New Orleans

I'm going to a convention in New Orleans early November I won't be spending much time at the convention and have extended my stay to a week. NO wife or kids so there will be none of that tourist stuff going on, I'm going for the music and the food, and I might just tip a few along the way. Need suggestions from locals or frequent vistors. I pulled up a list of clubs online and it seems endless! I'll be staying in the French Quarter but will have a car. best Clubs, best eats and best guitar stores ??



Gary

Bourbon Street and Decatur Street.

Been a long time since I was there, pre-hurricane, but I loved Petunia's in the FQ for their "Pain Perdue", or as we in the States call it, french toast. The New Orleans Cookery was quite good. And there was a Cafe in the Hotel Desire on Bourbon Street that set out a beautiful tray of oysters on the half-shell and prawns that was just amazing. Topped that meal off with the best pecal pie I've ever had. Does Emeril still have Commander's Palace? Great reputation built there

And Cafe Du Monde for beignets is a don't miss. I think there was a Margaritaville and a House Of Blues. Enjoyed the open air market, and the Aquarium was first rate, too. If you're a history buff, you might want to go see the site of Andrew Jackson's Battle of New Orleans, fought AFTER the peace treaty ending the War of 1812 was signed.

And don't forget, in 1963, Lee Harvey Oswald was walking Canal Street, handing out "Fair Play For Cuba" pamplets. Eerie.

Good Luck!

Bill

Well...I have some suggestions for you. I'm from Louisiana and my wife is from New Orleans. I was there 2 weeks ago for a meeting at our Headquarters. It also happened to be the Thursday the Saints opened up football season against the Vikings. People were tailgating at 8AM and all the schools were out at lunch! What a party!...we're still partying!!

Food
Basically any food joint in NOLA that is in business is good...cause if it ain't good, it wouldn't be in business.
Here are some of the good places that I know of:
http://www.dragosrestaurant.com (in the Hilton next to the Casino on the end of Canal St) Chargrilled oysters were invented here...wow!
http://www.acmeoyster.com in the French Quarter on Iberville
http://www.patobriens.com - good all around food...and home of the Hurricane...off of Bourbon and St Peter
http://portofcallnola.com - 2 main items on the menu...steak and hands down the absolute best burger in New Orleans...on Esplanade in the Quarter
+1 on Cafe Du Monde.
Also you have money to burn...goto the Original Ruth's Chris, Emiril's, K Paul's, Galatoire's on Bourbon, and Pascal's Manale has world famous BBQ shrimp.

I also highly recommend to go to America's oldest tavern (before 1772)...Jean Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop. It's on the far end of Bourbon St...past the neon signs, girls earning mardi gras beads and the gay bars. It's quiet (you can actually hear!) and candlelit only...it's a great place if you need to take a break from the 24/7 party down the street. I recommend getting an Abita...which is a very very good local microbrew.

You've got to try the gumbo, po-boys, jambalaya, bread pudding with whisky sauce, fried everything, pralines (say it Praw-leens...not Pray-leens).

Music
Music is everywhere in New Orleans. Tons of live music on Bourbon St with seasoned bands. Also goto http://frenchmenst.com for some superb clubs and live music. If you like jazz...try and see the Preservation Hall Jazz Band on St. Peter...right by Pat O's.

Try to ride a street car if you have time. Stroll around Jackson Square and anywhere in the quarter. I like the Vintage Guitar store on Tchoupitoulas St....no G&Ls last time though. If you like the Saints...I highly recommend going to a game in the Dome...even if it's in the nosebleed seats.

Last piece of advice: If anyone comes up to you on Bourbon St and says "I bet you $20 I can tell you where you got your shoes." just keep walking. They'll con you and say "you got your shoes on Bourbon St right now!"

Cajunboy lives just down I-10 from New Orleans...maybe he can chime in too.

Oh Boy, the Duckster comes to town. It'd be a miracle if I could break free during the week, so hopefully you'll be here at some point possibly over a weekend. Other than that, I'll have to hope school work is kind to my son and I could make some arrangements for care. But we'll see. Post the dates and we'll see what's up. Jeffro, our long lost GbL buddy, is your best bet for helping fill out a proper itinerary. He works for the state's department of tourism, and he once held a position that required him to make certain travel journalists had a good time in NOLA. He just moved to Breaux Bridge, so it might be a stretch for him to fit a bash-fest down in NOLA into his schedule, but I can put a bug in his ear and ask for the music and food suggestions. You already have dome good ones. There's some others out there, but they're for the everyday and more adventurous diner. Let us know if you wanna hit the standards are the out of the way gems that the locals spend more money in.

I'll be arriving on wednsday the 3rd leaving on monday the 8th so I will be there for the weekend, hope you can make it down for a couple of cold ones. I'll have a car so I can get around to some of those gems you speak of. some of Kodors suggestions look interesting, Of course I'll have to do the burbon st thing but I'd rather hang with the locals.