Plenty of hotel rooms are again available, most of the world-renowned restaurants are open, events are back, and the city is reassembling its national sports presence.

What's missing is the tourists, and businesses everywhere want them back.

On a recent sultry day on Bourbon Street, Matt Buddenborg of the Detroit area took in the trademark tourist street on his first day in town. "To tell you the truth, I thought it would be messy," he said, referring to the devastation from Hurricane Katrina a year ago. "It's really well put-together."

David Clay of Casper, Wyo., on a road trip through the South with Buddenborg, said he'd heard that tourists areas were solid but was still surprised by what he saw.

"I was expecting more disaster, but it looks pretty nice," Clay said.

Frommer's recently published what it claims is the first comprehensive guide to the city since Katrina. Mary Herczog, author of "Portable New Orleans," said that for the average tourist interested in areas such as the French Quarter, Central Business District and Garden District, little has changed as a result of Katrina.

In the book, she also recommends Christmas as an ideal but overlooked time to visit the city, noting the mild weather; holiday displays like "Celebration in the Oaks," when lights illuminate City Park; and a grand New Year's Eve party that includes a countdown in Jackson Square.

From haunted house tours and vampire balls to the Voodoo music festival (Oct. 28-29), even Halloween is a draw for tourists to this city and its historic cemeteries. In southern Louisiana, October is also one of the driest months of the year, with moderate temperatures.

"The message I'm getting from businesses over and over is we need the tourists," said Herczog, a California resident who keeps a home in New Orleans. "They want to feed them, they want to sell them stuff, they want to tell them stories. The future of the city hinges on that more than anything else."

Currently, the New Orleans metropolitan market has about 28,000 hotel rooms, 10,000 shy of the pre-Katrina total.

Although many restaurants have not reopened, virtually all the "name" eateries that tourists flock to in the French Quarter and Garden District are up and running, said Tom Weatherly of the Louisiana Restaurant Association. They include Arnaud's, Antoine's and Brennan's.

The business of hosting major sporting events, a key to future tourism, has been redeveloped quickly.

The NFL's Saints, who played last season in San Antonio and Baton Rouge, La., return to the Superdome for a Monday night game Sept. 25 against the Atlanta Falcons. The Saints have sold a record 55,000 season tickets in anticipation of Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush, the team's No. 1 draft choice, playing in the backfield. The Superdome is currently undergoing a $185 million post-hurricane repair and facelift.

The Sugar Bowl will be staged in the Superdome on Jan. 3, after being held this year in Atlanta. In 2008, the Sugar Bowl will be the national collegiate football championship game.

In a major post-Katrina announcement, the NBA named the New Orleans Arena the site for the league's 2008 All-Star Game. The NBA's Hornets plan to play 35 home games in Oklahoma City this upcoming season, with six in New Orleans, before returning to the city full-time for the 2007-08 season.

"That indicates people at high levels in professional and amateur sports have confidence the infrastructure they need will be here," said Bill Curl, a spokesman for the Superdome and Arena.

For those who want to get away from the tourist areas and see, firsthand, the rubble left behind by Katrina, there's Gray Line's $35 tour of devastated areas.

Flying into New Orleans' Louis Armstrong International Airport is getting easier. Airlines are running 107 daily flights, compared with 166 before Katrina. That number is expected to hit 111 in mid-September.

By the end of the year, the Port of New Orleans, which home-ported four cruise ships before Katrina, will have three again based out of the city, making trips to the western Caribbean. Work will be completed in September on a new $37 million cruise terminal that will enable the port to handle two large cruise ships at a time, said port spokesman Chris Bonura.

In 2004, about 734,000 cruise passengers embarked and disembarked through the port.

"We were the fastest-growing cruise port before the storm," Bonura said. "We think we'll get back to that point."

In the meantime, the industry isn't looking forward to the first-year observance of Katrina on Aug. 29 and the prospect of the destruction being revisited on television.

"We've got to overcome the negative images that Hurricane Katrina put on us," said said Darrius Gray, general manager of the Holiday Inn-French Quarter and president of the Greater New Orleans Hotel & Lodging Association. "The first anniversary is coming up, and I'm sure those images will be relived again. That's unfortunate, but it will happen."

Time Zone

New Orleans is on Central Standard Time zone; same as Chicago They adopt Eastern Daylight Savings time on the first Sunday in April and revert to Standard Time on the last Sunday in October.

Language

The language spoken throughout America is, of course, predominantly English. However, a large number of people in New Orleans speak French, Creole, or other languages.

Currency

U. S. Dollar - USD = 100 cents

Weather

The weather in New Orleans is unpredictable. Visitors should be prepared for every possibility. During the Summer months, it's real hot in the Crescent City. Cool, loose fitting clothing are a must. During the Winter, it can be 80º one day and freezing the next. In New Orleans, it's best to be prepared.

Average Temperature

Years Charted: 30 Source: National Weather Service, San Francisco Results based on data collected from 1961 - 1990

Year	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
°F 68.1	51.3	54.3	61.6	68.5	74.8	80	81.9	81.5	78.1	69.1	61.1	54.5
°C 20	10	12	16	20	23	26	27	27	25	20	16	12

Airport

The Louis Armstrong International Airport Louis Armstrong International Airport is located in Kenner, 21 miles northwest of downtown New Orleans. To get to your hotel, we recommend taking a taxi, the airport shuttle or renting a car.

Taxicabs: A cab ride costs $28.00 from the airport to the Central Business District (CBD) forup to two persons and $10.00 (per passenger) for three or more passengers. Pick-up is on the lower level, outside the baggage claim area. There may be an additional charge for extra baggage.

Shuttle service is available from the airport to the hotels in the CBD for $10.00 (one-way, per person). Three bags per person. Call (504) 465-9780 for more details. Ticket booths are located on the lower level in the baggage claim area. Airport Shuttle also provides limousine service by reservation (availability is limited). A stretch limo is $90.00 and can accommodate six people.

Rental Cars

Automobile Rental: There are 5 rental agencies with offices on the lower level of the airport. Check with each company for rates.

Holidays

2007 Federal Legal Holidays

• January 1, 2007: New Year's Day [Jan. 1 every year]
• January 15, 2007: Martin Luther King Day [3rd monday in Jan]
• February 19, 2007: Presidents Day [Washington's Birthday] (observed) [3rd monday in Feb]
• May 28, 2007: Memorial Day (observed) [last monday in May]
• July 4, 2007: Independence Day [July 4 every year]
• September 3, 2007: Labor Day [1st monday in Sept]
• October 8, 2007: Columbus Day (observed) [2nd monday in Oct]
• November 12, 2007: Veterans' Day [Nov. 11 every year]
• November 22, 2007: Thanksgiving Day [4th thursday in Nov]
• December 25, 2007: Christmas Day [Dec. 25 every year]

Tipping

Internet

It is possible to connect to the Internet through the phone sockets of most hotel rooms in the United States. If you own a mobile phone contact your phone company as it may be possible to use this to connect to the Internet.

Getting Around

New Orleans has no north, south, east or west. The city is shaped along the Mississippi, a curve or crescent shape. Hence, the nickname, The Crescent City. Even locals get lost. Get a good map of the city and travel by taxi, streetcar or bus, or airport shuttle. Car rental is easy. When in the French Quarter, take a horse and buggy. Or walk. New Orleans is a beautiful city. It's best seen at a slow pace so no detail is missed.

If you need a taxi, call United Taxi-504-522-9771.

Streetcars: Rumblin' Along

Ride through tree-lined streets in the New Orleans Streetcars, the oldest continuously operating streetcar line in the world. Experience authentic charm as you sit in mahogany seats with brass fittings and rumble through New Orleans.

Streetcars are the preferred mode of transportation by residents of the Garden District, Uptown and the Central Business District and operate 24 hours a day. Visitors to the French Quarter might like to travel along the Mississippi riverfront on the newest Streetcar, the Red Lady.

The official route forms a 13.2-mile crescent along St. Charles Avenue in the Central Business District, through the oldest and most majestic sections of the Garden District and Uptown, around Riverbend to the intersection of South Carrollton and Claiborne avenues. A typical ride takes you past the elegant homes along St. Charles Avenue, many historic monuments, Audubon Park, Tulane University and Loyola University.

A single ride costs only $1.25. Visitor's passes are $5 for a one-day pass and $12 for a 3-day pass. Experience old-world charm with modern-day convenience by taking a ride on one of the New Orleans' delightful Streetcars.

What follows is a brief description of the more popular neighborhoods.

• The French Quarter The French Quarter is the heart and soul of old New Orleans. The Vieux Carrre "Old Square" is one of this country's most remarkable and beautiful historic locations. The Quarter is, a living historical monument. Unlike many historic sights, the French Quarter remains a true city. People live work and play all in their little "home town." In fact, many French Quarter residents don't own cars. Why own a car when everything you could ever want or need is within walking distance? The French Quarter is, by far, the best and most popular place to stay in New Orleans. The French Quarter has every possible sort of lodging. You can choose from intimate Creole cottages, apartments, posh hotels and owner occupied and operated Bed and Breakfasts.
• The Garden District The Garden District is located "Uptown." There are many beautiful bed and breakfasts and hotels located in the Garden District. The St. Charles Streetcar line makes this a convenient neighborhood to stay. If you prefer a "quiet" vacation without all the distractions of nightlife and all that other stuff, the Garden District would be to your liking.
• The Central Business District The Central Business District or "CBD" is where you'll find most of the major hotel chains. Some of these hotels border the French Quarter and can be quite convenient. In addition, if you prefer staying in a large hotel, this location might be your best choice.
• The Marigny The Faubourg Marigny, adjacent to the French Quarter, is a parcel of land originally owned by Bernard Marigny, one of the city's more colorful historic characters. Marigny, the son of rich nobility who hobnobbed with such minor characters as the King of France, was generous with his money - especially in pursuit of pleasure - and a terrible gambler. As a young man he had traveled abroad and brought back to New Orleans the game that came to be called "craps." As a result, Marigny eventually went through a million dollars (remember, this was in the early 1800s - so imagine the fortune he wasted!) and was forced to subdivide and sell part of his plantation, which became the Faubourg Marigny. Today Marigny is a colorful, mostly residential area boasting a number of trendy restaurants, coffee shops and clubs, such as the very popular Cafe Brasil, which fills to over flowing every weekend - and many weekday - nights.In fact, Frenchmen Street, home to Cafe Brasil, the Praline Connection restaurant and Snug Harbor jazz club among others, tends to resemble a block party when events are staged at one or more of the clubs, and the neighborhood is the point of origin for several Carnival marching parades. Marigny, in the opinion of many, has become the more bohemian extension of the French Quarter, increasingly becoming the neighborhood of choice for writers, painters, musicians, street entertainers and artists of all sorts.

Things to see

• Audubon Aquarium of the Americas #1 Canal Street at the Mississippi River. It is open 9:30a.m. - 6 p.m., Sunday-Thursday; 9:30 a.m. - 7 p.m., Friday-Saturday. Admission is $15 for adults: $11, senior citizens; $8 for children 2-11. Special packages are available for Aquarium, Zoo and IMAX ® visitors. For more information, call (800) 774-7394. Here the visitor finds 15,000 sea life creatures, representing nearly 600 species, living happily in a state-of-the-art facility.
• Audubon Zoo and Park 6500 Magazine Street, New Orleans, LA. For more information, call (504) 866- ITS-AZOO
• Beauregard-Keyes House & Garden 1113 Chartres Street - (504) 523-7257. Built in 1826 by Joseph Le Carpentier, this National Historic Landmark was the former residence of Confederate General P. G. T. Beauregard & novelist Frances Parkingson Keyes. This beautifully restored Greek Revival cottage offers tours of the house & gardens Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. -3 p.m. on the hour.
• Cafe Du Monde 1039 Decatur Street - French Market Tel: 504.587.0835. Grab yourself a table! It's first come first served at Cafe du Monde. Open twenty four hours a day, Cafe du Monde is a popular late night spot. Of course, mornings and nights can blur together in New Orleans. Beignets that will make you slap your mamma. Just don’t wear black or inhale while you eat.
• The Central Business District The Central Business District or "CBD" is where you'll find most of the major hotel chains. Some of these hotels border the French Quarter and can be quite convenient. In addition, if you prefer staying in a large hotel, this location might be your best choice.
• French Quarter At the heart of New Orleans’ enduring allure are the hundred-odd squares of the French Quarter. Alive with history, myth, music and a joie de vivre, the Vieux Carre attracts visitors from around the world to its time worn streets For jazz, for food, for history or for frivolity the French Quarter is a legendary destination. FrenchQuarter.com leads you to the best of the Quarter and New Orleans and guides you to a richer understanding of a neighborhood unique in every way that matters.
• The French Market Esplanade & Decatur Street 1008 North Peters Street, New Orleans, LA 70116. Tel: (504) 522-2621. E-Mail The French Market is America's oldest city market. Before europeans settled into the area, the Choctaw indians used the site as a trading post and meeting place.
• Garden District Developed mainly between 1840 and 1900, the Garden District runs from Magazine Street to St. Charles Avenue and from Jackson Avenue to Louisiana Avenue. It comprises one of the best-preserved collections of historic mansions in the South -- if not the entire country. From the expansive, 8,000-square-foot Short Villa at 1448 Fourth Street to the simple yet elegant George Washington Cable home at 1313 Eighth Street, the Garden District is a brilliant tapestry of architectural styles and period designs.
  • Ann Rice's House in the Garden District 1239 1st Street (at Chestnut), New Orleans, LA. If you hadn't heard, Anne Rice's house is on the market. We went by to see it and noticed the big realtor sign attached to the fence. She is evidently tired of tourists gawking (as we did) at her house so, it's time to go to Metairie (the burbs).
• Hermann-Grima & Gallier Houses 820 St. Louis Street, New Orleans. Tel: (504) 525-5661. This elegant French Quarter mansion was erected in 1831 by architect Samuel Hermann as his private residence. It was purchased in 1844 by the Grima family and sold to the Woman's Exchange in 1924. The property has been completely restored to its original 1830s appearance. If you're interested in New Orleans Cuisine, Creole cooking demonstrations are offered every Thursday (October -May).
• Jackson Square Jackson Square, located on the Mississippi River, in the heart of the French Quarter, has been the focal point of the city since the founding of New Orleans. It pays tribute to Andrew Jackson, the Baroness Pontalba, and has been home to an open-air artists colony for well over half a century. Surrounding Jackson Square are museums, shops and restaurants.
• The Louisiana Superdome 1500 Poydras Street, New Orleans, LA. Tel: (504) 587-3921. The Superdome has served & continues to serve as home to a variety of events including, but not limited to: Special Events & Theme Parties, Receptions & Seated Dinners, Private Concerts & Performances, Conventions & General Sessions, Trade Shows & Exhibits, and Sporting Events & Family Shows.
• The Marigny is a colorful, mostly residential area boasting a number of trendy restaurants, coffee shops and clubs, such as the very popular Cafe Brasil, which fills to over flowing every weekend - and many weekday - nights.In fact, Frenchmen Street, home to Cafe Brasil, the Praline Connection restaurant and Snug Harbor jazz club among others, tends to resemble a block party when events are staged at one or more of the clubs, and the neighborhood is the point of origin for several Carnival marching parades. Marigny, in the opinion of many, has become the more bohemian extension of the French Quarter, increasingly becoming the neighborhood of choice for writers, painters, musicians, street entertainers and artists of all sorts.
• New Orleans Metropolitan Convention Visitors Bureau New Orleans Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau offers convention services and information for visitors to New Orleans.
• Pat O'Brien's Jackson Square, Canal Place, and the Aquarium of Americas. Get a hurricane! Get a ride home.
• St. Louis Cathedral 615 Pere Antoine Alley, New Orleans, Louisiana 70116. Tel: 504-525-9585. Towering over Jackson Square is the Cathedral of Saint Louis, King of France.The prominent position of the cathedral is fitting as the people of New Orleans are predominantly Catholic. The cathedral is an active parish and is the place of worship for thousands of New Orleanians. The cathedral that stands in the square today is actually the third structure to occupy the site. The first church was destroyed by a hurricane in 1722. The second was destroyed by the fire of 1788 which consumed nearly every structure in the French Quarter.The construction of the church one sees today began soon after the devastating fire with funds donated by Don Almonaster. The church was designated a cathedral in 1793.

Museums

• Contemporary Arts Center 900 Camp Street, New Orleans, LA 70130-3907. Tel: (504) 523-1216. Since 1976, the Contemporary Arts Center has been home to artists’ bold experiments in painting, theater, photography, performance art, dance, music, video, education, and sculpture. Situated at the gateway to New Orleans’ Downtown Arts District, our award-winning building houses 10,000 square feet of gallery space dedicated to rotating exhibitions throughout the year. Additionally, the CAC and local performers stage several dozen plays, dance events, music concerts and performances in our two theaters. In our Rehearsal Hall and Art Lab, Artists For a Day workshops introduce young minds to artful excitement. Renovated in 1990, the CAC’s building mixes the timelessness of New Orleans’ historic architecture with contemporary materials, open spaces and site-specific art works created by Louisiana artists. You'll find an electrifying atmosphere for viewing, enjoying, studying, and debating art.
• Louisiana State Museum New Orleans' most prominent heritage attraction is the Louisiana State Museum, a complex of national landmarks housing thousands of artifacts and works of art reflecting Louisiana's legacy of historic events and cultural diversity. The Museum operates five properties in the famous French Quarter: the Cabildo (701 Chartres Street - Jackson Square), Presbytere(751 Chartres Street - Jackson Square), 1850 House (Jackson Square), Old U.S. Mint (400 Esplanade Avenue), and Madame John's Legacy. Also the Wedell-Williams Memorial Aviation Museum in Patterson,the Old Courthouse in Natchitoches, and the E.D. White Historic Site in Thibodaux. Email Tel: 504-568-6972.
• Mardi Gras Museum Arnaud's Restaurant 813 Bienville Street, New Orleans, LA 70112-3121. Tel: 504-523-5433. The Germaine Cazenave Wells Mardi Gras Museum was opened at Arnaud's Restaurant in the French Quarter by proprietor Archie A. Casbarian on September 15, 1983. Open free to the public during restaurant hours, the collection of Carnival court gowns, costumes and other memorabilia made in France provides a rare glimpse of the private side of Mardi Gras.
• Musee Conti - Wax Museum 917 Conti Street, New Orleans, LA 70112-3409. Tel: 504-525-2605.
• National D-Day Museum 945 Magazine Street New Orleans, LA 70130. Entrance on Andrew Higgins Drive. Tel: (504) 527-6012 Email
• New Orleans Museum Of Art 1 Collins Diboll Circle, New Orleans, LA 70124-4605. Tel:504-488-2631. Opened in 1911 as the Isaac Delgado Museum of Art, the New Orleans Museum of Art has grown into an invaluable cultural, recreational and educational resource which serves the City of New Orleans and the Gulf South. Ranked in the top 25 percent of the nation's 140 largest and most important art museums, NOMA's mission is to preserve and present a representative survey of the finest art mankind has produced, from antiquity to the present — extraordinary art from every century and every culture. NOMA’s exhibitions and programs are designed to cultivate, promote and inspire appreciation and knowledge of the fine arts.
• New Orleans Voodoo Museum 724 Dumaine Street, New Orleans, LA 70116-3140. Tel: 504-523-7685.
• Rev Zombie's House Of Voodoo 723 Saint Peter Street, New Orleans, LA 70116-3118. Tel: 504-486-6366.
  

  Walking Tours

• French Quarter Walking Tour 701 Chartres Street - (504) 523-3939. Without a doubt, strolling through the Vieux Carre is the best way to have a true French Quarter experience. You can pick up a self guided walking tour at most hotels or at the Tourist Center at 529 St. Ann Street, Jackson Square. However, the Friends of the Cabildo offer a two hour guided walking tour that walks you through the history, folklore, architecture & amusing facts about the French Quarter. I highly recommend this fascinating tour. In addition, the tour price includes admission to two of the following museums - The Louisiana State Museum buildings - Presbytere, 1850 House - or the Old US Mint. Tours begin at the Friends of the Cabildo Museum (523 St. Ann Street on Jackson Square). Times: Monday 1:30 p.m. - Tuesday - Sunday 10 a.m. & 1:30 p.m. Adults$10 - Seniors/Students $5 - Children free when with adult.
• Garden District St. Charles Avenue. The Garden District was given its name early in New Orleans' history and remains famous for its nineteenth century homes and gardens. To get the real feel of the Garden District, pick up up a walking tour map at the Visitor Center at 523 St. Ann, Jackson Square. A nice way to see the Garden District is to make reservations at Commander's Palace for lunch, take the street car to the Garden District and walk to Commanders.

The Scene

Most bars in New Orleans are open 24 hours a day, every day. So, if you don't see hours listed it's because most bars in New Orleans never close.

New Orleans has some rather relaxed liquor laws. For example, when you leave a bar, you can take your drink with you anywhere so long as it is in a plastic "go cup" [cruising crystal]. You can drink on the streets in New Orleans. But, you are not allowed to carry glass containers or cans.

We would recommend you visit Gay New Orleans for the most recent updat in the gay scene.

Associations & News Magazines

• Ambush Magazine 828-A Bourbon Street, New orleans, LA 79116-3137. Tel: 504-522-8049. Published every other Tuesday. Available free of charge at most GLBT organizations.
• Belle Reve PO Box 3305 New Orleans, LA 70177. Tel: 504-945-9455. AIDS Residence for Families
• Brotherhood, Inc. 1661 Canal St., Suite 3230, 70112. Tel: 504-566.7955. To decrease the spread of AIDS and HIV among African Americans
• Cavaliers Motorcycle Club 6061 Tchoupitoulas St., New Orleans, LA 70118. Email The New Orleans Gay Motorcycle Club
• Drama! P.O. Box 52565, New Orleans, LA 70152. Tel: 504-671.8232. Email DRAMA! is a multi-disciplinary arts organization focusing on human diversity and freedom of expression. We promote the work of artists in a variety of media and produce these works in an outreach capacity to educate and engage the community. Additionally, DRAMA! strives to break down social barriers and generate a spirit of inclusiveness of all peoples.
• Forum for Equality 336 Lafayette, Ste. 200, New Orleans, LA 70130. Tel: 504.947.298. Email
• Gay Appreciation Awards 828-A Bourbon, New Orleans, LA 70116. Tel: 504.522.8049
• Gay & Lesbian Community Center 2114 Decatur, New Orleans, LA 70116. Tel: 504-945.1103. Email
• Gulf Gender Alliance (GGA) P.O. Box 56836, New Orleans, LA 70156-6836. Tel: 504.943.1999. Email
• Halloween In New Orleans, Inc. PO Box 52171, New Orleans, LA 70152-2171.
• LA Community AIDS Research (LaCARP)1430 Tulane Ave. TB-21, New Orleans, LA. 70112. Tel: 504-584-1971
• NO Gay Easter Parade 741 Dumaine St. #11, New Orleans, LA 70116. Tel: 504.523-4700
• NO Gay Men's Chorus P.O. Box 19365, New Orleans, LA 70179-0365. Tel: 504-245-8884. EMAI
• NO/AIDS Task Force 2601 Tulane, Ste. 500, New Orleans, LA 70119. Tel: 504.821.2601. They Sponsor the LGBT Literary Festival - Saint and Sinners.
• Parents & Friends of Lesbians & Gays/ New Orleans (PFLAGNO) P.O. Box 15515, New Orleans, LA 70175. Tel: 504.895.3936. Email
• Project Lazarus P.O. Box 3906, New Orleans, LA 70177. Tel: 504.949.3609. Email Project Lazarus was founded out of compassion and service to all people. Project Lazarus provides services to people with AIDS who can no longer live independently, or whose family can no longer take care of them. The primary purpose of Project Lazarus is to provide continuity of care in a homelike environment. The highest goal of Project Lazarus is to enhance the quality of life of those it serves. Project Lazarus does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, religion, gender, economic status, sexual orientation or handicap.
• Quarter Crawl 828 Royal Street,Suite 108, New Orleans, LA 70116. Tel: 504-613-5460. Email Published every two weeks, is the most accurate source cof information since Katrina. Pocket size and available at all the gay bars.

  Events

• Gay Easter Parade Easter Sunday, New Orleans Style
• Gay Pride Festival
• Gay Mardi Gras Fat Tuesday, the last day before lent begins.
• Halloween
• Magnolia Cotillion Magnolia Cotillion is the annual August anniversary bash of New Orleans' first registered Domestic Partners, Rip and Marsha Naquin-Delain. In lieu of gifts, guests are asked to sponsor Rip in the NO/AIDS Walk each year.
• Memorial Day Bar Crawl Fun on Memorial Day
• Saint and Sinners LGBT Literary Festival sponsored by NO/AIDS Task Force
• Southern Decadence A Celebration of Gay Life, Music & Culture. Labor Day Extravaganza.

Day Trips

• Blaine Kern's Mardi Gras World Mardi Gras Road - (504) 361-7821. If you can't make it to the Mardi Gras, Blaine Kern's Mardi Gras World is the next best thing. Mardi Gras World offers a unique behind the scenes look into the creation of the "biggest free show on earth." This sensational showplace of Carnival features a guided tour that begins with a fascinating film about the history of Carnival and continues with a stroll through the massive warehouses, called "carnival dens" where you'll have the opportunity to see the actual float artistry in progress and get a close look at the enormous Mardi Gras floats and other ornaments designed by the Blaine Kern Family of Artists. Getting to Mardi Gras World is easy and a wonderful little adventure. The best way to get to Mardi Gras World is to take the FREE ferry located at the end of Canal Street. Crossing the mighty Mississippi, you'll have a fantastic view and photo opportunity of the Crescent City. Once across the river, you'll be picked up by the Mardi Gras Shuttle and taken to Mardi Gras World where "It's Carnival 365 days a year!" Tours offered every day from 9:30 a.m. - to the last tour at 4:30 P.M.Adults $5.50, Seniors $4.50, Children $3.25
• Destrehan Plantation River Road (Take I-310 to LA Hwy 48). Tel: (504) 764-9315. When cotton was king, plantations ruled the South. This beautifully restored plantation is the oldest plantation in Louisiana. Conveniently located near the city, the Destrehan Plantation affords the visitor a unique journey back to the"days of cotton." Every second weekend in November, the plantation holds its Annual Fall Festival.
• Longue Vue House and Gardens 7 Bamboo Road, Metairie, LA. Tel: (504) 488-5488. Longue Vue Gardens is a beautiful English style estate home surrounded by eight acres of gardens and fountains. The estate was originally owned by the Stern family. If you love gardens, this is a must do. The estate has picturesque gardens featuring several themes. The main house has the original furnishings which include priceless tapestries and the Stern's collection of modern art.
• Oak Alley Plantation Vacherie. Tel: (504) 523-4351. Oak Alley Plantation is the most recognized plantation in Louisiana. The 28 enormous oak trees that line the main road have been featured in countless movies and films. You're certain to get a sense of Deja Vu when you visit Oak Alley. The plantation offers tours, a Bed & Breakfast and facilities for private parties. Tours Daily from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. - Adults $6.50, Children $3.50

References

• New Orleans Online
• New Orleans Metropolitan Convention Visitors Bureau
• Gay new Orleans Guide
• Gay New Orleans