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City Spotlight: New Orleans
Nightlife in the Big Easy goes on and on 24/7. Laissez les bontemps roulez!
Written by noiZe Staff
Mark Twain said, “an American has not seen the United States until he has seen Mardi Gras in New Orleans.” And a gay boy has not seen New Orleans until he’s seen Southern Decadence in all its glory. With numerous voodoo shops and above-ground cemeteries, New Orleans offers an unrivaled glimpse into the delightfully seedy allure of not only this great historic city but also the vibrant gay party scene there. As the birthplace of jazz and the home of Mardi Gras, what other U.S. city can conjure up images of the debauched revelry, old-world charm, and haunting ambiance that all at once encapsulate the Big Easy?
Hop on the St. Charles streetcar and pass by the impressive mansions that line this famous thoroughfare, ride on a riverboat on the great Mississippi, or go on a bar crawl through the French Quarter. New Orleans is one of the top ten most visited cities in the country—not surprising, considering all the things to do, places to eat, and, most importantly, places to drink.
Surviving one of the worst natural disasters to ever hit the United States, New Orleans is back on its feet and pulsing with energy. Our resident New Orleans noiZe boy, Jeremy Dathan Jones (featured on page 80), takes us on a whirlwind tour of his favorite haunts, including many places you may have heard of—and some you haven’t. Plan a trip over Labor Day weekend for Southern Decadence or hop on your broom to go there for Halloween. Or have plenty to give up for Lent by celebrating Mardi Gras. Just make sure you take Wednesday off. And Thursday, too.
WHERE TO EAT...
Clover Grill
900 Bourbon Street
504-598-1010
http://www.clovergrill.com
This local favorite is the best after a long night of drinking and dancing. A short stumble away from the bars on Bourbon Street, this lively diner is buzzing 24 hours a day Wednesday thru Sunday. Stop in for breakfast at 4 a.m. You won’t be dining alone.
Meauxbar Bistro
942 Rampart Street
504-569-9979
http://www.meauxbar.com
This stylish café features an eclectic menu of classic French, Louisiana regional, and colonial Indochine dishes in a casual atmosphere. Spice up your life with the coconut shrimp in red curry sauce, or check out the steak frites for the traditional French way to eat meat.
Eat
900 Dumaine Street
504-522-7222
http://www.eatnola.com
This is the place to go for traditional N’Awlins cuisine. Gumbo ... say no more. Belly up to the best Sunday brunch in the Quarter; or the daily Big Breakfast—chicken fried steak with country gravy, scrambled eggs, grits, and a homemade biscuit. This is the way to start the day.
Mr. B’s Bistro
201 Royal Street
504-523-2078
http://www.mrbsbistro.com
Offering regional Creole cuisine since 1979, Mr. B’s is smack dab in the heart of Vieux Carré (that’s French Quarter to y’all). Enjoy live piano music with your dinner or stop in on Sunday for the jazz brunch. Go no further for the best barbeque shrimp and crawfish croquettes. You have to taste the Gumbo Ya Ya to believe it.
The Court of Two Sisters
613 Royal Street
504-522-7261
http://www.courtoftwosisters.com
Served daily from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Jazz Brunch Buffet at this historic restaurant will bring the saints and everyone else marching in. Guests can choose from standard fare such as Eggs Benedict (with grits, of course) to signature dishes like turtle soup and duck a l’orange. In the evenings, Creole a la Carte is the way to go.
WHERE TO DRINK...
Bourbon Pub
801 Bourbon Street
504-529-2107
http://www.bourbonpub.com
Proudly serving the New Orleans gay community 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year for over 34 years, this neighborhood and tourist favorite is a must. Situated on the corner of St. Anne and Bourbon Street, this world-famous drinking spot just finished major renovations. Check out the videos downstairs, or bump and grind with some hot boys upstairs on the dance floor at Parade. You must be18 to party, 21 to drink.
Cafe Lafitte in Exile
901 Bourbon Street
504-522-8397
http://www.lafittes.com
One of the oldest haunts in the Quarter, and the oldest continuously running gay bar in the entire country, this two-story landmark is also one of the friendliest. Just ask the lingering ghost of Tennessee Williams, who frequented this place back in the day. Throw some beads at the boys below from the balcony during Mardi Gras—but only if they show you the family jewels.
Good Friends
740 Dauphine Street
504-566-7191
http://www.goodfriendsbar.com
The name says it all. Good people, karaoke, and booze. Celebrating 20 years of getting boys drunk, this “snappy casual” pub serves up $1 well drinks on Saturdays, and friendly disorientation all the time.
Rawhide 2010
740 Burgundy Street
504-525-8106
http://www.rawhide2010.com
The hottest Levi/leather bar in NOLA is most happening late at night. Play pool or video poker, or flirt with the friendly bartenders and extra-friendly clientele. Zagat rated it #1 for service in all of New Orleans—and that’s saying something.
Ninth Circle
700 N. Rampart Street
504-524-7654
http://www.myspace.com/9thcircle
On the outskirts of the Quarter, this bar is ultra laid back, super friendly, and has some of the most amazing eclectic art you have ever seen. You’ll also hear a diverse variety of music, ranging from progressive house to electro to breakbeat.
The Phoenix/Eagle
941 Elysian Fields Avenue
504-945-9264
http://www.phoenixneworleans.com
Lions and tigers and bears… oh my! If you’re into leather, you’ll feel right at home at The Phoenix. This Levi/leather bar is housed in a two-story building on the outskirts of the French Quarter. Crack some balls with your stick on the pool tables downstairs, or take your balls and stick upstairs to the Eagle for a different kind of fun.
WHERE TO DANCE...
Oz
800 Bourbon Street
504-593-9491
http://www.ozneworleans.com
Click your heels three times and you’ll land on this great and powerful dance floor. It may not be one of the biggest, but it is definitely one of the best in the French Quarter. But don’t be a size queen; you’re sure to find some of the hottest boys dancing on top of the bar and some pretty cute ones on the dance floor as well.
Parade
801 Bourbon Street
504-529-2107
http://www.bourbonpub.com
Upstairs from The Bourbon Pub, you’ll find the longest continuously operating gay nightclub in the country. For over 34 years, Parade has been serving it up with amazing lights and sound and big-name DJs. This place gets packed on the weekends, so if you don’t want to be pressed up against a bunch of hot, sweaty boys, maybe you shouldn’t be gay.
WHAT TO SEE...
Cafe Du Monde
1039 Decatur Street
800-772-2927
http://www.cafedumonde.com
A trip to the Big Easy is not complete without a beignet and a café au lait from this legendary coffee stand across from the cathedral. Established in 1862, this world-famous coffee shop is a must for any visitor of New Orleans. Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The Shops at Jax Brewery
600 Decatur Street
504-566-7245
http://www.jacksonbrewery.com
Once home to the largest independent brewery in the South, this landmark building now houses four floors of restaurants, bars, and cafés as well as unique New Orleans shops. Visit the museum dedicated to the brewery or grab a bite at the Lazy River Café.
House of Blues
225 Decatur Street
504-310-4999
http://www.hob.com
They don’t call this place the “Home of Live Music” for nothing. The calendar at HOB is packed full of concerts and events all year long. See a spectacular show in the Music Hall, have a drink at the Memphis Bar, or enjoy some of the finest Southern cuisine in the Voodoo Garden.
The Shops at Canal Place
333 Canal Street
504-522-9200
http://www.theshopsatcanalplace.com
If you’re feeling like you need to get your Gucci on, head straight for this stylish shopping mall. In addition to the high-end boutiques, there is also a Saks Fifth Avenue; a four-screen, art-house movie theater; the Southern Repertory Theatre; and the Wyndham New Orleans.
Riverwalk Marketplace
1 Poydras Street, Suite 101
504-522-1555
http://www.riverwalkmarketplace.com
Have a daiquiri at Fat Tuesday, learn how to make shrimp etouffée from a real Creole chef, or savor a Cajun dish at one of the many restaurants in this legendary marketplace. Constructed on the site of the 1984 World’s Fair, Riverwalk has tons of shops to choose from as you take in great views of the Mississippi River.
Aquarium of the Americas
1 Canal Street
504-581-4629
http://www.auduboninstitute.org
Go under the sea without getting wet at this world-class aquarium. Explore the Caribbean Sea and the Amazon Rainforest, marvel at the sharks and stingrays as they pass just feet in front of you, or feed a penguin. You could get lost for hours in this big fish tank.
WHERE TO STAY...
St. Peter’s Guest House
1005 St. Peter Street
800-535-7815
http://www.stpeterhouse.com
Bourbon Orleans
717 Orleans Avenue
504-523-2222
http://www.bourbonorleans.com
Ursuline’s Guest House
708 Ursuline Avenue
504-525-8509
http://www.ursulineguesthouse.com
French Quarter Suites
1119 N. Rampart Street
504-524-7725
http://www.frenchquartersuites.com
WHERE TO PARTY...
Southern Decadence
August 28 – September 1, 2008
http://www.southerndecadence.net
Join Chi Chi LaRue, the “Diva of Decadence,” for one of the raunchiest times of your life as she celebrates her 11th anniversary as hostess with the mostest. Southern Decadence has been going for 37 years and isn’t stopping any time soon. With over 100,000 gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender participants, this is one of the largest annual celebrations in New Orleans. The official theme for 2008 is “Decadence Does Disco” and the colors are silver, black, and white. Buy a Weekend Pass to get the most bang for your buck.
Halloween in New Orleans
October 23-26, 2008
http://www.halloweenneworleans.com
Boyz and ghouls creep around the eerie streets of N’Awlins at the end of October. Visitors from all around the country converge on the French Quarter to get their freak on, in more ways than one. Halloween has become legendary in New Orleans as one of the biggest party weekends the Crescent City has to offer. Halloween 25 is the place to be this weekend as Halloween’s in New Orleans celebrates its silver anniversary with Circuit stars Brett Henrichsen and Roland Belmares, who will scare the pants off you with their mastery of the turntables. All proceeds go to Project Lazarus, a home in New Orleans for men and women with AIDS.
Gay Mardi Gras
February 19-24, 2009
http://www.gaymardigras.net
Mardi Gras and New Orleans go together like boys and boys. This celebration is one of the most outrageous gatherings in NOLA, bringing in almost as many gay revelers as Southern Decadence. The climax is “Fat Tuesday,” which is the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. You may want to give up fun for Lent, since you’ll definitely get your fill the week before! Weekend Passes for 2009 will be available for purchase online after Labor Day. And remember: No beads on Wednesday (tacky).
