Oh New Orleans, a love story....

I love New Orleans. Like LOVE. Okay, okay, I should start by admitting I haven't really seen much of it. But what I experienced was enough to leave me smitten. I'm now one of those people that, upon hearing someone say they are going to New Orleans responds with excited gushing and many, many instructions on where to go. Yeah, it may be too much but you know what, fifty bucks says when you go there you'll come back home feeling EXACTLY the same way. And if you don't, you just didn't go to the right places. So here are the right places. And you're welcome. 

                                                       CAFE DU MONDE

The infamous Cafe du Monde Beignets. As good as they look. DROOL.

 

Cafe du Monde is a must! Loved going there in the early morning AND in the middle of the night. Bustling cafe that serves beignet and coffee by little old Vietnamese ladies in paper deli hats. Tables are littered with powdered sugar and pigeons trying to eat up the leftovers.  Music blares from various street musicians on the other side of the cafe's iron gateway, all to the clip clop of horses and the conversations of tourists and locals. Truly a thing of beauty. 


http://www.cafedumonde.com/

BAR TONIQUE

The best Bloody I've ever had. Bacon-infused vodka, hand pressed tomato juice with lemon and jalapeno, topped with a piece of bacon. I can't say enough good things about this. YUM.

                                       Resting our weary feet at Bar Tonique.


Bar Tonique is a brick-faced, tiny bar with a huge drink menu. It's on the outskirts of the French Quarter, almost in Treme by Louis Armstrong Park.


http://www.bartonique.com

                                   VERTI MART

Verti Mart is a corner store/deli with really, really good, authentic  local food in a no frills storefront. Think Southern favorites,  grits and collard greens and mac and cheese and every kind of meat in all sorts of sauces. It comes to-go only, I believe. Some of the best local food we had and pretty reasonable prices. Oh, and come hungry, the portions are HUGE.

http://www.vertimarte.com/

                                        THE NAPOLEON HOUSE

The Napoleon House is a classic French Quarter building, very old with lots of history. The bar is dark, littered with oil paintings and bust carvings of Napoleon. But it's the patio that I really love. It's more of a courtyard, and it feels like you could be anywhere, in Cuba or maybe Spain. They make good drinks too, and the staff (primarily comprised of old men) all wear bow ties. :)


http://napoleonhouse.com/history1.html

                            THE GREEN GODDESS

The Green Goddess is a quirky spot,  serving a seasonal menu. It boasts a fusion of foods from all over the world, deftly combining spices and flavors, all prepared and served by gutter punks and classic cocktail nerds. Right at home for me and the hubby. The tables are literally littered down a defunct cobblestone alley, across from the Pelican Club, (we ate there too, pricey but good). After waiting a short time in the miniscule bar area/ kitchen, the chef/owner came right over to our table and chatted us up about the menu. He was very intense but it was definitely an authentic experience, and the food is very good.

http://www.greengoddessnola.com/

                                            CLAIRE'S POUR HOUSE

It was this specials board that tipped us off that we were in the right kind of place. We felt right at home with these folks.

This is where the locals hang out. Friendly dive bar right in the middle of French quarter. As we were deciding whether we should come in, a women on a rascal came out of the shadows of the bar and yelled, "Well, what are you waiting for? Get on in here!". Claire is a great host and the regulars made us feel like part of the crew. One of our best nights there. 

233 Decatur St
New Orleans, LA 70130

GHOSTS, VAMPIRES AND VOODOO: THE MANY OCCULT INSPIRED TOURS OF NEW ORLEANS

Our night on the Haunted Tour of the French Quarter. We even got to see Bradgalina's house AND we were subjected to a paranormal experience at the Lalaurie Mansion. 


Save our Cemeteries: 
Cemetery Tours either in the French Quarter at Cemetery #1 or the tour in the Garden District. I believe this one is a non-profit tour company:

http://www.saveourcemeteries.org/

The Great Lord Chaz:
I didn't do this particular tour because we got a gift certificate for a different company, but one of my friend raves about the below tour as the best, most entertaining tour.

http://lordchaz.com/

                           MUSEE CONTI WAX MUSEUM

Close to Bar Tonique is Musee Conti wax museum. It's pretty old and slightly water damaged from the floods but creepy and intriguing, especially the wax figure of Dalphine Lalaurie and the slaves she tortured. It's really, really creepy. The museum keeps weird hours so check ahead.

http://www.neworleanswaxmuseum.com/

One last thing since we're talking about creepy people....

                                                Dalphine Lalaurie. A very bad lady.



Okay, so yeah, I didn't mention Bourbon Street, because honestly it's the least interesting thing about New Orleans in my opinion. Having said that, go get at least one Hurricane at Pat O'Brien's. It's almost worth the $11.00.