Some of my friends and I are planning to visit NO between Feb 1 and 3 (Friday to Sunday, have to work so Mon and Tue are out!). The age group is between 25 and 40, all males, and the interest is watching the parades and the madness and enjoying the NO cuisine. Any suggestions as to where to go and what to avoid? I would also like to include some general sight seeing, if I am not dead tired!

Last Mardi Gras our family stayed at the Marriott Renaissance Arts Hotel in the Warehouse District. It is a perfect location since many of the parades pass right out front of the hotel. There are also many restaurants in the Warehouse district within walking distance. If you have a car, parking is not a problem (valet is provided also for $$$) but we found a spot on the street several blocks down from the hotel. You can walk to the French Quarter for your "sight-seeing". Check out opentable.com for some reservations in the Warehouse District. Emeril's is several blocks away. Lucy's is across the street...casual bar/restaurant with great cheeseburgers!

Check Louisiana forum on tripadvisor.com. There are several New Orleanian experts who regularly contribute there.

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll do a little bit of research before heading out. As can seen, it is a very short trip - mostly to experience the Mardi Gras atmosphere - I'll plan a longer trip in the future to visit New Orleans in a proper way, as befits such a magnificient city.

You might want to hurry up with hotel reservations - They fill up fast this time of year!

First of all, I'm glad you'll be visiting New Orleans. It is a wonderful, magical city, especially during Mardi Gras.

First, I hope that you've already secured hotel reservations. Hotels sell out well in advance, and they are predicting 100% occupancy rates for this Mardi Gras. Some hotels have 3 or 4 night minimum stay requirements.

Staying in the Warehouse District is not a bad idea, as the parades pass by on St. Charles, which is within walking distance.

As far as sightseeing, please note that many museums and such will be closed during Mardi Gras (it's a Louisiana state holiday), and that because of the crowds, it's not the best time for touring. Restaurants will be crowded, and you must have reservations by now for the best restaurants. Restaurants will not be at their best as far as service is concerned as well. However, it is Mardi Gras, and the revelry of the parades and the late night partying on Bourbon will all be worth it.

One of the bigger parades - The Endymion - is the Saturday night you are in town. The nighttime aspect of it makes it especially fun.

This parade in year's past ran into the Superdome for an enormous (usually only invited guests) party. Not sure what it does now.

I came across this schedule when I was looking for the date of the Endymion. I seemed to remember it in years past on a Friday but it's been a while.

http://www.mardigrasday.com/schedule.php

Bacchus in year's past was also a good parade.

Hope this helps.