What makes New Orleans magical? The answer is million-fold, and undoubtedly has something to do with the rich culture, history, and experiences that seem to spring from every nook and cranny. I’ve heard of Jazz Fest goers who came down for a weekend and stayed twenty years. I once met a priest who visited New Orleans on a missionary trip, and met his wife-to-be on a chance walk through Audubon Park. Suffice it to say that he’s no longer a priest and he never returned to whatever city he was living in before.
This week, I sat down with Kristy Muniz, a New York City based writer and world-traveler who visited New Orleans for the second time earlier this year, and once again left enchanted. She gave me the scoop on what exactly made her stay so exhilarating and what visitors MUST see when they come down to the Big Easy.
Like all NOLA lovers, Kristy had a few great stories she penned for the online travel magazine, This Boundless World, that had some spellbinding NOLA moments. Here’s her take on what you need to do and see in New Orleans to find that magic:
The Maple Leaf bar is known for local, funky, live music. Photo by Kristy Muniz
1.) Maple Leaf Bar – When Kristy ventured out for a night on the town, she hadn’t even heard of the Maple Leaf. In fact, she was enjoying a drink at d.b.a. with what she described was a kind old man when he said, “Do want to go to a club where the locals are?”
In true New Orleans style, her generous acquaintance guided her to the Maple Leaf, a small bar tucked away off the streetcar line in Uptown New Orleans. It was the night before Thanksgiving, the bar was packed, the Neville Brothers were on stage, and when Kristy turned to talk to the quaint old man that so kindly guided her there, he was on stage, playing the saxophone.
What Kristy didn’t know was that she had stumbled upon two of the best music venues in town, and was in the company of one of the city’s great musicians!
It turned out that her newfound friend was Dickie Landry, a world-famous saxophone player who has performed with Bob Dylan and Philip Glass, among others.
2.) Audubon Park – With century-old oak trees, gorgeous walking trails, and a murky lagoon that is rumored to be inhabited by alligators, Audubon Park is perfect for a taste of the southern outdoors.
Located on Magazine Street, Guy's Po-Boys is perfect for takeout. Photo by Kristy Muniz
Kristy spent a good chunk of time grabbing takeout and Bloody Mary’s from the various eateries on Magazine Street and strolling over the park to soak in the view of New Orleans nature.
Her suggestion: stop by Guy’s Po-Boys for takeout, and then meander down to the park for a scenic picnic.
3.) The Columns Hotel – An unknowing visitor might mistake this hotel and bar for the wealthy home of a party-loving socialite. After all, The Columns resides on St. Charles Avenue, a street known for its grandiose homes and there are always throngs of party goers sipping cocktails on the front porch.
Proclaimed as “one of the top ten sexiest places on Earth” by Details Magazine, The Columns is open to anyone who wants to experience old-world charm, architectural splendor, and 15 foot ceilings. This was one of Kristy’s favorite places in all of New Orleans (and mine too!) specifically because of the “romantic and Victorian” atmosphere.
“There is nothing I can say to sum up how breathtaking this place actually is,” said Kristy. “If you don’t visit it at least once on your journey you are truly missing out on something special.”
The infamous 25-cent martini served during lunch at Commander's Palace. Photo by Kristy Muniz
4.) Commander’s Palace – The secret’s out: Commander’s serves 25-cent martinis during lunch. That’s not the only reason why Kristy loved the Restaurant’s 100+ plus years of perfected cooking, it’s located in the gorgeous Garden District, an area full of mansions, oak trees, and crumbling cemeteries.
Yes, cemeteries. You might go to New York City to see the Statue of Liberty, but you come to New Orleans to see famous burial tombs and elegant sculptures. The cemetery near Commander’s that Kristy had a lovely wander through is called Lafayette Cemetery Number 1, located at 1400 Washington Avenue.
Where do YOU find magic in New Orleans? Let us know in the comments!
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