Fun Summer Culinary Festivals in New Orleans You Don’t Want to Miss
Despite the soaring temps, summer in New Orleans is packed with festivals. While you won’t go hungry at any of this summer’s music and culture festivals like Satchmo SummerFest, here are five summer events that focus on local food and drink specifically.
New Orleans Wine & Food Experience
Wednesday-Sunday, June 5-9, 2024
In its 32nd year in 2024, the New Orleans Wine & Food Experience (NOWFE) is a smorgasbord of food and wine tastings, tours, master classes, and the annual champagne-soaked burlesque brunch. Each year, hundreds of wineries and restaurants participate, offering menus featuring local flavors and innovative new creations inspired by diverse cuisines. Top chefs from around the city create unique culinary experiences, so much so that the event regularly makes a few national “best of” festival lists. The organization behind this popular event is a nonprofit that donates 100% of its proceeds to beneficiaries ranging from food banks to culinary schools. You can see all the events and get tickets online.
French Market Creole Tomato Festival
Saturday-Sunday, June 8-9, 2024
Traditionally held on the second weekend of June, the annual French Market Creole Tomato Festival welcomes the arrival of Creole tomatoes that Louisiana loves to incorporate into many local recipes. The French Market location and the food offerings make this a popular festival among locals and visitors alike.
Celebrating its 38th year in 2024, the festival features live music at the market and in Dutch Alley, kids’ activities, and a second line. There are cooking demos in addition to an extensive menu of Creole tomatoes incorporated into gelato, crepes, crawfish pies — you name it. (Here’s the 2024 food vendor list). Of course, you can also get Creole tomatoes from the participating farm stands.
Kick off the Creole Tomato Festival with the Ripe & Ready second line featuring a Jazz Band, The Baby Dolls, and the Amelia Earhawts on Saturday, June 8, at 10:30 a.m. It’s open to all, and you’re encouraged to wear “your favorite tomato attire.” The second line will form at Oscar Dunn Park, 700 Decatur Street across from Jackson Square, and walk to the French Market festival location.
The festival is spread out between the tents and the stages located at the Farmers Market, the New Orleans Jazz Museum at the Old U.S. Mint (this one is indoors), and Dutch Alley. The live music schedule never disappoints.
Restaurant Week New Orleans
Monday-Sunday, June 17-23, 2024
During this time, you can enjoy multi-course, special menus and dining deals in numerous participating restaurants, from upscale Creole eateries to neighborhood bistros. Keep up with this year’s list of participating restaurants and their menus, and don’t miss a chance to try a new spot or revisit your favorite.
Tales of the Cocktail
Sunday-Friday, July 21-26, 2024
This cork-popping annual industry gathering keeps expanding to include more wine and spirits tastings, tours, parties, seminars, book signings, bartender contests, and more, every year. The event draws the worldwide cocktail community with its packed schedule.
Tales of the Cocktail was conceived as a bar industry networking and education event targeting bar owners, mixologists and other pros, but its focus on celebrating not just trends but history and culture has made it popular with the general public and cocktail enthusiasts from all walks of life.
The “best of” Spirited Awards, and the prix fixe tasting menus and food-pairing dinners are especially popular. The tours and cocktail-themed parties also tend to sell out quickly, while the opening night street party is free and open to everyone. Tickets for events are sold individually, so you can build your own itinerary).
COOLinary
August 1-31, 2024
There’s no better time to try out an award-winning restaurant during your visit than in August. For the whole month this dining program offers discounted dining deals at participating restaurants located all over the city, and even stretching as far as Harvey and Kenner. Orchestrated by the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau, it was conceived as a promotion to attract diners to local restaurants during the slower summer months.
In over a decade, COOLinary kept growing in size and popularity, with over 100 restaurants participating in the past couple of years. Those run the gamut from the iconic to the smaller, more casual ones. The list includes the famous Antoine’s, Arnaud’s, Bayona, Commander’s Palace, Domenica, Tujague’s, and Galatoire’s.
Coming to New Orleans this summer?
Check out our guide to where to stay in the French Quarter, and be sure to check out our resource for French Quarter Hotels. Also, consider booking a guided tour of St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 to experience the hauntingly beautiful past of New Orleans.
For easy, informative sightseeing, we recommend the City Sightseeing New Orleans city tour on the open-top, double-decker bus. It runs every 30 minutes through the Garden District, French Quarter, and CBD. You can hop on and off anytime!
Happy summer!
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Bayou Boogaloo Returns to Mid-City This May
Photo courtesy of Bayou Boogaloo
One of the standouts in the seemingly never-ending string of festivals New Orleans hosts all year round is the Bayou Boogaloo, which grew from the post-Katrina scrappy little neighborhood festival to a multi-stage, weekend-long extravaganza.
Since its inception in 2006, Bayou Boogaloo now draws upwards of 35,000 people and has become as much a fixture on the festival calendar as its Mid-City neighbor, Jazz Fest, and the city’s street-party season opener, French Quarter Fest.
Also a favorite of both the locals and the in-the-know visitors, this festival takes place not in the French Quarter but on the sprawling, picturesque banks of Bayou St. John — between Dumaine Streets and Lafitte Avenue in the Mid-City neighborhood. Its bucolic setting as a floating party, with its flotillas of inflatables, paddle boats, and kayaks, gives the three-day festival its own unique character.
Bayou Boogaloo 2024
This year, Bayou Boogaloo takes place between Friday, May 17, and Sunday, May 19, 2024. Just like in previous years, the festival is kid-friendly. Traditionally, the Boogaloo focused on mostly local music, including the best of the brass bands, zydeco, Mardi Gras Indians, and other incredible New Orleans and Louisiana acts.
This year’s headliners include former Prince bassist Nik West on Friday, founding member of the Wu-Tang Clan GZA with his band GZA & the Phunky Nomads on Saturday, and Lez Zeppelin on Sunday. The lineup also includes Big Sam’s Funky Nation, Afroman, Buckwheat Zydeco Jr., and many more. Notably, this year the festival cast a wider net over many musical genres and added metal, more hip-hop, and more cabaret acts.
In addition to two music stages and a Comedy & Cabaret tent, the Mid-City Bayou Boogaloo features a curated art market, a Kid’s Cultural Pavilion, a VIP Crescent 9 Canopy Club, a crawfish eating contest, and food from numerous Mid-City and local vendors. This year, Louisiana Wildlife & Fisheries will be on-site keeping an eye on water safety, but with a baby alligator petting zoo in tow. (People in boats and rafts are expected to wear life jackets and follow other boating guidelines.)
The food and beverage vendor list is as varied as in previous years and includes Ajun Cajun, Bub’s NOLA, Clesi’s Seafood Restaurant and Catering, Fritai, T-Swirl Crepe, and more. Look for snowball and lemonade booths, and plenty of booths with adult beverages from neighborhood favorite Pal’s, local breweries, and others.
You can currently order the 2024 festival poster online.
How Much Does It Cost?
Single-day tickets, good for any day of the festival, are now available for $15.00 and will increase in price on April 22. Also available for purchase now are three-day weekend GA passes for $39.50. As always, kids 12 and under are granted free admission.
Additionally, three-day Crescent 9 Canopy Club VIP passes are available for $220.00 each. These passes allow re-entry plus access to the Crescent 9 Canopy Club VIP area, which is a shaded oasis next to the stage with front stage access, an elevated viewing deck, private restrooms with AC, and a selection of complimentary beverages and local eats.
All tickets and passes will increase in price once more on May 13, the Monday before the Boogaloo weekend kicks off. To purchase tickets, go to www.thebayouboogaloo.com.
Festival-goers who look forward to boating and floating on Boogaloo days will need a regular-priced ticket to the festival for entry, which includes a $2.00 environmental fee that goes to preserving and protecting Bayou St. John. Anyone who wants to build and place a DIY barge in the water will be subject to a $100.00 removal fee if the barge is left in the bayou more than 24 hours after the festival ends.
What Else Do You Need to Know?
Street parking in the neighborhood is limited, so biking is encouraged (there’s plenty of bike parking at the fest). Thanks to the city’s added bike routes, including Lafitte Greenway, you can ride your bicycle all the way to the festival from virtually every corner of the city.
Alternatively, you can come by canoe, kayak, or other paddle-friendly vessel. Dock at the Dumaine Street stage or just keep paddling into the heart of the festival at Orleans Avenue. Another way to reach the fest is by taking a streetcar. Two lines stop a short walk away from the festival, Canal Streetcar: City Park/Museum, and Cemeteries Canal Street.
Gates open at 4:30 p.m. on Friday and 11 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Please note that only weekend and Canopy Club ticket holders are allowed re-entry.
Chairs are welcome (look out for the “no chair zones” in front of each stage designated for dancing), but no outside food or drink, please. No pets are allowed.
Finally, although you will see some festival attendees splashing happily in the bayou, there are gators, snakes, and sharp debris like car parts and tree branches in the bayou, so swimming is highly discouraged. Plus, there are no lifeguards on duty, and a whole lot of drinking.
To get updates on the music and vendor lists for this year, check out the Bayou Boogaloo website or the festival’s Facebook page.
Are you visiting this spring and planning on attending Bayou Boogaloo? We got you covered! Check out our top recommendations for hotels in the French Quarter.
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Mother’s Day in the French Quarter and Nearby
New Orleans and the French Quarter in particular are fantastic options for Mother’s Day (Sunday, May 12, 2024), from the elegant perfection of jazz brunches and the relaxing stroll on the scenic Mississippi Riverfront to exploring the magnificent architecture of the centuries-old streets and shopping in the chic local boutiques. Show your appreciation for the mothers in your life with these suggestions, below. Just please remember to make your reservations in advance as Mother’s Day is a popular time for brunching and dining.
Brunch
Brunch with Mom is one of New Orleans’ most popular Mother’s Day activities. Not only do the French Quarter and the adjacent Marigny and Bywater neighborhoods have some of the best restaurants in the country but several have excellent Mother’s Day special brunch offers. Broussard’s Mother’s Day jazz brunch is usually held in the courtyard and features the restaurant’s classic French Creole cuisine plus bottomless rose or mimosas. (To make a reservation call 504-581-3866 or book online.)
The classic Sunday jazz brunch at either Antoine’s or Arnaud’s is elegance personified and is a perfect way to give back to the women and mothers in your life. Or treat your mom to a special brunch at The Bombay Club, featuring house favorites and yes, the bottomless mimosas.
The French Quarter has some of the best European-style patisseries in the country, so if you want a classic French croissant or quiche head to Croissant D’Or Patisserie.
Outside the Quarter, if you’re up for a scenic walk or ride through the historic neighborhood of the Marigny, check out Ayu Bakehouse, a bright, quaint corner shop with a mellow vibe. There are savory pastries, crusty baguettes, sweet croissants, cookies, and buns, plus breakfast and lunch items like a frittata and seasonally rotated sandwiches.
Still further down, in the Bywater, you can hit The Country Club’s brunch of shrimp and grits or boudin boulettes in the restaurant, or just head to the pool that has its own, poolside menu.
Exploring the French Quarter on foot
Few cities in the world have as much easily accessible and well-preserved architecture as New Orleans. If your mom is up for walking, explore the centuries-old streets of the French Quarter and the nearby mostly residential Marigny to take in all the magnificent architectural elements they have to offer, with all their lush tropical courtyards with gurgling fountains, French doors, stucco exteriors, lacy Victorian ironwork, and vibrant Caribbean colors.
While you’re at it, you can stroll the mile-long Riverfront with its walkway called the Moonwalk, the scenic views of the Mississippi River, and Woldenberg Park.
Don’t miss the French Market across the street, from its food stands to the daily flea market at the end of Esplanade Avenue. It’s a great stop to slurp a dozen raw oysters, or pick up pralines and a beignet mix to take home from any of the surrounding retail shops.
Just down the street is one of the most important national landmarks, the timeless Jackson Square with Andrew Jackson’s bronze statue as the focal point of the square, surrounded by lush greenery. Come inside the St. Louis Cathedral that overlooks the square, to take in its stunning interior, or shop at the block-long rows of the Pontalba Buildings that flank the square in both directions.
Jackson Square also features an open-air artist market and performance space, with local art displayed along the fence. While there, browse the art, dance to a brass band, have your fortune told, or have a sketch done on the spot.
Taking a carriage ride
If your mom is not up for walking, unveiling the city’s colorful past is as easy as taking a mule-drawn carriage ride through the streets of the French Quarter. Just grab a first-come-first-serve French Quarter Mule Tour offered by Royal Carriages on Decatur Street right outside the Jackson Square gate, from 8 a.m. through midnight daily. Some tour packages stick to the Quarter only; others venture out to the Marigny or St. Louis Cemetery #1.
Shopping
Besides what the French Market and the shops surrounding Jackson Square have to offer, you can head down to the chic boutiques lining Chartres Street, branching off the square and leading to Canal Street.
One of the most popular destinations on the Chartres Street retail row is Hemline, which carries a well-curated shoe and women’s fashion collection from local and national brands. Also on Chartres, the well-hidden United Apparel Liquidators (UAL) is unsurpassed for hunting name brands with deep discounts (and even some haute couture). And, if you head to Canal Street, there’s a slew of upscale retailers at The Shops at Canal Place, from Saks Fifth Avenue to Tiffany & Co.
Dining
It’s going to be easy to impress your mom with dozens of stunning options in the French Quarter and nearby. You’ll be in good hands at the enchanting Sylvain on Chartres Street, with a candlelit bar and a lovely patio. The charming Bayona also offers a patio, along with a historic setting of a two-century-old Creole cottage on a quiet block of Dauphine Street.
If you want to go with the upscale Creole cuisine in unbeatable locations, then Tujague’s, Napoleon House, or Muriel’s Jackson Square won’t steer you wrong. For something less traditional but still sophisticated head to Cane & Table for a top-notch cocktail and small plates, or hit the hole-in-the-wall Cuban gem, Manolito. Of course, the one and only Galatoire’s needs no introduction (where you’ll be lucky to get a table).
Finally, why not wrap up with a glass of bubbly and the world-famous Bananas Foster in a lush courtyard at Brennan’s, flambeed tableside? Giving back to your mom has never been easier.
Coming to New Orleans this spring?
Check out our guide to where to stay in the French Quarter, and be sure to check out our resource for French Quarter Hotels. Also, consider booking a guided tour of St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 to experience the hauntingly beautiful past of New Orleans.
For easy, informative sightseeing, we recommend the City Sightseeing New Orleans city tour on the open-top, double-decker bus. It runs every 30 minutes through the Garden District, French Quarter, and CBD. You can hop on and off anytime, and your mom won’t have to do all this walking!
Happy Mother’s Day!
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This May in New Orleans
Photo courtesy of New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on Facebook
May sits in the New Orleans climatic sweet spot. It’s sunny and you can wear shorts on most days, but it’s (usually) not super hot yet. Come evening, when the thermometer starts to dip into the 70s, the air feels something like perfect. If you’re planning a trip to New Orleans this May, find your French Quarter hotel, and check out these big events you can enjoy during your stay.
Jazz Fest
Thursday, April 25 – Sunday, May 5, 2024
The biggest music festival in the best music city in the USA is one of the marquee events of the New Orleans calendar. For the last weekend in April and the first weekend in May, the city hosts hundreds of bands and thousands of tourists, who stream into the Fair Grounds Race Course from around the world.
Dozens of food vendors will show off the best of local cuisine, while artisans create and trade Louisiana crafts. On the days between the weekends, some of the world’s great musicians will be partying (and often, playing) at gigs all around the city.
The Jazz Fest lineup is famously scheduled into “cubes” for attendees. So, find your cubes, and enjoy yourself!
Bayou Boogaloo
Friday, May 17 – Sunday, May 19, 2024
The Bayou Boogaloo has become as much a fixture on the festival calendar as its Mid-City neighbor, Jazz Fest, and the city’s street-party season opener, French Quarter Fest. What started as a gathering of a few hundred festival diehards has grown into an event that attracts tens of thousands of guests.
Its bucolic setting as a floating party, with its flotillas of inflatables, paddle boats and kayaks, gives the three-day festival its own unique character, while its stellar lineup of local and visiting musical artists rivals those offered by its much bigger older siblings. So does its ever-growing menu of fest-worthy food and drink.
More May Events
Although not specific to New Orleans, there are a few events you can celebrate here with gusto. Grab a margarita at one of our many wonderful restaurants on Cinco de Mayo (Sunday, May 5, 2024), celebrate Mother’s Day (Sunday, May 12, 2024) by booking brunch at one of the many elegant eateries, or visit The National World War II Museum to honor the Memorial Day (Monday, May 27, 2024).
Coming to New Orleans in May?
Check out our guide to where to stay in the French Quarter, and be sure to check out our resource for French Quarter Hotels. Also, consider booking a guided tour of St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 to experience the hauntingly beautiful past of New Orleans.
For easy, informative sightseeing, we recommend the City Sightseeing New Orleans city tour on the open-top, double-decker bus. It runs every 30 minutes through the Garden District, French Quarter, and CBD. You can hop on and off anytime!
Happy May!
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A First-Timer’s Guide to the New Orleans Jazz Fest
New Orleans Jazz Fest Photo by David Fary
There are many jazz festivals the whole world over, yet there is only one of the genre in the city that birthed it: the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, which has been around for over five decades and still takes over the city during the last weekend in April, the first weekend in May, and pretty much all days in between (Thursday, April 25 – Sunday, May 5, 2024).
It is fair to say Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest are the two keystone entries of the New Orleans events calendar. Where Mardi Gras is a celebration with deep Catholic and pagan roots that is indelibly branded by the city of New Orleans, Jazz Fest is rather a celebration of New Orleans itself.
That’s the backstory on the “& Heritage” part of the description in the official Jazz Fest title: The event has become less about showcasing jazz per se, and more about showing off the city that gave us jazz.
Because New Orleans is so central to pop music, almost any act and genre you can imagine has strutted across the Jazz Fest’s on 14 stages — and yes, there are that many stages popping off at the Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots (1751 Gentilly Blvd.) during the 2024 Jazz Fest. As a result of this sheer scope and size, in many ways, Jazz Fest feels like too overwhelming of an event to properly tackle, especially for those who are attending for the first time.
Regarding the festival’s musical acts, there are plenty of commentators who think festival organizers have unfairly stretched the definition of what music falls under the jazz and heritage rubric. We’re not here to debate that topic, but rather point out that there is undoubtedly a wide variety of genre presence at Jazz Fest, which only adds to the looming sense of choice overload.
With all of that in mind, there are some sound tactics for making Jazz Fest more manageable. Here are some of our time-tested strategies.
Ride a Bike
While this choice isn’t going to work for everyone — some visitors simply don’t have urban cycling experience or are scared of the prospect — we can’t stress just how much biking can improve the Jazz Fest experience. Even the most diehard Jazz Fest boosters will admit parking can be a nightmare during the festival. Parking enforcement officers are on high alert — we’ve never seen the impound lot on Claiborne Avenue get quite so busy as it does during Jazz Fest.
Of course, you can pay for parking. Folks who live near the Fairgrounds will turn even the smallest plot of the backyard into an impromptu parking lot (rates vary, but around $30 per day seemed to be the going rate in the past).
There are other ways of outflanking the parking issue, including the official Jazz Fest shuttle, taxis (both cars and bicycle rickshaws), rideshare, and the streetcar. Note that if you take the streetcar, you’ll still have to walk about a half mile to the festival entrance. (Take the number 48 line that runs on Canal Street and get off at the final stop at City Park/Art Museum.)
But we really love getting to Jazz Fest on two non-motorized wheels. Bike lane infrastructure can now bring riders to the gates of Jazz Fest. If you’re staying in the French Quarter, the bike ride to the Fairgrounds covers a 10-15 minute straight shot up Esplanade Avenue.
Plus, there is extensive bicycle “parking” (overlooked by security staff) on site. While we can’t guarantee what the weather will be like during Jazz Fest weekends, in general, late April and early May form a lovely climate window in New Orleans.
In addition, being on a bicycle gives visitors a better sense of the city. You can see New Orleans at the street level without the loss of time walking might engender. There’s an intimacy to biking in the city that’s tough to replicate from a car.
Shaping Your Cube
The Jazz Fest lineup is famously scheduled into “cubes” for attendees. Devising a schedule for seeing all of your favorite acts can be a fun logistical challenge, but don’t forget that the stages of Jazz Fest are spread out over a decently large area. If you’re in the middle of the crowd at one of the main stages, it can take about 10 or 15 minutes just to extricate yourself from the center of mass.
Note that Sundays and Thursdays always feel a little bit less crowded at the racetrack, although that “little bit less” is admittedly a relative number — there are no real “light” days at Jazz Fest.
The way you assemble your cube is up to you, but here are some pointers we’ve picked up on over the years:
- Stick to your cube, but don’t do so religiously. Part of the fun of Jazz Fest is simply letting the music take you wherever it wants to go.
- Don’t ignore smaller stages. We found one of our great unexpected Jazz Fest shows at the Kids Tent. We also always find the Fais Do-Do stage to be a consistently good break in our routine — basically, you can never go wrong dancing to Cajun or zydeco music.
- Visit the Gospel Tent at least once. We’ve consistently found that even those who know next to nothing about gospel music have their spirits lifted and their musical boundaries expanded in this venue.
Cool Off
It can get hot in Jazz Fest. A few good means of beating the heat include:
- Enjoying the air conditioning in the Grandstands
- Hitting the mist tents by the Gentilly Stage and #2 food vendor area
- Sitting down and relaxing in the vicinity of the Louisiana Folklife Village
- Getting strawberry lemonade and Mango Freeze! (And of course, hydrating with water)
- Staying out of the scrum for bigger headliners
Priorities, Priorities
While the price of Jazz Fest tickets continues to climb, the fact of the matter is you can still see some grade-A headliners for a bargain rate compared to similar (or even smaller) festivals. Many locals treat Jazz Fest as a chance to see big acts on the relative cheap. On the flip side, if you live in or near the city, you can see the New Orleans musicians throughout the year at local venues, which means there’s less pressure to see them on the Fairgrounds.
If you’re coming in from out of town, you may have the opposite scenario prioritized — you can see big-name acts anywhere, but this is your best chance of seeing Louisiana music on its native soil. In addition, smaller local acts often occupy stages that are less crowded, and everyone enjoys a break from the seething masses.
With all of that said, don’t forget that during the “off days” in between the two festival weekends, many smaller and mid-sized acts will be playing gigs around town. If you miss them at the Fest, you may well catch them on Frenchmen Street.
With that said, there’s something about seeing local acts at Jazz Fest. The big-name headliners are used to huge audiences. A local Louisiana act would be playing to wow the world, and some of those sets end up being nothing short of legendary.
What to Know About the 2024 Jazz Fest
- Jazz Fest expanded to eight days this year, adding the opening day of Thursday, April 25, to the schedule.
- Jazz Fest went cashless last year, and remains so. Ticket, food, beverage, craft, and merchandise booths no longer accept cash payments. If you come to the event with only cash, the Festival will offer two cash exchange booths near key vending locations so you can get a prepaid card for your cash.
- This year, Jazz Fest features over 5,000 musicians across 14 stages.
- The festival will be the largest one in its 53-year history. Eight is the most number of days for the event, and this year there will be the most food vendors and food items ever. And there also will be 260 art and craft vendors, the highest number ever.
- Single-day tickets are $95 through April 24 and $105 at the gate. Tickets for children ages 2-10 are $5 at the gate.
- “Locals Thursday” will be April 25 this year, with tickets at $50 for Louisiana residents.
- This year Jazz Fest is introducing a 4-day GA+ weekend pass with access to an exclusive GA+ lounge with private restrooms, a full-service bar, and a shaded area to relax.
- Tickets for Thursday, May 2, the day topped by The Rolling Stones, are sold out, including multiple-day passes.
- The Rolling Stones headline Thursday, May 2, at 5 p.m. That day of the festival will operate normally until about 3:30 p.m. Then, when the Stones go on at 5 p.m., they’ll be the only band playing on the Fair Grounds.
- Besides The Rolling Stones, the lineup includes Foo Fighters, Queen Latifah, Heart, The Beach Boys, Jon Batiste, Neil Young Crazy Horse, The Killers, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Bonnie Raitt, Earth, Wind & Fire, and hundreds more.
- This year, Jazz Fest will celebrate Colombia’s musical and cultural diversity at the Expedia Cultural Exchange Pavilion. During the festival, 17 bands and a wide variety of artisans from throughout Colombia will present their sounds and traditions.
- The Jazz & Heritage Gala kicks off Jazz Fest with the celebration of Louisiana music and cuisine on April 24 at Generations Hall (310 Andrew Higgins Blvd.).
Coming to Jazz Fest This Year?
See the 2024 Jazz Fest music lineup and food offerings on the event’s website. And be sure to check out our resource for French Quarter Hotels!
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Brief History of the French Quarter
We cover a lot of local festivals and other events, as well as attractions and things to see, do, eat, and experience in the French Quarter and nearby. But, with the city’s 300-year-plus history, how did we get here? What transpired in those years, and who were the people who shaped the history of this amazing melting pot of a neighborhood? Let’s go over the complex history of the French Quarter.
Well, they don’t call this neighborhood the “old square” for nothing. The French Quarter was the original city of New Orleans, founded in 1718 by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville. Rampart Street is named as such because it once marked the actual city walls (or ramparts) of New Orleans. The city centered on Place d’Armes, now known as Jackson Square, was originally built as a military parade ground where criminals were hanged in public.
The name “French Quarter” is a bit of a misnomer; New Orleans was under Spanish rule from 1762 to 1802, and it was during this period that two huge fires (in 1788 and 1794) seared away much of the original architectural facade of the Quarter.
Thus, the buildings you see today retain more of a Spanish than French sensibility, as evidenced by wraparound balconies (which create a shady, breezy median space between the street and private residences — a useful architectural trick in hot, pre-AC New Orleans) and lush courtyards painted in bright colors, which form a reflective patina that wards off the sun.
The best example of actual French colonial architecture in the Quarter is the Old Ursuline Convent, which is also the oldest building in the Mississippi River Valley (built in 1752). With that said, the streets of the French Quarter are largely named in honor of French nobility — Burgundy, Chartres, and, yes, Bourbon.
If the French Quarter marks the original layout of New Orleans, then the original inhabitants were the Creoles, people of French, Spanish, and eventually mixed French and Spanish descent. That phenomenon is eloquently realized when one considers the names of two of the main buildings on Jackson Square: the (Spanish-origin) Cabildo and the (French-origin) Presbytère.
It is also worth noting that St. Louis Cathedral, which dominates Jackson Square, is the oldest continuously operating cathedral in the USA, and a fine example of French Colonial architecture in its own right.
Although the Creoles called the French Quarter home for many decades, they began moving out as the area became more depressed and ramshackle, especially in the early 20th century. That was when city officials shut down the vice in the red-light district of Storyville.
In response, the purveyors of sin crossed Rampart Street into the Quarter, and the Creoles moved out, to be gradually replaced by Italian immigrants. Later, also came the bohemians, attracted by the area’s undeniable architectural charms, as well as the members of the LGBTQIA+ community seeking tolerance.
In 1965 the Vieux Carré Historic District was established, allowing for the preservation of the Quarter’s historic character. The 1984 World’s Fair turned the Quarter into a bustling tourism destination, which was around the same time that many residents began leaving the neighborhood.
The Quarter tends to weather hurricanes and storms pretty well. Power lines are built underground, and the neighborhood itself was built on “high ground” (well, a few feet of elevation, but that’s enough) — which keeps it (mostly) immune from flooding. Today, while the Quarter is largely an area for tourists, thousands of residents still call it home.
If you’re planning a stay in New Orleans, be sure to check out our resource for French Quarter Hotels.
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Get the Most Out of the French Quarter Fest
Photo by Zack Smith Photography. Courtesy of French Quarter Festivals, Inc.
French Quarter Fest is back, baby! And it’s its 41st anniversary, no less, with a focus on celebrating Louisiana’s Living Legends. For four days (Thursday, April 11 through Sunday, April 14, 2024), a big chunk of the French Quarter — also known as the Vieux Carré, French for the “old square” (or “old quarter”) — will be transformed into a series of festival stages, each showcasing a different brand of music either rooted in or heavily influenced by, the sounds of Louisiana. Here’s a quick look at what you need to know about French Quarter Fest 2024.
Stage Highlights
Since 2023 welcomed more than 875,000 fans over four days, this year the festival organizers are providing more space with the addition of programming in Spanish Plaza. There are also two new stages this year, the DJ Stage and the Culinary Stage, bringing the total of stages to 22 with over 300 performances scheduled this year.
Woldenberg Riverfront Park
Most of the FQ Fest’s main stages are concentrated along the waterfront of the Mississippi River in the French Quarter. In 2019, the festival also added a stage, the Pan-American Life Insurance Group Stage, on the Riverfront’s Moonwalk, right across from Jackson Square.
The French Market & The U.S. Mint
The other side of Jackson Square is also a nexus of music stages and, importantly, food! The New Orleans Jazz Museum, located in the Old U.S. Mint building on the corner of Decatur Street and Esplanade Avenue (400 Esplanade Ave.), will host a number of acts and vendors as in previous years. It’s also a good spot for cooling off should the days get too hot. The French Market features two stages, the Traditional Jazz Stage and the Dutch Alley Stage.
Royal Street
Usually, Royal Street is an unbroken string of cute antique shops and art galleries. During French Quarter Fest, expect that scene to get livened up by several smaller music stages.
Decatur Street
Notable for the Bienville Statue, Decatur Street is where you’ll find the House of Blue Voodoo Garden Stage.
Jackson Square
The “town square” of New Orleans, as it were, Jackson Square is a geographic lynchpin for the entirety of the French Quarter, so expect it to be filled with food vendor booths for the duration of the fest, and as vibrant as ever. It will also be the location of many of the French Quarter Festival’s special events, including the opening-day second line.
Bourbon Street
Bourbon Street has a reputation as a hard-partying locus of bachelor parties and wild weekend trippers, but during French Quarter Fest it showcases a few smaller musical stages, including the lovely Jazz Playhouse at the Royal Sonesta.
Lineup Highlights
The who-is-who of the local music scene is returning or joining this year. Expect beyond excellence when it comes to the French Quarter Fest music lineup. That includes Irma Thomas, Ivan Neville, Little Freddie King, George Porter Jr., Charmaine Neville, Big Chief Monk Boudreaux, Rockin’ Dopsie Jr., Kermit Ruffins, The Soul Rebels, Big Freedia, and many more who will be performing on stages stretching from Canal Street to Esplanade Avenue. Check out the full music schedule on the fest’s website.
Food Vendor Highlights
As in the previous year, expect a mouthwatering melting pot of traditional New Orleans dishes such as fried shrimp or catfish, stuffed crabs, locally brewed beers, meat pies, crawfish macaroni and cheese, and hot sausage po-boys. Beyond that, there will be plenty of global flavors.
Our favorite vendors that are returning include Jacques-Imo’s Cafe, Tujague’s Restaurant, Plum Street Snoballs, 14 Parishes Jamaican Restaurant, Pat O-Brien’s, Miss Linda the Yakamein Lady, Desire Oyster Bar, Couvant, Morrow’s, Loretta’s Authentic Pralines, Addis NOLA, Cochon King BBQ, and many more.
This year, Bao Mi and Paco’s Tacos will have their culinary debut at the festival along with Miss River and Fritai Nola.
Also, if you see an orange “Eat Fit” sticker next to the food item, it means that it’s part of a special menu that focuses on lighter fare like lean proteins, vegetables, plant-based fats, and whole grains, with no white carbs and minimal added sugar. Fourteen vendors are participating in this program this year. Examples include crab, artichoke and citrus salad from Jacques-Imo’s Cafe, and sugar-free raspberry and sugar-free pink lemonade from Plum Street Snoballs.
Special Events
Every year, the festival features special events. Here are the 2024 highlights.
The French Quarter Festival Kickoff Parade and Opening Day Ceremony
The annual parade is held this year on Thursday, April 11, at 10 a.m. The parade departs from the 200 block of Bourbon Street down to St. Ann Street, where it turns and makes its way to Jackson Square for the Annual Opening Day Ceremony.
Dance Classes
The French Market Traditional Jazz Stage and the Chevron Cajun-Zydeco Showcase will feature dancing and classes in traditional Jazz, 1920s Charleston, swing, Cajun jitterbug, and zydeco. Classes are taught by professional dancers and are free and open to the public. Check out the lesson schedule on the festival’s website.
Children’s STEM Zone
On Saturday and Sunday, families are invited to take a journey of discovery at the STEM Exscavaganza: A Louisiana Scavenger Hunt.
French Quarter Fest After Dark
The festival offers nighttime programming at various local venues from 9 p.m. till midnight to keep the good times rolling after the last festival stage closes at 8 p.m.
… And more
On top of all this, the festival features installations, a choir concert at St. Louis Cathedral, the 2024 French Quarter Fest Official Poster signing, interviews, and more.
Getting Around the Fest
Getting around the Fest should be fairly easy if you’re walking or biking. Parking will be limited, so arrive early and try these lots: French Market, 500 Decatur Street, 300 North Peters Street, 211 Conti Street, The Garage at Canal Place, plus street parking within walking distance.
We do suggest that instead of driving, you use RTA buses, streetcars, rideshare services bikes, cabs, or the ferry to get to the festival. In addition to increased traffic, some streets will be closed for the duration of the festival beginning at approximately noon until 8:30 p.m. (Those who live in the area will need to have access passes from the NOPD Eighth District Station.) The streets that will be closing are Iberville, N. Rampart, Dumaine, and Decatur.
A Few Facts About French Quarter Fest and What’s New in 2024
Here are a few facts about the fest and what to expect this year:
- The Fest celebrates local music and represents every genre from traditional and contemporary jazz to R&B, New Orleans funk, brass bands, folk, gospel, Latin, Zydeco, classical, cabaret, and international. It’s a medley, and a great way to sample the local music scene.
- It debuted in 1984 as a way to bring residents back to the Quarter following the World’s Fair and extensive sidewalk repairs in the French Quarter.
- The Fest employs more than 1,800 local musicians, with over 60 local restaurants participating as culinary vendors.
- The food and beverage vendors are set up in several locations throughout the French Quarter: Jackson Square, the Jazz Museum at the Mint, JAX Brewery, and Woldenberg Riverfront Park.
- You can buy the official 2024 poster at one of the four merch booths at the festival, and then online starting on April 22.
- To streamline your music experience and navigation, you can download an app on the fest’s website (either for IOS or Android).
- The live-music hours every day of the festival are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- No coolers and ice chests, please. Help keep the festival free by purchasing food and beverages at the festival.
- And yes, the fest is free unless you opt to buy a pass for a VIP experience.
If you’re planning a stay in New Orleans, be sure to check out our resource for French Quarter Hotels.
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Where to Stay in the French Quarter in 2024
The French Quarter is the heart of New Orleans and a testament to its colorful past, where cultures, music, cuisines, and history create an irresistible tapestry that is pure magic, with a dash of ’round the clock joie de vivre. And what better way to explore this one-of-a-kind place and one of the oldest neighborhoods in the U.S. than to stay right in the middle of the action?
These five boutique hotels are located in and near the French Quarter, so you’re never far from all that the neighborhood has to offer — whether you want to dance the night away to a brass band, take a stroll to take in the breathtaking architecture, or sample every Creole dish you come across.
You can explore the streets of the French Quarter to your heart’s content, and then enjoy the welcome respite from the bustle and relax by the pool, hit a happy hour, or grab a bite in one of the hotels’ bars and restaurants, or simply enjoy the view from your room or your balcony.
Hotel St. Marie
827 Toulouse Street
Hotel St. Marie serves up a classic French Quarter atmosphere with modern amenities. Its European-style decor delivers luxurious touches like chandeliers and period paintings. The meticulously restored exterior is lined with wrought-iron balconies overlooking the action, only half a block away from Bourbon Street and a mere four blocks from Jackson Square and the St. Louis Cathedral.
While Hotel St. Marie still retains its old-world charm, the bathrooms are outfitted with walk-in showers, and other modern amenities were updated. The tropically landscaped courtyard contains a saltwater pool and patio seating.
The on-site, elegant yet low-key Vacherie Restaurant & Bar is three in one: restaurant, bar, and cafe, which are all located next to one another on the first floor. The cafe serves breakfast staples plus snacks, salads, and things like sandwiches, perfect on the go or eaten at the bar. It’s open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. You can also hit the full bar from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. The cafe’s menu is served nightly from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the bar.
Standout features: European-style decor with luxurious touches; outdoor pool; tropical courtyard; on-site restaurant, bar, and cafe; recently renovated; half a block away from Bourbon Street.
French Market Inn
509 Decatur Street
French Market Inn is located on a busy block of Decatur Street, just steps away from the Mississippi Riverfront and within six blocks of renowned New Orleans attractions like Jackson Square, the French Market, the Audubon Aquarium and Insectarium, Bourbon Street, and Harrah’s New Orleans Casino. The hotel’s balconies, overlooking Decatur Street, offer great views of the river and the vibrant neighborhood.
This historic hotel boasts a serene, private stone-paved courtyard with a saltwater pool, a fountain, and a beautiful tropical garden. Its antique brick facade opens onto a lobby adorned with period paintings, chandeliers, and columns, with period details throughout the building.
Since this historic property dates back to the 18th century, every guest room has its distinct character. The first property records date as far back as 1722, and it was used in the past as a bakery and a family residence. In the early 1830s, the Baroness Pontalba y Almonaster bought the bakery and the surrounding lots and turned it into an inn. In 1832, the first hauntings were recorded, and to this day the hotel is considered to be haunted.
French Market Inn had undergone renovation in 2015. The on-site PJ’s Coffee has something fresh brewing daily, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Standout features: Property dates back to the 18th century; period details throughout, including antique brick facade and beamed ceilings in the guest rooms; outdoor saltwater pool; tropical courtyard; on-site cafe; central location a short walk away from the Mississippi Riverfront and blocks away from many French Quarter attractions.
Place d’Armes Hotel
625 St. Ann Street
Place d’Armes Hotel embodies old-world charm inside and out. It occupies two restored historic townhouses dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries, located on a quiet block of St. Ann Street, steps away from Jackson Square (which used to be called Place d’Armes, hence the name).
Guest rooms facing both the street and the courtyard have wrought-iron balconies, and feature exposed brick, conveying the traditional, old-world ambiance of the French Quarter. The hotel’s courtyard is particularly enchanting, showcasing a variety of tropical plants, fountains, and a saltwater pool under the magnolia trees.
Place d’Armes is a popular stop on haunted walking tours, due to the hauntings recorded there after the school burned down on the hotel’s site in the 1800s.
Standout features: Property dates back to the 18th century; central location right by Jackson Square; outdoor saltwater pool; stunning courtyard with patio seating; complimentary continental breakfast.
Prince Conti Hotel
830 Conti Street
The beautifully appointed Prince Conti Hotel sits in the heart of the New Orleans French Quarter and is just steps away from the non-stop party of Bourbon Street and the shopping and dining destinations of Canal and Royal Streets. It is housed in a historic 19th-century townhouse, which sports a carriageway and plenty of European charm.
Some of its rooms feature exposed brick and four-poster beds, and renovations were held to update the amenities and the interior’s rich colors and moldings, adding touches of opulence and the classic New Orleans charm. Despite its proximity to the 24/7 action right outside its windows, Prince Conti Hotel offers a quiet respite from it all, an oasis with an elegant yet relaxed vibe.
The on-site Cafe Conti has a casual breakfast and lunch menu from 7 a.m. to noon, with a focus on French and Creole cuisines. There you’ll find sweet and savory crepes, eggs Benedict, and local favorites like breakfast po-boy, shrimp and grits, and Croque Madame.
The Bombay Club & Martini Bistro is tucked away down the carriageway at the back of the Prince Conti Hotel. It has more than 50 specialty cocktails on the menu and although it specializes in martinis it also has an extensive selection of single malt scotches, ports, reserved bourbons, and premium cigars.
The Bombay Club is also a popular choice for the nightly local live music, including jazz and cabaret performances. The Bombay Club’s beautiful courtyard is the perfect spot to relax and unwind after a long day of sightseeing or exploring the city.
The food menu features a variety of gastropub items, New Orleans cuisine, and Indian-inspired dishes that play on the bar’s British theme. From classic pub fare like fish and chips to more exotic offerings like BBQ Sticky Ribs to charcuterie boards, there are plenty of globally inspired options. Whether you’re a cocktail connoisseur, a cigar aficionado, or simply looking for a great spot to enjoy some live music and good food, The Bombay Club is not to be missed.
Standout features: Central location and proximity to Canal and Bourbon Streets; historic European charm with luxurious touches like four-poster beds; on-site cafe serves breakfast and lunch; the on-site restaurant has a full bar and live music.
The Brakeman Hotel
501 Basin Street
The Brakeman is Valentino Hotels’ latest exciting boutique hotel located in Basin St. Station, the original Norfolk Southern Railway station (circa 1904), the last remaining train station in the city. It is nestled between the historic Tremé neighborhood, the romantic French Quarter, and the stunning St. Louis Cemetery #1.
This boutique hotel has 18 guest rooms that feature furniture and finishes that evoke the elegant trappings of the romantic railroad travel era. Amenities include in-room safes, on-site parking, walk-in showers, and 24-hour concierge service. Guests of the Brakeman can also enjoy all the amenities Basin St. Station has to offer, including cultural exhibits; a gift shop; the Basin St. Cafe with grab-and-go snack, breakfast, and lunch options; and the ATM in the lobby. Basin St. Café is open daily from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Perched atop the historic Basin St. Station, The Rooftop on Basin offers stunning views overlooking the French Quarter. The Salon and Terrace is a private event space and is not open to the public or guests of The Brakeman Hotel.
Standout features: Central location and proximity to the French Quarter and Treme; located in a historic building; on-site cafe and gift shop; stunning rooftop views.
All these hotels offer valet parking for a fee, plus complimentary WiFi access. Children age 12 and under stay for free. The pools are not open to the public (guests only, please). Another perk: When you’re a guest at any of Valentino Hotels you can access the pool at any other hotels.
We hope you enjoy staying with us at any of these historic boutique hotels!
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Suit Up for the Red Dress Run in New Orleans
All photos are courtesy of David Fary
You’d be tempted to call thousands of sprinting women and men kitted out like a Chris de Burgh single (“Lady in Red”) a drag race, but no. It’s a dress run. On the second Saturday of August — this year, that’s August 12, 2023 — the New Orleans Hash House Harriers (NOH3) are at it once again, hosting the annual New Orleans Red Dress Run.
The Event Details
Still going strong after more than two decades, the race draws in thousands of men and women aged 21 and older, who take to the French Quarter to showcase the color red in all of its glory (and let’s be honest, sometimes lack thereof).
This year, once again, the race assembles in Crescent Park around 9 a.m., with beer flowing and a DJ spinning. Late registration goes on until the start of the run (10 a.m.), which tends to finish in a crimson scrum of sweat and live music. Please note the earlier start time as the organizers are trying to get everyone moving before the serious heat descends. Admission for this event is $65. Day-of registration is cash only.
The two-mile race route is a closely guarded secret, but expect runners to jog/stumble/sprint through the Bywater and Marigny neighborhoods eventually making it into the French Quarter and back to the Crescent Park. Once the run is over at 11:30 a.m., lunch is served. The whole affair is over by 4 p.m.
Participants can pick up their event packets on the day of the event, but also on Thursday and Friday, from 4 to 8 p.m., at Deutsches Haus, 1700 Moss St. (Bayou St. John in Mid-City). Everyone needs to show ID and sign a liability waiver.
Tips for the Red Dress Run
Here are some pro tips we’ve collected over the years from repeat participants. New Orleans heat in August is no joke, so we hope you heed the advice to stay safe, hydrated, and have fun.
No one wants to be dragged down with a handbag, so consider investing in a fanny pack or a Ziploc bag “wallet” for phone cards and cash. Another option is to wear a dress that is tight up top so you can hold your phone, cash, card, and ID secure in the breast area (yes, this goes for guys too).
Just assume that it will be seriously hot, and a breathable pair of underwear is a good investment. We also recommend headbands and sweatbands that are good to wipe off moisture that’s your own and from others that are tipsy and bumping into you.
Remember, this is a long party with food, beer and music. Avoid rough sequins under the arms, because arm abrasion will rain on your parade really fast. If you are unsure, dance around the house with some bold arm movements to see if you’ve got the right stuff on top.
Some more race etiquette: Tie your shoes. The last thing you want is someone stepping on your laces and you, or them, falling. If you are going slowly, no worries, although a koozie might be a good idea as your drink will get hot, quickly.
About the Red Dress Run
The entire affair owes its existence to the remarkable efforts of the local chapter of Hash House Harriers, a club dedicated to running and drinking (many Hashers would flip those priorities). The club — a “Drinking Club with a Running Problem” — is international, and you can find a Hash/Run event in almost every country in the world. Proceeds from the event benefit different charities.
The calendar of runs is on the NOH3 website and membership is open to anyone over 21. All you need to do is show up.
Just remember, it takes more than putting on a red dress and tying off a few in the Quarter to be a part of this historic event. Don’t be a red dress rip-off — register to enjoy unlimited beer, food and music.
As mentioned above, the race route is secret, so follow the event on Facebook. For spectators looking to watch the action, the race “track” has always traversed Bourbon and Royal Street in the past, with a handful of beer stops along the route.
Need a hotel? To stay close to all the action, book a historic boutique hotel in the French Quarter at FrenchQuarter.com/hotels today!
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Must-See French Quarter Art Galleries
Photo courtesy of Frank Relle Photography on Facebook
Best known to visitors for her bars and restaurants, the French Quarter of New Orleans is also home to dozens of art galleries, constituting one of the greatest concentrations of studio space in the American South. In fact, the history and demographics that led to the Quarter becoming a hotbed of nightlife likely laid the foundation for its abundance of art galleries as well.
For decades, the Quarter’s historical buildings were seen as crumbling ruins. The confluence of creativity and cheap rents led to the arts taking hold in the Quarter, although said arts did not manifest as public gallery retail space in the beginning. The French Quarter was a bit too rough in her earlier days to accommodate a gallery scene, but as the neighborhood began offering more to visitors in the late 20th century, art spaces became a natural outgrowth of the local scene.
That’s not to ignore some truly steadfast art galleries that have held it down in the Quarter for what feels like ages. In any case, if you want to see local art, head to Royal Street, which is lined with galleries on multiple blocks. While it’s not as jam-packed as Royal, Chartres Street is also a mini mecca for art retail. Also, don’t miss the artists hawking their wares around the edges of Jackson Square, street artists throughout the Quarter, and Dirty Linen Night, an annual party that celebrates the Royal Street gallery scene.
Some notable local art galleries include:
Frank Relle Photography
910 Royal Street
One of the city’s most famous photographers, Frank Relle has made a career out of his love of New Orleans architecture, history, and light — or lack thereof, in the last case. Confused? Relle is best known for taking shots of New Orleans homes, buildings and street scenes late at night, using long exposures to create a singularly eerie (yet also oddly comforting, and always beautiful) micro genre of fine art photography.
Le Jardin
610/612 Royal Street
When we think of French Quarter art galleries, a place like Le Jardin often comes to mind. Effectively a narrow corridor that leads to a spacious dream of a Vieux Carre courtyard, all of the wall space in Le Jardin is crammed wall to groaning wall with the work of local artists. Much of the stuff you’ll see on display has a folk arty feel; the bright colors, bold presentation, locally focused subject matter and the general haphazard, slightly chaotic atmosphere of the place makes for an art experience that feels quintessentially New Orleans. While you’ll find original work here, there are plenty of prints as well. Also on site is Adorn, a local jewelry and crafts shop.
Gallery Burguieres
736 Royal Street
Ally Burguieres is passionate about both her art and the ethical treatment of animals, and has combined these interests into a gallery that is stuffed with paintings of animals. Some of these critters are engaged in almost anthropomorphic activities, and some are simply brought to life in a vibrant New Orleans color palette. You’ll also find art inspired by Alice in Wonderland and New Orleans street scenes. This gallery has many prints that can be purchased in lieu of original artwork; this may be a good idea if you have a kid (or kids) in tow, as children are often obsessed with Burguieres’ cute animal depictions.
Photo courtesy of Art of George Rodrigue on Facebook
Rodrigue Studios
730 Royal Street
George Rodrigue, a native song of south Louisiana, was best known as the creator of the “Blue Dog,” perhaps the most recognizable symbol of Louisiana contemporary art. The dog, with its soulful yellow eyes, was first painted in 1984 for Bayou, a selection of Louisiana ghost stories released in conjunction with the 1984 World’s Fair, held in New Orleans. Rodrigue decided to paint a version of the Cajun loup garou, or werewolf, and in so doing created the ghostly visage of the Blue Dog. At once approachable, mysterious and riotously colorful, the Blue Dog would go on to become, in the eyes of the public, a stand-in for Cajun culture and Louisiana as a whole and the vehicle for Rodrigue’s considerable commercial success.
Photo courtesy of Angela King Gallery on Facebook
Angela King Gallery
241 Royal Street
Many visitors pigeonhole New Orleans art as big, bright and made for tourists, but this is hardly the case at the Angela King Gallery, one of the best contemporary art galleries in the city. At any one time, the gallery showcases the work of up to 30 artists, whose talents range from oil paintings to mixed media to ink sketches. This is an extremely varied, diverse gallery, and a great stop for visiting (and local) art lovers.
Scene by Rhys
1036 Royal Street
This gallery is a fine base for local artist and all-around character Emile Rhys. A supremely talented artist, Rhys is best known for her fine art ink and pen drawings of the city’s local musicians. Her work, which synthesizes two great elements of New Orleans creativity — the sonic world of music and the frenetic energy of her visual art — is unique and singularly worthy of souvenir consideration.
Are you planning to spend some time in New Orleans soon? To stay close to all the action, book a historic boutique hotel in the French Quarter at FrenchQuarter.com/hotels today!
