Welcome to New Orleans!As always there’s a diversity of things to do while you’re here, beyondattending the meeting itself and the various receptions supported by oursponsors and partners.
What to do? Becomefamiliar with the French Quarter. Get amap of the Quarter and the area surrounding the conference hotel from your hotel if possible.Do the touristy thing; take a horse and buggy tour of the Quarter and Warehouse District to see the landmarks. It’ll serve as agood basis for your later forays into the Quarter should you decide to go outto dinner some night(s) or for later visiting some of the local‘establishments’ on Bourbon Street. Mostplaces in the Quarter and Warehouse District are within walking distance of the conference hotel or atmost a $5.00 cab ride away.
If you’re adventurous take the ferry at the foot of CanalStreet over to other side of the Mississippi river town of Gretna. The ferry leaves every 30 minutes and it’sfree for pedestrians. You get to see thecity from the river at night. There arealso a couple of interesting restaurants within a block of the ferry landing inGretna where all the locals go, but be sure not to stay past midnight (Fri)/11 PM (Sat) or it’ll be along cab ride back to your hotel in New Orleans. If you’d like more river flavor take theevening cruise on the Steamboat Natchez with the option of the evening cruisewith a jazz group or that plus a dinner.If you’d like to see some of the old grand New Orleans homes, hop on the St.Charles street car at Canal Street and ride down to end on Carrolton. It’s only $1.25 each way and it gives you achance to see some of the town’s finer homes.
For a break, visit the Audubon Aquarium also at the foot ofCanal Street, within a block of the conference hotel or the World War II Museum (just a little farther). If you’d like to try your luck, Harrah’sCasino is right downtown and also has several very good restaurants. If you're staying over the weekend and you might like to see the wilder side ofsouthern Louisiana, book a swamp tour on an airboat but you’ll need to devoteat least 5-6 hours to do so or take one of the walking tours of the GardenDistrict on Saturday afternoon post conference.Any of these activities can be arranged through your hotel.
Dining in New Orleans – where to start? Even the hotels generally have greatfood. They still serve rubber chickenbut it’s covered in tasty sauce and garnished better here. But beyond the hotel fare, virtually anyrestaurant in the French Quarter can offer a pretty amazing meal over a widerange of price points. My favorites are:John Besh’s Restaurant August (Chef Besh has been somewhat of a regular of theFood Channel’s Iron Chef), Bayonna, Polo Club Restaurant, any of Emeril’srestaurants (also on Iron Chef), Court of Two Sisters (try for a table outside), and Galatoire’s (one ofthe city’s oldest be sure to book early.).
If you’re game, explore the other side of your city from the Quarter andvisit the historic Warehouse District where you’ll find a number of greatlittle, reasonably priced restaurants.There are a number of great restaurants within two or three blocks fromthe conference hotel: Emeril’s andTommy’s (Great Italian food with obsessive service) on TchoupitoulasStreet (Yes, the streets here have funny names!) are prime examples.
Music, what better city to visit! There are some great places at the back ofthe Quarter on Frenchmen Street like Snug Harbor and the Blue Nile. In the Warehouse District, there are a numberof places on South Peters like the Howlin’ Wolf, Red Eye Grill, and RepublicNew Orleans – and all within a stone’s throw of each other and within threeblocks of the conference hotel. Check their internet web sites to see who's playing.
If youinterested in something very eclectic, grab a dinner at Jacques-Imo’s in UptownNew Orleans (no reservations accepted, take the St. Charles street car to Carrollton and OakStreet) and have some Creole/Cajun food cooked in a more homey style (you have to walk through the kitchen to be seated), eveneat in the Cajun pickup truck parked curbside since forever (the tires are flat and only a table fortwo and a bit obvious, not for the faint of heart) and then spend some timelistening to music at the Maple Leaf Bar next door. But do be prepared for characters! We have lots of characters!
Finally, enjoy New Orleans and enjoy yourselves! Go home with some great memories.
Jake Maczuga, Tulane University