Home of the blues, Christmas edition.
November 21, 2015 1:14 PM   Subscribe

I'm thinking of heading to New Orleans at Christmas. Nuts?

Christmas is on Friday this year and I believe I have Christmas Eve day off as well.

I've never been to New Orleans. I love music and I'm a flaneuse, so strolling the streets and seeing the sights at a temperate (?) time of the year appeals to me.

I'm not a bargoer at all, but I do love great restaurants. (I will peruse this Ask.) History walks and photography would be on my list of things to do, as would be jams at coffeehouses where I could bring a banjo.

For those who live there or who have visited at Christmastime: what should I know about the weather? Is it going to be hard to get a room at a decent B&B or inn? More critically, is everything closed on Christmas day?

I'm travelling from New England so the fates may align against me no matter what... that's why God made travel insurance. But I'm more interested in New Orleans itself as a Christmas destination.

Finally, if anyone wants to suggest an alternate U.S. destination where I could travel for a four-day Christmas weekend given my interests, I'd love to hear about it. (Memphis/Chattanooga anyone?)
posted by Sheydem-tants to Travel & Transportation around New Orleans, LA (6 answers total) 4 users marked this as a favorite
 
We visited last Christmas, though we left the 24th. It was lovely! We got a good price at a hotel in the French Quarter, ate really well, and the weather was definitely better than Chicago.
posted by goodbyewaffles at 1:48 PM on November 21, 2015


Search for New Orleans Reveillon dinner. Food places will not be closed, or at least not the best ones. The town gets busy, so book soon if you decide you want to come. I say it'll be chilly, but I'm not from the frigid northlands, so I don't know what you'll be coming from. There's a good chance of rain.

Memail me if you want more specific restaurant or hotel recommendations.
posted by Night_owl at 2:08 PM on November 21, 2015


Pretty much the best time to visit, IMO. Here's a question from last year on the same subject.
posted by asperity at 2:23 PM on November 21, 2015


Best answer: I will be there too for the third year in a row! It's a great time - decent weather, crowds but not at all Mardi Gras level, fun Christmas events and music. Things are definitely open. Find great music on Frenchman street - less insanely touristy than the Quarter (although still pretty populated). Best quirky coffee shops are on magazine street. Check out some of the concerts at Tipitina's.

Man, there's nowhere like New Orleans for Christmas. :)
posted by bookgirl18 at 2:55 PM on November 21, 2015 [1 favorite]


Best answer: I'd look for a room in or near the Quarter or the Marigny neighborhood (just across Esplanade from the quarter, home to Frenchman Street and hipsters). It may be pretty cold, it may be 70- it's been a warm "winter" so far, though. I think it have gotten below 60 during the day... three times so far?

As for things to do, several hotels in New Orleans are known for having gorgeous Christmas displays (the Roosevelt and the Royal Sonesta are the ones I know about). History walks are easy to come by here- the Garden District is another great neighborhood for a walking tour, outside the quarter and environs. If you like photographing elegant decay, Southern gothic everything, and incredible street life, New Orleans is your town. And oh yeah, live music everywhere all the time. Just walk around Frenchmen and go in where you hear sounds you like- it's hard to go wrong.
posted by MadamM at 3:18 PM on November 21, 2015


Response by poster: Hey, just got back from NOLA and it was great. I stayed at the lovely Royal Street Courtyard in the Marigny, walked like a fool despite the temp and humidity, went on a history bike tour with A Confederacy of Cruisers (yep that's a JK Toole reference), and found an ecstatic second line in the Treme completely by accident. Oh yes: Cafe du Monde beignets early this morning. Back home now, entirely too soon.
posted by Sheydem-tants at 3:15 PM on December 27, 2015 [1 favorite]


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