Crescent City Spring Break

For most, the classic spring break trip entails an all-inclusive in the Caribbean where college kids swarm sandy beaches with fruity drinks in hand. This past week was my final spring break as an undergraduate student, and I’m glad to say I took an alternative approach to my time off. My roommates and I aren’t your typical bunch because spring break doesn’t automatically mean a tropical getaway that breaks the bank account. Instead, we’re more your road-trip kind of gals. We value a budget-friendly vacation, brain rot conversations in the car and exploring Florida gas stations with unforgettable culture shocks. Since visiting new places with rich history and culture is our priority, we packed up Arden’s Subaru Outback with our Beis bags and cowgirl boots and headed to New Orleans.

I <3 New Orleans

The Crescent City was authentically genuine in every aspect. From cuisine to nightlife to street-corner marching bands and conversations with the locals, each experience was one of a kind. Upon arrival, we were immediately immersed in the parade and party culture NOLA is known for. The only Mardi Gras Krewe in New Orleans for furry friends, Barkus, hosted its annual parade just a block from our hotel. The tie-dyed poodles we witnessed while pulling off the highway started to all make sense when we found ourselves in the middle of a celebratory pooch fest at Armstrong Park. Barkus was exactly what we needed to get in the spirit of New Orleans for our three-night stay.

Chow Time

Navigating food was somewhat challenging in NOLA since there are so many amazing eateries to choose from, and we only had a few days to tackle our cravings for traditional dishes. Our first meal, and quite frankly my favorite, was at Adolfo’s Italian and Creole fusion restaurant. This renovated apartment posed as a restaurant, located above Red Barrel Bar, had a line formed outside before opening at 5 p.m. The dining room only holds 40 people at once, so the space was very welcoming and homey. Local artwork covered the walls, and small windows peeked into Frenchmen Street below. If you’re like the guy in line in front of us, you can tip the host $20 to get one of the few window spots. The meal portions were quite generous. I ordered the Kimberly Vongole and argue it’s one of the best spaghetti alle vongole dishes I’ve ever had, and I don’t attribute this opinion solely to the fact I was kind of drunk when we got there. If you’re into quaint, family-owned restaurants, check out Adolfo’s and try their ocean sauce. Hint: Get there early.

We went to Mother’s to try classic NOLA dishes. The service was very quick, and the space was quite comfortable. Framed photos lined the walls with celebrity portraits of A-listers who have visited Mother’s. My roommates and I shared a cup of shrimp creole, seafood gumbo and red beans and rice to determine our favorites. Mine was the red beans and rice due to the smoky flavor. The restaurant name ‘Mother’s’ is rightfully earned as each recipe is homemade, and continues to be passed down for generations.

For oysters, we visited Five's Oyster Bar. Adjacent to Jackson Square, this spot had a gorgeous horseshoe marble bar with a vintage chandelier dangling in the center. The place was small, but easy for people watching — my favorite pastime. An eccentric Southern lady was the entertainment of the hour, giving hints of the mother from “White Lotus” season three (minus the Lorazepam). I ordered a dozen fresh oysters and a gin martini. This crisp combo had me feeling extra loose and giggly. The craft cocktails were not only aesthetically pleasing, but also delicious. Drinks were $7 to $10 during happy hour.

For breakfast one morning, we ventured out of the French Quarter to Small Mart Café for bagels and “It’s That Me” espresso. The joint was small, yet super awake. It seemed like a locals’ meet-up before work kind of deal, with strong coffee and a huge tack board highlighting local businesses, including twerk classes (a curriculum I’m desperately lacking). I ordered the Norwegian Bagel Sandwich, featuring smoked salmon, chive cream cheese, cucumber and tomato. I devoured it in seconds.

This wouldn’t be a New Orleans review if I didn’t mention Café Du Monde. We beelined to the iconic eatery our first night in NOLA. With powdered sugar covering the ground of the outside patio, I knew I was in for a treat the second I sat down. Besides beignets, we also ordered hot chocolate. This rich and creamy drink was perfect for dunking the powdery treats. We stopped at Café Du Monde our last night in town as well, since one visit wasn’t enough. The deep-fried pastries were so light and airy, yet just enough to satisfy a sweet tooth. And if the mound of powdered sugar they are served with isn’t enough, not to worry, the café provides large shakers of extra sugar at each table for your convenience.

Other honorable mentions: Café Beignet and Ruby Slipper for brunch.

Museums

The Ogden Museum of Southern Art featured an array of paintings, photography and sculptures. Fortunately, the tickets were discounted when we visited. Unfortunately, the discount was due to renovations and the closure of many exhibits. Don’t get me wrong — I still enjoyed my time. The Keith Duncan exhibit, “Battle of the Bands,” grabbed my attention the most. This exhibit highlighted HBCU marching bands on unstretched canvas. Duncan used vibrant colors, geometric patterns and dynamic representations of music and human movements to celebrate the traditions of historically Black colleges and universities marching bands.

If you’re looking for a breath of fresh air in the bustling city of New Orleans, visit the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden. As college students on a budget, we appreciated the free admission to the outdoor museum. The garden was a complete escape from the French Quarter. It was an oasis, with large oak trees covered in drooping Spanish moss and small ponds inhabited by sunbathing turtles and little fish. It felt like a scene out of an early 2000s rom-com. I could vividly picture it: a hater-to-lover arch film where the couple takes a stroll in the park to experience a pivotal moment in their relationship, when the female character accidentally trips off the bridge into the shallow water, bringing the male counterpart down with her. They splash each other in the water, then realize: Huh, maybe we’re in love. Blah blah blah, happily ever after. Overall, the garden was breathtaking and each sculpture had a unique theme. Wouldn’t be a bad place to get engaged one day — hint hint future pookie, if you’re reading this, take notes.

The Mardi Gras Museum of Costumes and Culture celebrates the creativity and pageantry of Mardi Gras. For $17, you can explore hundreds of one-of-a-kind Mardi Gras costumes and accessories up close and personal. Besides gawking at the elaborate costumes on mannequins, museum visitors can experience Mardi Gras for themselves by trying on costumes. A current costume designer at the museum walked us through their extensive costume closet, encouraging us to try on a handmade Mardi Gras ensemble. After slipping into a feathery headdress and a bedazzled mini dress, the costume designer orchestrated a golden hour photo shoot for us in the museum parking lot. You’re welcome to the locals driving by on their way home from work who received a free show. The costume designer was so inspired by our modeling, he made multiple attempts at offering us jobs in local parades. Sadly, we had to pass as I still have a degree to earn and a kid at home (my 3-year-old chinchilla, duh).

Nightlife

Not one to be easily frightened? Sign up for one of the numerous ghost tours throughout the French Quarter. The one we took was an hour and 45 minutes of eerie gore and ghostly history. Thanks to NOLA’s open container laws, we happily sipped on alcoholic beverages during our group stroll. In between creepy anecdotes, I’d slip another Angry Orchard out of my roommate’s purse and crack it open between crowd gasps, cheersing the spirits present. Our guide took us to the houses where “The Originals” and “American Horror Story” were filmed. I could feel Klaus’ seductive energy in the air. The tour featured a fair mix of vampire and ghost stories, with hints of the cultural history of New Orleans to back the stories. The narratives were easy to follow and not too scary to the point where we had a hard time falling asleep that night.

Bourbon Street is hands down where to get your groove on in New Orleans. We made our first stop at a gay karaoke bar. Drinks were cheap, and a stunning drag queen was emceeing the whole night, cracking jokes, shading Trump and showing off her own musical talents for the lively crowd. My roommates and I belted out Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You, the Lauryn Hill version obviously, because we’re extra. Next, we wandered into the only bar on Bourbon playing house music. Our Miami roots were drawn in by a remix of Bob Marley’s “Jamming.” With less than 10 people total in the bar, the three of us took to the stage with our aggressive frat flicks and head bangs. Side note: What they say about drunk girls and elevated surfaces is entirely true. To wash the house music out of our system, we went to Famous Door. The live band, including a very sexy electric guitarist, performed a range of covers, from Amy Winehouse to Chris Stapleton. To say the crowd was insane is an understatement. Keep in mind, this was a Monday, and Mardi Gras had ended a week ago, but the city was very much alive. My feet still hurt days later, but the live music and bumping energy were like nothing I’ve ever experienced before.

 

Until Next Time, NOLA

It was a struggle leaving NOLA. Not only did we enjoy the activities and food, but we genuinely appreciated the city and its rich culture. The pride locals pour into their city is felt around every corner. The simplest of moments, like admiring the Owala houses (a term we invented referring to the mix of brightly painted NOLA houses resembling Owala water bottle color palettes) and peering up at plastic beads hanging from bare trees, reminded us of how much this city and its culture deserve to be celebrated. Four days in NOLA didn’t feel like enough as someone who is always wanting to learn more about a place and its people. Not only was I dreading leaving and the 12-hour drive back to Miami, but of course, my celebrity crush came to town the day we left. I’ll remember that, Kendall, but I’ll still drink 818 because I support woman-owned businesses and I’m a sucker for tequila.