So Going to NO for the Superbowl....

[DonTellMeShowMe]

First time in New Orleans...any suggestions for places to see, food, etc? Before anyone says it, I'll be sure to try the Cajun Antifreeze

Thanks!

[houstonwhodat]

Originally Posted by DonTellMeShowMe

Flying into Houston fyi lol. Staying like 4 miles from the French Quarters. Only have a few days there so honestly not interested in the "touristy" things. If I could get some "insider" tips on the quick things to see that would be awesome. Also, my first SB so any tips there would be awesome too.

It's my hometown so this might help you.

First off, you are going to NOLA at the craziest time of the year, Mardi Gras.

The only locals you will probably run into are the ones working at restaurants, etc. You are going to mainly run into tourists. So if someone is acting like an asshole it's probably someone from Baltimore or San Fran or someone in for Mardi Gras NOT someone from New Orleans. It's officially amateur night for the next two weeks and the place will be bombarded with people who have never partied in a city where you can carry your drinks from bar to bar, drink freely on the sidewalk, have a drive through Daiquri, etc. People in New Orleans are used to this shit and stay as far away from the French Quarter as possible during this time.

First thing is find a newspaper called Gambit. It's a local rag that talks about all the concerts going on, etc., places to eat. It's free and you can find it at places like Walgreen's, liquor stores, etc.

You can also check http://www.pollstar.com/ for music listings.

Wherever you are going remember there are Mardi Gras parades every night up until Fat Tuesday so plan on being wherever you want to be EARLY or you will get stuck. Parades start around 1830 hrs and the streets will be blocked off before then.

The parades go on in the city AND in the suburbs. The locals go to the suburbs.

Do some internet research on these places to check out the menus and stuff.

Note: When on Bourbon St. or anywhere in the French Quarter keep you wallet in your front pocket just to be safe.

Some suggestions:

Places to Eat:
Manning's (Archie Manning's Place)
Emeril's
Commander's Palace
K-Paul's
Antoine's
Court of Two Sisters
Mother's (awesome po-boys)
NOLA
Port of Call
Gumbo House
Deanie's Seafood
Acme Oyster House (you will stand in line thanks to Man vs. Food)
Central Grocery (original Muffaletta closes at 5pm)
Cafe' Du Monde - (coffee & beignets open 24 hrs)

Gambling:
Harrah's Casino

Music:
House of Blues
Tippitina's
Up and Down Bourbon Street
Check Gambit and Pollstar

Sports:
Check and see if the Hornets are in town and playing. The venue is right next to the Super Dome.

Drinking:
Everywhere
Lucy's Retired Surfer's Bar (Drew Brees' and big NFL players hangout. Where Brees revealed for first time his pregame chant after the Super Bowl win)
Pat O'Briens
Any Daiquiri joint (Pina Colada 151)
Old Absinthe House
Tropical Isle (hand grenades)
really anywhere, just find a crowd you like, it varies because of the music

Stuff to see:
People watching
Mardi Gras parades
World War II Museum
Aquarium
French Market (corner of Decatur and Esplanade)
Take a voodoo tour (some crazy shit history)
St. Louis Cathedral
Take a river boat ride
Plantations on River Road
Audubon Park


The reality is you're like to be ****ed up beyond all recognition and will probably just stay in the quarter watching the madness and eating fast food. It happens.

Have fun, don't drink and drive and be courteous.

As long as your name is not Roger Goodell you will be fine.

Make sure you get a real po-boy. There not the same anywhere else.

Peace.

[houstonwhodat]

If you wanna stay loaded for cheap just go to a liquor store and carry a pint of Jack Daniels in your back pocket and just keep buying cokes to mix it with.

This will save you a lot of money on alcohol.

[Rain Man]

I was there last month, and noted that Bourbon Street has more strip clubs than I've ever seen in one concentrated area. Booze and breasts are pretty much the only things you can purchase on that street.

[houstonwhodat]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

I was there last month, and noted that Bourbon Street has more strip clubs than I've ever seen in one concentrated area. Booze and breasts are pretty much the only things you can purchase on that street.

Strip clubs on Bourbon street actually suck.

Houston has much better clubs and prettier women.

In NOLA they can't actually be topless they have to wear pasties and stuff.

Unless you found the needle in the haystack.

I wouldn't even worry about the strip bars, every city has that.

NOLA has some crazy ass people watching though.

The party is in the street.

[TimBone]

I live a few hours north of N.O. and was lucky enough to go to the Saints-Chiefs game this year with a New Orleans native. We weren't in town long, but he showed us a few good eats.

I know it's not something you're looking for coming down to N.O., but if you want a burger of excellent quality, head over to Port of Call. The menu is very simple, just burgers and steaks, but the burger was absolutely wonderful and they make nice strong drinks there too.

I'm not a fan of Cajun food, but there are two things these folks down here do real well, that's PoBoys and Crawfish. My buddy says that a place called Guy's has the best PoBoys in town. But they're only open 11am-4pm and closed on Sundays. He also said a place called Mothers has decent PoBoys and lots of other great Cajun food. As far as crawfish, I can't recommend a specific place, but if you've had it out of state and liked it, then you need to try it somewhere down here, these boys have perfected it.

For a good breakfast before the game after a night of drinking, we went to a place called Trolley Stop on St Charles street. It was pretty good. Don't be duped into going to cafe du monde for the "world famous" beignets. They're just little funnel cakes and the service there is kinda crappy. I consider it a tourist trap.

As far as entertainment. I can assure you that Bourbon St. is going to be absolutely packed right now with tourists between the Super Bowl and Mardi gras week. I've been during the Mardi gras week and you can barely walk down the street. It's cool to check out, but not sure how much time you want to spend there. My buddy says check out bestofneworleans.com. It will have lists of all the others festivities going on around other parts of the city. Also, Jackson square is pretty nice.

Hope that helps.

[underEJ]

Sadly, my favorite restaurant for it's view, Bella Luna, didn't reopen after Katrina, but I hear there is a spanish/tapas restaurant called Galvez there now that gets great food reviews, but some service complaints. Still, the view of the river from this space is the reason to go there. The food is a bonus if it is good.

[Dayze]

watch your corn hole bud.

[Rausch]

Originally Posted by underEJ

Sadly, my favorite restaurant for it's view, Bella Luna, didn't reopen after Katrina, but I hear there is a spanish/tapas restaurant called Galvez there now that gets great food reviews, but some service complaints.

****ing temperamental frog-bloods...

[Nzoner]

One of the favorite things I remember from my trip is the wood fired pizza.

[Nzoner]

As for the SB I went to XXII and XXVI and all I can tell you is get in early and walk and people watch.

[Rausch]

Originally Posted by Nzoner

One of the favorite things I remember from my trip is the wood fired pizza.

[Nzoner]

Originally Posted by Rausch

Is one of my favorite "food" things better?

[Rausch]

Originally Posted by Nzoner

Is one of my favorite "food" things better?

No just......Pizza?

That's your best eat in the middle of a ****ing tit's wild experience?...

[luv]

Originally Posted by TimBone

I live a few hours north of N.O. and was lucky enough to go to the Saints-Chiefs game this year with a New Orleans native. We weren't in town long, but he showed us a few good eats.

I know it's not something you're looking for coming down to N.O., but if you want a burger of excellent quality, head over to Port of Call. The menu is very simple, just burgers and steaks, but the burger was absolutely wonderful and they make nice strong drinks there too.

I'm not a fan of Cajun food, but there are two things these folks down here do real well, that's PoBoys and Crawfish. My buddy says that a place called Guy's has the best PoBoys in town. But they're only open 11am-4pm and closed on Sundays. He also said a place called Mothers has decent PoBoys and lots of other great Cajun food. As far as crawfish, I can't recommend a specific place, but if you've had it out of state and liked it, the. You need to try it somewhere down here, these boys have perfected it.

For a good breakfast before the game after a night of drinking, we went to a place called Trolley Stop on St Charles street. It was pretty good. Don't be duped into going to cafe du monde for the "world famous" beignets." They're just little funnel cakes and the service there is kinda crappy. I consider it a tourist trap.

As far as entertainment. I can assure you that Bourbon St. is going to be absolutely paled right now with tourists between the Super Bowl and Mardi gras week. I've been during the Mardi gras week and you can barely walk down the street. It's cool to check out, but not sure how much time you want to spend there. My buddy says check out bestofneworleans.com. It will have lists of all the others festivities going on around other parts of the city. Also, Jackson square is pretty nice.

Hope that helps.

I liked Jackson Square and the French Quarter. And you're the first person I've ever heard not recommend Cafe Du Monde. Went there and loved it. It's the atmosphere more than the food, IMO.

Next time I go, I want to take some time to tour the cemeteries.

[Nzoner]

Originally Posted by Rausch

No just......Pizza?

That's your best eat in the middle of a ****ing tit's wild experience?...

if you love pizza like I do a great wood fired pizza can be a sexual experience