Goin' to New Orleans. Any suggestions?

[budice007]

I'm going to New Orleans for the first time next week, to stay about 3 days. I don't know exactly what days, that's still being debated! Anyone have suggestons on what I should check out? Museums, live jazz, cool places, etc. (note: entourage may include persons under 21)
Thanks!

[mostly alto guy]

Make an appointment to see Steve Goodson's (saxgourmet on this forum) shop and sax collection. Eat a lot of French and Cajun food. Take a basic "Grayline-type" bus tour; this will give you ideas for where to spend your remaining time. Other than those things, just play it by ear.

[Grumps]

Beg, borrow or steal reservations for lunch or dinner at Commander's Palace in the Garden District. Get dressed up and get ready for a true five star dining experience. You also might want to check out a paddle boat trip on the Mississippi for a few hours. If you're looking for Dixieland music, that's where you'll find it.

[saxgourmet]

Commander's Palace is an unbelieveable dining experience. Gary Brown at the 544 Club is one of the best saxophone players I've heard anywhere. The Jazz Brunch at the Intercontinental Hotel is also a great dining experience and has the best traditional jaz players in town. Email me privately and I'll be happy to make some other suggestions.

[eljaz]

Good suggestion Dr. G!
One of my early experiences sitting in was with Gary Brown (& Feelings) at the 544 Club around 1982-83. I had a BLAST and they made me feel very welcome! It was such an inspiration that it kept me going through some tough times as a jazz musician. I live in NYC now and get back to N.O. some since my wife is from there. We are headed down in May and I think I'll stop back into the 544! Thanks for bringing back a wonderful memory!

[George Briscoe]

Carry your wallet in your front pocket, don't dress like a tourist (no Hawaiian shirts & no beads. Besides, Mardi Gras was over a month ago), don't go into Armstrong Park at night & don't walk into the Treme area (North of Armstrong Park) even in daylight. Walking around the French Quarter is usually pretty safe. Taxicabs are plentiful and fairly cheap. Please don't walk around screaming at the top of your lungs at 3 AM. People live there. If someone on Bourbon Street says that he'll bet ya that he knows where you got your shoes, just say "I know that routine" and keep on walking. "You got your shoes on your feet on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, Louisiana... that's where ya got your shoes!" These are some of the same guys who will ask if you want a shoe shine and then will charge you $20.

Check out the brass bands at Donna's on Rampart Street, see who's playing uptown at Tipitina's and the Maple Leaf Bar. Rock-N- Bowl at the Mid City Bowling Lanes has some great bands, too. Go to the Louisiana Music Exchange on Decatur and try to not go broke buying CDs. While you're there, get a free copy of "OFFBEAT" and "Where Yat?" to read the live music listings. If you're driving, keep your radio on WWOZ (90.7 FM) for all kinds of Louisiana music.

Don't eat at Bubba Gump's & the other generic chain restaurants. There are plenty of unique restaurants around the Quarter and the rest of town.

If you see John Brown and his BIG telescopes in front of the French Market on a clear night, stop, make a donation and take a look out into space. Buy a CD of his father, Pud Brown, who was a great N'awlins jazz clarinetist.

Most of all, have an absolutely WONDERFUL time! :D

[gyrofrog.com]

Didn't anyone mention a muffaletta? That's a big sandwich from which the Schlotzsky's Original is derived (I'm pretty sure). These may be had at Central Grocery in the Quarter, sort of across from the French Market. I must admit, though, that these are much saltier-tasting than I remember (we went through town last July and it was my first time back in almost 10 years). The Praline Connection restaurant was not as good as I remember, though the pralines themselves were great! Way out in Carrollton along Carrollton Ave. there were a few good places. Maurice's Bakery has an excellent cake called a kugelhopfer. Nick's had great breakfast (I think I had steak and eggs) and I personally thought it was a better deal than the Camellia Grill further down the street (near the end of Carrollton Ave.), though the latter is really something too.

There is a fairly new Winn-Dixie (weird, because the ones in TX closed) just north/west of the Quarter that is a good place to stock up on supplies.

[Paul Coats]

Family stuff:

Toy Train Museum on Williams Blvd in Kenner, by the RR tracks, in the old Southern Pacific depot.

Aquarium of the Americas

Audubon Zoo

D Day Museum, takes a whole day to do

A muffuletto, pronounced moof'-uh-lot-uh or muf'-uh-lot-uh, sandwich... you DO NOT order a whole one unless you are feeding several people, get a quarter or a half. It is made on a big round Italian loaf with a pile of pastrami, salami, ham, provolone cheese, and olive salad. The meat and cheese are about 1" thick. It is broiled a few minutes to warm it up, and the top brushed with olive oil.

[George Briscoe]

MMmmmmnnn... Muuuufallllletttttaaaa... MMmmmmnnn... You're makin' me drool, man!!! Central Market on Decatur (across from the French Market) says that they're the original, but I personally prefer them at Cafe Maspero on Decatur (near Jackson Square). :P GOOD stuff!

Another music venue to check out is "Snug Harbor" on Frenchman Street. Ellis Marsalis plays there often and national touring acts appear there as well. Reservations may be required.

Man, I can't get a muffaletta here. :( I'll just have to make some gumbo instead...

[gyrofrog.com]

I don't think Cafe du Monde has been mentioned yet, either. This is in the French Market (the guy with the telescopes is usually in front), across the street from Jackson Sq. Coffee and beignets make a nice small breakfast. Last time I tried their hot chocolate and I would highly recommend that as well.

[James]

Po'boys! Eat as many as you can, from as many different places as you can find them. And try to hear Tim Green play if he's around. A fine saxologist.

[griggsy]

I wanted to add my input, since I just returned from a New Orleans trip a week ago. First of all, it was the first time my girlfriend and I had been to New Orleans. We had a blast! I just wanted to give some props to some of the music talent that I saw. I guess the bar we checked out the most was "The Famous Door." Now you will have to forgive me, because I was innebriated each time we went in there, but I cannot remember the name of the band that played there each night. They covered Rock and R & B tunes, and they had a great Saxophonist...nice guy too. His name was Steve, and he had this Selmer that he spray painted black---funny looking- I guess the oxidation was getting out of control. He had a great sound- a lot like Lenny Pickett.

I did catch Gary Brown and Feelings at Club 544. Gary was AWESOME on Sax, and a great front man with his vocals! I liked the Grand Ole Opera House too- they had a good cover band in there...of course, I don't remember their name either. The first time I saw them, they did a great cover of Sam Cooke's "Cupid", and they had three trumpets that screamed. The second time, I was happy to see a Tenor Sax sit in. I guess it was Scalemaster from the forum. He did a lot of solos, and each one sounded great!

I stopped into Louisiana Music Exchange and met "Breeze." He was a nice guy who blew the hell out of a vintage horn he had in stock (one among many).

Overall it was a great trip. A bonus was the handful of great bands I saw in the street on Easter Sunday! Great Cajun food (the best was Andrew Jaeger's), and great entertainment! The only disappointment- I missed Steve Goodson's shoppe.

[Paul Coats]

Well, since the cat is out of the bag, Yes, Snug Harbor! Last time I went, Tony Dagradi with Astral Project. Lee Konitz was there a few months back, they have that caliber of artists! The food is EXCELLENT and very reasonably priced, even by New Orleans standards. While sitting there, one of the brass bands came by, and a few of the guys came in to sit and rest a minute. We had a spare chair at our table, and I invited one of the trombone players to sit and have a bite with us. Great conversation!

Yes, Gary Brown is FANTASTIC! Similar funky style to Maceo Parker. I used to think James Brown was the hardest working man in show business, but after listenting to and watching Gary, I am not so sure.

Also in front of Cafe DuMonde, many times you will hear James May, who blows alto for tips. He earns his living that way, if you enjoy his art, make sure you tip him. While there, pick up a few pounds of CDM Coffee to bring home. I suggest a medium roast. Ask them how to "cold drip" coffee. You might also want to pick up a few boxes of the begniet mix.

If you go to Preservation Hall, do NOT request When the Saints Go Marchin' In. Those guys are SICK of that tune. Just sit and listen, and drop a few bucks into the hat.

If you get a chance to hear the Dukes of Dixieland, do so! You will NOT be disappointed.

The first piece of art I ever purchased was painted at Jackson Square.

budice: See my other post in this thread. If you have kids along, you MUST see the Aquarium of the Americas. Besides, it is cool in there, you can sit on the bench and let the kiddies oooh and ahhh over the fish. But you will like it, too.