What to Expect: A Guide to Navigating New Orleans
By Shane Womack
Don’t feel bad for enjoying your time in historic NOLA and the French Quarter!
The 47th annual Southern Decadence, the massive five-day music and dance party festival that annually attracts more than 250,000 LGBT attendees to the infamous New Orleans French Quarter, is nearly upon us.
And, if you haven’t quite figured out what or how to plan for the Labor Day Weekend festivities: Don’t worry! We’ve got you covered. Now, as the locals say, “Laissez les bons temps rouler!” (Let the Good Times Roll!)
For almost 50 years, Southern Decadence has become the largest LGBT events in New Orleans, and the fifth largest festival event for the city of New Orleans. From August 30 through September 3, join participants from all over the world for a celebration of life with parties, parades and special events.
New Orleanians are famous for having fun, and with the town’s rich LGBTQ community, they are especially adept at entertaining gay visitors. Whether you're heading to Southern Decadence or planning a trip to the Big Easy for Mardi Gras or Halloween, NOLA has a lot to offer year-round.
Ready for a memorable, gay-friendly experience in the Crescent City?
Don’t be afraid to be yourself.
Not only is the city of NOLA full of personality, but you’ll find a true gumbo of cultures throughout. This city embraces its ‘uniqueness’ and is one of the most accepting places that you’ll ever visit. In fact, it’s such a unique place that you’ll leave loving everything about it–the history, the diverse culture, the food, the music, the geography, and the fun-loving, indomitable spirit of the people who live there.
Prepare to Walk
A seemingly famous Tennessee Williams quote can be found in various gift shops throughout the city: “America has only three cities: New York, San Francisco, and New Orleans. Everything else is Cleveland.” New Orleans is so full of rich history, scenic points and a ton of adventures. While New Orleans’ public transit may not one be of its strong points, you’ll be satisfied with walking in this easy to navigate city. Uber and/or Lyft rides are easy, the streetcar is scenic and enjoyable, simply because you’ll never know what you’ll see in the city. And, don’t forget your “go-cup”, New Orleans is adult beverage friendly and New Orleanians love to walk in groups, so they can enjoy drinks where ever the day takes them.
Gay Bourbon Street
It won’t take long as you stroll down Bourbon Street, the closer that you get to the corners of St. Ann and Bourbon, the rainbow flags will appear. The French Quarter has several great spots to visit so don’t be afraid to bar crawl across the quarter. Start with a purple drink at Lafitte’s Blacksmith’s Shop (America’s oldest bar) to sip on your way for snacks and drinks at 700 Club. Be sure to visit Good Friends, and for great dancing make sure to visit Oz New Orleans. No matter your mood, the French Quarter has options for any type of day and/or night adventure.
It’s a marathon, not a race.
If there’s one thing to remember about a trip to New Orleans, it’s to remember that the city is known for its abundance of specialty drinks, daiquiris, cocktails and some of the most lenient alcohol laws in the country. If the reputation of Bourbon Street doesn’t give it away, you’ll learn quickly that drinking is an art form in New Orleans. Don’t feel pressured to chug, just grab a go-cup and stroll and sip on the way to your next destination. Things are known to get out of control on Bourbon Street, so just remember to pace yourself.
NOLA is 24/7
One of the coolest features about the city of New Orleans is that there are no restrictions on when bars or restaurants can serve, so many places in the historic French Quarter can and do stay open 24 hours a day. So, whenever you feel the need, you’ll be able to find wine, beer, and liquor (or whatever your heart desires) at most any of the local grocery, drug or convenience stores around the city.
Find Live Music
Every day, the venues of Frenchmen St., street corners in the French Quarter, and around New Orleans offer the music of your New Orleans fantasies. New Orleans has thriving bounce, hip-hop, folk, metal, and zydeco scenes that often get overshadowed by jazz and brass, and the city has become a staple for touring acts of all genres and sizes thanks to newer facilities that have been rebuilt since Hurricane Katrina. NOLA runs on music, so take the time to listen —no matter what genre you prefer—at least once while in town.
Remember Katrina
This year, the city of New Orleans celebrates its New Orleans Tricentennial, and while that’s a ton of history, no modern event has changed the city quite like the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina. As most locals would tell you, New Orleans has recovered and then some, and for the better. The city has never looked better or felt cleaner than it does today. Check out the installations at the west end of the 9th Ward or at the north end of Canal Street so that can give you a somber sense of the scope of the flooding. Exhibitions at the Louisiana State Museum or the 9th Ward Living History Museum can offer staggering information, and documentaries like Spike Lee’s When The Levees Broke or locally made Trouble in the Water capture the unspeakable happenings in unflinching detail.
Eat local.
Quite possibly one of the most difficult decisions you’ll have to make while visiting the city of New Orleans is figuring out where you should dine. Where do you begin? Don’t miss out on the famous cajun-spiced sausage, known as boudin, at least once. Seafood is done right here, so you’ll find an abundance of seafood, crawfish, shrimp and oyster options to mesmerize your tastebuds. Definitely check out EAT New Orleans for brunch, grab a muffaletta for a snack, and visit Commander’s Palace for dinner.
Don’t feel bad having fun in the French Quarter.
The most bustling part of the city, and yes, the most touristy, the French Quarter will be a memorable adventure. Don’t miss out on the pleasure of visiting Cafe Du Monde for beignets, the scenic views of the Mississippi River and attractions of Jackson Square (and don’t forget with a daiquiri in hand!). There are just some things that you have to do and see that makes New Orleans New Orleans in the same way the food, people and traditions touch your soul.
Plan… (a little.)
Think ahead, with an influx of visitors in the city it makes some sense to plan accordingly, if there’s a place you really want to visit, make a reservation. Or don’t, some of the best hidden gems in this city offer some great food options, but even NOLA favorites like Antoine’s (the oldest family-owned restaurant in the U.S.) and Pascal Manale’s (and its beloved oyster bar) are on OpenTable. You should never have a bad meal in this town.