that us uniquely NO, IMO. Not sure why nobody mentioned them. Perhaps they're passe, but if you have some money and enjoy courtyard elegance and French Continental with NO flair, that's the place.

I'm not sure if Katrina destroyed them, but the aboveground crypt/graveyard tours are like nothing else in America. They have crypts because of the water table there, and the guides have wonderful stories.

Mother's is not to be missed. Oyster poboy. Yum. Very basic place, everything from homeless to millionaire dines there. Leave time for people-watching.

NO has a lot of pickpockets in the Quarter. If you're walking, take precautions.

That's about all I can think of to add to many excellent posts. Enjoy!

 

[Herr Kutz]

Cochon - 930 Tchoupitoulas St SUITE A, New Orleans, LA 70130 Closes at 10PM
- -
Willa Jean - 611 O'Keefe Ave, New Orleans, LA 70113 Closes at 9PM
- -
House of Blues - 225 Decatur St, New Orleans, LA 70130 Opens 4PM
- -
Croissant D'Or Patisserie - 617 Ursulines Ave, New Orleans, LA 70116 Closes at 3PM
- -
Preservation Hall (live NO Jazz) - 726 St. Peter Street
- -
The National WWII Museum - 945 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70130 Closes at 5PM
- -
Mothers - 401 Poydras St, New Orleans, LA 70130 Closes 10PM
- -
Drago's Hilton - 2 Poydras St, New Orleans, LA 70130 Closes 10PM
- -
Deanie's Seafood Restaurant - 841 Iberville St, New Orleans, LA 70112 Closes 10PM
- -
Oceana Grill - 739 Conti St, New Orleans, LA 70130 Closes 1AM
- -
NOLA Poboys - 908 Bourbon St, New Orleans, LA 70116 Closes at 12AM
- -
Three Legged Dog - 400 Burgundy St, New Orleans, LA 70112 24 hours
- -
Chartres House - 601 Chartres St, New Orleans, LA 70130 Closes 12AM
- -
Central Grocery - 923 Decatur St, New Orleans, LA 70116 Closes 5PM
- -
Port of Call - 838 Esplanade Ave, New Orleans, LA 70116 Closes 12AM
- -
Aquarium of the Americas - 1 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70130 Closes 5PM
- -
Emeril's Delmonico - 1300 St Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA 70130 Closes at 9PM
- -
Johnny’s Po-Boys - 511 St Louis St, New Orleans, LA 70130 Opens 8AM Monday
- -
Parkway Bakery & Tavern - 538 Hagan Ave, New Orleans, LA 70119 Closes 10PM
- -
Cafe Beignet - 334 Royal St, New Orleans, LA 70130 Closes 10PM
- -
K-Paul's Louisiana Kitchen - 416 Chartres St, New Orleans, LA 70130 Opens 5:30PM Monday
- -
The Ruby Slipper Cafe - 1005 Canal St. Opens Mon. 7AM
- -
Erin Rose Bar - 811 Conti St, New Orleans, LA 70112 Closes 7AM Monday
- -
The National WWII Museum - 945 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70130

Skip Cochon. Was not impressed.

 

[Darwin333]

Getting laid would be awesome! Not homophobic but not attracted by it either. I relate well with men but don't get it up for them! My sister, OTOH might really dig a gay bar. I like comedy, too. Don't remember the last time I saw live comedy. I mean like in person.

A smart cool site I hit on a year or two ago said that NOLA is about as close to a foreign country as you will find in the continental USA, IIRC.

Here's another one: "America has only three cities: New York, San Francisco and New Orleans. Everywhere else is Cleveland." --Tennessee Williams

I'm excited!

A question: Will just about any place accept credit cards or should I expect to have to come up with cash sometimes?

Edit: Forecast is thunderstorms Wednesday, 80% chance and probably some on Tuesday too, temperature around 80F. Should I bring something for the rain? Poncho, rain jacket, an umbrella (will they let you take an umbrella on a plane?)?

Yeah, rain here is a fact of life. Most of the time it's relatively short showers (or absolute downpours for some of you yanks) and other times it is a daylong monsoon. You can buy a cheap ass hell poncho at any of the hundreds of gift shops so I wouldn't bring along a bulky one and if you can fit an umbrella in your luggage without sacrificing space for something else than by all means! Otherwise, again, I'd just buy a cheap one when you get here.

As far as the gay bar, I'm not attracted to guys either but I can have a blast at Oz when they are putting on an event. They used to have "f-a-g bingo" (their term, not mine) on Thursdays (I think, been a while) hosted by a very enthusiastic drag queen (she said she was famous, but I'm not up on the drag scene) and it was the funniest shit you have ever seen. Their comedy show does not disappoint and trust me, the guys are way more interested in guys that are into guys than they are you. What else do you have to do at 10pm on a Thursday night? If you don't like it, you walk out the door and the "straight" section of Bourbon Street is quite literally dozens of feet away.

For some reason I thought you were bringing your wife, obligatory pics of your sister! PM me for my email addy to send them to, don't want to put them out here for all of these pervs. Even if she is married or whatever, New Orleans is a lot like Vegas, what happens in NOLA stays in NOLA!

 

[Muse]

NO has a lot of pickpockets in the Quarter. If you're walking, take precautions.

I'm gonna wear black cargo pants, the kind with 8 pockets. My wallet will be in front mid-level pocket, tough to pick that one. Will be on lookout, though. Might even slip wallet into backpack if I'm nervous. Instead of my white cross trainers I'm going to wear black New Balance, they look pretty dressy as long as you don't expect shiny stiff leather.

Well, it's time for sleep, it's 5:45AM pickup for ride to SFO and on to NOLA. I have most of this thread printed out and on my tablet.

My kid relative at Tulane thinks almost all the suggestions in this thread are spot on. He says he has "infinite" suggestions of his own depending on what we want to do.

 

[ElFenix]

I'm seeing two locations for Drago's:

3232 North Arnoult Road
Metairie, LA 70002

Hilton Riverside: 2 Poydras St, New Orleans, LA 70130

So, which one?

the one out in metairie is better, but you'll need to uber.

 

[rayjayturbo]

the one out in metairie is better, but you'll need to uber.

I think the Metairie location is better also.

 

[lykaon78]

If you're into history the WWII museum was one of the best, most interactive museums I've been to.

The Carousel Bar had great jazz and a more upscale atmosphere if you're looking to get away from the madness of Bourbon Street. I got to see Lena Prima (daughter of Louis Prima, singer of 'I Wanna Be Like You' from Disney's the Jungle Book). That is the cool part of New Orleans, walk into about any bar and you'll find some great musicians.

 

[GarlicBreath]

Fairgrounds Race course is running now. This is a a top notch horse racing track. General admission is free. Check their website for live racing dates.

 

[Muse]

If you're into history the WWII museum was one of the best, most interactive museums I've been to.

The Carousel Bar had great jazz and a more upscale atmosphere if you're looking to get away from the madness of Bourbon Street. I got to see Lena Prima (daughter of Louis Prima, singer of 'I Wanna Be Like You' from Disney's the Jungle Book). That is the cool part of New Orleans, walk into about any bar and you'll find some great musicians.

Arrived in NOLA yesterday afternoon. Ate at Mother's last night, it was a hit. Sister is 8AM-5PM at convention center today and I went walking with GPS Windows Phone app in my ear looking for the Beignet Café at 334 Royal St. & somehow wound up at the WW II Museum!!! Did,'t really know WTH I was & decide to eat breakfast (~10AM) at Central Grocery instead and this time the GPS (with a bit of help from a guide on a Segway) got me there (still on foot). Ate 1/4

 

[Muse]

If you're into history the WWII museum was one of the best, most interactive museums I've been to.

The Carousel Bar had great jazz and a more upscale atmosphere if you're looking to get away from the madness of Bourbon Street. I got to see Lena Prima (daughter of Louis Prima, singer of 'I Wanna Be Like You' from Disney's the Jungle Book). That is the cool part of New Orleans, walk into about any bar and you'll find some great musicians.

Sister and I plan to hit the WW II Museum with movie Thursday, probably after doing the streetcar bit on St. Charles Ave.

Arrived in NOLA yesterday afternoon. Ate at Mother's last night, it was a hit. Sister is 8AM-5PM at convention center today and I went walking with GPS Windows Phone app in my ear looking for the Beignet Café at 334 Royal St. & somehow wound up at the WW II Museum!!! Didn't really know WTH I was & decide to eat breakfast (~10AM) at Central Grocery instead and this time the GPS (with a bit of help from a guide on a Segway) got me there (still on foot). Ate 1/4 of a muffaletta, hoofed it finally to that Beignet Cafe and got my chckory coffee and a tray of beignets, my first ever. Finished that and hoofed it back to the hotel, where I've been hanging out all afternoon. Ate another 1/4 of that muffaletta.

Probably eat somewhere tonight with sister and our Tulane graduation kid relative.

Friday's the bayou kayak adventure and looks like it will rain for that. Gonna try to get shoe covers, didn't spot a likely shop for that today. Tomorrow I'm on my own again, though, but maybe the kid will want to do something. he's got a test today at Tulane. Today the weather's pretty nice. Not used to typing on this tablet/keyboard combo. Feels like Morse code!

 

[RossMAN]

Are you taking pics of the sights and food?

 

[Herr Kutz]

Are you taking pics of the sights and food?

And of your sister?

 

[Darwin333]

the one out in metairie is better, but you'll need to uber.

I think the Metairie location is better also.

There is absolutely no question that the original location in Metairie is better but given all of his options I don't know think that it is worth a trip out there when he can pop into their other location a few blocks from his hotel for a dozen charbroiled oysters and a drink at the bar then continue his day.

 

[JM Aggie08]

Curbside Daiquiris -- there's also a PoBoy place next door that is excellent. This is kind of a seedy area.
Ruby Slipper (any location) for brunch
Cochon Butcher
Central Grocery -- Mufallettas!
Any Paul Prudhomme restaurant.
Erin Rose pub.
The Dungeon.

 

[Darwin333]

Arrived in NOLA yesterday afternoon. Ate at Mother's last night, it was a hit. Sister is 8AM-5PM at convention center today and I went walking with GPS Windows Phone app in my ear looking for the Beignet Café at 334 Royal St. & somehow wound up at the WW II Museum!!! Did,'t really know WTH I was & decide to eat breakfast (~10AM) at Central Grocery instead and this time the GPS (with a bit of help from a guide on a Segway) got me there (still on foot). Ate 1/4

Take a good look at an overall map of the Quarter. The cool thing about it is it is pretty damn square. How the hell you ended up at WWII I have no idea but you should get your bearings today and navigating it will be easy.

 

[Darwin333]

And of your sister?

Step off, I already called dibs!

 

[Muse]

Are you taking pics of the sights and food?

some..., not so much the food! but am enjoying it immensely. We ate a small late evening dinner at Red Fish Café last night, awesome, Bourbon St., what a scene

 

[Darwin333]

some..., not so much the food! but am enjoying it immensely. We ate a small late evening dinner at Red Fish Café last night, awesome, Bourbon St., what a scene

Cool, glad you are having a good time bud, just wait till you see Bourbon on Friday night!

Don't forget about me when you go to Moris's!

 

[Muse]

Cool, glad you are having a good time bud, just wait till you see Bourbon on Friday night!

Don't forget about me when you go to Moris's!

Haven't heard of Moris's.

Bourbon was amazing on Tuesday night.

 

[Muse]

There is absolutely no question that the original location in Metairie is better but given all of his options I don't know think that it is worth a trip out there when he can pop into their other location a few blocks from his hotel for a dozen charbroiled oysters and a drink at bar then continue his day.

We planned to have dinner at Drago's at the Hilton (2 Poydras St.) last night. We meet there at 6PM, she needs to be at convention center at 8PM. We figure maybe wander a bit at the river, they say they won't take a reservation but tables are plentiful, no problem. We come back in 15-20 minutes and there's a long line and they tell us 35 minutes when we get to the front of the line. I pitch a fit, say I'll give them a bad review if they don't seat us now. They say no and we split for Mother's, which had a line but was quick anyway. Screw Drago's.