Sláinte!
If you’re like me, you knew NOLA (New Orleans, Louisiana) had great food, smooth jazz, traditions galore and was known for a wild Mardi Gras. What I didn’t realize was the best event this city puts on is the The New Orleans St. Patricks Day Parade(s). *but I’m happy to join you when you go for other festivals if you want to change my mind.
But back to St. Paddy’s Day NOLA style – There are several parades and you will head home with a suitcase full of cabbage, Irish Spring and anything green that is tossed your way.
NOTE: Drinkers and non-drinkers alike can relish in my advice on spending St. Patricks Day here. PROOF: I found out I was pregnant the day before departing on a girls trip to celebrate (and wasn’t yet ready to tell anyone my surprising news). Living on water and mocktails, I spent all weekend LOVING the St. Paddy’s Day scene while telling every bartender in town that I couldn’t drink alcohol, but my friends needed think I was. Thank you to all 250 bartenders I came in contact with over those 4 days. Every single one of them quietly celebrated me and then hooked me up with a delicious mocktail! Props to New Orleans – a city of fun deception!
While NOLA is city with enough options to entertain you for a year, it is the perfect little weekend getaway. And in the spirit of the upcoming holiday I’ll specifically share how to conquer St. Patricks Day NOLA style in the most fun way. Oh the luck (Pun intended my little Leprechaun!!) of me staring this quick trip series to line up with a great holiday getaway!
- PARADES – In true NOLA fashion, they take a day and turn into 1.5 weeks of celebrations. There are several large parades surrounding the March 17th holiday. They typically start mid-day so you can meet with friends and go to a block party (where you will meet new friends), or grab oysters at Casamento’s on Magazine Street or just hang at your Air B & B while brunching and donning yourself in all the green you can bring. A list of full details is here. Items tossed to us while parade-watching were: cabbages, necklaces, toys, dog treats, and more. Cabbage is the theme here so I hope you don’t have some gastrointestinal issues cause you’ll be catching this fibrous veggie in all forms of plastic, plush and beyond. P.S. If doing the parade in the Irish Channel, hit up Parasol’s for a Po Boy.
- MARDI GRAS INDIAN SUPER SUNDAY – we had no idea this was happening when we went and several ladies happened upon it. I think it’s common for this to occur over St. Patricks day weekend and you can’t miss it! Mardi Gras Indians from various groups perform and their costumes are beyond unique. (a few of them reminded me of the real life fluffy thingamajigs that pop up on that arcade game that you try to whack with a mallet. Maybe a bad example but the point is that the costumes are fun, lively and stir up fun emotions. If in town, please take advantage of witnessing such a unique spectacle! (It’s on Sunday. A super Sunday indeed!)
- COCKTAIL SAMPLING – A Sazerac at the Roosevelt is basically as important as getting your passport stamped upon returning to the USA. And have you tried the French 75 at Carousel Bar? (I actually broke down here and drank this cocktail. Moms…my kid is now five, total chill, sorta smart and wants to go to Paris more than Disney. I’d say preggo moms should flock here stat. Must of been that French 75). Pimms Cup at Napoleon House (shoot…I think I had one of these too. The kid is mostly fine)! And don’t forget happy hour at The Columns Hotel. If you have a friend in the city, they will absolutely invite you to their architecturally fascinating home and entertain you over stories and champagne (aghhhh…there I go again. I couldn’t turn down her Veuve Champs. I really do think the my kid is {mostly} advancing.).
- LARK IN THE PARK – An annual fundraising event hosted since 1982 with fabulous food, drinks, and great entertainment. The setting is in City Park. A large group of us went and everyone was having the best time hitting the small bites in a big way. The assortment of 30+ delectable food vendors is a non-drinking, preggo momma’s dream. And meandering thru the dreamy city park setting at night is a dream. Finally when the band came on and the dance party started I really tried sell my little secret by bringing the whole group shots (this trick is fabulous – everyone loves the surprise and they never think to check if the delivery girl had one or not. To be clear – I didn’t. But is this whole sneaky drink post making me sound like a lush?)
- DINING – Assuming you all know to grab beignets from Cafe Du Monde, I want to be sure your restaurant list also includes: Jacques-Imo’s for unpretentious, regional cuisine. And for all of you that will only eat their Gumbo while dining with fine white tablecloths then you must make a reservation at Commanders Palace. And for those of you who just need to eat on the run, I can promise you plenty of one slice pizza stops and the hot dog vendors are 100% *recalls my 21 year old college-self. But I’m going to skip linking any of those :/.
- UNITED APPAREL LIQUIDATORS – I’ve been to NOLA 10-15 times now and just about every visit I pop in this perfectly located shop on Chartres Street! It’s a small square shop crammed…CRAMMED..with designer apparel, shoes, handbags and more. Ya’ll I basically loathe shopping and could mostly care less about name brand or not but this eclectic shop is in the perfect location (just down from Jackson Square) It is so easy to take quick look while wandering the streets that help make this city famous. I’ve found incredible quality (name brand) skirts, dresses and shoes for a prices that are better than Target. I promise you there are better stores with lovelier customer service, but their sweet prices make a Shopbop mega-sale look preposterous.
