Can we talk about New Orleans?

It's funny how, for almost thirty (30) years of my life, I had never traveled to New Orleans. Then comes 2010, and I'm in the Big Easy three (3) times in a calendar year. 

Don't get me wrong, New Orleans is one of the coolest places I have ever visited. There is so much charm and so much history in this little city that I'm constantly thinking about it long after I've left. Hailing from Baltimore, I have a soft spot in my heart for small, history-laced American cities. And New Orleans is no exception.

The crew + some randoms, at Pat O'Brien's

Maybe it's coffee & beignets from Cafe Du Monde, maybe the green sport coats and hurricanes from Pat O'Brien's, or maybe it's the mighty Mississippi that makes NOLA all that it is today. Or maybe it is just the coolness of the people and their lack of hurried behavior ("sure, we can get to that tomorrow") that makes this such a neat place to visit and engage with the locals. If I were a professional writer, I would make like Anne Rice and work out of New Orleans.

So I just got back from my friend Jeb's bachelor party down in New Orleans and it was a riot. We had a great group of about fifteen (15) characters and the weather was amazing and extremely conducive to having a blast. We all flew down from Chicago on a Friday around 5:00pm.

When we got there, we all met up on Bourbon Street and we had a great viking-style dinner at Chartres House in the French Quarter, and then after dinner Sazeracs at Jean Lafitte's. Then we had a ton of other stuff on Bourbon Street. Then I lost a ton of money at Harrah's. Then I went home and went to bed.

On Saturday, I woke earlier than planned and ventured down to Cafe Du Monde with my pal Rives, and insisted that he try coffee & chicory & beignets. He was blown away to say the least; spot on per usual.

After breakfast, we posted up at Carousel Bar in the famous Hotel Monteleone and talked to cool people from Texas and the South. I even met a fairly normal Pittsburgh Steelers fan down there.

We rounded out the trip going to practically everywhere on Bourbon Street and then danced like Kings at some place where the Absolut Vodka girls dressed us up and made us their minions. The band rocked and endorsed Jeb as he celebrated his bachelor party.

I was also in New Orleans in February of this past year, without fifteen (15) dudes, and it was a completely different trip. 

I got to do a ton of things that I had read about and planned beforehand, and also met up with an old friend from Charm City and took in a Hornets game court side.

Old Friends

IMAX at the Aquarium of the Americas was awesome, too. I caught a special called "Hurricane Bayou" or something like that, that explained a lot of the troubles the residents experienced during Katrina. This film was just one angle that showed how tough and triumphant the citizens of NOLA are, and everything they did to power through the disaster that was Katrina.

On the banks of the mighty Mississippi River

Another thing I dabbled in was Sazerac. I went to the Columns in the Garden District and lost my Sazerac virginity.

Sazerac

It took everything in my power to get this drink down. I think I even sprouted ear hair as I sipped on it.

But after a half hour of wrestling with it, my insides were warm and fuzzy and it was time to leave the Garden District and head back to the French Quarter, shower up, and head to dinner at the Acme Oyster house.

Sazerac and I

The next morning we took a swamp tour on an airboat. I was so excited about this but unfortunately, we saw like 1/2 of an alligator since it was so cold and gloomy out.

I think I'd like to try my hand at an airboat swamp tour again in the Summer or when the weather is nicer. Hell, maybe when I am down in two (2) months for my friend Krang's bachelor party, I'll try to book another trip.

If you ever get the chance to visit New Orleans I strongly suggest you jump on the opportunity. There is so much to see and do and you won't be dissappointed. I just returned about two (2) weeks ago, but I have to confess, I can not wait to get back in February and add some new ventures to my bucket list.