DISCOVERING THE
CULTURAL SIDE OF NEW ORLEANS
By Sandy Katz
New Orleans is one of the most exciting cities in the world. This city has seductive charms. It is truly a melting pot of peoples and culture, where diversity is not merely recognized but celebrated.
Out of the eclectic blend of French, Spanish and African influence came jazz (New Orleans is the birthplace of jazz which is celebrated with Jazz and heritage Festival). Then there is Cajun & Creole cooking (more than 3,000 restaurants in the city) and Mardi Gras (the biggest free show in the country with never ending parades and festivities). It creates the excitement and magic of carnival in The Big Easy.
The Mississippi River first defined her, carving out the crescent shape. The explorers and early settlers laid her foundation, and the artists, chefs, musicians, writers, politicians and others who followed built her into the Queen of the Mississippi.
New Orleans is more than jazz and Mardi Gras. Her charm travels far beyond the boundaries of the French Quarter, and her history is not limited to cemeteries and books.
Historically, a distinct Spanish culture (as seen in the architecture with Mediterranean-inspired colors and delicate balconies) co-exists with the firmly established French community. There are 25 homes in the historical district on the National Register of Historic Homes.
Within a month in late 1803, ownership of Louisiana passed from Spain to France and then to the United States through the Louisiana Purchase. A clash of culture kept the French in French Quarter (90 blocks) and Americans populated the garden District.
Louisiana has a rich historical background and now they are celebrating another milestone in 2003 during the Louisiana Purchase bicentennial.
In April of 1803, Thomas Jefferson and Napoleon negotiated the United States’ purchase of Louisiana from France. The Louisiana Purchase nearly doubled the nation’s size and enabled further westward expansion making it one of the largest countries in the world.
More than 800,000 square miles were bought for $15 million, a cost of about four cents per acre. That land is now part of 15 states.
Louisiana will celebrate throughout the year with a variety of activities and events to kindle pride in Louisiana’s state heritage while educating and entertaining. The world’s greatest land deal was signed in New Orleans. Two hundred years ago, with a stroke of a pen, the city of new Orleans – cultural island on the mainland’s edge, capital of the vast Louisiana territory – became part of America.
Outstanding among all the cultural attractions are the following:
LOUISIANA STATE MUSEUM in New Orleans is a complex of five national historic landmark facilities in the French Quarter. Exhibits highlight the diverse, multi-cultural history of the city and the state of Louisiana.
A highlight of this tour was a visit to the building’s cupola, where you can have a majestic view of Jackson Square, the historic Pontalba Buildings, the French Quarter, the Mississippi River and Algiers Point.
A year’s worth of special exhibits will culminate with a reenactment of the Purchase on December 20, 2003. 1-800-568-6968 http://lsm.crt.state.la.us
THE HISTORIC NEW ORLEANS COLLECTION AND WILLIAMS RESIDENCE on Royal Street is the area’s premier museum and research center for Louisiana studies. Changing exhibitions and tours of the history galleries highlight authentic documents, maps and pictures that shaped three centuries of Louisiana’s past. Housed in seven adjacent 18th- and 19th-century buildings in the French Quarter, it includes galleries, a house museum.
Our tour included important documents of the Louisiana Purchase signed by figures such as Napoleon Bonaparte, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and others, and tells the story of the Purchase with rare maps, portraits, and artifacts. 504-523-4662 http://ww.hnoc.org
THE NATIONAL D-DAY MUSEUM was one of the highlights of my visit. It celebrates the American spirit, the teamwork, optimism, courage, and sacrifice of the men and women who won World War II and provides the exploration and expression of these values by future generations.
The museum presents a collection of personal stories, preserves important materials for research and scholarship, and inspires future generations to learn about teamwork, the value of democracy and unsung bravery from the most complex military operations ever staged.
For information call 504-527-6012 www.ddaymuseum.org or www.neworleansonline.com
NEW ORLEANS MUSEUM OF ART is recognized as one of the best art museums in the Southeast. This museum is home to 46 galleries including a comprehensive survey of Western and non-Western art from the pre-Christian era to the present.
Highlights include French paintings featuring works of Edgar Degas, Paul Gauguin, Claude Monet, Renoir and others. The American artists include Georgia O’Keeffe, Jason Pollock and others. An entire floor is dedicated to Asian, African, oceanic, Pre-Columbian and Native American art.
Other displays include sculpture, photography, decorative arts and an extensive Faberge’ collection. For more information: 504-488-2631, 888-820-1803 www.noma.org
Other highlights included the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, Beauregard-Keys House, The Van Benthuysen-Elms Mansion, Old Ursuline Convent, and New Orleans’ art district.
My dining picks are the Cobolt in the Hotel Monaco; breakfast at Café Du Monde; lunch at Galatoire’s; dinner at Brigtsen’s; and lunch at Mother’s Restaurant.
My last meal in New Orleans was indeed the highlight of my dining experience, since I always made Brennan’s for Brunch a must whenever I visited New Orleans. This time I met the owner and even coaxed him to take a picture with me. Brennan’s is synonymous with the essence of world-class French Quarter dining. It is housed in a 1795 Royal Street mansion. The Banana Foster dessert was still perfect!
IF YOU GO
Accommodations at Windsor Court were wonderful. It was a haven of peerless luxury, as the hotel with the best cuisine and the finest collection of European art in the south. Luxurious large suites and guest rooms offer spectacular views of the city and the Mississippi River. Within walking distance of the French Quarter, the hotel is also convenient to shopping, the aquarium, the casino, museums, the central business district and convention center. It has an outdoor pool, indoor health club and tennis and golf nearby. 504-523-6000, 800-262-2662 website: www.windsorcourthotel.com For details of other Orient-Express properties please visit www.orient-express.com
FOR INFORMATION ON NEW ORLEANS: www.neworleansonline.com Request New Orleans Good Times Guide