Twenty-five minutes from New Orleans, explore Louisiana's back country along the meandering bayous abundant with wildlife and exotic plants. The folks at Jean Lafitte Swamp Tours sure know their crocks.
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City:
Top gay Labor Day Weekend destination
Southern Decadence 2013
www.southerndecadence.net
August 28 - September 2, 2013. Labor Day Weekend annual celebrations, crowds of over 100,000; around-the-clock street & dance parties; parade through the French Quarter. Revelers may shock some tourists (much to their delight!)
Girth & Mirth of South Central Texas
New Orleans Convergence 2013
www.convergence2013.com
August 29 - September 2, 2013, Host hotel: the InterContinental New Orleans. Welcome Party at Masquerade, Harrah’s Casino; vendor hall; Paddleboat Lunch Cruise on the Mississippi; Southern Decadence Parade, parties & Tea Dance; “BIG” Easy Banquet; Southern Gala Banquet & Dance Party; Chub/Chaser Contest; Easy-Oke; Creole Farewell Brunch, and more...
Bear & Bear Trapper Social Club - Cajun Style!
Bear Decadence 2013
www.bearsofneworleans.com
Labor Day Weekend, 2013. Bringing bears and those attracted to bears, together for group social & community activities. See Decadence details online as announced. Ongoing Beer Busts 9pm, first & third Fridays at The Phoenix.
Project Lazarus benefit
Halloween in New Orleans
www.halloweenneworleans.com
Late-October, 2013. Amazing week in haunted New Orleans. eat, shop, play, dance: Friday gala, auction, dance party, brunch, riverboat cruise -- plus parties at all the bars. See Gay Halloween + website below:
The Immortals Ball 2014
Friday Night Before Mardi Gras
www.fridaynightbeforemardigras.com
February 28, 2014, FNBMG (Friday Night Before Mardi Gras) party to raise funds for HIV and AIDS-related support organizations. Dancing, entertainment, open bar & gourmet buffets. See website for schedule and venue.
Music in the streets
French Quarter Festival 2014
www.fqfi.org/frenchquarterfest
April 10-13, 2014. Annual music festival & parades. Music stages are located at Jackson Square, Woldenberg Riverfront Park, Bourbon St, Royal St, Bienville St, the French Market, St. Mary’s at the Ursuline Convent, and Louisiana State Museum's Old U.S. Mint. Special events at locations throughout the French Quarter. See the website for more details, closer to the date.
Cruising Bourbon Street:
Even if you don't like drinking cocktails from three-foot-tall plastic cups, you have to be there to believe the strange things people are willing to do in public for a string of Mardi Gras beads.
Gay heritage tour:
Roberts Batson's Gay Heritage Tour touches on "the horrors, the hilarity, the homophobes, and the heroes" with a French Quarter stroll that brings gay New Orleans history to life. Get tickets at 504-945-6789 or at the booksore
Hitting the shops:
Nobody heads to New Orleans to shop, but the French Quarter has plenty of great boutiques selling everything from gooey praline candy to reasonably priced antiques. Check out the many shops and cafes in nearby Marigny too. See Frenchquarter.com and Faubourgmarigny.org for details. The French Market, American's oldest city market, has shops, restaurants, music events and a flea market.
Looking for Blanche DuBois:
The streetcar used for the film version of A Streetcar Named Desire, the #922, still operating on the St Charles Street Line. Hop aboard for a ride at the corner of Canal Street.
Mississippi River Paddlewheel Tours:
Take a day on the Mississippi River aboard New Orlean's most luxurious excursion riverboat, the 1,000 passenger Creole Queen, with daily excursions, and dinner cruises.
Sample local delicacies:
Sure, the gumbo and jambalaya are tasty. But don't leave without a bite of a beignet, the donutlike pastry covered with mounds of powdered sugar. Cafe du Monde, (1039 Decatur), and Croissant d'Or (617 Ursulineis) are good bets for finding some.
