Beyond Bourbon Street - An Insider's Guide To New Orleans

Exploring the Bayous, Lakes, and Trails Beyond New Orleans Today’s show is the first one where we venture beyond New Orleans! We’ll be traveling to the Northshore of Lake Pontchartrain, where we’ll focus on the outdoors. Come along as I explore Cane Bayou by kayak with Chad Almquist and Matt May of Canoe and Trail Adventures. Have you ever wondered what it was like to paddle along a Louisiana bayou? Want to see wildlife including turtles, heron, and the occasional alligator or snake up close? Would you love to see the New Orleans skyline from the shoreline of Lake Pontchartrain? If so, this episode is for you! Places to Visit While we spent a lot of the discussion focused on Cane Bayou, there are many more places to explore across Lake Pontchartrain from New Orleans. Visit the shores of the lake from Fontainebleau State Park. There, you can wander the park as a day visitor, or plan ahead and rent one of their cabins. Cane Bayou runs directly between Fontainebleau State Park and Big Branch Wildlife Refuge. The

Solo Travel to New Orleans Have you ever wanted to travel to New Orleans by yourself? If so, today's episode is for you! Join Mark and his guest, Lorrie Shaw, as they discuss the ins and outs of exploring New Orleans on your own. The two cover all you need to know, including.... How to select the best time of year to visit Three locations to consider when choosing a hotel Places to eat as a solo traveler Great ideas for what to see and do Along the way, you'll find plenty of insider tips to make the most of your New Orleans experience. All this and more in this episode of Beyond Bourbon Street!   Thank You! A special thanks to Lorrie Shaw for being our guest on today's episode. You can connect with Lorrie by email. We also want to thank podcast listener Mitchel Leadbeater for suggesting today's topic. Subscribe to the Podcast If you enjoy the show, please subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Play Music or wherever you get your podcasts. Search for Beyond Bourbon Street. If you do enj

New Orleans has never had a major league baseball team, but it does have a rich history with the national past time. Join Mark and his panel of guests as they explore the rich history of baseball in New Orleans from its earliest days through today. Today’s guests include… * Tim Grubbs, announcer for the Baby Cakes and Director of Team Travel * Ron Swoboda, announcer for the Baby Cakes, and former major league baseball player known for “the Catch” in the 1969 World Series. * S. Derby Gisclair, author and baseball historian * Cookie Rojas, Senior VP and General Manager, New Orleans Baby Cakes Baseball in New Orleans can be traced back to the 1850s and the earliest origins of the game itself. Derby describes the scene back then, including games played on the Delachaise Estate, near present day Touro Hospital in the Garden District. Along the way, you’ll hear about the players and the places where they played. Ron Swoboda, who played for the 1969 Miracle Mets, regales us with stories of individual players from th

Today's episode is about one of our most-requested topics: movies and television filmed in New Orleans! Do you know which was the first film made in New Orleans? How about the fact Elvis, James Dean, and Roger Moore all appeared on the silver screen in movies made in the Crescent City? In this episode we visit with Jonathan Ray, tour guide and owner of New Orleans Movie and TV Tours. Join us as we discuss the earliest days of film in New Orleans. We make our way through time and the landscape of New Orleans through the camera lens. Along the way, you'll learn about how the Central Business District became the playground of the apes, how Queen Latifah zip lined across Bourbon Street, and where to find the cast and set of NCIS. All this and more in today's episode of Beyond Bourbon Street! Resources You can find Jonathan on line at New Orleans Movie and TV Tours.  Links and show notes for today's episode can be found at http://beyondbourbonst.com/43   Subscribe to the Podcast If you enjoy the show, please subsc

18 Fun Facts About New Orleans On this episode of Beyond Bourbon Street, we dive into 18 fun facts about New Orleans, its history, and the people who call it home. What do ice, dental floss, and pharmacies have in common? How about opera and the game of craps? The Superdome and the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway bridge? Next, we talk about some of the interesting New Orleans characters you've never heard of. Along the way, you'll learn surprising facts about the Crescent City and find ways to check them out during your next visit. We top it off with a list of ten people born in New Orleans, including some surprises. All this and more in today's episode of Beyond Bourbon Street! Subscribe to the Podcast If you enjoy the show, please subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play Music or wherever you get your podcasts. If you do enjoy listening, please share Beyond Bourbon Street with someone who shares our love of New Orleans. Join Us on Facebook Want to share your favorite New Orleans memories, or as

Southern Food and Beverage Museum On this episode of Beyond Bourbon Street, we explore the Southern Food and Beverage Museum. The museum may be small, but it houses a large variety of artifacts and stories, dedicated to the culinary history of the Southern United States. The Southern Food and Beverage Museum is also home to the Museum of the American Cocktail. While the cocktail may not have been invented in New Orleans, we certainly have made it our own. Learn about the Sazerac, the Crusta, the tangled history of absinthe, and more! Join Mark and his guest, Liz Williams, as they discuss food and drink in the heart of the Crescent City. All this and more in today's episode of Beyond Bourbon Street! Resources The Southern Food and Beverage Museum is located at 1504 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd, three blocks off of St. Charles Avenue. The museum is open daily Wednesday-Monday (closed Tuesdays). You can find the Southern Food and Beverage Museum online at Southern Food. Be sure to check out the blog! Additionally, y

In the spring and summer of 2017, the headlines in New Orleans newspapers dealt with the proposed removal of four statues honoring the Confederacy. Ever wonder how we got to this point? I did, and it led me to Abraham Lincoln and his surprising connection to New Orleans. Today’s show is about Lincoln, his visits to New Orleans, and how they shaped his thoughts on slavery and reconstruction as the 16th President of the United States. We visit with local author, historian, and geographer Richard Campanella, author of a book called Lincoln in New Orleans: The 1828-1831 Flatboat Voyages and Their Place in History. You met Richard back in episode #36, when we discussed how Bourbon Street happened. In this episode, we travel along with a young Abraham Lincoln as he navigates the Mighty Mississippi,is nearly killed along the Sugar Coast, and witnesses the slave trade in New Orleans. Through Richard's meticulous research, we walk the streets of New Orleans in the late 1820s and early 1830s, and see this exotic city t

Planning your first trip to New Orleans? Wondering what should be on your list of things to do, eat, and see? We answer those questions and more on episode #39 of the Beyond Bourbon Street podcast! This list includes the top things every first time visitor to New Orleans should experience. We also provide the insider tips that will help make your visit memorable. Grab a pen and a notepad, because this show is loaded with all the details you need to have a fabulous vacation in the Crescent City! Visit a cemetery Spend time on the Mississippi River Explore Jackson Square Eat the classic New Orleans foods Wander the French Quarter Take in Bourbon Street Listen to live music Have a drink Ride the streetcar Garden District   Listen to the episode to get the details behind this list. NOTE: There might also be some lagniappe – a little something extra! Links and show notes for today's episode can be found at http://beyondbourbonst.com/39 Subscribe to the Podcast If you enjoy the show, please subscribe to the podca

Chasing Flavor with Chef Frank Brigtsen In this episode, I sit down with James Beard award winner Chef Frank Brigtsen. He and his wife Marna own Brigtsen's, one of the best Creole Bistros in New Orleans. Tucked into the Riverbend neighborhood just blocks from the streetcar, Brigtsen's has been serving delicious Creole cuisine since 1986. Chef Frank and I talk about Chef Paul Prudhomme and his influence on the New Orleans culinary scene, as well as on Chef Frank himself. Join us as we discuss Cajun versus Creole, Commander's Palace, K-Pauls, Emeril Lagasse, and more. Listen to Chef Frank describe the early days of what we now call the farm to table movement. Alice Waters, Wolfgang Puck, Paul Prudhomme and others. By the end of the show, you'll be craving a bowl of Chef Frank's famous filé gumbo!   Resources Be sure to visit Frank and Marna at their Riverbend restaurant. Brigtsen's is located at 723 Dante Street in Riverbend.  Make reservations by calling 504-861-7610. Check out their menu and learn even more a

Ten Places to Eat Like a Local Ever wonder where the locals eat? Today, we answer that question. At least from this local's perspective! In episode 37 I cover ten places in New Orleans I frequently recommend. Some of these are well known. Others are off the beaten path. This list includes neighborhood restaurants and a trio of New Orleans Creole Bistros. You'll find a steak house and a Thai restaurant. A great place for Italian, and a French bistro. There also might be a little lagniappe near the end of the show. We discuss when to go, how to get there, and what to order. All this and more in today's episode of Beyond Bourbon Street! Resources If you would like to download a pdf with information on all the New Orleans restaurants discussed in this episode, please sign up for our newsletter. We promise not to spam! Links and show notes for today's episode can be found at http://beyondbourbonst.com/37 Subscribe to the Podcast If you enjoy the show, please subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts (formerly iTu

Today's episode is about the most infamous street in New Orleans. I originally planned this show as an April Fools' edition, since the podcast is called Beyond Bourbon Street. As I started my research, however, I quickly came to the realization there wasn't much written about the actual street. I was about to shelve the idea when I realized local author, historian, and geographer Richard Campanella found the same lack of information and was inspired to write a book called Bourbon Street: A History. Join me as I talk with Richard about (arguably) the most important street in New Orleans. We discuss its transformation from just another street to its present day status as one of the most infamous streets in the world. Along the way, you'll learn about entrepreneurship, the creation of New Orleans as a tourist destination, and more. We also discuss the invention of the go-cup and how present day Bourbon Street can be explained through the Huge Ass Beers available for purchase along this fifteen block stretch of e

Madams and Musicians - Storyville, New Orleans In 1897, New Orleans leaders created Storyville, the infamous red light district of New Orleans. For the next twenty years, Storyville was the legal center of prostitution in the Crescent City. Storyville was the workplace of madams and prostitutes.  Patrons might spend an evening at Lulu White's Mahogany Hall or at Josie Arlington's place. Here, they encountered lavish furnishings, live music, ample amounts of alcohol, and sex for a price. In addition to the sex trade, Storyville was a hotbed of music and musicians. Patrons wandering down Basin Street would come across Jelly Roll Morton, Manuel "Fess" Manetta, Tony Jackson, and maybe even a young Louis Armstrong. These musicians were expected to play everything from opera to ragtime. While jazz wasn't likely invented in Storyville, the collaboration and improvisation of these talented musicians helped shape and influence the music we know today. Meet Your Tour Guides to the Red Light District I welcomed three gu

Guidebooks to Sin: the Blue Books of Storyville, New Orleans In 1897, New Orleans leaders created Storyville, the infamous red light district of New Orleans. For the next twenty years, Storyville was the legal center of prostitution in the Crescent City. The blue books were small guides that listed the 'finer' bordellos and even the individual prostitutes. The idea was likely cribbed from various other blue books which noted places and people of distinction. My guest this week is Pamela Arceneaux, an author, senior librarian, and rare books curator at the Historic New Orleans Collection. Pamela has written a wonderful book, called the Guidebooks to Sin: the Blue Books of Storyville. In this first of two episodes about the infamous New Orleans red light district, we discuss the creation of Storyville and the role of the blue books. We learn about the surprising contents and how they helped cement New Orleans’ reputation as an entertainment and tourist destination. We talk about the jazz and ragtime musicians w

Top Ten Things to Do in City Park  In the last episode, we covered the history of City Park. Today, we dive into the top ten things to in the park. In addition to things to do and see, we also discuss how to get to New Orleans City Park and what you should bring with you. We'll explore the park together. Along the way, we'll wander through the oldest grove of oak trees, and share an order (or two!) of beignets at the Morning Call. Perhaps we'll play a round of miniature golf and take in the outdoor sculpture garden as well. If you're up for it, we'll take a bike ride and learn about one of City Park's newest attractions, Big Lake. All this and more in today's show! NOTE: Get your pen and paper ready because you'll definitely want to take notes...   Resources New Orleans City Park is located in the Midcity neighborhood of New Orleans and is accessible by taking the Canal St. streetcar (the red one). It is just a couple miles from the French Quarter and offers plenty of free parking. Friends of City Park is a l

In this episode I talk with John Hopper, the Chief Development Officer and Director of Public Affairs for New Orleans City Park. We dive into the history of one of the largest urban parks in the United States. City Park in New Orleans was first envisioned as a public place in the mid-1800s, but as you'll learn, the land was first inhabited by Native Americans who found the land along Bayou Metairie suitable for their lifestyle. It was later the site of the Allard Plantation before being purchased by John McDonogh for the purpose of giving it to the city to be used as a park. John and I discuss the history of the park from its very beginning through present day. Along the way, you'll hear stories of duels, grand architecture, the Works Progress Administration, a Mexican sculptor with ties to Pancho Villa, and more! If you enjoy the show, please subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, or Google Play Music.  New episodes are available every other Wednesday. You can find us on Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

In this episode I talk with Jessica Parker, a New Orleanian in spirit and a frequent visitor who also happens to be a vegan. Together, we dive into great places to eat vegan and vegetarian  in the Crescent City. Along the way, we discover plenty of places to eat where vegans, vegeterians and meat lovers can all break bread together. Even if you are not a vegan, you'll find plenty of ideas for places to eat in New Orleans. The discussion was a lot of fun and I ended up with a great list of places to enjoy along with my friends who are vegan. This question has been coming up a lot recently, so I am excited to dve into this topic with Jessica. Break out your paper and pen, or your favorite note taking app. We cover places to eat from the Bywater all the way to Riverbend. By the end of today's show, you'll know exactly where to eat vegan and vegeterian in New Orleans! If you enjoy the show, please subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, or Google Play Music.  New episodes are available every other Wednesday

In this episode, I talk with Mark Rosenbaum, the owner and artist behind Rosetree Blown Glass. Mark and I discuss Algiers Point, New Orleans' 2nd oldest neighborhood. Mark is a resident of the Point and an active member of the community. Never heard of Algiers Point? It's located just across the Mississippi River from the French Quarter and is the only portion of New Orleans on the West Bank, or "Best Bank" as residents over there refer to it. The best way to get to the Point is to take a quick ferry ride across the river. A $2 fee for pedestrians will transport you to a village-like setting only a short distance from the craziness of Bourbon Street. Algiers Point is known as New Orleans' best kept secret for good reason - even many locals like myself haven't spent much time in the historic district. That's too bad because a morning or afternoon exploring can yield fabulous views of the New Orleans skyline and the river traffic, unexpected art like Mark's blown glass studio, neighborhood restaurants and bars,

In this episode, I talk with Ed Branley, author, historian, podcaster and contributor to GoNOLA.com. Together, we dive into the Battle of New Orleans. Imagine you are standing in Jackson Square. You look up at Andrew Jackson atop his horse and wonder why he's there. Sure, you know about the battle of New Orleans, but what was New Orleans like in the period leading up to the War of 1812? As the battle approached, what did New Orleanians think and feel about it? What did they think would be the outcome? How about the major players in the battle itself? Listen in as we discuss these ideas and more. By the end of today's show, you'll get a sense of the battle itself, and also of New Orleans in the early 1800s. I enjoyed the conversation and know you will, too! If you enjoy the show, please subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, or Google Play Music.  New episodes are available every other Wednesday. You can find us on Twitter | Instagram | Facebook| Website Thanks for listening! Mark mark@beyondbourbonst.

In this episode, I talk with Arthur Hardy, founder and publisher of Arthur Hardy's annual Mardi Gras Guide. His guide is THE resource for Mardi Gras in New Orleans. It contains everything you need to help you enjoy the Carnival season, including parade maps, history, insider tips and more. Listen in as we discuss the history of Carnival and how to get the most out of your experience. Do you know when float riders started tossing beads and trinkets to the crowd? How does someone get to be king or queen of Carnival? Can I participate in Mardi Gras? By the end of the discussion you'll have the answers to these questions and more! If you enjoy the show, please subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, or Google Play Music.  New episodes are available every other Wednesday. You can find us on Twitter | Instagram | Facebook| Website Thanks for listening! Mark [email protected]

It’s All About You It’s been an amazing year for Beyond Bourbon Street.  We’ve gone from launch to building an awesome community of people who love New Orleans.  I’ve gotten to interact with many of you - by email, on Facebook, Instagram and sometimes even in person.  Along the way I’ve made new friends and been able to take you along as we explore New Orleans. This episode is my chance to say thanks for your support, encouragement and friendship.   Your Questions Answered In this episode, we look back on the first year of the Beyond Bourbon Street podcast.  I answer your questions about my favorite episodes, about how the podcast has impacted me, and what 2017 might look like.  I also answer several behind the scenes questions, including...   What is the process of creating the podcast? How and where do you record? How is the show doing?   The Top 5 (okay 6) Most Downloaded Episodes of 2016 1 -  Po-boy festival, Voodoo, Boudin Bourbon & Beer, Halloween - episode #1 2-   The Cemeteries with Sally Asher