Let the good times roll! The newest addition to the New Orleans riverfront and sister vessel of the Steamboat Natchez, the renovated riverboat City of New Orleans offers unforgettable daily jazz brunch and dinner cruises down the Mississippi River. On the cruise, visitors are offered an inside look at the artists at work on our Mardi Gras tradition. Mardi Gras World, where they build the floats that will eventually make their way down St. Charles Avenue in the grand and opulent Mardi Gras parades, offers a tour that rounds out a uniquely New Orleans experience.
Kim Welsh
New Orleans Music Observed
January 29, 2020
The New Orleans Jazz Museum will debut a new exhibition entitled, “New Orleans Music Observed: The Art of Noel Rockmore and Emilie Rhys.” Visitors are invited to the free opening reception on Thursday, January 30, 2020, from 6-8 pm featuring live music and light refreshments. This new exhibition brings together for the first time the musical portraits of acclaimed artists, Noel Rockmore and Emilie Rhys.
Oh, What a Difference a Century Makes!
January 29, 2020
Take a look around at your surroundings in the French Quarter and try to imagine what it was like one hundred years ago. In the Roaring Twenties, the neighborhood attracted artists and writers with its low-rent, faded charm, and colorful street life. Jackson Square was the center of a vibrant yet short-lived bohemia. The Quarter was mostly a gritty working class slum where people spoke French as often as English. Women lowered baskets to the street to grocers who loaded them with food and added a pint of gin. Artists and writers had taken to the area, seduced by its cheap rent.
Let’s Party!
January 29, 2020
The Greatest Free Show on Earth, otherwise known as Mardi Gras, will be celebrated this year on Tuesday, February 25th. The biggest free party thrown in North America always falls 46 days before Easter and is the city's most popular attraction. Visitors and locals alike love the party atmosphere, jovial crowds, and costumed revelers.
Illuminating Our Jazz Legacy
November 01, 2019
As Louis Armstrong aptly claimed, “To jazz or not to jazz, there is no question!” The New Orleans Jazz Museum is dedicated to preserving and celebrating the origin, evolution, and legacy of jazz and its continuing relevance. Plans to originate the museum began in the 1950s by a collaborative group of New Orleans collectors and enthusiasts of the New Orleans Jazz Club. The original site opened in 1961 but relocated to various French Quarter buildings over the years. In 1977, the entire collection was donated to the people of Louisiana.
Jazz, From Funky Butt Hall to Carnegie Hall
November 01, 2019
George Gershwin said, "Jazz I regard as an American folk music; not the only one but a very powerful one which is probably in the blood and feeling of the American people more than any other style."
Holiday Traditions in the Vieux Carré
November 01, 2019
Cue the music; it's holiday time in New Orleans! When Louis Armstrong put his gravelly vocals to smooth brass on the swinging 1955 recording of "Christmas in New Orleans," his voice was like New Orleans itself--a unique blend of rough edges and refinement. Imagine spending some time in the French Quarter during the holiday season in the 1800’s…hear the clip-clopping sounds of horses pulling buggies down the cobblestone streets. When invited into a home along Royal Street, you see a small potted citrus tree on the table decorated with little gifts, paper ornaments, and tallow candles.
Miracle on Decatur Street
November 01, 2019
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! One of my favorite holiday traditions is to gather my girlfriends together for a day of gift shopping in the French Market. We pride ourselves in selecting unique gifts for our family and friends while giving back to our community we love by shopping locally. The French Quarter is in our blood; in fact, our private joke is that our blood type is FQ! We shop ‘til we drop, stop for a bite and a cocktail or three, and shop some more!
What a Wonderful World!
July 30, 2019
Well, Hello Dolly! It’s that time again, time to celebrate our favorite native son! The 19th Annual Satchmo SummerFest at the New Orleans Jazz Museum at the Mint on August 2nd through 4th will feature contemporary and traditional jazz and brass bands. Satchmo SummerFest began in 2001 as a way to commemorate “Satchmo’s” 100th August 4th birthday. This premier festival is dedicated to the life, legacy, and music of Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong.
Take a Sentimental Journey in the French Market
July 30, 2019
America’s oldest and best loved public market writes its own history every day. With each new sunrise on Decatur Street, history repeats itself as it has for over 200 years: always the same, yet impossible to predict. This keeps it fresh and new every visit, and this summer is no exception.
Ghostly Vieux Carré Gallivants
July 30, 2019
New Orleans has over 300 years of history… and mystery. To say that the French Quarter has a deep, complex history is an understatement. It has changed hands during territorial disputes and boasts architecture from the French and Spanish.. This colored past is preserved in the buildings, alleys, courtyards, and homes and because of it, many believe past spirits are preserved there as well. In the land of voodoo, vampires, and witchcraft, it’s no wonder that America’s most haunted city is rife with tales of restless spirits.
