CRESCENT CITY — Clean ’19 and New Orleans are gonna Rock you like a Hurricane ... and yes, we mean the drink too!
New Orleans invented the cocktail, they say.
There are more than 1,400 places to eat, drink, and be merry, they tell.
The party never seems to stop here.
Some names you’ll recognize in New Orleans include: The French Quarter, Bourbon Street, Pat O’Brien’s (their Hurricane drink is famous), and Café Du Monde.
While the Clean Show 2019 is happening in the Ernest Morial Convention Center, Thursday through Sunday, June 20-23, we’re offering you some suggested ways to get around town, and how to get to and from the airport; some tips on staying comfy in the steam-heat of summertime in New Orleans; and some of the festivals, outings, shopping and things to do off the beaten path, and more, in and around the city.
GETTING FROM THE AIRPORT
You’ve landed at the New Orleans airport to attend Clean ’19. Welcome! Let’s get you to your hotel:
Hitting Town! The first order of business is getting Clean ’19 Show attendees from the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International airport to their hotels. (FYI: The website www.cleanshow.com provides a big list of many hotels.) Attendees can catch a taxi to their hotel or take a shuttle.
About taxicabs from the airport, from the website www.neworleans.com: “There is a cab stand right out- side of the airport. Cab fares are $33 each way for one or two people. Three people or more are $14 each. There is a $1 per bag fee. This fare is good from the airport to anywhere in the city of New Orleans. It’s regulated by the city but is subject to change.”
About airport shuttle service, from neworleans.com: “Airport Shuttle service is available to and from Down- town and Uptown New Orleans hotels, the French Quarter, the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center and the Cruise Ship Terminals.”
“Look for the Airport Shuttle parked in front of your hotel/departure location approximately 5 to 7 minutes before scheduled departure time.
“Shuttles run every day of the year, with vans departing approximately every 30 minutes. (Except between 2 and 3:30 a.m.)
“You can purchase ticket(s) at www.airportshuttlene- worleans.com or in person at the Airport Shuttle Ticket Desk, located on the ground level of the airport across from the baggage claim area, or you can make a reservation by calling 866-596-2699. They accept VISA, MasterCard, American Express and Discover (and cash if you’re paying in person at the airport location). If you’re purchasing your ticket(s) at the airport, please claim your luggage first.”
“Shuttle cost: $24 one-way, $44 round trip for adults and children 6 and older. Children under 6 ride free (subject to change).”
GETTING AROUND IN NEW ORLEANS
Once in the city, you may find walking to be the best way to get around in this “big little city.” If you’d rather ride, you can get aboard a carriage, streetcar, pedicab, or call a taxi.
Horse-drawn carriages, neworleans.com says, “Were the original ride share and the chief way folks traversed the city’s unpaved streets and byways. Mule- drawn carriages still line up on the Decatur side of Jackson Square, offering leisurely city tours, filled with colorful commentary. Carriages can also be hired for groups and special events, a mode of transportation that always makes a memorable impression.”
Streetcars, from neworleans.com:
“If you’re staying in the French Quarter, Downtown or in the Arts/Warehouse District, you may never need to hire transportation of any kind - you may be able to walk to all of your destinations. Still, New Orleans’ streetcar system is a charming way to explore the city, and you can easily rent bikes, hop a bus, take a ferry, or call a pedicab, a taxi or a limo service whenever you need to.”
About New Orleans streetcars, the website says:
“Streetcars are a charming and convenient way to experience the many areas of New Orleans. Four distinct lines, each originating Downtown, will take you through the French Quarter and beyond to places you might not otherwise get to see.
“Streetcars fare is $1.25 and must be paid with exact change when you board. One, three, and 31-day unlimited ride Jazzy Passes are also available for $3, $9 and $55 respectively.
“See the Regional Transit Authority (RTA)’s website for a list of places to purchase these as well as information about wheelchair accessibility. You can also download the RTA gomobile app and pay your fare instantly from your phone.”
Maybe you want to jump in a “pedicab” and get around by pedal power from a driver bicycling you to your destination.
Pedicabs, neworleans.com says: “All pedicab drivers are licensed by the city. They operate primarily along the Canal Street downtown corridor and in the French Quarter and nearby Faubourg Marigny and Garden District neighborhoods. They have a maximum capacity of two persons per vehicle.
“Retractable, convertible-style canvas roofs offer protection from rain or sun. The rates per pedicab ride are $5 for the first six blocks and $1 per block per person after that. Prices are subject to change.
“Pedicabs generally operate from the early morning hours until midnight on weekdays and later on weekend nights.”
FOR YOUR COMFORT
It’s hot in June, be comfortable! We’ve put together some tips to make your Clean ’19 experience positive and rewarding, all the way from “Clean” street to Bourbon Street, and the French Quarter.
For the Clean Show, the usual tips are pretty obvious. Have comfortable footwear. Don’t forget to take an occasional break to give your feet a rest as you walk the aisles of Clean ’19. (It’s always about the feet, isn’t it!?)
As Riddle & Associates always says, stay cool during the high heat of the day and stay on the exhibit floor, saving the city adventures for evening. Also, don’t forget bottled water to stay hydrated. For around the town there are some other ideas to keep in mind.
According to the website tripsavvy.com here are some tips for traveling to New Orleans in June:
“You’re going to want clothes in lightweight, comfortable, breathable fabrics for daytime. Think sundresses, shorts and t-shirts, linen slacks, and if you really want to dress up for an occasion (such as lunch at formal Antoine’s), perhaps an iconic seersucker suit.
“If you plan on doing anything outside during the day, a hat with a brim is pretty important, and comfortable shoes for walking are always necessary. Sunscreen and bug spray are essential, though you can always snag them when you arrive.
“Because of the heat, restaurants, shops, and hotels tend to prefer their air conditioners set to Arctic, if not a bit colder. If you’re going to be inside at any point, bring a layer (a light shawl, cardigan, or jacket does the trick), because the contrast can be shocking.”
FESTIVALS, OUTINGS, SHOPPING & MORE
Lots to do ... and see ... and experience! More things to check out while enjoying New Orleans during Clean ’19, including some of the fests going on, some of the excursions, some of the shopping, and a couple “off the beaten path” ideas.
Festivals:
It’s a city of parties, music, and fests, and you can probably follow your ears down a street in the French Quarter or to the riverfront and find a fest. But one well-known festival happening on the same weekend as the Clean Show, is the Cajun-Zydeco Festival, June 22-23.
This from neworleans.com: “Cajun music and its hybrid offspring, Zydeco, is celebrated every year in June at the Louisiana Cajun-Zydeco Festival. This free celebration is held in Armstrong Park, located on North Rampart Street in Treme. There are two stages, delicious seafood, and a crafts fair, making the festival a celebration of dancing and joy.”
Outings:
New Orleans has all sorts of tours: from culinary tours and French Quarter tours to plantation tours, haunted tours, and more. You can find more information from checking out a guide book at your library, going to one of the many websites about New Orleans, or asking when you arrive at your hotel for more day trip offerings.
There are riverboat tours on the Mississippi River. This from neworleans.com:
“Mark Twain said that the Mississippi River was a wonderful book with a new story to tell every day. Mississippi, a Chippewa Indian word that means “large river” is the life force that has shaped New Orleans history forever, defining and literally shaping the city into its famous Crescent outline.
“The best way to see what Mark Twain was talking about is to take a paddleboat tour along the hard working river, and travel back to the days when steam-driven river paddle wheelers were the main source of both transportation and commerce. Boat tours leave regularly from the riverfront area adjacent to Woldenberg Park, some offering music and meals, all offering cocktails and narration. So hop aboard one of these.”
There are also horse and carriage tours, night tours, and there are airboat tours which will take you into the mysterious swamps and bayous of Louisiana only a half hour away.
Shopping:
New Orleans has stores. It has art markets, farmer’s markets, and it also has voodoo stores, where you can find all sorts of oddities and souvenirs.
Some of the places you might want to check out include Magazine Street, which neworleans.com describes as: “Stretching six miles parallel to the Mississippi River from Canal Street to Audubon Park, Magazine Street travels from the Central Business District and the Warehouse Arts District through the Garden District and Uptown.
“Originally named for a warehouse that Spanish Governor Miro built to house Kentucky tobacco and other exports, this retail street’s stores offer a delightful antidote to the typical mall experience. Clusters of shops are interspersed with charming homes, and a mix of renovated warehouses and shops selling housewares, pottery, period furniture, clothing, books, glass, toys, china, soaps and jewelry.
“Magazine Street is the ideal spot for a leisurely walk-about, with plenty of coffee shops, cafes and restaurants to provide a pit stop and refreshment to the tired shopper.”
There’s family-owned antique shops and fine art galleries on Royal Street, which is just a block from Bourbon Street. There are also art markets all throughout New Orleans; music and vinyl stores full of Zydeco, funk, blues and jazz; and occult shops which dot the French Quarter where you’ll discover “colorful bits of legend and lore,” as neworleans.com says.
Off The Beaten Path:
Rock ‘n’ Bowl, 3016 S. Carrollton Ave., New Orleans. Website: www.rocknbowl.com
Their website describes it like this: “Bowling lanes with a bar and Creole-inspired eats plus live music by local legends and a dance floor. One Stop Dine & Rock!”
Hansen’s Sno-Bliz, 4801 Tchoupitoulas St., New Orleans. Web: www.snobliz.com
They say they are a, “family-owned sno-ball stand mainstay since 1939 that’s famous for soft shaved ice & homemade syrups.”
Tipitina’s, 501 Napoleon Ave., New Orleans. Ph: 504-895-8477 Web: www.tipitinas.com
Their description: “Rustic, black-and-white tiled warehouse space & landmark since ’77 for live music & Cajun dancing.”
Marie Laveau’s House Of Voodoo, 739 Bourbon St., New Orleans. Web: www.voodooneworleans.com “Tiny shop with items such as voodoo dolls, talismans & spell kits, plus on-site psychic readings.”
Museum of Death, 227 Dauphine St., New Orleans. Web: www.museumofdeath.net
“The World Famous Museum of Death was founded in June, 1995, to fill the void in death education in this country. Self-guided tour takes 45 minutes, or stay longer if you can stomach it.”
Other Places in Town:
• Antoine’s, New Orleans
• Brennan’s, New Orleans
• City Park Botanical Gardens, New Orleans
• Masquerade Nightclub, New Orleans
• New Orleans Pharmacy Museum, New Orleans • Preservation Hall, New Orleans
• St. Louis Cathedral, New Orleans
Other Places Outside Town:
• Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, Marrero, La.
• Insta Gator Ranch, Covington, La.
So there you have it.
A little voodoo, a Hurricane or two, suggestions for keeping cool and getting around. And plenty of fests, day trips, shopping, and other ideas for places to visit, either well known or off the beaten path, in the Crescent City in June.
Did we Rock you like a Hurricane?
Even if we didn’t, New Orleans and Clean ’19 will. So.... you’re going, right?... Come on, come on, come on, come on!
To read Part 1, go HERE.
Have a question or comment? E-mail our editor Dave Davis at [email protected].