Loved taking the St Charles streetcar through the garden district. We walked the few blocks from the hotel to the intersection of Canal and St Charles. We had our $5 ready for the pass for the day. I was taking pictures as we waited at the first stop (lots of people waiting) when I spied a hat shop across the street. We decided to check it out and see if the line would get shorter in the interim.

http://www.meyerthehatter.com/meyer/about.asp?s_id=0
LOVED it!
"Meyer The Hatter is the South's Largest Hat Store. It was established in 1894 by Sam H. Meyer in the first block of St. Charles Avenue, in Downtown New Orleans. Originally called Meyer's Hat Box..."

Michael met us at the door and with charm and a charming accent helped us find a hat. Tiny Grand-mere was in the shop helping customers as were her kids and grandchildren. It was just a delightful experience.

When we finished, we crossed the street again and the line was a bit shorter. Early afternoon seemed to be a really busy time. Several times the streetcar passed people waiting at a stop. We were crammed into a full streetcar for the first few stops. As people debarked, it got less crowded and far more pleasant to be able to sit down. A great vantage point to see the beautiful homes of the Garden District. We got off at the riverbend for lunch - and afterwards waiting for the streetcar headed back to the French Quarter.

We knew we wanted to browse the shops of Magazine Street and the cover of a local guidebook showcased Sucre. Deciding it was NOLA's version of Laduree in Paris (trading pink for blue), I decided that would be the next destination.

http://www.shopsucre.com/

Starrs: Thanks to you, the food tour has been booked, (albeit we're going with the custom one, since DD is seafood-phobic and has a nut allergy to boot!). We can't wait - the tour company belongs to the same group that does the Greenwich Village food tour, which my family of four thoroughly enjoyed two Christmases ago.

Also, a trip to Sucre is now mandatory. When you mentioned Laduree in the same post, I just had to click on the link. Well, what greeted me was the glorious sight of macarons. That was all that I needed. Yummm..... I'll be sure to make space in my luggage for a LOT of macarons. Oooh, I can't wait!

I'm also referencing your other thread "favorite new orleans things".

Great threads for NOLA first-timers! Thank you!

Oh, good! I'm glad you can use some of the ideas!

Oh, darn! I forgot to come back and finish this. I'll try t write more tonight.

Mahoney's Po Boy's on Magazine has outstanding po boy's if you don't want to ride the SC all the way to Cooter's. Casamento's is in the area also on Magazine and serves outstanding seafood.

Topping as I plan a return trip. Focus on the shops and restaurants of Magazine Street this time!