Page 192 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - New Orleans

190  TR A VELERS ’ NEEDS

ENTERTAINMENT IN
NEW ORLEANS

In 1817, a visitor to New Orleans wrote, joints and the annual Jazz Fest. The rallying
“There are few places where human life cry of Laissez les bons temps rouler! (“Let
can be enjoyed with more pleasure.” Little the good times roll!”) is taken quite literally
has changed since then, and New Orleans here. You’ll also find good times in sports,
remains a party town to this day. Even when including football, basketball, and horse-
it is not Mardi Gras, the mood is festive, racing, as well as casinos, stage productions,
and there is always a party somewhere. and bars, which approach an art form in
Music underpins the atmosphere, from tiny the Big Easy. For New Orleans’ best music
neighborhood bars to late-night brass band venues, see pages 196–7.

Rock, Blues, and Other
Music Venues
Music clubs in New Orleans
are almost celebrities in
them selves, with their own fans,
personalities, and idiosyn crasies.
The House of Blues (see p196)
and Tipitina’s are the two
leading ones by virtue of the
big names they book and their
unerring instinct for New
Orleans authenticity. House of
Blues is the largest and most
expensive of the clubs; as well
as enjoying top lineups, visitors
here can dine at the excellent
Spectators at a street performance in Jackson Square on-site restaurant.
Frenchmen Street, in the
Entertainment Guides
one’s age). Unlike most American Marigny, is where the locals go
It’s easy to find out what’s on in cities, it is legal to walk around for the full music experience,
New Orleans. The best guides with drinks in New Orleans, but drifting among the various
are the monthly maga zine they must be in plastic cups, or bars and clubs. The Blue Nile is
Offbeat, found free in cafés, “go cups.” It is illegal, however, to another club with a big dance
hotels, and other public places; have open alcoholic beverages floor where Latin, alternative
the Times-Picayune’s Friday in automobiles, even for rock, and brass bands play.
tabloid Lagniappe; and the passengers. Police keep a careful Hipsters hang out at Dragon’s
weekly alternative paper eye on popular gathering spots Den, where the music often
Gambit. For gay events and and are easy-going about tipsy goes on until daylight. Also on
entertainments, check the folks except if there is fighting Frenchmen is d.b.a., featuring
bi-monthly newspaper Ambush, or public urination, both of interesting musicians (often
distributed to gay bars and which will land miscreants in acoustic), and the crown jewel
clubs in the French Quarter and jail immediately.
the Marigny. Other sources of
information are the roots music
radio station WWOZ (90.7 FM) Tickets
and classical and jazz music The easiest way to buy
station WWNO (89.9 FM). tickets for concerts, football
Alcohol plays a big role in games, theatrical productions,
the bon temps in New Orleans. and other events is to call
Although the city has a the relevant box office or
fairly relaxed attitude toward Ticketmaster (www.ticket
drinking, there are still a few master.com). The major hotels
unbreakable rules. As in the rest and B&Bs usually have a
of the US, the drinking age is concierge who can facilitate
21, but anyone under 30 should booking tickets. Student and
expect to be “carded” (asked senior-citizen discounts are A live band performance at the House
to show a picture ID certifying available for many events. of Blues

190-195_EW_New_Orl.indd 190 05/08/16 3:50 pm
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Practical template “UK” LAYER
(Source v1.7)
Date 5th March 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm