New Orleans

[washsaint]

Just got back from a conference in New Orleans - what a place! Anyone else been there and, if so, what were your favorite things about New Orleans?

 

Mine were (in no particular order):

 

Beignets at cafe Du Monde

Food and music at Three Muses on Frenchmen

Fritzels jazz club on Bourbon

Lafittes Blacksmith pub on Bourbon

Commanders Palace

Big AL carlson

Garden District

 

Bourbon Street was like Magaluf with punch ups, drunken a-holes and puke and disinfectant smell but aside from that, what a place. Only other place in the US I have been to that has a similar vibe is San Francisco: both have a distinctly non-US town feel to them and much more European vibe.

[Minsk]

I went there a few times late 80's, early 90's. Can't remember the names of any bars, cafes or restaurants, but I always had a great time there and love the city. Also a fan of The Saints and their great stadium.

[rocknrollman no2]

Well im of to Memphis in a few weeks and was thinking of visiting New Orleans as well.I will try and visit some of those places you have mentioned washsaint.

[B Rabbit]

I went in 2010. It's like no other American city and does have an odd smell.

 

The best thing I did there was a swamp tour outside of the centre. Good experience. The zoo was also very impressive.

 

went inside the Superdome which is/was the biggest single span indoor arena in the world or something like that.... And went to see the Hornets (now pelicans) play =)

 

Bourbon Street is a funny place... Completely dead during the day then the craziest street party all night every night.

[bug187]

Watchign Treme at the moment. Really want to go. Hoping I can get into America again to visit

[dubai_phil]

Went couple of years back for a conference.

 

Loved Bourbon street, especially with a gang of Conferencers just so much magical music to choose from, half an hour listening to Louis Armstrong style stuff to Disco to Rocks Bars. Possibly the most fun nights I've ever had out for a work event.

 

Acme Seafood or something - we went - there was a big queue and an ARMED Cop on the door. Walked straight in (apparently we had a reservation) All the sampler dishes. Had a damned fine steak as well somewhere near the Convention Centre.

 

Oh and TPC Louisiana Golf Course - sensational. On the 18th my ball rolled off the fairway onto a narrow strip of sand by a lake. Got out of buggy walks to where my WTF WHOA must have been a 10 foot long Gator looking REALLY p1ssed off that I'd hit him with my slice. After all the play it as it lies jokes we adjorned to the bar.

 

Loved the place on high on my list of go back as soon as possible

 

Only gripe is that it is a b1tch to get to from here with plane changes and stuff

[Saint in Paradise]

Over 80% of the people buried are in above ground tombs because of the water table height.

[FloridaMarlin]

Well im of to Memphis in a few weeks and was thinking of visiting New Orleans as well.I will try and visit some of those places you have mentioned washsaint.

 

Fantastic place. Visited Memphis on a road trip that took in Atlanta, Nashville, Memphis, Little Rock (Arkansas), Dallas, San Antonio, Houston, Louisiana, Biloxi (Miss), Nobile, Atlanta.

 

Whether you're an Elvis fan or not, you have to go to Graceland. It is such a weird place but well worth a visit. Love it or hate it, it is like no other place you will ever visit

 

Sun Studios is brilliant. Even taking into account it is now a tourist destination (although it is still a working recording studio) if you have any feel for popular music history, you'll feel it at Sun Studios.

 

Stax Studio is great and the Memphis Rock And Soul Museum is superb, the only museum outside Washington to be set up by the Smithsonian Institute.

 

The National Civil Rights Museum is very thought provoking and humbling. It is based around the Lorraine Motel where MLK was shot, and if you want to feel uncomfortable, take in the cafe mock-up and that of the bus Rosa Parks sat in to see what black Americans had to endure.

 

The same criticisms that apply to Bourbon St apply to Beale St, although it's not quite as bad. It's worth a night out, especially if you like live music and you like it bluesy, ballsy, brash and loud.

 

New Orleans is great but we decided to go off the beaten track to find the real Louisiana, We stayed out in the boonies near Breaux Bridge and went to a Fais Do Do.

 

A Fais Do Do is a Cajun dance party or social gathering, They are held all over the place - restaurants, bars, cafes, church halls - and if you ask around people will direct you to one.

 

It takes a bit of balls to pitch up as they are not organised for tourists but we were welcomed with open arms by the Cajuns who are very friendly people - especially considering what the Brits did to their ancestors in Canada,

 

They play Zydeco music, which cannot fail to get you moving, the food is help yourself and could include alligator jambalaya, and we never paid for a drink all night, as people kept coming up to us and saying: "We've never had any British folks here before," and insisted on talking to us.

 

You'll hear the phrase Laissez les bon temps rouler (Let the good times roll) all the time in New Orleans, where it's become a bit of a cliched catchphrase. But it's genuine in the Cajun bayous and our night at the Fais Do do will go down as one of my top three nights out ever.

[um pahars]

Personally found New Orleans disappointing when I visited in Spring 2002. Thought it was a cross between a Theme Park & Cancun on Spring Break.

 

Undoubtedly it has a great history, wonderful architecture and a laid back vibe, but I found the whole place swamped with the corporate, consumer driven, beer chugging chase the $$$ ethos. Seemed to have sold its soul.

 

As FM mentioned, much preferred downtown Memphis (although Beale St might have same problem) and my favourite Nashville. A more country feel, but plenty of blues, jazz and soul as well. Music is big business in Nashville, but it seemed much more natural and wasn't as gawdy or tourist driven.

[Eastcowzer]

I went there a few times late 80's, early 90's. Can't remember the names of any bars, cafes or restaurants, but I always had a great time there and love the city. Also a fan of The Saints and their great stadium.

 

Been to the 'Big Easy' quite a few times, stayed once at Chalmette just down stream from the city, right on the site of the Battle of New Orleans.

in 1812. Us Brit's lost that little argument to Gen.Andy Jackson.

Flights from the UK go via N.Y. and Atlanta, - among other exotic airports.

[South City Si]

Yes! Went in September for my 30th.

Had an amazing time.

Had great food and even better music experiences.

 

Favourites: The Joint (BBQ) in Bywater, then walked round the corner to Vaughans bar for live jazz on a Thursday (first night was knackered but was worth it).

Plantation & Bayou tour, beautiful and fascinating.

Tuesday went to Jacques-Imo's in Carroltown best ever fried Chicken and then pop next door to maple Club to see Rebirth Brass band, one of the best gigs ive ever seen for experience.

 

Bourbon St gets a bad rep, locals hate it, but quite enjoyed, let go, get drunk on strong cockatils and enjoy the mix of music. The muic is tacky mainly but all seemed to be well done.

Frenchmen was good for music and cheaper than Bourbon, but total hipster area and full of musicians hanging round in the bars (not necesarily playing) who act like their owed something.

 

Went to a Saints game in the 'Dome, lost though but great atmosphere, didn't think it would be that good.

 

Was there for a week, which is a lot but saw different things each day, ate different foods and saw different bands every day and night.

It's proprt grotty in parts but is balanced by great expereinces and some beautiful areas too such as Garden District and City Park.

 

Can't wait to go back.

[Minsk]

One of my trips there for the entire week of Mardi Gras (1990, iirc). It was completely amazing. Also, all bar one of my visits were on Grey Funnel Lines (the RN) so included 10 hours of sailing up the Mississippi. (The odd one was a road trip from Florida.)

[Saint George]

There aint no place like NOLA that's for sure ....Glad to see y'all enjoyed your trips.....Even more so, that a lot of you managed to dig out some the more local haunts

 

I wouldn't live anywhere else......This place will be the death of me one day, I'm sure.....But I don't care

 

@FloridaMarlin....Small world....I know the Breaux family personally.....My wife is good buddies with with Brett. It was his Ancestors that founded Breaux Bridge and there's been a family presence there ever since......Did you check out the Zydeco Breakfast in the Café des Amis?....That's Brett's place and Saturday mornings is like nothing else.....8am packed to the rafters, the place is rocking and stomping to Zydeco bands with Bloody Mary's in full flow )....Awesome experience )......Did you get a chance to check out the Alligator cheesecake?

[Golden Balls]

Went there last summer during a mini US tour of distilleries for work (hard life, I know). Never been somewhere so hot in my life but what an amazing place. Fed and held alligators, amazing music, laid back fun and then of course Bourbon Street. My hotel was right in the middle of it and I don't think I slept for 2 days. Must have spent all over an hour in my room and the rest drinking.....for free.

[rocknrollman no2]

Fantastic place. Visited Memphis on a road trip that took in Atlanta, Nashville, Memphis, Little Rock (Arkansas), Dallas, San Antonio, Houston, Louisiana, Biloxi (Miss), Nobile, Atlanta.

 

Whether you're an Elvis fan or not, you have to go to Graceland. It is such a weird place but well worth a visit. Love it or hate it, it is like no other place you will ever visit

 

Sun Studios is brilliant. Even taking into account it is now a tourist destination (although it is still a working recording studio) if you have any feel for popular music history, you'll feel it at Sun Studios.

 

Stax Studio is great and the Memphis Rock And Soul Museum is superb, the only museum outside Washington to be set up by the Smithsonian Institute.

 

The National Civil Rights Museum is very thought provoking and humbling. It is based around the Lorraine Motel where MLK was shot, and if you want to feel uncomfortable, take in the cafe mock-up and that of the bus Rosa Parks sat in to see what black Americans had to endure.

 

The same criticisms that apply to Bourbon St apply to Beale St, although it's not quite as bad. It's worth a night out, especially if you like live music and you like it bluesy, ballsy, brash and loud.

 

New Orleans is great but we decided to go off the beaten track to find the real Louisiana, We stayed out in the boonies near Breaux Bridge and went to a Fais Do Do.

 

A Fais Do Do is a Cajun dance party or social gathering, They are held all over the place - restaurants, bars, cafes, church halls - and if you ask around people will direct you to one.

 

It takes a bit of balls to pitch up as they are not organised for tourists but we were welcomed with open arms by the Cajuns who are very friendly people - especially considering what the Brits did to their ancestors in Canada,

 

They play Zydeco music, which cannot fail to get you moving, the food is help yourself and could include alligator jambalaya, and we never paid for a drink all night, as people kept coming up to us and saying: "We've never had any British folks here before," and insisted on talking to us.

 

You'll hear the phrase Laissez les bon temps rouler (Let the good times roll) all the time in New Orleans, where it's become a bit of a cliched catchphrase. But it's genuine in the Cajun bayous and our night at the Fais Do do will go down as one of my top three nights out ever.

 

Thanks Fm for all of the above.Im going to Memphis because im into rockabilly and very early Elvis,also i will hit fifty when im out there,so i thought i had better go soon,while i still can have my hair in a quiff.lol.Sun Studios is a definate for me,as ive always wanted to visit there.Just to be in the place where Elvis,Johnny Cash,Carl Perkins,Jerry Lee Lewis and Roy Oribison started out will be awesome.I will try and get to one of those Cajun parties as well,as they sound fantastic.Only three weeks to go now, so getting excited now.