Garden District
 

A few of us "girls" are heading to NO for a long weekend in September. We'll be staying in the Garden District at the St. Vincent's Guest House. Anyone else familiar with this place? Any suggestions for reasonable places to eat? And what about things to do? (I know the Garden District tour is a must.) <BR>Thanks!

Though its prices may not be reasonable by your standards, you must eat at Commanders Palace in that area, one of this country's great restaurants.

Hi, <BR>Stayed at St. Vincents in July. It is a very nice place to stay. You can walk to the St. Charles Street Car, which we took a lot to get to the French Quarter. It also takes you along St. Charles Street in the Garden District. <BR>We also went on a swamp tour which was fun. Our host at St. Vincents organized it for us. Don't miss a rivercruise on Mississippi. We took the steamboat Natchez. That was great! <BR>Kaja

Dear Kris: I second the motion so far as Commander's Palace is concerned. Also try Bayona in the French Quarter--or the Palace on Canal Street, another Brennan family project. You may want to be prepared for a fare hike on the St. Charles Ave. trolley--the city is hoping to boost the price to $1.25 per ride. Write me directly if I can be of more specific help. Joan

Kris, buy a 3 day VisiTour pass (about $8) good on the city's RTA buses and streetcars. Take the streetcar all the way down St. Charles to see the beautiful homes. We took a half day Gray Line bus tour which was informative on N.O. history and understanding their above ground burial process. We took a river cruise - boring, waste of time. Go to K-Paul's in the Quarter for lunch (be there before they open). <BR>

Take a walk through one of the cemeteries. I know some of them are supposed to be dangerous though, so be careful which one. Acme's has great shrimp and oyster poor boys. Also, make sure you get a muffaletta from one of the grocers. Also, I'm not normally a big coffee drinker, but the coffee with chicory is wonderful.

Fer gawd's sake stay away from Brennan's restaurant in the Quarter. Sunday brunch is a total ripoff. You will do better at a Denny's. According to concierges we talked to (later, unfortunately) Brennan's has been in free-fall decline for several years and is now no more than a tourist trap. Food and service equally poor. Bring big bucks to Commander's Palace but ENJOY. Nola's also is excellent.