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Proximity, convenience, dazzling entertainment and dining choices--all in a town that has no respect for closing times. The reasons for visiting New Orleans are varied and often dizzying.

New Orleans is celebrating its 300th birthday and from the energy of the place, you would not guess the town is anywhere near that old. On most nights, the pace of choices can be pleasantly confusing. Where to go can be a question to ponder. Yet, the harder answer is arriving at a decision from the myriad of unfolding selections.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! My girlfriend Christine and I always vow to give back to our community we love by doing all of our holiday shopping with local businesses. We think it is only fair to support the shops who give back to the city where we live, work, and play. Our favorite wonderland is the French Quarter, so we always look forward to a shopping extravaganza there during the holidays. We shop ‘til we drop, stop for lunch, and shop some more.

Strolling down Toulouse Street one warm summer night, I caught a hazy glimpse of an old woman appear out of nowhere. She was dressed in black with beads in her hand as she stepped into a doorway. Curious, I went to see where she went. As I approached the doorway, I felt a coolness and noted a strange aroma. Old yellowed mail was stuck in the door making it obvious that the place had not been visited recently. Goosebumps covered my arms, and I went home to research the area. Nearby is The Olivier House, a charming little hotel built in 1836 by Madame Olivier, a wealthy plantation owner.

The evening of August 11, 2018 marks the 17th annual Dirty Linen Night celebration on Royal Street. For the second year in a row, the event is being presented by The Royal Street Art District, French Quarterly Magazine, and Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, along with a long list of other generous sponsors. The event will once again encompass the 300–900 blocks of Royal Street. But as an extra treat this year, the shops of Wilkinson Rowe and several others along Chartres Street will be joining forces to bring an even bigger and more exciting event to the French Quarter.

There is no place quite like New Orleans! And this year our historic American port city celebrates its Tricentennial. Take a walking tour through the Vieux Carre and stop at the 400 block of Decatur to view the statue of Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne, Sieur de Bienville, a French-Canadian explorer and colonizer who founded New Orleans. As you stroll through the French Quarter’s lively city streets, notice the architecture derived from France and Spain, giving you the feeling like you are transporting in time.