Memorable Jewelry and other New Orleans, LA Shopping Tips

Name of Shop: Oscar's Originals


What To Buy: The French Market is full of vendors selling jewelry, but Oscar Donahue III is the only one who is an artist: he actually designs and makes the jewelry he sells. His earrings and pins are bright and whimsical and are guaranteed to bring a smile to your face. They are truly a form of wearable art and are very reasonably priced.

I own three pairs of his earrings and five pins: a Mardi Gras mask, a martini glass, a saxophone-playing crawfish, a Hurricane Katrina house pin, and a Hurricane Gustav pin. I have often given his jewelry as gifts.

Small-world story: a woman who worked in the office across the hall from me has one of his woman-shopper pins, which a friend of hers brought back from New Orleans.

If you get down to the French Market, say "Hey" to Mr. Oscar for me. He's a very nice person and will give you a good deal. You can also order custom pieces via his website (see below). I commissioned him to make Hurricane Katrina pins for my Habitat for Humanity team, and he did so at a very fair price.


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Theme: Jewelry
Phone: 504-522-5972
Address: The French Market
Directions: North Peters and Decatur, at the edge of the French Quarter, by the river.
Website: www.oscarofneworleans.com

Name of Shop: Leah's Pralines


What To Buy: Leah's sells different kinds of homemade Creole candies and gourmet chocolates like heavenly hash, a sort of Southern rocky road made with chocolate, pecans, and marshmallows. I love their pralines, which are made of butter, sugar, and pecans. They have two kinds of pralines: creamy and traditional, but I prefer the traditional, which are more brittle and sugary. . .and totally addictive.

What To Pay: Each distinctive bright yellow box costs $16 and contains a dozen individually wrapped, CD-sized pralines. I usually buy several boxes to take home.

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Theme: Other
Phone: 504-523-5662 or 888-523-5324
Address: 714 St. Louis Street
Directions: French Quarter
Website: http://www.leahspralines.com/