I just returned from 4 days in New Orleans for a conference. Keep in mind the following: 1) I was presenting and it was important that I not get wasted or stay up all night 2) I caught a bug a couple of days before we left, so I was real low energy, and on antibiotics 3) We are cheap.
We flew into town on Continental, no drama. I did the Priceline name your own price and got a room at the Intercontinental New Orleans for $70 a night. I have stayed in several Intercontinentals and this one is a bit shabbier, but it was clean (there are stains on the hallway carpet, but the bed and linens are fine), and plenty adequate for the price. This was the first time we stayed outside the French Quarter, and I must say that the downtown/warehouse area is much safer than it was pre-Katrina. It was nice to be in a quieter location off the beaten path. We walked over to the convention center to register, and on the way back, we ate at Mother鈥檚 Restaurant on Poydras and Tchoupitoulas. We ordered 2 bowls of seafood gumbo, and a shrimp poboy, but they messed it up and brought us cups of gumbo instead. When we pointed this out, they let us have a couple of cups of jambalaya and reds beans and rice, so even though it is a bit pricey, we felt like we got a good deal in the end. On the way back to the hotel, I see traffic, and general commotion at the nearby park and as I am want to do, I drag my husband into who knows what to see what is going on. Lo and behold we find a very lovely event: Wednesday at the Square concert series. The concert series runs every Wednesday (rain or shine) from April 1-June 17 at 5:00-7:30 in Lafayette Square just off Poydras Street between St. Charles Avenue and Camp Street across from Gallier Hall. We saw the Bucktown All-Stars + Soul Rebels. There was booze, and food, and vendors and lots of locals. This is the first time we saw a bunch of pirates. Back to the room early, bed, pillows a bottle of wine and cable TV. That鈥檚 my idea of heaven.
Next morning, I鈥檓 up early to hunt down and kill some coffee and drag it back to the den. The hotel has Community Coffee in the rooms, lobby and in the coffee place downstairs which I go ahead and get and end up being pretty dissatisfied. But it鈥檚 adequate to get me up and headed to the workout room. It鈥檚 very nice, but as with most Intercontinentals, there鈥檚 not much in terms of amenities, just newspapers. And towels. I like a bowl of fruit and some water. Anyway, the machines are nice and I ride the bike for a half hour. The pool is outdoor, but heated, and I curse the fact that I forgot a suit.
Off to the conference. My group was all the way at the far end, and although everything is all clean proper and back in order now, I can鈥檛 help but wonder what it was like for all of those people stuck in there with so little hope after Katrina. I look around and wonder how I would have felt or done if it had been me. It鈥檚 an odd world. I won鈥檛 bore you with conference stuff, but I will say that I had a little break and I went over and walked around the Riverwalk since it was rainy. The food looked pretty good, although I did not eat any. That mall was a pretty sad little tourist trap years before Katrina or the meltdown, and I have to say it has changed very little. 2 bright spots鈥he Dollar Store, and I got a bathing suit on clearance at the Gap for $10! So I get done with my stuff at 5pm, take a shuttle back to the hotel, and set off to find my man and eat something. We walk through the French Quarter to look for food and can鈥檛 quite decide. We get all the way to the end and end up at Mona Lisa鈥檚 Pizza 1212 Royal Street, a great local place that just makes me feel good. I have spinach lasagna, and hubbie has spaghetti and meatballs, and we have Chianti and we are fat and happy and still have some money. Stroll leisurely back to room . We see more Pirates and then learn that there is a pirate convention! It was very fun to see so many people dressed up, some very very seriously.
Next day, I head out for coffee knowing I must leave premises to get anything decent, and go to the Starbucks in the Sheraton on Canal. I would prefer something locally owned, but drugs are drugs after all. On this day I get to jump in the pool after my workout! It is a lovely thing an outdoor heated pool. It鈥檚 cold when I get out and I have to put the towel around my shoulders before I leave the water. More boring conference stuff. I give my talk, and now I鈥檓 free!!! (sort of).
During my coffee run, I notice a nice Cuban place called Librio on Tchoupitoulas and suggest it for dinner. My husband got one of their $7.95 Mohitos and did not regret it. We had chicken and rice, and seafood paella and it was excellent. Cuban food is awesome and this was pretty exceptional. Then we wandered over to Harrah鈥檚 and hubbie won $200! I won .56 on penny slots! Then home to bed.
Conference in the morning. I go back to the room, and hubbie says he鈥檚 been trying to call me. Continental called us because our flight was overbooked and would we be willing to change flights for a $200 flight credit each? Hubbie made an executive decision and said yes which gave us 4 more hours in NO and just enough time to walk over to the market, and grab a wrapped muffeletta at the Central grocery on Decatur (the other half is in my fridge right now.) Oh, I forgot to mention that hubbie went back to Librio at lunch and got another $7.95 mohito, and a sandwich and talked to the older Cuban ladies.
Lots missed this time, the Saint Charles Streetcar, Donna鈥檚, Johnny鈥檚 Poboys, but a little work and lots of fun!
My NO Trip Report %26ndash; I hope people find it funny (and useful)
What fun finding Wednesday at The Square by accident. Sounds like you had a great trip. Just watch what you say about Community coffee! This southern gal loves it! Coulda been worse-chicory!
Enjoyed your trip review, and come back sometime!
My NO Trip Report %26ndash; I hope people find it funny (and useful)
Glad to see you were able to have some fun while doing your conference. I%26#39;m leaving for NO Thursday for my 1st trip, and I can%26#39;t wait!!
Thanks for the trip report. I loved how you set the stage in your first paragraph.
It sounds as if you did enough, but not too much. That%26#39;s typical of our New Orleans visits. Trips to New Orleans should, after all, be fun and not work.
As a Louisiana resident, I%26#39;m sorry that you didn%26#39;t like out official state coffee. But, if everyone liked Community, there would be no need for other brands and it would be a dull coffee world %26lt;G%26gt;.
Mona Lisa is one of our favorite restaurants. Few New Orleans visitors find their way there.
If you enjoyed the paella at Librio, I suggest that you try Lola%26#39;s, another of our favorites, on your next visit. You%26#39;ll need to take a taxi, but it%26#39;s only about 15 minutes from the CBD or French Quarter. One of the reviews in the following link mentions the ';amazing garlicky butter.'; When I complemented our server on the garlic butter during out first visit, her response was, ';There isn%26#39;t any butter in that garlic.';
http://www.yelp.com/biz/lolas-new-orleans
No offense to anyone who likes Community Coffee! There just isn%26#39;t enough caffeine in it to wake me up! I was so glad to see that there is local life happening! I%26#39;m not the average ';show me your ----'; Bourbon Street patron. I love the slow pace of New Orleans and all the surprises that one can find. I think there are many many people like me. I love No in the dead of summer. I%26#39;ll be back soon.
Great trip report.4 weeks till we,e there xxxxx
I have had a terrible Monday. Your TR put a smile on my face. Hoping to get my NOLA fix July or Aug.
Maybe your next trip can be less business.
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