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I ate so much Wonderful Food in New Orleans I needed a new Wardrobe

By Madelyn Miller, the TravelLady

I thought of calling this article The Non-Dieter’s Guide to New Orleans.

Everyone knows New Orleans is one of the best restaurant cities in the world. And after gazing through guidebooks and asking foodie friends, I assembled a list of great dining places and planned the perfect gourmet trip.

I did too good a job.

Within a day or so,  all my waistlines were getting tight (and my travel clothes have elastic waists just so I don’t have this problem). But the fabulous fish, superb sauces, irresistible chocolate desserts, bread puddings, banana foster and more…and even more, were just too much.

I realized I would never make it through the week without new clothes.

Since this was not in the original budget, I had to get creative. One thing I am good at is improvising.  So I went to the phone book, internet and asked savvy locals for the best deals in dressing for less.

Here is what I found—my own little (or should I say big) black book of where to get the best pre-loved and bargain clothes.

I love my new wardrobe and spent less than the cost of dinner for two with wine at a top restaurant.

Where To Shop

On the Other Hand
8204 Oak Street
504-861-0159
This wonderful store has great displays, some vintage, some new, some consignment, and an overall blend of stuff that almost anyone is bound to find something they love at a price they can afford. And they are totally negotiable. I bought a sheer black embroidered jacket that was fairly marked $22 for only $10. Perfect for a gala, and a fabric that will not wrinkle, so it will go on other trips when I have over-eating emergencies. A good selection of plus sizes

Bloomin Deals Junior League
4645 Freret (closed Monday) open 10-5:15
504-897-9128
This is one of the best second hand stores I have ever found. I bought a great moiré silk scarf for $1, a two piece black satin evening set for $12 (all formal wear is $12) and a Vivian Tan sleeveless dress from Ann Taylor for $3. Other bargains were men’s ties for $2. (I collect travel ties for an important man in my life)

Encore Symphony Resale Dress Shop
7814 Maple Street (closed Monday) open 11-4.
504-861-9026
This store has more traditional clothes and a very good selection of business suits and dresses. The quality is top notch and the prices are fair, but not as cheap as Junior League.

New to You Designer
2311 Veteran’s Blvd.
The displays in this store were so great, and the clothes looked so up-to-date, that I was not sure I was in a second hand store. The friendly, fashionable owner explained she bought some things directly from stores, and had lots of new accessories. I spent the most money here—buying a Chico’s silk blouse for $32 and a new Rayon dress from Bali with a matching coat for $25.

Bridge House #2
2724 Jefferson Highway  10:30 to 7pm
504-830-4596
Although I thought much of the merchandise here looked a little worn and out of date, I did find a two piece Chico’s black traveler’s set for $12 and grabbed it. Which shows you have to look carefully in places like this because you never know when or where you will find a treasure.

Salvation Army
100 Jefferson
This is a superstore with lots of good merchandise that is well organized by color. It is easy to find things and the prices are terrific. I bought three things here, spending less than $20. On Wednesday, clothes and linens are half price

Salvation Army
9661 Chef Menteur Highway
504-243-5000
Good prices which are even better on Wednesday when clothes and linens are half price. They is a glitzy boutique, so this would be a good place to look for evening gowns.

My Favorite Things
3116 N. Arnoult  Closed Monday  Open 10-5
This consignment store had a lot of my favorite things—jewelry, jewelry, jewelry.  The clothes were nice, but there were no deals here to write home about. I doubt I would come back again.

Family Thrift
Crowder and Morrison  8454 Morrison 10-6
504-246-5915
Very inexpensive. But you need to be a serious shopper who likes to dig to enjoy this place.  Does not take credit cards.

Funkey Monkey
3127 Magazine St.
11am -6pm
Mostly younger, junior clothes

Prima Donna’s Closet
1218 St. Charles and plus sizes at 1206 St. Charles
I was very excited by the 50% off sign in the window. I was not excited by the prices. They seemed to have many new things and samples priced at double retail. So they were still not a bargain, even at half off. I left after about ten minutes with no new acquisitions.
There was some nice jewelry, but that was not half off, and the prices were no deal. I would not consider this a discount store.

Shopping Philosophy

Chip, a jewelry designer whose work I admired at Jazzy Jewelry told me that the New Orleans Rule of Thumb is that if you leave the City and anything fits, you’ve done something wrong—probably not enough eating or drinking.

For More Information

Helpful Website
www.neworleanscvb.com
www.neworleansonline.com

Where To Stay
Chateau Sonesta Hotel New Orleans
800 Iberville Street
New Orleans, LA 70112 504-586-0800
800-SONESTA
http://www.sonesta.com/neworleans_chateau/

Renaissance Arts Hotel
700 Tchoupitoulas Street
New Orleans, Louisiana 70130 USA
Phone:   1-504-613-2330
Fax:   1-504-613-2331
Toll-free:   1-800-431-8634

What I Wish I Had Known Before I Went To New Orleans
There are two kinds of people who go to New Orleans, those who want to party and those who don’t. If you don’t plan to stay up all night, be sure to express that preference when you check in and request a quiet room, perhaps on a courtyard. Or consider staying outside the quarter if you value a good night’s sleep.

I stayed at a to-be-nameless hotel (not in either of the two hotels recommended above) in the quarter and called down to the front desk because of all the noise. They were prepared. They sent up earplugs. That was not enough. Two sleeping pills and six hours later, I learned there was a long list of people who wanted to change rooms. I waited (and slept) all day in my room waiting for another room, wanting to be sure not to loose my place on that special list. The helpful front desk person told me that more people than usual had called down to complain the night before.

Best Places To Eat
This is a list of where I ate. No calorie counts given to defend the innocent. And you can read more about them in my reviews of the individual restaurants.

Restaurant August (I had to put this at the top of the list, even though officially the name starts with R because it was my very favorite. The rest of the restaurants are listed alphabetically)
301 Tchoupitoulas St at Gravier
504-299-9777
www.rest-august.com/

Bacco
310 Chartres Street 
504-522-2426
www.bacco.com

Cobalt
333 Saint Charles Ave at Perdido
504-565-5595
www.cobaltrestaurant.com

Galatoire’s
209 Bourbon Street at Iberville
504-525-2021
www.galatoires.com

Herbsaint
701-St. Charles Ave. at Girod
504-524-4114
www.Herbsaint.com

La Côte Brasserie
700 Tchoupitoulas Street
New Orleans, LA 70130 (Arts District)
Reservations 504.613.2350
Fax 504.613.2364
www.lacotebrasserie.com
http://www.travellady.com/Issues/April05/1366ChiliChick.htm

Muriel’s
801 Chartres St. at St. Ann
504-568-1885
www.muriels.com

Ralph’s on the Park
900 City Park Avenue at Dumaine Street
504-488-1000
www.ralphsonthepark.com

Rene Bistrot
817 Common St at Carondelet
504-412-2580
www.renebistrot.com

Red Fish Grill
115 Bourbon Street
New Orleans, Louisiana 70130
(504) 598-1200
www.redfishgrill.com

Upperline
1413 Upperline st at Prytania
504-891-9822
www.upperline.com

Best Place To Get Online For Free
201 St. Charles in the food court Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm

Great Guidebooks
Feet On The Street
Rambles Around New Orleans
By Roy Blount, Jr.
Crown Journeys
www.randomhouse.com

Insight Guides New Orleans
From Discovery Channel
www.insightguides.com

Access New Orleans
HarperResource/Access Press
www.harpercollins.com

New Orleans
Eyewitness Travel Guides
Over 700 pictures
DK PUBLISHING
WWW.dk.com

Eating New Orleans
From French Quarter Creole Dining to the Perfect Poboy
By Pableaux Johnson
Countryman Press
www.countrymanpress.com

2005 New Orleans Restaurants
With bonus Nightlife section
ZagatSurvey
www.zagat.com

Stories In Stone: A Field Guide to Cemetery Symbolism and Iconography
Written and photographed by Douglas Keister
Dead men may tell no tales, but their tombstones do—and now there is a book that will help anyone become an expert on just what it is they are trying to tell us. Graveyard tours and funerary architecture are HUGE in New Orleans so you may want to study up.
Gibbs Smith, Pubisher
www.gibbs-smith.com

Helpful Map
MAPQUEST NEW ORLEANS City Map . This large scale detailed street map folds up to 2”x3”

I’ll Drink To That
The Museum of the American Cocktail is dedicated to providing education in mixology and preserving the rich history of the American Cocktail. The exhibit is on display at the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum at 514 Chartres Street, now through September 2005- over two hundred years of cocktail memorabilia from the outstanding collections of the founders.

Best Walking Tour
The Scandals Tour

Another Great Tour
Since July of 2004, City Segway Tours has been gliding through the city of New Orleans offering a new way for tourists and residents to visit the popular historical sites of this fabulous city. The 3-4 hour tour begins at the golden Joan of Arc statue in front of the office, then heads to Governor Nicholls Street Wharf before moving along the riverfront through Woldenberg Park to the Aquarium of the Americas and Harrah's Casino. Riders then take the ferry across the river to Algiers Point, glide down the Jazz Walk of Fame to visit Mardi Gras World and through the streets of Algiers. The tour crosses the river again, heads down the Riverwalk to end back at the Joan of Arc statue.

If you are not familiar with the Segway HT, it is the first self-balancing, electric-powered transporter designed to enhance the productivity of people by increasing the distance they travel and the amount they can carry. The Segway HT uses a breakthrough technology called dynamic stabilization, enabling it to work seamlessly with the body's movements. It operates in any pedestrian environment and is perfect for City Segway Tour purposes.

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