NOLA trip report Feb 1-8
Feb 14th, 2014, 04:36 AM
#22
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Bettyk, at happy hour you may have to wait for a bit for seating at the bar at Bourbon Hpuse, but it is very worth the wait to get the $1 oysters and many other app and drink specials. the wait is not a long line out the door and down the street like at Acme and Felix. I just stood right by the bar and had a beer and before I was done, someone left and I got a seat.
Feb 14th, 2014, 03:11 PM
#23
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Wow, thanks everyone, nice to come home from two days bunking on an air mattress in a small office in an inner city hospital, to all these posts! Guess without consciously meaning to, I fished for encouragement, thanks for giving it 
I actually know you're all right that many people look at trip reports more when they're getting ready to go themselves, I know I do that myself.
So Friday, last full day in NOLA...only day we went out for breakfast, went to the Something Else Café, it was ok, no raves. We wanted to walk around the Magazine St. area, and as had only taken streetcars so far when couldn't walk, decided to take a regular city bus. Note to other first time (or repeat, I guess) tourists - several locals discouraged us from doing this and suggested instead we do streetcar/walking combo. We decided to ignore them and see for ourselves, since the bus took us exactly where we wanted to go. Neither of us have any idea why the discouragement. It was clean, heated, fine. I said to dh, "well maybe it's because it's NOLA and we were lucky but problems with drunk people are common?" To which he replied, "but you'd probably be as likely if not more to get that with tourists on streetcars." Touche.
Got off the bust at Jim Russell's Rare Records store. We'd been disappointed that Louisiana Music Factory, which I'd read about and was on our do-list, was closed the one week we were there, because they were moving! So I googled to find an alternative place, and came up with Jim Russell's. I'm allergic to dust and usually places with old stuff pile in like this, bother me, but for some reason I was ok in there, and it was a fun place to look thru.
We spent most of the day walking up the street, window shopping, got hubby a hat at the Guerin hat shop, occasionally stopped in galleries, as well as cafes, most notably Magazin for the Vietnamese coffee, mmmm. Weren't hungry for food yet, and I wanted to go to the Carol Robinson gallery, just past Magazin at Napoleon, so we decided to do that and then return to Magazin for some mid afternoon summer rolls or a bahn mi. Our waiter at CP had told us about them, we love Vietnamese food, and other people's food looked delicious. Sadly, we didn't look at their hours, assuming they were a place that stayed open straight thru, and when we got back at about 4, learned they close at 3:30 and re-open at 6. Ah well, another thing for the "next time" list.
Walked back to look at another hat at Guerin that they were cleaning up for me, and by then my feet really hurt! So back on a bus back to the FQ, to get beignets at Café du Monde, how could we not do that our first time in NOLA! Cold again by then, so went to the indoor part. Yes, delicious. Better than the other 2 places? I did like them a little better, dh said each tasted a little different but all equally good. From there I finally went to the used bookshop just a couple doors down from the hotel, which was cute, small, good books!
Rested up, and then went to Palm Court for dinner and music together, because we didn't want it to be a late night - we needed to pack and also wanted to get up in time for the State Museum Katrina exhibit and buying a couple gifts before cab to airport. We weren't so crazy about Palm Court, prefer the small intimate clubs like Snug Harbor, but even "not as good" music listening in NOLA, isn't bad!
DH then had the idea of seeing if Bayona had empty tables as we passed by it on way back to hotel, and if they did, asking if we could just have dessert, as were too full after our delicious dinner there earlier in the week. We figured the worst they could do was say no. It did not appear to be a request they typically get but they were very gracious about it and said yes. It was very good but even as a sugar addict, I'd say their savory dishes are what's really incredible there, more so than the desserts.
So Saturday, when we needed to leave, it was of course, sunny and warm!! Part of me wanted to just be outdoors all morning enjoying that, but we'd both really wanted to see the Katrina exhibit at the State Museum, and I'm glad we did. Words can't really express, on that one. I'm going to look up what a good organization to donate to, related to that, would be, so if anyone has suggestions, please tell. I like to make a donation after a trip, to a cause related to all that I was fortunate enough to enjoy.
As we walked from there to do our gift buying, the outdoor musicians were once again out in full force, after hiding from the cold all week. A good invitation to return.
And so ends our first time in NOLA. Fortunately it's not a long flight from Philly and we could go back even for a four day weekend, rather than it needing to be only when we have a whole week to spend.
Oh, I just realized I never said anything about the hotel! If anyone wants to know about that, let me know and I'll add a post, for now am going to a casual, non-Valentine dinner out with my traveling partner dh valentine.
I actually know you're all right that many people look at trip reports more when they're getting ready to go themselves, I know I do that myself.So Friday, last full day in NOLA...only day we went out for breakfast, went to the Something Else Café, it was ok, no raves. We wanted to walk around the Magazine St. area, and as had only taken streetcars so far when couldn't walk, decided to take a regular city bus. Note to other first time (or repeat, I guess) tourists - several locals discouraged us from doing this and suggested instead we do streetcar/walking combo. We decided to ignore them and see for ourselves, since the bus took us exactly where we wanted to go. Neither of us have any idea why the discouragement. It was clean, heated, fine. I said to dh, "well maybe it's because it's NOLA and we were lucky but problems with drunk people are common?" To which he replied, "but you'd probably be as likely if not more to get that with tourists on streetcars." Touche.
Got off the bust at Jim Russell's Rare Records store. We'd been disappointed that Louisiana Music Factory, which I'd read about and was on our do-list, was closed the one week we were there, because they were moving! So I googled to find an alternative place, and came up with Jim Russell's. I'm allergic to dust and usually places with old stuff pile in like this, bother me, but for some reason I was ok in there, and it was a fun place to look thru.
We spent most of the day walking up the street, window shopping, got hubby a hat at the Guerin hat shop, occasionally stopped in galleries, as well as cafes, most notably Magazin for the Vietnamese coffee, mmmm. Weren't hungry for food yet, and I wanted to go to the Carol Robinson gallery, just past Magazin at Napoleon, so we decided to do that and then return to Magazin for some mid afternoon summer rolls or a bahn mi. Our waiter at CP had told us about them, we love Vietnamese food, and other people's food looked delicious. Sadly, we didn't look at their hours, assuming they were a place that stayed open straight thru, and when we got back at about 4, learned they close at 3:30 and re-open at 6. Ah well, another thing for the "next time" list.
Walked back to look at another hat at Guerin that they were cleaning up for me, and by then my feet really hurt! So back on a bus back to the FQ, to get beignets at Café du Monde, how could we not do that our first time in NOLA! Cold again by then, so went to the indoor part. Yes, delicious. Better than the other 2 places? I did like them a little better, dh said each tasted a little different but all equally good. From there I finally went to the used bookshop just a couple doors down from the hotel, which was cute, small, good books!
Rested up, and then went to Palm Court for dinner and music together, because we didn't want it to be a late night - we needed to pack and also wanted to get up in time for the State Museum Katrina exhibit and buying a couple gifts before cab to airport. We weren't so crazy about Palm Court, prefer the small intimate clubs like Snug Harbor, but even "not as good" music listening in NOLA, isn't bad!
DH then had the idea of seeing if Bayona had empty tables as we passed by it on way back to hotel, and if they did, asking if we could just have dessert, as were too full after our delicious dinner there earlier in the week. We figured the worst they could do was say no. It did not appear to be a request they typically get but they were very gracious about it and said yes. It was very good but even as a sugar addict, I'd say their savory dishes are what's really incredible there, more so than the desserts.
So Saturday, when we needed to leave, it was of course, sunny and warm!! Part of me wanted to just be outdoors all morning enjoying that, but we'd both really wanted to see the Katrina exhibit at the State Museum, and I'm glad we did. Words can't really express, on that one. I'm going to look up what a good organization to donate to, related to that, would be, so if anyone has suggestions, please tell. I like to make a donation after a trip, to a cause related to all that I was fortunate enough to enjoy.
As we walked from there to do our gift buying, the outdoor musicians were once again out in full force, after hiding from the cold all week. A good invitation to return.
And so ends our first time in NOLA. Fortunately it's not a long flight from Philly and we could go back even for a four day weekend, rather than it needing to be only when we have a whole week to spend.
Oh, I just realized I never said anything about the hotel! If anyone wants to know about that, let me know and I'll add a post, for now am going to a casual, non-Valentine dinner out with my traveling partner dh valentine.
Feb 14th, 2014, 03:23 PM
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Ut-oh, truly not just topping, I forgot something really important, that we both fortunately and unfortunately did three different times ...the sweet potato pralines and rum pralines at Southern Candymakers! Like the ones we bought from the guy at the French Market, these were far superior to the one we tried our first day.
I brought the sweet potato ones back for people at work, and people who hardly ever comment on food items, raved about these. Will have to work hard to stay away from that website; lucky that we can't just buy one or two that way, and am glad that to buy in larger bulk they're expensive, as a disincentive!
...the sweet potato pralines and rum pralines at Southern Candymakers! Like the ones we bought from the guy at the French Market, these were far superior to the one we tried our first day.I brought the sweet potato ones back for people at work, and people who hardly ever comment on food items, raved about these. Will have to work hard to stay away from that website; lucky that we can't just buy one or two that way, and am glad that to buy in larger bulk they're expensive, as a disincentive!
Feb 15th, 2014, 04:21 PM
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OMG, you did have to bring up those pralines! I LOVE good NOLA pralines. sweet potatoes? Rum? I am going to have to order some of each. I assume those are the ones you liked best...they have a nice assortment of flavones online.
Yum.
Yum.
Feb 15th, 2014, 07:30 PM
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bk, sorry you had the same weather, but glad you had a good time, too. Will you be doing a tr on Taiwan, too?!
emd, yes those were our favorite, although on our very last day we discovered the peanut butter one too and that was delicious as well. I confess that tho' I loved the beignets, I got more addicted to the pralines. They really cranked up my sugar addiction in a bad way and now that I'm home I'm having to go cold turkey for a while!
emd, yes those were our favorite, although on our very last day we discovered the peanut butter one too and that was delicious as well. I confess that tho' I loved the beignets, I got more addicted to the pralines. They really cranked up my sugar addiction in a bad way and now that I'm home I'm having to go cold turkey for a while!
Feb 19th, 2014, 07:46 PM
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go_laura,
About the streetcars, the Canal Streetcar line is heated and air conditioned, the Riverfront line is heated but not air conditioned, and the St. Charles streetcar line is neither heated nor air conditioned. When it is crowded on a cold day, though, the body heat can sometimes warm it up a little.
About the streetcars, the Canal Streetcar line is heated and air conditioned, the Riverfront line is heated but not air conditioned, and the St. Charles streetcar line is neither heated nor air conditioned. When it is crowded on a cold day, though, the body heat can sometimes warm it up a little.
Mar 14th, 2014, 12:50 PM
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emd, thank you for the additional comments on Bourbon House.
I am really looking forward to our trip to NOLA as I haven't been in at least 10 yrs or more.
I lived in Metairie with my ex husband back in the early 1970's and spent a lot of time in NOLA then.
I am really looking forward to our trip to NOLA as I haven't been in at least 10 yrs or more.
I lived in Metairie with my ex husband back in the early 1970's and spent a lot of time in NOLA then.
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plafield
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