OMG I had the best time and the best experience at the New Orleans fairgrounds a few weeks ago. I…read moreattended a business related lunch event and it was amazing from start to finish when I arrived. I was greeted and escorted via Will Call to the VIP section for an elaborate Creole New Orleans lunch. The food catered by Messina's was so flavorful, so many great options and so delicious the team and the weight staff definitely outdid themselves. We also had our own exclusive bar and bartender who was simply amazing and offered great hospitality. We then had a chance to bid on the races, which was my first time there and the experience was so delightful. The digital screens helped to guide you through the process and made it very easy for horse race selections. I actually loved going downstairs to see the horses in the stables as they lined up to go to the track. It was so nice to see the horses, the trainers and equestrian up close and personal. I have so much fun and will definitely be back again when the season opens. I will definitely put this on my list of things to do while in New Orleans especially when the weather is so beautiful at the fairgrounds.

Horse Racing! I…read morecan't believe I e lived my entire life and never been to a horse race. Now that I've been, I can't wait to go back. I am no expert on horse racing. So take this review with a grain of salt if you are. But if you're not, you should go to a race. It is fun! On both occasions that I visited, I paid for clubhouse seats. That is absolutely necessary. In fact, despite the clubhouse seats, I watched several of the races at track side where it was free to enter on the days I went. Yes. There is betting. Yes. There are people who have a system. I am not one of them. Here's what I do, I watch the horses walk around the paddock and whichever one looks the feistiest, or has the coolest name, that's who gets my bet. I'm not really successful with this strategy but it's a blast. Races are kid friendly and mine had a great time. Come see a race. You'll have fun!

Saturday night bingo was so much fun. My bingo computer was $40 and I got free paper with it. I won…read more$200 on bingo and my wife won $500 on a pull tab plus 2 free bingo computer coupons for the next time we come. We had a great time and will be back soon!

I really appreciate that they separate to smoking from not smoking. I like this Bingo hall. I think…read moreit's very fun. It's very big and I think it's cool that they serve food.

First thing... schmokey. Not smokey... but schmokey! But that doesn't happen until almost game…read moretime at 8pm. The the low hanging cloud forms. Your eyes will burn, your hair will stink and you will develop a death rattle by end of the game but its fun! Just drive home with the windows down and strip in the garage and hit the shower immediately. Second, there is a non smoking section but that area is no fun. Avoid it seriously unless you have horrible allergies. But seriously, just suck it up and sit in the smoking section. This is why you are coming. Third, actually a decent restaurant inside with items up to prime rib. The tater tots are yum. They sell beer and some little wines but nothing to get excited about. Pro tip coming. Fourth, the people/ regulars watching is top notch prime 1000% awesome. I'm talking funny ass shit funny. Comedy club funny with occasional outburst when someone is getting close to a bingo or if someone just won. (F! or that bitch was lucky, or wtf was that sound? or F this S) all said by women in late 60s - 80s Fifth, the game itself. Bingo, but not just any bingo. I am talking fast paced bingo! But sooo fun. Its not good for anxiety at the beginning but after a few cards in, the hang of it comes. You will get comfy enough to actually look up and see the screen showing the next ball and keep up instead of trying to search for the last call on the giant lit bingo board. But its not that easy... the announcers , can sometimes make Mush Mouth from Fat Albert sound like James Earl Jones in comparison. B 70 sounds more like fee sebindy. O 23 like Mo beddie free. Awesome. Now mix in during the game of bingo, there is walking staff also selling pull card games like cherry bells at school fairs. IN the middle of the numbers being called, B 9, O 64, G 44, there will be a random outburst " Black Jack Picture Frames" ... it is sooo confusing but it also makes my group laugh every time because we get frazzled and the regulars are playing 3 games at once, talking and keeping up with no frazzle. No more counting. Getting hard to write like that. The staff is wonderful. So my group , not very familiar with the process... again this isn't grade school bingo, its grown up bingo, did not realize the game switched from fill in the regular bingo to simultaneously turned into Black Out or the correct Gretna Bingo Palace term is "Cover All" game. A employee walking around with her own dauber leaned in and started marking up our cards with the missed numbers (it moves fast fast!) and she told us to mark everything because they will switch to Cover All after Bingo is called. Man that was sooo cool of her. When you first walk in, the newbies are spotted immediately. Blood in the water if you will. There is a frequent player program like at casinos at this bingo hall, so when anyone new walks in, get ready to get approached by a old lady with her keys on a lanyard. She will want you to use her player card when you buy your bingo card. It cost nothing extra but making a old lady smile. My last old lady was sweet enough to see we had no daubers and she went to her Gretna police officer friend behind the counter doing detail, and had him provide us with 4 daubers for free. We had to return them to him after but it saved us a few bucks. So no outside food or drinks. Meh kinda. There is no one checking bags at the door so if you are discreet, have someone pack a big purse and bring your goodies in. I have a cruise ship clear flask I fill at home and I buy a big drink at the bingo hall and fill up. The beer selection is poor so unless you can sneak in a few cans, the flask option is easy. There is a slot machine room also, actually way less smokey than you would expect. They have games all day, there is a online calendar, but for example, the games we usually hit is the 8pm game. It may start on time, or 20 mins late. No matter what, it will be finished by 9pm. It seems like no way they are gonna call it that fast but it is fast fast and fun fun fun! Get there early too. Grab you a table with friend, order food , have some drinks and have some laughs and make friends before hand. Seriously a fun hidden gem. And the fun multiplies if you are drunk or loaded in anyway. Not to mention there is a chance you could win big money. Imagine that!

BEWARE..... Bingo is addictive as F@#! Always just one square away! Lol. Came here on a whim…read more There are rules that the novice can't understand, but fun all the same! Very smokey in here, and the staff is definitely friendly and very very helpful. "No food or outside drink" yeah right. Lol i brought a little something to drink to make it more interesting maybe a bad idea, but that's how i roll. Lol