Bar Scene:
Frenchmen Street (Seventh Ward, a mile from the French Quarter)
Sometimes known as the Bourbon Street for locals, Frenchmen offers cheaper drinks and better live music than its touristy counterpart. Snug Harbor and The Mansion are the more well-known music joints, but check out the Blue Nile or Café Negril for some of the best local sounds.
Bourbon Street (French Quarter)
Everyone has heard of Bourbon Street. Named for the ruling French family during the city’s founding, Bourbon Street is laden with restaurants, bars, strip clubs and shops catering to tourists. Some notable clubs include Larry Flynt’s Barely Legal Club, The Famous Door and The Cat’s Meow. Take advantage of open-container laws by grabbing a Hand Grenade or Huge Ass Beer as you take in Bourbon’s nightlife.
Restaurants:
Camellia Grill (626 South Carrollton Avenue)
Sunday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Friday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 1 a.m.
This diner is a landmark and probably hasn’t changed much since opening in 1946. Known for a busy atmosphere, counter service and vivacious waiters hauling huge omelettes and burgers, Camellia Grill often has a line of tourists and locals out its door. Thankfully, it moves quickly. Don’t mistake this for a glorified Waffle House—it is so much more. I can only speak for the Manhattan omelette and chocolate cherry freeze, but that limited experience fuels a desire for more yumminess.
Lil Dizzy’s Café (1500 Esplanade Avenue)
Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Saturday, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
This neighborhood café truly offers a taste of the town, from shrimp omelettes for breakfast to calf’s liver for lunch. Your best bet may be going off-hours. Most things are under $12, and the owner’s family has been creating Creole cuisine for generations.
Elizabeth’s Restaurant (601 Gallier Street)
Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., bar open from 5 p.m. ‘til close
Saturday, 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., bar open from 5 p.m. ‘til close
Sunday, 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Elizabeth’s has been written about in the New York Times and is a great spot for a casual brunch. Its slogan, “real food done real good,” may be enough to bring in hungry Alabama fans. Also, the lower Ninth Ward illustrates the ongoing recovery struggle since Katrina. The devastation may be interesting to Tuscaloosa natives also affected by nature’s storms.
Café du Monde (800 Decatur Street)
Open 24/7
This café has become somewhat of a chain with many locations spattered all over Louisiana. But the original, opened in 1862, is on Decatur in the French Quarter. It’s a coffee shop known for its Louisiana chicory and beignets. Good pit stop for any powdered sugar enthusiast.
Felix’s Restaurant & Oyster Bar (739 Iberville Street)
Monday through Thursday, Sunday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to midnight
Located a block off Canal St. at the corner of Iberville and Bourbon, Felix’s Restaurant & Oyster Bar has been owned and operated by the same family for over 60 years. Traditional New Orleans dishes are on the menu, sure, but the real attraction here are the oysters on the half-shell. Felix’s is the definition of hole-in-the-wall, so look for the neon green sign on the balcony overhead. And if it happens to be Wednesday, get ready for a free draft beer with every dozen oysters.
Activities:
Backstreet Cultural Museum (1116 Saint Claude Avenue)
Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
backstreetmuseum.org
If you want an authentic look at the culture that makes the real New Orleans, visit this museum. Its collection includes costumes and artifacts animating African-American culture. Take a peak at the Mardi Gras Indians exhibit. An entire walkthrough should only take half an hour and costs an $8 donation.
Magazine Street: It’s named for a ‘magazin,’ a warehouse storing trade goods, located on its sidewalks during colonial times. With six miles of road cutting through Uptown and the Garden district, the street is home to everything from restaurants to antique stores—all sporting vibrant architecture.
Audubon Aquarium: (1 Canal Street)
Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
$20 for adults
auduboninstitute.org
Along the banks of the Mississippi, the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas is right on the edge of the Quarter. With hundreds of exotic species from sharks to sea otters, the aquarium will satisfy anyone’s aquatic curiosity. Noteworthy exhibits showcase wildlife form the Caribbean, Amazon, Gulf of Mexico and Mississippi River. Feed some stingrays or see an IMAX.
The Audubon Zoo: (6500 Magazine Street)
Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
$15 for adults
auduboninstitute.org
Also part of the Audubon Nature Institute, the Audubon Zoo is home to thousands of animals. Its more famous exhibits are the Louisiana Swamp and Jaguar Jungle. Take a gander at the elephant presentation if you can’t stop thinking about football. If you’re a Tom Robbins fan, you’ll appreciate the highly-endangered whooping cranes.
Algiers Point
Algiers Point is the second oldest neighborhood in New Orleans, located across the river from the rest of the city. Accessible by ferry, Algiers Point is a great place to get a cup of coffee and see some wonderful examples of architecture, including Greek revival, Victorian, French Colonial and shotgun homes. There’s even a gothic cathedral that dominates the Algiers Point skyline.
