New Orleans

[Cat]

Okay, I know. I'm an idiot for asking straight up, right now. I know what this means, it means Cat's fallen off her rocking chair.


A good friend of mine is coming in from Atlanta and wants to spend a weekend in New Orleans.

She is not a drinker.
She doesn't like crowds.
And chances are very great we won't be out after dark.

We'll probably stick to the girlie boutiques area of the Quarter, and along Decateur and the French Market for a couple hours at best, as I said she's not a crowd person. She's a photographer so I expect we'll visit some of the more popular cemeteries. I also want to do a slow drive through along the Garden District and Magazine Street. I'm going to see if there's anything special temporarily at the Museum of Art.

But how are the cemeteries in broad daylight? And if we wanted to do one of the ghost tours after dark, how dangerous are they? Does Magazine Street have any issues for the most part?

I want to go, being as smart as I can. She was curious and I couldn't answer, is mid July busy no matter what time, or is weekdays marginally less crowded than weekends?

 

[Bearco]

Some of the cemeteries are not exactly in the safest neighborhoods.

 

[Cat]

Some, or all? This would make a big difference in our plans. Which ones need to be on a DO NOT VISIT list?

 

[DWT]

Take her to LongView gardens and mansion in old Metairie: safe and a good place to take photos. Last time I went it cost $5.00/ person.

 

[madmax4x4]

Some, or all? This would make a big difference in our plans. Which ones need to be on a DO NOT VISIT list?

Just the one by Claiborne under I-10

 

[Bearco]

Better advice will come from someone who lives/works there. I know that one of the ones I looked at bordered housing projects.

 

[Cat]

Sweet, I'll put that on our to-do list DWT... And I'll mark Claiborne cemetery off the list.

 

[madmax4x4]

Better advice will come from someone who lives/works there. I know that one of the ones I looked at bordered housing projects.

That's the one. It's fine around noon when people in the area are passing out or not up yet lol

the one behind Esplanade at City Park Apartments is cool and the one at the end of canal is good two. I have never paid for a tour but I will say the fq tours and ghost tours are also a waste of time and cash.

 

[jms]

Hire an armed security that you trust. I went to Metairie Saturday ,but I was locked and loaded. Take care and God bless

 

[gonepecan]

Quarter is much less crowded during the weekdays. The Moonwalk is much quieter to relax and take pictures, but there's a lot of homeless people and beggars that will bother you.

The French Market is a joke, but it's fun if it's your first time I guess.

St. Louis Number 3 is at the end of Esplanade Avenue. It always seems populated, and there's usually tours there. It's very big, and it is the newest of the St. Louis' cemeteries.

St. Louis Number 2 is stuffed under the I-10 at Claiborne, and behind the Iberville projects. It's 3 times as big as Number 1, but a very bad area.

St. Louis Number 1 is the oldest one in the city, and it's right behind the Quarter on Basin Street. I wouldn't walk there at night, besides I believe it closes before dark. Many people walk there during the day, but expect that "element" as the Iberville is also right next to Number 1. A few weeks ago, I went to the visitors center right next to the cemetery and parked for free. You can walk through the building, and then come out a half a block from the cemetery entrance. There was enough tours and regular folks walking around that is was okay to me. Be prepared for some sad sights though. Some of those tombs are well taken care of, others barely exist anymore.

A lot of people visit Lafayette Cemetery next to Commander's Palace. I don't go Uptown much, but it seems pretty popular. I wouldn't recommend a cemetery tour if you can get there yourself. Most of the tours meet at the front gate of the cemeteries themselves, so you'd already be there anyway.

I've never taken a ghost tour. Lots of places have them. The groups are always large, so you'd be fine while on the tour. But they sound ridiculously stupid, and I think a waste of money. YMMV.

The New Orleans Museum of Art is nice. You may want to walk or drive around City Park, as they have it looking very nice! It's always packed it seems.

If you want a nice historical museum in the Quarter, I'd recommend the Hermann-Grima House at 820 St. Louis Street and the Gallier House at 1132 Royal Street. The guides there are very thorough, and both houses have a lot of their original furniture and portraits.

 

[bs875]

The Moonwalk is much quieter to relax and take pictures, but there's a lot of homeless people and beggars that will bother you.

Did you mean Riverwalk?

I second the armed escort. Someone who isn't there to enjoy the scenery and get distracted. A full time "back watcher".

 

[jmcrawf1]

Did you mean Riverwalk?

I second the armed escort. Someone who isn't there to enjoy the scenery and get distracted. A full time "back watcher".

The moonwalk it the strip along the river behind the cafe du monde/french market. It's got benches and stuff where you can sit and watch the boats go by.

 

[gonepecan]

Did you mean Riverwalk?

I second the armed escort. Someone who isn't there to enjoy the scenery and get distracted. A full time "back watcher".

No, I mean the Moon Walk. It runs from St. Philip to Toulouse Streets. Past that actually gets, somewhat, patrolled by Audubon security, but I don't think that's technically the Moon Walk. It's a nice place to feel the river breeze, and to take some photos. However, there's a lot of aggressive panhandlers there. The new homeless encampment is now basically at St. Louis Street and the river right by the Natchez.

I'll third the armed escort. Just be careful out there.

 

[tmlowe]

i will pm you some cemetery info when i get to a computer. i have been in and out of nearly every cemetery in new orleans doing military funeral honors

 

[Zip7]

I've never taken a ghost tour. Lots of places have them. The groups are always large, so you'd be fine while on the tour. But they sound ridiculously stupid, and I think a waste of money. YMMV.

My stepson had been wanting to do one of these for years, and this past weekend we went on the "Haunted History" tour that meets across from Pat O's. It is a walking tour with a guide. I too, thought it would end up being stupid, but there was a lot of just plain history in it, and I really enjoyed it.

We live on the Northshore and have been to the Quarter many times, and this little tour was one of the more interesting things I have been on. Our guide was really cool.

When we go to the Quarter, the one place I absolutely must go every time is Faulkner House Books. It is a very tiny bookshop in Pirates Alley, but there are more quality books in there than in ten books a million stores. I love that place.

 

[Cat]

I've been in Faulkners. I agree and it and Cresent City Books is on the list. I was planning on the Holiday Inn in the Quarter but it's beginning to sound like we'll spend just a little time there. Looks like we'll stay elsewhere, which makes me feel a bit better, safer.

I haven't talked to her about a ghost tour but if she expresses interest it's very probable we'd go. I did mention the Claiborne cemetery. She agreed we don't need to be shot at, stabbed or raped.

 

[gonepecan]

My stepson had been wanting to do one of these for years, and this past weekend we went on the "Haunted History" tour that meets across from Pat O's. It is a walking tour with a guide. I too, thought it would end up being stupid, but there was a lot of just plain history in it, and I really enjoyed it.

I'm glad to hear you enjoyed it. I'm sure it differs between what guide you have and what company you use.

I guess I'm just nit-picky because many times their historical facts are dead wrong. But it's interesting nonetheless.

 

[DBMJR1]

Cat:

May I suggest that you spend more time in the shops along Magazine St, and less time in the Quarter?

The D-Day Museum is on the top of my 'must see' list for visitors.

 

[dirty_sanchez]

If she's into photography take her to visit "A Gallery for Fine Photography" at 241 Chartres St in the Quarter.

This isn't the postcard crap most folks think is fine photography-you'll see some famous prints from the likes of Ansel Adams, Weggeman, Liebovitz, etc., etc.

Everytime we go to the Quarter, which isn't very often anymore, I always make a point to make a visit to this place. It's a treat everytime and doesn't cost a dime...plus it's air conditioned.

Dirty

 

[Cat]

If she's into photography take her to visit "A Gallery for Fine Photography" at 241 Chartres St in the Quarter.

This isn't the postcard crap most folks think is fine photography-you'll see some famous prints from the likes of Ansel Adams, Weggeman, Liebovitz, etc., etc.

Everytime we go to the Quarter, which isn't very often anymore, I always make a point to make a visit to this place. It's a treat everytime and doesn't cost a dime...plus it's air conditioned.

Dirty

Yup. She'd love that. Thank you.