Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Faubourg Marigny, the Bywater & the Ninth Ward
North of the French Quarter are the Creole suburbs (
faubourgs
, which more accurately
means 'neighborhoods') of the Marigny and the Bywater. The Marigny is the heart of the
local gay scene.
Frenchmen Street
, which runs through the center of the 'hood, is a
fantastic strip of live-music goodness. It used to be known as a locals' Bourbon, but re-
cently it's been inundated with tourists, although it's still nowhere near as tacky as Bour-
bon. Nearby
St Claude Avenue
now boasts a collection of good live music venues that
are fairly undiscovered by outsiders, but don't expect Dixie-style jazz joints; folks here
rock out to punk and bounce (a local style of frenetic dance music).
The Bywater is a collection of candy-colored shotgun houses (local houses that are
laid out one room after another with no hallway) and Creole cottages. It has the heaviest
concentration of transplants in the city and an ever-expanding number of sometimes awe-
some, sometimes cloyingly hip new restaurant and bars.
Old New Orleans Rum Distillery
FACTORY
( 504-945-9400;
www.oldneworleansrum.com
; 2815 Frenchmen St; admission $10; tours
noon, 2pm & 4pm Mon-Fri, 2pm & 4pm Sat)
A short drive north of the Marigny is the Old
New Orleans Rum distillery. Founded by local artists James Michalopoulos and his
artist-musician friends, the distillery makes great spirits you'll find in most local bars.
You can sample all of them, including a rare vintage unavailable outside the factory, on
an entertaining 45-minute distillery tour. The rum distillery is in an industrial area 2
miles north of Faubourg Marigny.
Washington Square Park
PARK
(cnr Frenchmen & Royal St)
Also known as 'Marigny Green,' this park is a popular spot for
locals to play with their dogs, toss Frisbees and, based on the frequent smell, smoke
things that aren't cigarettes. There's a touching HIV/AIDS memorial on the north side of
the park.
CBD & Warehouse District
National World War II Museum
MUSEUM
MAP
GOOGLE MAP
