first thing you do...

so, i know this doesn%26#39;t necessarily apply to our local experts (worldtraveler, caseyno, AshtonsBnB) but what%26#39;s the FIRST thing you do upon arrival in New Orleans (and after you drop off your things-ha ha)?

Mine is proceed immeadiately to Cafe du Monde for beignets and iced cafe au lait! And THEN lunch at Coops (which I never finish) and THEN a Hurricane at Lafittes. Can%26#39;t mess with perfection!

first thing you do...

Almost the same as yours...first was Cafe du Monde, then Lafitte%26#39;s for the hurricane (and even a bloody mary) and then Coops for dinner (I did finish!).

first thing you do...

wisteacher...my sister in law loves Lafittes Bloody Mary%26#39;s, and I love the cajun beans that come in them! Last time we were there the bartender offered to %26#39;make%26#39; me a cup of them.

sooooooooooooooo goood.

sometimes, it%26#39;s different for me. Usually I arrive around 5pm on Friday, so we usually drop everything off at our hotel, hit the walgreen%26#39;s and the store that sells liqour on Royal st to grab some essentials for our room (snacks, water, alcohol-for our pre drinks) and then we head back to our room to get ready for a fun-filled night on Bourbon st. Our first stop on Bourbon is always Pat O%26#39;s, we enjoy the courtyard, where we usually have two hurricanes, and start mingling with people around us (since we%26#39;re really starting to feel the effect of the hurricane..so, if you run into a group of 3 or 4 girls from Canada..it may just be us...we really LOVE to talk to everyone around us..but doesn%26#39;t everyone after they%26#39;ve had a couple hurricanes??? LOL) then we make our way back onto Bourbon for some dancing..always a great first night :)

I can%26#39;t wait for my next trip in July, I will arrive on Thursday night instead of the usual Fri, so I%26#39;m sure things will be a little different...I really want to try the hurricane at Lafittes, you have me sold Kel-it%26#39;s a must-do for the next trip-can%26#39;t wait!!! We will also be hitting the funky pirate to see Big Al...so sad, I know, I have been so many times, but have yet to sit and listen to Big Al (we%26#39;ve peered in from Bourbon, but never sat and enjoyed a set)...another must-do for sure!!!

I enjoy the beignets, but I don%26#39;t love them, and I really don%26#39;t need the beignet fix (sorry, I%26#39;m sure a lot of you are cringing at that...LOL) but I do have to visit Cafe Du Monde at least once on my trip, honestly, I like the atmosphere more than the beignets themselves, especially when there are performers to watch, that truly is a moment of wow, I%26#39;m in New Orleans :)

Since we usually stay at the Place D%26#39; Armes, and arrive mid-afternoon, we drop the bags, check the room, open the French doors to the balcony and soak up NO for a minute or two.

Then it%26#39;s off to Napoleon House for a muffuletta and an avocado salad with shrimp remoulaude and Sazeracs and a Pimm%26#39;s cups.

Sit out on the patio and celebrate the fact that we are back.

Last trip it was drop off bags, grab a drink (lafitte%26#39;s) then a stroll to Coop%26#39;s for dinner (combination plate)...back to Bourbon to hear Big Al then to Fritzels...probably won%26#39;t mess much with that it really worked well for us:=)

This year it was drop off the bags and then Napoleon House for a muffuletta. After that it was a walk around with an ambita amber to soak up some warm sunshine

Hey, I%26#39;m a balcony girl! I agree with GumboK, I open those narrow french doors and just soak up the atmosphere for a bit. Of course this is after the drive into the city where I almost hang my head out the cab window (or my own if we%26#39;re driving) to smell the air, and try not to howl with joy at the fact that, Yes, I%26#39;m really in New Orleans again!

After all that, we head for one of the following: Coop%26#39;s for fried chicken, Pierre Maspero%26#39;s for the bbq shrimp po-boy, or Johnny%26#39;s for anything. Then (fat and happy) we go to Rouses for the essentials, and then some wandering around the Quarter just happy to be there. Eventually the booze siren will begin to sing, and we head to Lafittes or Huge-A** beers, depending on our mood. We usually end our first night (and most afterward) with a huge hot roast beef po-boy and diet cokes from Quarter Master, or an All that Jazz po-boy from Verti Marte. Yes, we are total pigs while on vacation!! I%26#39;ve just worked off the food-baby I gained at mardi gras, and now I%26#39;ll find it again when we go back in June! So worth it, though. Stairmaster, here I come!

We usually arrive early Thursday evening, drop bags, walk and drink for about an hour and then catch dinner. Walking around the FQ is my favorite part of our trip each year-love to watch performers and people in general! We always spend a great deal of our evenings at Lafitte%26#39;s Blacksmith Shop, usually for hurricanes!!

1st breakfast (eaten at lunch time) is always at Petunia%26#39;s for a carb fix after all of that drinking!

I will be there on the 12th. After dropping off bags at Omni Royal Orleans, will get a bloody mary at 1st bar I can find - probably Napolean%26#39;s or Acme (some oysters too). Then on to Lafitte%26#39;s to switch to Hurricanes then to Coops to eat/drink/whatever.

thanks for all the replies everyone! It%26#39;s so funny how we all have our little %26#39;routines%26#39;

dolmatt, i believe you were in NoLA same time as I was in December-if that happens again, we%26#39;ll have to meet for hurricanes at Lafittes! Also, since you%26#39;re getting in on Thursday, and mentioned you love to dance, check out 80%26#39;s night (I believe it%26#39;s called ';Fast Times 80%26#39;s Dance Party) at One Eyed Jacks on Toulouse. It%26#39;s the reason I always fly in on a thursday. Cheap drinks, great music and a really neat atmosphere. I don%26#39;t usually get there until after 11, but it%26#39;s a blast!

-kel