Taking It Easy in the Big Easy

Everyone talks about Mardi Gras in New Orleans, but there's more to New Orleans than just Mardi Gras. This is my second trip to NOLA, and I can't believe how the people of New Orleans can pick up the pieces and continue on after Katrina. I don't know what it was like before Katrina, but I have toured 9th Ward and the devasted areas after Katrina, and I'm constantly amazed that it's still the way it was right after Katrina hit.

People are still scared to come to New Orleans, but the chance of another huge hurricane hitting again so soon is pretty low. Tourism hasn't been the same since. This city really needs tourists. Mardi Gras is only a week and a half away, and the city is emptier than I thought it would be for Mardi Gras.

A new tourism is starting up--the Katrina tour. I did go on a Katrina tour, and it's a somber moment for Americans. It's also educational, so I hope that if you do come to New Orleans that you take the Katrina tour and see how America is failing our own citizens.

Quick Tips:

Walk with a buddy. Just like in NYC or LA, this is an urban city. Take safety precautions, especially if you're not used to cities with heavy crime.

Restaurants tend to serve fried foods or excessively sweet sugary items. If you have special dietary needs, such as diabetic or low-cholesterol foods, you may want to ask your waiter for suggestions for a healthier option if there is one at that restaurant.

Many restaurants have special relationships with hotels. Ask your concierge for restaurant suggestions. They may have a coupon or VIP card for you, saving you either money or wait time.

Best Way To Get Around:

Best way to get around is to take a taxi, they're plentiful, and hotels are quick to call you one.

Walking works, too, as many shops and restaurants are within walking distance.

Renting a car is only advisable if you have free parking. Many hotels charge for parking, so it's really not worth bringing a car to New Orleans unless you have free parking at your hotel or condo.

There is also a rail near the river, but it's limited as to where it travels to.

Buses are also available, but I don't like to travel in an unfamiliar city on the bus, especially the cities that have a healthy crime rate.

This hotel is the only union hotel left in the city after Katrina destroyed the only other one (Fairmont Hotel). There is a full-service spa available that I have not booked. The pool is open to all hotel guests from 6am-10pm. There is a whirlpool spa and dry sauna room as well.

I like the excellent service provided by the hotel. Beds are comfortable. Internet access is free. What I don’t like is that there is no ventilation in the rooms. The windows don’t open, and the bathrooms don’t have a fan, so there is continual low ventilation in the rooms. Otherwise there is no fresh air, just ventilated air.

The hotel is right across from Harrah’s Casino and near to several restaurants. There is also dining within the hotel, Café Adelaide and the Swizzle Stick Bar. I did not bother to try either.

Although my boyfriend is a member of Loews First, when his company books the room, they don’t credit him the points, so it’s really a useless feature. When his company books Hilton hotels, Hilton credits him the points, so I don’t see why that’s an issue. Needless to say, I wouldn’t be staying at Loews if I had a choice about it. We stayed in a Holiday Inn Express once, and the hotel room was fine. Service was OK, not Loews level, but I wasn’t expecting it.

I tried the concierge’s suggestion on a burger, but obviously these suggestions are based on partnerships with the hotel. I was in the mood for a burger, but she steered me oh-so-wrong. I can’t blame her. She’s probably only doing what she’s told to recommend. Or maybe she actually likes those places. She’s young, so maybe good food isn’t really as important as the prices. Always take advice with a grain of salt. What you like is not necessarily what another person likes.

We had a coupon for a free entrée when buying another entrée, so we decided to check it out. I was in the mood for a beer and a burger, and I figured a brewery would do burgers just fine. Unfortunately, the coupon didn’t apply to sandwiches, only entrees, which were a higher price. Since it was a "buy one, get one free" deal, we switched our orders. My boyfriend ordered the Red Fish St. Louis, and I ordered the Southern Crispy Duck. I had already ordered a Red Stallion, so I went with the duck since I was already eyeing that item on the menu, and it was recommended to pair with the Red Stallion beer.

When we received our orders, we were pleasantly surprised. The fish tasted wonderful, and the duck was superb! Both had accents of spice and were just delicious. I have never had duck taste that way. I have had duck on many occasions, but the way it was cooked here was unique. To top it off, the check which was originally over $50 was cut down to only $30 because of the coupon. The meal was worth it at the original price. The coupon was icing on the cake. I will definitely go back to try more items on their menu.

Lucy’s was a place recommended by the concierge at Loews Hotel. She said it was a funky little place, so we decided to check it out. Imagine our surprise when it had Santa Cruz sandwiches on the menu. (My boyfriend is from Santa Cruz.) We thought this was a good sign, so we went in.

The front was a bar area, packed with locals. We had walked in on Thursday, which was ladies night. You can order $1 beers if you don’t carry a Y chromosome. We sat in the restaurant area in the back. The tables have plastic covers stapled to them with surfer print, varying from Hawaiian aloha designs to kitschy beach wear.

My boyfriend had a shrimp po’ boy sandwich while I ordered the Juicy Lucy hamburger with guacamole and mushrooms, medium. Both of us were disappointed with our orders. My boyfriend didn’t like the fried shrimp, which is really his fault for ordering a po’ boy. That’s the style of the sandwich. My burger, however, was not medium, but well, and dried out at that. Plus the cook forgot to put in the guacamole. Then when we received our check we were charged for the guacamole. For an iced tea and Coke, the total came out to a little over $20 for the two of us.

Plus, I got stared at by the locals. I don’t think too many Asians live in the South, so there were a lot of good old boys around. I won’t be back to Lucy’s. How can you mess up a simple burger? The concierge steered us wrong. Later I found out there was a Fuddruckers within walking distance. Why, oh, why didn’t she tell me to go there?