Neighborhoods
French Quarter
The historic heart of New Orleans. Jackson Square, St. Louis Cathedral, Bourbon Street (the chaos), and Royal Street (the charm). Tourist central but worth seeing.
Frenchmen Street / Marigny
Where locals go for live music. Multiple clubs with brass bands, jazz, funk. Way better vibe than Bourbon if you want actual music.
Uptown / St. Charles
Where most parades roll. Garden District mansions, oak-lined streets. Take the St. Charles streetcar.
Mid-City
Endymion parade territory. City Park, the Sculpture Garden, and some great neighborhood spots.
Treme
Oldest African American neighborhood in the US. Armstrong Park, second lines on Sundays. Respect the neighborhood.
Food & Drink
Coffee
- Cafe du Monde - Obligatory. Beignets and chicory coffee. Cash only, open 24 hours.
- French Truck Coffee - Actually good coffee if you need a real espresso.
Quick Eats
- Verti Marte - Legendary deli in the Quarter. Get any of the sandwiches trust me.
- Clover Grill - 24-hour diner. Burgers cooked under a hubcap. Weird and great.
Sit-down
- Stanley - On Jackson Square. Brunch spot, a little bougier.
Bars & Music
- Kermit's Treme Mother-in-Law Lounge - Kermit Ruffins' spot. Brass band, BBQ, the real deal.
- Bullet's Sports Bar - Dive bar in the 7th Ward. If you're feeling adventurous.
- Tipitina's - Legendary Uptown music venue. Check the schedule.
- Frenchmen Street - Just walk down and follow your ears. d.b.a., Spotted Cat, Blue Nile.
Things to See
- National WWII Museum - Legitimately world-class. Plan half a day minimum.
- Armstrong Park - Named for Louis Armstrong. Congo Square, where jazz was born.
- St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 - Above-ground tombs. Requires a tour guide now.
- City Park - Sculpture garden, Besthoff collection, beautiful oaks.
- Garden District walking tour - Mansions, history, Anne Rice's house (RIP).
Costumes & What to Wear
Costumes are encouraged, especially on Mardi Gras day. You'll feel underdressed without one.
Coordinated Group Themes (optional)
Some friends of ours are doing coordinated costumes on certain days. Totally optional, but if you want to join in:
- Saturday (Valentine's Day / Endymion) - Campy Valentine's costumes. Red, white, pink.
- Tuesday (Mardi Gras) - Disco ball theme for the St. Anne's parade.
General Tips
- Shiny, sparkly, colorful. More is more.
- Mardi Gras colors: purple (justice), gold (power), green (faith).
- Comfortable shoes. You'll be standing and walking for hours.
- Layers. February in New Orleans can be 40F or 70F.
- Pockets or a small bag for your throws (beads, cups, doubloons).
Skull and Bones (Mardi Gras morning)
Some people we know are joining the Skull and Bones Gang on Mardi Gras morning. This is a traditional Black masking tradition, starts before dawn in the Treme. Skeleton costumes, door-knocking to wake people up and remind them of mortality. Not a tourist thing, but if you're invited and want to participate, ask in the groupchat.
Practical Tips
- Cash - Many places are cash-only or have ATM fees. Bring some.
- Rideshare - Uber/Lyft work but surge pricing is real. The streetcar is $1.25.
- Parade viewing - The organizers (me and Nathan) are bringing stepladders and camping chairs for the spot on Napoleon for the uptown parades. Some may be available for other days/times if you want to borrow them (lose it/break it, you bought it).
Questions?
Text or DM @whiskeytuesday any time. Seriously, any time. I want you to have a good time.