Author Topic: Going to New Orleans in November  (Read 4547 times)

Miamoo

  • Stubble
  • **
  • Posts: 232
  • Location: Somewhere near Chicago
Going to New Orleans in November
« on: September 21, 2015, 11:24:24 AM »
So I'm looking for suggestions on food, activities on the cheap-from natives. Staying at a B&B in Marigny, not renting a vehicle, planning to do a lot of walking and gawking.  And how's the public transit down there?  (Can't do bicycles - physical problems)

Thanks in advance!

MissStache

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 710
  • Age: 41
  • Location: Washington, DC
Re: Going to New Orleans in November
« Reply #1 on: September 21, 2015, 12:47:18 PM »
Not a native, but have visited many times.  One of my favorite things to do down there is ride the street car.   I think it is like $1.50 each way, or you can get something called a "jazzy pass" that allows you to ride all you want for a number of days.  Riding down through the Garden District is amazing.

Also, New Orleans has to be one of the best wandering cities ever, especially if you have a high tolerance for drunks/beggars.  There is so much random awesome music, street performance, and hilarious people-watching.  I could walk around that city for hours.  The Riverwalk down the Mississippi is always pleasant.   

iamlittlehedgehog

  • Stubble
  • **
  • Posts: 193
  • Location: Florida
Re: Going to New Orleans in November
« Reply #2 on: September 21, 2015, 01:53:27 PM »
NOLA is my go to weekend get away (a short plane ride from Florida). Bourbon street is fine during the day but quite frankly overrated.
Royal Street is known for numerous art galleries, it is fun to wander down. If you plan to buy and investment piece plan ahead for transportation (we did secure UPS to a friend's house and picked it up when we got back.
Don't be afraid to wander, just be aware of your surroundings and don't wear flip flips, the sidewalks are terrible. The Erin Rose on Conti Street has frozen Irish coffee. I'm not ashamed to admit I woke up the majority of the mornings with this.

Fishindude

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 3075
Re: Going to New Orleans in November
« Reply #3 on: September 21, 2015, 02:08:26 PM »
If WW2 History interests you, they say the D Day museum is very neat.

bsmith

  • Stubble
  • **
  • Posts: 166
  • Location: Texas
Re: Going to New Orleans in November
« Reply #4 on: September 21, 2015, 02:12:41 PM »
I've been there quite a bit, and these are my favorite activities, though maybe not what you're looking for.

I took a plantation tour to Oak Alley and the Laura Plantation for about $70 that was well worth it. That was a few years ago, so I'm not sure what the prices are now. They bus you out there for the day. It was a lot of history lessons and cultural comparisons.

Related: there's a Creole tour in the French Quarter that was interesting too.

Ghost hunts are fun there and not too pricey. Kind of cheesy, but fun to do to start a night of drinking.


alice76

  • 5 O'Clock Shadow
  • *
  • Posts: 62
Re: Going to New Orleans in November
« Reply #5 on: September 21, 2015, 06:43:08 PM »
The Marigny is a fun neighborhood with lots of clubs for great music with low covers on Frenchmen. Try the Red Cat, dba, and Snug Harbor. Get a muffuletta at Central Grocery. Ride the St. Charles Streetcar. Head to Lafitte's late night.

Tig_

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1018
Re: Going to New Orleans in November
« Reply #6 on: September 21, 2015, 07:33:06 PM »
I CANNOT recommend Bacchanal enough.  (http://www.bacchanalwine.com)  It's a little pricey, but by far one of my favorite restaurants I've ever been to.  Amazing vibe, awesome, awesome food.  And I'm a wine drinker, so, perfect for me.  It's somewhat close to the Marigny.  Nothing else much around it though.

I don't even like muffuletta's and I would second the Central Grocer.  And definitely, definitely Frenchman street.  Just get there. And walk. And pop in. And walk. And pop in.

Crescent City park running along the river is great for a walk during the day.  There's also lots of awesome coffee shops in the Upper 9th and Bywater that I would highly recommend.  Solo Espresso on Poland (near Bacchanal) and Satsuma are two that come to mind.

Bateaux

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 2314
  • Location: Port Vincent
Re: Going to New Orleans in November
« Reply #7 on: September 22, 2015, 11:15:06 AM »
Wish you were able to bike.  Biking is growing daily in New Orleans.  There are group rides almost every day and night to neat places.  It's free and open to all to join.  The street car is the neatest way to see the city.  I see you're staying in Marginy.  Win, win there.  You're close to Frenchmen street.  The bars and clubs there I find are often better than the French Quarter.  Look up free stuff to do in New Orleans.  Lots of free music and festivals (locals don't pay for music here, they tip if they like it but don't pay cover.   Check the Nola Social Ride out as well (even if you don't bike).

Miamoo

  • Stubble
  • **
  • Posts: 232
  • Location: Somewhere near Chicago
Re: Going to New Orleans in November
« Reply #8 on: September 23, 2015, 11:43:09 AM »
Wow!  Thanks everybody.  Yes, the Central Grocery is on the list.  Also found freetoursonfoot.com.

Anything that has to do with art, history, architecture, food!!!!! Is on the list.  Music is everywhere no?

bsmith - thanks - that sounds interesting.  Tig - will check out Bacchanal.

Ghost tours?  Maybe.  They are fun.  Definitely want to snoop around the cemeteries.

bsmith

  • Stubble
  • **
  • Posts: 166
  • Location: Texas
Re: Going to New Orleans in November
« Reply #9 on: September 23, 2015, 12:39:31 PM »
NOLA cemeteries are a trip: people are entombed above ground, so the caskets don't rise up when it floods.

You should take pics of the whole trip and post them here when you get back. I'd like to see what you do there.

MissStache

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 710
  • Age: 41
  • Location: Washington, DC
Re: Going to New Orleans in November
« Reply #10 on: September 23, 2015, 01:15:09 PM »
Oh, and it is so classic that you have to do it:  beignets at Cafe DuMonde.  It is astonishingly packed during the day, but if you go for an after-dinner dessert one night (think after 9:00) it is usually pretty quiet and very pleasant.  Bring cash!

Sailor Sam

  • CMTO 2023 Attendees
  • Walrus Stache
  • *
  • Posts: 5727
  • Age: 43
  • Location: Steel Beach
  • Semper...something
Re: Going to New Orleans in November
« Reply #11 on: September 23, 2015, 01:29:22 PM »
Not a native, but I think the ACME oyster house is a place that actually lives up to the tourist hype. Completely worthy of the line and the money. The rest of the seafood around Bourbon street cannot compare.
« Last Edit: September 23, 2015, 02:42:13 PM by Sailor Sam »

Miamoo

  • Stubble
  • **
  • Posts: 232
  • Location: Somewhere near Chicago
Re: Going to New Orleans in November
« Reply #12 on: September 23, 2015, 01:48:57 PM »
bsmith - there's an island in the Yucatan where the cemeteries are above ground too . . . amazing.  I have a morbid (?) love of cemeteries.

http://isladeb.com/2011/01/16/my-tribute-to-the-isla-mujeres-cemetery/

Yes MissStache!  That's on the list.  :-)  I see a lot of the restaurants are cash only.  Okee dokee.  Glad I know in advance.
« Last Edit: September 23, 2015, 01:51:24 PM by Miamoo »

willkp23

  • 5 O'Clock Shadow
  • *
  • Posts: 30
Re: Going to New Orleans in November
« Reply #13 on: September 23, 2015, 01:49:11 PM »
I'm from Louisiana and here's my list.   Very short and sweet in no particular order.

1. Cafe Du Monde (People watching here is the best in the nation IMO!)
2. Swamp Tour and/or Cemetery Tours
3. Visit St. Louis Cathedral
4. Bourbon Street (overrated IMO)
5. French Market (large outside market)
6. Pat O' Brian's (best Hurricanes!)
7. WWII Museum (number 3 on Tripadvisor, was there 2 weekends ago.  Unbelievable!!)
8. St. Charles Trolley (mentioned above)
9. Walk down Royal Street near Jackson Brewery
10. Mothers restaurant for breakfast (very popular and busy, known for its Ham)
11. Any place for dinner really, can't go wrong if you order seafood.

StetsTerhune

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 462
Re: Going to New Orleans in November
« Reply #14 on: September 23, 2015, 01:51:01 PM »
If you're going during the week, lots of great restaurants have happy hours from 3ish to 6ish. Not that they'll be super cheap, but there are some incredible deals for what you get if you're a foodie. I'm terrible with restaurant names, but look up Emeril's places and John Besh's places. Just really quality stuff done really well.

And I totally agree with Sailor Sam on ACME oyster. Chargrilled oysters there should be on everyone's life list.

Miamoo

  • Stubble
  • **
  • Posts: 232
  • Location: Somewhere near Chicago
Re: Going to New Orleans in November
« Reply #15 on: September 23, 2015, 04:49:32 PM »
Char grilled oysters?  Well . . . I'll try anything once!

bsmith

  • Stubble
  • **
  • Posts: 166
  • Location: Texas
Re: Going to New Orleans in November
« Reply #16 on: September 24, 2015, 06:25:15 AM »
In NOLA, you can see Marie LeVeau's tomb, and the tomb of Plessy, of Plessy vs. Ferguson fame. Probably a few others I'm not remembering as well. Interesting history there.

Be sure to go out to the Moon Walk in the French Quarter to check out the river. It's mighty big, and you can watch some of the barges go by. A nice way to take a break. Also, you can hang out at Pat O'Brien's, or sit there a bit and then get your hurricane poured into a to-go cup. Used to be a nice young man working the door there named Love Peace. Actually pretty much everyone there is very hospitable.