Trendz, one really important thing when you go to New Orleans. BUY LOTS AND LOTS OF BEADED NECKLACES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chase FTW

Things to do in Nawlins:

-Eat a po' boy from mother's
-Get some oysters from Felix's or the Acme House (they're across the street from each other)
-Have a meal at the Bourbon House on Bourbon Street (expensive.....but worth it)
-Play some blackjack at Harrah's.....eat breakfast there after 1 a.m.
-Throw beads from any random balcony on Bourbon Street........see titties
-have a Hurricane at Pat O'Brien's
-and of course, get wasted on Bourbon Street and throw money away at a strip club

Crawfish @ Franky & Johnny's
Po'Boys @ Domilises

how could you guys forget the amazing

muffaletta

das, of course trendz knows. i spoke to him earlier and he said he's super stoked about collecting beads outside the gay bars!

I know shit about (american) football, but that headbutt on 2:42 is fucking glorious

You always know a tourist when they're wearing mardi gras beads at any other time of year BUT mardi gras, they bought them from one of the t-shirt shops or caught them from a stripper and thought they got lucky. Well, I suppose they did in that of all things you can catch from a stripper a string of cheap plastic beads is hardly the worst thing imaginable... but I digress.

The t-shirts from the tourist shops with locational logos like bourbon street and new orleans are cool, wear them with pride when you get home, but if you wear them on the streets here you'll look like a tourist for sure.

During the warmer months carrying a daiquiri is one of the smartest things you can do, sip it slow and it'll keep you cooled down and help you maintain a happy buzz without going overboard. The cheap big beers, on the other hand, will get warm way faster than you can drink them on a hot day unless you want to pound them and end up puking. Always ask what's in your drink, if you get one of the frozen concoctions from one of the many establishments that sell them, because many of them have 190 proof grain alcohol (off-brand Everclear) and don't bother to say so on the label. Many that do not often feature 151 rum (also usually an off-brand, not that you'll taste the difference in all that frozen syrupy sweetness), and either one can get you messed up fast if you're not used to handling that kind of proof. The evidence of others who tried and failed to adapt to the strength of New Orleans drinks are all over the sidewalk. Bleeeeargh.

If you are into beer though, you shouldn't miss the chance to drink some Abita Beer, especially on tap. Brewed locally in a small town about 45 minutes north of the city from spring water, this is a beer worthy of pride. The most commonly available variety is a medium lager called Abita Amber after it's reddish color, and it's a very well balanced brew excellent with food or by itself, flavorful enough to satisfy but not so overpowering as to not be refreshing or easy to drink. Turbodog is a dark brew, with almost a coffee-like bite, and for the brave Andygator is a 13%abv barleywine with a golden color and suprising smoothness despite it's powerful kick. In particular, if you can get them on draft a half and half Turbodog and Andygator is a treat. Purple Haze is a razzberry infused fruit beer that's popular, and several other less common varieties are also good. And if it's in season, the Strawberry Harvest Lager is awesome.

Yes, I did say carry around a daiquiri, and don't carry around a beer. You CAN walk on the streets with alcohol, but it has to be in a plastic cup, or an aluminum can or bottle (plastic bottles are getting more common too now). Glass containers are prohibited on the streets no matter what's in them, for safety reasons.

You can also still smoke in bars, but not in restaurants. And there is no legally mandated last call, each place sets it's own closing time based on it's typical business patterns. That's usually near dawn on weekends for bourbon street bars, earlier (like 3am-ish) on weekdays, but it's always easy to find places open later or even 24/7. A lot of the 24 hour places even serve food and have good prices to cater to the service industry.

If you have a chance to get off Bourbon, take in the architecture. The entire Quarter is over 300 years old, and the vast majority of buildings date back to the 18th century and cannot be changed or demolished by law. All renovations to these historic structures must be historically accurate, only the interiors may be changed and all plans must be approved for authenticity by a commission before any work can be done. The sense of history is nothing short of amazing.

Oh, by the way, I don't care how drunk or hungry you are, NEVER eat the pizza at Mango Mango. They use crap frozen crust like microwave pizza and charge 5 bucks a slice for it. Go across the street to Jester's, they charge the same stupid price but at least it's real dough. Or walk to Dante's Pizza on St Peter St, a block off Bourbon, better quality and much better price.