Oh my word! I am still laughing! We are in town for the Fried Chicken Festival ( my daughter is a…read morejudge) and a local friend of hers ( also a judge) brought us here after oysters and cocktails. So entertaining. They had scores of skeletons with outfits, funny sayings and everything else you could think of. Whoever designed this display is a genius. Don't miss it.

Super fun place just to stop by and visit. This isn't a business, it's someone's residence that…read moredecided to start placing skellies around the yard. The names that are added are fun and playful. There are a lot. There is even a sign of retired names of skeletons. Definitely visit when in town.

The eastern border of the French Quarter, these few blocks are packed with a variety of…read morerestaurants, bars, tattoo parlors and alleys that have art and other goods for sale, this is a lovely place to wander day and night. There is always something going on. Always music playing, food being served. I always suggest this to visitors from out of town as an experience away from Bourbon Street. This is a more refined nightlife. Close enough to all other popular locations. I could spend an entire evening within the confines of these 3-4 blocks and be fully entertained. Some of the event venues you can eat in the dining area and listen to the music in the next room.

Frenchman Street is really alive after dark. Lots of jazz venues with music pouring out onto the…read morestreet. Many creative and artsy gift shops. There is a lot of construction and the sidewalk is irregular and dangerous. But after 9 pm the streets came to life, musicians played jazz on the corners.

My first visit to the French Quarter was a blast! The parades, the people, and the energy there was…read moreunparalleled! "Ain't no party like a Mardi Gras party!" Until next time...

What can be said about the French Quarter that hasn't already been written a thousand times?…read more Plenty--once you see it the right way. If you've never been, skip the chaos of Mardi Gras and visit during the quieter stretches of mid-spring, preferably during the day. That's when the Quarter reveals itself. The crowds thin just enough to let you move at your own pace, to look up at the wrought-iron balconies, to hear the music before you see the musician, and to take it all in without fighting your way through it. History here isn't something you read about--it surrounds you. Spend time at Jackson Square, anchored by its iconic statue of Andrew Jackson, and framed by the stunning St. Louis Cathedral. Artists line the square, musicians fill the air, and street performers remind you that this city doesn't separate culture from daily life--it lives it. And then there's the food and music--both deeply rooted, unapologetically bold, and unmistakably New Orleans. Yes, the flavors can lean spicy, but the kitchens here know their audience. Just speak up, and they'll meet you where you are. But here's the truth: no photograph, no movie, no travel piece ever quite captures this place. The French Quarter isn't something you observe--it's something you experience. And once you do, you'll understand why people keep coming back, trying to put into words what is, at its core, impossible to fully explain.

This year the New Orleans Air Show returned to Belle Chasse for the first time in years. This was…read morealso the first air show I had been to since I was a teenager, so I was excited to get out and enjoy the day. I'm going to be honest- the first day was super hot and I don't think I was ready for the sun. Also, we spaced and forgot to bring chairs, so I will be bringing chairs next time. The show itself was awesome and I loved watching the planes do all of the "death defying tricks". As always, the Blue Angels were the highlight of the entire day and it was really cool seeing all of the maneuvers that they can pull off in the planes. A few things could have been tightened up for next year. First of all, there were two ATMs but they were both in the same place and the line was super long. Maybe next year they could have more than one ATM section and have them spaced out. Also, food lines were pretty insane so be prepared for a wait, if you are looking to eat when you first get there. Last but not least: the traffic. WOW. It took us about an hour to get off of the base after the show ended. There was only one way for everyone at the show to get out and it was pretty miserable waiting in that line. I guess that's to be expected All in all, it was a good time and now that I know what to be prepared for I will probably return in the future,

Those Yelpers who know me already know I absolutely LOVE airshows. I was super excited when this…read moreair show came back to New Orleans a couple months back because it had not been to NOLA since 2011. I was literally in heaven for two days. On Saturday I only got to see the morning portion of the show due to a prior commitment, but that did not diminish the fun I had. I got too see the local squad of F18's fly which was so amazing! There were also helicopter demonstrations and some of the smaller acrobatic planes did their thing. It's seriously amazing to see the acrobatic planes because they are so small and light and they can do so many tricks. I went back first thing in the morning on Sunday and stayed until after the end of the show. There were some different planes flying Sunday which was great. I got to see a WWII Vampire jet fly! It's the coolest! Another thing I had never seen before was a jet truck. It had 3 jet engines on it and even raced one of the planes. Of course the crown and glory of the show was the Blue Angels. Precision flying at its finest! It is always a joy to see the Angels fly and they did not disappoint for New Orleans. They flew for about 45 minutes and did many different formations on their passes. I can't say enough good things about these pilots because it's so obvious they work so hard to fly the way they do week after week. Great show everyone and I hope the air show continues to come to New Orleans because from the amount of people that came out there is definitely a huge interest!!!

If you're looking for a quieter and calmer vibe than Bourbon Street, look no further than the…read morestreet right next to it. There are no chicken/pizza and daiquiri shops, there is no loud music, there are no huge flashing signs, and there are fewer crowds. Instead, there are a lot of small boutique shops and art galleries. It still has all the vibes of New Orleans with the architecture and balconies but none of the craziness and partying. It's definitely refreshing and better for your ears.

This is a more laid back street to me…read more Lots of boutiques and art galleries scattered for blocks. Residential 6-8 blocks down from Canal street l. This is more like my kind of street.

The Muses super Krewe is the best. This undoubtedly is the most fun crew of all the floats in the…read moreparade on Saint Charles Street. We have been attending parades for the last 3 nights. And each night that the Muses come through they throw the coolest stuff to the crowds below and never miss a moment of entertaining everyone that came to see them. If you go anywhere in New Orleans on Mardi Gras and hear that this Krewe of Muses is having a parade, make time to go there and I strongly recommend you get there early. Because the crowd is going to be thick. Hint: Look for shoes.

The Krewe of Muses 2020 did not get to roll as planned on 2.20.2020 for our 20th Anniversary due to…read moreinclement weather. However, the Krewe did roll the following day! Although we were missing most of the marching units, we paraded on only as us Muses can ! It was an awesome ride and the crowds were out there cheering us on! "happy is he whom the Muses love"

What a quaint little festival! This is a perfect small town festival that is within an hours drive…read moreof New Orleans. Reasonably priced food and drinks. I am not sure what the cost for rides was. Little to no parking, but you have the neighbors selling spots for cheap to park on their lawn. Friendly atmosphere, with the festival queen walking around. The musicians and dancers were wonderful. You do have your holy roller people passing out candy and the word of the holy things. Lots of good food, dancing and people watching.

We had a great time at the festival. Lots of food, drink, music and dance. The Canary Island folk…read moremusic and dance was amazing. The authentic period costumes were beautiful. As always, there were many craft booths with amazing local artisans. Parking can be an issue, but we had no problems. The atmosphere was fun and friendly. I recommend you attend next year!

This is a reminder of the devastation from Hurricane Katrina in 2005. It was made from leftover…read morescraps to resemble a house in a tree, a memorial by a local artist that was dedicated on the 4th anniversary of Katrina. This visual reminder of what happened with boats in trees, cars on top of houses, and mattresses in places they never should be.

Made from leftover scraps to resemble a house in a tree, a memorial by a local artist that was…read morededicated on the fourth anniversary of Katrina, this is a visual reminder of what happened. Boats in trees after the storm, cars on top of houses, mattresses in places they never should be. A stark reminder of what happened in the past and what can happen in the future through natural disasters.

So beautiful!! For me, this was definitely a must see. It's in lovely City Park, so there's that…read moregoing for it right off the bat. The lights themselves are creative and cool and just fascinatingly gorgeous. I agree that the dragon, fish and pagoda are the big highlights here. Experiencing those alone are worth the admission price, in my opinion. We didn't partake in the food here-so I can't comment on that and for some reason Storyland was closed on a Saturday night unlike Celebration in the Oaks...so that was strange, but all in all I really enjoyed this and definitely recommend it.

I am so excited! I enjoyed China Lights so much I went twice in a week!…read more First off, yes it's $18 but it's worth it- there is a lot going on, it's really enjoyable and you can make an evening out of it. There are a few different layers to China Lights, so let me hit them one by one. The lantern lights: This is the main attraction. Gorgeous lit up lanterns of all types that illuminate the Botanical Gardens. It's really hard to pick a favorite, but I loved the panda bears and the penguins. Some of y'all know that penguins have a special place in my heart since I got to cuddle some once at the aquarium. I also loved the big light up ducks that were in a reflecting pool and moving around on a little track. I'm doing a terrible job at describing it, but trust me it's beautiful. It's really hard to describe how amazing the lights are in person and I can only imagine how much work this whole exhibit took to put together from the planning to the execution. It was definitely worth the work! The performances: In the tent where they serve the food they have nightly performances at 6:30 and 8:00. We caught the 8:00 show and the performers are straight from China. This is what they do for a living and it shows. First there were three young ladies who did acrobatics while spinning plates, the next man was a juggler who was only 18 but is an expert at juggling rings, there were contortionists who could do crazy bendy things and there was even a clown. The show lasts about 20 minutes or so and it was fantastic! These people are amazingly talented and I am so glad I got to see something like this in person. The food: I got a burger. It was a burger. Who cares? The star of the food show is the muffaletta egg rolls. Oh yeah, we are talking muffaletta goodies wrapped in a wonton and fried- totally healthy, right? OH MY GAAAAAH. So, I am going to have to go back just to get this egg roll again. It was incredible and I really should have just eaten this and called it a day. Seriously though, is there anywhere in NOLA that makes this so I can like have it on a regular basis? Please advise. All in all, I loved China Lights. It was a lot of fun and the weather is perfect for it right now. I went on both a weeknight and a weekend. I would suggest going on a weeknight because there are way fewer people and the lines to get tickets, food, bathroom, etc. are a lot shorter/non-existent. I will be back before May 1st and I hope that City Park makes this an annual thing.