I’m somewhat embarrassed to admit that I had a totally naive and erroneous view of the French Quarter of New Orleans…which was light on jazz and Creole and heavy on debauchery.
The French Quarter Of Debauchery In New Orleans
I’m a world traveler who has been to 139 countries and nearly every U.S. state. I’d like to think I have a decent impression of most cities. But not NOLA…at least not prior to my first visit to the city.
If I’m being honest, my expectation of the historic French Quarter was more fashioned by New Orleans Square at Disneyland than anything else. Here’s what I pictured: cobblestone streets with Creole style architecture (often called, incorrectly, French Colonial style). You know, those beautiful Creole cottages with wrought iron balconies and hanging plants.
That much was accurate, but I also pictured quiet streets with restaurants serving up Cajun or Creole food and jazz music playing as visitors and locals alike dined together in harmony.
Instead, I encountered quite a different experience when I went out for a midnight walk through the French Quarter.
The streets were packed. The smell of weed was overwhelming. I was approached at two different points by guys wanting to know if I wished to buy drugs. I’m aware of what goes on during Mardi Gras, but I did not expect to be approached by a prostitute wondering I wanted to take her back to my room. Then there was another girl who just came up to me and started twerking.
All within a 10-minute period…
And the French Quarter is not one jazz kitchen after another, but one bar after another, filled with drunk and boisterous tourists.
Thankfully, I was flanked by First Class Queen and the Royal Consort, both of whom kept me safe!
I returned the next morning just to see if it was any better. Not really…
Honestly, what got to me most was that pervasive smell of pot. It’s bad enough in California, but it was worse here. Oh how I detest it. And ironically, it is not even legal in Louisiana (except for “medical” reasons).
So yeah, impression meet reality…what a letdown. And I’m rather embarrassed I held such an idealized and ignorant view of the French Quarter.
CONCLUSION
I was only in town a couple days, but I can certainly attest that the bustling city itself is not defined by the French Quarter. That’s but one part of New Orleans, and there are other charming areas in town and around it that balance out the debauchery of the French Quarter. Would I go back to NOLA? Absolutely. To the French Quarter? No thanks.
“Embarrassed” not “embraced” I think.
I also hate the smell of pot, and hate being solicited for drugs or sex. In Vegas this has happened to me, but only very very late at night and comparatively discreetly (if anything in Vegas can be called discreet).
I agree – no thanks.
You guys all sound like you’re 87 year olds and whining / clutching pearls about people living their lives. Stay blessed… and in Ohio or whichever boring state you’re from.
I’m a native of New Orleans and proud to be a New Orleanian. I definitely agree, that the French Quarter isn’t the only place to visit in New Orleans and yes, it is known to be a unique city, it’s no different than any other major city so visit other areas and then make a fair assessment.
NOLA is different. Latest crime murder stats through 6/2022 shows New Orleans the highest murder rate in the country.
145 murders for a 36.8 rate. #1 in the USA.
You should be there during an event like gay pride or Mardi Gras where people are openly having sex in public. The French Quarter is mostly tourists and sex workers. There are other nice areas of New Orleans but it is certainly a town filled with sin. Having lived in the area, you really have to see other parts of town. It’s like saying you saw Florida by going to SouthBeach or you saw Las Vegas by going to a strip club there.
Fair enough.
Oh Karen, maybe you should just stick with Disneyland.
Exactly.
Not every place is for everyone and they certainly don’t need to be like Disneyland. The city was run by a pirate back in the early 19th Century and used to have legalized prostitution in Storyville. Let’s not be so naive.
For a world traveller, I find your conclusion too drastic based on a midnight walk. Try brunch at one of the many restaurants on à midmorning, appreciate the street artist around Jackson square, enjoy the remaining galleries on Royal or some jazz away from Bourbon on a pleasant afternoon! While your description is accurate for midnight, the Quarter is much much more than your description and offers more positive experiences that are also special, nice and unforgettable.
Two walks – I was back in the morning. Less people, but still the stench of weed and the homeless problem.
The FQ is an entire district. It sounds like you walked a few blocks of Bourbon St, which is pretty much what you say. It’s the reason locals and tourists who have done even a bit of research avoid it.
But you missed walking along the river, 2 street cars, the galleries and antique stores of Rue Royale, the French Market, the Lafitte National Park, museums at the Mint, Cabildo and Presebytere.
In short, you wrote an article from 45 minutes of walking with zero research or planning. Nice work if you can get it, I guess.
This trip report is a multi-part series. This is just one article. See here:
https://liveandletsfly.com/new-orleans-trip-report/
I am a little stunned that as a seasoned, respectable, and avid traveler none of your readings would have given you a better “expectation “. FQ has always been what you described. But it has a charm found no where else. The smell of POT has grown with the spread of acceptance and legalization of marijuana. The stink, the trash, the drunks, the homeless, have all increased as well. But – it is a town that endures.
You mention a ‘homeless problem’s and you’re from L.A.
It’s a cultural and economic problem. We don’t help people and don’t provide mental health care.
Royal Street, just a block away from Bourbon, is always dramatically different and more calm than Bourbon Street. There’s a lot more to our city than merely parts of the French Quarter. Heck, the other side of the FQ near Barracks is silent most of the time.
That’s a fantastic painting of yourself!!!
Mr. Klint, You’re from Los Angeles, where there are over 66,000 homeless in your city. That would be the second most of any city in the US. Now that’s a homeless problem. 560 homeless in New Orleans.
LA’s deplorable homeless problem doesn’t justify the problem in NOLA.
I visited NOLA in October, 2019…the weather was great and we loved the French Quarter…my wife and I are in our mid 50s and in no way wild partiers…Jackson square was incredible…Frenchman st was our favorite along with walking along decauter..yes Bourbon street is wild but during the day its fine…We came home one night just after midnight and walked through bourbon st to our hotel..it was a wild seen but noth nothing out of control…We love NOLA and are returning this October
Let me know when you start having a problem with needles on the street. What you described is typical big city parties. Happen all the time. The smell of pot, the second-hand smoke, is known to heal. I understand if you’d prefer it be done inside, but, it’s a natural occurrence. It’s not comparable to engine exhaust. It’s not comparable to burning natural gas. Candles. Wood. You go to a part area, expect to be exposed to intoxicants, and cannabis is not an intoxicant at microdose levels experienced in second hand smoke. If you start getting into the extremism of “you’re forcing drugs on me” without addressing the sicknesses many other substances cause, then having a specific moral issue with intoxicants in any amount is not only suspicious, but not really relevant to a travel blog now is it?
There has to be a wider and wiser view for someone in the field of travel and journalism or blogging. Remember all places have their history which can lead to centuries of ripples.
Katrina hit New Orleans hard only within a decade plus prior. Many investors came in and purchased much of the property. Thus driving up the cost of rentals and purchasing homes. Many locals who were born and raised there were driven into poverty, not by their own choices, but by circumstantial crisis and politics.
I remember feeling shocked at the homeless epidemic my first visit to Paris, France; a city so immortalized by romanticism. I can’t remember when the trash littering the streets turned into the fields of poppies upon departure.
Yet, again, remember the history. King Luis XIV taxed the citizens of Paris so harshly as a means to build the grand Versailles, and the after affects can still be seen, centuries later.
Only he who is free from judgement should cast this stone so callously. Those ripples are history repeating itself.
Correction…Katrina did NOT hit New Orleans..it hit that “land mass” between Louisiana and Alabama. New Orleans got hit by 30 years of bad politicians who pocketed the money to fix the levies. They knew in the 70’s they would fail but did nothing. Katrina went in east of NOLA in Waveland, MS which was completely wiped off the map. I know this because I was left with a slab to live on.
You’re a pussy.
Yeh. This guy is a complete douche bag. People in New Orleans try to keep people like him from going back. They did their job on him. I don’t think anyone likes journalist. “Do you know how many cities I have flown to and judged?” He’s obviously not a real man. He’s a tender little momma’s boy. “Mommy I don’t like marijuana smell” GO BACK TO DISNEYLAND TERD!!
It used to be complaints about the vomit and urine smell . Which I blamed tourist for trying to hang with the natives and couldn’t of course. Lol. True that. Now complaining about weed smell. I really don’t think this person is a professional journalist. Midnight walk and going to write that. Shame on him. Obviously a idiot
I believe he was expecting New Orleans, Not the NEW, New Orleans. I’m not a pussy, I’m just tired of carpet baggers and how sorry this city has become since Katrina. I enjoyed my time there in the 7O’s 80’s and 90’s. He is correct.
Wow, spoken like a REAL man, lol.
More weed for us!!!
Well,
There is always the bouncy room at McDonald’s.
Get off your high horse.
Take your prescribed Xanax and chill.
Sometimes people surviving in hard times is not pretty!
First of all, any basic research will tell you that the buildings in the French Quarter are SPANISH influenced, not French. This is so widely known that, as a self professed “world traveler,” I’m very surprised this wasn’t basic knowledge for you already, And honestly quite irresponsible not to be including in your article otherwise.
Moving forward, It sounds like you just stuck to Bourbon Street and it’s fringes. If you had bothered to ask any service industry or locals where to go in the Quarter, you could have found some great gems. I haven’t been to Bourbon St. in years and I live here. I absolutely adore taking a day to meander through the Quarter; eating, drinking, shopping (also without smelling any weed? Which you seem so fixated on?) What you did is like going to NYC and sticking to Times Square.
It’s odd to me that you open up your article listing your experience as a traveler. But you didn’t take any time to travel around our city… Much less the neighborhood that you were staying in. I’m not trying to sound callous. Just matching your level of judgment. We are fiercely defensive of our city, but I’m sure we would love for you to give it a second try!
“You should be there during an event like gay pride or Mardi Gras where people are openly having sex in public.”
Happens at sf gay pride and folsom street fair. Clearly the liberals only care about enforcing laws selectively. Like the mafia they will be come own on you if you don’t pay taxes, everything else they don’t care if you pay your protection money, i mean taxes, on time. Of course you get no protection for the protection money, it’s just a shakedown. They just couch it as consensus of a few doofuses to afford it legitimacy.
When you’re not busy sounding like a raving lunatic, you simply come across as a complete moron hijacking a travel blog with your pathetic political musings. What a stone cold loser.
Oh no, those nasty gays and their public sex during pride…lol
Did you make it down to Frenchman street? Also pretty touristy, but always had a much better experience than in Bouron St & that part of French quarter… bars more focused on live music than cheap sugary drinks.
I second Frenchman St. @matthew you would probably enjoy the Spotted Cat for an early afternoon set.
My first time in NOLA… I was 11, and my first year in the USA. My family and relatives planned to drive over there (all for the first time as well.). Not sure if it was June, but my asian family didn’t know any better and was just about horrifed/amused at what we saw. Not just gays, but furries too. Buttless leather chaps everywhere.
How nice you are suddenly Asian now that you are going after gay people…
And you lived to tell the tale!
Your major mistake was timing, not that y9u had much choice in the matter. If you were there for the Freddies, the timing overlapped with French Quarter Fest, and a week before the start of Jazz Fest. Don’t go to NOLA during a big festival. Just don’t. Unless you’re looking for…debauchery. Your other mistake was taking a midnight stroll. After 10 pm is probably the single worst time to be out in the Quarter, especially Thursday-Saturday. Go back on a random weekday, and take a walk on something other than Bourbon Street, especially before 9 am, and it’s a very different vibe. Summer is also more subdued in general, though you also get to suffer through weather that’s slightly worse than Houston, as if that’s possible.
Guys need a #mentoo movement as well
“but I did not expect to be approached by a prostitute wondering I wanted to take her back to my room.”
Why do women try to use sex as a money making tool. Disgusting perverts women are. Stop harassing us you disgusting creeps.
ALL women are not using sex to make money just like all gay men aren’t in bath houses having free sex with everybody. YOU need to check yourself, your bigotry and hatred for women is showing.
I’ve never been, but my impression on NOLA has long been something akin to downtown Las Vegas. Maybe a tad more wild?
How many points to get there from Chicago today?
Well, this blog’s name does originate from “live and let live!” 🙂
Big fan of the site, but you went for a walk at midnight in one of the party capitals of the US. I am not shocked at all by what you witnessed, if anything, it sounds pretty tame.
Well, I don’t have pictures and video but it was anything but tame. Honestly, while I know what to expect in places like Las Vegas, I had no idea what to expect here. My bad.
Hi Matt, sorry to hear of your bad experience… I live in Ohio but have two sons that live in NOLA and have for many years …
Wife and I have spent some wintertime there…
I went into the quarter one Mardi gras and will never, I repeat, never do that again.
That, I can assure you, is not New Orleans!
And midnight is not the best time to be wandering in the quarter …
If you are associated with the travel industry in any way, let it be known,
There is so much more to enjoy and experience in NOLA, I know, I’ve done it!
Do your research next time nola is one of the best cities to visit and our food is off the chain so don’t put my city down one bad experience don’t make the whole city a bad place to visit come get me next time I will show you a good time ok.
Did you at least toss a few sets of beads down to some busty revelers from a 3rd floor balcony?
Ha. No, I did not.
My first trip to NOLA, I had the same impression. My second trip I discovered a beautiful city with a lively food culture & southern hospitality. You went the wrong place, wrong date at the worst time of day. Lots of cities have party streets like this & can be an unfair label. It’s kinda like judging Amsterdam by the red light instead of bycicles, van Gogh or canals.
Actually a great analogy comparing it to Amsterdam – a beautiful city that is so unfairly dismissed as simply hookers and pot cafes.
We tend to stigmatize places, mostly unfairly. At least in my travels.
I do not agree at all with the analogy with Amsterdam. In Amsterdam you don’t see prostitutes on the streets, only in windows in a few sectors of the city and some legal private clubs. Also, not many people smoking marijuana on the street or drug dealers either, because there are established businesses (cannabis) for that.
Also, both prostitutes and coffee shops pay taxes. Prostitutes have rights, free medical care and retirement. In eight visits, I have never felt unsafe in Amsterdam, quite the opposite.
I haven’t been to Amsterdam in about 25 years, it must have changed for the better. Back then, I went in the summer, and the place was just loaded with people who came there to primarily to smoke weed. Lots of it was in public. They were all over the place- train cars reeked. It wasn’t supposed to be legal to do in public places, but enforcement was sorely lacking.
Maybe now that weed is permitted in so many more places not as many people flock to Amsterdam for it. That’s kind of nice.
People still flock to Amsterdam and the open drug culture is still one of the reasons. To the point where the authorities were thinking about having a cap for the number of visitors to the city, and in another instance, allowing only citizens to purchase drugs.
But yeah, I agree that comparing Amsterdam to New Orleans just doesn’t work. Just a bad analogy.
If you feel that it’s a great comparison to Amsterdam which is also often unfairly dismissed as just “pot and hookers,” then why would you do the same?
Also, just FYI, you seem to be exactly the type of stiff tourist that we don’t enjoy having here. And I’m not referring to Bourbon street, I live here and try to avoid it at all costs but I have been at many fun, local events where stiff, awkward tourists have shown up and it’s just not necessary.
Again, check out the entire trip report. This is just one segment:
https://liveandletsfly.com/new-orleans-trip-report/
I respect that you didn’t enjoy your experience on Bourbon Street. It was your experience, and there’s no changing how you perceived your experience. And I understand that you said this blog is part of a larger article, but my concern is that you titled this blog “Debauchery in New Orleans.” To those who are only reading this article, you make it seem as though the French Quarter is the whole of New Orleans, and that’s an unfair perspective. Why not call it, “Debauchery on Bourbon Street” since that’s where you were? I am from New Orleans, and I avoid Bourbon Street for the reasons you mentioned, but that’s Bourbon Street- not the whole of the FQ or NOLA. The rest of NOLA looks nothing like Bourbon Street (and even other parts of the FQ look nothing like Bourbon). And under no circumstances would I be visiting Bourbon at midnight, during Mardi Gras, or decadence! That’s asking for filth. Please be fair when presenting our city. And on another note, I absolutely HATE the smell of weed; it’s absolutely disgusting, so I agree with you there. Happy travels, Matthew!
I appreciate your comment.
We spent Easter 2021 in NO and did not like Bourbon Street at all. The crowds were light because of Covid and it was still a shit show. We walked two blocks just so our son could say he did it but otherwise crossed over walking back and forth from the hotel to dinners. Outside the main party area, the Quarter has lots of charm. We had the benefit of a 4th generation resident guiding us for dining choices.
Next trip we will stay in the Garden District.
Never got taken in by New Orleans. Haven’t been downtown lately but when I was it was before the gangs craze. The French Quarter smelled like stale puke and piss. I prefer to piss and puke to the Ganga .
Even during the day there is an atmosphere that menace isn’t too far away.
If you want unadulterated debauchery, then Pattaya Thailand is your place. You can now even engage your Ganga habit. Leave all other drugs, aside from good old alcohol, alone if you have any brains
“Good old alcohol? ” You’re joking right? Are you aware of how many deaths, health complications and destroyed lives for which alcohol is responsible? Alcohol is one of the worst drugs out there. “If you have any brains?” Clearly you didn’t apply yours before making this comment.
Love the city, visit multiple times a year and enjoy adult beverages on Bourbon every trip.
That said, I would never be on the street anytime close to Midnight. That’s just too much risk for the average person. You are lucky a few solicitations and weed smell is the worst thing you experienced.
Risk? Just don’t be doofus and you’ll be fine there at any hour. Don’t get so drunk that you can’t walk straight, mind your own business, and leave your cell phone in your pocket.
Don’t look like a mark and you won’t be one. If you walk around looking like guy in Matthew’s second picture with your polo shirt tucked into your dad jeans, then yea, you are going to get messed with.
The fact that you comment that you look like “prey” you will attract a predator says it all. In my advanced years, that’s more than reason enough to give it a miss….
Just like I wouldn’t go to Jonesboro Arkansas wearing a BLM shirt or Effingham, Illinois wearing a Hillary Clinton shirt… don’t go to bourbon street sticking out like a sore thumb
“Just like I wouldn’t go to Jonesboro Arkansas wearing a BLM shirt or Effingham, Illinois wearing a Hillary Clinton shirt… don’t go to bourbon street sticking out like a sore thumb”
That must be america, land of free, home of brave.
For such a seasoned traveler, it sure sounds like you were a naive Nola visitor to not know more about what areas to visit in the city, To write such a scathing article after 48 hours and one street is heavy-handed and sure doesn’t help Nola’s struggles to rebound. Nola is one of this country’s treasures. One street? C’mon….
Well, I think I made clear I wasn’t judging the city based upon that experience…and really the ignorance was on me, not NOLA.
And yet your headline reads “The Debauchery of New Orleans….”
Read beyond the headline.
I did read the article. Your headline is misleading & clickbaity.
I did. Your headline was misleading & clickbaity. If you wanted to limit your opinion to the French Quarter, then why did you call the entire city debauched?
Thank you Michelle for your response to such a scathing article. I also expected better from Matthew Klint who presents himself as a seasoned traveler. What he wrote in this article is but a small part of NOLA and does not represent the entire city of NOLA. I have family members who still live in NOLA although I left and moved to Chicago some years ago. It is a shame that someone like Matthew Klint did not do any homework before traveling to NOLA and now thinks it’s okay to disparage an entire city based off his limited 48 hour exposure to the city.
What an asinine comment. Next time, actually read what I write before bloviating like a foolish child. If your attention span is too short, at least read the conclusion.
I did read your conclusion and it doesn’t change my position on what you wrote.
You present yourself as this well traveled individual, as such you should know how to avoid tourist traps. And what is the French Quarter except one of the largest tourist traps in the South and probably one of the top 10 tourist traps in the US. If your intention was to experience New Orleans as a first time visitor I understand your visit to the French Quarter the first day. However why go back a second day why not spend your second day actually exploring other neighborhoods in New Orleans where you could experience a a different representation of the city. I stand by my criticism of you and this article because you didn’t do your homework, on the French Quarter, went in with preconceived notions of what to expect and didn’t avail yourself of the opportunity to see other parts of the city after the first night of debauchery.
Wait.. how much was the pot? I’ll head that way now.
I think you should just remove this entirely dawg. Like everyone who actually knows the city has a problem with it. I’m not sure how much this negative press is gonna help you. You posted this thing a few days ago and already people have poked all types of holes in the fact that you’re well traveled or have common sense for that matter. Your hole is getting deeper except for with the people who have never been here.
This guy is spot-on correct in his observation that you failed to do ANY homework before you began your ignorant rant.
You expected to hear jazz music, but it’s obvious you never once consulted any of the many available listings of nightly performances found in the daily Times+Picayune, the entertainment weekly Gambit, the monthly Offbeat, or radio station WWOZ.
Had you done even ten minutes of research, you would have headed directly to Frenchmen St. and skipped Bourbon. You would have enjoyed yourself immensely and written a much different piece.
Note to readers actually interested in the *real* music and culture of our city, check out http://www.wwoz.org for 24-7 music programming plus a wealth of articles, the aforementioned listings, and much more..
Matthew, I know that people are being very hard on you, but we Native New Orleanians are very protective of our city. Not only are we constantly trashed by not only the rest of the country, but by the cities and towns in our own state. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the good citizens of our own state capitol treated us like vermin. To add insult to injury, your type of article repels visitors who’s tourist dollars most of us depend on for our living. So please try not to be do brutal from now on.
Everything written is true and ‘NOLA’ is a $#!+hole and I lived there for many years. CORRUPT useless cops, horrid crime, 49th ranked schools, racism, drugs, and a ‘wonderful history’ built on that, but hey a bunch of buttery food and fried stale bread makes it all good…the award for most overrated place in the America’s goes to NOLA. It has been trying to ‘recovery’ for over 200 years.
Anyone who thinks New Orleans cuisine can be summarized as “buttery foods & stale fried bread” probably hasn’t visited in a long time — & probably shouldn’t.
The nerve! Nola does have its faults many I’m born n raised 51 yrs lower 9th ward. I Just recently relocated to Birmingham. Here it’s a welcomed calm and I doubt I’ll be back to live in the big easy. But geewiz he talking bout weed in the air and people coming up to him with propositions and what not man he said it was midnight I doubt u go to any Majorc city and don’t run into that night life!!!!!. Grow up Mr Seasoned Traveler. The Crescent City is Good. And we working on some things
I lived in Metairie for 7 years and usually we would only go to the French Quarter when out of town company was visiting. If you want to see the French Quarter at it’s cleanest and quietest stroll through early on a Sunday morning. You’ll see shopkeepers sweeping the sidewalks and have peace and quiet. Make sure and stop at Cafe Du Monde. If you want to experience the craziness with less crowds go on Halloween night.
I find the smell of weed there, of which I haven’t partaken since long-ago college days, to be preferable to the smell of sun baked vomit which is pervasive during the daytime.
I’m used to place with strong party scenes. NOLA was for me one of the heaviest I’ve been (nothing like Ibiza though) way over Las Vegas.
Honestly stay out of New Orleans definitely out of the east part of New Orleans I was shot and the detective stole my car of course they all thought I was gonna die and my wallet ended up missing to out of my pants from the hospital workers too it’s really just a crappy city.
. . .
Thought you could use some periods.
Funniest comment on this article.
I had the same experience in NOLA, but when we went back to Bourbon Street on a Sunday morning, it was pristine: clean, disinfected… and tons of folks enjoying a Sunday stroll in a family atmosphere. Music every block, restaurants not overflowing with overly served drinkers. It was like day and night… well, yes, it really was day! That said, not going back to New Orleans a third time. Museums, walks, tours and shorts drives to see the sights… done and done.
Went there during Mardi gras and other times and loved it. Exciting and invigorating
Really? Your surprised that Bourbon Street isn’t similar to Disneyland? Great point. Now we know.
You’re so welcome.
Sounds like you spent all your time on Bourb9n St. Typical newbie error. And typical close minded stereotyping. Royal St., Decatur St., Dauphine St., etc. are much different than Bourb9n St. Royal St. is worlds away in every way to Bourbon St. and it’s the next block over. I’d be surprised if you even knew the boundaries of the French Quarter.
Was I dreaming up what I saw?
No, I think its pretty clear you were only on one street. THE STREET THE ENTIRE COUNTRY (except you I guess) KNOWS IS THE PARTY STREET OF NEW ORLEANS. The problem I think most people have is that you defined the whole French Quarter based mostly on your late night experience on that one street…the one with all the bars you know. And the way you are playing it off now is by accusing everyone of not reading the conclusion. Problem is though that what you say positive was never mentioned before. (Hint- in the conclusion you are supposed to sum up main points that you have already told the reader about)
The entire article was basically saying the French Quarter is a crap hole.
Hopefully people will just stop reading as soon as they see you were expecting to see something resembling Disney.
People are free to draw their own conclusions. I was simply sharing mine. You’ve had now had a chance to share yours.
Great article. Sounds like my type of place. I’ll head there tomorrow. The French Quarter is running off tourists just like it’s supposed to! Have fun at the magic kingdom!
You walked down Bourbon street and maybe Canal and think that defines the French Quarter? There are a lot of great places in the Quarter, just not on Bourbon Street.
Yep, the Quarter has turned into a 24 hr “Spring Break Circus” with all the corresponding and complementary excesses. A contributing factor is the NOPD is 500 below budgeted staffing even with signing bonuses. Moral is so low, even detectives are leaving the force. (https://www.nola.com/news/article_5ffa853c-0a04-11ed-9285-6be02e4e976d.html). Yet, “da maya” is off on sister city tours of Europe.
As stated by others and as a native NOLA guy, I manage the intenirary of my out of town visitors with a day visit to the quarter. However, there’s more see (Royal Street, Moon Walk, street car ride, Garden district, steam boat ride, Buck town for seafood, The Cabildo, several plantations, swamp boat ride, etc, etc, etc.) other than Bourbon Street.
I have been living in New Orleans for 34 years. Too many people who live here get butthurt when someone points out it’s becoming a shithole due to longstanding liberal politics allowing criminals to do as they please. WAKE UP NOLA…before it’s too late!!!
“due to longstanding liberal politics allowing criminals to do as they please”
Such as?
“Longstanding” liberal policies making it a “shithole,” yet you refuse to leave and move elsewhere. I have to laugh at conservatives who always want to shrink government and make government get out of the way and turn to solutions from the private sector, then whine about how the government isn’t doing anything. Please do share with us what exactly you are involved in doing to make the place better, or to move elsewhere. Go ahead, we’ll wait…
This reads as disingenuous, because, honestly, how could you be so stupid?
You’re also not really reporting anything here other than the fact that New Orleans isn’t consistent with the dream-image of some well-to-do Disney adult. Don’t come back.
Bad article written by a naive L.A. buffoon. As we say in New Orleans to this exact type of person:
This is LA not L.A.
Sweetheart, read beyond the headline.
You “strolled” down bourbon at midnight and are surprised at the “debauchery” of new orleans? Not many downtown big cities are going to be a pleasant to stroll down at midnight. Just by looking through the comments, i think you get the jist of that. This article is written like every other clickbait. Sensational headline, can’t believe i saw a hooker and drugs at midnight in a party city on a weekend?!
Come on world traveler. I’ve been to downtown okinawa and solicited for prostitution. Seen wild stuff in tokyo. Seen homeless all over san Diego. Attempts to be hustled in Seattle, vegas and los angeles. Seems to me you saw exactly what you’d expect at midnight or any other big city. But keep claiming that works traveler and writing shitty articles to get clicks.
When you start your article off with “The debauchery of New Orleans” it’s clear what your intent is. It’s not just NOLA you’ve damaged with your ignorance but the French Quarter which is a beautiful historic area AWAY from Bourbon Street. If you’re such an experienced traveler, why didn’t you do your research before going? And if you truly were an experienced traveler you would know pot smoke is freaking everywhere! I have lived all over and EVERY place I have lived there is pot smoke prevalent in every street, that’s not specific to NOLA. I grew up in NOLA and the Gulf Coast, it’s an amazing beautiful area with some of the most interesting people I’ve ever known. To listen to a true Cajun is incredible, a walk down Royal street popping in the art galleries, and grabbing a muffuletta at Central Grocery for lunch, then sitting on the river bank to watch the ships is one of the best days ever. Clearly you are clueless at how to travel sensibly and then want to blame the area for your poor choices. Do NOLA a favor and stay in LA with your gangs and liberals.
Went there for Halloween and will again. Better weather and less crazy. Did the garden district, air boat tours and plantations. Nothing good happens anywhere after midnight
I had leaving in Nola for 3 years ! My friend’s said it’s nice , I try it ….. first time and only the one . I visit the French quarter I was down . It’s a mess , that’s piss me off to read French quArter as appellation. I’m a French student . And never saw that before , I don’t about parade they are proud of it
But it’s a …..shame …
Frequent traveler, yes….high mileage traveler, yes, pampered usuallyupgraded traveler, yes, seasoned traveler no. Bald and Bankrupt on Youtube is a seasoned traveler. A quick look online would have guided you to time and areas to visit. IM no fan of NOLA either, but glad I got to see some it. It’s certainly not the place it could be or used to be.
Matthew
I am saddened by your idea of the French Quarter. I am a 70 year old widow, a Louisiana native. In earlY December my friend ( a women) and I stayed in a loaned French Quarter apartment for the weekend. We shopped, roamed the streets(not Bourbon!) and had a wonderful time. On Saturday night my friend went to a wedding and I walked alone to dinner sitting at the bar in Mr. ‘s Bistro. I was back to the apartment at 10:00. No one approached me, I was safe. We enjoyed shopping the Quarter on Saturday and had a lovely lunch. I have to wonder where you were in the Quarter. Are you aware it’s a real neighborhood with a grocery, pharmacy and school?
And that Cathedral is real with services!. Please go again with a native.
Appreciate your comment. I guess I was there during the wrong week. I do hope to return to the great city of NOLA.
If you define “the French Quarter” by Bourbon St., then this review would be accurate. The entire point of Bourbon (except for a few nice restaurants and hotels) is debauchery.
But go over a block to Royal St., and you’ll find lots of amazing antique shops. Jackson Square is wonderful. There are a number of museums.
Go to Preservation Hall and hear some great jazz. There are all kinds of amazing restaurants. Outside of Bourbon, the Quarter is not defined by debauchery, especially during the daytime.
It sounds like you saw Bourbon Street and not much else. Unfortunately, you missed 99% of what the city has to offer and spent all your time on literally the worst few blocks in the whole city. Maybe do a little research next time, or talk to some locals. They’ll get you the hell off Bourbon Street as soon as possible.
I am probably the only one here that lives in the FQ and has owned biz on Bourbon Street for over a dozen years.
Your article was ok. You aren’t wrong, but you missed so much about our city.
Sadly the FQ is the golden egg that is 100% responsible for paying for everything in Louisiana. People only come to our state for three reason. 3. Lsu football games. 2. Texans crossing to gamble @and 1. To see the French Quarter. Yet we only get to keep than 16% of out tax dollars so we can continually send 84% to the state to bail out the failing red cities with high drug use and the highest government assistance. We pay for everyone and our neighborhood get nothing in return. No police. No troopers @ The worst mayor voted in by the laziest neighborhoods in the city. VOTED in by less than 26% of the voting population but you’ll get people bitching on social media but too lazy to vote.
Gay sex? Omg to the homophobic person who probably doesn’t live here I say this. If you don’t gay sex than don’t have it. BE VERY THANKFUL TO THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY because they pay your taxes. Nola is 2nd in gay destination in this country and they spend more than you I guarantee.
What is the decline of Nola, sadly the low class of tourist. Period. CHEAP TOURISTS.
But, with The French Quarter there would be no New Orleans and Louisiana would just be a worst version of West Virgina.
Noone cares about any other part of this state. Hey lets go on vacation to The Garden District says noone. Lets go on vacation to Lafayette, said noone.
Stick to Disneyland, it won’t be your “fist” time. For a “world traveler” you sure don’t appear to know alot about traveling. Except for people from Nebraska, Iowa and Kansas who have little experience with easy access to much, most “world traveler”s know not to go to Bourbon Street. They study the city and its rich history and seek out real culture, not only the part Vegas copied on a large scale.
The “Big Easy” is what it is. I was born and raised in the city (Lakeview & Metairie) and though there’s always room for improvement CITYWIDE, the French Quarter IS better than it used to be. Im not a fan of the odor of pot … used to be urea and stale beer. My parents would take me to the Quarter all the time – NEVER Bourbon or the “residential” areas. I’ve traveled parts of the U.S. and there’s “seedy” and unsafe areas across the nation… from Seattle to Cleveland to DC to Dallas. The City is in a management crisis, and that includes public safety. Hopefully I’ll live to see it turn around like what happened with Cleveland
We were there just last week and I came home and said EVERYTHING you have written. Well, but you didn’t mention the throngs of homeless people that you step over on the sidewalks, human feces in the streets and the smell of hot garbage at every turn.
Yes, I didn’t think it prudent to a photo essay on the homeless people, but that is a sad testament to the city (and so many U.S. cities).
You’re correct. That’s a different article. Personally, I believe your perspective to be accurate. However, with so many commenting that your review is unfair to the better parts of the city, I’d love for someone to share the specific streets and neighborhoods that do emit the quintessential atmosphere that I too was expecting from this city. Where do I find the jazz music, smiling faces, creole charm, and general “vibe” that I was anticipating? I’m willing to give it another go.
To be fair, I visited the garden district and thought it was lovely. Empty of people, but lovely. I was disappointed that Lafayette was closed, but was aware before I got there.
Nola sounds awesome. Were you scared of everybody or did they take it easy on you? Be careful when going to Nola. Don’t go outside by yourself. There is real grown men in that city. Is your keyboard ok? You should probably just focus on typing stuff going forward. I’m sure there’s a creole website you can visit. The prostitute was probably my sister. She gets bored.
You step over people? What kind of person are you?
Would you have preferred that I step ON them?
My wife and I have been to New Orleans many times. We love it there, and we’re just average middle aged professionals. We’ve always said that NOLA is what Vegas wants to be. Have fun in the Quarter. Don’t expect luxury and elegance. It’s just a good time. It’s a very tolerant city.
Sounds like “The Debauchery of Bourbon Street”.
I have to agree with some posters, it does seem a bit naive of you, for being such a seasoned traveler, to not know about that area of New Orleans (or at least do a more thorough Google search) and/or expect it to be like what you saw in Disney, of all places.
A bit more research and it seems like there were lots of other nicer areas you could have enjoyed, despite the short trip. Hopefully you will get to see those areas in a future trip.
Since you said you were there for a few days, are there going to be any other posts dedicated to the other areas of the city?
I came to leave a comment about how out of touch this article is but the comments above did a great job already. Go back to disney..
Well I am from there moved away many years ago however I go often when I come back to visit family Etc unfortunately very unfortunately I have to agree with you stranger yes it has become that we have a lazy mayor and a lot of ignorant people can’t control everyone unfortunately but alas New Orleans will still always be great and there are many other areas besides the French Quarter the French Quarter just happens to be number one there’s the Beautiful St Charles Avenue Garden District and then there’s the lakefront and then there’s Mandeville Covington 24 miles away do come back and see us
You’re such a world traveler. I’m so impressed by your ability to characterize an entire city and neighborhood by your limited and obviously naive sojourn through it. Maybe take a moment next time to figure out what the hell you’re doing and you’ll have a better experience.
I’m shocked anyone follows this page. You’re obviously a complete dilettante “traveler.” I guess I should say tourist — although that’s even a stretch.
Have a cup of coffee:
https://liveandletsfly.com/best-coffee-new-orleans/
Good job. You found a coffee shop in one of the most uninteresting areas of town.
Your a f***ing cunt.
So what if you smell weed it is a plant.
It is the only place in the us that feels like a free country anywhere else there’s dumb f*cks like you crying to police and plenty of police looking to harass and kill people for doing the same thing people have done since the beginning of time so f*ck you your high horse and your IGNORANT opinions. If you don’t like it fine but don’t sh!t talk it to make money on your bullshit writing just leave and go f*ck yourself
Tell me how you really feel.
Really, this comment is the best in the thread. I too have ‘travelled the world’, but reading your article and your tired response to the comments truly demonstrates how utterly stupid you are. Take a deep look at yourself. If you’re dead, you don’t know it. It’s only painful for those around you. The same is true if you’re stupid.
Thanks for your click honey.
Damn this weed is good. Much better than the article!
Now that weed is smoked and tolerated everywhere I no longer feel guilty about firing up a good cigar whenever and wherever I choose.
Go for it no one will give a f*ck as long as you are outside
I understand what you are saying . My family and I were just there in June . This was my 4th visit over the years and was my least favorite. I have been and had fond memories and had put it up on pedestal from my last trips . This last time it was different . It just felt like It’s just not the same that I had remembered and just seemed like many things I enjoyed went downhill . There were good things still but did not outweigh the disappointment. It will probably be our last 🙁
I absolutely adore New Orleans, Louisiana. It has a rich and beautiful and difficult and fascinating culture. It’s not all just about the French Quarter. Now, I don’t presume to be able to change your mind about even the French Quarter, Matthew, but I will add that you are describing Bourbon Street. The French Quarter may not be my favorite part of town (though it’s not my least favorite), but it’s definitely got interesting and redeeming places to visit. Bourbon Street I can pretty much leave behind, though Jean Lafitte’s Blacksmith bar is pretty fun.
What you experienced there was pretty tame. If you considered this to be “debauchery”, I could show you some stuff that would soil your knickers.
Did this grown ass man compare New Orleans to Disney, then was disappointed in what he experienced? Did he expect flying fairies and glitter being thrown everywhere? I can’t stop laughing! Then he has the audacity to fire back with his smart ass mouth at people defending NOLA. How dare he. I am just so disappointed in what is considered journalism in today’s world. This article reeked of judgemental white male privilege who felt out of place once he left his ivory tower. Put on your tutu and just go back to Disney because you’re not worthy of NOLA.
via GIPHY
Seriously, this little boy should find a nice whitewashed suburb with an outlet mall for his next vacation.
Good for you Nola Chick and Boomer! What a clueless excuse for a grown man.
Not you missing the difference between a personal travel blog and journalism! Are you serious? Journalism??? How pathetic that you visit sites to get the information you want, then whine about someone’s personal experience and perspective. This is why people laugh at you.
Matt, try a walk through the French Quarter during the day. That will be closer to what you imagined. Avoid Bourbon St and stroll up and down the N-S side streets like Ibreville, Conti, Toulouse, St Peter, etc.
Welcome to the chocolate city!!
Why are racists too cowardly to say exactly what they mean? It’s as pathetic and dumb as “Let’s Go Brandon.” Dude, you can say what you want. What are you afraid of when we all can see that as a blatant racist comment? Do you really think you’re speaking in code? What a moron.
My maiden excursion to the Quarter was brimming with anticipation for the riches of a place so steeped in history and jazz. That anticipation was quickly diminished when I encountered- in addition to the author’s findings of predominant weed aroma – was the presence of the stench of feces and urine which actually made me welcome the cloud of Mary Jane residue.
Everyone has their own sensitivities and Matthew is entitled to his. I myself am neither offended nor disturbed by prostitutes, though I detest pimps and touts. I don’t mind pot smoke but I really dislike tobacco fumes. I get bored by drunk people pretty quickly, but I know other folks who love their stupid boisterousness. One of the reasons I travel is to experience things that I wouldn’t at home.
Matthew, I hope you return to the French Quarter someday. Maybe knowing more about what to expect there will help you enjoy it more. Head to Fritzel’s Jazz Bar for music, the Old Absinthe House for drinks and history, the Erin Rose for the mix of people. Catch some traditional jazz in a vintage setting at Preservation Hall. Visits to those places might show you that NOLA is not all drunkards, potheads, and prostitutes.
Yikes! Let me guess, you camped on Bourbon St? Did you explore Frenchman St? Nola is my musical Disney, love it, but I avoid Bourbon St from 4pm on. You really gave the French Quarter a bad rap without out too much effort. STAY AT DISNEY WORLD, you’ll be safer there.
New Orleans is one of the most unique cities in the world due to its rich history and culture. This city is about bringing all the aspects of life together in one place and celebrating the diversity of America. If you can’t appreciate that then stay away.
Matt,
I wish I could say I’ve traveled as much as you, but, though I haven’t, I have lived in several places including another country, but I was born and raised in NOLA. That being said I totally agree with you about the FQ experience. Its not my favorite place to visit.
On the other hand, as a native and a lover of history and the outdoors, this city and the surrounding area has a LOT to offer. When most people think of NOLA they think of the French Quarter and hurricane Katrina, but those are not the only things that define this city by far.
When I moved back here after being away for 13 years, I started adventuring out more and exploring. There’s so much unexpected beauty not far from us amd so much history wrapped up in all parts of this area. It’s given me a different outlook on living here. Some people love living in the city, I prefer living outside of town in the small rural area I’m currently in. It’s quiet, it’s peaceful and the community is like nowhere else.
I do hope you will visit again and adventure beyond the quarter. You may be pleasantly surprised.
Thank you Jennifer. I look forward to returning.
You should probably visit Panama city. There’s a wharehouse for toddlers with no balls.
I can’t imagine a world traveler didn’t know that strolling down a street known to party after hours may see just that. I’ve never been to New Orleans but I’m planning a trip there for my birthday and I’m excited to visit to enjoy the historical city, great food and music. Which is probably why this article was in my news feed however, unless I’m looking for debauchery I won’t be strolling the French Quarter after midnight when I’m aware of possible partying. Most cities after midnight had something going on especially downtown in most cities. I think our world traveler posted negative comments for publicity and to get a rise out of the residents. I’ve heard from so many how welcoming the residents and business owners are, being a native of the south there is a thing called southern hospitality but one may be looking for debauchery during late night crawling don’t you think…Cafe Dumonde I can’t wait for a taste. Oh and I must visit Marie Laveau’s House of Voodoo, the delicious eateries and jazz clubs.
Nola is unique. We won’t mind when you leave.
You based your expectations fir New Orleans on Disney? How embarrassing for you.
How embarrassing that you feel the need to criticize someone’s personal experience, personal observations, and personal opinion on their personal blog. This isn’t a newspaper or magazine, Karen.
Learn your Louisiana architecture. Creole cottages are not the homes with large front balconies and iron railings. The creole cottage is a more modest house. If it has a second floor it most likely only has a couple dormers.
Nola is disgusting, full of dirty homeless people, drinks and drug dealers, someone got shot a block away from my hotel. Food is extremely nasty too. Will never go back.
Wow, this is journalism? You were shocked, SHOCKED! that this was going on on Bourbon St? We go to New Orleans regularly. The music scene, the galleries, the shops and the absolutely unparalleled food scene are quite unique to the City. A regular joke with us is “you want to do the walk of shame down Bourbon?” because if you don’t know what it is, you’re really not very savvy. It’s a roving party every single weekend of the year, not just during festivals. It’s messy, loud, outrageous, and also part of the city. If you go one block over to Royal or to Chartres, or Dauphine, you’ll find it pretty different in the Quarter. If it offends you there is no reason to be on Bourbon St whatsoever. I would NEVER stop in to anywhere there except a couple of places to take people (Marie Laveau’s comes to mind, as does Antoine’s or Galatoire’s). But the walk of shame can be fun, if you approach it that way. If you’re going to write a travel article, try to do what I just did and just leave YOUR experience out of it because no one cares (I know that’s hard to believe). It’s about THE PLACE. I can think of 1000 ways to describe the scene on Bourbon on a typical Saturday night, and as I said, it’s ONLY on Bourbon and then let people decide if it’s for them or not. By the number of people there, it’s for far more than you think. They enjoy themselves, so when in New Orleans, there are so many ways to enjoy yourself you needn’t bother with that scene, there are countless others. And using a Disney version as a comparison? Really? You did that? Then you’ll be sorely disappointed about Paris and Munich as well. Wow.
This is someone’s personal blog, expressing his personal observations, personal experiences, and personal perspectives. This is not journalism. He’s not a journalist and doesn’t work for a newspaper or magazine. What are you even talking about? Do you even know what a blog or personal website are? Perhaps you don’t understand the difference. How sad that you can’t differentiate between the two.
This is unfortunate. As a new orleans native, I hate that it has become that way in the quarter, but I agree it has. Tourists have come to think of the quarter as another Vegas which is not what it used to be, so they act like nasty fools when in NOLA. But you’re right, there’s so much more to the city and I hope other prospective tourists understand that. Mardi Gras is very much a giant FAMILY party… as long as you’re not in the quarter. 🙂 your article is well done!
I lived in New Orleans as a contractor for 6 months after Katrina hit. Back then the only thing alive was the French quarter as it really wasn’t in bad shape from the hurricane. The rest of the city was abandoned, but I fell in love with city. It’s Authentic and doesn’t care what the rest think. The food is incredible and the people are the epitome of southern hospitality. Anyway, the Mardi Gras celebrating starts a good week and a half before Mardi Gras with parades all over the city. I found many places in the French Quarter to experience the culture outside of Bourbon. It’s probably changed a lot since I lived there but I’ll never forget it. I travel a lot around the country and New Orleans will always have a special place in my heart.
What’s a jazz kitchen?
You shouldn’t be mildly embarrassed.. you should be ridiculously embarrassed. You are a travel writer and you had no idea how seedy the French Quarter is? You think it’s bad now? You should have seen classic Bourbon Street. Those bars filled with rowdy, drunk tourists.. yeah, those were peep shows, burlesque houses, and strip clubs with open doors.. not like Hustler Club or Rick’s Cabaret where a large door man lets you in and directs you to the person charging admittance.. the dancers were on the street corner beckoning you in with “no cover, only 1 drink minimum”. You have seen the updated “tourist version” of the French Quarter that it transformed into during the 90s after the economy of New Orleans tanked with the US petroleum industry.
Did you think New Orleans was gonna be like The Princess and The Frog? Come on man you can’t go to like the #1 party street in the country at midnight and expect people to be not partying. Would you go to Vegas and expect people to not be gambling or Skid Row and expect people to not be using heroin, or Portland and expect there to not be dirty hippies? You had some Disney 1920’s version of New Orleans in your mind and unfortunately this is real life. There are still places that exist in the city like that but you wont find them at midnight in the French quarter.
Did you get out of the airport in any of those 100+ countries you’ve been to? You sound like a sheltered teenager experiencing the real world for the first time.
Over 8,000 articles in the LALF archives including many stories from my travels. Have a browse through the archives. Let me know if there are any specific countries I can point you to.
Matt- you’re article is 100% accurate- I lived in Nola for over 25 years and finally had enough and moved out of state- while it breaks my heart to see what has happened there, it’s not getting better, in fact it is worse now than ever before. My blood, sweat, and tears run through her streets, and as a retired 1st responder, who also went through Katrina, I feel I have the authority to state my opinions here.
My friends are terrified to leave their homes and Nola is in the top ten in THE WORLD- for violence and murders. The police are leaving in droves because it’s that bad to live and work there- in fact, 11 left this week and almost 125 this year. Only a tad over 800 cops left from the top down and some districts might only have one officer working.
The incompetence, corruption, and cronyism has destroyed what Nola was. It will take nothing short of a miracle to bring her back to her glory.
I moved to Milwaukee this year and man, you want to talk about a great city?!?! Everything there is to love about Nola, and a lot more. Add Mke to your list of places to visit- you won’t be disappointed- promise.
You should have spent your time at Ricks Cabernet. It rocks!! Full of weed, prostitutes, and naked dancers! I understand if your overly sensitive from never being around gangs and violence. You should probably go check out the Center for Kids Who can’t Read Good.
Don’t let the replies bother you. They just don’t like tourists in Nola. Be thankful you don’t have your picture posted. It’s a violent and crime ridden city. I love going to Nola but I’m gangster AF.
Just a very narrow view of a complex and dazzling and sometimes maddening district. Try the New Orleans Historic Collection, the galleries of Frank Relle, Chris Antieou or Cathy Rose. Clubs like Fritzels Jazz. Restaurants like Redfish, Revolution, Or legit Vodou mentors on Rampart and St Claude. Embark on a streetcar up St. Charles or to City Park. Say hello to local celebs like Ato the cockatoo, or Touchdown Jesus. I hardly think Nola is the only town where you’ll smell weed. Put on yr big boy travel pants, stop whining. And judging.
Bourbon Street Rocks!!!!
You guys should probably take it easy on this guy. The purpose of New Orleans is to keep tourists from coming back. Especially journalist. It leaves more weed and prostitutes for me. Woohoo!
Oh, bless your heart, Mr. Klint. You clearly missed a wonderful opportunity to enjoy some of the best hospitality and cultural arts, music, and food in the world in New Orleans, Louisiana. All due to your own poor planning and lack of research. And yet you insist to persist to lack good sense and good manners to apologize for offending us here. You’ve unfairly maligned in your poorly written blog post our whole city, when you admittedly visited a street in an hour one time. But as a Southerner, Mr. Klint, I can tell you with all sincerity, that you are welcome back anytime
Excuse me but I’m from New Orleans and just got carjacked in the East with over 50 bullets fired at me. The city has become the murder capital, police quitting daily, lead by a stupid mayor and run by the thugs. New Orleans sucks and is drowning in drugs, murders and stupidity
Hi all/hey y’all, my name is Evan and I just got off a shift at Preservation Hall, where I work as a concert assistant. Pres is half a block off of Bourbon and it is an absolute sanctuary—the artistic culmination of a city’s history of cross-cultural tolerance and communal musical ingenuity. It’s fun listening to the stories that some of the old-timers at Pres have to tell about the Quarter. Today’s version apparently doesn’t hold a candle to the 1970’s version, or the 1800’s version, for that matter. NOLA has historically been an enclave of liberalism and debauchery in an otherwise conservative Southern US. It’s where rich Southerners have gotten their freak on for 100’s of years. And the same goes today. All of the writers observations are accurate! It’s not for everyone, and the Quarter is truly a tourist-centric district, and all kinds of folks are out to make a buck (just like everyone everywhere). Most of the cuisine in the Quarter is watered down to appeal to the masses, for sure. But if you open your heart and ears and mouth you will likely find something inspiring under the surface of this very gritty, complex and compelling city. The Quarter’s not an easy area to swallow, but it’s medicine for the soul vis-a-vis its outlandish humanity, and it exists to serve tourists, so is predicated on tourists’ tastes and capacity for spending. It has unique evolutionary pressures that have shaped its offerings over the years. But enough BS—Laissez les bons temps rouler!
I doubt if your average New Orleanian knows enough history to understand that the leftist take down of America is derived directly from the Mao Cultural Revolution playbook. We’ve been socially engineered by Hollywood, low level globalist stooges in the entertainment industry and the Chinese owned universities around the country to comprehend what’s happening to America and our communities. The basics are to create psychological weaknesses by purging remnants of tradition, history and capitalistic elements in society (COVID, BLM, ANTIFA are the tools) then replacing them with brainwashed youth brigades who do the globalist’s violent dirty work of maintaining a chaotic atmosphere. The COVID scam is the muscle to bring in full spectrum dominance by the authorities. When you have an Aspen Institute alumni in the form of a Mayor Latoya Cantrell and ex-Mayor Mitch Landrieu, the future of New Orleans is indeed dismal as is America’s if we don’t stand up to this tyranny now!
By the way, Latoya Cantrell’s boss is the globalist Walter Isaccson who was the ex-director of the Aspen Institute and is now conveniently on the faculty of Tulane University.
Meet Walter Isaacson: https://tulane.edu/walter-isaacson-biography
Matthew, I am going to deviate a bit because the rest of the things you said already took a life of their own (heaven help us all! I wouldn’t have enjoyed the things you didn’t either!). That said, “NEARLY” all the states? Seriously? I need to know which ones you are missing!
Sincerely, Suz who finished them all last year but is behind you on countries 🙂
Since you make a few comments about your “Full New Orleans Travel Report” I read the whole thing. Out of 5 sections, 2 are reviewing the airport lounges. If that’s what you think is worth reviewing, you had no business showing up here anyway. For the exception of Cafe du Monde, everything you mentioned was some outside NOLA company just making a buck off of being here. I’ve never heard of you but if all of your work is this superficial, I don’t need to know anymore. This is LA, not L.A.
Right? For someone who is apparently seasoned and had high expectations of what he wanted to experience, did Matthew do zero research on things to experience in the Quarter? On where to find “jazz kitchens”, whatever those are?
I think he spent more time at the airport than the city. It’s a nice airport. It’s also in Kenner. If that’s the type of vibe you want, enjoy the lounge. Don’t expect the rest of the city, which is NOT a purpose built pleasuredome for tourists, but an actual functioning (well, pretty dysfunctional) CITY to rise up and meet your needs. Now, if you’re interested in paying our hospitality workers to take care of you, and our musicians to serenade you, and our tour guides to teach you what the actual architecture is in the Quarter, then you will be amazed at what we can provide. But the people of New Orleans owe you personally, one of many millions of travelers each year, absolutely nothing. No matter how many air miles you’ve stashed or what credit cards are in your wallet or how many other places around our planet you have checked off your list like some perverse in-game accomplishment.
Dude goes to Bourbon Street and thinks that he’s got his finger in the pulse of the French Quarter. Wow are you misinformed. I’ve smelled a lot more weed in a lot of other places. Did you miss, you know, the music? The restaurants? The history? The culture? French Quarter Fest is one of the greatest annual events anywhere. The people are friendly, the music flows, everyone smiles.
Congratulations you learned what every local already knows, the French Quarter is a party scene for tourists. And it’s never disguised itself as anything else.
“Instead, I encountered quite a different experience when I went out for a MIDNIGHT walk through the French Quarter.”
….after midnight.What the hell did you expect?Not during business hours or normal hours of the I’m of the mind state you wanted to find a prostitute.Who goes to a new city after midnight and judge the environment based off of that.
BREAKING NEWS: Man travels to area world renowned for partying, shocked to discover people partying. More at 11.
You do not know what a Creole cottage is; you have described an Italianate revival building and called it a “Creole cottage.” New Orleans’ architecture is lovely and fascinating; you know nothing about it. I pity you.
Please do.
Mr. Klint,
You are a travel writer ?
Where have you been ? No, Cleaveland doesn’t count (Sorry, Cleaveland. )But I do want to thank you. This 70 something , and three others ( native New Orlenians) went to the Quarter and walked Bourbon Street . Darling , was there a breeze the evening you were there ? Could it have been blow back or perhaps your aftershave ? We three from the hippee era didn’t smell much but coppertone and Jax Beer. Having raised three , now adults , my sniffer has been tested by the best . No, haven’t had Covid , either. But ,darling , you are welcomed back anytime to experience the real New Orleans. The saving grace ? We had lunch at Antoine’s, and it was delicious, darling. Sorry you missed it …
Les bon temps roulez !
I’m so glad you liked it. Debauchery is not my thing.
“World traveler” whose perception of New Orleans was shaped by Disneyworld! Clearly the author did not venture off Bourbon Street to explore the real gem that is the French Quarter. Bye bye male Karen. Lease do us a favor and don’t come back
OMG…..what a shallow review.! The history….the music…. the food. New Orleans is like it’s own country. Nothing compares. It’s not for the faint of heart…..quirky and crazy 24-7. That’s what makes it special. There’s a super sense of community in its many neighborhoods. All are accepted and everyone is ageless. Stop in a neighborhood bar and young and old are partying together. Hoping to grow old soon n Nola ….. let the good times roll!
Laissez les bons temps rouler…but I’ll avoid Bourbon Street next time…
Born, raised + still live in NOLA. Locals haven’t Frequent FQ in years..decades. Only some younger locals go there for Carnival. It’s out of towners, the tourist , strippers, whores, gutter punks, college kids, trafficers that are who you describe + who ruined the FQ for us. Forever FQ until the decline, was the only intact US city with very old historical district that still has large local residence population. There was no ‘show me your … ‘ + debachuary until after Mardi Gras floats were banned in 1974 from FQ. Tbe blunt factual truth of the decades of decline + enablers of all those people from elsewhere has been since NO become a majority black population who tolerate incompetent + corrupt black leaders, je Mayor Cantrel, that have allowed T-shirt shops + strip clubs to replace jazz clubs + traditional classy stripper clubs..+ worst to tolerate the black thug pimps, dealers, husslers, robbers, gangsters on + on.neglected police recruiting + not let cops, do their job to run all of the thugs + anybody else that isnt there to peacefully + legally party. We resent all that ruined the FQ + the entire city. You think FQ bad, go to NO East, 7th Ward, Central City. There is no läw. Gangs of black teens in their hoodies with AK47s roam all over terrorizing..with zero consequences ..with race card Cantrel holding murderous worthless black teen’s händ v+ shunning dissing the white victim..Thats the uncomfortable truth of why Not just FQ but the whole city is, saddly, a?declining cess pool