Jan

2

New Year’s Resolution - be in New Orleans for Mardi Gras!

Attending Mardi Gras in New Orleans in 2009 should definitely be on your Top 10 list of New Year’s resolutions! 

This year, Mardi Gras Day falls on Tuesday, February 24!  Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday, is the final day of the Mardi Gras season as it always falls the day before Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent.

Nightly parades begin two weekends prior to the big day but most visitors plan to arrive the weekend just prior to Fat Tuesday.  Hotels offer special Mardi Gras packages beginning on Friday, February 20.  Click here to view the parade schedule - www.mardigrasneworleans.com/schedule.html.

Find a unique costume, practice yelling “throw me something, Mister” and get ready to party hardy!  While February 24 will be just an ordinary day for the rest of the world…you can be celebrating the excitement and merriment of Mardi Gras in New Orleans!

Dec

11

College Bowl fans…stay and play in New Orleans!

With two exciting football bowl games on the way, New Orleans’ Tourism Industry is ready to welcome fans with plenty of hotel options and unparalleled hospitality and culture!

R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl - December 21, 2008

75th Allstate Sugar Bowl Football Classic - January 2, 2009

Football fans will continue to fill the city as New Orleans welcomes thousands of guests to two annual football favorites, the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl and the Allstate Sugar Bowl Football Classic. After successfully hosting thousands of guests over the Thanksgiving weekend for the annual State Farm Bayou Classic, the Louisiana Superdome is gearing up again to host two exciting events on its turf.
“Despite rumors to the contrary, there are a number of fine quality hotel rooms remaining in New Orleans over Sugar Bowl and the New Orleans Bowl,” said Stephen Perry, President and CEO of the New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau. “We are expecting great crowds from the fans of Troy University, the University of Southern Mississippi, the University of Alabama and the University of Utah, and their rooms are waiting for them. The two bowl games are a great opportunity for attendees to experience the holiday season and the authentic, amazing nightlife, music, restaurants, and hospitality of New Orleans and all of the buzz and excitement of actually being in the Crescent City near the Louisiana Superdome.”
  • R + L Carriers New Orleans Bowl: December 21, 2008, the Troy University Trojans and the University of Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles will battle it out on the field for the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl. The annual football game matches up the best of the Sunbelt Conference and Conference USA. Last year’s game estimated 25,146 attendees. Other festivities include the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl Fan Fest at Fulton Street on Saturday, December 20.
  • 75th Allstate Sugar Bowl Football Classic: Celebrating its 75th anniversary, this year’s Sugar Bowl game on January 2, 2009, features the University of Alabama Crimson Tide from the Southeastern Conference and the University of Utah Utes from the Mountain West Conference. Last year approximately 74,383 people attended the game, with thousands more visiting the city and an estimated economic impact of $164 million. Sugar Bowl festivities include the Allstate Sugar Bowl Fan Fest to be held near Jax Brewery on Decatur Street in the French Quarter on Wednesday, December 31 and Thursday, January 1. Sugar Bowl visitors also can ring in 2009 with a number of New Year’s Eve festivities planned in New Orleans.

With over 18,000 hotel rooms within walking distance of the Superdome, 33,000 hotel rooms city-wide and more restaurants open than ever, New Orleans’ hospitality industry is ready to greet football fans from around the country.

To check hotel availability and book online, simply click here http://www.experienceneworleans.com/availability/available.cgi

 

 

Dec

2

Christmas New Orleans Style!

There is nothing like enjoying the holidays in New Orleans!  Christmas New Orleans Style celebrates the spirit of our city…aglow with twinkling lights, festive iron-laced balconies, and garland decked streetcars. 

Converse with Historical Characters as they stroll the streets of the Vieux Carre and share their love of New Orleans; learn the secrets of our award winning cuisine at Cooking Demos; visit our historic homes and museums decorated in festive holiday colors; and find treasured holiday gifts as you stroll our quaint streets and shop with our local merchants.

Papa Noel hotel rates are available and make it easier to spend more time at Christmas New Orleans Style. Restaurants continue the French tradition of “Reveillon” dinners. The icon of our city, 200 year old St. Louis Cathedral, will host a variety of weekly concerts, and additional Special Events for all ages will bring family and friends together to fall in love with New Orleans all over again!  

So come now to our 23rd Christmas New Orleans Style…you’ll be so glad you did!

Nov

3

Thanksgiving in New Orleans

Thanksgiving in New Orleans

Thanksgiving is such a special time in New Orleans! Not only do we count our blessings for the great strides we have made over the past three years, but we are thankful that we are in the city we love…the city we call home!

If you are seeking a local eatery open on Thanksgiving Day and want to take advantage of the “feast” they are preparing, check out this list of popular restaurants open for business on Thursday, November 27.

7 on Fulton – Wyndham Riverfront Hotel – will be open on Thanksgiving Day.

Bombay Club will be taking reservations for Thanksgiving Day from 1:00 pm - 8:00 pm - check out Bombay Club.

Brennan’s Restaurant will be open all day.For breakfast we will be open 9:00 am to 1:00 pm and for dinner 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Check out Brennan’s Restaurant.

Broussard’s Restaurant will be open Thanksgiving, noon-4 pm. Check out Broussard’s Restaurant.

Court of Two Sisters will be open on Thanksgiving Day! The hours for the Jazz Brunch are 9 am-3 pm and Dinner is 5:30 pm until 9 pm.

Dominique’s Restaurant - will be open for Thanksgiving from 11:30 am – 4:30 pm. There will be a three course menu with choices of two soups, 3 en trees and 2 desserts at a cost of $45.00/person plus tax and gratuity. Dominique’s will be open for regular dinner hours that night. We are taking reservations now at 504-648-6152.

Muriel’s will be open on Thanksgiving day.

Red Fish Grill will be open from approximately 11:00 am till 7:00 pm.

Tujague’s Restaurant open Thanksgiving day 11:00 am to 10:00 pm - check out www.Tujaguesrestaurant.com.

The day after Thanksgiving is synonymous with shopping, shopping and more shopping…so you can walk off all those pounds you gained the day before! Also…this is the day the crowds begin to pour into town for the annual Bayou Classic when Southern University meets Grambling in this great state football game.

Enjoy this wonderful holiday and be especially thankful that you are spending it in the Big Easy!

Oct

12

New Orleans Kid Friendly Halloween - Check out the Krewe of Boo Parade!

Looking for a safe, cultural way to spend Halloween this year? Bring the family and everyone you know to the Krewe of Boo parade, the city’s first Halloween parade, set to roll downtown October 31st.

The parade is also first in New Orleans to have a completely charitable cause, benefiting the First Responders Fund, a charitable organization set up to help police officers get back into their homes post Katrina.

Krewe of Boo begins at 7pm at the corner of Elysian Fields and Decatur, and rolls downtown throughout South Peters, Canal Street and Bourbon Street.

For a map and more information, visit www.KreweOfBoo.org