The Excitement and Rich Flavor of New Orleans

The New Orleans metropolitan area boasts a countless number of entertainment options, cultural opportunities, and culinary delights that residents somehow find time to enjoy.  Jazz is the soundtrack to the city, with numerous jazz clubs in the French Quarter area including the legendary Preservation Hall (pictured) and the House of Blues.  The Central Business District is home to The Howlin’ Wolf, which hosts an eclectic mix of artists, and Uptown locals flock to Tipitina’s to see local bands as well as national stars perform jazz, funk, soul, and Cajun music.  Each year, thousands of visitors flock to hear big-name bands perform at Voodoo Fest and Jazz Fest, two events that guarantee a good time.  Many major concert tours have stops in New Orleans with performances at The University of New Orleans Lakeside Arena or The New Orleans Arena.  The performing arts are well represented at The Saenger Theatre, where many Broadway productions can be seen.  The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra delights audiences with classical and contemporary favorites.  Royal Street in the French Quarter is home to numerous intimate art galleries, and larger exhibits may be seen at The New Orleans Museum of Art, the Contemporary Arts Center, and the unique Ogden Museum of Southern Art.  Sports fans will want to get tickets early for The New Orleans Saints, whose home turf is The Superdome.  A New Orleans Hornets basketball game is always a fun and inexpensive option.  Every year, New Orleans hosts The Sugar Bowl and The Zurich Classic (a PGA tour event), and in 2007 hosted an NCAA Tournament Regional game.  Fewvisitors think of New Orleans without quickly thinking of Mardi Gras, a nearly one-month celebration prior to Lent that includes indulgence in great food, fantastic music, countless social events, and a long string of prize-laden parades, many of which are family-friendly and in local neighborhoods.  Our Aquarium of the Americas has been rated one of the top five in the U.S. (don’t miss the penguins or the rare white alligators), and the Audubon Zoo is also one of the best in the country.  During December, City Park displays thousands of twinkling lights during the Celebration In the Oaks.  For history buffs, a cemetery tour allows you to snake between many of New Orleans’ uniquely elaborate and ornate aboveground graves.  If romance is in the air, The Cajun Queen’s jazz dinner cruise on the Mississippi River is a must.  No description of New Orleans would be complete without mention of the gastronomic joys the city has to offer.  New Orleans has one of the highest number per capita of restaurants in the country.  The jazz brunch buffet at Court of Two Sisters is an absolute must, and the jazz brunch at Commander’s Palace is truly exceptional.  Emeril’s, GW Fins, Arnaud’s, Muriel’s, Jacques-Imo’s and countless other restaurants offer world-class and unique Cajun, Creole, and fresh Gulf seafood dishes.  Neighborhood restaurants like Dick and Jenny’s and La Crêpe Nanou probably don’t take reservations because an empty table never sits for long – it’s worth any wait you might have.  In New Orleans, the difficulty isn’t in finding something to do; it’s in choosing one.