Page 184 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - New Orleans

182  TR A VELERS ’ NEEDS

SHOPPING IN NEW ORLEANS

As the gateway to the Mississippi, New imaginative masks, handmade crafts, rare
Orleans has long been a place for buying books, and the best jazz records. Shopping in
and selling goods, and it still maintains a New Orleans is an initiation into local culture.
talent for filling its stores with irresistible Each of the city’s many shopping areas has
treasures. Antiques are among the city’s a unique character, with the French Quarter,
finest buys, and it is possible to find anything Magazine Street, Carrollton, and Julia Street
from 18th-century French furniture to 1950s all offering vibrant, rich experiences. These
vintage dresses. Other specialties include pages high light the best stops in the city.
Malls and
Shopping Centers
New Orleans currently has only
two traditional in-town malls.
Canal Place (see p96), on the
edge of the French Quarter,
has upscale shops such as Ann
Taylor, Williams-Sonoma, Saks
Fifth Avenue, and Coach. The
unique Outlet Collection at
Riverwalk, which stretches
alongside the Mississippi River
from Canal Street up to the
Convention Center, has dozens
of small shops and a liberal
share of chains such as Chico’s,
The exterior of the upscale Canal Place shopping mall Nine West, and others. Outside
there is a concrete deck above
When to Shop
the Louisiana Tax Free the river, which has lovely views,
Stores in the Central Business Shopping Refund Center and useful information plaques
District, along Magazine and show your passport, sales pointing out places of interest.
Street, and in the French receipts, refund vouchers, and Jax Brewery, in the French
Quarter tend to operate from air ticket (which may be up to Quarter, is a former beer factory
9am to 5pm or 10am to 6pm. a maximum of a 90-day trip). that has been trans formed
Many open on Sundays, but If you do not manage to get into a sprawling, three-story
always call in advance to reimbursed at the airport, retail space.
avoid disappointment. Some send copies of everything, Visitors who want a more
shops in the Quarter don’t along with an explanation, traditional mall experience
open until noon, but they to the Refund Center. can venture into the suburbs.
close late, too. Lakeside Shopping Center
in Metairie is the biggest mall
Shipping in the metropolitan area. It has
How to Pay
If you would prefer to send three anchor stores, Dillard’s,
Major credit cards are accepted your purchases home
everywhere, and there are rather than take them
plenty of Automated Teller with you, ask the store
Machines (ATMs) from which to to handle the task for
get cash for a small fee. Traveler’s you – New Orleans
checks are almost universally merchants are accus-
accepted. Some shops will also tomed to shipping
take personal checks with goods anywhere. For
sufficient identification. large buys such as
furniture and art objects,
professional packing
Sales Tax Reimbursement
and/or shipping is a
If you are a foreign visitor, you necessity. A good source
can get back the 10 per cent is The Wooden Box on
sales tax on tangible goods, but South Peters Street. For
you must show the vendor your smaller items, a reliable
passport and ask for a refund company is the Royal
voucher. At the airport, go to Mail Service. A band outside Outlet Collection at Riverwalk

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