New Orleans local info please....

[bassman]

Need to pick the brains of any New Orleans locals/experts.....we'll be spending a very SHORT amount of time in New Orleans in May and would like to maximize our experience within this short window.  The time visiting is pretty much fixed in stone and can't be extended or expanded so this is what we have to deal with.....arrive on a Thursday afternoon.....need a recommendation for a decent hotel centrally located or close to Bourbon St that won't break the bank or my wallet.....  check-in and head out for dinner.....recommendations for a nearby restaurant (within walking distance) for some good Jambalaya.....after dinner spend time on Bourbon St taking in the local sounds.....Friday morning take a Gray Line tour of the city.....hit Café DuMonde for Beignets and Café Au Lait and then head out of the city around 1-2pm  for the next destination.

I vaguely remember staying at a hotel near Bourbon St on Canal St  in the late 1980's - I THINK....something called Le Meridian or similar...probably long gone, changed names or way out of my price range now...great location for walking around.

Within the extremely fixed limited timeframe available, any recommendations for:

1) decent motel/hotel in the city
2) good place for jambalaya
3) anything else we could / should try to squeeze in?

Obviously we will be the typical hit and run tourists with little or not chance to truly enjoy the many beautiful sights, sounds and flavors of the city BUT hopefully will get a small, quick taste.

TIA !!   

[Bobbo]

I’m not an expert on NO, but I’ve been there a dozen times or so, and have always loved it!  We sometimes stay at Bienville House Hotel at 320 Decatur Street.  http://www.bienvillehouse.com.  It’s a nice place that’s within walking distance of Bourbon Street, and Café DuMonde.  If you like cigars, check out the Cigar Factory just a block East.  I recommend Jacques-Imo’s at 8324 Oak Street (2 miles West of French Quarter) for the most fun and offbeat meal of all times!  Start with the alligator cheesecake!  Don’t ask…  Just try it!  For evening Jazz-Blues we like the Funky Pirate at the East end of Bourbon.   They usually have great bands with no cover.  If you’re lucky, Big Al will be playing.  Have fun, and watch out for the Voodoo!

[Bladedog]

No expert here either, but I LOVE that place!  I don't know your budget (or your dates) but three years ago we stayed at the Royal Sonesta, right on the corner of Bienville and Bourbon streets, and the price was very reasonable and VERY convenient to all the evening shenanigans. 

The Gumbo Shop - excellent food

Central Grocery - You GOTTA get a muffaletta sandwich.  Right down the street from Cafe Du Monde.  They are HUGE.  Eat a half and save the other half for the road.

Just don't wear any Seahawk garb.  haha

Have fun!

[Jess from VA]

I have very limited experience there (delivering my car to the port for shipment overseas '83).

I stayed at a cheap motel out near the freeway, then taxied in to the Quarter and other areas.

However, if you find yourself drinking heavily with a bunch of wild Marine junior officers going from joint to joint, go in the restroom to take a leak, and they are all vanished when you come back out, are later drinking alone in the street listening to dixieland music, and a really attractive young thing walks up and is REAL friendly with you and asks you back to her place..... avoid at all costs walking out of the well let areas of the Quarter into the dark, murky, seemingly uninhabited outlying streets.  There are a number of muggers and other lowlife's out there.  I came within a hair of serious mayhem..... only saved by quick thinking and a combat mindset. 

[Bobbo]

Something else to be aware of:  If a “street person” happens to ask you to play a game for money, I recommend politely refusing (or ignoring them), and do not stop!

My favorite street game goes something like this:  <SP> “Hey, I can tell you where you got your shoes!”  <Tourist> “Huh?” <SP> “Will you give me $5 if I can tell you where you got your shoes?”  <Tourist> “OK, where?” <SP> “You got your shoes on your feet!  Now gimme $5!”

And another:  <SP> “Hey, I bet you $5 I can spell your name”  <Tourist>  “OK, give it a try” <SP> “Y-O-U-R-N-A-M-E.  Now gimme $5!”

There are more, so maybe others can add them here.

[Cajunbone]

Not a New Orleans expert but am a New Orleans Native so this should help a little. 

1)   The hotels in the quarter are pretty pricey but if you were looking for something different I would try a bed and breakfast.  Not only do they have ones that are pretty close to Bourbon but they also serve a pretty good breakfast each morning.  It would also help in the security of the bike if you are traveling with yours.  If you were really head set on the hotel thing, then I would recommend something in the Business district.  It is still pretty close to Bourbon, via street car, but cheaper than the hotels in the Quarter.
2)   Jambalaya….hmmm…the place I would recommend for this would be Cochon at 930 Tchoupitoulas St.  This is in the warehouse district.  Pretty good Cajun/Creole fare.  If you want to eat on Bourbon, then The Redfish Grill and La Bayou are the most reasonable and accurate for this.
3)   What to add in…
a.   Jazz out at Snug Harbor would be a good outing at night but PLEASE do not walk there.  Not a good neighborhood to travel through after dark.  Take a cab. 
b.   If you can get into Preservation Hall…some great New Orleans Jazz.
c.   Depending on the calendar…a wild time can be had at Rock N Bowl.  Thursday nights are usually their Zydeco nights.  You also have the added feature to bowl while the band is playing.  If you ain’t been….you are going to love it. 
Be careful though…the last weekend of Jazzfest is the first weekend in May.  The hotels will be booked and going for a high rate and the crowds will be all over the Quarter at night.  The good thing for this time is the players from the Jazzfest usually go to the places in the city to play after…Rock N Bowl, Tipatina’s,  The Howlin Wolf,  House of Blues to name a few.  Check the calendar at www.nola.com for information on the time you will be there…and “Laissez les bons temps rouler”

[Chili Pepper]

Welll....you can book ahead and pay more orrr...take your chances like we did and...this is very important...go through one of the Louisiana welcome centers when you get there. We arrived in April a coupla days after GOTF last year. Didn't have a clue where to go or stay so we happened across this welcome center http://www.louisianatravel.com/new-orleans-welcome-center?supertag_group_id=7&filters=|sta888|exenon|0&start=10&tag=NULL&start_date=NULL&end_date=NULL&letter=NULL&back=true# and wandered on in and started asking questions. Call a hotel from the kiosk at the welcome center and get a helluva deal! We stayed at the very historic Hotel Provincial in the French Quarter..two blocks from Bourbon street. By going through the welcome center we saved over $30 a night on the room and got free parking in an enclosed and guarded area. Parking in NO costs about $25/day.

We LOVED New Orleans...just ask which areas to stay out of..every big city has THOSE places, of course, and use normal precautions. Bring your walking shoes even if you plan on using one of the numerous trollies or horse-drawn carriages to get around. Driving around and parking in the French Quarter would be a challenge. Do stop at the http://www.cafedumonde.com/ for the French beignets and coffee.  Recommended also: http://www.mealsfromtheheartllc.com/ for the wonderful crab cakes and conversation with the chef, a dynamic and very interesting woman  Bubba Gumps not recommended. Wish we had gone here instead, which, if I recall, was recommended by Serk and I wish we'd listened http://www.redfishgrill.com/

Have fun!

[bassman]

Bobbo - tried the Bienville House but they're already booked !!  Will also keep an eye or two out for the "street folks"

BladeDog - will give the Royal Senesta a call to see what they have and will definitely look into a "muffaletta" - I've heard about them but never knew the correct name - looks like I could eat for a week on one of those bad boys !

Jess - too phunny !!

Cajunbone - good info and will help with our planning

Chili - remember reading about the Timbr/Chili adventures and the good time you had in New Orleans....more good tips and should make our plans more fun...

Thanks all - appreciate the input !!   

[Jess from VA]

Jess - too phunny !!

It was the closest I ever came to personal violence (outside of a HS fistfight)

The little gal was not worrisome, but the guy who fell in behind us once out in the backstreets (her partner in crime) was dead ringer for John Coffey in 'The Green Mile'.

[flamingobabe #44]

The best place in the world to get a muffuletta....big enough to share...say with 4 people
http://www.yelp.com/biz/central-grocery-co-new-orleans#query:muffuletta

http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=jambalaya&find_loc=New+Orleans%2C+LA

K-Paul's Kitchen is my favorite....