Vacations Blog

This “Local’s Perspective” on New Orleans comes from Chris Marz. Chris is a long-time resident of New Orleans that now lives in the Dallas area. I loved reading about all there is to do in this decadent and colorful city. It was heartening to hear of the hard work being done to rebuild from Katrina. I also enjoyed Chris’s list of tasty restaurants to visit. New Orleans does food well and I am drooling over the thought of dinner at Galatoire’s or a muffaletta from Central Grocery! Enjoy!

1. Give five adjectives that you would use to describe the “feel” of New Orleans and its residents?

Warm, fun-loving, laid-back, welcoming, and food-loving

2. What is your favorite neighborhood/area of New Orleans?

French Quarter, Garden District, Lakeview, Uptown – each neighborhood is unique.  Be sure to go past the French Quarter in touring New Orleans

3. Which cuisine do you think New Orleans does best? What is the runner-up?(feel free to share your favorite restaurant)

Creole (not Cajun); Runner up: seafood; Favorite restaurant:  Liuzza’s on the Track

4. What is the best free thing to do?

People watch in the French Quarter (Best “almost” free: ride the streetcar uptown and then back to downtown)

5. What is your favorite type of entertainment?

Street festivals with food and music (these occur almost every weekend)

6. List the best family friendly activity.

Audubon Park (zoo), the Aquarium, Insectarium,  or riverboat cruise to Chalmette

7. What spot would you send a couple, looking for a romantic weekend?

The Column Hotel

8. Describe the perfect day…one that captures what your area/city is all about–  In three sentences or less.

An early morning walk/run through the French Quarter followed by breakfast at Café du Monde; lunch at Liuzza’s on the Track (even better, if the Fairgrounds racetrack is open) If not, a trip to New Orleans Museum of Art (wonderful Faberge exhibit).  Late in the afternoon, a drink on the front porch of the Column Hotel.  Dinner at Arnaud’s, Brennan’s, Broussard’s or Galatoire’s.  Nightcap at Lafitte’s Hideaway (one of the oldest buildings in the French Quarter) or the Carousel Bar at the Hotel Monteleone.

9. Tell us about a place that you love to go whether it is in the guidebooks or not.

Get a muffaletta from Central Grocery and eat on the levee, overlooking the river. Take the streetcar to the ferry landing and ride the ferry to Old Algiers.  Walk through Old Algiers and see old homes and Blaine Kern’s Mardi Gras World.  I would also recommend a drive through Lakeview to see how hard New Orleanians are working to recover from Katrina and how far they still have to go  There are good seafood restaurants in the area as well.

10. What question did we not ask that we should have (and answer it, of course!)?

“Should I take one of the buggy tours of the French Quarter?”

Yes, but don’t believe a word they tell you.  Look for the National Park tour offerered for free, if you are interested in learning the history of the city.

“Do you have to pay a lot of money to eat good food?”

NO NO NO.  If there is a line or the place is crowded, chances are the food is good.

If you’re planning a trip, check out flights to New Orleans.

Would you like to share your hometown with UpTake visitors? Send us an e-mail or comment on this post and then maybe you can be our next “local expert”!