New Orleans Discussion Forum

This forum is for the discussion of the city of New Orleans.

Comments

[sensible]

Scuba,
New Orleans is my favorite US city to visit and I've spent a lot of time there over the years. In fact, I was supposed to go in October (now postponed).

I just love the steamy place in the summer. The sidewalks still radiate heat at 10:00 pm. We complain, but it is part of its character. First place I always hit is the Café du Monde for beignets and cafe au lait. Beignets are fried pieces of dough covered with powdered sugar. When you finish eating them, you're also covered in the powdered sugar. The Café is located at the edge of Jackson Square in the French Quarter. The Quarter is filled with antique stores that are a wonder to browse. There is a voodoo store in the Quarter with lots of potions (fun to read how to use them!) and voodoo dolls. I have a couple of those and stick pins once in a while.

The restaurants in NO are like no others in the world. The combination of creole cooking is outstanding. I could list all my favorite places to eat, but won't. If you want them, just let me know.

Every night while visiting NO one stop always on my list is Preservation Hall down in the Quarter. It is a very delapitated building, packed shoulder to shoulder with people listening to the oldtimers in the jazz business. The sounds are sublime.

I am heartbroken that this city has suffered this catastrophe.

[dianemk]

Scubajap -- Some years ago, another couple, my husband and I had the good fortune of visiting New Orleans for their JazzFest. This event is the second largest event of the year for New Orleans, after Mardi Gras. Our friends had been there before, and BEGGED us to go. We were mesmerized by New Orleans! First, you CANNOT get a BAD meal in New Orleans. Every bit of food we ate there was delicious! We loved dining outside on the balcony, and people-watching as we ate. Also, there is music everywhere in New Orleans. It cannot be escaped, and it is wonderful. The JazzFest itself was amazing -- held on the fairgrounds, it consisted of a huge fair int he center, featuring locally made handicrafts, and numerous stages for the various music acts around the edges of the grounds. What a wonderful day we spent there at the JazzFest! New Orleans has a charm and a graciousness all its own. It's historic, it's creepy (many ghost stories there -- we took a "Ghost Walk" one evening), it's amazing. God bless New Orleans. May she rise again!

Diane

[homcarern]

Scuba,

I visited New Orleans for the very first time in early spring, 2004. In looking to the future, we purchased a retirement home in the panhandle of Florida. My husband likes the rural setting of the panhandle and myself, I liked the closeness of glitz of Biloxi with the casinos and just a bit further drive is New Orleans.

In all my years of life, I had never heard Jazz like I heard in the French Quarter. There was live jazz coming from each of the wonderful eatery/bars. Never before could I walk down a sidewalk, browse in the antique stores and listen to the most wonderful live jazz bands I have ever heard coming from each establishment while we walked along.

My memory of New Orleans is the Jazz Bands. Jazz like I have never heard anywhere else in the world and we have traveled alot. It saddens me that this old city is going through the devastation I am watching on TV. She, New Orleans, was a grand old dame and I believe she will be restored and the live Jazz Bands will once again be heard.

[sensible]

Scuba,

Sensible = Margaret (my middle name! LOL)

[homcarern]

Scuba...

My name is Jacquelin to add. Sorry I did not put it in the post.

Thanks,
Jacquelin

[ChicagoJoe]

Hi

I visited New Orleans just once, with a friend, about 25 years ago, and I am now so glad that I did. There is so much history there, such charm, yes, a bit run down, but also, so very elegant. There is simply no other city in the USA anything like New Orleans. Strolling down Bourbon St in the steamy sun, sipping a beverage, trying to decide (so difficult) were to eat next. Watching the youngsters do blazing street tap dancing for tips. Jazz, America's only original art form, started here, and it is played here like no place else. Watching the old timers blowing Dixieland at Preservation Hall.......

Every city has a personality, and no city has more personality than New Orleans

JoeB

[Denise]

Scuba,

Right after I turned 21 I went on my first business trip and that trip was to New Orleans. This was October 1996. I had heard about Mardi Gras and figured that there wouldn't be alot of people there but the convention I was with took up half the town. The other half was a gay convention. I have pictures at Pat O'Briens and on the streets of New Orleans with Gay men dressed in Fireman uniforms because it was close to Halloween. I never really was a drinker but I was working for a British company at the time and they were having none of that. I was handed Hurricane after Hurricane which is the signature drink in New Orleans. I was dancing on stages having one of the best times of my life. I'll never forget that while I was down there the Yankees had won the World Series and being that I am used to living in NY I was cheering up and down Bourbon St wondering why noone else was. Because obviously I was in the South and they were rooting for the Atlanta Braves. The funniest part is that night I got separated from my friends and went back to my hotel room and a couple of minutes later one of my co-workers came by and we were calling home to NY to talk to everyone about the Yankees. We decided we would she would go back to her room and that since the convention didn't start until later on we would go to the riverwalk to the mall over by the Flamingo Casino and Aquarium. Next thing I know its morning and I woke up thinking OK I have to call Jennifer so we can get ready for the mall. I turn over and low and behold she is sleeping right next to me and neither of us remember how the heck that happened. It was sooo fun I will never forget. I am so grateful I had the opportunity to go there before this devestation. I almost feel like i'm talking about the Twin Towers but unfortunately another tragedy that has affected another state.

[FloridaPatty]

Scuba:

My husband went to Mardi Gras one year. Imagine the colors and costumes of Carnival in Rio, that is some of Mardi Gras. The parade is filled with floats representing "Krewes"..Krewe of Pontchartrain, Krewe of Ceasar, Krewe of Atlas, Krewe of Eve, and so many more. There are float competitions so each one tries to outdo the other.
The essential thing though are BEADS! You flash for beads, dance, shake for beads. A night of partying, King Cakes and full on celebration before the holy time of Lent.

Memories for me are Cafe du Monde, beignets and cafe au lait still warm from the frying with powder sugar spilling on my chest. Walking the bricked streets, smoothed over time. The narrow tall buildings with black painted wrought iron fascade ornately decorating the buidlings. the smells...ahhhh of food, spicey, seafood and the sounds! Music, laughter, folks walking and talking, the French Quarters. One day spent just exploring the French Quarters. I found a discreet little courtyard after I walked down a narrow ally between two buidlings, it opened into a space four cornered by brick buildings and a small coin fountain with a bench in the center of the courtyard. Ferns hung from the balconys, potted flowers lined the walls. I took a picture of my then 2 year old daughter sitting on the bench.

This town will come back.

[sensible]

it opened into a space four cornered by brick buildings and a small coin fountain with a bench in the center of the courtyard. Ferns hung from the balconys, potted flowers lined the walls. I took a picture of my then 2 year old daughter sitting on the bench.

Posted by: FloridaPatty | Sep 9, 2005 12:43:51 PM

The Court of Two Sisters!

[Leonard Marshall]

I'm from Louisiana born and raised.It's an absolute shame how disturbed the federal government must be to allow folks to live in such a terrible manner....