New Orleans Hit List – THE ROLLING STORM

HIT LIST

NEW ORLEANS

HIT LIST

NEW ORLEANS

LAST UPDATE / August 28, 2016

New Orleans has an undeniable charm and a unique energy. The people are the most friendly, the architecture is gorgeous, the food is beyond delicious and the mood is almost always merry. Gets harder and harder to leave this place each time. Nola is one of my favorite cities in the world, here's why ...

TOP OF THE LIST

Beignets from Café du Monde | New Orleans, Louisiana

Arthur Roger Gallery: George Dureau's Representative | New Orleans, Louisiana

Oak Alley Plantation | Vacherie, Louisiana

Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 | New Orleans, Louisiana

The National WWII Museum | New Orleans, Louisiana

Afternoon Walk through the Garden District | New Orleans, Louisiana

1
Beignets
Café du Monde
Not all tourist destinations are justified but this is a place anyone can agree that you have to come to. Awesome beignets and coffee.

2
Local Art Legend
George Dureau at Arthur Roger Gallery
George Dureau has recently passed but you can still see his stunning painting and photographic work at Arthur Roger Gallery. I had the very random pleasure of meeting the man on my first visit to New Orleans. Read about it here.

3
Day Trip
Oak Alley Plantation
Oak Alley Plantation has many layers to its story. The abundance of history here at Oak Alley makes it an important detour from New Orleans.

4
Park Life
Audubon Park
Need a break from the craziness of the French Quarter? Get back to nature at Audubon Park and then grab a po boy at near(ish) Domilise's or Guy's.

5
Fried Chicken
Willie Mae's Scotch House
The fried chicken was real, real good. The slight spicy kick to those red beans was a nice surprise too.

6
Cemeteries
Lafayette Cemetery No. 1
Visit the oldest and most diverse cemetery in New Orleans. See Saint Louis Cemetery No. 1 too for the tomb of Marie Laveau and Nicolas Cage. Also be sure to book a tour guide for that one or you will not be admitted.

7
Strip Show
Big Dicks House of Big Boobs
The runway at this roaming warehouse party features strippers of all kinds. Everything from the performers, the crowd and the location were fun and had a really great vibe. Catch it if you can...

8
Museum
The National WWII Museum
This museum does an excellent job of conveying how the war was won and how it affected the lives of Americans most closely involved.

9
Afternoon Stroll
Garden District
Take a walk through the famously gorgeous and Antebellum neighborhood. Side effects may include serious real estate envy.

10
Go Local
Zapp's Voodoo Potato Chips
Eat them because they are a product made in Louisiana. Eat them because they are delicious.

COOL DIGS

The Ace Hotel is a handsome stay right in the heart of the CBD District. And the friendly, young, cool staff provided great service and recommendations for events around town. It's a little removed from the French Quarter. Not a problem if you don't mind a short walk or an Uber ride.

Ace Hotel lobby bar | New Orleans, Louisiana

11 - 13
Ace Sleep Place
Ace Hotel New Orleans
In numerical order: A beautiful first floor bar, a sharp-looking deluxe room and a rooftop pool to help you beat the Nola heat.

Room 808 at Ace Hotel | New Orleans, Louisiana

Rooftop pool at the Ace Hotel | New Orleans, Louisiana

DELICIOUS BITES

You have to try to not eat well in this great city. These sandwiches, pho and Cajun food are a good place to start.

Muffuletta at Cochon Butcher | New Orleans, Louisiana

P.T.B. Wonton Soup with added seafood combination at Pho Tau Bay | New Orleans, Louisiana

Shrimp and oyster po boy from Domilise's | New Orleans, Louisiana

Shrimp creole at Coop's Place | New Orleans, Louisiana

14
Muffuletta
Cochon Butcher
Great cuts of meat and olive salad on a light sesame seed bread. The butter pickle garnish was yummy as well. For the original version be sure to visit Central Grocery.

15
Pho
Pho Tau Bay
Order up a bowl of pork wonton soup with the seafood addition option of shrimp, fish balls, squid and imitatiton crab meat.

16
Po' Boy
Domilise's
It's a bit of a trek but it was well worth it and the raves for the half fried oyster, half fried shrimp po' boy were justified.

17
Cajun Eats
Coop's Place
No nonsense cajun joint in French Quarter. Their spicy bloody mary and seafood gumbo set me right after a night of whiskey.

HISTORY LESSONS

You come away having learned a history of the property as a sugar plantation, the Stewart Family who ran it and the history of the African slaves that worked for them. The artifacts and background relating to the slave experience were completely overwhelming.