We called it a night after dessert and headed back to the Hotel. We were surprised that the lobby which was packed with holiday revelers when we left for dinner was closed when we returned around 11 pm. Early closings are something to plan for. Even in a party town like New Orleans many of the late-night places were not all that late night in the pandemic.
The plan for Saturday was a walk around town in the morning to get a feel for the city in the sunlight. Then at lunchtime take a small-group food walking tour of the French Quater.
We started the morning with a stroll around the River Walk and a quick stop at Saint Louis Cathedral. A visual and spiritual highlight in the City. After that, we made our way towards Bourbon Street. We have been warned, cajoled, and given advice about strolling Bourbon St. Most of it was don’t. Well there is good reason for the advice, It is young and it is loud and the music tends towards modern party, not New Orleans Jazz. Yet if I’m traveling during the Pandemic I am going to get a drink on Bourbon St.
Oh, the choices, slightly after noon on a deserted Bourbon Street our intrepid, yet Scaredy Cat writer got his lone drink on Bourbon St at Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop, A lovely walking beer as we continued to stroll towards our food tour meeting place. Loved the Santa climbing the balcony with a large plastic drink cup.
We meet Kristy our tour guide and the 4 other vaccinated couples who would wander the streets of the French Quarter with us. We love our food tours. It is a great way to get inside information on a city, find places to try on your own and if the guide is good get excited about going out on your own, with the experience of a local. You will get to try the most popular local foods some paired with local beverages. You won’t always go to the places best known for this food but a good guide like Kristy will tell you where to find the best. No food tour or New Orleans would be complete with out Po’ Boys, Gumbo, beignets and other authentic nibbles. We had a blast, our new friends were interesting and entertaining and Kristy’s history of New Orleans was fascinating. Over 3 hours we learned how the Po’ Boy sandwich originated, learned of some of the famous chef’s that have come through town and their contributions to local cuisine. Totally full and partially buzzed it was time to start planning our oyster dinner.
Kristy, told us about the best Oyster houses to try. Acme is the most famous and across the street is Felix’s. At the Hilton is Drago’s. We decided to head to Acme, the line was about an hour so we switched to Felix’s. Without our the food tour we would not have tried Felix’s, A long line at Acme would have led us to believe the Oyster house across the street couldn’t be as good. Kristy said both places source their oysters from the same supplier and share many of the same employee’s and that it was just as good if not better. Turns out she was right. Felix’s was fun and delicious and I would highly recommend it. We shared a Shrimp and Oyster Po’ boy and a 1/2 dozen grilled oysters. A perfect dinner.
After dinner a quick jump the hotel and find a plan for the evening. Kristy and several other said for an evening of New Orleans Jazz we should head to Frenchman Street. We started to head there and saw The famous Carousel Bar & Lounge in the Hotel Monteleone. A special spot for the Sazerac cocktail, and of all the bar types in the world round (circle) bars are my favorite and add a Carousel to it I’m all in.
Cocktail in hand and a band on stage we find a comfortable place to stand, people watch and listen. The band plays it’s last song and it looks like it’s time to leave. 2 spots on the couch open up and it’s time for another round. About this time we notice that it must be 2012 again, the bar is packed, the dancefloor is over flowing and we are sitting and talking with 6 or so people that we did not know and, we are having a blast! A new band comes on stage and they have bandstands with the name Lena Prima. The band is 4 men and they joke they are the opening backup band. The Saxophone player looks remarkably like Scott Van Pelt from Sports Center so I’m now pretty committed.
I’m joking with Laura that Louie Prima was a big time singer in the 50’s and was the voice of King Louie in Jungle Book and maybe this is his kid and it would be great if they opened with Just like you from the movie. Well she is his daughter and they do open with it and play a lot of 20’s and 30’s New Orleans Jazz. First set, second set uh oh we are staying up late, Sazerac’s, Cosmo’s, Beer and champagne. We get up to leave and all our new friends leave at the same time. Wow we are the party people. Wander back to the hotel laughing the whole way. Another great day in The Big Easy.
