Unexpected New Orleans

 "America has only three cities: New York, San Francisco, and New Orleans. Everywhere else is Cleveland."

- Tennessee Williams

New Orleans isn’t the tourist trap on Bourbon that most people imagine it to be. When people think of New Orleans, they think of nightlife and a big party scene. In between downtown and uptown, though, is an entire world that the average NOLA visitor doesn’t get to know about. It feels like a big neighborhood. In fact, one of the city’s most popular streets is St. Charles, which wraps around the entire city and is lined with beautiful French style houses and mansions – think Creole Townhouses with wrought iron balconies and fencing, lacey Victorian motifs and shotgun houses with small semi-wrap around covered porches. Think grand. Think comfortable. Think welcoming. The people in the area are all too friendly. They have a casual way about them that makes you feel privy to the secrets of the city.

On my first run Monday morning, I ran down Magazine Street – NOLA’s own Fifth Ave – I quickly approached a gentleman leaving a café and he stepped out of my way. As is running etiquette, I apologized and he very enthusiastically shouted after me, “Not a problem at all, miss!” This is the general demeanor of all New Orleansians. I attribute it to the city’s deep routed jazz scene. Jazz music relies heavily on improvisation and an ability to appreciate the unexpected. Life in NOLA embraces these ideals. The people work and make livings for themselves, but they have an obvious nonchalant disposition that makes a visitor never want to leave. And trust me, I didn’t.

My first night in New Orleans, I had dinner at Byblos, a Mediterranean restaurant on Magazine Street. I enjoyed a beef shawarma with rice and hummus. Having never eaten shawarma before, I don’t have much to compare it to but it was fantastic.

Monday started with a run to Audobon Park, near Tulane and Loyola Universities. The two are laid out so closely to one another, it’s a wonder freshmen don’t accidentally attend classes at the wrong University. The park connects St. Charles Ave and Magazine, so I ran up St. Charles, around the park and back down Magazine. I included some photos from the run in my Running Revelations piece. I took myself shopping for the first time this entire trip on Magazine Street. I realized on my run that I was in desperate need of new shoes, within a mile of having this though I ran past a runners’ store on Magazine – it was quite serendipitous. I set out to find the store, Southern Runner, intending to only buy new shoes. I ended up buying some sweet new ASICS Gel Frantic 4 Shoes (Black / Black / Mage) - Women's Shoes - 6.0 M (Google Affiliate Ad), bungee laces and two running tops – oops. It didn’t end there, though, on my walk back down Magazine I decided to jump into some of the boutiques I’d seen on my run. I wandered in hoping to find some Christmas gifts – or maybe I just used that as an excuse to shop because I ended up finding only pieces for myself. My favorite was an oversized sweater from this super chic little shop called Blink. The sweater was reminiscent of Jennifer Aniston’s sweater in Wanderlust, and as this trip is my own little quest to satisfy a thirst to explore, I felt it appropriate and well worth the money. The sales girl was one of my favorite people I’ve met so far on the trip. She had a northern accent, so I can only assume it was our roots that bonded us, but she was one of those associates that tells you honestly whether a purchase is worth it or not. As a sales person, I know part of it was a tactic to make me feel comfortable so that I’d spend money, but it worked and I bought a couple of cute items that were maybe more expensive than I would’ve liked but it was from Magazine Street so it was totally just!

The next day I set out for downtown. I wanted to see the French Quarter in daylight. I parked near Jax Brewery and went out on foot. Jackson Square was everything I remembered it to be. Buzzing with excitement. Surrounded by shops and artist: musical, performance and canvas alike. Bourbon was just as I remembered as well. Loud and smelling of food and booze. I’m sure living in the area, one probably doesn’t venture to Bourbon Street as often as a tourist might and the novelty of it wears off, but for me it was very much alive even in the day time. 

You can turn any corner and find live music. Some representative of New Orleans’ jazz roots and others folk-y and southern sounding. There are little treasures hidden throughout; I found a small New Orleans boutique filled with all sorts of French decorations and trinkets.

All in all, I loved my New Orleans experience. It was an unexpected surprise.

No tallies for NOLA, just my heart! (Tacky, yes, but NOLA won’t mind… it never does!)