Two weeks ago, I jetted off for the world’s quickest weekend trip to New Orleans. But, hey, I had a free round-trip United ticket to use, leftover from one of the bazillion times they’ve left me stranded in transit, and there was a bigger task at hand: my bachelorette weekend. Now before you think this Photo Friday is going to be riddled with incriminating photos of debauchery, think again. (That might come at some point down the road; I just can’t say with authority quite yet.) Instead, you get magnolias!
When deciding on a location for the fete, I had a few criteria: It needed to be central for all my Southern and East Coast friends (I didn’t invite any Californians as I didn’t want anyone to feel obligated to make the trek, and I’ll do something low-key here with my local friends in the weeks leading up to the big day), it needed to have a foodie scene as, let’s be honest, that was one of our big priorities, and it needed to be somewhere I hadn’t been in a long while.
New Orleans topped the list, as I’d only previously visited once, with my family, back in high school.
And I don’t even remember that much from that trip either, so it’s not like I could compare a pre- and post-Katrina city. Instead, I just enjoyed the first traces of spring with some of my best gal pals.
We strategically planned the trip to fall between Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest, knowing hotel prices would be lower (we stayed at the InterContinental in case you were wondering, which was affordable at three people per room, pretty nice and within walking distance to most everything we needed).
I’m not going to lie: Our plan was to eat a lot and do all the touristy stuff. I was off the clock for once while on the road, so I felt no need to venture off the beaten path.
We had brunch at Mother’s one day (my first ever po’ boy!)…
…and brunch at Stanley the next. I would fly back for just a meal if it meant I could have one more bite of this bananas foster French toast. This lowly BlackBerry shot does not do its decadentness justice.
We also dined at Galatoire’s and Stella (Stanley’s hip sister) at night.
We wandered Jackson Square…
…and the Quarter…
…and marveled at all the eclectic—“eclectic” obviously being a nice word for “WEIRD”—artwork.
We went to Cafe du Monde—of course, we did—for coffee and sugary delights, and I’m proud to say I managed to stop at just one beignet for the whole weekend. (That said, it was only because I was so full from po’ boys and other delectable fare!)
We also spent quite the time (and money) along Magazine Street, but I was too busy shopping to snap any shots from that! It’s incredibly hard for me to believe this was a city recently ravaged by such a deadly hurricane. The city sure has done a stellar job cleaning up the place. Thanks for your efforts, Brad Pitt. Next time, let’s plan our visits to coincide, though, K?
All in all, I’d say a very quick 48 hours did not do New Orleans justice, but rather gave me a taste of a place I’d like to return to very soon.
And I will, mark my words. In fact, another friend is having a bachelorette party there this fall. See you again in September, NOLA!
We almost went to NOLA for our honeymoon, but everyone discouraged us from doing so, and the flights didn’t work out so we didn’t. But I’d love to make it there someday.
The food alone sounds worth it!:)
My husband and I were married in NOLA. We got married in City Park, right before Katrina hit (we were married in June) so it’s a place that has special meaning for me. I am headed there in April, the weekend before Jazz Fest for a girl’s getaway and I am excited to get back.
oh, these photos make me want to go back for another visit! sounds like a fun time!
(love the larger photos, by the way. or maybe the photos have always been that size and I’m just noticing it now?)
Wow, it looks so amazing – I wish we had places like that in England 🙂
I have got to get me a beignet someday. They are kind of in the donut family, right? That’s one of my favorite families!!
-Sarah
We would make ideal traveling companions. When I visit a city I love to eat and do touristy stuff!
Can’t wait to see you in May for B2B. This time let’s get together – we’ve been putting it off too long!
Ah!!! I love a trip that involves as much food as possible. NOLA is top on my list and it will be one that we will make it there soon. 🙂 Thanks for all the list of great places to eat.
I need to plan a trip there. If for nothing else but for that bananas foster french toast. lol
New Orleans is by far one of my favorite cities of all time, and being that one of my oldest and best (and most hilarious) friends is currently residing there, I need to plan a trip soon!
I always say I could live there (and I really think I could), but I also think the food would ruin me.
(That first picture is gorgeous.)
love the restaurant recap of new orleans, and it reconfirms the fact that this definitely needs to be one of the next cities i visit.
Looks like an absolutely perfect bachelorette weekend. I’d love to visit NO someday!!! I hear they’ve got great ghost and graveyard tours.
Gorgeous pics and sounds like the PERFECT place to have a bachelorette party!
The banana foster dessert, wow….im speechless.
Great photos! Thanks for sharing!
Love Mother’s!!!
We went to NO last March, and stayed at the InterContinental. Great hotel for a fanstastic price. And you are right – the food is excellent! Glad you had a fun weekend.
Japanese Magnolias, Mother’s (did you have any of their reds and rice,too?),Bananas Foster, beignets ….you are making me so homesick! You picked a great time of year to visit the city. Glad you enjoyed the city and glad you will get a chance to return in September. NOLA needs all the visitors and positive attention she can get.
NOLA is such a fab city! Did you go to any jazz clubs while you were there? I’m almost disappointed that you only had 1 beignet (they’re the best!)…Cafe du Monde is one of my favorite places in the world. 🙂
PS That 1st pic is AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!
I live two hours from New Orleans and visit a few times a year. Your visit makes me see it in a whole new way. Makes me want to spend the weekend instead of visiting just for the day. The photos are fabulous.
great photos, thanks. next visit, add music, and the river, and perhaps breakfast or a mid morning break at La Madeleine on Jackson Square
kristin- the photos are gorgeous!
I am going to NOLA next month for the first time in ten years! Can’t wait. You shot of the Magnolias was gorgeous! I think NO is a perfect city of bachelorette fun. And your food choices are drool worthy!
I’m heading to NOLA in alittle less than a month and I cannot wait to go! Your pictures are gorgeous and make me all the more excited 🙂
Ugh, you’re killing me with the NOLA pictures!!! I was just there in November for a week for a friend’s wedding, and even now, being home and not there, feels like I’m separated from my true love. It pulls at me, and I hate that I’m not there.
Damn it, now I’m craving po boys and beignets. Sounds like a great bachelorette weekend!
Applauds for stopping with just one beignet. I was there last weekend for less than 24 hours and my husband had seven. Enjoy Rwanda. I’ve always wanted to go.
I was going to email you can ask, “Give a list of things to do/see/eat in New Orleans.” And then I realised you’ve probably documented all of this already. Will check out some of the places you mentioned above.
Also … might just email you and ask, “Please give me a short list of cities between New Orleans and New York, that I absolutely have to check out .”
I freaking LOVE NOLA! Being the party-girl-for-life type, you can imagine a city teeming with festive activity at two o’clock in the morning on a weeknight in November, as it is along Bourbon St, is right up my alley! (Not to mention is culinary offerings, which seduce my foodie side!)
I actually stayed at the Cornstalk Hotel, depicted in your third-to-last-pic, with my bestie last fall. Maybe only the Inn San Francisco competes in my travel experience for elegant lodging. Simply gorgeous!
ME TOO. I’m so ready to go back! I love the name of the Cornstalk Hotel—it just sounds bad ass. Perhaps that’s where I need to stay on my next trip to NOLA!
By all means, do Kristin! I can’t imagine you’d have less than a delightful experience. We stayed in the Balcony View Premier Room, which is on the second story of the front tower, as befits a princess. Haha!