Mardi Gras 2011

Bourbon Street

Attraction | "Alcohol Fueled Fun and Debauchery"

Quote:

Bourbon St. - a massive cluster of alcoholic debauchery mixed with a clamoring for small plastic necklaces. There are so many people that it is nearly impossible to actually do anything other than stand in one place and look up in hopes of getting beaded, or to watch people do outrageous things in order to win the love of the tosser on the balcony. Entering Bourbon Street, it is necessary to have an adult beverage in hand - I don't know if it's peer pressure, or some innate desire to drink when crossing into the intoxication zone. Either way, I got a beer and started my walk through the Quarter. However, there are so many people around, mostly drunk, that you are bound to be hit and bump...Read More

Bourbon St. - a massive cluster of alcoholic debauchery mixed with a clamoring for small plastic necklaces. There are so many people that it is nearly impossible to actually do anything other than stand in one place and look up in hopes of getting beaded, or to watch people do outrageous things in order to win the love of the tosser on the balcony.

Entering Bourbon Street, it is necessary to have an adult beverage in hand - I don't know if it's peer pressure, or some innate desire to drink when crossing into the intoxication zone. Either way, I got a beer and started my walk through the Quarter. However, there are so many people around, mostly drunk, that you are bound to be hit and bumped, so it is necessary to have a lid and a straw - not to mention there are plenty of things flying around and one is bound to end up in your drink. Beer is not best consumed from a straw, so maybe my choice of drinks wasn't the most conducive to this kind of party.

Anyways, I meandered through the street without any place to go, because the street itself is the party. I kept hoping to find 'it' but 'it' just led me further down the way, always chasing the light.

I will admit this, I have been to Bourbon Street before (in my college days) and this was the epic party center. However, as a slightly older guy, this was just too much. I didn't plan on pissing, throwing up or passing out on the street - or taking my clothes off - so I was already in the minority.

But, I walked, and I stood, and I watched. Repeat.

Occasionally I would end up in some bar - as long as they weren't charging a cover. But then I'd keep walking, because the bar and the street were nearly the same, and the party was like a tidal wave that didn't care if you were inside or outside, it was going to fill the place regardless.

There is not much else to report, except I ended up in a strip club as that was the only place to hide from the tide. For some reason the order and calmness of the strip club was immune to crashing of the waves outside.

I left the strip club because, although I love girls, I don't like paying for them, or watching them degrade themselves for a dollar.

Maybe I've outgrown this kind of party. Maybe I'm too cynical. Maybe I'm too boring. Hmm. I got to think about this one for a bit. Either way, I have some great pictures, and will return back to a place where beads are useless plastic and women keep their clothes on and a beer doesn't need a lid or a straw. Read Less

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on March 11, 2011

Bourbon Street
Bourbon Street
New Orleans, Louisiana

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Mardi Gras

Best Of IgoUgo

Attraction | "The Float, The Band, The Float"

Bubbles Photo - Mardi Gras, New Orleans, Louisiana

Quote:

My trip to Nola for Mardi was planned months ahead of time, when lots of friends were interested in coming. Of course, as luck will have it, they all had reasons they couldn't attend. So, I was in Nola alone for Mardi Gras. Maybe that was a good thing - I managed to keep myself out of too much trouble, but then, maybe that was a bad thing because if you are going to Mardi Gras in New Orleans, you should be looking for trouble. I was there only a short 30 hours or so, as I arrived on late Monday afternoon and left early on Wednesday morning. It was a very short trip to say the least. Before going I was really looking forward to the parades. To be honest, I was expecting Carneval...Read More

My trip to Nola for Mardi was planned months ahead of time, when lots of friends were interested in coming. Of course, as luck will have it, they all had reasons they couldn't attend. So, I was in Nola alone for Mardi Gras. Maybe that was a good thing - I managed to keep myself out of too much trouble, but then, maybe that was a bad thing because if you are going to Mardi Gras in New Orleans, you should be looking for trouble.

I was there only a short 30 hours or so, as I arrived on late Monday afternoon and left early on Wednesday morning. It was a very short trip to say the least.

Before going I was really looking forward to the parades. To be honest, I was expecting Carnevale style girls and masks, and glamour. This wasn't to be found. the parades were pretty similar to your local town parade, you know, high school marching band, float, band, float. Of course the bands were all pretty good, and some of the floats were big and gallant, but not as big or gallant as expected. The big difference of course was the beads, plastic cups and small toys being thrown from the floats, and the absurdity of the people clawing, pushing and climbing to collect as many of the valueless goods being thrown around.

The parades got a little tiresome as all the floats in one parade were eerily similar to the one that just passed. Maybe one had a lion in the front and the next a frog, but other than that, they were pretty much the same. Each parade had a different style float, but the style was mimicked within.

The parades go for the entire weekend and they piggyback each other, so be prepared to stand around for a while. Some people love them, and go to each and every one, for as long as they go. For me, a little here, a little there, and people watching is what is really the best.

This may be most exciting for college students looking to collect the most beads, or for younger kids who want to 'party'. If I was a child here, I no doubt would have had a blast. But the inner child has long left, and I just didn't see the value in a set of cheap plastic beads that you can buy by the thousands at next to nothing.

I'm glad I went, and probably won't do this again. Read Less

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on March 11, 2011

Mardi Gras
1 Poydras St
New Orleans, Louisiana 70130

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Le Pavillon Hotel

Best Of IgoUgo

Hotel | "Old World Classic"

Quote:

I knew New Orleans hotels for Mardi Gras would be expensive, so I booked early. I wanted to stay at a decent place, and since there wasn't a big difference in price between a 2 and a 4 star hotel, I went with the 4. Le Pavillon was listed as a fours star hotel on Expedia, and went for $250 a night. It is located about four blocks from the French Quarter and a block from the parade route - in fact, I could see the parade from my room. The exterior had huge columns, and some statues built into the walls, with greenery behind them. If looking at a picture, you'd think you were in Paris, or Rome, but not the Dirty South. Not knowing what to expect, when I walked in I wa...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on March 11, 2011

Le Pavillon Hotel
833 POYDRAS STREET
New Orleans, Louisiana 70140
504-581-3111

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Luke

Best Of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "Raw Bar, Great Food, Good Prices"

Fruit de Mer Photo - Luke, New Orleans, Louisiana

Quote:

After a red-eye flight into New Orleans, I arrived in the early afternoon and was starving. I wanted good food, but more importantly, I needed to eat right away. I checked my Yelp app, and there was a place called 'Luke' just down the street with tons of good reviews. Done. This was Lundi Gras, and Luke's is right off the parade route, so I expected to get turned away, but to my surprise, there was a seat at the bar. I was alone, so one seat was all I needed. When sitting at the bar, you immediately notice the raw seafood being shucked, and I then heard about the happy hour prices on oyster - a dozen for $6. Okay, enough said. I ordered a dozen. The guy next to me said the shri...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on March 11, 2011

Luke
333 Saint Charles Ave
New Orleans, Louisiana 70130
(504) 378-2840

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