FeaturedMusic & Art

THAT NEW ORLEANS VIBE

by Jeanni Ritchie

The title here is quite a misnomer because New Orleans has no singular vibe. Perhaps an all-encompassing collective vibe, but The Big Easy should never be pigeonholed.

No one puts New Orleans in a corner!

There’s something for everyone, whether you love food, nature, history, museums, music, shopping, art galleries, theatres, or just releasing your inner child.

NOLA, the moniker given New Orleans by native Louisianans, is electric day and night with an ever-changing vibe to match its tourists and residents alike.

I started each day of my trip with an itinerary that included 4 or 5 must-see attractions and plenty of time in-between for inevitable impromptu excursions. I walked the equivalent of a marathon during my five days in New Orleans and refueled my body with rich food, beignets, and southern pralines.

I began and ended each day in my home away from home, The Copper Vine Wine Pub & Inn. I was brought to my Corner King room by my dedicated innkeeper, assigned to care for me and the guests of the ten other rooms during my stay. No detail was left unnoticed, from the handwritten welcome card waiting on a plate of perfectly-footed macarons to the unique Do Not Disturb door hanger, a ring of color-coordinated wooden beads that matched the décor of my room.

The hotel room itself had a foyer with a full-length mirror and a wooden dressing station with multiple shelves, drawers, and a hanging rack for clothes. An umbrella and two fluffy white robes were provided. The beverage corner had a mini-fridge, ice bucket, coffee maker, mini-bar with snacks and wine, and glassware and goblets. A small station was centrally located on each floor for ice and additional glassware.    

The room offered views of downtown New Orleans through four large picturesque windows. While the view outside my room was beautiful, the interior was even better. A large, comfortable king bed was piled high with pillows flanked by two wall-mounted nightstands with lighting options. An L-shaped couch and coffee table made from two wooden blocks sat across from the bed with a lamp activated by just a touch of your toes!  

The bathroom was designed for royalty. A dual sink with complimentary amenities, including luxury bath salts, stood next to the large soaking tub. A roomy rainfall shower was large enough to host a dance party in, complemented nicely by the black and white marble-tiled floor.

The room was quiet, comfortable, and elegant. I’d been contemplating what to do on my first evening in New Orleans. Live music? The Dave & Buster’s next to the hotel? A restaurant? After checking into the Copper Vine Inn, I scrapped all plans of going out, soaked in the fabulous tub, and ordered room service from downstairs. It was obvious why USA Today named Copper Vine one of the 10 Best. Sitting on my bed with a tray containing black truffle fries, crawfish beignets, and a chocolate and brown butter pot de crème dessert with amaretto whipped cream and smoked almonds? I called it … bougie in a bathrobe! Visit coppervine.com for more on this boutique hotel.

The rest of the week was a myriad of excursions from visiting historical and art museums to allowing my inner child free rein in the Southern “City That Never Sleeps.” I know I certainly didn’t! One can visit New Orleans every weekend for a year and still not experience all it has to offer. Here are some highlights:

 

The Aesthete Vibe

Saenger Theatre: My entire trip was centered around this! I began planning a New Orleans trip when I saw that the touring production of & Juliet was coming to the Saenger. With over 100 performances a year, the historic Saenger presents comedies, live concerts, touring Broadway, and family shows. Upcoming shows include Hamilton, Blippi, Kevin Hart, The Temptations, and Back to the Future: The Musical. Visit saengernola.com.

Prytania Uptown: This circa-1914 movie theater is a trip to yesteryear. It’s one theater, filled with vintage red velvet seats and curtains, shows both new releases and classic films. The Dolby Atmos sound system brought A Complete Unknown to life. 5539 Prytania Street

Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden: Occupying 12 acres in the New Orleans City Park, this free outdoor exhibit has over 90 sculptures on beautifully landscaped footpaths and trails. It is open daily. One Collins Diboll Circle, City Park

Contemporary Arts Center: Displays artwork, hosts events, and provides tours. Home of Mr. Wolf Espresso & Books, a social center for art, design, and coffee lovers alike. 900 Camp Street

Arts District New Orleans: The ADNO was created in the 1990’s to revitalize the Warehouse district. I’d say they succeeded! I was on a ten-minute walk back to my hotel when I came upon this area and spent the next four hours touring incredible art galleries. The Spillman-Blackwell Fine Art Gallery was my first stop where I saw an exhibit by LSU Professor Ed Smith. Other galleries include M Contemporary, Martine Chaisson, and Sasik Gallery. This district has 17 galleries, 6 museums, and 9 city murals. Every August restaurants and galleries collab for White Linen Night.  Visit artsdistrictneworleans.com for more info.

French Quarter Art Galleries: Another district, another art vibe. French Quarter Art Galleries include Frank Relle Photography, Rodrigue Studios, and Le Jardin. Visit frenchquarter.com for more info.

 

The Museophile Vibe

Historic New Orleans Collection: A free history museum and research center devoted to the people, places, and traditions of New Orleans and the Gulf South. Current exhibitions include A Vanishing Bounty: Louisiana’s Coastal Environment and Culture. In honor of New Orleans’ upcoming Super Bowl, the HNOC will host a limited display of Saints championship memorabilia February 7-10.  533 Royal Street

Black Girl Magic Museum: Located in New Orleans Riverwalk Outlets, this perfectly pink space is an interactive cultural experience with 14 thought-provoking and joyful exhibits celebrating Black women and girls. Visit blackgirlmagicmuseum.com

Mardi Gras World: See the magic behind the magic of Mardi Gras! These guided tours take you behind the scenes of float building for Louisiana’s largest block party of the year. Take selfies, try on costumes, and sample king cake. It’s right next to the cruise terminal so arrive early for your cruise boarding and visit the museum first. Throw me something, mister!  1380 Port of New Orleans Place

Confederate Memorial Hall Museum: The oldest operating museum in Louisiana, the Confederate Museum first opened its doors in 1891. It houses the second largest collection of Confederate Civil War items in the world. 929 Camp St.

National World War II Museum: Very few items in this museum are replicas, lending an aura of reverence as you look at exhibits of items used in the world’s deadliest war. Visitors receive a dog tag of a soldier or civilian whose journey they can follow throughout the museum. Beyond All Boundaries, the Tom Hanks-narrated 4-D movie in the museum’s Solomon Victory Theater, is too powerful to be missed. 945 Magazine St.

Ogden Museum of Southern Art: Six stories of current and permanent art exhibits of varying mediums are on display at Ogden. There’s also an interactive children’s area. One of my favorite exhibits was Baldwin Lee’s gelatin silver prints of Black Americans during the Reagan-era of the American South. It evoked emotions I still can’t quite put into words. 925 Camp St.

New Orleans Pharmacy Museum: Founded in 1950, the Pharmacy Museum preserves an extensive collection of artifacts documenting the history of pharmacy and medicine in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Has a vintage soda jerk machine as well. 514 Chartres St.

 

The Epicurean Vibe

Trenasse: Housed in the Intercontinental Hotel, this is upscale dining at its finest. Steak, seafood, duck, and more. Reservations encouraged. I highly recommend the Blue Crab Bisque, Louisiana Crawfish Pie, and Dark Chocolate Tart. 444 Saint Charles Ave.

Café Du Monde: THE place to get beignets in New Orleans. Café Du Monde even has a line of beignet mixes to D-I-Y the pillowy bites at home. I have never been able to replicate the powdered sugar confections so I stopped at two locations while in New Orleans: the hopping Riverwalk location where you often join strangers at a table before leaving as friends and the City Park location where you can listen to live jazz music being played under the Live Oaks while enjoying breakfast in the courtyard. Visit shop.cafedumonde.com for locations. 

Copper Vine: While I’d enjoyed my Copper Vine meal via room service, the downstairs pub was filled to capacity each night when I’d come in. Wagyu Burgers and Smoked Gulf Fish Dish were two popular items on the chef-curated menu. 1001 Poydras St.

Southern Candymakers: Watch homemade pralines being made and score some free samples before filling up a box with homemade chocolates, fudge, toffee, and divinity. There are also sugar-free candies. 334 Decatur St.

Hurts Donuts: Want a donut that looks like Cookie Monster? Ever had a pulled pork donut? You’ve come to the right place! These donuts are a work of art while still tasting fabulous! 501 Loyola Ave.

Mister Apple Candy Store: The biggest selection of candied apples you’ll ever find! Rum Praline Apple, Heath Bar Apple, M&M Caramel Apple, Apple Spice Apple, Cashew Caramel Apple, Cheesecake Apple, Oreo Apple … get it whole or have it sliced before wrapping. 201 North Peters St.

 

The Acquirer Vibe

Riverwalk Outlets: With three levels of shopping, this Riverfront outlet mall has a food court, clothing stores, jewelry stores, massage parlor, novelty gift shops, art galleries, and more. Visit riverwalkneworleans.com for a complete directory.

King Cake Hub: Your one-stop shop for king cakes! Bakeries converge and flavors combine for all your Mardi Gras feasting needs. Refrigerated Chantilly king cakes, Chocolate Chip Pecan, Salted Caramel, Crawfish, Bavarian, Mississippi Mud, and Raspberry Amaretto were just a few of the flavors sitting alongside Traditional King Cakes at the King Cake Hub along with king cake swag. 1464 S. Broad St.

New Orleans School of Cooking: Shop for seasonings, chef’s tools, cookbooks, and homemade pralines before buying a gift card for a cooking class for the wannabe chef in your life. 524 St. Louis Street

 

The Culture Vulture Vibe

Steamboat Natchez: A 2-hour Mississippi River cruise serves up history, sightseeing (check out the 110-year old Domino Sugar plant), live jazz, and a delicious Cajun meal on an authentic steamboat. Lunch and evening cruises. Visit steamboatnatchez.com

Vue Orleans: Indoor and outdoor 360-degree view of the city with interactive exhibits, two observation decks, and an elevator that shows a film on the panels as you climb to the 33rd floor. An absolute must-see attraction. Visit vueorleans.com

Woldenberg Riverfront Park: Near the Cruise Terminal and Riverwalk Outlets is Woldenberg Park, a 16-acre expanse of pet-friendly green space, art installations, and park benches. Ranked #2 Best Riverwalk in the United States, it is home to the Monument to the Immigrant, Ocean Song, and the New Orleans Holocaust Memorial. 1 Canal St.

New Orleans City Park: Over 1,300 acres including several 600-800 years old live oaks! In addition to Café du Monde, the City Park has an amusement park, equestrian farm, two football stadiums, two golf courses, multiple wedding venues, tennis courts, sculpture gardens, a museum, swan-pedal boat rentals, bike rentals, botanical gardens, Couturie Forest, Storyland, playground, and a relaxing swing pavilion. You could spend an entire day in the park and never run out of things to do. Visit neworleanscitypark.org

New Orleans Botanical Gardens: Located in City Park, the 10-acre Botanical Garden has more than 2000 varieties of plants from around the world. Favorite spots were the greenhouse and the Historic New Orleans Train Garden. 1 Palm Dr.

Lafayette Square: Cutting through Lafayette Square, I paused to take photos of what I assumed was the bust of the Marquis de Lafayette. I was surprised to see it was a statue of Henry Clay instead. Sitting on a park bench in the beautiful grassy square, I brushed up on my knowledge of Revolutionary War history. 602 Camp St.

 

The Peter Pan Vibe

Dave & Buster’s: I call this Chuck E. Cheese for grown-ups! With a mixture of games, old and new, adults play with abandon. In addition to the classic Skee-Ball, I belted out hits on Guitar Hero and gobbled up marbles on the life-size Hungry Hungry Hippos. Full-restaurant, bar, and the Win! Store where you can exchange tickets for prizes before you leave. 1200 Poydras St. Unit 601.

Storyland: Outdoor playground with 18 larger-than-life Mother Goose and Grimm fairy tale character sculptures. Also houses Carousel Gardens (March-November). Bring a pail and tumble down Jack and Jill’s hill. 5 Victory Ave.

Audubon Aquarium: I could’ve spent an entire day in the Amazon Rainforest at the Aquarium. With free-flying tropical birds, Amazonian fish, a temperate climate, and lush foliage, I wanted to spend the rest of the day right there. I added Amazon Rainforest to my travel bucket list that day! Stand under the glass-enclosed Great Maya Reef, interact with penguins, and more in this aquatic exhibit. 1 Canal St.

Audubon Insectarium: Housed with the Aquarium since Hurricane Katrina, visit the Butterfly Garden, create your own insect and release it into the wild virtually, check out the Honey Bee exhibit, view the Large Ant Colony, and more in the Audubon Insectarium. 1 Canal St.

Audubon Zoo: Before this trip, my only visit to the New Orleans Zoo had been chaperoning a group of 5th graders my first year of teaching. I’d been too preoccupied observing two-legged creatures to enjoy the animals. Not this time! I watched a tiger pace back and forth for so long I began singing Prowlin’ from Grease 2. I saw a Sumatran orangutan play hide and seek with a red blanket. I rode the Swamp Train twice, going through the middle of the zoo instead of on tracks around the zoo like many others do. I watched my favorite animal, the giraffe, in his habitat. I watched kids in their natural habitat as well, rolling down Monkey Hill! The Louisiana Swamp is an immersive experience highlighting conservation and showing the Bayou State in all its beauty. I toured the Tea Room Garden, a beautiful wedding and event destination on the grounds of the Audubon Zoo. Visit audubonnatureinstitute.org. 6500 Magazine St.

Virtual Reality: Nearly every place I went had a Virtual Reality (VR) experience. Do them all! I fed sharks in Shark Frenzy at the Aquarium, went on a Gorilla Trek at the Zoo, shot down Top Gun planes and rode hot air balloons over snow-capped mountains at Dave & Buster’s. Now I just need someone to attach VR headsets to treadmills and make working out fun! New Orleans is a true destination vacation, whether during Mardi Gras, the height of summer, or the dead of winter. It has something to offer 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. #VisitNewOrleans!

Jeanni Ritchie is a contributing journalist from Central Louisiana. She can be reached at jeanniritchie54@gmail.com. View her video visiting Cafe Du Monde in the New Orleans City Park here: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT2LVEwCR/

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