New Orleans Master Thread

[E R K]

If we only have time for one, which should we rather do: Plantation tour or WWII Museum?

WW2 museum

[Yehoshua]

WW2 museum

+100

[ltttc]

Thanks.
Any nice/unique hotel recommendations (preferably not in the French quarter)?

[Traveler718]

Thanks.
Any nice/unique hotel recommendations (preferably not in the French quarter)?

Traveling with kids, we were quite happy with our 3-night stay at the Residence Inn Metairie. We got upgraded to a 2-bedroom suite (+ living room and kitchenette), plus free parking, and roughly equidistant to the 2 minyan locations (5-10 minutes to each) and very close to the kosher grocery/restaurant, and not far from the FQ and other city attractions.

It's certainly not unique, but it checked every box that we needed and wouldn't hesitate to stay there again.

[ltttc]

Traveling with kids, we were quite happy with our 3-night stay at the Residence Inn Metairie. We got upgraded to a 2-bedroom suite (+ living room and kitchenette), plus free parking, and roughly equidistant to the 2 minyan locations (5-10 minutes to each) and very close to the kosher grocery/restaurant, and not far from the FQ and other city attractions.

It's certainly not unique, but it checked every box that we needed and wouldn't hesitate to stay there again.

Thanks! Traveling without kids though. Any nice(r) suggestions?

[skyguy918]

Thanks! Traveling without kids though. Any nice(r) suggestions?

If you decide on WWII museum for your one activity, search along the St Charles streetcar line and take the streetcar to/from the museum.

[Yaalili]

Thanks! Traveling without kids though. Any nice(r) suggestions?

Eliza Jane is an SLH by Hyatt, in walking distance to the FQ but not in the FQ itself, and is in walking distance to WWII Museum too. Cat #4.

[Jm1248]

Planning to be in NOLA in two weeks. After reading thru the thread, it seems Casablanca is closed and Waffles on Maple is a questionable hechsher. So only kosher food option is Kosher by Cajun?

[Traveler718]

Planning to be in NOLA in two weeks. After reading thru the thread, it seems Casablanca is closed and Waffles on Maple is a questionable hechsher. So only kosher food option is Kosher by Cajun?

Correct, unless something changed since I visited in July.

[E-MAN]

Coming into MSY at 9pm. Any food options open that late?

[jose34]

nope;

[Yehoshua]

Coming into MSY at 9pm. Any food options open that late?

Out of town, even in big cities like LA, Chicago, Toronto, etc, places close early. ק"ו a small city like New Orleans.

[jj1000]

Coming into MSY at 9pm. Any food options open that late?

Chabad, if you need a meal...

[ajs625]

Is there a Plantation that anyone recommends to visit more than the others?

[Traveler718]

We went to Laura and Houmas and enjoyed both very much. We also stopped by the outside of Oak Alley to get the famous picture of the oaks outside.

[yawn]

From chairman’s take email, from Agudah.

Dear Friends,
 
When does a person sing shirah? What causes them to sing?
 
The first shirah of our nation came when they saw the full circle realized, the Mitzriyim who had so oppressed them receiving the punishment appropriate for each one.
 
Sometimes, in life, we are privileged to have that sort of vantage point, the clarity of hindsight, and I had that opportunity last Shabbos- Shabbos Shirah- which I spent in New Orleans.
 
I was there for reasons connected to my parnassah, which involves servicing the National Football League, but I kept in mind Rabbi Sherer’s injunction that a visibly Orthodox Jew is an ambassador at all times- we travel liros, but also lira’os, to be seen: the sports gathering and accompanying events drew leaders from the world of business, entertainment and government. I had the chance to sit with the Speaker of the House, the Governor of Pennsylvania and the leading candidate for the Ohio governorship, and to explain the values of our community. In each of their eyes, I could see the respect they have for the community and the recognition of the fact that this is a coveted voting bloc- evidence of great work being done by our shtadlanim and organizations in recent years.
 
But most moving of all, for me, was being exposed to the great work of Chabad in New Orleans- the shliach was gracious and accommodating, and it’s always heartening to see Yidden far from large communities who are committed and engaged. What made it extra-special, however, was the memory of a message sent by Rabbi Yochanan Rivkin, just after Hurricane Ida, in late summer of 2021.
 
The power had been out for close to 10 days, causing groceries to spoil. Rabbi Rivkin wrote of the unique challenges faced by those who keep kosher and rely on well-stocked freezers. Their meat, dairy and baked goods had all gone bad, and none of the stores would be restocking before Yom Tov.
 
But, he wrote, “A Jewish organization called Agudah stepped in, and working with our local Jewish day school, they arranged for a refrigerated truck stocked with 25 pallets of kosher meat, chicken, baked goods, dairy and more to be delivered to New Orleans. Other organizations would raise the money and plan the distribution- and then send the truck. Agudah went the opposite route, getting the food and sending it first….the kosher community in New Orleans was saved because of their actions.”
 
To be in that community just a few years later, seeing its vibrancy and benefitting from its hospitality, is a reason to sing shirah: this is a world of unseen circles connecting people, lines visible only to the Ribbono Shel Olam, but every so often He allows us a glimpse, and then the song comes forth.
 
May we always have reasons to sing,
 
Shloime

[ltttc]

Best food options?

[ltttc]

Best food options?

Anything other than Kosher Cajun?