I've read the previous posting and I'm so encouraged. But I would love some more guidance. 3 Girlfriends want a celebration for our 40th BDay's - is NO the place? 2 or 3 nights. More interested in points-of-interest and food than partying til the wee hours (although that's not entirely ruled out). Travel time is flexible. Budget is charming, clean & comfortable, but not extranvagant. Not as laid-back as snowrooster (sad to say), so low noise would be good, too. Will we need a car?
Thanks for your opinions!!!

I said travel time is flexible, but we are looking at late Sept or early Oct.

Ohio Is For Me........NO is a great city. I visit there 3/4 times/year. Right now NO needs tourism and rates are excellent. My favorite hotel is The Ritz Carlton but it has not reopened. My last trip we stayed at The Windsor Court which overlooks the MS River and the casino. It's across Canal St. from the FQ. You don't need a car but it would be helpful. If you are flying just take a cab.


http://www.orient-express.com/web/on...r_a2a_home.jsp

I saw a rate at TWC for $189/night arriving on 9/27. I remind you it still hot in NO this time of the year and there could be some football games that time of the year but that should not cause you a problem. Stay at TWC walk to FQ have lunch at Galatoire's, dinner at Emeril's, Bayona, Peristyle, Gabrielle or Gautreau's. My favorite is Emeril's. Another great restaurant is Brigtsen's which is out near Tulane U. You won't need a car if you just go from WC to FQ and back and a cab can take you to Brigtsen's, or any where else. Restaurant August is across the street from WC and Frank Besh is a very renown chef. Good luck and Bon Appetit.

You've chosen a good time of year weatherwise. There is lots good of post-Katrina information on this forum. You might want to read up on recent posts then ask specific questions when you start narrowing your choices down. Here are some ideas I've posted on other threads that may help get you started as well:

*Pick up a free Gambit magazine when you first arrive to find out what's going on and who's playing around town.
*Find a place with Cajun or Zydeco music and dancing, and preferrably offering free dancing lessons. Try places like Mid-City Rock n Bowl and the Mapel Leaf Bar (and have dinner at Jacque-Imo's while in that area).
*Visit the Aquarium of the Americas and Imax Theatre at the foot of Canal Street. Then ride the John James Audubon Riverboat to/from the Audubon Zoo. http://tinyurl.com/syg7a
*Visit the French Market on N. Peters St. http://www.frenchmarket.org/
*Take a day trip and/or the dinner jazz cruise on the Natchez steamboat with its wonderful calliope. http://www.steamboatnatchez.com/
*Tour the Cabildo on Chartres (next to the Cathedral). http://tinyurl.com/zvgvu
*Shop and sightsee the great shops on Royal and throughout the FQ, http://www.royalstreetguild.com/
*More great shopping along Magazine Street, http://www.magazinestreet.com/
*People watch over drinks from the gallery of the Columns on St. Charles Avenue, http://www.thecolumns.com/
*Enjoy after-dinner drinks at the Carousel Bar in the Hotel Monteleone, http://www.hotelmonteleone.com

Folks are finding great deals on lodging, so if you are looking now, there may be some left for your timeframe. I recommend the Hotel Monteleone for the location and the ambiance. Good luck with the planning!

Hotel Monteleone has rooms for $85/night.

Oh, mah, I am just dying to go stay a night or two, aren't you??!! ;-)

ohioisforme,

We were in NO last weekend and had such a good time.

We stayed at the Provincial (in the FQ) for $85 a night.

We ate at Galatoire's, NOLA (Emeril's Quarter restaurant), and Ralph's on the Park for an out-of-this world Sunday brunch.

We stopped by an antique dealer we've know for years in Slidell, and also looked for antiques on Magazine Street.

On the way home (Alabama), we went by the seafood dealers just off the West Bank Parkway , over the big bridge, and now we have 20 pounds of beautiful big shrimp frozen.

It was hot, but the pool, a/c, and ceiling fans took care of that.

The fall should be great weather for your trip. Go and enjoy!

Byrd

BTW, Byrd, what you'd pay for that shrimp and what size are they? Did you end up getting them at Ruths?

The reason I am so full of questions is because I have thought so often about getting shrimp since I read your post! Now that I've seen this about your shrimp again, I think it's an omen! LoL

Interesting . .. Louisiana gal asking Alabama tourist gal about getting shrimp in Louisiana!! Aren't travel forums wonderful?! ;-)

Ohio, four of us 50 somethings went to NO the year before Katrina. I would never have gone but we take turns planning our yearly weekends together and I'm so glad my friend decided on NO for our big splurge. We went Veterans Day weekend so we would have extra time. We enjoyed the New Orleans School of Cooking. It demo, stories and laughter and then you get to eat what was prepared. Yum! We got the recipes and, of course, shopped for ingredients. You are seated at large round tables and we enjoyed sitting with strangers who gave us advice on where to eat. Took a bus tour to Oak Lawn. I think we would have done better to rent a car for the day since it was a long ride and not quite enough time to be there. Enjoyed shopping. We walked Royal street a number of times to and from our hotel and we always seemed to see something new. Of course, had coffee and a beignet at Cafe du Monde and then shopped the market. If you see something, get it because there's a wonderful selection of products you aren't going to find at home. Took a haunted tour at night which started off with a huge alcoholic drink. Great tour. Splurged one time on dinner, ate more cheaply the next. Thoroughly enjoyed Sunday brunch at Court of Two Sisters before leaving for the airport. Loved the street performers. Took a carriage ride. Rode the street car to the end just to take the ride. Unfortunately we planned to get muffalettas for the plane ride home but the place near our hotel was closed on Sundays. The only place I didn't like was the casino and fortunately we didn't spend much time there.

BayouGal,


We bought the large shrimp for $3.25 a pound (head on, of course).

The jumbos, the only size larger than what we got, were, I think, $4.50, but for our use the large were what we wanted.

They look so fresh and great. They were just putting them out.

We did buy at Ruth's. She said that their stand didn't suffer damage in the storm, but a tornado came through and destroyed the stand next to them, and several others on the other side of the vendor area.

For freezing, we take the shrimp heads off, and freeze them separately to boil for gumbo broth.

We've been buying shrimp there for several years, and it's certainly good to have some more in the freezer!

Are you a gumbo cook, BayouGal? We love to make gumbo, and think we do a good job, but any authentic Louisiana hints would be welcome!

Sorry it took me a while to get back to you. We have two grandchildren here, who wanted hamburgers put on the grill.

Byrd

Byrd, thanks so much. You got a good price for your shrimp. I've got to get over there to restock my freezer. And yes, I cook gumbo: seafood, chicken, andouille, duck, etc. YUMMY!

dfrostnh, it sounds like you had a great visit to N.O. The N.O. School of Cooking is back up and running offering demonstrations, open classes, reserved classes, etc. http://www.neworleansschoolofcooking.com/ Ohioisforme, that's something you and the other girls might enjoy.

Commander's Palace: I am sorry to say that last night on the local news, CP said they hope to be reopened by late Sept. So much for the August opening.

Also, be sure to check out City of Hope: New Orleans after Katrina; The Historic New Orleans Collection [www. hnoc.org ] July 18–November 4, Tuesday–Saturday, 9:30A – 4:30P, Williams Gallery, 533 Royal Street.

Hi,
I checked the Saints schedule since it makes a difference in crowds and craziness.
Sept 25 is the Grand REopening of the Superdome and they play Atlanta. Will be totally insane.
Oct 1, they are away.
Oct 8, Tampa Bay

Smart thinking, uptowngirl! It will be especially crazy this year, since it's been almost 2 years now that the Saints played at "home" in N.O. - thanks to Katrina ending any chance of home games in N.O. last season.

Has anuybody heard whether the Sugar Bowl will be back in New Orleans this year?

We always try to go when Auburn(John's alma mater) is playing, but not if the SBowl is anywhere but New Orleans, its rightful home!

Byrd

This year or next year, I believe it hosts the National Championship game in 2008 & you'll be able to watch my Ohio State Buckeyes, in person !!!

The Sugar Bowl will be in Georgia for 2006. UGH! No wonder my DH hasn't said a word about it. Don't like having to drive to Georgia to see LSU win!!! LoL ;-)

I am disappointed too, Byrd.

BG - I'll meet you there...lol

Hi - Don't let our noisy room discourage you from considering Royal Sonesta as an option. We've always had courtyard rooms there in the past & could not hear a sound from the street. This time we booked through expedia to get a really great rate & since the hotel was full I think we kind of got what was left. In the past when we've booked through the hotel we've always been given an upgrade as well.

A car? Hmmm - really depnds what you want to do. We rented one the first time dh & I went together because we left the city to visit planatations, do a swamp tour, and eat at Middendorfs (great catfish). If you don't plan to leave the city, you don't really need one.

WOW! Thanks for so much information! Now I'm even more psyched to go! Thanks for the heads up on football schedules. As a former resident of the south(Texas) and a current Buckeye fan I understand the havoc a football weekend can create, Keep the ideas coming, though, I love having experienced info when I travel!