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The Low Down on Mardi Gras
While most are familiar with the wild and spectacular celebrations of Mardi Gras on Fat Tuesday, the date changes every year and the celebrating starts long before. Here’s the low down.
History of Mardi Gras - Pagan or Catholic?
Some historians believe Mardi Gras, meaning Fat Tuesday in French, has its origins in pagan tradition that celebrated spring and fertility. Others believe that celebrations started as one last hoorah before Lent since sex and meat were forbidden by the Catholic Church during Lent.
First Mardi Gras in America - New Orleans or Mobile, Alabama?
Mardi Gras New Orleans is said to have started by a French-Canadian explorer who camped downriver from the future site of New Orleans in 1699. Knowing that Fat Tuesday was being celebrated in his home country, the explorer, Pierre Le Moyne D'iberville, held a gala. A few years later in the newly founded city of Mobile in present day Alabama, French soldiers and settlers donned masks and prepared feasts. And so, it is Mobile that claims to have hosted the first Mardi Gras celebration in North America.
Mardi Gras Krewes
From the Krewe of Rex that’s been running since 1872 to the all female Krewe of Athena, there are dozens of Mardi Gras krewes, each with their own history, representation, royal court, and purpose. These social organizations uphold the traditions of Mardi Gras with a parade or ball. The Mystic Krewe of the Barkus is dedicated to...you guessed it, dogs (not the only parade dedicated to dogs, by the way). And the Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus? Its members are science fiction revelers that include gamers, Trekkies, Star Wars freaks, and UFO aficionados.
When is Mardi Gras?
Mardi Gras celebrations start on the Twelfth Night, January 6th. It marks the Feast of Epiphany, when the three Wise Men visited the Christ child. Up until Fat Tuesday which is always the day before Lent (Ash Wednesday), there are parades and festivities throughout the city. More than a dozen parades can be scheduled on a single Saturday!
Plan to arrive the weekend before to take in all the events that culminate on Fat Tuesday, which marks the end of the carnival season. Fat Tuesday can fall on any Tuesday between February 2nd and March 9th, depending on the date of Easter.
Mardi Gras Masks and Costumes
Since the Middle Ages, Europeans have observed Shrove Tuesday, derived from the word shrive which means to confess one’s sins in preparation for Lent. Eventually, the day became more celebratory and in fact, more than just one day. The week preceding became known as Shrovetide, the English equivalent of carnival.
Masks and costumes were not only a part of the celebratory atmosphere but they were also a way for those officially excluded from the festivities to participate as they could hide their identity. Mardi Gras has a special exemption from Louisiana law banning facial concealment - by law, float riders must always wear a mask.
Mardi Gras Floats
Floats became a part of the Mardi Gras spectacle when the first krewe paraded through the streets in 1857. Satirical, elaborate, themed, fantastical or funny, floats can number up to 40 in a single parade. And during Mardi Gras 2020, 1,000 of them were expected to roll through the city streets.
Bacchus, one of the largest Carnival parades, is known for its tandem floats, multiple parade floats pulled by one tractor. This may not be the future norm, though, after two people were struck and killed between the floats during a recent parade. To stay safe, keep a good distance between you and the moving floats.
Mardi Gras Beads and Colors
Dozens, hundreds and even thousands of crew members ride atop the floats tossing beads and homemade “throws” to the crowds who chant “Throw me something!” The tradition is said to have started in the 1920s with the city’s oldest social club, the Rex Krewe. They threw beads of purple symbolizing justice, gold symbolizing power, and green symbolizing faith, colors that were later adopted as the colors of Mardi Gras.
History in New Orleans
New Orleans claims that no other American city has kept its history so alive. To experience New Orleans is to experience the breadth of history in the U.S. and the south, including Native American history that predates the arrival of European explorers and settlers.
The area was inhabited by a number of indigenous tribes including the Chitimacha, Atakappa, Caddo, Choctaw, Houma, Natchez, and Tunica. The legacy of these tribes lives on whether in the controversial Mardi Gras Indians, a parading group of African-Americans who honor the tribes that hid runaway slaves or in the language, like the word bayou, derived from the Indian Choctaw word bayuk.
Colonial New Orleans
It was the French explorer Rene-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de la Salle who claimed the city La Nouvelle-Orleans for the French Crown in 1682. Another Frenchman and explorer, colonist Jean Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, founded La Nouvelle-Orleans in 1718. The crescent of high ground from which the Crescent City gets its name became the capital of the French colony in 1723.
New Orleans wasn’t to stay under French control for very long. Spanish colonists took control of the city in 1763 and for the ensuing four decades, it became an important trading hub for goods from Haiti, Cuba and Mexico. Cultural influences from these merchant activities can still be seen, heard, and tasted today. New Orleans also became an essential port for the transport of goods up the Mississippi and into the inland regions of the United States territories.
When you visit New Orleans, you’ll see the Spanish influence even in the architecture of the French Quarter. This is because the Great Fires of 1788 and 1794 destroyed about a third of the city and with it, much of the French architecture. Virtually all the colonial architecture seen today is in the Spanish style and makes use of cast iron, stone, and brick rather than timber.
Spanish control of New Orleans was not to last. In 1802, Napoleon Bonaparte had named himself Emperor of France. In an effort to reclaim his American colony in Louisiana, he forced Spain to return it to the French. Spain ceded the territory only to have it sold to the United States in 1803 as part of the Louisiana Purchase.
For a mere $15 million, it was to become the single largest land acquisition in U.S. history. The French hung on tight to their city along with their culture, language, and cuisine. You’ll taste it in the mouth-watering beignet, a deep fried pastry sprinkled in powdered sugar. And many of the Creoles, who are American-born offspring of European settlers, have French blood.
In 1815, New Orleans became embroiled in the War of 1812, started because of British attempts to restrict trade and the United States’ desire to expand their territory. British forces planned a three staged attack, one of which was on the port of New Orleans. Major General Andrew Jackson learned of the attack and with a vengeful heart (he had been a British POW during the Revolutionary War) planned a counter offensive.
Known as “Old Hickory” for his legendary toughness he proclaimed martial law ordering every weapon and able-bodied man in New Orleans and even a pirate to defend the city. And defend it they did in the Battle of New Orleans in early January, 1815. The war ended with the Treaty of Ghent in February of 1815. Jackson Square in the French Quarter honors this Battle of New Orleans war hero.
Plantation Era
The Antebellum South, or plantation era as it’s known, thrived between the end of the War of 1812 and until the Civil War in 1861. While the northern United States focused on industry, the south focused on agriculture, primarily cotton and sugar. And it was the institution of slavery that maximized plantation profits.
Along the great Mississippi between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, plantation homes still stand as poignant reminders of the era. It is here that the greatest concentration of millionaires in America once lived.
Civil War
Eventually, Louisiana, along with the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee, North Carolina and Virginia formed the Confederate States of America. The Confederacy believed that their way of life, based on slavery, was threatened so they seceded from the Union.
The Union, also known as the North and referred to as the United States of America, was made up of 25 free states and five bordering states that supported freedom from slavery. War broke out between the northern Union forces and the southern Confederate forces in 1861. By 1862, Union troops were occupying New Orleans although destruction was fortunately avoided because Confederate armies did not resist.
The same cannot be said for so many other cities and thousands of acres in the South which were set afire and left to burn. The Civil War, fought until April 9, 1965, saw not only tremendous destruction of cities and land but it also became America’s bloodiest.
Post Civil War Era and the Dawn of Jazz
People craved stability and community after the uncertainty and unrest caused by the Civil War as well as the collapse of slavery. French, African, Spanish, Italians, Germans, and Irish found common ground in their music and while the 1920s marks the American Jazz Age, jazz in New Orleans is said to have dawned in the late 1800s. A mix of ragtime, blues, spirituals, and the American songbook created a revolutionary music style.
Even prohibition in the 1920s and into the early 1930s, didn’t stop the music. Artists, authors, actors and adventurers not wishing to be inhibited by prohibition came to the city of New Orleans and kept it hopping. Actors opened Le Petit Theater on St. Charles Street, where you can still watch performances. And of course, the sounds of jazz can be heard just about everywhere you go in New Orleans.
World War II and the Higgins Boats
The Louisiana swamps and marshes are known for their shallow waters. In the late 1930s, local industrialist and shipbuilder Andrew Higgins designed a boat that could float them. He realized that his design could help deploy soldiers, vehicles, and equipment off the U.S. war ships and onto European shores. Higgins Boats were used through the war, most notably in the D-Day landings on the beaches of Normandy in France. Visit the World War II museum to learn more about “the man who won the war for us” and his boats.
Hurricane Katrina
In 2005, as Hurricane Katrina bore down on New Orleans, storm surges reached 28 feet above normal tide levels, overcoming levee systems and flooding 80% of the city. The catastrophic effects of Katrina are still being felt today and the future safety of the city continues to raise concerns.
After Katrina, the Army Corps of Engineers undertook one of the largest public works projects in world history to upgrade the network of floodwalls and levees but as of 2019, they reported that rising sea levels and shrinking levees are potentially puting the city at risk once again. See the best time to go for more information on weather in New Orleans.
New Orleans Cuisine
If you know anything about New Orleans cuisine, its mere mention will make your mouth water. There’s nothing like it given its French, Cajun, and Creole influences. A U.S. culinary hotspot, plan on taking extra time to move so you can burn off those extra calories.
It’s a good thing New Orleans has been called a “Walker’s Paradise.” If you do plan to do a lot of walking, read more about safety in New Orleans.
Cajun or Creole?
What’s the difference between Cajun and Creole? Cajun comes from the term “Les Acadians,” French colonists who originally settled in the Acadian region of Canada (present day New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia). When the British conquered the region in the early 1700s, the French colonists were forced out and they moved south, settling in four distinct regions of Louisiana: the bayous, coastal marshes, swamplands, and prairies.
Each had its own unique food source. Cajun food is known for being well seasoned which some believe means spicy. The base of many dishes is similar to the French mirepoix which makes use of onion, celery, and bell pepper, but not carrots. Cajun cuisine does not generally use tomatoes.
Creole food, like Cajun food, is deeply reflective of the Creole people. Creole describes someone born to settlers in French colonial Louisiana, specifically New Orleans. It might help to remember that this is the reason Creole food is sometimes considered “city food” while cajun is considered “country food”.
Eventually, native born slaves of African descent and free people of color also came to be called Creole. “French Creole” refers to someone of European ancestry while “Louisiana Creole” refers to someone of mixed racial ancestry. Creole food combines cultures that include Italian, German, African, Native American, and German among others but because Creoles descended primarily from the upper class Spanish and French settlers that ruled the city, the food is considered to be more refined than cajun.
The upper class had more resources which included easier access to foods and spices that were more difficult to find or simply inaccessible to the Cajuns. Tomatoes are one example and it is for this reason that Creole food, unlike Cajun, contains tomatoes.
Louisianians are proud of their food heritage and just as eating authentic Italian food outside of Italy is never quite the same, the same holds true for authentic Cajun and Creole food outside of Louisiana.
So, it’s worth your while to seek out the best places to enjoy some of these iconic New Orleans dishes and others that reflect the colonists who settled in the area:
1. Poor Boy
In 1929, streetcar workers went on strike. Martin’s, a New Orleans restaurant owned by two former streetcar workers, offered the jobless workers inexpensive sandwiches made with sliced French bread, pieces of roast beef and gravy.
Today, you might find them stuffed with fried shrimp or other seafood, oysters, roast beef or french fries. Often called po’boy, this is incorrect and does not pay appropriate homage to its history.
2. Crawfish
Find a spot that specializes in boiled seafood. Try them with raw or charbroiled oysters and a beer. But before you Google “crawfish near me” and settle into a boil, here’s how to eat one. It involves the phrase you’ll likely see on t-shirts: “Pinch dat tail and suck dat head!”
Hold the crawfish on both sides of the tail, thumb on one side, index finger on the other. Hold the head with your other thumb and index fingers. With a twist, snap the tail off the head.
Sucking the juice from the head is optional but is said to contain some of the tastiest morsels. Then, use your thumbs to peel the shell away from the tail.
How did crawfish, AKA mudbugs, crawdads, freshwater lobsters, mountain lobsters or yabbies become so popular in Louisiana?
There are many theories including shrimp prices rising too high, their taste - when done right they can be more flavorful than shrimp - the rising popularity of jazz and the exposure it brought to the food and culture of New Orleans, the Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival, their hearty consumption after the flood of 1927, and celebrity chef Paul Prudhomme.
3. Gumbo
A classic Creole dish, Gumbo is a thick stew historically made with seafood and okra which is used as a thickening agent although other thickening agents can be used instead. Chicken, duck, squirrel or rabbit are commonly found in the Cajun versions.
Gumbo you might be served today are a combination of seafood, fowl, and sausage perhaps served over biscuits or mashed potatoes instead of the traditional rice. The choice of seasonings makes each dish unique. It’s origins could be from the Native American Choctaws whose word for sassafras which is used in the dish, is Kombo.
Or, Gumbo could come from the African Bantu name for okra, kingombo. Others point to the French because of the dish’s similarity to bouillabaisse. Spanish settlers surely influenced the dish as the Creole version has tomatoes. In Creole gumbo, the vegetables are sauteed in butter while lard or oil is used in cajun varieties.
4. Jambalaya
A stew cooked with the rice, vegetables, meat, seafood and spices all together. It’s similar to the Spanish dish, paella. You might have guessed that Creole jambalaya, or “red jambalaya,” is made with tomatoes while “brown jambalaya” does not include tomatoes. In the cajun version, meats are browned first and the dish is created from there whereas in the creole version, it is the vegetables that are sauteed first.
Like gumbo, the origins of jambalaya are also a mystery. Was it created by Spanish settlers who yearned for the paella of their homeland?
5. Red Beans and Rice
Louis Armstrong, a New Orleans local and one of the most influential jazz musicians in the world, was so enamored with red beans and rice that he closed his letters with, “Red Beans and Ricely Yours”.
Google “Red Beans and Rice Pops Favorite Dish” for his personal recipe. It was traditionally made and eaten on Monday with pork bones left over from Sunday dinner. Each chef makes it their own so variations will leave you with no shortage of red beans and rice to try while visiting New Orleans.
6. Muffaletta
Central Grocery, a traditional Italian deli and grocer in the French Quarter, claims to have created the Muffaletta. The store was founded in 1906 and the owner, Salvatore Lupo, would feed the Sicilian farm workers who came to the deli for lunch cold cuts, cheeses and olives.
As the lunch fare wasn’t very transportable or easy to eat separately, the sandwich version was born. At Central Grocery you’ll find it layered with olive salad, genoa salami, ham, mortadella, provolone, and Swiss cheese.
For the Sweet Tooth...
1. Bananas Foster
The Mississippi river port is one of the largest in the United States. In the 1950s, the port was overrun with bananas from Central and South America. A restaurant called Brennan’s on Bourbon Street was to host the New Orleans Crime Commission Chairman. On the day the Chairman was to dine at the restaurant, the owner, Owen Brennan, asked his sister who was the restaurant manager to create a special new dessert.
She was ruffled at the last minute request but off to the kitchen she went. Remembering the caramelized bananas her mother prepared for her as a child, she did the same and inspired by the popular baked Alaskan dessert served at a rival restaurant, she flamed the bananas.
Needless to say, the dish went over quite well. If you go to Brennan’s, you’ll have them flambeed in dark rum, banana liqueur and cinnamon. Still hot, they’re spooned over vanilla ice cream.
2. King Cake
A Mardi Gras phenomenon, King Cakes are said to have originated in France during the Middle Ages. The cakes were made to celebrate the Feast of Epiphany, or Twelfth Night, on January 6th but they are enjoyed up until Fat Tuesday. The round cakes are symbolic of the circular journey the Kings took to hide their route in order to protect the Christ child.
Typically Mardi Gras King Cakes are made with a rich brioche dough. Fillings take many forms like chocolate, cinnamon, and cream cheese. The frosting and, or sprinkles replicate the colors of Mardi Gras: purple, green, and gold, representing justice, faith, and power.
The most curious thing about the cake is the plastic baby hidden inside. Is it symbolic of baby Jesus or is there another story behind it? Some believe that the cake was made during the commemoration of the king’s ball in colonial Louisiana. A bean or trinket was placed inside and whoever found it in their slice of cake was crowned king or queen of the balls leading up to Mardi Gras.
3. Pralines
Made use of the abundance of pecan trees and sugar from the plantations that once dotted the Antebellum South. They are believed to have been brought to the New World from France.
4. Beignets
French for fritter, beignets are deep fried pastry dough sprinkled with powdered sugar. However, origins may not be French as the Romans made a similar dessert. Spain, too, could have brought the French their beignet. Consider the Spanish sopapilla.
Souvenirs From New Orleans
The centuries’ old influence of French, Spanish, and African American settlers can be felt, tasted, seen, and heard, through the food, music, art, celebrations, and architecture of New Orleans. Take a piece of its history or a more modern remembrance home.
1. Cafe DuMonde beignet mix and coffee
2. King Cake mix
3. Voodoo doll
4. NOLA gear
5. Pat O-Brien’s Hurricane Drink Mix and drinking glass
6. Local art from one of Royal Street’s galleries or the Palace Market alleyways
7. Mardi Gras beads
8. From the French market: artisan goods, local art, cajun and creole seasonings, hot sauces, and cookbooks
9. Mug, kitchen or bar towel from local folk artist Simon
10. Fleur de lis charm
Nearby Attractions and Day Trips
Let’s face it. New Orleans can be a tourist trap. If your itinerary allows, rent a car and venture out of the city to see more of life in Louisiana. Even if you don’t wish to rent a car, there are tour operators that will pick you up in a central New Orleans location or even at your hotel.
1. The Great River Road
The Great River Road is a 70 mile stretch from New Orleans along the Mississippi River toward Baton Rouge, the capital of Louisiana. Monumental plantations like Oak Alley Plantation, San Francisco Plantation, and Houmas House stand still in time. Many can be toured, like The Whitney Plantation.
2. The Whitney Plantation
The only museum in Louisiana that focuses on the lives of the enslaved people, you’ll see memorials built to honor the 100,000 people held in slavery across the state, original slave cabins, and a 1790 owner’s house among other historical buildings.
The museum is on the grounds of a historical sugar, rice, and indigo plantation established in 1752. Learn about the legacy left behind by all slaves, but particularly those held in bondage at Whitney Plantation for 100 years. Most of the tour is outside so dress for weather.
3. Atchafalaya National Heritage Area
From Baton Rouge to the south central coast of Louisiana, the Atchafalaya Basin stretches for 140 miles. It’s the nation’s largest river swamp, or forested wetland, and has been called America’s Foreign Country. Water levels can rise or lower several feet from season to season depending on the water flow from the Mississippi.
This creates different habitats for the wildly diverse flora and fauna in the basin. For a swamp tour, there are larger, noisier airboats as well as quieter, smaller boat tours. If you’re interested in other activities like paddling, biking, or walking, visit atchafalaya.org. Consider visiting with an overnight in Breaux Bridge.
4. Swamp Tours
If you’d still like to experience a swamp tour but would like to stay closer to New Orleans, there are options for downtown or hotel pick-ups and combination plantation/swamp tours, private tours and the Honey Island or Manchac swamp tours.
5. Day Cruise on the Mississippi River
The authentic Steamboat Natchez will take you on a two hour harbor jazz Cruise, a Sunday brunch or dinner jazz cruise. It departs right from the French Quarter. Plan to relax and listen to jazz while New Orleans passes you by. The Natchez offers live, historical narration.
6. Baton Rouge, Breaux Bridge and Lafayette
Formally recognized by the Louisiana state legislature as the crawfish capital of the world, Breaux Bridge, is in the heart of cajun country about two hours from New Orleans. In 1771 Acadian pioneer Firmin Breaux began buying land that today would become the city of Breaux Bridge.
He built a footbridge across the Bayou Teche so his family and neighbors could find an easier passage across. The downtown historic district bustling with unique dining and shopping and if you go during May, maybe you’ll catch the Crawfish Festival which has grown to feature Cajun and Zydeco dance contests, a crawfish etouffee cook-off in honor of its creation in Breaux Bridge, crawfish races, and an impressive lineup of world famous Cajun, Zydeco, and Swamp Pop musicians.
Just south of Breaux Bridge is Lafayette, Louisiana. Once named the “Happiest City in America”, go in April during the Festival International de Louisiane or in October during the Festivals Acadians et Creoles. Festival International is the largest international music and arts festival in the U.S. with more than 24 countries represented. Spring, 2021, will mark its 35th anniversary. The Festivals Acadians et Creoles celebrates the Cajun and Creole history through music, dancing, food, and crafts.
On your way to Breaux Bridge and Lafayette, you’ll be driving through Baton Rouge, the capitol of Louisiana. The Old State Capitol served as the seat of government from 1852 until the new capitol was built in the 1930s. Today it’s a National Historic Landmark and museum. Overlooking the Mississippi River, the Gothic and Victorian style makes it look like a medieval fortress. Its new state capitol is the tallest in the U.S and at 350 feet on the 27th floor you can head out on the observation deck.
7. Fishing & Birding
If you’re into fishing, the Grand Isle is known for its Tarpon Rodeo, one of the premier saltwater fishing rodeos in the U.S. About two hours south of New Orleans, it’s an inhabited barrier island in the Gulf of Mexico. While you can fish for tarpon off a pier, unless you bring or rent fishing equipment, consider a charter to hook this ancient “silver king” fish.
There are lots of beaches, too, and plenty of spots for tasty local seafood. If you are a birder, the island has become one of the world’s premier spots for viewing the nearly 100 species of birds that migrate through twice each year. They are there to rest after the 500-mile journey across the Gulf of Mexico. April celebrates their arrival with the Grand Isle Migratory Bird Festival.
8. Abita Mystery House
For a quirky, roadside attraction filled with oddities, the Abita Mystery House is less than an hour north of New Orleans across Lake Pontchartrain. Abita Springs on “The North Shore” is also known for its brewery and biking trails that wind through its untouched countryside and forests.
Making the Most of Your Trip
Be Easy Minded in The Big Easy
How New Orleans came to be called “The Big Easy” among other nicknames is debated but some believe it’s because the ban on alcohol during Prohibition was never strictly enforced. One much more recent headline claims that it’s the best place in the world to drink because there’s no open container law. As long as it’s in a plastic cup, alcohol can be consumed in the streets.
If you are headed to “The Big Easy” to party, it is the place. But, if you aren’t interested in consuming alcohol, be easy minded. You’ll find that it’s food, architecture, history, music, hospitality, eccentricities, and ethnic diversity makes it unlike anywhere else in the world.
The Cradle of Civilized - and Uncivilized - Drinking
You might be surprised that New Orleans has been called the cradle of civilized drinking. It’s reputation of drunken, badly mis-behaving tourists is anything but. The city not only hosts the world’s premier cocktail festival for the global drinks industry, but it’s also home to the Museum of the American Cocktail. The city has an illustrious cocktail history that dates back well before prohibition.
Here are five libations to try on your next trip to New Orleans:
1. Sazerac
The official cocktail of New Orleans can be found all over the city. Look for the “Seal of Sazerac” that’s issued by the New Orleans Culinary and Culture Preservation Society to narrow down where you go to sip one and to find the real deal. Bourbon or rye whisky, a sugar cube, a few dashes of the locally made Peychaud’s bitters, and a twist of lemon peel is made in glass that’s been rinsed in absinthe or similar pastis.
The drink was created in 1838 as a cure-all originally made with Brandy by a local pharmacist, Antoine Amédée Peychaud. It became such a favorite that patients in perfectly good health were asking for the concoction.
2. Vieux Carre, the French Quarter Cocktail
One hundred years later, in 1938, in what’s now said to be the haunted Hotel Monteleone, the Vieux Carre was invented by bartender Walter Bergeron in the Carousel Bar. Yes, the bar rotates so go easy with this one. It’s made with brandy, rye, sweet vermouth, Benedictine, Angostura and Peychaud bitters.
3. The Hurricane
Created at Pat O’Brien’s Bar during WWII, the Hurricane is made with light and dark rum, lime, orange and passionfruit juices, simple syrup and grenadine. Domestic liquor was so hard to come by at the time and rum was pouring in from both the Caribbean and down the Mississippi River.
Proprietors like Pat O’Brien had to purchase several cases of rum for every case of bourbon or scotch from distributors and to get rid of the surplus, he created the Hurricane. Go to try one and catch the dueling pianos or sit in the courtyard next to the flaming fountain.
Another historic establishment to try a Hurricane is Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop. The blacksmith shop was allegedly used as a depot by the Lafitte brothers who smuggled in goods and slaves brought ashore by pirates commissioned by the government of Cartagena (in modern Colombia, South America).
There’s another drink to try while at Lafitte’s, their signature Voodoo Daiquiri also known as The Purple Drank. Everclear makes it a strong one.
4. Ramos Gin Fizz
Henry C. Ramos concocted the gin fizz in 1888. After Prohibition, he sold his rights to the drink to the Roosevelt Bar, where you can still enjoy one today.
5. Pimm’s Cup
Hailing originally from James Pimm, the owner of London oyster bar during the first half of the 1800s, it was the historic Napoleon House that popularized the Pimm’s Cup in New Orleans. Home to the Mayor of New Orleans from 1812-1815, he had planned to provide refuge for the exiled Bonaparte Napoleon. The Napoleon House’s version is made with Pimms No. 1, lemonade, 7-Up and a cucumber garnish.
Comfort
Summers in New Orleans can be oppressive with heat, humidity and clouds. Wear cotton or linen and comfortable shoes you can wear with socks. Comfortable shoes are a must. Not only will you be walking a lot of cobblestone streets but also, you’ll likely be eating more than you normally would as the options are just too hard to resist. Walking is a great way to burn off those extra calories.
If you plan to spend time on Bourbon Street and, or in clubs, keep in mind the debris that can collect on the floor and in the streets. Wear shoes you wouldn’t cry over if they get doused in alcohol - with all those to-go cups, a ton of trash and wet matter of all sorts can collect on Bourbon Street.
Where to Stay in New Orleans
Haunted or historic, luxury or B&B, chain or boutique, New Orleans has something for every taste. The best areas to stay are all adjacent to the Mississippi River and each has their own vibe. Of course, rates are at their highest during carnival season and other popular events like the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival which takes place after Mardi Gras. Booking up to a year in advance if you plan to travel during this time is recommended.
Marigny/Bywater is known for its vibrant local art scene and the live music on Frenchman Street. It’s also been described as sassy and hip. Inns and B&Bs feature courtyards, gas lamps, and gardens. Look for the charming creole cottages here and in The French Quarter neighborhoods. They were first built by French colonists in the late 18th century.
The French Quarter is the city’s oldest neighborhood. It’s notorious for the partying on Bourbon Street, but there are other parties to be had. The French Quarter is known for its architecture; food; Jackson Square where you’ll find street performers, art, museums, and the oldest cathedral in the U.S.; jazz at Preservation Hall; The French Market; voodoo shops; ghost tours, and carriage rides.
While affordable options can be found, accommodations generally cost more in The French Quarter. Stay here if you don’t mind the premium and you like to be in the middle of it all.
CBD/Downtown - Nestled between The French Quarter and Uptown/The Garden District, the CBD/Downtown is the place to stay if you’re in town for a convention. While lacking in the charm you’ll find in other districts, it’s centrally located and has the largest selection of hotels. Trendy restaurants and proximity to The French Quarter and other big attractions in the city like Mardi Gras World and the National World War II Museum make it a good choice for many travelers.
The Arts/Warehouse District is another spot to consider if it’s a convention that brings you to the city. It’s known for Mardi Gras World and the National World War II Museum but also, for its yes, artsy vibe. It was a 19th century industrial area and you’ll still see the paving stones. It’s an interesting contrast with more modern trends like rooftop pools.
You’ll find both boutique hotels and modern branded properties along with the city’s finest restaurants. Gianna Restaurant was awarded a 2020 James Beard finalist. Go for its rustic wood-fired Italian food made with some Southern flair. An outstanding chef was awarded, too, from the French restaurant, Herbsaint.
Uptown/The Garden District is just a St. Charles streetcar ride away from The French Quarter. Established for the nouveau riche Americans who weren’t as welcome in The French Quarter, the Uptown/The Garden District is known for its opulent mansions, shopping on Magazine Street, and the Audubon Park and Zoo.
Things to Do in New Orleans
If you browse the Top Ten Attractions in New Orleans, you’ll see that there’s more than just one top ten. What’s your idea of a perfect trip? Maybe it’s simply exploring the city on foot and eating. How about tasting your way through the different variations on gumbo or finding the best muffaletta? Is it finding a new jazz venue and several art galleries each day? Maybe it’s visiting all the buildings that are said to be haunted. You get the idea.
How Long Should You Stay in New Orleans
See Classic Itineraries to give you a few different ideas on how long you should stay in New Orleans. Three to four days is the sweet spot for most visitors but if the city and the region really call your name and you’d like a more leisurely pace, why not spend more time to absorb New Orleans and the surrounding area?
Is it New ORleans or New OrLEANS?
Act local and the more authentic your travel experience will be. Before you start practicing how to say Beignet (“ben-yay”), bon appetit (“bo-nap-e-tea”), and andouille (“ahn-doo-ee”), first things first. Start with how the locals pronounce the name of their famous city...
1. “Naw-lins” - a real eye roll. Unless you’d like to call yourself out as a tourist and make locals cringe, avoid this one. Tourists may hear “New Awlins” when locals say New Orleans but that’s because the “or” is not clearly enunciated.
2. “New Or-leenz” - locals don’t like this one, either. Merriam Webster lists this pronunciation both with and without emphasis on “leenz”. It was popularized by Louis Armstrong’s song “Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans. Of course, there are always some exceptions; for example, when you are referring to the New Orleans parish or the street, say “leenz”.
3. “New Or-lee-inz” - another eye roll. Popularized by Marge in an episode of “The Simpsons,” avoid this one, too.
4. “Nyo-aw-lee-inz” - some locals use this pronunciation but it’s still not considered correct
So how do you act like a local? Call New Orleans “New Or-linz” which is also one of the pronunciations listed by Merriam Webster. Then, sigh, there’s a combo pronunciation: “New-Aw-lee-inz”. This one isn’t listed in Merriam Webster but it’s also sometimes also used by locals.
New Orleans Reviews & Ratings
T
Trusted Customer
Nov 2024
Written on
Benin and Togo Voodoo Discovery
There were 3 guides. All of them were excellent. EXPLORE should have told us...
S
Stephen
Nov 2024
Written on
Benin and Togo Voodoo Discovery
The pre trip support for this was terrible, filled with mistakes and slow to respond to requests for help. The trip itself is wonderful. Hotels sometimes lack hot wa...
C
Claire
Aug 2024
Written on
Benin and Togo Voodoo Discovery
The whole experience was great, which was in no small part due to the excellence of Noah our guide who was brilliant, but the communities of Togo and Benin we visite...
T
Trusted Customer
Apr 2024
Written on
Benin and Togo Voodoo Discovery
It’s a shame I can’t give this 5 stars as the itinerary is incredible and the local guides worked really hard Noah and Ben … so my score is not fair on them. But I...
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