Dixie Debauchery: The Second Line

If you follow my Twitter feed or saw my post from a few weeks back, you'll remember the much anticipated trip down to New Orleans for my fraternity brother's bachelor party.

Of the 11 gents, five had been down before the other 6 hadn't. And if previous bachelor parties were any lesson (herding cats), the Best Man and I knew we'd need some sort of itinerary in order to please the groom and these gents.


I've also had a few questions around tips and suggestions for planning a trip to the Big Easy and here are the ones from this itinerary:

• Uptown or Marigny: Explore a neighborhood other than the French Quarter - whether through the bars in the Garden District or live music along Frenchman Street.
• Drink, Don't Drive: We hired a party bus for Thursday night - affordable ($60 a person), entertaining (note lighted floor and pole below), and safe (No DUIs or worse).
• A Round of 9: We went to City Park, a public course, for a round of 9 holes. While the course was "flatter than your granny's titties" according to the Golf Pro, it made for a great afternoon of working off the previous nights cocktails.
• Lesson Learned: We chose Mulate's, while a tourist spot, because it guaranteed the atmosphere we were after; Cajun food/fried seafood, live band from 7:00 -10:00 and plenty of people watching. However, after 3 rounds of shots, 2 seafood sampler appetizers at $50, and multiple rounds of drinks our bill was just as high as dinner at one of the best restaurants in town. Next time I'd skip it.
• Commander's: The "Coat & Tie Dinner" seems to be something of a tradition with our group and certainly in New Orleans. I think this is the best deal going: private room, 5 course tasting menu (turtle soup, salad, filet Bearnaise, pecan crusted fish, bread pudding souffle) with cocktail shots in between each course for approx $150 a person. Antoine's and Galatoire's in the Quarter offer similar deals. Rowdiness encouraged.
  

Now, for our own reputations, the respect of our individual relationships and the forthcoming nuptials, photogs for widespread distribution are limited. However, there are a few worth sharing:

Clockwise from top left: The Econoline 350, Jacques-Imo's Cafe, fair warning, French Quarter Festival, floor of Patrice's Party Bus (note: pole).

Top to bottom: The dive known for its incredible cheese fries across from the drive-up New Orleans Daiquiri, hangover sustenance.

And Bourbon Street opinions aside, Pat O'Brien's Dueling Piano Bar still holds it own as 'Naturally Nawlin's' capturing some of the best photos. Ever.

Above: Late at night, at Pat O's - and too many hurricanes in to keep count.

Have a great New Orleans bachelor/bachelorette story? Want suggestions for planning the perfect weekend in New Orleans or elsewhere? Let me know -

Image Credits: Rich Thorne (all NOLA shots) and The Bachelor (for the B&W)