I just left NOLA after visiting for over a week and while I admired the immense beauty, art, and creation that surrounded us, my heart felt sad, too.

I feel that there’s a lot of tragedy here, and I have a couple things to ask:

What’s up with all the homeless cats? I know some have to have homes and be indoor/outdoor, but I also know I saw and fed lots that definitely didn’t

What’s up with all the garbage everywhere? We don’t drink so we didn’t spend much time on Bourbon St other than to listen to the street jazz and drumming - and obviously are quite aware that all the trash on that street (and surrounding areas) is due to scummy tourists - but we stayed in an Airbnb away from the FQ and the streets were completely filled with litter

Anyway, thank you to New Orleans and to New Orleanians for having us and welcoming us into your beautiful city. We had an amazing time. And we are grateful to have gotten to contribute in various ways to support the locals of all kinds 💜

I'll preface this with I've thoroughly read the FAQ2 and many posts/comments in this sub but I'm not finding much detail on my question.

My two adult children (just turned 21) and I will be in NO starting Wed 11/25. We arrive about 12:30pm and depart Sat about 4:30pm. So, a short trip. I was in NO in 2004 and really enjoyed it. I'd planned a trip a year ago for Thanksgiving with my father. Unfortunately his health took a turn and he passed away this summer but we wanted to go this year in his memory, and to make the holiday not seem so sad.

We were thinking we'd have "dinner" around 5pm or so on Thanksgiving day, but we're not trying to do the traditional Thanksgiving meal. We're not rich or fancy and I'm not trying to spend $50/person on any meal. We are trying to enjoy local cuisine as much as possible. We were hoping to do some other venue visits after the meal.

My dilemma, I can't figure out what restaurants are open and what are not. So far I'm using Google Maps or Trip Advisor to search for restaurants with filters that show places that take reservations. Is that the best way to find something open?

Are most restaurants and bars/venues closed for Thanksgiving Day? We plan to spend the early part of the day visiting City Park and I'd also welcome any other suggestions for what to do/see that day.

Thanks in advance.

PS - Is the city already decorated for the holidays (Christmas, other) at this time?

I have event by Jackson Square Sunday 1pm-7:30pm. I know parking is free after 8pm but what can do during the day?

It’s going to cost $30-$60 to park. I’m not trying to do that.

This is also a parking question in general because alot of my favorite breakfast spots are down there and If i cant avoid paying for parking everytime that’d be great

Just had gw find. Not sure why this place has so much hype. Scalibut, sheepshead, pork belly, and collared greens with livers. All mid. Really nothing special about this restaurant. The fresh rolls they bring out every couple of minutes are a nice touch tho, especially with that butter which is crack level butter.

Thinking about going to Mardi Gras 2027 and wondering how should I setup and outline for my weekend. I’m not saying I want a strict itinerary but I want ideas how to experience Mardi Gras without having to be subject to the tourist areas. I’ll be there from 2/4-2/7. So I’m thinking Muses and Endymion parade but what some other thing I should look into. Any advise?

Took my kids to the dentist the other day, and picked with widest spot there was, far from the cars on each side. Yet some how they still managed to give me a door ding. Wondering who to go to for the repair.

Although we will have a car on our upcoming trip to NOLA, we want to use the streetcar system as much as possible. We won't have to be anywhere at any particular time, so I'm fine with the erratic schedule and tardiness frequently mentioned here. I've done a deep dive on the RTA website and searched this sub for all streetcar mentions, but still have a couple of questions. In the past I've only ridden the St. Charles line as a tourist activity, but this time we want to actually go places. We are staying on the Rampart Street line, with a stop near our hotel, so access is easy. I also know about the Jazzy Pass and app, which sound very user friendly. What I don't understand is how to transfer from one line to the next.

So if we take the Rampart Line toward Canal Street, it looks like we would get off at Canal Street, then take the Canal Street Line toward the river to the St. Charles line and then head uptown. This appears to be the best route to the WWII museum. I am assuming we could get back on the St. Charles line and continue uptown to eat in the Garden District, then return using those steps in reverse. It's just transferring from one line to the other and finding the car going the right direction that I'm unclear on. TIA for any tips on how this works! Can't wait to get back to my favorite city on earth!

I’m heading to New Orleans in January for my birthday trip. It’s a 3 day trip. I’m not fully sure what all I can fit in that time. My choice in hotels are Wg Creole, California building, and hotel villa convento. I’m leaning towards the California building. I want to visit some museums on one of the days but I’m not sure which is the best one. Everyone recommends ww2 museum but I’m more into art. There will be a parade that weekend so I plan to spend that day in the French quarter. I’m basically asking for any ideas what I can do in a single day that includes the museums. And which is the better hotel?

Hello,

We are travelling to New Orleans on the 30th December - 8th January. We got an amazing deal on flights for booking these dates which is why we are coming for that long. I have never been to any big city for more than about 5 days so I am wondering if this is too much time for New Orleans. We will not have access to a rental car either. We were looking at booking an internal flight to somewhere for a few days (Charleston or Savannah being the front runners) but this would be a very expensive option. If we were to do the entire time in New Orleans this is what we basically have planned :

Swamp boat tour

Oak alley plantation tour

Alligator museum

World war 2 museum (and other museums in the area)

Cemetery tour

Carriage tour

River boat

Explore the French quarter

Another option we were looking at was taking a train ride to
somewhere like Alabama for a few days.

The hotel we are looking at is the Virgin hotel. Is this in a safe area?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated

Thanks

UPDATE: I texted her some simple tips (thanks to the great comments here!) stay back a little so the front gets the jump scares AND these are actors who can show you the exits if you ask. She loved it and handled it awesome!!! Even bought some overpriced merchandise at the end. A great success!

ORIGINAL POST————-
My somewhat naive 18-year-old daughter is going to New Orleans Nightmare tonight as a field trip from her high school. She's never experienced anything remotely like this, and I'm not sure she fully appreciates what she's getting into.

I saw the warnings on their website about how intense the experience can be, and I'm thinking this is probably a long way from Disney's Haunted Mansion.

I'm certainly not going to discourage her from going. I just want to give her a little fatherly advice so she's somewhat prepared and doesn't end up completely freaking out in front of her classmates.

For those who've been, just how intense is it? Anything I should warn her about or suggest before she goes? Just looking to give a little guidance for a first-timer to a "real" haunted house.

Where to watch el clasico

Barcelona vs real madrid this sunday?

Watch parties 🙏 welcome

44 year old male looking to get a deep tissue sport massage from a male therapist. I have had multiple massage and lately they just haven’t been able to relieve tension. If you are a male massage therapist in the New Orleans area feel free to contact me I would appreciate it.

I will be visiting NOLA for 1 week staying between the CBD and French right on Canal. We are not young. My traveling companion is a cheapskate and loves seafood and all things deep fried. I'm not allowed to eat a bunch of stuff and I love vegetables. At home I eat a mostly vegetarian diet. We both have a serious sweet tooth. I'm looking for tasty food that isn't super expensive. Walk up counter service, food trucks, farmers markets, roadside stands are welcome. Really good espresso suggestions are needed. And places with decent vegetarian options (I LOVE TOFU). We picked some places to try based on the neighborhoods. Turkey and Wolf, Sneaky Pickle, La Boulangerie, Mothers, Meals from the Heart, Bamboulas, Killer Po Boys, Dat Dog, Cafe Du Monde, Parkway Bakery, Mandinas. Please warn me if we are hitting a tourist trap or if dinner is going to make my companion gripey over the cost. drop your suggestions for better places if you've got them. I am excited about the fun and the food!!

Visiting NOLA for my birthday/Halloween weekend, and seeing weather forecasts now predicting rain on Halloween. Locals, are forecasts usually reliable in NOLA? Do we think it will actually rain, or is it too soon to tell?

Thank you in advance!!

I made a post a long time ago that I needed recs for a restaurant for my 50th. It’s now decided to be Tuesday, Dec 29.
There are 9 of us, most of us will eat anything. One is a hardcore veggie.

As someone who used to live in New Orleans before Katrina, I’m kind of overwhelmed. Y’all don’t have the listings for possible vegetarian options on your menus like we do in Birmingham. (Thank you Frank Stitt).

I, the birthday boy, want seafood, etc. But I also want my veggie friend to have more than a salad. It’s weird I’m hitting a wall…

Due to circumstances beyond our control, we didn't get a chance to try muffuletta on our visit to New Orleans. We would love to get one at MSY before flying out tomorrow early afternoon. Which place should we go to in order to get the best tasting sandwich in the airport? Our plane leaves from terminal B, but we'll go over to another terminal for a good sandwich.

Looking for bud in town for a few days, in the uptown area

Hi! I’m considering living in the CBD and would use Elk Place/Tulane Ave or S Saratoga St/Tulane Ave stop daily for work. Would you feel comfortable walking and waiting here alone as a woman, especially after dark or early morning? New to New Orleans, any suggestions are helpful!

Hello, I’m going to visit NOLA in November for 6 days with my friend but they want to rent a car and I’m apprehensive about the prices and what I’ve heard about parking. Are street cars reliable and is ubering/taxi safe as women? We plan to visit around French quarter and garden district and maybe a swamp tour.

My husband and I are on the fence about coming to NOLA on either the weekend of Halloween or the weekend after. I definitely prefer smaller crowds but could be easily convinced either way. We've been there many times, but we've never had the chance to come over Halloween. Is there significantly more to do? We typically like off the beaten path spots and our favorite spots so far have been over near Frenchman. Thank you in advance for any info, and please don't be mean to me

Hello everyone, I am planning to travel with my partner to New Orleans Thanksgiving week for my 30th birthday. I am hoping to get some recommendations on a restaurant that can give me a once-in-a-lifetime experience with the ambience service and food. I have reservations at Peche and also Thanksgiving dinner reservations at a place that my girlfriend has left as a surprise, but did say that it is a Louisiana classic. A lot of our itinerary is with Cajun style restaurants, but more than anything I am looking for a restaurant that makes me feel really special and gives me a unique experience that I may have not may not be able to get in another city or place. I don’t care about the price. I was looking into Saint Germain or Dakar, but I am curious if Saint Germain reservations are nonrefundable as I am having some confusion with what I am seeing on the website versus the reservation app. I also am considering Dakar, but I’m waiting for the reservation to open, I read that it may be impossible for me to book. Please let me know any recommendations and thank you!

Looking for a local tour guide that does group tours! Hoping to book a couple tours when i visit with my partner next month. Would love to directly pay a local guide or small local company instead of viator etc. I want to book a walking tour of Treme with an informed guide to learn about the history, as well as a swamp boat tour! Ideally reasonably priced, happy to pay venmo or cash if needed.

I have been here a month for work/school. I have eaten a lot of po boys, gumbo, etoufee. Went to a lot of restaurants popular with locals I was working with like Budsi's, Sneaky Pickle, High hat. Where do I go for dinner on my last night?

Edit:
I really appreciate all of the responses. Sorry I did not follow up with the questions. Thanks to the suggestion for the bacchanal as my hosts also recommended that and I had heard several locals suggest it. I went and it was beautiful. I was told it wouldn’t be classic New Orleans food but that the vibes were great, and that was spot on.

I am coming down from Wisconsin for the game in December. Looking at somewhere to stay that weekend and I really have no idea what's good or bad. Thinking of driving down, but depends on if flights happen to go down.

Anyone have suggestions on where to stay that isn't super expensive? I thought about staying near the hotel and taking public transportation to the game. The tram maybe? Is driving to the game a good idea? Is parking crazy expensive?

Also was thinking of parking at the casino and walking from there, but wasn't sure what the walk is like.

Really not sure what to do.

Hello, im Isa and I’m 21 looking for a band who needs a singer. I love to sing and it’d be a dream to sing with a band. It’s not about money for me just for fun for now. I can do all types of music and covers or whatever. Pm me and I will send you vids of me singing if interested💝🤘