TR April 16-19 French Quarter Fest

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TR April 16-19 French Quarter Fest

Our trip consisted of me (55), my bff S (54), her daughter M (37), and her daughter-in-law J (24 and a NOLA virgin). We left Thursday morning for the 5 hour drive to NOLA. We always drive through the French Quarter upon arrival, and this time was no different. It was great to see tons of visitors in the city for the FQF.

We dropped off the luggage at the Hilton Riverside (comped room compliments of Harrah’s), and M %26amp; I drove the car to the valet at Harrah’s. I’m a diamond member, and get free valet parking-all it costs was a tip when we picked it up Sunday. I never got around to gambling this trip, I’m sure they expected me too, but they’ll get over it.

We were on the 21st floor with a beautiful river view, and had no complaints at all with the Hotel. We went to the Riverwalk to a store called Got It, to buy a 3 day visitour pass for the streetcars both on the Riverside and St. Charles routes, as well as the busses. It was $12.00 and well worth the money. The streetcar stop was just outside our Hotel, and we never had to wait over 10 minutes.

The weather was wonderful-cloudy, cool, and quite windy, but no rain until Sunday morning when we had just a sprinkle. I took the girls to Coops the first night, and I don’t know how I’ve missed this place as many times as I have been in NO, but it was as good as this forum said it was. We then took the obligatory carriage ride through the French Quarter, and had Paul for a driver with his mule Firefly. Would you believe we had him last time about 2 years ago? S finally had to tell me to shut up and let him do the talking. Funny thing about beer and bloody mary’s, I seem to talk too much after a few.

Friday morning we carried our pimped out 2nd line umbrellas over to Petunia’s for breakfast before the parade. Yep, got the pain pardou (French toast) and I could only eat half of my order. We should have shared entrees, but it was really good. We finished up at 5 minutes till 10 when the parade was to start. S had had recent knee surgery, so she met up with us when we turned onto St. Ann. The other 3 of us were placed behind the marine band, and my first thought was, just how jazzy is this gonna be? Well I was wrongo! There were only 8 of them, and these guys knew their jazz! The parade was a blast, and next thing we knew, we were in Jackson Square for the opening of the FQF.

Now on 3/24 Timmy485 wrote-

And I just got my confrimation for the Abita tent in Jackson Square from 1030-245 on Friday, April 17. Any TA people in the area, please come by, say hi and try a Restoration Ale.

I also hope to make the m%26amp;g at Lafittes. Just a few weeks away!

So, being the thirsty parade girl I am, I went to the Abita tent asking for Timmy from Fresno. They looked at me kinda funny, and said he must be at the other Abita tent. So I carried my extreme thirst over there, and the whole scene was repeated. Where in the heck were ya Timmy?

We wandered the FQ all day, in and out of shops, stopping at each stage, and finally spending 3 hours at the Old U.S. Mint Zydeco stage. I love watching the Cajun dancing. After much Abita beer, and a few bloody mary’s, we made our way back to our home-away-from-home, and watched a movie in the room. None of us are big bourbon street goers, so we were just good girls. We ordered ALL of the appetizer’s on the room service menu, and munched out while watching the movie. When the girls went to push the table out in the hall, they couldn’t figure out how to let the sides down. When they finally did, S %26amp; I locked them out for a few minutes. Guess you had to be there, it was hysterical at the time.

Saturday morning we took the girls to the St. Charles streetcar and rode all the way down to Riverbend to eat at Camellia Grille. We had to wait in line about an hour, but O’henry’s bar was just next door, and their bloody mary’s helped us pass the time. We were rating the bloody mary’s all weekend on a 1-10 scale, and these were a 9 (we don’t give 10’s). Camellia grill did not disappoint, it was good food and great entertainment. At one point we had the whole place singing “You Are My Sunshine.”

After the long ride back, we stopped at the hotel to pick up our TA bag of hats, and made our way to Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shoppe for the M%26amp;G. There were only about 12-15 of us, but we REALLY enjoyed talking with those of you who made it. I’m not gonna try to list who was there, cause I’m likely to forget someone. Let’s just say I had had a little to drink on that day, and my memory was not at it’s best. For those of you who weren’t able to make it, you missed out! We went over to Jackson Square to hear Charmaine Neville, and she was as good as ever. I had a meltdown at this point-missing my brother who was here last year, and had a good cry. My friends just let me cry, right there on the steps of Jackson Square, with lots of hugs and I felt much better after that.

Now, I really don’t remember where all we went this night, but ended up eating at Drago’s in our hotel. I’m not really an oyster lover (or I wasn’t until then), but we decided to try the charbroiled oysters they are known for. All I can say is WOW! I’m drooling right now thinking about it. They were the best!

Sunday was go home day, so we packed up, and got the car to take the girls on a Katrina tour. We had a little trouble finding our valet ticket, but finally found it. It would have cost us $75. if we had really lost it. We were very impressed with the housing going up in the lower 9th ward from the Brad Pitt project. The homes looked kinda like shotgun houses, but were all up on stilts, and had some crazy angles going on. I’ve never seen anything like it. We got hungry and found a Bud’s broiler on City Park right across from Delgado College. Would you believe it was having a soft opening (grand opening was gonna be Monday) the day we were there. They had been closed since Katrina. Let me tell you-they can do a burger right!

We made our way up I-49 and another fantastic NOLA weekend was behind us. My husband and I are planning a trip this fall, so now I will have that to look forward to. All in all it was a great weekend, and we have a new tradition. S is assuming custody of our 2nd line umbrellas this year, and she has to add something to it for next years parade. I’m countin down the days! I’ll try to get some pictures posted if I can figure out how to do it. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed doing it. Laissez le bon temps rouler!

TR April 16-19 French Quarter Fest

Thanks for your report! Sorry I missed yall this weekend, but it looks like you had a blast! :)

great trip report, sounds like you had a great time!! My last trip to NOLA was the first time I had Coop%26#39;s too, and I don%26#39;t know what took me so long to try it, but it will forever be a stop for all my future trips :) I hope you got to meet up with Porelly, we%26#39;re all anxiously awaiting her report!!!

Fantastic report! Thanks.

I never did get to meet porelly. She didn%26#39;t make it to the m%26amp;g, some folks said they ended up at Lafitte%26#39;s Landing down the street-and it%26#39;s a gay bar.

Everytime I past her hotel I wanted to go in and ask for porelly. I hate I missed her. Wish she would honor us with a TR.

Well we did make the meet and greet...and I also went to Abita tent after tent looking for Timmi from Fresno with also no luck. And I can attest that poolejkp17 and her group had a great time. There were a couple tripadvisor fans that just happened to come in and didn%26#39;t know anything about the meet and greet. I%26#39;m glad you didn%26#39;t end up at the Alpine-it must have been the facial contortions I made when it was mentioned...Drago%26#39;s was an excellent choice..post in on your next trip and maybe we can meet again.

This is S and our trip was everything Jan said and maybe more! Of course, our NO trips are always wonderful. I don%26#39;t think we could possibly count the times we have been down there, but every single time it just gets better and better! Come join us next year!

I was there! For some reason our beer tent was not labeled as a beer tent and the only sign was up in the tree but I was there. Just to the right of the stage as you face it next to the water and soda booth on Friday from 11-230. I dont know how many beer tents there were in the square though. I even worked an extra shift on Sunday in Preservation Hall because they needed more people. I was a little hurt nobody stopped by to say hi. :(

Actually, Timmy, Jan and M went to that booth on the way out to grab something cold while we sat on the steps outside the park and by then didn%26#39;t even think about asking for you because we were so tired and didn%26#39;t even think of it. Truthfully, I don%26#39;t know if Jan even remembers this part!!! She had much fun by then. Hopefully, we will catch you next year. -S

Well I should be there next year in the same booth with the same folks I have worked with the last few years. Hope to see some folks then. I will wear a name tag next year. ;-)