Since my DD and I had such a wonderful mother/daughter Labor Day weekend trip to San Francisco this year, we want to make it an annual event. I think she's love New Orleans (as I do) and had just settled on this as our next year's destination when I read about Southern Decadence being held there that weekend, as it traditionally is. She's 11, and I'm all for educating her on alternative lifestyles, but I don't know if this is too over the top for us to be staying in the French Quarter? We're looking for a more relaxed atmosphere than a Mardi Gras atmosphere. Can anyone share any insights on this event and whether this is a good idea for us?

It will be hot as hades in NO at Labor Day.

But if you don't mind the heat (and it's not a dry heat), I don't think it's that big a deal to stay in the French Quarter. Bourbon Street is really the only "out there" part of the FQ, and you see kids there in the daytime all the time. You see them at night, too, but a lot of parents are putting their hands over eyes, heh.

If you want a more "relaxed" environment, you might want to try uptown, in the Garden District along St. Charles. The streetcar is running now so it's a good and convenient place to stay, away from the "Mardi Gras" environment of Bourbon St. But don't avoid the FQ, because your DD will enjoy it, especially the area around Jackson Sq. during the day. Just avoid Bourbon St. at night.

PS: I didn't specifically address Southern Decadence events, but I don't know how much they permeate the other parts of the city, such as the Garden District.

I'm guessing that it's mainly centered around the FQ, but I'll leave it to people who have actually attended the events to comment on that.

I would be more concerned with the heat. It is unbearable.

To me, Decadence is not a factor at all. You can easily avoid that area. In fact, they would frown on you being there.

Southern Decadence is at the corner of Bourbon St and St Ann. The gay clubs have parties, parades, contests, etc.

It does not compare to Mardi Gras when it comes to the amount of people, but you can see some really interesting costumes.

Personally, I don't bring my daughter to Bourbon St at all and I live here. There are plenty of other streets in the French Quarter and sights to see.

I usually choose to visit my aunts in New Orleans over Labor Day, but I don’t mind the party . Southern Decadence has definitely been more subdued since Katrina. The most disturbing part of the weekend for me is all the religious demonstrators in the French Quarter shouting threats and insults.

The rest is over-the-top, but mostly good-natured. Lots of drag queens and scantily dressed men at night. I have seen a few obscene things, but nothing compared to Mardi Gras. As for staying in the French Quarter, In 2006, I checked into a French Quarter hotel (Bourbon Orleans) and the man at reception said to me, “Madeleine?” I asked him how he had known, and he said, “We don’t get many women here this weekend.” Lots of eye candy at the pool though . Last year I stayed at the Royal Sonesta, I wouldn’t have guessed that it was Southern Decadence except right around the gay clubs at night.

Well, K says maybe she should be a couple years older before we have this experience... and I haven't even told her about the heat yet! I'm an NC girl, so it doesn't bother me, but as the Colorado fruit-of-my-loins, NC in August is almost too much for her. I appreciate the feedback (and would personally appreciate the eye-candy), but we're thinking maybe Monterey may be a better choice for '08! I will make sure she has a chance to experience the slow, languid elegance that I've always associated with NOLA before too much time passes.