Anyone been to Nawlins?

[erogenousjones17]

The GF and I are headed to New Orleans this weekend. It'll be our first time there, and it happns to coincide with Mardi Gras (though we'll actually be there for a full week). Obviously we are both very stoked about it. Anyone have any tips on getting the most out of both Mardi Gras and the city itself?

 

[m4rk0]

I love Nawlins!! been there 5 or 6 times, but for some strange reason I can't remember a whole lot.

I do remember that somehow every night ended at the clover grill ... best hamburgers ever... I think..
Almost every single bar is great.. most have great live bands, even the cover bands are pretty good. the bars I remember from the top of my head were, the famous door, Bourbon Street Blues Company, Razzoo and a whole lot more.
the girls with the shots get really annoying though.
I can't honestly imagine how crazy and crowded this place must be during Mardi Gras...probably a little too much for me!

the swamp tours are pretty cool too (unless you already live in a swampy part of the country)

 

[erogenousjones17]

To be honest, the fact that we're going during Mardi Gras is kind of a fluke; we didn't actually plan it that way. I'm a little concerned about the crowds and the insanity myself, since I'm not a huge party animal, but I've read up on some things to do outside the French Quarter if things get too crazy.

Definitely going to head out into the swamps though.

 

[Great Ape]

The animals in the swamps are way more tolerable than the ones in the Quarter...I love Louisiana as much as anyplace I've ever been. I go there to fly fish in the salt marshes on the edge of the Gulf, for redfish & black drum. Pretty much all my time is spent on the water, but my visit to NO and the French Quarter was not especially uplifting. I sure would seek out some music and some REAL local food, though. Keep an eye out for wild pigs, an' an eye on your wallet! Have a ball...

 

[greywolf]

Great town , have many friends there.  Great food everywhere and music . Just watch your valuables and don't go out alone

 

[erogenousjones17]

As a bit of a photo bug, I'm a bit wary of all this "watch your valuables" stuff. Are y'all saying I should leave the camera at home? Is crime that big of a problem? It seems to depend on who you ask.

And we absolutely want to see real New Orleans, not just the tourist traps. That tourist scene is no way to travel, as far as I'm concerned.

 

[jackthehack]

Depends on where you go; but there are typically a lot of thieves that hit NO specifically for Mardi Gras to take advantage of drunk people not paying attention...

 

[Great Ape]

My sense was that an awful lot of the Quarter is very much tourist crap, but the real thing's gotta be in there somewhere. As for the camera, it'd be a real shame not to have it with you, just be advised that particularly during Mardi Gras, there's no doubt an 'element' that does their thing with even greater zeal because of all that ripe fruit staggering through the streets. That said, I've got friends who make a point of being there for that event, and they've always had a great time, and no horror stories. As with ANY place in today's world, an awareness of your surroundings is sufficient. Hey, you're going to have a great time, so don't go into it with a sense of trepidation; ENJOY! 

 

[DangerousR6]

DBU is down there in Bah-tawn-rouge.. :icon_biggrin:

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

If you do go to the Mardi Gras circus, it is literally nut to butt.  You can lose the person right in front of you.  DO NOT carry your wallet in your back pocket if you're used to doing so.  If you're not the type that drinks to get hammered, or don't have fun around that, just avoid Mardi Gras altogether.  The random nudity isn't worth it either.  The skin I saw, I didn't want to see, or it had plastic cannon balls underneath it.

 

[MikeW]

Wow. 'Nawlins and Mardi Gras. You're gonna have a blast.

Definitely check out the music scene in the French Quarter. Lafayette's Blacksmith Shop is a must see. Madame LaRoux's VooDoo shop as well, even though it had gone a bit touristy when I was there last.

Jackson Square is right at the edge of the Quarter; defintiely go see that. The bakery right next to the river on the east side of Jackson Square (Cafe Duy Monde) has the best beignets ever. There's a great jazz museum right down in the French Quarter too. Another must see.

The New Orleans Metropolitan Museum of Art hosts a wide range of exhibits. I saw a Mondrian and a
Renoir exhibit when I was living down there.

Swamp tours out of Alexandria are great. Definitely check out a plantation home while you're outside of NO as well.

But above all else check out the parades and floats. My favorite was always Bacchus. A great parade. 'Show Your T...' will be heard from just about every balcony while you're down there, so you might want to warn your GF beforehand.

As others have said, be respectful of your surroundings and you'll be fine. Above all, take your camera. You might not want the Big Gun while you're out barhopping, but definitely for some of the parades.

Definitely post when you get back and let us know how it went. Enjoy!

 

[Ddbltrbl]

Been twice! Someone got shot the first time and someone got knifed the second. Wasn't exactly what I'd call fun! Hope your experience is better! ccasion14:

 

[erogenousjones17]

Thanks for the advice everyone. Of course, all of it depends on our actually being able to get there -- we're supposed to fly out tomorrow, but flights are being cancelled left, right and centre. Damn you, winter!

 

[hannaugh]

Go to Cafe Du Monde.  Order some beignets.  Have a fight with handfuls of powdered sugar.  You'll understand when you see the beignets. 

 

[MikeW]

Go to Cafe Du Monde.  Order some beignets.  Have a fight with handfuls of powdered sugar.  You'll understand when you see the beignets.

:laughing3: Classic.

The way I reckon, right about now is when he and the GF are sobering up enough to walk to the cab station in the CBD and head to the airport. Have a friend that reported that it was a pretty good Mardi Gras overall.

 

[mullyman]

Never been there but have heard of pick pockets galore. Keep your eye on your wallet.
MULLY

 

[erogenousjones17]

Welp, we made it back alive and with all out possessions intact and accounted for. :icon_biggrin:
 
We had an amazing time in the Big Easy: nice people, great food, strong drinks and good times. Mardi Gras was a blast, and New Orleans is a beautiful (in a rundown kinda way), eclectic and fun city. I'd definitely go back, and I recommend it to anyone who's ever been interested in going there.

But oh, the sights we seen. :laughing7:

 

[pabloman]

The Broncos were headed there but Jacoby Jones and Corey Graham cancelled that trip :doh:

 

[erogenousjones17]

Yeah, I hear there was some sort of football game or something going on the week before we got there...? Don't know what that's all about.  :icon_jokercolor:

 

[MikeW]

Welp, we made it back alive and with all out possessions intact and accounted for. :icon_biggrin:
 
We had an amazing time in the Big Easy: nice people, great food, strong drinks and good times. Mardi Gras was a blast, and New Orleans is a beautiful (in a rundown kinda way), eclectic and fun city. I'd definitely go back, and I recommend it to anyone who's ever been interested in going there.

But oh, the sights we seen. :laughing7:

NICE! It is AMAZING what people will do for plastic beads, innit??