New Orleans Travel

This Sunday May 20, 2012 you can take a tour of the Treme′ neighborhood of New Orleans. You'll take a scenic walking tour of the beautiful architectural homes and aesthetically designed patios in this wonderful neighborhood of Treme.′ You may take a pleasant stroll through the neighborhood or enjoy the view via carriage rides courtesy of Mid City Carriages. Patrons will have the opportunity to bid on wonderful art by artists including: Ted Ellis, Terrence Osbourne, Richard Thomas, and Clifton Webb during the Silent Auction.

Festivities will continue on the New Orleans African American Museum Lawn until 4:00 pm with a reception, a brief presentation and the announcement of silent auction winners.

Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children. You can get tickets at this website.

The Bayou Boogaloo, the fun festival on the banks of Bayou St. John in the Mid-City neighbothood of New Orleans, is this weekend. The festival has music, food, children's acitivities, and art market and special events. For the special events there's a rubber duck race on the bayou, a pub crawl, and the Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club's 4th Annual Run To Ride 5K will roll through Mid-City. This year's race features post-race festivities with King Zulu and the Bayou Boogaloo Pub Crawlers! The top three finishers in each age group received unique signature Zulu coconut awards. Get the details .

I come from a long line of strong, competent women. This Sunday I will be spending Mother's Day with four generations of these women at a crawfish boil. The guys do the boiling and we sit around the pool and talk. It's the perfect day for us. It just doesn't get any better than that.

Family is what makes Mother's Day. Now, how that family can give Mom the best Mother's Day depends on where Mom is in her life. Young Moms with small children would no doubt prefer to have a day off from making breakfast, lunch and dinner, doing the laundry and all the other chores she does so lovingly. Some Moms would love a wonderful brunch out. Older Moms want to see their grown children for a whole day. Maybe a trip to a free concert at the park is just the thing to enjoy for the whole family. One thing I know all Moms would love is a homemade card from the kids. Here are some great suggestions on how to spend Mother's Day in New Orleans.

Well, it was a great time, but now Jazz Fest is over for another year. This is a most unusual time in New Orleans, it's that time between festivals. You can get in the live music clubs, it's a lot easier to get reservations at our favorite restaurants. It's also a great time to relax and renew before the festivals begin again. The best place I can think of to relax and renew is at a day spa. It's amazing to me how a facial, a massage or a manicure and pedicure can make me feel like a new person. There are many great day spas in New Orleans, but I have my favorites. Here's my list.

It's your last chance to join the fun of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Today through Sunday is the last weekend. There's a great lineup. Jimmy Buffet will be there on Thursday, Marcia Ball plays on Friday, the Eagles play on Saturday, and as always, the Neville Brothers close it out on Sunday Night.

I hate to miss a Wednesday concert at Lafayette Square. But, sometimes, life, illness or the weather intervenes. One of the scheduled concerts in April had to be cancelled due to severe weather. Good news, the YLC has added a concert on June 6, 2012 to make up for that missed concert. The concert will feature Jeremy Davenport as headliner and Gravy as opener. In turn, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band will headline the May 16 concert, which Jeremy Davenport was originally scheduled to play. Breton Sound will open for Dirty Dozen Brass Band.

Get out your portable chairs, wild hats, shirts and flags and sunblock. Grab your friends and get out to the Fairgrounds  for Jazz Fest. You don't want to miss Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, The Eagles or the big reunion of the Beach Boys.

We'll be spending some time in the Gospel Tent, and the Jazz Tent until we get the urge to hear some R&B or Zydeco. But, of course the Fest won't be complete with plenty of good old New Orleans Funk.

The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival happens every year on the last weekend in April and the first weekend in May. So, if you can't make it this year, plan to come down next year.

Whether you love museums or hate them, there's a museum in New Orleans for you. After all, much of New Orleans is a living museum. You can take a walk around the city and see some of the many historic buildings. While you're walking, learn how the famous streets of New Orleans were named. Or you can opt for a true museum experience and choose from art museums, history museums, or an "only in New Orleans" museum.

The New Orleans Saints 2012 schedule is out. No doubt you've heard of the trouble we've had here in New Orleans with our beloved New Orleans Saints. But, it you think any of that has reduced our faith or excitement about the 2012 season, you couldn't be more wrong. In New Orleans we're used to adversity and to us the Saints are not just a football team, they are part of our family, our culture and our survival. Get the schedule and be in that number. The Who Dat Nation will not be beaten down.

This week New Orleans will kick off a four year celebration of the War of 1812 and the Battle of New Orleans. The celebration begins and ends in New Orleans with the arrival of tall ships from all over the world on the Mississippi River that will be docked along the riverfront. Special tours, entertainment by the U.S. Coast Guard Band, the Marine Corps Band and the Navy Band, and an air show by the Blue Angels over Lake Pontchartrain are all part of the celebration. Don't miss the fun of NOLA Navy Week.