Juan's flying burrito. Personal favorite is the pork bahn mi tacos. $9 and pbr is $1-$2.
Red's Chinese. Not super cheap but something really hard to imagine anywhere else.
$6 for a dozen raw oysters on the half shell and half price beer during happy hour at Pascal manales uptown in the bar, just 3 blocks off the street Charles Street car line.
See music box village as a to-do.
Second parasols for a poboy.
Chart room for super cheap beer, possibly cheapest in the quarter. And worth it, Imo, regardless. Was a usual stop for me meeting my wife and her co-workers/friends while working downtown.
Feliepe's is good and reasonably priced Mexican in the quarter. No great ambiance but worth it.
Verti Mart for a sandwich, carry out.
Sylvain at the bar for their chicken sandwich. Great ambiance. Price is good as long as you keep alcohol in check.
Up to three $.25 martinis with entree in fench qtr.
https://www.neworleans.com/articles/post/25-cent-drinks-bringing-back-the-three-martini-lunch/Take the ferry across the Mississippi to Algiers and see NOLA from a different vantage. Algiers is pretty quiet. Recommend during mid day. Free ferry.
Depending on season and brazenness, sneak into hotel with rooftop pool. I've not but I know people that have.
Zoo is smallish but good. When we lived there, spent a lot of time with my son there.
Walk around the lake in Audubon park. Maybe have a picnic under the oaks.
Look up new Orleans festivals. Tons and tons of them. Many free but for the food and drink stands, often with music.
Look up Wednesday night concerts at Lafayette square, walkable from French quarter, in the CBD. Free. Often good lineups starting about 5pm. Runs through around June 1.
If you have a car and are there April 25-29, drive to layayette la for festival international de louisiane. Free francophone line up that's very diverse and fun. Parking can usually be found for free if you'll walk 10 blocks or so. Lafayette is cool. Can drive in just for the day.
https://festivalinternational.orgSpeaking of which, daily car rentals at Hertz convention center are often reasonable with some advance booking. Best downtown fq source of cars in my experience.
Another driving option that is truly odd is the angola state prison rodeo. Twice a year, April and Oct. Buy tickets in advance.
http://www.angolarodeo.comRent a bike if at all possible. It's the best way to see new Orleans. Really.
Man I miss it.