STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

PrincessPink · BCBG

Jazz Fest

Aurora · Marc Jacobs

I've never been even though I use to live just an hour north of there. Its usually a good festival. As far as where to stay I'm not sure what is open and what isn't. I know the Lowe's hotel is open and operating. Its in downtown (downtown is up and running semi-normally so I would stay there if at all possible). Prissy would have more up-to-date information if you want to pm her. I am heading there in June and staying in the Quarter at a small hotel. Here is the info if you are interested. My friend had to call them for a week before she got them on the phone. Other places I've stayed that were nice were the Sheraton, Hilton, Crown Plaza, and the Royal Sonesta (all downtown - not sure if they are open)

The Hotel Provencial is only $99 a night and is in the Quarter, its nice and will be in walking distance to Bourbon St. Here is their phone and email:

504 581-4995, http://www.hotelprovincial.com/

As far as eating goes- I love Palace Cafe on Canal http://www.palacecafe.com/. I thought bubba gump was not worth the wait or the price. I'd skip them. Pat O's on the River is nice. Just don't sit outside during the day (pigeon problem). Hmm. I'll think a little more. I'm not sure where I use to go and what is still there.

e_doli · Dooney & Bourke

sorry i can't offer any advice on food or accomodations b/c i'm not sure what's open now, and the last time i went to jazz fest was 5 years ago, but have a great time. jazz fest is awesome -- such a fun time.

there is tons of great food at the jazz fest, so save room to eat there.

laken1 · Hermes

I'm with the rest of the ladies on not knowing what is open. My cousin lives down there so if you don't get an answer from anyone here I'd be happy to email her & get some recs. I stayed at the COOLEST hotel in the quarter for NY one year & from what I understand that area wasn't hurt by the hurricane - i will see if i can find it.

It's loads of fun but BRING SUNSCREEN & A HAT. you will thank me later.

ETA:
I really think this is it. www.www.905royalhotel.com but that url isn't working for me. I even called over there & she said that was right so maybe it's just my computer today...I'd like to see it before I say for sure that is it, but it sounds like it from the reviews & the location. And I remember it being numbers. If you stay in the quarter or spend any time there, please please go to the Clover Grill for me. Clover Grill - the later the better. It is the most fun I've ever had at a diner - every single time I go. It's in the gay area & is SO FUN - your cook could easily be a trannie. And it's the only place I've ever seen a man singing "my milkshake brings all the boys to the yard..."

-- Edited by laken1 at 14:21, 2006-04-14

Pepper · Kenneth Cole

Lucky You - JazzFest is awesome. My brothers lives uptown and I love that part of the city. It's around the Garden District which is so beautiful to tour the houses, cemeteries (above ground) etc. Magazine Street has a lot of cool restaurants and fun awesome boutiques. It's a mixture of antique shops, restaurants and eclectic clothing stores, etc. It's outside the main part of the city (French Quarter) You can take the trolley up St. Charles. Magazine runs parallel to St. Charles.

As for Jazz Fest, if it's the same place where I went to go see it, my suggestion to you is to bring water and an umbrella as it is in the middle of a horsetrack. The sun gets so very very hot.

Have so much fun. Who is playing down there this year?

PrincessPink · BCBG

Its a great lineup this year, you should check it out NO Jazz Fest

As for the suggestions thanks so much. I hear a great place to stay is The Columns. Great Restaurants i have also been referred to are Mother's, Brennan's and Palace Cafe, but I have also been told that there is tons of food at the festival so i am sure I will gain 20 lbs when i go. Has anyone been to any of these restaurants? Any feedback is great thank you for all of your help so far

laken1 · Hermes

I've been to Mother's for breakfast - to be honest I can't remember the food there at all.

Brennans - wonderful classically New Orleans - pricey but a treat.

My fav casual breakfast spot is Blue Bird Cafe

We used to frequent the Columns for drinks & to hear live music - the atmosphere is great but I've never been in the rooms. I would assume it's nice though. Again, very classic NO - I love it there.

-- Edited by laken1 at 15:10, 2006-04-25

Aurora · Marc Jacobs

Dickie Brennan also owns Palace Cafe and I think its a tad cheaper than Brennans. I've been to both and I prefer Palace Cafe but you can't go wrong with either.

Prissy · Dooney & Bourke

I just saw this post, sorry I have not responded. Let me know if any of you will be in the area for the Fest and need help with accomodations, places to eat, shop, etc. I'm not going this weekend but will be there next Saturday or Sunday. It is such a good time. The crowds should be a little less this year but you never know. Please pray for good weather with no rain. We have not had rain in over a month but trust me you don't want rain at the Fest.

PrincessPink · BCBG

Aurora, I heard that Palace Cafe was not reopening until June, so i guess i will go try Brennan's. Never heard of Blue Bird Cafe, where is that? Anyone know if the W on Canal is back open as well?

laken1 · Hermes

PrincessPink wrote:

Aurora, I heard that Palace Cafe was not reopening until June, so i guess i will go try Brennan's. Never heard of Blue Bird Cafe, where is that? Anyone know if the W on Canal is back open as well?

Blue Bird is a diner type casual place with dynamite breakfast. Far from a Brennans, but so good. They are famous for their huevos rancheros - but also have crawfish omelets - OMG i'm hungry just thinking about it. I used to eat there a lot when I lived in NO.

PrincessPink · BCBG

That sounds devine!! I will definitely try Blue Brid cafe if i can get a crawfish omlette. I would also like to save some extra money, if Brennan's is a little expensive. How long did you live in New Orleans? Did you move because of Katrina?

laken1 · Hermes

PrincessPink wrote:

That sounds devine!! I will definitely try Blue Brid cafe if i can get a crawfish omlette. I would also like to save some extra money, if Brennan's is a little expensive. How long did you live in New Orleans? Did you move because of Katrina?

Yeah I guess the places I was saying are "cheap" because we lived there & couldn't afford a Brennan's type experience unless we were on expense accounts ($35 eggs)

My ex husband lived there for 4 years while we were dating - I lived there about a year but was there with him pretty much every weekend while we dated. I moved in 1997, so not because of Katrina. But I lived in Baton Rouge which was a little over an hour away so I spent a fair amount of time there until I moved to Dallas 2 years ago. I was hoping / glad to see Prissy answered too because she lives there now & knows what is open / what isn't since Katrina. I haven't been there since other than the airport & some of the suburbs, which doesn't really count for you. So if I'm sure she wouldn't mind if you PM'd her if you need more specifics.

-- Edited by laken1 at 13:52, 2006-04-26

PrincessPink · BCBG

OK last question, and Prissy I guess its for you. I heard that Camillia Grill is an awesome place to go from my brother who has spent a good amount of time in New Orleans. Is it still open? I have not been able to get an answer from anyone. Can you let me know, or anyone else that can help. Thanks guys!

Aurora · Marc Jacobs

sorry princess pink. I swore that I had heard palace cafe was reopened.

I've never been to camilla grill but I've heard its really good. I think you have to go at odd times though because the line was always out the door when I tried to go.

maybe try looking on citysearch to see what is reopened and what isn't. I would think they'd be up to date. or the times-picyune (sp??) which is the NO newspaper.