Early Oct in New Orleans: Nothin' but eats/jazz/more eats

I%26#39;ve lurked on TripAdvisor for quite a while and found it to be AWESOME reading during my lunch breaks. Now I am asking you NOLA experts to hook us up with some of your local knowledge.

My best friend and I are going to New Orleans in early October - booked a room at the Royal Street Courtyard. This trip is primarily for us to vegetate and relax: it%26#39;s been a rough summer at work and we badly needed a break (before WE broke).

What are your recommendations? Do you guys recommend that we rent a car? I%26#39;m hoping to do absolutely nothing other than:

1) eat - what are your local, cheap, not-to-be-missed places?

2) eat some more

3) hit a couple of jazz clubs (and eat) - recommendations?

4) go on a few supremely touristy (yet fun) walking tours

5) shop for random tchotchkes and silly presents for people

6) eat.

Thanks so much: Oct. cannot come fast enough.

Early Oct in New Orleans: Nothin' but eats/jazz/more eats

You picked a good location for lodging. The Faubourg Marigny is a great neighborhood to stay and play.

Do not rent a car. Taxis are cheap and plentiful. Your B%26amp;B probably has free parking though.

1) eat - what are your local, cheap, not-to-be-missed places?

Napoleon House, Coops, Johnny鈥檚 PoBoys.

2) eat some more

Mr. B鈥檚 Bistro (try the BBQ shrimp)

3) hit a couple of jazz clubs (and eat) - recommendations?

On Frenchmen St. the Spotted Cat, Apple Barrel, dba, Blue Nile, Snug Harbor

You can eat at Palm Court Jazz Caf茅 and Snug Harbor.

4) go on a few supremely touristy (yet fun) walking tours

Go on the Southern Comfort Cocktail Tour

Toulouse Street and Mississippi River, New Orleans, LA

Tel: 1-800-299-0404

URL: http://www.southerncomfortcocktailtour.com/

5) shop for random tchotchkes and silly presents for people

French Market.

Early Oct in New Orleans: Nothin' but eats/jazz/more eats

The Haunted History ghost tours are fun, especially late at night. Be sure to go to Pat O%26#39;Brien%26#39;s for a hurricane. The Clover Grill on Bourbon is an inexpensive place to eat in addition to the others already mentioned.

porc %26amp; jlr covered it pretty good. For a real hearty breakfast try the Coffee Pot on St. Peter, I think the burger place Yo Mama%26#39;s is still around on St. Peter. For Palm Court if you eat there you used to be able to avoid a cover charge but thats pre-K. Lord Chaz has a good walking tour if you are into ghosts or vampires but be aware many of the walking tours want cash rather than a credit card and its around $20 a person (ghosts are popular). There are plenty of touristy shops along Decatur Street if you can%26#39;t find what you want in the French Market. Maspero%26#39;s on Decatur has good food and not too high but they are a %26#39;cash%26#39; place also. As someone mentioned already..the Clover Grill at 900 Bourbon St. is an experience and really reasonable priced %26#39;good%26#39; food-you get to see burgers on the grill under a hubcap.

You%26#39;ll love the Marigny neighborhood. Please take cabs after dark, however, since you don%26#39;t want to walk around in the ';Marigny rectangle'; where you inn is located. Don%26#39;t worry, though. It%26#39;s a lovely B%26amp;B on a fairly busy street and daytime walking is absolutely OK.

You all have been absolutely wonderful. I really appreciate the tips - and the warnings. I%26#39;d assumed that the neighborhood was safe for walking and wandering at night-time, so it%26#39;s good to know otherwise. (the lazy part of me is very happy, as this means cabbing in the evenings).

Yes, give in to your lazy side! I always do on vacation and take cabs whenever possible. :-)

The Marigny has had some high-profile crimes in the past but is relatively safe. Never a bad idea, as has been mentioned, to ';cab it'; after hours just to make sure you stay safe. This is also true for the Garden District, parts of the Central Business District, etc.

Sounds like a ***wonderful*** plan!!! :) I know you said that you have been looking at TA for a while, but I do know that the cheap eats has been discussed recently, if you do a search you will probably find the thread, it was a good one.

My suggestion for all of the above (except jazz clubs) is for you to spend as much time on Magazine Street as possible. You can take a cab there, have them drop you off in about the 2000 block, and you can walk ten blocks in either direction to eat, shop, people watch, drink, eat, hang out, and eat. Plus, it%26#39;s one of the borders of the Garden District, so you can even walk around some of the world%26#39;s most gorgeous houses.

As for specific Magazine restaurant suggestions: Lilette, Petit Grocery, and Martinique.

You are coming to town during the best time of year (weather-wise). It should be so comfortable, and perfect for just strolling around. I hope you have a wonderful time!

Just FYI - I know you said you wanted ';cheap'; eats, so Lilette and Martinique on Magazine do not fall into the ';cheap eats'; category (although both are outstanding).

For ';cheap eats'; on Magazine, I would recommend:

Taqueria Corona (mexican), Reginellis (pizza/pasta/salads), Mona%26#39;s (hummus, etc), slim goodies (breakfast/diner), nacho mama%26#39;s (mexican), the bulldog (bar/restaurant with outdoor seating), or Joey K%26#39;s (American/burgers).

I forgot to say Petite Grocery is also not cheap.