Rug Burn Junky on 28/1/2008 at 06:02
On Wednesday, I leave for New Orleans. I'm driving down from NYC, planning on getting there on Friday. I'll be staying there through the big day on Tuesday, before making the long drive home. I haven't really planned much of anything, figuring that, "hell, it's Mardi Gras, I'm sure I can figure out something fun in a city filled with women flashing their tits." But I really wanted to know if there's anything I shouldn't miss.
I will have a date joining me for Friday through Sunday, but will be flying solo for the homestretch to Mardi Gras itself, so any ideas that fit either couples or single guys are helpful. We'll be staying at a swank hotel just outside of the French Quarter.
I already plan on getting beignets at Care du Monde, and have reservations at Herbsaint for Saturday. Beyond that I figured that I/we would catch the parades and stagger around Bourbon St, but appreciate any tips.
So any ideas are welcome, as well as just general stories of debaucherous Mardi Gras lore you may have participated in yourself. Even better, if anyone is planning on going, please let me know, and we can grab a couple of Hurricanes.
Solabusca on 28/1/2008 at 14:05
Quote Posted by Rug Burn Junky
On Wednesday, I leave for New Orleans. I'm driving down from NYC, planning on getting there on Friday. I'll be staying there through the big day on Tuesday, before making the long drive home. I haven't really planned much of anything, figuring that, "hell, it's Mardi Gras, I'm sure I can figure out something fun in a city filled with women flashing their tits." But I really wanted to know if there's anything I shouldn't miss.
I will have a date joining me for Friday through Sunday, but will be flying solo for the homestretch to Mardi Gras itself, so any ideas that fit either couples or single guys are helpful. We'll be staying at a swank hotel just outside of the French Quarter.
I already plan on getting beignets at Care du Monde, and have reservations at Herbsaint for Saturday. Beyond that I figured that I/we would catch the parades and stagger around Bourbon St, but appreciate any tips.
So any ideas are welcome, as well as just general stories of debaucherous Mardi Gras lore you may have participated in yourself. Even better, if anyone is planning on going, please let me know, and we can grab a couple of Hurricanes.
Commander's Palace. The food is to die for. It's bloody expensive, but the 25-cent martinis are a blessing. [Added note: Commander's is one of NOLAs BEST restaurants - most of the famous chefs got their start at Commander's. It's in the Garden District, and just down the street you can find what used to be Anne Rice's house, Trent Reznor's home (now John Goodman's) and others. The Garden District is where the rich-folk live, and is on higher ground. During Katrina, they called it 'The Sliver by the River' or 'The Isle of Denial'.]
For hurricanes, go to Pat O'Brien's in the Quarter. Sit in the courtyard if you can.
Odd historical note - make sure to check out the streetcars. When Katrina hit, the new streetcars were all destroyed - the old Perleys were stored more carefully, being historical and all, and are pretty damned interesting.
Make sure to eat/drink at least once at the Napoleon House (try and get a patio seat when it rains, and revel in the indifference of the waiters)
Go to Mother's Restaurant and have a po'boy.
Go to the Acme Oyster Co and have fresh oysters.
For a bit of oddness, check out Cats Meow - a karaoke bar in the Quarter.
I'm heading down on the 6th for a few days with a very dear-to-the-heart friend. Post MG, but it'll be less fucking crazy, too.
Added note: Make sure to check out Johnny White's - a little place in the Quarter that is the only one that stayed open during Katrina. Pretty damned cool. Can you tell the SO is a New Orleans freak?
.j.
PigLick on 28/1/2008 at 14:13
just get fucked, if you dont i will be disapointed you knpow
freespot
Rug Burn Junky on 28/1/2008 at 20:55
Pat O'Brien's was already on my agenda, thanks for reminding me. And Commander's Palace was on the short list for my big meal, before I ultimately decided on Herbsaint (I've been knocking out restaurants on (
http://www.slashfood.com/2006/09/27/gourmets-top-50-restaurants-2006/) Gourmet's top 50 list for the past year and a half or so, and I'm hitting at least 3 on this trip, along with Bacchanal in Atlanta, and either Citronelle in DC or Magnolia in Durham). I've actually been to the outpost in Vegas (and was satisfied, though not overly impressed), but wouldn't dare to judge the original based on that, I'll see about hitting it on Friday night though.
The other stuff is real great advice though, and I was looking for a place to have real po'boys. Mother's sounds like a winner, and its right by our hotel. :thumb:
the_grip on 28/1/2008 at 21:14
Mother's is a "not to be missed". i have friends who will go to New Orleans for the sole reason to eat at Mother's.
i don't know if you have been to N.O. before, but you will be struck at just how physically dirty a city can get (and i was there multiple times pre-Katrina). N.O. is a cesspool... fun, but a cesspool.
You are right that you will find all kinds of fun while you are there. Couple survival tips from my multiple trips to the Big Easy for drunken binges:
1. Do NOT touch a cop's horse. They are all over the place on horses, and you will get locked up with guys who like to make boys their little bitches, and i am not kidding. My buddy was orange jumper-suited, shackled on legs, and the whole nine yards for patting a cop's horse. The mayor or some shit gets $$$ for every criminal that is locked up past midnight, so you can bet they will milk you as long as they can. The common phrase down there is "cops love their horses more than their wives." i am seriously not kidding on this point.
2. Do NOT wander far off Bourbon Street when the sun goes down. There are some very slim shitty goings on that can get you into a world of hurt fast if you aren't careful.
2a. EXCEPTION --> if you are in to seeing freaky shit and are brave, there are some bars that fringe around Bourbon Street that i swear are not there when daylight hits the street (i'm sure they are, but who knows?). We asked a couple of local folks what to see down there, and you can find some crazy places. The Dungeon was one i remember well... but that was like 10 years ago.
3. There are transvestites down there that make the hottest women look ugly. Unless you are into that sort of thing, don't let yourself get fooled :)
At any rate, the food is top notch and you will literally party until the sun comes up. i remember loving a bunch of cool shit down there, but damned if i can remember what it was... good times :)
the_grip on 28/1/2008 at 21:17
i almost forgot... i'm vegetarian now (so i will go to veggie-hell for recommending this), but don't miss Lucky Dogs. Those hot dog street vendors are the best thing you will ever eat at 3 a.m. or otherwise. i assume they are still around... it has been at least 5-8 years since i was last there.
Rug Burn Junky on 29/1/2008 at 00:46
Come on, I'm a lifelong New Yorker, the only city that makes its own gravy in the rain. I think I can stomach whatever muck NO throws at me. As such, I'm also fairly practiced at spotting trannies, any dance club worth its salt in NYC has a few ;)
Thanks for the tip on the horses, that's definitely the sort of stupidly drunken thing I'd do. I already know to be careful about getting locked up, but concrete reminders of ways to screw that up definitely help.
Afraid I may have no choice but to wander off Bourbon Street, my hotel is on Poydras, a couple of blocks away. Seems like a decent area though.
BrokenArts on 29/1/2008 at 01:19
Have fun RBJ. I love NO myself. Went on a trip with my parents some years ago, yeah, I know the parents. It was a damn good time. My dad had a business trip there, also the worlds fair was taking place. Lots to do and see. Between the two, a most memorable trip with ones parents that you could have.
I was barely legal at the time, I remember going to Pat O'Brien's, my dad buying me hurricanes, and drinks whenever I wanted. That was a trip. Nothing like getting plastered with your parents around. They didn't care.
The sites the sounds, we walked all over, surprisingly no real issues to speak of. Other than my dad being asked if he wanted to buy a dime bag. I was walking behind them, I just looked at the dude. My dad ignored him. Kept on walking.
Hell I remember one place we ate at, the food, the service, ate out on the balcony, it was fantastic. My dad loved to go out to eat. He knew the places to go, had been there before. I'll never forget that trip. Good time.
Scots Taffer on 29/1/2008 at 01:31
Barely Legal in New Orleans?
Haven't seen that one.
BrokenArts on 29/1/2008 at 01:42
Well now you have. What do you expect to happen with your parents around. Not much, cept a little drinking when out and about. Really couldn't get into much trouble with them around. It was still a good time.
