JCSC Alex Fox at New Orleans Hillel
Living in the Big Easy

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LIVING in the BIG EASY

          New Orleans is one of the most fascinating cities in the world.  At times you are going to love it, and there will be times that you will probably hate it.  One thing you won't have to worry about is finding things to do.  Unlike many of the other fellows, we aren't stuck in a small college town with a couple of bars to entertain ourselves.

          If you like to go to bars, New Orleans is a great place.  There are so many unique bars and clubs, that you will find one that you'll enjoy going to.

          You have to take advantage of the great jazz music that can be heard throughout the city.  Tourists come from all over the world to hear the music, party, and to eat the fabulous food.  The Cajun/Creole cooking is great, and it is unlike anything that I had growing up in California.  Get the Hillel Restaurant guide, and talk to the staff about where to go to eat.  There is a local music, food, and entertainment guide called the Gambit which tells you what is happening every month.

          There are no shortage of Festivals in the Crescent City.  When people hear the words New Orleans, they think Mardi Gras.  Mardi Gras is just one of the big festivals that take place throughout the year.  There is also Voodoo Fest, Jazz Fest, French Quarter Fest, and numerous other festivals throughout the year.  The town thrives on tourism, and wouldn't be able to exist without it.

 

Here are few places that you should definitely check out.
 

The French Quarter:

          Just strut down Bourbon Street, check out everything, and ignore the smell.  You'll never see more people wearing beads anywhere else in the world.  There are tons of bars and clubs to mingle in and out of.

          Pat O'briens: which is famous for the Hurricane

          Tropical Isle: which is famous for the Hand Grenade

          Cats Meow: if you like to see all kinds of people doing Kareoke.

          Howl at the Moon to see piano dueling contests.

          Preservation Hall to hear the old style Jazz.  Go to enjoy the music, because there is no food, drinking or smoking in this little wooden enclave.  They have five different Preservation Hall bands, and they are all great.  They play from 8:30-12:00, so go there to hear a couple of sets, and then party all night after.

            House of Blues: Many big name acts play here on the weekends.

 

Restaurants:

Good luck affording to eat at some of these places on our salary!

 

The Red Fish Grill, right at the foot of Bourbon St.  Great fish, and chocolate bread pudding.

Emerils NOLA

Brennans, have the Bannana Foster for dessert.

Galatoires, an old Crescent City establishment on Bourbon Street. Guys have to wear a sport jacket.

Emerils Delmonico (Great steak, but terribly expensive and on St Charles a little before downtown, but not in the quarter).

Café Dumonde:  You will be here often eating beignets (fried donuts with powdered sugar).

Central Grocery: Eat the mouth watering muffalettas(a sandwich that probably isn't kosher!).

 

Take time during the day to walk throughout the French quarter.  It looks a lot different than it does at night.  Go the French quarter market on Decatur St, and spend some time with the intellectual mind readers at Jackson Square.

 

Music outside of the Quarter

          Aside from Preservation Hall and the House of Blues, the best music can be heard outside of the French quarter.

 

Frenchmen Street, just on the other side of the quarter has a lot of great places to hear jazz music:

Blue Nile

Snug Harbor

DBA

Café Brasil

Funky Butt (Just on the edge of the quarter)

Howling Wolf (Downtown on South Peters)

 

360 This is a rotating bar on top of the World Trade Center Building. It is a nightclub with the best views of the New Orleans Metropolitan area. Live music isn't played.  They have a DJ. 

 

Uptown:

 

Tipitinas is a great place to hear jazz and New Orleans funk music.

Dos Jefes Cigar bar This is a very relaxed atmosphere, and its a good place to have a drink and chill.

Maple Leaf People swear by it on Tuesday nights to hear the band Rebirth.

Next to the Maple Leaf is one of the best restarants in the city. Jacques-Imos Café. This is real Nawlins cooking, and its affordable compared to the other nice places.

Rock n Bowl: Go bowling on old lanes, and record your own score while listening to great local bands, or just go to dance to the music.

General Things to Do 

 

The Audobon Zoo:  This is an excellent Zoo, and it's situated at the end of Audobon park, which is a great park to walk around.  There's also a refurbished golf course in the middle of the park if you have the inclination to play.

 

New Orleans Museum of Art:  This is a nice art museum at the start of City Park.  There are also four golf courses and a driving range at City Park.

Aquarium of the Americas:  Just don't fall in the shark tank and you'll have a great time.

 

D-Day Museum: Learn a little bit about WWII and the most important day in the survival of Western Democracy.

 

Take a river boat cruise on the Mississippi River.

 

Harrahs Casino:  If you like to gamble, this casino is at the foot of Canal Street, and it has a large Poker room.  There are other casinos throughout the area which have lower betting limits.  It's hard to find a $5 blackjack game or craps game at Harrahs.  Just don't blow all your hard earned JCSC salary!

 

Riverwalk:  Its a mall downtown along the river.

 

Louisiana Superdome: Watch a Saints Game or a Green Wave football game. Other events are also held here throughout the year. 

 

New Orleans Arena: Watch the Hornets shoot hoops.  There are also many concerts held here.