theneworleansguide:

Art for Arts’ Sake

It’s time to start getting excited about one of the biggest and best artwalks in the South, Art for Arts’ Sake! A fabulous and huge street party, complete with live music, great food served under small tents by gourmet vendors, cocktails mixed to order from booths on the street, and art collection premieres and exhibit and gallery openings, what could possibly be better? Over 30,000 people show up each year to eat, drink, and absorb some culture as the season for fine arts opens up. Stroll...

October 1st, 2008 | New Orleans | Read More

Behind the Bar Gala

The W Hotel on Poydras Street already offers such an experiential visage that it’s only fitting that the new Behind the Bar photo exhibit, brought to you by the masterminds behind Tales of the Cocktail, is calling the second floor of the hotel home until October 31. Located near Zoe, award-winning Chef Roberto Bustillo’s restaurant, visitors can view a series of artistic photographs which focuses on New Orleans bars and the spirit of the cocktail culture in our city. Free of charge, travelers...

September 27th, 2008 | New Orleans | Read More

Get Blitzed at Oktoberfest

For perhaps the last time ever, it’s time to get your bier and wurst from the historical and endangered Deutches Haus, THE place to celebrate Oktoberfest. Located in Mid-City, this venue is unfortunately in the way of developers who plan to demolish 70 acres of the neighborhood to build a needed hospital. These plans have been in place for a while, so each Oktoberfest needs to be celebrated like it will be the Haus’ last. Either way, the Mid-City celebration of all things German kicks...

September 23rd, 2008 | New Orleans | Read More

See Red, Eat Red

There’s no better time than now to indulge in a craving for red-hot iron … and not the metal kind. My friends, I’m talkin’ STEAK. Until the end of September, two of the most legendary chain steakhouses, Ruth’s Chris (whose origins can actually be traced back to New Orleans, its corporate headquarters only moving due to Katrina) and Mortons, The Steakhouse. For $89 and $99 a couple, respectively, there is no going wrong with these cattle connoisseurs. Both...

September 21st, 2008 | New Orleans | Read More

Category Cocktails

The lounge at Zoe, the uber-contemporary restaurant housed on the second floor of the trendy W Hotel New Orleans, is making the light of the hurricanes that plague us every year and creating a great time out of it with Category Cocktail specials. Stronger drinks denote a stronger cocktail, and every day until November 31, the official end of hurricane season, drinks are offered for a steal from 3 pm till. The menu goes a little something like this, whimsically categorizing strength and price: Category...

September 19th, 2008 | New Orleans | Read More

Martini Madness

Fall is upon us, and with it comes fun seasonal fundraisers as people return home to New Orleans after the summer swelter. Next up in terms of benefits is the Martini Madness event at the stunning Pavilion of the Two Sisters in City Park on Friday, September 19 from 7-10 pm. Drinks are being provided by Republic National Distributing Company, and features Stiletto Vodka (notably owned by a woman), Bombay Sapphire (that distinctively tropical blue gin), Rain Organics vodka, SKYY Infusions (bringing...

September 16th, 2008 | New Orleans | Read More

Move Over, Wine

Everyone’s done the wine and cheese thang, whether in college with boxed wine and cheeses from Whole Foods or at a "real" home with glasses and Gouda. Well, beer is itching to take over that long-exclusive arena, and the owner of Cork and Bottle is presenting a tasting and seminar, going head to head with beer aficionado Dan Stein of Stein’s Market and Deli (which is home to a huge and varied selection of high end beers from around the world). The debate will focus on what makes...

September 13th, 2008 | New Orleans | Read More

High End Happy

While most restaurants are quickly reverting back to their more profitable menus with the end of summer and COOLinary, Commander’s Palace and their little sister, Cafe Adelaide have actually just extended their Happier Hour promo through the end of September. The details and rundown go a little something like this: - If you’re downtown, plan for an early dinner; Cafe Adelaide runs their special from 6-7 pm, 7 days a week - Uptowners have a little more time to get from their offices to...

September 11th, 2008 | New Orleans | Read More

Good-bye Summer Mojito, Hello Fall Beer

So 7 on Fulton has decided it was time to end their awesome summer special, the 7-cent mojito, much to the chagrin of folk like me who have downed as much as $2 of the minty light rum cocktail with friends during their Friday happy hour. However, this special has been replaced by $1 Abitas, our locally brewed residents’ choice, to help you kick back after a long workweek and days of cleaning out the fridge, waiting for power, cleaning the house, washing the car, and other post-evacuation activities....

September 9th, 2008 | New Orleans | Read More

GUSTAV UPDATE

I’m pleased to report that fortunately, Hurricane Gustav deviated enough west to avoid directly hitting the heart of New Orleans, but unfortunately, struck the outer reaches of the New Orleans region. Luckily, it lost instensity at landfall and did not hit as a category 4/5 as predicted, but there is still a good deal of wind damage that occurred. Flood waters from the Mississippi River lapped over the levees and barges on the Industrial Canal suffered from being banged about, but the levees...

September 2nd, 2008 | New Orleans | Read More

Pour on the Decadence – Weekend Whirlwind

As if there wasn’t enough to recover from, what with bars in the Quarter remaining open 24 hours this week, even more activities are slated for the wrap-up of Southern Decadence. Today at 5 PM, Bourbon Street is the place to be, with swank gay bar Napoleon’s Itch co-presenting with The Bourbon Club/Parade a free concert starring Deborah Cox, Kimberley Locke, Jeanie Tracy, and Thea Austin. The streets are going to be packed out beyond belief, so make sure you make it to St. Ann and Bourbon...

August 30th, 2008 | New Orleans | Read More

Bridge Run CANCELED – Stand By for Gustav

Though many say lightning can’t strike twice, there are a whole lot of us in this city who are counting on avoiding that very calamity as Tropical Storm Gustav gathers strength in the Gulf of Mexico … right on the three-year anniversary of another big storm whose name still rings in our streets. The Crescent City Connection race over the bridge has officially been canceled, and arrangements will be made by the organization to reschedule or at least ensure registered participants receive...

August 29th, 2008 | New Orleans | Read More

Storming the Bridge

You’ve spent all summer getting fit and beautiful for the beach, and this Sunday in New Orleans, you have an opportunity to show it all off again one last time, and prove that your training wasn’t just cosmetic. The Smoothie King Crescent Connection Road Race, a 4-mile sunset run, is a great way to give those running shoes one last ‘huzzah!’ before they’re retired to the back of your closet for those indulgent winter months. Beginning on the West Bank, this race will...

August 29th, 2008 | New Orleans | Read More

Mid-Week Decadence

Although the main leg of the Southern Decadence celebrations doesn’t begin until the locals join the revelry at the end of the workweek, New Orleans still needs to entertain her visitors. Beginning today, erotically-charged, risque, and incredibly fun activities lead the celebrations, with the ABSOLUT Showdown Talent Contest starting at midnight. Located upstairs at The Bourbon Pub/Parade, this open competition features anyone who wants to participate using any imaginable talent with cash prizes...

August 27th, 2008 | New Orleans | Read More

They’re Here, They’re Queer, & Bringin’ on Cheer!

Labor Day weekend is three days long … so in New Orleans, we make an annual tradition of making the most of it, gay pride festival Southern Decadence providing a bash so spectacular, it brings in massive amounts of participants, regardless of sexual orientation. An extended weekend full of public parties, this rowdy and unbelievably fun celebration of fetish, fun, and fabulosity will be taking over the Quarter this year August 27-September 1. And how crazy can a party get if there’s no...

August 25th, 2008 | New Orleans | Read More

“Step Out of the Closet In Style”

… was the tagline on the press release for this event, and boy can you ever! On August 29, from 7 30-9 30 pm, an Andrew Christian fashion show will be taking place at the W New Orleans Hotel (the nicer one on Poydras Street) in the Great Room. Co-sponsors include Mardi Gras Prodcutions and gay travel mag, PASSPORT Magazine, which means you know this event is going to be a magnet for the fashionista hotties of Southern Decadence. The W is stylish, modern, and luxurious with...

August 24th, 2008 | New Orleans | Read More

Where’s the Adventure in Luxury?

Feeling brave and a little bit sketchy? Get a little gritty and stay at Joe and Flo’s Candlelight Hostel in Treme, behind the perpetually locked Louis Armstrong Park and a hop, skip, and a jump from the quieter fringes of the French Quarter. Although close to the shady and elegant Esplanade Avenue–the side border of the Quarter and the Faubourg Marigny–Treme is known to be a rougher neighborhood, and for hardier and more adventurous souls. But if you’re a...

August 22nd, 2008 | New Orleans | Read More

Ever a Haven for the Lonely

Many times had I passed by the St. Vincent’s Guest House over the years, in its serene and romantic Lower Garden District setting, and only now did I just find out that this beautiful red brick building with ornate wrought iron trim is not just a budget bed-and-breakfast – it offers hostel accommodations, too! The look of the 3-story buildings is imposing and institutional, but in a grand, majestic kind of way. However, ornate is something it is not, with 70 minimally decorated...

August 20th, 2008 | New Orleans | Read More

Get ‘Em While They’re Hot!

Everyone knows that New Orleans is a breeding ground for some of the most impressive cooking in the nation, and ranks highly on an international scale as well. It’s only fitting then, that we recognize up-and-coming talent in the culinary world and find a way to treat visitors and residents to an experience fit to blow minds and ruin ordinary meals for at least a month. I’m referring, of course, to the 7th Annual Chefs to Watch dinner event. In just a few days, the Theatre...

August 18th, 2008 | New Orleans | Read More

Big House, Bigger Personality: NO’s Hippest Hostel

Hostel Week continues here at PlanetEye, and one of the funkiest around, in my opinion, is the quirky and full-of-character India House. Located in a very large, older home in distinctive Mid-City, this guesthouse truly captures much of the spirit of New Orleans, with its second-floor wraparound balcony, brightly-hued walls plastered with funky art, creaky woods, tiled antique fireplaces, and eclectic, mismatching furniture. Aquas, blues, violets, and big-bellied Buddhas are everywhere,...

August 15th, 2008 | New Orleans | Read More