Page 185 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - New Orleans

SHOPPING IN NE W ORLEANS  183

J. C. Penney, and Macy’s, and Also in the Quarter is the
more than 100 other shops, Stone & Press Gallery, with
including 15 shoe stores. dazzlingly detailed works on
paper, etchings, lithographs,
wood carvings, and
Art and Antiques
mezzotints. The artist James
Since its earliest days, New Michalopoulos, who owns
Orleans has been a treasure the eponymous gallery
trove of artistic and vintage Michalopoulos, has become
luxuries. The locals’ knack popular for his idiosyncratic
for dealing in rare and Linke cabinet crafted with kingwood and depictions of New Orleans
remarkable objects continues doré bronze, at M. S. Rau architecture. The exaggerated
to this very day. Another big silhouettes are true-to-life
advantage of shopping for manner of things from the representations of the city.
antiques in New Orleans is region, the store is best known When you are in the French
relative affordability. While for unbelievably affordable Quarter, don’t forget to check
prices may still be steep for rare prices on bedroom suites, out the artists who hang their
and highly sought-after pieces, armoires, and chandeliers. works on the fence around
they are usually lower than in Sometimes the prices seem Jackson Square. While some
other US cities. Even when so cheap you think there of the pieces on display are
shipping costs are taken into must be a mistake. amateur at best, there are
consideration, buyers do very The antiques shops on also some very talented artists
well for themselves. Vintage art Magazine Street tend to be who choose this one-on-one
can be found in abundance heavier on 20th-century wares interaction with the public
here, though it leans toward than those in the French rather than taking the more
the pretty and comfortable; Quarter. You can spend an formal gallery route.
visit Julia Street for more entire day browsing the many Julia Street, in the Warehouse
cutting-edge works. shops along here. Simon District, is New Orleans’
There are antiques shops all of New Orleans has a genuine gallery neighborhood.
over the city, but the biggest changing stock of offbeat Most of the galleries here
concentrations can be found tables, chairs, and metalwork. concentrate on local and
on Royal Street in the French However, the shop is best regional artists, which means
Quarter and along Magazine known for proprietor and that you’ll have a chance to
Street in Uptown. The former chef-turned-artist Simon see exceptional work by
is a fabulous showcase of Hardeveld’s charming faux painters, sculptors, and
high-end antiques, while folk-art signs. photographers not well known
the latter leans more toward New Orleans also offers a outside of Louisiana.
fun and funky goods. Many of wide selection of art galleries, LeMieux Galleries shows
the shops in the Quarter are the most famous of which is both emerging and
family-run enterprises, often probably the Rodrigue Studio, established artists from
several generations in. This in the French Quarter. It is Louisiana and the Gulf Coast,
history has contributed to their home to late Cajun artist often with strong New Orleans
developing a comfortable, easy George Rodrigue and his themes in their work.
atmosphere for all customers, distinctive Blue Dog paintings. Quite a few non-Louisiana
especially novices. Make sure you look at his other artists are represented by
Established in 1912, M. S. Rau works too, such as the scenes Arthur Roger, including big
is internationally known for its from Cajun community life. names such as Dale Chihuly,
range of American, English,
and French antique furniture.
Keil’s Antiques is a family-run
business dating from 1899. It
stocks superb antique jewelry,
as well as chandeliers, furniture,
and mirrors. On Chartres Street,
Lucullus focuses on kitchen
antiques, ranging from china
and linens to 200-year-old
French farm tables, while on
Decatur Street, Greg’s Antiques
is a must for treasure hunters.
Their motto is “This ain’t your
Grandma’s antique shop,” and
the tattoo-covered employees
confirm this. Jammed with all One of the late George Rodrigue’s famous Blue Dog paintings at his studio

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