JHS: That was such a lovely description. However, I do think for a first visit for only three days, it is going to be the Quarter for most people. I love the French Quarter. Except for Commander’s Palace, I can walk to all my favorite restaurants.
Next visit I’m going to head out to Whitney Plantation. http://www.whitneyplantation.com/ I can’t wait to see this place. Has anyone been yet?
I think it is a wonderful place to take the kids, Igloo. Recently my whole family,adult kids and their partners, were together in NO and one morning the son sitting on my left asked me, “How many families do you think all sit together in a gay bar drinking Bloody Marys at 9am? This is great.” That’s us - making the memories. Cafe du Monde was too full!!! That was second best.
The architecture of New Orleans - shotgun houses to mansions - is amazing. I used to dream about a Garden District home, renovating like Anne Rice (Witching Hour) or Julia Reed (The House on First Street) but these days I really really want a magazine street shotgun house, probably I’d paint it pink.
adding: I think I just decided to go to New Orleans in Jan, too. I had thought I could wait till May. I don’t think I really can. Life is too short. I can go Jan and May. Thank you, Igloo.
I went to the Whitney Plantation last spring. It is very haunting. In case you didn’t know, the experience is entirely designed to tell history from the point of view of the slaves. So, there are memorials in various places, listing the name of every enslaved person in the colony or listing all the babies that died in a certain parish, etc. There is a small statue in one of the bedrooms, not supposed to be a particular portrait, but inspired by the story of a young maid who was raped and bore a child who would become the ancestor of former Senator Marc Morial’s mother.
As for Cafe du Monde, it is self seating and a lot of people get confused and wait around and that makes the line longer. They do have a take out window but that line can be long too.
There is a Morning Call in City Park and they both have suburban outlets in Metairie. All are open 24 hours, so it’s usually best to go late when it’s not busy.
greenwitch: Thank you. There was a big article in the New York Times sometime last winter about Whitney. I think it was right around the time it opened.
We are also taking our grown-up kids (22 and 19) to NO in Dec. I have not been there for decades. This thread is very helpful and hopefully we can do some of the things suggested. I am though trying to decide whether to stay at Hilton on St. Charles or Prytania Park in Garden district. Both places have access to the street car but location-wise Hilton maybe more convienient to walk to places?
My H used to go to a business conference in NOLA every year, but the organizers moved it to another city five years ago. I haven’t been there since but there were two places we stayed every year, which we really enjoyed. One was the Windsor Court (which is just outside of the French Quarter). The other is the Soniat House. It’s in in the French Quarter but the rooms face an inside courtyard where you can have coffee in the morning and it’s always been quiet.
I love Rock and Bowl. They normally have zydeco on Thursdays if you’re interested in that. Other nights you just never know. They get all kinds of bands.
My MIL lives in Metairie and so we go fairly often. My husband doesn’t enjoy the Quarter anymore, so I don’t get to go very often. One of my favorite places to go is M. S. Rau’s. It is an antique store at 630 Royal street. It is part antique store and part museum (you can buy everything). Check out their website. They had an Enigma machine for sale recently. The jewelry is fabulous. You never know what you will find there. It’s lots of fun and the staff is very friendly. It is a nice diversion while walking in the Quarter
Thanks for starting this. My H has business in NO in December and I’m going to go. Love the suggestions. I’ll be by myself and am happy to explore the city on my own.
For you December in NOLA people, all these events are happening on the 12th (one on the 13th too). Why do things always pile up on the same day??? Especially when I’m out of town?
Anyway, they are things my 24-year-old daughter is interested in, so maybe for you, maybe not.
In nice weather, the line gets long but it moves quickly. The only line is where they check ID when you come in. Inside, there are many taps and very little wait time.
A hotel in the quarter with a balcony will be very nice. You’ll be able to hear the street musicians. H and I stayed at the Omni Royal Orleans on Royal and St. Louis one year for an anniversary. We walked to KPaul’s for dinner. We kept our car parked in the hotel garage the whole weekend, and walked the Quarter listening to street musicians. I loveed the art gallery and antique stores on Royal, also. Check out the awesome duo of guitar and violin street musicians. Best thing to do in NOLA is get on the streetcar and ride it the whole way. You’ll go down St. Charles and see beautiful mansions and the Loyola and Tulane campuses. My family is buried in St. Louis Cemetery, which is right across from City Park, beautiful. Mid City has some awesome eateries, and you can take the streetcar down Canal Street to visit them. Katie’s is one of my favorites, and there’s also Mandina’s. If you go by City Park, Parkway Bakery has awesome po-boys. Never been myself, but I hear Frenchman Street is a great place to hear music. And young people also like the Bywater/Marigny area. January 6th, there will be a bunch of goofballs riding the streetcar in costume to kick off Mardi Gras season. Hope you enjoy your stay!
I had thought I could wait till May. I don’t think I really can. Life is too short. I can go Jan and May. Thank you, Igloo.