Visiting New Orleans
French Quarter
Grab a go-cup! Bourbon Street is...well, you know. Royal Street has all the art and antique galleries. Here are our suggestions: 1) Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral -- hop on a tour 2) Cafe Du'Monde -- world-famous beignets 3) Ghost Tour -- explore the haunted history of New Orleans. A friend of ours runs www.spectralcitytours.com -- she'll hook you up! 4) Galatoire's, GW Fin's, Brennan's, Restaurant R'Evolution, Irene's -- some of the finest Creole restaurants in the city, all located in the French Quarter 5) Pat O'Brien's -- come for the Hurricanes, stay for more Hurricanes 6) Carousel Bar -- you literally drink on a carousel 7) Erin Rose Bar -- dive bar with Killer Po'Boys in the back (literally, that's the name of the restaurant). Bonus: This is our favorite! 8) Jewel of the South, Longview Tavern, Sylvain, Manolito -- nicer bars with cocktails and small plates
Mid-City
Our old neighborhood! The gorgeous Bayou St. John will be the hot spot in town this weekend, so make your way to the Bayou Boogaloo Festival, listen to some music, and rent a kayak if you're feeling adventurous. Easily accessible by streetcar/Uber, or grab a Blue Bike and take the scenic Lafitte Greenway. 1) Willie Mae's Scotch House, Dooky Chase, Parkway Tavern, Bevi's Seafood, Blue Oak BBQ, 1000 Figs, Lola's -- great casual restaurants. Willie Mae's has the best fried chicken you'll ever eat, hands down. Dooky Chase is as culturally important a restaurant as there is in the South, once run by the world-famous Leah Chase. And it will be crawfish season, so make sure to get some mudbugs. 2) Bayou Beer and Wine Garden, Pal's, Midcity Yacht Club, Second Line Brewery, Mick's -- these watering holes all offer a little something different, why not check 'em all out?!
Garden District
Hop on the green streetcar and make your way down historic oak-lined St. Charles Avenue to the Garden District. Beautiful homes, all the retail you could ever need on Magazine Street, and more great bars and restaurants. Here's where we'd go: 1) Commander's Palace, Coquette (!!!), Gris Gris -- the world-famous Commander's serves $0.25 martinis during lunch. Does it get any more NOLA than that?! 2) Cavan, Bouligny Tavern, Bakery Bar, Barrel Proof -- nicer bars 3) NOLA Brewing, Urban South, Port Orleans, Lula, Miel -- breweries/distilleries 3) Miss Mae's, Milan Lounge, Tracey's, Parasol's, Balcony Bar, Rendezvous -- dive bars 4) Magazine Street shopping -- Trashy Diva (this is Lesley's favorite), Home Malone (New Orleans-themed gifts), Dirty Coast (NOLA clothing), Bella Umbrella (America's only umbrella store, it's freaking cool), UAL -- discount designer fashion, Funky Monkey (thrift store), Peaches (record store)
Marigny
This neighborhood is just a quick hop away from the French Quarter, with plenty to choose from in terms of nightlife and dining. 1) Frenchmen Street -- where you go to hang out once you're over Bourbon Street. Live music fills every club -- we especially like The Spotted Cat and d.b.a. And check out the weekend art market! 2) Bywater American Bistro, Bao and Noodle, Kebab, Silk Road, Elizabeth's -- there is no shortage of trendy restaurants in this neighborhood for any time of day 3) Mimi's in the Marigny, Bacchanal (!!!), Vaughan's Lounge, B.J.'s Lounge, Kajun's, Hi-Ho Lounge -- great spots to drink and catch some live music 4) Retail: Euclid Records, Dr. Bob's Folk Art
The National WWII Museum
Consistently voted among the best museums in the country -- must see for history buffs
New Orleans Museum of Art
Nestled in the heart of City Park, America's 87th largest and 20th most visited urban park space, this museum features great permanent and rotating collection, plus a recently-expanded outdoor sculpture garden
Ogden Museum of Southern Art
The Historic New Orleans Collection
The Music Box Village
Funky interactive outdoor space that allows you to play all their wacky instruments
Mardi Gras World
See where Mardi Gras magic comes to life