NATIONAL PARTNERSHIP FOR EDUCATIONAL ACCESS 10 TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE NEW ORLEANS-AREA ACTIVITIES

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "NATIONAL PARTNERSHIP FOR EDUCATIONAL ACCESS 10 TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE NEW ORLEANS-AREA ACTIVITIES"

Lorraine Rice
6 years ago
Views:

NATIONAL PARTNERSHIP FOR EDUCATIONAL ACCESS 10 TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE NEW ORLEANS-AREA ACTIVITIES Be sure to take advantage of downtime from the conference to explore New Orleans.

1 NATIONAL PARTNERSHIP FOR EDUCATIONAL ACCESS 10 TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE NEW ORLEANS-AREA ACTIVITIES Be sure to take advantage of downtime from the conference to explore New Orleans. Here are a few suggestions to help you in planning some fun outings and favorite local activities! Activities and Attractions French Quarter Explore the oldest neighborhood in the city and experience the vast international and cultural influences. Some of the most popular areas are Royal Street, Bourbon Street, and a trip to the French Market for souvenirs. If you are looking for less hustle and bustle, take in the stunning architecture throughout the neighborhood with historic homes; look up at the beautiful balconies and courtyards filled with fountains and flowers. Stop by Cafe du Monde for some Beignets! Tremé Tremé is one of the oldest neighborhoods in New Orleans and one of the oldest predominantly African American communities in the United States. Highlights include Congo Square (the location of many nineteenth-century outdoor brass concerts in the style that would come to be known as jazz ), St. Augustine Church (the oldest African American Catholic parish in the United States), and the New Orleans African American Museum. The acclaimed HBO series Treme dramatizes the neighborhood and its residents in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Jackson Square Jackson Square is a landmark and timeless attraction located in the French Quarter. Historic buildings including the St. Louis Cathedral and the oldest apartment building in the United States, the Lower and Upper Pontalba Apartments surround it. Discover local artists and shops. The Marigny The Marigny neighborhood boasts a unique, colorful architecture rooted in a combination of colonial French and Spanish and Caribbean styles and is the home of the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts. Frenchmen Street, located here, is a premier destination for music and restaurants. Aquarium Located on the Mississippi River adjacent to the French Quarter Audubon Aquarium immerses you in an underwater world. Touch a stingray, feed a parakeet, and marvel at the gigantic sharks. The Aquarium hours are Mon-Sun 10am-5pm. Cost: $29.95 per adult. Website: 1

2 Zoo The New Orleans Audubon Zoo, which is located Uptown New Orleans, offers an exotic mix of animals from around the globe with unique natural habitat exhibits. Don't miss the daily animal presentations and feeds. Audubon Zoo is often ranked among the country's best for innovation and entertainment value! Zoo hours are Mon.-Fri. 10am-5pm and Sat.-Sun. 10am-6pm. Cost: $22.95 per adult. Website: Audubon Park Enjoy the ever-beautiful oak trees, lagoons, and expansive green space located within the park. For the millions who use the park for picnics, relaxing, walking, running, cycling and special events there is no better place in New Orleans for recreational fun and relaxation. If you are in need of a treat, try and track down the Roman Candy man riding in his wagon escorted by a mule. City Park City Park is the place to go if you are looking for an outdoor oasis. The park is home to ancient oak trees, modern art, paddleboats, and botanical garden. Website: Magazine Street For shopping, dining or just a casual stroll, no place in New Orleans is quite like Magazine Street. This six-mile-long stretch from the Garden District to Uptown features some of the best antique stores, art galleries, craft shops and boutiques to be found anywhere in the city. Tours Food Tour of the French Quarter Explore and eat your way through the famous restaurants of the French Quarter guided by a knowledgeable and passionate foodie expert. Tours last approximately three hours and depart from the French Quarter. Cost: $55 per adult. Website: French Quarter Tours If you want to experience New Orleans properly, it's best to begin with a tour of the French Quarter. Tours last approximately 2 hours. Cost: $25 per adult. Tickets can be purchased at Bourbon Cafe Beignet. Website: Garden District Tours Take a peek at some of the city's most beautiful homes. Like its name suggests, this historic residential neighborhood is covered with trees, ivy, and gardens. If you need a break from city crowds the peaceful atmosphere and well-preserved properties offer a meaningful escape from the hustle and bustle of city culture. Times: 11 AM and 1:45 PM daily. Tours depart from 2727 Prytania Street, The Garden District Book Shop. Tours last approximately 2 hours. Cost: $25 per adult. Website: 2

3 Museums The National WWII Museum (945 Magazine Street, New Orleans) Just a 5-minute taxi ride or a 15-minute walk from the hotel, the National WWII Museum features immersive exhibits, multimedia experiences, and an expansive collection of artifacts and firstperson oral histories. Visitors are able to delve inside the story of the war that changed the world. Cost per adult: $27. Open daily from 9am 5pm. Website: New Orleans Museum of Art (One Collins C. Diboll Circle, City Park New Orleans) A 20-minute taxi ride from the hotel, the New Orleans Modern Museum of Modern Art is committed to preserving, presenting, and enriching its collections and renowned sculpture garden; offering innovative experiences for learning and interpretation; and uniting, inspiring, and engaging diverse communities and cultures. Cost per adult: $12. Museum hours: closed on Mon., but open Tues.-Thurs. 10am-6pm, Fri. 10am-9pm, Sat. 10am-5pm, and Sun. 11am-5pm. Website: Music and Festivals French Quarter Festival The French Quarter Festival begins on April If you are looking for a uniquely New Orleans event where some of the city's finest food, music and fun definitely explore the French Quarter after a day at the conference. There will be more than 60 food/beverage booths scattered throughout the French Quarter and all dishes are priced in the $3-$5 range. Tipitina s (501 Napoleon Avenue) Tipitina s is the only famous venue of its kind, located Uptown New Orleans. To Call: (504) Mid City Rock N Bowl (3016 South Carrollton) You can bowl at Rock n Bowl, but the real draw is the venue s diverse live music schedule that includes great local blues and roots music. To Call: (504) Sweet Lorraine s Jazz Club (1931 St. Claude) Sweet Lorraine s is a classy establishment. Leave your t-shirts and sandals at home and get jazzed up proper if you re headed here to check out the music or the club s Creole menu. At Sweet Lorraine s, New Orleans musicians dig deep into jazz, both smooth and modern, and the more upto-date styles of rhythm and blues. To Call: (504) Dragon s Den (435 Esplanade Ave) The Den features some great hip-hop and DJ nights in its weekly lineup, along with live local music. To Call: ( ). Website: 3

4 B.J. s Lounge (4301 Burgundy) When the music starts, B.J. s becomes that ideal, local New Orleans scene and is the essence of what is so great about New Orleans music. To Call: (504) ) Preservation Hall (726 St. Peter Street) The one type of music that New Orleans indisputably does better than any other place is traditional jazz. The best place to hear it in New Orleans the club where jazz is turned into an art form is Preservation Hall. To Call: (504) The Carousel Bar & Lounge (214 Royal St) The famous Carousel Bar & Lounge in Hotel Monteleone is a long-time favorite New Orleans hotspot. The classic New Orleans hotel bar is the city s only revolving bar. For decades, it has lured guests in to take a spin on the 25-seat, bright, circus-clad Merry-Go-Round. Recently, Vogue Living named our bar one of the Top 20 Bars in the World, due in equal parts to our whimsical revolving carousel and comprehensive list of cocktails. Restaurants, Café, and Bakery Commander s Palace (1403 Washington Ave) Commander's Palace, nestled in the middle of the tree-lined Garden District, has been a New Orleans landmark since Known for the award-winning quality of its food and its convivial atmosphere, the history of this famous restaurant offers a glimpse into New Orleans' storied past and has been the go-to destination for Haute Creole cuisine and whimsical Louisiana charm. The winner of six James Beard Foundation Awards, Commander's Palace has evolved into a culinary legend. Website: Emeril s New Orleans (800 Tchoupitoulas St.) Emeril s Restaurant is chef/restaurateur Emeril Lagasse s famed flagship restaurant housed in a renovated pharmacy warehouse in New Orleans Warehouse District. Since opening in 1990, Emeril s has been a definitive force in contemporary New Orleans cuisine and has earned rave reviews and accolades for nearly 25 years, including Esquire magazine s Restaurant of the Year and Wine Spectator s Grand Award every year since At the helm is chef de cuisine Douglas Braselman, who works closely with Chef Emeril to push culinary boundaries and deliver bold and diverse flavors for a one-of-a-kind dining experience with unparalleled service and a festive unpretentious setting. Website: Mr. B s Bistro (201 Royal St.) Mr. B s is one of the brightest stars in the New Orleans restaurant scene. Nestled in the heart of the French Quarter, Mr. B s Bistro is located at the corner of Royal and Iberville Streets. Cindy Brennan and her famous restaurant family opened Mr. B s in 1979 and it has become a true French quarter fixture famous for deft cooking of regional specialties in a casual bistro setting. Website: 4

5 Palace Café (605 Canal St) This classic New Orleans restaurant, located at the foot of the French Quarter, serves contemporary Creole food in an upbeat and lively grand café. As bearers of the torch keeping Creole cuisine alive and vital, Dickie Brennan and Palace Café s culinary team are constantly evolving traditional Creole dishes and creating a few new favorites. Brennan s (417 Royal St) Brennan's Restaurant is a New Orleans restaurant tradition since Chef Slade Rushing's innovative Creole menu borrows influences from French and Spanish ancestry with modern updates and distinct seasonal offerings. Old-world elegance inspired dining rooms, and personable, attentive service, create a unique and sophisticated experience. Website: Coffee Call (3132 College Dr., Ste F) This local favorite hot spot serves amazing coffee and insanely delicious, affordable beignets. The cafe can get crowded but it offers plenty of seating. This is a great place to gather with friends. Croissant D Or Patisserie (617 Ursulines Ave) Croissant D'Or Patisserie: French Pastries, Quiches, Cakes, Sandwiches, Soup du Jour, and Cybercafé 617 Ursulines Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana Open Daily except Tuesdays from 6AM to 3PM. Website: Sucré (3930 Euphrosine St.) Sucré is an artisan dessert and confection experience established in 2007 as part of the Renaissance of post Katrina New Orleans. Steeped in the heritage of a rich culinary culture of New Orleans, Sucré s modern approach to gelato, desserts, chocolates, macarons and confections has fast made them a cherished destination for all locals and travelers with the objective to simply make everyone s day a little sweeter! Website: Red Fish Grill (115 Bourbon Street) Red Fish Grill is an award-winning casual New Orleans Seafood & Cajun restaurant with favorites including Hickory Grilled Redfish, BBQ Oysters, Double Chocolate Bread Pudding, and a variety of Gulf fish served nightly in a funky & lively kid-friendly space. Located at the gateway to the French Quarter, just one block off of Canal Street. Website: Bourbon House (144 Bourbon Street) Enjoy authentic New Orleans dishes at New Orleans' premier oyster bar and seafood restaurant. Bourbon House boasts a lively atmosphere with huge picture windows overlooking Bourbon Street. The dining rooms of this famous French Quarter restaurant are indicative of New Orleans European heritage, with handcrafted wrought iron and custom millwork. Website: 5

6 Jacques-Imo s Creole Restaurant (8324 Oak Street) Delicious food and a lively atmosphere make Jacques-Imo's a popular spot for locals and out-oftowners alike. Specialties include oyster-filled eggplant bathed in rich shitake mushroom cream, deep-fried roast beef po' boy or tomato-based Cajun bouillabaisse laced with herbs and a generous supply of oysters, shrimp, and mussels, just to name a few. For a truly intimate meal, try to get a reservation at the two-top in the pickup truck parked outside. Website: 6

Activities and Attractions

Activities and Attractions NATIONAL PARTNERSHIP FOR EDUCATIONAL ACCESS 10TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE NEW ORLEANS-AREA ACTIVITIES Be sure to take advantage of downtime from the conference to explore New Orleans and find out why so many