Family visiting, need ideas for distinctly New Orleans things to show them (Baker: subletting)

[dans0377]

So, I've been living in New Orleans with my girlfriend for about five months now. We were subletting in the Bywater for the first four and now live in Uptown. We've fallen in love with the city and all of its very unique quirks but we are by no means locals or fluent in the rhythm of things. We're working on it but it takes time...

My family will be visiting us over Thanksgiving and I want to give them a taste of what the city is like, that great weirdness where eventually you hear stuff like 'I went to a wake where we drank chocolate martinis out of an ass ice sculpture' and you don't do a double-take anymore. It's just New Orleans I'm talking about more than just the Quarter but you know that. What I mean is, stuff like Ernie K-Doe's wax statue at the Mother-In-Law Lounge or John Boutte telling people to shut up at D.B.A. I want them to get a little of why this place is so unlike anywhere else.

Any ideas? Thanks!

[Prytania]

Walk along the riverfront, Garden District
Take them inside some of the old catholic churches
Go to Parkway Bakery and Tavern on the Bayou St. John

[doowapp]

Go downtown and show them how the ships in the Mississippi are at head level. Show them the street cars. Drive down St. Charles to look at the beautiful houses. Show them Audubon Park and City Park. Show them the Superdome. Show them the lakefront and the riverfront.