There’s a magical array of activities falling around the New Orleans skyline as we delve deep into the holiday season. All across the city, Southern Belles and Papa Noels are preparing to rekindle the flame of nostalgia. With soft glowing lanterns, blissful jazz flowing into the warm evening air, it’s hard not to become wrapped up in the romance of the Vieux Carré – our very own taste of Paris.

Here is a guide to some of the best holiday activities to enjoy in and around New Orleans:

Caroling in Jackson Square

Capture the traditional holiday cheer with the very merry Jackson Square Caroler’s. The event is free of charge and all ages are invited to come down on the Sunday before Christmas and sing along with classic carols.

Photo from NOLA.com

It’s also the perfect time, to admire the festive light decorations that adorn Jackson Square. You can join visitors and locals alike as they share a relaxed atmosphere, a round of hot chocolate and beignets from the world famous Cafe Du Monde. Bask in the melodies of the live street musicians, artists, and entertainers. There are even tarot card and fortune readers who may hold the key to your coming year.

Free Holiday Concerts

There is no such thing as a silent night in New Orleans. Free concerts are held throughout the city to celebrate the holiday seasons, most notably the St. Louis Cathedral. Family-friendly market places with a stream of live entertainment from both local and larger names, artisan arts and crafts, amusement rides, food vendors and fully licensed bars spring up across the city throughout the season. They are a great place to bag last minute and unusual gifts.

Horse Drawn Carriage Ride

What could be more piquant than riding in a horse-drawn carriage through the French Quarters? In true New Orleans style, there is always something to see every step of the way. From beautiful architecture, such as the Saint Louis Cathedral, the Cabilido or the ornate inner streets of the Quarters, you will be sure to find something to admire as you travel back in time.

Also recommended is an idyllic walk, hand-in-hand along the Mississippi Moon Walk as the old fashioned steam boats trawl up and down the river playing jazz from times gone by. And if you happen to walk far enough to stumble upon a ferry – hop on board! Foot passengers ride free to Algiers and back on what is assuredly the best view of the New Orleans skyline.

Celebration in the Oaks

An event you don’t want to miss is the Celebration of the Oaks in the regal New Orleans City Park, where over two million lights decorate one hundred-year-old oak trees – truly a majestic sight. Horse drawn carriages are available to hire, or you can even travel by car. For the full experience, you can also tour through the park by foot.

The Roosevelt Hotel Lobby

The Roosevelt New Orleans continues the tradition of offering a spectacular display of New Orleans holiday wonderland decorations, as luxurious and memorable as the historic property itself, for locals and guests to experience during the holiday season.  As you enter the hotel lobby, you can walk through the wonderful display of holiday lights and decorations unlike any other New Orleans hotel this time of year.

Photo from NOLA.com

And if you can find a seat, take off the chill at the Sazarec Bar with one of their famous New Orleans drinks.

New Years

And if you are still around the city after the holidays, New Year’s Eve in New Orleans is one not to miss – so make sure you ring in the New Year on Bourbon Street, where the party never ends! With every type of bar, tavern and club, you will be sure to find something to suit your taste and party requirements. Bourbon Street also hosts fantastic dining opportunities, such as the Oyster Bar, for the more adventurous, and plenty of window shopping with traditional New Orleans memorabilia.

Whatever you choose to do over the holiday season, may your blessings be bright, and may you have a safe and prosperous New Year!

Halloween in New Orleans – A Local’s Guide

Here in New Orleans, you are never truly far from the morbid mystery of the Halloween Crescent City. It is with great pride that the “Most Haunted City in America” morphs with its frightening festivities as fall settles in.  Here is a guide to fun stuff around the city no matter what types of tricks or treats you prefer:

Classic French Quarter Scares

The French Quarters offers a unique supernatural experience for the whole family with a selection of walking tours. Finding inspiration from the Haunted History of New Orleans with its vampires, Voodoo the world famous tale Madame LaLaurie, now is a great time to not only learn about the history of New Orleans but also enjoy some fantastic street entertainment performed by actors eager to spook, speculating on what sets this city apart from every other. Children are encouraged to ask questions and become involved as you journey back through time in the picturesque Quarters.

LaLaurie House

Photo From:  The World’s 3 Best Ghost Tours

In keeping with New Orleans traditions, make sure you are a step ahead of the trend-kill and plan your fancy dress costume in advance – local residents have been working on theirs for months! Whether you decide to create a unique design at home or hire one from one of the many macabre costume shops in the French Quarters, arrive frightfully fashionable to all of the October excursions. After all, you never know who you may run into. Perhaps a werewolf, a vampire or a high-power priestess.

And what better way to enjoy the Halloween season than visiting one of the many above-ground cemeteries throughout the city, where you can literally walk amongst the dead? Truly terrifying! And if you would like to step away from the Quarters, Frenchman Street is the place to be in October where you are invited to join local residents in an array of street parties and celebrations!

Kid friendly Halloween Activities

So not everyone is quite so brave at Halloween, and parents are often looking for fun things to do for their little ones that won’t produce nightmares!  The Audubon Zoo has been busy preparing for its annual ‘Boo in the Zoo’celebrations with trick-or-treating, storytelling and a haunted mansion. The Louisiana Children Museum is also hosting a ‘Spook Saturday,’ from 11am to 3pm on October 29^th both orientated for younger patrons.

Boo at the Audubon Zoo

 Photo from:  Boo at the Audubon Zoo

Top Rated Haunted Houses

If you are looking for the ultimate trick-or-teat experience, look no further! Why not try knocking on the door of the Number 1 Haunted House of New Orleans – a legendary haunted attraction with over twenty years of international acclaim. Prepare to be thrilled, chilled and spooked as all ages are welcomed to venture through a gruesomely themed, interactive mansion complete with zombies, bloodshed and cattle prods, oh my! With free on-site parking, a fully licensed bar, daring outside entertainers and intermittent entertainment shows, as well as cuisine available for sale from the famous Hell’s Kitchen revolting themed restaurant, there’s plenty to do and see for everyone.

Don’t forget the Arts

The amazing Acro-Cats return to New Orleans and The Shadowbox Theater with a special Halloween treat. Samantha Martin and her group of performing cats are set to wow crowds with rolling pumpkins, jumping tombstones and other cat-marish tricks. There will also be a special musical performance by Tuna and the Skele-Cats, where the cats actually play the instruments! This is the world’s only cat band and will be playing seasonal hits such as, “Don’t purr the reaper,” an unusual experience not to be missed!

The Shadowbox, in the Bywater/Marigny area, are also hosting a Halloween Fundraiser,  a night of Gourd Stories on the 23^rd of October. Come celebrate with local artists as they carve pumpkins and then star opposite them in a  macabre performance sure to get you in a ghoulish mood.

ShadowBox Theatre

Don’t forget to buy your tickets to the Voodoo Musical Experience Festival (children under 10 go free with a paying adult) to round off the Halloween season. The Voodoo Fest is a three day musical extravaganza that will have residents and visors jamming around the clock to international headliners in true New Orleans style.

Whatever it is you decide to do over the upcoming weeks, be sure to be safe and have a spooktacular time. Don’t forget to shop at one of the many authentic Voodoo shops across the French Quarters and pick up a souvenir or two to regale your tales.

My Visit to the WWII Museum Memorial Day Weekend

As luck would have it, this weekend I finally got a chance to visit the WWII Museum in New Orleans.  It seemed like a great weekend to finally check it out (with it being Memorial Day weekend) and I’m really glad we did.  This museum is a real treasure and the organizers, including Tom Hanks, really did this one right.

As for the overall thoughts on the museum, all I can say is “Wow.”

A global story told on an individual level

The museum does an unbelievable job of telling the story in a manner which makes you appreciate each one of the men and women that served.  The photos, stories and detail are laid out in such a manner as to help you appreciate what the individual men and women went through as well as capturing the essence of the overall conflict on a global scale.  So while you definitely got the big picture, you also read the letters and heard the stories of individuals that could have been one of your own family members.

Celebrating Victory Without the “Rah Rah”

Perhaps the most noticeable thing (at least to me) was that the museum told the story of the evil threat that was the Axis.  They also told the story of the heroism of the US and Allied Troops and ultimately how they won the war.

But the interesting part was that while they celebrated the victory of WWII, they also consistently remembered its human cost.  In fact, the video presentation starts with a reminder that more than 65 million people were killed in WWII.  And throughout the video and the museum you are continually reminded that this was the worst, most damaging conflict in human history.

So after touring the museum and watching the video you are touched by the story – but at no point do you feel like standing up and cheering that we won the war.  You are left with the feeling of “Thank God we won – but what a terrible cost to everyone” which is ultimately the feeling I think the museum is looking to give it’s visitors.

Reminder of My Family Members Who Served

So on Memorial Day I’d like to give a special remembrance to my grandfather, Lester Boos who served in the Navy as a radarman on an aircraft carrier.  He passed away a few years ago.  I’d also like to remember my other grandfather David Savoie who served in the Army as a tank repair specialist.  Many thanks to both of them, as well as all of our US Armed forces veterans for their service and sacrifice to our country.  Especially for those who paid the ultimate price with their lives.

LP Bowers Electric has served as New Orleans electricians for more than 30 years offering both residential and commercial electrical service to their local customers. And while the company has had a website since 2007 they recently underwent a total renovation to bring important, fresh information about electrical services to web users.

The updated website features information about electrical service, electrical repairs, hurricane issues and common electrical problems with older homes. Check out http://www.lpbowers/ for more information.

The site makeover also includes search engine optimization for key terms that are important to their business. So keep an eye on local search phrases like “New Orleans electricians” to see how they do in the upcoming months!