Attend Satchmo SummerFest, the Premier NOLA Summer Event 28 May 2012, 9:51 pm

Make plans now to attend the Satchmo SummerFest, one of NOLA’s most popular and successful events!  This year’s Festival runs from August 2, 2012 through August 5, 2012 at the Old U.S. Mint just an easy streetcar ride and a few minutes’ walk from our New Orleans bed and breakfast location.   Some call this the highlight event of the summer season, and we invite you to be our guest during this celebration of THE jazz and music master.

Since 2001, the Satchmo SummerFest has honored the birth date of Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong who was, of course, known for his incredible skill on the trumpet and cornet, scat-style of singing, musical improvisation, and unforgettable stage presence.  At a time when the color of one’s skin often dictated status and success, Louis rocketed through this barrier with his charismatic ways and raw talent.  From the time he picked up a cornet at age 11, Armstrong used the instrument as an escape from his early life and refined his talents both through self-teaching, and through the instruction and discipline of Professor Peter Davis.  The rest, as they say, is history.

Just like many events, the first Satchmo SummerFest began as a one-day birthday celebration.  But the event was so successful that it became an annual 3-day event.  Free and open to the public, the event features live bands on several stages, delicious NOLA food, seminars, lectures by musical authorities, and exhibits inside the U.S. Mint building.  Of course, no one should miss the “Satchmo Club Strut” musical club crawl down Frenchmen Street on Friday night, and the Satchmo-themed mass at St. Augustine Catholic Church on Sunday morning, followed by the traditional second line parade back to the event.

While the musical and seminar lineups have not yet been announced for this year’s 12 annual event, noted performers from past events include Allen Toussaint, Jason Marsalis, Rockin’ Dopsie Jr., Kermit Ruffins, and Yoshi Toyama (widely renowned as the “Satchmo of Japan”).  Add to this the many talented area brass bands, and you have the recipe for a musically amazing event each and every year.  Noted seminars include a variety of topics surrounding Louis Armstrong himself, stories of notable jazz performers, area jazz history, and other topics of note in the world of music.

So plan your stay at our New Orleans Inn during the Satchmo SummerFest, and enjoy mornings of great food, days of musical fun, and evenings of relaxation and enjoyment at the Avenue Inn!

Some minimum stays apply to holiday and special events.  Call or e-mail now for details and to book your accommodations.

Mobile NOLA Tools For Your New Orleans Visit 23 May 2012, 10:27 am

There is so much to see and do in New Orleans that it can honestly be a bit overwhelming.  Between the French Quarter, all the great food, the history, and the sights, how do you plan a single vacation in such a diverse city?  To help you along, Avenue Inn is pleased to present some great mobile tools to carry right along with you during our New Orleans getaway!

The following list is only a partial list of all apps available, including general informational apps, and a fewl special-topic apps that may be of interest to our guests.  Apps are available for both the iPhone and Android platforms – and sometimes both.  For your convenience, we’ve listed supported platforms for each app on our list.

GO NOLA – Android/iPhone/iPad – FREE:  THE official New Orleans Tourism app for visitors.  Identifies landmarks through the phone’s camera, provides walking tours narrated by John Goodman and Wendell Pierce, offers a restaurant guide and event calendar, identifies locations near your current position using GPS technology, provides insider tips, and gives directions to where you want to go.

French Quarter Finder – Android – FREE:  Your mobile guide for anything and everything you might want to find in the French Quarter including live music, shopping, restaurants, bars, and more.  This app has GPS recognition to recommend those attractions closest to your present position.

Historic New Orleans App – iPhone/iPad – FREE:  Using GPS technology, this app finds your current NOLA position and shows you early 1900′s photos taken in the same location.  The Guide Me! feature will actually guide you to additional nearby historical NOLA locations.

New Orleans Historical – Android – FREE:  Provides historic tours, interpretive stories, historic photos, and historic video about sites in New Orleans.  Interactive GPS capability guides you through tours or shows you nearby points of interest.

New Orleans City Guide – Android/iPhone/iPad – FREE:  Provides New Orleans facts, shows you those ‘must-see’ attractions, and lets you tag any sights that you want to visit on another day or during another trip to our beautiful city.

New Orleans App – Android – FREE:  Outlines attractions, and provides videos, images, local news and daily deals.

New Orleans Jazz Festival App – Android/iPhone/iPad – FREE:  The perfect place to find information before and during the NOLA Jazz Festival.  See the music lineup and get artist info, find your favorite food, see what artists are ‘now’ playing, and create a customized schedule for your Jazz Festival experience!

Guide Map New Oreans – iPhone/iPad – $ .99:  Maps famous New Orleans landmarks, and provides informations about special attractions, museums, zoos, parks, and transportation.

The Streetcar App – Android for FREE, iPhone/iPad for $0.99 – Features streetcar tips, schedules, fare calculations, and live ride GPS information.

Gay New Orleans – iPhone/iPad Download – $0.99:  LGBT travel app that gives information on bars and nightclubs, cafes and resturants, entertainment, and recreation.

Garden District Historic Mobile Tour – iPhone/iPad – $4.99:  A mobile tour guide of New Orleans’ historic garden district, pointing out landmarks to see, and offering historical audio information.

Official Paranormal Guide to New Orleans – iPhone/iPad – $6.99:  Pinpoints haunted sites around New Orleans and provides history, videos, and information regarding each.

This list is, by no means, comprehensive.  To find additional apps available for your platform, search on New Orleans or NOLA at your platform’s App Store.

We hope that these area apps help you plan an unforgettable NOLA trip!  As always, your New Orleans bed and breakfast innkeepers can provide you even more information about potential sites to see, and especially about those activities that only the locals know of.  We look forward to hosting your stay in the Big Easy!

Discover Historic New Orleans 14 May 2012, 10:06 am

New Orleans is truly full of rich history and stories.  Since its founding in 1718 by the French, New Orleans has been shaped by civil rights, wars, commodity production and trading, music and entertainment, tourism, and natural disasters.  The historic side of New Orleans can be experienced in many ways during your stay at our New Orleans bed and breakfast.

Many Tours are available to learn about the area’s history.  A Plantation Tour will let you experience the architecture and life surrounding these grand homesteads, a New Orleans Jazz Tour begins as Preservation Hall and explores the history of music in the Big Easy, and a Haunted Tour lets you learn about some of the more colorful and spooky aspects of our great city’s past.

The National WWII Museum not only commemorates the War as a whole, but also includes a Home Front Gallery section, highlighting area activities during the war, and compiling the experiences of local servicemen and women.

Since 1966, The Historic New Orleans Collection museum, research center, and publisher.  This organization is dedicated to studying and preserving the history and culture of New Orleans and surrounding areas.  The museum hosts a revolving variety of exhibitions and collections including art, photos, hand-crafted goods, memorabilia, and more.  The museum also hosts events including demonstrations, concerts, lectures, and sponsored celebrations.

The 1300-acre, historic City Park was once the site of the Allard Plantation.  First settled in the 1770′s, the land became the popular site for duels under the huge oaks that stand to this day, and the structures on the property are classic examples popular architectural styles throughout US history.

During your getaway, visit a historic NOLA restaurant.  Experience classic New Orleans food, a historical treat in itself.  If the restaurant hasn’t been there that long, the buildings in which they are located certainly have.  Some of these great eateries actually have historic records of the people who have owned and worked on the premises!

What would our great city be without its history of folklore?  Visit the Historic Voodoo Museum where the legacy of this unique religion is preserved and enjoyed.  Come see the artifacts, hear the tales, and experience the spirituality of this African-based belief.

The Historic New Orleans iPhone/iPad app will lead you to dozens of historic sites in the area.  Just choose one and go!

In fact, there is so much history and mystique surrounding New Orleans that it is practically woven into the core of the NOLA present.  All you need to do is step outside the Avenue Inn Bed and Breakfast, and you will immediately find yourself immersed in the historic atmosphere of our beautiful city!

NOLA Upscale Dining: La Petite Grocery 8 May 2012, 4:06 am

With so many restaurants in New Orleans, how do you choose which to visit during your New Orleans bed and breakfast getaway?  What we consider when recommending an eatery to our guests is, of course, food quality.  But we also consider ease of access, and our ability to obtain great service for you.  With this in mind, La Petite Grocery restaurant is on our short-list of great places to either celebrate your special occasion, or just enjoy a nice lunch, night-out, or Sunday Brunch in the Garden District.

La Petite Grocery is, of course, a French Restaurant, and a perfect place to enjoy both traditional French food with a touch of local-food personality.  Even better, Executive Chef Justin Devillier likes to support local farmers and fishermen, obtaining ingredients from local sources whenever possible.

The building itself was once a corner store.  The then Central Tea, Coffee, and Butter Depot run by Mr. Frank Mackie, provided fresh-creamery butter, coffee roasted at the store, imported teas, and a number of locally-grown items.  This very popular store commanded business from both area residents, as well as patrons from further away who would come by buggy or even ferry across the river to shop there.  Once rebuilt after a fire burned the building to the ground, the store in front was backed by a delivery barn in the back to handle incoming and outgoing goods, the store continued to be a successful grocery until it closed in 1982.  After another 15+ years of life as an amazing flower shop, La Petite Grocery was opened in 2004.  Their ideas reflect those of Mr. Mackie:  to offer the best fare to their patrons, using local ingredients and fresh produce.

Diners rave about La Petite Grocery, and so do we.  Want a light bite?  Try the Cauliflower Soup with Truffle Oil and Fried Sage Leaves, or the Blue Crab Bignets.  For a full dinner, maybe the Mississippi Rabbit with Spinach & Spaetzle might be to your liking.  Or try their amazing cheeseburger for more “American” fare.  Really, you can’t go wrong with anything you order!

For an out-of-the-ordinary drink experience, the refreshing Elderflower Mojito is one to try.  And The Bees Knees is just that!  Along with these and other delicious drink concoctions, La Petite Grocery also features a good selection of beers on tap, and an impressive wine list.

And save room for dessert!  Each and every one is an adventure in decadence.

So why not put La Petite Grocery on your list of restaurants to try when you stay at our uptown New Orleans bed and breakfast?  You won’t go away hungry, and your palette with definitely be satisfied!

Do Not Miss the Vieux To Do This June! 6 May 2012, 8:55 am

Not one, not two, but three festivals rolled into one!  June 9-10, 2012 welcomes the Vieux To Do.  Visit three area festivals during this weekend to experience the heart and soul of New Orleans.  This Mississippi riverside event spanning a single six-block area is a do-not-miss event if you stay in our bed and breakfast  in New Orleans on these dates!

Stop 1:  The French Market for the Creole Tomato Festival
This event, started in 1986, celebrates all things “Louisiana Food.”  The Creole Tomato thrives in Louisiana’s rich, fertile soil, and comes to harvest at the start of June.  Thus, the celebration!  Laugh at the larger-than-life tomatoes strolling about, watch area chefs fight over the first tomatoes of the season in the annual tomato auction, and (of course) enjoy the delicious food inspired by the Creole Tomato!  (parade)

Stop 2:  The Old U.S. Mint for the Louisiana Seafood Festival
Just east of the French Market, you can easily walk on over to get a taste of the Gulf.  Did you know that Louisiana harvests more seafood than any other US state?  The Seafood Festival celebrates this fact, offering live cooking demonstrations, food booths featuring some of the best seafood dishes of area restaurants, and the World’s largest Seafood Dish and Crawfish Boil, among others!  And why not pick up your copy of the Our Home, Louisiana Seafood Cookbook?  Featuring recipes from area personalities and restaurant chefs, 100% of this book’s proceeds benefit Friends of the Fishermen and the Louisiana Seafood Festival Foundation.

Stop 3:  Stay at the Old U.S. Mint for the Cajun-Zydeco Festival
Okay, so this is technically an extension of the Seafood Festival.  The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation offers live music on two stages!  Zydeco folk music was brought to the area by the Creoles, and the distinct sound will have your feet tapping, and your mouth smiling.  More than 20 performers offer music for dance and celebration, including C.J. Chenier & His Red Hot Louisiana Band and Geno Delafose & French Rockin’ Boogie – two well-known Zydeco groups.  Meanwhile, shop the crafts fair and enjoy the food offered by the Seafood Festival!

You won’t be bored, and you certainly won’t go away hungry when you attend Vieux To Do!  Simply hop on the streetcar outside the B and B and take the short ride to and from these fun events.  Enjoy your riverside festival days, and then return to your comfortable room at our NOLA inn to enjoy the Louisiana nights!

New Orleans Haunted Tours, New Orleans Sights 25 Apr 2012, 5:55 pm

Enjoy New Orleans Haunted Tours During Your NOLA Vacation

Joie de vivre – love of life.  This phrase is especially appropriate in New Orleans.  So many of our residents and guests love our beautiful city – so much so that they sometimes don’t leave, even after their earthly life is done!  Throw in a healthy dose of both strife and voodoo in our history that KEEPS some from leaving, and you have one VERY interesting city.  You can learn all about NOLA’s haunted sights through books, lore on the street, and stories on the internet.  But the best way to discover our haunted city is to enjoy some great haunted tours when you stay at our New Orleans bed and breakfast!

While other cities may object, some call New Orleans one of the most haunted cities, if not THE most haunted city, in the U.S.  As a popular destination for paranormal research and ghost-hunting groups, stories and evidence abound that support the “most haunted” theory.  Reasons abound that increase the probability of otherworldly activity in New Orleans, so it comes as no surprise at all that photos, videos, and audio recordings show such evidence.

Discover Haunted New Orleans Sights

The Lalaurie house, The Haunted Morturary, Le Pavillion Hotel, Arnaud’s Restaurant, Jackson Square, our above-ground cemeteries (especially St. Louis Cemetery #1 which hosts Voodoo Queen Marie Leveux) are among New Orleans’ most-known haunted locations.  However there are tens, if not hundreds, more.  Even our inn is not immune, as unexplained activities are also experienced under our very own roof!

Want to be sure to include some spirit-lore in your stay?  Take advantage of our Spirits Alive! package which provides two nights’ accommodations and reservations for two of the area’s best haunted tours for your enjoyment.

So come enjoy a NOLA getaway at the Avenue Inn B&B.  But keep alert – you never know who or what you might catch a glimpse of out of the corner of your eye… whether it be day or night!

Memorial Day Weekend Activities, NOLA Events 18 Apr 2012, 3:03 pm

Make plans now to visit New Orleans at the end of May and enjoy two very popular annual NOLA Memorial Day weekend activities!  The New Orleans Food and Wine experience will take place on May 22-28, 2012, and the New Orleans Greek Festival also runs from May 25-27, 2012.  Both NOLA events will highlight your long weekend at our New Orleans bed and breakfast!

In an effort to both give back to the community and also to support culinary education, the annual New Orleans Food and Wine Experience is held to benefit local organizations through our city’s love for all-things-food in relation to our great culture.  This event has raised over $1 million for NOLA non-profit organizations.  This year, a combination of dinners, wine tastings, shows, and performances will benefit ten local businesses this year including Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana, and several groups providing culinary education.  Throughout the week, chefs and vintners team up to offer amazing dinners, several wine tasting events will be held, and wine and food-related seminars are offered.  All events are ticketed, and reservations are suggested for dinners.

The Food and Wine Experience marks its 20th celebration this year with a special event:  The Big Gateaux Show on Friday, May 25, 2012!  Much like the popular Food Network competitions, this event is a competition pairing pastry chefs and local culinary student to design a cake to be paired with champagne for this burlesque-themed event.  All cakes will be displayed, tasted and judged at the event.  Tickets are required for this event which will be hosted by Johnny Iuzzini from Top Chef Just Desserts, and Tariq Hanna of Sucre’.  The winner receives a $5000 prize.

Greece on the Bayou, NOLA’s annual Greek Festival celebrates Greek heritage and culture in the New Orleans area at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral.  Live Greek music, dancing, a kids area, activities, and cathedral tours will keep you engaged.  And of course, who can forget the food?  Gyros, baklava, dolma, souvlaki, spanakorizo, moussaka… all your favorites will be available at the festival!  Donation is $5, children under 12 are free.

While these are the two event highlights, we will be glad to provide additional suggestions of things to do during Memorial Day weekend.  So come on down to the Avenue Inn for great New Orleans accommodations and a fun-filled Memorial Day weekend, and enjoy all things food and fun in NOLA!

Some minimum stays apply to holiday and special events.  Call or e-mail now for details and to book your accommodations.

Superior Seafood and Oyster Bar, New Orleans Eatery 12 Apr 2012, 2:54 pm

What do you do with a big-windowed building that has been boarded up for 6 1/2 years?  Why, you place a French bistro-styled New Orleans eatery inside that is one of the best local destinations for oysters, of course!  Superior Seafood & Oyster Bar opened up its doors (and tall, bright windows) in January 2012.  Just two blocks from our New Orleans bed and breakfast, this Uptown area surprise has become a favorite lunch and dinner destination for our guests.

The restaurant itself is an eclectic mix of old and new, incorporating some salvaged decor from historic New Orleans locations, and adding elements to bring the eatery into modern times.   The overall feel is the aforementioned French Bistro style, however you can feel free to bring a group to the bar to enjoy the game.

As for food offerings, think classic New Orleans seafood and oyster dishes with a dash of the classics thrown in for good measure.  The establishment’s name does suggest an all-encompassing seafood menu, however other fares are offered.  But really, would you go to a seafood place for a steak or some chicken?  While you can get these options here, we whole-heartedly recommend the seafood and oysters!

The oysters are best fresh, straight from the raw-bar on the half-shell.  However, you can also enjoy them in hot presentations such as Char-grilled, Rockefeller, and Bienville.  Not up for food served IN a shell?  Why not try the Redfish Creole, Shrimp and Grits, shrimp Remoulade, Big Easy BBQ Shrimp, or Seared Scallops?  Any of the fresh fish offerings are worth consideration as well.

Appetizer hits are Mussels in Red Sauce, Crawfish Cornbread, and the amazing Shrimp Cocktail.

Looking for salad options?  You will not be disappointed in the generous-sized selections.  We recommend asking for the dressing on the side.   Try a bowl of Corn and Crab Chowder as an accompaniment!

Drinks from the bar are top-notch.  For alcoholic treats, the Frozen Pomigranite Mojito has received rave reviews.  Also consider other house-specialty spirits and all-time favorites like the Tyme after Time Martini, Old Fashioned, and the Beauregard.

And of course, no meal is complete without sweets after!  Superior’s chocolate cake is almost as dark and creamy as a mousse, and their carrot cake will send you over the top!

So enjoy breakfast at our New Orleans inn, and try Superior Seafood and Oyster Bar for lunch or dinner, where you can kick back, have some great food and great fun, and quickly learn to love our wonderful city!

Dishes and drinks suggested in this posting are just a sample of the great offerings at the Superior Seafood & Oyster Bar.  Our suggestions are based on both personal reviews and those we have read.  Please feel free to recommend your favorites so we can share with others!

NOLA Jazz Fest, New Orleans Event 2 Apr 2012, 8:05 pm

In 1970, Mahalia Jackson and Duke Ellington took part in a spontaneous jazz parade during the Louisiana Heritage Fair, and the NOLA Jazz Fest was born!  April 27- May 6, 2012 marks the 43rd annual New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, commemorating the unique spirit of Jazz and Louisiana heritage during this New Orleans Event.

What started as a simple 5-day event with 350 attendees has grown into a legendary event in NOLA.  It is now known as one of the greatest cultural events in the world.  What was once a strictly jazz-related event now also celebrates a very wide variety of music which has gown to include jazz, funk,Cajun, zydeco, R&B, rock, African, Latin, blues, gospel, Caribbean, folk, and more!  The festival boasts an astonishing schedule of over 500 shows on 12 stages features local, regional, and national performers.

Some of 2012′s “Big” musical names include Cee Lo Green, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Bruce Springstten and the E Street Band, Al Green, Eddie Vedder, Florence & the Machine, Better Than Ezra, the Eagles, Ne-Yo, Herbie Hancock, the Foo Fighters, Bonnie Raitt, Dr. John, David Sanborn and Joey DeFrancesco, The Neville Brothers, Bon Iver, Feist, Allen Toussant, Irma Thomas, and many, many more!

Tickets are available through the Festival website.  Single and multi-day tickets are available.  Three levels of VIP Experience opportunities are also offered this year – tickets are limited.

The Big Chief VIP Experience package gets you special on-site parking, daily admission, access to VIP viewing stands for most of the “big name” performers, access to a VIP Hospitality Lounge, and a program guide.

The Grand Marshal VIP pass gives you all of the above with the added benefit of front-stage viewing to most of the “big name” performers.

Krewe of Jazz Fest VIP passes include all of the above with the added benefit of VIP seating for the Acura Stage.

So reserve your favorite room at our New Orleans Bed and Breakfast and make plans to attend Louisiana Jazz Fest, 2012!

Some minimum stays apply to holiday and special events.  Call or e-mail now for details and to book your accommodations.

LA Crawfish Festival, New Orleans Area Event 17 Mar 2012, 1:00 am

Come one, come all to the Louisiana Crawfish Festival!  Plan your getaway now and celebrate the culture, life, and food of the bayou at this annual New Orleans area event.

This all-things-crawfish Louisiana tradition began in 1975, and brings visitors from around the city, state, and the country.  What was once a small festival has evolved into an unforgettable community event, with food, music, vendors, carnival games, rides, and fun!

Food:  This IS the Crawfish Festival… of COURSE there will be food!  And plenty of it!  Come hungry and sample a variety of over 50 food options!  While this is Cajun country, not all the event food is such.  Nor is it all crawfish for the more picky eaters in attendance.  But suffice it to say you won’t leave hungry!

Music:  Live music will dominate all hours of the event as 10 regional bands offer Rock, Blues, Oldies, Funk, Big Band, Dance music, and the classics.  And probably much more!  It’s an eclectic lineup, promising good music, good variety, and good fun!

Vendors:  Along with traditional Festival merchandise, an arts and crafts vending area is a big part of the event.  Gifts, home goods, jewelry, art, and more will be offered for our attendees’ discriminating tastes!

Midway:  Carnival games and rides will be available to test your skills and provide plenty of thrills!  Pay-one-price ride armbands will be available.

The Sigur Cultural Center welcomes you to this annual Chalmette, LA event on the east side of New Orleans.  Festivities begin on the evening of Thursday, March 22, 2012 and continue through Sunday, March 25, 2012.  The event will be open Thursday evening, Friday evening, Saturday noon to 11pm, and Sunday noon to 9pm.

The Louisiana Crawfish Festival is just a 20 minute drive (10 miles) from the inn.  Why not plan a long weekend in New Orleans and make the Festival a stop on your itinerary during your visit?  Spend the day at the festival, then hit Bourbon Street for all the French Quarter action at night, then make your way back to your room at the Avenue Inn Bed and Breakfast for true southern hospitality and a cozy night’s rest.

Some minimum stays apply to holiday and special events.  Call or e-mail now for details and to book your accommodations.