New Year's in New Orleans!

Every year we go to New Orleans for the week between Christmas and New Year. This time we did something different. We decided to only go to places we have never been! It was very interesting. A little background, sometimes its just the two of us and our dog, Jackson. Other times we may have family with us or just invite people over for the New Year's festivities. We have access to a place in the French Quarter so we stay there. It is convenient to everything. This past year it was only the two of us and Jackson of course. So this is just a brief overview of how we were tourists in our own town, sort of, we live two hours away but we frequent the city often. Unfortunately, like many people we have our favorite places and usually stick to those, so this was going to be fun. First, I went to Facebook for suggestions. Living in Louisiana, many frequent the city often and everyone has an opinion…it is the South, in Louisiana and we are talking about food! Having eaten in many countries, it really doesn't get any better than right at home. So before we left I studied available reservations on open table and had to shuffle around a bit (because of the holidays and the Sugar Bowl) but finally had an itinerary. I make an itinerary for EVERYTHING! So we were on our way to the city the day after Christmas.

Traffic was light and we got there in time to walk around a bit and get reacquainted with the city.

Our first night in NOLA, we went to Meauxbar Bistro. A small elegant bistro on the edge of the French Quarter, it was fantastic! We tried the Onion Soup Gratinee, Beet Ricotta Ravioli then the Rainbow Trout and Shrimp Risotto…all excellent. You must make a reservation as there are only maybe 12 tables. Well worth the pedicab ride there as well! Picture doesn't do the onion soup justice!

The next day in keeping with our "we haven't done it yet" theme, we decided to to the Hop On Hop Off Sightseeing tour. We are huge fans of this form of sightseeing because you can get and over view and then focus on the sights you would like to go back and visit. Fortunately, the French Quarter stop is right across the street. 

Streetcar on Canal Street…

We got off on Magazine Street in the Garden District. A must stop. Lots of shopping and restaurants and of course the beautiful homes, more on that later. We had lunch at Amici. As if the calamari wasn't enough, the pizza was some of the best I have ever had.

The restroom papered in local newspaper…

And back to our tour…

The Sugar Bowl activities were in full swing, Alabama and Oklahoma will go at it…

That night, we tried out Redemption, It is in an old church and some might remember it as Christians before Katrina. This was to be the worst meal. It came highly recommended and this should not persuade anyone from trying it for themselves. I NEVER send food back, but my fish was raw. I didn't even wish for a replacement. So technically I did not eat here. David said his meal was fine.
What a neat setting and I hear they have live music often. With a new restaurant, it could have just been a fluke.

We laid low the next day. It was rainy and just yucky. NOLA is not a pretty town in the rain or early Sunday morning anywhere near Bourbon street. The black dust just turns to a messy mucky mud. So this being said, A great new restaurant opened just around the corner from us. We could walk there and it was covered the whole way! This would be the gem of the week! Doris Metropolitan. With two restaurants in Isreeal and one in San Jose, Ca. we didn't know what to expect. Lets just say when I asked David how his steak was, his reply was " Let me just eat my steak in quiet!"

The "meat room"!!! If you pass by you can see it from the sidewalk. Interesting!

Years ago we took a carriage ride to the Garden District and thought it would be a perfect day to go again. It's about a two hour tour. It was great to look at the beautifully homes from our carriage. Jackson loved it!!

The next day was cold, rainy and pretty much yucky! So we decided to try out the movie theater at The Shops at Canal Place. I reserved the tickets ahead of time and we went to see Wolves of Wall Street. The movie was ok, a little raunchy and it was long, 3 hours. However the theater more than made up for whatever was lacking. Huge reclining chairs, waiters and wine and hors d'ouvres. This is the way to  "go to the movies"!

We ended the day with a delicious dinner at The Italian Barrel. Must make a reservation, only about eight tables. Food is delicious!
The next day we stayed in and waited for the nighttime activities to begin…
We had a great view and they close off the street, so people gather right below us. Let's just say for two adults alone on New Year's Eve, we had a blast! We threw beads and watched the fireworks. Happy 2014!!

Jackson went to bed early!

Fantastic view!!

We headed back to Lafayette to repack and regroup. We made arrangements for Jackson and headed back to NOLA after just one night. We had pretty much been alone for a week, but we were heading back for a huge wedding and celebration. We stayed at the Royal Sonesta and love how centrally located this hotel is. Irwin Mayfield's Jazz Playhouse is in the lobby. Awesome!

Dinner at GW Finns is always fresh and a can't miss…

Hot apple pie…

Dinner next night with friends at Tableau, one of our favorites. More friends coming in, never a dull moment. We attended a beautiful wedding held in St. Louis Cathedral in Jackson Square…

and "Second Lined" back to the hotel for one of the most beautiful receptions I have ever been to. For those of you that don't know, the "main line" or "first line" is the main section of the parade, or the members of the actual club with the parading permit as well as the brass band. Those who follow the band just to enjoy the music are called the "second line." The second line's style of traditional dance, in which participants walk and sometimes twirl a parasol or handkerchief in the air, is called "second lining." It has been called "the quintessential New Orleans art form – a jazz funeral without a body."

We enjoyed our trip to "The Big Easy", are back home and as always, planning the next trip!
Oddly, we are heading back to NOLA for Mardi Gras, but still planning a few other trips…
"Laissez les bon temps roules!"… Let the good times roll!