Insiders Guide of things to do, eats and drinks in New Orleans

I decided to give you a quick overview of places you can go in New Orleans to really enjoy music. This covers a wide range – with no favorites – just a detailed, fairly long list that one can peruse fast.

Let’s take one last look at where and how Mardi Gras is celebrated on planet earth. Rio de Janeiro hosts the biggest bash in the world and has been putting on a lavish, five-day festival of parades, music and dancing since 1723. Venice, Italy is known for its elaborate masquerade balls that feature gorgeous masks, black tie for men and long gowns in rich fabrics for the ladies. New Orleans goes over-the-top with two weeks of street parades that include spectacular floats, costumes, masks and ends with black-tie balls full of music and merriment. Nice, France honors its Carnaval de Nice by enjoying the spectacular “Festival of Flowers” – an age-old tradition and floral extravaganza that Henri Matisse painted in 1923. Trinidad and Tobago are two islands at the epicenter of Mardi Gras in the Caribbean where Calypso and Soca are the most popular forms of music played during Mardi Gras. This leads us to a description of J’Ouvert an early morning street party held in several Caribbean islands.

When you and your family or friends travel to New Orleans you may come across words that you’ve never heard or seen before. We’re here to help – much of this is verbiage or expressions you may already know, but others may be brand new – take a look.

This zoo is inside Audubon Park, a lovely riverside spot with 1.8 miles of multi-use paved trail unfurling beneath a shady canopy of live oaks. It covers 58 acres and is home to 2,000 animals. You and your family can see the entire zoo in three to four hours – but we would suggest an entire day to experience both the zoo AND the park. Behind the zoo is The Fly, the waterfront section where people toss Frisbees and chill out.

According to legend, the famous Southern playwright, Tennessee Williams once said, “America has only three cities: New York, San Francisco and New Orleans. All the rest are Cleveland.” Having lived in New York and San Francisco while only visiting New Orleans – I’m inclined to agree with him. Of course, he had a great flair for making dramatic statements – both on paper and in-person – so that has to be entered into the equation. I think a lot of people would agree with Williams, but many would also disagree.

I think it’s time to write about Gayle Benson, a gracious socialite who is the owner of the New Orleans Saints, the professional football team that won the XLIV Super Bowl in 2010.

Since you’re planning to visit our fair city we know you’re someone who loves to travel – no matter where you live: north, south, east or west in the United States and beyond. For this reason I was delighted to come across an ENTIRE ISSUE of AFAR magazine, 10/19 that celebrated their 10th anniversary and explored the subject of happier traveling.

NEW ORLEANS JAZZ & HERITAGE FESTIVAL: It’s springtime in NOLA so the weather is very pleasant. This year, the May festivities start on Sunday, May 3rd with Jazz Fest. Wait a minute – the word “start” is not quite correct. Actually it’s the LAST DAY of this event because in 2020 Jazz Fest starts on Thursday, April 23rd and ends Sunday, April 26th – then picks up again a week later on Thursday, April 30th to end on Sunday, May 3rd. This event is held at the Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, the third-largest racetrack in the country, which is at 1751 Gentilly Boulevard in New Orleans.

One of my favorite publications is Southern Living – it never disappoints! Each issue of the magazine seems to offer a topic that is totally new to me. In December 2019 an interview with JoAnn Clevenger, the owner of the Upperline restaurant in New Orleans caught my eye at once.