Gone are the days when all I thought about before a visit to the Bayou State was a stroll down Bourbon Street. Nowadays, there’s another side—many new and emerging sides, in fact—to vibrant New Orleans, a metro that has drastically reinvented itself since Katrina. So much so that its new nickname could be “Louisiana’s Capital of Cool.”
Within hours of arriving on a recent trip to NOLA, I found myself checking out the roads less traveled, walking through warehouse neighborhoods on the way to places like Cochon, a hip dining establishment with a gorgeous brick-enveloped private dining establishment upstairs called Calcasieu. At Cochon, I dug into pig cheeks and other interesting on-trend dishes before sampling some of the treats at Cochon’s adjacent Butcher, a colorful barbecue joint and gift shop where many of the pickled creations the kitchen produces can be purchased, along with cookbooks and other items, all of which make for ideal attendee gifts.
A stroll down the street led me to the World War II Museum, one of the city’s awesome off-sites. Here, groups can gather under impressive vintage aircraft suspended from the soaring ceilings and check out experiences such as a simulated excursion in a submarine, where each person plays a role in saving the vessel from an attack.
Meanwhile, another food outing led me to Dominique’s, where hand-crafted cocktails, locally inspired cuisine and a secret back garden patio with minimalist furnishings, a white brick backdrop and aeroponic towers where the chef grows herbs and vegetables made for an attractive group setting.
Venturing into one of New Orleans’ other emerging districts—the Bywater—via a bright orange balloon-tire bike was a highlight of the trip. This once down-trodden area of the city is a growing hub for artists, entrepreneurs and other creative types, and it’s just the right amount of hipster cool. Whether attendees are looking for a place to check out after the meeting adjourns or small groups want to venture into a super unique district, the Bywater is the new ticket. Places like Booty’s Street Food can host small events, while stumbling upon a Spanish wine tasting at Bachannal, a cute wine shop/restaurant with a backyard and live music, was a treat and certainly worthy of a small-group visit.
Meanwhile, anyone wishing to venture off-the-beaten-Bourbon-Street path will find the Faubourg-Marigny to be one of the most authentic experiences of New Orleans, without the touristy distractions. Impromptu second lines are not uncommon, and live music resonates from every establishment along the main avenue. One top venue is the Spotted Cat, where a performance by Meschiya Lake stole the show.
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Slideshow
Check out an On the Scene slideshow from the trip highlighting some of the areas explored.
