Today I had a reading with Miss Raven! The shop was able to schedule me in and before I knew it,…read moreRaven was whisking me away for our read! It was amazing! I laughed, almost cried, felt seen!!! Thank you so much for your wisdom, insight, and time with me!

This shop is recommended by NOLA famous High Priest Robi Gilmore as authentic. They have tons of…read moreherbs and ingredients to practice vodou (which is the actual way to spell and say it if you're talking Haitian Creole, like voh-doo). They have alters and figurines. Candles and protective charms. There are educational explanations pinned up around the shop for many of the items on display so you can learn about the practice while perusing. They also have voodoo dolls, which Robi has mentioned are NOT an authentic part of the religion. While the shop has a lot of interesting inventory, it was super crowded in here and very touristy, so you really couldn't enjoy the wares or talk to the employees (who I'm told are knowledgeable and interesting, but alas I'll never know for myself). That's the main reason for four stars instead of five.

I had the distinct pleasure of visiting this interactive cultural funhouse, highlighting the Joy /…read moreArt / Music of New Orleans. It was truly a love letter to the city, full of colorful, unique, and creative art exhibitions, all made out of recycled materials (which I found to be impressive and admirable)! There was a curated playlist of amazing jazz music playing throughout, which really set the tone delightfully! Upon entering, guests are welcomed into the space and there was a personable and helpful guide who described the space, then led us into the opening rooms. The first one was blue with neon pink, green, and glowing, with letters, symbols, and TV screens, comprising of one big puzzle. The next is a long hallway of hot pink with blue detailing and lights throughout, along with cool protruding, spongy shapes representing organs on the walls. Very psychedelic vibes! This led into a large space with sculptures of a larger than life alligator mouth open wide, creature atop a huge pot with the words "Stir the Pot," crawfish, tall lily pads, insect jazz band, peacock and more. There was also a cool, pretty flower wall, and upon closer inspection, I discovered they were made out of records. From there, I headed upstairs to see the blue, purple, and pink room holding the gorgeous Fountain of Youth glowing bright blue, filled with gold coins in them for wishes. The ceiling was lush and leafy with a lovely hanging light, as well as a pearly oyster shell inspired one. In addition, there was a shotgun style house with a balcony we could go in. Back downstairs, I explored a bar neon colored words related to New Orleans all over the walls, with upside down piano & drinks. Next, I checked out a decorative white a black room, featuring a glowing green stand. With the press of a button, it turned the room disco-y blue with a glow in the dark effect. After that, I went into the beautiful Desire themed room with humongous pearl structures hanging down, where you can write and release your true desires. Such a dreamy, ethereal feel to this one! There was a little sleek and sexy speakeasy space, called Candlelight Lounge. Then was one of my favorite exhibits: Feast Mode, displaying glittery New Orleans culinary delight classics in true indulgent style, as well as super funky, fun paintings and art pieces. Near this room was a window with full of shiny, delicately constructed objects of vibrant colors representing New Orleans. This was a glitzy video opp with props offered, with the phone going in the center, spinning around and capturing us dancing, shimmying, or whatever suits your fancy! The remaining few installations were music themed with drums and large silver circles, which could be played, emitting different sounds to create a symphony of song. At the end, there was a room showcasing larger than life sculptures of heads of musical greats, including Louis Armstrong, Lil Wayne, and Big Freedia. I really enjoyed my time here. Staff were super welcoming, accommodating, and helpful with photos throughout. The artistry, detail, and care was visible throughout each and every art piece and room. JAMNOLA was such a fun experience and I recommend you check it out for yourself!

I took my 12 year old daughter to JAMNOLA and we had a blast…read more Every room was something different, super colorful, interactive, and just fun. She was excited the whole time, and honestly so was I. It's one of those places where you can actually enjoy it as an adult and still let your kid have their moment too. We definitely got some really cute pictures, so if you're into that, you're going to love it. It's very "stop, pose, next room, do it again" in the best way. It's not a super long experience, but it's worth it. I'd say give yourself about an hour, maybe a little longer if you're taking your time with photos. Only tip is try to go when it's not too crowded, because some people really turn it into a full photoshoot and you'll be waiting a little. Overall, I'd definitely recommend it, especially if you have kids or just want something different to do in the city.

Best Burlesque Show I've seen yet. Super entertaining and well done! Good Job! We came across this…read moreshow from another couple, and we up going with them. It was there 1st show and they will find it hard to find this quality and entertainment again!

Hidden gem alert!…read more This made our trip to New Orleans and we will probably be talking about it for years. This group travels around to different bars and puts on different burlesque performance in the back room of dive bars. Well worth the $10. This one is not safe for kids. FYI They did different cosplays and interacted well with the audience. You can even by raffle tickets to win your chance to get dragged on to the stage! My buddy won and it was hilarious! All in good fun. FYI the show was kind of short, but I am sure with continued success they will start making it longer. Definitely check out this act!

This is a historic spot. It's small inside- not fancy- it's real. No big lights, no big speakers,…read moreno mixers or autotune. Think- sitting in the living room. Old church style benches. Get your tickets early. The musicians were great- music was great. I loved it.

I was lucky enough to have visited Preservation Hall twenty eight years ago so I knew I had to come…read moreback since we'd be on vacation in New Orleans the first week of May. We made our reservations two weeks prior to our visit, since I believe that's the earliest you are able to. We were in line not long before they opened the doors. We had purchased front row seats and that was a wonderful treat! Being in that intimate setting to see and hear the incredible music performed is such a magical experience. I am thrilled I was able to share it with my fiancé who loved every minute of it!

Even in the morning, the jazz is playing, and there's a crowd sitting here having a couple of…read moredrinks. Life-size Statues of famous jazz musicians beckoned us inside.

A must visit hen on Bourbon street. Along with fantastic artists performing everytime I was there,…read morethe drinks and beignets (at cafe beignet in the square) are wonderful. A superb experience and open air ambience

Located right off the Spanish Plaza, Vue Orleans is a fun, historic observation tower allowing for…read moreunobstructed views of the riverside and French Quarter. For an observation deck it's reasonably priced as well. Checking in is very easy and it's right next to the Canal Street trolley station making it a convenient stop. When you enter you're greeted with videos and short exhibits outlining New Orleans' deep and rich cultural history. This part really sets a tone for the city and is a great introduction into some of the city's culture if you're unfamiliar with it. When we went it was pretty empty and we felt like we had a lot of time to explore. Heading up into the elevators you watch a short clip on the walls which shows New Orleans throughout the ages and lets you see history well beyond when it was even known as New Orleans. Once you reach the main deck you are inside the tower with panoramic views of the city. There are also exhibits there showing more history. One more short elevator ride later and you are at the outdoor deck. The deck itself is pretty barren but does allow for great photo ops weather pending. We unfortunately went on a very windy day so if you're looking to take photos make sure to check the weather and plan ahead as best as possible. This observation deck isn't as classic or immersive as Sears Tower in Chicago or some of the ones in NYC, but for what it is, it's a very beautiful and fun way to learn more about the vibrant city of New Orleans.

Great immersive and educational museum and observation deck. If you get the city pass, you can get…read morea discount on their Bayou Breeze cocktail at their observation deck cafe. My family and I enjoyed this experience as it is interactive and very interesting. And the 360 view of New Orleans is beautiful.

Fun stop off the beaten path. The shop owner(s) were very nice and let us look around and take…read morepictures. They don't take donations, but everything is for sale. Very cool selection of neon signs.

Quirky place. The perfect place if you want a neon piece. I felt the prices were fair and loved the…read moreoptions that were discussed. The owner was out of town at his sister studio, but the you g man who helped me was super helpful. You can also rent pieces for special events, thats super cool! This would be a super cool place for an event, your eye just dances all over the place. Plenty of curiosities to stimulate your imagination and creativity. Pop in and have a gander, you won't be disappointed.

My wife and I are practitioners of the arts, and while wandering through the French Quarter we…read morestumbled upon Dark Matter Oddities - Oddities and Artisan Collective. What an incredible find. Whether you're a practitioner, a collector, naturally curious, or simply someone who enjoys the unusual and macabre, this shop has something for everyone. The diversity of items available is impressive. From cards and books to ethically sourced bones, handcrafted artwork, curiosities, and so much more, it's impossible to list everything they offer. Every corner of the shop holds something fascinating. While photos and videos aren't permitted inside, I can say that the space itself is thoughtfully curated and filled with amazing handcrafted pieces created by talented artists and makers. I was fortunate enough to speak with one of the owners, who graciously allowed me to take a single overall photo. I didn't want to spotlight just one artist and risk overlooking the incredible work of others who have poured their hearts and souls into their creations. When we visited, Shelby and Port were working, and they truly made the experience memorable. I was having a rough day after getting overheated, but Shelby patiently answered every question I had with both knowledge and kindness. They even took the time to explain concepts in ways that newcomers and non-practitioners could easily understand. Port was equally wonderful. We spent time swapping stories about oddities we'd encountered and discussing items on our wish lists. They were incredibly knowledgeable, even educating us on regulations regarding which oddities can and cannot legally be shipped in and out of Louisiana. What impressed me most was how welcoming the atmosphere was. I walked in as a customer and left feeling like I had made new friends. I'm currently waiting on my purchases to arrive and honestly feel like a kid waiting for Christmas. If you're skeptical, curious, morbidly inclined, a collector, a practitioner, or simply looking for an unforgettable experience in the Quarter, do yourself a favor and stop by Dark Matter Oddities. Come for the curiosities, stay for the conversations, and be prepared to leave with a story or two of your own.

Let's hear it for women-owned in NOLA! Dark Matter is the shop that I recommend to all my friends…read morethat are visiting NOLA. Literally all (unless they are boring). I jest. None of my friends are boring and they all love this shop because it has something for just about anyone that loves art and unique items that you will not find in your typical souvenir shop. All of it comes from actual makers, not a factory (like your typical tourist trap on Decatur). I also shop here for gifts. For myself... and those I love. For Christmas, my husband bought me two tiny paintings, one of my favorite bird, a raven and one of a skull holding up a glass of wine. I cherish them! I have a thing for tiny framed items and these came in elaborate mini frames that look so gorgeous on my mantle. There is a lot packed into this beautifully arranged shop. They have jewelry, taxidermy, bones, sculpture, paintings and so much more. Definitely for all your goth and witchy amici!

If you like fish, and other aquatic species, and you have some time to kill in NOLA, this may be…read moreyour place to visit. The way this space works is that you buy your ticket and you enter via the Insectarium. That's not really my cup of tea but the butterfly exhibit, within that space, is great. From there, you go into the Aquarium. What you will find there is tons and tons of fish orientated exhibits. If you've every been to an Aquarium, in any large city, this one is very much the same. You know what to expect. If you want to check out a lot of various versions of fish, this is you place to go. They also have a nice penguin exhibit within the Aquarium. They seem to be very friendly and interactive. There is also a large space housing rescued owls and falcons and the like. Just like in the case of the penguins, personally, I always feel kind of sad for large birds housed in a space like this, as they are basically trapped. The good news is, I guess, is due the fact that they were injured in the wild they can live out their years in safety while being well taken care of. Overall, if your NOLA you may want to check this place out.

This aquarium is very expensive and very small. You can see the whole aquarium in an hour. The…read moreinsect portion in about 45 minutes. The insect area is prob more well done than the aquarium. $50 is not worth it. Do the zoo combo for $60 then we are talking Really cool stingray and jellyfish exhibits though Park on the street and walk over. It's very expensive to park in the lot next to the aquarium.

I'm intrigued by all things spooky, murder, true crime, death, etc. and had been wanting to go to…read moresome sort of murder museum for a LONG TIME. But it seems they're always in tourist-y towns, never close to where I live. But of course while planning the New Orleans trip, we had to add this to the itinerary. Right when you walk in, there is a little gift shop we perused at first. There was lots of really cool little knick knacks, and looking back on it, I regret not getting anything. The other three girls were extremely intrigued by all the posters and art lining the wall, and Rachel went back and forth on getting this one piece of art so many times. (Side note, she decided to not get it, but a couple days later on the trip, she was so distraught about her choice to not get it, that she requested we go back to the museum simply so she didn't have to leave New Orleans without it). I saw a t-shirt or baseball cap or something that said something to the effect of "I Came to the Museum of Death and puked" or passed out or something, and I saw it before we even went in! I have an extremely high tolerance for blood, and murder & death related things, so I wasn't necessarily worried at that point, but I was extremely curious what us 4 girls were about to get ourselves into. It's disappointing I have no pictures to attach because they didn't allow photography of any sort inside. I really wish I did, because this museum was packed with things right up my alley. There was a huge serial killer artifacts, including letters written by serial killers, artwork by serial killers, and memorbilia from murder scenes, like O.J. Simpson and the Manson Family. I didn't know this until later, but I guess the New Orleans Museum of Death has the biggest collection of Serial Killer artwork anywhere. There was lots of explicit and graphic photos of famous deaths and car crashes, taxidermy, and autopsy tools. It's funny because I already knew I was going to like that stuff. But I didn't know how the other girls would do. Even if they seemed intrigued, I knew at least Ashley struggled to look at real crime scene photos. But all the girls seemed to do really well; even if it was hard to look at it, they had a hard time looking away. I was unbelievably amazed that I was looking at the actual handwriting of notorious serial killers on paper, and I could barely believe my eyes that I was looking at actual artifacts and memorbilia, like the bra and panties of Aileen Wurnos. Around 3/4ths through the museum, I started feeling kinda nauseous. That had been a somewhat recurring theme during my New Orleans trip, and I truly think it was just because I was away from home in an unfamiliar territory (so I was anxious constantly, although I was having SO much fun), it was UNBELIEVABLY hot and humid being below sea level, so I was always sweaty and uncomfortable. And we were drinking alcohol every couple hours every single day, so my stomach just wasn't happy with me. And although I know for a fact I wasn't ill because of the material in the museum, but I'm sure it didn't help. I was *mostly* done with looking at what I wanted to anyway, so I asked Ashley if she'd sit down with me while we wait for the others to be done. We were hoping there would be some sort of seating toward the end, and sure enough, there was the perfect place for us to relax and wait. The end of the museum has a Theater of Death, it is literally just a room with maybe about 6-8 church pews in front of a movie theater screen TV, that just plays an endless stream of gore. We were seeing heads get chopped off, violent executions, police finding dead bodies inside attics, and just the most gory scenes. It was such a funny and ironic moment, that we went to find solace and somewhere to relax, and that was where we wound up. Even though I can handle A LOT of gore, even sitting watching that for 20-25 minutes straight was quite the sickening experience. I feel like we spent ample time at the Museum of Death, and I don't feel like we rushed ourselves or missed anything. But I do hope I get the opportunity to go back another time, so I can get more time viewing and appreciating the artifacts collected to make such an interesting museum. I'd also love to see the other location(s?) of Museum of Death.

I walked out after 5 minutes. Tourist trap that profits off glorifying serial killers and…read morecommodifying murder through shock value. I didn't leave feeling thought-provoked, enlightened or creeped out. I left feeling heavy, confused and physically sickened. Some people may like that, like that one website from millennial times where they would show you shocking pictures of death to get clicks, but not me! Misleading signage in front makes it look educational. $20 basically helped to pay off this "museum's" investment in serial killer prison art, photos of dead/murdered people, including children, displayed like a quirky tchotchke. I identify as being dark and macabre, majorly Scorpio, super fascinated by medical history, psychology, shadow side of humans and support normalizing death, but my god, these are people's family members that were murdered or died by tragic accident being consumed for fun. The tone was to shock. It seemed to normalize the consumption of shocking acts, objectification of people and disruption of empathy. It also smelled really bad. I'm not trying to be vindictive (as someone who works at a science museum, could be improperly preserved specimens) but it smelled so bad I had to put my mask on. The back of the ticket says their exhibits may fall on you and they're not responsible. They don't explain this when they take your money and hand your admission card, didn't realize until I got back to my stay.