New Orleans Tours

Can I buy a glass pipe on Bourbon Street in New Orleans if I’m 17?

I am going this spring break and I was wondering if I would be able to get one

=)

Can I buy a glass pipe on Bourbon Street in New Orleans if I’m 17?

I am going this spring break and I was wondering if I would be able to get one

=)

Album reviews: Disintegration, by The Cure

The Cure possess a unique kind of brilliance. There is no other band in the history of music that managed to bridge the gap between the punk and the pop with such sentimentality and sadness causing a global chain reaction of melancholy, gloom and euphoric lament in millions of fans. With their dominant, melodic bass lines and the high-pitched vocals of Robert Smith that echo a lyrical obsession with fictional gloom, The Cure mingle the psychedelic, punk, dark Gothic, and pop sounds into an amagalm of what becomes their sound manner.

There is arguably no other album in the history of music that served as a breaking point to a band, offering the peak of their popularity with crawling, glooming,  seductive sounds, hypnotic, mesmerizing vocals and utterly straightforward lyrics. Despite the record label’s qualms that the album would be a ‘commercial suicide’, ‘Disintegration’, released in 1989, is The Cure’s return to the familiar paths of introspective gloominess; and their absolute masterpiece.

Having reached a state of maturity, in their eighth album The Cure experiment with a dark and yet alluring atmosphere that wraps its spellbinding thread around desire, unreciprocated romance, break ups and tainted love. Gloomier than The Cure’s pop release ‘Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me’ of 1987, yet more pop than The Cure’s early eighties releases ‘Faith’ and Pornography’, ‘Disintegration’ stands somewhere in the middle. Full of teenage romanticism, melancholic angst, and creative gloom, ‘Disintegration’ is a pop album that treats torment as a finest art.

Characterized by a momentous usage of synthesizers and keyboards, monotonous guitar riffs and Smith’s meditative vocals, the album opens with ‘Plainsong’, a slow orchestral shower of synths and guitars. Then, ‘Pictures of You’ with its ethereal guitar melody and well-structured synths echoes Smith’s lament over a bittersweet taste of relationship that ended abruptly. Although upbeat, ‘Pictures of You’ has emotional, passionate and romantic lyrics that interweave with bass lines and synth slabs.

‘Closedown’ and ‘Prayers For Rain’ drift on layers of keyboards anchored by gloomy guitar progressions. ‘Closedown’ is a soaring track, reflecting Smith’s physical and artistic shortcomings, while ‘Prayers for Rain’ is an ultimately depressing track that echoes the definition of a rainy day melancholy.

‘Lovesong’ is the only top ten hit of the album and maybe the more complex of all tracks. Despite being an upbeat groove, with dance guitar riffs and rhythm sections, ‘Lovesong’ is, in effect, dark and restrained, an open show of emotion. It’s a straightforward love song, which, unlike Smith’s ability to reveal affection, it manages to shake the audiences. Written as a wedding present for his wife-to-be, ‘Lovesong’ simply proves that straightforward emotions can achieve much more than indistinct and ambiguous language.

‘Lullaby’ is an atmospheric track with rhythmic guitar chords that anchor Smith’s whispering lyrics. Practically a frightening dread that describes a picture of being eaten alive by a spider man, ‘Lullaby’ portrays Smith’s nightmares from his childhood when his father used to sing him lullabies with horrible endings.

‘Fascination Street’ comes as a happier, shinier, yet bass-lined, caterwauled track anchored with Smith’s typical alley cat voice singing of corrupt Bourbon Street in New Orleans. After 1.5 minute instrumental intro, the track enters at a fast-pace, with simple, repetitive lyrics and Smith’s voice building in intensity as the track strides to the grand finale, giving one last shout before toppling into a sleepy roan.

The title track, ‘Disintegration’ is a hymn in betrayed love and a typical example of the musical style of the album that drifts on ubiquitous keyboards, repetitive guitar progressions, complex drum patterns and depressing lyrics that are so intricate, and yet so simple. If one has a heart cannot but be touched as Robert Smith sings “I leave you with photographs, pictures of trickery, stains on the carpet and stains on the memory, songs about happiness murmured in dreams, when we both of us knew, how the end always is…’

The tracks that complete the album are ‘Last dance’, ‘The Same Deep Water As You’, ‘Homesick’ and ‘Untitled’. Staying tuned to the album’s style, with the exception of ‘Untitled’ that is quite upbeat, are atmospheric, almost gothic ballads that mingle keyboard slabs with guitar lines and multipart drum patterns, interweaved with the introspective lyrics of Robert Smith.

Having sold more than three million copies worldwide, ‘Disintegration’ remains the highest selling album of The Cure. Besides, the album ranked #3 in the UK Albums charts and #12 in the US Billboard 200. The album produced also hit singles with ‘Lovesong’ reaching #2 on Billboard Hot 100, ‘Lullaby’ peaking at #5 of UK Charts, ‘Fascination Street’ reaching #1 on US Modern Rock Charts and ‘Pictures of You’ reaching #24 of UK charts. Moreover, ‘Disintegration’ was voted as one of the ‘500 Greatest Albums of All Time’ on Rolling Stone Magazine at #326.

Christina Pomoni
http://www.articlesbase.com/music-articles/album-reviews-disintegration-by-the-cure-1065570.html

Going to New Orleans to watch my Saints. Gonna watchit it on Bourbon Street?

I need to find the cheapest deal ever, where can I find it, leaving in the morning of the 6th, departing in the morning of the 8th, where can i find a cheap deal?

That is the first weekend of Mardi Gras parades, so "cheapest deal ever" probably isn’t realistic.

Check travel sites like Expedia & Orbitz and also check: www.frenchquarterhotels.com

You may also want to talk to a real travel agency wherever you live.

Good luck!

Going to New Orleans to watch my Saints. Gonna watchit it on Bourbon Street?

I need to find the cheapest deal ever, where can I find it, leaving in the morning of the 6th, departing in the morning of the 8th, where can i find a cheap deal?

That is the first weekend of Mardi Gras parades, so "cheapest deal ever" probably isn’t realistic.

Check travel sites like Expedia & Orbitz and also check: www.frenchquarterhotels.com

You may also want to talk to a real travel agency wherever you live.

Good luck!

Are you grossed out when tourists in New Orleans show their boobs for plastic beads?

I don’t know a single person FROM New Orleans that has showed their boobies on Bourbon Street or anywhere else. I do however know a lot of people from the GNO suburbs that have done it.
It’s not common for "everyone" to show their boobies during Mardi Gras. You were misinformed. It’s only common for tourists and teens from the suburbs outside New Orleans.

Locals also do it. And while I don’t, I don’t find it to be so bad.

Are you grossed out when tourists in New Orleans show their boobs for plastic beads?

I don’t know a single person FROM New Orleans that has showed their boobies on Bourbon Street or anywhere else. I do however know a lot of people from the GNO suburbs that have done it.
It’s not common for "everyone" to show their boobies during Mardi Gras. You were misinformed. It’s only common for tourists and teens from the suburbs outside New Orleans.

Locals also do it. And while I don’t, I don’t find it to be so bad.

Where to go in New Orleans on New Year’s Eve?

A group of friends and I are planning a last minute trip to New Orleans. We have been there for New Year’s Eve before, we stayed around Bourbon Street and Jackson Square mostly. Are there any local bars or restaurants anyone recommends? Maybe somewhere not as crowded as Bourbon will be? Answers from locals would be great! Thanks in advance!

Try the 1100 & 1200 blocks of Decatur Street and also the Frenchmen Street area (which is just past the Esplanade Avenue border of the French Quarter). To get to the Frenchmen Street area you walk on Decatur Street heading away from Canal Street (block numbers increase) and cross Esplanade. Decatur effectively turns into Frenchmen Street just past the fire station on Esplanade.

Have an Irish Coffee for me at Molly’s (1107 Decatur Street).

This is a guide to bars & clubs - Frenchmen Street is in the Marigny section:

http://www.neworleanscheapdrinks.com/

For restaurants, try Maximo’s (1117 Decatur Street) and the Palm Court (1204 Decatur Street). Reservations are essential on NYE.

http://www.maximosgrill.com/
http://maximosgrill.blogspot.com/
http://www.palmcourtcafe.com/

Where to go in New Orleans on New Year’s Eve?

A group of friends and I are planning a last minute trip to New Orleans. We have been there for New Year’s Eve before, we stayed around Bourbon Street and Jackson Square mostly. Are there any local bars or restaurants anyone recommends? Maybe somewhere not as crowded as Bourbon will be? Answers from locals would be great! Thanks in advance!

Try the 1100 & 1200 blocks of Decatur Street and also the Frenchmen Street area (which is just past the Esplanade Avenue border of the French Quarter). To get to the Frenchmen Street area you walk on Decatur Street heading away from Canal Street (block numbers increase) and cross Esplanade. Decatur effectively turns into Frenchmen Street just past the fire station on Esplanade.

Have an Irish Coffee for me at Molly’s (1107 Decatur Street).

This is a guide to bars & clubs - Frenchmen Street is in the Marigny section:

http://www.neworleanscheapdrinks.com/

For restaurants, try Maximo’s (1117 Decatur Street) and the Palm Court (1204 Decatur Street). Reservations are essential on NYE.

http://www.maximosgrill.com/
http://maximosgrill.blogspot.com/
http://www.palmcourtcafe.com/

Are there any special events going on in New Orleans the weekend of January 22, 2010?

I have a friend coming to visit and am interested in any special events happening the weekend of January 21-24th, 2010. Also, any suggestions for fun nightlife locations? Fun places to go on Bourbon Street? My friend does not eat seafood even though New Orleans is famous for it.. any suggestions for some great non-seafood dining?

Thanks!

I can’t think of any special events arond then, but check the paper when the dates approach:

http://www.nola.com/entertainment/

The Palm Court restaurant is very nice, has moderate prices, and offers traditional live jazz starting at 8:00pm: 1204 Decatur Street, tel 504-525-0200 (reservations are important and they are not open every day). The Palm Court is closed from about mid-July 25th to sometime in August each year: http://www.palmcourtjazzcafe.com/

Maximo’s Italian Grill has great food and atmosphere: 1117 Decatur Street in the French Quarter, (504) 586-8883. www.maximosgrill.com

Tujaques Restaurant (823 Decatur Street) is very traditional and has moderate prices: www.tujaguesrestaurant.com

Cafe Degas is a very French restaurant near City Park at 3127 Esplanade - which is not within walking distance of downtown (5 to 10 minutes by taxi). They are closed on Mondays & Tuesdays (504-945-5635). www.cafedegas.com

The Napoleon House restaurant is at 500 Chartres Street in the FQ, and has a menu of great local dishes: www.napoleonhouse.com

More restaurant suggestions: http://www.10best.com/New_Orleans,LA/Restaurants/

There is always music, but the bands change: Go to www.bestofneworleans.com and click on Music then Listings or to www.offbeat.com and click on Listings, then Music.

Note that music clubs often advertise "No Cover", meaning there is no charge for entering. However, clubs with "No Cover" often require that customers buy a beverage each for every "set" of music (which can be every 20 minutes) so KNOW THE PRICE before you sit down. Clubs do that because some people will sit in the club all evening drinking nothing (clubs only make money from the drinks they sell - not from the music). It is also a good idea to pay for each round of drinks (in clubs on Bourbon Street) as it is delivered so there can’t be any confusion at the end of the evening.

An incomplete guide to bars & clubs:

http://www.10best.com/New_Orleans,LA/Nightlife/
www.neworleanscheapdrinks.com

About certain alcoholic beverages: Realize that some famous drinks are VERY potent compared with regular cocktails that have only 1 to 1 ½ ounces of alcohol. For example, a Hurricane is basically 3 or 4 ounces of rum in something like red Kool-Aid, and a Hand Grenade has at least 4 ½ ounces of Everclear + rum + vodka mixed with melon liquor. They don’t necessarily taste like an alcoholic beverage and it is easy to over-indulge.

I hope you have a great time!