Shopping in New Orleans

New Orleanians have a deep love and devotion for the Crescent City and the varied ethnic components that make up its unique cultural gumbo. For shoppers, this translates into merchandise that reflects that pride, including jewelry and clothing bearing city icons such as the fleur-de-lis—a French symbol associated with the city since its early days—Mardi Gras masks, tributes to its world-class food and culture, and unique and often humorous statements about Hurricane Katrina and its effects on New Orleans, political issues, and local personalities. New Orleanians also strongly support local entrepreneurs, which means shoppers can find many unique works by Crescent City artists and items produced in the city.

Make sure you take home some of the city's local artwork, including the posters designed around New Orleans's special events such as Mardi Gras and the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (which often become collector's items). Favorite sons such as Tennessee Williams and William Faulkner are often depicted in local artwork, as are historic areas of the city. The special sounds of New Orleans—Dixieland and contemporary jazz, rhythm and blues, Cajun, and zydeco—are available in music stores like Louisiana Music Factory and Peaches Records, and at live-music venues such as Preservation Hall, Snug Harbor, and House of Blues. Independent bookstores and major chains stock a plethora of local cookbooks, photography, history, and local literature and lore. Clothing stores focus on items that wear well in the subtropical heat, with styles ranging from the latest runway fashions, European designer wear, and vintage items, as well as styles from local designers.