Frenchman Street

Newcomers to New Orleans often get misled into thinking that thehedonistic, touristy and bodily fluid-littered cesspool of BourbonStreet is the quintessential New Orleans late-night hot spot. Thetruth is that most locals develop a pretty hefty aversion to thissinful section of the Quarter and tend to search out more authenticand less sleazy locales in lieu of the strip clubs and dollar beersof Bourbon.

Fortunately, one doesn’t have to travel very far to escape thisbarbarism. Frenchmen Street is only a short walk away and boastssome of the best live entertainment in the city. Home of the famousSnug Harbor, where Ellis Marsallis is a regular, the street is oneof the best places to see traditional New Orleans Jazz on any givennight. Frenchmen Street, however, does not limit itself to clubs ofone genre or style.

The Maison is a relatively recent addition to the Frenchmencircuit and has hosted everything from New Orleans brass bands to??ber-hip rap outfit Das Racist to major local DJs such as thelegendary Mannie Fresh. This musical diversity allows for asingularly pleasant and novel experience for lucky pedestrianswandering the street. There is no need for a game plan when out onFrenchmen Street, as a casual stroll alongside its numerous clubsand bars will inevitably lead to one of these low-priced musicalhavens.

Frenchmen Street clubs don’t really require the assistance ofschedules and flyers to pull people in. The diverse andjive-inducing tunes blaring up and down the street are alluringenough all on their own.

– Sam Abramowitz

Audubon Park & Audubon Zoo

A hop, skip and jump from the stately steps of Gibson Hall,across the traffic lanes and streetcar lines of St. Charles Avenue,you will happen upon the oasis of Audubon Park. Rife with historyand recreation, the park has been a sanctuary for Tulane studentssince the late 19th century.

There’s nothing quite like walking between the two augustcolumns that flank the pathway to the handsome fountain that adornsthe park’s entrance way. Beyond that, the choice is all yours.Mount your bike or put on your running shoes for a few laps aroundthe 2-mile paved track that provides a circle around the park. Youcan also get a little more extreme and take the unpaved, longertrail that hugs the border of the park. If you’re one for thelinks, Audubon also has an impressive golf course.

If you’re more in the mood to relax, stroll to Audubon after along day of class, admire the scenery, breath in the late afternoonair, soak up the setting sun that filters through the live oaks andSpanish moss, or sit in one of the gazebos and make some newfriends.

If you go a little farther just across Magazine Street, you willfind the Audubon Zoo, which, like the park itself, is named for NewOrleans artist and naturalist John James Audubon. If the wild birdsof the park don’t satiate your taste for animal encounters, the zoois for you. It boasts 58 acres and 2,000 animals, most notable ofwhich are the legendary white tigers and white alligators. TheAudubon Zoo is open every Tuesday to Sunday, except Mardi Gras,Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Go farther still and you’ll encounter a place you’ll returnagain and again. On the far end of Audubon Park, right on the bankof the Mighty Mississippi is the much-discussed Fly, a spot whereyou’ll have some of the best moments of your time at Tulane. Namedfor a short-lived, butterfly-shaped river gazebo erected in the1960’s only to be demolished in the 1980s, the Fly is a great placeto spend a Saturday with good friends and a stocked cooler.

This is just the beginning. Go discover Audubon Park foryourself. Everyone has their favorite reading bench, their favoritelittle variation on the trails and their own secret spot that noone else knows about. The park lives and breathes just like therest of this city.

– Connor Crawford

The Camellia Grill

At the corner of St. Charles and Carrollton avenues, just a fewstreetcar stops from Tulane, lies one of New Orleans’ most distinctand iconic restaurants, The Camellia Grill. This counter-serviceonly diner serves up some of the finest burgers, omelettes,sandwiches and breakfast foods Uptown. Not to mention the Freezes,a milkshake-like frozen beverage available in several flavors.

Since its inception in the 1940s, Camellia has been an iconicspot in Uptown New Orleans. Closed after Hurricane Katrina, itreopened in 2007 and has been going strong ever since. Touristscram into streetcars just for a taste of the Chef’s SpecialOmelette: a massive mound of egg, cheese, bacon, ham, onion andFrench fries, topped with chili. It is truly a sight to see. Due toits popularity among both locals and tourists, The Camellia Grillis often crowded with lines out the door. Fear not, as it does agood job of moving people through, and the food is well worth thewait.

Camellia is known not only for its food, but also for itsservice, which is fast and friendly, to say the least. Calling theCamellia wait-staff friendly is like calling Ice Cube a sellout; itjust doesn’t do the word justice. The staff is always ready with afist-bump and a kind word. Chat it up with them if you get a chanceto and you won’t regret it.

The Camellia Grill is open from 8 a.m. to midnight Monday toThursday and from 8 a.m.-2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays, the CamelliaGrill is the perfect spot, whether you’re searching for a heartybreakfast or a late-night burger to help offset all the beer.

– Hud Coley

Martinique Bistro

Martinique Bistro is on Magazine Street, about a 30-minute walkfrom campus if you walk through Audobon Park. It’s sort of hiddenbut is surprisingly fancy, in the vein of other out of sight yetupscale New Orleans restaurants like Gautreau’s. Dress nicely whenyou go.

The restaurant is small, simple and features both outdoor andindoor seating. It serves fresh, hot bread and butter before yourmeal and offers light salads and other appetizers, whetting thetaste buds without filling you up. The dishes are typical NewOrleans fare with a nice, tasteful touch. Offerings include allsorts of seafood, steak, chicken and duck, as well as vegetariandishes to ensure the epicurean delight of all customers. The menuis always changing, keeping regulars on their toes and indicatingthe chefs’ commitment to fresh and exciting local ingredients.

Last time I went, I ordered a crabmeat salad to start, followedby their special of the day, shrimp and grits mixed with goatcheese. I sat outside with my mom and soaked in the atmosphere ofstone and vines, complete with live acoustic guitar music. It wasnothing short of lovely.

I only go to Martinique when my parents visit. It’s fairlypricey, and my college budget doesn’t quite allow for extraneouslyfancy dining on a regular basis. Despite the cost, the restaurantoffers a unique, quaint setting and delicious food without beingoverly pretentious.

– Liz Mardkis