I've just booked this hotel for Mardi Gras weekend based on excellent reviews on several forums. It is located at 700 Tchoupitoulas in the Warehouse District. I'm curious about restaurants nearby and how many blocks to St. Charles Avenue to catch a few parades. Would this area be safe to walk at night for Endymion and Bacchus parades on St. Charles?

I forgot to include that we will be traveling with our children...son, age 11, and daughter, age 16.

ttt

St. Charles Ave is only 5 or 6 blocks away and it is safe to walk. There will be thousands of other people doing the same thing. Put your money in your front pocket and don't bring a purse.
What would you like to know about the restaurants?

The only restaurants that I can think of in the Warehouse District are Mulates and Emeril's. I would like names of other casual/local ones within walking distance of the hotel which we would all enjoy.

The Renaissance Arts Hotel is a really awesome hotel - you really couldn't go wrong with it. For dining, Emeril's is your best bet, as it is just a stone's throw away.

You are just a few blocks from St. Charles. Keep in mind that Lee Circle is the dividing point on St. Charles. Upriver is more family-oriented. Downriver more flesh will be exposed. If you go directly to St. Charles from the Renaissance, you'll be in the slightly more risque' version of St. Charles. Nothing like Bourbon Street but I did want to let you know about that.

There will be throngs of crowds where you will be and I always believe in safety in numbers. Be sure to give your kids a lesson about not straying too far away though.

Emeril's is the star of this neighborhood.
Others I can think of are Lucy's (mexican), Ugly Dog Saloon (BBQ), Sun Ray Grill (american), Deanie's (seafood), Tommy's (italian), Tchoup N Joes's (sandwiches) and Rockn Sake (sushi). There are more.
Mother's on Poydras is an idea too.

Thanks, Uptowngirl! I'm assuming that most of your suggestions are child-friendly. We're excited and looking forward to this adventure.

One more question: We've got friends on St. Charles near Jackson Avenue. If we caught the parades with them, would it be possible to drive back to our hotel on Tchoupitoulas after the parades pass? I think some are headed to the Convention Center....Bacchus? Endymion to the Dome? Maybe Saturday night would be easier to get back.

Jackson is pretty close to downtown New Orleans; depending on your preference, you could possibly walk it. There will be plenty of people walking anyway. I'd stay on St. Charles until Julia or so, then cut down to Tchoup.
Otherwise traffic is going to be tricky. It might be wise to hang out a little while uptown to allow traffic to ease a bit. A cab is an idea, though they are much tougher to get at Mardi Gras, especially during/immediately after a parade.
Your friends ought to be able to give you a good way home, but if you do drive, be prepared for slow-moving, maddening traffic for a short time. It does, however, clear up relatively quickly.