Insiders Guide of things to do, eats and drinks in New Orleans

I recently read that “New Orleans is a city where you can smoke inside and  drink outside.” That’s a fun quote that makes one laugh BUT it’s not entirely true anymore. Today, we’re going to focus on giving you as many useful tips as possible for your visit to the Big Easy.

Come to New Orleans to celebrate October 31st and you’ll see this special date like you’ve never seen it before. Halloween is second only to Mardi Gras for being wild and crazy – for everyone – that includes gay/straight adults and the little ones. Okay, kids of all ages, from the smallest trick-or-treaters to the biggest party monsters.

I’ve always loved the month of September. I’ve always felt that September kicks off the New Year – rather than the traditional January 1st. I suppose this comes from being in school for so many years.

This hilarious quote appears in the recently published book by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Rick Bragg titled, The Best Cook in the World: Tales from My Momma’s Table.

Let’s take a look at four eateries you may want to look into when you pay a visit to The Crescent City. LIL’ DIZZY’S CAFÉ is at 1500 Esplanade Avenue (just two blocks from Rathbone Mansions) and is described as a no-frills joint for soul-food breakfasts and lunches.

I wrote my senior thesis at Columbia on Mark Twain and the Mississippi. The professor set up a writing schedule that went on endlessly – and that I’ve never used since – for obvious reasons.

If you’re itching for a break from the wild energy of New Orleans then its time to visit Oak Alley Plantation that is often referred to as “The ‘Grande Dame’ of the Great Louisiana River Road.

C’mon, you’re in New Orleans and you’re here to have fun. Picture yourself in an airboat with the wind in your hair and going faster on the water than you’ve ever imagined.  

For this week, I’ve decided to concentrate on music in New Orleans, simply because I haven’t written about NOLA’s music scene before.  First, let’s take a look at an annual event called The Ponderosa Stomp that occurs in either mid-September or October.

I was intrigued the minute I read about this event that traditionally takes place the first Saturday night in August. This year it’s on the 4th and promises to be as much fun as ever.

You’re probably saying to yourself, “I’ve never been on a streetcar in my entire life.” Well, better late than never.

Did you know that there are 17 cemeteries in New Orleans? Of all of them, a few are tourist attractions because of their history, and the fact that they are above ground.

Wait a minute! Isn’t “We All Eat to Live” the upstanding, sensible version of this saying? Yes, it is. But something happens in New Orleans.

Be sure to plan a stroll along the 13 blocks of New Orleans’ famous Royal Street in the French Quarter – it goes from Canal Street to Esplanade.

Youngsters like to be entertained and get involved in things that interest them. So we’re suggesting two spots that both you and your child will enjoy – and remember – long after you leave New Orleans.

The first item I came across about the restaurant, Port of Call, was that it was known for having “The Best Burger in the City.” I thought to myself, “Wow, that’s impressive! They must be doing a great job.”

One thing to consider when you’re thinking about a visit to New Orleans is “the weather.”

Café Degas is a charming and intimate French bistro located at 3127 Esplanade Avenue. It is named after the 19th century French Impressionist artist Edgar Degas who, in 1872, stayed for a short time in New Orleans.

My first approach for this piece was to write about authors born in the South, such as Truman Capote, who was born in New Orleans and raised in Alabama. But he wrote In Cold Blood and it has none of the themes of southern writing.