My mom and I just got back from a great long weekend in New Orleans. We stayed at the Royal Sonesta. Everyone was very nice and getting a room not facing Bourbon was no problem. The room was clean and the bathroom was very spacious with good counter space. The pool was also great...set in a nice courtyard on the 3rd floor.
While waiting for our room, we went to the Gumbo Shop for lunch and had excellent roast beef po' boys. They were huge and we could have easily shared one. After lunch we went to the Crescent City Brewery for a microbrew. We headed to the pool for the remainder of the afternoon and early evening. Our only complaint is that after a brief storm, the pool bar did not reopen, so everyone was left searching for drinks or traipsing down to the fancy bar in the main lobby.
That evening we had a hurricane and some appetizers at Pat O'Briens. Then we walked around Bourbon for a bit and settled in at the Funky Pirate to hear Big Al Carson, who is always great entertainment. We watched some karaoke at the Cat's Meow, and then I had to show mom my wilder days so we went to the Dungeon. She was a very good sport!
Friday we had our obligatory breakfast at Cafe du Monde. Then we explored the french market and had a drink at Margaritaville. We had an appetizer at Muriels - the indoor courtyard was perfect since we just wanted a quick bite and were dressed very casually. The Muriel sampler was excellent. Hitting the town early, then the pool during the late afternoon seemed to be the way to beat the heat. Our nice dinner out was at NOLA, since mom and I are big Emeril fans. We both had the salmon, and the sauce just melted in your mouth - wonderful. After dinner we had a drink at Touche on Royal, which I believe is part of the Omni. It was a nice, quiet place for a relaxing glass of wine. We wanted to check out Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop next. The place itself was neat, there are no lights, just candles. The piano player left a lot to be desired though...his microphone was terrible and it sounded like an old record player. After Lafitte's we went back to the Funky Pirate since we couldn't get enough of Big Al. Our last stop was the lounge at the hotel. They had a nice jazz trio, but we were a little taken aback by our ten dollar bar tab for a soda and a beer.
Saturday mom wanted more beignets, so we were off to the Cafe again. After that we caught the St. Charles streetcar to the Garden District. We saw Commanders Palace, and walked a few steps into Lafayette cemetery. I think we found Ann Rice's house, which said it was for sale??? For lunch it was back to the quarter where we had gumbo and shrimp remoulade at Remoulade's. That night we headed to Snug Harbor, just outside the quarter on Frenchman St., for some authentic New Orleans jazz. What we didn't know until we got there was that a) you needed a ticket, b) they were $18, and c) the 9:00 show was sold out. So we never heard our jazz except what we could hear from the bar, but still had a nice time eating dinner and talking to the locals. On our way back, mom the beignet addict, made us go back to Cafe du Monde for the second time in one day. I'm pretty sure I don't need to see another beignet for quite some time! And for our last night we just popped in and out of bars on Bourbon...
Please let me know if I can answer any questions or elaborate on anything. All in all, a great time!

Sounds like a great trip. So Anne Rice's house is for sale, eh? Interesting. I wonder what she is up to.

Since Anne's husband passed away in 2002, Ms. Rice has decided to sell her home in the Garden District and "retire to an obscure address in the suburbs".

Here is a link to the message from her website. http://www.annerice.com/msg011804.htm

Angie,

Thanks for the great report.While I was on a tour of the Garden District last year I could have sworn Ann Rice's home was for sale.The guide told us it was essentially the same reasons that was posted on the web site . Curious.....
Larry

I enjoyed reading your trip report too. We ended up at the Funky Pirate almost every night we were in New Orleans in April to hear Big Al. I keep saying I'm going to go to the Dungeon, but it seems we are never up at midnight when it opens. Must be getting old....

Jean

Traveling to NO in a few weeks. Please tell me more about the Funky Pirate and Big Al. Sounds interesting.

The Funky Pirate is one of dozens of bars right on Bourbon Street. No cover, drinks aren't terribly expensive, considering that there's live music.

Here's a couple of URL's.

http://www.bluesartstudio.at/NeueSei...%20CARSON.html

http://www.tropicalisle.com/

We stopped in every night we were in town for at least one music set. Big Al is so huge that I worry every time I see him that he won't be around the next time I'm in New Orleans.

Jean

Thanks so much! I was thinking that we would have to pay for a show at Snug Harbor, which I heard that you have to get tickets for early or they will be sold out. Happy to hear that there is a lot of free music. Also planning to stay at the Royal Sonesta or Omni Royal for the pools. Does anyone know which place has the nicer one? Going with my check off list of restaurants and places to try in hand. Great, helpful trip report!