New Orleans French Quarter

This is going to be a different style of writing as I'm going to give you a journey through the French Quarter, what places I liked, what I disliked, where to go and wander, and things I discovered during it. PLEASE let me know via comments if you like this style better than the previous styles as I'm evaluating how I'm going to proceed into the future.

The Vieux Carre is the oldest area of New Orleans, started in 1718, and is now the tourist mecca of New Orleans. It is inundated with what is called the Creole style, many call it French Colonial, but that is wrong. It was invented here with building length outside galleries decorated by intricate iron supports and railings to deal with the insane heat of Louisiana in the summer, spring, fall, ok, all the time.

After the Spanish took control, most of the wood was outlawed due to endless fires and only brick and stucco were allowed.

The Arrival

I took the riverside streetcar line from Canal street, where I was staying, down to the Dumaine Street Station. You need to ask for a stop because if nobody is at the station, they will cruise right on by.

This put me close to Jackson Square, where you can climb up the steps of Washington Artillery Park and you can get the amazing picture I used for the main one of this post. Right next to that is Cafe Du Monde in the French Market, where you can get beignets. Think a croissant had a baby with a cinnamon donut. Super good, super fattening.

A very pleasant and easy-going ride for $1.25. Have exact change

Know which streetcar line you want ahead of time, and don't have your phone out searching at the stops. You will be approached, and they will try to get money

Jackson Square

This area is called Jackson Square, and this is also where the real French Market is, the honestly cooler one is called the Colonnade, down the river a bit.

The masters of beignets, typically sold in a pack of 3, a great treat

Eating them fresh fresh is preferred but they were still very good by the time I got back to my room

You must be one of very few permitted people to be able to hang your art here. They are talented individuals

Then around the side of the cathedral on the west, is Pirates Alley. Why is it called this? My research says for tourism aspects.

Pirate's Alley. No plundering or booty was to be found though

While it says French Market down here, the Colonnade is it's real name, but has so much more in it

Like a farmers market with hardly any farmers

Here at a crepe shop, I got a fromage crepe, so so much cheese. It was very tasty though and surprisingly filling

Royal Street (Rue Royale)

This is where the adults hang out, a daytime street with antiques, tons of quality original art and much lower key dining.

Home of most of the pretty buildings and good adulting, Royal street

You almost get used to this style here, it's really everywhere and the best examples are on Royal

Street names are situated in the sidewalks on most of the corners in case you get lost, and helpful as you're likely to be heads down throwing up at some point anyways

Well, you know, because of Anne Rice, we Generation Xers must give it at least a looksee. Twilight sucks btw

Kinda cool, kinda kitsch. If you have a young goth child rebelling at home, they'll love this stuff

This is where I had dinner, right next to the shop

According to actual locals, this is the best hamburger in town. Half hamburger half brisket, and all delicious

Home of possibly the best roast beef po-boy in the city. After eating it, I didn't need to try others

A real deli makes them, takes about 5-10 minutes

Now, I did go back to my room to eat this because I had a work meeting but O M G, get it with gravy, this was so insanely good

Bourbon Street

While it is a must see, and you must see it at night, it is the home of drunks, urine, vomit, and low-grade-dick bartenders (which I understand to a point, they have to deal with that place all the time). Big warning 99% of the scams and potential for unsavory actions are in this street. Go in a group.

Sure it's pretty and lit colorfully at night, but in Rob's opinion, it's trash

The 'Drink to go ritual' Voodoo daquiris are nasty, it got tossed less than 1/2 into it and had to find vodka to get rid of the taste

Trying to Preserve Ja. I guess not even the sign gets preserved. This is one of 3 institution old school bars left on the street

Razzoo is supposedly the best of the old music bars, it was better lit and busier than others, plus had a bouncer to keep out difficult individuals

The Famous Door rounds out the 3. It was closed that Monday night I went by it

Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop, which they think the oldest surviving building in New Orleans. Since construction records were kinda sloppy and people could do what they wanted without permits back then, they don't know for sure

But it was a quality divey bar, at the very very east end of Bourbon, and prices were good

The official end of the French Quarter, Esplanade, but... continue east, I have a pleasant surprise just below

Or make your way to the other end for drunk eating of Krystal burgers

Frenchman Street

After all the bad, I talked to some locals and we got along well, because it seems people like Rob when he's out and about. Anyways, many of them told me that Frenchmen Street was the place to go, and everyone hates Bourbon Street.

As you can see, much lower key than Bourbon. Locals, adults of quality, and just chill people here enjoying the music

Also according to many locals, this place was the best by far to see real local music

While relieving myself, I looked up and saw this, and then was super challenged to get a clear shot because... you know, drinking

Summary

It's a tourist destination, so expect that tourist things will be there, and lots of it. Also a lot of scams and potential pick-pocketing on Bourbon. There is no last call, so around 3am onwards, there will probably be people returning their drinks via upper or lower outlets around the area.

Royal is a great daytime activity as are the markets, and at night, Frenchman, while technically outside the quarter, is the place to be. The food during the day is without compare.

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