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About New Orleans Travel
New Orleans Travel
2010 FallFall Concerts in Lafayette Square Schedule
<p>Every year in spring and fall there are free concerts in Lafayette Square. This year the concerts will go on in the fall as usual, but there's a change. The concerts will be on Wednesdays this year. "<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goneworleans.about.com/od/music/a/thursdayinsquar.htm">Harvest the Music</a>" free concerts will begin on September 15th and end on November 3rd with a big concert with Allen Toussaint, Nicholas Payton and The Joe Krown Trio featuring Walter "Wolfman" Washington and Russell Batiste Jr. plus Little Freddie King. In between you'll hear Dr. John, the Radiators, Cowboy Mouth and many more great musicians. Here's the <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goneworleans.about.com/od/music/a/thursdayinsquar.htm">full schedule</a>.</p>
<p>If you're in New Orleans on any of those Wednesdays, plan to be a Lafayette Square, right on St. Charles Avenue a block off Poydras Street. The concerts start at 5pm and go till 7:30. </p>
<p style="background:#f5f3ef;border:1px solid #d5d0bf;clear:both;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goneworleans.about.com/b/2010/09/02/2010-fallfall-concerts-in-lafayette-square-schedule.htm">2010 FallFall Concerts in Lafayette Square Schedule</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goneworleans.about.com/">About.com New Orleans Travel</a> on Thursday, September 2nd, 2010 at 08:58:27.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goneworleans.about.com/b/2010/09/02/2010-fallfall-concerts-in-lafayette-square-schedule.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goneworleans.about.com/b/2010/09/02/2010-fallfall-concerts-in-lafayette-square-schedule.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://goneworleans.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://goneworleans.about.com/b/2010/09/02/2010-fallfall-concerts-in-lafayette-square-schedule.htm&zItl=2010 FallFall Concerts in Lafayette Square Schedule">Email this</a></p>
Five Years After Hurricane Katrina - What's the Truth About New Orleans
<p><img class="alignnone" src="http://0.tqn.com/d/goneworleans/1/H/-/4/katrina42.jpg" alt="Destruction in Lakeview" /></p>
<p>Today, August 29, 2010, is the fifth anniversary of the day the levees broke after Hurricane Katrina and destroyed most of New Orleans. For New Orleanians, and all of our neighbors in coastal parishes of Louisiana and all along the Mississippi Gulf Coast, the memories of those days will never fade. But, so much that's good has happened since those horrible times. There's a lot of hope and opportunities taken to make us all feel more positive about the future.</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goneworleans.about.com/od/famouslandmarks/a/Morningafter.htm">Personal memories of Hurricane Katrina</a></li>
<li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goneworleans.about.com/od/famouslandmarks/ig/Katrina/">Photos of Katrina damage</a></li>
<li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goneworleans.about.com/od/famouslandmarks/a/ninthward.htm">The Ninth Ward</a></li>
<li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goneworleans.about.com/od/famouslandmarks/a/truth.htm">The truth about New Orleans now.</a></li>
<li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goneworleans.about.com/od/hurricanekatrina/a/babies.htm">What the kids had to say about Katrina</a></li>
<li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goneworleans.about.com/od/neworleanssaints/a/superbowl44.htm">What the Saints championship means to New Orleans</a></li>
</ul><p style="background:#f5f3ef;border:1px solid #d5d0bf;clear:both;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goneworleans.about.com/b/2010/08/29/five-years-after-hurricane-katrina-whats-the-truth-about-new-orleans.htm">Five Years After Hurricane Katrina - What's the Truth About New Orleans</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goneworleans.about.com/">About.com New Orleans Travel</a> on Sunday, August 29th, 2010 at 12:21:54.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goneworleans.about.com/b/2010/08/29/five-years-after-hurricane-katrina-whats-the-truth-about-new-orleans.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goneworleans.about.com/b/2010/08/29/five-years-after-hurricane-katrina-whats-the-truth-about-new-orleans.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://goneworleans.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://goneworleans.about.com/b/2010/08/29/five-years-after-hurricane-katrina-whats-the-truth-about-new-orleans.htm&zItl=Five Years After Hurricane Katrina - What's the Truth About New Orleans">Email this</a></p>
NFL Opens the Regular Season in New Orleans
<p>This year the <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goneworleans.about.com/od/neworleanssaints/a/New-Orleans-Saints-V-Minnesota-Vikings-In-2010-Nfl-Season-Opener.htm">NFL will open the regular season </a>right here in the New Orleans Superdome. On September 9th the World Champion Saints will take on the Minnesota Vikings for the first game of the regular season. The pre-game festivities will be done New Orleans style with a Mardi Gras parade and a concert in Jackson Square. If you can't be in that number in person, you can watch it on NBC.<p style="background:#f5f3ef;border:1px solid #d5d0bf;clear:both;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goneworleans.about.com/b/2010/08/26/nfl-opens-the-regular-season-in-new-orleans.htm">NFL Opens the Regular Season in New Orleans</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goneworleans.about.com/">About.com New Orleans Travel</a> on Thursday, August 26th, 2010 at 09:45:22.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goneworleans.about.com/b/2010/08/26/nfl-opens-the-regular-season-in-new-orleans.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goneworleans.about.com/b/2010/08/26/nfl-opens-the-regular-season-in-new-orleans.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://goneworleans.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://goneworleans.about.com/b/2010/08/26/nfl-opens-the-regular-season-in-new-orleans.htm&zItl=NFL Opens the Regular Season in New Orleans">Email this</a></p>
It's Time for Southern Decadence - The Gay Mardi Gras
<p>The biggest Gay/Lesbian event in New Orleans happens over Labor Day weekend. <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goneworleans.about.com/od/festivals/a/southdecadence.htm">Southern Decadence </a>is a week long party in the French Quarter. How are you going to top that? This year the theme is "Leather and Feathers" and the official colors are black, powder blue and purple. Hurry up and make your plans, it's almost time.</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goneworleans.about.com/od/festivals/a/eventssouthdeca.htm">List of events </a>for Southern Decadence</li>
<li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goneworleans.about.com/od/gayandlesbianbars/p/gaybars.htm">Best Gay Bars </a>in New Orleans</li>
<li>All the info you need for <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goneworleans.about.com/od/festivals/a/southdecadence.htm">Southern Decadence</a></li>
</ul><p style="background:#f5f3ef;border:1px solid #d5d0bf;clear:both;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goneworleans.about.com/b/2010/08/25/its-time-for-southern-decadence-the-gay-mardi-gras.htm">It's Time for Southern Decadence - The Gay Mardi Gras</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goneworleans.about.com/">About.com New Orleans Travel</a> on Wednesday, August 25th, 2010 at 11:22:38.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goneworleans.about.com/b/2010/08/25/its-time-for-southern-decadence-the-gay-mardi-gras.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goneworleans.about.com/b/2010/08/25/its-time-for-southern-decadence-the-gay-mardi-gras.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://goneworleans.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://goneworleans.about.com/b/2010/08/25/its-time-for-southern-decadence-the-gay-mardi-gras.htm&zItl=It's Time for Southern Decadence - The Gay Mardi Gras">Email this</a></p>
Mardi Gras in August
<p>Sure, we all know that <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goneworleans.about.com/od/festivals/a/MardiGras.htm">Mardi Gras </a>is the day before Ash Wednesday and is usually in February. But did you know that in New Orleans there are two other semi-Mardi Gras events held in August? One is the Krewe of Oak's mid-summer <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goneworleans.about.com/od/festivals/a/kreweofoak.htm">Mid-Summer Mardi Gras</a> on Saturday, August 28, 2010 from 8:00pm - 5:00am Oak Street, in the Carrollton area. This parade is more of a participant event, not really a spectator sport. Each year the parade is larger and more outrageous... Lots of FUN! Wear a cool & cool costume.</p>
<p>The other event is the <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goneworleans.about.com/od/festivals/a/southdecadence.htm">Gay Mardi Gras </a>that happens every Labor Day Weekend. This is a not to be missed gay event. It's called Southern Decadence and this year the theme is is "Leather and Feathers" and the official colors are black, powder blue and purple.</p><p style="background:#f5f3ef;border:1px solid #d5d0bf;clear:both;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goneworleans.about.com/b/2010/08/23/mardi-gras-in-august-2.htm">Mardi Gras in August</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goneworleans.about.com/">About.com New Orleans Travel</a> on Monday, August 23rd, 2010 at 10:01:48.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goneworleans.about.com/b/2010/08/23/mardi-gras-in-august-2.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goneworleans.about.com/b/2010/08/23/mardi-gras-in-august-2.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://goneworleans.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://goneworleans.about.com/b/2010/08/23/mardi-gras-in-august-2.htm&zItl=Mardi Gras in August">Email this</a></p>
Tailgating at the Saints Game
<p><img class="alignnone" src="http://0.tqn.com/d/goneworleans/1/H/t/A/bobby1.jpg" alt="Bobby Hebert Waving the Saints Flag" /></p>
<p>Even if you don't have tickets to the <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goneworleans.about.com/od/neworleanssaints/a/Saints-Football-Schedule.htm">New Orleans Saints </a>football game in the <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goneworleans.about.com/od/famouslandmarks/a/superdome.htm">Superdome</a>, go over anyway. This year the area around the Superdome has been transformed and is a great place to party.</p>
<p>Champions Square presented by Verizon, a 60,000-square-foot (about the same size of Jackson Square) patch of land where the New Orleans Centre used to be, is open. The square can comfortably fit more than 8,000 members of the <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goneworleans.about.com/od/sportsteams/a/Whodat.htm">Who Dat Nation</a>. It is free and accessible even if you don't have tickets to the Saints game. Saints fans will get a square that will feature live entertainment, street vendors and some of New Orleans' favorite eateries.</p>
<p style="background:#f5f3ef;border:1px solid #d5d0bf;clear:both;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goneworleans.about.com/b/2010/08/20/tailgating-at-the-saints-game.htm">Tailgating at the Saints Game</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goneworleans.about.com/">About.com New Orleans Travel</a> on Friday, August 20th, 2010 at 18:11:56.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goneworleans.about.com/b/2010/08/20/tailgating-at-the-saints-game.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goneworleans.about.com/b/2010/08/20/tailgating-at-the-saints-game.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://goneworleans.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://goneworleans.about.com/b/2010/08/20/tailgating-at-the-saints-game.htm&zItl=Tailgating at the Saints Game">Email this</a></p>
What is New Orleans About?
<p>New Orleans is a city of characters, it's a place where if you listen the wind speaks to you, where the past is always a part of the present. New Orleans has defied description by the glib and erudite. <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.vincevance.biz/">Vince Vance of the Valiants</a>, one of New Orleans characters, just came out with a new video that trys to explain the answer to the question, "what is New Orleans." For those of you who know New Orleans, it will resonate with truth, for those of you who don't know New Orleans, maybe it will help you understand us a bit more. <a href="http://www.wwltv.com/eyewitness-morning-news/Vince-Vances-I-Am-New-Orleans-101166954.html">See <em>I am New Orleans</em> video.</a></p><p style="background:#f5f3ef;border:1px solid #d5d0bf;clear:both;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goneworleans.about.com/b/2010/08/20/what-is-new-orleans.htm">What is New Orleans About?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goneworleans.about.com/">About.com New Orleans Travel</a> on Friday, August 20th, 2010 at 12:55:29.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goneworleans.about.com/b/2010/08/20/what-is-new-orleans.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goneworleans.about.com/b/2010/08/20/what-is-new-orleans.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://goneworleans.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://goneworleans.about.com/b/2010/08/20/what-is-new-orleans.htm&zItl=What is New Orleans About?">Email this</a></p>
Marking the 5th Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina
<p><img style="vertical-align: top;" title="God Bless Vera" src="http://0.tqn.com/d/goneworleans/1/7/S/7/verasgrave2.JPG" alt="The Makeshift grave of a women known only as "Vera" who died on a New Orleans street in Hurricane Kataina" width="400" height="300" /></p>
<p>No one who lived in New Orleans on August 29, 2005 will ever forget that day. <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goneworleans.about.com/od/famouslandmarks/a/Morningafter.htm">Hurrricane Katrina </a>passed to the east of New Orleans. Shortly afterward the levees broke.</p>
<p>Our new mayor Mitch Landrieu announced on Monday that New Orleans will remember that day in a low key cermony on August 29th at 6:30 pm in Washington Square Artillery Park called <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.katrinafive.com/">"Commemoration and Determination: Katrina V,". </a>The bells of the St. Louis Cathedral will be tolled and candles will be given out to light as we remember those lost in the storm. Local musicians will play and the event is open to the public.</p>
<p>Mayor Landrieu, who will preside over the event along with other local citizens stated; "While we still have a long way to go in some areas, New Orleans has proven to be a model in a variety of arenas, among them reinventing schools, a community health care system, building safer and greener homes, and growing social entrepreneurship."</p>
<ul>
<li>Here are <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goneworleans.about.com/od/famouslandmarks/ig/Katrina/">some photos </a>of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.</li>
<li>Here are the <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goneworleans.about.com/od/hurricanekatrina/a/babies.htm">thoughts of the kids </a>who went through Hurricane Katrina.</li>
<li>Here's a <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.katrinafive.com/Feature/Events">list of other events</a> going on around the city to mark the 5th anniversary of Katrina.</li>
<li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.mahaliajacksontheater.com/event/189584">Loads of Hope Concert </a>with Faith Hill at the Mahalia Jackson Theater on August 24th. celebrating the resilient spirit of the people of the Gulf Coast.</li>
<li>Spike Lee's new documentary, <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.hbo.com/documentaries#/documentaries/if-god-is-willing-and-da-creek-dont-rise/index.html">If God Is Willing and Da Creek Don't rise</a>, on HBO Monday and Tuesday, August 23 and 24th. at 9eastern 8 central time</li>
<li>Here's a <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.nola.com/katrina/index.ssf/2010/08/spike_lee_graffiti_and_more_what_others_are_saying_about_hurricane_katrina_plus_5_years.html">list of blogs </a>from around the country about Katrina. </li>
</ul><p style="background:#f5f3ef;border:1px solid #d5d0bf;clear:both;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goneworleans.about.com/b/2010/08/19/marking-the-5th-anniversary-of-hurricane-katrina.htm">Marking the 5th Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goneworleans.about.com/">About.com New Orleans Travel</a> on Thursday, August 19th, 2010 at 10:17:22.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goneworleans.about.com/b/2010/08/19/marking-the-5th-anniversary-of-hurricane-katrina.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goneworleans.about.com/b/2010/08/19/marking-the-5th-anniversary-of-hurricane-katrina.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://goneworleans.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://goneworleans.about.com/b/2010/08/19/marking-the-5th-anniversary-of-hurricane-katrina.htm&zItl=Marking the 5th Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina">Email this</a></p>
Women in Art Exhibit
<p><img class="alignnone" src="http://0.tqn.com/d/goneworleans/1/H/0/2/museumofart.jpg" alt="New Orleans Museum of Art" /></p>
<p>If you haven't seen the Women Artists in Louisiana, 1965-2010 exhibit at the <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goneworleans.about.com/od/museums/a/museumofart.htm">New Orleans Museum of Art </a>yet, it's worth a visit and it closes on September 12, 2010.</p>
<p>The exhibition featurs female artists who lived or worked in New Orleans from the mid-1960s through today. This is the seventh collaborative exhibition between <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goneworleans.about.com/od/museums/p/historicnocol.htm">The Historic New Orleans Collection </a>and the New Orleans Museum of Art and features artworks by approximately 40 women artists ffrom both museums. The female artists are those who visited or resided in New Orleans from the cusp of postmodernism through today. Among the artists represented are Lynda Benglis, Ida Kohlmeyer, Jacqueline Humphries, Lin Emery, Mignon Faget, Angela Gregory and Eugenie "Ersy" Schwartz. Artworks include paintings, sculpture, photographs and decorative arts.</p>
<p>You can see the exhibit at New Orleans Museum of Art, <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goneworleans.about.com/od/parks/p/citypark.htm">City Park</a> on the following days and times. Wednesday, 12-8 p.m., and Thursday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. For more information call (504) 658-4100 or go to this <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.noma.org/women.html">website.</a></p><p style="background:#f5f3ef;border:1px solid #d5d0bf;clear:both;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goneworleans.about.com/b/2010/08/17/257931.htm">Women in Art Exhibit</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goneworleans.about.com/">About.com New Orleans Travel</a> on Tuesday, August 17th, 2010 at 14:42:21.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goneworleans.about.com/b/2010/08/17/257931.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goneworleans.about.com/b/2010/08/17/257931.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://goneworleans.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://goneworleans.about.com/b/2010/08/17/257931.htm&zItl=Women in Art Exhibit">Email this</a></p>
The New Orleans Saints Open The Pre-Season Tonight
<p>Tonight is the night the <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goneworleans.about.com/od/sportsteams/a/Whodat.htm">Who Dat Nation </a>has been waiting for since that glorious day when our Saints won the Super Bowl. The first game of the <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goneworleans.about.com/od/neworleanssaints/a/Saints-Football-Schedule.htm">2010-11 season</a>. Sure it's only pre-season, but that doesn't matter. It's still pretty exciting. The game will be played in Boston against the Patriots at 6:30. I'll be in that number (watching it on TV) when the Saints go marching in!<p style="background:#f5f3ef;border:1px solid #d5d0bf;clear:both;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goneworleans.about.com/b/2010/08/12/the-new-orleans-saints-open-the-pre-season-tonight.htm">The New Orleans Saints Open The Pre-Season Tonight</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goneworleans.about.com/">About.com New Orleans Travel</a> on Thursday, August 12th, 2010 at 09:53:05.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goneworleans.about.com/b/2010/08/12/the-new-orleans-saints-open-the-pre-season-tonight.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goneworleans.about.com/b/2010/08/12/the-new-orleans-saints-open-the-pre-season-tonight.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://goneworleans.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://goneworleans.about.com/b/2010/08/12/the-new-orleans-saints-open-the-pre-season-tonight.htm&zItl=The New Orleans Saints Open The Pre-Season Tonight">Email this</a></p>
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Around
the corner, the impressive - and colossal - National
D-Day Museum , 945 Magazine St (daily 9am-5pm; $7),
opened on June 6, 2000, the 56th anniversary of the Allied
invasion of Europe. Though its collection concentrates
on the events of that devastating day, the museum also
does a good job covering D-Day invasions in the Pacific.
For all but diehard military buffs, the quantity of hardware
and uniforms on show may seem a bit much, but luckily
there is enough film footage, background material and,
especially, oral testimony from both sides of the conflict
to make the place thoroughly engaging.
It can be all too easy to forget that easy-living
New Orleans has its roots entrenched in the Deep South;
anyone who needs reminding should take a look at the
Confederate Museum , 929 Camp St at Lee Circle.
A gloomy Romanesque Revival hulk, designed in 1891 as
a place for Confederate veterans to display their mementos,
this so-called "Battle Abbey of the South"
is a relic from a bygone age. Inside the church-like
hall, glass cases are filled with swords, mess-kits,
uniforms and helmets. The sepia photos - of the wealthy,
muddy antebellum city, and sad-eyed youths awkward in
uniform - are undeniably affecting, and there remains
a funereal air about the place, with its bittersweet
remembrances of long-lost generals and their forgotten
families.
Next door, at the Ogden Museum of Southern
Art (Mon-Fri 10am-5pm; free), you can get tasters
of the eclectic collection, which runs the gamut from
rare eighteenth-century watercolors to contemporary
photography in its temporary residence at 603 Julia
St, but this represents just a drop in the ocean compared
to what will be in the purpose-built five-story gallery.
French Quarter
The heartbreakingly beautiful French Quarter is where
New Orleans began in 1718. Today, battered and bohemian,
decaying and vibrant, it's the spiritual core of the
city, its fanciful cast-iron balconies, hidden courtyards
and time-stained stucco buildings exerting a haunting
fascination that has long caught the imagination of
artists and writers. Official tours are useful
for orientation, but it's most fun simply to wander
- and you'll need a couple of days at least to do it
justice, absorbing the jumble of sounds, sights and
smells. Early morning, in the pearly light from the
river, is a good time to explore, as sleepy locals wake
themselves up with strong coffee in the neighborhood
patisseries, shops crank open their shutters and all-night
revelers stumble home.
The Quarter is laid out in a grid, unchanged
since 1721. At just thirteen blocks wide - smaller than
you might expect - it's easily walkable, bounded by
the Mississippi River, Rampart Street, Canal Street
and Esplanade Avenue, and centering on lively Jackson
Square . Rather than French, the famed architecture
is predominantly Spanish colonial, with a strong Caribbean
influence. Most of the buildings date from the late
eighteenth century, after much of the old city had been
devastated by fires in 1788 and 1794. Commercial activity
- shops, galleries, restaurants, bars - is concentrated
in the blocks between Decatur and Bourbon. Beyond
Bourbon, up towards Rampart Street, and in the Lower
Quarter, downriver from Jackson Square, things become
more peaceful - quiet, predominantly residential neighborhoods
where the Quarter's gay community lives side by side
with elegant dowagers and scruffy artist.
Best of New Orleans
Jackson Square
The heart of the French Quarter, where you can enjoy
some of the world's best brass band and jazz music for
free.
Sunset over the Mississippi
Settle yourself down on a wooden bench and watch the
sky turn violet over one of the world's greatest rivers.
Uglesich's
The best seafood in the world dished up in a down-home
New Orleans shack.
Napolean House
This gorgeous old bar is just the place to pass a steamy
New Orleans night.
The Cabildo
The Cabildo, in the heart of the French Quarter, is
one of the finest state museums you'll find, with lively,
compelling exhibits on all aspects of the city's rich
history.
Oysters
Whether fresh fried and piled high in giant po-boys
at the Acme , or downed raw in one briny slurp at Casamento's
, New Orleans' oysters are a culinary treat.
Ride a Streetcar
The streetcar named Desire no longer runs, but the city's
other vintage streetcars offer superb, open-air rides
through New Orleans' most elegant districts.
Voodoo
With stops at boutiques selling dolls and potions, voodoo
tours are a bit campy, but rest assured that the mysterious
religion is still practiced by many in New Orleans today.
Mardi Gras
Crazy, colorful, debauched and historic - this is the
carnival to end them all.
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as trustee for its authors. Published by Rough Guides.
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of Rough Guides Ltd.
New
Orleans Guide
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