The Tulane resident is balanced: working hard when required, but playing and relaxing when time permits. We believed the balanced physician is the best physician for his or her patients. This section provides some of the unique opportunities New Orleans offers for the Tulane residents.

This page is to help you get a glimpse of what life is like in the Big Easy. We love this town, and why wouldn't you? Sure there are a few potholes, but that's a small price to pay for a city that never sleeps, full of people who are always happy to see you. New Orleans has character; it is a life experience worth having. Whether it be Music , the Arts , Museums , Shopping , Bars or Festivals . there is always something to do in New Orleans .. Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

Music

New Orleans has the best Jazz in the country. Unlike some cities where you have to buy pricy tickets to see big name talent, the best music in New Orleans occurs in small bars and clubs requiring little or no cost. Other musical talents flock to New Orleans to play alongside the great Jazz and Blues musicians. Having seen the Rolling Stones at Tipitinas (a bar that fits 50 to 100 people), I can tell you that there is nothing like it!

Planning ahead is good, but not required at all: last minute change of venues is common, and this is your best opportunity to see the great performers. Start with the following free guides: The Gambit . (released on Tuesdays), NOLA City , Neworleansonline.com and NOLA Citysearch are also good guides. Have a look at the links- you are sure to be impressed.

Theater/Dance

There are few cities that offer the culture of New Orleans . Is it any wonder why so many artists (of every medium) find their way to New Orleans to further develop their art? Below are just a few of the many things to see and do in New Orleans . Click on the link above for a list that will blow your mind.

Broadway Musical Series - Held yearly at the Saneger Theater-
Previous "Hits"- Ragtime, Smokey Joe's Café, Les Miserables, Fiddler on the Roof, Best Little WhoreHouse in Texas, The Full Monte, Aita , Sound Of Music, Cabaret, Beauty and the Beast, Fame, Swing, Defending the Caveman, Blast, The Exonerated, The Producers, Oklahoma, 42 nd Street, Phantom of the Opera

Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra led by world renown Klauspeter Seibel

The New Orleans Opera . Opera is Murder...and secrets, unrelenting love, betrayal, and redemption- the ultimate theatrical experience!...You'll love the New Orleans Opera.

New Orleans Ballet Association NOBA is the region's premiere presenting and service organization dedicated solely to the art of dance. NOBA's dynamic Main Stage season annually features a variety of world-class dance companies at the Theater of the Performing Arts in Armstrong Park .

Museum


National D-Day museum : Open 9-5 M-F. Adults $7, Kids 5-17 $5.00. Call 504-527-6012 for details

Check out this link for over twenty + other museums !!!

New Orleans Historic Vodoo Museum -Experience authentic Voodoo altars, artifacts.523-7685

Aquarium of the Americas - One of the nicer aquariums in the U.S Must see the penguin exhibit, and gulf of mexico. Located on the riverwalk. 581-4629

Audubon Zoo - "I went on down to the Audubon Zoo and they all asked for you!" 58 acres with lots of places to sit, relax or read. Amazing Swamp, alligator exhibit (only white alligator in the world). Check out the zoo during swamp fest. 581-4629. www.audoboninstitute.org

Contemporary Arts Center (504) 528-3805 (Tues.- Sunday 11-5) Modern art.

Swamp Tours

1. Alligator Annies- located in Houma.1-800-341-5441 They call the alligators by name- they swim right up to the boat (seats 18) and leap up to eat raw chicken off a stick. 1-800- 341-5441. Tours daily at 10am and 2pm.

2. Louisianna Swamp Tours-http://www.louisianaswamp.com/

Plantations & Historical Tours

See what life was like in the big easy during the 1600's, 1700's & 1800's. Listed below are just several of the larger plantations. Of course, New Orleans has multiple historical museums. but many of the most interesting sites (above ground cemeteries from the 1600's, historical homes, etc) can be seen just by walking around. And feel free to take your drink with you as you walk- that's legal here.

Laura Plantation - 1805. Most notably know for slave house where Br'er Rabbit tales were first collected.

Oak Alley Plantation - 1837, the square Greek revival mansion is situauted at one end of a mile alley of 28 stately, perfectly spaced live oaks. It's been in countless films, so if you've seen a film with a romantic plantation in it, you've probably seen Oak Alley.

Destrehan Plantation - 1797, The oldest plantation in LA.

Sports

Take your pick from playoff caliber football, basketball or baseball. In addition, experience minor league hockey in a tropical environment. If that is not enough, check out Tulane/ LSU college football or the Sugar Bowl. (Perhaps even the Superbowl!)

New Orleans Hornets - Over 45 home games to be seen. A great venue as well.

New Orleans Zephyrs - (504) 734-5155
(AAA- Team For the New York Mets- Part of the Pacific Coast League.

New Orleans Saints - Home Schedule . We have 14 season tickets. Ask Wiese if you want to buy a couple of ticks ($35 each)

SHOPPING

Some of the best and most unique shopping in the US . You may never do holiday shopping anywhere else again!

FESTIVALS

 In addition to the Tulane Residency-exclusive festivals of our own, New Orleans has over 412 festivals each year. Here are some of the highlights!

January 1 st New Year Eve , French Quarter style. Little more needs to be said.

January 1st Nokia Sugar Bowl . A collegiate classic, but the French Quarter party before and after is INSANE!

January 8 th The NCAA National Championship Game in the Superdome!

January 13-15 th The Louisiana Fur and Wildlife Festival

January : Rice and Gumbo Festival

January 27 th : Mardi Gras Marathon . Oh, like all marathons, except you can expect some people in costumes, and some people with nothing on at all.

Jan 20 th to Feb 5 th Mardi Gras is Feb 5 th , but the Mardi Gras festival begins two weeks earlier with nightly parades until then. The last parades (Zulu and Rex) roll on Tuesday Feb 5 th (followed by Ash Wednesday).

February: Black Heritage Festival

March 13- 15 th : Catfish Festival .

March 13-15 th : Louisiana Nursery Festival

 March 13-15 th : Rabbit Festival

March 19-28 th : Jubilee Festival of the Arts and Humanities

March 21-22 nd : Oyster Festival

March 22-23 rd : Cotile Lions Club Spring Fling Festival

March 22-23 rd : Oak Alley Festival

March 27-30 th : Louisiana Cypress Sawmill Festival

March 27-30 th : Ashland Spring Festival

March 27-30 th : Southdown Marketplace Arts Festival

March to April - NCAA Tournament . The Superdome regularly hosts either a regional or super-regional for the NCAA tournament. Parties in the Quarter as you might expect. Of course, parking is free for Tulane residents.

March 23 st - St. Patrick's Day Parade A great city-wide parade and party. Mardi Gras withdrawal!

March 26-30 th Tennessee Williams Literary Festival - -An annual five-day celebration showcasing national and regional scholars, writers, and performing artists. (504) 581-1144.

April 2-3rd : Festival des Families d'Erath

April 3-4 th : Crawfish Boat Festival

April 4-6 th : Boggy Bayou Festival

April 5-6 th : Dogwood Festival

April 5- 15 th : Natchitoches Spring Fling Festival

April 10-15 th : Louisiana Railroad Festival

April 11-13 th : Strawberry Festival

April 11-13 th : Cajun Hot Sauce Festival

April 14-17 th French Quarter Festival (504) 522-5730

April 14-16 th : Atchafalaya River Festival

 April 14-16 th : Catfish Festival

April 18-20 th : Bayou Teche Bear Festival

April 18-20 th : Great Southern Bluegrass Event

April 25-27 th : Potpourri Festival

May 21-25 th Wine and Food Experience

April 27-29 th Louisiana Crawfish Festival .

April 27-29 th Jazz Fest (First session) - (see special Jazz fest Section). Ohhhh, baby!

April 30 th -May 6 th PGA Zurich Classic . Great PGA talent at a local course.

May 3-5 rd Jazz Fest - (Second session) - (see special Jazz Fest Section)

Throughout the Summer : Art for Arts Sake . Some of the best Art and Wine. what a great combination!

July 8-11 th Essence Festival . The best of rhythm, smooth jazz and soul music. (Mary J. Blige, Al Green, Luther Vandross, Maze, Gerald Levert and the Isley Brothers, Destiny's Child, and Jill Scott).

July 24 nd Jazz in the Vines - Outdoor Concert Series. Outdoor concerts at Ponchartrain Vine. (985) 892-9742

August 4 th White-Linen Night - Thousands of people come to the free street party on Julia Street to enjoy art galleries, food, and music. The fair is from 6-9p. (504) 528-3805

Aug. 3-6th Satchmo Festival -This weekend-long festival pays tribute to Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong.

Aug. Sept 3 rd to 5 th Southern Decadence Festival - The name says it all: it is a circus gone amok: wildly aberrant, unusual, and, slightly crazed avant garde people in drag and costumes. Not for the faint of heart. Sunday of Labor Day weekend

Sept. 30-1, Oct. 5-6, 12-13, 19-20 and 26-27 Oktoberfest . New Orleans , Deutsches Haus, 200 S. Galvez St. Traditional German music, dancing, food and drink. 522-8014.

Sept. 29 th Symphony Run and Concert in the Park . Come support the New Orleans Symphony in a 5K fun run followed by an evening wine and cheese concert in the part.

Oct. 1 st Hurricane Festival -
2002 performers included Train, Cowboy Mouth, Soul Asylum, Medeski, Martin & Wood. Taunt the Gulf hurricanes with a hurricane of your own.

Oct. 5-6; 12-13 Swamp Fest . The first two weekends in October at the World Famous Audubon Zoo

Oct. 7, 14, 21 and 28 . Angola Prison Rodeo . Angola , Louisiana State Penitentiary. The Angola Rodeo, the longest running prison rodeo in the nation (1965). The only self-sustaining penitentiary.

Oct. 26- 28: The VOODOO Fest ! If you are into the latest in pop and rock music, you won't want to miss this one. It's a mini-Woodstock every single year. Solid music from the top performers for three solid days. Incredible.

Halloween in the Quarter . Well, I don't think this requires an explanation.

November- January Enjoy the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra or the Saenger Broadway Music Series . (see above)

November (Thanksgiving) to March . Louisiana Downs . Come enjoy some of the best thoroughbred racing in the South. Enjoy mimosas in the clubhouse as the pony's run.

December Watch the Saints roll into the playoffs, while the Hornet's get geared up for mid-season play. Enjoy the Housestaff Holiday party and many, many more holiday festivals throughout the city.

Nov. 25 to Jan 2 Celebration in the Oaks - City Park 's annual holiday lighting extravaganza A two-mile drive through 15 acres of lighted displays in the N.O botanical gardens. Nightly entertainment, horse drawn carriages (very romantic) and miniature trains (not as romantic). 504-483-9415. Also go ice-skating in City Park .

NIGHTCLUBS AND BARS

There is no shortage of bars and clubs in New Orleans .. Some 300 (known) bars to be exact. But the bars in New Orleans are different.. no cheap, pre-fab, neon nonsense. Rather, some historic pubs, some over 300 years old, rich in character and comfort. Here are some of our favorites. check out the rest on the link above.

Classic New Orleans Bar

Feelings Café d' Aunoy - Built in 1795
Jean Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop
The Old Absinthe House (Bienville and Bourbon) Built in 1874
Napoleon House - ( St. Louis Street ) Built in 1914
Pat O'Briens
The Sazerac (inside the Fairmont Hotel)
Café Sbisa Built in 1820
Column's Hotel
Tujague's Built in 1827
O'Flaherty's Irish Channel Pub
Parasol's
The Carousel Bar
Le Pavillon Hotel
The Red Room
The Pontchartrain Hotel's Bayou Bar
Vaughan 's (Great Thursday night latenight music)

Favorite Bar to Catch A Sports Game

Cooter Brown's
Fat Harry's
Fox and the Hound
Superdome

Favorite Light Night Bar

Donna's (800 Rampart) 596-6914
Red Eye Grille (852 Peters) 593-9393
Grits
F&M's
Ms. Mae's the Club
The Gold Mine

Favorite Place to Catch Local Music

Funky Butt
Le Bon Temps Roule
Maple Leaf (Rebirth Brass Band, A New Orleans Standard)
Red Room
Snug Harbor
Spotted Cat
Tipitinas
Rock and Bowl
Vaughan 's
Mermaid Lounge

Favorite Place to "meet up"

Joe's (Across from Tulane Hospital ) Any day.
St. Joes - Mon ( Magazine St .)
Bruno's Bar -Tues ( Maple St .). You'll be the oldest person there.
Superior Grill - Wed. ( 3636 St. Charles Ave. ) 899-4200
The Bulldog- (Magazine)
Dino's Bar - Thurs. (1128 Tchoupitoulas) 558-0900
Balcony Bar -Thurs ( Magazine St .)
Lucy's -Friday (701 Tchoupitoulas) 523-8995
Phillips -Friday/ Saturday (Maple St.). Ask to see ID's (age) of people you meet.
Loa (221 Camp) 553-9550
Monkey Hill - Upscale; very nice. Magazine
Rue de La Course- Magazine St. only. Many people pretending to study.
Park Avenue
The Boot Fri./Sat.(1039 Broadway) 866-9008. You'll be meeting up c 18 yr olds.

Favorite Bar to just chill and drink

Joes- As above. All doctors, and those that want to meet doctors.
St. Joes- A great back outdoor bar. St. Joseph and Magazine
Dos Jeffs (great cigar bar). Great music; outdoor patio (Tschopitoulos)
Winstons (on Metairie road)
Spotted cat
D.B.A
Absinthe House
Column's Hotel (3811 St. Charles ) 899-9308
Ernst Café (600 S Peters) 525-8544
Vaqueros (4938 Prytania) 891-6441
Napoleon House (500 Chartres ) 524-9752
Pat O'Briens (624 Bourbon) 588-2744

Favorite Bar to go Dancing

Grits -after 2 AM (Tschopitoulos)
F &M's - on the pool tables after 1 AM (Tschopitoulos)
Shim Sham Club - 80's night on Thursday's
The Metro - Experience New York Club scene in the Big Easy (only open on Sat)
The Red Eye -. Great mid-night dancing (10 PM to 2 AM)
Café Brazil - in the Marigny. (Latin American)
Red Room - (2040 St. Charles) 528-9759 Built from the Eifel tower. It's all red.
Club 360 -enjoy scenic views of the city while listening to the latest house music
OZ/Parade - Both are gay bars; great dance clubs
Gold Mine -dirty, hot dive, with lots of pumpin and grindin..
Rainbow Club (in metarie)-

Best Place to Lose Some Money

Treasure Chest Casino (5050 Williams) 443-8000
Harrah's Casino . At the foot of Canal. Hard to miss.