Help Wanted: Goin' to New Orleans

Later this month, I'll be on assignment at the first weekend of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. I was in Crescent City about six years ago -- I took the Forever Fiancee for her 30th. It truly was a lost weekend, especially after I ate some suspect gumbo Saturday night. The fever dreams were fierce at six in the morning, when a gaggle of young women formed in the street and about-face chants of "Show You D----s!" were hurled at a nearby balcony full of frat boys. I'm thinking this upcoming trip will be a little different. I've been setting up interviews and feature stories, but I also want to leave some open time. I'm not sure if I'll take the tour of the devastation. That said, the French Quarter and the Jazzfest grounds won't tell the true tale of the city.

Anyway, if you've ever been to New Orleans, tell me your favorite spots. Tell me stories. Tell me dirty secrets. Tell me where to go.

Also, the Jazzfest is loaded with more than 150 bands, and there are conflicts all over the place. So who would you rather see:

Dave Matthews Band vs. Juvenile vs. Etta James
Bruce Springsteen vs. the Meters vs. Preservation Hall Jazz Band
Dr. John vs. Ani DiFranco vs. BeauSoleil vs. Irvin Mayfield
Bob Dylan vs. Cowboy Mouth vs. Charmain Neville

And finally, let's be honest: There have been a lot of stories written about New Orleans. What are you tired of? What story hasn't been written? What would you like to read about? How many bars would you like me to visit?

Comments

[chilledbongo]

i wd make it my top bizniz to see the meters, fats domino, any ardoin brother, buckwheat if hes playing, or any real zydeco/cajun musician. yu can see most of the others in tampa any old time. wash all down w abita beer.luckily, i got to nola most recently last spring before the mess. a once amazing old city i first visited in 86, foloed by many more times. always planned to live there in a funky old shotgun house off magazine street in the lower garden district.stories we dont need to read again: 'oh what a mess as far as the eye can see' 'problems of the times-picayune staff' 'dead bodies still turning up' 'preservation hall still standing' 'its almost hurricane season and no one's ready' 'life goes on on bourbon street' 'mufalettas are still tasty'

[Guy]

The Meters over the world premiere of Springsteen & the Seeger Sessions band? Are you freakin' kidding me? Pat O'Brien's for the hurricanes (two of which will knock you on your a**).Acme Oyster House for the city's best oyster po boy.New Orleans Zephyrs' stadium to see the only professional (albeit minor-league) team that did not bail on the Big Easy this year. Rick's Caberet for a little taste of Tampa-style "burlesque".And if a street urchin claims to know where you got your shoes ...

[Guy]

The Meters over the world premiere of Springsteen & the Seeger Sessions band? Are you freakin' kidding me? Pat O'Brien's for the hurricanes (two of which will knock you on your a**).Acme Oyster House for the city's best oyster po boy.New Orleans Zephyrs' stadium to see the only professional (albeit minor-league) team that did not bail on the Big Easy this year. Rick's Caberet for a little taste of Tampa-style "burlesque".And if a street urchin claims to know where you got your shoes ...

[sparky]

Daly you pulled off a cardinal sin here. Women never tell their ages, yet you dropped "The FF's" age. I sense you will be paying for that.

[Chase Squires]

The Napoleon House for a muffuletta and a Dixie .. mmmm.And for Gosh sake, there's is NOTHING NEW TO WRITE about Dylan, Springsteen, etc .. see some new bands.

[New Orleans Native]

Favorite spots: Tipitinas, Carrollton Station (a wonderful place for a concert). Grab some food uptown or even possibly at one of the non-tourist places in the quarter(I'm not sure what's open these days. Red Fish Grill and Camelia Grill were always good).go see Cowboy Mouth (you can't pass up the experience), The Meters, marcia ball if she's playing, if you can catch susan cowsill, do it.And, keep the spotlight on my hometown. See some of the devastatation. it's the only way to truly appreciate what happened there.enjoy the trip and grab a copy of the cd "Feeder Bands on the Run." An excellent collection....

[New Orleans Native]

Oh, and be sure to grab a Dixie Beer and an Abita Amber and lift it in a toast to all the New Orleans natives (like myself) who will miss JazzFest this year -- and to the good folks who made sure the music kept playing....

[Anonymous]

Go for breakfast at the Old Coffee Pot in the French Quarter. It's is a quaint little patio restaurant located next to Pat O'Briens. Try the callas, the creole rice/pecan cakes, they are a nice change from beignets.

[Steve Spears]

Go to the Bourbon Blues Club (BBC) on Bourbon Street, where they have 3-for-1 drinks all day, every day on the 2nd flor. Plus, they have a nice balcony up there. Primo spot.

[Sherry]

Bruce Springsteen. Please don't write about David Matthews or Ani DiFranco or I won't be able to take you seriously any more. PS. Nothin' wrong with being 36.