Vacation to New Orleans~! (Franklin, Many: price, stores, cabin)

[BradfromNO]

To clarify, there is no way on earth that oil is coming up the mississippi to NO, it's quite a haul,
and against a mighty current all the way. The laws of physics would not allow it. HOWEVER,
in just the same way that light streams through a keyhole, oil can EASILY get into lake
Pontchartrain. If you google it on a map,

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=...-8&sa=N&tab=wl

you can see that through a spot called the Rigolets, (as well as the Chef Menteur pass)
oil can go from the gulf to the lake in an afternoon if the tide, (which is strong in that small pass)
and the winds and the oil are right. It is easier to say, that the lake opens up to the gulf through
the Rigolets pass. In this case, storm activity assisted a strong tide and shoved
oil into the lake. And likely due to these cursed dispersants. Oil on the surface, as oil naturally
wants to be, would not make it past the line of barges they have shutting the pass to oil on the
surface. But it is in the water column thanks to BP, which is how it's going to foul the oyster beds,
kill fish and all the other things it will eventually do to our estuary. On the surface it would only
affect turtles and marine mammals, for the most part. (OH, and all the birds) Thanks BP.

[Tyggress]

Roughly one month to go before I land in NOLA~!!

I don't have more to say right now, other than I'm REALLY excited, and everyone's suggestions have been SOOO helpful in our planning.

[Tyggress]

3 weeks from tommorow evening, I will be on a plane to NOLA~! OMG....SOOOO excited.

[mnr3]

did anybody mention Napoleon House in the quarter for a drink and sandwich? the waiters can be snooty (in a Parisian garçon kind of way) but lots of folks like their muffaletta sandwich as much or better than the one at Central Grocery, and it's definitely a nicer place to sit-lovely old home with a courtyard that was to be Napoleon's pad after he was jailbroken by Jean Lafitte the pirate (or something along those lines). they also make the famous Pim's Cup drink--very refreshing and reasonable for the quarter

isn't Irene's still open? great restaurant; ibid for Bayona's, which is Susan Spicer's restaurant (plan to diet before and after your trip--it's worth it)

if you get uptown on the streetcar--or more exactly in the Garden district-- for a house/architecture tour, Parasol's old pub (Irish Channel) has great poboys--shrimp and roast beef, especially. it's one of those classic dives that make NOLA so cool

if you haven't figured it out, City Park is also where the Museum of Art is (and btw the park really isn't in Gentilly, which is on the other side of the bayou).

make sure you check an event calendar. there's ALWAYS something going on

another good tourist spot is right next to the Cathedral in the Presbytere--easily worth the low admission fee; and the Historic New Orleans collection has free exhibits. and of course I think someone must have already mentioned Frenchmen St. which sits right on the edge of the quarter in the Marigny district for the music scene. and definitely take the free ferry across the river, even if you don't get off on the other side (there's a little bar there, but not much else), being on the river can't be beat (esp. if it's hot), nor can the view of the cathedral as you come back. don't miss the Royal Street galeries during the day (runs parallel to bourbon one block closer to the river and is altogether a more interesting walk than Bourbon if you are heading towards Esplanade (down river) or Canal (upriver)

Acme Oyster House is another good lunch spot--locals really do go there. it's close to Canal

did someone mention Preservation Hall? great spot, next to Pat OBrien's famous bar, which is a little touristy but actually a pretty cool spot, nice courtyard and a piano bar.

if you haven't scoured nola.com, do so, they have tons of night life, restaurant reviews, etc. (you can check out their live cams to intensify your anticipation) have fun

[mnr3]

since you mentioned you are foodies and this page is a bit buried in the nola site, here's the dining guide--take the reviews with a grain of salt b/c the restaurant culture and scene here is really intense and competitive, but there are tons of places, esp. if you look to the left of the page with lists of best in categories. there are some notable places that don't make the lists b/c the field is just soo deep, really

New Orleans Dining and Restaurant Guide - NOLA.com

[njkate]

mnr3....are you speaking of the ferry to Algeirs? It's free if you walk on??
I'll have to add that to my list as I've never done it before when in NOLA...we will be there in Oct

[mnr3]

yup, free to pedestrians

[njkate]

Originally Posted by mnr3

yup, free to pedestrians

Thanks!!! Will have to take it across the river

[mnr3]

ok, since I'm on a roll:

2 nice (classy) bars in/near the quarter:
the Sazerac Bar in Roosevelt hotel (where Huey P. Long drank, and Elvis stayed while filming)
the carousel bar at the Monteleone Hotel. it literally revolves (very slowly) around the room

and on the street car line on St. Charles Ave, the Columns Hotel is a nice place for a drink and maybe a set of jazz; food is ok, but no more

and did anyone mention Commander's Palace restaurant? It's uptown (Garden District), pricey and probably booked, but many famous chefs trained there and it's really elegant

[Tyggress]

Thanks so much mnr3....many more lovely suggestions.