New Orleans Suggestions? - DPChallenge Forums

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

03/18/2009 04:39:00 PM · #1

I'm heading to Louisiana for a church mission trip, this Friday through next week. Ultimately, I'll be spending the week in the small town of Dulac, south of Houma (about an hour and half south of New Orleans) to do hurricane clean-up work.

Saturday I'll have a little time to poke around in New Orleans. I was there a couple years ago, and I mainly wandered around Bourbon Street and teamed up with a couple other DPC'ers for a bit. This time I'll have a couple other people from my church along, but I was looking for other recommendations in that area.

We'll probably still spend most of our time in the French Quarter. I'm just looking for "can't miss" opportunities that I may have overlooked before -- things that would be great to shoot, and still interesting for the two others who will be with me.

Plus, if you have any suggestions for a good place to eat that's not particularly expensive, fire away! Last time I went to the Clover Grill, which was fun, but the three of us DPC'ers were almost definitely the only straight people there. Not that there's anything wrong with that :)

Jammur

Nikon D300

03/18/2009 04:45:36 PM · #2

Mother's Restaurant

The place for breakfast, but get there early, like 6:00am, if you want the black ham..

Message edited by author 2009-03-18 16:47:39.

scarbrd

Leica M10

Leica 35mm f/1.4 Summilux M Aspherical MF - Black

03/18/2009 05:26:19 PM · #3

We did a walking tour of the French Quarter a month or so before Katrina. Very cool.

All sorts of picture ops with the old doors, alley ways, and people hanging about.

We got a map at the hotel we stayed at in the French Quarter.

Be sure to hit Cafe Du Monde in Jackson Square and have the chickory coffee and beignets!

Leica 35mm f/1.4 Summilux M Aspherical MF - Black

03/18/2009 05:29:37 PM · #4

Originally posted by scarbrd:

Be sure to hit Cafe Du Monde in Jackson Square and have the chickory coffee and beignets!

Ironically, that's one of the things one of the other people from church wanted to do! I already marked that in the GPS... :)

We're only going to be in the area for Saturday afternoon... we'll probably get into town around 1 or 2, and have to leave around 6. So that'll kinda rule out the suggested yummy breakfast...

Message edited by author 2009-03-18 18:02:10.

scarbrd

Leica M10

03/18/2009 05:59:24 PM · #5

Originally posted by alanfreed:

Originally posted by scarbrd:
Be sure to hit Cafe Du Monde in Jackson Square and have the chickory coffee and beignets!

Ironically, that's one of the things one of the other people from church wanted to do! I already marked that in the GPS... :)

We're only going to be in the area for Saturday afternoon... we'll probably get into town around 1 or 2, and have to leave around 6. So that'll kinda rule out the yummy breakfast you're suggesting...

The walking tour ends at Jackson Square, that's where Cafe Du Monde is. You should be able to do the whole tour in 3 hours or so.

The map points out some of the more historically signifcant homes and shops in the Quarter. There should be a few street musicians along the way.

good luck with whatever you decide to do!

Ja-9

Nikon D750

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

03/18/2009 06:43:18 PM · #6

One other thing to really ck out is the Camilla Grill //www.virtualtourist.com/travel/North_America/United_States_of_America/Louisiana/New_Orleans-793014/Restaurants-New_Orleans-Camillia_Grille-BR-1.html
...it "has" been there forever...quite the different place...just a dinner cafe bar to eat at...it is usually packed to the gills...BUT I'm not sure if it is still there or not...not far from the French Quarter but a short ride on the "trolley car" (another photo op)...one of my favorite places was one of the cemeteries...they are really cool for those wonderful B&W shots...and if you are there for dinner...Emeril's Del Monico (sp??) oh...that was the best dinner I have ever had...but it is a semi-dress up...it was worth every penny...the best food and service I have ever had...it is our measurement of comparison!!! Have fun...will look forward to seeing your shots...

sher

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon

03/18/2009 09:40:20 PM · #7

I eat here more than once every time I go to NO. Great food, huge portions, low prices! It's usually crowded, though, so you might have to wait for a table. It's in a great location, too...right on Decatur St., a couple of blocks from Jackson Square, and sort of across from Cafe du Monde...pretty much right in the middle of everything.
Cafe Maspero

Another great place...but pricier. Great burgers, though.
Port of Call

You want a true taste of NO seafood and a place that's been there forever...casual, nothing fancy, good prices...this is the place...
Felix's

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR DG IF-ED

03/18/2009 10:06:47 PM · #8

Cool... thanks for all the suggestions! I'm getting hungry just reading through them :)

At first I read Sher's comment and thought, "But I like seafood!" And then I realized that NO meant New Orleans, not "No." :)

Originally posted by sher:

You want a true taste of NO seafood...

reephoto

Nikon D3

03/18/2009 10:24:39 PM · #9

With such a short time to explore the area, the walking tour is your best bet. There is a lot of history in the Quarter. Pirates alley, the cathedral, the old mint, Jax brewery, etc. Even a native can learn a lot on the walking tours. As for food...there are so many good restaurants, with everything from haute cuisine to good ole red beans and rice, a New Orleans tradition.

Hope you enjoy your visit!

tryals15

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II

Carl Zeiss Planar T 50mm f/1.7

03/18/2009 11:16:09 PM · #10

Hey Alan, glad to see we didn't scare you off for good last time!

A cool place I've discovered to eat since you were last here is Coop's on Decatur. It's a bar, but they have awesome, and very reasonably priced food. Again, it is a bar. I say this twice, because the first time we went was with my in-laws, who happen to be t-totalers, and that's when we realized it was a bar... oops. =]

Other than that, I'd hit up St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 for sure, and some of the ninth ward still looks like it did last time you were here...

ETA: Oh yeah, someone mentioned the Camellia Grill... It's still there and still a good experience! Street car on St. Charles to Carrollton.

Message edited by author 2009-03-18 23:19:36.

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.4D IF

03/19/2009 09:06:23 AM · #11

Originally posted by tryals15:

Hey Alan, glad to see we didn't scare you off for good last time!

Hey... good to hear from you, and thanks for the suggestion! I'll add it to the GPS, too, along with the others. We'll see what turns out to be convenient, and most appealing to the people I'm traveling with.

I really enjoyed the last visit. I have fond memories of the three of us taking pictures of doors while people gave us strange looks :)

pawdrix

Nikon D700

03/19/2009 11:56:03 AM · #12

Did you visit The Garden District?

I remember finding some cool stuff around Esplanade Avenue which was a little more down and dirty, touristy but not overbearing.

Message edited by author 2009-03-19 12:08:37.

dfstevenson

Nikon D100

Nikon AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED

03/19/2009 01:31:01 PM · #13

Try the Gumbo Shop. Whatever you order, be sure and finish with a slice of their pecan (not pronounced pee--can, those are found under the bed)topped with praline sauce, and then topped with vanilla ice cream.

03/21/2009 05:52:39 PM · #14

Thanks for the Felix recommendation... I am here right now... waiting for my oysters and shrimp!