Summertime Party in New Orleans

Having just returned from over a week in New Orleans, I must say it was a rather different experience than the last time I was there in 2003 but the city actually looked the same as it did 7 years ago. I mean, I saw no noticeable signs of damage from Katrina and things seemed to be functioning well. The difference this time is that I was mostly hanging out with other young folks rather than my parents. I experienced the night life of New Orleans and Bourbon Street and had time to more leisirely see the city.

With 10 nights there, I did get to leisurely see a good bit of the city, both during the day and at 4am. When I was there for the nationals in 2003, everything was so fast and rushed. It was over Thanksgiving, I had only 2.5 days there, and the streets were dominated be people going to see the Grambling-Southen football game, which I guess is an annual event on Thanksgiving weekend. This time, the streets were less crowded, until Friday night and Saturday night arrived, when everyone comes out to party.

Bourbon Street is pretty much a red light district. It's not quite as riskae as the (in)famous red light district in Amsterdam but the street is lined with women looking for work and dozens of strip clubs. We pretty much got our drinking done at the hotel during midnight bridge games but just went out for a walk and late night snack afterward most nights. The areas immediately around Bourbon Street are filled with homeless people and are rather run down but Bourbon Street remains the party spot in the big easy and one of the top party spots in the country.

For the most part, I stuck to chain restaurants and $10-15 cajun pub food but one night my friend wanted to go to a place called Jacques-imo's. It was a 10-15 minute ride from the French Quarter in another quaint strip of restaurants and bars. This place totally satisfied me. The menu was full of uunique dishes that are hard to find anywhere. Todd and I split the country-fried venison and the quail with foie gras. Both very delicious and about $25. In addition, they have a specialty appetizer - alligator and andouille sausage cheesecake. Sounds kind of disgusting, right? And when has cheesecake ever been on the appetizer menu instead of the dessert menu? Well, it was quite excellent. Even better than the strawberry and chicken pie I once tried to make. Meat in a cheesy dessert can be delicious.

For daytime activities, the Riverwalk is a great place to hang out. There is a big mall that goes along the river, several outdoor restaurants with live jazz music to sit down and relax while having a drink or a meal. The aquarium is also right by the river, which I have been told is among the best in the country, but I did not go in. It gets really hot and steamy in the summer so you'll want to go in to get out of the heat frequently. Just a block inland from the river is the Harrah's casino and as you go up Canal Street and take a right at Decatur Street, you'll find the major hotels and plenty of restaurants and liquor stores.