New Orleans Cheat Sheet

 

 

 

 

I recently visited "The Big Easy". New Orleans was one of the most exciting and wild places I've had the pleasure of visiting. Along with the generous collection of beads I acquired, I also learned so much about the region's unique culture. I've created a New Orleans "cheat sheet" based on my experiences.

  

Best Museums: National World War II Museum

                             Mardi Gras World

Best Hot Dogs: Dat Dog (We’re talking a duck dog in plum sauce, an alligator dog, and crawfish 

                           etouffee fries…yumm)

                         Dreamy Weenies (Their hand dipped corn dogs are to die for)                               

Best Places to buy art from local artists: Jackson Square

                                                                         Frenchmen St. Art Market

Best Places for Jazz: Preservation Hall (Prepaid bench tickets are worth it)

                                     Irvin Mayfield’s Jazz Playhouse (only cost is drinks)
                                    
                                     Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro (cute, cozy, café-like locale. The performers are hit and                                                                                   miss)

Best Traditional New Orleans Faire: Mr. B’s: the BBQ Shrimp aren’t to be missed

                                                                 The Little Gem Saloon: live music                 

                                                                 most nights, pulled pork with fried green tomatoes, crawfish 

                                                                 cheesecake, ribs in a peach mustard BBQ sauce, and brandied 

                                                                 mashed sweet potatoes.   

                                                                 Red Fish Grill: amazing crab cakes. Their signature red fish is

                                                           also excellent.

                                                                  The Ruby Slipper: great for breakfast. Get the shrimp and grits!

                                                                  Olde Nawlin’s Cookery: it has gumbo, jambalaya, bbq shrimp,    

                                                                 red-fish, all the classics, and it’s all good!

Best Dessert: Laura’s Candies: amazing pralines, made fresh daily. Pralines are available in

                         traditional, coconut, and rum flavors along with lots of other delicious confections 

                         such as Mississippi mud.   

                         Mr. B’s: pecan pie

                        The New Orleans Cooking School: for pralines, best after a cooking demonstration

                        while they’re still warm, melt-in-your-mouth goodness.

                        The Buttermilk Drop Bakery and Café: their name sake buttermilk drops are dense,

                        moist, and worth every single calorie.

                        Café du Monde: Worth a visit just for the iconic location. Their beignets can’t be

                         topped, and I fell in love with the chicory coffee.

                         Olde Nawlin’s Cookery: they have a Banana Foster’s ice cream cake. Yes, you read

                         that  right!

Best of Drink: Just about anywhere on Bourbon Street

                       NOLA Tropical Winery: sweet wines out of every fruit imaginable such as blueberry,
                       pear, banana, apricot, the list goes on! They also make “smoothies”
                       with their wines if you aren’t interested in purchasing a whole
                       bottle, or your looking for a drink to easily walk around with.                       
                     
                       Jester’s: makes reasonably priced shots and daiquiris conveniently located on Bourbon

                       St.

                       Anywhere that serves coffee with Praline Liquor          
                    
                     John Lafitte’s Black Smith Shop: one of the oldest bars in America. It was once 
                      frequented by Pirates and never closed for Prohibition.  

                      Irvin Mayfield’s Jazz Playhouse: has a nice selection of drinks and cocktails (and non-

                      alcoholic mocktails) to sip on while you take in the jazz.  

Best Parks: City Park: beautiful Spanish moss covered oaks surrounding a pond with modern

                     sculpture art mixed into the foliage.

                     Louis Armstrong Park: interesting history and beautiful sculptures.              

 Most common scam to avoid: If anyone approaches you and asks you this question, “If I can tell you the city and state where you got your shoes, will you tell me if I’m correct?” You’re about to be conned unless you play the next few moments correct. This person is a shoe shiner who will pour shoe lotion on your shoes and will then ask for $20 to rub it off. The correct answer to the question posed above is, ”I got my shoes on the bottom of my feet right here on Bourbon St. in New Orleans, Louisiana.” The cunning shoe shiner uses this rhyme to distract you while he douses your feet in goo. You could attempt to outsmart him by saying his rhyme, but it’s probably safer not to engage.