New Orleans Local Custom Tips by grandmaR Top 5 Page for this destination

Streetcars in the Neutral Ground Speech Review

One of the first things we did on Saturday morning was go to an orientation talk where we had King Cake and learned about good deals and how the locals talk.

It took a little while, but I finally got used to calling them STREETCARS. Because they are NOT trolley cars. That's a GREAT faux pas (French for 'bad idea').

But there are other, less obvious specifically New Orleans idioms.

* Dressed = Sandwiches served with lettuce, tomatoes and mayonnaise i.e. -"the works"

* Makin' groceries = Buying groceries

* Neutral Ground. = Median or grassy area between the paved areas on a boulevard where the STREETCARS run. (4 pictures here)

* Parish - -Louisiana has Parishes not Counties.

* The Parish refers to Chalmette, a suburb outside New Orleans.

* Police Jury -- Like a City Council, but has more legal authority

* Twinspan = twin bridges connecting the Northshore at Slidell with New Orleans across Lake Pontchartrain.

* Uptown = Area "upriver" from the French Quarter

Here are some pronounciations:

* Banquett (ban' ket) = Sidewalk-- originally French meaning a small bank along the road

* Calliope Street (Cal' i ope) (The ope said like rope--no "e" heard) Don't ask where "Cal-lie-o-pea" is, nobody will understand what street you're looking for!

* Fais do-do (Fay' dough dough) = A Cajun dance party, after the children have gone to sleep

* Gris gris (gree gree) = Voo Doo good luck charm

* Lagniappe (lan' yap) = Something extra that you didn't pay for--thrown in to sweeten the deal--like a baker's dozen .

* Muffuletta (Moo Fa' lotta) = Round, fat sandwich filled with salami-type meats, mozzarella cheese, pickles, and olive salad. (Second picture)

* Pirogue (Pee' row) = Flat-bottom canoe

* Tchoupitoulas Street (Chop a two' les) (tricky to say AND spell)

* Vieux Carre' (Vooo ca ray') (View ca ray') French for "Old Quarter", this is a term used for the French Quarter including world-famous Bourbon Street

Website: http://www.experienceneworleans.com/glossary.html

Filming Street Performers Review

These are performers of a different sort. They were photographing a commercial using one of the mule drawn carriages right in front of Jackson Square. A couple was running across the street and jumping into the carriage. While they were doing that, the traffic on the street was stopped.

Keep a lookout for some scene in a commericial or show that was filmed here in front of Jackson Square.

A National Historic Landmark Museums Review

The Presbytere, matches the Cabildo (Town Hall) on the other side of the St. Louis Cathedral. Originally it was called the Casa Curial (Ecclesiastical House) because it was built on the site of the residence, or "presbytere", of the Capuchin monks c 1791. In 1834, it became a courthouse and the mansard roof was added in 1847. The cupola is being restored to the Prebytere and should be in place by October 2005.

The Prebytere was used as a courthouse until 1911 when it became part of the Louisiana State Museum. The Museum operates five properties in the famous French Quarter: the Cabildo, Presbytere, 1850 House, Old U.S. Mint and Madame John's Legacy. We only saw these museums from the outside.

I understand that inside, is exibited the story of the Mardi Gras - told in a high-tech, interactive, permanent exhibition including the five major themes of the celebration: History, Masking, Parades, Balls, and the Courir du Mardi Gras.

Admission to the Cabildo/Arsenal, Presbytere and Old U.S. Mint is $5 for adults and $4 for senior citizens, students, and active military. Children under 12 are admitted free to all sites. Combination tickets for two or more sites receive a 20% discount, and group discounts are also available.

Address:
751 Chartres Street - Jackson Square (French Quarter)

Phone: 504-568-6968

Website: http://lsm.crt.state.la.us/presbex.htm

New Orleans Colonial Forts History Review

Fort St. Charles

On October 25, 1769, under General O’Reilly, Spanish Governor of Louisiana, were executed French patriots and martyrs: de Lafreniere, Marquis, Noyan, Caresse, Milhet, Villere having died previously.

New Orleans Colonial Forts

French Forts (1708 - 1765)
Very little was built until 1729, when a palisade was built around the city, with small blockhouses at the corners, and a moat was begun but not completed. More elaborate defenses were constructed in 1754 and 1760. A moated embankment with nine bastions encircled the city, known as Condé's, Kerliree's (Kerlerec's), St. Louis, Choiseuel's, Orleans, Bayou Redan, Berry's, D'Abbadie's, and Charles' Bastions. This enclosed area is now known as the French Quarter.

Spanish Forts (1766 - 1803)
The Spanish soon abandoned the poor-condition French works. In 1792, the Spanish did some building in order to defend against the French including Fort St. Charles, previously French Charles' Bastion, located at Esplanade and North Peters Aves.

Fort St. Louis, previously French St. Louis Bastion, located at Canal and Decatur Streets.

American Forts (1803 - 1823)
Initially used all previous Spanish forts.
Fort St. John. Fort St. Ferdinand and Fort Burgundy were demolished in 1803.
Fort St. Louis was not used in the War of 1812, and was abandoned. The U.S. Customs House was built on the site.
Fort St. Charles (1803 - 1821) was the only original fort still in use during the War of 1812. It was demolished in 1821. The U.S. Mint was built here in 1835.

Website: http://www.forttours.com/pages/hmsela.asp

Under construction History Review

Lee with his back to the North

Light Standard History in the Neutral Ground History Review

On our last day, we went out and got on the streetcar to ride down to the ferry docks.

I noticed for the first time that the light posts were all labeled with something on the four sides.

When I read them, they proved to say:

* French Domination 1719-1789
* Spanish Domination 1789-1803
* Confederate Domination 1861-1865
* American Domination 1803-1861 and 1865 to present

The Chef's Chef Food of N.O. Review

Stand in line. Only open for lunch M-F. Cash only. Closed in the summer.

In additon to Mamma's pasta (which I had - Olive oil, butter, tomatoes, artichoke hearts, and shrimp), Uglesich's specialties are:

SHRIMP UGGIE - Marinated in vegetable oil, crushed red pepper, hot sauce, onion, bell pepper and sauteed. Spicy. Served with new potatoes.

VOODOO SHRIMP - Asian Creole. Olive oil, black bean paste, tomatoes, black olives, oregano and rosemary. Served with pasta.

ITALIANO SHRIMP (also trout or catfish) - Dipped in olive oil, then into a bread crumb and imported cheese mix. Sauteed, with fresh lemon juice squeezed on top.

PAUL'S FANTASY - Pan fried trout, topped with grilled shrimp and new potatoes.

CRABMEAT AND POTATO PATTIE PLATE - Exactly what it sounds like.

BAR-B-QUE OYSTERS - Olive oil, butter, lots of garlic, basil, and parsley. Sauteed. Served with new potatoes.

MUDDY WATER - Pan fried trout, topped with muddy water sauce, chicken broth, garlic, anchovies, gutted jalapenos, and sprinkled with parmesan cheese. Not hot or spicy.

VOLCANO SHRIMP - Ginger, soy sauce, black bean paste, and Chinese red pepper. Served with pasta. Hot!

BAR-B-QUE SHRIMP (Photo Shown Above) (Small or Large) - Olive oil, butter, lots of garlic, basil, and parsley. Sauteed. Served with new potatoes.

COMBINATION - Bar-B-Que oysters and Bar-B-Que shrimp plate.

SAM'S FAVORITE - Trout or catfish, sauteed with garlic, olive oil, basil, and Worcestershire sauce. Served with new potatoes.

ANGRY SHRIMP - Sauteed with Chinese chili paste, garlic, three colors of bell peppers. Hot!

STUFFED SHRIMP - Large shrimp, stuffed with crabmeat and deepfried.

ETOUFFEE - Crawfish smothered down with onions, bell pepper, garlic and celery. No roux. Served with rice.

SHRIMP CREOLE - Cooked with every tomato product you can imagine. Served with rice.

CRAWFISH FETTUCCINI - Cooked in half and half with Reggiano parmesan and Pecorino cheeses.

TROUT OR CATFISH ANTHONY - Grilled with butter, seasonings sprinkled on top.

Phone: 504-525-4925

Website: http://www.uglesichs.com/specialties.html

NOMA (New Orleans Museum of Art) Museums Review

We didn't get to the New Orleans Museum of Art, or the Sculpture Garden that is with it except that our city tour ended in City Park. Although come to think of it, we were there on a Monday and it would have been closed then.

General Public Hours
Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday,
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Thursday, 12:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Closed Mondays and Legal Holidays.

Admission
Adults: ...............................................$8
Seniors (65 and older)
and Full-Time Students with ID:..........$7
Children ages 3-17:............................$4

Location and Directions
The New Orleans Museum of Art is located in City Park, in the heart of New Orleans.

I always intended to take the Streetcar out to City Park, but got distracted before we got there.

Canal Streetcar #45 runs from the French Market to NOMA and City Park. The picturesque route takes riders along the Mississippi River in the French Quarter, and up historic Canal Street, which separates the Vieux Carre from Downtown New Orleans. Streetcar #45 then turns right on the beautiful tree-lined Carrollton Avenue with its trendy cafes, nightspots, restaurants and shopping, on its way to the final stop outside the park.

Note: Special Policies
Backpacks, umbrellas, cameras, video devices or other bulky items are not allowed in the exhibition or permanent collection galleries and must be checked. Baby strollers will not be permitted in the exhibition galleries at peak times.

Photographing is not permitted in the Museum. Sketching and lecturing are not allowed in the exhibition galleries. Food and drink are not allowed in the Museum. Use of cell phones is prohibited in the exhibition or permanent collection galleries. Please do not touch the works of art..

Phone: 504-488-2631

Website: http://www.noma.org/

The Heat is On Horses/Mules Review

under construction