This weekend, my friends and I took a trip to New Orleans, LA for our friend Ethan’s birthday. We spent the weekend together in a cute Mid-City AirBnB off of Canal St, and somehow it was big enough to fit our entire group of ten.
We spent our first night getting delicious seafood and hanging out on Frenchman St, then spent our day on Saturday exploring to city. For the first time, I finally got to go on a Ghost Tour in the city. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do because of how much history lies within.
Because this group of friends is filled with musicians and music-lovers, we actually spent a lot of time talking to local musicians. Chris, whom I’ve photographed in a couple of his bands, sat down to get lessons on how to play the drums on five-gallon buckets. The kids who were teaching us were so good, and taught us the trick to getting different sounds and rhythms by using your feet to lift and manipulate the bucket while you play.
One of the coolest things we saw while walking through the French Quarter was a second line for a wedding. The wedding party was in such high spirits, and the Bride and Groom were really fun to photograph. Crazily enough, I was able to find the couple on Instagram and share the pictures with them.
New Orleans is such a special city. It’s got history, great music, incredible food, and so much arts and culture to take in. Spending a weekend there sometimes doesn’t feel like enough. I wonder if I could make it in the city as a local — walking around the French Quarter in the early morning and mid-afternoon are so peaceful, and totally different from the craziness of Bourbon Street at night. I can tell how and why so many people fall in love with it.
If you’ve never been, I highly recommend it. My secret favorite spots?
Go to the French Market and get Crab Cakes from Meals from the Heart. They are seriously out of this world.
Personally, I think Cafe Beignet is better than Cafe du Monde, and it’s such a great brunch spot for a lazy Sunday morning. I hear they have multiple locations now; I suggest going to the one on Royal near Conti St.
The fried oysters at Royal House are amazing. I’m not a big fan of oysters, so I feel like this is saying a lot. But, if you also don’t care for oysters, the rest of their food is equally incredible.
During this trip, I discovered Full Blast Brunch on S. Cortez St. I was looking for some variety, and this place came through. They had everything I was wanting, and more that I want to try. I highly suggest them.
